annetje Claesen Groenvis was born about 1620, at Meppelt in the Dutch Province of Drenthe. She was living at Amsterdam in 1646 when she gave intentions to marry with Willem Jansen on October 20, 1646. At his second marriage, she is called Jutge Claes Groenvis. In his deposition of 1671, she is Jannetje Claesen Groenvis of Meppelt (Drenthe). She was deceased by June 1, 1658 and was the mother of Helena (Eledt) Traphagen who married Jan Jacobsen Burhans.

        One of the witnesses to the baptism of Rebecca Traphagen in 1662 was Roelof Jansen. There was in New Amsterdam since about 1653 a Roelof Jansen Van Meppelen, some of whose descendants would later use the surname Meppelen and Van Meppelen. This use of "van Meppelen" indicates that Roelof was either born at Meppelt or that his family originated near there. This is the same location where Jutje Claesen was born. He married probably in Amsterdam Grietje Claesen and their eldest son Claes, born ca 1650, listed Amsterdam as his birthplace in his marriage intentions. Note that this is approximately the same time frame in which Willem Jansen Traphagen emmigrated to New Amsterdam and he may be the same person as the baptismal witness.

        A possible father for Roelof Jansen was Jan Claesen Van Meppelen who was the skipper of the ship Sevenster. He was living in New Amsterdam as early as June 26, 1642 when Cornelis v.d. Hoyken, fiscal, plaintiff sued Jan van Meppelen for slander. The same suit was mentioned again at the August 28, 1642 Court session. On October 17, 1642, Jannetjen Mertens, widow of Jan Tomas Mingal, sued Jan from Meppel, skipper of the Sevenster, saying he promised to marry her. No other information is abailable but they evidently were married as Jannetje Mertens, widow of Jan Thomase Mingael and present bride of Jan Claessen Meppelen, master of the ship Sevenster, was back in Court in 1643 to provide for the children of her late husband.

Children of Willem Jansen and Jannetje Claesen (Groevnis) Traphagen:

1. Joannes, bap. August 1,1647, Amsterdam Nieuwkirke, died young.
2. Helena.
3. Joannes, bap. March 26. 1651, Amsterdam Nieuwkirke, died young.

SOURCES:

• Amsterdam Marriage Intentions FHL 0113204, Bk.43, p.
• Amsterdam Nieuwekerke Baptisms 1646-1679, FHL 0113146.
• Collection of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Volume IX, Marriages in the Reformed Dutch Church of New York City, 1639-1801, 1940, New York.
• New York Historical Manuscripts-Dutch. Volume IV, Council. Minutes, #128, page 150, hereafter NYHM-D.
• NYHM-D, Volume IV, #134, page 157.
• NYHM-D, Volume IV, #143, page 167.
• NYHM-D, Volume II, Register of the Provincial Secretery, #35a, page 83.