Short Biography of Matthew Van Buren

CORNELIS VAN BUREN, the fore-bear, came from Holland in 1631 on the ship "Endracht." He came from the Province of Gelderland, from the small place called Burmalsen, near the town of Buren, a few miles from the Rhine. Three years later he returned to Holland, married there, and came back to this country in 1636. He settled in the Colony of Rensselaerwyck. His career was rather uneventful. It is recorded that he purchased a piece of property in Manhattan, located between the present Christopher and Fourteenth Streets, doubtless having a North River frontage. He and his wife Catalyntje both died and were buried the same day at their farm at Papsknee, some time in 1648.

MARTIN VAN BUREN, son, was born in 1638 or 9; died 13 November, 1703; married Marytjie (Mary) Quackenbosch about 1662. He owned a house, barn, etc., in Bethlehem, Albany Co., in 1662. In 1665 or 1675 (as authorities differ) he owned one-half of Constaples Island, a short distance below Albany, in the Hudson River. He and his wife were members of the Dutch Reformed Church in Albany prior to 1683. In 1697 the census credits his family as "two men, no women, one child." On 7 May, 1693, he married, 2nd, Tanneken (Ann) Adams, widow of Pieter P. Winne. In 1700 he was Captain in Colonel Pieter Schuyler's regiment at Albany. He made his will in Dutch, 10 April, 1703, and it was proved 7 June, 1710.

MARTIN VAN BUREN, son, was born in 1678; died 21 October, 1740; married in 1700, Judikjie Barentse (Meindersen); married, 2nd, 14 July, 1719, Maria Van den Berg. He was a Freeholder in 1720 at Rensselaerwyck. He and his wife were members of the Albany Dutch Church, and their children were all baptized there.

JOHANNES VAN BUREN, son, by the second marriage, was baptized 21 November, 1725; died (???); married 26 April, 1760, Marytje Briesch.

MARTIN VAN BUREN, son, was born 16 December, 1762; married Elizabeth Newell at Schaghticoke. They had issue: John, born 12 June, 1785; Elizabeth and Henrietta. John and Elizabeth lived and died in Lockport, [Niagara County], New York. Martin and Elizabeth, his wife, were sponsors at the baptism 13 January, 1789, of Martin Becker, born 21 November, 1788, the son of Margarita Van Buren, who married John Becker. Barent, the father of Margarita, was a half-brother of Johannes, the father of Martin—hence Martin and Margarita were cousins. Martin, the father of Henrietta, was a second cousin of Abraham, the father of Martin Van Buren, the eighth President of the United States. In those days, as now, it was customary to say cousin, and not mention the degree.

Source: "Genealogy of the Geer Family in America from 1635 to 1914" ⁹