Map of Bergen circa 1727
Bergen, New Jersey was an important settlement within New Netherland and the home of several of the family lines in our ancestry. Bergen was the first permanent settlement within New Jersey and the beginning of present day Jersey City.
The official start of Bergen was 5 September 1661. Bergen was laid out by the Dutch in a walled area of about 800 feet-square which was surrounded by a palisade with pointed wooden stakes. The settlement included a Dutch-founded church and a free school. These were continued after the English took over New Netherland in 1664. Bergen Township which included Bergen Village was formed in 1693. Bergen Township was incorporated into Jersey City in 1873.
Two of our immigrant ancestors who were first settlers in Bergen Village were our seventh great-grandparents Adrian Hendrickse Hendrickson Sip and his wife Grietje Wernaers Margrietje Warnaerts. They are our ancestors by this path:
RWA → Fred Abbott and Vera Esler → William Esler and Martha Tappan → Anna Van Winkle and William Esler → William Van Winkle and Eliza Myers → Francois Van Winkle and Elizabeth Douw → Abraham Van Winkle and Martije Van Dyke → Annatje Arianse Sip and Symon Jacobse Van Winkle → Adrian and Grietie.
Adrian was from Breda, Netherlands and Grietie was born at Schonevelt, Netherlands about 1636. Adrian and Grietie came separately to New Netherland, Grietie with her parents, and they were married at the Reformed Dutch Church in New Amsterdam 4 February 1656. Adrien died in Bergen August 1664. Grietie remarried and died at Bergen about 1695.
Some of the other family names in our ancestry who were in Bergen were Esler, Jacobs, Ryerson, and Van Winkle.
Source:
New Jersey City University, https://njcu.libguides.com/bergen