Owen Chapter 43

Sketch XLIII

THE JANSEN DE RAPELJES AND JOHNSONS OF LONG

ISLAND.

The historical data embodied in this family sketch was taken from an article published in the Brooklyn Eagle and is no doubt, correct. By this showing, the Rapeljes, of Norfolk are enabled to trace their ancestors back to a remote period in American history. We are told that George Jansen de Rapelje was the leader of the Walloon families that settled at the Wallabout on Long Island, and that to him was born Sarah Jansen de Rapelje, the first white child born in New Netherlands, as New York was first called by the Dutch.[1] Governor Minuet signalized the event by presenting her his ground brief to twenty morgens of land (about forty acres). George had two brothers who came to America with him—Antonie Jansen de Rapelje, and William Jansen de Rapelje, the latter of whom died childless. From some caprice not explained, the descendants of George dropped the de Rapelje and retained Jansen as their surname, which in time became Johnson, George being the great ancestor of Jere Johnson, jun., of historical fame.[2] The descendants of Antonie de Rapelje dropped the Jansen de, retaining the Rapelje, and they are the Rapeljes and Rapelyeas as we now have them. Antonie bought a two-hundred-acre tract of land at Gravesend, which was known as “Anthony Rapelje’s Bowery,” long after the English conquest. He was represented as a man of unusual stature, with the strength of a Hercules.

The specie loaning scheme so successfully worked by Major Wyckoff during the war of the Revolution, originated with one Barent Johnson, a descendant of George Jansen de Rapelje, and the great-grandfather of Jere Johnson, jun. He was a firm patriot, and had two American officers quartered on him on parole. When the were exchanged, Mr. Johnson furnished each with large sums of money to be carried with the enemy’s lines and paid over to Governor Clinton. The Governor, quick to avail himself of the opportunity thus presented for obtaining sound money for the State from the Whigs of the West-end of Long Island, appointed Major Hendrick Wyckoff to manage the business in the manner described in the sketch devoted to the Wyckoffs. Barent Johnson-Rapelje was a man of wealth for those times. The amount he loaned the State was $5,500, a sum equal to $60,000 in our times. These loans were made in specie and were so repaid by the State after the war. One George Martense, a neighbor or Barent Johnson, loaned the State a considerable sum of money in this way, and when the note was redeemed by the State, Mr. Martense went to New York with a cart for his money. The payment was made in silver specie, and the bulk completely filled the cart.

The Rapeljes, of Norfolk, are credited with being a proud-spirited people. This is not to be wondered at when it is remembered that the blood of the Jansen de Rapeljes and the Wyckoffs, of Long Island, course through their veins.

Abraham A. Rapelje, the old Long Point pioneer, was born on Long Island in 1776, the year the colonies declared their independence.[3] He did not settle on the old homestead near Vittoria until after the war of 1812. He lived in the vicinity of Port Dover, and when the war broke out he raised a company of “Incorporates,” and led them in fighting the battles of his adopted country, winning for himself a reputation—especially at Lundy’s Lane—that distinguished him among the old pioneers.[4] It is said he was entitled to 500 acres of land for his war services, but neglected to take the necessary steps to secure it, and was finally obliged to accept Government scrip in lieu thereof, computed on a basis of eighty cents per acre. He purchased a hundred acres of land with a portion of this scrip and sold the balance to James Covington, Esq. As a further consideration for his war services his name was placed on the half pay list by the home government, and during the remainder of his life drew the sum of $400 annually.

Mr. Rapelje succeeded Colonel John Bostwick as Sheriff of London District. He settled on Lot 19 in the 3rd concession of Charlotteville and built a fine residence thereon, which was destroyed some years later by fire. He died in 1841, in his 66th year, and was followed to the grave by a large number of sorrowing friends.[5]

Colonel Rapelje had a family of thirteen children, but those who grew up and married were four sons—Peter Wyckoff, Henry, Richard and Abraham B. and four daughters—Cynthia, Helen, Winifred and Elizabeth.[6]

Peter Wyckoff Rapelje, eldest son of the Colonel, was a lawyer. He lived and died in Vittoria. He married Sarah Ann, daughter of Colonel Potts, and had two sons—John and Arthur; and three daughters—Sarah, Helen and Clara. Sarah married Isaac K. Taylor, who occupied the old Rapelje homestead for many years, and the sons settled in the States.[7]

Henry Rapelje, second son of the Colonel,[8] married into the Fraser family, and settled in Simcoe. He had one son, Clarence C.; and three daughters—Minnie, Maude and May.[9] Clarence C. is the clerk of the County Court and Registrar of the Surrogate Court at the present time. Henry Rapelje served as Deputy Sheriff under his father, and when Norfolk was set off old London District in 1836, as Talbot District, he was appointed Sheriff for the new District, holding the positions until he vacated it in favor of Mr. Mercer, for a valuable consideration. The transaction was deemed irregular, and Mercer was disqualified.

Richard Rapelje, third son of the Colonel, married Henrietta, sister of Dr. McInnes, of Vittoria. He died soon after, leaving no children.[10]

Abraham B. Rapelje, youngest son of the Colonel, married Anna Thompson, and settled in Simcoe. He held clerical positions at the county seat and was succeeded as Registrar of the Surrogate Court by his nephew, C. C. Rapelje. He had one son, McGregor, and two daughters—Sarah and Anna.[11]

Cynthia Rapelje, the old Colonel’s eldest daughter, married William Jewell, as stated in the Jewell genealogy.

Helen Rapelje, the second daughter, married Duncan McGregor, and settled in the township of Shedden.

Winifred Rapelje, the third daughter, married Quintin Barrett, one of the old-time store-keepers of Vittoria, who died soon after his marriage. Subsequently she married Charles Perley, and settled in Burford. She is living, the sole survivor of her generation, and childless.

Elizabeth Rapelje, youngest daughter of the Colonel, married Alexander, son of Captain McNeilledge, the old county parliamentary representative. They settled near Port Dover, and had two sons—Colin and Rapelje.

In 1819 or 1820, the pioneer mother of the Rapelje family went home to Long Island to visit her mother. The journey was made with a horse and buggy, and it took three weeks to complete the drive from Vittoria to Flatland’s Neck. Her son, Abraham, fifteen years old, and her eight-months old infant daughter, Elizabeth, accompanied her. Mrs. Rapelje was a courageous, resolute woman, and the drive was made each way without serious mishap; but the occupants of the old Dutch home were thrilled with oft-repeated stories of bears and wolves encountered in the wilds of the new country.

[1] The present City of New York was originally named New Amsterdam by the Dutch colonists, and the State of New York was named New Netherland. The immigrant ancestor named Joris Jansen Rapelje (1604-1689) and his wife Catalyntje Trico (1605-1789) came from Holland on the Eendracht which sailed from Amsterdam on January 25, 1624, arriving in New Netherland in March 1624. The Rapelje family settled at Fort Orange, the present day Albany. Sarah Rapelje, the first white child, was born there on July 9, 1625. Source: “New Netherland Project” of the New York State Library and the Holland Society of New York.

[2] There may be a confusion of generations here. The person of historical fame might have been Major General Jeremiah Johnson (1766-1841) of Brooklyn, New York, a son of Barent Johnson (1740-1782) and grandson of Jan Barentse Jansen of Jamaica, Queen’s Co., NY. The General had a son named Jere Johnson Jr., President of the Brooklyn Real Estate Exchange. His obituary is in the website: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C0CE6D91E39E433A25755C1A9649C94699ED7CF

[3] Abraham Rapelje was born on May 15, 1772 and died on January 31, 1859 according to his gravestone in St. John’s Anglican Church Cemetery in Woodhouse Township south of Simcoe.

[4] Rapelje was commissioned a Captain in the Norfolk County Militia in 1812 and raised a company in the Port Dover area for the Second Regiment. In the 1813 Muster Roll, his company included 21 officers and men. He and his Flank Company saw action at Fort Erie in 1812. Later, he raised a Company for the Incorporated Militia and served in the Battle of Lundy’s Lane. On 16 Apr 1824, Rapelje was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel in which capacity he commanded the 1st Regiment of the Norfolk County Militia raised in Houghton, Middleton, Windham, Walsingham, and Charlotteville Townships. Sources: Mutrie, R. Robert, “The Norfolk Militia in the War of 1812,” in The Long Point Settlers, Log Cabin Publishing (Ridgeway, ON: 1992), p. 252-256; Nominal Rolls of the 1st Regiment Norfolk County Militia, Dec 1830, National Archives of Canada RG9, IB1, Vol. 16

[5] As noted above, Rapelje died in 1859. He was recorded in the 1850 Assessment and 1852 Census of Charlotteville Twp. His wife Sarah, died on November 12, 1841 and was buried beside her husband in St. John’s Anglican Church Cemetery.

[6] Another daughter Sarah Matilda Rapelje, born at Woodhouse Twp. c. 1812, died at Woodhouse Twp. on May 28, 1882 aged 70 years. She never married and resided with her parents. She was buried beside her husband in St. John’s Anglican Church Cemetery.

[7] There was another son Charles Peter Rapelje, born on Jul 3, 1848 (twin of Clara), baptized at St. John’s Anglican Church on Aug 20, 1848, died at Vittoria on Aug 21, 1849 aged 1 year 1 month 18 days. He was buried in St. Johns Anglican Church Cemetery, Woodhouse Twp. John Rapelje died at Los Angeles, California on 12 Nov 1885. Arthur Rapelje died on August 23, 1870 aged 28 years and was buried in St. John’s Anglican Church Cemetery

[8] Henry Van Allen Rapelje, actually the third son of Colonel Rapalje was born in Woodhouse Township on January 1, 1807 according to the Baptismal Register of St. John’s Anglican Church.

[9] There were one more daughter and two more sons. Ann Gordon Frazer Rapelje, born Oct 11, 1837, was baptized at St. John’s Anglican Church on February 11, 1838. Henry William Rapelje, born on June 1, 1840, died on April 4, 1863. Ernest James Rapelje, born on July 19, 1847, was bapt1zed at St. John’s Anglican Church on July 2, 1848, and died on 21 Apr 1874. Henry and Ernest were buried in the family plot in Oakwood Cemetery, Simcoe.

[10] Richard Rapelje, born on Apr 22, 1823, was the fourth son of Colonel Rapelje. He died at Woodhouse Township on October 7, 1852 according to his gravestone in St. John’s Anglican Church Cemetery. He married on November 14, 1849, Henrietta Rudyard Clark McInnes according to the Talbot District Marriage Register. They had two children: Andrew Abraham Rapelje, born on Dec 29, 1850, died on December 31 1850 and Sarah Richard Willimina Rapelje, born on September 2, 1852, died on April 6, 1854. They were buried in St. John’s Anglican Church Cemetery.

[11] Abraham B. Rapelje, born c. 1803 according to the 1861 Census of Simcoe, was the second son of the Colonel. The story of his mother’s trip to New York in 1819 or 1820 recounted at the end of this sketch mentions that Abraham was then fifteen years old. Abraham’s wife Anna Thompson was twenty years his junior and his children recorded in the 1861 Census of Simcoe were Sarah R., born c. 1852, Anna A., born c. 1856, and A. R. McGregor Rapelje, born c. 1860.