Fredrick and Engeltie (Hendricks) Mouritz and family

Our eighth great grandparents, Fredrick Mouritz and Engeltie Hendricks and their children lived in Marbletown, Ulster County, New York in the 1660s along with many other Dutch people, some French Huguenots, and a few English folks. The Dutch were from well-to-do families seeking adventure and action in the new world. The Huguenots, exiled from France, were welcomed by the Dutch who were living by the large stream of Esopus.

To the Dutch, America owes its civil and religious liberty and its wise and tolerant system of laws, recording of deeds, mortgages and wills. From the earliest settlement to the present, the records of Ulster have been scrupulously and accurately kept, running  back in succession for over 250 years. 

Here is the translated will of Fredrick Pietersen Mouritz, [written in the Dutch language], dated 30 May 1709:
[First, there is a long religious preamble]
"My wife, Engeltie shall possess and remain in possession of my whole estate during her life, on condition that if she should happen to marry, it shall go to my heirs named below. My eldest son, Pieter, 30 schepels of winter wheat, his right of primogenitur. To my seven children, Jannetje, Pieter, Engel, Hendrick, Geertruid, Elysabeth, and Oeyke, my entire estate, to be equally divided among them with the exception of the wheat to Pieter. Wife appointed executrix. Signed by the testator. Hendrick Bogart (his mark), Jans Middagh, Joris Middagh, Wm. Nottingham. The will was proven May 30, 1709 when Mr. H. Bogart, Capt. Joris Middagh, and Wm. Nottingham appeared before the Court."

Here, also, are the known dates of baptism of the Mauritz children that I added to Fredrick's list:
Pieter 16 Oct 1667
Jannetje 18 Jun 1671, our ancestor
Engel, [a male]
Hendrick
Geertruid 28 Jul 1684
Elysabeth05 Dec 1686
Oeyke, [a female]

SOURCES: Gustave Anjou, "Ulster County, New York Probate Records" Volume I