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THE CONKWRIGHTS
Submitted by Jim G. Faulconer
The Conkwrights are of Dutch origin, and the first of this line came to
this country by 1642. The family has been well researched by William B.
Van Alstyne of Plainfield, New Jersey; and the Kentucky branch by the
late S.J. Conkwright of Winchester, Kentucky. In the 1930s, Bessie Taul
Conkwright did further research and writing. Then, more recently, Nellie
Adams and Bertha Walton wrote Fox Cousins by the Dozens, which included
material on the Conkwrights. I have used material from all the above
sources, trying to correct some of the mistakes, and going to original
source material when possible. No doubt some mistakes will appear here.
All are advised to check against the original records as much as
possible.
First, it must be noted that whereas in many cultures family names go
back for centuries, this was not true with families of Holland until
about 1700. A family might have two or three names before deciding upon
one permanently. Furthermore, the descendants might take different
names.
The name, "Conkwright," has many variations: Krankheyt, Kronkhaydt,
Cronkheit, etc. The famous newscaster, Walter Cronkheit, is of this
family. Yet this is not to be found in Holland, which means that it was
probably an American invention. The name, "Krankheyt," means pale or
sickly, and it was probably a nickname given to one or more of the
family, and it stuck.
The first immigrant of this line was Harck Siboutsen, from Langendyck,
in North Holland. He married Wyntje Theunis, an immigrant from Norden,
North Holland, on November 16, 1642, in New Amsterdam. This became New
York City in 1664. The name "Harck" means son of. Hence he called
himself the son of Sibout. He did not use a family name. His sons were
given baptismal names, to which was added the name Herckson, meaning
"son of Herck" or "Harck." They dropped the last name Herckson and
adopted Krankheyt as a family name. The name of their mother, Wyntje
Theunis, signifies that she was "Wyntje, daughter of Anthony."
According to the Chronicles of the Ancestors of Chauncey M. Depew, Harck
Siboutsen lived on the Heeren Geroucht, now Broad Street, New York City.
This adjoined the property of Abraham Riker. Harck and his family lived
there until about 1650, when they moved to Newton, Long Island. Here are
abstracts of some of the records found on Herck Siboutsen.
November 1643, he deeded a house and lot "on the Manhattans" to Barent
Dircksen, baker, from Noorden. (Calendar N.Y. Historical Msc, Dutch
1630- 1665, page 25)
April 18, 1644, he planted 5 morgens of salt meadow near the Poor
Bowery. (Calendar, p. 308)
December 17, 1646, Adam Roelantsen, schoolmaster, attacked Wyntje
Theunis, wife of Herk Syboltsen, and was sentenced to be publicly
flogged, and banished, but the sentence was reprieved because he had
four motherless children. (Calendar, p. 106)
July 27, 1647, Hark Sybertsen gave power of attorney to Claes Jansen
Salff, to receive money for him from the West India Company at
Amsterdam. (Calendar, p. 38)
November 10, 1647, at the baptism of his daughter, Marijken, he was
called Scheeptimmerman--ship carpenter.
July 2, 1654, he patented 21 morgens of land beyond Hellgate, on Long
Island. (Calendar, p. 38) Riker, the historian, stated that Siboutsen
had settled on this land four years before his patent. The locality was
known as Arme Bowerye, or Poor Farm, until modern times. Now it is in
the village of Steinway, Long Island.
February 18, 1656, Lourens Pietersen Noorman deeded Herck Syboutsen land
in New Amsterdam, on the east side of the Graft. This is now Broad
Street. (Valentine's Manual, 1861, pages 582-583)
March 22, 1656, the same lot was deeded to Luycas Dircksen Van Berg.
(same)
September 1675, the list of estates of Newtown shows Harrick Sibartsen,
0 mals, 30 v.p. land and meadow, 2 horses, 2 three yer olds, 0 two yer
olds, 0 yerlings, 2 oxen, 4 cows, 0 three yer ouldds, 0 t yer oulds, 00
shep, 1 swine. (Doc. Hist. of New York, Vol. II p. 466)
September 24, 1678, a list of estates of "inhabytance" of Newtown, Long
Island, shows Harick Sibertsen--2 heads, 22 land, 0 oxen 6 cowes, 0
three yer olds, 2 one year, 6 horses, 0 three years, 1 two year, 10
sheep, 2 swine. (Doc. Relating to Colonial History of New York, Vol. 14,
p. 738)
Between August 6, 1681, when his son, Joseph, was baptized, and 1683,
when he was not listed at Newtowne, Herck Siboutsen apparently died. In
the rate list of 1683, John Harrickson, Harck's son, is listed with the
land and livestock. (Doc. Hist., Vol. II, p. 515) The 1686 list of
church members of the Dutch Reformed Church of New York City shows
Wyntie Theunis, wed. vou (widow of) Herck Tiebout, Arme Bouwerye.
(Holland Society Year Book, 1916, p. 35)
Harck Siboutsen and his wife, Wyntje Theunis, had fifteen children, and
fortunately for us, their baptismal records were preserved. All but the
last were baptized in New York City.
1. Sybouts (Sibout), December 4, 1644. Sponsors: Sibout Claeszen,
Hendrick Jacobszen, Sarah Scheponoes. He married Marytyje Abrahamee.
More later.
2. Maryken, November 10, 1647. Sponsors: Theunis de Metselaer, Reynier
Dominicus, Claes Janszan, Belitje Cornelis. She married Evert Aertszen.
3. Beelitjen, February 4, 1652. Sponsors: Lamber Huybertszen, Jacob
Tenniszen, Jan Jonszen, Beelitje Jacobs. She married Coenradt Ten Eyck,
Jr.
4. Engeltje, May 17, 1654. Sponsors: Jochem Calder, Dirck Janszen,
Susana Jans, Ametje Lodowijcks. She married (1) Pieter Breestrede, (2)
Jan Evertzen and (3) Jan Wendover (Windeford).
5. Teunis, July 4, 1655. Sponsors: Arie Dirckszen, Jochem Clajer, Teunis
Teuniszen, Belitje Jacobs, Susana Jons. He married Sophia Hendriex.
6. Jon, November 28, 1657. Sponsors: Pieter Syboutszen, Jacob Theuniszen,
Grietie Huddens, Belitje Jacobs. He married Grietje ?
7. Jacobus, September 7, 1659. Sponsors: Jacob Theuniszen de Key, Aelt
Willems. He married Elizabeth Hegeman, had no children, and died at age
70 on February 18, 1729.
8. Annetie, April 19, 1662. Sponsors, Hillegond Theunis. She married
Johannes Van Vorst. Berthold Fernow's Records of New Amsterdam, Vol. II,
page 424, includes this item:
Philip Schoof, pltf. v/s Anneke Sibouts, def. Pltf. produces his demand
in writing regarding the insult he received from the deft. coming out of
the Church from the wedding with his bride. (He married Jannetje Teunis
Kray on June 28, 1658) Deft. says it was done in fun, as they were
acquaintances, and that she cried out, to see that they slept together
and therefore did not deserve to have palm strewed. Deft. is asked, if
she had any thing to say against pltf.? Answers, Nothing but what is
truly honorable and virtuous.
9 Jannetie, August 3, 1664. Sponsors: Jacob Theuniszen Croy, Pieter
Janszen, Geertie Theunis. She married (1) John Pinkens and (2) ? Juman
or Yoemans.
10. Ariaentie, June 4, 1666. Sponsors: Jacobus de Key, Marritie Lievans.
She married Jan Ryder.
11. Hilletie, April 22, 1668. Sponsors: Jonas Bartelszen, Tryntie
Wemeyers. She married (1) ? Sneddiker and (2) ? Fredericks.
12. Pieter, March 22, 1670. Sponsors: Jacobus de Key, Geertie Theunis.
13. Weyntie, March 27, 1675. Sponsors: Karsten Lunrzen, Engeltje Hercks.
She married (1) John Luyster and (2) Pieter Hoff.
14. Joseph, August 6, 1681. Sponsors: his parents.
15. Catrina (Tryntie), no record of her baptism. She is believed to have
been born about 1650, and married Ryck Abrahamsen before 1681.
* * *
Sibout Herricksen, meaning Sibout, son of Herrick, was the eldest son of
Harck, or Herrick, Siboutsen and his wife, Wyntje Theunis. As shown
above, he was baptized on December 4, 1644, in New Amsterdam, or present
day New York City. In April 1669 he married Marytje Abrahams (Riker),
who had been baptized on February 21, 1649, in New Amsterdam. She was
the daughter of Abraham Rycken and Grietje Hendricks. Sibout and his
wife, Marytje, had eight children, all of whom were baptized in New York
City:
1. Herck, April 17, 1670. Sponsors: Theunis Thomaszen and Belitje
Thomas.
2. Marritie, October 28, 1672. Sponsors: Herck Siboudtszen and Marrietie
Hercks.
3. Abraham, August 16, 1676. Sponsors: Everet Aertszen and Marrietie
Herck. He married Antje Broeckhout.
4. Wyntie, May 1, 1680. Sponsors: Herck Siboutzen and Wyntjie Theunis.
5. Annetie, March 19, 1684. Sponsors: Pieter Janszen and Jenneken de
Key. She married Jan Beesby.
6. Herck, November 20, 1687. Sponsors: Jan Hercxen and Adrianetie Hercx.
His name was Herck, or Herrick Siboutsen (son of Sibout) Krankheyt. From
him we get the family name, "Conkwright." More later.
7. Jan, November 20, 1689. Sponsors: Jacobus de Key and Anneken Hercx.
8. Hilletje, April 30, 1693. Sponsors: Johannes Van Vorst and Tryntie
Hercx. She married Frank Beesby.
* * *
Herrick Syboutsen Krankheyt, son of Sibout Herricksen and Marytje
Abrahams, was baptized on November 20, 1687, in New York City. About
1712 he married Fytje de Ronde, who was baptized there on September 30,
1694. She was the daughter of William Hendricxen and his wife, Magdalena
(Helena) Brouwer. They had seven children, all baptized at Tarrytown,
New York:
1. Magdalena, March 24, 1713. Sponsors: Willem de Ronde and Grietje
Brouwer.
2. Maritje, June 11, 1715. Sponsors: Sybout Kranckheyt and Maritje Echer.
3. Zybout, April 18, 1716. Sponsors: Zybout Harckse Krankeyt and
Marryetie Ecker.
4. Willem, April 22, 1718. Sponsors: Willem de Ronde and Altie de Ronde.
5. Abram, June 19, 1723. Sponsors: Abram Ecker and Rahel Lent.
6. Henreck, June 19, 1725. Sponsors: Henreck de Ronde and Catherine, his
wife.
7. Herculius, June 24, 1727. Sponsors: Herculius Lent and Cornelia, his
wife. More below.
* * *
Herculius Krankheyt, son of Herrick Syboutsen Krankheyt and his wife,
Fytje de Ronde, baptized at Tarrytown, New York, on June 24, 1727, is
believed to be the immigrant to Kentucky later in the century. This
latter Herculius was born in 1725, according to his son's Bible. It is
quite possible that the baptism was delayed, or that the birthdate was
approximated. Herculius married Dorothy or Dorothea ? , according to the
Conkwright records. Oliver Lienhard, a researcher, said she was Dolly
Arckje, but gave no documentation. Hercules appeared in the Colonial
Records of Anson County, North Carolina, as one of the "Regulars"
opposing Governor Tryon in 1768. On January 20, 1781, "Hercules
Konkright" was witness to the will of Henry Goldman in Mecklenburg,
North Carolina. (WB C, pp. 116-118) As seen below a daughter of Hercules
married a son of Henry. On November 2, 1784, "Harkles Conekright" was
granted 260 acres there. On November 9, 1786, "Harkless Contrite and
Dolly, his wife" of Mecklenburg County sold this land, land in what was
to become Cabarrus County in 1792. They probably moved to Kentucky soon
after they sold the land, for "Harculus Conkright" appeared on the tax
list for Fayette County in 1788. Kentucky became a state in 1792, the
same year that Clark County was formed from Fayette County. In 1793
Hercules Conkwright is listed in the tax records of Clark County.
There is no record that Hercules ever owned land in Kentucky, and few
records exist on him. On July 11, 1801, "Dolle Conkright" was "received
by experance" in the Providence Baptist Church, near the Kentucky River.
Then, on February 13, 1802, there was this entry: "Whare as Dolle
Conkright being a member of this church rending her self from sd. church
by joining the medethis (Methodist) society she is considered no more
under our cear."
Hercules and his wife died in Clark County on land owned by their son,
John Conkwright, and are buried there. Hercules died in 1809, and left
no will. The estate was inventoried and appraised.
According to the Conkwright research, Hercules and Dorothy Conkwright
had five known children: John, Mary, Dorothy, Abram and Averest.
However, the Oliver family records of Clark County mention two others,
Hannah and Rachel. They were apparently older, and married prior to the
move to Kentucky. Another is found in the marriage records of Rowan
County, North Carolina. Here they are, though not necessarily in the
correct order:
1. Hannah Conkwright was born on January 28, 1761, according to the late
Oliver Lienhard, researcher of the Oliver family. She married Richard
Oliver in North Carolina about 1778. Since Richard and Hannah lived for
a time in Mecklenburg County, perhaps this is where they met and
married. Richard, born on December 20, 1752, was a Revolutionary War
soldier. He and Hannah settled in Clark County, Kentucky. On February
25, 1791, the Providence Baptist Church "Received Richard Oliver, Hannah
Oliver and Thomas Stevens by experience." On October 8, 1796, the church
"dismist Richard Oliver by letter." Richard and Hannah had these known
children: Mary, William, Sarah "Sally," John, Minnie, Nancy, Isaac, and
Joel
2. Eleanor "Nellie Conkright" married Henry Goldman, Jr., in Rowan
County, North Carolina, on September 9, 1780. They also settled in Clark
County. Their known children were Charles, Isaac, Jacob, Abraham and
Eleanor.
3. Isaac Conkwright was born on March 20, 1767, probably in Mecklenburg
County, according to the research of the late Bessie Taul Conkwright. He
settled in Washington County, Kentucky, and later Casey County. He died
on March 26, 1848, aged 81 years and 6 days, near New Salem, Illinois.
4. Rachel Conkwright was younger than her sister Hannah, and married
Richard Oliver's younger brother, Isaac. This also probably took place
in North Carolina. They settled in Clark County. They had nine known
children: Nancy, John, Isaac, Elizabeth "Betsy," Polly, William, James,
Joseph Mourning, and Benjamin A. Oliver. Isaac died on October 15, 1835;
and Rachel died sometime after that. This writer is a descendant of
Rachel and Isaac Oliver, through their son, Joseph Mourning Oliver.
5. John Conkwright was born on March 24, 1775, in Mecklenburg County,
North Carolina. He married Keturah "Kitty" Lewis in Clark County on
January 24, 1799. John and Nancy Vice gave their consent. John and Kitty
had eight children. John Jr., Isaac, Frances, Talitha, Elizabeth,
Cynthia, Sally, and Nancy.
6. Mary Conkwright married John Jackson in Clark County on August 17,
1795. Hercules posted the surety.
7. Dorothy Conkwright married Aaron Vise in Clark County on January 28,
1807. Averest Conkwright posted the surety.
8. Abraham Conkwright married Nancy Jackson in Clark County on November
27, 1793. Nancy's father, Jesse Jackson, signed his consent. Their known
children were Lakin or Larkin, John, Nancy, Rebecca, and Benjamin. (Fox
Cousins by the Dozens, p. 78)
9. Averest Conkwright.
* * *
Compiled by Jim G. Faulconer, 5200 Oakbrooke Drive, Kettering, OH 45440.
(JFaulconer@aol.com) July 28, 1997.
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