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Ancestors of Colonel George Steuart, Robert Stewart, 1907, p12
V. - Susannah Verplank
This I take to be the maiden name of John Garland's wife and assume that she was a daughter of Abraham Isaacson Verplank,
whose children have just been enumerated. For, first, John Garland, in hia will, calls his wife Susannah, mentions as
his brother, Mr. Guyline Verplancke, and appoints him as one of his executors - the other being Francis Rombout, who was
an intimate associate of the celebrated Gulian, son of Abraham Verplaok. Secondly, we find in a list of marriage
licenses published under the title, "New York Marriages," in which are "Licenses by Secretary of the Province of
New York," the following: - "John Garland and Susannah Verplank, April 20, 1669."
[This is taken from a part entitled, "Orders, Warrants and Letters," Vol. I, p.417]
Again, Susannah Garland's history
seems to be so connected with the Verplanks both in New York and
Delaware, as to admit of only one solution - that she was a Verplank herself. Moreover, we discover that her son Silvester
called one of his children Abraham, probably after his maternal grandfather.
She must have been born as early as 1640 or 1645, and her birthplace was doubtless New York, or, as it was called then New Amsterdam.
She was married three times: -
First, to a man named Von Leijer, by whom she had at least one son, Guyleyne Von Leijer.
Secondly, to John Garland, as above stated, by whom she had two sons - Silvester and Matthias.
Thirdly, to Daniel Brown, by whom also she may have had children.
Until her second husband's death in 1673 or 1674, she seems to have resided in New York, and, daring at least part of the time
after her marriage to her third husband, she lived in Kent Co., Delaware, but said to be "in the territory of Pennsylvania,"
of which Delaware once formed a part; and here she was after her third husband's death as late as January 4, 1700, when we
lose all trace of her. Her father had land in Delaware (see p. 8), and this may have been given to her, and thus her footsteps
may have been directed thither.
It was her lot to administer on the estates of both her second and her third husbands, and Jan. 4, 1700, spelling her name Bruin,
she gave a power of attorney to her "well-beloved son, Silvester Garland," to look after her material interests in New York, and
recover any property there belonging to her. The witnesses to this last document were Abraham Verplank and Daniel T. D. B. Brown,
and they appeared at New Castle, Delaware, May 6, 1701, to oonfirm their signatures.
VI. - John Garland
Susannah Verplank's second husband, brings to the Vigne and the Verplank lines of descent a new strain in the progress of our
family history; for the Garlands were probably English or Welsh, while the others, as we have seen, were French and Dutch.
Peter Garland, the mariner, whose descendants are given in "Garland Genealogy" by James Gray Garland, is said to have come
from Wales between 1620 and 1627, and is first found as a resident at Charlestown, Massachusetts Bay, in 1637. The author remarks:
"It is believed he is the ancestor of all the Garlands, North and South. They were of the Sussex branch of the Garland family and
moved from England into Wales, the other families being in York and one in Lancashire. It is believed the ancestor of the Sussex
branch was John Garland, Warden of the Cinque Ports in the 15th Century. The name Garland is said to have been of Saxon origin,
the German signifying 'gleaned from the land.' [Garland Genealogy. A Coat of arms is given in this book.]
George Saintsbury, in his History of Criticism (Vol. I, p. 408) speaks of a John De Garlandia who wrote a work of some merit entitled
Ars Rhythmica in the 12th Century. The name, as he finds it, points to a French origin. This John Garland, however, may have been born in England.
Whether John Garland, of New York, came from the above-mentioned John or the New England Peter is uncertain.
Probably he was himself an original immigrant to America, but where he was born, or where he landed in the New World,
we know not. His name appears to be spelt not only "Garland," but also "Gurland" and "Gaerlant" in old records,
especially Dutch. This might point to a Dutch origin; but probably the latter spellings only represented the
pronunciation of the people of the place, while his marriage with a Dutch-French woman would only naturally follow
from the circumstances of his residence.
Of private records relating to him none remain; and of public records only five (possibly six) have been found: -
his license to marry, his permit to trade with the Indians, his commission to trade in Delaware, a writ replevin, his will,
and the appointment of his wife as administratrix of his estate and executrix of his will.
His license to marry Susannah Verplank has been given already in our account of his wife (p. 10).
His permit to trade with the Indians, extended also to his wife, and was given March 10, 1672. [See Pennsylvania Archives, 2nd Series]
His commission to trade in Delaware was given March 20, 1673, while Deputy Governor Francis Lovelace was in office, and is published in
Hazard's Annals of Pennsylvania (p. 404). It runs as follows:—
"License was given for John Garland to trade and traffic with the Indians, or others, at Whorekill in any goods
not prohibited, and likewise to go up the river above New Castle in any vessel belonging to New York, according to toleration
granted by Government in Council, 27th January last. The magistrates are required not to hinder him, any forum* orders notwithstanding."
The "writ replevin" may not refer to this John Garland inasmuch as it is not dated, but probably it does so refer.
James A. Garland, Esq., of New York, speaks of it thus, "John Garland, of New York, appears as the subject of a
writ replevin. The constable of New Utrecht, attached the sum of £20, part of which was realized by the sale of
a span of horses belonging to Captain Sylvester Salisbury."
His Will is dated June 15, 1673, and was recorded in New York, Feb. 26, 1674, at the instance of John Sharpe, who
desired to be administrator of the estate. It reads, verbatim et literatim, as follows: -
"In the name of God Amen, I John Garland, of the city of
New Yorke, being weake in Body, but of perfect good memory, do make this my last Will and Testamt, in manner and
forme following, That is to say, Imprimis, I bequeath my Soul into the hands of God, my Creator, from whom I
received it, assuredly trusting to receive Salvation through the precious death and blood of my deare Saviour
and Redeemer, Jeans Christ And my Body to the Earth to be Buryed according to the discretion of my two executors
hereafter named.
"Item, I give and bequeath unto my deare wife, Susannah Garland, my Riding Horse, Together with all my Goods and
Debts, by Bill, Bond, Booke, or Bookes whatsoever (except hereafter excepted).
"Item, I give and bequeath to my eldest sonne Silvester Garland, All my wearing Cloathes together with my Sword,
Pistolls and ffurniture thereunto belonging. And for my Horses and Mares, now running upon Staten Island, my will
and meaning is, That they shall be equally divided between the said Silvester, and Matthias Garland my Becond sonn
and Guyleyne Von Leijer a sonne by my wife's former Husband, Hereby earnestly desiring my Trusty and wel beloved
Brother Mr. Guyline Ver Plancke and my welbeloved ffriend Mr. Francois Rumbout to bee my Executors to see this my
last will and Testament put in Execucion, according to the true intent and meaning thereof; In witness whereof I
hereunto set my hand and Seal this fifteenth day of June in the year of our Lord God one Thousand six hundred Seventy and three.
John {Seal) Garland
Signed sealed and published to be my last will and Testament in presence of
John Carr
Will Tom
Ed. Cantwell
Ralph Hutchinson
For the purpose of securing the execution of this will letters of administration were granted to Susannah Garland, April 15, 1675, as follows:
"Whereas John Garland late an Inhabitant of this City deceased did in his last will and Testament nominate and desire
Mr. Guylyne ver Plancke and Mr. Francois Rombouts of this city Merchants to bee Executor in Trust of his Estate for the
use of Susannah his wife and the children in the said will set forth, But the said persons so nominated having in the
Mayor's Court of this city Publickly renounced their said Executorship, aud refused any way to intermedle with Estate
of the deceased whereby it became lyable to bee administered on by any other, And whereas Susannah, the widdow and
Relict of the said deceased did since make application to the said Court of Mayor and Aldermen, that shee might
Administor upon her husband's Estate, to the end that the Creditor being first satisfied she might know what trust
to for the maintenance of herselfe and Children which said Court did allow to her Request upon the Condicons in the
Law for Administracons exprest and have recommended the same unto me for my Confirmacon; These present may Certifie
all whom it may concerne That the said Susannah, widdow and Relict of John Garland dec'd is Admitted and Confirmed
to all intents and purposes Administratrix of the Estate, Goods and Chattels of her said Husband; And the said Susannah
hath hereby full Power aud Lawfull Authority to enter upon, and take or keepe possession of the premisses and to dispose
thereof as farre as it will go to the Creditors. And what shall remaine to the use of herselfe and children as neare as
may be according to the will of the deceased and according as Administrators by the Laws of this Government are allowed to do;
She giving Security for the performance of whatsoever the Law shall require upon the Account:
Given under my hand and Seale in New Yorke this 15th day of Aprill in the 27th yeare of his Ma'ties Reigne Annoque Dui 1675.
E. ANDROS S.
From the above documents we learn that John Garland was a citizen of New York, that he was married to Mrs. Van Leijer,
a widow (nee Susannah Verplank, sister of Gulian Verplank) about April 20, 1669, that he had two sons and a stepson,
that he had a considerable stock of horses on Staten Island, that he traded with the Indians and others (partly by
sea vessels) in the State of Delaware, especially at Whorekill which was near Cape Henlopen, that probably he had
close business relations with Capt. Salisbury: that apparently he sometimes rendered himself liable to law suits,
that he was a believing Christian, that he died between June 15, 1673, and February 26, 1674, that through the
refusal of the executors named in his will to act, his estate was not administered upon for a considerable length
of time, and that his widow was finally appointed to do this business. We also infer that his standing was quite
respectable, or he would not have called Francois Rombout his 'well-beloved friend." Rombout was once Mayor of
New York aud for many years a very prominent citizen. John Garland could not have been very old at the time of his
death and may have been under thirty.
The children of John Garland and his wife Susannah (Verplank) Garland were two in number, as follows: -
1. Silvester, the elder, who continues our line of descent.
2. Matthias, the younger, born probably in 1672 or 1673.
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Copyright © 2003, Mary S. Van Deusen