The unlimited free trade of Seelands did not please the Count of Holland. Floris V wanted to see strong cities and a well-faring population in his immediate neighborhoods. As much as he could he promoted commerce an industry of Haarlem, Leyden and Delft. Where they were in the natural disadvantage he created artificial advantages. Floris protected the wool trade and weavers of these cities by a high tariff on wool in all his lands. For the Lord Van der Veer this was almost prohibition of his English-Flemish wool-trade. The Count had made himself thus at once two or more might enemies, namely Wolfert I Van der Veer and Henry VII of England. In Holland itself were many mighty nobles infuriated against the Count for less noble [17] reasons. He namely had made an end to their highway robberies an piratical enterprises. Combined with these men Wolfert Van der Veer plotted in 1296 to take the Count prisoner and ship him to England, where Henry would bring him to terms in the wool import matter The Holland nobles, however, had a much deeper hate against the Count. The same year they captured him suddenly while hunting and much to the regret of Wolfert Van der Veer they murdered him cruelly at the spot.
Wolfert Van der Veer lived long enough to see the old countal house of Holland die out in 1299 with Jan, only son of Floris and to see the house of Henault as rulers of Holland. When the Counts of Holland had not promoted the commerce of Seeland, he had advocated a broad commercial union between, England, Flanders and Holland. It was a season of great joy to him to see the Flemish arms defeat the French Knights of Adventure in 1303 and to receive their triumphant fleet in his harbor at Veere in the same year. [18] Here was a prophecy of the great days that were to come for his foundation and his posterity. Without a blot on his character or a stain of blood on his hand, even in those times, the man who devoted a lifetime to welfare and progress of his family, his province and family to those of two great countries, died in the end of the year 1303. Compared with that what was to come his work was only a foundation yet, but a solid and a sound foundation.
Wolfert, 1st Lord Van der Veer, had married Sibilla (lad of Cleverskercke). They had eight children; five sons and there daughters: Wolfert, the IId Lord Van der Veer who follows. Floris, Claes, Frank, Hendrick, Hadewich, Sibilla, Margaretha. The daughters all married. Sibilla died high-aged, last of all in 1352. After the death of Sibilla Van Cleverskercke, Wolfert, 1St Lord Van der Veer, had married Catarina de Durbuy, widow of [19] Albert Van Voorne. She owned the Castle Teylingen in Holland and in the pleasant surroundings Wolfert spent sometimes a few restful days. In this same castle Wolfert's great-grandson, Frank Van Borsselen, would once, more than a century afterward cheer the last days of the most unfortunate yet most heroic countess of Holland, Jacoba, who died there in 1436. With the sons of Wolfert, 1st Lord Van der Veer , the family began to split up into branches again as their Van Borsselen ancestors had done before them. The oldest son continued the Van der Veer line.
The 2nd son, Floris Van Borsselen Van der Veer, married, but died childless.
The 3rd son, Claes Van Borsselen Van der Veer, became Lord of Brigdamme and founder of the family Van Brigdamme, which died out in 1521 at Gouda with Jacob Van Brigdam. But the line of Raes, 4th son of the aforesaid Claes, having returned to their old home at Veere continued as the Van Borsselen Van Sanddyck.
A great grandson of Raes Van Adriaen, became through marriage, Lord Van der Hooghe. His descendants have become the chief and subsequently the only existing direct legitimate branch of the Van Borsselen Van der Veer family. The name at present is fixed at Van Borsselen Van der Hooghe.
The 4th son, Frank Van Borsselen Van der Veer, became founder of the family van Cortgene, which seems to have no traces in history beyond the 16th century.
VI. Wolfert, IId Lord Van der Veer, was born about 1270. he succeeded his father in all his titles and most of his property in 1303. Under the disturbed conditions in Holland and Flandres the Seeland nobles had deemed it necessary to select a leader. Wolfert Van der Veer was made "First Nobleman of Seeland," a title which was hereditary upon his oldest son and which was conferred to the later Lord of Veere also after the old reigning line had come to an end. It implied the presidency at the assemblies [21] of Seeland nobles, a decisive vote in ??bious questions, and the right to be Plenipotentiary of Seeland at all conferences abroad where Seeland interests were pending.
In 1304 the Flemish Supremacy so welcome to Seeland, was again and this time for good brought to an end by the Count of Holland, and Holland and Seeland were from that time on united under one sovereign head. William III, who succeeded there in 1304, was the most popular Count Holland ever had. Regular taxation did not exist then, but whenever the Prince was in need of money for his private, as well as his public affairs, he used to appeal to the local representatives in the cities an to the Assembly of nobles. William III gave so many commercial privileges to the different cities that they, at certain occasions, when he called or money, gave him ten times more than he asked. This made him also very popular at Veere. Wolfert died in 1317. He had been married with Aleida of Henault, a sister of the Count of Holland, William III. [22]Their children were Wolfert, who became IIId Lord Van der Veer; Sibilla and Claes. His widow remarried with Otto Van Buren, as whose widow she died at high age in 1351.
VII. Wolfert, IIId Lord Van der Veer, succeeded after his father's death in 1317 at the age of twenty-one. He, therefore, must have been born in 1295. For twenty years he ruled Veere and surroundings under the prosperous reign of his sovereign William III of Holland. The ship building at Veere was extended. Not only for own use but for many surrounding places ships were made and a considerable number of trading vessels came there for their regular annual repairs. The wool trade between England and Flandres was greatly carried on by Wolfert III and his men, many of whom had become wealthy themselves.
When in 1337 William III, the full first cousin of Wolfert III died, the prosperity lasted under the reign of his son, William IV, or rather of his council. The young count disliked the peace of his father's days and looked for [23]war and trouble everywhere. in 1345 he crossed with a few ships and the best of the knighthood of Holland Seeland the Zuyder See. he wanted to subdue the Frisians, who had no Lord, but a republic of the so-called "Sever Free Frisian Sealands." The count's army was completely defeated and he himself was slain. He died childless and this was cause which ended the years of prosperity. Willem IV left two sisters: Margaretha, the oldest, who was married to Lodewick of Bavaria, Emperor of the German Empire, and Philippa, the youngest, whose husband was Edward III, king of England.
Margaretha succeeded as countess of Holland and Seeland and placed her 2nd son, Willem of Bavaria, there as her lieutenant. he was only seventeen years old, but so ambitious that he refused to give governmental account to his sovereign mother.
The two old parties in Holland, the nobility that wanted to live from revenues and the nobility that in combination with the rising cities developed commerce and industry, had been dormant and now woke up again. Dependency of a [24] count from the empress meant more or less dependency from the Empire. The Commercial nobility and the cities were bitterly against it; the "fait rien" nobility wanted a weak and dependent local government under which they could carry out their robberies and piratical enterprises.
Wolfert III, in his quality of "First Noble of Seeland," had in the first place to be loyal to the legal sovereign, who was Margaretha. But Margaretha had already at several previous occasions shown her hate for the peaceful and commercial party and favored that of the Knights of Adventure to which the Van Borsselen family as a whole, and the commercial and industrial Van der Veer branch sharply opposed.
Willem, her son, promised the commercial party to promote the economical welfare of the country if he was mad independent Count of Holland and Seeland. Willem, of Bavaria, seeing their importance of the aid of a man like Wolfert III Van Der Veer, whose principles he knew, tried with promises suitable to these principles to gain his friendship and therewith the authority over whole Seeland. By letter [25] the 14th of January, 1350, he confirmed Wolfert in all his ancestral possessions, in ??e he, Willem, would become sovereign Count, thus securing him the same rights in which he had already been confirmed by Countess Margaretha (see: Van Mieris: Charterboek Van Holland X Seeland, Vol.? P 766).
But by letter of the 18th of January, 1350, Wolfert and his two uncles still living Claes and Floris Van Boresselen Van Der Veer as by chief representatives of their house and the nobility of Seeland swore anew loyalty to Countess Margaretha (see Van Mieris, Vol. II, p. 767). If she, instead of the side of the Knights of Adventure, would take that of the commercial nobility and cities, why should they forswear their legal sovereign? In Seeland ??re since 1342 no more Knights of Adventure. The last quarrels had ended there by the settlement of July 23, 1342, by Count Willem IV. At the same date he had nominated a committee which should settle the smaller quarrels which had still remained. His committee, formed by three noblemen [26] Claes Crevice, Bolaerd Bolaerds and Wolfert IIId Lord Van der Veer, was presided by the last named. (see Van Mieris, Vol. II, p. 659-61.) The discord among the nobles of Seeland had subsequently entirely disappeared in 1350 when the parasitic Knights of the Teutonic order left Veere and Sanddyke. These knights had been invited by Wolfert, 1st Lord, to colonize his new lands in 1280 and since they had remained these married there and taught their children the traditions of an idle and parasitic life.
The commercial and industrial nobility of Seeland therefore stood for the first time as one man when in 1350 they renewed the oath to Countess Margaretha of Holland. The political state of affairs the following year was laid before a conference of Holland and Seeland nobles and city representatives at Dordrecht (Mar, 1351) at which also Margaretha and her pretending son were present. Wolfert Van der Veer represented the Seeland nobility. There it became so evident that Countess Margaretha had decided to restore in Holland and Seeland the power [27] of the Knights of Adventure, that those who tool the economic welfare of the country at heart immediately decided to abandon her and immediately decide to abandon her and to proclaim her son as Willem V Count of Holland and Seeland. Wolfert Van der Veer, then giving up all hope upon the public spirit of Countess Margaretha openly forswore her and hailed Willem as sovereign. The whole nobility and population of Seeland applauded his firm actions.
Margaretha tried to force her country to subduction with the help of her brother-in-law, Edward III, of England. Much against his former politics and against the commercial interests of England he broke then the peace with Seeland and in April, 1351, he sent out a war fleet against his nephew Willem V of Holland. With the IIIrd Lord Van der Veer's help Willem in the meantime had formed at Veere a small naval power. A battle between the two forces took place by the harbor of Veere in May, 1351. Count Willem's forces were thoroughly beaten and Wolfert, IIId Lord Van der Veer, died a most glorious death in the defense of his country against the British invader. (see [28] P.J. Blok: Gesch. Van het Nederl. Volk II., p. 83,84. Also Hendrick Van Wyn's article in Werken Van het Zeeuwsch Gen. 1837.)
The wounded lion of Seeland took revenge of the death of the "First Noble" and in July, 1351, Willem's victorious fleet drove the last Englishman to sea. Besides the commerce and industry Wolfert III had promoted art and architecture. A new beautiful parochial Church was finished under his auspices at Veere in 1348. (see David Van Hoogshaten. Groot Woordenboek.) Wolfert IIId Van der Veer, had married Lady Hadewich, both Van der Eem(see: Van Wyn.) Their only two children were: Wolfert, who became IVth Lord Van der Veer and Aleyt, who married Jan Van Heenvliet, Lord of Blydenstein. She died in 1364. (see J. Kok. Tab. I. Col. 4) leaving children Jan, Elisabeth and Sweris, who married in 1389. There were heirs of Heenvliet. (see note 4.) [29]
Generation:
VIII. Wolfert, IVth Lord Van der Veer, born about 1320, succeeded his father in 1351 and shortly thereafter when the Willem became victorious, peace was restored in Holland Seeland. Wolfert IV immediately took up the works of peace and the progress of Veer at the point where his father had been forced to leave it. With the help of his father's new built watermills, he continued to make some more conquest on the sea, as his remote ancestry had done already two hundred years before him . (see: ??an Mieris. Charterboek II, p. 766. Also: Het Recht Van Zyne Hoogheid op Veere. ??dit 1745, p. 90.) The new land he called "de Polder" or "The dried up pool" and to his titles was added that of lord Van de Polder. (see: ??oh. Kok. Tab. I. col. s.) He also largely improved the streets of Veer and had wooden houses replaced by stone structures so as to diminish the danger of fires. Since 1350 he had seen the necessity of the fortification of his city. A strong wall, with towers and bulwarks [30] was built round Veere and finished in 1370. in 1357 Count Willem V had become insane as always was and still is a hereditary evil in the Royal House of Bavaria. His youngest brother, Albrecht, of Barvaria, succeeded him. He was 21 years old when in 1358 he arrived in Holland. Under his reign peace and prosperity again in these lands since the industrial population was left undisturbed. Count Albrecht died in 1404. Wolfert, IVth Lord Van der Veer, had married Lady Margaretha Van Arnemuyden. From this marriage one son was born in 1345. Hendrick, who as Vth Lord Van der Veer, became his father's successor.
Generation:
IX. Hendrick, Vth Lord Van der Veer, born in 1345, succeeded his father in 1383. He made a special effort to direct also other trades than the English wool trade toward Veere and he also succeeded in extending the wool trade. Almost twenty-five years he governed the city and literature began to flourish there. His citizens spent most of the summertime at sea and in strange counties. [31] In wintertime they stayed at home and the long winter evenings were used in story-telling and making of poetry. Three "Camers Van Rethoryken" were established at Veere: "de Witte Lely" (the White Lily); "de Blaue Accolyn" ("The Blue Mistical Flower") and "In Reyner Jonste Groeyende" ("Growing in Pure Friendship"). Hendrick Van der Veer married Catharina Van Ellewoutsdyck, who died after the birth of his only son Wolfert. he married for the second time with Margaretha Van Nyenrode, who became the mother of two daughters, Catharina and Aleida, Catharina Van der Veer married Allard de Pougres a French nobleman. Aleida married a Seeland, Arent, Lord van Cruyningen. Hendrick, Vth Lord Van der Veer, died in the year 1406 after a peaceful and well bestowed life.
Generation:
X. Wolfert, VIth Lord Van der Veer, born in 1372, succeeded his father in 1406. He had to face political difficulties from the beginning. Count Albrecht had died in December 1404. His son, who had succeeded him as Willem VI, contrary to his father, favored the always dissatisfied party of the Knights of Adventure or "Hooks" as they were called against the welfaring cities and commercial nobility, who went by the name of "Cods" or "Codfishes." The name Cod was given to the followers of Willem V and Albrecht already from their blue and silver checked uniforms, which resembled the scales of fishes. These gave to the Knights of Adventure the name of Hooks because they were always hooking and angling for some unearned increases or profits derived from the welfaring industrial population. Wolfert VI was like his fathers and the thoroughly honest Seeland Nobility a "Cod." The new Count had to be a "Hook," for he had only one daughter, who he wished to succeed him in Holland and Seeland. She, of course, had to be a "Hook" as all female rulers of those days were. If they were not the increasing commercial population would by the least resistance have proclaimed the republic. Now by professing "Hook" principles [33]she secured for herself at least the assistance of the Knights of Adventure. Willem VI, a weak man, who felt that he would not live long, secured in advance this help for his daughter by professing "Hook" principles immediately after his succession in 1405.
The leader of the commercial party in Holland was at the time Lord Jan Van Arkel, like Wolfert VI, was the leader of whole Seeland. Jan Van Arkel refused, in 1405, to swear allegiance to such a Count and the Count with his "Hooks" opened war on Cod leader in Holland. Wolfert VI kept wisely out Seeland out of the troubles in Holland. he acknowledged Willem VI, as Count, knowing that the Count could not trouble Seeland much as long as he was engaged in Holland. The Count relying upon a certain commercial jealousy which existed between Holland and Seeland thought he could win Wolfert VI and whole Seeland for the "Hook" party. he bestowed honors upon Wolfert immediately after his succession as VIth Lord Van der Veer in 1406. By charter of 6 November, 1406, he [34] confirmed him in his whole paternal inheritage (see: Van Mieris. Charterboek IV, p. 39) But the young scion of such an old and confirmed "Cod" family could not be caught by any sweet bate of the "Hooks."
As soon as Wolfert VI saw that the commercial party in Holland was faring badly in the war against the Count fear for the safety of Seeland compelled him to step in and join the forces of Jan Van Arkel. He acted too late; for Willem's troops, who could have been easily defeated by an army joined from the beginning, had thoroughly defeated the chief of the Holland Cods from 1405 to 1410 and their Seeland helpers with the rest of the scrambling army were defeated from 1410 to 1412. Wolfert VI probably died in this war in the beginning of the year 1411. (see: P.J. Blok. "Fesch" II.p.108-9). Wolfert VI had married in 1403 with Hadewich Van Borsselen, daughter of Claes Van Borsselen, Lord Van Brigdamme, who was the great grandson of Wolfert, 1st Lord Van Borsselen Van der Veer. [35] In 1411 he left one little son, Hendrick, six years old.
Generation:
IX. Hendrick, VIIth Lord Van der Veer, born in 1404, succeeded his father in 1411. "Hendrick het Kind" or "Hendrick the ??ild" as he was commonly called had for natural guardians his mother Lady Hadewich and his maternal grandfather Lord Claes Van Brigdamme, who as Regent also did act as "First Nobleman of Seeland." Here was a chance for Willem VI to deteriorate the power of a "First Noble of Seeland." As Wolfert VI during his lifetime expected, the Count took strong action in Seeland affairs as soon as he was victorious in Holland. Even before the peace in Holland was concluded in 1412 Count Willem VI who as sovereign had the supreme rights of discharging and nominating guardians, discharged Lord Claes and Lady Hadewich from their guardianship of the young Lord Van der Veer. The Count, in nominating guardians, however, was bound by the rule that whenever a guardian was discharged [36] the next of kin to the minor had to be appointed according to the laws of seniority. By manifest of 17 November, 1411, the lawful guardians were removed on accusation of ambitions of the house of Van Borsselen Van Brigdamme against the house of Van Borsselen Van der Veer. (see: Van Mieris: Charterboek. IV, p.193) The child's oldest aunt, Catharina Van der Veer, was made guardian instead. The title o "First Noble of Seeland" was now in the hands of a woman. And her husband, the foreign Lord Allard de Pouqes, as expected, took no interest in Holland and Seeland affairs.
Lady Catharina was a warm Seeland patriot sacrificed the honor in favor of the Seeland interest much against the expectation of Count Willem VI. As soon as she had served her minimum legal term as guardian, she returned on 30 November, 1413, the guardianship into the hands of the sovereign count. Her excuse was as open as it could be. She stated that she rather saw the guardianship in hands of a man or of a woman, whose husband, as acting guardian, could better exercise the rights of a guardian of Lord [37] Van der Veer. (see: Van Mieris; Charterboek IV, p. 263) Willem VI knew what would follow next; he hesitated. But he could not escape from acting lawfully. His position in Holland and Seeland, in view of the question of succession was too weak than that he could afford to make even one new enemy. And here such an important one as that of the First Noble of Seeland was in the scale. Aleida Van der Veer, young Hendrick's other aunt, was the next entitled to the guardianship. Her husband, Arent Van Cruinengen, was a "Cod" and a powerful Seeland nobleman at that. The Advent and the Christmas holidays gave the Count a welcome delay. But on the 11th of January, 1414, Arent Van Cruinengen, husband and the child's late aunt, Aleida Van der Veer was directly appointed as guardian. (see: Van Meris; Charterboek IV. P.264) He served as such faithfully and as a good educator until Hendricks's majority in 1425. (see also for the relationship; Van Mieris IV, p. 298.)
Willem VI foreseeing the troubles which his daughter Jacoba might find in her [38] succession had taken all possible steps to prevent this. In the summer of 1416 he called the noblemen and the city representatives of all Holland and Seeland up to a meeting at The Hague. There the "Hook" nobility took the oath to Jacoba unconditionally and the commercial nobility together with the cities promised that they would acknowledge Jacoba, if she would take the economical welfare of the country to heart. The Van Borsselen Van Brigdamme were present at the meeting, also the "First Noble of Seeland." There was among others Willem 1st Lord Van Scaghen, illegitimate brother to Count Willem IV of Holland; he swore unconditionally allegiance to his niece Jacoba. (see P.K.Blok. "Gesch." II, p 113-16.) Other securities for the succession were laid by matrimonial connection. When in the end of 1417 Count Willem VI died the succeeding Countess Jacoba fell immediately under "Hook" influence and when "Cods" chose at once and unanimously her uncle Jan of Bavaria as their head, the old [39] hostilities broke out again, more severe and more complicated than ever before.
Frank Van Borsselen Van Cortgene, grandson of Frank, founder of the Van Cortgene family, 3d son of Wolfert 1st Lord Van der Veer was from the beginning Jan of Bavaria's right hand in Seeland. He was placed in charge of the navel affairs there in 1421. (see Blok. Gesch II. p. 128.) Jan of Bavaria, was a priest and bishop of Liege. As such he was not married and had no legitimate heir. He nominated as such his sister Margaretha's son, Philip of Bourgond. From that time on Bourgond forces helped him in Holland and Phillip acted as chief of the "Cods" of Holland and Seeland as often as Jan was sick or absent.
When on January sixth, 1425, Jan, of Bavaria, died, Philip succeeded him in his leadership and in his expectations in Holland and Seeland. In the same year Hendrick, VIIth Lord Van der Veer, had reached the age of majority. He was now also acting "First Nobleman of Seeland." Philip, of Bourgond, was as sure of the interest of Seeland in his [40] professed "Cod" principles, as of his own ambition. By proclamation of 21st March, 1426, he appointed the young Lord Hendrick VII Van der Veer together with his older and more experienced relative Frank Van Borsselen Van Corrgene to Captain-General or what was later called admiral and place them in chief command of the Seeland navy. The had earned their laurels already for near Browershaven in Seeland the joint fleets of Holland and Seeland under Frank's command had beaten already the English fleet, which then under Humphrey, of Glocester, third husband of Countess Jacoba, had come to her rescue. (see Blok: Gesch II p.132.) Jacoba, with few helpers, had from 1425 to 1428, gallantly fought her lawful but unjust cause against the overwhelming progressive powers. By the compromise of 3 July, 1428, Philip, of Bourgond, as "heir expectant" was left in the actual possession of Holland and Seeland and a sort of honorary advisership in matters of government was left to Jacoba, who also kept the title of Countess.
The two countries, Holland and Seeland, were exhausted and [41] the once flourishing commerce and industry had suffered so much that the population was impoverished. Philip saw no other means to restore the public finances that by giving the revenues of Holland and Seeland in pawn to some wealthy nobleman.
The revenues of Holland and Seeland were pawned in November, 1430, for the time of eight by "Philip, of Bourgond" with consent of Countess Jacoba, to Hendrick, VIIth Lord Van der Veer. Frank Van Borsselen Van Cortgene and Floris Van Borsselen van Sanddyck. They received the titles of Governors of Holland and Seeland. Doing this they did a great service to Philip, of Bourgond, for the countries were so poor that the pawn was bought much too high. Besides, the Seeland nobles had difficulties in collecting the taxes and revenues in Holland, where the Seelanders, although much richer, were considered as a race subdued to Holland. There were riots whenever collections were made in Holland cities and in 1432 the Governors saw themselves in the necessity to make another arrangement. From that time on they kept themselves accountable for [42] the collections to Philip and this dependency pleased the Hollanders.
The Van Borsselens, however, had not for nothing given themselves these troubles. The extremely favorable circumstance had made them ambitious. Frank Van Cortgene, in August, 1432, had secretly married Countess Jacoba. This union of new actual power with old actual authority might become dangerous for Philip's position in the counties. Before, therefore, anything could be done, he imprisoned, in October, 1432, Frank, and sent him into exile. Then after he had deprived Jacoba of her remainder of authority he recalled her husband. They were allowed to live peacefully at the Castle of Teylingen, where Wolfert, 1st Lord Van der Veer, had spent many a restful day also. Jacoba's very stormy life ended there on 9th October, 1436. Frank Van Borsselen Van Cortgene lived many years yet as a faithful subject of Philip, of Borgond. Hendrick, VIIth Lord Van der Veer, strengthened his position in Holland much by the purchase of lands which, through charge of sovereigns, had to be evacuated [43] by foreign residents. In 1434 by charter of 10th October. Philip confirmed him in the jurisdiction of all the lands he had bought in Holland. (see Van Mieris. Charterboek IV, p.1053 and 1058.)
In all these public dealings and affairs Hendrick had not neglected his City of Veere. In 1430 he had made ships there for navigation further than England. He had made wool trade connections also with Scotland, for the Flemish cities needed more wool than ever, they had become the clothiers of whole Western Europe. With Edward IVth, of England, and James 1st, of Scotland, Hendrick, VIIth Lord Van der Veer, made a free trade union. Export and import in each other's lands and ports should completely free. Only if other merchants than those of Veere imported wool or sheepskins there from England and Scotland they had to pay 3 "groot" import duty per pound. This last clause secured the Lords Van der Veer the wool trade to remain in their own hands. At this time the Scotch wool staple, or principle continental storehouse for superfluously [44] imported Scotch wool, at the request of Hendrick, was transferred from Brugges to Veere by the King of Scotland.
The splendor of the house Van der Veer reached its summit when the Scotch King, in 1444, gave his daughter Maria Stuart in matrimony to Wolfert, son of Lord Hendrick Van der Veer. In 1435, Hendrick had opened commercial connections with the Baltic lands and the Scandinavian Countries. The first ships from Norway were seen in the harbor of Veere of that year. When Hendrick, VIIth Lord Van der Veer, admiral of Holland and Seeland, First Noble of Seeland, died in 1472, he left his office in splendid condition, his city in prosperity and his family in wealth and in the first ranks with the kings of Europe. (see David van Hoogstraten and all the Seeland Chronicles.) Hendrick, VIIth Lord Van der Veer, had married Lady of Hemsrode, who gave him one son, Wolfert who would succeed his father as IXth Lord Van der Veer. Hendrick also left two other sons, Paulus and Wolfert Van der Veer, whose grandson [45] Cornelius Van der Veer has become ancestor of Cornelius Janszen Van der Veer, the New Netherland immigrant. (see under XII.)
Generation:
XIIa. Wolfert, VIIIth Lord Van der Veer, born in 1428, succeeded his father in 1474. As a young lad he had already married Maria Stuart, daughter of the King of Scotland, in 1444. One child, Charles (Karel), was born from this marriage, but child and mother died soon thereafter. At a riper age, about 1465, he remarried with a French lady, Charlotte de Montpensier. Three daughters were left by her: Margaretha, who died as a child; Anna Van der Veer, who became her father's successor, and Margaretha Van der Veer, who married Walrave Van Brederode. When Wolfert, VIIIth Lord Van der Veer, died in 1487 as the last Lord Van der Veer of the old house, he saw the trade of the city extended over the whole of the known world. Products of the north pole lands were imported in Veere from the Baltic, and tropical products [46] from Spain and the Canerian Island, where ships of Veere were seen few years before Columbus passed them on his way to the new world.
Generation:
XIIIa. Anna Van Borsselen Van der Veer was the last ruler of Veer of the old house, married Philip, of Bourgond, an illegitimate son of Count Philip, to whom she had married in 1466 a year before his father's death. On their heirs and descendants the titles of Lord Van der Veer, admiral of Holland and Seeland and First Nobleman of Seeland would be conferred and after them to all who might legally possess the city and the land of Veere.
The passing away of the old rules of Veere was marked by large calamities for the city. In 1510 there was a heavy fire in the northern section of the town; besides many storehouses and salt factories, twenty residences of wealthy merchants with their art collections were burned. The pest of black death visited Veere in 1518 and took many of the best people away. [47] The further history of Veere has to be narrated shortly. Adolf, of Bourgond, became Load of Veere after his mother Anna's death. Under his grandson Maximiliam, of Bourgond, Emperor Charles V, of the German Empire, made Veere with the surrounding ladn a marquisy in 1555. The silver cup given to the city by the Lord in February, 1551, was long thereafter used by every election of city magistrates.
Having no children, his sister Anna's son, Maximiliam, of Henin, got the marquisy after his uncle's death. The young man, who lived abroad and was a spendthrift, sold Veere in 1567 so as to pay some of his enormous debt. The feudal power had shrunk already in those days and in fact he sold not more that a few right upon offices and certain taxes and other incomes. Philip II, King of Spain, and well know tyrant Count of Holland and Lord of the other Netherlands bought the city from him. When after foreswearing of the tyrant in 1581 the States-General of the United Netherlands sold the confiscated goods they gave [48] the right of pre-emption to Willem the Silent, prince of Orange. He bought Veere for 146,000 florins.
After the death of his great grandson Willem III Stadholder of the Netherlands, King of England in 1702 by the division of his goods, rights and titles, the price elect of Prussia Fredrick III and after him Fredrick Wilhelm as I and Fredrick the Great became Marquis of Veer. By the restoration of the house of Orange in the Netherland the Frisian prince Willem IV, of Orange, reclaimed his ancestor's rights on Veere and an agreement was made with Fredrick the Great in 1745 by which the marquisy was rendered to him. His son Willem V lost again all his personal land property in the Netherlands in 1795 and by the restoration of 1815 the old titles were merely revived as "private titles of the sovereign" later of "the constitutional King." Queen Wilhelmina is at present "Lady Van der Veer."
In the times of hereditary succession in rulership and government it was very often the policy of the rulers to marry a daughter [49] of another ruler an to procreate if possible only one son, so as to avoid hereditary complications. For the rest they did as they pleased It was no disgrace to have illegitimate children; they were loved and treated with as much paternal care as the other ones and the question what to do with them did not trouble the father. Seldom they were neglected and in most cases they became prominent citizens. The daughters were usually married to men of some lower social standing, who were very much glorified by the relation to the lord; the sons were usually placed in some public office or magistrate. Paulus Van der Veer was made supreme judge of Veere and its jurisdiction by his father Hendrick, VIIth Lord Van der Veer. He was an eminent and able man, who married a lady of nobility and left a posterity to be proud of.
Generation:
XII. Wolfert, third son of Hendrick, VIIth Lord Van der Veer, born in 1435, when his father was in him most glorious and [50] enterprising period, received from this father large estates in Seeland when he became of age. He married a few later, probably in 1460 with Jacoba Van der Capelle, daughter of Joost, Lord Van der Capelle. Through his governing capacities he was appointed also a burgomaster of the City of Axel in Seeland. One son, Wolfert Van der Veer was born to him in 1462.
Generation:
XIII. Wolfert Van der Veer, born in 1462, became lord of Spreeuwen-steyn. He married Margaretha van Cruyningen, daughter of a member of the noble Seeland family. This marriage was blessed with one daughter. Wolfert married after his first wife's death with Martina van Borsselen Van der Veer. His brother-in-law, Adriaen Van Borsselen Van der Hooghe, a wealthy man, knowing Wolfert's descent gave him on the 14th day of February, 1519, the lordly manor of [51] Spreeuwensteyn. Wolfert was now admitted to the nobility of Seeland. On ground of the Wolfert became electable to the senate of Seeland and as senator he died. From the second marriage two sons were left: Adolph and Wolfert Van der Veer. Besides he left one other son: Cornelius Van der Veer (see XIV). Martina's father, Joost Van Borsselen Van der Hooghe, as a widower, had married Josina, lady of Scaghen a large lordly estate and castle near Alkmaar in North Holland or West-Friesland. In 1492 he lived with his wife at the castle Scaghen for in that year according to the Charterboek of Holland, he petitioned the bishop of Utrecht that the churches in his jurisdiction should be freed from taxes. This political marriage for Wolfert VIII, Lord Van der Veer with other noblemen had conquered the castle of Scaghen in 1477 when Josina Van Scaghen's father quarreled about the possession with his half-brother. Wolfert Van der Veer had decided the succession in favor of Lady Josina, the [52]Van der Veer with other noblemen had conquered the castle of Scaghen in 1477 when Josina Van Scaghen's father quarreled about the possession with his half-brother. Wolfert Van der Veer had decided the succession in favor of Lady Josina, the [52] only daughter of Albrecht Van Scaghen. She was a childless young widow and Wolfert meant to secure by the marriage of her and his relative Joost, the inheritage for the house Van Borsselen. But Joost Van Borsselen Van der Hooghe died in 1505 and when Josina Van Scaghen died in 1524, the lordship of Scaghen went to her nephew Jan Van Scaghen. NOTE: Members of the Van Scaghen family and of the Van der Hooghe branch of the Van Borsselen family were about 1630 directors of the West India Company. (see: Joh. De Laet: "dag Verhael" and O'Callaghan: "Hist. Of New Netherland" I. Appendix.) The Van Borsselens in the meantime had got a foothold round Alkmaar and the rich property of Scaghen. (see: Chronicles of the Utrecht Society of History II, 1846, p.99) Anna van Borsselen married there with Christoffel Van Scaghen. She was a granddaughter of Joost Van Borsselen and the bridegroom was son of Jan who, in 1524, [53] had become Lord of Scaghen. Her aunt, Martina Van Borsselen, wife of Wolfert Van der Veer, Lord of Spreeuwensteyn, saw here a good opportunity for her husband's son Cornelius.
XIV. Cornelius Van der Veer went to Alkmaar and married there in 1527 Maria Van Scaghen daughter of Jan Van Scaghen. (see Joh. Kok. Tab. I col. 6 and Tab. II col. 5;p also Tab I col. 7) Of this marriage at least two sons are known, Jan Van der Veer, born in 1528, and Christoffel Van der Veer, born about 1530.
XV. Of Jan Van der Veer nothing further is known, but his son:
XVI. Christoffel Janszen Van der Veer married on 21st February, 1590, with Catharina Jans Van Deventer. (see marriage register of Schoonhoven)
Christoffel Janszen Van der Veer and Cathrina Jans Van Deventer had the following children:
Cornelius Van der Veer,
Jan Van der Veer,
[54]
Anna Van der Veer,
Hendrick Van der Veer,
Pieter Van der Veer, and
Maria Van der Veer.
Generation:
XVIIa. Cornelius Van der Veer, born 1592, went to Amsterdam and became a book-printer and publisher there. He married with Cornelia Cornelius, born in 1600. She died in 1662. Their children were among others: (some records say seventeen) Pieter Van der Veer, born at Amsterdam in 1635. Cornelia Van der Veer, born there on August 30, 1639.
XVIIIa. This Pieter Corneliszen Van der Veer is considered to have become the first American ancestor of the Van der Veer family of Beverwyk or Albany, New York. The property still owned by them on Pearl Street in that city was bought by him in October, 1663.
His sister, Cornelia Van der Veer, was a student of literature and a poetess. Her poems show the remarkable interest she took in Dutch foreign political affairs. New [55] Netherland affairs especially interested her. In 1666, two years after the capture of New Netherland, she wrote a satirical poem entitled: "The Reformed Battle-Sword or the Clergy's Complaint about the sad Condition of Our National Navy." In 1673 when New Netherland was recaptured by the Dutch admirals Evertszen and Binckes, she wrote: "A cry of Triumph over the Victory of our Navy." And the next year at the time of the peace of Westminster there appeared from her hand: "An Olive branch on the Peace concluded with the King of Great-Britain." Certainly from the spirit of her poems can be seen the traditions of their ancestors, the hereditary admirals of Holland and Seeland, were still very vivid in the family. Her motto was: "Ick Tracht Veerder!" or "I Try Further!" a noteworthy motto to be added to the Van der Veer arms and which is especially distinctive fro the Albany branch of the family. [56]
XVII. Jan Van der Veer and Anna Van der Veer, her uncle and aunt had "tried further" also in the meantime. Before the birth of their niece they were already at Recif in Brazil, where since 1632 the Dutch colony had begun to flourish. Their sister, Maria Van der Veer, seems to have followed them there very soon, but she stayed for some time at Pernambuco. The baptismal records of the Dutch Reformed Church unfortunately only exist in a fragmentary manuscript. From these fragments the following data could be gathered in regard to the Van der Veer family:
Jan Christoffel Van der Veer and his wife, Marie Nickleson had a child, Margaretha, baptized there on the 5th of February, 1644, The aunt, Maria Van der Veer, was baptismal witness. Jan Van der Veer himself had already appeared in the records as a baptismal witness there on April 16, 1642, and his sister, Anna on August 11, 1641. Where his son Cornelius, was born or baptized remains still unresolved, but there seems to have been another son, Hendrick, so that [57] we know at least Jan Christoffelszen Van der Veer, and Maria Nickleson, the following children:
Cornelius Van der Veer
Hendrick Van der Veer
Margaretha Van der Veer
The family returned from Brazil to Holland in 1654 after the colony had been evacuated for the Portuguese. At Alkmaar, in West Friesland or North-Holland, the last possessor of the Castle and lands of Scaghen had died and in 1658 the property was sold for the behoof of the lawful heirs. Jan Christoffelszen Van der Veer, as grandson of Maria Van Scaghen, received together with the other numerous heirs, his portion of the proceedings of the sale. His son, Hendrick Van der Veer, opened in the same year a book-printery in The Hague.
XVIII. Cornelius Janszens Van der Veer went to New Netherland the following year and became there the first American ancestor to the Long Island branch of the Van der Veer family. [58] The descendants of Cornelius Christoffelsen Van der Veer and those of his nephew, Hendrick Janszen Van der Veer, seem to have been quite successful as book-printers at Amsterdam and The Hague. Cornelius Van der Veer, a descendant of the first, had a flourishing business on the Beurs Street at Amsterdam in 1765, which was continued by his widow and sons in 1772.
Pieter Hendricks Van der Veer, nephew of Cornelius Janszen Van der Veer, was book-printer at Rotterdam from 1689 to 1713.
His son, Willem Van der Veer, continued the business there from 1713 to 1730 and descendants of these:
Cornelius, Gerrit, and Pieter Van der Veer were book-printers there in 1782.
A son of Gerrit Van der Veer continued his fathers's business at Rotterdam in 1784.
The Van der Veer family is still numerous and prosperous in Holland and Seeland at present. [59]
Appendix I
Armoiries de la famille Van der Veer:Van der Veer: (Selande, Hollande (Alckmaer)
Amerique, (Albany, N.Y. Long Island, N.Y.)
d'argent a un trefle tige de genelles accompagne de frois arbres arraches de simple.
Casque couronne d'or
Lambraquins d'argent et de geulles.
Pour se distinguer de la branche de Long Island, celle d'Albany est intitule d'avoir pour sa device: "Ick Tracht Veerder!" [60]
APPENDIX II
Direct male Line of Pieter Corneliszen Van der Veer and of Cornelius Janszen Van der Veer, American progenitors.
| I | Floris VIII Van Borsselen |
| II | Wolfert IX Van Borsselen and (N) Van der Goude |
| III | Frank X Van Borsselen, whose 2nd son was: |
| IV | Frank Van Borsselen and Maria Van Egmond |
| V | Wolfert Van Borsselen, I Van der Veer and Sibilla (Van Cleverskercke) |
| VI | Wolfert II Van der Veer and Aleida of Henault |
| VII | Wolfert III Van der Veer and Hadewich Both Van der Eem |
| VIII | Wolfert IV Van der Veer and Margaretha VanArnemuyden |
| IX | Hendrick V Van der Veer and Catharina Van Ellewoutsdyck |
| [61] | |
| X | Wolfert VI Van der Veer and Hadewich van Borsselen |
| XI | Hendrick VII Van der Veer whose son was: |
| XII | Wolfert Van der Veer and Jacoba der Capelle |
| XIII | Wolfert Van der Veer and Margaretha van Cruyuingen, whose son was: |
| XIV | Cornelius Van der Veer and Maria Van Scaghen |
| XV | Jan Van der Veer |
| XVI | Christoffel Van der Veer and Catharina Van Deventer |
| XVII | Jan Van der Veer and Cornelia Cornelis |
| XVIIa | Cornelius Van der Veer, of Flatbush, L.I. |
| XVIIIa | Pieter Van der Veer, of Albany, N.Y. |
| [62] |
