Schermerhorn Family in Holland

[This information has been taken from pp. 27-54 of Schermerhorn Genealogy and Family Chronicles by Richard Schermerhorn, Jr. (New York: Tobias A. Wright, Publisher, 1914).]

The annals of the Schermerhorn family in Holland have never been thoroughly investigated, although some effort was made, fifteen or twenty years ago, by William C. Schermerhorn of New York and Louis Y. Schermerhorn of Philadelphia, but without particular success. It is known, however, from New York State records, that Jan Schermerhorn, father of Jacob Janse Schermerhorn, was living in Amsterdam in 1654. As late as 1884, a tombstone set in the floor of the old church at the village of Schermerhorn, Holland, was in existence, recording the fact that "Jacob Ryer Schermerhorn died Jan. 25, 1645, and his wife, 1665." These were probably the grandparents of Jacob Janse Schermerhorn, Ryer being such an individual family name, that its occurence here forms an undisputable connecting link. The above facts are all that are known to be recorded of the ancestors of Jacob Janse Schermerhorn.

The family of Schermerhorn evidently originated at the village of Schermerhorn, Holland. The town evidently being named from its geographical location, it is quite likely that the family took their name from the town. This probably signifies that the family who took the name of Schermerhorn at some early date was the family known to be most closely identified with the village or locality of Schermerhorn, thereby being, perhaps, large property owners and people of some importance. On the other hand it may have been through a casual circumstance that some individual adopted the name of Schermerhorn at some early period, being a resident in the town or in some way intimately connected with it. An old tradition has come from Holland that an orphan boy was adopted by the village authorities in some past age, and took the name of Schermerhorn. Imagination has perhaps enlarged upon this tradition, for, as it comes through one source, the story goes that this orphan boy was of noble, and some even said, royal blood. The legend has been quoted in many versions, none of which is probably correct. The story is one of too easy imagination and too crude to be true.

In the matter of surnames, most individual family names in Holland, as well as in other countries, originated from the names or localities of family landed possessions. In other cases the surname was derived from some peculiar physical or mental characteristic of the first of the family to "make a name for himself;" in still others it pertained to his business or occupation. Many of the Dutch settlers in America acted in accordance with this, for at that time there were few distinct family names in Holland. Some took the name of their home district in Holland, while others reached further back in family history. Many who had distinct family names did not use them until some time after their coming to America, in some cases, in fact, the actual family name not appearing until the second or third generation in this country. The names of Van Antwerp, Van Arnhem, Van Buren, Van Valkenburgh, Van Petten, Visscher, Bakker, Beekman, etc., were taken by the early Dutch settlers in America, in accordance with what has been said in the foregoing, some of the names already known in Holland, and others entirely new. In the majority of the cases, however, the succeeding heads of Dutch families simply took their father's name as a surname, adding se, sen, or similar terminations. Jan, whose father was William, would be Jan Williamsen; Peter, whose father was Henry, would be Peter Hendricksen, etc. The early records of the Dutch Church of New York contain little else but this class of names, and the first records of the Albany Church are hardly different, although in the latter, the "Vans" soon became quite common, as the necessity became apparent for those having similar names to make the necessary distinctions. Though it does not appear that Jacob Janse Schermerhorn used his proper surname during the early period of his residence in America, he took it later on, and thereafter adhered strictly to it.

There are a number of families bearing the name of Schermerhorn still existing in Holland. The following record was written out for Miss Sophie E. Schermerhorn in 1884, by a member of the Holland Schermerhorn family:

• Anno 1731, Dirk Schermerhorn, Hoofdonderwyzer to Noord Beemster.
• Anno 1809, Evert Schermerhorn, Landbouwer in de Schermeer Gemeente, Akersloot.
• Dirk Schermerhorn, Burgomeester, der Gemeente Sintmaarten, Gest. 1813.
• William Schermerhorn, geboren 18 December, 1799.
• (Willem and Dirk, zoons v. E. S.)
• Willem Schermerhorn, Geboren, 10 Juli, 1851.
• Jacob Schermerhorn, Geboren 17 Maart, 1855.

A letter received in September, 1913, from the Rev. Nicholas J. C. Schermerhorn of Nieuwe Niedorp, Holland, gives the following: "There are still Schermerhorns in Holland. These belong to two groups, one of them descending from Willem and the other from Dirk Schermerhorn. Those two were descended from one Evert." These two families are mentioned in another letter, written to William C. Schermerhorn in 1894. The head of one of these families was at that time the Burgomaster of St. Martins, and the head of the other, one of the syndics of Akersloot. These two families did not claim close relationship to each other, but there is no doubt that they were from the same original stock from which Jacob Janse descended, though the actual connection of the family with the village of Schermerhorn must have ceased several centuries ago. At present, a Schermerhorn is a member of Congress in Holland, and it is said the name is well known there. Undoubtedly this Holland family has been one of distinction, as may be readily judged by a perusal of the letter of Miss Sophie E. Schermerhorn, which follows:

113 Noorderstaat,
Amsterdam, Nov. 26, 1884.
North Holland.

Dear Sister & Brother:—

When I first came to Amsterdam, I sent a postal to Schermerhorn (village) saying I should visit the old church at Schermerhorn and if any of the family name lived there, I should be glad to meet them. But I could not speak their language or understand it. My card was sent to Otterleek to Burgomaster Glyius (?), whose wife was a Schermerhorn. Then they wrote to Mr. Blouboor (?), whose wife was Gretia (?) Schermerhorn (now dead), but he and his family live there. He came to see me and made arrangements for me to go to Alkmaar, where Burgomaster (or Mayor) Glyius (?) would meet me. I took my interpreter with me, Mrs. Van Soest, an English widow of a Hollander. We were met by Mr. Glyius (?), who drove us in his real Dutch carriage about three miles over a smooth brick paved road, through a very finely cultivated farming district, drained by 50 large windmills, like that in your Winter Scene I painted, only some are much larger. This tract of land or town is called Schermermeer and the village is in the center, and the old church steeple at Schermerhorn is seen from all parts. As we neared his home we turned into a thickly wooded avenue leading to the house. At the door we were met by Vrouw Glyius (?) with her cap and beads, according to the custom. She gave me a very kindly welcome, then the two sons and then the two daughters, all grown up and good looking. The girls took me by the hand and led me into the house, then to the dinning [sic] room where I first drank coffee. Then after a little while, we had tea and luncheon.

While at luncheon Uncle William Schermerhorn from Heilo, a very fine old gentleman, aged 85, arrived. We visited and talked a while. It would have pleased you to have seen them point out in my face the family resemblance. There was a pause and Uncle William Schermerhorn said something, with a look earnest and sad. I asked what it was he said. The reply was, "At last, this is something (said very slowly) very remarkable, that one of the family, and she a woman, should come back after so many years to seek us. And that I should live to see this day. What joy! What pleasure!" He took my hand and shook it so kindly and said: "You are welcome among us. Come to my home. I shall feel honored by a visit from you." After two hours we bid him good-bye, with a promise to visit another time. Then Mr. and Mrs. Glyius (?), Mrs. Van Soest and myself went in the carriage to the Village of Schermerhorn three miles distant, quite a little Dutch town, to see the church, which I found a very fine old church even yet, and still in use. It was built first in the year 1450, then rebuilt in 1634 and is now the same except the windows are not all painted, having been replaced; but they are all of small piece glass, about four inches square, and about 1000 pieces in each window. Then there are several fine Mosaic glass settings, of fine patterns. I did not attempt to count the glass pieces. The paintings on these windows were certainly the finest work in color shading I have seen anywhere in Scotland or England, and I have been in several Cathedrals, Castles and Palaces, where all had glass paintings. (I have visited Windsor Castle, and the King's and Queen's Palace here in Holland.) They were so finely painted, I could not think of copying. Some were very amusing, others were of scriptural subjects, but mostly coat-of-arms. There was one central glass with the name Schermerhorn, surrounded by paintings which represented the country and trades of the people. On each side of the door and aisle hung one of De Ruyter's little model ships, like the ones in which he went to war. They have a nice looking organ, — this is new and of recent date. I was so interested I did not wish to go with only one hour's look, but when I went back the second time to visit the family, I went to Schermerhorn again. The floor of the church is made up of tombstones. In looking around at some of the amusing representations on these stones, I was happily surprised to find this inscription: "Jacob Ryer Schermerhorn, died Jan. 25, 1645, and his wife 1665." This was our grandfather's name, who died in New York. I rejoiced to think our ancestors were so much respected as to be buried in this fine old church, where the Protestant religion had been preached for so many years. The families here that I have met did not seem to know anything of the families in America; a number had gone from here but never had written. Uncle William Schermerhorn's Uncle Evert went to America, but was never heard from, and as his father died when he was young, he knew nothing about him. If I could talk to them myself, I could find out more. My interpreters will not ask half I wish them to, thinking it is not necessary. Besides they have no interests only to talk and have a good time themselves. * * *