Jan Wybes Van Harlingen alias Spoor

The word Spoor is the Dutch for track or trail and as a common noun is used to designate the traces left by an animal or man in the sand, the mud or the snow. The name as applied to a family is a common one today in Holland, but when or how it came to be applied either to the Dutch or to the American family now bearing that name is lost in obscurity.

    In the original Dutch, the name is pronounced as though it were spelled Spore, the Dutch oo being like our long o sound, and it is probable that this pronunciation will account for the change in spelling the name to Spore, which appears in several branches of the family. Spur is also the German equivalent of the Dutch Spoor.

    The Spoors in general have been tall and stalwart figures, in the earlier generations frequently attaining a height of more than six feet. They have manifested the Dutch virtues of industry, frugality and probity, and have been the solid men in the communities in which they have lived. FROM: Spoor Family

From: A SKETCH OF SOME OF THE PROMINENT FAMILIES OF THE TOWN OF DANUBE

The Spoor family is of Fresian origin, the original immigrant having

been Jan Wybesee Von Harlingen who came to the New Netherlands

prior to 1662. He first settled in the Catskills and afterwards in

Niskayuna. One of his daughters was a victim of the Schenectady massacre in 1690

From-Collections on History of Albany

Spoor, alias Wybesse, Jan, of Niskayuna; in 1662, Jan Wybesse Van Harlingen, farm servant, bought of Christoffel Davidts 16 morgens of land over the kil at Catskill, lying next  Eldert Gerbertse Cruiff's land. In 1698, he owned land at Niskayuna, which he sold to Johannes Schuyler for 120. His wife was Anna Maria Hanse. Ch: bp.; Antje; she was killed  and burnt at Schenectady by the French and Indians Feb. 9, 1690; Saartje, Dec. 3, 1684; Nicolaas, April 27, 1690; Annetje, June 7, 1691; Rebecca, April 22, 1694; Rachel, Jan.  31, 1697.

Bi-centennial History of County of Albany, 1609-1886

July 16, 1697-List of Heads of Family

Jan Spoor  1-Male- 1-Female- 6 Childred

War of 1812

John Spoor- Albany

The last record of Jan Spoor was in Aug of 1723. At this date he was recorded as a member of the Linlithgow Church in Columbia County, New York. His burial place has not been found and it is believed that it was probably sunk below plow area, as were many other family plots of that time, to make way for agriculture.

1685-Mentioned in the sale of property Johannes Clute (Cloet) to Jan Jacobse Van Ostrand, Lands in Niskayuna called Barent the Smith's Flat-Jan Spooren

Jan Wybesse Van Harlingen, farm servant, bought 16 morgens of land over the kill at Catskill, NY in 1662. In 1698 he sold land at Niskayuna, NY for £120.

Collection on History of Albany:

Spoor, alias Wybesse, Jan, of Niskayuna; in 1662, Jan Wybesse Van Harlingen, farm servant, bought of Christoffel Davidts 16 morgens of land over the kil at Catskil, lying next Eldert Gerbertse Cruiff's land. In 1698, he owned land at Niskayuna, which he sold to Johannes Schuyler for ?120. His wife was Anna Maria Hanse. Ch: bp.; Antje; she was killed and burnt at Schenectady by the French and Indians Feb. 9, 1690; Saartje, Dec. 3, 1684; Nicolaas, April 27, 1690; Annetje, June 7, 1691; Rebecca, April 22, 1694; Rachel, Jan. 31, 1697. Spoor, Johannes, of Kinderhoek, joined the church of Albany in 1700, met attestatie Van Kingstowne; his wife was Maria Singer. Ch: bp.; Henricus, Jan. 13, 1707; Abraham, Aug. 3, 1707; Dirk, April 30, 1710. Spoor, Gerrit, and Mary Gilbert, were m. before 1700. He made his will May 26, 1719, proved June 3, 1720, and mentioned his wife Mary and the following Ch: Ann; Mary; Cornelia, bp. April 20, 1712; Johannes, bp. Nov. 29, 1713; Willem or Wilhelmus, Feb. 12, 1716; Abraham, Feb. 2, 1718. Spoor, Hendrik, and Rebecca Van Valkenburgh. Ch: bp.; Hieronymus, Sept. 9, 1739; Rebecca, Aug. 5, 1744; Abraham, June 11, 1749. SPOOR, Johannes, m. Magdalena Bogart, June 18, 1757. Ch: Rebecca, bp. Feb. 11, 1759; Maria, bp. Dec. 7, 1760; Maria, b. Feb. 1, 1764; Gerrit, b. Dec. 8, 1767.

Jan Wybesse Spoor , immigrant ancestor, acquired land of Johannes Clute , at Niskayuna , between Albany and Schenectady , in 1685 , and again in 1697 , the latter on the Mohawk river . He is thought to be "Jan Wybesse Van Harlingen , who bought of Christoffel Davidts in 1662 17 morgens of land over the kil at Catskil lying next to Eldert Gerbertse Cruiff 's land." He married Anna Maria Hanse ; and in the census of 1697 his family consisted of one man, one woman, and six children. In 1714 he was doubtless living with his son Johannes on the Livingstone manor. Five children are recorded on the church baptisms of the Albany church, but no records have been found of the births of the older children, who were probably born at or near Albany . About 1699 there is a deed of his in the Albany records. On August 11, 1723 , he is recorded as a member of the Linlithgow church in Columbia county , as Jan Wiebese Spoor , which is the last time his name is found on record. He must have been over eighty years old at this time, and he probably died at Linlithgow . His wife doubtless died before 1714 , as her name does not appear on the census of that year. Children: 1. Johannes , mentioned below. 2. Gerrit . 3. Isaac . 4. Antje , also called Antje Jan , was "kild and burnt by French and Indians at Skinnechtady ," February 9, 1689-90 , at the massacre in which eighty people perished. 5. Barentje , married, December 27, 1713 , Thomas Berrit . 6. Saartje , baptized December 3, 1684 . 7. Nicolas , baptized April 27, 1690 . 8. Annetje , baptized June 7, 1691 . 9. Rebecca , baptized April 22, 1694 . 10. Rachel , January 31, 1797

EARLY RECORDS OF ALBANY 

Noorstrant, his executors, administrators and assigns forever, acknowledging that he is fully and completely paid, contented and satisfied therewith, he, the aforesaid Johannes Cloet, has granted, bargained, sold, aliened, conveyed and confirmed and by these presents does fully, clearly and absolutely grant, bargain, sell, alien, convey and confirm to the aforesaid Jan Jacobse van Noorstrant a certain piece of land lying at Canastagioene called Barent the

Smith's flat, lying over Lysiens kill,i with all that over the kill belonged to Capt. Jan Cloet, deceased, (from Jan Spoor), excepting a piece of land that the seller sold to Symon Schoute, in size according to the markings of the trees, lying behind the Steoi Bergief' together with another piece of land lying on this side

of Lysiens kill, beginning on this side of the path that goes to the kill, according to the marking of the trees by Symeon Schouten and Jan Spoor, which extends upwards to a small kill which is the division between the lands; most of the road is lined with heavy logs which belong to said Jan Jacobse also; likewise Jan Jacobse van Noorstrant is holden to have a proper wagon road made out-

side of said logs for the accommodation of every one since his rights shall not extend farther than the said logs lie, with all the profits,privilegesandappurtenances to said land belonging or in any wise

appertaining; which he, the grantor, does by virtue of the convey-

ance to his uncle Capt. Jan Cloet, deceased, given by Claes Jansz

van Bockhoven of date the 31st of October 1677, to have and

to hold the aforesaid land with its and every of its appurtenances

to the aforesaid Jan Jacobse van Noorstrant, his heirs, executors

and assigns, in his, or their quiet and free possession against all

persons to secure and forever by these presents to defend. In

witness whereof the aforesaid Joh Cloet has hereto set his hand and

seal in Albany this 8th of April 1685, in the 37th year of his

Majesty's reign.

Johannes Clut (L. S.)  (JOHANNS ClUTE)

Deed from Johannes Clute to Jan Wiebese, alias Jan Spoor, for land at Canastagioene (Niskayuna) [286] To all Christian people to whom these presents shall come, Johannes Cloet of the county of Albany sends greeting in our eternal Lord God : Know ye that for and in consideration of

1 Now called Lishas kill.

2 Meaning Jan Spoor's land.

3 Literally : " the small stone hill."

4 d'mecste tvegh leyt met een onder Balk.

5 See Early Records of Albany, i : 167-68, erroneously dated October 21, 1677.