JACOBS JACOBSEN
KLAARWATER
CLEARWATER CLOWATER
GENEALOGY
The Klaarwaters were one of the most ancient families in Holland. They owned
estates at Baarn, near Rotterdam. Its members were among the founders of the Dutch Republic, and achieved distinction in the wars of Holland.
Some of the children baptized (Old Dutch Reformed Church, Kingston, NY) as Jacobs/Jacobsen entered into marriage as Klaarwater. The name was later anglicized to Clearwater, some descendants use the name Clowater.
October 1999: Ulster County was on our schedule when we made our plans. The trip had to include a stop at the Reformed Dutch Church in Kingston to see the tablet described by Ralph Le Fevre in "History of New Paltz, New York and Its Old Families (From 1678-1820)".
"A tablet, designed by Charles R. Lamb, the architect of the Dewey Arch, was erected on the anniversary of the Battle of Lexington, 1899."
"The tablet is of white marble, framed by Corinthian pilasters, with capitals and frieze supported by heavy corbels. Upon the frieze is a scroll, on which is carved a pair of crossed swords on the model of those used by the officers of the continental army, intertwined with oak leaves, the symbol of strenght and heroism, surmounted by the words "In Memoriam." At the base of the tablet is the inscription, "Fide Et Fortitudine," intertwined with ivy leaves, the symbol of remembrance and longevity. Each capital is crowned with a scallop shell, the emblem of the Pilgrim. The inscription is of bronze letters executed in high relief, and is as follows:
1624 THEUNIS JACOBSEN KLAARWATER 1715
Whose ancestors were among the founders of the
DUTCH REPUBLIC
A soldier of Holland.
An early settler of Ulster County.
1663 JACOB KLAARWATER 1747
A native of Holland who fought in the wars of the
American frontier.
1699 ABRAHAM KLAARWATER 1782
Sergeant in the provincial army during the
Colonial Wars.
Signer of the Articles of Association 1775.
Dragoon in the Marbletown Troop of Horse during the
war of the Revolution.
1757 THOMAS KLAARWATER 1830
Signer of the Articles of Association 1775.
Trooper in the Marbletown Horse
Soldier in the Continental Army.
1787 THOMAS TEUNIS CLEARWATER 1860
Soldier of the War of 1812
The bronze is made of old cannon captured in battle during the American wars. The marble is from American quarries. The tablet is place in the west wall of the church and is a fine addition to the beautiful interior of that stately edifice."
Theunis Jacobsen KLAARWATER, the founder of the Clearwater family in America, was born about 1636 at Barrn, Holland near Rotterdam. He was the son of Anthony (Jacob Thonis) Klaarwater, born about 1613. Anthony lived at Hamersfelt, a small village near Amersfoort, Holland, which in 1632 had a total of 162 inhabitants. He married Besseltgen Wouters.
Theunis Jacobsen Klaarwater was a soldier of Holland and a graduate of the University of Leyden. He came from Holland to New Amsterdam, went to Esopus (Kingston) and subsequently to Bontecoe. He joined the Huguenot church at New Paltz when he moved to Bontecoe, died 1715, and was buried in the orchard of his farm at Bontecoe
The name of Tunis Jacobs was listed among the inhabitants of Ulster County who took the oath of allegiance to the English on September 1, 1689.
When he was about 41 years old, c1677, Theunis married Marietje Hansen Vos, daughter of Hans Vos and his wife Geertien. Children baptized in the Old Reformed Dutch Church, Kingston are listed with first name of child and name of parents as listed by Hoes.
Apr 1678 Jacob Teunes Jacobsen & Maria Vos (Married 1702)
Dec 1679 Elsje Teunis Jacobsse & Maria Hanssen
Apr 1681 Wessel Toenes Jacopsen & Marya Hansen
Feb 1683 Annetie Teunis Jacobz & Maria Janz
Jan 1684 Johannes Teunis Jacobz & Maria Hanz
Jan 1686 Weyntie Teunis Jacobz & Marritie Hanse
Ma 1688 Maurus Teunis Jacobs & Maria Hansen
Ma 1690 Teunis Teunis Jacobsen (Wife's name not given)
Jun 1694 Marie Teunis Jacobsen & Marie Hansen
* Children not listed in Hoes:
1682 Geertje
July 1699 Abraham Jacob Clarvater & Mary
There is sufficient evidence that Geertje Theunisse Klaarwater (born 1682) was also the daughter of Teunis Jacobs and Marietje Hansen. No record of Geertje's baptism has been found. (The Descendants of Anthonis Gherits Middach 1480 -1997 by Jack Middaugh.)
Records of RDC of New Paltz indicate Jacob Clarvater and Mary had a child baptized July 2, 1699. The child's name was Abraham. Abraham Hasbrougue and Salomon Dubois, Godfathers; Mary Doio, Godmother.
2. Weyntje KLAARWATER, daughter of Teunis Jacobs and Marietje Hansen Vos, born Marbletown, baptized Weyntie, January 31, 1686, Old Dutch Reformed Church, Kingston, NY. She married March 1712, Jeems Robbertsz (James Roberse/ James Robison). Robison children (baptized Old Dutch Church, Kingston) were Johannes, Jacobus, Maria, Elisabeth, Jan, Maria, Elsje, and Josiah Robison.
Alvin Clowater has published a book on the Clowater name and is in the process of updating it and publishing another. The book follows the line of Jacob, his son Abraham and grandson Frederick. Frederick Clearwater left New York State in 1783 and settled in Canada. It appears the name changed to Clowater about 1880 due to mistakes in the census enumerating. If you are interested you can contact him in Canada @ 506- 452-6904. He doesn't have email but you can contact Dana Clowater and he will pass information on to him.
Duff Roberts Descends from Weyntje. Ancestor Surnames
Michael H.Stafford Descends from Weyntje. Ancestor Surnames
Teri Popp Web Page Desends from Weyntje.
Gerald McDonald Descends from Weyntje's brother, Jacob.
The Finch Family Descends from Weyntje's, sister, Elsje.
Joan B.Jackson
Marge Reid
Robert Clearwater Researching Jacob Clearwater, listed as age 40 in 1790 Census Guliford County North Carolina.
David Obert Researching Grietje Theunissen Klaarwater and Jan Aertsen Middagh.
Vera and Russell Clearwater Descends from Floyd Clearwater 1853 -1932 and wife Ellen Martin 1856 - 1941.
The Owl's Nest James Powell
Lori Luke Families of Early Ulster County
Early NY State Census Records 1663-1772: Meyers
Gerald McDonald, Descendant of Weyntje's brother Jacob.
Baptism Records of Old Dutch Reformed Church: Hoes
History of New Paltz and Its Old Families: Ralph Le Fevre
History of Ulster County, NY: Sylvester
Records of the RDC of New Paltz
Surname Spring Board
Early Dutch Families of Ulster County, NY Research Center
New Netherland Project
Return to: Genealogy
Updated: March 01, 2002