before now, several times promised to the inhabitants Witness my hand, this twenty-sixth day of December P. Fauconnier." "We regret that we cannot recover the papers alluded to above, dated 1726, although it only appears to have contained a promise that this land would be given to the Consistory. It would seem, however, that before the deed was actually given, other terms were arranged, as the deed bears date of 1750, and there seems to have been no connection with the Schraalenberg Church after 1732." "About this time, however, Peter Fauconnier gave the land on which the church is now built, as well as that which is now included in the two graveyards. His deed we have not in our possession, but the southern and western boundaries, having been somewhat altered by exchange, were accurately fixed in a deed of John Ackerman, in the year 1805." [Author's Note-The original graveyard is still attached to the church. Another part of the grant was laid out as a cemetery by the Reverend Edward Tanjore Corwin, Pastor, in 1859, who called it "The Valleau Cemetery" in honor of Magdalene Valleau, who, in 1750, confirmed the grant of her father, Peter Fauconnier. This cemetery at first contained twelve acres, but is now thirty-six acres by the purchase of additional land.] On the fifteenth of January, 1734, the Consistory and Congregation of Paramus Church met at the house of Johannes Wynkoop, and chose Wynkoop and Conradus Vanderbeck as a committee to further the building of a church, and to promote its best interests, according to a series of articles adopted. Articles three and nine, relating to Peter Fauconnier, are now given: "Art 3. It is also agreed that Peter Fauconier shall have seats for himself and wife, for a continual possession, for themselves and their heirs, which the church masters, shall designate to them. These shall be exempt from all charges by the Church, [except the minister's salary], as an acknowledgement of their donation of the land on which the church is built." 1 "Art 9. It is also Resolved, That the persons who have contributed the highest sums, according to the account referred to, in the seventh article, shall have the choice of seats, except the seats reserved by the church masters, for the minister and Consistory, the minister's wife, the deaf, and the free seats, and also the seats for Peter Fauconnier and wife. The choice shall be made in regular progression, from the highest sums downwards, till every one shall have his right." The first stone of the church was laid April 21, 1735, and the building completed in this year. "Like all the early Dutch churches, it was built of stone, with an octagonal roof, and the steeple in the centre. There were no pews as we now have, but chairs, and the name of each owner on the back of his chair. The bell rope came down to the centre of the church, where a darkie generally stood to call the worshipers together." In the year 1750 the Consistory received from Magdalene Valleau the Deed for the 45 acres of land, donated by her father to the church, and without his restrictions. It reads thus: "This Indenture, made the thirteenth day of April In with all the hereditaments and appurtenances there- Sealed and delivered in the presence of Theodore Valleau Stephen Bous Dett Mne Valleau [SEAL]" "The above deed was recorded in the clerk's office of the County of Bergen, in Book G. of Deeds, folio. pp. 282-284, on the 20th. June, 1794" The church becoming much dilapidated, a meeting was held on August 12, 1799, to consider the subject of a new building, and the adoption of a set of resolutions for the manner of its erection. The old edifice was then taken down, and the new one (the present church) built in the year 1800.* Children of Pierre Fauconnier and Madeleine Pasquereau Theodorus,† the oldest child of Pierre Fauconnier and Madeleine Pasquereau, was born at Tours, France, in the year 1681, but we have no records of his birth and baptism. "By a contract deed, dated July 16, 1702, several indian Sachems, agreed to quit claim their land on Hudson's river-to Theodore Fauconnier, and Paul Dufour-and Theodore Fauconnier 'agrees and signing for himself, and his brothers and sisters,' to deliver to the said Sachems, a certain amount of goods-as blankets, tobacco, rum, knives, hatchets &c." This shows that Theodorus Fauconnier had at that time reached manhood. He was a merchant, and like his father, made ventures to the West Indies, as seen from the following: “One fine old account book, in the beautiful handwriting of Peter Fauconnier, is dated as late as March 1715, and is entitled 'Accounts of a venture to Martinique, in company by thirds, between Theodore Fauconnier, Long Pré de la Touche, and *The quotations and compilations of this sketch are from the "Manual and Record of Paramus Church," by the Reverend Edward Tanjore Corwin, published in 1859. †Theodorus is the Greek for Theodore. From Mr. Arthur Sands. Rip Van Dam,' and the accounts show, that the sloops George and Albany, are laded at New York, and consigned to M. de la Touche at Martinique."'* Theodorus Fauconnier died at Martinique, W. I., intestate and unmarried, between the years 1716 and 1721. It is known that he was living September 27, 1716, for on that day he was to have been a sponsor at the baptism† of Peter Theodore Valleau, his nephew, but being absent, was replaced by his father, Peter Fauconnier. That he was deceased in 1721, is proven by a Deed, recorded at Hackensack, N. J., of date March 5, 1721, given by John Barbarie, Andrew Fresneau and Peter Fauconnier, for land lying on Saddle River, and Caucocus Creek, Bergen County, N. J., sold to Garret Van Dien, and in which it is recited that at one part this tract adjoined, “land laid out in 1712, by the late Theodorus Fauconnier" 2. André Fauconnier André, the second child of Pierre Fauconnier and Madeleine Pasquereau, was born, presumably, in 1683; this date, however, cannot be verified. His baptism is not recorded at the French Church, Threadneedle Street, London, England, and the supposition is that he was born at Tours, in France. That Peter Fauconnier had a son André (Andrew), is shown by the following: "A memorandum drawn up by Peter Fauconnier, pretty late in life, of a proposed division of his estate among his wife and children, mentions therein, of the latter, Theodorus, Andrew, Suzanne Madeleine, who married Peter Valleau; Jeanne Elizabeth, and Anne Magdalene, subsequently the wife of Dr. Kearsley." This paper, prepared after the date (1702) of Peter Fauconnier's arrival in America, reveals to us the names of his children then alive. André Fauconnier arrived at maturity, but died unmarried. 3. Madeleine Fauconnier Madeleine, the third child of Pierre Fauconnier and Madeleine Pasquereau, was born in 1685. Baptised May 13, 1685.|| She married Peter, a son of Isaiah Valleau, and Suzanne Descard, of New Rochelle, N. Y., but a record of this, private or public, could not be found. Her father gave them for a wedding portion, one-eighth of his right in a grant¶ of land in Ulster County, N. Y., the deed for which was never acknowledged or recorded, and is now lost. Madeleine Fauconnier, it is inferred, was the second wife of Peter Valleau; his first wife being the "Susannah Valleau" mentioned in the census of New Rochelle, taken October 9, 1710, and who evidently died before December 9, 1710, when the next enumeration of the town was made, leaving him with a son Peter. "The census of Oct. 9, 1710: "The census of Dec. 9, 1710 Peter Valleau, aged 47 § Madeleine, Madelaine or Magdalene is a Hebrew word deriving its meaning from the city of Magdala in Judea. "Magdalene" is the form of the name by which she is generally known. Baptism recorded at the French Church, Threadneedle Street, London, England, and quoted from Baird's "Huguenot Emigration to America," Vol. II, p. 63. See account of this Patent, p. 19. **"Doct. Hist. N. Y.," Vol. III, p. 946. †† From Rupp's "30,000 Emigrants to Pennsylvania," p. 643. Rupp vouches for this census as being correct. Peter and Magdalene Valleau had seven children. In her Will, Magdalene Valleau divided her estate into six parts, mentioning only five children by name, viz.: "Ann, Theodorus, Susannah, Peter, and Fauconier"-the sixth child was Marguerite.* The seventh child was Mary Magdalene, who married Dr. John Kearsley, Jr., of Philadelphia, Pa.; she was probably the youngest. From information collected for this work it appears that there were three other children related to Peter and Magdalene Valleau. The first of these was the boy Peter, born in 1700, a son of Peter Valleau by his first wife, and of whom nothing further is known; the second, Isaiah Valleau, a nephew of Peter Valleau; and the third, Elizabeth Valleau, who married John Legaré. Peter and Magdalene Valleau at one time lived in New York City, where two of their children, Marguerite and Suzanne, were baptised. They were permanently settled at Kinderkarnack, Bergen County, N. J., on the estate belonging to Peter Fauconnier. Kinderkarnack† was on the west bank of the Hackensack River, four miles southeast of Paramus, and three-quarters of a mile north of this was the "Valleau House," of which nothing now remains except stray bricks occasionally ploughed up in the field. [It is probable that this house was identical with the home of Peter Fauconnier, for it was at Kinderkarnack that he lived after middle life, and where he spent his declining years, entertaining his neighbors and friends in somewhat pretentious style. Among the former was Roger Mompesson, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Province, who lived on an adjoining plantation. Peter Fauconnier was associated in various ways with every man of note in the provinces of New York and New Jersey. His intimates were Jeremiah Bass, of New Jersey, Provincial Secretary; Colonel Peter Bard, who died Second Judge of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, in 1734; Captain Lancaster Symes, Colonel Heathcote, Thomas Hunloke, and many others. After the death of his wife, his daughter Magdalene and her family, lived with him; his sons being deceased, and his remaining daughters living in Philadelphia, Pa.] Peter Valleau was born in France, in 1663. As previously stated the exact date of his marriage to Madeleine Fauconnier, is not known, but it is believed to have been about 1712. In 1738, he gave a Power of Attorney to his wife, for the management of his affairs, which shows he was then alive and perhaps very feeble. Power of Attorney-Peter Valleau to Magdalene Valleau, his wife. "Know all men by these presents That I Peter Valleau of Hackensack Bergen County, inhabitant of North America, have made ordained constituted appointed and by these presents do make ordain constitute and appoint my dear and beloved wife Magdalene Valleau my true and lawful Attorney, agent and substitute for me and in my name and to use for my own proper use benefit and behoof, to ask demand sue and recover and receive of and from all person or persons whome it doth or may concern all such debts sum and sums of mony whatsoever which now is or are due owing payable or belonging to me by or upon any bond or bonds or judgement or judgements, note The names of these six children, according to age, from the church records, where their baptisms are recorded, are as follows: Annatie Magdaleen, Pieter Theodorus, Marguerite, Suzanne, Pieter, and Fokkenier." It was a frequent custom in these early days to give two children of a family the same name. It is now known as Oradell Station on the New York and New Jersey Railroad. |