While there has been a suggested ancestry for Garrett VANZANT of Rutherford Co., NC, as a descendant of Christoffel HARMENSZEN (VanZANDT) for a number of years, documentation of the lineage has been elusive. It appears that the only descendant of Christoffle with the given name of Garrett and of the required age, who is not otherwise identified, is the son of Albertus VanZANDT, son of Gerret Stoffelszen. There is now Y-DNA evidence that shows that Garrentt VANZANT was a descendant of Gerret Stoffelszen, son of Christoffle HARMENSZEN. The DNA project results have been published by The VanZandt Society as:
Van Zandt, Gary L. "Van Zandt Surname DNA Project Test Results." The Van Zandt Record. Spring 2004, v. XXIX, no. 1, p. 3-8.
The following section is from pages 5 and 6 of the article and is presented here with permission of the author.
Y-DNA Results for the Garrett Vansant Line of Rutherford Co., NC
Another question investigated by the Van Zandt Surname DNA Project was the origin Garrett and Mary Vansant line of Rutherford County, NC. Most records indicated that Garrett and Mary were living in Rutherford County ten to twenty years prior to the Revolutionary War. Garrett died there in 1787 and Mary in 1796. The Garrett name was common in the Gerret Stoeffelszen Vansant line of Bucks County, PA. However, the name Garrett also appeared in the descendants of Bernardus Van Zandt of New Jersey and in the descendents of Joseph Janse Van Zant of Albany, NY.
A proven descendent of Garrett Vansant was found, and his Y-DNA results were compared to others in the Surname Project. The Y-DNA test results ruled out all but one of the above lines as the possible origin of Garrett Vansant of North Carolina.
It turned out that there was a perfect 25-marker match between the tested Garrett of NC descendent and me. That means that both of us are descendents of Gerret Stoffelszen and proves the following about the Garrett Vansant of NC line:
1. The Garrett Vansant line of NC was definitely descended from Gerret Stoffelszen Vansant (1644-1706) and his father Stoffelszen Harmenszen of Kleverins or Cleverins, Germany.
2. Gerret Stoffelszen himself must have had Y-DNA identical to the Garrett of NC descendent and me because, if either of us had picked up mutations through the years, there would be at least some genetic difference between us.
Naturally, this doesn't tell us how Garrett got to NC, but it still helps in genealogical research that none of the other Van Zandt lines need to be even considered in researching his line's origin.
Extensive details, documentation and descendants of the VanZANDT family has been shared by Michael A. Smoke in his Descendants of Christoffel VanSant register report. Some of the information here is from this report, including name spellings. However, the surname here will be consistently spelled VanZANDT, except for Garrett VANZANT and his descendants. Much information is also found in the VanZandt Family article in History of Bucks County Pennsylvania, by William W. H. Davis (1905), Vol. III, pages 24-30.
Christoffel VanZANDT - b. about 1618, Kleverins, Germany; d. Sep. 1655, New Amsterdam, NY. A cloth maker, he arrived in NewAmsterdam in 1651 and was killed in an Indian attack known as The Peach War. Marriage intention was recorded on Jun. 13, 1643, in Amsterdam, Holland as "Christoffel Harmenss, from Jever, journeyman clothdresser living on the Hoochstraet, having no parents (living) age 25, and Moederke Gerrits, from Amsterdam, living on the Breestraet, attended by her mother, Vroutie Pieters." Both signed by their mark, and they were married on Jun. 28, 1643 in Amsterdam's Old Church. Christoffel was married second on Sep. 24, 1645 (intentions Sep. 9, 1645) in Amsterdam, Holland to Trijntje CLAES (bap. Jan. 1619, Amsterdam, Holland), daughter of Claes PIETERSZ and Giertje HEEREN (marriage intentions recorded Oct. 11, 1614). Trijntje married second Rut Joosten VanBRUNT, and her son Gerret was living with them at Yellow Hook, New Utrecht in 1685.
From the Notarial Archives of Amsterdam
1652 April 16. Abraham De Wijs, merchant in Amsterdam, in the name of Cornelis De Potter, his brother -in-law, who lives in the Manhattans in New Netherland. He takes into service for him: Christoffel Harmens and Trijinje Claes to work there for De Potter. Also their son Gerrit Christoffels, 8 years old, shall work with them. This is for a time period of three years, at 200 Carolus guilders per year. Free board and room.
Moeder GERRITS - bap. Nov. 2, 1623, Amsterdam, Holland; bur. Jul. 17, 1644, St. Anthonis Cemetery, Amsterdam, Holland. Daughter of Gerrit JANSZEN and Vroutgen PIETERS.
Gerrit JANSZEN (b. 1592, Zwol Overjssel, Holland) married Vroutgen
PIETERS on Nov. 13, 1616 in the New Church, Amsterdam, Holland.
Gerret Stoeffel VanZANDT - b. 1644, Amsterdam or Zandberg, Holland; d. before Jun. 1706, Bensalem Township, Bucks Co., PA. Son of Christoffel VanZANDT and Moeder GERRITS.
Arrived in NY in 1651, was indentured with his parents for 3 years at
age eight. When his father died, he was 12 years old and guardians were
appointed to protect his share of his father's estate. Garret was a
tenant on the farm of his mother and step-father at Yellow Hook, New
Utrecht, NY in 1685, and took the oath of allegiance in 1687 at New
Utrecht (Brooklyn), NY, stating that he had been in the country for 36
years. Using the VanZANDT surname, he purchased 150 acres of land from
Joseph GROWDEN at Bensalem, Bucks Co., PA in 1698. The land at Bensalem
was sold by his children on Jun. 5, 1706:
Grantor Book, p. 3-256, #23671. Deed of Jun. 20, 1706. Stophell Vansand, Cornelius Vansand, Harman Vansand, Albert Vansand, Johanes Vansand, all of Bucks Co., sons of Garret Vansand, late of Bucks Co., dec'd., and Jezina Vansand and Garret Vansand, younger children of said Garret Vansand, dec'd., for £150 paid by Jacobus Vansand and George Vansand, a tract beginning at a birch tree by Nesahminy River and against the house formerly belonging to Edward Carter - 150 acres which is part of a tract of 5000 acres granted to Joseph Growdon on 24/25 Oct 1681 and the 150 acres was granted by Joseph Growdon to Garrat Vansand by deed dated 10 Feb 1698 and Garrat Vansant dying intestate the land descended to all his children. Rec: 26 Jul 1706."
Generally the VanZANDTs were members of the Dutch Reformed or
Presbyterian churches. Married about 1668 in New Utrecht, (Brooklyn)
Kings Co., NY.
Lysbeth GERRITZE - b. 1647, Middleburg, Zeeland, Holland. Daughter of Cornelis VanWESTEN (b. about 1630, Zeeland, Holland) and Josyntje VerHAGEN.
Albertus VanZANDT - bap. May 13, 1681, New Utrecht (Brooklyn), Kings Co., NY; d. Dec. 16, 1751, New Castle Co., DE. Son of Gerret
Stoeffel VanZANDT and Lysbeth GERRITZE.
Moved to Bucks Co., PA about 1698. Purchased land in St. George's
Hundred, DE in 1708, and later moved to this land. His will of Dec. 10,
1751 and a Deed of Dec. 10, 1754 name some of his children, notably son
Garret VANZANT and his wife Mary. Married first Nov. 8, 1704 in
Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., PA, and second Ssarah. Sarah was
granted use of the land in her husband's will but forbidden to rent it
to an Irishman, and the will provided that she forfeit her inheritance
if she marries "an Irishman or any of that Extraction."
Indenture for Transfer of Land of Albertus Vanzant - Dec. 10, 1754
(New Castle CO., DE Deed Book S, Vol 1 1755-1760, pp. 21-23 [partial])
Indenture 10th day of December 1754 Between Harman Vanzant (son of Albert Vanzant late of St Georges Hundred and Co of Newcastle on Delaware deceased and Jane his wife Garret vanzant another Son of the Said Albertus Vanzant deced and MARY his wife Anthony Dushane and Christian his wife Daughter of the sd Albertus Vanzant Jafry Martin and Rebecka his wife another Daughter of the Said Alburtus Vanzant deced of the one part and John van dike of the Said Hundred of St Georges and County of Newcastle of the other part Whereas the aforesaid Albertus Vanzant in his life time was and Stood Seized of a Certain Tract of Land and Plantation in St Georges Hundred adjoyning the Kings Road leading from St Georges Town to Drawyers Bridg Containing two Hundred and Sixteen Acres....
...conveyed to sd Albertus Vanzant by Richard Davis of Newcastle County by his Deed in writing bearing date 20th February 1715/6 and Recorded in the Rolls Office at Newcastle in Liber 2 folio 556 Reference thereunto being had may more fully at large appear and the Pattent is Recorded in the office for Recording Deeds at Philadelphia in pattent book A volum the 15th page 138 &c May the 4th 1714.
Sealed and Delivered in presence of Anthony Dushane
James McDonough John Lee Christian Dushane
Jeffry Marten
Rebecka Marten
Harman vansant
Jane (X) Vansant
Garret Vansant
Mary (X) Vansant
Rebecca VANDERGRIFT - bap. Dec. 15, 1683, New Utrecht (Brooklyn), Kings Co., NY; d. 1743, New Castle Co., DE. Daughter of Leendert 'Leonard' VANDERGRIFT and Styntje 'Christina' ELSWORTH.
Garrett VANZANT - b. about 1726, New Castle Co., DE; d. Mar. 23, 1787, Lincoln Co., NC. Son of Albertus VanZANDT and Rebecca VANDERGRIFT. In Rutherford Co., NC, he or his son Garrett was summoned as a Grand Juror in April 1781. Garrett's will was dated Mar. 23, 1787. Garrett and Mary, reportedly from Mecklenburg Co., NC, arrived in Rutherford Co., NC about 1757. Married about 1743.
Mary - Will dated Jan. 29, 1796 and proved Jul. 6, 1796.
Modified: 5/28/04