Grace Cerant

Abt 1664 -

 Set As Default Person

• Name	Grace Cerant
  Born	Abt 1664
  	based on chil starting 1684
  Gender	Female
  Reference Number	7556
  Person ID	I7556	FelsingFam
  Last Modified	16 Feb 2024

  
  

  Family 1	Jan Beselie,   b. Abt 1660, France ,   d. Between 1687 and 1689, Tarrytown, Westchester, New York, USA  (Age ~ 27 years)
  Married	Abt 1683	based on birth of children
  Children	1. Jan Beselie,   b. Abt 1684  [natural]   2. Francois Beselie,   b. Abt 1686  [natural]   3. John Beselie,   b. 16 Mar 1687  [natural]
  Last Modified	16 Feb 2024
  Family ID	F2868	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Robert Williams,   b. Bef 1670, England
  Married	19 Feb 1689	Tarrytown, Westchester, New York, USA   [1]
  Children	+ 1. Maria Williams,   b. Abt 1690, Tarrytown, Westchester, New York, USA ,   d. Abt 1732  (Age ~ 42 years)  [natural]   2. Robert Williams,   b. Abt 1693, Tarrytown, Westchester, New York, USA  [natural]   3. Helena Williams,   b. Abt 1698, Tarrytown, Westchester, New York, USA  [natural]   4. John Williams,   b. Abt 1700  [natural]   5. Rachel Williams,   b. 24 Nov 1700  [natural]   6. Cornelius Williams,   b. Abt 1701  [natural]   7. Jan Williams,   b. Abt 1704  [natural]
  Last Modified	16 Feb 2024
  Family ID	F2209	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Married - 19 Feb 1689 - Tarrytown, Westchester, New York, USA  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Notes

  Robert Williamse married Grace Cerant, the widow of Jean Beesley(beselie, beesly, beasly), 19 Beb 1689 in the NYC Ref Church. There are some references to her as Grace Haring, perhaps an earlier marriage? Her maiden name is in some doubt. Banns filed 2 Feb 1689. Baptism in 1712 has Robbart Willems and Maria Cenniff. Real question on her surname. Probably a French name which is difficult for Dutch and English people to understand. Her first name appears as Grace, Grees & Greest. Gressje Cerant (Grace Serant) was born in 1667, perhaps in France. She first married John Beselie in 1684. Gressje died in Tarrytown, NY. Jean/John Besly/Beselie (c.1645, Rochelle, France - bef. 1689, Croton Point, NY), a fugitive Huguenot from the Isle de Re, two miles off the coast of Rochelle, France, possible, but unproven, son of Jean Besly & Louise Sauton, [Alternatively, it has been postulated that Jean was brother of Oliver Besly of Isle de Re.] With presumed brother or cousin, Etienne (c.1650), he emigrated to New York in 1681. Our Huguenot ancestor Rene REZEAU from the Miller line also fled the Isle de Re in 1685, eventually, arriving with his family in New York City. Here they joined the French Church, finally, they moved permanetly in Staten Island. From https://minerdescent.com/2010/08/06/robert-willemze/ Gressje Cerant (Grace Serant) was born in 1667, perhaps in France. She first married John Beselie in 1684. Gressje died in Tarrytown, NY. Jean/John Besly/Beselie (c.1645, Rochelle, France - bef. 1689, Croton Point, NY), a fugitive Huguenot from the Isle de Re, two miles off the coast of Rochelle, France, possible, but unproven, son of Jean Besly & Louise Sauton, [Alternatively, it has been postulated that Jean was brother of Oliver Besly of Isle de Re.] With presumed brother or cousin, Etienne (c.1650), he emigrated to New York in 1681. Our Huguenot ancestor Rene REZEAU from the Miller line also fled the Isle de Re in 1685, eventually, arriving with his family in New York City. Here they joined the French Church, finally, they moved permanetly in Staten Island. Gressje Cerant’s husband Jean Besley had to sell his home in St Martin, Isle de Re and flee to America. “Jean Besly marchand demeurant cy devant en la ville de saint Martin en L’isle de Ré, est aussy fugitif du Royanne et a laissé. -Une maison, une piece de terre y joignant situeéan lien des prises en l’Isle de Ré…” “Jean Besly, merchant living formerly in the city of St. Martin in Isle of Re, is also a fugitive of the crown and at large. -One house, one piece of land there adjoining the seizure on the Isle of Re…” Jean married c.1670 Grace (Grees) Cerant of/or Heering, presumably of French birth. Because no record of this marriage can be found in the early New York church records, it is likely that they were married before they embarked for America. Upon arrival, they moved north along the Hudson and settled “among the aborigines” near Croton Point, just north of the Croton river.

  
  

• Sources

  [S793] Dutch Reformed Marriage Records of New Amsterdam & New York City 1639-1801. RobbertWillemszen, j.m. uyt oudt Engelant (from Old England), en Grees Cerant(Giljon?),Wede Van(widow of) Jan Beesly, beyde wonende op Kigtuangs punt (aka Kitchewan Point, an old Indian name for area of Croton, NY) https://archive.org/details/DutchReformedMarriageRecordsOfNewAmsterdamNewYorkCity/page/n31/mode/2up