Personal History
STOFFEL ‘CHRISTOFFEL’ JANSEN sailed with his brother, Claes, from Rotterdam to Brazil with an expedition thought to have been commanded by Prince Maurice of Nassau. Soon after their arrival in Brazil, that country was ceded to Portugal and the two brothers sailed for North America. They immigrated to New Netherlands, settling in Amersfoort, Long Island, emigrating in 1653. Stoffel Jansen, Claes Jansen, and Symon Jansen Romeyn, all sons of Jan, as their names indicate, most probably were brothers and came to this country together.
Christoffel appeared on the assessment rolls of Flatlands in 1675 and 1676. Stoffel Janse Romeyn of Amersfoort was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church of Flatbush in 1677. He was married 17th March 1678 Grietje Pieterse Wyckoff. Christoffel took the Oath of Allegiance to the British Crown at Gravesend on 30th day of Sept. 1687, appeared in 1693 on the assessment rolls of New Utrecht. He appeared on the 1698 census of Gravesend (where he had purchased land from his brother, Claes,) and was appointed Lieutenant by Lieutenant Governor Leister in Gravesend in 1689 and on the 20th January 1691. After marriage to Grietje ‘Geertje’ Pieterse Wyckoff, they settled in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Signed his name “Stoffel Jansen Romeyn” and sometimes “Stoffel Jansen.”
On the 25th May 1700 Stoffel Romeyn purchased lot #18 “Long Fly and Cedar Neck” Lots. On 1st April 1703 he bought a 100 acre farm in the Village of New Utrecht from John Verkerk which he was assessed 98 acres in 1706, and which he sold on the 20th July 1708 to Andrew Emmans of Gravesend for L550. Christoffel died about 1709. 1709-1710 “ninth day of June” 8th of Queen Anne “Captain Richard Salter of the Township of Freehold, Monmouth County, Esq. to Ghertie Romaine, widow of Stophel Romaine, deceased of the Township of Freehold, conveyed land,” for use of the Freehold Reformed Dutch Church of which she appears on the list of members as per page 24 of Brick Church memorial. Geertje died after 1711.