Genealogical history of Hudson and Bergen counties, New Jersey

The Garrabrant Family of Bergen County

The Garrabrant Family, the inter members of which are numerous in the western part of Bergen and Hudson Counties, claim descent from Gerbrand Claesen, a Dutch emigrant, who, at one time, had much influence over the early affairs of Bergen. Claesen was from Amsterdam, and was at Bergen probably two or three years before he married Maritie, only daughter of Claes Pietersen Cos, which was August 25, 1674. He became a large property owner and held many official positions. In 1689 he obtained permission of Governor Leisler to purchase a tract of land now in Putnam County, N. Y., and, on December 6, 1699, he purchased of George Willocks an extensive tract of land on the Pequanonek River, then in Bergen County.

His issue were nine children: Peter, Claes, Herpert, Cornelia, Metje, Cornelius, Maria, Gerrebrand, and Mindert. Some of these remained at Bergen, where their descendants still live, while others settled on their father’s lands on the Pequanonek River, whence their issue spread over Bergen and Passaic Counties.

Source: Harvey, Cornelius Burnham, Editor; Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, New York: The New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900.

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