Passaic County

The Ryerson Family of Bergen County

Genealogical history of Hudson and Bergen counties, New Jersey

The Ryersons are the most numerous to-day of any family in the western part of Bergen County. The original surname of the family was “Reyertzoon.” The family were numerous in Amsterdam, Holland, as early as 1390, in which year one William Reyertzoon was Burgomaster of the city. Another member of the family filled the same office in 1414 and 1418. Members of this family held prominent positions in Amsterdam up to 1585. Many of them took an active part in the expulsion of the Spaniards from Holland, for which two of them were banished by the Spanish king, and another, … Read more

The Garrabrant Family of Bergen County

Genealogical history of Hudson and Bergen counties, New Jersey

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, … Read more