German Descent ; Joost and Johannes Casparse

CROPSEY. 
 
This name is variously recorded in American history and legai 
(hjcuments, viz. : Kasparse, Casi>arse, C'asperts, Caspersen, Grasper, 
Crepse, Cra]isey, Cropsy. and Ci"opsey, which latter mode stands as 
final with all Eastern descendants. 
 
The first Cropseys in America were Joost (/asi)arsc, or Kas- 
parse, his brother, Johannes, and their mother, (Jeertje. They emi- 
grated from Gronigen, Holland, in 1652, but were not Ilollandei's. 
There is every proof that Germany was originally the parental coun- 
try. Joost and Johannes Casparse were, by name and comjilexion, 
identified with Germany — Holland having no - ('aspeis " unless they 
be of German extraction. 
 
The name is forever preserved in the T'nited States, where there 
exist three towns: Cropseyville, New York; Cropsey. Nebraska; 
Cropsey, Illinois, and New Utrechfs beautiful driveway, ("ropsey 
avenue. lieside this, many descendants have conspicuously distin- 
guished themselves in American history, both East and West. 
 
Joost and Johannes settled on Lcmg Island, but not till KKJl does 
record appear of their land, or public services. In KKio, on the old 
Bushwick muster-roll appear the names of privates Joost and Jo- 
hannes Caspersen, Melle Caspersen, and Jan Caspersen, ensign. In 
1GS3, Johannes Kasparse was assessed for five morgans of land and 
some cattle, amount of tax being £77. In 1687, Joost and Jcdiannes 
took the oath of allegiance in Breuckelen. 
 
Joost Casparse married, June 10, l(i63, Catharine, daughter of 
Abraham ]>othie, and widow of Peter Prae. His second marriage was 
to Magdalen Jans. His children were : Johannes Casperse, baptized 
March 16, 1697, at Flatbush. Cathren Casparse, baptized February 
(>. 1681, died an infant. Cathren (second), Casparse, married in 1700 
to Johannes Taxsel. Jann<^tje Cas]iarse, bajttized A])ril 6, 1684. Joost 
Casparse, Jr., the first, die(i :lay 21, 1729. (In English the Dutch 
 
 
 
HISTORY OF STATEN ISLAND. 73 
 
word •• .Tddsi "■ has become Jasi)(>]- or Casper.) He married, first. 
,Maria Slnim; second, ou Auiiust It. Kiitl!. ^VyIlt.je Jurex, aiui. third, on 
July 2S, l(ii»5, Jenuetje Jacolis. His chihlron were Derrick, Abraham. 
David, (xertrude, Melle. and .laspcr. 
 
Casper Casparse purchased lauds oritiiuallv owned by ilichael Ilajia 
]Jeriien. located by the presi'ul Sea lieach I'erry, fool of Sixty-lifth 
street, liay i;idi;e. The hrst Cropsey liomestead was built there. 
Camper married, -May 27. JT4!». .Mar-relje (.Maria) Barkah.o. The 
cidldren o! Casper and .Maria were: .Jacobus or .Tames, Audries or 
Andrew, N'alentiue, Ileudrick or Henry, -Tohanues or .John, Harmanus 
or Harnu)n, AMllhelnuis or William, Maria, Sarah, and Catherine. 
 
Jacobus, Just mentioned, lived until 18:;(>. The Christian name of 
Jus wife, whona he married October 14, ISIO, was ^Maria. Their chil- 
dren were .Jaques, William, and James Edward. Audries or Andrew 
Cropsey Aas born in 1750, and died about ISOd. 1I(^ married Eida 
Kyerso'n, of the Wallab.uit. I'.rooklyn. 
 
Tile cliildr.'U of Andrew and Ida wen- .lasi.ei-. ui;u-ried; Jacob, who 
died about 171S; Nancy, wlio marri(Ml William II. DeXyse. and Je- 
rome Kyerson Cropsey, who married lOlizabeth \'illiams, of Staten 
Island. They had one i hild, Andrew Jackson ( 'ropsey, born 1816, and 
died in 1803. He uiarried Louisa M. Hardy. Their children were 
Jerome H., Andrew (i.. William H.. Annie K.. Ada H.. Harry N., and 
Ella. 
 
In the direct line from Joost, or .Jasper Casparse. Jr., comes Au- 
dries, or Andrew, whose children are mentioned above; Harmanus or 
Harmon, born September 2, 1753. (He was a. deacon iu the New 
Utrecht Dutch Reformed Church; served in the Eevolution, in Col- 
(mel Coveuhoven's Kin^s County ^lilitin as a lieutenant.) He mar- 
ried, first, Ann Co veiihoven; second, I':iizabeth Kezeau. Issue: Har- 
mon B., Jasper, .Maria, Sarah. Jacob It., and Elizabeth. 
 
Harmon B., Just mentioned, became a prominent man on Staten 
Island. He was for a long time manager of old Eichmond County 
Mall, in Kitdimond. He was sheriff of the county in 1828; State 
S