Joris (George) Jansen Rapalje was born in Valencenne in Hainut, a province in the southern part of the Spanish Netherlands, on Apr 28, 1604. He died Feb 21, 1663 in Brooklyn, New York at the age of 58.

He married Catalyntje Jeronimus Trico (Cataline Tricault) on Jan 21, 1623/4 in the Walloon Church, Amsterdam, Netherlands. She was born in 1605 and died Sep 11, 1689 around the age of 84. She was the daughter of Jeronimus Trico.

They sailed to America Jan 25, 1624, on board the Eondracht, arriving in the spring of 1624. Holgate wrote in 1848 that Rapalje family tradition stated that he brought 1500 Pounds in currency with him.

Joris Jansen Rapalje was a first settler at Fort Orange (now Albany), New York.

After three years at Fort Orange, Peter Minuet ordered all farmers in New Netherland to concentrate on Manhattan. He acquired a plot of ground at what is now the foot of Pearl Street, his property abutting the East wall of Fort Amsterdam at the present Battery. Shortly after his arrival there, he was followed by his two brothers Antonie Janssen and Willem Janssen. The descendants of these two brothers dropped the name Rapalje in favor of their middle name Jansen, while the descendants of their brother Joris retained the traditional family name of Rapalje. (Note: this doesn't square with other information that Joris's two brothers had no children.)

In 1626, the population of lower Manhattan was 270 white inhabitants. Joris remained there 22 years.

On Jun 16, 1637, he bought 167 morgen (335 acres) of land from the Kakapeyno or Pewichaas Indianscalled Rinnegakonck, on Long Island (now Brooklyn). On Jun 17, 1643, Governor Kieft patented his purchase. His woodlot was on a hill where Fort Greene Park is now located, and his meadowland on the level space upon which City Park is built, between Flushing, Park, Navy, and Edward Streets. A creek ran through a part of the property and emptied into Wallabout Bay, known as Ronnegagonck. Today there is little left of the creek which, in the course of time, has been filled in. For many years the old Wallabout Market stood on this property, and it was at this point (Wallabout Bay) where the British prison ships were moored during the Revolutionary War.

In Aug, 1641, he took a prominent part in public affairs, and was one of twelve men who represented Manhattan, Bruekelen, and Pavonia to suggest a means of punishment for Indians accused of a murder.

On Jun 12, 1647, he was listed as a sailor (chief boatswain) in Amsterdam.

On Mar 16, 1648, his name was listed among others who were inn keepers and tapsters (owning a tavern) in the books of the burgomaster court, promising to observe the Mar 10, 1648 proclamation of Governor Stuyvesant regulating such houses.

He was a magistrate of Brooklyn in 1655 (appointed Apr 13), 1656, 1657, 1660, and 1662.

On Mar 1, 1660, he, along with his son-in-law Tonis Gysbert Bogaert, petitioned for permission to plant a village on the river opposite the Manhattans, in site of Fort Amsterdam, between the lands of Bogaert and a man named Kip, but the petition was denied. Bogaert at this time owned the lands patented to Hans Hansen Bergen. The location of the proposed village was between Brooklyn and Bushwick.

On Apr 26, 1660, Joris Jansen Rapalie petitioned to be allowed to leave his house standing on his farm. This application appears to have been denied, because at this period an order had been issued for everyone residing outside villages to move to the fortified villages for safety from the Indians.

In Aug, 1661, he was appointed a member of the famous Council of Twelve Men who conferred with Governor Kieft in regard to the consequences of an impending war as a result of the murder of a Dutchman named Claess Swits, by the Indians, in revenge for the death of an Indian some twenty years previously.

On Aug 25, 1662, Joris Jansen Rapalie became a member of the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of Brooklyn. He had been elected as a deacon in 1661. He died at an election of church officers Feb 21, 1663.

He was buried in the Flatbush Reformed Dutch Church Cemetery in Flatbush, Kings County, NY. The cemetery is withinin the grounds of Erasmus Hall High School.

He is listed as a Huguenot ancestor represented in the membership of the Huguenot Society of New Jersey. One member of the Huguenot Society claiming Joris Jansen Rapalje as his ancestor, is Larry Patrick Cornwell, National number 16-163.

Two members of the National Society, Daughters of the American Colonists, are Mrs. Sarah Wilson Allen (number 1087), and Mrs. Cora Vandemark Marsh (number 277) who claim Joris Jansen Rapalie as their ancestor.

The children of Joris Jansen Rapalje and Catalyntje Jeronimus Trico were:

*i Sarah Jorise, b. Jan7/9, 1625, m. 1st, Hans Hansen in 1639; 2nd, Teunis Gysbertsen Bogaert in Mar, 1655, d. Apr 1685. 15 children
ii Marretie Jorise, bap. Mar 11, 1627, m. Michael Pauluszen Van DeVoert on Nov 18, 1640, d. after 1690. 10 children
iii Jannetie Jorise, bap. Aug 6, 1629, m. Rem Jansen Van DeBeeck on Dec 21, 1642. 17 children
iv Judith Jorise, bap. Jul 5, 1635, m. Peter Pieterszen Van Nest ca. 1652, d. Jun 6, 1726. 11 children
v Jan Jorizen, bap. Aug 28, 1637, m. Maria Fredericks Maer on Apr 26, 1660, and Antie Coerta, d. in 1622. 1 child
vi Jacob Jorizen, bap. May 28, 1639. Killed by Indians at age 4 iri 1643
vii Catalyntje Jorise, b. Mar 20, 1641, bap. Mar 29, 1641, m. Jeremias Jansen Van Westerhout on Aug 16, 1664
viii Jeronemus Joriszen, b. Jun 27, 1643, bap. Jun 28, 1643, m. Annetie Tunise Denyse (daughter of Teunis Nyssen) in 1663, d. ca. 1700. 9 children
ix Annetie Jorise, bap. Feb 8, 1646, m. 1st, Martin Ryersen on May 14, 1663; 2nd, Joost Fransz on Jan 30, 1692. 6 children
x Elizabeth Jorise, bap. Mar 28, 1648, m. Derrick Cornelise Hogelandt. At least one son
xi Daniel Joriszen, bap. Dec 29, 1650, m. Sarah Klock on Jun 13, 1674, d. Mar 27, 1724

Joris (George) Jansen Rapalje was born in Valencenne in Hainut, a province in the southern part of the Spanish Netherlands, on Apr 28, 1604. He died Feb 21, 1663 in Brooklyn, New York at the age of 58.

He married Catalyntje Jeronimus Trico (Cataline Tricault) on Jan 21, 1623/4 in the Walloon Church, Amsterdam, Netherlands. She was born in 1605 and died Sep 11, 1689 around the age of 84. She was the daughter of Jeronimus Trico.

They sailed to America Jan 25, 1624, on board the Eondracht, arriving in the spring of 1624. Holgate wrote in 1848 that Rapalje family tradition stated that he brought 1500 Pounds in currency with him.

Joris Jansen Rapalje was a first settler at Fort Orange (now Albany), New York.

After three years at Fort Orange, Peter Minuet ordered all farmers in New Netherland to concentrate on Manhattan. He acquired a plot of ground at what is now the foot of Pearl Street, his property abutting the East wall of Fort Amsterdam at the present Battery. Shortly after his arrival there, he was followed by his two brothers Antonie Janssen and Willem Janssen. The descendants of these two brothers dropped the name Rapalje in favor of their middle name Jansen, while the descendants of their brother Joris retained the traditional family name of Rapalje. (Note: this doesn't square with other information that Joris's two brothers had no children.)

In 1626, the population of lower Manhattan was 270 white inhabitants. Joris remained there 22 years.

On Jun 16, 1637, he bought 167 morgen (335 acres) of land from the Kakapeyno or Pewichaas Indianscalled Rinnegakonck, on Long Island (now Brooklyn). On Jun 17, 1643, Governor Kieft patented his purchase. His woodlot was on a hill where Fort Greene Park is now located, and his meadowland on the level space upon which City Park is built, between Flushing, Park, Navy, and Edward Streets. A creek ran through a part of the property and emptied into Wallabout Bay, known as Ronnegagonck. Today there is little left of the creek which, in the course of time, has been filled in. For many years the old Wallabout Market stood on this property, and it was at this point (Wallabout Bay) where the British prison ships were moored during the Revolutionary War.

In Aug, 1641, he took a prominent part in public affairs, and was one of twelve men who represented Manhattan, Bruekelen, and Pavonia to suggest a means of punishment for Indians accused of a murder.

On Jun 12, 1647, he was listed as a sailor (chief boatswain) in Amsterdam.

On Mar 16, 1648, his name was listed among others who were inn keepers and tapsters (owning a tavern) in the books of the burgomaster court, promising to observe the Mar 10, 1648 proclamation of Governor Stuyvesant regulating such houses.

He was a magistrate of Brooklyn in 1655 (appointed Apr 13), 1656, 1657, 1660, and 1662.

On Mar 1, 1660, he, along with his son-in-law Tonis Gysbert Bogaert, petitioned for permission to plant a village on the river opposite the Manhattans, in site of Fort Amsterdam, between the lands of Bogaert and a man named Kip, but the petition was denied. Bogaert at this time owned the lands patented to Hans Hansen Bergen. The location of the proposed village was between Brooklyn and Bushwick.

On Apr 26, 1660, Joris Jansen Rapalie petitioned to be allowed to leave his house standing on his farm. This application appears to have been denied, because at this period an order had been issued for everyone residing outside villages to move to the fortified villages for safety from the Indians.

In Aug, 1661, he was appointed a member of the famous Council of Twelve Men who conferred with Governor Kieft in regard to the consequences of an impending war as a result of the murder of a Dutchman named Claess Swits, by the Indians, in revenge for the death of an Indian some twenty years previously.

On Aug 25, 1662, Joris Jansen Rapalie became a member of the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of Brooklyn. He had been elected as a deacon in 1661. He died at an election of church officers Feb 21, 1663.

He was buried in the Flatbush Reformed Dutch Church Cemetery in Flatbush, Kings County, NY. The cemetery is withinin the grounds of Erasmus Hall High School.

He is listed as a Huguenot ancestor represented in the membership of the Huguenot Society of New Jersey. One member of the Huguenot Society claiming Joris Jansen Rapalje as his ancestor, is Larry Patrick Cornwell, National number 16-163.

Two members of the National Society, Daughters of the American Colonists, are Mrs. Sarah Wilson Allen (number 1087), and Mrs. Cora Vandemark Marsh (number 277) who claim Joris Jansen Rapalie as their ancestor.

The children of Joris Jansen Rapalje and Catalyntje Jeronimus Trico were:

*i Sarah Jorise, b. Jan7/9, 1625, m. 1st, Hans Hansen in 1639; 2nd, Teunis Gysbertsen Bogaert in Mar, 1655, d. Apr 1685. 15 children
ii Marretie Jorise, bap. Mar 11, 1627, m. Michael Pauluszen Van DeVoert on Nov 18, 1640, d. after 1690. 10 children
iii Jannetie Jorise, bap. Aug 6, 1629, m. Rem Jansen Van DeBeeck on Dec 21, 1642. 17 children
iv Judith Jorise, bap. Jul 5, 1635, m. Peter Pieterszen Van Nest ca. 1652, d. Jun 6, 1726. 11 children
v Jan Jorizen, bap. Aug 28, 1637, m. Maria Fredericks Maer on Apr 26, 1660, and Antie Coerta, d. in 1622. 1 child
vi Jacob Jorizen, bap. May 28, 1639. Killed by Indians at age 4 iri 1643
vii Catalyntje Jorise, b. Mar 20, 1641, bap. Mar 29, 1641, m. Jeremias Jansen Van Westerhout on Aug 16, 1664
viii Jeronemus Joriszen, b. Jun 27, 1643, bap. Jun 28, 1643, m. Annetie Tunise Denyse (daughter of Teunis Nyssen) in 1663, d. ca. 1700. 9 children
ix Annetie Jorise, bap. Feb 8, 1646, m. 1st, Martin Ryersen on May 14, 1663; 2nd, Joost Fransz on Jan 30, 1692. 6 children
x Elizabeth Jorise, bap. Mar 28, 1648, m. Derrick Cornelise Hogelandt. At least one son
xi Daniel Joriszen, bap. Dec 29, 1650, m. Sarah Klock on Jun 13, 1674, d. Mar 27, 1724