Van Cleef and Waldyke
My Ancestor Jan Van Cleave name was changed when the clerk
did not understand name given and asked where are you from
answer Van Cleve and so the story goes. I can find no census, in Germany or Holland. He was born 1627 Amsterdam to Cornelis Janse Van Kleef b.1601-09 in Wesky,Westphalia,Germany m. Marieken Femmetje Van Deventer b. 1606 in Bunnik, Utrecht, Holland. d. 1695. I have found no Jan Van Cleef/Kleef born in Cleve, Utrecht,Bunnick, Wesky, or Amsterdam. I have found a Jan Waldyke b. 1576
d. 1605 29y/o Holland. I have done my best in looking a the royals of both Van Cleefs and Waldyke and found no matches for children or distant relations. It has been related in stories that Cornelis (his Father)was a possible Royal but he went to Amsterdam.
I can understand if he did not want to be a Royal with all the wars and religious problems.
Basicly I find nothing for my Jan Van Cleve prior to arrival in New Amsterdam in 1653. Vicky Van Cleave- in the Philippines Do you Have any ideas.