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  • Name: Johannis (Hannes) Henselbekker
  • Birth: Abt 1720-1730 in: Germany or New Jersey, USA
  • Death: Abt 1788 in: Bergen County, New Jersey, USA
  • Father:
  • Mother:

Notes: This man could possibly be the Hannes Henselbekker mentioned in the 28-Feb-1774 proposal as a candidate for Warden of the Ramapo Lutheran Church in Mawah, New Jersey. However, it is also likely that Hannes was short for Johannes, and possibly tha t indicated Johannes, or John, his son, was the one mentioned in 1774. Also, since there has been a great deal of difficulty in tracing the family line back before this family, especially in Bergen County, New Jersey, it could very well be tha t this man, "Mr. H." as it were, is the point of tie-in with another surname. My earlier theories (pre-2002) were that the name may have originated, most likely, as Becker or Bekker. The patronymic naming system, often used by the Dutch, ma y be reason enough to believe that the name Henselbekker is a patronymic result of Johannes, son of Johannes or Hannes Bekker. However, in the past year, I have found instances of Hanselbecher and Henselbacher in late 18th century Germany, in Bav aria and Wurttemburg, so have reason to believe this family is of the same origins as those found in Germany.

For certain, a Johannes Henselbekker was the father of Michel Henselbekker, baptized 11-Jan-1761 in the Ramapo Lutheran Church (sometimes called the Ramapo "Dutch" church). There is also some reason to believe that Johannes, father of Michel, wou ld have been in his 40's or 50's in 1774. That would make it LESS likely that John (the son of Mr. H) would be the Johannes Henselbekker being put in for Warden in 1774!

It is entirely possible that the patriarch of the Henselbekkers in Bergen County was Johannes, and that this man is that Johannes/Hannes. It is equally possible that the elder Johannes was the father of Coenradt, Wilhelm, Philip, Johannes and Mic hel. It is further possible, and even likely, that the elder Johannes and the younger Johannes remained in Bergen County, well after the end of the Amer. Rev. War. Unlike the others who seem to have departed for Nova Scotia and New Brunswic k in the early to mid 1780's. The one exception, again, being Michel. There has not been much luck in tracking Michel, and he may have not lived that long, may not have married, etc.

Since Johannes' (the elder) will was made intestate in 1788, three or more years after Coenradt, Wilhelm and Philip had left for Canada, with Johannes (the younger) acting as the administrator of said will, it is not at all unlikely that Johannes/ John (the younger) remained in Bergen County. In fact, in 1808, there is a record of marriage for a Coonrad Hanselpacker to Elizabeth Smith (wid. Hopkins), in Bergen County, New Jersey. Making it fairly likely, that Coonrad Hanselpacker was a so n of Johannes Henselbekker (the younger). Any children (if they indeed had issue) born to Coonrad and Elizabeth, may have taken on the "Packer" name, as the Hanselpacker name was, at that time, associated with United Empire Loyalists, and no t a "positive" note, for a person of German or Dutch ancestry, in a fresh, young, newly independent country.

http://www.jedh.com/src/jhwill1788.htm

As to Coonrad and Elizabeth, and their possible connection to John the younger, that is theory, at this point. It's a theory I often refer to as "The One Who Stayed Behind." There is some possibility that, after a time, Coonrad and Elizabeth mov ed north to New Brunswick, Canada, though I've yet found any factual information to support that particular theory.

As for the origin of the family in Europe, there is often debate between the name being Dutch or German. In many records, the family claimed to be Dutch. In one record, that of Peter H'packer, who married Ferebee Fanning, there is a claim to bein g German. Now, if there are two separate families involved, that could make sense. However, I no longer have any doubts about the origins of the name and truly believe it to be of German origins. The term "Deutsch" is GERMAN, and may have bee n misread/misinterpreted in some earlier records. Add to that the fact that they attended "the Dutch Church" and that further blurs the German connection. However, the findings of similar names in Germany and none in Dutch records, indicate th e chance is FAR better that this name is originally German.

WARNING WARNING WARNING - OLD THEORY - The following note is based on ONE possible theory about the origins of the surname and should be read in such context. There is equal or "shared" weight to the theory that the family hailed from Baden, Wuert temburg/Bavaria, originathing as Henselbacker in those areas.

NOTE: Chances exist, yet are VERY SLIM, that this is one of two Beckers who arrived aboard the ship "Loyal Judith" on 2-Sep-1743 at the port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. IF related, these two, arriving the same date, were named Hannes an d Johann Wilhelm Becker. The ship arrived from Rotterdam, but last from Cowes. May have arrived prior to 2-Sep, as the 2nd was the day listed for the passengers taking their Oaths or Qualifications. WARNING WARNING WARNING

In notes from Marcia Foulger, she quotes the Ottawa Archives as offering yet another possibility for Hannes' name. It seems, within those archives, descriptions of Philip and Conrad joining the NJV, also state "possibly the sons of Peter". My su spicion is, this Peter MAY have been Peter who married Ferebee Fanning. And, the only reason he's thought to possibly be their father is the short-lived prominence he received due to his relationship with the Fannings. (JUST a theory) This seem s an especially long shot, when considering that Peter was born about 1780 and the son of Conrad. The possibility surely exists that the father of the "brothers" may actually have been a Peter... in which case, there are NO records of ANY such Pe ters in the Bergen County area, prior to the son of Conrad. This would give even more reason to those subscribing to the theory of the name having been changed. Though, the reasoning would be different (no John-type changing from Becker to Hense lbekker).

Here are some possible leads, on "Backer" family: (For any theorists who still believe the name to have been of patronymic origins, within the colonies)

From Hudson and Bergen History CD:

Claes Jansen Backer - Dutch - Hertogenbosh, Holland
Richard Backer - English - Barbadoes, West Indies (Not suspect)
Jacobus Backer - Dutch - Amsterdam, Holland

These three are listed on a list of "the earliest and most prominent landowners and settlers of Bergen and Hudson counties..."

Claes Jansen Backer was amongst those listed as purchasing land in Bergen County between 1646 and 1669.

The theory of the origin of the surname has a few possible outcomes. Given the history of the Henry Henselbeckers, it causes one to wonder if, somehow, there was never a patronymic naming change from Becker/Backer to Henselbekker, but, that the He nselbecker family actually existed in Bavaria, at least in the early to mid 1800s. Much more research will be required to solve the true line of descent from Europe. At this point in time (May-2003), I firmly believe the families origins will ev entually be traced back to the southern half, possibly southern third of Germany (as it exists, today). The spelling will likely be slightly different (such as Henselbacker, Henselbacher, Hanselbecker or Hanselbecher, but it will be "recognizable " as the "parent" of the Hanselpacker surname.

Ramapo Tract - 1763 -

"The following is a list of the 123 leases mentioned in the Committee's report to be signed by the tenants at Rompopock,
which the Board now also executes." (974.98662M, Board of Proprietors of the Minutes of the Board of Proprietors, Vol 3, p
402-404)

(Believe the numbers equate to lots as laid out on a map by Claire Tholl (Bergen Hist. Soc.)

166 Hensilbacker, Johanes
217 Henselbacker, William

Given the date, it does make one wonder if William was a brother of Johannes, rather than a son. Since the William I've listed previously, only appeared in one of the NJV Muster Rolls, it could very well be because he was older than the "boys" li ke Philip and Conrad????

Vol. III, p. 284)...24 March 1755...lease for land at Romopock executed :
No. 166 to Johanes Hansilbacker of 90.9 acres, ¹0.10.0

This indicated Johanes/Johannes was on the same lot of land from at least 1755 to 1763. If he was a land owner as early as 1755, chances are he was born no later than the 1730's.


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  • Married: in: Germany or New Jersey, USA
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  • Name: Mrs.(Eva? Elizabeth?) Henselbekker
  • Birth: ABOUT 1733?
  • Death:
  • Father:
  • Mother:

Notes: Originally, the following information led me to believe Elizabeth may have been the mother of the Henselbekker sonese wo fought in the NJV. It is just as likely she was the wife of one of the brothers, based on her 1742(ish) birthyear. Could sh e have been Eva? Problems abound, due to the fact that Johannis (Hannes) was father to Johannes, who was father of Coonrad. Where others fit, without having many facts, is difficult to assume. This line also includes all those who "stayed behind " in the mid 1780's when the rest of the clan went to Canada.

NOTE: A sister (or sister-in-law?) of William and his brothers may have been named Elizabeth (she MAY also have been an aunt or step-mother, as I have yet to find anything indicating an actual relationship), as the following "fellow Handspikers " are buried in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery (whether or not William was, is another story).
1. Elizabeth Handspiker - buried 11-Sep-1845 at age 102 (birthyear @1743)
2. Elizabeth R. Handspiker - buried 28-Mar-1863 at age 25 (birthyear @1838)
3. Mary Ann Handspiker - buried 24-Mar-1852 at age 40 (birthyear @1812)
4. Peter Handspiker - buried 14-Jul-1870 at age 83 (birthyear @1797)


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Other Spouses

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Children

SURNAMES
1/12/2007