Pane-Joyce Genealogy
Catoneras.
Catoneras was the daughter of the Sachem, or chief, of a tribe of Native Americans which lived on, and claimed ownership to that portion of Long Island, situated along the north shore, or sound, about Eaton’s Neck in Suffolk County.
There’s a recent detailed article by John A. Strong, James Van Tassel, and Rick Van Tassel, “In Search of Catoneras: Long Island’s Pocahontas” in the spring 2010 issue of the Long Island History Journal, Volume 21, issue.
http://www.stonybrook.edu/lihj/IssueFiles/V21_2/Articles/Strong/strong.html
The article’s abstract:
This article focuses on an aspect of colonial history that is often avoided by historians. With the exception of the iconic marriage of Pocahontas and John Rolfe, sexual unions between white men and Indian women were seldom mentioned by historians unless the union was sanctified by Christian ritual. Among the several references to interracial liaisons in the colonial records relating to Long Island, there is one concerning a Dutch settler named Cornelis Jansen Van Tassel and an Indian woman named Catoneras, who is described as a “Sunksquaw” (female sachem). The couple had a son, Jan Cornelissen, whose descendants have spent a great deal of time and energy researching the story of Catoneras and Cornelis. This article discusses the historical context of the relationship and the quest to discover more about Catoneras, Long Island’s Pocahontas.
Catoneras married
Cornelis Jansen Van Tassel.
Born in Netherlands.
The following is from Genalogy of the Van Texel--Van Tassel family in America, 1625--1900. Descendants of Jan Cornelissen Van Texel, Born 1625 on Isle of Texel off the North Coast of Holland, compiled by Daniel Van Tassel. 1950:291
The original form of the family name, “Van Texel” - of Texel indicates that the general ancestor was born, or for a time resided on the well known island of that name, situated off the coast of Holland.
This surname, the latinized form of which was Texelius, had become fixed upon the family long before the Dutch established a trading post upon Manhattan Island. The family also had a coat of arms which was recorded.
Among the very early settlers in the New Netherlands from Holland was a member of the Van Texel family. He was generally known as Cornelis Jansen, that is, Cornelis son of Jan. Once only, and that in a legal document, a copy of which is hearafter given, does his full name appear. He is the first American Ancestor.
The year of his coming cannot be exactly fixed, as the records of that time are incomplete. But he must have come over in one of the Dutch vessels which commenced trading with the Indians shortly after Hendrick Hudson, in 1609 sailed up the River which bears his name, and could not have arrived in this country later than 1624. In all probability he came over a few years earlier. From papers examined it is the belief that he came here from the province of North Holland, in the Netherlands.
The following agreement, the original of which was contained in Volume one of the Dutch Colonial Manuscripts, on file in the Archives Room of the New York State Library in the Capital, Albany, N.Y., until it was burned in the great fire of March 29, 1911, which partially destroyed the Library. It reads as follows:
“This day, date underwritten, in the presence of the underwritten witnesses, have amicably agreed and covenanted in manner as followeth:
“Cornelis Jansen Van Texel binds his son, Jan Cornelissen, to Hendrick Harmensen, and for the term of seven consecutive years; who also acknowledged to have accepted the above named Jan Cornelissen for the above mentioned term, with the express promise that he, Hendrick Harmensen, shall take care of the boy, as if he were his own son, duringthe seven years aforesaid.
“Also Cornelis Jansen shall not have power to take his son from the above named Hendrick Harmensen, but only whenever the above mentioned time shall be expired.
“For all that is aforesaid, parties on either side shall, at the expiration of the aforesaid years, have no claim the one against the other, nor any manner of demand.
“These presents are signed by parties in good faith without guile or deceit.
“Done the third August 1639 in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherlands.
“Cornelis Jansen Van Texel
“Maurits Jansen, Adrisen Van Tienhoven, Hendrick Harmensen Witnesses”
Although the volume containing the original contract was burned, a copy of it, made by Dr. E. B. OCallahan, for the state, is now on file in the manuscript section of the State Library.
When Cornelis Jansen Van Texel came to the New Netherlands he went to Long Island, where he resided, so far as known, the rest of his life.
From a study of papers, copies of which will hereafter appear, we learn that Jansen married an Indian girl named “Catoneras,” the daughter of the Sachem or chief of a tribe of Indians which then lived on, and claimed ownership to that portion of Long Island, situated along the north shore, or sound, about Eaton's Neck in Suffolk County.