Fitje Hartmans was born in 1611 at Cologne, Rheinland, Germany.1 She married Michiel Jansen, son of Jans and Jannetje. She died circa 17 October 1697 She was buried in Jersey City.

On June 18, 1663, Fitje was among those who verbally requested that Communipaw be pallisaded for protection. She was a widow at that point. Fitje was my first direct ancestor to be buried 'with pall'. This cost was an additional 6 guilders after 1691. First used in 1678, it consisted of '10 El. of Black Cloth, at 24 gl. per El. and a linen cover to protect the pall ' Cemeteries, located near the Churches, were at Tuers and Bergen Ave. and Vroom St.2

In 1679 Fitje was living at 'Ghmoenepaen,' and had 'many children, all of whom were not unjust.' The farm owned by her is marked on the field map as lots numbered 14 and 15. The Labadists, in October, 1679 dined with her. An old lady in Brooklyn told them that Fitje came from Cologne. They have left this quaint record concerning her: 'We found her a little pious, after the manner of the country, and you could discover that there was something of the Lord in her, but very much covered up and defiled.' This is no light testimony to the old lady's religious attainments, considering that it is given by two men who seem to have looked upon all mankind, except that small portion which accepted their own peculiar views, as destined fuel for the everlasting bonfire. She was a member of the Bergen church in 1664.3
Funerals were a unique event. This is from a 1690 burial: Flour and milk 6 gl. 5 st., Sundries 15 gl. 5 st. 85 gl. 6st., BD keg of beer 15 gl. 16 st., Carting of the goods 3gl., Coffin and spirits 25 g. 10 St. Aanspreker 19 g. 10st.

An Aanspreker was the funeral director. Donning the official dress of low shoes, black stockings, black knickerbockers, a black cutaway coat with along flowing black mantle, white cravat, and a 3 cornered hat from which floated a long black crepe streamer and a rosette which showed the sex and marriage status of the deceased . All mourners and bearers dressed this way, while the aansprekers also added gloves . After the body was laid to rest, the party returned to the sterfhuis, or home of the deceased, for beer, spirits, and food, prepared by the women, who traditionally did not go to the cemetery. After a short interval, the guests departed. Name variation: Fytje Hartmans. Married name: Vreeland. Married name: Jansen.
General source for this information, see footnotes.2

Children of Fitje Hartmans and Michiel Jansen
Jannetje Michielsen Vreeland+ d. 11 Sep 1714
Elias Michielsen Vreeland+2
Enoch Michielsen Vreeland+ b. 20 Jan 1647, d. 17 Aug 1717
Pryntje Michielsen Vreeland+ b. 24 Oct 1649, d. 21 Apr 1711
Hartman Michielsen Vreeland+ b. 1 Oct 1651, d. 18 Jan 1707
Ariaentje Michielsen Vreeland b. 8 Mar 1654, d. 22 Sep 1697
Johannes Michielsen Vreeland+ b. 1 Oct 1656, d. 26 Jun 1713
Cornelis Michielsen Vreeland b. 25 Jun 1658
Cornelis Michielsen Vreeland+ b. 3 Jun 1660, d. 2 May 1727