Matthew Blanchan (?-1688)

Birth
Matthew was born about 1610. In his testamentary deposition in 1665, he stated that he was born in the village of Noeuville o corne in the parish Ricame in the province of Artois France.

Move to Armentierres, France
Before 1633, Matthew moved to Armentieres and married about 15 Oct 1633 Magdalene Joire (1611-?).

Wife Magdalene Joire
Magdalene was born on October 27, 1611 in Armentierres, France. She was the daughter of Petrus Joire and Jacoba Le Blanc.

Move to England
Before 1647, the couple moved to England.

Move to Germany
By 1651 they resided in Mannheim Germany, probably persuaded to go there by the new tax laws and provisions made to induce Huguenot merchants and manufacturers to help rebuild this territory.

Immigration to New Amsterdam
On 26 Apr 1660, they arrived at New Amsterdam on the Gilded Otter listed as Mattheus Blanchand, farmer, from Artois, wife and three children 12, 9, and 5 years old. Matthew was granted a Deed of Confirmation by Governor Nicholls 18 June 1664 "for a house and lot of ground lying and being at Wiltwyck, at Esopus." Matthew was there as early as Oct 1661 when he was levied an excise tax for wine and beer. He acquired considerable property at Esopus. Sometime prior to 25 April 1663 they went to New Dorp which was destroyed by the Esopus Indians in June of 1663. Two of his children were carried away into captivity by the Indians and were rescued months later.

Death
Matthew left a will dated 22 Aug 1671 and proved 7 Mar 1687/8.

Parents
The only known record that establishes Leonin Blanchan as the progenitor of this family is a marriage contract dated 12 Apr 1649 recorded at the Walloon Church of Canterbury England between "Anthoin Blanchamp, son of the late Leonin and the late Isabeau LeRoy, his father and mother." The document refers to a Mathiew Manheim, presumably referring to Matthew Blanchan, the subject of this article.