William Hendricks was the descendant of one of Pennsylvania's largest Buckskin Pioneer families. The Patriarch of this extended family was Albertus (a.k.a.: Albert) Hendrickson, an indentured servant to Joost de la Grange. He immigrated with de la Grange on February 5, 1662 and married de la Grange's maid, Aeltje. Their first son Jacobus Hendrickson (changed to James Hendricks c1700) was born while Albert was still under his term of indenture.

Sources: The Frontier Hendricks
CS71 H5159 1993 HOLDINGS: v.1 (1993)
Author: Dr John Scott Davenport
Publication: Frontier Hendricks Association, c1993
Repository: The State Historical Society of Wisconsin530

From: Hendricks Family Association - http://sio.midco.net/lysco/hendricks/:

Hendricks Arrive in the Colonies

Research by

Dr. Peter Stebbins Craig,

FASG of Washington, D.C.

Memo to a member of the Frontier Hendricks Association

        "1. Albertus Hendricks' origins. You will recall, back in 1989, when we first corresponded, I was chasing the theory that Albertus might have been Swedish because of the plethora of Swedish Hendrickssons in the vicinity. As I then pointed out, Albertus Hendricks' plantation was acquired from Jons Gustafsson and adjoined property patented to John Hendricksson, who later moved to Penns Neck, where he became progenitor of the Bilderbeck family that included a grandson named Albert Bildrebeck. However, I, too am now thoroughly convinced that Albertus Hendricks was not Swedish. He was never connected with the Swedish churches; his children were connected only on a casual basis, if at all; and most of them married wives with Dutch or English background.

        "I am now convinced that Albertus Hendricks came to the Delaware as a servant for Joost de la Grange from Leyden, the Netherlands. Joost de la Grange cam to the Delaware with 'his wife, three children, six servants, and two maids,' all of who were aboard the Gulden Arent on 5 Feb 1662. On 29 May 1662, Armegot Printz, wife of Johan Papegoja, sold her father, Johan Printz' Tinicum Island (patented to Printz by Queen Christina) to Joost de la Grange for 6,000 guilders. Printz' plantation, previously known as Pritnhof, was renamed "New Leyden" by de la Grange. Having successfully sold her father's land, Armegot Printz sailed to Europe, collecting 2,000 guilders from de la Grange's bankers in Amsterdam on 31 July 1662. But, subsequent bills of exchange were dishonored. Joost de la Grange died and his widow Margaret married an Englishman Andrew Carr, who was granted a patent for Tinicum Island by Governor Francis Lovelace of New York on 1 Oct 1669. Armegot Printz then came back to America to collect the money due her or else claim Tinicum Island. On 8 March 1671/2 she filed a petition in the New Castle Court, noting that Andrew Carr and his wife were planning to leave for Holland and praying that Carr be required to pay the balance of 3,00 guilders outstanding or else forfeit Tinicum Island to her. The case was referred to the New York Court of Assizes where, on 14 Oct 1672 Armegot Printz Papagoja was awarded judgement for the unpaid principal, costs of suit and damages. On 23 Apr 1673, Peter Alrichs, William Tom, Walter Wharton, and Edmond Cantwell took an inventory of Tinicum Island, finding that its total value (2145 guilders, Holland money) was less than the judgement that Armegot Printz had obtained. At the end of this inventory was the following notation:


"Memorandum that Albert (who is the husbandman) is to perform his condition formerly made with Mr. Andrew Carr to Jufroe Popegay (Mrs. Papegoja).


        "From my analysis of all extant records of the Delaware prior to the Quaker invasion of 1681-82, I have found only one person named Albert, namely Albertus Hendricks. This must be a reference to him. Assuming this to be true, it would appear to me that Albertus Hendricks initially was an indentured servant for Joost de la Grange and that, after Andrew Carr married de la Grange's widow, he became an indentured servant for Carr, finishing out his term in the services of Armegot Printz, as a result of her judgement against Carr. Armegot Printz had her own plantation at Printztorp, southwest of Upland (Chester) Creek, granted by Governor Peter Stuyvesant of New Netherland, 28 Aug 1656. This was not far from the lands which Albertus Hendricks later purchased from Jon Gustafsson."1

        Dr. Craig did not address the question; it can be deduced that Albertus arrived in the American Colonies a single person. He married Aeltje (Anglicized to Helchey), one of the maids, during his indenture or contract period. This is discerned from the birth of their oldest son Jacobus (later legally changed to James) in 1667.

        It can be deduced from well-documented history that Albertus arrived in the New Netherland Colonies and was settled in the area around the Delaware River. Subsequently, this area was ceded to the Penn Colonies, which is now known as Pennsylvania.


1.Validating documentation citations have been purposely omitted to allow Dr. Craig to publish at his leisure. The research is comprehensive, thoroughly documented, and the analysis could only have been done one of his vast knowledge of the area.521

This individual was found on GenCircles at: http://www.gencircles.com/users/olstadpm/1/data/2471