Sussman-Laabs

aka "de Noorman" as he was from Norway.

John O. Evjen’s book, Scandinavian Immigrants in New York, 1630-1674, gives biographical information about Laurens:

Laurens Pietersen, or Laurens Pietersen Noorman, from Tonsburg, in Norway, was in New Amsterdam as early as 1639. On June 16, of that year, he was declared sole heir to the real and personal property of a Roeloff Roeloffsen, the witnesses being Pieter Jansen, likely the Norwegian by that name, and Hans Stein. In the Calendar of Wills, where this declaration is contained, Laurens is called "Laurens Pietersen van Tonsback” (Tonsberg). In the Church Records of New Amsterdam, containing the entry of his marriage with Anetie Pieters from “Brutsteen,” Germany – August 18, 1641 – , it is stated that he is from Tonsberg.

His name appears quite often in the church records as sponsor – August 8, 1641, for Rachel, daughter of Dirk Holgersen, the Norwegian; December 8, in the same year, for Rommetje, the child of Hans Hansen van Nordstrand in Holstein; May 21, 1646, for Nicholas, a son of Barent Janszen; April 14, 1647, for Aert, a child of Caesar Albertsz; March 20, 1650, for Nicholas, a son of Barent Jansen; January 28, 1663, for Joost, the son of Barent Joosten and his own daughter Sytie.

Laurens had his own child Sytie baptized June 1, 1642, one of the sponsors being Hans Hansen from Bergen. His child Engel was baptized July 15, 1646, three Norwegians being sponsors: Pieter Jansen Noorman, Andries Laurensen Noorman, and Maryken Tymens (sister of Anneke Jans and wife of Tymen Jansen).

On March 12, 1647, Laurens obtained a lot on Manhattan, between the lots of Peter Hilyaender and Evert Duyckingh’s. Mr. J.H. Innes says: “He owned a house and lot on the south side of Prinse Straet, about fifty feet from Broad Street. The house is mentioned as standing there as early as 1647. It was the first house built on Prinse Straet, the second being built about the year 1652 – on the south side of the street – by Albert Pietersen from Hamburg,” whose wife was Danish.

Under date of March 22, 1651, we have a declaration of Laurens Pietersen to the effect that Dirck Holgersen (Norwegian) had purchased of Cornelis Willemsen a plantation on the west side of Mespath Kill, Long Island, opposite to Richard Brudenel.

On March 10, 1660, Laurens petitioned "for the appointment of guardians and curators over his minor child" which petition was granted. It is probable that his request included also his other child. For under date of January 20, 1661, we have a petition from “the guardians of Laurens Petersen’s children for instructions in regard to the division of the estate.”

On March 10, 1661, he gave his consent “to the payment of her portion of the estate to his daughter Engeltje, shortly after her marriage to Jan Van Cleef.” Engeltje was at the time only fifteen years old, her husband was thirty-three.

Laurens’ other daughter, Sytie (Fytie, Eytie?), was married on December 12, 1658, to Barent Joosten from "Witmont in Emberlandt." They had a child baptized in 1659. Their other child, Joost, was baptized on January 28, 1663, in the Dutch Reformed church of Brooklyn. Laurens Pietersen himself was one of the sponsors. The other sponsors were Symon Hansen and Magdalentje Walingx.

Pietersen is mentioned as selling land between the years 1654 and 1658. On February 18, 1656, he sold to Harck Syboutsen, his “lot on the east side of the Graft, between the lots of Evert Dyckingh and Abraham Rycken, as broad and long, large and small as it belongs to said Lauren Pietersen Noorman by patent to him of 12 March, 1647.” D.T. Valentine describes it as being on the east side of Broad Street, south of Beaver Street.

In 1664, Laurens signed the resolution adopted by the commonalty of the Manhattans.