Sussman-Laabs

Immigrant ancestor to America on 25 January 1624 Joris came to New Netherland aboard the ship Eendracht (Unity), with his wife Catalyna Trico.

============= The Rapaljes initially lived at Fort Orange (present day Albany, New York), and not on Long Island or Staten Island. Eldest child Sarah was born at Fort Orange. Joris was a textile worker in Holland, but it is not clear what he did while at Fort Orange. Soon after the harvest in 1626 the Company re-settled all eight families initially at Fort Orange to Manhattan Island, to the Comapny's new center of operations called New Amsterdam. Here the Rapaljes probably lived in a rough shelter near the East River. Eventually Joris acquired a building lot just south of the Fort and built two houses on the north side of Pearl Street, at Nos. 17 and 19, west of Het Marckvelt (present Whitehall Street). Daughter Sarah lived at no. 15. New Amsterdam records show that Joris gained prominence in public affairs, became a plantation owner, part owner of a privateer, a trader, and a tavernkeeper during his lifetime. In 1637 he bought from the Indians land at the Wallabout ("inner bay") in present day Brooklyn on Long Island. The family did not move there permanently until after 1650. In 1654 he sold the Pearl Street home in New Amsterdam. Catalina (Trico) Rapalje retained ownership of the smaller house until 1674