Jan Van Cleef was born in 1627-28, presumably in Amsterdam, Holland. This presumption is due to his forename spelling of Jan instead of the more common Germanic spelling of Johan. Since Jan named one of his sons for himself with the Germanic spelling of Johannes (son of John) instead of using the spelling of Jan, it suggests that one or both of his parents were probably from one of the German states. Germany was not the Germany of today, which was created in 1919. It was comprised of a large number of independent counties, marks, principalities, duchies and kingdoms.

Some of the various spellings of the surname are due to interpretation by recording clerks and locations to which family branches migrated. Cleef is the Dutch for Cleve. Cleve being German. Clief is the German for the Dutch. Cleaf is the English for the Dutch. Cleave is the English for the German. Family branches can be identified by the spelling they use.

Jan died circa 1699, the last record of him being the New Utrecht Census of (presumably) 1698. He was a son of Cornelius Van Cleef, and probably a second or younger son.
Jan maybe the son of Cornelius Adriaenz Van Cleef and Neeltje Jansdr Van Der Meulen, who are mentioned in the records of Utrecht, Holland. The names of Cornelius and Neeltje fit the naming system. His first two children have these names.

Jan arrived in New Amsterdam, New Netherlands in 1653. Because he had money to pay for his voyage, with plenty of money for business ventures after his arrival, and, included in his possessions were a gun and a sheathed rapier sword, possessions not found among those of a common farmer or tradesman,and due to his wearing a jerkin it is believed that Jan had probably been a cavalier having a prosperous father.

Jan was only married once (circa January/February 1661, at New Utrecht, Long Island, New Netherland), to Engelje Laurens Pietersen (baptized July 15, 1646, at the New Amsterdam Dutch Church, died post-1711, the daughter of Laurens/Louwerens Pieterse de Norman and Annetje/Anetie Peiters). Jan and Engelje are known to have had the following fifteen children: Neeltje (named for his mother?), Cornelius (was named for his father), Laurens (was named for his wife's father), Jacobus (named for his father's father?), Rebecca (named for his father's mother?), Anna (was named for his wife's mother), Angelica (was named for his wife), Isabrandt (named for his wife's mother's father?), Rem (named for his mother's father?), Johannes (was named for himself), Catherine (named for his mother's mother?), Joseph and Benjamin (were twins named for the Biblical brothers), Maritje (named for his wife's mother's mother?), and Ceytie (was named for his wife's sister). We have dates of birth or baptism for some, approximations of birth from census records for a few, and nothing substantial for others.

Amongst the many New Utrecht court cases involving Jan's business dealings is a case of his involvement in a bar brawl. Evidently Jan had a fair amount of free time during the day allowing him to frequent the local public house. On September 21, 1661 Jan assisted the tavern keeper during a mêlée with militia Sergeant Jans Thomaszen and his son in evicting them from the premises. Thomaszen later explained in court that while enjoying half a barrel of beer with his eighteen year-old son on the occasion of the departure of Sir Johannes Verveelen, burgher and brewer of Amsterdam in New Netherlands, he (Thomaszen), being quite drunk, had engaged in a heated argument with one Claertie de Mof (believed to be the tavern keeper). A brawl ensued with several blows being struck between the two men. During the ensuing melee Thomaszen's shirt was torn by Claertie de Mof. Jan Van Cleef then entered the fray by grabbing Thomaszen by the hair in an attempt to pull him off de Mof. Thereupon Thomaszen drew his knife slicing at Van Cleef, making four cuts to Van Cleef's jerkin, and in the process inflicting Van Cleef with a flesh wound. Jan Van Cleef then grabbed Thomaszen by his arms knocking the knife from his hand. At this point Thomaszen's son, Thomas Janssen, not liking to see Van Cleef attack his father joined in, pulling Van Cleef by the shoulders off Thomaszen. Van Cleef then turned on the young Thomas grabbing him by the hair, and with the aid of another tavern patron, Hendrick Matthijssen, who grabbed Thomas by his feet, threw the young man down on the floor. The son then grabbed Van Cleef by the hair in order to be let go of by the two men. Claertie de Mof, Jan Van Cleef and Hendrick Matthijssen were able to evict the drunken Thomaszen and his son from the premises. Thomaszen was required to pay damages to Van Cleef and do penance.

After the British took control of New Netherland, renaming it New York, Jan's name was included with others of New Utrecht being granted the title of "Patroon" in 1686.

Jan's house, known as the Van Cleef-Van Pelt Manor, stood at what was originally the old New Utrecht Village square, located on the east side of 18th avenue, between 81st street and (facing) 82nd street, in the New Utrecht neighborhood, of the Bensonhurst District, in Brooklyn, New York. A court record states that after he sold the house he was allowed to continue to live in it the remainder of his life. Afterwards it was sold, enlarged, and occupied by the Van Pelt family until 1910 when sold to the City of New York. It was demolished in November 1952.

A headstone has not as yet been identified for him, but he is most surely buried in this cemetery, located just down the street two blocks from his house, and associated with his church, which was established in 1677. There are a lot of broken and partially buried headstones yet to analyze.

Besides the children having memorials listed below Jan also had the following, who probably died young:

1. Laurens Van Cleef, born circa 1666/70, at New Utrecht.
2. Jacobus Van Cleef, born circa 1668, at New Utrecht.
3. Ceytie Van Cleef, Baptized May 12/13, 1688, at the Flatbush Dutch Reformed Church, Kings County, New York.

Source: From Cleve To America, The Van Cleef/Cleve/et al Family, Volume I, by Allan Ray Wenzel, Library of Congress Card Catalog #86-50753, Copyright 1992, Seattle Publishing Company.∼Jan Cornelisz Van Cleef was born in 1627 or 1628 (age 36 on 14 Feb 1664).
Wilson V. Ledley, The Van Cleef Family (New Orleans, La.: Polyanthos, Inc., 1976), page 5. It has been stated that he was from Amsterdam, but no record of baptism is found in the Amsterdam archives.
Murray Edward Poole, History of Jan Van Cleef of New Utrecht, L. I., N. Y. and Some of His Descendants (Ithaca, N.Y.: Press of the Ithaca Journal, 1909).

Jan Van Cleef came to New Netherlands in 1653 and held 14 morgens of land at Gravesend in 1657. He moved to New Utrecht, Long Island, and in 1686 received a patent from Gov. Donagan.
Edmund Bailey O'Callaghan, Lists of Inhabitants of Colonial New York, Excerpted from The Documentary History of the State of New York (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1979, 1989, 1999), page 38. New Utrecht.
Hazel Atterbury Spraker, The Boone Family (Rutland, Vt.: Tuttle Co., 1922), p.558A.

On 7 April 1655 "before, me, Jacob Kip, Secretary of this city, Amsterdam in New Netherland, and the undernamed witnesses, appeared Pieter van der Linde on the one part, and Jan Cornelissen van Kleef on the other part, acknowledging and declaring to have agreed and convennated together respecting the purchase of a certain plantation and hogs on conditions as follows..."
Henry B. Hoff, "Finding the Patronymic of Jan Van Cleef in Little-Used New Amsterdam Records", New York Genealogical and Biographical Record Vol.128, no. 2, p. 110 (1997).

Married Engeltje Louwerens, daughter of Laurens Pieterszen and Annette Pieters, before March 1661.
A. Van Doren Honeyman and Van Tassel Sutphen, The Sutphen Family (New York: Sutphen, 1926), p.3.
Harry Macy Jr., "The Van Wicklen/Van Wickle Family: Including Its Frisian Origin and Connections to Minnerly and Kranckheyt", New York Genealogical and Biographical Record Vol.128, no. 2, p. 81 (1997): 128:179.Harry Macy Jr., "The Van Wicklen/Van Wickle Family: Including Its Frisian Origin and Connections to Minnerly and Kranckheyt", New York Genealogical and Biographical Record Vol.128, no. 2, p. 81 (1997): 128:179.

On 21 September 1661 Jan Thomaszen and his son, Thomas Janssen, were summoned by the consistory of the Breuckelen Dutch Church on account of an inceident in which Jan Thomaszen drew his knife and wounded Jan Cleeft in the village of New Utrecht. The matter was addressed again on 27 Sep 1662, when Jan Thomassen stated before the consistory that he had settled with Jan van Cleeft.
A. P. G. Jos van der Linde, Old First Dutch Reformed Church of Brooklyn, New York: First Book of Records, 1660-1752, New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1983), pages 25, 27, 49.

He was a member of the at Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, Flatbush, Kings Co., Long Island, New York, in December 1677 at Utrecht (New Utrecht).
David William Voorhees, editor, Records of The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, Kings County, New York, Vol.1, 1677-1720 (New York: Holland Society of New York, 1998), page 349. Register of the Members from the Four Villages. 19 Nov 1679. Utrecht: Names of Members. Jan van Cleef: In Dec. 1677.

He was on the rate list at New Utrecht, Kings Co., Long Island, New York, on 28 September 1683 Jan van Kleef, 1 poll, 80 acres, 4 horses, 8 cows, 2 cows 2 years.
Edmund Bailey O'Callaghan, Lists of Inhabitants of Colonial New York, Excerpted from The Documentary History of the State of New York (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1979, 1989, 1999), page 127. Rate List of New Utrecht.

On 2 March 1684/85 Jan Van Cleef of New Utrecht, husbandman and Angell his wife, convey to John Darval of New York City, merchant, for 32 pounds, a piece of land at New Utecht lying with the lotts at the stand between those of the said Jan Van Cleef and Jan Thomas, containing between 11 and 12 morgens or 25 acres, together with the right of commanage at the hills. Jan Van Cleeff and Angell Van Cleeff sign with their marks.
Kings County, New York, Deeds v.1-4; FHL #1413189 (New York, New York, Salt Lake City, Utah: Recordak Corp.; Genealogical Society of Utah, 1957), Microfilm of original records at the New York Registers Office in New York City., 1:10.

Witnessed the baptism of John Van Matre , son of Kryne Jansen Van Matre and Neeltje Van Cleef, on 24 April 1686 at Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, Flatbush, Kings Co., Long Island, New York, (sponsors Jan van Cleef, Engel van Cleef).
David William Voorhees, editor, Records of The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, Kings County, New York, Vol.1, 1677-1720 (New York: Holland Society of New York, 1998), page 442. Jan; parents: Crijn Jansen van meeteren, neeltje Jansen Cleef.

Witnessed the baptism of Barent Stryker , son of Pieter Jansz Strycker and Annetie Barentse, on 5 September 1686 at Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, Flatbush, Kings Co., Long Island, New York, (witnesses Jan van Cliff, Engeltie Louwerens).
Ibid., page 441. barent; parents: pieter strijker, annaka barents; witnesses: Jan van Cliff, Engeltie louwerens

Jan Cornelisz Van Cleef took the Oath of Allegiance in September 1687 at New Utrecht, Kings Co., Long Island, New York, Jan Van Cleeff, 34 Jeare.
Edmund Bailey O'Callaghan, Lists of Inhabitants of Colonial New York, Excerpted from The Documentary History of the State of New York (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1979, 1989, 1999), page 38. New Utrecht.

He appeared on the census circa 1698 at New Utrecht, Kings Co., Long Island, New York, Jan Van Cleef, 1 man, 1 woman, 4 children.
Edmund Bailey O'Callaghan, Lists of Inhabitants of Colonial New York, Excerpted from The Documentary History of the State of New York (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1979, 1989, 1999), page 177. Census of Kings County, About 1698.

W. V. Ledley in his The Van Cleef Family (1976), page 9, adds a son Lourens (b. ca. 1670) for whom there is no record. The placement was based upon the assumption that Jan would naturally name a second son, Laurens, for his wife's father. As no record of such a person exists, he is not included here.

Children by Engeltje:
Neeltje Van Cleef b. ca. 1662, d. 1 Jan 1747
Cornelius Van Cleef b. ca. 1665, d. before 21 Oct 1749
Rebecca Van Cleef b. ca. 1673, d. ca. 15 Nov 1755
Anna Van Cleef b. ca. 1674
Rem Van Cleef b. ca. 1677
Isbrandt Van Cleef b. ca. 1678, d. before 13 Jan 1727/28
Johannes Van Cleef b. ca. 1678
Catherine Van Cleef b. 23 Oct 1681
Joseph Van Cleef b. 25 Nov 1683, d. before 6 Jan 1755
Benjamin Van Cleef b. 25 Nov 1683, d. between 26 Sep 1747 and 12 Nov 1747
Maritje Van Cleef b. ca. 1685
Ceijtie Van Cleef b. 13 May 1688
Hazel Atterbury Spraker, The Boone Family (Rutland, Vt.: Tuttle Co., 1922), p.558A.
A. Van Doren Honeyman, editor, Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey, First Series, Vol. XXX, Calender of New Jersey Wills, Administrations, Etc., Vol. II, 1730-1750 (Somerville, New Jersey: The Unionist-Gazette Association, Printers, 1918), page 494. Cornelius VanCleaf.
Wilson V. Ledley, The Van Cleef Family (New Orleans, La.: Polyanthos, Inc., 1976), page 11. Age 27 on the Staten Island census (assuming date to be 1706), but no further record.
David William Voorhees, editor, Records of The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, Kings County, New York, Vol.1, 1677-1720 (New York: Holland Society of New York, 1998), page 411. Catharine; parents: Jan van Kleef, Engeltje van Kleef.
Harry Macy Jr., "The Van Wicklen/Van Wickle Family: Including Its Frisian Origin and Connections to Minnerly and Kranckheyt", New York Genealogical and Biographical Record Vol.128, no. 2, p. 81 (1997): 128:179.
A. Van Doren Honeyman and Van Tassel Sutphen, The Sutphen Family (New York: Sutphen, 1926), p.3
David William Voorhees, editor, Records of The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Flatbush, Kings County, New York, Vol.1, 1677-1720 (New York: Holland Society of New York, 1998), page 444. Ceijtie; parents: Jan van Cleeft, Engeltie Lourents.

Jan Cornelisz Van Cleef died before 4 March 1701; (wife remarried).

Bio includes data from The Brouwer Genealogy Database.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~brouwergenealogydata/surname_index.htm
∼He was the first of the Van Cleve (Van Clief, Van Cleef) Family in America. He was descended from the Duchy of Cleves in Germany. One of his relatives was Anne of Cleve (1515-1557) who was the fourth wife of King Henry VIII of England. He was a representative from the Bushwick Colony to the convention in New Amsterdam on April 10, 1664 to send delegates to Holland to represent the States General and the Dutch West India Company, the distressed state of the country. He was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church in New Utrecht, New York.