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Hello Joanne,
I have just acquired some info from the Hamilton, Ontario OGS Branch. I feel some people may be interested in this info so I figure I'll put it here. You may find it very interesting. Here goes:
Printed as given by the Hamilton OGS
BACKGROUND HISTORY OF THE VanSICKLE NAME
During the crusades and other wars involving Flanders, the VanSICKLE men (de Seclin) were represented. Some years before 1300 a town was established in Flanders near the
French border of the present Belgium, called Seclin. In 1338 an English army invaded the territory of Flanders and burnt down the good town of Seclin and many villages in its neighbourhood. This was in the same year that a deSeclin family (Van der Sickelen) relocated in Ghent and built three large stone houses. The town of Seclin was apparently rebuilt in France and today has a population of 9,424.
The old Van der Sickelen home, or the "Grote Sikel" still exists in Ghent. This house is the property of the city and divided into two parts. The front part is occupied by the Service of the Public Education and the back part houses the Royal Music Academy. We don't know when this house became the property of the Van der Sickelen family, But in 1339 a Simon Van der Sickelen owned it. The last male member of the family who possessed this house was James Van der Sickelen who died on 23rd May 1520. Many highplaced persons have stayed at the "Grote Sickel" or "The Great Sickle".
(N.B. From the Archives at Ghent, Belgium)
The VanSickelen (or VanSicklen) family was Norman and came to Ghent Belgium from Amiens sometime before 1338. George VanSickelen was Abbot of St. Bavon in 1406. Anthony VanSickelen was one of the Protestants who moved from Catholic Belgium to Protestant Holland in 1566. He became Councillor for the Province of Zealand and signed the Pacification of Ghent.
(N.B. From notes of Mrs. A. Johnson)
According to the American Research Bureau in Washington D.C. this is a Dutch occupational name signifying "one who cares for a lawn". The Dutch prefix "Van", "Van der", and the French "De" did not refer to parentage or ancestry but simply denoted the locality from where the family originated. Thus Van der Sickelen as the name was originally meant "from the town of Seclin".
The first member of this family to come to America from the Netherlands was Ferdinandus VanSickelen; born 1635, came to New Amsterdam (New York) at 17, then after a year or more settled at Flatlands, Long Island. The homestead was still around in 1901 near the VanSicklen Station on the Brooklyn elevated railway.
According to E. Hamm in his book entitled "Early Families of New York", Ferdinandus, after settling in Flatlands, Long Island soon had a large farm and was doing a profitable business with the people of Brooklyn and New Amsterdam. He married Eva Antonise Jansen by whom he had three sons and five daughters. These children were strong and sturdy and must have been of invaluable service to their parents. In the Dutch families at that time the boys aided the father upon the land and with the livestock, while the girls helped the mother in the care of the house, the management of the poultry-yard and dairy, and in spinning, weaving and dyeing.
The father of Eva, wife of Ferdinandus, was Antony Jansen, known as Antony Jansen van Salee and sometimes as Antony Jansen van Fez, from his having lived for sometime in Morocco at the cities of Salee and Fez. He was said to be a freebooter and pirate and settled in Morocco where he became a Turk and turned to the Mohammeden religion. He was said to have come from Salee or Fez, Africa, to New Amsterdam, N.Y. about 1633 where he lived until 1639 at which time he and his wife Grietje Reiniers were banished from there in consequence of their being slanderous and troublesome persons. In 1634 he was granted land where Bensonhurst, Long Island now stands. He sold this in 1660 and moved to New Amsterdam where he died in 1676. He was called "The Turk" and his property was referred to as "The Turk's Plantation". He made his mark "A1" to documents.
It was his daughter Eva Antonis Jansen who married Ferdinandus VanSickelen, the original VanSickelen immigrant from Europe. From Ferdinandus (1635) and his wife Eva are descended all the VanSickelens in America.
Not far from the VanSickelen homestead (near VanSiclen station on the Brooklyn Elevated) was the settlement of the Canarsie Indians, who proved kind neighbours and a warm friendship sprang up between them and the family. The children used the camp as a playground and picked up knowledge of the Indian tongue. In each generation during the following century, at least one Vansickelen was the official interpreter of the Dutch and afterwards the British Government. Several of them became so much attached to the redman that they left their homes and lived with and ruled them.
The three sons played a prominent part in their time. They and their father were among those who established a market and fair in Brooklyn. This was patterned after the town fairs of Holland and proved a thorough success. On fair days the grounds about the market were covered with booths, tents, and Indian wigwams. In the afternoon and evening, music and dancing gave pleasure to the young and pipes, beer and wine to the old. It was the first attempt of the community to create a social side of in this part of New Netherlands. These fairs must have been a pleasant spectacle with the young girls in their gayly coloured dresses with heavy jewelery and voluminous linen petticoats, the young farmers in their traditional Dutch garb, soldiers and sailors, merchants and their families from neighbouring towns, and with a sprinkling of Indians throughout the crowd. The records show that many visitors from New York came and took part in the dancing and festivities.
Of the three sons, Reinier (born about 1661) remained at home, Johannes, the scholar became a schoolmaster in Flatbush and Ferdinandus Jr., settled upon a farm in the neighbourhood and became a notable Indian interpreter and farmer.
After several years service at teaching school, Johannes, moved to New Jersey. Here he settled in the valley of the Raritan river prior to 1669 and established the New Jersey branch which was to become one of the great families of that State.
Three branches of the VanSickle (it is unknown when the name was changed) family came up to Ontario and settled in Ancaster Twp and in Jerseyville - Lynden areas. They were:
ISAAC VANSICKLE SR. was born in 1732 and came from New Jersey to Jerseyville in Ancaster Twp. in 1801. His children were Isaac Jr., David, Lambert, William C., Priscilla, Abraham, John and Francis, all of them born New Jersey. In the land petition made by Isaac VanSickle Sr. on 16th Aug. 1824, he stated he had lived in this provinace many years and had 14 children, 11 of whom were now living and in the Province of Ontario. In a previous petition on 5th July 1811, he stated that he had resided in Morris County in the State of New Jersey in America before the breaking out of the Rebellion and that he had joined the Royal Standard in the year 1775 and served His Majesty as a Private in the Jersey Volunteers commanded by General Skinner until the end of the war. He came to this Province in the year 1797 where he has since resided.
REYNIER VANSICKLE(VanSickle) born in 1777. He came to Canada from New Jersey in 1803 and settled on the Indian Trail in 1810 in what was called "Baptist Settlement". His wife's name is unknown. Their children were Peter, Delilah, Jacob, Deborah, Priscilla, John D. and Adam. In the obituary of Peter VanSickle (eldest son of Abraham) taken from the "Canadian Baptist" it states that Peter (better known as Uncle Peter) was born in the State of New Jersey and at the age of five years he moved with his parents to Canada and settled in what was then known as "Jersey Settlement" Before settling in that area, the family must have stayed for a time in Welland County as in the obituary of Delilah (VanSickle) Stenabaugh it states that she was born at Short Hills Welland County on 19th May 1803.
A statement by Mrs. A. Johnson of Hamilton, a direct descendant of Peter VanSickle, son of Abraham, says that the VanSickle families of Isaac Sr., Aabraham and another family unkown to her came to Canada. These three failies settled within five miles of each other, within a 10 year period and all came from New Jersey, but do not claim any relationship. None of these three lines are mentioned in "History of the VanSickle Family in the United States of America" written by John VanSickle in 1889. However, it is felt very strongly that there is some family relationship and history in time would prove it so.
N.B. The above information although assembled from many sources was presented to us through the kindness of Mrs Gloria Oakes of the Hamilton Branch of O.G.S.
Well I hope this gives you some extra info. As for myself I still am having trouble placing my Isaac P. Sickles born 1805 in New York State, New York. He came to Ontario with his wife Laura Brown abt 1836. Had land in Onadaga, Brant County, Ontario - 1842 then onto Beverly Twp., Ontario, Canada. Can't seem to find out who were his parents. Maybe he doesn't want to be found as I am having trouble finding an Obituary for Isaac Died in October 1870 in Beverly Twp, Ontario. Also no one can seem to locate his marriage register-March 25, 1830, Russia Twp., Herkimer Co.,New York State, US. Married at Russia Corners Baptist Church by Rev. Calib Easterbrook. My Isaac P. Sickles had a daughter Laura who married my Gr2 Grandfather-Thomas Shea. In Laura's obit it mentions she was a cousin to Major General Daniel Sickles, also I have heard other stories of how Thomas and Laura Sickles (Shea)children who lived in Caledonia, Ontario, Canada would visit the General's grave. It is a mystery but I'm hoping their is proof out there somewhere and maybe one day I'll be lucky and find it.
If you have any info it would surely be very much appreciate. Bye for now,
Christine
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