PREFACE

We, who are interested in the genealogy of the Van Vlack family are sincerely indebted to author Jane Van Vleck who, in her “Ancestors and Descendants of Tielman Van Vleeck”, provided us in 1955 with the most comprehensive account published to that date on three centuries of the Van Vlack family, its origin, its history and its members. She states that she ‘gladly gives in Appendix 4 skeleton data on the Van Vlack group - with the hope some member will feel inspired to correct errors and carry on the research.’

In the beginning, it was not my intent to do more research on a broad scale. Instead I began to assemble, in 1975, biographies, new names and vital statistics on my family members (before it was lost) and those of my close relatives, past and present, only. In so doing there should be an update to author Jane Van Vleck’s findings of about 40 years for this limited group.

However, what started as a limited project became a mission in retirement to satisfy my curiosity on several matters left in question by Jane Van Vleck, such as:

• Who were the parents of my ancestor Abraham Van Vlack (born Feb. 2, 1755)?
• Was, as suspected, Jan Roelofse Van Vleckkeren (the earliest person to carry our name in America) the father of Marinus Roelofse Van Vleckeren?

Finding the missing documentation proving parenthood would then carry my ancestry back two more generations to the early 1600’s. I was anxious also to learn more about the islands of Flekkeroy off southern Norway in the 1600’s, from whence our pioneer ancestor came, and from where we derive our family name. Other interests were explored, too, as I traveled to where Van Vlacks lived in earlier tines.

Later, also, a mailing list became available of all persons named Van Vlack in the United States and Canada. Feeling the list might reveal those Van Vlacks missed by author Jane Van Vlack in 1950 when she ended her search, and those born since than, it was decided to pursue this new source. Letters of inquiry were sent, explaining this effort to a thirty sampled lot (geographically) of the names on the list, soliciting their participation by filling out a prepared form. Regretfully, for whatever the reason, only a few replied and, in disappointment, the effort was discontinued on the balance of the list. However, of those who did respond we are pleased to place about 80 more Van Vlack descendants on the family tree, along with the two hundred or so found earlier.

You will find rather extensive biographies on this compiler’s family group, which was intended for the reminiscence of their descendants if interested. It is hoped this booklet will inspire other contemporary Van Vlacks to do likewise for their families, before their history is lost - and submit same to major biographical Libraries, thus add to the whole. We are grateful, however, for all contributions submitted, if only the name and family connection. It is something on which to build.