Matthys Jansen Laenen, who arrived on the "Rose Tree" in 1663, was the ancestor of the Lane families of Monmouth, Somerset and Hunterdon counties (in New Jersey).
The supposition that Teunis and Matthys were Walloons and not Hollanders, though speaking the Dutch language, would seem to be well founded. In the first place, the form of the name, whether written "Laenen" or "Lanen" would appear to indicate as much. In the second place, their residence was in a real Walloon district, though it was so affected by its proximity to the Dutch country that we must suppose the inhabitants of "the Peel" could speak both Dutch and Walloon, the latter being a semi-French language, as the Walloons were a semi-French and semi-Teutonic stock. Belgium and Holland together formed the Netherlands for a long period, and there were constant interchanges of speech between the inhabitants.
Matthys Jansen Laenen, of the Province of Luyck (Liege), Belgium, immigrated to New Amsterdam, arriving in March 1663, on the sailing vessel "Rose Tree." He had previously been married (name of wife unknown, but probably Tryntje ______), and he started with his wife and four children aged respectively 17, 15, 13 and 11 years of age. She died on the passage over so that, when he arrived at New Amsterdam, he was a widower. He came with his brother Teunis as previously stated.
Immediately after his arrival he settled in New Utrecht, Long Island, where his name appears on the assessment rolls of 1675 and 1676. He subsequently married for his second wife, Adriaentje Hendricks. The date of his death is unknown, but it was prior to 1683, because on May 20, 1683, his widow married Cornelius Wynhard, who had emigrated (in 1657) from Groningen, Holland. She was Wynhard's second wife.
Without doubt Matthys was a farmer, and if, as is probable, he was born in or near Liege about 1626, he would have been about fifty-six years old at the time of his decease. His first name was abbreviated by himself to "Thys," so that some of his children used as a middle name "Thyssen" (son of Thys).
Matthys signed his name "Thys Jansen van Pelt," not using the "Laenen" at all, but this simply followed custom and, as has been stated he was "from the Peel." However, the "van Pelt" was not used by any of his children.
In September, 1687, when the oath of allegiance was administered on Long Island to all adult males, two of Matthys' sons took the oath and were described as "natives," i.e., born there: hence we know that Jan and Jacob were children by his second wife. They are entered on the lists as follows: "Jan Thyssen Laenen, native; Jacob Thyssen Laenen, native." At the same time Matthys' brother, Teunis, was put down as: "Theunis Janse van Pelt Laenen; 24 yrs." In the latter case it will be noticed that "Laenen" is placed last, and "van Pelt" before it, although contrary to Teunis' signature. Matthys, himself, was not living in 1687 and hence his name does not appear.
The children of 'Thys (Matthys, or Matthew) used both the name Tice (or Tise) and Lanen (or Lane).
Huguenots!