Supposed daughter of Francois and Mary Martha Van Couwenhoven was the daughter of
Francois Van Couwenhoven and
Mary Brouwer.
She was did not marry to John Freed
Herein lies a mystery! In his will, Frans Van Couwenhouven calls Captain John Fred his "son-in-law" and leaves silver brought to him through his marriage to Mary Brouwn/Brouwer to Captain John Fred and his wife Mary. This would lead you to think that the wife of Captain John Fred was Mary Van Couwenhouven, as you show it here, however this was not the case. The wife of Captain John Fred was Mary HARRING/HERRING/HAERING, which is made plain in her will.
In those days terms of relationship were not always used in the same way that we use them now, and "in-law" was not infrequently used to mean step-relation. Another term, cousin, was used much more loosely than we use that term today.
Abstracts of Wills Vol V 1754-1760, pages 188-190:
Page 345.--In the name of God, Amen. I, MARTHA FRED, of New York, widow, being weak of body this 12 of July, 1756...To my nephew, John Fred Herring, son of my late brother, Benjamin Herring, £200. To the other 4 children [not named] of my brother, Benjamin Herring and his wife Wyndlyna, £100 each. I leave to Benjamin Herring, son of my late nephew, Aaron Herring, £300. To Isaac Herring, the other son of my nephew, Aaron Herring, £200, to be put at interest till they are of age..."
She also leaves a bequest to Edward Van Couwenhouven, son of Samuel, son of Frans Van Couwenhouven.
So, while the evidence from the will of Frans Van Couwenhouven makes it appear that your version is well founded, there is actually more to the story than that.
Frans Van Couwenhouven had no children, as far as I know, by Mary Brouwer, and Mary the wife of Captain John Fred was
surnamed HARRING.
If anyone happens by this site who has information on Captain John Fred and his wife Mary Harring, I'd certainly appreciate hearing from you.
Regards,
Sharilyn Whitaker
sharilyn@northcoast.com.