Book Report: The Edge of New Netherland

Do you have roots in the early Dutch in New Netherlands? My Van Valkenberg family was in the colony and this book has taught me about the place where they lived. 

 

 

 

The Edge of New Netherland

 

L. F. Tantillo

Published for the New Netherland Institute, 2011

Contents

 

New Netherland

The Bastion

Fort Casimir

Comparisons

 

During the 17^th century a small European Protestant country comprised of seven provinces and ruled by a prince rather than a king, became a dominant international sea power and a leader in global trade. It is referred to as Holland, although Holland was only part of the country, The United Provinces of the Netherlands, achieved a level of success unparalleled by a nation of its size in the colonial era. 

 

Holland’s colony of New Netherlands encompassed much of today’s New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware and part of Pennsylvania. The primary rivers were today’s Hudson, Connecticut and Delaware rivers. 

 

This beautifully illustrated book gives a look at life in New Netherland. Learn about the fur trade; its trappers and hunters; the hat production and trade. Learn about the forts and their bastions. 

 

The book then gives details on Fort Casimir in Delaware. My family lived in Fort Orange in New York but this is still a very interesting history.

 

 

Forget Me Not: Julius C. Alford, 1937

Julius Ceaser Alford

15 January 1855 LA – 11 April 1937

Son of Warren Jackson Alford & Celia Ann Lewis

Husband of Sarah Elizabeth Fortenberry

 

My First Cousin, 3x Removed

J. C. Alford, 82, Dies at Progress

 

Julius C. Alford, eighty – two years old, died at his home in Progress community April the eleventh. Mr. Alford was a faithful member of the Baptist Church and lived in Pike county most of his life. 

 

He leaves  his wife and seven children, 

E. C. [Elmer C. Alford], 

H. Victor [Hollis Victor Alford], 

Talmadge [Dewitt Talmadge Alford] 

and Mrs. Losia Simmons [Losia Irene Alford] of Progress;

 Mrs. Ada Ball of Osyka; 

Mrs. John Burris of Smithdale; 

and H. E. Alford [Hugh Edwin Alford] of Washington, D. C.; 

fifteen grnadchildren and four great grandchildren. One brother, the Rev. N. E. Alford [Needham Edwin Alford] of Magnolia, and one sister of McComb, [Laura Ann Alford Fortenberry] besides a host of other relatives and friends to mourn his loss.

 

He was buried in Silver Springs cemetery, with Kennedy Funeral Home in charge.

My records also show another daughter, Floy Maudlina Alford, 11 Apr 1903 - 1919.

Source: J. C. Alford, 82, Dies at Progress. (McComb, MS: McComb Daily Journal, 21 April 1937) 3; digital image, Newspapers.com: accessed February 2023. 

 

 

 

Vintage Photograph: Thomas A. Coyle

Thomas was my maternal grandmother's brother.  There were seven children in the family and only two boys. The first boy, Francis Patrick Coyle, died before he reached two years old. Thomas had five sisters to contend with. His father, Michael Coyle, left the family and then Thomas was the only male. Thomas also left. He may have gotten in with a bad group of young men. In this vintage photograph my great uncle looks like a charming little boy. If you can tell me more about Thomas, I'd be delighted to hear from you.

Thomas A. Coyle

Born 16 Dec 1903 New York City

Son of Michael Coyle & Mary Josephine Mullane

Photograph taken on the occasion of his First Holy Communion 

I own this original photograph.

Forget Me Not: Paul A. Morrison, 1960 OH

Paul Allen Morrison

6 December 1899 OH – 8 April 1960 OH

Son of Seth Benner Morrison & Margaret Jane Gruissy

Husband of Elnore Marguerite Castor

Father of Marjorie Elnore Morrison Graff

Brothers: Clifford, Peter & Paul Morrison

 

Paul A. Morrison

 

Wooster – Paul A. Morrison, 60, a one – time resident of Rittman, died in a Middletown, O. hospital. He had lived in Middletown since leaving Rittman about 1940. He had been ill four months.

 

A native of Sullivan, O., he moved to Rittman in 1918 and worked as a power engineer for the Ohio Boxboard Co. Since 1940 he had done the same work for Middletown Diamond Gardner Co.

 

He was a charter member of the Rittman Masonic Lodge.

 

Surviving are his wife, Elnore, a daughter, Mrs. Richard Graff of Wooster; four grandchildren and two brothers, Albert of Florida, Peter of Akron, four sisters, Mrs. Mona Hurd, Iona, Mich., Mrs. Florence Stead, Los Angeles, Mrs. Pauline Mowrer [Paul’s twin] of Akron, and Mrs. Lena Swelger of Wadsworth.

 

Services will be held at 3 p. m. Tuesday in the McIntire Funeral Chapel here, the Rev. Robert Tuck of Central Christian Church, officiating.

 

Burial will be in Wooster Cemetery, and the Chapel will be open to callers after 7 p. m. Monday.

The Akron Beacon Journal

Akron, OH, 10 April 1960, page 34

Newspapers.com

Paul & Elnore Morrison

Paul & Elnore Morrison, 1959

Book Report: Deacons’ Accounts 1652 – 1674 Beverwijck/Albany

In researching various branches of my family I have to travel or reach out to places far from my house. However, when I learned more about our  Fortenberry/Van Valkenberg family the search came closer and closer to home. I only have to drive across the nearby Hudson River to go to the one time home of my 9^th great grandfather, Lambert Jochemse Van Valkenberg.

 

Growing up in the Hudson River Valley of New York I have known that we were settled by the Dutch. New York was New Netherland. Albany was Fort Orange with the village of Beverwijck surrounding it. I have been excited to learn my family was a part of those early days. 

 

 

 

Deacons’ Accounts 1652 – 1674 Beverwijck/Albany

 

Janny Venema,

Translator & Editor

 

Picton Press, 1998

 

This book is a “translation of the account books, which were kept between 1652 and 1674 by the deacons of the Dutch Reformed Church, Albany’s oldest church.” 

 

Contents

 

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Glossary

Key to Abbreviations

Deacons’ Accounts

Bibliography

Index

 

 

In 1930 a small folio of 250 pages was found in the Dutch Reformed Church, the oldest church in Albany, NY. It was “bound in vellum with buckskin thongs.” This book is a transcript of that precious folio. 

 

The Dutch Reformed Church had a “consistory, consisting of a minister, elders and deacons.” (p ix) The deacons’ records show the church took care of the people in many ways. The poor were given medical care. Money was given for education of poor children. Needy people were boarded out or their rent was paid. There were provisions for coffins and funerals. Food and clothing was distributed. In April 1660 my ancestor, Lambert, was given “some bacon and meat.” (p 71) In November of that year he was given a blanket. (p 77) In June 1661 he was given “one schepel of corn.” (p 85) He continued with hard times. In December 1664 Lambert was given a pair of shoes and his wife was given 5 pounds of butter. (p 119) His name is included in these records until 1669.

 

Lambert Jochemse Van Valkenberg

c 1616 Netherlands – c 1685 NY

Son of Lambert Jochemse Van Valkenberg

 

 

My copy of this book has many bright colored sticky notes for book marks. I have scribbled in the margins and rejoiced over the discoveries. I am very grateful for the discovery of that ancient folio in 1930.

Related Posts:

• January Anniversary: Lambert Van Valkenberg & Annetjen Jacobs, 378 Years Ago
• William Jasper Fortenberry
• Euseba Fortenberry Smith

 

 

 

Stray Horse of Moses Hollis, 1767 SC

This little clipping, over 250 years old, is probably the oldest newspaper account of an ancestor I have found. I am amazed that this still exists and that I was able to find it online. It is a part of a list of descriptions of "stray horses." This was, most likely, a serious problem for my ancestor. However, I am pleased that the missing horse resulted in my finding his name in the newspaper. 

Moses Hollis

1728 Fairfax, Virginia - 1794 South Carolina

Son of John Hollis & Esther Canterbury

Husband of Rosannah Berry Hagan 

Revolutionary War Soldier

My 6th great grandfather

The South-Carolina and American General Gazette

Charleston, SC, 7 August 1767, page 4

Newspapers.com

 

Marriage: John Wolf, 1833 PA

A New Discovery!

I was very excited to find this newspaper announcement. Previously I did not know this wedding date or location. 

John Franklin Wolf

11 Apr 1809 York, PA - 10 Mar 1883 OH

Son of John Frederick Wolf & Esther Barbara Shaffer

Elisabeth Burkholder

24 May 1814 York, PA - 22 Jun 1856 OH

Daughter of Abraham Burkholder

My 3rd Great Grandparents

Married

24 October 1833 PA

Gettysburg Compiler, Gettysburg PA

12 Nov 1833, page 3 

Newspapers.com 

Forget Me Not: Thomas C. Ott, 1927 MS

Thomas Ott was a "pioneer citizen" of Osyka. When I see those words in a newspaper article I pay close attention. It often means I am finding one of our early family members. 

 

Thomas Charles Ott

25 Jan 1854 LA – 4 December 1927 MS

Son of Samuel Edward Ott & Elenor Esther Addison

Husband of Emily Jones

 

My 2^nd cousin, 3x removed

 

Tom Ott Dies At Osyka

 

The death of Thomas Ott, one of the pioneer citizens of Osyka, occurred Saturday and he was buried at Osyka Sunday. He was 74 years of age and a life – time citizen of that locality. Everyone knew him as Uncle Tom, and everyone was his friend who came in contact with him. For many years he was in the saw mill business at Osyka, until a few years ago when he sold out his interest in the mill to Walter Ott. Hundreds of people who go to Osyka will miss the familiar figure of Uncle Tom and his cherry words of greeting.

 

 

Source: Tom Ott Dies At Osyka (McComb, MS, Semi - Weekly Journal, 7 Dec 1927) 1; digital image, Newspapers.com: accessed Feb. 2023.  

 

Children of Tom & Emily:

 

Charles Monroe Ott

William Jones Ott

Annie E. Ott

Carrie Pearl Ott

Seaborn G. Ott

Harry Leon Ott