Olive Tree Genealogy in 2nd Historic Niagara TV Episode

Some of my readers may recall that I was invited to participate in a TV Series episode on Laura Secord. Olive Tree Genealogy was very honoured to have been asked to participate in this new episode on Waterfalls of Niagara.

This episode produced by Peter Sacco of Historic Niagara fame, is about waterfalls of Niagara. Special guests were Harry Houdini's son George Hardeen and Amazing Race Canada's Jon Montgomery.  Be sure to take a peek at 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5BkuuCX3To&t=7s

I am in two spots, around the 15.5 minute and 31 minute mark, but please watch the full 35 minutes. It's a great series and so interesting to watch. 

Church of Ireland Parish Registers are a genealogy goldmine

Over $110,000 was awarded to the Representative Church Body Library to support the digitization of the Church of Ireland parish registers in Ireland.

 The register records date back as far as 1619 and include the Church of Ireland parish registers for baptism, marriage, and burial; 1,110 sets of parish records in total and approximately 840 of which contain varying quantities of public records which have not yet been digitized.

Continue reading at https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/genealogy/church-ireland-parish-registers-online

New Netherland Settlers: The Straetsman Sisters & Their Six Husbands

 The  Straetsman sisters Barentje and Teuntje were from Culemborg  Netherlands. In 1630 the West India Company conquered part of Brazil and  the colony of New Holland (now present-day Recife) was founded. 

Dutch  troops were sent to Recife and Olinda in Pernambuco Brazil and no doubt  Barentje and Teuntjes first husbands were among those sent to maintain  order. 

They settled first in Brazil before 1637 and then New Netherland  circa 1657.

More at The Straetsman Sisters Barentje & Teuntje and Their Six Husbands

Access Canadian WW2 Military Service Files in a Few Easy Steps

Uncle Clare

A few years ago I sent for the military records of my father's brother, Clarence E. McGinnis. I knew Uncle Clare had been in WW2 as I have several photos of him in uniform. But I never knew where he served, what unit he was in, or what he did during the War. 

World War 2 Canadian records are restricted. But they can be accessed and they can include documentation about enlistment, discharge, military units served with, and may also include other documents concerning medical history, medals awarded, personal evaluation reports and dental charts.

Library and Archives Canada holds military service files for those who served after 1918. Their website explanation of who can access what files and how to obtain them may be confusing, so I'll share  with you what I did. It was simple.

I wrote a one page letter requesting the complete military service files for [individual's name] who was born [individual's full birth date or estimated year] in [name of city/town plus county and province in Ontario] to parents [names of father and mother].

I included my uncle's death date and a photograph of his tombstone as proof of death. Interestingly enough they actually returned the photo to me!

That was it. I mailed the letter and photo to

ATIP and Personnel Records Division
Library and Archives Canada
395 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON  K1A 0N4

You can also fax your request to them at this number: 613-947-8456

Your request can be written as a letter or you can print off a blank copy of the Application for Military Service Information form [PDF 663 KB] also available in Rich Text Format [RTF 44,516 KB], which should be filled in, signed and sent by mail or fax.

Huge envelope arrives

After a wait of about 5 months a very large package arrived with Uncle Clare's complete military file. I estimate there are about 80 or more pages.  The wait was not unexpected as it is made clear on the Library & Archives Canada website that they are backlogged and requests can take up to 6 months to fill.

There was a lot of interesting information in the military file for Uncle Clare - such as details of his work history prior to enlisting. It include what he was paid! I wish my dad's files had been as complete.

Lots of pages to read!

I am really pleased to have some more details to add to my knowledge of my uncle. I knew him quite well but he never spoke of his military service or his early years. I suppose I was too young for him to think I'd be interested.

But I'm really enjoying reading through his files to find out where he went during the war (to England and France) and what he saw and did during that difficult time.

For more information on finding ancestors who were in the Canadian Military during other years you might want to check out The Canadian Military Project

For WW1 personnel files you can view these online. Library and Archives Canada has scanned and uploaded the full files to the online CEF Searchable database.

Another Episode of Historical Niagara

Ready for my shot! Yes I just did two more interview for two more episodes of Peter SaccoTV series “Historical Niagara”. 

Details to be posted on my Olive Tree Genealogy blog later this week. Chopped my hair again yesterday in preparation for today - my Pandemic haircut!

New Netherland Settlers: The Stevensen and Jacobsen Families

 

A brief excerpt from my book New Netherland Settlers: The Stevensen and Jacobsen Familes was previously published as The European Origins of Steven Janse Coning in the December 2001, Vol. 6 No. 4 issue of New Netherland Connections. 

My book completes several years of research into the origins and descendants of Steven Janse Coning who was baptized in 1617 in Nijkerk and settled in New Netherland with his wife Maria Goosens circa 1649. By 1663 Steven and Maria had at least 7, possibly 8 children. 

After their divorce in 1663 Steven and Maria married other spouses, and Maria had one more known child born to a man named Jacob whose surname is unknown. This book follows Steven, Maria and their descendants to three generations.

Continue reading at New Netherland Settlers: The Stevensen and Jacobsen Families 

A Different Hallowe'en

 It will be a different Hallowe'en this year. Covid-19 means it may not be safe to take our children or grandchildren Trick or Treating. 

So with a sense of nostalgia, let's look back at some of the costumes I made for my kids or they put together themselves. I never let them wear a purchased costume, instead we'd go up into the attic where I kept stacks and stacks of clothes from the 1960s, 70s and 80s, and we'd let our imaginations run wild.

For example here's a pirate costume I put together for my youngest son - from a purple dress I loved in the early 80s, white gauze pants from the early 80s, a colourful sash from the 70s, and other bits and pieces I cut from clothing. I'm not a seamstress so I tacked it all together as best I could.

I forgot what he was but he was thrilled with my oversize caftan from Mexico, a coloured sash, sandals, some chunky jewellry, a toy sword and baby powder to whiten his hair.

I hope you can still make this year's Pandemic Hallowe'en fun for your little ones.

New Netherland Settler Jan Sipken

 

Jan Sipkens was a Dutch soldier who settled in New Netherland sometime before October 1674. 

His marriage intentions were recorded in the New Amsterdam Reformed Dutch Church that month, and they revealed his origins were in Amsterdam Holland. 

A search of the Amsterdam church records found his baptism in 1656 to parents Sipke (aka Zipke) Auckus and Baefje Jans.

Read more at Jan Sipkens, New Netherland Settler

New England Online Newspapers Updated

New England States Online Historical Newspapers - 175 new and updated links have just been added to the New England States' free newspaper link lists (1,892 total titles).

Just click on your chosen state below and the links to newspaper titles from that state will appear.

• Connecticut Online Historical Newspapers Summary
• Maine Online Historical Newspapers Summary
• Massachusetts Online Historical Newspapers Summary
• New Hampshire Online Historical Newspapers Summary
• Rhode Island Online Historical Newspapers Summary
• Vermont Online Historical Newspapers Summary

 

What is Your Oldest Ancestral Item?

It's always a thrill to inherit or find an object that once belonged to an ancestor. I had chills when I found store tokens made by my 9th great-grandfather Henry Noldred of Ramsgate Kent England. Henry was a grocer who had his own tokens created to spend in his store in place of official money.

I was so intrigued by this new-found information that I started researching to see if I could find any of his tokens and I found that one of his existed created circa 1650!. I also learned that Ramsgate was spelled Romansgate back then. 

Once I found that one of Henry's tokens had been sold on an auction site a few months before, I became determined to find another and purchase it. I'm excited to say I succeeded! I managed to find two in England, and I bought them both. I plan on having a small plaque made with Henry's birth, death and location. Then I'll have the tokens and the plaque framed and it will have a place of honour on my wall.

This is the description of the tokens: (rosette)HEN.NOLDRED.IN.ROMANS , around beaded inner circle, three tobacco rolls / logs of wood.

Rev: (rosette)GET.IN.YE.ISLE.OF.TENNET , around beaded inner circle, HIS HALF PENY in three lines. M. Dickinson 454. Neither obverse or reverse dies represented in Norweb.

What is the oldest ancestral item you own?

New Netherland Settler Harmen Janie Ryckman

1644 Marriage of Harman Janss Ryckman

 Harmen Janse Ryckman (my 9th great grandfather) came to the New World with at least one child - his daughter Margarita (Grietje) Harmense Ryckman. By 1662 Grietje had married Jacques Cornelise Van Slyke the son of Cornelis Antonissen Van Slyke and his Mohawk wife, Ots-Toch. Jacques and Grietje settled in the new village of Schenectady. Grietje's father lived in Albany as early as 1666 and there he died circa 1677

Read more at Harmen Janse Ryckman in New Netherland

Lost and Found: HAIGHT family mementoes

 Joyce McFarlane in Ontario has the following items to give to any descendant who wants them.

Have been going through some old boxes of parents stuff. I have come across, a picture, a bible, and hymn book. picture labelled Jay Haight, bible belonged to Mrs Claire Haight, and Hymn book, Clement Haight. Looking for any relatives that might want these.

 

 

 

 

 

You can contact Joyce through her Facebook page

Looking for an ancestor photo? See LostFaces.com!

 

Walking Photographs

My Father & Mother 1946

Someone posted an intriguing photo on Twitter. It was simply a photo of two sisters walking down a sidewalk circa 1940s. It suddenly occured to me that during the time of Sidewalk Photographers roaming the streets of large cities, there must have been hundreds if not thousands of such candid photos taken. 

Of course the way it worked was the photographer would snap a picture then try to convince the subjects to purchase a copy. 

I have a few of those "Walking photos" and thought it would be fun to post them here. Maybe you have some too? Tell us about them in the comments below.

 Left is a photo of my mom and dad in 1946. I love this photo because mother is pregnant with me! 

I have another earlier Walking Photo of my grandmother and mother holding my brother's hands. Behind them is my aunt (mother's sister) with her son. It was taken ca 1939 either in Guelph or Toronto Ontario Canada

 

Next is a Walking photo of one of my Australian cousins - my grandmother's brother Albert Simpson with his grandson Johnny Salmon. It was taken in the early 1950s

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Netherland Settler Hendrick Meesen Vrooman

Image: 1648 record for Hendrick Meesen Vrooman

Hendrick Bartholomeus (Meesen) Vrooman and five children ages 15, 13, 11, 7 and 5 years old are on the passenger list of D'Eendracht (The Concord) arriving in New Amsterdam New York on 17 April 1664. 

The ages of these children fit the children known for Hendrick: Adam born ca 1649, Eve born ca 1651, Johannes baptised 1653 Leiden Netherlands, Kathlyntje baptised 1657 Leiden, and Bartholomeus baptised 1659 Leiden. Hendrick's wife and mother of the children was not with them and we might assume she was dead. 

Continue reading at The Vrooman Family of New Netherland New York 

Curious About Ancestor Effigies or Busts?

Hertfordshire churches contain numerous effigies and busts of people whose images were not recorded elsewhere. 

Inside All Saint’s church in Willian, Thomas and Lucy Wilson are remembered with these colourful carvings on their memorial

Don't Miss This New Saskatchewan Database!

 MemorySask: the Saskatchewan Archival Information Network is a database of descriptions of archival material held in Saskatchewan archives as well as Nunavit. It is a work in progress, with new descriptions being added regularly.

You can search names or locations. If you have Saskatchewan ancestors you will want to check this out.

New Netherland Settler Lodewyck Post

Sometime between October 1647 and July 1652, Lodewyck Cornelils Post, his wife Agnietje Bonen, and their children left Amsterdam Holland to settle in New Netherland (New York). Research into Naarden Holland church records has revealed the birth of Lodewyck, and the marriage of his parents in that city.

 Read more at Lodewyck Post, New Netherland Settler

NEW! Missouri Birth and Death Indexes Online

 Reclaim The Records has not just one but TWO brand new databases online. 

MissouriBirthIndex.com and MissouriDeathIndex.com

 

 

Olive Tree Genealogy on Episode of TV Series Historical Niagara!

Recently I was asked to appear as a guest on a TV series produced by Peter Andrew Sacco, called Historical Niagara. The series is seen on TV in Ontario Canada and the episode I was asked to appear in is on Laura Secord. Peter interviewed me via Zoom and it was a great experience.

The Laura Secord episode is available to watch on YouTube. If you use the scroll bar to find me, look for my bright pink top around the 28 minute mark. I hope you'll watch the entire episode as it's quite interesting, and walks you alongside Laura on her famous journey.

If you don't know who Laura Secord is (no, not the chocolate makers!) she is our Canadian heroine who warned the British during the War of 1812 that the Americans were planning a surprise attack. To warn the British forces, Laura had to walk through thick forest 20 miles inside American occupied territory. But watch the episode and you will learn much more about Laura. 

 

 

New Netherland Settler: Pier Family

 

It has always been known that THEUNIS JANSZ. PIER, an early settler in New Netherland (New York) was born circa 1600 in Holland. 

Chris Brooks and I researched and found Theunis' baptism. His parents' names are now known! We found a great deal on the family -- and our jointly authored article Origins of the Pier Family in the Netherlands and an Update of Their Connection to the Ostrander Family by Lorine McGinnis Schulze and Chris Brooks, was published in the July 2000 issue of the New York Genealogical & Biographical Record. in Deventer, Overijsel, Netherlands. 

He married Jannettie Arentsdr. on September 14, 1624 in Amsterdam Netherlands. Theunis Jansz's sons Jan and Arent, were the immigrant ancestors of the PIER family in America.

Read more at Pier/Peer Family

New Netherland Settlers: Salomon Abbelse GOEWAY & Barber Philippse

Baptism of Solomon 1617

The story of the Goeway family in New Netherland begins with Salomon Abelse who was baptised in Amsterdam Holland in 1617, and his wife Barber (Barbara) Phillipse who was baptised in 1619 in Amsterdam. Read more at Goeway Family

Immortalizing an Ancestor the Sarah Hare Way

 

In 1744 Sarah Hare died of septicaemia, after pricking herself on a needle. In her will she requested that a wax effigy be made of her and displayed in the Holy Trinity Church, Stow Bardolph. Her wish was granted. 

She was a daughter of Sir Thomas Hare, whose family had a reputation for local philanthropy. Her ancestors built almshouses, and Sarah left each resident a small bequest.

This is wax Sarah in her cabinet

Anyone Need to Cast a Spell? Magical Poppet Found in a Chimney

The strange little 19th century doll which is currently on display in the History Room of the Black and White House Museum was found in a crevice of the brickwork of 21 East Street, Hereford. In a fold of her dress was a handwritten note which read: 

"Mary Ann Ward, 

I act this spell upon you from my holl heart wishing you to never rest nor eat nor sleep the rester part of your life. I hope your flesh will waste away and I hope you will never spend another penny I ought to have. 

Wishing this from my whole heart."

The body is made of wood, with arms and legs of red checked cotton material. Her head bears traces of paint; she has a string and silk pigtail and wears a red spotted dark blue cotton dress. .

It seems reasonable to suggest that the doll is a magical object know as a Poppet (or mommet, moppet, poppit or pippy). These were used in folk magic and witchcraft for casting spells on a person or to aid that person through magic. It was from these European dolls that the myth of voodoo dolls arose

It is clear that this spell is hostile in intent and hopes to rectify an injustice, real or perceived. What is not clear is who this is aimed at, unfortunately there are a number of Mary Ann Wards born in Hereford and Herefordshire in the 19th Century, and at least one Mary Ann Ward who moved here (in this case from Birmingham). 

The word poppet is an older spelling of puppet, from Middle English popet, meaning a small child or a doll. In British English it continues to hold this meaning. Poppet is also a chiefly British term of endearment.

Source: Herefordshire Museum Service

New Netherland Settler: Jan Cornelis Damen

1585 Marriage of Jan Damen's grandparents in Utrecht

 

Jan Cornelise Damen, my 9th great-grandfather, was the common ancestor of the DAMEN family. In 1650 he left Bunnik, a village on the Ryn in Utrecht, for Long Island New York, and married Fytie/Sophia Martens. The surname might be derived from Demen, a hamlet in North Brabant where Jan most likely lived at one time.

On 29 Apr. 1655 he purchased a house and land adjoining that of Jan Dirksen's in Brooklyn and by 1677 was keeping a tavern here. Read more at THE DAMEN FAMILY OF LONG ISLAND NEW YORK

The Huguenot Walloon Uzille Family

 My 8th great grandfather was the Huguenot Pierre Uziele. Huguenots were French Protestants who held to the Reformed, or Calvinist, tradition of Protestantism. His parents at his baptism 14 January 1659/60 at the French Church in Mannheim Germany were David Usille and Marie Casier, He is registered as Pierre. His godparents were Philippe Casier and Marie LeNoir

There is a marriage record from Bergen Church Marriages in NJ for:Josi: Pieter and Cornelia Damen, m. by the minister upon certificate from Breuckelen, Staten Island. 6 April 1686. "Josi" would be the phonetic representation of Pieter's surname "Uziele"

Read more at THE HUGUENOT WALLOON UZILLE FAMILY

New Netherland Settlers: Boelen Family

 

Boele Roeloffsen, the immigrant ancestor of the Boelen family, arrived in New Netherland in 1659. 

His wife Bayken Arents, their three children, and Bayken sister Tryntie Arents sailed with him on board the ship Otter. 

Two more children were born to Boele and Bayken after they settled in New Amsterdam. Continue reading at 

Ancestry of the Boelen Family & their Connection to the Ten Eyck, Clock, Coert, Roos, and Hellaken Families 

The Barheit Family Revealed: A Genealogy of Hans Coenradt and Barenjte Jans Straetsman

The exact date of Hans Coenradt arrival in New Netherland is not known but it is most likely he was among the refugees fleeing Recife Brazil in April 1654. 

The first record found indicating he was in New Netherland is dated in Albany (Fort Orange) in early December 1655. Sometime between April 1654 and December 1655, Hans arrived in New New Netherland. As New Amsterdam came into view with its gallows and weather beaten wooden houses dominating a raw, windswept landscape, the Barheit family must have had mixed feelings. 

Continue reading at 

The Barheit Family Revealed: A Genealogy of Hans Coenradt and Barenjte Jans Straetsman, the Immigrant Ancestors of the Barheit Family of Albany New York

Finding Ancestors in Canadian Genealogy Records

 

Finding Ancestors in Canada 

To find ancestors in Canada you need to know which Province or Territory in Canada your ancestors settled. 

Provinces and Territories in Canada were settled at different times. Canadian genealogy records such as Vital Stats or Census were kept starting at different times. Not all Canadian genealogy records have survived. 

Where do I Start Looking for my Canadian Ancestors?

To find your Canadian ancestor, start your search in Ontario,  Quebec , Acadia ,  Alberta , British Columbia ,  Manitoba , New Brunswick,  Newfoundland , Nova Scotia  , Northwest Territories , Prince Edward island , Saskatchewan , or Yukon Genealogy records. 

Search Canadian Immigration Records 

Did your ancestor arrive in Canada BEFORE 1865? Search for passenger names in Olive Tree Genealogy free ships passenger lists 1535 to 1864

Did your ancestor arrive in Canada AFTER 1865? Search for passenger names in Olive Tree Genealogy free ships passenger lists 1865 to present

Understanding Dutch Patronymics

The Dutch were much slower than the English in adopting surnames as we know them. Patronymics ended theoretically under English rule in 1687 with the advent of surnames, but not everyone followed the new guidelines. In the Netherlands, patron ymics ended mostly (especially Friesland) during the Napoleantic period around 1811 when everyone had to register and select a family name.

The most common Dutch naming custom was that of patronymics, or identification of an individual based on the father's name. For example, Jan Albertszen is named after his father, Albert. Albertszen means son of a man named Albert. The patronymic was formed by adding -se, -sen, or -szen. Daughters would very often have the ending -x or -dr. added. For example, Geesjie Barentsdr. (Barentsdochter) is named after her father Barent. 

An individual could also be known by his place of origin. For example, Cornelis Antoniszen, my 9th great- grandfather, was known in some records as 'van Breuckelen', meaning 'from Breuckelen' (Breuckelen being a town in the Netherlands). The place-origin name could be a nationality, as in the case of Albert Andriessen from Norway and my 9th great-grandpa, originator of the Bradt and Vanderzee families - he is entered in many records as Albert Andriessen de Noorman, meaning the Norseman.

Continue reading DUTCH PATRONYMICS OF THE 1600s

Update of Ontario Canada Births to 1914 Online

 Ancestry has updated their Ontario Vital Records. Genealogists can now search for Births 1832-1914 on Ancestry.com, Ancestry Canada, Ancestry Australia, or Ancestry.UK

This database is an index to over 2 million births that were registered in Ontario between 1832 and 1914. 

Information contained in this index includes:

• Child's name


• Birth date


• Sex


• Birth county


• Father's name


• Mother's name


• Archives of Ontario microfilm series and roll information

Z is for Zwahlen Ancestry

Olive Tree Genealogy is continuing a new Alphabet Genealogy series of blog posts. I'm not following the usual way of going A-Z surnames. Instead I will create a one word "tag". Then I will share an ancestor (mine, my husband's, an inlaw's or one of my children's) who fits the tag

Today's letter is Z for Zwahlen.

Magdalena Zwahlen was my 8th great-grandmother. I know nothing about her except that in 1702 she married Michael Jeremiah George Miller in Zweisimmen, Bern, Switzerland.

Since I know nothing about my 8th great grandparents, let me tell you about their daughter Barbara Ann Miller born circa 1707.

Barbara Ann Miller married Nicholas Bieri circa 1720 in the Palatinate. Barbara could write and after Nicholas' death in 1761 she served as adminstratrix of her husband's estate.

Minutes of the Board of Property Lands in Pennsylvania: At a special metting of ye Agents at ye Governors the 5th Oct'r. 1765:
On the motion of Mr. Weiss for [Barbara] Peery, widow of Nicho's Peery ye Gover'r orders y't ye Surv'r Gen'l shall in 3 Mo's make enquiry whether ye 500 a's Right sold by the H'rs of Rich'd Crosby to Philip Ebrecht was not located by s'd Crosby in his life time.

As administrix of Nicholas' estate, Barbara entered a caveat on 5 Dec. 1765 against a survey for Nicholas King which took off valuable land from the estate of Nicholas Beery. A new survey on 22 July 1766 showed the fence line agreed upon when nicholas sold the land to Nicholas King, and the dispute was resolved in favour of Nicholas Beery.

Pennsylvania Caveat Book NO. 3. Land Office, 5 Dec. 1765: Barbara Peery, the Widow of Nicholas Peery and adminstrix of his Estate in behalf of herself and children entreth a Caveat against a Survey lateley made by Charles Lukens, Deputy Surveyor for one N.....olas King by which Survey is taken of a Valuable piece of meadow and orchard late ye Estate of the said Nicholas Peery and contained in a Survey for him made the 11 day of Sept. 1761. Dated Phliad'a. Dec. 5, 1765.

Barbara married as her second husband between 28 July 1766 and 9 June 1767, Jacob Kagy, farmer of Heidelberg Township, York Co. PA. On 19 Oct 1765 Jacob had been warrantee of 50 acres adjoining his other land in Heidelberg Township in Conewago Valley. This land was surveyed at 51 acres and allowance.

On 9 June 1767 Barbara and Jacob and 8 of the 9 children of Barbara and her first husband, Nicholas Beery, released to Abraham Beery, the other son, all right or dower right, title and claim in the estate and property of Nicholas Beery in Manchester Tp. consisting of two tracts of land, 143 acres and 60.5 acres, and all the buildings and improvements theron.

Jacob and Barbara were still alive on 10 Nov. 1787 when Jacob made his will. He states he is living in Heidelberg Township, York Co. PA.  See Jacob Kagy's notes for his will.

Captain Adriaen Crijnen Post

 

My 9th great-grandfather, Adriaen Crijnen (possibly Quirijnen), Post was most likely from The Hague, Netherlands. He and his wife Clara or Claartje Moockers, resided in Brazil in the West India Company's colony.

From 1630 to 1654 (24 years!) , Recife, a Northeastern city in the Atlantic coast, Brazil, was holded by the WIC (West India Company);   In 1637, the WIC directors realized to put a General Governor at the head of the brazilian colony or The Dutch Brazil (also Nieuw Holland):  the Count Johan Maurits van Nassau-Siegen (House of Oranje)who stayed there for 7 years and besides the obvious interests on the prosperous sugar trade from Brazil to Europe, he leaded a staff formed by scientists; architects; astronomers; biologists; artists, cartographers; etc., all of them taking part on the raise of a new town named Maurits-Stadt in his honour.  This town was builded in an island (Island of Antonio Vaz), contiguous to the port of Recife, original site of the present metropolis.  Among these advisors of the Count: Pieter POST, Archite

Adriaen's daughter Maria (my 8th great-grandmother) was baptised in Recife Brazil in June 1649. By the time Brazil fell to the Portuguese in 1654, the family had left for the Netherlands. On 30 June 1650 the ship "New Netherland's Fortune" sailed, arriving in New Netherland on 19 December 1650.

Adriaen and his family were on Staten Island by 1655. Adriaen was a representative of Baron Hendrick van der Capellen, the owner of one-third of Staten Island. As the superintendent of a group of twenty people who were to farm Staten Island, Adriaen set up a colony which flourished.

Read more about Adriaen at https://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/nn/surnames/post.shtml

The Story of the Orphan Frederick Markham

My husband's great-grandmother Elsie Phyllis Markham was orphaned at the age of 8 months. Her older brothers, Albert ages 8 and Frederick 2 years old were also orphaned when their parents succumbed to illness in London England in October and November 1898.

The boys were sent to orphanages and Elsie was taken in by relatives, eventually brought to Canada by her brother Albert Finch who had been sent to Canada as a Barnardo Boy in 1901. Frederick was also eventually reunited with his brother and sister

Read Albert's story at O is for Orphans 

Frederick's Story

2 year old Frederick was sent to his aunt and uncle for a very short time, but a few months after arrival in their home, he was sent to Miller's Orphanage in Bristol. His uncle did not want to continue feeding Frederick and his 8 month old sister Elsie. 

We find Frederick at the age of 4 in the Orphanage, and he was still there at the age of 16. Finally when he was 18 his brother Albert, who had been sent to Ontario Canada as a  Barnardo Child, had saved enough money to send for Frederick to join him.

On 5 May 1914 Frederick arrived in Quebec and from there went on to join his brother in St. Mary's Ontario. His sister Elsie had arrived 8 months before, again due to Albert's paying for her passage.

World War 1 broke out soon after Frederick's arrival and in March 1916 he signed up in the CEF (Canadian Expeditionary Force). He was 20 years old. He was killed fighting in France two years later.

In memory of Sergeant  FREDERICK ARTHUR  MARKHAM who died on April 7, 1918

Service Number:  823627

Force:  Army

Unit:  Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment)

Division:  14th Bn.

Burial Information:

Cemetery: DUISANS BRITISH CEMETERY

Pas de Calais, France

Grave Reference: VI. F. 64.

Albert Andriessen de Noorman aka Bradt

2 Nov. 1636 Atlantic Ocen Baptism of Storm son of Albert Andreissen & Annetje 

Albert Andriessen, or Albert Andriessen Bradt was one of the earliest Norwegian settlers in New Netherland. He came from Fredrikstad, a town at the mouth of the Glommen, the largest river in Norway. In the early records he is often called Albert de Noorman (the Norwegian). 

After 1670 he became known as Albert Andriesz Bradt. Whether he was related to the Bratts of Norwegian nobility, can not be ascertained. The Bratt family lived in Bergen, Norway, before the early part of the fifteenth century, when it moved to the northern party, of Gudbrandsdalen. It had a coat of arms until about the middle of the sixteenth century. Since that time the Bratts belong to the Norwegian peasantry. They have a number of large farms in Gudbrandsdalen, Hedemarken, Toten, and Land.' In the state of New York there are many families of the name of Bradt, descendants of the pioneer from Fredrikstad. 

 The name of Albert Andriessen occurs for the first time in a document bearing the date August 26, 1636, an agreement between him and two others on the one hand, and the patroon of the colony of Rensselaerswyck, Kiliaen van Rensselaer, on the other. The agreement was made and signed in Amsterdam. It states that Andriessen was a tobacco planter. He may have learnt the cultivating of tobacco in Holland, where tobacco was raised as early as 1616. 

 " In the name of the Lord, Amen. On conditions hereafter specified, we, Pieter Cornelissen van munnickendam, millwright, 43 years of age, Claesz jans van naerden, 33 years of age, house carpenter, and albert andriessen van fredrickstadt, 29 years of age, tobacco planter, have agreed among ourselves, first, to sail in God's name to New Netherland in the small vessel which now lies ready and to betake ourselves to the colony of Rensselaerswyck for the purpose of settling there on the following conditions made with Mr. Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, as patroon of the said colony, etc. "Thus done and passed, in good faith, under pledge of our persons and property subject to all courts and justices for the fulfillment of what is aforewritten, at Amsterdam, this 26th of August [1636]. 'In witness whereof we have signed these with our own hands in the presence of the undersigned notary public . . "Kiliaen Van Rensselaer "Pieter Cornelissen "albert and riessen . . -. "Claes jansen. "J. Vande Ven, Notary." 

 As Andriessen was twenty-nine years of age when he made the agreement with Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, he must have been born about 1607. Pursuant to the stipulation in the agreement, he sailed, accompanied by his wife, Annetje Barents of "Rolmers," and as it would seem by two children, October 8, 1636, on the "Rensselaerswyck," which arrived at New Amsterdam March 4, 1637. 

 Continue reading at Bradt Family