Letters 5/20/19 About the coming event…
We will be at the Old Mud Meetinghouse again at 2 pm Sunday, Sept 15th.
Photos from 2017: Russell Gasero, Archivist, Reformed Church of America, New Brunswick, NJ, in the wineglass pulpit. Lynn Rogers taking the collection with the 18th century offering bags on poles. You have to be there to understand the excitement and sense of peace we find.
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Feel free to share these items, just credit DUTCH LETTERS (date), free genealogy round robin published by Carolyn Leonard. Anyone who wishes to be added to the mailing list, send an email to me at Editor234@gmail.com and say they would like to be on the list – and let us know their Dutch connection and contact info. Please send any pertinent info to be included in the next Letter. If you no longer wish to receive our emails, I’ll be lost, confused and probably lose sleep at night. I mean, really. I will feel like I have failed somehow. But if you really feel that way, please hit reply and say, “remove me” — and I will do so immediately! (You can click the link to MailChimp, but if they remove you by accident I can’t put you back on – even if you beg,) I promise we do not share our mailing list with anyone, and do not publish email addresses on the list because of possible scammers.
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SEE YOU Sept 12,-16, 2019 in KENTUCKY!
Thursday through Saturday at the Kentucky State University, Harold R. Benson Ag building, 1525 Mills Ln, Frankfort, KY 40601.
Sunday and Monday at Harrodsburg for the Old Mud Meetinghouse and the Harrodsburg Historical Research Library.
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SENT BY: Carolyn Leonard
We are getting excited as we gear up for the 2019 Dutch Cousins gathering in Kentucky, Sept 12,-16!
- Thursday through Saturday at the Kentucky State University, Harold R. Benson Ag building, 1525 Mills Ln, Frankfort, KY 40601 (Friday bus tour to dedicate historic signs outside Louisville.)
- Sunday and Monday at Harrodsburg KY for the Old Mud Meetinghouse worship and dedication and the Harrodsburg Historical Research Library to study the only repository for the Low Dutch history Archives
We average 125-150 attendance – and can accommodate more! This will be our EIGHTH gathering of descendants of the many Low Dutch families who came from New Amsterdam to NJ, to Conewago Colony in Pennsylvania, and then on flatboats down the Ohio or on the Wilderness Trail in the 1780s to settle the Low Dutch Tract in Kentucky.
Our Dutch Cousins MISSION STATEMENT
We are descendants of the Low Dutch who settled New Amsterdam, moved to New Jersey, migrated to near Gettysburg, and made history when they later populated the frontier. Our Dutch Kentucky Cousins goal is to research, share, and preserve the genealogy and history of our common Low Dutch heritage, including but not limited to, the restoration and preservation of the old Mud Meetinghouse built by our ancestors in the early 1800s near Harrodsburg, KY. We meet every two years to renew our love for each other. Our mission is to honor the memory of these ancestors and enjoy the friendship of cousins, both newly- discovered and long-loved.
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SENT BY: Vice President Tamara Fulkerson
We have 2 open committee chair positions for our 2019 Low Dutch Cousins Gathering in Frankfort, KY. Please let me know if you would be willing to fill one of these volunteer roles: SILENT AUCTION or Book Displays.
The list of officers and chairpersons for the 2019 Gathering is posted on our website: www.DutchCousins.org
LAST MINUTE NEWS: Janice Cozine, already handling the massive duties of Treasurer and Registration Chair, has volunteered to ALSO be chairperson of the T-Shirts fundraiser. We need to clone that cousin! She is certainly doing everything she can to keep the Dutch Cousins event going. She even volunteered her husband Eddie to be her assistant – and Eddie is awaiting board approval to also serve on the Low Dutch Cousins board of directors.
We still need a Silent Auction chair and a Book Display coordinator – will YOU do it? Silent Auction works best as a team of two people. WHO if not YOU?
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SENT BY: Bob Banta
I saw the post regarding “no Banta’s in graveyard ” and am not sure of what graveyard is being referred to. (NOTE fm Carolyn: It is the Cove Spring burial ground) My wife and I stopped to visit the old mud meetinghouse some years ago (when we were both in better health) and spent time at the nearby graveyard. I remember we found a stone marker for “Abraham Banta”, whom we had found in our “Banta Book” (purchased years ago from some Chicago outfit). My wife seems to remember other Banta’s at the graveyard, but that name stands out to me.
We still live on the farm that my great-grandfather, John Calvin Banta, purchased here in 1863 – it passed through my grandfather (Orlando ), my father (Orlando Smith), down to me. My older brother, (Orlando Stanley) , is a snowbird who maintains a summer home in nearby Oquawka.
My aunt, Laura Banta Merrifield, was very interested in family ties, and often corresponded with some Bantas in Wisconsin, where some local Bantas migrated to years ago.
I enjoy reading your posts. // Bob Banta
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SENT BY: Janice Cozine (DUTCH COUSINS TREASURER -and general organizer!)
This large facility (Kentucky State University, Harold R. Benson Ag building) has everything we need, also has floor to ceiling windows overlooking the farm/property. Several hotels nearby give you some variety on where to stay. Most are right off I-64 at exit 53B for your convenience and we still have the option to stay at The Capital Plaza Hotel farther into town.
NOTE: **We are not endorsing any of these hotels, just sharing contact information.The information on hotel contact for reservations is on our website: www.DutchCousins.org——————————————————————
SENT BY: Charlotte Ann Legg Olson (our DAR lady chair)
Good morning, Cuzs!
Read with interest the post from Greg Barnard. Could you please send him my email address: My husband Dave, Swedish not Dutch, and I are very interested in preserving the “Banta Demott” Cemetery. Dave has taken classes for grave marker restoration and has worked on restoring the marker of an IL Patriot. While we are all the way over in IL, Dave maybe of some technical assistance. We are aware of the cost but more than that understand the importance of preserving the memorials of our heritage. We whole heartedly support this effort with Greg.
A branch of my family is the Patriot John Gritton/
through his son: Jesse and Sarah Brumfield Gritton/
through their dau Elizabeth Gritton m Ransdell Poulter and this generation united with another Patriot family John Poulter/Polter.
HELP……. Currently I am working on a Supplemental Application for DAR, attempting to establish Elizabeth as Jesse’s daughter. Any assistance from our Dutch Family would be appreciated, even though this branch just married into the Dutch! But, hey, Jesse Gritton married (second wife) and took in the wife and children of a Dutch widow, Ann DeMotte (first husband John DeMotte).
Carolyn: Will check on the DAR book that you mentioned and get back with you.
Thanks, as always
Charlotte Olson
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SENT BY: Carolyn Leonard – Maybe one of our readers will recognize names: DEMOTTE-COZINE-GRITTON
John (Johannes) DeMotte married Rev. Cornelius Cozine’s granddaughter, Ann (Antje) Cozine, daughter of Cornelius Jr. Cozine and niece of John Cozine of Harrodsburg (we toured his house in 2005). Vince Akers said the DeMotte family was originally of French Huguenot descent, but were absorbed into the Low Dutch in New Jersey.
John DeMotte, son of Lawrence/Laurens Demotte and Dorothy “Dortie” Vanderbryke. Lawrence moved his family to Mercer Co. KY. About 1790-93; His land deed dated 1794. He acquired a large tract of land at Cove Spring about halfway between Danville and Harrodsburg, in Mercer County, and built his house which is still standing. Lawrence DeMotte continued his religious activities in Kentucky. He was a signer of a petition to the Classis of the Reformed Dutch Church at New Brunswick, N.Y requesting them to send a Dutch Reform Domine (minister) to Mercer County, KY, at the Head of Salt River. His call for help was heeded when Peter LaBaugh was sent to Kentucky to organize the Dutch settlers, and form a Church. Lawrence DeMotte helped found the Old Mud Meetinghouse. The DeMott Family Graveyard is located in a lot south of the house at Cove Springs near the Mercer/Boyle line about two miles south of Harrodsburg on US 127. By 1967 the cemetery was abandoned and grown up in weeds.(now referred to as the Banta graveyard apparently). The Cove Springhouse is in the front yard of the DeMott House.
Ann Cozine was baptized by her grandfather at Conewago Colony Dutch Church in Pennsylvania in 1776 and came to KY with her father Cornelius Cozine Jr, who died when she was ten. She married John DeMotte when she was 16 in 1793 Mercer Co, KY. We toured the DeMott house in 2009, home of Ann (Cozine) and her husband John DeMotte . John and Ann DeMott raised five sons (Lawrence, Cornelius, Daniel, John L., and Peter) and three daughters, (Sarah, Mary, and Ann Jr).
Six years after John DeMotte died in 1813, Ann married Jesse Gritton in 1819. Apparently Gritton and children moved into Ann’s house because Ann and both husbands are buried in this abandoned Cove Spring/Banta graveyard, as well as Jesse’s father John Gritton. Ann (Cozine) (DeMotte) Gritton 1776-1854.
Jesse (son of John Gritton and Elizabeth Hoagland) was married first to Sarah Brumfield and they had four sons (Milo, John, William, Valentine) and four daughters (Elizabeth, Sarah, Nancy and Miriam).
Ann was almost 43 years old when she married the widower Jesse Gritton on 1 Nov 1819 and they “begat” no children together. Jesse Gritton’s youngest child Miriam was just a babe (her mother Sarah probably died in childbirth in 1818) so Ann (cozine-demotte) would have raised those eight children too. (Ann’s youngest would have been 10 when she married Jesse Gritton, her oldest was 24, but she probably had 3 daughters and 2 sons still at home. With Jesse’s 8 youngsters and Ann’s five they had a full house at Cove Spring!)
Charlotte’s ancestor, Elizabeth Gritton the oldest daughter of Jesse Gritton and his first wife, Sarah Brumfield,was born 1806 and would have been about 13 when her mother died in 1818.
Elizabeth Gritton married Ransdell Poulter on 13 Nov 1823 by the Rev. Jesse Head, Mercer Co., KY Marriage register 1, p. 310. (Elizabeth was 17 1/2 years) There is also a bond dated 11 Nov. 1823 for them. Bondsman was Cornelius Demott (which could be Ann’s son 1796-1855); bride’s consent: Jesse Gritton; witness Ann [Cozine,DeMott] Gritton. Elizabeth Gritton Poulter died May 1873 in Mooresville, IN, near Indianapolis where Garret Cozine and some family had migrated.
This is interesting. Jesse Gritton filed a lawsuit against the estate of Garret Cozine (Ann’s uncle) for $200, saying he was guardian for John and Ann Demott, Jesse’s step children by his wife Anne Cozine, daughter of Cornelius Cozine Jr. Another Cornelius (son of Garret Cozine) said he borrowed $100 in 1823 from Gritton, with his father Garret Cozine as surety, and renewed yearly plus 10% interest came to $200 by 1830. Apparently, Gritton loaned money held in trust for the Cozine children because in 1830 the money was payable to John L. Demott, Ann’s husband. (at that time, all property of a woman belonged to her husband – just as she did) Garret Cozine claimed notes of the Commonwealth Bank of Kentucky in 1823 were worth only 50 cents on the dollar, and that Cozine had rendered medical services to Gritton’s father worth $9; that he should not be compelled to pay more than 6% interest on the original loan, subject to a credit of $9. Cozine won the lawsuit. Charlotte, send me what you have on Elizabeth Gritton (1806-1873) and I’ll see if I can help you!
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SENT BY: Jim Cozine of Las Vegas
Don’t forget the Cozine genealogy charts at:
freepages.rootsweb.com/~cozine/genealogy/
NOTE FROM CAROLYN: remember though, to keep the site from becoming too unwieldy, Jim only traces the one name Cozine; so when a daughter marries that’s the end of her info on that webpage.
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SENT BY: Charlie Westerfield, president of Dutch Cousins
We are going to dedicate two markers with a third in the planning stage:
Marker One: The Low Dutch Station Marker that is located at Brown Park near Baptist East Hospital will become the “Low Dutch Station” marker on side one, and the “Beginning of the Westerfield journey” (verbiage to be decided) on side two.
Marker Two: Location to be decided, in concert with the Bullitt Co Historical Society, “Westerfield Massacre” on side one, and “Floyd’s Death” (verbiage to be decided) on side two.
Marker Three: To be dedicated at the 2021 gathering and located in The Parklands to feature the “Travels and Massacre of the Westerfields” on side one, and side two to feature the establishment of the park.
One marker is already paid for and funds to be raised will cover the second marker. All the verbiage and funds will have to be completed by June 1, 2019.
Any comments or suggestions will be appreciated.
Please send donations, questions or comments to Charlie Westerfield, email: charlie (at) charliewesterfield (dot) com, phone (502) 649-0600
Make the checks out to “Future Fund Endowment” and send to Charlie Westerfield, 3913 Jenica Way, Louisville, KY 40241. “Future Fund Endowment” is the group that Steve Henry represents, if we make the checks out to them we want be taxed (save $180.00 per sign). The fund will pay the Historical Society for all three signs (one sign is already paid for).
More info later.
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SENT BY: WILLIAM SCHULR
I am a 6th great-grandson to Jacobus Westervelt. His son Samuel was my 5th great-grandfather, so I’m more closely related to the Westerfields from Knoxville, Knox County, Illinois. My 3rd great-grandmother was Sarah Jane Westerfield Hawley. Her son was William Hawley whose only daughter was Jennie Mae Hawley—who was my mother’s maternal grandmother. Thus is my Westerfield connection.
I would like to be apprised of any events scheduled that pertain to the Westerfields. I’m interested in connecting with that side of the family. BTW I am from North Dakota. My great-grandmother Jennie Mae Hawley Simon had eventually moved to North Dakota and died here in 1979 and is buried in the Napoleon, ND City Cemetery.
All for now,
Sincerely,
Bill Schuler
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SENT BY: Randal Ofensend
On May 12, 2019, at 3:11 PM, Randal Ofensend <ofensend@gmail.com> wrote:Hello Carolyn,Very interesting information. I am having trouble finding the cemetery on Google Earth or on Findagrave.com.Do you know the Long & Lat numbers so I can search on Google Earth?Thanks for sending this email,RandalNOTE from carolyn: Here you go: Old Mud Meetinghouse Graveyard
GPS Coordinates: 37.7235810, -84.8638380
https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/187228/memorial-search?page=1#sr-7789383
Mud Meeting House Cemetery Also known as Dutch Reformed Church Cemetery
| LOCATION | Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky, USA Show Map |
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| MEMORIALS | 216 added (68% photographed) |
| CEMETERY ID | 187228 |
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SENT BY: Randal OfensendHe Carolyn,Thank you for the quick response. Do you also have the Lat & Long for the Pennsylvania Cemeteries?Thank you for sending out the newsletter. Very interesting and I enjoy reading them!RandalHERE YOU GO:
Northern Low Dutch Cemetery, Adams county, Pennsylvania
GPS Coordinates: 39.8714000, -77.1188000
Southern Low Dutch Cemetery GPS Coordinates: 39.8068660, -77.1742750
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SENT BY: Vice President Tamara Fulkerson
2018-2019 Officers and Committee Chairs for Low Dutch Cousins
President Charles Westerfield of Louisville
Vice President Tamara Fulkerson of Crestwood, KY
Secretary Denise M. Perry of Somerville, TN
Treasurer Janice Cozine of Mt Washington, KY
Editor, Dutch Letters & Newsletter Carolyn Leonard of OKC
Board Member Jim Cozine of Las Vegas
Board Member Malcolm Banta of RotondaWest, FL
Board Member Amalie Preston of Harrodsburg, KY
Immediate Past President Carolyn Leonard of OKC
Chairpersons:
Nominatons: To be announced
Gathering Coordinator King & Sharon Cole of Texas
Registration Janice Cozine of Kentucky
Financial/Audit Report Vince Akers of Indiana
Webmaster Pam Ellingson of Wisconsin
Program Speakers Charles Westerfield of Louisville,KY
Heritage Displays Dana Wade of H’burg, Kentucky
Hospitality Emily Welches of Noblesville, Indiana
Dutch Silent Auction (NOW OPEN) formerly Bill & Gail Hoag of Jones, OK
Historian Barbara A. Whiteside of Clarksville, Indiana
HHS Low Dutch Research Day Amalie Preston of H’burg, KY
Photography Charlie Westerfield of Louisville
Surname Banners Tamara Fulkerson of Crestwood, KY
DAR/SAR Ancestor Assistance Charlotte Olson of Oswego, Ill
Conewago Project Malcolm Banta of Florida
Westerfield Marker Charlie Westerfield of Louisville
Publicity Carolyn Leonard, OK & Denise Perry, TN
DUTCH T-SHIRT FUNDRAISER OPEN POSITION
BOOK DISPLAYS OPEN POSITION
What would YOU like to do to help keep the Dutch Cousins event going?
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SENT BY: Sharon Lynch
Hi Carolyn….just a quick note to thank you for all that you do! I love reading about this part of our history and have kept steadily researching my Van Dyke ancestry. I hope to get to the reunion, but ‘up in the air’ as to definite plans. I have decided to make a move and my house will be finished in Sept/Oct….then I’ll also be trying to sell my current house at the same time…lots going on! Still…I am going to really try and make it….so looking forward to meeting my Dutch cousins! Thank you again and Happy Mother’s Day!
hugs, Sharon
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SENT BY: Judy McKee
While living in Panama, the Boy Scouts helped restore the old French cemetery to earn awards. That might be a good place to start in looking for help in some of the old overgrown cemeteries.
Note: You know – I think it was BSA the restored the old French cemetery we visited in 2011 in New Jersey, too.
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SENT BY: RIKER HOMESTEAD TOURS
Lent-Riker-Smith Homestead Tours – May/June 2019
The following tours of the 360-year-old Lent-Riker-Smith Homestead are planned for May and June 2019:
Saturday, May 25th at 3:00 PM
Saturday, June 1st at 3:00 PM
Saturday, June 8th at 3:00 PM
Saturday, June 15th at 3:00 PM
Saturday, June 22nd at 3:00 PM
Saturday, June 29th at 3:00 PM
Admission is $35.00 per person payable in advance by check, credit card or PayPal. Please make your checks out to Marion Duckworth Smith and mail to:
Marion Duckworth Smith
7803 19th Road
East Elmhurst, NY 11370
FOR MORE INFO: go to our tour info page on the Lent-Riker-Smith Homestead website.
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SENT BY: American Ancestors
| Experts’ Choice Spring SaleThe Bookstore at NEHGS is happy to announce another Experts’ Choice title now available: Historical Collections of the State of New Jersey. This important work, as well as the other 28 genealogical classics in our collection, were handpicked by the experts at NEHGS and are sure to be of interest to every genealogist out there, from beginner to pro! And, for a limited time, you can take 20% off any of the Experts’ Choice titles, including the new Historical Collections of the State of New Jersey, making this the perfect time to expand your personal genealogical library. So start shopping—and saving—today!Browse the Entire Collection New! Historical Collections of the State of New Jersey First published in 1844, this collaboration of American historians John Warner Barber (1798–1885) and Henry Howe (1816–1893) was Howe’s second book with Barber, the first being their “history and antiquities” of the state of New York. In the style of their other works, this is a first-rate gazetteer. Readers will benefit greatly from the township index at the beginning of the book. Information about the history, geography, industry, population, and more is organized by county; within each county are details on select townships, also in alphabetical order. Township descriptions include lists of key buildings (especially churches and schools) and a wealth of interesting historical tidbits. As always, Barber’s engravings (120 of them!), street plans, drawings of battlefields, and even a diagram of the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton enhance readers’ enjoyment and understanding of pre-Civil War New Jersey. email for more info: thebookstore@nehgs.org———————————————————————————————— |
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU LIKE OR DO NOT LIKE THE PHOTOS THAT I INCLUDE…
SENT BY: To stay in touch, we mainly use our official website, www.DutchCousins.org, and the weekly or so Dutch Letters email. The email goes out to almost 1,000 addresses – and I know it is passed on to others who do not use computers, and is posted at some libraries. The letters are also archived on the website.
SENT BY: Carolyn Leonard
Editor, Dutch cousins of Kentucky
E-mail me: Editor234 (at) gmail.com
On my web page www.CarolynBLeonard.com
Dutch letters are archived on our official webpage, www.DutchCousins.org by Pam Ellingson
Barbara Whiteside has a facebook page that you may find interesting, Dutch Cousins in Kentucky
Letters 12/3/2020
Special Edition 9/13/2020
