November 19, 2020
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Letters 11/19/2020

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THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES.

NOTE:  Donations to the Conewago cemetery fund should be mailed to: Low Dutch Cemeteries Improvement Fund
c/o Alan Weaner
145 Weaner Road
Gettysburg, PA 17325
email: arwcbw@gmail.com 
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SENT BY  Carolyn (herself) I need to tell you a story. 
THE TRAIN: At birth we boarded the train and met our parents, and we believe they will always travel by our side. As time goes by, other people will board the train; and they will be significant i.e. our siblings, friends, children, strangers and even the love of your life. However, at some station our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on this journey alone. Others will step down over time and leave a permanent vacuum. Some, however, will go so unnoticed that we don’t realize they vacated their seats.  

This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells. Success consists of having a good relationship with all passengers requiring that we give the best of ourselves. 

The mystery to everyone is: We do not know at which station we ourselves will step down. So, we must live in the best way, love, forgive, and offer the best of who we are. It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life.

I wish you a joyful journey for the coming years on your train of life.  Reap success, give lots of love and be happy.  More importantly, thank God for the journey! What a wonderful exciting trip this has been since 2003 with the Dutch Cousins, our adventures and shared interests. 

Lastly, I want to thank you for being one of the passengers on my train!   

I have recently been diagnosed with (AML) a particularly vicious type of Leukemia and am in chemo. Looking for someone willing to edit and publish the Dutch Letters.  Anyone? 
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SENT BY: Dear Chris Coleman,
You have asked some questions that are above my pay grade!  I can answer question number 3, but for the answers to 1, 2, 4, and 5, I will refer you to Mike Vande Woude who manages the International Dutch American Group (DAG), of which I am also a member.  

Question 3: Where can you find descendants of Dutch Americans from 1600’s. Answer: They are Everywhere!  We have about 800 on our email list for the Dutch Letters, and others with standard postal addresses, and the Dutch descendants are scattered all over the United States from New York to California, and beyond. We are descendants of the Low Dutch who settled New Amsterdam in the 1600s, moved to New Jersey, migrated to near Gettysburg, PA, and made history when they later populated the Kentucky frontier in the late 1700s. They stayed true to their Dutch Reformed religion and built their meetinghouse in the early 1800s. The Dutchmen never secured a permanent Dutch-speaking pastor and eventually became Presbyterian. The building, originally constructed of mud and wattle, was used by many congregations over the years, so it became the “mother” church for many believers. At least 35 Low Dutch Revolutionary soldiers are buried there. The Old Mud Meetinghouse near Harrodsburg, KY, was in complete disrepair in 2005 with a shaky foundation and a leaky roof, no doors or windows when the Dutch Cousins first visited and took it on as a project.  

Thank you for writing, I hope you will share your final report with us.   Blessings,
Carolyn Carolyn B. Leonard
Editor, Dutch LettersDutch cousins of Kentucky
E-mail me: CarolynLeonard@Mac.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—————————————————————

– September 25, 2020.  To Ms.Carolyn Leonard.Dutch Cousins President. 
Good Afternoon, this is Chris Coleman  I am an American from NYC.NY:The United States. I am Studying Dutch History, Culture and,Traditions. I have  Questions about Dutch Villages and Municipalities in the Netherlands also Dutch American descendants from early America in the 1600’s.   

1:The name Schaarsbergenstraat in Tilburg Province in North Brabant:Netherlands does the etymology of this Village ,City,or Municipality goes back to the Ancient Times possibly before Christ: and, does this name of these Village,City,Municipality, or Town have any connection to Dutch Names or Dutch last names of the Ancient Dutch Tribes, and, Clans. that occupy the Netherlands in the Pre Christian Period .?  

2:Schalkhaarstraat Tilburg: also a Village in the Province in North Brabant:Netherlands does the etymology of these Village names go back to the Ancient Times also possibly before the Roman Times and,do these Village,City,or Town name above have any connection to the  Dutch last names of the local Dutch Tribes that wandered  and occupy the Netherlands again in the Pre Christian Period.?  Sometimes Street names,Village,City,and Town names in the Netherlands have a connection with  local Tribes,Clans,Nation that once occupy that area of the Netherlands and,most of the Time connect with the Dutch People of Today like last names ete.  

3: Also are there still descendants of Dutch Americans from 1600’s of early America in the USA and,1:Where in the USA can you find Dutch American descendants can you find them in NY State still, NJ State etc.? 

4: Were these Dutch American descendants actually ethnic Low Dutch,Flanders,Wallon,or Slavic.? I am not saying that the Dutch overall are Slavic but the region Bohemia Czech Rep. in Central Europe is neighboring Germany,Poland,Austria,Slovakia etc.  

5. Are there any books on Dutch American descendants from early America the 1600’s.? Thank you Carolyn and, all the best to your Dutch Cousins Organization.   Sincerely,Chris.  Coleman.——————————————————

SENT BY: Mike Vande WoudeThank you Carolyn and thank you Chris for your questions. I appreciate Carolyn sending me your questions. I am not the authority to answer your questions, so I’ve copied Charly Gehring & Marilyn Douglas of the New Netherland Institute www.newnetherlandinstitute.com to this email. There are several other organizations who will have insight to your questions: 

 (Any of our cousins here want to add something for Chris?——————————————————————

SENT BY: Mr. Lynn Rogers
I would like to put this in the newsletter to invite useful input.  I assembled PDF from two word files, 3 jpg’s (the SSSHG article), and one PDF (images of bible).  If you want any or all, I can provide.  
I am in person to person contact with the Elletsville Hist Center, which may (or may not) have the original Bible, and, hopefully, the original loose pieces of paper with additional family records.
Parenthetically, one of Abraham’s bro was Samuel, who was on the Indiana Constitution Committee, was a Colonel in War of 1812, and made many other civic contributions to early Indiana and Jefferson County. Leah, one of their sis, was scalped by indians and lived into her 80’s, and had 14 children with Gerardus Ryker Jr.
Regards, Lynn
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SENT BY: From: Joseph Erwin <agingapes@gmail.com>Subject: Banta ancestors

This is just a note to make contact. Eliza Banta was my great-great grandmother. She was born in Ohio and died in Iowa. So, I am a “Dutch cousin.” Hello cousins!
Joe Erwin ——————————————————————

SENT BY: Kurt Wullschleger
I just happened on to this the other day. Were you aware of it? It is a nice online listing of all our favorite Low Dutch families who settled in Franklin County, Indiana.https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2973978?availability=Online— note from carolyn – here’s another good one from Amazon.  Have you seen the HOPEWELL JOURNEy by Kathleen Van Nuys?

The Hopewell Journey: 350 Years from Immigrant Religion to Hoosier Faith: Hopewell Presbyterian Church 1831-2006

by Kathleen O. Van Nuys  | Jun 6, 2006——————————————————————

SENT BY: Kentucky Historical Society

GENEALOGY TEA & SYMPATHY: CEMETERIES & SERENDIPITYSATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2 – 4 PM ESTTHIS WILL BE A VIRTUAL EVENT!
Is a Kentucky Ancestor eluding you? Sometimes you just need to talk to someone who understands! Join our group discussion and bring your genealogy challenges to unlock the past. If you have questions about which source to use next, what terms like “proof standard” mean, or even how to involve the next generation in your family’s history, KHS can help.
Our virtual meet-up gathers the fifth Saturday of the month, and we welcome all research levels – let’s learn from each other’s experiences! Even if we can’t offer a solution, we promise to share it all over a cup of tea, with plenty of sympathy.
The topic for October is CEMETERIES AND SERENDIPITY – Researching cemetery records, iconography, and creepy serendipity moments!
This virtual edition of Genealogy Tea & Sympathy is free for all to attend. Please preregister by calling the KHS Ref Desk at 502.782.8080 or email khsrefdesk@ky.gov. Once registration is complete, you will receive a Zoom meeting invitation for the event.  
 KENTUCKY ANCESTORS ONLINEVISITRESOURCESEVENTSBRING KHS TO YOUR TOWNJOIN  

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SENT BY: Joseph Erwin of Pennsylvania
Yes, I have been over to the Gettysburg/New Oxford area a number of times, including recently (to buy a car),but I have not yet gone to either of the cemeteries. I probably will go over there again soon, but I want to look a little closer at my family connections so I will be able to view the specific graves of relatives. I also want to see what remains of the settlement. A few years ago there was a Banta home still standing in the area that was a bed and breakfast, but I am not sure that is still there or open. My great-great-grandmother, Eliza Banta Hickman, lived in Ohio and married Joseph Hickman of Indiana, who lived in a Quaker community not far from Eliza’s home. Her father, Albert Banta, and her mother, Mary “Polly”Ackerman, had moved up to Ohio from the Low Dutch settlement in Kentucky. Albert was born at Conewago, but Mary “Polly” was born in New Jersey. The family relationships are well documented and interesting. My grandpa’s mother, Rebecca Ann Hickman, was actually born in Ohio–apparently Eliza went to her parents home to deliver her baby. She and her husband and his parents moved to Iowa, where Rebecca married James Albert Erwin just as the Civil War began. He soon went into the army, serving through the entire war, and coming out the other side as a seriously scarred combat veteran. Rebecca died young, when my grandpawas only five years old. Grandpa was born in Nebraska in 1869. I’ll check in with you when I am ready to go over to the Conewago area.
If I can provide anything helpful to you,please let me know. Wishing you well,Joe
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SENT BY:  Carolyn
I just ran onto this bio of Abraham Banta, prepared by Lucille Wahrenbroc for his memorial in 2009, and I thought  some of you might like to see it.  I’ll post any others I run on to as well. ABRAHAM BANTA

Abraham Banta was the son of Henry Banta and his first wife, Rachel Brower. This is the Henry often referred to as, “Father Banta.” Abraham was baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church in Hackensack, New Jersey, on the 17th ofJuly 1745. 
The Henry Banta family, along with numerous other Dutch families, relocated in Pennsylvania, in the area near what became the Gettysburg battlefield. Henry’s family owned land there by 1768, when Abraham was 23 years old. He married Margrieta Monfort, possibly while still in New Jersey. Their first five children were baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church in Conewago. Abraham also became a deacon in this church. 
Abraham was Private in the 2d Battalion of York County, and of the flying Corp and Ranging Company. These companies were expected to be on call, somewhat like our present-day militia. When lying at Perth Amboy, New Jersey, on 17 September 1776, Abraham was listed as a Private, on furlough. The captain of this 2d Battalion was Hugh Campbell, with Colonel Robert McPherson the commander 
By 1780 Abraham had become a landowner and was taxed in Straben Township, for 200 acres ofland, six slaves, three horses, and seven cattle, a total of 37 pounds, 11 shillings. 
Abraham’s father, Henry Banta, led a migration to Kentucky, leaving the Conewago area in the autumn of 1779. Early in 1780 the group left from the headwaters of the Ohio, arriving at the Falls of the Ohio in March of 1780. By summer they had established themselves as the Low Dutch settlement near Harrodsburg. 
On 15 May 1780, they petitioned the Continental Congress, asking for a grant of land, to establish a colony. Their desire to establish themselves and maintain their Dutch religion and culture had been thwarted.  The land they had expected to buy was not available and because of the Indian problems, they were unable to provide for their families. The petition was denied, as was the second one.

On the 13th of March 1786, Squire Boone assigned 5940 acres of land to Abraham Banta, as trustee for the Low Dutch Company. Barney Smock and Daniel Banta were witnesses. An additional 3000 acres was added from Richard Beard. The land was located in what is now Shelby and Henry Counties. After an initial attempt to settle there, they were driven back by the Indians and remained in Mercer County for nearly ten years. 
Abraham died before 20 September 1793, leaving no will. The land was still in Abraham’s name. Because of this and because no clear title had been established, it was many years before individual families could claim ownership. Court cases lasted well into the 1830’s. 
It was May of 1805 before final distribution of land and slaves was made to Abraham’s heirs. Today we are here to honor Abraham for his service in the Revolutionary War.
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SENT BY: Mr. Lynn Rogers with some good advice!
I just came across a very good way to visualize exposure to the Covid 19 virus.  Everyone is familiar with being around cigarette smokers, from in a crowded room with many to just one outside where there is some breeze.  If there is a cross wind, or if you are upwind, you do not smell the cigarette smoke.  But, the cloud of Covid virus from an infected person is invisible and odorless, and does behave much like cigarette smoke.  Moreover, you have no idea who is a carrier in any situation.  The larger the crowd, the more likely that there are carriers.  So, wherever there are people, avoid the invisible cigarette smoke.——————————————————————————————————

SENT BY: Would you please run this in the next newsletter.
Thanks, Lynn A TRIBUTE TO OUR LEADERS
I want to thank our Dutch Cousins, all members, and especially our leaders, for their honoring and memorializing the Kentucky Low Dutch Company people.  The Dutch Cousins have been extremely effective in preserving our Low Dutch Heritage.  The Low Dutch contributed mightily to America winning independence, establishing freedom, and ensuring opportunity.  They did not attain their goal of a Colony, but achieved a greater success in assimilating into the Great American Melting Pot.  The Low Dutch traits of self-reliance, interdependence, industriousness, and hospitality served themselves and America well. It is truly an example for responsible citizens to emulate.  

Our Gatherings have always been rewarding and worth attending. They have added much to our knowledge about our Heritage, been entertaining, put us in contact with other researchers, and introduced us to fascinating cousins. Let’s continue into the future because of the benefits it provides.
A productive organization requires leadership as well as active participation by many individuals.  Three of our outstanding Dutch Cousin leaders (among others too numerous to even attempt to mention) are Carolyn Leonard, Charlie Westerfield, and Vince Akers, all have made extensive contributions.  Carolyn has been out front with vision, diplomatic volunteer recruiting skills, gentle follow up, infusing vitality and enthusiasm, and always, good humor and charm, not to mention the hugs.  Charlie, as President applied his outstanding organizational skills, and as Chair of the Massacre Historical Marker Committee, exercised great tact and perseverance in a perplexing process.  He will be missed. Vince, for decades, has displayed his exhaustive research and remarkable facility in weaving the facts into an informative and interesting account, painting the picture of the challenges and accomplishments of our Low Dutch Ancestors. Volunteers know that service is its own reward; but, recognition is always nice, so THANK YOU!
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SENT BY: -Andrew Newton Schaftlein
Hey there! I’ve been digging around the family history for a few years and during Coronavirus times started went down the rabbit hole on my maternal grandmother’s family. My 5th great maternal grandmother was Nancy Jane Banta (1840-1876).  Her grandparents were Rev Henry Danielsen Banta and Eleanor Van Arsdale of Shelby County, KY.  My people all ended up migrating to Northern Indiana where both sides of my family have been since the mid 1800s. So I was thrilled to find the Dutch Cousins!  This is a very interesting part of the family history I’m glad to have stumbled upon and was previously unaware of.  And I now live in Louisville, so it’s fun to be so close to where some of the family history is. I’d love to be added to the list to stay up to date with things.  Thanks,————————————————————————————————————

SENT BY: Mr. Lynn Rogers (Smock researcher)
PRELIMINARY DRAFT
Smock1790 – 1863
Bible Family Records
Compiled by
Mr Lynn C. Rogerslynncr@woh.rr.com
Revised yyyymmdd.hhmm = 20201006.1221
Dutch Cousinshttps://dutchcousins.org/
Descendants of Kentucky Low Dutch Company Harrodsburg Historical Societyhttps://harrodsburghistorical.org/
Repository of many Kentucky Low Dutch Company records Jefferson County Historical Society, Madison IN
http://www.jchshc.org/

INTRODUCTION
Information from the Bible family records, augmented from other sources, leads to the following:
Rev Abraham Smock (8 July 1790 in Shelby Co KY – 1863) m first Nov 26 1809 Shelby Co KY to AnnaA. McCannon (1787-1822); m second on May 19, 1823, Shelby Co KY to Catherine Gott (1802-1854).(* to be verified: Residence 1810 Shelbyville, Shelby Co KY; 1820 Sullivan Co IN; 1830 Perry, Marion CoIN; 1840 Republican, Jefferson Co IN; 1850 Franklin Twsp Marion Co IN; 1860 Haddon, Sullivan Co IN; d 1863 *)Abraham was a son of: Jacob Smock (b 1744, bapt May 20, 1744 New Brunswick NJ (not Raritan) – PA – VA – KY – d abt 1825Smockville (near Hanover) Jefferson CoIN, bur Old Hanover Cem) m abt 1772 Tryntje Catherine Demaree (1748-1828).

A transcription is presented, an article, “The Holy Bible Belonging to Abraham Smock”, Mrs. Gene Flint, Where The Trails Cross, Vol. 14 No. 3 (Spring 1984), pp 119-120. It is gratefully acknowledged that the article is used with the permission of the publisher South Suburban Genealogical and Historical Society (SSGHS)3000 W. 170th Place Hazel Crest, IL 60429https://ssghs.org/ 

The article was submitted by Mrs. Gordon Flint transcribed from photocopies in the possession of Mrs.Gene Flint. It includes other family records as well.

Errata:“1824” omitted in “Mary Ann Smock was born June 14th 1824 in Jefferson CoIN”“Mary Ann Gott Died August 3rd. 1850” omitted

A transcription of loose pieces of paper in the bible is included as evidence of family information. The transcription is a compilation from undocumented, different paths/sources, indeterminate reliability. Images are included (with appreciation) of photocopied Bible hand written family record pages in a Smock file in the Monroe County History Center, Research Library; 202 E. Sixth Street; Bloomington, IN47408; www.monroehistory.org. In 1981 it was believed that the original Bible was in the possession inof Don Matson; it is suspected that at his death possession of the Bible passed to Ellettsville Old TownHall History Center (not Museum), 221 North Sale Street, Ellettsville, IN 47429, (on FaceBook). At thetime of this writing, the possibility is being explored; hopefully, images of the loose pieces of paper can be obtained. 

Transcriptions(from unknown paths/sources) of loose pieces of paper in the Bible follows:
In the bible was a piece of paper with the following information: Woolfort Webber the 1st. came from Holland A.D. 1640 (Died Sept. 3. 1670) with Annake his wife died May 5, 1694..they had four children Woolfort….Sarah…. Aenout…..HesterWoolfort 2nd. had two children, Annaka & Hellegon Annaka Married to Jacques Fountain/Hellegon M. to Philip Minthorn Jacques Fountain had three children, Charles.., Caty.., & Charity Charles married Sarah Nolan & had children, Jacques, Mary, Hannah, John, Charles, Sally. Sally Fountain married John Smock, their children; Mary, Hannah, Mathew, John, Jacob, Henry, Abraham, James, & Issac. Jacob Smock, the son of the above named John Smock & had children; Matthew ….b____, Jacob… Born____, Leah born ____, Polly b. _____, Samuel… b.___.Abraham born _July 8_, 1790, John b. ____. Caty born ____, Peter born ____.(no b-dates were filled in execpt that of Abraham).

Bible was donated by Lucile Coffey, a descendant of Abraham Smock, to a Museum in Ind.{Editorial note: the Jacob Smock mentioned on this paper is listed in David Smock’s book.page 35 #1525 Jacob: Date and place of birth unclear. (The Jacob baptized 27 May 1770,at Conewago, Pennsylvania, was, according to the church record, a son of “Jan Smack”and “Lena Van tyne.”) (79 – DRC Conewago) Jacob married first, 8 March 1791, in Conewago, Pennsylvania, Lemma van Arsdall, and married second, 20 October 1796, in Mercer County, Kentucky, Ann Banta. (5 – Tuttle)The Jacob Smock, who is thus far considered the father of Peter Smock, was christened20 May 1744 in Piscataway (* ed: not Piscataway, is New Brunswick *), New Jersey. There is a biography of Col. Richard M. Smock (regretably I don’t have the citation but it was from a Tippecanoe county history) which mentions the family of John Smock and Sally Fountain. The descendants of John and Sally did live in the Marion county, Indiana, area, so it is possible that this paper is right and the Smock book is wrong.}

The following is from another unknown source/path: “In the bible was a piece of paper with the following information: …… Annaka Married to Jacques Fountain/Hellegon M.[Webbers] to Philip Minthorn..Jacques Fountain had three children, Charles..,Caty.., & Charity [which lived to adulthood]…Charles married Sarah Nolan & had children, Jacques, Mary, Hannah, John, Charles, Sally. Sally Fountain married John Smock,….  

Bible was donated by, Lucile Coffey, a descendant of Abraham Smock, to a Museum in Ind.” —————————————————————————————————- 

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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