March 22, 2024
Letters 3/22/2024
| The Cousins are coming! |
 A brochure with all the details as well as registration form will be forthcoming. Meanwhile, check out the Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park website: https://parks.ky.gov/explore/blue-licks-battlefield-state-resort-park-7782 .Our president, Chris Canine and his dad, Jon have put an all-out effort to make this next Gathering a wonderful experience. Watch for details coming soon and mark your calendar! ———————————————————————————————– Judith Smith Cassidy wrote: My new book, THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR YEARS IN THE LOW DUTCH SETTLEMENT OF BERKELEY COUNTY VIRGINIA, AND CONEWAGO, YORK COUNTY PENNYLVANIA 1760-1800 has now been published on Amazon. This is a compiled history of the impact of the Revolutionary War Years on the lives of the Low Dutch prior to their departure for Kentucky, including Land Records, Militia, Taxes, Camp Security Prison Camp, the Deacons Records of the Conewago DRC, write ups on many of the Low Dutch Women, Pensions, Slavery, the War, York City which became the center of the Continental/Confederation Congress when they fled from Philadelphia, letters sent to the Ky and Conewago Church from the New Brunswick DRC Classis regarding minister being sent to both Conewago and Kentucky. The book is 489 pages of information much of which was not available before. The book is only available through Amazon.com as I will not be available to attend the Dutch Cousins gathering.  Bob vanArsdall wrote:My review of Judy’s book: When the English sailed into New Amsterdam harbor on August 27, 1664, to capture the Dutch New Netherlands colony, they took control of a colony that wasn’t exactly happy to see them. A large group of the colonists left New Amsterdam for New Jersey, then later migrated to Conewago PA outside present-day Gettysburg. After clearing land and establishing farms, some forty years later these descendants of the Dutch colonists – now known as the “Low Dutch” – left again, this time for Virginia, Kentucky, and the Finger Lakes area of New York. Judy Cassidy’s Revolutionary Years in the Low Dutch Settlements brings together primary source materials from Kentucky, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and West Virginia to tell the history of these Low Dutch colonist families. She answers one of the primary questions I’ve always asked: with the immense amount of labor involved in clearing land, building a shelter, and starting a farm, why would families pick up stakes en masse and move to what was then hostile wilderness? Using genealogical records, land records, transcripts and communications from the Dutch Reformed Church, Revolutionary War service and pension rolls, Judy reveals a group of inter-related families struggling to maintain their identity in the New World – no longer Dutch, not wanting to be English, and not yet American. Along the way in this history we learn how the Low Dutch aided the poor, what rights women had and how the lack of those rights was handled, how inheritance took place, and how the Low Dutch felt about and participated in the Revolution. The Revolutionary War Years in the Low Dutch Settlements will be a valuable reference work pointing to the primary sources for future historians exploring this cultural history. It is also an excellent genealogical history for descendants of the Low Dutch families who may wonder how and why their ancestors ended up where they did. ———————————————————————————————– Brenda “Clayton” Zolnik wrote: Dear Dutch cousins, Thank you for ALL the work you guys have done!!!! The research, planning and organization!!!! I’m certain it is an act of love! I’m am very excited about a planned reunion… it sounds wonderful!!!! To learn about our ancestors is a privilege. Please include me in the newsletter. What can I do to assist in any way? Please let me know. My brother was interested in attending also. As far as we can see … our connection is through Deborah (westerfield) and James Baxter. Thank you again, Brenda “Clayton” Zolnik And Brother- Kevin Clayton ———————————————————————————————– Judy Cassidy wrote: Responding to Julia Van Dikes query, yes Peter Van Dike appears several times in various chapters of my new book. The Pa Land Office Records, The Deacons Records, Life After the War etc. Peter Van Dike/Dyke is included in my new Book in several areas, taxes, general write ups etc. Sincerely, Judy Cassidy ———————————————————————————————– |
| We welcome the following to our emailing list: Lisa Egner Dutch connection: I descend from Catalyna Trico and Joris Rapalje. They first settled New Amsterdam. Their descendants had Elizabeth Hoagland who married and settled Jessamine and Mercer County, Kentucky. I would like to join Dutch Cousins and try to attend the reunion in September. Jonathan “Jon” Canine Chris Canine and Chad Canine are my sons. Dutch connection: My 4th Great-Grandfather is Peter Canine, an original deed signer for the Old Mud Meeting House. Chad Canine Brother of Chris Canine Dutch connection: Peter Canine Jeff Wedgewood Dutch connection: My ancestry DNA took my family lineage all the way back to 1500 into the Netherlands with numerous Bantas as my ancestors. Patrick T Huff Dutch connection: Pamela Meier Dutch connection: I am descendant of Westerfield, Cozine, and Demarest. Sarah Isabelle Westerfield (1860-1920) married to Joseph Pryor was my great great grandparents. Sarah’s father was William H. Westerfield (1831-1872) married to Elizabeth Early. Dawn D Wolfe Dutch connection: My 3x Great-grandfather was James Madison “Mat” Van Osdol. Born 1813 in KY, died 1898 in Shelby Co, MO. His parents were Susannah(Smith) and Jacob Banta VanOsdol. Sam Pepper Dutch connection: My mother was Elois VanArsdale from Green County, KY. I trace my heritage to Mercer county, KY with an ancestor named John L.D. Vanarsdall, born approximately 1799 and wife Magdalena Banta born 1799 . I cannot trace further for him but many more generations on the Banta side. Copyright © 2024 Dutch Cousins, All rights reserved. |
