Letters 2020

Letters 2/21/2020

What’s happening in your life, cousins?

HERE ARE THE PHOTOS FROM THE 2019 Dutch Cousins Gathering in Kentucky!
SENT BY: Pam Ellingson I did upload Charlie’s photos to the DC google account. The following link should allow access and people can download the file of 429 photos. Thank you Charlie Westerfield, immediate past president! https://bit.ly/2Pm0DVX ———————————————-

SENT BY: Mr. Lynn Rogers, inre: Westerfield Massacre Historical MarkersCharlie-I think that I recognize your fingerprints on: https://bullittcountyhistory.org/hmarkers/westerfield.html
Thanks for all of your work on this; it was an important link in the chain.
Thanks to Vince Akers for the scholarly, authoritative article, another link in the chain. And to all the other links in the chain – it was a monumental effort!———————————————————

SENT BY: Susan Fuhr-DunnHello Cousins,I am trying to nail down birth and death dates for my 3rd great grandparents (parents of Willie Anna Vandivere). They are James Henry or Hemsley Vandivere (son of ?) and his wife Francis “Fannie” Maria Terhune. I believe they were both born in Washington County, Kentucky. I have birth dates for James ranging from 1815 -1827 and 1824-1827 for Francis. If anyone can help with this mystery, I’d greatly appreciate it. Thank-you,Susan Fuhr-Dunn (VanArsdall, Smock, Terhune and Vandivere relatives) ——————————————————————

SENT BY: Carolyn (herself) from the Kentucky Genealogical Society ALL back issues of Bluegrass Roots are now online, starting with the first issue in 1974. The next important step: to index those important publications. There may be gold in there for researchers! Indexers can help on their own time schedule, from their own homes — as much or as little as they can help. If you can volunteer, please let us know by emailing info@kygs.org.——————————————————————

SENT BY: Kim KnepperMy name is Kimberly Verbryke Knepper and I am interested in receiving your dutch newsletter. My paternal Verbryck line begin in New York and eventually made it to Mercer County, Kentucky before settling in Indiana and Ohio. My 5th Great-Grandfather Wilhelmus Verbryck served in the Revolutionary War and ended up in Mercer County, Kentucky in his final years. I really enjoy genealogy and I am a member of DAR through my dutch ancestor mentioned above. Thank you for taking time to share a rich history of dutch life to today’s ancestors. ——————————————————————

SENT BY: Ann Vilchuck of IllinoisPlease add me to your list.My ancestors connected to the Old Mud Church in Mercer County, Kentucky include Isaac Van Nuys, Jr, Garrett Terhune, Peter Carnine, Lawrence Demotte, and Peter Demotte. In addition I have several other ancestors who may have been Dutch and lived in Mercer County or the Low Dutch tract. Their descendants moved to central Indiana.Thanks,Ann ——————————————————————

SENT BY: Carolyn (herself) from the Kentucky Genealogical SocietyNow Online: the Winter 2020 Issue of Bluegrass RootsTo read this new issue, log in to your KGS member account at https://kygs.org and click on the Bluegrass Roots link under “Members Only.” Then click on the “2020 Bluegrass Roots” link and select the Winter issue.

Among the features in this issue:• Introducing the new KGS Board of Directors• Big news about a 2nd Saturday event featuring presenters all the way from Ireland• A how-to on tracing your ancestors through your second cousins• Part 1 of in-depth article about the William H. Hobby family of Caldwell County• Happy 46th birthday, KGS!If you have any problems accessing this new issue, please send email to info@kygs.org to request assistance.——————————————————————

SENT BY: Greg Barnard of Danville who has taken on the cleanup and restoration of the long-abandoned Demott/Banta/Verbryke/CoveSpring graveyard near Harrodsburg.Thank you very much. Owner has cleared over half at his own expense. Done till Spring. Ground too hard. Will keep updated.Greg ——————————————————————

SENT BY: Judith CassidyLast Sept, about the time of the reunion, I donated a copy of my book, “The History of Low Dutch Slavery from New Netherland through Kentucky”, as well as all of the copies of original documents donated by various members of the Low Dutch Groups including Vince Akers, Bob Vanarsdale and many others (to the Low Dutch Archives at the Harrodsburg Historical society Library. Additionally I sent a huge box of original Conewago and York County deeds, wills etc. I received a very nice Thank you note, which was appreciated. But I have never seen anything about these donations in the Newsletter so How are people to know that they have been donated so they can access and use them?
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SENT BY: Marlene Murty of PennsylvaniaI would like to receive the Dutch Letters. I am a descendant of both Gerardus Ryker Sr & Jr.I am looking forward to getting back into my own family history and research after a 30 hiatus.Marlene——————————————————————

What is Conewago?

SENT BY: Carolyn (herself)
More for Tamara and Janice to talk about Monday! Some of these letters have been published earlier, but I tried to collect all the Conewago info here.
What is Conewago and why is it important to us? The bones of our ancestors are there.

Larry Voreis had some good info and photos of Conewago in his book OUR LOW DUTCH HERITAGE, now out of print but available at the Harrodsburg Historical Research Library. And of course, Arthur Weaner’s TAXABLES, THE LOW DUTCH SETTLEMENT OF THE CONEWAGO, York County, is still available from the Adams County, Pennsylvania, Historical Society. I think it is about $15.

In 1768 our particular congregation of the Dutch Reform moved west from the “Jerseys” in a caravan of 150 families, between 700 and 1,000 people, according to the history books. Most were living in Somerset County, New Jersey, where we visited on our 2011 Dutch Footprints tour.

They left their beautiful stone houses and well-tended fields, sold their farmland, gathered at Hackensack, crossed the Passaic, passed New Brunswick and Princeton, crossed the Delaware, and moved on through Pennsylvania to the Conewago valley which was then at the edge of the frontier. Distance from Harlingen, NJ to Conewago Colony, PA was 150 miles as the crow flies, about three hours in a modern automobile. Back in that day of 1768 travel was mostly on foot, carrying a heavy pack. This 150-mile journey took them three weeks, mostly on foot.

Rev. Cozine would be their first official Domine (pastor) of Conewago Colony, now just outside Gettysburg. As was customary with the group, the first order was to build a church or meetinghouse. There were actually two different church buildings, the first next to the cemetery, built on land owned by Henry Banta and then the permanent one built probably around 1783, just next to Rt. 30, They apparently did not move the building, but the congregation relocated. Others went on to Shepherdstown, now in Berkeley Co, West Virginia. As the Revolutionary war was ending, the Dutch began heading west to Kentucky frontier, then a county in Virginia. By 1817 only five Dutch families remained at Conewago. Permission was then obtained to sell the old church building, and with the proceeds build a wall around the burial ground. The sum realized was $288.20. This picturesque cemetery, Banta’s old log cabin, the Low Dutch Road, and a second smaller Southern Low Dutch graveyard– that is all that remains of the huge Low Dutch Colony in the valley of Conewago Creek in Pennsylvania.

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SENT BY: Carolyn (herself)
Dear Cousins

Our goal for several years has been to get highway historical markers up to preserve the history of our Dutch Cousins ancestors. This year the DC President, Charlie Westerfield successfully spearheaded the effort of markers in Kentucky and we attended the celebration. Now we need to get going on the Conewago, Pennsylvania project.

I was delighted to hear today from three cousins in different parts of the nation in reply to the most recent Dutch Letters. Responses from cousins have been few and far between the past few months and I was feeling discouraged. Please share your thoughts on the Conewago project, even if you think it is a waste of time!

We are so fortunate that in September, God sent us an angel, Laurel Auchampaugh of New York, who has some special knowledge in getting Historical Markers placed in New England.

Have you seen the terrible condition of our ancestor’s burial grounds at Conewago (near Gettysburg PA)? Here is a look at the northern cemetery. https://dutchcousins.org/2019/11/06/banta-cabin-low-dutch-cemetery/

And here it is on findagrave.com so you can see the  list of the 119 identified burials there. I have been trying for years to get the burials identified correctly and to delete duplicates. Click on the name in blue to see what info is known about that person. If you have any more info on one of your ancestors there, please let me know (carolyn). https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2386142/memorial-search

The second graveyard, called the “Southern Low Dutch cemetery” is just a few miles away and is not in good condition either. Here is the hotlink to the 58 identified Southern burials: https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/1222138/memorial-search?page=1#sr-138880024

Donald Lott, a Dutch cousin who had looked after the burial grounds for more than 20 years, retired last year and now the “guardian” is Alan Weaner, nephew of our deceased friend Arthur Weaner. We voted to send a donation to Alan from the treasury, and want to encourage other descendants to do so as well.

Here’s the names currently listed on the committee for the Conewago project. If this place is dear to your heart and you would like to share in saving that history, please reply. Speak up. Stand up and be counted. Let’s save this history for our children.
Larry Voreis
Malcolm Banta
Laurel Auchambaugh
(Dutch Cousins President 2020) Tamara Fulkerson
Alan Weaner
Donald Lott
Russell Gasero
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SENT BY: Laurel Auchampaugh
I checked the William Pomeroy Foundation ON THE INTERNET.

They do provide Historic Markers in NY State AND BEYOND, INCLUDING ALASKA.
The grants include the cost of the marker, and post. The recipients must provide the installation.

I am well acquainted with Paula Miller, the Director. She will remember me as we (Owasco) were the only ones to invite her to the dedication ceremony out of 80 markers when they first began the marker grants. They even set up a booth at the New York State Fair. I talked with Paula there.

Please advise me what to do next.

Happy New Year eh?

I want to contact the Pomeroy Foundation in Syracuse NY to see if they provide Historic Markers in Pennsylvania.
I have worked with them , and they have sponsored one in Owasco on a stone schoolhouse.

Your information will be sent to them, if  Larry and Malcolm give me permission..

You all might want to check them out on Google

Laurel
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SENT BY: Carolyn herself

I found the sheet Mr Weaner made up for placement of an Historical marker..
The proposed text was
HOLLAND DUTCH FAMILIES FROM
NEW JERSEY SETTLED THIS AREA
IN THE LATE 18TH CENTURY AND
REMOVED IN POST REVOLUTIONARY WAR
YEARS TO KENTUCKY AND NEW
YORK. LATSHELL’S TAVERN AND
THEIR CHURCH EXISTED NEAR
THIS SITE. THE WALLED BURIAL
GROUND IS AT 900 SWIFT RUN ROAD.
He showed the site he believed to be the location of the church on a present day plate map on the NW corner at the junction of York and Coleman roads
He proposed the site for the marker just to the east of this on York Road ( US 30) where there is an island created from a straightening out of a curve in the right-of-way of the old and new road beds some 18 ft long by 2 foot wide.
Blessings, carolyn.

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SENT BY: Donald Lott
Donald Lott gave me the correct phone numbers for Alan Weaner. Alan is a farmer and does house repairs. He lives in the house where his uncle Arthur lived and we visited in 2010 and 2011. Donald said we would not recognize the interior now. So that means that Alan will have the contacts and know what needs to be done on the repairs of the cemetery wall. Don said there is still a little money in the Low Dutch Cemetery Improvement fund established by Arthur Weaner and others several years ago. He thinks the money is now invested in a trust, but he thinks the repairs are going to be quite expensive and can’t be done until spring. Donald was very ill in December so I hope he has recovered and we will hear more from him.

(From an earlier letter from Donald Lott) You and many of your readers may remember Arthur “Art” Weaner who for many years assisted my father, John K. Lott, in managing the Low Dutch Cemeteries Improvement Fund. Art was a well known and well respected local historian who took particular interest in the cemeteries and led many private and public tours through the cemeteries and assisted many persons who had inquiries about their ancestors buried in those cemeteries. Alan is a nephew of Art’s and has a keen interest in maintaining the cemeteries in good condition and preserving the historical and genealogical value of these properties.

I know that Alan intends to start addressing some of the projects I was unable to get started on, such as making repairs to the stone wall fence around the Northern Cemetery, repairing or replacing the wire fence around the Southern Cemetery, painting/repairing entrance gates to both cemeteries, and repairing some broken headstones. To help accomplish these tasks, I’m sure he’d be most appreciative of any donations to the cause that your membership might be willing to make. For anyone wishing to make contributions to the Low Dutch Cemeteries Improvement Fund, Alan’s address is:

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: Alan Weaner
We have about 9K for both cemeteries. Don was paying 2K a year just in mowing fees out of his own pocket.

Adams electric gave us 150 dollars toward the light bill. (20 a month)
No other money has been given all year.

I was to have an eagle scout work on the lower one. His project hasn’t been approved yet.
I have a list of 4 lawn mowers that volunteer their time and equipment to help mow the places.

Cemetery on swift run. (with wall that needs fixed) Trying to find folks not scared of snakes.

Church of latter day saints offered teen group help, I had a mason I talked to, for get in contact with the church of lds, in october. Didn’t hear a word back on this group project. .

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SENT BY: Carolyn herself, some early info about Conewago

Joris/George Brinkerhoff, his wife Martina Bogart and their seven sons removed from their farm near Schraalenburgh, Bergen County, New Jersey to Conewago about 1770 settling on 525 acres in Straban Township, York County, Pennsylvania. Joris/ George Brinkerhoff, the largest slave owner in the Conewago congregation, was taxed on six slaves from 1780-1783. His youngest son George was the first ordained minister chosen from amongst the members of the congregation at Conewago and served from 1786 to 1790. John G. Brinkerhoff, the son of John Brinkerhoff, grandson of Joris, read a sketch about Joris at the Brinkerhoff Family reunion, 24 August, 1884, which gives great insight into the life of Joris and probably the lifestyle of other members of Conewago. “Like most men of property in those days he was the owner of Slaves, but before his death he provided for the freedom of them all. He was representedpresent at worship and in times of calamity or sickness, would have special prayers. All hands from shops, fields and farm (they did their own blacksmithing, spinning, weaving etc.) would have to drop their work and be present. Often I heard my grandfather (John) say that after six months into the (Revolutionary War) army he returned home in a furlough, the old gentleman would have him off again, saying he could get along fine with the slaves of which he had quite a number.”161

The Act of 1780, Provision #4, is reflected in the following document of Joris Brinkerhoff executed 23 August 1803 which stated: “Whereas my mulatto man JONE age twenty four years, two months and nine days and my mulatto man JIM aged twenty three years and seven days and my mulatto girl LEAN aged eighteen years and eleven days were all born as servants to me, I, George Brinkerhoff, Senior, of Strabone Township of Adams State of Pennsylvania do, for value received, assign all my right and title of the foregoing servants until they come to the age of twenty-eight years and no longer, to Gilbert Brinkerhoff and Henry Brinkerhoff both of Mount Pleasant Township, County and State aforesaid.”162

Joris Brinkerhoff died at age 91 on 3 January 1810. His will, written 22 June 1803 stated that “his three old slaves, SAM, NICK and POLL were given their liberty and freedom from slavery and they also receive their beds, bedding, clothes and household furniture.”163 This was in compliance with Provision #4. He knew to the day his slaves were born and this information was probably recorded in his Bible. Clearly his relationship with them was not one of disinterest, he was concerned about his slaves and their future. They and the three mulatto slaves mentioned in the document dated 23 August, 1803, may have been related to him as well. The fact that his slaves had been provided with what appears to be some kind of separate housing with furniture and household goods indicates the type of slave holder he was.

When the death of a family slave occurred at Conewago they were most likely buried on the family farm in unmarked graves. While both a Northern and Southern cemetery was created at Conewago for members of the congregation, the burial location of their slaves is relatively unknown excepting for the Brinkerhoff slaves. Joris Brinkerhoff warranted 192 acres in Straban Township, 25 February 1789, surveyed 2 May 1788 and at one time the “Brinkerhoff Slave Cemetery” existed on this tract.

158 Will of Peter Cousine, York County Archives, 150 Pleasant Acres Rd., York, Pa. 17402, Archives documents filed alphabetically.
159 Weaner, Taxables, The Low Dutch Settlement of the Conewago, York County, Pennsylvania 1762-1779 (1997):30; Will of Peter Cousine (Cozine),York Co. Pa. Wills, Vol. E:37; Will of Cornelius Cozine, Mercer Co. Ky. Will Bk:1:14-17; information courtesy of Vince Akers, Indianapolis, In.
160 Weaner, Taxables, The Low Dutch Settlement of the Conewago, York County, Pennsylvania 1762-1778 (1997):31.

161 Richard Brinkerhoff, The Family of Joris Dircksen Brinkerhoff, 1638 (New York City: self, 1887):36. 162 Brinkerhoff, The Family of Joris Dircksen Brinkerhoff, 1638 (1887):37-38.
163 Brinkerhoff, The Family of Joris Dircksen Brinkerhoff, 1638 (1887):32-38.
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SENT BY: Laurel Auchampaugh
The Owasco NY group of Dutch from Conewago. The Owasco Group came by wagon train led by Jacob and Roeliff Brinkerhoff in 1793.
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SENT BY: Judi Cassidy
An excerpt from Judith Cassidy’s book, The Low Dutch Slave Trade

Page 54: John Brinkenhoff Warranted 300 acres 17 November, 1786 which was Surveyed 5 December 1787 called “Prospect” a slave cemetery site.”164 It is possibly the same cemetery. The cemetery was located along a field fence several hundred feet due east of the house on the farm once owned by Richard Flickinger. Unfortunately that cemetery no longer exists.165 Joris and his wife are buried in the Conewago Cemetery (NOTE from Carolyn: The north Low Dutch cemetery near Gettysburg). Reverend George Brinkerhoff, their son, ordained October 1788-89 and the last permanent minister at Conowago was reassigned in October of 1793 to Kekiet and Rampo under the jurisdiction of the Rev. Classis of Hacksensack and later to Genesee County, New York.166 Joris’ sons, Jacobus, Luke and Roelif, left Conewago for Oswego and Niles, Cayuga County, New York in 1796 with several other Conewago families probably taking their slaves with them, later building a Reformed Dutch Church at Owasco, New York.167
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SENT BY: Dirk Mouw
Hi Carolyn,

You were asking if anyone had information about the Conewago Colony on our DAG conference call.

I might be able to help a little.

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania has a transcription of the Conewago Church records–mostly deacons records and baptismal register, if I recall correctly. The handwritten transcription was made by a Demarest (HSP thinks it was made by Rev. David Demarest, I think it was made by J. K. Demarest); the original church records are not to be found. HSP’s transcription can be found under “Conewago DRC; Reformed Dutch Church Records.” HSP might have information about the church graveyard and/or Revolutionary Soldiers buried in Adams County too, but I’m not entirely certain.

The Holland Society of New York also has a transcription of the original records and I think the LDS has a microfilm of that transcription available to rent.

A. Van Doren Honeyman published the baptisms in the Somerset County Historical Quarterly; he included a short history of the church/colony. “The Conewago Colony–Baptisms 1769-1793,” SCHQ 4(1915): 267-281

My notes say that J.K. Demarest wrote a history of the Conewago colony that was published in the in the Gettysburg Star in 1884. I have not seen this article.

I’m pretty sure you know about this article but if not, it includes information about the Conewago Colony as well:
Corwin, Edward Tanjore. “The Old Mud Meeting House, Salt River, Ky.” Christian Intelligencer, 20 March 1901.
If you have not seen it, Russ Gasero might have a digitized copy. I have a barely legible copy as well.

I hope some of that might be useful.

Best,

Dirk
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SENT BY:Charles Vanorsdale
Hi Carolyn,

Several years ago, I published some material on the Conewago settlement in The Vanguard. Here is an excerpt of one article that appeared in the December 2002 issue. (I will send a copy of the 1765 Conewago deed to Abraham Van Arsdale later.)

Charles Vanorsdale

The migration to Conewago, the community near present-day Gettysburg, PA in Adams (then York) County was discussed in the first Vanguard (vol. I, no. 1, p. 1). Although they were among the first to settle the Dutch colony, the van Aersdalen family’s migration appears to have taken place not en masse, but over a ten year period.
In the article “The Voorhees Family and the Low Dutch Colony of Conewago” (Van Voorhees Nieuwsbrief, Vol. 20, no. 1, p. 9), Larry Michael Voreis states, “The movement to the western frontier started in 1730 when the Governor of Virginia offered inducements to attract settlers to the Shenandoah Valley. Land speculators were hired to circulate among the New Jersey Dutch and Pennsylvania German settlements, using the lure of large quantities of cheap farmland to start the migration to Virginia.”

Another source (Frederick County, Virginia: Settlement and Some First Families of Back Creek Valley, 1730-1830, Wilmer Kerns, Gateway Press, Baltimore, 1995: pp. 6-9) adds that father and son John and Isaac Van Meter, Dutchmen from the Western Precinct of New Jersey, petitioned the Governor of Virginia for 20,000 acres of land to settle their families plus at least ten more. They were told that they could have 40,000 acres if they could settle 200 families along the Shenandoah River. German Jost Hite was brought into the picture to help attract German settlers, and the Van Meters eventually reassigned their grants to Hite in 1731. “In the wake of the movement to Virginia, settlers from New Jersey were drawn to the settlement of York , located astride the Great Wagon Road that led west from Philadelphia, forded the Susquehanna and passed through the settlement at York before crossing the Appalachians and turning south toward Hagerstown, eventually entering the Shenandoah Valley at Frederick Town (later Winchester, Virginia)” (Voreis, p. 9).

Additionally, researcher Judy Cassidy notes that in the Somerset County Genealogical Quarterly, vol. 5, no. 4, p. 430 there is a discussion of the “Depression of 1765” which impacted New Jersey residents and agitated a movement from the area. This depression resulted from a “scarcety of circulating cash, the failing of the last summer and winter crops, the severe and consuming hard winter” in addition to escalating debt, depressed property values, and the rising rate of debtor imprisonment. A petition was created, addressed to Governor William Franklin, and signed mainly by inhabitants of Bridgewater Township, Somerset County. Those signing the petition included George Davis, Abraham Dubois, Folkert Sebring, and Stoffel Probasco, among those with identified ties to the Van Arsdalen line.

In the early- to mid-1760s, brothers Cornelis4, Johannis4 and Isaac4 van Aersdalen (sons of Jan3 Cornelisz) were in the Shepherdstown, VA (now WV) area, apparently scouting for great-uncle Jacobus Vander Veer. (Jacobus was a wealthy man in part due to his acumen in land speculation. His will, proved February 17, 1777 {NJW 539R, Lib. 18, pp. 559 & 588} enumerated the disposition of over 1800 acres of land in New Jersey and about 1000 acres of land in Virginia, in addition to a number of lots, tracts, and houses. Two of his sons, Jacob and Lawrence, lived in Berkeley County in the late 1700s.) Only 50 miles to the north lay the fertile rolling hills of the Conewago area, already populated by the Scotch-Irish and the Swiss-Germans. Coupled with the enticement to settle the Virginia-Kentucky frontier by Hite and the Van Meters and the depressed economy in New Jersey, the favorable reports from the van Aersdalen brothers were eagerly received. Around 1766 (based on church records), the three brothers and their cousins Cornelis4, Simon4 and Abraham4 van Aersdalen (sons of Simon3 Cornelisz) headed to Conewago, possibly with the patriarch Simon Cornelisz, then almost 70 years old, at the head of the family migration.
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Letters 3/3/2020

Making plans for the next Dutch Cousins Gathering!

Our Dutch Cousin officers for 2020 / 2021: Vince Akers, finance (IN); Carolyn Leonard, past president (OK); Eddie Cozine, board member (KY); Janice Cozine, Treasurer (KY); Tamara Fulkerson, president (KY); Malcolm Banta, board member (FL); Denise Perry, secretary (TN); Mary Jo Gohmann, Vice President, (IN); Pam Ellingson, Webmaster (WI); Charles Westerfield, immediate past president (KY).

FIRST, A word from our new president Tamara…

SENT BY: Tamara Fulkerson, President, Dutch Cousins 2019-2021 FOR THE LETTERS EMAIL:
Dear Dutch Cousins!
The 2019 Dutch Cousins Gathering was a great time of getting together again and meeting brand new cousins. Many thanks to our officers for all of the work they put in to making it a success. I hope all of you are doing well, Spring is on the way.

Your Board is already at work planning and organizing for our 2021 Dutch Cousins Gathering in Kentucky. We are hoping to retain the same venue that we had last year through Kentucky State University. If we cannot meet at that location we are actively researching our other options. If you have any ideas to add to our list please let us know. The venue needs to be able to hold 200 people at tables, a food serving area, and heritage display table area.

We would like for our current members to get involved in a membership drive. We do not have dues so it will only consist of letting people know about us. We will attach a pdf flyer to an email in the near future. The idea is for you to forward it to family, friends and any genealogy organizations that you are involved with. Printing it out to post at libraries and historical societies as well as on any public bulletin boards is welcomed. Using them as handouts at different meetings would be greatly appreciated. Our numbers are dwindling and we need to make more people aware of who we are so that we may increase attendance at our gatherings.

We still have positions to fill. We are in need of a Vice President, An Editor of the Newsletter, Chair of the Heritage Displays, Historian and a Publicity Writer. Please let us know if you are interested in any of these positions. It is imperative to fill them so that we may have and keep all of our bases covered for our next gathering in the Fall of 2021.

Best regards, Tamara Fulkerson, Dutch Cousins President 2020 and 2021——————————————————————

HERE ARE THE PHOTOS FROM THE 2019 Dutch Cousins Gathering in Kentucky!
SENT BY: Pam Ellingson
I did upload Charlie’s photos to the DC google account. The following link should allow access and people can download the file of 429 photos. Thank you Charlie Westerfield, immediate past president! https://bit.ly/2Pm0DVX———————————————————————

SENT BY: Sharon Lynch
Hi Carolyn…..I’ve been so busy with a move the last few months that I didn’t realize I wasn’t receiving the Dutch Letters until you posted today on FB. Somehow I must have gotten off the list. Can you please add me again, but I am changing my email over & this one will end soon, so please add me with my new email. I can’t imagine how I unsubscribed…that sure wasn’t my intention! I was making a move so who knows, but I love getting the letters and appreciate all of your hard work getting info out to us!

I’ll try to write some info on my family lines soon as I have made some great progress on my VanDykes & Couwenhoven families who came to KY & OH.

For now….I just moved last month so I’ll update my contact info. Thank you again!——————————————————————

SENT BY: Charlotte Olson
To Susan Fuhr-Dunn, would like to “talk” with you about our family. Email me at dccaodar (at) gmail (dot) com or reply to Dutch Cousins newsletter.Looking forward to sharing!charlotte ——————————————————————

SENT BY: Alan Weaner, caretaker for the Low Dutch cemeteries in Adams County, PA

New gate built for swift run (cemetery at Connewago Colony). Talking to a mason this weekend. Alan Weaner——————————————————————

SENT BY: MarinaVan Nuys Neal
Good morning – I’m at work, so I need to be quick. We are just getting acquainted with your organization, so I’ll leave it to you whether or how this info might be shared with other members of Dutch cousins.

Our connection with you is the Isaac Van Nuys family. Cousins from one family and our sister are now sharing genealogy info.

Here is an interesting site dedicated to American Battlefield info. Perhaps other Dutch Cousins will find it useful and interesting?
https://www.youtube.com/user/CWPTbattlefields/featured ——————————————————————

SENT BY: Charlotte L. Olson (our SAR/DAR helper)
Reply to Susan Fuhr-Dunn:  Information concerning the family members that you mentioned in the latest newsletter can be found in the three volume set titled, West of the Salt: Early Terhunes of Mercer County KY. The section on the Vandeveer/Vandivier Settlers in in Vol 1, pages 65- 68. A web site is mentioned for documentation on the Vandivier family:www.veerhuis.org.
I tried to locate this site and was not successful, but I am not techy! No snickers from those cousins who know me!  Vol III, page 21 gives the genealogy of Peter Garretse Terhune and Lucinda Heaton Terhune, parents of Frances.Vol III, page 29 gives Frances genealogy.Previous generations begin on… page 1, including a picture of the ship on which the Terhune family traveled to Delaware in 1638. Wonderful story.The work is thoroughly documented, with the documentation footnoted.  Harrodsburg Historical Society, has copies of West of the Salt. Or, I would be overjoyed to send the information to you, if you would trust me with your address. You can email me directly at dccaodar@gmail.com. My great grandmother is Mary Virginia Terhune LucasCharlotte sneak peek: Frances was born c 1827 in Mercer Co. KY. She married James Henry Vandivier on 26 Aug 1846 in Mercer Co. He was born 20 Jun 1824 in Mercer Co. and died 1906, also in Mercer. ———————————————————

SENT BY: Doug Demaree
I am at Fort Watauga at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park today in North East Tennessee. Having a great time. I am a descendant of the Dutch cousins by way of my Demaree family connection. I am also descended from Captain Nathaniel Hart of the Transylvania company. I am at the location where he negotiated with the Cherokee for the purchase of 20,000,000, yes million acres.   ——————————————————————

SENT BY: Joan Murray (author of Bantas of Pleasant Hill — and other books)
Hi Carolyn and all my Dutch Cousins.  I just viewed all the photos of the 2019 reunion. I so wished we could have attended, but our granddaughter’s wedding took preference. Thanks to all those who worked to have the Low Dutch and Westerfield markers replaced. Best regard to all of you. ——————————————————————

SENT BY: Judy Cassidy
A couple of things 1. I discovered the original Conowago Baptismal and Deacons Records at the Historical Society and wrote about them in the New Netherland Connections which was published in Vol 12, No.4, Oct, Nov., Dec. 2007. Harry Macy also wrote the translation in Vol 13, No. 3, July., Aug., Se[t 2008, titled Conowago Deacon’s Records 1777-1803. Vince paid to have the records photographed, and both he and I have a complete copy as does Harry Macy. I also wrote an article titled “Journey of 100 yeas,” which I have attached and this was also published in the New Netherland Connections. 2. Regarding the Church and the wording on the sign. The original that our ancestors attended prior to Kentucky was located next to the Northern Cemetery. The second Church, next to LaSalles, was not built until most had departed and it shut down ca. 1804. 3. The numbers appearing in the items, taken from my book, for the Brinkerhoff Slave Cemetery, as footnote numbers which I neglected to remove. I have some early photos, which I will copy and send. One more thing. Several of the Deeds and Wills, I donated recently to the Low Dutch Archives are Conowago Documents of various members of the Congregation. from the York Co. Archives.
Also Arthur has a copy of his map (I have the map) in which he marked the location of churches, Cemeteries, and homes of members of the Congregation. They were closer to Hunterstown as Gettysburg is a ways away. Judy——————————————————————

SENT BY: Kathy Van Every
I am so grateful to have found my Dutch Cousins! I am heading to Kentucky later this week to spend a couple days around Lexington, Danville, Harrodsburg to attempt to solve one or two “mysteries” surrounding my Verbryke family. Hoping to find out what happened to Maj. Verbryke’s son, John. And more about John’s family (he married Jane Smith Head) – specifically when his son, William was born. And more about William’s wife, Mary Young (all I know is her father was Stephen Young).

A couple things: I’d like to contact Kimberly Verbryke Knepper, also Greg Barnard, and finally the current Terhune’s. Kimberly, for obvious reasons. I’ve found that by finding cousins, you also can find a wealth of information given that their lines have information you might not have. Case in point, my Harris’ from Louisville, they were a bit of a mystery until I found a Harris cousin living in California that had a letter from an aunt written in 1932 that talked at great length about her grandparents, both born in 1800! That was a priceless treasure to find!

As to Greg, I’d like to help out with the old cemetery project in any way that I can. I’d also like to find out if anyone knows where the good Major Verbryck may be resting in that place as I’d like to make arrangements to have a headstone placed there. Is his wife, Rebecca Low also there?

As to the Terhune’s, I’d love to find out if they know anything about Rebecca (Verbryke) Terhune taking in her orphaned nephew, Thomas Verbryck when he returned to Kentucky as a small boy from Missouri. His parents, William and Mary Verbryck both died there in 1849 about 3 months apart. All the children returned to Kentucky, but only Thomas was living with his aunt in 1860. It also seems that Thomas went on to medical school in Louisville in 1874ish but then he disappears from the online historical record. His sister, Juliet, passed away in Lexington, age 17 from tuberculosis. I am just north of Dallas! I am planning to come in 2021!

Thanks again for everything. ——————————————————

Letters 3/6/2020 – A visitor from the Netherlands

Photo above shows SOME of the cousins who enjoyed the group trip in 2011, Footprints to Dutch New York, reunite in Kentucky in September 2019. From left, Jon Heavener, Dennis and Carole Karwatka, Carolyn Leonard, Janice and Eddie Cozine, Larry and Jerry Westerfield, Mary Jo Gohmann, and Pam Ellingson.

Personal message from cousin Janice about the next gathering of Dutch cousins.

SENT BY: Janice Cozine, DC Treasurer and Registration Chair FOR THE LETTERS EMAIL: Hello Cousins ! Hope everyone is well.
I just wanted to send out a little info to let you all know what is going on behind the scenes.Just because we’re in between gatherings, we are still hard at work getting things done.

Tamara Fulkerson is our new DC President and she’s already working hard on the 2021 gathering.If anyone has any ideas or suggestions on what you would like to hear, see or do, please pass them along for consideration. Thank you.

I’m working on getting out our DC donations, the group decided on last year. They are as follows;

The DC donated $1,000.00 to The Harold R. Benson Research Farm where the 2019 DC Gathering was held. This facility is part of Ky State University in Frankfort, Ky.This research farm is funded by the state and donations only. They were excited about our donation and we’re happy it’s for a good cause, as well.I heard a lot of good comments saying they really like this space and we’re hoping to use it again in 2021. I have put in our request so keep your fingers crossed.

The Dutch Cousins also donated $1,500.00 to our special place, The Old Mud Meeting House, in Harrodsburg, Ky.The Dutch Cousins have played a big part of Old Mud’s restoration. Since 2005, when the Dutch Cousins first met, have donated $140,386.00 (including matching funds from Vince Akers)   WOW!! We can all be proud, putting Old Mud back in service, along with the extra hard work the contractors are doing. Amalie Preston is making sure our money is being used wisely and she has done a wonderful job. Thank you so much Amalie and for all your hard work, as well !!

We are also donating $200.00 to the Low Dutch Cemetery, “Conewago Colony” near Gettysburg, PA. (maybe more in the future)
This money will help maintain and preserve the cemetery grounds.
Thanks goes out to Alan Weaner and Donald Lott. Thank you, for your help in preserving our ancestors place of rest, providing a place for research and a place for future generations to visit !

The Cousins also donated money to help place two Bronze Markers. One placed in Louisville, Kentucky the other placed in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. This was a big task/challenge for this group, headed up by Charlie Westerfield, along with Vince Akers, Steve Henry, Lynn Rogers & Eddie Cozine. What a great job guys !

If anyone would like to ‘personally’ donate to any of these projects listed above, please look on the website for more info OR just ask, we can get the info to you.(FYI – If you contributed to the Markers directly to ‘The Parklands of Floyds Fork” your donation will be tax deductible but if you donated money to the Dutch Cousins, it will not be.)

Remember…please keep spreading the word for our next Dutch Cousins Gathering in the Fall of 2021.
We want this to be one of our largest gatherings ever.
Looking forward to seeing “YOU” there !!

Blessings to all, Janice CozineDC Treasurer &Registration Chair

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HERE ARE THE PHOTOS FROM THE 2019 Dutch Cousins Gathering in Kentucky!
SENT BY: Pam Ellingson I did upload Charlie’s photos to the DC google account. The following link should allow access and people can download the file of 429 photos. Thank you Charlie Westerfield, immediate past president! https://bit.ly/2Pm0DVX ———————————————————————

SENT BY: HENK VAN DONGEN, A COUSIN WHO STILL LIVES IN THE NETHERLANDS!
My name is Henk van Dongen from the Netherlands. This summer my family and I will be visiting the USA (God willing). On our intended itinerary from Ohio to Tennessee we will pass through Kentucky. We would like to stay there for a few days and get to know some people ( I read about the Low Dutch cousins) there, but what would be the best place to meet and greet some of our fellow countrymen? It would be nice to converse on age old Dutch traditions and possible ties with the old motherland. Or perhaps the ties do not stretch any further than the times of New Amsterdam in the 1600’s.

Perhaps you know the perfect location where my wife and I and three of my children could settle for a day or three before moving on to Tennessee. (May be you do not feel any ties with the old Dutch fatherland anymore. In that case you can ignore my writing to you.)

I look forward to hearing from you,

Kind regards,

Henk van Dongen FROM CAROLYN herself: I hope all our Dutch Cousins will have some welcome words for the van DONGENs coming to America from our mother country – the Netherlands——————————————————————

SENT BY:

SENT BY: Greg Barnard in re the abandoned Banta/DeMotte/Verbryke graveyard south of Harrodsburg

Have met with the property owner 5 times. He has agreed to mow it with the rest of his yard when cleared. Kentucky Heritage Council would visit site and ground -scan for remains in unmarked places. They would then designate it a Kentucky Pioneer Cemetary since Lawrence is buried there in 1800. The marker would be available for a fee. A fence is suggested but they will not pay for that.
Am still waiting on estimates.
Greg——————————————————————

SENT BY: Greg Barnard (This letter might give us some ideas on welcoming the van Dongens to America!)

Greg Barnard	Wed, Feb 26, 2:42 PM (8 days ago)
to Editor234

Thought you would enjoy this note to Kathy. Looking forward to meeting her. Will be asking for your help with the Banta Demott Cem later this year. The 501 c looks complicated to me.Do we have a Lawyer Cousin? My wife says this is expensive and complicated. I do no do well with this type of thing. Fortunately, the property owner says “I will clean it up”. I did promise anything and hopefully he may not want anything. Just might need your guidance down the road. Thanks for you help.Greg
Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:
From: Greg Barnard
Date: February 26, 2020 at 3:33:31 PM EST
Subject:Grave
Kathy,
Did little “grave digging” for you today. 40 yr. residency here gives me privileges. Mayor my best friend. Jane S Head (V. married name also) is buried in our beautiful Bellview Cemetery in the old section. A lot of stones unreadable due to algae, etc. City Hall cannot tell her internment place. Walked it today. Could not find. If your group wants to visit the cem. its only 15 minutes south of Harrodsburg. No problem for me to give you a tour.
No help from here with John Verbryke. His burial place is an enigma. Relatives buried in Indiana, Kentucky, New York, etc.
I would probably hire a professional genealogist to find it. But you are probably a lot younger than me.
Looking forward to meeting you. Bring your warm clothes. It looks a little cooler than Texas.
Are you guys in area the following week? Would love to show you around the Bourbon Distilleries and Horse Farms but don’t want to interfere.
One last thought. You probably already know this. The National Sons of the Revolution Headquarters is in downtown Louisville on Main Street….right by the Slugger Museum…if anyone likes baseball. As a descendant of a Rev. War Patriot, you might enjoy if. They are so friendly and might even help you with your “wonderful searches” for ancestors. Their library was helpful to me. They might have a V category.
Greg ——————————————————————

Letters 3/22/2020

FOUR DUTCH COUSINS: Kathy Van Every of McKinney, Texas, and her mother, Flo Van Every, flew into Louisville and met their cousins Ashlee Zimmerman and Margie Reyolds of Indiana, to visit the grave of their ancestor Major William Verbryke at the newly discovered graveyard (formerly Cove Spring, now called Banta) near Harrodsburg. They are pictured with Greg Barnard of Danville who has taken responsibility and oversight of the cleaning and restoring of the burial ground. These Dutch Cousins are all descendants of Major William Verbryke and wife Rebecca Lowe. (More info below) Kathy organized the trip but is not in the photo.

SENT BY: Carolyn (Herself)
Please change my address in your address book to Buffalo234@cox.net or CarolynLeonard@me.com. I don’t check the Gmail as often as I shoul——————————————————————

SENT BY: Alan Weaner
inre: Conewago north cemetery wall
Wall fixed…. till the ground hogs tear into it again. One lost his life…scratched out 1 to many rocks. 10 bags mortar mix nearly 1600 lbs sand and 80 man hours. Please add my sister, Edie Weaner Rice,
she puts solicitations for help at the low dutch cemeteries on facebook. I will send pics of the new gate when I get the top repainted. Materials were about $385 Labor $1230 For all 5 sections of the wall that collapsed. Pictures were on the inside. 2 outside sections were bad and they are done. The arch of the gate above the posts needs repainted. Gate is redone by Donnie Trostle (new) and white. $130 for materials and sandblasting the hinges.
Before and after photos

SENT BY:Sharon Lynch
Hi Carolyn…..I’ve been so busy with a move the last few months that I didn’t realize I wasn’t receiving the Dutch Letters until you posted today on FB. Somehow I must have gotten off the list. Can you please add me again, but I am changing my email over & this one will end soon, so please add me with my new email.
——————————————————————

SENT BY: Larry Voreis
Hi Carolyn,
Sorry for the belated response. During the last six months I have been traveling, trying to keep up with my ninety-five-year-old mother and fighting to complete a writing project I have been working on for the past five years. In my spare time in April and June-December I hunt every chance I get. I concede this time to no one. We disconnect our phone because of all the calls from politicians and cranks, and I check my emails about once a month, sometimes longer. My goal is to finish the book project this year and that means everything else is put on hold. I hope you will forgive me for not participating in the Conewago historical marker project.

However, you may want to contact Sewah Studios Inc., 190 Millcreek Road, Marietta, OH 45750 about making and installing a marker. They do it all, fabrication and installation, and their prices seen reasonable. I believe we would be better off if we placed one marker at each cemetery, not on a state right-of-way. That way we eliminate the problem of dealing with the State of Pennsylvania Historical Commission. The cemeteries are private land and no one has a better right to place markers there than the descendants of those buried there. I would just do it without consulting anyone and eliminate the local and state bureaucrats who could care less about the Low Dutch. Just do it!

I also have in my possession some several surveys for both cemeteries, the first of which was made in 1930. These all came from copies made at the Adams County Historical Society, which cannot be copied without their permission.

Thanks for sending me the email address for Dutch family interested in the Kentucky Low Dutch. If they are able to make the trip, maybe Vince and I could give them a tour–after this virus stuff goes away.

Again, my apologies for being offline. I hope you understand.

Regards,
Larry
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SENT BY: HENK VAN DONGEN, A COUSIN WHO STILL LIVES IN THE NETHERLANDS!

My name is Henk van Dongen from the Netherlands. This summer my family and I will be visiting the USA (God willing). On our intended itinerary from Ohio to Tennessee we will pass through Kentucky. We would like to stay there for a few days and get to know some people ( I read about the Low Dutch cousins) there, but what would be the best place to meet and greet some of our fellow countrymen? It would be nice to converse on age old Dutch traditions and possible ties with the old motherland. Or perhaps the ties do not stretch any further than the times of New Amsterdam in the 1600’s.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Kind regards,
Henk van Dongen
FROM CAROLYN herself: I hope all our Dutch Cousins will have some welcome words for the van DONGENs coming to America from our mother country – the Netherlands
——————————————————————

SENT BY: JULIE VAN DYKE
Hi Carolyn,

I receive your Dutch Cousins newsletter and I just wanted to thank you for the information you posted last month regarding the Conewago settlement. My family— Van Dyke— is one of those that stayed in Conewago while the majority of the settlement moved on to KY. I did see that my ancestor Peter Van Dyke was one of the signers on a petition to the Continental Congress in 1783, at which time he listed himself as an “Intended” settler. However, we know that he never went to KY (or at least didn’t settle there), as my ancestors remained in Conewago up until my father’s time.

I was curious about what your sources are for that information?

Please add me to the list of individuals interested in the Conewago settlement. Unfortunately, we are experiencing financial difficulties because I have been laid off from work, so I can’t offer any donation at this time. But I would love to be apprised of the happenings there, and with God’s help will be able to contribute sometime in the future.
——————————————————————

SENT BY: Greg Barnard
(INRE: abandoned cemetery near Harrodsburg)
Had good visit with the Banta/Demott property owner last week before Kathy Van Every from Texas meeting me there with 3 relatives.
Owner is still pursuing the clean up and interested in making it a Ky. Pioneer Cem. Keeping his receipts but may never present them to me. Long story. Ground is just now thawing. Thankfully, the owner and I have a common cause which is honoring our ancestors. He is a good guy but it took me a year for him to see what a “jewel” he had on his property.

What is wonderful is for a Dutch Cousin to come all the way from Texas to see the cemetery. We have a great group!
Greg Barnard (photo posted above)
———————————————————

SENT BY: Carolyn Leonard; Research on Major Verbryke:
William (Wilhelmus) Verbryck/Verbryke (1737-1824)

(applicatio for pension #8799)
Verbryke served under Col Abraham Quick, Col. Vroom, and General Frelingheusen, and was also paymaster for Hunterdon and Somerset countes militiamen. However as C. Vanarsdale said, no matter how faithful Maj. Verbryke was with the pay, it was worthless Continental paper money,

He served from March 1777 to the close of the war. He married Rebecca LOWE 20 Mar 1777 in Somerset County, New Jersey.

Was in the battles of Monmouth, Germantown, and Millstone which was just a few miles from his home. Several of our Dutchmen served under him and filed documents to assure a widows pension for Rebecca. Such familiar names as Cornelieus VanArsdale, John Tumey, Peter Huff, and Peter Carnine testified to Maj. Verbryke’s bravery and dedication.

Peter Huff said he grew up just two miles from Rebecca Lowe’s home in NJ, and they were schoolmates. He visited often in their home after she married Major Verbryke. Peter Huff verified testimony for many of our Dutch Rev. Veterans, and witnessed important papers.)

John Tumey enlisted under Verbryke shortly after the British took possession of New York. (Tumeys intermarried with my Cozine)

At one time more than a hundred British soldiers came to capture the Major. They surrounded Verbryke’s home in the middle of the night to take him prisoner, but he escaped, taking his son with him to his father-in-law’s house.

Peter Conine said he was a clerk in Verbryke’s store before the war. He lived with them for at least two years after their marriage, and was there the night the British came to take Verbryke prisoner.

When Rebecca Lowe was applying for a widow’s pension she tore out a page from the bible of her late husband, William Verbryck. This must have been the family bible that originally had belonged to William’s father, Bernardus Verbryck and his wife Jannetje Schenck. The first side of this page was used to prove the marriage of Rebecca Low to William Verbryck and proof that Dorothy Verbryck Demott was their daughter. The back side of the page appears to be a partial death record for two of the children of Bernardus Verbryck and Jannetje Schenck. Year 1742 Aug 8 my daughter Nettie died age 11. Year 1743 Nov 23 my daughter Sarah died age 23. (I don’t know who has this page, it may be in his pension papers)
——————————————————————

SENT BY: Janice Cozine, Dutch Cousins treasurer
In my last email I mentioned,
“If anyone would like to ‘personally’ donate to any of these projects listed above, please look on the website for more info OR just ask, we can get the info to you”.

This would be donations made to “The Old Mud Meeting House” &/or “The Low Dutch Cemetery, Conewago Colony” near Gettysburg, PA. &/or “The 2019 Historical Markers”.

If you donated in the past/or going to in the future, to
“The Old Mud Meeting House”, this is tax deductible, if you made/make your check payable to,
“The Harrodsburg Historical Society”, and in the lower left Note: for Old Mud.
BUT If you donated directly to the Dutch Cousins, your donation is not tax deductible.

If you would like to make a donation in the future to
“The Low Dutch Cemetery, Conewago Colony” near Gettysburg, PA., please make your check payable to,
“The Low Dutch Cemeteries Improvement Fund”.
We are hoping to make this deductible in the future, but at this time it is not a tax deductible fund.

If you donated to The Historical Markers in 2019, your donation is tax deductible depending on how you made the payment. If you made a check payable to “The Future Fund Endowment” it is, but your donation is not tax deductible if you donated directly to the Dutch Cousins.

I’m sorry for the confusion, I’m trying to break it down a little more and make sure the ‘fund names’ are correct.
Thank you!!
Janice Cozine
—————————————————————————–

SENT BY: Alan Weaner and Edie Weaner Rice
Photos of the north cemetery before repair: If they don’t show up here, check the webpage www.DutchCousins.org.
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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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HERE ARE THE PHOTOS FROM THE 2019 Dutch Cousins Gathering in Kentucky!
SENT BY: Pam Ellingson
I did upload Charlie’s photos to the DC google account. The following link should allow access and people can download the file of 429 photos. Thank you Charlie Westerfield, immediate past president!
https://bit.ly/2Pm0DVX
———————————————

Letters 4/1/2020

It may be April 1st, but this is no joke!

SENT BY: Beverly DeMotte Santella
The parents of Dorthy Van der Beek DeMotte wife of Lawrence (Laurens) DeMotte were: Rem Jansen (Jan) Remsen Vanderbeek and Dorothe Dorothea Dorothy (father Pieter Cortelyou). (I have multiple genealogical paternal and maternal lines back to Europe for both of these individuals if anyone is interested). My question is: Who was Dorothy Verbryck DeMott’s husband? Was he Lauren’s son or grandson or other?

(NOTE: from Carolyn: Dorothy Verbryke married Lawrence (Jr) DeMott, firstborn son of Lawrence (Laurens) and Dorothe “Dortie” VanderBeek. Deposition of Mrs. Dorothy Demott taken at the same time (Apr 1837) and for the same purpose as the deposition of Peter Huff. Witness being duly sworn in presence of the court states that she is the eldest child of William Verbryck and Rebecca his wife – She was born as the family register shows the 6th of January 1778 in Somerset County, New Jersey, and has resided in Kentucky ever since her nineteenth year. She was married to Lawrence Demott (who has since died) in February 1798.

SENT BY: Joseph Clements
Carolyn, I read with interest your article in the latest issue of Olde Towne Ledger. Your organization sure is active in keeping the history of our Dutch ancestors alive. I would like to be added to your email list. My connection is through my great-grandmother Mary Frances Cozatt, a granddaughter of Jacob Cozatt and Margaret Comingore, both born in Conewago and migrated to KY as children. I visited Conewago several years ago to walk in their footsteps.
I think I tried to get on your list before but something fell through the slats. If there are dues to cover expenses, please let me know. I look forward to hearing from you.
Joe Clements, Boulder City NV

SENT BY: Brock Ayers
I saw the story in Harrodsburg publication. My interests are Christopher VanArsall ( I believe possible relative of My Azariah Ayers. So Somerset County to Harrodsbrug Ky ( via??) to Gibson Co, IN
Other interestes from later locations: Brokaw family and Aaron LaGrange
Christopher’s Rev war pension says he saw his oldest son fall at the battle of Brandywine Creek, when CVA was an orderly SGT in Cpt Lott’s company ( NJ). My theory is that Azariah’s wife, Mary , was an infant daughter of the oldest Son ( Henry?) of CVA. The aGrange family is related….
So I am Interested in the church and families and migration. And am still searching for a marriage around 1790 for Mary and Azariah Ayers. The family of Azariah ( Joseph) moves you Washington County, PA from Somerset CO around 1800…
Thanks
Brock Ayers
US Army, RET

SENT BY: Carolyn Leonard
HI Julie,
Your letter will be in the next Dutch Letters, but I just wanted to give you a quick reply while it is on my mind. You asked why your ancestor was called an intended friend when he never went to Kentucky. The “Intend friends” was just exactly that. Those Conewago residents who “intended” to go to Kentucky. For instance, my ancestor, the Domine Cornelius Cozine, was an intend friend signer. One of his sons, Cornelius Jr, was already there. But the Domine became ill and died. He never got to go to Kentucky.
The petition requested congress for support and to supply a Dutch-speaking pastor for their Kentucky church (our Old Mud) but that never happened. Our expert Low Dutch historian, Vince Akers, had a large wall poster made of the documents and had them on display at previous Dutch Cousins events. It is possible the documents are available for download from our website.
I will continue to post info on Conewago as it becomes available. I pray you will soon join the ranks of the employed. I know it is a very stressful situation, and I believe there are many more in the same boat right now. I’m lucky to be semi-retired after 30 years.
Blessings, carolyn

SENT BY: Alan Weaner, our Conewago friend.
I’m reading a packet of papers about Hunterstown. Then I looked up low Dutch. This article was interesting.
The low Dutch community members were a mixture from France and Holland, and they were near Hunterstown from 1765-1793. They moved on because of Indian troubles….
The summary at the top is the most of it. It was written in late 1800s
https://www.cayugagenealogy.org/church/conewago.htm

SENT BY: James W. Terman:
James W. Terman shared his first post.
New Member · 1 hr
A few years ago I acquired from another genealogist a file showing a land for sale ad in 1820 in Adams County, Pennsylvania, presumably near Conewago Creek and near Gettysburg, The seller was a David Demaree.
+++++++++++
On Friday the 16 of November next, on the premises
A VALUABLE PLANTATION, situated in Mount Pleasant township, Adams County, containing 200 acres. The improvements are a good house and barn, and a good apple orchard— One hundred and thirty acres cleared, the remainder is covered with valuable timber. There is, near the improvements, an excellent spring, and a living stream of water running thru the said place. An indisputable title will be given, and possession may be had the 1st of April next. It is to be sold as the property of David Demaree, Senior, deceased, by David Demaree, Executor. Sept 25 1810.
+++++++++++
WOW! WHAT A GREAT FIND James W. Terman!
This sounds much like the former Cornelius Cozine land, PLEASANT PLAIN. The Dutch church, and the CONEWAGO north cemetery were on Reverend Cozine’s land.
This description is from Arthur Weaner’s book, “Taxables of the Low Dutch Settlement of Conewago”: “The first church was on Henry Banta’s land. The next Reformed Dutch Church was built at the north end of Conewago colony. Rev. Cosine owned two tracts, both called ‘Pleasant Plain” and he deeded one acre to the trustees of the Conewago Dutch Church — Francis Cossart, David van Dine and David Demaree — on which to build a church. The church records begin in 1769.” The church was located between what is now Swift Run Road and the present cemetery. It must have been a log building with a fireplace….Rev. Cozine died in 1786.

From 1772 to his death in 1786 this was a flourishing Dutch Church, but by 1793 the colony was beginning to disintegrate because so many members had left to go west. By 1817 there was scarcely a family left.
In 1817 three members applied to the trustees for permission to sell the church building for money to erect a permanent wall around the burying-ground.

The church was sold to George Lashell, a tavernkeeper, for $288.20. Lashell, whose tavern was near the church (Arthur Weaner believes the structures faced each other from opposite sides of the road.) Lashell used the weathered boards for a fence to his property, which he painted in gaudy colors. The stones from the church foundation Lashell used for a smokehouse.
A.Van Doren Honeyman’s writings about Conewago describes the building as being on a stone foundation but built of boards and “barn-like in its architecture.” The church was called the Reformed Dutch Church of Conewago. No town was actually formed, but the settlers lived along what came to be known as the Low Dutch Road (and still is called that).
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bodine/yrk2cyga.htm
After the Domine Cozine’s death, Rev. George Brinkerhoff assumed duties as pastor of Conewego in Nov 1789 and remained until Nov 1793 when most of the colony had left.

I sent the sale info on to our expert, Vince Akers who is a Demaree descendant. Here is his reply:

Hi Carolyn!

Good to hear from you! Hope you and Jon and all your family are staying well during this Covid-19 period. Lisa and I are fine and doing our best to keep our elderly parents away from exposure. Lisa’s 98-year-old mother lives with us and my 95-year-old father lives 45 minutes away in the home he bought before I was born. They are both doing just fine, but keeping us pretty busy!

The property sale announcement certainly seems to be the David Demaree 1731-1808 buried in the North Cemetery. I’ve attached a PDF scan of the pages from the 1938 and 1964 editions of The Demarest Familyshowing this David (#206 in 1938 and 5-49 in 1964) and his son David (#540 / 6-105). As is typical, the older 1938 edition actually gives considerably more background information. David 1731-1808 was the older brother of my own ancestor Samuel Demaree 1746-1811 (#213 – 5-56) who moved around 1784 to Kentucky and was prominent in the Shelby-Henry County Low Dutch Tract. He was a distant cousin to the Samuel 1707-?? (#123 / 4-84) who married Leah Demarest and was the patriarch of the 1780 migration to Kentucky.

You will note some of the Gettysburg Battle was fought on the farm David Demaree 1731-1808. I cannot tell how this 200-acre farm being sold in 1810 relates to the Civil War farm.

As I’m sure you know, Arthur Weaner was the expert on the Low Dutch farms in the Conewago area. He shared much of his research with me back in the early 1980s. With a quick investigation, I see references to David Demaree’s property and to Rev. Cornelius Cozine’s Pleasant Plain property in Arthur’s Taxables: The Low Dutch Settlement of the Conewago, York County, Pa. 1762-1799. I’ve scanned pages and attached a PDF referencing Cornelius Cozine’s and David Demaree’s farms. You’ll note that David Demaree’s farm (N on the plat) is only 106 acres and thus not the 200 acres being sold in 1810. I would assume that tract was nearby. You’ll also note that Demaree’s tract is well south of Rev. Cozine’s (F & G on the plat) and apparently not at all related to Cozine’s tract. I’ve also scanned and attached as PDFs Arthur’s chapters III and IV which go into detail about Rev. Cozine’s property. You probably have already studied all this; but, if not, it will be of much interest!

Take care and stay well!

Vince
(NOTE FROM CAROLYN: The type is so faint on the attachments I will try to retype it and place in the next newsletter. Same with the SIX PAGES of Demaree genealogy; the ink is clear but this is a LONG letter.)

SENT BY: Tamara Fulkerson
Dear Dutch Cousins,
I hope that you are all safe and healthy!
Please continue to take care of yourselves.

Following are various recommendations for you to try to protect yourselves.
Some suggestions are reportedly from CoVid-19 autopsy information, gathered to identify the behavior of the virus.
The virus obstructs respiratory pathways with mucous that solidifies.
Your lungs need opening for treatment to take effect.

Recommended safeguards:
*Drink hot liquids and eat soups.
Take a sip of warm water every 20 minutes to keep your throat moist & help to wash any possible virus down to your stomach.
Use an antiseptic gargle with warm water – vinegar, salt or lemon.
*Avoid eating & drinking really cold things. If you must please finish with something warm.
*Covid-19 attaches to hair & clothing. Any detergent kills it.
When you arrive home please avoid sitting and go straight to your shower.
If you can’t wash clothes immediately then hang clothes in direct sunlight to neutralize the virus.
*Wash metallic surfaces carefully. It has been said it can be viable for 9 days. It may be more like 4 though.
When out do not touch handrails and door knobs – wear gloves if you have them and wash them when arriving home.
Keep your homes doorknobs clean.
*Don’t smoke.
*Wash hands every 20 minutes with soap that foams for at least 20 seconds.
Regular soap will break down the fatty structure of the virus and disperse it therefore killing it.
*Eat lots of fruits & vegetables – the purpose it to elevate zinc levels not just vitamin C levels.
*Animals do not spread this virus. It is only human to human transference.
*Avoid the common flu as it will weaken your immune system.
*If you have any discomfort in your throat attack it with the above methods.
The virus can remain in the throat for 3 or 4 days before passing into the lungs.
*Please know that these are suggestions to hopefully help prevent contracting CoVid-19 and it is not
a 100% prevention prescription.
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This is a link to a YouTube video regarding grocery safety.
https://youtu.be/sjDuwc9KBps
Dr. Jeffrey VanWingen MD has some very helpful tips on how to prevent transferring germs from the grocery into your kitchen.
VanWingen…. Hhmmm – I wonder if he’s Low Dutch!
Keep your sense of humor and please stay safe so that we may all meet again at our Dutch Cousins 2021 Gathering!

Tamara Fulkerson
President, Dutch Cousins 2020-2021

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SENT BY: Tamara Fulkerson (president of Dutch Cousins)

Dear Dutch Cousins,

We have an ongoing prayer request!
Our board member, Malcolm Banta had a terrible fall on March 2^nd.
He tripped after stepping off of a boat. He was paralyzed from the neck down for a few days.
He did start regaining movement in his limbs and is on his way to recovery!
Malcolm is in the VA hospital in Tampa, FL and will remain there for up to 12 weeks.
After that his wife will be taking care of him at home.
He sounded strong and is asking for many prayers for his recovery.

SENT BY: Elbrun Kimmelman
Dear Caroline,
As a long time admirer of your efforts and the former Directress General of the Society of Daughters of Holland Dames, I thought our cousins would enjoy the following message of indomitable joy from The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. Happy listening and thoughts.
Elbrun Kimmelman

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.

Letters 4/28/2020

Cousins by the Dozens!
Bill Demaree of Madison Indiana can tell you all about his Demaree ancestors and he has the photos and tombstones and records to prove it! He just loves sharing his Low Dutch family history and has attended every Dutch gathering. The engineer and I visited Bill and wife Betty in Madison in 2005, and these photos are some of the many we enjoyed seeing. From left top, Mattie Demaree, Harrison Demaree, William Underwood Demaree (born in Shelby County KY 1812, died across the line in Jefferson Co, Indiana 1880), and William U.’s father Daniel Demaree born 1792 Shelby Co KY, died 1845 and buried on his farm where he raised 11 children in Jefferson Co Indiana. Daniel was the son of Samuel Jr and Mary D. (Brewer) Demaree; son of Samuel SR and Leah (Demarest) Demaree, both born in New Jersey and came to Kentucky in 1784.
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SENT BY: Carolyn (Herself)Please change my address in your address book to Buffalo234@cox.net or CarolynLeonard@me.com. I don’t check the Gmail as often as I should.
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SENT BY: Doug Demaree
I am at Fort Watauga at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park today in North East Tennessee. Having a great time. I am a descendant of the Dutch cousins by way of my Demaree family connection. I am also descended from Captain Nathaniel Hart of the Transylvania company. I am at the location where he negotiated with the Cherokee for the purchase of 20,000,000, yes million acres.
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SENT BY: Elizabeth Hardin
What date in Sept. for Dutch Meeting.
I belong to the Dutch Family. Hoagland, Bergen, Trico and Rapilje. First settlers of New Netherlands. I would also, like to sign up for the newsletter.
Thank you, Elizabeth Robinson Hardin.
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SENT BY: Suzie Ditmars, of San Diego, CA
I used to get your letters but another email that no longer exists.
My ancestors went from New Netherland to New Jersey where they seemed to have stayed until my great grandmother moved to Manhattan about 1895.Enjoy some of the letters that you receive.
I am eligible for DAR and the Holland Society of New York since they are admitting women.
I need to find a genealogist who can get it all together on the form for HS.
And thanks
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SENT BY: John Westerfield
Hi Carolyn hope everything is going well with you and Jon during this pandemic. Phyllis and I are staying in as ordered by the Governor. We do go to the grocery every week or 10 days other than that we stay in the house. So far our health has been normal, just the normal aches and pains.
Please change my email address. My juno account was hacked and all my contacts removed so I quit using that account.

Cousin John in Pennsylvania
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SENT BY:David and Lisa Westerfield of Long Beach, Cal.
I am descended from Rev. Samuel Leander Westerfield who was married to Catherine Monfort and I would appreciate being added to the Dutch Cousins newsletter list.
Family Line-

*Jan Westervelt + Dirckie Blansett
*Jacobus Westerfield + Debora Van Schyven
*Samuel Leander Westerfield + Catherine Monfort
*Jacob Reeder Westerfield + Amy Hedges Ayers
*James Westerfield + Esther Moore
*Harry Arthur Westerfield + Elsie May Williamson
*Arthur Moore Westerfield + Katherine Holcomb
*David Austin Westerfield + Patricia Jackson
*David Wendall Westerfield (myself)
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SENT BY: Laurel Auchampaugh, who accepted responsibility for getting historical markers for Conewago Colony!
I am ready to contact Pomeroy Foundation regarding a grant for the historical marker,.
Have not obtained permission to do so from the Cemetery or Dutch Cousin’s.
Waiting to hear from other Committee members
Please advise how I should proceed.

Laurel Auchampaugh
Owasco Historian
(Note from Carolyn – WE LOVE LAUREL)
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SENT BY: Tamara Fulkerson (president of Dutch Cousins)Dear Dutch Cousins,We have an ongoing prayer request!
Our board member, Malcolm Banta had a terrible fall on March 2^nd.
He tripped after stepping off of a boat. He was paralyzed from the neck down for a few days.
He did start regaining movement in his limbs and is on his way to recovery!
Malcolm is in the VA hospital in Tampa, FL and will remain there for up to 12 weeks.
After that his wife will be taking care of him at home.
He sounded strong and is asking for many prayers for his recovery.
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SENT BY: Malcolm Banta, Dutch Cousins board member
Hi Carolyn, we are nicely settled in our home (Apr 26). Betty is nearly fully recovered from her knee surgery.. I am working on what promises to be a long recovery. Hope that you and the engineer are both doing well
Hi Malcolm, Painful and dreaded as it is, I’ve learned that Physical Therapy is the key to getting back on your feet. I’ll be saying prayers for you. Cousins would like to send you cards. Do you prefer USPS, email, text, calls, or none at all?
Hi Carolyn, Email Banta1117 (at) yahoo (dot) com or US PS or phone call please.
(I don’t want to publicly paste the street address and phone in here, so let’s just go with the email for now.)
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SENT BY: Diana Stephens
I would love to be included on your Dutch Cousins mailing list. My maiden name was VanNice. I have traced our lineage back to our first VanNuys immigrants, and have been to visit the old mud church near Harrodsburg, KY. I have cousins in Indiana and Iowa, along with generations who continued westward into Canada, Montana, and Arizona. It is amazing the interesting things one can find with a rather broad search. I was very pleased to see your group existed. I have a feeling there are many of us beyond your current membership. ——————————————————————

SENT BY: Judy Cassidy
Vince’s Booklet, The Low Dutch Company spells it out pretty well, 10-12. The Petition to THE UNITED STATE CONGRESS, which was read on 27 Sept, 1783, and signed by Inhabitants of Kentucky, Intended Friends was NOT a Petition for a Dominee, rather it was a Petition requesting assistance by many people including the Low Dutch in obtaining a clear title to land that they were seeking to inhabit. Apparently the Land Laws of Virginia had promoted speculation and confusion to such an extent that a large tract of good unclaimed land was simply not available. Speculators were monopolizing the land and Indians were making settlement difficult if not impossible, You will notice that many of the names on the Intended Friends List of the Original Document, which I have a copy of, are not Low Dutch at all, rather they were other perspective settlers who were having the same issues but in other locations. You really have to try and read through all the signature pages in order to pull out the Low Dutch names and as you can image the spelling is terrible plus it is white writing on black background. The Speculators were selling the same land to many different groups at the same time. Also as I mentioned, the Indians were preventing settlers from safely moving to the area. Since this petition went on for almost 11-20 pages, I copied the pages that had the Low Dutch names on it and gave the original to Arthur, and I hope it ended up eventually at the Adams Co or York Co. His Soc. The Original Citation is: US States pf America, GSA, National Archives and Records Service, signed by Ronald E. Swercek, Diplomatic Branch Cvil Archives Division, : Papers of the Continental Congress, Item 41, Vol 5, folios 95-101-106. There were several other Petitions as well. The original Petition was huge. The Petition for a Dominee was done by the Salt River Congregation around 1800. As you know the Salt River Congregation became the Old Mud Meeting.
So sorry to hear about Malcolm, that is really said. Hope all is well in Oklahoma
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Our Dutch Cousins MISSION STATEMENTWe 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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Letters 5/5/2020

WHAT ARE YOU DOING DURING THE PANDEMIC?

SENT BY: Diana VanNice Stephens (new cousin)
My family has ancestors buried at the Old Mud Meeting House near Harrodsburg. From there they emigrated to Indiana, in Hendricks County near Danville. The next step was to Lucas County, Iowa, and my great-grandfather farmed at Strasburg, Saskatchewan, coming back to the United States for his sons to enlist to serve in WWI. That put our family in Marion County, Missouri, where my great-grandfather, grandfather, parents, and myself all farmed, though not all on the same land. I have a daughter and her family still on our family farm, along with my mother.
I am an elementary reading teacher (my second career) in my husband’s hometown, and am one of very few people here who do not trace their lineage directly to the British Isles, so seeing the old Dutch names on the website warms my heart. I also descend from many German and Swiss names with some Irish grandmothers thrown in, but I identify with my maiden name, most.
Thanks,
Diana Stephens
Title I Director / Reading Teacher
Hutsonville Elementary and Junior High School
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SENT BY: Doug Demaree
Looks like Bill and I share some common ancestry….. thank you for the pictures.
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SENT BY: Kim Allison Ross
Please share with them. James Andrew Westerfield (actor) (b. 1913 d. 1971) is the son of Brasher Omier Westerfield (b. 4 April 1882) & wife Dora Elizabeth Bailey. He’s of the Cornelius Westerfield & Rebecca Cooper line.
James Andrew->Brasher Omier->Joseph Cooper->Cornelius & Rebecca Cooper Westerfield.
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SENT BY: Curt Biehn
Boy, Carolyn, my ancestor’s names are all over in your articles. Some of me originated in the Brower and the Stagg line, but so many names and places mentioned here are also involved. Stay safe, my cousins!
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SENT BY: Lillie Martin in Syria
Dear Suzie Ditmars, of San Diego, CA You said:

My ancestors went from New Netherland to New Jersey where they seemed to have stayed until my great grandmother moved to Manhattan about 1895.Enjoy some of the letters that you receive.
I am eligible for DAR and the Holland Society of New York since they are admitting women.
I need to find a genealogist who can get it all together on the form for HS.
And thanks

Suzie I am willing to help you get your Holland Society application done. You can email me all your ancestry and I can help.
Best regards,
Lilly Martin
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SENT BY:Judith Smith Cassidy: Keeping busy doing revisions and rewriting a book about the grandsons of Captain Luke Vanarsdale who left Shelby County after the death of their father Cornelius and moved first to Leake County, Mississippi where Lucas remained although William moved to Bossier Parish, Louisiana. The book is also about their slaves and everyones descendants. It is a mutual contribution of all descendants. William was murdered for his gold in 1867 and his five children were his slaves. I will publish it on Amazon. We have a Face Book Page titled Vanarsdale Lineage administered and moderated by Isis Abdul who is a graphic artist at the Portland Museum.

Additionally I have gotten my niece and nephew interesting in writing up our families history, so packed up all those documents up and sent them to the next generation as so often when someone dies or becomes elderly family papers are simply not read but tossed out. People now have the time, so I am taking advantage of this.
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SENT BY: Kim Allison Ross
Please share this. James Andrew Westerfield (actor) (b. 1913 d. 1971) is the son of Brasher Omier Westerfield (b. 4 April 1882) & wife Dora Elizabeth Bailey. He’s of the Cornelius Westerfield & Rebecca Cooper line.
James Andrew->Brasher Omier->Joseph Cooper->Cornelius & Rebecca Cooper Westerfield.
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SENT BY: Pam Ellingson
Gladys Lucille Westerfield Dorrell, born 1925 died 2 May 2020. Gladys and her husband Homer were in charge of the hospitality at a number of Dutch Cousins gatherings. She was a wonderful person and first cousin to my Mom. Gladys and Homer were such delightful cousins. Always so willing to help anyway they could. I think everyone loved them.
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SENT BY: Norma Bechtold
Subject: Luyster, Brazelton, Westerfield.

This is my husband Paul T. Bechtold side of the family.
Paul Thomas Bechtold and Norma Jeannine Bechtold
Paul W. Bechtold and Meta Mable Lister
LeRoy Lister and Hannah Temple Gilliland
William Henry Harrison Lister and Minerva Lister
Joseph Lister and Martha Brazelton
Joseph Lister parents were Elias and Mary Lister. Joseph first married Susanna and went by Suky Luyster and they had one child. He married Martha Brazelton on Dec 22, 1831. they had Elizabeth ,Susan, Priscilla, Julia Ann, William H.H and Richard. third he married Mary Ann “Pelly” Sanders. and had four more children.
I am wondering if Martha was the daughter Catherine Westerfield who married John Brazelton.

My husband and I with his cousin came and to Harrodburg back when the new court house was being build. We went to the Library and they were very helpful. But we never did find where Joseph and his wives are buried I would like to fine this information out. also I would like to know the fees for to belong and the cost for the new paper you put out. If their is any information that you would want for your files on the Lister just let us know.
I have the Low Dutch Cousin on my computer and check it off and on. would like to make a trip back there but not sure because of our age. Have a nice day an looking forward to hearing from you.
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SENT BY: Darrell Kitchen
May I have the address where contributions can be sent…relating to the Conewago Low Dutch Cemetery on Swift Run Road near Gettysburg.

Thank you (and say safe),
Darrell Kitchen (Kitchen, Bercaw, Van Dyke, Van Arsdalen, & and many others…)
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SENT BY: Eddie Price
HI, Carolyn

Love hearing from you guys! Tamara approached me at the end of last year’s program and asked if I would be available the for the next gathering. I gave her my card (I think) and would love to hear from her as I am already getting bookings for 2021. I always enjoy your gatherings!

Thanks!
Eddie Price
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SENT BY: Pat Mickunas
April 30
I just got a response from Malcolm {Banta} and he is still in the VA in physical therapy. He can only stand for 5 minutes at a time after 2 months of therapy. He was paralyzed at first.—————————————————————

Swift Run Cemetery

My name is Maggie Olsen. I’ve been working at the burial ground on Low Dutch Road and have just recently moved to the one on Swift Run. Many of the graves on Low Dutch are in poor shape and I try to avoid anything that is not structurally sound so I avoid doing any damage. I think there will be more to work with at Swift Run. Here are some before and after pictures, including one of my little helper Amos, who likes to nap in the grass while I clean. I the cleaning agent I’m using continues to work over time and will brighten the graves in the weeks after the initial cleaning. I’ll send more as I continue to work!

I studied history locally and have a particular interest in cemetery preservation, as well as the frontier history of the Gettysburg area. I live right down the road and responded to a sign Alan posted asking for volunteers. I am using D2, and it is indeed very effective. I would appreciate being added to the mailing list.

Letters 7/17/20

How do the Dutch people handle a Pandemic?

Little short on letters this time! Send me a note letting me know how you are keeping sane and avoiding the Covid-19 flu. Are you quarantined where you live? Do you personally know anyone who has been infected? What about your job? Are you or some member of your family working from home? How has that changed your life?

As for us, we are getting older and lazier every day. Jon is still volunteering at the Food bank, but the school has closed where he enjoyed mentoring science and math students in an impoverished area. They may or may not attend school this fall, or it may all be virtual attendance, that has not been definitely decided, but they don’t plan to use mentors under the circumstances. He is very disappointed about that. Our positive counts are definitely spiking since the quarantine lifted and that may happen again any minute.

I am trying to finish another book, but find myself wanting to spend my time on Facebook instead, since that is my only inter-action with people other than my engineer Jon. Our big family who used to be in and out at our house a lot, all live in other towns and so it’s been very quiet around here. AND, I picked this time to have an abscessed jaw tooth to entertain myself. Broke quarantine in April to see an Endodontist and got emergency treatment since Dentist’s offices were closed. With four abscesses on the two long roots, the doc knew he didn’t get it all. The fever and throbbing came back this week, so spent today seeing him again, and surgery is scheduled for the end of this month after the infection clears up. Hope that doesn’t happen to any of my Dutch Cousins.

Blessings to you all, Carolyn in OK

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 Buffalo234@cox.net 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 email Buffalo234@cox.net and say, “remove me” — and I will do so immediately! (You can click the return link to MailChimp, but if they remove you I can’t put you back on – even if you beg, They won’t allow it unless you have a different email address.) 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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SENT BY: Charlotte Legg Olson
Calling all Terhune cousins:
For several years, I have been trying to determine, to whom belongs the copyright of West of the Salt
by Paul and Barbara Terhune. I have copies of Vol 1 and 3, but Vol 2 contains large scale maps showing/
documenting land ownership.
If you know who holds the copyright, please let me know. I owe them money! Any leads are appreciated.

Volumes 1 and 3, as well as Vol 2/Maps, are at Harrodsburg Historical Society Dutch Collection. During the HHS/Dutch Cousins Research Day 2017, I made copies
of several of the maps, on the HHS copying machine. It took 6 sheets to capture a single map.

My quarantine project has been to re-construct these maps. I recently completed Map 4, 1795 – 1814. Using a blueprint copying machine, at Office Max,
the cost for a print of this re-constructed map was only $3! BUT…. it was copied without permission. (Can’t image what the fine could be; here in IL it’s a $1000 if you are unmasked
in public (nothing to do with current Gen. Flynn stuff!) )

I did send a copy to Greg Barnard. He is working with the current land owner, on restoration/preservation of the Cave Springs/Demott/ Banta Cemetery .
The Cemetery is not only marked on Map 4, but the date is noted, along with the adjoining land owners ( of course).

Thanks, Charlotte Olson (Terhune/Stagg and several other Dutch families!)
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SENT BY: Jim Cozine of Las Vegas
Hi Carolyn & Dutch Cousins

FYI – I’ve only had one inquiry about the Cozines recently.
Here is some of the phone/email exchange I had with Professor John Sweet about John Balm Cozine – I directed him to Bob Cozine Strang who is the owner of the original painting – The Professor is doing some research on one of the cases of those early NYC days

John – Thanks for sharing the other paintings…
* I hope you will contact Bob Strang about use of the image of John Balm Cozine since he is the owner of the original. He is likely to know more about the judge being on that direct line..
* Now I can understand your comment about who was the portly gentleman between the two lawyers.
* as info- I’m a member of the Holland Society of New York – having proved the family tree all the way back to our progenitor – Cosyn Gerritsen who came to New Amsterdam in 1633 from Gelderland providence in the Netherlands.
Jim Coz
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SENT BY: Ed Westerfield
It would be interesting to know of any stories of how our Dutch ancestors coped with pandemics in the past. I know the grave yards in Laurel County KY have a slew of deaths from the Spanish Flu pandemic. You can track the severity of the pandemic by following the dates of death.
Doc Eddie
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SENT BY: Nancy Hansen

I enjoy the newsletter and information therein. My Dutch ancestors migrated from New Jersey to the Conewago settlement , then North to NYS–Owasco, Cayuga County , near Auburn. My ancestors who settled at Conewago were DeGroff, Nevius, Vantine, Swart. William DeGroff migrated to Owasco, NY where he died in 1824.
Can someone give me the name and address where a contribution to the Low Dutch Cemetery Improvement can be sent?

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: Pat Mickunas
Do you have the ‘skin hunger’?

The Dutch-born anthropologist Harald Prins points out the effect coronavirus has already had on his native language:
It appears, not surprisingly, that Covid-19 related neologisms are rampant in the Netherlands (and probably in most if not all other languages, too). I doubt most will survive but some will, albeit with unsuspected accretions.
In Dutch, for example, few realize that a popular word like “klerevent” (difficult to translate, but equivalent to bastard or rotten fellow) derives from cholera (klere).
Here are some Dutch corona neologisms with my free translations (but several terms resonate in a unique social-cultural way in the Netherlands):

Huidhonger / skin hunger: a longing for human contact while in isolation
Anderhalvemetereconomie / six-feet-economy: an economy constructed to avoid spreading coronavirus
Hoestschaamte / cough-shame: the anxiety one may experience about possibly triggering a panic among the people nearby when making a coughing sound for whatever reason
Coronahufter / coronajerk: shopper at a supermarket or store who violates the six-foot social distance prescription or other safe-keeping protocol.
Druppelcontact / spray-contact: exchange of little droplets when sneezing or coughing, esp. as source of infection
Onthamsteren / dehoarding: processing long-stored shelf-stable food into a meal.
Straatschaamte / street-shame: the embarrassment someone experiences when being out for urgently necessary errands during lockdown
Toogviroloog / blather-virologist: dilettante who spreads false or unsubstantiated information about the virus, its transmission, or its treatment
A new Dutch corona lexicon was created and is updated. It already comprises 700 new words, including those noted above.

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SENT BY: Marion Bauer, Harrodsburg Historical Society Olde Town Newsletter

Harrodsburg’s 250th- Plans are already underway for the celebration of the founding of Harrodsburg in 2024. Check out the Facebook page Harrodsburg Sestercentennial (250 years). The six major categories being focused on include 1.) History and Research, 2.) Tourism and Marketing, 3.) Industry and Business, 4.) Beautification, 5.) Events, and 6.) Community Outreach. We are open to ANY and ALL ideas. Also, Memories are being collected about life in Mercer County. Tony Sexton, founder of the writer’s group, Nomadic Ink would like to publish those memories in a book. Long, short, or snippets of what Harrodsburg and Mercer County has meant to people over the years are acceptable. Find Nomadic Ink on Facebook. This group would love all the input they can get. Contact David Kirkpatrick at the Mercer County Public Library, by phone 859-734-3680 or by message on Facebook page.

Progress is slow on the renovation project at the Old Mud Schoolhouse because of the pandemic. Mercer County’s 9th grade students tour Old Mud for their history day field trip March 9 before the quarantine. This has become an annual event. About 150 students visited throughout the day (five busloads). They especially enjoyed the stories of the Revolutionary War veterans buried in the graveyard, and some even learned their ancestors were part of the story. The current newsletter includes an interesting story about early industries and businessmen in Mercer County during the days of Fort Harrod. The story is written by Mary A. Stephenson and dated 6 March 1914.
To become a member and be on the HHS Olde Town newsletter list, send your complete mailing address to Membership, HHS, PO Box 31, Harrodsburg, KY 4033k0-0316. Dues are payable each May. $30 individual $45 family, $10 student. For more info, go to the webpage https://harrodsburghistorical.org/

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SENT BY: Bill Oosterman
I’m Bill Oosterman, of Oxford PA. That’s Oxford, not New Oxford. I have worked as a {Dutch} translator and editor for years, some of that doing Dutch for the Mennonite Historical Societies in Lancaster Co and Franklin Co. PA. I am in Gettysburg occasionally, and had checked out the cemeteries years ago, from interest in the Battle of Gettysburg and colonial Dutch Church doings. This time I actually saw a sign, and called Alan. I had brought groups by twice. My own colonial Dutch connection is though my mother’s Huguenot great..grandfather Philip LeFevre who was baptized in the Dutch Church in Kingston in 1710, then ended up on Lancaster Co.- his son and nephew(another ancestor) were teamsters on Braddocks expedition,along with Boone. I was supposed to give presentations at several historical functions this summer but they’re mostly cancelled. So I’m plodding away on some articles, until our Governor gives the word. Keep healthy. Wm. Oosterman
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SENT BY: Hello Carolyn,
My name is Maggie Olsen. I’ve been working at the burial ground on Low Dutch Road and have just recently moved to the one on Swift Run. Many of the graves on Low Dutch are in poor shape and I try to avoid anything that is not structurally sound so I avoid doing any damage. I think there will be more to work with at Swift Run. Here are some before and after pictures, including one of my little helper Amos, who likes to nap in the grass while I clean. I the cleaning agent I’m using continues to work over time and will brighten the graves in the weeks after the initial cleaning. I’ll send more as I continue to work! I studied history locally and have a particular interest in cemetery preservation, as well as the frontier history of the Gettysburg area. I live right down the road and responded to a sign Alan posted asking for volunteers. I am using D2, and it is indeed very effective. I would appreciate being added to the mailing list.
(Photos sent by Maggie Olsen will be posted on our webpage www.DutchCousins.org)
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SENT BY: Pam Ellingson
I have added the photos and information to the Dutch Cousins website.
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SENT BY: Patricia Hanavan
Greetings
I’m using the quarantine to start going through family history stuff from my basement and adding it to my online files and have only just found the Dutch Cousins website.

My 3G grandparents were John Comingore (1778-1841) and Sally Cozine (d. 1839), and I have a lot to learn about their forebears. Thanks so much for this resource, connection, and community!
Very best,
Pat
Patricia Relf Hanavan

NOTE: GOOD for you Pat. I know we have some other descendants of John and Sally Comingore on here, so you may be picking up some cousins soon!
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Letters 9/10/2020
Coping with the Coronavirus

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—————————————————————————————————

SENT BY: Carolyn Leonard:
-Hope all my cousins are doing well in this crazy time. I know that Lynn Rogers is using the time to research his SMOCK and RYKER ancestors. Are you making use of all the digital opportunities for searching? I do love Facebook to stay in contact with friends and family, and I’ve been using the time to work on several books I’ve had half written for some time. (The Low Dutch Journey, and Sara Cozine are two that I have not picked up again yet.) I usually go to one or two Writer Conferences every year but in 2020 … COVID happened!

Most of the conferences were cancelled, but one organizer found a way to keep the event going. Special order masks printed with the logo WRITERCON, Lots of antiseptic and hand sanitizer, cooperating with the historic hotel event rules, and frequent reminders of the physical spacing. (No hugging allowed no matter how glad you were to see old friends!) The conference was also available online. I live-streamed the event from home, all except for the elegant banquet in the 14th floor Venetian room of the historic Skirvin Hilton Hotel downtown. We were able to do a little networking. Mostly only three to a table (usually 8). It was so fun getting dressed up and putting on earrings and makeup again after such a long time and it was a delight to see old friends. Oh, I almost forgot to mention I brought home some writing contest awards.

Hopefully, by next September Covid-19 will be a distant memory and we can carry on with our Dutch Cousin gathering with no problem. If the virus is still hanging around, we should be able to find a way to carry on even if we have to invoke the NO HUGGING rule!How are you dealing with the quarantine? How are you keeping joy in your life?——————————————————————

SENT BY: Hi, everyone. I’m Curt BIEHN, descendent of Capt Stagg and lots of others from Fort Harrod. Does anyone know what battles in which Capt Stagg participated? Or is there a painting to show what he looked like? No big deal, but it would be nice to know for the kids.——————————————————————

SENT BY: Karen Prather
This is a difficult time for me. I like to be out and about and seeingfriends. My children are on the westcoast except my youngest granddaughter but she Is spending all her timeworking from home and with herboyfriend. My volunteer jobs havebeen on hold for months. This is goingon much longer than anyone anticipated Very discouraging! All my peerfriends and relatives are too scaredto go out. Many meetings on zoom.Karen is Treasurer, of the Micajah Bullock NCSDAR——————————————————————

SENT BY: Mary Jo Gohmann
I have been writing about my Irish ancestors for over a year now. (Thank God for enlarging the print and dictation.)My mother was born in Armagh, Northern Ireland and immigrated with her parents about a hundred years ago. My how time goes!

It is a mixture of family history set against the political happenings and effects as well as a memoir. I think I am about ready for an editor to help me with this 150 typewritten book with 17 chapters. Writing in isolation had been both good and bad. Few distractions but no one to bounce thoughts with or get feedback.

Last year you did share the name of Prestige Prose with me. I will likely contact them again but wondered if you had any other suggestions.

I will want to publish it and include photos if you have any suggestions on that line. I have no goals of producing another Angela’s Ashes but would like to produce something that cousins and others interested in the time period would enjoy.

If you are up for it I will appreciate any suggestions. I am so sorry for the jaw pain you have been experiencing. It is hard getting anything done when dealing with constant pain! My problem has been dealing with carpel tunnel in both hands for which I had surgery in June. I am also combating Macular Degeneration where my eyes are getting much worse and now monitored to see if I will need shots in my eyes.

Thoughts and prayers for you and Jon!
Hugs,Mary Jo
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SENT BY: Doc&Laurie Vanausdle Shaffer
Saw this on the internet discussion group “Muzzle Loading Forum“. Under Revolutionary War “I had no idea.” — Doc Shaffer”IN READING THE BOOK. “THE FIRST SALUTE”, BY BARBARA W. TUCHMAN I HAVE BECOME AWARE OF HOW MUCH THE DUTCH PLAYED IN SUPPORTING THE COLONIES.

WE BEGAN THE REVOLUTION WITH LITTLE OR NO EQUIPMENT. WE WORKED WITH WHATEVER WAS SMUGGLED IN/
THE DUTCH GOVERNOR DEGRAPH OR DE GRAS OF THE ISLE OF ST. EUSTASIE NOT ONLY DEFIED THE BRITISH BUT ENCOURAGED THE SUPPLYING OF THE COLONISTS WITH LARGE QUANTITIES OF WAR MAKING MATERIL. A TYPICAL SHIP WOULD BE LOAEDED WITH 1.700 BARRELS OF BLACK POWDER (PROBABLY MEANT KEGS) 1.700 STAND OF ARMS INCLUDING MUSKETS EQUIPPED WITH BAYONETS AND CARTRIDGE BOXES. BUT THEY SENT ON AVERAGE OF 6 TO SEVEN SHIPS OUR WAY EACH DAY.

THIS OUTRAGED THE BRITISH WHO FINALLY TOOK OVER THE SMALL DUTCH ISLAND WHEN IT WAS TOO LATE AS BY THAT TIME THE FRENCH HAD JOINED OUR CAUSE.THIS HELP FROM THE DUTCH CAUSED THEM ALL SORTS OF EUROPEAN PROBLEMS. I SUGGEST READING ONLY THE FIRST 3 OR 4 CHAPTERS.VERY INTERESTING AS IN ALL MY READING I HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE DUTCH HELP WE RECEIVED.

DUTCH SCHOULTZ”——————————————————————

SENT BY: Beverly DeMotte Santella
I hope you are well! Is anyone else especially thankful for UPS, Fed-Ex and the USPS these days?

About 40 miles south of Pittsburgh, my town has not been hit hard by Covid-19. My husband and I traveled to the Dominican Republic in early Feb. before Coronavirus warnings became dire. About a week after our return, we became ‘weirdly’ ill yet with totally different yet not so serious symptoms. We did quarantine, not because we thought we had Covid-19, but because Pennsylvanians were under stay-at-home orders by that time. It wasn’t until probably June that we suspected we both had weak cases of the virus since the medical community had learned more about how Covid-19 presents itself. We have yet to be antibody tested. Since masks protect others more than self, we are mask wearers.

In March, I started making 3-layer fabric masks, adult and child sizes, and have donated over 526 to date to various organizations who serve economically/physically/mentally disadvantaged people living in Uniontown, as well as to the local police, a halfway house, friends/neighbors, and a 10 yr old girl’s project benefitting Wounded Warriors, an animal rescue and the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

I’m an avid gardener. I have lovely flower gardens in my own yard. Most of my flowers are perennials, but I “discovered” an annual, Globe Amaranth, last summer at a local greenhouse. I saved the seeds to grow plants to fill in some bare spots with the brilliant red-purple flowers. I dried the flower heads and sprinkled the entire dried flower heads into dirt this spring and hundreds of plants grew. Super easy!

I also work in a community garden at my church with a group of English as 2nd language learners. I’m one of the two ESL teachers sponsoring the group. There are eight raised beds (thanks to Eagle Scouts) and we grow tomatoes, tomatillos(yummy Mexican husk tomatoes that make the best salsa verde), cucumbers, 2 types of melons, carrots, corn, hot and sweet peppers, beans, onions, parsley, basil, lemongrass, and cilantro.

I’ve done a little more genealogy and found more French-Dutch and German-Dutch connections via multiple paternal and maternal family lines.

Lastly, I’ve made original super-figures for my grandsons, castle towers for a stage set, a sign-spinning arrow for a charity event, and miscellaneous paintings and photo work.

Clearly stay-at-home orders feed my soul! Stay well!Beverly DeMotte Santella——————————————————————

SENT BY: Jill Linger
I’m glad you and Jon are safe, healthy and happy. We are doing well here, too. I don’t mind wearing a mask and social distancing; I’m just so happy I can now go out to Walmart, etc.!Hang in there, Carolyn!—————————————————————————–

SENT BY: Russ Gasero (RUSS RETIRED! From Archivist, Reformed Church in America)
Thanks, Carolyn.This is my post-RCA address. Yes, I’m willing to come again to preach if that remains the desire of the cousins. I’m also happy to help with the Conewago project. You can just loop me in on that and I’ll do what I am able to do. I do want to remain connected and had told Tamara that I would be happy to preach again in 2021, God willing.Look forward to more years.

Cheers,
Russ
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SENT BY: Carolyn (herself)
Thought others might be interested in an ongoing conversations with a distant cozine cousin in Texas, trying to find our connection. She sent this question: I have wonder if Thomas H.B. Cozine, who is listed as a printer with his older brother John P. Cozine in the 1860 census, may be the same Thomas Henry Bascom, b Harrodsburg, KY, who married Alice Jane Hodge June 3, 1877. Two family members of ours also have the middle name of Harvey (like Thomas H.B. Cozine’s father – not evidence, just coincidence…)

Here is my answer and as you can see, we are still trying to pin down this Thomas HB Cozine born 1845. Any help from anyone out there is appreciated! The sons of Harvey Cozine (by three different wives):
1. George Armstrong (1831-1900) 8th Indiana Btty of Light Arty, 2nd Vol Regt 20
2. William Harvy (1833->1875) 1st Indiana Heavy Art’y Co I
3. Samuel L. (1835->1885) 1st Indiana Heavy Art’y Co I
4. Peter (1837->1885) Kentucky 19th Inf. Regt
5. John P. (1843-1897) 1st Indiana Heavy Art’y Co I
6. Thomas H. B. (1845->1885) ??
7. Meredith Richard (1848-1922) I Co. 9th Cav Reg. Kentucky
8. James Silas (1854-1866) died age 12, we believe he was a drummer boy
9. David Buckner (1859-1901) age 4 when war ended.

1862???bio of Thomas’ brother John P Cozine says all his brothers were soldiers. I have been able to find military records for all but one of Harvey’s sons — that of Thomas.

1870 census, there is a T. H. Cozine born ca 1842 (age 28) in Columbia, Boone Co, Missouri. Says he was born Missouri. Living in the Columbia Hotel, occ. PRINTER. May be him.

1884: The Harrodsburg Democrat, Harrodsburg, KY Vol 1, No.21 Friday, June 6, 1884
Funeral Saturday, a funeral cortege left the depot, and wended its way to Mt. Pleasant Church about three miles west of town. The infant of Mr and Mrs Thomas Cozine, that had died at Lexington on Friday, was brought on the train to this place, where they were met by their uncles, Col. C P and Capt Andy Whitenack and other friends. The cherub was in Heaven when the kind friends laid the remains in the cold grave of God’s half acre. May the parents, as little children, ever be ready to meet their child in the great hereafter. Mt Pleasant Church is about 3 1/2 miles west of Harrodsburg.

CHASING RABBITS, OTHER POSSIBILITIES1886 (5 Jan) Missouri death records, Thos. Cashion born ca 1831 died in City hospital of TB, age 55 white widowed male in St. Louis, laborer, attended by Dr. DEan, buried at Holy Trinity cemetery, undertaker Hannity & Cullison? Marriage date 1 Sep 1886 Thomas J. Cashion married Mary M. Satterfield in Corse Island, Dunklin co, Missouri.

1890 census veterans; Thomas Cason, Corporal, Co C, 65th MO Inf; date of enlistment 3 Feb 1864, discharge 1867; 3 years.

1900 Census, the only Thomas Cozine found is a black, living in Ward 9, Louisville, Jefferson Co, KYage 30 (est. birth year 1870) born KY race BLACK, head of hh; his occupation: Hospital Janitorwife Betty born 1872 married 3 years no children, born KY, occupation: washerwoman. All parents born KY. (Now where does this family belong?) – Jim Cozine says they are part of the Black Cozines – usually spelled Corzine. I also see in the Louisville City directories the name Thomas H Cozine (black) as a porter… Well I can see in the 1880 census this young Toumie Cozine ( age 10) along with 16 other blacks living on the next farm ( E L Sandusky) near by Keene, just outside Lexington. More questions to answer.——————————————————————

SENT BY: Eric Smith Hello,
My name is Eric Smith. I grew up beside Hendrick’s Bantas cabin in Conewago, pa all my life and now my brother and I clean up the northern low Dutch cemetery once or twice a year. Now that I know the story I would love to see where they finally ended up in st Matthews ky. Can you give me directions to the historical marker or do you have any members out there that could meet us and show us the marker? I am just interested since I grew up less than a mile way from part of the Low Dutch story

Hi Eric, I’m not sure what Historical Marker you are interested in — we sponsored more than one in Kentucky, and are working on getting some markers up at Conewago– the cemetery and the cabin, but that will take some more time and money.You will probably enjoy spending some time on our website www.DutchCousins.org where there are stories about the Dutch people and how they came to Mercer and Henry county Kentucky when it was the frontier and Kentucky was just a county in Virginia before 1800, and they built the Old Mud Meetinghouse at Fort Harrod (now Harrodsburg).Thank you for writing. And thank you for looking after our ancestor’s graves in Pennsylvania! Rev. Cornelius Cozine is my 6th great grandfather and his replacement stone is in the far southeast corner (if I have my directions right.) We would be happy to add you to the free Dutch Letters email so you can learn more about our group, and keep up with our plans to improve the Conewago cemetery.

Blessings,
Carolyn——————————————————————————————————

SENT BY: John and Christy VanNice
John is a descendant of Aucke Janse VanNuys.We visited the Mud Meeting House 30 years ago. Was an adventure to try to find it then. Cornelius VanNuys and Ann Adams are ancestors and several more buried there.Glad to join the cousins Interested to discover more of our history.———————————————

SENT BY: Mr. Lynn Rogers – about SMOCK ancestors2020 Sep 9: I am searching for the actual Abraham Smock Bible in order to obtain images of the handwritten family records. If the actual bible cannot be located, any legible images available will have to do. The objective is to compile a transcription and the images of the Abraham Smock b1790 Bible Family Records into one PDF file and make it easily and widely available. The article by Mrs. Gene Flint, “The Holy Bible Belonging to Abraham Smock”, Where The Trails Cross, Vol. 14 No. 3 (Spring 1984), a quarterly publication of the South Suburban Genealogical and Historical Society (SSGHS), Hazel Crest, Illinois is available.Reverend Abraham Smock (born 8 July 1790 in Shelby CoKY) married first Anna A. McCannon; married second on May 19, 1823, Shelby Co KY to Catherine Gott . He spent most of his life in Sullivan & Marion Counties Indiana. Jacob, Abraham’s father, is a proven RW soldier, DAR A106236, SAR P-293497.My information is that the bible was donated by Lucile Coffey, a descendant of Abraham Smock, to a museum in Indiana.

The following names have had some connection:
Mrs. Gene L. (Margaret) Flint
Mrs. Adena Charlton
Lucile Coffey
Some Smock descendants are cc’d to keep them informed and also see if they can give any info.
Any suggestions you can give are greatly appreciated.Thanks, Lynn

(NOTE: we surely do miss our SMOCK expert, David Smock, of Florida who passed over in 2015.)
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SENT BY: Kim Melton:
This SMOCK Bible could be in Indianapolis state Genealogy museum. Its downtown by the canal near the statehouse I think. This would be good place to start. Because of Covid I would call see what they say. Or call the Jefferson county, Indiana library in Madison, Indiana. This could be another direction. Was where Samuel Smock lived. Jacob is a direct ancestor on my mothers dads side. Many are buried in the Acton cemetery also. Just FYI. My grandpa George Smock and his parents and others buried there. ————————————————————————————————————————

SENT BY: Jeff & Jo Ellen Villines
I’m not volunteering currently due to Covid-19, but I know the Johnson County (Indiana) has Family Bibles in the genealogy collection. It may be that the Bible is in a museum/genealogical center of some type. Good luck.To date, my Smock ancestry goes back to Jacob Smock. Another note: There were many Low Dutch who came to Johnson County and many lived in Greenwood (also Indiana). There were Smocks in Greenwood.———————————————————————————————————————————————)

SENT BY: Harrodsburg Historical Society, newsletter OLDE TOWNE LEDGER (received Sept 9, 2020)
This issue they gave a lot of space to our Dutch Cousins organization and history. They own our Old Mud Meetinghouse and maintain the only LOW DUTCH ARCHIVES in the world. Membership dues are $30 a year and includes the newsletter mailed to you every other month. Phone 859-734-5985, email library@harrodsburghistorical.org. Marian Bauer, editor. 734-8347. Work is moving along on the 20th century Old Mud Schoolhouse, and completion is slated before November 1, 2020 (God willing). Website: https://harrodsburghistorical.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarrodsburgHistoricalSociety/—————————————————————————————————-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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HERE ARE THE PHOTOS FROM THE 2019 Dutch Cousins Gathering in Kentucky!
SENT BY: Pam Ellingson
I did upload Charlie’s photos to the DC google account. The following link should allow access and people can download the file of 429 photos. Thank you Charlie Westerfield, immediate past president!
https://bit.ly/2Pm0DVX
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Special Edition 9/13/2020

Our beloved Dutch Cousins immediate Past President, official photographer, and dear friend, Charlie Westerfield is in ICU on a ventilator with Covid-19.

Please pray for my dear dear friend, Charlie Westerfield, who is in extremely critical condition in ICU in Louisville KY. Covid 19. A dear man of God. Prayers please. (Rev. Larry Nobles)

FROM CAROLYN: Talked to Charlie’s sweet wife, Marilyn, just now (Sunday noon Sept 13) and she said she and Charlie and their son Mike went on a little trip the last week of August to Indiana and Iowa for Charlie to take photos of covered bridges with his drone. She said they used common sense with plenty of sanitizer and hand washing and masks, but they did stay in a hotel and eat in a few restaurants, and use public bathrooms when they got fuel. But they were careful.

A few days after they got home Charlie developed a cough. On Sept 1 they went to the doctor to get antibiotic and of course, had the Covid tests. A few days later they learned that Mike and Charlie tested positive (Marilyn is negative).

On the 9th She took him to the ER and they sent him straight to the hospital and ICU, no visitors. She hasn’t been permitted to see him since. The first few days the nurse held the phone up to his ear so they could talk, but now he is on a ventilator.

She calls at least twice a day for a report. Marilyn asks for only one thing, prayers and a miracle. Not only for Charlie but for Mike who lives in a group home and can’t understand why this is happening. (as if any of us understand!) He calls his mom at least every hour to ask why she won’t let him talk to his dad.

IF you want to send a card along with your prayers, here’s the address:
3913 Jenica Way
Louisville, KY 40241-1530.
Marilyn is on facebook if you prefer to send a message there. But don’t forget the prayers. She says that’s all they need for now, and she is staying upbeat and believing the miracle will happen.

Blessings,
Carolyn

Letters 9/18/2020

For all those following on Facebook and especially all those who have been so fervently praying for us, the news today is not the news I was so waiting to hear. For now they are keeping Charlie comfortable and I am still putting this all in God’s hands. Whatever is His will, all will be well, and Charlies’s Destination is already Assured, so we can rejoice in that!If I don’t respond to messages please know that I do receive them with a heart overflowing with gratitude.——————————————————————

SENT BY: Our president for 2020/21, Tamara Fulkerson
Dear Cousins,I am so sad to hear of our Charlie Westerfield’s fight with COVID19. Charlie is such a dedicated worker for Dutch Cousins! Please know that he and all of you are in my heartfelt prayers for safety, health and recovery!  I have good news to give you about our cousin Malcolm Banta! He had a terrible fall 6 months ago on March 3^rd. He is not yet 100% and is still at the James Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa, FL. He says the good news is that “instead of not being able to move any arms or legs I can now stand up and shuffle 80 to 160’ at a time.” He’s becoming more independent and hopes to be home in 6-8 weeks. “Things are getting much better.” He is able to use his “hands and fingers to poke at the screen” and texts using his voice. He said that he’s at about 60% of normal at this point with hands and feet. He keeps trying to improve.    Please keep Charlie and Malcolm in your prayers! I hope and pray to be able to see everyone at next year’s gathering (September 2021). If you could, please check in to let us know how you are doing. ——————————————————————

SENT BY: Mary L. Quinn Bermke
Thanks so much for your Dutch newsletters. I enjoyed meeting you and all the other Banta cousins in Kentucky. Thanks for all you do. Hope when this pandemic is over that you will think about the trip to NY and NJ as my direct relatives are from there. We moved from NJ in 1952 to FL and the rest of the Banta clan moved to Connecticut so we used to go there to visit them all time. I am a direct descendant of the first born Banta boy and my mother, Mildred Ruth Banta, and her sisters broke that chain because there only brother never married or had children as far as we know. I wish we were related to your Kentucky Banta’s, though because you have so much history. MaryMy artwork and photography is at Fine Art America now: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/mary-bermke/shop and Franklin Uptown Gallery and from Mary.Mary lives in Franklin, NC and is a BANTA descendant. She designs unique jewelry, handmade greeting cards along with various paper crafts and her very own version of watercolor painting. Mary says, ‘Expressing my creativity through ‘everything art’ has always been my passion. ——————————————————————

SENT BY: Gary M. Dunn
In this newsletter, Curt Biehn wanted to know if anyone had a picture of Captain Stagg; I’m also a descendant of James Stagg and I do have a charcoal sketch of his daughter, Anna Stagg Dunn, which I would share. I also have some other information about Captain Stagg but I do not have Mr. Biehn’s email address. If you would, please forward this email to him and I’ll share what I have.  Also, continued thanks for the newsletters and I enjoy reading each article.  ——————————————————————

SENT BY: Jim Cozine of Las Vegas
Re the Black Cozines in KYI tried to work with a number of folks on the Corzine to Cozine lines back when I was active – but even after telcons and sending the work that I had done on these lines that came thru North East Texas – no one shared with me any new data aside from the comment that many of these folks were light skinned ..it was a one way effort.I still think that the Black Cozines found in the KY records came from the emancipated slaves of the widow of John C Cozine Jr ( Martha) in Washington Co — ( but can’t prove it)I had hoped that the ‘History of the Slave Trade’ by Judy Cassidy would answer that — instead I leaned about some sad & bad things. ( if you don’t have a copy I’m sure Judy would share it)All the best to all the cousins – Jim Cozine——————————————————————

SENT BY: Preston Forsythe
We are so sorry to hear about Charlie and his son. We met Charlie at a Westerfield family reunion in Frankfort, KY, a few years ago. A very friendly guy. We are relatives as both from Ohio County, KY. My Mother was the daughter of Jay Westerfield, outside of Beaver Dam, KY.We are pulling for you, Charlie, Mike and Marilyn.
Preston and Shari Forsythe, Muhlenberg Co., KY.——————————————————————

SENT BY: Eddie PriceThanks for letting me know, Carolyn. I am sure praying he gets better!
Eddie————————————————————————-

—-SENT BY: Mr. Lyn Rogers
For newsletter, if you think appropriate:
Effort on the Abraham Smock Bible continues; meanwhile, the John Robert Smock Bible appeared.  Attached is the current transcript revision and images of the handwritten pages, prior to combining into one PDF file in a few days.
Regards, Mr Lynn Rogers, lynncr@woh.rr.com

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SENT BY: Carolyn (herself)
The news about Charlie is just devastating to all of us. So hard to believe this terrible disease could strike him down so quickly and unexpectedly. Our hearts are aching for Marilyn and their son Mike. We are still praying for a miracle.

——————————————————————

SENT BY: Mr. Lyn Rogers

John Robert Smock (1807 Mercer Co KY – Johnson Co IN – 1869 Benton Co IA)
& Mary Voorhies (1807 – 1892)
Bible Family Records
Revised yyyymmdd.hhmm = 20200917.1010

p.1
FAMILY RECORD
Births
John R. Smock was born May the 5 th A.D. 1807
Mary Voorhies was born May the 15 th A.D. 1807
James Thomas Smock was born September 22 nd A.D. 1830
Rachel Covert Smock was born April the 27 th A.D. 1832
Abram Brewer Smock was born August the 3 rd A.D. 1834
David Henry Smock was born October the 13 th A.D. 1836
Hannah Jane Smock was born November the 30 th A.D. 1838

Deaths
John Sydney died August 28 th 1844
David Henry Smock dec’d July 26 1851
George S. Covert died Nov 2 nd 1859
Emma Jane Covert died May 10 th 1862

p.2
FAMILY RECORD
Births
John Sydney Smock was born March 28 th A.D. 1841
Martha Ann Smock was born May 18 1845
Emma Jane Covert was born Dec 2 nd 1858
Kate Lagrange was born July 1, 1842

Deaths (NA)

p.3
FAMILY RECORD
Marriages
John R. Smock and Mary Voorhies was married September the 15 th A.D. 1829 by the Rev Jeremiah Hillis
James Thomas Smock and Margaret M. Greeg was married March 26 th 1856 by Rev P.S. Cleland
Rachel C. Smock was married to George S. Covert April 2 nd A.D. 1857 by Rev P.S. Cleland
Hannah Jane Smock was married to Wm T. Bogart November 18 th A.D. 1858 by Rev P.S. Cleland
Abram B. Smock was married to Kate Lagrange September 14 th 1859 by Rev P.S. Cleland
Martha Ann Smock was married to Wm H. Brewer January 25 th 1866 by the Rev P.S. Cleland

p.4
MARRIAGES
William C. Smock and Melissa A. Smock were married December 6 1860 by Rev A. C. Allen
Henry Schurmann and Eva Smock were married January 12 1881
Harry E. Smock and Harriet Walden Vananodal were married November 5 1911
Harry E. Smock died June 24 1914 – 3 am in Franklin Indiana (“died June 24 1914 – 3 am in Franklin Indiana” lined thru)

p.5
BIRTHS
William C. Smock was born December 3 rd 1838
Melissa A. Smock was born September 18 1844
Eva L. Smock was born December 21 1860
Laura Smock was born December 28 1863
Harry Smock was born January 12 1865
Infant son unnamed July 11 1867, died same day
Herbert A. Smock was born July 10 1868
William C. Smock Jr was born 26 February 1872

p.6
DEATHS
Laura Smock died January 12 1864
Unnamed son died July 11 1867
Herbert A. Smock died March 4 1889
William C. Smock Jr died August 12 1892
William C. Smock died April 23, 1910 at Indianapolis Ind.
Harry E. Smock died June 24 1904 in Franklin Ind.
Melissa A. Smock died Friday, July 12, 1918 at Franklin, Ind. (barely legible on the copy at ISL)

The above is a transcript of photocopies of six pages in the Smock Family folder in the Pamphlet Cabinets of the Genealogy Division, Indiana State Library, 315 W. Ohio St. Indianapolis IN, https://www.in.gov/library/genealogy.htm, 317-232-3689. The location of the original Bible is presently unknown.

Beginning with the info in the above transcript, and finding some additional info from the web, leads to the following:

John Robert Smock (05 May 1807 Mercer Co KY – Johnson Co IN – 17 Feb 1869 Benton Co IA) m 12 Sep 1829 Johnson Co IN to Mary (Polly) Voorhies (15 May 1807 Mercer Co KY – 15 Sep 1892 Cherokee Co IA)

The parents of John Robert Smock are probably: James Smock (28 Sep 1783 Conewago, PA – 9 Feb 1830 Greenwood, IN) and Charity Brewer (3 SEP 1789 Mercer Co KY – 18 May 1860 Rochester, Fulton Co IN)

The parents of James Smock are probably: John Smock (03 Jun 1739 Somerset Co NJ – 01 Jul 1812 Mercer Co KY) and Sara Fonteyn (19 Apr 1741 Somerset Co NJ – 23 Jun 1818 Mercer Co KY)

————————————————————————————

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Letters 9/25/2020

See ya’ later on down the road, Charlie!

Charles W. Westerfield, immediate past president of the Dutch Cousins of Kentucky.
—————————————————————
Charles Wright Westerfield, 79, of Louisville, Kentucky, passed away on Thursday, September 17, 2020. Charles is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Marilyn Westerfield, and two sons, Charles Michael “Mike” Westerfield and Troy Joiner.

Charlie, Marilyn, and Mike had just returned from a weekend touring and photographing covered bridges in Indiana with his new drone photography equipment when he contracted Covid-19. He was gone within seventeen days.

He is the immediate past president of the Dutch Cousins of Kentucky, an international organization with more than 800 subscribers, and has been the official photographer of the gatherings for more than ten years, photos are posted at www.DutchCousins.org. Charlie accomplished many things during his term of office, most significantly managing the committee and producing several Kentucky historical markers about the Low Dutch massacre and settlements. With Dr. Steve Henry, former KY Lt Governor, and other members of the committee, the signs were approved, paid for, and erected, a herculean task. A chartered bus made it possible for those attending the reunion last year to participate in dedication of the roadsigns during the biennial Dutch Cousins gathering in Frankfort and Harrodsburg.

Charlie at dedication of the historic Kentucky highway signs in 2019

Marilyn said, “He absolutely loved his time with the Dutch Cousins and loved the wonderful friends we met there. Please extend my very deepest heartfelt appreciation to them for all the many prayers, cards and loving support.”

At the 2017 Gathering of Dutch Cousins, Charlie presented his DVD and posters of Traveling Route 66. These items and others will continue to be available from his studio website: www.CharlieWesterfield.com. He opened Westerfield Studio more than 50 years ago doing commercial art and photography for such companies as Readers Digest, GE, and McGraw Hill; photographing movie stars, pro athletes, well-known politicians and so on, but his passion has been travel photography. He left a heart-warming message on that page, saying, “I love what I do, so I have never considered it work. I’ve enjoyed every day God has given me.”

Born on April 17, 1941 in Greenville, Kentucky to Walter and Pearl Westerfield, he is preceded in death by both parents, his sister Dottie Szabo, and his brother, June Westerfield.

Charlie Westerfield was a proud Kentuckian. He adored UK basketball almost as much as he loved his mother, Pearl, who raised him as a single parent. Charlie’s love of country led him to enlist in the Air Force immediately after high school. After serving honorably for four years, he enlisted in the US Army and served another two years with the dream of being a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War. Sadly, during training he suffered an ear injury and was decommissioned, but he still loved to fly. He once crashed a plane into the mountains of Monteagle, TN and lived to tell about it.

Ever the historian, his knowledge of all things Abraham Lincoln was endless. His storytelling abilities rivaled any Ken Burns documentary you’ve ever seen. He and Marilyn were planning a trip to New England this fall to photograph just a few more sites about Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln is one of his all time heroes and that project was almost done. Charlie left many photo projects unfinished and never completed the books he planned to write.
Charlie, recording the service at Old Mud in 2007.

The love of his life was his bride, Marilyn, who actively supported Charlie in all his activities including the Dutch Cousins. They loved traveling, visiting all fifty states and twenty-two countries. Charlie was rarely without his camera, taking pictures of lighthouses, covered bridges and all things Americana. His favorite was Route 66. He and Marilyn traveled the full “mother road” from Chicago to Santa Monica taking pictures of Diners, Drive-in’s and Dives. Charlie touched many through his passions, whether it be showing his slideshow “One Man’s America” to senior citizens or visiting decorated WWII veterans just for the chance to meet them. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Charlie loved his sons Troy and Mike. Marilyn and Charlie gave their much needed and undivided attention to Mike, whose life is the never-ending example of their love. Charlie served on the Board of Directors of the group home where Mike lives.

Visitation will be from 11:00 am to noon, Eastern standard time, on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at Springdale Community Church, (4601 Springdale Ave.). His Funeral Service will follow at noon, with burial in Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central (2501 North Dixie Blvd, Radcliff, KY 40241) at 2:00 pm, EST. The memorial service will NOT be live-streamed from the church, but will be recorded. Marilyn will post the hotlink on her Facebook page at a later date.

The family requests that contributions in Charlie’s memory be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/give/memorials-and-dedications.html), Samaritan’s Purse (https://www.samaritanspurse.org/) or Apple Patch Communities (his son’s group home) https://www.pillarsupport.org/mission.

His business webpage: https://charliewesterfield.com/

Visitation:
Wednesday, September 30, 2020 from 11:00am to 12:00pm
Springdale Community Church 4601 Springdale Rd. Louisville, KY 40241
Newcomer – E. Louisville Chapel (502-245-0095) is assisting the family

Service:
Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at 12:00pm
Springdale Community Church 4601 Springdale Rd. Louisville, KY 40241
Seating limited to 100. Service will be recorded and available later.

Interment:
Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central
2501 North Dixie Blvd Radcliff, KY 40160
——————————————————

Dutch Letters 10/01/2020

It’s about Bibles!

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—————————————————————————————————

SENT BY: Marilyn Westerfield:
Charles Wright Westerfield, 79, of Louisville, Kentucky, passed away on Thursday, September 17, 2020. Charles is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Marilyn Westerfield, and two sons, Charles Michael “Mike” Westerfield and Troy Joiner.

Visitation will be from 11:00 am to noon, Eastern standard time, on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at Springdale Community Church, (4601 Springdale Ave.). His Funeral Service will follow at noon, with burial in Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central (2501 North Dixie Blvd, Radcliff, KY 40241) at 2:00 pm, EST. The memorial service will NOT be live-streamed from the church, but will be recorded. Marilyn will post the hotlink on her Facebook page at a later date.  The family requests that contributions in Charlie’s memory be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/give/memorials-and-dedications.html), Samaritan’s Purse (https://www.samaritanspurse.org/) or Apple Patch Communities (his son’s group home) https://www.pillarsupport.org/mission.  His business webpage: https://charliewesterfield.com/ Service: (Seating limited to 100 persons)Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at 12:00pmSpringdale Community Church 4601 Springdale Rd. Louisville, KY 40241 Interment:Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central2501 North Dixie Blvd Radcliff, KY 40160
——————————————————————

SENT BY: King and Sharon Cole

I see Charlie’s photo on his webpage and I can hear his voice and his laughter. It is so hard to believe he is in the hospital fighting for his life. It seems impossible that our world has been hit with such a disease. We are praying for him and his family and asking God for healing.   Thank you Carolyn for sending the newsletters.
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SENT BY: Dr. Ed Westerfield
We should all, only hope to have lived a life as full as Charlie’s. The gifts he gives us, in his knowledge and art, will last as long as there are descendants to remember him and his work. Thank you Charlie, for a life well lived.
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SENT BY: Mike Vandewoude
So sorry to hear that news. I learned from your email, Charlie and I had the same birthday. He was exactly one year older than me. I was born on April 17, 1942. God Bless to Charlie and his family.——————————————————————

SENT BY: Russell Gasero
Hi Carolyn, I am saddened with the loss of Charile and felt the need to offer my reflection on his life and work with the Dutch Cousins. While I only knew him a short time and for the short space of a couple of meeting days, he had made a strong impression. If you wish, please add the following reflection to the newsletter which expresses my feelings on Charlies’ life and witness (I have attached a Word file as well incase that is easier):

There are regrets in life. We all have them, and I have added one more—I did not spend enough time getting to know Charlie during the annual Dutch Cousins events. We had communicated via e-mail and telephone, but that was largely on planning worship at Old Mud and those parts of the annual gathering. The annual meetings left some time for short conversations, but most of my time at the last three gatherings was spending time watching—observing all the interactions among the cousins. As an introvert, I am quite content to watch—to see how everyone interacts and communicates. One of the joys of the last three meetings at which I was privileged to preach at Old Mud on Sunday was watching Charlie. If he was not taking pictures, he was getting ready for the next portion of the gathering or making plans to use his drone for a new type of group photo, and always smiling. There are people who are busy, and they march through life with side-blinders on so that no one can interrupt the task at hand. In my observations, this was never Charlie. He was always available, could change directions on the spot, and was interested! Those are the admirable people in our life—the ones who can make you feel good about yourself because they are not threatened with insecurity. They are the builders who are ready to help you succeed because your success does not diminish their own. Maria and I have enjoyed our time spent with all the cousins and their ready acceptance of us as honorary cousins—Maria is Greek, and I am everything else in the world. You adopted us as cousins and Charlie often was the focal point of that for me. Maria and I offer our condolences on the family loss, but we also celebrate the grace and presence of God as it has shown through Charlies’ life and work.  I wanted to share this for two reasons: 1) I truly admired Charlie’s passion and joy in what he did. Many can accomplish a task or do a job well and then move on. To do it with passion means it is part of one’s life—an ownership that goes beyond just completion. One invests oneself in the work with that passion and it makes life so much more satisfying. When that passion is coupled with joy, then the life is utterly worth living because it touches others and brings them into the mix. How many times have you heard someone laugh heartily and soon others join in, and then most of the group is laughing as well? Joy is infectious and it binds us together into a community. Charlie excelled at that! 2) Charlies’ footprint has been added to all those who have traveled from those early times in Kentucky to the present. Your footprints as Dutch Cousins are also on that path and it is important to remember that the Cousins begin with the settlement (and even before) in Kentucky, but they travel on well beyond that. It is important to keep these memories and stories of the entire journey along that path that began in the eighteenth century.  We mourn our loss and the emptiness which we feel now, but we rejoice in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection when we will be reunited together in the presence of our loving God. For this time, remember Charlie in the context of the heroes of the faith as expressed in the letter to the Hebrews: And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies….(Heb. 11:32-34)Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, (Heb. 12:1)
With my deepest condolences,Russell L. Gasero——————————————————————

SENT BY:Lilly Martin in Syria
I am so sad to hear of Charlie’s passing. I never met him, but felt I knew him. You and his family and friends will be very sad. This is the FIRST person I know who has died of Covid.The obit you wrote for him is fantastic. What a man. What a loss for his family and Dutch Cousins.
In Sympathy,
Lilly Martin —————————————————————————–

SENT BY: Tamara Fulkerson
FOR THE LETTERS
Dear Cousins,I have just returned from a very inspiring celebration of life memorial service for our beloved past president, Charlie Westerfield.Janice Cozine and I attended and as we spoke with Marilyn she let us know how much Charlie loved the Dutch Cousins. He thoroughly enjoyed the friendships he had made in our group.Marilyn and their son, Mike, truly were in easy spirits for they know they will see him again one day. Family and friends gave accounts of their relationship with him and will miss him dearly.  One mentioned how they could see him up there telling a story to a group of smiling angels. We will also miss his wit, wisdom and of course those stories! I just wish he could send us a few photos of the Pearly Gates. Until we meet again Charlie, rest in peace.
Tamara Fulkerson
Dutch Cousins President 2020-2021
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SENT BY: Tamara Fulkerson.
Please respond directly to Tamara with any comments. tlwfulkerson@aol.com, or share them here.
FOR NEWSLETTER  Hello Cousins!

We are a year out for our 2021 Dutch Cousins Gathering. Currently we are waiting on venue confirmation. Once we receive that we will be able to start moving ahead with concrete logistics and planning. Please talk to everyone you know about Dutch Cousins. Our goal is to have higher attendance at our gatherings. We hope to be able to attract more cousin participation by more people being directed to our website and then signing up for our newsletter. We currently have about 800 subscribers. Attached is a flyer that you may use to post on bulletin boards and forward in emails. (Thank you Cynthia Byxbee!) Please send this flyer to any genealogy group or history organization that you know of, asking for them to pass it on. With the current pandemic we are not quite sure what issues will surround our gathering next year. Pray that we will be able to meet. Hopefully everyone will be ready for a trip to Kentucky to break the cabin fever and enjoy each other’s company once again. All my best,Tamara Fulkerson—————————————————————————

Dutch Cousins President 2020-2021-

SENT BY: Hello Cousins!
On September 25^th I participated in my second zoom meeting with the Dutch America Group. Mike Vande Woude of DAG was the moderator. Some of the representatives attending were from the Society of Daughters of Holland Dames, New Amsterdam Historical Center, Reformed Church Archives, and the New Netherland Institute. The NNI presented their flyer for the New Netherlands Research Center Dutch Bible Project. That flyer is attached, please forward to anyone you believe will be interested in helping. They are attempting to attain digital images of the documented history in old Dutch Bibles. They do not want to take away any family’s Bible. I promoted our web site and discussed our 2021 gathering plans, stating we are still waiting on venue confirmation. I asked for prayers for Charlie Westerfield and for Malcolm Banta’s recovery. I introduced to the group, a non-profit that I came across, www.biblerescue.org. Their mission is to return old found Bibles to the family descendants. As I closed my report I did let them know one last bit of news. I will become a first time grandmother to a baby girl in March 2021!!

Tamara Fulkerson
Dutch Cousins President 2020-2021——————————————————————

SENT BY: New Netherland Research Center Dutch Bible Project
The New Netherland Research Center, in cooperation with the New Netherland Institute, and with the assistance of the New York State Library, is launching an all-out effort to locate 17th century Dutch Bibles that may be in your cellar, attic, or you may have given to your local public library, historical society, or a museum These Bibles may contain information previously unknown. This Project is based on the premise that many Dutch families had a Bible in their possession. Not only were Bibles an edifying source of information for members of the Reformed Church, but they were often the only paper available to write on for most people.
In many cases, the blank pages in the front and back of the Bible or the pages in between the Old and New Testaments contain records not only of births, deaths, etc. but also records of unusual events such as earthquakes and heavy snow falls. It is the Project’s intention to extract this information from copies of the images we receive from you, translate the Dutch, and develop a finding aid for the information. This will then be available on the New Netherland Institute website https://www.newnetherlandinstitute.org/
So far, we have images of text on Bible pages from the collection at the New York State Library, the Albany Institute of History and Art, the Schenectady County Historical Society, and the Clifton Park Historical Society. If you have 17th century Dutch Bibles or know of such Bibles in any other location, we would be pleased to hear from you to discuss collaborating with you to obtain the information. Please contact Marilyn Douglas, President NNI at marilyn.douglas@nysed.gov
or call 518-408-1212 (Tues, Wed) to discuss the best way to take an image of the relevant pages, etc..
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SENT BY: Mr. Lynn Rogers

John Robert Smock(1807 Mercer Co KY – Johnson Co IN – 1869 Benton Co IA)&Mary Voorhies(1807 – 1892)Bible Family Records

Compiled by
Mr Lynn C. Rogers
lynncr@woh.rr.com

Revised yyyymmdd.hhmm = 20200917.1010

Dutch Cousinshttps://dutchcousins.org/Descendants of Kentucky Low Dutch Company
Harrodsburg Historical Societyhttps://harrodsburghistorical.org/Repository of much Kentucky Low Dutch Company recordsJefferson County Historical Society, Madison IN

http://www.jchshc.org/

John Robert Smock(1807 Mercer Co KY – Johnson Co IN – 1869 Benton Co IA)&Mary Voorhies(1807 – 1892)Bible Family Records

Beginning with the info in the above transcript, and finding some additional info from the web, leads to the following: John Robert Smock (05 May 1807 Mercer Co KY – Johnson Co IN – 17 Feb 1869 Benton Co IA) m 12 Sep 1829 Johnson Co IN to Mary (Polly) Voorhies (15 May 1807 Mercer Co KY – 15 Sep 1892 Cherokee Co IA)

The parents of John Robert Smock are probably: James Smock (28 Sep 1783 Conewago, PA – 9 Feb 1830 Greenwood, IN) and Charity Brewer (3 SEP 1789 Mercer Co KY – 18 May 1860 Rochester, Fulton Co IN)

The parents of James Smock are probably: John Smock (03 Jun 1739 Somerset Co NJ – 01 Jul 1812 Mercer Co KY) and Sara Fonteyn (19 Apr 1741 Somerset Co NJ – 23 Jun 1818 Mercer Co KY————————————————————————

SENT BY: Lynn Rogers
Carolyn/Vince-

Sorry about Charlie, he was a great guy!

This is what I would combine into one PDF file and have it posted, if left to my own opinion. But, I would be delighted if you looked at the title page and gave me any suggestions you have. The rest is there for your viewing also, should you choose.

I am still trying to find original Abraham Bible, Monroe Co IN suggested Ellettsville History Museum, which I have messaged, but not received a reply. I do have images from photocopies, so I won’t wait forever.
Thanks, Lynn,
———————

Letters 11/19/2020

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
—————————————————————————————————

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?
—————————————————————————————

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:

Suzanne Roff – Society of Daughters of Holland Dames – suzrof@gmail.com
Ezme Berg – Exec. Dir. New Amsterdam Historical Center – esmeb233@gmail.com
James Brumm – New Brunswick Theological Seminary, Dir. Seminary Archives –JBrumm@nbts.edu
Dirk Mouw – RCA and Social Media – dirk.mouw@earthlink.net

(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
———————————————————————————————————

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 ONLINEVISIT RESOURCES EVENTS BRING KHS TO YOUR TOWN JOIN

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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 17^thofJuly 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 13^thof 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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Happy Thanksgiving to Dutch cousins 11/26/2020

The pilgrims actually went to Amsterdam first, where it all was going smoothly for a while. After spreading out to live in Leiden and building new lives, the Pilgrims realised they were changing too much. Worse: they were losing their religion.

In 1620, the pilgrim’s emigration from Leiden — where they had worked for about 12 to 20 years — truly began. They left Leiden via the canals, transferred onto a leaky ‘Speedwell’ (a ship built in 1577) in Delfshaven, then finally boarded the famous Mayflower in Southampton.

Every year in Leiden there is a Thanksgiving Day Service held at the Pieterskerk, a beautiful church. One of the pilgrim leaders, John Robinson, is actually buried here, which makes it all the more interesting to visit. Or slightly creepy. Or both.
(from Dutch Review)

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SENT BY : Kurt Wullschleger (of Florida)

We have all heard of the Low Dutch colonies at Conewago, Harrodsburg and in Switzerland, Jefferson and Johnson Counties in Indiana, but how many have heard of Carlyle, Kansas?

THE FOUNDING OF CARLYLE, KANSAS

NOTE: This article first appeared in the Hopewell Herald in Franklin, IN, on 3 Sep 1915. It was reprinted in Jan, 1966, in the Treesearcher, the magazine of the Kansas Genealogical Soc.

An interesting ceremony was observed on Wednesday afternoon, August 25, 1915. In the presence of three men who might be called by those who count only in years, a little stone marker was set up by the gate leading from the Hopewell Manse. [A Manse is the residence of a Presbyterian parochial minister.] In the stone was placed a copper box containing letters and some writings which shall be history for the next generation.

Fifty-eight years ago to the day, there set forth from this gate for Kansas seven young men: William Cozine, Richard Ditmars, Stephen Combs, Peter [Marion] Carnine [son of Andrew & Nancy, bapt 3 May 1835], Archibald and Garrett Van Nuys, and Jackson Utterback, the first four of whom are living, and the first three present at this time.

The matter of western immigration had long been talked of. The Hopewell Academy had attracted many youths outside of the community as well as within it. In a live debating society the problems of the day were earnestly discussed. The political situation of Kansas was more than once the topic of conversation. It was felt by many that the time was ripe for sending out a settlement from the old community. So the older men were to go by train to Kansas City; this was the end of the line. There they were to be met by these seven young men, provided with two wagons and teams, who were to drive overland and take the whole party on from Kansas City. On August 25, 1857, the neighbors gathered at the home of Mrs. Cozine, which later became the Hopewell Manse, and there they said good-bye to the boys. It was a very serious parting. To the great unknown west there were going; there were many dangers possible. The party was accompanied by some of the neighbors as far as Waverly, where the first stop was made on White River. There, T. P. Killen made the boys a farewell speech, which they all remember. He urged upon them the necessity of close organization on their journey; they took his advice. All seven boys were members of the Hopewell Church, and real Christians. They did not travel on Sunday. Twenty-two days they were on the road, not including three Sundays. All this, R. V. Ditmars told in his remarks.

Mr. Cozine told the story they all vividly remember. As they drew near Kansas City, not much of a city then, however, four of the boys decided they would walk on, and reach town sooner than the wagons. A rain came up suddenly, and, to avoid getting wet, they dodged into the trees as we know it, but under some scattering trees; they hurried from tree to tree, seeking the best comfort. It was important that their one suit of clothes be kept dry. Their actions aroused suspicion. A little while before, a bank in the vicinity had been robbed, and seven thousand dollars in new money taken. As soon as the boys reached the city, two of the four were arrested, the other two escaping to tell the horrible tale to their approaching comrades. Fortunately, the elder members of the company had reached Kansas City the previous evening. To make such close connections as these, when one party went by team and the other by train, must have taken nice calculation. The senior members of the party sought to explain to the officials the movements of the boys, but the two boys were kept in jail all night, and the whole party was searched for new money. The mistake was humbly acknowledged the next morning, but there were some sore feelings towards the officials of the city.

Leaving Kansas City, the two wagons were now crowded. After travelling together a short time, the party divided, one wagon going south into the beautiful country along the Neosha, on to the Geneva prairie, where a pocket was formed by the Martin and Deer Creeks. Here, the colony settled, taking up claims on the land which had not yet been put into market. After the settlements, they all returned home except Richard Ditmars and Peter Carnine, who remained through the winter, building a cabin and looking after the claims. When spring came, a large colony of settlers arrived many of them from the Hopewell neighborhood; among them were David Covert [This was an error, it was Daniel], and his three sons; John Newton [son of Daniel & Rachel, bapt 16 Aug 1631]; Dr. George W. [bapt 1 Dec 1833], and Samuel H. [bapt 22 May 1836], all heads of families. T. P. Killen, and Dr. [John?] Scott, who was the practicing physician of the colony, were elected elders in the church which was almost immediately organized, the Carlisle [Carlyle] Presbyterian Church which had thirty-seven charter members. [Peter Madison Luyster and his family joined the new settlement in 1859.]

The second wagon turned west by south, going by Emporia toward the Indian Council House, which took the name of Burlingame. Here, [Stephen] Combs, [one of the] Utterback[s], and [Richard] Ditmars were left for the winter to look after the claims and build a cabin or two. When the winter was over, other colonists arrived; among them were: William T. and Margaret (Wheat) Voris, and Addison Cozine, brother of William; and here also a church was organized, with ten charter members, of whom three were from Hopewell.

And now, after these fifty-eight years, three of the men and some of their friends gathered at the starting place to renew old memories. The services were very simple; reading of scriptures and prayer by Mr. Ferguson; the remarks of Mr. Cozine and Mr. Ditmars, and the placing of the stone by Messrs. Paul Covert and John McCaslin. The leading spirit of the movement has been William Cozine, who returned to Hopewell for a visit after an absence of forty years. We appreciate all these efforts to keep the past in the knowledge of the present. Such work as this is going far toward making the centennial year of Indiana count.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving week.

We have two volunteers to carry on the Dutch Letters. I was hoping for someone who has attended at least ONE of the Dutch Cousins Gatherings in Kentucky. Any takers?

Letters 12/3/2020

THE NEW ADDRESS TO SEND FOR DUTCH LETTERS IS: DutchCousinsofKY@gmail.com

Wonderful news! We have a volunteer! Actually two. Our cousins King and Sharon Cole volunteered to take on this job, and I couldn’t be more pleased. I first met them in 2013 at the Cousins Gathering in Madison Indiana, where we became friends over a TOOTHPICK and some hair spray!

Sharon and I were discussing how the moist air by the river was making our hair uncontrollable. Then King and I got into a deep discussion about a special plastic toothpick we had discovered and King actually had an extra in his billfold! Funny story. Later that day we ran into each other again. They had made a trip to town and brought me two gifts. A travel-size can of hair spray and a package of the special toothpicks. That sealed the friendship!

They have always been willing to do anything to help with the events, and are so much fun to talk to. You are going to want to hug and kiss on them at the 2021 Gathering. They are such a cute couple and have done many interesting things. Ask them about the year they retired, sold their home, and lived on a boat!

I asked for some info to introduce them and they were so modest that all Sharon would say is this:

We live on 11 acres in east Texas, near Tyler. Our daughter and her family also live on the property. I am the genealogist and King is the vegetable gardener and tech-support expert. King and I attended our first Dutch Cousins meeting in 2013 in Madison, Indiana. I am a member of the Mary Tyler Chapter of DAR and King is a member of the Captain William Barron Chapter of SAR. He is also active in the American Legion.KING AND SHARON COLE

So I will add this – Although now living in Texas, they are from Oklahoma City where Sharon graduated from John Marshall high and King went to Putnam City High.
Sharon is a STAGG descendant.
Her g-g-grandmother was Mary Ann Stagg, born at Harrodsburg, KY, in 1819. She married Jacob Francis  at Versailles IN in 1838. Mary Ann (Stagg) Francis died in 1853.

Thank you King and Sharon. This is such a load off my to-do list!

With love to all the cousins from Jon and Carolyn Leonard Heavener

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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:  My name is Peggy Kephart Morrow. I see from the recent newsletter, an offer to share information about the Ryker and Smock families. I am a direct Descendant of Gerardus Ryker (both Jr. and Sr.), and would like to see the documents that Mr. Rogers has offered.
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SENT BY: Malcolm and Betty Banta
Hi Carolyn,
Just wanted you to know that I finally got home Wednesday evening at about 5:30. After almost 9 months in the VA hospital in Tampa. They have me to where I can shuffle around with a walker for 150 feet at a time. And it really really feels good to be home. I saw your information about your medical situation, I am so sorry that you’ve been hit with that. Like me I’m sure you will just keep putting 1 foot in front of the other and taking one day at a time best of luck to you and yours. God bless.
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SENT BY: Melona Gallagher (Van Nuys)
My heart reaches out to you in relation to your medical concerns of late and I will hold you in my prayers that this disease will be slow moving in your regards. I imagine many will come forward to take the ease off of you in respect to your Dutch Letters. I will still put my name out there however even though I am a very distant relative up in Canada. I feel like a bit of a fraud when those of you in the States have a more tangible grasp on the history that so closely surrounds you.
I will part by telling you that when I first came across Dutch Letters I was thankful to be invited into the family circle, and for that I say thank you.
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SENT BY: Firth Fabend
Thank you for writing such a brave and heartfelt letter about your situation. You are a model of insightful self-knowledge and fortitude. We have never met, but I always think of you and refer to you as my cousin in Oklahoma.
My thoughts and prayers are with you, dear Cousin.
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SENT BY: Pam Ellingson
Great news!!
I manage the DutchCousinsKY@gmail.com address with the google drive account that stores the photos from the gathering 2019 and some others. It could be used by King & Sharon. Let me know when I should change the addresses for the editor on the website.
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SENT BY: Tamara Fulkerson
I’m so glad they will be doing this!
They are a great couple!
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SENT BY: Mary Jo Gohmann
That is wonderful news! I hope you are feeling stronger and that you had a Happy Thanksgiving.
Mary Jo
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SENT BY: Tina A.N. Gardner
Dutch connection: Cornelious Westerfield
This e-mail was sent from a contact form on Dutch Cousins
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SENT BY: Janice Cozine
Yes!
This is wonderful news.
Sharon and King, thank you for stepping up and taking the time to do this.
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SENT BY: Gary M. Dunn
Please know that all your efforts and tireless work on behalf of the Dutch Cousins has been more than appreciated by many. In fact, it was through you and your newsletter that I became aware I was a Dutch Cousin (thanks also, of course, to James and Leah Brouwer Stagg). In the intervening years, I’ve learned much. As to your recent health issue, yes indeed, we’re all aboard that same train…and we’re all praying for strength, guidance and continuing faith. God bless you and your loved ones.
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SENT BY: Russell Gasero
It is difficult to find the right words to express one’s feelings at your recent message, “The Train.” I have been reflecting on this and being very slow to respond. Certainly, I am so very sorry to hear that you have to go through this and assure you that you are in our prayers for health and, most importantly, to feel the peace and presence of God more than ever.

I found this very moving and a description of life that carried great meaning (and I hope that I may be allowed to use it with proper attribution to you). First, let me say that it is a privilege to be on the train with you. Little did I imagine the impact on my life the Dutch Cousins would have after our first contact. While it has been an every-two-years-in-September kind of thing, nonetheless, it has become an important event. I have enjoyed meeting you and getting to know you a bit each time and have enjoyed the friendly fellowship of all the Dutch Cousins at the gathering. You have always been a chief source and focus of that. Maria has enjoyed the gatherings as well and always enjoyed talking with you and your perspective on events.

So, we pray that we might have several more stops to travel before anyone need step off. I pray that your chemo will go well and not increase pain and discomfort. Thank you for inviting us on this train, it has been a joy and a privilege.

Praying God’s peace on you,
Russ & Maria
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SENT BY: Amalie Preston (from the archives)

Carolyn: A friend gave me a few old issues of “Kentucky Ancestors,” a publication of the Kentucky Historical Society. On the cover of the April, 1978 issue was a photo of the site of the Jefferson County Dutch Station. There was not an article, just the caption under the picture, “Dutch Station 1779-1780. Standing at the site of the Old Station, Middle Fork of Beargrass Creek, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Brown graveyard beyond. This picture was taken March 22, 1922.”

David Smock’s books are safely at the Historical Society, and we plan to build a 2 shelf bookcase to house them atop the Low Dutch archive lateral files.

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SENT BY: Carolyn (Herself). Just received a BIG box with individually wrapped gifts from Cynthia Vann Ausdall (the one who spells it funny as she says). It is a real day brightener! Thank you all for all the great and loving times we have shared. Don’t ever forget. Stay calm and carry on!
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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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HERE ARE THE PHOTOS FROM THE 2019 Dutch Cousins Gathering in Kentucky!
SENT BY: Pam Ellingson
I did upload Charlie’s photos to the DC google account. The following link should allow access and people can download the file of 429 photos. Thank you Charlie Westerfield, immediate past president!
https://bit.ly/2Pm0DVX
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