The Van Dyke Family: A Glimpse of the Dutch Settlement of New JerseyThere is no such thing as a small genealogical research project. Family histories, like precocious children, always challenge their authors with more and more questions. Paul C. Van Dyke discovered this fact when he wrote a genealogy of his branch of the Van Dyke family in the late 1950s. That project led Mr. Van Dyke to explore and research the whole history of the Van Dyke family in America. This excellent book, based on primary sources recounting the Dutch settlement of New Jersey, is the fruit of those years of research. It is fundamentally a Dutch-American history. Incorporating a wide variety of historical accounts, original documents and illustrations, Mr. Van Dyke has written a compelling and richly informative account of nine generations of Van Dykes and the nearly three centuries of American history that serve as a backdrop. Thomas Van Dyck of Amsterdam was the 16th-century patriarch whose story opens the book, and the author also includes helpful background information on Holland's golden age of exploration and the Dutch East India Company. Thomas' son, Jan Van Dyck, and his family immigrated to New Amsterdam in 1652, eventually settling in New Utrecht on Long Island. Jan Jansen Van Dyck was the third generation, and his son John Van Dyck participated in the large Dutch migration (c.1711) to the Millstone Valley in Middlesex and Somerset Counties in the prerevolutionary province of New Jersey. The subsequent generations of Van Dyck farmers in New Jersey were well-respected, patriotic members of such communities as New Brunswick, Princeton, Trenton, Ten Mile Run, Penns Neck, Rocky Hill, Harlingen, Griggstown, Bridgepoint, Kingston, Millstone, Somerville, Franklin, Montgomery and West Windsor. When they deemed the time appropriate, some of these hard-working and versatile Dutch broke with the farm tradition to enter upon various commercial occupations and the professions, as exemplified in the final chapter and appendices of the book. Every chapter opens with a genealogical note that provides vital statistics such as birth, marriage and death dates. The names of spouses and children are always included in the narrative accounts of the subjects. Numerous appendices furnish additional details, often through transcriptions of original wills, deeds, military records, etc. A bibliography and separate indices for subjects and surnames are included. ( |
Common terms and phrases
acres America Amsterdam appears Appendix appointed Asbury Park Bergen Berrien bible Book born Brunswick building called Cemetery century church City colony common Company containing Cook Cortelyou court dated daughter death deceased December deed died Dutch Dyck Dyke early East eight Electric Equal facts farm father February five four give hand Henry Holland horses hundred Indians Island Jacob Jacques January Jersey John Schenck John Van Dike July June known land later letter light living March married Mary meeting Mercer County Mile Run Millstone months NOTES October Peter pounds Princeton published purchased Raritan records River road Sarah SCHQ settled Shillings side signed Society Somerset County South Street town Township Trenton Utrecht Van Dyke West wife York
References to this book
To Read My Heart: The Journal of Rachel Van Dyke, 1810-1811 Rachel Van Dyke No preview available - 2000 |