One of my Forman ancestors loaned money to Henry VIII – bad idea. One arrested the governor of NJ for holding court while Scottish. There was a patriot tarred as a traitor for ages, and a religious refugee who persecuted Quakers on Long Island. Knights, vicars, patriots & scoundrels – 12 generations of Formans.
My grandfather, James Henry Brintzinghoffer, was very proud of his German roots and his family’s long history in America. He once told me they came over on the Mayflower – which wasn’t quite true – but it was closer to true than any of us realized until long after he was gone.
Margrietje Gillis ten Waert is my 10th great-grandmother, born 17 DEC 1617 in Reusel-de Mierden, North Brabant, Netherlands. She emigrated to New Amsterdam in 1635 with her husband Davit Provoost who served initially as a commissary of provisions for the West India Company. She died 29 JUL 1701 in Long Island City, Queens, NY. Gillis is…