It should not be forgotten that New Netherland was at heart a commercial enterprise and, though a Dutch colony, had residents from many other places. The records reflect this focus on commerce, with frequent mentions of goods moving into and out of the colony.

Occupational details can distinguish individuals with similar names and offer deeper insight into their lives. Translated records occasionally reference trades, even when the person’s work isn’t the primary focus.

Discover the everyday lives of New Netherland ancestors through translated records—revealing their homes, values, disputes, politics, and routines that bring depth and color to family history research.

Tracking the migrations of our ancestors from either patria to colony or within the colonies can be difficult, but there are records that contain such information. While researchers are unlikely to find a list of a ship’s passengers as they might while researching more recent generations, there are a few examples that come close.

For family historians vital records offer the most basic and essential facts about an individual’s life. When researching recent generations we rely on birth certificates, marriage licenses, and death certificates held at local or state offices. Finding evidence to pinpoint these important life events in the seventeenth century, however, can be a considerable challenge.

Introduction In New York, there are many houses built in the “Netherlandish Style,” a style of building found in the Netherlands and nearby in what...

Nieu Amsterdam, een stedeken in Noord Amerikaes Nieu Hollant, op het eilant Mankattan: Namaels Nieu Jork genaemt, toen het geraekte in’t gebiet der Engelschen. (New...

Norumbega et Virginia. (Norumbega [i.e. North America] and Virginia.) 1597. Mapmaker: Cornelius Wytfliet A well-executed engraving depicting the northeastern American coastline as it was perceived...

Nieuw Engeland in Twee Scheeptogen door Kapitein Johan Smith inde iaren 1614 en 1615 bestevend. (New England as Described by Captain John Smith in two...

The Northeast/New York City, 1556 Mapmakers: Giacomo Gastaldi and J.B. Ramusio The first printed map devoted to the New England region. It contains the most...

Recens edita totius Novi Belgii in America Septentrionali. (A New Edition of All of New Netherland in North America.) 1757. Mapmakers: Jan Jansson, Nicholas Visscher,...

Nova Belgica et Anglia Nova (New Netherland and New England). Amsterdam, 1647. Mapmakers: (Janssonius or Jansson) Jansz and (Johannes or Johan) Jan In this second...