Often overlooked by researchers, land and property records offer valuable insights into ancestors’ lives. Translated volumes reveal abundant leases, sales, home transfers, and goods transactions like livestock and equipment.
Leighton Meester (born 1986) is an American actress and singer best known for playing Blair Waldorf on the television series Gossip Girl (2007–2012). She has also appeared in films including Country Strong, Monte Carlo, and The Roommate.
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.
Frederick Manfred (1912–1994), born Frederick Feikes Feikema VII, was a regional American novelist of Dutch Frisian heritage who wrote about the northern Plains. Over four decades he published about forty books, including the acclaimed frontier novel Lord Grizzly.
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.
Willem Jacob Luyten (1899–1994) was a Dutch American astronomer at the University of Minnesota who became the leading authority on stellar proper motion, cataloging over 200,000 stars and discovering many nearby stars including the well-known Luyten’s Star.
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.
Arie Luyendyk (born 1953) is a Dutch-American race car driver and two-time Indianapolis 500 champion, winning in 1990 and 1997. A former Formula Ford champion, he later competed successfully in IndyCar and major endurance races.
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.
Jack R. Lousma (born 1936) is a U.S. Marine Corps aviator and NASA astronaut who flew on Skylab-3 in 1973 and commanded Space Shuttle Columbia’s STS-3 mission in 1982, logging over 1,600 hours in space.
