ELEVENTH GENERATION

1984. * Gerret VAN SWERINGEN ^{(7)(69) (100)(7) (69)(100)} was born in 1636 in Beemsterdam, Holland. He was the 1st. American Amsterdam on 21 Dec 1656. He was naturalised in Apr 1669. He died in 1698 in Saint Marys County, MD. He was the youngest son of a family belonging to the nobility, and received a liberal education. When a young man he performed responsible duties in the maritime service of the Dutch West India Company; and in 1656, when that company fitted out the ship "Prince Maurice" with emigrants and supplies for the Dutch Colony on the Delaware River in American, he was appointed supercargo. This vessel sailed from the port of Amsterdam on the twenty-first day of Dec., 1656, and was to have touched at New Amsterdam (now New York City); but on the night of the eighth of Mar., 1657, stranded off Fire Island, near the southern coast of Long Island, and a few days after stove to pieces. The next day, in freezing weather, the passengers and crew made their way in a frail boat to the barren shore where they remained for several days without fire. On the third day they saw some Indians, one of whom was sent with word to Stuyvesant, then governor of New Amsterdam, who came with a sloop and carried them to that place. A part of the stranded ship's cargo, having been saved, was put on board another ship chartered at New Amsterdam, and on the 16th of Apr. they sailed for their destination, which they reached in safety in five days. After the wreck Gerret asked to be relieved from the company's service, as he "intended to make his living there," and as there was "nothing more for him to do," his request was granted. Fort Casimir on the Delaware was established by the Dutch in 1651. It was surprised in 1654 by the Swedes and possession taken, but was regained by the Dutch in 1655, and its name changed to New Amstel (now New Castle, Delaware). The Dutch held it until 1664, when all New Netherlands passed under British dominion. Concerning the then current affairs Gerret himself says: "The Company being so indebted to the Citty of Amsterdam as to the setting out of a man of warr in reducing the South river [the Delaware] into their possession again they were resolved to make sale of their said title unto the said Citty. * "In fine the Citty of Amsterdam were made Lords and Patrons of that Colony. * A ship called the "Prince Maurice" was provided to go to the said ship and goods. * The passengers coming into Delaware in a ship called the "Beaver", hired at New York after the ship "Prince Maurice" was lost. This was the 25th day of Apr., 1657, when we took possession of the fort now called New Castle, and the soldiers of the West India Company quitted the same." It was at this place that he settled. He was sheriff; commissary, and a member of the council, and was also interested in the "cultivation of some low lands, a duck pond and trade." The following letter of a personal nature was written to a friend in Holland who was evidently a government official. It was filed with the official records because, probably, of its references to the affairs of the colony, which references are in the main omitted here:
"Noble, Worshipful, Wise, Right Prudent Sir!
"Sir:
"With due respect and reverence have I thereby taken the liberty to greet you, through bounded duty of gratitude to devote to you all the days of my life. I hope you will not consider the insignificance of my person, but excuse the previous and present boldness of so freely writing to your Honor. "Such being the case, I cannot neglect thereby to communicate my promotion; about a year and a half after my departure from "Patria", with your Honor's favorable recommendation, I have been appointed scout [sheriff] here, subject to the approbation of the Honorable the Principals; previously I have taken care of the store as clerk, and, after J. Rinevelt's death, as commissary, from which I have now requested to be discharged, as I have, though unworthy, been recently made Second Councilor. "I have received here some goods from my brother, all which I have laid out in house, horses and mules. * * * I am also married. "Herewith I commend your Honor to the mercy and protection of the Most High God, and remain your obedient, humble servant, "G. v. Sweringen."
New Amsterl, 8th of December, 1659.
In 1660 he went to Holland, taking his wife with him, where he remained a year in behalf of the colony. Returning the following year he resumed his former duties. His two children, Elizabeth and Zacharias, were born in New Amstel. After New Amsterdam was surrendered to the British in 1664, Sir Robert Carr was sent to demand the surrender of New Amsterl. Gerret says:
"The Fort and Country was brought under submission by Sir Robert Carr as deputed with two shipps to that intent Sir Robert Carr did protest often to me that he did not come as an enemy, but as a friend demanding only in friendship what was ye Kings right in that Country. There was taken from the Citty and inhabitants thereabouts one hundred sheep, and thirty or forty horses, fifty or sixty cows and oxen, the number of sixty or seventy negroes * * and the estate of the Governor and myself, expect some house stuff, and a negro I gott away, and some other movables Sir Robert Carr did permit me to sell."
It has been said of him that after the surrender of the colony to the English he publicly broke his sword across his knee, and throwing it to the right and to the left renounced all allegiance to the Dutch authorities. Shortly after the surrender he went to Maryland. In April, 1669, he, his wife and two children, on their petition to Lord Baltimore, were naturalized by act of the general assembly held at St. Marys in that province. The importance of this act will be seen when it is stated that the ownership of land was restricted to British subjects. Indeed, if the Rent Rools of St. Mary's be correct, "Van Sweringen's Point" was surveyed for him two years prior to his naturalization. It is evident that he built himself a very commodious residence, as the Council met there for many years, and in his will Gerret mentions the "council room and the coffee house." On the 25th of August, 1681, no doubt because of the heat indoors, his lordship adjourned the Council to the arbor at Van Sweringen's. Some years after going to Maryland he made out a statement-written in English-concerning the settlements made by the Dutch on the Delaware. As the statement was sworn to it was probably to be used as evidence in some international affair. It was executed on the twelfth day of May, 1684, "at a council at Matapany Sewall, in the Province of Maryland." The jurat describes Gerret as being "of the City of St. Maries, gent., aged eight and forty years or thereabouts," The extracts heretofore given are from this statement. He probably spent the remainder of his days at St. Marys or in that part of Maryland. He served as Councilor at Amsterl on the Delaware, 1659; scout, 1669; commissioner 1664; sheriff of St. Mary's County, 1686-87; member Council, 1694; commissary general. He was married to * Barbara DE BARRETTE on 1 Mar 1659 in New Castle, New Castle, DE.

1985. * Barbara DE BARRETTE was born in 1641 in Vallenciennes, France. She was naturalised in Apr 1669. She died in 1670 in Saint Marys County, MD. Children were:

i. Elizabeth VAN SWERINGEN was born in 1660 in New Amstel, Holland. She was naturalised in Apr 1669. She died in 1711.
ii. Zacharias VAN SWERINGEN was born in 1662 in New Amstel, Holland. He was naturalised in Apr 1669. He died in 1711.
992 iii. * Thomas "van Sweringen" SWEARINGEN.