The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-10
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The scope Of this history h, gins at
1900. when the De Forests were burgh-
ers II Avcsncs in that region of France
and Belgium which has of late been 80
bitterly fough over, a town now Of so
little note that We are without definite
information as to its existence after the
rush of war Here the De Forests in
the days before the Reformation were
minor burgcsses Of an interesting COM
munity. They had vineyard where
they grew the thin yet palatable wine Of
Brabant. one Of the family was dean
of the cathedral of ST. Nicholas. The
family livelihood was in trade, for this
nook of France has from the earliest
epoch been filled with industry Upon
this quietly ordered life came the shock
Of religious wars. the town was hum
bled by the troops OF the empire and
the new faith throve in its days of
persecution.
Enterprise makes its appearance in
the family in the story of Jesse. who
found refuge and the practice of the
Protestant faith in the Low Countries.
and become a licensed dyer and wool
stapler of Leyden. Possibly the family
had vegetated for centuries: life among
the Walloons was never very feverish
in its course; but as soon as Jesse
found himself dislodGed from Avesnes
he seems 10 have caught the fever OF
going on and yet on beyond the hos
pitable walls Of Leyden. We find him
petitioning the Virginia Company in
London for permission To settle a Wal
loon co ony in the new American land;
his petition Is reproduced as a most in
teresting sample Of round robin, with
radiating signatures, diverting the re
sponsibility from each and every o
being foremost signer. The Lords pro-
prietors were not quite willing to gran
the plea they welcomed the industri
GUS Walloons hut they would not allow
them 20 settle in a community Of theil
own. Rather than submit To beinl
scattered over the Nirginian wilds anC
thus losing their national Identity, Jess,
forhore the Nirginian project II
made use Of his influence in the Dutcl
cities and set forth upon an expedition
to explore in South America a site 10
such a colony as he proposed. In tn
wllds ne fell n victim Ia the sun an,
was buried in what is now Guiana
This expedition We shall have occasion
later TO consider.
Three Of his children later made thei
way ~ sNlll'llNdt w wv i'h''' ''l'HN -
Amsterdam In the New Netherla nds
and one became the founder Of tn
present family.
Hendrick Dc Forest made the Atlanti
voyage on PATRON Van Rensselaer,
yacht the RensselaPrswyCk. Hendrlc
was mate and trader for the voyag
and his Uncle Gerrit was n part ad
vcnturer in the venture. Arrived in tn
Hudson and discharging his obligatio
10 the PATRON, Hendrick DE Forest oh
talned a grant of land on Manhatta
leland, the MusCoOta Bouweries in Han
lem from inc slope 'of Mornlngsid
Heights to Harlem Creek, or fror
124th street down to the spring at III
north end of Central Park. on hi
land It was proposed to raise tobacc
and "A combined barn and dwelling hous
was erected. After three months, dun
ing which the PatroOn's yacht was u
tae river at the Fort Orange settlCmcn
the HensselaerswyCk came down
Manhattan and HendriCk was sun
moned to go on a voyage to Virginia
secure a ladinG for the TcXel In tn
further adventure he was seized wit
'the epidemical disease Of the country
and died soon after his return TO II
rudson. The disposition OF his new
acquired property fell into the hanC