Frelinghuysen family
The Frelinghuysen family (; ; ) is an American political dynasty, primarily based in New Jersey, that first emigrated from The Netherlands in 1720. History. In 1720, Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen came from The Netherlands to the Raritan Valley in the Province of New Jersey, then a Royal Colony of Great Britain. He was an evangelizing Dutch-Reformed minister during the period of religious fervor known as the Great Awakening. Politics. Four Frelinghuysens served as United States senators, one of whom, Frederick T., became a Secretary of State under President Chester A. Arthur.