The PATROON of Staten Island

the life of CORNELIS MELYN

De: Tom Gauthier

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

Most of our ancestors lived and died without leaving a trace of their existence.
Perhaps a line in church records telling of their birth, another line of their death. Or perhaps a broken tombstone in a deserted graveyard with their name carved in.
An entire lifetime of cherished memories and experiences reduced to two lines in an old book or on a mossy stone.
This book, this story, is my mission to bring to life one of those bits of recorded history.
The PATROON 0f Staten Island is based on the Life Story of Cornelis Melyn, born in Antwerp, Spanish Netherlands in AD 1600. By 1606 Cornelis is orphaned, then raised by half siblings until age eighteen when he was emancipated and moved to Amsterdam.
This reconstructed life of Cornelis Melyn, based on historical records and events, takes us on a life journey from Amsterdam, Holland, Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden , where he meets and marries Janneken Adriaen and the first five of seven children are born, to Nieuw Nederland, the Dutch Colony in America.
It is here that he gains the title of Patroon of Staten Island.
His amazing life story includes the fight to earn the patroonship, the many perilous voyages across the Atlantic, the deadly encounters with the natives, and key to the story, his battles with the difficult egos of the Directeur‑Generals of Nieuw Nederland, Willem Kieft and Peter Stuyvesant.
Sounding like fantasy, it’s a true-life story retold in all its color, drama, and sensory richness for the readers enjoyment, and for the record of heritage for his many descendants.
This author is included as Cornelis and Jenneken Melyn’s 9th Great-grandson.