Abraham Janszoon van Salee

Sources:

• "Muslims in Early America" (see sources tab)
• http://www.teachout.org/vna/ There is a map here that shows New Amsterdam in 1660. The map depicts homes and farms and it has an accompanying table identifying the owners of the homes/farms. Abraham had two houses (M19 and M20).

Abraham seems to have followed in the footsteps of his father Jan who was also known as Morat Reis, King of the Barbary Coast Pirates. He, with Philip Jansen, his father Jan Jansen, and others, was part owner of, and sailed on "La Garce", a privateer in 1643-1644.

Growing up in Morocco he would be expected to have little trace of race prejudice. Although he had a child by a Negress and left them his property, he did not marry her to legitimize the child. This would seem to dispose of the question of his race. His death occurred in April 1659. Catalyntje, wife of Joris Rapalje, went to the City Hall and stated that Abraham Jansen Van Salee, who had lived at her house was dead. He had made a testament, she said, whereby he devised his property to the negro woman and the child he had had by her. Jorsey, her husband, had been named executor. The Deacons of the city, she said, had attached and seized the property. She had been to the Director General, who referred her to the Orphanmasters. By them she was referred again to the Directory General and Council, as Abraham Jansen's domicile was not in the jurisdiction of the Orphanmaster's Court.

It is said that Abraham is most likely a brother of the now almost mythic figure of Anthony Van Sallee .... I do not go so far as to confirm that by linking Abraham to him...(waiting for more proof)

read: http://genealogygenie.blogspot.com/2012/10/van-salee.html

Jacqueline Kennedy (Bouvier) Connection

see New York Historical Society passage here