Jessé de Forest

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[The following was downloaded from Wikipedia in 2010]

Jessé de Forest (1576 – October 22, 1624) was the leader of a group of Walloon Huguenots who fled Europe due to religious persecutions. Jessé de Forest emigrated to the New World, where he planned to found New-Belgium. He died before reaching what is now New York, but his family settled in Long Island, where it is remembered by the name of Forest Hill.

Background

Jessé de Forest was born in Avesnes (Hainaut). The family name originated from the village of Forest in the canton of Landrecies near Avesnes. In 1576 he left Avesnes for Sedan and Montcornet before settling in Leiden, Holland.

In Leiden, he moved to obtain the right to emigrate with his own and other Walloon families to the New World. During his stay, he also met Pilgrim Fathers, future passengers of the Mayflower. De Forest served with Prince Maurice of Nassau as a lieutenant and captain.

On February 5, 1621, Jessé de Forest sent a petition, to Dudley Carleton, 1st Viscount Dorchester, English ambassador to The Hague. It applied for permission to settle about fifty Walloon and French Huguenot families that planned to follow the Puritans to America (then called the West Indies) in Virginia. De Forest asked to dispose over a territory of eight English miles radius. Known as the Round Robin, this document is now preserved in the British Public Record Office. On August 11, 1621, the Virginia Company gave an agreement in principle, but raised some restrictions. The worse one was the refusal to have the settlers dwell together in one autonomous colony. De Forest declined the proposition.

New-Belgium

It was de Forest's desire to establish a Colony in the New World, so that the Walloons could practice their Reformed Protestant Christianity without persecution. He then sought permission from the Dutch to establish a colony in what is now New York City. He was granted permission. He assembled approximately 60 families of Walloons and Dutch Protestants for the settlement in New Amsterdam, New Netherland. The first permanent settlers arrived in New Amsterdam during May 1624.

The foundation of the Dutch West India Company in 1621 had given gave rise to multiple opportunities. In 1581, Philip II of Spain had prohibited commerce within his realm with Dutch ships, including in Brazil. Since the Dutch had invested large sums in financing sugar production in the Brazilian Northeast, a conflict began for control of the area. Proposing his services and those of his fellow countrymen to the Dutch West India Company, de Forest informed them that a group of families practicing various trades had the opportunity to emigrate to America. The States of The Netherlands, realizing the importance of such an opening for future colonization, immediately consulted the Directors of the Company, who were meeting in The Hague.

On August 27, 1622, after efforts delivered by Willem Usselincx and Jessé de Forest, the latter finally received the authorization to emigrate with other families to the West Indies. Left on reconnaissance for the coasts of Guyana in 1623, Jessé de Forest died on the Oyapock River bank (present borderline between Brazil and French Guyana), on October 22, 1624. His daughter Rachel and his sons Isaac and Henri and other family members joined New-Belgium ten years later in the territories surrounding the future New York City.

Legacy

Today, there is a Monument in Battery Park, New York City called the Walloon Settlers Memorial. That monument was given to the City of New York by the Belgian Province of Hainaut in honor of the inspiration of Jessé de Forest in founding New York City. Baron de Cartier de Marchienne, representing the government and Albert I, King of Belgium, presented the monument to Mayor John F. Hylan, for the City of New York May 18, 1924. There is also a monument in Jessé de Forest's honor in Avesnes, France, the College Jesse de Forest and Jesse de Forest Avenue.

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Jesse de Forest, son of Jean de Forest, was born in 1576. On Sunday, September 23, 1601, he married Marie du Cloux. After living in Sedan biefly, Jesse moved to Montcornet in 1609, and later moved to Leyden, Holland where he made his home on the Breedestraet. Jesse served with Prince Maurice of Nassau, as a Lieutenant and Captain. In 1621, the Walloon and Huguenots of Leyden planned to follow the Puritans to America (then called the West Indies). Jesse de Forest was acclaimed the leader and spokesman for the band when the exiles approached the British Ambassador at The Hague regarding their settling in Virginia. The English turned down his petition to establish a colony in Virginia. It was Jesse's desire to establish a Colony in the New World, so that the Walloons could practice their Reformed Religion without persecution. He then sought permission from the Dutch to establish a colony in what is now New York City. He was granted permission. He assembled approximately 60 families of French Speaking Walloons and Dutch for the settlement in New Amsterdam, New Netherland. The first permanent settlers arrived in New Amsterdam May 1624. Today, there is a Monument in Battery Park, New York City called the Walloon Settlers Memorial. That monument was given to the City of New York by the people of France in honor of Jesse's inspiration in founding New York City. There is also a monument in Jesse's honor in Avesnes, France. There is also the College Jesse de Forest and Jesse de Forest Avenue, both located in Avesnes. Considered the Founder of New Amsterdam. Leader of the Walloons.

An interesting point is that Jesse appeared NOT to make it to New Amsterdam. Rather he inspired the Walloon colonists to settle there. Jesse died on an expedition to the Amazon. His journal, finished by another, can be found here:

http://books.google.com/books?id=8yotFVjdqOQC&dq=walloon+in+america...

DeForest, Jesse and Jehan Mousnier de la Montagne. "A Voyage to Guiana; Being the Journal of Jesse de Forest and His Colonists 1623-1625." Sloan MS 179b in the British Museum, London. Printed in French and translated into English in volume 2 of Mrs. Robert DeForest's A Walloon Family in America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1914. 2 volumes. The journal is a record of the entire trip and recounts the death of Jesse DeForest and the return of the other men. Clearly, even if the journal was started by Jesse DeForest, it was continued by some other writer, believed to be Dr. Jean de la Montagne.

Source 1: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~truax/nether.html

The New Netherland

"Nieu Nederlandt"

WALLON PROTESTANT FAMILIES IN LEYDEN AND JESSE DE FOREST THE PETITION OF 1621*

In the late 16th and early 17th centuries, many Protestants from the Southern Low Countries (present-day Belguim) sought refuge in the Northern Provinces of the Netherlands. As these provinces had broken away from Spain, the Reformed Religion could be freely practiced there.

A party of Walloons belonging to the Reformed Church, coming from the Avesnes-Valenciennes-Lille region in the Counties of Hainaut and Flanders, settled in Leyden around this time. Their homeland was later to be separated from our provinces by the Treaty of the Pyrenees (1659), that of Aix-la-Chapelle (1658) and the Treaty of Nijmegen (1678).

There must have been a fair number of these Belgians, because by 1584 a Walloon Church had been founded in Leyden. Hence it was possible for our fellow-countrymen to practice their religion in complete freedom and in their own language.

Between 1608 and 1615 a newcomer came to settle in Leyden: this was Jesse de Forest, born around 1575 at Avesnes-surHelpe, which is located today in France (Department du Nord), but at that period Avesnes was part of the County of Hainaut.

He undertook a propaganda campaign in favor of emigration to Virginia among his Walloon compatriots and a few Frenchmen living in Leyden. On 19 July 1621, Jesse sought an audience of Sir Dudley Careton, the English Ambassador to the Hague. He brought with him a petition drawn up in French and signed by 56 would-be Walloon and Protestant emigrants towns and localities of Virginia.

The Company's reply, given in London on 11 August 1621, reached Jesse De Forest is companions shortly after that date. It must certainly have come as a disappointment to them. The "round robin" remains, therefore, an unrealized emigration plan by Protestant Walloons, natives of our ancient provinces, who hoped to settle in the English colony of Virginia. Even so, the document is of capital importance to any history of the origins of New York, because most of the Families listed therein later settled on the site of the future American metropolis and in its immediate vicinity.

As for Jesse de Forest who initiated the project, he died in South America without ever having set foot on the North American continent.

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Descendants of Jean Mousnier de la MONTAGNE (1595-1670)

Contact: Lois Stewart loissdjm2@aol.com

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Source 3: http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=m-magers...

H.A.M.'s Tree Contact: Marian E-mail: m.magers@sbcglobal.net

Birth: ABT 1576 in Sedan, Avesnes, Flanders, France

Death: 22 OCT 1624 in Guyana, South America

Residence: 1609 Moved to Montcornet, France 2

Residence: AFT 1610 Member 12th Regiment 2

Military Service: Lieutenant & Captain w/Prince Maurice 2

Religion: Huguenot 2

Burial: Dutch Guiana, South America

Note:

One report gives his date of birth as 1570.

There is a monument in Battery Park, New York City, New York dedicated to Jesse DeForest called the Walloon Settlers Memorial, given to the city by the people of France.

There also is a monument in Jesse's honor in Avesnes, France; the College Jesse de Forest; and Jesse de Forest Avenue.

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Source 4: http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:2805057&id=I312

From: My Family 2/23/04

Contact: Larry Baker lclfbaker@hotmail.com

Note: Note: Jesse DE FOREST was the chief of the Huguenot emigrants of Holland. He founded New York in 1624. A monument was built in his honor in Avesnes. His where abouts are unknown from1608 to 1615 when he is believed to have been in Sedan. In1615, he was a resident of Leyden, Netherlands, and had a "license to dye serges and camlets in colors. "On July 21, 1621, he petitioned King James to settle Virginia. The group was denied, but as an individual he was allowed to do In 1621, the Dutch West Indies Company was trading on the west coast of Africa. Jesse joined the company in their ventures. In 1622, he, his family and maid lived in Leyden. On July 1, 1623, he led a group of Huguenots to South America on the "Pigeon" to explore the Amazon River. They fell sick from sunstroke on October 13, 1624. They recovered, some dying of a second sunstroke on October 22, 1 624. Jesse went to New Netherlands at Fort Orange. By 1625, he was on Manhattan; Reformation was spreading throughout Europe. Calvin's ideas suited the French and the Dutch better than Martin Luther's teachings. Calvin sympathizers became Huguenots. Jesse was the leader of the group of immigrants from Holland and French Flanders who settled along the Hudson River in 1624, contributing to the founding of New Amsterdam (New York).

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http://thompsonbrothersgeneology.com/FamilyHistories/DeForestFamily...

Jesse DeForest [A Walloon Family in America Vol II] (Jean , Melchoir III , Melchior II , Melchoir , Gaspard , Simon , Jean , Thomas , Louis , Jehan , Alard , Giles de L'Estoc , Gerard , Herbert , Waitier , Herbert ) was born in 1575 in Avesnes, France. He died on 22 Oct 1624 in Commaribo, French Guiana, South America. He was buried in Commaribo, French Guiana, South America. [Notes] Jesse married Marie DuCloux on 23 Sep 1601 in Sedan, France. Marie was born on 17 Nov 1577 in Sedan, France. She died in 1622 in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands.

[Notes] They had the following children.

	38	F	i	 Marie DeForeest was born on 7 Jul 1602 in Sedan, France. She was christened on 7 Jul 1602 in Sedan, France.

	39	M	ii	 Jean DeForeest [scrapbook] was born on 22 Jul 1604 in Sedan, France. He was christened on 22 Jul 1604 in Sedan, France. He died on 6 Apr 1668 in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. He was buried in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands.

	 	 	 	 Jean married Marie Vermeulin on 9 Mar 1633 in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. +	40	M	iii	Henry DeForeest was born on 7 Mar 1606. He died on 26 Jul 1637.

	41	F	iv	 Elizabeth DeForeest was born on 1 Nov 1607 in Sedan, France. She was christened on 1 Nov 1607 in Sedan, France.

	42	M	v	 David DeForeest [scrapbook] was born on 11 Dec 1608 in Sedan, France. He was christened on 11 Dec 1608 in Sedan, France. +	43	F	vi	Rachel DeForeest was born in 1609. She died in 1643.

	44	F	vii	 Anne DeLaMontagne was born in 1611 in Montcornet, Picardie, France.

	45	M	viii	 Nicaise DeForest was born in 1613 in Montcornet, Picardie, France.

	46	M	ix	 Jesse DeForeest [scrapbook] was born on 1 Mar 1615 in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. He was christened on 1 Mar 1615 in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. He died in 1639. +	47	M	x	Isaac DeForeest was born on 7 Jul 1616. He died in 1674.

	48	M	xi	 Israel DeForeest was born on 7 Oct 1617 in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. He was christened on 7 Oct 1617 in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands.

	49	M	xii	 Philippe DeForeest was born on 13 Sep 1620 in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. He was christened on 13 Sep 1620 in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands.

REF: http://www.familysearch.org/Search/af/ancestral_file_frame.asp?reci... "The Forest family won nobility titles for participating in the Crusades. -- Arsenault, Bona, "History of the Acadians" , vol.2 , p.544

http://vanarsdaleleefamilyhistory.blogspot.com/2012/07/melchoir-de-...

http://thompsonbrothersgeneology.com/FamilyHistories/DeForestFamily...

Jesse DeForest [A Walloon Family in America Vol II] (Jean , Melchoir III , Melchior II , Melchoir , Gaspard , Simon , Jean , Thomas , Louis , Jehan , Alard , Giles de L'Estoc , Gerard , Herbert , Waitier , Herbert ) was born in 1575 in Avesnes, France. He died on 22 Oct 1624 in Commaribo, French Guiana, South America. He was buried in Commaribo, French Guiana, South America. [Notes] Jesse married Marie DuCloux on 23 Sep 1601 in Sedan, France. Marie was born on 17 Nov 1577 in Sedan, France. She died in 1622 in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands.

[Notes] They had the following children.

	38	F	i	 Marie DeForeest was born on 7 Jul 1602 in Sedan, France. She was christened on 7 Jul 1602 in Sedan, France.

	39	M	ii	 Jean DeForeest [scrapbook] was born on 22 Jul 1604 in Sedan, France. He was christened on 22 Jul 1604 in Sedan, France. He died on 6 Apr 1668 in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. He was buried in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands.

	 	 	 	 Jean married Marie Vermeulin on 9 Mar 1633 in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. +	40	M	iii	Henry DeForeest was born on 7 Mar 1606. He died on 26 Jul 1637.

	41	F	iv	 Elizabeth DeForeest was born on 1 Nov 1607 in Sedan, France. She was christened on 1 Nov 1607 in Sedan, France.

	42	M	v	 David DeForeest [scrapbook] was born on 11 Dec 1608 in Sedan, France. He was christened on 11 Dec 1608 in Sedan, France. +	43	F	vi	Rachel DeForeest was born in 1609. She died in 1643.

	44	F	vii	 Anne DeLaMontagne was born in 1611 in Montcornet, Picardie, France.

	45	M	viii	 Nicaise DeForest was born in 1613 in Montcornet, Picardie, France.

	46	M	ix	 Jesse DeForeest [scrapbook] was born on 1 Mar 1615 in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. He was christened on 1 Mar 1615 in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. He died in 1639. +	47	M	x	Isaac DeForeest was born on 7 Jul 1616. He died in 1674.

	48	M	xi	 Israel DeForeest was born on 7 Oct 1617 in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. He was christened on 7 Oct 1617 in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands.

	49	M	xii	 Philippe DeForeest was born on 13 Sep 1620 in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands. He was christened on 13 Sep 1620 in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands.

REF: http://www.familysearch.org/Search/af/ancestral_file_frame.asp?reci... "The Forest family won nobility titles for participating in the Crusades. -- Arsenault, Bona, "History of the Acadians" , vol.2 , p.544

http://vanarsdaleleefamilyhistory.blogspot.com/2012/07/melchoir-de-...

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LXQL-B84

Jessé de Forest (1576 – October 22, 1624) was the leader of a group of Walloon Huguenots who fled Europe due to religious persecutions. They emigrated to the New World, where he planned to found New-Belgium. Jessé de Forest was born in Avesnes (County of Hainaut, now Nord, France). The family name originated from the village of Forest in the canton of Landrecies near Avesnes. (A Sports Illustrated article incorrectly claims[1] that Jessé was a son of the French king Henri IV.) Around 1609 he left Avesnes for Sedan and Montcornet before settling in Leiden, the Netherlands. In Leiden, he moved to obtain the right to emigrate with his own and other Walloon families to the New World. During his stay, he also met Pilgrim Fathers, future passengers of the Mayflower. De Forest served with Prince Maurice of Nassau as a lieutenant and captain.[2] On February 5, 1621, Jessé de Forest sent a round robin petition, to Dudley Carleton, 1st Viscount Dorchester, English ambassador to The Hague. It applied for permission to settle about fifty Walloon and French Huguenot families that planned to follow the Puritans to America (then called the West Indies) in Virginia. De Forest asked to dispose over a territory of eight English miles radius. Known as the Round Robin, this document is now preserved in the British Public Record Office. On August 11, 1621, the Virginia Company gave an agreement in principle, but raised some restrictions. The worst one was the refusal to allow the settlers to dwell together in one autonomous colony. De Forest declined this proposition. New-Belgium[edit] It was de Forest's desire to establish a Colony in the New World, so that the Walloons could practice their Reformed Protestant Christianity without persecution. He then sought permission from the Dutch to establish a colony in what is now New York City. He was granted permission. He assembled approximately 60 families of Walloons and Dutch Protestants for the settlement in New Amsterdam, New Netherland. The first permanent settlers would arrive in New Amsterdam during May 1624 (without de Forest). The foundation of the Dutch West India Company in 1621 had given rise to multiple opportunities. In 1581, Philip II of Spain had prohibited commerce within his realm with Dutch ships, including in Brazil. Since the Dutch had invested large sums in financing sugar production in the Brazilian Northeast, a conflict began for control of the area. Proposing his services and those of his fellow countrymen to the Dutch West India Company, de Forest informed them that a group of families practicing various trades had the opportunity to emigrate to America. The States of The Netherlands, realizing the importance of such an opening for future colonization, immediately consulted the Directors of the Company, who were meeting in The Hague. On August 27, 1622, after efforts delivered by Willem Usselincx and Jessé de Forest, the latter finally received the authorization to emigrate with other families to the West Indies. Left on reconnaissance for the coasts of Guyana in 1623, Jessé de Forest died on the Oyapock River bank (present borderline between Brazil and French Guyana), on October 22, 1624. His daughter Rachel (who married Jean de la Montagne, a high class New Amsterdamer) and his sons Isaac and Henri and other family members joined New-Belgium ten years later in the territories surrounding the future New York City.[3] There is a monument in the Battery Park section of lower Manhattan, New York City called the Walloon Settlers Memorial. That monument was given to the City of New York by the Belgian Province of Hainaut in honor of the inspiration of Jessé de Forest in founding New York City. Baron de Cartier de Marchienne, representing the government and Albert I, King of Belgium, presented the monument to Mayor John F. Hylan for the City of New York on May 18, 1924. There is also a monument in Jessé de Forest's honor in Avesnes, France, the College Jesse de Forest and Jesse de Forest Avenue.[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jess%C3%A9_de_Forest

GEDCOM Note

Jesse de Forest, son of Jean de Forest, was born in 1576. On Sunday, September 23, 1601, he married Marie du Cloux. After living in Sedan biefly, Jesse moved to Montcornet in 1609, and later moved to Leyden, Holland where he made his home on the Breedestraet. Jesse served with Prince Maurice of Nassau, as a Lieutenant and Captain.
In 1621, the Walloon and Huguenots of Leyden planned to follow the Puritans to America (then called the West Indies). Jesse de Forest was acclaimed the leader and spokesman for the band when the exiles approached the British Ambassador at The Hague regarding their settling in Virginia. The English turned down his petition to establish a colony in Virginia.

It was Jesse's desire to establish a Colony in the New World, so that the Walloons could practice their Reformed Religion without persecution. He then sought permission from the Dutch to establish a colony in what is now New York City. He was granted permission. He assembled approximately 60 families of French Speaking Walloons and Dutch for the settlement in New Amsterdam, New Netherland.

The first permanent settlers arrived in New Amsterdam May 1624. Today, there is a Monument in Battery Park, New York City called the Walloon Settlers Memorial. That monument was given to the City of New York by the people of France in honor of Jesse's inspiration in founding New York City.

GEDCOM Note

reformatted

GEDCOM Note

While living at Leyden, Gerard recorded

While living at Leyden, Gerard recorded that he was a native of Avesnes in the country of Hainaut. In 1623, after his brother Jesse left for South America, Jesse's privilege as "dyer in colors" was transferred to Gerard. He made a will in 1633 at Leyden, leaving 200 florins to his mother. He would make additional wills before he finally died 20 years later. He was half-owner, along with Killian van Rensselaer, of "The Rensselaerswyck" which would take his two nephews and niece to the New World in 1636.

GEDCOM Note

!HAWLEY RECORD: PG. 254 DeFOREST, Jesse,

!HAWLEY RECORD: PG. 254 DeFOREST, Jesse, married probably, Marie du CLOUX, and in 1621 corresponded with the English in regard to settling in Virginia. That project failed,and in 1623 he joined an expedition for the conquest of brazil, but probably came to New England or New York. (See Bard's Huguenot Emigration to America, Vol. 1 174.) His children were....

GEDCOM Note

BIRTH: Date: About 1575 - Doc. HIS000045

BIRTH: Date: About 1575 - Doc. HIS000045 1576 - Doc. HIS000044 CHILDREN: Of Jesse DeForest and Marie duCloux Jean, Henri, Rachel, Jesse Jr., Isaac, Israel and Philippe Doc. HIS000044 - Of Jesse DeForest and Marie duCloux Isaac - Doc. HIS000045 DEATH: Date: 1624 - Doc. HIS000045 Place: South America - Doc. HIS000045 MARRIAGE: Jesse De Forest and Marie du Cloux - Doc. HIS000019, Doc. HIS000044, Doc. HIS000045 Date: September 23, 1601 - Doc. HIS000019, Doc. HIS000044 1601 - Doc. HIS000045 Place: Sedan, France - Doc. HIS000019 NOTE: Jesse went into exile in Holland before 1615, was commissioned in 1622, by the estates of Holland to organize a Colony of Walloon and French exiles for transportation to the New World. In 1623 he sailed on the ship 'Pigeon' and died 22 OCT 1624, on the coast of Guiana. It is debatable that Jesse De Forest died on the shore of Guiana. Some historians claim he died in New Amsterdam. The date of death is also questionable. RESIDENCE: After living in Sedan briefly, Jesse de Forest moved to Montcornet in 1609, where he was associated with his brother-in-law David de Lambermont. He later moved to Holland (Leyden) in about 1615, where he first made his home on the Breedestraet. - Doc. HIS000044

GEDCOM Note

Jesee was probably born and certainly ra

Jesee was probably born and certainly raised in the city of Avesnes in Hainaut but left the city, along with the rest of his family. not long after France and Spain signed a peace treaty ending the war they had been waging since his early childhood. By 1601 he was living in Sedan, the Protestant principlaity of Luxemburg, where he was married and where his first six children were p

GEDCOM Note

!NAME-MARRIAGE: See Jarvis Ahnentafel,

!NAME-MARRIAGE: See Jarvis Ahnentafel, FCAGR, vol. 7, no. 2 . From D'Avesnes, in French Flandres. !FAMILY: Bona Arsenault, HISTOIRE ET GENEALOGIE DES ACADIEN S; 1625-1810; Ottawa, Editions Lemeac, 1978, 6 vols.; p. 54 4 (Port Royal, footnote); own copy; each volume has genealo gies within a specific area. Some members of this family pa rticipated in the Crusades, but later became Protestants du ring the Reformation.

GEDCOM Note

There was a Spanish Garrison at Avesne,

There was a Spanish Garrison at Avesne, France from 1559 to persecutethose of the Protestant Faith. It was there Jesse embraced the faiththat marked him as a Huguenot and forced him to move away. He moved toSedan, France, with his parents. Seden was a center of Huguenot activitynear the Belgian Border, on the Meuse River. In 1606, he and hisbrothers: Jean , Michael and Girard were living in Leyden, Netherlands.He was a dyer and draper. He sailed from Leyden on 1 July 1623 on the"Pigeon", to the Amazon River to help with the conquest of Brazil. Hehelped establish a colony at Guiana. He died of a fever in 1624,possibly in San Salvador.

GEDCOM Note

Genealogical information about the deFo

Genealogical information about the deForest who, from Avesnes, Nord, France, went and settled in Leyte, Holland, in 1615. In 1636, a son Jesse deForest, Isaac, emigrated to New amsterdam (New York). He is the ancestor of the deForests of the US. In 1657 Gereyt (alias Michael) deForest, grandson of of Gerard of Jesse, settled in Acadia. He is the ancestor of the Forest of Canada.

GEDCOM Note

HISTORY: Jesse, son of Jean and Anne (Ma

HISTORY: Jesse, son of Jean and Anne (Maillard) De Forest, was born about 1575. There is no important information concerning him after December 1, 1623, when in a tax list of Leyden, Holland, opposite his name is the entry "gone to the West Indies," which may have meant anywhere in North or Central America. Up to 1606 he appears as a merchant residing at Sedan, France, and in 1615 he appears in the Walloon registers of Leyden, where he was residing in 1620, the time of the departure of the Pilgrim fathers for America. He conceived the design of planting a colony of his own people in the New World, and this design he carried from year to year and from state to state until he had brought it to execution. He gathered a colony of fifty or sixty Walloon and French families, "all of the Reformed faith," and prayed the King of England to grant them a settlement in Virginia and "to maintain them in their religion" by undertaking their protection and defence. The petition or demand was signed by fifty-six men, mostly heads of families, the first of whom was Jesse De Forest. They prayed the King that he would grant them a territory of sixteen miles in diameter where they might cultivate fields, meadows, vineyards, etc., and article seventh of the petition reads: "Whether they would be permitted to hunt all game, whether furred or feathered; to fish in the sea and rivers, and to cut heavy and small timber, as well for navigation as for other purposes, according to their desire; in a word, whether they might make use of everything above and below ground, according to their will and pleasure, saving the royal rights and trade in everything with such persons as should be there to privilege." The petition was not acted upon favorably. He continued his enrolling, and looked for aid from Holland in getting the colony to America. Here Jesse De Forest disappears from distinct sight. It seems clear, however, that his first and perhaps only colonizing venture, was to that part of South America which the Dutch called the "wild coast," or Guinea. To this region two successive bands of settlers were despatched from Leyden in 1623. The fleet which Jesse De Forest accompanied sailed out of the Neuse, twenty miles south of Leyden, December 23, 1623. Nothing further is known of him. He was a man of fixed purpose, which he carried into execution, but whether he sleeps beside the Oaypok or beside the Hudson is not known. He had aroused and directed the emigrants who founded New York as well as those who established a dwelling place in Guinea and among the Carribean Islands. He married Marie du Cloux, and their seventh recorded child, Isaac, is the founder in America of the De Forests of Schenectady.

HISTORY: Jesse de Forest, son of Jean de Forest, was born in 1576. On Sunday, September 23, 1601, he married Marie du Cloux. After living in Sedan briefly, Jesse moved to Montcornet in 1609, and later moved to Leyden, Holland where he made his home on the Breedestraet. Jesse served with Prince Maurice of Nassau, as a Lieutenant and Captain.

In 1621, the Walloons and Huguenots of Leyden, Holland planned to follow the Puritans to America (then called the West Indies). Jesse de Forest was acclaimed the leader and spokesman for the band when the exiles approached the British Ambassador at The Hague regarding their settling in Virginia. The English turned down his petition to establish a colony in Virginia. It was Jesse's desire to establish a Colony in the New World, so that the Walloons could practice their Reformed Religion without persecution. He then sought permission from the Dutch to establish a colony in what is now New York City. He was granted permission. He assembled approximately 60 families of French Speaking Walloons and Dutch for the settlement in New Amsterdam, New Netherland. The first permanent settlers arrived in New Amsterdam May 1624. Today, there is a Monument in Battery Park, New York City called the Walloon Settlers Memorial. That monument was given to the City of New York by the Belgian Province of Hainaut in honor of Jesse's inspiration in founding New York City. Baron de Cartier de Marchienne, representing the Belgian King and Government, presented the monument to Mayor John F. Hylan, for the City of New York May 18, 1924. There is also a monument in Jesse's honor in Avesnes, France, the College Jesse de Forest and Jesse de Forest Avenue.

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Jesse was born in the town of Avesnes, i

Jesse was born in the town of Avesnes, in the county/province of Henegouwen ("Hainaut"in French), in what was then the Netherlands. Today Avesnes lies in the Department of Pas de Calais, French Flanders, France. The historic region of Henegouwen has over the ages belonged to many different political units: the Roman Empire, the Frankish Kingdom, Burgundy, The Holy Roman Empire, The Spanish Netherlands, The Austrian Netherlands, France, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Belgium. Henegouwen together with the other Flemish and Walloon provinces were collectively known as the Southern Netherlands, the greater part of which became the present-day Kingdom of Belgium in the year 1833. The lesser part now belonging to France is known as French Flanders. In the seventeenth century French Flanders was Dutch-speaking (a dialect called "French-Flemish"), but due to political and cultural reasons French has gradually replaced Dutch as the mother tongue of most of the people in French Flanders today. After 1609 Jesse settled in Leiden, Zuid-Holland where he made his home on the Breedestraat. He served as Lieutenant and Captain with Prince Maurits van Nassau. Jesse inspired the founding of New Amsterdam (present-day New York City) in 1624, for which a monument in his honour was built both there and in Avesnes. Jesse and Marie had the following children: Marie, Jean, Hendrick, Elizabeth, David, Rachel, Jesse, Isaac, Israel, Phillippe.

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!Source of info Family Records & Walloon

!Source of info Family Records & Walloon Family in America Vol#1 Pg.13-56 and the DeForests of Avesnes.

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Life Sketch

Jessé de Forest (1576 – October 22, 1624) was the leader of a group of Walloon Huguenots who fled Europe due to religious persecutions. They emigrated to the New World, where he planned to found New-Belgium. Jessé de Forest was born in Avesnes (County of Hainaut, now Nord, France). The family name originated from the village of Forest in the canton of Landrecies near Avesnes. (A Sports Illustrated article incorrectly claims[1] that Jessé was a son of the French king Henri IV.) Around 1609 he left Avesnes for Sedan and Montcornet before settling in Leiden, the Netherlands. In Leiden, he moved to obtain the right to emigrate with his own and other Walloon families to the New World. During his stay, he also met Pilgrim Fathers, future passengers of the Mayflower. De Forest served with Prince Maurice of Nassau as a lieutenant and captain.[2] On February 5, 1621, Jessé de Forest sent a round robin petition, to Dudley Carleton, 1st Viscount Dorchester, English ambassador to The Hague. It applied for permission to settle about fifty Walloon and French Huguenot families that planned to follow the Puritans to America (then called the West Indies) in Virginia. De Forest asked to dispose over a territory of eight English miles radius. Known as the Round Robin, this document is now preserved in the British Public Record Office. On August 11, 1621, the Virginia Company gave an agreement in principle, but raised some restrictions. The worst one was the refusal to allow the settlers to dwell together in one autonomous colony. De Forest declined this proposition. New-Belgium[edit] It was de Forest's desire to establish a Colony in the New World, so that the Walloons could practice their Reformed Protestant Christianity without persecution. He then sought permission from the Dutch to establish a colony in what is now New York City. He was granted permission. He assembled approximately 60 families of Walloons and Dutch Protestants for the settlement in New Amsterdam, New Netherland. The first permanent settlers would arrive in New Amsterdam during May 1624 (without de Forest). The foundation of the Dutch West India Company in 1621 had given rise to multiple opportunities. In 1581, Philip II of Spain had prohibited commerce within his realm with Dutch ships, including in Brazil. Since the Dutch had invested large sums in financing sugar production in the Brazilian Northeast, a conflict began for control of the area. Proposing his services and those of his fellow countrymen to the Dutch West India Company, de Forest informed them that a group of families practicing various trades had the opportunity to emigrate to America. The States of The Netherlands, realizing the importance of such an opening for future colonization, immediately consulted the Directors of the Company, who were meeting in The Hague. On August 27, 1622, after efforts delivered by Willem Usselincx and Jessé de Forest, the latter finally received the authorization to emigrate with other families to the West Indies. Left on reconnaissance for the coasts of Guyana in 1623, Jessé de Forest died on the Oyapock River bank (present borderline between Brazil and French Guyana), on October 22, 1624. His daughter Rachel (who married Jean de la Montagne, a high class New Amsterdamer) and his sons Isaac and Henri and other family members joined New-Belgium ten years later in the territories surrounding the future New York City.[3] There is a monument in the Battery Park section of lower Manhattan, New York City called the Walloon Settlers Memorial. That monument was given to the City of New York by the Belgian Province of Hainaut in honor of the inspiration of Jessé de Forest in founding New York City. Baron de Cartier de Marchienne, representing the government and Albert I, King of Belgium, presented the monument to Mayor John F. Hylan for the City of New York on May 18, 1924. There is also a monument in Jessé de Forest's honor in Avesnes, France, the College Jesse de Forest and Jesse de Forest Avenue.[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jess%C3%A9_de_Forest

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[[Category:Famous People of the 17th Cen

Category:Famous People of the 17th Century Category:New Netherland Ancestors Category: Sunstroke

Biography

Jesse de Forest was the driving force behind the 1621 Round Robin petition, whose signers promised "to go into Virginia and there to live in the same condition as others of His Majesty's subjects, but in a town of incorporation by themselves" See also Freespace The de Forest Family
: Jessé de(s) Forest(s) (1576 – October 22, 1624) was the leader of a group of Walloon Huguenots who fled Europe due to religious persecutions. Jessé de Forest emigrated to the New World, where he planned to found New-Belgium. : Jesse's father had left Avesnes for Sedan at some time during the three years prior to 1601, so that Jesse had had opportunity in the latter place to meet and to be attracted by young Marie du Cloux. She was the daughter of Nicaise du Cloux, a fellow merchant of Jesse's father. The members of the du Cloux family were people of good positionin Sedan merchants, barristers and surgeons .<ref> The du Cloux family of Sedan
The du Cloux were people of consideration at Sedan. Several of them were merchants. Others were barristers, notaries or surgeons. One Jean du Cloux was bailli of the city previous to 1596.</ref> : When Jesse's father went to Holland in 1602 he must have left his mercantile business in Sedan to Jesse for in that year we first find thelatter spoken of as merchant undoubtedly a merchant in woolen cloth. Up through 1606 Jesse appears in the Sedan records as a merchant (probably in woolen cloth) residing at Sedan. In 1607 he is still a merchant, but resident at Montcornet in Thierache, an eastern canton of Picardy. In 1608 he was there still but had changed his work to merchant-dyer. It is clear that while living at Montcornet, he was in partnershipwith David de Lambremont, husband of Magdeleine du Cloux, a sister ofMarie. <ref> Faculty History Wisd. Edu. Sommerville</ref> : The first mention which we find of Jesse de(s) Forest(s) tells of his marriage at Sedan on 23 September 1601 to Marie du Cloux.<ref name="Marriage">"France, registres protestants, 1536-1894," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11707-58826-84?cc=1582585 : 8 August 2015), France > Ardennes: Sedan > Mariages, 1573-1608 (Ms 664/1) > image 204 of 285; paroisses de Eglise R�2 CONC ©formée, Francais (Reformed Church parishes, France).</ref><ref> Jesse's name first appears in the registers of the old Huguenot church of Sedan, sequestrated in 1669 by Louis XIV and later recovered.</ref> The earliest entry that concerns the de Forests translates as follows:

1601: Sunday, 23d day of said month [September] at the Catechism the said Sieur du Tilloy blessed the marriage of Jesse des forests, son of Jean des forests, merchant, residing in this city, with Marie du Cloux, daughter of Nicaise du Cloux merchant residing in thiscity.

: Sieur du Tilloy was evidently the Protestant minister who officiatedfor the event. : The first child, baby Marie, was born in 1602 <ref>"France, registres protestants, 1536-1894," database with images, FamilySearch (: 8 August 2015 Baptism record child Marie), France > Ardennes: Sedan > Baptêmes, 1598-1607 (Ms 663/3) > image 150 of 374; paroisses de Eglise Réformée, Francais (Reformed Church parishes, France).</ref> , then four children of Jesse and Marie baptized between 1604 and 1609
In the following year appears a record which shows that Jesse himself had become a merchant of Sedan.

1602: Sunday, 7th day of said month [July] on which day was celebrated the Lord's Supper, Monsieur du Tilloy, having made the evening exhortation, baptized Marie, daughter of Jesse des forests merchant residing in this city, and of Marie du Cloux his wife.Sponsors: Estienne du Cloux and Marie Aubertin.

: Then follow the baptisms of four other children:# Jean (later called Jan or Jehan), July 22nd, 1604, witnessed by Jeanle Vasseur and Magdeleine du Cloux;<ref> "France, registres protestants, 1536-1894," database with images, FamilySearch (: 8 August 2015 Baptism child Jean), France > Ardennes: Sedan > Baptêmes, 1598-1607 (Ms 663/3) > image 228 of 374; paroisses de Eglise Réformée, Francais (Reformed Church parishes, France).</ref> # Henry (known to us as Hendrick), March 7th, 1606, witnessed by Henryde Lambremont, merchant, and his wife Rachel Aubertin;<ref> "France, registres protestants, 1536-1894," database with images, FamilySearch (: 8 August 2015 Baptism child Henry), France > Ardennes: Sedan > Baptêmes, 1598-1607 (Ms 663/3) > image 294 of 374; paroisses deEglise Réformée, Francais (Reformed Church parishes, France).</ref># Elizabeth, September 1st, 1607, witnessed by Abraham le Groa, goldsmith, and his wife Elizabeth Aubertin; <ref>"France, registres protestants, 1536-1894," database with images, FamilySearch (: 8 August 2015 Baptism child Elizabeth), France > Ardennes: Sedan > Baptêmes, 1598-1607 (Ms 663/3) > image 366 of 374; paroisses de Eglise Réformée, Francais (Reformed Church parishes, France)</ref> # David, December 16 th, 1608 witnessed by David de Lambremont, merchant-dyer at Montcornet, and Marie de Lambremont, daughter of Henry.<ref> "France, registres protestants, 1536-1894," database with images, FamilySearch (: 8 August 2015 Baptism child David), France > Ardennes: Sedan > Baptêmes, 1608 > image 46 of 48; paroisses de EgliseRéformée, Francais (Reformed Church parishes, France).</ref> : After 1608 there was a gap of eight years in the church registers ofSedan. Jesse de Forest appears in the Walloon registers of Leyden in 1615. His daughter Rachel, mother of one of the notable families of New York, was born in 1609 while Hendrick Hudson was sounding his way upthe “great north river,” and four years earlier than Christaensenput up his block-house on Manhattan Island. Rachel married Jean Mousnier la Montagne in 1626 at age seventeen, which was fairly young for abride even in those days. : It is also noteworthy that his children were always christened aftera godfather or a godmother, a fact which accounts for the disappearance of the baptismal names then current among the de Forests of Avesnes. : Jesse and Marie's children would be later connected to America

Several of these names connect the family with its later existence in America.

Henry de Forest was one of the founders of Harlem, on theisland of Manhattan, and died there in 1637. 

Jean, sometimes recorded as Johannes, had a small claim against the estate of Henry, though it does not appear certain that he ever crossed the ocean.

Davidvisited New Amsterdam in 1659, and had a son baptized there, but in 1665 had returned to Holland and was guardian to Willem and Rachel de la Montagne grandchildren of his sister Rachel. : Jesse fell sick on October 13, 1624, nine months after the "Pigeon's" departure, from a sunstroke, while exploring. He recovered...until three days later when he died of a second sunstroke.<ref>Vacherie, St. James Parish, Louisiana History and Genealogy. Elton J. Oubre, death p745</ref> : Listed as an ancestor of John W. De Forest in the "American Ancestry" reference volumes by Thomas Patrick Hughes, 1838-1911, published by Joel Munsell's Sons of Albany, New York.<ref name="AmericanAncestry">[https://archive.org/stream/americanancestry003hugh#page/184/mode/2up American Ancestry] : giving name and descent, in the male line, of Americans whose ancestors settled in the United States previous to the Declaration of Independence, A. D. 1776 - Hughes & Munsell - Published 1892 - Volume 3.pdf '''page 185]'''''</ref> 

=== Name ===: Name: Jesse /De Forest/<ref>Source: #S-926516926</ref><ref> Source: #S-550408936: Page: Source number: 192.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: JLM. Note: Ancestry.comText: Birth date: 1575Birth place: Marriage date: 1601Marriage place: APID: 7836::323935</ref>===

Birth ===: Birth: Date: 22 Oct 1576 Place: Avesnes, Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France<ref>Source: #S-926516926</ref><ref>Source: #S-550408936: Page: Source number: 192.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: JLM.Note: Ancestry.com Text: Birth date: 1575Birth place: Marriage date: 1601Marriage place: APID: 7836::323935</ref>

Marriage ===: Jesse des Forests married at Sedan on 23 September 1601 to Marie du Cloux.<ref name="Marriage">

Children

1. Marie, was born in Jul 7, 1602 # Jean (later called Jan or Jehan), July 22nd, 1604, witnessed by Jeanle Vasseur and Magdeleine du Cloux; # Henry (known to us as Hendrick), March 7th, 1606, witnessed by Henryde Lambremont, merchant, and his wife Rachel Aubertin; # Elizabeth, November 1st, 1607, witnessed by Abraham le Groa, goldsmith, and his wife Elizabeth Aubertin; # David, December 11th, 1608 witnessed by David de Lambremont, merchant-dyer at Montcornet, and Marie de Lambremont, daughter of Henry# Jesse, was bp. on Mar 1, 1615 at the Walloon Church of Leiden, Zuid Holland. The baptism was witnesses by: Melchior du Forest, Jan Vekers Jr., Agnes de la Grange a

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!Source info on sealing to parents 1999

!Source info on sealing to parents 1999 IGI film 459878

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Gerard de Forest, born 1583 in Avesnes

Gerard de Forest, born 1583 in Avesnes sur Helpe; died 11.December.1654 in Leyden or Amsterdam, Holland. He was the son of 2176. Jean de Forest and 2177. Anne Maillard. He married 1089. Hester de la Grange 2.August.1611 in Leyden, Holland.

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1. B: LOCATION GS(0,199,807)--ALPHABETIC

1. B: LOCATION GS(0,199,807)--ALPHABETICAL LISTING OF FRENCH HUGEONOT RECORDS. LISTED UNDER DESFORETZ--DEFOREST. 2. EMROLLED AS A COLONEL IN COMPANY ? . IN 1623 HE LEFT WITH SEVERAL WALLOONS DIED ALONG THE WAY. 3. M: FRENCH HUGEONOT INDEX (GS 0,199,815) ALPHABETICAL--DUCLOUX.

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The New Netherland "Nieu Nederlandt" The New Netherland "Nieu Nederlandt" http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~truax/nether.html

Thura Truax Hires wrote:**

While there has been so much written regarding the Mayflower and t

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chief of emigrants of Holland (Huguenots

chief of emigrants of Holland (Huguenots). Founded New Yor k in 1624. Monument built in honor- 1924

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Individual Record FamilySearch™ Pedigre

Individual Record FamilySearch™ Pedigree Resource File

Jessie De Forest Compact Disc #21 Pin #151299 Sex: M

Event(s):

Parents:

Marriage(s): Spouse: Marie Du Cloux <individual_record.asp?recid=210151300> Disc #21 Pin #151300 Marriage: Place:

Notes and Sources: Notes: None Sources: None

Submitter: Brad CORNELISON 1701 Valmora Dr. Stockton, California 95210

Submission Search: 1054596-1015100010335 <search_prf.asp?submission_number=1054596%2D1015100010335&regionfriendly=&region=%2D1&juris1=&juris2=&juris3=&juris4=&juris1friendly=&juris2friendly=&juris3friendly=&juris4friendly=> URL: <> CD-ROM: Pedigree Resource File - Compact Disc #21

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lived Montcornet in 1607, thierache, Ley

lived Montcornet in 1607, thierache, Leyden, Holland in 1615, merchant dyer in Woolen cloth. Had ten children.

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