Issac De Forest ^517,518

  Noted events in his life were:

• Immigration, 1 Oct 1636. I sailed for New Amsterdam on October 1, 1636 on the yacht Renselaenwyck, captained by Jean Tiebkins. I arrived in New Amsterdam on March 4, 1637.

• granted. I received a grant for a “bouwery” shortly after my arrival. My land was a narrow strip of land that was nearly a mile long between Jochem Kuyter's and that of Coenraet van Keulen. The land began on Harlem Creek and was opposite of my brother Hendrick De Forest land. My land extended to the east towards the shore of the Hellegat (Harlem River) and was called Muscoota.

Phillipe Du Triuax presented me with some pumpkins upon my arrival in the colony.

• Property, Jul 1641. ⁵¹⁹ A month after we married, I contracted with two Englishmen to erect buildings for me on my own bouwery. The house was to be built on the same design as that of my brother, but with more conveniences. The house was 30 feet long and 18 feet wide with two 4 light windows and two 3 light windows, 4 beams with brackets and 2 free beams. The whole house was to be tight all around in order to secure it against water and snow. Inside, it had a partition between the house and the barn. The kitchen was in a separate building and measured 20 by 16 feet. It was covered with clapboards and included an English chimney. I also built a tobacco house that was 60 feet long. I paid the Englishmen, Jan Habbesen and Jan Merris, 300 Carolus guilders for their work. A high closed fence of heavy round pickets was built surrounding the property as a protection from the Indians.

• Occupation, 1643. I traded in the tobacco business for a time. I leased our land to John Denton and moved my family into the village of New Amsterdam where I opened a tobacco warehouse in a deserted building that used to be the Old Church. Through out my various business ventures, I owned a brewery that was very productive. The authorities in New Amsterdam had passed an ordinance making it possible for only those brewers who were known to have a sufficient skill in the art to be given a license. My malt-house was built near Brouwer Straet near to my new home on Stone street. I also owned a hop-garden and an orchard on Norman's Bight.

• Served. I served my community in 1652 as one of nine men on an advisory committee; 1653 inspector of tobacco; 1655-1656 farmer of the revenue of the weigh-house; elected Schepen in 1656; appointed small burgher in 1657; appointed great-burgher and elected schepen in 1658; and farmer of the tavern excise tax in 1660. I also served as Orphan Master, which required me to be or find guardians for the children whose parents were killed by the Indians or died of other causes. I ransomed many children from the Indians and was often appointed administrator, arbitrator, and holder of trust funds or given power of attorney.

• Occupation. I managed several business allowing me to own several houses and loan money. However, I was not a wealthy man, but rather a man who lived honorably.

I was very involved in the upkeep of the city, in that I was one of the first to volunteer to repair and strength the outer walls. I also helped pave my street with round stones, furnishing the material and the labor.

• Imprisoned, Sep 1664. In September 1664, I was seized and held by the English.

• will, 4 Jun 1672. On June 4, 1672, Sarah and I met with William Bogardus to write our will. I was suffering from poor health at the time.

Issac married Sara Du Trieu, daughter of Phelippe Antoine Du Trieux and Susanna Du Chesne, on 9 Jun 1641 in New Amsterdam, New Netherland. (Sara Du Trieu was born in 1625 in New Netherland, Manhatten, New York and died on 9 Nov 1692 in Manhattan, New York.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Relationship. Our fathers were friends beginning in their days on the homeland as dryers. We were also distantly related through the marriage of Catherine Du Trou and Giles De Forest in 1582.