A Walloon Family in America

Jesse DeForest inspired his family and many other Walloons to flee religious persecution in Europe and establish a colony in the new world. That colony was New Amsterdam. You know, it was eventually renamed to New York.

Even old New York was once New Amsterdam. Why they changed it, I can’t say. Maybe they just like it better that way. ~They Might Be Giants

In the early 1900s, the history of Jesse DeForest and the Walloon Fathers was captured in a well written book. In 2021, my daughter and I reformatted the book as an epub. Next year on May 24 is the 400th anniversary of the Walloons’ arrival. I plan on celebrating by being in New York at the Walloon Settlers monument in Battery Park on that day. I hope to see you there!