My ninth great grandfather was Roeloff Swartwout. He was born in
Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1634. Roeloff traveled to New Amsterdam in
1652 and was involved in the history and the development of the
present day state of New York. In 1660, he was appointed and temporarily
served as
the
shout (sheriff) of the settlement of Esopus and later was
recorded as justice of the peace of Ulster. Roeloff
was involved in the second Esopus War and was
also instrumental in founding the Dutch Reformed Church in Kingston. By 1708 Roeloff settled down and purchased land in what is now known as Albany and Ulster counties. Roeloff Swartwout died in 1715 in Hurley, New York.
A few months ago I was able to visit Amsterdam and I was humbled and
overwhelmed by the simplicity and splendor of the Oude-Kerk where Roeloff, my ninth great grandfather, was baptized on June 1, 1634.
The Oude-Kerk was founded around 1213 in Amsterdam, Netherlands and is Amsterdam's oldest parish church.
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| Oude-Kerk, Amsterdam | | | | | | | | | | |
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The beautiful floor is made up of the gravestones of those buried
beneath the church.
The graceful arched roof is wooden. |
