Low Dutch

On By mcphilbrickIn Demarest, Dutch, Harris, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Van Arsdale

Have you ever felt like finding one ancestor opens a door to an abundance of historical information about a group of ancestors? That’s the experience I’m having after finding a small thread of information connecting Rachel Harris Currey to her father, Peter Harris and grandfather, Daniel Harris.

While the HARRIS surname is likely of English origin, many of Rachel’s ancestors trace their roots back to the Dutch settlement of New York. Several of these Dutch settlers appear to have migrated together, going first to New Jersey. From New Jersey, they migrated to the Conowago settlement in Pennsylvania and then to Kentucky where they are known as the ‘Low Dutch Settlement’.

Using the term, ‘low dutch’, I was able to locate a wealth of information about these settlements and the families in The Gettysburg Times on Newspapers.com. While there could be more that I didn’t find, I’ve identified three different sets of articles published in 1925, 1942 and 1961. Below is a list of what I found. (Note: I took liberty with some of the references to identify the subject of the article.)

1925

  • Demarest, Rev. Dr., “History of the Low Dutch Colony of Conowago: Chapter 1,” The Gettysburg Times, 31 Aug 1925, page 4
  • Demarest, Rev. Dr., “History of The Low Dutch Colony of Conowago: Chapter 2,” The Gettysburg Times, Sept 7, 1925, page 4
  • Demarest, Rev. Dr., “History of the Low Dutch Colony of Conowago: Chapter 3,” The Gettysburg Times, 14 Sep 1925, page 4
  • Demarest, Rev. Dr., “History of the Low Dutch Colony of Conowago: Chapter 4,” The Gettysburg Times, 21 Sep 1925, page 4
  • Demarest, Rev. Dr., “History of The Low Dutch Colony of Conowago: Chapter 5,” The Gettysburg Times, 28 Sep 1925, page 4
  • Demarest, Rev. Dr., “History of the Low Dutch Colony of Conowago: Chapter 6,” The Gettysburg Times, 5 Oct 1925, page 4
  • Demarest, Rev. Dr., “History of The Low Dutch Colony of Conowago: Chapter 7,” The Gettysburg Times, 12 Oct 1925, page 4
  • Demarest, Rev. Dr., “History of the Low Dutch Colony of Conowago: Chapter 8,” The Gettysburg Times, 19 Oct 1925 page 4
  • Demarest, Rev. Dr., “History of the Low Dutch Colony of Conowago: Chapter 9,” The Gettysburg Times, 26 Oct 1925, page 4
  • Demarest, Rev., Dr., “History of the Low Dutch Colony of Conowago: Chapter 10,” The Gettysburg Times, 2 Nov 1925, page 4
  • Demarest, Rev. Dr., “History of the Low Dutch Colony of Conowago,” The Gettysburg Times, 3 Nov 1925, page 3

1941-1942

  • MacPherson, B. F., “Backgrounds of Adams County: No. 196” The Gettysburg Times, 14 Jun 1941, page 4.
  • MacPherson, B. F., “Backgrounds of Adams County, No. 223 The Children of the Fifth David Demaree,” The Gettysburg Times, 10 Jan 1942, page 4
  • MacPherson, B. V., “Backgrounds of Adams County, No. 224 Last of the Demarees,” The Gettysburg Times, 17 Jan 1942, page 4
  • MacPherson, B. F., “Backgrounds of Adams County, No. 225 – The Bard Family Captured by Indians,” The Gettysburg Times, 24 Jan 1942, page 4
  • MacPherson, B. F., “Backgrounds of Adams County, No. 230 More Indian History,” The Gettysburg Times, 28 Feb 1942, page 4
  • MacPherson, B. F., “Backgrounds of Adams County, No. 231 Ancestry of Mary Cassatt,” The Gettysburg Times, 7 Mar 1942, page 4
  • MacPherson, B. F., “Backgrounds of Adams County: Odds and Ends of Low Dutch History- Cosine” The Gettysburg Times, 14 March 1942, page 4.
  • MacPherson, B. F., “Backgrounds of Adams County: No. 235 – The Monfort Brothers,” The Gettysburg Times, 4 Apr 1942, page 6.
  • MacPherson, B. F., “Backgrounds of Adams County, No. 236 The Monfort Family,” The Gettysburg Times, 11 Apr 1942, page 8
  • MacPherson, B. F., “Backgrounds of Adams County: No. 237 Monfort Family,” The Gettysburg Times, 18 Apr 1942, page 6.
  • MacPherson, B. F., “Backgrounds of Adams County, No. 238 – The Lashells Family,” The Gettysburg Times, 25 Apr 1942, page 6
  • MacPherson, B. V., “Backgrounds of Adams County, No. 139 More about the Lashells Family,” The Gettysburg Times, 2 May 1942, page 6
  • MacPherson, B. F., “Backgrounds of Adams County: No. 240 Families in the Low Dutch Settlement,” The Gettysburg Times, 9 May 1942 page 6.
  • MacPherson, B. F., “Backgrounds of Adams County, No. 241 Jan and Catriena Kouenover,” The Gettysburg Times, 16 May 1942, page 6
  • MacPherson, B. F., “Backgrounds of Adams County, No. 242 Wilhelmus and Elizabeth Hooghtelain,” The Gettysburg Times, 22 May 1942, page 14
  • MacPherson, B. F., “Backgrounds of Adams County, No. 243 Two Thomas Barton Letters,” The Gettysburg Times, 6 Jun 1942, page 8

1952

  • “A Bit of History about Your Own Adams County,” The Gettysburg Times, 4 Dec 1952 page 15.

1960-1961

  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Indian Captives Returned,” The Gettysburg times, 28 Mar 1960, page 6
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: The ‘Low Dutch’ Settlement,” The Gettysburg Times, 4 Apr 1960 , page 4.
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: The Holland Dutch and French Hugeunots,” The Gettysburg Times, 11 Apr 1960, page 6.
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Brikerhoff,” The Gettysburg Times, 18 Apr 1960, page 6.
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Low Dutch Burials,” 23 Apr 1960, page 3
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: The Lashells Family,” The Gettysburg Times, 30 Apr 1960, page 4
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Big of History about Early Settlers: Buffalo Crossroads Graveyard,” The Gettysburg Times, page 7.
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Lashells,” The Gettysburg Times, 14 May 1960, page 8.
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of Early History about Early Settlers: Cossart,” Teh Gettysburg Times, 21 May 1960, page 5.
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Cassatt” The Gettysburg Times, 30 May 1960, page 7.
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Cassatt,” The Gettysburg Times, 4 Jun 1960, page 7.
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Osborn Family,” The Gettysburg Times, 11 Jun 1960 page 3.
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Fled Wyoming,” The Gettysburg Times, 18 Jun 1960, page 7
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Frontier Warfare,” The Gettysburg Times, 16 Jul 1960, page 6
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Gen Hand,” The Gettysburg Times, 23 Jul 1960, page 10
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Coleman Tragedy,” The Gettysburg Times, 15 Aug 1960, page 6
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Low Dutch,” The Gettysburg Times, 23 Aug 1960, page 5
  • MacPherson, B. F. M. “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Osborn,” The Gettysburg Times, 31 Aug 1960 page 10.
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Van Arsdal,” 2 sep 1960, page 8
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Demaree,” The Gettysburg Times, 12 Sep 1960, page 6
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Demaree,” The Gettysburg Times, 17 Sep 1960, page 4
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Girty,” The Gettysburg Times, 26 Sep 1960, page 12
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Girty,” The Gettysburg Times, 22 Oct 1960, page 6
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Fort Granville,” 30 Oct 1960, page 7
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: The Graves of the Demaree Family,” The Gettysburg Times, 5 Nov 1960, page 23.
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Demaree,” 5 Nov 1960, page 6
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Monfort Family,” Gettysburg Times, 12 Nov 1960 page 3.
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Monforts,” 19 Nov 1960, page 2
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Random Low Dutch Notes,” The Gettysburg Times, 28 Nov 1960 page 6.
  • MaPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Van Arsdal,” The Gettysburg Times, 3 Dec 1960, page 2.
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Johnson-Van Arsdal Family,” The Gettysburg Times, 14 Dec 1960, page 10.
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Bercaw,” The Gettysburg Times, 19 Dec 1960, page 8.
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Bercaw,” 28 Dec 1960, page 8
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers; Bercaw,” 31 Dec 1960, page 3
  • MacPherson, B. F. M. “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: The Kouenover (Conover) Family,” The Gettysburg Times, 7 Jan 1961, page 9.
  • MacPherson, B. F.,M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Again – The Low Dutch (Conover),” The Gettysburg Times, 25 Feb 1961, page 6.
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about early Settlers: The Brinkerhoff Family,” The Gettysburg Times, 10 Mar 1961, page 10
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Brinkerhoff,” The Gettysburg Times, 13 March 1961, page 6
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History About Early Setters: More Brinkerhoff Genealogy,” The Gettysburg Times, 20 Mar 1961 page 7.
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: The Low Dutch Move On (Brinkerhoff),” The Gettysburg Times, 29 March 1961 page 7.
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History About Early Settlers; Brinkerhoffs,” The Gettysburg Times, 10 Apr 1961, page 10
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: More Brinkerhoffs,” The Gettysburg Times, 19 Apr 1961, page 6
  • MacPherson, B. F. M. “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Jan, Pieter, and Cornelius Cosine,” The Gettysburg Times, 4 May 1961, page 12.
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers; Cosine Family,” The Gettysburg Times, 11 May 1961, page 17
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Marie (Cox) Penn,” The Gettysburg Times, 13 May 1961, page 10
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Robeson,” The Gettysburg Times, 29 Jul 1961, page 12
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlrs: The Saltzgiver Family,” The Gettysburg Times, 7 Aug 1961, page 7
  • MacPherson, B. F. M. “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Van Duyn Family,” The Gettysburg Times, 14 Aug 1961, page 7
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Grave Charles Thomson,” The Gettysburg Times, 19 Aug 1961, page 11
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Lt. Wilhelmus Houghton, ” The Gettysburg Times, 25 Oct 1961, page 9
  • MacPherson, B. F, M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: Hooghtelin Family,” The Gettysburg Times, 26 Oct 1961, page 8
  • MacPherson, B. F. M., “A Bit of History about Early Settlers: The Hooghtelin Famaily,” The Gettysburg Times, 26 Oct 1961, page 8

The ‘low dutch’ search term also found articles in Kentucky papers.

  • Edwards, Brenda S., “Dutch Left Marks on Mercer,” The Kentucky Advocate Magazine 15 May 1983 page 3
  • Crawford, Byron, “Remnant Survives of Dutch Settlement,” The Courier-Journal, 20 Aug 2003, page B6.
  • Crawford, Byron, “Low Dutch Meeting House Rises Again,” The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) 5 Nov 2004 page B1.
  • “Dutch Cousins to Gather in Mercer: Early Kentucky History to Be Studied,” The Advocate-Messenger, 31 Aug 2005, page 2.
  • “Dutch Treat: Cousins Plan Reunion in September,” The Advocate-Messenger 18 Mar 2007 page 30.
  • “Dutch Cousins Coming to Harrodsburg,” The Advocate-Messenger” 18 Aug 2009, page 2
  • Leonard, Carolyn B., “Low Dutch Gather in Kentucky This Week,” The Advocate-Messenger, 27 Sep 2011, page 2.
  • Leonard, Carolyn B., “The Low Dutch Cousins Are Coming,” The Advocate-Messenger, 4 Aug 2013 page 23
  • Auchampaugh, Laurel, “From Conewago to Owasco and Back,” The Citizen (Auburn, NY), 23 April 2017, page C1.

Anyone with ancestral lines going back to the Dutch settlement of New York may find a wealth of historical and family information in these articles. My dream is to find similar articles about the Crawford family’s settlement in western Virginia and Kentucky!