Schenectady massacre

I decided to write on this topic after my discovery of being a relation to the late Vrooman family of Vrooman's Land, Schoharie, New York, USA. So I guess this Canadian Genealogist has some American roots as the Vrooman family were one of the first settlers of New Amsterdam.

 Engeltie Barentse Blom was born to swedish parents in  New york on May 12, 1652, she married Adam Hendricksz Vrooman. They had at least 6 children with at least one young one being killed in the massacre.

Here is a list of those killed or kidnapped in the attack  (taken from another website) I highlighted and underlined  the ones I am related to. Are you related to any of the first settlers of New Amsterdam?

Schenectady Massacre

Settlers Killed and Captured
This is a list of people who were killed and captured by the French and Canadian Indians who invaded Schenectady, NY on the 9th of February 1689/90 that was posted on the Dutch Colonies Mail List.

YE PEOPLE KILD AND DESTROYED BY YE FRENCH OF CANIDA AND
THERE INDIANS AT SKINNECHTADY TWENTY MILES TO YE
WESTWARD OF ALBANY BETWEEN SATURDAY AND SUNDAY YE
9TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 1689/1690


Aertse, Jorls shott and burnt 1

Alexander, Robt souldr of Capt. Bulls shott 1

Alolff, Mary wife of Cornelis Viele Junr Shott 1

Andries, Daniel & George 2 souldiers of Capt Bull 2

Bratt, Ands Arentse shott & Burnt & also his childn 2

Christoffelse, David & his wife with 4 Children all burnt in there house 6

Church, Serjt of Capt Bull's Compy 1

de Goyer, Jan Roeloffse burnt in ye house 1

Gerritse, Sander ye sonne of Hysbert Gerritse kild & burnt 1

Grant, Ralph a souldler in ye fort shott 1

Harmense, Frans kild 1

Hessellng, Robt shott 1

Jansse, Barent Killd & Burnd his sonne kild 2

Janz, Antje doughter of Jan Spoor kild & burnt 1
Marc ellis, Gerritt and his Wife & childe kiled 3

Pleterse, Wm kild 1

Potman, Joh: kild his wife kild & her scalp taken off 2

Schaets, Reynier and his sonne kild 2

Skermerhoorn, Johannes ye sonne of Symon 1

3 negroes of Symon Skernerhoorn 3

Talmidge, Enos Leift of Capt Bull kild & burnt 1

Tassemaker, Dome Petrus ye Minister kild & burnt In his house 1

Teunise, Sweer shott & burnt his wife kild & burmt 2

4 negroes of ye said Sweer Teunise ye same death 4

Van Eps, Jan and his sonne & 2 of his chilkren kild 4

a negro of dito Van Eps 1

Viele, Mary wife of Dowe Aukes & her 2 children killd 3

and his negro Woman Francyn 1

Vroman, Engel the wife of Adam Vroman shot & burnt her child the brains dashed out against ye wall 2

Vroom an, Hind Meese & Bartholomeus kild & burnt 2
2 negroes of Hind Meese ye same death 2

Wemp, Myndert killd 1
a french girl Prisoner among ye Mohogs kild 1

a Maquase Indian kild 1
In all 60

LYST OF YE PERSONS WHICH YE FRENCH AND THERE INDIANS HAVE
TAKEN PRISONERS ATT SKINNECHTADY AND CARIED TO CANIDA
YE 9TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 1689/90

Baptist, Jan sonne of Jan Van Epps 1

Bouts, Stephen adopted sonne of Geertje Bouts 1

Burt, David belonging to Capt Bull's Compe 1

Gerritse, Stephen ye sonne of Gysbert Gerritse 1

Groot, Abraham, Claes, Dyrck, Phillip & Symon

all 5 sonnes of Symon Groot 5

Harmense, Claes sonne of Franse Harmense 1

Janse, Arnout sonne of Paulyn Janse 1

Marks, Joseph of ye Capt Bull's Compe 1

Purmurent, Lawrence sohne of Claes Lawrence Purmurent

Switts, Isaak Connellse & his eldest Sonne 2

Teller, Johannes and his negro 2

Vedder, Albert & Johannes sonnes of harme Vedder 2

V iele, Arnout ye sonne of Arnout Corn Viele ye Interpr 1

Vroman, Barent ye sonne of Adam Vroman & ye neger 2
Webb, John a souldier Belonging to Capt Bull 1

Wemp, John sonne of Myndt Wemp & 2 negroes 3

a negro of Barent Janse
In all 27

My discovery of Bernard of Italy

Hey folks, its been a very hot busy summer this year I missed my weekend website review. I'll return to that this coming weekend.

I am currently looking for some good genealogy books, so if you have any recommendations please feel free to comment and let me know. I'm looking for one that deals with online genealogy. I love learning and I collect alot of genealogy books.

Okay so I've been sitting around working on my tree and discovered I am related to Bernard of Italy. He seems to be an interesting fellow. And I can't even imagine what life would have been like in 797. I am glad I was not born then! Apparently poor Bernard was blinded because it was believed that he was plotting against family members. Poor guy died is agony from being blinded with a red hot stiletto to the eyeballs. 
And yes folks, it is possible to get that far back in your tree if you work hard at it. It takes time and patience as well. 

Weekend Website Review & Rating

Ancestry.ca has got to be my favorite genealogy website. Its excellent in many different ways but I find it great for people just starting off. Its easy to navigate, and easy to expand your tree in very little time. To all you new people out there, just dont rely on hints. Looks for actual records with proof of that family member you are searching I came across a few of my actual living relatives on ancestry. This is a very excellend website and they also offer a DNA service that Im on a waiting list for.

So I give this website a 9/10 for experts and beginners alike.