FATHER

Jesse De Forest

MOTHER

Marie du Cloux

WIFE

Sarah du Trieux

CHILDREN

1. Jesse De Forest
    bap. 9 Nov 1642
    d. young

2. Susannah De Forest
    bap. 22 Jan 1645
    m. 10 Jan 1665 Peter de Reimer
    d. 5 Oct 1705

3. Gerrit De Forest
    bap. 21 May 1646
    d. young

4. Gerrit De Forest
    bap. 10 Jun 1647
    d. young

5. Marie De Forest
    bap. 10 Jan 1649

6. Michiel De Forest
    bap. 10 Jan 1649
    d. young

7. Johannes De Forest
    bap. 27 Mar 1650
    m. 8 Jun 1673 Susannah Verlet
    d. 4 Oct 1687

8. Philip De Forest
    bap. 28 Jul 1652
    m. 5 Jan 1676 Tryntje Kip
    d. Aug 1727

9. Isaac De Forest
    bap. 25 Apr 1655
    m. 4 Sep 1681 Lysbeth van der Spiegel

10  Hendrick De Forest
    bap. 8 Sep 1657
    m. 5 Jul 1682 Femmetje (Phoebe) Van Flaesbeck
    m. Abt. 1705 Barbara Spong
    d. Bef. 27 Apr 1715

11. David De Forest
    bap. 1 Aug 1660
    d. young

12. David De Forest
    bap. 19 Dec 1663
    d. young

13. Maria De Forest
    bap. 7 Jul 1666
    m. 15 Jun 1687 Bernard Darby

14. David De Forest
    bap. 7 Sep 1669
    m. Abt. 1696 Martha Thompson
    d. 20 Apr 1721

Written by Tammy McJannet and found on Ancestry.com

Source: A Walloon Family in America by Emily Johnston De Forest, 1914

Isaac's father, Jesse, a cloth dyer and merchant, was born in Avesnes, Hainaut, (now part of Belgium) which had belonged to France but was then part of the Spanish Netherlands. The family moved to Sedan prior to 1601.  As Huguenots they were fleeing religious persecution.  By 1615 the whole family had moved to Leyden, Holland (where many of the Puritans from England were also now living).  Isaac was born there and grew up listening to his father plan his own Virginia Colony.  His father died when he was about eight and his older brother, Hendrick about eighteen.  Twelve years later Hendrick, Isaack and their sister Rachel set sail for the new colony of Rensselaerswyck on the Hudson River.  On March 5, 1637, the ship anchored off Manatans. Isaack was 21. His brother, Hendrick, died shortly thereafter in July 1637.

Isaac received a grant for a "bouwery", a narrow strip of land nearly a mile in length.   He probably raised tobacco while he lived with his sister, but in 1641 when he married Sarah du Trieux he made a contract to build his own house on his own bouwery.  Isaac was a prosperous merchant and was involved in many land deals.  In 1653 he purchased a house on Brouwer Street which is now known as Broad Street.  By 1657 he had formed a partnership with Johannes Verveelen for a very successful brewery.  "Not every one could pursue this trade; for the authorities in their efforts to have only really good beer on sale had passed a stringent ordinance that 'only those shall be brewers who are known to have sufficient skill in the art.' " 

Isaac was also very involved in public affairs.  "He was made one of the 'orphan masters of New Amsterdam,' and there were, alas, may orphans in those days when so many fathers had been butchered by Indians.  Sometimes the orphan masters had to ransom children whom savages had carried off.  Isaac in this capacity once paid 60 guilders ransom for a little boy and 94 guilders for a little girl. --  When in 1655 there was a proposal to repave Brouwer Street, he united with the nine other property owners on that street who offered to bear the cost themselves.

The English took possession of the Dutch colony in 1664.  Isaac had been away and returned just as the English were surrounding the area.  He was arrested by the British and subsequently released.  He reported to the Dutch authorities that he had seen 800 soldiers.  "After the surrender had taken place the citizens had discovered that the English force was no stronger than that of the Dutch, great indignation was expressed against poor Isaac, who 'greatly exaggerating the English force, was believed.' "

"July 25, 1674, two years after Isaac made his will, he was mentioned for the last time on the court records. His case was postponed till the next court day, probably because of illness on his part.  At any rate, we know that he died soon afterward, aged fifty-six.."

In his will Isaac named their seven children as their "only and universal heirs": Susannah, Johannes, Philip, Isaac, Hendricus, Maria, and David.  Susannah, their eldest, was aged twenty-seven, and David, their baby, was less than three years old.

Baptism of Isaack De Forest film 118976 image 68

Marriage of Isaac De Foreest and Sara du Treux

1641 09 Jun; Isaacq de Foreest, jm van Leyden; Sara du Treux, jd van N. Nederlt

Abstracts of Wills," Vol. I., published by The New York Historical Society.

"In the name of God, Amen. Know all men who shall see this present Publick instrument, that in the year 1672, the 4th day of June, being Tuesday, in the morning about 9 o'clock, in the presence of me, Wm Bogardus, Notary Public, and the under-written witnesses, appeared Mr. Isaac De Forrest, brewer of this city, and Sarah Tenix, his lawful wife, the testator being sick, but the testatrix sound of body." They make their children Susannah De Forrest, wife of Peter De Reimer, Johanes, Philip, Isaac, Hendrick, Maria and David, "and the children which in the future by God's blessing may come," sole heirs to all the estate.  The survivor having the use of all during life.  They make their cousin Jacob Kip, and their trusty and known friend Simon Jansen Romeyn, tutors and overseers of the children."

Witnesses, Isaac Kipp, Arent Isaacs

Benj'am Fletcher, Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief, To all, etc.. Whereas Isaac De Forerest and Sarah his wife are both deceased.  Letters of Administration are granted to his eldest son Johannes De Forest, and Henry De Forrest, his brother.  December 19, 1692.