Hilldweller
SE Expedition Society
It was a pleasant day, June 7, 1663, in Ulster County, NY, when suddenly everyone's lives were permanently changed. A tenuous peace had suddenly ended and the Second Esopus War had begun with the sacking of Hurley, a small village near Kingston. The Esopus warriors were successful in their attack and removed to the safety of the forest with 43 captives ---- two of whom, Sarah duBois and Joost Van Meteren, just small children at the time, were my ancestors.
Men from the village and Dutch soldiers searched and skirmished for 3 long months until they finally met the Esopus in battle and liberated the captives with the help of a Mohawk scout. During those three months the villagers had traveled across lands that white men had not seen before and, after peace was again established, they purchased considerable acreage, determined to build a new village.
While he was with his Indian captors, Joost had learned the Delaware language and many of their ways. The thrill of the event had lit a candle of wanderlust in the boy and, as he grew, it became apparent that he would be no farmer. He became known as The Indian Trader, The Dutchman on the Hudson.
He and his wife, Sarah duBois Van Meteren, had many children and many adventures. They traveled up and down the Hudson and Delaware Rivers, down to the Potomac, the Shenandoah Valley, and the Smokey Mountains. They and their descendants founded many towns during the years and left a lengthy legacy.
So began our adventure some 350 odd years later, to see some of the countryside that held the fascination of my ancestors, to walk in their footsteps, to gaze upon the valleys and hills as they did, to find their graves, to see their ancient homes, still preserved for posterity in several locations. My roots discovery tour.
My wife Mirtes and I, along with our dog, Jessi D. Wundermutt, left on a journey-of-discovery early in the morning, May 2014. Driving a Jeep Wrangler (equipped with Cooper DISCOVERER ST-Maxx tires) and pulling a Little Guy Silver Shadow teardrop trailer, we made for Price Lake for our first night of camping. Joost had been involved in battles with Catawba Indians in and around the Smokies and it seemed a good place to start. We also camped at Sherando Lake ----- Sherando was what Joost called the Shenandoah at the time.
Bill, Mirtes & Jessi at Price Lake
Men from the village and Dutch soldiers searched and skirmished for 3 long months until they finally met the Esopus in battle and liberated the captives with the help of a Mohawk scout. During those three months the villagers had traveled across lands that white men had not seen before and, after peace was again established, they purchased considerable acreage, determined to build a new village.
While he was with his Indian captors, Joost had learned the Delaware language and many of their ways. The thrill of the event had lit a candle of wanderlust in the boy and, as he grew, it became apparent that he would be no farmer. He became known as The Indian Trader, The Dutchman on the Hudson.
He and his wife, Sarah duBois Van Meteren, had many children and many adventures. They traveled up and down the Hudson and Delaware Rivers, down to the Potomac, the Shenandoah Valley, and the Smokey Mountains. They and their descendants founded many towns during the years and left a lengthy legacy.
So began our adventure some 350 odd years later, to see some of the countryside that held the fascination of my ancestors, to walk in their footsteps, to gaze upon the valleys and hills as they did, to find their graves, to see their ancient homes, still preserved for posterity in several locations. My roots discovery tour.
My wife Mirtes and I, along with our dog, Jessi D. Wundermutt, left on a journey-of-discovery early in the morning, May 2014. Driving a Jeep Wrangler (equipped with Cooper DISCOVERER ST-Maxx tires) and pulling a Little Guy Silver Shadow teardrop trailer, we made for Price Lake for our first night of camping. Joost had been involved in battles with Catawba Indians in and around the Smokies and it seemed a good place to start. We also camped at Sherando Lake ----- Sherando was what Joost called the Shenandoah at the time.
Bill, Mirtes & Jessi at Price Lake
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