Hi I like to join this project to be able to investigate many DNA matches I have with people with ancestors in New Netherland where I cannot pinpoint the common ancestor. I can also contribute to investigate sources in The Netherlands. My paternal ancestors come from several regions with a concentration in the Isle of Texel, north of the Dutch mainland. The man were mostly sea pilots to guide boats through the dangerous waters between Texel and the mainland or marine officers. Names in that region are Bakker, Boon, Brouwer, Keizer, Koning, Kok, Duijnker, Platvoet, Flens and Zuidewind. Another area is Zeeland in the South west part of the Dutch mainland with names like Lugtenburg, Droogendijck, Laaij and Groen. Many man were working at the Marine base in Hellevoetsluis. The naval history of this group might explain DNA connections in New Netherland. A large group of ancestors from my mothers side were people from the Palatinate in Germany that had to flee for their religion. Most of them went to the British Colonial territories in North America. I see also the name Teffer in New York historic records and in some cases these people have a Jewish background, were I have no Jewish DNA. Unfortunately I can track my direct ancestor Mattheus Teffer only to 1730 to a place called Sondra in Germany. He was a professional soldier and his ancestors may have come from Eastern Europe, were many Jewish people lived and had to flee around 1721.
Hans Teffer, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
