W. Duncan MacIntosh's Ancestry

Transcription of 1749 Provoost Manuscript (A transcript of the handwritten manuscript copied by John Provoost from the notes of his uncle,
David Provoost [son of David Provoost & Catharina Lawrence, b. 16 Jan 1669]
and recorded on FHL 0000213)
The most complete version of this transcription by Everett Fogal appears here, or, for an earlier version, see here.

(Indistinct or undecipherable sections are noted with *** in the space. See the original film and advise if you can read it.)

A Genealogy or a Short Collection of the Family of David Provoost of the City and Province of New York in America, a true Account of their descent or Offspring so far as is come to my hands and as much as I could gather & learn out of the Severall Manuscripts left me by my Ancestors since the Year of our Lord Christ, One Thousand five hundred & Seventy two. VIZ:

Gulelmus or Wilhelmus Provoost Born in the City of Paris in the Kingdom of France, now Note that the word Provost is French; the true Original Etymology Signifys a President or Governour of a Colledge also the great Provost the ordinary Judge of the french King *** Provoost Marshall and Officer Appointed to Serve & Secure *** Provoost of the *** is the Chief Magistrate or Mayor of the City of Paris in France.

Now the said Gulelumus Provoost being a young man of Twenty Seven Years of Age, left and fled out of the City of Paris into Holland very soon after that Bloody Horrid Massacre and Barbarous murder done and committed in the City of Paris in the Kingdom of France on St. Bartholomew's Day, the twenty-fourth of August Anno One Thousand five hundred seventy two, by the *** Instigation of the whore of Babylon King Charles the Ninth of France also Cathrina his Tyrannicall *** and the rest of the Antichristian Crew with *** Intent and Absolute Design to *** Protestant Religion out of that Kingdom.

The said Gulielmus Provoost being a Hugenot so called, it is a nickname given by the Papists of France to the Protestants, he could not have Escaped amongst upward of *** Thousand that were murdered in said City, if had not been for a Coll*** who said had been Especially at that time a particular friend secured him the said Provoost of being destoryed in that Cruell and Barbarous Action and by the Collonels help made his escape and soon after got over into Holland and his relations most part of them being at that time Murdered in Paris. What became of the rest, I find nothing noted.

But for this Gulielmus Provoost I find as above said and farther noted of him that about two years after his Arrivall at the City of Amsterdam in Holland, he married a french Daughter also born in Paris in France by whom he the said Gulielmus Provoost Procreated Five Sons by name Johannes, David, Wilhelmus, Elias & Benjamin.

Now this his son Johannes as above was Born at Amsterdam in the year of our Lord Christ one Thousand five hundred and Seventy Six and at his Age of twenty five years he the said Johannes Provoost married a Dutch Girl or Vryster [? not clear], Born also at the City of Amsterdam in holland she was called Elizabeth, by whom the said Johannes Provoost Procreated three sons

Named

Named Elias, Johannes and David, and three Daughters called Maragretta, Sarah & Elizabeth, so much I find noted down of Gulielmus & Johannes Provoost. Now this above named David Provoost Bron in the City of Amsterdam in the Year of our Lord Christ One Thousand and Six hundred & Eight the tenth day of August New Stile, the same David was my Father's Father, our Grandfather, who at his Sixteenth year of his age came into this Country, then called New Netherland under the Obedience of the States General of the United Provinces and the West India Company with the Director or Governor William ***

Anno One Thousand Six hundred and twenty four, in what Employment he came I dont find noted down and after the Expiration of two Years stay in this Country, he our Grand Father returned again to Amsterdam in Holland and at the end of four years after his return, he our said Grand Father David Provoost married a Dutch Merchants Daugher at Amsterdam named Maragreta Tan Waart who wss my or our Fathers Mother and our *** Father's name was Joahim [?] Tan Waart who did *** said Daughter a Nuptial Portion the same *** of Fourteen thousand*** seven hundred & fifty ***
bought, in the *** of the City of ***
Holland Called ***
during Life yearly and every year, which she accordingly did, and after marriage my or our Grandfather, persuaded her our Grandmother to go with

With him into this Country, then called New Netherland as above said he having been here ***
*** persuasion ***
*** have in said Country
our Lord One Thousand Six hundred ***
thought he had at his ***
*** Governour ***
as soon as possible ***
settled everything ***
Extravagant *** occasioned the spending
of his money in misery. Now this David Provoost our Grandfather, after his Arrivall into this Country with his Maragreta, procreated by her the first child a daughter named Maragreta, the Second Child a Son named William, in the City of New York then called New Amsterdam. Soon after he was commissioned by the then Governour or Director William ***
*** commanded to take possession of the Mouth of the Fresh [?] River in the sound having under his command about fifty or sixty soldiers which he accordingly bid and built a good strong Fort, and several houses in the same then called *** de *** Now Called Sea Brook & the River Connecticut [?] so far the Dutch at that time had Extended their Government after afterwards taken by the English Ano One Thousand *** hundred & sixty four. *** it ought to have remained to the Government and *** for New York, however, the people of New England have made an Incroachment so far as to *** by what pretence I cannot Learn. [Here he has just a long, wavy line.]

and at our grandfather's arrivall then soon after sent for his wife & Family, the first Child born there was a son, named Samuell, the Second a Son named David **
[new page] my or our Father and the third Child a Son named Benjamin *** or Father David Provoost was born at Seabrook on Connectticut Rivern then called *** de Goede Hoop [?] the twentieth day of November New Stile in the year of our Lord one Thousand Six Hundred forty two and Baptized at New York then Called New Amsterdam, by the Rever'd Minister Bogardus his Godfathers were the Governour William *** & his Uncle Johannes De La Mo*** who was likewise come to settle in this Country.

Now, after our Grandfather, David Provoost having had the command at Sea Brook, on the Mouth of the Connetticut river, then called *** de Goede Hoop for upwards of seven years he desired the Director of Governour, to be relieved and excused of that command and service who did grant his request and sent to succeed him in that Office or in his Mr. Evert Du***ingh of the City of New York then called New Amsterdam and took the command upon him Accordingly [another wavy line here]

And since his departure from Sea Brook on Connetticut to these parts he had four Children named Elias, Jonathan, Gillis, and one Daughter named Barbara, then returned again to the City of New York then called New Amsterdam, when he our said Grand Father David Provoost was Notary Pulic until he died which was in the year of our Lord Christ One thousand Six hundred fifty seven [?] the twelfth day of May on his fourty nineth year of his age, without any of the least Braggadacio or pride and I can't pass by but will here remark and insert a small *** of what I have seen & learnt out of several ***
[new page]

Severall old papers & writings and also heard *** and speak of by severall old and *** people some years ago that he the said David Provoost our Grandfather was an Extraordinary writer and penman also prefect in Cartography it's said none like him in the Country at that time *** had Liberall Education spoke Latin, French, & Dutch Equal, and had a Brother like *** come & settled in this country the Eldest named Elias who had the same Education, now this Elias Provoost went & settled himself at Albany then called Fort Orange, of whom descended Johannes Provoost and his family some living here at New York and some at Albany. [another wavy line]

And by our Grandmother Maragreta Tan Waart *** who had a sister afore related named Anijenita [?] Tan Waart wife to Johannes Delamon *** was Grandfather to the above named Johannes Delamon *** was Grandfather to the above named Johannes Kip [?]*** and the rest of the Brothers & Sisters by their Mothers Side and the said *** Angenita Tan Waart Grandmother to the same, and our Grandmother Maragreta Tan Waart and her sister aforesaid were nieces to the mother of Doctor Samuel *** late of the City of New York Deceased.

Ano Dom One Thousand Six hundred sixty eight the sixteenth day of May, my or our father David Provoost was married to my or our mother Catherine Lawrence who was born in the city of Amsterdam in Holland in
*** year of our Lord Christ One thousand six hundred and fifty the fourteenth Day of November New Stile being the very time, when Prince William of Orange was born at the Haage afterwards in Ano One Thousand Six hundred & eighty eight & nine, The thirteenth Day of February, Proclaimed King of England *** , Father was married at Flatbush, or Midw*** in Kings County Nassau *** stand by the Reverend Minister Theo Colhemus [?]. Now I'll note the lineage or Nativity of all the Children by said David Provoost and Mother Catharina Procreated together in the City of New York and that in the same manner and *** Father has amongst several other things as above is realted and *** all by him in Dutch set down, I have and will have translated to to English as hear to the subject matter as possible have been able. [another wavy line here]

(1) Ano Dom One Thousand Six hundred sixty nine and seventy the sixteenth day of January Old Stile was born my first Child being a son in the West End of Pearl Street in the City of New York on Monday night about ten of the clock Baptised by the Minister Called Samuell Driesson [?] and named David, his Godfather Jacob Lenningt [?] and Godmother Margreta Tan Waart, my mother

(2) Ano Dom One Thousand Six hundred Seventy & Seventy one, the fifteenth day of March old stile was born, my first daughter on friday morning at one of the clock. Baptised the *** Samuell Driessont [?] and named Elizabeth her godfather Mr. Jacobus Vande Water [?] and her Godmother Juryanse [?] wife of the said Jacobus.

(3) Ano Dom One Thousand Six hundred and Seventy two *** the thirteenth day of August was born my second son on Thursday at two of the clock in the afternoon baptized by the Minister called William Niewhuyser [?] and named William my said son died Ano One Thousand six hundred seventy four, the Second day of february and interred in the Burial place out of the gate of the City, now the English Church Yard.

(4) Ano Dom One Thousand Six hundred & seventy three the third day of September *** October was born my second daughter on Sunday morning at eleven of the clock. Baptized by the Minister William Newenkuyser[?] and named Maragreta. Godfather Mr. Johannes Kip and godmother Maragrita Albert my wife's sister in law.

(5) Ano Dom One Thousand Six hundred and seventy six the twenty third day of September was born my my [sic] third daughter Baptized by the Minister William Niewenhuysen [?] and named Catharina who died Ano One Thousand Six hundred and seventy seven the last day of August. Buried in the burial place without the gate of the City of New York, now the English Churchyard.

(6) Ano Dom One Thousand Six hundred and seventy seven the sixth day of December was born my fourth daughter. Baptized by the Minister William Niewenhuysen[?] and named Catharina her Godfather Mr. Johannes Van *** and her godmother Maritne [?] the wife of Baltharard [?] Byard.

(7) Anno Dom One Thousand Six hundred Seventy nine the twenthy seventh day of September was Born my third Son baptized by the Minister William

TO BE CONTINUED....