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Deacon's Accounts 1652-1674 from Dutch Reformed Church By Rick Van Valkenburg (Br 5) Rick attends Middle Collegiate Church in New York City, founded as the original Dutch Reformed Church of New Amsterdam where Jochem, son of our ancestor Lambert and Annetje VV, was baptized in 1646. A couple of weeks ago it was my privilege to attend Mission 2000, a Millenium Celebration of Pentecost by members of the Reformed Church of America from all over the country. Looking at the RCA bookshop, a title grabbed my attention: "Deacon's Accounts 1652 - 1674, First Dutch Reformed Church of Beverwijck/Albany" (ISBN 0-89725-342-6). This book, translated from Dutch, is a meticulous accounting of receipts and disbursements made by the Deacons of the Dutch Church. In the index I found some 25 listings for Lambert Van Valkenburgh (Valckenborch, Valckenburch) and wife from 1655 to 1673, all in the form of disbursements. One disbursement is in the form of a loan, others take the form of payment for odd jobs, such as digging post-holes or ditch digging in the Minister's back yard. Other listings are for articles of clothing, a few yards of cloth, a shirt, a pair of shoes, compensation for work in the poorhouse. There is one curious listing: "Disbursements to the needy" October 1665 to Lambert's wife for maternity assistance, 30 guilders. Is this to help her in childbirth or reimbursement for midwifery? Another interesting couple of listings consists of cloth given to Lambert for "Kees Koeye's child". A foster child, adoptee, or needy neighbor? At any rate, this book offers fascinating clues to the life our ancestor lived over 325 years ago. Deacon's Accounts 1652 - 1674, First Dutch Reformed Church of Beverwijck/Albany (Picton Press) is available from the RCA Resources for Ministry Catalog, $30 (item # 5800046149) (1-800-968-7221 Travarca@iserv.net). |