The DeFreest Family History
The family name originated from the village of Forest in the canton of Landrecies near Avesnes, France. The first record of the de Forest family was published in 1660 by Jean le Carpentier in his history of Cambresis in which he mentions Hubert de Forest, a Chevalier of the First Crusade in 1096. Between 1111 and 1120, Gerard de Forest witnessed a gift made by the Countess of Flanders and the Durchess of Lorraine in St. Amanden-Pevele. In 1171, Hugues de Forest and his brother Gilles made a gift of land to the Abbey of Marchiennes. A little later, in 1180, the Chevalier Ansel de Forest of Cambresis is mentioned as having sold "church tenths". Records of 1221 mention Gautier de Forest as Provost of Quesnoy and Bailli of Ghent. Seven years later, in 1228, Walter de Forest was Bailli of the Counties of Flanders and Hainaut, and a Pierre de Forest is mentioned in records of 1233. In 1383 to 1384 the records of the Count of Hainaut speak of purchasing two pigs from Jehan de Forest at a feast held in honor of St. Jehan in Quesnoy. There are other references to Jehan de Forest during this same period. In 1408, Thomas de Forest was taxed in the domain of Forest, and in 1436 there is mention of a freehold held by the Abbey and acquired from Thomas de Forest. In 1466, Pierre de Forest is mentioned in connection with several houses, fields and lands. In 1491, there is mention of Gilles, Gaspard and Melchoir de Forest.
Melchoir de Forest I, son of Gaspard de Forest b. 1450, Mother unknown, was born 1472, was a Jure d'Avesnes in 1517. He was a Sheriff or Alderman in Avesnes, Hainaut County in 1517 and in 1519. He was considered a wealthy man, and a large land holder.
Melchoir de Forest II, son of Melchoir de Forest I, was born 1497. He was Jure d'Avesnes in 1526 to 1527. He married Jacquelin Bronchin. He was a brother of "Maistre Jehan de Forest, pretre" and "notaire apostalique (acte du 18 Mai, 1541), Chaplain de St. Pierre de Louvain en 1562". Considered a wealthy man, he owned land and a house on the Marche (border) which he gave to his daughter, Marguerite de Forest Levacq; a house at Guersignies, sold on October 3, 1545, and at Avesnalles-St. Denis, a small field of land, as well as annuities and other property. He lived in the Sottiere, a land bordering on the Brotherhood of St. Jean.
Melchoir de Forest III, son of Melchoir de Forest II, was born 1521. He married in 1541, Catherine du Fosset. He was a member of the brotherhood of St. Nicholas in 1543, and in 1562 was Sheriff of Avesnes.
Jean de Forest, son of Melchoir de Forest III, was born 1543. He married Anne Maillard. Jean's brother Gilles was a prominent Canon of the Catholic Church. Jean left Avesnes around 1598, at the time of the Edict of Nantes, and moved to Sedan.
Jesse de Forest, son of Jean de Forest, was born in 1576. On Sunday, September 23, 1601, he married Marie du Cloux. After living in Sedan briefly, Jesse moved to Montcornet in 1609, and later moved to Leyden, Holland where he made his home on the Breedestraet. Jesse served with Prince Maurice of Nassau, as a Lieutenant and Captain.
In 1621, the Walloons and Huguenots of Leyden, Holland planned to follow the Puritans to America (then called the West Indies). Jesse de Forest was acclaimed the leader and spokesman for the band when the exiles approached the British Ambassador at The Hague regarding their settling in Virginia. The English turned down his petition to establish a colony in Virginia. It was Jesse's desire to establish a Colony in the New World, so that the Walloons could practice their Reformed Religion without persecution. He then sought permission from the Dutch to establish a colony in what is now New York City. He was granted permission. He assembled approximately 60 families of French Speaking Walloons and Dutch for the settlement in New Amsterdam, New Netherland. The first permanent settlers arrived in New Amsterdam May 1624. Today, there is a Monument in Battery Park, New York City called the Walloon Settlers Memorial. That monument was given to the City of New York by the Belgian Province of Hainaut in honor of Jesse's inspiration in founding New York City. Baron de Cartier de Marchienne, representing the Belgian King and Government, presented the monument to Mayor John F. Hylan, for the City of New York May 18, 1924. There is also a monument in Jesse's honor in Avesnes, France, the College Jesse de Forest and Jesse de Forest Avenue.
Click here for an interesting link to the Founding of New York City
Click here to see pictures of the Monument in Avesnes, France
Isaac DeForeest, Jesse's son, arived from Leyden, Holland, March 5, 1637. Isaac made the voyage aboard the ship, Rensselaerwyck. This ship was jointly owned by Isaac's uncle, Gerard DeForest, and Killian Van Rensselaer. The name de Forest, underwent several tranformations due to the Dutch and English influence. The name became DeForeest because of the Dutch. Spelling at that time was not as important as to how the name was pronounced. If it sounded a certain way, it had to be spelled a certain way. To the Dutch, this was the correct way.
Philip DeForeest, Isaac's son was born July 28, 1652 in New Amsterdam. Philip eventually settled in Beverwyck, NY. Today, Beverwyck is known as Albany, NY. It is here that the name was once again transformed. DeFreest became the common spelling of the DeForest name in the Albany area of New York State. It was in Greenbush, NY, across the Hudson River from Albany, that most of the DeFreest family had lived. It is in their honor that the Hamlet of DeFreestville received its name. Philip did have three brothers that carried on the family name in Connecticut, New York City and Long Island, NY. Isaac was born April 25, 1655 in New Amsterdam and continued to live and raise his family in New Amsterdam. His branch basically kept the spelling DeForeest. Hendrick was born September 9, 1657 in New Amsterdam and is the founder of the Long Island branch. The spelling here is found as DeForest and DeForeest. The last born David, born September 7, 1669 in New York City was the founder of the Stratford, Connecticut branch. Here the spelling of the name is DeForest. There are some exceptions to these findings. But for the most part, this is what has been found to be MOST consistent. To say that you won't find someone with the spelling DeForest in Albany is wrong. The name DeFreest even went through a small transformation during the early 1800's to DeFriest.
The Monument in Battery Park - New York City
Celebrating The 300th. Anniversary of the Founding of New York City
Bottom Inscription: 1624 - 1924
PRESENTED TO THE CITY OF NEW YORK BY THE CONSEIL PROVINCIAL DU HAINAUT IN MEMORY OF THE WALLOON SETTLERS WHO CAME OVER TO AMERICA IN THE NIEU NEDERLAND UNDER THE INSPIRATION OF JESSE DE FOREST OF AVESNES THEN COUNTY OF HAINAUT ONE OF THE XVII PROVINCES
The Inscription on the Monument
Here are the LINKS to my other pages:
DeFreest/DeForest Genealogy - Updated July 2, 2009
DeFreests in the American Revolution
