Voornaeme Geslachte en Eenvoudige Luyde » David PROVOOST (1611-1657)

Personal data David PROVOOST 

• He was baptized on August 11, 1611 in Amsterdam, Oude Kerk.Source 2
• Profession: Wijnkoopman (1637).
• He died on May 12, 1657.
• A child of Guilliam PROVOOST and Janneke EERDEWIJNS

Household of David PROVOOST

He is married to Margriet ten WAERT.Source 3

They got married on August 10, 1637 at Amsterdam.

Child(ren):

1. William PROVOOST  ± 1638-????
2. Margariet PROVOOST  1641-????
3. David PROVOOST  1645-????
4. Benjamin PROVOOST  1646-???? 
5. Elias PROVOOST  1646-????
6. Barbara PROVOOST  1647-????
7. Samuël PROVOOST  1648-????
8. Jonathan PROVOOST  1651-????
9. Barber PROVOOST  1653-????
10. Gillis PROVOOST  1656-????

Notes about David PROVOOST

David Provoost was baptized 11 Aug 1611 in the Oudekerk, Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands, the son of Wilhelmus Provoost and Jenne Eerdewijns. He had three brothers, two older, Guilliame and Elijas, and one younger, Benjamin, and two sisters, one older, Maijke, and one younger, Janneke. As a young man, David arrived for the first time in America, in the service of the West India Company but later returned home.
David married Margriet Gillissen ten Waert 10 August 1637 in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands. Margriet was baptized 17 Dec 1617 in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands. She was the daughter of Gillis Jochimsz and Beijken Schuts. She had four older sister, Margriet (died young), Agniet (who married David's brother, Elijas), Barbara, and Elijsabeth, two younger brothers, Jochem (died young) and Jochem, and one younger sister, Cornelia. At the time of their marriage, David was a winedealer living on the Heerenmarkt in Amsterdam and Margriet was living in the Harnde alley in Amsterdam.
David and Margriet moved to New Netherland in about 1635. Here, David served as a commissary of provisions for the West India Company in 1638 and, in the winter of 1639-40, he was appointed as an inspector of tobacco. He, however, lost his place as a commissary. In 1643, they were still living in New Amsterdam, when David was granted a lot there.
David was commissioned "to take possession of the Mouth of the Fresh River in the sound having under his command about fifty or sixty soldiers", building a fort in what is now Connecticut. Controversy came in 1646, when the Dutch accused the English at the Colony of New Haven of encroaching on their territory. An argument ensued in which the English complained that the Dutch at Fort Good Hope had harbored a runaway slave and that, when the English sent a watch to retrieve her, David Provoost had "resisted the guard, drew his rapier against them, and broke it on their arms; after which he withdrew into the fort, where he defended himself, successfully, against these invaders, of what he considered, his just jurisdiction."
After about seven years at the fort, David and Margriet returned to New Amsterdam, where David became a notary public, in which capacity he served until his death. In 1653, he was a sergeant in the Burgher Corps of New Amsterdam. He was made the first schout (sheriff) of Breukelen (now Brooklyn) and remained so until 1656. He also served as an attorney. According to his grandson, he "was an Extraordinary writer and penman", excelled in cartography, received a liberal education, and "spoke Latin, French, & Dutch Equal". David died 12 May 1657, according to his grandson, David Provost, presumably in New Amsterdam.

Do you have supplementary information, corrections or questions with regards to David PROVOOST?
The author of this publication would love to hear from you!

Timeline David PROVOOST

Click on the names for more info. Symbols used:  grandparents    parents    brothers/sisters    children