JOURNEY TO A NEW LAND: The Bradt Family in History

Written as a social history, this book involves the Bradt family originating with two brothers from Fredrikstad, Norway, perhaps as descendants of the Vikings. It traces their journey to the Netherlands and in 1637, to North America. The author surveys the family's establishment in Albany and Schenectady, New York State. She traces their exploits and escapades through the era of the American Revolution, including the families that moved to Ontario, Canada at the end of the Eighteenth Century as United Empire Loyalists. It is a story of sheer heroism and bravery, challenging the forces of nature to wrest a homeland from the forested frontier, and challenging the political forces as the Dutch were confronted by conflict with English, French and native powers. In the end they were dispersed across the North American continent in both the United States and Canada. The progeny from the two brothers who sailed from Amsterdam in 1637 now numbers in the thousands across North America 360 years later.

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CONTENTS:

     PREFACE

     FOREWORD by Cynthia Brott Biasca

1.  NORWEGIAN BEGINNINGS
    Family Origin 
    Topography of Norway
    The Prehistoric Period - prior to A.D. 780
    The Viking Age - 780 to 1030
    Language and Literature
    Religion
    Politics
    The Middle Ages - 1030 to 1536
    Norway Under Danish Rule - 1536 to 1814

2.  THE NETHERLAND YEARS
    Topography
    Early History
    The Middle Ages
    Under the Spanish Domain
    The Dutch Economy
    The West India Company
    Religion in the Early Years of Settlement
    Education
    Patroonships Established 
    Albert and Arent go to New Netherland

3.  THE EARLY YEARS IN NEW NETHERLAND
    Topography
    Early History
    Arrival in the Colony of Rensselaerswyck
    Becoming Established in the Colony
    Inadequate Numbers of Settlers
    The Fur Trade
    The Sawmill

4.  PUTTING DOWN PERMANENT ROOTS IN RENSSELAERSWYCK
    The Tobacco Plantation
    The Illegal Fur Trade   
    Rensselaerswyck Under Arent van Curler
    Adriaen van der Donck Arrives in the Colony
    Religion in the Early Years of Rensselaerswyck
    The Year 1643

5.  CHANGES IN NEW NETHERLAND ABOUT 1650
    A Second Patroon for Rensselaerswyck
    Conflict Over the Fur Trade
    Albert and Arent Change Occupations
    Pieter Stuyvesant Arrives in New Netherland
    A Director for Rensselaerswyck
    Arent Marries Catalyntje de Vos
    Unrest in Rensselaerswyck
    Jan Baptiste van Rensselaer Arrives in the Colony
    Domine Gideon Schaats Arrives in Rensselaerswyck 
    Education in New Netherland
    Establishing the Town of Beverwyck
    New Events in the Lives of Albert and Arent

6.  NEW NETHERLAND DURING THE 1650s
    Adriaen van der Donck's Book
    Competition for the Fur Trade
    The Trading Season in Beverwyck
    Home Life in Beverwyck and Rensselaerswyck
    How Families Dressed
    Special Occasions
    Changes in Beverwyck and Rensselaerswyck
    Albert's Activities in the late 1650s

7.  THE LAST YEARS OF NEW NETHERLAND
    Expansion in New Netherland
    Upheaval in the Lives of Albert and Catalyntje
    Conflict Between Beverwyck and Schenectady
    Rensselaerswyck Between 1660 and 1664
    Slavery in New Netherland
    New Netherland Succumbs to the British

8.  NEW NETHERLAND BECOMES NEW YORK
    The First Decade of English Rule
    Family Changes in the 1660s
    Establishing Schenectady
    Tensions in New York
    Changes in New York
    Religion in New York
    Unexpected Events During the 1670s

9.  YEARS OF TURMOIL IN NEW YORK
    Albert's Last Years
    Albany in the 1680s
    Children of Arent and Catalyntje
    Schenectady in the 1680s
    The Leisler Rebellion
    The Schenectady Massacre
    The Effects of the Massacre on the Family
    In the Aftermath of the Massacre

10. NEW YORK TO THE MID-1700s
    Land Acquisitions
    Conflict Between the English and the French
    Albany in the 1700s
    The Family in Schenectady
    Schenectady Politics
    Changes in Patterns of Living

11. PRE-INDEPENDENCE YEARS
    William Johnson Arrives in the Mohawk Valley
    England and France at War Again
    Tensions Increase Over the Fur Trade and Land Grants
    The French and Indian War
    The Family in Schenectady
    The Years Following French Aggression
    The Beginnings of the American Revolution
    Albany's Involvement in the Rebellion
    The First and Second Continental Congresses

12. THE LOYALISTS
    Background Conflicts
    The Loyalists' Approach to Conflict
    Consequences for the Loyalists
    Family Loyalists
    The Johnsons and the Butlers
    Raids on the Valleys
    Family Involvements in the Revolution
    The Loyalists in Canada
    Settlement at Niagara
 
    BIBLIOGRAPHY

    INDEX

     PHOTOGRAPHS
    A Norwegian Fjord
    A Norwegian Viking
    A Stave Church in Norway
    The Gamle Kirken in Glemmen, Fredrikstad
    The Interior of the Gamle Kirken
    Baptismal Font in the Gamle Kirken, dating from about 1200
    The Oude Kerk in Amsterdam
    The Pulpit in Oude Kerk

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