"Tall Mary"
Maria Goosens, known as Tall Mary”, emigrated from the Netherlands to New Netherland in 1649. According to the Accounts of Receipts and Disbursements by Brant Van Slichtenhorst, as Director of the Rensselaerswyck – 1648-1650, on November 15, 1649, Jan de Kaper brought “Steven Jans, carpenter, together with his wife, child and baggage up the river” (the North/Hudson River). It was the start of a new life, in a new land, with a new child – their expectations were high and their future seemed limitless. Steven Jansz was a carpenter – a craftsman whose skills were in great demand in 17 th Century Beverwijck. Much toil and sacrifice lay ahead for Maria and Steven but the hoped-for rewards to come were well worth the hardships facing them. To increase their income, Steven and Maria operated a tavern in their home – not an uncommon situation during that period of history. Steven worked ...
