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Andrew J. Provost collection of Bushwick, N.Y., family papers

Call Number

1977.180

Date

1709-1859, inclusive

Creator

Provost, Andrew J.

Extent

1.6 Linear Feet in two folders and one oversize flat box

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Abstract

The Andrew J. Provost collection of Bushwick, N.Y., family papers includes documents compiled by Provost and his son likely in connection, at least in part, with their genealogical research and writings. The documents include deeds, indentures, wills, and property maps ranging from 1653 to 1835, some with certifications and other official notations ranging to 1859. The earliest original document is 1709; documents dated from the 1600s are nineteenth century certified copies. The materials concern Bushwick (Kings County, N.Y.) families and property, including that in the Greenpoint section (now part of the New York City borough of Brooklyn). Surnames appearing in the collection include Arundius, Bennet, Calyer, Cappoens, Meserole/Miserol, Praa, Provost, and Volckertsen, among others.

Biographical / Historical

Andrew J. Provost (1834-1925) was born in New York City but lived all but his earliest years in Bushwick, Brooklyn and Queens County (N.Y.). His ancestors, which included the Provost and Praa families, had roots in Bushwick (including the Greenpoint area of Bushwick) dating to the 1600s. Provost was an attorney and held various public offices in Kings and Queens counties. The collection, though, centers on Provost's interest as a historian and genealogist. In that capacity, in 1895, Prevost published Biographical and Genealogical Notes of the Provost Family from 1545 to 1895.

Provost's son, Andrew J. Provost, Jr. (1867-circa 1960), was a civil engineer. He also had an interest in history and genealogy. He was the author of several family histories, including books on the Calyer, Titus and Hendrickson families. A unifying theme of his writings, other than their connection to the Provost family, was the connection to Bushwick, a town until it became part of the city of Brooklyn in the mid-nineteenth century (Brooklyn itself becoming consolidated into New York City in 1898). Provost, Jr.'s interest in Bushwick and its families culminated in his 3 volume Early Settlers of Bushwick, Long Island, New York, and Their Descendants.

Principal sources for the above information, for genealogical information about the names appearing in the collection, and for references to some of the documents: Andrew J. Provost, Biographical and genealogical notes of the Provost family from 1545 to 1895 (on the Brooklyn Historical Society library shelves at call number CS71.P748.1895) and Andrew J. Provost, Jr., Calyer family: a monograph of Jochem Caljer, a citizen of New Amsterdam from about 1640 to 1658 and his descendants (BHS call number CS71.C6555.1951).

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in rough chronological order; for transcribed documents, the date used was that of the original document. Oversize documents are in a separate flat box.

Scope and Contents

The Andrew J. Provost collection of Bushwick, N.Y., family papers includes documents compiled by Provost likely in connection, at least in part, with his writing of Biographical and Genealogical Notes of the Provost Family from 1545 to 1895. These documents were likely also referred to by Provost's son, the donor of the collection, for his writings in family history. The documents include deeds, indentures, and wills ranging from 1653 to 1835, some with certifications and other official notations ranging to 1859. The earliest original document is 1709; documents dated from the 1600s are nineteenth century certified copies. The materials concern Bushwick (Kings County, N.Y.) families and property, including that in the Greenpoint section. There are a small number of manuscript property maps in the collection, including one showing the Bushwick land inherited by the four daughters of Peter and Maria (nee Hay) Praa. Surnames other than Praa and Provost appearing in the collection include Arundius, Bennet, Calyer, Cappoens, Meserole/Miserol, and Volckertsen, among others.

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers without restriction.

Conditions Governing Use

The material is in the public domain.

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, date (if known); Andrew J. Provost collection of Bushwick, N.Y., family papers, 1977.180, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Historical Society.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection is credited with having been compiled by Andrew J. Provost (1834-1925). It was donated to the Long Island Historical Society (now Brooklyn Historical Society) in April 1948 by his son, Andrew J. Provost, Jr.

Separated Materials

The item level inventory dating from the original accession of 1948 indicates that the collection held three maps. At some point these were separated from the collection. During processing in 2012 an attempt was made to find the three maps. Three maps found in Brooklyn Historical Society's Map Collection conformed to the description in the inventory and were returned to the Provost papers.

Related Materials

Brooklyn Historical Society holds at least two related collections:

Andrew J. Provost letter (call number 1977.562) detailing the history of two oil paintings of Captain Pieter Praa and his daughter Christine.

Peter Praa certificate (call number 1977.355), which is a photostat copy of a certificate, dated 1702, appointing Praa a Captain in the Bushwick Militia.

Other Finding Aids

An item level inventory of the collection in PDF can be found on Brooklyn Historical Society's on-line catablog, Emma. A paper copy is also kept with the collection.

Collection processed by

Larry Weimer

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 11:15:13 +0000.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: Finding aid is written in English.

Processing Information

The collection was processed in January 2012 by Larry Weimer.

Repository

Brooklyn Historical Society

Container

Box: A0046 (Material Type: Text)
Box: 2 (Oversize) (Material Type: Text)
Center for Brooklyn History
128 Pierrepont Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201