American DNA

Jean-Daniel de Tourneur, on the run from the law in France, first travels to Holland to escape capture. He soon marries there, has a son, and then creates an opportunity to start a new life with his family in America. They arrive at the bustling port of New Amsterdam in the summer of 1652, where Tourneur finds himself in the middle of history, becoming one of the founders of Harlem. His bravery in the battle for control of the region makes him an important figure in local politics. But Daniel is also notorious for his temper, creating a paper trail of legal woes, public controversy, and whispered scandal. With the help of obscure court records and countless other documents now available, this booklet tells Daniel's story to a modern audience for the first time.