Most of our migrating ancestors arrived from England, but there were also a significant number from Germany and Holland, and of course our closer in migrating relatives comprise the Irish branch. But we did have some ancestors from other places and a few of them are highlighted here.
Norway
Dirck Volkertszen (Holgersen) (1595-1680)
Dirck Volkertszen (also called Holgersen in some records) is our ninth great grandfather and was from Bergen, Norway. He immigrated to New Netherland about 1630. Soon after arrival, he married Christina Vinge who was born about 1615 in the Nord area of France. Christina’s father died in 1632 and her mother remarried. This led to some disputes between Dirck and his step-father-in-law. There were charges of assault against the stepfather toward Christina and some financial disputes. Dirck and Christina moved from Manhattan to Green Point, Long Island, but due to ongoing skirmishes with the Indians returned to Manhattan about 1644. Manhattan was a more fortified position.
From Scandinavian Immigrants in New York 1630-1674 by John Evjen, p 68
Scotland
Robert Russell, II (1630-1710): Robert is our eighth great-grandfather. Robert Russell immigrated to America in the 1640’s, probably from Scotland, and settled in Andover, Massachusetts, where he acquired a considerable estate called "Scotland Yard." He was the first person buried in the old south parish burying yard of Andover. The South Parish "Burying-yard", as it is named in the earliest parish records, was laid out about the time of the organization of the church.
Sweden
Cornelis Mattysen (1637-?): Cornelis "Nelis" Mattysen was from Stockholm, Sweden. He was one of the founders of Harlem (1661), where he was well esteemed. "By occupation a carpenter and timber-hewer, he was the first tenant of the land first known as the Church farm, from which he cut and cleared the primeval forest trees." His lease on this property expired in 1668, when he left the town and bought a small place at Hellgate Neck, Newtown.
From Scandinavian Immigrants in New York 1630-1674 by John Evjen, 1916, p. 338.
Guernsey, Channel Islands
Elias van Court (1691-1750): Elias van Court is our sixth great-grandfather. Thomas Van Court married Anna Woerker. Their son Elias Van Court was born 1691 in the Parish of St. Andre on the channel island of Guernsey, off the coast of France, and is the earliest known ancestor of the Van Court family to arrive in America. It is not known whether his parents came with him or when and how he arrived. One family tradition is that Elias and two brothers arrived at New York and then migrated to New Jersey. Another tradition is that they landed at Cape May and went up the Delaware River. It is believed that he went to New Jersey about 1715, when he was about 24, and settled in Bound Brook in Middlesex County. Elias was a shoemaker who had a shop in the Janeway store near the Raritan River.
Spanish Netherlands (this area is in current Belgium and Luxemburg, but also parts in France and Germany)
Joris Jansen Rappalje (1604-1663) and Catherine Jeronimus Trico (1605-1689): Catherine and Joris were among the first settlers in New Netherland. They were married January 13, 1624 at the Walloon Church in Amsterdam and on January 25, they boarded a ship for New Netherland. They traveled on the ship Unity captained by Arien Jorise. Catherine was very influential in the new colonies, as was her husband.