Brief Life History of Jan
When Jan Pietersen was born in 1708, in Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States, his father, Pieter Gerbrandsen, was 33 and his mother, Chrystyntje Juriaens Van Ripen, was 31.
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World Events (3)
1776
Thomas Jefferson's American Declaration of Independence endorsed by Congress. Colonies declare independence.
1776 · The Declaration to the King
"""At the end of the Second Continental Congress the 13 colonies came together to petition independence from King George III. With no opposing votes, the Declaration of Independence was drafted and ready for all delegates to sign on the Fourth of July 1776. While many think the Declaration was to tell the King that they were becoming independent, its true purpose was to be a formal explanation of why the Congress voted together to declare their independence from Britain. The Declaration also is home to one of the best-known sentences in the English language, stating, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."""""""
1776 · The Battle of Brooklyn, the Largest Battle in the American Revolutionary War
After the British left Boston, George Washington correctly anticipated an invasion of New York City and split forces between Brooklyn and Manhattan. The morning of August 27, 1776, the British advanced toward the marshy American camp. American General, William Alexander, Lord Sterling, led 400 Maryland soldiers against thousands of British troops led by General Charles Cornwallis. The “Maryland 400” were unable to defeat such numbers and surrendered. The British killed and captured over one thousand Americans, however, they failed to capture Washington and his army. Allowing Washington to escape changed the course of American history. After occupying Brooklyn for seven years, the British surrendered in 1783. The Maryland Monument, erected in 1895, now stands in Brooklyn in honor of the “Maryland 400” who fought that day. A quote by George Washington on the monument reads, “Good God! What brave fellows I must this day lose.” The loss of this battle helped win the Revolutionary War.
Name Meaning
Some characteristic forenames: Scandinavian Erik, Nels, Lars, Niels, Jorgen, Holger, Anders, Einer, Aksel, Bent, Gunner, Knud.
Danish, Norwegian, Dutch, and North German: patronymic from the personal name Peter .
Americanized form of Norwegian and Danish Pedersen or Pettersen .
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
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