Johannes & Catherine (Van Arsdalen) Dorland
Johannes (John) Dorland was born in 1740 to Abraham & Jane Dorland. He was Christened in the Dutch Church at Harlingen, and in 1754 before their marriage, he and Catherine were accepted as members. John married Catherine Van Arsdallen on June 28th, 1762. John owned a farm in Great Lot 12, and after the death of his father, he sold the farm to Cornelius ten Broeck (Tienbrock) and joined the Low Dutch movement westward; the family located for a time in Berkely Co., Virginia at the sister Colony of Conewago, and during this period it is thought John may have joined the militia and served on the Ohio River. In 1778 they left for Kentucky where they hoped to be given land, but this did not prove to be true, and thus began a series of petitions to the Continental Congress in Williamsburg begging for land; John's name appears on two of these sent in 1780. This is taken from the document of the Petition of the Inhabitants of Kentucky to the Continental Congress of the Dutch in 1780. This is the last documented evidence of John. The winter of 1780 and 1781 was a harsh one for these people due to the weather, disease, and the Indians; many were living Forts in the Harrodsburg area. It is thought that Catherine's husband John Darland was probably killed in and Indian raid. In May, 1781 appearing on a petition seeking land are Catherine Darling, widow and son, Lambert; they each receive 400 acres in Jefferson County. Lambert, Garret, Catherine, and John Darling's names are also an a 1783 Petition to Congress, along with a letter from Rev. Van Harlingen, their former New Jersey pastor, requesting a minister for their area.
Children of Johannes & Catherine Darland
Johannes b:1761 d:1761
Lambert (Lemmy) b:1763
John b:1765
Gerret b:1768
Twins- Margaritha b:1770
Twins- Cathryna b: 1770
John's Signature:
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