Life is full of surprises. I recently followed up a reference in Jaap Jacob's 'The Colony of New Netherland' to De Halve Maen, 42-4(1968) pages 7-8, 10, 15 which turned out to be an article by Dr Kenneth Scott of the City University NY. The article is based on travel journals in Dutch describing four voyages 1661-1663 between New Amsterdam and the Netherlands( Otter, Bever, Hoop and Rooseboom), one of which is a description of the voyage of 'De Bever'in May/July 1661 on which my ancestors were passengers. The originals are in the Manuscript Collection of the New York Historical Society. Dr Scott omits much of the routine positional and weather information contained in the journals and concentrates (frustratingly) on what he feels ate 'the more interesting items.the I'd always believed that De Bever would have taken the southerly option via the Canaries/Caribbean, but the journal describes the first part of the route via the Orkney Islands which implies a northerly route. The journal goes on to describe the first sighting of the American mainland near Barnegat and the ship going aground on the 'West Bank' near the Manhattans whereupon smaller vessels arrived to take off cargo so the ship could be refloated. The credentials of Dr Scott look impressive and an image of part of the document seems consistent with the language and handwriting of the period. A few of questions for the list : 1. What do we know about this northern route? The Bever's voyage was 9 May - 29 July which might indicate it was used in the summer months 2. Does anyone get to the NYHS and could have a look at the originals for me? (please!) I'm happy to exchange some research in the UK for this favour. Terry Haslam-Jones Rossendale England