Hello List: Perhaps this all started circa 1950 with the Scott publication "Jacobus Jansen Van Etten: Some Ten Generations in America." who identified the parents of the progenitor of the American family as Johannes Marinus and is wife Wilhelmina Hoannes [i.e., Johannes]. Then in 2001, Frans Gouverneur posted to this list a transcription of the 1634 baptismal record in the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH of "Jacobus" son of Johannes Marinus and his wife [see Dutch-Colonies-L-Archives: "Jacob Jansz Van etten and Tack Family," dated 6 June 2001.] We know from his patronymic that the immigrant's father's name was Johannes/Jan/John; but how can we be certain it was this particular Johannes Marinus? Were there not any other "Jacobs" born to "Johns" in Etten during the appropriate timeframe? What evidence suggests the immigrant Jacob Jansen was from a Catholic family? He had his children baptized in the Kingston Reformed Dutch Church, but this is not conclusive. Many other settlers of other denominations had their children baptized in whatever church was most convenient in a time when churches and ministers were few and far between. However, Jacob Jansen appears in 1676 on the list of petitioners to procure a "minister" for the settlement at Esopus "who could preache in both Inglishe and Duche" (Doc. History of NY, vol. iii, p. 965, as cited by Collins, "The Van Etten Family of Ulster and Orange Counties, NY" NYG&BR. 30:52-54). Would a Catholic be so enthusiastic about bring a Protestant minister to his town? The fact is that Mr. Gouverneur also points out to us on 16 May 2001 [see Dutch-Colonies-L-Archives: "FW:[D-Col] Heyltje Van Etten"] that the Reformed Church records for Etten are not extant prior to 1648, so that if - in fact - our Jacob was from a Protestant family his baptismal record does not exist. Have we collectively "settled" on our immigrant ancestor as the son of Johannes Marinus simply because his record was the first/easiest/only one found/extant? I sincerely wonder if this is the correct identification, because if it is true why didn't Jacob name - as was customary - his first daughter (or second or any, for that matter) Wilhelmina/Wellempje/Wyntje, etc. after his supposed mother? Comments welcome. Patti Metsch