The Genealogical Society of Rockland County starts off its 2007-2008 season with a program about our Palatine ancestors. This discussion is particularly timely, as plans are underway for a huge 2010 Hudson Valley celebration of the tricentennial of the arrival of the Palatines in our Valley. We are particularly honored to have Nan Dixon for our speaker for this program. Topic: Our Palatine Ancestors Speaker: Nancy Wagoner Dixon. Nan Dixon, a noted Palatine historian, is the author of the popular book, Palatine Roots: The 1710 German Settlement in New York as Experienced by Johann Peter Wagner. This book gives a wonderful background of why the Palatines came to New York, and of their adventures in the Hudson Valley. Mrs. Dixon is Vice President of the New York Chapter of Palatines to America and comes to us from upstate New York, near Lake Ontario. When: September 25, 2007, 7 PM Where: New City Library Palatine background: The Palatines came from all over Europe, but primarily from the lower Rhine area known as the Palatinate. They went up the Rhine to Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and then eventually to England. The English Queen Anne had promised free passage and riches in America to all who would emigrate. Her Golden Book showing the lush land was the final incentive of many to make the voyage. Far more people made the pilgrimage to England for passage to America than had been anticipated. People waited in tent cities all over England. Those who eventually arrived on our shores found the themselves in virtual serfdom to the patroons, particularly Robert Livingston. They were fed by Governor Hunter with meager allowances from Livingston for their work. Eventually the hardiest (or the trouble-makers depending on your point of view) migrated further north to the Schoharie Valley. Some later continued on to be the first settlers of the Mohawk Valley. General Herkimer, the hero of the Battle of Oriskany in the Revolution, was a Palatine.