Re: Anthony Jansen Van Salee
-
In reply to:
Re: Anthony Jansen Van Salee
Alan Albright 4/14/04
Some things to consider regarding Anthony Jansen van Salee. His mother may have been a member of the Moorish Muslim community of Cartegena, Spain. The last of them left Spain around 1610 and settled in Morocco. (They had been driven out by Catholic Spaniards. Many had converted to Christianity although still practised Islam secretly). Jan Jansen van Haarlem sailed out of Algiers, Africa and the coast of Spain near Cartegena can be seen from this coast of Africa.
There were blood connections between the family of the Moroccan Sultans and the people of Cartegena. Sultan Moulay Ziden probably had numerous wives and many many children. It is quite feasible that Jan did have a Muslim Moorish wife (in Cartegena) and she may have been a daughter of Sultan Moulay Ziden. The Sultan certainly had some sort of a bond with Jan, making him Governor. (Why?)
Could Anthony have been born in Cartegena, later moving to Sale Morocco with his mother and siblings around 1610 when the remainder of the Moors left there? Jan apparently also eventually comfortably settled in Morocco as well. Anthony Jansen van Salee was the son of a man named Jan. He claimed that he was "from" Cartegena but used van Salee (meaning that he also was "from" Sale).Perhaps on his marriage certificate, Cartegena referred to his place of birth and the van Salee the place where he spent most of his life prior to coming to New Amsterdam.
There was a famine in Morocco in the earlier decades of the 1600s and many people left there. (some went to the Netherlands) Might Anthony as a young adult have gone there prior to his sailing to New Amsterdam?
NY court records describe Anthony as of "mixed blood" and " mulatto". He was also referred to as "The Turk". In those times this did not mean of Turkish descent but referred to those of the Ottoman Empire...those that followed Islam.
Anthony also appeared to have some wealth in that he made a large purchase of land on Long Island. Where did he acquire his money?
Regarding the quote by Benjamin F. Thompson History of Long Island 1918 regarding Anthony's unusual strength. I think it was actually Anthony's great-great grandson, William Johnson (son of Barent Johnson) who was said to have also been unusually strong. (Mr. Thompson claims that it was Anthony's brother William, according to this posting but Anthony did not have a brother William).
I have also read that a crescent moon pin thought ot have belonged to Anthony (and perhaps Jan) was now in the possession of the Holland Society. (This is a Moroccan symbol and currently on their flag) Has anyone ever tracked this down? What is the origin of this claim? Does anyone know where this pin really is or if it even really exists?
More Replies:
-
Re: Anthony Jansen Van Salee
Frank Ferraro 2/24/07
-
Re: Anthony Jansen Van Salee
Susan Shaw 6/03/07
-
Re: Anthony Jansen Van Salee