Gerret Van Sweringen

is the portrait of gerret accurate

Patricia: Thanks for your information, especially that regarding the portraits. Do you have any information about the origins of the van Sweringen family in Europe?
Larry Thompson

They are Dutch, probably by way of Germany,

Larry,
My father always said we were "black Dutch." German and Native American. I have no idea where he got that information, but in the age of the world wide web I've found definition of black dutch. Most records I've found refer to it as Germans who went to Holland (The Netherlands)
So much is available on the Swearingen/Van Sweringen line in the new world, but much less about their European roots.
If anybody lives on the east coast, Maryland especially, the Historic Saint Mary's City has information on Gerrett including a replica of the inn he ran. Hope to get there someday. It's on my bucket list.

Raymond,
I don't know about the portraits. I know I've read discussions about it probably on the Swearingen Family Genealogy Forum. If you haven't been there it's worth some time.
http://genforum.genealogy.com/swearingen/
I wish we had an expert in 17th century art etc looking at the actual portrait, but I guess that would be a bit much to ask.
Let me know what you think
Tricia

Ran across the following data on Ancestry.com re. Garrett's siblings:
Berentte Van Swearingen
Eric Van Swearingen
Albert Van Swearingen
Mary Van Swearingen
Garrett Van Swearingen
Father allegedly David Janse Swieringh
Kinda hoping the portrait of Garrett isn't legit; he's my son's 9x-great-grandfather, my son born 1996, 360 years (full-circle) after GVS. GVS looks a little jowly! ;-)
But both these Garrett's are totally leaders and fearless adventurers.

Yet someone else avers that Garrett's father was Hendrick Van Swearingen.......
http://www.smokykin.com/tng/getperson.php?personID=I287401&tree...

I don't have the name in front of me now, but I do believe the portrait of GVS is for real. Some years ago, it was hanging in a many greats home in Missouri.

@Gerret Van Sweringen
Does anyone have a copy of the will of the father of Gerret? -
Claes Aelberts van Sweringen d 8 Nov 1647 Rijnsaterwould, South Holland, Netherlands??

How old would Mary have to be to be a legal executrix? What was the law?