A Lovely View is an ongoing blog series exploring the intertwined histories of the Graveraet and Harsen families of Harsens Island, Michigan. Through meticulous research and storytelling, the series unveils a rich tapestry of Dutch ancestry, fur trade partnerships, and indigenous connections that helped shape the early history of Harsens Island, Michigan.
The Series at a Glance
A Lovely View – Part One: From Albany to Detroit
This opening blog post introduces the early migrations of families from New York to the Detroit region in the wake of British acquisition of former French territory. Centered on fur traders Gerrit Graveraet and Jacob Harsen, it traces their Dutch lineage and silversmith backgrounds while establishing their early connections in the Great Lakes area. Their arrival in Detroit laid the groundwork for family alliances and the eventual settlement of Harsens Island.
To read Part One click the image below.
A Lovely View – Part Two – Isaac Grevenraedt and the Castello Plan
This segment journeys back to the early days of New Amsterdam to explore the life of Isaac Grevenraedt, great-grandfather of Gerrit Graveraet. A prominent free trader and property owner in 17th-century Manhattan, Isaac appears in the Castello Plan and lived among governors and officials near the tip of the island. His civic involvement and mercantile influence highlight the deep Dutch roots of the Graveraet family in early colonial society.
To read Part Two click the image below.
A Lovely View – Part Three: Andries Graveraet and the Captain Kidd Connection
Gerrit Graveraet’s story unfolds alongside the bold legacies of his ancestors. This chapter explore the lives of his great-uncle, Andries, and grandfather, Hendrick Graveraet, New York traders whose shipping ties place them amid the shadowy work of privateering and piracy. With possible links to the infamous Captain William Kidd, the Graveraets’ early maritime ventures offer a glimpse into a world where fortune and risk traveled the same tides.
To read Part Three click the image below.
A Lovely View – Part Four: The Name Behind Harsens Island
We turn to Jacob Harsen’s Dutch roots and explore the family’s early presence in New York before the Harsen name came to define an island at the mouth of the St. Clair River where it meets Lake St. Clair.
To read Part Four click the image below.
A Lovely View – Part Five: Two Marias, One Family Legacy (coming soon)
A silver tankard. A weathered Bible. At the heart of these heirlooms lie the stories of two women named Maria, one a forgotten matriarch, the other a survivor whose legacy endured through silence and resilience. As we follow their paths across Albany and Detroit, we uncover the quiet power of memory, inheritance, and the women history tried to erase.
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A Note from Brenda
This series is a work in progress, born of many years of research and a desire to share family history . Thank you for walking this path with me.