In compiling the genealogical history of Laurent De Camp, an early
Huguenot emigrant to the New Netherlands, and his descendants, I have
been actuated not only by the desire to perpetuate the memory of the
first American ancestor of an old New Jersey family, but also to
preserve for future generations manuscript records rapidly
disintegrating and in many cases inaccessible to the general public. The
early French and Dutch church records in New York and New Jersey have,
with few exceptions, remained unprinted and have been so carelessly kept
that the writings have almost faded away. To add to my difficulty the
puzzling method adopted by the ignorant Dutch clerks of entering the
French name “De Camp” in its Dutch equivalents “Van Camp” and “Van
Campen” has necessitated a long and thorough search against each name in
order that no important fact concerning the De Camp family, so
erroneously recorded, might be overlooked. Throughout this search I have
found no evidence to prove the “De Camp” and “Van Campen” families
identical or even related in any degree. I have further had to struggle
against a curious apathy among the present “De Camps” concerning their
origin and in several cases an absolute refusal to furnish the slightest
information about their immediate generation.
The result of six years’ labor is contained in these pages, and I trust
the data collected may prove of value to those interested in the
subject, and spur them on to further research.
Some mistakes will doubtless be found throughout the work, but all
criticism and correction will be warmly welcomed and any additional
information gratefully received.
GEORGE AUSTIN MORRISON, JR.
691 Fifth avenue, New York, N. Y.