A Misunderstood Calvinist. The Religious Choices of Bastiaen Jansz Krol, New Netherland's First Church Servant

W.T.M. Frijhoff

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

In the history of New Netherland the comforter of the sick Bastiaen Jansz Krol (1595-1674) is known as the first servant of the Reformed Church, before the establishment of a formal congregation with an ordained minister. Until recently, his reputation as such was quite mediocre, and the quality of his faith was questioned by the historians of the Reformed Church. In this article, the author revises this negative image thoroughly. Completing the biographical data he interprets them in the context of the early ambitions of the WIC. Arguing, moreover, that Krol was born in a Mennonite family and converted to Calvinism after his first marriage, he presents (with a full translation) the pamphlet which shows his new commitment to orthodox Calvinism. Krol's pamphlet was published previously to his appointment as comforter of the sick and may have motivated his choice by the Amsterdam consistory.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)62-95
Number of pages34
JournalJournal of Early American History
Volume1
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2011

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