Person Page - 128

     There have been a few different books written about the Cornelius family and it is from these that I draw some of the earliest accounts of my family in the United States. In one of these books, The History of The Cornelius Family in America Volume 1 (1926), it states that although all the exact dates are not known, around 1610, two brothers were born in 17th Century England by the name of John and Aaron Cornelius. We now know that this is incorrect, both boys were not born in England but in Streefkerk, Netherlands.
     We also know that Aaron was a privateer or private person commissions and authorized by ‘investors’ in Holland to engage as a commerce raider to interrupt enemy trade. His ship was hired by the British government which was then under rule by Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603). It has long been argued that privateering was a less destructive and wasteful means of warfare because the overall goal was to capture enemy ships rather than to sink them. Any captured cargo, as well as the vessel itself, would be sold off at auction with the proceeds being distributed among the privateer's owners, the officers and crew. We know that Aaron Cornelius was Captain of such a vessel...The Canary Bird.
     We know according to historical records that Aaron first visited the new world around 1635 and that his new occupation was now that of transporting pilgrims. It is believed that Aaron fell in love with America around this period...In 1645 Aaron Cornelius returned with a final cargo aboard The Canary Birdor about 90 people, exiled British families, who had fled to Holland to escape the religious persecution by King Charles Ist (1600-1649).
     Governor William Kieft had granted them a land patent to begin a new colony. The patent was dated October 10th, 1645 and was given to four individuals and their families who would remain in charge of the new colony. They were John Hicks, John Lawrence, Thomas Farrington and Aaron Cornelius. Their land grant would later be known as Flushing and was located at the farthest western edge of Long Island. It would later become part of the New York City borough known as Queens.