Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

sanction; that, in fact, they were the legislative
body of the Government. A stubborn and lengthy
fight ensued. Every man of the nine was found
worthy of his trust. The governor was finally
forced to yield, and the foundation of freedom
was thus firmly erected in this [New Amsterdam]
infant colony.
David Provoost served on many im-
portant commissions and committees.
He was appointed sheriff of Brooklyn
and other Dutch towns in April, 1654, and
in 1655 secretary and clerk of those towns
and their courts, which offices he filled
until his death. He also served fre-
quently as a member of the Governor's
Council or of the Assembly. In 1639 he
purchased land and built a house near the
corner of Pearl and Fulton streets, where
his descendants continued to live for a
long time. He also bought other parcels
of land and built other houses on Manhattan
and Long Island. He died May
12, 1657.
(IV) Elias Provoost, son of David and
Margaretta (Ten Waert) Provoost, was
baptized in June, 1646, and died Novem-
ber 22, 1692. He married, November 3,
1672, Cornelia Roos, daughter of Gerrit
Jans Roos.
(V) Johannes (2) Provoost, son of
Elias and Cornelia (Roos) Provoost, was
baptized September 27, 1676. He mar-
ried (first) March 25, 1701, Sarah Bailey,
daughter of Nathaniel Bailey, of New-
town, Long Island.
(VI) Johannes (3) Provost (the Angli-
cized spelling of the name began to be
adopted about 1700, so from this point on
the name will be spelled Provost), son of
Johannes (2) and Sarah (Bailey) Provoost,
was born December 28, 1707. He
married Elizabeth Youngs, who was born
May 30, 1710, in Stamford, daughter of
John Youngs. On January 30, 1690,
John Youngs married Ruth Elliott, of
Stamford, and resided there until after
the birth of the daughter, Elizabeth, when
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
99
he removed to Oyster Bay, Long Island.
His father, Thomas Youngs, was a prom-
inent and wealthy citizen of Oyster Bay.
(VII) Samuel Provost, son of Johannes
(3) and Elizabeth (Youngs) Pro-
vost, was born about 1740. He served
in the Ninth Regular Connecticut Militia
in the Revolutionary War, and his discharge
was dated December 24, 1776. On
January 5, 1764, he married Sarah Bishop,
and their son Samuel is of further men-
tion.
(VIII) Samuel (2) Provost, son of
Samuel (1) and Sarah (Bishop) Provost,
was born about 1766. He married (second)
Annie Sherwood. He was a pen-
sioner in 1832 and 1840.
(IX) John Provost, son of Samuel (2)
Provost, was born September 23, 1820,
in Stamford, Connecticut, and died in
1916. He received such education as the
district schools afforded, and while yet
in his teens learned the trade of stone
mason. This he followed at intervals all
his life. He also owned a farm, to the
cultivation of which he gave most of his
time. He married Eliza Selleck, who
died May 27, 1868.
(X) Henry Selleck Provost, son of John
and Eliza (Selleck) Provost, and the present
representative of the family in Stamford,
was born there, July II, 1856. He
pursued the usual course in the public
schools, doing such work when not at
his studies as usually falls to the lot of
a farmer's boy. Early in life he learned
the butcher's trade, and soon after com-
pleting the term of his apprenticeship
ventured into the meat business on his
own account. After two years he gave
that up to engage in the livery business,
thus bringing into profitable play a knowledge
of horses gained as a boy and at the
same time indulging his love of the ani-
mal, which had been strong from child-
hood. He continued in this business