Anthony Janszoon van Salee
Dutch colonist and merchant (1607–1676) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Anthony Janszoon van Salee[note 1] (1607–1676) was an original settler of and prominent landholder, merchant, and creditor in New Netherland. Van Salee, commonly known as Anthony the Turk, is believed to have been the son of Jan Janszoon, a Dutch pirate captain who lead the Salé Rovers after his capture by Barbary corsairs.[1]
Van Salee and his first wife Grietse were the subject of considerable scandal and litigation in New Amsterdam, leading to his role in the establishment of Gravesend and New Utrecht, as well as other settlements on Long Island.
His mother Margarita was of Moorish background from Spain, and his father converted to Islam upon his capture. Van Salee is recorded as owning a Quran, and was possibly a Muslim himself; if so he may have been the first free Muslim American settler.[1] He may also have had North African or Middle Eastern heritage through his mother—while Anthony's line married into European families (with Vanderbilt and other patrician descendants).