THE TOWN OF CORTLANDT. 



99 



elevated j that on the dexter side arg., the sinister, sa motto — virtus sibi 

 munus — Another family of that name in Holland bears for a crest "the 

 arms or wings of a wind-mill. — The helmet of a King or Prince of the 

 Blood Royal proves beyond a doubt the descent of this family from 

 the old reigning Dukes of Courland. The estoile or star may be a mark 

 of cadence borne by the third son, during the lifetime of his father. — 

 [Editor.] 



Ducal Arms of Courland. 



The Ducal arms of Courland or Cortlandt are: — "arg, a lion, rampant, 

 gu. ducally crowned or, for Courland, charged on the breast with an 

 escutcheon, on which are placed the arms of the reigning Duke. Sup- 

 porters. — Two lions ducally crowned, or, the whole within a mantle 

 lined ermine, surmounted with a ducal crown. 



The ancient Dukes of Courland appear to have been represented in 

 16 1 o by the Right Hon. Stevensen Van Courland or Cortlandt, then 

 residing at Courland or Cortlandt, in South Holland, whose son Oloff 

 Stephensen or Oloff Stevens Van Kortlandt, as he subsequently signed 

 his name; was Burgomaster, or, chief magistrate of Wyck Duurstede* 

 or Wyck by Durstede one of the five principal towns in the Province or 

 Lordship of Utrecht in the Netherlands, 1635-6. The latter was born 

 at Cortlandt in South Holland about 1600. 



Like his illustrious ancestors, Oloff Stephensen Van Cortlandt chose 

 the military profession ; as early as 1637 we find him attached to the 

 military service of the Dutch West India Company. " He is said to 

 have been also a privy councillor of the States General of Holland and 

 acted as secretary' of this Government to the Governor of New Amster- 

 dam." 



"He comes to New York in 1637," "and in the summer of that year 

 he was transferred to the civil service as commissary of cargoes." On 



a (Wyct bie Dirarstede,) prov., and 13 M. E. S, Utrecht a town, cap. disk, on the Rhine 

 where it gives off the Leek. Pop. 2, 413. 



