relyeafam.org

Denyse Ariens Relje (L7FG-7YJ) & Jeanne Elizabeth Le Roy (L5DH-45N) started the first known Relyea family when they married in 1697 in Kingston, Ulster, New York.

They had 11 kids between 1699 and 1723. Three Relyea sons (David, Simeon, & Denysius) married and had kids, and it currently appears that all present-day Relyea’s descend from one of those 3 couples.

This site will explore the details that are known about early Relyea history:

• Captain Evan’s land patent that Denyse settled on in Marlboro, Ulster, NY. He became that towns first settler in the 1690’s.
• Jeanne Elizabeth’s mother came from France to Quebec City as part of the Filles du Roi.
• The journeys that early Relyea’s made as they spread out in Ulster, Dutchess and Albany counties in New York state.

This site will also reference and explore the history before the first Relyea family in Ulster County, New York:

• French Huguenots in France and journeys away from France.
• Hudson River discovery by Henry Hudson in 1610.
• New France’s founding by, among others, Samuel de Champlain.
• New Netherlands colony founding in 1623 by the Dutch and its first settlements which turned into present day New York city, Albany and Kingston.
• New York colony founding in 1664 when the British took over New Netherlands.

And it will explore the connections and stories between today’s Relyea families and those of the early Relyeas:

• Some of today’s Relyea families known their connection back to early Relyea families.
• Others have a sub-tree of the Relyea family whose connection to early Relyea families isn’t currently known.

With sharing of information, additional research, and genetic testing, we hope to connect more of the Relyea families to the main tree.