In 1700, Johannis Fine Crossed from Holland to America on a Boat Called the William

Fine Family: 1698- 1781

The Fine name was brought to England from those that left Fiennes, Pas-de-Calais, Normandy after the Norman Conquest in 1066. Name was first found in Kent where they served as: Lords of the Manor, Lords of the Cinque Ports, and Constables of Dover Castle. Some of the first American settlers with this name were: Richard Fine who sailed to Virginia in 1624. Charles and Thomas Fiennes who sailed to Salem, MA in 1630. The Fine motto is: “Fortem possee animum,” meaning “Wish for a strong mind.”

In the 1660’s, the Fyn family was already living in modern day, Queens County, NY. In 1670, Johannis Fyn was born in 1670 in Newton, Long Island, New York to Hester Jans and Jan Janszen Fyn. Five years later, they lost their daughter Hester Fyn during childbirth. The next year, they had another son, Jacob, who survived to adulthood. Around twenty-four years old, Johannes married Hannah Verschuer, in the estimated year of 1694. Two years later, they had a daughter named Hester Fyn in Bushwyck, Brooklynn, NY.

On October 16, 1698, Johannis Fyn lived in NY amid a population of about 8,000 (20 % slaves). That year, the British Whig party sponsored Captain Kidd (an infamous cruel and bloody pirate) as a privateer against the French shipping in New York. Also, Issac Newton calculated the speed of sound that year. The

The following year, Johannis and Hannah had a son named John Fine (also known as Jan Fyn) on May 18 1699. Johannis Fyn bought 75 acres from Dorthy Versueir of Bushwick in Newton. The Fine family was part of a settlement in Hempstead, Long Island in 1700. He lived on the waters of the Shenandoah River by New Market. At that time, New York provided the lumber and food for British Sugar Colonies in the Carribbean and was the center of sugar refining.

He worked as blacksmith. As a blacksmith, he created objects from iron or steel by "forging" the metal (using hand tools to hammer, bend, cut and otherwise shape it in its non-liquid form). Usually he heated the metal until it glowed red or orange as part of the forging process. Johannis created such products as wrought iron gates, furniture, sculpture, tools, decorative and religious items, cooking utensils and weapons.

The men from this area were angry about taxation without representation.

Johannis Fyn and Hannah Verschuer had at least six children of their own and are thought to have adopted two more. There names were Hester, John, Dorothy, Hannatje, Susannah, Leeana Catharine, Wlater, and Henry. (The last two thought to be adopted.) In 1707 he lived in New York City, NY.

On Dec 23, 1714, he wrote a will that was left his belongings to his family and friends. Mentioned in his will was his wife Hannah, five daughters (Hester, Dorothy, Hannah, Susanah, and Leena Catharine) and three sons (John, Wouter (Walter), and Henry). He also left belongings to his cousin, Anthony Glean and a friend, Peter Remsen. He likely died sometime within the year. He died, never leaving the state of New York, in the modern town of Newton Long Island, Queens, NY. Johannes’s brother, Jacob, died shortly thereafter. At this time, John was going by John Fine and not Jan Fyn. In Elmhurst, Queens, New York, it is recorded that John Fine married a “Massah Skilman”. The wife’s name should have been spelled Mercy Skillman, but was written as the name was pronounced. Ten months after the marriage of John and Mercy, on April of 1723, John and Mercy had a girl named Antje in Jamaica, Long Island, New York.

In 1725, Johannis’s surviving family was living in Monmouth Junction, New Jersey. His son, John Fine, married before 1725 in New Jersey to Mercy Skillman. He probably lived in a Swedish build log cabin, common of the New Jersey area. In 1725, Johannis’s son, John Fine, fathered a son named Thomas Fine within the year of their marriage. John died in 1739 in Flatbush, Queens, NY, before witnessing his daughter Antje marry.

Thomas witnessed the emergence of factories that produced textiles in 1740, the steam engine, guns with interchangable parts, and mass production of products. Thomas Fine married Agnes Merchant.

Two years after his sister Antje was married, Thomas Fine, moved to Norfolk, Va in 1750 with his family where he had a son named, Vinet Fine. His father’s recent death the year before could have been a deciding factor in his discussion to move. Thomas and Agnes had the following children in Norfolk, Virginia: Vinet, Andres, Thomas II, Philip, Peter, John, Weden, Euphenus, Elizabeth, Jacob, and David.

The family moved to the Shenandoah Valley, VA in 1766 while other Norfolk citizens were organizing the Sons of Liberty and protesting against the Stamp Act. The Continental Congress approves Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution begins. Vinet was married in Norfolk, VA in 1771. Three years later, Vinet’s brother, John married Grace Welch Lockhart. The wedding was outshined by the chatter of the colonies going to war with England.

Concerned with British, Vinet and his brothers Andres, John, Peter, and Philip joined the militia with their father, Thomas Fine Sr. and were in the First Independent Company of Dunmore of 1775 and 8th Virginia Regiment. They served under Captain Jacob Holeman. The regiment was known as the "German Regiment."

They signed a document that said, "Impressed with a deep sense of the present truly alarming situtation of American affairs and the precarious stte we are in, occassioned by the repeated encroachments which Britain has made, on those Liberties, to which as free born subjects and by charter, we are so justly entitled and willing as much as lies in our power to assist our brethern on this continent who have so nobly stood forthe indefence of our Liberties. And confident that a well regulated militia is the surest defence of every state. We the subscribers, inhabitants of the County of Dunmore and Colony of Virginia embody ourselves in one Company, to be called the first Independent Company of Dunmore, and do bind ourselves by all ties of Honor and love to our country. and the words of Gentlemen to adhere strictly to such resolves which shall be entered into by a Majority of the Company---" They were proud to be fighting in the American Revolution.

Thomas and Agnes must have been very proud of their children, because the lot of them turned out to be quiet important in the military and leaders in the community.

After Vinet married Effie McElwain in 1771 in Norfolk, VA. They had Thomas Fine shortly thereafter in the Shenandoah Valley, VA. Six years after the couple was married, they had Sarah and Abraham. They had four more children: Phoebe in 1778, William in 1781, Charles in 1782, and Issac in 1783.

In Octobter of 1773, Vinet went to see his brother, Peter marry Rebecca Stats Holiday in Virginia.

Around 1777, the brothers were discharged from the army. Vinet’s brother, Philip was discharged on Dec 21, 1777, just in time to have Christmas with his family.

Before 1783, Vinet’s brother, John Fine with wife Grace, left New Market, Virginia for East Tennessee.