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Archiver > GEN-BENELUX > 1998-08 > 0902108732


From: Lon Dittrick< >
Subject: Meaning of "high Dutch extraction."
Date: Mon, 03 Aug 1998 01:45:32 GMT


In the quest for retracing our ancestors from Canada back to the
Mohawk region of New York state in the 1700's, we have been stumped in
locating past members of our family under the name of "Dittrick" and
suspect that their name have been changed, perhaps due to hard
feelings as loyalists exiled during the Revolutionary war. We are not
sure even whether they were Dutch or German, but have assumed the
later. One of our ancestors, Capt. James Dittrick, in writing about
their lives in New York and the Niagra region indicated that his
famile was "of high Dutch extraction." Most of my family thought this
mean't high German (ie high Deutsch) as they were thought to have
settled in the Palatinate district on the Mohawk. However I am
wondering what a 75 year old soldier in 1860 mean't by this term?
"Extraction" to me indicates a territory or region, rather than a
dialect. Does anyone have any thoughts about what "high Dutch
extraction"? I emphasize that the term "Dutch" and not "Deutsch"
is used. Could this indicate our family could be from Holland
instead? Any replies would be most welcome as this may change or
search strategies.
Thanks, Lon Dittrick

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