The Bradt Family Reunion (our fifth) was held at The Desmond Hotel in Albany, New York July 12 through July 15, 2007.

Subject : Onrust ship at the Mabee Farm Date : Thu, Apr 19, 2007 03:33 PM Dear Cousins, I talked with Don Rittner, Schenectady County and City Historian, and arranged for the Bradt Family Reunion attendees to have a visit to the construction of the Onrust at the Mabee Farm on Sat., July 14th, where we will be having our picnic at noon. They will be working on the ship that day, and will give us a briefing on the ship and its construction project. From a news release of the "Onrust Shipbuilding Project": "During the fall of 2006, New Yorkers have been able to watch the beginning of the construction of the first European ship built in their state in 1614 -- the Onrust (Dutch for Restless). The ship was built by Dutch explorer Adriaen Block after his ship, 'The Tyger', burned at the tip of Manhattan. The Onrust is considered the first decked sailing vessel built by the Dutch in the New World and extensively explored the northeastern seaboard. It is America's first research vessel. Under the auspices of New Netherland Routes, Inc. (NNR) a non-profit organization dedicated to rediscovering New York's historic byways, The Onrust Project is seeking to construct a full-size replica of this remarkable ship. Using authentic 17th century shipbuilding techniques, only recently re-discovered, construction on the Onrust began in October on the banks of the Mohawk River, at the well-known Mabee Farm Historic Site of the Schenectady County Historical Society in Rotterdam Junction. Students, adult volunteers with a wide range of experience, historians, archaeologists, maritime experts and shipbuilding professionsls are all participating in the project. The Onrust is designed by Gerald de Weerdt, Director of the Maritime Museum of Terschelling in the Netherlands (Het Behouden Huys) and former director of the National Institute of Ship Archaeology in Lelystadt. Our goal is to complete the ship by 2009, in time for New York State's upcoming Quadricentennial, celebrating the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's voyage to America."… Many thanks, and Best Wishes, Brinson. *************************************

Bradt Family Society Reunion 2007 (including a celebration of Albert Bratt's 400th birthday, 1607-2007) Date & Location: July 12-15, 2007, Albany, New York Headquarters Hotel: Desmond Hotel, 660 Albany Shaker Road, Albany, NY 12211 Main Themes: "Arent Bradt", Fort Orange (Albany) 1637, Schenectady later Preliminary Schedule – Draft 2 ("$$" indicates a separate a-la-carte or reservation event) Thursday, July 12 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Registration & Distribution of Reunion Kits.  ** Bradt Family Society Store Open at the Desmond.          (Bradt Family books, plates, trays, cups, bags Etc.) ** Social Time, sub-groups, and cousinly meetings. 6:00 PM  -$$Optional event-  Buses leave the Desmond for the Dutch Apple Dinner Cruise.  (Guided Cruise on the Hudson River.  We will have exclusive use of the boat if 125 sign up.) 10:00 PM Buses return to the Desmond.   Friday, July 13  - Informational Sessions at the Desmond 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Registration, Packet Distribution & BFS Store Open. 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Partner booths open: Books, Paintings, Societies, etc.   9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Session 1: The Environment in 17 & 18th Century New Amsterdam/New York.  Likely surprise speaker. 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM Session 2: The Bradt Family in 17 and 18th century New Netherland/New York.  Speaker: Peter Christoph. 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM $$Optional Buffet with a surprise speaker and entertainment. 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM Session 3: Bradt family members who went to Canada and stayed.  Speaker: Joan Bradt Wood 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM Session 4: DNA Testing in Genealogy: the Bradt Surname Study Group.  Speakers: Family Tree DNA and Cynthia Brott Biasca 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM Reception & Cash refreshments. 6:30 PM Group Photo. 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM $$Optional Dinner with Speaker, Len Tantillo on Research for New Painting, Schenectady Stockade.  Door prizes.   Saturday, July 14 - Tour of the Schenectady Area 8:30 AM $$Buses depart the Desmond for the Schenectady Area.  The tour will include some or all of the following: the Schenectady Stockade, the Schenectady County Historical Society and Library. Noon - Picknic Lunch, Mabie Farm on the Erie Canal/Mohawk River. Afternoon - Bus Tour to prior and existing Bradt Houses of interest. 5:00 PM - Buses return to the Desmond. 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Reception & Cash Refreshments at the Desmond. 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM $$Optional Dinner with Awards, Entertainment and Door prizes, at the Desmond.   Sunday, July 15 8:00 AM – 10:30 AM Breakfast on your own 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Bradt Family Society Annual Meeting, at the Desmond.  -Election of Officers and Directors, update of By-Laws, new business, discussion of a possible tour to Holland and/or Norway.  Door prizes. 12:00 PM Adjournment... Informal Social Gatherings, at the Desmond. Bradt/Bratt/Brott/Vanderzee Family Society Meeting and Seminars July 12-15, 2007 Albany, New York, Desmond Hotel Quintennial meeting of the Society of descendants of Albert Andriessen and Arent Andriessen (Bradt), who landed in Fort Orange (Albany) in 1637, and other interested parties. Many descendants still live in Albany, Schenectady and central New York state areas, as well as throughout the USA and numerous foreign countries. Intermarriages with most of the Dutch and English families in New Amsterdam (New York City), Esopus (Kingston), Albany and Schenectady areas, in the 17th and 18th centuries. Celebrating the 400th anniversary of Albert's birth in Norway in 1607, and the 370th anniversary of their landing near present-day Albany. Presenatations on aspects of 17-18th century Hudson and Mohawk River valleys and the family, by noted authors and speakers, Peter Christoph, Firth Haring Fabend, Joan Bradt Wood, Cynthia Brott Biasca, Len Tantillo and FamilyTreeDNA. Hudson River Dinner Cruise, Tours of Schenectady Stockade, Fort Johnson and Johnstown areas, the Mabee Farm Historic Site on the Mohawk River. Two dinners at the Desmond  with programs and entertainment.  Fee for registration and optional events.