Adam Gerard Mappa
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Adams Gerard Mappa (Delft, 25 November 1754 - Barneveld, New York, 15 April 1828) was a Dutch typesetter, Patriot and active colonel in a local militia, in Dutch called exercitiegenootschap.
[edit] Life
Adam Gerard Mappa was the commander of a flying army unit, consisting of 300 men and 200 horses, that played a role in the arrest of princess Wilhelmina of Prussia in Goejanverwellesluis in late June 1787. From the end of August to the beginning of September, under his leadership, all the Orangists were removed from the vroedschaps in Delft, Leiden, Dordrecht, Alkmaar, Hoorn and Monnikendam. (The removals found places under the threat of a Prussian ultimatum and raid). His army went to defend to Woerden and Naarden in the east of Holland, but had no chance to win against 20.000 well trained Prussian soldiers. On 9 October 1787, he was forced to hand in his unit's weapons in Amsterdam and fled like so many others to northern France. With his friends Johan Valckenaer, Herman Willem Daendels and Wybo Fijnje they rented a castle in Watten. This community, grewing its own vegetables, playing biljart and discussing the revolution has been described by the author Gerrit Paape.
Antje Mappa-Passport (a great friend of Emilie Luzac), travelled hurriedly and secretly to Delft, when her husband had decided to emigrate to the US, on the advice of Thomas Jefferson. On 1 December 1789, he arrived with his wife and children to New York and they were granted accommodation with John Adams on Richmond Hill. Mappa became the New York City's very first type-manufacturer (on 22 Greenwich Street, Manhattan) but, even though he could produce Oriental letters, the business was not a success. In 1794, he sold the business and took over from Gerrit Boon an appointment as agent of the Holland Land Company in Trenton. His friend François Adriaan van der Kemp came to live in the town's surroundings on a farm. His house, built around 1810 in the Georgian style, still exists. Mappa corresponded with Pieter Vreede and Johan Luzac and it is said at the end of his life hit financial difficulties.
[edit] Bibliography
- Fairchild, H.L. (1903) Francis Andrian van der Kemp 1752 - 1829. An Autobiography. G.P. Putnam's sons.
- Fijnje-Luzac, E. Myne beslommerde boedel; brieven in ballingschap 1787 - 1788. Ed. Jacques J.M. Baartmans 2003.
- Roosendaal, J. (2003) Bataven! Nederlandse vluchtelingen in Frankrijk 1787-1795.
- Schama, S. (1977) Patriots and Liberators. Revolution in the Netherlands 1780 - 1830.
