David Provoost or David Prévost was a prominent citizen of New Amsterdam, New Netherland, where he worked many years for the West India Company[1] His main occupation was trade when he was not working for the government[2] He was the original grantee, in 1639, of a considerable parcel of land in New Amsterdam[2] where he resided for some time before moving to Long Island.
In the Iconography of Manhattan Island, it is mentioned that he died in Breukelen, now Brooklyn[4] His grandson David Provost became the 24th mayor of New York.
His first voyage from Holland to New Netherland was in 1624, two years before the Island of Manhattan was purchased from the Native Americans.
[10] Provoost spoke Dutch, English, French, Latin and languages of several of the Native American tribes.
van Laer[14] In April 1642, he was appointed commander of Fort Good Hope(Dutch:'Huys de Goede Hoop') in Hartford, Connecticut[11] page 13, where he was in charge of 50-60 men that were to take command of the Fresh River known today as the Connecticut River.
However, Provoost's diplomatic ability as well as his speedy and brave acts of retaliation were warmly approved of Governor Kieft.
Biographical and Genealogical Notes of the Provoost Family An incident was described where a Native American captive of the English that was subject to public punishment had escaped her English master in Hartford and sought refuge in the Dutch Fort Good Hope.
[15][16] This invasion, of what he deemed his just jurisdiction, was successfully resisted by Provoost who drawes and breakes his Rapier upon their weapons, and then withdrew into the fort, where he defended himself with impunity.
[17] These men met in the schoolroom of David Provoost and were the first to dispute the autocratic powers of the governor[18] They were the precursors of the aldermen and commissioners.