In my quest for historical accuracy I have consulted a number of authors such as Waymouth, Kruythoff, Keur & Keur, Teenstra, Hartog, Hutchinson, Boeke, Lowes, Hamelberg, and Knappert to whom I am deeply indebted.
Many people on St. Maarten have been extremely helpful in giving me old photographs and letting me consult with them on the accuracy of some of the stories about the van Romondt family and other prominent families of years ago. I would like to thank people like: Mr. Fred Labega,
Jr. Mr. Carl Buncamper; Miss Bernadette Buncamper; Mr. Max Huith; Mrs. Grace Vlaun-Hassell; Mr. J.F. York; Mrs. Blanca Hodge, librarian; Mrs. Barbara Kassab-Every; Mr. Frank Hassell; Mr. A. J. C. Brouwer; Mr. Dave Levenstone and many others.
A book like this is clone out of love. People familiar with the small market for this type of book know that they are not written for the revenue they bring
ID. I think that for this reason people have been so cooperative in helping me with information and old photographs, as well as lending me old books and permitting me to view private family documents.
My sincerest thanks go to Kathleen H. Mac Queen for her invaluable editing; my wife, Lynne, for her suggestions and encouragement; and my mother-in-law, Mrs. Enid Renz, for typing the manuscript.
