an Snedeker is The Cadet, the European term for a younger brother. Younger brothers do not inherit, and are expected to make their own way in the world. The early 1600’s are a harsh and unsettled time. Alone, penniless, and with only his prized musket, Jan travels to Amsterdam. An act of incredible bravery gains him a powerful ally, opening his future to new horizons.Jan lives through the shattering events of the time, serving in the Amsterdam militia as a combination soldier and fireman, and falls in love with a delicate blond beauty. His further courageous feats as a militiaman launch him and his new family on a dramatic journey across the Atlantic Ocean. The metal of his character is heat-forged, and proven time and again as a landed colonist in the struggling colony of New Amsterdam as he combats Indians, hardships, and inept colony governors to carve out a legacy that lasts to this very day. The chronicle of his bravery, humor, and industry sets the standard for the name that begins with him. Although written in the form of a riveting novel, all of the characters actually existed, and the events depicted are factual.