Born into a wealthy Dutch family, he was the son of Dr. Gerardus Herckenrath and Alida Charlotta Milius. He lived in America several years as Consul of the Netherlands, Oldenburg and Mecklenburg in charge of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. While living in Charleston, South Carolina, he fell in love with a young, beautiful mulatto girl. Although the Charleston society was horrified when he bought her and married her, his wealth and social status kept them "at bay" with their opinions. He fought a duel over her. When he found his children would not be able to attend school because of their black heritage, he took the entire family back to Holland. They eventually had fifteen children and lived happily on their estate "Geerbron", Monster, South Holland, where they are buried in one of only two above ground family crypts in the country. His lovely wife was Juliette McCormick de Magnan.
Born into a wealthy Dutch family, he was the son of Dr. Gerardus Herckenrath and Alida Charlotta Milius. He lived in America several years as Consul of the Netherlands, Oldenburg and Mecklenburg in charge of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. While living in Charleston, South Carolina, he fell in love with a young, beautiful mulatto girl. Although the Charleston society was horrified when he bought her and married her, his wealth and social status kept them "at bay" with their opinions. He fought a duel over her. When he found his children would not be able to attend school because of their black heritage, he took the entire family back to Holland. They eventually had fifteen children and lived happily on their estate "Geerbron", Monster, South Holland, where they are buried in one of only two above ground family crypts in the country. His lovely wife was Juliette McCormick de Magnan.
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