Archive minutes from 1766 mentioning the “Liberty Boys” ​⁠

The origins of the French Church of Saint Esprit go back to the original settlement of New Amsterdam. Many of the first European settlers in 1624 were not Dutch, but French Calvinists, who were known as Huguenots. They were also joined by Walloons, or French-speaking Protestants from Belgium. Both of these groups had previously fled to Holland to escape religious persecution in their home countries. By joining Dutch colonists in coming to the New World, they hoped to find greater opportunities to own land and to prosper at their trades.

New Amsterdam's early population has been estimated at about 270 persons. During its irst four years of existence, the colony did not have an ordained clergyman. The first one, Jonas Michel, was of French descent and arrived on April 7, 1628. Following the custom of Dutch clergy at the time, he latinized his name to Jonas Michaelius. He began conducting regular services in a room above the village's grist mill on what is now William Street near Pearl Street.

Correspondence suggests Michel spoke French rather well and could preach in French after a fashion. It is certain that he began holding regular French services every Sunday afternoon following the morning service in Dutch. The date chosen for the founding of the French Church of Saint-Esprit is somewhat symbolic. In a letter dated August 11, 1628, Michaelius wrote to a colleague in Amsterdam that: …the Lord's Supper was administered to them (the French and Walloons) in the French language, and according to the French mode with a discourse proceeding, which I had before me in writing, as I could not trust myself extemporaneously." Easter Day, 1628, thus became the date chosen to represent the founding of Saint-Esprit.