While trying to find out some information about my ancestors, my brother informed me of a link he had found discussing the first Bilyeu to migrate to North America. His name was Pierre Billiou. He sailed on a Dutch ship from Amsterdam, Holland to North America in 1661. Evidently, he is responsible for laying out the first Staten Island town known as New Amsterdam. Forming the settlement was only made possible by his success in making peace with the local Native Americans, a task others had failed to complete. The house that Pierre built still stands today and is a part of the Staten Island Historical Society. I am not sure why there is a spelling difference between his and my own last name however, his father and some of his children spelled it the same as my family spells it. I found this small piece of history, involving some of the first Bilyeu's in North America, to be quite interesting and fun to have the knowledge of.