a small town on the River Waal, in , about live miles from the German frontier. There is no direct evidence that he was a descendant of Cornelius Holland , but he may have been a grandson. The descendants of Samuel in America claimed, until recently, that he was born in England , and that his father or grandfather was a judge. Letters and documents written by Samuel Holland himself, and the Army Lists, show conclusively, however, that he was born in Holland. His decision in early manhood to seek service in the British army, and to become a Britisher, may, however, have been inspired by his British ancestry. Major Samuel Holland 's Seal There is a tradition in the Holland family that the parents of Samuel died when he was young and that he was brought up by two of his aunts who desired him to study for the ministry. The tales he heard of the valour of his country¬ men during their recent struggles for independence, and of the brilliant cam¬ paigns of the genius Marlborough , no doubt influenced him in deciding upon a military career. His aunts appear to have become reconciled to his decision and aided him in obtaining a mathematical and scientific education. At the age of seventeen he joined the Dutch army at a time when his native country was being invaded by . Young Hollandt was on active service in Holland for about three years. Several books that he used in these campaigns are now extant, one being a military history in French, with plans showing sieges of twenty-five or thirty towns in Flanders and Holland, written by French officers. On one page of this book appears a notation by Samuel, as follows: "I was here with the Black Watch and the 'Brags.' In the grey light of early morning we were attacked by a body of 500 French grenadiers. Not one of them returned. This was my first experience of the effect of small arms." This was at the siege of Hulst in 1747, where the British and Dutch repulsed a French attack. At the siege of Bergenopzoon, a small place near Antwerp, in 1747, he was promoted to a Lieutenancy in the Dutch Artillery. He also prepared plans of the towns of Nimwegan and Bois-le-Duc with environs in this year.