Kiersten hails from New England and is proud of her family’s deep-rooted history in our nation’s foundation. She is a Mayflower descendant of Governor William Bradford (c. Mar. 19, 1590 – May 09, 1657) and great-granddaughter (several generations removed, of course) of Peter Minuit (btn 1580 & 1585 – Aug. 5, 1638). The latter was the Director of the Dutch North American Colony (1626 - 1631), which was part of the Dutch East India Company, and is credited with the so-called “purchase” of Manhattan Island. Her ancestors braved unknown dangers and a foreign world while creating treaties with the local peoples that survived for years under their leadership.

Kiersten currently lives in upstate New York. Growing up, the Battlefields of Saratoga were her backyard and tourist sites like Fort Ticonderoga were an easy day trip, and she couldn’t have cared less back then.  It wasn’t until she journeyed into…