New Paltz was founded by a group of 12 French Huguenot families who settled in New Nederland in 1678. 

The original Patentees of New Paltz were: Louis Bevier, Pierre Deyo, Christian Deyo, Antoine Crispell, Louis DuBois, Abraham DuBois, Isaac Dubois, Hugo Freer, Abraham Hasbrouck, Jean Hasbrouck, Andries LeFevre, and Simon LeFevre.

The Huguenots of New Paltz came by way of Germany. All of them had financial means which they must have brought out of Europe. They probably belonged to the merchant class, or lesser nobility. They all understood the English language, and some spoke Dutch. They all preferred to speak French.

It would appear that all of the members of the New Paltz group had common ties in France. They were educated and fairly comfortable in worldly goods. They all were wise enough to leave France before it was too late, and they took money and possessions with them. They arrived in America between the years 1660 - 1675.