Jacob Van Braam (1725-1784) was born in Holland and came to America in 1752. By 1753 he had settled in Fredericksburg where, with GW, he was a member of the Fredericksburg Masonic Lodge. In that year he accompanied GW as an interpreter on the journey ot the French commandant. Van Braam had previous military experience as a lieutenant in the Dutch army. Present at the capitulation of Fort Necessity in 1754, he was widely criticized for his translation of the articles of capitulation. He was one of the two hostages demanded by the French after the Fort Necessity defeat and remained a prisoner in Canada until 1760. After his release he secured a commission in the Royal American Regiment and at the end of the war retired and settled in Wales. In 1775 he was recalled to the Royal American Regiment and sent to Saint Augustine in East Florida to serve as captain in the British campaign in Georgia. He sold his commission in 1779 and settled in Fance. Van Braam died in 1784.