This is a little thing for a rather critical reader.
I have done reasearch for my characters but, as a writer i base my character off both fact and imagination. Yankee does have a dutch name her full name happens to Natalie Amelia Jones but later adopted the name Yankee so her name initiap matched NY.
In a writing not everything has to be factually based. The states are Alfred children because that is how i created this story to be. Simple as that.
Though i do appreciate your feedback. Not trying to be mean just clarifying