Settlers in Rensselaerswyck
1630-1658

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Abraham Clock
Was a carpenter and perhaps also a mason by trade and is credited in the accounts with various amounts for work done between 1644 and 1646, notably on the house of Adriaen van der Donck on Castle Island, which burned down in January 1646.

Abraham Pietersz Vosburgh
(Vosburch, Vosburch, Vosbergen, Vosberghen)
Was in the colony in August 1649, and from Easter 1651 is charged with f16 a year for a house lot, north of the patroon's house. Sept. 30, 1656, he and Hans Jansz, from Rotterdam, jointly leased a mill on the creek south of the farm occupied by Jan Barentz Wemp, for six years, at f100 a year.

Adriaen Dircksz
Van Bil, (from 't Bildt, in Friesland?). On the complaint of Thomas Chambers that he refused to stay with him and fulfill his contract of March 4, 1651, he was sentenced on Sept. 28, 1651, to two weeks' imprisonment and the payment of expenses incurred by Chambers in hiring another servant during his absence. At the request of friends, he was released on the seventh day on condition that he faithfully perform his service.

Adriaen Jansz
Schoolmaster; appears first under date of Nov. 23, 1651, when the court, upon his petition, granted him f50 towards the payment of his house rent. He came probably soon after Sept. 9, 1650, when the council of the colony, in response to a petition from the inhabitants for a competent schoolmaster, appointed Arent van Curler and Goossen Gerritsz trustees of a fund to be raised for the building of a school. He was still schoolmaster in Beverwyck in 1657, and may have been the same person as Adriaen Jansz Croon, who Aug. 20, 1660, was about to sail for Holland.

Adriaen Jansz
From Leyden; also referred to as Adriaen Janssen van Leijden alias Appel; appears in the records of the colony as early as 1649. Feb. 19, 1655, he bought from Thomas Coningh a house, brewhouse, pigpen and fence which on Feb. 1, 1655, were acquired by Thomas Coningh from Juriaen Teunisz and which had formerly been in the possession of Jacob Hevick. He was a tavern keeper in 1656. From May 1, 1655, to May 1, 1657, he is charged with an annual rent of f24 for a garden, formerly used by Jacob Hendricksz.

Adriaen Pietersz
From Alckmaer, (province of North Holland); leased in 1651 a house, north of Fort Orange, which the authorities of the colony and Charles van Bruggen, commis of the fort, had been forced to allow an Indian, named den uijl (the owl) alias stickstigeri, to build, and which, being found a nuisance, was bought of said Indian by Mons'r Labatie with the consent of the court of Rensselaerswyck, Nov. 28, 1650.

Adriaen Willemsz
Was sentenced to banishment from the colony, Aug. 13, 1644, for having stolen some beaver skins from the house of Arent van Curler.

Aert Jacobsz
Occupied, apparently as early as 1648, a farm at Bethlehem which was destroyed by fire before May 1654. He then leased for 12 years a farm in Greenbush, north of Cornelis Hendricksz van nes. About 1661 he moved to the Esopus.

Aert Otteerrspoor
Also referred to as Aert gerntsz van Otterspoor; was at Bethlehem, in 1649, 1650 and 1651. He came probably from Otterspoor, in the province of Utrecht.

Albert Gerritsz
Carpenter; was at his request granted a lot north of the house of Laurens Jansz, Nov. 7, 1651, the rent to begin at Easter 1652.

Andries Christensz
From Flecker (Fleckero, Norway); entered into a contract with the patroon for the erection of a sawmill, July 2, 1631, but did not come to the colony.

Barent Gerritsz
Worked, apparently in 1646, for seven and a half months on the farm called de Vlackte.

Brant Aertsz van Slichtenhorst
From Nykerck, (province of Gelderland). According to O'Callaghan, History of New Netherland, 2:69, van Slichtenhorst was appointed director of the colony Nov. 10, 1646, and sailed with his family and servants for Virginia Sept. 26, 1647. The records of the colony show that he arrived March 22, 1648, and held the office of director till July 24, 1652, when he was succeeded by Jan Baptist van Rensselaer. Between June 29, 1651, and July 24, 1652, van Slichtenhorst was most of the time at the Manhatans and J. B. van Rensselaer acted in his stead, for the first two months apparently in conjunction with Capt. Slijter. April 4, 1650, de Hooges complained to the council that Director van Slichtenhorst had thus far rendered no accounts. The director replied that hy weel wat souwde ontfangen dan dat het Antonij de Hooges heeft opjesnapt (that he would have received something if Antonij de Hooges had not gobbled it up). Van Slichtenhorst was still in the colony in July 1655 and lived in Holland in 1660.

Burger Jorisz
Was at New Amsterdam in 1637 and was secured as smith of Rensselaerswyck to take the place of Cornelis Thomasz, who had been killed by his helper Hans van Sevenhuysen, on the voyage out at Ilfracombe, Dec. 8, 1636. The terms upon which Burger Jorisz was engaged are as follows: "Inasmuch as Cornelis Tomassen died and Arent Steveniersen, who married the widow does not understand smith's work, the council of the colony have decided to turn the iron and coal and all the tools over to Burger Jorisen Smit at 50% advance in price, and to let him do the work at the rates paid by freemen at the Manhatans, to wit: pound work at six stivers, nails at 10 stivers a hundred, braces at 12 stivers, double braces at 28 stivers and other work proportionately, and this till the patroon makes different arrangements. In the year 1637, the 26th of May, and was signed, Jacob Albertsen Planck, Pieter Cornelissen, X the mark of Dirck Jansen." Burger Jorisz' account in the colony runs from June 4, 1637, to Aug. 18, 1639, when he turned over his tools to Reyer Stoffelsz and moved to the Manhatans. Dec. 18, 1639, he married at New Amsterdam, Engeltje Mans, from Sweden. In the marriage records of the Reformed Dutch church of New York, Burger Jorisz is given as fromHersberg, in Silesien Hirschberg, in Silesia).

Captain Slijter (Slijtter)
Is charged with f114 for 9 1/2 weeks board for himself and his son, at the house of Director van Slichtenhorst, by order of the codirectors of the colony, from June 27 to Sept. 2, 1651. During this period van Slichtenhorst was at the Manhatans and Capt. Slijter appears to have had the management of the colony in conjunction with Jan Baptist van Rensselaer. July 30, 1651, Capt. Slijter made an agreement with Gijsbert Cornelisz as to the tithes of the farm called de Hoogeberch.

Carsten Pietersz
Came before 1646, being in that year referred to as the deceased maet (partner) of Jacob Hevick.

Casper Jacobsz
Obtained a lease of a hofstede (house lot), in 1651. He was apparently a day laborer.

Christoffel Davids
Also referred to as Kit davitsz; according to his own statement, he was born in England and on Sept. 3, 1658, was 42 years of age (Mortgages, A, p. 93, Albany county clerk's office). He appears first in the colony in 1638 and between 1642 and 1647 is various times credited with tobacco furnished to Arent van Curler and Antony de Hooges. Till stubble time 1649, he was with Crijn Cornelisz in possession of six morgens of land in Greenbush, and July 22, 1650, he leased the Dominees Hoeck, on the west side of the river, opposite Papscanee Island, for six years, at an annual rent of f50, in addition to tithes, Christoffel Davids to build his own house and fences and the patroon to furnish the live stock. March 3, 1650, an action was brought against him for striking Rijck Rutgersz on the head, for beating his servant and for wounding Jan Dircksz, from Bremen.

Claes Brunsteyn
From Straelsundt (Stralsund, in Pomerania); entered into an agreement with Marinus Adriaensz, May 27, 1631, but did not sail for the colony.

Claes Cornelisz
Mentioned in 1652 as the servant and brother of Gijsbert aende berch (Gijsbert Cornelisz, from Breuckelen).

Claes Jansz
From Bockhoven, (near Bois-le-Duc, province of North Brabant); also referred to as Claes de Braebander. In 1651 and 1652 he was summoned before the court for having, out of spite against Director van Slichtenhorst, caused his servant to haul wood for Hendrick Westerkamp and Lambert van Valckenburch, contrary to ordinances of Oct. 16, 1648, Nov. 23, 1651, and Dec. 28, 1651.

Claes Kalf (Claes Jansz Calff)
Appears to have been in the colony about 1647, when de Hooges charges his boy Mathaens with two pairs of shoes from Claes Kalf. He was a son in law of Brant Peelen.

Cornelis de Vries
His name occurs but once, under date of Sept. 28, 1651, when Willem Fredericksz asked that he be summoned before the court. He may have been an inhabitant of Fort Orange or a free trader and not a colonist.

Cornelis Goverts (Gerritssz)
From Flecker (Fleckero, Norway); was engaged to sail by de Eendracht in 1631, but failed to go.

Cornelis Jansz
Is first mentioned in the court records under date of Sept. 9, 1648, in connection with the purchase of a musket belonging to the inventoried effects of the farm formerly used by Crijn Cornelisz. Aug. 2, 1649, Director van Slichtenhorst notified him and other skippers not to transport colonists out of the colony without his consent.

Cornelis Spierinck
Charged with supplies in 1642 and 1643 and credited with f107:15:8 for copying and other work in the service of Arent van Curler, in the course of 1 1/2 years, previous to the arrival of Antony de Hooges in the spring of 1642.

Dirck Jansz (Croon)
From Amsterdam; was a carpenter by trade and apparently in 1650, built with Harmen Bastiaensz a house in Beverwyck, which was transferred to his name January 25, 1652, on condition that he enter into a contract with the authorities of the colony and pay the patroon's dues. He is entered in the accounts as Dirck jansz timmerman, but is well identified with Dirck Jansz Croon, from Amsterdam, who in 1655 became one of the magistrates of Beverwyck.

Dirck van Hamel
Succeeded Antony de Hooges as secretary of the colony in Oct. 1655, and served as such till his death on July 2, 1660. June 5, 1660, Jeremias van Rensselaer writes to his brother Jan Baptist van Rensselaer that van Hamel is unfit for the office of secretary and very fond of brandy; that last winter he was for two months unable to attend the meetings of the council; and that since the arrival of his wife he has been very ill, apparently the result of drinking. His wife was Sophia van Wyckersloot; shortly after van Hamel's death she married Anthony Toinel.

Egbert Doyszz (Dojesz)
Servant of Sander Leendertsz Glen, mentioned in the court records of the colony under dates of April 3, 1649, and March 11, 1652.

Eldert Gerbertsz Cruyf (Cruijff, Kruyf)
From Hilversum, (in Gooiland, province of North Holland); also referred to as Eldert de Goijer; is charged from 1654 to 1658 with an annual rent of f400 for (two?) sawmills; from May 1, 1655, to May 1, 1658, with an annual rent of f275 for a farm formerly occupied by Pieter Winne; and from 1658 to 1671, with an annual rent of f100 for a mill, apparently at Bethlehem. Feb. 20, 1659, Jan Dircksz, from Bremen, conveyed to him his farm at Catskill in exchange for a house in Beverwyck. A brother of Eldert Gerbertsz Cruyf, by name of Cornelis Gerbertsz Cruyf, was living at Hilversum in 1661.

Evert Jansz
Tailor; Oct. 13, 1648, the court of Rensselaerswyck granted Evert Jansz Cleermaecker (tailor), living on the island of Manhatans, permission to move to the colony and to exercise his trade, on condition that he build a house at his own expense. Nov. 7, 1651, he obtained a lot next to that of Abraham Pietersz, opposite the garden of Sander Leendertsz, being lot No. 2, on condition that he enter into a contract like other settlers and build a house at least two boards long. He was at New Amsterdam as early as February 1643.

Evert Nolden (Noldingh)
Received permission to establish himself as a schoolmaster by resolution of the court of the colony of April 30, 1648. Nov. 16, 1651, he was prosecuted for having crushed Adriaen Dircksz' nose with a pair of fire tongs. He seems to have left the colony in 1660.

Frans Jacobsz
Testified in 1649, being then 17 years of age, as to a fight which took place at midnight Oct. 20, 1649, in Greenbush, before the house of Evert Pels. He may be the same as fransoijs jacobsen de bruijn, referred to in an account of 1656, or perhaps as Frans Jacobsz Coningh, who was in the colony in 1657.

Frans Jacobsz Coningh (Koningh)
Charged, May 1, 1658, with f24 for one year's rent of a garden which he took over from Adriaen Jansz Appel.

Gerard Swart (Gerret Swardt)
Entered into a contract to serve as schout, or prosecuting officer, of Rensselaerswyck, at an annual salary of f400, April 24, 1652. He acted as schout of the colony til 1665, when the courts of Rensselaerswyck and Albany were consolidated and he became sheriff of Albany. According to his contract, Swart was to proceed to the colony with his wife, maid and servant, and to occupy "the house in which the former minister (Megapolensis) lived, standing in 't grenen bosch." The name of Swart's wife was Anthonia van Ryswyck.

Gerrit Jansz
From Haerlem; also referred to as Gerrit Jansen Cuyper and Gerrit Jansz Kuijper (the cooper); seems to have done cooper's work in the colony as early as 1640, and is mentioned in the court proceedings under date of July 16, 1648. May 4, 1647, Antony de Hooges gave him a promissory note for f28, being the balance of money due to him for 'thaelen vant Geschut (bringing the ordinance).

Gerrit (Gerardus) van Wencom
Was assaulted by a Mahikan Indian at Bethlehem, Dec. 8, 1649, and Sept. 23, 1650, was chosen to go with others on an embassy to the Maquaes. He was still in the colony in 1653.

Gerrit Vastrick
Was one of the Gecommitteerden (commissioners) of the colony in 1650, and on Aug. 15, 1650, was suspended from his office till he had cleared himself of the accusation of having given out a false statement regarding Domine Wilhelmus Grasmeer. He was at New Amsterdam as early as July 16, 1644.

Gijsbert Cornelisz
From Breuckelen, (near Utrecht); farmer on the farm called de Hoogeberch, hence frequently referred to as Gijsbert Cornelisz van den Hoogenberch, or aen den Berch. He is charged in the accounts of the colony with an annual rent of f300 from 1648 to 1653, and with an annual rent of f340 and tithes from May 1, 1653, to May 1, 1675.

Gisbert Cornelisz
From Weesp, (near Amsterdam); commonly referred to as Gijsbert Cornelisz waert, or weert (tavern keeper). He appears at New Amsterdam as early as June 1639, and in 1646 is credited with wine and beer furnished at the departure of Arent van Curler, showing that he must have been in the colony of Rensselaerswyck in the fall of 1644. He is charged from 1647 to 1652 with f32 a year for the right of the fur trade and with f 40 a year for license to sell liquor. He married Lysbeth, the daughter of Cornelis Segersz van Voorhout, and died between Oct. 25, 1653, and Aug. 22, 1654. August 24, 1654, Antony de Hooges gives a promissory note to Francois Boon, husband and guardian of Lysbeth Cornelis, formerly widow of Gijsbert Cornelis; Ouwerkerck, deceased, for wine and beer consumed at public leasings of farms, comunion service, in household of patroon, etc. Ouwerkerck, or Oudekerk, is a small place on the river Amstel, a few miles west of Weesp.

Gillis Fonda
About 1646, Pieter Hartgers advanced some money to Gillis, a boy in the service of Antony de Hooges, possibly Gillis Fonda; Oct. 19, 1651, the court gave Gillis Fonda permission to distill liquor in't greenen bos (Greenbush), in a house belonging to Evert Pels, next to the brewery, on condition that he enter into a contract as to the Gerechticheijt vande Heeren Mrs (dues to the patroon and codirectors). Gillis Fonda is at a later period commonly referred to as Gillis Douwes Fonda. To judge from his name, he must have been a Frisian.

Hans Jansz Eencluys (een kluijs, in Cluijs)
By his mark well identified with Hans Jansz, from Rotterdam; appears at New Amsterdam in 1639 and seems to have been in Rensselaerswyck as early as 1641. He was in July 1648, preparatory to Stuyvesant's visit, employed with Jan Dircksz, from Bremen, to clean the colony's cannon, and in the spring of 1650 acted as interpreter for Jacob Jansz Flodder in buying land from the Indians. In 1651 he operated a sawmill for Evert Pels, being under contract till May 1652. Nov. 3, 1651, Hans Jansz and Crijn Cornelisz received permission to erect a sawmill on a creek on the west side of the river, a little north of Beeren Island; Sept. 30, 1656, Hans Jansz and Abraham Pietersz Vosburch obtained a lease of the water power on the creek south of the farm of Jan Barentsz Wemp.

Harmen Bastiansz
Appears first in the accounts of the colony in 1647, but was in New Netherland as early as Sept. 13, 1639, when with Evert Evertsz Bischop and Sibout Claesz he leased a sawmill on Nooten Island, now Governor's Island. He was a carpenter and with Dirck Jansz (Croon), built a house in Beverwyck on the site of the present National Commercial Bank, which he seems to have occupied from 1650 to 1652 and which on January 25, 1652, was transferred to the name of Dirck Jansz. Feb. 9, 1652, Director van Slichtenhorst promised him indemnity for any loss he might incur by proceeding with the building of his house contrary to the orders of Johannes Dyckman. Harmen Bastiaensz was in 1667 surveyor of Albany; Pearson and other writers refer to him as Harmen Bastiaensz Visser.

Hendrick Conduit
From Coninghsbergen (Konigsberg, East Prussia); made a contract with the patroon on April 15, 1634, but failed to come to the colony.

Hendrick Jansz Reur
From Munster, (Westphalia); was appointed Gerechts Boode (court messenger), Aug. 18, 1651, at a salary of f100 per year, in addition to fees for summonses and arrests. Nov. 14, 1658, he complained that his salary was insufficient and the court fixed a rate of fees for serving summonses in the various districts of the colony. Feb. 1, 1652, he obtained permission to occupy a lot "next to Juriaen Teunisz, the glazier, the rent to begin at Easter 1653. He died before Feb. 4, 1664, when his household effects were sold at auction.

Hendrick Jansz Westerkamp (Westercamp)
Received permission on April 2, 1648, to seek a living in the colony by day labor or otherwise and soon seems to have established himself as a baker. In accordance with a resolution of April 1, 1650, he was granted the garden between the first and second creeks formerly occupied by Capitaijn (Willem Juriaensz, the baker). Westerkamp died before January 17, 1655. His widow's name was Femmetje Alberts.

Huybert
Servant of Andries de Vos; was wounded by Poulijntje, in the brewery, in 1649. He may be the same as Huybert Jansz, who is mentioned in the court proceedings under date of Dec. 11, 1651.

Jacob de Brouwer
Received apparently in 1649, permission to build on hofstee lot, next to Mr. hogens (de Hooges), for which, from 1650 to 1652, he is charged with a rent of f16 a year.

Jacob Hevingh (Hevick)
Was employed on de Vlackte from the harvest of 1646 till May 1, 1647, and thereafter did a variety of work such as helping to erect a new barn, hauling lumber, carting hops, etc. From March 3, 1649, to 1655, he is charged with f20 a year for a house lot and garden opposite Castle Island. In Dec. 1649 he was prosecuted for stealing some boards. He owned a house and brewhouse which about 1655 were sold at public auction and after passing through several hands were bought on Feb. 19, 1655, by Adriaen Jansz, from Leyden.

Jacob Jansz
From Stoutenburch, (near Amersfoort, in the province of Utrecht); is mentioned in the court proceedings as farmer on de Vlackte under date of June 18, 1648, though Jan Thomasz' contract as farmer was not ended by van Slichtenhorst till March 25, 1649, he took over the lease of the farm on the terms granted to Arent van Curler, in Holland, Sept. 30, 1647, with property valued at f1426.

Jacob Jansz Stol
Signs himself Jacob Jansz Hap; appears first in the accounts of the colony under date of 1645 and in that year furnished various colonists with shoes, stockings, shirts and other supplies. He acted as skipper between Rensselaerswyck and New Amsterdam in July 1649, and soon after succeeded Harry Albertsz, from London, as ferrymaster of the colony. Feb. 15, 1652, he accompanied Johannes Dyckman in serving on the authorities of the colony an extract from the resolution of the director general and council of January 29, 1651, and a reply to the request for restitution of the colony's cannon. In 1658, he lived at the Esopus where with Evert Pels he had bought land in 1654.

Jacob Jonasz
Is charged under date of June 12, 1643, with 16 stivers and 4 pence for 1/4 yard of duffel. No other reference to him is found in the records of the colony.

Jacob Luyersz (Luijersz)
Was in the colony before Oct 19, 1651, being ordered on that day to fulfill the terms of his contract with Jochem, the baker. March 2, 1652, Claesje, the negro girl of Sander Leendertsz, testified that she had delivered some of the goods which she stole from her master to Jacob Luyersz, who promised to take her to the Manhatans and there get her a husband.

Jacob Simonsz Klomp
Appears among those who took the oath of fealty to the patroon on Nov. 28, 1651. Feb. 1, 1652, he was granted a lot next to that of Steeven Jansz, the rent to begin at Easter 1653.

Jacob Toenijs (Teunisz)
Was employed by Jan Verbeeck, presumably as a tailor. Feb. 22, 1649, Director van Slichtenhorst attempted to arrest him in the greenen bos (pine woods), for abusive language to the director and assault on the director's son, but was prevented from doing so by Jacob Adriaensz Rademaecker and Jacob Adriaensz Wagenaer. Jacob Toenijs is probably the same as Cobus de snijer (the tailor), who is referred to in 1657, and may also be the same as Jacob Toenisz, from Tuijl, in Gelderland who married Hilletje Toenis, at New Amsterdam, March 29, 1658.

Jacob (Jansz) van Schermerhoorn
Presumably from Schermerhorn, in the province of North Holland; was in Rensselaerswyck in 1650 and perhaps as early as 1648, Jan Barentsz Wemp being credited between those two dates with the price of 12 lb of nails, paid to labbatie and shermerhoorn.

Jacob Waelingen
From Hoorn (province of North Holland); was at New Amsterdam in January, 1639 and may have come to Rensselaerswyck at an early date, though his name does not occur till May 12, 1650, when he was about to leave the colony. Efforts were made to retain him by offering him a choice of several farms, but he declined to take any, stating that he had not been able to support his wife and children satisfactorily. Oct. 1, 1650, he received permission to move to the Manhatans. He obtained a patent for land near the Kil van Kol, Oct. 23, 1654, and died before Aug. 17, 1657, when his widow Trijntje Jacobs married Jacob Stoffelsz.

Jacques Meulewels
Testified on March 4, 1649, before the court of Rensselaerswyck, that the servant of Sander Leendertsz had gone into the woods with a loaf of bread and brought Indians with six packs of skins to his master's house. No other reference to Meulewels is found and it is doubtful whether he was a colonist.

Jan Andriesz
From Dublin; testified January 20, 1651, as to the killing of a cow and a horse of Thomas Chambers by the Indians in 1648 and 1649. He received a lease of a new farm, to be established north of de Steene hoeck, for the term of 6 years, beginning Sept. 1, 1649, but Dec. 21, 1649, the lease was transferred to Claes Teunisz. In 1656, he lived at Catskill and Feb. 20, 1659, a farm at Catskill, sold by him to Jan Dircksz, from Bremen, was conveyed by the latter to Eldert Gerbertsz Cruyf.

Jan Baptist (Johan Baptista) van Rensselaer
Was in the colony as early as June 29, 1651, and Oct. 18, 1651, at the earnest solicitation of the court consented to accept the office of Gerechts Persoon (member of the court), in place of Rutger Jacobsz, who had asked to be relieved of his duties. In the accounts he is credited with an annual salary of f1000 as director of the colony, from July 24, 1652, when van Slichtenhorst was most of the time at the Manhatans and van Rensselaer acted as director.

Jan Barentsz Wemp
Nicknamed Poest; appears to have been in the colony as early as 1643 and for a time to have served under Cornelis Teunisz, from Breuckelen. From April 10, 1645, to June 11, 1646, he had charge of the patroon's farm called de Vlackte and during that period is credited with wages at the rate of f300 a year, for the services of himself and his wife. He left de Vlackte June 11, 1646, on account of some sporlingh met de wilden (trouble with the Indians) and Aug. 13, 1646, agreed to take charge of the saw- and grist-mill on the fifth creek for the term of five years beginning July 25, 1646, at wages of f13 a month and f100 a year for board. March 20, 1647, with Andries Herbertsz, he took a lease of land south of Jan Dircksz, from Bremen, and east of Albert Andriesz, along the creek of Castle Island and the mill (Normans) kill, for six years, at an annual rent of f275 from Nov. 1, 1647. Andries Herbertsz, however changed his plans and Jan Barentsz agreed to carry out the terms of the contract alone. He remained in possession of this farm till Nov. 1, 1654, when he took over the farm of Thomas Chambers situated on the east side of the river on what later became known as the Poesten Kill. Jan Barentsz obtained a lot adjoining the stockade and north of Thomas Jansz, Feb. 1, 1652, the rent to begin at Easter 1653. In 1661, he owned a house which was leased by Jeremias van Rensselaer for the use of the schout, Gerard Swart. Jan Barentsz died between May 18 and June 28, 1663. His widow married Sweer Theunisz, from Velsen, (near Arnhem), who was engaged in Holland, Nov. 9, 1660, as a farm hand for Jan Barentsz.

Jan Bastiaensz van Gutsenhoven
The first reference to him in the records of the colony is under date of Feb. 8, 1652, when he testified to Dyckman's appearance in the patroon's court, accompanied by an armed posse. He was apparently engaged in business and in some way seems to have been related to Wouter van Twiller, or to the latter's wife, Maria Momma. He died in the colony between April 3-13, 1666 and July 6-16, 1667.

Jan de Neger
(The negro); is credited in 1646 with f35 advanced by him for clothes which he was to receive in the service of the patroon, and in 1646, or 1647, with f38 Voor dat hij hem heeft Laetten gebruijcken tot scherp Rechter, ter executie van Justitie, over den misdadiger Wolf Nijssen (for having consented to act as executioner to carry out the sentence upon the criminal, Wolf Nijssen). O'Callaghan, in his History of New Netherland, I:320 and 441, refers to him as the "hangman" of the colony. the wording of the entry in the account clearly shows that no such office existed and that the execution of Wolf Nijssen was an exceptional case, in which the negro was induced to serve.

Jan Fransz van Hoesen (Hoesem)
Was apparently in the colony as early as 1646, and in 1648 helped to erect a new barn for Jan Barentsz Wemp. By resolution of April 1, 1650, a garden was assigned to him between the first and second creeks and January 18, 1652, he was given the use of the place of Willem Juriaensz, the baker, on condition that he let said Willem stay in his house "as long as he lives, or opportunity offers." His wife was Volkertje Juriaens.

Jan Louwrensz
Also referred to as Jan Louwrensz Appel; appears first in the colony under date of Oct. 12, 1648, as surety for Michiel Jansz. It is not unlikely that he was a relative of Andriaen Jansz, from Leyden, alias Appel.

Jan Thomasz
Is first mentioned about 1644, and in 1646 is referred to as the former servant of Adriaen van der Donck. June 11, 1646, while de Hooges was at the Manhatans, he was engaged by Pieter Hartgers as farmer on de Vlackte, in place of Jan Barentsz Wemp, at yearly wages of f250, cloth for a suit, one pair of shoes and two shirts. March 25, 1649, Director van Slichtenhorst ended his contract. In 1648 he had a house built by Thomas Chambers and from 1653 to 1658 he, Pieter Hartgers and Volckert Jansz appear as lessees of the farm on Papscanee Island formerly occupied by Juriaen Bestval. He bought this farm, jointly with Volckert Jansz, in 1658 and continued to pay tithes till 1684, from which date till 1688 tithes were paid by his widow. With Volckert Jansz he obtained a patent for land at Schodac in 1663.

Jan (Johan, Johannes) van Twiller
Referred to by Jeremias van Rensselaer as Neeff Jan van Twiller (cousin Jan van Twiller). He was probably a younger brother of Wouter van Twiller, or perhaps, of Aert Goossens van Twiller, who on July 26, 1663, executed in the colony a power of attorney to Mr. Peel van Hennedela, shout at Nieukerck, to demand of his brother in law Aert Janz, shoemaker at Nieukerck, an accounting of the estate of his deceased father Goosen van Twiller and his mother Emmeke. Jan van Twiller was one of the Gecommitteerden (commissioners) in the colony in 1649, and at that time boarded with van Slichtenhorst. From July 24, 1652, to July 24, 1657, he held the office of raedts persoon (councilor), at an annual salary of f50. He probably left the colony in 1657.

Jan Willemsz Schut (Schuth)
Was a cooper by trade and appears first in the accounts under date of 1646. He was to have sailed by den Harinck in Sept. 1637, but for some reason failed to go and Frans Altersz, the cooper, came in his stead. In 1657, appears at Beverwyck Willem Jansz Schut, alias Dommelaer (the dozer), who was probably a son of Jan Willemsz Schut.

Jochem Wesselsz
Baker; petitioned, Sept. 28, 1651, for a place in the byeenwooninge (village) to support himself by baking and was granted a hofsteede op de kil (house lot on [Rutten?] kill) at an annual payment of f32 for the right to bake and to trade. January 26, 1652, he was ordered to remove within eight days the wood pile and pigsty from the lot of Jan van Hoesen and to refrain from molesting him or his family.

Johan de Hulter
Was a participant in the colony of Rensselaerswyck and sailed with his family and a number of free colonists by the Graft, in May 1653 (N.Y. Col. Mss, II:78). March 7, 1654, he obtained a lease of a farm north of the fifth creek, for which he is charged an annual rent of f275 for four years. In the accounts he is also charged with f900 for the purchase of a tract of land which is not described, but which is probably the land conveyed to his wife by Jan Baptist van Rensselaer, Aug. 24, 1654, upon which she seems to have established a farm, a brickyard and a tile kiln, all of which were sold by her at auction on Nov. 7, 1655. Johan de Hulter was a member of the court of the colony in April 1655 and died before Aug. 7, 1658. Aug 5, 1660, his widow Johanna, who was the daughter of Johannes de Laet, appears as the wife of Jeronimus Ebbingh.

Juriaen Teunisz
Often referred to as Juriaen de Glasemaaecker (the glazier); signs his name Jure Jan tunsen tappen and Jure Jan tunsen van tappen. January 25, 1652, the court of Rensselaerswyck granted him a lot between Gijsbert Cornelisz, the tavern keeper, and the land of Thomas Jansz, the rent to begin at Eater 1652. He kept a tavern in 1659.

Lambert van Valckenburch
Reference to him is found in the court proceedings of Rensselaerswyck under date of March 7, 1652, when Claes Jansz, from Bockhoven, is prosecuted for having his helper do some hauling for Lambert van Valckenburch, contrary to the ordinances of Oct. 16, 1648, Nov. 23, 1651, and Dec. 18, 1651. Lambert van Valckenburch was at New Amsterdam as early as January 1644 and received a patent for land there, March 16, 1647. In 1652 he was probably an inhabitant of Fort Orange and not a colonist of Rensselaerswyck.

Laurens (Louwris) Jansz
Lived with his wife Stijntje Pieters on 't goet (farm on the fifth creek?) of Adriaen Huybertsz, in January 1650. The same year a garden was granted to him north of the large garden of Sander Leendertsz, according to resolution of the court, dated April 1, 1650.

Lucas Ellertsz (Luycas Elbertsen)
Appears but once in the records of the colony, under date of May 29, 1643, when his account is charged to Cornelis Teunisz, from Meerkerck. He was in Amsterdam in June 1646 and in Beverwyck in 1661.

Lucas Pieteras (Koijemans)
Mentioned in the court proceedings of Rensselaerswyck under date of Jan. 1650, and is called the brother of Barent Pietersz (Koijemans), who came in 1639.

Marten Harmensz
Received a lot in the byeenwooninge (village) and agreed not to trade with private traders, Jan. 12, 1651. He is perhaps the same person as Marten de metselaer (the mason), who is mentioned as early as May 25, 1647.

Mathijs Jansz
Is credited in the accounts with wages for baking at the house of the patroon and with beer furnished between 1644 and 1646. He died before Oct. 13, 1648.

Paulus Jansz
Referred to Paulus Jansz Noorman and Paulus de Noorman; was wounded by Jacob Lambertsz van Dorlandt in 1648, and by Jacob Jansz Flodder in 1650.

Paulus Jansz
From Gorecum (Gorinchem, in the province of South Holland); testified on Jan. 20, 1651, as to the killing of a horse of Thomas Chambers by the Indians in 1649.

Paulus Thomasz
Testified Feb. 1, 1652, that he, Jan Dircksz, from Bremen, Pieter Teunisz, Compeer and other entered upon lands at Catskill on condition that they be free from taxes for ten years.

Philip Pietersz Schuyler
According to O'Callaghan, History of New Netherland, 2:177*, Philip Pietersz Schuyler came from Amsterdam to America in 1650, and married Dec 22, 1650, Margareta van Slichtenhorst, daughter of the director of Rensselaerswyck. The earliest reference to him in the accounts of the colony is under date of 1652, when he is charged with a small amount for some old boards from the patroon's house. March 25, 1652, he testified that Dyckman had stated "that he (Schuyler) would not have his father in law long, and that he, Dyckman, had written information to the effect"; also that Dyckman had threatened to run him and Robert Vastrick through when, on New Years day 1652, they tried to prevent the soldiers from beating the son of Director van Slichtenhorst. In the court proceedings, in 1652, the name is spelled Scheuler and Scheuller, in the accounts after 1655, the usual spellings are Schuijler and Schuyler.
*2:177: This was the first of the Schuyler family who settled in this country. He came from Amsterdam to America in 1650, and was married on 22d December of that year, to Margrina van Slechtenhorst, aged 22, daughter of the Directory of Rensselaerswyck, by Anthonie de Hooges the secretary of the colonie, "in presence of the officers both of Fort Orange and Rensselaerswyck, and of some of the principal inhabitants thereof." By this lady he had ten children. viz.: Guysbert, Gertrude, (who married Stephanus van Cortland;) Alida, (who married, first, Rev. Nicholas van Rensselaer, second Robert Livingston;) Pieter, Brant, Arent, Sybilla, (died aged four weeks,) Philip, Johannes, and Margritta. Pieter Schuyler was the first mayor of Albany. John, the youngest son, held a captain's commission in 1690, when he led an expedition into Canada, and penetrated as far as La Prairie, being then only twenty-two years of age. He possessed great influence among the Indians, and is referred to frequently in La Potherie's History of North America. His grandson, General Philip Schuyler, occupies too high a place in this history, of this State, to need further remark here. Philip Pietersen Schuyler died at Albany, on the 9th March, 1683/4, and was buried on the 11th of the same month in the church of that place, then situated at the junction of State street and Broadway. His will bears date Tuesday evening, 1st May, 1683, O.S.

Pieter Adriaensz
Referred to as Pieter Adriaensz alias Soogemackelyck (so easy), and as Pieter Macklick (easy); was one of the tavern keepers in Rensselaerswyck whom the director general and council in 1656 ordered to be arrested and sent to New Amsterdam for refusing to pay the excise.

Pieter Bronck
Was at New Amsterdam in 1643 and would seem to have been a relative of Jonas Bronck, who was probably a Dane. He is charged from 1650 to 1652 with an annual rent of four beavers for a lot in the bijeenwoninge (village), on which he received permission to build. Sept. 7, 1651, the court granted him permission to erect a tavern near his house, the director having withdrawn his request that according to instructions from the guardians of the young patroon but two taverns be allowed.

Pieter Hartgers
(Hartgars, Hartgras, Harties, Hartiens, Hertgers)
Signs his name Pieter hartgerts. He is credited in the accounts with a salary of f14 a month, from Nov. 1, 1644, to Feb. 1, 1648, and during this period, which closely corresponds to that of van Curler's absence, appears to have assisted de Hooges in the management of the colony. From 1647 to 1652, he is charged with f32 a year for ground rent and the right to trade, and as early as 1646 he seems to have had a brewery. May 4, 1649, he and de Hooges leased for three years a garden between Fort Orange and the patroon's hof, where formerly the patroon's trading house stood, and about the same time Pieter Hartgers agreed to pay an annual rent, beginning in 1653, of four beavers for a lot for his mother in law Annetjen Domine (Annetje Jans, widow of Domine Bogardus) on which he built a house. From May 1, 1653 to May 1, 1658, Pieter Hartgers, Volckert Jansz and Jan Thomasz were joint lessees of a farm on Papscanee Island, formerly occupied by Juriaen Bestval. Pieter Hartgers was at Amsterdam Dec. 20, 1660, and made an agreement with Jan Baptist van Rensselaer, regarding the purchase of 30 pieces of duffel which were to be delivered to him on his return to Fort Orange.

Pieter Jansz
From Hoorn (province of North Holland); also referred to asPieter Jansz de Boer, and Pieter de Boer (the farmer); is first mentioned under date of Dec. 17, 1648, when Hans Vos is ordered to serve him for four months according to contract. He was still in Rensselaerswyck in 1666.

Pieter Teunisz
From Brunswijck, (Germany); is first mentioned under date of March 28, 1648, as having taken farm implements, houses and cattle, formerly used by him and Crijn Cornelisz, with him to Catskill. In 1652 and 1653, Pieter Teunisz and Jan Dircksz, from Bremen, were summoned to appear before the court to settle their accounts.

Pieter Winne (Winnen)
Also referred to as Pieter de Vlamingh (the Fleming); charged in the accounts with an annual rent of f275 and tithes from stubble time 1652 till May 1, 1655, for a farm, apparently situated at Bethlehem, which on April 10, 1655, was taken over by Eldert Gerbertsz Cruyf; also with two years rent of a sawmill, at f150 a year; and with two years hire of two horses for the mill at f60 a year. He made a will, June 1, 1677 (Notarial Papers, 2:11-13, Albany County clerk's office), in which it is stated that he was born in the city of Gent in Vlaenderen and his wife, Tannetie Adams, in the city of Leeuwaerden in Vrieslandt.

Rem (Remmer) Jansz
From Jewerden (Jeveren, or Jever, in Oldenburg), smith; was at New Amsterdam as early as 1638, and in 1643 owned land on Long Island. Early in May 1650, he obtained from the authorities of Rensselaerswyck a lease of a garden adjoining the churchyard, and is referred to as being an Inwoonder int Fort Orangien (inhabitant of Fort Orange).

Reyer Elbertsz
From Breuckelen, (in the province of Utrecht); appears with his wife Marritje Baerentsz in the records of the colony under date of Sept. 25, 1651, when they leased a small parcel of land between the third and fourth creeks for eight years, at f 25 a year, the lease to run from Easter 1652. January 25, 1652, the court granted him permission to make brick.

Reyer Stoffelsz
Smith; was at New Amsterdam in 1638 and succeeded Burger Jorisz as smith of Rensselaerswyck on Aug. 18, 1639. He does not appear in the colony after 1647.

Richard Briggom (Brigham?)
Englishman; was employed by Antony de Hooges, from 1645 to 1647, in chopping wood, cooking, spading and similar work. In 1646 his wages are credited to Sander Leendertsz.

Robbert Vastrick
Is first mentioned under date of Jan. 11, 1652, when he became bail for Lucas, the brother in law of Jan Thomasz, and his partner Arijen. March 25, 1652, Philip Pietersz Schuyler and Robbert Vastrick testified as to Dyckman's threatening to run them through with his rapier when on New Year's day 1652 they tried to prevent soldiers form beating the son of Director van Slichtenhorst. He left the colony before Sept. 30, 1657.

Rutger Adriaensz
Tailor, brother of Gijsbert Adriaensz, from Bunnick; apparently employed by Jan Michielsz. He does not appear in records of the colony after Oct. 1651.

Simon de Groot;
April 10, 1647, Jan Michielsz is credited with f28, paid to Simon de Groot for work done at the farm called de Vlackte. He is probably the same person as Symon Symonsz Groot, who went to the Esopus in 1662.

Steven Jansz
Master carpenter; moved from the Manhatans to the colony in July 1649 with his wife and daughter, and immediately entered into a contract at wages of f20 a month, which were paid to him for two years. Jan 18, 1651, he acknowledged that he had tapped beer at his house without a license from Director van Slichtenhorst. Feb. 1, 1652, he obtained permission to occupy a lot next to Hendrick Reur, the rent to begin in 1653.

Teunis Cornelisz Spitsenberch
Signs his name Teunis Cornelise spitsenberch. He and Barent Pietersz Koijemans are from Dec. 14, 1654, to Dec. 14, 1657, charged with an annual rent of f150 for a mill on the same creek which they were authorized to build on Aug. 3, 1656. Teunis Cornelisz Spitsenberch appears as a member of the court in Rensselaerswyck in 1658, 1660, 1661, and 1664. In 1656 mention is made of a Catrijn jans spitbergen, who may have been his wife.

Thomas Chambers (Chamber)
Carpenter; appears first in the accounts in 1646, in connection with building a kitchen and chimney at the house of Domine Megapolensis. Sept. 7, 1646, he entered into an agreement about the lease of the land between the Wynants and Poesten Kills, in the southern part of the present city of Troy, for the term of five years, from Nov. 1, 1647. He occupied this land till July 1654 and shortly after moved to the Esopus. Sept. 23, 1650, he was chosen to accompany Arent van Curler to the Maquaes to renew the former covenant of friendship. He was nicknamed Clabbordt, a corruption of the English term clapboard, and may have introduced into the colony the method of weatherboarding houses with clapboards, which is not practiced in Holland.

Thomas Coningh (Coninck, Cuningh, Keuningh)
Is credited with f14 for seven days' service on the occasion of the wedding of Antony de Hooges, in Oct. 1647, and appears among those who took the oath of fealty, Nov. 28, 1651. Feb. 19, 1655, he sold to Adriaen Jansz, from Leyden, a house, brewhouse, pigpen and fence, which he had acquired form Juriaen Teunisz on Feb 1, 1655 and which formerly belonged to Jacob Hevick. March 18, 1649, Cornelis Segersz engaged a boy of Thomas Coningh to help him in the harvest. Thomas Coningh is doubtless the same person as tomas de Conine, who married Marritjen Frans, from Beets, (province of Friesland), at New Amsterdam, Sept. 22, 1639.

Thomas Fairfax
Was employed by Christoffel Davids in 1649 and 1650 and is referred to as a mason and an Englishman.

Thomas Higgins (Higgens, Higges, Heggens)
Referred to as Thomass Higgins alias Compeer, tomas Compeer engelsman and Kleyne Thomas alias Compeer; worked on de Vlackte in 1647, and about the same time appears to have been in the employ of Thomas Chambers. About 1650 he seems to have moved to Catskill. April 28, 1657, he entered into a contract for the use of two horses, for the period of six years. Perhaps he is the same as Thomas de Engelsman, who about 1646 is referred to as maet (partner) of Claes Teunisz Uylenspiegel.

Thomas Sandersz (Sanders, Sandersen)
From Amsterdam; was an early resident of New Amsterdam and came to the colony about July 13, 1650, when the court granted "tomes Sanders...Smith, living at or near the Manhatans," permission to settle in the byeenwooninge (village) to support himself by his trade. July 17, 1650, Saertje Cornelis, wife of Thomas Saandersz Smith, testified as to misdeeds of William Juriensz, the baker. Thomas Sanders was a smith and occupied at the Manhatans some time before 1649 the mallesmits berch (crazy smith's hill), which may have derived its name from him (cf.NY Col. Mss, 3:68; 4:235.)

Tijs Evertsz
Testified on January 12, 1651, as to the insolence of Jacob Lambertsz to Director van Slichtenhorst, Oct. 9, 1650, on the farm called the Hoogeberch.

Tijs Pietersz
Was ordered, July, 1649, to present himself within 24 hours at the house of Director van Slichtenhorst to receive orders where to go according to his contract. The same day, Broer Cornelis was notified not to harbor him.

Tjerck Claesz
Charged in the accounts with f32 for hire of a horse from May 1, 1657, to May 1, 1658.

Trijntje Claes
Mentioned as a servant girl of Jan Baptist van Rensselaer in 1656.

Volckert Hansz
After 1651 usually referred to as Volckert Jansz, and still later as Volckert Jansz Douw. His name is first mentioned under date of April 27, 1642; in the harvest of 1647, he was employed on the Vlackte. From 1647 to 1649, he and Jan Thomasz are jointly charged with f32 a year for ground rent and the right to trade; from 1649 to 1652 Volckert Jansz is charged with f32 a year for his place aenden berch (on the hill) on which he built a house. From May 1, 1653, to May 1, 1658, Pieter Hartgers, Volckert Jansz and Jan Thomasz are charged jointly with an annual rent of f560 for a farm on Papscanee Island, formerly occupied by Juriaen Bestval. Volckert Jansz and Jan Thomas bought this farm in 1658, for 950 beavers or f7600; and Oct. 12, 1694, Volckert Jansz settled his account for one half of the tithes till 1688. January 24, 1664, the council of Rensselaerswyck passed a resolution annulling the purchase of land from the Indians, at Schodac, made by Volckert Jansz and Jan Thomasz without the consent of the colony. When notice of this resolution was served on them, they produced a patent from Stuyvesant, dated Nov. 3, 1663. In 1650, Volckert Jansz accompanied Arent van Curler on an embassy to the Maquaes.

Wilhelmus Grasmeer
A son in law of Johannes Megapolensis; sailed from Holland shortly after April 16, 1650, and preached in the colony of Rensselaerswyck in 1650 and 1651. He returned to Holland in Nov. 1651. In the court proceedings of the colony, under date of Aug. 4, 1650, occurs what purports to be an extract from a letter from Wouter van Twiller to Gerrit Vastrick, asking him to enjoin van Slichtenhorst not to let Wilhelmus Grasmeer preach in the colony, because he had been forbidden to preach by the Classis of Alckmaer. The passage was read by Gerrit Vastrick and written down by Antony de Hooges, but was afterwards found not to agree with a copy furnished by Vastrick. Aug. 15, 1650, Vastrick refused to have a certified copy made and the authenticity of the extract was questioned.

Willem Leendertsz
Referred to as Willem leenertsz geelgieter, and Willem de geelgietter (the brass founder); is credited with f150 for wages earned on de Vlackte, from July 1, 1647, to May 1, 1648, and charged with grain in 1649 and beer in 1654. He may have been in the colony as early as 1646.

Willem Jansz Stol (Stoll)
Cooper; is charged from 1650 to 1652 with ground rent of f16 a year for a lot granted to him in May 20, 1650. He married the widow of Claes Hendricksz and moved to the Esopus in 1661.

Wolf Nijssen (Wolphert Nys)
From t'Stift, (bishopric of Utrecht); bound himself at the Manhatans, June 15, 1643, to serve Evert Pels and his wife in Rensselaerswyck for two years, at wages of f115 a year. After the expiration of his term of service, he was employed by de Hooges and others to sweep chimneys, cart hay, chop wood and do various other tasks. In 1646, or 1647, he was executed for a crime which is not named in the records.

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