Wolphert Gerretse
Encyclopedia
Wolphert Gerretse also known as Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven and Wolfert Gerritsen Van Couwenhoven, was an original patentee, director of bouweries, and a founder of the New Netherlands colony; founder of the first European settlement on Long Island, New Amersfoort, and a Schepen of New Amsterdam
in 1654. "He played an active role in laying the foundations of the communities of Manhattan, Albany, Rensselaer, and Brooklyn."
Some descendants of Wolphert anglicized the surname "Van Kouwenhoven" to "Conover," with Benjamin Conover (born 1822) being the first direct descendent (7th generation) to use "'Conover'" as his surname.
, the son of Gerrit Wolfert Suype Van Kouwenhoven and Styne Roberts.
.
in New Amsterdam
and managed it until 1636, when he was granted a patent of several hundred acres on Long Island. He called his plantation "Achervelt"; later it served as the founding of the town of New Amersfoort, named after Gerretse's original home. Today the area is known as Flatlands
, where the former location of his plantation is found at King's Hwy and Flatbush Ave.
, and again in 1641. In 1653, he was sent by the colony to the States-General
in the Netherlands as a Commissioner. In 1654, Wolphert served as a Schepen
of New Amsterdam, and in 1657 was made a Burgher
.
, on January 17, 1605, he married Neeltje Jacobsdochter at the church in Amersfoort, Netherlands
. With her he had three sons:
New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam was a 17th-century Dutch colonial settlement that served as the capital of New Netherland. It later became New York City....
in 1654. "He played an active role in laying the foundations of the communities of Manhattan, Albany, Rensselaer, and Brooklyn."
Some descendants of Wolphert anglicized the surname "Van Kouwenhoven" to "Conover," with Benjamin Conover (born 1822) being the first direct descendent (7th generation) to use "'Conover'" as his surname.
Early life
Wolphert was born on May 1, 1579 in Amersfoort, NetherlandsAmersfoort
Amersfoort is a municipality and the second largest city of the province of Utrecht in central Netherlands. The city is growing quickly but has a well-preserved and protected medieval centre. Amersfoort is one of the largest railway junctions in the country, because of its location on two of the...
, the son of Gerrit Wolfert Suype Van Kouwenhoven and Styne Roberts.
Dutch West India Company
Gerretse ran a baking and clothes bleaching business, when in 1625 he was assigned as one of the first settlers to cultivate farms in the New Netherlands colony by the Dutch West India CompanyDutch West India Company
Dutch West India Company was a chartered company of Dutch merchants. Among its founding fathers was Willem Usselincx...
.
Director of Bouweries for Killiaen Van Rensselaer
Following that service, in 1630 he returned to the Netherlands, where he entered into a contract with Kiliaen Van Rensselaer to return to the colony to manage his farms. Wolphert arrived back in the colony aboard the ship "Eendracht", where he proceeded in his duties as director for Renselaer's farms in Rensselaerwyck and Fort Orange. His contract was to run through 1636, but Gerretse requested it cancelled early so he could pursue his own interests. Rensselaer agreed, and in 1632 Gerretse was released from his contractual obligations.New Amersfoort
Shortly thereafter, he leased a bouwerieFarm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
in New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam was a 17th-century Dutch colonial settlement that served as the capital of New Netherland. It later became New York City....
and managed it until 1636, when he was granted a patent of several hundred acres on Long Island. He called his plantation "Achervelt"; later it served as the founding of the town of New Amersfoort, named after Gerretse's original home. Today the area is known as Flatlands
Flatlands, Brooklyn
Flatlands is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The area is part of Brooklyn Community Board 18.One of the original five Dutch towns on Long Island , this neighborhood was originally known as Nieuw Amersfoort, after the Dutch city of Amersfoort, but the name was changed to...
, where the former location of his plantation is found at King's Hwy and Flatbush Ave.
Public service
In 1637, he became a Freeholder in MidwoutMidwood, Brooklyn
Midwood is a neighborhood in the south central part of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, New York, USA, roughly halfway between Prospect Park and Coney Island. The neighborhood is within Community District 14...
, and again in 1641. In 1653, he was sent by the colony to the States-General
States-General of the Netherlands
The States-General of the Netherlands is the bicameral legislature of the Netherlands, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The parliament meets in at the Binnenhof in The Hague. The archaic Dutch word "staten" originally related to the feudal classes in which medieval...
in the Netherlands as a Commissioner. In 1654, Wolphert served as a Schepen
Schepen
A schepen is a Dutch word referring to a municipal civic office in Dutch-speaking countries. The term is still in use in Belgium, but it has been replaced by wethouder in the Netherlands. The closest English terms are alderman, member of the municipal executive, councillor and magistrate,...
of New Amsterdam, and in 1657 was made a Burgher
Bourgeoisie
In sociology and political science, bourgeoisie describes a range of groups across history. In the Western world, between the late 18th century and the present day, the bourgeoisie is a social class "characterized by their ownership of capital and their related culture." A member of the...
.
Marriage and children
Gerretse died in 1662. A member of the Dutch Reformed ChurchDutch Reformed Church
The Dutch Reformed Church was a Reformed Christian denomination in the Netherlands. It existed from the 1570s to 2004, the year it merged with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands to form the Protestant Church in the...
, on January 17, 1605, he married Neeltje Jacobsdochter at the church in Amersfoort, Netherlands
Amersfoort
Amersfoort is a municipality and the second largest city of the province of Utrecht in central Netherlands. The city is growing quickly but has a well-preserved and protected medieval centre. Amersfoort is one of the largest railway junctions in the country, because of its location on two of the...
. With her he had three sons:
- Gerrit (b. 1610-d. 1648)-was a Representative at the Council of Eight in 1643
- Jacob (b. 1612-1670)-assistant to Gov. Woulter Van Twiller, Representative at the Board of Nine in 1647, 1649–1650, sat on the Court of Arbitrators between 1649–1650, Delegate of New Netherlands to the Hague in Holland
- Pieter (b. 1614-d. 1699)-one of the first magistrates of New Netherlands, member of the Schepens Court 1653-1654, 1658–1659, 1661 and 1663, Delegate from New Amsterdam to the Convention of 1653, Lieutenant in the Esopus War, signer of the peace treaty 1664 with the Esopus Indians
Notable descendants
- U.S. President Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. RooseveltFranklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
- U.S. President Theodore RooseveltTheodore RooseveltTheodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
- U.S. Senator Sidney BreeseSidney BreeseSidney Breese was a U.S. Senator from Illinois, Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, a forefather of Illinois, and "father of the Illinois Central Railroad".-Early life:...
- Astronomer John Monroe Van VleckJohn Monroe Van VleckJohn Monroe Van Vleck was an American mathematician and astronomer.He taught astronomy and mathematics at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut for more than 50 years , and served as acting university president twice...
- Nobel PrizeNobel PrizeThe Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
winner John Hasbrouck Van VleckJohn Hasbrouck van VleckJohn Hasbrouck Van Vleck was an American physicist and mathematician, co-awarded the 1977 Nobel Prize in Physics, for his contributions to the understanding of the behavior of electrons in magnetic solids.... - Cardiology pioneer William B. KouwenhovenWilliam B. KouwenhovenWilliam Bennett Kouwenhoven , was an electrical engineer who developed closed-chest cardiac massage, part of CPR and also invented the first cardiac defibrillator.-Biography:...
- Philanthropist Edward Harriman
- Diplomat William Harriman
- Railroad baron E.H. Harriman
- Vice-Admiral Arthur S. CarpenderArthur S. CarpenderArthur Schuyler Carpender , nicknamed "Chips", was an American vice admiral during World War II commanding US naval forces in the Southwest Pacific.-Family:...
- Actor Michael DouglasMichael DouglasMichael Kirk Douglas is an American actor and producer, primarily in movies and television. He has won three Golden Globes and two Academy Awards; first as producer of 1975's Best Picture, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and as Best Actor in 1987 for his role in Wall Street. Douglas received the...
- 12th Great Grandson Kyle William King
- 10th Great Grandson - Robert Hunt Bruce - noted Popculturist and Author
- Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Denmark Christopher N. SmithChristopher N. SmithChristopher N. Smith is an American attorney at law and an American foreign consul appointed by the ruling monarch Margrethe II of Denmark.- Biography :...