Jochem Pietersen Kuyter (died 1654) was an early colonist to New Netherland, and one of the first settlers of what would become Harlem on the island of Manhattan. He became an influential member of the community and served on the citizen boards known as the Twelve Men, the Eight Men and the Nine Men.[1][2]
Map (c1639) Manhattan situated on the North Rivier with numbered key showing settlements with 42 representing the Zegendael homestead. #43, across the Harlem River represents that of Bronck[3] settled the land on the Bronx side of the river.
Kuyter was a native of Dithmarschen, now part of Germany, and a Dane by birth. According to tradition, he had been in the service of the Danish East India Company and the Dutch East India Company. In a joint venture with Jonas Bronck, Kuyter mounted an expedition to settle in New Netherland aboard a ship they had hired, "de Brant von Trogen" (The Fire of Troy). He arrived at the port of New Amsterdam in July, 1639. Kuyter settled with his farmers and herdsmen upon a tract of 400 acres (160 ha; 0.63 sq mi) of fine farming land, of which he had obtained a grant from the Dutch West India Company. The homestead named Zedendaal, or Blessed Valley, stretched along the Harlem River from about the present 127th Street to 140th Street.[4][5][6] Kuyter was married to Lentie Martens, who possibly was a sister of his friend and partner, the aforementioned Jonas Bronck. They had no children. In March 1644, the house was burned downed, presumably by the indigenous population who rampaged across the colony in response to attacks at Pavonia and Corlear's Hook.[7]
None of the other Danes in New Amsterdam obtained the social prestige of Kuyter. He was a member of the Board of Twelve Men from August 29, 1641, to February 18, 1642; of the Board of Eight Men which board existed from September, 1643, to September, 1647. After a journey to Holland he was made a member of the Board of Nine Men, which existed from September 25, 1647, until the city was incorporated, in 1653, when he was made schout (sheriff).
Kuyter twice came in conflict with the Director of New Netherland. Kuyter was a man of good education, as evidenced by his dealings with Willem Kieft, who he believed damaged the colony with his policies and the start of Kieft's War in 1643. In 1647, when Peter Stuyvesant arrived in New Amsterdam to replace Kieft, Kuyter and Cornelis Melyn acting in name of the citizens of New Amsterdam, brought charges against the outgoing governor, demanding an investigation of his conduct while in office. Recognizing the danger of such actions to his own administration, Stuyvesant refused to consider Melyn and Kuyter's demands and caused them to be tried for lèse majesté. The case was quickly decided against the defendants, who were sentenced to banishment from the colony. On August 16, 1647, Kuyter and Melyn sailed aboard the Princess Amelia to appeal their convictions to the States-General.[8] Their vessel ran aground off the coast of Wales, but both survived and were able to present their cases in early 1648. The States-General acted favorably upon their appeal and issued a writ of mandamus dated April 28 ordering Director-General Stuyvesant to appear in person, or through his representative, to sustain his judgment against them.
In 1651, Kuyter sold three-fourths of land and cultivated the remaining portions. He was killed by Lenape in 1654. Before his death, the Directors in Amsterdam recommended to Stuyvesant that he appoint Kuyter as New Amsterdam's schout.[9]
^Gehring, Correspondence 1654-1658 (New Netherland Institute, 2013), 12:3, pg. 10
May 03, 2024
jochem, pietersen, kuyter, died, 1654, early, colonist, netherland, first, settlers, what, would, become, harlem, island, manhattan, became, influential, member, community, served, citizen, boards, known, twelve, eight, nine, c1639, manhattan, situated, north,. Jochem Pietersen Kuyter died 1654 was an early colonist to New Netherland and one of the first settlers of what would become Harlem on the island of Manhattan He became an influential member of the community and served on the citizen boards known as the Twelve Men the Eight Men and the Nine Men 1 2 Map c1639 Manhattan situated on the North Rivier with numbered key showing settlements with 42 representing the Zegendael homestead 43 across the Harlem River represents that of Bronck 3 settled the land on the Bronx side of the river Kuyter was a native of Dithmarschen now part of Germany and a Dane by birth According to tradition he had been in the service of the Danish East India Company and the Dutch East India Company In a joint venture with Jonas Bronck Kuyter mounted an expedition to settle in New Netherland aboard a ship they had hired de Brant von Trogen The Fire of Troy He arrived at the port of New Amsterdam in July 1639 Kuyter settled with his farmers and herdsmen upon a tract of 400 acres 160 ha 0 63 sq mi of fine farming land of which he had obtained a grant from the Dutch West India Company The homestead named Zedendaal or Blessed Valley stretched along the Harlem River from about the present 127th Street to 140th Street 4 5 6 Kuyter was married to Lentie Martens who possibly was a sister of his friend and partner the aforementioned Jonas Bronck They had no children In March 1644 the house was burned downed presumably by the indigenous population who rampaged across the colony in response to attacks at Pavonia and Corlear s Hook 7 None of the other Danes in New Amsterdam obtained the social prestige of Kuyter He was a member of the Board of Twelve Men from August 29 1641 to February 18 1642 of the Board of Eight Men which board existed from September 1643 to September 1647 After a journey to Holland he was made a member of the Board of Nine Men which existed from September 25 1647 until the city was incorporated in 1653 when he was made schout sheriff Kuyter twice came in conflict with the Director of New Netherland Kuyter was a man of good education as evidenced by his dealings with Willem Kieft who he believed damaged the colony with his policies and the start of Kieft s War in 1643 In 1647 when Peter Stuyvesant arrived in New Amsterdam to replace Kieft Kuyter and Cornelis Melyn acting in name of the citizens of New Amsterdam brought charges against the outgoing governor demanding an investigation of his conduct while in office Recognizing the danger of such actions to his own administration Stuyvesant refused to consider Melyn and Kuyter s demands and caused them to be tried for lese majeste The case was quickly decided against the defendants who were sentenced to banishment from the colony On August 16 1647 Kuyter and Melyn sailed aboard the Princess Amelia to appeal their convictions to the States General 8 Their vessel ran aground off the coast of Wales but both survived and were able to present their cases in early 1648 The States General acted favorably upon their appeal and issued a writ of mandamus dated April 28 ordering Director General Stuyvesant to appear in person or through his representative to sustain his judgment against them In 1651 Kuyter sold three fourths of land and cultivated the remaining portions He was killed by Lenape in 1654 Before his death the Directors in Amsterdam recommended to Stuyvesant that he appoint Kuyter as New Amsterdam s schout 9 References edit New Amsterdam Notable Citizens Geni com Retrieved 2014 02 08 Jameson James May 2009 Narratives of New Netherland 1609 1664 ISBN 9781429018968 Earliest known Manhattan map made in 1639 PDF The New York Times March 25 1917 Retrieved 2012 12 26 Riker James 1904 Harlem Its Origins and Early Annals Elizabeth New Jersey New Harlem Publishing Company Harlem in the Old Times PDF The New York Times January 11 1880 Retrieved 2012 12 30 Harlem In The Old Times Fighting Hostile Indians on the Flats The History Box May 23 2012 Retrieved 2014 02 08 Frijhoff Willem Fulfilling God s Mission The Two Worlds of Dominie Everardus Bogardus 1607 1647 BRILL 2007 ISBN 9789004162112 p 494 Russell Shorto The Island at the Center of the World The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony that Shaped America First Edition New York City Vintage Books a Division of Random House 2004 p 179 ISBN 1 4000 7867 9 Gehring Correspondence 1654 1658 New Netherland Institute 2013 12 3 pg 10 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jochem Pietersen Kuyter amp oldid 1205349761, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
