Rensselaerswyck 1636-1637 voyage, sailed form the Texel, October 8, 1636; arrived New Amsterdam, March 4, 1637.

Source Notes: A J F Van Laer compiled a list of Settlers of Rensselaerswyck 1630-1658 as an appendix to his translation of The Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts (published Albany: State University of New York, 1908). This appendix has been reprinted by the Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, 1965 under the title Settlers of Rensslaerwyck.

Most of the settlers who came to Rensselaerswyck in 1637 came on the vessel of the same name. Additionally a handful of settlers who first appeared in accounts of the colony are described as probably passengers on the vessel. The log of the voyage of the Rensselaerswyck was translated by Van Laer and included in The Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts. The journey was an unusually long one, beginning at Amsterdam September 25, 1636 and returning there November 7, 1737. It sailed from Texel on October 8, 1637.

Difficult weather was invariably the culprit. When not beset by severe storms, still, calm, windless days made the ship drift for days at a time. For 17 days the ship was off course and near the coast of Spain when the captain at last decided they must head back because of limited supplies of food and because more and more people were growing ill daily. His goal was the south coast of England. There, at Ilfracombe, on December 8, Cornelis Thomasz was stabbed by his helper, Hans van Sevenhuysen. Sevenhuysen died the following day – a Tuesday – and the captain noted in his log how all the people in this neighborhood went to pray on account of the severe sickness which God is sending them.

The Rensselaerswyck at last arrived at Manhattan on Wednesday, March 4, but could not travel to Fort Orange because the Hudson River was still closed by ice. On Sunday, the 8th, two children born on board the vessel were baptised at the Manhattan church. On Sunday, the 22nd, the widow of the murdered Cornelis Thomasz, a smith, married Arent Steffeniers. Finally on March 26th, the vessel left for Fort Orange and arrived there Tuesday, April 7th. Since some of the passengers are first listed in accounts of April 3rd, these men evidently traveled to Fort Orange via yacht. The Rensselaerswyck left Fort Orange on 29 May.

This is not a proper passenger list -- but suffices nicely. Van Laer also gives some additional 'biographical' data from the Van Rensselaer records that are not included here. Interested researchers will have to consult the original sources for these details

Albert Andriesz de Noorman [Bradt] from Frederikstad [Bradt]: His son Storm was born during this voyage, as per the ships' log. Storm became Storm Vanderzee (Storm from the sea)

Arent Andriesz de Noorman [Bradt], brother of Albert

Thijs Barentsz, a shoemaker

Maurits Jansz van Broeckhuysen -- came as a farmhand; and evidently returned in the Netherlands in 1642. A young relative of Kiliaen Van Rensselaer.

Carstens Carstensz (Christen Christensz), commonly referred to as Carsten

Carstensz Noorman -- prob came on the R'wyck.

Gijsberet Claesz (Gijsbert Claesz Jongen [the boy]) worked for the Bradts.

Pieter Claesz (Niclaesz) from Nordingen or Norden, East Friesland. He was the son in law of Cornelis Hendricksz van Nes.

Crijn (Quirijn) Cornelisz from Houten near Utrecht

Pieter Cornelisz from Munnickendam, North Holland; occasionally referred to as Pieter Cornelisz Meulenmaecker (millwright)

Roelof Cornelisz from Houten near Utrecht ... brother Crijn Cornelisz

Goossen Gerritsz from Westerbroeck

Robert Harmensz -- probably came by R'wyck

Adriaen Huybertsz - probably came by R'wyck

Rutger (Ruth) Jacobsz from Schoonderwoert, South Holland

Claes Jansz from Nykerck, Gelderland

Dirck Jansz from Edam, North Holland

Jacob Jansz from Amsterdam

Thomas Jansz from Bunnick near Utrecht

Jean Labatie 'fransman' -- from France

Arent Pietersz 'jongen' -- the boy

Jacob Pieteresz from Utrecth -- alias was Veeltje

Hans van Sevenhuysen -- sailed by the R'wyck butwas arrested in England for killing his master Cornelis Thomasz in a tavern at Ilfracombe, Dec 8 1636.

Arent Steffeniersz -- married at Manhattans the widow of the murdered smith

Cornelis Teunis from Westbroeck; also referred to as Cornelis Theunisz box,

Cornelis Thomasz on 22 March 1637.

Teunisz vanden bos, Cornelis Theunissen schoester and Kees schoester -- signs his name 'Cornelis thonisen bos'.

Reynier Thijmensz (Tijmense, Timansz, Tymasen) from Edam, North Holland.

Cornelis Thomasz from Rotterdam -- was killed in England by his servant Han van Sevenhuysen

Teunis Cornelisz van Vechten -- probably went back the the Netherlands and returned again in 1638. He was a boy in 1637

Symon Walichsz (Walichs, Walichsen, Walinschsz, Walings, Walingen, Waelingen) from Wijngaerden, district of Bildt, Friesland.

We also find, in NNC:4:3.66, an Amsterdam notarial document dated 26 Aug. 1636 stating that Dirk Corssen Stam will be aboard the Rensselaerswijk as merchant.

Additional Names courtesy of Howard Swain

Jean de la Montagne

Rachel de Forest

Maria de la Montagne (born on the voyage)

[Source: ijan tiepks Schellinger Log of the Ship Rensselaerswyck... Sept.25, 1636 -- Nov 7, 1637 in VAN RENSSELAER BOWIER MANUSCRIPTS, ed. by A. J.F. van Laer; 1908; p 369]

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