Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts

The complete title is, Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, Being the Letters of Kiliaen van Rensselaer, 1630-1643, and Other Documents Relating to the Colony of Rensselaerswyck. This work was translated and edited by Arnold J. F. van Laer. It was published in 1908 by the University of the State of New York, Albany.

A brief description of the Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts can be found on the New Netherland Institute's website. The link labeled, "Translation" will take you to a digital copy of the book in PDF format. It is over 900 pages and may take a few minutes to completely upload to your screen. Once it has, I have found that the best way to utilize the book is to download it to my computer and open it offline. Here is a direct link to the PDF:

Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts

Digital copies in PDF and with options for other formats can be found elsewhere online, for example at the Internet Archives, and at Google Books. Since the book was published prior to 1927, it is in the public domain. For those who wish to have a physical book, used copies and reprints can be found for sale online at the websites of various booksellers. Just do a search.

There is one person named Brouwer found in this volume, and a second person referred to as de Brouwer (the brewer), an appellation that should not be confused for a surname.

Beginning at page 166 is a "Certificate of purchase from the Indians of land on the west side of the Hudson River from Smacks Island to Moenemin's Castle and of tract of land on the east side opposite Castle Island and Fort Orange." The date is given as August 13, 1630. Footnote 31 tells us that this certificate is the first purchase for Kiliaen van Rensselaer of land from the Indians in the vicinity of Fort Orange. The Indians are named as Kottamack, Nawanemit, Abantzeene, Sagiskwa and Kanamoack. Kiliaen van Rensselaer, himself, never came to his colony in North America. The certificate is signed by Peter Minuict, Director (Peter Minuet, who at the time was Director of the New Netherland Colony), Pieter Bijlvelt, Iacob Elbertsz Wissinck, Ian Ianssen Brouwer, Sijmon Dircks pos, Reynier Harmansen (this at page 168). 

The Ian Ianssen Brouwer listed above is Jan Jansz Brouwer, relatively well known today as having been a mariner and the captain of the ship d'Eendracht, that made trips to and from New Netherland during the earliest years of the colony. On page 170 he is mentioned simply as, Jan Brouwer, in a letter from Sijmon Dircxz pos to Kiliaen van Rensselaer. Sijmon Dircxz pos writes, "I would also recommend to your honor my cousin dirck Joosten, who is now coming home as mate with Jan Brouwer, since he is a good, upright young man."

Jan Brouwer is again found at page 272, this time in a letter from Kiliaen van Rensselaer to Wouter van Twiller, dated April 23, 1634 (begins at page 266). Wouter van Twiller was Director-General of New Netherland at this time, having replaced Peter Minuet in 1633. Van Twiller was a nephew of Kiliaen van Rensselaer (Wouter's father's sister was Kiliaen van Rensselaer's wife). The long letter is primarily Van Rensselaer warning Van Twiller about those at home who are against him, followed by some advise on how to keep is job. Once again, Jan Brouwer, is referred to in the context of a ship's captain.

Please note: there is no evidence that the ship captain, Jan Jansz Brouwer was in any way related to any of the early New Netherland progenitors bearing the surname Brouwer (that is to say, he is not related to Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, or Willem Brouwer of Beverwijck).

Jacob de Brouwer is found at page 839, in the section titled, "Settlers of Rensselaerswyck, 1630-1658." This section has been published separately as Settlers of Rensselaerswyck, 1630-1658, Excerpted from the Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts,with Index to Biographical Notes. It is a short (54 page) pamphlet of brief biographies of those found at the Colony of Rensselaerwyck* from 1630 (the year of it's founding) to 1658. It is arranged chronologically and Jacob de Brouwer is listed under the year 1649, with the brief entry: "received apparently in 1649, permission to build on a hofstee (lot), next to Mr. hogens [de Hooges], for which, from 1650 to 1652, he is charged with a rent of f16 a year."

As with Jan Jansz Brouwer, there is no evidence that links Jacob de Brouwer with Adam Brouwer of Gowanus, Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, or Willem Brouwer of Beverwijck.

Map of Rensselaerswyck, ca. 1632 (Wikimedia commons)

 *There is some debate as to the correct name and spelling of Van Rensselaer's colony. Arnold J. F. van Laer used the spelling RENSSELAERSWYCK with an S after the root, Rensselaer. Some believe that the inclusion of the S is incorrect, and the correct name and spelling is RENSSELAERWYCK, without the S, or even more correctly as RENSSELAERWIJCK, which would be the Dutch spelling (substituting IJ for Y).

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Curaçao Papers, 1640-1665

Curaçao Papers, 1640-1665, translated by Charles T. Gehring. A description and brief introduction is online at the New Netherland Institute's website. Here it is described as Volume 17 of the Dutch Colonial Manuscripts at the New York State Archives. I believe it is considered to be volume 17 of the New Netherland Document Series, which is the name used for the continuation of the New York Historical Manuscripts series which began with Arnold J. F. van Laer's translations. If the categorization and titles given to all of these translations and publications is confusing to you (and indeed it does seem unnecessarily complicated) I would refer you to the Introduction published by the New Netherland Institute. Curaçao Papers, 1640-1665 was published in 1987 by Heart of the Lakes Publishing, Interlaken, NY, and used copies can be found for sale online. However, asking prices (as of this post) are high ($275 to $441). Fortunately there is digital version available in PDF from the NNI. Unfortunately, it does not include the introduction or an index.

Below the description of this volume are three links. The first is to a digital copy (PDF) of the published translation by Charles T. Gehring. The second link is to a transcription by Jacob Schiltkamp done in 1987. The third link will take you to the digital images page at the New York State Archives website. Here is a direct link for the translation:

Curaçao Papers, 1640-1665

Besides an index, this online PDF edition also does not include the introduction. That can be found separately online, as a PDF, here:

Curaçao Papers, Introduction

Whether or not anyone named Brouwer is found in this work is not known to me. I have not read through the entire volume. Of interest though, to those researching Adam Brouwer, is a paragraph found in the separately published introduction. On page 2 of the Introduction is a narrative describing events taking place in around the island of Curaçao during the first half of the 1640s. Here we find, with regards to the year 1644: 

     "During the first week of April, while Stuyvesant was lying siege to the fort on St. Martin, approximately 450 West India Company fled to Curaçao from the Maranhao region of Brazil. This exodus was prompted by the fall of Sao Luis, the major city in the Maranhao, on the 28th of February. Most of the men in this contingent were soldiers under the command of David Adam Wiltschut, the former military commander on Curaçao. Stuyvesant must have been overwhelmed when he returned to Curaçao, minus one leg, to find 450 new mouths to feed. The islands were already short of provisions because of the expedition to St. Martin and Wiltschut had brought none with him from Brail. Stuyvesant resolved the crisis by sending the majority of the soldiers to Willem Kieft, director of New Netherland, to assist in his campaign against the Indians."

We of course know from Adam Brouwer's Power of Attorney to Geurt Servaessen, dated 21 February 1645, that Adam Brouwer had gone to Brazil in 1641, as a soldier employed by the West India Company, and was stationed at Fort St. Louis (Sao Luiz), and since he is in New Amsterdam by early 1645, it is most certain that Adam Brouwer experienced the events described above.

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Land Papers, Vols. GG, HH, II, 1630-1664

Land Papers: Volumes GG, HH & II, in the series New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, is transcribed and edited by Charles T. Gehring. It was published by the Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, in 1980. The volume can be purchased directly from the New Netherland Institute's website.

A brief description can be found on the NNI website. The volume also has an introduction that is a valuable source of background information for the records within. It is suggested that the time be taken to read it. The published book is available as a free PDF via the link provided at the bottom the page at the NNI website.

Land Papers: Vols. GG, HH & II

There are two mentions of Adam Brouwer in this volume. They are found at pages 48 and 124.

At page 48 is a translation and transcription of the patent granted to Adam Bouwer on 7 February 1647, by Willem Kieft, then the General-Director of New Netherland. The patent is identified as GG 167, and the published version reads as follows:

     "We, Willem Kieft, etc... have given and granted to Adam Brouwer a certain lot for a house and garden out of the lot of Hendrick Jansz which was laid out by the surveyor on 2 June 1644; it estends in front along the road from the east and 9 rods, 2 feet, 2 inches and 7 grains; on the west side 6 rods to the rear of the house along a fence; further on as the fence runs 2 rods, 9 feet, 2 inches; on the west side the length to the rear of the lot is 5 rods, 6 inches; the breadth in the rear or on the north side is 3 rods, 8 feet, one inch and 2 grains; on the east side in length next to the lot of Willem Bredenbent 9 rods, 7 feet, 3 inches and one grain; amounting in all to 61 rods, 5 feet, 8 inches and 3 grains, with the express conditions etc...

     Done at Fort New Amsterdam, 7 February 1647. It is excepted that Hendrick Smith shall have the privilege of passing over the land of Adam Brouwer until the aforesaid Adam shall build on the road and no longer."

The patent mentions two others by name. Willem Bredenbent, Adam's immediate neighbor, was married to Aeltje Braconie in New Amsterdam on 4 September 1644. Aeltje Braconie was the mother of Maria Badie, and the grandmother of Adam Brouwer's wife, Magdalena Verdon. The marriage of Willem Bredenbent and Altje Braconie, as recorded in the New Amsterdam Reformed Dutch Church register, reads as follows: 

"Wilhem Bredenbent, j.m. Van Ceulen, en Aeltje Braconie Wede Van Corn. Lamberts"

From this record we can see that like Adam Brouwer, Willem Bredenbent was born at "Ceulen," which is Cologne, a city in present day Germany. Aeltje Braconie was the widow of Cornelis Lambertsen (Cool). The father of Maria Badie was Thomas Badie, who had been Aeltje's husband previous to Cornelis Lambertsen. Willem Bredenbent was (at least) Aeltje's third husband. This was Willem's first marriage.

The second individual named is mentioned first as "Hendrick Jansz," and later as "Hendrick Smith." They are one and the same. Hendrick Jansen was a locksmith, and the records of New Amsterdam record him variously as Hendrick Jansen (Jansz), as Hendrick Jansen Smit (Smith), as Hendrick Smit (Smith) and as Hendrick Jansen van Jeveren. Adam Brouwer purchased is lot from Hendrick Jansen on 21 February 1645, less than a month before he (Adam) married Magdalena Verdon. We will have more on Hendrick Jansen Smit (Smith) van Jeveren, in a future post.

Adam Brouwer's name appears a second time at page 124. This is a conveyance from Adriaen Keyser to Abram Pieterse Molenaer (a molenaer or molenaar is a miller. Did Adam Brouwer, later a miller himself, learn this trade from Abram Pieterse?). The conveyance states that Adriaen Keyser, former commissary of the West India Company, sold by virtue of his power of attorney, to Abram Pieterse, two houses located on Broadway, "heretofore purchased from Abram Pieterse by Paulus Leendertsen when he was quartermaster for the Company, and thereafter sold by the aforesaid Keyser to the highest bidder for the Company's account; located between Jan Jansen Cuyper and Gerret Molenaer; it is in breadth on the street 4 rods, 4 feet; in the rear along Adam Brouwer's lot 4 rods; in length on the north side 7 rods; on the south side 5 rods, 4 feet, 3 inches, etc." The conveyance is dated 15 October 1653. It is identified as II 54. It appears that Adam Brouwer's property backed up to the property described in this conveyance, and that Adam was still living on Manhattan Island in 1653.

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Council Minutes, 1655-1656

Council Minutes, 1655-1656, transcribed and edited by Charles T. Gehring, was published in 1995 by Syracuse University Press as Volume VI of the New Netherland Document Series. A PDF version can be found online at the New Netherland Institute's website.

Council Minutes, 1655-1656

A physical copy can be purchased from the NNI through their online bookstore, for $55 (as of the date of this post).

This volume includes a short biography (page vi) of Charles T.Gehring, which should be of interest to anyone who spends much time engaged in researching the families and history of New Netherland. The introduction to the records (page xiii) is also a must read. It will provide some insight into the location and formation of local (regional) jurisdictions within New Netherland. Knowledge of  how New Netherland was governed is valuable background for genealogists and family historians attempting to interpret events that effected the lives of their ancestors. 

The surname Brower is found in the index. There are records naming an Eduard Bronje, an Edward Brower, an Eduward Borus, and an Edward Brouse. They all refer to the same Edward. Whether or not Edward's correct surname was Brower, or something closer to Bronje, Borus or Brouse, is not apparent from these records alone.

At pages 40 and 41 is the "Discharge of William Bouwne and Eduard Bronje as guardians of John Ruckman." The date is 5 May 1655. Both William Bouwne and Eduard Bronje are described as inhabitants of Gravesend.

At pages 63 and 64 is a "Letter containing the nomination of officers from Gravesande for the council's approval." The letter is dated 19 July 1655. It announces the choice of "William Bowne, William Wilkins & Edward Brower for our Magistrates and John Morris for schout," for the inhabitants of Gravesend, and asks for confirmation. It was subscribed by Deborah Moody and John Tillton, "cleck in behalfe of the Rest" (which I would assume means the other inhabitants of Gravesend. The reply from the "lord director general" and councilors of New Netherland writes the names of the four men as, Willem Bount, Willem Wilkens, Eduward Borus, and Jan Mourits.

At pages 278 and 279, under date 24 March 1656, John Tillton, clerk at Gravesend, again submits on behalf of the inhabitants there, their choices for Magistrates as "William Boune, William Willkins, and Edward Brouse." Also for John Cooke as shout.

As it turns out, the man found in the above records, is actually named, Edward Brown. And it was not all that difficult to discover this. The History of Long Island..., Volume II (New York: Gould, Banks & Co., 1843) by Benjamin Franklin Thompson, at page 177 has a list of inhabitants at Gravesend in 1656. The only Edward among the group is Edward Brown (the name is listed here twice). This volume can be found online at Internet Archive. The variations in his name, found above, are simply examples of the fact that spelling was not standardized in the 1600s, that the Dutch clerks and scribes spelled phonetically and had particular difficulty with non-Dutch names, and also of the difficulty in reading, transcribing and translating these old documents that were created some 350 or so years ago. [William Bouwne/Bowne/Bount/Boune, was William Bowne who came to Gravesend from Salem, Massachusetts where he was a freeman in 1637.]

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Council Minutes, 1652-1654

New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, Volume 5 is Council Minutes, 1652-1654. This volume was published in 1983 by the Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore. The Council Minutes were translated and edited by Charles T. Gehring. There is an index. A physical edition of the book is available for sale on the New Netherland Institute's website for only eight dollars (as of the date of this post, and it is not clear if the book is hardbound or softcover). There is also a digital version in PDF format that can be downloaded from the NNI website.

Council Minutes, 1652-1654

Adam Brouwer is found in two entries in the book. At page 15, under the date of 12 February 1652 is:

     "Adam Brouwer, plaintiff, against Machiel Janssen, defendant; the plaintiff demands proof that he had grain to sell, because he, the defendant, would have said so, and that he, the plaintiff, would have taken it from the mill." Which is followed by, "The director and council order the plaintiff to prove that the defendant said so, or to pay the defendant's expenses."

At page 18, under the date of 4 March 1652 is an incomplete entry (parts missing or unreadable) presented as:

     "[        ] Kristman, plaintiff, against Adam Brouwer for [        ] of £43," followed by, "The director and council order Adam Brouwer to pay in [  ] days."

Although there is nothing of genealogical significance in either of the above two entries, we can at least learn from the first that Adam Brouwer was engaged in milling by 12 February 1652. The Michael Jansen in the same record is likely the progenitor of the Vreeland family, which is the surname that his children are found with. His wife is variously recorded as Fytie Hertmans, Fytie Hartmans, Feytie Hermans and Fytie Wessels. She would appear to have been a daughter of a Hertman/Herman Wesselszen. I have no guess as to who the "[       ] Kristman" is in the second record.

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Council Minutes, 1638-1649

Council Minutes, 1638-1649, is volume 4 in the series, New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch. As with the first three volumes of the series, Council Minutes, 1638-1649, was translated and annotated by Arnold J. F. van Laer, and edited and indexed by Kenneth Scott and Kenn Stryker-Rodda. It was published by the Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., of Baltimore, in 1974. It can be difficult to find hard copies. Some larger public libraries and university libraries (especially in New York State) would have it. Some offers of used copies for sale can be found online, but the price is usually steep. Thankfully, the New Netherland Institute has digital copies online in the form of PDFs. They can be downloaded for free (the NNI accepts donations).

Council Minutes, 1638-1649

As described on the NNI website, "this volume of Council Minutes contains the earliest surviving records of its kind, as minutes previous to Willem Kieft's directorship, or before 1638, were probably taken back to the Netherlands with the former directors Peter Minuit and Wouter van Twiller. These records have not been found." Those familiar with the early families, individuals and personalities of the early years of New Netherland, will recognize many names in these documents. Some genealogical information can be found, but perhaps the greatest value found here lies with the picture it helps paint of the New Netherland Colony.

For Brouwer researchers, a Jan Brouwer is mentioned once, and Adam Brouwer is mentioned twice.

Document 42, found at page 50, is dated May 19, 1639. It is a case of debt in which Jan Brouwer, plaintiff, demands payment of 60 florins from George Homs,* who acknowledges the debt and promises to pay within five or six weeks, "when Mr. Allerton** shall have returned to the Manhates from the North." It is not known who this Jan Brouwer is. There is no evidence to suggest that he is Jan Brouwer of Flatlands, L. I. His name is not accompanied by any appellation or other description, so it cannot be assumed that he is the Jan Brouwer, skipper of De Eendracht, found in Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1638-1642, doc. 195. However, he may be the Jan Brouwer found in the accounting of Hendrick de Foreest's debts, dated July 26, 1637 (doc. 57 of the same). But, assuming the two are one and the same is not certain.

Adam Brouwer, who later settled at Gowanus, Long Island, is found in two documents. Document 221 is found on pages 262 and 263. Dated May 2, 1645. Adam Brouwer, plaintiff, demands of Hendrick Jansen, locksmith, defendant, delivery of the deed for the house and lot he purchased from Hendrick on February 21, 1645 (see Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1642-1647, doc. 141c, pages 292-293[van Laer]). Hendrick is willing to comply provided Adam bind himself for the payment of the account rendered to him (in the original agreement it is apparent that Adam did not initially pay for the property in full, but was rather making payments to Hendrick). The Council orders that in the deed the house be mortgaged until the defendant is paid.

Adam Brouwer is mentioned in document 243, at page 294. This mention is within the context of a long list of complaints brought against the Rev. Everardus Bogardus by the Council. It begins with document 242 at page 291, and ends with document 244 at page 296. The date is January 2, 1646, but the list of complaints date back to 1634. Among the complaints against Rev. Bogardus is the accusation that "on the 21st of March 1645, being at a wedding feast at Adam Brouwer's and pretty drunk, you commenced scolding the fiscal and the secretary then present..." The issue of complaints and criticisms by Dom. Bogardus (and others) directed at members of the governing council, and Director Willem Kieft in particular, dominates this volume of the Council Minutes. In document 316 (as listed in the index, but in actuality probably 317), it is recorded that Domine Everardus Bogardus has "requested by petition his dismissal and leave to go to the fatherland." The last mention of Everardus Bogardus is in document no. 318 (pages 413-415). The date for both documents is July 22, 1647. On August 16, 1647, the ship Princess Amelia (called De Princesse in the Council Minutes, p. 413) left Manhattan for the Netherlands. On board was Dom. Everardus Bogardus, Director Willem Kieft (who had been fired and replaced by Petrus Stuyvesant) and others including Jochem Pietersz Kuyter, Cornelis Melyn and Hendrick Jansen, the tailor (not the locksmith). During the voyage the ship's captain missed the English channel and instead sailed the ship into the Bristol Channel, an inlet that separates South Wales from Devon and Somerset in England. The ship ran aground, broke apart, and most of the passengers, including Dom. Bogardus and Dir. Kieft perished. (Jochem Pietersz and Cornelis Melyn survived, Hendrick Jansen, the tailor, did not).

*George Homs, also called Joris Homs by Dutch clerks and recorders, was George Holmes, an Englishman who first settled in Virginia (the earliest record found for him there is dated 4 August 1635). He led a small party of men in an attempt to take Fort Nassau, the Dutch fort on the South (Delaware) River. The attempt failed and George Holmes was brought to New Amsterdam. He afterwards settled there, buying land at Deutel (Turtle) Bay on the East River side of Manhattan Island where he established a tobacco plantation. He is has been referred to as the first English resident of Manhattan Island. See  Innes, J.H., New Amsterdam and its People: Studies, Social and Topographical, of the Town Under Dutch and Early English Rule (New York: C. Scribner's Sons, 1902), pp. 14 and 326-27, and Stokes, Isaac Newton Phelps, The Iconography of Manhattan Island 1498-1909 (New York: R.H. Dodd, 1915-1928), 6 vols, Vol. 6, pp. 172-173).

**"Mr. Allerton," is Isaac Allerton who came to America in 1620 as one of the passengers on the fabled Mayflower. Allerton's interest had less to due with Puritan ideals and religious freedom sought by some of his fellow passengers, but rather more to due with economic opportunities. His interests led him to varied locations along the east coast of America, and the Caribbean islands . His name is frequently found in the records of New Netherland. He died at New Haven, Connecticut, apparently insolvent. His son (and namesake) Isaac Allerton, a graduate of Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1650, eventually settled in Westmoreland Co., Virginia.

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Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1648-1660

Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1648-1660, is Volume 3 in the series New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch. Like the previous two volumes it was translated and annotated by Arnold J. F. van Laer, and edited and indexed by Kenneth Scott and Kenn Stryker-Rodda, and published in 1974 by the Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore. A description can be found online at the New Netherland Institute website.

Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1648-1660

Three links are found at the bottom of the page reached by the link above. The first link will take you to a PDF of van Laer's hand written transcription. The connection for this PDF is slow. The second link will take you to a PDF of the 1974 published version described above. This link is quick, and downloading the PDF to your computer for offline viewing is recommended. The third link will take you to a page at the New York State Archives website where digital images of the original documents can be seen. Unlike volumes one and two, Charles Gehring does not have his own digital version of volume three.

There are no mentions or records for any person named Brouwer, Brower or Brewer in this volume. Of interest to some may be documents relating to Dom. Everardus Bogardus and his widow Annetje/Anna Jans. They can be found at page 149 (no. 55c); page 219 (76a); pages 313-14 (97). There are certainly many names in the index that will be recognized by those researching some of the earlier families of New Netherland.

New Netherland, 1656, from the Map of A. Vanderdonck (Wikimedia Commons)

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Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1642-1647

Volume 2 of New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch, is the Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1642-1647, translated and annotated by Arnold J. F. van Laer, edited and indexed by Kenneth Scott and Kenn Stryker-Rodda (Baltimore: Genealogial Publishing Co., Inc., 1974). As with volume 1, hard copies are difficult to come by, but digital versions have been placed online by the New Netherland Institute at their website.

Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1642-1647

Four links to PDFs are made available at the bottom of the above page. The first link will take you to the digital version edited by Charles Gehring. There is no index to this version. The second link is for a PDF of the original published volume. This version is indexed. The third link is to a PDF of the original transcribed pages. There are 751 pages here and it can take some time before they all load on to your computer. For each version I do recommend downloading the PDF to your own computer. It should be much easier, and faster, to work with offline compared to online. The fourth link will take you to the digital collections page at the New York State Archives website. Here you can see images of the original documents that were transcribed by van Laer.

There is no introductory material here. For background information please see the opening pages of Volume 1. Instead the volume goes right into the records, the first being a bond of Govert Loockemans and Cornelis Leendersen for goods brought over in the ship Coninck David. 

There are five documents in which Adam Brouwer appears - 141a, b, c, 142a, and 149j. 

Document 141a is found at pages 290-291 in the original published version (hereafter van Laer), and at page 170 in the newer digital version (hereafter Gehring). This is an important document for those researching Adam Brouwer. It is dated 21 February 1645, and to date is the earliest known record of Adam Brouwer to have been found. It tells us that he was from Ceulen (Cologne, Germany), that he was employed by the (Dutch) West India Company as a soldier, and that he sailed to Brazil in 1641 aboard the ship Swol, whose supercargo was Willem de Haes. Adam Brouwer states that he is owed one hundred and eighty-nine guilders as pay for his service, and "assigns and transfers in full and free ownership," his wages earned to one Geurt Servaesz, living in Amsterdam in Papenbrugh alley. The witnesses to the document are Willem Bredenbent and Pauwlus Van der Becke. The later had married Maria Badie in October 1644, the former had married Aeltie Braconie in September 1644. In one month from the date of this document, Adam Brouwer would marry Magdalena Verdon, the daughter of Maria Badie and granddaughter of Aeltie Braconie. Adam Brouwer signs this document with a mark, AB. A note in both the van Laer and Gehring versions tells us that this document was then canceled.

Document 141b is at pages 291-292 (van Laer) and at page 171 (Gehring). The document has the same date as the above, 21 February 1645, and is otherwise the same except that here Adam Brouwer is authorizing Geurt Servasz "at Amsterdam, in Papenbrigh alley, in 'The Whalebone,' to demand and collect in his name from the honorable directors of the General Charted West India Company, chamber at Amsterdam, all such sums of money as are still due him." This is an important technical clarification from the prior document in which it could have been construed that Adam Brouwer was giving Geurt Servaesz his earnings due from the WIC. Adam signs with his mark, AB. The witnesses are again Willem Bredenbent and Pauwlus Van der Becke.

Document 141c follows at pages 292-293 (van Laer) and pages 171-172 (Gehring). This document is also dated 21 February 1645. It is a contract of sale from Hendrick Jansen to Adam Brouwer of a house and garden on Manhattan Island. The document reads, "Hendrick Jansen, from Jeveren, locksmith, and Adam Brouwer have in love and friendship, in the presence of the witnesses hereto invited, agreed and contracted about the purchase of a certain house and lot for a garden situated on the island of Manhatans, formerly occupied by Jeuriaen Roodolf. Hendrick Jansen from Jeveren sells the aforesaid house and lot to Adam Brouwer above mentioned, who also acknowledges that he has bought the same, with all that is fastened by earth and nail, in true and full ownership, on which house and garden Adam shall pay within three months from the date twenty-five guilders, which shall be the last payment." Both parties sign the document, Adam Brouwer with his mark, AB, and Hendrick Jansen as "Heindreick Jansz." The contract is witnessed by Willem Breidendent and Pauwlus Van der Becke. This contract is a bit unusual in that the phrase "in love and friendship" (between Adam Brouwer and Hendrick Jansen) is used. It implies that they had a close relationship, but for how long that relationship had been, and where and under what circumstances it began are not known, and can only be guessed at. What we do know from this document about Hendrick Jansen is that he was from "Jeveren," which is the city of Jever. During Hendrick Jansen's lifetime Jever was in Oldenburg. Today it is the capital of the district of Friesland in Lower Saxony, a state in Germany. We also know that Hendrick Jansen (or Heindreick Jansz) was a locksmith. From volume 1 of Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1638-1642, in document 49 (page 67), Hendrick Jansen, locksmith (sloot maker), aged 36 years, and Hendrick Gerritsen, aged 20 years, gave testimony on behalf of Grietje Reyniers. This document was dated 6 October 1638, which would place Hendrick Jansen's birth at about 1602, presumably at Jever. Hendrick Jansen (Heindrick Jansz) is found in later records with the occupation of "smith." In 1656, Hendrick Jansen van Jeveren, was granted a patent on land "beyond Hellgate on Long Island" (Gehring, Charles T. Land Papers. New York Historical Manuscripts, Dutch, Vols. GG, HH & II. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1980. Page 83). If our assumption that Adam Brouwer was born about 1620 is correct (see Origins of Adam Brouwer), then we can see that Hendrick Jansen was a bit older than Adam. There were other men named Hendrick Jansen living in New Amsterdam during this time, and care must be used when sorting out the records, which individually do not convey a complete story or history of any one person.*

In document 142a, page 295 (van Laer), pages 173-174 (Gehring), Adam Brouwer, signing with his mark, AB, was a witness to directions in which Symon Woutersz, of Nus, soldier, assigned over to Seger Teunisz an account of wages earned by Hans Haen, from Hessenlandt, in the service of the WIC. The document is dated 1 March 1645.

Document 149j, pages 341-342 (van Laer) and page 209 (Gehring) is another power of attorney from Adam Brouwer, this time to Govert Loockermans, to collect one hundred and eighty-nine guilders, earned by Adam Brouwer at Fort St. Louis de Marinhan. The document is dated 21 Sep 1646. Apparently Adam did not receive his wages that he had requested to be collected by Guert Servasz back in February 1645. Adam once again states that he had sailed to Brazil aboard the Swol in 1641. Govert Loockermans is apparently about to set sail for Amsterdam on De Jager.

In addition to the documents listed above for Adam Brouwer, there are documents relating to Magdalena Verdon's grandmother, Aeltje Braconie (18c, 93b, 93f); to Willem Adriaenszen, who was the second husband of Maria Badie (37b, 47c); to Paulus Van der Beeck, who was Maria Badie's third husband (122c, 123a, 139e). 



*For example the various records, published in New York Historical Manuscripts, Register... , Council Minutes, and Land Papers, also include a Hendrick Jansen, tailor (snyder in Dutch) who is often mentioned, as well as a Hendrick Jansen from Oldenborch (Oldenburgh), soldier, age 20 on 12 November 1642. There is also mention of a Hendrick Jansen from Bremen. Care is needed when sorting out records belonging to persons with a common name and a common patronymic like Hendrick, and Jansen.

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Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1638-1642

The Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1638-1642, is volume 1 in the series, New York Historical Manuscripts: Dutch. A description can be found online at the website of the New Netherland Institute.

Register of the Provincial Secretary, 1638-1642

The Secretary of New Netherland was an employee of the Dutch West India Company. The Register covers legal documents of various sorts that were filed with the Provincial Secretary. This volume, the first of three covering the Register of the Provincial Secretary, was translated and annotated by Arnold J. F. Van Laer beginning in 1911. He had picked up on work begun by Edward Bailey O'Callaghan during the 19th century. Van Laer's edition was published in 1974 by the Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., of Baltimore, Maryland. The published editions were edited and indexed by Kenneth Scott and Kenn Stryker-Rodda. Hard copies are somewhat difficult to come by. The series had only a limited number of books published and accessing one usually meant a trip to a larger library. Purchasing a copy online usually involves finding a used copy for sale by an individual, and in such cases the asking price can be steep. Thankfully, the New Netherland Institute has, over the past few years, placed PDF versions of the publication online. The PDFs can be downloaded and it is now possible to have a convenient digital version on your home computer. And it's free - but while you're at the website, why not make a donation to the NNI. 

Volume 1, covering the years 1638-1642, is available in two formats, both can be accessed via links found on the page mentioned above. The link for the original version published in 1974 is labeled, in parenthesis, "published book images." This version includes an index and is therefore the easiest to use. A note: the index entries do not give the page number in the book for each entry. Instead the number refers to the original document number, which in every case is different than the page number in the book. The second version made available on the NNI website is a version edited by Charles Gehring, Director of the New Netherland Research Center. This version does not include an index. A third link will open up a PDF of Van Laer's transcriptions of some of the documents that make up this volume.

I would strongly recommend reading the Preface (page vii), the biography of Arnold J. F. van Laer (page ix), and the Introduction by Peter R. Christoph (page xiii). The three provide an informative background for not just using, but also appreciating the availability of this work and others in the New York Historical Manuscripts series.

In addition, the New York State Archives has made available online, digital images of some of the original documents of the Register of the Provincial Secretary. They can be found here.

Volume 1 (1638-1642) has documents involving two (or three) different men named Brouwer. 

Document 57, which begins at page 78 is an accounting of what Johannes la Montaenje (Johannes de La Montagne) paid and dispersed to divers persons on account of debts and for the maintaining of the house and plantation of the late Hendrick de Foreest (Johannes de La Montagne's wife, Rachel de Foreest, was a sister of Hendrick). The document is dated 26 July 1637. On page 79 is an entry dated Dec. 1, "To Jan Brouwer, for 12 lbs powder...fl18 (18 florins). 

Document 101, beginning at page 138, is the Promisory note of Johan de Voocht to Petronella Underhill with receipt of Petronella Underhill for part payment by General Specks. Note 3, on page 139, mentions Hendrick Brouwer, who was appointed instead of Jacques Specks (Specx) who had initially been appointed as successor to Jan Pietersen Coen as governor general (of the Dutch East Indies). [Please take note that Hendrick Brouwer is not named in the original document, and he was not present in New Netherland. See his Wikipedia entry for more.]

Document 195, beginning at page 270 has two parts. The second, found on page 271, is a Power of Attorney from Harman Meyndertsen van den Bogaert to Carel Looten, to collect money due from the West India Company. The document mentions that Harman sailed to New Netherland, from Texel on the ship De Eendracht, Jan Brouwer, skipper. The ship sailed from Texel on 21 March 1630, and arrived at New Netherland in 24 May 1630. The document is dated 22 March 1640. 

None of the above two, or three men (are there two different men named Jan Brouwer here, or do the two records pertain to the same man?) had any lasting presence in New Netherland. In fact Hendrick Brouwer was never there. His mention is in a note added by van Laer. None of the later 17th century Brouwer families of New Netherland (headed by Adam Brouwer, Jan Brouwer, or Willem Brouwer) can be shown to be related to either of the Jan Brouwers, or the Hendrick Brouwer, mentioned above. The documents, however, represent the earliest mentions of any person named Brouwer found in the surviving records of New Netherland.

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