Original Petitioners of Schenectady New Netherlands

[From: History of the Mohawk Valley: Gateway to the West 1614-1925,   Chapter 22: Settlers at Schenectady, 1661-4]

The fifteen proprietors of the Schenectady patents of 1664 — Their Schenectady lands and heirs — Arent Van Curler, Philip Hendrickse Brouwer, Alexander Lindsay Glen, Symon Volckertse Veeder, Tuenis Cornelise Swart, Marten Cornelise Van Ysselstyne, Arent Andriese Bratt, Bastian de Winter, Pieter Jacobse Borsboom, Pieter Danielse Van Olinda, Jacques Cornelise Van Slyck, Jan Barentse Wemp, Gerrit Bancker, Willem Teller, Pieter Adriaense Van Woggelum

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Fifteen families signed the original petition to come to Schenectady to live.  The original paper seems to have been lost, but by carefully going over the records and deeds, 14 of the original proprietors can be traced.  However, one explanation of that 15th signer may be that Harman Albertse Vedder had a half interest in the land granted to Gerrit Bancker.  Some of those signers came to Schenectady a few years later and a few never came to occupy their land at all.

Here is the list of the signers of the indenture of 1663, wherein petition was made to have lands surveyed:

1. Arendt Van Curler

2. Alexander Lindsay Glen

3. Philip Hendrickse Brouwer

4. Symon Volkertse Veeder

5. Pieter Adrianse Van Woggelum (never resided)

6. Teunise Cornelise Swart

7. Bastian de Winter (attorney for Catalyn De Vos, widow of Arendt Bradt, who signed the original petition but who died before he could move to Schenectady)

8. Gerrit Bancker

9. William Teller (never resided)

10. Pieter Jacobse Borsboom

11. Pieter Danielse Van Olinda

12. Jan Barentse Wemp (Wemple)

13. Jacques Cornelise Van Slyck

14. Marten Cornelise Van Esselstyn

15. Harmen Albertse Vedder