Adam Roelantsen

Adam Roelantsen, the first Dutch school teacher in New Amsterdam.

Schoolmaster 1633-1639

source: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/Dutch-Colonies/1999-1...

ADAM ROELANTSEN.

"In the enumeration of the Company's officials of the same year [1638] Everardus Bogardus is mentioned as officiating as minister of Fort Amsterdam, and Adam Roelantsen as the first school teacher.

Roelantsen was born about 1606, and was consequently twenty-seven years of age on his arrival at New Amsterdam, where he married a young widow.

In 1638, Rev. Everardus Bogardus is again mentioned as minister at Fort Amsterdam, where Adam Roelantsen was still the schoolmaster. Roelantsen is mentioned also as having a lawsuit that year with one Jan Jansen; and also as testifying in another suit at the request of Rev. E. Bogardus.

The following year he resigned his charge, and left the colony, as in the list of settlers arrived in Rensselaerswyck, in 1639, we find the name of Adam Roelantsent Van Hamelwaard, previously schoolmaster at New Amsterdam.

His stay in Rensselaerwyck was less than two years, for in 1641 he was again in New Amsterdam.

While Adam Roelantsent was officiating as schoolmaster he resided in the outskirts of the settlement, adjoining or in close proximity to the farm of Jan Damen, the south side of which bordered along Wall street. This is inferred from complaint made by Roelantsen that Damen's cattle trespassed on his premises in 1641.

February 2, 1642, the following agreement was entered into between Adam Roelantsen, from Dockum (a city in Northern Holland), on one side, and John Tenison, carpenter, on the other, respecting the building of a house for said Roelantsen. This was on the south side of Stone Street (then a mere road and unpaved), between Whitehall and Broad Streets, and next door but one to the brewery of the celebrated magistrate, Oloff Stephensen Van Cortland. His garden had a frontage of one hundred feet.

The following is a translation of the contract:

John Teunison agrees to build the same of the following dimensions: In length thirty feet, in width eighteen feet, in height eight feet;the beams to be hewn at four sides, the house to be well and tight clapboarded, and roofed with substantial reeden thatch; the floors tight and made of clapboards; two doors, one entry, a pantry, a bedstead, a staircase to go to the garret; the upper part of the chimneys to be of wood; one mantel piece; the entry to be three feet wide with a partition. The house to be ready by the first of May next. All for the sum of 350 guilders [$140.] to be paid by Roelandsen, one-half when the timber is on the ground. 

In 1643, he was weighmaster, and he purchased a lot for a house and garden.

He went to Holland July, 1646, and returned in November. In December he sold his homestead to Govert Artsen.

He sued Jan Teunisen, Schout of Brooklyn, in 1647 for debt. He was appointed Provost in 1647, and in 1653 he was a member of the Burgher Corps of New Amsterdam.

Subsequent to the latter date neither his name nor that of his descendants is found in the Records."--Ibid.

from: Sebring Collections Page 245

Children, 2nd Marriage

• 1641 Jun 02; Adam Roolant; Lyntie; Maurice Jans, Teuntje Broecken, Lyntie Marten
• 1644 Feb 03; Adam Roelantszen; Daniel; Michiel Hoykens, Hans Kierstede, Olof Stephenszen Van Courtlant, Anneken Loockermans