Hendrick Reycke SUYDAM. Immigrated in March 1663 to New Netherland, on "The Rose Tree," from Zutphen in the Netherlands, or Zuydt Dam (South Dam), an unknown location. Hendrick Reycke died in 1701 in Freehold, Monmouth Co, New Jersey. Occupation: blacksmith. Religion: member of the Flatbush Reformed Dutch Church in 1678. Alias/AKA: Heyndryck Reycke, Heyndryck Reycke van Zutphen. -------------------- "When New Netherland invited the virtuous and the daring to seek a home in her wilds, several of the Rikers joined the adventurers coming hither. These were Abraham, Gysbert, Rynier, and Hendrick Rycken, the last of whom came out a few years after the others, and was the ancestor of the Suydam family, his sons assuming that name. "

p301 "Annals of Newtown in Queens.."

"Heyndryk Rycken" immigrated in 1663.

"Hendrick Rycken was a smith, and located in the suburbs of New Amsterdam, at what was called the Smith's Fly, where he purchased a house and land in 1678. But being annoyed (as tradition in the Suydam family states) by the snakes which then infested the low lands in that vicinity, he removed to Flatbush, and with his wife, Ida Jacobs, united with the church there in April 1679; afterwards disposing of his city property to Dirck Van der Cliff, from whom Cliff street took its name. Rycken subsequently acquired a large estate at Flatbush and other places, and enjoyed a very respectable standing among men of that day. He d. in 1701."

p 320 "Annals of Newtown in Queens.."

In 1685 he became one of 26 patentees to Flatbush.

In his will, he is called "Henry Ryke"

Owned 3 slaves. In his will, left equal shares to his sons & daughters, but a double portion to Geertrude, who was feeble of mind.