Cosyn Gerritsen van Putten

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farm on Manhattan

• Cozyn Gerritsen's farm was near the present Astor Place... (south of Union Square) In those early days this was well outside the area protected by the settlement on the southern tip of the island.

"...there are specific records about Cosyn Gerritsen, wagon maker and wheelwright, in N.Y. Hist. Mss. Dutch., Vol. 11, p. 139, as quoted in Firth Haring Fabend's book "A Dutch Family in the Middle Colonies". In June 1643, Cosyn Gerritsen hired Albert Cornelissen "to make wheels and wagons (and) whatever is connected therewith, for (the term) of one year." If they should not "agree together", the indenture reads, Albert "is to be released at the end of six months; for which he is to be paid in addition to his board, per annum, by Cosyn Gerritsen, one hundred and ten guilders, and fourteen days are to be allowed in harvest time when Albert shall be at liberty to seek his own advantage".

From Fabend's book: "Since Cosyn Gerritsen's formal patent dates from 1647, it may be that he had first 'sowed or mowed' Bouwerie #41 as early as 1637 and erected at that time the combination house-barn structure that appeared on the Manatus Map two years later. (N.B. The Manatus Map referred to states quite clearly that Cosyn Gerritsen had received Bouwerie no. 41 as a grant of land by 1639.) The farm was approached along 'Cosyn Gerritsen's Wagon Way', known today as Astor Place and Eighth Street." "Determined to succeed in the New World, he had prepared himself better than many immigrants, for besides being able to farm, he had a second occupation as a wheelwright: Thus 'Cosyn Gerritsen's Wagon Way'". He undoubtedly profited from his real estate dealings, so being a wheelwright was not the only iron he had in the fire (pun intended!). Cosyn Gerritsen was the father of Grietje Cosyns who married Jan Pieterse Haring. Firth Fabend's book is available through Amazon. Source: Regina Haring, Nanuet, NY, http://www.dutchdoorgenealogy.com ]DCML, 12/22/2001].

Cosyn Gerritsen's land grant was indeed no. 41 on the famed Manatus Map of 1639 (his property listed as 'Bouw van Cosyn'). The Manatus (or Vingboons, named for the man who drew it up) map is the earliest known map of Manhattan. The land grant consisted of approximately 68 acres, covering what is now the Washington Square neighbourhood today. Old maps are said to be marked with 'Cosyn Gerritsen's Wagon Way', leading to his workshop. (Gerritsen was a wheelwright, a most useful trade on the 'Island in the Centre of the World'.)

In addition, he received a legacy in Hoorn from a person who died in August 1649; Gerritsen gave power of attorney to Sibout Claessen to collect his inheritance from one Susanna Elefersen, deceased. (New York Historical Manuscripts Dutch, ed. Kenneth Scott and Kenn Stryker-Rodda, vol.3; Register of the Provincial Secretary (Baltimore; Genealogical Publishing Company, 1974), pp. 132-33.