Jacobus Backer

Jacob came to New Amsterdam as a merchant

• one of the 93 who signed the Remonstrance that convinced Stuyvesant to surrender New Netherland to the British in September 1664.

Marriage

• 1655 30 Oct; Jacobus Backer, van Amsterdam; Margariet Stuyvesant, van Delfs ziel http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rbillard/na_marriages_1639-...

Children

• 1657 Mar 25; Jacobus Backer, Margarita Stuyvesant; (no name given[Nicolaas]); Pieter Stuyvesant, Nicolaes Verleth, Anna Stuyvesant
• 1658 Sep 18; Jacobus de Backer, Margrietie Stuyvesant; Balthasar; Pieter Stuyvesant & wife, Nicolaes Verleth
• 1659 Sep 07; Jacobus Backer, Margrietje Stuyvesant; Hillegond; Pieter Adolphszen, Hillegond Megapolensis
• 1660 Sep 26; Jacobus Backer, Margrietie Stuyvesant; Henricus; Govert Loockermans, Margareta Riemers
• 1664 Nov 23; Jacobus Backer, Margrietie Stuyvesant; Abraham; Govert Loockermans, Jacques Casyou

  ---

  
  

JACOBUS BACKER OF AMSTERDAM AND THE ORIGIN OF THE BAKER FAMILY OF RAHWAY, NEW JERSEY

"JACOBUS BACKER was born in Amsterdam, Holland, in 1630-31. He came to New Amsterdam as a merchant trader sometime before March 13, 1653 when he contributed 150 guilders toward “putting the city in a state of defense.” On October 30th, 1655, he married Margaret Stuyvesant van Delfziel who was born in Holland in 1635 and was half-sister to Governor Peter Stuyvesant (her mother was Styntje Peters van Haarlem, second wife of the Reverend Balthazar Stuyvesant). They had five children, all of whom were baptized in the Dutch Church: 1. Nicholas, March 25, 1657; 2. Balthazar, September 18, 1658; 3. Hillegond, September 7, 1659; 4. Hendricus (Hendrick), September 26, 1660; and Abraham, November 23, 1664. Though a free merchant, Jacob Backer often served as a lawyer in the court. His trading operations were extensive and his wife actively aided him in his business enterprises. He lived on the east side of The Gracht” next door to the corner of Prince Straat (later Number 65-67 Broad Street) and his warehouse adjoined his residence. He had bought the lot unimproved June 1656. Though one of the original patentees of New Utrecht on January 16, 1657 he never settled there and continued to reside in New Amsterdam. On April 23, 1657, he was also patented with Govert Lockermans and C. van Ruynen, “Hog’s Neck or Island.” Jacob Backer was president of the Board of Schepens in 1664 and had been on the Board for several years. (This was the municipal court of justice.) He was provincial agent to Holland in 1663 and was one of the two delegates from New Amsterdam to the General Assembly (Cornelius Steenwick was the other) which met at the New Amsterdam Town Hall in April 1664 five months before the British seizure of the Colony. During Stuyvesant’s interview with Scott in regard to western Long Island prior to the seizure, he was “attended by van Cortland, John Lawrence, Jacob Backer, and a military escort.” In his book The Colony of New Netherland; A Dutch Settlement in Seventeenth-Century America (Cornell 2009), Jaap Jacobs, discusses the “social stratification of New Netherland” and noted that the “top tier consisted of major merchants… and high Company officials. … These were men such as Cornelis Steenwijck, Johannes Pietersz van Brugh, Jacob Backer, and Johannes de Peijster.”*“On Saturday, September 6, six Dutch and English delegates met outside the city at Stuyvesant’s own bouwerie house and drew up in English the ‘Article of Capitulation of the Surrender of New Netherland’.” The next day the articles were read to the burghers in the church after the second service; the official copy, signed by Colonel Nichols, was 5. delivered to Governor Stuyvesant and ratified by him; by Desille, the Schout fiscal of N.N.; Martin Cregier, the chief militia officer of the province; Peter Tonneman, the city Schout; Burgomaster van der Grist; Jacobus Backer, president of the Board of Schepens and by the schepens Timothy Gabry, Isaac Greveraet, and Nicholas de Meyer.” After the surrender, Jacobus Backer signed the letter to the Directors in Amsterdam explaining the capitulation. Though he had sworn allegiance to the Crown, he made arrangements to return to Holland and gave his wife power of attorney to conduct his affairs in his absence. He left for Holland in August of 1666 and from there reportedly sailed to the East Indies where he apparently died. Margaret stated that she “very much doubts of his life not having in several years had any letter or advice from him but various reports of his death since his departure from Holland to the East Indies.”

New Amsterdam Interests

"Albertse (Albertsen), Albert, lintwever, not to infringe on rights of van Borsum at the ferry, 1654 Je 2; buys shares in horse-mill, 1660, 1662 O 3; and partner sell mill to J. Backer and others, O 3; request of, for attachment on assignment given Van de Water granted, O3 " Source: ~• Iconography
(later in text):
Backer, Jacobus (Jacob Hendricksen), as attorney for Jacob de Lang of Holland bought house and lot. No. 4, Block A Castello Plan (1655), 2: 217, 360; married Margaret Stuyvesant (1656). 296; bought property at No. 8. Block M. Castello Plan (1656). 296-97. 398; patentee of New Utrecht (Jan , 1657) 296; fire-buckets to hang at house of, 1657, D 15; deed from J. J. De Jongh to (1661), 2: 362-63; bill for planks and nails against city,

1661 N 18; partner in purchase of horse-mill,

1662 O 3; delegate to general assembly, 1664 Mr 7; signing of treaty between Indians and Dutch witnessed by. My 15; schepen mem- ber of city court continued in oi^ce (Sept.), i: 114; deeds confirmed to (1667), 2; 39S- 99; house sold to Balthazar de Haert (1671), 297; house devised to son of De Haert and Mme. Backer (1672). 297