Jacob Luurson

Jacob, our first ancestor in America, was born in or near Waginengen, Holland, the son of Luur (last name unknown). He married Stynje Douwes in Amsterdam on August 28, 1638; Stynje was from Enkhuisen, Holland, born in January 1617, the daughter of Douwe Wiggersz and Agniete Coensen. I have included a copy of Stynje's baptismal record and their marriage intentions from archives in Amsterdam. A 1662 fire in the town hall of Wageningen prevents us from finding any older records on Jacob Luursen or his family.
 

In 1640, Jacob, Stynje, and their baby daughter Styntie arrived in Fort Orange, New Netherlands (now Albany, New York) on the ship Princess owned by the Dutch West India Company. Since 1629 this company had set up patroonships whereby wealthy Dutch could obtain huge tracts of land if they successfully colonized the area. One such patroon was Kiliaen Van Rensselaer whose holdings included most of present-day Albany, Columbia, and Rensselaer counties. Rensselaer had his business office in Amsterdam but his home was in the Gelderland province from which the Luersens came, so it is likely that Rensselaer personally recruited the brothers and gave them land leases to ensure that they would become permanent settlers. Rensselaer's patroonship is mentioned as the only one that lasted into the 1700's.
 

Jacob and his brother Urbanus (with wife Jannetie Claes Boanes) came to America to work for Rensselaer, possibly as mechanics. However, some of my records include details of shipping by the Dutch West India Company in which Jacob Luersen is specifically mentioned as an officer. New York Historical Manuscripts contains a September 6, 1641 declaration of officers of the ship The Angel Gabriel who urged the captain to head for New Netherlands because of the disabled condition of their ship, signed by Jacob Luersen as Chief Boastswain. Another account dated January 1, 1648, tells of a complaint filed against Roulaf Cornelius who inflicted five wounds on Corporal Jacob Luersen as the Corporal was trying to separate Cornelius and Casper Steinmetsel during a quarrel.

Jacob, like other Dutch settlers, was granted a lot in Beverwyck near Fort Orange on October 25, 1653. Records show that he built a house and had a garden there until his death on April 29, 1655. He was survived by his wife Stynje, daughters Styntie, Jacobyntie, and Agneit, and only son Luer.