Wolphert Gerretse

Wolfert Gerritse Van Couwenhoven (1 May 1579 – 1662), also known as Wolphert Gerretse van Kouwenhoven and Wolphert Gerretsen, was an original patentee, director of (farms), and founder of the New Netherland colony.

Along with his wife, Neeltje Janse Jacobdochter, Gerretse was one of the first Europeans to settle on Long Island, a farm he named New Amersfoort. He was a Schepen of New Amsterdam in 1654. He is noted as playing an "active role in laying the foundations of the communities of Manhattan, Albany, Rensselaer, and Brooklyn."

Early life Wolfert was born on 1 May 1579 in Amersfoort, Netherlands, one of three sons of Gerrit Suype Van Kouwenhoven and his wife, Styne Sara Roberts.

Farm description A 1638 inventory for the farm named Achtervelt, owned by Wolfert Gerritse and Andries Hudde in what is now Flatlands, Brooklyn, describes the estate, which included a 40 by 18-foot barn:"...one house surrounded by long, round palisades; the house is 26 feet long, 22 feet wide, 40 feet high with the roof, covered above and all around with boards ... " The deed for this farm was the first for Long Island, "and one of the very first for land in New York." The deed describes the land as "the westernmost of the flats called Keskateuw belonging to them on the island called Suan Hacky between the bay of the North river and the East River of New Netherland." where he proceeded in his duties as director for van Rensselaer's farms in Rensselaerwyck and Fort Orange.

His contract was to run through 1636, but Gerretse requested it cancelled early so he could pursue his own interests. Rensselaer agreed. In 1632, Gerretse was released from his contractual obligations. and in 1657 was made a Burgher. He served on the citizens council of Eight Men.

Death Gerretse died in 1662. Jacob Wolphertse Suype Van Kouwenhoven (1612–1670), assistant to Gov. Woulter Van Twiller, Representative at the Board of Nine in 1647, 1649–1650, Pieter van Kouwenhoven (1614–1699), one of the first magistrates of New Netherlands, member of the Schepens Court 1653–1654, 1658–1659, 1661 and 1663, delegate from New Amsterdam to the Convention of 1653, Lieutenant in the Esopus War, signer of the peace treaty 1664 with the Esopus Indians

Descendants

Later variations on surname Some descendants of Wolfert anglicized the surname "Van Kouwenhoven" to "Kouwenhoven", "Kownover", "Conover", as well as "Crownover", with Dennis Conover (born 1764) being the first descendant (4th great grandson) to use "Conover" as his surname.

Notable descendants

Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794–1877), business magnate Sidney Breese (1800–1878), U.S. senator from Illinois William A. Newell (1817–1901), 18th governor of New Jersey and founder United States Life-Saving Service John Monroe Van Vleck (1833–1912), astronomer E. H. Harriman (1848–1909), railroad baron The Wright Brothers, aviation pioneers Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962), First Lady of the United States Arthur S. Carpender (1884–1960), vice-admiral William B. Kouwenhoven (1886–1975), cardiology pioneer W. Averell Harriman (1891–1986), diplomat John Hasbrouck Van Vleck (1899–1980), Nobel Prize winner Humphrey Bogart (1899–1957), actor Cissy Stuart (1914–1989), newspaper owner and murder victim Diana Douglas née Dill (1923–2015), actress and mother of actor Michael Douglas Lloyd Conover (1923–2017), chemist Gloria Vanderbilt (1924–2019), fashion designer Michael Douglas (born 1944), actor (through his mother Diana) Chrystie Crownover, actress Christopher N. Smith (born 1964), Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Denmark Anderson Cooper (born 1967), journalist Lance Armstrong (born 1971), cyclist Andy Roddick (born 1982), tennis player Ryan Kalil (born 1985), football player Jacob Winchester (born 1987), voice actor and composer Matt Kalil (born 1989), football player Pam Gregory, figure skating coach

Legacy Gerritsen Beach, Brooklyn, New York Conover, North Carolina