Name
Jacob Goyvertsen was a farm hand in Rensselaerswijck.[1] His common name complicates researching his life before and after his time in the colony.
Origin
Jacob Goyvertsen was from “Vlecker,”[2] an old Dutch variation of Flekkerøy, an island off the south coast of Norway.
Migration
Kiliaen van Rensselaer, the patroon of Rensselaerswijck, mentioned Iacob Goyuerttsen as one of the Christians he sent over in 1630 to populate the colony.[3] Jacob sailed to New Netherland on the Eendracht, which departed from Texel on 21 March 1630 and arrived at New Amsterdam on 24 May 1630.[4] Jacob was last documented in the colony on 20 July 1632, and must have left shortly after.[5]
Settlement
Jacob Goyvertsen lived on the Laetsburg farm in Rensselaerswijck between 1630 and 1632. That was one of the first farms established in the colony. It was located at the Laetskil, in the area then known as Twillers dal [Twiller’s valley].[6]
Biographical Details
Jacob Goyvertsen was born, probably on Flekkerøy, between say 1590 and 1615. Hired as a farm hand in 1630,[7] he was probably between 15 and 40 years old. He died at an unknown time after 20 July 1632.[8] His patronymic indicates he was the son of a man named Goyvert.
Education
From Norway, Jacob probably spoke Norwegian.[9]
Occupation
On 20 July 1632, Jacob Goyvertsen worked as a farm laborer on the Laetsburg farm. The farm was run by Roelof Jansen van Masterland,[10] present-day Marstrand in Sweden.[11] In June 1632, Kiliaen van Rensselaer described how Roelof had received four horses, eleven sheep, cows, and hogs, and had “a complete farm and a suitable house.”[12] Jacob Goyvertsen probably worked on the farm from his arrival in 1630 until at least 1632.
Associations
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Jacob Goyvertsen worked for Kiliaen van Rensselaer, the patroon of Rensselaerswijck.[13] He worked on the farm with Roelof Jansz van Masterland, the overseer of that farm, and another farm hand from Flekkerøy, Claes Claesz.[14]
Literature
De Roever, N. “Kiliaen van Rensselaer en Zijne Kolonie Rensselaerswijck.” Oud Holland 8 (1890): 29–74, 241–95. Mentions Jacob Goyvertsen in the list of settlers in appendix D (p. 11).
Dunn, Shirley. “Settlement Patterns in Rensselaerswijck: Farms and Farmers on Castle Island.” Halve Maen 70 (Spring 1997): 7–18. Discusses the Laetsburg farm including its staff (pp. 23–24).
Source Editions
Van Laer, A. J. F., ed. Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts: Being the Letters of Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, 1630–1643, and Other Documents Relating to the Colony of Rensselaerswyck. Albany, New York: University of the State of New York, 1908.
Citations
[1] A. J. F. Van Laer, ed., Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts: Being the Letters of Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, 1630–1643, and Other Documents Relating to the Colony of Rensselaerswyck (Albany, New York: University of the State of New York, 1908).
[2] Van Laer, Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, 222; citing Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, letter book, fol. 26.
[3] Van Laer, Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, 308; citing Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, letter book, fol. 77–79b.
[4] Van Laer, Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, 805.
[5] Van Laer, Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, 43; citing Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, letter book, fol. 26.
[6] Van Laer, Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, 198; citing Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, letter book, fol. 12b. Van Laer, Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, 203; citing Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, letter book, fol. 13b.
[7] Van Laer, Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, 308; citing Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, letter book, fol. 77–79b.
[8] Van Laer, Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, 43; citing Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, letter book, fol. 26.
[9] Van Laer, Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, 222; citing Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, letter book, fol. 26.
[10] Van Laer, Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, 222; citing Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, letter book, fol. 26.
[11] For the identification of Masterland/Maesterland as Marstrand see the geographical locations deduced by Amsterdam archivists Simon Hart: “Herkomstonderzoek,” PDF, Gemeente Amsterdam Stadsarchief (https://www.amsterdam.nl/stadsarchief/themasites/downloads/herkomstonderzoek/).
[12] Van Laer, Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, 198; citing Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, letter book, fol. 12b.
[13] Van Laer, Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, 308; citing Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, letter book, fol. 77–79b.
[14] Van Laer, Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, 222; citing Van Rensselaer Bowier Manuscripts, letter book, fol. 26.
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