Language Statement

Sara has been described as an "Indian trader", and  served as a translator for the Dutch  and the Native Americans on a number of occasions as she was 'proficient' in the 'Indian Languages'.   She established what would today be called a professional friendship with Chief Oratam, as they often worked together to craft language for agreements that would be understood by both the Native Americans and the Dutch, and she was trusted by Petrus Stuyvesant and others in the European community.   

Sara was born in Amsterdam, and travelled to New Netherland in 1630 with her parents to initially settle in Renssalearswyck near present day Albany. 

Sara was the  eldest step-daughter of Domine Eduardus Bogardus, as her mother, Anneke Jans, had married him following her widowhood.   Her grandmother, Tryntje Jonas was the company midwife, and although we don't yet have evidence from the documents that Anneke was a midwife, most certainly the knowledge would have been passed down to her and also to Sara.    Certainly, Sara's many successful pregnancies, and the fact that she only lost one child suggest that these women were skilled. 

Sara, and the women in her family, would have been  very aware of  the governance of the settlement, and the goals of the Dutch West India Company, and the women who depended upon medical attention in the settlement.     She must have been a respected member of the Dutch Reformed Church, because she was called upon to witness the baptisms of more than 20 of  her neighbors children.

Her first marriage was in 1642 to Hans Kierstede, the DWIC company surgeon.  She was 15 years old.   

Her house with Dr. Hans Kierstede  was on the north corner of Pearl and Whitehall Streets, it is represented in the Castello Plan and appears to have a  and additional room  at the back which may have been a surgery or apothecary, or perhaps was  sleeping quarters, and a medicinal herb garden within their plot.She and Hans had 11 children, so managing their household was no small feat.    Enslaved Africans and Native Americans were also part of their household, and it is likely that they slept in the attic of the house.    

In 1656 Saturday was declared a market day in front of Kierstede house:   https://encyclopedia.nahc-mapping.org/document/ordinancedirector-general-and-council-establishing-weekly-market-new-amsterdam      This location was likely no accident of luck, Sara would have been available to translate for the many Native American traders who came to market with corn, venison, firewood, and tobacco mixtures, hoping to trade for duffel cloth, linen shirts, axes, and other European goods.

In 1661, because the market had become so successful, the Burgomasters decided to erect an Indian Trading house in front of her house where the weekly market with Native Americans took place.  (F1 on the Castello Plan, which does not show this because it dates to 1660.)  Local carpenter Adolph Pietersen was eventually asked to build the small house in 1662.   https://encyclopedia.nahc-mapping.org/document/meetingadministrative-meeting-burgomasters-100       The documents describe a significant pile of lumber at that location that was probably used to build the 'Indian Trading House'.    This location was both close to Sara's house and close to the dock.

Indigenous people came to trade corn (maize), venison, firewood, furs, and probably spoke with her every week.   So her language skills, and her ability to establish trusting trade relationships with the 'Indians' would have continued to improve over the years.  

In 1664 she acted as an interpreter in negotiating a treaty for Petrus Stuyvesant with the  Indians of the Hudson River.   For her services as interpreter, a patent was granted to her second husband on 14 Oct 1673, "of a lot on Manhattan Island, north of the windmill on the west side of the road that runs to Klatchook."

Sara's second marriage was to Cornelis van Borsum in 1669.  They had a single child who may have had learning disabilities.

Her third marriage was to Elbert Stoothoff, in 1683, when she was 56.   This marriage took place  just 10 years before her death at approximately 66 years of age.

Sara kept Africans and Native Americans as slaves, and her last will , dated July 29, 1693 includes instructions to bequeath six enslaved people including:

"a negro boy, Hans to her daughter Blandina",
"my Indian boy named Aide [Andries] to her son Lucas
"a negress, named Susannah" to her daughter Catherine
"my negro Sarah" to her son-in-law Johannes Kip
"a little negro, called Maria" to her son Jochem
"a negro boy Peter" to her daughter Anna van Borsum

"In the name of God, Amen. Be it known to all whom it may concern that I, Sara Roeloffse, late widow of Elbert Elbertse Stouthoff, considering the frailty and shortness of Human life, Do make my last will in manner following. 1st. I commit my immortal Soul into the merciful hands of God Almighty, and my body to a decent burial. 2Nd, I revoke all other wills. Now I will before anything else to my daughter Blandina, of this city, a negro boy, Hans. To my son Luycas Kierstede, my Indian boy named Aide. To my daughter Catharine Kierstede, a negress, named Susannah To my son-in-law, Johannes Kip, husband of my said daughter Catherine, my negro, Sarah, in consideration of great trouble in settling the accounts of my later husband, Cornelius Van Brosum, in Esopus and Elsewhere. To my son Jochem Kierstede, a little negro, called Maria, during his life, and then to Sarah, the eldest daughter of my son Roeloff Kierstede by Ytie Kierstede To my son Johannes Kiersted, a negro boy Peter I leave to my daughter Anna Van Borsum, by my former husband Cornelius Van Borsum, on a account of her simplicity, my small house and kitchen, and lot situate in this city between the land of Jacob Mauritz and my back house, with this express condition, that she shall not be permitted to dispose of the same by will or otherwise, but to be hers for life and then to the heirs mentioned in this will. It is my will that my son Luycase Kierstede shall have the privilege of buying the house where he now lives and the bake house and lot belonging to the same and to pay the money for the same to the other heirs, he to retain his share. I have fully satisfied my sons Hans Kierstede and Roeloff Kierstede for their share in their father's estate, being 40 Beavers, as by account for the same, the rest of my estate I leave 3 to the seven children of my deceased husband, Hans Kierstede, viz, Roeloff, Blandina, Jochem, Luycas, Catrine, Jacobus, Rachel, and the children of my deceased son Hans Kiersted by his wife Jannike equally. Only Hans Kierstede the eldest son of my deceased son Hans Kierstede shall have L1 for his birthright. I appoint as guardians of my daughter Anna Van Borsum, and managers of her house and lot my son-in-law Johannes Kip, and my son Luycas Kierstede, and my son-in-law Wm Teller, giving them full power as executors." NY Wills, Vol 0005-0006, 1693-1707 [1]

In 1853 Kiersted's Universal Remedy, an ointment containing herbs was still being sold to women as a cure for maladies relating to breastfeeding.   We don't know for sure, but it is possible that Sara and her husband Hans, and her grandmother the midwife may have contributed their knowledge of herbs and trading with the Native Americans in the making of this remedy.