New Netherland 1621-1664
Immigrants to New Netherland
1646
Great Gerrit
(Groote Gerrit)
Departed Amsterdam December 25, 1646
Commander Paulus Leendertzen Van de Grift1
Arrived New Amsterdam May 11, 1647
Peter Stuyvesant2 the New Governor arrives.
[See biographical notice]
Stuyvesant departs as the last Dutch Governor in New Netherland on the "Gektruyste Hardt", (Crossed Heart) in May, 1665.
1Paulus Leendertzen Van der Grift was a property holder in New Amsterdam in 1644. He afterwards sailed from Holland in command of the West India Company's ship, the Great Gerrit, on Christmas day, 1646, and arrived at the Manhattans 11th May, 1647, with Peter Stuyvesant, the new Governor, by whom he was appointed naval agent. He next became a trader; served as Schepen in 1653, 1654, and burgomaster in 1657, 1658, 1661 and 1664. He resided, in New Amsterdam, on the west side of Broadway, in the vicinity of what is now Trinity Church, his property running west to the river; his place of business was in Pear, near Broad Street. He remained in the country until 1671, when he returned to Europe, and his agents disposed of his property in the City of New York.
Documents relating to the Colonial History of New York, E. B. O'Callaghan (c)1858, vol II, pg 43.
2ibid, page 43, 470.