The American Genealogist, whole #114, Vol 29, #2, Apr 1953
Random Notes Concerning Settlers of Dutch Descent
William J. Hoffman

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Jacob Gerritsen Strycker, from the small village of Ruinen in the Province
of Drenthe is considered a painter of note in early New Amsterdam, and an
interesting illustrated article about him has appeared in the New York
Historical Society Quarterly Bulletins. However, he made a living as a
tailor. He was back in Holland on 28 Dec. 1651 in the office of Not. J. de
Winter when "Master Jacob Strycker tailor, at the Manathans" (by "Master"
is meant master of the guild) hired Jacob Gerrits from Ruinen, 21 years
old, a tailor's apprentice for a period of three years, the terms being
"free passage, board and bed and laundry, 9 stivers drink money a week
and 100 gl. per year." The first year, this was to be paid in see want,
the second year in beaver skins and the third year half and half. If he
should become ill, the master is to cure him, but the time of sick leave
is to be added to the contract.

[A more generous employer was Frans Barentsz Pastoor and his wife Delia
Brinkman. He was a brewer at Fort Orange. When they hired Elisabeth
Hendriksd. from Kampen as a maid servant, they stipulated that if the
climate did not agree with her they would cancel the contract.]

Jacob Strycker was still in Holland on 30 Jan. 1652 (Not. J. de Winter), for
he then made a contract with Jannetje Hermans, last widow of Jan Hendriks,
workman in the soap factory, "The Two Crowns," at Amsterdam, who declared
that she had very little means and that she was now an old woman, 60 years
old. She transferred all her possessions to her son-in-law, Jacob Strycker,
who was to take her free of charge to New Netherland and to support her there.

Jacob's wife was given [N.Y. Rec. 38:5] as Ytie Huyberts (Hubrechts). As
the above record calls Jannetje Hermans "last" widow of Jan Hendriks, she
must have been previously married to a man named Huybert ______ and had by
him a daughter Ytie Huyberts, the wife of Jacob Strycker.

It should be pointed out that Bergen (KingsCo) mixes two persons named
Agnietje Strycker. One of these was from Dwingelo (near Ruinen) and was
Jacob's sister [NYRec 74:62; HSYB 1900:115]. The other was daughter of
Jan Strycker, Jacob's brother. Finally, the statement published in some
genealogies that the brothers Strycker received in Jan. 1643 from the States
General a land grant to found a colony in New Netherland on condition that
they send over twelve settlers within a stipulated period, is not supported
by any evidence. Such grants were made by the West India Company, mainly
to rich merchants, important directors of the Company, and not to a tailor
from a small village in Drente.

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