The story
is that rich Pieter Stoutenburg was the first treasurer of New Amsterdam
or the treasurer of the Dutch Colony. Other stories exist that he was treasurer
when the British took control of New Amsterdam and that he had done such a good
job that the British authorities retained him as treasurer.
I
found this story repeated in books written in the late 19th century and early
20th century. Many of these books were written on the occasion of the 100th
anniversary of a county, state or community and often included genealogies of
the pioneer families. Then I found the same language repeated in genealogical
and biographical magazines. Now, it's repeated in family trees posted on the
Internet.
There
is often some element of truth in most family legends. It's like the game of
telephone. Each time the story is repeated it has little changes. The Pieter
Stoutenburg story is no exception. Pieter Stoutenburg did at one time serve as
a treasurer.
Some history :
Pieter
Stoutenburg was born in 1613 in the Netherlands, probably in Utrecht Province
based on his surname as there is a Stoutenburg in that province. I have not
found any record of his arrival in New Amsterdam but he was married in 1649 to
Aefje van Tienhoven in New Amsterdam. Tienhoven is a town in Utrecht Province
as well.
The
records in which he is mentioned don't record his name as Pieter van
Stoutenburg. That did surprise me as the only other person in New Netherland at
the time that Pieter was there is Jacobus van Stoutenburg. Jacobus lived near
current day Albany and eventually went back to the Netherlands.
New
Netherland was established more like a corporate holding than a colony. The
Dutch West India Company appointed members and employees to management roles in
New Netherland. It wasn’t until Pieter Stuyvesant arrived that the Company
assigned a resident of New Amsterdam to serve as a local treasurer on the
Company’s behalf. Wilhelmus Hendrickse Beekman held that position until the
defeat of the Dutch colony in September of 1664.
The British
established a colonial government in New York and appointed a mayor of New York
City. The mayor appointed a city clerk who served the role of treasurer of
the city. Thomas Willit was the first city clerk in New York City. He served
from 1665 to 1668 when Cornelis Steenwyck was appointed. Cornelis occupied that
position until 1671. Thomas Delavall and Matthias Nicoll also served as city
clerk in 1671. John Lawrence was city clerk in 1672.
The
Dutch briefly regained control the colony between 1673 and 1674. The
function doesn’t seem to exist in 1673. Sometime in 1674, Johannes Van Bugh, as
Burgomaster/Mayor, served as treasurer of City of New Orange/New York City. New
Orange was the name that the Dutch then gave to the city in honor of the Dutch
House of Orange. That name didn't last long and the British again called the
city New York.
In
1676, the British established the position, “The Treasurer of the City.” Pieter
Stoutenburg was the first to be appointed to that position. He was succeeded by
Willem Bogardus in 1679. So this is probably where the story that he was the
first treasurer of New Amsterdam arose.
Since Pieter
Stoutenburg was in his early 60’s when he was appointed Treasurer of the City
of New York, it hardly makes sense that he was the first treasurer of New
Amsterdam let alone the treasurer of the colony.
So what about the rich Pieter Stoutenburg?
Pieter
had small burghers rights. The wealthiest residents or people in the highest positions
within the Company had great burghers rights. Property taxes were based on
ranking of each property as 1st
class to 3rd class. Owners of 1st class property paying the most and those whose property is classified at 3rd
class paying the least. Pieter’s property on the various tax rolls was
classified at 3rd class.
Given
the tax records, I am not sure that I would call him rich. However, he
certainly was a man of means and standing within the community. He served as
orphan master protecting orphan rights, as guardian to his sister-in-law’s
orphans, as elder in the church, and other roles.
To
me, he sounded like a person who cared about the well-being of children, his
community and his civic involvement. Those mean more to me.