FATHER

Gerrit Jansz Van Kouwenhoven

MOTHER

Styne Roberts

WIFE

Neeltje Jans

CHILDREN

1. Gerret Wolfertse Van Kouwenhoven

2. Pieter Wolfertse Van Kouwenhoven

3. Jacob Wolfertse Van Kouwenhoven

WOLFERT GERRITSE was probably in New Amsterdam before 1630. He was one of the five "head-farmers" sent by the Dutch West India Company to establish farms in New Amsterdam. The first farms were leased for 6 years and he is recorded as occupying Bowerie No. 3. By 1630 he was back in the Netherlands where he was an employee of Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, the absentee landlord of a patroonship in New Netherlands. He was sent back to New Amsterdam on the ship DE EENDRACHT arriving 24 May 1630. His contract to Van Rensselaer was to be for four years and he was to work from April to November managing the farms and was forbidden to engage in fur trading. One of his duties was to build a house for Van Rensselaer in the northern colony at Fort Orange. From letters of Van Rensselaer, it is learned that he became dissatisfied with this work since his wife and children would not move from New Amsterdam to Rensselaerwyck; he was more likely anxious to become a landowner. In 1632, Wolfert wrote to Van Rensselaer asking to be released from his contract and Van Rensselaerwyck agreed to the release. He acquired the lease of Bowerie No. 6 in New Amsterdam and by 1636 when the lease had expired, he became full owner. Wolfert married 17 Jan 1605 NEELTJE (unknown); daughter of Neltjen Jans; Wolfert died after 1660.
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/4660931/person/-1249273873/story/f548612f-6037-46fe-aeb2-a4fac4933792?src=search

Informtion from above concurs with information found inThe Van Kouwnehoven-Conover Family by Lincoln C. Cocheu NYG&B Record Vol LXX pg 230

Additional information from NYG&B Record Vol LXX pg 230
"On the Manatus Maps also are noted the Long Island lands of Wolfert Gerritsz, which marked his entrance into the land-holding class and in a very large way indeed. The first record in the long history of this property was made on June 16, 1636, when Van Kouwenhoven and Andries Huddle, an officer of the New Amerstand government, received an Indiana deed for a tract called 'Kestateuw.' -- Wolfert Gerritse prompty moved on to this property, constructed a dwelling and began to farm. The tract was, of course, far beyond his needs, apparently being about 3600 acres. His place was first called 'Achterveldt,' but later became the settlemtn of New Amersfort - possibly named by Wolfert Gerritse after his old home. -- Wolfert Gerritsz appears to have been an industrious, peace-loving man, for aside from his difficulties over the Long Island lands, he is seldom mentioned in the court records, whereas many of the arly Dutch settlers seemed to have spent many days in the presence of a judge.
He was admitted to the Small Burgher right on April 18, 1657, one of the first to receive this dignity.
It is known that the wife of Wolfert Gerritsz came over with him because KIiliaen Van Rensselaer mentioned her, but we have found nothing on the New Netherland records to give her name or even not her existence, unti her death. However, a manuscript, 'The Van couwenhoven Family in the Netherlands and in New Netherland, 1440-1630,' by L. P. de Boer, prepared by him after extensive research in Holland says; 'In the marriage record of the Dutch reformed Church at Amersfoort, which beings with the year 1583, appears the following entry (Translation by de Boer): Banns registered, 9 January 1605, Wolfer Gerrit's son and Neltgen Jan's daughter, both from Amersfoort, married 17 January.' --
As for the death of Wolfert Gerritsz Van Kouwenhoven, it must have occurred between March 2, 1662, when an action was recovered against him, and June 24, 1662, when his heirs were sued for non-performance (HSYB, 1900, 142). "