M. 18 Aug 1641 in New Amsterdam, New Netherland
Wife: Annetje Pieters
D. about 1664 in (probably) New York
In the mid-17th century, a small number of Scandinavians migrated to America and settled in New Amsterdam. One of them was Louwerens Pietersen, who was one of the early residents of Manhattan.
Louwerens was born probably before 1620 in the town of Tønsberg, Norway, a place described as the oldest present-day Scandinavian city. It's unknown why he migrated to America, but he was in New Amsterdam as early as 1639. On June 16th of that year, he was declared sole heir to the property of a man named Roelof Roeloffsen.
Location of Tonsbergen, Norway.
Because of his heritage, Louwerens was often called "The Norman" in New Amsterdam records. On August 18, 1641, he married a woman from Germany named Annetje Pieters; they had two daughters — Sytie born in 1642, and Engeltie born in 1646. People from Norway served as sponsors for the baptisms of the two girls (including Hans Hansen Bergen, who was named on Sytie’s baptism). In turn, Louwerens' name appeared as sponsor for several children of Norwegians between 1641 and 1663. This suggests that there was a sort of Norwegian community within the Dutch colony.
On March 12, 1647, Louwerens obtained a lot in Manhattan on the south side of Prince Street and about 50 feet from Broad Street. The house he built was said to be the first one on Prince Street. This is not the Prince Street that runs through Soho in present-day New York; the location was in lower Manhattan and it was later renamed Beaver Street. When Louwerens lived there, it was somewhat on the outskirts of the city, and there wasn’t a second house on the street until 1652.
By then, though, Louwerens seems to have moved to what is now Queens. Records show that on March 22, 1651, he purchased a plantation on the west side of Maspeth Kill, Long Island, “opposite to Richard Brudenel.” Maspeth Kills was a small waterway that flowed into the larger Newtown Creek which emptied into the East River. The land must have been attractive to Louwerens because this was a fairly remote place. The Dutch had originally settled there in 1642, but were chased off by the local tribe. About ten years later, after European disease wiped out the tribe, Dutch colonists “made peace” with the few survivors, and moved back.
The harsh life of 17th-century Long Island may have led to the early death of Louwerens’ wife Annetje. On March 10, 1660, he went through a legal procedure to appoint a guardian for his children. According to Dutch law, this was done after one or both parents died, so it suggests that Annetje passed away around this time. Louwerens likely didn’t live much longer, because after signing a 1664 document pledging loyalty to England, there’s no mention of him in any further records.
Through his two daughters, Louwerens has descendants today scattered throughout the United States. As for the present-day location of his home in Manhattan, it’s in the heart of New York’s Financial District, and it's safe to say that Louwerens wouldn't recognize the place.
Children:
1. Sytie Pietersen – B. before 1 Jun 1642, New Amsterdam, New Netherland; D. 1687, Flatbush, New York; M. Barent Joosten (1625-1711), 7 Dec 1658, New Amsterdam, New Netherland
2. Engeltie Louwerens – B. before 15 Jul 1646, New Amsterdam, New Netherland; D. 1706, Gravesend, New York; M. (1) Jan Cornelissen Van Cleef (1628-?), 10 Mar 1661, Gravesend, New York; (2) Jan Emans (?-1714), 4 Mar 1701, Gravesend, New York
Sources:
Scandinavian immigrants in New York, 1630-1674, K.C. Holter, 1916
Wikipedia article for Tønsberg, Norway
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