He was an early resident of Schenectady and before 1678 a landholder.
His village lot was on the east side of Church street, adjoining the Dutch church lot now owned by Mrs. Washington and Mrs. Benjamin. Before 1690 it had passed into the possession of Jan Mebie, and in a deed to him given in 1708 to supply the loss of the one burned in the destruction of the town in 1690, it is described as "lying on the street called the 'Cross street,' having to the north the heirs of Hendrick Brouwer, deceased, on ye south ye town [church] lot, on the east the lot of heirs of Jan Pootman, deceased, containing in breadth at ye [Church] street 108 feet and behind 107 feet, in length on ye north and south sides 206 feet, wood measure." (124-1)
In 1678 Jan Janse Yoncker alias Rotterdam and Pieter Cornelise Vielè petitioned the Governor for permission to settle on the Second flat on the north side of the river and were answered that "they have liberty to Improve their land provided they do not goe to live upon it but at Schanectade or [among] the Inhabitants of Maalwyck." This flat then consisted of about 70 acres and was divided into equal portions, — Van Rotterdam taking the westerly half and Vielè the easterly portion. Shortly before 1690 the latter died, leaving a widow and two sons; and in 1699 she conveyed her rights in this farm to her son Lewis Vielè, who probably about 1708 released the same to the trustees of Schenectady by whom it was leased for a term of years to Symon Groot, Jr. In 1718 they conveyed this parcel of land to Reyer Schermerhorn, and his descendants have held it until this day. (124-2)
Letters of administration on Van Rotterdam's estate were issued 23 Feb., 1704 to his sons-in-law Benjamin Lenyn, Willem Boin and Manasseh Sixbery.
Rotterdam had five (?) daughters who probably inherited his portion of this flat. In 1717 Caleb Beck was empowered to sell two-fifths of it for two of them.
Notes
(124-1) Deeds, V, 80.
(124-2) Gen. entries, 32, p. 12; Col. MSS., XXVIII, 18; Deeds, IV, 215; Deeds, VI, 464; Toll Papers; Map of Ph. Ver Planck, 1718. See Second Flat.