Of the three brothers of this name who came to New Netherland, two, Pieter and Jacob, settled in Albany, and left no male descendants; Hendrick, after living at Kinderhook and Steene Raby [Lansingburgh] removed in 1677, to Schenectady, and on the sale of the Van Curler bouwery, purchased 20 morgens of the same. This parcel was a strip of land, commencing a little south of Water street, and extending south-westerly to or near the sand bluff, embracing the land covered by the canal and railroad tracks, being bounded on the east by the land belonging to the Veeders. As there were then no public roads across the flats in this direction, Vrooman's land was reached by a lane still in existence, called Vrooman's alley, or lane, leading from Water street south-westerly, nearly parallel to Rotterdam street.
His village lot on the north side of State street, extended from Lange gang (Centre street), to within 49 feet of Givens' Hotel, and extending back northerly about 500 feet.
Here Hendrick Meese was slain in 1690, with a son and two negroes. His two sons, Adam and Jan, inherited his estate. (212-4)
Notes
(212-4) Albany Annals, V, 79; Deeds, II, 848; Not. Papers, II.