Johan van Rensselaer

Who was Johan van Rensselaer?

Johan van Rensselaer also Johannes van Rensselaer, second patroon of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck, was the eldest son of Kiliaen van Rensselaer, and his only son by his first wife, Hillegonda van Bylaer.

When his father died in October 1643 Wouter van Twiller and Johan van Wely managed the inheritance. Johannes had to promise or testify in a will his inheritance would go to his eight half-brothers and sisters. Samuel Blommaert and Joannes de Laet tried to get more influence in the colony, as both owned one fifth and opened a legal case.

Johannes became head of the family in 1650 when he was 25 years old, although the States-General of the Netherlands decided in the same year he was allowed to keep his title and call himself "patroon" of Rensselaerswijck, but without any legal power.

Johannes never visited Rensselaerswyck. His brother Jan Baptist van Rensselaer took over the business and left with their 19-year-old brother Jeremias for Rensselaerswijck in 1651 to organize the estate.

In 1655 Johannes married his cousin Elizabeth van Twiller and they had two children: Kiliaen van Rensselaer and Nella van Rensselaer. His oldest son Kiliaen followed him as the third partoon of the colony. Johan died in 1662 and his children went under the guardianship of their uncle Jan Baptist.