See also Barent, Govert
"Jacob Reinsen and Jacob Schermerhorn were Scotch merchants (Pedlers) born in Waterland, Holand,
one of whom,Jacob Schermerhorn, born 1622, was at Fort Orange, the other, Jacob Reintjes,
was at Fort Amsterdam, who there bought powder, lead and guns, and sent them up to
Schermerhorn, who supplied the Indians.
Jacob Schmermerhorn came to Beverwyck, where he became prosperous as an Indian trader and
brewer. In 1648 he transgressed the law against selling arms and ammunition to the Indians.
He was tried by order of Governor Stuyvesant and sentenced to banishment of five years and
the confiscation of his property. Several leading citizens interfered in his behalf and
succeeded in having the banishment clause of the sentence revoked, but his property was
totally lost. These proceedings against Jacob Janse Schwemerhorn formed later a ground for
complaint against stuyvesant to the states general. By his will he devised property worth
56,822 guilders (about$23,000), so the old pioneer soon retrieved his fortunes. His
estate was considered very large at that time, and was exceeded by few except the
patroons and men of hight official rank. He died May 20, 1688 in Schenectady, New York.
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