son of Henrie Huyck, chieftain of the grootstraat, Nymegen, Holland, April 18, 1617, emigrated from Wesel, a strongly fortified town on the Rhine. Here his youthful days had been spent and he had risen to some prominence, being a deacon or an elder in the church. He took passage on a small Dutch vessel, the "Sea Gull," in company with his brother-in-law, Peter Minuit, who was the first director in the New World of the Dutch West India Company. Jan was the "koopman," storekeeper, for the company. They landed May 4, 1626, after a voyage of four months, on the island of Manhates, now the site of the present city of New York. A small colony composed of thirty houses had been established there, a fort had been staked out and a stone building thatched with reeds erected as a counting house for the use of the company. Here the director and Koopman took up their residence, transacted business and exerted every energy to advance the interests of the company. Not having an ordained minister in the colony, two "Zercken Troosters," comforters of the sick, were appointed who should read the Scripture, the Creed and a sermon on the Sabbath. John (Jan) Huyck was one of the two appointed. The following year a minister having arrived, a church was organized with Peter Minuit and John Huyck, elders, they having been in Holland, one a deacon, the other an elder. John Huyck was an honorable, intelligent and reliable man, and during his permanent settlement at New Amsterdam has honorable mention. His wife was Lizabeth Peters, who survived him and married (second) July 5, 1657, Dirck Weijerts.