Adrian Jorisszen Tienpoint facts for kids

Adriaen Jorissen Thienpoint or Tienpoint was a brave Dutch sea captain and explorer. He was born in a town called Saardam in the Netherlands. In the early 1600s, he sailed many ships across the Atlantic Ocean. He helped set up new settlements, or "colonies," for the Dutch in North America. These places later became parts of what we now know as New York and Delaware in the United States.

Adriaen Jorissen Thienpoint: A Dutch Explorer

Adriaen Jorissen Thienpoint played an important role in the early days of Dutch settlements in North America. He was a key figure in exploring and helping to establish new trading posts and communities.

First Journeys to New Netherland

In 1624, Captain Thienpoint sailed a ship called the Eendracht to a new Dutch area called New Netherland. This journey was for the Dutch West India Company, a big trading company. Soon after, another captain, Cornelius Jacobsen May, arrived with his ship, the Nieu Netherlandt.

The passengers from these ships were sent to different new settlements. Some went to Kievet's Hook on the Connecticut River. Others went to Fort Wilhelmus on the Delaware River. The first lasting Dutch settlement in North America was Fort Orange. This fort was built near what is now Albany, New York.

Leading Fort Orange

Cornelius Jacobsen May was chosen as the first leader, or "Director," of the New Netherland colony. Adriaen Joris, or Thienpoint, was his second-in-command. May quickly went south to build Fort Nassau on the Delaware River. This was to stop the French from taking over the area.

Captain Thienpoint was left in charge of Fort Orange. People living there even called him its "governor." He also worked as a deputy for Willem Verhulst, another Director of New Netherland.

Building Trade and Friendships

While in charge, Thienpoint was very important in making agreements with Native American groups. These groups included the Seneca, Cayuga, Iroquois, Oneida, Onondaga, and Mohawk peoples. These agreements helped the Dutch start a very successful fur trade in the Hudson Valley. They mostly traded for beaver pelts, which were valuable.

Later Expeditions

In May 1626, Captain Thienpoint was the skipper, or captain, of a ship called the Meeuwken. This ship arrived in the port with Peter Minuit on board. Minuit was the new director of the growing colony.

Years later, in 1637, Thienpoint captained another ship called the Fågel Grip. This ship was part of the first expedition from Sweden to the Delaware Valley. Peter Minuit led this expedition as well.