Roeliff Jansen Kill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Roeliff Jansen Kill |
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Roeliff Jansen Kill map
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| Native name | Sank-he-nak |
| Other name(s) | Ancram Creek, Livingstons Creek |
| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Columbia, Dutchess |
| Towns | , Livingston |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Chatham, NY 42°16′45″N 73°30′40″W / 42.27917°N 73.51111°W |
| River mouth | Hudson River Livingston, New York 0 ft (0 m) 42°10′49″N 73°51′33″W / 42.18028°N 73.85917°W |
| Length | 56 mi (90 km) |
The Roeliff Jansen Kill is a major river that flows into the Hudson River in New York. For a long time, this river was a natural border between the Native American Mahican and Wappinger tribes.
The river starts in the town of Austerlitz, New York. It then flows into the Hudson River near Linlithgo, which is in the town of Livingston. The Roeliff Jansen Kill travels for about 56 miles (90 kilometers) through Dutchess and Columbia counties. It joins the Hudson River about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of Hudson.
Most of the land that drains into the Roeliff Jansen Kill is in Columbia County. However, some parts of northern Dutchess County also contribute water to the river. These areas include towns like North East, Stanford, Pine Plains, Milan, and Red Hook. The entire area that drains into the river is about 212 square miles (549 square kilometers). A big stream called Shekomeko Creek also flows into the Roeliff Jansen Kill.
Contents
River Branches and Streams
Many smaller streams and brooks flow into the Roeliff Jansen Kill, making it bigger. These are called tributaries.
- Klein Kill
- Doove Kill
- Fall Kill
- Ham Brook
- Shekomeko Creek
- Bean River
- Punch Brook
- Noster Kill
- Preechey Hollow Brook
- Bashbish Brook
- Cedar Brook
- Wright Brook
- City Brook
- Guilder Brook
- Ashley Hill Brook
- Lee Pond Brook
- Green River
History of the Roeliff Jansen Kill
Who Was Roeliff Jansen?
Both the Roeliff Jansen Kill river and Roeliff Jansen Park are named after someone named Roeliff Jansen. However, "Roeloff Jansz" was a common name back then, so it's a bit confusing.
One popular belief is that Roeloff Jansen (1602-1637) was born in Norway. In 1623, he married Anneke Jans (1605-1663). After their first three children were born, they moved to New Netherland in 1630. They first lived in Rensselaerwyck, near what is now Albany, New York. There, Jansen worked as a farmer for Kiliaen Van Rensselaer. Around 1634, he moved his family to New Amsterdam (which is now New York City). He bought a 62-acre farm on Manhattan Island, in the area known today as Tribeca. After he passed away, his wife married Domine Everardus Bogardus.
Another idea is that the river was named after Roelof Jansz Haes. He was a local leader in Manor of Rensselaerswyck and a trader. Around 1634, he and some others were traveling from New Amsterdam when their boat got stuck in ice. They walked to shore and explored the area, finding the stream. They named it after Roelof Jansz Haes because he was the highest-ranking person in their group.
The New York State Route 9G crosses the river using the Roeliff Jansen Kill Bridge, also known as the Linlithgo Bridge. This bridge was built in 1932.
The Livingston Family and the River
In 1699, Robert Livingston built a large house called Livingston Manor. It was located at Linlithgo, right where the Roeliff Jansen Kill flows into the Hudson River. After Robert Livingston died, the river became a boundary. It separated the land he left to his son Philip from the land he gave to his other son, Robert.
In 1743, Philip Livingston, who was Robert's grandson, started an iron factory called Livingston Forge. It was built on the banks of the Roeliff Jansen Kill in a place then called "Scotchtown." This place later became known as Ancram, named after a town in Scotland where the Livingston family came from.
A very important event happened at the Ancram iron works: the "Fort Montgomery Chain" was made there in 1776. This huge chain was placed across the Hudson River near West Point. Its purpose was to stop British ships from sailing up the Hudson River during the American Revolutionary War. In 1854, the iron factory became a paper mill. Today, a company called Schweitzer-Mauduit International still runs a paper plant at that location.
