Hendrick Meesen [Bartholomeusen] Vrooman, Pieter Meesen and Jacob Meesen were three brothers from Netherlands who came to New Netherland in the early part of the 17th. century. Pieter and Jacob settled in Albany, while Hendrick settled first at Kinderhook, then Steen Raby [Lansingburg] and finally Schenectady in 1677.

Hendrick Bartholomeus [Vrooman] and five children ages 15, 13, 11, 7 and 5 years old are on the passenger list of D'Eendracht (The Concord) arriving in New Amsterdam NY on 17 April 1664. The ages of these children fit the children known for Hendrick: Adam born ca 1649, Eve born ca 1651, Johannes baptised 1653 Leiden Netherlands, Kathlyntje baptised 1657 Leiden, and Bartholomeus baptised 1659 Leiden. Hendrick's wife and mother of the children was not with them and we might assume she was dead.

In 1664 Hendrick Meuse is listed among the Dutch settlers of Albany, formerly Beverwyck. Hendrick next appears in Jermias Van Rensselaer's accounts of Rensselaerswyck Colony on 15th. March 1663 for "pruning the trees in the colony's garden".

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Read the letter written by Hendrick Meesen Vrooman to his brother in Leiden in 1664. It was written 6 months after his arrival in New Netherland and contains details of the English takeover of the colony.

According to the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Hendrick married a widow in the spring of 1671. Her husband was said to have been a mason. No name is given for Hendrick's second wife. The Ordinary Session of the Court of Albany, Rensselaerswyck and Schenectady held on Thursday May 25, 1671 gives further proof:

Hendrick Meeusz., [sic] plaintiff, against Frans Jansz Pruyn, defendant. The plaintiff demands of the defendant 3 1/2 beavers earned by his wife's first husband, his predecessor, by bricklaying, and requests payment thereof.

In 1676 or 1677 Hendrick moved to Schenectady, 15 miles northwest of Albany, where he acquired a home on the north side of present day State Street. His land of 40 acres included the present day site of the New York Central Railroad passenger station in Schenectady. On Apr.4 1678 he pledged his house and barn "standing and lying in the south end of the village of Schenectady" as part of a note.

In 1690 Hendrick, his son Bartholmew aged 30, his son Adam with his wife Engeltie and their six children were living in Schenectady. Then came the Indian and French attack on Schenectady on the cold snowy evening of Saturday February 9, 1690.

In the total of 60 people killed at the Schenectady Massacre, were Hendrick, his son Bartholomew aka Bartol, and two black slaves who were killed and burned by Indians. His two remaining sons, Adam and Jan, were left to inherit his estate. Hendrick's grandsons Barent and Wouter were taken captive to Canada but later recovered. Hendrick's son Adam escaped with his three children Peter, Christina and Hendrick.

The report of the investigating party sent out from Albany states:

Hend. Meese Vrooman and Bartholomeus Vrooman kild & burnt....Item 2 Negroes of Hend Meese ye same death....Engel the wife of Adam Vrooman shot & burnt, her childe the brains dashed out against ye wall....

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