Jacobus Van Cortlandt

Jacobus Van Cortlandt was a wealthy merchant and the 30th and 33rd Mayor of New York City from 1710 to 1711 and again from 1719 to 1720. He was born in 1658 in New Amsterdam.

Jacobus Van Cortlandt was born in 1658 to Captain Olof Stevense Van Cortlandt , who arrived 1637 in New Amsterdam. Originally a soldier and bookkeeper, he rose to high colonial ranks in service of the Dutch West India Company, serving many terms as burgomaster and alderman. on citizens councils Eight Men and Nine Men His mother was Annetje Anna Loockermans Van Cortlandt who may have been the person to start the custom of Santa Claus in America. Together his parents had

Source: Wikipedia