Pieter Claesen was born in the village of Marienhafe in East Frisia (present day Germany). His parents are unknown. Pieter emigrated to America in 1637, as an indentured servant to Kiliaen van Rensselaer, in Rensselearwyck (now Albany, New York). After Claesen worked off his indenture, he labored as a tenant farmer, leasing land from the Rensselaer patroonship

Pieter came to Fort Orange (now Albany, NY), Province of New Netherlands, April 7, 1637 on the ship Rensselaerwick.
He was 13 years old. The log of this ship contains the following: "This ship sailed from Amsterdam, Holland, 25 Sept. 1636, anchored off the seaport, The Texel, on 8 Oct. 1636, reached New Amsterdam, New Netherland, 4 March 1637, and Tuesday, 7 April 1637, about three o'clock in the morning we came to anchor before foort aeranien [Fort Orange], the end of our journey upward." [Source: ijan tiepks Schellinger Log of the Ship Rensselaerswyck... Sept.25, 1636 -- Nov 7, 1637 in VAN RENSSELAER BOWIER MANUSCRIPTS, ed. by A. J.F. van Laer; 1908; p 369].

Pieter married Grietje Corneli VanNess (1627-1689) in 1645 at Renssalaer, New York, United States. He was 20 years old and Grietje was 18. She was the daughter of Cornelius Hendrick VanNess (1602-1684) and Maycke Hendrieux VanDerBurchgraeff (1602-1664).

Pieter was a prominent figure in Dutch and later English colonial Kings County, New York. All persons surnamed Wyckoff in North America, including many variations in spelling, can be traced to his family. He acquired land and became a local judge (justice of the peace). He was influential in establishing the Flatlands Dutch Reformed Church at the juncture of Flatbush Avenue and Kings Highway in Brooklyn, NY. There is a bronze placque in the church honoring him and it is said he was buried in an area where a portion of the church stands.. According to "The Wyckoff Family in America - A Genealogy" by William F. Wyckoff, Pieter was said to have been "a man of over six feet tall and large in proportion, that he had blue eyes and tawny yellow hair, high and prominent cheek-bones, a broad face and a firm square chin." When the British took over the Dutch colony in 1664, Pieter Claesen adopted the fixed surname of Wyckoff.

These are the 11 children of Pieter and Grietje Wyckoff:

1.Nicholas Pieterse Wyckoff (1646–1714) m. Sara Monfoort (1656–1704)

2.Margrietje Pieterse Wyckoff (c. 1648–?) m. Matthys Brouwer

3.Annetje Pieterse Wyckoff (1650–1688) m. Roelof Martensen Schenck, Captain (1619–1704)

4.Mayken Pieterse Wyckoff (1653–1721) m. Willem Willemsen (c. 1637- c. 1722), son of Willem Gerritsen and Mary

5.Willemptje Pieterse Wyckoff (c. 1654 – c. 1693) m. Adrian Pieterse Kenne

6.Cornelius Pieterse Wyckoff (c. 1656–1746) m. Gertje Charity Van Arsedalen

7.Hendrick Pieterse Wyckoff (c. 1658–?)

8.Geertje Pieterse Wyckoff (c. 1660 – c. 1711) m. Christoffel Janse Romeyn (c. 1641- c. 1748)

9.Garret Pieterse Wyckoff (1662–1701) m. Catherine Johanna Nevius

10.Marten Pieterse Wyckoff (c. 1663 – c. 1699) m. Hanna Willemse (c. 1660- c.1724), dau. of Willem Gerritsen and Mary -----

11.Jan Pieterse Wyckoff (1665 – c. 1730) m. Neeltje Williamse Couwenhoven

More about Pieter Wyckoff at this Internet link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pieter_Claesen_Wyckoff

More about the Wycliff house located in the middle of Brooklyn, NY at these 2 websites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyckoff_House

http://www.wyckoffassociation.org/association/history.html