New Utrecht describes current day Bensonhurst; Eighty-fourth Street between Sixteenth and Eighteenth Avenues. Bensonhurst was founded by Anthony Janszoon van Salee. He obtained the right to 200 acres of land. Little was done by him, in regards to creating a settlement. Cornelius van Werckhoven, a member of the WIC took over this plot of land in 1652, but unfortunately died soon thereafter.
One of his associates, Jacques Cortelyou took control of the land. Under him, the town of New Utrecht was really created. He divided the area into 20 plots of 50 acres to sell for interested families. 19 of the plots were claimed by important Dutch families, such as Benson, Cropsey, Nostrand, Van Pelt, Van Brunt and DeSille. By 1657 New Utrecht officially became a town, and by 1660, eleven houses were constructed. Governor Stuyvesant visited New Utrecht in February 1660, and ended up requesting increased fortifications against Native American attacks. In 1661 Governor Stuyvesant granted New Utrecht its own charter. Further development of the area solidified New Utrecht as one of the six towns encompassed by Kings County.
The house of Nicasius deSille, an original settler of New Utrecht.
