Background
Being a minor of about nineteen years when his father died in 1644, the estates in Holland and at Rensselaerswyck were placed in charge of executors, Wouter van Twiller and Johan van Wely.
Being a minor of about nineteen years when his father died in 1644, the estates in Holland and at Rensselaerswyck were placed in charge of executors, Wouter van Twiller and Johan van Wely.
The executors attempted to have Johannes confirmed as, but the partners prevented lieutenant Van Twiller and Van Wely then appointed Brant Aertsz van Slichtenhorst as Director of Rensselaerwyck. Samuel Blommaert and Joannes de Laet tried to get more influence in the colony, as both owned one fifth and opened a legal case.
Johannes became head of the family in 1650 when he was 25 years old.
The States-General of the Netherlands decided in the same year that he was allowed to keep his title and call himself "patron" of Rensselaerswyck, and that the be more accountable to the shareholders. Johannes never visited Rensselaerswyck.
With them travelled a dozen employees hired by the, recruited from places where the Van Rensselaers had other interests. In 1656 the director general and council in New Amsterdam announced plans to begin collecting tithes, which heretofore had been collected by the patroonship for the support of the Dutch Reformed minister.
January Baptist, as Director, submitted a remonstrance in which he pointed out that under the 1629 charter, Rensselaerwyck was exempt.