50     THE STORY OF NEW NETHERLAND

Schlechtenhorst in the Nijkerk Commune. Wolter,
or Wouter, as the old spelling is, was betrothed
with Marita van Rensselaer, daughter of Henrick,
July 11, 1605, and was married three weeks later.
Walter, their son, the future Director, was the
firstborn in a family of nine children, sons and
daughters. Several of the sons came to New
Netherland in the service of their uncle, Kilian
van Rensselaer.

The West India Company, instead of choos¬
ing Isaac de Rasieres Director-General, appointed
Walter van Twiller, who was taken as a clerk from
the counting-house at Amsterdam. Though with
some experience on a cattleship voyage to America,
he was, when but twenty-seven years old (instead
of fifty-three), made Governor of New Nether¬
land. He showed more energy, perhaps, in de¬
veloping the colony than wisdom in dealing with
men. He was an expert agriculturist, an energetic
manager, a steadfast friend, a shrewd diploma¬
tist, and a most gallant admirer and protector of
women. His chief fault lay in being " a jolly good
fellow." He was too fond of drinking, and withal
too ready to be the nephew of his uncle in enrich¬
ing himself and his family connections at the
expense of the Company. One can read his true
story in the Van Rensselaer-Bowier Manuscripts,
published in 1908 by the New York State Educa¬
tion Department.

There was very good reason, also, why van