Rutger Jacobse probably was the founder of the Van Woert (Schoenderwoert) family of New Netherland and Albany. He is said to have been born in South Holland in 1615 or 1621. He arrived in Rensselaerswyck in 1637. He probably was the brother of Teunis Jacobse.

He began as an indentured farmhand and became a brewer, miller, and skipper. Although he did engage in the fur trade, his name was not on the lists of principal fur traders operating from Beverwyck in 1660.

He was an early settler of Beverwyck and served as a magistrate during the 1650s. He participated in the building of the Dutch church in 1656.

In 1646, he married Tryntje (Catharina) Jans van Breestede in New Amsterdam. The marriage produced several children. His daughter married Jan Janse Bleecker

He is said to have patented land on Long Island and on Constapel Island in the Hudson. He owned property in New Amsterdam as well.

Rutger Jacobse Van Woert died at Kingston in December 1665.

Sources: The life of Rutger Jacobse Van Woert is CAP biography number 2637. This baseline sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. Internet resources Many references to Rutger Jacobse are to be found in Venema's Beverwijck.