Born in Holstein, Denmark
Died in Jersey City, New Jersey
He married Ytie Jansen before 1639. She was born ca 1610 in Olderberg, Germany. Laurens and his wife arrived in New Netherland (New York) in July of 1639 on the ship "The Fire of Troy". This was a private armed vessel, engaged by Captain Jochem Kuyter, also from Holstein, a man of wealth and distinction who sailed from Hoorn, bringing with him farmers, herdsmen and laborers to start a new Colony, located in present Harlem.

Laurens was called "the Great Dane" and also "the Great Shoe" becuase of his great size. He devoted his time wholly to farming

"Laurens Duyts was apparently born and raised on the island of 'Strand' west of the city of Husum, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany (then a part of Denmark). Most of the people on this island made their living by deep sea fishing. In 1634 a catastrophic tidal wave nearly destroyed the island tearing it into 3 separate islands and killing several hundred people. The area where Laurens lived is now the island of 'Nordstrand'. Either as a result of the storm or other reasons, Laurens moved ashore; apparently around the town of Friedrichstadt in an area referred to as Nordfriesland. There are people from this family living in that area today using the spelling 'Dyrsen."

The Court Minutes of Harlem relate that Laurens Duyts of Holstein received sentancing from Stuyvesant on November 25, 1658, for selling his wife, Ytie Jansen, and forcing her to live in adultery with another man, and for living himself in adultery, he was to have a rope tied around his neck, and then to be severly flogged and have his right ear cut off, and to be banished for fifty years. He went across the Hudson River to Bergen (now Jersey City where he died and was buried on January 16, 1668.

Born in Oldenberg, Germany. She died on 25 Nov 1658 in Staten Island, New York.

BAPTISM at the Reformed Dutch Church of New Amsterdam:
Date: 23 Dec
Parents: Laurens Duyts
Child: Margariet
Witnesses: Gerrit Janszen Van Oldenburg, Teuntie Joris, and Lyntje Martens.

baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church in New Amsterdam

BAPTISM at the Reformed Dutch Church of New Amsterdam:
Parent: Laurens Duyts
Witnesses: Jochem Pieterszen, Olof Stephenson Van Courtlt., Engel Mans

Jan was baptized in the Dutch reformed Church at new York on March 23, 1642. Jans died before June 11, 1679.

BAPTISM at the Reformed Dutch Church of New Amsterdam:
Parent: Laurens Duyts
Witnesses: Jochem Pieterszen and his wife, Borger Joriszen-smith, Jan Snyderken-shoemaker

Born in New Amsterdam, New York
Hans was baptized in the Dutch reformed Church at new York on September 28, 1644.

His name appears on a tax list for Haarlem in 1667. In April 1667 he was fined 40 guilders due to his outspoken resistance to British occupation of New Netherland. He married (1) Marritje Snyderken (Marritje Satyrs) before 1671 in Harlem, New York. Her father was Jan Snyderken - a shoemaker and another early settler of Harlem. Marritje died about 1672 in Harlem, New York.

Hans Laurens was selected as Collector for Richmond Co, Staten Island, New York on April 1 1699; and served a second term in 1702. He was appointed Assessor of Richmond County, Fourth Division on April 1 1703 with Vincent Fountain (step-son). 1706 census of Staten Island, Hans Laurence, aged 63; wife Sara Hance. James Hance aged 35; John Hans, Mary, Elizabeth, Sara Catherine, Anna & Lydia.

In 1677, Hans Duyts acquired 80 acres in the New Dorp section of Staten Island by patent, which later passed to his son Jeams/James. It adjoined the property of Antoine Fountaine. Antoine Fontaine married Sarah Hance Vincent before 1680. He was born in France and his parents are not known. Antoine died about 1686 in Staten Island, New York. Antoine Fountaine and Sara Hance had 2 children.

Hans Laurens married (3) Sarah Hance Vincent Fountaine about 1686. She was born before 1660 in New York, the daughter of John Vincent and Suzanna Blaise She died about 1740.