He and his father were the first of the Acquackanonk community to buy land north of the Passaic River. He settled on this purchase, probably in the neighborhood of the present Laurel Grove cemetery. He was a carpenter, a wheelright and a farmer. He was elected a deacon at Acquackanonk, now Passaic, New Jersey.

from Wm. Nelson, History of Paterson:
Roelof, bap. June 11, 1677; m. 1st, Aagtje-Cornelisse Vreeland, April 21, 1701; 2d, Feitje Sickels, Dec. 15, 1711. He and his father were the first of the Acquackanonk community –to buy land north of the– Passaic river; they being the Helmigh Roelofse and Roelof Helmighse who bought a third interest in Totowa from Major Anthony Brockholls, as already mentioned. Roelof settled on this purchase, doubtless in the neighborhood of the present Laurel Grove cemetery, or southwest of the road to Singack. He was probably a carpenter and wheelwright by trade, which he followed in the intervals of his farming.

His will was dated 16 June 1762 and proved 1 Dec 1770:
From History of Paterson, NJ
I will and Order that my Beloved wife fytje shall possess and Enjoy all my Estate Both Real & Personal During the time she doth Continue to be my Widow and after the Death or Remarryege of my said Wife I give all my lands to my three sons Namely Robert Johannes and Cornelius to them the said Robert Johannis and Cornelus their Heirs & Assigns for Ever to be Equally Divided among them my son Robert to have and Hold the House and Setelment where he now Dwels upon and my son Johannes to Have and Hold the House and Setelment where he now Dwels upon and my sone Cornelius to Have and Hold the House and Setelment where I now Dwell upon and the Remainder of my Lands to be Equally Divided among my three sons above Named in Such a Manner as will be most conveient for Each of them I also Give to my three Sons all my Carpenters and Wheelwright tools and also all my Utensils of Husbandry. I also give to my said three sons Each an Equal third Part of all my right & title I have in a Brew Kitel Brewhouse with the Utensils and the Appurenances thereunto belonging to them and Each of them their Heirs and Assigns for Ever I also give to my sone Cornelius the Chois of all my Negrose and all the Remainder of my movables to be Equally Divided among all my Children to witt Helmogh, Eachje, now wife of Jacob Spier, Robert, Johannes, Cornelius, Geertruy now wife of Manes Van Wagneen, Catelyntie now wife of Frans Post. And further I will and Order that my three sones Namely Robert, Johannes, and Cornelus shall Each of them pay the full sum of Sixty Pound Current Money of New York to my sone Helmogh and my three Daughters Namely Eachje, Geertruy and Catelyntje, to them their Heirs or Assigns and that within six Years after the Death or Remarryege of my said Wife my sone Robert shall pay thirty Pound to my sone Helmogh also thirty Pound to Eachje now Wife of Jacob Spier and my son Johannes shall pay the sum of Sixty Pound to Geertruy now Wife of Manes Van Wagenen and my sone Cornelus shall pay the sum of Sixty Pound to Catelyntje now wife of Frans Post.

Bergen Marriages:

#1411701 Apr 6; Roelof Helmighsz, ym; Achtje Cornelis Vreelant, yd, Were married April 21, 1701, by Do Dubois.

Bergen 1711
#183 December 15. Roelof Helmigsen Van Houten (widower of Eegje Corn. Vreeland) and Feytje Sikkels, born at N. Albany and living at Bergen.