The first record of this immigrant ancestor is in 1638 when he is named as an immigrant to Rensselaerwyck. Roelof was one of four brothers, Roelof, Pieter, Helmigh and Theunis, all sons of someone named Cornelis, who settled in various places but ultimately at Amesfoort, Long Island. The Van Houten surname was added in this country, probably indicating that the family was from the small village of Houte in the southeastern part of the province of Utrecht, Holland.