Pierre is found in 1640 among the refugees at Leyden. He supported himself in Holland for 17 years living parts of that time at Ryswek and Delft. He was a gardener to the Prince of Orange and so was known as Pierre le Gardinier. In 1657 he gathered up his little means, his wife and his children and left Amsterdam for new Amstel. Governor Stuyvesant engaged Cresson for his service. Two years later he returned to Holland and returned with several French agriculturists in the ship the Beaver on 25 April 1659.
Before removing to Staten Island, he took an active part in the affairs of the community of New Harlem. He was appointed a Judge of that town and also served in an expedition again the Indians at Esopus.