Barent Winne and Winne's Dock along the Hudson River

The Winne family has long been woven into the agricultural and commercial fabric of the Hudson Valley. Since their arrival from the Netherlands in 1652, the Winnes established themselves as innovative farmers and traders, utilizing the fertile lands along the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers to launch one of the earliest family-run agrarian enterprises in the region. Their story is deeply tied to the waterways that defined early American commerce and settlement.

As early as the 17th century, Pieter Winne—who settled near the Vlomankill in 1677—recognized the potential of the river valleys not just for farming, but for powering industry and connecting goods to distant markets. By the 1800s, Barent Winne Sr. carried this legacy forward, transforming the family’s agricultural strength into a thriving commercial operation. Situated at Cedar Hill, Winne’s Dock became a hub for regional trade, where Bethlehem farmers brought cash crops such as oats, hay, and apples. These goods were loaded onto barges bound for Albany and New York City, long before the convenience of railroads.

The dock wasn’t just a shipping point—it was the center of a bustling riverside economy. Barent Winne built large warehouses and a general store near his elegant brick home, where everything from coal and lumber to furniture and farm supplies passed through. Winne’s Dock even earned the nickname “Hudson River Landing,” serving not just as a freight depot but also a marketplace for farmers to purchase tools, food, and essentials. The creek nearby, the Vlomankill, helped power mills and facilitated even more industrial activity in the area.

As the community around Bethlehem grew, so did the importance of Winne’s Dock. Farmers and townspeople alike depended on it as their primary artery to the wider world, a critical link in the chain that connected remote farmland to urban markets. Even after the rise of railroads and the decline of river commerce, the legacy of Winne’s Dock lived on. Remnants of the wharf, iron fittings, and cement foundations are still visible near today’s Henry Hudson Park, echoing the past presence of commerce and innovation along the shoreline.

Barent Winne Jr., although childless, remained a steady presence at the homestead well into the late 19th century, known for watching the boats glide down the river from his front porch. His life—rooted in land, water, and community—symbolizes the enduring spirit of the Hudson Valley’s early farming families.

The Winne family’s expansion didn’t stop at Cedar Hill. Eventually, their agricultural endeavors spread into the Catskills, where they established farms along the Esopus River, continuing their tradition of cultivating rich lands and distributing goods using New York’s vast natural waterways. Their story is not just one of farming—it’s a narrative of foresight, resilience, and the foundational role of family-run operations in shaping regional commerce in early America.

Today, while only fragments of Winne’s Dock remain, the influence of the Winne family continues to ripple across the Hudson Valley, carried forward by those who still work the land and honor the legacy of those who first saw the river not as a barrier—but as a lifeline.

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The Winne Family and Their Hudson River Legacy in the 1600s and 1700s

The Winne Family and Their Hudson River Legacy in the 1600s and 1700s

The Winne family, early settlers in the Hudson Valley, carved out a remarkable legacy as farmers who harnessed the power of the Hudson River to transport their goods to New York City during the 17th and 18th centuries. Rooted in Bethlehem, New York, near Albany, their story is one of agricultural success and strategic use of one of America’s most vital waterways.

Origins of the Winne Family

The Winne family’s journey began with Pieter Winne, who hailed from Ghent, Flanders, and arrived in New Netherland by the late 17th century. By July 6, 1684, he had settled in Bethlehem, establishing a foothold in what would become a thriving farming community. Pieter’s joint will from 1677 reveals the family’s wealth in real estate, including farm property, sawmills, and timber lands, showcasing their prominence in the region. Descendants like Peter Peterse Winne, born around 1665, and Benjamin Winne, born in 1705, continued this tradition, cultivating the fertile lands of Bethlehem.

The Hudson River: A Lifeline for Trade

The Hudson River was the backbone of commerce in the 1600s and 1700s, serving as a bustling highway for goods moving between the interior of New York and the bustling port of New York City. Known as a “great natural highway,” the river carried everything from furs to farm produce on sloops—versatile vessels that defined trade in the Dutch and early American periods. Albany, just north of Bethlehem, was a key hub where local farmers gathered their harvests for shipment downriver. The Winne family, with their extensive farmland, undoubtedly tapped into this vibrant trade network, sending their produce to feed the growing markets of New York City.

Winne’s Dock: A Family Hub

A notable feature of the Winne family’s operations was Winne’s Dock, a likely docking point along the Hudson River. While its exact location is tied to local lore, the existence of Barent Winne Road in Selkirk, part of Bethlehem, hints at the family’s enduring presence near the river. This dock would have been a busy spot, where the Winnes loaded their crops—wheat, corn, and other staples—onto sloops bound for southern markets. The river’s tidal nature made it an ideal route, and the family’s proximity ensured they could efficiently connect their harvests to the wider world.

Barent Winne and the Family Legacy

Among the Winne family members, Barent Winne stands out in later records. Born on November 15, 1832, he was a farmer in Bethlehem, continuing the agricultural tradition established by his ancestors. While his life falls outside the 1600s and 1700s, his name reflects the family’s deep roots in the area, possibly linked to earlier figures who worked the land and river. The mention of Barent Winne Road further ties the family to the landscape they helped shape.

A Thriving Contribution

The Winne family’s story is a testament to the ingenuity of Hudson Valley settlers. Their farms fueled the region’s economy, and the Hudson River carried their goods to New York City, linking rural life to urban growth. From Pieter Winne’s arrival to the operations at Winne’s Dock, their efforts highlight the critical role of river transport in early American history. Today, their legacy lives on in the place names and historical records of Bethlehem, a reminder of a family that prospered by working the land and mastering the river.
For more on the Winne family’s roots, check out the Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs or explore the Hudson River’s history at the Hudson River Maritime Museum. Their tale is a fascinating chapter in the Hudson Valley’s rich past!

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