Captain Marten Kregier or Cregier (1617–after 1681) most likely originated from Borcken in the

Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire, also known as the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation after 1512, was a polity in Central and Western Europe, usually headed by the Holy Roman Emperor. It developed in the Early Middle Ages, and lasted for a millennium ...

and was an early settler of

New Amsterdam New Amsterdam (, ) was a 17th-century Dutch Empire, Dutch settlement established at the southern tip of Manhattan Island that served as the seat of the colonial government in New Netherland. The initial trading ''Factory (trading post), fac ...

. He was a prominent citizen of the settlement and served three terms as

Burgomaster Burgomaster (alternatively spelled burgermeister, ) is the English form of various terms in or derived from Germanic languages for the chief magistrate or executive of a city or town. The name in English was derived from the Dutch . In so ...

. Kregier led several successful attacks against the Munsee during the Esopus Wars. Kregier's house and lot stood on Broadway just north of

Battery Park The Battery, formerly known as Battery Park, is a public park located at the southern tip of Manhattan#Manhattan Island, Manhattan Island in New York City facing New York Harbor. The park is bounded by Battery Place on the north, with Bowling ...

and his daughter married Christoffel Hooglant. In 1643 Kregier built the first public building on Broadway in New York City, a tavern located at present-day 9-11 Broadway. It was later known as Atlantic Gardens and survived until 1860. New York merchants met in the same building in 1765 and signed resolutions to import no more goods from England until the Stamp Act was repealed. In 1648, Kregier was one of four men appointed as the city's first fire wardens. Kregier finally settled in Niskayuna, New York on the banks of the Mohawk. His year of death is unknown. Some literature lists 1712 or 1713, but that is likely to be his son, Marten Kregier junior.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cregier, Martin 1617 births 1713 deaths People from New Netherland Huguenots