Hendrick Schoonmaker was born in Hamburg Germany[1][2] and baptized November 29, 1624 in Hamburg, Germany.

"Hendrick Jochemse, the progenitor of the Schoonmaker family in this country, was a native of Hamburgh, Germany. He came to this country in the military service of the Dutch West India Company and settled at Fort Orange previous to 1655, where for some time he kept an inn, the good-will of which he purchased of Steven Janse Conick. While residing at Fort Orange, either in 1657 or 1658, he married Elsie, daughter of Jan Janse Van Breestede and Engeltjen Jans, and widow of Adriaen Pieterzen Van Alcmar. The early records of Albany contain frequent mention of Hendrick's name, and show him to have been a man of social and financial standing. He acquired much property; loaned money to Governor Stuyvesant 'in time of need,' and was active in the military duties rendered necessary by the times, being Lieutenant 'in the company of his Noble Honor, the Director General.' In the fall of 1659 this company was ordered to Esopus to defend the settlers against the Indians. While yet there it was disbanded and Schoonmaker, attracted by the beauty and fertility of the place and tempted, doubtless, by the promise of Gov. Stuyvesant to grant land to the soldiers who should settle there, decided to remain permanently at Esopus. Here he become prominent as he had been at Albany, and his military knowledge and experience were constantly of use in the warfare against the Indians. In 1662, when the burghers organized a company of militia at Esopus, he was appointed Lieutenant under Thomas Chambers as Captain. Though severely wounded he fought bravely at the Indian attack on Wildwyck June 7, 1663; and he it was who led the Dutch burghers in their mutiny against the exactions of the English garrison in 1667. He died about 1681."

He came to America from Hamburg, Germany, in the military service of Dutch West
India Company. He was an innholder at Fort Orange. Legal proceedings on 19 Nov 1653
stated that he smuggled a half barrel of beer. It was resolved by him paying an excise tax.

Further records indicate he was found guilty twice of entertaining company in his inn on
Sunday. He was also noted a Lieutenant of the burgher guard in 1657. He first
appears in Esopus in March 1669 and prior to that he resided in Albany.
Source: Huguenot.