Cornelius came from Woerdon, Holland with his wife and at least four children about 1652 (Van Wagnen) and settled at Kingston [Esopus], New York, where he is counted as one of the founders of the city and the builder of its stockade.  He was appointed to the Board of Schepens (colonial assembly) as a representative by Gov. Stuyvesant.  He was a brewer and the owner of land in the New Paltz Grant.  On February 16, 1666, he took up arms against the English in revolt and was beaten by British soldiers and banished for three years.  He later became a widower and married Elsje Jans in September 1684.

Descent:   Cornelius Barentse Schlecht m. Tryntje Tysee Bos
                   Jecomyntje Schlecht (1645-) m. Jan Elten (1632-Aft. 1686)
                     Cornelius Elten (1681-1754) m. Rebecca Van Meter (1684-1755)
                        Eleanor Eltinge (1724-1792) m. Isaac Hite, Sr. (1723-1795)
                                  See Hans Jost Hite
 

Ref.: Slaght, Lawrence T. Cornelius Barentse Slecht and some of his Descendants, pp. 5-7.