RITZEMA, Johannes, clergyman, born in Holland in 1710; died in Kinderhook, New York, 1795. He arrived in New York pending the negotiations for a coetus in connection with the Reformed Dutch church of New York, and was a prominent member in all the meeting's of that body. He was senior minister of the Reformed Dutch church of New York city, held pastoral relations there from 1744 till 1784, and frequently preached at Harlem, Philipsburg, Fordham, and Cortlandt. He was one of the original trustees of King's (now Columbia) college, and a disagreement between him and other members of the coetus regarding a professorship there and other matters led to his withdrawal from that body. He published " Ware Vryheyt tot Vrede" (New York, 1761); "Aan den Eerwarden Do. Johannes Leydt" (Philadelphia, 1763); and "Met een nodige voor Afspraak aan de nederduitse Oemeentens in de provincien van Niew-York en Niew-Jersey, door Johannes Ritzema" (New York, 1765). --His son, RUDOLPH, was graduated at King's college in 1758, and became a lieutenant-colonel in the British army.