In June 1636 William Adriaense Bennet and Jaques Bentyn purchased 930 acres of land in Gowanus, where William built Brooklyn's first home. Eminent historian Dr. Henry R. Stiles, in his History of the City of Brooklyn, credits William Adriaense with the first step in the development of the Township of Brooklyn. This book commences with the purchase of Indian land in Brooklyn and chronicles the spread of Bennet's family to all points of the compass. It strives not to be merely a collection of names and dates, but to give insight into its subjects' lives.

The book consolidates and expands upon other treatises dealing with William and his descendants, i.e., works by Teunis G. Bergen, Andrew D. Chidsey, Jr., John Reynolds Totten, Andrew J. Provost, Jr., Wilson V. Ledley, and Althea M. Courtot. Among the many prominently mentioned related families are Kouwenhoven, Rapalje, Ryder, Schenck, Stillwell, Strycker, Van Brunt, Van Voorhies, and Wyckoff. Includes an index of over 5,000 names, a bibliography of 151 sources, and numerous photographs.