Penhawitz, along with fellow Canarsee Kakapetteyno, facilitated the "purchase" of Flatlands, Brooklyn by Andries Hudde and Wolfert Gerritse in 1636.
In 1640, Penhawitz alerted his colonial allies to an English expedition to Long Island that had torn down the copper Dutch Republic Lion off of a tree, and they foiled the occupation In March 1643, after the initial massacres of Munsee men, women, and children that began Kieft's War, Penhawitz invited David Pietersz.
de Vries to come to Rechqua Akie near Rockaway for a negotiation with Munsee leaders.
[1] Described at this time as one-eyed, Penhawitz joined De Vries on his return to Fort Amsterdam to sign a peace treaty, which did not hold.
A fictionalized version of Penhawitz appears in the 2008 children's fantasy novel Gods of Manhattan and its sequels.