He was a longstanding advocate of equality and unrestricted religious toleration, and influenced Franciscus van den Enden, who taught Spinoza Latin.
[3] Before embarking for the New World, Plockhoy unsuccessfully petitioned English statesman Oliver Cromwell in 1658 for support in establishing various ideal settlements in England.
[4] Plockhoy published political pamphlets addressing contemporary social problems in 1658 and collaborated with Franciscus van den Enden in plans for founding a new society in New Netherland.
Plockhoy and his followers, which included Otto Wolgast a later magistrate and early settler in the town, arrived on board the Dutch ship Sint Jacob.
Although older sources usually identified this man as the aged Pieter Cornelisz Plockhoy, current writers generally agree that this was his son, Cornelis.