Roeliff Jansen Kill was the traditional boundary between the Native American Mahican and Wappinger tribes.

[5] Most of the watershed lies in Columbia County, although parts of the northern Dutchess County towns of North East, Stanford, Pine Plains, Milan, and Red Hook are within the stream's watershed of approximately 212 square miles (550 km2).

According to popular belief Roeloff Jansen (1602-1637) was born on the island of Marstrand in Bohuslän, Sweden.

[10] The couple settled in first Rensselaerwyck near what is now Albany, New York, where Jansen had an engagement as a tenant farmer for Kiliaen Van Rensselaer.

[11] [12] Willem Frijhoff suggests it more likely refers to Roelof Jansz Haes , an alderman in Manor of Rensselaerswyck who was a trader in Beverwyck about 1634.