Jaco de Brujas was born in Bruges, which at the time was controlled by the count of Flanders and ultimately King Carlos. He obtained a license for the New World in 1528. Jaco was present at the 1540 muster as a footman. Historical records indicate that he was a merchant.
pre 1530:
1528: AGI, Indiferente General, 421, L.13 [fol.94r-v: 1528-4-22 Madrid, Real Cédula a Leonardo Rotalot, natural de Amberes, Giraldo de Beten, natural de Bravante, Aliamen de Lavalle, natural de Nivel en Bravante, Jacobo de Brujas en Flandes, maestre Felipe, natural de Lilla, en Flandes y Dirat, natural de Bruselas en Bravante, dándoles licencia para poder pasar a Indias a tratar y mercadear en perlas y piedras preciosas, como lo hacen los naturales de estos reinos de España]
1540-1550:
1540, Feb: Muster in Flint & Flint, Documents, Document 12 [footman, sword, arcabuz, round shield]
“Disposal of the Juan Jiménez Estate,” in Flint & Flint, Documents, Document 27 [Tiguez province, March 15, 1542, Brujas serves as witness]
Relatives:
?Hillerkuss, Diccionario Biográfico, vol.1 [p.182: maybe his sons are called Jose and Jorge de Brujas in the 1570s in Zacatecas]