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HUDSON-MOHAWK 
GENEALOGICAL 


AND 


FAMILY    MEMOIRS 


A    RECORD  OF    ACHIEVEMENTS    OF  THE    PEOPLE  OF  THE   HUDSON   AND 
MOHAWK  VALLEYS  IN  NEW  YORK  STATE,  INCLUDED  WITHIN  THE  PRES- 
ENT  COUNTIES   OF  ALBANY.   RENSSELAER.  WASHINGTON.  SARATOGA, 
MONTGOMERY,   FULTON,   SCHENECTADY,  COLUMBIA  AND  GREENE. 


PREPARED   UNDER    THE    EDITORIAL  SUPERVISION  OF 

CUYLER  REYNOLDS 

Curator  of  The  .-Mbany  Institute  and  Historical  and  Art  Society,  since  1898;  Director  of  New 

York   State   History  Exhibit  at  Jamestown    Exposition,    1907;    Author    of    ".A.lbany 

Chronicles,"  "Classified  Quotations,"  and    several    other    published    works. 


VOLUME     I. 


ILLUSTRATED 


NEW    YORK 

LEWIS  HISTORICAL  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

1911 


COPYRIGHT 

LF.WIS    HISTORICAL    PUBLISHING    COMPANY 

1911 


Cci.Al-^SCSoO 


t 


FOREWORD 

That  many  hundreds  of  persons  have  shown  their  personal  interest  in  the 
publication  of  tliese  volumes  is  sufficient  evidence  that  it  is  a  deserving  field  in 
historical  literature.  l!ut  this  is  by  no  means  the  limitation,  for  these  family 
sketches  will  be  a  matter  of  daily  reference  by  persons  throughout  this  country, 
and  thus  they  will  lie  rendering  a  proper  service,  warranting  the  juiinstaking 
labor  expended  in  their  preparation.  As  time  goes  on,  a  work  of  this  nature 
will  be  considered  as  a  godsend. 

But  aside  from  individual  interest  in  family  matters  and  the  consequent 
inclusion  of  historical  information,  there  is  a  special  and  pertinent  value  in  this 
work,  for  instead  of  being  an  affair  which  some  would  heedlessly  consider  lightly, 
the  effect  on  the  student  of  these  matters  is  known  to  be  an  inspiration,  because 
through  understanding  the  hardships  and  the  successes  of  our  ancestors,  and 
reading  of  worthy  feats,  one  certainly  becomes  imbued  with  an  esprit  Je  corps 
which  builds  character,  and  good  results  invariably  follow. 

In  the  times  when  the  French  and  Indian  wars  were  engaging  the  attention 
of  every  colonist  from  Maine  to  Florida,  who  never  was  able  to  rest  easily  at 
home  lest  the  savage  pillage  his  house  within  the  high  palisade,  the  settlements 
near  .Albany,  although  protected  in  the  crude  fashion  of  that  day,  were  the  sub- 
ject of  attack  time  and  time  again.  This  was,  in  part,  because  the  vicinitv  of 
.Albany  was  the  seat  of  settlement  of  several  tribes  of  continually  warring 
Indians,  principally  the  Mohawks  and  Mohicans.  Not  only  were  the  bergs  of 
Albany  and  Schenectady  surrounded  in  entirety  by  stockadoes,  and  the  villagers 
warned  not'  to  build  outside  of  them,  but  the  residents  erected  their  dwellings 
for  defense,  much  in  the  manner  of  individual  forts,  by  providing  their  walls, 
massive  in  those  days,  with  portholes  through  which  the  musket  could  be  directed 
at  the  enemy ;  and  such  houses,  although  rare,  are  still  standing  there.  Notable 
among  these  conflicts  with  the  aborigines  and  French  was  the  frightful  massacre 
at  Schenectady  in  the  winter  of  1690,  when  few  in  the  peaceful  village  were 
permitted  to  escape  the  tomahawk,  and  later  on  the  Ueukendaal  massacre  shocked 
the  settlers,  fraught  with  as  high  a  percentage  of  brutal  murders. 

\Mien  the  I'rench  wished  to  possess  the  land  in  .America,  their  armies  came 
by  way  of  the  Adirondack  lakes,  as  a  facile  passage  from  Canada,  and  Albany 
had  to  be  the  resisting  point  to  .save  the  other  sections  of  the  country.  The 
orders  issued  in  Europe  by  the  higher  officials  who  directed  operations,  were 
generally  to  the  effect  that  Alban\-  must  first  be  taken ;  but  it  never  was  a  place 
which  suffered  concjuest.  Its  citizenship  was  composed  of  such  men  as  would 
extract  the  lead  from  their  windows  in  order  to  have  it  cast  into  bullets,  and 
naturally  such  valor  was  indomitable. 

Some  fifty  years  after  the  massacre  mentioned,  the  l<"rench  were  once  more 
decidedly  active,  and  it  was  necessary  to  check  them  before  thev  came  further 
south  than  Ticonderoga,  or,  at  worst,  Fort  William  Henry,  on  Lake  George's 
southern  end.  The  region  in  and  about  Albany  was  then  given  over  to  the 
massing  of  troops,  and  under  General  Abercrombie,  in  1758,  a  large  army  was 
gathered  and  the  raw  recruits  drilled.  It  was  then  that  "Yankee  Doodle"  was 
composed  by  the  surgeon  in  his  army,  while  in  the  camp  at  Greenbush. 

In  the  Revolutionary  period,  the  citizens  sacrificed  everything  down  to  the 
condition  of  depriving  themselves  of  their  cattle,  which  were  driven  from  their 
fields  to  supply  the  soldiers,  while  produce  had  to  be  brought  in  in  such  quan- 
tities that,  when  winter  aiii^roached,  the  inhabitants  made  an  appeal  that  they 


FOREWORD 

could  not  survive  the  winter  if  the  drain  continued.  The  best  citizens  were 
turned  into  officers,  and  the  stories  of  their  lives,  headed  with  such  names  as 
Generals  Schuyler,  Ten  Broeck  and  Gansevoort,  furnish  us  to-day  with  both 
interesting  and  instructive  reading.  It  was  in  1777  that  Albany  was  made  the 
center  of  attack  by  large  armies  of  British  troops,  plaiuied  to  attack  it  from  the 
north  by  General  Burgoyne;  from  the  west,  by  General  St.  Leger,  proceeding 
from  Oswego,  and  Lord  Howe,  coming  up  the  Hudson.  It  was  a  brilliant  enter- 
prise and  a  fierce  campaign ;  but  the  men  of  Albany  were  victorious. 

In  its  later  life,  the  people  of  this  section  of  the  country  have  placed  them- 
selves creditably  on  record  in  the  walks  of  peace,  and  one  finds  commerce,  the 
arts  and  sciences,  represented  most  worthily.  There  is  no  reason  to  gloss  over 
the  list  by  generalities,  for  definite  cases  are  readily  to  be  cited ;  but  one  should 
take  up  these  families  one  by  one  and  read  them  thoughtfully.  The  entire  country 
never  furnished  a  more  wonderful  scientist  than  Professor  Joseph  Henry,  born 
in  Albany,  who  successfully  demonstrated  there  the  feasibility  of  his  invention  of 
tlie  electric  telegraph.  The  military  men,  lawyers,  artists,  authors,  clergymen 
and  doctors,  have  been  among  the  foremost,  and  added  a  luster  to  a  section  of 
the  country  which  furnishes  itself  as  a  topic  for  a  history. 

For  the  benefit  of  those  who  seek  details  about  this  section  of  the  state,  as 
regards  its  topography  and  legislative  formation,  besides  the  more  important 
information  in  other  lines,  there  has  been  added  a  section  of  this  work,  devoted 
to  this  subject. 

Many  persons  will  take  special  interest  in  salient  features  aboift  the  early 
settlers,  and  for  their  benefit  a  compilation  of  names  and  facts  about  six  hundred 
difi'erent  families,  who  arrived  in  that  part  of  the  State  before  the  year  1700, 
has  been  purposely  made.  With  the  idea  of  making  a  creditable,  authentic  and 
full  record  of  these  families,  each  person  associated  with  this  work  has  put  forth 
his  best  endeavor  in  the  hope  of  affording  abundant  satisfaction. 

The  editor  and  publishers  are  grateful  to  several  gentlemen  for  valuable 
advisory  assistance — to  W.  Max  Reid.  of  Amsterdam ;  Frank  W.  Thomas,  of 
Troy :  Rev.  Dr.  E.  C.  Lawrence,  of  Schenectady,  and  \\'illiam  Richard  Cutter, 
of  Woburn,  Massachusetts — all  well  known  in  historical  and  antiquarian  circles. 

In  various  instances  there  are  differing  forms  of  names  in  the  same  family, 
different  lines  preserving  their  own  nomenclature,  and  these  differences  have 
been  preserved  in  these  volumes.  In  all  cases  the  narratives  have  been  submitted 
to  the  person   in   interest,   and   their   corrections  have   been   carefully   regarded. 

Some  corrections  and  additional  data  were  received  after  the  pages  had  gone 
through  the  press,  and  these  have  been  carried  into  a  page  of  addenda  and  errata 
preceding  the  index,  in  the  last  pages  of  \'olume  I\'. 

CUYLER    REYNOLDS. 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS. 


It  is  beyond  pos- 
\'AX  RENSSELAER  sibility  to  write  the 
history  of  the  city 
of  Albany,  New  York,  without  making-  promi- 
nent mention  of  tlie  Van  Rensselaer  family. 
This  is  because  the  deeds  for  every  foot  of 
land  now  comprising  the  site  of  the  capital 
city  were  executed  by  the  owners  of  the  soil, 
the  Mohawk  tribe  of  aborigines,  to  Patroon 
Van  Rensselaer  and  his  associates,  so  that  this 
family  will  ever  stand  in  history  as  the  origi- 
nal owner  of  a  very  important  and  large  area 
of  land  in  the  New  World  ;  but  it  is  likewise 
true  that  every  one  in  the  United  States  either 
bearing  that  name  or  of  the  blood,  must  turn 
to  Albany  in  order  to  trace  his  or  her  descent, 
which  leads  to  the  single  progenitor  of  the 
family  in  America. 

For  nearly  three  centuries  it  has  been  a 
family  whose  members  have  invariably  main- 
tained, by  culture  and  mode  of  living,  an  un- 
disputed prominence,  yet  with  a  well-known 
reluctance  to  force  itself  into  public  affairs, 
preferring  that  retirement  which  refinement 
usually  seeks,  avoiding  notoriety  and  the  con- 
flict concomitant  with  aft'airs  of  business  life 
and  public  office.  The  family,  however,  has 
never  suffered  the  complaint  of  any  lack  of 
patriotism,  nor  of  failing  to  respond  to  a 
genuine  appeal  to  serve  the  government  in  an 
official  capacity.  It  can  with  full  right  count 
its  numbers  who  have  done  both  with  a  verdict 
of  fullest  credit  from  the  people.  The  direct 
line  has  had  its  representation  in  the  congress 
of  the  nation,  in  the  state  senate  and  assembly 
of  New  York,  and  in  the  chair  of  the  lieu- 
tenant-governor of  the  Empire  State. 

The  patriotic  qualities  of  the  family  have 
lieen  fullv  demonstrated  by  their  figuring  with 
prominence  in  all  the  great  military  struggles 
which  have  convulsed  this  nation,  and  their 
acts  have  placed  high  in  the  memorable  rolls 
■of  American  history  the  names  of  a  large 
number.  To  their  special  credit  it  is  recorded 
.also  that  thev  served  either  as  officers  or  in  the 


ranks  without  pay  or  emolument,  and,  more- 
over, devoted  the  advantages  of  their  estates 
to  the  cause  of  freedom.  The  well-known  war 
historian,  William  L.  Stone,  states  that  "They 
consisted  of  eighteen  males  in  1776.  During 
the  war  every  adult,  except  two  old  men,  and 
all  minors,  except  four  boys,  bore  arms  in  one 
or  more  battles  during  the  Revolutionary 
struggle."  George  W.  Schuyler,  in  his  "Colo- 
nial New  York,"  explains  further,  that  of  the 
eighteen  males,  sixteen  belonged  to  Hendrick 
Van  Rensselaer's  branch,  and  of  these,  five 
were  of  Kiliaen  \'an  Rensselaer's  family.  To 
bear  out  such  statements  by  facts  it  is  neces- 
sary to  examine  only  a  few  of  the  records. 
Colonel  Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer  departed  with 
his  three  sons,  two  of  them  officers  and  all 
true  patriots  in  the  revolution,  was  wounded 
in  the  battle  of  Saratoga  when  participating 
in  the  fierce  conflict  against  Burgoyne,  and 
General  Washington  paid  him  the  highest 
compliment  upon  his  courage.  One  of  his 
sons,  Colonel  Hendrick  \'an  Rensselaer,  was 
directed  by  General  Schuyler  to  go  in  com- 
pany with  Colonel  Long  to  hold  the  enemy  in 
check  at  Fort  Anne  until  the  cannon  and  arma- 
ment of  Fort  George  could  be  removed  to  a 
place  of  safety.  The  English  vuider  Colonel 
Hill  were  in  pursuit  of  the  patriots  from  Lake 
Champlain  up  Wood  creek,  and,  on  their  ap- 
proach to  Fort  Anne,  \'an  Rensselaer  and 
Long  sallied  from  the  fort  on  the  morning  of 
July  8,  1777,  and  attacked  them  so  vigorously 
that  they  were  obliged  to  retire,  leaving  their 
wounded  on  the  field.  Colonel  Van  Rensse- 
laer was  so  severely  wounded  that  he  was 
obliged  after  that  to  relinquish  further  service, 
and  on  his  death,  thirty-five  years  later,  the 
ball  then  received  was  extracted  from  his 
thigh  bone.  Likewise  there  was  IMajor  James 
Van  Rensselaer,  who  served  with  honor  and 
without  pay  on  the  staff'  of  the  brave  Mont- 
gomerv,  and  who  was  near  him  when  he  fell 
mortally  wounded  before  the  walls  of  Quebec, 
December   31,    1775.     Colonel   Nicholas   Van 


HUDSON   AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


Rensselaer  participated  in  the  decisive  battles 
on  the  heights  of  Stillwater,  and  after  the 
surrender  of  General  Burgoyne,  October  17, 
1777,  was  despatched  by  General  Gates  to 
convey  the  intelligence  to  Albany.  Philip  Van 
Rensselaer  was  engaged  in  the  commissary  de- 
partment, where  he  rendered  efficient  service. 

In  the  war  of  1812,  Generals  Stephen  and 
Solomon  Van  Rensselaer  will  ever  be  remem- 
bered as  the  leaders  in  command  of  the  forces 
which  crossed  into  Canada  and  captured 
Queenstown,  October  13,  1812.  In  this  fight 
the  latter  was  disabled,  being  wounded  no  less 
than  six  times.  In  1794,  as  a  captain  of  cav- 
alry, he  took  prominent  part  in  the  battle  with 
*he'  Indians  on  the  Maumee  river,  where  he 
was  wounded,  August  20,  1794,  while  fighting 
under  General  Wayne.  General  Robert  Van 
Rensselaer  commanded  the  militia  who  pur- 
sued and  defeated  Sir  John  Johnson  when  on 
his  famous  raid  in  the  Mohawk  Valley  in 
1780. 

In  the  civil  war  there  were  many  of  the 
name  and  descent  who  sustained  the  Union, 
most  prominent  among  them  being  Colonel 
Henry  Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer  and  his 
nephew,  Captain  Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer,  who 
fought  bravely  under  both  Grant  and  Han- 
cock, participatmg  in  no  less  than  fourteen 
stubborn  engagements.  William  Van  Rensse- 
laer, of  Seneca  Falls,  served  in  the  New  York 
Volunteers,  Engineering  Corps,  and  fought 
with  gallantry  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

For  several  other  pertinent  reasons  atten- 
tion has  been  directed  to  this  family.  It  made 
one  of  the  earliest  attempts  at  colonization  in 
America,  the  enterprise  having  received  its 
initiatory  movement  in  Holland  at  about  the 
same  time  that  the  Pilgrims  were  planning 
their  cruise  to  avoid  religious  persecution,  and 
it  was  originally  intended,  so  some  maintain, 
that  both  should  seek  the  free  soil  of  what 
became  New  Netherland  and  then  New  York. 

The  family  will  long  be  remembered  be- 
cause it  was  identified  with  the  movement  for 
establishment  of  a  landed  aristocracy  of  the 
New  World,  its  leader  to  enjoy  the  ancient 
Dutch  title  of  Patroon,  and  after  the  super- 
sedure  of  the  Dutch  by  the  English,  to  be 
known  by  that  of  Lord  of  the  Manor.  It  was  a 
stalwart  race  and  fought  strenuously  for  high 
ideals;  but  the  titles  vanished  with  the  revo- 
lution. If  ever  a  feudal  aristocracy  could  have 
been  perpetuated  in  the  New  World,  this  fam- 
ily was  best  fitted  to  perform  the  task. 

After  that  period  they  added  another  chap- 
ter by  being  one  of  the  parties  participating  in 
the  famous  anti-rent  feud,  for,  although  the 
revolution  had  abolished  titles,  the  system  of 
leasing  land  remained  unchanged.     It  was  a 


matter  which  was  fought  by  arms  and  in  the 
courts  from  1839  until  about  i860.  The  \'an 
Rensselaers  made  a  stubborn  fight  for  the 
cause  with  which  they  had  so  long  been  iden- 
tified, and  the  last  Patroon  finally  bowed  gra- 
ciously to  the  will  of  the  court  when  the  con- 
struction of  the  change  from  the  English  laws 
made  it  imperative. 

A  fourth  matter  of  interest  taken  by  many 
in  this  family  is  the  importance  of  the  mar- 
riage connection  with  a  great  number  of  fam- 
ilies also  of  note,  in  the  seventeenth  and  eight- 
eenth centuries,  among  which  alliances  mav  be 
mentioned  the  Schuyler,  Hamilton,  Livingston, 
Jay.  Morris,  Bayard,  \'an  Cortlandt,  Bleecker, 
Cuyler,  Douw,  Lansing,  Ten  Broeck,  \'er 
Planck  and  Paterson  lines.  In  the  younger 
generations  of  half  a  century  ago  they  inter- 
married with  the  families  of  Atterbury,  Bay- 
lies, Bell,  Berry,  Biddle,  Cogswell,  Crosby, 
Cruger,  Delafield,  Erving,  Fairfax,  Grubby 
Hodge,  Howland.  Johnson,  Kennedy,  King, 
Lorillard,  Pendleton,  Pruyn,  Reynolds,  Robb, 
Rogers,  Tallmadge,  Thayer,  Townsend,  Turn- 
bull,  Waddington  and  Wilkins.  Each  of  these 
families  holds  a  recognized  position  in  the 
various  cities  where  they  reside,  and  in  every 
instance  their  connection  with  the  Van  Rensse- 
laer line  is  well  known,  for  it  signifies  that  in 
each  case  one  of  the  name  traces  with  pride 
to  the  progenitor  of  the  \''an  Rensselaer 
family. 

The  arms  of  the  \"an  Rensselaer  family,  in 
use  three  centuries  ago  in  Holland  and  em- 
ployed by  the  Patroons  and  their  descendants 
in  America,  consists  of:  A  shield,  the  first  and 
fourth  quarters  gules  a  cross  moline  argent ; 
second  and  third  quarters  argent,  six  fleurs- 
de-lys  gules,  3,  2  and  i.  On  an  escutcheon  of 
pretence  argent  bordered  sable  a  cross  moline. 
The  crest  disjjlays  a  high,  iron  fire-basket  ar- 
gent, from  which  issue  fiames  proper.  The 
motto  is  Niemand  sonder.  The  interesting 
tradition  regarding  the  crest  has  it  that  on  a 
certain  occasion  of  festival  a  grand  illumina- 
tion took  place  in  Holland,  and  the  \'an 
Rensselaer  family  on  that  day  ordered  huge 
iron  baskets,  similar  to  that  depicted  in  the 
crest,  to  be  filled  with  combustibles  and  placed 
on  the  gate  and  fence  posts,  where  they  added 
to  the  effect  of  the  night  illumination.  The 
result  was  so  startling  that  it  called  forth 
special  commendation  from  the  Prince  of 
Orange,  who  wished  accordingly  to  bestow  a 
favor  such  as  royalty  allows  people  to  whom  a 
money  recompense  would  not  be  fitting,  and 
he  begged  Van  Rensselaer  to  adopt  the  motto, 
"Omnibus  effulgeo,"  signifying  "I  outshine 
all."  Before  that  time  the  motto  had  been 
"Niemand  Zander,"  meaning  "No  one  without 


HUDSON   AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


a  cross,"  referring  to  the  cross  appearing  upon 
the  shield,  being  of  silver  upon  a  red  field. 
The  arms  as  an  entirety  and  sometimes  the 
crest  have  been  employed  as  the  family  book- 
plate for  several  generations,  and  they  like- 
wise form  an  attractive  feature  upon  the  silver 
handed  down  from  oldest  son  to  oldest  son,  as 
was  the  English  custom  so  long  a  common 
practice  of  this  family. 

The  \'an  Rensselaer  family  was  one  of  im- 
portance in  Holland  before  coming  to  America, 
respected  and  honored  by  their  countrymen, 
holding  such  positions  of  trust  as  burgomaster, 
councillor,  treasurer,  etc.  In  the  Orphan  Asy- 
lum at  Nykerk,  Holland,  there  still  hangs  a 
picture  of  Jan  Van  Rensselaer,  in  which  he 
is  represented  as  a  "Jonkheer,"  or  nobleman, 
by  the  distinguishing  costume,  and  he  is  iden- 
tified by  the  small  representation  of  the  arms 
painted  on  the  shield  above  his  head.  The 
original  Manor  of  the  Van  Rensselaer  family, 
from  which  they  took  their  name,  was  as  late 
as  1880  called  Rensselaer,  and  was  located 
about  three  miles  southeast  of  Nykerk.  It 
was  originally  a  "Reddergoed,"  the  possession 
of  which  conferred  nobility.  The  last  member 
of  the  family  who  bore  the  name  was  Jeremias 
Van  Rensselaer,  who  died  there  April  11,  1819. 
He  had  married  Julie  Duval  (Judic  Henrietta 
Duval),  and  they  had  no  children.  In  his 
will  he  states  that  he  had  no  heirs  except  the 
Van  Rensselaer  family  then  living  in  America. 

These  facts  were  gleaned  by  Eugene  Schuy- 
ler, who  purposely  journeyed  to  the  ancient 
family  seat,  and  whose  letter,  printed  in  the 
Albany  Argus,  September  21,  1879,  reads  in 
part  as  follows : 

"I  went  to  Amersfoort.  to  Nykerk,  and  to  sev- 
eral other  towns  in  Guelderland.  At  Amersfoort, 
there  is  a  Table  in  the  Church  of  St.  Joris  or  St. 
George,  on  which  is  mentioned  Harmanus  Van 
Rensselaer,  as  one  of  the  Regents  in  1639.  Dr.  is 
prefixed  to  liis  name,  which  may  mean  Doctor  of 
Laws,  Divinity,  or  Medicine.  There  is  also  a  tomb 
of  a  Captain  Van  Rensselaer,  who  died  from  a 
wound  received  at  the  battle  of  Nieuport.  This  is 
covered  by  the  wood  flooring,  and  is  not  visible. 
In  the  Orphan  Asylum  at  Nykerk,  there  is  a  very 
fine  picture  of  its  first  Regents,  1638.  The  picture 
is  painted  by  Breecker  in  1645.  There  are  two 
noblemen  in  this  picture,  Jan,  or  Johannes  Van 
Rensselaer,  and  Nicholas  Van  Delen ;  one  of  the 
four  others  is  Ryckert  Van  Twiller,  the  father  of 
Walter  Van  Twiller.  who  married  the  sister  of 
Kiliaen,  the  first  Patroon.  There  are  two  other 
Van  Rensselaers  named  among  the  later  Regents — 
Richard,  in  1753.  and  Jeremias,  in   1803. 

"The  estate  of  Rensselaerswyck  is  now  only  a 
farm,  all  the  old  buildings  have  lately  been  taken 
down — they  were  covered  with  gables,  weathercocks 
of  the  arms  and  crest  of  the  family;  but  all  have 
now  disappeared.  There  is  scarcely  a  church  in 
Guelderland  that  did  not  have  somewhere  the  Van 
Rensselaer  arms  on  the  tombstones,  either  alone 
or   quartered   with    others.     The   exact  coat-of-arms 


is  a  white  or  silver  cross  on  a  red  ground.  The 
crest  is  a  white  basket,  with  yellow  flames  above  a 
closed,  or  knight's  helmet." 

The  Crailo,  as  the  seat  of  the  family  was 
called  in  Holland,  was  a  large  and  productive 
estate  some  time  before  any  of  the  family 
came  to  America,  and  it  is  believed  that  the 
family  was  related  to  that  of  Olden  Barne- 
veldt,  the  famous  patriot  and  statesman,  be- 
cause portraits  of  John  of  Olden  Barneveldt 
and  of  his  wife  Marie,  of  Utrecht,  were  pre- 
served as  heirlooms  until  the  Crailo  estate  was 
sold  in  1830.  The  Manor  of  Olden  Barne- 
veldt was  close  to  Rensselaer,  and  about  six 
miles  south  of  Nykerk,  between  it  and  Amers- 
foort. This  Crailo  estate  passed  into  the 
possession  of  the  female  line,  the  last  of  whom 
was  Joanna  Jacoba  Sara  \^an  Rensselaer,  from 
Amsterdam,  who  married  Jonkheer  Jan  Bow- 
ier.  She  was  the  mother  of  twelve  children, 
and  when  she  died  in  1830,  the  Crailo  was 
sold.  Two  sons  of  this  marriage,  Jonkheer 
Hugo  Jan  Jacob  Bowier,  and  Jonkheer  Mar- 
tin Bowier,  colonel  in  the  royal  marines  and 
at  one  time  coinmandant  of  the  Dutch  naval 
forces  off  Atchin,  were  permitted  by  royal 
license  to  assume  both  the  name  and  the  arms 
of  the  Van  Rensselaer  family.  In  this  way 
the  Bowier  family  came  into  possession  of 
many  heirlooms  and  valuable  papers  relating 
to  the  Van  Rensselaers.  These  documents 
were  brought  from  Holland  through  the  ef- 
forts of  Mrs.  Alan  H.  Strong,  of  New  Jer- 
sey, and  after  being  translated  by  Arnold  J.  F. 
van  Laer,  New  York*  State  Archivist,  were 
published  in  1908  by  the  state  of  New  York, 
and  make  a  volume  of  over  nine  hundred 
pages. 

The  first  historical  mention  of  the  family 
refers  to  Johan  Van  Rensselaer,  a  captain  of 
a  hundred  men,  who  did  good  service  in 
Friesland  for  the  King  of  Spain  in  the  early 
part  of  the  sixteenth  century.  It  also  refers 
to  Captain  Harmanus  Van  Rensselaer,  who 
was  seriously  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Nieu- 
port, in  the  year  1600,  and  died  in  1601,  as  is 
stated  upon  the  tomb  at  Amersfoort. 

In  tracing  the  descent  from  the  earliest 
known  records  and  family  traditions,  an  early 
chart  shows  that  the  primordial  name  is  that 
of  Hendrick  Wouter  \"an  Rensselaer,  who 
married  Swene  \'an  Imyck,  and  had  children: 
Johannes  Hendrick,  married  Derykebia  Van 
Lupoel :  Geertruj.  married  Advocate  Swaas- 
kens ;  Wouter  (Walter)  Hendrick;  Anna  and 
Betje. 

Johannes  Hendrick  Van  Rensselaer  and 
Derykebia  Van  Lupoel  had  a  son  Kiliaen,  who 
married  Nelle  Van  Wenckoin,  and  another  son 
named  Wouter  Jans. 


HUDSON   AXD  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


Kiliaeii  \  an  Rensselaer  and  Xelle  Van 
\^'enckoIn  liad  a  son  named  Hendrick,  who 
married  ^Faria  Pafraet ;  a  daughter,  Engeltje, 
who  married  Gerrit  Giiilliam  \'an  Patten ; 
Claas,  who  married  Jacoliina  Schrassens;  Jo- 
hannes, who  married  Sandrina  Van  Erp, 
styled  \\'aredenburgh,  and  Johannes,  who  died 
without  issue. 

The  foregoing  statement  figured  on  the 
chart  brings  one  to  a  period  when  there  are 
documents  and  dates  which  are  reliable. 

Captain  Hendrick  Van  Rei^.sselaer,  son  of 
Kiliaen  \'an  Rensselaer  and  Nelle  \'an  Wenc- 
kom,  was  probably  born  upon  the  estate  named 
Rensselaer,  near  Nykerk,  in  Holland,  and  died 
at  Ostende,  Belgium,  June  6,  1602.  He  mar- 
ried Maria  Pafraet;  children:  i.  Kiliaen,  born 
at  Hasselt.  Province  of  Overyssel,  Nether- 
lands, about  1580;  died  at  Amsterdam,  Hol- 
land, in  1644;  married  (first)  Hillegonda  Van 
Bylaer,  (second)  Anna  \'an  Wely,  who  died 
June  12.  1670.  2.  Maria,  married  Ryckert 
Van  Twiller,  and  had :  Wouter  \'an  Twiller, 
who  was  the  (third)  director-general  of  New 
Netherland,  1633-38;  Elizabeth,  married  Jo- 
hannes \'an  Rensselaer,  son  of  Kiliaen,  the 
first  Patroon.  3.  A  third  child  (apparently), 
also  named  Maria,  who  married  Obelaers,  and 
died  at  Munnikendam,  Holland,  in  1673. 

Kiliaen  \'an  Rensselaer,  son  of  Hendrick 
Van  Rensselaer  and  Maria  Pafraet.  was  born 
in  Hasselt,  Province  of  Overyssel,  in  the 
Netherlands,  about  1580,  and  died  in  Amster- 
dam, Holland,  in  1644.  He  was  the  first 
Patroon  and  the  founder  of  the  colony  of 
Rensselaerswyck  in  America. 

Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer  was  a  wealthy  mer- 
chant of  Amsterdam,  known  to  be  a  dealer  in 
pearls  and  precious  stones,  to  have  had  some 
reputation  as  a  banker  and  general  merchant, 
and  owned  large  estates  in  Holland.  He  was 
a  leader  in  tlie  famous  guild  of  trading  princes 
which  at  that  time  played  so  prominent  a 
part  in  the  commerce  of  the  world,  and  it  is 
quite  evident  that  he  must  have  been  both 
shrewd  and  farsighted.  The  innumerable 
documents  which  he  has  left  demonstrate 
great  thoughtfulness  in  planning  even  the  de- 
tails, and  he  could  grasp  a  situation  in  a  for- 
eign country  with  the  same  jjcrfcction  in 
every  respect  as  though  present  and  overseemg 
all.  He  exhibited  sagacity  in  his  stand  taken 
with  regard  to  the  policy  of  the  colony  as 
against  the  desires  of  his  associates  who  de- 
sired to  grow  wealthy  with  rapidity.  They 
sought  to  have  those  sent  out  engage  in  hunt- 
ing for  the  purpose  of  making  immediate  and 
large  shipments  to  foreign  lands,  while  he 
desired  that  the  colonists  should  become  set- 
tlers, owning  their  houses,  and  leading  happy 


and  contented  lives,  so  that  they  would  be 
willing  to  remain ;  should  raise  large  families, 
and  long  continue  to  progress  the  work  on  an 
ever  increasing  scale  as  they  prospered.  He 
not  only  had  the  courage  to  found  a  colony  in 
the  wilds  of  an  unknown  America,  but  pos- 
sessed the  energy  to  push  the  work,  once  be- 
gun and  discouraging  at  times,  until  it  pros- 
pered. 

In  those  days  the  jewelers  were  moving 
spirits  in  advancing  the  trade  with  far-distant 
countries  and  were  alert  to  seek  new  fields, 
even  in  the  alluring  country  of  India,  whither 
all  eyes  were  turned,  and  the  greatest  en- 
deavor being  made  to  find  a  quicker  passage. 
After  long  years  of  preparation  the  charter 
affecting  the  colony  was  granted  June  3,  162 1, 
and  the  subscription  list  opened.  At  the  start 
the  subscriptions  did  not  come  in  very  rapid- 
ly, largely  on  account  of  the  exclusion  of  the 
salt  trade  from  the  charter's  list  of  induce- 
ments ;  but  when  this  difficulty  was  removed 
the  full  amount  was  subscribed.  The  Cham- 
ber of  Amsterdam,  "because  thence  came  the 
most  money,"  had  the  largest  number  of  di- 
rectors, who  were  to  administer  four-ninths  of 
the  entire  capital  of  the  company.  There 
were  twenty,  and  each  had  to  contribute  at 
least  6,000  guilders.  Next  to  the  board  of 
directors  there  was  a  body  of  chief  partici- 
pants, each  of  whom  had  the  same  amount  in- 
vested, yet  while  they  took  no  part  in  the 
daily  management,  as  the  representatives  of 
the  stockholders,  no  resolutions  of  importance 
could  be  taken  without  them.  It  was  agreed 
that  the  first  two  vacancies  should  be  supplied 
from  the  ranks  of  the  chief  participants,  and 
the  first  thus  received  into  the  Chamber  was 
Kiliaen  \'an  Rensselaer,  who  it  appears  was 
among  the  first  subscribers  and  had  paid  at 
least  6,000  guilders.  It  may  be  mentioned 
here  that  on  June  16,  1628,  he  became  the 
owner  of  the  estate  called  Crailo.  near  Huizen, 
to  which  he  added  a  vast  area  of  unreclaimed 
land. 

Fort  Orange  had  been  established  in  May, 
1624,  close  to  the  western  shore  of  the  Plud- 
son  river,  about  one  hundred  and  forty-two 
miles  north  of  New  Amsterdam  (New  York 
City),  now  the  site  of  Albany,  and  \^in  Rens- 
selaer thought  it  an  excellent  advantage  to 
have  his  lands  under  the  protection  of  its 
guns.  He  sent  agents  to  investigate  the  na- 
ture of  the  territory,  who  reported  favorably, 
and  Bastiaen  Jansz  Crol  and  Dirk  Cornelisz 
Duyster  were  especially  empowered  in  writ- 
ing, signed  January  12.  1630.  secured  shortly 
a  large  tract  of  land  on  the  west  bank. 
In  January.  1631,  he  sent  Marinus  Adriaensz, 
from  \'eere,  with  some  assistants  as  tobacco 


« 

i 

:p^^» 

Supposed  to  be  Jvillaen  Van  Rensselaer 

Born   1580 

From  a  painting  owned  by 

Howard  Van  Kensselaer,  Esq.  M.  D. 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


planters,  and  in  July  he  sent  Laurens  Lau- 
rensz,  from  Kopehaven,  with  another  North- 
man, to  operate  the  saw  and  grist  mill,  also  a 
number  of  laborers  and  some  ten  calves. 
Knowing-  that  they  could  not  succeed  in  their 
support  for  the  first  two  or  three  years,  he 
allowed  them  from  150  to  180  guilders  per 
annum.  He  also  provided  the  colonists  with 
implements,  and  allowed  the  farm  hands  from 
40  to  90  guilders  a  year.  Between  1630  and 
1632  he  transported  on  these  terms  ten  per- 
sons in  the  first  year  and  twelve  in  the  next 
two  succeeding  years.  The  first  quota  of  men 
sailed  from  Holland,  March  21,  1630,  aboard 
the  ship  "d'Eendracht,"  or  "the  Unity,"  com- 
manded by  Jan  Brouwer,  and  arrived  at  the 
island  of  Manhattan,  May  24th,  to  proceed 
up  the  river  to  the  site  of  Rensselaerswyck. 
The  Lords  States-General,  at  The  Hague, 
June  7,  1629,  had  ratified  the  plan  of  the  Dutch 
West  India  company  to  allow  the  patroons  to 
divide  the  land  into  manorial  grants ;  but  re- 
serving to  that  company  the  fur  business,  and 
unless  five  per  cent,  were  paid  to  the  West 
India  company  should  the  colonists  weave 
woolen  or  other  stuffs.  The  land  ultimately 
secured  by  Van  Rensselaer  from  the  Indians 
is  commonly  stated  as  a  tract  reaching  north 
and  south  twenty-four  miles  from  Baeren 
Island  to  the  Cohoes  Falls  in  the  Mohawk, 
and  extending  forty-eight  miles  east  and  west- 
ward, half  on  each  side  of  the  Hudson  river, 
containing  about  700,000  acres,  comprising 
therein  the  present  counties  of  Albany,  Rens- 
selaer and  the  northern  part  of  Columbia. 
The  statement,  however,  should  be  modified 
by  the  understanding  of  recent  research,  al- 
though it  is  practically  correct.  The  land  was 
not  purchased  at  one  time.  The  first  certifi- 
cate of  purchase  from  the  Indians  was  dated 
August  13,   1630,  and    (translated)    it   reads: 

Anno  1630,  this  day  the  13th  of  .\iigust.  We,  the 
director  and  council  of  New  Netherland,  residing 
on  the  island  the  Manahatas  and  in  Fort  Amster- 
dam: under  the  jurisdiction  of  their  High  Mighti- 
nesses the  Lords  States  General  of  the  United 
Netherlands  and  the  Chartered  West  India  Com- 
pany, Chamher  of  Amsterdam,  do  herehy  testify 
and  declare,  that  on  this  day,  the  date  underwritten, 
before  us  appeared  and  presented  themselves  in 
their  proper  persons,  Kottamack,  Nawanemit,  .'\h- 
antzeene,  Sagiskwa  and  Kanamoack,  owners  and 
proprietors  of  their  respective  parcels  of  land  ex- 
tending up  the  river,  south  and  north,  from  the  said 
fort  (Fort  Orange,  later  Albany)  to  a  little  south 
of  Moeneminnes  Castle  (situated  on  Haver  Island, 
in  1910  Peobles,  Island,  at  mouth  of  the  Mohawk 
River),  belonging  to  the  aforesaid  proprietors  joint- 
ly and  in  common,  and  the  land  called  Semesseeck, 
belonging  to  the  aforesaid  Nawanemit  individually, 
lying  on  the  east  bank  from  opposite  Castle  Island 
to  the  above  mentioned  fort :  also,  from  Petanock, 
the  mill  creek  (Normans  Kill),  north  to  Nega- 
gonse.     .     .     . 


This  was  signed  in  the  several  hands  of 
"Peter  Minuiet,  Director;  Pieter  Bijlvelt, 
lacob  Elbertsz  Wissinck,  Ian  lanssen  Brou- 
wer, Sijmon  Dircks  Pos,  Reynicr  Har- 
mansen." 

Mr.  A.  J.  van  Laer,  the  New  York  State 
Archivist,  a  most  careful  and  capable  expert, 
interprets  this  to  mean:  "i,  the  land  on  the 
west  side  of  the  river  from  Fort  Orange  to 
the  Mohawk ;  2,  a  small  tract  on  the  east  side 
of  the  river,  on  both  sides  of  the  present  Mill 
Creek,  frotn  opposite  Castle  Island  to  a  point 
opposite  Fort  Orange ;  3,  the  land  on  the  west 
side  of  the  river  from  a  point  south  of  the 
Normans  Kill  to  the  north  point  of  Castle 
Island,  or  possibly  to  Fort  Orange. 

From  what  Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer  wrote 
in  his  "Account  of  the  Jurisdictions."  of  July 
20,  1634,  enclosed  in  his  letter  of  the  21st  to 
Johannes  de  Laet,  it  would  seem  that  the  land 
comprised  "all  the  shore  along  the  river  on 
the  west  side,  from  beeren  Island  to  Momnen- 
is  Castle,"  which  distance,  froin  Baeren  Island, 
fourteen  miles  below  Albany,  to  the  "Castle" 
on  the  Mohawk,  Cohoes,  ten  miles  north  of 
that  city,  would  be  a  north  and  south  line  of 
about  twenty-four  miles.  To  the  original  pur- 
chase of  1630  was  added  in  May,  1631,  land 
from  "Beeren  Island  to  Smacks  (Smax) 
Island."  On  April  23,  1637,  more  land  was 
bought  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  from 
Papscanee  creek  south  to  a  point  opposite 
Smacks  Island,  and  at  later  dates  purchases 
were  made  of  islands  in  that  vicinity  and  land 
near  the  Poesten  Kill  (Troy),  at  Catskill, 
Bethlehem  and  Claverack. 

It  is  stated  on  good  authority,  after  the 
examination  of  the  Van  Rensselaer-Bowier 
Manuscripts,  which  were  translated  in  1903  by 
the  State  Archivist,  and  in  which  was  the  let- 
ter-book of  Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer  and  other 
voluminous  documents,  that  he  never  visited 
his  colony  or  came  to  America.  Even  before 
that  it  had  been  a  matter  of  considerable 
doubt. 

It  should  be  stated  that  Van  Rensselaer,  for 
the  purpose  of  more  speedy  development  of 
his  large  territory,  formed  a  partnership  Oc- 
tober I,  1630,  with  three  brother  directors  of 
the  company.  These  were  Samuel  (jodyn, 
Johannes  de  Laet  and  Samuel  Bloemmaert, 
who  after  a  time  sold  out  their  interest,  and 
Van  Rensselaer  alone  developed  the  colony. 

In  1640,  because  of  disputes  over  various 
matters  between  the  colony  and  the  Dutch 
West  India  Company,  the  patroons  obtained  a 
new  charter  of  privileges  and  exemptions, 
some  of  the  provisions  therein  being  that  all 
patroons,  free  colonists  and  inhabitants  of 
New  Netherland  should  enjoy  the  privilege  of 


HUDSON   AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


selling  articles  brought  from  Holland  upon 
payment  of  a  ten  per  cent,  duty ;  that  they 
pay  ten  per  cent,  export  duty  on  all  furs 
shipped  to  Holland;  that  they  be  allowed  to 
manufacture  woolen  goods  and  cotton  cloth, 
which  had  been  prohibited ;  the  person  bring- 
ing five  persons  to  New  Netherland  as  a  col- 
ony would  be  entitled  to  two  hundred  acres, 
and  might  hunt  in  the  public  woods  or  fish  in 
public  streams ;  no  religion  except  that  of  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church  was  to  be  tolerated ; 
the  colonists  were  to  be  provided  with  negroes 
to  help  them  on  their  farms ;  appeal  from 
manorial  courts  might  be  made  to  director  and 
council  of  New  Netherland,  provided  the  sum 
in  dispute  was  equal  to  forty  dollars ;  but  the 
patroon's  jurisdiction  was  not  to  be  affected 
in  any  way  by  the  new  charter.  The  pro- 
visions of  the  patroon's  contracts  kept  Arendt 
van  Curler,  commissary-general  of  Rens- 
selaerswyck,  and  Adriaen  vander  Donck,  the 
public  prosecutor,  busy  throughout  1641. 

On  March  6,  1642,  Patroon  Kiliaen  Van 
Rensselaer  requested  the  classis  of  Amster- 
dam to  send  "a  good,  honest  and  pure  preach- 
er" to  his  colony,  and  that  body  selected 
Dominie  Johannes  Megapolensis,  Jun.,  pastor 
of  Schorel  and  Berg  of  the  Alkmaar  classis, 
who  accepted  the  call  of  six  years,  conditioned 
on  a  salary  of  one  thousand  guilders  ($400) 
that  he  need  not  be  ret[uire(l  to  work  as  a 
farmer,  the  same  to  be  paid  in  meat,  drink  and 
whatever  he  might  claim.  The  dominie  was 
accredited  on  JVIarch  22nd,  and  June  3rd  the 
patroon  sent  detailed  instructions  setting 
forth  where  he  desired  the  church,  the  minis- 
ter's house  and  the  people  to  build  their 
homes.  The  Amsterdam  Chamber  of  the 
Dutch  West  India  Company  indorsed  Mega- 
polensis on  June  6th,  and  the  patroon  was 
somewhat  exorcised,  as  he  considered  the  mat- 
ter entirely  within  his  right  and  not  a  matter 
for  them  to  act  u])on  in  any  way.  The  dom- 
inie, his  wife  and  four  young  children,  ar- 
rived at  Rensselaerswyck  on  August  12th,  and 
Arendt  van  Curler  set  about  the  erection  of 
a  house  for  him,  while  Megapolensis  under- 
took the  study  of  the  Indian  language  so  as 
to  be  able  to  preach  to  the  savages.  For 
fully  half  a  century  this  church,  erected  by 
the  order  of  Kiliaen  V^an  Rensselaer,  was  one 
of  the  only  two  in  the  province  of  New  York, 
and  among  the  earliest  in  the  entire  United 
States,  for  in  1650  there  were  but  few. 

Undoubtedly  Kiliaen,  the  first  patroon,  was 
a  man  of  absolute  sincerity  in  the  maintenance 
of  his  Christian  views,  and  this  strong  char^ 
acteristic  may  be  traced  through  any  number 
of  his  descendants  for  many  generations. 
That  he  was  so  imbued  may  be  accepted  as  a 


certainty  from  what  he  wrote  in  various  let- 
ters, and  is  illustrated  by  the  following  ex- 
tract, translated  from  the  \'an  Rensselaer 
Bowier  manuscripts,  being  a  letter  written 
July  2,  1640,  to  Arendt  Van  Curler  when  he 
shipped  to  the  latter  "three  very  fine  blankets 
which  you  will  give  in  my  name  to  three 
chiefs;  one  to  Sader  Juchta,  chief  of  the 
Maquaes  (Mohawks),  the  other  two  to  the 
two  chiefs  who  have  the  greatest  credit  and 
power  among  the  Maquaes,"  as  presents  to 
secure  their  friendship,  "These  small  pres- 
ents to  the  savages  may  sometimes  cause  great 
friendship  and  prevent  much  enmity.  It  would 
also  serve  as  a  means  of  making  them  ac- 
quainted with  God,  saying  this  person  knows 
you,  although  he  has  not  seen  you,  through 
those  persons  whom  he  has  heard  speak  and 
who  have  written  of  you.  How  much  better 
then  can  God,  who  made  the  heavens  and  the 
earth  and  created  the  sun  which  you  can  see, 
see  your  works.  He  who  each  day  lets  his 
bountiful  gifts  come  to  man  through  the  fruit- 
fulness  which  He  gives  to  the  products  of  the 
earth  and  to  man's  sinful  body." 

Trouble  was  brewing  for  the  colony  of 
Rensselaerswyck  early  in  1643,  for  the  pat- 
roon sovight  to  maintain  his  rights  against  any 
authority  of  the  Dutch  rule  established  firmly 
in  New  Amsterdam  under  the  director-gen- 
eral. On  September  8,  1643,  the  patroon  sent 
word  from  Holland  to  Nicolaas  Coorn  to  for- 
tify Beeren  Island  (some  fourteen  miles 
south  of  the  present  city  of  Albany),  and  to 
demand  of  each  skipper  passing  up  or  down, 
except  those  of  the  West  India  Company,  a 
toll  of  five  guilders  ($2)  as  a  tax,  likewise  to 
see  that  every  vessel  coming  up  the  river 
lowered  its  colors  at  the  fort  as  a  sign  of 
respect  to  the  patroon.  Thereupon  Croon  is- 
sued the  following  manifesto : 

"I,  Nicola.is  Coorn,  Commander  of  Rensselaer's 
Castle,  and  for  the  noble  lord.  Kiliaen  V'aii  Rens- 
selaer, nndcr  the  high  jurisdiction  of  the  high  and 
mighty  Lords  States-General  of  the  United  Nether- 
lan<ls,  and  the  privileged  West  India  Company, 
hereditary  commander  of  the  colonies  on  this  North 
River  of  New  Netherland.  and  as  vice-commander 
in  his  place,  make  known  to  you  that  you  shall  not 
presume  to  use  this  river  to  the  injury  of  the  acquired 
right  of  the  said  lord  in  his  rank  as  Patroon  of 
the  Colony  of  Rensselaerswyck,  the  first  and  the 
oldest  on  this  river.  *  *  *  Protesting  in  the  name 
of  the  said  lord,  should  you  presume  in  defiance  of 
law  to  attempt  to  pass  by  contrary  to  this  proclama- 
tion, I  am  directed  to  prevent  you.  Under  this  mani- 
festo, however,  you  are  permitted  to  trade  with  his 
commissary;  but  not  with  the  Indians  or  his  par- 
ticular .subjects,  as  will  be  seen  and  read  in  the 
admonition  and  instruction  given  by  him,  the  Pa- 
troon, to  Picter  Wyncoop,  the  coinmissary,  and 
.'\rendt  Van  Curler,  the  commissary-general,  con- 
formable to  the  restriction  of  the  regulations  con- 
tained therein. 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


Matters  in  this  line  came  to  a  crisis  the 
next  year.  On  July  i,  1644,  Govert  Loocker- 
mans,  skipper  of  the  yacht  "Good  Hope,"  set 
sail  from  Fort  Orange  for  New  Amsterdam, 
and  with  studied  contempt  failed  to  salute  the 
fort,  Rensselaer's  Castle  (sometimes  called 
"Steyn"),  on  Beeren  Island  ("heeren,"  the 
plural  of  bear),  as  directed  by  the  mandate, 
whereupon  Commander  Coorn  shouted  across 
the  water  to  him:  "Lower  your  colors!" 
Loockermans  answered  back:  "For  whom 
should  I  ?"  Coorn  told  him  :  "For  the  staple- 
right  of  Rensselaerswyck."  To  this  the  "Good 
Hope's"  indomitable  skipper  replied:  "I 
lower  my  colors  for  no  one  except  the  Prince 
of  Orange  and  the  lords,  my  masters !" 
Coorn  applied  a  match  to  the  fuse  of  his  small 
cannon,  and  a  shot  ripped  through  the  "Good 
Hope's"  mainsail,  also  cutting  loose  the  rig- 
g'ing.  Another  shot  was  delivered,  but  it 
passed  over  the  vessel.  The  third  shot,  dis- 
charged by  an  Indian,  passed  through  the 
colors  of  the  Prince  of  Orange.  On  July  5th, 
Skipper  Loockermans  landed  at  New  Amster- 
dam, making  complaint  and  demanding  repar- 
ation, and  the  Council  of  New  Netherland  is- 
sued an  order  for  Coorn  to  desist  from  such 
practice ;  but  the  following  months  he  asserted 
that  he  would  not,  and  should  demand  recog- 
nition of  \'an  Rensselaer. 

Authentic  records  show  that  Kiliaen  Van 
Rensselaer,  first  patroon,  died  in  1644,  in 
Amsterdam,  Holland,  although  it  has  been 
published  that  his  death  took  place  in  1645  and 
also  1646.* 

He  was  married  (first)  to  Hillegonda  \^an 
Bylaer  (or  Bijier),  daughter  of  Jan  Van 
Bylaer.  member  of  a  prominent  family  in 
Holland.  By  her  he  had  three  children.  She 
died  in  Holland,  and  was  buried  January  i, 
1627,  in  the  Oude  Kerk.  His  second  wife  was 
Anna  Van  Wely  (or  Weely),  whom  he  mar- 
ried December  14,  1627,  and  by  her  he  had 
seven  children.  She  was  daughter  of  Jan  Van 
Wely  the  younger,  of  Barneveldt,  residing  at 
The  Hague,  and  of  Leonora  Haukens  (or 
Haeckens),  of  Antwerp.  To  .\nna  \'an  Wely 
was  presented  in  1684  the  first  thimble,  made 
by  a  goldsmith  named  Nicholas  Van  Benschot- 
en  as  a  protection  for  her  dainty  fingers.  She 
died  June  12.  1670.  The  first  and  second 
wives  were  apparently  cousins,  and  Jan  Van 
Wely,  father  of  the  second  wife,  had  a  tragic 
fate.     He  was  not  only  a  prominent  and  re- 


*Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer,  the  first  Patrnon.  was 
buried  at  Amsterdam,  October  7,  1643.  The  fact  was 
ascertained  as  this  work  was  going  to  press,  by  the 
city  archivist  of  Amsterdam,  on  examination  of  the 
liurial  book  of  the  old  Amsterdam  church,  and  com- 
municated by  him  to  Mr.  van  Laer,  of  Albany. 


spected  merchant  of  Amsterdam,  but  the  "ad- 
modiator,"  or  administrator  of  the  county  of 
Buren,  a  domain  of  the  Prince  of  Orange. 
In  1600-01  he  had  been  chosen  by  the  mer- 
chants of  Amsterdam  as  their  representative 
with  the  army,  that  they  might  have  sure  and 
regular  news.  It  was  then  that  he  received  a 
large  gold  medal  representing  the  battle  of 
Nieuport,  which  he  transmitted  as  an  heir- 
loom to  his  descendants.  In  1616  Van  Wely 
was  sent  for  to  The  Hague  by  Prince  .Maurice, 
and  brought  with  him  some  diamonds  and 
precious  stones,  which  tlie  prince  wished  to 
purchase,  and  worth  about  one  hundred  thou- 
sand florins.  While  waiting  for  the  prince  in 
his  cabinet.  Van  Wely  was  murdered  by  two 
officers  of  the  guard,  and  his  body  concealed 
under  the  table  until  it  could  be  taken  out 
and  buried  in  an  ash  pit.  This  murder,  though 
perpetrated  solely  for  plunder,  turned  out  in 
the  end  to  have  political  effects.  On  the 
representation  of  the  widow,  Hans  Van  Wely, 
her  eldest  son,  was  continued  in  the  duties 
and  privileges  of  "admodiator"  of  Buren. 

The  three  children  of  Kiliaen  Van  Rensse- 
laer and  Hillegonda  Van  Bylaer  and  the  seven 
children  by  Ann  \''an  W^ely  were : 

1.  Hendrick,  died  in  childhood. 

2.  Johannes,  baptized  September  4,  1625, 
died  in  latter  part  of  1662,  or  early  in  1663. 
He  was  the  second  patroon,  but  never  came 
to  America.  Being  a  minor  of  about  nineteen 
years  when  his  father  died  in  1644,  the  estates 
in  Holland  and  at  Rensselaerswyck  were 
placed  in  charge  of  executors.  They  selected 
Brant  Arentse  Van  Slechtenhorst  to  take 
charge  of  the  colony,  in  place  of  Arent  \"an 
Curler,  resigned,  who  arrived  at  Fort  Orange 
March  22,  1648.  He  married  Elizabeth,  sister 
of  Wouter  Van  Twiller,  director-general  of 
New  Netherland  for  the  Dutch.  Children:  i. 
Kiliaen,  died  at  Watervliet,  Albany  county, 
soon  after  February  22,  1687,  having  married 
his  cousin,  Anna  Van  Rensselaer,  daughter  of 
Jeremias  \'an  Rensselaer  and  Maria  Van 
Cortlandt.    2.  Nella.  married  Johan  de  Swardt. 

3.  Maria,  died  without  issue. 

4.  Hillegonda;  buried  August  23,  1664; 
without  issue. 

5.  Eleanora,  died  without  issue. 

6.  Susanna,  lived  and  died  in  Holland  ;  mar- 
ried Jan  de  la  Court,  August  5,  1664. 

7.  Jan  Baptist,  bom  in  Holland,  was  the 
first  of  the  name  to  visit  America,  coming  as 
"Director"  of  Rensselaerswyck  colony  in 
165 1 :  was  never  patroon:  returned  to  Hol- 
land in  1658,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  his 
brother  Jeremias  the  same  year,  who  became 
the  third  patroon ;  married  Susanna  Van 
Wely ;  had  a  son  Kiliaen  who  died   without 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


issue,  and  he    (Jan  Baptist  V.  R.)    died   in 
Amsterdam.  Holland.  October  i8,  1678. 

8.  Jereniias,  born  in  Amsterdam,  Holland, 
in  1632,  became  the  third  patroon ;  married 
Maria  \'an  Cortlandt.  July  12,  1662,  and  died 
at  Rensselaerswyck,  October  12,  1674.  (See 
forward.) 

9.  Rev.  Nicolaas  (Nicholas),  born  in  Am- 
sterdam, Plolland.  1636.  He  was  a  clergyman 
of  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church.  On  being 
introduced  to  Charles  H.,  then  exile  at  Brus- 
sels, he  prophesied  the  restoration  of  that 
monarch  to  the  throne  of  England,  which  cir- 
cumstance afterward  obtained  for  him  a  cor- 
dial reception  at  the  Court  of  St.  James,  when 
he  visited  London  as  the  chaplain  to  the 
Dutch  Embassy.  In  acknowledgment  of  the 
truth  of  the  prediction  the  king  presented  him 
with  a  snuffbox,  which  relic  is  preserved  in 
the  family. 

Upon  his  coming  to  America  the  Dutch 
church  looked  upon  him  with  suspicion, 
fearing  he  was  a  Papist,  and  demanding  a 
certificate  from  the  classis,  for  not  only  did 
Dominie  Nieuenhuysen  absent  himself  from 
Dr.  \'an  Rensselaer's  service  in  the  church, 
but  he  was  not  permitted  to  baptize.  He  ar- 
rived in  Rensselaerswyck  as  the  engaged  min- 
ister, July.  1674:  married,  February  10,  1675, 
Alyda  Schuyler,  born  February  28,  1656, 
daughter  of  Philip  Pieterse  Schuyler  and 
Margarita  \'an  Slichtenhorst ;  died  Novem- 
ber, 1678,  without  issue,  and  his  widow  mar- 
ried, in  1679,  Robert  Livingston,  who  died 
about  1728. 

ID.  Ryckert  (Richard),  born  in  Holland, 
and  died  there  about  1695.  ^^  was  treasurer 
and  administrator  of  the  Vianen  estate  be- 
longing to  the  Breerode  family.  lie  came  to 
America,  arriving  at  Rensselaerswyck  June 
30.  1664.  and  that  year  built  for  himself  a 
residence  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Hud.son 
river,  about  four  miles  north  of  Albany, 
called  The  Flatts,  which  was  long  afterward 
known  as  Schuyler's  Bouwerie  and  to  this  day 
is  known  as  the  Schuyler  Flatts,  because  he 
sold  it  to  Philip  Pieterse  Schuyler  on  June 
22,  1672.  the  father  of  Albany's  first  mayor, 
Pieter  .Schuyler.  He  returned  to  Holland 
about  this  time,  for  he  married  in  that  coun- 
try, January  26,  1672,  Anna  Van  Beaumont, 
by  whom  he  had  five  sons  and  five  daughters, 
only  one  son  and  three  of  his  daughters  mar- 
rying. Their  third  son.  Johannes,  died  in 
1678;  their  fourth  son,  alsp  named  Johannes, 
was  born  February  17,  1679;  .'\nna  Cornelia, 
born  in  April,  1673,  and  Kiliaen,  bom  in 
April,  1675.  For  many  years  he  was  one  of 
the  magistrates  of  Rensselaerswyck,  but  never 
was  director  of  the  colony,   although   he  as- 


sisted his  brother  Jeremias  in  the  manage- 
ment, and  after  the  death  of  his  mother  at 
Amsterdam  he  went  there.  When  Jeremias, 
the  third  patroon.  died  in  1674,  it  was  hoped 
that  Richard  would  return ;  but  as  he  had 
been  recently  married  he  would  not  make  the 
trip,  and  his  brother  Nicholas  came  in  his 
stead. 

(I)  Colonel  Jeremias  Van  Rensselaer,  the 
third  patroon,  son  of  Kiliaen  \'an  Rensselaer 
and  .\nna  Van  Wely,  was  born  in  Amsterdam, 
Holland,  in  1632,  and  died  in  Rensselaerswyck, 
October  12,  1674.  Because  he  was  the  first 
patroon  who  resided  in  the  colony,  he  was- 
considered  the  first  Lord  of  the  Manor  of 
Rensselaerswyck.  It  has  constituted  consid- 
erable confusion  to  distinguish  in  the  series 
the  proper  numerical  position  of  the  patroon 
and  the  lord  of  the  manor,  many  historians 
employing  the  terms  as  though  synonymous 
expressions,  in  error.  It  fell  to  the  lot  of 
Jeremias  Van  Rensselaer  to  witness  the  over- 
throw of  the  Dutch  rule  at  Fort  Orange  on 
September  24,  1664,  and  to  find  it  again  to 
revert  to  the  Dutch  government  August  5, 
1673,  when  the  fort  at  Albany  became  known 
as  Willemstadt.  He  continued  the  work  of 
his  father  on  much  the  same  lines.  His  ef- 
forts saw  the  completion  of  the  Dutch  church 
edifice,  a  rude  wooden  affair,  in  July,  1646. 
One  may  form  an  excellent  idea  of  the  col- 
ony's aspects  by  what  Father  Isaac  Jogues,  the 
Jesuit  missionary  residing  there,  wrote  thereof 
on   August   3,    1646: 

"There  are  two  things  in  this  settlement,  first,  a 
miseral)le  little  fort  called  Fort  Orange,  built  of 
logs,  with  four  or  five  pieces  of  Breteuil  cannon  and 
as  many  swivels.  This  has  been  reserved  and  is 
maintained  by  the  West  India  Company.  This  fort 
was  formerly  on  an  island  in  the  river.  It  is  now 
on  the  mainland  toward  the  Iroquois,  a  little  above 
the  said  island.  Second,  a  colony  sent  here  by  this 
Rensselaer,  who  is  the  Patroon.  This  colony  is 
composed  of  about  a  hundred  persons,  who  reside 
in  some  twenty-five  or  thirty  houses,  built  along  the 
river  as  each  one  found  most  convenient.  In  the 
principal  house  lives  the  Patroon's  agent ;  the  min- 
ister has  his  apart,  in  which  service  is  performed. 
There  is  also  a  kind  of  bailiff  here,  whom  they  call 
the  seneschal,  who  administers  justice.  Their  houses 
arc  solely  of  boards  and  thatched,  with  no  mason- 
work  except  the  chimneys.  The  forest  furnishes 
many  fine  pines ;  they  make  boards  by  means  of  their 
mills,  which  they  have  here  for  the  purpose.  They 
found  some  pieces  of  cultivated  ground,  which  the 
savages  had  formerly  cleared,  and  in  which  they  sow 
wheat  and  oats  for  beer,  and  for  their  horses,  of 
which  they  have  great  numbers.  There  is  little  land 
fit  for  tillage,  being  hemmed  in  by  hills,  wliich  are 
poor  soil.  This  obliges  them  to  separate,  and  they 
already  occupy  two  or  three  leagues  of  the  country. 
Trade  is  free  to  all;  this  gives  the  Indians  all  things 
cheap,  e.ach  of  the  Hollanders  outbidding  his  neigh- 
bor, and  being  satisfied,  provided  he  can  gain  soiae 
little  profit." 


HUDSON   AND   ^lOHAWK  VALLEYS 


Petrus  Stuyvesant  became  director-general 
for  the  Dutch  in  1647,  and  immediately  after 
his  arrival  at  New  Netherland  there  were 
strained  relations  between  him  and  those  in 
charge  of  the  Rensselaerswyck  colony.  None 
of  the  name  of  \'an  Rensselaer  had  come  over. 
Johannes  Van  Rensselaer,  then  only  twenty- 
two  years  old  and  residing  in  Holland,  was 
the  patroon,  and  Jan  Baptist  Van  Rensselaer 
did  not  come  over  to  be  director  until  four 
years  late.  It  was  necessary  to  have  an  able 
representative  to  cope  with  the  cunning  of 
Governor  Stuyvesant.  Brandt  A.  Van  Slech- 
tenhorst  sailed  from  Holland,  by  way  of  Vir- 
ginia, September  26,  1647,  ^or  Fort  Orange. 
The  Hudson  river  being  frozen  over,  he  did 
not  arrive  until  March  22,  1648.  While  he 
would  not  admit  any  rule  over  his  authority 
by  Pieter  Stuyvesant,  still  he  did  pay  him  due 
respect  on  his  first  visit  of  inspection  of  the 
fort,  south  of  the  Manor,  it  being  recorded : 
"Wliereas  the  council  of  the  colony  directed 
that  the  Heer  General  Pieter  Stuyvesant 
should  be  honored,  on  his  arrival  and  de- 
parture, with  several  salutes  from  the  Heer 
Patroon's  three  pieces  of  cannon,  the  Director 
( \'an  Slechtenhorst )  employed  Jan  Dircksen 
Van  Bremen  and  Hans  Eencluys  to  clean  the 
same,  for  they  were  filled  with  earth  and 
stones,  and  to  load  them,  in  doing  which  they 
were  engaged  three  days,  to  wit:  one  day  in 
cleaning  them,  the  second  day  in  firing  at  the 
arrival,  and  the  third  at  Stuyvesant's  de- 
parture, for  which  \'an  Slechtenhorst  pur- 
chased twenty  pounds  of  powder  and  expend- 
ed ten  guilders  for  beer  and  victuals,  besides 
having  provided  the  Heer  General  at  his  de- 
parture with  some  young  fowls  and  pork," 
which  was  in  July,  ir)48. 

Stu\vesant  had  hardly  returned  to  New 
Amsterdam  when,  July  23rd,  he  wrote  Van 
Slechtenhorst  that  he  must  see  to  it  that  all 
buildings  of  the  colony  must  be  moved  away 
from  the  range  of  the  cannon  in  the  fort,  say- 
ing: "We  request,  by  virtue  of  our  commis- 
sion, the  commandant  and  court  of  the  said 
colony  to  desist  and  refrain  from  building 
within  a  cannon-shot  from  the  fort  until  fur- 
ther orders,  *  *  *  for  both  above  and 
below  there  are  equally  suitable,  yea  better 
building  sites."  Van  Slechtenhorst  replied  on 
July  28th  in  refutation  to  the  assertion  of 
rights  of  Stuyvesant.  stating  the  claim  of  the 
colony  to  use  of  land  all  about  Fort  Orange. — • 
that  the  Patroon's  trading-house  had  stood  a 
long  time  on  the  edge  of  the  fort's  moat,  and 
he  ridiculed  Stuyvesant's  order  in  view  of 
the  valueless  quality  of  the  fort  as  an  adequate 
place  of  defence,  saying:  "So  far  as  regards 
the  renowned  fortress,  men  can  go  in  and  out 


of  it  by  night  as  well  as  by  day.  I  have  been 
more  than  six  months  in  the  colony,  and  yet 
I  have  never  been  able  to  discover  a  single 
person  carrying  a  sword,  a  musket  or  a  pike, 
or  have  I  heard  or  seen  a  drum  beat,  except 
when  the  Director-General  himself  visited  it." 

Stuyvesant  was  angered,  and  in  September 
despatched  both  saiiors  and  soldiers  to  Fort 
Orange  with  orders  to  demolish  the  house  of 
Van  Slechtenhorst,  which  news  when  received 
in  the  colony  excited  the  men  to  prepare  to 
take  up  arms,  and  as  a  result  Commissary 
Van  Brugge  wrote  to  Stuyvesant  that  it  was 
useless  for  him  to  stand  against  the  inhabitants 
as  they  outnumbered  his  men  and  had  Indians 
as  allies.  Consequently  Stuyvesant  recalled 
his  men  in  October,  and  requested  Van 
Slechtenhorst  to  appear  before  him  on  April 
4,   1649. 

In  1 65 1,  Jan  Baptist,  third  son  of  Kiliaen 
Van  Rensselaer,  the  first  Patroon,  came  to 
the  colony  to  be  its  director.  It  then  became  a 
mooted  question  whether  he  or  Stuyvesant 
was  to  be  superior.  At  once  he  sought  to 
strengthen  his  position,  and  on  November  23rd 
he  had  the  council  announce:  "All  house- 
holders and  freemen  of  the  colony  shall  appear 
on  the  28th  day  of  November  of  this  year,  be- 
ing Tuesday,  at  the  house  of  the  honorable 
director,  and  there  take  the  'burggerlijke' 
oath  of  allegiance."  On  that  day  forty-five 
colonists  appeared  and  took  their  oath,  swear- 
ing: "I  promise  and  swear  that  I  shall  be 
true  and  faithful  to  the  noble  Patroon  and  co- 
directors,  or  those  who  represent  them  here, 
and  to  the  honorable  director,  commissioners 
and  council,  subjecting  myself  to  the  court  of 
the  colony,  and  I  jiromise  to  demean  mvself 
as  a  good  and  faithful  inhabitant  or  burgher, 
without  exciting  any  opposition,  tumult  or 
noise :  but  on  the  contrary,  as  a  loyal  inhab- 
itant to  maintain  and  support,  ofifensively  and 
defensively  against  every  one,  the  right  and 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  colony.  And  with  rev- 
erence and  fear  of  the  Lord,  and  the  uplifting 
of  both  the  first  fingers  of  the  right  hand,  I 
say.  So  truly  help  me,  God  .\Imighty." 

The  soldiers  of  Fort  Orange,  on  January  r^ 
1652,  made  at  night  a  hideous  outcry,  dis- 
charging their  muskets  in  front  of  the  di- 
rector's mansion.  A  piece  of  burning  wad  fell 
on  the  thatched  roof  and  set  it  abloze.  The 
next  day  they  assaulted  Van  Slechtenhorst's 
son,  beating  him  and  dragging  him  mercilessly 
through  the  mire.  On  January  15th  Stuyve- 
sant wrote  to  his  man,  Vice-Director  Dyck- 
man.  to  maintain  the  rights  of  the  Dutch  \Vest 
India  Company,  and  he  went  with  a  body- 
guard to  Jan  Baptist  \"an  Rensselaer's  manor 
house,  where  the  colonial  magistrates  were  in 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


"session,  making  the  request  tliat  Director  Van 
Rensselaer  read  the  proclamation  from  Stuy- 
vesant  to  the  inhabitants.  Van  Rensselaer  was 
angered,  maintaining  that  Dyckman  should  not 
have  come  with  armed  men  upon  his  land,  and 
he  asserted :  "It  shall  not  be  done  so  long 
as  we  have  a  drop  of  blood  in  our  veins,  nor 
until  we  receive  orders  from  their  high 
mightiness  and  honored  masters."  Thereupon 
Dyckman  ordered  the  \'an  Rensselaer  bell  to 
be  rung  to  call  the  inhabitants  together ;  but 
being  refused,  rang  that  of  Fort  Orange,  and 
returned  to  \'an  Rensselaer's  house  for  the 
purpose  of  reading  this  proclamation  from  his 
steps.  Van  Slechtenhorst  snatched  the  docu- 
ment from  his  hands,  and  in  tearing  it,  the 
seals  fell  from  the  paper.  When  Dyckman 
threatened  that  Stuyvesant  would  make  Van 
Rensselaer  suffer  for  the  indignity,  Van 
Slechtenhorst  turned  to  the  colonists  and  said, 
''Go  home,  good  friends,  it  is  only  the  wind  of 
a  cannon-ball  fired  six  hundred  paces  off." 

Governor  Stuyvesant  then  ordered  Dyck- 
man, on  March  5th,  to  erect  a  number  of  posts 
si.x  hundred  paces  from  the  walls  of  Fort 
Orange,  being  about  3,083  feet  (250  Rhine- 
land  rods  of  12  Rhineland  feet  of  12  36-100 
in.),  marking  each  with  the  West  India  Com- 
pany's seal,  and  each  with  a  board  nailed 
thereon  to  hold  the  proclamation.  On  March 
17th,  Vice-Director  Dyckman  planted  several 
posts  as  directed,  and  two  days  later  the  mag- 
istrates of  Rensselaerswyck  ordered  the  high 
constable  to  remove  them.  After  that  incident 
Stuyvesant  sent  word  to  Fort  Orange  that  he 
should  come  there  and  take  steps  to  see  that 
his  mandates  were  strictly  obeyed.  He  ar- 
rived at  Fort  Orange  on  April  ist  to 
straighten  out  matters  and  have  a  clear  un- 
derstanding as  to  what  was  property  of  Van 
Rensselaer  and  what  appertained  to  the  fort. 
He  despatched  Sergeant  Litschoe  with  a  squad 
to  lower  the  Patroon's  flag,  and,  when  \'an 
Slechtenhorst  interposed,  the  soldiers  entered 
his  yard,  discharged  firearms  and  lowered  the 
colors.  Stuyvesant  then  ordered  that  the  land 
within  the  area  which  he  had  staked  out 
around  the  fort  be  known  as  Dorpe  Bevers- 
wyck,  or  the  village  of  I'everswyck,  meaning 
where  beavers  gathered.  Having  given  what 
was  a  fort  the  status  of  an  actual  locality,  he 
instituted  a  court  and  appointed  three  judges. 
On  the  court-house  he  had  his  proclamation 
posted,  but  on  April  I5tli  Van  Slechtenhorst 
tore  it  down,  attaching  that  of  Van  Renaselaer 
instead.  Because  of  this  act  of  insubordina- 
tion he  was  imprisoned  on  April  i8th,  and 
matters  did  not  mend  for  several  years  until 
both  parties,  fearing  the  advent  of  the  Eng- 
lish, adjusted  matters  amicably,  fearing  a  com- 


mon foe.  On  May  8,  1652,  Jan  Baptist  Van 
Rensselaer's  certificate  was  signed  in  Holland, 
authorizing  him  to  be  "Director"  of  Rensse- 
laerswyck, and  in  1658  he  returned  to  Hol- 
land, and  it  was  then  that  Jeremias  became 
the  third  Patroon.  It  is  known  that  he  was 
in  Rensselaerswyck  in  1659,  for  history  is 
filled  with  many  of  his  important  undertak- 
ings in  adjusting  matters  with  the  Indians. 
An  invasion  of  the  French  from  Canada  also 
caused  fear.  In  October  of  that  year  he 
ordered  the  settlement  to  be  surrounded  by  a 
high  stockade,  as  the  Esopus  Indians  were 
making  raids  along  the  river.  Although  on 
September  6,  1664,  Stuyvesant  at  New  Am- 
sterdam (New  York  city)  drew  up  articles  of 
surrender  to  the  English  fleet  then  menacing 
that  place,  it  was  not  until  September  24th 
that  Vice-Director  Johannes  de  la  Montague, 
for  the  Dutch  West  India  Company,  sur- 
rendered Fort  Orange.  The  name  "Albany" 
was  then  bestowed,  and  Jeremias  Van  Rensse- 
laer took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  King 
Charles  II. 

Colonel  Jeremias  Van  Rensselaer,  the  third 
Patroon,  married,  at  New  Amsterdam.  July 
12,  1662,  Maria  Van  Cortlandt,  born  in  New 
Amsterdam,  July  20,  1645,  f^'^'l  ^^  Rensse- 
laerswyck, January  24,  1689,  daughter  of  Olof 
Stevense  Van  Cortlandt,  who  came  on  the 
ship  "Haring"  to  New  Amsterdam  in  1637, 
from  Wyck  by  Duurstede,  Province  of 
Utrecht,  Holland,  as  a  soldier  in  employ  of 
the  West  India  Company,  and  died  in  New 
York  city,  on  April  4,  1684,  having  married, 
February  26,  1642,  Anna  (.Anneke)  Loocker- 
mans,  who  died  in  May,  1684.  Children  of 
Jeremias  Van  Rensselaer  and  Maria  Van 
Cortlandt : 

1.  Kiliaen,  fourth  Patroon  and  second  Lord 
of  the  Manor,  born  at  Rensselaerswyck,  Au- 
gust 24.  1663,  died  there  in  171Q:  married,  in 
New  York,  New  York,  October  15,  1701, 
Maria  \'an  Cortlandt,  daughter  of  Stephanus 
Van  Cortlandt,  and  Gertrude  Schuyler.  (See 
forward.) 

2.  Johannes,  died  without  issue. 

3.  Anna,  born  at  Rensselaerswyck,  August 
I,  1665;  married  (first)  Kiliaen  Van  Rensse- 
laer, son  of  Johannes  Van  Rensselaer  and 
Elizabeth  Van  Twiller,  who  died  in  1687; 
married  (second)  William  Nicoll. 

4.  Hendrick,  born  at  Rensselaerswyck, 
October  23,  1667 :  resided  in  Greenbush, 
Rensselaer  county  (Rensselaer,  N.  Y.),  where 
he  died  July  2.  1740;  married,  New  York,  N. 
Y.,  March  19,  1689,  Catharina  Van  Bruggen, 
daughter  of  Johannes  Pieterse  Van  Brugh  (or 
(or  Van  Bruggen)  and  Catharina  Roeloffse, 
daughter  of  .Anneke  Jans,  and  Catharina  Van 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


IBrug^gen  died  at  Grcenbush,  December  6,  1730, 
having  had  but  one  child,  Anna,  born  in  1719, 
■who  married  John  Schuyler. 

(5)  Maria,  born  at  Rensselaerswyck,  Oc- 
'tober  25,  1672;  married,  at  that  place,  Sep- 
tember 14,  1691,  Ptter  Schuyler  (son  of  Philip 
Pieterse  Schuyler  and  Margareta  Van  Slecht- 
•enhorst),  who  was  born  September  17,  1657; 
died  at  The  Flatts,  four  miles  north  of  Al- 
bany, February  19,  1724,  being  the  first  mayor 
of  Albany.  July  22,  1686-October  13,  1694. 
'The  date  of  the  death  of  Maria  does  not  ap- 
pear. 

(H)  Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer,  son  of  Col- 
onel Jeremias  Van  Rensselaer  and  jMaria  Van 
Cortlandt,  being  the  4th  Patroon  of  Rensse- 
laerswvck,  was  born  there  August  24,  1663, 
being  "Friday  morning  towards  eight  o'clock," 
and  "was  baptised  the  next  Sunday."  He 
'died  at  Rensselaerswyck  in  1719. 

He  was  left  in  the  management  of  the  Man- 
or for  account  of  the  heirs  of  the  first  Pa- 
ttroon  until  1695.  At  this  date  all  the  children 
of  Kiliaen  \'an  Rensselaer,  the  projector  of 
the  colony,  were  dead,  except  two,  Eleonora 
and  Richard,  and  the  latter  was  the  treasurer 
of  \'ianen,  a  legalized  asylum  in  Holland  for 
criminals.  The  \'an  Rensselaer  estate  was 
not  yet  divided  among  his  heirs,  but  for  near- 
ly fifty  years  had  been  held  in  common.  Be- 
sides the  manor  there  was  a  large  estate  in 
Holland  (the  Crailo)  and  other  property. 
The  time  had  now  arrived  for  the  heirs  to 
make  a  settlement.  Controversies  had  arisen 
among  them,  and,  to  end  the  disputes,  Kiliaen 
Van  Rensselaer  (son  of  Jan  Baptist  Van 
Rensselaer)  was  delegated  by  the  heirs  in 
Holland  to  visit  America  and  if  possible  make 
a  complete  settlement  with  the  children  of 
Jeremias,  the  third  Patroon,  as  the  only  heirs 
in  this  country.  Kiliaen,  eldest  son  of  Jere- 
mias, and  the  fourth  Patroon,  was  appointed 
with  power  of  attorney  to  act  for  the  family 
'Of  which  he  was  a  member.  The  cousins  met 
and,  after  a  prolonged  discussion,  in  which, 
as  is  usual,  both  lost  their  temper,  they  at  last 
came  to  an  amicable  agreement  to  their  mu- 
tual satisfaction.  The  indenture  is  dated  New 
York,  November  i,  1695.  The  heirs  in  Hol- 
land released  to  the  heirs  in  Albany  all  right 
and  title  in  the  manor,  which  was  recipro- 
cated by  the  release  of  the  latter  to  the  former 
of  all  right  and  title  to  the  land  in  Holland, 
known  as  the  Crailo,  and  another  tract  in 
Guelderland.  They  also  agreed  to  deliver  the 
titles  to  three  farms  in  the  Manor,  reserving 
the  tenths,  and  to  pay  in  addition  seven  hun- 
dred pieces  of  eight.  They  also  released  all 
■claims  on  personal  property  in  Holland,  as 
well  as  on  certain  expectations  from  relatives 


on  their  decease.  Bonds  were  exchanged  be- 
tween the  cousins  for  the  faithful  perform- 
ance of  the-contract,  and  the  work  was  com- 
plete. At  last,  in  1695,  the  vast  estate  of  the 
old  Patroon  was  settled,  and  the  colony  he 
founded  in  1630,  with  its  territory  of  prac- 
tically twenty-four  by  forty-eight  miles,  was 
in  possession  of  one  family  consisting  of  Kili- 
aen, Johannes,  Hendrick,  Maria,  wife  of 
Mayor  Pieter  Schuyler,  and  Anna,  wife  of 
William  Nicoll.  Besides  the  Manor  they 
owned  another  tract  of  land  containing  62,000 
acres,  known  as  the  Claverack  patent,  and 
quite  commonly  called  the  "Lower  Alanor." 
The  latter  was  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  river, 
in  the  vicinity  of  what  is  now  Hudson,  New 
York.  At  this  time  the  province  was  under 
the  English  law,  and  the  eldest  son  was  heir- 
at-law  of  the  real  estate  belonging  to  his 
father. 

To  Kiliaen,  the  eldest  son  of  Jeremias  \'an 
Rensselaer,  deceased,  a  patent  was  granted 
May  20,  1704,  for  the  entire  Manor,  including 
the  Claverack  patent.  His  brother  Johannes 
having  died  without  issue,  there  were  only 
three  others  interested.  Kiliaen  conveyed  to 
his  brother  Hendrick,  on  June  i,  1704,  the 
Claverack  patent  and  some  1,500  acres  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river,  opposite  Albany,  later 
known  as  Greenbush,  and  then  as  Rensselaer, 
New  York.  To  his  sister  Maria  or  her  heirs 
he  gave  a  farm  of  a  few  hundred  acres  adjoin- 
ing The  Flatts,  above  Albany,  and  to  his  sister 
Anna  or  her  heirs  he  gave  a  farm  larger  in 
extent,  but  at  that  time  no  more  valuable,  lo- 
cated on  the  west  bank  of  the  river,  in  the 
town  of  Bethlehem. 

Kiliaen  \''an  Rensselaer  devoted  much  of 
his  life  to  the  public  service.  He  was  an  of- 
ficer of  the  militia  and  one  of  the  magistrates, 
and  represented  the  Manor  in  the  assembly 
from  1693  to  1704,  in  which  latter  year  he 
was  appointed  to  the  council,  remaining  a 
member  until  he  died  in  17 19.  The  settling 
of  the  Manor  was  much  retarded  by  Indian 
wars.  It  was  a  common  practice  for  the 
tribes  to  resell  the  lands  to  others  after  they 
had  sold  to  Van  Rensselaer  in  1630.  Kiliaen's 
grandfather's  old  miller,  Barent  Pieterse 
Coeymans.  who  came  out  in  1636,  purchased 
from  the  Catskill  Indians,  in  1673,  a  tract  of 
land  eight  miles  along  the  river  by  twelve 
miles  deep,  which  was  actually  the  Manor 
land.  He  even  procured  a  patent  for  it  from 
Governor  Lovelace,  April,  1673,  and  the  legal 
contest  over  it  was  not  decided  until  1706. 

Of  his  children,  two  of  the  three  sons,  Jere- 
mias and  Stephen,  survived  him,  and  these 
were  successively  patroons.  Two  of  his 
daughters,     Anna     and     Gertrude,     married 


HUDSON   AND   AIOIIAWK  \'ALLEYS 


brothers,  sons  of  Arent  Schuyler,  of  Belle- 
ville, New  Jersey. 

It  was  while  Kiliaen  ^'an  Rensselaer,  4th 
Patroon,  was  alive  and  at  the  head  of  the  col- 
ony, that  Albany  became  a  city  by  charter 
granted  by  Governor  Thomas  Dongan,  July 
22,  1686.  Naturally  it  created  a  serious  state 
of  affairs,  for  it  meant  the  determination  of 
the  prescribed  areas  of  Rensselaerswyck  and 
Albany,  which  had  been  geographically  very 
closely  connected,  for  the  legal  security  of 
which  \'an  Rensselaer  had  secured  purchaser's 
rights  from  the  Indians. 

Dongan  came  to  Albany  in  May,  1686,  and 
was  requested  by  the  most  prominent  men  to 
issue  a  charter  by  which  the  village  might 
acquire  larger  boundaries  and  by  virtue  of 
being  a  city  would  have  a  higher  guarantee  of 
property  titles  than  that  of  magistrates.  This 
forced  Dongan  to  obtain  a  relinquishment  of 
the  Van  Rensselaer  claims  to  the  land  the 
people  would  include  within  the  lx>unds,  and 
his  decision,  as  reported  February  22,  1687,  to 
the  privy  council  of  King  James,  regarding 
the  rights  of  each  party,  is  as  follows : 

"The  Town  of  Albany  lyes  within  the  Ranslacrs 
Colony.  And  to  say  the  truth  the  Ranslaers  had 
the  right  to  it,  for  it  was  they  settled  the  place, 
and  upon  a  petition  of  one  of  them  to  our  present 
King  (James  II.)  about  -Mbany  the  Petitioner  was 
referred  to  his  Matys  Council  at  Law,  who  upon 
perusal  of  the  Ranslaers  Papers,  made  their  return 
that  it  was  their  opinion  that  it  did  belong  to  them. 
Upon  which  there  was  an  order  sent  over  to  Sir 
Edmund  Andros  that  the  Ranslacrs  should  be  put 
in  possession  of  Albany,  &  that  every  house  should 
pay  some  two  Beavers,  some  more,  some  less,  ac- 
cording to  their  dimensions,  Pr  annum,  for  thirty- 
years  &  afterwards  the  Ranslaers  to  put  what  rent 
upon  them  they  could  agree  for.  What  reason  Sir 
Edmund  Andros  has  given  for  not  putting  these 
orders  into  execution  I  know  not.  The  Ranslaers 
came  &  brought  mee  the  same  orders  which  I 
thought  not  convenient  to  execute,  judgcing  it  not 
for  his  Matys  Interest  that  the  second  Town  of 
the  Government  &  which  brings  his  Maty  soe  great 
a  Revenue,  should  bee  in  the  hands  of  any  particu- 
lar men.  The  town  of  itself  is  upon  a  barren  sandy 
spot  of  I.-and.  &  the  Inhabitants  live  wholly  upon 
Trade  with  the  Indians.  Ry  the  means  of  Mr. 
James  Graham,  Judge  (John)  Palmer  &  Mr.  (Ste- 
phanus  van)  Cortlandt  that  have  great  influence  on 
that  people.  I  got  the  Ranslaers  to  release  their 
pretence  to  the  Town  and  sixteen  miles  into  the 
Country  for  Common.s  to  the  King,  with  liberty  to 
cut  firewood  within  the  Colony  for  one  &  twenty 
years,  .^fter  I  had  obtained  this  release  of  the 
Ranslaers  I  passed  the  Patent  for  Albany,  wherein 
was  included  the  aforementioned  Pasture  to  which 
the  People  apprehended  they  had  so  good  a  right 
that  they  expressed  themselves  discontented  at  my 
reserving  a  small  spot  of  it  for  a  garden  for  the  use 
of  the  Garrison.  That  the  people  of  Albany  has 
given  mee  seven  hundred  pounds  is  untrue.  I  am 
but  promised  three  hundred  pounds  which  is  not 
near  my  Prquisits,  viz.  ten  shillings  for  every  house 
&  the  like  for  every  hundred  acres  patented  by 
mee." 


Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer,  the  fourth-  Patroon,. 
married  Maria  Van  Cortlandt,  in  New  York 
city,  October  15,  1 70 1.  She  was  born  on  her 
father's  extensive  estate,  the  Van  Cortlandt 
Manor,  near  Croton,  New  York,  April  4, 
1680.  She  wrote  her  name  "Maritje."  Her 
father  was  Stephanus  Van  Cortlandt  (born 
J\Iay  7,  1643:  died  Nov.  25,  1700),  son  of 
Olof  Stevense  Van  Cortlandt  and  Anneke 
Loockermans,  who  had  married,  September 
10,  1671,  Gertrude  Schuyler  (born  Feb.  4, 
1654:  died  after  October  7,  1719),  daughter 
of  Philip  Schuyler  and  Margareta  Van  Slech- 
tenhorst.  Maria  Van  Cortlandt,  when  Van 
Rensselaer's  widow,  married  Dominie  John 
Miller,  or  Mellen.  Children,  born  at  .Albany : 
I.  Maria,  bom  July  31,  1702;  married  Frederic 
\'an  Cortlandt.  2.  Gertrude,  born  October  4, 
1703;  died  May  9,  1705.  3.  Jeremias,  born 
March  18,  1705 ;  died  at  Albany,  and  was 
buried  May  8,  1745,  without  issue.  He  came 
of  legal  age  in  1726,  and  was  made  the  fifth 
Patroon,  or  third  Lord  of  the  Manor,  and 
represented  the  Manor  in  the  assembly  from 
September,  1726,  to  September,  1743.  In 
1734  he  visited  Canada  at  the  time  of  threat- 
ened rupture  between  France  and  England, 
the  Canadian  governor  reporting.  "Patroon, 
Lord  of  Albany,  in  company  with  another  in- 
fluential gentleman,  visited  us  under  pretense 
of  a  tour."  4.  Stephen,  born  March  17,  1707; 
died  at  Albany,  and  was  buried  at  "the  Mills" 
on  July  I,  1747:  was  sixth  Patroon;  married, 
July  5,  1729,  Elizabeth  Groesbeck  (see  for- 
ward). 5.  Johannes,  born  December  to,  1708; 
died  171 1,  without  issue.  6.  Daughter,  born 
August  28,  1710:  died  September  2,  1710.  7.. 
Johannes,  born  November  15,  1711 ;  died  De- 
cember 9,  1711.  8.  Jacobus  (James),  born 
March  29,  1713;  died  1713.  9.  Gertrude, 
born  October  i,  1714:  married  Adoniah 
Schuyler  (born  1717.  died  1763),  son  of 
Arent  Schuyler  and  Swantje  Dyckhuyse.  10. 
John  Baptist,  born,  January  29,  1717;  died' 
1763,  without  issue.  11.  Anna,  born  January 
I,  1719;  died  1791  :  married  John  Schuyler, 
son  of  Arent  Schuyler  and'  Swantje  Dyck- 
huyse. 

(IH)  Stephen  \'an  Rensselaer,  .son  of 
Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer  and  Maria  Van  Cort- 
landt, was  born  at  y\lbany.  New  York,  March 
17,  1707;  was  baptized  j\Iarch  23rd  by  Dom- 
inie Lydius,  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church, 
with  General  Philip  Schuyler,  godfather, 
Alaria  Van  Cortlandt  and  Elizabeth  Johanna 
Schuyler,  godmothers :  died  at  the  Manor 
House  in  .Mbany,  and  was  buried  "at  the 
mills''  on  July   i,  1747. 

He  was  the  sixth  Patroon,  and  known  as 
the   fourth   Lord  of  the   Manor.     His   elder 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


13 


iDrother,  Jeremias  \'an  Rensselaer,  had  been 
the  fifth  Patroon,  but  died  unmarried  in  1745, 
as  the  oldest  son  of  Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer. 
Stephen  therefore  succeeded  him  in  control. 
His  constitution  was  not  robust,  and  he  never 
took  a  very  active  part  in  public  affairs,  and 
•only  two  y^ears  after  his  succession  died  at 
the  age  of  forty.  The  population  of  the  prov- 
ince of  New  York  at  that  time  was  61,589. 
Colonel  William  Johnson  was  at  that  period 
sending  bands  of  Indian  allies  into  Canada, 
for  in  September,  1746,  he  had  been  appointed 
"chief  manager  of  the  Indian  Wav  and  Col- 
onel over  all  die  Indians  by  their  own  appro- 
bation." The  savages  had  burned  the  farms 
at  Saratoga  (Schuylerville)  November  17, 
1745,  and  the  French  were  expected  to  move 
xipon  Albany  at  any  time. 

He  married,  at  Albany,  July  5,  1729,  Eliza- 
beth Groesbeck,  born  at  Albany,  baptized  Au- 
g'ust  17,  1707,  and  buried  December  31,  1756. 
Her  father  was  Stephanus  Groesbeck,  a 
trader,  (son  of  Claas  Jacobse  Groesbeck,  from 
Rotterdam  in  1662),  buried  July  17,  1744, 
who  married,  July  16,  1699,  Elizabeth  Lansing 
(born  1679),  daughter  of  Johannes  Lansing 
(born  in  Hassel  and  buried  at  Albany,  Feb. 
28,  1728)  and  Gertrude  Van  Schaick.  Chil- 
dren of  sixth'  Patroon  Stephen  Van  Rens- 
selaer and  Elizabeth  Groesbeck:  i.  Kiliaen, 
born  at  Albany,  baptized  December  8,  1730: 
died  1730,  without  issue.  2.  Maria,  baptized 
August  13,  1732;  died  1734,  without  issue.  3. 
Elizabeth,  baptized  July  12,  1734;  married,  at 
Albany,  November  i,  1763,  General  Abraham 
Ten  Rroeck  (son  of  Mayor  Dirck  Ten  Broeck 
and  Margarita  Cuyler),  who  was  mayor  of 
Albany  from  April  9,  1779.  to  June  26,  1783, 
and  from  October  15,  1796,  to  December  31, 
1798;  born  at  Albany,  May  13,  1734,  and  died 
there,  January  19.  1810.  4.  Kiliaen,  baptized 
April  17,  1737;  died  without  issue.  5.  Maria, 
baptized  August  19,  1739;  died  without  issue. 
6.  Stephen,  seventh  Patroon,  born  at  Rens- 
selaerswyck,  was  baptized  June  2,  1742,  died 
at  Albany,  October  19,  1769;  married,  in  New 
York  city,  January  23,  1764,  Catherine  Liv- 
ingston (see  forward).  7.  Kiliaen,  born 
1743;  died  without  issue. 

(IV)  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  son  of 
Stephen  \'an  Rensselaer  and  Elizabeth  Groes- 
beck, was  born  at  Rensselaerswyck,  baptized 
June  2,  1742,  and  died  at  Watervliet,  Albany" 
county,  October  19,  1769.  He  was  the  sev- 
enth Patroon.  His  father  had  died  when  he 
was  only  five  years  old  and  the  estate  had 
to  be  managed  for  him.  At  about  that  time 
(in  1749)  the  population  of  Albany  county 
was  10,634,  and  of  the  colony  of  New  York 
73,348.     The   boundary   between    New    York 


and  Massachusetts  was  in  dispute  in  1752,  as 
the  manors  of  Hendrick  \'an  Rensselaer  and 
Robert  Livingston,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
Hudson,  were  being  encroached  upon.  In 
1753  tlic  Albany  council  petitioned  Governor 
Clinton  to  levy  a  tax  on  the  province  in  order 
to  raise  $30,000  to  erect  a  stone  wall  about 
the  city,  claiming  it  required  such  defense  as 
a  frontier  town.  The  various  provinces  sent 
commissioners  to  the  colonial  congress  held 
in  Albany,  June,  1754,  and  1755  marked  the 
great  conflict  with  the  French,  with  serious 
engagements  along  Lakes  Champlain  and 
(ieorge,  which  were  of  vital  concern  to  Al- 
bany. On  September  17,  1755,  General  Philip 
Schuyler  married  Catherine  \'an  Rensselaer, 
only  daughter  of  Colonel  John  Van  Rens- 
selaer, of  the  Claverack  Manor,  and  grand- 
daughter of  the  original  owner  of  the  vast 
tract  on  the  east  side  after  the  first  division 
of  the  Van  Rensselaer  patent.  In  1756  the 
population  of  Albany  county  had  risen  to  17,- 
524,  and  The  Schuyler  Flatts  were  burned 
that  year.  So  serious  was  the  Massachusetts 
boundary  dispute  in  July,  1757,  that  offers 
were  made  to  take  Hendrick  Van  Rensselaer 
dead  or  alive.  Troops  assembled  here  in  great 
numbers  under  General  James  Abercrombie, 
in  1758,  and  following  the  death  of  Lord 
Howe,  at  Ticonderoga.  July  6th,  his  body  was 
brought  here  for  burial  in  St.  Peter's  Church. 
The  \'an  Rensselaer  Manor  House,  or  the 
"Patroon"s,"  as  it  was  more  commonly  called, 
was  built  by  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer  in  1765. 
At  the  time  of  its  erection  it  was  unquestion- 
ably the  handsomest  house  in  the  colonies, 
and  as  such  exerted  a  wide  influence  over  the 
arcliitecture  of  the  more  ambitious  dwellings. 
One  or  two,  possibly  three,  other  edifices,  had 
been  used  by  the  head  of  the  family  before 
this,  and  likewise  styled  the  Manor  House ; 
but  they  were  poor  affairs  compared  with 
this  one  or  with  the  average  residence  of 
these  days  in  a  country  village.  The  original 
house  was  built  of  brick  of  unusual  size  (9  x 
4  1-4  X  2  inches)  and  it  was  painted  in  the 
colonial  colors,  cream  and  white.  A  short 
flight  of  steps  led  up  to  the  Dutch  "stoop,"  a 
small  porch  whose  roof  was  upheld  by  two 
Doric  columns,  above  which,  in  the  second 
story,  was  the  great  Palladian  window.  The 
house  was  flanked  at  either  end  with  octa- 
gonal wings  one  story  in  height.  The  walls 
were  of  unusual  solidity,  and  the  entire  con- 
struction was  the  heaviest.  The  floor  beams 
were  of  hewn  pine,  ranging  from  3  x  12  to  9  x 
1 1  inches.  All  alx>ut  it  were  gardens  and 
lawns,  surrounded  by  enormous  elms,  and  the 
gradual  slope  towards  the  Hudson  river  was 
beautified  for  acres  with  floral  eft'ects,   foun- 


14 


HUDSOX   AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


tain  and  statuary.  Located  one  mile  north  of 
State  street,  it  stood  directly  at  the  head  of 
Broadway,  which  made  a  turn  to  the  west  in 
order  to  continue  northward  as  the  Troy  road. 
Patroon's  creek  was  the  southern  demarcation 
of  the  property,  spanned  by  a  massive  brown- 
stone  bridge,  and  at  its  edge  stood  the  lodge 
where  the  keeper  lived.  It  was  to  this  hand- 
some home  that  Stephen  \^an  Rensselaer 
brought  his  bride,  Catherine  Livingston ;  but 
he  enjoyed  it  only  a  brief  spell,  for  within  six 
years  of  his  marriage  he  died. 

Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  the  seventh  Pa- 
troon,  married,  in  New  York  City,  January 
23,  1764,  Catherine  Livingston,  born  August 
25,  1745,  died  April  17,  1810.  Her  father 
was  Philip  Livingston,  signer  of  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence  for  New  York  state ; 
born  January  15,  1716;  died  at  York,  Penn- 
sylvania, June  12,  1778;  who  married,  April 
14,  1740,  Christina  Ten  Broeck,  born  Decem- 
ber 30,  1718;  died  June  29,  1801.  When  a 
widow,  following  the  death  of  her  husband, 
October  ig,  1769,  Mrs.  \'an  Rensselaer  mar- 
ried, at  Albany,  July  19,  1775,  Dominie  Eilar- 
dus  Westerlo,  pastor  of  the  Dutch  Reformed 
Church  in  Albany,  who  was  born  in  Groenin- 
gen,  came  to  Albany  in  1760.  and  died  in 
Albany,  December  26,  1790;  by  whom  she 
had  Rensselaer  Westerlo,  born  in  the  Manor 
House,  May  6,  1776,  died  April  18,  1851, 
married.  May  5,  1805,  Jane  Lansing,  daugh- 
ter of  Chancellor  John  Lansing ;  and  a  daugh- 
ter, Catherine,  born  in.  the  Manor  House, 
August  23,  1778,  died  at  Albany,  September 
27.    1846,  married  Judge  John  Woodworth. 

Children  of  seventh  Patroon  Stephen  Van 
Rensselaer  and  Catherine  Livingston: 

1.  Stephen,  born  in  New  York  City,  No- 
vember I,  1764;  married  (first)  Margaret 
Schuyler,  at  Schuylerville,  New  York,  June  6, 
1783;  (second)  Cornelia  Paterson,  at  New 
Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  May  17,  1802.  Died 
at  Albany.  January  26,  1839.     (See  forward). 

2.  Philip  Schuyler,  born  at  the  Manor 
House.  Albany,  April  15,  1766;  died  at  No. 
85  State  street,  Albany,  September  25.  1824; 
was  thirty-second  mayor  of  Albany,  officiating 
the  longest  of  any  maj-or,  January  i.  1799  to 
July  7,  1816,  and  July-  3,  18 19  to  February 
18,  1821,  and  was  president  of  the  Bank  of 
Albany:  married,  1787,  Anne  de  Peyster  Van 
Cortlandt,  born,  1766,  died  January  10,  1855, 
and  was  daughter  of  General  Philip  Van 
Cortlandt  and  Catherine  De  Peyster :  no  issue. 

3.  Elizabeth,  born  at  the  Manor  House  in 
Albany,  August  15,  1768;  died  in  Albany, 
March  27.  1841  ;  married  in  Albany,  Septem- 
ber 18,  1787,  John  Bradstreet  Schuyler,  born 
in  Albany,   and  was  baptized   July  23,    1765, 


died  at  Saratoga  (Schuylerville),  August  19^ 
1795,  son  of  General  Philip  Schuyler  and 
Catherine  Van  Rensselaer,  by  whom  she  had! 
two  sons — Philip,  born  in  Albany,  October  26^ 
1788,  married  Grace  Hunter,  and  Stephen 
Van  Rensselaer,  born  May  4,  1790,  died' 
young.  After  the  death  of  John  B.  Schuyler, 
Elizabeth,  his  widow,  married  John  Bleecker, 
in  1800,  by  whom  she  had  one  daughter,  who- 
married  Cornelius  Glen  \'an  Rensselaer,, 
and  several  sons,  who  died  unmarried,  among 
them  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer  Bleecker, 
born  January  5,  1803;  died  April  16,  1827. 

(V)  General  Stephen  \'an  Rensselaer,  the- 
eighth  Patroon,  son  of  Stephen  Van  Rens- 
selaer and  Catherine  Livingston,  was  born  in 
the  house  of  his  grandfather.  Philip  Living- 
ston, the  Signer,  in  New  York  City,  Novem- 
ber I,  1764,  and  died  in  the  Manor  House  at 
Albany,  New  York,  January  26,  1839. 

The  new  Manor  House  of  the  Patroon  was 
not  completed  until  he  was  one  year  old,  in 
1765,  and  his  father  brought  him  and  his 
mother  there  so  soon  as  it  was  ready.  His 
father  died  October  19,  1769,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-seven,  when  the  son  was  less  than  six 
years  old,  so  the  care  of  the  great  landed  and 
feudal  estate,  which  had  fallen  exclusively  tcv 
him  by  the  rule  of  primogeniture,  was  com- 
mitted to  his  uncle.  General  Abraham  Terr 
Broeck.  It  was  managed  by  him  with  rare 
ability  throughout  the  minority  of  his  ward, 
despite  the  disturbed  condition  of  affairs  dur- 
ing the  Revolutionary  period,  when  Albany 
was  the  scene  of  serious  preparation  for  war 
in  collecting  men  and  sujiplies  for  the  great 
conflict  at  Bemis  Heights  and  old  Saratoga, 
or  Schuylerville.  General  Ten  Broeck  was  a 
participant  in  this  military  movenient  to  the 
north,  and  was  the  twenty-eighth  mayor  of 
Albany,  officiating  from  April  9,  1779,  to 
June  26,  1783.  and  a  second  term  from  Oc- 
tober 15,  1796,  to  December  31,  1798.  He 
had  married  Elizabeth  Van  Rensselaer,  daugh- 
ter of  Patroon  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer  and 
Elizabeth  Groesbeck,  November  i,  1763. 
Under  his  direction  the  Manor  House  was 
erected. 

Stephen  was  given  his  earliest  education 
at  Albany  by  John  Waters,  who  was  what 
was  then  known  as  a  professional  schoolmas- 
ter, and.  being  before  the  days  of  printed 
spelling-books,  he  was  taught  from  a  horn- 
book. A  little  later,  his  grandfather,  Philip 
Livingston,  took  charge  of  his  education,  plac- 
ing him  at  a  school  in  Elizabethtown.  New 
Jersey ;  but  the  troublous  times  of  the  Revolu- 
tion drove  Livingston  with  his  family  from 
his  home  in  New  York  City,  and  they  took 
refuge   in    Kingston.     Fortunately   he   estab- 


HUDSON   AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


15 


lished  a  classical  academy  there  under  John 
Addison,  a  fine  Scotchman  possessing  thor- 
ough scholarship  and  who  was  later  a  state 
senator.  It  then  became  necessary  to  supply 
the  young  man  with  an  advanced  education, 
and  he  was  sent  to  Princeton,  when  the  cele- 
brated Dr.  Witherspoon,  scholar,  divine  and 
patriot,  was  president.  Witherspoon  aban- 
doned education  for  the  pursuit  of  war,  was  a 
Signer  of  the  Declaration,  and  young  Van 
Rensselaer,  to  avoid  the  seat  of  war,  was  sent 
to  Cambridge,  where  he  became  a  Harvard 
graduate  in  1782.  In  1825  Yale  conferred 
upon  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws. 

The  year  following  his  graduation  in  1782, 
peace  had  been  restored  in  the  United  States, 
and  the  new  nation  firmly  established.  There 
was  no  occasion  for  the  young  man,  then 
nineteen  years  of  age,  to  fight.  Instead,  he 
turned  his  attention  to  matrimony,  and  mar- 
ried Margaret  Schuyler,  at  "Old"  Saratoga 
(Schuylerville),  New  York,  in  1783.  She 
W'as  third  daughter  of  General  Philip  Schuy- 
ler and  Catherine  Van  Rensselaer.  Her  next 
elder  sister,  Elizabeth,  had  married  Alexander 
Hamilton,  who  were  thus  the  uncle  and  aunt 
of  General  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer.  Mar- 
garet Schuyler  was  born  in  Albany,  and  bap- 
tized there  September  24,  1758,  and  she  died 
there  on  March  14,  1801.  Her  remains  re- 
pose in  the  center  of  the  Van  Rensselaer  lot 
in  the  Albany  Rural  Cemetery.  Her  father 
was  General  Philip  Schuyler,  commander  of 
the  Army  of  the  North  in  1777,  and  trusted 
friend  of  Washington,  who  was  born  in  Al- 
bany, November  11,  1733,  married  September 
17,  1755.  and  died  in  Albany,  November  18, 
1804.  Her  mother  was  Catherine  Van  Rens- 
selaer, born  in  The  Crailo,  Greenbush  (Rens- 
selaer, N.  Y.),  November  4,  1734,  died  in  the 
Schuyler  ]\Iansion,  Albany,  RIarch  7,  1803, 
and  was  daughter  of  Johannes  Van  Rens- 
selaer and  Engeltie  (.Angelica)  Livingston, 
the  latter  being  the  daughter  of  Robert  Liv- 
ingston, Jun.,  twelfth  mayor  of  Albany.  John 
Van  Rensselaer  became  heir  of  the  Claverack 
patent  when  his  father,  Hendrick,  died  July 
2,  1740.  and  was  thus  the  owner  of  "The 
Crailo"  in  Greenbusli,  called  Rensselaer  later. 
It  will  be  remembered  that  Hendrick  Van 
Rensselaer  was  a  brother  of  the  last  Patroon 
by  the  name  of  Kiliaen — in  other  words,  the 
younger  brother  of  Stephen's  great-grand- 
father. Hendrick  was  born  in  1667,  died  in 
1689,  and  had  married  Catharina  Van  Brough 
(or  Verbrugge),  whose  share  in  the  property 
left  by  their  father,  Jeremias,  was  the  Claver- 
ack property. 

At  this  time  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer's 
mother   was   the    wife    of    Dominie    Eilardus 


Westerlo,  whom  she  had  married  in  Albany, 
July  19,  1775,  and  they  were  residing  in  the 
Manor  House,  which  she  had  a  right  to  do  as 
the  Patroon's  widow.  He  was  an  original' 
Dutchman,  born  in  Groeningen,  known  widely 
as  a  fine  scholar,  an  eminent  divine,  and  as- 
the  pastor  for  a  long  period  of  the  Dutch  Re- 
formed Church  in  Albany,  preaching  in  the- 
Dutch  language  for  the  first  fifteen  or  twenty 
years  of  his  charge.  As  Dominie  Westerlo- 
and  his  wife,  the  mother  of  Stephen,  were 
occupying  the  Manor  House,  consequently  the 
young  man  brought  his  bride  to  tlie  mansion 
at  the  southeast  corner  of  North  Market  street 
(Broadway)  and  North  Ferry  street,  which 
had  served  as  an  ample  parsonage.  When,, 
however,  Stephen  reached  his  majority.  Dr. 
Westerlo  and  his  wife  exchanged  residences 
with  the  young  Patroon  and  his  bride,  the- 
latter  couple  leaving  the  parsonage  to  occupy 
the  Manor  House.  The  day  of  his  attaining 
his  majority  was  made  one  of  great  celebra- 
tion, and  from  miles  around  the  tenantry  and 
the  social  set  of  the  city  flocked  to  participate 
in  his  hospitality. 

Mr.  Van  Rensselaer  found  it  necessary  to 
look  critically  after  the  interests  of  his  Manor, 
for  in  order  to  secure  good  returns  it  was 
essential  that  the  lands  should  be  cultivated, 
and  while  speculators  would  buy  lands,  the 
farmers,  or  laborious  tillers  of  the  soil,  were 
unwilling  to  contract  for  the  fee.  By  offering 
leases  in  fee  or  for  long  terms  at  a  moder- 
ate rental,  he  readily  succeeded  in  bringing  a 
large  proportion  of  his  lands,  comprising  the 
greater  portion  of  the  counties  of  Albany  and 
Rensselaer,  into  cultivation,  thus  acquiring  a 
goodly  income,  \ct  those  who  knew  him  have 
said  "he  had  none  of  that  morbid  appetite  for 
wealth  which  grows  ravenous  by  what  it  feeds 
on." 

He  received  his  first  military  commission^. 
as  a  major  of  infantry,  in  1786,  when  twenty- 
two  years  old,  and  two  years  later  was  pro- 
moted to  colonel  and  given  command  of  a 
regiment.  In  1801,  Governor  John  Jay  di- 
rected the  cavalry  of  New  York  to  be  divided 
from  the  infantry,  and  the  cavalry  formed  a 
single  division,  with  two  brigades,  and  the 
command  of  the  whole  was  conferred  upon 
Stephen  Van  Rensselaer.  He  bore  the  com- 
mission of  major-general  of  cavalry  to  his 
death. 

In  1787,  he  took  an  important  step  in  his 
career  as  a  man  of  character,  when  twenty- 
three  years  of  age  and  on  the  threshold  of  a 
life  which  might  have  been  one  pampered 
with  wanton  and  luxurious  excesses,  he  de- 
liberately chose,  by  a  formal  profession  of 
religious  faith  and  a  personal  vow  of  religi- 


i6 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


■ous  obedience,  according  to  the  doctrines  and 
discipline  of  the  Christian  cliurch  as  adopted 
by  the  Dutch  reformers,  to  pledge  himself  to 
a  life  of  temperance,  simplicity,  truth  and 
purity.  How  well  he  kept  his  vow  is  known 
to  all  who  are  intimately  acquainted  with  the 
manner  of  his  life,  for  his  domestic  relations 
were  the  most  tender,  and  his  character  before 
the  world  harmonious  and  beautiful,  as  well 
.as  replete  with  deeds  of  public  service. 

Towards  the  close  of  1787,  the  convention 
sitting  in  Philadelphia  to  frame  a  constitution, 
terminated  its  labors  and  submitted  its  work 
for  the  judgment  of  the  people.  Air.  Van 
Rensselaer  took  ground  promptly,  and  was 
pronouncedly  in  favor  of  the  constitution.  The 
next  spring  delegates  to  the  state  convention 
were  to  be  chosen  from  Albany  county,  and 
both  Yates  and  Lansing,  who  had  left  the 
Philadelphia  convention  before  its  labors  were 
completed,  were  residents  of  the  same  county 
and  held  great  power  as  anti-Federalists.  It 
was  to  be  expected  that  their  views  would 
prevail,  yet  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer,  urged  by  his 
party  to  uphold  their  moral  force  in  the  con- 
troversy, consented  to  stand  as  a  candidate 
for  the  assembly,  and  despite  his  popularity 
was  beaten.  In  the  spring  of  the  next  year, 
1789,  however,  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer  was  again 
a  candidate,  and,  with  the  previous  question 
settled,  was  elected  by  an  enormous  majority. 
In  the  spring  of  1790  he  was  elected  to  the 
state  senate,  and  was  re-elected,  serving  con- 
tinuously until  1795,  as  a  faithful,  vigilant 
and  influential  member.  On  standing  com- 
mittees, of  which  there  were  few  then,  he 
was  always  an  important  member.  At  the 
next  gubernatorial  election,  1795,  he  was 
chosen  lieutenant-governor,  with  Hon.  John 
Jay  as  executive,  Messrs.  Yates  and  Floyd 
heading  the  opposition  ticket.  In  1798  both 
were  renominated  and  elected  by  handsome 
majorities.  This  time  Chancellor  Livingston 
was  .Mr.  Jay's  opjxjnent,  while  Mr.  \'an  Rens- 
selaer was  the  candidate  of  both  Federalists 
and  the  antis,  so  universally  popular  had  he 
become.  .At  the  same  time,  the  plan  was  to 
attract  votes  for  Livingston  away  from  Jay. 
In  January,  1801,  a  convention  was  held  at 
the  Tontine  Coffee  House  in  .Albany,  and  Mr. 
Van  Rensselaer  was  unanimously  named  the 
candidate  for  governor.  His  nomination  was 
enthusiastically  seconded  in  New  York  City 
and  at  public  meetings  all  over  the  state.  His 
purity,  reliable  judgment  and  competent  ac- 
quaintance with  interests  and  business  of  the 
state  commended  him ;  but  the  parties  were 
at  such  great  odds,  the  rancor  so  fearful,  that 
it  poisoned  even  whole  families  with  hatred 
•one  for  another.    De  Witt  Clinton  was  named 


as  his  opponent.  He  was  also  deservedly  pop- 
ular and  a  man  of  great  energy  in  affairs  of 
moment.  In  the  midst  of  the  state  campaign 
announcement  of  the  election  of  Thomas  Jef- 
ferson was  announced.  It  helped  in  large 
measure  to  turn  the  tide,  and  Mr.  Van  Rens- 
selaer was  defeated  by  a  majority  of  less  than 
four  thousand   votes. 

In  October,  1801,  a  state  convention  met 
at  Albany  to  revise  the  constitution,  and  Mr. 
\'an  Rensselaer  was  a  member,  presiding  dur- 
ing much  of  the  deliberations  as  chairman, 
although  Aaron  Burr  was  its  president.  In 
1807  he  was  elected  to  the  assembly,  with 
his  friend,  Abraham  \'an  Vechten,  as  col- 
league. In  March,  1810,  a  commission  was 
chosen  by  the  legislature,  consisting  of  seven 
persons — Gouverneur  Morris,  DeWitt  Clinton 
and  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer  among  the  more 
important — for  exploring  a  route  for  a  pro- 
posed western  canal.  In  the  summer  of  that 
year,  accompanied  by  a  surveyor,  he  traveled 
by  horseback  inspecting  a  route  for  the  pro- 
jected undertaking  which  resulted  in  the  Erie 
canal,  and  they  gave  their  findings  in  Febru- 
ary. 181 1.  With  all  his  enormous  energy  he 
advocated  the  measure  in  the  assembly,  thus 
giving  the  plan  an  impetus  very  needful  be- 
cause of  considerable  opposition. 

War  against  Great  Britain  was  declared  in 
June,  1812.  This  was  another  crisis  in  his 
life.  A  requisition  was  made  on  Governor 
Tompkins,  of  New  York,  and  the  patriotic 
governor  promptly  obeyed,  selecting  Major- 
General  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer  for  the  com- 
mand. They  were  then  regarded  as  rival  can- 
didates for  the  chief  magistracy.  The  lines 
of  party  were  distinctly  drawn,  and  the  Fed- 
eralists were  charged  with  lieing  hostile  to  the 
war  as  being  premature  and  unnecessary. 
General  \'an  Rensselaer  was  a  Federalist. 
The  appointment  placed  him  in  a  position  of 
embarrassment,  for,  should  he  decline,  it 
would  tell  against  his  party,  and.  on  the  other 
hand,  he  was  expected  to  defend  both  the 
northern  and  western  frontier,  with  no  ex- 
perience in  warfare  and  dealing  with  decided- 
ly impracticable  material  in  the  make-up  of 
fighters.  He  did  not  hesitate  an  instant,  but 
accepted  the  service.  His  country  had  sum- 
moned him  to  the  field,  and  he  was  ready.  He 
was  not  a  loiterer,  for  in  an  incredibly  short 
time  he  had  thrown  off  the  citizen  surrounded 
by  political  advisers,  and  had  formed  his  mili- 
tary family.  In  ten  days  he  arrived  at  Og- 
densburgh.  having  inspected  Sackett's  Har- 
bor on  the  way.  On  August  13th  he  was  in 
camp  at  Lewiston,  just  one  month  from  his 
call,  and  just  two  months  later,  on  October 
13th,  he  was  engaged  in  one  of  the  most  gal- 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


17 


lant  and  brilliant  affairs  of  the  whole  war. 
He  carried  his  American  arms  into  the  ene- 
my's territory,  and  planted  the  flag'  of  the 
LTnited  States  triumphantly  on  the  Heights  of 
Oueenstown.  Althougli  gaining  a  complete 
victory,  unfortunately  it  was  of  brief  dura- 
tion, on  account  of  the  deflection  of  his  troops. 
Had  they  remained  by  him,  he  could  have  re- 
tained the  peninsula  of  the  upper  province  of 
Canada  for  the  winter,  for  it  was  originally 
planned  that  Fort  George  should  also  be 
stormed  by  regular  troops.  Very  valuable  to 
him  had  been  the  services  of  his  aide,  Colonel 
Solomon  \'an  Rensselaer,  who  was  wounded 
a  number  of  times  when  in  the  thickest  of  the 
fight.  By  the  shameful  refusal  of  his  yeoman 
soldiery,  under  the  plea  of  constitutional  scru- 
ples, to  march  into  the  camp  which  had  been 
won  for  them,  he  should  have  felt  wroth ;  but 
he  reported  it  .as  an  unvarnished  relation  of 
facts,  telling  the  truth  plainly,  but  without 
complaints  or  reproaches,  for  he  had  done  his 
full  duty.  The  British  had  lost  their  General 
Brock  by  the  engagement,  and  during  the 
■cessation  of  hostilities  agreed  upon  for  six 
days,  both  sides  proceeded  to  humanitarian 
duties  of  burying  the  dead  and  caring  for  the 
wounded.  General  ^^an  Rensselaer  informed 
his  antagonist  that  he  should  order  a  salute 
to  be  fired  at  his  camp  and  also  at  Fort  Ni- 
agara on  the  occasion  of  the  funeral  solemni- 
ties of  the  brave  and  lamented  Brock,  to 
■which  the  stern  General  Sheaffe  replied :  "I 
feel  too  strongly  the  generous  tribute  which 
you  propose  to  pay  for  my  departed  friend 
and  chief,  to  be  able  to  express  the  sense  I 
entertain  of  it." 

(General  \'an  Rensselaer  entered  the  guber- 
natorial campaign  against  Daniel  D.  Tomp- 
kins in  the  spring  of  1813,  but  his  party  was 
in  the  minority,  even  though  giving  him  a 
united  support,  and  he  was  defeated  in  the 
state  by  3,600  votes  out  of  the  83.000  cast  in 
the  election.  In  1816  he  was  again  elected  to 
the  assembly,  and  in  March  the  canal  com- 
missioners, with  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer  at  their 
head  and  acting  as  chairman,  presented  their 
report  to  the  legislature,  requesting  that  body 
to  adopt  immediate  measures  for  prosecuting 
the  enterprise.  In  April  this  great  work  was 
authorized,  the  management  committed  to  a 
hoard  of  canal  commissioners,  with  General 
Van  Rensselaer  as  a  member.  He  was  presi- 
dent of  that  board  for  fifteen  years,  succeed- 
ing DeWitt  Clinton  in  April,  1824,  and  serv- 
ing until  his  death  in   1839. 

In  1819  the  legislature  was  induced  to  pass 
an  act  for  the  encouragement  and  improve- 
ment of  agriculture,  appropriating  money  to 
he  divided  ratablv  among  the  counties,  which 


were  to  form  county  societies,  with  presidents, 
who  should  form  a  central  board.  The  dele- 
gates from  twenty-six  county  societies  met  at 
the  Capitol  in  January.  1820,  and  elected  Gen- 
eral Van  Rensselaer  president.  In  1819  he 
was  elected  regent  of  the  University  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  and  was  subsequently  the 
chancellor  until  his  death. 

In  December.  1823,  General  Van  Rensselaer 
took  his  seat  in  congress  for  the  first  time, 
and  was  continued  in  his  place  by  re-election 
for  three  successive  terms,  retiring  on  March 
4.  1829.  He  held  the  position  of  chairman 
of  the  committee  on  agriculture.  His  report 
on  tariff  laws  affecting  agriculture,  made  in 
March,  1824,  was  a  valuable  one.  His  ballot 
on  the  presidency,  in  February,  1825,  deter- 
mined the  vote  of  his  state's  delegation  in 
favor  of  Mr.  Adams. 

On  May  5,  1824,  the  Albany  Institute  was 
organized  for  the  purpose  of  engaging  in 
fields  of  observation  of  the  natural  sciences, 
for  study  of  new  theories  and  discoveries,  and 
the  preparation  of  learned  papers.  General 
\'an  Rensselaer  was  elected  its  first  president, 
having  the  local  prestige  of  being  the  presi- 
dent of  the  Albany  Lyceum  of  Natural  His- 
tory. This  society  elected  him  annually 
through  fifteen  years,  until  his  death.  He 
perceived  the  advantage  of  placing  knowledge 
before  the  people,  and  his  first  movement  was 
to  employ  Professor  Eaton,  with  several  com- 
petent assistants,  to  traverse  the  state  near 
the  route  of  the  Erie  canal,  taking  apparatus 
and  specimens  to  aid  the  delivery  of  lectures 
before  business  men  and  farmers  in  all  the 
villages  along  the  line.  Tiiese  were  given  on 
chemistry,  natural  philosophy  and  various 
branches  of  natural  history,  and  were  given 
in  the  summer  of  1824  at  his  expense.  The 
experiment  was  a  success.  He  had  also  been 
accustomed  to  send  his  schoolmaster  among 
his  tenants  in  the  same  capacity,  and  this  led 
him,  on  November  5,  1824.  to  provide  a  suit- 
able building  in  Troy,  New  York,  for  the 
conduct  of  a  school  under  Rev.  Dr.  Blatch- 
ford,  to  whom  he  delivered  a  set  of  rules  for 
its  government.  He  endowed  it  with  pro- 
fessors, and  it  was  incorporated  in  1826  as 
the  Rensselaer  Institute.  Through  the  next 
two  years,  he  paid  one-half  of  its  current  ex- 
penses, and  at  his  death  he  endowed  it.  Not 
alone  did  he  institute  the  Rensselaer  Poly- 
technic, but  to  two  colleges  he  gave  $5,000 
each,  and  to  a  single  agent  for  the  prosecu- 
tion of  scientific  research  and  advancement  of 
education,  no  less  than  $30,000.  His  bene- 
factions were  not  only  most  liberal,  but  wisely 
devoted,  and  in  those  days  these  sums  were 
considered  fortunes  in  themselves. 


i8 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


He  was  connected  with  the  institution  of 
Masonry,  having  been  initiated  in  1786.  when 
twenty-two  years  old,  and  was  placed  in  official 
station,  becoming  successively  junior  and 
senior  warden,  and  then  master.  In  1793  he 
declined  further  election  in  Master's  Lodge, 
but  in  1825  was  installed  in  the  highest  office 
of  Masonry,  that  of  grand  master,  which  act 
was  conducted  by  Governor  DeWitt  Clinton. 

The  funeral  of  General  Van  Rensselaer  was 
a  most  impressive  one,  perhaps  more  so  than 
any  other  at  Albany  before  or  afterwards. 
The  religious  service  was  held  at  the  North 
Dutch  Church,  and  the  body,  in  a  simple, 
unadorned  casket,  was  borne  nearly  a  mile  to 
the  family  vault,  upon  men's  shoulders,  the 
bearers  frequently  relieving  each  other,  for 
no  hearse  was  permitted  to  receive  the  hal- 
lowed burthen.  The  mourners,  composed  of 
the  family,  civic  officials.  Masonic  bodies, 
school  societies,  the  chief  magistrate  and  other 
executive  officers  of  the  state,  members  of 
the  legislature,  all  on  foot,  not  a  carriage 
being  in  use.  The  military  were  in  citizens' 
dress ;  all  badges  of  office  were  laid  aside ; 
no  plumes  nodded ;  no  helmets  glistened ;  no 
music  murmured — solemn,  slow  and  silent  the 
vast  throng  moved  through  the  highway  to 
the  north. 

It  is  of  interest  to  note  the  manner  in  which 
in  those  days  the  intelligence  of  his  death  was 
sent  to  New  York  City,  where  he  was  well 
known,  and  it  being  necessary  to  transmit 
the  news  because  of  his  prominence  in  the 
state's  public  life.  It  is  recorded  in  Mun- 
sell's  "Notes  from  the  Newspapers,"  as  an 
item  of  news  on  that  day,  January  26,  1839 : 

".\n  e.xpress  was  started  by  Messrs.  Baker  & 
Walker,  to  carrj'  the  intelligence  of  the  Patroon's 
death  to  Kew  York.  A  Mr.  Dimmick  left  Albany  14 
minutes  before  6  p.  m.  in  a  sulkey.  At  Redhook,  he 
found  a  bridge  gone,  but  mounted  his  horse  and 
swam  the  stream,  drawing  the  sulkey  after  him.  .^t 
Fishkill,  the  obstruction  was  much  more  formidable. 
The  bridge  was  gone,  and  the  road  for  more  than 
half  a  mile  inundated.  He  again  mounted  his  horse, 
who  pushed  gallantly  into  the  flood  and  swam,  with 
his  rider  and  sulkey,  over  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  bring- 
ing both  safely  to  the  opposite  shore.  Notwith- 
standing these  and  other  obstructions  the  express 
arrived  at  the  Carlton  House  at  20  minutes  past  8 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  having  rode  over  the  distance 
of  about   150  miles  in  14  h.  31  m." 

General  Stephen  \'an  Rensselaer,  the  eighth 
Patroon.  married  Margaret  Schuyler,  daugh- 
ter of  General  Philip  Schuyler  and  Catherine 
V'an  Rensselaer,  at  Schuylerville.  New  York, 
June  6,  1783:  and  married  (second)  Cornelia 
Patcrson,  at  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  on 
May  17,  1802.  She  was  born  June  4.  1780, 
and  died  in  New  York  City,  August  6.  1844. 
Her  father  was  Chief  Justice  William  Pater- 


son,  a  resident  of  New  Brunswick,  New  Jer- 
sey, born  at  sea  December  24,  1745,  and  died 
September  9,  1806,  while  on  a  visit  at  the 
Manor  House  in  Albany.  He  was  U.  S. 
senator  in  1789;  in  1791  chosen  second  gov- 
ernor of  New  Jersey,  and  General  Washing- 
ton appointed  him  in  1793  a  justice  of  the 
U.  S.  supreme  court,  which  position  he  held 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  He  married  Cor- 
nelia Bell,  daughter  of  John  Bell,  in  1779. 
Three  children  were  the  result  of  the  first 
marriage,  and  nine  by  the  latter. 

Children  of  General  Stephen  \'an  Rensse- 
laer and  Margaret  Schuyler : 

1.  Catherine  Schuyler,  born  in  July,,  1784, 
baptized  August  9 ;  died  at  Albany,  April  26, 
1797,  without  issue. 

2.  Stephen,  born  at  Albany,  June  6,  1786; 
died  in  1787. 

3.  Stephen,  born  at  Albany,  March  29, 
1789 :  died  at  the  Manor  House,  Albany,  May 

25,  1868;  married,  in  New  York  City.  January 
2,  1817,  Harriet  Elizabeth  Bayard  (see  for- 
ward). 

Children  of  Gen.  Stephen  \'an  Rensselaer 
and  Cornelia  Paterson : 

4.  Catherine,  born  at  Albany,  October  17, 
1803 ;  died  in  New  York  City,  November, 
1874 ;  married,  1830,  Gouvemeur  Morris 
Wilkins. 

5.  William  Paterson.  born  at  Albany,  New 
York,  March  6,  1805 ;  died  at  New  York 
City.  November  13,  1872:  married  (first)  in 
New  York,  March.  1833.  Eliza  Rogers,  (born 
New  York,  1812,  died  in  Cuba.  March,  1836), 
by  whom  one  child:  married  (second),  at 
New  York  City,  April  4.  1839,  Sarah  Rogers 
(born  New  York.  October  29.  1810:  died  Rye, 
N.  Y..  Nov.  19,  1887).  daugliters  of  Benjamin 
Woolsey  Rogers  and  Susan  Bayard :  by  whom 
eight  children,  as  follows :  William  Paterson, 
born  in  New  York,  January,  1835.  died  in 
Rye,  New  York,  July,  1854:  Susan  Bayard, 
born  in  New  York,  January  31,  1840.  died  in 
Rye.  New  York.  July  19.  1863  :  Cornelia,  born 
in  Albany,  September  22.  1841.  married  John 
Erving  of  New  York,  April  22.  1862; 
Walter  Stephen,  born  in  Albany,  November 
2,  1843,  died  in  Rye,  New  York.  May  14, 
1865  ;  Captain  Kiliaen,  born  in  Albany.  Feb- 
ruary 14,  1845.  married  Olivia  Phelps 
Atterbury,  in  New  York.  Deceinber  13, 
1870:      died      in      New      'S'ork,      November 

26,  1905 ;  Sarah  Elizabeth,  born  in  New 
York,  January  18,  1847,  "^'^d  in  Rye.  New 
York,  June  29,  1859;  Arthur,  born  in  New 
York.  September  28,  1848.  died  in  New  York, 
March  4.  1869:  Catherine  Goodhue,  born  in 
Norwalk,  Connecticut,  1850,  married,  June  11, 
1891,  Rev.  Anson  Phelps  Atterbury ;  Eleanor 


Snte/i/ien  Van  ,yien66ela&K 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


19 


Cecilia,  born  in  Rye,  New  York,  November 
3,  1853,  married  at  Rye,  New  York,  June  i, 
1887,   Hamilton   R.   Fairfax. 

6.  Philip  Schuyler,  born  at  Albany,  October 
14,  1806;  died  June  i,  1871  ;  married,  October 
17,  1839,  Mary  Rebecca  Tallmadge,  born  May 
16,  1817,  died  August  3,  1872,  and  had:  James 
Tallmadge;  Philip,  died  in  1882;  Cornelia; 
Clinton  ;  Franklin  ;  Cortlandt. 

7.  Cortlandt,  born  at  Albany,  May  25,  1808 ; 
died  at  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  July  25,  i860; 
married,  September  13,  1836,  Catherine  Led- 
yard  Cogswell,  born  September  22,  181 1,  died 
December  24,  1882.  daughter  of  Mason  Fitch 
Cogswell.  M.  D.,  by  whom:  Philip  Livingston; 
Alice  (Hodge)  ;  Elizabeth  Wadsworth  (Byrd 
Grubb)  ;  Ledyard  Cogswell ;  Alexander. 

8.  Henry  Bell,  born  at  Albany,  May  10, 
1810;  died  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  March  23, 
1864;  married,  August  22,  1833,  Elizabeth 
Ray  King  (daughter  of  Governor  John  Alsop 
King  and  Mary  Ray),  born  August  17,  1815; 
by  whom:  Euphemia,  Elizabeth  (Wadding- 
ton),  John  King,  Katharine  (Delafield),  and 
Henry. 

9.  Cornelia  Paterson,  born  at  Albany.  July 
8,  1812;  married  Robert  Turnbull,  M.  D., 
February  16,  1847;  by  whom  Cornelia  Pater- 
son (Turnbull)  and  Catherine  Euphemia 
(Turnbull). 

10.  Alexander,  born  November  5,  1814; 
died,  1878:  married,  1851,  Mary  Howland ; 
(second),  1864,  Louisa  Barnewell,  and  had: 
Samuel  Howland,  Mary,  Louisa,  (Baylies), 
Mabel,  and  Alice. 

11.  Euphemia  White,  born  at  Albany,  Sep- 
tember 25,  1816:  died  May  27,  1888;  married, 
May  2,  1843,  John  Church  Cruger ;  by  whom 
Stephen  Van  Rensselaer  (Cruger),  Cornelia 
(Cruger),  and  Catherine   (Cruger). 

12.  Westerlo,  born  at  Albany,  March  14, 
1820:  died  at  Albany,  July  8,   1844. 

(VI)  General  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  son 
of  General  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  the  eighth 
Patroon,  and  Margaret  Schuyler,  was  born  in 
the  Manor  House  at  Albany,  New  York, 
March  29.  1789,  and  died  in  the  same  place. 
May  25,   1868. 

He  was  given  a  thorough  education,  and 
enjoyed  the  benefits  of  culture  acquired  by 
travel  abroad  and  by  continual  association 
with  people  of  refinement.  In  social  and  pub- 
lic life  he  was  greatly  respected,  and  in  his 
family  much  beloved. 

A  leading  event  in  his  life,  as  it  aflfected 
him  and  his  family,  was  the  anti-rent  feud. 
Anti-rentism  had  its  origin  in  Albany  county. 
Its  existence  dated  from  the  death  of  General 
Van  Rensselaer  in  1839,  the  last  holder  of 
the    Manor    of    Rensselaerswvck    under    the 


British  crown  and  its  regulations.  He  was 
known  to  that  generation  as  "the  Patroon," 
was  sometimes  styled  the  "good  Patroon," 
and  after  his  death  as  "the  old  Patroon." 
Primogeniture  was  the  law  of  inheritance  in 
England,  so  it  had  been  to  some  extent  in 
the  British  colonies,  and,  as  the  eldest  son, 
Stephen  Van  Rensselaer  had  inherited  the 
Manor.  But  the  Revolution  and  subsequent 
laws  changed  the  rule  of  inheritance,  giving 
alike  to  all  the  children  if  no  will  were  made. 
In  order  to  break  the  force  of  this  radical 
change,  and  so  as  to  continue  this  vast  landed 
interest  in  the  hands  of  his  two  eldest  sons, 
Stephen  and  William  Paterson  Van  Renssel- 
aer, General  Van  Rensselaer  (1764-1839),  on 
reaching  his  majority,  had  adopted  the  sys- 
tem of  selling  his  lands  in  fee,  reseii-ing  to 
himself  in  the  conveyances,  and  to  his  heirs 
and  assigns,  all  mines  and  minerals,  all  streams 
of  water  for  mill  purposes,  and  beyond  this, 
certain  old-time  feudal  returns,  denominated 
rents,  payable  annually  at  his  Manor  House, 
usually  specified  as  so  many  bushels  of  good, 
clean,  merchantable  winter  wheat,  four  fat 
fowl,  and  one  day's  service  with  carriage  and 
horses :  finally  the  reservation  or  exaction  of 
one-quarter  of  the  purchase  price  on  every 
vendition  of  the  land.  In  other  words,  one 
condition  alone  provided  an  income  to  him 
every  time  the  purchaser  of  land  should  resell 
it.  It  is  said  that  the  mind  of  Alexander 
Hamilton  conceived  and  framed  this  form  of 
lease  or  conveyance  for  Van  Rensselaer's  es- 
pecial benefit. 

Under  such  peculiar  conditions,  the  land  of 
the  Patroon  in  Albany  and  Rensselaer  coun- 
ties was  sold  to  innumerable  purchasers  for 
farms.  The  system  operated  successfully  dur- 
ing the  life  of  the  Patnx)n  ;  but  when  liis  son 
Stephen  (born  in  1789),  inherited  tlie  land 
by  his  father's  deatli  in  1839,  a  new  and  seri- 
ous trouble  arose.  The  first  purchasers  did 
not  object,  for  they  had  bought  with  the  defin- 
ite understanding  clearly  before  them :  but 
on  the  death  of  the  Patroon  and  also  of  the 
purchaser,  the  successors  of  the  latter,  as  new 
owners,  began  to  grow  restive  under  the  bur- 
dens imposed,  and  when  either  Stephen  or 
William  P.  Van  Rensselaer  pressed  for  pay- 
ments of  the  money  due  as  reserved  in  the 
deeds,  the  owners  of  the  land  began  to  ques- 
tion  the  legality  of  the  reservation. 

To  Stephen  \'an  Rensselaer  and  his  younger 
brother,  William  Paterson  Van  Rensselaer, 
the  Patroon,  General  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer, 
had  devised  by  his  will,  drawn  on  April  18, 
1837,  all  interest  in  the  lands  thus  sold  by  him 
in  fee,  with  the  reservations  of  rents — in  other 
words,  they  believed  that  they  owned  or  re- 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


tained  the  soil.  Stephen,  the  oldest  son,  was 
to  receive  the  rents  in  Albany  county,  and 
William  P.  Van  Rensselaer  those  in  Rens- 
selaer county.  The  rents  at  this  time  came 
in  more  sparingly  and  were  paid  more  re- 
luctantly than  they  had  been  to  the  father, 
who  had  been  noted  as  one  of  the  most  gentle, 
kind-hearted  and  benevolent  of  men,  often 
generously  reducing  the  rents  and  in  many 
ways  calling  forth  the  love  and  gratitude  of 
the  landholders.  The  only  course  open  for 
his  son  was  to  sue  in  the  courts,  and  it  was 
not  long  before  a  strong  hostility  developed. 
The  legal  contests  of  a  quarter  of  a  century 
might  have  been  avoided  if  the  lawyers  had 
perceived  that  the  deeds  of  the  Patroon,  being 
absolute  conveyances  of  all  interest  in  the 
lands,  the  reservations  were,  for  that  reason, 
invalid  as  incumbrances,  made  so  by  the  Eng- 
lish statute,  known  as  the  statute  of  quia 
emptores,  which  rendered  it  impossible  for  a 
British  subject,  on  a  conveyance  in  fee  of 
his  land,  to  make,  or  if  made,  to  enforce  by 
re-entry  or  forfeiture,  such  feudal  reserva- 
tions. That  was  a  right  remaining  in  and 
belonging  to  the  crown  alone.  It  is  probable 
that  Hamilton  assumed  that  that  statute  was 
never  in  force  in  the  colonies,  for  it  was 
adopted  hack  in  the  reign  of  Edward  L,  and 
later  lawyers  might  have  dismissed  the  con- 
sideration of  it  on  the  assumption  it  was  not 
the  law  of  either  colony  or  state. 

In  the  spring  of  1839  the  anti-renters  held 
their  preliminary  meeting,  numerously  at- 
tended by  all  the  fanners  living  in  the  Helder- 
berg  towns.  They  apixiinted  a  committee  to 
wait  on  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer  to  ascertain 
whether  a  compromise  might  not  be  effected. 
On  May  22  the  committee  visited  the  office  of 
Mr.  Van  Rensselaer,  but  he  refused  to  recog- 
nize them,  and  instructed  his  agent,  Douw  B. 
Lansing,  to  inform  them  that  he  would  com- 
municate in  writing.  He  did  so,  informing 
them  that  he  considered  it  would  be  an  in- 
justice to  himself  and  his  family  to  consent 
to  their  claims. 

From  that  time  on,  his  agents  had  much 
difficulty  in  collecting  rents,  and  frequently, 
when  attempting  to  do  so,  were  held  off  by 
shotguns.  In  December,  Sheriff  Archer  was 
obliged  to  call  to  his  aid.  in  serving  process, 
the  posse  comitatis,  or  power  of  the  county. 
Among  jirnminent  citizens  summoned  was  ex- 
Governor  William  L.  Marcy.  who  went  as  far 
as  Clarksville.  On  December  3rd  the  sheriff, 
with  his  posse,  numbering  six  hundred  citi- 
zens, started  from  Albany  for  Reidsville,  some 
sixteen  miles  from  the  city.  Arriving  within 
a  few  miles  of  the  place  where  the  disturb- 
ance was  expected,  he  selected  seventy-five  of 


the  stoutest-hearted  and  pushed  on  to  Reids- 
ville, where  it  was  understood  that  the  anti- 
renters  were  collected  in  force.  Before  reach- 
ing Reidsville  the  sheriff  and  his  posse  en- 
countered no  less  than  fifteen  hundred  men, 
mounted  upon  their  farm  horses,  posted 
across  the  highway,  who  absolutely  barred 
further  progress  and  ordered  the  smaller  body 
to  go  back.  The  sheriff  and  his  men  could 
but  comply,  and  gladly  marched  back  to  Al- 
bany, arriving  at  9  o'clock  that  night. 

The  next  morning  the  sheriff  presented  an 
exaggerated  account  of  what  had  transpired 
to  Governor  William  H.  Seward,  who  deemed 
it  his  duty  to  call  out  the  militia,  and  forth- 
with he  ordered  out  a  force  sufficient  to  cap- 
ture every  man,  woman  and  child  upon  the 
Helderbergs.  It  consisted  of  the  Albany  Bur- 
gesses' Corps,  Capt.  Bayeux ;  Albany  Union 
Guards,  Capt.  Brown ;  Albany  Republican  Ar- 
tillery, Capt.  Strain ;  First  Company  Van 
Rensselaer  Guards,  Capt.  Kearney :  Second 
Company  Van  Rensselaer  Guards,  Capt. 
Berry ;  Troy  Artillery,  Capt.  Howe ;  Troy 
Citizens'  Corps.  Capt.  Pierce,  and  Troy  City 
Guards,  Capt.  Wickes. 

Major  William  Bloodgood  was  in  command 
of  this  formidable  body  of  citizen-soldiery, 
and,  headed  by  Sheriff  Archer,  they  moved 
on  Reidsville,  the  morning  of  December  9, 
1839.  Its  march,  with  colors  flying,  drums 
beating  and  cannon  rumbling,  was  decidedly 
imposing.  It  found  no  enemy  to  attack.  Re- 
maining on  duty  in  camp  for  a  week,  it  re- 
turned sadly  bedraggled,  in  a  cold  rainstorm, 
somewhat  chagrined.  Under  proclamation  of 
subsequent  governors,  similar  demonstrations 
took  place,  all  the  time  the  landholders  hop- 
ing that  Mr.  \'an  Rensselaer  would  seek  a 
compromise.  Politicians  were  alive  to  bring 
the  landholders  into  line,  and  urged  the  press 
to  take  the  matter  up.  with  the  result  that 
The  Freeholder,  published  in  Albany,  became 
their  organ,  while  The  Whig,  or  the  paper 
opposed  to  the  Democratic  party,  secured  the 
greater  number  of  anti-renters.  After  many 
years  the  question  was  allowed  to  drop  from 
politics  and  the  courts  took  it  up.  The  court 
of  appeals  rendered  decisions  in  special  cases 
in  1852.  1859,  and  finally  in  1863,  after  which 
the  matter  rested.  Many  who  sought  to  risk 
their  fortunes  that  they  might  be  large  gain- 
ers, bought  the  claims  of  the  landholders,  and 
Walter  S.  Church  in  this  way  acquired  in- 
numerable pieces  of  property  and  was  in  liti- 
gation until  his  death. 

The  large  area  of  the  once  famous  "Lumber 
District"  extending  along  the  river  front  from 
North  Ferry  street,  northward  for  a  mile,  and 
real  estate  in  or  close  to  the  city,  were   not 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   \"ALLEYS 


encumbered  by  perpetual  leases,  and  remained 
as  a  source  of  income  for  members  of  the 
three  generations  following.  Among  the  pa- 
pers preserved  by  the  family  is  the  account- 
book  of  General  Abraham  Ten  Broeck,  the 
guardian  during  the  minority  of  Stephen,  and 
under  the  entry  of  a  "charge  for  beef  and 
liquor  consumed  in  a  dinner  to  the  tenantry 
on  this  your  glorious  twenty-first  birthday" 
is  a  brief  mention  of  a  transaction  which 
many  years  later  took  from  the  Van  Rens- 
selaers  many  of  their  acres.  On  that  day  the 
Patroon  sold  in  fee.  with  warranty  of  title, 
his  farming  lands  in  Albany  and  Rensselaer 
counties,  and  no  less  than  nine  hundred  farms 
of  150  acres  each,  or  more  than  207  square 
miles,  were  leased  on  that  day. 

On  June  3,  1843,  the  Manor  House  was 
opened  after  extensive  alterations  made  by 
Architect  Richard  Upjohn,  the  leading  archi- 
tect of  the  time,  whose  handiwork  may  be 
seen  in  Trinity  Church,  New  York.  The 
wings  had  been  torn  down,  the  whitestone  had 
been  removed  and  replaced  with  brown  New 
Jersey  sandstone,  and  the  great  wings  and 
porch  in  front  had  been  added.  The  new 
building  bore  no  resemblance  to  the  old,  even 
in  architectural  style.  The  brick  exterior  was 
now  concealed  behind  a  coating  of  sanded 
mastic,  and  the  new  stone-work  was  for  the 
most  part  of  a  strictly  classical  design ;  but 
in  gables  and  belt  courses  a  distinctly  Gothic 
tendency  prevailed.  The  building  was  rec- 
tangular in  plan,  with  the  great  hall,  24  feet 
broad,  extending  from  the  front  to  the  rear, 
some  46  feet.  On  either  side  of  front  and 
rear  doors  were  large  windows  with  deep 
window-seats.  The  walls  of  this  hall  were 
decorated  with  frescoes  which  in  their  day 
were  the  wonder  of  the  country.  These  were 
painted  upon  large  sheets  of  heavy  paper,  and 
were  executed  in  Holland  especially  for  the 
room,  and  put  on  the  walls  in  1768,  as  is 
shown  by  the  bill  which  is  preserved.  The 
center  of  the  west  wall  was  pierced  by  a  large, 
arched  doorway,  leading  to  the  stairs,  flanked 
by  Ionic  pilasters.  The  stairs  were  lighted 
by  a  semi-circular  window  at  the  landing,  dis- 
playing in  colors  the  family  coat-of-arms,  sim- 
ilar to  one  placed  in  the  Dutch  church  in 
1656. 

The  principal  adornments  in  the  main  hall 
were  two  alabaster  urns,  six  feet  tall  and 
handsomely  carved  with  acanthus  leaves,  in- 
tended to  hold  lights.  Two  large  equestrian 
statues  in  bronze  stood  in  the  central  line,  one 
of  them  depicting  Chevalier  Bayard,  there 
being  only  one  duplicate  in  existence.  To  the 
right  of  the  entrance  was  a  room  about  24 
feet  square,  the  guest  room  or  "Bridal  Cham- 


ber," as  sometimes  called,  and  beyond  it,  fur- 
ther to  the  east,  the  large  drawing  room,  orna- 
mented with  carved  wood,  statuary  in  marble 
and  bronze,  and  many  oil  paintings  upon  the 
walls.  To  the  rear  of  this  was  the  library. 
Correspondingly  were  placed  to  the  left  of  the 
entrance,  the  reception  room,  from  which  one 
entered,  further  to  the  west,  the  long  dining- 
room,  which  was  the  scene  of  brilliant  enter- 
tainments and  had  made  the  Manor  House  a 
noted  place  both  here  and  abroad,  for  the 
foreign  guests  received  at  the  Patroon's  board 
not  infrequently  returned  to  their  homes  with 
glowing  accounts  of  the  sumptuous  hospitality 
and  the  magnificence  of  the  family  plate. 

When  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer  died.  May 
25,  1868,  he  left  behind  him  an  enviable  re- 
putation for  the  sterling  virtues  which  had 
distinguished  the  line  from  which  he  had  de- 
scended. He  was  liberal  in  his  benefactions 
and  dispensed  wealth  freely  to  all  charitable 
objects  and  church.  On  his  death,  about  2,500 
acres  between  the  Troy  and  Shaker  roads, 
north  of  the  Manor  House  and  in  which  he 
had  a  life  estate,  reverted  to  his  half-brother, 
William  Paterson  Van  Rensselaer.  Surviving 
him  in  his  own  immediate  family,  besides  his 
widow,  were:  Margaret,  wife  of  Wilmot 
Johnson,  of  Chases,  Maryland:  Cornelia,  wife 
of  Nathaniel  Thayer,  of  Boston :  Catherine, 
widow  of  Nathaniel  Berry  of  Washington  and 
Paris ;  Justine,  widow  of  Dr,  Howard  Town- 
send,  then  residing  in  Albany;  Harriet,  wife 
of  Colonel  John  Schuyler  Crosby,  of  New 
York  City ;  Laura  Reynolds,  widow  of  Bayard 
Van  Rensselaer,  living  in  Albany ;  and  Eu- 
gene, who  had  married  Miss  Sarah  Pendleton. 

At  the  funeral,  held  in  the  old  North  Dutch 
Church  of  1799,  on  May  28th,  Rev.  Rufus 
W.  Clark  officiated,  assisted  by  Rev.  Dr.  Ken- 
nedy, of  Troy,  Rev.  Dr.  Vermilye  preaching 
the  sermon,  and  Rev.  Dr.  William  Buel 
Sprague  delivering  the  benediction.  The 
mourners  were  followed  by  the  physicians, 
wearing  white  linen  scarfs.  On  the  following 
Sunday,  Rev.  Dr.  Clark  preached  a  memorial 
discourse.  The  consistory  of  the  Dutch 
Church,  of  which  he  had  been  an  elder,  met 
the  day  following  his  deatli  and  voiced  this 
sentiment  regarding  their  senior  member : 
"We  bear,  with  profound  satisfaction,  our 
testimony  to  his  munificent  liberality  to  this 
church,  to  the  various  public  educational  insti- 
tutions, to  the  societies  for  the  extension  of 
the  Redeemer's  Kingdom,  and  to  every  de- 
partment of  Christian  charity." 

The  Board  of  Lumber  Dealers  met  on  the 
27th,  and  their  resolution  spoke  of  "our  land- 
lord and  friend.  General  Stephen  Van  Rens- 
selaer,   whose    intercourse   with   us   has   been 


HUDSON    AND    MOPIAWK    VALLEYS 


distinguished  by  fairness,  considerateness  and 
courtesy."  The  Albany  Institute,  of  which 
body  he  was  an  early,  most  efficient  patron 
and  supporter,  memorialized  his  "love  of  jus- 
tice and  regard  for  the  rights  of  others  were 
strong  by  nature  and  invigorated  by  constant 
exercise,  whose  respect  for  truth  and  detesta- 
tion of  deceit  were  always  deeply  felt."  The 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association  assembled 
on  the  29th  and  spoke  of  him  as  "our  vener- 
able and  honored  friend,  *  *  *  Jn  whom 
we  have  lost  a  personal  friend,  a  public  bene- 
factor, and  an  earnest  supporter  of  our  As- 
sociation." 

General  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer  and  Har- 
riet Elizabeth  Bayard  were  married  in  New 
York  City,  by  Bishop  Hobart,  of  the  Episco- 
pal church,  January  2,  1817.  She  was  born 
in  New  York  City,  February  12,  1799,  and 
died  in  the  Manor  ?Iouse  at  Albany,  June  19, 
1875.  She  was  the  daughter  of  William 
Bayard,  who  died  September  18,  1826 ;  who 
married,  October  4,  1783.  Elizabeth  Cornell, 
born  in  1764,  died  at  the  Manor  House,  Al- 
bany, January  17,  1854.  William  Bayard  was 
the  son  of  Colonel  William  Bayard  and  Cath- 
erine McEvers. 

Colonel  William  Bayard  was  a  prominent 
and  opulent  merchant  of  New  York  City, 
where  he  was  born  on  June  i,  1729,  and  died 
at  Southampton,  England,  in  1804.  He  re- 
sided at  Castle  Point,  Hoboken,  New  Jersey, 
and,  although  he  joined  the  Sons  of  Liberty, 
his  estate  was  confiscated  because  his  princi- 
ples would  not  permit  him  to  aid  the  move- 
ment for  independence.  He  was  a  direct  de- 
scendant of  Nicholas  Bayard,  born  in  Alphen, 
Holland,  about  1644,  who  came  to  America 
with  the  Dutch  Governor,  Pieter  Stuyvesant, 
landing  at  New  Amsterdam  on  May  11,  1647, 
and  died  in  New  York,  in  1707.  He  was 
mayor  of  New  York  in  1685,  secretary  of 
the  Province  of  New  York  in  1673,  and  re- 
ceiver-general in  1663.  Colonel  William  Bay- 
ard's wife,  Catherine  McEvers,  was  born  in 
1732  and  died  in  1814.  Mrs.  Stephen  Van 
Rensselaer  was  a  woman  of  superior  educa- 
tion and  culture,  given  to  the  most  cordial 
hospitality,  and  her  life  was  consecrated  to 
kind  acts,  h'ollowing  her  death,  in  1875,  there 
was  a  division  of  the  property  among  the 
heirs,  and  the  Manor  House  was  closed  for- 
ever as  a  family  habitation.  In  October, 
1893,  the  building  was  razed,  and  the  land 
thereabouts  placed  on  the  market.  Twenty- 
five  years  later  it  was  the  scene  of  a  number 
of  manufacturing  plants,  and  what  were  once 
handsome  grounds  and  a  forest  park  were 
bisected  bv  spurs  of  railroad  tracks. 

The  children  of   Gen.   Stephen  Van  Rens- 


selaer and  Harriet  Elizabeth  Bayard  were  as 
follows : 

1.  Elizabeth  Bayard,  born  at  Albany,  Oc- 
tober 4,  1817;  died  July  7,  1819. 

2.  Margaret  Schuyler,  born  at  Albany,  May 
12,  1819;  died  at  Albany,  September  15,  1897; 
married,  at  Albany,  April  12,  1837,  John  De- 
Peyster  Douw  (born  in  Albany,  Dec.  16, 
1812;  died  in  Poughkeepsie,  Jan.  30,  1901), 
son  of  Johannes  DePeyster  Douw  and  Cath- 
erine Douw  Gansevoort ;  by  whom :  Henry 
Augustus  (Douw),  born  at  Albany,  January 
21,  1840,  died  February  23,  1854;  and  Harriet 
Van  Rensselaer  (Douw),  born  at  Albany, 
March  20,  1842;  died  at  Albany,  August  31, 
1862:  married  (second)  Wilmot  Johnson,  of 
Catonsville,  Maryland,  April  24,  185 1,  who 
died  in  New  York  City,  September  9,  1899. 

3.  Harriet  Elizabeth,  born  at  Albany.  Alay 
30,   1821  ;  died  there,  September  19,   1821. 

4.  Cornelia  Paterson,  born  at  Albany,  Janu- 
ary 24,  1823;  died  at  Boston,  Massachusetts, 
March  4,  1897;  married,  at  Albany,  June  10, 
1846,  Nathaniel  Thayer,  of  Boston,  son  of 
Nathaniel  Thayer  and  Sarah  Toppan,  who 
was  born  at  Lancaster,  Massachusetts,  Sep- 
tember II,  1808,  and  died  at  Boston,  March 
7,  1883;  by  whom:  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer 
(Thayer),  born  at  Boston,  August  2,  1847, 
died  there,  October  10,  1871,  married,  Bos- 
ton, November  2,  1870,  Alice  Robeson ;  Cor- 
nelia \'an  Rensselaer  (Thayer),  born  at  Bos- 
ton, October  23,  1849,  died  at  New  York,  New 
York,  July  19,  1903,  married,  Boston,  No- 
vember 24,  1868,  Hon.  James  Hampden  Robb 
(q.  v.)  ;  Nathaniel  (Thayer)  born  Boston, 
June  13,  1851,  residing  in  Boston  and  New- 
port, Rhode  Island,  in  1910,  married,  Balti- 
more, Maryland,  February  i,  1881,  Cornelia 
Street  Barroll,  who  died  February  18,  1885; 
married  (second)  Boston,  June  11,  1887,  Pau- 
line Revere;  Harriet  (Thayer),  born  at  Bos- 
ton, February  16,  1853,  died  at  Dublin,  New 
Hampshire,  September  16,  1891  ;  married, 
Boston,  October  11,  1883,  John  Forrester  An- 
drew; Eugene  Van  Rensselaer  (Thayer),  born 
at  Boston,  December  27,  1855,  died  there,  De- 
cember 20,  1907,  married,  Boston,  December 
21,  1880,  Susan  Spring;  John  Eliot  (Thayer), 
born  at  Boston,  April  3,  1862,  married,  Clin- 
ton, Massachusetts,  June  22.  1886,  Evelyn 
Duncan  Forbes ;' Bayard  (Thayer),  born  at 
Boston.  -April  3,  1862,  married,  Yarmouthport, 
Massachusetts,  September  i,  1896,  Ruth  Simp- 
kins. 

5.  Stephen,  born  at  Albany,  June  12,  1824; 
died  April  9,  1861 ;  married  Annie  Wild,  no 
issue. 

6.  Catherine,  born  at  Albany,  July  24,  1827; 
died  at  Washington,  D.  C,  November  i,  1909; 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


23 


married,  in  the  Manor  House,  Albany,  1856, 
Nathaniel  Berry,  son  of  Nathaniel  Berry  and 
Anna  Beach,  of  Washington  and  Paris 
(born  Sharon,  Conn.,  July  4,  181 1;  died, 
Paris,  France,  April  4,  1865),  son  of  Nathan- 
iel Berry,  by  whom  Katherine  Van  Rens- 
selaer (Berry),  born  at  Paris,  France,  No- 
vember 2,  1857,  died  at  Bar  Harbor,  Maine, 
September  14,  1907;  Walter  \'an  Rensselaer 
(Berry)  born  at  Paris,  France,  July  29,  1859, 
residing  in  Washington,  D.  C,  in  1910;  and 
Nathalie  (Berry),  born  at  Paris,  July  15, 
1864,  residing  in  Washington  in   1910. 

7.  Justine,  born  at  Albany,  September  18, 
1828;  residing  in  New  York  city  in  1910; 
married,  in  the  Manor  House  at  Albany,  Feb- 
ruary 2,  1853,  Howard  Townsend,  M.D.,  (son 
of  Isaiah  Townsend  and  Hannah  Townsend) 
who  was  born  at  Albany,  November  22,  1823, 
and  died  there  January  16,  1867;  by  whom: 
Justine  Xan  Rensselaer  (Townsend),  born  at 
Albany,  December  5,  1853,  died  at  Paris, 
France,  April  22,  188 1,  married  at  Albany, 
January  23,  1877,  Lieut.  Thomas  Henry  Bar- 
ber, U.  S.  A.;  Helen  Schuyler  (Townsend), 
born  at  Albany,  November  17,  1855,  died 
there.  May  27,  1858;  Howard  (Townsend), 
born  at  Albany,  Aug.  23,  1858,  attorney,  prac- 
ticing in  New  York  City  in  1910;  married, 
New  York,  New  York,  April  17.  1888,  Sophie 
Witherspoon  Dickey,  who  died  at  Saranac, 
New  York,  Jan.  29.  1892;  married  (second), 
New  York,  New  York,  October  20,  1894, 
Anne  Lowndes  Langdon ;  Stephen  Van  Rens- 
selaer (Townsend),  born  at  Albany,  October 
20,  i860;  attorney;  died  at  Hempstead,  Long 
Island,  January  15,  1901,  married,  at  Grace 
Church  Chantry,  New  York  City,  May  22, 
1888,  Janet  Eckford  King;  Harriet  Bayard 
(Townsend),  born  at  Albany,  March  23,  1864, 
residing  in  New  York  City  in  19 10,  married, 
New  York,  New  York,  April  28,  1886, 
Thomas  Henry  Barber. 

8.  William  Bayard,  born  at  Albany,  1830 ; 
died   young. 

9.  Bayard,  born  at  Albany,  September  8, 
1833;  died  at  Pau,  France,  January  12,  1859; 
married  at  Albany,  February  i,  1854,  Laura 
Reynolds,  born  at  Albany,  November  22,  1830, 
daughter  of  Marcus  T.  Reynolds  and  Eliza- 
beth Ann  Dexter ;  by  whom :  William  Bay- 
ard, born  at  Albany,  October  4,  1856,  died  at 
Albany,  September  25,  1909,  married,  at  Cam- 
bridge, Massachusetts,  November  3,  1880, 
Louisa  Greenough  Lane ;  and  Howard,  born 
at  Albany,  June  26,  1858,  (see  forward). 

10.  Harriet,  born  in  the  Manor  House,  Al- 
bany, July  3,  1838;  residing  in  Washington, 
D.  C.,  in  1910;  married,  in  the  Manor  House, 
Albany,  June  20,  1863,  Colonel  John  Schuyler 


Crosby  (son  of  Clarkson  Floyd  Crosby  and 
Angelica  Schuyler),  who  was  born  at  Quidor 
Knoll  (Watervliet),  Albany  county,  Septem- 
ber 19,  1839,  and  was  residing  in  New  York 
City  in  19 10;  by  whom:  Stephen  \'an  Rens- 
selaer (Crosby),  born  in  the  Manor  House, 
Albany,  May  14,  1868,  married  at  Manches- 
ter, Massachusetts,  September  18,  1895,  Hen- 
rietta Grew;  and  Angelica  Schuyler  (Crosby), 
born  at  Albany,  June  26,  1872,  died  at  Port- 
land. Maine,  July  25,  1907,  married,  at 
Charlestown,  West  Virginia,  February  12, 
1903,  John  Brooks  Henderson,  Jr. 

II.  Eugene,  born  at  Albany,  October  12, 
1840;  residing  at  Berkeley  Springs,  West  Vir- 
ginia, in  1910;  married,  at  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land, April  26,  1865,  Sarah  Pendleton  (daugh- 
ter of  Elisha  Boyd  Pendleton  and  Marie  Lu- 
cinda  Tutt),  who  was  born  at  Martinsburgh, 
West  \'irginia,  December  11,  1846,  and  was 
residing  at  Berkeley  Springs  in  1910;  by 
whom :  Elizabeth  Kennedy,  born  in  the  Manor 
House,  Albany,  May  31,  1866,  married,  at 
Washington,  D.  C,  February  23,  1909,  James 
Carroll  Frazer;  and  Rev,  Stephen,  B.  A.,  B. 
D.,  born  in  the  Manor  House.  Albany,  Janu- 
ary 17,  1869,  married,  at  Lenox,  Massachu- 
setts, October  10,  1900,  Mary  Thorn  Carpen- 
ter, born  March  18,  1861,  died  October  12, 
1902. 

(\TI)  Bayard  \'an  Rensselaer,  son  of  Gen- 
eral Stephen  \'an  Rensselaer  and  Harriet 
Elizabeth  Bayard,  was  born  at  Albany,  New 
York,  September  8,  1833,  and  died  at  Pau, 
France,  January  12,  1859.  He  was  the  third 
son  and  ninth  child,  but  his  eldest  brother 
died  without  issue,  and  his  next  elder  brother 
died  in  infancy  before  he  was  born,  hence  the 
family  name  of  William  Bayard,  bestowed 
upon  the  infant,  was  carried  down  by  bap- 
tizing him  Bayard.  By  birth,  culture  and 
associations  he  was  one  of  the  leaders  in  the 
most  brilliant  social  set  in  Albany,  and  be- 
longed to  a  number  of  clubs  and  organiza- 
tions, among  them  the  Burgesses'  Corps,  then 
composed  of  the  most  prominent  young  men 
in  the  city.  His  health  being  far  from  ro- 
bust, he  sought  to  improve  it  by  a  sea  voyage 
in  1858  and  a  sojourn  in  the  most  invigorating 
climate  of  France.  Unfortunately,  the  results 
were  not  as  beneficial  as  expected,  for  he  died 
in  France. 

He  married,  at  the  bride's  residence.  No. 
25  No.  Pearl  street,  Albany,  Bishop  Horatio 
Potter,  of  St.  Peter's  Episcopal  Church,  of- 
ficiating, February  i,  1854,  Laura  Reynolds. 
She  was  born  in  Albany,  November  22,  1830, 
and  was  residing  in  her  home  there.  No.  98 
Columbia  street,  in  19 10,  Her  father  was 
Marcus  TuUius  Reynolds,  born  at  Minaville, 


24 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   \'ALLEYS 


Montgomery  county.  New  York,  December 
29,  1788,  died  at  25  No.  Pearl  street,  Albany, 
July  II,  1864,  who  married.  May  6,  1823,  at 
Albany,  Elizabeth  Ann  Dexter,  born  Albany, 
March  24,  1797,  died  7  Park  Place,  Albany, 
August  30,  1840. 

Children:  i.  William  Bayard,  born  at  Al- 
bany, October  4,  1856,  died  at  Albany,  Sep- 
tember 25.  1909,  married,  at  Cambridge,  Mas- 
sachusetts, November  3,  1880,  Louisa  Green- 
ough  Lane ;  and  Howard,  bom  at  Albany, 
June  26,  1858,  residing  there  in  19 10,  (see 
forward). 

(Vin )  William  Bayard  Van  Rensselaer, 
oldest  son  of  Bayard  Van  Rensselaer  and 
Laura  Reynolds,  was  born  in  Albany,  New 
York,  October  4,  1856,  and  died  in  Albany, 
September  25,  1909. 

He  was  a  direct  lineal  descendant  of  Kiliaen 
Van  Rensselaer,  of  Amsterdam,  Holland,  and 
had  not  the  laws  of  New  York  prohibited  the 
entailing  of  property,  he  would  have  been  the 
nth  Patroon,  and  owner  of  the  Rensselaers- 
wyck  property. 

In  early  boyhood,  after  returning  from 
Europe,  where  he  had  been  taken  by  his  par- 
ents, went  for  a  while  to  the  Albany  Boys' 
Academy.  A  little  later  he  was  sent  to  a 
private  boarding-school  at  Catskill,  where  he 
spent  two  years,  or  until  1869,  when  a  boy 
of  thirteen,  he  went  to  St.  Paul's  School  at 
Concord,  New  Hampshire,  where  he  remained 
for  six  years,  entering  Harvard  as  a  freshman 
in  1875.  He  was  a  graduate  of  the  class  of 
1879  and  then  attended  the  Harvard  Law 
School.  At  school,  college  and  the  Law 
School  he  was  prominently  identified  with  all 
the  leading  societies  and  clubs.  After  leaving 
the  law  school  he  entered  the  office  of  M.  T.  & 
L.  G.  Hun,  in  Albany,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  the  fall  of  1882,  opening  an  office 
at  No.  25  No.  Pearl  street.  Active  duties  of 
a  general  counselor  were  to  some  extent  set 
aside  in  1881,  by  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer's  ap- 
pointment as  the  one  most  suitable  person  to 
have  full  charge  of  the  Van  Rensselaer  estate. 
His  knowledge  of  tlie  laws  governing  real  es- 
tate and  his  conservative  judgment  were  a 
guarantee  of  most  capable  management.  In 
the  fall  of  1885,  following  his  suggestion,  the 
many  heirs  of  the  late  General  Stephen  Van 
Rensselaer  conveyed  their  interest  in  the  Al- 
bany property  to  the  Van  Rensselaer  Land 
Companji,  and  he  was  made  treasurer,  which 
office  he  continued  to  hold  until  his  death. 

Mr.  \'an  Rensselaer  became  a  director  of 
the  New  York  State  National  Bank  in  1885, 
and  was  made  its  vice-president  in  1900.  He 
was  elected  a  trustee  of  the  Albany  Savings 
Bank  in    1883,   vice-president  in   1897.      His 


grandfather,  General  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer, 
had  been  the  first  president  of  this  bank  when 
chartered,  March  25,  1820.  As  chairman  of 
the  building  committee  he  devoted  untiring 
energy  to  the  erection  of  the  handsome,  new 
edifice  which  was  opened  April  25,  1899.  On 
August  15,  1900,  about  a  month  after  the 
death  of  J.  Howard  King,  he  was  elected  the 
bank's  president,  and  was  its  chief  executive 
through  a  term  of  years  the  most  successful 
in  its  long  and  remarkable  history. 

In  1901  he  was  chosen  chairman  of  the  ex- 
ecutive committee  of  the  Savings  Banks  As- 
sociation of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  on 
May  12,  1904,  was  elected  president  of  that 
body  because  of  his  widely  recognized  ability 
and  conservatism. 

In  1893  he  organized  the  Albany  Terminal 
Warehouse  Company,  and  a  large  building 
was  erected  on  the  Van  Rensselaer  property 
in  the  north  part  of  the  city,  part  of  which 
was  used  as  a  bonded  warehouse.  He  was  a 
director  of  the  Cohoes  Company,  incorporated 
in  1823,  by  his  grandfather,  which  supplies 
all  the  factories  of  Cohoes,  New  York,  with 
their  water  power.  On  organization  of  the 
Union  Trust  Company,  he  was  made  its  vice- 
president,  and  he  was  also  a  trustee  for  nu- 
merous estates,  giving  close  attention  to  their 
careful  management. 

Among  various  appointments  in  rendering 
public  service  was  his  appointment  by  Gover- 
nor Morton  on  the  Albany  Bi-Centennial  Cel- 
ebration Committee,  and  he  was  named  by 
Governor  Hughes  one  of  the  State's  represen- 
tatives on  the  Hudson-Fulton  Commission  in 
1909. 

He  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  charter 
members  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club  of  Albany, 
a  member  of  the  Albany  Country  Club  and 
of  the  Albany  Institute  and  Historical  and  Art 
Society ;  also  a  member  of  the  Holland  So- 
ciety, Reform  Club  and  University  Club  of 
New  York  City.  He  was  on  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  New  York  State  Normal  Col- 
lege and  of  the  Rensselaer  Polytechnic  Insti- 
tute, also  one  of  the  officers  of  the  Albany 
Chamber  of  Commerce. 

In  politics  Mr.  \'an  Rensselaer  was  a  Re- 
publican, but  at  times  asserted  his  indepen- 
dence. Though  repeatedly  urged  to  accept, 
yet  he  never  sought  or  held  political  ofifice. 
As  a  thoughtful  man  was,  however,  much  in- 
terested in  governmental  affairs.  To  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  Cathedral  of  All  Saints,  as 
one  of  the  chapter,  he  gave  his  best  endeavor, 
promoting  the  work  of  securing  the  new  and 
handsome  edifice.  He  traveled  extensively, 
going  abroad  a  number  of  summers,  and  in 
the  winter  season  entertained  with  great  fre- 


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HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


25 


quency  at  his  home.  No.  385  State  street,  all 
distinguished  visitors  coming  to  Albany,  being 
met  at  his  table.  His  house  is  furnished  with 
many  of  the  articles  once  belonging  to  his 
ancestors. 

Mr.  \'an  Rensselaer  married,  at  Cambridge, 
Massachusetts.  November  3,  1880,  Louisa 
Greenough  Lane.  She  was  born  at  Cam- 
bridge, November  21,  i860,  and  still  lives,  re- 
siding in  Albany.  Her  father  was  Professor 
George  Martin  Lane,  of  Harvard  University, 
born  in  Charleston.  December  24.  1826.  died 
in  Cambridge,  June  30,  1897,  son  of  Martin 
Lane  and  Lucretia  Swan.  Her  mother  was 
Frances  Eliza  Gardiner,  born  at  Shelter  Isl- 
and, New  York,  July  31,  1828;  died  in  Cam- 
bridge, August  31,  1876,  daughter  of  Samuel 
G.  Gardiner,  and  Mary  Catherine  L'Homme- 
dieu. 

(\'ni)  Howard  Van  Rensselaer,  ALD.,  son 
of  Bayard  \'an  Rensselaer  and  Laura  Rey- 
nolds, was  born  at  No.  98  Columbia  street, 
Albany,  New  York,  June  26,  1858. 

Before  he  was  a  year  old  he  was-  taken 
abroad  by  his  parents,  returning  in  1859,  or^ 
the  death  of  his  father,  when  he  was  but 
nine  months  old.  He  was  placed  in  the  State 
Normal  School  at  Albany  to  learn  the  ele- 
mentary branches,  and  later  changed  to  the 
Albany  Boys'  Academy.  Remaining  there  a 
short  time,  he  was  sent  to  Miss  Gaylord's  pri- 
vate boarding-school  at  Catskill,  New  York, 
noted  for  its  excellent  moral  training.  When 
twelve  years  old  he  entered  St.  Paul's  School 
at  Concord,  New  Hampshire,  where  he  pur- 
sued his  literary  studies  with  especial  diligence, 
and  was  made  an  editor  of  The  Horae.  While 
here  he  was  an  enthusiastic  athlete.  He  es- 
tablished the  one.  and  three-mile  walking  rec- 
ords, which  still  remain  unbeaten.  He  was 
stroke  oar  on  the  successful  crew ;  was  on  the 
first  eleven  of  the  cricket  club,  and  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Athletic  Association.  At  the  age 
of  eighteen  he  entered  Yale,  taking  the  Shef- 
field Scientific  course  preparatory  to  the  study 
of  medicine,  and  graduating  in  188 1  with  the 
degree  of  Ph.B.  He  was  afso  a  student  of  the 
Yale  Art  School,  took  a  literary  prize,  and  was 
a  member  of  the  Berzelius  Society,  the  oldest 
scientific  society  in  this  country. 

After  his  graduation  from  Yale,  he  imme- 
diately entered  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons  in  New  York  City,  then  under  Drs. 
Clark,  Sands  and  Dalton,  graduating  in  1884. 
During  this  period  of  three  years  he  attended 
all  the  courses  of  lectures  and  read  with  avid- 
ity in  every  spare  moment.  He  was  made 
the  interne  at  the  Chambers  Street  Hospi- 
tal, where  he  gained  practical  knowledge  of 
medical    science.      After    that   he    passed    the 


severe  competitive  examination  which  entitled 
him  to  the  position  so  much  to  be  desired  by 
the  aspiring  student  of  medicine,  of  house 
physician  at  the  New  York  Hospital,  for  a 
service  of  eighteen  months. 

While  still  studying  in  New  York,  he  enter- 
tained the  idea  of  visiting  Europe  with  a  view 
of  studying  disease  in  its  various  forms  and 
symptoms  and  the  modes  of  treatment  adopted 
by  the  celebrated  physicians.  He  crossed  to 
Germany  in  January,  1887,  and  visited  all  the 
great  hospitals  of  Europe,  excepting  those  of 
Spain,  studying  in  the  large  ones  in  Berlin, 
Paris,  \ienna,  Munich,  London  and  Edin- 
burgh. Two  years  were  thus  spent,  and  at 
intervals  he  made  side  trips  as  opportunity 
opened,  seeing  sights  in  the  old  world  from 
the  North  Cape  to  Constantinople  and 
Greece.  He  returned  from  abroad  in  Febru- 
ary, 1889,  and  opened  an  office  in  his  native 
city.  He  was  at  once  appointed  visiting  phy- 
sician to  St.  Peter's  Hospital,  and  the  dis- 
pensary of  the  Child's  Hospital.  In  the  fall 
of  1889  he  was  appointed  instructor  of  ner- 
vous diseases  and  diseases  of  the  chest  at  the- 
Albany  Medical  College  of  Union  Univer- 
sity. In  December,  1889,  he  was  given  the 
position  of  attending  physician  to  the  Hospi- 
tal for  Incurables,  and  in  January,  1890,  was 
elected  visiting  physician  to  the  Home  of  the 
Friendless.  In  June  of  the  same  year  he 
was  called  to  the  position  of  lecturer  on  ma- 
teria medica  at  the  Albany  Medical  College. 
In  1892  he  was  advanced  to  the  position  of 
associate  professor  of  materia  medica.  In 
1894  he  was  elected  full  professor  of  materia 
medica  and  therapeutics,  and  associated  pro- 
fessor of  the  practice  of  medicine,  positions 
which  he  still  holds. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Medical  Society  of 
Albany  County ;  the  New  York  State  Medical 
Society ;  and  is  vice-president  of  the  American 
Therapeutic  Society ;  also,  of  the  Fort  Orange, 
Albany  Country  and  Albany  Camera  Clubs, 
the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  the  Albany 
Institute  and  Historical  and  Art  Society,  and 
likewise  of  the  Calumet  Club  of  New  York 
City.  He  was  a  prime  mover  in  establishing 
the  Country  Club,  and  has  been  for  many 
years  its  president. 

Dr.  Van  Rensselaer  has  written  a  number 
of  notable  scientific  papers,  which  have  been 
published  and  widely  read.  He  was  editor 
of  the  Albany  Medical  Annals  for  six  years. 
He  is  a  medical  examiner  of  several  promi- 
nent life  insurance  companies,  and  gives  his 
services  as  the  attending  physician  of  four 
Albany  hospitals  and  two  charitable  institu- 
tions. He  has  been  for  several  years  presi- 
dent of  the  Albany  Boys'  Club. 


26 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


Besides  his  visits  to  Europe,  he  has  traveled 
extensively  on  the  American  continent,  tour- 
ing the  Rocky  Mountain  and  Yellowstone  re- 
gions, Cuba,  the  Bahamas  and  Mexico.  In 
1909  he  labored  assiduously  to  establish  a  Red 
Cross  Hospital  for  Consumptives,  and  raised 
single-handed  the  fund  which  covered  the 
erection  of  the  original  buildings,  the  large 
area  of  land  for  the  site  of  which  he  con- 
tributed. It  has  grown  to  be  one  of  the  most 
appreciated  institutions  in  the  city,  and  as  a 
department  of  the  Albany  Hospital,  which  it 
became,  will  endure  as  a  valued  testimonial 
to  his  efforts  for  his  fellow-citizens.  He  holds 
the  position  of  medical  director  for  this  in- 
stitution. 

(The    Thayer    Line). 

Nathaniel  Thayer,  banker,  of  Boston,  Mas- 
sachusetts, was  born  at  Lancaster,  Massachu- 
setts, September  11,  1808,  and  died  at  Bos- 
ton, March  7,  1883.  He  was  the  son  of  Nath- 
aniel Thayer,  D.D.,  (Harvard,  1789),  and 
Sarah  Toppan. 

Nathaniel  Thayer  married,  at  Albany,  New 
York,  June  10,  1846,  Cornelia  Paterson  Van 
Rensselaer,  who  was  born  in  the  Manor  House 
fit  Albany,  January  24,  1823 ;  died  at  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  March  4,  1897,  and  was 
.daughter  of  Hon.  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer  and 
Harriet  Elizabeth  Bayard,  who  were  married 
in  New  York  City,  January  2,   1817. 

I.  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer  Thayer,  son  of 
Nathaniel  Thayer  and  Cornelia  Paterson  Van 
Rensselaer,  was  born  at  Boston,  Massachu- 
setts, August  2,  1847,  'i"d  died  at  Boston,  Oc- 
tober 10,  1871.  He  married,  at  Boston,  No- 
vember 2,  1870,  Alice  Robeson,  who  was  born 
at  Newport,  Rhode  Island,  September  23, 
1849.  and  was  daughter  of  Andrew  Robeson 
and  Mary  Arnold  Allen,  of  Providence,  Rhode 
Island. 

Andrew  Robeson  was  born  at  New  Bed- 
ford, Massachusetts,  October  14,  181 1;  mar- 
ried, at  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  March  2, 
1843 ;   died    at  Tiverton,   Rhode    Island,   July 

23,  1874,  and  was  son  of  Andrew  Robeson 
and  Anna  Rodman.  Mary  Arnold  Allen  was 
born  at  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  September 

.9,  1819;  died  at  Islcborough,  Maine,  July  25, 
1903,  and  was  daughter  of  Zachariah  Allen 
and  Eliza  Harriet  Arnold. 

To  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer  Thayer  and 
Alice  Robeson  was  born,  at  Tiverton,  Rhode 
Island,  July  15,  1871,  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer 
Thayer,  Jr.,  who  died  at  \'ichy,  France,  June 

24,  1907.  He  married,  at  Niagara  Falls,  New 
York,  June  5,  1895,  Julia  Mathews  Porter, 
who  was  born  at  Niagara  Falls,  March  6,  187 1 
and  was  daughter  of  Augustus  Porter  and 
Julia  Granger  Jeffries.    Children:  Alice,  bom 


at  Paris,  France,  June  11,  1896;  Julia,  born 
at  Boston,  Massachusetts,  December  i,  1899; 
Mary  Allen,  born  at  Boston,  June  7,  1901. 

2.  Cornelia  \'an  Rensselaer  Thayer,  daugh- 
ter of  Nathaniel  Thayer  and  Cornelia  Pater- 
son \"an  Rensselaer,  was  born  in  Boston,  Alas- 
sachusetts,  October  23,  1849,  3"d  ^^^^^  ^t  her 
home.  No.  23  Park  avenue,  New  York  City, 
July  19,  1903.  She  was  a  woman  of  most 
estimable  qualities.  She  married,  at  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  November  24,  1868,  Hon. 
James  Hampden  Robb. 

Mr.  Robb  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Penn- 
sylvania, October  27,  1846.  His  father  was 
James  Robb,  born  in  Brownsville,  Pennsyl- 
vania, April  2,  1814;  died  at  Hampden  place, 
near  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  July  30,  1881,  who 
married  June  14,  1836.  Louisa  W'erninger, 
born  at  ]\Iorgantown,  Mrginia,  IMay  15,  1808, 
died  at  New  Orleans,  October  13,  1855.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  Augustus  Werninger  (or 
Weningerode)  and  Charlotte  Matilda  Van 
Swearingen,  the  latter  a  direct  descendant  of 
Garritt  Van  Swearingen,  the  Dutch  Represen- 
tative and  Pieter  Stuyvesant's  lieutenant  for 
the  Dutch  Colony  on  the  Delaware  river. 

Mr.  Robb  received  his  education  at  a  school 
in  Europe,  and  afterwards  at  Mr.  Churchill's 
well-known  military  school  at  Sing  Sing,  New 
York ;  later  at  Harvard  University.  After 
leaving  Cambridge  he  was  associated  in  busi- 
ness in  New  York  City  with  his  father  and 
the  late  Edward  King.  He  has  always  been 
a  Democrat,  and  as  such  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  assembly  in  1882  from  his  New  York 
district.  He  also  served  as  state  senator  in 
1884  and  1885.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the 
Democratic  national  convention  held  in  St. 
Louis  in  1888.  He  was  appointed  a  park  com- 
missioner for  New  York  City,  and  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Park  Board,  serving  from  1887- 
1890.  He  was  also  a  commissioner  on  the 
first  State  Board  of  Commissioners  of  the  Ni- 
agara State  Reservation,  and  its  first  secre- 
tary and  treasurer.  He  had  served  in  the  Na- 
tional Guard  of  New  York  State,  and  was 
adjutant-general  of  the  First  Brigade.  In 
1887  President  Cleveland  offered  him  the  of- 
fice of  assistant  secretary  of  state ;  but  he  was 
obliged  to  decline  the  appointment,  owing  to 
other  engagements.  His  city  residence  was  at 
No.  23  Park  avenue,  and  his  country  home 
was  located  at  Southampton,  Long  Island.  He 
died  in  New  York,  N.  Y.,  January  21,   191 1. 

Children:  (a)  Nathaniel  Thayer  Robb, 
born  in  New  York,  New  York,  July  5,  1870; 
married,  New  York,  November  26,  1895, 
Frances  Beatrix  Henderson,  born  in  New 
York  City,  October  18,  1875,  daughter  of 
Charles  R.  Henderson  and  Jennie  North ;  by 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   \'ALLEYS 


27 


whom,  born  in  New  York  City :  Janet  Hen- 
derson, September  7,  1896;  James  Hampden, 
December  22,  1898 ;  Cornelia  Van  Rensselaer, 
March  5,  1904.  (b)  Cornelia  Van  Rensselaer, 
born  in  Lancaster,  Massachusetts,  September 
II,  1874.  (c)  Louisa,  born  in  New  York 
City,  January  5,  1877;  married,  New  York 
City,  April  8,  1896,  Goodhue  Livingston, 
architect,  born  in  New  York  City,  February 
23,  1867,  son  of  Robert  Livingston  and  Susan 
De  Peyster ;  by  whom :  Goodhue,  Jr.,  born  in 
New  York  City,  March  30,  1897;  Cornelia 
Thayer,  born  in  New  York  City,  November 
20,  1903.  (d)  Harriet  Bayard,  born  in  Lan- 
caster, Massachusetts,  August  22,  1822,  died 
in  New  York,  N.  Y.,  December  27,  1910. 

3.  Nathaniel  Thayer,  Jr.,  son  of  Nathaniel 
Thayer  and  Cornelia  Patterson  Van  Rensse- 
laer, was  born  at  Boston,  Massachusetts,  June 
13,  1851.  He  was  a  banker  of  Boston,  resid- 
ing in  1910  at  Lancaster,  Massachusetts,  and 
with  a  summer  home  at  Newport,  Rhode 
Island. 

He  married  (first),  at  Baltimore,  Maryland, 
February  i,  1881,  Cornelia  Street  Barroll, 
who  died  at  Boston,  February  18,  1885, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  C.  Barroll  and  Sarah 
Street.  He  married  (second),  at  Boston, 
June  II,  1887,  Pauline  Revere,  who  was  born 
at  Quincy,  Massachusetts.  February  19,  1862, 
and  was  daughter  of  Paul  Joseph  Revere  and 
Lucretia  W.  Lunt.  Children:  (a)  Cornelia 
Van  Rensselaer  (Thayer),  born  at  Boston, 
December  6,  1881  ;  married,  Lancaster,  Mas- 
sachusetts, July  29,  1907,  Count  Carl  Moltke ; 
by  whom :  Carl  Adam  Nathaniel,  born  at  Co- 
penhagen, Denmark,  September  13.  1908.  (b) 
Anna  Morton  (Thayer),  born  at  Boston,  ;\Iay 
29,  1883:  married  at  Lancaster,  Massachu- 
setts, June,  1904,  William  S.  Patten,  son  of 
Joseph  H.  Patten  and  Elizabeth  G.  Boit ;  by 
whom :  Anna  Tha,yer,  born  at  Wellesley, 
March  29,  1905  ;  Jane  Hunnewell,  born  there. 
May  8,  1906;  William  S.,  Jr.,  born  there, 
Nov.  29.  1909.  (c)  Sarah  Barroll  (Thayer), 
bom  at  Boston,  February  18,  1885. 

4.  Harriet  Thayer,  daughter  of  Nathaniel 
Thayer  and  Cornelia  Paterson  Van  Rensse- 
laer, was  born  at  Boston,  Massachusetts,  Feb- 
ruary 6.  1853,  and  died  at  Dublin,  New 
Hampshire,  September  16,  1891. 

She  married,  at  Boston,  October  11,  1883, 
John  Forrester  Andrew,  born  at  Hingham, 
Massachusetts,  November  26,  1850,  died  at 
Boston,  May  30,  1895,  son  of  John  Albion 
Andrew  and  Eliza  J.  Hersey.  Children:  (a) 
Cornelia  Thayer,  born  at  Boston,  Massachu- 
setts, November  19,  1884;  married,  at  Bos- 
ton, April  5,  1904,  John  Dudley  Clark ;  by 
whom.  John  Dudley,  born  at  Boston,  Decem- 


ber 30,  1904;  Forrester  Andrew,  born  at  Bos- 
ton. February  20,  1906;  CorneHa  Andrew, 
born  at  Sherborn,  Alassachusetts,  April  11, 
1907;  George  Oliver,  born  at  Boston,  March 
15,  1909;  Nathaniel  Thayer,  born  at  Boston, 
December  8,  1910.  (b)  Elizabeth  Thayer, 
born  at  Boston,  Massachusetts,  April  9,  1886; 
married,  at  Hingham,  Massachusetts,  July  15, 
1905.  Charles  Ellis  Mason;  by  whom:  Har- 
riet, born  at  Hingham,  May  26,  1907 ;  Charles 
Ellis,  born  at  Boston.  October  5.  1908. 

5.  Eugene  \'an  Rensselaer  Thayer,  son  of 
Nathaniel  Thayer  .and  Cornelia  Paterson  \"an 
Rensselaer,  was  born  at  Boston,  Alassachu- 
setts.  December  27,  1855.  and  died  at  Boston, 
December  20,   1907. 

He  married  at  Boston,  December  21,  1880, 
Susan  Spring,  born  at  Lexington,  Massachu- 
setts. August  29,  1854.  daughter  of  Isaac 
Hastings  Spring  and  Susan  M.  Phinney. 
Children:  (a)  Eugene  Van  Rensselaer 
(Thayer)  Jr.,  born  at  Boston,  Massachusetts, 
September  27,  1881  ;  married,  Newport.  Rhode 
Island,  September  3,  1903.  Gladys  Brooks, 
born  at  New  York,  New  York,  February  i, 
1882,  daughter  of  Mortimer  Brooks  and  Jose- 
phine Higgins,  of  New  York  City,  (b)  Kath- 
arine Spring  (Thayer),  born  at  Boston, 
Mass.,  November  2,  1882:  married,  at  Lancas- 
ter, Massachusetts,  June  i,  1904,  Howland 
Russell,  born  at  Milton,  Massachusetts.  Janu- 
ary 27,  1872,  son  of  Henry  Sturgis  Russell 
and  Mary  Forbes ;  by  whom :  Henry  Sturgis 
Russell,  born  at  Hyde  Park,  Massachusetts, 
February  24,  1905.  (c)  Susan  (Thayer),  born 
at  Boston,  Massachusetts,  October  i,  1885. 
(d)  Rosamond  (Thayer),  born  at  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  January  8,  1891  ;  died  Novem- 
ber 25,  1891. 

6.  John  Eliot  Thayer,  son  of  Nathanial 
Thayer  and  Cornelia  Paterson  Van  Rensse- 
laer, was  bom  at  Boston,  Massachusetts,  April 
3,  1862:  ornithologist;  residing  in  Lancaster, 
Massachusetts,  in  1910. 

He  married,  at  Clinton,  Massachusetts, 
June  22,  1886,  Evelyn  Duncan  Forbes,  born 
at  Clinton,  Massachusetts.  September  22,  1862, 
daughter  of  Franklin  Forbes  and  Martha 
Anne  Stearns  Gushing.  Children:  (a)  John 
Eliot  Thayer,  Jr.,  bom  August  19,  1887;  (b) 
Evelyn  Thayer,  born  August  i,  1888;  (c) 
Nora  Forbes  Thayer,  born  September  6,  1889; 
(d)  Natalie  Thayer,  born  May  24,  1894;  (e) 
Dimcan  Forbes  Thayer,  born  February  14, 
1900.  The  first  three  were  born  in  Lancaster, 
Massachusetts ;  the  last  in  Boston,  Massachu- 
setts. 

7.  Bayard  Thayer,  son  of  Nathaniel  Thayer 
and  Cornelia  Paterson  Van  Rensselaer,  was 
born  at  Boston,  Massachusetts,  April  3,  1862 ; 


28 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


residing  in  Lancaster,  Massachusetts,  in  1910. 
He  married,  at  Yarmouthport,  Massachu- 
setts, September  i,  1896,  Ruth  Simpkins,  born 
at  Brooklyn,  New  York,  November  19,  1864, 
daughter  of  John  Simpkins  and  Ruth  Barker 
Sears.  Children:  (a)  Ruth  Thayer,  born  at 
Yarmouthport.  Massachusetts,  September  28, 
1897;  (b)  Nathaniel  Thayer  (2),  born  No- 
vember 14,  1898;  (c)  Constance  Van  Rens- 
selaer Thayer,  born,  December  20,  1900;  (d) 
Mabel  Bayard  Thayer,  born  April  6,  1908. 
The  three  last  named  were  born  in  Boston, 
Massachusetts. 

CUYLER  REYNOLDS. 


The  family  name  of  Schuy- 
SCHUYLER  ler  was  originally  "van 
Schuyler,"'  when  coming  to 
this  country,  and  by  it  was  meant  one  resid- 
ing in  a  place  of  shelter,  from  the  Dutch 
"schuiler,"  a  hider ;  or  "schuil,"  a  shelter ;  and 
possibly  also  from  the  German  word  "schu- 
ler,"  a  scholar,  the  intention  being  to  signify 
a  family  of  education,  or  scholarly.  The  pro- 
genitor of  the  family  in  America  commonly 
wrote  his  name  "Philip  Pieterse,"  excepting 
when  he  signed  contracts,  deeds,  or  other  im- 
portant documents,  when  he  added  "Schuij- 
ler,"  which  could  also  be  expressed  by  writing 
it  "Schuyler"  by  placing  the  two  small  marks 
over  the  letter  "y."  After  the  year  1667  he 
usually  wrote  his  name  in  full ;  but  after  1672 
he  had  dropped  the  name  "Pieterse,"  signify- 
ing that  Peter  was  his  father  as  one  might 
now  drop  the  "Junior"  after  the  death  of  a 
father,  and  he  signed  his  will  "Philip  Schuij- 
ler."  In  the  early  family  records  he  wrote  the 
names  of  seven  of  his  children  with  the  pre- 
fix "van."  Thus  one  traces  the  transition, 
with  its  definite  reasons,  to  the  present  form. 
The  Schuyler  Arms :  Shield :  Argent,  a  sin- 
ister cubit  arm,  vested  azure,  cuffed  or,  hold- 
ing on  the  hand  a  falcon  proper,  beaked  and 
mcmbered  of  the  third,  hooded  gules.  Crest : 
A  falcon  as  in  shield.  Motto:  Semper  fidelis. 
Two  brothers  of  the  name  of  Schuyler, 
David  and  Philip,  were  among  the  earliest 
settlers  of  I'everswyck  who  came  to  this  coun- 
try from  Holland,  and  it  is  from  them  all  of 
the  name  in  America  have  proceeded,  which 
for  the  first  century  and  a  half  after  their 
arrival  was  distinctively  an  Albany  name.  Un- 
fortunately, by  the  year  1900  it  became  ex- 
tinct in  that  city  but  was  still  held  in  highest 
respect  in  memory.  There  were  many  of 
them  who  attained  high  distinction,  especially 
in  military  valor,  in  governmental  affairs,  and 
as  owners  of  very  large  estates.  Five  of  the 
name  were  mayors  in  Albany,  and  hardly  a 
more  illustrious  naine  appears  in   American 


history  than  that  of  General  Philip  Schuyler, 
of  the  Revolution. 

(T)  Colonel  Philip  Pieterse  Schuyler  was 
the  son  of  Pieter  Schuyler,  of  Amsterdam, 
Holland.  He  was  the  better  known  of  the 
two  brothers  who  settled  in  New  Netherland,. 
and  is  recognized  as  the  head  of  the  family 
in  America,  or  progenitor  of  the  Schuyler 
family. 

He  purchased  the  property  four  miles  north 
of  Albany,  on  the  public  highway  to  Saratoga,, 
which  has  been  the  home  of  the  Schuyler  fam- 
ily to  this  day.  The  original  house  on  this- 
bouwerie  was  the  residence  of  Arent  Van  Cur- 
ler, a  cousin  of  the  first  Patroon,  Kiliaen  Van 
Rensselaer,  who  came  with  the  colonists  to 
Rensselaerswyck  in  1630.  He  had  married 
in  1643,  and  on  his  return  from  his- 
bridal  journey  to  Holland  settled  on  his  farm,, 
known  as  The  Flatts,  even  as  at  present  it  is 
styled.  After  him  it  was  owned  by  Richard 
Van  Rensselaer,  a  son  of  the  Patroon,  who 
relinquished  it  when  he  returned  to  live  in 
Holland.  The  entry  in  the  account-book  of 
the  \'an  Rensselaer  estate  reads:  "Debit: 
Philip  Schuyler,  for  the  Bouwery  called  de 
\'Iachte  (The  Flatts)  and  the  Island,  sold  tO' 
him  for  700  beavers  and  1,600  florins  Holland 
money,  together  8,000  florins.  Contra :  Credit, 
a  bill  of  Exchange  drawn  on  Jan  Baptist  Van 
Rensselaer,  calculated  at  2,400  florins ;  650 
whole  Beavers  ;  5,200  do. ;  50  do. ;  400  do. ; 
total  8,000  florins."  The  county  clerk's  rec- 
ords show :  "Jeremias  Van  Rensselaer  in  his 
life  time  That  is  to  say  on  the  two  and  twen- 
tieth day  of  June  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
Christ  one  thousand  six  hundred  seventy,  and 
two  for  an  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of  five 
thousand  Holland  guilders  to  him  in  hand  paid 
did  grant  Bargain  and  sell  unto  the  said  Philip 
Schuyler  his  heirs  and  assigns  for  ever  all 
that  farm  Tract  and  parcell  of  Land  com- 
monly called  The  Flatts  as  also  one  Island 
over  against  said  flatts  commonly  called  the 
great  Island  of  the  flatts  situate  on  the  west 
side  of  Hudson  river  in  the  Colony  of  Rens- 
selaerswyck in  the  like  manner  as  the  said 
farm  heretofore  has  been  occupied  and  en- 
joyed by  Mr.  Richard  van  Rensselaer." 

Philip's  son,  Colonel  Pieter  Schuyler,  in- 
herited The  Flatts.  and  he  lived  there  twelve 
years,  when  he  leased  it  to  his  son  Philip, 
who  inherited  it  in  turn;  but,  having  no  chil- 
dren, by  his  will,  dated  June  28,  1748,  he  gave 
the  "Great  Island"  to  his  brother  Jeremy,  and 
to  his  brother  Pieter  he  left  The  Flatts.  In 
the  latter's  will,  drawn  April  27.  1771,  he 
left  it  to  his  grandson,  Stephen  Schuyler,  and 
in  19 10  it  was  occupied  by  the  widow  of  Rich- 
ard Philip  Schuyler  (Susan  Drake),  because 


HUDSON   AND    .MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


29 


lie  was  ifhe  son  of  Stephen  R.  Schuyler  and 
Catherine  Elizabeth  Schuyler,  who  was  the 
son  of  Peter  S.  Schuyler  and  Catherine 
Cuyler,  who  was  in  turn  the  son  of 
Stephen  Schuyler  and  Engeltie  Van 
Vechten,  whose  parents  were  Pieter  Schuyler, 
Jun.,  and  Catherine  Groesbeck,  and  his  father 
was  I\Iayor  Pieter  Schuyler.  In  19 10,  in  the 
hallway  of  The  Flatts,  hangs  the  old  oil  por- 
■.trait  of  "Quidor,"  the  Indian  name  for  Pieter 
Schuyler,  meaning  the  "Indians'  Friend,"  and 
in  the  brick  mansion  standing  on  the  brow  of 
the  hill,  west  of  the  Troy  road,  hangs  the 
seven-foot  oil  portrait  of  Pieter  Schuyler,  first 
mayor  of  Albany,  painted  in  England  in  17 10, 
by  order  of  Queen  Anne,  and  now  owned  by 
the  children  of  John  Cuyler  Schuyler,  uncle 
of  the  late  Richard  P.  Schuyler. 

It  is  interesting  to  learn  a  few  facts  about 
this  old  mansion,  as  described  by  Mrs.  Grant 
more  than  a  century  ago  in  her  famous  "Me- 
moirs of  an  American  Lady."  wherein  she 
■writes : 

"It  was  a  large  brick  house  of  two,  or  rather 
three  stories  (for  there  were  excellent  attics),  be- 
sides a  sunk  story,  finished  with  exactest  neatness. 
The  lower  floor  had  two  spacious  rooms,  with  large, 
light  closets ;  on  the  first  there  were  three  rooms, 
and  in  the  upper  one  four.  Through  the  middle  of 
the  house  was  a  wide  passage,  with  opposite  front 
and  back  doors,  which  in  summer  admitted  a  stream 
■of  air  peculiarly  grateful  to  the  languid  senses.  It 
was  furnished  with  chairs  and  pictures  like  a  sum- 
mer parlor.  Here  the  family  usually  sat  in  hot 
weather,  when  there  were  no  ceremonious  strangers. 
*  *  *  One  room,  1  should  have  said,  in  the  great- 
er house  only,  was  opened  for  the  reception  of  com- 
pany; all  the  rest  were  bedchambers  for  their  accom- 
modation, while  the  domestic  friends  of  the  family 
occupied  neat  little  bedrooms  in  the  attics  or  the 
winter-house.  This  house  contained  no  drawing- 
room — that  was  an  unheard-of  luxury ;  the  winter 
rooms  had  carpets ;  the  lobby  had  oilcloth  painted  in 
lozenges,  to  imitate  blue  and  white  marble.  The  best 
bedroom  was  hung  with  family  portraits,  some  of 
which  were  admirably  executed ;  and  in  the  eating- 
room,  which,  by  the  by,  was  rarely  used  for  that 
purpose,  were  some  Scriptural  paintings.  *  *  *  The 
house  fronted  the  river,  on  the  brink  of  which,  un- 
der shades  of  elm  and  sycamore,  ran  the  great  road 
toward  Saratoga.  Stillwater,  and  the  northern  lakes ; 
a  little  simple  avenue  of  morella  cherry  trees,  en- 
closed with  a  white  rail,  led  to  the  road  and  river, 
not  three  hundred   yards  distant." 

The  place  tuay  be  reached  by  taking  a  drive 
four  miles  to  the  north  of  Albany,  or  about 
■one  mile  beyond  tbe  Rural  Cemetery,  then 
turning  abruptly  to  the  east,  crossing  the 
canal  by  the  "Schuyler's  Bridge,"  and  con- 
tinuing a  fourth  of  a  mile  towards  the  Hud- 
son. The  road  passes  between  rows  of  elms 
evidently  a  century  old,  and  the  low,  brick 
house  stands  to  the  right,  facing  the  river, 
while  across  the  road  is  the  old  family  burial- 
•ground,  coiitaming  some  sixty  graves,  whose 


rows  of  invariable  brown  sandstone,  some  tot- 
tering to  the  right  or  left,  look  weirdly  like 
a  decrepit  army,  for  thus  have  they  stood 
during  two  centuries,  bearing  testimony  in 
verse  to  the  exalted  memory  of  many  a  soldier 
Schuyler. 

This  head  of  the  Schuyler  line  was  a  man 
much  esteemed  by  his  acquaintances  and  by 
representatives  of  the  Dutch  governiuent.  He 
was  the  first  man  in  the  colony  to  receive 
the  commission  of  captain.  He  died  at  The 
Flatts,  May  9,  1683,  and  was  buried  in  the 
old  Dutch  church  which  then  stood  at  the 
intersection  of  Broadway  and  State  street, 
Albany. 

Philip  Pieterse  Schuyler  luarried,  at  Rens- 
selaerswyck,  December  12,  1650,  Margarita 
Van  Slechtenhorst,  in  the  presence  of  the  of- 
ficers of  Fort  Orange,  Antoni  de  Hooges,  sec- 
retary of  the  colony,  officiating.  She  was 
born  at  Nykerck,  Holland,  in  1628 ;  died  at 
Rensselaerswyck  in  171 1,  and  was  the 
daughter  of  Brant  Arentse  Van  Slechtenhorst, 
who  came  to  Rensselaerswyck  in  1648,  acting 
as  an  official  for  \'an  Rensselaer.    Children  : 

I.  Gysbert,  born  at  Rensselaerswyck,  July 
2,  1652 ;  died  young. 

(2)  Geertruj,  born  at  Rensselaerswyck, 
February  4,  1654;  died  about  17 19;  married, 
Rensselaerswyck,  September  10.  1671,  Ste- 
phanus  \'an  Cortlandt,  who  was  born  May  7, 
1643,  <^'i^d  November  25,  1700,  and  was  the 
son  of  Olof  Stevense  \'an  Cortlandt  and  An- 
neke  Loockermans. 

3.  Alida.  born  at  Rensselaerswyck,  Febru- 
ary 28,  1656;  married  (first)  Rensselaers- 
wyck, February  10,  1675,  R^v.  Nicholaas  \^an 
Rensselaer,  who  was  born  in  Amsterdam,  Hol- 
land, in  1636,  died  November,  1678,  and  was 
the  son  of  first  Patroon  Kiliaen  Van  Rensse- 
laer and  Anna  Van  Wely ;  married  (second) 
July  9,  1679,  Robert  Livingston,  (q.  v.),  sec- 
retary of  Albany  from  1675  to  1721,  who 
was  born  abroad  and  was  buried  in  the  Dutch 
church  at  Albany,  April  21,   1725. 

4.  Pieter,  born  at  Rensselaerswyck,  Septem- 
ber 17,  1657;  first  mayor  of  Albany,  officia- 
ting from  date  of  the  charter.  July  22,  1686, 
to  October  13,  1694 ;  died  at  Rensselaerswyck, 
February  19,  1724;  married  (first)  Rensse- 
laerswyck. in  1681,  Engeltie  (Angelica)  \'an 
Schaick,  who  was  born  at  Rensselaerswyck,  in 
1659,  died  there,  in  1689,  daughter  of  Captain 
Goosen  Gerritse  Van  Schaick  and  Annatje 
Lievens  ;  by  whom  :  Margarita,  born  Novem- 
ber, 1682,  married,  .-Xugust  26,  1697.  Robert 
Livingston,  Jun.;  Philip,  baptized  October, 
1684,  died  young:  .Anna,  baptized  September 
12,  1686,  died  aged  twelve  years;  Gertrude, 
baptized  August  17,  i68g,  died  young;  he  mar- 


30 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


ried  (second)  Rensselaerswyck,  September  14, 
1691,  Maria  \'an  Rensselaer,  born  at  Rens- 
selaerswyck, October  25.  1672,  daughter  of 
Colonel  Jeremias  \'an  Rensselaer,  the  third 
Patroon,  and  Maria  Van  Cortlandt ;  by  whom  : 
Maria,  baptized  May,  1692;  Gertrude,  baptized 
February  11,  1694,  married,  June  13,  1714, 
Johannes  Lansing;  Philip,  baptized  January 
15,  1696,  died  in  1758,  without  issue,  mar- 
ried, December  29,  1720,  Margarita  Schuyler; 
Pieter,  Jr.,  baptized  January  12,  1698,  mar- 
ried December  29,  1722,  Catherine  Groesbeck ; 
Jeremiah  (twin),  baptized  January  12,  1698, 
buried    at    The    Flatts,    December    10,    1753, 

married  Susanna  . 

3.  Brandt,  born  at  Rensselaerswyck,  De- 
cember 18,  1659 ;  resided  on  Broad  street, 
New  York,  in  1686;  died  August  15,  1752; 
married,  July  12,  1682,  Cornelia  Van  Cort- 
landt, baptized  November  28,  1655,  daughter 
of  Olof  Stevense  Van  Cortlandt  and  Anneke 
Loockermans,  by  whom :  Philip,  baptized  No- 
vember 6,  1683,  married  August  28,  1713, 
Ann  Elizabeth  Staats,  who  was  baptized  De- 
cember 21,  1690;  Olof,  born  December  12. 
1686,  died  without  issue ;  John,  baptized  Janu- 
ary 15,   1690,  died  without  issue. 

6.  Arent,  born  at  Rensselaerswyck,  June  25, 
1662,  died  at  Belleville,  New  Jersey,  Novem- 
ber 26.  1730,  was  a  trader;  created  freeman 
of  New  York  City  in  1695  ;  settled  before  1725 
on  the  Passaic  river,  near  Belleville,  New  Jer- 
sey;  married  (first)  November  26,  1684,  Jen- 
neke  Teller,  who  died  in  1700,  daughter  of 
Willem  Teller  (who  arrived  in  Fort  Orange 
in  1639)  and  Margaret  Donchesen  ;  by  whom: 
Margareta,  baptized  Albany,  September  27, 
1685,  married  (license)  November  7,  1704, 
Charles  Oliver ;  Philip,  baptized  Albany,  Sep- 
tember II,  1687,  married  Hester  Kingsland ; 
Maria,  baptized  Albany,  October  6,  1689, 
died  young:  Judik,  baptized  Albany,  March 
II,  1692,  died  young:  Casparus.  baptized  New 
York,  May  5,  1695,  died  April  13,  1754,  mar- 
ried   Jane   ,    (second)    Mary    ; 

William,  baptized  June  2,  1700,  died  young. 
Arent  Schuyler  married  (second)  January  2, 
1703,  Swantje  \'an  Duyckhuysen  ;  by  whom: 
John,  married  Anne  \'an  Rensselaer ;  Pieter, 
married     (first)     Hester     Walter,      (second) 

Mary ;  Adoniah,  born  17 17,  died  1763, 

married  Gertrude  Van  Rensselaer ;  Eve,  mar- 
ried Peter  Bayard ;  Cornelia,  married  Pierre 
De  Peyster. 

7.  Sybilla,  born  at  Rensselaerswyck,  No- 
vember 12,  1664;  died  December,  1664. 

8.  Philip,  born  at  Rensselaerswyck,  Febru- 
ary 8,  1666;  died  May  24,  1724;  married 
(first)  New  York,  New  York,  July  25,  1687, 
Elizabeth  De  Meyer,  who  died,  and  he  mar- 


ried (second)  Albany,  Alay  19,  1719,  (Mrs.) 
Catherine  Schierph,  widow  of  Ritsiert  Brou- 
wer.  By  his  first  wife  he  had:  Nicholas,  born 
in  New  York,  New  York,  .September  11,  1691, 
died  July  3,  1748;  married  (first)  December 
2,  1714,  Elsie  Wendell,  who  died  April  8, 
1744;  married  (second)  Mary  Stephenson, 
who  survived  him.  By  his  second  wife  Philip 
had  no  child. 

9.  Johannes,  born  at  Rensselaerswyck,  April 
5,  1668 ;  died  February  27,  1747 ;  married, 
in  1695,  Elizabeth  Staats,  widow  of  Johannes 
Wendell,  who  died  June  3,  1737,  (see  for- 
ward ) . 

10.  Margaret,  born  at  Rensselaerswyck, 
January  2,  1672;  died  May  15,  17  ;8:  mar- 
ried (first)  September  8,  1691,  Jacobus  Ver 
Planck,  son  of  Isaac  Ver  Planck  and  Abigail 
Uytenbogart,  who  died  in  1700;  married  (sec- 
ond) November  2,  1701,  Lieut.  John  Collins, 
who  died  April  13,  1728,  his  wife  surviving. 
By  her  first  husband:  Jannetje,  baptized  Al- 
bany, April  13,  1693,  and  Philip,  baptized  in 
New  York,  June  3,  1695.  By  her  second  hus- 
band: Edward,  baptized  July  30,  1704.  mar- 
ried Margarita  Bleecker,  and  was  buried  in 
the  Dutch  Church,  March  29,  1753. 

(H)  Johannes  Schuyler,  tenth  mayor  of 
Albany,  son  of  Philip  Pieterse  Schuyler  and 
Margarita  Van  Slechtenhorst,  was  born  at 
The  Flatts,  Rensselaerswyck,  April  5.  1668, 
died  July  25,  1747.  and  was  buried  in  the 
Dutch  Church  at  Albany. 

He  was  only  five  years  old  when  his  father 
died,  and  at  an  early  age  developed  great  in- 
terest in  public  affairs.  In  1689.  when  twenty- 
one,  he  joined  the  convention  which  assumed 
the  government  of  Albany  and  its  dependen- 
cies in  opposition  to  Leisler.  The  next  year  he 
was  a  volunteer  in  General  Winthrop's  army 
for  the  invasion  of  Canada.  When  the  others 
of  greater  age  and  experience  than  he  held 
back,  he  volunteered  to  lead  a  company  into 
the  enemy's  country,  and  he  was  commissioned 
a  captain  in  1690.  Twenty-nine  whites  and 
one  hundred  and  twenty  Indians  volunteered 
to  go  under  his  lead.  He  left  camp  August 
13,  1690,  going  by  way  of  Wood  Creek,  and 
two  days  later  was  within  three  miles  of 
Crown  Point.  Marching  across  the  country 
in  the  direction  of  La  Praric,  he  made  a  num- 
ber of  prisoners,  and  arrived  back  at  Albany 
on  August  30th. 

In  the  spring  of  1691  he  made  another  in- 
vasion into  Canada,  and  in  January,  1693, 
having  been  appointed  lieutenant  of  cavalry, 
he  drove  the  French  from  the  Mohawk  coun- 
try when  on  their  raids.  A  gratuity  was 
voted  to  him  on  the  suggestion  of  Lord  Hello- 
mont  "in  consideration  of  his  extraordinary 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  \'ALLEYS 


31 


diligence  and  his  wise  observations  while  in 
Canada."  Later  he  was  made  a  colonel,  and 
because  of  having  greater  influence  with  the 
Indians  than  any  other  man  in  the  colony,  he 
was  invariably  a  delegate  to  conventions  for 
consideration  of  treaties. 

He  was  appointed  the  tenth  mayor  of  Al- 
bany by  Colonial  Governor  Edward  Hyde, 
serving  from  1703  to  1706.  He  was  Indian 
commissioner,  1705-1723;  member  of  colonial 
assembly,  September  i,  1710  to  March  3,  1713; 
alderman  of  First  Ward,  1738  and  1739.  He 
was  a  trader,  dealing  largely  in  beaver  and 
other  skins,  and  engaged  extensively  in  river 
transportation  by  sloops.  His  land  transac- 
tions were  considerable.  He  bought  2.000 
acres  on  the  south  side  of  the  Mohawk,  east 
of  Schenectady,  named  Rosendale ;  was  one 
of  the  company  procuring  a  land  patent  in 
the  Schoharie  valley,  named  Huntersfield ; 
owned  half  of  a  tract  of  2,000  acres  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Hudson,  and  in  1702  made 
his  important  purchase  from  .'\braham  Wen- 
dell of  a  portion  of  the  vast  Saratoga  patent. 
Fish  creek,  the  outlet  of  Saratoga  lake  flow- 
ing eastward  for  twelve  miles  into  the  Hud- 
son river  and  forming  the  northern  boundary 
of  his  tract,  aiiforded  fine  waterpower  for  the 
mills  which  he  erected  in  the  vicinity  of 
Schuylerville,  while  on  the  southern  bank, 
close  to  the  falls  and  not  much  more  than  a 
quarter  mile  from  the  river,  he  built  his  resi- 
dence, which  was  to  be  transmitted  from 
father  to  son,  until  possessed  by  his  grandson, 
General  Philip  Schuyler,  who  turned  it  over 
to  his  son.  His  house  in  Albany,  in  1712, 
was  at  (the  southeast  corner  of  State  and 
Pearl  streets,  with  grounds  running  back  to 
the  Rutten  kill. 

Captain  Johannes  Schuyler,  the  tenth 
mayor,  married  at  Albany,  April  25,  1694, 
Elizabeth  .Staats,  widow  of  Captain  Johannes 
Wendell.  Elizabeth  Staats  was  the  daughter 
of  Dr.  Abraham  Staats,  who  came  to  Bevers- 
wyck  in  1642  with  Dominie  Megapolensis,  and 
she  died  June  3,  and  was  buried  in  the  Dutch 
Church,  June  5,  1737.  Her  mother  was  Ca- 
trina  Jochemse  Wesselse.     Children  : 

1.  Philip,  baptized  at  Albany,  December  25, 
1695  :  shot  by  the  French  marauders  while  in 
his  house  at  Schuylerville,  and  died  November 

17.  1745- 

2.  Johannes,  baptized  at  Albany,  October 
31,  1697:  buried  at  The  Flatts,  November  6, 
1741  ;  married  in  New  York  City,  October  18, 
1723,  Cornelia  Van  Cortlandt,  daughter  of 
Stephanus  van  Cortlandt  and  Gertrude 
Schuyler,  (see  forward). 

3.  Margarita,  (known  as  "The  American 
Lady,"   see    Mrs.    Grant's    "Memoirs,")    bap- 


tized at  Albany,  January  12,  1701  :  died  at 
The  Flatts,  August  28,  1782;  married,  .Albany, 
December  29,  1720,  Philip  Schuyler,  who  was 
baptized  at  .Albany,  January  15,  1696,  died  in 
1758,  and  was  the  son  of  Maj'or  Pieter  Schuy- 
ler and  Maria  Van  Rensselaer ;  no  issue. 

4.  Catalyntje  (Catherine),  baptized  at  .Al- 
bany, March  5,  1704:  hiarried  at  Albany.  De- 
cember 9,  1726,  the  twentieth  ma\-or  of  Al- 
bany, Cornells  Cuyler,  who  was  baptized  in 
New  York,  New  York,  February  14, 
1697;  died  at  Albany,  March  14,  1765; 
officiating  as  mayor  from  October  14,  1742, 
to  September  28,  1746,  and  was  the  son  of 
the  fourteenth  mayor  of  Albany,  Johannes 
Cuyler  and  Elsie  Ten  Broeck ;  by  whom :  Jo- 
hannes, baptized  January  29,  1729;  Elizabeth, 
baptized  August  8,  1731  ;  Philip,  ijaptized  Au- 
gust 29,  1733  ;  Hendrick,  baptized  August  22, 
1735  ;  Elsie,  baptized  April  10,  1737,  buried 
in  Dutch  Church,  July  2,  1752 ;  Margarita, 
baptized  December  10,  1738 ;  Cornelis,  born 
October  31,  1740:  Colonel  Abraham  Cornelis, 
twenty-si.xth  mayor  of  Albany,  born  .April  11, 
1742,  died  at  Yorkfield,  Canada,  February 
5,   1810;  Dirck,   baptized  May    12,   1745. 

(Ill)  Johannes  Schuyler,  Jun.,  nineteenth 
mayor  of  .Albany,  son  of  Johannes  Schuyler 
and  Elizabeth  Staats,  was  born  at  The  Flatts, 
in  Watervliet,  Albany  county ;  was  baptized 
at  Albany.  October  31,  1697,  and  was  interred 
in  the  family  burial-ground  at  The  Flatts,  No- 
vember 6,  1 74 1. 

He  died  in  the  prime  of  life,  when  his  ac- 
complishments indicated  that  he  was  abun- 
dantly able  to  continue  a  career  of  great  pub- 
lic usefulness.  He  succeeded  his  father  in  the 
mercantile  business  about  1733,  and  that  year 
was  appointed,  with  Johannes  De  Peyster,  a 
commissioner  to  furnish  supplies  to  the  forts 
at  Oswego.  He  was  elected  alderman  of  the 
First  Ward  in  1738  and  again  in  1739.  In 
December  of  the  latter  year  he  took  a  seat  in 
the  Board  for  Indian  AiTairs.  He  was  ap- 
pointed nineteenth  mayor  of  Albany  by  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor George  Clarke,  and  took  the 
oath  October  31,  1740,  serving  until  Novem- 
ber 22,  1 74 1.  He  began  to  invest  in  land  so 
soon  as  he  had  acquired  surjjlus  capital.  In 
December,  1722,  he  bought  of  Philip  Living- 
ston, trustee,  a  portion  of  the  Saratoga  Patent, 
lying  on  the  east  side  of  the  Hudson  river 
and  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  Batten  kill. 
On  August  10.  1738.  the  land  commissioners 
issued  to  him,  Jacob  Glen  and  Arent  Bradt,  a 
certificate  of  survey  for  a  tract  which  they 
had  purchased  by  license  of  the  Indians,  sit- 
uated on  the  north  side  of  the  Mohawk  river, 
beginning  below  Little  Falls,  extending  west 
to  Canada  creek,  thence  northerly  along  that 


32 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


creek  for  thirty  miles,  thence  easterly  twelve 
miles,  and  to  the  place  of  beginning.  In  1740 
he  and  five  others  procured  a  title  from  the 
Province  for  12.000  acres  lying  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Hudson  river  above  the  Saratoga 
Patent,  of  which  he  had  an  equal  share. 

Mavor  Johannes  Schuyler,  Jun.,  married,  in 
New  York  City,  October  18,  1723,  Cornelia 
Van  Cortlandt.  She  was  born  at  Van  Cort- 
landt  Manor.  February  30,  1698;  her  will 
proved  November  24,  1762;  she  was  the 
youngest  daughter  of  Stephanus  Van  Cort- 
landt and  Gertrude  Schuyler.    Children: 

1.  Gertrude,  born  at  Albany,  August  18, 
1724:  married  (first)  Pieter  Schuyler  (bap- 
tized February  20,  1723  ;  buried  at  The  Flatts, 
September  2,  1753),  son  of  Pieter  Schuyler 
and  Catherine  Groesbeck ;  by  whom:  Pieter, 
who  married  Gertrude  Lansing.  January  17, 
1767,  died  January  4,  1792,  and  Cornelia,  bap- 
tized July  "26,  1746,  married  Walter  Living- 
ston. Gertrude  Schuyler  married  (second) 
December  4.  1760,  Dr.  John  Cochran,  who 
died  April.  1807. 

2.  Johannes,  bom  at  Albany,  December  30, 
1725  :  died  without  issue,  and  was  buried  in 
the  Dutch  Church,  November  7,  1746. 

3.  Stephanus,  born  at  Albany,  September 
30,  1727  ;  died  young. 

4.  Catherine,  baptized  at  Albany,  July  14, 
1728;  died  young. 

5.  Stephanus,  born  at  Albany.  December  20, 
1729 ;  died  young. 

6.  Philip,  baptized  at  Albany,  October  17, 
1731  ;  died  young. 

7.  General  Philip,  born  at  Albany,  Novem- 
ber 22,  1733;  died  in  the  Schuyler  Mansion, 
Albany,  November  18,  1804;  married,  at  Cla- 
verack,  Columbia  county,  New  York.  Septem- 
ber 17,  1755.  Catherine  Van  Rensselaer,  (see 
forward). 

8.  Cortlandt,   baptized   at   Albany,    July   9, 

1735;  married  Barbara  ■ ,  and  had  John 

Cortlandt,  who  married  Angelica  \'an  Rens- 
selaer, and  died  without  issue,  December, 
1793. 

9.  Stephanus,  baptized  at  Albany,  August 
14.  1737;  died  young. 

10.  Elizabeth,  baptized  at  Albany,  October 
8,  1738;  died  young. 

11.  Oliver,  baptized  at  .Mbany,  February  22, 
1741  :  died  young. 

(I\')  General  Philip  Schuyler,  son  of 
IVIayor  Johannes  Schuyler,  Jun.,  and  Cornelia 
Van  Cortlandt,  was  born  in  his  father's  house 
on  the  southeast  corner  of  State  and  Pearl 
streets,  Albany.  New  York.  November  22, 
1733,  and  died  in  the  Schuyler  Mansion,  Al- 
bany, November   18,   1804. 

Philip  Schuyler   had   only    Dutch   blood    in 


his  veins.  There  was  absolutely  no  line  of  de- 
scent in  America  at  that  time  of  which  any- 
one could  be  more  justly  proud.  Both  his 
father  and  grandfather  had  been  mayors  of 
Albany.  His  grandfather's  brother,  Pieter 
Schuyler,  had  been  appointed  the  first  mayor 
of  the  city,  and  two  of  that  dignitary's  cous- 
ins. David  Davidse  Schuyler  and  Myndert 
Schuyler ;  had  served  respectively  as  the  elev- 
enth and  thirteenth  mayors.  Probably  no 
other  family  in  America  has  experienced  such 
a  record  in  civic  administration,  and  appoint- 
ments in  those  days  were  because  of  promi- 
nence or  proficiency.  In  regard  to  military 
valor,  the  major  portion  of  all  the  males  in 
his  family  had  acquired  some  sort  of  title  or 
had  participated  in  one  or  more  of  the  almost 
constant  colonial  conflicts  or  struggle  for  su- 
premacy against  the  savage. 

His  was  a  life  filled  with  eminent  services 
to  his  country,  and  his  fame  will  ever  remain 
so  well  established  that  no  eulogistic  phrase 
in  this  biography  can  better  its  brilliancy. 
There  are  other  volumes  devoted  exclusively 
to  his  life;  but  for  the  benefit  of  the  person 
who  seeks  it  here,  a  resume  is  presented, 
which  is  purposely  of  a  local  nature  because 
this  life  sketch  is  pertinent  to  Albany,  and  for 
that  reason  it  may  seem  that  space  devoted  to 
family  matters  outweighs  what  might  have 
been  employed  in  recounting  deeds  of  national 
importance. 

He  was  fourth  in  descent  from  Philip  Pie- 
terse  Schuyler,  progenitor  of  the  family,  and 
was  eight  years  old  when  his  honored  father 
died.  However,  he  was  brought  up  by  his 
cultured  mother  with  unusual  diligence  to 
train  him  to  be  a  youth  who  should  make  his 
mark  as  those  before  him  had  done.  Living 
sometimes  at  her  "house  in  Albany  and  at 
other  seasons  at  The  Flatts.  a  model  and  moral 
household,  where  "Aunt  Schuyler"  was  wont 
to  entertain  the  most  prominent  visitors  com- 
ing into  the  colony,  he  received  a  certain  pol- 
ish which  proved  useful  to  him,  and  all  those 
things  moulded  his  character. 

A  Huguenot  tutor  instructed  him  until  he 
was  fifteen  years  of  age.  and  then  he  was  sent 
to  New  Rochelle,  a  locality  of  many  Huguenot 
refugees,  and  placed  in  charge  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Stouppe,  pastor  of  the  French  Protes- 
tant church.  He  remained  there  three  years, 
learned  to  speak  the  language  fluently,  and 
became  especially  proficient  in  mathematics, 
thus  inculcating  system,  orderly  habits  and  ac- 
curate thinking,  essential  habits  for  a  credi- 
table military  career.  It  is  curious  to  look 
upon  tiie  mathematical  drawings  and  calcula- 
tions made  then,  of  canal  locks,  and  figures 
having  to  do  with  the  public  debt.     The  place, 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  \'ALLEYS 


33 


however,  had  its  serious  disadvantages,  for 
with  the  snow  forcing  its  way  through  the 
chinks  of  his  bedroom  walls,  he  contracted  a 
form  of  rheumatic  gout  which  confined  him 
to  the  house  for  a  year,  and  at  important 
stages  of  his  after  life  it  bore  its  more  serious 
aspects,  by  affecting  him  when  in  the  northern 
military  camps.  In  his  youth  he  paid  many 
visits  to  New  York,  mingling  with  society 
which  brought  about  many  intimacies  that 
were  to  be  of  importance  later  on,  when  he 
was  one  of  those  engaged  in  shaping  the  des- 
tiny of  the  new  nation. 

One  of  his  first  experiences  in  active  battle 
conflict  was  during  the  celebrated  engagement 
with  the  French  in  the  late  summer  of  1755, 
when  he  was  only  twenty-two  years  of  age 
and  a  captain  by  commission.  The  French 
Baron,  Ludwig  August  Dieskau,  was  proceed- 
ing southward  by  the  route  of  Lakes  Cham- 
plain  and  George.  Colonel  William  Johnson 
and  Colonel  Ephraim  Williams,  both  men 
famed  in  American  history,  took  regiments  to 
the  head  of  Lake  George  in  order  to  thwart 
the  attempt  to  turn  the  province  over  to  the 
French,  which  was  to  be  accomplished  first  by 
an  attack  made  on  Albany.  Young  Schuyler 
was  in  the  party  as  a  participant,  and  when 
General  Dieskau  was  wounded  in  the  encoun- 
ter of  September  8,  held  prisoner  in  Sir  Wil- 
liam Johnson's  tent,  an  angry  horde  of  savage 
allies  pressed  about  the  spot  where  he  lay 
and  demanded  that  he  be  given  over  as  a  vic- 
tim for  their  right  to  torture ;  but  Colonel 
Johnson  ordered  Schuyler  to  convey  him  safe- 
ly to  Albany.  This  he  did,  and  he  showed 
him  all  the  courtesy  due  to  an  honored  guest, 
and  so  appreciated  was  this  act  that  the  for- 
eign general  never  failed  thereafter  to  speak 
of  the  nobility  of  Americans. 

Philip  Schuyler  was  one  of  the  officers  who 
went  north- with  General  .^bercrombie,  leaving 
Albany  in  the  latter  part  of  June.  1758,  to 
block  the  French  attack  at  Fort  Tifonderoga. 
On  the  morning  of  July  6th,  soon  after  making 
the  landing  of  the  army  at  the  northern  end 
of  Lake  George,  and  while  walking  ahead  of 
his  men  near  Trout  Brook,  about  a  mile  south 
of  the  present  village  of  Ticonderoga,  Lord 
Howe  was  mortally  wounded.  It  was  but  a 
week  before  that  he  had  drilled  his  men  in 
the  "pasture"  at  Albany,  and  had  ridden  on 
horseback  early  nearly  every  morning  to 
breakfast  at  the  Schuyler  Flatts,  where  he  had 
become  as  one  of  the  family  and  was  dearly 
loved  by  all.  Schuyler  brought  the  body  of 
his  friend  to  Albany,  as  is  verified  by  contem- 
poraneous publication  of  despatches  in  the 
newspapers,  although  this  incident  has  been  a 
matter  of  dispute  between  inliabitants  of  Ti- 


conderoga and  Albany.  It  is  said  that  the 
body  was  placed  first  in  the  Schuyler  family 
vault,  until  the  interment  took  place  in  old 
St.  Peter's  Episcopal  church,  on  September  5, 
1758,  and  is  authentically  established  by  the 
entry  in  the  "Church  Book,"  there  preserved 
with  care  to  this  day,  and  examined  by  the 
writer  of  this  sketch,  for  tliis  very  reason. 

General  Schuyler  was  a  member  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Assembly,  1768-1774;  delegate  to  the 
Continental  Congress,  taking  his  seat  May  15, 
1775;  member  of  the  New  York  State  Sen- 
ate, 1780-1790;  Commissioner  of  Indian  Af- 
fairs, 1775-1797;  surveyor-general,  1782-1788; 
president  of  the  Northern  Inland  Lock  Navi- 
gation Company,  and  of  the  \\'estern  Inland 
Lock  Navigation  Company,  in  1792,  projects 
enlisting  his  closest  interest;  the  first  United 
States  senator  from  New  York,  1790-1792; 
re-elected,   1792- 1797. 

He  was  appointed  major-general,  command- 
ing the  Army  of  the  Northern  Department, 
in  1775,  a  most  important  position  in  the  Rev- 
olution, as  one  of  the  gravest  dangers  of  the 
entire  conflict  was  the  advance  of  the  British 
forces  under  General  Burgo}'ne  coming  from 
Canada  by  way  of  the  Adirondack  lakes  and 
the  valley  of  the  Hudson.  With  the  greatest 
skill  and  consummate  system  he  both  planned 
and  developed  all  the  necessary  preparations 
to  meet  the  powerful  foe — in  fact,  with  such 
ability  that  defeat  of  the  enemy  was  finally 
brought  about  in  October,  1777.  He  had 
found  an  insurmountable  difficulty  in  acquir- 
ing men  to  form  an  army  of  sufficient  num- 
bers and  adequately  equipped  as  would  guar- 
antee victory.  The  writer  of  this  sketch  has 
time  and  again  come  across  manuscript  let- 
ters of  General  Schuyler  in  which  he  made 
most  urgent  appeals  to  General  Washington 
to  grant  him  more  men,  and  even  the  windows 
in  the  houses  of  friends  in  Albany  were 
stripped  of  the  metal  in  order  to  furnish  ma- 
terial for  bullets.  His  army,  in  August  of 
that  fateful  year,  numbered  not  more  than 
two  thousand  men,  and  it  was  known  that 
Burgoyne  was  marching  southward  with  eight 
thousand,  and  camp  luggage  which  even  in- 
cluded numerous  cases  of  champagne.  Sol- 
diers from  adjacent  states  were  loth  to  come 
into  another  and  fight  under  its  generals  for 
credit  which  would  not  redound  to  the  state 
whence  they  came.  A  sad  and  serious  spirit 
of  jealousy  was  plainly  manifest :  but  by  the 
appointment  of  Horatio  Gates  of  Massachu- 
setts to  the  command,  brought  about  by  con- 
nivance, this  impediment  was  overcome,  so 
that  an  army  of  proportions  was  the  result.  It 
required  several  severe  conflicts  to  overthrow 
Burgoyne,  the  principal  onslaughts  being  the 


34 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK    VALLEYS 


fighting  at  Beiiiis  Heights  on  September  19th, 
and  at  "Old  Saratoga"  (Schuylerville),  on 
October  7th.  General  Schuyler's  country  res- 
idence, the  ancient  homestead  on  the  southern 
bank  of  Fish  creek  and  east  of  the  highway 
from  Albany  to  Canada,  was  occupied  by  Bur- 
goyne  on  the  night  of  October  9th,  when  he 
gave  a  banquet  to  his  officers,  drinking  to 
the  health  of  the  women  of  his  entourage,  and 
promising  to  feast  in  Albany  presently,  and  he 
burned  it  the  next  morning  on  departing.  The 
surrender  took  place  on  October  17th,  and  im- 
mediately afterward  the  prisoners  marched 
southward.  It  was  then  that  General  Schuy- 
ler took  General  Burgoyne  and  his  brother 
officers  to  his  home  in  Albany,  where  they  be- 
came his  guests  October  18,  1777.  It  was 
another  act  of  gentlemanly  courtesy  that  won 
a  credit  for  the  chivalry  of  Americans. 

Washington  had  always  thought  of  Schuy- 
ler in  the  highest  esteem,  and  never  failed  to 
maintain  confidence  in  and  speak  of  his  abil- 
ity and  courage.  He  had  had  an  abundant 
opportunity  throughout  the  war  to  form  an 
accurate  estimate,  and  as  the  commander-in- 
chief  was  noted  for  his  judgment  of  charac- 
ter of  his  officers,  it  is  certain  that  his  opin- 
ion is  more  just  than  that  of  any  captious 
critic  or  antagonistic  historian  who  writes  of 
men  he  has  never  known  and  about  incidents 
of  which  he  was  not  a  witness.  General 
Washington  wrote  from  Mount  Vernon  to 
General  Schuyler,  on  January  21,  1784,  as  fol- 
lows : 

"Your  favor  of  the  20th  of  Dec.  found  me,  as  you 
conjectured,  by  that  fireside  from  which  I  have  been 
too  long  absent  for  my  own  convenience ;  to  which 
I  return  with  the  greatest  avidity,  the  moment  my 
pubHc  avocations  would  permit ;  and  from  which  I 
hope  never  again  to  be  withdrawn.  While  I  am 
here  solacing  myself  in  my  retreat  from  the  busy 
scenes  of  life,  I  am  not  only  made  extremely  happy 
by  the  gratitude  of  my  countrymen  in  general ;  but 
particularly  so  by  the  repeated  proofs  of  the  kind- 
ness of  those  who  have  been  intimately  conversant 
with  my  public  transactions,  and  I  need  scarcely  add 
that  the  favorable  opinion  of  no  one  is  more  ac- 
ceptable than  that  of  yourself.  In  recollecting  the 
vicissitudes  of  fortune  we  have  experienced,  and  the 
difficulties  we  have  surmounted,  I  shall  always  call 
to  mind  the  great  assistance  I  have  frequently  re- 
ceived from  you.  both  in  your  public  and  private 
character.  May  the  blessings  of  peace  amply  reward 
your  exertions;  may  you  and  your  family  (to  whom 
the  compliments  of  Mrs.  Washington  and  myself 
are  affectionately  presented)  long  continue  to  enjoy 
every  spccief  pf  happiness  the  world  can  aflFord. 
With  sentiments  of  sincere  esteem,  attachment  and 
affection,  I  am.  Dear  Sir,  your  most  obedient,  very 
humble  servant,  G.  W.vshi.ngton." 

Before  passing  to  the  consideration  of  the 
kith  and  kin  of  General  Schuyler,  it  is  advis- 
able to  show  with  no  uninistakable  clearness 
why  they  and  the  great  men  of  the  country 


have  revered  his  memory.  .A  few  excerpts 
from  the  writings  of  well-known  characters 
will  serve  to  illustrate.  In  Washington  Irv- 
ing's  "Life  of  Washington"  appears  the  fol- 
lowing: "When  the  tidings  reached  General 
Washington  of  the  action  of  the  Congress  in 
superseding  Schuyler  (by  Gates),  he  wrote 
him  immediately  'that  he  looked  upon  the 
whole  scheme  as  diabolical,'  that  he  regarded 
it  'with  sentiments  of  abhorrence,  having  the 
utmost  confidence  in  your  integrity  and  the 
most  incontestible  proofs  of  your  attachment 
to  your  country.'  Schuyler  asked  for  a  court- 
martial  to  sit  on  the  case  and  was  fully  ac- 
quitted, the  information  being  forwarded  to 
General  Washington  by  the  court  with  an  ex- 
pression of  hope  that  'Schuyler's  name  might 
be  handed  down  to  posterity  as  one  of  the  pil- 
lars of  the  American  cause.'  "  On  finishing 
his  book,  Irving  regretted  that  he  was  "toO' 
old"  to  undertake  that  of  Schuyler. 

Daniel  Webster  also  expressed  a  desjre  tO' 
add  at  least  "a  chapter  on  General  Schuyler 
to  the  History  of  the  Revolution,"  writing  as- 
follows:  "I  was  brought  up  with  the  New 
England  prejudices  against  him;  but  I  con- 
sider him  as  second  only  to  Washington  in 
the  services  he  rendered  to  the  country  in  the 
War  of  the  Revolution.  His  zeal  and  devo- 
tion to  the  cause  under  difficulties  that  would 
have  paralyzed  most  men,  and  his  fortitude 
and  courage  when  assailed  by  malicious  at- 
tacks, having  impressed  me  with  a  strong  de- 
sire to  express  publicly  my  sense  of  his  great 
qualities." 

Gov.  Horatio  Seymour,  in  his  address  de- 
livered on  the  occasion  of  the  centennial  cele- 
bration of  Burgoyne's  surrender,  held  at 
Schuylerville,  in  1877,  o"  the  very  spot  where 
.Schuyler's  house  and  property  had  been  de- 
stroyed by  the  British,  gave  testimony  again 
to  General  Schuyler's  patriotism  and  unsel- 
fishness,— "as  the  one  figure  which  rises  above 
all  others;  upon  whose  conduct  and  bearing 
w-e  love  to  dwell.  There  was  one  who  won  a 
triumph  there  which  never  grows  dim,  one 
who  gave  an  example  of  patience  and  patrio- 
tism unsurpassed  on  the  pages  of  history,  one 
who  did  not,  under  cutting  wrongs  and  cruel 
suspicions,  wear  an  air  of  martyrdom ;  but 
with  cheerful  alacrity  served  where  he  should 
have  commanded." 

Mrs.  Lamb,  in  her  "History  of  New  York," 
writes:  "In  this  connection,  the  figure  of 
Philip  Schuyler  rises  grandly  above  all  others, 
— lie  uttered  no  comjjlaint  at  seeing  his  laurels 
won  by  another !  He  even  congratulated 
Gates,  who  had  displayed  no  professional  skill 
whatever." 

It  will  not  do  to  omit  mention  of  the  his- 


HUDSON   AXD   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


35 


toric  Schuyler  Mansion  at  Albany,  the  scene 
of  so  much  social  life  that  was  of  importance 
in  the  period  just  described  and  an  edifice 
which  to  this  day  has  attracted  every  foreign 
visitor  to  the  Capital  City. 

After  his  earlier  campaigns,  Philip  Schuy- 
ler settled  down  at  The  Flatts  with  his  bride, 
intending  to  busy  himself  with  private  affairs. 
He  was,  however,  soon  called  away  from  the 
anticipated  quiet  life  to  engage  again  in  pub- 
lic matters.  Colonel  John  Bradstreet  had  an- 
other campaign  on  hand  in  1760,  this  time 
against  the  Indian  allies  of  the  French  in  the 
west.  The  colonel's  health  was  poor,  and  he 
had  accounts  with  the  government  covering 
several  years  which  required  close  attention. 
Thinking  to  manage  his  point  successfully,  he 
wrote  to  Philip  Schuyler :  "Your  zeal,  punc- 
tuality and  strict  honesty  in  his  Majesty's  ser- 
vice, under  my  direction,  for  several  years 
past,  are  sufficient  proofs  that  I  can't  leave 
my  public  accounts  and  papers  in  a  more  faith- 
ful hand  than  yours  to  be  settled,  should  any 
accident  happen  to  me  this  campaign ;  where- 
fore that  I  may  provide  against  it  and  that 
a  faithful  account  may  be  rendered  to  the  pub- 
lic of  all  the  public  money  that  I  have  re- 
ceived since  the  war,  I  now  deliver  to  you 
all  my  public  accounts  and  vouchers  and  do 
hereby  empower  you  to  settle  them  with 
whomsoever  may  be  appointed  for  that  pur- 
pose, either  in  America  or  England.'' 

It  proved  to  be  difficult  to  conduct  the  busi- 
ness properly  without  visiting  London,  so 
Schuyler  determined  to  go  abroad.  He  sailed 
in  February,  1761,  aboard  a  packet  named 
"General  Wall,"  and  he  interested  himself  in 
the  study  of  navigation,  which,  because  of 
his  previous  taste  for  mathematics,  and  the 
slowness  of  the  voyage,  allowed  him  to  make 
peculiarly  rapid  progress.  It  happened  that 
the  captain  of  the  vessel  died  on  the  journey 
over,  and  both  passengers  and  crew  requested 
him  to  assume  command.  He  was  then  but 
twenty-eight  years  old,  but  he  possessed  much 
self-reliance,  and  he  navigated  the  vessel  with 
full  success  until  nearing  the  coast  of  Eng- 
land. At  this  time  there  was  a  war  in  prog- 
ress between  England  and  France  in  Europe, 
although  peace  had  come  between  them  in  the 
colonies,  and  the  "General  Wall"  was  taken 
by  a  French  privateer,  with  the  result  that 
a  French  lieutenant  and  a  prize  crew  were 
placed  aboard.  It  was  then  that  his  knowl- 
edge of  French  proved  very  beneficial,  and  he 
found  himself  presently  on  good  terms  with 
his  foreign  captor.  As  both  privateer  and 
prize,  the  "General  Wall,"  were  nearing 
France,  they  were  both  captured  by  an  Eng- 
lish frigate,  and  it  happened  thus  that  young 


Schuyler  was  able  to  reach  London  in  safety 
with  his  valuable  papers.  After  attending  to 
these  affairs  he  devoted  some  time  to  the  study 
of  the  products  which  he  hof>ed  to  see  pro- 
duced at  home  instead  of  the  colonies  contin- 
uing to  import  them.  He  also  made  a  study 
of  canal  systems,  with  the  expectation  that 
some  day  he  might  introduce  such  methods 
into  his  province. 

On  his  arrival  home,  as  the  little  sloop 
neared  the  city  of  Albany,  his  eyes  rested 
on  an  unfamiliar  sight.  He  knew  that  when 
he  had  departed  a  new  house  for  his  family 
was  in  contemplation  ;  but  here  it  was  a  real- 
ity on  the  spot  he  had  selected.  Its  construc- 
tion had  been  brought  about  by  the  fact  that, 
after  the  war  ended.  Colonel  P.radstreet  rec- 
ommended the  number  of  newly  idle  men,  car- 
penters and  the  like,  as  an  inducement  to  be 
reckoned  with  in  constructing  it  advantage- 
ously, and  Mrs.  Schuyler  coincided  with  these 
views.  It  was  a  large,  double  house,  in  the 
English  colonial  style,  built  facing  the  Hud- 
son, and  about  a  mile  from  it,  with  pleasing 
outlook  because  of  its  elevation  which  sloped 
gradually  to  the  river  shore,  affording  the 
family  extensive  terraces  and  gardens.  It  was 
of  brick,  with  spacious  rooms  within  and  por- 
ticos on  front  and  sides,  the  whole  painted 
cream  and  white  in  later  years.  So  well  was 
the  work  accomplished  that  although  erected 
in  1761,  it  has  stood  in  about  the  same  condi- 
tion to  this  day,  and  the  only  striking  change 
has  been  in  the  encroachments  made  by  the 
city  growing  about  it  on  all  sides,  until  the 
estate  was  limited  to  an  acre  or  two. 

The  principal  guest  chamber  was  on  the 
second  floor  on  the  left  hand  side,  and  there 
slept  Lafayette,  the  Duke  de  Lauzun,  and, 
after  his  surrender.  General  Burgoyne,  with 
several  of  his  leading  officers.  After  the  Rev- 
olution also  came  there  the  Marquis  de  Chas- 
tellux,  \'icomte  de  Noailles  and  Comte  de 
Damas.  Washington  also  was  his  guest,  and 
was  godfather  of  one  of  his  children,  the  in- 
fant, Catherine  Schuyler.  Her  elder  sister 
Margaret  married  Alexander  Hamilton  in  one 
of  the  rooms,  December  14,  1780.  She  like- 
wise figured  in  the  attack  made  on  the  Schuy- 
ler Alansion  by  Indians  on  the  evening  of  Au- 
gust 7,  1781,  when  a  band  of  Tories  planned 
to  carry  General  Schuyler  off'  to  Canada.  He 
was  seated  in  his  front  hall,  with  doors  open 
on  account  of  the  extreme  heat,  when  he 
was  apprised  of  the  fact  that  some  one  wished 
to  see  him  at  the  rear  gate.  Doors  and  win- 
dows were  immediately  barred,  having  reason 
to  fear  trouble,  and,  because  of  the  suspicious 
character,  the  family  proceeded  to  rush  up- 
stairs.    Discovering  that  the  infant  Catherine 


36 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


was  sleeping-  on  the  main  floor,  Mrs.  Schuyler 
ran  back  to  save  her ;  but  the  General  inter- 
cepted, and  the  child's  sister  Margaret,  who 
later  married  Patroon  Stephen  \'an  Rensse- 
laer, rescued  the  babe,  and  while  mounting- 
the  stairs  barely  escaped  the  flying  tomahawk, 
which  lodged  in  the  balustrade.  By  a  subter- 
fuge of  the  General,  calling  to  imaginary 
armed  men  to  hasten,  the  band  of  marauders 
was  scared  away. 

General  Philip  Schuyler  married,  at  Clav- 
erack,  Columbia  county,  New  York,  Septem- 
ber 17,  1755,  Catherine  Van  Rensselaer.  She 
was  born  at  Claverack,  New  York,  November 
4,  1734:  died  in  the  Schuyler  Mansion,  Al- 
bany, March  7,  1803,  daughter  of  Johannes 
\'an  Rensselaer,  of  Claverack  (born  Jan,  11, 
1708)  who  married  (Jan.  3,  1734)  Engeltje 
(Angelica)  Livingston,  who  was  baptized 
July  17,  1698.  Children  of  General  Philip 
Schuvler  and  Catherine  Van  Rensselaer : 

1.  Engeltje  (or  Angelica),  baptized  at  Al- 
bany. February  22,  1756:  married  John  Bar- 
ker Church. 

2.  Elizabeth,  born  at  Albany,  August  9, 
1757:  died  at  Washington,  D.  C  November 
7,  1854:  married,  in  the  Schuyler  Mansion 
at  Albany,  December  14,  1780,  Alexander 
Hamilton,  first  Secretary  of  the  U.  S.  Treas- 
ury under  appointment  by  President  Washing- 
ton. He  was  born  on  the  island  of  Nevis,  in 
the  West  Indies,  January  11,  1757,  and  was 
mortally  wounded  in  a  duel  fought  with  Aaron 
Burr,  at  Weehawken,  New  Jersey,  on  the 
morning  of  July  11,  1804,  dying  at  his  home, 
"The  Grange,"  in  New  York  City,  July  12th. 
His  father  was  a  proprietor  planter  in  the 
West  Indies,  named  James  Hamilton,  the  son 
of  Alexander  Hamilton,  of  Grange,  Scotland. 
He  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Schuyler,  are  bur- 
ied in  the  graveyard  of  Trinity  Church  in 
New  York  City,  'to  the  south  of  the  edifice 
She  lived  to  be  ninety-seven  years  old,  and 
when  she  died  her  husband's  last  letter  to  her 
was  found  in  a  receptacle  worn  attached  to 
her  neck.  They  had  the  following  issue:  (a) 
Philip,  born  January  22,  1782,  killed  in  a 
duel  at  Weehawken,  New  Jersey,  November 
24,  1801.  (b)  Angelica,  born  September  25, 
1784,  died  February  6,  1857.  (c)  Alexander, 
born  May  16,  1786,  died  August  2,  1875.  (d) 
James  Alexander,  born  April  14,  1788,  died  at 
Irvington,  New  York,  September  24,  1878; 
married,  Brooklyn,  October  17,  1810,  Mary 
Morris  (b.Dec.  25,  1790;  d.May  24,  1869). 
(e)  John  Church,  born  August  22,  1792;  died 
Long  Branch,  New  Jersey,  July  25,  1882.  (f) 
William  Steven,  born  August  4,  1795,  died  at 
Sacramento,  California,  August  7,  1850.  (g) 
Eliza,  born  November  26,  1799.     (h)   Philip, 


born  June  i.  1802,  died  at  Poughkeepsie,  New 
York,  July  9,  1884 ;  married  Rebecca  McLane, 
and  had  Allan  McLane  Hamilton,  born  Brook- 
lyn, October  6,  1848. 

3.  Margarita,  born  at  Albany,  September 
19,  1758,  baptized  September  24,  died  at  Al- 
bany, March  14,  1801  :  married  at  Schuyler- 
ville,  New  York,  June  6,  1783,  General  Ste- 
phen Van  Rensselaer,  who  was  born  in  New 
York  City,  November  i,  1764;  died  in  the 
Van  Rensselaer  Manor  House  at  Albany,  Jan- 
uary 26,  1839,  and  was  the  son  of  7th  Pat- 
roon, Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  who  married 
(New  York,  Jan.  23,  1764)  Catherine  Living- 
ston, daughter  of  Philip  Livingston,  the 
Signer  of  the  Declaration ;  by  whom :  Cather- 
ine Schuyler  (Van  Rensselaer),  born  in  July, 
and  baptized  August  9,  1784,  died  at  Albany, 
April  26,  1797;  Stephen  (\^an  Rensselaer), 
born  at  Albany,  June  6,  1786,  died  in  1787; 
General  Stephen  (\^an  Rensselaer),  born  at 
Albany,  March  29,  1789,  tlie  8th  Patroon,  died 
in  the  Manor  House  at  Albany,  May  25,  1868, 
married.  New  York  City,  January  2.  1817, 
Harriet  Elizabeth  Bayard. 

4.  Cornelia,  born  at  Albany;  baptized  there, 
August  I,  1761  :  died  young. 

5.  John  Bradstreet,  born  at  Albany ;  bap- 
tized October  8,    1763 ;  died  young. 

6.  John  Bradstreet,  born  in  the  Schuyler 
mansion,  Albany;  baptized  there,  July  23, 
1765 ;  died  at  Schuylerville,  New  York,  Au- 
gust 19.  1795  :  married,  Albany,  September  18, 
1787,  Elizabeth  \'an  Rensselaer,  who  was 
born  in  the  Manor  House  at  Albany,  August 
15,  1768,  died  at  Albany,  March  27,  1841, 
daughter  of  7th  Patroon,  Stephen  \^an  Rens- 
selaer and  Catherine  Livingston  :  to  whom : 
Philip,  Iwrn  in  Albany,  October  26,  1788,  died 
at  Pelham,  New  York,  February  12,  1865, 
was  member  of  assembly  and  United  States 
consul  to  Liverpool,  England,  married.  New 
York  City,  September  12,  181 1,  Grace  Flunter, 
daughter  of  Robert  Hunter,  of  Edinburgh, 
Scotland,  and  sister  of  Hon.  John  Hunter,  of 
Hunter's  Island,  in  Long  Island  -Sound.  John 
Bradstreet  Schuyler's  other  child  was  Stephen 
Van  Rensselaer,  born  at  Albany,  Mav  4,  1790; 
died  when  three  weeks  old.  \\nien  a  widow, 
Elizabeth  Van  Rensselaer  (Schuyler")  married, 
Albany.  November  17,  1800,  John  Bleecker. 

7.  Philip  Jereiniah,  born  January  20,  1768; 
died  in  New  York  City,  February  21,  1835; 
married.  May  31,  1788,  Sarah  Rutsen  (who 
died  October  24.  1805)  ;  by  whom  five  chil- 
dren; married  (second),  January  21,  1807, 
Mary  Anna  Sawyer,  of  Newburyport,  Massa- 
chusetts (b.  September  2,  1786,  d.  March  25, 
1852),  by  whom  six  children.  Issue:  (a)  Phil- 
ip, born  April   5,   1789,  died   May  22,    1822, 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


37 


married  Rosanna  Livingston,  (b)  John  Rut- 
sen,  died  June  22,  1813.  (c)  Catherine,  died 
November  20,  1829:  married,  January  27, 
1816,  Chief  Justice  Samuel  Jones  (b.  March 
26,  1770.  d.  August,  1853).  (d)  Robert,  born 
September,  1798:  died,  1855.  (e)  Stephen 
Van  Rensselaer,  born  April,  1801 ;  married, 
December  11,  1831,  Catherine  Morris,  and  he 
died  in  1859.  (f)  William,  born  December  6, 
1807;  died  when  twenty-two  years  old,  un- 
married, (g)  Sybill,  born  May  16,  1809;  died 
January  26,  1813.  (h)  George  Lee,  born  June 
9,  181 1  ;  died  July  31,  1890;  married  (first), 
February  18,  1835,  Eliza  Hamilton  (b.  Oct.  8, 
1811;  d.  Dec.  20,  1863),  granddaughter  of 
Alexander  Hamilton;  married  (second),  April 
15,  1869,  Mary  Morris  Hamilton,  born  Janu- 
ary I,  1818:  died  May  11,  1877. 

8.  Rensselaer,  born  at  Albany.  January  29, 
1773;  died  December  16,  1847:  married  Eliza 
Ten  Broeck  (b.  Aug.  25,  1772;  d.  Apr.  10, 
1848),  daughter  of  Gen.  Abraham  Ten  ijroeck 
and  Elizabeth  Van  Rensselaer;  no  issue. 

9.  Cornelia,  born  at  Albany,  December  22, 
1776;  died  at  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  July 
5,   1808;  married  Washington  Morton. 

10.  Cortlandt,  born  at  Albany,  May  15, 
1778 ;  died  young. 

11.  Catherine  Van  Rensselaer,  born  at  Al- 
bany, February  20,  1781 ;  died  at  Oswego, 
New  York,  August  26,  1857:  married  (first), 
Samuel  Malcolm,  son  of  General  Malcolm  of 
the  Revolution;  married  (second).  Major 
James  Cochran,  son  of  Surgeon-General  John 
Cochran. 

(Arent  Schuyler's  Line). 

This  is  the  line  of  descent  of  Arent  Schuy- 
ler, son  of  Philip  Pieterse  Schuyler,  the  pro- 
genitor of  the  family  in  America. 

(H)  Arent  Schuyler,  son  of  Philip  Pie- 
terse  Schuyler  and  Margarita  Van  Slechten- 
horst.  was  born  at  Rensselaerswyck  (Albany, 
N.  Y.),  June  25,  1662,  and  died  November 
26,  1730.  The  codicil  of  his  will  was  dated 
October  30,  1730. 

In  July,  1684,  being  shortly  after  attaining 
his  majority,  and  having  fitted  himself  for 
the  life  of  a  merchant  or  trader,  also  possess- 
ing a  sufficient  sum  of  money  to  embark,  he 
began  preparations  for  marriage  and  house- 
keeping by  buying  a  house  on  Pearl  Street, 
"where  the  eagle  hangs  out,"  from  his  mother, 
paying  her  two  hundred  beavers  in  two  instal- 
ments. Instead  of  door-plate,  in  order  to 
represent  his  name  by  its  significance,  he  hung 
outside  a  live  eagle  in  a  cage. 

He  selected  for  his  wife,  Jenneke  Teller, 
the  daughter  of  William  Teller,  who  had  come 
to  Fort  Orange  in  1639,  and  Margaret  Don- 
chesen,   and  he  married   her   in    Rensselaers- 


wyck, November  26,  1684,  two  years  before 
the  city  received  its  charter  as  Albany.  A 
few  months  after  their  marriage  they  ap- 
peared before  a  notary  to  make  a  joint  will. 
It  was  filed  in  Albany,  and  written  in  Dutch, 
read  in  part  as  follows:  "The  worthy  Mr. 
Arent  Schuyler  and  Jenneke  Teller,  lawfully 
wedded  husband  and  wife,  living  here  in  Al- 
bany, both  sound  in  body  and  mind,  able  to 
walk  and  stand,  memory  and  speech  unim- 
paired, who  together  having  met  and  moved 
by  their  mutual  affection  and  love,  and  to- 
gether having  meditated  on  the  certainty  of 
death,  and  the  uncertainty  of  the  hour  of  it, 
have  directed,  without  being  persuaded  or  in- 
fluenced by  anybody,  to  have  their  last  will 
and  testament  drawn  up.  They  first  and  above 
all  commend  their  souls  to  God  Almighty,  and 
their  bodies  to  a  Christian  burial." 

His  wife  died  in  the  year  1700,  and  he  mar- 
ried, at  Albany,  January  2,  1703.  Swantje  Van 
Duyckhuysen.  It  is  recorded  in  one  family 
narrative  (Taylor's  Annals),  that  he  married 
a  third  wife.  l\Iaria  Walter,  in  1724,  who  was 
living  in  Belleville,   New  Jersey,  in   1734. 

Arent  Schuyler  continued  to  attend  to  his 
thriving  business  for  the  first  five  years  of 
his  married  life,  and  then  was  called  more 
and  more  into  public  service.  He  served  on 
a  committee  for  providing  fuel  and  other 
comforts  for  the  houses  occupied  by  Indians 
when  on  their  trading  expeditions  to  Albany. 
He  was  also  on  the  committee  to  raise  funds 
to  erect  fortifications,  and  he  participated  en- 
ergetically in  the  proceedings  of  the  Albany 
convention  in  opposition  to  the  pretensions  of 
Jacob  Leisler.  After  the  Indians  alid  French 
had  accomplished  the  destruction  of  Schenec- 
tady in  1690,  he  joined  the  party  of  Captain 
Abraham  Schuyler,  who  were  directed  to  pro- 
ceed to  Otter  Creek  and  remain  four  weeks 
to  watch  the  lakes  and  surrounding  country 
in  case  of  attack.  He  volunteered  to  lead 
a  scouting  party  into  Canada  at  this  time, 
and  although  it  consisted  of  eight  Indians  and 
he,  the  only  white  man,  he  was  undaunted. 
They  went  through  the  wooded  wilderness 
and  through  the  lake,  down  the  Sorel  river 
to  Fort  Chambly,  and  under  its  walls  killed 
two  and  took  one  Frenclunan  a  prisoner.  By 
this  exploit  he  was  the  first  man  of  the  Eng- 
lish or  Dutch  to  lead  a  hostile  party  from  this 
province  into  Canada.  He  was  thereafter 
widely  known  as  a  courageous  man,  and  was 
commissioned  captain. 

In  August,  1692,  the  acting  governor,  In- 
goldesby,  was  apprised  of  the  fact  that  a 
delegation  of  southern  Indians,  who  had  been 
at  war  with  the  Five  Nations,  was  on  the 
way  to  visit  their  enemies  and  sue  for  peace. 


38 


HUDSON    AND    :\IOHAWK    VALLEYS 


They  liad  arrived  at  the  Delaware  river  and 
were  waiting-  for  permission  to  continue  their 
journey. 

The  gjovernor  and  his  council  considered 
this  an  important  business,  requiring  un- 
usual wisdom  in  its  management.  They  con- 
cluded that  Captain  Arent  Sckuyler,  then  in 
New  York,  was  exactly  suited  to  the  delicacy 
of  the  undertaking,  and  decided  to  despatch 
him  to  meet  the  Indians,  that  he  might  con- 
duct them  to  the  governor  and  council.  He 
was  furnished  with  the  proper  instructions 
and  given  wampum  belts  to  use.  Considering 
the  mode  of  traveling  in  those  days,  he  was 
decidedly  expeditious,  for  only  six  days  aft- 
erward he  returned  with  the  "far  Indians, 
called  Shawanoes.  and  some  Senecas,  who  had 
been  traveling  together  for  nine  years."  His 
expense  account  is  of  peculiar  interest,  and 
sets  forth  that  on  August  13th  it  was  neces- 
sary to  pay  for  ferriage  at  Elizabethtown ; 
on  the  14th,  lodging  and  horse-hire :  on  the 
15th.  for  horse-hire  to  (Trenton)  Falls  and 
a  guide  to  the  Indians;  on  the  i6th,  for  two 
Holland  shirts  to  be  given  to  Indian  chiefs ; 
expenses  at  Raritan  and  Woodbridge :  on  the 
17th,  horse-hire  from  Benjamin  Cluet's  to 
Elizabethtown :  on  the  18th,  expense  at  the 
same  place  and  ferriage  from  Davitt's ;  at 
New  York,  charges  for  "butcher's  meat, 
crackers  and  peas"  furnished  the  Indians,  and 
on  arrival,  for  the  comfort  and  keeping  of 
the  Indians,  "fourteen  gallons  single  beer, 
fish,  bread  and  oysters,"  the  expenses  for  the 
entire  trip,  for  all,  amounting  to  but  little 
more  than  twelve  English  j)ounds.  He  pre- 
sented a  belt  at  the  end  of  each  proposition, 
addressing  them  as  "brethren,"  and  they  him 
as   "Corlaer." 

On  account  of  so  many  and  frequent  de- 
mands made  upon  him  to  treat  with  the  In- 
dians or  engage  in  campaigns,  .\rent  Schuy- 
ler's business  had  been  seriously  neglected. 
His  brother  lirandt  and  his  sister  Gertrude 
were  both  married  and  had  settled  in  New 
York,  .'\lbany  w-as  then  a  frontier  town  and 
exposed  to  attack,  so  considering  everything, 
he  departed  for  New  York  about  February, 
1694,  determined  to  resume  business  as  a 
merchant. 

It  w^as  determined  at  a  council  held  Febru- 
ary 3.  1694.  by  Governor  Fletcher,  that  as 
there  were  one  hundred  Frenchmen  and  fifty 
French  Indians  coming  into  the  ]\Iinisink 
coimtrv  to  debauch  the  Minisink  Infliaiis,  that 
a  trustworthy  messenger  must  be  despatched 
to  seek  out  their  intent.  Arent  Schuyler  was 
again  selected.  He  started  the  afternoon  of 
the  day  he  was  told  of  the  mission,  and  the 
day   after   reached   the    Indian    village,    eight 


miles  beyond  the  Hackensack.  His  confer- 
ence was  favorable,  and  after  an  absence  of 
six  days  among  dangerous  tribes,  returned  to 
New    York    City. 

On  June  6.  1695,  Arent  Schuyler  and  An- 
thony Brockholst  purchased  of  the  Indians 
4,000  acres  of  land  at  Pequannock.  On  No- 
vember II,  1695,  they  purchased  the  title  of 
the  East  Jersey  Proprietors  to  the  same  tract 
for  one  hundred  pounds.  On  May  20,  1697, 
he  received  from  Governor  Fletcher  a  patent 
for  land  in  the  Minisink  country,  called  by 
the  Indians  Sankhekeneck,  alias  Maghawaem ; 
also  a  parcel  of  meadow  called  Waimsagsk- 
meck,  on  the  Minisink  river,  containing  one 
thousand  acres. 

He  removed  from  New  York  to  Pompton 
Plains,  New  Jersey,  about  1702,  where  he 
remained  until  17 10,  when  he  removed  to  a 
large  farm  which  he  had  purchased  from 
Edmund  Kingsland,  on  New  Barbadoes  Neck, 
on  the  east  side  of  the  Passaic  river,  the  deed 
dated  April  20,   1710;  amount,  330  pounds. 

A  negro  slave  belonging  to  him  accident- 
ally found  a  copper  deposit  while  he  was 
plowing.  He  had  turned  up  a  peculiarly 
greenish  and  very  heavy  sort  of  stone.  He 
took  it  to  his  master  and  it  was  sent  to  Eng- 
land to  be  analyzed.  The  reply  was  that  it 
contained  80  per  cent,  of  copper,  and  this 
opened  a  means  for  Arent  Schuyler  to  obtain 
wealth.  Desiring  to  reward  the  slave,  he  told 
him  that  he  might  make  three  requests,  to 
which  the  fellow  replied ;  first,  that  he  might 
remain  with  his  master  so  long  as  he  lived ; 
second,  that  he  might  have  all  the  tobacco 
he  could  smoke :  third,  that  he  might  be  given 
a  dressing-gown,  with  big.  brass  buttons,  like 
his  master's.  Schuyler  told  him  to  consider 
and  ask  for  something  less  tritling,  and  the 
answer  was  that  for  the  fourth  request  he 
might  have  "a  little  more  tobacco."  Before 
his  death  he  had  shipped  to  the  Bristol  copper 
and  brass  works,  England,  1,386  tons.  In 
1 76 1,  on  receipt  of  an  engine  from  England, 
the  mine  was  extensively  operated  for  four 
years. 

Three  miles  above  the  present  city  of  New- 
ark and  opposite  the  old  town  of  Belleville, 
on  the  Passaic  river,  Arent  Schuyler  erected 
his  mansion.  It  was  built  by  him  in  1710, 
and  is  standing,  in  excellent  condition,  this 
day.  It  is  believed  that  he  had  to  send  to 
Holland  for  the  brick  that  composed  the  front, 
and  formed  the  other  walls  of  brownstone 
found  at  Belleville.  It  has  been  the  residence 
of  generations  of  the  Schuyler  family  since 
that  tiine,  and  in  its  simple,  substantial  ar- 
chitecture is  a  noble  type.  In  the  olden  times 
there  was  a  magnificent  deer  park  about  the 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


39 


Tiouse.  stocked  with  no  less  than  130  animals 
■of  that  kind. 

While  living.  Arent  Schuyler  was  most  lib- 
eral. He  was  an  officer  of  the  Reformed 
Dutch  church,  and  soon  after  he  settled  on 
the  Passaic  he  assisted  in  organizing  it  at 
Belleville.  He  gave  it  150  pounds  in  1729, 
.as  a  commencement  of  a  fund  for  the  pastor's 
•salary,  and  shortly  added  300  pounds.  After 
his  death  in  1730,  his  widow  and  five  chil- 
■dren,  in  respect  to  his  memory,  contributed 
50  pounds  apiece,  and  in  1739  John  added  150 
pounds,  arranging  for  the  right  to  vote  on 
calling  a  minister,  as  also  the  privilege  of 
signing  the  call,  and  the  consistory  bound  it- 
self and  successors  not  to  invite  a  clergyman 
of  another  denomination  to  occupy  the  pulpit 
without  his  or  their  consent,  provided  always 
that  they  were  members  of  the  Dutch  church. 
Colonel  Schuyler,  however,  withtlrew  from 
the  church  because  of  a  difference,  and,  while 
leaving  the  fund,  he  united  with  tiie  Episco- 
palians, and  built  a  church  for  them  in  the 
■same  place. 

The  children  of  Captain  Arent  Schuyler 
and  his  first  wife,  Jenneke  Teller,  are  the 
first  seven  named ;  the  later  five  by  his  second 
wife,  Swantje  \'an  Duyckhuysen.  Dispute  or 
confusion  possible  to  arise  over  the  list  pre- 
sented here,  will  be  benefited  by  the  plain 
statement  that  Mr.  George  W.  Schuyler,  in 
his  "Colonial  New  York,"  ("Scribner's,  1885, 
vol.  H.,  p.  196).  does  not  furnish  the  name 
of  the  fourth  child.  Olivia,  and  Charles  H. 
Winfield,  in  his  "History  of  Hudson  County, 
New  Jersey,"  1874,  page  535,  does  not  fur- 
nish (what  Schuyler  does)  the  names  of  the 
first  child,  Margareta :  of  the  third  child, 
Maria,  died  young:  of  fifth  child,  Judik,  died 
young:  nor  of  the  seventh  chikl,  Wilhelmus. 
died  young.  Considerable  research  leads  to 
the  conclusion  that  no  one  has  yet  placed  in 
type  the  birth  dates  of  Arent  Schuyler's  last 
five  children,  all  born  after  he  left  Albany, 
Swantje  Van  Duyckhuysen  their  mother. 
Children : 

1.  Margareta,  baptized  in  Albany.  Septem- 
ter  27,  1685  ;  marriage  license  with  Charles 
Oliver  issued   November  7,   1704. 

2.  Philip,  baptized  in  .Albany,  September 
II,  1687:  married  Hester  Kingsland,  daugh- 
ter of  Isaac  Kingsland,  of  New  r)arbadoes 
Neck,  New  Jersey,  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth: 
member  of  assembly  of  New  Jersey  in  1719 
and  1721  :  inherited  the  tract  of  land  at  Pe- 
quannock,  which  his  father  owned  jointly 
with  Samuel  Bayard  of  Hoboken  and  the  heirs 
■of  Anthonv  Brockholst,  which  included  Pomp- 
ton.  New  Jersey. 

The  children  of  Philip   (Arentse)   Schuyler 


and  Hester  Kingsland  were :  Johannes,  born 
September  2,  1713,  married,  June  24,  174I, 
Isaac  Kingsland :  Arent,  born  February  23, 
1715,  will  proved  December  15,  1806,  married 
(first),  October  i,   1741,   Helena  \'an  Wage- 

nen,  married  (second),  Rachel  :  Isaac, 

born  April  26,  1716,  died  in  infancy;  Philip, 
born  December  23,  17 17,  married  and  had 
Philip  and  Garret :  Isaac,  Ix>rn  September  8, 
1719,  married  and  had  Major  Schuyler;  Eliza- 
beth, born  February  22,  1721,  married  (bond 
dated),  November  9,  1748,  Rev.  Benjamin 
\'an  der  Linde ;  Pieter,  born  June  7,  1723, 
died  without  issue  (wife  Mary)  October  18, 
1808:  Hester,  born  April  12,  1725,  married 
Teunis  Dey ;  Maria,  born  September  11,  1727: 
Jenneke,  born  October  26,  1728,  married 
Board,  and  resided  at  Wesel :  Jo- 
hannes, born  June  4,  1730,  died  in  infancy; 
Casparus,  born  December  10,  1735.  married 
and  had  one  child,  Hester,  who  married  Gen- 
eral William  Colfa.x,  of  Pompton,  New  Jer- 
sey, grandfather  of  Schuyler  Colfax,  vice- 
president  of  the  United  States. 

3.  Maria,  baptized  in  Albany,  October  6, 
1689 :  died  young. 

4.  Olivia,  mentioned  in  her  father's  will, 
but  dead  at  that   time,  and   leaving  issue. 

5.  Judik,  baptized  in  x\lbany,  March  11, 
1692 ;  died  young. 

6.  Casparus,  baptized  in  New  York  City, 
May  5,  1695  ;  received  from  his  father  a  deed 
for  land  in  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  at  Lossa 
or   Wingworth's    Point. 

7.  Wilhelmus,  baptized  in  New  York  City, 
June  2,  1700;  died  young. 

8.  John,  died  before  proving  of  will  on 
February  12,  1773;  married  Anne  \'an  Rens- 
selaer, born  January  i,  1719  (see  forward; 
also,  see  \'an  Rensselaer  family). 

9.  Pieter,  born  probably  at  New  Barba- 
does  Neck,  opposite  Belleville,  New  Jersey, 
about  1710;  died  at  his  home,  then  called  Pe- 
tersborough,  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Passaic, 
a  short  distance  above  Newark,  March  7, 
1762 ;  married  Mary,  daughter  of  John  Wal- 
ter, a  man  of  great  wealth  residing  on  Han- 
over Square  in  New  York  City.  By  his 
father's  will  he  received  760  acres  of  land  in 
Elizabethtown,  near  Rahway  river.  When  it 
was  proposed  to  invade  Canada  in  1746,  he 
was  authorized  to  recruit,  then  placed  in  com- 
mand of  500  men ;  embarked  at  Perth  Am- 
boy.  September  3rd.  for  Albany,  where  he  ar- 
rived on  the  9th,  when,  through  failure  of  the 
home  government  to  send  forces  from  Eng- 
land, the  expedition  was  abandoned.  While 
located  there  the  soldiers  complained  from  ac- 
tual winter  suft'ering.  were  denied  their  pa)', 
and  made  threats  to  leave.    He  wrote  on  Feb- 


40 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


ruary  26,  1747,  to  the  authorities  in  New  Jer- 
sey, that  his  men  needed  a  surgeon,  medicines, 
shirts,  flints,  colors,  bread  and  peas.  On  May 
II,  1747,  Governor  Hamilton,  of  New  Jer- 
sey, complimented  Colonel  Schuyler  on  his 
zeal,  and  authorized  each  man  to  receive  "two 
speckled  shirts  and  one  pair  of  shoes."  It 
was  necessary  for  Schuyler  to  do  more  to 
quiet  his  men,  and  he  advanced  several  thou- 
sands pounds  from  his  own  pocket.  Later  he 
marched  his  regiment  to  Saratoga,  to  garrison 
the  fort.  When  warfare  broke  out  in  1754  he 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  New  Jersey 
forces,  and  his  regiment  moved  up  the  Mo- 
hawk from  Schenectady  early  in  July,  reach- 
ing Oswego  July  20th,  but  because  of  defeats 
in  New  Jersey  was  called  back  hurriedly.  In 
August,  1755.  he  was  again  returned  to  engage 
in  the  defense  of  Forts  Oswego  and  Ontario. 
He  was  captured  by  Montcalm's  men  and 
taken  to  Montreal,  and  from  there  to  Quebec, 
where  he  remained  a  prisoner  until  paroled, 
October,  1757.  When  he  arrived  in  New 
York  City,  November  19th.  there  was  a  gen- 
eral illumination  in  his  honor  and  a  bonfire 
of  proportions  on  the  campus.  When  he 
reached  his  home  he  was  welcomed  with  a  sa- 
lute from  thirteen  pieces  of  cannon.  His  pa- 
role over  and  no  exchange  effected,  he  sur- 
rendered himself  to  Montcalm  at  Ticonderoga, 
July  23,  1758,  and  sent  to  Montreal:  but  on 
November  i,  1758,  he  was  exchanged  for 
Sieur  de  Noyau,  commandant  at  Fort  Fronte- 
nac,  and  brought  back  with  him  eighty-eight 
prisoners,  many  of  whom  he  had  paid  for 
highly,  some  of  whom  he  had  supported  in 
captivity.  Peter  Schuyler  and  Mary  Walter 
had  one  child,  Catherine,  who  married  Archi- 
bald Kennedy.  Earl  of  Casselis,  who  married, 
as  widower,  Anne  Watts. 

ID.  Adonijah,  born  in  1717;  died  before 
May  28,  1762,  when  his  will  was  proved ;  re- 
ceived by  his  father's  will  two  tracts  of  land 
at  Elizabethtown  Point.  New  Jersey :  married 
Gertrude  \'an  Rensselaer,  who  was  born  at 
Rensselaerswyck.  October  i,  1714.  daughter 
of  4tli  Patroon  Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer  and 
Maria  Van  Cortlandt ;  by  whom :  Van  Rens- 
selaer :  Mary ;  Swan,  married  November  2, 
1772,  .-Xrent  Schuyler,  and  died  May  20,  1801, 
(see  forward)  :  John,  married  February  16, 
1769,  Mary  Hunter;  Peter;  .Adonijah,  when 
aged  twelve  years  entered  the  British  navy 
under  Captain  St.  John,  became  lieutenant, 
married  Susan  Shields,  of  Plymouth,  Eng- 
land, where  he  settled ;  Philip,  died  without 
issue,  will  proved  September  26,   1795. 

11.  Eve,    married    Peter    Bayard,    died    in 

1737- 

12.  Cornelia,    married    Pierre    De    Peyster. 


By  their  father's  will  these  two  last  daughters 
received  two  lots  of  ground  on  Broadway,  in 
New  York,  Eve  receiving  an  Indian  slave, 
Molly,  and  Cornelia  one  named  Nanny. 

(HI)  John  Schuyler,  son  of  Arent  Schuy- 
ler and  Swantje  \'an  Duyckhuysen,  was  born 
about  1708,  and  died  at  Belleville,  New  Jer- 
sey. January  12.  1773. 

By  his  father's  will,  he  received  the  home- 
stead farm  and  the  very  valuable  copper 
mines  situated  at  New  Barbadoes  Xeck.  New 
Jersey.  He  was  a  colonel  of  the  regiment 
of  militia  and  also  of  the  regiment  of  horse 
in  Bergen  county.  New  Jersey.  Governor 
Cosby  recommended  him  to  a  seat  in  the 
New  Jersey  council,  September  5,  1735,  to 
which  he  was  appointed,  and  in  1746  he  re- 
signed. His  will  was  signed  December  22, 
1772,  and  was  probated  February  12.  1773. 

John  Schuyler  married,  at  Albany.  Anne 
Van  Rensselaer,  who  was  born  there  January 
I,  1719,  died  in  1791,  daughter  of  the  4th 
Patroon  Kiliaen  Van  Rensselaer  and  Maria 
Van  Cortlandt.  (See  Van  Rensselaer  family). 
Children:  i.  Arent  John,  born  October  10, 
1746.  at  Belleville,  New  Jersey;  died  there, 
October  28,  1803 ;  married,  November  2,  1772, 
Swan  Schuyler  (see-  forward).  2.  Mary, 
born  about   1762 ;  died  unmarried. 

(IV)  Arent  John  Schuyler,  son  of  John 
Arent  Schuyler  and  Anne  \'an  Rensselaer, 
was  born  in  the  family  homestead  at  Belle- 
ville, New  Jersey,  October  10,  1746.  and  died 
there  October  28,  1803.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  standing  committee  of  correspondence  of 
the  county  of  Bergen.  N.  J. 

He  married,  November  2.  1772,  Swan 
Schuyler,  daughter  of  Adonijah  .Schuyler  and 
Gertrude  \'an  Rensselaer,  therefore  his 
cousin,  and  she  died  May  20,  1801,  aged  sixty 
years.  Children:  i.  Anne,  died  July  20, 
1783,  aged  seven  years  eight  months.  2.  John 
Arent,  born  at  Belleville,  New  Jersey,  April 
12,  1779:  died  there  October  12.  1817;  mar- 
ried (first)  Eliza  Kip.  (second)  Catherine 
\'an   Rensselaer   (see  forward). 

(V)  John  .Arent  Schuyler,  son  of  Arent 
John  Schuyler  and  Swan  Schuyler,  was  born 
April  12,  1779.  and  died  at  Belleville,  N.  J., 
October  12.  1817. 

He  married  (first),  in  1800.  Eliza  Kip, 
daughter  of  James  H.  Kip,  by  whom  his  first 
two  children.  She  died  November  17,  1805, 
and  he  married  (second)  in  1807,  Catherine 
Van  Rensselaer,  daughter  of  General  Robert 
Van  Rensselaer  of  Claverack,  New  York,  son 
of  John  \'an  Rensselaer,  and  she  died  Febru- 
ary 2.   1867.  by  wliom  lie  had  five  children; 

I.  .'\rent  Henry,  born  November  25.  1801 ; 
married.     April     24,     1828,     Mary     Caroline 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


41 


Kingsland,  and  died  May  19,  1878  (see  for- 
ward). 

2.  Harriet  Ann.  born  January  31,  1803; 
baptized  February  17.  1803  :  married,  Decem- 
ber  19.   1822.  Smith  W.  Anderson. 

3.  Angelica  Van  Rensselaer,  died  March 
30.   1864. 

4.  John  Arent,  died  November  21,  1855; 
married  Frances  Elizabeth  Bleecker,  daughter 
of   Alexander   Bleecker.   of   New    York   City. 

5.  Robert  \'an  Rensselaer,  born  June  4, 
1813 ;  died  at  Jersey  City,  New  Jersey,  Feb- 
ruary 17,  1856;  married,  September  9,  1851, 
Kate  Manchini,  daughter  of  Angelo  Man- 
chini ;  by  whom  one  child,  Van  Rensselaer, 
who  was  born  at  Brooklyn,  New  York,  July 
27,  1852,  married,  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  June  26, 
1899,  Ethel  Cornelia  Paul,  born  at  Evanston, 
Tils.,  August  10,  1876,  daughter  of  Cornelius 
Danforth  Paul.  Kate  Manchini  (Schuyler), 
when  a  widow,  married  her  husband's  nephew, 
John  Arent  Schuyler    (see  forward). 

6.  Jacob  Rutsen,  born  in  1816;  died  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1887:  married,  November  18,  1847, 
Susanna  Edwards,  daughter  of  Timothy  Ed- 
wards. She  was  born  in  1826,  and  died  Janu- 
ary 23,   1870. 

7.  Catherine  Gertrude,  born  in  1818;  died 
October  8,  1887;  married,  October  4,  1838, 
Henry  S.  Craig. 

(VI)  Arent  Henry  Schuyler,  son  of  John 
Arent  Schuyler  and  Eliza  Kip,  was  born  at 
Belleville,  New  Jersey,  November  25,  1801, 
and  died  there.  May  19.  1878. 

He  married,  at  Belleville,  New  Jersey,  April 

24,  1828,  Mary  Caroline  Kingsland.  She  was 
born  at  Kingsland,  New  Jersey,  June  21, 
1804;  died  at  Newark,  New  Jersey,  July  21, 
1894,  daughter  of  Henry  W.  Kingsland  and 
Sarah  Jauncey.  Children,  all  born  in  Belle- 
ville, New  Jersey: 

1.  Henry  Kingsland,  born  March  5,  1829; 
died  there.  August  10,  1896:  married,  Decem- 
ber 15,  1858,  Ellen  Valentine,  daughter  of 
Anthony  P.  \'alentine.  of  Spottswood,  New 
Jersey ;   by   whom :      Arent,    born    September 

25,  i860,  died  1908 ;  Campbell  Valentine,  born 
July  2,  1864 :  Henry  Kingsland,  born  August 
29,    1876. 

2.  John  Arent,  born  February  19,  1831 ; 
died  June  15,  1870;  married,  Jersey  City,  New 
Jersey,  January  14,  1863,  Kate  Manchini 
(Schuyler)   (see  forward). 

3.  Smith  Arent,  born  November  18,  1832; 
died  at  Newark,  New  Jersey,  July  26,  1870; 
married  Elizabeth  Kneeland,  and  had  Cort- 
landt  Van  Rensselaer,  Frank  Herbert,  Smith 
Anderson. 

4.  Edwin  Nesbit,  born  June  15,  1834;  died 
there,  September  13,  1835. 


5.  Harriet  Anderson,  born  August  29, 
1836-  died  at  Newark,  New  Jersey,  February 
17,  1882 ;  married,  September  15,  1858,  Sidney 
Augustus  Schieffelin,  and  had  Caroline  Schuy- 
ler,'"'Henry  Hamilton,  Alice  Van  Rensselaer, 
Harriet   Augusta  and  Schuyler. 

6  Sarah  Jauncev,  born  June  22,  1838,  mar- 
ried, BelleviHe,  October  6,  1858,  Stephen  \  an 
Cortlandt  Van  Rensselaer,  son  of  John  \_an 
Rensselaer,  and  had  one  son,  Stephen  Van 
Cortlandt,    who   died   young. 

7.  Arent  Henry,  born  August  8,  1840;  died 
there,  September  20,   1863. 

8  Richards  Kingsland,  born  June  24,  1842 ; 
married  Brooklyn,  New  York,  December  3, 
1879,  Lucretia  Kellogg,  and  had  John  Arent, 
died  young:  Walter  Kellogg;  Philip  \  an 
Rensselaer;  IMary  Kingsland,  and  Clarence 
Richards. 

9.  Mary  Caroline,  born  February  16,  iS45 '. 
died,  August  9,   1845. 

10.  Catherine  Gertrude,  born,  August  17, 
1846:  died,   December    16,    1866. 

(VH)  John  Arent  Schuyler,  son  of  Arent 
Henry  Schuvler  and  ^lary  Caroline  Kings- 
land  was  born  at  Belleville,  New  Jersey,  Feb- 
ruary 19,  1831,  and  died  at  Jersey  City,  New 
Jersey,  June  15,  1870. 

He  married,  at  Jersey  City,  January  14, 
1863,  Kate  Manchini,  widow  of  Robert  Van 
Rensselaer  Schuvler.  She  was  born  at  New 
York,  New  York,  April  15,  1831,  and  was 
the  daughter  of  Angelo  IVLinchini  and  Anne 
Eaton,  "issue:  Sidney  Schieffelin,  born  at 
Jersev  Citv,  August  25,  1864  (see  forward). 

(\ill)  Sidney  Schieffelin  Schuyler,  son  of 
John  Arent  Schuyler  and  Kate  Manchini 
V Schuyler),  was  born  at  Jersey  City.  New 
Jersey,  August  25,  1864.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  New  York  Stock  Exchange,  senior  mem- 
ber of  firm  of  Schuyler,  Chadwick  &  Burn- 
ham,  100  Broadway,  and  resides  in  Plainfield, 
New  Jersey. 

He  married,  at  Bayonne,  New  Jersey,  De- 
cember 12,  1894,  Cora  Anderson.  She  was 
born  at  Bridgeport,  Connecticut,  September 
29,  1866,  died  at  Kingsland,  New  York,  June 
16,  1898,  daughter  of  John  Joseph  Anderson, 
of  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  Emma  Dyer.  By 
this  marriage  one  child,  Marion  Van  Rensse- 
laer, born  at  Bayonne,  New  Jersey,  January 
14,  1896.  He  married  (second),  at  Cranford, 
New  Jersey.  Julv  15,  1903-  Helene  Gladys 
Abry.  She  was  born  at  Cranford,  July  10, 
1886,  daughter  of  Charles  Leo  Abry.  of  New 
York  City;  by  whom  two  children:  Van 
Rensselaer,  born  at  Plainfield.  New  Jersey, 
April  29,  1905  :  John  .Arent,  born  at  Plain- 
field,  November  23,  1910. 

CUYLER  REYNOLDS. 


42 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


This    is    an    ancient    and 
LIVINGSTON     noble   family   of  Scottish 

origin,  more  remotely  de- 
scended from  Leving,  a  Hungarian  noble, 
who  came  to  Scotland  in  the  train  of  Mar- 
garet, queen  of  King  Malcolm  of  Scotland, 
about  1068.  This  once  powerful  family  of 
Livingston  through  their  romantic  attachment 
to  a  "lost  cause"  suffered  a  complete  down- 
fall in  Scotland,  and  is  now  represented  in  the 
female  line  only.  Sir  William  de  Livingston, 
foimder  of  the  House  of  Callendar,  served 
under  Sir  William  Douglass  at  the  siege  of 
Sterling  Castle  in  1339.  King  David,  son  of 
Robert  the  I'.ruce,  granted  him  the  forfeited 
Callendar  estates.  Sir  William  afterward 
married  the  daughter  and  heiress  of  Sir  Pat- 
rick de  Callendar.  In  America  the  family 
name  is  an  honored  one.  and  above  one  of 
the  dormer  windows  in  the  state  capitol  at 
Albany  their  armorial  bearings  are  sculptured, 
a  mark  of  public  honor.  The  arms  of  the 
American  family  are  the  quartered  arms  of 
Livingston  of  Callendar  and  date  back  to 
the  fourteenth  century.  Chancellor  Living- 
ston stands  chief  among  the  chancellors  of 
New  York  state  and  is  honored  with  a  bronze 
full  figure  statue  in  the  state  capitol.  William 
Livingston  was  the  famous  "war  governor" 
of  New  Jersey  during  the  revolution.  At 
the  battles  of  Saratoga,  eight  Livingstons 
were  in  command  of  troops,  three  of  them  led 
their  regiments  at  critical  points  of  the  bat- 
tles. The  history  of  the  family  is  a  history 
of  over  a  century  and  a  half  of  the  most 
exciting  and  important  years  of  American 
life.  The  name  is  found  everywhere  in  hon- 
orable position  and  all  are  descended  from 
Robert  Livingston  whose  line  is  traced  here- 
in ;  Robert  Livingston,  "the  nephew,"  and 
James  Livingston,  whose  descendants  left  the 
Hudson  valley,  settling  in  the  Schoharie  val- 
ley and  along  the  upper  Susquehanna. 

The  immediate  English  ancestor  is  Rev. 
John  Livingston,  son  of  Rev.  William  Living- 
ston, minister  of  Lanark,  Scotland.  Rev. 
John  Livingston  was  born  at  Kilsyth  in  Stirl- 
ingshire, Scotland,  June  21,  1603,  He  was 
for  a  time  chaplain  to  the  countess  of  Wig- 
toun,  and  was  shortly  afterward  installed  over 
the  church  of  Killinchie  in  Ireland.  I>eing 
persecuted  for  non-conformity,  he  determined 
to  emigrate  to  America,  actually  embarking 
for  that  puriiose  in  a  vessel  bound  for  Boston, 
but  being  driven  back  by  contrary  winds,  he 
abanfloned  his  purpose  and  settled  in  1638  at 
Stranraer  in  Scotland.  In  1648  he  removed 
to  .Ancurm  in  Tevintdale,  where  his  son  Rob- 
ert was  born.  In  March,  1650,  he  was  sent 
as  a  commissioner  to  P.rede  to  negotiate  terms 


for  the  restoration  of  Charles  II.  After  that 
event  the  persecution  against  him  being  re- 
vived, he  went  to  Rotterdam,  Holland.  Here 
he  began  to  publish  an  edition  of  Bible  which 
he  did  not  live  to  complete.  He  died  at  Rot- 
terdam, Holland,  in  August,  1672.  He  mar- 
ried, at  Edinburgh,  in  the  West  church.  June 
23,  1635,  Janet,  eldest  daughter  of  Bartholo- 
mew Fleming,  of  the  old  Scottish  family  of 
that  name,  of  which  the  then  head  was  the 
Earl  of  Wigton,  who  with  his  eldest  son, 
Lord  Fleming,  was  present  at  the  wedding. 
She  was  born  at  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  No- 
vember 16,  1613,  died  at  Rotterdam,  Holland, 
February  13,  1693-94,  and  was  buried  in  the 
French  church  in  that  city.  Children,  fifteen 
in  number,  all  born  in  Scotland,  except  John, 
the  eldest,  who  was  born  at  Melton,  Ireland, 
June  30,  1636.  The  youngest  son,  Robert,  is 
the  ancestor  of  the  American  family  of  Liv- 
ingston Manor.  James,  the  ninth  child,  is 
the  father  of  Robert  Livingston,  "the 
nephew". 

(The  American  Family), 
fl)  Robert  Livingston,  youngest  son  and 
fourteenth  child  of  Rev.  John  and  Janet 
(Fleming)  Livingston,  was  born  at  .\ncrum, 
Scotland,  December  13,  1654,  died  October  i, 
1728  (some  authorities  say  at  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts), and  is  buried  in  the  family  vault 
at  Livingston  Manor,  town  of  Livingston,  Co- 
lumbia county.  New  York,  over  which  the 
Livingston  Memorial  church  has  been  erected 
in  recent  years.  It  is  supposed  he  accompa- 
nied his  father  to  Holland  as  he  was  familiar 
with  the  Dutch  language.  He  was  eighteen 
years  of  age  when  his  father  died  and  he  was 
left  dependent  upon  his  own  resources  for 
support.  His  thoughts  naturally  turned  to 
the  New  \\\irld  which  his  father  had  before 
him  made  an  attemjit  to  reach.  He  returned 
to  Scotland  with  his  mother  where  he  made 
but  a  short  stay.  April  28,  1672,  he  sailed 
from  Grenock,  Scotland,  a  passenger  on  the 
ship  Catherine  of  Charlestown,  Captain  John 
Phillips,  master,  bound  for  Charlestown.  New 
England.  The  exact  date  of  his  arrival  in 
New  England  is  unknown.  He  was  soon, 
however,  at  New  York,  which  was  now  under 
English  control.  Not  being  suited  in  New 
York,  he  proceeded  to  Albany,  the  next  larg- 
est city  in  the  colony  and  an  important  trad- 
ing point.  His  knowledge  of  the  Dutch  lan- 
guage here  was  of  great  advantage  to  him 
and  he  was  appointed  in  February,  1676,  sec- 
retary of  the  commissaries  who  then  superin- 
tended the  affairs  of  .-\lbany,  Schenectady  and 
adjacent  territory,  which  office  he  held  until 
July,  1686,  when  Albany  being  made  a  city, 
the  board  of  commissaries  was  dissolved.    He 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   \*ALLEYS 


43 


was  appointed  with  his  brother-in-law,  Peter 
Schuyler,  to  proceed  to  New  York  to  obtain 
the  charter  of  the  city  from  Governor  Don- 
^an,  under  which  he  was  afterwards  made 
town  clerk,  to  which  annexed  the  additional 
-office  of  farmer  of  the  excise.  He  was  also 
secretary  for  Indian  affairs  and  collector  of 
'Customs. 

As  early  as  1675  he  became  a  lot  owner  in 
Albany,  owning  the  lot  at  the  corner  of  State 
and  North  Pearl  street,  where  he  lived  until 
his  removal  to  the  Manor.  On  July  18,  1683, 
"he  made  a  purchase  of  tracts  along  the  east 
side  of  tlie  Hudson  containingg  2,000  acres 
of  land  from  four  Indian  chiefs,  a  purchase 
which  was  later  confirmed  by  Governor 
Thomas  Dongan. 

His  purchases  were  continued  and  on  July 
26,  1686.  Governor  Dongan  issued  a  patent 
■erecting  a  vast  territory  of  not  less  than  125,- 
000  acres  into  a  lordship  and  manor  to  be  rec- 
ognized as  the  Lordship  and  Manor  of  Liv- 
ingston, the  only  requirement  being  the  an- 
nual payment  to  the  government  of  Great 
Britain  of  twenty-eight  shillings  sterling,  to 
be  paid  at  the  city  of  Albany,  March  25,  of 
each  succeeding  year.  The  land  included, 
•commenced  about  five  miles  north  of  the  city 
■of  Hudson,  running  twelve  miles  on  the 
Hudson,  extending  back  to  the  Massachusetts 
line,  widening  as  it  receded  from  the  river, 
so  as  to  embrace  not  less  than  twenty  miles 
on  the  boundary  of  the  latter  colony.  The 
patent  allowed  the  proprietor  the  privilege  of 
holding  a  court  seat  and  court  baron  with  the 
advowson  and  right  of  patronage  of  the  church 
within  the  manor.  The  tenants  also  had  the 
privilege  of  assembly  together  to  choose  as- 
sessors to  defray  the  public  charges  of  cities, 
counties,  and  towns  within  the  manor,  in  the 
same  manner  as  those  within  the  province. 
It  granted  the  riglit  of  fishing,  hawking,  hunt- 
ing, and  fowling,  the  possession  of  mines,  min- 
erals (  silver  and  gold  mines  excepted  ) ,  and 
the  right  to  fish  in  the  Hudson  along  the 
boundary  of  said  Manor.  In  1715.  however, 
the  grant  being  confirmed  by  royal  authority, 
the  additional  privilege  of  electing  a  repre- 
sentative to  tlie  general  assembly  of  the  col- 
ony and  two  constables  were  conferred  upon 
the  tenants.  In  1710  more  than  5.000  acres 
were  taken  to  constitute  a  settlement  for  the 
Palatinates,  which  was  called  Germantown. 
This  tract  was  purchased  by  the  crown  for 
this  purpose,  for  the  sum  of  200  pounds  sterl- 
ing. The  Manor  of  Clermont,  comprising 
about  13.000  acres  was  severed  from  the  up- 
per manor  by  the  will  of  Robert,  the  first  lord 
of  the  Manor,  and  bequeathed  to  his  youngest 
son,  Robert   (grandfather  of  Chancellor  Liv- 


ingston), to  reward  him  for  having  discov- 
ered and  frustrated  a  plot  which  had  been 
formed  by  negroes  on  the  estate  to  murder 
all  the  whites.  In  1689  the  tide  of  prosperity 
turned  and  he  became  involved  in  the  troubles 
with  Leisler,  taking  sides  as  did  most  of  the 
prominent  families  against  the  Dutch  gover- 
nor. His  party  being  beaten,  he  retired  to 
one  of  the  neighboring  provinces  probably  to 
avoid  the  fury  of  his  enemies.  He  made  a 
trip  to  England  during  this  period  and 
brought  back  with  him  his  nephew,  Robert 
Livingston.  His  fortune  ebbed  and  flowed 
alternately;  in  1702  his  estates  were  confis- 
cated and  he  was  suspended  from  the  council 
board.  But  the  tide  again  turned  in  his  favor, 
and  February  2,  1703.  he  once  more  obtained 
possession  of  his  estates  and  in  September, 
1705,  received  from  Queen  Anne  a  commis- 
sion reinstating  him  in  all  his  former  appoint- 
ments. A  mansion  was  erected  on  the  Manor 
as  early  as  1692,  but  he  did  not  reside  there 
until  171 1.  In  that  year  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  assembly  from  the  city  and  county 
of  .Albany,  and  in  June,  1716,  a  representative 
from  his  Alanor.  In  1718  he  was  chosen 
speaker  of  house  of  assembly,  which  position 
he  retained  until  1725,  when  ill-health  com- 
pelled his  retirement  from  public  life. 

He  married,  July  9,  1679,  in  the  Pres- 
byterian church  at  Albany.  Alida.  daugh- 
ter of  Philip  Pieterse  Schuyler  and  his  wife, 
Margarita  Van  Schlechtenhorst.  only  daugh- 
ter of  the  director  of  Rensselaerswyck  and 
widow  of  Rev.  Nicholas  Van  Rensselaer.  She 
was  born  February  28.  1656.  died  March  27. 
1729.  Children:  i.  Colonel  John,  born  April 
26,  1680,  died  February  19,  1720:  mar- 
ried (first),  at  New  London,  April  i,  1701, 
Mary  (died  Jan.  8,  1713).  only  child  of.Fitz 
John  Winthrop.  governor  of  Connecticut.  He 
married  (second)  October,  1713.  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Knight,  who  died 
]\larch  17,  1735.  No  issue  by  either  wife. 
2.  Margaret,  born  December  5,  168 1  :  married, 
December  20,  1700,  Colonel  Samuel  \'etch, 
first  English  governor  of  Annapolis  Royal. 
She  died  June,  1758.  3.  Johanna  Philippina, 
born  February  i,  1683-84,  died  January  24, 
1689-90.  4.  Philip,  of  whom  further.  5.  Rob- 
ert, born  July  24,  1688,  died  June  27.  1775. 
He  was  first  proprietor  of  Clermont.  He 
married,  November  11,  1717,  New  York  City, 
at  the  Reformed  Dutch  church,  Margaret 
Howarden.  6.  (lilbert  (or  Hubertus),  born 
March  3,  1689,  died  April  25,  1746:  married, 
December  22,  171 1.  Cornelia  Beekman.  7. 
William,  born  iSIarch  17,  1692,  died  Novem- 
ber 5,  1692.  8.  Johanna,  born  December  10, 
1694;  married   Cornelius   Gerrit   \'an   Home. 


44 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


9.   Catherine,   born   May    22,    1698,   died   De- 
cember 6.  1699. 

(II)  Philip  (second  lord  of  the  Manor), 
second  son  and  fourth  child  of  Robert  and 
Alida  (Schuyler- Van  Rensselaer)  Livingston, 
was  born  July  9,  1686,  died  February  4, 
1748-49.  He  was  named  for  his  maternal 
grandfather,  Philip  Schuyler.  He  studied  law 
and  was  admitted  to  the  New  York  bar,  De- 
cember 31,  1719.  In  the  following  year  he 
was  appointed  one  of  the  commissioners  of 
Indian  affairs  and  succeeded  his  father  as 
secretary  of  that  board.  He  was  an  appointed 
member  of  the  legislative  council,  1715,  and 
the  following  year  was  despatched  on  a  mis- 
sion to  the  French  governor  of  Canada  to 
prevent  the  French  proceeding  further  with 
the  erection  of  a  fort  at  Niagara.  On  the 
death  of  his  father  he  succeeded  to  the  en- 
tailed and  largest  portion  of  the  Manor  estate 
and  for  many  years  the  new  lord  of  the  Man- 
or took  a  prominent  part  in  the  political  af- 
fairs of  the  province.  His  family  connections 
and  personal  attractions  made  him  a  person 
of  note  in  New  York  City,  where  '"he  lived 
in  a  style  of  courtly  magnificence".  He  be- 
came involved  in  a  quarrel  with  Admiral 
George  Clinton,  the  English  governor  of  the 
province,  who  made  serious  charges  against 
him  and  endeavored  to  have  him  dismissed 
from  the  council  but  failed,  Philip  holding  the 
office  and  continued  to  take  a  leading  part 
in  the  affairs  of  his  native  province  until  his 
death.  His  funeral  was  a  most  elaborate  and 
expensive  one  and  was  the  occasion  of  gen- 
eral comment.  He  married,  September  19, 
1707,  Catherine  V'an  P)rugh,  baptized  Novem- 
ber, 1689,  died  February  20,  1756,  daughter 
of  Peter  and  Sarah  (Cuyler)  \'an  Brugh.  Of 
their  seven  sons.  Peter  \'an  Brugh,  Philip  "the 
signer,"  and  \\'illiam,  became  prominent  in 
the  war  of  the  revolution.  The  fourth  son, 
John,  was  the  only  important  member  of 
the  family  who  adhered  to  the  king  during 
the  war  for  independence.  Children,  all  bap- 
tized in  Albany:  i.  Robert,  of  whom  fur- 
ther. 2.  Peter  \'an  Brugh.  baptized  Novem- 
ber 3,  1710,  died  1793.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  committee  of  one  hundred,  1775,  a 
member  of  provincial  congress,  1775,  presi- 
dent of  the  same,  1775.  and  treasurer,  1776. 
He  was  a  merchant  of  the  city  of  New  York. 
He  married  (first),  Mary  Alexander,  (sec- 
ond), a  widow,  Mrs.  Rickctts.  Twelve  chil- 
dren by  first  wife.  3.  Peter,  baptized  April, 
1712,  died  young.  4.  John,  baptized  April  11, 
1714,  died  1788:  married,  December  3,  1742, 
Catherine,  daughter  of  Abraham  de  Puyster 
and  Margaret  Van  Cortlandt.  5.  Philip,  born 
January   15,   1716;  member  of  committee  of 


one  hundred,  1775,  president  of  the  provincial 
convention,  1775 ;  member  of  continental  con- 
gress, 1774-78;  signer  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  1776;  member  of  provincial 
congress,  1776-77.  He  died  at  York,  Penn- 
sylvania, June  12,  1778.  He  married,  April 
14,  1740,  Christiana  Ten  Broeck,  born  Decem- 
ber 30,  1718,  died  June  29,  1801,  daughter  of 
Dirck  Ten  Broeck,  recorder  and  mayor  of 
Albany,  and  Margarita  Cuyler.  They  were 
the  parents  of  nine'  children,  of  whom  two 
served  as  officers  in  the  war  of  the  revolu- 
tion. 6.  Henry,  baptized  April  5,  17 19,  died 
in  Jamaica,  West  Indies,  February,  1772.  7. 
Sarah,  baptized  May  7,  1721,  died  October, 
1722.  8.  William,  born  November  8,  1723, 
died  at  Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey,  July  25, 
1790.  He  was  a  member  of  continental  con- 
gress, 1774-76,  brigadier-general  New  Jersey 
militia,  1775-76,  governor  of  the  state  of  New 
Jersey,  1776-90,  signer  of  the  federal  consti- 
tution, 1777.  He  married,  about  1745,  Su- 
sanna, daughter  of  Philip  and  Susanna 
(Brockholst)  French.  She  was  baptized  at 
New  York,  June  19,  1723,  died  at  Elizabeth- 
town,  New  Jersey.  July  17,  1789.  They  were 
the  parents  of  thirteen  children,  one  of  whom, 
Sarah  \'an  Brugh,  married  John  Jay.  chief 
justice  of  the  supreme  court  of  the  United 
States.  Another  daughter,  Susanna,  married 
John  Cleve  Symmes,  of  New  Jersey,  asso- 
ciate justice  of  the  supreme  court  of  New 
Jersey  and  a  judge  of  the  supreme  court  of 
the  new  Northwest  Territory  in  1786.  9. 
Sarah,  baptized  November  7,  1725  ;  married, 
March  i,  1748,  William  Alexander.  Earl  of 
Stirling,  major-general  in  the  continental 
army.  His  right  to  this  title  was  never  rec- 
ognized by  the  British  government,  but  as  a 
matter  of  courtesy  he  was  always  addressed 
during  the  war  as  Lord  Stirling.  She  died' 
March.  1805.  10.  Alida,  baptized  July  18, 
1728:  married  (first),  September  26,  1750, 
Henry  Hansen,  of  Harlem;  married  (second), 
Colonel  Martin  Hoffman,  September  26,  1766. 
She  died  February,  1790.  11.  Catherine,  bap- 
tized Ajiril  18,  1733:  married,  April  18,  1759, 
John  Lawrence,  alderman  of  New  York  City. 
(Ill)  Robert,  third  lord  of  the  Manor,  eld- 
est son  of  Philip  and  Catherine  (\'an  Brugh)- 
Livingston,  was  born  in  Albany,  New  York, 
December  16,  1708,  died  November,  1790. 
He  inherited  the  vast  estates  entailed  to  the- 
eldest  son,  and  although  he  filled  no  official 
position  himself  during  the  revolutionary  war, 
he  proved  his  loyalty  to  the  cause  by  placing 
his  iron  mines  and  foundry  at  the  disposal  of 
the  New  York  committee  of  safety.  His 
seventy  years,  no  doubt,  was  the  cause  of  his 
not  taking  a  more  active  part.    He  was  elected" 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


45 


representative  from  his  Manor  to  the  twenty- 
iirst  New  York  assembly,  1737,  and  during 
the  next  twenty  years  he  sat  uninterruptedly 
through  seven  general  assemblies,  returned  at 
every  election  by  the  Manor  Freeholders. 
"When  the  elections  were  being  held  for  the 
twenty-eighth  assembly  he  retired  in  favor  of 
liis  younger  brother,  William,  then  coming 
into  prominence  as  a  leader  of  the  Presbyter- 
ian party.  He  married  (first).  May  20,  1731, 
]\Iaria,  daughter  of  Walter  Tong  and  grand- 
daughter of  Rip  \'an  Dam,  president  of  the 
council.  He  married  (second),  Gertrude, 
daughter  of  Killaen  \'an  Rensselaer,  and  his 
wife,  Maria  Van  Cortlandt,  and  widow  of 
Adonijah  Schuyler,  born  October  i,  1744. 
Children,  all  by  first  marriage:  i.  Catherine, 
born  August  4,  1732,  died  in  infancy.  2. 
Philip,  born  February  9,  1733,  died  unmar- 
ried April  3,  1756.  3.  Sarah,  born  April  23, 
1735,  died  September  4,  1745.  4.  Peter  R., 
born  April  27,  1737,  died  1793:  he  was  a 
member  of  the  provincial  convention,  1775, 
member  of  the  provincial  congress,  1775-76, 
president  of  provincial  congress,  1776-77, 
member  of  assembly,  1780-81  ;  colonel  of  mi- 
litia during  the  revolutionary  war.  He  was 
the  last  of  the  representatives  returned  to 
to  the  New  York  assembly  under  the  patent 
of  17 1 5  and  with  him  ends  the  political  his- 
tory of  the  old  Colonial  Manor  of  Livingston, 
which  became  by  the  new  order  of  events  ab- 
sorbed into  the  electoral  district  of  Albany. 
He  married  Margaret  Livingston.  5.  Maria, 
born  October  29,  1738.  died  May  6,  1821  ; 
married,  October  21,  1759,  James  Duane,  aft- 
erwards one  of  the  New  York  delegates  in  the 
continental  congress.  6.  Walter,  born  No- 
vember 27,  1740,  died  May  14,  1797;  he  was 
a  member  of  the  provincial  congress  1775, 
member  of  the  assembly,  1777-78-79,  speaker 
of  the  assembly,  1778,  commission  of  United 
States  treasury,  1785,  deputy  commissioner- 
general  of  the  northern  department.  1775. 
He  married,  in  1769,  Cornelia,  daughter  of 
Peter  and  Gertrude  (Schuyler)  Schuyler. 
She  was  baptized  July  26,  1746,  died  1822. 
Walter  Livingston  built  and  resided  in  his 
mansion  "Teviotdale"  in  Columbia  county. 
New  York.  7.  Robert  (better  known  as  Rob- 
ert Cambridge,  because  he  was  a  graduate  of 
Cambridge  University,  and  to  distinguish  him 
from  numerous  other  Roberts),  born  Decem- 
ber 26,  1742,  died  August  23,  1794.  He  mar- 
ried, November  12,  1778,  Alice,  daughter  of 
John  Swift.  8.  Catherine,  born  December  22, 
1744,  died  May.  1832;  married,  1766,  John 
Paterson.  9.  Sarah,  born  February  16. 
1745-46,  died  May  11.  1749.  10.  Alida.  born 
December    15,    1747,    died    September,    1791  ; 


married  Valentine  Gardiner.  11.  Margarita, 
born  February  16,  1748,  died  June  22,  1749. 
12.  John,  of  whom  further.  13.  Hendrick  or 
1  leiiry,  born  January  8,  1752,  died  unmarried, 
May    16,   1823. 

(IV)  John,  twelfth  child  and  fifth  son  of 
Robert  and  Maria  (Tong)  Livingston,  was 
born  at  New  York,  February  11,  1749,  died 
at  Oak  Hill,  Columbia  county,  New  York, 
October  24,  1822.  He  built  the  family  man- 
sion. "Oak  Hill,"  the  only  Livingston  man- 
sion, except  "Clermont,"  now  owned  by  a  Liv- 
ingston, and  lived  there  the  life  of  a  country 
gentleman.  He  married  (first).  May  11,  1775. 
Rlary  Ann,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Cornelia 
(Rutgers)  LeRoy  :  married  (second),  Novem- 
ber 3,  1796,  a  kinswoman,  Catherine,  daugh- 
ter of  \\'illiam  Livingston,  the  "War  Gover- 
nor of  New  Jersey,"  and  widow  of  Matthew 
Ridley.  Children,  all  by  first  marriage:  i. 
Cornelia,  born  October  23,  1776;  married 
Nicholas  G.  Rutgers.  2.  Robert  Le  Roy,  of 
Claverack,  New  York,  born  October  10,  1778; 
married  Maria  Diggs,  of  Washington,  D.  C. 
3.  Jacob,  of  Cherry  Valley,  New  York,  born 
July  13,  1780:  married  (first),  Catherine  De 
Puyster ;  married  (second),  Levantia  White 
and  had  issue  by  both  wives.  4.  John  G.,  born 
January  29,  1782,  killed  in  a  duel,  unmarried. 
5.  Child,  born  November  30,  1783.  6.  Daniel, 
of  New  York  City,  born  June  3,  1786;  mar- 
ried Julia  Oothout.  7.  Philip  Henry,  born 
November  17,  1787.  8.  Anthony  Rutgers,  of 
Tarrytown,  New  York,  born  .\pril  27,  1789; 
married  Anna  Hoffman.  9.  Henry,  of  Clave- 
rack, New  York,  born  September  2,  1791 ; 
married  Ann  Eliza  \'an  Ness.  10.  Herman, 
of   whom  further. 

(V)  Herman,  son  of  John  and  Mary  Ann 
(LeRoy)  Livingston,  was  born  August  2, 
1793.  died  May  9,  1872.  He  inherited  "Oak 
Hill,"  where  he  maintained  an  open-handed 
hospitalitv  for  forty-five  years  until  the  death 
of  his  wife.  He  was  a  Republican  and  mem- 
ber of  the  Dutch  Reformed  church.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  Lawrence  Hallett,  who  died  Sep- 
tember 10,  1868.  Children :  John  Henry,  born 
September  8,  1822,  died  October  7,  1846; 
Cornelia,  born  February  29,  1S24,  died  Sep- 
tember 21,  1851,  married  Clermont  Living- 
ston :  Herman  Tong,  of  whom  further. 

(VI)  Herman  Tong,  youngest  child  and 
second  son  of  Herman  and  Sarah  Lawrence 
(Hallett)  Livingston,  was  born  at  "Oak  Hill." 
Columbia  county.  New  York,  June  12,  1827, 
died  October  20.  1899.  He  continued  in  the 
ownership  and  occupancy  of  "Oak  Hill"  and 
adjoining  estates,  bequeathing  same  to  his  son 
Herman,  the  present  owner  (1910).  He  was 
an  active  business  man  the  most  of  his  life. 


46 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   \'ALLEYS 


As  a  merchant  and  ship  owner  in  New  York 
City,  first  in  the  firm  of  Livinjiston  &  Croch- 
ero'n.  owning  a  hne  of  steamers  plying  be- 
tween New  York,  New  Orleans  and  Havana; 
later  the  head  of  the  firm  of  Livingston,  Fox 
&  Company,  when  they  added  the  Savannah  to 
their  line  with  the  others.  Their  vessel,  com- 
manded by  Captain  P.ullock,  was  the  last  to 
enter  New  Orleans  before  the  war.  It  was 
seized  by  the  rebel  government  and  after- 
wards released  by  order  of  JetT  Davis,  on  the 
grounds  that  they  were  not  fighting  private 
interests.  Captain  IJullock  was  formerly  of 
the  United  States  navy,  but  resigned  and  ac- 
cepted a  position  with  this  firm.  Later  joined 
the  confederacy,  and  was  sent  to  England, 
where  later  he  fitted  out  the  Florida  and  the 
Alabama. 

Herman  T.  Livingston  spent  the  latter  part 
of  his  life  in  his  home  on  the  Hudson. 
He  was  a  strong  Republican,  and  a  member 
of  the  Episcopal  church.  He  married.  De- 
cember 6,  1853.  Susan  Bard,  daughter  of  Ar- 
chibald and 'Anna  (Pendleton)  Rogers,  of 
Hyde  Park,  New  York.  Children:  Herman, 
of  whom  further;  Edmund  Pendleton,  born 
September  21.  1857,  died  December  10,  1888; 
John  Callendar,  born  May  8,  1862;  Anna 
Pendleton,  born  January  6.  1866;  Archibald, 
born  November  23,  1868;  Sarah,  born  Au- 
gust 22,    1 87 1. 

(MI)  Herman  (2).  son  of  Herman  Tong 
and  Susan  P..  (Rogers)  Livingston,  was  born 
in  New  York  City,  June  24,  1856.  He  was 
educated  in  private  schools  in  New  York  City, 
entered  Yale  university  and  w'as  graduated 
A.  M.,  class  of  1879.  He  is  now  (1910)  en- 
gaged in  the  operation  of  his  oil  properties  in 
Virginia.  His  home  is  the  old  Livingston 
mansion  at  Oak  Hill  overlooking  the  Hudson, 
which  was  built  by  his  grandfather.  He  is 
the  fourth  generation  of  the  family  to  own 
and  occujiy  the  fine  old  mansion.  He  is  a 
Republican  and  has  taken  quite  an  interest  in 
local  politics,  holding  minor  offices,  attending 
state  and  county  conventions  as  delegate,  and 
was  presidential  elector  when  Harrison  was 
defeated. 

He  was  married.  November  9,  1882,  to 
Emmeline  C,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary 
Elizabeth  (Cornell)  Hopkins.  Children:  i. 
Plerman.  born  .August  18.  1883:  graduate  of 
Williams  College,  now  engaged  in  the  insur- 
ance business  in  Boston ;  married,  .\pril  24, 
1909,  Alga  Kobbe.  of  New  York.  2.  Henry 
Hopkins,  born  February  5.  1887;  graduate  of 
Yale  I'niversity,  now  engaged  in  the  oil  busi- 
ness in  West  Virginia.  3.  Edmund  Pendle- 
ton, born  October  23,  1889,  student  at  Yale 
University. 


The  familv  name  of 
VAX  ALSTYNE  Van  Alstyne  is  derivedl 
from  the  Dutch,  and 
signifies  from  the  old  or  high  stone ;  doubt- 
less those  w'ho  first  bore  the  name  dwelt 
upon  the  top  of  a  rocky  eminence,  or  near  tcx 
some  boulder  which  for  years  had  been  a 
prominent  landmark  among  all  the  families- 
of  that  neighborhood.  The  early  records- 
show  that  it  was  also  spelled  Van  .Aelsteyn, 
Van  Aalsteyn,  \'an  Alstyn,  Van  Alstein  and 
Van  Alstine;  but  in  1900  these  forms  were 
reduced  to  Van  Alstine,  Van  Alstyne  and  Al- 
styn. one  family  having  eliminated  the  Dutch 
prefix. 

It  is  claimed  with  reason,  following  the 
preserved  records  in  Holland,  that  the  fam- 
ily may  be  traced  back  to  the  year  936.  at 
the  crowning  of  Otho.  The  family  name 
first  appears  under  the  name  of  Ralsko,  which 
it  abandoned  in  order  to  take  that  of  War- 
temberg,  which  it  bore  for  several  centuries. 
Jean  Ralsko,  who  died  in  Flanders  in  1236, 
had  built  there  the  Chateau  de  \\'aldstein.  the 
name  of  which  he  took  to  distinguish  himself 
from  his  brother,  who  bore  that  of  Wartem- 
berg.  The  family  has  been  traced  under  the 
name  of  Balstein  in  Spain,  \'allenstein  in 
France,  Halsteyn  in  Flanders  and  \"an  Al- 
stein in  Holland.  From  Waldstein.  the  name 
changed  to  Wallenstein,  Walstein,  \'alstein, 
and  finally  became  Van  Alstein.  Those  who 
located  in  Flanders  were  loyal  to  the  church 
of  Rome,  and  those  living  in  Holland  allied 
themselves  to  the  Reformation  of  Martin 
Luther,  and  displayed  the  courage  of  their 
convictions.  Those  who  came  to  America 
have  particularly  demonstrated  their  courage 
of  independent  thought  and  action,  and  were 
w^ell  represented  in  the  war  of  American  in- 
dependence as  well  as  in  the  civil  war.  In- 
variably they  have  been  men  of  middle  ground, 
neither  acquiring  vast  riches  nor  suffering 
poverty,  freed  both  from  the  worries  of  life 
and  the  cares  of  wealth.  In  the  same  meas- 
ure they  have  been  prominent  in  politics  and 
religion,  as  well  as  the  professions. 

(I)  The  progenitor  of  the  family  in  .Amer- 
ica was  Jan  Martense  \^an  .Vlstyne,  son  of 
Marten  \'an  .Alstyne,  of  Holland.  There  is 
record  of  his  being  in  New  Amsterdam  (New 
York  City),  as  early  as  1646,  where  one 
finds  an  entry  on  the  date  December  11,  1646, 
being  a  bill  of  sale,  Thomas  Hall  and  Jan 
Peterson  to  Hendrick  Jansen  and  Jan  Alar- 
tense,  of  a  yacht.  It  is  not  known  just  how 
long  he  remained  in  that  place;  but  he  is  re- 
corded, in  1657,  as  owning  a  lot  in  .Albany, 
on  the  east  side  of  Broadway  and  north  of 
Columbia   street,   which   he   held   as   late   as 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


47 


1693,  and  in  the  meantime  had  become  pat- 
entee of  two  tracts  of  land  in  Ulster  county. 
He  likewise  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land 
"behind"  Kinderhook,  New  York,  not  many 
miles  from  Albany.  This  became  the  real 
home  of  the  family,  and  the  locality  was  then 
given  the  name  because  in  the  Dutch  it  sig- 
nified "Children's  Point,"  thought  to  have 
been  bestowed  because  of  the  great  number 
of  Indian  children  who  ran  out  on  the  point 
of  land  the  better  to  observe  Hudson  pass 
in  his  "Half  Aloon,"  or  else  because  the  In- 
dians living  there  had  an  unusual  number 
of  children  in  their  families.  The  first  pro- 
prietor resided  there  until  his  death,  about 
1698,  and  the  land  continued  for  more  than 
two  centuries  in  the  possession  of  the  de- 
scendants of  his  son,  Abraham,  to  whom  he 
conveyed  the  farm  in  1695,  conditioned  on 
his  paying  the  other  heirs  certain  sums  of 
money  as  provided  explicitly.  He  married 
Dirckje  Harmense,  a  woman  endowed  with 
all  the  characteristics  necessary  to  make  her 
a  fitting  helpmate  for  a  pioneer  husband. 
Children  :  Marten  :  Abraham  ;  Lambert,  see 
forward :    Isaac,   and  possibly   others. 

(II)  Lambert  Janse,  son  of  Jan  Martense 
and  Dirckje  (Harmense)  Van  Alstyne,  emi- 
grated to  this  country  in  1665,  and  settled 
in  Kings  county,  but  no  record  has  been 
found  of  his  birth.  About  1684  he  came  into 
possession  of  a  tract  of  land  lying  on  the 
east  side  of  Kinderhook  creek,  and  adjoining 
the  lands  of  his  father.  This  he  acquired  by 
purchase  of  the  patent,  or  lease,  from  the 
heirs  of  Peter  \'an  Alen.  He  held  it  until 
his  death,  wdiich  occurred  October  13,  1703. 
About  1682  he  married  Jannetje,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Marritje  Abrahamse  (\'os- 
burgh)  Mingael,  she  and  her  husband  being 
first  cousins,  once  removed,  as  her  father  and 
her  husband  were  first  cousins.  There  is  no 
record  of  her  birth ;  but  she  was  doubtless 
much  younger  than  he,  for  following  his  de- 
mise, she  married.  February  2,  1713,  Jochem 
Lambertse  \'an  \'alkenburgh  and  had  five 
sons.  As  all  their  children  excepting  the  first 
born  were  baptized  in  Kinderhook,  it  is  safe 
to  believe  that  the  eldest  was  born  in  Kings 
county.  New  York,  and  all  the  others  after 
his  removal,  about  1684,  in  Kinderhook.  Chil- 
dren :  Catharine,  born  about  1683,  married 
Bartholomeus  \'an  \"alkenburgh ;  Marritje, 
baptized  December  27,  1685 ;  Thomas,  bap- 
tized August  22,  1688,  see  forward :  Johan- 
nes, baptized  August  11,  1691  ;  Dirckje,  bap- 
tized May  26,  1695.  married  Peter  Vosburgh ; 
Antje,  baptized  January  16,  1698,  died  young; 
Annetje.  baptized  July  28,  17CXD;  Pieter,  bap- 
tized August  9,  1702. 


(HI)  Thomas,  son  of  Lambert  Janse  and 
Jannetje  Mingael,  Van  Alstyne.  was  baptized 
in  Kinderhook,  New  York,  August  22,  1688. 
On  the  death  of  his  father  in  1703.  he  came 
into  possession  of  the  homestead  lying  along 
Kinderhook  creek,  adjacent  to  the  farm  of 
his  grandfather,  the  pioneer  settler.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Dutch  church  of  Muitzeskill, 
where  were  baptized  most  of  his  offspring, 
although  one  of  them,  Maria,  was  baptized 
in  Albany.  In  1752  he  bought  a  tract  of  land 
in  the  district  of  Claverack,  described  in  the 
records  kept  at  Hudson,  New  York,  as  lying 
between  the  Claverack  and  Kinderhook 
creeks.  His  will,  dated  November  15,  1760,. 
and  on  file  in  Albany,  devises  the  farm  oc- 
cupied by  William,  and  his  big  gun  to  that 
son,  provided  that  he  pay  off  the  debt  on  it 
amounting  to  one  hundred  pounds,  and  di- 
vided his  property  among  five  children  after 
providing  for  the  support  of  his  wife  during 
life,  and  to  Peter  his  bouwery  or  whole  farm, 
with  all  belongings  thereto,  provided  that  he 
pay  his  brother,  Lambert,  four  hundred 
pounds  in  current  money  within  six  years  of 
the  testator's  death.  He  died  in  August,  1765, 
at  Kinderhook.  He  married,  December  12, 
1718,  Maria  Van  Alen.  She  was  baptized 
June  21,  1695,  ''"d  was  the  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Alarritje  (Van  Patten)  Van  Alen. 
Children :  Jannetje,  baptized  March  6,  1720, 
died  young ;  William,  baptized  December  10, 
1721,  see  forward;  Lambert,  baptized  October 
4,  1724,  married  (first)  Alida  Conyn,  mar- 
ried (second)  Aletteka  Osterhout ;  Maria,, 
baptized  September  10,  1727,  died  young; 
Catharine,  baptized  January  17,  1731,  mar- 
ried Petrus  Hoffman :  Maria,  baptized  No- 
vember 18,  1733,  married  Dr.  Johannes  Pat- 
terson; Pieter,  baptized  May  16,  1736,  mar- 
ried Marritje  Conyn, 

(IV)  William,  son  of  Thomas  and  Maria 
( \'an  Alen)  \'an  Alstyne,  was  baptized  in 
Muitzeskill.  December  10,  1721.  In  1752  he 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Dutch 
church  of  Kinderhook,  He  probably  settled 
upon  the  farm  which  had  just  come  into  pos- 
session of  his  father  by  purchase  of  the  patent 
from  John  \'an  Rensselaer,  and  which  was 
bequeathed  to  him  outright  on  his  father's 
death,  situate  between  Kinderhook  and  Clav- 
erack creeks.  One  or  two  records  are  of  in- 
terest. On  May  i,  1772,  he  leased  a  house, 
shop  and  a  fulling  mill,  with  dam  and  two 
acres,  to  Thomas  Avery,  and  as  much  wood 
as  he  required  for  burning.  In  August,  1791, 
he  bought  a  farm  in  Hillsdale  from  John 
Collier.  A  document  bearing  date  October 
19'  1793-  deeds  a  negro  boy  named  Tom  to- 
his    son,   Lawrence.     July    12,    1799,   he   sold 


48 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


to  the  same  son  the  farm  he  had  bought  of 
Nicholas  and  Philip  Hoffman  a  few  years 
before.  He  was  commissioned  a  captain  in 
Colonel  Jeremiah  Hogeboom's  regiment, 
which  served  in  the  revolutionary  war ;  his 
commission,  signed  by  Governor  Cadwalader 
Colden,  preserved  by  the  Holland  Society, 
bears  date  Ajiril  4,  1770.  He  died  May 
22,  1802,  and  his  tombstone  was  found 
a  century  later  on  the  farm  which  he  had 
bought  from  the  Hoffmans.  He  married 
(first)  in  1744,  Christina  \'an  Alen,  who  was 
"baptized  June  16,  1723,  daughter  of  Steph- 
anas and  Mary  (Muller)  \'an  Alen,  by 
whom  he  had  five  children;  married  (second) 
September  17,  1762,  Catharine  Knickerbocker, 
who  was  baptized  October  19,  1731,  daughter 
of  Lawrence  and  Catharine  (Van  Home) 
Knickerbocker,  by  whom  he  had  four  chil- 
•dren.  Children:  Maria,  baptized  March  23, 
1745,  married  Richard  Esselstyn ;  Hilletje, 
baptized  January  25,  1746,  died  young;  Jan- 
netje,  baptized  February  29,  1749,  married 
William  Winne,  Jr.;  Albertina,  born  in  1754, 
married  John  DeForest ;  Thomas,  born  Feb- 
ruary 18,  1765,  see  forward;  Lawrence,  born 
June  22,  1767,  married  Mary  Murdock ;  Wil- 
liam, born  January  31,  1770,  married  Maria 
Vosburgh ;  Mary,  born  January  6,  1773,  mar- 
ried John  Leggett. 

(V)  Thomas  (2),  son  of  William  and  Cath- 
arine (Knickerbocker)  Van  Alstyne,  was  bom 
February  18,  1765.  In  the  Columbia  county 
records,  under  date  of  May  7,  1795,  it  is 
stated  that  he  and  his  wife,  together  with 
other  ownership  claimants,  deeded  the  farm 
which  was  apparently  the  property  of  the  first 
Thomas  \'an  Alstyne  secured  from  John  Van 
Rensselaer  in  1752,  to  Thomas  Goldthwait. 
He  died  September  10,  1838.  He  married 
Mabel  Butler,  born  January  3,  1768,  died  Jan- 
uary 10,  1832,  daughter  of  Ezekiel  and  Ma- 
bel (Jones)  Butler.  Her  father  displayed  so 
much  zeal  in  the  American  cause  for  liberty 
that  the  British  offered  a  reward  for  his  head, 
dead  or  alive,  and  it  is  probable  that  he  died 
before  the  close  of  hostilities  because  he  was 
privately  buried  for  fear  that  his  body  would 
be  disinterred  for  the  sake  of  the  reward. 
Mabel  Butler  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  Col- 
onel John  Jones,  one  of  the  regicides  of 
Charles  the  First,  whose  wife  was  Henrietta 
Cromwell,  sister  of  Oliver  Cromwell.  Chil- 
dren: I.  William,  born  November  12,  1791  ; 
married  Polly  Ostrander ;  died  October  12, 
1867.  2.  Maria,  married  February  14,  1815, 
Martin  Barton.  3.  Catharine,  married,  March 
13,  1819,  Scovil  Martin.  4.  Thomas  Butler, 
born  July  27,  1797,  see  forward.  5.  John 
Thomas,  born  September  28,  1800;  married, 


Februarj'  8,  1826,  Jane  Ackerman ;  died  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1876.  6.  Temperance,  born  in  1802, 
died  October  29,  1877.  7.  Jane,  born  March 
4,  1805 ;  married,  December  27,  1827,  Dr. 
Levi  B.  Skinner;  died  December  18,  1886.  8. 
Lawrence,  born  February  16,  1807;  married, 
March  28,  1829,  Eliza  Van  Hoesen ;  died 
Januar)-  18,  1835.  9.  Sally,  married  John 
Van  Bramer.  10.  Ezekiel  Butler,  born  No- 
vember 6,  181 1.  II.  Louisa,  born  Novem- 
ber 2^,  1813;  married,  December  14,  1839, 
Rev.  Nicholas  Van  Alstine ;  died  February 
II,  1871. 

(\T)  Dr.  Thomas  Butler  Van  Alstyne,  son 
of  Thomas  (2)  and  Mabel  (Butler)  Van  Al- 
styne, was  born  in  Ghent,  Columbia  county, 
New  York,  July  27,  1797.  He  was  a  well- 
known  physician  of  Richmondville,  Schoharie 
county.  New  York.  Having  completed 
a  common  school  education,  he  began  as  a 
clerk  in  a  general  merchandise  store  in  Hud- 
son, but  not  finding  this  occupation  at  all 
congenial  to  his  tastes,  he  prepared  for  the 
profession  of  his  real  choice,  that  of  medi- 
cine, commencing  his  studies  under  Dr, 
Samuel  White  of  the  same  place,  then  grad- 
uated from  the  Fairfield  Medical  College  in 
]8i8.  and,  following  his  advice,  located  the 
following  year  at  Richmondville,  where  he 
continued  to  practice  for  over  forty  years. 
He  met  with  considerable  success,  and  be- 
came widely  known  in  that  section,  and 
although  often  summoned  elsewhere  for  con- 
sultation in  critical  cases  and  oft'ered  a  medi- 
cal college  professorship,  he  favored  his  work 
and  declined.  He  was  a  forceful  advocate 
of  the  abolition  of  slavery  and  not  only  prac- 
ticed but  frequently  preached  abstinence  from 
intoxicants  as  a  beverage.  He  died  Octo- 
ber 26,  1867.  Dr.  Van  Alstyne  married,  Au- 
gust ID,  1820,  Eliza  Shepard  Giles,  born  Oc- 
tober 28,  1799,  died  May  13,  1877.  Children: 
I.  Jane  Ann,  born  May  22,  182 1  ;  married, 
October  8,  1839,  Rev.  Joseph  Kingsley  Bar- 
ry ;  died  December  4,  1853.  2.  Thomas  W., 
born  December  12,  1822,  died  April  25,  1825. 
3.  Thomas  Jefferson,  born  July  25,  1827,  see 
forward.  4.  Sylvester  Memford,  born  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1833  ;  married.  July  9.  1855,  Cyn- 
thia E.  Whitney:  died  October  28,  1882.  '  5. 
Fayette  Edgar,  born  June  15,  1837,  died  Sep- 
tember 30,  1905 ;  married,  August  19,  1857, 
Rose  M.  Markel.  6.  John  Lawrence,  born 
Octoljer  8,  1840 ;  married,  October  8,  1868, 
Carrie  A.  Shults.  7.  Mary  Eliza,  born  March 
18,  1846;  married,  November  7,  1873,  J.  Les- 
lie Multer. 

(VH)  Hon.  Thomas  Jefferson  \'an  .Al- 
styne, son  of  Dr.  Thomas  Butler  and  Eliza 
Shepard    (Giles)    Van   Alstyne,  was  born  in 


y%<^ 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


49 


Richmondville,  Schoharie  county.  New  York, 
July  25,  1827,  where  his  father  was  then  a 
practicing  physician.  He  first  studied  at  the 
pubhc  schools,  until,  by  his  natural  inclina- 
tion for  serious  application  and  a  strong  de- 
sire for  knowledge,  he  had  prepared  him- 
self thoroughly  for  a  higher  education.  At 
the  age  of  thirteen,  while  visiting  the  house 
of  his  brother-in-law,  a  Baptist  in  Cayuga 
county,  he  conceived  the  purpose  of  acquir- 
ing an  education  which  should  fit  him  to  make 
his  own  mark  in  the  world,  so  he  entered  the 
Moravia  Academy.  After  that  he  completed 
his  preparation  for  college  by  attending 
Hartwick  Seminary.  With  six  of  his  com- 
panions he  matriculated  at  Hamilton  College, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1848,  re- 
ceiving the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  and 
in  185 1  that  of  Master  of  Arts.  In  the 
college  course  his  class  standing  was  good, 
and  he  excelled  especially  in  mathematics. 
'So  assiduous  was  he  at  this  age.  on  entering 
upon  maturity,  that  he  applied  himself  at  the 
same  time  to  a  course  in  law,  under  instruc- 
tion from  Professor  Theodore  W.  Dwight, 
who  subsequently  became  eminent  in  the  law 
department  of  Columbia  College.  After  grad- 
uation he  entered  the  law  office  of  Harris 
&  Van  Vorst  of  Albany,  then  a  well-known 
legal  firm  of  the  Capital  city.  By  diligent 
attention  to  the  business  of  this  office,  he 
was  enabled,  with  his  knowledge  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  law  which  he  had  previously  ac- 
quired, to  pass  a  most  satisfactory  examina- 
tion before  the  close  of  the  year,  the  exam- 
ining committee  for  the  court  consisting  of 
Hon.  John  H.  Reynolds,  Hon.  John  K.  Por- 
ter and  Orlando  Meads.  He  was  admitted 
on  March  6,  1848,  and  continued  his  studies 
in  the  same  law  office  until  the  year  1850, 
when  he  opened  his  own  office,  continuing 
to  practice  alone  until  1853,  when  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  Matthew  McMahon,  which 
association  continued  through  four  years.  In 
1858  Mr.  Van  Alstyne  formed  a  partnership 
with  Mr.  Winfield  Scott  Hevenor,  of  Al- 
bany, and  had  its  office  in  the  Douw  Build- 
ing, Broadway  and  State  street,  until  the 
death  of  Mr.  Van  Alstyne. 

His  political  life  was  notable.  He  was  ever 
a  Democrat  of  the  staunchest  kind.  He  was 
elected  judge  of  Albany  county  in  1871,  and 
presided  for  twelve  years.  He  was  elected 
congressman  in  1882.  after  a  hard-fought 
contest  in  the  political  arena,  where  his  foren- 
sic powers  shone  brilliantly  and  his  sturdi- 
ness  of  character  combined  with  a  manly  posi- 
tiveness  won  for  him  a  notable  victory.  The 
city  was  at  that  time  considerably  stirred  in 
politics. .    The  mayoralty  contest  of  that  pe- 


riod, Swinburne  vs.  Nolan,  will  remain  in 
local  history  as  a  political  battle  waged  with 
fearful  animosity  and  an  unpleasant  degree 
of  venom  exhibited  on  both  sides.  On  tak- 
ing his  seat  in  the  forty-eighth  congress,  he 
was  appointed  a  member  of  the  committee 
on  claims,  and  also  on  the  committee  on 
expenditures  of  the  department  of  justice.  He 
was  credited  with  being  thoroughly  attentive 
to  his  duties  as  the  public's  representative, 
and  his  term  will  be  remembered  by  his  con- 
stituents as  one  giving  abundant  satisfaction 
to  political  friends  and  foes  alike,  for  he  arose 
above  his  party  strife  once  he  was  elected. 
His  party  renominated  him  at  the  end  of  two 
years :  but  the  dissension  in  his  party  pre- 
vented his  chance  for  being  elected,  and  his 
opponent.  Dr.  John  Swinburne,  known  as  the 
"Fighting  Doctor,"  with  an  enormous  follow- 
ing among  the  poor,  was  chosen.  He  was 
nominated  for  mayor  of  Albany  and  elected 
November  2,  1897,  and  served  from  Janu- 
ary I,  1898,  to  1900.  He  had  as  opponents 
General  Selden  E.  Marvin,  Hon.  George  H. 
Stevens,  Robert  H.  Moore  and  George  Du 
Bois.  His  vote  was  8,172;  that  of  General 
Marvin,  6,014,  and  of  George  H.  Stevens, 
6,012. 

He  was  a  Mason  of  prominence,  associated 
with  the  fraternity  for  many  years  and  when 
a  young  man  actively  concerned  in  all  its 
affairs,  officiating  frequently  on  committees 
because  of  the  value  of  the  services  he  could 
render  through  able  advice.  Entered  Mount 
\'ernon  Lodge,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
October  4,  1855 ;  Master  Mason,  November 
19,  1855 ;  master,  1858-61  ;  marshal.  1865. 
He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Emman- 
uel Baptist  Church,  and  a  life  member  of  the 
Young  Men's  Association,  in  which  he  had 
shown  great  concern,  as  his  interest  seemed 
to  center  naturally  in  the  welfare  of  young 
men  of  the  city.  Often  he  found  it  a  pleas- 
ure to  converse  and  consult  with  them,  and 
in  this  particular  trait  his  genial  character 
was  seen  at  its  ver>'  best.  He  was  a  member 
of  The  Albany  Institute  and  one  of  the  most 
aggresive  in  the  movement  which  resulted  in 
the  combination  of  the  two  bodies  forming 
the  Albany  Institute  and  Historical  and  Art 
Society.  As  a  trustee  he  was  the  most  reg- 
ular of  all  upon  the  board  in  attending  meet- 
ings and  his  keen  interest  was  felt  decisively. 
Whenever  discussion  of  important  business 
showed  tendency  to  delay,  he  was  ready  be- 
fore the  tabling  of  a  motion  with  a  resolu- 
tion, in  which  he  forcefully,  cogently  and 
sagaciously  pointed  the  solution,  thus  bring- 
ing matters  to  a  direct  issue  by  his  terse 
amendment,    uttered    in   phraseology    as   one 


50 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


would  present  salient  features  of  a  legal  brief. 

Judge  \"an  Alstyne  was  fond  of  travel,  and 
was  wont  to  bring  back  with  him  rare  sou- 
venirs of  countries  visited,  and  in  this  way 
nia(Je  a  collection  of  rare,  old  china.  Friend- 
ly intercourse  with  him  was  a  source  of  pleas- 
ure, as  his  intellectuality  lent  a  decided  charm 
and  made  the  moments  pass  worthily.  He 
was  a  man  of  unusually  large  physique, 
broad-shouldered,  and  giving  an  appearance 
of  unusual  strength  throughout  his  bearing. 
His  features  bore  the  stamp  of  ruddy  health ; 
his  eyes  were  ever  bright  and  sparkling  as 
with  ready  wit  actuating  his  thoughts,  and 
he  walked  with  a  firm,  elastic  step,  which 
was   a  noticeable   characteristic. 

Mr.  \'an  Alstyne  died  at  his  home,  No.  289 
State  street,  in  the  early  morning  of  October 
26,  1903,  of  heart  failure.  He  had  never 
missed  regular  attendance  at  his  office  until 
that  time  and  in  all  sorts  of  weather  might 
have  been  seen  taking  his  afterncxjn  recrea- 
tion in  driving  about  the  country  roads,  a 
habit  which  no  doubt  gave  him  his  large 
share  of  health.  So  soon  as  Mayor  Gaus  re- 
ceived intelligence  of  the  death,  he  ordered 
that  the  flags  on  the  City  Hall,  police  stations, 
schools  and  fire  houses  be  lowered,  and  the 
first  to  call  a  meeting  for  action  on  his  de- 
mise was  the  Philip  Livingston  Chapter,  Sons 
of  the  Revolution.  The  Fort  Orange  Club, 
of  which  he  was  charter  meinber,  lowered 
its  flag,  and  the  Albany  Institute  and  His- 
torical and  Art  Society  held  a  special  meeting 
that  afternoon.  The  Albany  County  Bar  As- 
sociation assembled  in  the  supreme  court  on 
October  29,  President  William  P.  Rudd  in 
the  chair,  and  an  address  was  delivered  by 
Judge  D.  Cady  Herrick,  a  hfe-long  friend, 
while  the  committee  prepared  resolutions.  He 
said  in  part:  "My  acquaintance  with  him 
dates  back  to  the  time  when,  after  I  began 
the  practice  of  law,  I  became  located  in  an 
adjoining  office,  where  I  had  excellent  op- 
portunity to  study  his  remarkable  personalitv, 
and  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  our  relations 
were  always  close  and  sometimes  intimate. 
Eminence  in  his  profession  did  not  fill  the 
measure  of  his  honorable  ambition.  He  ref>- 
resented  his  home  constituency  in  the  Legis- 
lative halls  of  the  Nation,  and  as  the  crown- 
ing event  of  his  political  career,  rendered 
efficient  service  to  his  fellow  citizens  as  their 
chief  magistrate.  Honest  and  faithful  in  the 
discharge  of  every  trust,  public  or  private, 
attentive  and  conscientious  in  the  performance 
of  every  duty,  official  or  self-imposed,  his  in- 
tegrity was  manifest  at  all  times  and  in  all 
places,  and  on  every  occasion.  He  was  strong 
mentally,  strong  morally,  and  strong  physic- 


ally— there  was  no  hypocrisy  in  his  nature, 
and  as  time  rolled  on  and  I  grew  to  under- 
stand him  better,  I  liked  him  more.  A  pe- 
culiarity in  his  nature  which  no  doubt  many 
of  you  have  observed,  wjnen  we  were  assem- 
bled here  on  such  sad  occasions  as  this,  was- 
the  tenderness  with  which  he  spoke  in  mem- 
ory of  those  with  whom  he  had  had  many 
conflicts  in  life.  In  private  life,  a  man  of 
domestic  habits,  literary  tastes  and  scholarly 
attainments,  a  student  of  books  and  a  lover 
of  nature.  In  his  conversation  and  public 
utterances  he  was  frank  and  candid,  adopting 
the  honest  and  forcible  manner  of  stating 
plain  truths  rather  than  the  methods  of  po- 
lite insincerity.  He  was  a  good  citizen  and 
neighbor,  an  affectionate  husband  and  pa- 
rent, and  a  true  friend."  Mayor  Gaus  and 
the  heads  of  departments  of  city  government 
assembled  previous  to  the  funeral  and  drew 
up   resolutions. 

Judge  Van  Alstyne  married  (first),  A1-' 
bany,  September  3,  185 1,  Sarah,  born  Feb- 
ruary 29,  1832,  died  September  25,  1859, 
daughter  of  Reuel  Clapp,  of  the  Albany  firm 
of  Clapp  &  Townsend,  and  Sarah  (Coon) 
Clapp,  of  Dorchester,  Massachusetts.  Mar- 
ried (second)  N.  Louisa  Peck,  of  Albany, 
born  July  14,  1842,  died  November  12,  1884, 
daughter  of  Samuel  S.  and  Eliza  M.  (Col- 
lum)  Peck.  Married  (third)  February  17, 
1886,  Laura  Louisa,  daughter  of  William 
and  Lydia  (Van  Derbilt)  Wiirdemann,  of 
Washington,  D.  C,  the  former  of  whom  was 
a  prominent  manufacturer  of  astronomical  and 
mathematical  instruments.  Children  of  first 
wife:  I.  Thomas  Butler,  born  June  3,  1852; 
married.  May  7,  1879,  .\nna  Richards,  of 
Washington,  D.  C,  daughter  of  Lysander  and 
Content  (Clapp)  Richards.  2.  Charles  Ed- 
win, born  July  18.  1855,  died  July  10,  1858. 
Child  of  third  wife:  3.  William  Thomas, 
born  July  28.  1887:  educated  in  .\lbany  .\cad- 
emy  and  Yale  University,  graduating  in  class 
of  1910,  after  which  he  entered  Columbia 
Law  School  of  New  York  Citv. 


The  family  name  of  Sanders 
S.VXDFRS  is  to  be  found  in  English  rec- 
ords earlier  than  the  year 
1500,  where  it  is  also  frequently  spelled  Saun- 
ders ;  but  those  who  have  taken  special  in- 
terest in  following  the  history  of  the  branch 
of  the  family  which  came  among  the  early 
settlers  to  America,  declare  that  it  is  an  al- 
teration or  abbreviation  by  the  Hollanders  for 
the  .Scottish  name  .Mexander,  whence  they 
originally  emigrated,  going  first  to  Holland 
at  the  time  of  religious  persecution.  The 
name  is  derived  from  the  Greek,  and  signi- 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


51 


fies  an  aider  or  benefactor  of  men,  from 
the  words  meaning  "to  aid"  and  "man."  It 
betokens  a  powerful  auxiliary.  If  derived 
from  the  somewhat  similar  surname,  Sand 
or  Sands,  it  would  then  signify  sense,  or  wit. 
The  Sanders  Arms — Shield :  Sable,  a  chev- 
ron ermine,  between  three  bull's  heads,  ca- 
bossed,  argent.  Crest :  A  demi-bull  erased, 
gules. 

The  family  occupied  a  prominent  position 
before  coming  to  this  country,  and  the  rec- 
ords show  that  the  men  were  not  alone  thor- 
oughly educated,  but  possessed  a  determina- 
tion of  character  which  could  lead  them  to 
suffer  death  for  a  cause  in  which  they  believed 
themselves  to  be  in  the  right.  Laurence  San- 
ders, who  died  a  martyr,  was  the  son  of 
Thomas  Sanders,  of  Harrington,  Siebertoft, 
Northamptonshire,  England,  by  his  wife, 
Margaret  Carr,  daughter  of  Richard  Carr. 
He  was  elected  in  1538  from  Eaton,  Scholar 
of  King's  College,  Cambridge,  and  graduated 
B..^.  in  1541  ;  M.A.,  in  1544,  and  later,  it  is 
said,  became  B.D. 

Laurence  Sanders  was  cited  to  appear  be- 
fore the  vicar-general  for  having  married 
March,  1553-54.  He  was  born  in  Oxford- 
shire, where  his  father  owned  considerable 
land.  He  entered  holy  orders  toward  the 
end  of  the  reign  of  Edward  VL  and  became 
one  of  the  famous  preachers  of  the  earliest 
Reformation  period.  While  fearless  in  de- 
nouncing the  corruption  of  the  men  who  pro- 
fessed to  represent  the  pure  principles  of  the 
ancient  Christian  church,  he  was  not  one  of 
the  class  of  preachers  who  disgust  the 
thoughtful  by  violence  and  religious  hysteria. 
He  was  summoned  before  the  crown  authori- 
ties on  trumped-up  charges,  and  when  it  was 
found  that  he  fearlessly  continued  his  work 
and  preached  for  reformation,  he  was  im- 
prisoned and  finally  burned  in  Coventry  in 
1555-  His  widow  and  his  son  and  daughter 
escaped  to  Holland.  Reliance  is  placed  in 
this  line  of  descent  because  the  coat-of-arms 
on  an  ancient  tablet  in  AUhallows  Church  in 
London  is  identical  witii  that  on  old  pieces 
of  silver  and  other  family  heirlooms  handed 
down  in  the  Sanders  family  in  this  country. 

(I)  Thomas  Sanders  was  the  progenitor  of 
this  family  in  America.  He  was  a  silversmith 
in  Amsterdam.  Holland,  and  it  is  on  record 
that  he  was  in  this  country  in  1640,  for  he 
married  Sarah  Cornelise  Van  Gorcum  in  New 
Amsterdam  (New  York  City)  in  December, 
1639.  He  received  a  patent  from  Kieft,  the 
Dutch  governor,  for  a  house  and  twenty-five 
morgens  of  land  on  Manhattan  Island :  but 
in  1654  removed  to  Beverwyck,  where  he 
bought  a  house  and  lot,  which  he  sold  later 


on  to  Jan  Van  Aecken.  It  is  probable  that 
he  returned  to  New  Amsterdam.  Children: 
Robert,  baptized  in  New  Amsterdam,  Novem- 
ber 10,  1641,  see  forward;  Cornells,  baptized 
in  New  Amsterdam,  November  25,  1643;  Cor- 
nells, baptized  in  New  Amsterdam,  Novem- 
ber 17,  1644;  Thomas,  baptized  in  New  Am- 
sterdam, July  14,  1647.  ■^^■as  a  lx)lter  of  New 
York,  and  his  children  were  born  there,  name- 
ly:  Robert,  October  4,  1696;  Styntjc,  De- 
cember 26,  1697;  Robert,  January  i,  1700; 
Jacob,  October  19,  1701  ;  Elsje,  October  27, 
1703:  .'\nneke,  January  30,  1706;  Maritje, 
May  13.  1708;  Jacob,  June  9,  1712;  Beatrix, 
September  25,   1715. 

(II)  Robert,  son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah 
Cornelise  (Van  Gorcum)  Sanders,  was  bap- 
tized in  New  Amsterdam,  November  10,  1641. 
He  attained  considerable  prominence  as  a 
man  of  wealth  and  through  his  dealings  with 
the  Indians  in  public  matters.  He  was  a 
great  land  owner  before  his  death.  He  came 
to  Beverwyck,  (Albany,  New  York),  before 
1654,  with  his  father.  In  1667  he  was  a 
silversmith,  as  his  father  was  before  him, 
probably  serving  apprenticeship  under  his  gui- 
dance, and  in  1692  was  a  merchant.  He  was 
admitted  a  "Freeman"  in  1698. 

Robert  Sanders  acted  an  invaluable  part  in 
the  colonists'  dealings  with  the  Indians,  and 
the  Dutch  settlers  always  gave  him  a  most 
prominent  part  because  they  realized  his  abil- 
ity to  transact  matters  amicably.  Whenever 
there  was  a  disturbance  the  inhabitants  relied 
on  him  to  take  a  major  share  in  bringing 
peace  out  of  threatening  trouble.  When,  on 
Julv  I,  1689,  authentic  news  reached  Albany 
that  \\'illiam  and  Mary  had  succeeded  to  the 
throne  of  England,  Mayor  Pieter  Schuyler 
called  a  meeting  of  the  council,  and  it  was 
voted  to  proclaim  their  majesties  without  de- 
lay. The  proclamation  was  made  at  the  fort 
in  English  and  Dutch,  amid  the  firing  of 
cannon.  All  went  well  for  the  space  of  near- 
ly a  month,  when  there  was  a  rumor  that 
Jacob  Leisler  intended  to  establish  authority 
over  the  city,  and  to  turn  out  the  officials. 
War  was  proclaimed  between  England  and 
France,  and  a  convention  was  held  m  Aliiany 
on  August  I,  to  consider  the  situation  so  as 
to  prepare.  Fifty  persons  were  required,  each 
to  hang  a  gun,  powder  and  balls  in  the  church, 
and  new  palisades  were  erected  to  keep  out 
the*  enemy  expected  to  come  from  Canada, 
where  the  French  had  their  strongholds. 
There  was  great  excitement.  Men  were  sent 
out  to  procure  fighters,  and  Robert  Sanders 
was  selected  to  enlist  Indians  along  the  Hud- 
son river  and  at  Esopus  to  serve  as  scouts, 
knowing  the  trail  to  the  north.     A  subscrip- 


52 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK    \'ALLEYS 


tion  provided  pay  for  one  hundred  men,  and 
only  three  hundred  and  sixty-seven  pounds, 
English  money,  was  pledged.  A  few  months 
later  it  was  announced  that  "ambassadors 
from  Onondaga  and  Oneida"  were  on  their 
way  to  Albany,  desiring  to  be  heard  in  con- 
vention so  as  to  determine  on  which  side  the 
Five  Nations  were  to  be  allied,  and  at  the 
Indian  council  to  be  held  it  was  necessary  for 
somebody  of  ability  to  come  and  represent  the 
province.  It  was  decided  that  some  of  the 
wisest  Mohawks  should  represent  the  city  in 
conjunction  with  Robert  Sanders,  because  he 
understood  the  language  and  could  act  as  a 
fair    interpreter. 

In  iCigo,  Robert  Sanders  and  Colonel  Pieter 
Schuyler  were  commissioned  to  attend  an- 
other important  council  of  the  Five  Nations, 
which  should  decide  about  the  return  of  all 
prisoners  taken  to  France.  On  February  8, 
1693,  .\lbany  was  startled  by  the  report  that 
the  French  had  fallen  on  the  Mohawk  cas- 
tles, and  Lieutenant  Johannes  Schuyler  was 
despatched  to  Schenectady  with  a  troop  of 
cavalry ;  but  Albany  could  not  spare  any 
quantity  of  its  soldiers  as  it  feared  attack 
from  the  French  who  designed  to  take  the 
city  as  part  of  the  program  to  capture  the 
province  for  France.  Lieutenant  Sanders  was 
sent  out  with  Lieutenant  Schuyler  to  locate 
the  enemy  and  reported  that  they  had  oc- 
cupied the  two  lower  villages.  Major  In- 
goldesby  sent  several  hundred  men  to  Al- 
bany, who  proceeded  to  Schenectady,  and 
Governor  Fletcher  arrived  there  with  two 
hundred  and  eighty  men  from  New  York.  In 
this  campaign  the  French  lost  thirty-three, 
with  twenty-six  wounded,  and  were  driven 
back   to   Montreal. 

Robert  Sanders  acquired  land  a  mile  square 
in  Dutchess  county,  the  tract  including  the 
site  of  Poughkeepsie.  Governor  Thomas 
Dongan  on  June  2,  1688.  issued  a  patent  of 
confirmation  to  Colonel  Pieter  Schuyler,  the 
first  mayor  of  Albany,  for  two  tracts  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Hudson  river,  for  which  a 
patent  had  been  previously  granted  by  Gov- 
ernor Lovelace,  tlie  first  being  just  south  of 
the  Livingston  Manor :  the  second,  a  long 
reach  on  the  Hudson  bounded  on  the  south 
and  east  by  Wappinger  creek,  and  Colonel 
Schuyler  sold  the  tract  on  the  long  reach,  Au- 
gust 30,  1699,  to  Robert  Sanders  and  Myn- 
dert  Harmense  (Van  der  Piogert),  who  owned 
the  tract  adjoining  north,  on  which  site  the 
city  of   Poughkeepsie  now  stands. 

That  Robert  Sanders  also  acquired  other 
important  tracts  at  other  localities  in  New 
Netherland  is  shown  by  the  following  peculiar 
record  signed  by  Harmen  Vedder  at  Albany, 


August  21,  1670:  "Appeared  before  me,  Lu- 
dovicus  Cobes,  Secretary  of  Albany,  etc.,  in 
the  presence  of  the  honorable  Heeren  com- 
missaries, etc.,  Mr.  Jan  \'erbeeck  and  Mr. 
Abraham  Staats,  Herman  Vedder,  who  de- 
clares that  in  true  right,  free  ownership,  he 
grants,  conveys  and  by  these  presents  makes 
over,  to  and  for  the  behoof  of  Robert  San- 
ders, the  half  of  the  land  called  Stone  Arabia 
with  all  his  title  thereto,  free  and  unencum- 
bered, with  no  claims  standing  or  issuing 
against  the  same,  save  the  lord's  right,  with- 
out the  grantor's  making  the  least  pretension 
thereto  any  more,  also  acknowledging  that  he 
is  fully  paid  and  satisfied  therefor,  the  first 
penny  with  the  last,  by  the  hands  of  Robert 
Sanders,  and  therefore  giving  plenam  action- 
em cessam  and  full  powers  to  said  Robert 
Sanders,  his  heirs  and  successors  or  assigns, 
to  do  with  and  dispose  of  said  portion  of  land 
as  he  might  do  with  his  patrimonial  estate 
and   effects." 

Robert  Sanders  married  Elsje  Barentse. 
Children:  i.  Helena,  born  June  23,  1674; 
married,  September  20,  1704,  Johannes  Lan- 
sing, born  January  i,  1675.  died  August  10, 
1771,  son  of  Gerrit  and  Elsje  (Van  Wyth- 
horst)  Lansing.  2.  Barent,  born  IMay  8,  1678; 
see  forward.  3.  Maria,  married,  >Jovember 
24,  1689,  Gerrit  Roseboom,  son  of  Hendrick 
Janse  Roseboom,  who  was  sexton  of  the 
Dutch  church  before  1674.  4.  Sara,  married 
Hendrick  Greefraadt.  5.  Elsje,  baptized  July 
13,  1683:  buried  December  31,  1732;  married 
Evert  Wendell,  Jr.,  born  in  1660,  son  of  Evert 
Janse  Wendell,  who  came  from  Emden,  Hol- 
land. 

(Ill)  Barent,  son  of  Robert  and  Elsje  (Ba- 
rentse) Sanders,  was  born  May  8,  1678,  bur- 
ied in  the  old  Dutch  church,  June  22,  1738. 
It  was  during  his  lifetime  that  the  ancient 
Glen-Sanders  house  at  Scotia,  Schenectady 
county.  New  York,  was  built,  which  became 
the  Sanders  homestead  for  six  generations,  in 
fact,  it  was  erected  when  he  was  thirty-five 
years  old,  in  1713.  This  house  but  replaced 
the  older,  almost  upon  or  near  the  same  site, 
and  of  the  self-same  material,  but  half  a 
century  later.  It  is,  in  19 10,  in  admirable 
condition  throughout,  and  attracts  visitors 
daily  to  it  despite  the  fact  that  it  is  at  least 
a  mile  from  the  city  of  Schenectady.  The 
original  mansion  was  built  about  1659  by  Al- 
exander Lindsey  Glen,  founder  of  that  family 
in  America,  who  was  one  of  the  original 
"Fifteen  Proprietors"  of  Schenectady.  He 
was  born  about  1610,  near  Inverness,  Scot- 
land, and  when  he  crossed  to  Holland  because 
of  religious  persecution,  the  Dutchmen  called 
him  Sander  Leendertse.     He  was  a  partisan 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


53 


in  the  days  of  Charles  I,  and  had  to  flee  to 
Holland  to  protect  himself,  where  he  was 
warmly  received.  He  later  emigrated  with 
his  wife,  Catherine  Dongan  (Catalyn  Doncas- 
sen),  and  the  early  Dutch  settlers  to  New 
Netherland.  He  was  a  man  of  liberal  educa- 
tion, which  he  received  in  Scotland,  and  pos- 
sessed a  large  fortune ;  was  typical  in  physique 
and  temperament  of  his  native  heath,  and  was 
known  as  a  strong  man.  He  was  the  agent 
of  the  Dutch  West  India  Company  at  Fort 
Nassau  on  the  Delaware  river,  in  1643,  and 
in  1646  was  granted  land  at  Graves  End 
on  Long  Island.  In  1658  he  removed  to  Sche- 
nectady, where  he  commenced  building  his 
stone  mansion. 

This  was  the  first  house  built  upon  the 
north  bank  of  the  Mohawk  river  for  the 
entire  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  miles  of 
its  length.  It  was  constructed  close  to  the 
water's  edge  and  against  the  side  of  a  steep 
slope  leading  to  the  broad,  sandy  plateau  on 
which  the  village  of  Scotia  stands.  It  was 
located  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  west 
of  the  old  Glenville  bridge  leading  across  the 
Mohawk  to  Schenectady.  Herein  for  genera- 
tions were  deposited  important  colonial  docu- 
ments. It  stood  about  one  hundred  feet  south 
of  the  present  Sanders  edifice,  and  had  to  be 
taken  down  because  each  spring  the  high  wat- 
er was  an  inconvenience  and  a  serious  men- 
ace, so  in  1713  much  of  the  same  material 
was  used  in  the  construction  of  the  one  now 
occupied  by  the  Sanders  family,  and  the  in- 
roads of  the  river  have  obliterated  even  the 
outline  of  where  stood  the  foundations,  fill- 
ing the  same  in  with  silt.  Between  the  two 
sites  was  the  place  where  the  Indians  en- 
joAcd  burning  their  white  victims  at  the  stake. 
On  the  flats  to  the  east  the  savages  grew  their 
corn,  as  set  forth  in  the  title  as  their  '"corn- 
field." He  named  the  place  Scotia  in  mem- 
ory of  the  land  of  his  birth.  The  title  was 
from  the  Mohawk  Indians  from  1658  to  1665, 
and  then  he  obtained  a  patent  from  the  crown. 
He  was  a  religious  man,  and  finding  it  irk- 
some to  drive  the  seventeen  miles  to  Albany 
every  Sabbath  morn,  in  1682  built  the  Dutch 
Church  which  was  also  used  as  the  town  hall. 
Mr.  Glen  also  owned  a  town  lot  in  Schenec- 
tady, with  two  hundred  feet  frontage  on 
Washington  avenue,  the  residence  thereon  oc- 
cupied by  his  descendants  until  burned  in 
1819.  He  died  in  1685,  and  was  buried  un- 
der the  church  beside  his  wife,  who  had  died 
tlie  previous  year. 

The  reason  why  the  house  was  neither  at- 
tacked nor  burned  during  the  great  massacre 
of  1690  is  interesting.  It  was  Major  John 
Alexander  Glen,  son  of  the  former,  who  built 


the  present  mansion  in  1713,  and  who  was 
alive  at  the  time  of  the  massacre.  The  Glens 
were  very  friendly  with  the  Indians,  alive 
also  to  rescue  a  white  captive  from  the  sav- 
ages. One  day  a  party  of  Mohawks  brought 
to  the  original  house  a  Jesuit  priest  who 
had  come  down  from  Canada,  where  were 
the  French,  intending  to  have  him  locked  up 
by  Major  Glen  until  the  following  day,  when 
they  proposed  to  torture  him  before  taking 
his  life.  Glen  pretended  to  fear  the  magical 
powers  of  the  priest,  and  having  two  keys 
to  his  cellar  door  told  the  Indians  that  they 
might  lock  the  priest  in  there,  and  on  hand- 
ing one  key  to  the  redskins  remarked  that 
he  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  matter, 
for  he  did  not  believe  a  key  would  hold  a 
priest  confined  so  long  as  there  was  a  key- 
hole through  which  he  was  doubtless  able  to 
send  his  spirit  and  body  likewise.  Earlv  the 
next  morning.  Major  Glen  placed  the  priest 
in  a  cask  and  despatched  it  in  his  cart  for 
Albany.  This  act  had  its  important  bearing. 
It  gratified  the  French  of  Canada,  so  when 
Schenectady  was  attacked  on  the  bitterly  cold 
night  of  February  8,  1690,  by  the  French 
and  their  savage  allies  under  Seignior  Le 
Moyne  de  Sainte  Helene,  it  was  ordered  that 
no  harm  be  done  to  the  house  of  the  Glens 
or  to  any  relative.  Glen  undertook  to  per- 
suade the  Indians  that  he  had  many  relatives 
in  Schenectady,  whom  he  wished  spared ;  but 
the  number  increased  so  extensively  that  he 
had  to  desist  or  the  Redmen,  perceiving  the 
ruse,  would  spare  none,  as  they  began  to 
have  doubts.  In  this  massacre,  now  a  feature 
in  colonial  history,  about  eighty  houses  were 
burned  to  the  groiuid  and  some  three  hundred 
souls  w'ere  slain. 

The  present  house  is  charming  in  its  co- 
lonial quaintness.  The  walls  are  unusually 
thick  and  the  timbers  massive.  The  latter 
were  cut  from  trees  so  large  that  they  were 
first  cut  into  lengths,  and  these  split  into  four 
timbers  each  two  feet  square.  Tliey  are  won- 
derfully dovetailed  together  and  fastened  with 
wooden  pins.  The  doors  are  wide,  and  what 
is  peculiar  they  are  made  of  one  mammoth 
piece  of  wood,  while  those  leading  out  are 
divided  in  the  middle,  the  upper  portion  set 
with  small  lights  of  glass.  Across  the  ex- 
terior, beneath  the  eaves,  are  to  be  seen  the 
large  iron  letters  and  numerals,  "A  O  i  7  i  3." 
The  furniture,  silverware  and  crockery  in  this 
house  have  been  in  use  for  generations,  and 
attract  much  attention  by  their  beauty.  In  the 
attic  were  stored  countless  documents  from 
which  a  history  might  be  written ;  but  un- 
fortunately at  the  time  of  the  civil  war,  when 
paper  was  in  great  demand,  about  a  ton  was 


S6 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK    \-ALLEYS 


river  Severn,  eleven  miles  north  by  west  of 
Bristol,  England.  Its  length  is  about  one 
hundred  and  thirty  miles,  navigable  to  Here- 
ford, and  the  stream  is  noted  for  its  pic- 
turesque scenery,  in  fact  so  beautiful  is  the 
river  Wye,  made  attractive  by  its  castellated 
shores,  that  it  is  well  called  "the  Rhine  of 
England."  It  was  appointed  the  boundary 
between  England  and  Wales  by  Athelstan  in 
the  year  939. 

The  early  owners  of  the  land  were,  before 
the  days  of  surnames,  known  as  "Eustace" 
or  "Baldwin,"  or  "Robert  of  Whitney,"  as  the 
Christian  name  might  be.  Written  in  the  style 
of  those  times,  "of"  was  "de"  and  after  a 
while,  "De  Whitney,"  or  "De  Wytteneye,"  as 
it  was  usually  spelled,  came  to  be  regarded 
as  the  family  name.  Finally  the  letter  "h" 
was  introduced  and  the  "De"  was  dropped,  so 
that  throughout  four  centuries  the  present 
form  has  been  the  established  one.  It  also 
shows  on  old  English  records  as  Witney, 
Wittney,  Witnenie,  Witeney,  Witteneye,  Wyt- 
ney,  Wyttneye,  Wyteney,  W^ytteneye,  Whit- 
eneye  and  Whittenye. 

The  Whitney  Arms — Shield :  Azure,  a 
cross  chequy  or  and  gules.  Crest:  A  bull's 
head  couped  sable,  armed  argent,  the  points 
gules.  Motto :  Magnanimiter  crucem  sus- 
tene ;  "Gallantly  uphold  the  cross."  As  reg- 
istered in  the  College  of  Arms,  and  probably 
originating  during  the  early  crusades,  remain- 
ing unchanged  up  to  the  time  of  emigration 
of  John  Whitney,  in  1635. 

Regarding  the  origin  of  the  family  and  its 
location,  as  it  leads  towards  the  departure  of 
a  member  in  direct  descent  who  became  the 
progenitor  of  the  family  in  America,  there  is 
much  of  interest,  and  it  must  necessarily  be 
expressed  in  brief.  At  the  present  day,  there 
is  a  tract  in  England  known  as  "Whitney 
Wood,"  probably  identical  with  the  one  re- 
ferred to  in  a  writ  of  the  seventeenth  year  of 
Henry  III  (1233),  wherein  the  sheriff  of 
Hereford  was  commanded  "to  cause  a  good 
breach  to  be  made  through  the  woods  of 
Erdelegh,  Bromlegh  and  \Vitteneye.  so  that 
there  may  be  safe  passage  between  the  City  of 
Hereford  and  Maud's  Castle."  This  castle 
was  built  by  William  le  Braas,  Lord  of 
Brecknock,  about  1216,  in  the  reign  of  King 
John,  and  so  named  in  honor  of  his  wife. 
The  Domesday  Book  mentions  Whitney  in 
the  year  1086,  at  which  time  the  land  was 
scarcely  under  cultivation,  as  follows :  "In 
Elsedune  hundred,  the  King  holds  Witenie, 
Aluuard  held  it  in  the  time  of  King  Edward, 
and  was  able  to  go  where  he  pleased.  There 
is  half  a  hide  yielding  geld.  It  was  and  is 
waste." 


Rolf,  or  Guy,  has  the  credit  of  being  the 
first  of  whom  there  is  undisputed,  authentic 
trace.  He  had  a  son,  Turstin  de  Wigemore, 
the  Fleming,  who  was  living  in  1086,  and 
married  Agnes,  daughter  of  Alured  de  ]\Ierle- 
berge,  of  Ewias  Castle.  Their  son  was  Eu- 
stace, who,  "at  the  request  of  my  mother, 
Agnes,  have  given  to  St.  Peter  and  the 
brothers  of  Gloucester  a  hide  of  land  in  Pen- 
combe  which  is  called  Suthenhale  (Sydnal), 
free  and  clear  from  any  encumbrance :  and 
through  this  deed,  I  have  placed  it  on  the 
altar  of  Saint  Peter  of  Gloucester." 

Eustace  had  a  son,  also  named  Eustace  de 
W^'tteneye,  Knight,  who  confirmed  this  deed 
of  gift,  by  a  document  so  signed  and  delivered 
to  "the  monks  and  Lord  Reginald,  Abbot  of 
Saint  Peter's  at  Gloucester,  and  to  the  con- 
vent of  that  place."  Thus,  while  there  may 
be  no  record  showing  that  Eustace,  the  elder, 
used  the  name  in  full,  his  son,  in  the  days 
of  Reginald  the  Abbot,  or  1263-84,  wrote 
himself  as  "Eustace  de  Wytteneye,"  and  it 
is  therefore  proved  that  he  was  third  in  de- 
scent from  Turstin  the  Fleming,  son  of  Rolf, 
who  owned  the  land  on^  the  river  Wye,  the 
home  of  the  Wytteneyes,  later  changed  to 
Whitney  in  records. 

That  the  Whitney  family  was  represented 
in  the  Crusades  seems  more  than  likely,  for 
a  cross  on  a  coat-of-arms  wliich  is  known 
positively  to  date  to  that  period  is  quite  gen- 
erally understood  by  the  most  careful  students 
of  ancient  heraldry  to  indicate  that  it  once  be- 
longed to  a  crusader,  and  in  the  \\'hitney 
arms  the  chief,  in  fact,  the  only,  solitary  sym- 
bol is  a  cross. 

Nearly  every  writer  dealing  with  the  his- 
tory of  this  family  has  given  the  following 
explanation :  "Sir  Randolph  de  Whitney,  the 
grandson  of  Eustace,  accompanied  Richard 
Coeur  de  Lion  to  the  Crusades,  and  distin- 
guished himself  greatly  by  his  personal 
strength  and  great  courage.  On  one  occasion 
he  was  sent  by  Richard  on  a  mission  to  the 
French  conunander,  and,  as  he  was  leaving 
the  British  camp,  the  brother  of  Saladin 
(whom  he  had  twice  before  defeated)  fol- 
lowed him  with  two  Saracens  in  his  company, 
and,  riding  around  a  small  hill,  made  a  furious 
attack  upon  De  Whitney,  who  defended  him- 
self with  the  greatest  vigor;  hut  his  assailants 
were  gaining  upon  him,  when  a  furious  Span- 
ish bull,  which  was  feeding  near  the  field  of 
conflict,  was  attracted  by  the  red  dresses  of 
the  Saracens,  and  becoming  angry  at  the  color 
flitting  before  him,  made  so  vigorous  an  at- 
tack upon  them  that  they  were  diverted  from 
their  intended  prey,  and  sought  safety  in  flight. 
Sir  Randolph  soon  succeeded  in  wounding  his 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


57 


single  assailant,  whom  he  left  for  dead,  and 
then,  overtaking  the  two  Saracens,  dispatched 
them  and  proceeded  upon  his  mission  from 
the   King." 

To  carry  the  entire  line,  even  by  name  and 
date  from  the  time  of  Turstin,  son  of  Rolf,  in 
1086,  to  the  time  of  John  Whitney,  who  emi- 
grated to  America  in  1635,  more  than  two 
and  one-half  centuries  ago,  would  require 
much  space ;  but  in  brief  it  perfects  the  fam- 
ily history. 

Sir  Robert  de  Whitney,  of  Wliitney, 
Knight,  living  in  1242,  had  son,  Sir  Eustace 
de  Whitney,  Knight,  who  was  granted  Free 
Warren  by  King  Edward  I,  in  1284,  and 
was  summoned  to  military  service  beyond  the 
seas  in  1297,  and  summoned  to  the  Scotch 
war  in  1301.  His  son  was  Sir  Eustace  de 
Whitney,  of  Whitney,  who  was  knighted  by 
Edward  I,  in  1306,  and  was  member  of  par- 
liament for  Herefordshire  in  1313  and  1352. 
His  son  was  Sir  Robert  de  Whitney,  Knight, 
one  of  two  hundred  gentlemen,  who  in  1368 
went  to  Milan  in  the  retinue  of  the  Duke  of 
Clarence,  and  was  member  of  parliament  for 
Herefordshire  in  1377-79-80.  His  son,  Rob- 
ert, was  sent  abroad  to  negotiate  a  treaty 
with  the  Count  of  Flanders  in  1388;  was 
member  of  Parliament  in  1391 ;  was  sent  to 
France  to  deliver  castle  and  town  of  Cher- 
bourg to  the  King  of  Navarre,  in  1393;  was 
Knight  Marshal  at  the  Court  of  Richard  H; 
was  killed,  with  his  brother  and  relatives,  at 
the  battle  of  Pilleth,  in  1402. 

His  son,  Sir  Robert  Whitney,  of  Whitney, 
Knight,  was  granted  the  Castle  of  Clifford 
and  lordships  of  Clifford  and  Glasbury,  by 
Henry  I\',  in  1404,  on  account  of  his  serv- 
ices:  was  member  of  parliament,  1416-22; 
fought  in  the  French  war  under  Henry  V, 
was  captain  of  Castle  and  town  of  Vire,  in 
1420,  and  died  March  12,  1441. 

His  son,  Eustace  de  Whitney,  Knight, 
born  141 1,  was  head  of  the  commission  sent 
to  Wales  by  Henry  \'l,  in  1455  ;  member  of 
parliament  for  Herefordshire.  1468;  married 
Jenett  Russell,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas. 

His  son,  Robert,  probably  also  a  knight, 
was  an  active  participant  in  the  War  of  the 
Roses ;  attainted  as  a  Yorkist  by  Lancastrian 
parliament,  in  1459 ;  probably  was  at  battle 
of  Mortimer's  Cross,  in  1461,  and  was  the 
subject  of  a  poem  by  Lewis  Glyn  Cothi,  on 
his  marriage  to  Constance,  the  great-grand- 
daughter of  Sir  David  Gam. 

His  son,  James  Whitney,  was  appointed  re- 
ceiver of  Newport,  part  of  the  estate  of  the 
Duke  of  Buckingham,  confiscated  by  Henry 
yill,  in  1522. 

His  son,  Robert,  of  Icomb,  was  placed  in 


charge  of  Brecknock,  Hay  and  Huntington, 
the  confiscated  estates  of  the  Duke  of  Buck- 
ingham, in  1523;  was  nominated  Knight  of 
the  Bath  by  Henry  VHI,  at  coronation  of 
Anne  Boleyn,  in  1531,  and  died  in  1541.  He 
furnished  forty  men  to  put  down  rebellion  in 
1536.  He  married  Margaret,  daughter  of 
Robert  Wye.  of  Gloucestershire,  England. 

His  son.  Sir  Robert  Whitney,  Knight,  was 
dubbed  in  October,  1553,  the  day  following 
Queen  Mary"s  coronation ;  was  summoned  be- 
fore the  Privy  council  in  1555-59;  member 
of  parliament  for  Herefordshire,  1559,  and 
died  August  5,  1567. 

His  son.  Sir  James  Whitney,  born  in  1544, 
was  knighted  by  Queen  Elizabeth  at  Wind- 
sor, in  1570;  was  sheriff  of  Herefordshire, 
1574-86-87:  died  May  31,  1587. 

His  brother,  Robert  Whitney,  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Morgan  Guillims,  or 
Duglim,  who  had  a  son,  Thomas  Whitney,  of 
Westminster,  Gentleman,  see  forward. 

Thomas  Whitney,  son  of  Robert  and  Eliza- 
beth (Guillims)  Whitney,  was  a  native  of 
Westminster,  England,  and  was  buried  in  St. 
Margaret's,  April  14,  1637.  It  is  recorded 
that  in  161 1  he  paid  the  subsidy  tax,  and  on 
December  6,  1615,  on  the  probate  of  the  will 
of  his  father-in-law,  John  Bray,  he  was  ap- 
pointed executor,  lie  apprenticed  his  son, 
John,  on  February  22,  1607,  and  his  son,  Rob- 
ert, on  November  8,  1624.  At  the  time  of 
his  death,  in  1637,  his  oldest  surviving  son, 
John,  being  out  of  the  country,  administra- 
tion of  his  estate  was  granted.  May  8,  1637, 
to  his  remaining  sons,  Francis  and  Robert. 
Of  the  other  six  children,  he  having  had  nine, 
all  six  were  then  dead.  He  obtained,  May  10, 
1583,  from  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  West- 
minster, a  license  to  marry  Mary  Bray,  in 
which  document  he  is  mentioned  as  "Thomas 
Whytney  of  Lambeth  Marsh,  Gentleman," 
and  the  marriage  took  place  on  May  12,  at 
St.  Margaret's  Church.  She  was  the  daughter 
of  John  Bray,  of  Westminster,  and  she  was 
buried  in  St.  Margaret's  on  September  25, 
1629.  "Lambeth  Marsh"  is  the  name  still  ex- 
isting, and  denotes  a  locality  near  the  Surrey 
end  of  the  Westminster  bridge.  Children: 
Margaret,  born  1584,  died  1604:  Thomas, 
1587,  died  1587:  Yienry,  1588,  died  1589; 
John,  1589,  see  forward;  Arnwaye,  1590,  died, 
1591  ;  Nowell,  1594,  died  1597:  Francis,  1599, 
died  at  Westminster,  1643  ;  Mary,  1600,  died 
1600:  Robert,  1605,  died  in  parish  of  St. 
Peter's,  Cornhill.  London,  England,  1662. 

(I)  John  Whitney,  son  of  Thomas  and 
Mary  (Bray)  Whitney,  was  born  in  West- 
minster, England,  1589:  was  baptized  in  St. 
Margaret's   church,  July  20,   1592,  and  com- 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   \'ALLEYS 


ing  to  America  in  1635,  died  at  Watertown, 
Massachusetts,  June  i,  1673.  He  was  re- 
corded "Gentleman"  in  his  marriage  license 
taken  out  in  England,  and  it  is  presumed  that 
his  education  in  the  famous  "Westminster 
School"  now  known  as  St.  Peter's  College, 
was  a  good  one.  When  fourteen  years  old, 
he  was  apprenticed  by  his  father.  February 
22. •1607,  to  \Mlliam  Pring,  of  the  Old  Bailey, 
London,  who  was  a  "Freeman"  of  the  Mer- 
chant Tailors'  Company,  then  the  most  fam- 
ous and  prosperous  of  all  the  great  trade 
guilds,  numbering  in  its  membership  distin- 
guished men  of  the  professions,  the  nobility 
and  the  Prince  of  Wales.  On  March  13,  1614, 
when  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he  became  a 
full-fledged  member.  He  made  his  residence 
at  Isleworth-on-Thames,  eight  miles  from  his 
^\'estminster  home,  and  about  1618,  married 

Elinor   ,    who   was    born    in    England, 

1599,  and  six  children  were  born  to  him  be- 
fore sailing  for  America,  three  afterwards. 
His  father  apprenticed  to  him  his  youngest 
brother,  Robert,  November  8,  1624,  who 
served  seven  years.  He  removed,  about  1631, 
to  London,  where  entries  in  the  register  of 
St.  Mary  Aldermery  indicate  that  he  resided 
in  "Bowe  lanne,"  near  Bow  church,  where 
hang  the  famous  bells.  Early  in  April,  1635, 
he  registered  with  his  wife,  Elinor,  and  their 
sons,  John,  Richard,  Nathaniel,  Thomas  and 
Jonathan,  as  passengers  in  the  ship  "Eliza- 
beth and  Ann,"  Roger  Cooper,  master.  They 
arrived  at  W'atertown,  Massachusetts,  in 
June,  and  settled  there,  where  their  son, 
Joshua,  was  born  July  15.  John  Whitney 
purchased  a  sixteen  acre  homestall,  which  had 
been  granted  to  John  Strickland,  who  had 
been  dismissed  from  the  Watertown  church, 
May  29,  1635,  and  was  one  of  that  colony 
to  remove  and  plant  Wcthersfield,  Connecti- 
cut. This  homestead  was  the  permanent 
home  of  John  Whitney.  It  was  situated  a 
short  distance  north  of  Belmont  street  and 
east  of  Common  street.  In  1668  he  requested 
his  youngest  son,  Benjamin,  who  had  settled 
in  York,  Maine,  to  return  and  live  with  him 
at  the  homestead,  assuring  him  that  it  should 
be  his  after  his  death.  \Vith  the  father's  con- 
sent, Benjamin  conveyed  his  rights  for  forty 
pounds,  in  1671,  to  his  brother.  Joshua,  and 
when  the  father  died,  Joshua  returned  to  Gro- 
ton,  and  October  29,  1697,  sold  the  home- 
stead to  Deacon  Nathan  Fiske.  John  Whit- 
ney was  admitted  freeman,  March  3,  1635-36, 
was  appointed  constable  of  \\'atertown,  June 
I,  1641,  by  the  general  court;  selectman,  1638 
-to  1655,  inclusive,  and  town  clerk,  1655. 

He    married     (first)     in    England,    Elinor 
' ,    born   in    1599;    died   at    Watertown, 


Massachusetts,  May  11,  1659;  married  (sec- 
ond), Judah  Clement,  who  died  before  his 
death  in  1673.  Children:  Mary,  baptized  in 
England,  May  23,  1619,  died  young;  John, 
born  in  England,  1620,  died  at  Watertown, 
October  12,  1692,  freeman  of  Watertown, 
Alay  26,  1647,  selectman,  1673-80.  married, 
1642,  Ruth,  daughter  of  Robert  Reynolds,  of 
\\'atertown,  Massachusetts ;  Richard,  born  in 
England,  1626,  see  forward ;  Nathaniel,  born 
in  England,  1627,  nothing  further  known ; 
Thomas,  born  in  England,  1629,  died  Sep- 
teirber  20,  1719,  married,  Watertown,  Jan- 
uary II,  1654.  Mary  Kedall  or  Kettle:  Jona- 
than, born  in  England.  1634,  died  in  Sher- 
born,  1702,  married,  \\'atertown,  October  30, 
1656,  Lydia,  daughter  of  Lewis  Jones ;  Dea- 
con Joshua,  born  in  Watertown,  July  5,  1635, 
died  at  Watertown,  August  7,  1719.  married, 

(first)  Lydia ,  (second)  Mary , 

who  died  at  Groton,  March  17.  1671,  (third) 
September  30,  1672.  Abigail  Tarball :  Caleb, 
born  at  Watertown,  July  12,  1640,  buried  De- 
cember 5,  1640 ;  Benjamin,  born  at  Water- 
town,   June   6,    1643,   died   in    1723,   married 

('first)  probably  at  York,  Maine,  Jane  , 

who  died  November  14,  1690.  married  (sec- 
ond) April  II,  1695,  i^Iary  Poor,  of  Marl- 
boro,  Massachusetts. 

(II)  Richard,  son  of  John  and  Elinor 
Whitney,  was  born  in  England  in  1626,  and 
came  to  Watertown,  Massachusetts,  with  his 
parents,  arriving  in  June,  1635.  He  was  ad- 
mitted freeman,  May  7,  1651:  was  proprietor 
of  Stow,  June  3,  1680,  whither  he  probably 
removed  when  it  was  a  part  of  Concord  or  be- 
longed to  it.  On  April  7,  1697,  being  seventy 
years  of  age,  he  was  released  from  training 
by  the  court.  lie  married,  March  19,  1650, 
Martha  Coldam,  and  their  eight  children  were 
born  in  Watertown.  Massachusetts.  Chil- 
dren: Sarah,  born  March  17.  1652;  Moses, 
August  I,  1655,  married  Sarah  Knight;  Jo- 
hannah,  January  6,  1656;  Deborah,  born  Oc- 
tober 12,  1658;  Rebecca,  December  15,  1659, 
died  February,  1660;  Richard,  January  13, 
1660,  see  forward;  Elisha,  August  26,  1662; 
Ebenezer.  June  30,  1672,  at  Concord,  Massa- 
chusetts, died  .August  5,  1727.  married 
Anna . 

(III)  Richard  (2),  .son  of  Richard  (i)  and 
Martha  (Coldam)  Whitney,  was  born  at 
Watertown,  Massachusetts,  January  13,  1660, 
died  at  Stow,  Massachusetts,  December  15, 
1723.  He  had  land  granted  to  him  at  that 
place,  October  24,  1682,  whither  he  removed 
from  his  native  town.  He  married  Eliza- 
l^eth,  born  February  3,  1668,  died  November 
24,  1723,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Sawtell,  of 
Groton,    Massachusetts.      Children :    Richard, 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


59 


born  at  Stow,  Massachusetts,  in  1694,  see  for- 
ward ;  Jonathan,  born  at  Stow,  February  26, 
1699,  died  November  8,  1773,  married,  at 
Lancaster,  Massachusetts,  January  29,  1718, 
AHce  Willard,  born  December,  1699,  died 
February'  19,  1792,  daughter  of  Simon  Wil- 
lard; Sarah,  born  1703,  married,  1723,  Cap- 
tain Hezekiah  Hapgood ;  Ruhamah,  born 
1705;  Joshua,   born   at   Stow,    1706,   married 

Zerviah    ;    Hannah,    married    Samuel 

Farr;  Elizabeth,  married,  December  29,  1722, 
John  Wetherby;  Hepzibah,  born  1710,  mar- 
ried, October  12,  1732,  Seth  Sawyer. 

(IV)  Richard  (3),  son  of  Richard  (2)  and 
Elizabeth  (Sawtell)  Whitney,  was  born  at 
Stow,  Massachusetts,  in  1694,  died  April  27, 
1775-  He  married  (first)  Hannah,  daughter 
of  Josiah  Whitcomb,  of  Lancaster,  Massa- 
chusetts, who  was  born  in  1693,  died  Novem- 
ber 17,  1743;  married  (second)  October  26, 
1745,  Mrs.  Hannah  Ayers,  born  in  1704,  died 
September  27,    1775.     Children:   Mary,   born 

November   24,    1715,   married  Gates; 

Dorothy,  April  13,  1718,  married Tay- 
lor; Daniel,  February  13,  1720,  died  in  1782, 
married,  November  9,  1744,  Dorothy  Goss, 
of  Lancaster,  Massachusetts ;  Hannah,  May 
29,  1723,  married  Wetherbee ;  Rich- 
ard, horn  at  Stow,  July  31,  1725,  died  May  4, 
1798,  married,  Sudbury,  December  10,  1747, 
Mary  Perry;  Elizabeth,  July  23,  1728,  died 
before  1775,  married,  April  15,  1748,  Joseph 
Wetherbee:  Josiah.  born  in  Stow,  October  12, 
1731,  see  forward;  Sarah,  married,  December 
23,  1769,  Captain  Hezekiah  Whitcomb,  of 
Harvard,   Massachussetts. 

(V)  Brigadier-General  Josiah  Whitney,  son 
of  Richard  (3)  and  Hannah  (Whitcomb) 
Whitney,  was  horn  in  Stow,  Massachusetts, 
October  12,  1731,  died  in  Albany,  Mas'sa- 
cjmsetts,  January  24,  1806.  He  was  the  cit- 
izen of  Harvard,  Massachusets,  who  held  the 
highest  military  rank  during  the  revolution, 
and  was  at  one  time  the  town's  most  noted 
and  influential  citizen,  being  the  leader  in 
town  politics.  His  mother  was  a  near  rela- 
tive of  the  veteran  military  leaders.  Colonel 
Asa  and  General  John  Whitcomb.  On  Sep- 
tember 2,  1746,  his  parents  deeded  to  him  land 
in  Harvard,  which  he  occupied  soon  after  his 
marriage,  his  dwelling  standing  nearly  oppo- 
site the  almshouse,  until  torn  down  in  1869. 
He  inherited  a  fondness  for  military  affairs, 
and  when  about  his  majority,  he  entered  upon 
what  proved  a  most  brilliant  military  career. 
In  the  spring  of  1755  he  was  a  member  of  the 
company  commanded  by  Captain  William 
Pierce,  that  marched  in  Colonel  Whitcomb's 
regiment  against  the  French  and  Indians  at 
Crown  Point.      He    was    in    the    notoriously 


bloody  battle  at  Lake  George,  September  8, 
1755.  where  the  gallant  General  Dieskau  was 
defeated  by  the  New  England  yeomanry. 
From  August  13  to  26,  1757,  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  foot  company  commanded  by  Cap- 
tain Israel  Taylor  that  marched  on  the  late 
alarm  for  the  relief  of  Fort  Henry,  as  far  as 
Springfield,  and  on  September  26,  1774,  he 
was  chosen  commander  of  a  company.  \Vhen, 
on  December  19,  1774,  the  Continental  Re- 
solves were  read  before  the  town,  a  commit- 
tee was  appointed  to  prepare  a  covenant  to 
be  signed  by  the  inhabitants,  pledging  adher- 
ence to  independence,  he  was  one  of  ten 
named  to  inspect  breaches  of  the  covenant. 
Colonel  Asa  \\"hitcomb,  having  been  author- 
ized to  raise  a  regiment  at  the  time  of  the  pro- 
vincial congress,  April,  1774,  he  did  so,  and 
on  May  25  announced  that  Josiah  Whit- 
ney, of  Harvard,  was  lieutenant-colonel. 
That  regiment  contained  five  hundred  and 
sixty  volunteers,  mustered  into  eleven  com- 
panies, and  was  the  largest  of  the  twenty- 
six  Massachusetts  regiments  before  Boston. 
He  was  appointed  to  take  command  of  a  bat- 
talion of  men  raised  by  the  state,  April  10. 
1776,  and  on  October  29  wrote  from  Camp 
at  FIull,  "though  the  pay  of  the  state  was 
small,  yet  my  zeal  for  the  liberties  of  my 
country  was  so  great  that  I  cheerfully  under- 
took it."  When  the  continental  army  de- 
parted for  New  York,  his  regiment  went  with 
the  Massachusetts  militia  to  the  defense  of 
the  coast.  When  General  Burgoyne  was 
marching  toward  Albany  from  the  north,  he 
ordered,  on  July  27,  1777,  a  draft  of  one-sixth 
of  the  training  bands  and  alarm  lists  in  his 
regiment  to  march  at  once  to  Bennington,  and 
on  August  2,  ordered  one-half  of  the  mili- 
tia to  follow.  On  January  13,  1778.  he  was 
made  chairman  of  a  committee  which  the  town 
had  appointed  "to  take  into  consideration  the 
.Articles  of  Confederation  and  Perpetual 
L'nion  of  the  United  States  of  America  Con- 
certed on  by  Congress."  He  was  commander 
of  the  Second  Worcester  Regiment  of  militia, 
as  colonel,  when  it  took  part  in  the  opera- 
tions in  Rhode  Island,  when  in  August  and 
September,  1778.  an  attempt  was  made  to 
wrest  that  colony  from  the  others.  He  was 
chosen  one  of  two  delegates  to  be  sent  to  the 
convention  for  the  state  constitution.  He 
was  made  brigadier-general  in  1783 ;  but  re- 
signed the  ofifice  before  the  breaking  out  of 
Shay's  insurrection.  In  1782  the  governor 
appointed  him  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  and 
for  the  county  of  Worcester.  In  1783-84-87- 
88-89.  he  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  se- 
lectmen, and  during  this  period  one  of  the 
most  popular  moderators  at  the  deliberations 


6o 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


of  the  town  voters.  He  was  the  delegate  from 
Harvard  to  the  convention  held  to  ratify  the 
federal  constitution,  in  Boston.  January  9, 
1788,  and  voted  with  the  minority  in  opposi- 
tion but  would  support  it  nevertheless.  He 
was  representative  in  legislature,  1780-81-87- 
88-89.  \\ith  church  matters  he  was  promi- 
nently identified. 

He  married  (first)  in  Stow,  Alassachusetts, 
September  9.  1751,  Sarah  Farr,  born  January 
19,  1735,  died  in  Harvard,.  Massachusets, 
April  21,  1773;  married  (second)  at  Har- 
vard. February  3,  1774,  Sarah  Dwelly,  of 
Bridgewater,  who  died  at  Whitingham,  Ver- 
mont. February  18,  1817.  Children:  Josiah, 
born  at  Harvard,  Massachusetts,  February  25, 
1753,  died  January  2,  1827,  married.  Harvard. 
January  10,  1776,  Anna  Scollay,  baptized 
April  18,  1756,  died.  Nelson,  New  Hampshire, 
j\larch  8,  1824;  Elizabeth,  born  May  7, 
1755,  married,  April  28,  1796,  Phineas  Bar- 
nard, he  married  (second),  her  sister,  Mrs. 
Burgess:  Stephen,  born.  Harvard,  May  i, 
1757,  died,  Lynn,  Massachusetts,  married, 
February  6,  1783,  Persis  Locke,  born  1757, 
died  in  Deerfield,  June  25,  1806;  infant,  died 
June  4,  1761  ;  infant,  died  May  10,  1762:  in- 
fant, died  March  16,  1763:  infant,  died  Feb- 
ruary, 1766;  infant,  died  February  18,  1768; 
Sarah,  born  April  11,  1755,  married  (first) 
December  14,  1791,  Laomi  Burgess,  born 
March  i,  1770,  married  (second)  September 
27.  1827,  Phineas  Barnard,  of  Harvard,  and 
she  died  May  23,  i860:  Oliver,  born  January 
9,  1777,  reported  to  have  died  at  sea;  Ar- 
temas  Ward,  born  November  17,  1778,  sim- 
ilar report  as  on  Oliver ;  Susanna,  born  Oc- 
tober 2,  1780,  married,  November  8,  1803, 
John  Adams,  of  Ashburnham,  and  died  in 
North  Adams,  Massachusetts,  May  5,  1866; 
Dwelly,  born  August  2,  1782,  similar  report 
as  Oliver ;  Lemuel,  born  Harvard,  Septem- 
ber 19,  1784,  died  July  9,  1853,  Ashburnham, 
Massachusetts,  married,  December  4,  1804, 
Elizabeth  Hall,  born  February  6,  1788,  died 
April  30,  1852:  Daniel,  born  Octol>er  25,  1786, 
see  forward :  John  Hancock,  born  December 
13,  1788,  married  and  resided  at  Cazenovia, 
New  York;  Aloses  Gill,  born  February  4, 
1791,  married  Ann  Shields. 

(VI)  Daniel,  son  of  Brigadier-General 
Josiah  and  Sarah  (Farr)  Whitney,  was  born 
in  Massachusetts,  October  25,  1786,  died 
April  18,  i86g.  He  was  a  master  mason  build- 
er, and  moved  with  his  family  from  Boston, 
in  1825,  on  a  sloop,  with  all  his  goods  and 
a  family  consisting  of  ten  children,  to  New 
York  City,  the  trip  consuming  one  week. 
There  he  resided  until  he  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-two.     He  had  presentiments  the  year 


previous  to  his  death  that  it  was  to  be  his  last, 
as  it  proved,  and  accordingly  named  his  eight 
pall-bearers.  He  was  most  active  in  building 
circles  after  the  great  fire  of  1835.  He  mar- 
ried, March  10,  1808,  Hannah  Shedd,  of  Wal- 
tham,  Massachusetts,  where  he  had  resided  in 
younger  days.  Children :  Daniel  J.,  born  Feb- 
ruary II,  1809,  died  in  San  Francisco,  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1850:  Hannah  Maria,  October  10, 
1810,  died,  unmarried,  December  25,  1859; 
George,  October  30,  1812,  died  at  sea; 
Josiah  Marshall,  Boston,  January  19,  1814, 
married,  at  Astoria,  New  York,  May  16,  1839, 
Mary  Jane  Ayers,  born  September  8,  1820; 
Edward  Oliver,  December  24,  1816,  married 
Eliza  Lawrence;  Lucy  Jane,  December  16, 
1818,  died  January  11,  1861,  married,  Octo- 
ber 19,  1854,  George  B.  Revere,  born  January 
26,  1823,  died  December  11,  1882;  Susanna, 
February  24,  1821  :  Benjamin  Shurtliff,  No- 
vember 5.  1822,  died  August  6.  1850:  Abigail, 
November  21,  1824,  married  Theodore  Cro- 
well,  and  removed  to  Dillsburg,  Pennsylvania ; 
William  Minott,  Boston.  January  2,  1827,  see 
forward  :  Warren  Webster,  New  York  City, 
March  12,  1829,  married  in  New  York  City, 
February  4,  1856,  Jenny  A.  Bord.  born  in 
Troy,  New  York,  February  10,  1836;  Sarah 
Louisa,  September  26,  1831,  died  August  14, 
1832. 

(VH)  William  Minott,  son  of  Daniel  and 
Hannah  (Shedd)  Whitney,  was  born  in  Bos- 
ton, Massachusetts,  January  2,  1827,  died  at 
his  residence.  No.  156  Washington  avenue, 
Albany,  New  York,  Alay  10,  1905.  He  re- 
sided with  his  parents  in  Boston  until  they 
removed  by  lx)at  trip  in  1828  to  New  York 
City.  At  the  start  of  his  career,  he  found 
employment  in  a  metropolitan  dry  goods  es- 
tablishment, and  then  in  a  wholesale  dry  goods 
house.  He  soon  became  recognized  as  an 
expert  in  the  buying  of  goods,  and  from  1852 
to  1859  was  chief  buyer  for  various  large 
houses.  The  large  store,  Nos.  43-45-47-49 
North  Pearl  street,  Albany,  to  which  he  was 
to  devote  the  larger  share  of  his  life,  was 
opened  in  1859  by  Ubsdell,  Pierson  &  Com- 
pany, and  in  i860  he  came  to  Albany  as  their 
manager.  In  1862.  when  James  T.  Lenox 
purchased  the  business.  Mr.  Whitney  contin- 
ued to  represent  the  new  management.  In 
1865  he  formed  a  partnership  with  John  G. 
Myers  by  the  purchase  of  the  Lenox  store, 
and  the  place  became  widely  known  as  the 
"New  York  Store."  Its  business  increased 
until  it  became  the  most  extensive  of  its  kind 
between  the  metropolis  and  Chicago.  This 
arrangement  continued  until  1870,  when  Mr. 
Myers  retired,  and  Mr.  Whitney  continued 
the  business  alone  until  1877,  when  he  admit- 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


6i 


ted  William  H.  Pangburn  and  S.  M.  Van 
Santvoord  as  partners.  Twelve  years  later 
this  firm  was  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Whitney  con- 
tinued the  business  with  his  son,  U'illiam  M. 
Whitney,  Jr.  In  1896,  he  admitted  his  other 
son,  Charles  L.  A.  Whitney,  as  a  partner, 
which  resulted  in  its  continuation  as  one  of 
the  most  enterprising  and  successful  concerns 
in  this  part  of  the  country.  Mr.  Whitney 
was  a  Mason,  a  member  of  the  Universalist 
church,  and  a  member  of  the  Fort  Orange 
and  Albany  clubs.  He  was  a  director  of  the 
First  National  Bank,  and  in  1886,  by  appoint- 
ment of  the  mayor,  served  as  chairman  on  the 
committee  of  public  celebration  which  ar- 
ranged the  Bi-Centennial  of  Albany  as  a 
■  chartered  city. 

For  many  years  IMr.  Whitney  resided  in 
his  handsome  home.  No.  5  Lodge  street,  but 
removed  to  a  larger  residence.  No.  156  Wash- 
ington avenue,  where  he  died  at  5  o'clock  on 
the  morning  of  May  10,  1905,  having  suffered 
a  stroke  of  apoplexy  the  previous  day. 

William  M.  Whitney  married,  in  New  York 
■City,  June  16,  1856,  Amelia  Cook,  born  in 
New  York  City,  January  31,  1831,  and  in  1910 
was  living  in  Albany.  Her  parents  were  Wal- 
ter and  Marj'  (Munro)  Cook.  Children  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitney:  i.  Leila,  born  in  New 
York  City,  May  17,  1857;  married,  Albany, 
New  York,  November  25,  1879,  William 
Henry  Stott,  born  at  Stottville,  September  12, 
1855,  died  at  Albany,  August  22,  1888,  son 
of  Charles  Henry  and  Catherine  (Oakley) 
Stott :  children :  Leila  Vanderbilt,  born  at  Al- 
bany, November  25,  1880;  a  son,  born  and 
died  at  Stottville,  Columbia  county.  New 
York,  July  3  1882;  Helen  Munro,  Stottville, 
New  York,  June  18,  1883 ;  Jonathan  Whit- 
ney, Stottville,  May  5,  1885  ;  Whitney,  Stott- 
ville, March  20,  1887.  2.  William  Minott, 
Jr.,  born  in  New  York  City,  December  3, 
1858,  died  there,  December  21,  1858.  3.  Wil- 
liam Minott,  Jr.,  born  in  New  York  City, 
August  I,  1861,  died  at  Albany,  February 
■6,  1899;  married,  Stottville,  New  York,  June 
9,  1886,  Jessie  Douglas  Stott;  children:  Leila 
Douglas,  at  Albany,  May  3,  1887 :  William 
Minott,  3rd,  at  Albany,  June  5,  1888;  Pru- 
dence, at  Albany,  October  15,  1890.  4.  Vir- 
ginia Belle,  born  in  New  York  City,  January 
8,  1865,  died  there  December  8,  1865.  5. 
'Charles  Lee  Anthony,  born  at  Albany,  New 
York.  September  19,  1870.  see  forward.  6. 
Mabel,  born  at  Albany,  December  4,  1874; 
married,  Albany,  December  29,  1897,  Charles 
Hamilton  Sabin,  born  at  Williamstown,  Mas- 
sachusetts, August  24,  1868,  and  in  1910  was 
located  in  New  York  City  as  the  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Guarantee  Trust  Company;  child. 


Charles    Hamilton    Sabin,    Jr.,    born    Albany, 
New  York,  July  4.  1902. 

(VIH)  Charles  L.  A.,  son  of  William  Mi- 
nott and  Amelia  (Cook)  Whitney,  was  born 
in  Albany,  New  York,  September  19,  1870. 
He  received  his  education  at  the  Albany 
Academy  and  at  Phillips  Academy,  Andover, 
Massachusetts.  Immediately  afterward  he  en- 
tered the  large  store  of  his  father,  and  in  1896 
he  was  admitted  to  the  firm  as  a  partner.  When 
his  father  died,  in  1905,  he  assumed  the  re- 
sponsible position  of  manager  of  the  estab- 
lishment, and  has  been  thoroughly  successful. 
He  has  traveled  abroad,  is  a  man  of  refined 
tastes,  and  is  particularly  fond  of  outdoor 
sports,  more  particularly  polo.  His  home  in 
Loudonville,  to  the  north  of  Albany,  is  named 
"\\'yebrook  Farm,"  because  of  the  original 
settlement  of  the  family  several  centuries  ago 
at  Whitney  on  the  Wye  river,  in  England. 
He  has  furnished  it  in  most  attractive  man- 
ner with  rarest  of  antique  material,  and  de- 
votes personal  attention  to  the  cultivation  of 
his  handsome  estate.  He  is  a  member  of  St. 
Peter's  Episcopal  Church,  a  director  of  the 
Albany  City  Savings  Institution,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Fort  Orange  and  Albany  Country 
clubs  of  Albany,  of  the  Loudon  Hunt  Club, 
the  Albany  Academy  Alumni  Association,  the 
Remsen  Polo  Club  and  the  Remsen  Coun- 
try Club  of  New  Jersey.  He  married,  at  Mon- 
mouth Beach,  New  Jersey,  September  27, 
1893.  Grace  Niles,  born  in  New  York  City, 
July  3,  1874,  and  was  educated  at  Briarly's. 
Her  father  was  Lucien  Hanks  Niles,  born  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  September  14,  1841,  and 
in  1910  was  a  resident  of  New  York  City. 
Her  mother  was  Mattie  A.  (Bradford)  Niles, 
born  at  North  Yarmouth,  Maine,  September 
4,  1 84 1,  died  in  New  York  City,  April  24, 
1897;  their  marriage  took  place  at  Provi- 
dence, Rhode  Island,  September  30,  1863. 
Child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  L.  A.  Whit- 
ney, Marjorie,  born  at  Albany,  September 
26,   1894. 


The  Melville-Melvill  family 
MEL\'ILLE     is  distinguished  in  the  civil, 

religious  and  literary  history 
of  Scotland.  The  branch  here  traced  de- 
scended from  the  Melvilles  of  Fife,  a  branch 
of  the  noble  and  ancient  family  later  repre- 
sented by  the  Earl  of  Leven  and  Melville,  one 
of  the  sixteen  peers  of  Scotland  in  1806. 
The  original  Melville  was  a  Norman  warrior 
who  came  to  England  with  William  the  con- 
queror. He  was  not  pleased  with  the  treat- 
ment he  received  and  withdrew  in  wrath  to 
Scotland,  where  he  came  into  the  favor  of 
King  Malcolm,  who  granted   him  lands  and 


62 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


favors.  He  received  lands  in  Lothian  and  his 
descendants  established  themselves  on  lands  in 
Angus  and  Fife.  The  name  of  Melville  of- 
ten appears  in  Scottish  charters  and  records 
as  early  as  the  twelfth  century.  The  name 
was  early  written  Melvill.  The  great-grand- 
father of  the  American  ancestor  is : 

(I)  Sir  John  Melville,  who  was  knighted 
by  James  VL  of  Scotland,  and  in  1580  raised 
to  the  peerage  with  the  title  Baron  of  Gran- 
ton. 

(II)  Thomas,  son  of  Sir  John  Melville, 
married  and  had  sons,  Rev.  Thomas  and  Rev. 
Andrew  Melville.  A  son  of  Rev.  Andrew, 
General  Robert  Melville,  became  a  distin- 
guished officer  in  the  English  army,  rendered 
efficient  service  to  his  country,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  was  the  oldest  general  but 
one  in   the   British  army. 

(III)  Rev.  Thomas  (2),  son  of  Thomas 
(i)  Melville,  was  a  highly  educated  and  re- 
spected minister  of  Scoonie  in  the  Levan, 
county  of  Fife,  Scotland.  He  was  pastor  of 
the  church  at  Scoonie  from  171 8  to  1764, 
when  he  resigned  in  favor  of  Rev.  David 
Swan.  He  died  in  1769.  greatly  beloved  and 
universally  regretted.  His  children  were:  i. 
John,  married  Deborah  Scollay,  and  died  in 
London,  alxjut  1798.  2.  Allan,  see  forward. 
3.  Margaret,  married  Captain  Lindell. 

(I\')  Allan,  with  whom  the  American  rec- 
ord begins,  was  the  second  son  of  Rev.  Thom- 
as (2)  Melvill,  of  Scoonie.  He  was  born 
in  Scoonie,  county  of  Fife,  Scotland,  in  1728, 
died  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  January  2, 
1761.  He  arrived  in  Boston  in  1743,  where 
he  established  himself  in  commercial  business. 
He  was  distinguished  for  his  enterprise,  in- 
dustry and  rectitude  of  life.  In  1750  he  mar- 
ried Jean,  daughter  of  David  and  Mary  (Ab- 
ernethy)  Cargill.  She  died  in  1759,  leaving 
an  only  child  and  son,  Thomas. 

(V)  Major  Thomas  (3),  only  son  of  Allan 
and  Jean  (Cargill)  Melvill,  was  born  in 
Boston,  Massachusetts,  January  16,  175 1. 
Losing  his  mother  at  the  early  age  of  eight 
years,  his  care  and  education  devolved  upon 
his  maternal  grandmother,  iNlary  (Abernethy) 
Cargill.  She  was  a  sister  of  the  noted  Dr. 
Abernethy.  and  was  a  woman  of  great  intel- 
ligence. Her  memory  was  ever  warmly  cher- 
ished by  her  grandson  during  life.  At  the 
age  of  fifteen  he  entered  Princeton  College, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  ijC^C).  He  was 
destined  for  the  ministry  and  devoted  more 
than  a  year  to  the  study  of  theology,  but  find- 
ing his  health  impaired  and  his  constitution 
too  frail  for  that  arduous  profession,  he 
changed  his  plan  of  life.  In  1771  he  visited 
Scotland,  the  home  of  his  ancestors,  on  busi- 


ness as  heir-at-law  to  his  cousin,  General  Ro- 
land Melvil,  and  was  received  with  marked 
attention,  receiving  a  degree  from  the  St. 
Andrews  College,  Edinburg,  together  with  the 
freedom  of  the  city.  He  remained  in  Scotland 
and  England  two  years,  returning  to  Boston 
in  1773.  From  this  period  the  cause  of  civil 
liberty  engaged  his  attention  and  its  progress 
was  marked  with  deep  interest  to  the  termina- 
tion of  his  life.  He  took  part  in  many  of 
the  important  and  stirring  events  preceding 
the  revolution.  He  was  one  of  the  youthful 
disciples  and  confidential  associates  of  Samuel 
and  John  Hancock,  whose  friendship  and  in- 
timacy he  ever  retained.  He  was  one  of  the 
band  of  Indians,  who.  on  the  night  of  De- 
cember 16,  1773,  held  the  famous  "Tea  Party" 
in  Boston  Harbor.  Some  of  the  tea  that  he 
found  in  his  shoes  after  his  return  home  that 
night  he  preserved,  and  in  after  years  exhib- 
ited it  to  such  a  distinguished  visitor  as  Gen- 
eral Lafayette  as  a  precious  souvenir  of  that 
memorable  party.  He  was  selected  by  Gen- 
eral Warren  as  one  of  his  aides  a  short  time 
previous  to  the  death  of  the  latter  at  the 
battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  In  1776  he  was  com- 
missioned captain  by  the  state  of  Massachu- 
setts in  an  artillery  regiment  commanded  by 
Colonel  Thomas  Crafts,  and  in  1777  was- 
promoted  major  of  the  same  regiment.  For 
a  time  he  was  on  garrison  in  and  about  Bos- 
ton. When  the  British  evacuated  that  city 
in  1776,  a  portion  of  their  fleet  was  left  in 
Nantasket  Roads  to  prevent  any  British  ves- 
sels from  entering  the  harlx)r  and  falling  in- 
to tiie  hands  of  the  patriots.  Major  Mel- 
vill commanded  a  detachment  of  artillery  sent 
to  drive  them  from  their  station.  A  battery 
was  erected  under  heavy  fire  from  the  British 
ships  and  Major  Melvill  aimed  and  fired  the 
first  gun  which,  followed  by  others  equally 
well  aimed,  soon  drove  the  enemy  to  sea.  He 
served  with  Colonel  Craft's  regiment  in  1777 
in  Rhode  Island,  under  General  Spencer,  and 
was  with  the  regiment  in  1779  at  the  battle 
of  Rhode  Island  under  General  Sullivan.  He 
also  served  on  the  committee  of  correspon- 
dence and  on  the  town  committee  to  obtain 
its  (]uota  of  troops  for  the  continental  army. 
Prior  to  the  organizations  of  the  general  gov- 
ernment. Major  Melvill,  in  1787,  was  chosen' 
three  years  in  succession  by  the  Massachu- 
setts legislature  as  naval  officer  of  the  port 
of  Boston.  His  first  election  was  from  fifteen 
candidates,  one  of  them,  Mr.  Otis,  being  a 
member  of  the  legislature,  and  brother  of  the 
speaker.  Upon  the  adoption  of  the  federal 
constitution  the  a])]:)ointment  of  custom  house 
officers  was  transferred  to  the  president  of 
the  United   States.     For  the  port  of  Boston 


HUDSON   AND    AIOHAWK   VALLEYS 


63 


President  Washington  appointed  General  Lin- 
coln, collector  ;  James  Lowell,  naval  officer  ; 
and  Major  Melvill,  surveyor  and  inspector. 
He  held  this  office  until  the  death  of  James 
Lowell,  when  he  was  appointed  naval  officer 
by  President  Madison.  This  office  he  con- 
tinued to  hold  under  successive  presidents  un- 
til 1829,  when  he  fell  a  victim  to  the  perni- 
cious doctrine  "To  the  victors  belong  the 
spoils,"  and  was  removed  from  office  by  Pres- 
ident Andrew  Jackson.  There  was  no  pre- 
tence that  he  was  incapable  or  unfaithful  to 
the  duties  of  his  office.  The  victorious  party 
wanted  the  office  and  took  it.  The  old  hero 
bitterly  resented  his  removal  and  often  re- 
ferred to  it  as  the  "bitterest  insult"  of  his 
long  life.  At  the  first  state  election  held  af- 
ter his  removal  from  office  he  was  chosen 
one  of  the  representatives  from  Boston  in 
the  state  legislature,  and  held  by  successive 
reelections  during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
In  1779  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  fire  war- 
dens of  Boston  and  continued  to  be  reelected 
until  the  reorganization  of  the  fire  department 
in  1825,  a  period  of  forty-seven  years.  For 
twenty-five  years  he  was  chairman  of  the 
board.  On  his  retirement  he  was  presented 
with  a  silver  pitcher  as  a  token  of  personal 
respect  and  a  public  testimonial  of  his  faith- 
ful services.  One  of  the  engines  and  com- 
panies bore  his  name  and  ever  honored  his 
memory.  The  Massachusetts  legislature  ap- 
pointed him  a  director  of  the  State  Bank  and 
other  public  institutions,  and  he  was  chosen 
as  delegate  to  the  convention  that  revised  the 
state  constitution.  He  had  many  warm  friends 
among  the  military  and  public  men  of  his 
day.  He  was  known  among  these  as  "the  last 
of  the  cocked  hats,"  from  the  fact  that  until 
his  death  he  always  wore  a  three-cornered 
cocked  hat  and  knee  breeches.  Being  once 
asked  why  he  did  not  add  a  finel  e.  to  his 
name,  the  reply  was :  "My  father  did  not." 
The  leading  and  prominent  traits  of  his  char- 
acter were  a  sound  judgment,  a  quick  discern- 
ment, firmness  and  decision  in  time  of  danger 
and  pressing  emergency ;  a  strong  sense  of 
justice ;  the  strictest  fidelity  to  engagements, 
public  and  private ;  an  ardent  attachment  to 
personal  friends ;  great  tenderness  and  the 
most  considerate  regard  for  his  familv  and 
those  depending  on  him.  Notwithstanding  an 
intense  aversion  to  the  disclosure  of  religious 
feeling,  it  was  manifest  to  his  intimate 
friends  that  the  highest  of  all  obligations  were 
daily  and  habitually  remembered.  He  died 
peacefully  at  his  home  in  Boston,  September, 
16,   1832,  in  his  eighty-second  year. 

He   married,   in   Boston,   August   20,    1774, 
Priscilla,    daughter   of   John    Scollay,    grand- 


daughter of  James  Scollay,  who  came  from 
Orkney  Island  to  America,  and  great-grand- 
daughter of  ^lalcolm  Scollay,  of  Scotland, 
born  1648,  died  1746,  at  the  great  age  of 
ninety-eight  years.  The  name  is  perpetuated 
in  Boston  by  "Scollay  Square"  and  other  me- 
morials. Priscilla  (Scollay)  Melvill  sun'ived 
her  husband  with  whom  she  spent  a  congen- 
ial, happy  life,  continuing  fifty-eight  years. 
Children:  i.  Thomas  (2),  born  June  26, 
1776,  educated  at  Boston  Academy,  was 
a  merchant  in  Boston,  was  sent  to 
Paris  by  his  employers  at  the  age  of 
eighteen,  became  a  banker  of  note,  and  re- 
mained in  France  fourteen  years,  except  two 
years  spent  in  Spain ;  married  a  French  girl 
of  Spanish  mother,  Frangoise  Raymonde  Eu- 
logue  Marie  des  Doulouers  Louise  Fleury, 
eldest  daughter  of  Frangois  Lamie  Fleury  and 
his  wife,  Raymonde  Gavisa.  His  home  in 
Paris  was  the  scene  of  a  great  deal  of  hos- 
pitable entertainment.  General  Lafayette  be- 
ing a  frequent  guest.  He  returned  to  the  Uni- 
ted States  in  181 1  ;  during  the  war  of  1812-14 
was  apjxiinted  commissary  of  prisoners ;  was 
with  General  Dearlx)rn  when  he  selected  the 
grounds  in  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  where 
the  "Cantonment"  for  prisoners  was  located, 
and  occupied  with  his  family  a  cottage  on  the 
grounds.  April,  18 14,  his  wife  died,  followed 
in  a  few  weeks  by  two  of  his  children.  He 
married  (second)  November  21,  1815,  a 
daughter  of  Dudley  Hobart,  of  Maine.  In 
1832  was  elected  to  the  Massachusetts  legis- 
lature. In  1836  removed  to  Galena,  Illinois, 
where  he  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-six,  the 
father  of  fourteen  children.  2.  Mary,  born 
1778,  died  October  22,  1809;  married  (Zaptain 
John  De  Wolf.  3.  Nancy  W.,  born  March  22, 
1780,  died  July  8,  1813.  4.  Allan,  see  for- 
ward. 5.  Priscilla.  born  February  2.  1784. 
6.  Robert,  born  July  4,  1786,  died  June  19, 
1795-     7-  Jean,  born  IVIarch  6,  1788,  married 

<  ^^'right.    8.  John  Scollay,  born  March 

23.  1790.  died  May  10.  1815.  9.  Lucy,  born 
August  22,  1793,  died  in  infancy.  10.  Lucy 
(2),  born  February  11.  1795;  married  (first) 
Justin  Wright  Clark;  (second)  Dr.  Nurse.  II. 
Helen,  born  January  14,  1798;  married  Levitt 
Souther. 

(\'I)  .Allan  (2),  second  son  and  fourth 
child  of  Major  Thomas  and  Priscilla  (Scol- 
lay) Melvill,  was  born  in  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts, April  7.  1782.  He  was  well  educated 
and  became  an  importer  of  silks  and  French 
goods  of  rare  and  superior  quality.  In  pursuit 
of  his  business  he  spent  a  great  deal  of  time 
in  journeying  at  home  and  abroad  :  was  with 
his  brother  Thomas  in  the  French  Capital. 
Between     the     brothers,     though     not     con- 


64 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


nected  in  business,  existed  a  warm  and 
commendable  intimacy.  He  first  went  to 
Europe  in  1800,  and  made  his  last  visit  in 
1822.  He  visited  the  principal  capitals  and 
manufacturing  centres  in  search  of  attractive 
and  saleable  goods  for  his  trade  and  made 
heavy  purchases.  Once  during  the  second 
war  with  England  the  vessel  on  which  he 
was  a  passenger  was  captured  by  a  British 
frigate  and  all  made  prisoners.  He  was  soon 
released  and  returned  to  the  United  States. 
He  was  a  most  methodical  man  and  a  daily 
record  of  all  his  travels,  home  and  abroad,  at 
sea  or  on  land,  was  faithfully  kept  and  is 
carefully  preserved.  It  records  travel  by  sea 
of  forty-eight  thousand  four  hundred  and  six- 
ty miles  in  the  twenty-two  years.  He  closed 
up  his  Boston  business  and  for  a  time  was 
in  the  wholesale  dry  goods  business  in  Al- 
bany, New  York,  but  about  1818  located  at 
123  Pearl  street,  New  York  City,  where  he 
dealt  in  wholesale  imported  silks  and  dry 
goods  ;  also,  as  his  advertisement  says :  "Act- 
ing as  commission  merchant  for  others."  He 
was  one  of  the  early  importers  of  French 
goods  and  prospered.  He  kept  up  a  constant 
correspondence  with  his  distinguished  father, 
whose  advice  and  counsel  he  sought  and  fol- 
lowed. His  letters  to  his  wife,  man;/  of  which 
are  preserved,  show  the  deepest  devotion  and 
love,  breathing  an  exquisite  tenderness  that 
charms  the  reader,  although  a  century  has 
elapsed  since  some  of  them  were  written.  He 
died  about  1835.  He  was  a  man  of  deep  re- 
ligious sentiment,  as  shown  by  his  letters,  and 
constantly  invoked  the  Divine  blessing  upon 
his  beloved  wife  and  children  to  whom  he  was 
devoted.  He  married  Maria,  daughter  of 
General  Peter  Gansevoort,  Jr.,  of  revolution- 
ary fame.  She  was  born  1791,  died  1872. 
Children:  i.  Gansevoort,  born  December  6, 
1815,  died  in  I^ndon,  England,  May  2,  1846. 
He  was  an  accomplished  scholar,  possessed  of 
unusual  powers  of  oratory,  a  gift  that  was 
employed  with  good  result  by  the  Democratic 
party,  particularly  during  the  campaign  that 
resulted  in  the  election  of  James  K.  Polk  to 
the  presidency.  He  was  appointed  secretary 
of  legation  at  the  Court  of  St.  James,  dying 
in  London,  1846.  His  body  was  returned  to 
his  native  land  and  buried  with  honors  in 
the  Albany  Rural  Cemetery.  He  was  a  young 
man  of  great  ])romise  and  brilliant  prospects. 
2.  Helen  Maria,  lx)rn  August  4,  1817;  mar- 
ried, January  8,  1854,  George  Griggs.  3.  Her- 
man, born  1819.  married,  .August  5,  1847, 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Chief  Justice  Shaw,  of 
Boston.  4.  .Augusta,  born  1821.  5.  Allan, 
born  1823,  married  (first)  September  22,  1847, 
Sophia  E.  Thurston;  (second)  Jane  Dempsey. 


6.  Catherine,  born  1825  ;  married,  September 
15,  1853,  John  C.  Hoadley.  7.  Frances  Pris- 
cilla.  born,  1827.    8.  Thomas,  born  1830. 

Melville  Arms:  "Bears  gules  three  cres- 
cents argent  with  a  bordure  of  the  last, 
charged  with  eight  roses  of  the  first.  A  small 
crescent  of  the  second  in  chief  for  difference." 
Crest:  "A  crescent  argent."  Motto:  "De- 
nique  Coelum." 

Rliss  Charlotte  Hoadley,  of  Chicago,  a  de- 
scendant of  the  Melville  family,  savs,  after 
reading  the  above  sketch:  "The  family  tradi- 
tion has  always  been  that  Fanny  Fleury  was 
an  adopted  daughter  of  Madame  Recamier 
and  that  she  was  married  to  Thomas  Melville 
from  Madame  Recamier's  salon.  I  have  in 
my  possession  Fanny  Fleury's  miniature  in  an 
exquisitively  carved  tortoise-shell  box,  with 
her  monogram  wrought  in  the  carving.  I  also 
own  the  miniature  pin  painted  by  Copley 
of  Deborah  ScoUay.  It  was  sent  to  David 
Swan  and  many  years  after  returned  to  the 
Melville  family  in  Boston.  The  little  paper 
which  accompanies  it  reads,  'Deborah  Scollay 
was  the  eldest  sister  of  Priscilla  Scollay.' 
She  married  John  Melville,  uncle  of  the 
Thomas  Melville  who  married  Priscilla  Scol- 
lay." 

The  following  is  a  sketch  of  "Broad  Hall," 
now  the  Country  Club  of  Pittsfield,  Massa- 
chusetts, taken  from  "The  Historv  of  Pitts- 
field,"  by  J.  E.  A.  Smith,  Springfield,  1876. 
The  place  was  formerly  owned  bv  Major 
Thomas  Melville  and  later  hv  his  son  Robert: 
"Broad  Hall  was  built  by  Henry  Van  Schaack 
in  1781,  with  extraordinary  care  and  liberal 
expenditure,  and  was  for  many  years  much 
the  best  built  edifice  in  the  town.  The  wood- 
en walls  were  lined  with  brick,  and  the  car- 
pentry exhibits  a  perfection  of  skill  which 
excites  the  admiration  of  modern  workmen 
who  are  called  upon  to  make  alterations  in 
it.  It  is  little  changed  except  by  the  remo- 
val of  the  broad  chimney  and  the  old-fash- 
ioned balustrade  which  surrounded  the  roof. 
Mr.  Ya.n  Schaack  removing  to  his  native 
place,  Kinderhook,  New  York,  in  1807.  sold 
his  house  in  Pittsfield  to  Elkanah  Watson, 
a  gentleman  of  very  similar  tastes,  and  the 
founder  of  the  Berkshire  Agricultural  So- 
ciety, who  occupied  it  until  his  removal  to 
Albany  in  1816.  It  was  then  purchased  by 
Major  Thomas  Melville  who  resided  in  it  un- 
til 1837  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Robert 
Melville.  For  some  years  previous  to  its  pur- 
chase by  Mr.  J.  R.  Morewood  in  185 1,  it  wa§ 
kept  as  a  boarding  house  and  numbered 
among  its  guests  Henry  W.  Longfellow, 
Nathaniel  Hawthorne,  Herman  Melville  and 
President  John  Tyler." 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


65 


Mr.  J.  R.  Morewood  sold  Broad  Hall  to 
his  brother,  George  Morewood,  and  his  son 
sold  it  to  the  Pittsfield  Club  about  1900. 


The  original  ancestors 
GANSEVOORT  the  Gansevoort  fami- 
lies of  the  Hudson  and 
Mohawk  \'alleys  in  New  York  state  lived  in 
a  town  called  Ganzfort,  which  was  situated 
on  the  borders  of  Germany  and  Holland.  Wes- 
selus  Gansefortius,  otherwise  known  in  his 
own  day  as  Wessel  Gansevoort  and  also  as 
John  Wessel  Gansevoort,  was  born  at  Gronin- 
gen,  Holland,  in  the  year  1419,  in  a  house 
standing  in  the  Heerestraat,  near  the  Caroli- 
weg,  and  which  can  be  recognized  by  the 
family  arms  which  remain  to  this  day  in  the 
front  stone.  The  arms  themselves  appear  to 
present  an  emblem  of  agriculture  and  com- 
merce, from  which  it  may  be  assumed  that 
the  Gansevoorts  of  early  times  were  engaged 
in  those  avocations.  And  besides  the  family 
name  of  Gansevoort  (doubtless  derived  from 
4he  \illage  of  Ganzfort,  in  Westfalen),  he 
bore  in  later  times  among  men  of  eminent 
learning  the  name  of  Basilius,  and  the  title 
of  Lux  Alundi  (light  of  the  world),  and  also 
the  name  of  M agister  Contradictionis  (Mas- 
ter of  Contradictions  or  Debates).  For  this 
latter  title  he  is  probably  indebted  to  his 
continued  attacks  against  the  errors  and 
abuses  of  the  church.  He  also  has  been  re- 
ferred to  and  mentioned  as  the  forerunner  of 
Luther,  and  he  favored  the  school  of  abso- 
lute nominalism  in  philosophy.  He  was  a 
leader  in  the  pre-Reformation  movement  in 
Holland,  and  ranked  among  the  most  learned 
men  of  his  time:  was  an  intimate  friend  in 
early  life  of  Thomas  a  Kempis,  studied  at 
several  of  the  great  schools  of  Europe,  and 
was  offered  and  declined  a  professorship  at 
Heidelberg.  At  Paris  he  was  the  instructor 
of  two  men  who  afterward  achieved  wide 
fame.  Reuchlin  and  Agricola,  and  subsequent- 
ly he  visited  in  Rome  when  Sixtus  IV.  was 
Pope.  He  had  been  on  terms  of  intimacy  with 
Sixtus  when  the  latter  was  superior-general  of 
the  Franciscans.  It  is  related  that  he  was 
asked  by  Sixtus  what  favor  he  could  do  for 
him,  and  in  answer  Wessel  asked  for  a  Greek 
and  Hebrew  Bible  from  the  Vatican  library. 
■"You  shall  have  it,"  said  the  Pope,  "but  what 
a  simpleton  you  are ;  why  did  you  not  ask  for 
a  bishopric  or  something  of  that  kind?"  "Be- 
cause I  do  not  want  it,"  replied  Wessel,  a 
reply  truly  characteristic  of  his  high  tone  and 
independent  spirit.  On  religious  subjects  his 
views  were  broad  and  deep,  and  he  promul- 
gated with  boldness  the  doctrines  of  the  Ref- 
ormation  forty  years  in   advance  of   Luther, 


who  held  his  character  and  attainments  in 
high  esteem  and  who  published  an  edition  of 
part  of  his  works.  His  name,  still  retained  by 
the  family  in  this  country,  is  reverenced  in 
Groningen,  his  native  city,  where  in  1862 
an  ancient  tablet  to  his  memory  was  restored 
by  the  authorities  of  the  city  and  placed  in 
the  large  church  with  demonstrations  of  public 
regard. 

The  Hon.  Harmanus  Bleecker,  when  minis- 
ter to  The  Hague,  stated  that  there  was  no 
doubt  of  the  descent  of  the  family  from  this 
philosopher,  and  pai)ers  in  possession  of  the 
family  of  the  late  Judge  Peter  Gansevoort, 
of  Albany,  show  the  fact  more  clearly.  In 
i860  his  tomb  at  Groningen  was  visited  by 
Judge  Gansevoort  and  his  son,  and  a  few 
days  previous  to  their  arrival  the  remains  had 
been  disinterred  and  were  lying  in  the  cloister 
of  the  Holy  Virgins,  to  which  place  they  had 
been  removed  from  the  chapel  of  the  Uni- 
versity to  make  room  for  modern  improve- 
ments. His  tomb  also  had  been  removed  and 
was  lying  in  pieces  ready  to  be  reerected. 
It  was  of  the  medieval  style  and  surmounted 
by  a  bust  of  Wessel,  such  as  was  usually 
placed  over  tombs  of  that  description.  The 
bust  was  of  marble,  but,  like  that  of  Shake- 
speare at  Stratford,  it  had  been  painted  in 
dift'erent  colors.  It  showed  him  to  be  a  man 
of  intellect  and  benevolence,  and  the  inscrip- 
tion on  the  tomb  was  elaborate  and  magnilo- 
quent. The  bones  of  the  body  were  in  per- 
fect preservation  and  were  regarded  by  those 
in  charge  with  great  reverence,  and  they  were 
reinterred  with  ceremony.  It  is  a  somewhat 
singular  fact  that  at  the  time  of  the  arrival 
there  of  Judge  Gansevoort  and  his  son,  the 
house  of  their  ancestor  Wessel  Gansevoort 
was  being  demolished  to  make  room  for  a 
more  modern  building.  It  contained  above  the 
front  door  a  marble  slab  on  which  was  carved 
the  same  coat-of-arms  as  that  I^orne  by  the 
family  in  America,  viz. :  4  quarters,  a  ship 
and  wagon. 

Wesselius  Gansefortius  died  October  9, 
T489.  ■  It  is  said  that  during  his  last  sickness 
he  complained  that  through  various  consider- 
ations and  reflections  he  felt  his  belief  in  the 
great  truths  of  the  Christian  religion  shaken, 
but  not  long  before  his  death  he  was  heard 
to  exclaim  with  great  thankfulness,  "I  thank 
God,  all  these  vain  thoughts  have  gone,  and 
I  know  nothing  but  Christ  and  Him  cruci- 
fied." Such  then  are  something  of  the  quali- 
ties and  characteristics  of  the  great  scholar 
and  philosopher,  who,  without  doubt,  is  the 
remote  ancestor  of  the  family  of  the  Ganse- 
voort surname  purposed  to  be  treated  in  these 
annals.    It  is  not  known  in  what  vcar  the  first 


66 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


Gansevoort  emigrated  to  the  Low  Country  of 
Holland,  but  it  is  known  that  the  first  of  the 
surname  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean 
appeared  in  New  Netherlands  in  the  year 
1660. 

(I)  Harme  Van  Ganzvort  (he  so  wrote  his 
name  in  all  of  his  business  and  family  tran- 
sactions so  long  as  he  lived)  came  to  Amer- 
ica and  settled  at  Catskill,  on  the  Hudson  riv- 
er, in  1660.  There  he  had  an  extensive  man- 
or, doubtless  acquired  from  the  Indians,  but 
afterward  his  lands  were  granted  to  others.  It 
is  related  by  one  chronicler  of  the  family  his- 
tory that  Harme  lived  for  some  time  at  Cat- 
skill,  on  an  estate  more  recently  owned  by 
the  \'an  \"echten  family,  and  that  he  was 
unjustly  deprived  of  his  property  by  one  of 
the  Dutch  governors  who  went  by  water  from 
New  Amsterdam  to  Albany  and  on  his  pas- 
sage up  the  river  anchored  his  vessel  opposite 
Catskill  creek.  There  the  governor  went 
ashore  with  his  secretary  or  aide,  walked  up 
to  the  Ganzvort  dwelling,  and  was  hospitably 
entertained  by  the  proprietor.  The  secretary 
expressed  his  admiration  of  the  estate,  solici- 
ted a  grant  of  it  from  the  governor,  and  se- 
cured it.  In  consequence  of  this,  Harme 
Van  Ganzvort,  who  had  no  other  title  to  the 
land  than  that  of  possession  and  the  consent 
of  the  Indian  owners,  was  compelled  to  leave 
and  locate  elsewhere.  From  Catskill  he  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Albany,  where,  hav- 
ing been  brought  up  to  the  trade  of  a  brewer, 
he  set  up  in  that  business  and  continued  it 
so  long  as  he  lived.  His  home  and  brew 
house  were  at  the  corner  of  Market  street  and 
Maiden  lane.  This  property  has  been  kept 
in  the  familv  and  on  the  site  now  stands  Stan- 
wix  Hall. 

Harme  Van  Gansevoort  (or  Van  Ganzvort) 
died  July  23.  1710.  He  was  a  man  of  char- 
acter and  ability,  a  member  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  Of  his  means  he  gave  to  the  society 
of  that  church  a  lot  of  land  on  which  to  erect 
a  house  of  worship,  and  beneath  the  pulpit  in 
the  church  his  remains  were  buried.  The  lot 
is  on  South  Pearl  street,  where  the  market 
house  was  built  in  later  years.  His  wife  was 
Marritje  Liendarts,  who  died  in  1742.  Chil- 
dren: I.  Elsie,  married,  1689,  Francis  Winne. 
2.  Maria.  3.  Aguitic.  married,  1698.  Tennis 
Williams.  4.  Anna,  married,  1692,  Jacobus 
De  Warrien.  5.  Lysbeth,  married,  1701,  Jo- 
hannes De  Wandelaer.  6.  Hillitie,  married, 
1706,  .Albert  \'an  Derzee.  7.  Catarine,  mar- 
ried, 1 7 14.  Asent  Pruyn.  8.  Leonard,  horn 
1681  (see  post).  9.  Rachel,  born  1686,  mar- 
ried Teunis  Hamerin.  10.  Lydia,  born  1690. 
II.  Rebecca,   1693.     12.  Hendrick,   1696. 

(II)  Leonard    Gansevoort    (Liendart   Van 


Ganzvort),  son  of  Harme  and  iMarritje  (Lien- 
darts)  Van  Ganzvort,  was  born  in  Albany, 
in  1 68 1,  and  died  there  November  30,  1763. 
He  succeeded  his  father  in  the  ownership  of 
the  brewery  and  its  business,  and  continued  it 
as  his  principal  occupation.  He  is  remem- 
bered as  a  man  of  small  stature,  of  placid  and 
serene  countenance,  and  of  upright  character. 
He  married,  in  1712,  Catherine  De  Wande- 
laer, who  survived  him,  and  it  was  in  a  large 
measure  through  her  strong  character  and 
superior  business  abilities  that  her  husband 
was  enabled  to  accumulate  a  comfortable  for- 
tune. One  of  her  descendants  writing  of  her 
said  that  "her  activity  of  mind  made  her  quite 
a  business  woman  and  rendered  her  a  great 
blessing  to  her  husband,  who  was  a  quiet, 
moderate  man."  Children  :  Harme,  born  1712, 
(see  post)  ;  Henry,  born  1716,  died  1746; 
John,  died  young;  Sarah,  born  1718,  died 
1731 ;  Johannes,  born  17 19,  died  1781,  mar- 
ried (first)  1750,  Marritje  Douw  (born  1725, 
died  1759),  married  (second)  Elsie  Beekman, 
daughter  of  Jacob;  Maria,  born  1723,  died 
1739;  Peter,  born  1725,  died  1809,  married, 
1751,  Garritje  Ten  Eycke;  Elsie,  born  1728, 
died  1753;  Aguitie,  born  1730,  died  1731  ;  El- 
sie, died  1761. 

(Ill)  Harme,  son  of  Leonard  and  Cather- 
ine (De  Wandelaer)  Gansevoort,  was  born  in 
Albany,  and  baptized  there  April  20,  1712, 
and  died  there  Alay  7,  1801.  He  was  a  mer- 
chant in  Albany  and  carried  on  an  extensive 
business,  importing  his  goods  from  Europe. 
He  inherited  from  his  father  the  brewery 
property  and  continued  it  in  connection  with 
his  other  business  interests.  He  also  appears 
to  have  been  somewhat  engaged  in  public  af- 
fairs, and  it  is  evident  that  he  was  a  man 
of  excellent  understanding  and  business  ca- 
pacity. From  September  25,  1750,  to  1760, 
he  was  clerk  of  the  county  court  and  of  the 
court  of  common  pleas,  clerk  of  the  peace 
and  of  the  sessions.  In  1763  he  purchased 
and  caused  to  be  brought  over  from  England 
what  probably  was  the  second  hand  fire  en- 
gine ever  used  in  Albany,  paying  therefor  the 
sum  of  $397.50.  He  married.  May  29,  1740, 
Magdalena  Douw,  born  August  i,  17 18,  died 
October  12.  1796,  daughter  of  Petrus  and 
Anna  (\'an  Rensselaer)  Douw.  Petrus 
(sometimes  written  Pieter)  Douw,  was  born 
March  24.  1692,  died  August  21,  1775,  son 
of  Jonas  \'olkertse  Douw  of  Manor  Rensse- 
laerwyck,  who  married  (first)  November  14, 
1683.  Magdalena  Picterse  Quackenboss,  and 
married  (second)  April  24,  1696,  Catrina  Van 
Witbeck.  widow  of  Jacob  Sanderse  Glen.  Jo- 
nas \'olkertse  Douw  was  the  eldest  son  of 
Captain  X'olkert  Janse  Douw,  who  came  from 


ftictrd  M-  C.Sllujt 


^>^>r^^7^-^^/^ 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


67 


Frederickstadt  and  was  in  Bevervvyck  as  early 
as  1638.  He  died  in  1686.  He  had  his  house 
on  the  west  corner  of  State  street  and  Broad- 
way, which  property  is  now  owned  by  his  de- 
scendants. He  was  a  trader  and  brewer,  and 
in  connection  with  Jan  Thomase  he  dealt 
quite  largely  in  real  estate.  Their  brewery 
was  located  on  the  east  half  of  the  Exchange 
block  lot  and  extended  to  the  river.  This 
they  sold  in  1675  to  Harmen  Rutgers,  son  of 
Rutger  Jacobsen.  In  1663  they  bought  of  the 
Indians,  Schotack  or  Apjen's  (Little  Mon- 
key's) island  and  the  main  land  lying  east 
of  it.  Captain  Douw  also  owned  Constapel's 
island,  lying  opposite  Bethlehem,  half  of 
which  he  sold  in  1677  to  Pieter  Winne.  In 
1672  he  owned  Schutter's  island,  below  Beer- 
en  island,  which  he  sold  to  Barent  Pieterse 
Coeymans.  He  married,  April  19,  1650,  Do- 
rotee  Janse,  from  Breestede,  Holland.  She 
was  a  sister  of  Rutger  Jacobsen's  wife,  and 
died  November  2,  1681.  He  died  in  1686. 
Anna  Van  Rensselaer,  wife  of  Petrus  Douw, 
was  born  January  4,  1719,  daughter  of  Kil- 
lian  and  Maria  (\'an  Cortlandt)  \'an  Rens- 
selaer, granddaughter  of  Jeremias  and  Maria 
(\'an  Cortlandt)  Van  Rensselaer,  and  great- 
granddaughter  of  Killian  Van  Rensselaer, 
merchant  of  Amsterdam,  Holland,  who  mar- 
ried (first)  Hillegonda  Van  Bylet  and  (sec- 
ond) Anna  Wely.  Killian  Van  Rensselaer, 
son  of  Jeremias,  was  the  first  lord  of  the 
Manor  of  Rensselaerwyck.  Children  of 
Harme  and  Magdalena  (Douw)  Gansevoort: 
I.  Sarah,  born  1741,  married  John  Ten 
Broeck.  2.  Peter,  born  1742,  died  1743.  3. 
Anna,  born  1744,  died  1794;  married,  1778, 
Cornelius  Wyncoop.  4.  Catherine,  born  1747, 
died    1749.     5.   Peter,  born    1749    (see  post). 

6.  Leonard,  born  1751,  died  1810,  married, 
1770,   Hester   Cuyler,   born    1749,   died    1826. 

7.  Henry,  born  1753.  died  1755.  8.  Hen- 
drick,  born  1757.     9.  Catrina,  died  1761. 

(I\')  General  Peter  Gansevoort  Jr.,  son 
of  Harme  and  Magdalena  (Douw)  Ganse- 
voort, was  born  in  Albany,  in  1749,  where 
Stanwix  Hall  now  stands,  and  died  in  his 
native  city,  July  2,  1812,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
three  years.  On  July  2,  1775,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  congress  a  major  in  the  Second 
New  York  regiment.  In  August  of  that  year 
he  joined  the  army  which  invaded  Canada  un- 
der Montgomery.  In  March,  1776,  he  was 
made  lieutenant-colonel,  and  on  November  21 
following  became  colonel  of  the  regiment.  In 
July,  1776,  he  was  colonel  commanding  at 
Fort  George,  on  Lake  George.  In  April,  1777, 
he  took  command  of  Fort  Stanwix  (after- 
ward called  Fort  Schuyler),  on  the  present 
site  of  the  city  of  Rome,  and  made  a  gallant 


defence  of  the  post  against  the  Brit- 
ish under  St.  Leger,  which  was  the  first  blow 
to  their  great  scheme  to  sever  New  York 
from  the  residue  of  the  confederacy,  and  by 
thus  preventing  the  cooperation  of  that  of- 
ficer with  Burgoyne,  contributed  most  essen- 
tially to  the  great  and  decisive  victory  at  Sara- 
toga. For  this  gallant  defence  the  thanks  of 
congress  were  voted  to  Colonel  Gansevoort. 
In  the  spring  of  1779  Colonel  Gansevoort  was 
ordered  to  join  General  Sullivan  in  an  expe- 
dition against  the  Indians  in  the  western  part 
of  New  York.  At  the  head  of  a  chosen  party 
from  the  army  he  distinguished  himself  by 
surprising,  by  the  celerity  of  his  movements, 
the  lower  Mohawk  castle,  and  capturing  all 
the  Indian  inhabitants  of  the  vicinity.  In 
1781  the  state  of  New  York  appointed  him 
brigadier-general,  and  afterwards  he  filled  a 
number  of  important  offices,  among  which  was 
that  of  commissioner  of  Indian  affairs  and 
for  fortifying  the  frontiers.  He  also  was  mil- 
itary agent  and  a  brigadier-general  in  the 
United  States  army  in  1809,  sheriff  of  Al- 
bany county  from  1790  to  1792,  a  regent  of 
the  LTniversity  of  the  State  of  New  York 
from  1808  until  the  time  of  his  death,  and 
one  of  the  first  board  of  directors  of  the  New 
York  State  bank  in  1803. 

The  foregoing  account  is  hardly  more  than 
a  very  brief  outline  of  the  career  of  one  of  the 
bravest  and  most  determined  soldiers  and  pat- 
riots of  the  revolution,  an  officer  whose  cour- 
age never  was  doubted,  whose  achievements  as 
a  commanding  officer  were  fully  appreciated, 
but  whose  splendid  service  never  was  more 
than  half  rewarded.  And  it  has  remained 
for  one  of  his  descendants,  a  granddaughter, 
to  cause  to  be  erected  an  appropriate  memorial 
of  his  noble  record  and  unselfish  patriotism ; 
and  all  honor  is  due  Mrs.  Catherine  Ganse- 
voort Lansing  for  the  gift  which  marks  the 
place  of  old  Fort  Stanwix — "a  fort  which  nev- 
er surrendered,"  and  the  fort  from  which  the 
first  Amerian  flag-  was  unfurled  in  the  face 
of  the  enemy.  The  "General  Peter  Ganse- 
voort Statue,"  in  bronze,  stands  in  the  circle 
in  the  East  Park,  Rome,  New  York,  facing 
the  west.  The  figure  is  in  full  uniform,  hero- 
ic in  size,  seven  feet  two  inches  tall,  standing 
at  ease  in  military  position,  the  left  foot 
slightly  forward.  In  the  right  hand  is  held 
the  letter  of  St.  Leger  demanding  the  sur- 
render of  the  fort,  while  the  left  hand  rests 
on  the  hilt  of  the  sword.  The  pedestal  weighs 
nearly  three  tons  and  stands  on  a  base  weigh- 
ing twenty  tons,  and  the  whole  rests  on  a 
solid  concrete  foundation  nearly  four  feet 
thick.  On  the  outer  edge  of  the  flag  walk 
around   the   monument   is   a   stone  coping  of 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


Barre  granite,  rock  finish,  the  same  material 
on  which  the  statue  rests,  the  coping  being 
a  foot  wide  and  a  foot  thick.  On  the  front 
tablet  of  the  monvnnent  appears  this  inscrip- 
tion : 

P.rigadier-General  Peter  Gansevoort,  Jr., 
Colonel  in  the  Continental  Army.  He  served 
under  Montgomery  in  Canada  in  the  campaign 
against  Quebec  in  1775.  and  in  1777  he  success- 
fully defended  Fort  Stanwix  against  the  British 
forces  and  their  Indian  allies  under  St.  Leger, 
thus  preventing  their  junction  with  Burgoyne  at 
Saratoga.  He  took  part  in  the  campaign  of 
1779  under  General  Sullivan.  He  was  in  active 
command  at  the  outbreak  of  the  War  of  1812, 
and  died  on  the  second  day  of  July  of  that  year 
at  the  age  of  63. 

On  the  rear  tablet  this  inscription  appears : 

Erected   near   the   site   of 

FORT  STANWIX 

at    the    request    of    Peter    Gansevoort, 

Henry  S.   Gansevoort,  U.   S.   A., 

and  Abraham  Lansing,  all  of 

Albany,  N.  Y. 

Presented    to   the    City   of   Rome   by 

Catherine   Gansevoort 

Lansing. 

A.  D.  1906. 

The  designer  of  the  statue  was  Edward  L. 
Henry,  N.  A.,  the  sculptor  E.  F.  Piatti,  and 
the  architect  D.  N.  B.  Sturgis,  all  of  New 
York  City.  The  ceremony  of  unveiling  was 
held  on  Thursday,  November  8,  1906.  The 
principal  orator  of  the  occasion  was  Hon. 
Hugh  Hastings,  then  state  historian,  who  said, 
in  concluding  his  address: 

"In  these  days  an  heroic  defense  of  such  con- 
spicuous character  would  have  met  with  the  re- 
ward of  a  brigadier-general's  commission  at 
least.  Upon  the  intrepid  commander  of  Fort 
Schuyler,  however,  congress  conferred  the 
anomalous  rank  and  empty  honor  'Colonel  Corn- 
mandant  of  Fort  Schuyler,'  an  absurd  compli- 
ment of  the  record,  for  Gansevoort  had  held  the 
rank  of  colonel  since  November,  1776,  and  been 
in  command  of  the  fort  since  April,  1777.  Gen- 
eral Gansevoort  blocked  the  way  of  the  tri- 
umphant invader  like  a  wall  of  granite.  His 
achievement  is  all  the  more  creditable  when  we 
consider  the  delinquency  of  his  superiors  in 
estimating  the  true  situation  and  the  refusal  of 
Tryon  county  to  protect  itself  or  to  support 
him  with  reinforcements.  The  fall  of  Fort 
Schuyler  would  have  been  followed  by  the  cer- 
tain defeat  of  Gates,  whose  left  and  rear  would 
have  Iicen  absolutely  unprotected  before  the  New 
England  troops  could  reinforce  him.  The  de- 
feat of  Gates  would  have  given  the  enemy  com- 
plete control  of  the  valley  of  the  Hudson,  would 
have  meant  the  severance  of  New  England  from 
the  rest  of  the  confederacy,  led  to  a  cessation  of 
hostilities  and  the  restoration  of  the  colonies  to 
the  mother  country.  The  victory  at  Fort 
Schuyler  paved  the  way  for  the  final  triumph 
on  the  heights  at  Saratoga,  or,  as  it  has  been 
so  aptly  expressed.  'Without  Fort  Schuyler  there 
would  have  been  no  Saratoga.'  " 


General  Gansevoort  married,  January  12, 
1778,  Catherine  (Catrina)  Van  Schaick,  bap- 
tized August  16,  1752,  died  December  30, 
1830,  daughter  of  \Vessel  Van  Schaick,  who 
was  baptized  February  10,  1712  and  married, 
November  3,  1743,  Maria  Gerritse,  who  died 
January  31,  1797.  Wessel  Van  Schaick  was 
son  of  Anthony  (or  Antony)  \'an  Schaick, 
S}brant,  filiiis,  glazier,  born  1681,  married, 
October  19,  1707,  Anna  Catherine  Ten 
Broeck,  who  died  in  December,  1756.  In  1704 
Anthony  Van  Schaick's  house  lot  was  at  the 
south  corner  of  State  and  Pearl  streets,  Al- 
bany. He  was  a  son  of  Sybrant  Van  Schaick, 
born  1653,  who  married  Elizabeth  Van  Der 
Poel,  and  died  about  1785.  In  1678  his  step- 
mother agreed  to  sell  him  her  half  of  the 
brewery  on  the  easterly  half  of  the  Exchange 
block  for  one  hundred  beavers.  He  was  a  son 
of  Captain  Goosen  Gerritse  Van  Schaick, 
brewer  of  Albany.  In  1664  he  and  Philip 
Pieterse  Schuyler  were  granted  permission  to 
purchase  Halve  Maan  of  the  Indians,  to  pre- 
vent "those  of  Connecticut''  from  purchasing 
it.  In  1664  also  he  bought  of  his  stepfather, 
Ryner  Elbertse,  a  lot  on  the  north  corner  of 
Columbia  street  and  Broadway,  and  in  1675 
he  and  Pieter  Lassingh  bought  Harmen  (or 
Harme)  Rutger's  brewery  on  the  Exchange 
block.  "In  1657,  being  about  to  marry  his 
second  wife,  he  made  a  contract  in  which  he 
reserved  from  his  estate  6,000  guilders  for  his 
four  eldest  children  by  the  first  wife,  that 
being  her  separate  estate ;  and  in  1668  he  and 
his  second  wife  made  a  joint  will,  he  being 
about  to  depart  for  Holland."  Captain  Van 
Schaick  married  (first)  in  1649,  Geertie 
Brantse  Van  Nieuwkerk,  who  died  about 
1656;  married  (second),  1657,  Annatie  Lie- 
vens,  or  Lievense. 

General  Gansevoort's  children:  i.  Herman, 
born  1779,  died  1862;  married,  1813,  Cath- 
erine Ouackenboss,  born  1774,  died  1855.  2. 
Wessel,  born  1781,  died  1862.  3.  Leonard, 
born  1783,  died  1821  ;  married,  1809,  Mary 
A.  Chandonette,  born  1789,  died  1851.  4. 
Peter,  born  1786,  died  1788.  5.  Peter,  born 
December  22,  1788,  (see  post).  6.  Maria, 
born  1791,  married,  1814,  Allan  Melville,  born 
1782,  died  1832. 

(\')  Judge  Peter  Gansevoort,  son  of  Gen- 
eral Peter  and  Catherine  (Van  Schaick)  Gan- 
sevoort, was  born  in  Albany,  December  22, 
1788,  and  died  at  his  home  in  that  city,  Jan- 
uary 4.  1876.  His  higher  literary  education 
was  acquired  at  the  College  of  New  Jersey, 
Princeton,  where  he  graduated,  and  afterward 
he  attended  the  celebrated  Litchfield  Law 
School ;  still  later  read  law  in  the  office  of  Har- 
manus  Bleecker,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 


'/  <9^^:i^-<>?>/^^vi''''^'-:;^^tr:^^ — 


o-^^^^:^^2.     ^  ^j'-i^^i^^iT-y-^ 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


about  1811.    His  practice  for  many  years  was 
very  considerable,  and  he  ranked  among  the 
prominent  members  of   the  profession.     For 
some   time   he   acted   as   private   secretary  to 
Governor   DeW'itt   Chnton,   and   then   on   his 
mihtary  staff  as  judge  advocate  general  from 
1819  to  1821.     In  1830-31   he  was  a  member 
of  the  assembly,  and  then  a  senator  for  four 
years,  1833  to  1836  inclusive.     In  all  matters 
of  public  interest  he  took  an  active  part,  and 
was  thoroughly  attached  to  all  that  concerned 
his  native  city.     He  was  a  trustee  of  the  Al- 
bany Academy  for  fifty  years,  and  for  twenty 
years  was  chairman  of  the  board.     In    1840 
he  was  one  of  a  committee,  with  Stephen  Van 
Rensselaer,   John  A.   Dix  and  others,  to   or- 
ganize the  Albany  Cemetery  Association,  and 
to  select  grounds  for  the  cemetery.     He  was 
a  trustee  of  the  cemetery  until  his  death,  and 
took  a  warm  interest  in  arranging  and  beau- 
tifying the  grounds.     For  many  years  he  was 
a  director  of  the  New  York  State  Bank,  and 
occupied  other  positions  of  trust.     Although 
his  military  service  was  short,  he  took  a  warm 
interest   throughout   life   in   military   matters. 
Among  the  public  positions  held  by  Gener- 
al Gansevoort  was  that  of  first  judge  of  the 
county  court  of  Albany  county  from  1843  to 
1847,  th^  duties  of  which  office  he  discharged 
with  great  fidelity  and  to  the  entire  satisfac- 
tion of  the   legal   profession   and   the  public. 
He  carried  marked  traits  of  his  ancestry  with 
him   through  life,  and  was  a  most  thorough 
representative  of  the  Dutch  element  of  his  na- 
tive city.     He  was  the  very   embodiment  of 
high-souled  honor  and  integrity,  pure  in  pri- 
vate life,  and  devotedly  attached  to  his  coun- 
try and   its  institutions.     On  more  than  one 
occasion  he  visited  the  countries  of  the  Old 
World  in  search  of  health  and  instruction,  but 
always  returned  home  with  his  love   for  his 
own  government  strengthened  by  comparison 
with  those  abroad.     He  was  a  man  of  courtly 
manners     and     commanding     presence,     and 
in  society  was  very  genial  and  engaging.    His 
kind  heart  and  generous  impulses  made  him 
a  favorite  with  all  classes  of  men,  and  he  lived 
without  enemies,  and  no  one  is  left  of  all  who 
knew  him  who  does  not  mourn  his  death  and 
honor  his  memory.    The  illness  of  Judge  Gan- 
sevoort was  long  and  trying;  but  he  retained 
his  mental  powers  to  the  last  and  sank  quiet- 
ly and  peacefully  to  his  rest,  just  as  his  coun- 
try had  entered  on  the  centennial  year  of  its 
independence,   in   achieving  which   his   father 
had    rendered    such    important    service.      His 
funeral   took   place   on   Saturday,   January  8, 
1876,  and  was  very  largely  attended  by  public 
officers  as  well  as  by  family  friends  and  citi- 
zens.    The  officers  of  the  Albany  Burgesses 


Corps,  with  the  patriotic  spirit  which  always 
marked  that  organization,  attended  in  military 
undress  as  a  guard  of  honor;  and  the  cadets 
of  the  Albany  Academy,  to  the  number  of 
nearly  one  hundred,  were  also  present  in  their 
drill  uniform.  Religious  services  were  per- 
formed at  the  house  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Clark 
,  of  the  North  Dutch  (Reformed)  Church,  of 
which  church  Judge  Gansevoort  was  a  mem- 
ber in  communion ;  and  his  remains  were  con- 
veyed to  that  cemetery  for  which  he  had  done 
so  much. 

In  1833  Judge  Gansevoort  married  (first) 
Mary  Sanford.  born  1814,  died  1841,  daugh- 
ter of  Hon.  Nathan  Sanford,  chancellor  of 
this  state,  and  subsequently  senator  in  Con- 
gress. He  married  (second)  December  12, 
1843,  Susan  Lansing,  who  died  in  October, 
1874,  daughter  of  Abraham  G.  Lansing,  of 
Albany.  Children:  Henry  Sanford  (see 
post);  Mary;  Catherine,  married  Abraham 
Lansing,  and  survives  him;  Herman. 

(VI)  Colonel  Henry  Sanford  Gansevoort, 
U.  S.  A.,  son  of  Judge  Peter  and  Mary  (San- 
ford) Gansevoort,  was  born  in  Albany,  New 
York,  December  15,  1835,  and  died  April  12, 
1871,  on  board  the  steamer  "Drew,"  in  the 
Hudson  river,  opposite  Rhinebeck,  on  the  pas- 
sage home  from  Nassau,  New  Providence. 
His  earlier  education  was  received  at  the  Al- 
bany Academy  and  Phillips  Andover  Acad- 
emy, where  he  fitted  for  college,  then  entered 
the  sophomore  class  at  Princeton  College, 
where  he  soon  became  a  member  of  the  same 
literary  society  to  which  his  father  had  be- 
longed many  years  before,  and  was  graduated 
in  1855,  with  distinguished  honors;  his  col- 
legiate course  having  been  highly  successful, 
not  alone  in  mere  scholarship,  but  in  having 
secured  to  him  a  fixed  position  among  his  as- 
sociates as  the  possessor  of  leading  and  bril- 
liant qualities  of  mind.  This  general  success 
as  a  student  culminated  well  at  the  close  of 
his  college  life,  when  his  display  of  oratorical 
ability  at  commencement  was  regarded  as 
showing  the  possession  of  powers  of  a  high 
order.  Leaving  college  he  entered  Harvard 
Law  School,  and  afterward  became  a  student 
in  the  law  office  of  Sprague  &  Fillmore,  Buf- 
falo, New  York,  and  still  later  with  Bow- 
doin.  Barlow  &  Larocque,  New  York  City; 
and  while  with  the  latter  firm  he  accompanied 
his  father,  mother  and  sister  to  Europe,  and 
remained  abroad  about  fifteen  months.  On 
his  return  he  became  law  partner  with  George 
H.  Brewster,  in  New  York,  and  as  a  member 
of  that  firm  engaged  in  active  practice  at  the 
beginning  of  the  civil  war. 

Many  incidents  of  his  life  thoroughly  prove 
that  while  emulous  of  civil  distinction  he  nev- 


yo 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


ertheless  had  a  strong  inclination  for  the  mil- 
itary service ;  and  with  tastes  and  predilec- 
tions of  this  character  it  is  not  strange  that 
in  the  public  incidents  at  this  time  occurring 
his  active  mind  should  at  once  seek  employ- 
ment in  a  new  and  congenial  career.  He  had 
joined  the  Seventh  Regiment  of  New  York 
militia,  which  was  among  the  first  to  be  sent 
to  Washington  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war, 
and  at  a  time  when  that  city  was  cut  off  from 
all  communication  with  the  North.  He  served 
as  private  with  the  regiment  until  its  return ; 
but  what  was  to  some  of  his  comrades  the 
termination  of  a  dangerous  service  was  to  him 
but  the  beginning  of  an  active  public  duty  to 
which  he  became  solely  devoted,  and  to  which 
he  finally  gave  up  his  life.  He  accordingly 
applied  himself  to  obtaining  a  commission  in 
the  regular  service,  for  which  purpose  he 
went  to  Washington,  and  after  many  delays 
and  disappointments  he  was  rewarded  by  re- 
ceiving a  commission  as  second  lieutenant  in 
the  Fifth  Regiment  of  regular  artillery,  U.  S. 
A.  After  receiving  his  commission  and  while 
General  McClellan  was  moulding  the  material 
under  his  command  into  the  Army  of  the  Po- 
tomac, Colonel  Gansevoort  was  under  orders 
as  second  lieutenant  in  a  camp  of  instruction 
at  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania,  fitting  himself 
for  the  duties  of  an  artillery  officer.  He 
joined  JMcClellan  on  the  Peninsula,  and  was 
with  the  Potomac  army  throughout  the  penin- 
sular campaign  after  it  left  Yorktown.  He 
was  in  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  and 
afterward  at  Antietam,  where  his  battery  was 
placed  in  a  position  near  the  famous  cornfield, 
by  Hooker's  orders,  and  sustained  heavy  loss 
in  men  and  horses.  He  was  with  his  battery 
throughout  the  battle,  and  for  a  time  was  in 
command. 

Obtaining  a  leave  of  absence  from  the  reg- 
ular army  to  take  a  command  in  the  volun- 
teers. Colonel  Gansevoort  was  appointed  by 
Governor  Seymour,  lieutenant-colonel  of  the 
Thirteenth  Regiment  New  York  X'olunteer 
Cavalry,  took  command  of  his  regiment  soon 
after  his  appointment,  and  was  almost  imme- 
diately ordered  to  take  it  to  Washington. 
This  was  alxnit  the  time  when  Lee  was  ad- 
vancing to  the  Potomac  and  just  previous  to 
the  battle  of  Chancellorsville.  His  command, 
new.  undisciplined,  and  never  before  in  the 
field,  was  put  on  duty  in  the  defenses  of 
Washington.  It  is  stated  in  Colonel  Ganse- 
voort's  letters  that  after  he  had  obeyed  or- 
ders to  report  at  Washington  and  had  re- 
ported the  strength  of  his  command,  he  re- 
ceived an  immediate  reply  that  there  were  an 
equal  number  of  horses  and  saddles  awaiting 
them,  and  orders  to  go  forward  to  the  defense 


of  the  capital.  In  these  embarrassing  circum- 
stances, with  a  regiment  secured  in  the  ad- 
vanced period  of  enlisting,  with  untried  and 
to  a  great  extent  turbulent  and  insubordinate 
soldiers.  Colonel  Gansevoort's  conduct  was 
worthy  of  the  highest  commendation.  After 
Lee's  retreat  the  Thirteenth  was  stationed  in 
\'irginia  and  at  other  posts  with  troops  en- 
gaged in  watching  the  actions  of  Mosby,  and 
in  seeking  to  effect  his  capture,  a  feat  at  one 
time  actually  accomplished  by  a  detachment 
acting  under  Colonel  Gansevoort's  immediate 
orders.  The  escape  of  Mosby  after  capture, 
by  his  feigning  to  be  badly  wounded  and  dy- 
ing, was  an  incident  of  peculiar  interest 
among  the  many  adventures  that  attended  his 
sphere  of  service.  At  another  time,  through 
a  well-conceived  and  successfully  executed 
plan.  Colonel  Gansevoort  was  rewarded  for 
his  patience  and  energy  by  the  capture  of 
Mosby's  artillery,  which  crippled  him  and  in 
a  measure  defeated  his  further  raids  on  the 
troops  stationed  in  that  vicinity.  The  duties 
of  this  service  demanded  constant  vigilance 
and  activity,  and  he  discharged  them  with  zeal 
and  fidelity,  at  the  time  fully  acknowledged 
by  the  government.  His  regiment  was  among 
the  very  last  mustered  out  of  service,  and  its 
condition  at  that  time  was  not  inferior  to  any 
other  cavalry  regiment  in  the  volunteers. 

Colonel  Gansevoort  was  brevetted  briga- 
dier-general of  volunteers  and  lieutenant- 
colonel  in  the  regular  service,  and  held  at  the 
time  of  his  death  the  rank  of  captain  of  ar- 
tillery in  the  regular  line  of  promotion  in 
the  United  States  army.  After  the  close  of 
the  war  he  was  ordered  to  Fortress  Monroe 
and  thence  to  Barrancas,  Florida,  and  from 
the  latter  place  to  Fort  Independence, 
Boston  Harbor.  During  his  long  period  of 
service  he  was  several  times  prostrated  with 
fever,  the  germs  of  which  appeared  to  re- 
main in  his  system  and  to  cause  at  intervals 
new  attacks.  He  was  thus  prostrated  anew 
in  the  fall  of  1870,  and  when  the  fever  had 
nearly  abated  he  sought  his  home  at  Albany, 
wliere  he  arrived  with  a  bad  cough  which  con- 
stantly increased  upon  him.  Not  long  after 
his  return  he  insisted  on  going  back  to  Bos- 
ton, and  although  his  strength  seemed  not  to 
warrant  it  he  had  so  determinedly  made  up 
his  mind  to  go  that  remonstrance  was  with- 
out avail;  and  it  is  evident  that  his  chief  pur- 
pose was  to  arrange  such  afifairs  as  he  had 
been  tmable  to  attend  to  during  his  illness. 
His  visit  to  Nassau,  New  Providence,  which 
failed  to  give  him  any  hopes  of  a  restoration 
to  health ;  his  yearning  for  home  and  its  com- 
forts and  consolations ;  his  homeward  jour- 
ney in  company  with  his  sister  who  could  not 


HUDSOX   AXD    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


71 


be  kept  from  his  side;  his  gradually  wasting' 
strength  as  he  neared  that  home,  the  goal  of 
his  earthly  hopes,  on  the  bosom  of  his  be- 
loved river ;  his  consciousness  of  the  death 
soon  to  close  over  him ;  and  his  readiness  to 
meet  his  end,  firm  in  his  honor  as  a  soldier 
and  humble  in  his  faith  as  a  Christian — these 
scenes  follow  in  sad  but  quick  succession 
upon  all  that  was  earthly  of  the  beloved  ob- 
ject of  this  sketch. 

Colonel  Gansevoort  had  taste  in  drawing 
and  painting  and  was  a  devoted  lover  of  his- 
tory ;  and  his  inclination  for  oratory  was  very 
strong.  He  also  had  a  taste  for  writing,  and 
from  boyhood  he  was  distinguished  for  his 
readiness  in  debate  and  the  facility  with  which 
he  could  express  his  thoughts.  When  he  left 
Albany  Academy  he  delivered  the  salutatory 
oration,  and  his  address  at  Princeton  when 
he  graduated  is  remembered  as  conspicuous 
among  the  exercises  of  the  day.  On  one  oc- 
casion at  Allentown,  Pennsylvania,  he  deliv- 
ered an  Independence  Day  address  which  was 
spoken  of  in  terms  of  warm  commendation. 
While  in  the  army  he  was  frequently  called 
upon  to  act  on  courts-martial,  where  his  pow- 
ers were  thoroughly  tested  and  his  ability 
conspicuously  exhibited,  and  he  was  unde- 
viatingly  honorable,  and  the  possession  of  this 
admirable  trait  was  fully  recognized  by  all 
who  came  in  contact  with  him.  Notwith- 
standing his  decided  political  convictions,  it 
"was  a  part  of  his  creed  tliat  the  duties  of  a 
soldier  were  incompatible  with  any  active  par- 
ticipation in  political  strifes  ;  and  as  he  never 
was  troubled  with  misgivings  when  the  path 
of  duty  lay  clear  before  him,  the  adoption 
of  this  article  of  faith  without  hesitation  was 
followed  by  a  strict  adherence  to  its  injunc- 
tions from  which  he  never  departed. 

(The  \'an  Schaick  Line). 
Those  islands  formed  by  the  spuytens  or 
sprouts  of  the  }iIohawk,  and  a  large  tract  of 
land  to  the  northward,  including  the  present 
village  of  Waterford,  originally  called  the 
"Halve  Maan,"  or  Half-AIoon,  were  granted 
by  the  Indian  chiefs  (permission  having  been 
obtained  from  Governor  Nichols)  to  Goosen 
Gerritsen  \'an  Schaick  and  Philip  Petersen 
Schuyler.  September  11,  1665  (the  original 
deed  is  still  extant).  The  latter,  on  July  12, 
1674.  conveyed  his  interests  in  the  lands  em- 
braced by  the  government  to  his  associate, 
Van  Schaick,  who  by  will  deeded  the  lands  to 
bis  wife  Anetje.  .After  his  death  she  conveyed 
them  to  his  son  Anthony  for  the  consideration 
of  five  hundred  and  fifty  good  marketable 
beaver  skins.  This  grant  was  confirmed  by 
Governor  Lovelace,  Alarch  30,   1672,  and  af- 


terward Governor  Thomas  Dongan,  then  gov- 
ernor of  the  province  of  New  York,  by  his 
patent  dated  May  31,  1687,  confirmed  in  .An- 
thony \'an  Schaick  the  sole  title  to  said  land 
in  consideration  of  an  annual  quit  rent  of  one 
bushel  of  winter  wheat  (both  the  Lovelace 
and  Dongan  patents  are  still  in  existence,  and 
are  in  an  excellent  state  of  presen'ation).  The 
Indian  name  of  \'an  Schaick  Island  was 
"Quahemesicos,"  and  the  names  of  the  Indian 
proprietors  at  the  time  of  the  transfer  to  \'an 
Schaick  and  Schuyler  were  Itamonet,  Amen- 
hasnet  and  Kishocasna.  The  Dutch  called 
it  "Long  Island."  In  the  early  writings  it 
was  called  "Whale  Island."  After  the  trans- 
fer it  was  called  "Anthony's  Island."  It  is 
also  called  "Isle  Cohoes,"  or  "Cohoes  Isl- 
and." It  was  the  first  land  cultivated  north 
of  the  present  city  limits  of  Cohoes. 

(I)  Captain  Goosen  Gerritsen  \"an  Schaick, 
born  in  1630,  died  in  1676.  He  married, 
(first)  in  1649,  Geertje  Brantse  Peelen  or 
Pealen,  who  died  about  1656,  married  (sec- 
ond) in  1657,  Annatie  Lievens  or  Lievense. 
Captain  Van  Schaick  was  a  brewer  and  a 
prominent  man  in  Albany.  Children  by  first 
wife:  Genetic,  married  Johannes  Lansing; 
Gerrit,  born  1650,  married  Alida  \'an  Slich- 
tenhorst :  Sybrant,  see  forward ;  Anthony, 
born  1665.  Children  by  second  wife:  Liven- 
ius,  whose  daughter  Gerritje  married  .Andrew 
Drawyer,  a  Danish  admiral  in  the  Dutch  ser- 
vice :  Cornells ;  Margareta. 

(II)  Sybrant,  son  of  Captain  Goosen  Ger- 
ritsen Van  Schaick,  was  born  in  1653,  died 
in  1685.  He  married  Elizabeth  \'an  Der 
Poel.  Children  :  Goosen,  born  1677,  married 
Catherine  Staats :  Catherine,  born  1679;  An- 
thony, see  forward :  Gerrit,  born  1685. 

( III )  Anthony,  son  of  Sybrant  and  Eliza- 
beth (\'an  Der  Poel)  \'an  Schaick.  was  born 
in  1 68 1,  died  in  1756.  He  was  a  glazier,  and 
lived  in  Albany.  In  1717  he  was  commis- 
sioned cornet  by  Governor  Robert  Hunter.  In 
an  act  passed  December  22,  1717,  there  is 
provided  for  the  payment  of  claims  against 
the  colony,  "to  Anthony  \'an  Schaick,  his  exe- 
ecutors  or  assigns  the  quantity  of  two  ounces 
two  pennyweight  of  plate  (Spanish  coin) 
aforesaid  for  mending  of  glass  windows  in 
his  Majesty's  garrison  at  Albany."  There  are 
many  references  to  him  in  the  records  of  his 
day.  The  family  were  in  most  everything  in 
the  way  of  business  merchandising,  trading 
with  the  Indians,  agriculture.  Deeds,  inden- 
tures, conveyances,  accounts,  etc.,  in  the  fam- 
ily name,  are  numerous  and  interesting.  He 
married,  October  19,  1707,  Anna  Catherine 
Ten  Broeck,  who  died  in  1756.  Children : 
Sybrant,    born    1708;    Wessel,    see    forward; 


72 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


Elizabeth,  born  1716;  Jacob,  born  17 18; 
Looniis,  1720;  Goosen,  1722. 

(lY)  Wessel,  son  of  Sybrant  and  Anna 
Catherine  (Ten  Broeck)  Van  Schaick,  was 
baptized  February  16,  1712,  died  IMarch  13, 
1783.  He  married  Maria  Gerritse  Van 
Schaick,  who  died  January  31,  1797,  aged 
seventy-nine  years.  Children:  Anthony,  born 
September  6.  1744;  Maritje,  Ixjrn  July  25, 
1746.  died  AugTist  16.  1813  ;  Jan  Gerse,  born 
September  24,  1748,  died  July  7,  1828,  mar- 
ried Anna  Van  Schaick;  Cattrina  (Cathe- 
rine), born  August  16,  1752,  see  forward; 
Gerrit,  born  May  22,  1758,  in  Albany,  died 
December  14,   1816,  in  Lansingburg. 

(\")  Catherine,  daughter  of  Wessel  and 
Maria  G.  \'an  .Schaick,  was  born  August 
16,  1752.  She  married,  December  17,  1778, 
General  Peter  Gansevoort  (see  Gansevoort). 
With  this  marriage  the  relationship  between 
the  Lansing.  Van  Schaick  and  Gansevoort 
families  is  established. 


The  American  ancestor  of  this 
LANSING  fine  old  Dutch  family,  famed 
in  the  early  and  subsequent 
annals  of  the  Hudson  Valley,  was  Gerrit 
Frederickse  (termination  sc  has  force  of  son), 
son  of  Frederick  Lansing,  of  the  town  of 
Hasselt.  in  the  province  of  Overyssel.  The 
name  is  found  in  the  early  records  as  Lan- 
singh,  Lansinck  (Lansinck  family  has  dif- 
ferent coat-of-arms.  See  De  Rietstap's  "Arm- 
orial Bearings" — the  De  Brett  of  the  conti- 
nent)— and  Lansing.  They  settled  early  in  the 
Hudson  (later  in  the  Mohawk)  Valley,  where 
they  had  large  land  grants  and  were  traders, 
farmers  and  mechanics.  One  of  the  family, 
Abraham  J.,  had  land  granted  him  along  the 
Hudson,  on  which  he  founded  the  town  of 
Lansingburg,  now  a  part  of  the  city  of  Troy, 
New  York. 

(I)  Gerrit  Frederickse  Lansing  came  to 
New  Amsterdam  with  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  all  born  before  leaving  Hasselt,  and 
settled  in  Reiisselaerwyck,  probably  about 
1650.  The  date  of  the  death  of  Gerrit  Fred- 
erickse Lansing,  the  emigrant  ancestor,  is 
only  determined  as  being  prior  to  October  3, 
1679,  as  on  that  day  his  children  made  a  joint 
conveyance  of  property,  supposedly  as  heirs 
of  the  father.  Children:  i.  Gerrit.  see 
forward.  2.  Johannes,  married  Geritje  Van 
Schaick,  widow  of  Hendrick  Coster.    3.  Ilen- 

drick.    married    Lysbeth    .      4.     Altje 

C/Mida).  married  Gerrit  Van  Slichtenhorst.  3. 
Gysbcrtie,  married  Hendrick  Roseboom.  6. 
Hilletje,  married  Storm  \'an  Der  Zee 
(Bradt). 

(H)     Gerrit,    son    of    Gerrit    F.    Lansing, 


was  born  probably  in  Hasselt,  Holland. 
He  married  Elsje,  daughter  of  Wouter  Van 
\\'ythorst.  Children:  i.  Gerrit  (3),  mar- 
ried Catherine  Sanders  Glen,  August  21,  1692. 
2.  Abraham,  born  1663,  married  Magdalena 
\'an  Tricht,  November  28,  1703.  3.  Johan- 
nes, born  January  i,  1675,  died  August  10, 
1 77 1,  aged  ninety-six  years  seven  months,  ten 
days ;  married  Helena  Sanders.  September  20, 
1704.  4.  Susanna,  married  Mattys  Nack,  July 
24.  1698.  5.  Isaac,  born  May  14,  1677;  mar- 
ried Janetje  Beeckman,  June  27,  1703.  6. 
Jacob  G.,  see  forward.  7.  Myndert,  unmar- 
ried. 8.  Wouter,  baptized  August  12,  1683. 
9.  Elizabeth,  baptized  January  20,  1689,  died 
September  1730. 

(HI)  Jacob  G.,  son  of  Gerrit  and  Elsje 
(\'an  Wythorst)  Lansing,  was  born  in- 
Albany,  June  6.  1681,  and  died  there  Decem- 
ber 6,  1767.  He  built  a  house  in  17 10  at 
the  corner  of  North  Pearl  and  Columbia 
streets,  Albany,  known  as  the  "Pemberton 
House,"  where  all  his  children  were  born. 
He  married,  about  1710.  Helena,  baptized  No- 
vember 21,  1683,  daughter  of  Jacob  Sanders 
and  Catherine  (Van  Witbeck)  Glen.  Chil- 
dren: I.  Gerrit  J.,  see  forward.  2.  Jacob 
J.,  a  revolutionary  officer,  commanded  a  regi- 
ment at  the  battle  of  Stillwater,  New  York; 
was  a  captain  in  the  "Middle  Forty"  at  Scho- 
harie, when  it  was  attacked  by  Sir  John  John- 
son and  the  Indians  under  Brant ;  married 
Marytje  Egberts,  November  6,  1742.  3. 
John  J.,  married  (first)  Rachel  Elevens,  .'\u- 
gust  14.  1 74 1,  (second)  Cathalina  Van 
Schaick,  October  20,  1744,  (third)  Catharina 
.Schuyler,  about  1747.  4.  Catharine,  married 
(first)  Abraham  Lansing,  alxjut  1742,  (sec- 
ond) Abraham  Douw,  November  23,  1761.  5. 
Abraham,  married  Elizabeth  Cooper,  May  20, 
1744.  6.  Isaac.  7.  Sanders  J.,  died  unmar- 
ried, April  3,  1807.  8.  9.  Elsje  and  Isaac,. 
twins;  Elsje,  died  April,  1730;  Isaac  married 
,\nnetje  \'an  Woert. 

(IV)  Gerrit  J.,  son  of  Jacob  G.  and 
Helena  (Glen)  Lansing,  was  born  in  Albany,. 
New  York,  and  baptized  March  4,  171 1.  He 
married  (first)  November  29,  1734.  Maria, 
daughter  of  Johannes  and  Barcntje  (Pruyn) 
Everts,  born  October  8.  1713,  and  buried  Jan- 
uary 27,  1741.  Children:  i.  Jacob  G.  (2), 
married  (first)  Neeltje  Roseboom,  March  14,. 
1767,  (second)  Femmetje  (Frances)  Lan- 
sing, .Xugust  28,  1774.  2.  Maria,  died  in  in- 
fancy. 3.  .Alida,  died  in  infancy.  He  mar- 
ried (second)  about  1748,  Jane,  baptized 
.April  12,  1728,  and  died  Marcii  2.  1810,. 
(laughter  of  John  and  .Sarah  (W'inne)  Wat- 
ers. Children :  4.  John,  died  in  childhood. 
5.  John,  Jr.    (2),  baptized  February  3,    1755. 


HUDSOX   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


75 


The  last  seen  of  him  was  December  12,  1829, 
on  the  pier  where  the  steamboats  left  for  Al- 
bany, walking  towards  the  boat  on  which  he 
intended  going  to  Albany.  (See  "Lives  of  the 
Chancellors.")  He  dined  with  his  father-in- 
law,  Robert  Ray,  just  before  his  disappear- 
ance in  New  York  City.  He  was  a  very 
prominent  public  man  and  his  death  caused 
a  deep  sensation.  He  studied  law  with  Rob- 
ert Yates,  afterward  chief  justice  of  the  state, 
and  also  with  James  Duane  in  New  York. 
He  served  under  General  Philip  Schuyler  in 
the  revolutionary  war,  being  Schuyler's  mili- 
tary secretary  at  Saratoga,  and  was  a  distin- 
guished member  of  the  convention  that  con- 
ducted the  civil  and  military  operations  of 
the  state.  Soon  after  he  was  appointed  mayor 
of  Albany,  and  in  1787  was  with  Chief  Jus- 
tice Yates  and  General  Hamilton  delegated  by 
the  state  as  member  of  the  convention  which 
framed  the  constitution  of  the  United  States. 
On  his  return  he  was  appointed  a  judge  of  the 
supreme  court  and  later  to  the  high  position 
of  chancellor  of  the  state.  He  married,  April 
8,  1781,  Cornelia,  daughter  of  Robert  and 
Sarah  (Bogart)  Ray  of  New  York  City.  She 
died  in  Albany,  January,  1834.  6.  Abraham 
G.,  see  forward.  7.  Gerrit  G.  (known  as  Ger- 
rit  of  Oriskany),  baptized  November  4,  1760, 
died  May.  27,  1831.  He  entered  the  revolu- 
tionary army  at  the  beginning  of  the  war  and 
served  until  its  close.  He  led  a  forlorn  hope 
at  Yorktown  and  was  a  distinguished  and  gal- 
lant officer.  He  was  a  colonel  in  rank.  He 
married  Maria,  daughter  of  Colonel  Edward 
Antill.  She  died  at  Utica,  New  York,  Au- 
gust 24,  1834.  8.  Sarah,  born  June  22,  1763, 
married  Barent  Bleecker.  9.  Sanders  G.,  (the 
G.  for  Gerritse  was  only  used  when  he  was 
a  boy  to  distinguish  him  from  an  uncle.  San- 
ders Lansing),  was  born  in  Albany,  June  17, 
1766:  educated  to  legal  profession  in  Albany 
and  Claverack  schools  :  was  register  iind  mas- 
ter in  chancery  in  Albany ;  removed  from 
Albany  to  Little  Falls  in  1820;  in  1821  was  a 
delegate  to  draw  up  new  state  constitutions ; 
1821-28  was  county  judge  of  Herkimer 
county.  New  York ;  afterward  supreme  court 
judge;  died  in  Manheim,  New  York,  Sep- 
tember 19,  1850:  married,  December  10,  1789, 
Catharine,  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Annatje 
(Lansing)  Ten  Eyck. 

(\')  Abraham  G.,  son  of  Gerrit  J.  and 
Jane  (Waters)  Lansing,  was  born  December 
12.  1756,  died  May  15,  1834.  He  married, 
April  9,  1779,  Susanna,  daughter  of  Abra- 
ham and  Anetje  (De  Ridder)  Yates,  born 
August  18,  1762,  died  February  i,  1840. 
Children:  i.  Jannetje,  born  February  18, 
1780;    died    unmarried,    November    3,    1830. 


2.  Abraham,  died  young.  3.  Gerrit  Y.,  born 
August  4,  1783.  died  January  3,  1862;  he  held 
many  positions  of  honor  and  trust  in  the  city 
and  county  of  Albany.  He  was  in  early  life 
private  secretary  to  Governor  Morgan  Lewis, 
clerk  of  the  assembly,  and  judge  of  probate. 
He  represented  the  district  in  the  twent\-sec- 
ond,  twenty-third  and  twenty-fourth  con- 
gresses of  the  United  States.  He  was  elected 
a  regent  of  the  State  University  to  succeed 
ex-President  Martin  Van  Buren.  He  mar- 
ried. May  31,  1808,  Plelen  Ten  Eyck,  born 
June  13,  1787,  died  June  25,  1838.  4.  Cor- 
nelius De  Ridder,  born  November  17,  1785, 
died  September  1849.  5.  John,  died  single. 
6.  Antje,  died  young.  7.  Sanders,  born  April 
15,  1792,  married  .Angelica  Schuyler,  in  1821. 
8.  Christopher  Y.,  see  forward.  9.  Susan,  mar- 
ried Peter  Gansevoort,  December  12,  1843, 
died  October  28,  1874.  10.  Anna,  born  Janu- 
ary 26.  1799,  married  Rev.  Walter  Monteath; 
died  January  20,  1830.  11.  Sarah  B.,  born 
September  5.  1802,  died  unmarried.  12.  Ba- 
rent Bleecker,  married  Philanda  Orcutt.  13. 
George,  married  Harriet  Schermerhorn.  14. 
Abraham  Y.,  born  September  8,  1808.  and 
died  November  24,  1857 ;'  married  Eliza  \'an 
Alstyne,  April  26,  1836. 

(\T)  Christopher  Yates,  eighth  child  of 
Abraham  G.  and  Susanna  (Yates)  Lansing, 
was  born  May  27,  1796,  died  in  Albany,  Au- 
gust 29,  1872.  He  was  a  leading  lawyer  of 
Albany.  He  married,  October  27,  1829,  Caro- 
line Mary  Thomas,  born  March  23,  1805,  died 
April  29,  1845.  Children :  Jane  Anna ;  John 
Thomas,  died  unmarried,  April  14,  1880:  .Ab- 
raham I  see  forward)  :  William,  married  Oc- 
tober 17,  1867,  Caroline  .A.  ]\IcClellan :  Ed- 
win Yates. 

(VH)  Abraham,  third  child  of  Christopher 
Yates  and  Caroline  M.  (Thomas)  Lansing, 
was  born  in  Albany,  New  York,  February  2"], 
1835.  died  October  4.  1899.  His  academic 
education  was  received  in  the  schools  of  Berk- 
shire county,  Alassachusetts,  and  at  the  Al- 
bany .Academy.  He  entered  Williams  Col- 
lege, where  he  was  graduated  with  the  degree 
of  A.B.,  class  of  1855.  He  decided  to  follow 
the  profession  of  law,  and  entered  his  father's 
ofifice  for  study  and  instruction.  He  was  grad- 
uated from  the  Albany  Law  School  in  1857. 
He  at  once  advanced  to  the  front  rank  and 
in  a  short  time  was  looked  upon  as  a  leader 
in  his  profession.  In  1868  he  was  appointed 
city  attorney  of  .Albany,  and  in  1869  was 
made  the  first  supreme  court  reporter.  While 
in  that  position  he  published  the  first  seven 
volumes  of  the  supreme  court  reports.  In 
1874  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Di.\  act- 
ing state  treasurer,  and  in  1876  he  was  chosen 


74 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


corporation  counsel  for  Albany.  In  1882  he 
was  elected  state  senator  for  Albany  county, 
receiving  the  largest  majority  ever  given  a 
candidate  for  that  office.  While  in  the  senate 
he  was  actively  identified  with  the  passage 
■of  the  act  establishing  the  State  Railroad 
Commission  and  the  law  providing  for  the 
•establishment  of  a  state  park  at  Niagara  Falls. 
He  was  interested  in  other  lines  of  activity 
outside  his  political  and  professional  duties. 
He  was  a  director  of  the  National  Commer- 
'cial  Bank,  trustee  of  the  Albany  Savings 
Bank,  park  commissioner  of  Albany,  governor 
■of  the  Albany  Hospital,  trustee  of  the  Al- 
bany Academy,  Albany  Medical  College,  Al- 
bany Rural  Cemetery,  Dudley  Observatory 
and  the  Fort  Orange  Club ;  a  life  member  of 
the  State  Geological  Society  and  other  organ- 
izations and  clubs.  In  his  legal  business  Mr. 
Lansing  had  a  partner,  his  brother  William. 
He  married.  November  26,  1873,  Catherine, 
■daughter  of  General  Peter  (2)  and  Mary 
(Sanford)  Gansevoort,  (see  Gansevoort). 
Airs.  Lansing  survives  her  husband.  She  is 
a  granddaughter  of  General  Peter  and  Cath- 
trine    (\'an   Schaick)    Gansevoort. 


(VI)  Gerrit  Yates,  son  of 
LANSING     Abraham    Gerrit    Lansing 

(q.  V.)  and  Susanna  (Yates) 
Lansing,  was  born  in  Albany,  August  4,  1783, 
died  January  3,  1862.  He  held  a  number  of 
positions  of  honor  and  trust  in  Albany.  In 
•early  life  he  was  private  secretary  to  Gover- 
nor -Morgan  Lewis,  clerk  of  the  assembly, 
judge  of  probate,  represented  the  county  in 
the  twenty-second,  twenty-third  and  twenty- 
fourth  congresses,  was  elected  regent  of  the 
LIniversity  in  place  of  ex-President  Martin 
\'an  Buren,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was 
chancellor  of  the  regents.  He  was  a  man  of 
genial  nature,  kind,  frank,  honest  and  most 
■open-hearted,  respected  and  beloved  by 
all,  and  affectionate  and  benevolent,  with  the 
peculiar  habit  of  attracting  the  young  people. 
He  was  respected  as  a  gentleman  of  polish 
and  refinement,  in  fact,  a  true  representative 
of  the  school  in  which  were  Clay,  Webster, 
Wright,  Marcy  and  Van  Buren.  He  married, 
May  31,  1808,  Helen,  born  June  13,  1787, 
■died  June  25,  1838,  daughter  of  Abraham  Ten 
Eyck,  (son  of  Jacob  C.  and  Catharina  (Cuy- 
ler)  Ten  Eyck,  who  was  born  in  .Albany,  No- 
vember 29,  1743,  died  November  7,  1824), 
and  .-Xnnetje  (I-ansing),  Ten  Eyck.  Chil- 
■dren :  Charles  Bridgen,  see  forward :  Jane 
Ann.  married,  1841,  Robert  Hewson  Pruyn ; 
Susan  Yates,  born  Albany,  August  5,  1816, 
■died  there,  January  15,  1911,  unmarried; 
Abraham  ( lerrit,  died  single. 


(\TI)  Charles  Bridgen,  son  of  Gerrit 
Yates  and  Helen  (Ten  Eyck)  Lansing,  was 
born  at  Albany,  New  York,  July  4,  1809, 
died  at  his  home,  No.  146  State  street,  in 
that  city,  of  acute  pneumonia,  on  December 
I,  1890.  He  resided  throughout  his  entire 
life  in  Albany.  Although  more  than  eighty 
years  of  age  when  he  died,  up  to  the  time 
of  his  final  sickness  he  was  energetically  en- 
gaged in  looking  after  his  business  interests, 
which  were  considerable,  as  he  was  a  large 
real  estate  owner  in  the  city,  and  also  in  Syra- 
cuse. His  natural  qualities  of  mind  were 
strengthened  and  matured  by  a  liberal  educa- 
tion and  the  study  of  a  learned  profession. 
He  was  of  decided  practical  ideas,  and  al- 
though he  favored  a  college  education,  he 
considered  that  it  should  be  for  the  purpose 
of  serious  study  to  fit  one  for  the  activities 
of  affairs  later  on.  His  judgment  was  thus 
well  developed  at  an  early  age,  and  it  was 
natural  that  success  for  him  was  assured  from 
the  start.  He  was  a  man  of  marked  charac- 
teristics, genial  to  a  friend,  prompt  in  his 
business  dealings,  possessed  a  progressive  and 
enterprising  spirit,  and  yet  was  appreciated 
largely  for  his  conservatism.  For  these  rea- 
sons he  was  not  only  well  liked,  but  his  cour- 
teous counsel  was  much  sought.  The  simple 
life  of  his  ancestors  was  more  to. his  liking 
than  the  hum  and  bustle,  the  conventionalities 
and  inconsistencies  of  modern  life  in  its 
search  for  happiness.  Although  rural  pur- 
suits would  have  furnished  him  greater  pleas- 
ures than  those  of  .society,  yet  he  did  not 
withdraw  himself  from  the  duties  and  re- 
sponsibilities which  pressed  around  him,  dis- 
cliarging  all  faithfully  and  well.  He  was  a 
director  of  the  Commerce  Insurance  Com- 
pany, and  one  of  the  oldest  directors  of  the 
Albany  Insurance  Company,  having  served 
continuously  from  January,  1864,  until  his 
death,  01;  twenty-six  years.  He  was  one  of 
the  oldest  trustees  of  the  Albany  Savings 
Bank,  chosen  in  1868,  and  was  one  of  the 
early  promoters  and  most  liberal  supporters 
of  the  Thomson  Pulp  &  Paper  Comjjany,  of 
Thomson,  New  York,  to  whom  it  owed  much 
for  his  intelligent  grasp  of  its  advantages 
and  the  courageous  aid  by  which  this  manu- 
facturing enterprise  gained  success.  He  be- 
came a  director  of  the  New  York  State  Na- 
tional Bank  on  May  i,  1865,  and  the  board 
of  directors  of  that  institution  met  on  the  day 
of  his  death,  and  acknowledged  by  resolution 
that  he  was  the  oldest  member  of  the  board 
in  length  of  service,  that  his  confreres  had 
always  found  him  "active  and  enterprising, 
his  life  has  been  an  open  book  to  all  our  cit- 
izens,  and   esjiecially   so   to   those   who  were 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


75 


brought  into  business  or  social  relations  with 
liim ;  always  constant  to  his  duties,  and  ser- 
viceable in  counsel  to  his  associates." 

Charles  B.  Lansing,  married  (first)  Cath- 
erine Clinton,  daughter  of  Mayor  John  and 
Abby  (Spencer)  Townsend,  in  1842,  by  whom 
he  had  two  children.  He  married  (second)  in 
1854.  Abby  Townsend,  sister  of  his  first  wife. 
The  father  of  Abby  Spencer  was  Judge  Am- 
brose Spencer,  who  was  the  thirty-fifth  may- 
or of  Albany,  officiating  from  March  10,  1824, 
to  January  i,  1825,  and  serving  a  second 
term,  from  January  i,  1825,  to  January  i, 
1826.  He  was  a  man  of  much  learning  and 
highly  respected.  Mrs.  Charles  B.  Lansing 
•died  at  her  home.  No.  146  State  street,  Al- 
bany, May  18,  1909.  Children:  i.  John 
Townsend,  see  forward.  2.  Charles  Abraham, 
born  at  Albany,  died  at  Colorado  Springs, 
Colorado,  December  8,  1890 ;  married  Sarah 
Macklin :  children :  Abby  Townsend  and 
'Charles  Bridgen  Lansing.  3.  Abby  Spencer, 
born  at  Albany :  married  at  Albany,  June 
I,  1900.  Rev.  Edward  Griffin  Selden,  pastor 
of  the  Second  Reformed  Dutch  Church, 
(Madison  Avenue)  Albany,  who  died  at  Sara- 
toga, June  2,  1904.  4.  Edward  Yates,  born  at 
Albany,  died  unmarried.  5.  Gerrit  Yates, 
born  at  Albany,  married  Sarah  Rathbone, 
daughter  of  General  Frederick  and  Sarah 
(Rathbone)   Townsend. 

(  XTH  )  John  Townsend,  eldest  son  of  Charles 
Bridgen  and  Catherine  Clinton  (Townsend) 
Lansing,  was  born  at  Sachem's  Head,  Con- 
necticut. He  received  his  education  at  Al- 
bany Academy,  Luther's  Classical  Academy 
of  Albany  and  at  Sedgwick  Institute,  Great 
Barrington,  Massachusetts.  In  1863  he  was 
employed  as  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  Pruyn 
&  Lansing,  Albany  Iron  and  Saw  Works.  In 
1867  he  became  a  partner  in  Albany  Saw 
Works,  under  the  same  firm  name.  Later 
with  Mr.  Pruyn  they  organized  the  Sheffield 
File  Works  for  the  manufacture  of  files :  also 
the  Embossing  Company  for  the  manufactur- 
ing of  dominoes  and  wooden  articles.  Mr. 
Lansing  continued  in  the  business  until  1880, 
and  since  that  time  has  been  actively  en- 
gaged as  trustee  of  several  large  estates  and 
officially  connected  with  many  charitable  and 
financial  institutions.  His  interest  in  art  and 
historical  matters  has  always  affected  his  life, 
but  was  given  definite  form  when  he  was 
elected  president  of  the  Albany  Historical  and 
Art  Society,  organized  in  the  fall  of  1886, 
following  the  historical  loan  exhibition  given 
in  connection  with  the  Albany  Bi-Centennial 
■celebration  commemorating  the  charter  of 
July  22,  1686.  From  that  time  his  interest 
in   these   matters   has   never  ceased.      It   was 


only  natural,  therefore,  that  on  the  death  of 
Mr.  James  Ten  Eyck,  he  was  chosen  presi- 
dent of  the  Albany  Institute  and  Historical 
and  Art  Society  at  a  special  meeting,  Octo- 
ber 25,  1910.  Air.  Lansing  was  elected  pres- 
ident of  the  board  of  governors  of  the  Al- 
bany Hospital  and  continues  as  such,  giving 
much  time  and  thought  to  the  interests  of  that 
institution.  He  is  president  of  the  Public 
Market  Company  of  .Albany,  the  Lan- 
sing Syracuse  Realty  Company,  vice-president 
of  the  Albany  Insurance  Company,  the 
W  heeler  Rent  and  Power  Company,  the  Al- 
bany Rural  Cemetery,  the  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association  board  of  trustees,  trustee  of 
Dudley  Observator}',  of  Albany  Medical  Col- 
lege, director  of  the  .Albany  Girls'  Academy, 
and  director  of  the  New  York  State  Na- 
tional Bank  and  Albany  City  Mission.  He  is 
an  official  member  of  the  Madison  Avenue 
Reformed  Church,  the  Holland  Society  of 
New  York,  the  Fort  Orange  and  Country 
clubs  of  Albany. 

Mr.  Lansing  married  (first)  in  Albany,  Oc- 
tober 27,  1870.  Helen  Franchot,  born  March 
31,  1846,  died  at  Albany,  January  28,  1898, 
daughter  of  Volckert  Petrus  Douw  (born 
April  ID,  1790,  died  at  Albany,  June  16,  1869) 
who  married,  June  2,  1834,  Helen,  daughter 
of  Paschal  Franchot,  of  Butternuts,  New 
York.  \'olckert  P.  Douw  was  the  son  of  John 
de  Peyster  Douw  fborn  January  20.  1736. 
died  February  22,  1835),  who  married,  De- 
cember 22.  1787,  Deborah  Beeckman  (born 
November  26.  1763,  died  July  23,  1791), 
daughter  of  Johannes  Jacobse  Beeckman 
(born  at  .Albany,  August  8,  1733.  died  De- 
cember 17,  1802),  married,  November  22,  1759, 
Maria  Sanders  (born  November  26.  1763. 
died  November  2.  1784),  daughter  of  John 
and  Debora  (Glen)  Sanders.  Mr.  Lansing 
married  (second)  at  Paris,  France,  October 
4,  1900,  Leontine  de  Kay,  daughter  of  John 
Fondey  Townsend.  M.D..  son  of  Charles  de 
Kay  and  Maria  (Hun)  Townsend,  who  re- 
sided for  many  years  in  Albany,  practicing 
medicine,  and  removed  to  New  York  City, 
where  he  died  January  8,  1874.  Dr.  John 
Fondey  Townsend  married,  September  10, 
183^1.  Catherine  Louise  Douw.  born  September 
TO,  1817.  daughter  of  Jolin  de  Peyster  Douw, 
by  his  third  marriage,  January  22,  181 1,  to 
Catherine  Douw  Gansevoort  (born  May  9, 
1782),  daughter  of  Leonard  Gansevoort.  died 
December  16,  1834,  and  Maria  Van  Rensse- 
laer (born  May  11.  1782.  died  .April  2.  1842), 
daughter  of  Colonel  Kiliaen  \'an  Rensselaer. 
John  de  Peyster  Douw  (born  January  20, 
1756,  died  February  22.  1835)  "'^s  the  son 
of  \"olckert   Petrus   Douw    (born    March   22,, 


7(^ 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


1720,  died  March  20,    1801),   married,  May 

20,  1742,  Anna  de  Peyster  (born  Marcli  28, 
1723.  died  June  14,  1794),  daughter  of  May- 
or Johannes  de  Peyster  (born  January  10, 
1694,  died  February  27,  1789),  married,  No- 
vember 24,  17 1 5,  Anna  Schuyler  (born  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1698,  died  1750).  Mayor  Vol- 
ckert  Petrus  Douw  was  the  son  of  Petrus 
Douw    (born    March   24,    1692,    died   August 

21,  1775),  married,  October  8,  1717,  Anna 
Van  Rensselaer  (died  March  29,  1756), 
daughter  of  Hendrick  and  Catharina  (Ber- 
brugge)  (or  Van  Brough)  Van  Rensselaer. 
Petrus  Douw  built  the  homestead  on  the 
shore  of  the  Hudson  river,  opposite  Albany, 
in  1724,  named  Wolvenhoeck. 


(HI)  Gerrit  (3),  Lansing, 
LANSING  eldest  son  of  Gerrit  (q.  v.) 
and  Elsje  (Van  Wythorst) 
Lansing,  died  July  20,  1708.  He  was  a  trad- 
er, and  had  residences  in  New  York,  Albany 
and  Schenectady.  He  married.  August  21, 
1692,  Catherine  Sanders,  daughter  of  John 
Sanders  Glen,  and  widow  of  Cornelis  Barents 
Van  Ditmars.  of  Schenectady.  She  died  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1731.  Children:  Gerrit.  see  for- 
ward; Johannes,  married  (first)  Catalyntje 
Hun,  (second)  Jannetje  Van  Vechten  :  Anna, 
married  Jacob  Egniont ;  Elsje,  baptized  March 
12.  1699;  Sanders,  baptized  April  20,  1701  ; 
Susanna,  married  Evert  P.  Wendell ;  Jacob, 
married  Ida  Van  Wie ;  Abraham,  married 
(first)  Helena  \'an  Deusen,  (second)  Cather- 
ine De  Forest:  Evert  (q.  v.). 

(IV)  Gerrit  (4),  son  of  Gerrit  (3)  and 
Catherine  (Glen)  Lansing,  was  born  August 
20,  1693.  He  lived  in  Albany,  where  he  owned 
a  lot  in  the  rear  of  Bleeker  Hall,  between 
Dean  street  and  the  river.  He  married  Engel- 
tje,  buried  October  6,  1745,  daughter  of  Rut- 
ger  Melcherts  \'an  Deusen  and  his  wife  Wvn- 
tje  Harmense  Hun.  Engcltje  \'an  Deusen 
was  a  granddaughter  of  Abraham  Van  Deu- 
sen, who  settled  in  Beverwyck  at  an  early  date 
coming  from  New  Amsterdam.  Children: 
Gerrit  (5),  married  (first)  .\nnetje  Yates: 
(second)  Wycntje  Van  Den  Bergli :  Rutger, 
see  forward :  Johannes,  married  Catherine 
Burhans  ( ?). 

(V)  Rutger,  second  son  of  Gerrit  (4)  and 
Engeltje  (Van  Deusen)  Lansing,  was  bap- 
tized March  25,  1722.  He  settled  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  Cohoes.  where  he  had  lands  and  fol- 
lowed farming.  He  married,  October  27, 
1764,  Susanna,  born  April  18,  173 1,  daugh- 
ter of  Jacobus  Van  Schoonhoven.  of  Half 
Aloon,  Saratoga  county,  New  York,  and  his 
wife  Susanna  Bratt. 

(VI)  Gerrit   (5),  only  son  of  Rutger  and 


Susanna  (Van  Schoonhoven)  Lansing,  was- 
born  November  18,  1765,  on  the  Lansing' 
homestead  just  north  of  Cohoes,  and  died  in 
1824.  He  was  a  farmer  and  millwright.  He 
married,  September  2.  1787,  Alida,  born  Au- 
gust 21,  1765,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Alida 
(Fonda)  De  Forest.  Children:  Susanna, 
born  August  26.  1788;  Isaac  De  Forest,  see- 
forward. 

(VII)  Isaac  De  Forest,  only  son  of  Ger- 
rit (5)  and  Alida  (De  Forest)  Lansing,  was- 
born  in  the  town  of  Watervliet,  Albany  coun- 
ty. New  York,  June  17,  1790,  died  in  1874. 
He  was  a  farmer.  He  married  Rachel' 
Schuyler,  born  1792.  died  1875.  Children: 
I.  Gerrit  R.,  born  1814.  died  1858:  he  was 
a  farmer  of  Watervliet,  and  a  millwright;, 
never  married.  2.  Philip  Schuyler,  see  for- 
ward. 

(\'III)  Philip  Schuyler,  second  son  of  Isaac 
De  Forest  and  Rachel  (Schuyler)  Lansing, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Watervliet.  on  the 
homestead  farm,  in  Albany  county.  New 
York,  1816,  died  in  Albany,  New  York,  July 
12,  1880.  He  married  (first)  Rachel  Lever- 
see,  born  1818,  died  1848:  children:  i.  Peter 
L.,  born  1847,  died  1848.  2.  Rachel  Schuyler, 
born  1843,  died  November  22,  1908:  married, 
1872.  Louis  H.  Comstock,  of  Providence, 
Rhode  Island.  Children :  i.  ]\Iary  L.  Com- 
stock, born  December  5.  1872,  died  February 
12,  1905;  married  William  C.  Huntoon  :  chil- 
dren :  Louis  H.  C.  Huntoon :  William  C.  Jr., 
ii.  Fred  S.  Comstock.  born  June  12.  1874, 
now  (1910)  of  Providence,  Rhode  Island. 
Philip  S.  Lansing  married  (second)  Sarah 
.\nn  \'isscher,  of  Albany,  born  1819,  died 
1898.  daughter  of  Johannes  B.  and  Catherine 
J.  (Willet)  Visscher  (see  Visscher).  Chil- 
dren: 3.  Catherine  \'..  born  May  29.  1850, 
died  August  15.  1853.  2.  Isaac  De  Forest, 
see  forward. 

fix)  Isaac  De  Forest,  only  son  of  Philip- 
-Schuyler  and  Sarah  Ann  (Visscher)  Lansing, 
v\as  born  in  the  town  of  Watervliet.  .Albany 
county.  New  York,  January  2,  1835.  In  that 
year  his  parents  removed  from  \\'atervliet  to- 
Alhan\'.  where  he  was  educated  in  tlie  "Boys' 
.\cadeniy."  In  1872  he  entered  the  employ 
of  the  Mechanics'  and  Farmers'  Bank  as  a 
clerk,  remaining  until  1890.  when  he  resigned. 
He  succeeded  his  uncle.  John  R.  \'isscher  (de- 
ceased in  1890).  as  manager  of  the  \"isscher 
family  estate,  with  his  cousins,  Edgar  W.  and" 
William  L.  Visscher,  and  continues  in  that 
position  to  the  present  time  (1910).  His 
other  business  connections  are:  Trustee  of 
Mechanics'  and  Farmers'  Savings  Bank ;  di- 
rector of  .Albany  Safe  Deposit  and  Storage- 
Company,  and  other  minor  enterprises.     His 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


77 


•clubs  are  the  Fort  Orange,  Albany  City,  Al- 
bany Country,  Mohawk,  and  Mohawk  Golf,  of 
Schenectady.  He  is  a  governor  of  the  Albany 
•City  Hospital ;  member  of  Company  A,  Al- 
bany Zouave  Cadets,  and  of  the  Holland  So- 
ciety of  New  York.    He  is  unmarried. 

(Tlie  Visscher  Line). 
Sarah  Ami  Msscher  Lansing  was  of  the 
sixth  generation  of  \"isschers  in  America,  and 
was  a  direct  descendant  of  Harmen  Visscher, 
the  emigrant  ancestor.  The  tradition  of  the 
family  is  that  originally  three  brothers  only 
of  this  name  came  over  from  Holland  and 
settled  in  Rensselaerwyck.  That  one  being 
a  Roman  Catholic,  soon  became  dissatisfied 
with  his  surroundings  and  returned  to  Hol- 
land. They  were  the  sons  of  Bastiaen  Vis- 
scher, of  rioorn,  Holland,  who  was  living 
there  in  1675.  The  family  name  has  been 
retained  in  this  country,  and  although  the 
spelling  varies  on  the  records  the  original 
name  is  easily  recognized. 

(I)  Harmen,  son  of  Bas^aen  Visscher,  of 
Hoorn,  Holland,  was  born  in  1619,  died  about 
the  year  1693,  in  Beverwyck.  He  was  a  house- 
holder in  Beverwyck  in  1678.  In  1666  he  was 
the  village  surveyor.  He  married  Hester 
Tierkse.  It  is  supposed  they  were  married  in 
New  Amsterdam,  as  their  first  child  was  born 
there.  She  survived  her  husband  and  was  liv- 
ing in  1693.  Children:  Tierk,  born  in  New 
Amsterdam,  July  7,  1652,  married  Emmetje 
Jants;  Bastiaen  (2),  married  Dirkje  Teunis 
De  Metselaer;  Nanning,  see  forward;  Fred- 
erick, married  (first)  Margarita  Hansen, 
(second)  Elizabeth  Sanders  widow  of  Evert 
Wendell ;  Sarah,  married  Gerrit  Lucas  Wyn- 
gaart ;  Hester,  married  Abram  S.  Groot ;  Jo- 
hannes, married  Elizabeth  Nottingham ;  Ma- 
ria, married  Philip  Wendell;  Ariantje,  mar- 
ried Hieronemous  Wendell;  Geertje,  married 
Cornelis  Dirkse  Van  Schellyne. 

(II)  Nanning,  son  of  Harmen  and  Hester 
(Tierkse)  \'isscher,  died  in  Albany,  New 
York,  and  was  buried  April  8,  1730.  He 
married.  January  6,  1686,  Alida,  daughter  of 
Jan  Dirkse  and  Maritje  Vinhagen.  Children: 
I.  Harmanus.  baptized  January  23,  1689;  died 
young.  2.  Maria,  married  Jacob  Hollenbeck. 
3.  Hester,  married  Jacob  Vander  Heyden.  4. 
Harmanus  (2),  baptized  September  2,  1694. 
5.  Geertruy,  married  David  Van  Der  Hey- 
den. 6.  Ahda,  baptized  same  day  as  her  sis- 
ter Geertruy,  March  8,  1696.  7.  Johannes  N., 
see  forward.  8.  Harmen.  baptized  December 
29.  1700 ;  married  Rachel  Vander  Heyden, 
February  24,  1739.  9.  Alida,  married  Jacob 
Ten  Eyck.  10.  Nicholas,  married  Annatje 
Tymensen. 


(III)  Johannes  N.,  son  of  Nanning  and 
Alida  (Vinhagen)  Visscher,  was  baptized  in 
.\lbany,  August  14,  1698.  He  made  his  will 
Sejitember  18,  1744,  and  mentioned  all  his 
children  except  Anne.  He  married,  Febru- 
ary 16,  1728,  Annctje  Staats,  born  December 
24,  1703,  daughter  of  Barent  Jochems  and 
Neeltje  Gerretsie  (Van  den  Bergh)  Staats. 
Children:  AHda,  died  young; Neeltje,  baptized 
March  28,  1730,  married  Jacob  \'an  Wagener, 
of  New  York ;  Anna,  died  young ;  Nanning 
J.,  married  (first)  Catretie  Wendell,  (sec- 
ond )  Helena  Lansing ;  Alida,  married  Gerrit 
Roerback,  of  New  York ;  Barent  J.,  see  for- 
ward;  Johannes  (Colonel),  married  Elizabeth 
Bratt;  Jochim,  died  1747,  aged  seven  years; 
Gerrit  (General),  married  Lady  Sarah  Turn- 
er, in  Ireland,  entered  the  British  service  and 
rose  to  the  rank  of  general,  no  issue. 

(IV)  Barent  J.,  son  of  Johannes  N.  and 
Annetje  (Staats)  Visscher,  was  baptized  in 
Albany.  March  13,  1737.  He  married,  April 
22,  1765,  Sarah,  born  September  20,  1741, 
daughter  of  Harmanus,  granddaughter  of  Bas- 
tiaen and  great-granddaughter  of  Harmen 
Visscher,  "the  founder."  She  survived  her 
husband  and  died  April  22,  1822,  in  her  eigh- 
ty-first year.  She  made  a  will  June  7,  1822, 
and  mentions  John  B.  \'isscher,  Annatje,  wid- 
ow of  Douw  Lieverse,  Alida  Evertson,  grand- 
son Harmen,  granddaughter  Sarah,  widow  of 
Franc  Lansing,  and  granddaughter  Sarah, 
wife  of  Adrian  Winne.  Children  of  Barent 
J.  and  Sarah  Visscher:  Annatje,  married 
Douw  Lieverse ;  Sarah,  married  Benjamin 
Van  Sant ;  Johannes  B.,  see  forward ;  Alida, 
died  young;  Harmen.  born  1774,  married 
Anna  M.  Chapman;  Alida  (2),  married  John 
Evertson. 

(V)  Johannes  B.,  son  of  Barent  J.  and  Sa- 
rah (\'isscher)  Msscher.  was  born  in  Albany, 
September   4,    1769,   died   in   that   city   April 

15,  1825.    He  married  (first)  Geertry , 

born  October  17,  1777,  died  February  i,  1804; 
(second)  Catherine,  born  June  14,  1779,  died 
May  I,  1862,  daughter  of  Edward  S.  and 
Sarah  (Fryer)  Willet.  Children  of  first  mar- 
riage:  I.  Harmen,  born  January  4,  1802; 
married  -Ann  M.  Chapman.  2.  Geertruy,  mar- 
ried    Lovell.  Children  of  second  mar- 
riage :  3.  Barent,  died  in  infancy.  4.  Barent, 
(2),  died  aged  twenty-two  years,  unmarried. 
5.  Edward,  died  aged  three  years.  6.  Gerrit, 
died  in  infancy.  7.  Edward  (2),  died  un- 
married. 8.  Sarah  Ann,  see  forward.  9.  Ly- 
dia.  died  unmarried,  id.  John  B.,  born  Au- 
gust 31,  1825.  died  1890;  married  (first)  Ann 
Ten  Eyck;  (second)  Alida  Douw  Lansing.  He 
was  manager  of  the  large  V^isscher  estates  un- 
til his  death,  being  succeeded  by  his  nephew, 


78 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


Isaac  De  Forest  Lansing.  (See  Lansing  IX.) 
(M)  Sarah  Ann,  daughter  of  Johannes  B. 
and  Catherine  (Willet)  X'isscher.  was  born 
in  Albany,  November  30,  1819,  died  m  that 
city  April  28,  1898.  She  married,  Decem- 
ber 19,  1849.  Philip  Schuyler  Lansing.  (See 
Lansing  VIII.)  Children:  Catherine  V.  and 
Isaac  De  Forest  Lansing.  During  the 
nearly  three  centuries  that  are  covered  by 
this  brief  record  of  two  of  the  leading  fam- 
ilies of  the  Upper  Hudson  and  Mohawk  Val- 
leys there  have  been  many  noted  men  m  both 
families.  They  have  been  leaders  at  the  bar, 
judges  and  chancellors,  congressmen,  and  of- 
ficers high  in  military  rank.  Perhaps  the  hero 
of  the  \'isschers  was  Colonel  Frederick  \  is- 
scher.  son  of  Harmon,  son  of  Frederick,  son 
of  Harmen  Visscher,  "the  founder."  He  was 
born  in  Albany,  February  21,  1741,  died  at 
the  family  mansion  near  Fonda,  Montgomery 
county.  New  York,  (Canda,  called  the  most 
beautiful  country  residence  in  that  region), 
June  9  1809.  He  married  Gazena,  daughter 
of  Daniel  and  Gazena  (Swits)  De  Graff,  and 
had  nine  children.  After  his  marriage  he 
resided  a  short  distance  from  the  paternal 
mansion,  his  brothers  John  and  Harmon  and 
sisters  Geertruv  and  Margaret  residing  with 
their  mother  at  the  homestead.  The  Vis- 
scher brothers  were  uncompromising  patriots 
and  exceedingly  obnoxious  to  their  Tory 
neighbors,  headed  by  Sir  John  Johnson.  Fear- 
ing an  invasion.  Colonel  Visscher  sent  his 
wife  and  infant  family  to  Schenectady  for 
safety,  and  took  up  his  residence  at  the  home- 
stead. On  Sunday  night,  May  21,  1780,  Sir 
John  Johnson,  at  the  head  of  five  hundred 
British  Tories  and  Indians,  descended  on  the 
Johnstown  settlements  from  Canada.  Divid- 
ing his  forces-.  Colonel  Johnson  sent  part  of 
them,  mostly  Indians  and  Tories,  to  Tribes' 
Hill,  under  command  of  Henry  and  William 
Bowen.  After  burning  the  house  of  Barney 
Hensen  they  proceeded  to  the  home  of  Col- 
onel Mssch'er,  but  finding  it  unoccupied  set 
it  on  fire  and  hastened  to  the  Visscher  man- 
sion, which  they  reached  just  at  daylight. 
There  was  in  the  house,  Colonel  Visscher,  his 
mother,  two  brothers  and  two  sisters.  The 
brothers  defended  the  house  for  some  time 
after  the  enemy  gained  an  entrance  below, 
and  while  fighting  on  the  stairs  the  sisters  es- 
caped from  the  cellar  kitchen  and  fled  to  the 
woods  not  far  distant.  The  mother,  alx)ut 
to  follow,  was  struck  down  by  a  blow  on  the 
head  from  the  butt  of  a  musket,  but  left  un- 
scal|)cd.  The  brothers  continued  to  fight  un- 
til their  ammunition  was  exhausted,  and  as 
the  enemy  came  up  the  stairs  Colonel  Visscher 
discharged  his  pistol,  and,  throwing  it  behind 


him  in  token  of  submission,  called  for  quar- 
ter. An  Indian  running  up  struck  him  a  blow 
with  a  tomahawk  that  brought  him  to  the 
floor.  He  fell  upon  his  face  and  the  Indiarf 
took  the  crown  scalp  from  his  head  that  en- 
titled him  to  the  reward,  then  giving  him  a 
gash  in  the  back  turned  him  over  and  at- 
tempted to  cut  his  throat,  which  was  only 
prevented  by  his  cravat,  the  knife  penetrating- 
just  through  the  skin.  His  brother.  Captaim 
John,  retreated  to  a  corner  of  the  room  and' 
continued  the  fight.  An  Indian,  seeing  himi 
armed  with  a  sword,  hurled  a  tomahawk  at 
his  head  and  brought  him  down.  He  was 
killed  outright,  scalped,  and  left  where  he  fell. 
Harmon  jumped  from  a  back  window  and' 
attempted  to  escape,  but  was  shot,  killed  and 
scalped.  The  house  was  then  plundered  andl 
set  on  fire.  After  the  enemy  left.  Colonel 
\'isscher  recovered  consciousness  and  discov- 
ered his  brother  John's  dead  body  and  the 
house  on  fire.  He  succeeded  in  removing  the 
Ijody  of  John  from  the  burning  house,  and 
then  assisted  his  mother,  who  was  seated  in  a 
chair,  the  bottom  of  which  had  already  caught 
fire,  to  a  place  of  safety.  This  chair  is  still 
I)reserved  by  the  De  Grafif  family,  who  oc- 
cupy the  Visscher  mansion.  Carrying  out  a 
bed,  he  lay  down  on  it,  thoroughly  exhausted, 
and  in  this  condition  was  discovered  by  "Black 
Tom,"  a  slave  belonging  to  Adam  Zeily.  Tom 
revived  him  with  water  brought  from  the 
brook,  and  harnessing  a  team  to  a  wagon,  took 
the  colonel,  his  mother  and  the  bodies  of  his 
murdered  brothers,  to  the  river,  at  David 
Putnam's.  His  sisters,  hearing  the  noise  of 
the  wagon,  came  out  of  the  woods  and  were 
taken  along  to  safety.  The  family  were  taken 
across  the  river  to  Ephrahim  Wemps,  who 
seeing  tlie  colonel  required  medical  assistance 
sent  him  in  a  canoe  to  Schenectady.  Colonel 
\'isscher  bore  through  life  the  broad  scar  left 
on  his  head  by  the  scalping  knife,  and  on  all 
public  occasions  this  was  covered  by  a  silver 
plate  made  for  the  purpose.  Previous  to 
this  time  he  had  fought  with  honor  at  the 
battle  of  Oriskany,  August  6,  1777.  In  June, 
1782.  when  President  Washington  made  a 
tour  through  northern  New  York,  an  ele- 
gant entertainment  was  given  him  at  Schenec- 
tady, on  which  occasion  he  placed  Colonel 
\'isscher  at  his  right  hand  in  honor  of  his 
patriotic  service.  He  was  appointed  briga- 
dier-general in  1787  by  Governor  George 
Clinton,  but  declinecl  the  iionor.  On  March 
27,  1787,  he  was  appointed  the  first  judge 
of  the  court  of  common  pleas  of  Montgomery 
county,  serving  with  ability  and  honor  until 
1 801.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  state 
legislature. 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


79 


(H)  Hendrick  G.Lansing,  son 
LANSING     of  Gerrit  (i)  Lansing  (q.  v.), 
was  born  in   Holland,  was  in 
Albany  as  early  as   1666,  died  July   i,    1709. 
He  married  Lysbeth ,  and  had  five  chil- 
dren. 

(HI)  Jacob  Hendrick,  son  of  Hendrick  G. 
and  Lysbeth  Lansing,  died  October  17,  1756. 
He  married,  September  20,  1701,  Helena, 
daughter  of  Frans  Janse  and  Alida  Pruyn, 
and  had  ten  children. 

(IV)  Abraham  Jacobus,  son  of  Jacob  Hen- 
drick and  Helena  (Pruyn)  Lansing,  was  bap- 
tized April  24,  1720.  He  was  the  ancestor 
of  the  Lansings  of  Lansingburg  and  Troy, 
and  the  founder  of  the  village  of  Lansingburg 
now  consolidated  with  and  a  part  of  the  city 
of  Troy.  He  died  October  9,  1791.  The 
farm  on  which  Lansingburg  is  built  he  bought 
from  the  heirs  of  Johannes  Wendell,  June  21, 
1763,  for  £300.  It  is  remarkable  to  learn  that 
Peter  Van  Woggelum,  who  sold  the  site  of 
Troy  to  the  \'ander  Heydens,  also  sold  to 
Johannes  Wendell  the  site  of  Lansingburg  in 
1683.  Now  the  two  cities  are  united  and 
the  two  families,  Lansing  and  Vander  Hey- 
den,  have  intermarried  in  several  generations. 
Abraham  J.  Lansing,  married,  about  1745, 
Catharine,  daughter  of  Levinus  and  Catryna 
(\^an    der   Bergh)    Lieverse. 

(V)  Levinus,  son  of  Abraham  J.  and  Cath- 
arine (Lieverse)  Lansing,  was  baptized  Au- 
gust 6,  1749.  He  married  and  had  a  son, 
Abraham  L. 

(VI)  Abraham  Levinus,  son  of  Levinus 
Lansing,  was  born  in  Lansingburg,  New 
York,  1774,  died  September,  1836.  He  was 
a  man  of  means  and  conducted  a  large  farm 
near  Lansingburg,  living  in  the  town.  He 
married,  January  22,  1810,  Anna  Vander 
Heyden,  born  January  23,  1782,  died  Sep- 
tember 22,  1855,  at  Lansingburg,  only  child 
of  Nanning  and  Catherine  (Leversee)  Van- 
der Heyden.  They  had  eleven  children  (see 
\'ander  Heyden  VI). 

(VII)  Nanning  Vander  Heyden,  fourth 
child  of  Abraham  Levinus  and  Anna  (\'an- 
der  Heyden)  Lansing,  was  born  in  Half 
Moon,  Saratoga  county.  New  York,  May  17, 
1806,  died  in  Troy,  New  York,  May,  1862. 
He  was  a  farmer  of  Half  Moon  many  years, 
then  removed  to  Troy,  New  York,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  ice  business.  He  retired  from 
business  for  several  years  prior  to  his  death. 
He  was  a  Democrat  in  his  political  views,  but 
was  not  an  active  party  man.  He  married 
Jane  Eliza,  born  in  Castleton,  New  York, 
1816,  died  in  Troy,  September.  1876,  daugh- 
ter of  Philip  and  Dorcas  (Sheldan)  Finkle,  of 
Vermont. 


(\TII)  Catherine  Vander  Heyden,  eldest 
child  of  Nanning  Vander  Heyden  and  Jane 
Eliza  (I'inkle)  Lansing,  was  born  in  Lansing- 
burg, New  York.  March  26,  1835.  She  mar- 
ried, July  14,  1868,  John  William  McPher- 
son,  Ix)rn  in  Portland,  Maine,  in  the  United 
States  barracks.  May  15,  1834,  died  at  Lan- 
singburg, New  York,  January  8,  1896.  He 
was  a  carriage  trimmer  in  the  Lansingburg 
factory ;  was  first  employed  in  Troy.  He  was 
an  exceedingly  quiet  and  retiring  man,  not 
inclined  to  make  friends  easily,  but  when  once 
made  his  friendships  were  lasting.  Children: 
I.  Catherine,  died  in  infancy.  2.  Charles 
Lansing  McPherson,  born  December  10,  1874, 
died  July   22,    1882. 

(The  Vander  Heyden  Line). 

Jacob  Tyssen  Van  Der  Heyden,  tailor,, 
came  from  New  Amsterdam  to  Beverwyck  in 
1654,  having  emigrated  to  New  Amsterdam 
the  previous  year  from  Holland.  He  was 
over  sixty  years  of  age  in  1676.  He  married, 
July  25,  1655,  in  Amsterdam,  Holland,  Anna 
Hals.    They  had  one  son.  Dirk. 

(II)  Dirk,  son  of  Jacob  T.  and  Anna 
(Hals)  \'an  Der  Heyden,  "Tapper"  of  Rens- 
selaerwyck,  on  June  2,  1707,  bought  of  Pieter 
Pieterse  \'an  \Voggelum,  his  farm  extending 
from  the  Poesten  Kill  to  the  Piscawen  Kill. 
The  title  was  confirmed  to  Dirk  \'an  Der 
Heyden,  December  15,  1720,  by  Maria  and 
Hendrick  \'an  Rensselaer,  two  of  the  execu- 
tors of  Killiaen  Van  Rensselaer,  the  second 
patroon  of  that  name.  He  was  required,  as. 
also  were  his  heirs  and  successors,  to  pay  an 
annual  ground  rent  on  the  farm  in  lieu  of  all 
other  dues  of  three  and  three-fourths  bushels, 
of  wheat,  and  two  fat  hens  or  capons,  to  the- 
patroon  of  Rensselaerwyck.  The  farm  is  now 
the  site  of  the  city  of  Troy,  founded  in  1790, 
one  hundred  years  later,  1890.  with  a  popula- 
tion of  60,000.  In  1731  he  deeded  the  prop- 
erty to  his  three  sons :  Jacob,  David  and  Mat- 
lys.  David  released  his  share  and  conveyed 
his  interest  to  his  brother  Jacob :  Mattys  and 
Jacob  then  partitioned  the  farm,  April  3.  1739, 
into  three  parts,  Jacob  retaining  the  middle 
and  northern  parts,  and  Mattys  the  southern 
division.  On  the  death  of  Jacob  in  1746,  his 
son  Dirk  came  into  possession  of  the  middle 
and  northern  farms.  Dirk  conveyed  to  his 
brother  Jacob  "two  full,  equal,  just,  fourth 
parts"  of  the  "two  certain  tracts  of  land."" 
On  the  death  of  Dirk  in  1773,  Jacob  D.  Van 
Der  Heyden  inherited  the  middle  farm,  Jacobs 
I.  and  Mattys  \'an  Der  Heyden  owning  the 
northern  and  southern  farms.  The  middle 
farm,  between  the  lines  of  Grand  and  Di- 
vision  streets,   was   watered   on   its   eastward! 


So 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


side  by  a  stream  flowing  from  the  hill,  east 
•of  the  line  of  Federal  street,  and  running 
southward  to  the  Poesten  Kill  along  the  line 
of  Sixth  street.  An  orchard  of  old  apple 
trees  was  on  the  bank  of  the  river  between 
the  lines  of  Congress  street  and  Broadway. 
A-  road  from  the  country  crossed  the  farm 
on   the  line   of   Congress    street. 

The  \'an  Der  Heyden  homestead,  a  strong- 
ly constructed  two-story  weather-boarded 
building,  stood  on  the  east  side  of  the  River 
road  where  now  is  the  New  York  State  Arm- 
orv.  It  was  opposite  the  ferry  which  for 
many  years  was  a  source  of  income  to  the 
family.  The  one-story  brick  dwelling  of  Ja- 
cob I.  \'an  der  Heyden  stood  on  a  rise  of 
ground  not  far  north  of  the  Hoosac  Road. 
It  was  built  in  1756,  one  hundred  feet  south 
of  the  southern  limits  of  the  middle  farm, 
and  on  the  east  side  of  the  River  road  was 
the  one-storv  and  a  half  brick  dwelling  built 
in  1752  by  Mattys  Van  Der  Heyden.  It  was 
not  until  1787,  that  Jacob  D.  had  a  plot  of 
sixty-five  acres  of  the  "middle  farm"  laid  out 
into  streets  and  alleys  and  gave  to  the  pro- 
jected village  the  name  of  "Vanderheyden." 
This  name  it  bore  until  1789,  when  the  more 
classical  name  of  Troy  was  substituted  by  the 
freeholders  of  the  village,  much  to  the  dis- 
gust of  the  Vander  Heyden  family.  Jacob  D. 
was  sorely  offended  and  for  years  thereafter 
continued  using  the  former  name  in  his  con- 
veyances, writing  it  "Vanderheyden  alias 
Troy." 

Dirk  Van  Der  Heyden,  the  "original 
proprietor,"  married  Rachel  Jochemse  Ket- 
elmyn,  March  9,  1687.  He  was  buried  Oc- 
tober 13,   1738. 

(III)  Jacob,  son  of  Dirk  and  Rachel  Jo- 
chemse (Ketelmyn)  Vander  Heyden,  was 
buried  April  10,  1746.  He  was  one  of  the 
three  sons  to  whom  was  deeded  the  site  of 
Troy  and  owned  the  middle  and  northern 
section.     He  married  Hester  Visscher. 

(IV)  Jacob  (2),  son  of  Jacob  (i)  and 
Hester  (Visscher)  Vander  Heyden,  was  bap- 
tized June  19,  1720.  He  succeeded  to  the 
ownershi])  of  the  "Nortliern  and  Middle" 
farms  which  he  received  from  his  brother 
Dirk  "two  full,  equal,  just,  fourth  parts"  of 
the  "two  certain  tracts  of  land."  He  married 
Maria  Halenbeck.  Children :  Jacob,  Nanning, 
Manning,  Dirk  and  Maria. 

(\')  Nanning,  son  of  Jac(5b  (2)  and  Ma- 
ria (Halenbeck)  Vander  Heyden,  was  bap- 
tized February  24,  1754.  He  married  Cath- 
erine Leversee  and  had  a  daughter  Anna, 
born  January  23,  1782. 

(VI)  Anna,  daughter  of  Nanning  and 
'Catherine     (Leversee    or    Levison)     Vander 


Heyden,  married   .A.braham   Levinus  Lansing 
(see  Lansing  VI). 


(HI)    Johannes  Lansing,   son 

LANSING  of  Gerfitt  Lansing  (2)  (q.  v.) 
was  born  January  i,  1675, 
died  August  10,  1771,  in  his  ninety-seventh 
year.  He  married,  September  20,  1704,  Hel- 
ena Sanders. 

(IV)  Johannes  (2),  son  of  Johannes  (i) 
and  Helena  (Sanders)  Lansing,  was  born 
1719,  died  1813.  He  settled  in  Cohoes  about 
1760.  He  married  Maritje  Huyck ;  eleven 
cliildren. 

(\')  Andrew  (.^ndrus),  son  of  Johannes 
(2)  and  Maritj6  (Huyck)  Lansing,  was  born 
1760,  died  1835.  He  married  Anna  Van 
Denburg.  Children:  John,  Jacob,  Evert,  Ab- 
raham, Anna  and  Maria. 

(\'l)  .\braham,  son  of  Andrew  and  .\nna 
(Van  Denburg)  Lansing,  was  born  in  Co- 
hoes, 1794.  died  1867.  He  married  Dorothy 
\^an  Schaick,  born  in  Albany  in  1797,  died 
in  Cohoes,  1891,  a  descendant  of  Goosen  Ger- 
ritsen  \^an  Schaick,  the  founder.  Children: 
Anna,  John  Van  Schaick,  Egbert  Winne.  .An- 
drew  A..   Maria  and   Anna   Maria. 

(\TI)  Egbert  Winne,  son  of  Abraham  and 
Dorothy  (Van  Schaick)  Lansing,  was  born 
at  the  Cohoes  family  homestead  of  the  Lan- 
sings. February  23,  1833,  died  September  6, 
1903.  He  was  educated  in  the  .'\lbany  Acad- 
emy. During  his  early  manhood  days  he  was 
a  farmer,  and  later  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
business  in  Cohoes,  being  one  of  the  public- 
spirited  and  influential  citizens  of  that  place. 
Upon  attaining  his  majority  he  gave  his  al- 
legiance to  the  Democratic  party,  but  later 
became  a  Republican,  serving  in  the  capacity 
of  alderman,  member  of  the  water  board,  and 
took  an  active  interest  in  all  that  pertained 
to  the  welfare  of  Cohoes.  He  was  also  a- 
member  of  the  hospital  commission.  He  took 
an  active  interest  in  the  work  of  the  Reformed 
chiuTli,  contributed  liberally  to  its  support,  al- 
though not  liolding  membership  therein  ;  his 
wife  was  a  member  of  that  church.  He  mar- 
ried, October  29,  1S60,  Helena,  born  Octo- 
ber 29,  1838,  daughter  of  Douw  Fonda  Lan- 
sing, born  in  Cohoes,  181 1,  died  in  Albany, 
1884,  and  his  wife,  Jane  .\nn  Leversee,  born 
in  Watcrvliet,  in  1816,  died  in  Albany,  1885. 
Their  child  was  Abram  Winne,  see  forward. 

(\'I1I)  Abram  Winne,  only  child  of  Egbert 
Winne  and  Helena  (Lansing)  Lansing,  was 
born  in  Cohoes,  New  York,  .'\ugust  26.  1861. 
He  was  educated  in  the  common  and  high 
schools  of  Cohoes,  and  was  graduated  from 
Albany  Academy  in  1879  and  was  a  member 
of  the   class   of    1883,   of   Williams   College. 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


8i 


Possessing:  musical  talent  of  a  high  order, 
coupled  with  a  love  of  music,  both  vocal  and 
instrumental,  he  studied  and  mastered  the  art 
of  both  composition  and  rendition.  His  mas- 
tery of  the  pipe  organ  is  complete  and  places 
him  among  the  leading  performers,  making 
a  specialty  of  church  and  sacred  music.  As 
a  composer  of  religious  music  he  has  been 
prolific  and  successful.  Over  one  hundred  and 
fifty  of  his  compositions  have  been  published 
by  the  leading  music  publishing  houses  of 
New  York,  Boston  and  Philadelphia.  The 
best  known  among  his  sacred  songs  are : 
"Guide  Me,  O  Thou  Great  Jehovah,"  a  duet 
for  soprano  and  baritone ;  "The  Earth  is  the 
Lord's."  a  baritone  solo;  "Fear  Not,  O  Ye 
Israel,"  a  chorus.  In  1908.  the  Tullar-Mere- 
dith  Company  of  New  York  offered  a  prize 
for  the  best  anthem  submitted  to  their  com- 
mittee. Among  over  one  hundred  competi- 
tors, Mr.  Lansing  was  awarded  the  prize ;  his 
anthem,  "I  am  Alpha  and  Omega,"  possessing 
a  rare  harmonic  beauty  and  depth  of  dramat- 
ic expression  unrivalled  by  other  competitors. 
He  is  but  on  the  threshold  of  his  achievement, 
yet  already  famous.  He  has  genuine  har- 
monic imagination,  a  rare  gift  of  melody,  dis- 
tinct dramatic  expression,  and  his  composi- 
tions have  enriched  the  musical  world  in  the 
field  of  sacred  music.  He  has  been  director 
of  the  Cohoes  Philharmonic  Society,  the  lead- 
ing musial  organization  of  that  city,  also  di- 
rector of  Hudson  Choral  Society,  and  of  the 
Ballston  Choral  Union.  President  of  the  Dia- 
tonic Club  of  Albany,  a  club  composed  of 
musical  professionals.  In  1897-98-99  he  was 
director  of  the  Round  Lake,  I^ew  York,  Mu- 
sical Festival,  a  very  important  musical  func- 
tion. He  is  a  member  of  the  Fourth  Presby- 
terian Church,  Albany,  one  of  the  best  known 
in  that  denomination,  of  which  he  has  been 
organist  since  1883.  He  is  a  member  of  Co- 
hoes Lodge,  No.  116,  Free  and  Accepted  Ma- 
sons, and  a  supporter  of  the  candidates  of  the 
Republican  party.     He  is  unmarried. 


(VII)  John  Van  Schaick 
LANSING     Lansing,     son     of     Abraham 

(q.  v.)  and  Dorothy  (Van 
Schaick)  Lansing,  was  born  in  Cohoes,  New 
York,  in  1829,  died  December  16,  1905.  He 
was  educated  at  the  Albany  Academy  and 
there  prepared  for  Union  College.  On  ac- 
count of  ill  health  he  was  obliged  to  give  up 
his  studies,  but  after  a  year  or  two  of  rest 
became  connected  with  the  Bailey  Manufac- 
turing Company,  which  was  organized  in  1832 
with  mills  at  Cohoes,  Mr.  Bailey  being  the  in- 
ventor of  the  knitting  frame  or  machine.  In 
1852  Mr.  Bailey  retired  and  a  new  company 


was  organized,  known  as  The  Troy  Manu- 
facturing Company,  of  which  Mr.  Lansing 
was  one  of  the  principal  stockholders  and 
treasurer  until  1890.  when,  he  wishing  to  re- 
tire from  business,  the  mills  were  sold.  He 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Manufac- 
turers' Bank  of  Cohoes,  served  as  first  vice- 
president  for  a  short  period  of  time,  later 
was  elected  president,  in  which  capacity  he 
served  until  his  removal  in  1892  to  Stamford, 
Connecticut,  from  whence  he  removed  to  New 
York  City  in  1897,  remaining  there  until 
1902,  when  he  returned  to  Cohoes,  New  York, 
where  his  death  occurred.  He  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  first  board  of  fire  com- 
missioners in  Cohoes,  and  served  as  a  member 
of  the  fire  board  until  his  removal  from  the 
city.  He  was  active  in  politics  and  a  leader 
in 'the  Republican  part}-,  serving  as  alder- 
man of  Cohoes  two  terms  and  delegate  to 
state  convention.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Dutch  church  at  Cohoes  and  a  leading  spirit 
in  religious  matters.  He  took  a  great  in- 
terest in  the  music  of  the  church,  playing  the 
organ  for  sixteen  years,  and  taking  entire 
charge  of  the  musical  part  of  the  service  dur- 
ing that  time.  He  was  a  generous  contribu- 
tor towards  the  expenses  of  the  church,  pay- 
ing the  greater  portion  of  the  large  organ 
installed  therein.  He  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers of  the  Cohoes  City  Club,  serving  as 
president  of  same  during  his  residence  in  Co- 
hoes. Mr.  Lansing  was  a  widely-known  and 
influential  citizen  "of  Cohoes,  and  his  mind 
was  ever  occupied  with  projects  for  its  ad- 
vancement and  welfare.  This  brief  history 
shows  that  his  life  was  an  active  one,  and 
that  his  enterprises  were  such  as  added  to  the 
general  wealth  and  prosperity  of  his  native 
city.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  he  exerted  a 
great  influence  on  the  affairs  of  his  city,  and 
that  his  work  was  widely  extended  and  ap- 
preciated. Mr.  Lansing  married,  1854,  Marie 
Louise  Peake,  of  Johnstown,  New  York,  a 
descendant  of  the  Peake  family  of  Roxbury 
and  Woodstock,  Massachusetts.  Jonathan 
and  Joseph  Peake  were  original  proprietors 
of  Woodstock,  and  the  first  death  in  the  new 
settlement  was  that  of  Joseph  Peake,  who  died 
before  March  i,  1691.  Child:  Egbert  Peake, 
see  forward.  Mrs.  Lansing  died  May  5,  1895. 
(\TII)  Egbert  Peake,  only  child  of  John 
Van  Schaick  and  IMarie  Louise  (Peake)  Lan- 
sing, was  born  in  Cohoes,  New  York,  January 
25,  1857.  He  was  educated  in  private  schools 
and  academies  in  Troy  and  Albany,  and  ma- 
triculated at  Union  College,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  with  the  degree  of  A.B.,  class 
of  1878.  Upon  the  completion  of  his  studies, 
he  became  connected  with  The  Troy  Manu- 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


facturing  Company,  serving  as  superintenden- 
dent  of  the  same  until  the  works  were  closed 
in  1890.  He  then  removed  to  Stamford,  Con- 
necticut, where  he  became  a  stockholder  and 
secretary  of  the  St.  John  Wood-  Working 
Company,  which  position  he  held  until  1896, 
when  he  moved  to  New  York  City  and  be- 
came associated  with  Frederick  A.  Braun  in 
the  cotton  business  under  the  firm  name  of 
Braun  &  Lansing.  In  1902  he  severed  his 
connection  with  this  firm,  retired  from  active 
business  life,  and  returned  to  Cohoes,  where 
he  is  residing  at  the  present  time.  In  March, 
19 10,  he  became  the  senior  member  of  The 
Lansing-Morrison  Company,  dealers  in  com- 
mercial motor  cars,  manufacturers'  agents  for 
the  Gramm  Motor  Car.  "The  World's  Best." 
Their  office  is  in  the  Albany  Trust  Company 
Building,  corner  of  Broadway  and  State 
street,  Albany.  He  also  served  as  trustee  of 
the  Mechanics'  Savings  Bank.  Scrupulously 
honorable  in  all  his  dealings  with  mankind, 
he  bears  a  reputation  for  public  and  private 
integrity,  and  being  of  a  sociable  and  genial 
disposition  has  a  number  of  friends  who  es- 
timate him  at  his  true  worth.  He  casts  his 
vote  with  the  Republican  party,  but  takes  no 
active  interest  in  politics,  preferring  to  de- 
vote his  time  to  business  pursuits.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  church  of 
Cohoes  and  has  served  as  deacon  for  two 
terms.  He  holds  membership  in  the  Holland 
Society  of  New  York,  the  Fort  Orange  and 
University  clubs  of  Albany,  the  Schenectady 
Country  Club,  and  the  Alpha  Delta  Phi  fra- 
ternity at  Union  College.  I\Ir.  Lansing  mar- 
ried, January  20,  1897,  Gertrude  Orelup,  of 
Cohoes,  daughter  of  John  Orelup,  who  died 
in  1892,  a  retired  manufacturer,  and  his  wife 
Eliza   (Pha.xton)  Orelup. 


(IV)  Evert,  son  of  Gerrit  (3) 
L.ANSING     Lansing   fq.  v.)   and  Cather- 
ine   S.    (Glen)    Lansing,    was 
born  December  31,  1704.  He  married,  in  1735, 
Annatie,   daughter   of  Obadiah   and   Cornelia 
(Gardiner)  Cooper. 

(V)  Johannes  E.,  son  of  Evert  and  Anna- 
tie  (Cooper)  Lansing,  was  born  May  i,  1743, 
at  Schodack,  .Albany  county.  New  York,  died 
1821.  He  married,  in  1765,  Maria,  born  Oc- 
tober 19,  1744.  daughter  of  Barent  A.  and 
Magdalena  (Schuyler)  Staats.  Barent  A. 
Staats  was  a  son  of  Abraham  and  Maria 
(Schuyler)  Staats,  grandson  of  Abraham  and 
Elsie  (Wendel)  .Staats,  and  great-grandson 
of  Major  .\brani  Staats,  a  surgeon  who  came 
to  Rcnsselaerwyck  in  1642,  and  married  Ca- 
trina  Jochense.  Magdalena  Schuyler,  moth- 
er of  Maria  (Staats)   Lansing,  was  daughter 


of  Jeremiah  and  Susanna  Schuyler,  grand- 
daughter of  Colonel  Pieter  Philip  and  Maria 
(\'an  Rensselaer)  Schuyler,  and  great-grand- 
daughter of  Colonel  Philip  Pieter  Schuvler, 
died  1683  ;  married  December  12,  1650,  Mar- 
gareta  \'an  Slichtenhorst.  born  1628,  died 
171 1.  These  are  names  celebrated  in  the  ear- 
ly settlement  of  New  York  state.  Johannes 
£.   Lansing  was  a  soldier  of  the   revolution. 

(VI)  Evert  (2),  son  of  Johannes  E.  and 
Maria  (Staats)  Lansing,  was  born  in  Scho- 
dack, New  York,  October  27,  1773,  died  at 
Decatur,  Otsego  county.  New  York,  May  6,. 
1833.  He  married,  February  19,  1795,  Jean- 
nette  (or  Janet),  born  November  5,  1770, 
died  at  Schodack,  May  22,  1809,  daughter  of 
Robert  Campbell,  born  1735,  at  Londonderry, 
New  Hampshire,  killed  August  6,  1777.  in 
the  battle  of  Oriskany,  and  his  wife,  Mar- 
garet   ,  born  January  10,  174 1,  died  Au- 
gust 16,    1816. 

(VII)  James  E.,  son  of  Evert  (2)  and 
Janet  (Campbell)  Lansing,  was  born  in  Scho- 
dack, New  York,  March  24,  1807,  died  at 
Westford,  Otsego  county.  New  York,  Febru- 
ary 27,  1890.  He  married,  December  25,  1830, 
Sarah,  born  in  New  Scotland,  Albany  county,. 
New  York,  in  1805,  died  at  Decatur,  New- 
York,  August,  1834,  daughter  of  Saxton  and' 
Mary  (Youngs)  Cheseborough.  Saxton 
Cheseborough  was  born  at  Stonington,  Con- 
necticut. August  10,  1779,  died  at  Carey,. 
Ohio;  married  Mary  Youngs  in  1799.  He- 
was  a  son  of  William  Cheseborough,  born 
1750.  and  his  wife,  Marj'  McDowell,  whom' 
he  married  in    1773. 

(\'ni)  James,  son  of  James  E.  and  Sarah 
(Cheseborough)  Lansing,  was  born  at  Deca- 
tur. Otsego  county.  New  York,  May  9,  1834,. 
died  at  Troy,  New  York,  January  21,  1904. 
He  received  a  good  education,  and  just  before 
he  attained  his  majority  he  left  home  and 
went  to  Mississippi,  where  he  taught  school 
at  North  Mt.  Pleasant.  Later  he  went  to 
Macon,  Tennessee,  where  he  was  in  charge 
of  a  school.  During  this  period  of  his  life, 
which  covered  eight  years,  he  married  and 
took  his  wife  south,  where  she  assisted  him 
in  his  school  work,  ^^■hilc  in  the  south  he  be- 
gan the  study  of  law  at  such  hours  as  could' 
be  spared  from  his  profession,  principally  in 
the  evening.  On  his  return  to  New  York  he 
entered  the  Albany  Law  School,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1864.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  and  immediately  located  in  Troy, 
New  York,  where  he  began  and  continued' 
the  practice  of  his  profession  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  For  a  few  months  he  was  con- 
nected with  the  law  office  of  Warren  &  Bank- 
er, continuing  until  receiving  an  appointment 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


83 


as  clerk  of  the  surrogate's  court,  the  then  sur- 
rogate of  Rensselaer  county  being  Moses 
Warren.  After  three  years  in  the  surrogate's 
office  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Robert 
H.  McClellan,  which  continued  fourteen 
years.  He  then  practiced  alone  for  several 
years,  until  associating  with  \\'illiam  P.  Cant- 
well,  Jr.  Upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Cantwell 
the  firm  of  Lansing  &  Holmes  was  formed 
with  John  B.  Holmes,  which  continued  until 
the  death  of  Mr.  Lansing.  He  was  a  most 
successful  lawyer.  In  his  legal  career  he  was 
connected  with  many  of  the  noted  cases  in  the 
county  and  appellate  courts  of  the  state,  and 
in  the  supreme  court  of  the  United  States, 
where  he  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1891 
on  the  motion  of  United  States  Senator  Wil- 
liam M.  Evarts.  In  politics  an  ardent  Dem- 
ocrat, Mr.  Lansing  was  in  1889  the  candidate 
of  his  party  for  surrogate  of  Rensselaer  coun- 
ty. He  was  elected  and  served  six  years.  In 
1895  he  was  a  candidate  for  re-election,  but 
the  Republicans  carried  the  county,  although 
Air.  Lansing  ran  well  in  advance  of  his  ticket. 
Upon  his  retirement  from  office,  the  Troy 
Times,  politically  opposed  to  him,  said :  "It  is 
simple  justice  to  say  that  the  retiring  surro- 
gate, Hon.  James  Lansing,  has  presided  for 
six  years  with  admirable  dignity  and  judicial 
fairness.  His  decision  and  opinions,  always 
sustained  by  the  higher  courts,  have  added  to 
his  reputation  as  a  lawyer,  while  his  courtesy 
has  increased  the  personal  esteem  in  which  he 
is  held.  Many  of  his  opinions  have  been  pul> 
lished  and  are  extensively  cited  as  authorita- 
tive in  legal  publications,  notably :  'Bliss's 
Annotated  Code  of  Civil  Procedure,'  and  'Red- 
field's  Law  and  Practice  in  Surrogate's 
Courts.'  We  call  attention  especially  to  cer- 
tain amendments  to  the  Code  of  Civil  Proced- 
ure, which  at  his  suggestion  was  enacted  by 
the  Legislature  of  1895."  After  retiring  from 
office  Air.  Lansing  resumed  his  private  prac- 
tice.' continuing  until  his  death.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Memorial  Presbyterian  Church 
and  was  for  many  years  president  of  the 
board  of  trustees.  He  was  also  a  trustee  of 
Albany  Law  School. 

He  married  Sarah  A.  Richardson,  born  in 
Benson,  \'ermont,  died  in  Troy,  New  York, 
1895,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Dorcas  (Lynd) 
Richardson.  Henry  Richardson,  son  of  Man- 
asseh  R.  and  Mary  (Beaman)  Richardson, 
was  born  in  Stirling,  Massachusetts,  June  7, 
1802,  died  at  Stirling  Centre,  Massachusetts, 
June  26,  1836:  married,  1824,  Dorcas  Lynd 
at  Palatine  Bridge,  New  York,  born  Septem- 
ber 13,  1804,  died  September  19,  1880,  at 
Troy.  New  York,  daughter  of  John  and  Sa- 
rah   (Wood)    Lynd.      Manasseh    R.,    son   of 


James  and  Ruth  Richardson,  born  in  Alas- 
sachusetts,  September  15,  1766,  died  March 
25,  1826:  married,  May  5,  1793,  Mary  Bea- 
man. born  in  Leominster,  Massachusetts,  June 
15,  1768,  died  August  31,  1847,  daughter  of 
John  Beaman,  born  1738,  died  at  Poultney, 
\'ermont,  aged  eighty-two  years,  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  revolution,  and  his  wife,  Mary 
(Fuller)  Beaman.  James  Richardson,  great- 
grandfather of  Sarah  A.  (Richardson)  Lan- 
sing, was  born  May  5,  1730.  His  will  was 
probated  in  1808.  He  served  in  the  Massa- 
chusetts militia  during  the  revolution.  James 
and  Sarah  A.  (Richardson)  Lansing,  were 
the  parents  of  eight  children.  Of  his  daugh- 
ters, Louella  Lansing,  is  a  resident  of  Troy, 
New  York,  as  is  her  sister,  Caroline  Mary 
Lansing.  Another  daughter,  Mary  J.,  is  a 
church  choir  and  concert  singer  of  New  York 
City,  also  a  teacher  of  vocal  music  and  voice 
culture.  Caroline  Al.  is  member  of  Daugh- 
ters of  the  American  Revolution,  Philip 
Schuyler  Chapter,  Troy,  all  are  graduates  of 
Troy  high  scljool. 

( IX)  Professor  Hugh  Henry,  son  of  James 
and  Sarah  A.  (Richardson)  Lansing,  was 
educated  in  the  Troy  public  schools,  graduat- 
ing from  the  high  school,  class  of  1889.  He 
entered  Williams  College,  where  he  was  grad- 
uated Bachelor  of  Arts,  class  of  1893.  He 
adopted  the  profession  of  teaching,  which  he 
has  so  far  made  his  life  work.  He  first 
taught  in  the  Troy  high  school,  making  a 
specialty  of  history.  He  also  taught  the  same 
study  in  grammar  schools  No.  12  and  No.  14, 
later  becoming  principal  of  the  latter  school. 
During  the  Spanish  war  he  enlisted  in  the 
United  States  service,  and  was  absent  for  sev- 
eral months,  the  school  being  left  in  charge 
of  the  assistant  principal.  On  his  return  he 
resumed  his  position.  In  1900  he  was  ap- 
pointed vice-principal  of  the  Troy  high  school 
and  for  five  years  filled  that  position  and  the 
chair  of  history.  In  1907  he  was  elected  su- 
perintendent of  the  schools  of  Watervliet, 
New  York,  where  he  is  now  located  (1910). 
Professor  Lansing  is  a  well-known  educator 
of  the  state  and  stands  very  high  in  his  pro- 
fession. While  vice-principal  of  the  Troy 
high  school  he  studied  law,  passed  the  neces- 
sary examinations  and  in  1907  was  admitted 
to  the  bar.  He  is  a  member  of  the  New  York 
State  Council  of  Superintendents;  the  Hudson 
School  Alaster's  Club;  National  Educational 
Association  ;  the  Holland  Society ;  Sons  of  the 
Revolution ;  Colonial  Club  of  Watervliet, 
Rensselaer  County  Bar  Association  and  Al- 
bany Bar  Association.  His  college  fraternity 
is  the  Delta  Tau  Delta  of  Williams.  He 
served  three   years  in  the  Citizens  Corps  of 


84 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


Troy,  precedins^  1898.  He  enlisted  May  2, 
1898,  for  the  Spanish- American  war,  with  his 
company,  which  became  Company  A,  Second 
Regiment  New  York  National  Guard.  They 
were  not  taken  to  Cuba,  but  were  kept  in 
camp  at  Tampa,  Florida.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Memorial  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Troy.  His  home  for  the  past  twelve  years 
has  been  in  Colonic,  New  York. 

He  married,  June  28,  1894,  Lillian  E.,  born 
in  Colonic,  Albany  county.  New  York,  daugh- 
ter of  Isaac  and  Hannah  V'.  (Sherman)  Has- 
well.  Isaac  Haswell  died  in  1905,  was  a 
prominent  business  man  and  influential  poli- 
tician. He  was  a  large  landowner  and  acted 
as  trustee  or  executor  for  many  estates.  He 
was  active  in  the  Republican  jiarty,  held  the 
office  of  state  loan  commissioner  by  appoint- 
ment from  the  governor.  Hannah  V.  (Sher- 
man) Haswell  was  born  in  Pittstown,  Rens- 
salaer  county.  New  York,  now  living  (1910) 
in  the  town  of  Colonic,  Albany  county.  They 
were  the  parents  of  three  children,  of  whom 
Dr.  George  (or  Leo)  H.  Haswell  is  the  eld- 
est. He  is  a  graduate  of  Albany  Medical  Col- 
lege, and  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Sur- 
geons, New  York  City.  He  is  in  practice  in 
Watervliet,  New  York.  Children  of  Profes- 
sor Hugh  Henry  and  Lillian  E.  (Haswell) 
Lansing :  Florence  Lillian ;  James  Haswell, 
born  February  12,  1898;  Helen  \'ictoria. 


The  family  of  Giles,  of  Troy, 
GILES     whose  history  and  connection  are 

here  traced,  descend  from  the 
English  family  of  Giles  "ancient  and  honor- 
able." Three  brothers  of  the  family  went  to 
Ireland  with  William  of  Orange,  one  remain- 
ing and  founding  the  Irish  branch,  the  other 
two  retiring  after  the  wars  were  ended.  Tlie 
family  seat  in  Ireland  was  Clone  House,  coun- 
ty Wexford.  During  the  battle  of  the  P)Oyne, 
which  was  fouglit  near  Clone  House,  Ire- 
land, the  wounded  on  both  sides,  regardless 
of  tlieir  religious  convictions,  were  cared  for 
and  the  kindest  attentions  paid  them  as  far 
as  possil^le  by  the  Giles  family.  It  is  from 
the  Irish  branch,  still  seated  at  Clone  Flouse, 
that  Leonard  House  Giles  descends.  He  is 
of  the  third  generation  in  the  United  States. 
The  English  family  tore  arms  as  follows: 
"Per  chevron  argent  and  azure,  a  lion  ram- 
pant, counter-charged  ;  collared  or ;"  "Crest : 
A  lions  gambrel  erect  and  erased,  gules  en- 
filed  with  a  bear  gemelle  or  holding  a  bunch 
of  apples  of  the  last  leaved  vert."  The 
crest  differs  some,  having  a  lion's  head  only. 
Through  maternal  lines  *he  ancestry  traces 
to  some  of  the  oldest  families  of  New  Eng- 
land.    The   Snows,    1623,   the   Stoddards   of 


England,  whose  first  representative  in  Amer-- 
ica  died  1661,  the  Buckinghams  of  New  Hav- 
en, Connecticut,  1637,  the  Moseleys  of  Dor- 
chester, 1639,  who  trace  their  English  ances- 
try to  108 1,  the  House  family  of  Connecticut 
and  New  York,  the  Murdocks,  who  came 
from  Ireland  in  1696,  and  other  of  the  older 
families  are  connected  by  marriage  with  the 
Giles.  There  is  a  constant  record  of  military 
service  to  be  found,  some  of  which  is  herein 
noted. 


(I)  Henry  Giles  was  born  in  Clone  House, 
county  Wexford,  Ireland,  1791,  six  years  be- 
fore the  Irish  rebellion.  His  mother's  maid- 
en name  was  Godkin,  his  grandmother's  Web- 
ster. He  learned  the  art  of  glass  blowing  in 
Ireland,  and  while  a  young  man  emigrated  to 
this  country  with  a  brother  William,  leaving 
one  brother  James  at  home.  He  settled  at 
the  village  of  Durhamville,  town  of  Marcy, 
Oneida  county.  New  York,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade  until  1816,  and  then  removed  to 
Elizabeth,  county  of  Leeds,  upper  Canada. 
Here  he  settled  upon  a  wild  and  unimproved 
farm,  and  with  the  aid  of  a  few  neighbors 
built  a  log  cabin  in  which  he  began  life  as 
a  farmer.    He  then  had  a  wife  and  two  very 


cLAA^^&^^t^^  (iJ/.JLl^  , 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


85 


young  children.  He  worked  hard  to  clear 
the  land  of  timber,  so  •  hard,  in  fact,  that 
he  overworked,  and  died  October  24,  1823, 
from  a  ruptured  blood  vessel  caused  by 
overwork  in  felling  trees,  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
two  years,  leaving  his  widow  with  six  young 
children,  all  boys.  He  was  a  consistent  Chris- 
tian, anil  was  highly  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him.  He  was  reared  in  the  Church  of 
England,  but  in  the  United  States  embraced 
the  ]\lethodist  faith,  and  was  a  local  preacher 
in  Canada,  often  filling  the  pulpit  when  no 
regular  minister  was  available.  He  married, 
in  1814,  in  Oneida  county.  New  York,  Mar- 
garet Jones,  born  in  Wales.  Children :  Hen- 
ry Godkin,  see  forward ;  David  C,  born  No- 
vember I,  1816,  a  fireman  of  Utica.  New 
York,  where  a  stone  marks  his  burial  place, 
erected  "bv  his  manv  friends" ;  William  W., 
October  18,  1818:  James  M.,  1820;  John  J., 
November  13,  1822.  After  the  death  of  her 
husband  Margaret  Giles  returned  to  Oneida 
county  with  her  six  children  and  settled  in 
Rome,  New  York,  where  she  died. 

(II)  Henry  Godkin,  eldest  child  of  Henry 
and  Margaret  (Jones)  Giles,  was  born  in 
Deerfield,  Oneida  county.  New  York,  March 
27,  1815.  died  at  Troy,  New  York,  January 
5,  1879.  His  parents  shortly  after  removed 
to  Canada  where  his  early  boyhood  was  spent. 
On  the  return  to  Rome  he  attended  the  pub- 
lic school,  and  later  learned  the  trade  of 
tinner  and  coppersmith.  He  later  established 
a  hardware  and  stove  business  in  Rome,  which 
he  continued  until  1858.  He  then  spent  two 
years  in  Rochester,  New  York,  settling  in 
Troy,  New  York,  in  i860.  Here  he  was 
a  stove  manufacturer.  He  admitted  his  son 
as  partner,  and  the  business  continued  as  H. 
G.  Giles  &  Son  until  the  death  of  the  senior 
partner.  He  was  a  member  of  the  First 
Particular  Baptist  Church,  of  Troy,  which  he 
served  as  trustee.  He  was  connected  with  the 
New  York  National  Guard,  and  was  ap- 
pointed by  Governor  Seward,  paymaster-gen- 
eral. He  married,  June  2,  1840,  at  House- 
ville,  Lewis  county.  New  York,  Harriet 
House,  born  November  7,  1816  (see  House 
HI).  Children:  Leonard  House,  mentioned 
below ;  Albert  Henry,  born  at  Rome,  New 
York,  March  22,  1844.  died  in  that  city,  Jan- 
uary 2,  1850.  buried  with  his  father  at  Rome. 

(HI)  Leonard  House,  eldest  son  of  Henry 
Godkin  and  Harriet  (House)  Giles,  was  born 
at  Rome,  New  York,  May  23,  1841.  He  was 
educated  in  the  common  and  high  schools  of 
that  city,  and  at  Rome  Academy.  After  the 
family  removed  to  Troy  he  studied  law  for 
a  year,  but  abandoning  the  idea  of  a  pro- 
fession he  entered  the  hardware  store  of  J. 


M.  Warren  &  Company,  remaining  with  that 
firm  until  1866.  lie  then  became  associated 
with  his  father  in  the  manufacture  of  stoves, 
as  H.  G.  Giles  &  Son.  In  1888  he  estab- 
lished his  present  business,  nickel  plating  and 
manufacturing,  being  senior  partner  of  Giles 
&  Nielsen,  with  a  plant  in  Troy.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  First  Particular  Baptist 
Church  of  Troy,  the  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
and  through  a  patriotic  ancestry  gains  mem- 
bership in  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolu- 
tion. Politically  he  is  an  independent  Re- 
publican. He  married,  (first),  at  Cohas- 
set,  January  20,  1869,  Susan  Elizabeth  Snow, 
born  at  Cohasset,  Massachusetts,  October  21, 
1847.  died  at  Troy,  April  25,  1872 ;  buried 
at  Cohasset.  (see  Snow  VIII).  Children: 
Anna  Louisa,  born  at  Troy,  February  4,  1870 ; 
Henry  Snow,  April  22,  1872,  at  Troy.  Leon- 
ard H.  Giles  married  (second)  at  Jersey 
City.  New  Jersey,  December  15,  1880,  Anna 
Laurella  Clarke,  born  at  Albany,  New  York, 
January  28,   1861. 

(IV)  Henry  Snow,  only  son  of  Leonard 
House  and  Susan  Elizabeth  (Snow)  Giles, 
was  bom  in  Troy,  April  22,  1872.  He  was 
educated  in  Troy,  graduating  from  the  high 
school.  His  business  life  has  been  spent  in 
Troy,  and  he  is  now  a  partner  of  the  firm  of 
Robert  Ewing  &  Sons  (incorporated),  makers 
of  laundry  machinery.  He  served  in  the  Troy 
Citizens  Corp  for  ten  years,  enlisted  in  the 
Spanish-American  war.  and  is  now  a  member 
of  the  "Old  Guard."  He  is  secretary  of  the 
Trojan  Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  and  an 
independent  Republican.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  First  Particular  Baptist  Church.  He  mar- 
ried, June  29,  1910,  Ethelyn  Howe  Ripley,  of 
Cohasset,  Massachusetts. 

(The  House  Line). 
Eleazer  House  was  born  in  Glastonbury, 
Connecticut,  September  20,  1759,  died  at 
Houseville,  Lewis  county.  New  York.  Janu- 
ary 30,  1833,  and  is  buried  there.  Hewent 
into  northern  New  York  at  an  early  day  and 
became  a  large  land  owner  and  lumberman, 
founding  the  town  of  Houseville.  He  had 
five  sons,  to  four  of  whom  he  gave  each 
a  farm.  His  eldest  son  was  lost  at  sea  dur- 
ing his  first  voyage  to  which  his  parents  con- 
sented, he  promising  to  then  abandon  his 
great  desire  for  a  sailor's  life.  He  married, 
December  23.  1782.  Abigail  Moseley  (see 
Moseley  VI).  born  at  Glastonbury,  Connec- 
ticut. January  7,  1763,  died  at  Houseville, 
March  18.  1833.  Children,  first  five  born 
at  Glastonbury,  two  at  Houseville :  Robbard, 
April  I,  1785.  lost  at  sea;  Leonard,  August 
24,  1787,  see  forward ;  Anson,  July  14,  1790, 


86 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


married  Lucinda  Foster  Blossom ;  Jared, 
March  2j,  1792,  married  Lucy  Ann  Kelsey ; 
Joseph,  April  4,  1796,  married  Amanda  Cald- 
well: Abby,  January  4,  1802,  married  Amos 
B.  Carpenter;  Hopy,  March  2,  1804,  mar- 
ried  James   IMurdock. 

(II)  Leonard,  second  son  of  Eleazer  and 
Abigail  (Moseley)  House,  was  born  in  Glas- 
tonbury, Connecticut,  August  24,  1787,  died 
at  Houseville,  New  York,  December  z"}),  1879, 
and  is  buried  there.  He  was  a  farmer  of 
Lewis  county.  New  York,  and  a  large  land 
owner.  He  married,  at  Houseville,  Decem- 
ber 28,  1809,  Louisa  Murdock,  born  in  Sand- 
gate,  Vermont,  January  12,  1788,  died  at 
Houseville,  July  6,  1870  (see  Jilurdock  V). 
Children,  all  bom  at  Houseville:  Ann  Louisa, 
November  10,  1810;  an  infant  son.  born  and 
died  January  12,  1813;  James,  born  Feb- 
ruary 6,  1814,  died  November  13,  1876,  mar- 
ried Emily  Olivia  King;  Harriet,  mentioned 
below:  Moseley  Leonard,  May  28,  1819;  Car- 
oline, December  9,  1821,  married  Ralph  Hen- 
ry Foster:  .\bby  Murdock,  July  10,  1824, 
married  Alfred  Ethridge :  Harvey  Douglass, 
August  17,  1828,  died  September  14,  1828; 
Emily,  October  2,  1830,  married  Joseph  Cut- 
ler Fuller. 

(III)  Harriet,  second  daughter  and  fourth 
child  of  Leonard  and  Louisa  (Murdock) 
House,  was  bom  at  Houseville,  New  York, 
November  7,  1816.  She  married,  June  2, 
1840,  Henry  Godkin   Giles   (see  Giles  II). 

(The  Snow  Line). 
Nicholas  Snow,  born  about  1600,  arrived  in 
Pl)-mouth  Colony,  on  the  "Ann"  in  1623.  He 
had  a  share  in  the  first  Plymouth  land  di- 
vision and  was  of  Stephen  Hopkins'  company 
in  1627,  to  whose  lot  fell  a  "black  weaning 
calf  and  calf  of  this  year  to  come,"  etc.  He 
was  a  freeman  and  taxpayer  before  1627.  He 
married  Constance,  daughter  of  .Stephen  Hop- 
kins, both  of  whoni  came  in  the  "Mayflower" 
in  1620.  She  died  October,  1677.  There  is 
no  complete  list  of  his  children  but  Governor 
Bradford  says,  in  1650,  he  had  twelve,  all 
alive  and  well.  He  was  of  sterling  value  to 
the  new  town  in  all  departments,  bore  its 
burdens  and  offices;  he  died  in  1676.  Sons 
mentioned:  Mark,  Joseph,  Stephen.  John, 
Jabez ;  daughter,  Alary,  married  Thomas 
Paine. 

(II)  John,  son  of  Nicholas  and  Constance 
(Hopkins)  Snow,  was  born  in  Plymouth,  in 
1639,  died  in  Eastham,  in  1692.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  Smallcy,  September  19,  1667.  They 
had  nine  children,  all  born  in  Eastham.  Later 
he  moved  to  Truro,  where  his  father  was  a 
large  land  owner.     His  sons,  John,  Isaac  and 


Elisha,  moved  with  him  and  all  became  ac- 
tively identified  with  the  interests  of  the 
town. 

(HI)  John  (2),  son  of  John  (i)  and  Mary 
(Smalley)  Snow,  was  born  in  Eastham,  Alay 
3.  1678.  He  married  Elizabeth  Ridley,  Alay 
25,  1700.  He  was,  next  to  Thomas  Paine, 
the  most  active  man  in  the  settlement  of  the 
town  of  Truro.  He  had  seven  sons  and  one 
daughter :  John,  born  1706,  married  Hannah 
Paine;  Anthony,  1709;  Elisha,  171 1;  Isaac, 
1713;  Mary,  1716;  Ambrose,  1718;  Amasa, 
1720:  David,  1723. 

(IV)  Anthony,  son  of  John  (2)  and  Eliza- 
beth (Ridley)  Snow,  born  July  28,  1709,  died 
July  II,  1796.  He  married  March  21,  1731, 
Sarah,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Paine.  Chil- 
dren: David,  born  1732;  Daniel,  1734;  Eli- 
sha, 1736;  John,  1738;  Jonathan,  1740;  Syl- 
vanus,  1742;  Anthony,  1744;  Sarah,  1746; 
Elizabeth,  1748;  Anne,  1750;  Mary,  1753; 
Jessie,    1759. 

(\')  David,  son  of  .\nthony  and  Sarah 
(Paine)  Snow,  born  July  17,  1732,  died  May 
25,  1792.  He  lived  in  Truro,  on  Cape  Cod. 
He  was  a  soldier  of  the  revolution,  a  private 
in  Captain  Mathias  Tobey's  company.  He 
and  his  son  David  were  in  the  same  company 
and  marched  to  Crown  Point,  in  January, 
1777.  He  was  afterwards  commissioned.  Sep- 
tember 16,  1777,  as  first  lieutenant  of  the 
Barnstable  Company,  Massachusetts  Regi- 
ment. During  the  year  1775  David  Snow 
was  living  with  his  large  family  in  the  broad, 
flat  house  originally  belonging  to  John  Snow. 
Mr.  Snow,  accompanied  by  his  son  David,  a 
lad  of  fifteen  years,  while  fishing  in  a  boat 
in  Cape  Cod  bay  were  captured  by  English 
privateers  and  taken  to  Halifax.  Later  they 
were  transferred  to  "Old  Mill"  prison,  Eng- 
land. A  thorough  search  was  made  for  them 
on  the  coast,  but  they  were  given  up  as  dead 
by  family  and  friends.  They,  with  thirty- 
four  others,  managed  to  file  the  bars  and  es- 
caped to  Plymouth  harbor,  fifteen  miles  from 
the  prison,  where  they  secured  a  large  scow 
and  were  soon  afloat  on  the  English  chan- 
nel. They  boarded  a  small  vessel  and  under 
threat  of  surrender  or  death,  took  command 
of  the  vessel  and  sailed  for  the  coast  of 
France,  where  they  sold  their  prize,  each  hav- 
ing a  share  of  the  money.  They  gave  them- 
selves up  to  the  French  government  and  were 
placed  on  a  vessel  and  sent  to  America,  land- 
ing on  the  coast  of  the  Carolinas.  As  the 
war  was  still  going  on,  and  the  coast  guarded, 
Mr.  Snow  and  his  son  made  their  way  home 
by  land.  Friends  and  neighlxjrs  escorted 
them  to  their  home,  all  rejoicing  in  their  re- 
turn.    David  Snow  was  a  man  of   influence 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


87 


<5n  the  Cape.  He  was  for  years  a  justice  of 
the  peace,  an  important  office  at  that  time. 
He  was  always  called  Squire  Snow.  He  mar- 
ried Hannah  Collins,  July  7,  1758.  They  had 
eight  sons  and  two  daughters.  All  the  sons 
became  masters  of  vessels,  some  were  lost  at 
sea  while  still  young.  Children :  Stephen, 
born  August  14,  1759;  David,  November  23, 
1760;  Sarah,  March  27.  1763;  John,  July  28, 
1765;  Daniel,  September  6,  1767;  Richard, 
December  21,  1771  :  Hannah,  February  27, 
1774;  Benjamin,  November  19,  1775;  Eph- 
raim,  March  15,  1778;  Henry,  1781. 

(VI)  Henry,  son  of  David  and  Hannah 
(Collins)  Snow,  was  born  in  Truro,  Octo- 
ber 4,  1781,  died  in  Cohasset,  February  5, 
i860.  When  only  eight  years  of  age,  he  went 
on  a  fishing  cruise  of  five  months  to  the  Great 
Banks.    At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  moved  to 

'Cohasset,  Massachusetts,  where  he  was  mas- 
ter of  a  coasting  vessel.  In  1812  he  was 
master  of  the  schooner  "Random"  which 
leaked  like  a  sieve,  but  could  sail  like  the 
wind.  On  two  occasions  during  the  war  of 
1812,    while   sailing    the    "Random,"    he    was 

•  chased  by  the  British,  but  escaped.  He  sailed 
the  "Ann,"  a  full  rigged  brig,  for  seventeen 
years.  While  in  Antwerp,  Belgium,  he  had 
his  portrait  painted  by  a  celebrated  artist ;  it 
is  now  in  the  possession  of  his  granddaugh- 
ter. He  married  June  i,  1803,  Deliverance 
Dyer,  of  Truro,  born  November  12,  1781, 
died  in  Cohasset,  November  9,  1859.  Chil- 
dren: Henry,  born  January  11,  1804,  died 
March  5,  1808;  Benjamin,  August  23,  1806, 
died  I\Iarch  5,  1829;  Paulina,  December  14, 
1807;  Henry,  September  18,  1810,  died  April 
4,  1904;  Ruth,  April  16,  1813;  Elijah,  Sep- 
tember 27,  1815,  died  March  6,  1816. 

(VII)  Captain  Henry  (2),  son  of  Henry 
(i)  and  Deliverance  (Dyer)  Snow,  was  bom 
in  Cohasset,  September  10,  1810,  died  April 
4.  1904.  He  followed  the  sea  from  an  early 
age.  While  quite  a  young  man  he  became 
master  and  part  owner  of  the  "Myra."  Later 
he  owned  and  sailed  the  "Eldridge"  and 
"Star  of  Hope."  The  last  named  vessel  was 
wrecked  in  a  storm  on  Brendante  Reef,  New- 
port Harbor,  in  the  spring  of  1871.  Captain 
Snow  then  retired  from  the  sea.  He  lived 
to  an  advanced  age,  was  hale  and  hearty,  tak- 
ing a  great  interest  in  all  events  both  local 
and  foreign.  He  married,  December  13,  1840, 
Susanna  Stoddard  Lincoln,  born  August  21, 
1822,  in  Cohasset,  ^Massachusetts,  died  Sep- 
tember 13,  1880,  (see  Stoddard  \TII).  Chil- 
dren: James  Henry  Snow,  born  June  3c, 
1842 ;  Anna  Frances,  August  25,  1844,  died 
July  5,  1869:  Susan  Elizabeth,  October  21, 
1847;    Ruth    Nichols,   June    29,    1848;    Char- 


lotte Otis,  November  8,  1850 ;  Benjamin  Lin- 
coln, August  2,  1852,  died  January  23,  1859. 

(\TII)  Susan  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Cap- 
tain Henry  (2)  and  Susanna  Stoddard  (Lin- 
coln) Snow,  was  born  in  Cohasset,  October 
21,  1847,  died  April  25,  1872.  Her  early 
life  was  spent  at  the  homestead,  South  End, 
Cohasset.  Here  she  first  met  her  future  hus- 
band, who  spent  the  summer  of  1857  on  the 
sea  with  her  father.  He  returned  to  Cohas- 
set succeeding  summers,  and  she  married 
Leonard  House  Giles,  January  20,  1869.  She 
was  a  beautiful  girl,  loved  by  all,  but  spared 
only  about  three  years  after  her  marriage. 
She  died  in  Troy,  New  York.  Children :  Anna 
Louisa  Giles,  born  February  4,  1870;  Henry 
Snow  Giles,  April  22,  1872  (see  Giles  III). 

(The  Stoddard  Line). 
Coat-of-Arms,  Sa.  three  estoiles  and  a  bor- 
dure  gules,  crest  on  a  ducal  coronet,  a  demi 
horse,  salient  erm.  Motto :  Festina  Seute : 
"Be  in  haste,  but  not  in  a  hurry."  The  name 
Stoddard  is  derived  from  the  office  of  stand- 
ard bearer,  and  was  anciently  written  De  La 
Standard.  William  Stoddard,  a  knight,  came 
from  Normandy  to  England,  in  1066,  with 
William  the  Conquerer,  who  was  his  cousin. 
Of  his  descendants  we  find  record  of  Rickard 
Stoddard,  of  Nottingham,  Kent,  near  Eltlien, 
about  seven  miles  from  London  bridge,  where 
was  located  the  family  estate  of  about  four 
hundred  acres  which  was  in  the  possession  of 
the  family  in  1490  and  so  continued  until 
the  death  of  Nicolas  Stoddard,  1765. 

(I)  John  Stoddard  died  in  1661.  He  came 
to  Hingham,  Massachusetts,  before  1638,  as 
he  received  at  that  time  a  grant  of  land.  His 
wife  was  Anna. 

(II)  Samuel,  son  of  John  and  Anna  Stod- 
dard, born  1640,  died  1731.  He  married  Eliz- 
abeth, born  1647,  died  1693,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Hannah   (Otis)   Gill. 

(III)  Jeremiah,  son  of  Samuel  and  Eliza- 
beth (Gill)  Stoddard,  born  in  Hingham,  1683, 

died    1763.      He    married    Elizabeth    , 

who  died   in    1775,  aged  eighty-eight. 

(I\')  Jeremiah  (2),  son  of  Jeremiah  (i) 
and  Elizabeth  Stoddard,  was  born  in  Hing- 
ham, 1709.  died  in  1790.  He  married,  in 
1729,   Sarah  McVaile,  born   1710,  died   1775. 

(\')  James,  son  of  Jeremiah  (2)  and  Sarah 
(Mc\'aile)  Stoddard,  was  born  in  Hing- 
ham, in  1733.  He  married,  1755,  Susanna, 
barn  in  1736,  daughter  of  William  and  Su- 
sanna (Beal)  Humphrey. 

(\T)  James  (2),  son  of  James  (i)  and 
Susanna  (Humphrey)  Stoddard,  was  born 
September  24,  1756,  died  in  Cohasset,  March 
II,  1833.    He  was  apprenticed  when  a  boy  to 


88 


HL'DSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


a  shipwright,  in  Boston;  this  occupation  he 
afterward  followed.  .A  picture  in  oils  in  pos- 
session of  Mr.  Stoddard,  of  Quincy,  Massa- 
chusetts, shows  him  at  the  age  of  seventeen, 
with  straight  dark  brown  hair  done  in  a  cue, 
large,  dark  brown  eyes,  and  a  dark  complex- 
ion. Mr.  Stoddard  also  has  his  sword  and 
other  revolutionary  relics.  In  the  early  days 
of  the  controversy,  Cohasset  was  represented 
in  the  Boston  Tea  Party  by  Major  James 
Stoddard.  Tradition  also  tells  of  an  Eng- 
lish brig,  bound  for  Boston  with  supplies  for 
the  British  army,  becalmed  off  the  shore  and 
taken  by  Cohasset  men.  Major  Stoddard 
was  the  leading  spirit  on  this  occasion  and 
when  one  of  the  boat's  crew  pointed  to  the 
brig's  artillery,  and  proposed  to  return,  the 
major  declared  there  should  be  no  going  back. 
The  defense  of  the  brig  proved  to  be  "Quak- 
er guns,"  and  she  became  an-  easy  prize.  On 
the  muster  roll  of  Captain  John  Cushing's 
company  in  the  Thirty-sixth  Regiment  of  In- 
fantry, continental  army,  encamped  October 
5,  1775,  is  James  Stoddard,  engaged  May  17. 
He  marched  to  Fort  Ticonderoga,  and  is  said 
to  have  been  under  General  Washington  dur- 
ing that  dreadful  winter  in  Valley  Forge.  He 
married  Susanna  Lincoln,  born  1756,  died 
September  25,  1819.  The  inscription  on  his 
tombstone  reads :  "Major  Stoddard,  March 
II,  1833,  aged  seventy-six  years." 

(VII)  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  James  (2) 
and  Susanna  (Lincoln)  Stoddard,  was  born 
in  the  old  homestead  at  Cohasset,  December 
13,  1784.  A  descendant  of  the  Stoddard 
family,  Herbert  Towle,  occupied  the  home- 
stead in  1897.  She  married,  February  17, 
1819.  Captain  John  Lincoln,  of  Cohasset,  she 
died  January  9,  1848.  She  was  always  called 
Betsey. 

(VIII)  Susanna,  daughter  of  Captain  John 
and  Elizabeth  (Stoddard)  Lincoln,  was  born 
in  Cohasset,  .August  21,  1822,  died  there  Sep- 
tember 13,  1880.  Her  father  being  a  sea 
captain  who  sailed  to  foreign  parts,  Susanna 
had  seven  silk  dresses  when  she  was  mar- 
ried, besides  other  valuable  articles  of  use  and 
adornment.  She  married  Captain  Henry 
Snow,  of  Cohasset,  December  13.  1840,  (see 
Snow  VII). 

(The  Murdock  Line). 

Colonial  series.  Report  of  State  Historian, 
1896.  Muster  Roll  of  ye  Suffolk  Regiment, 
A.D.,  1715,  Henry  Smith,  Colonel,  Second 
Company,  Hampton  Fort.  Private  Peter 
Murdock,  First  Company,  Private  David 
Fithian. 

(I)  John  Murdock  was  a  wool  comber 
and  had  a  wool  factory  and  store  in  Limer- 
ick, Ireland.     He  carried  on  a  large  business 


and  became  wealthy.  Being  of  English  de- 
scent and  a  Protestant,  he  was  dispossessed  of 
liis  property  during  the  Irish  wars,  1688  to 
1690,  between  James  II  and  ^\^illiam  of  Or- 
ange, .^fter  losing  everything  he  owned  in 
Limerick,  he  took  shelter  with  an  aunt  whose- 
house  was  fortified.  He  married  Mary  Mun- 
son.     He  died  in  Ireland  about   1690. 

(II)  Peter,  son  of  John  and  Mary  (]\Iun- 
son)  Murdock,  was  born  in  Ireland,  May  6, 
1679.  In  1696  he  emigrated  to  America  and' 
landed  in  Philadelphia  without  funds  or 
friends.  He  went  about  seeking  employment 
but  with  little  success.  .At  length  a  Quaker 
employed  him  to  thrash  for  his  board.  He 
soon  began  to  earn  money  and  was  very 
saving  and  prudent.  He  combined  day  labor 
with  a  small  trade  in  scissors,  pen  knives, 
needles,  etc.  (From  Saybrook  Records). 
"The  Murdocks,  though  not  among  the  first 
settlers  here,  were  for  more  than  a  quarter 
of  a  century  the  most  wealthy  and  influential 
families  in  the  parish.  Peter  Murdock,  the 
progenitor  of  the  family,  first  appeared  in  this 
part  as  a  peddler  of  scissors,  pen  knives, 
needles,  etc.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  seven- 
teenth century,  he  married  Mary  Fithian  of 
East  Hampton,  Long  Island,  about  1705,  and 
set  up  a  small  store  in  that  town ;  next  run- 
ning a  small  trading  sloop  on  the  coast  of 
Long  Island  Sound,  leaving  his  wife  to  at- 
tend the  store.  In  this  business  he  went  on 
to  Westbrook  or  West  Saybrook,  as  it  was 
sometimes  called,  where  he  purchased  between 
eight  and  nine  hundred  acres  of  land,  tx)r- 
dering  on  Pachong  river,  about  one-half  mile 
on  its  west  side.  .About  six  years  later,  he 
built  a  dwelling  on  the  bank  of  the  river  to 
which  he  moved  his  family  and  store.  There 
he  carried  on  the  mercantile  business  with 
tlie  limited  stock  necessary  to  the  merchant 
of  the  olden  time  when  each  family  produced 
its  own  prime  necessities.  This  was  the  first 
store  in  town  and  its  inventory  must  have 
been  a  simple  affair,  he  probably  imported 
his  stock  from  the  West  Indies."  Peter  died 
November  6,  1753,  leaving  his  entire  estate 
to  his  son  John.     His  wife,  born  1689,  died 

in   1753- 

(HI)  John  (2),  only  child  of  Peter  and 
Mary  (Fithian)  Murdock,  was  born  in  East 
Hampton,  Long  Island,  in  1708,  died  January, 
1778.  He  inherited  his  father's  property  and 
his  native  sagacity,  to  which  was  added  a 
superior  intelligence,  culture  and  moral  char- 
acter that  made  him  conspicuous  among  the 
distinguished  men  of  the  colony.  lie  first  car- 
ried on  the  business  of  farming  his  planta- 
tion with  the  aid  of  his  slaves,  who  have  left 
monuments  of  their  labor  in  enormous  stone  - 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   \'ALLEYS 


89 


walls  surrounding  it.  His  thrift  and  sagacity- 
brought  a  large  fortune  for  the  times,  and 
made  him  a  power  in  the  community.  He 
was  a  deacon  in  the  Congregational  church ; 
judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas,  a  rep- 
resentative in  the  general  assembly  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  was  captain  of  the  Tenth  Com- 
pan}-.  Seventh  Regiment  Connecticut  Militia, 
and  served  under  Abercrombie  in  Fort  Ti- 
conderoga  in  1750,  during  the  French  and  In- 
dian war.  May  13,  1766,  he  was  appointed 
by  the  general  assembly  major  of  the  Sev- 
enth Regiment  Connecticut  Militia.  At  the 
time  of  his  marriage,  about  1730,  his  father 
settled  upon  him  one-half  of  his  estate  and 
built  him  a  dwelling  where  he  spent  his  re- 
maining days.  He  carried  on  the  farming 
business  extensively  for  half  a  century.  He 
was  small  of  stature  and  of  a  very  fair  com- 
plexion, with  keen,  black  eyes.  His  first  wife, 
Phoebe  Sill,  of  Lynn,  and  her  infant  died 
ten  months  after  their  marriage.  April  11, 
1732,  he  married  (second)  Frances  Conklin, 
of  East  Hampton,  Long  Island.  They  had 
thirteen  children,  seven  of  whom  were  boys 
and  six  girls.  Three  boys,  Peter,  Jonathan 
and  James,  graduated  from  Yale  College,  and 
the  other  four  attended  the  cultivation  of  the 
original  estate.  Major  Murdock  died  at  his 
homestead  on  the  hill.  Frances,  his  wife,  died 
January  10,   1799,  aged  eighty-six  years. 

(R  )  Rev.  James,  youngest  child  of  Ma- 
jor John  (2)  and  Frances  (Conklin)  Mur- 
dock, was  born  in  Saybrooktown,  February 
i8,  1755,  died  January  14,  1841,  aged  eighty- 
six  years.  He  graduated  from  Yale  in  1774, 
and  was  settled  as  a  Congregational  minis- 
ter at  Sandgate,  \'ermont,  in  1780.  He  moved 
to  Lewis  county.  New  York,  1805.  In  Janu- 
ary, 181 1,  he  was  settled  as  pastor  of  the 
church  at  Martinsburg,  New  York ;  resigned 
in  1820  and  removed  to  Gouverneur,  New 
York,  where  he  labored  until  1825.  He  was 
then  seventy  years  old,  but  preached  occasion- 
ally after  this  for  several  years.  He  resided 
mostly  at  Houseville,  Lewis  count)',  where 
his  wife  died  November  11,  1838.  In  1839  he 
made  a  journey  to  Vermont,  to  New  York 
City,  and  to  his  native  place,  where  he 
preached  in  the  same  pulpit  in  which  he  had 
officiated  at  the  outset  of  his  ministry,  fifty 
years  before.  In  1839  he  went  to  reside  with 
his  son  Samuel  at  Crown  Point,  New  York, 
at  whose  home  he  died.  He  married  Ann 
Buckingham,  September  30,  1779.  (See 
Buckingham  V).  They  had  ten  children,  three 
sons  and  seven  daughters. 

(V)  Louisa,  fifth  child  of  Rev.  James  and 
Ann  (Buckingham)  Alurdock,  was  born  at 
Sandgate,  Vermont,  January  12,  1788,  died  in 


Houseville,  July  6,  1870.  She  married  Leon- 
ard House  (see  House  II),  of  Houseville, 
New  York,  December  28,  1809. 

(The  Buckingham  Line). 
Thomas  Buckingham,  the  Puritan  settler, 
arrived  in  Boston,  from  London,  June  26, 
1637,  in  the  ship  "Hector."  The  company- 
sailed  for  Quinnipiack,  near  New  Haven„ 
March  30,  1638.  His  home  in  New  Haven 
probably  stood  on  or  near  what  is  now  the 
corner  of  College  and  George  streets.  He 
removed  to  Milford,  Connecticut,  in  the  aut- 
umn of  1639,  and  was  one  of  the  company 
(of  which  Mr.  Peter  Prudden  was  the  pas- 
tor) who  first  settled  in  that  town.  The 
church  was  organized  at  New  Haven,  Au- 
gust 22,  1639,  and  Thomas  Buckingham  was. 
one  of  the  seven  pillars  of  which  it  was  com- 
posed. He  was  a  deputy  to  the  general  court, 
February  24.  1657.  He  died  in  Boston  (in 
the  fall  of  1657)  where  he  had  gone  to  seek 
a  pastor  for  the  church.     He  married   (first) 

Hannah —  in   England,  by  whom   he 

had  five  children.  She  died  June  28,  1648,  in 
Milford.     Married    (second)   Ann  >. 

(II)  Thomas  (2),  son  of  Thomas  (i) 
Buckingham,  was  baptized  in  Milford,  No- 
vember 8.  1646,  died  April  i,  1709.  He 
preached  in  Wethersfield,  when  only  eight- 
een years  of  age,  and  commenced  preaching 
in  Saybrook  in  1665  ;  ordained  pastor  of  the 
church  of  Saybrook,  in  1670.  He  was  one 
of  the  founders  and  fellows  of  Yale  College, 
his  connection  continuing  from  1700  until 
his  death.  He  evidently  held  high  rank 
among  the  clergymen  of  that  time  for  he  was 
one  of  the  moderators  of  the  famous  synod 
which  convened  at  Saybrook,  in  1708,  and 
formed  a  platform  for  the  government  of  the 
churches.  His  monument  is  still  .standing  in 
the  old  burying  ground  at  Saybrook,  where 
his  wife,  who  died  June  3,  1702,  is  also  bur- 
ied. They  had  nine  children,  six  boys  and 
three  girls. 

(III)  Thomas  (3),  eldest  son  of  Thomas 
(2)  Buckingham,  born  in  Saybrook,  Septem- 
ber 29,  1670,  died  September  12,  1739.  He 
was  a  prominent  man  in  town  affairs,  being 
appointed  to  many  important  offices  of  trust. 
He  was  an  influential  member  of  the  church 
and  a  land  holder  in  Lebanon.  He  married, 
December  16,  1691,  Margaret,  daughter  of 
Francis  Griswold.  They  had  four  sons  and 
four  daughters. 

(IV)  Joseph,  son  of  Thomas  (3)  Bucking- 
ham, was  born  June  20,  1707.  He  married 
September  24,  1741.  Sarah,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Abigail  (Maverick)  Tully,  of  Say- 
brook.   They  had  six  daughters. 


90 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


(V,)  Ann,  youngest  daughter  of  Captain 
Joseph  Buckingham,  born  August  4,  1753,  in 
Saybrook,  Connecticut,  married  Rev.  James 
Murdock,  of  Saybrook,  September  30,  1779. 
She  died  at  Houseville,  Lewis  county.  New 
York,  November  11,  1838  (see  Murdock  IV). 

(The  Moseley  Line). 
The  family  is  of  English  origin  and  it  has 
been  ascertained  that  the  name  was  on  record 
as  early  as  1081. 

(I)  John  Mawdesley  or  Moseley  was 
.among  the  first  settlers  of  Dorchester,  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  was  a  freeman  March  14, 
1639.  He  married  twice.  His  first  wife,  Eliz- 
abeth, had  three  sons,  Thomas,  Joseph  and 
John,  and  a  daughter,  Elizabeth.  At  his 
death,  1661,  his  second  wife  Sicily  was  ap- 
pointed administratrix.  It  is  supposed  he 
lived  near  wtat  is  now  Crescent  avenue,  bor- 
dering the  salt  marsh  and  eastward  of  Hum- 
phrey Atherton's  old  homestead.  Mr.  Mose- 
ley's  descendants  have  some  of  them  lived  at 
■this  place  and  an  avenue  is  named  for  them. 
An  impressive  monument  of  brown  freestone 
on  a  brick  foundation  in  the  Dorchester  bury- 
ing ground  marks  his  grave. 

(II)  John  (2),  youngest  son  of  John  (i) 
and  Elizabeth  Moseley,  was  born  in  Dorches- 
ter, in  1640,  died  in  Windsor  in  1690.  Soon 
after  the  deatli  of  his  parents,  he  removed 
to  Windsor,  wliere  in  1667  he  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Newbury.  Captain 
Benjamin  Newbury  was  deputy  twenty-two 
sessions,  a  member  of  the  council  of  war, 
and  a  captain  in  King  Philip's  war.  In  1677 
Mr.  Moseley  removed  to  Westfield,  where  he 
became  a  large  land  owner.  His  home  was 
built  of  very  heavy  logs  and  provided  with 
loops  for  protection  from  Indians.  He  was  a 
lieutenant  of  a  Westfield  company,  and  took 
part  in  King  Philip's  war.  He  removed  to 
Windsor  some  time  before  his  death,  which 
occurred  there  in  1690.  He  had  ten  chil- 
dren, three  sons  and  seven  daughters. 

(III)  Joseph,  second  son  of  Lieutenant 
John  (2)  and  Mary  (Newbury)  Moseley, 
'was  born  in  Windsor,  Connecticut,  December 
20,  1670,  died  in  Glastonbury,  Connecticut,  in 
1 7 19.     He   married  Abigail  Root,   of  West- 

'field.  Massachusetts,  in  1695.  They  removed 
to  Glastonbury,  Connecticut,  in  17 15.  They 
Iiad  nine  children,  four  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters. 

(IV)  Abner,  oldest  son  of  Joseph  and  Abi- 
gail (Root)  Moseley,  was  born  in  Westfield, 
Massachusetts,  ifVjg.  He  was  a  colonel  in  the 
Connecticut  militia.  As  executor  of  his  fath- 
er's estate,  he  gave  a  tract  of  land  to  the 
-town  of  Westfield,  in   1722.     The  farm  pur- 


chased by  his  father  in  Glastonbury,  Connec- 
ticut, and  equally  divided  between  his  sons, 
Abner  and  Isaac,  is  recorded  as  bounded  west 
by  the  Connecticut  river,  running  three  miles 
and  ninety-three  rods  in  width  north  and 
south.  Abner  remained  at  the  homestead.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Lyman,  of  West  Hampton, 
Massachusetts,  1722.  Children,  five  sons  and 
six  daughters. 

(V)  Joseph  (2),  son  of  Abner  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Lyman)  Moseley,  was  born  at  Glas- 
tonbury, Connecticut,  August  13,  1735,  died 
October  25,  1806.  He  was  a  prominent  mem- 
ber and  for  many  years  a  deacon  in  the 
Congregational  church.  He  represented  the 
town  twelve  times  in  the  legislature,  was 
captain  of  the  Seventh  Company,  in  Colonel 
Fisher  Gray's  battalion,  of  General  Wads- 
worth's  brigade,  which  served  in  the  battle 
of  Long  Island  and  White  Plains.  Later,  be- 
sides caring  for  a  large  farm,  he  kept  a  hotel. 
He  married,  September  10,  1761.  Hopeful 
Robbins,  of  Wethersfield,  born  August  3, 
1735.  They  had  eight  children,  three  girls 
and  five  boys. 

(VI)  Abigail,  eldest  child  of  Joseph  (2) 
and  Hopeful  (Robbins)  Moseley,  was  born 
in  Glastonbury,  Connecticut,  January  7,  1763. 
She  married.  December  25,  1782,  Eleazer 
House,  of  Glastonbury  (see  House  I).  They 
removed  to  Turin,  New  York,  in  1800.  She 
died  at  Houseville,  Lewis  countv,  New  York, 
March    18,   1833. 


Of  that  type  of  nian  which 
BLESSING     makes    the    esteemed    citizen 

was  Albany's  mayor.  Hon. 
James  H.  Blessing.  In  him  were  well  com- 
bined certain  opposing  traits  which  gave  a  pe- 
culiar and  a  pleasing  balance.  He  was  a 
fighter  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  an  active 
participant  therein,  yet  his  disposition  was  de- 
cidedly humane ;  although  he  rose  to  the 
greatest  height  of  honor  his  city  could  pos- 
sibly bestow,  its  mayor,  yet  never  was  he  in 
the  least  degree  vaunted ;  by  nature  he  was 
retiring,  and  while  skilled  as  a  scientist  and 
an  inventor  of  repute,  he  was  also  able  to 
turn  his  ideas  into  practical  service,  and  un- 
like many  of  this  .sort  was  highly  successful 
in  his  business.  For  either  one  or  all  of  these 
qualities,  he  was  both  respected  and  admired 
by  those  within  the  wide  circle  of  his  ac- 
quaintance. Even  his  severest  political  crit- 
ics and  enemies  never  thought  to  breathe  the 
least  suspicion  touching  his  character,  or 
thought  to  assail  his  honesty,  for  they  well 
knew  that  such  an  intended  wrong  could  not 
have  injured  him,  and  having  the  fullest  con- 
fidence of  the  people  such  a  reprehensible  act 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


91 


would    simpl)'    and    surely    hurt    their    own 
cause. 

For  fully  fifty  years  he  was  actively  en- 
gaged in  business  in  Albany,  although  not 
born  there,  and  he  was  known  more  or  less 
intimately  by  business  men  and  others  from 
the  South  End,  where  his  plant  had  been  and 
thrived  for  a  great  many  years,  to  the  North 
End,  where  later  was  his  establishment  with 
office,  and  from  the  river  to  the  Pine  Hills 
section,  for  his  political  life  had  brought  him 
into  contact  with  people  outside  the  business 
centers  of  the  city.  To  all  of  these  people 
he  was  much  more  than  a  common  friend, 
for  they  regarded  him  as  a  man  of  sterling 
integrity  and  business  principles,  as  one  pos- 
sessing uprightness  of  character  and  actuated 
by  the  noblest  purposes.  Frequently  they 
sought  him  for  his  sound  advice,  often  for 
genial  and  generous  encouragement,  and  at 
times  for  charitable  help.  They  never  went 
to  him  in  vain.  It  was  not  uncommon  for 
him  to  offer. 

James  Henry  Blessing  was  born  at 
French's  Mills,  near  Sloan's,  in  Albany  coun- 
ty, September  14,  1837.  His  father  was  Fred- 
erick L  Blessing,  and  his  mother  was  Lu- 
cinda  ( Smith  )  Blessing.  Wlien  he  was  about 
five  years  of  age  his  parents  moved  into  Al- 
bany, and  he  was  able  thus  to  attend  the  city's 
schools  near  where  they  lived.  At  the  age  of 
twelve  he  secured  a  position  as  a  clerk  in  a 
grocery  store,  but  this  did  not  prove  to  his 
liking.  It  was  so  uncongenial  that  he  cast 
about  for  something  else  to  do,  in  which,  with 
his  heart  in  his  work,  he  might  the  better 
count  upon  success  to  reward  patient  effort. 
He  abantloned  the  position  in  1853  and  be- 
came an  apprentice  in  the  machinist  trade, 
which  evidently  well  suited  his  natural  inclin- 
ation and  accounts  for  his  success  all  through 
life.  The  new  position  was  with  the  large 
and  well-known  firm  of  F.  &.  T.  Townsend, 
and  there  he  completed  his  term  of  instruc- 
tion in  1857,  but  remained  with  this  firm  until 
1861.  This  was  at  the  time  when  Albany  was 
cast  into  excitement  over  the  outbreak  of  the 
civil  war.  It  was  a  place  where  recruiting 
was  going  on  beneath  tents  erected  in  the 
broad  streets,  and  a  drummer  upon  the  out- 
side kept  people's  patriotism  at  a  glow.  With 
the  late  General  Frederick  Townsend,  he 
worked  hard  over  the  invention  of  a 
novel  form  of  a  breech-loading  rifle 
which  they  intended  for  army  use.  From 
its  improvement  over  older  mechanical 
devices,  they  contemplated  great  re- 
sults, and  their  endeavors  were  induced  large- 
ly through  patriotic  motives,  for  General 
Townsend  shortly  recruited  a  regiment  in  Al- 


bany with  which  he  departed  for  the  front, 
while  Mr.  Blessing  likewise  entered  the  ser- 
vice in  defense  of  the  Union,  but  applying  his 
ability  in  his  individual  field. 

Air.  Blessing  entered  the  United  States  serv- 
ice in  the  navy  as  an  acting  assistant  engi- 
neer. He  was  very  acceptable,  for  he  was  an 
expert  and  thoroughly  interested  in  his  line. 
He  participated  in  both  battles  of  Fort  Fish- 
er. His  enlistment  dated  under  Commodore 
Porter,  March  29,  1864,  and  he  served  con- 
tinuously, receiving  promotions.  From  1862  to 
1864,  he  was  connected  with  the  construction 
department  of  the  New  York  Navy  Yard  at 
Brooklyn.  No  matter  what  honors  came  to 
him  afterward,  he  cited  that  period  of  his  life 
with  greatest  pride,  for  its  scope  was  the  na- 
tion's existence,  the  later  honor  a  city's  ad- 
vancement. Following  the  close  of  the  war,  , 
he  was  engineer  in  charge  of  the  steam  ma- 
chinery of  the  Brooklyn  City  Railroad  Com- 
pany. 

He  returned  to  .Albany,  in  1866,  to  accept 
the  position  of  superintendent  of  the  exten- 
sive foundry  and  machine  works  of  Town- 
send  &  Jackson,  located  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  city  and  upon  the  Hudson  river  front. 
It  was  in  its  day  the  most  important  works 
of  this  character  for  many  miles  around,  hav- 
ing succeeded  to  the  firm  with  which  he  had 
served  his  apprenticeship,  and  the  manage- 
ment had  fullest  confidence  in  his  ability.  In 
the  year  1870  Mr.  Blessing  invented  the  "re- 
turn steam  trap,"  which  has  become  well 
known  and  is  used  generally  in  nearly  all 
parts  of  the  globe.  It  was  regarded  as  a 
great  step  in  advance,  and  his  friends,  per- 
ceiving this,  were  willing  to  back  him  finan- 
cially. Leaving  the  Townsend  &  Jackson 
firm  in  1872,  he,  with  General  Frederick 
Townsend,  engaged  in  the  business  of  manu- 
facturing and  selling  steam  traps  under  the 
firm  name  of  Townsend  &  Blessing.  The 
business  proved  a  success,  and  in  1875  the 
Albany  Steam  Trap  Company  was  formed, 
with  three  stockholders.  General  Townsend, 
the  late  Henry  H.  Martin  and  Mr.  Blessing. 
Mr.  Blessing's  mechanical  training  had  de- 
veloped many  novel  and  useful  inventions, 
among  them  steam  engines,  steam  pumps, 
steam  traps,  steam  boilers,  valves,  steam  pack- 
ing, pump  governors,  steam  and  oil  separa- 
tors, friction  clutches,  boiler  purifiers,  water 
filters  and  many  other  useful  contrivances 
which  the  firm  manufactured.  The  breadth 
of  his  training  and  experience  led  many  per- 
sons busily  engaged  upon  inventions  to  come 
to  him,  and  it  was  often  the  case  that  his  as- 
sistance, freely  given,  helped  to  bring  about 
the    perfection    of    a     mechanical     appliance 


92 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


which  had  failed  to  work  until  he  gave  it 
his  attention.  Often  people  came  to  him,  that 
at  his  word  credence  would  be  placed  in  their 
work. 

Before  his  election  as  mayor  of  Albany, 
he  had  held  but  one  public  office,  that  of 
supervisor.  He  represented  the  fifth  ward  on 
the  board  in  the'  years  1894-95,  and  during 
the  latter  year  was  the  president  of  that  body. 
After  the  mayoralty  term  he  retained  an  in- 
terest in  politics ;  but  having  declined  to  ac- 
cept a  second  nomination,  because  of  the  time 
demanded  from  his  business  and  through  im- 
paired health,  he  sought  no  other  office,  yet 
continued  as  vice-president  of  the  Fifth  Ward 
Republican  organization,  and  was  a  delegate 
from  his  ward  to  the  convention  nominating 
Mayor  McEwan.  He  was  elected  the  sixty- 
first  mayor  at  the  election  held  November  7, 
1899,  heading  the  Republican  ticket,  and  was 
the  first  man  of  that  party  to  be  elected  mayor 
for  a  period  of  some  twenty  years.  The  sig- 
nificance of  this  is  that  he  accomplished  what 
a  dozen  other  leading  Albany  Republicans  had 
failed  to  achieve.  Out  of  the  total  of  22,848 
votes  cast,  he  received  12,364,  and  Judge 
Thomas  J.  Van  Alstyne,  Democrat.  9,995 
votes.  He  had  turned  a  continuous  Demo- 
cratic majority  into  a  handsome  Republican 
victory,  and  took  office  on  January  i,  1900, 
officiating  through  two  full  years.  He  was 
the  first  mayor  to  serve  under  the  new  char- 
ter granted  to  cities  of  the  second  class,  and 
while  experimental  in  some  ways,  his  admin- 
istration has  gone  into  municipal  history  as 
one  of  the  most  successful  and   satisfactory. 

During  his  term,  among  many  important 
civic  events  were  the  city's  endeavor  to  cope 
with  the  serious  strike  of  the  traction  line, 
Public  School  No.  12  was  completed,  the  first 
public  bath  opened,  the  city  draped  in  mourn- 
ing for  McKinley,  reconstruction  of  the  Cen- 
tral railroad's  bridge  across  the  Hudson,  the 
chamber  of  commerce  organized,  an  enor- 
mous ice  gorge  at  Cedar  Hill  threatened  the 
business  interests,  the  freshet  being  the  great- 
est in  forty-three  years,  and  being  twenty  feet 
above  the  normal  required  city  relief  by  the 
police  navigating  the  streets  in  boats,  the 
Pruyn  Library  given  to  the  city  and  accepted 
in  a  speech  by  him,  the  Albany  Institute  uni- 
ted with  the  Albany  Historical  and  Art  So- 
ciety, a  children's  playground  inaugurated  in 
Beaver  Park,  the  cruiser  "Albany"  placed  in 
commission,  reconstruction  of  the  Central 
railroad's  viaduct  crossing  Broadway,  coal 
famine  because  of  the  strike  in  Pennsylvania 
fields,  Albany  County  Bar  Association  incor- 
porated, curfew  law  advocated  at  common 
council    hearings,  the  new  and   costly  union 


railway  station  opened,  Albany  connected! 
with  Hudson  by  an  electric  line,  Chinese  Min- 
ister Wu  Ting- fang,  LL.D.,  a  guest  of  the 
city,  the  John  Marshall  centennial  ceremonies 
held  in  the  assembly  chamber,  annexation  of 
Bath  to  Rensselaer,  Dana  Park  opened  and: 
dedicated  by  Mr.  Blessing,  the  Schenectady 
railway  running  its  first  electric  cars  into  Al- 
bany, statistical  record  at  the  filtration  plant 
inaugurated,  completion  of  the  resurfacing 
of  Madison  avenue  with  asphalt,  the  Humane 
Society  acquired  its  own  building,  and  im- 
provements instituted  in  many  of  the  schools. 
These  constitute  the  affairs  with  which  he  was 
directly  concerned,  either  because  of  his  ad- 
vocacy and  consideration  in  some  form  as  the 
city's  executive,  or  through  his  personal  solic- 
itude, and  they  go  to  show  the  advancement 
of  the  city's  interests  in  various  directions  as 
affected  by  his  connection  therewith,  while  in 
many  minor  ways  there  was  a  steady  im- 
provement in  which  all  citizens  benefited.  In 
these  ways  his  term  will   remain  memorable. 

Mr.  Blessing  was  a  member  of  the  Amer- 
ican Society  of  Mechanical  Engineers,  of  the 
Albany  Institute,  and  the  Capital  City  Repub- 
lican Club.  He  was  an  attendant  of  the 
Baptist  church,  and  resided  at  No.  107  Eagle 
street. 

Mr.  Blessing  married  (first)  at  Albany, 
September  15,  1857,  Martha  Hutson.  who 
died  July  17,  1866;  children:  IMartha,  mar- 
ried Charles  W.  Backus,  and  died  in  New 
York  City,  January  5,  1907 ;  Lucinda,  died 
in  infancy.  Mr.  Blessing  married  (second) 
at  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  November  9, 
1870,  Mrs.  Mary  (Gilson)  Judd,  residing 
in  Albany  in  1910.  County  Treasurer  John 
W.  Wheelock  married  Miss  Judd,  a  daughter 
of  his  second  wife,  and  Ixitli  residents  of  Al- 
bany. Mr.  Blessing  had  also  two  sisters  liv- 
ing in  Albany,  Miss  Lucretia  Blessing  and 
Mrs.  Sarah  J.  Laning. 

Mr.  Blessing  was  not  a  man  of  robust 
health,  although  active  in  attention  to  busi- 
ness, and  after  suffering  for  a  little  more  than 
a  week  with  an  attack  of  grip,  at  the  end 
sank  rapidly  and  died  early  in  the  morning 
of  February  21.  1910.  Having  always  lived 
a  quiet,  domestic  life,  the  funeral  was  held 
at  his  home  to  avoid  public  demonstration, 
the  Rev.  Creighton  R.  Storey,  pastor  of  the 
F'irst  Baptist  Church,  officiating,  and  Mayor 
James  B.  McEwan  issued  a  proclamation,  or- 
dering: "As  a  mark  of  appreciation  of  the 
impress  made  by  him  upon  the  life  of  our 
city,  it  is  ordered  that  the  flags  he  placed  at 
half  staff  upon  all  the  city's  public  buildings, 
Imtil  after  his  funeral,  and  that  the  heads 
of  city  departments  and  members  of  the  Com- 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


93 


imon  Council  attend  his  funeral  with  the  May- 

••or  in -.a  body." 

The  bell  in  the  tower  of  the  City 
Hall  tolled,  and  as  the  solemn  cortege 
moved  slowly  through  the  streets,  the  people 
stood  in  throngs  with  uncovered  heads,  show- 
ing all  possible  honor  to  one  whom  they  had 
unreservedly   respected   and   who   had   served 

ithem  well  as  their  executive. 


The  first  and  only  Flanders 

FLAXDERS  to  emigrate  to  .Xmerica  in 
the  early  period  was  Ste- 
phen, who  came  with  his  wife  Jane  to  Salis- 
bury, Massachusetts,  between  1640  and  1646, 
and  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  that 
town.  He  was  admitted  a  townsman  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1650.  His  will  was  dated  April  4, 
1684,  and  he  died  June  27  following.  His 
wife  Jane  died  November  19,  1683.  Chil- 
dren: Stephen  (2),  see  forward:  Mary,  Phil- 
ip, Sarah,  Naomi  and  John.  Deacon  John, 
the  youngest  son,  settled  in  South  Hampton, 
New  Hampshire.  He  was  in  the  fight  at 
Turner's  Falls,  and  died  in  his  eighty-seventh 
year. 

(H)  Stephen  (2),  son  of  Stephen  (i)  and 
Jane  Flanders,  was  born  March  8,  1646.  He 
married.  December  28,  1670,  Abigail  Carter, 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  Carter.  He 
was  a  resident  of  Salisbury.  Massachusetts, 
where  he  died  in  the  latter  half  of  his  ninety- 
ninth  year,  October  6,  1744.  Children:  Thom- 
. as,  Stephen  (3),  Thomas  (2),  Daniel,  see  for- 
ward: Joseph,  Philip.  Sarah.  Philip  (2),  Jane 
Jeremiah  and  .\bigail. 

(HI)    Daniel,  son  of  Stephen  and   Abigail 

(Carter)  Flanders,  was  born  March  16,  1675. 

He  lived   in  .Amesbury,   Massachusetts.      He 

married  and  had  issue:     Daniel   (2)   and  Je- 

■dediah. 

(R")  Jedediah,  son  of  Daniel  Flanders, 
was  born  April  13,  1705.  He  married,  Jan- 
uary 3.  1728,  Eleanor  Barnard.  Children: 
Sarah,  Timothy,  Hannah.  Daniel,  Barnard, 
Eleanor  and  JedediaTi.  see  forward. 

(V)  Jedediah  (2),  son  of  Jedediah  (i)  and 
Eleanor  (Barnard)  Flanders,  was  born  Au- 
gust 29,  1748.  In  1795  he  renioved  to  Corn- 
ville.  Maine,  where  he  purchased  a  large  tract 
of  land,  built  a  mill  and  lived  to  be  seventy- 
five  years  of  age.  He  died  December  6,  1823, 
aged  seventy-five  years. 

He  married,  February  8.  1770,  Judith 
Tewksbury.  Children:  i.  Molly,  born  June  8, 
1770.  2.  Jonathan,  October  8,  1771.  3.  Thomas, 
October  20,  1773.  4.  Sarah,  February  25, 
1776.  5.  William,  November  19,  1778.  6. 
■Jedediah  (3),  March  18,  1781.  7.  Jacob, 
April  17,  1783.     8.  Judith,  June  i,   1785.      9. 


Eleanor,  May  4,  1787.  10.  Daniel,  see  for- 
ward.    II.  Moses,  June  23,   1791. 

(\T)  Daniel,  son  of  Jedediah  (2)  and  Ju- 
dith (Tewksbury)  Flanders,  was  born  April 
28,  1789.  He  removed  either  from  Corn- 
ville,  Maine,  or  Salisbury,  Massachusetts,  and 
settled  in  New  Hampshire  along  the  Connec- 
ticut river.  Prior  to  1830  he  removed  to 
Bombay,  Franklin  county.  New  York,  thence 
to  Parishville,  St.  Lawrence  county,  where  he 
died.  He  married  Fannie  Flanders,  a  kins- 
woman (second  cousin).  Children:  Parker, 
Martha,  Arthur,  (see  forward)  ;  Albert  E., 
Caroline. 

(\TI)  Arthur,  son  of  Daniel  and  Fannie 
(Flanders)  Flanders,  was  born  in  Bombay, 
F'ranklin  county.  New  York,  March  17,  1831. 
He  married,  in  1853,  Mary  Lovell.  Chil- 
dren: I.  Arthur  W.,  born  February  12,  1855; 
married  Julia  Dewey,  and  had  Grace  P..  and 
George  Emerson  Flanders.  2.  Imogene,  born 
July  6,  1857,  married  Lewis  Putnam,  and  had 
Charles,  Edith  and  Florence.  3.  George  Lo- 
vell, see  forward. 

(\'ni)  George  Lovell,  son  of  Artluir  and 
Mary  (Lovell)  Flanders,  was  born  at  Parish- 
ville, St.  Lawrence  county.  New  York,  Feb- 
ruary 29.  1856.  He  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  and  at  Potsdam,  and  took  a  short 
course  at  Union  College.  He  followed  the 
profession  of  teaching  for  several  years,  and 
was  principal  of  the  Madrid  Union  School, 
Madrid,  New  York.  In  1884  he  was  ap- 
pointed assistant  state  dairy  commissioner, 
serving  until  1893.  During  this  period  he 
took  up  the  study  of  law  at  Albany  Law 
School,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1888.  In 
1893  he  was  appointed  assistant  state  com- 
missioner of  agriculture,  a  position  he  has 
since  held  continuously.  He  is  considered 
an  authority  on  agricultural  law,  and  has  lec- 
tured and  written  much  upon  questions  of 
vital  importance  to  agriculturists.  Through 
the  press  and  on  the  platform  he  has  created 
a  deep  interest,  and  made  his  department 
one  of  practical  value.  In  1901  he  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Farmers'  National  Congress,  and 
for  three  years  was  first  vice-president  of  the 
National  Association  of  Dairy  and  Food 
Commissioners,  and  is  now  (1910)  president, 
having  been  elected  in  1909.  In  1909  he  was 
elected  a  director  of  the  National  Dairy 
Union,  .and  subsequently  president.  He  is  a 
member  of  Ancient  City  Lodge,  Free  and  Ac- 
cepted Masons,  of  Albany,  and  of  the  State 
Grange,  Patrons  of  Husbandry. 

He  married,  April  25,  1885,  Catherine 
Southwick  Keeler,  daughter  of  William  H. 
and  Annie  Keeler.  of  .-Vlbany.  Children :  Lil- 
lian Lovell,  and  Marion  Southwick. 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


The  Thompson  family  of 
THOMPSON  Troy,  New  York,  vv^ose 
ancestry  is  herein  re- 
corded, descended  from  Anthony  Thompson, 
of  England,  who  came  to  America  in  1637 
and  is  the  founder  of  the  American  family 
of  Thompson  known  as  the  New  Haven 
branch.  It  is  -not  known  from  what  part  of 
England  he  came,  but  as  Rev.  Davenport 
(with  whom  he  came)  had  been  a  minister 
in  London  and  Eaton,  Hopkins  and  others 
had  been  merchants  in  that  city,  the  infer- 
ence is  that  he  was  a  native  of  or  near  Lon- 
don. The  name  has  long  been  known  in  Eng- 
land. Scotland  and  Ireland  under  different 
spellings — Tompson.  Tomson,  Thomson  and 
Thompson.  In  a  later  generation  the  line 
crossed  another  Thompson  family,  not  known 
to  be  related,  beginning  with  John  Thomp- 
son, of  England  and  .Stratford.  Connecticut. 
Through  this  line  descent  is  gained  from  El- 
der William  Brewster  of  the  "Mayflower," 
Sir  Richard  Saltonstall,  Lion  Gardiner  and 
other  famous  colonial  and  revolutionary  fam- 
ilies. The  Thompson  arms :  Or,  on  a  fesse 
dancettee  az,  three  etoiles  ar.  on  a  canton  of 
the  second,  the  sun  in  glory  ppr.  Crest :  An 
arm  erect,  vested  gu.  cuff  ar.  holding  in  the 
hand  ppr.  five  ears  of  wheat  or.  Motto:  In 
lumine   luce. 

(J)  Anthony  Thompson  with  his  wife 
(name  unknown),  two  children,  and  brothers, 
John  and  William  Thompson,  embarked  at 
London,  England,  on  the  ship  "Hector,"  for 
America,  where  they  arrived  June  26,  1637, 
according  to  Winthrop's  Journal,  but  accord- 
ing to  Cotton  Mather,  the  date  was  July  26, 
1637.  They  landed  at  Boston.  They  were 
a  part  of  the  company  which  came  with  Gov- 
ernor Eaton  and  Rev.  Davenport,  dissenters 
from  the  Church  of  Eiigland,  who  left  their 
homes  to  take  up  a  residence  in  the  new 
world,  where  they  could  be  free  from  the  con- 
stant persecutions  which  characterized  the 
reign  of  Charles  I.  The  company  was  com- 
posed of  men  of  wealth  and  energy,  and  af- 
ter careful  selection,  they  decided  to  follow 
their  pastor,  Rev.  Davenport,  in  his  choice  of 
location,  which  was  Quinnipiack  or  New 
Haven,  Connecticut.  The  Thompson  broth- 
ers were  allotted  lands  and  became  leading 
citizens.  John  lived  at  East  Haven,  where 
he  died  December  11,  1674.  The  farm  he 
owned  is  said  to  be  yet  owned  by  descendants. 
He  married  but  left  no  male  issue.  William 
made  his  will  October  6.  1682,  dying  the 
same  year.  lie  resided  and  died  in  New 
Haven. 

Anthony  Thompson  signed  the  Colonial 
Constitution,  June  4,  1639,  and  appears  in  the 


original  list  as  having  shares  in  the  first  and 
second  divisions  of  land.  He  took  the  oath 
of  allegiance  in  1644.  His  will  was  made 
March  23,  1648,  shortly  before  his  death.  It 
was  probably  made  "in  extremis."  It  was 
drawn  up  by  Rev.  John  Davenport,  pastor, 
and  Robert  Newman,  ruling  elder  of  the 
church.  He  is  called  Brother  Anthony 
Thompson,  and  seems  to  have  been  a  devout 
member  of  the  church.  The  name  of  his 
first  wife  is  unknown.  His  second  wife  was 
Kathern.  By  first  w'ife  he  had  two  sons  and 
a  daughter,  and  by  the  second  wife,  two 
daughters  and  a  posthumous  son.  Children 
of  Anthony  Thompson,  the  emigrant :  John, 
born  in  England,  1632,  see  forward;  Anthony, 
born  in  England,  December,  1634,  died  at 
age  of  twenty  years ;  Bridget,  born  1637, 
married  Rev.  John  Bowers,  of  Guilford.  New 
Haven  and  Derby,  Connecticut;  Anna,  bap- 
tized June  8.   1645,  married  Stanton ; 

Lydia,  baptized  July  24.  1647.  married.  Sep- 
tember 20,  1665.  Isaac  Crittenden,  of  Guil- 
ford; Ebenezer,  baptized  October  15.  1648, 
married.  June,  1671,  Deborah  Dudley. 

(II)  John,  eldest  son  of  Anthony  Thomp- 
son, was  born  in  England  in  1632.  He  is 
called  Skipper  John  Thompson  and  John 
Thompson,  the  "Mariner."  This  to  distin- 
guish him  from  "farmer"  John  Thompson. 
He  was  a  seafaring  man  and  a  resident  of 

New  Haven.    He  married  Hellena  ,  who 

died  April  8,  1690.  Captain  John  survived  her 
until  June  2,  1707.  Children:  i.  John,  born 
May  12,  1657;  was  called  Lieutenant  John; 
married  Rebecca  Daniel ;  children :  .\nna, 
married  Thomas  Ives :  Daniel,  married  Mary 
Ball ;  Rebecca,  married  Caleb  Mix :  Elizabeth, 
married  John  Bassett ;  John ;  Anthony.  2. 
William,  born  1660,  married  Hannah  Glover ; 
children:  James:  Abigail:  Mary,  married 
John  Hitchcock :  Josiah  and  Benjamin.  3. 
Joseph,  born  April  8,  1664;  married  Eliza- 
beth Smith  :  children :  Anna,  Joseph  and  Ebe- 
nezer.   4.  Samuel,  see  forward. 

(III)  Samuel,  son  of  Captain  John  and 
Hellena  Thompson,  was  born  in  New  Haven, 
Connecticut.  May  12.  1669.  died  in  Goshen, 
Connecticut,  March  26,  1746.  He  was  a  high- 
ly-esteemed merchant  of  New  Haven,  but  lat- 
er in  life  removed, to  Goshen,  where  his  sons 
.Samuel  and  Amos  had  settled.  He  was  suc- 
cessively sergeant,  ensign,  lieutenant  and  cap- 
tain of  militia.  He  seems  to  have  been  a  man 
of  importance.  There  is  no  record  of  the 
settlement  of  his  estate  nor  of  the  time  of  his 
removal  to  (joshen.  He  married.  Novetnber 
14,  1695.  Rebecca,  tlaughter  of  Lieutenant- 
Governor  Bishop.  Children:  i.  Samuel, 
born  December  2,   1696.     He  settled  on  the 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


95 


east  line  of  the  town  of  Stanford,  Dutchess 
county,  New  York,  where  he  built  a  grist 
mill.  He  married  Hester  Ailing;  children: 
Elizabeth,  Samuel,  Sarah  and  Esther.  2. 
James,  born  June  5,  1699.  He  settled  near 
his  brother  Samuel  in  Stanford.  He  was 
killed  by  a  fall  from  a  tree  in  1737.  He 
married  Harriet  W'ilmot ;  children :  Mary, 
James,  Hezekiah,  who  was  a  lawyer  of  Wood- 
bury, Connecticut,  and  whose  son  William 
was  the  first  judge  of  Sullivan  county,  New 
York,  and  his  son  James  an  Episcopal  clergy- 
man of  New  Durham,  Greene  county,  New 
York.  3.  Amos,  see  forward.  4.  Gideon, 
born  December  25,  1704.  He  settled  in  Gosh- 
en, Connecticut,  was  deputy,  and  died  in 
Hartford,  Connecticut,  while  attending  tlie 
fifth  session  of  the  assembly  to  which  he  was 
selected.  He  married  Lydia  Punderson  ;  chil- 
dren :  Elisha,  Daniel,  Stephen,  Lydia,  James, 
Chloe  and   Lois.     5.  Rebecca,  born  February 

23,    1708:    married   Austin,    of    New 

Haven.  6.  Judah,  born  June  10,  17 10.  died 
August  5,  1712.  7.  Judah,  born  xAugust  5, 
1713,  lived  and  died  in  New  Haven.  8.  Enos, 
born  August  18,  1717,  lived  in  New  Haven. 
He  was  the  grandfather  of  Enos  Thompson 
Throop,  charge-de-afifaires  to  Naples  and  gov- 
ernor of  the  state  of  New  York.  Married 
Sarah  Hitchcock. 

A  distinguished  descendant  of  Samuel 
Thompson  was  Smith  Thompson,  judge  of 
the  supreme  court  of  the  United  States  and 
secretary  of  the  navy. 

(R)  Amos,  third  son  of  Samuel  and  Re- 
becca (Bishop)  Thompson,  was  born  in  New 
Haven,  Connecticut,  March  3.  1702.  He  set- 
tled near  the  pond  yet  known  as  Thompson's 
Pond  in  1746.  Februarj-  3,  1737,  he  bid  of? 
one  right  in  the  town  of  Goshen,  Connecti- 
cut. In  1 741  he  was  chosen  town  clerk  and 
treasurer  and  re-elected  each  year  until  1750. 
The  first  meeting  house  built  in  Goshen  was 
on  his  land.  He  married,  September  7,  1726, 
Sarah  Allen.  Children :  Allen,  born  June  2, 
1727:  Rebecca,  April  28,  1729;  Amos,  Au- 
gust 7,  1731  :  Ezra,  see  forward;  Mary,  De- 
cember 6,    1 74 1. 

(V)  Ezra,  youngest  son  of  Amos  and  Sa- 
rah (Allen)  Thompson,  was  born  in  New 
Haven.  Connecticut,  in  1734.  He  was  one  of 
the  first  supervisors  of  the  town  of  Stan- 
ford, Dutchess  county,  New  York,  being  elec- 
ted in  1795.  He  was  a  gentleman  farmer 
and  had  a  large  estate  not  far  from  the  city 
of  Poughkeepsie,  New  York.  He  married, 
Rachel  Smith.  Children  :  Ezra,  see  forward ; 
Smith,  Egbert,  Nathan,  Tamna,  Rachel,  Bet- 
sey and  Sally. 

(VI)  Ezra    (2),  second   son   of  Ezra    (i) 


and  Rachel  (Smith)  Thompson,  was  born 
September  3,  1765.  died  April  3,  1829.  He 
was  a  farmer  and  brought  up  his  large  fam- 
ily to  habits  of  industry  and  thrift.  His  es- 
tate lay  in  Dutchess  county,  New  York, 
where  his  children  were  born.  He  was  a 
man  of  integrity,  quiet,  yet  forceful  in  man- 
ner, qualities  transmitted  to  his  posterity.  He 
married,  July  13,  1786,  Sallie  Burton.  Chil- 
dren: Huldah,  born  July  27,  1787;  Polly,  De- 
cember 19,  1788;  Tamna,  August  28,  1790; 
Sally,  August  22,  1792;  George,  March  31, 
1794:  Walter,  March  4,  1796;  John  Leland, 
see  forward;  Rachel,  born  September  21, 
1799;  Julia  Ann,  February  8.  1802. 

(\^II)  John  Leland,  seventh  child  and  third 
son  of  Ezra  (2)  and  Sallie  (Burton;  Thomp- 
son, was  born  at<Amenia,  Dutchess  county, 
New  York,  December  i,  1797,  died  at  Troy, 
New  York,  March  27,  1880.  He  was  reared 
on  the  farm  and  educated  in  the  publie 
schools.  He  remained  at  home  until  1817, 
and  in  that  year  settled  in  Troy,  where  he 
began  his  business  career  as  a  clerk  in  the 
drug  store  of  Dr.  Samuel  Gale.  At  this  early 
period  Dr.  Gale  was  postmaster  of  Troy  and 
the  post  office  was  located  in  his  store.  He 
developed  remarkable  business  ability  and  in 
182 1  was  admitted  to  a  partnership,  the  firm 
becoming  Gale  &  Thompson.  In  1826  Dr. 
Gale  retired  from  the  firm  and  for  the  fol- 
lowing fifteen  years  Mr.  Thompson  was  sole 
proprietor.  In  1841  David  Cowee  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  firm,  and  it  became  John  L. 
Thompson  &  Company.  In  1855  John  Isaac 
and  \\''illiain  Augustus,  sons  of  John  Leland 
Thompson,  were  admitted,  and  the  firm  name 
was  changed  to  John  L.  Thompson  Sons  & 
Company,  w-hich  still  continues.  For  nearly 
sixty-three  years  he  conducted  business  on  the 
same  spot,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was 
the  oldest  and  wealthiest  merchant  in  the  city, 
and  the  business  which  has  developed  under 
his  guidance  and  direction  had  become  the 
third  largest  drug  house  in  the  state  of  New 
York.  His  career  was  one  of  continuous 
success.  He  began  life  with  a  capital  con- 
sisting of  a  good  education  and  a  single  sil- 
ver dollar,  handed  him  by  his  father  as  he 
entered  the  old  store  as  a  clerk,  accompanying 
it  with  these  words:  "My  son,  you  may  re- 
quire a  little  money  liefore  you  earn  any; 
take  this.''  He  observed  the  strictest  integrity 
in  all  his  business  dealings  and  this  rule  of 
conduct  he  laid  down  as  the  guide  for  all  his 
employees  and  associates.  Besides  being  at 
the  head  of  one  of  the  largest  wholesale  drug 
houses  in  the  state,  he  held  many  other  po- 
sitions of  honor  and  trust.  He  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Troy  &  Greenwich  railroad ;  one 


■96 


HUDSOX   AND   :M0HAWK   VALLEYS 


of  the  organizers  of  the  Troy  Union  Railroad 
Company  in  185 1 ;  was  a  director  and  es- 
pecially active  in  procuring  the  title  to  the 
lands  purchased  in  Troy  for  the  location  of 
that  road  and  for  the  site  of  the  L^nion  depot ; 
was  a  director  of  the  old  Farmers'  Bank  from 
1836  until  that  institution  was  merged  into 
the  United  National  in  1865,  when  he  re- 
signed :  for  many  years  was  a  trustee  of  the 
Troy  Savings  Bank,  and  a  director  of  the  Al- 
bany &  \'ermont  Railroad  Company.  He 
was  especially  interested  in  the  Marshall  In- 
firmary, serving  on  the  board  of  governors, 
and  adding  a  great  deal  to  the  usefulness  and 
prosperity  of  that  institution.  He  was  a  Dem- 
ocrat in  politics,  although  never  active  in  po- 
litical affairs,  but  was  always  interested  in 
the  welfare  and  growth  Of  the  city  whose 
prosperity  he  did  so  much  to  promote.  He 
was  a  lifelong  attendant  at  church  services, 
Slthough  not  a  communicant  tmtil  late  in  life, 
when  he  joined  St.  Paul's  Church,  whose  serv- 
ices for  years  previous  he  had  rarely  failed 
to  attend  both  morning  and  evening.  He 
was  always  devoted  to  and  practiced  the  high- 
■est  principles  of  morality  and  virtue.  He 
heartily  supported  the  Washingtonian  tem- 
perance movement  of  1840  and.  always  pre- 
viously strictly  temperate,  from  that  date  for- 
ward he  became  a  total  abstainer,  declaring 
that  no  one  should  ever  refer  to  him  as  an 
evil  example.  He  was  equally  opposed  to 
the  use  of  tobacco  in  any  form.  During  his 
last  illness,  when  his  articulation  had  become 
indistinct,  one  of  his  sons,  after  careful  listen- 
ing, caught  the  following  sentence:  "You 
will  never  make  a  success  in  life  without  ster- 
ling integrity."  And  in  this  sentence  may  be 
found  the  keynote  of  his  life.  He  died  at 
the  age  of  eighty-three  years  and  is  buried 
at  Oakwood  cemetery,  Troy.  He  married, 
August  17,  1829,  at  New  London,  Connecti- 
cut. Mary  Perkins  Thompson.  Children: 
John  Isaac,  born  April  2,  1831.  see  forward; 
AVilliam  .Vugustus,  February  2,  1834,  see  for- 
ward:  Mary  Elizabeth.  May  14.'  1838,  de- 
ceased; George  Smith,  February  14,  1840; 
Robert  Hallam,  August  16,  1845  ;  James  Ice- 
land, September  17,  1847;  Rev.  Walter,  Jan- 
uary 12,  1851  ;  Edward  Ray,  March  19,  1854, 
now  deceased. 

(XTII)  John  Isaac,  eldest  child  of  John 
Lcland  and  Mary  Perkins  (Thompson) 
Thompson,  was  born  in  Troy.  .April  2,  1831, 
died  in  San  Francisco,  California,  October 
16,  1901,  while  attending  the  general  con- 
vention of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  as 
deputy,  representing  the  .Albany  diocese.  He 
was  educated  at  a  private  school  in  Pough- 
keepsie,    New   York,   and   at   the    Rensselaer 


Polytechnic  Institute.  He  entered  business 
life  immediately  upon  leaving  college  and  be- 
came a  member  of  the  wholesale  drug  house 
of  John  L.  Thompson  Sons  &  Company,  and 
for  many  years  prior  to  his  death  was  the 
senior  member  of  the  firm  founded  by  his 
father.  He  inherited  the  sterling  qualities  of 
his  sire,  and  under  his  wise  and  progressive 
management  the  business  retained  its  former 
prestige  and  continued  a  most  successful  in- 
stitution. He  ranked  among  the  ablest  of 
Troy's  business  men.  Among  his  varied  out- 
side interests  was  the  Troy  City  National 
Bank,  now  the  Security  Trust  Company, 
which  he  served  as  a  director  for  many  years. 
He  was  also  on  the  board  of  directors  of 
the  Albany  &  ^'ermont  and  the  Troy  &  Green- 
bush  railroad  companies,  both  now  a  part 
of  the  Delaware  &  Hudson  system.  For  many 
years  he  was  a  trustee  of  the  Rensselaer  Poly- 
technic Institute,  and  was  always  a  warm  and 
useful  friend  of  this  institution.  He  was  a 
devout  churchman,  which  may  be  said  to  have 
been  the  greatest  interest  of  his  life.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  vestry  of  St.  Paul's  Epis- 
copal Church  for  many  years,  his  death  ter- 
minating long  years  of  service  as  a  senior 
warden.  His  services  to  the  church  were  both 
local  and  national.  With  his  W'ife  he  started 
the  little  chapel  on  Green  Island,  now  St. 
Mark's  Episcopal  Church.  He  was  also  one 
of  the  chief  organizers  of  St.  Paul's  Free 
Chapel,  now  St.  Barnabas  Episcopal  Church. 
Both  of  these  chapels  were  placed  on  a  firm 
financial  basis  through  the  efforts  and  liberal- 
ity of  Mr.  Thompson  and  wife.  Until  they 
became  separate  parishes  he  served  both  as 
a  trustee.  In  the  renovation  and  enlargement 
of  the  mother  church.  St.  Paul's,  he  was  ac- 
tive in  pushing  the  work,  raising  funds  to 
which  he  was  a  persistent  contributor.  For 
many  years  he  was  a  trustee  of  the  Church 
Home  in  Troy.  In  diocesan  affairs  he  was 
both  active  and  prominent.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  General  Board  of  Missions  of  the 
Church,  representing  the  .Albany  diocese.  He 
gave  freely  of  his  time,  means  and  business 
judgment  to  the  welfare  of  his  church,  and 
was  a  leading  spirit  in  church  councils.  Of 
an  independent  mind  in  political  affairs,  his 
announced  preference  was  for  the  Democratic 
party.  He  was  always  actively  interested 
in  the  Troy  Citizens  Corp,  holding  the 
rank  of  lieutenant.  As  paymaster,  he 
served  on  the  brigade  staff  with  the 
rank  of  captain.  For  many  years  he 
retained  an  active  interest  in  the  corp  and 
gave  it  his  loyal,  substantial  support,  retain- 
ing his  mcmbersliip  in  the  senior  company 
until    his    death.      Ills    clubs    were   the    New 


i 


HUDSON   AND    jNIOHAWK  VALLEYS 


97 


York  Yacht  and  the  Troy,  serving  the  latter 
for  many  years  as  a  director.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Society  of  Mayflower  Descendants 
and  of  the  Rensselaer  Polytechnic  Institute 
Alumni  Association.  His  long  and  useful 
life  terminated  while  engaged  actively  in  the 
work  of  the  church  to  which  he  was  devoted. 
Mr.  Thompson  married,  January  29,  1861, 
Mary  Mabbett  Warren,  born  May  6,  1838. 
Child :  Hobart  Warren,  see  forward,  and 
Mary  Warren,  wife  of  Edward  C.  Gale. 

(  VHn  William  Augustus,  second  son  of 
John  Leland  and  Mary  Perkins  (Thompson) 
Thompson  was  born  in  Troy,  New 
York,  February  2,  1834,  died  in  that 
city,  February  15,  1903.  He  was  educa- 
ted at  a  private  school  in  Poughkeep- 
sie  and  at  the  Rensselaer  Polytechnic  In- 
stitute, and  upon  leaving  college  was  admit- 
ted to  the  wholesale  drug  firm  of  John  L. 
Thompson  Sons  &  Company,  and  was  inti- 
mately associated  with  his  father  and  elder 
brother  in  the  management  and  development 
of  the  very  large  business  transacted  by  that 
firm,  one  of  the  three  largest  wholesale  drug 
houses  of  the  state  of  New  York.  His  busi- 
ness ability  and  acumen  making  him  a  pow- 
erful factor  in  the  same.  He  presented  in  his 
quiet  and  unobtrusive  way  a  phase  of  success- 
ful business  life  which  we  do  not  often  see, 
and  one  that  illustrates  the  fundamental  prin- 
ciples of  a  true  life,  whatever  the  forms  its 
enterprise  assumes.  Permanent  success  does 
not  grow  out  of  mere  activity,  perseverance 
and  judicious  action,  but  personal  virtue  com- 
bined with  these.  Probably  the  greatest  com- 
pliment that  can  be  paid  him  is  that  he  made 
himself  an  honor  to  the  great  commercial 
world,  as  well  as  a  credit  to  the  mercantile 
community  in  which  he  lived.  His  business 
transactions  were  conducted  on  the  principles 
of  strict  integrity,  and  he  fulfilled  to  the  letter 
every  trust  committed  to  him.  He  had  many 
and  varied  business  interests  outside  John  L. 
Thompson  Sons  &  Company.  He  was  vice- 
president  and  director  of  the  Troy  Savings 
Bank  :  vice-president  of  the  United  National 
Bank :  director  of  the  Security  Trust  Com- 
pany ;  president  of  the  Troy  &  New  England 
Railroad  Company,  which  road  he  was  fore- 
most in  promoting  and  building;  director  of 
Troy  Gas  Company.  He  was  always  active 
in  the  business  enterprises  that  promised 
greater  prosperity  for  Troy,  and  gave  loyal 
support  to  all  church  and  benevolent  institu- 
tions. He  was  trustee  of  the  Troy  Public 
Library,  of  the  Day  Home,  and  of  the  Church 
Home.  His  religious  home  was  St.  John's 
Episcopal  Church,  which  he  served  as  a  mem- 
"ber  of  the  vestry  for  over  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 


tury. He  was  of  strong  religious  convictions 
and  gave  the  church  generous  and  loyal  sup- 
port. Politically  he  was  a  Republican.  He 
manifested  a  great  interest  in  the  Citizens 
Corp,  of  which  he  was  an  enlisted  member  for 
many  years,  belonging  to  the  "Old  Guard." 
He  was  a  charter  member  of  the  present  Cit- 
izens Corp  and  supported  it  most  liberally. 
His  club  was  the  Troy.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  and  regent 
of  William  Floyd  Chapter  of  Troy. 

Mr.  Thompson  married,  June  18,  1863, 
Ilarriette  Clarkson  Crosby,  born  in  Water- 
vliet.  New  Y'ork,  September  9,  1843,  ^'ed  at 
her  home  in  Saratoga,  June  18,  1895,  daugh- 
ter of  Clarkson  Floyd  Crosby,  born  in  Troy, 
died  in  that  city,  February  15,  1893,  mar- 
ried Angelica  Schuyler ;  granddaughter  of 
William  Bedloe  Crosby.  Children:  i.  Clark- 
son Crosby,  born  October  12,  1867,  married 
Elizabeth  Winters.  2.  William  Leland,  see 
forward.  3.  Schuyler  Floyd,  born  April  13, 
1875.  4.  Angelica  Schuyler,  married,  April 
28,  1903,  Elbert  Scranton  Piatt;  child:  El- 
bert Scranton,  born  March  20,   1904. 

(IX)  Major  Hobart  Warren,  only  son  of 
John  Isaac  and  Mary  Mabbett  (Warren) 
Thompson,  was  born  in  Troy,  April  2,  1862. 
He  was  educated  in  the  Selleck  school  in 
Norwalk,  Connecticut,  where  he  prepared  for 
college.  He  entered  Trinity  College,  Hart- 
ford, Connecticut,  wliere  he  was  graduated 
Bachelor  of  Arts  in  1883,  and  received  the  de- 
gree of  Alaster  of  Arts  in  1886.  He  took  a 
jKJst-graduate  course  at  the  Rensselaer  Poly- 
technic Institute,  which  completed  his  colle- 
giate career.  He  began  his  business  life  with 
the  John  L.  Thompson  Sons  &  Company, 
where  he  remained  two  years.  In  1885  the 
John  L.  Thompson  Chemical  Company  was 
incorporated,  with  Hobart  Warren  Thompson 
as  secretary  and  treasurer.  The  business  of 
the  company  was  the  manufacture  of  chemi- 
cals. Their  plant  on  Green  Island  continued 
in  successful  operation  until  1890,  when  the 
business  was  purchased  by  the  Nichols  Chem- 
ical Company.  Mr.  Thompson  continued  with 
the  Nichols  Company  as  general  manager  of 
the  works  at  Troy  until  1898,  when  they  were 
absorbed  by  the  General  Chemical  Company 
of  New  York.  He  remained  with  the  new 
owners  as  superintendent  and  manager  until 
1907,  when  he  retired.  The  works  at  Troy 
were  then  abandoned  by  the  General  Chemi- 
cal Company  and  have  not  since  been  opera- 
ted. In  1907,  as  treasurer  of  the  Sirocco  En- 
gineering Company,  he  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  ventilating  fans,  continuing  in  that 
business  for  about  a  year,  when  the  com- 
pany was  absorbed  by  the  .\merican  Blower 


98 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


Company.  He  is  director  of  the  Troy  & 
Greenbiish,  Saratoga  &  Schenectady,  and  Al- 
bany &  Vermont  railroad  companies ;  trustee 
of  the  Troy  Orphan  Asylum ;  treasurer  and 
director  of  the  Troy  Boys'  Club.  He  is  an 
active  churchman,  being  vestryman  of  St. 
Paul's  Church  since  1902 ;  member  of  the 
standing  committee  of  the  diocese  of  Albany; 
secretary  of  the  committee  on  bishop's  salary ; 
and  other  important  diocesan  committees.  He 
was  an  enlisted  member  of  the  Troy  Citizens 
Corp  for  three  years ;  appointed  on  brigade 
staff  with  the  rank  of  captain,  later  was  pro- 
moted major  and  quartermaster,  serving  al- 
together six  years.  In  19 10  he  became  su- 
pernumerary. His  clubs  are:  Troy  Citizens 
Corp,  senior  company.  Sons  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, William  Floyd  Chapter;  Society  of  Co- 
lonial Wars ;  Troy  Club  of  Troy ;  University 
Club  of  New  York;  Trinity  College  Alumni 
Association;  L  K.  A.  fraternity.  Trinity  Col- 
lege. Politically  he  is  independent.  He  mar- 
ried, April  16,  1895,  Grace  McLeod,  born 
May  26,  1870.  Children:  Hobart  W.,  Jr., 
born  February  20,  1897;  Marion  McLeod, 
born  May  29,  1899. 

(IX)  Captain  William  Leland  (2),  second 
son  of  William  Augustus  and  Harriette 
Clarkson  (Crosby)  Thompson,  was  born  in 
Troy,  New  York,  April  4,  1871.  He  was 
educated  at  the  Albany  Boys'  Academy,  and 
prepared  for  college  under  private  tutors.  He 
entered  Harvard  University,  where  he  was 
graduated  Bachelor  of  Arts  in  the  class  of 
1893.  He  was  admitted  to  the  J.  L.  Thomp- 
son wholesale  drug  firm,  established  as  a  re- 
tail store  in  Troy  in  1797.  In  1903  the  busi- 
ness was  incorporated  as  I.  L.  Thompson 
Sons  &  Company,  and  William  Leland  was 
chosen  treasurer  of  the  corporation.  He  has 
always  shown  a  lively  interest  in  public  and 
military  affairs.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Se- 
curity Trust  Company,  United  National  Bank, 
Troy  Savings  Bank,  and  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association,  trustee  of  the  Public  Libra- 
ry, the  Emma  Willard  School  (Troy  Female 
Seminary),  the  Samaritan  Hospital.  In  1906 
he  was  a  member  of  the  city  board  of  edu- 
cation, and  in  1908  was  chosen  president  of 
the  board.  He  is  an  active  Republican  and 
has  been  the  choice  of  his  party  as  candidate 
for  the  state  legislature.  He  is  a  member  of 
St.  John's  Episcopal  Church  and  since  1903  a 
vestryman.  His  military  career  has  extended 
over  ma/iy  years.  He  enlisted  in  the  Troy 
Citizens  Corp  in  1896.  During  the  Spanish- 
American  war  he  enlisted  as  a  private  of 
Company  C.  Second  Regiment,  United  States 
Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was  commissioned 
second  lieutenant  of  Company  B,  Second  In- 


fantry, and  second  lieutenant  of  the  Two 
Hundred  and  First  Regiment,  in  1898,  and 
served  as  aide  on  the  staff  of  Brigadier-Gen- 
eral Charles  F.  Roe.  In  1899  he  was  commis- 
sioned second  lieutenant  of  Company  C,  Sec- 
ond Regiment,  New  York  National  Guard, 
promoted  first  lieutenant  in  1900,  and  captain 
in  1904.  From  1901  to  1905  he  served  on 
the  staff  of  Governor  Odell.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Society  of  Foreign  Wars,  Sons  of  the 
Revolution  and  St.  Nicholas  Society.  His 
clubs  are  the  Troy,  the  Union  of  Ne'w  York, 
the  Army  and  Navy,  and  the  Harvard  of  New 
York  City.  His  Harvard  University  clubs 
and  societies  are :  The  Hasty  Pudding,  Dick- 
ey, Zeta  Psi  and  Institute  of  1770.  He  mar- 
ried, January  6,  1909,  Martha  Groome,  of 
Philadelphia,  and  has  William  Leland,  born 
December  4,  1909. 

(The  Thompson  Line). 

Mary  Perkins  (Thompson)  Thompson, 
had  distinguished  ancestry,  beginning  with 
the  emigrant,  John  Thompson,  born  1582, 
died  in  1678.  He  married  in  England,  Mir- 
able  — ■ (.  He  settled  in  Stratford,  Con- 
necticut, about   1640. 

(II)  Ambrose,  son  of  John  and  ]\Iirable 
Thompson,  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  John 
Welles,  and  granddaughter  of  colonial  Gov- 
ernor Thomas  Welles,  of  Connecticut. 

(HI)  Deacon  John  (2),  son  of  Ambrose 
and  Sarah  (Welles)  Thompson,  married, 
1705.  Ruth,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Curtis, 
granddaughter  of  John  Curtis,  and  great- 
granddaughter  of  \\'illiam  Curtis,  who  came 
from    England   in    1632  on   the   ship    "Lion," 

married  Elizabeth  ,  and  was  a  man  of 

great  prominence. 

(IV)  John  (3),  son  of  Deacon  John  (2) 
and  Ruth  (Curtis)  Thompson,  married,  1739, 
Mehitable   Booth. 

(V)  Lieutenant  William,  son  of  John  (3) 
and  Mehitable  (Booth)  Thompson,  was  born 
October  29,  1742.  The  inscription  on  his 
tombstone  in  the  Congregational  burying 
ground  in  Stratford  reads:  "Sacred  to  the 
memory  of  Lieutenant  William  Thompson, 
who  fell  in  battle  bravely  fighting  for  the 
liberty  of  his  country  in  the  memorable  action 
at  Ridgefield,  27th  of  April,  1777,  when  a 
handful  of  intrepid  Americans  withstood 
some  thousands  of  British  troops  till,  over- 
powered with  numbers,  he  fell  a  victim  to 
British  tvranny  and  more  than  savage  cruelty 
in  the  38th  year  of  his  age.  He  lived  beloved 
and  died  universally  lamented,  and  his  body 
being  removed  from  the  place  of  action,  was 
here  deposited  with  military  honors."  He 
married,  October  14,  1762,  Mehitable  Ufford. 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


99 


(\'I)  Isaac,  son  of  Lieutenant  William 
and  Mehitable  (Ufford)  Thompson,  was  born 
August  24,  1775.  died  March  2,  1852.  He 
married,  January  5,  1800,  Catherine  Mum- 
ford,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  Mary  Per- 
kins (Thompson)  Thompson. 

Mehitable  (Ufford)  Thompson  was  a 
daughter  of  Lieutenant  Samuel  and  Eliza- 
beth (Curtis)  Ufford,  granddaughter  of  John 
and  Hannah  (Hawley)  Ufford,  and  great- 
granddaughter  of  Thomas  Ufford,  the  emi- 
grant, who  came  to  America  from  England 
in  1632  on  the  ship  "Lion,"  settled  in  Strat- 
ford, Connecticut,  where  he  died  in  1650. 
His  wife  was  Isabel  Gardiner. 

(The  Gardiner  Line). 
Jerusha  (Gardiner)  Christophers,  great- 
grandmother  of  Mary  Perkins  (Thompson) 
Thompson,  was  a  descendant  of  Lion  Gar- 
diner, first  proprietor  of  Gardiner's  Island, 
born  1599,  died  1663.  He  was  originally  an 
engineer  in  the  service  of  Prince  William  of 
Orange.     He  married  Mary  Williamson. 

(II)  David,  son  of  Lion  and  Mary  (Wil- 
liamson) Gardiner,  married  Mary  Bering- 
ham. 

(III)  John,  son  of  David  and  Mary  (Ber- 
ingham)  Gardiner,  married,  June  24,  1657, 
Mary,  daughter  of  William  King,  of  South- 
old,   New  Jersey, 

(IV)  John  (2),  son  of  John  (i)  and 
Mary  (King)  Gardiner,  married.  May  16, 
1716.  Sarah,  daughter  of  Governor  Gurdon 
and  Jerusha  (Richards)  Saltonstall,  and  ma- 
ternal granddaughter  of  James  and  Sarah 
(Gibbons)  Richards,  of  Hartford.  James 
Richards  was  assistant,  1665,  a  man  of  large 
landed  estate.  Sarah  Saltonstall  was  a  grand- 
daughter of  Colonel  Nathaniel  and  Eliza- 
beth (Ward)  Saltonstall.  Elizabeth  was  a 
daughter  of  Rev.  John  Ward,  of  Haverhill, 
Massachusetts,  and  granddaughter  of  Rev. 
Nathaniel  Ward,  author  of  the  "Cobbler  of 
Agawam,"  "whose  wit,"  says  Mather's  "Mag- 
nalia."  "made  him  known  to  more  English 
than  one." 

(V)  Jerusha,  daughter  of  John  (2)  and 
Sarah  (Saltonstall)  Gardiner,  married.  May 
7,  1741,  John  Christophers.  They  are  the 
grandparents  of  Mary  Perkins  (Thompson) 
Thompson. 

(Brewster  Line). 
The  "Mayflower"  descent  of  the  Thompson 
family  is  through  Mary  Perkins  Thompson, 
wife  of  John  Leiand  Thompson,  grandpar- 
ents of  the  present  generation.  The  two  fam- 
ilies of  Thompson  that  were  united  in  that 
manner  were  not  related  so  far  as  known. 
The   line    traces    in   one   direction    to   Elder 


William  Brewster,  of  the  "Mayflower,"  1620, 
ruling  elder  and  spiritual  guide  of  the  Pil- 
grim Fathers,  one  of  the  most  prominent 
figures  in  colonial  history. 

(II)  Jonathan,  eldest  son  of  Elder  William 
and  Mary  Brewster,  settled  on  the  Thames 
above  New  London,  Connecticut. 

(III)  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Jonathan  and 
Lucretia  Brewster,  married,  about  1654,  Peter 
Bradley. 

(IV)  Lucretia,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Eliza- 
betli  (Brewster)  Bradley,  married,  June  26, 
1681,  Judge  Richard  Christophers. 

(V)  Judge  Christopher,  son  of  Judge  Rich- 
ard and  Lucretia  (Bradley)  Christophers, 
married  Sarah  Prout. 

(VI)  John,  son  of  Judge  Christopher  and 
Sarah  (Prout)  Christophers,  married,  in 
1741,  Jerusha  Gardiner. 

(VII)  Lucretia,  daughter  of  John  and 
Jerusha  (Gardiner)  Christophers,  married, 
1770,  John  Mumford,  of  Newport,  Rhode 
Island. 

(VIII)  Catherine,  daughter  of  John  and 
Lucretia  (Christophers)  Mumford,  born  Au- 
gust 22,  1777,  died  August  20,  1816,  mar- 
ried, January  5,  1800,  Isaac  Thompson,  of 
Stratford  and  New  London,  Connecticut, 
born  August  24,  1775,  died  March  2,  1852. 

(IX)  Mary  Perkins,  daughter  of  Isaac  and 
Catherine  (Mumford)  Thompson,  born  Au- 
gust 24,  1809,  died  February  24,  1892,  mar- 
ried, August  17,  1829,  John  Leiand  Thomp- 
son, founder  of  J.  L.  Thompson  Sons  & 
Company,  and  grandfather  of  the  present 
Troy   families    (1910). 

(The    Saltonstall   Line). 

Jerusha  Gardiner,  wife  of  John  Christo- 
phers, descended  from  Sir  Richard  Salton- 
stall, born  1586,  came  from  England  to  Amer- 
ica in  1630.  In  1664  he  was  English  ambas- 
sador to  Holland,  where  Rembrandt  painted 
his  famous  portrait.  He  was  a  son  of  Sam- 
uel Saltonstall.  Lord  Mayor  of  London. 

(II)  Richard,  son  of  Sir  Richard  and 
Grace  (Kays)  Saltonstall,  was  deputy  and 
assistant  and  privy  to  the  concealment  of  the 
regicide  judge.  He  married,  1632,  Muriel 
Gurdon. 

(HI)  Colonel  Nathaniel,  son  of  Richard 
and  Muriel  (Gurdon)  Saltonstall,  was  assist- 
ant, 1679-86.  Married,  1663,  Elizabeth 
Ward. 

(IV)  Governor  Gurdon,  son  of  Colonel 
Nathaniel  and  Elizabeth  (Ward)  Saltonstall, 
was  governor  of  Massachusetts  elected  in 
1706.     Married  Jerusha  Richards. 

(V)  Sarah,  daughter  of  Governor  Gurdon 
and  Jerusha  (Richards)   Saltonstall,  married. 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


1716,    John    Gardiner,    a    merchant    of    New 
London.  Connecticut. 

(\'I)  Jerusha.  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah 
(Sakonstall)  Gardiner  married,  March  7, 
.174I,  John  Christophers,  and  they  were  the 
grandparents  of  Mary  Perkins  (Thompson) 
Thompson,  wife  of  John  Leland  Thompson, 
of  Troy. 


This  branch  of  the  Thomp- 
THO.MPSON     son  family  in  Troy,  herein 

recorded,  descends  in  di- 
rect male  succession  from  William  Thomp- 
son, of  Kittery,  Maine.  An  eminent  au- 
thority says  he  came  from  England.  He 
received  a  grant  of  land  in  Dover,  New 
Hampshire,  in  1656,  "beyond  Cocheco  Legg 
Swamp."  In  17 15  John  Thompson,  of  Dover, 
conveyed  fifty  acres  of  land  which  "were 
granted  to  my  father  William  Thompson  by 
the  town  of  Dover."  There  is  no  evidence 
that  William  Thompson  ever  lived  upon  the 
land.  October  15,  1656,  a  grant  made  in 
Kittery  "below  Sturgeon  Creek"  to  John 
White  in  165 1,  was  assigned  to  William 
Thompson,  who  is  supposed  to  have  been 
\\'hite"s  son-in-law.  In  1659  W^illiam  Thomp- 
son was  presented  at  York  court  "For  re- 
bellion against  his  father  and  mother-in-law." 
He  boimd  himself  to  the  court  in  a  bond  of 
twenty  pounds  "that  hee  will  be  of  good  be- 
havior towards  all  men,  especially  toward  his 
father  and  mother."  He  left  twenty-three 
acres  of  land,  a  house  and  orchard  in  Kit- 
tery, Maine,  and  fifty  acres  in  Dover,  New 
Hampshire.  His  wife  had  probably  died  be- 
fore 1676.  He  left  children  whose  ages 
were  given  in  1677  as  here  recorded:  John, 
aged  eighteen,  married  Sarah  Woodman ; 
William,  aged  sixteen,  probably  married 
Mary  Levering;  Robert,  aged  thirteen,  "liv- 
ing with  Toby  Hansen  in  Dover" :  James, 
aged  eleven,  see  forward ;  Alexander,  aged 
six,  married  .\nna  Curtis;  Judith,  aged  two. 
John,  the  eldest,  gave  a  bond  in  1684  for 
the  proper  administration  of  his  father's  es- 
tate and  to  provide  for  "James,  his  lame  and 
crippled  hrotlier." 

(II)  James,  son  of  William  Thompson, 
"the  founder,"  was  born  in  1666;  as  noted 
in  the  preceding  lines,  he  was  "lame  and  im- 
potent" at  the  age  of  eleven  years,  but  he 
grew  from  this  youthful  weakness  into  a 
manhood  of  the  sturdiest  type.  He  became 
a  tailor  by  trade.  Land  was  granted  him 
in  Kittery  in  1694  and  1696.  In  1719  he 
moved  to  York.  Maine,  where  he  was  also 
granted  land.  In  1727  he  removed  with  his 
family  to  New  Meadows,  Brunswick,  Maine, 
>\here  he  died.     He  married,  in  Dover,  New 


Hampshire.  March  3,  1700-01,  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Adrian  Frye,  of  Ffye's  Point, 
Kittery,  Maine.  She  was  a  woman  of  great 
strength  and  ability.  Children:  i.  Judith, 
married,  July  i,  1724,  John  Smith,  of  York, 
Maine,  and  had  a  large  family.  2.  Alexander, 
born  at  Kittery.  Maine.  "He  lived  in  Bruns- 
wick, ]Maine,  before  the  Indian  Wars.  He 
lived  to  be  over  eighty  years  old.  He  had 
no  learning,  but  was  a  hardy,  honest,  indus- 
trious man."  He  married.  May  20,  1731, 
Sarah  Grover,  of  York,  daughter  of  Mat- 
thew Grover.  She  bore  him  several  daughters 
and  one  son,  James.  3.  Captain  James,  born 
in  Kittery,  February  22,  1707,  died  at  Tops- 
ham,  Maine,  September  22,  1791.  He  settled 
at  New  Meadows,  Brunswick.  Maine, 
where  he  was  selectman  and  kept  a  gen- 
eral store.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
military  company  with  his  brothers,  Cor- 
nelius and  Alexander.  His  son,  Brigadier- 
General  Samuel  Thompson,  was  a  brave  sol- 
dier of  the  revolution.  Captain  James  mar- 
ried (first)  Reliance  Hinckley,  a  descendant 
of  Governor  Thomas  Hinckley,  of  Massa- 
chusetts; married  (second)  Mrs.  Lydia 
Brown,  of  Ipswich,  Massachusetts ;  married 
(third)  Mary  Higgins.  4.  Cornelius,  see  for- 
ward. 5.  Sarah,  born  April  27,  171 1,  "died 
in  twenty  days  after  her  birth."  6.  Mercy 
(called  Marcia  and  Marciel  in  some  old  rec- 
ords) born  April  i,  17 12;  married  (first)  a 
Mr.  Austin;  (second)  David  Junkins,  and 
settled  in  Brunswick,  Maine.  7.  Joseph,  born 
March  23,  1713-14,  died  before  1759.  He 
lived  and  died  at  Sebascodegan  Island,  Harps- 
well,  Maine.   He  was  noted  for  great  strength. 

8.  Dinah,  born  May  6,  1716;  married  her 
cousin,  Jonathan  Thompson,  October  i,  1737. 

9.  Benjamin  Thompson,  born  York,  Maine, 
September  9,  1717,  died  1765;  married.  Octo- 
ber 17,  1744,  Abigail  Philbrook.  10.  Richard, 
born  June  11.  1724;  lived  and  died  in  Ken- 
nebunk,  Maine,  a  respected  farmer:  he  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Maddox,  of  Arundel,  Maine. 
II.  Elizabeth,  born  April  19,  1726,  died  De- 
cember   22,    1726. 

(Ill)  Cornelius,  son  of  James  and  Eliza- 
beth (Frye)  Thompson,  was  born  at  York, 
Maine,  (3ctober  14,  1709,  died  1792.  He 
served  in  the  Indian  wars  in  1757.  He  mar- 
ried Hannah  Smith,  of  York,  Alaine.  Chil- 
dren :  Thomas,  who  moved  to  Plattsburgh, 
New  York ;  Amos,  who  moved  to  Bowdoin, 
Maine :  Joel,  see  forward ;  Richard  Thomp- 
son, who  moved  to, Wales,  Maine;  Robert, 
who  died  at  New  Meadows ;  Phinias,  lost  at 
sea  on  ship  of  war. 

(IV^)  Colonel  Joel,  third  son  of  Cornelius 
and   Hannah    (Smith)    Thompson,   was   born 


y^  .    v/.'     ^^  o-r-y^^t-xy) ' 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK   \'ALLEYS 


in  New  Meadows,  October  zt,.  1753,  died  in 
Lewiston,  Maine,  May  i,  1841.  He  was  a 
soldier  of  the  revolutionary  war.  He  en- 
listed May  15.  1775,  from  Brunswick,  Maine; 
not  long  after  the  revolutionary  war  he 
moved  to  Lewiston,  Maine,  where  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  represented 
Lewiston,  Maine,  in  the  general  court  of 
Massachusetts.  He  married,  February  18, 
1780.  Martha,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Thomas 
and  Agnes  (Smith)  Cotton,  born  in  Bruns- 
wick, Maine,  Alay  18.  1762,  died  July  16, 
1828.  Cliildren :  Mchitable,  born  May  10, 
1782,  died  March  22,  1839,  married  General 
Jedediah  Herrick :  Joel,  see  forward  ;  Phineas, 
born  May  23.  1786,  died  young:  Sarah,  born 
March  2,  1789,  died  1825 :  Cornelius,  born 
April  18,  1791,  died  in  Lisbon,  Maine,  No- 
vember 15,  1857,  he  served  for  a  time  in  the 
war  of  1812.  being  stationed  at  the  garrison 
at  Bath,  Maine ;  Klartha  Cotton,  born  April 
^7>  1793'  <iicd  October  13,  1880,  married 
(first)  Henry  Herrick,  who  died  in  1816, 
married  (second)  Captain  Nathaniel  Eames. 
Ithamer  B.  Eames.  a  son  of  the  second  mar- 
riage, was  the  father  of  Emma  Eames,  the 
noted  singer ;  Ruth,  born  February  9,  1796 ; 
Hannah,  born  December  3,  1798,  died  Au- 
gust I,  1837;  Isaac  Cotton,  born  May  22, 
1801.  died  July  14,  1861  :  Theophilus  Boyn- 
ton,  born  June  6,  1803,  married,  November  i, 
184 1.  Charlotte  Corbett,  of  W'orcester,  Mas- 
sachusetts ;  Horatio  Nelson  born  December 
10,  1805,  died  1852,  unmarried. 

(\')  Joel  (2),  son  of  Colonel  Joel  (i)  and 
Martha  (Cotton)  Tliompson,  born  in  Lewis- 
ton.  Maine,  July  26,  1784,  died  in  Wayne, 
]\taine.  September,  185 1.  In  1809  he  moved 
to  Litchfield.  Maine,  where  he  taught  school  in 
the  vicinity  of  Oak  Hill.  He  lived  in  Litch- 
field several  years  and  was  on  the  committee 
of  safety  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  moved  to 
Wayne  in  1848.  He  was  a  man  of  education 
and  decided  executive  ability.  He  married 
(first)  Ruth,  daughter  of  .-Xaron  Dwinel,  of 
Lisbon,  Maine.  She  died  before  181 1.  He 
married  (second)  Rachel  Wilson,  of  Tops- 
ham,  Maine,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
(Patten)  Wilson,  born  December  12.  1813, 
died  January  I,  1833.  Child  of  first  marriage: 
Joel  Dwinel.  see  forward.  Children  of  sec- 
ond marriage :  Rev.  Thomas  Wilson,  born 
November  12.  1814,  died  in  Sumner,  Maine, 
a  prominent  Free  Baptist  minister,  married 
Hannah  Harmon :  Jedediah  Herrick,  born 
January  11,  1817,  died  January,  1848:  Wil- 
liam ^Vilson.  born  April  12.  1819,  married 
Abbie  Clark,  resided  in  Jay,  Maine ;  James 
Smullen,  born  April  9,  1822:  George  Owen, 
born    March    11,    1826;    Actor    Patten,    born 


April  26,  1828,  died  May  7,  1904:  Josiah  San- 
ford,  born  December  4,  1832,  resides  in  Woon- 
socket,  Rhode  Island,  married  (first)  Rose 
Hayford,  (second)  Lena  Edson;  Rachel  Wil- 
son, born  March  21,  1835,  died  April  21, 
1889,  married  Major  Warren  L.  Whitney. 

(\T)  Joel  Dwinel,  son  of  Joel  (2)  and 
Ruth  (Dwinel)  Thompson,  was  born  in  Lis- 
bon, Maine,  December  25,  1810,  died  at  Ban- 
gor, Maine,  February  21,  1853.  He  taught 
school  in  his  early  life;  later  moved  from 
Lisbon  to  Bangor,  Maine.  He  was  city  clerk 
of  Bangor,  and  afterwards  engaged  in  busi- 
ness there.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig.  He 
belonged  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
of  Bangor,  where  he  spent  the  greater  part 
of  his  life.  He  married,  February  17,  1842, 
Harriett  Newell  French,  of  Bangor,  Maine, 
daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Elizabeth  Libby 
(Quimbyl  French,  born  .April  11,  1818,  died 
November  13,  1893.  <^See  French  VHI). 
Children :  Professor  Dwinel,  see  forward ; 
Alice,  born  June  i,  1851,  died  April  17,  1855. 

(\TI)  Professor  Dwinel  French  Thomp- 
son, son  of  Joel  Dwinel  and  Harriett  Newell 
(French)  Thompson,  was  born  in  Bangor, 
Maine,  January  i,  1846.  He  is  a  direct  de- 
scendant of  (I)  Michael  Dunnel,  of  Tops- 
field,  Massachusetts,  1650,  died  there  in  17 13. 
(II)  Thomas  Dunnel,  born  November,  1672, 
died  in  Topsfield,  1747.  (HI)  Jonathan  Dun- 
nel. or  Dwinel,  born  June,  1702,  in  Tops- 
field.  (IV)  Amos  Dwinel,  born  in  Sutton, 
Alassachusetts,  1734.  (V)  Aaron  Dwinel, 
born  in  Sutton,  Massachusetts,  August  10, 
1762,  died  in  Leeds,  Maine,  August  5,  1844. 
(^T)  Ruth  Dwinel,  born  in  Sutton,  Massa- 
chusetts: married  Joel  Thompson,  of  Lewis- 
ton.  ]\Iaine:  she  died  about  181 1.  in  Lisbon. 

Professor  Thompson,  after  the  death  of 
his  father,  removed  with  the  family  to  Au- 
burn, Maine.  He  attended  the  (Abbott) 
"Little  Blue"  school,  later  completed  his 
preparatory  course  at  Lewiston  Falls  Acad- 
emy (now  Edward  Little  Institute),  took  a 
two  years'  course  at  Bowdoin  College,  and 
then  entered  Dartmouth,  taking  a  scientific 
course,  and  graduated  with  the  degree  of 
B.  S.,  class  of  1869.  He  taught  three  years 
at  Dartmouth.  In  1872  he  was  appointed  to 
the  chair  of  descriptive  geometry,  stereotomy 
and  drawing  at  the  Rensselaer  Polytechnic 
Institute.  Troy,  New  York,  which  position  he 
still  holds  (1910).  In  his  younger  days  he 
was  greatly  interested  in  athletics,  and  was 
called  the  "Father  of  Baseball"  at  Dartmouth, 
where  he  captained  the  first  college  team.  He 
has  always  had  a  deep  interest  in  archeologi- 
cal  and  genealogical  research,  has  compiled  a 
genealogy    of    the    descendants    of    Edward 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


French,  of  Salisbury,  Massachusetts,  and 
given  valuable  assistance  to  genealogists  in 
preparing  the  many  and  complicated  Thomp- 
son lines.  He  has  the  finest  private  collec- 
tion of  Indian  relics  in  the  state.  His  college 
fraternity  is  the  Delta  Kappa  Epsilon,  and 
he  is  an  honorary  member  of  Sigma  Psi  and 
Tau  Beta  Pi,  scientific  fraternities,  whose 
membership  is  based  on  merit  and  achieve- 
ment. He  is  a  director  of  the  Leonard  Hos- 
pital, Troy,  and  was  a  trustee  of  the  old 
Lansingburg  Academy.  Professor  Thompson 
is  well  known  in  educational  circles,  where  he 
is  held  in  the  highest  esteem. 

He  married,  January  i,  1880,  at  Troy,  New 
York.  -Mary  Lena,  daughter  of  Solomon  Burt 
and  ]\rary  Eliza  (Thompson)  Saxton  (see 
Saxton  \'n).  Children:  i.  Alice  Quimby, 
born  at  Troy,  December  17,  1880 ;  married, 
February  8,  1910,  Robert  Hall,  of  Lockport, 
New  York,  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
Lockport  Steam  Heating  Company.  2.  Gor- 
don Saxton,  born  in  Lansingburg,  New  York, 
August  6,  1883 ;  was  graduated  from  the 
Rensselaer  Polytechnic  Institute  with  the  de- 
gree of  C.  E.,  class  of  1905 ;  he  married, 
February  7,  1906,  Ethel  Williams,  of  Troy. 
3.  Nathaniel  French,  born  in  Lansingburg, 
October  16,  1884:  graduated  at  the  Rensselaer 
Polytechnic  Institute  with  the  degree  of  C. 
E.,  class  of  1907,  now  assistant  engineer  in 
the  department  for  the  elimination  of  grade 
crossings  on  the  New  York  Central  rail- 
road :  he  married,  September  28,  1909,  S.  La- 
vinia  IMorrison,  of  Lansingburg.  4.  Dwinel 
Burt,  born  in  Lansingburg,  December  14, 
1886;  also  a  graduate  of  the  Rensselaer  Poly- 
technic Institute,  1907,  with  degree  of  C.  E. ; 
will  graduate  in  class  of  191 1  from  the  same 
institute   with   degree  of  E.   E. 

(The  French  Line). 

Harriett  Newell  (French)  Thompson, 
mother  of  Professor  Dwinel  French  Thomp- 
son, was  a  direct  descendant  of  Edward 
French,  of  Salisbury,  Massachusetts. 

(I)  The  surname  French  is  found  in  Wilt- 
shire. England,  records  as  early  as  1252,  and 
is  found  in  Scotland  in  the  records  of  the 
old  monasteries  under  the  forms  of  Francus, 
Franciscus,  Franccgena,  Franccis  and  b'ranke. 
The  family  is  a  most  honorable  as  well  as  an 
ancient  one.  The  branch  herein  considered 
was  founded  in  .America  by  Edward  French, 
of  Salisbury.  Massachusetts,  who  received 
land  in  the  "first  division,"  bought  land  in 
1642,  was  selectman  and  a  man  of  influence. 
He  was  of  Ipswich,  Massachusetts,  in  1633. 
He  married  Ann  Goodale :  died  December  28, 
1674.    He  had  four  children. 


(II)  Samuel,  son  of  Edward  and  Ann 
French,  died  in  Salisbury,  Massachusetts, 
July  26,  1692;  married  (first)  April  i,  1664, 
Abigail,  born  February  23,  1643,  ^^ied  Jan- 
uary II,  1679-80,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Abigail  Brown.  She  was  the  mother  of  six 
children.  He  married  (second)  Esther 
,  who  bore  him  three  children. 

(HI)  Deacon  Joseph,  son  of  Samuel  and 
Abigail  (Brown)  French,  was  bom  in  Salis- 
bury, Massachusetts,  1676,  died  there  August 
27,   1749.     He  was  a  soldier  1697-1710.     He 

married   Hannah  ,  who  bore  him  five 

children. 

(IV)  Samuel  (2),  son  of  Deacon  Joseph 
and  Hannah  French,  was  born  December  11, 
1699,  at  Salisbury,  died  April  21,  '1767.  He 
married,  November  23,  1721,  Mary  Collins, 
born  May  i,  1698,  died  November  18,  1766. 
Nine  children. 

(V)  Nathaniel,  son  of  Samuel  (2)  and 
Mary  (Collins)  French,  was  born  January  13, 
1724,  at  Salisbury.  He  married  Anna  Russell. 
Nine  children. 

(VI)  Nathaniel  (2),  son  of  Nathaniel  (i) 
and  Anna  (Russell)  French,  was  born  ]\Iarch 
15.  I757-  at  Epping,  New  Hampshire,  died  at 
Sandwich,  that  state,  January  16,  1799.  He 
was  a  farmer.  He  married.  August  27,  1780, 
Martha  Jewell,  of  Sandwich,  New  Hamp- 
shire, born  September  14,  1762,  died  in  that 
town,  September  28,  1822,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Jacob  and  Martha  (Quimby)  Jewell;  nine 
children.  Martha  Jewell  was  a  descendant  of 
the  fifth  generation  from  Thomas  Jewell,  of 
Braintrce,  Massachusetts.  1639. 

(VII)  Nathaniel  (3),  son  of  Nathaniel  (2) 
and  Martha  (Jewell)  French,  was  born  in 
Sandwich,  New  Hampshire,  May  23,  1799, 
died  June  28,  1876,  at  Auburn,  Maine.  He 
was  a  man  of  great  natural  abilit)-,  a  good 
mathematician  and  noted  for  his  excellent 
memory.  He  was  a  manufacturer  and  at 
one  time  owned  a  machine  shop  and  foundry. 
He  held  several  public  offices,  including  that 
of  trial  justice.  He  was  a  man  of  influence 
and  a  member  and  deacon  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church. 

Nathaniel  French  married,  in  1817,  Eliza- 
beth Libby  Ouimhy,  born  at  Sandwich,  New 
Hampshire,  August  25,  1797,  died  while  on 
a  visit  to  Troy,  New  York,  November  18, 
1873.  Elizabeth  Libby  Quimby  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Lieutenant  Enoch  Quimby,  of  Sand- 
wich. New  Hampshire,  a  descendant  of  Rob- 
ert Quimby,  the  immigrant  ancestor  from 
England,  1653.  who  married  Elizabeth  Os- 
born,  and  settled  at  Salisbury,  Massachusetts. 
Her  grandfather,  Major  Aaron  Quimby, 
served  in  the  revolution.     Her  father.  Lieu- 


HUDSOX   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


103 


tenant  Enoch  Quimhv,  served  in  the  war  of 
1812. 

(VIII)  Harriett  Newell,  daughter  of  Na- 
;thaniel  (3)  and  Elizabeth  Libby  (Quimby) 
French,  was  born  at  Sandwich,  New  Hamp- 
shire, April  II,  1818,  died  at  Lansingburg 
(Troy),  November  13,  1893.  She  married, 
I'ebruary  17,  1842,  at  Bangor,  Maine,  Joel 
Dwinel  Thompson  (see  Thompson  VI). 

(The  Saxton  Line). 
This  name  is  common  in  England,  especially 
in  Yorkshire.  The  family  name  appears 
early  on  the  Massachusetts  colonial  records. 
Rev.  Peter  Saxton  (also  written  Sexton) 
■emigrated  to  Massachusetts  as  early  as  1630, 
and  was  the  first  minister  to  Scituate.  The 
first  of  record  in  the  Connecticut  colony  were 
Richard  and  George  Sexton,  who  embarked 
from  London,  England;  Richard,  1635,  on  the 
ship  "Blessing,"  and  was  in  \\'indsor,  Con- 
necticut, 1643;  George  came  later,  was  a 
contemporary  of  Richard,  and  probably  his 
brother.  It  is  very  sure  that  he  was  not  a 
son.  The  earliest  mention  found  of  George 
Sexton  is  in  Book  of  Deeds,  at  Springfield, 
]\Iassachusetts,  in  a  deed  from  Thomas  Cow- 
■per  to  George  Sexton  "Now  resident  of  Wind- 
sor," June  10,  1663.  He  removed  to  West- 
field,  about  1671,  where  a  son  Benjamin  was 
born,  said  to  have  been  the  first  white  child 
born  in  the  town.     He  died  between  1688  and 

1690.    He  married  Katharine ,  and  had 

seven  children. 

(II)  Captain  Joseph,  fourth  son  of  George 
and  Katharine  Saxton,  was  born  at  Windsor, 
Connecticut,  1664,  died  at  Enfield,  May  3, 
1742.  Removed  from  Westfield  to  Enfield 
about  1704.  He  married,  November  20,  i6go, 
Hannah  Wright,  born  July  28,  1669,  died  in 
1742,  daughter  of  Abel  Wright,  of  Spring- 
field.    Seven  children. 

(III)  Ensign  Joseph  (2),  son  of  Captain 
Joseph  (i)  and  Hannah  (Wright)  Saxton, 
was  born  in  Westfield,  October  2,  1694.  He 
removed  to  Enfield  with  his  father  and  set- 
tled in  the  East  Parish  (now  Somers).  He 
married  (first)  October  16,  1723,  Sarah  Par- 
sons, born  March  10,  1705,  died  at  Salisbury, 
August  25,  1747.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Hannah  (Hitchcock)  Parsons,  of 
Enfield,  Connecticut ;  granddaughter  of 
Deacon  Benjamin  and  Sarah  (\'ere)  Par- 
sons, and  great-granddaughter  of  Richard 
Vere  Parsons,  of  W^estfield.  He  married 
(second)  Widow  Mary  Collins,  by  whom  he 
had  one  child.  By  his  first  wife  he  had  ten 
children. 

(IV)  Deacon  Samuel,  son  of  Ensign  Jo- 
:seph  (2)  and  Sarah  (Parsons)  Saxton,  born 


June  22,  1726,  died  March  22,  1816.  He 
lived  in  Connecticut,  near  Springfield.  He 
married  Sarah  Chapin,  January  23,  1754.  She 
was  born  October  19,  1736,  died  March  27, 
182 1.  The  Chapin  family  were  prominent  in 
Springfield,  where  a  statue  is  erected  to  their 
memory.  She  was  a  direct  descendant  of 
Henry  and  Nelly  (Burt)   Chapin. 

(V)  Noah,  son  of  Deacon  Samuel  and 
Sarah  (Chapin)  Saxton,  w-as  born  July  24, 
1772,  at  South  Wilbraham,  Massachusetts, 
died  April  15,  1850.  He  probably  lived  at 
South  \\'ill)raham  all  his  life,  as  all  his  chil- 
dren were  lx)rn  there.  His  eldest  son,  Noah 
Chapin  Saxton,  was  the  first  publisher  of  the 
A'eii'  York  Ei-angclist.  He  married.  Decem- 
ber 15,  1796,  Martha  Bliss,  born  in  North 
Wilbraham,  March  12,  1775,  died  December 
18,    1836. 

(\T)  Gordon  Bliss,  son  of  Noah  and  Mar- 
tha (Bliss)  Saxton,  was  born  in  South  Wil- 
braham, Alassachusetts,  June  5,  1800,  died  in 
Troy,  New  York,  April  28,  1868.  He  was  a 
merchant  of  Troy,  first  engaged  in  dry  goods 
and  millinery,  later  with  his  son,  Solomon 
Burt  S'iaxton,  in  the  flour  and  grain  trade. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
and  one  of  Troy's  most  respected  citizens.  In 
1825  he  married  Philena  Fletcher  Severance, 
born  April  26,  1800,  died  August  3,  185 1, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Betsey  (Joslyn) 
Severance,  of  New  Braintree,  Massachusetts. 
Five  children. 

(VII)  Solomon  Burt,  eldest  son  and  child 
of  Gordon  Bliss  and  Philena  Fletcher  (Sev- 
erance) Saxton,  was  born  in  South  Wilbra- 
ham, Massachusetts,  January  31,  1827,  died  at 
Troy,  New  York,  Januan*'  12,  1903.  When  a 
young  man  he  came  to  Troy  and  engaged  in 
business  and  later  became  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Saxton  &  Thompson,  with  large  flour- 
ing mills  at  Lockport.  This  business  is  still 
continued  in  the  family  name  of  Thompson 
by  George  Thompson.  Mr.  Saxton  later  dis- 
posed of  his  interest  in  Lockport  and  devoted 
himself  exclusively  to  the  wholesale  flour 
business  in  Troy.  He  was  interested  in  many 
of  the  manufacturing  enterprises  of  Troy, 
and  was  officially  connected  with  the  banks 
of  the  city.  He  was  a  successful  business 
man  and  highly  regarded  as  a  citizen.  He 
was  an  accomplished  musician,  and  for  forty 
years  was  a  member  and  organist  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Troy,  taking  high 
rank  as  a  performer  on  the  pipe  organ.  He 
married.  September  i,  185 1,  Mary  Eliza 
Thompson,  a  descendant  of  John  Thompson, 
of  Plymouth,  Massachusetts,  the  American 
founder  of  her  family.  (See  Thompson  Gen- 
ealogy  of    Troy,     New    York.)       Children: 


T04 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


Mary  Lena,  born  December  27,  1855,  in  Troy, 
New  York,  married  Professor  Dwinel  French 
Thompson  (see  Thompson  \TI)  ;  John  Gor- 
don, born  November  i,  1857,  in  Troy,  New 
York,  he  is  a  landscape  painter  of  fame, 
with  residence  in  Brooklyn  and  Amityville, 
Long  Island,  married,  June  20,  1885,  Hattie 
Thompson   Rowe,  of  Auburn,   Maine. 


The  Thompson  family  of 
THOMPSON  Albany,  New  York,  repre- 
sented in  the  present  gen- 
eration by  David  Allen  Tlnompson,  descend 
from  the  early  settler  of  that  name  in  Salem 
county.  New  Jersey.  The  family  is  of  Eng- 
lish origin  seated  in  Yorkshire,  England.  In 
1658  Thomas  Thompson  and  Elizabetli,  his 
wife,  with  their  sons  John  and  Andrew,  re- 
moved from  Kirkfenton,  Yorkshire  county, 
England,  to  Ireland.  John,  the  eldest  son, 
,  married  Jane  Humbles,  or  Humbly,  born  in 
England,  and  then  living  in  Ireland.  An- 
drew, the  younger  son,  was  born  at  Kirk- 
fenton. England,  1637.  He  removed  to  Ire- 
land with  the  family  in  1658,  and  on  July  11, 
1664,  married  Isabella,  daughter  of  Hum- 
phrey Marshall,  born  in  Leicestershire,  Eng- 
land, September  16,  1667.  Andrew  Thomp- 
son, his  wife  and  three  children,  accompanied 
by  his  brother  John,  his  wife  and  four  chil- 
dren, embarked  in  the  ship  "Mary  of  Dublin," 
John  Hall,  master,  and  landed  at  Elsinboro 
Point,  West  Jersey,  December  22  of  the  same 
year.  In  1680  the  brothers  bought  of  Rich- 
ard and  Bridget  Guy  adjoining  lands  in  the 
present  township  of  Elsinborough,  Salem 
county.  New  Jersey.  The  "Emigrant  house," 
built  on  the  original  farm,  was  standing  in 
good  condition  and  repair  as  late  as  1820. 
The  site  of  the  house  and  the  orchard  in  front 
have  now  been  entirely  removed  by  the  action 
of  the  Delaware  river  wearing  away  its  east- 
ern shore.  .Andrew  Thompson  became  a  well- 
known  public  man.  He  was  appointed  a  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  for  the  colony  by  John  Fen- 
wick,  the  governor,  and  was  also  one  of  the 
four  justices  of  the  peace  elected  by  the 
general  free  assembly  at  Burlington,  qualify- 
ing March  15,  1683,  serving  several  years. 
He  frequently  served  as  executor  and  was  a 
trusted  citizen.  He  died  in  1696.  His  will, 
written  with  his  own  hand,  dated  29th  of 
tenth  month,  1694,  devises  his  homestead  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty-eight  acres  to  liis  two 
elder  sons.  William  and  .Andrew,  and  specially 
requests  them  "not  to  oppress  or  deale  un- 
justly by  one  the  other."  Children  of  An- 
drew and  Isabella  Thompson,  first  three  born 
in  Ireland:  i.  Elizabeth,  born  August  15, 
1666;   married    in    Salem,   Friends'   meeting. 


February  25.  1683,  Isaac  Smart,  the  society 
consenting  thereto  except  Isaac  had  not 
notified  his  mother  in  old  England,  owing  to 
the  distance,  that  was  waived."  Isaac  Smart 
died  in  1700,  and  his  widow,  Elizabeth,  "with 
the  approval  of  the  meeting,"  married,  No- 
vember 26,  1701,  Edward  Keasbey.  2.  Wil- 
liam,  August  9,   1699,  married    (first)    Sarah 

• • — ;     (second)     Jane     Nickson  :     (third) 

Hannah  .     He  settled   at  Thompson's 

bridge,  now  AUowaystown,  Monmouth  town- 
ship. His  son  Benjamin,  born  17 19.  died 
1775,  was  for  many  years  manager  of  Wis- 
tar's  Glass  Works.  3.  Andrew  (2),  see  for- 
ward. 4.  John,  the  only  child  of  American 
birth,  was  born  in  Elsinborough,  Salem 
county.  New  Jersey,  April  23,  1684. 

(II)  Andrew  (2),  son  of  Andrew  (i)  and 
Isabella  (Marshall)  Thompson,  was  born  in 
Parish  Donard,  Wickloe  county,  Ireland,  No- 
vember 13,  1676,  died  1727.  He  came  to 
New  Jersey  with  his  parents  in  1677.  Like 
his  father  he  was  trusted  in  business  and  fre- 
quently an  executor.  He  was  left  one-half 
the  homestead  by  his  father's  will,  and  in 
1710  purchased  his  brother  William's  half, 
thus  becoming  sole  owner  of  the  Elsinborough 
homestead  farm.  The  title  to  this  property 
was  held  in  the  Thompson  family  from  1680 
until  December  26.  1882,  when  David  Allen 
Thompson,  of  Albany,  New  York,  conveyed 
the  same  to  J.  Howard  Subers,  of  Philadel- 
phia. It  is  believed  that  his  first  marriage 
was  to  Rebecca  Pedrick,  October  28.  1696. 
Children :  Jonathan,  born  September  16, 
1697:  Hannah,  January  12.  1699:  Isabella, 
October  22,  1700;  Andrew  (3),  February  2, 
1704.  The  records  of  Salem  Friends'  meet- 
ings show  that  at  a  monthly  meeting  held 
January  25,  1706.  he  gave  notice  that  he  was 
to  marry  a  wife  belonging  to  the  Darby 
(Penn.sylvania)  meeting  and  desired  a  certifi- 
cate. The  same  records  also  show  the  fol- 
lowing children  of  Andrew  and  Grace 
Thompson :  Thomas,  born  November  28, 
1707:  Sarah,  h'ebruary  8,  1709;  Abraham, 
October  26,  1710;  Joshua  (see  forward); 
Thomas,  July  21,  1715:  Rebecca,  November 
3,  1717:  .Abraham,  May  27,  1721.  Several  of 
these  children  died  before  their  father,  as  his 
will  names  only  "dear  and  loving  wife 
Grace."  anil  children  Andrew,  Joshua,  Han- 
nah Cook,  Thomas,  .Sarah  and  Abraham.  The 
inventory  of  his  estate  amounted  to  six  hun- 
dred and  one  pounds  twelve  shillings,  includ- 
ing bonds,  bill  and  book  accounts,  two  hun- 
dred and  eighteen  pounds  eighteen  shillings, 
old  hooks,  four  pounds,  a  clock,  and  a  negro 
woman  valued  at  twenty-eight  pounds. 

(HI)  Joshua,  son  of  Andrew  (2)  and  his 


HUDSON  AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


second  wife  '  Grace  Thompson,  was  born  in 
Salem  county,  New  Jersey,  February  2,  1713, 
died  in  1789.  He  was  a  member  of  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends,  an  elder  and  leader  of  the 
Salem  monthly  meeting.  It  has  been  said  of 
him  "that  he  was  an  Israelite  in  whom  there 
was  no  guile."  December  17,  1761,  he  ad- 
vertised in  the  Pennsyk'ania  Gazette  for  a 
schoolmaster  for  himself  and  neighbors  in  the 
township  of  Elsinborough.  His  will,  dated 
ninth  month,  twenty-second  day,  1784,  was 
probated    January     10,     1790.      He    married 

(first)   Sarah  1 — .     Children:    i.  .Andrew, 

see  forward.  2.  Sarah,  born  December  24, 
1742;  she  became  second  wife  of  William 
Hancock,  a  Friend,  who,  March  21,  1778, 
received  a  mortal  wound  at  the  massacre  in 
his  house  at  Hancock's  bridge.  Salem  county, 
by  the  British  soldiers  under  Colonel  Charles 
S.  Mawhood.  Joshua  Thompson  married 
(second),  Elizabeth  Gibson,  of  Woodbury, 
New  Jersey.  Children:  3.  Joshua  (2),  born 
June  8,  1748.  4.  Rebecca  (twin  of  Joshua). 
5.  John.  April  7.  1752.  6.  Joseph,  March  26, 
1756.  died  March  23,  1778.  from  wounds  re- 
ceived at  the  Hancock's  bridge  massacre,  pre- 
viously   mentioned. 

(I\')  Andrew  (3).  son  of  Joshua  and  his 
first  wife.  Sarah  Thompson,  was  born  in 
Salem  county,  New  Jersey,  May  29,  1739.  died 
August  15.  1782.  "and  was  decently  lauried  in 
Friends'  burying  place  of  Salem  the  i6th  of 
same  month."  He  married  Grace,  born  Sep- 
tember II.  1746.  died  January  13,  1779, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Grace  Nicholson,  of 
Elsinborough,  Salem  county.  Children: 
Joshua  (see  forward)  ;  Sarah,  born  January 
20,  1769,  married  Jacob  Ware;  Grace,  born 
F"ebruary  12,  1771,  married  Job  \^'are ;  Ra- 
chel, born  May  7,  1773.  married  Benjamin 
Tindell :  Samuel  N..  born  May  23,  1777,  mar- 
ried .\nn,  daughter  of  Clement  Hall. 

(\' )  Joshua  (2).  eldest  son  of  Andrew 
and  Grace  (Nicholson)  Thompson,  was  born 
September  19,  1767,  died  June  22,  1806. 
Under  the  will  of  his  grandfather,  Joshua 
Thompson,  he  became  owner  of  the  Elsinbor- 
ough homestead  farm  when  he  reached  legal 
age  in  1788.  He  died  intestate- in  1806.  His 
real  estate  passed  to  his  three  minor  children, 
subject  to  their  mother's  dower  claim.  He 
married.  May  i,  1793,  Rebecca  Allen,  born 
March  21,  1772,  who  survived  him  and  mar- 
ried (second)  Benjamin  Griscom.  to  whom 
she  bore  two  children,  Beulah  and  George. 
She  died  August  24.  1853.  aged  eighty-one 
years.  Children  of  Joshua  and  Rebecca  (Al- 
len) Thompson:  i.  .Andrew  (4),  see  forward. 
2.  .Ann.  born  May  5.  1797.  died  Alarch  26, 
1870;    married    (first)    Caleb    Lippincott,    in 


1826;  (second)  Joseph  Ba.ssett.  3.  David 
Allen,  born  June  4,  1803.  died  August  13, 
1847,  at  Lockport.  New  York,  unmarried. 

(\T)  Andrew  (4),  eldest  son  of  Joshua 
(2)  and  Rebecca  (.Allen)  Thompson,  was 
born  August  12,  1795,  died  August  11,  1869. 
He  married  (first)  Rebecca,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Mercy  (Gill)  Abbott.  The  mar- 
riage was  conducted  under  Friends'  disci- 
pline, and  the  committee,  April  27,  1818.  re- 
ported that  it  was  orderly  accomplished. 
Child  of  first  marriage:  i.  Hannah  Ann,  born 
October  21,  1819.  married,  April  17,  1843, 
Elisha  Bassett  (2),  died  July  27,  1903; 
children:  i.  Rebecca,  married,  February 
24,  1870,  S.  Preston  Carpenter,  ii.  Henry,, 
married  Rebecca  Lawrence;  (second)  Mrs. 
Mary  Noble  Lippincott.  iii.  Anna,  mar- 
ried, November  6,  1901,  William  T.  Hil- 
liard.  iv.  Clement.  Two  other  children  died 
in  infancy.  Andrew  Thompson  married 
(second),  November  8.  1827,  Ann  Dallas- 
Clark,  born  June  10,  1806,  died  July  7,  1839, 
daughter  of  John  and  Ann  Elkinton,  of  Port 
Elizabeth,  New  Jersey.  Children  :  2.  Joshua, 
born  January  17.  1829.  died  June  11.  1887; 
married,  March  11,  1852,  Mary  Jane  Pan- 
coast;  children:  i.  Anne  E.,  married  Smitb 
Bassett.  ii.  Sarah,  married  Smith  Bassett 
(second  wife),  iii.  Emma,  married  George 
Acton,  iv.  Andrew  J.,  died  young,  v.  Caro- 
line, died  young.  3.  John  Elkinton.  Septem- 
ber 10,  1830,  died  April  11,  1907;  married, 
March  6,  1856,  Mary  C.  Davis ;  children :  i. 
Ella,  married  Samuel  Griscom.  ii.  Mary 
Davis,  iii.  Elizabeth  Davis,  married  Joseph 
L.  Nicholson.  M.D.  4.  Clark  Holmes,  Sep- 
tember 7,  1832;  married,  January  i,  1857, 
Anna  Test;  children;  i.  Hannah  Bacon,  mar- 
ried Frank  Pettit.  ii.  Lucy  Mulford,  married 
Wyatt  Acton,  iii.  Mariana,  married  Josiah 
Miller,  iv.  Elizabeth  Holmes,  v.  Alice  El- 
kinton, died  young,  vi.  Cornelia,  married 
Harry  Finlaw.  5.  Andrew,  March  19,  1835, 
died  February  16,  1909,  unmarried.  .Andrew 
Thompson  married  (third),  .August  8.  1843, 
Mary  Thompson  Tyler,  widow  of  Charles  B. 
Harmer,  of  Greenwich,  New  Jersey,  and 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Ann  (Thompson) 
Tyler.  Her  mother,  Ann,  born  May  8,  1787, 
died  in  1818,  was  daughter  of  Butler  and  Ann 
Thompson  of  Allowaystown,  New  Jersey. 
Mary  Thompson  Tyler  was  born  October  25, 
1809,  died  September  15,  1907,  at  the  great 
age  of  ninet\--eight  years.  She  married  (first) 
February  8,  1826,  Charles  B.  Harmer.  who 
died  February  8.  1828.  Their  son.  Charles- 
B.  Harmer  (2),  was  born  April  15.  1828.  died 
September  21,  1907  ;  he  married  Emeline  Scat- 
tergood,  and  had  children  :    i.  Mary  T..  mar- 


io6 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


Tied  Benjamin  T.  Walker,  ii.  Charles  R., 
(2).  unmarried,  iii.  J.  Barton,  married  Julia 
Homer,  iv.  Susan  S.,  married  W.  Harris 
Seltzer,  and  has  sons  George  A.,  W.  Harris 
■{2)  and  Frank  Harmer.  The  children  of 
Andrew  Thompson  and  his  third  wife,  Hilary 
■(Tyler)  Thompson  Harmer,  were:  6.  David 
Allen,  see  forward.  7.  Richard,  born  Febru- 
ary 6,  1846;  married  October  6,  1870,  Eliza- 
beth \\^,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Charlotte 
(Acton)  Wistar;  children:  i.  Charlotte,  born 
February  20,  1874,  married  October  25,  1904, 
George  D.  E.  Mortimer,  ii.  David  A.,  July 
19,  1876.  iii.  Mary  T.,  April  20,  1879.  iv. 
■Cornelias  W.,  March  17.  1884.  v.  Caroline 
Mclntyre,  October  16,  1888.  8.  Anne,  No- 
vember 8,  1847 ;  married,  October  22,  1868, 
Louis  ^L  Hall ;  children :  i.  Clement  Har- 
-wood,  born  April  12,  1870.  ii.  Frank  Thomp- 
son, born  August  23,  1872.  iii.  Walter,  born 
February  i,  1878,  married  Frances  T.  Car- 
penter, October  19.  1909.  9.  Rebecca,  Au- 
gust 24,  1849;  married,  February  18,  1869, 
Clayton  Wistar ;  children :  i.  Richard  Wyatt, 
February  7,  1870,  married,  October  25,  1899, 
Marv  Acton  Rumsey.  ii.  Arthur  Thompson, 
November  i,  1886. 

(\'n)  David  Allen,  sixth  child  of  Andrew 
Thompson  and  edest  son  of  his  third  wife, 
Mary  Harmer,  was  born  at  Mannington, 
Salem  county.  New  Jersey,  May  29,  1844.  He 
-was  educated  at  the  Friends'  school,  Salem, 
New  Jersey,  and  the  Salem  Academy,  gradu- 
■ating  from  the  latter  in  1864.  He  entered 
Haverford  College,  but  after  a  year  spent 
there  entered  Princeton  University,  where  he 
was  graduated  A.  B.,  1868.  Deciding  upon 
the  profession  of  law,  he  entered  Albany  Law 
school,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1869,  and 
was  at  once  admitted  to  the  New  York  bar. 
He  became  managing  clerk  for  the  law  firm 
of  Shepard  and  Stcdman.  .Albany,  New  York. 
In  1871  he  began  practice  in  his  own  office, 
continuing  alone  until  1879,  when  the  firm  of 
Thompson  &  Andrews  was  founded,  and  as 
such  did  a  successful  law  business.  In  1885  a 
third  partner  was  added,  and  the  firm  became 
Stedman,  Thompson  &  Andrews.  In  1896 
]\Ir.  Stedman  withdrew  and  the  firm  re- 
verted to  its  former  personnel,  Thompson  & 
Andrews,  continuing  until  1902.  when  it  was 
dissolved.  Since  that  year  Mr.  Thompson 
Tias  continued  in  practice  alone.  He  is  a  law- 
yer of  high  standing,  and  is  highly  regarded 
as  a  citizen.  He  is  a  trustee  of  the  Home 
Savings  Rank  of  Albany,  the  Mutual  Insur- 
ance Company,  and  has  other  business  in- 
terests. He  is  interested  in  church  and  ben- 
evolent work,  serving  as  president  of  the 
Albany  Orphan  Asylum  and  of  the  Home  for 


Aged  Men.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Univer- 
sity Club.  He  is  a  writer  of  ability,  and  is 
deeply  interested  in  historical  and  genealogi- 
cal research.  It  is  to  his  painstaking  and 
careful  investigation  that  this  history  of  the 
Thompsons  of  Salem  county,  New  Jersey,  is 
due,  being  compiled  from  his  recent  book 
(1910),  "Andrew  Thompson,"  "The  Emigrant 
of  Elsinborough,  Salem  county.  New  Jersey, 
and  one  line  of  his  descendants."  He  mar- 
ried, October  4,  1871,  Margaret,  daughter  of 
Dr.  James  and  Caroline  (Mclntyre)  Mc- 
Naughton,  of  Albany,  New  York.  Children: 
I.  James  McNaughton,  born  November  17, 
1872,  died  December  26,  1908.  He  married, 
November  12,  1902,  Florence  J.  Jones.  2. 
Andrew  (5),  August  13.  1877,  married,  Jan- 
uary 25,  1908,  Mary  B.  Easton.  3.  Margaret, 
September  i,  1881. 


In  the  New  England  records  this 
IDE  name  is  to  be  found  under  various 
spellings.  In  the  earlier  years  it  was 
Hyde  or  Hide,  then  lyde,  Ide,  lyd  and  Jyde. 
The  last  old  country  (doubtless  English)  an- 
cestor of  the  American  Ide  family  under  con- 
sideration  was : 

Nicholas  Ide  (or  Hyde).  He  died  early  in 
the  seventeenth  century,  leaving  a  son  Nicho- 
las (2).  The  widow  of  Nicholas  (i)  after- 
ward married  Thomas  Bliss,  of  Belstone,  near 
Okelhampton,  Devonshire,  England.  The  lat- 
ter belonged  to  a  family  of  substantial  farm- 
ers and  landowners  of  Belstone,  who  by  their 
adherence  to  Puritan  views  and  opposition  to 
the  court  and  clergy,  suffered  persecution 
under  Charles  I.,  and  were  reluctantly  com- 
f)elled  to  emigrate  to  the  New  American 
colonies.  Thomas  Bliss  emigrated  to  Amer-  * 
ica  in  1636,  taking  with  him  his  stepson, 
Nicholas  Ide,  his  wife  (formerly  Mrs.  Ide) 
and  two  or  three  children  of  his  own.  He 
joined  an  uncle  at  Braintree,  near  Boston, 
Massachusetts.  In  a  year  or  two  he  moved 
to  Hartford,  Connecticut,  then  back  again  to 
Braintre  in  1640.  Religious  dissensions 
arising  111  the  Plymouth  Church.  Thomas  Bliss 
left  the  place  and  settled  at  Rehoboth,  Massa- 
chusetts, where  he  shared  in  a  distribution 
of  land,  June,  1644.  Here  Thomas  Bliss, 
who  was  said  to  have  been  a  blacksmith,  lived 
until  his  death  in  1649.  In  his  will  he  men- 
tions, besides  two  sons  and  daughters,  Nich- 
olas Ide  as  his  son-in-law.  This  is  meant  of 
course  to  be  stepson,  as  his  half-sister  could 
not  have  become  his  wife. 

(I)  Nicholas  (2),  son  of  Nicholas  (i) 
Ide,  was  born  in  England  about  1624,  died  at 
Rehoboth,  Massachusetts,  October  18,  1690. 
He  came  to   America    with    his    stepfather. 


I 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


107 


Thomas  Bliss,  in  1636,  and  followed  his  wan- 
'derings  until  1643,  when  they  finally  settled 
in  Rehoboth,   Massachusetts,  where   Nicholas 

•  lived  the  remainder  of  his  days.  Rehoboth 
was  noted  even  at  that  time  as  having  been 
the  home  of  William  Blackstone,  the  first 
settler   of    Boston,    Roger   Williams,    founder 

■  of  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  and  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Newman.  Nicholas  Ide  (who  signed  his 
name  lyde)  first  appears  in  the  Rehoboth 
-records  as  drawing  for  land,  April  9,  1645. 
He  was  then  probably  just  of  age,  and  we 
may  reasonably  place  his  birth  date  at  1624. 
He  participated  in  other  drawings  and  divi- 
sions in  Rehoboth,  becoming  the  owner  of 
considerable  land.  He  was  admitted  a  free- 
man in  1648.  In  1652  he  was  fined  £25  by 
the  general  court  for  selling  a  gun  to  an  In- 
dian ;  he  pleaded  inability  to  pay  and  the 
court  in  1657  ordered  that  on  payment  of  "the 
sum  of  five  pounds  in  good  wampum"  the 
balance  of  the  fine  should  be  remitted.  He 
was  surveyor  of  the  "Highwaies"  of  Reho- 
both in  1662-69-74.  He  was  one  of  the  com- 
mittee to  settle  the  dispute  with  King  Philip, 
the   Indian    chief.     He  is   the  only    Ide   that 

•  appears  in  the  list  of  freemen  of  New  Plym- 
outh Colony  in  1658-70.  His  wife  was 
named  Martha  and  bore  him  ten  children: 
Nathaniel ;  Mary,  married  Samuel  Fuller ; 
John,  served  in  King  Philip's  war ;  Nicholas 
(3),  see  forward;  I^Iartha,  married  Samuel 
Walker  ;  Elizabeth  ;  Timothy  ;  Dorothy  ;  Pa- 
tience, married  Samuel  Carpenter ;  and  E.k- 
perience.  Mrs.  Martha  Ide  was  buried  at 
Rehoboth.  November  3,  1676.  Nicholas  Ide  is 
buried  in  the  same  churchyard. 

(II)  Nicholas    (3),   fourth  child   of  Nich- 

•  olas  (2)  and  Martha  Ide,  was  born  at  Re- 
hoboth, in  November,  1654,  died  June  5,  1723. 
He  lived  first  at  Rehoboth,  and  later  in  Attle- 
boro,  Massachusetts.  He  was  a  soldier  in 
King  Philip's  war,  1675-76,  under  Major 
Bradford.  He  was  admitted  a  freeman  in 
1682.  He  was  latterly  known  by  his  military 
titles,  ensign  and  lieutenant.  He  was  town 
surveyor  of  .-Xttleboro  in  1697,  and  town  rep- 
resentative   in    the   general    court   of    Massa- 

'chusetts  in  1713-14.  He  married  (first)  De- 
cember 27,  1677,  at  Rehoboth,  i\Iary  Orms- 
bee,  who  died  Sejitember  9,  1690.  She  bore 
him:  Nathaniel,  Jacob,  Martha,  Patience  and 
John.  He  married  (second)  Elizabeth  Hew- 
ins,  who  bore  him  Benjamin,  see  forward, 
Nicholas  (4)  and  Nicholas  (5). 

(III)  Benjamin,  son  of  Nicholas  (3)  and 
Elizabeth  (Plewins)  Ide,  was  born  at  Reho- 
both, Massachusetts.  December  5.  1693,  bap- 
tized March  24,   1700.     He  married  Elizabeth 

.Slack,  November  29,   1716,  at  Attleboro. 


(IV)  Nicholas  (4),  son  of  Benjamin  and 
Elizabeth  (Slack)  Ide,  was  born  in  Attleboro, 
Massachusetts,  July  18,  17 17.  He  married 
and    had    issue. 

(\')  Benjamin  (2),  son  of  Nicholas  (4) 
Ide,  was  born  October  27,  1754,  died  .\pril 
13.    1813. 

(\'I)  Thomas,  son  of  Benjamin  (2)  Ide, 
was  born  April  21,  1779,  died  November  19, 

1857- 

(\'II)  William,  son  of  Thomas  Ide,  was 
born  July  I,  1799,  died  January  13.  1882, 
He  was  a  farmer  of  the  town  of  Corinth, 
Saratoga  county.  New  York ;  justice  of  the 
peace  and  a  man  of  influence  in  town  afifairs. 
He  married  (first)  Mary  Noyce;  (second) 
Sally  Carpenter;  (third)  Deborah  Early: 
children  of  first  wife :  \\' illiam.  Samuel  and 
Lydia ;  children  of  second  wife:  Daniel,  John, 
Nathan,  George  P.,  Almira,  Gilbert  Chauncy 
and  Reuben ;  no  issue  by  third  wife. 

(VIII)  George  Peck,  son  of  William  and 
Sally  (Carpenter)  Ide,  was  born  at  Corinth, 
Saratoga  county,  New  York.  February  28, 
1836,  died  at  Troy,  New  York,  March  3, 
1907.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  remained  with  his  parents  on  the  farm 
until  he  attained  his  majority,  when  he  went 
to  Troy,  New  York,  and  for  several  years 
was  employed  in  different  capacities  in  the 
collar  manufacturing  establishment.  He  be- 
came thoroughly  familiar  with  the  line  of 
business,  and  in  1865  began  his  career  as  a 
manufacturer  that  continued  successfully  until 
his  death,  founding  the  house  of  George  P. 
Ide  &  Company,  one  of  the  leading  firms  of 
Troy  and  known  throughout  the  world.  His 
first  partner  was  S.  \'.  R.  Ford.  In  1867 
Samuel  N.  Ide  was  admitted  a  partner.  In 
1878  this  firm  dissolved,  and  in  association 
with  James  M.  Ide,  F.  B.  Twining  and 
Charles  E.  Bruce  formed  the  firm  of  George 
P.  Ide,  P>ruce  &  Company.  In  1884  the  firm 
became  George  P.  Ide  &  Company.  The  busi- 
ness interests  and  official  positions  held  by 
George  P.  Ide  outside  the  large  interests  in 
the  George  P.  Ide  Company  were  numerous 
and  exceedingly  weighty.  For  twenty-five 
years  he  was  president  of  the  Manufacturers 
Bank  of  Troy ;  was  vice-president  of  the 
-Security  Trust  Companv  and  director  of  the 
Security  Safe  Deposit  Company,  Troy,  New 
York,  and  the  Adirondack  Trust  Company  of 
Saratoga  Springs.  In  the  world  of  finance  he 
was  a  power.  He  was  president  of  the  Troy 
Telegraph  &  Telephone  Company,  of  the 
.•\merican  District  Telegraph  Company,  and  of 
the  Magnetic  Ore  Separator  Company :  direc- 
tor of  the  L'nited  Traction  Company,  the 
Hudson  River  Telephone  Company,  the  Troy 


io8 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


Gas  Company,  the  Troy  &  West  Troy  Bridge 
Company ;  trustee  of  the  Samaritan  Hospital, 
besides  being  interested  in  several  other  cor- 
porations. It  will  thus  be  seen  that  he  was 
long  and  closely  identified  with  the  progress 
of  Troy,  particularly  with  the  development 
of  the  great  industry  for  which  it  is  famous. 
He  bore  heavy  responsibilities  in  a  way  that 
challenged  the  admiration  of  his  fellow  citi- 
zens. He  was  active  and  influential  in  every- 
thing that  claimed  his  attention  up  to  his 
last  illness.  He  was  a  most  modest  and  un- 
assuming man,  yet  he  achieved  great  success 
for  himself  and  for  those  associated  with 
him.  He  was  fond  of  recreation  and  found 
opportunity  to  always  enjoy  relaxation  from 
the  cares  of  business.  He  knew  when  to 
work  and  wheh  to  play,  and  in  consequence 
retained  his  mental  and  physical  vigor  until 
the  final  summons  came.  He  was  greatly 
interested  in  the  breeding  and  development  of 
the  light  harness  horse  and  owned  many 
speedy  trotters  which  he  was  very  fond  of 
driving.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Park  Club  and  remained  a  member  until  his 
death.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  but 
never   entered    public    political    life. 

He  married  (first)  in  1863,  Sarah  R., 
daughter  of  Alba  Marshall,  who  bore  him  a 
son.  Alba  Marshall  Ide,  see  forward.  He 
married  (second)  Mary  Ella,  daughter  of 
Edward  W.  M.  Savage,  of  Troy,  New  York, 
(see  Savage  VH).  Children:  Herbert  Sav- 
age ;  Ariel  H. ;  Caroline,  married  Albert  E. 
Cluett ;  George  Peck  (2)  ;  Edith  I.,  married 
(first)  Windsor  B.  French,  who  died  January 
27,  1908,  married  (second)  Joseph  O.  Eaton, 
April  26,  1910,  children  by  Mr.  French  were: 
Edith.  Caroline  W.,  Mary  S..  died  in  infancy, 
^^'indsor  P..  Jr..  and  Edward  S.  French. 

(IX)  Alba  j\Iarshall,  only  son  and  child  of 
George  Peck  and  his  first  v^-ife.  Sarah  R. 
(iMarshall)  Ide,  was  born  in  Troy,  New  York. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and 
Troy  Academy,  and  attended  Mt.  Anthony 
Seminary,  Bennington.  \'ermont.  He  began 
his  business  career  in  the  collar  manufactur- 
ing works  of  George  P.  Ide  &  Company, 
where  he  became  familiar  with  all  details 
of  the  business.  December  t,  1889,  he  was 
admitted  a  partner,  and  has  been  continuously 
connected  with  this  great  Troy  firm  since 
that  date.  He  is  a  man  of  great  business 
ability,  and  in  his  many  and  varied  interests 
shows  a  quick  ])erception  and  decision.  He 
is  interested  in  many  of  the  public  enterprises 
of  Troy :  he  is  president  of  the  Magnetic  Sep- 
arator Company,  director  in  the  Manufactur- 
ers National  Bank,  director  in  the  American 
District  Telegraph  Company,  director  in  the 


Troy  Gas  Company,  president  of  the  Rensse- 
laer County  Republican  Club,  vice-president 
of  the  Troy  Chamber  of  Commerce  and 
others,  and  is  associated  on  the  boards  of 
her  benevolent  and  educational  institutions 
with  those  who,  like  himself,  are  thoughtful 
of  those  less  fortunately  situated.  In  1909  he 
was  elected  presidential  elector  of  the  twenty- 
second  Congressional  district  and  was  secre- 
tary of  the  electoral  college.  He  married 
Gertrude  Knight,  of  Troy,  New  York.  Chil- 
dren :  Eleanor,  Sarah  Marshall,  Gertrude 
Knight,  Mary  Ella.  Gertrude  (Knight)  Ide 
is  a  granddaughter  of  Richard,  son  of  Wil- 
liam Knight,  of  England.  Richard  Knight 
was  born  in  Renham,  England,  died  in  Troy, 
New  York.  He  married  Sarah,  born  in  Lon- 
don, England,  daughter  of  Dr.  Carman,  of 
that  city ;  children :  Mary,  Emma,  Catherine, 
Charles,  George.  Joseph,  born  1845.  Joseph 
Knight  is  engaged  in  the  publishing  business 
in  central  Massachusetts.  He  married  Cath- 
erine Gertrude  Van  Hoevenberg ;  children : 
Harold :  Jessie  Linda,  married  Charles  E. 
Cluett :  Amy.  married  Robert  Cluett,  Jr. ;  Ger- 
trude, married   Alba  M.  Ide. 

(The  Savage  Line). 
Mrs.  George  Peck  Ide  (Mary  Ella  Savage) 
is  a  direct  descendant  of  John  Savage,  whO' 
settled  in  Middletown,  Connecticut,  in  1652. 
The  earliest  information  concerning  him  is 
contained  in  the  records  of  Hartford.  Con- 
necticut, as  follows :  "John  Savage  of  Flart- 
ford,  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Dubbin  ye 
tenth  day  of  febru ;  one  thousand  six  hun- 
dred and  fifty  two."  The  name  of  his  wife 
is  Dublin  in  the  Middletown  land  records, 
but  Dubbin  in  the  marriage  record.  Wlience 
John  Savage  came,  where  and  when  he 
landed  in  America  is  not  known.  As  few  be- 
sides Englishmen  were  then  in  New  England 
it  is  hardly  to  be  questionefl  that  he  came 
from  England,  landed  in  Massachusetts,  and' 
thence  removed  to  Hartford.  His  will  is 
signed  John  Savidge,  but  in  the  opening- 
declaration  Sauedg.  In  England  the  common 
spelling  is  Savage,  in  parts  of  France.  Sauv- 
'age,  and  in  New  England  the  records  have 
the  name  Savadge,  Savidge,  Savige,  Sauage, 
as  well  as  Savage.  He  was  "mayd  free"  May 
18,  1654.  In  1674  he  possessed  one  thou- 
sand two  hundred  and  seven  acres  of  land. 
His  name  is  seventh  in  the  list  of  members 
who  organized  September  4,  1668,  the  First 
Congregational  Church  of  Middletown.  He- 
was  one  of  the  two  "'Townsmen"  (select- 
man) of  Middletown  in  1657,  and  in  1673-74, 
and  held  the  military  rank  of  sergeant.  His 
residence   was   in   that    part  of    Middletown' 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


109 


Tiow  Cromwell,  where  he  died  March  6,  1684- 
-"85.  His  estate  which  he  disposed  of  by  will 
consisted  of  eisjht  hundred  and  five  acres  of 
land  and  personal  property  valued  at  £480. 
15s.  Children:  i.  John,  born  December  2, 
1652 ;  married  Mary  Ranney.  He  was  cap- 
tain of  the  "North"  train  band  of  Middle- 
town.  2.  Elizabeth,  married  Deacon  Nathan- 
iel White,  and  lived  in  Hadley,  Massachu- 
setts. 3.  Sarah,  married  Israel  Wilcox,  of 
Hartford,  Connecticut.  4.  Thomas,  died  in 
infancy.  5.  Hannah,  died  in  infancy.  6. 
Mary,  became  the  second  wife  of  John  Whit- 
more  (late  Wetmore)  ;  she  married  (second) 
Deacon  Obadiah  Allen.  7.  Abigail,  married 
Edward  Shepard,  deputy  from  Middletown  to 
the  general  assembly,  1710-11.  8.  William, 
see  forward.  9.  Nathaniel,  born  May  7,  1671, 
married  Esther  Ranney.  He  was  lieutenant 
•of  the  "East"  train  band.  10.  Rachel.  11. 
Hannah. 

(H)  William,  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Dubbin)  Savage,  was  born  in  Middletown, 
Connecticut,  April  26,  1668,  died  January  25, 
1726-27.  He  was  captain  of  the  North  Com- 
pany of  Middletown  in  1719;  deputy  to  the 
general  assembly  from  1715  to  1726:  deacon 
of  the  church  in  1716.  He  married  (first) 
May  6,  1696,  Christian  Mould,  born  1677, 
died  ^1719,  daughter  of  Hugh  and  Martha 
(Coif)  Mould,  of  New  London.  He  married 
(second)  November,  1726,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
(Whitmore)  Clark,  widow  of  Daniel  Clark, 
who  survived  him  and  married  a  third  hus- 
band,        Williams.      Children    by    first 

wife,  all  born  in  Middletown,  Connecticut : 
I.  Martha,  married  (first)  Jacob  White,  of 
Middletown;  married  (second)  Jonathan 
Riley,  of  Hartford;  married  (third)  Cap- 
tain Samuel  Parker,  of  Coventry,  Con- 
necticut. 2.  William  (2),  see  forward. 
3.  Christian,  married  Lieutenant  Sam- 
uel Shepard  (his  second  wife),  of  Middle- 
town.  4.  Hannah,  married  her  first  cousin, 
William  Savage,  son  of  John  (2)  Savage. 
5.  Sarah,  married  Ebenezer  Norton,  of  Farm- 
ington,  Connecticut.  6.  Joseph,  born  Sep- 
tember 21,  1711;  he  was  commissioned  cap- 
tain of  Fifth  Company,  Sixth  Regiment, 
Colonial  Militia,  in  1754.  He  married" (first) 
]\Iary  Whitmore,  (second)  Prudence  Stow. 
Four  of  his  sons,  Abijah,  Simeon,  Gideon  and 
Nathan,  served  in  the  revolutionary  army, 
Abijah  being  a  lieutenant  in  Arnold's  expe- 
dition   against    Quebec. 

(HI)  Deacon  William  (2),  son  of  William 
(i)  and  Christian  (Mould)  Savage,  was 
born  at  Middletown,  Connecticut,  September 
18,  1699,  died  April  15,  1774.  He  was  deacon, 
of    the    Middletown     church.       He     married. 


June  2,  1726,  Sarah  Savage,  his  cousin,  born 
September,  1700,  died  August  10,  1782, 
daughter  of  John  (2)  and  Mary  (Ranney) 
Savage.  Children:  i.  William  (3),  torn 
h'cbruary  19,  1727,  died  October  24,  1809; 
married  Martha  Gibson,  and  had  eleven  chil- 
dren. This  family  removed  to  eastern  New 
York,  where  descendants  now  dwell.  2. 
Elisha,  born  December  9,  1728,  died  Novem- 
ber 23,  1803;  married  Thankful  Johnson,  and 
lived  in  Lkrlin,  Connecticut.  He  was  ensign 
of  the  Fifteenth  Company,  Sixth  Regiment, 
Colonial  Militia,  and  afterward  served  in  the 
revolutionary  army.  Eleven  children.  3. 
Jonathan,  born  July  12,  1731,  died  April  4, 
1805 ;  married  Elizabeth  Ranney ;  ten  chil- 
dren. 4.  Amos,  born  September  25,  1733,  died 
February  4,  1783 ;  married  Sarah  Montague ; 
eleven  children.  5.  Josiah,  born  October  17, 
1735,  died  July  6,  1804;  married  Sarah  Stow; 
eight  children.  6.  Stephen,  born  October  26, 
1737.  died  August  14,  1825  ;  he  was  a  soldier 
of  the  revolution :  married  Triphena  Riley ; 
six  children.  7.  Solomon,  see  forward.  8. 
Daniel,  born  October  11,  1742,  died  January 
17,  1812;  married  (first)  Martha  Norton; 
(second)  Mrs.  Abiah,  widow  of  Mordecai 
Lincoln ;  two  children. 

(IV)  Dr.  Solomon,  son  of  Deacon  Wil- 
liam (2)  and  Sarah  (Savage)  Savage,  was 
born  June  22,  1740,  died  January  29,  1783. 
He  was  a  physician  and  served  as  surgeon  in 
the  continental  army.  He  married  (first) 
December  3,  1761,  Sarah  Selden,  born  August 
30.  I743.  died  September  12,  1774,  daughter 
of  Captain  Thomas  and  Rebecca  (Walkley) 
Selden,  of  Haddam  Neck.  He  married  (sec- 
ond) December,  1775,  Naomi  Kilby,  who 
survived  him  and  married  (second)  Prosper 
Hubbard.  Children:  Solomon  (2),  Mary, 
Miriam,  Elias,  Chloe,  Selden,  Asa,  see  for- 
ward,   and    Elijah. 

(V)  Asa,  son  of  Dr.  Solomon  and  Naomi 
(Kilby)  Savage,  was  born  in  Hartford,  Con- 
necticut, about  the  year  1780,  died  in  Troy, 
New  York.  He  married  Abigail  Calender; 
children :  Charles,  Edward  Winslow  Martin, 
see  forward ;  Dwight,  Ralph,  Maria,  John, 
James,  Emily  and  Alary  Jane. 

(VI)  Edward  Winslow  Martin,  son  of 
Asa  and  Abigail  (Calender)  Savage,  was 
born  in  1812  in  Nassau,  New  York,  died  in 
Troy,  New  York,  November  4,  1857.  He 
married,  1838,  Caroline  Gotty,  born  in  1819 
at  Enfield,  near  the  city  of  London,  England, 
died  in  Troy,  New  York,  1888.  Children: 
Emily,  Caroline,  Mary  Elizabeth,  died  young,^ 
Alice,   Mary   Ella,  see  forward. 

(VH)  Mary  Ella,  youngest  child  of  Ed- 
ward W.  M.  and  Caroline   (Gotty)   Savage, > 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


was  born  November  26,  1849.  She  married, 
Januarj'  2j,  1869,  George  Peck  Ide  (see  Ide 
VIH). 


James  Draper,  the  Puritan, 
DRAPER     son  of  Thomas  Draper,  of  the 

priory  of  Heptonstall,  vicarage 
of  HaHfax,  Yorksliire  county,  England,  was 
bom  at  Heptonstall,  1618,  died  at  Roxbury, 
Massachusetts,  July  6,  1694.  He  married,  at 
Heptonstall,  April  21,  1646,  Miriam,  daughter 
of  Gideon  and  Grace  (Eastwood)  Stansfield, 
of  Wadsford,  Yorkshire,  England.  She  was 
born  at  Heptonstall,  November  27,  1625,  and 
died    at    Roxbury,    Massachusetts,    January, 

1697.  James  Draper's  first  residence  in  Amer- 
ica was  in  Roxbury,  Massachusetts,  and  there 
his  first  American  children  were  born.  From 
Roxbury  he  removed  to  Dedham.  Later  he 
probably  returned  to  Roxbury,  where  he  and 
his  wife  died  and  are  buried.  He  was  made 
a  freeman  of  Roxbury  in  1690.  Children:  i. 
Miriam,  born  February  7,  1647,  in  Hepton- 
stall, England,  died  in  infancy.  2.  Susanna, 
about  1650,  in  Roxbury,  Massachusetts,  mar- 
ried, 1668,  John  Bacon.  3.  Sarah,  1652,  mar- 
ried. May  9,  1669,  James  Hadlock.  4.  James, 
see  forward.  5.  John,  June  24,  1656,  died 
April  5,  1749,  in  Dedham.  6.  Moses,  Septem- 
ber 26.  1663.  died  August  14,  1693,  in  Boston. 
7.  Daniel,  May  30,  1665,  died  in  Dedham.  8. 
Patience,  August  17,  1668,  married,  March 
13,  1689,  Ebenezer  Cass.  9.  Jonathan,  March 
10,  1670,  died  February  28,  1746-47,  in  Rox- 
bury. 

(H)  James  (2),  son  of  James  (i)  and  Mi- 
riam (Stansfield)  Draper,  was  born  in  Rox- 
bury, Massachusetts,  1654,  died  there  April  30, 

1698.  He  married,  February  18,  i68i,  Abi- 
gail, daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Hannah 
(Dwight)  Whiting,  of  Dedham,  Massachu- 
setts, born  in  Roxbury,  June  7,  1663,  died 
there,  October  25,  1721.  She  was  a  grand- 
daughter of  John  Dwight,  from  whom  Presi- 
dent Timothy  Dwight,  of  Yale,  and  other 
prominent  men  are  descended.  James  Dra- 
per was  a  soldier  in  King  Philip's  war  during 
the  year  1675.  He  received  from  his  father, 
part  of  the  farm  at  Roxbury.  This  he  subse- 
quently sold  to  John  Aldis.  He  then  bought 
the  estate  Ijelow  Baker  street,  where  he,  and 
after  his  death  his  widow,  kept  an  ordinary. 
James  Drajjer  and  his  wife  are  buried  in 
the  First  Parish  cemetery  at  Dedham,  Massa- 
chusetts. Children:  i.  Abigail,  born  Decem- 
ber 29,  1681  :  married  James  Griggs.  2.  Na- 
thaniel, April  2,  1684,  died  December  30,  1721  ; 
married,  January  22,  1706,  Abigail  Lyon.  3. 
William,  May  15.  1686,  died  young.  4.  Eu- 
nice, June  5,  1689,  died  June  13,  1714;  mar- 


ried, June  24,  1708,  Nathaniel  Aldis.  5.  James,. 
1691,  died  April  24,  1768;  married.  May  2, 
1716,  Rachel  Aldis.  6.  Gideon,  1694:  mar- 
ried, April  22,  1713,  Abigail  Aldis.  7.  Ebe- 
nezer, April  27,  1698,  died  June  3,  1798; 
married.  May  2,  1723,  Dorothy  Child. 

(HI)  James  (3),  son  of  James  (2)  and  Abi- 
gail (Whiting)  Draper,  was  born  in  Roxbury,. 
Massachusetts,  1691,  died  April  24,  1768.  He 
removed  to  Glen  Lodge,  a  settlement  about 
two  miles  east  of  Dedham,  afterward  part 
of  the  latter.  He  was  a  captain  of  the  trained 
band,  was  elected  a  selectman  in  1746,  to 
serve  one  year,  and  again  in  1756,  to  serve 
two  years.  He  was  a  prosperous  man,  a  large 
landowner',  prominent  in  the  town  affairs  of 
Dedham,  and  much  respected.  He  married 
(first)  May  2,  1715,  Rachel,  daughter  of  John 
and  Mary  Aldis,  born  March  15,  1690,  died 
May  16,  1717.  He  married  (second),  Novem- 
ber 12,  1719,  Abigail,  daughter  of  Joshua  and 
Elizabeth  (Morris)  Child,  of  Brookline,  Mas- 
sachusetts, born  1698,  died  November  23, 
1767.  Child  by  first  wife:  i.  John,  born  Janu- 
ary 29,  1716,  died  March  10,  1717.  Children 
by  second  wife:  2.  James,  born  September  22, 
1720,  at  Stoughton,  died  at  Spencer,  March  2, 
1781  :  married  (first)  November  i,  1743,  Me- 
hitable  Whiting;  (second)  Mrs.  Martha  (Bur- 
nett) Ward,  a  widow.  3.  Abigail,  December 
12,  1 72 1,  at  Stoughton,  died  November  3, 
1817 ;  married  (first)  September  30,  1741, 
Henry  White;  (second)  starch  7,  1750,  Ma- 
jor Asa  Baldwin.  4.  John,  June  16,  1723,  at 
Stoughton,  died  November  8,  1745,  at  Ded- 
ham. 5.  Joshua,  see  forward.  6.  Josiah,  April 
3,   1726,  at  Stoughton,  died  August  18,   1726. 

7.  Josiah,  September  12,   1727,  at  Stoughton. 

8.  Rebecca,  June  30,  1729,  at  Stoughton,  died 
January  30,  1830.  9.  Mary,  September  24, 
1731,  at  Stoughton.  10.  Abijah,  July  13,  1734, 
at  Dedham,  died  November  18,  1734.  11.  Abi- 
jah, July  II,  1735,  at  Dedham,  died  February 
13'  ^7}>7-  12.  Abijah,  May  10.  1737,  at  Ded- 
ham; died  there.  May  i,  1780;  married  (first) 
April  8,  1762,  Alice  Eaton;  (second)  March 
25,  1778,  Mrs.  Desire  Metcalf.  13.  Samuel, 
December  5,  1740,  died  November  29.  1750. 

(IV)  Joshua,  son  of  James  (3)  and  Abigail 
(Child)  Draper,  was  born  at  Dorchester,  Mas- 
sachusetts, December  25,  1724,  died  at  Spen- 
cer, Massachusetts,  October  27,  1792.  He  re- 
moved from  Dedham  to  Spencer.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  revolutionary  committeee  of 
correspondence  for  the  years  1776-77.  assessor 
from  1765  to  1 77 1,  and  was  considered  for 
those  times  to  be  a  wealthy  man.  He  married 
(first)  at  Dedham,  Massachusetts,  April  14, 
1748,  Abigail  Fairbanks,  who  died  February 
17,   1762.     Married    (second)    Widow   Sarah 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


^ 


Wright,  of  Brookfield,  Massachusetts,  who 
died  April  12,  1820.  Children  by  first  wife: 
1.  Joshua,  see  forward.  2.  Sarah,  born  March 
19,  1751,  died  about  1777;  married.  May  2, 
177 1,  Jonas  Muzzy.  3.  Samuel,  May  8,  1752; 
married  his  cousin,  Millie  Draper.  4.  Abigail, 
May  2.  1756,  unmarried.  Children  by  second 
wife:  5.  Asa.  March  11,  1763,  died  at  Clare- 
mont,  New  Hampshire ;  married,  July  19, 
1785,  Ruth  Whittemore.  6.  Simeon,  March 
27,  1765,  married  (first),  August  24,  1786, 
Mary  Bemis;  married  (second),  September 
10,  1832,  Catherine  C.  Lewis,  a  widow.  7. 
Ira,  February  18,  1767;  went  to  sea  and  was 
never  heard  of  after.  8.  Joel,  June  18,  1769; 
died  unmarried  in  Otsego,  New  York.  9. 
William,  December  9,  1771,  died  December 
30>  1845. 

Abigail  (Fairbanks)  Draper,  born  Decem- 
ber 4,  1724,  traced  her  ancestry  to  Jonathan 
Fairebanke  (Fairbank,  Fairbanks),  who  came 
from  Sowcrby  in  the  West  Riding  of  York- 
shire, England,  to  Boston,  Massachusetts,  in 
the  year  1633,  and  settled  in  Dedham,  Massa- 
chusetts, 1636,  where  he  built  the  noted  "Old 
Fairbanks  House,"  which  is  still  standing, 
the  oldest  dwelling  house  in  New  England 
that  has  been  continuously  occupied  by  the 
builder  and  his  lineal  descendants.  He  was 
born  in  England  before  1600.  He  married 
Grace  Lee.  Their  youngest  son,  Jonathan, 
was  born  in  England,  admitted  townsman  in 
Dedham  "ye  i  of  ye  11  ;  1654."  He  died  Jan- 
uary 28,  1711-12.  He  was  a  soldier' in  King 
Philip's  war,  serving  in  the  first  or  Mt.  Hof>e 
campaign  in  1675,  also  in  several  subsequent 
campaigns.  He  married  Deborah,  daughter 
of  Edward  Shepard,  of  Cambridge.  Their 
youngest  son,  Jonathan,  was  born  probably 
about  1677;  lived  in  Dedham,  south  parish 
(now  Norwood)  :  married  (first)  'Slary  Harts- 
horn. February  3,  1702,  who  died  August, 
1704-05:  married  (second)  Deborah,  daugh- 
ter of  Captain  Samuel  and  Mary  (Woodcock) 
Guild,  of  Dedham,  born  July  16,  1685.  died 
August  3,  1773.  Their  eighth  child  and  fourth 
daughter  was  Abigail,  above-mentioned. 

(\')  Joshua  (2),  son  of  Joshua  (i)  and 
Abigail  (Fairbanks)  Draper,  was  born  in 
Spencer,  Alassachusetts,  May  25,  1749,  died  at 
Westford,  New  York,  May  12,  1839.  He 
lived  for  many  years  in  Chester,  Massachu- 
setts. He  was  a  soldier  in  the  revolutionary 
war,  serving  as  a  private  in  Captain  Benjamin 
Richardson's  company  from  Spencer.  Colonel 
Nicholas  Dike's  regiment.  He  was  at  the 
battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  and  at  the  relief  of  Dor- 
chester, September,  1776.  The  musket  he 
carried  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the  family. 
His  services  were  rewarded  by  a  government 


pension.  After  the  war  he  migrated  with  his 
family  to  New  York  state  and  settled  at  West- 
ford.  Otsego  county,  where  he  cleared  a  tract 
of  land  of  timber  in  what  was  then  a  wilder- 
ness, built  a  house  on  it,  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. After  the  death  of  his  wife,  1823,  he 
made  his  home  with  his  son  Sylvester.  He 
married,  August  5,  1773,  Mary  Pratt,  bom 
in  Hanover,  Massachusetts,  January  28,  1750,. 
died  of  consumption,  September  i,  1823. 
Children:  i.  Bethuel,  born  August  27,  1774, 
died  March  25,  1814;  married  Polly  Vaughn. 

2.  Lucy,  January  22,  1776,  died  November  9, 
181 1  :  married  Asa  Bidlake.  3.  Hazor  Enor,. 
September  6.  1777:  married  (first),  Septem- 
ber 6,  1803.  Hannah  Pratt;  (second)  Mrs. 
Ruth  (Pratt)  Lane,  widow,  and  sister  of  his 
first  wife.  4.  Rufus,  January  28,  1779,  died 
January  19,  1822 :  married  Hannah  Inglis.  5. 
Mary,  September  14,  1780,  died  October  x, 
1780.  6.  Abijah,  September  3,  1781  ;  married, 
January  30,  1812,  Isabelle  \'an  Tuyl.  7.  Syl- 
vester, see  forward.  8.  Joshua,  January  23,. 
1785 ;  married  Betsey  \'aughn.  9.  Dexter, 
December  8,  1786;  married,  August  i,  1816, 
Oriel  Babcock.  10.  Abigail,  April  14,  1790,. 
died  April  21,  1827;  married  Reuben  Wilder. 
II.  Achsah,  February  16,  1792,  died  June  22, 
1823,  unmarried. 

(\  I)  Sylvester,  son  of  Joshua  (2)  and 
Mary  (Pratt)  Draper,  was  born  in  Chester,. 
■Massachusetts,  May  14,  1783.  died  May  8, 
1852,  in  Westford,  Otsego  county.  New  York. 
He  married,  in  Worcester,  New  York,  Decem- 
ber 22,  1808,  Sukey.  daughter  of  Dr.  Uriah 
Bigelow,  a  prominent  physician.  She  was  born 
at  Boylston,  Massachusetts,  August  21,  1789, 
died  at  Westford,  New  York,  June  12,  1863. 
All  his  children,  excepting  the  two  eldest,  were- 
born  at  Westford,  New  York.  Children:  i. 
Sylvester  Bigelow,  see  forward.  2.  Susan 
Gregory,  born  May  22,  181 1  ;  married,  Sef)- 
tember  5.   1838,  Alden  Chester,  of  Maryland. 

3.  Josiah  Harrington,  February  6,  1813:  died 
in  Albany,  P'ebruary  10,  1894;  married  (first) 
February  22,  1837,  Adelia  W.  Babcock:  (sec- 
ond), October  15,  1861,  Mrs.  Helen  Avery, 
of  Albany;  (third),  November  31.  1878,. 
Fanny  Rathbone,  of  Albany.  4.  Caroline  Ma- 
ria, June  19,  1815 ;  died  in  Richmondville,. 
New  York,  June  3,  1896;  married  (first), 
January  22,  1846,  Benjamin  Westcott ;  (sec- 
ond) July  31,  1878,  Asa  H.  Cleveland.  5. 
Adelia  Sophia,  October  11,  1817;  died  at 
Whitestow^n,  New  York,  March  7,  1892 ;  mar- 
ried, April  13,  1842,  Henry  W.  Wilson.  6. 
Fernando  Pratt,  August  9,  1819;  died  at  San 
Francisco,  California,  January  16,  1896;  mar- 
ried, June  16,  1846,  Lucy  A.  Preston.  7. 
Lysander,  October  2,  1821 ;  died  at  J\laryland,. 


HUDSOX  AND   MOHA\\-K  \'ALLEYS 


New  York,  April  30,  1898;  married,  October 

11,  1855.  Rachel  Anne  Gurney.  8.  ^^larinda, 
October  10,  1823;  died  at  Richmondville,  New 
York,  ^larch  28,  1899:  married,  October  5, 
1853,  Luther  M.  Robinson.     9.  Lucy,  August 

12,  1826,  died  August  14,  1827.  10.  Milton, 
June  24,  1829,  died  in  Goodland,  Indiana,  No- 
vember 24,  1877.  II.  Maria,  September  12, 
1832;  married  (first)  January  29,  1865,  John 
E.  Moore;  (second)  John  H.  Rider. 

(X'H)  Sylvester  Bigelow,  son  of  Sylvester 
and  Sukey  (Bigelow)  Draper,  was  born  in 
Worcester,  New  York,  February  19.  18 10. 
died  in  Albany,  April  21,  1890.  He  removed 
to  Albany  in  1855,  and  remained  there  until 
his  death.  He  married  (first).  Amy  West- 
cott.  of  Milford,  May  4.  1836;  she  died  Feb- 
ruary 19,  1845.  Married  (second)  Jane  Sloan, 
of  Worcester,  June  14,  1846.  Children  by 
first  wife,  all  born  in  Westford :  i.  Olive, 
IMay  25,  1837,  died  July  22,  1891.  marrie^, 
July  2,  1863,  Silas  H.  Walker.  2.  Anne  Eliza- 
beth, June  28,  1839.  died  December  19.  1885, 
in  Albany :  married,  December  13.  1858,  John 
M.  Brightenger,  of  Albany.  3.  Pedia  Marin- 
da,  July  II,  1842.  4.  Orlo  Westcott,  Decem- 
ber 29,  1844,  died  January  9,  1845.  Children 
by  second  wife :  5.  Andrew  Sloan,  see  for- 
ward. 6.  Harlen  Page,  June  19,  185 1,  at 
Westford,  married.  May  14.  1874,  Anabel 
Bryce.  7.  Julia  Isabella,  July  12,  1852,  at 
Westford,  died  there  Alarch  9,  1855.  8.  Mar- 
garet Jane,  August  30,  1864,  at  Albany,  died 
there  July  16,  1865. 

(VIII)  Dr.  Andrew  Sloan,  son  of  Sylvester 
Bigelow  and  Jane  (Sloan  )  Draper,  was  bom 
en  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Westford,  New  York, 
June  21,  1848.  He  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Albany  from  1855  to  1863.  when  he  won 
a  scholarship  at  the  Albany  Academy,  from 
which  institution  he  graduated  in  1866.  Dur- 
ing his  entire  academic  course  he  supported 
himself  by  work  in  the  office  of  the  Alban\ 
Ez'cnin^  Journal.  Through  the  four  succeed- 
ing years  he  was  employed  in  the  office  of  a 
leading  house  in  the  Albany  lumber  district 
in  the  summers  and  taught  school  winters. 
One  winter  he  taught  at  the  Westford  Liter- 
ary Institute  at  Westford,  New  York ;  another 
in  the  Albany  .Academy ;  a  third  he  was  prin- 
cipal of  a  graded  school  at  East  Worcester, 
New  York.  In  1870  he  took  the  course  of 
study  at  the  Albany  Law  School  and  was 
•admitted  to  the  bar  in  May,  1871.  He  then 
formed  a  partnership  with  his  cousin,  .-\lden 
'Chester,  under  the  firm  name  of  Draper  & 
Chester,  and  entered  upon  and  continued  to 
practice  the  legal  profession  until  1885,  when 
his  practice  was  interrupted,  and  in  1887  the 
:firm  dissolved.     In  January,  1885,  he  was  ap- 


pointed by  President  Arthur  one  of  the  judges 
of  the  United  States  court  of  Alabama  claims. 
Dr.  Draper  has  always  been  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Republican  party.  He  made  many 
addresses  in  the  presidential  campaign  of 
1868,  although  he  was  not  old  enough  to  vote 
for  General  Grant  on  election  day,  and  he  has 
been  heard  in  every  state  and  national  cam- 
paign until  he  became  state  superintendent  of 
public  instruction,  in  1886.  In  1880-81-82,  he 
was  chairman  of  the  Republican  county  com- 
mittee of  Albany  county.  In  1880  he  was 
elected  to  the  state  legislature,  was  a  member 
of  the  standing  committees  on  ways  and 
means,  judiciary,  public  education  and  print- 
ing. He  was  a  member  of  the  special  com- 
mittee which  investigated  the  charges  of  brib- 
ery against  Senator  Loren  B.  Sessions,  grow- 
ing out  of  the  celebrated  contest  over  the  se- 
lection of  United  States  senators  to  succeed 
Messrs.  Roscoe  Conkling  and  Thomas  C. 
Piatt.  In  that  contest  Dr.  Draper  supported 
Mr.  Conkling  and  Mr.  Piatt.  In  1883-84  he 
represented  the  nineteenth  congressional  dis- 
trict upon  the  Republican  state  committee.  He 
was  a  delegate  to  the  national  convention  in 
1884.  and  zealously  supported  the  candidacy 
of  General  Arthur  for  renomination  to  the 
presidency.  Immediately  following  the  con- 
vention he  was  chosen  chairman  of  the  execu- 
tive committee  of  the  Republican  state  com- 
mittee, and  as  such  had  the  immediate  charge 
of  the  business  of  the  committee  in  the  en- 
suing campaign.  He  accompanied  Mr.  Blaine 
upon  his  two  famous  journeys  through  the 
state  of  New  York.  Dr.  Draper  has  always 
been  activel}'  identified  with  educational  work. 
He  was  state  superintendent  of  public  in- 
struction from  1886  to  1892 ;  superintendent 
of  schools  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  from  1892  to 
1894;  president  of  the  University  of  Illinois 
from  1894  to  1904;  elected  commissioner  of 
education  of  the  state  of  New  York  by  the 
legislature  in  1904,  which  office  he  continues 
to  fill.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Chicago  His- 
torical Society  and  State  Historical  Societies 
of  New  York,  Illinois  and  ^Visconsin.  Dr. 
Draper  is  the  author  of  a  number  of  literary 
works,  among  which  is  the  "Rescue  of  Cuba." 
He  received  the  silver  medal  at  the  Paris  ex- 
position for  a  monograph  on  "American  Edu- 
cational Organization" ;  a  gold  medal  and  two 
commemorative  diplomas  for  educational  writ- 
ings, and  one  of  the  two  grand  prizes  for  con- 
spicuous services  to  education,  at  the  St.  Louis 
exhibition.  He  has  served  as  president  of  the 
National  Association  of  School  Superintend- 
ents and  of  the  North  Central  Association  of 
Colleges  and  Secondary  Schools,  and  chair- 
man  of  the  department  of   education   in  the 


^0?Z) 


r_^ 


HUDSON   AND   ^lOHAWK  VALLEYS 


"3 


international  congresses  at  St.  Louis.  He  was 
appointed  by  President  Roosevelt  a  member 
of  the  United  States  board  of  Indian  commis- 
sioners in  1902,  and  is  now  (1909)  chairman 
of  the  board.  He  received  the  honorary  de- 
gree of  LL.  D.  from  Colgate  University  in 
1889.  Columbia  L'niversity  in  1903,  and  the 
University  of  Illinois  in  1905. 

Dr.  Draper  married.  May  8,  1872,  Abbie 
Louise  Lyon,  of  New  Britain.  Connecticut. 
Children:  i.  Charlotte  Leland,  born  Novem- 
ter  21.  1875.  married.  May  8,  1907.  .Arthur 
A.  Brown,  of  New  York  City,  an  officer  in 
the  Westinghouse  Electric  Companv ;  resides 
in  New  York  City.  2.  Edwin  Lyon,  born  Au- 
■gust  19.  1882,  graduated  from  the  University 
of  Illinois  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts 
and  from  Harvard  University  with  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Medicine;  he  resides  in  Albany, 
New  York;  he  married.  October  14,  1908, 
Frances  Haeden,  of  Shelbyville.  Illinois,  and 
IS  a  surgeon,  practicing  in  Albany.  New  York. 


This    is    an    English    family 
CHESTER     name  of  antiquity  and  renown. 

One  branch  of  the  Chester 
family  in  America  descends  from  the  Chesters 
■of  Blaby,  but  there  is  nothing  to  connect  the 
founder  of  the  Albany  family  with  any  par- 
ticular English  branch.  Probably  the  first  of 
the  name  in  this  country,  at  least  among  the 
earliest  of  record,  is  Airs.  Dorothy  Chester, 
who  appears  to  have  been  a  woman  of  some 
distinction.  She  appears  in  the  first  division 
•of  land  at  Hartford,  Connecticut,  in  1639.  She 
had  five  lots  granted  her,  and  the  town,  Janu- 
ary 14.  1639.  voted  to  "give  Mrs.  Chester  two 
years'  time  to  build  upon  her  house  lot  in 
Hartford."  She  probably  left  Hartford  or 
was  deceased  before  1649.  It  is  not  known 
whether  she  was  a  relation  of  Leonard  Ches- 
ter, of  Wethersfield,  Connecticut,  or  of  Sam- 
uel Chester,  of  New  London.  Neither  does  it 
■appear  that  Leonard  and  Samuel  were  rela- 
tives. Leonard  Chester  was  from  Leicester- 
•shire.  England,  in  1633,  was  an  early  proprie- 
tor of  Watertown,  and  in  1635  was  one  of 
the  settlers  of  Wethersfield.  Connecticut.  The 
Albany  family  descends  from  Samuel  of  New 
London  and  Groton.  Connecticut. 

( I )  Captain  Samuel  Chester  was  born  in 
England  and  came  to  Boston  (one  authority 
says)  as  master  of  his  own  brigantine.  He 
-was  an  early  settler  of  New  London,  Connec- 
ticut, where  he  received  his  first  grant  of 
land  for  a  warehouse  in  1664  in  company 
with  William  Condy,  of  Boston,  who  was 
styled  his  nephew.  The  general  assemblv  of 
'Connecticut,  May  12,  1664.  ordered  that  "Mr. 
Hagborn's  vessel  that  Ralph  Parker  and  Sam- 


uel Chester  had  appraised  at  iioo  be  delivered 
at  that  price,  etc."  (Colonial  Records,  p. 
430.)  He  was  made  a  freeman  of  New  Lon- 
don in  1669.  In  1671-72.  Samuel  Chester 
was  one  of  those  of  New  London  who  was 
complained  of  to  the  county  court  in  Hart- 
ford by  Matthew  Griswold.  Lieutenant  Wil- 
liam Waller  and  others  of  Saybrook  '"for  at- 
tempts" by  violence  to  drive  them  off  their 
lands.  He  first  appeared  in  New  London 
in  1663  and  engaged  in  the  West  India  trade 
as  owner,  factor  and  commander.  Their  ware- 
house was  on  Close  Cove.  He  was  a  sea  cap- 
tain, and  commanded  the  "Endeavor"  for 
several  trips  to  the  West  Indies  as  early  as 
1666.  He  also  had  an  interest  in  a  vessel 
called  the  "New  London  Tryall."  with  Well- 
man  and  Parker,  which  Miss  Caulkins  says 
was  the  first  merchant  vessel  owned  there. 
Though  he  was  a  practical  seaman,  he  appears 
also  to  have  been  a  merchant.  After  1689  a 
vessel  was  built  for  John  Wheeler,  a  promi- 
nent maritime  man  at  New  London,  for  the 
European  trade  and  sent  out  commanded  by 
Captain  Samuel  Chester.  Miss  Caulkins  fur- 
ther says  (p.  353,  "History  of  New  London") 
that  he  was  much  employed  in  land  surveys 
and  was  appointed  in  1693  by  the  general 
court  one  of  the  agents  to  meet  the  commis- 
sioners from  Massachusetts,  to  renew  and  set- 
tle the  boundaries  between  the  two  colonies. 
He  had  a  large  landed  estate,  partly  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river,  now  Groton,  covering 
the  ground  where  Fort  Griswold  and  the  Gro- 
ton Monument  now  stand.  Also  large  tracts 
to  the  north  and  south  of  Groton  Point,  now 
called  Eastern  Point,  on  which  his  sons,  Abra- 
ham, John  and  Jonathan,  settled  and  reared 
large  "families.  A  deed  to  Captain  Samuel 
Chester  was  signed  by  the  Indian  chief,  Un- 
cas.  Tune  13,  1683.  for  a  grant  of  several 
thousand  of  acres  of  land  in  Colchester.  He 
had  a  large  tract  in  the  north  parish,  bought 
of  Owanoco  and  Josiah.  !\Iohegan  sachems. 
He  lived  upon  the  east  side  of  the  river,  where 
he  dwelt  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Jonathan 
Chester,  his  son,  sold  in  1777  to  the  Connecti- 
cut state  government  the  land  where  Fort 
Griswold  and  the  Groton  Alonument  now 
stand.  His  skill  as  a  surveyor  was  of  great 
service  to  him  in  laying  out  lands  in  the  new 
settlements,  and  he  was  esteemed  a  loyal,  just, 
trusty  and  worthy  man.     He  married    (first) 

;\Iary  .  and  (second)   Hannah  . 

His  chiklren.  whose  names  have  been  pre- 
served and  recorded  were:  Abraham;  John, 
probably  died  in  infancy  ;  Susannah  ;  Samuel ; 
Mercv ;  Hannah ;  John,  see  forward ;  Jona- 
than.' His  will,  dated  in  1708,  names  only 
Abraham,    John.    Jonathan    and    Mercy    Bur- 


114 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


rows.  The  children  were  baptized  in  New 
London.     Captain  Chester  died  about  1710. 

(11)  John,  son  of  Captain  Samuel  and  Han- 
nah Chester,  was  born  about  1690,  baptized 
at  Groton,  May  29.  1692,  died  there  June  i, 
177 1.  He  was  a  large  land  owner  and  farmer, 
a  thorough  business  man,  and  active  in  state, 
community  and  church  affairs.  He  married, 
November  i,  17 16.  Mary  (or  Mercy),  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  Starr,  an  early  ship-builder  of 
New  London.  Their  children  were:  John, 
see  forward;  Thomas,  Benajah,  James,  Jo- 
seph, Simeon,  Catharine  and  Levi. 

(HI)  John  (2),  son  of  John  (i)  and  Mary 
(Starr)  Chester,  was  born  in  Groton,  Connec- 
ticut, September  9,   171 7,  died  November   17, 

1762.    He  married  Abigail .    Children: 

John,  see  forward ;  Simeon. 

(IV)  John  (3),  son  of  John  (2)  and  Abi- 
gail Chester,  was  born  at  Groton,  Connecticut, 
August  28,  1761,  died  at  New  London,  Au- 
gust 30,  1804.  He  served  in  the  revolutionary 
war  as  a  member  of  Captain  William  La- 
tham's artillery  company  of  matrosses,  sta- 
tioned at  Groton,  having  enlisted  July  6,  1780, 
and  served  until  May  i,  1781,  when  he  was 
discharged.  He  married  his  cousin,  Frances, 
born  October  24,  1770,  at  Groton,  died  Au- 
gust I,  1853,  at  Westford,  New  York,  young- 
est daughter  of  his  uncle,  Thomas  Chester, 
son  of  John  and  Mary  (Starr)  Chester.  Chil- 
dren :  Calvin,  John  Eldridge,  Frances  Mary, 
Laurinda,  Alden,  see  forward. 

(\')  Alden,  son  of  John  (3)  and  Frances 
(Chester)  Chester,  was  born  at  New  London, 
Connecticut,  May  26,  1803,  died  at  Westford, 
Otsego  county,  New  York,  March  4,  1857. 
His  father  died  when  he  was  but  three  months 
old.  His  mother  married  (second)  Deacon 
John  Kelso,  February  16,  181 2,  and  he  re- 
moved witli  them  when  a  boy  of  nine  to 
Westford,  New  York.  He  was  a  cabinet 
maker  and  a  manufacturer  of  sashes,  blinds 
and  doors.  He  was  a  public-spirited  man  and 
a  true  friend  of  education,  and  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  Westford  public  library. 
He  married  (first)  Mary  H.  Chapiiel,  of 
Maryland,  New  York,  March  12,  1834,  who 
bore  him  a  son,  Dwight,  born  in  Maryland, 
New  York,  March  2,  1835  :  after  receiving  his 
education  in  the  public  and  parish  schools  of 
Westford,  he  engaged  in  manufacturing  there 
until  1862.  and  after  that  was  a  merchant  in 
New  York  City  four  years,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed manager  for  the  Aetna  Life  Insurance 
Company  for  Massachusetts,  and  is  still  so  en- 
gaged. He  was  town  clerk  of  Westford  in 
1859  and  supervisor  in  1861.  He  removed  to 
Newton  Center,  Massachusetts,  in  i86fi;  was 
a  member  of  the  common  council  of  the  city 


of  Newton.  1876-77-78 :  of  the  board  of  alder- 
men in  1879-80-81-83-84,  and  president  of 
that  body  four  years.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  house  of  representatives  of  Massachusetts 
in  1891-92-93-94.  He  has  been  for  many 
years  and  still  is  president  of  the  Newton 
Trust  Company,  and  is  treasurer  and  trustee 
of  several  charitable  and  religious  societies. 
He  married,  September  7,  1862,  Mary  J. 
Storrs,  of  Worcester,  New  York ;  children : 
Mary  Edna,  born  April  14,  1866,  died  at  New- 
ton Center,  Massachusetts,  March  4,  1904,  and 
Lizzie,  born  March  8,  1868,  died  August  11, 
1868.  Alden  Chester  married  (second)  Su- 
san Gregory  Draper,  September  5,  1838,  sec- 
ond child  and  eldest  daughter  of  Sylvester  and 
Sukey  (Bigelow)  Draper,  (See  Draper  VII). 
Children:  i.  Horace,  born  October  29,  1842; 
was  for  several  years  after  his  marriage  sta- 
tion agent  and  telegraph  operator  at  Schenevus, 
New  York ;  after  that  he  was  a  private  banker 
there  for  many  years,  and  during  a  portion  of 
that  time  was  cashier  of  the  Bank  of  Worces- 
ter, five  miles  distant  from  his  home.  He 
removed  to  Maiden,  Massachusetts,  1897,  and 
since  that  time  has  been  engaged  with  his 
brother  Dwight  in  the  insurance  business  with 
offices  in  Boston.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
the  city  council  of  Maiden  for  several  years. 
He  married,  September  8,  1867,  Anastasia  E. 
Hill;  children:  i.  Carey  R..  married  (first) 
Alice  M.  Hebard,  (second)  Lela  Parker;  ii. 
Francelia ;  iii.  Horace  Coryell,  married  Eliza- 
beth R.  Parker ;  iv.  Alden  Hill,  died  in  in- 
fancy ;  V.  Lola  Ethel.  2.  Rev.  Arthur,  born 
February  22,  1847,  died  in  Brooklyn.  New 
York,  November  12,  1889.  He  was  educated 
for  the  ministry  at  Union  Theological  Semi- 
nary in  New  York  and  at  the  Chicago  Theo- 
logical Seminary.  He  was  pastor  of  Congre- 
gational churches  at  Onarga,  Illinois.  Sandus- 
ky. Ohio,  and  P)rooklyn,  New  York.  He  was 
the  founder  of  the  Bushwick  Avenue  Congre- 
gational church  in  lirooklyn,  of  which  he  was 
pastor  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  a 
man  of  superior  education  and  was  proficient 
in  many  languages.     3.  Alden,  see  forward. 

(VI)  Judge  .Alden  (2),  youngest  son  of 
Alden  (i)  and  Susan  Gregory  (Draper)  Ches- 
ter, was  born  in  Westford,  Otsego  county, 
New  York,  Septemlier  4,  1848.  His  early  edu- 
cation was  obtained  in  the  district  school  and 
at  the  Westford  Literary  Institute,  where  he 
was  a  teacher  for  a  time.  Before  attaining 
his  majority  he  served  as  a  clerk  in  a  whole- 
sale commission  house  in  New  York  and  also 
in  a  country  store  in  his  native  village  and 
worked  in  the  postoffice.  He  then  took  up 
telegraphy  and  secured  a  position  on  the  old 
Albany  arid  Susquehanna  railroad  as  operator 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK    \ALLEYS 


"5 


in  cliarc;e  of  an  office  at  East  Worcester, 
where  he  remained  two  years.  He  edited  a 
newspaper  in  Otsego  county,  and  then  served 
as  a  clerk  for  one  year  in  the  Aetna  Life  In- 
surance Company  in  Boston,  where  he  began 
the  study  of  law  under  the  instruction  of  a 
lawyer  of  his  acquaintance.  In  1869  he  en- 
tered the  Columbia  College  Law  School  in 
New  York  City,  where  he  was  graduated  LL. 
B.  with  the  class  of  1871,  winning  the  prize  in 
Political  Science,  this  being  one  of  only  five 
prizes  given  to  a  graduating  class  of  ninety- 
nine  members.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
at  the  general  term  in  New  York  City  in  May, 
1 87 1,  and  began  the  practice  of  law  at  once 
in  Albany  with  his  cousin,  Andrew  S.  Draper, 
now  state  commissioner  of  education,  then 
just  beginning  the  practice  of  law.  In  1876 
Hon.  William  S.  Paddock  was  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Paddock,  Draper  &  Chester.  Mr. 
Paddock  retired  in  1882,  Mr.  Draper  in  18S7, 
leaving  Mr.  Chester,  who  continued  the  busi- 
ness alone.  Mr.  Chester  was  a  Republican 
and  was  early  honored  by  that  party  with 
political  preferment.  In  1874-76  he  was  dep- 
uty clerk  of  the  New  York  assembly,  and  sec- 
retary for  many  years  of  the  Albany  county 
general  committee.  From  1881  to  1884  he 
was  a  member  of  the  board  of  public  instruc- 
tion in  Albany,  serving  the  last  year  as  its 
president.  He  was  instrumental  in  having  the 
high  school  library  thrown  open  to  the  public. 
In  1882  he  was  appointed  assistant  United 
States  district  attorney  for  the  Northern  Dis- 
trict of  New  York  under  the  Hon.  Martin  I. 
Townsend,  and  in  this  capacity  tried  many 
important  cases  for  the  government  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  state :  he  held  that  office 
until  1885,  when  he  resigned  to  attend  to  his 
private  law  business,  his  partner,  Mr.  Draper, 
having  been  appointed  judge  of  the  court  of 
Alabama  claims.  He  was  assistant  corpora- 
tion counsel  of  the  city  of  Albany,  1894-96. 
In  the  latter  year  Governor  Morton  appointed 
him  a  member  of  the  commission  to  prepare 
a  uniform  charter  for  cities  of  the  second  class 
and  in  November,  1895,  ^^  resigned  from  the 
commission  on  being  elected  a  justice  of  the 
supreme  court  of  New  York  state,  in  the 
third  judicial  district,  and  was  the  first  Re- 
publican elected  to  that  office  in  that  dis- 
trict in  over  thirty  years  :  in  1909  he  received 
the  unanimous  nomination  of  both  parties  for 
reelection,  and  is  now  serving  his  second  term. 
In  November,  1902.  he  was  appointed  by  Gov- 
ernor Odell  to  the  appellate  division  of  the 
supreme  court,  in  the  third  judicial  department 
of  the  state,  and  since  that  time  has  been  serv- 
ing as  a  member  of  the  court,  having  been  re- 
appointed by  Governor  Hughes.    On  January 


I,  1910,  he  retired  from  service  in  the  appel- 
late division,  and  is  now  serving  at  the  trial 
and  special  terms  of  the  supreme  court. 

In  1885,  when  he  returned  to  his  legal  prac- 
tice, he  devoted  his  attention  to  a  general  law 
business,  numbering  among  his  clients  many 
life  and  fire  insurance  comjjanies.  In  1S83,  he 
completed  and  annotated  the  insurance  laws 
of  the  state  for  the  state  insurance  department, 
and  is  now  (1909)  engaged  as  editor  of  the 
legal  and  jutlicial  history  of  the  state.  He  is 
president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Al- 
bany Academy  for  Girls ;  president  of  Grace- 
land  Cemetery ;  vice-president  of  the  Albany 
Medical  College  and  of  the  Albany  Exchange 
Savings  Bank  ;  special  lecturer  on  the  Federal 
Judicial  System  in  Albany  Law  School ;  gov- 
ernor of  Union  University,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  American  Society  of  International  Law 
and  of  the  National  Geographic  Society. 

Judge  Chester  married,  October  5,  1871, 
Lina,  daughter  of  Ezra  R.  Thurber,  of  East 
Worcester,  New  York.  They  have  a  daugh- 
ter. Amy,  born  July  19,  1877,  wife  of  Charles 
Van  Merrick,  an  architect  of  Albany,  New 
York  :  they  have  a  son,  Alden  Chester  Mer- 
rick, born   October    14,    1906. 

Through  his  maternal  line  Judge  Chester 
descends  from  James  Draper,  fourth  son  of 
Thomas  Draper,  of  Heptonstall,  Yorkshire, 
England.     (See  Draper,  on  preceding  pages.) 

Susan  Gregory,  eldest  daughter  and  second 
child  of  Sylvester  fq.  v.),  and  Sukey  (  Bige- 
low)  Draper,  was  born  May  22,  181 1,  at  Wor- 
cester, New  York,  died  at  Westford,  New 
York,  ]\Iay  30.  1892.  She  became  the  second 
wife  of  Alden  Chester,  to  whom  she  was  mar- 
ried September  5,  1838.  (See  Chester  V). 
Children :  Horace,  Arthur  and  Alden  Ches- 
ter. 

(The  Brcwslcr  Line). 

The  "Pilgrim"  ancestry  of  Judge  Alden 
Chester  begins  with  Elder  William  Brewster, 
"chief  of  the  Pilgrims  and  one  of  the  May- 
flower's passengers."  William  Brewster,  son 
of  William,  was  born  during  the  last  half  of 
1566  or  the  first  half  of  1567.  The  date  is  de-  ' 
termined  by  an  affidavit  made  at  Leyden,  June 
25,  1609,  in  which  he,  his  wife  Mary,  and  son 
Jonathan,  declare  their  ages  to  be  respectively 
fortv-two,  forty  and  sixteen  years.  The  place 
of  his  birth  is  not  known,  but  is  supposed  to 
have  been  Scrooby,  in  Nottinghamshire,  Eng- 
land. His  father,  W'illiam  Brewster,  was  ap- 
pointed by  Archbishop  Sandys  in  January, 
1575-76,  receiver  of  Scrooby,  and  bailifi'  of 
the  Manor  House  in  that  place  belonging  to 
the  Archbishop,  to  have  life  tenure  of  both 
offices.  The  parish  registers  of  Scrotiby  do 
not  begin   until    1695,   and   no   record   of  his 


ii6 


HL'DSON   AND    MOHAW^K    VALLEYS 


birtli.  baptism  or  marriage  was  discovered  by 
William  Paver,  a  distinguished  local  antiquary, 
who  held  a  commission  for  nearly  a  quarter 
of  a  century  to  report  all  items  that  he  found, 
relating  to  the  Pilgrims.  His  father  was 
"Post"  at  Scrooby,  and  it  is  said  his  grand- 
father held  the  same  office.  Elder  Brewster 
was  a  student  at  "Peterhouse"  (the  oldest  of 
the  fourteen  colleges  then  forming  the  Uni- 
versity of  Cambridge),  but  it  does  not  appear 
that  he  ever  took  his  degree.  In  Scrooby  he 
lived  "in  good'  esteeme  amongst  his  friends 
and  ye  gentlemen  of  those  parts,  espetialy  the 
godly  &  religious  doing  much  good  in  promot- 
ing and  furthering  Religion."  His  residence 
in  Scrooby  was  the  old  Manor  House,  and 
there  the  members  of  the  Pilgrim  church  were 
accustomed  to  meet  on  the  Lord's  Day,  where 
he  "with  great  love  entertained  them  when 
they  came,  making  provision  for  them  to  his 
great  charge."  The  Pilgrims  attempting  to 
remove  to  Holland  in  1607,  were  imprisoned 
at  Boston,  England,  through  the  treachery  of 
the  master  of  the  ship  that  was  to  transport 
them.  Elder  Brewster  was  said  by  Bradford 
to  have  been  the  "cheefe  of  those  that  were 
taken  at  Boston  and  suffered  ye  greatest  loss ; 
and  of  ye  seven  that  were  kept  longst  in  prison 
and  after  bound  over  to  ye  assises."  We  also 
learn  that  "after  he  reached  Holland  he  suf- 
fered many  hardships  and  spent  most  of  his 
means  in  providing  for  his  many  children." 
During  the  latter  part  of  the  twelve  years 
spent  in  Holland,  he  increased  his  income 
very  much  by  teaching  and  by  the  profits  from 
a  printing  press  which  he.  by  the  help  of  some 
friends,  set  up  at  Leyden.  When  the  church 
at  Levden  resolved  to  emigrate  to  Virginia, 
Elder  Brewster  was  "desired"  by  those  chosen 
to  go  first  "to  goe  with  them,"  while  John 
Robinson,  the  pastor,  stayed  with  the  majority 
who  should  follow  later.  Thus  it  was  that  he, 
his  wife  Mary  and  two  young  sons  were 
among  the  passengers  of  the  now-famous  ves- 
sel "Mayflower,"  which  drop])ed  anchor  in 
Plymouth  harbor,  December  16,  1620.  That 
he  drafted  the  Mayflower  "Compact"  of  No- 
vember 21,  1620,  seems  almost  certain.  That 
he  was  the  moral,  religious  and  spiritual  lead- 
er of  the  colony  during  its  first  years  of  peril 
and  struggle,  and  its  chief  civil  adviser  and 
spiritual  guide  until  the  time  of  his  death 
seems  quite  certain.  He  was  in  every  respect 
the  co-equal  and  colleague  of  Pastor  John 
Robinson  in  all  the  measures  for  preparing 
the  voyage  to  .America,  and  shares  with  Car- 
ver and  Cushman  the  honor  of  procuring  the 
requisite  London  assistance.  He  did  not 
shrink  from  even  the  hardest  manual  labor, 
and  Pjradford  savs,  "Yet  when  the  church  had 


no  other  minister,  he  taught  twise  every  Sa- 
both  and  yt  both  powerfully  and  profitably  to 
ye  great  contentment  of  ye  hearers,  and  their 
comfortable  edification." 

The  different  historians  thus  comment  on 
the  good  elder's  military  service: 

"Elder  Brewster  was  in  no  way  unwilling 
to  take  his  part  and  bear  his  burden  with  the 
rest."  "He  partook  with  them  of  labor,  hun- 
ger and  watching,  his  Bible  and  arms  being 
equally  familiar  to  him :  and  he  was  always 
ready  for  any  duty  or  suffering  to  which  he 
was  called."  "He  was  able  to  use  his  armor 
as  well  as  his  Bible."  "After  one-half  of  the 
colonists  died  in  the  'first  sickness,'  Captain 
Standish  had  under  him  20  men.  In  the  first 
rank  are  Governor  Bradford  and  Elder  Brew- 
ster. The  good  elder  fights  as  he  prays,  and 
though  he  would  far  rather  convert  an  enemy 
than  hurt  him,  he  would  not  dream  of  allowing 
him  the  first  fire."  "If  Elder  Brewster  prayed 
for  protection  against  his  enemies,  he  took 
good  care  that  his  gun  was  ready  and  his 
sword  sharp,  so  that  he  could  do  his  part  to- 
ward  securing  the  blessing   asked." 

Elder  Brewster's  two  swords,  his  pistol, 
dagger  and  armor,  are  mentioned  in  the  in- 
ventory taken  after  his  death.  One  of  his 
swords  was  presented  to  the  Massachusetts 
Historical  Society  in  1798.  His  wife  Mary, 
whose  maiden  name  has  not  yet  been  discov- 
ered, "dyed  at  Plymouth  in  New  England  the 
17th  of  Aprill  1627"  (Brewster  Book).  El- 
der Brewster  survived  her  many  years,  and 
"dyed  at  Plymouth  in  New  England  the  loth 
of  Aprill  1644"  (Brewster  Book).  .August 
20.  1645.  a  final  division  of  the  elder's  estate 
was  made  between  "Jonathan  and  Love  his 
onely  children  remayncing."  Children  of  El- 
der William  and  AJary  Brewster:  i.  Jona- 
than, see  forward.  2.  Patience,  married 
Thomas  Prence.  3.  Fear,  married  Isaac  Al- 
lerton.  4.  A  child  who  died  and  was  buried 
at  Leyden.  5.  Love,  a  "Mayflower"  passen- 
ger, married  Sarah  Collier,  and  was  of  Dux- 
bury.  5.  Wrestling,  came  in  the  "Mayflower" 
witii  his  parents  and  brother  Ixive.  He  was 
living  Mav  22,  1627,  but  died  before  the  set- 
tlemen  of  his  father's  estate.  He  was  unmar- 
ried. 

(II)  Jonathan,  "eldest  son"  of  Elder  Wil- 
liam and  Mary  P.rewster,  was  born  in  Scroo- 
by, England,  .August  12,  1593.  died  in  Connec- 
ticut, .August  7.  1659,  and  was  buried  in  the 
Brewster  cemetery  at  Brewster's  Neck,  Pres- 
ton, Connecticut.  He  came  to  .America  a  year 
later  than  his  distinguished  father,  landing 
in  1 62 1,  one  of  the  passengers  of  the  ship 
"Fortune."  He  was  deputy  of  the  general 
court,  Plymouth  Colony,  in   1639-41-42-43-44, 


HUDSON    AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


117 


from   Duxbury,    Massachusetts.      In    1649    lie 
removed  to  New  London,  Connecticut,  where 
he  was  admitted  an  inhabitant,   February  25, 
1649-50.     His  farm  lay  partly  in  the  town  of 
New   London   and   partly  in  the   later  estab- 
lished town  of  Norwich.     He  was  deputy  to 
the  Connecticut  general  court  in   165055-56- 
57-58.      During  his   residence   in  Duxbury  he 
was  one  of  the  principal  men   in  the  forma- 
tion of  the  settlement  and  in  the  establishment 
of  its  church.     He  sometimes  practiced  before 
the  court  and  as  attorney,  and  is  also  styled 
"gentleman."     He  was  military  commissioner 
in  1637,  and  during  the  Pequot  war  a  member 
of  the  Duxbury  committee  to  raise  forces  in 
the    "Narragansett    Alarm"    of    1642,    and    a 
member   of   Captain    Myles    Standish's    Dux- 
bury  company   in   the  military  enrollment  of 
1643.     He  held  title  to  a  large  tract  of  land 
in   Connecticut,   deeded  to  him  by   the  great 
Indian   Sachem    L^ncas.      In    a   letter   written 
to  Sarah,  widow  of  his  brother.  Love  Brew- 
ster, dated  September  i,  1656,  he  says  that  he 
and  his  whole  family  "resolved  for  Old  Eng- 
land" the  following  year.     It  is  possible  that 
two  of  his  sons,  William  and  Jonathan,  did 
settle  in   England,  but  the  remainder  of  the 
family  remained  in  Connecticut.    He  is  buried 
in  the  Brewster  cemetery,  where  in  1855  his 
descendants  erected  a  plain  granite   shaft  to 
his  memory  and  that  of  his  wife,  who  is  re- 
membered in  imperishable  granite  as  "A  noble 
specimen  of  an  Enlightened  heroic  Christian 
gentlewoman."     She  was  Lucretia  Oldham,  of 
Darby,  and  was  married  to  Jonathan  Brewster 
"Aprill  loth  1624."     She  died  March  4,  1678- 
79.     Children:     i.  William  (2),  served  seven- 
teen days  in  the  Narragansett  expedition,  and 
there  is  no  subsequent  notice  of  him ;  he  prob- 
ably  settled    in    England.     2.    Mary,    married 
"John  Turner  of  Scituate  the  Elder."     3.  Jon- 
athan, probably  settled  in  England,  as  there  is 
no  mention  of  him  after  1650.     4.  Ruth,  mar- 
ried   (first)   John   Pickett,  who  "dyed  at   sea 
returning  from  Rarbadoes"  ;  married  (second) 
Charles   Hill,   recorder  of  New   London,  and 
clerk  of  the  county  court.     5.  Benjamin,  mar- 
ried Ann  Darte ;  he  was  a  man  of  prominence, 
served  nine  terms  as  deputy ;  was  lieutenant 
of  the  New  London  troop  in  1673  '•nd  captain 
of  the  military  company  of  Norwich  in  1693. 
6.  Elizabeth,  married  (first)  Peter  Bradley,  of 
New  London;   (second)   Christopher  Christo- 
phers,   mariner.      7.    Grace,    married    Captain 
Daniel,  son  of  Rev.  Daniel  and  Mary  (Fisher) 
Wetherell,  of  Scituate,  Massachusetts.     From 
1680  to  1 7 10  he  was  more  prominent  in  pub- 
lic affairs   than   any  other    inhabitant   in   the 
town.    He  was  town  clerk,  moderator,  justice, 
judge  of  the  county  court  and  judge  of  pro- 


bate. No  man  in  the  county  .stood  higher  in 
point  of  talent  and  integrity.  8.  Hannah,  see 
forward. 

(Ill)  Hannah,  youngest  child  of  Jonathan 
and  Lucretia  (Oldham)  Brewster,  was  born 
at  Duxbury,  Massachusetts,  November  3,  1641. 
"She  was  in  full  communion  with  the  First 
Church  New  London  Nov.  25  1691."  She 
married,  December  23,  1664,  Samuel  Starr, 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  New  London,  and 
a  prominent  man  in  the  town  holding  the  hon- 
orable office  of  county  marshal  (sheriff)  from 
1674  to  his  death.  No  will,  inventory  or  rec- 
ord of  the  settlement  of  his  estate  has  been 
found,  but  a  deed  executed  by  his  widow 
Hannah  was  executed  February  2,  1687-88, 
and  it  is  probable  that  his  death  had  then  but 
recently  occurred.  Children:  i.  Samuel  Starr 
(2),  born  December  11,  1665,  was  living  in 
1687.  2.  Thomas,  see  forward.  3.  Comfort 
Starr,  born  August  7,  1671  ;  no  further  record 
is  found ;  she  probably  died  young.  4.  Jona- 
than, born  February  23,  1673,  died  at  Gro- 
ton,  August  26,  1747.  He  was  a  land  trader. 
He  was  elected  constable  at  the  first  town 
meeting  in  Groton,  1705,  deputy  to  the  gen- 
eral court  17 12- 14,  and  member  of  the  gover- 
nor's council,  1711-14.  He  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Captain  James  and  Mary  (Vine) 
Morgan,  of  Groton,  who  survived  him  and 
married  (second)  Deacon  Thomas  Adgate,  of 
Norwich.  There  were  ten  children  of  the  first 
marriage. 

(I\')  Thomas,  second  child  of  Samuel  and 
Hannah  (Brewster)  Starr,  was  born  Septem- 
ber 27,  1668,  died  at  Groton,  Connecticut,  Jan- 
uary 31,  1711-12.  He  was  one  of  the  "paten- 
tees of  New  London,  Connecticut.  October 
14,  1704,  but  soon  after  settled  in  Groton  on 
his  large  farm  bordering  on  the  river."  He 
was  a  shipwright  and  built  the  sloop  "Sea 
Flower."  He  married,  January  i,  1693-94, 
Mary,  daughter  of  Captain  James  and  Mary 
(Mne)  Morgan,  born  March  20,  1670,  died 
September  14,  1765.  She  survied  him  as  she 
did  her  second  husband,  William  Peabody.  She 
was  a  sister  of  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Jonathan 
Starr. 

(V)  Mary,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary 
(Morgan)  Starr,  was  born  June  29,  1696,  at 
Groton,  Connecticut,  where  she  died  April  15, 
1774.  She  married,  November  i,  1716,  John, 
son  of  Samuel  Chester.    (See  Chester   11). 


The   family   name  of   Wells,   or 
WELLS     Welles,  is  derived  from  the  Nor- 
man-French "val,"  a  vale  or  val- 
ley, and  its  plural,  "vals,"  is  from  the  Latin 
"vallis."     It  first  occurs  with  the  prefix  "de" 
in  the  ablative  plural,  "de  vallibus,"  meaning 


HUDSON   AND   ]\IOHAWK   VALLEYS 


"from  the  valleys,"  subsequently  as  de  Welles, 
and  finafly  as  Welles  or  \\'ells.  When  mem- 
bers of  the  family  first  came  to  America  the 
form  Welles  almost  prevailed ;  but  the  most 
common  form  at  the  present  time  is  Wells. 
The  Wells  Arms — Shield :  Or,  a  lion,  rampant, 
double-queued,  sable,  armed  and  langued 
gules.  Crest :  a  demi-lion,  double-queued,  of 
the  shield.  Motto:  Semper  paratus.  (Al- 
ways ready.) 

The  origin  of  the  Wells  family  is  in  the 
House  of  Vaux,  of  the  ancient  province  of 
Neustria.  In  the  year  911,  Charles  III.  of 
France  ceded  to  Rollo,  the  Norwegian  viking, 
who  at  the  head  of  a  band  of  Scandinavian 
pirates  had  captured  Rouen  on  the  Seine,  the 
larger  part  of  this  province,  which  was  there- 
after called  Normandy.  As  early  as  the  year 
794,  the  House  of  \'aux  occupied  a  prominent 
position  and  had  intermarried  with  many  of 
Europe's   reigning  families. 

The  earliest  record  found  of  the  English 
branch  of  the  House  of  Vaux,  in  which  the 
Wells  family  had  its  origin,  is  that  of  Harold 
de  Vaux,  Lord  of  Vaux  in  Normandy,  who 
having  conferred  his  seignory  upon  the  Abby 
of  the  Holy  Trinity,  founded  at  Caen  in  the 
department  of  Calvados,  France,  by  Queen 
Matilda,  came  into  England  about  the  year 
1 120,  with  his  sons,  Hubert,  Ranulf  and  Rob- 
ert, and  settled  in  Cumberland  county  in  the 
lake  and  valley  region  of  northwestern  Eng- 
land. The  sons  thereupon  took  the  name  of 
de  Vallibus,  signifying  "From  the  Valleys," 
indicative  of  their  dwelling  in  that  region. 

Robert  de  \'allibus,  a  lineal  descendant  of 
Hubert  de  \allibus,  the  eldest  son  of  Harold 
de  \'aux,  is  designated  in  the  English  records 
of  1 145  as  Robert  de  Welles,  and  his  descend- 
ants bore  this  name  as  Lords  de  Welles  of 
Rayne  Hall,  Essex  county,  England.  About  the 
year  1 194.  Adam,  a  grandson  of  Robert  hold- 
ing the  Manor  of  Welles,  near  Alford,  Lin- 
colnshire, is  on  record  as  Adam  de  Welles. 
He  died  without  issue,  and  was  succeeded  in 
his  manor  by  his  brother,  William,  and  he  by 
his  son  William  and  grandson  Adam.  The 
latter,  Adam  de  Welles,  was  summoned  to 
parliament,  February  6,  1299,  as  first  Baron 
Welles.  He  was  constable  of  Rockingham 
Castle  and  warden  of  the  forest.  King  Ed- 
ward I.  of  England  granted  to  him,  in  1299,  a 
coat-of-armor.  His  successors  in  the  barony 
are  as  follows :  2nd,  Robert,  son  of  Adam, 
1311;  3rd,  Adam,  brother  of  Robert,  1320; 
4th,  John,  son  of  Adam  II.,  1345;  5th,  John, 
son  of  John  and  a  distinguished  soldier  in 
France  and  Scotland,  1361  ;  6th,  Leo,  grand- 
.son  of  John  II.,  killed  in  1461,  at  Towton 
Field;   "th,    Richard,   son  of   Leo,    1469;  8th, 


Robert,  son  of  Richard,  who  died  without  is- 
sue :  9th,  Richard  Hastings,  brother-in-law 
of    Robert,    1483. 

It  is  an  easier  matter  to  trace  a  line  in  the 
British  nobility,  descending  as  it  does  through 
the  eldest  son  or  those  succeeding  to  the  title, 
than  to  perfect  a  genealogy  of  one  of  the 
younger  sons  who  does  not  achieve  in  that 
manner  an  entry  upon  the  records.  The 
younger  sons  intermarried  with  and  became  a 
part  of  the  middle  class,  and  the  outcome  was 
God-fearing,  liberty-loving  people,  from  whom 
many  of  the  Puritans  and  early  emigrants  to 
America  descended.  The  Wells  family  is  one 
of  the  oldest  in  England,  dating  back  for 
eight  hundred  years  and  from  difTerent  off- 
shoots of  this  old  English  family  all  the  vari- 
ous branches  of  the  Wells  family  in  America 
are  descended. 

(I)  \\'iniam  \\'ells,  the  progenitor  in  Amer- 
ica of  the  branch  of  the  family  noted  in  this 
sketch,  according  to  a  family  tradition,  was 
born  in  1755,  in  or  near  Londonderry,  Eng- 
land, which  is  a  small  market  town,  formerly 
called  Newton,  in  the  parish  of  Burneston,  in 
the  North  Riding  of  Yorkshire.  Diligent 
search  of  the  records  there,  however,  at  the 
instance  of  the  family's  chronicler,  has  failed 
to  show  the  connection  between  the  families 
living  there  at  this  time  and  those  in  this 
country,  nor  does  this  circumstance  prove  the 
tradition  untrue.  Another  tradition,  coming 
very  direct,  has  it  that  William  Wells  came 
to  America  when  a  young  man,  accompanying 
some  English  troops  previous  to  the  revolution, 
but  when  hostilities  broke  out  he  was  found 
fighting  for  the  cause  of  liberty. 

The  Pension  Bureau  records  show  that  he 
enlisted  from  Chesterfield,  Massachusetts,  for 
a  term  of  five  years,  as  a  private  in  a  com- 
pany commanded  by  Captain  William  Watson, 
in  Colonel  Bonney's  regiment,  and  that  he 
served  about  three  years  during  the  first  en- 
listment. He  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Bunker  Hill,  White  Plains,  Bennington,  Fort 
Miller,  at  Saratoga,  when  General  Burgoyne 
surrendered,  and  was  wounded  in  the  head  at 
the  battle  of  White  Plains,  supposed  mortally ; 
but  recovered  by  having  his  head  trepanned. 
He  was  made  lieutenant,  to  take  the  place  of 
his  superior  killed  in  the  battle  of  Bemis 
Heights  in  1777,  and  continued  as  such  until 
his  return  home  in  1778.  He  served  in  1780 
for  five  months  and  thirteen  days  in  Lieuten- 
ant Benjamin  Pike's  company,  with  the  troops 
sent  from  Massachusetts  to  reinforce  the  con- 
tinental army  under  General  Washington ; 
also  enlisted,  August  10,  1781,  in  Captain 
Ebenezer  Strong's  company.  Colonel  Barna- 
bas    Sears'     Hampshire     county     regiment ; 


HUDSON   AND   iMOHAWK   WVLLEYS 


119 


marched  to  Albany,  August  17,  178 1  ;  served 
at  Saratoga  and  in  defense  of  the  northern 
frontier,  and  received  an  honorable  discharge 
November  20,   178 1. 

Not  long  after  the  close  of  the  revolution, 
he  and  his  family  removed  to  Pownal,  \'er- 
mont,  settling  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
town,  near  the  Massachusetts  line,  which 
property,  owned  in  19 10  by  Marcus  A.  Dunn, 
was  known  as  the  Wells  Farm.  Record  of 
deeds  filed  at  Pownal,  show  that  William 
Wells,  yeoman,  purchased  fifty  acres  March 
9,  1797,  from  Enos  Briggs,  yeoman,  paying 
$133.33,  and  he  sold  the  same  property,  Au- 
gust 27,  1798,  for  $300,  to  James  Hall,  of 
Pownal,  and  on  the  latter  paper  he  signed 
himself  "William  Welles."  He  removed  with 
his  family  in  1798  to  Hampton,  Washington 
county.  New  York,  where  he  cleared  land 
and  built  a  log  house  in  what  was  at  that  time 
a  sparsely  settled  section  of  the  country.  In 
the  war  of  1812,  when  the  county  was  threat- 
ened by  invasion  by  the  British,  by  way  of 
Lake  Champlain,  although  aged  three-score 
years,  he  shouldered  his  musket  and  enlisted 
September  2,  1814,  in  Essex  county.  New 
York.  Captain  Augustus  Cleaveland's  com- 
pany in  the  Ninth  Regiment,  New  York  mil- 
itia, and  when  discharged.  September  9,  18 14, 
was  sixty-five  miles  from  his  home.  He  died 
in  Hampton,  New  York,  February  5,  1825. 
and  was  buried  there. 

William  Wells  married  Eleanor  Hickey,  un- 
doubtedly in  the  year  1778,  for  the  records  of 
Chesterfield,  Hampshire  county.  Massachu- 
setts, under  date  of  November  9.  1778,  show 
their  intention  of  marriage.  Both  were  then 
residents  of  that  town.  She  was  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent,  and  was  born  about  1760  in  the 
north  of  Ireland,  and  is  said  to  have  come  to 
America  when  about  fifteen  years  old.  After 
her  husband's  death,  she  removed  from  Hamp- 
ton, New  York,  to  Pownal,  \'ermont,  to  re- 
side with  her  oldest  daughter,  Betsey,  who 
had  married  Zadock  Pratt  of  that  place  in 
1798  and  she  died  there.  April  3,  1838.  as  is 
shown  upon  her  tombstone  in  the  old  Lovat 
burial-ground  at  Pownal.  Children:  i.  Ste- 
phen, born  in  Massachusetts,  about  1780.  2. 
Betsey,  born  in  Massachusetts,  in  1782;  died. 
Pownal.  \"ermont.  June  5  1845  ;  married.  Pow- 
nal, 1798.  Zadock  Pratt:  tw^elve  children.  3. 
William,  born  in  Pownal.  \'ermont.  Septem- 
ber 18.  1784;  see  forward.  4.  Calvin,  born, 
Pownal,  \'ermont,  1785,  died.  Painesville. 
Ohio,  November  9.  187 1  ;  married.  May  7. 
1814,  Betsey  E.  Parks :  seven  children.  5. 
Polly,  born,  Pownal,  \'ermont,  March  11, 
1787:  died.  Lansingburg.  New  York,  Septem- 
ber 3,   1837:  married.  North  Granville,  New 


York,  December  24,  1809,  Reuben  Doty;  nine 
1819.  7.  George,  born  Pownal,  \'ermont, 
1788,  died  Hampton,  New  York,  October  12, 
1819.  7.  George,  born,  Pownal  Vermont, 
May  II,  1793,  died,  Whitehall,  New  York, 
May  17,  1859:  married,  Hampton,  New  York, 
1816.  Hester  Doolittle ;  eleven  children.  8. 
Joseph,  born,  Pownal,  1795.  drowned  in  canal 
near  Syracuse,  New  York,  April  11,  1817. 
9.  Nancy  Ann,  born  Pownal,  September  28, 
1797,  died,  Mexico,  New  York,  January  28, 
1876;  married,  Hampton,  New  York,  about 
1815,  John  M.  Eddy;  four  children. 

(II)  William  (2),  son  of  William  (i)  and 
Eleanor  (Hickey)  Wells,  was  born  in  Pownal, 
\'ermont,  September  18.  1784.  He  removed 
with  his  father's  family  in  1798  to  Hampton, 
New  York,  and  there  helped  clear  up  a  tract 
of  farm  land  and  erect  thereon  a  log  house,  on 
what  in  19 10  was  known  as  the  [Melvin  farm 
in  Hampton  Hollow.  He  was  a  soldier  in 
the  war  of  1812,  enlisting  at  Granville,  Wash- 
ington county.  New  York,  in  Captain  Martin 
Lee's  company  of  riflemen,  Colonel  Pliny  Ad- 
ams' One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fourth  regiment. 
New  York  militia,  his  service  commencing  on 
September  11,  1814.  The  soldiers  in  his  com- 
pany were  discharged,  and  he  returned  seven- 
ty-five miles  to  his  home,  directly  after  the 
battle  of  Plattsburgh.  In  1837  he  removed  to 
a  farm  in  the  eastern  part  of  Whitehall.  New 
York,  on  the  road  from  the  Alethodist  Episco- 
pal brick  church  to  Poultney,  \'ermont,  and 
subsequently  purchasing  the  farm  adjoining  on 
the  west,  removed  to  it  and  died  there.  Janu- 
ary 26,  1873.  He  married,  at  Hampton.  New 
York.  November  7,  1806.  Lucinda  Streator, 
born  in  Becket,  Berkshire  county,  Massachu- 
setts, June  21.  1789.  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Kibbee)  Streator.  John  Streator 
was  born  in  Woodstock,  Connecticut.  Novem- 
ber 19,  1761  ;  married,  March  16.  1784;  died, 
Hampton.  New  York,  July  10,  1813.  His 
wife  was  born  in  Monson,  Massachusetts,  July 
27.  1763;  died  Windham,  Portage  county, 
Ohio,  January  5.  1867.  Children,  born  in 
Hampton,  New  York:  i.  Lucina,  June  19, 
1808,  died  May  31,  1871  ;  married,  December 
ID.  1829.  Edward  R.  Norton;  six  children. 
2.  Eleanor,  February  9.  1812.  died,  Wethers- 
field,  New  York,  December  6,  1859:  married, 
Granville,  New  York.  Benjamin  Rice :  five 
children.  3.  William  Chauncey,  October  18, 
1 8 16,  died,  Broadalbin.  Fulton  county,  New 
York,  November  26,  1889;  married,  in  1848, 
Mary  A.  Potter ;  four  children.  4.  Betsey, 
September  27,  1821,  died  in  Lemont,  Illinois, 
May  5.  1868;  married.  Rutland,  N'ermont, 
April  10,  1848,  Reuben  Smith :  two  children. 
5.  Electa.  June  11.  1823,  died.  AVhilchall,  New 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   \'ALLEYS 


York,  June  6,  1866;  married  Smith  Benjamin, 
of  Dresden,  Washington  county.  New  York  ; 
two  children.  6.  Luther,  September  25,  1825, 
died  Wethersfield,  Wyoming  county.  New 
York,  July  2,  1847.  7.  Marcia  Ann,  August 
12,  1827,  died,  Danby,  \'ermont.  December  13, 
1866;  married,  Danljy.  March  2j .  1857,  Ebe- 
nezer  A.  Smith ;  no  children.  8.  Julia,  July 
24,  1829 ;  living  in  Clarendon,  \'ermont,  in 
1910;  married.  Danby,  \'ermont,  March  27, 
1857,  Daniel  P.  Eddy;  six  children.  9.  Les- 
ter, November  7,  183 1  ;  see  forward. 

(HI)  Lester,  son  of  William  (2)  and  Lu- 
cinda  (Streator)  Wells,  was  born  in  Hamp- 
ton, New  York,  November  7,  1831.  He  lived 
for  several  years  in  Fair  Haven,  Vermont,  and 
later  in  Hydeville,  ^'ermont,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  marble  business,  and  removed  in 
1867  to  the  Wells  homestead,  located  in  the 
eastern  part  of  Whitehall,  New  York,  where 
he  resided  until  1907,  when  he  and  his  family 
removed  to  the  adjoining  town  of  Hampton, 
and  they  were  living  there  in  1910.  He  is  a 
retired  farmer.  He  married,  at  Fair  Haven, 
\'ermont,  December  15,  1859,  Fanny  B. 
Welch,  born  February  14,  1839,  daughter  of 
John  M.  and  Julia  (Hawes)  Welch.  Chil- 
dren: I.  Ida  Lucinda,  born  Fair  Haven,  Ver- 
mont, May  31,  1861  ;  married,  Whitehall,  New 
York,  September  19,  1883,  Francis  N.  Hall, 
born  Whitehall.  August  31,  1861,  son  of  John 
A.  and  Ellen  ( Martin )  Hall :  children  :  i.  Eunice 
Velma,  born  Whitehall,  February  22,  1892; 
ii.  Gordon  Lester,  born  Whitehall,  October  18, 
1895 ;  iii.  Harold  Francis,  born  Whitehall, 
July  26,  1899.  2.  Willis  Emmet,  born.  Fair 
Haven,  Vermont,  March  22,  1863;  married. 
Fair  Haven,  July  12,  1892,  Eunice  J.,  born  in 
West  Haven,  Vermont.  September  18,  1868, 
daughter  of  John  and  Eunice  L.  (Needham) 
Moore;  children:  i.  Willis  Whittier,  born 
Whitehall,  July  30,  1894:  ii.  Gertrude  Eunice, 
born  at  Keene,  New  Hampshire.  April  3,  1899. 
3.  Wallace  Herbert,  born  in  Hydeville,  town 
of  Castleton,  Vermont,  August  25,  1865  ;  mar- 
ried (first),  Whitehall,  New  York,  January  4, 
1888,  Cora,  born  in  Whitehall,  July  17,  1865, 
died  there,  September  4,  1897,  daughter  of 
William  J.  and  Lucinda  (Parks)  White  ;  child  : 
Grace  Anna  Wells,  born  Rutland,  Vermont, 
July  13,  1890.  Wallace  Herbert  Wells  mar- 
ried (second)  Mrs.  Bertie  L.  Ewing,  and  they 
were  living  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1910.  4.  Cora  Addie,  born  in  Whitehall,  New 
York,  May  15,  1867:  married,  in  Whitehall, 
February  12,  1889,  Charles  J.  Inman,  born  in 
Hampton,  New  York,  June  3,  1869,  son  of 
Charles  J.  and  Jane  B.  (Mallary)  Inman,  and 
in  1910  he  was  manager  of  the  Standard  Oil 
Company,    Springfield,   Massachusetts  ;   child  : 


Ida  Hilma  Inman,  born  in  Hampton.  New 
York,  March  19.  1891,  student  at  Alt.  Holyoke 
college  in  19 10.  5.  Rollin  Albert,  born  in 
Whitehall,  New  York,  April  20,  1869 ;  mar- 
ried, in  Poultney,  Vermont,  1888,  Alena  S.,. 
daughter  of  Wallace  and  Mary  (Spaulding) 
Herrick ;  children :  i.  Frances  E.,  born  in 
Keene.  New  Hampshire,  December  3,  1888, 
died,  Fairhaven,  Massachusetts,  July  22,  1905  ; 
ii.  Marion,  born  in  Fairhaven,  Massachusetts, 
October  20,  1892.  6.  Frederick  Howard,  born 
in  Whitehall,  New  York,  September  28,  1870; 
see  forward.  7.  Effie  \'iola,  born  in  White- 
hall, New  York,  March  29,  1872,  died  there, 
December  4,  1899.  8.  Lester,  born  in  White- 
hall, New  York,  November  27,  1877,  died^ 
Joplin,  Missouri,  October  16.   1900. 

(IV)  Frederick  Howard,  son  of  Lester  and 
Fanny  B.  (Welch)  Wells,  was  born  in  White- 
hall. New  York,  September  28,  1870.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
place,  and  later  entered  the  Albanv  Business 
College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1891. 
In  1889-90  he  was  a  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  Whitehall.  He  entered  the  office 
of  D.  McDonald  &  Company,  gas  meter  manu- 
facturers, Albany,  New  York,  in  1891,  as 
bookkeeper  and  cashier,  and  occupied  the  po- 
sition of  office  manager  there  in  1910.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of 
the  Albany  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion from  1904  to  1909,  and  recording  secre- 
tary in  1908-09.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Al- 
bany Club ;  of  the  .Albany  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce; the  Philip  Livingston  Chapter,  Sons  of 
the  Revolution,  curator  of  the  Chapter  in 
1908 ;  the  Society  of  Colonial  W^ars ;  Society 
of  the  War  of  1812 ;  member  of  Wadsworth 
Lodge,  No.  417,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
and  of  the  official  board  of  Trinity  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  He  is  the  author  of  his 
family  genealogy,  entitled  "William  Wells  and 
His  Descendants,  1755- 1909,"  ])ublished  in  .Al- 
bany, New  York,  in  1909.  He  married,  in  .-M- 
bany,  New  York,  June  21,  1899,  Elizabeth, 
born  in  Albany,  September  24,  1873,  daughter 
of  William  Henry  and  .Annie  (Beatty)  Mc- 
Burney.  Children,  born  in  .Albany,  New 
York:  Ruth  Edna  Wells,  July  9,  1900:  How- 
ard Lester  Wells,  .August  6,  1902 :  William 
Henry  ^^'ells.  June  17,  1906. 

(The   McBurncy   Line). 

The  ancestry  of  Mrs.  Frederick  Howard 
Wells,  ncc  Elizabeth  McBurney,  extends 
through  a  direct  line  leading  to  the  McBur- 
neys  of  Scotland,  "Covenanters,"  who  left  that 
country  for  the  north  of  Ireland  at  the  time  of 
the  persecution  previous  to  the  revolution  of 
1688.      She    was    the    daughter   of    William 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   \'ALLEYS 


Henry  and  Annie  (Beatty)  McBumey,  who 
were  married,  Albany.  July  24,  1872,  by  Rev. 
Samuel  F.  Morrow,  D.  D.  They  also  had 
another  child,  Ruth  Craig'  McBurney,  born 
in  Albany,  New  York,  January  25,  1876;  grad- 
uate of  the  New  York  State  Normal  College 
in  1897,  instructor  in  public  schools  of  Sche- 
nectady. New  York,  in  1910.  William  Henry 
McBurney  was  born  in  Albany,  September  27, 
1845.  conducting  the  business  of  a  grocer  and 
commission  merchant  in  1910,  and  was  resid- 
ing at  No.  455  W^ashington  avenue,  Albany. 
His  wife  died,  Albany,  January  10,  1880,  and 
he  married.  Albany,  November  10,  1897,  Mrs. 
Louisa  Beeney  Meeker.  He  was  the  son  of 
James  McBurney,  who  married,  Albany,  Au- 
gust II,  1836,  Elizabeth  Hutchinson,  born 
1810,  died,  Albany,  May  7,  1895. 

James  ^TcBurney  was  born  in  1803,  died, 
Albany,  New  York,  ^larch  11.  1847,  son  of 
Alexander  an'd  Eleanor  (McElroy)  McBur- 
ney. who  came  from  the  north  of  Ireland  with 
their  family  and  settled  in  Delaware  county, 
New  York,  about  1807. 

Alexander  McBurney.  father  of  James  Mc- 
Burney, was  born  in  1759,  died  in  Kortright, 
Delaware  county.  New  York.  February  18, 
1823.  His  wife,  Eleanor  McElroy,  was  born 
in  1769,  and  died  at  the  same  place,  June  29, 
1839. 

Annie  Beatty,  mother  of  Mrs.  Frederick 
Howard  Wells,  was  born  in  Hindoostan,  In- 
dia, July  24,  1844,  died  in  Albany,  New  York, 
January  10.  1880. 


The  Wells  family  of  Johnstown 
\\'ELLS     descend    from    Hugh    Wells,    of 

Connecticut.  The  name  is  an  old 
and  honored  one  in  England,  where  it  dates 
from  1 120  in  Cumberland  and  Norfolk. 
Adam  Welles  was  summoned  to  parliament 
February  6,  1299,  as  first  Baron  Welles.  He 
was  constable  of  Rockingham  Castle  and  war- 
den of  the  forest.  There  are  only  four  Eng- 
lish peerages  older  than  this  now  in  existence. 
In  New  England  the  family  is  an  earlv  and 
prominent  one.  In  the  early  history  of  Johns- 
town and  Fulton  county  the  family  appear  as 
first  settlers,  manufacturers,  business  and  pro- 
fessional men.  and  has  been  closely  identified 
with  the  development  and  progress  of  that  lo- 
cality. 

( I )  Hugh  \\'ells,  bom  in  Essex  county, 
England,  1590,  died  in  Wethersfield,  Connecti- 
cut, about  1645.  He  came  to  America  in  1635, 
probably  in  the  ship  "Globe."  He  was  of 
Hartford,  1636,  and  appears  in  Wethersfield 
records  1645.  where  he  is  supposed  to  have 
died  about  the  same  time.  He  married,  in 
England,  Frances  ,  who  survives  him, 


and  married  (second)  Thomas  Coleman,  of 
Hartford,  Connecticut.  She  died  in  1678. 
Children :  Thomas,  see  forward ;  Ensign 
Hugh,  born  about  1625,  married  Mary 
Roscoe ;  Mary,  married  Jonathan  Gilbert,  of 
Hartford.  Connecticut,  an  innkeeper,  who- 
died  in  1682,  and  she  continued  the  inn  until 
her  death,  July  3.  1700  :  John,  born  about  1628, 
was  of  Stratford  and  Hadley,  Massachusetts. 

(II)  Thomas,  son  of  Hugh  and  Frances 
Wells,  was  born  in  Colchester,  England,  about 
1620,  died  between  September  30  and  Decem- 
ber 14,  1676.  He  was  one  of  the  first  "en- 
gagers" or  settlers  of  Hadley,  Massachusetts, 
where  he  went  from  \Vethersfield  in  1659,. 
after  having  been  a  house  and  land  owner 
there  nine  years.  He  was  a  surveyor  and 
farmer.  He  owned  lands  in  Connecticut  and 
also  property  in  England.  He  married,  May, 
1651.  Alary,  daughter  of  William  Beardsley, 
of  Hartford.  She  survived  him.  and  married 
(second)  Samuel  Thomas.  Children  of  Thom- 
as and  Mary  Wells,  Lieutenant  Thomas,  born 
January  10,  1652;  Mary.  Sarah,  John,  Jona- 
than, John,  Samuel  (see  forward),  Mary, 
Noah,  Hannah.  Ebenezer.  Daniel,  Ephraim 
and  Joshua,  born  April.  1673. 

(III)  Samuel,  seventh  child  of  Thomas  and 
Mary  (Beardsley)  Wells,  was  born  at  Had- 
ley, Massachusetts,  1622,  died  August  9.  1690. 
He  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Nathaniel 
Clark  of  Northampton,  December  11,  1682. 
Child :  Samuel,  of  whom  further.  Sarah 
Clark  was  a  granddaughter  of  Lieutenant 
William  Clark,  born  in  Dorsetshire,  England. 
1609,  settled  in  Dorchester,  Massachusetts,  be- 
fore 1640.  In  1659  he  was  of  Northampton, 
where  in  1661  he  organized  the  train  band  of 
sixty  men  and  commanded  them  in  King  Phil- 
ip's and  other  Indian  wars.  He  was  an  incor- 
porator of  Northampton,  and  for  twenty  years 
selectman    and   judge   of   county    court.      He 

married    (first)    in    England,    Sarah   ; 

(second)  Sarah  Cooper,  1676.  He  died  July 
18,  1690.  His  son,  Nathaniel  Clark,  was  bap- 
tized in  Dorchester,  "11  month  1640."  He 
married.  May  8.  1663,  Mary  Meakins.  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Mary  Meakins 
Clark,  married  Samuel  Wells  (i). 

(IV)  Samuel  (2),  only  child  of  Samuel  and 
Sarah  (Clark)  Wells,  was  born  in  Hartford, 
Connecticut,  July  7,  1688.  He  settled  in  the 
town  of  Farmington.  just  over  the  line.  He 
married.  May  26.  1709,  Rachel  Caldwell,  great- 
granddaughter  of  Deacon  Edward  Stebbins, 
an  original  proprietor  of  Hartford,  and  dep- 
uty to  the  general  court  several  sessions,  from 
1639  to  1656.  He  had  a  home  lot  in  Hart- 
ford, extending  from  the  meeting  house 
square  to  Front  street.     He  married  and  had_ 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK    A'ALLEYS 


a  daughter  Elizabeth.  Thomas  Caldwell  mar- 
ried, in  1658,  Elizabeth  Stebbins,  widow  of 
Robert  Wilson.  Edward  Caldwell,  son  of 
Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Stebbins)  Caldwell, 
was    born    November    i,    1660.    and    married 

Elizabeth    .      Their    daughter,    Rachel 

■Caldwell,  married  Samuel  Wells   (2). 

(\")  John,  son  of  Samuel  (2)  and  Rachel 
(Caldwell)  Wells,  was  born  in  Farmington, 
Connecticut,  October  8,  17 10,  died  January  28, 
1795.  He  settled  in  West  Hartford,  where  he 
was  a  member  of  the  church.  He  married 
(first)  Jemima  Smith,  June  13,  1731  ;  (sec- 
ond) Sarah  Saylord,  December  23,  1735; 
(third)  Hannah  Baker,  July  20,  1738.  He 
had  fifteen  children  by  his  three  wives.  Han- 
nah Baker,  third  wife  of  John  Wells,  was  a 
great-granddaughter  of  John  Baysey,  an  ori- 
ginal proprietor  of  Hartford,  died  August, 
1671,  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth,  who  died  1673. 
Lydia  Baysey,  died  May  16,  1700,  daughter 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  Baysey.  She  married 
John  Baker.  Baysey  Baker  died  September 
4,  1723,  son  of  John  and  Lydia  (Baysey) 
Baker,  married,  April  i,  1696,  Hannah  Wil- 
let,  daughter  of  Nathaniel.  Hannah  Baker, 
daughter  of  Baysey  and  Hannah  (Willet) 
Baker,  married  John  Wells  ( i  ) ,  and  was  his 
third  wife. 

(VI)  John  (2),  son  of  John  (i)  and  Han- 
nah (Baker)  Wells,  was  born  August  23, 
1739,  at  West  Hartford,  Connecticut,  where 
he  belonged  to  the  Ecclesiastical  Society. 
About  1784  he  removed  to  Johnstown,  New 
York,  where  he  resided  until  his  death.  He 
married  Mrs.  Lois  Foote,  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Lois  (Loomis)  Foote,  and  widow  of 
Eleazer  Alerrill,  of  Farmington,  Connecticut, 
(see  Foote).  Children:  i.  Lindy,  died  at 
age  of  three  years.  2.  Rhoda,  married  J(ihn 
Herring,  of  Auburn.  New  York.  3.  John, 
died  in  infancy.  4.  John,  married  and  died  at 
Kaskaskia,  Illinois.  5.  Lindy  (2),  married 
Rood.  6.  Lucy,  twin  of  Lindy,  mar- 
ried Charles  Easton,  of  Utica  and  New  York 
City.  7.  Eleazer,  see  forward.  8.  Clarissa, 
married  M.  Mason  of  Kingsboro,  New  York. 
■9.  Nathan  Perkins,  born  1786,  in  Johnstown; 
was  many  years  cashier  of  the  Johnstown 
bank. 

(VH)  Eleazer,  .son  of  John  (2)  and  Lois 
(Foote)  Wells,  was  baptized  in  West  Hart- 
ford, Connecticut,  1782,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Nathan 
Perkins,  pastor  of  the  church  to  which  his  par- 
ents belonged,  and  who  baptized  all  his  broth- 
ers and  sisters  except  Nathaniel  P.,  his  name- 
sake. He  died  November  26,  i860,  at  Johns- 
town, New  York.  He  was  an  infant  of  two 
years  when  his  parents  removed  to  Johns- 
.town,  where  he  was  educated  and  ever  after- 


ward lived.  He  engaged  in  milling  and  farm- 
ing, owning  a  great  deal  of  real  estate  in  the 
county,  including  the  historic  farm  and  resi- 
dence of  Sir  William  Johnson,  known  for  a 
century  and  a  half  as  "Johnson  Hall."  He 
resided  at  the  "Hall,"  where  he  was  married 
and  where  his  children  were  born.  He  was  a 
prominent,  influential  man.  He  married, 
June  15,  1809,  .Amy  Akin,  born  May  6,  1788, 
died  December  24,  1858  (see  Akin).  Chil- 
dren: I.  Sally  Maria,  born  April  22,  1810, 
married  Daniel  Edward.  2.  George  W.,  July 
15,  181 1  ;  married  Helen  Yard.  3.  Almira  W., 
March  30,  1813;  married  Hiram  Yauney.  4. 
Eleazer  H.,  March  27,  1815;  died  and  buried 
at  Pine  Bluff,  Arkansas,  aged  twenty-one 
years,  unmarried.  5.  Ann  Sarah,  born  Janu- 
ary 2,  1817;  married  Colonel  Rodney  Hall 
Johnson.  6.  Elizabeth,  December  6,  1818; 
married  Jacob  Burton.  7.  Louisa,  October 
2j,  1820;  married  Mclntyre  Eraser.  8.  John 
E.,  August  7,  1822;  married  (first)  Sarah 
Steele;  (second)  Margaret  Burton.  9.  Rhoda, 
December  25.  1823;  married  Major  John 
Henry  Gross.  10.  Catherine,  March  20,  1825; 
married  Judge  John  Stewart.  11.  Nathan 
Perkins,  December  20,  1826,  died  1853,  un- 
married. 12.  David  Akin,  see  forward.  13. 
Edward  Akin,  see  forward. 

(VHI)  David  Akin,  fifth  son  and  twelfth 
child  of  Eleazer  and  Amy  (Akin)  Wells,  was 
born  at  "Johnson  Hall,"  near  Johnstown,  Ful- 
ton county.  New  York,  May  17,  1828,  died 
November  29,  1903.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  at  Johnstown  Academy. 
He  worked  on  the  farm  with  his  father  until 
1845,  when  he  became  a  clerk  in  the  dry  goods 
store  of  Yauney  &  Edwards,  and  later  was 
clerk  in  the  store  of  Burton  &  Gross,  Johns- 
town. In  1848  Mr.  Gross  retired  and  Mr. 
Wells  was  a(lniitte<l  a  partner,  continuing  un- 
til 185 1,  when  he  disposed  of  his  interest  to 
his  brother,  Edward  A.  Wells.  David  \. 
then  formed  a  partnership  with  Marcellus  Gil- 
bert, as  Gilbert  &  Wells,  and  began  the  manu- 
facture of  gloves.  They  continued  in  success- 
ful operation  for  eighteen  years  until  1869. 
when  the  senior  ])artner  died.  Mr.  Wells  car- 
ried on  the  business  alone  for  a  year  or  two, 
when  his  factory  burned,  entailing  a  heavy 
loss.  Close  attention  to  business  had  under- 
mined his  health,  and  he  now  enjoyed  a  period 
of  complete' rest  for  several  years.  He  was 
then  chosen  vice-president  of  the  Fonda, 
Johnstown  &  Gloversville  Railroad  Company, 
just  inaugurated,  and  entered  actively  into 
the  building  and  equipment  of  the  road.  He 
was  active  in  its  management  after  the  road 
was  opened  for  business  in  1870,  and  may 
justly  be  given  a  large  share  of  credit  for  its 


/ichtcf^  ^.  ^J^ 


HUDSOX   AND    MOHAWK   WALLEYS 


123 


successful  career.  He  was  a  director  of  the 
Peoples'  Bank  of  Johnstown;  president  of  the 
Savings  Hank  since  organization ;  president 
Glrtversville  I'^oundry  and  Machine  company ; 
president  of  the  Opera  House  Company  since 
organization.  He  was  actively  interested  in 
many  other  business  enterprises  of  the  city, 
giving  to  all  not  only  his  financial  support  but 
the  benefit  of  his  mature  judgment  and  long 
business  experience.  He  was  always  an  active 
Republican,  and  while  never  aspiring  to  office 
held  several  public  jjositions  of  trust  and  hon- 
or. In  i860  he  was  elected  treasurer  of  Ful- 
ton county.  In  1880  and  1881  he  was  chosen 
to  represent  his  district  in  the  state  legisla- 
ture, and  has  served  as  trustee  and  president 
of  the  village  corporation.  He  married.  April 
io,i830,Alida  ii.  Johnson,  born  May  17.1832, 
daughter  of  George  and  Frances  Johnson. 
Children:  i.  ,\  babe,  dying  at  birth.  2.  Mar- 
ccllus  ( lilliert.  died  February  t6,  i86g.  3. 
Eleazer  .Merrill,  born  February  I,  1853,  see 
forward.  4.  Xathan  Perkins,  born  July  23, 
1855;  associated  in  business  with  his  father. 
5.  David  -Akin  (2),  born  December  21,  1858, 
see  forward.  6.  Anna  G.,  born  May  7,  1862; 
married  Joseph  D.  Oliver,  one  of  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  Oliver  Chilled  Plow  Company  of 
South   Iknd.  Indiana. 

(IX)  Eleazer  Merrill,  son  of  David  .\kin 
and  Alida  G.  (Johnson )  Wells,  was  born  in 
Johnstown,  New  York,  February  i,  1853,  and 
died  March  20,  1909.  He  married,  July  3, 
1872,  Elsina  F.  Mills,  born  in  Gloversville, 
New  York,  August  6,  1851.   Child:  John  E. 

(IX)  David  Akin  (2),  youngest  son  and 
fourth  child  of  David  Akin  (  i  )  and  Alida 
G.  (Johnson)  Wells,  was  born  in  Johnstown, 
December  21,  1858.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools.  After  finishing  his  studies 
he  entered  the  superintendent's  office  of  the 
Fonda,  Johnstown  &  Gloversville  railroad, 
and  remained  there  several  years.  He  then 
formed  a  connection  with  the  Coal  Company 
of  Fulton  county,  which  existed  for  twentv- 
eight  years,  when  Mr.  Wells  retired  from 
active  business  life.  He  resides  in  Johnstown, 
where  he  lives  the  retired  life  of  a  gentle- 
man of  culture  and  means.  He  married.  De- 
cember 16,  1909,  in  Johnstown,  Katherine, 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Hogan.  They 
had  other  children :  Austin,  Walter,  Agnes, 
married  John  Howell ;  Anna,  married  E.  W. 
Shults :  jane,  married  William  Mathis. 

(VIII)  Edward  Akin,  thirteenth  child  and 
sixth  son  of  Eleazer  and  .Amy  (.Akin)  Wells, 
was  born  in  "Johnson  Hall,"  Johnstown,  Ful- 
ton county.  New  York,  October  6,  1830.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  under 
private    tutors,    graduating    under    Professor 


Bannister  at  Johnstown.  He  was  connected 
with  the  dry  goods  business  of  his  brother, 
David  .Akin  Wells,  in  Johnstown,  and  later 
purchased  the  business,  which  lie  conducted 
successfully  many  years.  He  was  at  the  same 
time  deeply  interested  in  other  business  en- 
terprises to  which  he  gave  personal  attention 
and  direction.  Fie  superintends  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  home  farm  and  estate  "Johnson 
Hall,"  containing  between  500  and  600  acres, 
and  operated  the  grist  mill  belonging  to  the 
estate.  This  active  bu.siness  life  included 
glove  manufacture,  and  continued  throughout 
many  active  years  until  failing  health  com- 
pelled his  retirement.  His  business  respon- 
sibilities precluded  all  participation  in  public 
official  life,  and  he  took  no  active  part  in 
politics,  although  he  had  always  given  hearty 
allegiance  to  the  Republican  party.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He 
died  June  19,  1910,  in  Johnstown,  Xew  York, 
conscious  of  having  borne  well  his  part  in 
the  growth  and  development  of  the  city  in 
which  his  activities  lay. 

He  married  .Ann  Elizabeth  Burton.  Chil- 
dren :  I.  Eleazer.  died  at  age  of  nineteen  vears. 
2.  Elizabeth,  died  at  age  of  six  years.  3. 
Elias  Burton,  died  at  age  of  twelve  years.  4. 
Edward  Akin  (2),  now  of  Rochester,  New 
York ;  married  Bessie  Parish.  5.  Jennie,  mar- 
ried Edwin  L.  Fonda.  6.  John  E.,  died'  aged 
twelve  years.  7.  Elias  Burton,  see  forward. 
8.  Charles,  died  in  infancy. 

(IX)  Elias  Burton,  fifth  son  and  seventh 
child  of  Edward  Akin  and  Ann  Elizabeth 
f  Burton)  Wells,  was  born  in  Johnstown,  Xew 
York,  October  28,  1869.  He  "was  educated  in 
the  public  school  and  at  Johnstown  Academy. 
In  1888  he  began  business,  dealing  in  real 
estate  and  insurance,  operating  in  these  lines 
ten  years  until  1898.  In  that  year  he  estab- 
lished his  present  business,  the  manufacture 
and  preparation  of  dye  stufifs  and  chemicals 
used  in  dressing  skins  used  in  glove  manu- 
facture. In  rgio  he  added  to  his  other  lines  a 
leather  department  and  business.  Among  the 
many  compounds  and  preparations  which  he 
manufactures  for  tanners  and  curriers  is  a 
process  for  making  washable  leather,  invented 
by  himself,  that  has  proved  very  valuable  to 
the  glove  makers,  being  especially  adapted  to 
gloves  and  mittens  worn  by  persons  exposed 
to  wet  weather.  He  is  a  most  capable,  suc- 
cessful business  man,  and  is  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial men  of  his  city.  He  is  a  Republican 
in  politics.  He  married,  October  12,  1892, 
Jennie  Holmes,  born  .April  7,  1872,  daughter 
of  John  Catlin  (born  September  3,  1829, 
died  July  21.  1899)  and  Ellen  E.  (born  Octo- 
ber 9,   1840.  died  October  9,   1880)    (Kirby) 


124 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK    VALLEYS 


Holmes.     Child:     Elizabeth,    born    ;\Iay    ii, 

1897. 

(The  Loomis  Line). 

Joseph  Loomis,  the  emigrant,  sailed  from 
London,  England,  April  3,  1636.  in  the  ship 
"Salem  and  Ellen."  He  settled  first  in  Brain- 
tree.  ]\Iassachusetts,  then  in  Windsor,  Con- 
necticut. He  died  November  25,  1658.  He 
married  Mercy  White,  June  13,  1614.  She 
died  August  23,  1652,  leaving  issue. 

(II)  Deacon  John,  son  of  Joseph  and  Mercy 
(White)  Loomis,  was  born  in  England  in 
1622,  died  September  2,  1688.  He  was  deputy 
to  the  general  court  in  1666-67-75-87.  He 
married,  February  8,  1648,  Elizabeth,  born 
about  1625,  daughter  of  Thomas  Scott,  who 
came  in  the  ship  "Elizabeth,"  1634,  died  No- 
vember 6,  1643.  He  was  an  original  pro- 
prietor of  Hartford,  Connecticut. 

(III)  Timothy,  son  of  Deacon  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Scott)  Loomis,  was  born  July  27, 
1661,  died  May  19,  1710.  He  married,  Alarch 
20,  1689.  Rebecca  Porter,  born  March  8,  1666, 
died  May  20,  1750.  daughter  of  John  Porter 
(2),  born  in  England,  1620.  He  married 
(second)  Mary,  daughter  of  Thomas  Stanley, 
in  1650,  Rebecca  was  a  granddaughter  of 
John  Porter,  the  emigrant,  who  came  to 
America  and  settled  at  Windsor,  Connecticut. 

He  married  Rose ,  and  died  April  22, 

1648.     His  wife  died  July.  1647. 

(R' )  Ichabod,  son  of  Timothy  and  Rebecca 
(Porter)  Loomis,  was  born  January  25.  1692- 
93,  died  February  21.  1776.  He  married,  De- 
cember 20,  1716,  Hepzibah  Loomis,  born  1(598, 
died  May  20,  1750. 

(V)  Lois,  daughter  of  Ichabod  and  Hepzi- 
bah (Loomis)  Loomis,  was  bqrn  November 
26.  1724;  married  Samuel  Foote,  November 
24,  1743.  Hepzibah  Loomis,  wife  of  Ichabod, 
was  a  great  granddaughter  of  Joseph  Loomis, 
the  emigrant,  through  his  .son  Nathaniel,  born 
1638,  died  July  23,  1728;  married,  November 
24,  1654,  Elizabeth  Moore,  daughter  of  John 
and  granddaughter  of  Thomas  Moore,  the 
emigrant. 

(Ill)  David,  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Eliza- 
beth (Moore)  Loomis,  was  born  January  11, 
1667,  died  January  9,  1751-52:  married,  De- 
cember 8,  ifx)2,  Lydia,  daughter  of  John 
Marsh. 

(1\")  Hepzibah,  daughter  of  David  and 
Lydia  (Marsh)  Loomis,  married  Icliabid 
Loomis,  both  being  of  the  fourth  generation 
of  the  Loomis  family  in  America. 

(The   .M<in    Line). 

The  .'\kins  were  of  Scotland,  where  they 
embraced  the  peculiar  doctrine  of  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends,  or  Quakers.    On  account  of 


their  religion  the  Quakers  refused  to  bear- 
arms  or  take  the  required  oath.  This  sub- 
jected them  to  severe  persecution,  which  they 
emigrated  to  America  to  escape.  They  settled' 
in  Dartmouth.  Massachusetts,  where  they  soon 
found  that  with  tlie  Puritans  religious'  free- 
dom meant  freedom  only  for  those  of  their- 
own  religious  faith.  The  Quakers  were  ban- 
ished from  Massacliusetts,  some  even  suf- 
fering death. 

(I)  John  Akin,  founder  of  the  family  in 
America,  born  in  Scotland,  in  1663,  came 
to  America  with  others  of  his  sect  in  1680, 
settling  in  Dartmouth,  Massachusetts,  where 
in  1687  he  married  Mary  Briggs.  When  per- 
secution again  drove  him  from  his  home,  he 
with  others  of  his  family  settled  in  -New 
Netherlands,  where  the  Dutch  did  not  disturb 
a  man  for  his  religious  belief.  He  married  a 
second  wife,  and  died  June  13,  1746,  leaving 
eight  sons  and  seven  daughters. 

(II)  David,  eldest  son  of  John  and  Mary 
(Briggs)  Akin,  was  born  in  1689,  and  died 
1779.  He  settled  on  "Quaker  Hill,"  town  of 
Pawling,  Dutchess  county.  New  York,  a  lo- 
cality that  has  long  been  the  family  seat.  He 
married,  at  Dartmouth,  Massachusetts,  in 
171 1,  Sarah  Allen,  born  1692.  They  had  six 
sons  and  four  daughters. 

(III)  James,  son  of  David  and  Sarah  (Al-  . 
len)  Akin,  was  torn  October  18,  1728.  He 
married  Patience  Howard.  Children :  Ed- 
ward, see  forward;  Benjamin,  married  (first) 
Sarah  Holloway,  (second)  Widow  Canuflf; 
Joseph,  married  Elsie  Holloway :  Beniah,  mar- 
ried Hannah  Tweedy ;  Susannah,  married 
(first)  Haviland,  (second)  Abiel  Al- 
len: Rachel,  married  (first)  David  Ferris, 
(second) Hitchcock.  7.  Phoebe,  mar- 
ried Noble  Bennett :  An-iy,  niarried  Joseph 
Hungerford :  Annie,  n-iarried  Sylvanus  Sam- 
mons. 

(I\')  Edward,  .son  of  James  and  Patience 
(Howard)  Akin,  married  Elizabeth  Russell, 
of  Johnstown,  New  York.  He  had  sons 
James,  Ira,  ■•'Itlian,  .Vbram  and  David,  liv- 
ing at  the  time  of  his  death.  One  son,  Con- 
sider, died  young.  His  daughters  were: 
Phoebe,  married  Abram  Poole :  Rhoda,  mar- 
ried .Abram  Synder :  Amy,  married  Eleazer 
Wells  (see  Wells  VH)  :  Sally,  married  Nathan 
P.  Wells  :  Patience,  married  William  I.  Dodge  ; 
Amanda,  married  William  Bowen. 

(The  Foote  Line). 
(I)  Nathaniel  Foote,  the  first  settkr,  came 
from  England,  when  and  from  what  part  un- 
known. The  first  record  of  him  is  in  Water- 
town,  Massachusetts,  in  1633,  when  he  took 
the  oath  of  freeman.     He  is  next  found  in 


m 


/^^:=_/72% 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   \'ALLEYS 


125 


•^thc  first  records  of  Wethersfield,  Connecticut. 
In  1644  he  was  appointed  a  delesjate  to  the 
.y;cneral  court.  He  married,  in  Ensjland.  about 
1615.  Elizabeth,  sister  of  John  Deming,  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Wethersfield.  She  sur- 
vived her  husband,  and  married  "Mr.  Thomas 
Welles,  magistrate."  about  1646,  afterwards 
governor  of  the  Connecticut  colony.  She  died 
July  28,  1683.  Children  of  Nathaniel  and 
Elizabeth  (Deming)  Foote:  Nathaniel,  see 
'fonvard;  Robert,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  Frances, 
Sarah,  and  Rebecca. 

(II)  Nathaniel,  eldest  son  of  Nathaniel  and 
Elizabeth  (Deming)  Foote,  was  born  in  Eng- 
land about  1620,  died  1655.  He  follmved  the 
fortunes  of  his  jiarents,  and  with  them  settled 
in  Wethersfield,  Connecticut,  where  he  mar- 
ried, in  1646,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Smith.  Children :  Nathaniel,  Samuel,  Daniel 
and   Elizabeth. 

(III)  Samuel,  second  son  of  Nathaniel  and 
Elizabeth  Foote,  was  born  May  i,  1649.  He 
settled  in  Hatfield,  Massachusetts,  where  he 
married,  in  1671,  Mary  Merrick,  of  Spring- 
field. He  died  September  7,  1689,  and  his 
widow  died  October  3,  1690.  Children: 
Nathaniel,  Mary,  Samuel  (slain  by  the  In- 
dians at  Deerfieid,  February  29,  1704).  Mary 
(2),  Sarah,  Eleazer,  Thomas  and  Daniel. 

(I\  )  Daniel,  youngest  child  of  Samuel  and 
Mary  (Merrick)  Foote,  was  born  February 
6.  if)7().  died  July  15,  1740.  He  was  of  Hart- 
ford, and  of  Simsbury,  Connecticut,  remov- 
ing to  the  latter  place  in  1721.  He  purchased 
a  large  farm  there,  and  met  his  death  by  fall- 
ing from  a  load  of  hay  under  the  wheels, 
which  passing  over  him  caused  such  injuries 
that  he  died  an  hour  thereafter.  He  married, 
in  Hartford.  November  19,  17 18,  Mary  Coll- 
yer,  who  died  June,  1769.  aged  71  years, 
(laugliter  of  Joseph  Collyer.  Children,  all  but 
the  first  born  in  Simsbury,  Connecticut :  Sam- 
uel, see  forward:  Mary,  Daniel  (2),  Joseph, 
John,  Rachel,  Sarah  and  Rachel  (2). 

(Y)  Samuel,  eldest  child  of  Daniel  and 
Sarah  (Collyer)  Foote,  was  born  in  Hartford. 
Connecticut,  October  4.  17 19.  died  September 
18,  1775.  He  married.  November  24,  1743. 
Lois  Loomis.  Children:  Samuel,  Ijrtis  (see 
forward),  Mary,  Lucy.  Timothy,  Elijah,  Lucy 
(2),  Grove,  Hepzibah  and  Roger. 

(  \T  )  Lois,  eldest  daughter  and  second  child 

■of  Samuel  and  Lois  (Loomis)  P'oote,  was 
born  .April  5,  1746.  She  was  married  (first) 
to  Eleazer  Merrill,  of  Farmington,  Connecti- 
cut. Mav  29,  1765,  son  of  Moses  Merrill.     He 

■died  May  16,  1769.  leaving  two  children, 
Eleazer  and  Lois.  She  married  (second)  John 
Wells   (2),  October,  1770,  and  had  nine  chil- 

•dren.     (  See  Wells  \T.) 


Professor  William  Wells,  Ph.D.. 
\\'ELLS     LL.D..  was  born  in   New  York 

City,  1820.  died  at  Schenectady, 
New  York,  December  12,  1907.  His  boy- 
hood and  youth  were  passed  in  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania,  where  his  parents  removed 
when  he  was  nine  years  of  age.  His  academic 
education  was  obtained  in  Philadelphia,  where 
he  made  good  progress  toward  that  mastery 
of  foreign  tongues  which  later  made  him  fa- 
mous. In  1846  he  made  his  first  visit  to  Eu- 
rope. He  spent  a  year  in  Vienna,  as  an  unofficial 
attachee  of  the  American  legation,  also  pur- 
suing studies  at  the  University.  Then  he 
went  to  Berlin,  where  he  matriculated  at  the 
I'niversity  and  entered  upon  a  course  of  study 
which  led  in  due  time  to  the  degree  of  Ph.D. 
in  1848.  Those  were  the  days  of  revolution 
in  Europe,  when  Louis  Phillipe  was  driven 
from  the  throne  of  France,  when  the  Crown 
Prince  of  Prussia,  afterwards  the  Emperor  of 
Germany,  William  I.  was  compelled  by  popu- 
lar hatred  to  leave  his  country  for  a  time ; 
when  Hungary  was  in  open  revolt  against 
Austria,  and  when  the  Chartist  agitation 
threatened  revolution  even  in  England.  Pro- 
fessor Wells  was  deeply  interested  in  these 
great  events  happening  around  him.  He  had 
an  interesting  experience  in  the  Berlin  riots 
that  taught  him  that  he  was  not  able  to  cope 
with  the  Prussian  cavalry.  He  next  went  to 
the  German  parliament  at  Frankfort-on-the- 
Main,  as  secretary  to  the  special  .American 
embassy  to  that  body.  He  remained  during 
the  entire  session  as  correspondent  of  the 
A'cTC  York  Herald,  then  went  to  Paris,  where 
he  spent  a  college  year  as  a  student  at  the 
Sarbonne  and  the  College  de  France.  After- 
wards he  traveled  over  a  large  part  of  Eu- 
rope, returning  to  the  United  States  in  185 1. 
He  spent  a  year  in  Cincinnati.  Ohio,  where 
he  had  the  honor  and  pleasure  of  making  the 
address  of  welcome  to  Louis  Kossuth,  on  the 
occasion  of  the  Hungarian  patriot's  visit  to 
that  city. 

In  1852  he  was  elected  professor  of  modern 
languages  in  Genesee  College,  Lima,  New- 
York.  There  he  remained  twelve  years,  dur- 
ing part  of  the  time  acting  also  as  principal 
of  the  Genesee  Wesleyan  Seminary.  In  1865 
he  was  called  to  the  Chair  of  Modern  Lan- 
guage and  Literature  at  Union  College. 
Schenectady.  New  York,  thus  beginning  the 
connection  that  was  maintained  unbroken  for 
over  forty  years.  In  1872  he  received  the 
degree  of  LL.D.  from  the  Indiana  Asbury 
L'niversity.  now  known  as  De  Pauw  Uni- 
versity. In  1887  the  professorship  at  Union 
College  was  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  the 
lectureship  on  current  history.     In  the  interest 


126 


HUDSON    AND    :\IOHA\\K    \-ALLEYS 


of  that  work  he  visited  the  southern  states  of 
the  Union,  the  West  Indies,  Mexico,  Centra! 
America,  Alaska,  Cahfornia,  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tain region,  and  later  made  an  extended  tour 
comprising  every  country  of  Europe  from  the 
North  Cape,  with  its  strange  vision  of  the 
midnight  sun,  to  Greece  and  Constantinople, 
Asia  Alinor,  Egypt,  to  the  Cataracts  of  the 
Nile  and  the  other  countries  of  Northern  Af- 
rica. On  his  return  from  this,  his  fourth  visit 
to  the  Old  World,  he  was  welcomed  home  by 
the  alumni  of  Union  College  with  a  hearty 
demonstration  in  New  York  harbor,  which 
attested  the  deep  respect  and  afifection  with 
which  he  was  regarded  by  Union  College  men. 
The  results  of  his  observations  and  reflection 
during  his  tours  were  embodied  in  a  series  of 
lectures,  delivered  annually  to  the  senior  class 
and  the  general  public.  In  the  spring  of  i8go 
Dr.  Wells  celebrated  his  seventieth  birthday 
and  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  his  entrance 
upon  the  profession  of  teaching,  the  same  year 
marking  the  completion  of  a  quarter-century's 
work  at  Union  College.  Fifteen  years  longer 
he  continued  his  connection,  when  the  burden 
of  years  proved  too  heavy  and  he  was  retired 
professor  emeritus.  His  beautiful  home  was 
on  the  college  grounds  and  there  he  celebrated 
his  eighty-seventh  birthday,  April  4,  1907.  He 
was  beloved  of  the  students,  to  whom  he  had 
endearingly  become  "Uncle  Billy."  At  a  meet- 
ing of  the  Chicago  Alumni  Association  twen- 
ty-five alumni  of  the  college  banqueting  at 
Chicago  sent  him  this  telegram :  "Twenty- 
five  nephews  from  Chicago  and  the  North- 
west extend  heartiest  greeting,  and  best  wishes 
for  many  years  more  with  Old  Union."  His 
activities  were  not  confined  by  college  walls. 
By  voice  and  pen  he  was  long  known  as  one 
of  the  foremost  educators.  He  lectured  in 
all  the  great  cities  of  the  United  States  from 
Boston  to  San  Francisco.  He  was  the  first 
European  correspondent  of  the  Nczv  York 
Herald,  and  during  his  last  great  tour  abroad 
was  s]iecial  correspondent  of  the  Neiu  York 
Mai!  &nd  Express.  For  over  twenty  years 
he  was  in  charge  of  the  foreign  department  of 
tiic  Methodist  Reriew.  and  was  a  frequent 
editorial  and  general  contributor  to  all  the 
leading  papers  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  Able  articles  from  his  pen  also  ap- 
peared in  the  Independent.  Scribner's  Month- 
ly and  the  Century  Afa^i^acine.  He  was  asso- 
ciated with  Dr.  Taylor  I.ewis  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  the  "Book  of  (ienesis  for  Lange's 
Commentary,"  and  translated  the  Book  of  Ec- 
clcsiastcs  for  the  same  work.  When  the  phil- 
anthropist, Daniel  Drew,  had  in  contemplation 
the  founding  of  Drew  Theological  Seminary, 
Professor  Wells  was  one  of  the  men  who  were 


called  upon  for  advice  and  assistance.  He 
took  an  active  part  in  the  foundation  of  the 
seminary  and  was  ever  after  on  the  board  of 
trustees.  He  was  a  devoted  Methodist  and  for 
twenty-five  years  superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day school  of  State  Street  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  at  Schenectady.  He  was  elected 
and  served  as  lay  delegate  to  the  general  con- 
ference of  his  church  in  1872,  the  first  year 
laymen  were  admitted  as  delegates.  He  was 
again  elected  to  the  general  conference  of 
1876  and  served  as  one  of  the  secretaries  of 
that  conference.  At  his  death  fitting  memo- 
rials were  passed  by  different  bodies,  from 
which  we  quote  the  faculty  in  part : 

"He  was  not  only  immensely  useful  to  the  col- 
lege by  liis  scholarship  and  attainment,  but  made 
for  himself  a  place  in  the  hearts  of  the  students, 
which  he  kept  long  after  graduation.  For  nearly 
half  a  century  he  has  been  closely  and  affection- 
ately connected  with  every  one's  thought  of  the 
college.  As  a  personal  friend  Professor  Wells 
was  loved  and  honored,  not  only  by  the  faculty, 
students  and  alumni  of  Union,  but  far  more  wide- 
ly; for  his  sympathy  and  interests  had  brought 
him  into  connection  with  many  persons  and 
many  institutions,  and  he  came  to  no  work  or  oc- 
cupation where  he  did  not  attain  the  affection  as 
well  as  the  respect  of  those  with  whom  he  was- 
associated." 

again : 

"The  passing  years  but  added  to  the  kindliness 
of  his  nature,  to  his  devotion  to  the  College,  and 
to  his  love  for  his  pupils  of  the  past  and  present."' 
Kot  inappropriately  was  he  called  "The  Grand 
Old   Man   of  Union    College." 

Professor  Wells  married,  July,  1854,  .\lice 
Yeckley,  born  at  Gorham,  Ontario  county, 
New  York,  March  15,  1836,  died  at  Schenec- 
tady. April  26,  1906.  She  was  educated  at 
Genesee  Wesleyan  Seminary  and  Genesee 
College  (afterwards  Syracuse  University). 
They  removed  to  Schenectady  in  1865,  and 
there  resided  until  death.  Like  her  husband, 
Mrs.  Wells  was  a  devoted  Christian  worker 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  especially 
in  missions  and  work  among  the  young.  She 
was  for  many  years  president  of  the  Woman's 
Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  First 
( State  Street )  Church  and  for  twelve  years 
president  of  the  W'oman's  Auxiliary  of  the 
^'o^^lg  Men's  Christian  Association.  She  or- 
ganized and  was  president  of  the  Mother's 
Club  connected  with  the  Young  Women's 
Christian  Association.  She  was  closely  iden- 
tified with  the  social  life  of  the  college,  and 
in  all  respects  was  a  worthy  helpmeet  and 
companion.  One  child,  Alice  M.  Wells,  sur- 
vives her  parents,  residing  in  Schenectady, 
New  York. 

(The  .Arnold  Line). 

Alice  Yeckley  (Mrs.  Professor  William 
Wells)  was  a  descendant  through  her  mother, 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK    \ALLEYS 


127 


Mary  Arnold  Yeckley,  from  the  famous  Ar- 
nold family  of  Ens^land.  who  traced  their 
descent  and  origin  to  the  ancient  Princes  of 
Wales. 

The  Arnold  family  is  one  of  t^^reat  anti- 
quity and  honorable  mention  in  the  early  an- 
nals. The  ilescent  is  traced  to  Ynir,  King  of 
Gvventland,  who  flourished  about  the  middle 
of  the  twelfth  century.  King  Ynir  descended 
through  a  second  son  from  Cadwalader,  last 
King  of  the  liritons.  The  ancient  Castle  of 
Abergavenny,  Monmouthshire,  England,  built 
by  Cadwalader,  may  yet  be  seen,  although  in 
ruins.  The  line  briefly  told  is  traced  from  a 
son  of  each  generation. 

(I)  Ynir,  King  of  Gwentland,  married 
Nesta,  daughter  of  Justin,  King  of  Glamor- 
gan. 

(H)  Meiric,  King  of  Gwentland,  married 
Eleanor  of  the  house  of  Trevor. 

(HI)  Ynir  \'ichan,  King  of  Gvventland, 
married  Gladice,  daughter  of  the  Lord  of 
Ystradyw. 

( IV )  Carador,  Lord  of  Gwent,  married 
Nesta.  daughter  of  Sir  Rydereck  le  Gros. 

(V)  Dyenwall,  Lord  of  Gwent,  married 
Joyes,  daughter  of  Hamlet,  son  of  Sir  Druce, 
Duke  of  Balladon  of  France. 

(VI)  Systal,  Lord  of  Upper  Gwent,  mar- 
ried Annest,  daughter  of  Sir  Peter  Russell, 
Lord  of  Kentchinch  in  Hereford. 

(V'H)  Arthur,  married  Jane,  daughter  of 
Lein,  Lord  of  Cantrosblyn. 

(\Tn  )  Meiric.  married  Annest,  daughter  of 
Cradock. 

(IX)  Gwillim,  married  Jane,  daughter  of 
Ivon,  Lord  of  Lighs-Taby-vont. 

(X)  Arnholt  Esq.,  married  Janet,  daughter 
of  Phillip  Fleming,  Esq. 

(XI)  Arnholt  (2)  Esq.,  married  Sibyl, 
daughter  of  Madoc. 

(XII)  Roger  Arnold,  of  Llanthony  in  Mon- 
mouthshire, first  of  the  family  to  adopt  a  sur- 
name, married  Joan,  daughter  of  Sir  Thomas 
Gamage. 

(XIII)  Thomas  Arnold,  successor  to  the 
estates  in  Monmouthshire,  married  Agnes, 
daughter  of  Sir  Richard  Warnstead. 

(XI\')  Richard  Arnold  married  Emmate. 
daughter  of  Pearce  Young. 

(X\')  Richard  Arnold  (2).  born  in  Somer- 
setshire, removed  to  Dorsetshire,  England,  be- 
canie  seated  at  Bagbere,  and  was  Lord  of  the 
Manor.  His  name  appears  on  the  "Subsidy 
Rolls"  of  the  county  of  Dorset,  1549.  He 
W'as  patron  of  the  churches  of  Blanford  and 
Bingham  Melcombe.  His  manor  house  at 
Bagbere  was  standing  until  1870,  when  it  was 
demolished.  His  will  was  probated  July  9, 
1595.    He  desires  "To  be  buried  in  the  Parishe 


Church  of  Million,  in  the  He  called  Jesus  He 
as  we  go  to  the  Lower." 

(XVi)  Thomas,  second  son  of  Richard  Ar- 
nold, of  Bagbere,  Dorsetshire,  England,  is 
mentioned  in  his  father's  w-ill.  He  removed 
to  Cheselbourne  and  seated  himself  on  an  es- 
tate, formerly  the  property  of  his  father.  He 
was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  Alice  bore 
him  six  sons.  By  his  second  wife  he  had 
three  children. 

(X\'II)  Thomas  (2),  son  of  Thomas  (i) 
Arnold,  was  born  in  Cheselbourne,  Dorset 
county,  England,  baptized  April  18,  1599,  died 
in  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  Seiitember,  1674. 
He  was  the  founder  of  this  branch  of  the 
Arnold  family  in  America.  He  came  to  the 
New  World  in  the  ship,  "Plain  Joan,"  in  May, 
1635,  and  soon  settled  at  Watertown,  Mas- 
sachusetts. May  13,  1640,  he  was  made  free- 
man. April  2,  1654,  he  was  fined  five  pounds 
for  neglecting  public  worship  for  twenty  days. 
April  2,  1655,  was  fined  ten  pounds  for  neg- 
lecting public  worship  for  forty  days.  He 
had  lands  allotted  him  on  the  several  distribu- 
tions and  seems  to  have  been  a  man  of  means. 
He  was  deputy,  1666-67-70-71-72,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  town  council.  He  married  twice : 
by  first  wife  he  had:  Thomas,  Nicholas  and 
Susanna.  His  second  wife  Phoebe,  daughter 
of  George  and  Susanna  Parkhurst,  died  in 
1688.  Children:  Ichabod.  Richard,  see  for- 
ward, Thomas,  John,  Eleazer  and  Elizabeth. 

(X\TII)  Richard,  son  of  Thomas  (2)  and 
Phoebe  (Parkhurst)  Arnold,  w'as  born  at 
Watertown,  Massachusetts,  March  22,  1642- 
43.  died  April  22.  17 10.  He  was  a  inan  of 
superior  ability :  held  many  official  positions ; 
member  of  the  general  assembly  and  assistant 
governor  of  Sir  Edmond  Andros  at  Boston. 
He  was  repeatedly  chosen  to  act  with  commit- 
tees in  the  adjustment  of  boundary  disputes, 
with  neighboring  colonies  and  to  settle  differ- 
ences among  fellow  townsmen.  He  was  dep- 
uty twelve  sessions  between  167 1  and  1708, 
assistant  in  the  intervening  years  when  not 
deputy.  In  1707-08  he  was  speaker  of  the 
house  of  deputies.  He  married  (first)  Mary, 
died    1695,    daughter    of    Thomas    and    Alice 

Angell.    He  married   (second)   Sarah  . 

died  1712.  Children;  all  by  first  wife:  Rich- 
ard ;  John,  see  forward  :  Thomas  :  ]\Iary,  mar- 
ried Thomas  Steere. 

(XIX)  John,  son  of  Richard  and  Mary 
(Angell)  Arnold,  was  born  in  Providence, 
Rhode  Island.  November  i,  1670,  died  Oc- 
tober 27,  1756.  He  was  the  first  settler  of 
Woonsocket,  Corihect|cut :  one  of  the  organ- 
izers of  the  Society  of  Friends  in  Northern 
Rhode  Island,  and  built  their  first  meeting 
house.     When   Smithfield   became  a  town   in 


128 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


1 73 1,  he  was  the  first  president  of  the  council. 
He  was  one  of  the  committee  who  ran  the 
northern  boundary  hne  in  17 18.  In  1712  he 
buih  his  corn  and  flouring  mill  on  the  Island 
near  Woonsocket  Falls.  He  was  a  miller  by 
trade  and  became  a  very  wealthy  man  for  his 
day.  He  married  (first)  Mary,  born  1675, 
daug'hter  of  Nathaniel  and  Joana  (Inman) 
Mowry,  (second)  October  31,  1742,  Hannah 
Hay  ward.  Children,  all  by  first  wife:  Wil- 
liam, John,  Daniel,  Anthony,  see  forward ; 
Seth,  Israel,  Anna,  Susanna  and  Abigail. 

(XX)  Anthony,  son  of  John  and  Mary 
(Mowry)  Arnold,  was  born  March  12,  1704. 
By  will  of  his  father  he  received  sixty  acres 
of  land  near  the  Falls.  Woonsocket,  Connecti- 
cut. This  included  "An  Island,  with  two  corn 
mills,  and  a  fulling  mill  thereon.''  He  sold 
this  property  and  removed  to  Cromwell, 
Dutchess  county,  New  York.  He  also  re- 
ceived from  his  father  "five  pounds,  current 
money."  He  married  and  left  two  children : 
David  and  Sarah. 

(XXI)  David,  son  of  Anthony  Arnold,  was 
born  May  27,  1733.  died  1822.  He  had  four 
sons  and  three  daughters. 

(XXII)  Jonathan,  son  of  David  Arnold, 
was  born  March  i,  1771.  died  November  13, 
1851.  He  left  two  sons  and  three  daughters: 
Seth,  Anthony,  Mary,  Hannah  and  Sarah. 

(XXIII)  Mary,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Ar- 
nold, was  born  February  9,  181 1,  died  March 
26,  1883.  ^larried  Josiah  Yeckley,  June  3, 
1833,  and  had  two  children:  Alice,  see  for- 
ward; and  Jonathan  Arnold  Yeckley,  born 
April  6,  1841,  died  September  16,  1903.  witli- 
■out  issue. 

(XXIV)  Alice,  only  daughter  of  Josiah  and 
Mary  (Arnold)  Yeckley,  was  born  in  Gor- 
ham,  Ontario  county.  New  York,  March  15. 
1836,  died  April  26,  1906:  married.  July. 
1854.  Professor  William  Wells.     (See  Wells.) 

(XXV)  Alice  M.,  only  child  of  Professor 
William  and  Alice  (Yeckley)  Wells,  was  born 
in  Schenectady.  New  York,  where  she  still  re- 
sides (1909),  the  only  surviving  member  of 
the  family.  She  was  educated  at  Syracuse 
University.  She  is  a  communicant  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Member  of  the 
Young  Women's  Christian  Association,  of 
which  she  is  president  (1910),  and  a  member 
of  the  Woman's  Club,  Mohawk  Golf  Club. 

NoTK. — The  mystery  as  to  the  origin  of  the 
■"Old  Stone  Mill,"  at  Newport,  doubtless 
created  the  legend  that  it  was  constructed  by 
the  Norsemen  in  the  tenth  or  twelfth  century. 
Longfellow  gave  it  immortality  in  "The  Lofty 
Tower,"  in  his  "Skeleton  in  Armor,"  and 
much  time  has  been  wasted  upon  it  by  sav- 
ants.    The  mill  stood  on  Governor  Benedict 


Arnold's  farm,  and  in  his  will  he  clearly  in- 
dicates the  purpose  for  which  it  was  intended 
and  used :  "My  body  I  desire  and  appoint  to 
be  buried  at  ye  Northeast  corner  of  a  parcel 
of  ground,  containing  three  rods  square,  being 
of  and  lying  in  my  land,  in  or  near  the  line 
or  path  from  iny  dwelling  house,  leading  to 
my  Stone  Wind  Mill  in  ye  town  of  Newport." 
The  bones  of  the  first  governor  of  Rhode 
Island  under  Charles  IV  (1633)  rest  within 
the  grounds  belonging  to  Hon.  Charles  C.  Van 
Zant,  governor  of  Rhode  Island  in  1870.  The 
stone  that  marks  the  spot  is  so  mossgrown 
that  it  is  impossible  to  d'ecipher  the  inscription. 


The  name  Bleecker  is  de- 
BLEECKER  rived  from  the  Dutch,  signi- 
fying one  who  bleaches  or  a 
bleacher  by  trade,  in  those  days  conducting 
the  washing  as  a  wholesale  business  in  Hol- 
land by  the  side  of  a  stream.  The  Bleecker 
arms :  Per  blue  azure  and  argent ;  on  the 
first  two  chevronels  embattled  counter,  embat- 
tled or ;  on  the  second  an  oak  branch  proper, 
fruited   or;  motto:  Fide  et  constantia. 

(I)  Jan  Janse  Bleecker,  a  native  of  Meppel, 
province  of  Overyssel,  Holland,  was  born  July 
9,  1 64 1,  son  of  Jan  Bleecker.  He  came  to 
this  country  in  1658,  and  settled  in  New  Am- 
sterdam, now  New  York  City.  Later  on  he 
removed  to  Albany.  He  was  not  only  a  trader 
who  was  widely  known,  but  was  a  man  of 
considerable  prominence,  as  is  certified  bv  the 
number  of  public  offices  he  held  beginning 
witli  the  year  in  which  Albany  received  its 
charter  as  a  city,  1686.  In  that  year  he  was 
appointed  the  first  city  chamberlain ;  cap- 
tain of  militia,  Indian  \\'ar.  1689;  was  Indian 
commissioner,  1691-94;  recorder,  1696-1700; 
justice  of  the  peace,  1697,  and  member  of 
the  provincial  assembly,  1698-1701.  Mare 
important  than  any  of  these  high  positions,  he 
was  made  the  seventh  mayor  of  Albany,  by  ap- 
pointment from  the  representative  of  the 
Crown,  the  Earl  of  I'ellomont,  and  held  that 
office  1700-01.  He  belonged  to  the  Reformed 
Protestant  Dutch  Church  in  America,  and, 
dying  in  Albany,  November  21,  1732,  he  was 
buried  in  that  church  edifice,  as  was  the  cus- 
tom of  his  day.  He  married  Margariet  (or 
Grietjen)  Rutse,  daughter  of  Rutger  Jacob- 
sen  Van  Schocnderwoert,  January  2,  1(167. 
She  was  born  in  1647,  died  in  1733.  Chil- 
dren :  Johannes,  born  iW)8 ;  Rutger,  see 
forward  ;  Nicolaas ;  Catharine ;  Jane ;  Marga- 
ret; Hendrick,  baptized  April,  1686;  Rachel, 
baptized  November  14,  1688;  Maria,  baptized 
I'^ebruary  7,  1692. 

(II)  Rutger  (Jansen),  .son  of  Jan  Janse 
and  Margariet  Rutse   (\'an  Schocnderwoert) 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   \'ALLEYS 


129 


Bleecker,  was  born  in  Albany,  May  13,  1675, 
and  resided  at  the  northwest  corner  of  North 
Pearl  and  Steuben  streets.  He  was  a  merchant 
of  considerable  means,  and  a  member  of  the 
Reformed  Protestant  Dutch  church.  He  was 
city  recorder,  1725,  and  his  older  brother,  Jo- 
hannes, was  the  eighth  mayor,  serving  1701- 
•02,  receiving  his  appointment  from  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor John  Nanfan.  He  was  ap- 
pointed the  fifteenth  mayor  of  Albany  by  Co- 
lonial Governor  William  Burnet,  and  held  of- 
fice from  November  8,  1726,  to  November  10, 
1729.  He  died  in  Albany,  August  4,  1756. 
He  married  Catalyna  (or  Catalina)  Schuyler, 
daughter  of  David  I.  Schuyler,  and  widow  of 
Johannes  Abeel,  the  second  mayor  of  Albany, 
May  26,  1712.  She  was  baptized  October  10, 
1686,  and  was  buried  in  the  Dutch  church, 
October  25,  1747.  Children:  Johannes,  bap- 
tized February  8,  1713,  see  forward;  Mar- 
garita, baptized  October  8,  1714,  married  Ed- 
ward Collins ;  Jacobus,  baptized  December  9, 
1716:  Myndert,  baptized  July  3,  1720. 

(HI)  Johannes  (Rutgerse),  son  of  Rutger 
(Jansen)  and  Catalyna  (Schuyler)  Bleecker, 
was  baptized  in  Albany,  February  8,  171 3.  He 
was  a  surveyor  and  made  one  of  the  most  use- 
ful of  the  city  maps.  He  died  in  1800.  He 
Jiiarried,  August  5,  1743,  Elizabeth  Staats, 
born  October  3,  1725,  daughter  of  Barent 
Staats.  Children :  Rutger,  baptized  July  5, 
1743,  married  Catharine  Elmendorf ;  Barent, 
"baptized  June  5,  1748;  Barent,  baptized  No- 
vember 18,  1750;  Barent,  baptized  Novem- 
ber 12,  1752,  buried  Novembtr  5,  1756;  Ja- 
cobus, baptized  October  23,  1755,  see  forward; 
"Catalina,  baptized  October  15,  1758;  Barent, 
baptized  June  9,  1760,  married  Sarah  Lansing, 
■daughter  of  Gerrit  Lansing,  no  children ;  Jo- 
hannes, born  October  4,  1763,  died  Decem- 
ber 29,   1833. 

(IV)  Jacobus  (or  James)  Johannsen,  son  of 
Johannes  and  Elizabeth  (Staats)  Bleecker, 
was  born  in  Albany,  October  14,  1755,  died 
there  February  18,  1825.  He  married,  No- 
vember 18,  1782,  Rachel  Van  Sant,  born  1759, 
died  March  22,  1837.  Children :  Katalyna, 
married  Barent  Sanders ;  Sally,  married 
Charles  Piatt,  died  1832 ;  Garrett  \'an  Sant, 
see  forward. 

(V)  Garrett  \'an  Sant,  son  of  Jacobus  (or 
James)  and  Rachel  (Van  Sant)  Bleecker,  was 
born  in  the  fine  mansion  of  his  grandfather, 
Garrett  Van  Sant,  on  South  Pearl  street,  Al- 
bany. August  2.  1790,  died  January  12,  1856. 
He  had  no  profession,  but  spent  his  entire 
time  in  looking  after  his  interests.  He  was 
an  active  member  of  the  South  Second  Re- 
iormed  Church.  He  was  a  good  citizen,  liberal 
to  the    poor,   visiting   the    alms    house   every 


week.  He  married  (first),  February  6,  181 1, 
Margaret  \'an  der  \'oort,  died  October  10, 
1827;  married  (second),  February  8,  1829, 
Jane  Shepard,  born  June  12,  1801,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  Shepard,  of  Albany,  and  was 
of  English  descent.  For  a  lengthy  period  he 
was  an  alderman  of  the  third  ward.  Chil- 
dren: Rachel,  born  September  25,  181- ;  mar- 
ried, February  25,  1829,  Dr.  Visscher  Winne; 
Elizabeth  Staats,  born  December  3,  1814;  mar- 
ried James  Bleecker  Sanders,  of  Albany ; 
James  \'an  der  \'oort,  born  April  25,  1817; 
married  Ann  Kinnear;  Margaret  Louise,  born 
June  22,  1819;  married,  June  10,  1840,  Henry 
A.  Allen ;  Garrett  Van  Sant,  Jr.,  born  Oc- 
tober 12,  1821  ;  married  Mary  McCullock ; 
Anna,  born  April  17,  1824;  married  Stephen 
Wakeman  Clark ;  Charles  Edward,  born  July 
15,  1826;  married  Grace  Strobel,  he  being  the 
fifty-first  mayor  of  Albany  and  serving  from 
May  6,  1868,  to  Alay  5,  1870,  and  died  in 
Albany,  January  31,  1873.  Children,  by  sec- 
ond wife:  Sarah  Jane,  born  February  7,  1831 ; 
married,  March  15,  1855,  Robert  Reed; 
Thomas  Shepard,  born  February  23,  1833 ; 
married,  November  4,  1863,  Kate  McCullock; 
William  Rutger,  born  June  11,  1839,  died 
unmarried;  Matilda  Eliza,  born  July  12,  1835; 
married,  April  11,  1867,  Jacob  Henrick  Ten 
Eyck   (see  Ten  Eyck  family). 

Jacob  H.  Ten  Eyck,  son  of  Herman  and 
Eliza  (Bogart)  Ten  Eyck),  was  born  in 
Albany,  August  17,  1833.  died  there  March  24, 
1898.  He  was  educated  at  the  Albany  Acad- 
emy, and  started  as  a  clerk  in  a  bank.  In 
1856  he  went  to  Cuba  and  devoted  three 
years  to  railroading.  He  returned  to  Al- 
bany, and  in  1861  he  raised  Company  G.  Third 
New  York  \'olunteers ;  was  commissioned  a 
captain  of  state  militia,  and  shortly  after  was 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service.  He 
served  nearly  two  years,  was  promoted  major 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fourth  New 
York  Volunteers,  and  was  stationed  in  Vir- 
ginia with  the  Eleventh  Army  Corps.  He 
resigned  in  1864  on  account  of  ill  health,  and 
returned  to  Albany,  where  he  resided  until 
his  death.  He  held  many  important  posi- 
tions of  trust ;  was  trustee  of  the  Albany  Sav- 
ings Bank ;  director  of  the  .\lbany  Insur- 
ance Company  for  about  twenty  years ;  presi- 
dent of  the  Great  Western  Turnpike  Com- 
pany, and  was  connected  with  a  number  of 
manufacturing  enterprises  both  in  his  own 
city  and  in  Troy.  He  was  alderman  of  the 
old  seventh  ward  for  two  years ;  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club,  the  lead- 
ing social  institution  in  his  city,  and  was 
its  president  at  the  time  of  his  death;  for 
ten  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  \'olunteer 


I30 


HUDSON   AND   iMOHAWK   VALLEYS 


Fire  Department;  was  for  a  long  period  an 
officer  of  the  Albany  Burgesses'  Corps,  and 
also  commissary  of  the  Tenth  Regiment.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  New  York  Command- 
ery,  Loyal  Legion  of  America ;  Jacob  H.  Ten 
Eyck  Post,  No.  154,  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public, of  Albany,  was  named  in  his  honor. 
He  was  president  of  the  board  of  trustees 
of  the  North  Dutch  First  Reformed  Church, 
of  Albany,  for  twenty  years,  and  was  the 
oldest  member  of  the  board  of  managers  of 
the  Homeopathic  Hospital.  Mrs.  Ten  Eyck 
furnished  a  room  in  the  hospital  as  a  memorial 
to  her  husband. 


Coenraedt  Ten  Eyck,  who 
TEN  EYCK  came  from  Amsterdam, 
Holland,  about  1630  or 
1635,  and  settled  in  New  Amsterdam,  married 
Maria  Boele.  Children :  Jacob,  see  forward  ; 
Dirck  ;  Margariet ;  Tobias  ;  Coenraedt ;  Hen- 
drick;  ]Matthys;  Margariet;  Andries ;  and 
Metje. 

(II)  Jacob,  son  of  Coenraedt  and  Maria 
(Boele)  Ten  Eyck,  was  born  in  Holland, 
died  in  Albany.  He  married  Gertruy,  born  in 
1654,  daughter  of  Barent  Coeymans  (who 
married  a  daughter  of  Andries  De  Vos).  In 
her  will,  as  a  widow,  made  September  6,  1716, 
proved  July  10,  1736,  she  mentions  the  names 
of  all  their  children  excepting  Andries,  who 
died  in  1635.  and  Hendrick.  Children:  Coen- 
raedt, born  April  9,  1678.  see  forward;  Barent, 
married,  September  30,  1700;  Nelletje  Scher- 
merhorn ;  Hendrick  (or  Hennik),  born  De- 
cember 22,  1680;  Mayken,  born  April  2,  1685; 
married,  December  26,  1712,  Andries  Van 
Petten,  of  Schenectady ;  Andries,  baptized 
March  25,  1688,  died  February  27,  1735;  An- 
neken,  baptized  August  20,  1693;  married 
Johannes  Bleecker,  died   December  9,   1738. 

(III)  Coenraedt  (2),  son  of  Jacob  and 
Gertruy  (Coeymans)  Ten  Eyck,  was  born  in 
Albany,  April  9,  1678,  buried  in  Albany,  Janu- 
ary 23,  1753.  He  married,  September  24,  1704, 
(church  record)  or  October  10,  1703  (family 
Bible),  Geertje.  daughter  of  Anthony  and  Ma- 
ria (\'an  der  Poel)  Van  Schaick,  the  latter 
a  daughter  of  Teunis  Cornelise  Van  der  Poel. 
Oiildren ;  Jacob  Coenraedt,  born  April  21, 
1705,  see  forward;  Maria,  born  July  3,  1707; 
married  Gerrit  Bradt;  Gerritje,  born  July, 
1710,  died  young;  Anthony,  born  September 
17,   1712;   Barent,  born  September  29,    1714; 

married  Effie ;  Catrina,  born  January 

29,  1717,  died  November  11,  1741  ;  Andries, 
born  December  18,  1718;  married  Anna  Mar- 
garita Coeymans ;  Anna  Margarita,  born  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1721  ;  Tobias,  born  May  18,  1723; 
married,  February  6,  1758,  Judittkje  Van  Beu- 


ren;  Gerritje,  born  July  (or  August),  18  (or 
19),  1728;  married  Pieter  Gansevoort. 

(IV)  Jacob  Coenraedt,  son  of  Coenraedt 
(2)  and  Geertje  (Van  Schaick)  Ten  Eyck, 
was  born  in  Albany,  April  21,  1705.  He  was 
a  man  of  prominence,  and  was  appointed 
mayor  of  Albany  (the  twenty-second  execu- 
tive of  that  city)  by  Governor  George  Clin- 
ton, October  3,  1749,  and  held  office  from. 
October  i,  1748,  until  October  15,  1750.  He 
was  a  man  of  considerable  wealth,  and  had 
a  character  which  made  him  noted  as  a  man 
of  strictest  integrity.  He  was  a  commissioner 
of  Indian  affairs  from  November  16,  1752, 
until  June  15,  1754;  member  of  the  committee 
of  safety,  1775;  judge  of  the  court  of  com- 
mon pleas.  He  resided  at  one  time  in  the  old 
first  ward,  and  also  had  a  place  on  the  Troy 
road,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Dutch  Re- 
formed church.  He  died  in  Albany,  Septem- 
ber 9,  1783.  He  married,  in  Albany,  August 
I,  1736,  Catharina  Cuyler,  born  in  Albany,. 
February  18,  1710,  died  in  Albany,  November 
22,  1790,  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Cantje 
(Bleecker)  Cuyler.  Children:  Anthony,  born 
September  17,  1739,  see  forward;  Conrad, 
born  November  27,  1741 ;  Abraham  Jacob,, 
born  November  29,  1743;  married,  April  14, 
1769,  Annatje  Lansing;  Catharine,  born 
I\larch  14,  1746. 

(V)  Anthony,  son  of  Jacob  Coenraedt  and 
Catharina  (Cuyler)  Ten  Eyck,  was  born  in, 
Albany,  September  17,  1739.  He  resided  in 
Schodack,  New  York,  and  was  a  member 
of  the  convention  of  1787  which  ratified  the 
constitution  of  the  United  States ;  was  first 
judge  of  Rensselaer  county,  until  sixty  years 
of  age,  and  a  member  of  the  state  senate  for 
eight  years.  He  married,  February  18,  1775, 
Maria  Egberts.  Children:  Catharina,  born 
December  14,  1776,  died  single ;  Egbert,  bom 
April  18,  1779;  married  Rebecca  Pearce;  An- 
thony, born  July  9,  1783,  died  young;  An- 
thony, bom  December  23,  1784;  married  C. 
Johnson ;  Coenraad  Anthony,  born  October  19, 
1789,  see  forward;  Maria,  married  J.  Van 
Allen. 

(VI)  Coenraad  Anthony,  son  of  Anthony 
and  Maria  (Egberts)  Ten  Eyck,  was  born  in 
Schodack,  Columbia  county,  New  York,  Oc- 
tober 19,  1789,  died  June  10,  1845.  He  was 
sheriff  of  Albany  county  nine  years  and  coun- 
ty clerk  six  years.  He  married  his  cousin, 
Hester  Gansevoort,  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Magdalena  (Gansevoort)  Ten  Eyck,  who  re- 
sided in  Whitehall  Place.  She  was  bom  Jan- 
uary 4.  1796,  died  April  6,  1861.  Children: 
Leonard,  born  March  12,  182 1  ;  married  Ellen 
Bullock ;  Mary,  born  September  6.  1822,  died 
young;  Anthony,  born  June  22,  1824;  Jacob, 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   \'ALLEYS 


131 


born  July  4,  1826;  married  Eliza  Folger  Cof- 
fin; Abraham  Cuyler,  born  October  i,  1830, 
see  forward;  Clinton,  born  May  31,  1833; 
married  Kate  Monteath  Wilson;  Catharine, 
born  May  28,  1836,  died  single. 

(VH)  Abraham  Cuyler,  son  of  Coenraad 
Anthony  and  Hester  Gansevoort  (Ten  Eyck) 
Ten  Eyck,  was  born  October  i,  1830,  on 
Montgomery  street,  in  Albany,  which  locality 
was  then  the  "court  part  of  the  town"  and 
later  was  converted  into  a  site  for  the  hand- 
some new  union  railway  station  for  all  the 
roads  entering  Albany.  He  was  educated  at 
the  Albany  Boys'  Academy.  His  elder 
brother,  Jacob,  being  a  "Forty-niner,"  of  Cali- 
fornia gold  field  craze,  persuaded  him  to  make 
the  trip  to  the  West,  which  he  did,  and  on 
arrival  he  became  a  successful  contractor, 
but  on  account  of  the  death  of  his  brother 
Anthony,  who  had  been  deputy  attorney-gen- 
eral of  New  York  state,  1852,  he  was  called 
East.  When  returning,  the  ship  on  which  he 
sailed  was  shipwrecked  in  a  severe  storm  in 
Golden  Gate  Harbor,  and  he  was  one  of  the 
nineteen  saved  out  of  a  list  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  passengers  aboard.  An  in- 
cident connected  with  his  escape  is  still  told 
in  the  family,  that  he  carried  with  him,  ac- 
cording to  the  custom  of  the  place  and  those 
days,  a  bowie  knife,  which  he  used  to  good 
efifect  in  cutting  loose  his  belt,  weighted  with 
gold,  and  thus  freed  over  five  thousand  dol- 
lars to  sink  to  the  bottom  of  the  sea.  It  was 
a  most  fortunate  display  of  alertness  and 
had  there  been  no  sharp  knife  so  conveniently 
at  hand,  doubtless  his  fate  would  have  been 
similar  to  the  scores  of  the  gold-seekers  whose 
fortune  carried  them  to  death.  Following  his 
marriage,  which  occurred  within  a  few  years 
of  his  return,  he  resided  at  No.  199  State 
street,  which  became  the  site  of  the  new  capi- 
tol,  and  after  that  he  removed  with  his  large 
and  growing  family  to  Whitehall  Place,  the  old 
historical  home  of  General  John  Bradstreet, 
of  the  British  forces,  used  as  his  headquar- 
ters during  the  campaigns  against  the  Indians 
and  French.  This  house  was  built  about  1750 
by  General  Bradstreet ;  located  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  yards  to  the  west  of  what 
became  Delaware  avenue,  and  the  highway 
near  it  was  long  known  as  Whitehall  road ; 
its  household  furniture  was  the  envy  of  all 
the  neighbors :  many  interesting  oil  portraits 
hung  upon  its  walls,  and  at  the  large  recep- 
tions the  family  silver  figured  prominently: 
one  room  had  been  used  by  General  Bradstreet 
as  his  office,  and  another  had  been  dedicated 
as  the  "death  chamber."  After  the  war  the 
house  was  purchased  from  General  Brad- 
Street  by  Leonard  Gansevoort,  brother  of  Gen- 


eral Peter  Gansevoort;  it  was  remodeled  and 
enlarged  in  1776  or  1780,  becoming  a  man- 
sion, one  hundred  and  ten  feet  in  front  and 
seventy-five  feet  deep.  The  property  con- 
tained some  two  thousand  acres  and  came  into 
the  Ten  Eyck  family  by  the  marriage  of  Mag- 
dalena,  daughter  of  Leonard  Gansevoort,  to 
Jacob  Ten  Eyck,  eldest  son  of  Abraham  Ten 
Eyck.  Jacob  Ten  Eyck  was  a  man  of  promi- 
nence, being  judge  of  Albany  county,  assem- 
blyman, and  held  other  minor  offices.  The 
destruction  of  this  house  by  fire  in  1883  was 
the  greatest  misfortune  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Ten 
Eyck  ;  the  place  was  known  as  Ten  Eyck  Park. 
In  politics  Mr.  Ten  Eyck  was  a  Democrat. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  First  Reformed 
Protestant  Dutch  Church,  a  man  of  strong 
convictions,  a  staunch  friend  to  all  who  were 
favored  with  his  intimacy  and  possessed  of 
hosts  of  friends.  Everyone  realized  that  he 
was  unusually  generous,  even  to  the  extent 
of  a  fault,  and  while  not  a  lawyer,  in  later 
years  his  advice  was  sought  on  many  ciuestions 
by  his  acquaintances. 

Abraham  Cuyler  Ten  Eyck  married,  Al- 
bany, November  27,  1855,  Margaret  Matilda, 
born  in  Albany,  April  14,  1837,  daughter  of 
Henry  Burhans  Haswell,  born  in  Kingston, 
New  York,  June  i,  1803,  son  of  John  and 
Margaret  (Burhans)  Haswell,  married  at 
Sing  Sing  (Ossining,  New  York),  June,  1836. 
Henry  B.  Haswell  was  an  attorney  of  promi- 
nence, country  clerk  for  six  years,  alderman, 
school  commissioner  and  secretary  to  the  board 
of  education  for  over  twenty-five  years.  He 
had  been  private  secretary  to  Hon.  William 
H.  Seward  when  secretary  of  state,  and  he 
died  in  Albany,  August  10,  i86g.  Her 
mother  was  Elizabeth  Trowbridge,  daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Rachel  (Mabie)  Trowbridge, 
born  in  Sing  Sing  (Ossining),  New  York, 
jNIarch  9,  1809,  died  in  Albany,  May,  1882. 
A.  Cuyler  Ten  Eyck  died  in  Albany,  March 
23,  1900,  and  was  buried  in  the  Albany  Rural 
Cemetery.  His  widow,  in  1910,  was  residing 
with  her  son,  Hon.  Jacob  Lansing  Ten  Eyck, 
at  his  home.  No.  226  Lark  street.  By  inherit- 
ance, she  possesses  a  great  many  pieces  of 
highly  artistic  old  furniture  and  a  quantity 
of  colonial  silver  of  beautiful  design  and 
workmanship,  which  are  the  envy  of  all  the 
connoisseurs  who  behold  it.  Children,  born 
in  Albany :  Hester  Gansevoort,  born  August 

29,  1856,  see  forward;  Conrad  Anthony,  May 

30,  1858;  unmarried  in  1910;  Henry  Has- 
well, December  16.  1859,  died  Albany,  De- 
cember 23,  1867;  Jacob,  October  11,  1861, 
died  young;  Rachel,  September  14,  1862,  see 
forward;  Jacob  Lansing,  July  8,  1864,  see 
forward ;  Cuyler,  February  26,  1866,  see  for- 


132 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


ward ;  Peter  Gansevoort,  Bethlehem,  Novem- 
ber 7,  1873,  see  forward. 

(Vni)  Hester  Gansevoort,  first-born  child 
of  Abraham  Cuvler  and  Margaret  Matilda 
(Haswell)  Ten  Eyck,  was  born  in  Albany, 
August  29,  1856.  She  married,  Albany,  De- 
cember 12,  1883,  James  Edgar  Brooks,  of 
Normansville,  Albany  county,  New  York.  He 
was  born  in  New  Scotland,  Albany  county, 
New  York,  February  16,  1853,  died  Novem- 
ber 19,  1884,  in  Normansville,  New  York. 
Child :  James  Edgar  Brooks,  born  in  Nor- 
mansville, New  York,  September  20,  1884,  and 
was  a  civil  engineer,  residing  in  Albany,  in 
1910. 

(VHI)  Rachel,  daughter  of  Abraham  Cuy- 
ler  and  Margaret  Matilda  (Haswell)  Ten 
Eyck,  was  born  in  Albany,  September  14,  1862. 
She  married,  at  Schodack  Landing,  Rensse- 
laer county.  New  York.  May  19,  1887,  Rev. 
John  Gabriel  Gebhard,  D.D.,  of  Mount  \^er- 
non.  New  York.  He  was  born  in  Hudson, 
New  York,  November  2,  1857,  son  of  Charles 
William  and  Celia  (McCord),  Gebhard.  Chil- 
dren :  Peter  Ten  Eyck,  born  in  Mellenville,  Co- 
lumbia county.  New  York,  October  28,  1888; 
Charlotte  Elizabeth,  born  in  Mellenville,  De- 
cember 28,  1890;  Karl,  born  in  Herkimer,  No- 
vember 14,  1892;  John  Gabriel,  Jr.,  born  in 
Herkimer,  February  23,  1894;  Wessel  Ganse- 
voort, born  in  Herkimer,  March  4,  1897 ;  Ra- 
chel Haswell,  born  in  Herkimer,  July  4,  1898; 
Paul,  born  in  Yonkers,  New  York,  October 
24,  1900. 

(VHI)  Jacob  Lansing,  son  of  Abraham 
Cuyler  and  Margaret  Matilda  (Haswell)  Ten 
Eyck,  was  born  in  Albany,  July  8,  1864.  He 
attended  the  local  primary  schools  and  gradu- 
ated from  the  Albany  high  school,  after  which, 
in  1 88 1,  he  entered  the  employ  of  Hand  & 
Babbitt,  wholesale  lumber  dealers  in  the  "Dis- 
trict." The  following  year  he  was  with  T.  P. 
Crook  &  Company,  provision  merchants,  as 
assistant  bookkeeper.  He  took  an  early  inter- 
est in  political  gatherings,  and  in  1883  or- 
ganized the  Young  Men's  Democratic 
Club,  with  the  object  of  purifying  pri- 
maries and  elections.  He  studied  law 
in  the  office  of  Norton  Chase  and 
John  A.  Delehanty,  and  at  the  same  time,  as 
agent  of  the  Barber  Asphalt  Paving  Company, 
induced  the  Albany,  Troy  and  Schenectady 
corporations  to  employ  asphalt  pavement.  He 
attended  the  Albany  Law  School  of  Union 
I'niversity,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
November,  1888.  The  next  year  he  formed  a 
law  partnership  with  William  S.  Dyer,  which 
continued  until  1905.  He  was  assemblyman 
from  the  Third  Albany  district  in  1895,  and 
was  the  only  Democrat  elected  on  the  entire 


ticket  of  the  county.  He  was  made  chairman 
of  the  Democratic  city  committee  in  1900,  and 
1903-06,  was  a  member  of  the  grievance  com- 
mittee of  the  New  York  State  Bar  Associa- 
tion. He  is  a  member  of  the  American  Society 
of  International  Law ;  belongs  to  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church,  of  Delmar,  New  York ;  James 
Ten  Eyck  Lodge,  No.  831,  Free  and  Accept- 
ed Masons,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Fort 
Orange  Club.  He  married,  September  3,  1889, 
at  Berne,  Albany  county.  New  York,  Kate, 
daughter  of  Zeb.  A.  and  Lucy  E.  (Gallup) 
Dyer,  both  of  Berne,  New  York.  She  was 
born  at  Berne.  Child :  Abraham  Cuyler,  born 
at  "Whitehall,"  Albany,  July  10,  1890;  gradu- 
ate of  the  Albany  Academy,  class  of  1905; 
entered  the  United  States  Naval  Academy, 
May,  1908. 

(VHI)  Cuyler,  son  of  Abraham  Cuyler  and 
Margaret  Matilda  (Haswell)  Ten  Eyck,  was 
born  in  Albany,  February  26,  1866,  and  fol- 
lows the  profession  of  an  artist.  He  married, 
Albany,  March  3,  1895,  Eva  Mary  Wieland, 
born  in  Albany,  August  24,  1869,  daughter  of 
Frederick  G.  and  Catherine  (Fisher)  Wieland. 
Children :  Julia  Dent  Grant,  born  in  Bethle- 
hem Centre,  Albany  county,  New  York,  May 
12,  1896;  Albert  Vander  \''eer,  born  in  Beth- 
lehem Centre,  March  18,  1898;  Hester  Ganse- 
voort, born  Albany,  February  6,  1900. 

(VHI)  Peter  Gansevoort,  son  of  Abraham 
Cuyler  and  Margaret  Matilda  (Haswell)  Ten 
Eyck,  was  born  in  Whitehall  Place,  Albany, 
November  7,  1873.  He  was  the  last  person 
born  in  the  old,  historic  mansion,  Gansevoort 
Home,  built  a  century  before  Mr.  Ten  Eyck's 
birth,  and  known  as  "Whitehall,"  located  in 
the  town  of  Bethlehem,  Albany  county,  New 
York.  His  earliest  education  was  received 
at  the  Albany  Boys'  Academy,  which  pre- 
pared him  for  entrance  to  the  Rensselaer  Poly- 
technic Institute  in  Troy,  where  he  studied 
engineering.  Following  his  profession,  he 
has  advanced  along  these  lines,  civil  engineer 
in  charge  of  the  work  of  laying  out  Beaver 
Park  in  Albany,  under  the  superintendent 
of  parks ;  inspector  of  signals  on  the  Mohawk 
division  of  the  New  York  Central  line,  and 
then  supervisor  of  signals  for  the  same;  engi- 
neer of  signals,  in  charge  of  both  the  con- 
struction and  maintenance  of  all  signals  on 
the  New  York  Central  line ;  engineer  of  sig- 
nals of  the  Federal  Railway  Signal  Company, 
and  vice-president  and  general  manager  of  the 
last  named  company ;  also  frequently  acting 
as  consulting  railway  engineer.  He  is  a  Demo- 
crat in  politics.  Was  a  member  of  the  Third 
Signal  Corps  of  the  Third  Brigade,  National 
Guard,  State  of  New  York.  He  joined  the  Del- 
ta Phi  fraternitv  and  is  a  member  of  Master's 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


133 


Lodge,  Free  and  Accepted  JMasons.  He  is  con- 
nected with  the  following  clubs;  Transporta- 
tion, New  York  City;  Fort  Orange,  Albany; 
University,  as  trustee;  also  a  member  of  the 
American  Institute  of  Electrical  Engineers, 
American  Railway  Engineering  and  Mainte- 
nance of  Way  Association,  Railway  Signal  As- 
sociation, Albany  Institute  and  Historical  and 
Art  Society.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Second 
Dutch  Reformed  Church,  of  Albany.  ]\Ir.  Ten 
Eyck  married,  in  Albany,  April  15,  1903,  Ber- 
tha Flore'ita  Dederick,  born  in  Albany,  July 
31,  1875,  daughter  of  Peter  Kells  Dederick, 
of  Albany,  inventor  and  wholesale  manufac- 
turer of  agricultural  implements,  and  at  one 
time  was  said  to  have  received  the  third  great- 
est number  of  patents  issued  in  the  United 
States  to  any  one  person.  He  was  born  in 
Claverack,  Columbia  county.  New  York,  Feb- 
ruary I,  1838,  son  of  Philip  W.  Dederick,  born 
in  Claverack,  January  24,  1806,  died  in  Al- 
bany, and  Anna  Maria  Kells,  born  in  Clave- 
rack, February  24,  1810;  died  in  Albany,  who 
were  married  in  Claverack,  December  28, 
1833.  Her  mother's  maiden  name  was 
Marietta  Michael.  She  was  born  in  Clav- 
erack, December  24,  1843,  daughter  of 
John  Lewis  Michael,  born  in  Claverack,  De- 
cember 12,  1815,  died  in  Claverack  in  autumn 
of  1872,  and  Elizabeth  iXIiller,  born  May  5, 
1818,  at  Humphreyviile,  died  in  Claverack,  Oc- 
tober 9,  1906,  who  were  married  in  Claverack, 
April  22,  1834.  Child:  Peter  Gansevoort  Ded- 
erick, born  in  Yonkers,  New  York,  April  3, 
1905. 


The  Olcotts,  of  Albany,  New 
OLCOTT  Y'ork,  descend  in  a  direct,  un- 
broken male  succession  from 
Thomas  Olcott,  the  emigrant  ancestor  of  the 
Connecticut  branch  of  the  family,  who  was 
among  the  first  settlers  of  the  town  of  Hart- 
ford, and  one  of  the  founders  of  the  trade 
and  commerce  of  the  colony  of  Connecticut. 
He  came  from  England  with  the  Winthrop 
company  in  1630.  There  is  reason  to  believe 
that  he  was  one  of  the  "goodly  company"  of 
men,  women  and  children  who,  in  June,  1635, 
left  Newton  and  other  settlements  in  ^lassa- 
chusetts  to  plant  a  new  colony  in  the  Con- 
necticut valley.  They  came  through  the  wild- 
erness until  they  reached  the  mouth  of  the 
Chicopee  river,  near  what  is  now  Springfield, 
and  followed  down  the  banks  of  the  Connecti- 
cut to  the  spot  where,  in  the  autumn  before, 
the  settlement  of  what  is  now  Hartford,  but 
then  called  Suckiange,  was  commenced.  ]\Ir. 
Olcott  had  been  educated  in  England,  was  a 
merchant,  and  brought  with  him  the  experi- 
ence and  fruits  of  successful  enterprise.     In 


common  with  Edward  Hopkins,  Richard  Lord, 
William  Whiting  and  others  he  engaged  in 
trade,  for  which  the  Connecticut  was  supposed 
to  atTord  great  facilities,  especially  in  the  traf- 
fic of  furs.  Mr.  Olcott  first  located  himself  on 
a  lot  on  the  east  side  of  the  Public  (now  State 
House)  Square.  He  subsequently  became  the 
purchaser  of  one  of  the  lots  assigned  to 
Edward  Hopkins  in  the  original  distribution 
of  the  town  among  the  first  settlers.  This  lot 
comprised  the  whole  square  fronting  on  Main 
street  and  bounded  by  Pearl,  Trumbull  and 
Asylum  streets.  On  the  southeast  corner  he 
erected  a  dwelling  for  his  own  occupation, 
which  continued  in  the  family  for  several 
generations.  Thomas  Olcott  died  in  1654, 
aged  about  forty-five  years.  His  wife,  Abi- 
gail, died  May  26.  1693,  aged  seventy-eight 
years.  Children  :  Thomas,  see  forward ;  Sam- 
uel;  John,  baptized  February  3,  1639;  Eliza- 
beth, baptized  December  7,  1643;  Hannah. 

(II)  Thomas  (2),  son  of  Thomas  (i)  and 
Abigail  Olcott,  emigrant,  was  born  about 
1635.  There  seems  to  be  no  record  of  his 
death — that  he  lived  to  advanced  age  and  until 
the  year  1719  appears  by  the  land  records  of 
Hartford,  wherein  is  recorded  a  deed  of  land 
from  him  to  his  son,  Thomas  Olcott,  Jr.,  dated 
February  14,  1719.    His  wife,  Mary,  "died  May 

3,  1721,  at  Windsor,  Connecticut.  Children: 
Abigail,  died  March  14,  1688,  at  Springfield, 
Massachusetts  ;  Mary  ;  Thomas,  see  forward  ; 
Samuel,  died  May  10,  1693 ;  John,  drowned 
May  25,  1685;  Timothy,  born  1677,  died  April 

5,    1754:    married    (first)    ;    (second) 

Mary  Field,  widow  of  Ebenezer  Field,  and 
daughter  of  Ebenezer  Dudley,  of  East  Guil- 
ford,  Connecticut;  she   died  April  20,    1740; 

(third)  Elizabeth ,  who  died  August  29, 

1764. 

(HI)  Thomas  (3),  son  of  Thomas  (2) 
Olcott,  of  Hartford,  married,  1691,  Sarah 
Foote,  of  Wethersfield,  Connecticut,  who  died 
July  24.  1756,  in  the  eighty-sixth  year  of  her 
age.  Children  :  Abigail,  died  at  age  of  eight- 
een years;  Sarah,  born  December  12,  1694; 
married  a  Mr.  Dean,  of  Plainfield,  Connecti- 
cut; ]\lary,  born  November  21,  1696;  married 
a  Mr.  Stoughton;  Cullick,  born  April  18,  1699, 
died  1732;  Nathaniel,  born  September  11, 
1701  ;  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Nathaniel 
Pitkin,  of  East  Hartford;  Josiah,  born  March 
2.  1703.  died  February  8,  1785;  married.  May 
15,  1740,  Penelope,  daughter  of  Rev.  Jonah 
Beckwith,  of  Lyme,  Connecticut ;  Margaret, 
born  April  12,  1705;  married  Richard  Ely, 
of  Lyme,  Connecticut;  Hannah,  born  August 

4,  1707:  Elizabeth,  born  November  17,  1709; 
married  Colonel  John  Pitkin,  of  East  Hart- 
ford,  Connecticut,  brother  of  Governor  Wil- 


134 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   ^■  ALLEYS 


liam  Pitkin,  and  great-grandson  of  William 
Pitkin,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Hartford; 
a  child,  born  1712,  died  in  infancy;  Thomas, 
see  forward. 

(IV)  Thomas  (4),  son  and  youngest  child 
of  Thomas  (3)  Olcott,  of  Hartford,  was  born 
in  1713,  died  May  3,  1795.  He  was  a  resi- 
dent of  Stratford,  Connecticut.  lie  married 
(first),  1736,  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  Easton, 
of  Hartford.  She  died  ]\Iarch  30,  1756;  mar- 
ried (second)  Sarah,  widow  of  Hezekiah 
Thompson,  of  Stratford,  Connecticut,  and 
daughter  of  Zachariah  Tomlinson,  November 
10,  1737.  She  died  May  11,  181 1,  in  the 
eighty-ninth  year  of  her  age.  Children  by 
first  wife:  Josiah,  born  July  17,  1737,  died  at 
age  of  ten  years ;  Sarah,  born  August  17,  1742 ; 
married  Thomas  Hawley,  of  Stepney :  John 
Easton.  born  July  24,  1749;  married  Hannah 
Sands,  of  Long  Island,  New  York.  Chil- 
dren by  second  wife:  Thomas,  born  October  3, 
1758:  married  (first)  Mary,  daughter  of  An- 
drew Thompson,  of  New  Haven,  Connecticut; 
(second),  March,  1821,  Lucy  Mitchell;  Josiah, 
see  forward;  Hannah,  born  January  25,  1762; 
married,  about  1780,  Beach  Judson  of  Strat- 
ford, Connecticut :  Mary,  born  April  3, 
1763:  married.  March  18.  1784:  Cap- 
tain Nehemiah  Gorham,  who  served  in  the 
revolutionary  war;  Anna,  born  1765;  married, 
August  30.  1769,  Isaac  Bronson,  of  Bridge- 
port, Connecticut. 

(V)  Josiah,  son  of  Thomas  (4)  Olcott, 
was  born  at  Stratford,  Connecticut,  July  19, 
1760,  died  in  Hudson,  New  York,  January  24, 
i860,  in  the  one  hundredth  year  of  his 
age.  He  was  educated  in  New  Eng- 
land, and  settled  in  Hudson,  Columbia 
county.  New  York,  then  a  thriving 
city,  with  a  large  fleet  of  sea-going 
vessels  largely  engaged  in  the  whaling  in- 
dustry, that  annually  brought  to  the  city  many 
tons  of  whalebone  and  many  thousand  barrels 
of  whale  oil.  In  1785  he  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  cordage  with  Thomas  Jenkins; 
built  a  rope  walk  six  hundred  feet  in  length, 
and  did  an  extensive  business  in  the  making 
and  wholesaling  of  rope  of  all  kinds  and  sizes. 
After  the  death  of  his  partner  he  continued 
the  business  alone.  He  was  a  shrewd  and 
capable  business  man  of  energy  and  direct 
purpose.  The  qualities  that  made  his  own  life 
a  success  were  transmitted  to  his  posterity  as 
will  Ije  seen  in  the  following  generations.  His 
long  and  useful  life  ended  in  Hudson  and 
covered  a  century  which  saw  the  colonies 
emerge  from  dependencies  into  a  great  united 
independent  nation.  The  second  war  with 
Great  Britain,  the  war  with  Mexico,  had  ter- 
minated just  as  the  nation  was  plunging  into 


the  great  civil  war.  He  married  Deborah, 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Deborah  Worth,  of 
Nantucket,  Massachusetts,  June  7,  1794.  Chil- 
dren :  Thomas  Worth,  see  forward ;  Frederick, 
born  January  16,  1797,  died  ]\Iarch  29,  1816; 
Ann  Maria,  born  November  11,  1798;  married, 
September  27,  1819,  Richard  I.  Wells,  of 
Coxsackie,  New  York ;  Alfred,  died  in  in- 
fancy;  Ophelia,  born  February  18,  1803,  died 
October  10,  1839;  married,  December  28, 
1836,  William  Henry  Folger,  of  Hudson,  New 
York;  Theodore,  born  May  28,  1805;  married 
(first).  May  5,  1834,  Eliza  Yates;  (second), 
October  i,  1840,  Mary  Jenkins;  Jane  Matilda, 
born  March  28,  1806,  died  April  9,  1837;  Or- 
rin,  died  in  infancy ;  Horatio  Josiah,  born 
January  4,  1810;  married,  September  6,  1831, 
Harriet  M.  Leonard ;  Egbert,  born  October 
18,  1812,  died  May  22,  1873;  married,  Sep- 
tember 5,  1837,  Mary  E.  L.  White;  Mary, 
died  in  infancy ;  Caroline  and  Cornelia,  twins, 
born  December  4.  181 8;  the  former  named 
(lied  March  26,  1885,  and  the  latter  Novem- 
ber   13,    1899. 

(VI)  Thomas  Worth,  son  of  Josiah  and 
Caroline  (Worth)  Olcott,  was  born  in  Hud- 
son, New  York,  May  22,  1795,  died  March 
23,  1880,  in  Albany.  He  was  educated  in 
the  Hudson  schools,  and  began  his  long  and 
successful  career  in  finance  as  a  clerk  in  the 
Columbia  Bank  of  Hudson,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years.  He  rapidly  grasped  the 
fundamental  principles  governing  monetary 
law.  His  active  mind  and  quick,  decisive  char- 
acter made  him  an  unusually  valuable  em- 
ployee, and  when  the  Mechanics'  and  Farm- 
ers' Bank  opened  its  doors  for  business,  July 
29,  181 1,  he  was  one  of  the  clerical  force. 
On  that  date  began  his  remarkable  connec- 
tion with  that  institution ;  a  connection  last- 
ing nearly  seventy  years,  the  last  forty-four 
years  of  which  were  spent  in  the  president's 
chair.  His  rise  was  rapid ;  six  years  after 
the  bank  opened  its  doors  for  business,  he 
became  cashier ;  nineteen  years  later,  in  June, 
1836,  he  was  elected  president.  The  Me- 
chanics' and  Farmers'  Bank,  whose  success,  in 
a  large  degree  must  be,  and  is,  by  general 
consent,  credited  to  the  genius  of  Thomas 
Worth  Olcott,  was  the  third  bank  incor- 
porated in  Albany  and  was  chartered  osten- 
sibly for  the  benefit  of  the  mechanics  and 
farmers  of  Albany  county.  Its  charter  pro- 
vided that  none  but  mechanics  and  farmers 
should  be  elected  as  bank  officers,  but  some 
years  later  was  amended  so  as  to  authorize  the 
president  and  directors  without  reference  to 
their  occupation  or  business.  It  is  a  noted 
fact,  and  one  that  created  considerable  discus- 
sion and  comment,  that  the  entire  first  board 


/^/^^/rmc.^ 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


135 


of  directors  were  Democrats.  It  had  been 
understood  that  two  Federalists  would  have 
A  place  on  the  board  and  they  were  later 
substituted.  Mr.  Olcott  was  the  fifth  presi- 
dent, and  at  his  death  he  was  succeeded  by 
his  son  Dudley,  who  is  the  present  incum- 
bent (1910).  The  first  period  of  the  bank's 
history  ended  by  expiration  of  charter  in  1833. 
At  the  expiration  of  the  second  charter  in 
1853  the  bank  closed  up  its  aflfairs,  when 
the  stockholders  received  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  per  cent.,  besides  their  stock  in  the 
new  bank,  which  renewed  the  charter  for 
twenty  years  and  went  into  operation  again 
with  tlie  same  officers. 

During  the  civil  war  the  bank  closed  up  its 
atifairs  and  organized  in  1865  under  the  Na- 
tional Banking  laws,  having  previously  oper- 
ated as  a  state  bank.  In  1868  they  again 
chartered  under  state  banking  laws,  aban- 
doning the  national  system.  The  career  of 
the  bank  has  been  one  of  unvarying  pros- 
perity excepting  only  a  short  period  in  1817 
when  the  capital  became  impaired,  owing  to 
the  financial  troubles  growing  out  of  the  de- 
pression following  the  war  with  Great  Brit- 
ain, 1812-14.  In  1855  the  Mechanics'  and 
Farmers'  Savings  Bank  was  incorporated  with 
Thomas  W.  Olcott  as  the  first  president,  suc- 
ceeded in  1880  by  his  son  Dudley.  While 
Mr.  Olcott  was  eminently  the  man  of  atifairs. 
and  held  a  position  in  the  financial  world 
second  to  none  and  was  recognized  as  a  great 
banker,  his  obligations  to  his  city  as  a  citizen 
did  not  rest  lightly  upon  him.  He  was  an 
active,  as  well  as  a  leading  member  of  the 
■boards  of  several  of  the  public  charitable 
and  educational  associations  that  have  made 
Albany  famous.  His  private  benevolences 
were  many  and  cannot  be  recorded ;  his  pub- 
lic service  can.  He  was  vice-president  of 
the  first  board  of  directors  of  Albany  Law 
School  organized  in  1851,  the  fourth  school 
of  its  kind  organized  in  the  United  States. 
In  1853  he  was  elected  president  of  the  board, 
continuing  until  his  death  in  1880.  He  was 
president  of  the  first  board  of  directors  of 
Dudley  Observatory,  a  scientific  institution 
founded  through  the  munificence  of  Mrs. 
Blandina  Dudley,  widow  of  Charles  E.  Dud- 
ley, with  the  co-operation  of  leading  citizens 
of  Albany.  The  observatory  profited  greatly 
through  the  generosity  of  Mr.  Olcott  and  that 
of  his  sons,  the  latter  furnishing  the  funds  for 
refitting  Olcott  Meridian  Circle  (named  for 
its  donor),  housing  it  in  a  suitable  building 
and  remounting  it  on  the  new  site.  He  was 
president  of  the  Albany  Agricultural  and  Arts 
Association;  president  of  Albany  Hospital,  in 
which  he  took  a  deep  and   lasting  interest; 


trustee  and  president  of  Albany  Girls'  Acad- 
emy :  trustee  of  the  Boys'  Academy ;  presi- 
dent of  Albany  Cemetery  Association. 

In  addition  to  these  institutions,  all  of  which 
he  served  faithfully,  giving  largely  of  his  rare 
executive  ability  and  unerring  judgment,  his 
purse  was  ever  open  for  all  good  causes,  earn- 
ing jiini  the  title  of  the  "most  charitable  man 
in  Albany."  Returning  to  his  business  life 
he  was  president  of  the  Albany  and  West 
Stockbridge  Railroad  Company,  afterward 
merged  into  the  Boston  &  Albany  system,  and 
later  trustee  of  the  sinking  fund  commis- 
sion, appointed  to  retire  the  bonds  issued 
by  the  city  of  Albany  to  aid  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  road.  The  retirement  of  these 
bonds  was  successfully  accomplished  under 
the  guidance  of  Mr.  Olcott  and  is  still  re- 
ferred to  as  the  "greatest  piece  of  financiering 
ever  accomplished  in  Albany."  When  Sec- 
retary Chase  was  perfecting  plans  for  a  Na- 
tional Bank  system  he  held  frequent  iiUer- 
views  with  Mr.  Olcott  and  was  largely  guided 
by  his  wise  counsel.  In  1863  he  declined  a 
flattering  offer  from  President  Lincoln  of  the 
position  of  first  comptroller  of  the  currency, 
but  he  declined  all  public  office  except  such 
as  related  to  the  promotion  of  education  or 
other  local  interests. 

During  his  business  life  he  developed  a  won- 
derful quality  of  quick,  decisive  action;  strong 
in  his  opinions,  he  was  always  open  to  con- 
viction and  ready  to  accept  the  views  of 
others.  His  ability  to  judge  human  nature 
and  read  men  was  another  marked  quality. 
His  courage  was  another  attribute  that  rend- 
ered him  conspicuous ;  nothing  daunted  him 
and  failure  was  a  word  with  which  he  was 
unacquainted.  He  was  identified  with  the 
Christian  life  of  Albany  as  member  and  trus- 
tee of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church.  His 
political  life  was  inconspicuous.  In  early  life 
and  up  to  i860  he  was  a  Democrat;  then  for 
the  remainder  of  his  life  a  Republican.  He 
was  strongly  Union  in  his  sentiments  and 
served  on  the  committee  having  in  charge 
the  recruiting  and  equipping  of  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Thirteenth  New  York  Regiment 
(Seventh  Regiment,  New  York  Volunteer  Ar- 
tillery). His  only  other  public  offices  that  can 
be  construed  as  political  were  as  bridge  com- 
missioner to  select  the  site  of  the  lower  bridge 
across  the  Hudson  at  South  Ferry  street,  and 
his  appointment  to  the  state  board  of  regents. 
His  home  in  Albany  was  in  the  midst  of  a  plot 
of  about  three  acres  of  ground  and  there  he 
gratified  his  love  for  flowers  and  plants  to 
the  fullest  extent  and  spent  his  hours  of  lei- 
sure in  their  cultivation.  He  was  quiet,  un- 
ostentatious  and   domestic   in   his   tastes    and 


136 


HUDSON   AND   IMOHAWK   VALLEYS 


habits,  giving  little  evidence  of  being  the 
wealthy  and  distinguished  financier.  He  died 
at  his  home  in  Albany  in  his  eighty-fifth  year, 
continuing  his  active  business  life  until  his 
last  illness. 

He  married  Caroline,  daughter  of  Daniel 
Pepoon,  of  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  August 
17,  1818.  She  died  March  12,  1867.  Chil- 
dren: I.  Frederick  Worth,  born  August  10, 
1820,  died  November  2,  1822.  2.  Thomas, 
born  December  31.  1821,  died  August  27, 
1873:  married  (first),  April  3,  1844,  Lucia 
Marvin  Fowler,  who  died  August  25,  1850; 
(second),  October  5,  1853,  Harriet  M.  Leon- 
ard, who  died  January  13,  1861 ;  (third),  Feb- 
ruary 19,  1863,  Emma  McClive.  3.  John 
Josiah,  born  March  11,  1823,  died  April  10, 
1899.  4.  Robert,  born  July  26,  1824,  died 
May  10,  1859.  5.  !Mary  Marvin,  born  April 
II,  1826,  died  April  25,  1892.  6.  Theodore, 
born  May  i,  1828,  died  February  27,  1907; 
married,  October  2,  1856,  Ann  Hazleton  May- 
nard.  7.  Alexander,  born  August  10,  1829, 
died  April  21,  1887;  married.  May  21,  1856, 
Catherine  Amanda  Mallory.  8.  Grace,  born 
April  5,  1834,  died  August  7,  1834.  9.  Dud- 
ley, died  in  infancy.  10.  Dudlev  (2),  see 
forward.     11.  Frederick  Pepoon,  see  forward. 

(VH)  Dudley,  son  of  Thomas  Worth  and 
Caroline  (Pepoon)  Olcott,  was  born  in  Al- 
bany, New  York,  September  21,  1838.  He 
was  educated  in  the  Albany  B(pys'  Academy, 
and  afterward  attended  the  Rensselaer  Poly- 
technic Institute  in  Troy,  where  he  took  a 
course  in  civil  engineering.  In  1858  he  be- 
came connected  with  the  Mechanics'  and 
Farmers'  Savings  Bank,  of  Albany,  as  ac- 
countant. This  position  he  held  for  seven 
years,  when  he  became  assistant  cashier  of 
the  Mechanics'  and  Farmers'  Bank,  later  cash- 
ier. For  thirteen  years  he  was  casliier  of  this 
bank,  until  December  31,  1878,  when  he  was 
chosen  vice-president.  In  March,  1880,  he 
was  elected  president,  succeeding  his  father. 
LTnder  his  wise  and  able  management  the 
bank  has  continued  its  successful  life,  and  is 
one  of  the  strong,  conservative  financial  in- 
stitutions of  the  state.  He  is  thoroughly 
versed  in  the  laws  governing  finance,  is  de- 
voted to  the  institution  over  which  he  pre- 
sides, and  is  recognized  everywhere  as  one  of 
the  clearest-headed  and  ablest  financiers  of  the 
state.  He  was  president  of  the  Alhany  Bank- 
ers' Association,  and  represents  the  Mechan- 
ics' and  Farmers'  in  the  leading  bank  associa- 
tions of  the  country.  In  1861  he  toured  Eu- 
rope, since  which  time  his  service  has  been 
continuous,  saving  only  his  annual  summer 
vacation,  which  is  sjient  in  Canada.  The  con- 
nection of  the  Olcotts,  father  and  son,  now 


covers  the  period  of  a  full  century,  1811 — 
191 1.  Seventy-five  of  these  years  have  seen 
them  occupying  the  president's  chair.  This 
is  both  a  wonderful  and  an  unusual  record, 
probably  unequaled  in  point  of  continuous 
service.  j\Ir.  Olcott  has  no  outside  business 
interests  although  he  is  devoted  to  the  welfare 
of  many  of  the  leading  public  institutions  of 
Albany.  He  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  gov- 
ernors of  the  Albany  Hospital ;  president  of 
the  Albany  Cemetery  Association ;  trustee  of 
Home  for  Aged  Men;  trustee  of  Albany  Or- 
phan Asylum ;  trustee  of  the  Albany  Academy 
for  Girls,  and  aids  other  good  causes  by  his 
influence  and  liberality.  He  served  his  state 
one  term  as  paymaster  general,  appointed  by 
Governor  Fenton  in  1867.  He  served  the  city 
of  Albany  as  park  commissioner,  was  treasur- 
er and  later  president  of  the  commission  dur- 
ing its  entire  existence.  Politically  he  is  a 
Republican,  but  his  devotion  to  business  pre- 
cludes all  idea  of  public  ofiice.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Fort  Orange  and  Country  clubs,  Al- 
bany, and  of  the  Metropolitan.  L'nion  League, 
and  Down  Town  clubs,  of  New  York  City. 
He  is  fond  of  the  solitude  of  the  great  woods, 
and  each  summer,  for  the  past  thirty-one  years 
has  spent  his  vacation  at  Ristigouche  river, 
Canada,  where  his  favorite  sport,  salmon  fish- 
ing, is  his  daily  occupation.  Mr.  Olcott's  home 
is  the  old  family  mansion  in  Albanv,  in  the 
midst  of  the  beauties  created  and  loved  bv  his 
father,  which  he  perpetuates  and  continues  in 
loving  remembrance.     He  is  unmarried. 

(\TI)  Frederick  Pepoon,  son  of  Thomas 
Worth  and  Carolina  (Pepoon)  Olcott,  finan- 
cier, who  died  at  his  home,  "Round  Top," 
near  Bernardsville,  New  Jersey,  April  15, 
1909,  was  born  in  Albany,  New  York,  Febru- 
ary 23,  1841.  Upon  graduation  from  the  Al- 
bany Academy  he  entered  the  bank  of  which 
his  father  was  the  head,  and  there  secured 
the  training  and  knowledge  in  financial  mat- 
ters which  characterized  his  business  career 
and  placed  him  in  the  highest  rank  of  modern, 
conservative  financial  men.  For  a  time  he 
was  engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  also 
a  partner  with  Blake  Brothers  &  Company, 
bankers  and  brokers.  In  1882  he  accepted 
the  nomination  and  was  elected  comptroller 
of  the  state  of  New  York,  which  position 
he  occupied  for  a  term  of  two  years.  In  1884 
he  declined  the  Democratic  nomination  for 
governor  and  accepted  the  presidency  of  the 
Central  Trust  Company,  of  New  York  City, 
where  he  remained  until  1905;  retiring  in  that 
year  on  account  of  ill-health  to  his  favorite 
residence  and  farm,  "Round  Top,"  Bernards- 
ville, New  Jersey.  In  addition  to  his  connec- 
tion  with    the   Central    Trust   Company,    Mr. 


^J^^iiM'r/f^ 


'^^/'ai'criZ 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


137 


Olcott  was  president  of  the  Galveston,  Hous- 
ton &  Henderson  Railroad,  a  director  of  the 
Delaware,  Lackawanna  &  Western  railroad 
and  other  railroads,  of  the  Bank  of  America 
and  of  the  Morristown  Trust  Company  of 
New  Jersey.  Personally  Mr.  Olcott  was 
known  as  a  man  of  broad,  philanthropic  ten- 
dencies, taking  personal  interest  in  the  politi- 
cal and  social  welfare  of  the  community,  and 
ever  ready  to  assist  those  less  successful  in 
the  battle  of  life.  He  was  greatly  interested 
in  horticulture,  and  his  gardens  were  famous 
for  the  production  of  choice  plants  and  rare 
flowers.  He  was  also  a  breeder  of  trotting 
horses.  Mr.  Olcott  was  a  member  of  the 
L'nion  League,  New  York  Yacht,  Metropoli- 
tan, Manhattan  and  Down  Town  clubs,  of 
New  York,  and  of  the  Morristown  Club.  He 
married  Mary  Esniay,  by  whom  he  is  sur- 
vived, together  with  a  son,  Dudley,  and  one 
dauirhter. 


The  Pruyn  arms :  "Shield :  A 
PRUYN  field  of  gold  or  saffron,  on  which 
are  placed  three  martlets  of  natu- 
ral color,  without  beaks  or  feet,  turned  to  the 
fore  part  (dexter  side),  one  in  the  base  of 
the  shield  and  the  remaining  two  in  chief,  at 
either  side.  Crest :  A  barred  or  tournament 
helmet  adorned  with  a  mantling  of  gold  or 
safifron  and  black,  on  the  top  of  which,  on  a 
twisted  band  (wreath)  or  diadem  of  the  an- 
cient kings,  of  the  same  colors,  between  two 
wings  of  yellow  or  gold,  is  placed  a  martlet 
like  those  on  the  shield ;  but  having  feet  and 
beak,  looking  toward  the  dexter  side,  like 
all  of  these  are  seen  depicted."  (The  last 
phrase  refers  to  a  drawing  given  on  a  Dutch 
parchment  of  1527.) 

(I)  Johannes  (John)  Pruyn.  a  Hollander, 
was  the  progenitor  of  the  family  in  America. 
It  is  believed  that  his  immediate  family  was 
confined  to  two  sons,  Francis  (see  forward), 
and  Jacques.  Jacus  or  Jacob.  The  latter  was 
enrolled  among  the  "Small  Burghers"  of  New 
Amsterdam,  April  18.  1657.  He  purchased 
a  house  and  lot  "outside  of  the  Gate  of  this 
city"  February  19,  1659,  from  Sybout  Classen. 
Those  of  the  first  three  generations  in  this 
country  varied  at  times  the  spelling  of  the 
family  name,  appearing  as  Pruyn,  Pruyne, 
Pryne  and  Pruen. 

(H)  Francis  Pruyn  (who  frequently  wrote 
his  name  Pruen)  was  called  Frans  Jansen,  be- 
ing the  son  of  Johannes  (John)  Pruyn,  and 
was  in  Albany  with  his  wife,  Aeltje  (or  Alida, 
as  early  as  1665,  when  he  was  a  tailor.  It  is 
recorded  that  in  1668,  representing  Jacques 
Cornelise  \'an  Slyck.  he  conveyed  a  piece  of 
property    in    the    colony    of    Rensselaerwyck 


to  one  Jan  Labatie,  and  later  in  the  same  year 
bought  for  himself  a  lot  at  the  northwest  cor- 
ner of  Maiden  Lane  and  James  street.  On 
February  19,  1686-87,  he  bought  from  Jo- 
hannes Clute  and  wife,  Bata,  for  which  he  paid 
the  sum  of  two  and  twenty  beavers,  a  lot  on 
Broadway,  about  the  third  south  from  Steuben 
street,  running  through  to  James  street.  His 
son,  Johannes,  afterwards  occupied  the  house 
built  thereon.  Being  a  Papist,  in  January, 
1699,  he  refused  to  take  the  oath  of  allegi- 
ance to  King  \\'illiam,  but  expressed  himself 
as  willing  to  swear  fidelity.  However,  Jo- 
hannes Pruyn,  his  son,  subscribed.  His  wife, 
Alida,  joined  the  Reformed  Protestant  Dutch 
church  in  1683.  She  died  September  20,  1704, 
and  he  died  May  6,  1712.  Children:  Anna, 
married  Warner  van  Yveren  ;  Johannes,  born 
January  5,  1663,  married,  September,  1705, 
Emelia  Sanders ;  Hendrick,  married  Anna 
Hofmans ;  Maria,  married  Elbert  Gerritse ; 
Christine,  married  Johannes  Gerritsen ;  Made- 
leine, born  January  8,  1676:  Samuel,  see  for- 
ward; Helena,  married  Jacob  Lansing;  Frans, 
born  September  28,  1683;  married  "Margar- 
ita"; Bernardine  (Barentje),  born  April  11, 
1686;  married  John  Evertsen ;  Arnold 
(Arent),  born  May  24,  1688;  married,  No- 
vember 21,    1 714,  Catryna  Gansevoort. 

(HI)  Samuel,  son  of  Frans  Jansen  (Fran- 
cis )  and  .-Xlida  Pruyn,  was  born  December  2, 
1677;  buried  January  27,  1752.  In  1703  he 
was  one  of  those  "who  furnishel  labor  or  ma- 
terials for  the  Dominie's  house."  In  1720  his 
name  appears  on  the  list  of  freeholders  in 
the  old  third  ward  of  Albany.  He  lived, 
between  1703-27.  at  the  northeast  corner  of 
Maiden  Lane  and  James  street.  He  married, 
January  15,  1704,  Maria,  born  June  14,  1681, 
daughter  of  Jacob  Cornelise  and  Jeanette 
(Quackenbush)  Bogart.  Children:  Francis 
Samuelse,  born  March  15,  1705,  see  forward; 
Alida,  baptized  November  17,  1706;  buried 
January  3,  1727;  Jacob,  baptized  February 
10,  1712;  buried  June  27,  1752;  Maria  (or 
Maritie),  baptized  September  20,  1713;  buried 
September   5,    1746;   Johannes    S.,   born  July 

14,  1723;  married  Jannetie  van  Aalsteyn. 
(IV)  Francis  Samuelse,  son  of  Samuel  and 

Maria   (Bogart)    Pruyn,  was  baptized  March 

15,  1705  (Jacob  Bogart  and  Anna  van  Yveren, 
sponsors)  ;  died  August  27,  1767.  He  was 
firemaster,  1731-32;  assistant  alderman,  1745- 
46,  and  alderman  from  the  second  ward.  1761- 
62.  He  married  (first)  .Anna  ;  (sec- 
ond) Alida,  daughter  of  \\'arner  and  Anna 
(Pruyn)  van  Yveren,  baptized  August  6, 
1704.  Children:  Francis,  born  January  16, 
1 71 7;  Anna,  born  October  i.  1726.  died 
young:  Samuel,  October  2,  1727,  died  young; 


138 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


Samuel,  September  15,  1728,  married,  Feb- 
ruary 7,  1756,  Xeeltje  Ten  Eyck;  Anna,  April 

20,  1732,  died  in  New  York  City,  December 

21,  1747;  Casparus,  Alay  10,  1734,  see  for- 
ward) ;  Johannes  Francis,  December  23,  1739; 
inarried  Gertrude  Ten  Eyck ;  died  March  23, 
1815;  Jacob  Francis,  July  22,  1744;  married 
Hendricke  Van  Buren. 

(\')  Casparus,  son  of  Francis  Samuelse 
and  Alida  (Van  Yveren)  Pruyn,  was  born 
May  10,  1734  (Jacob  and  Maria  Pruyn,  spon- 
sors). His  name  appears  as  lieutenant  on  the 
roll  of  the  First  Albany  County  Regiment; 
in  1785  he  was  an  assessor  of  the  second  ward  ; 
was  some  years  an  elder  of  the  Reformed 
Dutch  church,  and  this  memorandum  refers 
to  his  government  aid:  "This  is  to  certify  that 
Casparus  Pruyn  has  due  to  him  from  the 
United  States  the  sum  of  Seventy-one  pounds 
four  shillings  specie,  for  work  done  for  the 
use  of  the  Indians,  by  the  request  of  the 
Commissioners  of  Indian  Affairs,  in  1779- 1780. 
P.  Van  Rensselaer."  He  died  October  7,  181 7. 
He  married,  December  19,  1762,  Catherine 
Groesbeck,  born  May  8,  1737,  died  February 
17,  1788,  daughter  of  David  and  Maria  (Van- 
derpoel)  Groesbeck.  Children:  Maria,  born 
April  17,  1764,  died  March  14,  1821  ;  Alida, 
January  12,  1765,  died  September  11,  1767; 
Franciscus,  baptized  September  16,  1767,  died 
September  27,  1768;  Francis  Casparus, 
July  19,  1769,  see  forward;  David,  August  24, 
1771  ;  married  Huybertie  Lansing;  died  Jan- 
aiary  20,  1843;  Alida,  December  11,  1773; 
Wiflem,  March  11,  1776. 

(\T)  Francis  Casparus,  son  of  Casparus 
and  Catherine  (Groesbeck)  Pruyn,  was  born 
July  19,  1769,  baptized  by  Dominie  Eilardus 
Westerlo,  with  Samuel  Pruyn  and  Neeltje 
Ten  Eyck,  sponsors,  and  died  June  14,  1837. 
He  married,  August  30,  1791,  Cornelia  Dun- 
bar, born  January  11,  1770,  died  July  12, 
1844,  daughter  of  Levinus  and  Alargaret 
(Hansen)  Dunbar,  the  latter  being  a  niece  of 
Mayor  Hendrick  Hansen.  Children:  Caspa- 
rus Francis,  see  forward ;  Catharine,  born 
January  3,  1794 ;  married  Adrian  V'an  Sant- 
voord ;  Levinus,  October  4,  1796;  married 
Brachie  (Bridget)  Oblenis ;  David,  January 
26,  1799,  died  young;  Margaret  (twin  to  Da- 
vid), married  William  I.  Pruyn;  David,  No- 
vember 20,  1801,  lost  at  sea;  Gertrude,  mar- 
ried Samuel  Randall ;  Alida,  married  William 
Boardman :  Maria,  married  David  Bensen; 
Cornelia,  married  Owen  Munson. 

(VII)  Casparus  Francis,  son  of  Francis 
Casparus  and  Cornelia  (Dunbar)  Pruyn,  was 
"born  May  26,  1792;  was  baptized  with  Cas- 
parus Pruyn  (grandfather)  and  Mary  Pruyn 
(aunt),  sponsors.     When  thirteen  years  old. 


he  entered  the  office  of  the  Van  Rensselaer 
estate,  his  uncle,  Robert  Dunbar,  being  the 
agent  to  conduct  affairs  of  the  extensive  prop- 
erty. When  Mr.  Dunbar  resigned  in  1835 
he  was  appointed  agent  for  the  manor.  It  was 
a  position  requiring  considerable  executive 
ability,  and  he  filled  the  post  with  satisfaction. 
When  General  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  the 
Patroon,  died  January  26,  1839,  the  estate  was 
divided,  that  portion  on  the  east  shore  of  the 
Hudson  river  going  to  William  Paterson  Van 
Rensselaer,  so  Mr.  Pruyn  removed  to  Bath, 
Rensselaer  county,  to  be  in  the  vicinity,  and 
became  the  agent  of  the  "East  Manor,"  con- 
tinuing as  such  until  the  autumn  of  1844, 
when  he  resigned.  He  died  February  11, 
1846.  Mr.  Pruyn  was  married  by  Rev.  John 
M.  Bradford,  April  19,  1814,  to  Ann  Hewson, 
born  January  27,  1794,  died  February  12, 
1 84 1,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth 
(Fryer)  Hewson,  of  Albany.  Children:  Rob- 
ert Hewson,  born  February  14,  1815,  see  for- 
ward) ;  Francis,  November  2,  1816;  married 
Isabella  Kirk;  Elizabeth,  December  16,  1818, 
died  Februai-y  6,  1842;  Cornelia,  December 
5,  1820,  married  Charles  Van  Zandt;  Mary, 
January  27,  1823,  died  young;  Alida,  March 
9,  1825,  married,  January  16,  1845,  James  C. 
Bell,  died  November  2,  1895;  William  Fryer, 
February  28,  1827,  married  Gertrude  Dun- 
bar X'isscher;  Edward  Roggen,  July  12,  1829; 
Augustus,  October  23,  1831,  married  Catalina 
Ten  Eyck ;  Mary,  April  3,  1834,  married 
Montgomery  Rochester, 

(VTII)  Robert  Hewson,  son  of  Casparus 
Francis  and  Ann  (Hewson)  Pruyn,  was  born 
in  Albany,  February  14,  1815,  and  was  bap- 
tized by  the  Rev.  John  Melancthon  Bradford, 
pastor  of  the  "North"  Dutch  Church.  His 
home  life  in  childhood  trained  him  in  rever- 
ence, patriotism  and  industry,  attributes  which 
gave  him  prominence  in  after  years.  In  1825 
he  entered  the  Albany  Academy,  where  his 
classical  education  under  Dr.  Theodoric  Ro- 
meyn  Beck  and  his  education  in  the  sciences 
under  Professor  Joseph  Henry,  the  eminent 
scientist-discoverer,  was  most  thorough.  He 
then  entered  Rutgers'  College,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  1833.  On  leaving  college  he 
became  a  law  student  in  the  office  of  Hon. 
Abraham  Van  \'echten,  a  jurist  of  recognized 
ability ;  city  recorder,  senator,  assemblyman, 
attorney-general  and  member  of  the  consti- 
tutional convention  of  1821.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  1836,  and  shortly  after  was  ap- 
pointed attorney  and  counselor  for  the  cor- 
poration of  Albany,  holding  office  for  three 
years,  and  for  a  like  period  was  a  member 
of  the  city  council,  in  which  body  he  was  one 
of  the  most  active  members  in  public  affairs. 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   \'ALLEYS 


139 


He  was  judge-advocate  from  1841  to  1846,  on 
"the  staffs  of  Governors  William  H.  Seward, 
William  C.  Bouck  and  Silas  Wright,  Jr.; 
member  of  assembly  in  1848-49-50,  from  the 
third  district  of  Albany  county,  a  member 
of  the  Whig  party.  "In  1850,  he  was  the 
\\'hig  candidate  for  speaker  of  assembly.  The 
Democracy  had  a  tie  vote  with  the  Whigs,  but 
it  havmg  become  apparent  to  Mr.  Pruyn  that 
one  of  the  ^^  hig  members  could  not  properly 
hold  his  seat,  Mr.  Pruyn  abstaining  from  vot- 
ing, and  the  Democratic  candidate  was  chosen. 
The  appreciation  of  this  high-minded  course 
was  shown  shortly  afterward.  The  speaker 
was  called  home  by  family  affliction,  and  the 
Democrats  elected  Mr.  Pruyn  speaker  pro  tem- 
pore.' In  185 1  i\lr.  Pruyn  was  again  ap- 
pointed judge  advocate-general,  this  time  by 
Governor  Washington  Hunt.  In  1854  he  was 
again  an  assemblyman  and  chosen  speaker. 
In  that  office  he  displayed  courage  and  such 
marked  justice  that  never  was  there  a  single 
one  of  his  rulings  in  the  chair  appealed  from. 
Governor  Myron  H.  Clark,  on  i\Iarch  5,  1855, 
ap{)ointed  him  adjutant-general,  and  in  i860, 
when  there  was  intense  e.xcitement  in  politics, 
he  came  within  si.xty-two  votes  of  being  elect- 
ed to  the  assembly,  although  the  Lincoln  elec- 
toral ticket  had  tenfold  that  majority  in  that 
district  against  it. 

President  Lincoln  appointed  ^Nlr.  Pruyn 
United  States  minister  to  Japan,  as  successor 
to  the  Hon.  Townsend  Harris,  in  September, 
1861,  who  was  the  first  diplomatic  representa- 
tive of  any  country  to  that  isolated  kingdom. 
It  was  at  a  time  when  it  was  most  essential 
for  this  country  to  be  represented  by  a  man 
of  firmness  and  possessing  strong  convictions 
of  his  own  in  order  to  maintain  an  equality 
among  the  great  powers.  There  being  no  cable 
communication,  nor  even  steamship  inter- 
course at  that  time,  the  minister  was  largely 
left  to  exert  his  own  resourcefulness  and  re- 
sponsibility more  largely  rested  on  him  than 
on  the  diplomats  sent  later  by  this  country. 
It  was  common  occurrence  that  if  an  inquiry 
regarding  the  policy  to  be  pursued  on  a  certain 
feature  were  sent  to  Washington,  the  reason 
for  it  might  have  so  changed  by  the  time  of 
receiving  the  reply,  that  the  minister  found 
it  necessary  to  act  along  a  far  dift'erent  course. 
He  was  thus  forced  to  contest  for  influence 
among  the  trained  diplomats  of  the  world, 
and  while  the  task  was  undoubtedly  enormous, 
even  so  much  higher  in  the  public's  estima- 
tion did  he  rise.  In  1863  two  naval  e.xpedi- 
tions  were  undertaken  against  the  transgress- 
ing Daimio  of  Chosu,  whose  vessels  had  fired 
on  the  American  merchant  steamer  "Pem- 
broke."    The   allied    forces    in   the   latter  en- 


gagement demolished  the  fortifications  of 
Chosu,  and  Mr.  Pruyn  demanded  an  indemnity 
of  three  million  dollars  or,  in  lieu,  the  opening 
of  new  ports.  Later  the  sum  of  $i,5oo,cxx) 
was  turned  over  to  the  state  department 
at  \\'ashington,  and  the  effect  of  the  Ameri- 
can representative's  insistence  was  so  salutary 
that  it  exerted  a  lasting  benefit,  opening  the 
eyes  of  Japan  as  a  nation  to  white  man's 
methods  so  as  to  be  the  true  initiative  of  its 
desire  for  education  and  the  modem  methods 
of  the  powers.  Minister  Pruyn  became  an 
authority  for  all  America  on  the  arts  and  in- 
stitutions of  Japan,  and  in  apprising  the  state 
department  through  his  voluminous  reports  on 
his  observations  and  reasons  for  his  acts, 
furnished  much  beneficial  information.  On  his 
return  to  the  L'nited  States  in  1867,  Minister 
Pruyn  was  the  candidate  for  lieutenant-gov- 
ernor, but  was  not  elected,  and  an  attack  of 
diphtheria  at  the  time  caused  him  to  retire 
from  public  life  for  a  few  years.  In  1872 
Governor  John  T.  Hoffman  appointed  him 
on  a  non-partisan  commission  to  frame  amend- 
ments to  the  state  constitution,  and  this  im- 
portant body  made  him  its  presiding  officer. 

Mr.  Pruyn  was  chosen  the  president  of  the 
National  Commercial  Bank  of  Albany,  an  in- 
stitution noted  for  its  soundness  throughout 
the  civil  war,  when  it  afforded  great  aid  to 
the  government,  and  for  more  than  half  a 
century  it  has  continued  to  be  a  depository 
for  the  general  funds  of  the  state.  He  was 
vice-president  of  the  Albany  Savings  Bank, 
a  trustee  of  the  Metropolitan  Trust  Com- 
pany, of  New  York  City ;  trustee  of  Rutgers' 
College ;  president  of  the  board  of  directors 
of  the  Dudley  Observatory ;  vice-president 
of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Albany  Medical 
College,  and  on  the  executive  committee  of 
the  State  Normal  College ;  member  of  The 
Albany  Institute,  and  of  the  Young  Men's 
Association,  being  its  president  in  1838,  and 
a  governor  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club.  He 
was  made  a  Mason  in  Master's  Lodge.  No. 
5,  before  he  left  for  Japan,  and  upon  his  re- 
turn was  connected  with  the  Ancient  and 
Accepted  Scottish  Rite,  delivering  the  ora- 
tion at  the  dedication  of  the  Temple  in  Sep- 
tember. 1875. 

He  brought  from  Japan  a  great  number  of 
rare  art  treasures,  and  his  collection  of  carved 
ivories  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  finest  in  the 
world.  He  received  the  degree  of  M..A.  from 
Rutgers  in  1865,  and  of  LL.D.  from  Williams. 
He  was  devoted  to  his  church  and  advanced 
its  work  very  materially,  and  all  who  knew 
him  bear  witness  to  his  honor,  charity  and 
unusual  qualities  of  intellect.  He  died  Sun- 
day,  February  26,   1882,  of  embolism  of  the 


140 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


brain,  and  was  buried  in  the  family  lot  in 
the  Rural  Cemetery  on  the  28th. 

Mr.  Pruyn  married,  November  9,  1841, 
Jane  Ann,  born  June  28,  181 1,  daughter  of 
Gerrit  Yates  and  Helen  (Ten  Eyck)  Lansing. 
Children :  Edward  Lansing,  born  August  2, 
1843,  died  in  San  Francisco,  February  8, 
1862;  Robert  Clarence  (q.  v.),  born  in  Al- 
bany, October  23,  1847;  Helen  Lansing,  Sep- 
tember 13.  1849,  died  May  5,  1854;  Charles 
Lansing,  born  in  Albany,  December  2,  1852. 

(IX)  Charles  Lansing,  son  of  Robert  Hew- 
son  and  Jane  Anne  (Lansing)  Pruyn,  was 
born  in  Albany,  December  2,  1852.  He  took 
the  entire  course  of  study  at  the  Albany  Boys' 
Academy,  and  graduated  in  1868.  He  then 
entered  the  scientific  department  of  Rutgers 
College,  and  graduated  in  the  class  of  1871. 
This  college  later  bestowed  on  him  the  degree 
of  ]\LS.  Mr.  Pruyn  was  fond  of  outdoor  ex- 
ercise, and  took  an  active  part  in  the  creation 
of  the  Ridgefield  Athletic  Association,  being 
one  of  its  founders  who  secured  the  funds 
for  the  field  and  club-house  where  the  young 
men  of  Albany  might  enjoy  healthy  exer- 
cises. He  was  closely  concerned  in  the  inter- 
ests of  the  Albany  Academy  as  trustee,  and 
aided  the  students  in  the  acquisition  of  an  out- 
door rink  for  winter  sports,  created  in  the 
rear  of  the  building,  which  induced  the  young 
men  to  spend  their  recreation  hours  within  the 
influence  of  the  school.  Mr.  Pruyn  was  a  val- 
ued member  of  the  boards  of  many  of  the 
leading  institutions,  where  his  advice  was  ap- 
preciated. He  was  for  many  years  the  presi- 
dent of  the  Albany  Embossing  Company,  a 
local  enterprise  which  was  rapidly  expanding, 
and  of  the  Albany  Forge,  a  new  concern  for 
the  city.  He  was  a  director  of  the  State  Nor- 
mal College:  a  trustee  of  the  Albany  .Savings 
Bank ;  a  director  of  the  New  York  State  Na- 
tional Bank ;  of  the  Union  Trust  Company,  of 
the  Albany  Medical  College  and  of  the  Dud- 
ley Observatory.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Albany  Institute  and  Historical  and  Art  So- 
ciety ;  the  University  and  Albany  Country 
clubs,  and  president  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club. 
He  served  some  years  as  a  park  commissioner 
of  the  city  of  Albany.  Mr.  Pruyn  was  of  a 
genial,  courteous,  lovable  disposition,  and  not 
a  person  in  the  entire  city  had  a  greater  num- 
ber of  firm  friends  in  the  professional  and 
business  comnuuiity.  He  was  fond  of  the  arts 
and  refinements  of  life,  and  helpful  to  others 
in  a  marked  degree.  His  was  a  life  regarded 
by  all  as  one  beyond  reproach  and  worthy  of 
emulation.  He  and  his  family  resided  for 
some  years  on  Willett  street,  facing  Wash- 
ington Park,  wherein  were  many  of  the  ob- 
jects of  art  brought  from  Japan  by  his  father, 


as  well  as  a  number  of  paintings  by  such 
artists  as  Diaz,  Myer  von  Bremen,  Cole  and 
Huntington.  From  there  they  removed  to  the 
more  spacious  residence.  No.  5  Elk  street, 
with  a  charming  outlook  upon  the  Academy 
Park,  and  finally  he  purchased  the  hand- 
some house  of  the  late  J.  Howard  King,  No.  i 
Park  place.  He  had  also  a  summer  residence, 
attractive  in  itself  and  location,  at  Altamont, 
some  fourteen  miles  from  Albany,  and  it  was- 
there  that  he  died,  after  a  brief  illness,  July 
7,  1906. 

Mr.  Charles  Lansing  Pruyn  married,  Oc- 
tober II,  1877,  Elizabeth  Atwood,  born  Oc^ 
tober  31,  1853,  daughter  of  William  Trimble 
and  Elizabeth  Mary  (x\twood)  McClintock, 
of  Chillicothe,  Ohio.  They  had  three  children. 
She  died  December  20,  1884,  and  to  her  mem- 
ory he  erected  the  altar  and  reredos  in  St. 
Peter's  Church,  which  is  so  generally  ad- 
mired. He  married  (second),  October  20, 
1886,  Sarah  Gibson,  born  December  25,  1851, 
daughter  of  Sebastian  Visscher  and_  Olivia 
Maria  (Shearman)  Talcott.  (See  Talcott 
IX.)  Children,  by  first  wife:  i.  Elizabeths 
McClintock,  born  June  14,  1S78.  2.  Jane 
Anne  Lansing,  born  in  Albany,  December 
15,  1880;  married,  April  20,  1902,  P'ranklin 
Townsend,  born  in  Albany,  son  of  the  late 
Dr.  Franklin  and  Margaret  (Reynolds) 
Townsend :  children :  Franklin,  born  in  Al- 
bany, February,  1904:  Charles  Lansing,  born- 
in  Albany,  January,  1906.  3.  Sarah  McClin- 
tock, born  in  Albany,  November  17,  1884,. 
died  July  22,  1885.  Children  by  second  wife:. 
4.  Caspar  Lansing,  born  September  29,  1887, 
see  forward.  5.  Olivia  Shearman  Talcott, 
born  in  .Mbany,  October  25,   1892. 

(X)  Caspar  Lansing,  son  of  Charles  Lan- 
sing and  Sarah  Gibson  (Talcott)  Pruyn, 
was  born  in  Albany,  September  29,  1887.  He 
was  educated  at  liie  .Albany  Academy  and 
the  Lawrenceville  School.  Thereafter  he 
went  to  Princeton  College  in  the  class  of 
191 1,  but  had  to  leave  the  second  year  on 
account  of  illness.  After  leaving  college  he 
devoted  bis  attention  to  the  fire  insurance 
business.  A  member  of  St.  Peter's  Church, 
a  Pepublican  in  politics.  He  married,  April 
22,  1909,  Helen,  born  September  29,  1888, 
the  daughter  of  Peter  Ham  and  Delia  (Fri- 
day)  I.athrop,  of  Albany. 

Criu-  Taloitl  I.iiu). 
TIk-  family  name  of  Talcott  is  derived 
from  the  Welsh  "tal,"  high,  and  "cott,  cot, 
cote,"  Anglo-Saxon,  meaning  cottage,  that 
is,  a  high  cottage  or  a  cottage  on  a  high 
place;  i.  e.,  cottage  on  the  hill:  or  it  may 
have  come  from  the  .Saxon  "toll,"  a  grove,  and 


I 


HUDSON   AND   MOH.WMv  VALLEYS 


141 


"cott,"  cottage  in  the  grove.  The  correct 
spelling  of  the  name  has  been  the  subject 
of  much  controversy.  Examining  the  writing 
of  the  first  known  ancestor,  it  is  found  that 
in  the  body  of  his  will,  John,  of  Colchester, 
England,  1606,  he  spelled  it  "Taylcot,"  and 
also  "Talcoat,"  signing  it  "Taylcot,"  and  his 
wife  wrote  it  in  her  will  "Talcoat."  His  son, 
John,  of  Braintree,  wrote  it  in  his  will  "Taile- 
coat,"  and  his  son,  John,  of  Hartford,  wrote 
it  in  his  will  "Tallcott."  and  his  wife,  Doro- 
thy, signed  hers  "Talcott."  In  the  Heralds 
College,  London,  it  appears  in  the  records 
spelled  "Talcot,"  and  that  dates  back  to  1558; 
but  in  1634  it  appears  there  as  "Talcott." 
Sebastian  V.  Talcott,  in  his  genealogical  vol- 
ume, groups  quite  a  few  under  each  of  these 
divisions :  Tailcot,  Tailecot,  Talcoat,  Talcot, 
Talcott,  Tailcot,  Tallcott  and  Taylcot.  The 
pronounced  form  in  use  throughout  the  nine- 
teenth century  in  America  has  been  Talcott. 

The  Talcott  arms :  x^rgent  on  a  pale  sable, 
three  roses  of  the  field.  Crest :  A  demi-griffin 
erased.  Argent,  gorged  with  a  collar  sable, 
charged  with  three  roses  of  the  first.  Motto : 
Virtus  sola  nobilitas.  The  family  was  origi- 
nally of  Warwickshire,  England.  Previous 
to  1558,  John,  a  descendant  from  this  family, 
was  living  in  Colchester,  Essex  county.  In 
the  British  Museum  one  may  examine  the 
Harlean  Manuscripts  containing  the  Herald's 
visitation  of  Esse.x  county,  in  1558,  and  find 
the  Talcott  arms  and  pedigree. 

(I)  John  Talcott,  the  first  known  of  the 
name,  resided  in  Colchester,  Essex  county, 
England,  where  he  possessed  real  estate  and 
considerable  personal  property.  He  was  twice 
married,  and  had  two  sons  by  the  first  wife, 
John  and  Robert,  and  also  a  daughter.  John 
settled  in  Braintree,  about  fourteen  miles  from 
Colchester,  and  died  there  in  1604,  before  his 
father,  leaving  a  family  of  children,  all 
minors,  the  eldest  of  whom  was  John,  who 
came  to  New  England.  Robert  became  an  al- 
derman and  justice  of  the  peace  in  Colchester. 
By  his  second  wife  he  had  two  sons,  Thomas 
and  John,  and  four  daughters.  Thomas  was 
rector  of  the  churches  of  St.  Mary  and  Mile 
End,  in  Colchester,  and  chaplain  to  the  Earl 
Marshal.  John,  living  at  the  same  period  with 
his  half-brother,  John,  went  to  Spain,  and  was 
a  merchant  in  Madrid.  The  five  daughters 
of  John  (of  Colchester)  married  and  resided 
in  or  near  that  place.  He  died  about  No- 
vember I.  1606,  in  Colchester,  England,  and 
his  lengthy  will  was  probated  on  the  twelfth 
day  of  that  same  month.  He  married  (first) 
a  Wells,  and  had  three  children;  (second) 
Marie  Pullen,  and  had  six  children.  Children : 
I.    John,    see    forward.     2.    Robert,    married 


Joanna  Drake,  and  died  in  1641.  3.  A  daugh- 
ter, married  Barnard,  and  had  John 

and  Mary.  4.  Thomas,  married  Margaret 
Biggs,  of  Suffolk  county.  5.  Grace,  married 
John  Death,  after  1606.  6.  Joanna,  married 
Knewstuble.  after  1606.  7.  Marie,  mar- 
ried    Marshall,  before  1606.     8.  Eme, 

married  Thomas  Adler,  before  1606.  9.  John, 
left  for  Madrid,  Spain. 

(II)  John  (2),  son  of  John  (i)  and 

(Wells)  Talcott,  was  born  probably  in  Col- 
chester, England,  previous  to  1558.  He  died 
in  Braintree.  about  fourteen  miles  from  the 
place  of  his  birth,  in  the  early  part  of  1604. 
His  wife  was  Anne,  daughter  of  William 
Skinner.  Children:  i.  John,  see  forward.  2. 
Rachel,  died  unmarried  in  1623.  3.  Anne. 
4.  Mary,  married  (possibly)  Bagot  Eggleston, 
in  England,  and  came  with  him  to  Dorchester, 
in  1630.  5.  Grace,  unmarried  in  1623.  6. 
Sarah,   unmarried  in   1623. 

(  HI)  John  (3),  son  of  John  (2)  and  Anne 
(Skinner)  Talcott,  was  born  in  Braintree, 
Essex  county,  England.  He  was  left  a  minor 
on  the  death  of  his  father,  in  1604,  and  was 
an  only  son.  He  came  to  Boston  with  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Hooker's  company  in  the  ship 
"Lion,"  commanded  by  Captain  Mason,  which 
sailed  from  England.  June  22,  1632,  with  one 
hundred  and  twenty-three  passengers,  and  ar- 
rived there  on  Sunday,  September  16,  1632. 
This  company  settled  first  in  Newtown  or 
Newton  (Cambridge),  Massachusetts,  and  he 
was  admitted  a  freeman  by  the  general  court 
at  Boston,  November  6,  1632 ;  was  a  repre- 
sentative in  the  general  court  for  Newtown, 
May  14,  1634,  and  chosen  selectman  Febru- 
ary 4,  1634.  He  was  the  fifth  greatest  pro- 
prietor of  houses  and  lands  in  the  town,  out 
of  eighty  enumerated  in  the  registry  of  1634, 
"of  those  only  who  were  considered  towns- 
men." He  owned  four  houses  in  what  was 
called  the  "west  end,"  and  maintained  in  re- 
pair thirty-si.x  rods  of  public  fence.  The  peo- 
ple of  Rev.  Mr.  Hooker's  company  becoming 
dissatisfied  with  the  location,  obtained  per- 
mission from  the  general  court  to  remove  to 
the  Connecticut  river,  whereupon,  the  petition 
being  granted,  John  Talcott  sold  all  his  prop- 
erty in  Newtown  to  Nicholas  Danforth,  May 
I,  1636,  and  left  with  about  one  hundred 
of  the  company.  He  had  the  carpenter,  Nicho- 
las Clark,  go  there  a  year  ahead,  and  build 
him  a  residence  on  the  site  where  the  North 
Church  stood  in  1876,  which  was  the  first 
house  erected  in  Hartford,  Connecticut.  He 
gained  considerable  prominence  there,  and  was 
styled  "The  Worshipful  Mr.  John  Talcott." 
He  was  one  of  a  committee  appointed  May  i, 
1637,  to  consider  and  report  on  the  propriety 


142 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


of  a  war  with  the  Pequot  Indians,  and  it  was 
accordingly  declared.  Up  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  he  was  one  of  the  chief  magistrates 
of  the  colony.  He  died  in  Hartford,  in  March, 
1660,  and  his  name  was  inscribed  upon  a 
monument  erected  by  citizens  to  perpetuate 
the  memory  of  the  founders  of  the  Colony 
of  Connecticut.  He  married  Dorothy,  daugh- 
ter of  Alark  and  Frances  (Gutter)  Mott,  of 
Braintree,  England,  and  she  died  in  Hartford, 
Connecticut,  in  February,  1670.  Children: 
I.  i\Iary,  married  Rev.  John  Russell,  June  28, 
1649:  died  about  1655.  2.  John,  married 
(first)  Helena  Wakeman,  October  29,  1650; 
(second)  Mary  Cook,  November  9.  1676;  died 
July  23,  1688.     3.  Samuel,  see  forward. 

(IV)  Captain  Samuel,  son  of  John  (3)  and 
Dorothy  (Mott)  Talcott,  was  born  about  1634- 
35,  probably  in  Newtown  (Cambridge), 
Massachusetts,  died  in  Wethersfield,  Connec- 
ticut, November  10,  1691.  He  was  one  of 
the  original  proprietors  of  the  town  of  Glas- 
tonbury, Connecticut,  and  owned  the  lot  pur- 
chased by  his  father  in  1643,  still  owned,  in 
1876,  by  his  descendants.  He  was  graduated 
from  Harvard  in  1658,  and  was  the  scholar 
of  the  family,  consequently  his  father  be- 
queathed to  him  all  his  books,  except  his 
"Martyr  Book,"  which  he  left  to  John.  From 
these  two  sons,  Samuel  and  John,  are  de- 
scended all  of  the  Talcott  name  in  America. 
Samuel  was  commissioner  for  Wethersfield 
from  1669  to  1684;  deputy  to  the  general 
court  from  1670  to  1684,  and  was  its  secretary 
during  the  session  of  October,  1684.  He  was 
made  lieutenant  of  Wethersfield  trained  band 
on  May  12,  1677;  lieutenant  of  the  troop,  Oc- 
tober 14,  1679,  and  captain  of  the  troop  of 
Hartford  company,  October  16,  1681.  He 
married,  November  7,  1661,  Hannah,  daugh- 
ter of  Hon.  Elizur  and  Mary  (Pynchon)  Hol- 
yoke.  Children:  i.  Samuel,  born  in  1662; 
married  Mary  Ellery;  died  April  28,  1698.  2. 
John,  born  in  1663,  died  young,  after  1691. 
3.  Hannah,  born  in  1665,  married  Major  John 
Chester,  November  25,  1686;  died  July  23, 
1741.    4.  Elizur,  born  July  31,  i66g;  married 

Sarah  .     5.  Joseph,  born  February  20, 

1671 ;  married  Sarah  Deming,  April  5,  1701 ; 
died  November  3,  1732.  6.  Benjamin,  born 
March  i,  1674,  see  forward.  7.  Rachel,  born 
April  2,  1676:  married  Peter  Bulkley,  March 
21,  1700;  died  November  22,  1702;  no  chil- 
dren.    8.  Nathaniel,  born  January  28,   1678; 

married   Elizabeth ,   March   18,    1703; 

died  January  30,  1758. 

-  (V)  Deacon  Benjamin,  son  of  Captain 
Samuel  and  Hannah  (Holyoke)  Talcott,  was 
born  in  Wethersfield,  Connecticut,  March  i, 
1674,  died  at  his  homestead  in  Glastonbury, 


Connecticut,  November  12,  1727.  He  had  re- 
moved to  that  place  and  built  a  house  into 
which  he  moved  on  November  22,  1699,  it 
being  the  farm  inherited  from  his  father,  pur- 
chased of  Samuel  Sherman  in  1643.  The- 
house  was  a  large  building  on  Main  street, 
and  was  fortified  as  a  place  of  refuge  for  the 
family  from  Indians.  When  taken  down,  in 
1854,  there  were  quantities  of  bullet  marks  in 
its  walls.  He  married,  January  5,  1699,  Sa- 
rah, daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (Goodrich) 
Hollister,  whose  father  had  come  from  Bris- 
tol,  England,   and  settled   in   Wethersfield  in 

1642,  and    was    admitted    freeman,    May    10, 

1643.  She  died  in  child-bed,  October  15, 
1715,  at  Glastonbury,  Connecticut.  Children: 
I.  Sarah,  born  October  30,  1699;  married 
Jonathan  Hale,  November  28,  1717;  died  July 
15,  1743.  2.  Benjamin,  born  June  27,  1702; 
married  Esther  Lyman,  August  26,  1724; 
died  March  9,  1785.  3.  John,  born  December 
17,  1704;  married  Lucy  Burnham,  in  1731 ; 
died  August  25,  1745.  4.  Hannah,  born  Oc- 
tober 16,  1706;  married  Benjamin  Hale,  Jan- 
uary 30,  1729;  died  February  6,  1796.  5. 
Samuel,  born  February  12,  1708;  married 
Hannah  ]\Ioseley,  October  5,  1732;  died  Sep- 
tember 26,  1768.  6.  Elizur,  born  December 
31,  1709;  see  forward.  7.  Mehitabel,  born 
July  17,  1713;  married  Hezekiah  Wright, 
November  29,  1733;  died  April  20,  1781.  8. 
Abigail,  born  October  10,  1715,  died  October 
28,  1715. 

(\T)  Colonel  Elizur,  son  of  Deacon  Ben- 
jamin and  Sarah  (Hollister)  Talcott,  was 
born  at  the  homestead  in  Glastonbury,  Con- 
necticut, December  31,  1709,  died  there  No- 
vember 24,  1797.  He  was  a  man  of  wealth 
and  note  in  his  day,  possessing  lands  in  vari- 
ous localities,  and  a  principal  owner  of  the 
"Connecticut  tract"  on  the  Susquelianna  river, 
which  he  lost  through  a  defect  in  its  title. 
He  was  the  chairman  of  a  meeting  held  in 
Glastonbury,  which  denounced  the  "Boston 
Port  Bill" ;  held  a  commission  as  colonel  of  a 
troop  of  horse  previous  to  and  during  the 
revolution,  and  served  as  such  with  the  Con- 
necticut forces  on  Long  Island ;  was  in  New 
York  when  the  British  army  marched  in,  but 
was  taken  home  ill,  on  a  litter.  He  married, 
December  31,  1730,  Ruth,  only  child  of  Daniel 
and  Elinor  (Benton)  Wright,  a  descendant  of 
Thomas  Wright,  who  came  from  England  and 
was  in  Wethersfield  in  1639.  She  died  at  the 
homestead,  September  12,  1791.  Children: 
I.  Ruth,  born  October  17,  1731,  died  Sep- 
tember 10,  1747.  2.  Prudence,  born  June  6, 
1734,  died  October  18,  1752.  3.  Rachel,  horn 
August  I,  1736,  died  May  14,  1807.  4.  Elizur, 
born    August    27,    1738,    died    February    16, 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


143 


1750.  5.  Isaac,  born  August  29,  1740,  died 
August  6,  181 5.  6.  Daniel,  born  May  8,  1743, 
died  February  12,  1748.  7.  George,  born  No- 
vember 30,  1745,  died  February  22,  1750.  8. 
Daniel,  born  July  27,  1748,  died  December  3, 

1 75 1.  9.  Elizur,  born  December  17,  1750, 
died  November  28,  1831.  10.  Ruth,  born  May 
II,  1753,  died  June  4,  1821.  11.  George,  born 
September  30,  1755,  see  forward.  12.  Pru- 
dence, born  December  2,  1757,  died  November 
20,    1839. 

(VH)  George,  son  of  Colonel  Elizur  and 
Ruth  (Wright)  Talcott,  was  born  in  Glaston- 
bury, Connecticut,  September  30,  1755,  died 
there,  June  13,  1813.  He  was  a  farmer  and 
lived  in  the  old  homestead  which  descended  to 
him  from  his  grandfather,  Benjamin  Talcott. 
He  served  in  the  revolution  and  was  present 
at  the  retreat  of  the  American  forces  on  Long 
Island.  He  married  (first),  March  16,  1777, 
Vienna,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Rebecca 
(Dart)  Bradford.  She  was  born  November 
5'  I7S7'  died  August  17,  1785,  and  by  her 
he  had  his  first  four  children.  He  married 
(second)  Abigail,  daughter  of  John  and  Abi- 
gail (Deming)  Goodrich.  She  died  in  Glas- 
tonbury, June  22,  1854,  and  by  her  he  had 
six  children,  making  ten  in  all.  Children:  i. 
Harriet,  born  January  7,  1778,  died  October 
9,  1839.  2.  Fanny,  born  January  8,  1780,  died 
April  16,  1845.  3.  Rebecca,  born  March  i, 
1782,  died  January  4,  1794.  4.  Julia,  born 
May  9,  1785,  died  November  17,  1785,  5. 
George,  born  December  6,  1786,  see  forward. 
6.  Russell,  born  September  22,  1788,  died  Sep- 
tember 26,  1818.  7.  Lavinia,  born  August  8, 
1700,  died  February  13,  1857,  8,  Abigail,  born 
July  7,  1792,  died  .\pril  18,  1840.  9.  Jared 
G.,  born  April  17,  1795,  10.  Andrew,  bom 
April  20,  1797. 

(VIII)  General  George  (2),  son  of  George 
(i)  and  Abigail  (Goodrich)  Talcott,  was 
born  at  the  homestead  in  Glastonbury,  Con- 
necticut, December  6,  1786,  died  at  his  resi- 
dence. No.  748  Broadway,  Albany,  New  York, 
April  25,  1862.  He  entered  the  L^nited  States 
army  during  the  war  of  1812,  from  New  York, 
as  a  lieutenant,  and  was  stationed  on  the 
islands  of  New  York  harbor ;  was  almost  im- 
mediately promoted  to  a  captaincy  in  the  ord- 
nance corps,  first  commanding  at  the  Albany 
arsenal  (which  later  became  district  school 
No.  13),  then  at  Charlestown,  Massachusetts, 
and  while  there  constructed  the  Watertown 
arsenal ;  thence  went  to  Pittsburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania, taking  command  of  the  Alleghany  ar- 
senal near  there,  whence  he  was  orrlered  to  the 
Watervliet  arsenal  near  Albany,  where  he  re- 
mained in  command,  having  been  promoted  to 
the  brevet  rank  of  major   for  ten   years  of 


faithful  service;  on  the  reorganization  of  the 
ordnance  corps  in  1832,  was  appointed  its  lieu- 
tenant-colonel, and  shortly  thereafter  was 
made  inspector  of  arsenals  and  armories; 
during  President  Van  Buren's  administration 
he  was  given  charge  of  the  Washington  bu- 
reau as  acting  chief,  holding  that  position 
until  the  death  of  Colonel  George  Bomford, 
March  26,  1848,  when  he  was  promoted  to 
the  full  rank  of  colonel  and  chief  of  the  ord- 
nance corps.  His  commission  as  brevet  briga- 
dier-general "for  meritorious  services,  particu- 
larly in  relation  to  the  Mexican  War,"  was 
dated  March  3,  1849.  He  married,  November 
17,  1810,  Angelica,  daughter  of  Isaac  Henry 
and  Catlilina  Visscher  (widow  of  Samuel' 
Reed)  Bogart.  She  died  in  Albany,  Septem- 
ber I,  1861.  Children:  i.  George  Henry,  born 
July  16,  181 1 :  married  Catharine  J.  Starke,. 
November  9,  1843;  f^i^d  June  8,  1854.  2.  Se- 
bastian Visscher,  born  November  24,  1812,  see- 
forward. 

(IX)  Sebastian  \'isscher,  son  of  General 
George  (2)  and  Angelica  (Bogart)  Talcott, 
was  born  in  New  York  City,  November  24, 
1812.  He  entered  Yale  College  in  1829,  and 
left  it  in  the  sophomore  year  for  a  more  ac- 
tive life,  adopting  the  profession  of  civil  en- 
gineer. He  was  employed  in  this  capacity  by 
the  United  States  government  on  the  sur- 
vey of  the  boundary  between  the  United 
States  and  Canada,  and  also  was  engaged  on 
improvement  work  of  the  Hudson  river  near 
Albany.  He  made  the  primary  surveys  for 
the  Erie  railroad  near  its  western  terminal 
at  Dunkirk,  then  on  the  government  survey 
of  the  "northeastern  boundary" ;  subsequently 
on  improvement  work  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Mississippi,  and  an  elaborate  survey  of  the 
coast  under  Professor  Hassler.  Completing 
this  work,  he  was  appointed  assistant  super- 
intendent of  mineral  lands  on  Lake  Superior, 
and  subsequently  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness, but  relinquished  it  for  his  profession. 
Governor  Horatio  Seymour,  in  1862,  ap- 
pointed him  quartermaster-general  of  the 
state  of  New  York,  with  the  rank  of 
brigadier-general.  His  residence  was  No. 
748  Broadway,  Albany,  where  he  died 
November  10,  1888.  He  married,  No- 
vember 23,  1843,  Olivia  Maria,  only 
child  of  Robert  (bom  September  10,  1790) 
and  Anna  Maria  (Sherman)  Shearman,  of 
L^tica.  She  was  born  October  14,  1823,  died 
January  29,  1888.  Children:  i.  George,  born 
October  6,  1844,  died  April  30,  1895  ;  he  vvas- 
a  lieutenant  in  the  United  States  navy,  1876; 
married,  June  2},,  1870,  Mary  Isabel  Hyde, 
daughter  of  J.  J.  Downing,  of  Erie,  Penn- 
sylvania ;  children  :  i.  Winifred  Downing,  born: 


144 


HUDSON   AND   iMOHAWK   \-ALLEYS 


April  17.  1880,  married,  October  30,  1895, 
Lucian  D.  Cabanne ;  children :  Isabel  Down- 
ing, born  November  27,  1896,  and  Doris  Tal- 
•cott,  born  July  29,  1898;  ii.  Gladys  Frank, 
■born  August  29,  1884,  died  September  5, 
1885.  2.  Angelica  Bogart,  born  February  24, 
1846;  married,  September  11,  1866,  Clarence 
Rathbone ;  children :  i.  Albert  Rathbone,  born 
July  27,  1868,  married  Emma  Maria  Olcott, 
April  14,  1892 ;  children :  Grace  Olcott,  born 
December  9.  1893,  and  Anna  Talcott,  born 
August  17,  1897;  ii.  Joel  Rathbone,  born  Sep- 
tember 12,  1869.  married.  October  18,  1894, 
Josephine  Norwood  ;  child,  Norwood, born  July 
26,  1895  ;  iii.  Angelica  Talcott  Rathbone,  born 
March  13,  1871,  married,  December  31,  1899, 
Dr.  Charles  R.  S.  Putnam ;  child,  Patrick ;  iv. 
Ethel  Rathbone,  born  December,  1877,  mar- 
ried, March,  1907,  in  Paris,  Jean  ]Marty;  v. 
Franklin  Townsend  Rathbone,  born  Decem- 
"ber  22,  1879.  3.  Robert  Shearman,  born  Octo- 
"ber  2^.  1847;  married,  May  18,  1870,  Mattie 
D.,  daughter  of  Dr.  William  H.  Barclay,  of 
Philadelphia.  4.  Anna  Maria,  born  October 
17,  1849.  5-  Sarah  Gibson,  born  December 
:25,  185 1  ;  married  Charles  Lansing  Pruyn 
((see  Pruyn  IX). 


(VI)  David  Pruyn,  fifth  child  of 
PRUYN*  Lieutenant  Casparus  (q.  v.)  and 
Catherine  (Groesbeckj  Pruyn, 
was  born  in  Albany,  New  York,  August  24, 
1771,  died  January  20,  1843.  At  the  time 
of  the  division  of  the  Great  or  Collegiate 
Consistory  of  the  Dutch  Church  of  Albany  in 
November,  1815,  David  Pruyn  was  deacon. 
The  Second  Reformed  Church  then  separa- 
ted from  the  mother  organization  and  he  went 
•with  the  Second  Church.  He  was  during 
his  subsequent  years  a  deacon  and  elder  of 
that  congregation,  and  at  his  death  presiding 
•elder.  He  was  married,  by  Rev.  John  Bas- 
sett,  February  27,  1794,  to  Huybertie  Yates 
iLansing,  born  July  26,  1773,  died  September 
2,  1855,  daughter  of  Christopher  and  Sarah 
'(Yan  Schaick)  Lansing,  of  Albany.  She 
was  granddaughter  of  John  \'an  Schaick  and 
his  wife.  Alida  Bogart,  and  great-granddaugh- 
ter of  Jacob  Bogart  and  Catalyna,  daughter 
■of  Peter  Davidse  Schuyler  and  his  wife,  Alida 
Van  Slichtcnhorst.  This  line  again  relates 
the  Pruyns  with  the  ancient  Schuyler  family. 
■"Mrs.  David  Pruyn  (Huybertie  Lansing)  was 
most  eminent  in  all  works  of  charity  and  pie- 
ty. She  was  mainly  instrumental  in  estab- 
lishing Sunday  schools  in  .Albany,  going  to 
New  York  in  181 5  to  consult  with  Dr.  Beth- 

*This  narrative  is  from  a  record  prepared  liy 
John  V.  L.  Pruyn,  Jr.,  published  in  the  "New 
"York   Genealogical  and  Biographical   Record." 


une,  the  so-called  founder  of  the  American 
system  of  Sunday  schools.  In  June,  1816, 
with  Mrs.  Christian  Miller,  she  opened  a  Sun- 
day school  for  girls  in  Albany,  and  to  her 
the  church  was  indebted  for  very  much  abun- 
dant and  profitable  service.  Though  rather 
delicate  in  physique,  she  was  incessant  in  her 
visitation  of  the  sick  and  poor.  She  was  an 
energetic  organizer  and  leader  of  the  Female 
Bible,  Dorcas  and  Tract  societies  of  Albany. 
The  Woman's  Prayer  Meeting  (still  a  fea- 
ture of  the  church  services)  had  its  origin  in 
her  suggestion.  Religion  seemed  woven  into 
the  texture  of  her  being,  enveloping  her  as 
an  atmosphere,  the  heart  life  of  her  existence." 
Children  of  David  and  Huybertie  (Lansing) 
Pruyn  :  Christopher  Lansing,  died  in  infancy  ; 
Sarah,  born  August  5,  1796,  died  in  infancy; 
Lansing,  born  December  12,  1797,  died  aged 
two  years:  Catherine,  born  December  i,  1800, 
died  in  infancy ;  Alida,  born  September  2, 
1801,  died  in  infancy;  John  \'an  Schaick,  twin 
of  Alida,  died  in  infancy ;  Catherine,  born 
February  14,  1803,  died  April  6,  1885  ;  Lans- 
ing, born  September  30,  1805,  died  Novem- 
ber 15.  1877;  married,  June  30,  1834,  Anna 
Mary  Saltus  and  had  children ;  he  was  a  lead- 
ing merchant  and  citizen  of  Albany  ;  Casparus, 
born  April  2,  1809,  died  in  infancy;  John 
\'an  Schaick,  Lansing,  see  forward. 

(ATI)  John  \"an  Schaick  Lansing.  LL.D., 
(known  as  John  V.  L.  Pruyn),  youngest  child 
of  David  and  Huybertie  (Lansing)  Pruyn, 
was  born  in  Albany,  New  York,  June  22, 
181 1,  died  at  Clifton  Springs,  New  York, 
November  21,  1877.  He  had  a  most  brilliant 
and  useful  career  in  both  public  and  profes- 
sional life,  being  skilled  in  the  law.  He  was 
state  senator,  a  member  of  congress,  and 
chancellor  of  the  L^niversity  of  the  State  of 
New  York.  As  the  foregoing  pages  show 
he  was  of  the  best  Dutch  ancestry.  His 
maternal  grandfather,  Christopher  Lansing, 
was  quartermaster  of  General  Schuyler's  reg- 
iment in  the  revolutionary  war,  and  a  man 
of  high  character.  On  the  maternal  side  he 
descended  from  the  Van  Schaicks,  Yates,  Bo- 
garts.  Van  Slichtenhorsts,  \^erplancks  and 
Schuylers.  On  the  paternal  side  he  also  de- 
scended from  the  Bogarts,  \'erplancks  and 
Schuylers,  as  well  as  from  the  Groesbecks 
and  Van  der  Poels.  His  great-grandmother, 
Huybertie  Yates,  mother  of  Christopher  Lan- 
sing, was  sister  of  Hon.  Abraham  Yates, 
mayor  of  Albany  from  1790  to  1796,  whose 
fidelity  to  the  principles  of  Jefferson  procured 
for  him  the  name  of  "the  Democrat,"  and 
who  wrote  the  famous  political  articles  signed 
the  "Rough  Hewer."  A  flirect  though  some- 
what remote  ancestor  was  Brant  Arentse  Van 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


145 


Slichtenhorst,  of  Nykerk,  in  Geklerland,  who 
was  appointed  in  1646  during-  the  minority  of 
the  young'  patroon,  director  of  the  Colonie  of 
Rensselaerwyck.  jiresident  of  the  court  of  jus- 
tice, and  general  superintendent,  with  full 
powers  to  manage  the  \'an  Rensselaer  estate. 
John  \'.  L.  Pruyn's  character  was  moulded  by 
his  most  excellent  mother,  and  one  of  the 
beautiful  features  of  his  life  was  his  devo- 
tion to  her.  He  received  his  early  education 
in  private  scliools.  and  entered  the  Albany 
Academy  in  1824,  where  he  completed  a  full 
course  of  study.  The  noted  Theodoric  Ro- 
meyn  Beck,  I\LD.,  LL.D.,  was  principal  of  the 
academy  during  the  years  he  spent  there.  Im- 
mediately after  leaving  the  academy  he  en- 
tered the  law  office  of  James  King,  at  that 
time  one  of  .-Mbany's  most  eminent  lawyers, 
later  a  regent  of  the  University  of  New  York, 
and  who  in  1839  became  chancellor.  Mr. 
Pruyn  became  his  private  and  confidential 
clerk  and  remained  as  such  several  months 
after  being  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  was  ad- 
mitted as  attorney  in  the  supreme  court  of 
New  York  and  a  solicitor  in  the  court  of  chan- 
cery. January  13.  1822.  This  latter  court  ad- 
mitted him  a  counsellor  May  21,  1833,  and 
the  supreme  court  January  17.  1835.  While 
still  a  young  lawyer  he  was  counsel  for  some 
of  the  parties  to  the  famous  "James  Will 
Case,"  which  gave  him  both  reputation  and 
experience.  In  1833  he  formed  a  law  part- 
nership with  Henry  H.  Martin,  who  had  been 
a  fellow  student  in  the  office  of  Mr.  King. 
The  firm  name  was  Pruyn  &  Martin.  On 
May  z-j.  1833,  he  was  appointed  by  Governor 
Marcy  an  examiner  in  chancery,  and  Febru- 
ary 10,  1836.  a  master  in  chancery.  Three 
days  later  Chancellor  Walworth  designated 
him  as  injunction  master  for  the  third  cir- 
cuit, all  highly  responsible  positions,  which 
showed  how  he  had  gained  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  those  in  authority.  February  21, 
1848,  he  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  Uni- 
ted States  supreme  court  at  Washington,  and 
April  9,  1856,  to  practice  before  the  United 
States  court  of  claims.  In  1853  he  had  prac- 
tically withdrawn  from  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, politics  and  corporation  service  tak- 
ing his  entire  time.  In  185 1  he  became  a 
director  of  the  Albany  City  Bank  and  sub- 
sequently vice-president.  In  185 1  he  formed 
a  law  partnership  with  John  H.  Reynolds 
(Mr.  Martin,  his  former  partner,  having  been 
appointed  cashier  of  the  Albany  City  Bank), 
one  of  the  most  brilliant  lawyers  of  the  day. 
The  partnership  continued  until  1853,  when 
Mr.  Pruyn's  railroad  relations  became  so  im- 
portant that  he  could  not  longer  give  the  law 
his  personal  attention. 


In  1835  he  was  chosen  counsel  and  a 
director  of  the  Mohawk  &  Hudson  Railway, 
the  first  railway  successfully  operated  in  .\m- 
erica.  In  1853  steps  were  taken  to  amalga- 
mate the  various  railway  corporations  (about 
ten  in  number)  between  Albany  and  Buf- 
falo into  one  corporate  body.  Mr.  Pruyn  in 
person  concluded  the  proceedings  and  drew 
up  the  "consolidation  agreement,"  in  some  re- 
spects the  most  important  business  document 
ever  drawn  in  the  state.  The  new  corpora- 
tion was  the  New  York  Central  railroad,  and 
he  was  chosen  secretary,  treasurer  and  general 
counsel.  He  continued  in  this  capacity  and 
also  a  director  of  the  road  until  i86fi,  when 
the  Corning  management  was  voted  out  by 
the  \"anderbilts.  Me  had  now  acquired  a  com- 
fortable competence  an<l  henceforth  devoted 
himself  to  other  and  more  congenial  pursuits. 
He  was  deeply  interested  in  political  science, 
though  not  in  the  vulgar  sense  a  politician. 
He  was  a  Democrat  of  the  "Old  School." 
When  the  civil  war  broke  out  he  at  once  took 
sides  with  the  north,  and  did  all  a  conscien- 
tious citizen  should  do  to  honor  and  defend 
the  constitution.  At  the  fall  election  of  1861 
he  was  elected  state  senator.  He  accepted  the 
nomination  upon  the  express  condition  that 
neither  he  or  any  of  his  friends  should  be 
called  upon  to  contribute  a  single  dollar  to  . 
control  the  vote  of  any  elector.  At  the  close 
of  one  of  the  sessions  of  the  legislature,  he 
gave  the  salary  of  a  year  to  the  poor  of  Al- 
bany. At  about  this  time  a  law  was  passed 
at  the  instance  of  James  A.  Bell,  Mr.  Pruyn 
and  a  few  others,  for  the  building  of  the  new 
state  capitol.  By  the  laws  of  1865  a  com- 
mission was  created  for  this  purpose,  Mr. 
Pruyn  being  one  of  the  commissioners,  and 
continuing  as  such  until  1870,  when  the  board 
was  reorganized,  largely,  it  is  said,  in  the  in- 
terests of  the  friends  of  the  New  York  City 
political  ring  headed  by  "Boss  Tweed."  Mr. 
Pruyn  not  being  in  harmony  with  this  ele- 
ment of  his  party  was  dropped  from  the  com- 
mission. A  great  deal  that  was  meritorious 
in  the  original  plans  of  the  Capitol  was  due 
to  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Pruyn  and  the  Hon. 
Hamilton  Harris,  an  associate  member  of  the 
commission.  These  two  worked  side  by  side, 
and  had  their  wishes  been  more  closely  fol- 
lowed the  defects  in  the  building  would  have 
been  fewer  and  much  money  saved  the  state. 
Mr.  Pruyn  was  particularly  well-informed  on 
light  and  ventilation,  and  to  his  energy  is  due 
the  central  court  of  the  building.  This  he 
had  to  fight  for,  with  the  assistance  of  Mr. 
Harris,  as  well  as  for  other  necessary  fea- 
tures of  the  building.  From  1865  to  1870 
these  two   men   worked  to   the   best  of  their 


146 


HUDSON    AND    ^lOHAWK    \'ALLEYS 


ability  for  the  interests  of  the  state  and  should 
be  exempt  from  the  severe  criticism  to  which 
the  Capitol  commission  is  subjected.  The  first 
stone  of  the  new  building  was  laid  on  July 
7.  1869,  by  Mr.  Pruyn  in  the  presence  of  Gov- 
ernor Hoffman,  the  state  official  and  a  few 
friends.  A  feature  of  the  decoration  of  the 
famous  "staircase"'  is  a  head  of  ]\Ir.  Pruyn 
carved  in  stone. 

He  was  a  representative  in  congress  from 
the  Albany  district  twice :  first  in  the  thirty- 
eighth  congress  (1863-65),  elected  as  suc- 
cessor to  Erastus  Corning,  resigned,  and  again 
in  the  fortieth  congress  ( 1867-69).  He  served 
upon  the  important  committees  on  ways  and 
means,  claims,  Pacific  railroads,  joint  library 
and  foreign  affairs.  In  the  thirty-eighth  con- 
gress his  most  noted  speeches  were  made,  in 
opposition  to  the  confiscation  act,  against  the 
currency  bill  and  upon  the  abolition  of  slav- 
ery. In  the  fortieth  congress  his  principal 
speeches  were  on  the  treaty-making  power, 
under  the  Alaska  treaty  with  Russia,  on  re- 
construction, on  diplomatic  appropriation,  the 
resumption  of  specie  payments  and  against 
the  impeachment  of  President  Andrew  John- 
son. In  his  congress  he  was  chosen  a  regent 
of  the  Smithsonian  Institute  in  conjunction 
with  the  Hon.  Luke  P.  Poland  and  James 
A.  Garfield,  then  a  member  of  congress  from 
Ohio,  later  to  die  by  the  assassin's  bullet  while 
President  of  the  United  States.  Mr.  Pruyn 
was  in  many  respects  the  most  efficient  repre- 
sentative that  Albany  has  ever  sent  to  Wash- 
ington. He  was  possessed  of  most  remarkable 
executive  ability,  while  his  extensive  knowl- 
edge and  elevated  views  of  public  affairs  gave 
him  weight  and  position.  Although  not  rated 
an  orator,  he  was  an  effective  speaker.  "His 
style  of  language  and  manner  was  simple, 
vigorous  and  correct,  while  his  reasoning  was 
.sound  and  just."  Although  eminently  fitted 
for  public  life,  he  will  be  best  remembered  for 
his  work  in  the  more  congenial  fields  of  phil- 
anthropy and  education.  In  183 1  he  was  elec- 
ted a  member  of  the  Albany  Institute,  which 
he  served  in  all  capacities  including  the  office 
of  president,  which  he  filled  capably  from  1857 
until  his  death.  The  Albany  Institute,  al- 
though not  organized  until  ^Iay.  1824,  is  in 
reality  one  of  the  oldest  literary  and  scientific 
societies  in  the  state,  being  the  combination  of 
the  "Albany  Lyceum  of  Natural  History" 
(founded  in  1823)  and  the  "Society  for  the 
Promotion  of  Useful  Arts,"  which  was 
founded  in  1804  as  the  legitimate  successor  of 
the  "Society  for  the  Promotion  of  .Agricul- 
ture, .'Krts  and  Manufactures,"  organized  in 
the  city  of  New  York  ( then  the  state  capital ) 
in  1791.    In  the  cause  of  education  Mr.  Pruyn 


did  a  noble  work.  On  May  4,  1844,  at  the 
age  of  thirty-three,  he  was  appointed  by  the 
legislature  a  regent  of  the  University  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  and  on  January  9,  1862, 
was  elected  chancellor  to  succeed  Hon.  Gerrit 
Yates  Lansing.  LL.D.,  deceased.  He  was  a 
regent  for  over  thirty  years,  fifteen  of  which 
he  was  chancellor,  the  highest  educational  of- 
fice of  the  state. 

The  University  of  the  State  of  New  York 
was  established  by  the  legislature,  first  in 
1784.  but  substantially  as  it  now  exists  in 
1787.  Alexander  Hamilton  was  one  of  the 
committee  who  drew  up  the  act  of  1787.  The 
University,  like  those  of  Oxford  and  Cam- 
bridge, is  one  of  supervision  and  visitation 
rather  than  one  of  instruction.  There  are 
twenty-three  regents,  the  presiding  officer  of 
the  board  being  the  chancellor,  who  is  the 
head  of  the  university,  which  includes  under 
the  visitation  of  the  regents  twenty-three  lit- 
erary colleges,  twenty  medical  colleges,  schools 
of  science,  three  law  schools,  and  about  two 
hundred  and  forty  academies  and  academical 
departments  of  Union  schools.  The  regents 
also  have  the  care  of  the  state  library  and  the 
State  Museum  of  Natural  History.  When 
he  became  chancellor  Mr.  Pruyn  threw  his 
whole  soul  into  the  work.  The  cause  of  high- 
er education  was  not  in  its  most  flourishing 
condition,  but  he  gave  it  a  quickening  impulse. 
The  L'niversity  convocation  was  organized, 
the  system  of  preliminary  and  higher  academic 
examination  was  instituted  and  a  broad  foun- 
dation laid  for  greater  usefulness.  At  Ham- 
ilton College  he  founded  the  Pruyn  medal  for 
the  best  oration  in  the  senior  class,  relating 
to  the  duties  of  the  educated  citizen  to  the 
state.  He  was  president  of  the  board  of  trus- 
tees of  St.  Stephen's  College  at  Annandale,  an 
institution  founded  by  Air.  and  Mrs.  John 
Bard  for  training  young  men,  chiefly  for  the 
ministry  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church.  J 
As  a  member  of  the  "Association  for  the  Codi-  I 
fication  of  the  Law  of  Nations,"  he  oft'ered 
at  the  I  lague  meeting  in  1875  resolutions  of 
thanks  for  courtesies  received,  sjwaking  in 
English,  Erench  and  finally  in  Dutch,  the 
language  of  his  ancestors,  for  which  he  was 
loudly  applauded.  In  1876  the  board  of  com- 
missioners of  state  survev"  was  organized  and 
he  was  chosen  president.  This  was  really  the 
last  public  position  to  which  he  was  called. 
In  1871  he  was  appointed  by  President  Grant  i 
a  member  of  the  centennial  commission,  but 
resigned  before  1876.  I 

He    was    a    corresponding   member   of    the       j 
New    York   Historical    Society,    an    honorary 
member  of  the  Wisconsin   Historical  .'society, 
a  resident  member  of  the  American  Geogra- 


HUDSON   AND   .MOHAWK   \'ALLEYS 


147 


jiliical  and  Statistical  Society,  a  life  member 
of  the  Young  Men's  Association  of  Albany, 
a  member  of  the  Literary  h'und  Society  of 
Ixindon,  of  the  Union  and  Century  clubs  of 
New  York,  and  of  other  societies.  He  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  in  1835 
from  Rutgers  College  and  in  1845  from  Union 
College,  and  that  of  LL.D.  in  1852  from  the 
University  of  Rochester.  During  the  latter 
years  of  his  life  he  gave  nearly  all  his  time 
to  public  service,  and  that  too  without  com- 
pensation, although  entitled  by  law  to  the  re- 
imbursement of  his  expenses  he  steadily  de- 
clined to  take  it.  His  religious  life  was  re- 
markably happy.  Originally  an  officer  of  the 
.Second  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  in  which  he 
had  been  reared,  the  latter  half  of  his  religious 
life  was  given  almost  wholly  to  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  church,  of  which  he  became  a  com- 
nnmicant.  He  was  a  vestryman  of  St.  Peter's 
Church.  .Albany,  early  known  as  "Queen 
-Vnne's  Chapel  in  the  Wilderness."  His  views 
were  essentially  broad.  He  was  a  warm  ad- 
mirer of  Dean  Stanley  and  a  personal  friend 
of  Bishop  Doane,  to  whom  he  suggested  the 
form  of  prayer  now  in  use  in  the 
diocese  of  Albany  for  the  government 
and  state  legislature,  and  for  a  col- 
lect for  the  new  year.  Despite  his  love 
for  the  Episcopal  church,  he  never  lost 
sight  of  his  early  religious  training,  but  made 
it  his  custom  to  annually  take  part  in  the 
New  Year  services  of  the  Dutch  church.  He 
was  a  man  of  cultivated  taste,  had  traveled 
extensively,  and  had  a  large  circle  of  friends 
abroad  as  well  as  at  home.  His  pre-eminent 
characteristic  was  justice.  He  was  always 
gentle  and  never  spoke  ill  of  any  one.  "He 
had  not  an  enemy  in  the  world"  was  true  of 
him.  He  led  a  life  of  personal  purity  and 
integrity,  unsullied  by  even  a  rumor  to  the 
contrary.  After  his  death  on  November  21, 
1877.  resolutions  of  sympathy  were  passed  by 
the  bodies  with  which  he  had  been  connected 
and  by  many  others  upon  which  he  had  no 
claim.  His  funeral  took  place  on  the  after- 
noon of  i'"riday,  November  23,  1877,  from 
St.  Peter's  Church,  .\lbany,  in  the  presence 
of  the  governor,  the  state  officials,  regents  of 
the  University,  and  a  large  assemblage  of 
friends.  The  flags  upon  the  public  buildings 
were  at  half  mast,  and  many  of  the  public 
offices  closed  during  the  funeral  services.  He 
is  buried  in  the  .\lbany  cemetery,  beneath 
the  sha<low  of  a  simple  granite  cross,  suitably 
inscribed. 

Mr.  Pruyn  married  (first)  October  22,  1840, 
in  .Albany,  Harriet  Corning  Turner,  born  June 
18,  1822.  second  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Mary  Ruggles  (Weld)  Turner,  of  Troy,  New 


York.  She  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Weld,  who  emigrated  from 
England  in  1632  and  became  pastor  of  the 
First  Congregational  Church  in  Ro.xbury, 
Massachusetts.  This  is  the  same  Weld  family 
as  the  Welds  of  Wiltshire  and  Lulworth  Cas- 
tle, Dorsetshire,  England.  Mrs.  Pruyn  died 
March  22,  1859.  In  St.  Peter's  Church  a 
beautiful  memorial  window  is  dedicated  to  her 
memory  and  that  of  an  infant  daughter.  I'.y 
this  marriage  were  born  five  children,  two  only 
of  whom  arrived  at  maturity,  both  sons,  three 
daughters  clying  in  infancy,  i.  Erastus  Corn- 
ing, born  August  24,  1841  :  passed  several 
years  under  the  tuition  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cal- 
throp  at  Bridgeport,  Connecticut,  and  subse- 
quently a  student  at  Princeton  University  and 
at  Trinity  College,  Cambridge,  England ;  he 
w^as  appointed  consular  agent  of  the  United 
States  at  Caracas  by  Hon.  William  H.  Sew- 
ard, secretary  of  state,  and  was  the  acting 
minister  of  our  government  there  during  the 
\'enezuelan  revolution  of  1868.  He  received 
special  commendation  from  the  state  depart- 
ment for  his  services  at  that  time.  In  187 1  he 
went  to  Teneriffe.  one  of  the  Canary  Islands, 
where  he  died  at  Orotava,  February,  188 1.  He 
married  at  Orotava,  Teneriffe,  i\Iay  4,  1872, 
Maria  de  los  Dolores,  only  daughter  of  Au- 
gustin  \'elasquez,  of  the  Island  of  Las  Pal- 
mas.  There  was  no  issue.  2.  Mary  Weld, 
born  August  6,  1843,  died  September  8.  1844. 
3.  Harriet  Corning,  born  August  12,  1845, 
died  March  24,  1847.  4.  Harriet  Catherine, 
born  August  13,  1849,  died  February  25, 
1858.  5.  John  Van  Schaick  Lansing,  see  for- 
ward. -Mr.  Pruyn  married  (second)  Septem- 
ber 7,  1865,  at  St.  Peter's  Church,  Albanv, 
by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Horatio  Potter,  D.D.,  LL.D., 
D.C.I.,  Oxon,  Bishop  of  New  York.  .Anna 
t'enn  Parker,  born  at  Delhi.  New  York, 
Alarch  26,  1840,  eldest  daughter  of  Hon.  Am- 
asa  J.  Parker  and  his  wife,  Harriet  Langdon 
(Roberts)  Parker,  of  Albany  (see  Parker 
\T1).  Two  children  were  born  of  this  mar- 
riage: I.  Harriet  Langdon.  born  January  31, 
1868,  at  Washington,  D.  C,  married  William 
Gorham  Rice  and  their  son,  William  Gorham 
Rice,  Jr.,  was  born  December  30,  1892.  2. 
Huybertie  Lansing,  born  in  Albany,  New 
York,  April  8.  1873,  married  Charles  Sumner 
Hamlin,  of  Boston :  their  daughter,  .Anna,  was 
born  October  26,  1900.  Mrs.-  John  \'.  L. 
(.Anna  F.  Parker)  Pruyn,  spent  the  greater 
part  of  her  life  in  .Albany.  She  was  a  woman 
of  vigorous  mental  powers,  of  broad  culture 
and  of  extended  travel.  She  was  deeply  in- 
terested in  Albany  affairs  where  her  house 
was  a  centre  of  wide  hospitality.  Generous 
by  nature,  she  gave  liberally  of  her  means  both 


148 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK    VALLEYS 


to  public  and  private  charities.  The  Pruyn 
public  library  in  Albany  was  a  gift  from  Mrs. 
Pruyn  and  her  family  in  memory  of  her  hus- 
band. She  died  at  her  summer  home  in  Mat- 
tapoisett,  Massachusetts,  October  7,  1909. 
Her  two  daughters,  Mrs.  William  Gorham 
Rice,  of  Albany,  and  Mrs.  Charles  S.  Hamlin, 
of  Boston,  survive  her. 

(Vni)  John  Van  Schaick  Lansing,  son  of 
John  \'an  Schaick  Lansing  and  Harriet  Corn- 
ing (Turner)  Pruyn,  was  born  in  Albany, 
New  York,  March  14,  1859,  died  in  New 
York  City,  September  24,  1904.  He  gradua- 
ted at  St.  John's  School,  Sing  Sing,  New 
York,  in  June,  1876,  at  Union  College,  Sche- 
nectady, New  York,  in  June,  1880,  where  he 
received  the  degree  of  A.B.  Pie  entered  the 
law  office  of  Hon.  Amasa  J.  Parker  where  he 
read  law.  He  graduated  from  the  Albany 
Law  School,  May  25,  1882.  At  the  general 
term  he  passed  the  examination  and  was  ad- 
mitted attorney  and  counsellor.  May  27,  1882. 
He  removed  to  New  York  City,  where  he  mar- 
ried and  died.  He  was  trustee  of  the  .-Mbany 
City  Homeopathic  Hospital  for  1881,  and  was 
elected  a  director  of  the  Albany  City  National 
Bank  in  1880.  He  was  a  cultured  man  of  re- 
fined tastes  and  deep  learning.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Albany  Institute  and  of  the 
New  York  Genealogical  and  Biographical  So- 
ciety. He  was  a  useful  inember  ot  this  so- 
ciety and  prepared  for  publication  in  their 
Record  a  comprehensive  history  of  the  Pruyn 
and  collateral  families,  from  which  much  of 
the  matter  herein  contained  was  compiled.  He 
married,  June  11,  1895,  ™  Grace  Church.  New 
York  City,  Cornelia  \'an  Rensselaer,  daughter 
of  John  Langdon  F.rving.  Their  children 
were:  i.  John  \'an  Schaick  Lansing  (3),  born 
in  Florence,  Italy,  June  6,  1896,  died  in  Al- 
bany, New  York,  May  17,  1897.  2.  Erving, 
born  in  Albany,  October  26,  1897.  3-  Hen- 
drick,  born  in  New  York,  December  29,  1900. 


(\T)  Francis  C.  Pruyn,  fourth 
PRUYN     child    of    Lieutenant    Casparus 

(q.  v.),  and  Catherine  (Groes- 
beck  )  Pruyn,  was  born  in  Albany,  New  York, 
July  19,  1769,  died  there  June  14,  1837.  He 
married,  August  30.  1791,  Cornelia  Dunbar, 
born  January  11,  1770,  died  July  12,  1844, 
daughter  of  Levinus  and  Margaret  (Hansen) 
Dunbar,  of  Albany.  Hendrick  Hansen,  a 
great-uncle  of  Cornelia  Dunbar,  was  mayor 
of  Albany  in  1698-99.  Johannes  Hansen, 
probalily  a  son  of  Hendrick,  was  mayor  in 
1731-32,  and  in  1754-56.  Their  ancestor  was 
Captain  Hans  Hendrickson,  whose  male  de- 
scendants took  the  name  of  Hansen.  Francis 
C,   and   Cornelia    (Dunbar)    Pruyn  were  the 


parents  of  ten  children.  Casparus  F.,  see  for- 
ward :  Catherine,  married  Adrian  \'an  Sant- 
voord :  Levinus,  a  merchant  of  Albany ;  mar- 
ried Brachie  or  Bridget  Oblenis ;  David,  died 
young ;  Margaret,  twin  to  David,  married  a 
kinsman,  William  I.  Pruyn  ;  David  ( 2  ) ,  born 
November  20,  1801,  died  at  sea;  Gertrude, 
married  Samuel  Randall,  an  architect  and 
manufacturer ;  Alida,  married  William  Board- 
man  ;  Maria,  married  David  Bensen  ;  Cornelia, 
married  Dr.  Owen  Munson,  a  physician  and 
one  time  partner  of  Dr.  Frank  Hamilton,  of 
New  York.  Dr.  Munson  served  in  the  civil 
war  as  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Fifth  New 
York  Zouaves  and  was  taken  prisoner  at  Sar- 
atoga Station.  Later  he  was  promoted  to  sur- 
geon of  the  One  Hundred  and  Ninth  Regi- 
ment, New  York  \'olunteers.  Army  hard- 
ships destroyed  his  health  and  compelled  his 
return  to  private  life.  Of  the  daughters  of 
Francis  C.  Pruyn  all  reared  large  families  and 
many  distinguished  men  and  women  are  num- 
bered among  his  descendants. 

(VII)  Casparus  F.,  eldest  child  and  son 
of  Francis  C.  and  Cornelia  (Dunbar)  Pruyn, 
was  born  in  Albany,  New  York,  May  26,  1792, 
died  February  11,  1846.  At  the  age  of  thir- 
teen he  entered  the  office  of  the  \'an  Rens- 
selaer Estate,  his  uncle.  General  Robert  Dun- 
bar, being  at  that  time  (1805)  the  agent.  In 
1835  General  Dunbar  resigned  and  Air.  Pruyn 
was  appointed  agent  for  the  manor.  This 
position  called  for  a  man  of  more  than  or- 
dinary business  ability  and  he  filled  it  with  sat- 
isfaction to  all  concerned.  In  January,  1839, 
"the  old  patroon,"  General  Stephen  \'an  Rens- 
selaer, died,  and  the  estate  was  divided,  that 
portion  on  the  east  shore  of  the  Hudson  going 
to  \\'illiani  Paterson  \'an  Rensselaer.  Mr. 
Pruyn  removed  to  Bath,  Rensselaer  county, 
and  became  agent  for  the  "East  Manor,"  so 
continuing  until  the  autumn  of  1844,  when  he 
resigned.  His  death  occurred  two  years  later. 
He  married,  April  19.  1814,  Anne,  born  Janu- 
ary 27,  1794,  (lied  l*"ebruary  12,  1841.  daugh- 
ter of  Robert  and  Elizabeth  (Fryer)  Hewson, 
of  Albany.  Children:  i.  Robert  Hewson, 
A.M.,  LL.D.,  born  in  Albany,  February  14, 
1815,  died  February  26,  1882.  2.  Fran- 
cis, born  November  2,  1816,  died  April 
I,  1897,  at  Brigham,  Province  of  Que- 
bec, Canada.  He  was  commissioned  cap- 
tain of  the  One  Hundred  and  Thir- 
teenth Regiment,  New  York  \'olun- 
teer  Infantry,  September  8,  1862.  This  regi- 
ment l^ecame  the  Seventh  New  York  Heavy 
Artillery,  and  on  January  23,  1864,  he  was 
commissioned  major.  He  married  Isabella, 
daughter  of  Andres  Kirk,  and  had  issue.  3. 
Elizabeth,  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of  twen- 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


149 


ty-four.  4.  Cornelia,  married  Charles  Van 
Zandt,  agent  of  the  Van  Rensselaer  estate,  and 
a  leading  member  of  the  North  Dutch  Church. 
5.  Mary,  died  young.  6.  Alida,  married  James 
C.  Bell,  and  had  issue.  7.  William  Fryer, 
married  Gertrude  Dunbar  Visscher  and  had 
issue.  8.  Edward  Roggen,  born  July  12,  1829. 
9.  .Augustus,  see  forward.  10.  Mary  Hewson, 
married  Montgomery  Rochester,  whose  ances- 
tors laid  out  and  founded  the  city  of  Roches- 
ter, New  York.  They  removed  to  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  and  had  issue. 

(\'ni)  .Augustus,  ninth  child  of  Casparus 
F.  and  .Anne  (Hewson.)  Pruyn,  was  born 
in  .Albany,  New  A^ork,  October  23,  1831, 
died  February  7,  1908.  He  was  a  civil  engi- 
neer by  profession.  During  the  civil  war  he 
served  as  adjutant  of  the  Eleventh  Regiment 
"Scotts  900,"  New  York  Cavalry.  He  was  ap- 
pointed September,  1861.  In  Alarch,  1862,  he 
was  made  captain  of  Company  H,  same  regi- 
ment, and  in  April,  appointed  major.  Com- 
missions were  not  issued  to  any  officers  in  his 
regiment  until  1863,  as  the  colonel  in  com- 
mand would  not  accept  state  commissions, 
claiming  that  the  regiment  was  United  States 
Troops.  In  the  autumn  of  1862,  Major  Pruyn 
resigned  from  the  Eleventh  to  accept  a  com- 
mission as  major  in  the  Fourth  Regiment, 
New  A'ork  Calvary,  and  was  so  commissioned 
January  30,  1863.  On  May  25,  1863,  he  was 
promoted  to  lieutenant-colonel,  ranking  as  such 
from  .April  2^.  His  commission  did  not  reach 
him  until  the  morning  of  June  9th,  on  which 
date  he  was  in  command  of  the  regiment,  in 
battle  at  Beverly  Ford  or  Brandy  Station.  In 
the  calvary  battles  of  June  17.  18,  19,  20  and 
21.  he  was  in  command  of  the  regiment,  the 
colonel  having  previously  been  taken  prisoner. 
He  was  also  in  command  of  the  regiment  at 
Gettysburg  and  in  all  the  eighteen  engage- 
ments including  that  of  Aline  Run,  after  which 
he  resigned  in  December,  1863.  After  his 
army  career  was  ended  Mr.  Pruyn  returned 
to  the  ]5ractice  of  his  profession.  He  was  en- 
gaged jirincipally  by  the  great  railway  cor- 
])oration  in  construction  work  which  called 
him  away  from  home  a  great  deal.  For  sev- 
eral years  he  was  located  in  Newark,  New 
Jersey,  where  his  four  youngest  children  were 
born.  He  was  engaged  in  construction  work 
of  importance  in  all  parts  of  the  country  and 
stood  high  in  his  profession.  He  later  in  life 
returned  to  .Albany,  where  he  died.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Dutch  Church  of  Albany 
(Second  Reformed)  and  in  politics  a  Republi- 
can. He  was  a  member  of  the  Military  Or- 
der of  the  Loyal  Legion,  an  honor  that  de- 
scended to  his  son,  Foster.  He  was  married, 
September    19,    1866,    in    the    North    Dutch 


Church,  Albany,  by  the  Rev.  Rufus  W.  Clark, 
D.D.,  to  Catalina  Ten  Eyck,  born  January  24, 
1840,  daughter  of  Herman  and  Eliza  (Bo- 
gart)  Ten  Eyck,  granddaughter  of  Harmanus 
and  Margaret  (Bleecker)  Ten  Eyck,  and 
great-granddaughter  of  Hendrick  Bleecker, 
Jr.,  and  his  wife  Catalyntje  Cuyler,  this  mar- 
riage again  bringing  together  many  families 
of  the  best  okl  Dutch  stock  of  the  Mohawk 
Valley.  The  children  of  this  marriage  are : 
Margaret  Ten  Eyck,  born  in  Albany,  January 
2,  1868;  .Augustus  (2),  born  in  Newark.  New 
Jersey,  April  22,  1869,  died  July  i,  1870;  Eli- 
za Ten  Eyck,  born  in  Newark,  July  27,  1870; 
married  April  8,  1896,  Charles  Mulford  Robin- 
son, of  Rochester,  New  A'ork,  where  they  re- 
side ;  Montgomery  Rochester,  born  in  Newark, 
July  29,  1873,  died  July  16,  1874;  Foster,  see 
forward. 

(IX)  Foster,  youngest  child  of  Augustus 
and  Catalina  (Ten  Eyck)  Pruyn,  was  born 
in  Newark,  ¥ew  Jersey,  October  5,  1875.  His 
early  education  was  in  a  private  school  in  Al- 
bany, and  he  then  entered  Albany  Academy, 
graduating  therefrom  with  the  class  of  1893. 
He  then  matriculated  at  A^ale  University,  from 
v\'hich  he  was  graduated  in  class  of  1897. 
Choosing  the  profession  of  law  he  entered  Al- 
bany Law  School,  Union  University,  taking 
the  full  course,  graduating  in  1899.  In  Jidy 
of  the  same  year  he  was  admitted  to  practice 
in  the  courts  of  New  York  state.  He  is  now 
(1910)  engaged  in  the  general  practice  of  law 
in  Albany,  New  A'ork.  His  profession  does 
not  ab.sorb  all  his  time  nor  energy,  but  numer- 
ous outside  interests  claim  his  attention, 
among  them  the  Newton  Fire  Brick  Company 
of  Albany,  of  which  he  is  secretary  and  treas- 
urer. His  political  preference  is  for  the  men 
and  measures  of  the  Republican  party,  but  he 
keeps  aloof  from  all  personal  connection  be- 
yond tliat  of  a  good  citizen's  duty.  He  is  a 
member  and  a  deacon  of  the  Second  Reformed 
(Dutch)  Church  of  Albany.  He  has  a  lively 
interest  in  the  citizen  soldiery  of  his  state  and 
for  many  years  has  been  a  member  of  Troop 
B,  National  Guard  of  New  York,  of  which  he 
is  sergeant.  He  is  a  member  of  the  "old 
guard"  of  Troop  B,  to  which  only  those  who 
have  served  five  years  in  the  troop  are  eligible. 
He  wears  the  insignia  of  the  Military  Order 
of  the  Loyal  Legion,  of  which  he  is  a  member, 
inheriting  that  proud  distinction  through  his 
father,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Pruyn.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Patriotic  Order  Sons  of  the 
Revolution,  Albany  Chapter,  the  Phi  Beta 
Kappa  of  Yale,  the  Yale,  .Albany  Academy, 
and  Albany  Law  School  .Alumni  associations. 
His  social  and  professional  clubs  are  the  .Al- 
bany Country  Club,  the  Fort  Orange,  the  Uni- 


15° 


HUDSON   AND    :\IOHA\VK    \"ALLFA'S 


versity  and  Camera  of  Albany,  and  the  Yale 
Club  of  Xew  York  City.  Mr.  Pruyn  is  un- 
married. 


The  family  name  of  Selkirk  is 
SELKIRK  derived  from  a  borough  town 
of  Scotland.  It  was  originally 
Cellkirk,  a  religious  house :  a  "cell"  was  an- 
ciently that  part  of  a  temple  within  the  walls. 
It  is  also  said  that  the  name  is  derived  from 
"Sel-carrik,"  (Cor.  Br.)  which  sigpiifies  the 
high  rock ;  "Sel,"  a  view,  or  prospect,  Welsh 
"syllu"  to  look,  and  "carrik"  or  "craig,"  a 
rock.  From  this  latter  formation  of  the  name, 
we  are  led  to  believe  that  when  the  family 
first  was  given  that  cognomen,  they  dwelt  on 
an  eminence,  a  high,  rocky  hill,  or  upon  a 
mountain  top  in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland. 
The  Selkirk  coat-of-arms.  Creation,  Au- 
gust, 1646.  Arms,  Quarterly:  1st  and  4th 
arg,  a  human  heart;  git.  ensigned  with  an  im- 
perial crown:  or,  on  a  chief:  ac,  three  (3) 
mullets  of  the  field  for  Douglas ;  2d.  gu.  three 
(3)  cinquefoils :  crm,  for  Hamilton.  3d.  gu, 
a  lion,  rampant :  arg,  within  a  bordure  of  the 
last,  charged  with  ten  ( 10) — (8?)  roses  of  the 
first,  for  Dunbar  of  Baldoon.  Crest :  On  a 
chapeau,  "•;(,  turned  up,  crm,  a  salamander  in 
flame,  ppr.  Supporters :  Dexter,  a  savage, 
wreathed  about  the  temples  and  loins  with  ivy, 
holding  with  his  exterior  hand  a  club  over  his 
shoulder;  ppr;  Sinister,  an  antelope,  arg, 
armed  or,  ducally  gorged  and  chained  of  the 
last.  Mottoes :  "Firmior  quo  paratior"  :  over 
the  crest.  "Jamais  arriere."  Seat,  St.  Mary's 
Isle,  Kirkcudbright. 

(I)  James  Selkirk  was  born  in  Kirkcud- 
bright, Scotland.  November  i,  1757  (old 
style),  and  emigrated  to  America.  He  left 
Kirkcudbright  early  in  March,  1775,  and  after 
a  stormy  passage  of  one  hundred  and  six  days, 
landed  in  the  city  of  New  York,  the  day  after 
the  battle  of  I'unker  Hill,  June  19,  1775.  He 
remained  there  for  a  few  days,  and  then  went 
to  Argj'le,  afterwards  to  wliat  was  then  Al- 
bany county ;  but  now  within  the  limits  of 
Saratoga  county.  Following  a  residence  in 
Argyle  for  a  few  months,  he  enlisted  in  the 
provisional  army,  or  forces  of  the  struggling 
colony  of  New  York,  and  served  out  his  term 
of  enlistment,  when  he  returned  to  .Albany. 
There  he  remained  for  a  few  days,  and  then 
.enlisted  a  second  time,  December  20,  1776, 
for  the  whole  period  of  the  war,  serving  to  the 
end  of  the  revolution.  He  had  served  under 
General  lienedict  .Arnold  in  the  fierce  northern 
campaign  of  the  Adirondack  region,  and  was 
in  that  greatest  of  American  revolutionary 
struggles,  the  battle  of  Saratoga,  which, 
known   as  the  battle   of    Bemis    Heights,    re- 


sulted in  the  surrender  of  General  Burgoyne, 
October  17,  1777.  Under  General  Greene,  he 
was  in  the  retreat  through  New  Jersey,  and 
endured  the  hardships  of  the  winter  quarters 
of  the  army  at  Valley  Forge.  Subsequently, 
under  Gen.  Horatio  Gates,  he  was  in  the 
southern  campaign  until  after  that  general's 
defeat  at  Camden,  and  later  with  his  regiment 
in  the  allied  army  at  York-town,  Virginia, 
when  Cornwallis  surrendered.  He  received  his 
certificate  of  service  and  discharge  duly  signed 
by  George  Washington,  and  tliis  document  is 
now  in  the  Hall  of  Military  Records  in  the 
Capitol  at  Albany.  New  York.  His  discharge 
was  dated  June  7,  1783,  and  he  likewise  re- 
ceived with  it  a  paper  setting  forth  "Reward 
of  Merit."  His  service  was  in  battalion  of 
force,  commanded  by  Colonel  James  Livings- 
ton, Company  Two,  Dirk  Hansen,  captain,  and 
was  quartermaster-sergeant  in  that  company. 
At  the  close  of  the  war,  James  Selkirk  mar- 
ried Elizabeth ;  daughter  of  William  Henr>-, 
the  ceremony  taking  place  in  February,  1787, 
in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Albany, 
New  York.  They  were  the  second  couple  ever 
married  in  that  church.  She  was  born  April 
12,  1766,  and  was  a  sister  of  William  Henry, 
who  was  the  father  of  Professor  Joseph  Flen- 
ry,  the  inventor  of  the  electro-magnet,  while 
an  instructor  in  the  Albany  Academy,  he,  Jos- 
eph, having  been  born  in  the  city  of  Albany, 
December  17,  1799,  and  as  their  parents  had 
come  over  from  Scotland  in  the  same  ship,  the 
families  were  bound  by  ties  of  closest  inti- 
macy. Besides  this,  Professor  Henry  had 
taught  school  at  Selkirk  for  two  years,  when  a 
young  man,  before  his  appointment  to  the  Al- 
bany .'\cademy,  September  11.  1826.  James  Sel- 
kirk died  at  Selkirk.  Albany  county,  about 
ten  miles  south  of  .Albany.  December  2,  1820. 
Elizabeth,  his  wife,  died  May  9,  1844.  Both 
are  buried  in  the  family  burying-ground  of 
Colonel  r*"rancis  Nicoll.  at  Cedar  Hill.  Albany 
county.  Children:  i.  James,  born  .AugT.ist 
28,  1788;  married  Rachel  Mull;  died  Alarch 
5.  1821.  2.  Nancy,  born  May  18.  1791.  died  in 
infancy.  3.  William,  born  July  24.  1792;  mar- 
ried .Matilda  Hallenbeck.  4.  John,  born  No- 
vember I.  1794:  married  Mary  Gillman  ;  died 
June  16,  1840.  5.  Robert,  torn  Alarch  18. 
1797;  married.  1821,  Maria  Boucher.  6. 
Charles,  born  April  13,  1799,  see  forward.  7. 
Joseph,  born  October,  1801.  8.  Elizabeth,  born 
.April  7.  1804.  9.  Francis  Nicoll,  born  Octo- 
ber 8.  1806.  ID.  Alexander,  born,  .\pril  16, 
1809. 

(11)  Charles,  fifth  son  of  James  and  Eliza- 
beth (Henry)  Selkirk,  was  born  in  Selkirk, 
.Albany  county.  New  York,  April  13.  1799. 
He  was  for  some  time,  in  1814-15,  apprenticed 


HUDSON'    AXD    MOIIAWK   VAI.LF.YS 


151 


as  a  silversinitli  uihIlt  his  brother,  William, 
then  residing  in  Albany  and  foreman  for  John 
I-".  Doty,  silversmith  and  watchmaker,  doing 
business  at  No.  71  South  Pearl  street  and 
with  a  factory  at  No.  7  Union  street.  He  was 
a  fellow  apprentice  with  his  first  cousin,  young 
Joseph  Henry,  and  thus  in  the  second  genera- 
tion   preserved    the    family    acf|uaintanceship. 

Professor  Henry,  following  his  discovery  of 
the  principle  of  the  electro-magnet,  and  dem- 
onstrating its  practicability  in  the  large  room 
of  the  Academy,  about  1829,  was  called  to 
Princeton  in  November,  1832,  as  an  instructor 
in  the  sciences,  and  was  made  the  first  secre- 
tary of  the  Smithsonian  Institution  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  December  3,  1846,  and  died  in 
that  city.  May  13,  1878.  On  account  of  his 
poor  health.  Charles  Selkirk  did  not  continue 
this  line  of  work:  but  returned  to  the  home- 
stead and  became  a  carpenter.  Following  the 
death  of  his  father,  in  1820,  with  his  brother, 
William,  he  took  the  old  farm  and  turned  his 
attention  to  agriculture.  In  January  of  1845 
he  made  a  trip  to  Scotland,  where  he  visited 
his  relatives,  traveled  through  England  anil 
Ireland,  and  returned  to  this  country  in  Sep- 
tember of  the  same  year.  He  died  July  26, 
1866,  Charles  Selkirk  married,  September 
10,  1829.  Jane  Elmendorf.  born  November  22, 
1809.  died  January  26.  1845,  daughter  of  Ja- 
cob Elmendorf,  of  Bethlehem,  .A.lbany  county. 
New  York,  who  was  a  descendant  of  Jacobus 
Elmendorf.  who  came  to  this  country  from 
Ghent,  Holland,  in  the  year  1649,  and  settled 
at  Kingston,  Dutchess  county.  New  York. 
Children:  i.  Alexander,  born  in  Selkirk.  New 
York.  July  18.  1830.  see  forward.  2.  Lewis 
McMullen,  born  August  14,  1832.  3.  Fran- 
ces, born  January  18.  1841. 

(Ill)  Alexander,  son  of  Charles  and  Jane 
(Elmendorf)  Selkirk,  was  born  on  the  home- 
stead at  Selkirk,  Albany  county.  New  York, 
July  18,  1830,  died  October  i8,  1905.  With 
his  brothers,  he  received  his  education  at  dis- 
trict school  No.  2,  at  Selkirk,  his  teachers  be- 
ing generally  men  from  the  eastern  states  who 
made  school  teaching  a  means  to  aid  them  in 
acquiring  a  collegiate  education,  and  under 
this  class  of  instructors  he  was  educated  in 
the  highest  English  branches  of  that  day.  He 
removed  to  Albany  in  1847.  and  at  James 
Goold  &  Company's  coach  factory  learned  the 
art  of  coach  ornamentation  and  heraldr\'.  and 
was  made  foreman  in  that  department  in  1850. 
In  1849,  with  George  H.  Boughton,  James 
McDougal  Hart  and  James  XN'illiamson,  he 
formed  a  class  for  the  study  of  freehand  draw- 
ing from  models,  with  John  E.  Gavit,  bank- 
note engraver,  as  instructor.  In  the  spring  of 
1853   he  went   into   the   business  of   carriage 


manufacturer,  and  continued  in  that  until 
1864.  when  he  sold  out  to  Shaw  &  Rose.  He 
then  entered  the  profession  of  solicitor  of  pat- 
ents and  attorney  in  patent  cases,  also  that  of 
mechanical  expert,  and  continued  in  this  pro- 
fession with  success  that  won  recognition  until 
his  death.  He  was  located  at  the  start  at  No. 
44  North  Pearl  street,  and  after  1885  at  No. 
31  North  Pearl  street.  Being  of  an  inventive 
turn  of  mind,  he  perfected  several  important 
and  practical  inventions.  In  politics  he  voted 
first  for  Fremont  and  was  always  a  Republi- 
can and  protective  tariff  man.  .Although  not 
in  any  sense  a  politician,  he  was  frequently 
present  at  gatherings  to  advocate  a  cause  or 
candidate,  serving  his  party  considerably  in 
one  way  or  another  without  thought  or  expec- 
tation of  personal  gain.  When  a  new  water 
supply  for  the  city  of  Albany  was  being  agi- 
tated with  considerable  fervor  by  the  advo- 
cates of  different  methods  to  be  pursued,  and 
a  scheme  known  as  the  "Kindcrhook  Water 
Supply"  was  being  pressed.  Mr.  Selkirk  gave 
such  time  and  untiring  effort  in  convincing 
the  public  of  the  enormous  cost  and  imprac- 
ticability of  the  proposed  scheme  that  the  pro- 
moters of  the  bill  before  the  legislature  de- 
cided not  to  call  it  up  for  a  third  reading. 
He  drafted  other  bills  relating  to  Albany's 
water  supply,  which  passed  both  houses ;  but 
ended  in  a  veto  by  the  governor.  In  1848 
he  united  with  the  Wesleyan  Church,  and  in 
1864  with  the  Fourth  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Albany.  In  1832  he  joined  Union  Lodge,  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  in  1857 
Wadsworth  Lodge,  No.  417,  Free  and  Ac- 
cepted Masons.  He  married,  at  Albany,  Feb- 
ruary 17,  1853,  Elizabeth  Jane  Fee,  born  in 
Albany,  February  18,  1835,  died  in  the  same 
city.  December  27,  1904,  daughter  of  .Adam 
and  Henrietta  (Reid)  Fee,  both  of  .-Mbany, 
New  York.  Children,  born  in  Albany:  i. 
Charles,  February  23,  1855  ;  see  forward.  2. 
William  Fee.  May  23.  1857.  see  forward.  3. 
John  Adam.  ]\Iarch  ifi.  1864;  in  1910  con- 
nected with  the  Delaware  &  Hudson  railroad 
offices  at  Albany.  4.  Elizabeth  Reid,  August 
19,  1866:  residing  at  No.  284  Clinton  avenue, 
Albany,  in  1910.  5.  Alexander.  February  2, 
1868,  see  forward.  6.  Frank  Elmendorf, 
March  10.  187 1.  see  forward. 

(I\')  Charles,  son  of  Alexander  and  Eliza- 
beth Jane  (Fee)  Selkirk,  was  born  in  .\lbany, 
New  York.  February  23.  1835.  He  received 
his  education  at  the  local  schools,  and  about 
1870  commenced  studying  mechanical  and  art 
drawing  under  his  father,  who  had  studied 
with  the  celebrated  artists,  Boughton  and 
Hart,  at  his  father's  office,  then  located  at  No. 
44  North  Pearl  street.     About   1885  both  he 


152 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


and  his  father  removed  their  separate  offices  to 
the  suite  at  No.  31  North  Pearl  street,  where 
he  was  located  in  1910,  as  art  designer,  and 
had  achieved  success  in  his  line.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican, an  attendant  of  the  Fourth  Pres- 
byterian Church,  and  resides  at  No.  113  South 
Lake  avenue,  Albany.  He  married,  in  Phil- 
adelphia, Pennsylvania.  April  22,  1884,  Lillian 
Plumly.  born  in  that  city  February  17,  i860, 
daughter  of  Richard  Bernard  and  Harriet 
Miller  (Plumly)  Connolly.  Children,  born  in 
Albany,  New  York:  Charles  Richard,  March 

7,  1885  ;  Harriet  Connolly.  January  16,  1891. 
(IV)    William  Fee,  son  of  Alexander  and 

Elizabeth  Jane  (Fee)  Selkirk,  was  born  in  Al- 
bany, New  York,  May  23.  1857,  and  resided  at 
No.  291  First  street,  that  city,  in  19 10,  being 
connected  with  the  printing  establishment  of 
Weed-Parsons  &  Company,  of  Albany.  He 
married,  in  Albany,  April  2,  1884,  Mathilde, 
born  in  Albany,  New  York.  August  29,  i860, 
daughter  of  August  W.  and  Johanna  (Koch) 
Koenig,  who  were  married  in  Albany,  June 
5,  1858.  Children :  Augusta  Louise,  born  De- 
cember 4,  1886;  died  October  11,  1894;  Alex- 
ander T.,  born  in  Norwalk,  Ohio,  May  24, 
1889 ;  Theodore  Koenig,  born  in  Albany,  May 

8.  1896;  Catherine  King,  born  in  Norwalk, 
Ohio,  April  9,  1895  ;  adopted  October  14,  1901. 

(I\')  Alexander  (2),  son  of  Alexander  and 
EHzabeth  Jane  (Fee)  Selkirk,  was  born  in 
Albany,  New  York,  February  2,  1868.  He 
was  educated  at  the  primary  schools  in  his 
native  city  and  is  a  graduate  of  the  Albany 
high  school,  class  of  1885.  After  leaving 
school,  he  entered  the  office  of  Franklin  H. 
Janes,  an  architect  of  considerable  prominence, 
then  located  at  Albany,  where  he  was  a  stu- 
dent at  first,  and  remained  there  for  eight 
years,  being  the  head  draughtsman.  Between 
this  time  and  the  actual  opening  of  an  office 
for  himself,  alxjut  six  months,  he  was  en- 
gaged bv  George  Westinghouse,  Jr.,  in  de- 
signing buildings  for  his  country  residence, 
"Erskine  Park,"  Lenox,  Massachusetts.  Since 
then  he  lias  practiced  his  profession,  meeting 
with  abundant  success,  with  his  office  at  No. 
31  North  Pearl  street,  Albany,  New  York.  In 
politics  he  has  ever  been  a  Republican,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Fourtli  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  is  a  memlier  of  Masters  Lodge, 
No.  5,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  a  charter 
member  of  the  Aurania  Club,  and  a  member 
of  Philip  Livingston  Chapter,  Sons  of  the 
Revolution.  His  residence  is  No.  209  Lancas- 
ter street,  Albany,  New  York.  He  married, 
in  Coxsackie.  New  York,  .August  12,  1897, 
Clara  Hartt,  born  at  Indian  l-'iclds,  New  York, 
September  20,  1874,  daughter  of  John  Mc- 
Carty  Ver  Planck,  a  descendant  of  the  revolu- 


tionary general  of  that  name,  and  his  wife, 
Mary  Eliza  (Chapman)  Ver  Planck.  Their 
other  children  were  Robert  Isaac  and  Louise 
Bosworth  Ver  Planck.  (See  \^er  Planck 
VIII.)  Child:  Helen  Ver  Planck,  born  in 
Albany,  New  York,  December  24,   1899. 

(IV)  Frank  Elmendorf,  son  of  Alexander 
and  Elizabeth  Jane  (Fee)  Selkirk,  was  born 
in  Albany,  New  York,  March  10,  1S71.  He 
was  educated  in  the  city  schools  and  the  Al- 
bany high  school,  and  commenced  his  business 
career  in  the  old  Hoyt  coal  yard,  first  as  a 
clerk,  later  as  manager  for  John  E.  Rathbun, 
who  succeeded  to  the  business,  and  still  later 
for  Howell  &  Company,  in  the  same  business 
and  yards.  In  1905  he  entered  the  employ  of 
Simon  Stahl,  as  superintendent  in  the  millin- 
ery business,  and  was  continued  in  that  ca- 
pacity when  the  business  was  sold  to  the  pres- 
ent proprietor,  Jonas  Muhlfelder,  where  he 
was  still  employed  in  1910.  At  the  outbreak 
of  the  Spanish-American  war,  he  enlisted  May 
2,  1898,  as  corporal  in  Company  A,  First  New 
York  Infantry  \^olunteers,  was  promoted  ser- 
geant, July  20,  1898,  and  served  until  the  mus- 
ter out,  February  21,  1899.  He  served  eleven 
and  a  half  years  in  the  New  York  State  Na- 
tional Guard.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  the 
I'^rank  Rockwell  Palmer  Camp  of  Spanish 
War  Veterans,  and  has  filled  the  offices  of 
junior  vice-commander  and  senior  vice-com- 
mander of  that  organization.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Old  Guard,  Comjiany  A,  Al- 
bany Zouave  Cadets,  having  served  three  years 
as  secretary,  and  he  is  a  member  of  Philip 
Livingston  Chapter,  Sons  of  the  Revolution. 
He  married,  Albany,  November  23,  1904,  Ber- 
tha Elizabeth  Riggs.  born  in  .-Mbany,  New 
York,  September  25.  1881,  daughter  of  Fred- 
erick James  and  Emma  Louise  ( Whiting) 
Riggs.  (See  Riggs  X.)  Child:  Elizabeth 
Whiting,  born  in  Albany,  New  York,  October 
22,   1906. 

(The  Ver   Planck  Line). 

The  family  name  of  \'cr  Planck  is  found 
in  many  of  the  ancient  as  well  as  several 
of  the  modern  languages,  (Ireek,  Latin, 
German,  French,  etc..  signifying  anything 
that  is  flat  and  broad,  and  while  the  common 
acceptance  of  the  meaning  in  .America  seems 
to  be  confined  in  the  main  to  a  piece  of  timber 
or  to  signify  a  board,  in  foreign  countries, 
whence  the  family  came,  it  would  mean  rather 
a  broad  field  or  extensive,  ievel  plain,  to  risk 
tautolog}-  in  making  the  definition  a  little  more 
comprehensible,  so  as  to  adhere  to  the  particu- 
lar significance,  "fiat  and  broad."  The  family 
in  .America  originally  dwelt  on  a  plain  in 
Holland.  The  name  is  also  found,  in  the 
same  family,  Planck,  Planche  and  Plancque, 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


153 


and  with  or  without  the  prefix  "Ver,"  because 
the  progenitor  in  this  country  sometimes  wrote 
his  surname  "Planck."  The  \'er  Planck  Arms 
— Shield:  Ermine,  on  a  chief  engrailed  sable; 
three  mullets  argent.  Crest :  A  demi  wolf 
I^roper.     Motto :     Ut  vita  sic  mors. 

(I)  Abraham  \'er  Planck  was  the  first  of 
this  family  in  America,  the  progenitor  of  a 
number  of  indiviiluals  who  gained  prominence 
in  the  province  and  state  of  New  York  and 
intermarrietl  with  other  families  whose  names 
figure  largely  in  the  founding  of  the  common- 
wealth. His  father,  Isaac  Ver  Planck,  lived 
in  Holland,  and  hence  the  son  sometimes 
wrote  his  name  .Abraham  Isaacse  Ver  Planck, 
and  often  simply  "Abram  Planck."  In  the 
year  1638  he  obtained  from  Governor  Kieft  a 
patent  for  land  at  Paulus  Hoeck,  previously 
granted  to  a  director  of  the  Dutch  West  India 
Company,  named  Pau'w,  a  patroon,  who.  tiring 
of  the  project  of  colonizing,  abandoned  it.  He 
gave  to  the  tract  a  Latin  name,  Pavonia,  a 
translation  of  his  name  meaning  "Peacock." 
Thereon  Abraham  Ver  Planck  established  a 
tobacco  plantation,  and  likewise  conducted  a 
farm  for  cattle  raising  and  dairying  purposes. 
He  married  Maria  \inge.  Children:  i.  Abi- 
gel,  married  Adrian  Van  Laer.  2.  Gelyn  (Gu- 
lian),  born  January  i,  1637;  married,  June  20, 
(N.  S.)  1668,  Hendrika  Wessels.  3.  Calalyna, 
married  October  13,  1657,  David  Pieterse 
Schuyler.  4.  Isaac,  baptized.  New  Amster- 
dam, June  26,  1641 :  died  an  infant.  5.  Sus- 
sanna,  baptized  May  25.  1642:  married,  De- 
cember 4,  1660,  Marten  \'an  Waert.  6.  Jaco- 
myntje,  baptized  July  6,  1644,  died  an  infant. 
7.  Ariaentje,  baptized  December  2.  1646,  mar- 
ried, December  4,  1660,  Melgert  Wynantse 
\'ander  Poel.  8.  Hillegond,  baptized  Novem- 
ber I,  1648:  married  David  Ackerman  in  Al- 
bany. 9.  Isaac,  baptized  February  26,  1651, 
see  forward. 

(II)  Isaac,  son  of  Abraham  and  Maria 
(\'inge)  Ver  Planck,  was  born  in  Albany, 
New  York,  baptized  February  26,  1651,  and 
lived  there,  dying  about  1729.  He  married 
Abigail  L\vten  Bogart  ( or  Bogaart,  also  Bo- 
gaert )  who  was  alive  in  1728.  Children:  i. 
Isaac,  born  in  .\lbany,  died  about  1721.  2. 
Jacobus.  3.  Abigail.  4.  Jacob,  born  in  Al- 
bany, June  21,  1684.  5.  Dirkje,  baptized  in 
Albany,  September  16,  1686.  6.  Jacob,  bap- 
tised in  Albany,  October  28,  1688.  7.  Guleyn 
(Gulian),  baptized  June  18,  1693.  8.  David, 
baptized  in  Albany.  April  14,  1695,  see  for- 
ward. 9.  Catalyntje.  born  June  19,  1698:  mar- 
ried, February  23,  1734,  Landert  Whitbeck. 
10.  Rachel,  baptized  in  Albany,  May  12,  1700; 
married,  January  2,   1726,  Jan  Winne. 

(III)  David,  son  of  Isaac  and  Abigail  Uy- 


ten  (Bogart)  \'er  Planck,  was  born  in  Al- 
bany, April  4,  iTkjS,  baptized  April  14,  1695. 
He  was  commonly  known  as  David  of  Baeren 
Island  because  of  his  residence  there.  He  mar- 
ried Ariantje,  daughter  of  Barent  Pieterse 
Coeymans,  and  when  she  died,  without  issue, 
she  left  to  her  husbaniT  a  great  part  of  the 
patent  granted  to  her  father.  Barent  P.  Coey- 
mans was  the  miller  to  Patroon  Van  Rensse- 
laer, and  he  bought  of  the  Catskill  Indians  a 
large  tract  of  land  adjoining  those  of  the  pat- 
roon, having  one  length,  it  is  estimated,  of 
twelve  miles  along  the  Hudson  river.  The 
Indians  had  previously  granted  it  to  Van 
Rensselaer,  or  had  an  understanding  with  him, 
yet  he  had  not  taken  full  possession,  hence  a 
suit  in  the  courts  which  was  decided  in  favor 
of  Coeymans,  who  afterward,  in  1714,  ob- 
tained a  patent  from  Queen  Anne,  confirming 
title  to  his  heirs.  Beeren  (Baeren,  or  Bear's) 
Island  was  therefore  part  of  the  Coeymans 
Patent,  and  lies  along  the  western  bank  of  the 
Hudson,  about  fourteen  miles  below  Albany. 
In  1900  it  was  known  as  Baerena,  and  was  a 
place  for  river  excursions  to  land  and  hold 
picnics.  David  Ver  Planck  married  (first), 
July    16,    1723,   Ariantje   Coeymans;   married 

(second)    Brouwer;  married    (third) 

November  12,  1752,  Catrina  Boone.  Children: 
I.  Johannes,  baptized  November  12,  1753.  2. 
Ariantje,  baptized  July  i,  1755;  married 
(first)  Abraham  Gardinier ;  married  (second) 
Levi  Blasdell ;  died  January  10,  18 14.  3.  Har- 
riet, baptized  in  1757.  4.  Isaac  David,  bap- 
tized in  1759,  see  forward. 

(IV)  Isaac  David,  son  of  David  and  Ca- 
trina (Boone)  Ver  Planck,  was  born  in  1759 
died  Februarv  24,  1836,  at  Coevmans,  New 
York. 

He  married  Lena  Houghtaling.  Chil- 
dren: I.  Helena,  born  June  22,  1783;  mar- 
ried John  McCarty.  2.  David  I.  D.,  born 
May  30,  1785,  see  forward.  3.  Catherine, 
born  December  14,  1787,  died  September  22, 
1817;  married  Peter  \'an  Antwerp.  4.  Har- 
riet, born  April  12,  1789;  married,  February 
14,  1808,  Eliphalet  Ackerman.  5.  .Abraham, 
born  December  4,  1793.  6.  Elizabeth,  born 
April  12,  1796;  died  in  Brooklyn.  7.  Ann, 
born  December  15,  1799;  married,  October 
8,  1823,  Dr.  B.  B.  Fredenburgh.  8.  Maria, 
born  January  25,  1802;  married,  December 
30,  1824,  Isaac  Whitbeck.  9.  Caroline,  bom 
March  7,  1807 ;  married  Van  Lenner  Over- 
paugh. 

(V)  David  I.  D..  son  of  Isaac  D..  and  Lena 
(Houghtaling)  \"er  Planck,  was  born  May  30, 
1785,  died  September  26,  1854.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Whitbeck.  Children:  i.  Isaac,  born 
August  27,  1809,  see  forward.    2.  Maria,  born 


154 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK    \'ALLEYS 


October    29,    1812;    married,    July    10,    1829, 
Aaron  Dorman. 

(\'I)  Isaac  (2),  son  of  David  I.  D.  and 
Elizabeth  (Whitbeck)  \'er  Planck,  was  born 
August  27,  1809  ;  died  July  20,  1854.  He  mar- 
ried (first)  September  2,  1835,  Charlotte  Eliz- 
abeth McCarty :  married  ( second )  Phoebe 
Ann  Edgett.  Children:  i.  John  McCarty, 
born  January  17,  1838,  see  forward.  2.  David 
I.  D.,  born  February  14,  1840.  died  March  28. 
1904;  married,  Decemlier  25.  i860,  Lettie 
Northrup  Powell.  3.  Isaac,  born  July  12, 
1854;  married  Lillie  Ingalls,  of  Nortonhill, 
New  York. 

(VII)  John  McCarty,  son  of  Isaac  (2)  and 
Charlotte  Elizabeth  (McCarty)  \'er  Planck, 
was  born  in  Indian  Fields,  xAlbany  county. 
New  York,  January  17,  1838 ;  resided  there, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  foundry  busi- 
ness. He  married  in  Greenville,  New  York, 
September  6,  1858,  ]\Iary  Eliza  Chapman,  born 
in  South  Westerlo,  Albany  county.  New  York, 
December  18,  1840,  died  in  Albany,  January 
30,  1899,  daughter  of  Robert  W.  and  Eliza 
(Hickok)  Chapman.  Children:  i.  Robert 
Isaac,  born  in  Dormansville,  Albany  county. 
New  York,  August  27,  1859 ;  married  Ida 
May  Oakey,  Albany.  New  York,  July  19, 
1894.  2.  Clara  Hartt,  see  forward.  3.  Louise 
Bosworth,  born  in  Greenville,  New  York,  Au- 
gust 10,  1876:  married  in  Coxsackie,  New 
York,  November  29,  1893,  Merton  E.  Allard, 
and  had  children,  Walter  Joseph  Allard,  born 
October  10,  1894,  and  Frank  Ver  Planck 
Allard,  born  December   11,   1896. 

(VIII)  Clara  Hartt,  daughter  of  John  Mc- 
Carty and  Mary  Eliza  (Chapman)  Ver 
Planck,  was  born  in  Indian  Fields,  Albany 
county.  New  York,  September  20,  1874.  She 
married,  Coxsackie,  New  York,  August  12, 
1897,  Alexander  Selkirk.  They  have  one  child, 
Helen  \^er  Planck  Selkirk,  born  in  Albany, 
New  York,  Deceml)er  24,  1899.  (See  Sel- 
kirk IV.) 

(The    Rigg.s   Line). 

The  family  name  of  Riggs  is  derived  from 
the  Dutch  word  "rig,"  meaning  wealthy,  rich  ; 
or  the  name  may  be  local,  and  denote  a  steep 
elevation,  a  range  of  hills,  or  the  n]>per  part 
•  of  such  a  range. 

(I)  Edward  Riggs  was  born  about  1590  in 
Lincolnshire,  England.  He  landed  in  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  early  in  the  summer  of  1633, 
with  his  family,  consisting  of  his  wife.  Eliza- 
beth, two  sons  and  four  daughters.  Children  : 
Edward,  born  in  1614,  see  forward;  Lydia, 
born  about  1616.  died  August,  i'')33;  John, 
born  about  1618,  died  in  1634;  a  (laughter, 
born  about  1622,  married  a  Mr.  Allen ;  Mary, 
born  about  1625,  married  a  Mr.  Twitchell. 


(II)  Edward  (2).  son  of  Edward  (i) 
Riggs,  was  born  in  England  in  1614:  came  to 
America  with  his  parents  in  1633.  He  was  a 
sergeant  in  the  Pequot  war,  in  1637,  and  dis- 
tinguished himself  by  rescuing  a  band  of  his 
companions  from  an  ambuscade  into  which 
they  had  been  led  by  the  Indians,  and  by 
which  subterfuge  all  of  his  party  would  have 
been  cut  off  but  for  his  great  act  of  bravery. 
He  was  known  as  Sergeant  Riggs  through  a 
long  and  honorable  life.  In  1665  he  removed 
to  New  Jersey.  Children :  Edward,  see  for- 
ward ;  Samuel,  born  in  1640,  married  Sarah 
Baldwin  ;  Joseph,  born  in  1642,  married  Han- 
nah Brown;  Mary,  born  in  1644,  married 
George  Day. 

(III)  Edward  (3),  son  of  Edward  (2) 
Riggs.  was  born  in  Roxbury,  Massachusetts, 
in  1636.  He  accumulated  considerable  prop- 
erty, leaving  at  his  death  an  estate  of  much 
value.  Children:  Anna,  born  in  1662,  married 
J.  Gage;  James,  born  in  1664;  Mary,  born 
in  1666,  married  Joseph  Lindsley ;  Edward, 
born  in  1668,  married  Aphia  Stoughton ;  Jos- 
eph, born  in  1675,  see  forward;  Martha,  born 
in  1677,  married  S.  Freeman;  Elizabeth,  born 
in  1678,  married  John  Lyon;  John,  born  in 
1679,  married  Frances  Colburn ;  Samuel, 
born  in  1681  ;  Charity,  born  in  1685,  married 
John  Bowers. 

(I\')  Joseph,  son  of  Edward  (3)  and  Mary 
Riggs,  was  born  in  Newark,  New  Jersey,  in 
1675.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the  first 
church  society  in  Orange,  New  Jersey,  which 
was  called  the  Mountain  Society.  He  died 
and  was  buried  there,  September  11,  1744. 
Children:  Josiah,  born  in  1703:  Miles,  born 
in  1705,  married  Elizabeth  \Vliitney ;  Hannah, 
born  in  1707,  married  Mr.  Hedden; 
Mary,  born  in  1709,  married  Thomas  Cush- 
man  ;  Benjamin,  born  in  171 1;  Gideon,  born 
in  1713;  Dinah,  born  in  1716;  Zebulon,  born 
January  23,  1719;  Joseph,  born  in  1720,  see 
forward;  Daniel,  born  in  1724.  married  .*>arah 
Lamson ;  Sarah,  born  in  1726,  married  Thom- 
as Roberts. 

(V)  Joseph  (2),  son  of  Joseph  (i)  Riggs, 
was  born  in  Orange,  New  Jersey,  in  1720. 
He  was  a  magistrate  for  many  years,  and  a  1 
leading  man  in  the  business  affairs  of  his 
neighlxirhood.  At  the  opening  of  the  revolu- 
tion he  was  one  of  the  committee  of  safety 
for  the  county  of  Essex.  His  wife's  name  was 
Abigail.  Children :  Prudence,  born  in  1746, 
married  John  Young;  Jerusha,  born  in  1748, 
married  Mr.  Swan;  Cyrenus,  born  in  1750, 
see  forward;  Anna,  born  in  1752,  married 
Mr.  Ward;  Experience,  born  in  1754,  married 
Mr.  Smith;  Caleb  S.,  born  in  1756,  married 
Abigail    J,    Barnett;    Abigail,    born    in    1758, 


Hl'DSOX   A\D    MOH.WMv   \'ALLEYS 


155 


married  James  Crane:  Sarah,  born  in  1760, 
married  Benjamin  Myer. 

(V'l)  Cyrenus,  son  of  Joseph  (2)  and  Abi- 
gail Riggs.  was  born  in  Orange,  New  Jersey, 
in  1750.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the 
revolution  from  Bergen  county.  New  Jersey. 
In  1791  he  removed  to  Amsterdam,  New 
York.  He  married  Esther  Crane.  Children : 
Isaac,  born  November  8,  1779,  see  forward; 
Electa,  born  in  1781,  marrie(l  David  Crane; 
Ogden.  born  in  1783,  married  Joanna  Crane; 
Abraham,  born  in  178s:  and  Marv,  born  in 
1787. 

(\II)  Isaac,  son  of  Cyrenus  and  Esther 
(Crane)  Riggs,  was  born  in  Orange,  New 
Jersey,  November  8,  1779.  He  removed,  with 
his  father's  family,  to  Amsterdam,  New  York, 
where  he  learned  the  printer's  trade  and 
founded  the  Schciuxtadv  Cabinet,  in  1809.  He 
died  in  I'onda,  New  York,  June  18,  1830.  He 
married  Catherine  Seaman  in  1808.  Children: 
Stephen  Seaman,  born  May,  1809,  married 
Julia  H.  Vedder;  Mary  E.,  born  July  31,  1812, 
married  Henry  Brown ;  James,  born  Febru- 
ary 13,  1815,  see  forward;  Caroline,  married 
\'ernon  Cuyler ;  William,  married  Jellica 
Coons. 

(\'III)  James,  son  of  Isaac  and  Catherine 
(Seaman)  Riggs,  was  born  February  13,  1815, 
died  August  21,   1854.  He  married,  May  22, 

1843,  Anna  Odell,  of  New  York  City,  born 
April  13.  1818,  died  Novembers,  1907.  Chil- 
dren :  Katharine  Elizabeth,  born  February  22, 

1844,  died  October  22,  1904 ;  Frederick  James, 
born  in  Amsterdam,  New  York,  May  3,  1847, 
see  forward;  Anna  Odell,  born  May  20,  1854, 

■died  August  24,  1855. 

(IX)  Frederick  James,  son  of  James  and 
Anna  (  Odell )  Riggs,  was  born  in  Amsterdam, 
7\'ew  York,  May  3,  1847.  He  married,  in 
Holliston,  Massachusetts,  December  19,  1872, 
Emma  Louise  Whiting.  Children:  i.  Harry 
Whiting,  born  in  Amsterdam,  New  York,  Oc- 
tober 19,  1873 ;  married,  Albany,  September 
7,  1899,  Jennie  Malcolm  Tygart.  residing  in 
1910  at  No.  190  Western  avenue,  Albany, 
New  York.  2.  Frederick  William,  born,  Al- 
bany, January  13,  1876:  died,  Albany,  May 
13,  1876.  3.  Bertha  Elizabeth,  born  in  Al- 
bany, September  25,  1881,  see  forward.  4. 
\N'aldo  Elbridge.  born  in  Albany,  November 
27,  1884,  dietl  in  Albany,  January  19,  1885. 
5.  Katharine  Estelle,  born  in  Albany,  ^lay  23, 
1890.  6.  Marguerite,  born  in  Albanv,  August 
18,  1892. 

(X)  Bertha  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Fred- 
erick James  and  Emma  Louise  (Whiting) 
Riggs,  was  born  in  Albany,  New  York,  Sep- 
tember 25,  1 88 1.  She  married,  Albany,  No- 
vember 23,    1904,   Frank   Elmendorf  Selkirk. 


Child:    Ehzabeth   Whiting  Selkirk,   born   Al- 
bany, October  22,  1906.  (See  Selkirk  IV. ) 


The  "Patronymica  Brittannica" 
PITKIN  gives  the  following  derivation 
from  the  parent  name  Peter — 
"Petre,  Peters,  Peterkin,  Pitkin,  Peterken, 
Peterham,  Pierce,  Pienson,  Perkin,  Perkins, 
and  others."  The  name  of  Pitkin  is  an  ab- 
breviation or  derivation  of  Peterkin,  which  is 
kin  to  Peter.  The  Royal  borough  of  Berk- 
hamsted,  St.  Peters,  Hertfordshire,  appears  to 
have  been  the  English  Jiome  of  the  Pitkins  at 
an  early  date,  but  the  family  is  traceable  over 
portions  of  Europe  and  the  West  Indies,  ir- 
respective of  the  American  branches.  The 
name  William  seems  to  have  been  a  favorite 
one  in  the  family  and  was  the  name  of  the 
first  representative  in  America.  The  name  in 
America  is  an  honored  one  and  borne  by  a 
United  States  senator,  three  members  of  con- 
gress and  state  senators,  a  speaker  of  the 
house,  forty  members  of  the  house  and  sen- 
ate, two  attorney  generals,  three  judges  of 
supreme  court,  several  judges  of  county  and 
probate  courts,  several  with  degrees  of  D.D. 
and  LL.D.,  colonial  commissioners,  a  founder 
of  the  Western  Reserve  College,  thirty  clergy- 
men, two  generals,  a  quartermaster-general, 
six  colonels,  numerous  majors  and  command- 
ers, three  graduates  of  West  Point,  two  gover- 
nors, a  lieutenant-governor,  a  historian  of  the 
United  States,  mayors,  bank  presidents,  sur- 
geons in  the  United  States  army  and  navy, 
physicians,  lawyers,  business  men  innumerable, 
not  to  mention  other  important  trusts  con- 
ferred. "Seldom  is  it  the  fortune  of  any  fam- 
ily to  have  numbered  so  many  individuals 
raised  to  places  of  distinction,  in  the  affairs  of 
state." 

(I)  William  Pitkin,  progenitor  of  the 
American  family,  came  from  England  in  1659. 
Possessing  an  excellent  education  he  soon 
gained  the  full  confidence  of  the  colonists.  He 
settled  at  Hartford.  Connecticut.  He  was 
educated  for  the  law  and  perhaps  also  for  the 
ministry,  but  the  little  colony  into  which  he 
entered  had  no  need  of  either  lawyer  or  minis- 
ter, so  he  applied  for  and  received  permission 
to  teach  school  at  a  salary  of  £8  per  annum 
and  a  load  of  wood  from  each  pupil  or  "three 
shillings  in  lieu  of  the  wood."  He  was  a  man 
of  wealtli  (  part  of  which  no  doubt  he  brought 
with  him  from  England),  as  there  is  evidence 
that  he  was  the  largest  land  owner  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river.  He  bequeathed  in  his 
will  nearly  eight  hundred  acres  of  land  and 
his  estate  inventoried  £700.  He  was  admitted 
a  freeman  of  Hartford,  October  9,  1662,  and 
appointed  the   same  year  prosecutor    for  the 


156 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


colony.  In  1664  he  was  appointed  by  the 
King  as  attorney-general  from  1675  to  1690, 
and  annually  represented  Hartford  in  the  co- 
lonial assembly.  In  1676  he  was  chosen  treas- 
urer of  the  colony,  in  1676  he  was  appointed 
with  Major  Talcott  to  negotiate  peace  with 
the  Indian  tribes;  in  1690  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  colonial  council  and  so  re- 
mained until  death  ;  he  was  often  employed 
by  the  governor  as  commissioner  to  settle  dis- 
putes with  other  colonies.  Aside  from  his 
profession  he  was  a  large  planter,  and  had  in- 
terests in  a  saw  and  grist  mill.  Although  a 
member  of  the  Church  of  England  he  asked 
for  the  rites  of  baptism  for  his  cliildren  in 
the  Puritan  Church,  and  they  were  so  bap- 
tized. The  records  V  assert  that  they  all 
"owned  their  covenant"  with  and  became 
members  of  the  "First  Church  in  Hartford." 
He  left  a  large  manuscript  volume  of  reli- 
gious writings  which  shows  him  to  have  been 
a  man  of  deep  piety  and  of  no  mean  knowl- 
edge of  theology.  "After  having  filled  various 
and  important  offices,  distinguished  for  his  vir- 
tues and  ability,  he  died  December  16.  1694." 
He  married,  in  1661,  Hannah  Goodwin,  bom 
in  England  in  1637,  died  February  12,  1724, 
only  daughter  of  Hon.  Ozias  and  I\Iary 
(Woodward)  Goodwin,  the  progenitors  of  the 
Goodwin  family  in  America.  Children :  Rog- 
er, see  forward;  William,  born  1664,  died 
April  5,  1723,  married  Elizabeth  Stanley,  was 
a  most  prominent  man ;  Hannah,  born  1666, 
married  Timothy  Cowles ;  John,  born  1668, 
died  1706,  unmarried;  Nathaniel,  born  1670, 
died  February  20,  1733,  married  Hester  Hos- 
mer;  George,  born  Seiitember,  1675,  died  De- 
cember 23,  1702,  unmarried ;  Elizabeth,  born 
October,  1677,  married  John  Marsh ;  Ozias, 
born  September,  1679,  died  January  29,  1747, 
married    Elizabeth   Green. 

(II)  Roger,  eldest  child  of  William  "the 
ancestor,"  and  Hannah  (Cjoodwin)  Pitkin, 
was  born  in  Hartford,  Connecticut,  in  1662, 
died  November  24,  1748.  He  was  a  farmer. 
He  built  and  settled  near  his  father  on  the 
first  main  street  on  a  portion  of  his  father's 
land.  He  was  a  leading  citizen.  He  was  one 
of  the  selectmen  of  the  town  for  many  years 
and  its  first  school  committeeman  in  1720;  was 
commissioner  on  the  "Great  Meadows,"  was 
appointed  by  the  general  assembly  captain  of 
the  first  militia  company  on  the  east  side  of 
the  river,  the  then  (1698)  Third  Company 
State  Militia.  He  was  actively  engaged  witli 
his  command  in  defense  of  the  town  against 
the  Indians  in  1704  and  in  other  troublous 
times.  He  "owned  the  covenant"  with  the 
"First  Church  of  Hartford,"  November  22, 
1685 ;  together  with  his  wife,  his  brother  Wil- 


liam and  his  wife,  he  was  received  into  full 
communion  .\ugust  14,  1692.  He  married,, 
in  1683,  Hannah,  born  October  13,  1666,  died 
November  i,  1703,  daughter  of  Captain  Caleb 
and  Hannah  (Cowles)  Stanley,  of  Hartford. 
Children  :  Hannah,  married  John  Bidwell ,". 
Caleb,  see  forward  ;  Mary,  married  Timothy 
Porter ;  Rachel,  married  Joseph  House ;  Ma- 
bel, died  in  infancy ;  Jonathan,  married  Re- 
becca Smith;  Mabel,  married  James  Porter p 
Roger,  married  Esther  Cowles. 

(IH)  Caleb,  eldest  son  of  Roger  and  Han- 
nah (Stanley)  Pitkin,  was  born  in  Hartford, 
Connecticut,  August  19,  1687,  died  January 
ifi-  1773-  He  married  (first)  Dorothy,  born- 
February  19,  1697,  died  April  17,  1746,. 
daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Dorothy  (Hale) 
Hills.  Children ;  Dorothy,  married  John 
Goodwin ;  Mary,  married  Samuel  Bidwell ; 
Thankful,  died  December  17,  1742,  unmar- 
ried ;  Sarah,  married  Nathaniel  Olmstead ;  Ca- 
leb, see  forward ;  Nathaniel,  married  Thank- 
ful Porter ;  Hannah,  married  Aaron  Burn- 
ham  ;  Joshua,  married  Ann  Stanley ;  Jerusha, 
married  Samuel  Olmstead.  He  married  (sec- 
ond) Deborah  . 

(IV)  Caleb  (2),  .son  of  Caleb  (i  )  and  Dor- 
othy (Hills)  Pitkin,  was  born  in  Hartford, 
Connecticut,  in  1727,  died  October  2.  1768. 
He  was  known  as  "Ensign"  Caleb.  He  mar- 
ried, in  1750,  Damaris,  died  September  18, 
1773,  daughter  of  Timothy  and  Hannah 
(Goodwin)  Porter,  who  settled  at  New  Hart- 
ford. Children:  Caleb  (3),  died  unmarried; 
Stephen,  married  Jemima  Tyler ;  Dorothy, 
married  Isaac  Steele;  Damaris,  married  Jon- 
athan Marsli ;  John,  see  forward ;  Hannah, 
married  John  Porter;  Timothy,  married  Sybil 
Cowles. 

(V)  John,  fifth  child  of  Caleb  (2)  and 
Damaris  (Porter)  Pitkin,  was  born  in  Hart- 
ford, January  5,  1761,  died  .August  i,  1837. 
He  married,  February  5,  1788,  Rebecca,  born 
December    24.    1764,    died    January    8,    1837, 

daughter  of  Elijah  and (Roberts)  An- 

drus,  of  Colebrook,  Connecticut.  Children : 
Sally,  died  at  age  of  eighteen;  John,  died  in 
infancy;  John  R..  see  forward;  Lucy,  married 
Calvin  N.  Barljer;  Elizabeth,  married  Bethuel 
Gilbert ;  Dorothy,  married  Sleiting  Frisbie. 

(VI)  John  Roberts,  third  child  of  John 
and  Rebecca  (Andrus)  Pitkin,  was  born  in 
Hartford,  Connecticut,  September  24,  1794, 
died  September  2,  1874.  He  began  his  busi- 
ness career  in  early  life  with  S.  and  L.  Hul- 
burt.  of  Winchester,  Connecticut,  in  a  mercan- 
tile enterprise  in  .'\ugusta,  Cieorgia.  He  re- 
mained in  the  south  engaged  in  this  and  other 
lines  until  1832,  when  he  located  in  New  York 
in  the  dry  goods  business.     He  was  a  man 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


157 


of  great  worth  and  varied  talents.  He  fore- 
saw the  enormous  growth  of  New  York  City 
and  the  advantageous  location  of  some  of  the 
Long  Island  contiguous  property.  He  pro- 
jected, planned,  and  with  indomitable  will  and 
energy  founded  the  city  of  East  New  York 
and  \\'oodhavcn,  Long  Island,  and  lived  to  see 
their  growth  and  prosperity  assured.  He  was 
a  profound  student  of  the  questions  affecting 
cajjital  and  labor  and  his  fond  hope  was  to 
see  a  union  between  them.  He  early  argued 
that  organized  labor  must  be  a  competing  ele- 
ment in  many  trades.  He  saw  his  position 
justified,  more  especially  in  the  boot  and  shoe 
trade  with  wlnich  he  was  familiar.  His  resi- 
dence was  in  Woodhaven,  and  he  died  in  Brat- 
tleboro,  \'ermont.  He  married  (first)  October 
I,  1823,  Sophia  M.  Thrall,  of  Torrington, 
Connecticut,  who  died  November  30,  1849. 
He  married  (second)  June  11,  1857,  Mary 
AUyn,  born  in  1826.  died  in  the  eighties, 
daughter  of  Luther  and  Mary  Olive  (Dickin- 
son) .\llyn.  Children  of  first  wife:  George 
D.,  born  NovemTjer  18,  1824,  died  February 
14,  1886,  married  Magdelene  Vanderveer ; 
Frances  .A.,  born  October  17,  1827.  married 
Isaac  W.  \'anderveer :  Henrv  F.,  died  in  in- 
fancy ;  Georgianna  L.,  born  February  2.  1834, 
married  Edgar  W.  Allyn ;  Frederick  E.,  born 
April  29,  1836,  married  Jane  A.  Hall ;  Wol- 
cott  H.,  of  whom  further;  John  W.  S.,  born 
October  25,  1841,  married  Julia  S.  Pratt. 
Children  of  second  wife :  Mary  Ella,  born 
April  28,  1858:  William  T.,  died  in  infancy; 
Emma  \'.,  born  Julv   15,   1866. 

(\TI)  Wolcott  H',  sixth  child  of  John  Rob- 
erts and  Sophia  M.  (Thrall )  Pitkin,  was  born 
in  Brooklyn.  New  York,  December  22,  1838. 
Upon  the  death  of  his  mother  he  went  to  live 
with  his  uncle,  a  farmer  near  Torrington, 
Connecticut.  When  nineteen  years  of  age  he 
entered  mercantile  life  with  the  wholesale  boot 
and  shoe  jobbing  house  of  William  Smith- 
Brown  &  Company.  At  the  outbreak  of  the 
civil  war  that  firm  retired  from  business  and 
he  became  interested  in  the  East  New  York 
Boot  and  Shoe  Leather  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, founded  by  his  father  in  1858,  at  East 
New  York,  Long  Island.  In  1859  he  was 
placed  in  cliarge  of  the  company's  works  at 
Providence.  Rhode  Island.  In  1866  he  dis- 
continued the  manufacture  of  the  company's 
goods  there,  and  under  contract  from  the  state 
of  New  York  organized  workshops  in  the 
Albany  County  Prison,  where  they  manufac- 
tured goods  until  1870.  In  that  year  the 
company  built  a  'factor\'  on  Hamilton  street, 
Albany,  fitted  it  witli  modern  shoemaking  ma- 
chinery, and  operated  it  until  181)5,  when  it 
■•was  discontinued.      Mr.   Pitkin   was   manager 


of  the  Albany  factory,  and  conducted  it  with 
marked  success.  Since  retiring  from  manu- 
facturing he  has  devoted  his  attention  to  the 
care  of  his  large  real  estate  and  other  in- 
terests. Before  his  father's  death  he  had  re- 
ceived from  him  the  charge  of  all  his  large 
real  estate  holdings  in  East  New  York  and 
elsewhere  on  Long  Island,  and  was  a  prime 
factor  in  the  development  of  much  business 
and  residential  property,  which  he  advanta- 
geously improved,  and  much  of  which  he  dis- 
posed of  to  good  advantage.  In  .Mbany  he 
also  purchased  and  imjiroved  much  valuable 
property,  contributing  in  large  degree  to  the 
advancement  of  the  city  in  various  localities. 
In  1909  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Congers, 
New  York,  noted  for  its  beauty  and  health- 
fulness.  Here  he  purchased  a  fine  farm  just 
on  the  outskirts  of  the  village,  and  upon  which 
he  is  now  erecting  a  beautiful  modern  resi- 
dence, principally  upon  his  own  plans  with 
an  eye  to  attractiveness  and  the  greatest  pos- 
sible utility.  In  national  politics  Mr.  Pitkin 
is  a  Republican ;  in  local  affairs  he  has  always 
pursued  an  independent  course,  supporting 
such  candidates  as  were  best  fitted  to  subserve 
public  interests.  He  is  a  charter  member  of 
the  Fort  Orange  Club,  Albany.  His  family 
are  members  of  the  Emanuel  Baptist  Church, 
Albany,  which  he  attended  while  a  resident  of 
that  city.  He  has  traveled  extensively,  and 
in  1905  made  a  six  months'  tour  of  Europe 
with   his   family. 

Mr.  Pitkin  married,  October  21,  1868,  Mary 
\y.,  born  July  15,  1846,  daughter  of  H.  C. 
Southwick,  of  Albany,  New  York.  Children ; 
John  R.,  born  March  23,  1871,  died  November 
13-  1875  ;  Sophia  M.,  born  January  20.  1874, 
died  November  13,  1875 ;  Edith  Winifred, 
born  March  7,  1877;  graduate  of  Wellesley 
College,  and  of  Tufts  Medical  College  (from 
which  she  received  the  degree  of  M.D.),  and 
of  New  York  Post-Graduate  School ;  has  had 
considerable  experience  in  hospitals  of  New 
York,  Boston  and  Worcester,  Massachusetts, 
and  is  a  capable  physician  ;  resides  with  her 
father;  Mary  S.,  Ixjrn  December,  1878,  died 
March  20,  1886;  Wolcott  H.,  Jr..  born  Decem- 
ber 6,  1881  ;  graduate  of  Harvard  University 
and  Harvard  Law  School ;  is  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  law  under  LInited  States  District 
Attorney  Wise,  in  New  York  City. 


The  family  name  of  Stedman 
STEDM.\N     is    derived    from    the    word 

signifying  a  place  enclosed  ;  a 
station,  or  standing-place,  thus  first  applied  to 
a  man  who  undoubtedly  dwelt  in  an  enclosed 
place,  as  cities  were  anciently  walled,  and  in 
the  Dutch  "stad"  and  ""stede"  signifv  a  town. 


158 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


Evidently  when  the  first  man  to  accept  this 
cognomen  appeared  away  from  his  home  he 
was  hailed  or  known  more  or  less  widely  as 
"the  man  from  the  city,"  or  from  the  place 
within  walls,  and  so  as  to  distingush  him 
from  any  others  bearing  a  similar  given  name, 
such  as  John,  he  was  called  "John  from  the 
city,"  which  was  equivalent  to  saying  "John 
Stedman." 

(I)  John  Stedman,  the  progenitor  in  Amer- 
ica of  the  Albany  branch  of  the  Stedman  fam- 
ily of  which  any  positive  record  appears,  prob- 
ably emigrated  with  his  brother,  Thomas  Sted- 
man, to  New  London,  Connecticut.  He  re- 
moved to  Hartford,  where  in  1651  he  lived  on 
Wall  street,  and  later  he  moved  to  Wethers- 
field,  Connecticut,  where  he  lived  on  what 
was  known  in  1910  as  Jordans  Lane.  He  was 
apparentlv  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  then 
western  part  of  Connecticut.  For  several 
years  he  was  a  member  of  the  general  court, 
or  assembly,  of  that  colony.  As  an  influential 
and  representative  Church  of  England  man, 
he,  with  others,  signed  a  memorial  demanding 
to  be  released  from  paying  taxes  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  state  church  and  ministers  who 
would  not  administer  communion  to  or  baptize 
the  children  of  such  men.  He  was  commis- 
sioned lieutenant  of  the  Hartford  County  Dra- 
goons, and  while  in  command  of  that  organ- 
ization was  killed  on  December  19,  1675,  in 
the  Great  Fort  fight  with  the  Narragansett 
Indians  at  South  Kingston,  Rhode  Island.  He 
is  buriefl  at  Wethersfield,  Connecticut.  To 
John  and  liis  wife,  Elizabeth,  according  to  the 
records  of  the  First  Church  of  Hartford,  were 
born  six  children:  John,  April  5,  1651  ;  Mary, 
September  24,  i(>53 :  Thomas,  October  9, 
1655:  Robert,  February  i,  1658,  see  forward; 
Samuel,  February  17,  ifi6o;  Elizabeth,  No- 
vember 9,  1665. 

(II)  Robert,  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
Stedman,  was  born  at  Hartford,  Connecticut, 
February  i,  1658.  He  removed  to  Windsor, 
Connecticut,  about  1690.  He  seems  to  have 
been  active  in  church  aiifairs,  having  in  1694 
signed  a  petition  for  a  minister  in  Windsor- 
Farms,  and  obtained  permission  for  his  sons 
Robert  and  Joseph  to  sit  on  the  beams  of  the 
meeting-house  during  service.  He  had  at 
least  two  children,  Robert,  whose  birth  does 
not  appear  to  be  recorded,  and  Josc])h,  see  for- 
ward. 

(III)  Joseph,  son  of  Robert  Stedman,  was 
born  at  Windsor,  Connecticut,  in  .\pril,  1686, 
and  according  to  the  records  of  the  First 
Church  in  Hartford,  was  baptized  on  April 
4,  1686.  He  built  the  first  house  in  Wap- 
ping,  and  thereby  aroused  the  anger  of  the 
Indians,  who  fired  on  him,  and  on  one  occa- 


sion an  Indian's  bullet  pierced  his  clothes  and' 
grazed  his  skin.  The  section  of  Windsor  still' 
known  as  Stedman  Hill  is  probably  the  site 
of  this  house.  According  to  Stiles  "Ancient. 
Windsor,"  he  married,  January  7,  1709,  Sarah 
Taylor,  born  July  6,  1679,  at  Suffolk ;  died- 
December  24,  1762,  daughter  of  Stephen  and 
Joanna  (Porter)  Taylor.  Children:  Sarah,, 
born  ]\lay  22,  1710:  Sarah:  Stephen,  July  30, 
1718;  Ebenezer,  August  31,  1721;  Phineas, 
November  i,  1723. 

(I\')  Phineas.  son  of  Joseph  and'  Sarah 
(Taylor)  Stedman,  was  born  at  Windsor, 
Connecticut,  November  i,  1723.  He  removed 
from  Windsor,  and  is  said  to  have  lived  a 
short  time  in  Stafford,  Connecticut.  Later  he 
removed  to  Chicopee  (now  a  part  of  Spring- 
field), Massachusetts,  where  he  is  found  listed 
i"  1 775'  vvith  his  two  sons,  fov  assessment. 
Children:  Phineas,  born  1750;  married  Sarah 
I  loward  :  John,  see  forward. 

(  \' )  John  (  2 ) ,  son  of  Phineas  Stedman,  was 
born  in  July,  1753,  either  at  Wind,sor  or  Staf- 
ford, Connecticut,  and  died  in  Southbridge, 
Massachusetts,  in  1794.  The  Massachusetts 
soldiers'  record  states  that  he  was  a  minute- 
man,  and  served  at  least  three  months  in  the 
continental  army  during  the  siege  of  Boston. 
Copeland's  "History  of  Hampden  County, 
Mass."  says :  "\V'hen  the  struggle  of  the  col- 
onies with  the  mother  country  broke  out  at 
Lexington,  messengers  were  sent  to  the  set- 
tlements on  the  Connecticut  for  soldiers,  and 
sixty-two  men  from  Springfield  responded  on 
the  moment,  of  whom  Chicopee  furnished 
*     *     *  John      Stedman     and      Phineas 

Stedman,  Jr.  *  *  *  On  April  24th, 
Gideon  Burt's  company  was  enlisted  for  three 
months'  service  as  follows ;  *  *  * 
privates  *  *  *  John  .Stedman  *  *  *." 
John  Stedman  married.  .^eptemlier  25, 
1777,  Hannah  Howard,  born  March  28, 
1755,  died  March  26,  1842.  at  Stur- 
hridge,  Massachusetts.  Children :  i .  Ben- 
jamin, born  August  8,  1778,  died,  un- 
married, January,  1802.  2.  Joseph,  April  28, 
1781,  see  forward.  3.  John,  February  3.  1783; 
married  I'athsheba  Sherman:  died  October  i, 
1857.  4.  Elflcda,  May  28,  1785,  died,  un- 
married, Decemljer  5,  1843.  5-  Tryphena, 
May  14,  1788;  married  Waterman  Potter; 
died  December  17,  1867.  6.  Beman.  August 
22.  1790:  married  Lucinda  Tiffany:  died  June 
12,  1865.  7.  Lemuel,  March  \C^.  1793; 
all  probably  born  at  Chicopee,  Massachusetts. 

(\'I)  Joseph  (2).  son  of  John  (2)  and 
Hannah  (Howard)  Stedman,  was  born  April' 
28,  1 78 1,  jorobably  at  Chicopee.  Massachusetts, 
died  at  Southbridge,  Massachusetts,  .\ugust 
18,   1852.     He  married,  October  19,  1806,  at 


HUDSON   AXD    MOHAWK    \ALLEYS 


159 


Southbridge.  Massachusetts.  Matilda  Clark, 
born,  probably  at  Southbridge.  August  22, 
1787.  died  at  Southbridge,  Ajjril  27,  1747, 
daughter  of  Lieutenant  Isaac  and  Anna  (Bix- 
bv )  Clark.  All  their  children  were  born  at 
Southbridge,  Massachusetts.  Children:  i. 
John  Porter,  born  December  20,  1808,  see  for- 
ward. 2.  Francis  A..  July  24.  1810:  married 
Marrietta  Hooker;  died  at  Worcester,  Massa- 
chusetts, March  3,  1847.  3.  Lucian,  .\pril  11, 
1812.  died  in  infancy.  4.  Caroline,  June  29, 
1814,  died  unmarried,  January  4.  1885.  at  Tay- 
lor's Falls.  Minneapolis.  5.  Alatilda.  April  13. 
1819;  married  Ward  Folsom ;  died  at  Taylor's 
F"alls,  Minnesota,  February  4,  1901.  6.  Jos- 
eph, August  20.  1821  :  married  Lillie  Percy; 
died  April  20.  1870.  at  Los  Angeles,  Califor- 
nia. 7.  William  C.  January  22,  1826;  mar- 
ried Ruth  Ann  I  jrown ;  died  June  5,  1898,  at 
South    Boston,    Massachusetts. 

(XTI)  John  Porter,  son  of  Joseph  (2)  and 
Matilda  (Clark)  Stedman.  was  born  in  what 
is  now  the  town  of  Southbridge.  Massachu- 
setts, in  that  portion  known  as  Globe  \"illage, 
December  20.  1808.  There  he  lived  until  his 
death.  November  26.  1884.  He  was  educated 
at  the  public  school  of  that  village.  During 
the  whole  of  his  business  career  he  was  in  the 
employ  of  the  Hamilton  Woolen  Company  of 
Southbridge.  Beginning  as  a  boy  worker  in 
the  wool-sorting  room,  he  advanced  through 
successive  grades  to  that  of  the  wool  purchaser 
for  the  concern,  which  position  he  held  for 
a  number  of  vears.  Having  acquired  a  suf- 
ficient estate  and  tiring  of  the  traveling  which 
his  ixTsition  demanded,  he  resigned  his  office 
and  devoted  the  latter  years  of  his  life  to  pub- 
lic matters.  When  the  First  Baptist  Church 
of  Southbridge  was  organized,  he  was  made 
church  clerk,  and  held  this  office  for  many 
years.  He  was  on  different  occasions  the 
treasurer  of  the  same  church.  Several  times 
he  was  chosen  selectman  of  the  town.  He 
was  trustee  of  the  Southbridge  Savings  Bank, 
1848-80;  vice-president  of  it,  1858-74,  and  its 
president  1874-80.  John  Porter  Stedman 
married,  at  Southbridge.  Massachusetts.  June 
5.  182S.  Thais  Maria  Hooker,  born  at  Charl- 
ton. AFassachusetts,  February  2~.  1801,  died 
there  February  12.  1852,  daughter  of  John 
Parker  Hooker  (the  son  of  Amos  Hooker, 
a  corporal  in  a  Massachusetts  regiment  dur- 
ing the  war  of  the  revolution)  and  Polly 
(Winslnw)  Hooker.  Children,  born  in 
Southl)ri(lge,  Massachusetts:  i.  John  Hook- 
er, born  November  26.  1829;  married  Sarah 
Edwards,  died  October,  1850,  without  chil- 
dren. 2.  George  Lavater,  November  3,  1831, 
see  forward.  3.  Harriet  Maria,  May  19,  1834, 
died  in   1837.     4.  Maria  Clark.  May  9.   1837; 


married  Joseph  D.  Dexter,  and  in  1910  was 
residing  at  San  Diego,  California.  5.  Mary 
L.,  June  13,  1840;  married  Charles  B.  Sum- 
ner; died  July,  i8(;3,  at  Pomona.  California. 
(\HI)  George  Lavater,  son  of  John  Por- 
ter and  Thais  Maria  (Hooker)  Stedman,  was 
born  in  Southbridge.  Massachusetts,  Novem- 
ber 3,  1831,  died  in  Albany,  New  York,  March 
15,  1898.  He  received  his  early  education  in 
the  public  school  of  his  native  place  and  at 
the  high  school  of  Springfield,  Massachusetts. 
Later  he  attended  Worcester  Academy  and 
the  University  grammar  school  at  Providence, 
Rhode  Island.  He  entered  Brown  Lhiiversity 
in  1852.  At  graduation  he  was  president  of 
his  class  which  inaugurated  the  modern  class- 
day  at  Brown.  He  was  graduated  therefrom 
in  1856,  second  in  his  class  with  the  degree 
of  A.B..  and  with  the  honor  of  salutatorian.  In 
college  he  was  a  member  of  Phi  Beta  Kappa 
and  Delta  Kappa  Epsilon  fraternities,  and  his 
college  gave  him  the  degree  of  A.M.  He  then 
entered  the  .Albany  Law  School,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1857  with  the  degree  of 
LL.B.  The  same  year  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  at  Albany,  of  which  city  he  then  became 
a  resident,  and  in  which  he  practiced  law  un- 
til his  death.  He  was  there  successively  a 
member  of  the  law  firm  of  Stedman  &•  Strong; 
.Stedman  &  Shepard  ;  Stedman.  Thompson  & 
.Andrews,  and  latterly  of  Stedman  &  Stedman. 
all  located  at  No.  445  Broadway,  Albany.  In 
1 87 1.  Mr.  Stedman  took  up  his  residence  in 
Loudonville.  a  suburb  of  Albany.  His  inter- 
ests outside  of  his  family,  profession  and  his 
farm  were  mainly  religious  and  educational. 
He  was  elected  trustee  of  the  school  at  Loudon- 
ville and  mainly  through  his  efiforts  it  was 
changed  from  a  district  school  to  a  modern 
grammar  school.  He  had  in  his  young  man- 
hood joined  the  Baptist  church  in  South- 
bridge,  and  on  coming-  to  .Albany  became  a 
member  of  the  then  Pearl  Street  (in  1910  the 
Emmanuel )  Baptist  Church,  and  was  closely 
identified  with  it  for  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
At  his  death  he  was  said  to  be  the  leading 
representative  of  the  Baptists  in  Albany.  He 
was  president  of  the  New  York  Baptist  Union 
for  Ministerial  Education,  1885-98 ;.  trustee  of 
the  Rochester  Theological  Seminary,  1885-98; 
trustee  of  Colgate  University,  1890-98;  pres- 
ident and  trustee  of  Hudson  River  Baptist 
Association  North.  1883-98;  chairman  of  its 
missionary  committee.  1886-98.  and  modera- 
tor of  its  meeting  in  1883;  trustee  of  the  Em- 
manuel Baptist  Church  of  Albany,  1883-98. 
and  clerk  of  the  church,  1864-67.  He  was  for 
many  years  superintendent  of  the  Loudon- 
ville Union  Sabbath  school,  and  was  promi- 
nent  in    the    founding  of   the    Baptist    Social 


i6o 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


Union  of  Albany  and  Troy,  serving  as  presi- 
dent of  the  association  for  two  terms.  He 
was  one  of  the  organizers  and  trustees  of  the 
New  York  and  New  England  Agricultural 
Association ;  organizer  and  trustee  of  the  peo- 
ple's Gas  Company  of  Albany,  1880-85  :  a  life 
member  and  at  one  time  secretary  of  the  Al- 
bany Young  Alen's  Association  ;  vice-president 
of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association ; 
and  one  of  the  earliest  promoters  of 
the  Albany  Historical  and  Art  Society.  At 
the  time  of  his  death  he  was  counsel  for  the 
town  of  Colonic,  in  which  he  resided,  and  the 
law  for  the  organization  of  which  he  drew. 
The  judgment  of  his  fellows  as  to  his  char- 
acteristics and  attainments  is  attested  by  the 
following  excerpt  from  the  minutes  of  a  meet- 
ing of  the  Albany  Bar  Association  held  in 
his  memory,  "tie  became  a  good  lawyer  by 
doing  good  work.  *  *  *  Abundance  of 
professional  work  came  to  him  from  the  first 
and  he  was  known  to  do  it  well.  *  *  * 
Then,  as  years  went  on,  great  financial  in- 
terests more  and  more  sought  his  help.  Mon- 
eyed corporations  became  his  clients,  large 
manufacturing  establishments  invoked  his  gui- 
dance, ecclesiastical  and  educational  interests 
were  intrusted  to  his  charge,  large  estates 
came  under  his  management.  *  *  *  He 
was  an  able  lawyer,  grounded  in  the  principles 
of  law,  conversant  with  leading  cases 
*  *  *  he  was  a  safe,  trustworthy,  and  wise 
counsellor.  *  *  *  But  Mr.  Stedman  was 
not  alone  an  excellent  lawyer :  he  was  a  wise 
counsellor  in  the  practical  aiifairs  of  life  which 
do  not  touch  the  law.  He  was  a  kind  friend, 
a  consistent  and  useful  churchman,  a  good 
neighbor." 

George  L.  Stedman  married,  Albany,  May 
6,  1863,  Adda  Maud  Shuler,  Woolverton, 
daughter  of  George  Alonzo  and  Caroline 
(Shuler)  Woolverton  (see  Woolverton  \T)  ; 
she  was  born  in  Albany,  May  29,  1840,  died 
at  Loudonvillc,  Albany  county.  New  York, 
September  28.  1909.  Children:  i.  George 
Woolverton,  born  in  Albany,  September  9. 
1864,  see  forward.  2.  Frank  White,  Albany, 
December  7.  1867,  see  forward.  3.  John  Por- 
ter, Loudon ville,  New  York.  April  8,  1871, 
see  forward.  4.  Charles  Sumner,  Loudon- 
ville.  November  6,  1874,  see  forward. 

Adda  Maud  Shuler  (Woolverton)  Stedman 
was  daughter  of  (jeorge  Alonzo  and  Caroline 
(Shuler)  Woolverton.  She  was  born  at  Al- 
bany, New  York,  May  29,  1840,  died  at  Lou- 
donville.  Albany  county.  New  York,  Septem- 
ber 28.  1909.  She  received  her  education  at 
the  .Albany  Academy  for  Girls  ( formerly  the 
Albany  Female  .Academy),  from  which  insti- 
tution she  was  graduated  in  1859,  and  to  which 


she  always  gave  her  aflfectionate  interest,  be- 
ing a  member  since  graduation  of  its  Alumnae 
Association  and  of  its  Semper  Fidel  is  Society. 
Early  in  life  she  became  a  member  of  the 
Pearl  Street  Baptist  Church  of  Albany,  now 
the  Emmanuel,  and  the  early  religious  intlu- 
ence  of  her  home  and  church  she  carried 
into  her  maturer  years,  being  a  devoted  mem- 
ber of  the  church  until  her  death,  a  teacher 
and  superintendent  of  the  primary  department 
of  the  Loudonville  Union  Sunday  school,  the 
president  of  the  Woman's  Baptist  Missionary 
Society  of  her  church  froin  the  death  of  her 
mother,  a  former  president,  until  her  own 
death,  and  an  active  supporter  of  all  mission- 
ary enterprises,  both  home  and  foreign.  She 
was  frequently  a  delegate  to  conventions  and 
meetings  of  religious  and  missionary  societies, 
joining  her  devotion  to  them  with  her  love 
of  travel.  Her  philanthropic  and  educational 
interests  were  numerous  and  widespread,  es- 
pecially prominent  being  her  gifts  to  an  art 
collection  at  Colgate  University  at  Hamilton, 
New  York,  in  memory  of  her  husband.  Mrs. 
Stedman's  position  as  president  for  many 
years  of  the  Home  for  Aged  Men  of  Albany, 
as  manager  of  the  Albany  Guardian  Society, 
as  a  member  of  the  Auxiliary  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association,  and  as  manager 
of  the  Young  Women's  Christian  Association, 
and  her  interest  in  many  of  Albany's  other 
pliilanthropic  institutions,  all  bear  testimony 
to  her  numerous  benefactions.  During  the 
many  years  of  Mrs.  Stedman's  varied  public 
interests  and  activities,  her  devotion  to  her 
home  and  friends  was  never  sacrificed,  and 
she  is  especially  remembered  as  a  home 
builder. 

(IX)  George  \\'oolverton,  son  of  George 
Lavater  and  Adda  Maud  Shuler  ( Woolver- 
ton) Stedman,  was  born  in  Albany,  New 
York,  September  9,  1864.  He  removed  with 
his  parents  to  Loudonville  in  187 1,  where  he 
has  since  resided,  his  winter  home  in  1910 
being  at  No.  100  Chestnut  street.  Albany.  He 
attended  in  succession  the  Loudonville  Union 
I'ree  School,  the  Albany  Academy,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1883,  the  University  of 
Rochester,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1885  with  tlie  degree  of  li.S.,  and  the  .Albany 
Law  School,  from  which  be  was  graduatc'(l  in 
1887,  with  the  degree  of  LL.B.  While  in  col- 
lege he  was  a  member  of  the  Delta  Kappa 
Epsilon  fraternity,  and  in  the  Law  School  lie 
joined  the  Phi  Delta  Phi  fraternity.  Later 
he  was  given  the  degree  of  M.S.  by  his  col- 
lege. He  was  admitted  to  jiractice  law  in 
1887.  and  was  the  following  year  taken  into 
the  law  ]iartnership  of  Stedman,  Thompson 
&  .Andrews,  of  which  his  father  was  the  se- 


HUDSON   AND   ^.lOHAWK   X'ALLEYS 


i6i 


nior  member.  In  1896  his  father  and  he  formed 
the  partnership  of  Stedman  &  Stedman,  and 
upon  the  death  of  the  former,  the  son  asso- 
ciated his  brother,  Charles  S.,  with  him  under 
the  same  firm  name.  This'  firm  has  continued 
to  practice  law  till  now,  1910,  in  the  same  of- 
fice where  his  father  studied  and  practiced  at 
Albany.  j\Ir.  Stedman  is  interested  in  several 
religious,  educational  and  financial  institutions. 
He  is  and  has  been  for  over  ten  years  a  trus- 
tee and  secretary  of  the  Emmanuel  Baptist 
Church  of  Albany,  of  which  he  is  a  member; 
trustee  and  president  of  the  Hudson  River 
Baptist  Association  North,  and  has  been  mod- 
erator of  that  association ;  and  for  over  fif- 
teen years  a  trustee  of  Colgate  University.^ 
He  was  a  trustee  of  the  Albany  Academy  and 
the  first  president  of  its  Alumni  Association ; 
trustee  of  the  Baptist  Union  for  ministerial 
•education ;  director  of  the  People's  Gas  Com- 
pany of  Albany,  the  Park  Bank  of  Albany, 
and  the  National  Exchange  Bank  of  same  city. 
He  is  a  director  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  .Albany,  the  Union  Trust  Company,  and 
the  City  Safe  Deposit  Company,  of  Albany. 
In  politics  he  is  a  strong  Republican.  On  the 
formation  of  the  town  of  Colonic,  Albany 
county,  he  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace 
and  thereby  became  a  member  of  the  first 
town  board  of  that  town.  He  was  a  delegate 
to  the  state  Republican  convention  in  1894, 
and  in  1897  was  elected  member  of  the  New 
York  assembly  from  the  fourth  district  of 
Albany  county,  when  he  served  on  the  impor- 
tant committees  of  judiciary  and  internal  af- 
fairs. He  is  a  member  of  the  Fort  Orange 
Club,  the  Albany  County  Bar  Association, 
the  Albany  Chamber  of  Commerce,  the  Al- 
bany Country  Club  and  of  the  Albany  Insti- 
tute and  Historical  and  Art  Society.  On  June 
18,  1898,  at  Loudonville,  he  married  Harriet 
Teresa  Mather,  born  at  Albany,  New  York, 
December  23,  1865,  daughter  of  Adrian  On- 
derdonk  Mather,  born  at  Burlington,  Otsego 
countv.  New  York,  May  22,  1835,  died  hdy 
18,  1883,  and  Sarah  (Whitford)  Mather,  born 
at  New  Lisbon,  Otsego  county,  New  York, 
October  30,  1839.  Mr.  and  I\Irs.  George  W. 
'Stedman  have  one  child,  George  Woolverton, 
Jr.,  born  at  Loudonville,  Albany  county.  New 
York.   September  28,   1900. 

(IX)  Frank  A\'hite,  son  of  George  Lavater 
and  Adda  Maud  Shuler  (Woolverton)  Sted- 
man, was  born  at  Albany,  New  York,  De- 
cember 7,  1867.  He  removed  with  his  par- 
ents to  Loudonville,  New  York,  in  1871,  and 
returned  to  Albany  after  his  marriage  in  1893, 
and  removed  to  Utica  in  1901,  where  he  re- 
.■sided  in  19 10.  He  attended  the  Loudonville 
^nion  Free  School  and  the  Albany  Academy. 


Starting  early  upon  a  business  career,  he  was 
employed  for  a  few  years  by  the  People's 
Gas  Company,  of  Albany,  and  by  Tracey  & 
Wilson  of  the  same  city.  For  a  short  time 
he  was  a  wholesale  dealer  in  coal,  and  later 
a  manufacturer  of  paste,  all  at  Albany.  On 
removal  to  Utica,  he  entered  upon  the 
manufacture  of  adhesives  on  a  large 
scale,  and  after  several  years  of  hard 
work  established  under  the  name  of 
the  Tacks  Manufacturing  Company,  a 
prosperous  business  with  distributing  agencies 
in  England  and  throughout  this  country.  In 
1896  he  was  elected  a  director  of  the  Albany 
Art  Union.  He  was  one  of  the  first  members 
of  Philip  Livingston  Chapter,  Sons  of  the 
Revolution.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Emman- 
uel Baptist  Church  of  Albany.  He  married, 
Albany,  February  14,  1893,  Clara  H.,  daughter 
of  Ralph  \\'.  and  Ann  Elizabeth  (Glazier) 
Thacher,  Children :  Woolverton  Thacher,  born 
at  Albany,  July  12,  1895,  and  PVancis  (Frank) 
White,  Jr.,  Ixirn  at  Utica,  January  19,  1909. 

(IX)  John  Porter,  son  of  George  Lavater 
and  Adda  Maud  Shuler  (Woolverton)  Sted- 
man, was  born  at  Loudonville,  New  York, 
April  8,  1871,  died,  unmarried,  at  Albany, 
New  York,  March  24,  1910.  His  earliest  edu- 
cation was  obtained  at  the  Loudonville  Union 
Free  School,  after  which  he  entered  the  Al- 
bany Academy,  from  which  he  received  its 
mathematical  diploma  on  his  graduation  in 
1890.  Shortly  afterward  he  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  his  brother,  Frank  W.,  who  was  then 
in  the  coal  business  in  Albany,  and  remained 
with  him  until  1897.  He  then  formed  a  part- 
nership with  Herbert  Best,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Best  &  Stedman,  and  with  him  con- 
ducted a  large  wholesale  drug  business  for 
several  years  at  Albany.  In  1903  Mr.  Sted- 
man retired  from  this  business,  and  to  regain 
his  health  traveled  extensively  througli  prac- 
tically every  section  of  North  America.  Since 
that  time  he  also  devoted  himself  to  agricul- 
ture. He  was  a  member  of  the  New  York 
State  Fruit  Growers'  Association  and  the 
Western  New  York  Florticultural  Society,  and 
had  been  assistant  superintendent  of  the  New 
York  and  New  England  Agricultural  Society. 
By  the  constant  attendance  at  the  meetings  of 
these  societies  and  close  study  of  the  latest 
authorities  on  these  subjects,  as  well  as  by 
independent  experiments,  he  became  one  of 
the  leading  exponents  in  his  county  of  mod- 
ern methods  of  farming,  and  made  of  the 
place  where  he  was  born  and  continued  to  re- 
side until  his  death,  a  model  farm.  He  was 
concerned  in  numerous  religious  and  chari- 
table institutions.  .\t  the  time  of  his  death  he 
was  a  deacon   of   Emmanuel   Baptist  Church 


1 62 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   \'ALLEYS 


of  Albany,  where  he  was  long  an  active  mem- 
ber, and  president  of  the  board  of  managers 
of  the  Albany  City  Mission.  He  had  served 
as  moderator  of  the  Hudson  River  Baptist  As- 
sociation North,  and  was  on  numerous  occa- 
sions chosen  as  delegate  to  the  conventions 
of  various  organizations  identified  with  his 
church  and  denomination. 

(IX)  Charles  Sumner,  son  of  George  La- 
vater  and  Adda  Maud  Shuler  (Woolverton) 
Stedman,  was  born  at  Loudonville,  New  York, 
November  6,  1874.  He  was  educated  at  the 
Loudonville  Union  Free  School,  the  Albany 
Academy  and  Brown  University,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  1896  with  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Philosophy,  and  then  took  the 
course  at  the  Albany  Law  School,  graduating 
in  1898.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  July 
6,  1898,  and  associated  himself  with  his  broth- 
er, George  W.  Stedman,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Stedman  &  Stedman,  continuing  the  part- 
nership which  had  existed  between  his  father 
and  brother.  He  has  been  president  of  the 
Brown  University  Alumni  Association  of  Al- 
bany; secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Delta 
Kappa  Epsilon  Association  of  Eastern  New 
York ;  secretary  of  the  Albany  Baptist  Mis- 
sionary Union,  1896- 1906,  and  its  president, 
1907-09.  He  has  served  continuously  on  the 
missionary  committee  of  the  Hudson  River 
Baptist  Association  North  since  the  death  of 
his  father,  March  15,  1898.  who  had  been 
chairman  for  many  years.  He  is  actively  in- 
terested in  the  Young  Men's  Christian  As- 
sociation of  Albany,  and  has  served  as  director 
since  February  i,  1901.  He  has  been  secre- 
tary and  a  director  of  the  yMbany  Academy 
Alumni  Association,  an  organizer  of  the  Al- 
bany Industrial  Brotherhood,  an  organizer  and 
treasurer  of  the  Albany  Grenfell  .A.ssociation, 
an  organizer  of  the  Committee  of  Prevention 
of  Tuberculosis  of  the  State  Charities  Aid  As- 
sociation, charter  member  of  the  Albany 
County  Bar  Association,  and  its  secretary 
since  January,  1908.  He  has  been  a  director 
of  the  Albany  Insurance  Company  since  1893. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Emmanuel  Baptist 
Church  of  Albany,  and  has  held  numerous  of- 
fices in  the  various  organizations  identified 
with  the  church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Fort 
Orange,  University  and  Albany  Automobile 
clubs,  and  secretary  of  the  University  Club. 
He  has  always  maintained  his  residence  at 
Loudonville,  New  York.  He  married  at  lou- 
donville. New  York,  September  20,  1899, 
Agnes  Lauder  McEwan,  born  at  Albany,  Jan- 
uary 28,  1876.  daughter  of  Walter  McEwan, 
born  at  Glascow,  Scotland,  June  i,  1843,  and  of 
Abby  Stuart  (McKissick)  McEwan,  (see  Mc- 
Kiss'ick  IV),  born  May  18,  1851,  at  Albany. 


Children :  Charles  Sumner,  Jr.,  born  at  Al- 
bany, April  9,  1902 ;  Walter  Stuart,  Albany,. 
March  20,  1904;  Richard  Lauder,  Loudon- 
ville, July  9,  1907. 

(The  Woolverton  Line). 

Charles  Woolverton,  of  Amwell,  Hunterdorp 
county  (formerly  a  part  of  Burlington  coun- 
ty), New  Jersey,  is  the  first  ancestor  of  the 
Mohawk  Valley  Woolvertons  of  which  we 
have  absolute  records.  In  a  deed  to  him  in 
the  west  Jersey  records,  consisting  of  a  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  and  bearing  date  August 
20,  1693,  ''•s  's  described  as  a  husbandman  of 
Burlington  county,  in  that  colony.  In  "Snell'a 
History  of  Hunterdon  County,  New  Jersey," 
it  is  stated  that  on  March  2,  17 14,  he  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  one  thousand  six  hundred' 
and  sixty-five  acres,  in  and  about  Rosemont, 
New  Jersey,  and  upon  his  death  left  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  to  each  of  his  six  sons ; 
that  he  came  from  Long  Island,  and  that  the 
family  originally  came  from  Wolverhampton, 
England. 

There  are  reasons  for  believing  that  Charles 
Woolverton  emigrated  from  England  with  his 
brothers,  John  and  Gabriel,  and  after  living 
a  short  time  on  Long  Island,  moved  about 
1680  to  the  Pennsylvania  bank  of  the  Dela- 
ware river,  from  which  locality  he  soon  re- 
moved to  Burlington  county,  on  the  opposite 
bank.  Besides  being  a  man  of  considerable 
means,  he  appears  to  have  been  one  of  the 
leading  men  in  his  community.  On  the  erec- 
tion of  Hunterdon  county,  he  was  in  1721 
elected  one  of  its  first  five  justices  of  the 
peace,  and  thereafter  was  frequently  called  on 
to  witness  his  neighbors'  wills.  He  is  sup- 
posed to  be  the  Charles  Woolverton  who,  in 
1 73 1,  was  appointed  overseer  of  the  Friends 
(Quakers),  settled  at  Bethlehem.  .\11  his  chil- 
dren were  probably  born  near  Rosemont,  New 
Jersey.     Children:     i.  Charles,  born  January 

17,   1698;  married  Margaret  ;  died  in 

October,  1765,  at  Amwell,  New  Jersey.  2. 
Roger,  December  i,  1700.  3.  Mary,  April  11, 
1702.  4.  Daniel,  March  8,  1704.  5.  Isaac, 
April  24.  1706.  6.  Dennis,  January  26,  1709, 
see  forward.  7.  David.  March  25,  171 1.  8. 
Joel,  born  May  31,  1715-  9.  Thomas,  Alay 
II,  1717. 

(II)  Dennis,  son  of  Charles  Woolverton,. 
was  born  January  26,  1709,  probably  at  Rose- 
mont, New  Jersey,  died  .August  9,  1774,  being- 
buried  at  tile  place  of  his  birth.  He  was^ 
for  several  years  church  warden  of  the  church' 
at  Kingwood.  By  his  will  he  gave  his  home- 
stead to  his  wife,  Elizabeth,  and  their  son,. 
Jonathan,  and  to  his  daughter,  Mary,  and  his- 
grandson,   Nathaniel,  his  plantation,  describ- 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK   \-ALLEYS 


163 


ing  the  latter  as  "the  only  son  of  my  oldest 
son  Charles."  He  married  Elizabeth  Pettit. 
Children:  i.  Charles,  born  at  Rosemont,  New 
Jersey,  see  forward.  2.  Mary,  married  Gen- 
eral Daniel  Bray,  May  2,  1772.  3.  Jonathan, 
born  1754,  married  Mary  Bancroft;  removed 
to  Canada,  probably  locating  at  Forty  Mile 
Creek  in  October,  1798,  where  he  died  in  1831. 

(HI)  Charles,  son  of  Dennis  and  Elizabeth 
(Pettit)  Woolverton,  was  probably  born  at 
Rosemont,  New  Jersey.  He  was  accidentally 
drowned  in  the  Delaware  river  in  1763.  He 
married  Anne,  daughter  of  John  Jewell,  of 
Amwell,  New  Jersey,  by  whom  he  had  but 
a  single  child,  Nathaniel,  see  forward.  It  is 
probable  that  this  John  Jewell  is  responsible 
for  the  connection  of  the  Woolvertons  with 
the  Baptists  of  the  Mohawk  Valley,  in  which 
denomination  they  have  been  prominent  for 
four  generations.  Barbor  &  Howe's  "His- 
torical Collections  of  New  Jersey"  relates  that 
John  Jewell  and  others  built  the  first  Baptist 
church  in  the  town  of  Amwell  in  1766,  and 
that,  at  one  time  the  church  was  without  a 
pastor,  the  regular  supply  being  shut  out  of 
the  house  by  Mr.  Jewell  because  he  was 
thought  to  be  too  favorable  to  the  British. 

(I\' )  Nathaniel,  son  of  Charles  and  Anne 
(Jewell)  W'oolverton.  was  born  January  14, 
1763,  probably  at  Ringwood,  New  Jersey,  died 
at  Cilen,  Montgomery  county,  New  York,  No- 
vember 22,  1835,  His  mother  marrying  short- 
ly after  his  father's  death  and  while  Nathaniel 
was  a  young  boy,  he  was  taken  into  the  house- 
hold of  his  maternal  grandfather,  John  Jewell, 
and  lived  with  him  in  Amwell,  New  Jersey, 
until  his  own  marriage,  January  4,  1786,  at 
Amwell,  to  Pamelia  Hudnut,  born  July  2, 
1770,  died  at  Glen,  New  York,  September  i, 
1853.  For  a  year  or  two  after  his  marriage, 
he  resided  in  Amwell  and  then  removed  to 
Ringwood,  New  Jersey,  probably  to  the  farm 
that  came  to  him  from  the  estate  of  his  grand- 
father, Dennis  Woolverton.  After  living  there 
some  six  years,  he  removed  to  Montgomery 
county,  New  York,  and  on  September  29, 
1794,  purchased  for  £550  a  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred acres  in  William  Corey  patent.  This 
farm  is  situated  in  the  present  towns  of  Glen 
and  Charleston,  Montgomery  county.  Upon 
this  estate  Nathaniel  Woolverton  erected  a 
fine,  substantial  house,  which  was  standing  in 
1910,  and  there  reared  his  large  family.  He 
continued  to  live  there  until  his  death.  He 
and  his  wife  are  buried  in  the  cemetery  of 
the  Baptist  Church  at  Charleston,  New  York. 
One  of  his  granddaughters  describing  him 
says :  "He  was  a  man  of  heroic  courage,  stir- 
ling  integrity,  a  firm  believer  in  God  and  His 
attributes,  and  generous  in  word  and  deed." 


Children:  i.  Edward,  born  at  Amwell,  New 
Jersey,  January  11,  1787,  see  forward.  2. 
Ann,  born  May  16,  1789,  at  Ringwood,  New 
Jersey ;  married,  January  5,  1827,  Phineas 
Rowley,  of  Cherry  V^alley ;  died  October  9, 
1878:  both  he  and  his  wife  buried  at  Charles- 
ton, New  York.  3.  Charles,  born  at  Charles- 
ton, New  York,  April  5,  1791 ;  married.  May 
II,  1812,  Margaret  Blair;  both  died  in  Au- 
gust, 1825,  at  Charleston,  of  yellow  fever.  4. 
Sarah,  born  February  16,  1793;  married,  No- 
vember II,  1815,  Ephraim  Wilcox,  died  June 

2,  1855,  in  Ohio.  5.  John  Dennis,  born  Jan- 
uary 30,  1795;  married,  June  20,  1822,  Ada- 
line  McNamee;  died  October  31,  1830,  in 
Vincennes,  Indiana.  6.  Charlotte,  born  Decem- 
ber 27,  1797 ;  married,  September  9,  1828, 
Peter  Wyckoff,  of  New  York,  died  February 

3,  1865  ;  both  he  and  wife  buried  in  Albany.  7. 
Mary,  born  June  6,  1799;  married,  January 
I,  1820,  Peleg  Osborn,  a  descendant  of  the 
House  of  York,  England;  died  April  12,  1867, 
at  Saratoga,  New  York.  8.  Hiram,  born  Oc- 
tober 15,  1800,  died  March  12,  1830,  at  Wool- 
verton Homestead,  in  Charleston,  New  York. 
9.  Keron  Happuck,  born  October  12,  1802; 
married,  January  22,  1829,  Lyman  Haughton ; 
died  September  i,  1853,  at  Toledo,  Ohio.  10. 
Gains,  born  November  23,  1804;  married, 
March,  1839,  Gazena  Margaret  Visscher.  11. 
Lucretia,  born  November  22,  1806,  died  at 
Glen,  New  York,  April  6,  1881.  12.  Rhoda, 
born  June  4,  1808,  died  March  13,  1809.  13. 
Ozias,  born  April  28,  1810,  died  February 
14,  181 1.  14.  Nathaniel  Hart,  April  18,  1814, 
at  Charleston,  New  York ;  married,  January 

4,  1849 ;  Jane  Overbaugh ;  died  at  Glen,  New 
York,  April  29,   1867. 

(V)  Edward,  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Pamelia 
(Hudnut)  Woolverton,  was  born  at  Amwell, 
New  Jersey,  January  11,  1787,  died  at  Pitts- 
field,  Massachusetts,  Septeml>er  4,  1874.  His 
grave  is  beside  that  of  his  wife  in  the  Albany 
Rural  Cemetery.  His  early  married  life  was 
spent  in  Charleston,  New  York,  but  about 
1827  he  removed  to  Oppenheim,  New  York, 
then  to  Canajoharie,  New  York,  in  1830,  and 
in  1832  to  Albany,  New  York,  where  he  lived 
thereafter  until  his  death,  excepting  perhaps 
for  a  brief  period  when  he  was  at  Grand 
Spring,  Wisconsin,  He  was  at  first  a  farmer, 
later  lie  dealt  considerably  in  livestock  and 
subsequently,  at  Albany,  was  a  forwarder  of 
goods,  principally  on  boats  plying  the  Hudson 
river.  A  dignified  man,  with  a  large,  clean- 
shaven face,  always  appearing  in  an  old-fash- 
ioned stock  tie,  he  impressed  his  great-grand- 
children, who  remember  him,  as  a  true  gentle- 
man of  the  old  school.  He  was  long  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Pearl  Street  (now  Emmanuel)  Bap- 


164 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


list  Church  of  Albany.  Edward  Woolverton 
married,  at  Glen,  Montgomery  county,  New 
York,  June  5,  181 1,  Asenath  Wilcox,  born 
there  March  17,  1790,  died,  at  Albany,  July 
31,  1857,  daughter  of  Sylvanus  and  Sarah 
(Johnson)  Wilcox,  (see  Wilcox  VI).  Chil- 
dren: I.  Lavinia,  born  at  Charleston,  New 
York,  May  2,  1812,  died,  unmarried,  at  Al- 
bany, New  York,  September  14,  1889.  2. 
George  Alonzo,  Charleston,  September  12, 
1813 ;  see  forward.  3.  Sarah  Anne,  Charles- 
ton, October  31,  1815 ;  married,  at  Albany, 
September  28,  1836,  Peter  Monteath  ;  died  Oc- 
tober 28,  1883,  at  Albany.  4.  Henry  Morti- 
mer, Charleston,  January  28,  1818;  married, 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  August  12,  1844,  Louisa 
Johnson ;  died  at  Topeka,  Kansas,  March  24, 
1874,  and  is  buried  at  Albany  in  the  Rural 
Cemetery.  5.  Chestine,  Charleston,  July  12, 
1821  ;  married,  at  Albany,  September  7,  1847, 
James  Collin ;  died  at  Bridgeport,  Connecti- 
cut, March  16.  1883.  6.  Harriet,  Charlestown, 
August  18,  1824;  married,  Albany,  Decem- 
ber 9,  1844,  Jenkins  W.  Scoville,  of  Grand 
Spring,  Wisconsin ;  died  at  Pasadena,  Cali- 
fornia, May,  1908.  7.  Elizabeth,  Oppenheim, 
New  York,  December  4,  1826 ;  married,  at 
IMadison,  Wisconsin,  July  9.  1850,  James  Du- 
ane  Ruggles ;  died  at  San  Francisco,  Califor- 
nia, March  20,  1897. 

(VI)  George  Alonzo,  son  of  Edward  and 
Asenath  (Wilcox)  W^oolverton,  was  born  in 
Charleston,  Montgomery  county.  New  York, 
September  12,  1813,  died  at  Albany,  New 
York,  May  5,  1896,  where  he  was  buried  with 
his  wife  in  the  Albany  Rural  Cemetery.  His 
childhood  and  youth  were  spent  in  Montgom- 
ery county  and  he  there  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools  of  Charleston,  Op- 
penheim and  Canajoharie.  He  came  to  Al- 
bany in  1832  with  his  father,  for  whom  he 
worked  at  farming  until  about  the  time  he 
became  of  age.  Shortly  after  he  moved  to 
Albany,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  he 
became  clerk  in  a  store  in  that  city  where 
boots  and  shoes  were  sold.  Becoming  in  this 
manner  familiar  with  that  business  he,  in  1837, 
started  a  wholesale  boot  and  shoe  business  for 
himself,  and  continued  in  it  until  his  retire- 
ment from  business  in  1882.  Not  content  with 
being  merely  a  buyer  and  seller,  he  soon  be- 
gan manufacturing  his  own  goods.  By  his 
activity,  industn,-,  frugality  and  keen  business 
insight,  he  built  up  a  large  business,  and  was 
in  this,  as  in  all  his  other  business  ventures, 
very  successful.  During  the  years  i860  to  r870, 
he  also  conducted  a  wholesale  hat  business, 
and  for  a  time  was  largely  interested  in  a  line 
of  barges  sailing  between  Albany  and  New 
York  City,     ^^'hile  in  all  these  enterprises  he 


had  at  times  partners,  chiefly  relatives,  he 
was  the  leading  man  in  them.  In  1879  cir- 
cumstances gave  him  control  of  one  of  the  gas 
companies  of  Albany,  and  in  1880  he  became 
the  president  and  chief  administrative  officer 
of  the  People's  Gas  Company  of  Albany.  In 
1864  he,  with  several  other  prominent  men, 
organized  the  Merchants'  National  Bank  of 
Albany,  and  was  on  its  first  board  of  directors, 
continuing  in  that  capacity  until  1895,  when 
he  retired  following  thirty  years  of  service. 
He  was  a  pronouncedly  religious  man,  and 
particularly  active  in  the  support  of  the  Pearl 
Street  (now  Emmanuel)  Baptist  Church  of 
Albany,  in  which  he  and  his  wife,  his  father 
and  most  of  his  sisters  were  baptized  in  1840. 
In  the  latter  years  of  his  life  he  was  consid- 
ered the  leading  man  in  that  church.  He 
generously  supported  the  institutions  of  his 
denomination,  particularly  those  connected 
with  its  ministry,  it  being  said  that  at  one  time 
he  was  supporting  in  whole  or  in  part  eight 
students  for  the  ministry.  He  was  one  of  the 
incorporators  of  the  Hudson  River  Baptist 
Association  North.  From  1884  until  his  death 
in  1896  he  was  vice-president  of  the  New 
York  Baptist  LInion  for  ministerial  education, 
and  from  1885  to  1896  was  trustee  of  Colgate 
L^niversity,  and  from  before  1870  to  1896  a 
trustee  of  Emmanuel  Baptist  Church. 

George  Alonzo  Woolverton  married,  at 
Glen,  New  York,  July  11,  1838,  Caroline  Shu- 
ler  (see  Shuler  II).  She  was  born  at  Florida, 
Montgomery  county,  New  York,  July  20, 
1814,  died  at  Albany,  New  York,  July  31, 
1894,  daughter  of  John  and  Hannah  (Buck) 
Shuler.  A  sketch  of  his  life  would  be  very 
incomplete  without  a  reference  to  that  of  his 
wife,  who  was  in  truth  a  helpmeet.  Of  her, 
her  husband  truly  said,  "She  was  the  most 
perfect  model  of  a  Christian  I  ever  met.  With 
lier  every  human  being  on  earth  was  a  broth- 
er or  sister,  and  it  was  her  sweetest  joy  to 
minister  to  the  wants  of  all."  She  was  a  lead- 
er in  many  of  the  charitable  and  religious  in- 
stitutions of  Albany,  and  encouraged  lier  hus- 
band in  his  many  gifts,  while  her  personal 
benefactions  were  without  number.  She  was 
one  of  the  three  founders  in  Albany  of  the 
Women's  Baptist  Missionary  Society,  and 
president  of  the  Emmanuel  Baptist  Church 
branch  of  it  until  her  death.  For  very  many 
years  she  was  a  manager  of  the  Albany  Guar- 
dian Society,  and  of  the  Boys'  Lodging  House 
of  Albany.  Children,  born  at  Albany:  i.  Adda 
Maud  Siniler,  born  May  29,  1840;  married, 
at  ."Mbany,  New  York,  Alay  6,  1863.  George 
Lavater  Stedman,  (see  Stedman  VIII)  ;  died 
at  Loudonville,  New  York,  September  28, 
1909.     2.  Eugene,  September  2^,   1842,  died 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


165 


\ 


there,  September  3,  1843.  3.  Caroline  Shuler, 
June  6.  1844;  married,  at  Albany,  Janiiar)'  20, 
1870,  Grang-e  Sard,  born  at  Albany,  March 
10,  1843,  s*^"  of  Grang-e  and  Lucy  (Cook) 
Sard.  4.  Marion,  July  31,  1846,  died  there, 
May  10,  185 1.  5.  Georgianna,  August  3, 
1849,  died  there,   March   16,   i860. 

(The    Shuler    Line). 

The  family  name  of  Shuler  is  probably  but 
a  simple  alteration  of  the  German  word, 
"Schuler,"  a  scholar,  brought  about  by  pho- 
netic influence,  which  is  undoubtedly  the  case, 
for  the  family  in  this  country  came  originally 
from  that  country.  It  is  closely  allied  to  both 
Schuyler  and  Schuiler  through  pronunciation, 
and  if  it  could  be  proved  that  it  was  a  dif- 
ferent form  of  the  Dutch  name  Schuiler,  it 
would  signify  a  hider,  because  Van  Schuyler 
means  "from  the  place  of  shelter." 

(I)  Lawrence  Shuler,  or  as  he  usually 
signed  himself,  "Lorentz  Schuler,"  came  from 
\\'urtemburg,  or  Luxemburg,  Germany,  to 
America,  in  1752,  and  settled  in  New  York. 
He  was  born  Alarch  12,  1735,  died  at  Florida, 
Montgomery  county,  New  York,  February 
14,  1813.  There  emigrated  with  him  his  fath- 
er, who  died  soon  after  their  arrival  in  New 
York ;  his  sister  Mary,  who  died  at  sea ;  his 
sister  Catherine,  born  in  1724;  his  brother 
George,  born  in  1726,  and  his  brother  Fred- 
erick. They  first  moved  to  Catskill,  about 
1762,  where  Catherine  married  Albert,  House- 
man. George  died  unmarried.  The  entire 
family  removed  to  Montgomery  county,  New 
York,  where  Catherine  married,  (second) 
Peter  Frederick. 

Lawrence  Shuler  learned  the  weaving  and 
reed-working  business,  it  is  said  in  Catskill,  al- 
though his  principal  occupation  in  later  years 
was  farming.  Subsequently  he  removed  to 
Florida,  New  York,  where  he  purchased  what 
finally  amounted  to  about  a  mile  square  of 
land,  beginning  in  1768.  He  was  naturalized 
by  act  of  the  New  York  legislature,  December 
19,  1776.  He  was  a  lieutenant  in  Colonel 
Fisher's  regiment  (being  the  Third  Regiment 
of  Tryon  county  militia  of  New  York  state), 
and  as  such  participated  in  the  battle  of  Oris- 
kany.  He  was  the  first  overseer  of  the  poor 
for  the  town  of  Florida,  when  erected.  He 
married,  at  Catskill,  New  York,  in  1762,  Sa- 
rah (widow  of  one  Overbaugh),  born  July  11, 
1722,  died  at  Florida,  New  York,  in  1775, 
daughter  of  Renjamin  and  Catherintje  (Zuy- 
land )  Du  Bois,  of  New  Paltz,  New  York. 
Children:  r.  Anna,  born  November  10,  1763; 
married  David  Cady.  2.  Jacob,  November  3, 
1765;  married  Betsy  Hazzard.  3.  Solomon, 
^larch  3,  1768;  married  Lydia  Wood.  4.  John, 


November  12,  1769,  see  forward.  Lawrence 
Shuler  married  (second),  1785,  Afagdalina 
Serviss.  Children :  5.  Peter,  born  December 
II,  1788,  died  unmarried.  6.  Katrina,  born 
March  11,  1790;  married  (first)  Jabes  Kings- 
bury; married  (second)  Peter  Covenhoven.  7. 
William,  born  Deceml^er  30,  1792;  married 
Kate  Johnson  Dunn ;  died  without  issue.  8. 
Mary,  born  ]\Iarch  22,  1794:  married  Jacob 
Serviss.  9.  Jeremiah,  born  January  3,  1796, 
died  unmarried,  18 15.  10.  Levi,  born  Novem- 
ber 3,  1799;  married  Katy  Henry.  11.  Van 
Vlack,  born  November  3,  1799 ;  married  Har- 
riet Hartwell.  12.  Betsy,  born  November  i, 
1802;  married  Davis  Smith.  13.  Sally,  born 
March  10,  1804;  married  Cornelius  Vander 
Veer.  14.  Abraham,  born  December  21,  1805. 
13.  Lawrence,  born  December  19,  1807;  mar- 
ried Fanny  Guile.  16.  David,  born  October 
II,  1809,  died  in  infancy. 

(H)  John,  son  of  Lawrence  and  Sarah 
(Du  Bois)  Shuler,  was  born  at  Florida,  Mont- 
gomery county.  New  York,  November  12, 
1769,  died  at  Gasport,  Niagara  county.  New 
York,  August  9,  1859.  He  seems  to  have  been 
a  man  of  some  prominence  in  Montgomery 
county.  He  was  a  member  of  the  New  York 
state  assembly  in  1815,  and  was  an  ensign  in 
the  New  York  State  Light  Infantry  in  1798; 
lieutenant  in  the  same,  1799,  and  was  ap- 
pointed captain  of  the  same  in  1805.  He  was 
one  of  the  committee  at  the  opening  of  the 
Erie  canal.  He  married,  at  Charleston,  New 
York,  February  25,  1790,  Hannah  Buck,  torn 
at  Canaan.  New  York,  December  24,  1769, 
died  January  23,  1852,  at  Canajoharie,  New 
York,  daughter  of  Daniel  Bucls',  D.D.,  and 
M.D.  (second  major  of  the  Seventeenth  regi- 
ment of  the  New  York  state  militia  during 
the  revolution)  and  of  Anna  (Denton)  Buck. 
Children:  i.  Sally,  born  March  17,  1791,  died 
at  Elgin,  Illinois,  April  2,  1876;  married.  .Au- 
gust 26,  1813,  Elijah  Wilcox  (see  Wilcox 
\T).  2.  .Vnna,  born  January  11,  1793,  died 
at  Broomfield,  New  York,  March  17,  1821 ; 
married,  August  17,  1813,  Lewis  Griffin.  3. 
Lydia,  born  January  28,  1796,  died  at  Elgin, 
Illinois,  June  29,  1878;  married,  December 
31,  1818,  William  Carlisle.  4.  Remson.  born 
January  26,  1798,  died  September  15.  1880; 
married,  March  9,  1823,  Hannah  Haughton. 
5.  David  Cady,  born  January  27,  1800,  died 
January  7,  1891  ;  married  (first)  March  29, 
1821,  Pamelia  Butler;  married  (second)  Eliz- 
abeth Lodewick.  6.  Daniel  Buck,  born  Feb- 
ruary 27,  1803,  died  at  Minaville,  Montgom- 
ery county.  New  York,  February  9,  1882; 
married,  September  17,  1826,  Catherine  \'an- 
der  Veer.  7.  Jacob,  born  February  8,  1805, 
died   at   McGrawville,   New    York,   April   9, 


i66 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


1858;  married  (first)  May  7,  1826,  Catherine 
Mattice :  married  (second)  January  3,  1837, 
Cornelia  Cass.  8.  Cholett,  born  May  20,  1807, 
died  February  11,  1893,  at  Amsterdam,  New 
York;  married,  October  17,  1831,  Ann  Mal- 
lory.  9.  Adaline  M.,  born  August  13,  181 1, 
died  at  Gasport,  New  York,  September  10, 
1892:  married,  October  2,  1833,  Oliver  Lath- 
rop  Wilcox  (see  Wilcox  VI).  10.  Caroline, 
horn  July  20,  1814,  died  at  Albany,  New  York, 
July  3 1,  1 894;  married,  July  11,  1838,  George 
Alonzo  Woolverton,  (see  Woolverton  VI). 

(The  Wilco.x  Line). 
The  family  name  of  Wilcox  is  derived  from 
two  words,  the  name  "Will"  and  the  word 
"cock,"  signifying-  "little."  hence  it  is  equiva- 
lent to  "Little  Will,"  or  William's  son,  which 
has  resulted  in  Williamson.  While  the  der- 
ivation may  lead  to  the  same  source  or  mean- 
ing, it  cannot  be  said  that  the  families  of  the 
two  names  are  allied,  as  in  innumerable  in- 
stances where  names  of  pronounced  variation 
in  their  si^elling  are  traceable  to  the  one  or- 
iginal family  stock. 

William  Wilcox,  or  as  the  family  name  was 
written  at  that  time,  Wilcoxson,  and  his  wife, 
Margaret,  came  with  their  son  John  to  Amer- 
ica (according  to  Hotten's  list  of  immigra- 
tion) in  April,  1635,  aboard  the  ship,  "Plan- 
ter," bearing  a  certificate  from  the  minister 
of  St.  Alban's.  in  Hertfordshire,  England,  al- 
though the  family  is  said  to  be  originally  of 
Welch  extraction.  In  the  certificate  their  ages 
are  given  as  follows :  William  Wilcoxson 
(linen  weaver)  aged  34;  Margaret  Wilcoxson, 
aged  24 :  Jno.,  aged  2. 

(I)  William  Wilcoxson,  upon  arrival  in 
America,  settled  in  Concord,  Massachusetts. 
He  was  registered  as  a  freeman  in  Massachu- 
setts in  1636.  and  moved  to  Stratford,  Con- 
necticut, probably  in  1639,  possibly  after  a 
residence  at  U'indsor,  Connecticut.  By  his 
will,  dated  1651,  he  gave  forty  pounds  to  the 
church  at  Concord,  and  he  therefore  appears 
to  have  been  a  man  of  some  substance.  After 
W^illiam's  death,  his  wife,  Margaret,  married 
William  Hayden,  of  Windsor,  Connecticut, 
and  died  in  ir)55.  Children:  John,  born  about 
1633:  Timothy;  Joseph,  1638;  Samuel,  1640, 
see  forward  ;  Obadiah,  1642,  married  Phoebe 

;     Elizabeth,     1644,     married     Henry 

Stiles,  of  Windsor,  Connecticut ;  Hannah, 
1646,  married  Daniel  Hayden,  of  Windsor, 
Connecticut ;  Sarah.  1648,  married  John 
Meigs,  Jr.,  of  Guildford,  Connecticut;  Phoebe, 
1650,  married  John    P.irdseye,  Jr. 

(H)  Samuel,  son  of  William  and  Margaret 
Wilcoxson,  was  l>orn  in  1640,  probably  at 
Stratford,  Connecticut.     He  went  from  there 


or  \\'indsor,  Connecticut,  to  what  is  now 
known  as  Simsbury,  Connecticut,  forming 
with  others  who  came  from  the  same  place 
the  settlement  to  which  was  given  the  name 
of  ]\Iassacoe.  In  1672,  at  the  court  of  elec- 
tion of  Hartford,  Connecticut,  Samuel  Wil- 
cox was  propounded  as  a  freeman.  It  is  like- 
ly that  at  about  this  time  he  married  Hannah, 
and  settled  down  to  active  life  at  Massacoe, 
and  his  name  appears  in  a  patent  of  land  given 
about  that  time.  In  1669  he  was  deputy  for 
Simsbury,  also  in  1689,  and  from  1694  to 
17 12  he  served  almost  continuously  excepting 
between  1702  and  1709.  The  first  book  of 
records  of  Simsbury  and  subsequent  books 
show  that  there  were  some  sixteen  grants  of 
land  made  to  him.  He  was  chosen  selectman 
in  1677.  On  May  7,  1682,  he,  with  others, 
petitioned  the  court  to  order  a  church.  In 
October,  1689,  he  was  appointed  on  a  commit- 
tee to  make  a  list  of  Simsbury  estates.  In  the 
catalogue  of  church  members,  from  1697  to 
17  ID,  both  he  and  his  oldest  son  are  named  as 
members.  To  Samuel  Wilcoxson  and  Han- 
nah, his  wife,  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren, probably  all  at  or  near  Simsbury,  Con- 
necticut:  Samuel,  born  April  15,  1666,  see  for- 
ward; William,  married  Elizabeth  Wilson; 
Joseph,  married  Abigail  Thrall. 

(Ill)  Samuel  (2),  son  of  Samuel  (i)  and 
Hannah  Wilcox,  was  born  April  15,  1666, 
probably  near  Simsbury,  Connecticut,  died 
September  13,  1713.  On  October  30,  1713, 
his  estate  was  inventoried  at  over  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty-six  pounds,  being  nearlv  one- 
tenth  of  the  taxable  property  of  the  town.  He 
lived  near  his  father  in  Simsbury,  and  was  one 
of  its  most  weahhy  and  influential  citizens. 
He  married,  in  1691,  at  Simsbury,  Connecti- 
cut, Mindwell.  born  February  11,  1662, 
daughter  of  John  and  Anna'  (Bancroft) 
Griffin.  Children,  probably  born  at  Sims- 
bury: Hannah,  born  November  i,  1692, 
married    William    Chick;    Samuel,    April    20, 

1695,  married  Mary  ;  John,  April 

10.  1698;  Joseph,  July  3,  1701,  married  Eliz- 
abeth Holcomb;  Mindwell;  Ephraim,  see 
forward. 

(IV)  Ephraim,  son  of  Samuel  (2)  and 
Mindwell  (Grififin)  Wilcox,  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 24.  1707,  at  Simsbury.  Connecticut, 
died  in  1773.  He  married,  April  5,  1726, 
Hannah  Hill,  of  Simsbury,  and  their  chil- 
dren were  probably  born  there.  Children : 
Ephraim,  born  May  24,  1727;  Susanna, 
April  17,  173 1  ;  married  Michael  Jackson ; 
Sylvanus,  sec  forward. 

(\^)  Sylvanus,  son  of  Ephraim  and  Han- 
nah (Hill)  Wilcox,  was  born  at  Simsbury, 
Connecticut,   November   14,    1733,   died  July 


HUDSON   AND   .MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


167 


3,  1821,  at  Alford.  Massachusetts.  He  mar- 
ried at  Simsbury,  in  1759,  Chestina  Curtis, 
■born  January  12,  1742,  fourth  daughter  of 
Peter  and  Qiestina  (Parker)  Curtis,  of  Wal- 
lingford,  Connecticut,  later  of  Simsbury, 
■Connecticut.  He  took  his  wife  to  the  settle- 
ment known  as  Nine  Partners,  Dutchess 
county,  New  York,  and  subsequently  re- 
moved to  Alford,  Massachusetts.  In  the  lat- 
ter place  he  was  elected  selectman  in  1775- 
82-90-91.  During  the  revolution  he  served 
on  the  committees  of  correspondence,  safety, 
and  inspection,  also  on  the  committee  to  pro- 
cure troops  for  the  continental  army  in  1776. 
He  was  a  captain  in  the  Alford  Companv  of 
JMassachusetts  militia,  and  in  1777,  with  his 
company,  marched  with  the  regiment  of  Col- 
onel John  Ashly  to  Saratoga,  where  they  par- 
ticipated in  the  capture  of  Burgoyne.  As  a 
partial  recompense  for  his  services  in  the 
field  the  town,  March  19.  1798.  voted  to  abate 
his  ta.xes.  In  1796  he  sold  his  Alford  farm 
and  removed  to  Greenland  grant,  where  he 
purchased  a  farm  on  which  he  resided  until 
iiis  death.  His  grave  is  on  the  old  farm  in 
Alford,  and  upon  his  gravestone  is  inscribed : 
"Capt.  Sylvanus  Wilcox,  died  July  5,  1821, 
aged  87  years."  Children  of  Sylvanus  and 
Chestina  (Curtis)  Wilcox  were  born  at  Nine 
Partners,  New  York,  and  Alford,  Massachu- 
setts. Children:  i.  Asenath,  born  at  Nine 
Partners.  New  York,  April  7,  1760;  married, 
Benjamin  Tobey.  2.  Sylvanus,  May  26, 
1762,  see  forward.  3.  Rufus,  January  7,  1764, 
married  Sarah  Adams.  4.  Ephraim,  Novem- 
ber 30,  1765;  died  at  Alford,  Massachusetts, 
1786.  5.  Reuben,  December  29,  1767;  mar- 
ried (first)  Sophia  Sprague ;  married  (sec- 
ond) Theda  Merrill:  died  in  1849.  6.  Ralph, 
December  2,  1769:  married  Minta  Sprague. 
7.  Oliver,  February  10,  1772 ;.  married  Betsy 
Sprague.  8.  Christine,  July  30,  1774;  mar- 
ried AN'illiam  Spoor.  9.  Israel,  June  15,  1776; 
married  Anna  Fowler.  10.  Lavinia,  March 
6.  1778:  married  Samuel  Barstowe.  11. 
•Chestina,  October  3,  1780.  12.  Pluma,  Feb- 
ruary 9,  1783:  married  Levi  Freeman.  13. 
Charles,  May  20,  1785,  died  in  infancy. 

(VI)  Sylvanus  (2),  son  of  Sylvanus  (i) 
and  Chestina  (Curtis)  Wilcox,  was  born  at 
Nine  Partners,  Dutchess  county,  New  York, 
J\Iay  26,  1762,  died  at  Fultonville,  New 
York,  July  10,  1846.  When  but  fourteen 
years  of  age,  he  entered  the  continental 
army,  1776.  He  was  under  General  Ward 
at  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  and  served  six 
months  in  that  portion  of  the  army  imme- 
diately under  the  direction  of  General  Wash- 
ington. Subsequently  he  enlisted  from  New 
Y'ork  state  and  served  as  corporal  in  Captain 


\'an  Rensselaer's  company  of  Colonel  Mari- 
nus  Willett's  regiment  of  the  New  York 
state  militia.  He  was  at  Canada  Creek  when 
the  notorious  Butler  was  killed,  and  was 
granted  a  pension  in  183 1.  It  is  said  that 
he  was  present  as  one  of  the  guard  at  the 
execution  of  Major  Andre.  The  New  York 
records  show  a  steady  line  of  promotion.  He 
was  made  captain  of  the  state  troops,  April 
5,  1798;  second  major  of  the  Twenty-sixth 
regiment,  November  9,  1800;  major,  Febru- 
ary 9,  1810;  lieutenant-colonel,  June  12, 
1812,  and  subsequently  colonel  and  brigadier- 
general.  After  his  marriage,  in  1787,  he 
took  his  wife  and  one  child  to  the  west  bank 
of  the  Schoharie  creek  in  the  southeast  cor- 
ner of  what  is  now  the  town  of  Glen,  Mont- 
gomery county.  New  York,  where  he  erected 
a  log  cabin  and  shortly  thereafter  built  a  sub- 
stantial house  which  is  still  (1910)  standing. 
He  occupied  a  large  tract  of  land,  probably 
under  a  lease  for  three  lives,  or  ninety-nine 
years,  and  subsequently  purchased  from 
George  Clark  the  land  on  which  his  house 
and  buildings  stand.  He  was  a  large  land 
owner  in  Montgomery  county,  and  a  man  at 
one  time  of  considerable  wealth,  in  fact,  was 
always  of  prominence  in  the  community 
where  he  lived.  Later  in  life  he  became  in- 
terested in  a  dry  dock  in  Fultonville.  New 
York,  and  in  1837  purchased  a  house  in  that 
village,  where  he  resided  until  his  death.  He 
and  his  first  w^ife  are  buried  in  the  private 
burial  ground  on  his  old  farm  in  Glen,  and 
upon  his  gravestone  is  inscribed :  "Gen.  Syl- 
vanus Wilcox,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution." 

Sylvanus  Wilcox  married,  April  28,  1785, 
Sarah  Johnson,  born  March  17,  1765,  died 
July  I,  1830,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Susan- 
na (Barnes)  Johnson,  of  West  Stockbridge, 
Massachusetts.  He  married  (second*),  Octo- 
ber 19,  1831,  Sally  Hamilton,  but  had  no 
children  by  her.  All  of  his  children,  except- 
ing the  first,  were  born  at  Glen,  Montgomery 
county,  New  York.  Children:  i.  Amelia, 
born  August  15,  1786,  died,  unmarried,  Jan- 
uary 24,  1850.  2.  Chestina,  April  17,  1788. 
3.  Asenath,  March  17,  1790,  died  at  .\lbany, 
New  York,  July  31,  1857;  married,  at  Glen, 
New  York,  June  5,  181 1,  Edward  Woolver- 
ton,  born  at  Amwell,  New  Jersey,  January 
II,  1787,  died  at  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts, 
September  4,  1874,  (see  Woolverton  V).  4. 
Elijah,  May  10,  1792:  married  Sally  Shuler, 
August  26.  1813;  died  at  Elgin.  Illinois, 
April  2,  1876  (see  Schuler  II).  5.  Elisha, 
May  10,  1792:  married  Nancy  Ellis.  6. 
Charles,  February  25,  1795:  married  Julia 
Ann  Merrill.  7.  Calvin  P.,  October  4.  1796; 
married  Harriet  Hubbard.     8.  Eliza,  June  3, 


i68 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


1800 :  married  Moses  Merrill ;  died  Novem- 
ber 12,  1882.  9.  Oliver  Lathrop,  Jvme  26, 
1809.  died  March  7,  1880;  married.  October 
2.  1833,  Adaline  ^L  Shuler,  Ixirn  August  13, 
181 1,  died  at  Gasport,  Niagara  county.  New 
York.  September  10,  1892,  daughter  of  John 
and  Hannah   (Buck)   Shuler  (see  Shuler  H). 

(The   McKissick   Line). 

In  1768  Zebulon  and  John  McKissick, 
brothers,  came  to  America  from  Scotland, 
settling  in  Maine,  where  Zebulon  located 
himself  in  Limerick  and  John  in  Cornish. 
They  married  sisters  named  Bettis.  Chil- 
dren of  Zebulon  McKissick :  Zebadiah,  Mo- 
ses, born  in  Limerick,  Maine,  November  4, 
1781,   see  forward;  Aaron,   Molly,   Eunice. 

(II)  Moses,  son  of  Zebulon  McKissick, 
was  born  November  4,  1781,  died  July  31, 
1823.  In  February,  181 7,  with  Herod  Otis, 
of  Boston,  and  two  others,  he  founded  the 
town  of  Jordan,  Onondaga  county,  New 
York,  clearing  the  land  and  laying  out  the 
place.  The  McKissick  family  were  known  as 
Free-will  Baptists,  pious  and  godly  people. 
When  Moses  McKissick  died,  his  bier  was 
carried  on  the  shoulders  of  his  friends,  in  re- 
lays, to  the  burial  ground  in  Jordan,  so  very 
greatly  was  he  esteemed  there.  He  married 
Abigail,  daughter  of  .Samuel  Stuart,  of  Scar- 
borough, Maine,  and  she  died  at  Jordan, 
New  York,  in  1837.  Children:  i.  Stuart,  born 
November  27,  1807,  see  forward.     2.  Aaron, 

married  Elzina ■ — •:  died  at  Auburn,  New 

York.  3.  Moses,  married  Clara  Stevens.  4. 
James  M.,  married  (first)  Susan  Carson; 
(second)  Marion  White.  5.  Orrin.  6.  Nan- 
cy, married  Arza  Blakeslee.  7.  .A.bigail.  mar- 
ried   (first)    DeFreest,   and    (second) 

Smith ;  died  in  1875.    8.  Caroline. 

(Ill)'  Stuart,  son  of  Moses  and  Abigail 
(Stuart)  McKissick,  was  born  at  Saco, 
Maine,  November  27,  1807,  died  at  Albany. 
New  York,  August  29,  1882.  When  a  lad  he 
went  with  his  parents  to  Jordan,  New  York, 
and  there  remained  until  about  1833.  when 
he  engaged  in  the  running  of  a  boat  for  a 
transportation  line.  In  1838  he  came  to  Al- 
bany, and  there  established  a  transportation 
and  produce  commission  business,  in  one  or 
the  other  or  both  of  which  he  was  engaged 
until  in  1873,  when  he  retired  from  active 
work,  by  reason  of  his  failing  health.  He 
was  one  of  the  members  of  the  board  ap- 
pointed by  the  legislature  to  establish  a  free 
school  in  the  city  of  Albany,  and  zealously  ad- 
vocated tlic  building  of  the  present  high  school 
in  that  city.  1  le  was  president  of  the  board 
of  trade  of  Albany,  New  York,  in  1849,  and 
a  memljer  of  the  canal  convention  in   1868. 


He  was  a  delegate  to  the  national  convention 
of  the  boards  of  trade  in  1863,  and  he  served 
on  many  important  committees  of  the  local 
board.  He  was  a  director  of  the  National  Ex- 
change Bank  of  Albany ;  a  trustee  of  the  Al- 
bany Exchange  Savings  Bank,  and  a  member 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Albany. 
He  married  (first)  September,  1835,  Julia 
Ann  Norton,  of  Suffield,  Connecticut ;  she 
died  August  22,  1843,  aged  thirty-one  years. 
Children:  i.  Emily  Espiranza,  born  at  Jor- 
dan, New  York,  1836;  married,  at  .\lbany, 
I  1858,  Charles  S.  Cutler,  of  Albany.  2.  Caro- 
line Aldaretta.  Jordan.  New  York,  1838 ;  mar- 
ried. 1863,  Hogan  Gibbons  at  West  Troy, 
New  York,  died  January  12,  1875.  3.  Stuart 
Eugene,  Albany,  1839 ;  died  there  December 
13,  1842.  4.  Frederick,  Albany,  April  26, 
1842,  died  there  April  30,  1842.  He  married 
(second).  September  10,  1844,  Eliza  ]\lcln- 
tyre,  of  Northampton,  Massachusetts,  daugh- 
ter of  Jesse  and  Margaret  (Pomeroy)  Mc- 
Intyre,  by  whom  he  had  five  children,  all 
born  at  Albany,  New  York.  Children :  5. 
I\Iary,  born  December  17,  1847,  died  March 
24,  1864.  6.  Julia  Norton,  January  11,  1849; 
married,  January  25,  1884,  Ciiarles  W.  Shep- 
ard,  of  Albany,  New  York.  7.  Abby  Stuart, 
May  18,  185 1,  see  forward,  8,  Edward  Pom- 
eroy, June  22,  1854 ;  married  four  times,  viz. : 
Florence  Paul,  at  Rockport,  Massachusetts ; 
Natalie  Coffin,  at  Boston,  ]\Iassachusetts ; 
Carrie  Packard,  at  Boston;  and  Rose  Rock- 
well, at  Belgrade,  Maine.  9.  Jessie,  August, 
1857,  died  at  Albany,  June  17,  i860. 

(IV)  Abby  Stuart,  "daughter  of  Stuart  and 
Eliza  (Mclntyre)  McKissick,  was  born  at  Al- 
bany, New  York.  May  18,  1851.  She  mar- 
ried at  Albany,  January  22,  1873,  Walter  AIc- 
Ewan,  of  Albany,  born  at  Glasgow,  Scotland, 
June  I,  1843,.  died  at  Loudonville,  Albany 
county.  New  York,  May  10,  1908,  son  of  John 
McEwan,  born  in  .Sterling,  Scotland,  and  .-Vg- 
nes  Gordon  (I^nuder)  McEwan,  born  in  Glas- 
gow, .Scotland,  both  of  whom  died  in  Albany, 
New  York.  Walter  McEwan  came  to  Albany 
with  his  parents  in  1849.  He  attended  the] 
public  schools  of  that  city,  and  on  the  com- 
pletion of  that  course,  when  about  seventeen 
years  of  age,  entered  the  employ  of  the  Hud- 
son River  Railroad  Company.  After  ten 
years  of  service  for  them,  he  purchased  an 
interest  in  the  wholesale  coffee  and  spice  busi- 
ness, which  for  two  years  was  conducted  un- 
der the  name  of  Bailey,  Lord  &  McEwan.  At 
the  end  of  that  period,  and  on  March  15.  1872, 
he  purchased  his  partners'  interests  and  con- 
ducted the  enterprise  in  his  own  name  until 
March  15,  1905,  when  it  was  incorporated. 
He  was  a  man  much  respected  in  the  busi- 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


169 


ncss  and  religious  circles  of  Albany.  He 
was  president  of  the  Walter  McEwan  Com- 
pany, trustee  and  secretary  of  the  Home  Sav- 
ings Bank,  trustee  and  vice-president  of  B. 
Payn's  Sons  Tobacco  Company,  treasurer  of 
the  St.  Andrews  Society,  and  a  member  of 
several  Masonic  bodies.  For  many  years  he 
was  an  elder  of  the  Third  Presbyterian 
Ciiurch.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  \\'alter  ]\IcEwan,  on 
tiieir  marriage,  started  housekeeping  in  Al- 
bany, but  in  1885  removed  to  Loudonville,  a 
suburb,  where  they  continued  to  reside  until 
his  death.  Children,  born  in  Albany,  New 
York:  i.  Walter  Stuart,  born  December  20, 
1873 ;  married,  September  24,  1902,  Mary  C. 
Blakeslee,  of  Menands.  New  York.  2.  Agnes 
Lauder,  January  28,  1876;  married,  Septem- 
ber 20,  1899,  Charles  Sumner  Stedman,  of 
.Albany,  New  York  (see  Stedman  IX).  3. 
Jessie  Ellis,  June  16,  1878;  married,  October 
7,  1903,  Henry  Hunt  Romer,  of  Brooklyn, 
New  York.  4.  George  William,  June  11, 
1882;  married,  April  21,  1908,  Gertrude 
Marsh  Peck,  of  Albany.  5.  Charles  Bailey, 
June  I,  1884. 


The  family  name  of  Fuller  sig- 
FULLER  nifies  one  who  thickens, 
bleaches,  cleanses  or  whitens 
cloth  at  a  mill,  a  clothier.  The  Fuller  arms : 
Shield  :  Argent,  three  bars  gules,  on  a  canton 
of  the  second  a  castle  or.  Crest :  A  dexter 
arm  embowered,  vested  argent,  cuffed  sable, 
holding  in  the  hand  proper  a  sword  of  the  first 
hilt  of  pommel  or.  Motto :  Semper  paratus. 
This  is  the  form  adopted  commonly  by  the 
families  in  this  country,  being  the  one  em- 
ployed in  the  Lsle  of  Wight.  The  bar  is  one 
of  the  honorable  ordinaries  representing  a  belt 
of  honor  given  for  eminent  services.  The 
canton  is  a  subordinate  ordinary,  representing 
the  banner  given  to  knights-banneret. 

Edward  and  Samuel  Fuller,  brothers,  came 
to  America  in  the  "Mayflower"  in  1620,  and 
landed  at  Plymouth,  ^lassachusetts.  They 
were  sons  of  Robert  Fuller,  a  butcher  of  Nor- 
folk county,  England.  Both  signed  the  cele- 
brated ■"Compact,"  which  was  drawn  up  in  the 
cabin  of  the  "Mayflower"  just  previous  to  the 
landing  at  Cape  Cod  on  November  21. 

(I)  Edward  Fuller,  progenitor  of  this  fam- 
ily in  America,  was  baptized  September  4, 
1575,  in  the  parish  of  Redenhall,  county  of 
Norfolk,  England.  It  is  not  known  that  he 
was  one  of  that  band  which,  because  of  the 
persecutions  in  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth 
for  religious  belief,  sailed  to  Holland  in  1608, 
where  they  settled  in  Amsterdam  and  a  year 
later  were  located  in  Leyden,  until  they  em- 
barked on  the  "Speedwell,"  which  left  Delft- 


haven,  Holland,  about  August  i,  1620;  but 
research  makes  it  appear  that  it  was  more 
likely  that  he  joined  the  others  on  the  arrival 
of  the  "Speedwell"  at  Southampton,  where 
they  joined  the  "Mayflower,"  and  August  15, 
1620,  the  two  vessels  started  to  cross  the  .At- 
lantic :  but  the  "Speedwell,"  proving  unsea- 
worthy,  was  forced  to  turn  back.  His  brother, 
Samuel,  had  gone  to  Holland,  however,  and 
both  crossed  the  ocean  together.  Their  father 
is  recorded  as  a  contributor  to  the  famous 
chime  of  eight  bells  to  the  Redenhall  church 
in  Norfolk  county,  he  helping  towards  the- 
purchase  of  the  si.xth  bell  in  1588.  Although 
it  is  sometimes  stated  that  Edward  had  a 
wife  named  Ann,  the  most  accurate  informa- 
tion is  that  her  name  is  unknown.  Governor 
Bradford  does  not  mention  her  by  name ;  but 
states  "Edward  Fuller  and  his  wife  died  soon 
after  they  came  on  shore."  His  death  oc- 
curred at  Plymouth,  Massachusetts,  between 
January  11  and  April  10,  1621.  His  wife 
died  early  in  1621,  some  time  after  January 
II.  They  left  only  one  child,  Samuel,  who 
had  come  over  with  tJiem  on  the  "Mayflower." 
(II)  Samuel,  son  of  Edward  and  Ann  Ful- 
er,  was  born  about  1612,  at  some  place  in  Eng- 
land not  yet  determined,  no  record  of  his 
birth  or  baptism  having  been  discovered,  and 
died  at  Barnstable,  Massachusetts,  October 
31  or  November  10,  1683.  He  married  at  ]\Ir. 
Cudworth's  house  in  Scituate,  by  Captain 
Miles  Standish,  magistrate,  "on  ye  fourthe 
daye  of  ye  weeke,"  April  8-18,  1635.  Jane, 
daughter  of  Rev.  John  Lathrop,  of  Scituate, 
and  who  was  baptized  September  29,  1614,  at 
Edgerly,  county  of  Kent,  England;  died  sub- 
sequent to  1658  and  before  1683.  He  grew 
up  under  the  direct  care  of  his  uncle.  Dr. 
Samuel  Fuller,  at  Plymouth.  He  received 
three  acres  of  land  at  the  time  of  the  gen- 
eral division  in  1623,  thought  to  signify  one 
for  himself  and  the  shares  of  his  deceased 
father  and  mother.  On  this  theory  he  would 
have  been  si.xteen  years  old  at  that  time,  and 
his  birth  would  have  occurred  in  1608  in- 
stead of  1612:  but  there  may  have  been  some 
particular  understanding.  The  land  assigned 
to  him  was  on  the  south  side  of  the  town 
brook  ("to  the  Woodward")  and  included 
what  was  known  in  1900  as  Watson's  Hill, 
where  he  had  for  neighbors,  John  Howland, 
Stephen  Hopkins,  Edward  Winslow  and  the 
Indian  Hobomok.  When  the  inhabitants  were 
divided  into  twelve  groups  at  the  town  meet- 
ing held  on  June  i,  1627,  for  the  purpose  of 
dividing  the  cattle  then  owned  in  the  colony, 
the  eighth  lot  fell  to  Dr.  Samuel  Fuller  and 
his  company,  and  joined  to  him  was  Samuel 
Fuller,   Jr.,    son   of   Edward,    the   immigrant. 


lyo 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


"To  this  lot  fell  a  red  heifer,  came  of  the 
cow  which  belongeth  to  the  poor  of  the 
Colony." 

When  Dr.  Samuel  Fuller  made  his  will  in 
1633,  he  made  provision  for  his  nephew,  Sam- 
uel, and  therein  is  the  only  mention  to  be 
found  of  Samuel's  wife,  after  her  marriage. 
Therein  he  wrote:  "It.  my  will  is  that  my 
Cozen  (nephew)  Samuell  goe  freely  away 
•with  his  stock  of  Cattle  and  Swine  wthout 
any  further  recconing  wch  swine  are  the 
halfe  of  six  sowes,  six  hogges,  one  boare  & 
four  shotes.  Also  one  Cow  &  one  heyfer. 
.  .  .  It.  my  will  is  that  in  case  my  sonne 
Samyell  and  other  my  children  die  before  such 
time  as  they  are  fitt  to  enter  upon  my  land 
for  inheritance  that  then  my  kinsman,  Sam. 
ffuller.  now  in  the  howse  with  me,  enjoy 
"wtsoever  lands  I  am  now  possessed  of,  except 
my  dwelling  howse  at  town  or  whatsoever 
shall  be  due  to  me  or  them.  ...  It.  I 
give  to  him  my  Rufflet  Cloake  &  my  stuffe 
sute  I  now  weare."  He  dated  the  will  July 
30,  1633,  3"d  died  within  three  months.  As 
the  doctor's  children  survived,  Samuel  re- 
■ceived  none  of  the  lands  and  set  out  with 
his  cattle  to  seek  a  home.  He  became  a 
"Freeman"  of  the  Colony  in  1634,  and  settled 
in  Scituate,  Massachusetts,  where  he  joined 
the  church,  November  7,  1636.  There  he  had 
twenty  acres,  and  built  .the  fifteenth  house 
in  that  place  in  1636.  All  the  houses  in  the 
town  were  built  alike,  and  Rev.  John  Lathrop, 
accustomed  to  life  at  Christ's  College,  Cam- 
bridge, styled  them  "meane."  The  walls  were 
made  of  poles  filled  between  with  stones  and 
clay,  the  roof  thatched,  the  chimney  of  rough 
stone,  the  windows  of  oiled  paper,  and  the 
floors  of  hand-sawed  planks.  He  described 
them  as  mere  "booths,"  because  they  were 
open  and  the  fire  had  to  be  piled  high  con- 
stantly to  keep  the  occupant  warm  in  winter. 
His  will  was  made  October  29,  1683,  was 
filed  with  wills  of  the  Plymouth  Colony,  and 
is  both  curious  and  interesting  in  its  peculiar 
details. 

Children:  i.  Hannah,  birth  date  unknown; 
married.  January  1,  1658-59,  Nicholas  Bon- 
ham,  of  Barnstable.  2.  Sauuiel,  baptized  at 
Scituate,  Massachusetts,  February  11,  1637; 
married  Anna,  daughter  of  Matthew  Ful- 
ler. 3.  Elizabeth,  married  Joseph  Taylor.  4. 
Sarah,  baptized  .August  i,  164 1,  died  about 
1651-54.  5.  Mary,  baptized  June  16,  1644, 
died  near  Norwich,  Connecticut,  1720;  mar- 
ried, November,  18,  1674,  Joseph  Williams, 
of  Haverhill,  Massachusetts.  6.  Thomas, 
born  May   18,   1651,  died  young.     7.  Sarah, 

born    December    10,    1654;    married    

Crowe,  of   Yarmouth.     8.  John,   born   about 


1656,  see  forward.  9.  Infant,  baptized  Feb- 
ruary 8,    1658,  died  in  fifteen  days. 

(III)  John,  son  of  Samuel  and  Jane  (Lath- 
rop) Fuller,  was  born  in  Barnstable,  Mas- 
sachusetts, about  1656,  died  in  East  Haddam, 
Connecticut,  between  February  28  and  May 
20,  1726.  He  was  called  "Little  John"  to 
disting-uish  him  from  his  cousin.  Dr.  John 
Fuller.  He  lived  on  his  father's  estate  at 
Sorton  Neck  until  1694,  when  he  removed 
to  East  Haddam,  Connecticut.  He  seems  to 
have  prospered  here,  as  about  1721  he  con- 
veyed ample  lands  and  farming  implements  to 
each  of  his  sons.  His  will  was  made  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1725-26,  probated  May  10,  1726, 
and  in  it  he  speaks  of  his  place  of  residence 
as  "township  of  Haddam,  County  of  Hart- 
ford, upon  the  east  side  of  the  Great  River." 
He  married,  about  1678,  Mehitabel,  daugh- 
ter of  Moses  Rowley,  and  was  born  in  Barn- 
stable. January  11,  1660-61,  died  in  East 
Haddam,  Connecticut,  about  1732.  Children: 
I.  Thomas,  born  in  Barnstable  about  1679, 
see  forward.  2.  Samuel,  born  in  Barnstable, 
about  1682.  3.  Shubael,  born  in  Barnstable, 
about  1684.  4.  Thankful,  born  in  Barnstable, 
about  1688,  baptized  there  May  19,  1689;  mar- 
ried, at  Colchester,  Connecticut,  July  9,  1707, 
Jabez    Crippen,   of    Falmouth,    Massachusetts. 

5.  Deborah,  born  about  1689;  married,  Sep- 
tember II,  1 716,  John  Rowley.  6.  Edward, 
born    in    Barnstable,    about     1691 :    married, 

about  1713,  Bates;  died  in  Colchester, 

January  7,  1731.  7.  Elizabeth,  born  in  Barn- 
stable, about  1693;  married,  March  4,  1713,  j 
Samuel  Rowley,  of  East  Haddam.  8.  John, 
born  in  East  Haddam,  Connecticut,  Novem- 
ber ID,  1697;  died  there  in  1757-58;  married, 
May  I,  1721,  Mrs.  Mary  Rowley,  daughter 
of  William  Cornwall.  9.  Joseph,  born  in 
East  Haddam.  Connecticut,  March  i,  1699- 
1700.  died  in  Kent,  Connecticut,  July  19,  1775; 
married,  December  22,  1722,  Lydia  Day.  10. 
Benjamin,  born  in  East  Haddam,  October" 
20,  1 701,  died  in  Sharon,  Connecticut,  De- 
cember 20.  1740;  married,  about  1700,  Con- 
tent Fuller.  II.  Anne,  born  about  1703-04; 
married.  March  9,  1727,  Jonathan  Rowley. 
12.   Alehitabel,   born  in   East   Haddam,   April 

6,  1706;  married   Benjamin  Kneeland. 

(IV)  Thomas,  son  of  John  and  Mehitabel 
(Rowley)  I""uller,  was  born  in  Barnstable, 
Massachusetts,  about  1679,  died  in  East  Had- 
dam. Connecticut,  April  9,  1772.  He  married 
I-Llizabeth ,  born  about  1689,  died  No- 
vember 5,  1784.  Children:  i.  Ebenezer,  born 
October  27,  1715,  see  forward.  2.  Thomas, 
torn  East  Haddam.  April  5,  1717;  married 
(first)  Martha  Rowley;  married  (second)] 
Mary  Hosmer;  died  in  East  Haddam,  Novem^* 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


171 


ber  12.  1S02.  3.  Nathan,  born  in  East  Had- 
dani,    Connecticut,    April    20,    1719;    married 

Abitjail  .    4.  Hannah,  born  March  21, 

1720;  died  June  16,  1777;  married,  1743,  Cap- 
tain \\illiam  Church.  5.  Jabez,  born  in  East 
Haddani,  February  19,  1722,  died  there,  1757- 
58:  married,  October  10,  1754,  Lois  Hub- 
bard, of  Middle  Haddam,  Connecticut.  6. 
Jonathan,  born  January  12,  1725,  died  in 
1758:  unmarried.  7.  Ehzabeth,  born  March, 
1727;  married,  November  12,  1747,  Samuel 
Church. 

(\")  Ebenezer,  son  of  Thomas  and  Eliza- 
betli  Fuller,  was  born  in  East  Haddam,  Con- 
necticut. October  27,  171 5,  died  in  Hebron, 
Connecticut.  September  30,  1749.  His  will 
bears  date  September  13,  1749.  He  married, 
September  30.  1738,  Mary,  daughter  of  Moses 
and  Martha  (Porter)  Rowley,  of  Colchester, 
Connecticut,  born  there  December  5,  1708, 
died  in  Hebron,  February  5,  1798.  Chil- 
dren :  I .  Ebenezer.  born  in  Hebron,  May  8; 
1739:  married,  March  20,  1764,  Abigail  Hen- 
dee.  2.  Dinmiis,  born  October  i,  1742;  mar- 
ried Solomon  Huntington,  of  Hebron.  3. 
Mary,  born  August  25,  1743;  married  John 
Filer.  4.  Ozias,  born  in  Hebron,  September 
25,  1745,  and  might  have  been  the  one  of 
that  name  who  enlisted  as  a  drummer,  March 
20,  1762,  in  the  First  Connecticut  Regiment, 
Twelfth  Company.  Captain  King.  5.  Roger, 
born  in  Hebron,  July  21,  1747,  see  forward. 
6.  Elizabeth,  born  April  5,  1750. 

(\T)  Roger,  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Alary 
(Rowley)  Fuller  was  born  in  Hebron,  Con- 
necticut, July  21,  1747,  died  there,  Septem- 
ber 21,  1819.  He  married  (first),  Decem- 
ber 21,  1766,  Martha  Phelps,  who  died  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1785,  by  whom  nine  children;  mar- 
ried (second),  November  17,  1785,  Violette 
Taylor,  of  Coventry,  Connecticut,  who  died 
January  14,  1806.  by  whom  three  children; 
married  (third),  January  11,  1807,  Lois  Tay- 
lor, who  died  August  23,  1809;  married 
(fourth),  June  21,  1810.  Susannah  Keeney, 
who  died  in  1852.  Children,  all  born  in  He- 
bron. Connecticut:  i.  Martha,  born  June  7, 
1768;  married,  April  20.  1784,  Taicott  Hors- 
ford.  2.  Ozias,  born  January  12,  1770;  mar- 
ried, in  1794,  Desire  Barber.  3.  Mary,  born 
November  i,  1771.  4.  Roger,  born  Septem- 
ber 7,  1773,  died  in  Barnstable,  Massachu- 
setts, June  23,  1834;  married,  at  Clarendon, 
Vermont,  February  4,  1796,  Rachel  Free- 
man Hodges.  5.  Frederick  Augustus,  born 
March  i,  1775.  6.  Erastus,  born  January 
II.  1777;  married,  January  27,  1801,  Sybil 
Barber,  of  Hebron.  7.  Anna,  born  June  25, 
1779;  married,  August.  1798,  George  O. 
Cook,  of  Windsor,  Vermont.     8.  John,  born 


June  30,  1781 ;  see  forward.  9.  Luna,  born 
January  23,  1785.  10.  Humphrey  T.,  born 
July  29,  1786.  II.  Amelia,  born  January  7, 
1788.     12.  Cynthia,  born  March  26,  1790. 

(VH)  John  (2),  son  of  Roger  and  Martha 
(Phelps)  Fuller,  was  born  in  Hebron,  Con- 
necticut, June  30,  1781.  It  is  believed  that 
he  removed  to  near  Rome,  New  York,  where 
he  probably  died.  He  married,  New  Balti- 
more, New  York,  in  1813,  Isabel  Anderson, 
and  resided  there.  Children:  i.  John,  died  at 
age  of  twenty-four.  2.  William,  born  in 
New  Baltimore,  New  York,  September  7, 
1814;  see   forward. 

(VHI)  \^'illiam,  son  of  John  (2)  and  Isa- 
bel (Anderson)  Fuller,  was  born  in  New  Bal- 
timore, Greene  county,  New  York,  Septem- 
ber 7,  1814,  died  on  a  train  at  Port  Henry, 
New  York,  August  16,  1894,  and  was  buried 
in  New  Baltimore,  where  he  had  resided  with 
his  large  family  all  his  life,  the  place  known 
as  the  Fuller  homestead,  and  its  occupants 
the  leading  people  of  the  locality.  He  mar- 
ried at  New  Baltimore,  New  York,  October 
20,  1840,  Lydia  Allen  Swezey,  born  at  Cox- 
sackie,  New  York,  May  9,  18 15,  died  at  New 
Baltimore,  New  York.  i\Iay  5,  1887,  daugh- 
ter of  Stephen  and  Gertrude  (Wilson) 
Swezey.  Gertrude  Wilson  was  the  daughter 
of  Josiah  Wilson,  a  captain  in  the  revolu- 
tion, and  Jane  Dickinson  (Plum)  Wilson. 
Jane  Dickinson  was  the  daughter  of  Jonathan 
and  Joanna  (Melyn)  Dickinson.  Jonathan 
Dickinson,  who  was  the  founder  and  tlie  first 
president  of  Princeton  College,  was  the  son 
of  Hezekiah  Dickinson,  who  was  the  son  of 
Nathaniel  Dickinson  (one  of  the  first  settlers 
of  Wethersfield,  Connecticut)  and  Abigail 
Blakeman,  daughter  of  Samuel  Blakeman  and 
granddaughter  of  Adam  Blakeman,  the  first 
minister  of  .Stratford,  Connecticut,  and  a  grad- 
uate of  Oxford  University.  Joanna  Melyn 
was  the  daughter  of  Jacob  Melyn,  who  owned 
Staten  Island  and  a  part  of  Manhattan  Island 
and  was  a  Patroon.  Josiah  Wilson  was  one 
of  twenty-one  children,  and  the  descendants 
of  this  family  were  numerous  and  most  dis- 
tinguished, including  the  Sargeants,  Runyons, 
Belmonts,  Greenes.  Alexanders,  Perrys  and 
Bigelows.  One  of  Josiah  Wilson's  sisters  was 
the  mother  of  Commodore  Oliver  Hazard 
Perry,  famous  in  the  battle  of  Lake  Erie,  and 
therefore  Commodore  Perry  was  Howard  N. 
Fuller's  third  cousin.  Another  sister  was  the 
mother  of  the-  Hon.  John  Bigelow.  William 
and  Lydia  Allen  (Swezey)  Fuller  had  the 
following  children,  all  born  at  New  Balti- 
more, New  York:  i.  Emma  Louise,  born  No- 
vember 7,  1841  ;  immarried.  2.  De  Witt  Al- 
lison, born  February   17,  1844;  married,  Jan- 


172 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


uary  13,  1868,  Mary  Christine  Hotaling;  died 
in   Albany,   New   York,   September    19,    1894. 

3.  Franklin  Carey,  born  December  28,  1845, 
died  in  New  Baltimore,  New  York,  August 
15,  1846.  4.  William  Dickinson,  born  June 
24,  1847;  married,  February  11,  1885,  Jennie 
Spring-sted,  living  in  New  Baltimore  in  1910. 
5.  Gertrude  Amelia,  born  August  14,  1849, 
died  in  New  Baltimore,  New  York,  January 
21,    1852.     6.   Perry  James,   born    September 

4,  1851  :  married,  September  10,  1879,  Lydia 
A.  Stewart,  of  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey, 
residing  at  105  Lincoln  Place,  Brooklyn,  New 
York,  in  1910.  7.  Howard  Newton,  born 
October  29.  1853,  see  forward.  8.  Jennie 
Antoinette,  born  March  6.  1856;  married, 
January  7,  1885,  Wessel  Ten  Broeck  Van 
Orden,  of   New   Baltimore,  New  York. 

(IX)  Howard  Newton,  son  of  William  and 
Lydia  Allen  (Swezey)  Fuller,  was  born  in 
New  Baltimore,  Greene  county.  New  York, 
October  29,  1853.  He  received  his  education 
first  at  ^liss  Griffith's  private  school  in  New 
Baltimore,  then  attended  the  Coeymans  Acad- 
emy, after  which  he  went  to  Rutgers  College 
Grammar  .School,  and  then  entered  Rutgers 
College,  graduating  therefrom  in  1874.  and 
receiving  the  degree  of  A.M.  in  1877.  While 
at  Rutgers  he  won  the  Philoclean  Literary 
prize,  as  also  the  Senior  prize  for  English 
composition.  In  his  junior  year  he  wrote  "On 
the  Banks  of  the  Old  Raritan,"  which  is  con- 
sidered the  best  of  all  American  college  songs, 
of  which  the  Nczc  York  Siin.  of  May  15,  1907, 
said :  "For  genuine  go,  martial  swing,  a  real 
soul-stirrer,  one  tiiat  gingerizes  the  student 
anatomy  from  head  to  heel,  there  is  no  other 
college  song  equal  to  the  Rutgers  'On  the 
Banks  of  the  Old  Raritan."  The  following, 
by  him,  is  called  the  finest  homiletic  poem  in 
the  English  language,  and  was  written  by  him 
while  at  college  in  response  to  the  request  of 
a  college  friend  for  a  motto  to  go  on  a  school- 
room wall : 

"So  let  me  live  that  when  I  die 

My  life  shall  show  no  blot  of  shame, 
And  o'er  the  prave  wherein  I  lie. 

Beneath  my   plainly  graven   name. 
Upon  a  low  and  modest  stone. 

Which  every  eye  can   quickly   scan, 
May  this  be  carved  and  this  alone: 

'He  never  wronged  his  brother  man.'" 

^Ir.  Iniller  has  written  a  great  many  poems 
which  have  given  real  enjoyment  to  the  casual 
reader,  and  all  have  met  with  commendation 
at  the  hands  of  critics,  yet  he  is  modest  about 
the  matter,  which  he  considers  but  a  form  of 
recreation  and  pleasure,  and  has  never  saved 
them.  On  "Educational  Day,"  July  19.  1886, 
of  the  week's  celebration  of  Albany's  Bi-Cen- 


tennial,  one  thousand  of  the  city's  school' chil- 
dren sang  an  ode,  written  for  the  occasion 
by  him,  with  telling  eiifect  and  arousing  much 
enthusiasm. 

He  began  his  business  career  as  a  clerk  in: 
Hinman  &  Fuller's  grocery  store  at  New  Bal- 
timore in  the  fall  of  1874;  established  and 
published  The  Neiv  Baltimore  Sun;  went  to 
Albany  in  July,  1875,  as  clerk  for  William 
Fuller  &  Sons;  edited  The  Rensselaer  County 
Gazette  for  several  years,  and  took  a  two- 
year  course  in  both  medicine  and  law  while 
continuing  his  relations  with  Wm.  Fuller  & 
Sons.  He  entered  actively  into  the  flour  busi- 
ness under  his  own  name  in  1890.  On  the 
death  of  his  brother,  De  Witt  Allison  Fuller, 
in  1894,  he  continued  the  latter's  business 
(building  material)  in  conjunction  with  his 
own.  He  is  a  member  of  the  First  Reformed 
Protestant  Dutch  Church,  of  which  he  was  a 
deacon  for  several  years  and  a  trustee  in  1910 
as  well  as  for  some  time  previous.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Albany  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
the  Unconditional  Republican  Club,  Philip  Liv- 
ingston Chapter,  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  Zeta 
Psi  fraternity,  St.  George's  Benevolent  So- 
ciety, Fort  Orange  Club,  is  a  thirty-second 
degree  Mason,  was  elected  a  life  trustee  of 
Rutgers  College  in  1905  ;  president  of  the  Un- 
conditional Club  for  three  terms,  1 888-1891 ; 
president  of  the  Albany  County  McKinley 
League  in  1896,  and  president  of  the  Eleventh 
Ward  Republican  Association.  1885-89.  He  is 
also  a  director  of  the  First  National  Bank, 
trustee  of  the  Home  Savings  Bank  and  trus- 
tee of  the  Albany  Homeopathic  Hospital. 

Mr.   Fuller  lias  been  an  active  Republican 
for  years,  and   his  political  record  is  as  fol- 
lows :  He  was  Republican  candidate  for  mayor 
of  Albany  at  a  time  when  the  city  had  gone 
Democratic   for  a  score  of  years,  and  at  the- 
election    held    April    8,    1890,    received    6.316' 
votes    as    against    his   opponent,   Hon.   James 
H.  Manning's  13,552  votes  as  the  head  of  the 
Democratic  city  ticket.    He  was  elected  alder- 
man of  the  eleventh  ward,  April  13,  1886,  re- 
ceiving 713  votes  against  616  votes  cast  for 
his    opponent,    Richard     Ryan;     served    twO' 
years,  and  declined  renomination.    He  was  ap- 
pointed commissioner  of  public  instruction  by 
Mayor  Manning  in  1893;  served  eight  months, 
and  rcsigneil  on  account  of  the  death  of  both" 
his    father   and    brother,    whose   business    de- 
manded his  attention   for  their  families.     He| 
was    elected    city    comptroller,    November    5,j 
igoi,    receiving    12,730    votes    against    io,S 
votes   cast   for   Charles   H.   Bissikummer,   the 
Democratic  candidate ;  was  re-elected  Novem- 
ber  3,    1903,    receivine:    13,970   votes   against 
9,777  votes  cast  for  Edmund  A.  Walsh,  his 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


^73 


•opponent;  re-elected  November  7,  1905,  re- 
■ceiving  15,753  votes,  against  7,483  cast  for 
Philip  J-  Henzel,  the  Democratic  candidate; 
re-elected  November  5,  1907,  receiving  13,736 
votes  as  against  10,198  votes  cast  for  Edward 
T.  Reed,  candidate  of  the  Democratic  and 
Civic  League  parties ;  re-elected  November  2, 
1909,  receiving  15,205  votes  as  against  8,437 
votes  cast  for  Edwin  F.  Hunting,  Demo- 
cratic and  Civic  League  candidate.  The  fig- 
ures speaiv  for  themselves,  showing  a  pro- 
nounced endorsement  of  his  conduct  of  the 
office  of  city  comptroller  by  the  people  of  Al- 
bany, placing  their  confidence  in  him  by  elect- 
ing him  five  times  in  succession  to  that  office, 
and  by  an  increase  in  vote  which  was  the  last 
time  nearly  double  that  of  all  the  parties 
combined  against  him. 

Air.  Fuller  married,  in  Albany,  December 
5,  1898,  Mary  Christine  Hotaling,  widow  of 
his  brother,  De  Witt  Allison  Fuller,  of  New 
Baltimore,  New  York.  Mary  Christine  Ho- 
taling was  born  in  New  Baltimore,  Greene 
county.  New  York,  May  15,  1849,  daughter 
of  Amos  and  Ann  Eliza  Hotaling,  who  were 
married  at  Coxsackie,  New  York,  October 
30,  1844.  Amos  Hotaling  was  born  in  New 
Baltimore,  March  17,  1815,  died  there  January 
24,  1909,  and  was  the  son  of  Garrett  and 
Hester  (Bronk)  Hotaling,  the  latter  a  daugh- 
ter of  Ephraim  and  Annetje  Knott 
Bronk,  and  his  ancestors  were  Peter  Bronk 
and  Rachel  \'an  Hoesen,  Pieter  Bronk  and 
Annetje  ISogardus,  Peter  Bogardus  and 
Wyntje  Westbrouck,  Rev.  Everardus  Bo- 
gardus and  Anneke  Jans.  Ann  Eliza  Hotaling 
was  born  in  Coxsackie,  New  York,  September 
30,  1822,  died  in  New  Baltimore,  March  20, 
1903,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Maria  (Van- 
denbergh)  Hotaling.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howard 
N.  Fuller  resided,  in  1910,  at  No.  144  State 
street,  Albany,  New  York.  Children  of  Mrs. 
Fuller  by  first  marriage:  Emma  Louise,  born 
November  7,  1868.  see  forward:  Anna  Eliza, 
November  7,  1868,  see  forward;  Zada  Con- 
stance, October  27,  1872,  see  forward ;  Wil- 
liam Allison,  August  2,  1878,  see  forward. 

(X)  Emma  Louise  Fuller  was  born  in  New 
Baltimore,  New  York,  November  7,  1868; 
married,  Albany,  New  York,  June  7,  1893, 
Charles  Plenry  Douglas,  manufacturer  of 
woolen  goods  at  Cohoes  and  residing  in  Al- 
bany. He  was  born  in  Albany,  March  13, 
1868.  His  father  was  Charles  Henry  Douglas, 
died  in  Albany,  August  29,  1883,  being  the 
son  of  John  and  Jane  iMiller  (Mueller)  Doug- 
las. His  mother  was  Sarah  Martha  Root, 
who  was  born  in  Albany,  May  6,  1851,  died 
at  Hague,  Lake  George,  New  York,  August 
19,   1907,  daughter  of  Josiah  G.  and  Martha 


Washington  (Mead)  Root.  Charles  H. 
Douglas  and  Sarah  M.  Root  were  married  at 
Albany.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  H.  Douglas 
resided,  in  1910,  at  No.  168  Mohawk  street, 
Cohoes,  New  York. 

(X)  Anna  Eliza  Fuller  was  born  in  New 
Baltimore,  New  York,  November  7,  1868; 
married,  Albany,  New  York,  April  6,  1892, 
John  Ferguson  Moore,  born  in  Albany,  Au- 
gust 22,  1867,  son  of  Dr.  Levi  and  Ida  Louise 
(Ferguson)  Moore.  Children  :  Gertrude  Ful- 
ler Moore,  born  in  Albany,  March  27,  1893; 
John  Ferguson  Moore,  born  in  Albany,  Sep- 
tember 10,  1896.  They  resided,  in  1910,  at 
No.  342  Hudson  avenue,  Albany,  New  York. 

(X)  Zada  Constance  Fuller  was  born  in 
New  Baltimore,  New  York,  October  27,  1872. 
She  married,  Albany,  October  26,  1898,  Fred- 
erick Foster  Ward,  of  Wilmington,  Delaware, 
born  in  Jeft'ersonville,  Indiana,  November  2, 
1871,  son  of  Isaac  Foster  and  Frances 
Brownell  (Avery)  Ward.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Frederick  F.  Ward  resided,  in  1910,  at  No. 
56  Woodland  avenue,  New  Rochelle,  New 
York. 

(X)  \\'illiam  Allison  Fuller  was  born  in 
Albany,  New  York,  August  2,  1878.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  at  the  Albany  Academy 
and  Cornell  University.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Fort  Orange  Club,  of  Albany ;  the  St. 
Elmo  Club,  of  New  York  City,  and  of  the 
Delta  Phi  fraternity.  In  1910  he  was  a  me- 
chanical engineer,  residing  at  No.  144  State 
street,  Albanv,   New  York. 


In  the  "Mayflower"  came  Ed- 
FULLER     ward    Fuller    and    Dr.    Samuel 

Fuller,  December  20,  1620.  Ed- 
ward died  in  the  "first  sickness,"  1621.  leaving 
a  son  Samuel,  who  settled  on  Cape  Cod.  Dr. 
Samuel  Fuller  was  the  first  physician  in  the 
colony.  He  married  (according  to  Leyden 
records)  (first)  Elsie  Glasscock;  (second) 
Agnes  Carpenter,  but  his  children  are  by  his 
third  wife,  Bridget  Lee,  of  Plymouth.  She 
came  to  Massachusetts  on  the  ship  "Ann"  in 
1623.  She  was  married  to  Dr.  Samuel  Ful- 
ler in  Leyden,  in  1617.  Their  first  child 
was  born  in  Leyden,  but  died  soon  after  their 
arrival  at  Plymouth.  Dr.  Samuel  died  in  1633, 
leaving  an  only  son  Samuel,  and  an  only 
daughter  Mercy,  who  married  Ralph  James. 
(II)  Samuel  (2),  only  son  of  Dr.  Sam- 
uel (i)  and  Bridget  (Lee)  Fuller,  was  born 
in  1624,  died  August  17,  1695.  He  was  a 
minister  of  the  gospel.  His  tombstone  reads : 
"Here  Lyes  ye  body  of  ye  Rev.  Mr.  Samuel 
Fuller  who  departed  this  life  Aug.  ye  17, 
1695,  in  ye  71st  year  of  his  age.  He  was  ye 
1st   minister   of   ve    ist   church   of   Oirist   in 


174 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


Middleboro."  He  was  a  deacon  of  the  Ply- 
mouth church,  and  ordained  a  minister,  De- 
cember 25,  1694,  but  he  had  preached  to  the 
Middleboro  congregation  sixteen  years  be- 
fore his  ordination.  He  was  a  sincere,  godly 
man,  and  was  sincerely  lamented  by  his  peo- 
ple. In  the  settlement  of  his  estate,  found 
in  probate  records  of  Middleboro,  book  1, 
page  246,  dated  October  i,  1695,  Elizabeth 
is  mentioned  as  the  widow  of  Rev.  Samuel 
Fuller ;  Samuel,  as  the  oldest  son ;  John,  as 
the  second  son;  Isaac,  as  the  youngest,  and 
under  age.  The  daughters  mentioned  are 
Mercy,  wife  of  Daniel  Cole;  Experience,  wife 
of  James  Wood ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Samuel 
Eaton,  and  an  unmarried  daughter  Hannah. 
Elizabeth  Fuller,  his  widow,  died  at  Plympton, 
Massachusetts,  November  11,  1713. 

(Ill)  Samuel  (3),  son  of  Rev.  Samuel  (2) 
and  Elizabeth  Fuller,  was  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers of  Plympton,  Massachusetts.  He  mar- 
ried Mercy,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Eaton  (i). 
He  died  in  Plympton,  September  6,  1728,  in 
his  seventieth  year.  Children:  Nathaniel, 
born  November  14,  1687;  Samuel,  August  30, 
1689;  WilHam,  died  in  infancy;  Seth,  Au- 
gust 30,  1692;  Benjamin,  March  7,  1694; 
Ebenezer,  March  24,  1695;  Elizabeth,  March 
30,  1697;  John,  December  19,  1698;  Jabez, 
June,  1701 ;  Mercy,  October  3,  1702;  James, 
February  27,  1704. 

(I\')  It  is  from  one  of  the  sons  of  Samuel 
(3)  Fuller,  of  Plympton,  that  Samuel  Fuller, 
of  Schenectady,  descends.  The  records  do 
not  follow  out  the  children  with  sufficient 
clearness,  but  the  best  indications  are  that 
he  was  a  son  of  James,  the  youngest  son, 
born  February  27,  1704. 

(V)  Samuel  (4),  grandson  of  Samuel  (3) 
Fuller,  of  Plympton,  and  perhaps  son  of  James 
Fuller,  located  in  Schenectady  as  early  as  De- 
cember 7,  1763,  when  he  was  married  to 
Anna,  daughter  of  William  Hall,  who  was 
taken  prisoner  by  the  French  and  Indians  and 
carried  to  France,  where  he  died.  Anna  Hall 
was  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  first  Ryer 
Schermerhorn,  an  original  proprietor  of  Sche- 
nectady. Samuel  Fuller  first  came  to  Sche- 
nectady, March  28,  1758,  and  was  then  wholly 
employed  in  the  King's  service  at  Schenectady, 
Albany,  Stillwater,  Fort  Edward,  Lake  George 
and  Niskayuna.  He  was  engaged  in  the  con- 
struction of  boats,  wagons,  log  houses  and 
shelters  for  the  army  commanded  by  Gen- 
eral Abercrombie.  On  July  31,  1758,  he  re- 
turned to  Boston,  going  from  there  to  Hali- 
fax, where  he  arrived  February  7,  1759,  and 
continued  in  the  royal  service  at  the  navy 
yard  until  after  the  taking  of  Quebec  by 
General  Wolfe  in  September,  1759,  returning 


again  to  Schenectady,  where  he  arrived  July, 
1 761.  He  was  an  accomplished  architect,  and 
did  more  than  any  one  man  to  improve  the 
style  of  building,  and  to  his  skill  is  to  be  at- 
tributed the  stately  buildings  seen  through- 
out the  length  and  breadth  of  the  Mohawk. 
He  built  "The  Hermitage"  in  Niskayuna  for 
the  retired  merchant,  John  Duncan ;  the  Guy 
Park  mansion,  afterward  the  home  of  Sir 
Guy  Johnson ;  the  Claas  mansion,  the  abode 
later  of  Colonel  Daniel  Claas,  son-in-law  of 
Sir  William  Johnson.  He  built  the  old  court 
house  at  Johnstown ;  the  dwelling  of  General 
Nicholas  Herkimer;  the  Episcopal  church  in 
Schenectady  (1762),  the  oldest  Episcopal 
church  structure  in  the  state ;  the  John  Glen 
mansion ;  the  Ten  Eyck  mansion,  later  the 
home  of  Governor  Joseph  C.  Yates ;  the  Dan- 
iel Campbell  mansion,  the  latter  mentioned  all 
in  Schenectady,  whicli  city  owes  much  to  his 
early  architectural  skill.  During  the  years 
from  1761,  when  he  took  up  his  permanent 
residence  in  Schenectady,  until  his  death  just 
prior  to  the  revolution,  he  was  constantly  em- 
ployed in  construction  and  architectural  work. 
Children:  Jeremiah,  see  forward;  Annatjie, 
born  April  8,  1771. 

(VI)  Jeremiah,  only  son  of  Samuel  (4) 
and  Anna  (Hall)  Fuller,  was  born  in  Sche- 
nectady, October  26,  1766.  He  was  a  man  of 
high  character,  strict  integrity  and  great  busi- 
ness energy.  He  married,  January  2t,,  1790, 
Mary,  daughter  of  George  Kendall.  She 
died  November  9,  i860,  in  her  eighty-sixth 
year.  Her  husband  died  June  18.  1839,  in 
his  seventy-third  year.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  fourteen  children,  ten  sons  and  four 
daughters,  all  of  whom  reached  majority,  ex- 
cei)t  Samuel,  the  first  born,  and  one  daughter 
Ann.  Four  of  the  sons  became  lawyers ;  four 
physicians,  and  one  only  did  not  have  a  pro- 
fessional career:  i.  Samuel,  died  in  infancy. 
2.  William  Kendall,  born  November  29,  1792; 
graduated  at  Union  College,  1810;  studied 
law,  becoming  law-  partner  of  John  B.  Yates. 
He  removed  to  Chittenango,  Aladison  county, 
New  York,  where  he  was  justice  of  the  peace, 
town  clerk,  postmaster,  school  trustee,  com- 
missioner of  highways  and  supervisor.  In 
1823  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Yates  ad- 
jutant-general of  the  state  of  New  York.  He 
was,  prior  to  1823,  district  attorney  of  Madi- 
son county  and  judge  of  the  court  of  common 
pleas.  He  was  a  member  of  the  state  as- 
sembly, 1829-30,  twice  elected  to  represent  the 
twenty-third  New  York  district  in  congress. 
After  his  term  expired,  he  retired  to  private 
life  and  the  care  of  his  own  estate.  He  never 
married.  3.  Sanuicl,  Ijorn  April  16,  1795; 
graduated  from  Union  College;  completed  his 


fame<i   Ky'^tu/ei 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


175 


medical  studies  in  the  city  of  New  York. 
He  was  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Chittenango,  New  York,  from  1818  to  1866, 
when  he  retired  and  settled  in  New  York  with 
his  family.  He  died  in  1867  in  his  seventy- 
third  year.  4.  Ann,  died  in  infancy.  5.  George 
Kendall,  born  January  29.  1799;  graduated 
Union  College ;  was  general  agent  and  super- 
intendent of  the  extensive  farming,  mercan- 
tile and  manufacturing  interests  of  John  B. 
Yates.  He  died  May  9,  1858,  unmarried,  the 
only  one  of  the  eight  brothers  who  was  not 
a  professional  man.  6.  Amelia  Ann,  born 
March  31,  1801,  died  October  27,  1871.  7. 
Ann,  born  April  21,  1803,  died  June,  1862. 
8.  Richard,  born  October  28,  1804;  gradu- 
ated Union  College ;  studied  medicine  and 
practiced  at  Schenectady.  He  died  May  15, 
1837.  9.  Edward,  born  February  15,  1807; 
graduate  Union  College ;  studied  medicine  and 
settled  at  Chittenango,  New  York,  where  he 
was  the  partner  of  his  brother,  Dr.  Sam- 
uel. He  died  January  22,  1877.  10.  Charles, 
born  April  i,  1809.  He  was  a  graduate  of 
Union  College,  studied  law  and  practiced  in 
Schenectady.  11.  Henry,  born  Eebruary  2, 
181 1,  died  January  6,  1875.  He  was  a  gradu- 
ate of  Union  College;  studied  law  and  prac- 
ticed in  Schenectady.  He  removed  to  New 
York,  where  he  died.  12.  James,  see  forward. 
13.  Elizabeth,  born  June  11,  1816.  14.  Rob- 
ert, born  February  14,  1822;  graduate  of 
Union  College ;  studied  medicine  and  practiced 
all  his  life  in  Schenectady.  He  was  a  skillful 
and  most  charitable  physician. 

(\'n)  James,  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Mary 
(Kendall)  Fuller,  was  born  in  the  Fuller 
home,  corner  of  Church  and  Front  streets, 
July  24,  1814.  He  prepared  for  the  practice 
of  law,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  became 
an  attorney  of  note.  He  was  a  Democrat  and 
a  member  of  the  Reformed  church.  He  mar- 
ried Maria  H.  "^'ates,  born  in  Schenectady  at 
the  Yates  home,  Washington  avenue  and 
L^nion  street,  and  died  in  that  city,  April  16, 
1896.  She  was  a  member  of  the  distinguished 
Yates  family  of  Schenectady,  who  are  fully 
recorded  in  this  work.  Children:  i.  Isaac, 
died  at  age  of  sixty-five  years.  2.  Mary 
Kendall,  married  Joseph  Clements,  a  promi- 
nent contractor  of  Schenectady.  3.  Rachel, 
married  Charles  Lynn,  of  Schenectady.  4. 
Richard,  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years. 
He  married  Maggie  Carley  and  had  a  daugh- 
ter,  Hellena.     5.   James,   see   forward. 

(V'HI)  James  (2),  youngest  son  of  James 
(i)  and  Maria  H.  (Yates)  Fuller,  was  born 
September  17,  1848,  at  the  old  home  in  Sche- 
nectady, where  he  died  January  17,  1908.  He 
was  educated  in  the  common  and  high  schools 


of  that  city,  and  read  law  with  his  father.  He 
practiced  his  profession  in  Schenectady  all  his 
life,  continuing  alone  after  the  death  of  his 
father.  He  was  an  able  and  skillful  man,  was 
a  notary  public,  and  cared  for  several  estates. 
He  stood  high  in  his  community,  both  as  an 
advocate  and  a  citizen.  He  was  a  well-known 
and  active  Democrat,  contributing,  in  a  large 
degree,  to  the  local  successes  of  his  party. 
He  married,  January,  1881,  Annie  M.,  born  in 
Hamilton,  Ontario,  Canada,  only  child  of 
Hugh  and  Hannah  (Lynch)  Boyd.  Her 
mother  died  when  she  was  seven  days  old,  andl 
her  father,  Hugh  Boyd,  married  (second) 
Catherine  Megill,  of  the  prominent  Canadian 
family,  founders  and  benefactors  of  Megill 
University.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Edward, 
and  niece  of  Charles  Megill,  both  of  whom 
served  as  mayors  of  Hamilton.  Hugh  Boyd 
was  born  in  Belfast,  Ireland,  of  the  aristo- 
cratic Boyd  family  of  that  city.  He  was  of 
Scotch  ancestry,  and  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1866,  after  a  residence  in  Canada  of 
several  years.  He  settled  in  Schenectady  in 
1866.  He  and  his  second  wife  both  died  in 
1899.  By  both  marriages  he  had  six  chil- 
dren. Children  of  James  and  Annie  M. 
(Boyd)  Fuller:  i.  Hellena  E.,  died  at  the 
age  of  five  years.  2.  Jane  H.,  born  1896,  a 
student  at  Holy  Name  Academy,  Albany. 
Mrs.  Fuller  survives  her  husband,  and  resides 
in  Schenectady. 


During  the  Napoleonic  wars  a 
FULLER     Frenchman    by    name    Methey 

left  his  native  land  and  settled 
in  risen,  Germany.  He  had  a  wife  and  chil- 
dren, the  latter  born  in  Germany. 

(II)    Nicholas   Methey   was  born  in   Risen 
in  1790.     He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade.     He 

married  Catherine ,  who  bore  him  eight 

children.  In  1849,  after  having  been  a  widow 
about  four  years,  she  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  with  her  children,  landing  in  New  York 
City  after  a  voyage  of  sixty-five  days.  She 
finally  settled  in  Albany,  with  her  family,  and 
about  1856  married  a  second  husband,  Nicho- 
las Snyder ;  they  moved  to  Rochester.  New 
York,  where  they  died.  Hitherto  she  had  kept 
her  children  together,  but  after  her  second 
marriage  the  family  was  broken  up  and  has 
never  since  been  united.  The  boys  took  dif- 
ferent names,  while  the  identity  of  the  girls 
was  lost  in  their  married  names.  Each  was 
unknown  to  the  other  and  in  one  instance  a 
brother  and  sister  lived  near  neighbors  un- 
known to  each  other,  they  having  separated 
in  childhood.  Six  of  the  eight  children  are  ■ 
here  named:  i.  Henry,  left  home  after  his 
mother's    second    marriage   and    assumed   the 


1-6 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


name  of  Martin;  he  married,  in  Schenectady, 
and  left  issue.  2.  Peter,  see  forward.  3.  Mar- 
garet, married,  and  is  deceased.  4.  Mary, 
married,  and  is  deceased.  5.  Gertrude,  mar- 
ried   Helas,  a  tailor  of  .Albany  ;  both  de- 
ceased. 6.  Caspar,  now  a  resident  of  Utica, 
New  York,  was  the  only  child  that  retained 
the  family  name,  Methey.  He  married,  and 
has  twelve  children.  The  other  children  died 
young. 

(HI)  Peter,  son  of  Nicholas  and  Catherine 
Methey,  was  born  in  the  village  of  Huntine, 
province  of  Pisen,  Germany,  December  25, 
1835.  He  took  the  name  of  Fuller,  after  his 
mother's  second  marriage,  and  has  always  re- 
tained it.  After  his  breaking-off  of  family 
ties,  he  never  again  knew  a  home  un- 
til he  had  made  one  for  himself.  His 
mother  died  before  he  again  saw  her, 
and  under  his  new  name  he  was  lost  to  his 
brothers  and  sisters.  After  first  leaving  home 
he  found  employment  on  a  farm,  where  he 
remained  until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age. 
He  then  went  with  Jacob  Taggart,  of  Ber- 
nardsville,  Schoharie  county.  New  York,  who 
taught  him  the  trade  of  miller.  He  continued 
milling  with  Garrett  Ouackenbush,  and  be- 
came thoroughly  familiar  with  all  milling  pro- 
cesses then  employed.  He  next  operated  a 
mill  of  his  own  at  Worcester,  New  York,  later 
.one  at  Cobleskill  and  at  Central  Bridge.  About 
1865  he  settled  permanently  at  Schenectady, 
.and  became  associated  with  J.  S.  ^'eeder,  then 
proprietor  of  the  old  Veeder  Schermerhorn 
Mills.  In  time  he  became  proprietor  of  the 
mills  as  a  tenant,  later  purchased  the  mills, 
which  he  enlarged  and  improved.  He  be- 
came very  prosperous,  and  besides  his  mill 
property  invested  in  unimproved  land  in  now 
ward  ten  of  Schenectady.  His  eldest  son  was 
admitted  a  partner  and  the  firm  name,  Fuller 
&  .Son,  was  well  known  as  a  synonym  for  in- 
tegrity and  quality.  In  1908  Mr.  Fuller  sold 
his  interest  to  his  son  and  retired  from  active 
business  life.  Wesley  J.  Fuller,  his  successor, 
has  still  further  enlarged  the  mills,  and  by  the 
introduction  of  improved,  modern  milling  ma- 
chinery and  methods,  keeps  the  mill  products 
in  the  front  rank.  When  Mr.  Fuller  was  a 
boy  he  had  but  little  advantages  as  to  school- 
ing. He  worked  for  his  board  for  three  win- 
ters and  attended  school,  working  nights, 
mornings  and  Saturdays,  rising  at  two  o'clock 
in  the  morning  to  study  his  lessons.  He 
worked  for  four  dollars  a  month  in  harvest, 
and  thus  is,  in  the  fullest  sense,  a  self-made 
man.  Mr.  Fuller  is  a  Democrat,  a  strong 
advocate  of  temperance  and  prohibition.  He 
has  been  an  active  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  for  thirty  years. 


He  married  (first),  in  Guilderland,  Albany 
county,  New  York,  Margaret  J.  Quackenbush, 
who  is  the  mother  of  all  his  children.  He 
married  (second)  Harriet  A.,  daughter  of 
Cassander  and  Catherine  (Smith)  Philo, 
granddaughter  of  Judge  John  Philo,  who  died 
in  Saratoga  county,  New  York,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-eight.  Children:  i.  Menzo  R.,  born 
in  Guilderland ;  learned  the  milling  business 
with  his  father,  and  since  1898  has  been  man- 
ager of  a  large  milling  concern  at  Seymour, 
Texas,  where  he  married.  2.  Mary,  died  in 
childhood.  3.  Wesley  J.,  born  in  Schenec- 
tady, February  2,  1869 ;  he  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools,  learned  the  milling  busi- 
ness, was  admitted  a  partner  with  his  father, 
and  in  1908  purchased  the  mills  which  he  now 
operates.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Reformed 
church.  Alliance  Lodge,  No.  867,  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  a  member  of  the  Ex- 
empt Fireman's  Association  and  an  active 
member  of  the  Volunteer  Fire  Company  of 
his  ward ;  a  Democrat  in  politics.  He  mar- 
ried, in  1890,  Nellie  J.  Howenstein,  born  1872. 
Children:  i.  Earle,  born  July  26,  1892;  ii. 
]\Iarguerite,  July  7,  1900;  iii.  Catherine.  April 
16,  1905.  4.  Catherine,  died  at  the  age  of 
four  years.  5.  Lena,  married  Charles  B.  Stev- 
ens, of  Schenectady ;  children :  Byron  and 
Marian.  6.  Edward  D.,  born  in  Schenectady, 
employed  in  the  milling  business  with  his 
brother,  Wesley  J.  7.  William  H.,  born  in 
Schenectady,  blacksmith  by  trade,  married 
May  Flashover;  children:  Mary,  Peter  and 
\'irginia.  8.  Elizabeth  (Belle),  born  in  Sche- 
nectady, married  a  Mr.  Cosboth.  9.  Alfred, 
died  at  age  of  six  months. 


The    family    name    of    Rankin 
RANKIN     may    have    come    from    several 

sources,  depending  upon  the 
language  from  which  it  is  derived.  If  the 
name  in  its  original  form,  as  first  employed  by 
the  family,  was  derived  from  the  Danish 
word  "Rank,"  it  would  signify  a  person  of 
upright  character  or  one  of  erect  bearing, 
adopted  because  of  the  upright  carriage  of 
him  who  first  bore  this  name.  If  it  is  of 
Greek  derivation,  it  would  come  from  "Roinn," 
a  promontory,  share  or  division,  and  "Ceann," 
head — the  head  of  the  promontory.  In  all 
probability  Rankin  means  Kin  of  Ran,  as  ofj 
Randolph. 

(I)   William  Rankin,  torn  in  Stirlingshire,! 
Scotland,  May  16,  1745,  came  to  America  ir 
early    life.      For    some    time    he    resided 
Troy,    New    York,    and    also    at    GiarlestonJ 
South  Carolina.     With  other  loyalists  he  emi^ 
grated  to  Shelburne,  Nova  Scotia,  during  the 
American  revolution,  where  he  died  Septer 


'jyi^ 


i 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


177 


ber  9,  1834.  He  was  twice  married.  His  sec- 
ond wife,  whom  he  married  at  Brooklyn,  New 
York,  June  4,  1780,  was  Wilhelmina  Payne,  a 
widow,  daughter  of  Dr.  Ludowick  Dunkle,  a 
native  of  Holland.    He  had  ten  children. 

(II)  William  (2),  son  of  William  (i) 
and  Wilhelmina  (Payne)  Rankin,  was  born 
at  Shelburne,  Nova  Scotia.  December  22,  1785. 
He  came  early  in  life  to  Elizabethtown  (now 
Elizabeth),  New  Jersey,  and  died  December 

14,  1869,  while  attending  prayer  meeting  in 
Wyckliffe  Chapel,  Newark,  New  Jersey, 
which  he  had  built  through  his  interest  in 
church  work.  He  was  a  prosperous  manu- 
facturer of  Newark,  highly  respected,  and 
lived  at  Hill  Park,  High  street,  in  that  city. 
He  received  the  honorary  degree  of  A.AL, 
Princeton,  1865.  He  married,  at  Elizabeth- 
town,  New  Jersey,  June  18,  1809,  Abigail  Og- 
den,  born  at  that  place  September  7,  1789, 
died  at  Newark,  New  Jersey,  December  22, 
1876.  She  was  a  descendant  of  John  Ogden, 
the  Pilgrim,  who  was  born  September  19, 
1609,  married,  May  8,  1637.  Jane  Bond,  and 
died  in  1682.  His  son,  Captain  Benjamin 
Ogden.  was  born  in  1654,  married,  1685,  Han- 
nah, daughter  of  John  Woodruff,  and  died 
November  20,  1722.  Their  son,  John  Ogden, 
was  born  in  1689,  married,  October  27,  1717, 
Man,',  daughter  of  Jacob  Mitchell  and  j\Iary 
Morse.  Their  son,  John  Ogden,  was  born 
January  14,  1724,  married  (circa).  1746,  Abi- 
gail, daughter  of  John  and  Abigail  Clark,  and 
died  September  27,  181 7.  Their  son,  Andrew 
Ogden,  was  born  October  10,  1767,  died  Oc- 
tober ID,  1836,  married  Phoebe  CoUard,  De- 
ceriiber  9,  1788,  who  was  born  August  27, 
1764.  and  died  October  28,  1847,  being  the 
daughter  of  Isaac  Collard  and  Anne  Spinning, 
a  descendant  of  Humphrey  Spinning,  one  of 
the  Elizabethtown  associates.  The  Collards 
were  Huguenots.  Abigail,  daughter  of  An- 
drew and  Phoebe  Ogden,  married  William 
Rankin. 

Children  of  William  (2)  and  Abigail  (Og- 
den)  Rankin:  i.  William.  Jr..  born  September 

15,  1810;  graduated  at  Williams  College,  was, 
in  1910,  its  oldest  living  graduate;  resides 
with  his  son.  Prof.  Walter  M.  Rankin  (Wil- 
liams, Ph.D.,  Munich)  at  Princeton,  New 
Jersey.  2.  Mary  Ogden,  born  October  16, 
1812;  married  Dr.  Isaac  M.  Ward,  October 
31,  1832;  died  January  19,  1896.  3.  Phebe 
Ann.  born  June  30,  1814:  died  at  Newark, 
New  Jersey,  February  2,  1890;  married.  May 
8.  1838,  John  L.  Goble,  of  Newark,  who  died 
March  30,  1844.  4.  Susan,  born  July  17, 
1816,  died  at  Newark.  New  Jersey,  November 
23.  1886:  married.  Newark,  June  25,  1834, 
Peter    S.    Duryee,    who    died    September    25, 


1877.  5.  Isaac  Newton,  born  .-Kpril  7,  1818; 
died  at  Troy,  New  York,  October  15,  1856; 
married  (first),  June  19,  1844,  Charlotte 
Thomas,  who  died  at  Newark,  New  Jersey, 
October  2,  1853;  married  (second),  October 
25.  1855,  Isabella  S.  Thomas,  who  died  No- 
vember 20,  1858.  6.  Edward  Erastus,  born 
May  15,  1820;  died  at  Newark,  New  Jer.sey, 
July  22,  1889;  married  Emily  Watkinson, 
Hartford,  Connecticut,  October  13,  1847,  see 
forward.  7.  Lucinda  Caroline,  born  Novem- 
ber 6,  1822;  died  New  York  City,  February 
24,  1902;  married,  October  2,  1844,  Rev.  Sam- 
uel H.  Hall.  8.  Henry  -Van  Vleck,  born  Sep- 
tember II,  1825;  graduated  Princeton.  1843; 
became  missionary  to  China,  and  died  at 
Tungchow,  China,  July  2,  1863 ;  married, 
July  20.  1848,  Mary  G.  Knight.  His  widow 
married  Rev.  Robert  Aikman ;  living  (1910) 
at  Madison,  New  Jersey.  9.  Matilda  Whiting, 
born  April  17.  1829;  died  June  28,  1838.  10. 
John  Joseph,  born  July  17,  1831 ;  graduated 
"Princeton,  1852:  died,  unmarried,  at  Florence, 
Italy,  November  4.  1853. 

(Ill)  Edward  Erastus,  sixth  child  of  Wil- 
liam (2)  and  Abigail  (Ogden)  Rankin,  was 
born  May  15,  1820;  graduated  at  Yale  Col- 
lege, 1840;  Union  Theological  Seminary, 
1843;  pastor  at  Springfield,  New  Jersey, 
1847-49;  New  York  City  pastorate,  1849-1863; 
Christian  Commission,  1863-65 ;  First  Qiurch 
of  Christ,  Fairfield,  Connecticut,  1866-79;  re- 
ceived degree  of  D.D.  from  Rutgers  College. 
He  died  at  Newark,  New  Jersey,  July  22, 
1889.  He  married,  October  13,  1847,  Emily 
Watkinson,  of  Hartford,  Connecticut. 

The  Watkinson  line,  being  of  direct  con- 
cern and  interesting,  in  brief,  is  as  follows :  It 
is  a  tradition  in  the  family  that  the  Watkin- 
sons  lived  at  Black  Notely  Hall,  England,  for 
five  hundred  years,  and  that  one  of  them  was 
a  soldier  in  the  army  of  Cromwell.  John 
Watkinson  had  for  his  fourth  son,  Richard, 
who  married  Mary  Sparrow,  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel Sparrow  and  Mary  Grainger.  Richard 
Watkinson  died  June  18.  1750.  His  son  Sam- 
uel was  born  at  Sibble  Hedingham,  England, 
July  I.  1745.  and  removed  to  Lavenham, 
Suffolk,  England,  in  1752,  marrying  Sarah 
Blair,  October  6,  1768.  She  was  great-grand- 
daughter of  David  Blair,  of  Adamton.  Eng- 
land, who  obtained  a  charter  from  Charles 
II,  July  2,  1669,  and  married  ]\Iargaret  Bos- 
well,  of  Auchenloch.  Ayrshire,  Scotland. 
Their  daughter  Margaret  married  William 
Blair,  of  Giffordland,  Dairy,  Ayrshire.  Scot- 
land, and  their  son  David  was  father  of  Sarah, 
wife  of  Samuel  \\"atkinson. 

Children  of  Samuel  Watkinson  and  Sarah 
Blair,   all   born   at    Lavenham,   in   house   still 


178 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


standing:  Mary,  married  Joseph  Perkins,  of 
Norwich,  Connecticut,  November  13,  1803; 
Sarah,  married  Jacob  Pledger,  of  Little  Bad- 
don,  Essex,  England,  May  10,  1792;  John 
Revell,  married  Hannah  Hubbard,  of  Middle- 
town.  Connecticut,  January  26,  1805 ;  their 
daugliter.  Jane  Elizabeth,  born  July  17.  1809, 
married  \\'alcott  Huntington,  of  Hartford, 
Connecticut,  and  their  children  have  the  por- 
traits of  Samuel  Watkinson  and  Sarah  Blair, 
(the  latter  painted  by  Gainsborough)  ;  Sam- 
uel Watkinson,  Jr.,  died  in  New  York.  Sep- 
tember 6.  1799 ;  Elizabeth,  married  Alexan- 
der Collins,  of  Middletown,  Connecticut,  Sep- 
tember 2,  1802;  Richard,  died  in  New  York, 
September  8,  1799;  David,  married  Olive, 
daughter  of  Barzillai  Hudson,  at  Hartford, 
May  22,  1803 ;  William,  married  Elizabeth  A. 
McCall,  of  New  York,  February  6,  1823  ;  Ann, 
married  James  H.  Wells,  of  Hartford.  Octo- 
ber 4.  1803:  Edward  (father  of  Emily  Wat- 
kinson Rankin),  married  Lavinia  Hudson, 
daughter  of  Barzillai,  at  Hartford,  September 
3,  1810 :  Jane,  married  Samuel  Gill,  of  Middle- 
town,  Connecticut,  May  28,  1804 ;  Robert, 
married  Maria,  daughter  of  General  Cham- 
pion, of  Westchester,  Connecticut. 

Samuel  Watkinson,  his  wife  and  twelve  chil- 
dren, as  well  as  many  of  his  Lavenham  neigh- 
bors, under  his  escort,  came  to  America  in 
1795  to  escape  religious  persecution,  being 
Presbyterians,  and  settled  in  Middletown,  Con- 
necticut, where  he  died  October  26,  1816. 
Sarah  Blair,  his  wife,  was  born  December 
26,  1743,  and  died  at  Middletown,  March  17, 
1819. 

Edward  Watkinson,  tenth  child  of  Samuel 
and  Sarah  (Blair)  Watkinson,  was  bom  at 
Lavenham.  England.  May  13,  1783,  and  died 
at  Hartford,  Connecticut,  February  17,  1841. 
He  was  in  the  wholesale  iron  business  with 
his  brother,  David,  and  lived  on  Prospect 
street.  He  married,  at  Hartford.  September 
3.  1810,  Lavinia  Hudson.  Children:  Har- 
riet, married  Rev.  Horace  Hooker  (Thomas 
Hooker,  lawyer,  of  New  York  City,  was  only 
surviving  child  in  1910.  and  he  married  Mar- 
garet Averill :  no  children)  ;  Edward  P).  Wat- 
kinson. married  (first)  Jane  Abernethy,  (sec- 
ond) Louise  Stone,  of  Hartford,  who  survived 
him,  with  children  Helen,  Grace  and  Mary; 
Alfred  \\'atkinson,  married  Jane  Hudson,  and 
had  children,  Henry,  David.  Alice,  Carohne 
and  J.  Russell  Watkinson.  of  Hartford,  Con- 
necticut ;  Maria,  married  Edward  W.  Nichols, 
and  their  only  child  was  Prof.  Edward  L. 
Nichols,  of  Cornell  University,  who  married 
Ida  Preston,  and  has  two  children :  Elizabeth 
and  Robert ;  Anna,  married  Dr.  Lucius  Ab- 
bott, of  Hartford,  no  children;  Margaret,  mar- 


ried Dr.  Daniel  Brooks,  of  Brooklyn,  no  chil- 
dren ;  David,  died  unmarried ;  Emily,  married 
Edward  Erastus  Rankin,  and  was  mother  of 
Edward  Watkinson  Rankin.  She  was  born 
at  Hartford,  Connecticut,  March  28,  1828,  and 
died  at  Newark,  New  Jersey,  March  10,  1901. 

Lavinia  Hudson,  grandmother  of  Edward 
Watkinson  Rankin,  and  wife  of  Edward  Wat- 
kinson, was  born  in  Hartford,  Connecticut, 
in  1784,  and  died  June  10,  1859.  Her  father 
was  Barzillai  Hudson,  and  her  mother  was 
Hannah  Bunce.  Her  grandfather.  William 
Hudson,  was  born  at  Bridgewater,  Massachu- 
setts, June  22,  1709.  Barzillai  Hudson  was 
born  at  Bridgewater,  Massachusetts.  Decem- 
ber 25,  1741;  removed  to  Hartford,  where  he 
married,  1778,  and  died  July  31,  1823.  Han- 
nah Bunce,  daughter  of  Aaron  Bunce,  of 
Lebanon,  Connecticut,  was  born  in  1749,  and 
died  at  Hartford,  September  26,  1807.  She 
married  (first)  Mr.  Colton,  and  after  his 
death,  she  married  Ebenezer  Watson,  editor 
and  publisher  of  the  Hartford  Couraitt,  who 
died  September  22.  1777.  After  his  death  she 
continued  the  publication  of  the  Coiirant,  with 
the  aid  of  the  staff,  until  her  marriage  with 
Mr.  Hudson,  who  carried  on  the  paper. 

Children  of  Edward  Erastus  and  Emily 
(Watkinson)  Rankin:  i.  Margaret,  born  at 
Springfield,  New  Jersey,  April,  1849;  died  in 
New  York  City,  aged  seven  years.  2.  Edward 
Watkinson,  born  in  New  York  City,  August 
12,  1850;  married.  Albany,  New  York.  June 
3,  1884,  Catherine  P.ogart  Putnam,  see  for- 
ward. 3.  Rev.  Isaac  Ogden,  born  in  New 
York  City,  November  22.  1852;  graduated  at 
Princeton,  1873;  Union  Theological  Seminary, 
1876;  in  1910,  one  of  the  editors  of  The  Con- 
grcgationalist;  married  Martha,  born  October 
20.  1855,  daughter  of  Rev.  Perkins  Kirkland 
Clark,  of  Westfield,  Massachusetts  (Yale, 
1838),  and  Hannah  Smith  Avery,  of  Cole- 
raine,  Massachusetts,  to  whom  were  born 
Hugh  (Rankin),  (Yale,  1903),  residing  in 
New  York  City,  Margaret  Clark  ( Rankin) ,^ 
(Smith  College,  1908).  and  Lawrence  Avery 
(Rankin),  of  Brookline.  Massachusetts.  4. 
Caroline  Hall,  born  in  New  York  City,  Au- 
gust 31.  1855;  married,  September  27,,  1885,  at 
Newark,  New  Jersey,  John  Rogers,  Ayer,  son 
of  Rev.  Charles  Lathrop  .Ayer.  born  North 
Stonington.  Connecticut.  June  25,  1826,  died 
Windsor,  Connecticut.  June  2.  1907;  married, 
November.  i84().  Alary  iiishop.  at  South  Kil- 
lingly,  Connecticut,  who  was  born  July  26,. 
1828.  at  Lisbon,  Connecticut.  John  Rogers 
Ayer  died  at  Richmond,  Massachusetts,  Oc- 
tober 17,  1909,  leaving  no  children,  and  his 
widow  resided  there  in  1910.  5.  James  Hep- 
burn, born   in    New  York   City,   January    17, 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


179 


1858;  died  at  Fairfield,  Connecticut,  March 
9,  1876.  6.  William,  born  in  New  York  City, 
April  2,  1863;  art  critic;  resided,  1910,  at 
Roselle  Park,  New  Jersey;  Princeton,  1886; 
married,  Walpack,  New  Jersey,  June  8,  1903, 
Carrie  Louise  Rundle  ;  children  :  Teresa,  Caro- 
line and  Wilhelmina.  7.  John  Luther,  born 
at  Fairfield,  Connecticut,  December  15,  1869; 
graduate  of  Princeton,  1892;  lawyer,  residing, 
1910,  at  South  Orange,  New  Jersey;  married, 
in  St.  George's  Church,  London,  England, 
October  17,  1907,  Mary  Wheelwright  Lang- 
don,  of  New  York  City ;  children :  Langdon 
and  Margaret.  8.  Richard  Plenry,  attorney, 
Newark,  New  Jersey,  born  at  Fairfield,  Con- 
necticut, December  15,  1869;  LL.B.,  New 
York  University ;  married,  Newark,  New  Jer- 
sey, May  18,  1904.  Alice  Bisshop  Gibb ;  chil- 
dren :  De  Guibe,  \'iolet  Alice  and  Audrey 
Sewell. 

(R')  Edward  Watkinson,  son  of  Edward 
Erastus  and  Emily  (Watkinson)  Rankin,  was 
born  in  New  York  City,  August  I2.  1850.  He 
received  his  education  at  the  Collegiate  School 
of  New  York,  the  Newark  (New  Jersey) 
Academy,  and  Williston  Seminary.  He  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  A.B.  from  Princeton  in 
1871,  and  that  of  A.M..  in  1873,  and  LL.B. 
from  the  Albany  Law  School  of  Union  Uni- 
versity the  same  year.  He  was  admitted  to 
practice  in  1873,  ^^^  '"  August  of  the  same 
year  went  to  Europe  for  the  purpose  of  travel 
and  study,  remaining  until  December,  1874. 
The  spring  of  the  following  year  he  settled 
in  Albany,  where  he  has  continued  to  practice 
ever  since,  with  an  office  in  Tweddle  Build- 
ing. He  is  a  charter  member  of  the  University 
Club,  and  joined  the  Albany  Institute  in  1878. 
He  has  been  a  trustee  of  the  Second  Presby- 
terian Church,  Albany,  and  has  resided  for 
over  a  quarter  of  a  century  in  the  Cherry  Hill 
Mansion  in  the  southern  part  of  the  city.  He 
married,  June  3,  1884,  at  Cherry  Hill,  Albany, 
Catherine  Bogart  Putman  (see  Putman  fam- 
ily). 

Children:  i.  Edward  Elmendorf,  born 
June  16,  1885,  at  Cherry  Hill.  Albany,  in  the 
home  built  by  his  mother's  great-grandfather, 
Philip  Van  Rensselaer;  graduate  of  Albany 
Academy,  1904;  Phillips  Exeter,  1905; 
Princeton,  A.B.,  1909;  student.  Harvard  Law 
School,  1910.  2.  Herbert  Edward,  born  at 
Cherry  Hill.  Albany,  April  15,  1887;  graduate 
of  Albany  Academy,  1904;  Phillips  Andover, 
1905;  Princeton,  A.B.,  1909;  A.M.,  1910; 
Sayre  Fellow  in  Chemistry,  1909-10;  assist- 
ant in  chemistry,  Princeton,  1910.  3.  Emily 
Watkinson.  born  at  Cherry  Hill,  Albany.  May 
14,  1889;  student  at  Smith  College,  class  of 
1911. 


(The    Putnam    Line). 

Catherine  Bogart  Putman,  wife  of  Edward 
Watkinson  Rankin,  of  Albany,  was  Ixirn  at 
Glen,  Montgomery  county,  New  York,  Febru- 
ary 20,  1857.  Upon  the  death  of  her  mother, 
Harriet  Maria  Van  Rensselaer  Putman,  in 
i860,  she  came  to  Albany  to  live  at  the  old 
homestead,  Cherry  Hill,  with  Mrs.  P.  E.  El- 
mendorf, daughter  of  General  Solomon  and 
Arriet  Van  Rensselaer,  a  dearly-beloved  cousin 
of  her  mother.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Elmendorf  had 
one  daughter,  Harriet  Van  Rensselaer  Elmen- 
dorf, who  married  Dr.  John  Woodworth 
Gould. 

Mrs.  Rankin  is  now  owner  of  the  old  man- 
sion, which  stands  on  high  ground  to  the  west 
of  South  Pearl  street,  almost  concealed  by 
large  trees,  a  double  house,  built  in  1768,  of 
wood,  filled  in  with  brick,  with  a  spacious  ver- 
anda from  which  one  may  view  the  Hudson 
river  with  its  commerce  passing  continually 
up  and  down.  Instead  of  abandoning  the 
house  for  another  portion  of  the  city,  which 
might  seem  to  some  to  be  more  congenial, 
or  disturbing  the  interior  furnishing  as  styles 
changed,  she  turned  her  attention  to  the  beau- 
tifying of  the  estate,  and  to-day  presides  over 
one  of  the  most  quaintly  charming  of  all  the 
old-fashioned  residences  to  be  found  within 
the  limits  of  Albany  county.  Not  alone  does 
it  possess  for  her  abundance  of  charm  of 
family  romance,  but  her  guests  are  immedi- 
ately appreciative  of  this  when  cordially  re- 
ceived within  the  walls  from  which  ancestral 
portraits  look  down  as  one  sits  beside  a  great 
hearth  fitted  with  all  the  old  utensils,  even 
to  the  crane,  and  is  served  from  silver  and 
china  of  past  generations.  It  is  to  be  noted 
at  once  that  everything  is  in  keeping,  thus 
giving  an  atmosphere  of  unusual  refinement. 
Among  the  many  famous  men  of  the  early 
days  entertained  at  Cherry  Hill,  General  La- 
fayette was  twice  an  honored  guest  while  vis- 
iting in  this  country. 

Jan  Putman  was  born  in  Holland,  in  1645, 
and  came  to  America  in  1661.  He  married 
Cornelia,  daughter  of  Arent  Andriese  Bradt 
and  Catalyntje  De  \'os.  He  and  his  wife  were 
killed  in  the  Schenectady  massacre  of  Febru- 
ary 8,  1690. 

\'ictor,  son  of  Jan  and  Cornelia  I'utman, 
born  about  1680,  at  Schenect-vdy ;  married 
Grietje  (Margaret)  Mebie,  at  Albany,  New 
York. 

Cornelis.  son  of  Victor  and  Grietje  Put- 
man, born  December  17,  1724;  married  Eliza 
Pruyn,  who  died  March  21.  1812,  and  he 
April  19,  1798. 

Henry,  son  of  Cornelis  and  Eliza  (Pruyn) 
Putman,  born  September    12,    1761  ;  married. 


i8o 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


March     4,     1781,     Mary     Quackenbush,     of 
Charleston,  New  York,  and  died  about  1798. 

Cornelius  H.,  son  of  Henry  and  Mary 
(Quackenbush)  Putman,  born  August  29, 
1796;  died  August  12,  1873;  lawyer;  mar- 
ried. October  24,  1820,  Gazena  \^isscher 
Maybee. 

Dr.  Alonzo  Putman,  son  of  Cornelius  H. 
and  Gazena  \'.  (Maybee)  Putman,  born  Oc- 
tober, 1826;  married,  June  4,  1856,  Harriet 
Maria  Van  Rensselaer;  died  August  29,  1892. 
He  was  father  of  Catherine  Bogart  (Putman) 
Rankin. 

(The  Visscher  Line). 

Bastiaen  Visscher,  ancestor  of  the  family 
of  that  name  in  America,  lived  at  Hoorn, 
Holland,  and  married  Dirkje  Teunise.  He 
had  two  sons,  who  came  to  Rensselaerwyck 
prior  to  1644,  Frederick,  who  is  said  to  have 
returned   to    Holland,   and   Harmen. 

Harmen  Bastiaense  Visscher  was  born  about 
1619,  and  married  Hester  Tjerkse,  dying  prior 
to  1692.  His  daughter,  Ariantje,  married 
Hieronomus  Wendell  (father  of  Elsie,  wife  of 
Dr.  Nicholas  Schuyler)  before  1676. 

Frederick  Visscher,  son  of  Harmen,  mar- 
ried, January  13,  1692,  Margarita,  daughter 
of  Captain  Hans  Hendrick  Hansen  and  Eva 
Gillese  (daughter  of  Jellis  Pieterse  Myer),  and 
sister  of  Hendrick  Hansen,  fifth  mayor  of 
Albany. 

Harmon  Visscher,  son  of  Frederick,  bap- 
tized August  23,  1701,  married,  about  1739, 
Catherine  Brouwer,  daughter  of  William 
Brouwer,  of  Schenectady.  He  died,  about 
1774,  near  Fonda,  New  York. 

Colonel  Frederick  X'isscher,  son  of  Har- 
mon, was  born  February  21,  1741,  at  Albany, 
and  married,  May  22,  1768,  Gazena,  daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  DeGraff  and  Gazena  Swits.  He 
died  June  9,  1809.  He  was  colonel  of  the 
Tryon  county  militia,  commanded  a  regiment 
under  General  Herkimer  at  the  battle  of 
Oriskany,  ami  was  severely  wounded  in  a 
fight  against  Tories  and  Indians,  Alay  21, 
1780.  He  was  appointed  brigadier-general 
by  Governor  George  Qinton,  February  6, 
1787,  for  services  in  the  revolutionary  war, 
and  was  later  first  judge  of  the  court  of  com- 
mon pleas  of  Montgomery  county.  In  June, 
1782,  on  the  occasion  of  General  Washing- 
ton's visit  to  Schenectady  and  at  a  dinner 
given  in  his  honor,  Colonel  Visscher  was,  at 
the  personal  request  of  Washington,  seated  at 
his    right  hand. 

Gazena,  daughter  of  Colonel  Frederick  Vis- 
scher, was  born  July  14,  1771,  and  married, 
May   2,    1792,    Simon    Maybee. 

Gazena,  daughter  of  Simon  and  Gazena 
(Visscher)   Maybee,   was  born   February  23, 


1801,  married  October  24,  1820,  Cornelius 
H.  Putman,  and  died  February  20,  1861.  She 
was  the  mother  of  Dr.  Alonzo  Putman  and 
grandmother  of  Mrs.  Catherine  B.  (Putman) 
Rankin. 

(Van     Rensselaer    line     of    Mrs.     Rankin's    .An- 
cestry). 

Her  mother,  the  wife  of  Dr.  Alonzo  Put- 
man, was  Harriet  Maria  Van  Rensselaer,  who 
was  born  September  12,  1827,  married  June 
4,  1856,  and  died  August  15,  i860. 

Killaen  Van  Rensselaer,  generally  known 
as  the  First  Patroon,  was  a  pearl  and  dia- 
mond merchant  in  Amsterdam,  Holland,  and 
a  director  in  the  Dutch  West  India  Company. 
He  was  the  founder  of  the  colony  of  Rens- 
selaerwyck, and  married,  in  1627,  Anna 
daughter  of  Jan  \'an  Wely,  of  Berneveldt, 
and  Leonora  Hawkins,  of  Antwerp.  He  died 
in   1646. 

His  son  Jeremias  married,  July  12,  1663, 
Maria,  daughter  of  Olof  Stevense  Van  Cort- 
landt,  of  New  Amsterdam,  president  of  the 
Dutch  council,  and  died  October  14,  1674. 
From  his  son  Killian  the  manorial  branch  of 
the  \^an  Rensselaers  is  descended,  and,  from 
the  second  son,  Hendrick,  the  Cherry  Hill  and 
Claverack  branches.  His  daughter  Maria 
married  Colonel  Pieter  Schuyler. 

Hendrick  Van  Rensselaer,  second  son  of 
Jeremiah  or  Jeremias,  was  born  at  Green- 
bush,  opposite  Albany,  October  23,  i66j ;  mar- 
ried. May  16,  1689,  Catharina  Van  Brugh, 
granddaughter  of  Anneke  Jans,  and  died  in 
July,  1740.  His  daughter  Maria  married 
Samuel    Ten    Broeck. 

Colonel  Killaen  Van  Rensselaer,  youngest 
son  of  Hendrick,  born  December  27,  1717; 
married,  January  7,  1742,  Ariantje,  daughter 
of  Dr.  Nicholas  Schuyler,  and  died  in  1781. 
He  was  commissioned  colonel  of  the  Fourth 
Regiment,  New  York  Militia,  October  20, 
1775.  and  served  during  the  war.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  committee  of  correspondence, 
and    of    the    New    York    assembly. 

Philip  Van  Rensselaer,  son  of  Killaen,  born 
May  19,  1747;  married  to  Maria  Sanders,  by 
Dominie  Westerlo,  February  24,  176S,  at  the 
home  of  her  grandfather,  Peter  Schuyler,  at 
the  Flatts,  and  died  March  3,  1798.  He 
built  the  present  Cherry  Hill  Mansion  in 
1768.  shortly  after  General  Philip  Schuyler 
built  the  Schuyler  mansion,  not  far  away,  and 
one  year  before  the  building  of  the  Van 
Rensselaer  Manor  House,  north  of  the  city. 
To  this  home  he  brought  his  bride.  The 
mansion  subsequently  came  to  General  Solo- 
mon \'an  Rensselaer,  who  married  Arriet, 
daughter  of  Philip  Van  Rensselaer,  and  t'o  hep 
daughter,  Harriet,  wife  of  Dr.  Peter  E.   El 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


i8i 


nendorf.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Philip  Van 
Rensselaer  had  charge  of  the  military  stores 
of  the  Northern  Department  during  the  revo- 
lutionary war.  He  received  his  commission 
from  General  Philip  Schuyler  and  was  con- 
firmed by  congress.  He  was  also  a  member 
of  the  committee  of  public  safety  of  Albany. 
Robert  Sanders  Van  Rensselaer,  second 
child  of  Philip  and  ]\Iaria  Van  Rensselaer, 
was  born  January  19,  1773,  at  Cherry  Hill; 
married,  October  9,  1800,  Catherine  Nicholas 
Bogart,  at  the  home  of  her  stepfather,  James 
\'an  Rensselaer,  at  Crystal  Hill.  Harriet  Ma- 
ria, their  youngest  daughter,  married  Dr. 
Alonzo  Putman,  and  was  mother  of  Catherine 
Bogart   (Putman)    Rankin. 

(Anneke  Jans  Line  of  Mrs.  Rankin's  Ancestry.) 

Anneke  Jans  was  daughter  of  Tryntje  Jan- 
sen,  and  married  (first)  Roelof  Jansen,  com- 
ing to  America  and  settling  at  Rensselaer- 
wyck  with  him  in  1630.  They  removed  to 
New  Amsterdam  in  1636,  where  he  died.  She 
married  (second),  in  March,  1638,  Rev.  Ever- 
ardus  Bogardus,  minister  of  the  Dutch  church, 
the  first  settled  pastor  in  the  colony.  She 
had,  by  her  first  husband,  five  children,  of 
whom  the  second,  Tryntje  Roelofs,  married, 
for  her  second  husband,  Johannes  Van  Brugh. 
Catharina,  daughter  of  Johannes  and  Tryntje 
Van  Brugh,  married  Hendrick  Van  Rensse- 
laer. 

(Schuyler  Line  of  Mrs.   Rankin's  Ancestry.) 

Philip  Pieterse  Schuyler  came  from  Amster- 
dam to  Beverwyck.  He  married,  December 
12,  1650,  Margritta,  daughter  of  Brant 
Arentse  \'an  Schlictenhorst,  resident  director 
of  Rensselaerwyck.  He  was  ancestor  of  the 
Schuylers,  of  America,  and  had  ten  children. 

Philip  Schuyler,  Jr.,  eighth  son  of  Philip, 
was  born  February  8,  1666,  and  married 
(first),  July  25,  1687,  Elizabeth  De  Meyer, 
dying  May  24,  1724. 

Dr.  Nicholas  Schuyler,  son  of  Philip  and 
Elizabeth  (De  Meyer)  Schuyler,  was  born 
September  11,  1691,  married,  December  2, 
1714.  Elsie  Wendell,  and  died  July  3,  1748. 
They  had  eight  children. 

Ariantje  Schuyler,  third  child  of  Dr.  Nicho- 
las and  Elsie  (Wendell)  Schuyler,  was  born 
March  6,  1720,  married,  January  7,  1742, 
Colonel  Killaen  \'an  Rensselaer,  son  of  Hend- 
rick, and  father  of  Philip  Van  Rensselaer,  and 
died  October  17,  1763.  She  was  a  second 
cousin  of  General  Philip  Schuyler,  and  her 
portrait,  painted  on  wood,  hangs  in  the  dining- 
room  of  the  Cherry  Hill  mansion. 

Harmanus  Schuyler,  seventh  child  of  Dr. 
Nicholas  and  Elsie   (Wendell)  Schuyler,  and 


brother  of  Ariantje,  wife  of  Killaen  Van  Rens- 
selaer, was  born  April  2,  1727,  married  Chris- 
tina Ten  Broeck,  September  i,  1796,  and  had 
nine  children.  He  was  assistant  deputy  com- 
missary general  of  the  Northern  Department, 
on  appointment  of  General  Philip  Schuyler. 
Elsie  Schuyler,  daughter  of  Harmanus  and 
Christina  (Ten  Broeck)  Schuyler,  was  born 
February  6,  1760,  June  15,  1783,  Dr.  Nicholas 
N.  Bogart,  of  New  York  City,  and,  after 
his  death,  James  Van  Rensselaer,  of  Crystal 
Flill,  in  town  of  Bethlehem.  She  died  Sep- 
tember 26,  1838.  Her  only  child,  by  her  first 
husband,  was  Catherine  Nicholas  Bogart,  who 
married  Robert  Sanders  Van  Rensselaer.  Dr. 
Bogart  died  September  26,  1783. 

Pieter  Schuyler,  fifth  son  of  Philip  Schuyler 
and  ]\Iargritta  Van  Schlictenhorst,  was  born 
in  Rensselaerwyck,  September  17,  1657,  and 
married  (second)  Maria,  daughter  of  Jeremiah 
Van  Rensselaer  and  Maria  Van  Cortlandt, 
September  14,  1691.  He  died  February  19, 
1724.  He  was  the  first  mayor  of  Albany,  and 
held  various  military  and  civil  appointments. 

Peter  Schuyler,  Jr.,  third  son  of  Pieter 
Schuyler,  baptized  January  12,  1698,  married, 
November  4,  1722,  Catherine  Groesbeck.  He 
was  appointed  captain  when  twenty-three  years 
old,  and  died  September  2,  1753. 

Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Peter  Schuyler,  Jr., 
baptized  January  3,  1725,  married,  January  11, 
1747,  Robert  Sanders.  Their  daughter,  'Ma- 
ria, married  Philip  Van  Rensselaer,  of  Cherry 
Hill,   Albany. 

(Sanders  Line  of  Mrs.  Rankin's  Ancestry.) 

Thomas  Sanders,  of  Amsterdam,  married 
Sarah  Corneilse  Van  Gorcum,  in  New  .Am- 
sterdam, September  16,  1640,  who  died  in  Al- 
bany, December,  1669. 

Robert,  son  of  Thomas  Sanders,  baptized, 
New  Amsterdam,  November  10,  1641,  married 
Elsje  Barentse. 

Barent,  son  of  Robert  Sanders,  married 
Maria,  daughter  of  Evert  Wendell,  September 
19,  1704,  and  was  buried  June  22,  1738. 

Robert,  son  of  Barent  and  Maria  (Wen- 
dell) Sanders,  twenty-third  mayor  of  Albany, 
was  born  at  Albany,  July  11,  1705,  married, 
January  12,  1747,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Peter 
Schuyler,  Jr.  Their  daughter.  Maria,  mar- 
ried Philip  Yan  Rensselaer,  of  Cherry  Hill, 
Albany. 

(Wendell  Line  of  Mrs.  Rankin's  Ancestry.) 
Evert  Janse  Wendell,  born  1615,  at  Emden, 
Hanover,  came  to  America  and  settled  in  New 
Amsterdam  about  1642.  He  married  (first) 
Susanna  Du  Trieux,  July  31,  1644,  who  died 
about      1660;     married      (second)      Maritje 


l82 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


Abramse,  daugliter  of  Abraham  Pieter  \'os- 
burgh.     He  died  in  Albany,  in  1709. 

Hieronimus  (Jeronimus),  son  of  Evert  J. 
and  Susanna  (Du  Trieux)  Wendell,  was  born 
in  1655,  and  married  Ariantje  Visscher, 
daughter  of  Harmen  and  Hester  Visscher, 
before  1676. 

Elsie,  daughter  of  Hieronimus  Wendell,  was 
born  April  21,  1689,  married  Dr.  Nicholas 
Schuyler,  December  2,  -1714,  and  was  the 
mother  of  Ariantje  Schuyler,  wife  of  Colonel 
Killaen    Van    Rensselaer. 

Maria,  daughter  of  Evert  Janse  Wendell 
and  Maritje,  his  second  wife,  was  born  August 
16,  1677,  and  married,  September  9,  1704, 
Barent  Sanders. 

(Ten  Broeck  Line  of  Mrs.  Rankin's  Ancestry.) 
Dirck  Wesselse  Ten  Broeck  was  born  De- 
cember 18,  1638,  and  died  September  18,  1717, 
at  Clermont,  New  York.  He  married,  Al- 
bany, 1663,  Christyna  Van  Buren  (born  May 
19,  1644,  died  November  24,  1729,  daughter 
of  Cornelis  Maessen  Van  Buren  and  Cata- 
lyntje  Martensen,  who  came  from  Guelder- 
land,  1631).  He  was  alderman  under  the 
original  charter  of  the  city  of  Albany,  1686, 
recorder  for  ten  years,  member  of  provincial 
assembly,  five  years,  and  was  appointed  the 
fourth  mayor  of  Albany,  1696. 

His  son,  Samuel  Ten  Broeck,  was  born  in 
1680,  died  April  5,  1756,  married,  Novem- 
ber 7,  1712,  Maria,  daughter  of  Hendrick  Van 
Rensselaer  and  Catharina  Van  Brugh.  His 
wife  was  baptized  March  29,  1689,  and  died 
July  31,    1771. 

Cliristina,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Maria 
(Van  Rensselaer)  Ten  Broeck,  was  born  Nch 
vember  29,  1729;  married,  Claverack,  Colum- 
bia county.  New  York,  September  4,  1754. 
Colonel  Harmanus  Schuyler,  who  died  Sep- 
tember I,  1796.  Their  daughter,  Elsje,  who 
married  Dr.  Nicholas  Bogart,  entertained,  in 
July,  1783,  General  Washington,  Governor 
Clinton  and  General  Philip  Schuyler,  in  the  ab- 
sence of  her  mother,  at  their  home  at  old 
Saratoga  (Schuylerville),  when  they  came  to 
visit  the  scene  of  Burgoyne's  surrender. 


John  Ranken,  founder  of  the 
R.ANKEN     Troy    family,    and    a    pioneer 

woollen  manufacturer,  was 
born  at  Wood  J'ank,  near  Garvah,  London- 
derry, Ireland,  February  26,  1810,  died  at 
Albia  (Troy),  September  10,  1864.  He  came 
to  the  L^nited  States  when  he  was  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  located  in  Albany,  afterward  in 
Troy.  He  had  learned  his  trade  in  the  wool- 
len mills  at  home,  and  began  in  Troy  his  long 
and  successful  business  career  as  an  employee 


of  the  Troy  Woollen  Company.  He  was  con- 
nected with  this  corporation  for  a  period  of 
about  fifty  years,  becoming  a  partner  and  in 
full  charge  of  the  Troy  plant.  A  few  years 
before  his  death  he  sold  his  interest  and  re- 
tired. He  possessed  a  large  estate  and  was 
a  leading  citizen  of  the  city.  He  married 
Nancy  McNally,  born  May,  1816,  at  Auburn, 
New  York,  died  March  20.  1890,  at  Albia, 
New  York.  Children:  i.  Hugh  Fulton,  born 
June  13,  1835;  he  shipped  on  a  whaling  ves- 
sel bound  for  the  polar  seas,  and  was  never 
after  heard  from,  nor  was  the  ship  on  which 
he  sailed.     2.  Hannah  Delia,  born  October  8, 

;  married  Dr.  George  Billings,  of  Troy, 

New  York.  3.  Henry  Stearns,  see  forward. 
4.  William  John,  see  forward.  5.  Robert 
Brown,  born  January  2,  1842  ;  married  Maggie 
Walker.  6.  David  Molyneux,  born  May  16, 
1843;  married  Mary  Morrison:  child:  Fred 
Ranken,  the  well-known  dramatic  critic ;  nom 
de  plume,  "Ginger  Bread."  7.  Elizabeth  Jane, 
born  March  8,  1845  ;  married  J.  R.  Betts,  of 
New  York.  8.  Peter  B.,  born  February  6, 
1847;  ^  resident  of  Troy.  9.  Sarah  L.,  born 
November  20,  1848;  married  J.  McDowell, 
child  :  Lulu,  married  James  Van  Kuren.  10. 
Mary,  born  September  26,  1850;  married 
Martin  McLane. 

(II)  Henry  Stearns,  son  of  John  and 
Nancy  (McNally)  Ranken,  was  born  at  the 
Ranken  homestead,  Albia,  near  Troy,  New 
York,  May  26,  1836.  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  and  at  the  boarding  school 
at  Sand  Lake,  New  York.  After  an  initial 
business  e.xperience,  he  entered  into  a  partner- 
ship with  William  J.  Ranken,  and  his  uncle, 
Hugh  Ranken,  forming  the  firm  known  as  the 
Ranken  Manufacturing  Company,  of  Cohoes, 
New  York.  They  were  a  successful  cor- 
poration, and  for  over  thirty  years  Mr.  Ran- 
ken was  connected  with  the  manufacturing 
business  in  Cohoes,  and  the  wool  business  in 
Troy.  He  then  retired  to  the  Ranken  estate 
at  Albia,  of  which  he  is  manager.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  a 
Republican  in  politics.  He  married  (first) 
Eliza  Kerr  Wickes,  born  in  Sand  Lake,  New 
York,  died  in  Albia,  New  York.  He  married 
(second)  Victoria  Charlotte  Nanson,  born  in 
Buffalo,  New  York.  Child  of  first  wife: 
Jessie  Wickes,  married  Arthur  J.  Rockwood, 
and  has  Arthur  (2),  Jessica  and  Elizabeth 
Rockwood.  Children  of  second  wife :  Vic- 
toria Charlotte  and  Henry  Nanson. 

(II)  William  John,  son  of  John  and  Nancy 
(McNally)  Ranken,  was  born  at  Albia,  New 
York,  February  10,  1840.  He  was  in  busi- 
ness with  his  father,  then  in  connection  with 
his    brother,    Henry    Stearns    Ranken,    and 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


183 


uncle,  Hugh  Ranken,  he  formed  the  Ranken 
JManufacturingf  Company,  of  Cohoes,  New 
York,  where  they  carried  on  a  successful  busi- 
-ness  for  thirty  years.  He  was  a  man  of  in- 
fluence and  wealth,  closely  identified  with 
Tarious  business  interests.  He  married  Sylvia 
Jane  Bowen,  born  in  South  Adams,  Massa- 
chusetts, died  in  Troy,  July,  1905.  Chil- 
<lrcn  :  i.  Grace,  married  William  J.  Gurley.  2. 
Emma  G.  3.  William  John  (2),  of  Seattle, 
AVashington ;  married  Helen  Hastings ;  chil- 
•dren :  Paul  C.  and  Jack  Ranken.  4.  Thomas 
Bowen,  of  Toledo,  Ohio ;  married  Cora  Hill, 
of  Chicago.     5.  Herbert,  of  Troy. 


The  family  name  of  Rath- 
RATHBONE    bone   is   derived   from   the 
Saxon  language,  and  signi- 
fies an  early  gift. 

There  have  been  various  spellings  of  the 
name  in  this  country,  but  some  of  them  are 
by  mistake,  and  it  is  best  to  speak  only  of 
those  who,  belonging  to  the  same  family  by 
various  lines  of  descent,  have  adhered  to  def- 
inite forms.  It  is  declared,  with  good  author- 
"ity,  that  the  similar  naine  of  Rabone  (Rabun) 
was  of  the  same  origin,  as  was  also  Raws- 
bone  and  Rathbun.  In  "James  Savage's  Gen- 
'ealogical  Dictionary,"  prominent  mention  is 
made  of  George  Rabun,  and  in  "Belknap's 
History  of  New  Hampshire"  it  is  stated  that 
this  was  probably  a  mistake  for  Rathbone, 
who  was  in  Exeter  in  1639.  The  year  previ- 
ous he  had  sympathized  with  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Wheelwright,  a  man  of  considerable  learning, 
piety  and  position,  and  the  brother  of  Mrs. 
Anne  Hutchinson.  With  him,  Rabun,  or 
Tfathbone,  was  banished  from  Boston  for  de- 
fending his  religions  opinions.  Having  been 
deprived  of  his  privileges,  he  combined  with 
some  others  suffering  the  same  fate,  about 
thirty-five  in  all,  and  set  up  an  independent 
•government  at  Squamscot  Ealls,  New  Hamp- 
shire, naming  the  place  Exeter.  The  Rath- 
bone  arms  consist  of  a  shield  argent,  three 
doves  azure.  Crest :  A  dove  proper,  holding  an 
•olive  branch.     Motto:     Suaviter  et  fortiter. 

Regarding  the  origin  of  the  family  in 
America,  there  were  several  accounts  former- 
ly current.  It  was  asserted  that  this  family 
descended  from  Thomas  Rathbone,  who  came 
from  England  in  162 1.  A  second  statement 
is  to  the  effect  that  those  of  the  name  came 
from  John  Rathbone,  a  member  of  a  Liver- 
pool family  who  came  to  America  in  1625. 
Another  explanation  is  that  they  are  de- 
scended from  an  elder  brother  of  Colonel 
John  Rathbone,  who  was  an  officer  of  the 
■parliamentary  army  of  1658,  noted  for  his  de- 
motion   to   Republican   principles. 


The  earliest  authentic  records  point  to  the 
Rev.  William  Rathbone  as  the  first  of  the 
name  appearing  in  America,  and  allusion  is 
made  to  him  in  a  work  published  in  1637, 
which  item  was  reprinted  in  the  "Historical 
Collections  of  Massachusetts."  This  man  was 
an  author.  It  is  shown  that  his  doctrinal 
views  were  not  in  accord  with  the  members 
of  the  Massachusetts  colony,  and  it  is  believed 
that  he  and  likewise  his  descendants  were  not 
admitted  into  the  New  England  church,  with 
the  consequence  that  they  were  not  permitted 
to  participate  in  the  general  public  affairs. 

The  Rhode  Island  colonial  records  mention 
John  Rawsbone,  of  New  Shoreham,  as  one 
who  was  admitted  to  full  political  rights  as 
freeman,  on  May  4,  1664,  being  the  same  per- 
son whom  the  Block  Island  records  name  John 
Rathbone.  The  latter  was  one  of  those  who 
met  at  the  house  of  Dr.  Alcock  on  August 
17,  1660,  to  confer  regarding  the  purchase 
of  Block  Island,  and  was  one  of  the  original 
sixteen  purchasers  of  that  island  from  Gov- 
ernor Endicott  and  three  others,  to  whom  it 
had  been  granted  for  public  services,  hence 
he  will  long  continue  to  figure  in  the  coun- 
try's history. 

John  Rathbone  was  chosen  in  1676  one  of 
the  surveyors  of  highways.  He  occupied  a 
place  in  the  Rhode  Island  general  assembly, 
in  1682-83-84,  as  representative  from  Block 
Island.  He  was  one  of  the  petitioners  to  the 
King  of  Great  Britain  in  1686  in  reference  to 
the  "Quo  Warranto,"  and  was  one  of  the 
Rhode  Island  grand  jury  in  1688.  He  had 
an  interesting  experience  during  the  French 
and  Indian  wars  which  has  been  handed  down 
with  authenticity  as  family  history.  In  the  year 
1689,  in  the  month  of  July,  Mr.  Rathbone 
had  a  narrow  escape  from  the  French,  who 
had  come  in  three  vessels  and  were  then  pil- 
laging the  island.  They  inquired  of  some 
one  or  more  of  the  people  "who  were  the 
likeliest  among  them  to  have  money."  They 
told  them  of  John  Rathbone  as  the  most  like- 
ly. The  French  proceeded  to  capture  him, 
as  they  supposed,  and  demanded  of  him  his 
money.  The  captive  denied  having  any  but 
a  trifling  sum.  They  endeavored  to  make  him 
confess  that  he  had  more  and  to  deliver  it  to 
them  by  tying  him  up  and  whipping  him  bar- 
barously. While  they  were  doing  all  this  to 
an  innocent  man  whom  they  mistook  for  the 
monied  John  Rathbone,  the  latter  made  his 
escape  with  his  treasure.  They  had  mistaken 
the  son  for  the  father,  who  by  submitting  to 
this  cruelty  in  the  room  of  his  father  saved 
him  from  being  robbed. 

That  the  lives  of  the  early  Rathbones  who 
settled   on    Block    Island    were    fraught    with 


I 


i84 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


severe  hardship  and  ahnost  continuous  danger 
may  well  be  believed  from  all  accounts.  In 
his  history  of  Rhode  Island,  Arnold  makes 
this  reference :  "The  local  history  of  Block 
Island,  truthfully  written,  would  present  an 
interesting  study.  The  traditional  history  of 
the  aborigines  is  full  of  the  romance  of  war. 
Their  authentic  history  in  connection  with  the 
whites  abounds  in  stirring  incidents,  the  pe- 
cularities  of  the  Englsh  settlers  and  their  pos- 
terity, their  customs,  laws  and  domestic  in- 
stitutions are  among  the  most  singular  and 
interesting  developments  of  civihzed  life, 
while  the  martial  defense  of  a  people,  within 
and  around  whose  island  there  has  been  more 
hard  fighting  than  on  any  territory  of  equal 
extent  in  America,  and  where  the  horrors  of 
savage  and  of  civilized  warfare  have  alter- 
nately prevailed,  almost  without  cessation 
from  the  earliest  traditionary  period  down  to 
a  recent  date,  would  altogether  furnish  mater- 
ial for  a  thrilling  history  that  might  rival  the 
pages  of  a  romance.  The  dangers  of  the  sea 
and  the  sterner  perils  of  war  united  to  pro- 
duce a  race  of  men  whose  courage  and  hardi- 
hood cannot  be  surpassed.'  It  was  out  of  such 
material  that  naval  heroes  were  made."  Of 
this  character  were  the  men  and  women  also 
of  the  earlier  generations  of  the  Rathbone 
family. 

(I)  John  Rathbone,  of  Block  Island,  was 
born  about  1634,  died  there  between  Febru- 
ary 12,  1702,  the  day  on  which  he  signed  his 
will,  and  October  6,  1702,  the  date  on  which 
Simon  Ray,  warden,  took  oath  that  William 
Hancock,  Jr.,  James  Welch  and  Roger  Dick- 
ens appeared  before  him  to  testify  "that  they 
were  testimony  to  the  signing  and  sealing." 
It  is  an  interesting  family  document,  and  a 
portion  of  it  is  worth  citing.  "I  give  and  be- 
queath to  my  son  Samuel  Rathbone  the  table 
and  cubbard  which  stand  now  in  his  house  as 
for  are  lomes  (heirlooms?)  to  the  house,  and 
I  leave  my  wife  Margaret  Rathbone  my  exec- 
utri.x  of  all  my  movable  and  household  goods, 
houses  and  chatties,  cattle,  sheep  and  horse 
kind:  and  I  leave  (her?)  the  income  of  my 
house  at  Newport  for  her  lifetime,  and  at  her 
decease  the  westward  (end?)  of  my  house  at 
Newport,  and  the  leanto  of  that  end  so  far  as 
the  post  that  the  door  hangs  on,  and  the  shop 
to  be  left  for  my  son  John  Rathbone's  son 
John,  and  his  heirs  forever:  and  the  eastward 
end  of  said  house  and  the  rest  of  the  leanto 
to  be  left  for  my  son  William  Rathlione's  son 
John  and  his  heirs  forever,  and  the  yard  to 
be  equally  for  their  use.  And  I  leave  to 
my  wife  for  her  life-time  the  twenty  acres 
of  land  which  I  bought  of  Henry  Hall,  and 
the  running  of  two  cows  and  a  horse  and  the 


end  of  the  house  which  I  now  live  in ;  and 
I  leave  that  my  four  sons  shall  pay  to  my 
wife  during  her  life-time  forty  shillings  a 
piece  a  year.  *  *  *  And  I  leave  to  my 
wife  during  her  life-time  my  nigger  man, 
and  at  her  disposing,  and  at  her  decease 'to 
my  son  Thomas  Rathbone  for  three  3'ears,  and 
at  the  end  of  the  three  years,  to  give  him 
as  good  clothes  as  his  mistress  leaves  him,  and 
then  to  set  him  free."  It  may  be  said  in  this 
connection  that  the  family  lands  at  Newport 
greatly  increased  in  value,  as  did  the  estate 
situate  in  Block  Island,  and  while  he  gave 
evidence  of  abolition  tendencies  by  his  pro- 
vision for  his  negro,  he  did  not  care  to  put 
his  ideas  into  effect  wliile  he  yet  lived. 

John  Rathbone  married  JMargaret  Dodge. 
Children:     i.  William,  married,  December  18, 

1680,    Sarah    .      2.    Thomas,    married, 

April  21,  1685,  Mary  Dickens.  3.  John,  see 
forward.  4.  Joseph,  married.  May  19.  1691, 
Mary  Mosher.  5.  Samuel,  married,  Novem- 
ber 3,  1692,  Patience  T.  Coggeshall;  died 
January  24,  1757.  6.  Sarah,  born  June  10, 
1659;  married  (first)  December  20,  1678, 
Samuel  George:  married  (second)  September 
I.  1 7 ID,  John  Ball.  7.  Margaret.  8.  Eliz- 
abeth. 

(II)  John  (2),  son  of  John  (i)  and  Mar- 
garet (Dodge,)  Rathbone,  was  born  in  Rox- 
bury,  Massachusetts,  in  1658.  He  was  ad- 
mitted a  freeman  by  the  assembly  of  Rhode 
Island,  May  5,  1696.  He  received  from  his 
father,  just  previous  to  his  marriage,  a  deed 
for  sixty  acres  of  land  on  Block  Island,  the 
nominal  consideration  for  which  was  "one 
barrel  of  pork  on  demand."  It  may  be  con- 
cluded that  this  farm  was  therefore  a  wedding 
present  or  settlement.  It  is  known  that  the 
father,  some  years  before  his  death,  settled 
his  sons  on  farms  on  the  island  where  he 
lived,  and  entertained  great  hopes  that  his  de- 
scendants would  forever  dwell  there.  Their 
grandchildren,  however,  scattered,  leaving" 
Samuel  Rathbone's  descendants  the  only  one 
of  the  name  on  that  island.  The  original  set- 
tler's grandson,  Jonathan,  son  of  John  Rath- 
bone, Jr..  removed  to  Colchester,  Connecticut, 
and  is  the  ancestor  of  the  Rathbones  of  Al- 
bany, New  York,  as  well  as  those  of  Otsego 
county,  New  York.  Joshua,  another  son  of 
John,  Jr.,  settled  at  Stonington.  Connecticut, 
and  is  the  ancestor  of  the  Rathbones  of  New 
York  City.  Other  sons  of  the  same,  John, 
Benjamin,  Nathaniel  and  Thomas,  settled  in 
Exeter,  Rhode  Island.  Elijah,  son  of  Samuel, 
settled  in  Groton,  Connecticut,  and  in  this 
way  the  family  spread  to  various  sections  of 
the  country,  while  very  few  represented  the 
old  stock  at  the  place  of  original  settlement. 


HUDSON  AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


On  December  13.  1698,  "Great  James"  and 
Jane,  his  wife,  two  Indians,  bound  their 
daughter,  Betsey,  to  John  Rathbone,  Jr.,  and 
his  wife,  as  an  indented  servant  for  eighteen 
years,  the  consideration  being  only  one  gallon 
of  rum  and  one  blanket  in  hand,  and  five  years 
after  one  gallon  of  rum,  and  yearly  thereafter, 
and  if  she  remained  five  years,  then  the  said 
Rathbone  was  to  pay  four  blankets  and  one 
every  third  year  thereafter.  John  Rathbone, 
married,  January  10,  1688,  Ann  Dodge.  Chil- 
dren:  I.  Mary,  born  October  3,  1688.  2. 
Jonathan,  see  forward  .  3.  John,  born  De- 
cember 23,  1693;  married,  December  20,  1720, 
Patience  Fish.  4.  Joshua,  born  February  9, 
1696;  married,  February  16,  1724,  ]\lary 
Wightman.  5.  Benjamin,  born  February  11, 
1701.  6.  Annah,  born  August  9,  1703.  7. 
Nathaniel,  born  February  6,  1708.  8.  Thom- 
as, born  March  2,  1709. 

(Ill)  Jonathan,  son  of  John  (2)  and  Ann 
(Dodge)  Rathbone,  was  born  May  22,  1691, 
died  April  i.  1766.  Possessing  the  same  sort 
of  pioneering  spirit  which  had  so  largely  char- 
acterized many  of  his  ancestors,  while  still  a 
young  man  he  set  out  for  other  parts,  remov- 
ing previous  to  17 15  to  that  part  of  Xew  Lon- 
don county  in  Connecticut  formerly  known  as 
Colchester,  later  the  town  of  Salem.  Here 
he  purchased  a  tract  of  land  from  the  Mohe- 
gan  Indians,  on  which  he  settled,  and  a  por- 
tion of  this  estate  has  continued  uninterrupt- 
edly in  the  possession  of  his  descendants  of 
the  same  name  for  two  centuries.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  church  there  in  1726. 

He  married   Elizabeth  .   Children :  John, 

born  January  i,  I7i5,died  November  27,1755; 
married,  March  30.  1737,  Anna  Tennant.  2. 
Benjamin,  married,  November  11,  1742,  Mary 
Cohoon.  3.  Jonathan,  married,  November  8, 
1744,  Abigail  Avery.  4.  Joshua,  see  forward. 
5.  Isaiah,  born  September  7,  1723;  married. 
May  9,  1764,  Fanny  Lamphear.  6.  Joseph.  7. 
Elizabeth.     Probably  others. 

(I\')  Joshua,  son  of  Jonathan  and  Eliza- 
beth Rathbone^  was  born  September  7,  1723, 
being  twin  brother  of  Isaiah.  It  is  said  that 
"he  was  a  godly,  truth-seeking  man,"  and 
was  always  known  as  "Deacon  Rathbone." 
He  married,  December  4,  1745,  Sarah  Ten- 
nant. Children:  i.  Elizabeth,  born  June  9, 
1747.  2.  Tabitha,  born  August  4,  1749 ;  mar- 
ried (first)  Treadway;  children:  Sa- 
rah   and     Mary;     married     (second)      1806, 

Holmes ;  child,    Clarissa.     3.   Joshua, 

born  May  7,  1751  ;  married  Eunice  Martin.  4. 
Sarah,  born    November    23,     1752 ;    married 

Chamberlain ;    removed    to    Richfield 

Springs,  New  York.  5.  Moses,  born  Novem- 
ber   12,    1754;    married    Olive    Ransom.      6. 


Samuel,  see  forward.    7.  Anna,  born  Septem- 
ber 12,  1758;  married  Holmes. 

(V)  Samuel,  son  of  Joshua  and  Sarah 
(Tennant)  Rathbone,  was  born  September  12, 
1758,  and  was  twin  brother  to  Anna.  He 
died  at  Colchester,  Connecticut,  February  16, 
183 1.  His  life  had  been  spent  on  a  farm  of 
several  hundred  acres  which  had  been  be- 
queathed to  him  by  his  father.  He  married 
Lydia,  daughter  of  Simon  and  Lydia 
(Brown)  Sparhawk,  March  i,  1785.  She  died 
July  13,  1825,  aged  si.xty  years.  Children: 
I.  Samuel,  born  August  8,  1786,  died  October 
9,  1787.  2.  Valentine  Wightman,  born  Sep- 
tember 13,  1788,  died  May  18,  1833;  married,, 
in  1814,  Nancy  Forsyth.  3.  Jared  Lewis,  Sa- 
lem, Connecticut,  born  October  2,  1791 ;  a 
successful  merchant  of  Albany,  New  York, 
who  for  several  years  was  elected  to  the  com- 
mon council  and  was  thrice  called  to  fill  the 
position  of  mayor  of  the  Capital  City,  being 
the  last  mayor  chosen  by  the  council,  and 
the  first  elected  by  the  vote  of  the  people. 
He  assumed  that  office  first  as  the  forty-first 
mayor,  January  24.  1839,  and  the  third  time, 
on  election  by  popular  vote,  on  May  12,  1840, 
at  which  time  only  four  thousand  five  hundred 
and  eighty-eight  votes  were  cast  at  that  impor- 
tant municipal  election ;  he  resided  at  No.  28 
Eagle  street,  corner  of  State  street,  Albany; 
married,  June  26,  1834,  Pauline  Noyes, 
daughter  of  Joel  Penney,  of  Buffalo,  New 
York  ;  children  :  Charles,  Henry  R.,  Anna  Pau- 
line and  Jared  Lawrence.  4.  Lydia.  born  March 
21,  1794,  died  August  7,  1873:  married,  No- 
vember 17,  1819,  William  W.  Reed.  5.  Sam- 
uel, born  November  6.  1796,  died  unmarried 
October  17,  1818.  6.  Sabria  Lewis,  born  July 
3'  1799;  married,  February  10,  1818,  Clark 
Ransom.  7.  Anna,  Iwrn  November  6,  1803; 
died  November  12,  1865  ;  married  David  Jew- 
ett,   no   children.     8.   Joel,   see    forward. 

(VI)  Joel,  son  of  Samuel  and  Lydia 
(Sparhawk)  Rathbone,  was  born  in  Salem, 
Connecticut,  August  3,  1806,  died  in  Paris, 
France,  Sunday,  September  13.  1863.  He 
came  to  Albany,  New  York,  to  reside  in  the  • 
fall  of  1822,  as  a  clerk  to  his  brother,  Val- 
entine \^'.  Rathbone,  who  then  kept  a  whole- 
sale grocery  store  on  the  corner  of  Hudson 
avenue  and  Quay  street,  then  the  busiest  sec- 
tion of  the  city.  Two  years  later  he  became 
associated  with  him  in  business.  In  1827,  as 
one  of  the  firm  of  Hermans,  Rathbone  & 
Company,  he  commenced  the  wholesale  stove 
business.  By  reason  of  certain  modifications 
and  improvements  in  the  patterns  of  stoves 
made  under  his  direction,  he  secured  a  very 
large  and  lucrative  business,  which  became 
known  all  over  the  country,  and  doubtless  was 


i86 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   \'ALLEYS 


the  most  important  concern  of  the  kind  then 
in  America,  and  destined  to  make  the  name 
■of  Rathbone  known  for  the  century  or  more. 
Following  the  death  of  Mr.  Hermans,  in  1829, 
Mr.  Rathbone  succeeded  to  the  entire  busi- 
ness, which  he  continued  in  his  own  name 
until  1841,  when  at  the  early  age  of  thirty- 
five  years,  with  a  well-earned  fortune,  he 
retired  from  active  mercantile  pursuits  to  the 
enjoyment  of  country  life.  He  purchased  a 
large  estate  bordering  the  southern  end  of 
Albany,  which  he  laid  out  and  made  beautiful, 
and  "Kenwood"  became  his  residence  for  a 
number  of  years.  Although  he  had  retired 
from  business  cares  so  early,  he  was  still  con- 
nected with  many  of  the  public  enterprises  of 
Albany,  being  vice-president  of  the  New  York 
State  Bank,  the  oldest  institution  in  the  city, 
president  of  the  Exchange  Company,  doing 
"business  where  the  Federal  Building  was  lo- 
cated in  1910,  and  an  active  co-operator  in 
and  a  generous  contributor  to  most  of  the 
"benevolent  enterprises  of  Albany.  He  was 
"known  as  a  conscientious  and  consistent 
Christian,  a  gentleman  of  unusual  taste  and 
refinement.  He  married.  May  5,  1829,  when 
twenty-two  years  of  age,  Emeline  Weld, 
daughter  of  Lewis  and  Louisa  (Weld)  Munn, 
and  she  died  in  Newport,  Rhode  Island,  Au- 
•gust  25,  1874.  Her  father,  Lewis  Munn,  was 
born  December  14,  1784,  died  July  8,  1810. 
Her  mother,  Louisa  Weld,  was  born  April  i, 
1791,  died  December  6.  1808.  Children:  i. 
Jared  Lewis,  born  April  23,  1830,  died  Au- 
•gust  20,  1 83 1.  2.  Erastus  Corning,  born  Jan- 
uary I,  1832,  died  February  2,  1832.  3.  Joel 
Howard,  born  June  11,  1835,  died  single, 
March  29,  1865.  4.  Sarah,  born  December 
5,  1837;  married,  November  19,  1863,  Gen- 
•eral  Frederick  Townsend,  born  in  Albany, 
September  21,  1825;  graduate  of  Union  Col- 
lege, 1844;  admitted  to  practice  1849;  adju- 
tant-general of  New  York  state,  1857-61  ; 
raised  and  commanded  the  Third  Regiment, 
New  York  Volunteers,  May,  1861 ;  brevetted 
l)rigadier-general,  and  resigned  from  army, 
1868:  appointed  adjutant-general  by  Gover- 
nor Cornell  in  1880,  serving  until  January  i, 
1883,  and  died  at  Albany.  She  died,  Albany, 
March  13,  1910.  Children:  Annie  Martin 
Townsend,  born  in  Paris,  November  i,  1866; 
Sarah  Rathbone  Townsend,  born  March  23, 
1869,  in  Albany;  Frederick  Townsend,  born 
October  28,  1871  ;  Joel  Rathbone  Town- 
send,  born  October  13,  1879,  died  October  15, 
1879.  5.  Albert,  born  May  27,  1841,  died 
single,  December  10,  1865.  6.  Clarence,  .see 
forward.  7.  Edward  Weld,  born  October  20, 
^1848,  died  July  30,  1849. 

(VH)  Clarence,  son  of  Joel  and  Emeline 


Weld  (Munn)  Rathbone,  was  born  on  his 
father's  handsome  estate,  "Kenwood,"  on  the 
southern  outskirts  of  Albany,  New  York,  No- 
vember 17,  1844.  He  received  his  education 
at  Farmington,  Connecticut,  and  at  Charlier's 
French  Institute  in  New  York  City.  He 
entered  the  Naval  Academy,  then  located  at 
Newport,  Rhode  Island,  in  September,  1861, 
and  was  graduated  the  fifth  in  his  class  of 
1863,  having  successfully  undertaken  the 
three-year  course  in  the  space  of  two  years. 
He  received  his  commission  as  an  ensign  in 
the  United  States  Navy,  and  was  ordered  to 
the  "Niagara"  in  the  fall  of  1863,  and  was 
then  on  duty  at  Newport.  In  June,  1864,  he 
was  ordered  to  New  Orleans,  where  he  was 
given  duty  in  the  squadron  of  Admiral  Farra- 
gut.  He  served  during  the  latter  part  of  the 
war  of  the  rebellion,  taking  part  in  the  cele- 
brated battle  of  Mobile  Bay,  where  he  was 
wounded  slightly.  Subsequently  he  served 
on  blockade  duty  oflf  Galveston,  Texas.  At 
the  termination  of  the  civil  war,  he  returned 
to  New  York.  June,  1865,  and  shortly  there- 
after resigned  his  commission  on  account  of 
his  being  left  the  only  son  of  his  widowed 
mother  upon  the  death  of  his  brothers,  Joel 
Howard  and  Albert,  which  had  occurred  in 
1865.  For  several  years  following  this  per- 
iod of  his  life,  he  was  the  head  of  a  large 
manufactory  of  stoves  but  while  still  in  the 
prime  of  life  retired  from  active  business 
concerns.  He  is  a  trustee  of  the  Albany  Sav- 
ings Bank,  and  trustee  of  Albany  Medical 
College,  and  the  Dudley  Observatory.  When 
first  married  he  resided  at  No.  5  Elk  street, 
his  handsome  residence  fronting  on  the  Acad- 
emy Park,  and  later  removed  to  his  present 
spacious  home  nearer  the  city  outskirts.  No. 
576  Western  avenue.  He  is  an  Episcopalian, 
and  in  politics  a  Democrat.  He  is  a  past  mas- 
ter of  Masters  Lodge.  No.  5,  P'ree  and  .Ac- 
cepted Masons.  Mr.  Rathbone  is  a  member 
of  the  following  clubs :  Army  and  Navy  and 
Manhattan  of  New  York,  the  Loyal  Legion 
of  America  and  Graduates  Association  of  the 
United  States  Naval  Academy. 

Clarence  Rathbone  married,  at  Albany, 
New  York,  September  11,  1866,  Angelica 
Bogart  Talcott,  born  at  Albany,  February  24, 
1846.  Her  father  was  Sebastian  \'isscher 
Talcott,  son  of  George  and  Angelica  (Bo- 
gart) Talcott.  He  was  born  in  New  York 
City,  November  24,  1812,  and  died  at  his  res- 
idence. No.  748  Broadway,  Albany,  Novem- 
ber 10,  1888.  He  attended  Yale,  and  became 
a  civil  engineer,  doing  considerable  excellent 
work  in  the  survey  of  the  boundary  line  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  Canada,  and 
also  in  the  improvement  of  navigation  in  the 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


187 


]  kulson  river  near  Albany,  which  work  has 
endured  as  a  specimen  of  the  best  construc- 
tion of  its  nature  along  the  length  of  the  en- 
tire river.  He  was  appointed  quarter-master 
by  Governor  Horatio  Seymour,  in  1862,  with 
the  rank  of  brigadier-general.  Mr.  Talcott 
has  left  an  enduring  memorial  of  himself  in 
several  volumes  of  genealogies  which  he  pre- 
pared with  indefatigable  labor,  notably  his 
"Genealogical  Notes  of  New  York  and  New 
England  Families,"  published  by  him  in 
1883.  Her  mother  was  Olivia  Maria  (Shear- 
man) Talcott,  who  married  S.  V.  Talcott, 
November  23,  1843.  She  was  born  in  Utica, 
New  York,  October  14,  1823,  and  died  in  Al- 
bany. January  29,  1888.  She  was  the  only 
child  of  Robert  Shearman,  son  of  Robert  and 
Honor  (Brown)  Shearman,  who  was  born  at 
South  Kingston,  Rhode  Island,  September 
10,  1790,  died  at  Westmoreland,  New  York, 
September  6,  1838 ;  and  Anna  Maria  Sher- 
man, daughter  of  Watts  and  Olivia  (Gillson) 
Sherman,  who  was  born  September  17,  1800, 
died  at  St.  .Augustine,  Florida,  March  9, 
1825.  Children:  i.  Albert,  see  forward.  2. 
Joel,  see  forward.  3.  Angelica  Talcott,  see 
forward.     4.   Ethel,    see   forward. 

(Vni)  Albert,  son  of  Clarence  and  Angel- 
ica Bogart  (Talcott)  Rathbone,  was  born  at 
Albany,  July  27,  1868,  and  in  1910  was  a  resi- 
dent of  New  York  City.  He  received  his 
early  education  by  attending  the  Albany  Acad- 
emy for  about  ten  years,  and  then  entered 
Williams  College,  where  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Alpha  Delta  Phi  fraternity.  He  com- 
menced the  study  of  law,  graduating  from 
the  Albany  Law  School.  After  practicing  a 
few  years  in  his  native  city,  in  the  firm  of 
Tracy,  Cooper  &  Rathbone,  he  removed  to 
New  York,  where  he  is  a  member  of  the 
prominent  firm  of  Joline  Larkin  &  Rathbone. 
He  married,  at  Albany,  April  14,  1891,  Emma 
Marvin,  daughter  of  Thomas  Worth  and  Em- 
ma (McClure)  Olcott.  Children:  1.  Grace 
Olcott,  born  in  New  York  City,  December 
9,  1894.  2.  Anna  Talcott,  born  August  14, 
1897. 

(Vni)  Joel,  son  of  Clarence  and  Angelica 
Bogart  (Talcott)  Rathbone,  was  born  in 
Newport,  Rhode  Island,  the  summer  home 
of  his  parents,  September  12,  1869.  He  was 
educated  at  the  .Albany  Academy.  He  entered 
the  employ'  of  the  National  Commercial  Bank 
of  .Albany,  and  afterwards  was  the  treasurer 
of  the  Albany  Railway  Company.  In  1895 
he  left  for  New  York  City,  where  he  is  first 
vice-president  of  National  Security  Company. 
He  married,  in  New  York  City,  October  4, 
1894,  Josephine,  daughter  of  Carlisle  and 
Ethel  Josephine  (Hanbury)  Norwood.   Child: 


Carlisle  Norwood,  born  in  Saratoga  Springs, 
July  26,    1895. 

(VIII)  Angelica  Talcott,  daughter  of  Clar- 
ence and  Angelica  Bogart  (Talcott)  Rath- 
bone, was  born  in  .Albany,  New  York,  March 

13,  187 1.  She  received  her  education  at  St. 
Agnes'  school  in  her  native  city.  She  mar- 
ried, in  New  York  city,  December  25,  1899, 
Dr.  Charles  Russell  Lowell  Putnam,  of  Bos- 
ton, Massachusetts,  who  is  now  practicing 
medicine  in  New  York  City.  Child :  Patrick 
Traccy  Lowell  Putnam,  born  in  New  York 
City,  September  15,  1904. 

(VIII)  Ethel,  daughter  of  Clarence  and 
.Angelica  Bogart  (Talcott)  Rathbone,  was 
born  in  Albany,  New  York,  December  11, 
1877.     She  married,  in  Paris,  France.  March 

14,  1907,  Jean  Marty,  son  of  Jean  Marty,  of 
Carcassonne,  France,  and  his  wife,  Marie 
Claudine  (Chaumien,)  Marty,  of  Alligny  en 
Moreau,  France. 


The  family  name  of  Griffith 
GRIFFITH     is    derived    from    the    Welsh 
and  Cornish  British,  and  sig- 
nifies one  who  has  strong  faith  ;  from  "cryf," 
Welsh  for  strong,  and  "ffyd,"  meaning  faith. 
The    Griffith   .Arms :     Shield :   Gules,    three 
lioncels  passant   in  pale  argent  armed   gules. 
Motto:    Virtus   omnia   nobilitat. 

(I)  William  Griffith  came  to  .America 
from  Cardigan,  Wales,  in  173 1,  and  was  one 
of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Oneida  county.  New 
A'ork.  The  line  of  his  descent  leads  to  Lle- 
wellyn, last  King  of  Wales,  beheaded  by  the 
English  in  1282,  and  to  Griffith,  his  son,  also 
King  of  Wales.  His  participation  in  the  rev- 
olution as  a  soldier  is  established.  His  wife, 
Ruth  Griffith,  born  in  England,  accompanied 
him  to  .America. 

(II)  Major  Joshua,  son  of  William  and 
Ruth  Griffith,  was  born  February  8,  1763, 
died  April  10,  1830.  He  lived  at  Nassau, 
Rensselaer  county.  New  York.  He  was  a  par- 
ticipant in  many  of  the  actions  in  the  war  of 
1812.  His  militia  commission  as  a  captain 
in  Lieutenant-Colonel  Nicholas  Staat's  regi- 
ment, dated  March  30,  1803,  also  his  commis- 
sion, dated  April  10,  181 1,  as  a  major  in  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Cornelius  J.  Schermerhorn's 
regiment,  Rensselaer  county  militia,  can  be 
seen  in  tlie  office  of  the  secretary  of  state 
at  the  capitol,  Albany,  in  "Minutes  of  Coun- 
cil of  Appointment  (Militia),"  Book  E,  pp. 
107  and  444:  also,  in  "History  of  Rensselaer 
County,  N.  Y.,"  page  71,  under  heading  "43rd 
Regt.,  Field  and  Staff."  Just  as  the  war  of 
1812  opened,  he  was  visiting  his  father  in 
Central  New  York,  and  was  mustered  into 
Colonel  Mead's  Seventeenth  New  York  state 


i88 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


detached  militia  regiment,  Captain  Daniel 
Root's  company,  as  a  private,  and  performed 
active  service  in  that  capacity.  After  the  war 
he  returned  to  Nassau,  where  he  died,  his 
wife,  Ruth  (Paine)  Griffith,  surviving  him. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Smith  Paine,  and  sixth 
in  descent  from  Stephen  Paine,  of  Rehoboth, 
jNIassachusetts,  who  was  one  of  the  principal 
subscribers  to  King  Philip's  war,  and  a  de- 
scendant of  Hugh  de  Payen.  Their  son  was 
given  the  name  of  her  father,  becoming  Smith 
Griffith. 

(HI)  Smith,  son  of  Major  Joshua  and 
Ruth  (Paine)  Griffith,  was  born  at  Nassau, 
Rensselaer  county.  New  York,  April  20.  1793, 
died  of  old  age  and  general  decline,  February 
22,  1878.  He  occupied  nearly  all  the  official 
positions  in  the  gift  of  the  town,  was  an 
elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church  of  his  native 
town,  and  gained  renown  as  a  prominent 
Abolitionist  in  civil  war  times.  During  the 
anti-slavery  agitation  he  helped  to  carry  on 
the  famous  "Underground  Railroad,"  as  the 
secret  method  for  liberating  the  slaves  was 
styled,  and  by  his  instrumentality  many  of  the 
colored  race  escaped  to  Canada.  In  a  number 
of  ways  he  helped  to  improve  Nassau,  and 
worked  actively  to  increase  its  prosperity. 
Smith  Griffith  married  (first)  Lemira  Her- 
rick,  born  April  30,  1793,  died  November  15, 
1859,  daughter  of  John  and  Nancy  (Piatt) 
Herrick,  and  she  was  second  in  lineal  descent 
from  Colonel  Rufus  Herrick,  of  the  New 
York  continental  line  in  revolutionary  war ; 
seventh  in  lineal  descent  from  Sir  William 
Herrick,  of  London,  Leicester  and  Beau  Man- 
or Park  (one  of  the  most  distinguished  cour- 
tiers at  the  Court  of  Elizabeth)  ;  and  eigh- 
teenth in  lineal  descent  from  Eric,  King  of 
Denmark.  She  made  use  of  the  arms  granted 
to  Sir  William  Herrick  by  Queen  Elizabeth, 
and  which  are  registered  in  the  Herald's  Col- 
lege, viz. :  "Argent ;  a  fesse  vaire  or  and  gules. 
Crest :  A  bull's  head,  couped  argent,  horned 
erased  sable  and  gorged  with  a  chaplet  of 
roses  proper.  Motto:  Yirtus  omnia  nobili- 
tat."  Her  mother's  father  was  Captain  Israel 
Piatt,  of  the  New  York  line  in  the  revolu- 
tion, who  was  a  grandson  of  Major  Epenetus 
Piatt,  of  colonial  times.  She  was  also  fifth 
in  lineal  descent  from  Captain  John  Stanton 
of  the  colonies,  and  sixth  from  Thomas  Stan- 
ton, interpreter-general  to  the  colonics  and 
assistant  to  Governor  Winthrop ;  sixth  in  de- 
scent also  from  Captain  John,  and  the  seventh 
from  Captain  George  Denison,  a  noted  leader 
in  King  Philip's  war,  and  seventh  also  in  de- 
scent from  Captain  James  Avery  of  the  same 
w-ar.  By  this  marriage  Smith  Griffith  had 
two  children,  Edwin  Henry  and  Mary.   Some 


years  after  the  death  of  his  wife,  he  married5l 
the  widow  of  Chester  Griswold,  of  Troy,. 
New  York ;  no  children  by  that  marriage. 

(I\')   Edwin  Henry,  son  of  Smith  and  Le- 
mira (Herrick)  Griffith,  was  born  at  Nassau,. 
Rensselaer   county.  New   York,   December   i,. 
1830,    died   at   Albany,   New   York,   May    16,- 
1875.     He   received   his   early   education   and 
was  prepared  for  college  at  the  Nassau  Acad- 
emy, following  which  course  he  entered  Ober- 
lin  College,  Ohio,  and  shortly  left  it  for  Yale, 
where  he  was  acknowledged  to  be  one  of  the 
brightest  men  in  his  class,  and  was  affiliated 
there  with  the  Kappa  Sigma  Theta  fraternity. 
Hardly  had  he  left  college  when  he  married, 
and  immediately  embarked  in  the  milling  bus- 
iness  at    Nassau.      By   close   application   and 
judicious  management,    he    soon    built   up    a 
prosperous  business,  principally  in  the  sale  of 
rye  flour  and  feed,  which  he  shipped  to  large 
firms  in  New  York  city  and  other  places.     He 
sold  his  mills  in  1864,  and  removed  to  Castle- 
ton,    New    York,    where    he    established    the 
banking  business  of  the  place,   founding  the 
National   Bank   of   Castleton,   with   which   he 
was  officially   connected   as   cashier   until   the 
failure  of  his   health   in    1874.      While   there 
he  was  prominently  identified  with  the  busi- 
ness and  religious  interests  of  the  place,  and 
was  actively  concerned  in  all  public  improve- 
ments.    He  was  an  officer  of  the  Dutch  Re- 
formed church,  and  the  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday   school.     About  two  years  before  he 
left  Castleton,  a  severe  attack  of  pleurisy  left 
him  with  a  cough  which  later  developed  into 
consumption,  and  desiring  to  test  the  climate 
of  California  and  Colorado,  he  resigned  from 
his  office  at  the  bank  and  started  for  the  west 
in  October.   1874,  stopping  for  the  winter  in 
Denver.     The    result   was   not    a   change   for 
the  better,  for  his  health   failed   rapidly,  and 
after  the  death  of  his  only  daughter.  Grace,  it 
was  decided  that  he  could  not  stand  the  clim- 
ate and  he  returned  to  Albany  with  his  family 
in   the   spring  of   1875,   where   he   died    May 
i6th.     He  was  universally  esteemed,  and  dur- 
ing  his    successful   career   made   and    kept    a 
great  number  of  friends,   who  regarded   him 
highly   because  of  his   sterling  integritv   and 
Christian  character,  which  never  allowed  him 
to   waver    in    his    duty.      Edwin    H.    Griffith 
married,    at    Nassau,    New    York,    Septeml)cr 
29,    1852,   Mary   Louisa,  daughter  of  George 
Washington  and  Sybil  .Anne  (Rowe)   Knowl- 
ton,   born   in   Greenbush,   New   York,   March 
26,   1833.     Children:     i.  Edwin  Henry,  born 
January  23,  1855,  died  at  Nassau,  New  York, 
July  24,  1864.     2.  George  Smith,  October  26, 
1857,  died  at  Albany,  New  York,  October  8, 
1876.    3.  William  Herrick,  January  27,  1866, 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


•see  forward.     4.  Grace,  April  25,  1870,  died 
:at  Denver,  Colorado,  February  6,  1875. 

(\')  William  Herrick,  son  of  Edwin  Hen- 
ry and  ;\Iary  Louisa  (Knowlton)  Griffith, 
was  born  at  Castleton,  Rensselaer  county, 
"New  York,  January  27,  1866,  named  for  Sir 
William  Herrick,  of  London,  Leicester  and 
Beau  IManor  Park,  from  whom  he  is  ninth  in 
lineal  descent.  On  his  father's  side  he  is 
linealh-  descended  from  the  New  England  and 
Colonial  families  of  Herrick,  Paine,  Smith, 
Perrin,  Trask,  Leonard,  Avery,  Denison, 
Stanton,  Starkweather,  Lord,  Thompson, 
Peck,  Chickering.  Cross,  Lay,  and  the  Platts 
and  Scudders  of  Long  Island.  Of  these  the 
Paines,  Perrins,  Herricks,  Averys,  Denisons, 
Stantons,  Lords,  Pecks  and  Platts  were  enti- 
tled to  and  made  use  of  coats-of-arms.  Mr. 
Griffith  received  his  primary  education  at 
"Jane  Coley's  Private  School  for  Boys"  at  Al- 
bany. He  was  partly  prepared  for  college  at 
the  Albany  Academy  and  advanced  by  the  pri- 
vate tuition  of  Rev.  Charles  H.  W.  Stocking, 
D.D.  He  entered  Yale  in  1886,  but  ill  health 
prevented  completion  of  the  course,  and  he 
then  traveled  with  Dr.  Stocking  through  Eng- 
land, Scotland,  Germany,  Holland,  Belgium, 
Austria,  France,  Italy  and  Switzerland,  mak- 
ing his  sojourn  in  these  countries  an  educa- 
tional one,  to  a  great  extent,  and  studying 
the  archaeology,  life  and  customs  of  the  va- 
rious places,  which  brought  about  his  contri- 
butions to  various  American  periodicals  while 
he  was  abroad. 

On  returning  from  Europe,  Mr.  Griffith  ac- 
cepted a  position  in  the  First  National  Bank, 
of  Albany,  and  after  some  years  resigned  to 
embark  for  himself  in  the  insurance  business, 
his  offices  in  igio  being  in  the  Tweddle  Build- 
ing, Albany,  New  York,  and  his  residence 
No.  445  State  street.  He  was  probably  the 
first  to  attempt  organizing  the  members  of 
his  family  on  the  maternal  side  into  the 
Knowlton  Association  of  America.  This  was 
due  to  the  fondness  he  had  always  had  for  all 
matters  appertaining  to  genealogy,  history 
and  patriotic  hereditary  orders,  and  it  was 
natural  that  he  was  chosen  its  secretary  and 
treasurer.  He  possesses  many  heirlooms  and 
relics,  chief  among  which  he  prizes  the  mus- 
ket carried  by  his  great-great-grandfather. 
Lieutenant  Daniel  Knowlton,  while  a  private 
and  sergeant  in  the  old  French  war ;  some 
revolutionary  scrip  with  which  he  was  paid 
off,  and  a  few  of  his  old  books.  Credit  is 
due  to  him  for  his  activity  in  the  interest  of 
Philip  Livingston  Chapter,  Sons  of  the  Rev- 
■olution,  of  which  he  was  treasurer  in  1896, 
secretary  in  1897-98,  vice-regent  in  1899  and 
regent  in  1900-01. 


Mr.  Griffith  can  count  twenty-five  ances- 
tors vi'ho  performed  illustrious  military  and 
civil  services  in  the  colonies  previous  to  1775 ; 
six  ancestors  who  were  officers  in  the  con- 
tinental army  during  the  revolution,  and  two 
who  rendered  service  in  the  war  of  1812.  This 
unusually  favorable  condition  renders  him 
eligible  to  nearly  all  of  the  patriotic  hereditary 
orders,  and  he  has  joined  nearly  every  one. 
He  holds  membership  in  the  "Sons  of  the 
Revolution"  in  right  of  services  of  and  lineal 
descent  from:  Colonel  Rufus  Herrick,  Ma- 
jor Robert  Freeman,  Captain  Israel  Piatt, 
Lieutenant  Daniel  Knowlton,  William  and 
Joshua  Griffith,  Ensign  W'illiam  Peters,  Pri- 
vates Nicholas  and  Garrett  Ro\y.  In  the  So- 
ciety of  "Colonial  Wars"  he  represents :  Gov- 
ernor Robert  Treat,  Hon.  Richard  Treat, 
Stephen  Hopkins  of  the  "Mayflower" ;  eight 
in  King  Philip's  war.  General  Constant  South- 
worth,  Captain  George  Denison,  Captain  John 
Denison,  Major  Epenetus  Piatt,  Captain 
James  Avery,  Capttain  John  Stanton,  Captain 
Edward  Bangs,  Deacon  John  Doane,  Sergeant 
Daniel  Knowlton,  Stephen  Paine,  Thomas 
Stanton,  Nicholas  Snow,  Samuel  Mayo,  Wil- 
liam Lumpkin,  William  Collier,  Joseph  Ford, 
Bozoan  Allen,  John  Pinder,  Samuel  Leonard 
and  Stephen  Herrick.  In  the  "Society  of 
Mayflower  Descendants"  he  represents : 
Stephen  Hopkins.  In  the  "Order  of  Found- 
ers and  Patriots"  he  represents:  John 
Knowlton  (1639)  and  Lieutenant  Daniel 
Knowlton  (1738-1825).  In  the  "Society  of 
W^ar  of  1812,"  he  represents:  i\Iajor  Joshua 
Griffith.  In  the  "Order  of  the  Old  Guard 
of  Illinois"  he  represents  Colonel  Rufus  Her- 
rick. Captain  George  Denison  and  ]\Iajor  Jos- 
hua Griffith.  He  was  chosen  registrar-gener- 
al and  genealogist  of  the  "Ancient  Heraldic 
and  Chivalric  Order  of  Albion,"  founded  by 
Sir  Edmund  Plowden  in  1640,  and  holds 
membership  in  the  New  England  Historical 
Genealogical  Society,  Baronial  Order  of  Run- 
nymede.  Order  of  Colonial  Governors,  the 
New  York  State  Historical  Association,  Old 
Northwest  Genealogical  Society,  and  is  a 
thirty-second  degree  Mason,  being  a  member 
of  Masters  Lodge,  No.  5,  Free  and  .Accepted 
Masons,  and  of  Albany  Sovereign  Consistorv, 
Ancient  and  Accepted  Scottish  Rite.  While 
residing  from  1892  until  1907  at  989  Madison 
Avenue,  was  a  vestryman  of  St.  Andrew's 
Episcopal  Church,  Pine  Hills,  and  was  also 
lay  reader  of  the  parish.  He  is  now  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Episcopal  Cathedral  of  AH  Saints 
at  .-Mbany.     In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

William  H.  Griffith  married,  in  St.  Paul's 
Church,  Albany,  February  3,  1892,  by  Rev.  J. 
S.  B.  Hodges,  S.T.D.,  of  Baltimore,  and  Rev. 


I90 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


C.  H.  W.  Stocking.  D.D..  of  Orange,  New 
Jersey,  Grace  Elizabeth  Chite.  daughter  of 
Hon.  Matthew  Henry  and  Ehzaljeth  (Clute) 
Robertson,  who  were  married  at  St.  George's 
Church,  Schenectady,  June  2,  1863.  Child, 
Margaret  Frances,  born  at  Albany,  New 
York,  December  27,   1892. 

Grace  Elizabeth  Clute  (Robertson)  Grif- 
fith was  born  in  Albany,  New  York,  and  was 
baptized  in  St.  George's  Episcopal  Church  of 
Schenectady.  She  was  educated  at  St.  Ag- 
nes' School,  Albany,  graduating  in  1883,  as 
Latin  salutatorian  of  her  class.  She  was  elec- 
ted regent  of  Gansevoort  Chapter,  Daughters 
of  the  American  Revolution,  and  president  of 
the  Society  of  Graduates  of  St.  Agnes' 
School.  She  has  been  a  member  of  the  Na- 
tional Mary  Washington  Colonial  Association 
since  her  mother's  death. 

Afatthew  Henry  Robertson,  father  of  Mrs. 
William  H.  Grifhth.  was  born  at  Malmesbury, 
Wiltshire,  England,  died  at  Albany,  Decem- 
ber 19,  1903.  He  studied  law  at  the  place 
of  his  birth,  and  in  1858  came  to  Albany, 
where  he  continued  his  studies  in  the  office 
of  Hon.  William  Barnes,  continuing  thus  un- 
til January,  i860,  when  the  New  York  State 
Insurance  Department  being  organized,  and 
Mr.  I'.arnes  receiving  the  appointment  of  its 
first  superintendent,  on  May  i,  i860,  Mr. 
Robertson  became  a  regular  clerk  in  the  de- 
partment;  in  1870  became  the  chief  clerk, 
continuing  as  such  until  in  June,  1892,  Super- 
intendent James  F.  Pierce  appointed  him  the 
second  deputy,  which  position  he  held  until 
his  death.  He  was  a  vestryman  of  St.  Paul's 
Church  for  fourteen  years.  He  was  the  son 
of  James  Robertson,  born  at  Malmesbury, 
England,  August  12,  1802,  died  March  16, 
1876,  at  Chicago,  Illinois,  and  his  wife,  Eliza- 
beth \\'orcester,  born  October  25.  1804,  at  Co- 
ventry, England,  died  at  Malmesbury.  Eng- 
land, March  15,  1841,  whom  he  married  April 
6,  1826.  Elizabeth  Worcester  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Charles  Worcester,  born  at  Coventry, 
England,  November  i,  1773,  who  married, 
June  5,  1802,  Elizabeth  Ncwcomb,  born  No- 
vember 25,  1782,  at  Coventry,  England;  son 
of  Joseph  Worcester,  born  December  7.  1739; 
married,  January  3,  1764,  Susannah  Holmes. 
born  1742;  son  of  John  Worcester,  died  April 
14,  1763:  married.  May  28,  1738,  ]\Iary 
Smith,  died  May  12.  1763:  son  of  Joseph 
Worcester.  Matthew  H.  Robertson's  grand- 
father was  Matthew  Robertson,  of  Monditts 
Park.  Malmesbury,  England,  born  in  1756, 
died  August  21,  1825:  married  Ann  Beams, 
born  at  Chippenham.  England,  in  1765,  died 
at  Malmesbury.  in  1839.  He  was  of  Scottish 
descent,  from  Alexander  Robertson,  of  Stro- 


wan,  distinguished  as  a  poet  and  partisan  of 
the  Stewarts  in  the  uprisings  of  1690,  1715 
and  1745.  This  was  one  of  the  oldest  and 
most  distinguished  families  of  Scotland,  being 
the  sole  remaining  branch  of  the  Royal  House 
which  occupied  the  throne  of  Scotland  during 
the  eleventh,  twelfth,  and  thirteenth  centuries. 
Elizabeth  (Clute)  Robertson,  mother  of 
Airs.  William  H.  Griffith,  was  born  at  Sche- 
nectady, New  York.  She  resided  for  many 
years  at  her  home.  No.  445  State  street,  Al- 
bany, New  York,  and  died  there  August  i, 
1906.  She  was  a  member  of  Mohawk  Oiap- 
ter.  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution, 
and  of  National  Alary  Washington  Colonial' 
Association.  She  traces  her  descent  from 
Frederick  Clute,  who  came  to  this  country 
from  Neurenbergh  as  a  trader,  and  after  liv- 
ing a  time  at  Kingston,  New  York,  in  1703, 
bought  land  of  Johannes  Clute  at  Niskayuna, 
New  York.  He  married  Francyntje  Du  Alont 
fDumond)  and  they  had  son,  Jacob,  born  at 
Kingston,  November  6,  1698,  who  married, 
November  16,  1727,  at  Albany,  Alaria  Brouw- 
er,  baptized  Alay  i.  1709,  at  Brooklyn, 
through  her  heirs  to  the  Anneke  Jans  estate 
and  descent  from  William  I.  of  Holland.  Ja- 
cob Clute  and  Alaria  Brouwer  had  a  son, 
Pieter  Clute,  born  at  .-Xlbany,  died  at  Sche- 
nectady, 1780;  married  Catherine  Alarselis, 
born  February  15,  1736,  died  at  Niskayuna, 
aged  eighty-one  years.  They  had  a  son,  Pe- 
ter Clute,  born  at  Schenectady,  April  28,  1765, 
died  there  July  7,  1833 ;  married,  Alarch  5, 
1786.  Angelica  Van  Slyke,  born,  Schenec- 
tady, September  2,  1764.  died  there  Alay  24, 
1848,  being  the  daughter  of  Cornelius  \'an 
Slyke,  born,  Schenectady,  December  i,  1736, 
who  was  first  lieutenant  in  Colonel  Goose 
\'an  Schaick's  regiment.  New  York  State 
Continental  line  in  the  revolution,  and  Cath- 
erine Veeder,  born,  Schenectady,  April  22, 
1744.  Peter  Clute  and  Angelica  \'an  Slyke 
had  a  son,  Cornelius  Peter  Clute,  born  at 
Schenectady,  November  14,  1788,  died  there, 
August  30,  1870;  married,  Schenectady,  April 
16,  182S.  Angelica  Truax,  lx)rn  February  13, 
1796,  at  Schenectady,  died  there  October  4, 
1878,  being  the  daughter  of  Isaac  Truax,  born 
at  Schenectady,  July  19,  1755,  died  there  De- 
cember 22,  1854:  married,  January  i,  1794, 
Elizabeth  Clute,  born,  Albany,  August  21, 
1757  died  Schenectady,  August  4.  1847.  Cor- 
nelius P.  Clute  and  .Angelica  Truax  had  a 
daughter,  Elizabeth  Clute,  who  married  Hon. 
Alatthew  Henry  Robertson. 

(The   Knowlton   Line). 
The  family   name  of  Knowlton   is   derived 
from    the   Cornish- British    word,    "knowl,"    a 


i 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


191 


promontory,  hill  or  eminence,  with  the  suffix 
"ton,"  or  the  old  Saxon  "tun,"  for  town,  and 
signifies  people  "from  tlie  hill  town."  The 
place  where  the  Knowltons  lived  was  long 
known  as  Knowhill.  In  the  Domesday  Book 
the  name  is  Chenoltone,  and  in  subsequent 
books  it  may  be  found  indifferently  spelled 
Cnolton,  Knolton,  KnoUton,  Knowlton, 
Knoulton,  Knowton,  Knowlden,  Nowton, 
Noulton  and  Nolton. 

Going-  hack  to  the  Middle  Ages,  one  learns 
of  the  tradition  of  two  brothers  enlisting  in 
the  service  of  William  the  Conqueror,  and 
fighting  so  bravely  during  his  invasion  of 
Wales,  that  they  readily  won  their  spurs. 
Having  observed  that  they  resided,  the  one  on 
a  hill  and  the  other  on  a  knoll,  or  lesser  hill, 
the  king,  on  investing  them  with  the  honors 
and  insignia  of  knighthood,  dubbed  them  Hill- 
ton  and  Knoll-ton.  Whatever  of  truth  may 
attach  to  this  tradition,  it  is  certain  that  the 
name  is  an  ancient  one,  born  out  of  its  own 
native  soil.  The  Knowlton  Arms — certified 
by  H.  Farnham  Burke,  Somerset  Herald. 
Shield :  Argent,  a  chevron  between  three 
crowns  or  ducal  coronets  sable.  Crest :  A 
demi-lion  rampant.     Motto :  \^i  et  virtute. 

Regarding  where  they  lived,  in  the  Domes- 
day Book,  that  curious  and  quaint  record  of 
estates  and  surveys  which  the  Conquerer  or- 
dered in  1083.  that  he  might  know  the  extent 
of  his  realm  and  provide  for  the  royal  rev- 
enues, there  was  a  Knowlton  Hundred, 
which  was  originally  but  a  mere  hamlet  in 
Dorsetshire,  which  became  by  royal  appoint- 
ment a  Fair  Town  and  a  rural  center  of  con- 
siderable importance.  The  original  hamlet 
and  manor  have  long  since  passed  away ;  but 
the  name  survives.  Knowlton  Parish  and 
Knowlton  Hall  still  designate  a  manor  and 
baronial  residence  in  Kent  county,  six  miles 
from  the  archiepiscopal  city  of  Canterbury. 

Thomas  Knowlton,  the  antiquarian,  was 
fond  of  telling  of  the  distinction  enjoved  bv 
one  of  his  ancestors,  a  retainer  of  the  Earl 
of  \\'arwick,  who  always  appeared  in  court 
dress,  with  a  silver  and  jewelled  sword  at 
his  belt,  and  other  insignias  of  rank,  and  who 
stood  high  with  the  king.  He  had  charge 
of  one  of  the  Earl's  castles  in  Kent,  and  was 
a  descendant  of  the  Knowltons  mentioned. 

(I)  Captain  William  Knowlton,  the  proge- 
nitor of  the  family  in  America,  sailed  from 
the  port  of  London  for  Nova  Scotia  in  1632- 
34,  as  is  usually  believed,  although  this  date 
is  only  approximate.  It  is  probable  that  his 
sons,  John,  William,  Deacon  Thomas,  and 
perhaps  Samuel,  accompanied  him  on  the  voy- 
age, for  one  of  the  latter  name  was  found  in 
Hingham   soon  after  the  others  appeared   in 


Ipswich,  and  he  died  in  1655,  leaving  a  will, 
probated  September,  1655,  in  which  he  names 
"brother  John"  as  executor.  Captain  Knowl- 
ton died  on  the  westward  voyage,  and  his 
widow  and  children  proceeded  to  Nova 
Scotia,  where  they  remained  only  a  short 
time.  They  are  next  heard  of  as  being  in  Ips- 
wich, Massachusetts,  where  his  son  John  be- 
came a  resident  in  1639,  William  and  Thom- 
as following  him  there  in  1642.  The  old 
town  had  been  organized  only  the  previous 
year,  when  John  arrived.  Captain  Knowlton 
was  at  least  a  part  owner  of  the  vessel  in 
which  he  sailed  for  America,  and  his  death 
doubtless  occurred  not  far  from  Nova  Scotia,, 
for  a  land  surveyor,  Alphonso  Wells,  em- 
ployed by  the  Canadian  government  to  sur- 
vey land  in  Shelburne  in  1839,  found  an  an- 
cient headstone  there  bearing  the  name  of 
William  Knowlton,  1632.  It  is  tradition  that 
the  vessel  was  sold  there,  near  Annapolis  the 
first  settlement,  and  with  the  proceeds  his  wid- 
ow and  children  went  to  Hingham  the  fol- 
lowing year,  where  it  is  believed  that  she  re- 
married. 

Patriotic  devotion  to  their  new  country  was- 
a  marked  feature  of  these  early  settlers,  and 
the  Knowltons  were  no  exception.  Four  of 
the  name,  John,  Benjamin,  Abraham  and 
William,  served  in  King  Philip's  war :  several 
of  them  participated  in  the  siege  and  capture 
of  Louisburg:  the  rosters  of  the  revolutionary 
troops  frequently  bear  the  Knowlton  name, 
and  in  the  subsequent  wars  of  1812  and  of 
the  revolution  the  same  stock  was  notably  at 
the  front.  Old  Ipswich  gave  an  extraordinary 
proof  of  this  devotion  to  country  on  June  9, 
1788,  wlien  all  the  commoners,  including 
many  Knowltons,  surrendered  all  their  lands 
to  pay  the  town  debts  incurred  during  the  war 
of  independence.  Family  history  gives  the 
name  of  Ann  Elizabeth  Smith  as  the  wife 
who  came  to  this  country  with  Captain  Wil- 
liam Knowlton.  and  on  June  9,  1668,  the  rec- 
ords show  that  one  Ann,  widow  of  William 
Knollton,  petitioned  for  an  appraisal  of  land 
in  Hingham.  Qiildren :  John,  born  1610.  see 
forward;  William,  born  1815,  married  Eliza- 
beth     ;    Deacon    Thomas,    born    1622, 

married    (first)    Susannah  ;    (second) 

Mary  Kimball :  Samuel. 

(II)  John,  son  of  Captain  William  and 
Anne  Elizabeth  (Smith)  Knowlton,  was  born 
in  1610,  in  England.  He  was  a  shoemaker, 
and  resided  in  Ipswich,  Massachusetts.  He 
became  a  citizen  there  in  1639,  and  a  free- 
man June  9.  1641.  On  December  19,  1648,  he 
subscribed  to  a  fund  for  the  pay  of  Major 
Denison,  to  whom  he  had  entrusted  the  de- 
fence of  the  township  against  the  assaults  of 


I 


192 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


Indians  and  other  enemies.  From  the  records 
of  sales  and  transfers  of  property  in  Ipswich, 
it  would  appear  that  he  accumulated  a  con- 
siderable property.  He  died  October  8, 
1654-55.  John  Knowlton  married  Marjery 
Wilson,  born  m  England,  survived  him  but  a 
few  months.  Children :  John,  born  1633,  see 
forward :  Abraham,  born  1635,  died  unmar- 
ried;   Elizabeth,    born    1639. 

(III)  John  (2),  son  of  John  (i)  and  Mar- 
jery (Wilson)  Knowlton,  was  born  in  1633. 
He  was,  as  his  father,  a  shoemaker.  He 
took  the  freeman's  oath  October  16,  1680,  and 
was  drafted  into  the  Narragansett  Expedition 
November  30,  1670.  He  had  the  misfortune 
■of  failing  eyesight  when  only  forty-two  years 
•old,   as   shown   by   a   letter   written    April    5, 

1675,  and  this  forced  him  into  a  precarious 
condition  as  he  had  to  abandon  his  trade,  par- 
ticularly because  he  would  require  someone 
to  protect  him,  and  this  burden  troubled  him. 
His  name,  however,  appears  connected  with  a 
number  of  real  estate  transactions,  so  he  was 
•evidently  a  man  of  substance.  He  removed 
to  Wrentham,  before  1679,  and  died  October, 
1684.  John  Knowlton  married  Sarah,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Sarah  Whipple,  her  father 
being  "feoffee  of  the  Grammar  School"  in 
Ipswich,  a  deputy  to  the  general  court  in  1640, 
deacon  and  ruling  elder ;  she  died  February 
4,  1678.  Children:  Joseph,  born  1652,  mar- 
ried Mary  Wilson,  August  14,  1677 ;  Samuel, 
"born  1653,  married  Mary  Witt,  August  16, 
1669 :  Daniel,  born  1655,  married  and  resided 
at  Holliston,  Massachusetts ;  John,  born  1656, 

married  Sarah  ;  Nathaniel,  born  July 

24,  1658,  see  forward ;  Elizabeth,  born 
Alarch  i,  1659,  married  Timothy  Dorman, 
November  30,  1688,  and  died  September  22, 
1788;  Thomas,  born  May  19.  1662,  married 
Hannah    Carter,    1683;    William,    born    1664, 

married  Lydia  ,   March   16,    1688,  and 

settled  in  Wenham ;  Jonathan,  born  1665, 
married  Elizabeth ,  and  settled  in  Mai- 
den,  Massachusetts ;  Susannah,  born  August 

15.  1673- 

(IV)  Nathaniel,  son  of  John  (2)  and  Sa- 
rah (WTiipple)  Knowlton,  was  born  July  24, 
1658,   died   September    18,    1726.      He   was    a 

man  of  consequence  in  Ipswich,  and  was  re- 
corded a  commoner  February  18,  1678.  He 
was  made  a  deacon  of  the  First  Congrega- 
tional Church  in  1697;  for  many  years  was 
treasurer  of  the  church,  and  was  a  deputy  to 
the  general  court  in  1700-02-03-05-09-14-20. 
Nathaniel  Knowlton  married.  May  3,  1682, 
Deborah  Jewett,  from  Rowley,  Massachusetts, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Jewett.  who  conveyed 
land  to  his  son-in-law,  December  26,  1684, 
and  she  died  in   1743.     Children :   Nathaniel, 


born  May  3,  1683,  see  forward ;  John,  born 
December  7,  1685,  married  Susannah  Hut- 
ton;  Joseph,  born  April,  1687,  died  young; 
Thomas,  born  November  8,  1692;  Abraham, 
born  February  27,  1698,  married  ]\Iary  Smith 
Knowlton,  September  20,  1722 ;  Elizabeth, 
born  September  15,  1702;  David,  born  Alay 
15,  1707,  married  Esther  Howard,  February 

25,  1731- 

(Y)  Nathaniel  (2),  son  of  Nathaniel  (i) 
and  Deborah  (Jewett)  Knowlton,  was  born 
May  3,  1683.  He  married  Mary  Bennett, 
publication  of  which  was  made  February  13, 
1703.  Children:  Mary,  born  June  3,  1704; 
William,  born  February  8,  1706,  see  forward; 
Nathaniel,  born  June  30,  1708,  married 
Mary  Fuller;  Jeremiah,  born  July  13,  1712, 
died  young;  Jeremiah,  born  August  2,  1713, 
married  Sarah  Allen,  July  24,  1735,  and  re- 
sided at  Concord,  New  Hampshire ;  Alartha, 
married  Dr.  Flint. 

(\T)  William,  son  of  Nathaniel  (2)  and 
Mary  (Bennett)  Knowlton,  was  born  at  Ips- 
wich, Massachusetts,  February  8,  1706,  died 
in  Ashford,  Connecticut,  March  13,  1753.  He 
was  a  "housewright."  He  moved  to  West 
Boxford,  where  he  married  ]\Iartha  Finder, 
a  granddaughter  of  John  Pynder,  an  English 
soldier  who  subscribed  to  advance  the  cause 
in  King  Philip's  war.  The  publication  of 
their  marriage  was  on  February  13,  1728.  I 
After  marriage,  he  removed  to  Ashford,  Con-  I 
necticut,  1748,  where  he  purchased  a  farm 
which  he  divided  among  his  sons.  Children : 
Lucy,  died  young ;  Lucy,  born  February 
20,  1736,  married  Deacon  Abijah  Brooks,  of 
Ashford,  Connecticut ;  William,  born  Decem- 
ber 23,  1738,  married  Mehitable  Eaton,  of 
Ashford;  Daniel,  born  December  21,,  1738,  see 
forward;  Thomas,  born  November  30,  1740, 
married  Anna  Keyes,  April  5,  1759;  Na- 
thaniel, born  May  9,  1746,  died  young;  Mary, 
born  I\Iay  9,  1746,  married  Ezekiah  Tiffany, 
of  Ashford  ;  Sarah,  married  Joshua  Kendall, 
of  Ashford ;  Priscilla,  died  unmarried. 

(VII)  Lieutenant  Daniel,  son  of  William 
and  Martha  (Pinder)  Knowlton,  was  born 
December  23,  1738,  and  was  baptized  in  the 
West  Parish  of  Boxford,  Massachusetts,  De- 
cember 31,  1738.  He  was  but  two  years  old 
when  his  father  removed  to  Ashford,  Con- 
necticut. When  only  nineteen  years  of  agr. 
he  enlisted  in  the  colonial  regiments  for  ser- 
vice in  the  French  and  Indian  war,  together 
with  his  brother.  Thomas.  From  the  start  he 
distinguished  himself  for  bravery  and  daring, 
particularly  as  a  scout.  On  one  occasion, 
while  in  Captain  John  Slapp's  company,  in 
Lord  Loudon's  expedition  to  Fort  Edward, 
between  IMarch  15  and  October  17,  1757,  he 


HUDSON   AND    JMOHAWK   WKLLEYS 


193 


saved  the  life  of  his  companion,  Israel  Put- 
nam, who  was  about  to  fall  at  the  hand  of 
an  Indian  swaying  a  tomahawk  above  him. 
In  June,  1758,  he  served  in  Colonel  Elea- 
zer  Fitch's  third  Connecticut  regiment  at 
Crown  Point.  About  this  time  he  captured 
three  bloodthirsty  desperadoes.  From  May  7 
to  December  30.  1761,  he  served  as  sergeant 
in  Captain  Robert  Durkee's  company,  and 
from  March  17,  to  December  4,  1762,  in  Cap- 
tain Hugh  Ledlie's  company,  engaged  in  the 
Crown  Point  Expedition.  He  married,  No- 
vember 3,  1763,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Ma- 
nassah  Farnham,  of  Windham,  and  Keziah 
(Ford)  Farnham.  She  was  born  at  Wind- 
ham, March  10,  1742.  Qiildren :  i.  Daniel, 
"born  December  17,  1765 ;  married,  April  4, 
1793,  Betsy  Burchard ;  died  February,  1834. 
2.  Elizabeth,  born  March  24,  1768;  married 
Frederick  ChafYee,  of  Ashford.  3.  Nathaniel, 
born  December  24,  1770;  married  Sarah 
Leach,  November  25,  1798.  4.  Manassah, 
born  December  24,  1770,  see  forward.  5.  Eph- 
raim,  born  October  3,  1773;  married  Jemima 
Farnham,  of  .\shford.  6.  Martha,  born  Feb- 
ruary 24,  1777:  married  Charles  W.  Bran- 
don, of  Ashford.  7.  Keziah,  born  February 
•9,  1781  :  married,  January  3,  1805.  Amasa 
Lyon.  8.  Hannah,  born  April  19,  1783  ;  mar- 
ried Daniel  Knowlton. 

(\'III)  Alanassah,  son  of  Lieutenant  Dan- 
iel and  Elizabeth  (Farnham)  Knowlton,  was 
born  at  .\shford,  Connecticut,  December  24, 
1770,  died  at  Greenbush.  New  York,  January 
21,  1841.  He  was  a  thrifty,  industrious,  solid, 
benevolent  man,  whose  advice  to  young  and 
old  brought  to  him  in  the  later  years  of  his 
life  the  honored  name  of  "Father  Knowlton." 
It  is  related  that  he  so  closely  resembled  his 
twin  brother,  Nathaniel,  that  his  mother  had 
to  e.xcite  the  boys  to  laughter  in  order  to  dis- 
tinguish them  apart,  \\nien  twenty-one  years 
old  he  settled  in  Greenbush,  New  York, 
across  the  Hudson  river  from  Albany.  He 
made  considerable  money  as  a  farrier  during 
the  war  of  1812,  when  innumerable  cavalry 
•officers  were  wont  to  draw  up  before  his  place 
•on  the  old  Rensselaer  and  Columbia  turnpike. 
In  1798  he  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
.and  sixty-two  acres  of  what  was  formerly  the 
Van  Rensselaer  Manor  grounds.  He  declined 
to  unite  with  any  church  until  about  eight 
years  previous  to  his  death,  when  he  became 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
On  June  8,  1808,  he  was  commissioned  lieu- 
tenant in  Lieutenant-Colonel  Philip  Staats' 
regiment,  and  was  promoted  to  captain,  Feb- 
ruary 29,  1812.  He  married  (first)  Lydia 
Burton,  of  Schodack.  New  York,  who  died 
July    15,    1806;   married    (second)    Elizabeth 


Card,  of  Greenbush,  New  York :  married 
(third)  Clarissa  Cogswell,  of  Greenbush. 
Children:  Oren,  born  September  17,  1794, 
died  young ;  Ephraim,  born  December  9,  1795, 
died  January  5,  1824;  Isaac,  born  Alay  7, 
1797,  died  May  23,  1883,  married  Rachel 
\\'hitbeck ;  Orendia,  born  February  20,  1799, 
died  October,  1861,  married  Benjamin  Brad- 
bury, February  20,  1818;  Almyra,  born  Feb- 
ruary I,  1801,  died  September  10,  1827;  Ma- 
ria, born  October  13,  1802,  died  February 
9.  1830:  George  Washington,  Ix)rn  January 
16,  1804,  see  forward  ;  Parmelia,  born  August 
16,  1805,  died  young. 

(IX)  George  Washington,  son  of  Manas- 
sah and  Lydia  (Burton)  Knowlton,  was  born 
January  16,  1804,  died  at  Albany,  New  York, 
October  11,  1884.  He  entered  upon  a  mer- 
cantile career  at  an  early  age,  and  in  1833 
associated  himself  with  his  brother-in-law,  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  Knowlton  &  Rowe,  as 
rectifier  of  spirits  and  oil  merchants.  They 
were  the  first  to  manufacture  and  to  use  as 
an  illuminator  the  old  "burning  fluid."  He 
sold  out  his  interest  in  1841,  and  retired  to 
his  place  in  Greenbush,  residing  later  at  Nas- 
sau and  Castleton,  finall)-  returning  to  Albany 
to  spend  his  last  days.  He  married  S3'bil 
Anne  Rowe,  born  November  15,  1812,  a  de- 
scendant of  the  Rhenish  German  Rowes 
(Rauh),  a  member  of  which  family,  Johannes 
Rauh,  settled  in  the  Nine  Partners  Tract,  in 
Dutchess  county.  New  York,  about  1705.  She 
died  in  .\lbany,  August  20,  1897.  Children: 
Mary  Louisa,  born  Alarch  26,  1833,  see  for- 
ward; George  Henry,  born  November  2,  1835, 
married,  September  15,  1863,  Ellenore  Ross, 
of  Terre  Haute,  Indiana:  Charlotte  A.,  born 
.\pril  9,  1838,  died  February  15,  1842;  Fran- 
cis F.,  born  Julv  17,  1847,  died  Julv  18, 
1864. 

(X)  Mary  Louisa,  daughter  of  George 
Washington  and  Sybil  Anne  (Rowe)  Knowl- 
ton, was  born  in  Greenbush,  Rensselaer  coun- 
ty. New  York,  March  26,  1833,  and  was  a 
resident  of  Albany,  New  York,  in  1910.  She 
obtained  her  education  at  the  East  Green- 
bush and  Nassau  academies,  and  Tyler's  In- 
stitute. Pittsfield.  Massachusetts.  Imbued 
with  a  tense  feeling  of  patriotism  and  inter- 
ested in  the  history  of  her  ancestors,  she  was 
one  of  the  most  active  originators  of  the 
Knowlton  Family  Association.  Her  city  resi- 
dence has  been  at  No.  328  Hudson  avenue, 
Albany,  for  thirty-five  years,  and  at  Castle- 
ton, New  York,  she  has  a  summer  home 
known  as  Glenwood,  where  she  owns  about 
one  hundred  acres  of  attractive  land.  She 
married,  at  Nassau,  New  York,  September 
29,  1852,  Edwin  Henry  Griffith,  of  that  place. 


194 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


After  marriage,  she  removed  with  him  to  Cas- 
tleton,  where  her  husband  founded  the  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Castleton.  In  1874,  owing  to 
the  faihire  of  his  liealth,  she  went  with  him 
to  Denver,  Colorado,  where  their  youngest 
child  Grace  died,  February  6,  1875,  and  real- 
izing he  could  not  long  survive,  they  returned 
to  Albany,  where  he  died  May  16,  1875  (see 
Griffith  IV). 


John  Packer,  having  obtained 
PACKER     a  grant  of  land  in  the  southern 

part  of  Connecticut,  emigrated 
from  England  about  the  year  165 1  and  set- 
tled in  the  town  of  Groton,  Connecticut.  He 
shortly  became  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
influential  of  the  planters  in  the  struggling 
colony.  In  time  he  became  the  father  of 
twelve  children,  seven  being  sons. 

(II)  James,  youngest  son  of  John  Packer, 
was  born  in  1681,  died  April  24,  1765.  Like 
his  father,  he  made  his  mark  in  the  commu- 
nity by  industrious  management,  becoming 
noted  among  the  large  planters  and  leading 
a  life  which  made  him  highly  respected.  He 
had    twelve   children. 

(III)  James  (2),  eldest  son  of  James  (i) 
Packer,  was  born  in  Groton,  Connecticut,  in 
1734.  In  middle  life  he  removed  with  his 
family  from  there  to  Guilford,  Vermont. 
Among  his  children  were  James,  born  August 
17,  1760;  Jeremy,  born  about  1762;  Eleazer, 
see  forward. 

(IV)  Eleazer,  son  of  James  (2)  Packer, 
was  born  in  Groton,  Connecticut,  June  26, 
1770,  and  died  in  Peachem,  Vermont,  March 
29,  1864.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest,  in 
fact  the  second,  of  those  who  settled  in  New- 
ark, Vermont.  He  cleared  a  tract  of  what 
was  then  a  virgin  forest  in  the  wilds  of  Ver- 
mont, and  built  thereon  a  log  cabin,  where 
he  took  up  his  residence  and  commenced 
farming.  About  the  year  1801,  this  tract 
of  land  had  come  into  the  possession  of  James 
Packer,  eldest  brother  of  Eleazer,  who  ef- 
fected a  change  of  property  with  him,  Eleazer 
taking  the  lot  of  land  in  Newark,  Vermont, 
and  turning  over  to  James  his  own  farm  in 
Guilford.  About  two  years  after  he  had  erec- 
ted this  crude  habitation  he  brought  thither 
his  wife  and  little  ones  from  Guilford  to  dwell 
there  with  him.  Shortly  afterwards,  others 
seeing  he  had  acquired  a  piece  of  favorable 
property  which  he  had  converted  into  a  com- 
fortable and  paying  estate,  came  to  settle 
there,  and  when  a  sufficient  number  had  fol- 
lowed his  lead  the  town  was  organized.  He 
and  two  others,  James  Ball  and  John  Sleeper, 
were  chosen  selectmen.  Eleazer  Packer  was 
made  the  first   justice  of  the  peace   for  the 


place,  which  was  a  recognition  of  his  promi- 
nence, and  in  181 1  was  chosen  the  first  rep- 
resentative to  the  general  assembly.  To  his 
credit  as  a  pioneer  it  is  recorded  that  he  sol- 
emnized the  first  marriage  at  the  place,  mar- 
rying Philemon  and  Sally  Hartwell,  June  28, 
1812,  at  Newark,  Vermont.  As  he  continued 
to  prosper  he  cleared  still  more  acres  of  land 
thereabouts.  Pushing  back  farther  and  far- 
ther the  line  of  wild  forest,  he  increased  the 
proportion  of  his  crops,  built  a  larger  and 
more  commodious  residence,  and  moved  into 
it  from  the  modest  one  which  had  sheltered 
him  when  he  made  his  start.  Here  he  lived 
for  half  a  century  and  was  permitted  to  see 
his  cultivated  acres  increase  from  the  small, 
original  clearing  to  a  large,  well-managed  and 
prosperous  farming  estate.  As  the  town  grew, 
schools  were  established,  a  church  (the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal)  of  which  he  became  an  hon- 
ored and  devoted  member,  was  organized,  audi 
the  entire  machinery  of  the  town  came  into 
existence  under  his  eye  and  was  largely  aided 
by  his  ability  and  willingness  to  furtlier  such 
important  public  movements.  In  all  the  res- 
pective advances  he  is  known  to  have  borne  a 
conspicuous  part,  and  not  infrequently  it  was 
he  who  furnished  the  intiative  for  the  various 
steps.  That  he  thoroughly  enjoyed  the  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  his  fellow-townsmen  is 
sufficiently  evidenced  in  the  fact  that  he  was 
chosen  to  represent  his  town  in  the  legisla- 
ture of  Vermont  for  fifteen  consecutive  years 
and  was  justice  of  the  peace  there  for  no  less 
than  two-score  years.  He  might  have  con- 
tinued much  longer  to  serve  the  public  in  the 
former  office  had  he  not  relinquished  the  de- 
sire on  account  of  the  demands  upon  his  time 
by  increasing  home  duties.  Serving  the  town 
for  so  lengthy  a  period  as  a  justice,  fastened 
upon  him  the  familiar  sobriquet  of  "Squire," 
which  he  seemed  to  appreciate  and  favor  as  a 
sign  of  cordial  friendship,  and  wherever  he 
was  known  he  was  mentioned  with  that  dis- 
tinguishing title  prefixed  to  his  name.  Eleazer 
Packer  married,  at  Leyden,  Massachusetts, 
March  16,  1796,  Abigail  Potter.  Children:  i. 
Philura,  died  1824;  married  Curtis  Newell.  2. 
Electra,  died    1824.     3.   Horace,  born   March 

9,  1801.  see  forward.  4.  Eleazer,  born  1803; 
died  April  3,  1806.  5.  Austin,  born  April  28, 
1805.  6.  Osman  (twin  of  Austin).  7.  David, 
born  February  20,  1808.  8.  Eli  Wing,  Jan- 
uary 5.  181 1.     9.  Josephine,  March  30,  1814. 

10.  Rebecca  Barney,  July  23,  1817.  John 
Quincy  Adams.  1820. 

(V)  Horace,  son  of  Eleazer  and  Abigail 
(Potter)  Packer,  was  born  in  Newark.  Ver- 
mont, March  9,  1801,  and  died  at  Burke,  Ver- 
mont, October  19,   1868.     As  his  father  and 


\^^/L4y  ^-^^-r^y^To/^^ 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


195 


grandfather  before  him.  he  was  to  follow 
large  agricultural  pursuits.  He  owned  and 
lived  upon  an  extensive  farm  in  his  native 
town,  but  his  health  becoming  somewhat  im- 
paired, he  preferred  to  remove  to  Burke, 
where  he  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven.  He 
married  Hopestill  W'hipple  Brown,  daughter 
of  Josiah  Brown,  of  Kirby,  Vermont.  After 
his  removal  to  Burke,  Horace  Packer,  with 
his  son,  H.  H.  Packer,  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  boots,  and  shoes,  and  continued  in 
this  business  during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
Among  the  town  offices  which  he  held  was 
that  of  town  excise  agent,  a  position  which 
he  retained  from  the  date  of  his  appointment 
to  his  death.  Children:  i.  Electra,  died  in 
infancy.  2.  Halsey,  died  young.  3.  Eli  Elea- 
zer,  born  July  30,  1834,  see  forward.  4.  Mary 
C,  born  June,  1837,  died  June,  1852.  5.  Mar- 
tha J.,  born  May,  1840,  died  March,  1854.  6. 
Horace  H.,  born  September  9,  1843,  died 
April  13,  1904.  Was  veteran  of  civil  war, 
prominent  in  Grand  Army  and  Masonic  cir- 
cles;  was  in  the  boot  and  shoe  trade  forty 
years,  first  with  his  father,  afterward  alone 
till  death;  married  (first)  Carrie  Kahili;  (sec- 
ond) Mary  W.  Whillock.  The  last  named 
is  now  living  at  West  Burke,  Vermont.  7. 
Esther  M.,  born  1846,  died  1852.  8.  Arianna, 
born  1849,  at  Newark,  Vermont,  died  at  Be- 
thel, Maine,  1884;  married  H.  W.  Bishop,  a 
jeweller,  who  died  1882;  after  his  death  his 
widow  was  appointed  postmistress  of  Bethel, 
and  retained  the  office  until  the  time  of  her 
death. 

(VI)  Professor  Eli  Eleazer  Packer,  son  of 
Horace  and  Hopestill  Whipple  (Brown) 
Packer,  was  born  in  Newark,  Vermont,  July 
30,  1834,  and  in  1910,  was  principal  of  School 
No.  12,  Albany.  New  York.  He  received  his 
earliest  education  at  the  Shelburne  Falls  In- 
stitute, in  Shelburne.  Franklin  county,  Mas- 
sachusetts, from  which  he  graduated  in  1855, 
and  later  attended  the  academy  at  St.  Johns- 
bury,  Vermont,  for  two  years.  He  developed 
a  strong  inclination  to  become  an  instructor 
and  taught  for  two  years  in  Vermont  schools, 
after  which,  in  1858,  he  removed  his  field  of 
effort  to  New  York  state,  teaching  for  seven 
years  in  the  scjiools  and  the  academy  at 
Whitehall,  New  York,  then  throughout  five 
years  in  the  Union  School  of  Cohoes.  In 
1870  he  was  called  to  Albany  to  become  the 
principal  of  its  Public  School  No.  12.  one  of 
the  largest  in  that  city,  with  six  hundred  pu- 
pils under  his  care  in  1910.  He  ranks  among 
the  most  prominent  of  Albany's  educators, 
and  many  hundreds  of  the  city's  best  men  of 
business  owe  much  to  him  for  the  strengthen- 
ing of  character  under  more  than   common 


solicitude  of  one  in  his  position.  He  has  con- 
tributed frequently  to  educational  periodicals, 
and  is  forceful  in  utterance  as  he  is  decisive 
in  his  thoughts.  He  has  always  been  much 
interested  in  music,  particularly  that  of  the 
church  organ,  and  was  for  a  considerable  time 
organist  at  Whitehall  and  afterward  at  Co- 
hoes. He  is  an  attendant  of  the  Emmanuel 
Baptist  Church,  of  which  he  has  been  a  dea- 
con for  more  than  twenty  years.  His  resi- 
dence is  at  No.  486  Madison  avenue,  Albany, 
New  York.  He  is  a  member  of  Masters 
Lodge,  No.  5,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  of 
Albany,  New  York.  He  visited  Europe  in 
1 90 1  and  spent  tlie  summer.  He  has  visited 
nearly  every  state  and  territory  in  the  United 
States.     In  politics  he  is  a  Republican. 

Professor  Packer  married,  at  Sutton,  Ver- 
mont, July  8,  1858.  Emily  Hill,  of  that  place ; 
daughter  of  .'\mos  Hill  and  Mary  Smith,  and 
was  born  July  27,  1833,  at  Sutton,  Vermont, 
and  died  at  Albany,  March  19,  1905.  Chil- 
dren: I.  Clarence  Hill,  born  at  Whitehall, 
April  2,  1859 ;  married,  at  Jackson,  Michigan, 
December,  1883,  Nellie  Beebe,  daughter  of 
the  cashier  of  National  Bank  at  Jackson, 
Michigan,  by  whom :  Mabel  Packer,  born  at 
Jackson,  Michigan,  November  2'>„  1884,  mar- 
ried, October  8,  1909,  Roy  Kenney ;  Ethel, 
born  at  Jackson,  Michigan,  June  13,  1888, 
died  at  Toledo,  Ohio,  April,  1908 ;  Charles 
Horace,  born  at  Jackson,  Michigan,  July  12, 
1890;  Orlow,  born  at  Jackson,  Michigan,  No- 
vember II,  1892;  Edwin  Eli,  born  at  Toledo, 
Ohio,  August  20,  1895  ;  Helen,  born  at  To- 
ledo, Ohio,  August  26,  1897;  Laura  Belle, 
born  at  Toledo,  Ohio,  October  2,  1900.  2. 
Anabel.  born  at  Whitehall,  August  12,  i860; 
married  Clarence  A.  Draper,  of  Toledo,  Ohio, 
October  25,  1886.  For  nearly  thirty  years 
Clarence  A.  Draper  was  a  prominent  busi- 
ness man  of  Toledo,  being  in  jjartnership  dur- 
ing this  long  period  with  M.  Nugent.  Early 
in  1910,  the  partnership  was  dissolved,  Mr. 
Nugent  retaining  tlie  store  and  furniture  bus- 
iness, and  Mr.  Draper  taking  an  equivalent 
value  in  property  gained  outside  the  busi- 
ness. 


The  descent  of  the  Hun  family  in 
HUX  .America  is  traced  to  Harmen  Hun. 
He  resided  in  Amersfoort,  a  town 
in  the  province  of  Utrecht,  Holland,  situated 
on  the  Eem  river,  some  twenty-si.x  miles 
southeast  of  Amsterdam.  Pie  had  a  son 
named  Thomas,  and  a  daughter  called  Wen- 
deltie.  This  fact  is  set  forth  in  the  Notarial 
Papers  (page  103)  on  record  in  the  office  of 
the  clerk  of  Albany  county.  New  York, 
wherein  she  is  mentioned  as  Wendeltie  Har- 


196 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


mense,  or  in  actuality,  \\'en(leltie,  daughter 
of  Harmen  Hun,  and  sister  of  Thomas. 

Thomas  Hun  had  a  grandson  named  Har- 
men Thomase,  who  is  mentioned  in  the  docu- 
ment above  referred  to,  which  reads :  "On 
July  5,  1661,  his  son  Harmen  and  liis  wife 
Catalyntie  Berck  (spelled  Bercx  in  Pearson's 
"First  Settlers  of  Albany")  gave  a  power  of 
attorney  to  collect  a  certain  sum  of  money 
from  Angenitie  Cornelisen,  of  Amsterdam,  in 
Holland,  belonging  to  the  aforesaid  Catalyntie 
as  an  inheritance  from  the  late  Tryntje  Jan- 
sen  van  Rechter,  her  mother,  late  wife  of 
Cornelis  Stoffelse  Bui,  of  Amsterdam,  and 
also  from  her  brother,  Hendrick  Berck,  a  cer- 
tain sum  on  an  obligation,''  dated  on  March 

8,  1656:  also,  to  close  up  the  estate  of  Wen- 
deltie  Harmense  (maiden  lady),  late  aunt,  or 
father's  sister,  of  the  above-named  Harmen 
Thomase,  slie  being  dead  at  Alckmar,  Hol- 
land. 

(H)  Thomas,  son  of  Harmen  Hun,  resided 
at  Amersfoort,  Holland,  and  had  a  son  named 
Harmen  Thomase.  It  is  not  known  what 
other  children,  if  any,  he  might  have  had. 

(HI)  Harmen  Thomase,  son  of  Thomas 
Hun,  came  to  this  country  from  Amersfoort, 
Holland.  He  married  Catalyntie  Berck  in 
1661  (or,  Pearson,  1662).  She  was  born  in 
1625,  and  was  the  widow  of  Dirck  Bensingh, 
(Bensing,  Bensen).  and  the  daughter  of  Cor- 
nelis Stoffelse  Bui  and  his  wife,  Tryntje  Janse 
van  Rechter  (widow  of  Samuel  Berck),  of 
Amsterdam,  Holland.  When  she  married 
Hun  she  had  had  five  children  by  Bensingh. 
He  and  his  wife  made  a  joint  will  in  1663, 
and  she  died  April  14,  1693.  Children:  i. 
Weintie,  born  February  9,  1662.  died  Febru- 
ary 19,  1662.  2.  Weintie,  October  29,  1663 ; 
married,  September  11,  1692,  Rutger  Mel- 
cherts  Van  Deusen,  son  of  Melchert  and  En- 
geltje  (Van  Schoenderwoert )  Van  Deusen.  3. 
Thomas,  November   i,    1666,  died   November 

9,  1667.     4.  Thomas  Harmense,  see  forward. 
(IV)    Tliomas    Harmense,   son   of   Harmen 

Thomase  and  Catalyntie  (Berck)  Hun,  was 
born  in  Beverwyck,  New  Netherland,  (Al- 
bany, New  York),  October  2,  1668,  died 
January  12,  1716,  Albany.  He  married, 
November  20,  1692,  Mayeke  (Maaike, 
Mary)  Oothout,  daughter  of  Jan  Janse 
and  Hendrickje  (\^an  Ness)  Oothout. 
She  died  October  14,  1759.  Children:  i.  Ca- 
talyntie, born  September  4,  1693  (Pearson, 
baptized  September  3,  1693)  ;  married,  No- 
vember. 1726,  John  G.  Lansing;  died  October, 
1727.  2.  Johannes,  October  10.  1693,  see  for- 
ward. 3.  Harmen,  November  23,  1697  ;  (Pear- 
son, baptized  July  21,  1700)  ;  died  young. 
4.  Cornelis,  June  9,  1700,  (Pearson,  baptized 


July  21.  1700).  5.  Hendrickje,  September  12, 
1702,  (Pearson,  baptized  August  20,  1702)  ; 
married,  December  20,  1724,  Pieter  Schuyler. 
6.  Dirck,  September  7,  (Pearson,  September 
17),  1704;  married  Alargaret  Cornelia  Ho- 
gan.  7.  Rutger,  j\Iarch  15  (Pearson,  bap- 
tized March  16),  1707.  8.  Adrian,  June  15, 
(Pearson,  baptized  July  24),  1709;  married, 
August,  1733,  Phoebe  Smith ;  died  January 
II,  1737.  9.  Harmen,  September  15,  1712; 
married,  December  6,  1735.  Elsje  Lansing. 

(\')  Johannes,  son  of  Thomas  Harmense 
and  Mayeke  (Oothout)  Hun,  was  born  in 
Albany,  New  York,  October  10,  1695,  died 
there  January  22,  1776,  and  it  has  been  said 
that  he  was  buried  in  the  churchyard  of  the 
"Middle"  Dutch  Reformed  Church  on  the 
south  side  of  Beaver  street.  It  may  be  that 
the  remains  were  re-interred  there ;  but  it  is 
probable  that  they  were  interred,  as  all  men 
of  prominence  connected  with  the  Dutch 
church  of  that  period  in  Albany  were,  in  the 
Dutch  Church  which  stood  at  the  intersec- 
tion of  Broadway  and  State  street,  (between 
1656-1715,  of  timber,  and  1715-1805  of  stone) 
and  when  it  was  taken  down  in  1805,  that  the 
street  might  not  be  hampered  in  traffic,  the 
material  was  employed  in  the  construction  of 
the  new  church,  above  referred  to,  on  Beaver 
street,  and  the  cornerstone  of  the  new  edifice 
laid  on  April  30,  1806,  so  that  at  his  death 
in  1776,  it  is  unlikely  that  he  was  buried  there 
directly,  although  it  is  shown  that  his  remains 
were  removed  from  the  church  lot  in  1803,  by 
his  grandson,  Abraham  Hun,  to  the  vault 
which  he  had  erected  on  a  lot  on  Chestnut 
street,  between  Hawk  and  Swan  streets. 
When  regrading  took  place,  this  vault  was 
abandoned,  and  the  bodies  therein  removed 
to  the  Buena  Vista  farm  at  Normanskill, 
reached  in  1900.  by  following  Delaware  ave- 
nue to  the  creek.  The  bodies  were,  about 
the  time  of  this  latter  date,  reinterred  in  the 
Hun  lot  in  the  Albany  Rural  cemetery.  He 
married.  May  4,  1725,  Anna,  daughter  of 
Francis  and  Elsie  (Gansevoort)  Winne.  She 
died  March,  1759.  Children:  i.  Thomas, 
born  June,  1726,  died  December  14,  1731.  2. 
Elsie,  May  16,  1728,  died  January  4,  1732.  3. 
Elsie,  March  18.  1733;  married.  May  19, 
1757,  Philip,  son  of  Johannes  Janse  and  Geer- 
truy  (-Schuyler)  Lansing;  eight  children.  4. 
Thomas,  see  forward. 

(VI)  Thomas  (2),  son  of  Johannes  and 
Anna  (Winne)  Hun,  was  born  in  Albany, 
New  York,  February  28,  1736,  died  there  No- 
vember 17,  1802.  He  was  agent  for  Patroon 
Steplien  \'an  Rensselaer  and  was  a  surveyor. 
He  built  a  house  on  the  east  side  of  Broad- 
way,  (then  Market  street)  fifty  feet  south  of 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


197 


Maiden  Lane,  demolished  in  1845.  He  mar- 
ried, in  Albany,  Aiisjust  27,  1761,  the  Rev. 
Eliardiis  Westerlo  officiating,  Elizabeth  Wen- 
dell, born  in  .Albany,  September  2,  1738, 
daughter  of  .\braham  and  Geertruy  (Bleeck- 
er)  Wendell.  Children,  born  in  .Albany:  i. 
.Annetje,  September  15,  1763,  died  in  Penn 
Yan,  New  York,  October  17,  1848;  married, 
Albany,  May  19,  1795,  Rev.  John  Bassett ; 
five  children.     2.  Abraham,  see  forward. 

(AH)  .Abraham,  son  of  Thomas  (2)  and 
Elizabeth  (Wendell)  Him,  was  born  in  Al- 
bany. New  York,  February  17,  1768.  He  died 
there,  January  29,  18 12,  and  was  placed  in 
his  own  vault  on  Chestnut  street,  between 
Hawk  and  Swan  streets.-  He  graduated  from 
Columbia  College,  immediately  afterward 
took  up  the  study  of  law,  and  forming  a  part- 
nership with  Rensselaer  Westerlo,  half  broth- 
er of  the  Patroon  of  the  \'an  Rensselaer  Man- 
or, acted  as  agent  for  Stephen  Van  Rens- 
selaer until  his  death.  He  resided  in 
his  house  on  the  east  side  of  Mar- 
ket street  (later  Broadway),  which  was 
situated  about  fifty  feet  south  of  Maid- 
en Lane,  which  site  was  later  built  upon 
when  the  Stanwix  Hall  Hotel  was  erected, 
and  he  also  owned  a  well  cultivated  farm  of 
about  three  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres 
extending  along  and  northward  back  from  the 
Normanskill  creek  (at  the  end  of  Delaware 
avenue  in  1900),  which  place  he  called  "Bue- 
na  \ista."  after  the  battle  in  which  General 
Taylor  figured.  On  the  brow  of  the  hill,  he 
built  a  summer  residence,  which  his  son 
Thomas  reconstructed  in  1852,  at  about  the 
same  time  the  farm  was  reduced  to  about 
twenty-five  acres.  He  married,  in  .Albany,  Sep- 
tember 22.  1796,  Rev.  John  Bassett  officiating, 
]\raria.  daughter  of  Judge  Leonard  and  Maria 
(\'an  Rensselaer)  Gansevoort.  She  was  born 
in  .Albany,  New  York,  February  17,  1778, 
died  there,  October  19,  1813.  and  was  buried 
in  her  husbantrs  vault,  as  mentioned.  Chil- 
dren: I.  Elizabeth,  born  January  13,  1798, 
died  -Albany,  June  9,  1804.  2.  Alaria,  July 
23.  1800,  died  .April  i,  1801.  3.  Elizabeth, 
July  I,  1804;  married,  Albany,  April  4,  1833, 
Bernard  S.  \'an  Rensselaer ;  died  Albany, 
July  I,  1834.  4.  Ann  Maria,  Albany,  Oc- 
tober II,  1807,  died  October  27,  1807.  5. 
Thomas,   see   forward. 

(VUl)  Thomas  (3)  Hun,  M.D.,  son  of 
Abraham  and  Maria  (Gansevoort)  Hun,  was 
born  in  .Albany,  New  York,  September  14, 
1808,  died  at  his  residence.  No.  31  Elk  street, 
Albany,  June  2^,  1896.  Losing  both  parents 
at  an  early  age,  he  and  his  sister  Elizabeth 
were  brought  up  by  their  maternal  grandpar- 
ents. Judge  and  Mrs.  Leonard  Gansevoort,  Jr. 


He  received  his  earliest  education  as  a  lad  at 
a  private  school  conducted  by  an  Englishman 
and  his  wife,  Mr.  and  Airs.  Upfold,  and  in 
18 18  entered  the  Albany  Boys'  Academy, 
where  he  remained  until  graduation,  follow- 
ing a  complete  course  which  fitted  him  for 
college.  He  was  intelligent  and  studious, 
possessing  a  decided  character,  which  ac- 
counted for  his  always  standing  high  in  his 
various  classes.  Because  of  his  more  than 
customar\'  preparation  and  industry,  when 
only  sixteen  years  of  age.  he  was  able  to  enter 
the  junior  class  of  L^nion  College,  in  the  fall 
of  1824,  following  his  graduation  from  the 
Academy,  and  while  there  his  "chum''  was 
the  popular  Professor  Isaac  W.  Jackson.  He 
graduated  with  honors  in  1826.  taking  the 
degree  of  .A.B.  After  leaving  college,  he  be- 
gan the  study  of  medicine,  for  which  he  had 
a  decided  leaning,  and  entered  the  office  of 
Dr.  Piatt  Williams,  a  practitioner  of  eminence 
in  .Albany.  After  serving  thus  as  a  student, 
he  entered  the  medical  department  of  the  Un- 
iversity of  Pennsylvania,  in  1827,  and  com- 
pleting the  full  course,  graduated  in  1830 
with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  He 
returned  to  Albany  and  commenced  to  prac- 
tice with  his  former  instructor.  Dr.  Williams. 

\\'hen  the  cholera  epidemic  broke  out  in  the 
summer  of  1832,  a  cholera  hospital  was  in- 
stituted in  .Albany,  and  he  was  appointed  one 
of  the  physicians.  The  death  rate  was  alarm- 
ingly high,  with  more  funerals  each  da\-  than 
could  be  arranged  for,  and  everyone  afraid 
to  mix  with  his  neighbors.  Burning  barrels 
of  tar  filled  the  atmosphere  with  a  heavy 
smoke,  calculated  to  purify  the  air.  Dr. 
Hun's  position  was  unenviable  and  heroic. 
He  discharged  his  duties  with  fortitude  and 
skill,  until  the  closing  of  the  hospital  in  the 
cold  weather,  when  the  scourge  was  stamped 
out.  In  the  spring  of  1833  he  went  to  Eur- 
ope to  prosecute  his  studies  further,  and  ex- 
cepting two  brief  visits  to  his  home,  remained 
there,  residing  chiefly  in  Paris,  until  1839. 
The  si.x  years  of  foreign  study  afforded  him 
a  liberal  range  of  experience,  attending  the 
large  hospitals,  and  he  gradually  limited  his 
wider  range  of  the  sciences  to  a  knowledge 
of  practice. 

During  his  last  year  abroad,  the  .Albany 
Medical  College  was  organized  and  incorpor- 
ated, and  before  his  return  home  in  1839, 
he  was  invited  to  accept  the  professorship  of 
the  Institutes  of  Medicine.  He  accepted,  and 
his  inaugural  address  excited  considerable  in- 
terest and  admiration  from  its  large  grasp  of 
principles  as  well  as  by  rea.son  of  its  lucid 
style  and  forcible  illustrations.  The  students 
came  to  regard  his  lectures  as  the  most  in- 


198 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


teresting'  and  instructive,  which  abiUty  on  his 
part  greatly  increased  the  reputation  of  the 
young  college.  He  continued  these  lectures 
until  1858,  when  he  resigried  to  devote  all  his 
time  to  his  practice,  which  had  grown  to  be 
the  best  in  Albany,  and  demanded  this  atten- 
tion. 

\\'hen  the  Albany  Hospital  was  incorpora- 
ted in  1848,  Dr.  Hun  became  one  of  the  board 
of  consulting  physicians,  and  had  subsequent- 
ly held  the  same  position  with  St.  Peter's 
Hospital,  Albany.  He  was  made  president 
of  the  New  York  State  Medical  Society  in 
1862,  and  his  inaugviral  address  attracted 
much  favorable  comment,  despite  his  theories 
in  opposition  to  the  traditional  ideas  of  medi- 
cal theory  and  practice.  He  maintained  that 
neither  medicine  nor  the  physician,  although 
both  were  of  importance  in  their  place,  ever 
cured  disease ;  that  the  curative  power  rested 
in  nature  alone,  and  the  function  of  the  phy- 
sician not  to  "cure" ;  but  to  preside  over, 
watch  and  aid  the  efforts  of  nature  to  cure, 
by  recognizing  the  true  character  of  the  dis- 
ease, its  course,  its  processes  and  effects,  also 
the  accidents  and  dangers  to  which  it  is  lia- 
ble, and  thus  to  be  able  to  secure,  as  far  as 
possible,  such  favorable  circumstances,  aids 
and  conditions  as  may  be  most  contributory 
to  the  restorative  powers  of  nature.  He  was 
unanimously  called  to  be  dean  of  faculty  of 
the  Albany  Medical  College.  He  was  espec- 
ially noted  as  a  practitioner  for  his  sagacity 
and  accuracy  in  the  diagnosis  of  disease,  and 
also  for  his  calm,  far-sighted  comprehension 
of  the  constitutional  tendencies  affecting  the 
case  called  to  his  attention.  He  was  always 
studiously  inclined,  contemplative  and  given 
to  thought  along  philosophical  and  metaphy- 
sical lines,  for  ethical  investigation  was  a  de- 
light for  him.  Xo  physician  in  Albany  ever 
stood  higher  in  the  confidence  of  both  the  pro- 
fession and  the  public.  He  was  a  devout 
Christian,  worshipping  at  the  Episcopal  Cath- 
edral of  All  Saints,  a  man  possessing  the 
warmest  of  hearts  for  the  distressed.  He 
had  been  an  alderman,  and  at  his  death  was 
president  of  the  Albany  Academy  board  of 
trustees. 

Dr.  Tliomas  Hun  married,  in  Albany,  New 
York,  April  29.  1841,  the  Rev.  Horatio  Pot- 
ter, rector  of  St.  Peter's  Church  officiating, 
Lydia  Louisa,  daughter  of  Hon.  Marcus  Tul- 
lius  and  his  (first)  wife,  Cynthia  (Herrick) 
Reynolds.  She  was  born  in  Amsterdam, 
New  York,  September  11,  1817,  died  at  her 
residence,  No.  31  Elk  street,  Albany,  January 
26,  1876,  and  was  buried  in  the  Albany  Rural 
cemetery.  Her  father,  Marcus  T.  Reynolds, 
an  attorney  of  Albany  and  one  of  the  ablest 


of  his  times,  was  born  in  Minaville,  Montgom- 
ery county.  New  York,  December  29,  1788, 
son  of  Dr.  Stephen  Reynolds,  of  Amster- 
dam, and  died  at  No.  25  North  Pearl  street, 
Albany,  July  11,  1864.  Her  mother,  Cynthia 
(Herrick)  Reynolds,  was  daughter  of 
Benjamin  and  Cynthia  (Brush)  Her- 
rick, the  latter  a  daughter  of  Rich- 
ard Brush ;  she  was  born  at  Amenia,  New 
York,  December  26,  1794,  died  at  Amsterdam, 
New  York,  November  25,  1820.  Benjamin 
Herrick  was  the  son  of  Benjamin  and  Sarah 
(Denton)  Herrick.  Mrs.  Thomas  Hun  was 
widely  known  through  her  endeavors  to  alle- 
viate the  condition  of  the  poor  and  ignorant, 
as  well  as  in  her  own  circle,  where  she  was 
welcomed  as  one  whose  mind  had  been  en- 
riched by  a  liberal  education  and  by  life-long 
habits  of  good  reading  and  reflection,  which 
gave  her  a  graciousness  of  character  and  bril- 
liancy of  conversation.  Her  chief  interest  lay 
in  planning  to  reform  what  was  evil  and  to 
aid  those  oppressed  by  undue  hardships,  in 
which  aim  she  was  always  practical  in  the 
carrying  out  of  her  admirable  ideas.  She  felt 
that  the  poor  needed,  even  more  than  money, 
sound  advice  and  cordial  encouragement.  She 
purchased  and  fitted  up  a  sort  of  model  tene- 
ment house,  to  occupy  which  became  an  es- 
teemed privilege,  and  here  she  watched  over 
them,  inculcating  habits  of  neatness  and  sav- 
ing. She  also  sought  to  establish  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  poor  reading  rooms  and 
a  place  of  cheerful  resort.  In  many  other 
similar  ways  she  led  a  worthy  life  and  died 
blessed  by  every  one  who  had  the  benefit 
of  her  acquaintance. 

Children  of  Dr.  Thomas  and  Lydia  Louisa 
(Reynolds)  Hun.  born  in  Albany:  i.  Ed- 
ward Reynolds,  born  April  17,  1842,  see  for- 
ward. 2.  Marcus  Tullius,  May  22,  1845,  see 
forward.  3.  Leonard  (jansevoort,  May  10, 
1848,  see  forward.  4.  John,  June  10,  1852, 
died  in  Albany,  August  16,  1852.  5.  Henry, 
March   21,    1854,   see   forward. 

(IX)  Edward  Reynolds  Hun,  M.D.,  eldest 
son  of  Dr,  Thomas  (3)  and  Lydia  Louisa 
(Reynolds)  Hun,  was  born  in  Albany,  New 
York,  April  17,  1842,  died  in  Stamford,  Con- 
necticut. March  14,  1880.  He  received  his 
early  education  at  the  Albany  Boys'  Acad- 
emy, which  he  entered  in  the  fall  of  1850.  He 
also  attended  boarding-school  at  Sing  Sing, 
(Ossining)  New  York,  and  at  Byfield, 
Massachusetts.  He  went  to  Harvard  and 
graduated  in  the  class  of  1863,  then  studied 
medicine  in  the  Albany  Medical  College,  and 
followed  this  with  the  regular  course  in  med- 
icine of  Columbia  University,  where  he  grad- 
uated in   1866.     He  visited  Europe,  studying- 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


199 


in  London  and  Paris  in  the  large  hospitals. 
Upon  returning  to  his  home,  he  engaged  in 
general  practice.  He  was  chosen  a  member 
of  the  Albany  Medical  College  faculty  in  1867, 
and  was  elected  a  member  of  the  American 
Medical  Association  in  1870,  and  of  the  Med- 
ical Society  of  the  State  of  New  York  in 
1873,  elected  its  secretary  in  1875  :  of  the  New 
York  Society  of  Neurology  and  Electrology, 
in  1873;  the  New  York  Neurological  Society, 
in  1874;  the  American  Neurological  Society, 
in  1876.  and  in  1875  was  elected  to  the  chair 
of  nervous  diseases  in  the  Albany  Medical 
College.  He  translated  Bouchard's  "Secon- 
dary Degeneration  of  the  Spinal  Cord,"  in 
1869,  and  was  the  author  of  "Trichina  Spira- 
lis." in  1869;  "The  Pulse  of  the  Insane,'' 
in  1870,  and  "Haematoma  Auris,"  in  1870; 
also  contributing  valuable  scientific  matter 
along  lines  of  his  investigation  to  a  number 
of  medical  journals.  From  1869  until  his 
■death,  he  was  the  attending  physician  at  St. 
Peter's  Hospital,  and  from  1876,  at  the  Al- 
bany Hospital.  He  was  special  pathologist  to 
the  New  York  State  Lunatic  Asylum  at  Uti- 
ca.  New  York,  for  several  years. 

From  the  outset  of  his  professional  life,  he 
had  an  unusually  large  and  responsible  prac- 
tice, and  rose  rapidly  to  professional  promi- 
nence. He  was  greatly  interested  in  the  ad- 
vance of  medicine  and  in  new  scientific  meth- 
ods and  appliances.  He  possessed  unusual 
qualities  of  mind,  and  great  quickness  of  per- 
ception in  detecting  the  characteristics  of  dis- 
ease. His  nature  was  an  ardent  and  sympa- 
thetic one.  Some  years  before  his  death  he 
met  with  a  serious  accident  while  driving  on 
the  Troy  road  with  Mr.  Dean  Sage,  and  from 
that  time  his  health  gradually  failed.  He  suf- 
fered a  stroke  of  apoplexy  while  recreating  at 
Stamford,  Connecticut,  ]\iarch  14,  1880. 

Dr.  Edward  Reynolds  Hun  married,  at 
Troy,  New  York,  April  29,  1874,  Caroline  De 
Forest,  daughter  of  John  B.  Gale  (son  of 
Samuel  and  Mary  E.  (Thompson)  Gale)  and 
Elizabeth  V.  S.  Wells  (daughter  of  Philander 
and  Elizabeth  (McDonald)  Wells)  ;  she  was 
"born  in  Troy,  December  27.  1848.  Children: 
I.  Lydia  Louise,  born  in  Albany,  New  York, 
July  8,  1875  :  married,  .\lbany,  April  29,  1903, 
Frederick  Williams  Kelley,  son  of  James  B. 
and  Alice  (Williams)  Kelley,  who  was  born 
in  Albany,  December  15,  1870;  children: 
Alice  W'illiams  Kelley.  born,  Albany,  Novem- 
ber 26,  1904,  and  Frederick  Williams  Kel- 
ley, born,  Albany,  January  18,  1908.  2.  Eliz- 
abeth Gale.  Albany,  November  5,  1876,  died, 
Albany,  October  15,  1889.  3.  John  Gale.  Al- 
bany, November  21,  1877:  married.  Westfield, 
Massachusetts,  June  26,  1906,  Leslie  Stafford, 


daughter  of  Rev.  Lyndon  Smith  and  Susan 
Van  Vranken  (Doolittle)  Crawford,  born  in 
Smyrna,  Turkey,  May  I,  1881  ;  children:  Les- 
lie Crawford  Hun,  born,  Princeton,  New  Jer- 
sey, October  21,  1907,  and  Elizabeth  Gale 
Hun,  born,  Albany,  July  9,  1909.  4.  Katha- 
rine, born,  Stamford,  Connecticut,  January 
21,  1880;  married,  Albany,  April  29,  1907, 
William  Law  Learned  Peltz,  son  of  John  De 
Witt  and  Mary  Marvin  (Learned)  Peltz, 
born  in  .\lbany.  May  27,  1882:  children:  Car- 
oline Peltz,  born  Albany,  February  19,  1908, 
and  William  Learned  Peltz,  born,  Albany, 
February  11,  1909. 

(IX)  Marcus  Tullius,  second  son  of  Dr. 
Thomas  (3)  and  Lydia  Louise  (Reynolds,) 
Hun,  was  born  in  the  house  on  the  southeast 
corner  of  North  Pearl  street  and  Maiden 
Lane,  Albany,  New  York,  May  22,  1845.  He 
attended  a  school  on  the  east  side  of  North 
Pearl  street  above  Clinton  avenue,  kept  by  a 
Mrs.  Williams,  until  he  became  of  sufficient 
age  to  enter  the  Albany  x\cademy.  where  he 
remained  until  the  fall  of  the  year  1859,  when 
he  was  entered  as  a  student  at  Dummer  Acad- 
emy, Byfield  (near  Newburyport),  Massa- 
chusetts, under  Professor  Flenshaw.  He  re- 
mained at  Dummer  Academy  for  one  term, 
at  tiie  end  of  which  Professor  Henshaw  gave 
up  the  charge  of  the  school.  Mr.  Hun  then 
returned  to  Albany  and  attended  the  remaind- 
er of  that  year  at  the  Albany  Academy.  In 
the  fall  of  i860  Mr.  Hun  entered  a  school 
at  Lancaster,  Massachusetts,  kept  by  a  Mr. 
Kimball,  with  whom  he  boarded.  He  re- 
mained at  that  school  for  one  year,  and  in 
the  fall  of  1861  entered  Union  College,  Sche- 
nectady, from  which  he  was  graduated  in  the 
summer  of  1865.  In  the  fall  of  1865  he  en- 
tered the  Albany  Law  School,  from  which 
institution  he  was  graduated  in  the  spring  of 
1866.  He  then  passed  his  examination  before 
the  examiners  appointed  by  the  supreme  court 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  entered 
the  office  of  Meads  &  Reynolds  as  a  law  stu- 
dent and  after  some  two  years  became  a  part- 
ner with  Orlando  Meads,  and,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Meads  &  Hun  continued  the  practice 
of  the  law  in  partnership  with  Mr.  Meads 
until  1872,  when  the  partnership  was  dis- 
solved, and  the  same  year  he  formed  a  co- 
partnership with  his  younger  brother,  Leonard 
G.  Hun.  In  January,  1872,  Mr.  Hun  was  ap- 
pointed deputy  attorney  general  by  General 
Francis  C.  Barlow.  For  the  ensuing  two 
years  he  acted  as  deputy  attorney  general,  at 
the  same  time  continuing  the  private  practice 
of  the  law  with  his  brother.  He  retired  from 
the  attorney  general's  office  at  the  expiration 
of  the  term  of  General  Barlow,  December  31, 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


1873.  Russell  yi.  Johnston  was  afterwards 
admitted  into  this  firm,  and  subsequently  the 
Hon.  Learned  Hand.  In  1902  Mr.  Hun 
formed  a  new  copartnership  with  his  son-in- 
law,  Lewis  R.  Parker,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Hun  &  Parker,  and  to  this  firm,  Thomas  Hun, 
son  of  Marcus  T.  Hun,  was  subsequently,  in 
1909,  admitted  as  a  member. 

Mr.  Hun  was  appointed  in  January,  1874, 
by  the  governor,  secretary  of  state  and  at- 
torney general,  reporter  of  the  supreme  court, 
pursuant  to  chapter  99  of  the  laws  of  1869,  in 
the  place  of  Abraham  Lansing,  resigned.  Im- 
mediately on  his  appointment  he  prepared  and 
submitted  to  the  justices  and  presented  to  the 
legislature,  a  bill,  by  the  provisions  of  which 
the  power  to  appoint  a  reporter  of  that  court 
was  given  to  its  justices.  This  bill  was  op- 
posed in  the  legislature  and  defeated,  al- 
though apparently  required  by  section  23  of 
article  \T.  of  the  constitution  of  the  state. 
The  next  year  (1875)  the  bill  was  again  pre- 
sented to  the  legislature  and  passed,  conferr- 
ing this  power  of  appointment  of  its  reporter 
upon  the  justices  of  the  supreme  court.  In 
Alarch.  1874,  ('not  having  been  able  to  se- 
cure the  passage  of  the  bill  presented  by  him 
to  the  legislature  that  year)  Mr.  Hun  began 
the  publication  of  the  series  of  supreme  court 
reports,  seven  volumes  of  which  had  been 
edited  by  his  predecessor,  Abraham  Lansing. 
In  June,  1875,  he  was  appointed  reporter  of 
the  supreme  court  by  the  justices  of  the  sev- 
eral general  terms  of  that  court  pursuant  to 
the  provisions  of  the  law  chapter  131,  of  the 
laws  of  1875,  the  passage  of  which  had  been 
secured  by  him.  At  the  end  of  consecutive 
terms  of  office  of  five  years  he  was  reap- 
pointed by  the  justices  first  of  the  general 
terms  of  the  supreme  court  and  subsequently 
by  the  justices  of  the  appellate  divisions  of 
the  supreme  court,  and  continued  the  publica- 
tion of  the  reports  until  the  fall  of  1905,  (pub- 
lishing in  all  200  volumes  of  these  reports)  at 
which  time,  Mr.  Hun  declining  a  reappoint- 
ment, Jerome  Pi.  l-'isher  was  apjiointed  re- 
porter in  his  place,  at  a  convention  of  the 
justices,  held  at  the  city  of  Albany.  October 
24,  1905.  At  this  convention  resolutions  were 
adopted  by  the  justices  in  reference  to  Mr. 
Hun's  retirement,  which  are  published  in  vol- 
mne  108  of  the  appellate  division  reports. 

In  party  politics  Mr.  Hun,  while  an  earnest 
Abolitionist  during  the  civil  war,  never  took 
any  active  part.  The  conditions  which  at- 
tended party  management  were  not  acceptable 
to  him.  He  was,  however,  always  largely  in- 
terested in  public  affairs  and  in  procuring  a 
decent  and  honest  administration  of  them. 
The  conditions  which  prevailed  in  the  govern- 


ment of  the  city  and  county  of  Albany  in  the 
seventies  were  very  scandalous,  and  with  a 
view  to  the  establishment  of  a  better  condi- 
tion of  affairs  a  Citizens'  Association  was  or- 
ganized by  him,  the  executive  committee  of 
which  was  known  as  the  committee  of  thir- 
teen. The  creation  of  this  Citizens"  Associa- 
tion arose  out  of  an  action  brought  by  him  in 
February,  1878,  to  enjoin  the  payment  by  the 
city  of  Albany  of  a  fraudulent  claim  presented 
against  the  city  for  alleged  work  done  upon 
the  building  on  the  southwest  corner  of  South 
Pearl  and  Howard  streets  in  that  city.  In 
this  litigation  of  Anthony  Bleecker  Banks, 
Erastus  Corning,  Henry  H.  Martin,  J.  How- 
ard King,  Thomas  W.  Olcott,  Franklin  Town- 
send.  John  H.  \*an  Antwerp,  Frederick 
Townsend,  Charles  B.  Lansing  and  Matthew 
Hale  against  Nathan  D.  \A'endell  and  others, 
he  was  successful  at  the  trial  term  and  on  the 
appeal  to  the  general  term  of  the  supreme 
court,  and  prevented  the  payment  of  the  claim 
by  the  city.  The  favorable  outcome  of  this 
action  gave  encouragement  to  many  of  the  cit- 
izens of  Albany,  some  of  whom  had  been 
plaintiffs  in  that  action,  to  organize  an  associa- 
tion which  prosecuted  for  a  period  of  some 
ten  years  a  ven,-  earnest  and  arduous  work 
of  establishing  a  better  system  of  administra- 
tion in  Albany  city  and  county.  Indeed  prior 
to  that  time  it  is  hardly  an  exaggeration  to 
say  that  there  existed  no  system  under  which 
the  taxpayers  had  any  adequate  redress  for 
the  wrongdoing  of  ]niblic  officials.  After  ten 
years  of  very  strenuous  effort,  the  procuring 
of  much  remedial  legislation,  and  the  carry- 
ing on  of  much  litigation,  during  which  the 
public  were  kept  advised  of  public  conditions 
by  annual  reports  made  by  the  committee  of 
thirteen,  narrating  the  wrongdoings  and  their 
remedies,  the  city  and  county  administration 
was  effectively  purified.  These  annual  re- 
ports, co])ies  of  which  can  be  found  in  the 
state  library  at  Aliiany.  are  an  interesting  re- 
cital of  what  can  be  done  by  citizens,  who 
hold  no  public  office  and  have  no  political 
influence,  by  a  persistent  recital  to  the  public 
of  the  evils  of  i>arty  mismanagement.  On 
May  30,  1885,  I\Ir.  Hun  was  presented  with 
a  service  of  silver  by  the  citizens  of  .Mbany 
for  his  gratuitous  services  in  this  work.  An 
account  of  the  presentation  appears  in  the  Al- 
bany Et-rnini;  Journal  of  that  date.  In  the 
final  outcome  of  this  movement  the  political 
complexion  of  the  city  was  changed  by  the 
permanent  substitution  of  a  Republican  for  a 
Democratic  majority.  The  committee  of  thir- 
teen still  (1910)  retains  its  organization  and 
exercises  a  supervision  over  the  affairs  of  the 
city  and  county,  and  on  occasions  represents 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


a  gathering  point  for  tlie  expression  of  public 
0])inion. 

This  work  in  which  Mr.  Hun  occupied  the 
most  prominent  part  was  a  signal  service  to 
the  city  in  which  he  and  his  ancestors  had 
resided  for  six  generations.  Mr.  Hun  was  a 
director  of  the  New  York  State  National 
Bank  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  a  trustee 
of  the  Albany  Trust  Company  for  several 
years.  In  the  fall  of  1909  he  was  elected  pres- 
ident of  the  .\lbany  Savings  Bank,  of  which 
institution  he  had  been  for  many  years  a 
trustee.  On  his  election  to  the  presidency  of 
the  Albany  Savings  Bank,  in  view  of  the  fact 
that  that  bank  carried  very  large  deposits  of 
money  in  other  financial  institutions  of  the 
city,  he  thought  it  proper  to  resign  his  posi- 
tions in  the  State  Bank  and  in  the  Albany 
Trust  Company.  Mr.  Hun  was  originally  a 
member  of  St.  Peter's  Episcopal  Church. 
When  Dr.  William  C.  Doane  was  elected  bis- 
hop of  Albany,  he  followed  the  bishop  and 
became  a  member  of  the  Cathedral  of  All 
Saints,  in  the  chapter  of  which  he  succeeded 
his  father,  Thomas  Hun,  on  the  latter's  retire- 
ment   therefrom. 

Marcus  T.  Hun  married,  in  Albany,  New 
York.  December  21,  1875,  Mary  Keith  Van 
der  Poel.  born  in  Albany,  November  26,  1854, 
daughter  of  Isaac  \'an  der  Poel,  son  of  James 
and  Anna  (Doll)  \'an  der  Poel,  born  May 
7,  1821,  died  in  Albany,  December  28,  1868, 
and  Susan  (Foster)  \'an  der  Poel,  daughter 
of  .\dams  and  ^lary  (Keith)  Foster,  born 
in  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania,  June  30,  1832, 
died  in  Albany,  October  11,  1907.  Mrs.  Hun's 
parents  were  married  May  14,  1850.  Chil- 
dren, born  in  Albany:  i.  Ellen  Van  der 
Poel,  born  February  25,  1877 ;  married,  Al- 
bany, October  18,  1902.  Lewis  Rathbone 
Parker,  son  of  General  Amasa  Junius  and 
Cornelia  Kane  (Strong)  Parker,  born  in  Al- 
bany, November  30,  1870:  children:  Lewis 
Rathbone  Parker,  born,  Albany,  October  19, 
1904,  and  Ellen  Parker,  born,  Albany,  May 
20,  1907.  2.  Mary  \"an  der  Poel,  April  2, 
1882.  3.  Thomas, 'October  28.  1883.  4.  Su- 
san Van  der  Poel,  April  29,  1888 ;  married, 
Albany,  February  20,  1909,  Stephen  Carlton 
Clark,  son  of  Alfred  Corning,  and  Elizabeth 
(Scriven)  Clark,  born  at  Cooperstown,  Ot- 
sego county.  New  York,  August  29,  1882; 
child,  Elizabeth  Scriven  Clark,  born  at  New 
York  City,  November  24,  1909.  5.  Elsie  Gan- 
sevoort,  July  10,   1896. 

(IX)  Leonard  Gansevoort,  son  of  Dr. 
Thomas  (3)  and  Lyrlia  Louisa  (Reynolds) 
Hun,  was  born  in  Albany,  New  York.  May 
10,  1848,  died  in  Boston.  Massachusetts, 
Alarch  11,  1891.     His  early  education  was  re- 


ceived at  the  Albany  Boys'  Academy,  which 
he  entered  in  the  fall  of  1856,  and  from  there 
went  to  Union  College,  but  before  completing 
the  course  left  the  college  to  enter  the  United 
State  Military  Academy  at  West  Point.  He 
made  a  brilliant  record  there,  and  was  grad- 
uated second  in  the  class  of  1868.  He  excelled 
the  leader  in  all  studies  excepting  one,  draw- 
ing, which  reduced  his  average  a  single  point 
below  his  competitor's  standing.  He  was  as- 
signed to  duty  at  Fort  Warren.  After  two 
years  of  military  life,  he  resigned  from  the 
army  to  return  to  Albany,  and  entered  the 
law  office  of  Orlando  Meads  and  Marcus  T. 
Hun,  his  elder  brother.  After  reading  law 
there,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  entered 
upon  the  joractice  at  No.  25  North  Pearl 
street,  the  firm  being  known  as  I\L  T.  &  L.  G. 
Hun,  Orlando  Aleads,  Esq.,  having  retired 
from  practice.  His  early  life  was  passed 
among  the  best  influences,  and  the  intellectual 
tendencies  which  he  inherited  were  assisted 
and  enlarged  by  close  application  to  books  and 
by  persistent,  almost  a  relentless,  determina- 
tion to  master  the  subject  in  hand.  The  log- 
ical and  mathematical  character  of  his  mind 
was  entirely  suited  to  a  semi-exact  science 
like  the  law,  and  at  an  early  period  in  his 
legal  career  he  had  won  high  appreciation  of 
his  legal  attainments.  His  practice  was  con- 
siderable although  he  was  averse  to  the  hurry 
and  struggle  of  the  trial  courts.  In  the  ap- 
pellate courts,  however,  he  was  very  success- 
ful, and  the  large  interests  entrusted  to  his 
care  proved  the  confidence  reposed  in  his  abil- 
ity. He  was  a  man  of  high  ambitions  in  his 
profession,  and  studied  law  as  a  science ;  was 
familiar  with  international  law,  and  gave  up 
much  time  to  the  consideration  of  the  Roman 
law.  of  which  he  gathered  together  a  very 
considerable  library.  In  politics,  although  a 
Republican  in  convictions,  he  reserved  the 
right  of  independent  judgment.  His  public 
interest  centered  chicflv  in  the  improvement 
of  the  conduct  of  civil  affairs,  mainly  along 
lines  of  honesty  and  economy.  He  was  ap- 
pointed on  the  commission  having  charge  of 
the  erection  of  the  new  City  Hall  in  1881. 
He  w-as  much  interested  in  charitable  under- 
takings and  devoted  both  time  and  money 
liberally,  towards  their  advancement  and  sup- 
I)ort.  He  was  attorney  for  the  Watervliet 
Turnpike  &  Railway  Company,  the  New  York 
State  National  Bank,  the  Albany  Savings 
Bank  and  the  Albany  Insurance  Company ; 
was  legal  adviser  of  James  Barclay  Jermain 
and  trustee  for  several  large  estates.  He 
traveled  extensively  abroad  ;  was  a  lover  of 
art,  and  a  collector  of  fine  Ixioks.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Cathedral  of  All  Saints.      He 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


went  to  Boston,  March  5,  1891,  to  seek  bene- 
fit from  medical  specialists,  and  died  suddenly 
on  the  nth,  at  Somerville,  ^Massachusetts.  He 
was  buried  in  the  Albany  cemetery. 

(LX)  Henry  Hun,  M.D.,  son  of' Dr.  Thom- 
as (3)  and  Lydia  Louisa  (Reynolds)  Hun, 
was  born  in  Albany,  New  York,  March  21, 
1854.  He  entered  the  Albany  Boys'  Academy 
in  the  fall  of  1865  and  graduated  from  it  in 
1870.  He  next  attended  the  Sheffield  Scien- 
tific School  of  Yale  College,  and  graduated  in 
1874,  after  which  from  the  Haryard  Medical 
College  in  1879.  He  then  spent  two  years 
studying  medicine  in  Europe,  after  which  he 
returned  to  Albany,  where  he  has  since  prac- 
ticed the  profession  of  medicine.  He  has  been 
Professor  of  Diseases  of  the  Neryous  Sys- 
tem in  the  Albany  Medical  College  since  1883, 
and  has  written  many  papers  and  pamphlets 
on  medical  subjects.  He  is  president  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  Albany  Academy. 
Henry  Hun  married,  Albany,  April  28,  1892, 
Lydia  Marcia,  daughter  of  Hon.  Samuel  and 
Lydia  Coit  (Learned)  Hand,  born  Albany, 
February  i,  1864.  Children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hun.  born  in  Albany:  i.  Henry  Hand,  No- 
vember 18,  1893.  2.  Katrina  de  Wandelaer, 
January  26,  1895,  died.  Albany,  February  14, 
1895.  '3.  Lydia  Marcia,  March  8,  1897.  4. 
Samuel,  February  20,  1900. 


The  family  name  of 
\'AN  VECHTEN  Van  Vechten  is  de- 
rived from  the  Dutch, 
signifying  that  those  who  bore  that  name  and 
were  met  on  their  journeyings  or  located  in 
other  places  than  on  the  original  estate,  came 
"from  the  Vechet"  river  in  Holland.  Three 
centuries  ago,  or  about  1600,  the  Van  Vech- 
tens  resided  in  Vechten,  province  of  Utrecht, 
Holland.  For  a  century  and  a  half  prior  to  the 
American  revolution  the  name  was  also  very 
commonly  spelled  Van  \'eghten.  and  this 
form  may  be  seen  signed  on  hundreds  of  the 
revolutionary  records  in  the  state  of  New 
York,  and  on  any  numl>er  of  private  docu- 
ments, wills,  deeds  and  family  Bible  records. 
Van  Vechten  arms :  Shield :  Sable,  a  fesse 
battled  counter,  embattled  and  cotised  argent. 
Crest:  Issuing  out  of  a  ducal  coronet  a  pair 
of  eagle's  wings  erect :  dexter  wing  sable :  sin- 
ister, argent.  It  was  borne  by  Tennis  Dirck- 
sen  Van  Vechten,  of  Vechten,  province  of 
Utrecht,  Holland,  prior  to  1638.  The  fesse 
crossing  the  shield  signifies  a  military  belt  of 
honor  conferred  by  the  monarch  for  some  es- 
pecial deed  of  valor,  and  the  battlements  show 
it  to  have  been  given  in  defence  of  an  attack 
on  a  fortress  of  great  strength. 

( I )    The    progenitor  of   the    \'an    Vechten 


family  in  America  was  Teunis  Dircksen  Van 
\'echten,  son  of  Dirck  Van  V^echten,  of  Ut- 
recht, who  came  to  this  country  in  1638  from 
Holland  in  the  ship  called  "The  Arms  of 
Norway."  He  brought  with  him  his  wife, 
child  and  t\yo  servants,  and  located  on  the 
bank  of  the  Hudson  river  opposite  Albany, 
but  a  little  south  of  the  city  proper,  where  he 
proceeded  to  engage  in  farming.  It  is  re- 
corded that  he  succeeded  to  the  farm  of 
Michael  Jansen  in  1646,  and  1648  found  him 
located  at  the  southern  end  of  Greenbush, 
changed  later  to  Rensselaer,  New  York.  In 
1663  he  is  chronicled  as  one  of  the  "old  in- 
habitants." He  was  sometimes  styled  "Poen- 
tie."  Their  children  (living  in  1700)  were: 
I.  Dirck  Theunise,  see  forward.  2.  Cornelis 
Theunise.  married  (first)  Sara  Salomense 
Goewey,  in  1668;  married  (second)  Annatje 
Leendertse;  married  (third)  Maria  Lucase 
Claase,  widow,  July  3,  1689.  3.  Gerrit  Theu- 
nise, married  (first)  Antje  Janse ;  married 
(second)  Greetje  Volckert,  daughter  of 
Volckert  Jans  Douw.  4.  Pietertje,  married 
Myndert  Frederickse  \'an  Yveren,  in  1663. 

(II)  Dirck  Teunis  (or  Theunise),  son  of 
Teunis  Dircksen  Van  Vechten,  purchased  Oc- 
tober 20,  1 68 1,  from  Stephen  \'an  Cortland 
"a  certain  tract  of  land  in  Catskill,  in  the 
county  of  Albany,  which  was  afterwards  con- 
firmed by  a  patent  under  the  hand  and  seal  of 
His  Excellency,  Thomas  Dongan.  State  Gov- 
ernor of  New  York,  bearing  date  the  21st  day 
of  March,  Anno  Domini.  1686."  It  was  made 
over  to  his  sons,  Samuel  and  Johannes  Van 
\'echten.  following  the  parent's  death,  by 
their  brothers,  Michael  and  Abraham,  by  deed 
bearing  date  March  30,  1715.  and  Johannes 
made  his  share  over  to  .Samuel,  August  9, 
1721,  thus  Samuel  acquired  the  property  and 
was  able  to  leave  it  by  will  to  his  nephew, 
Teunis,  Dirck  Teunis  Van  Vechten  died  No- 
vember 25,  1702.  His  will  was  made  April 
4,  1687,  and  proved  March  30.  1703.  He 
married  Jannetje,  daughter  of  Michiel  Jan- 
sen and  Fytje  (Hartman)  Vrelant,  of  Com- 
munipaw.  New  Jersey.  Children:  i.  Jan- 
netje, born  September  25,  1660.  2.  Wyntje, 
January  17,  1662:  married  Philip  Leendertse 
Conyn,  of  Coxsackie.  3.  Michiel,  November 
28,  1663;  married  (first)  Marytje  Parker, 
November  21,  1686;  married  (second)  Jan- 
netje Du  Mont,  April  2,  1691.  4.  Neeltje, 
March  24,  1665.  5.  Johannes,  June  24,  1666, 
died  single,  June  i,  1735.  6.  Teunis,  May  24, 
1668,  see  forward.  7.  Antje.  May  4,  1670.  8. 
Fytje.  December  6,  1671  ;  married.  May  23, 
1697,  William  Janse  Caspersc  Halenbeck.  of 
Coxsackie,  New  York.  9.  Samuel,  April  12, 
1673.  died  single,  March  30,   1741.     10.  .Saat- 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


203 


je  (Sara),  January  8,  1675.  11.  Abraham, 
April  14,  1679,  died  single  before  October 
16.  1739. 

( III )  Tennis,  son  of  Dirck  Teunis  and  Jan- 
netje  (Vrelant)  V'an  V'echten,  was  born  Alay 
24,  1668,  (lied  in  1707.  He  married,  Novem- 
ber 2S.  1^194.  Cathlyntje  (Caatje),  daughter 
•  of  Claas  Frederickse  \'an  Petten,  of  Schenec- 
tady. New  York.  Children:  i.  Dirck,  born 
Septeniljer  12.  1695 ;  married,  in  Kingston, 
Helena  Seulant  (or  Suybrant),  December  26, 
1722;  died  in  1782.  2.  Eve.  baptized  in  Al- 
bany, Alay  12.  1700:  married  Johannes  Suy- 
lant.  3.  Jannetje,  baptized  in  Schenectady, 
May  24,  1702.  4.  Maria,  baptized  in  Albany, 
June  4,  1704.  5.  Teunis,  born  April  i.  1707, 
see  forward. 

(I\' 1  Teunis  (2).  son  of  Teunis  (i)  and 
Cathlyntje  (Caatje)  (Van  Petten)  Van  \'ech- 
ten  of  Schenectady,  was  born  April  i,  1707. 
died  April  3,  1785.  He  lived  in  Catskill, 
Greene  county.  New  York.  He  married,  Jan- 
uary 9,  1742,  in  Kingston,  New  York,  Judik- 
je,  daughter  of  Jacob  Ten  Broeck,  of  that 
•place.  Children:  i.  Samuel,  born  Septem- 
ber 28.  1742:  married  Sara  Van  Orden  in 
1781  :  died  February  12.  181 3.  2.  Jacob,  born 
September  18,  1747;  married  Elsie  Staats, 
January  21,  1787;  died,  without  issue,  April 
30,  1806.  3.  Teunis  Teunissen.  born  April 
24.  1749.  see  forward.  4.  Elizabeth,  born  Oc- 
tober 6.  1757:  married  Hezekiah  \'an  Orden, 
June  2  (or  9).  1782;  died  February  17.  1813. 
5.  Abraham,  born  December  5,  1762,  see  for- 
ward. 

(\")  Teunis  Teunissen,  son  of  Teunis  (2) 
and  Judikje  (Ten  Broeck)  Van  Vechten,  was 
born  April  24,  1749.  He  was  a  prominent 
merchant  of  .Klbany.  with  his  store  in  1805 
located  on  the  west  corner  of  Broadway  and 
Maiden  Lane.  He  held  the  office  of  commis- 
sary on  the  staff  of  Governor  Morgan  Lewis 
during  the  revolution.  He  was  one  of  the 
foremost  citizens,  and  died  in  .Mbany,  Decem- 
ber 7,  181 7.  He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  Pieter  and  his  second  wife,  Anna  (Bogar- 
dus )  (\^an  \'echten)  De  Wandelaer.  Chil- 
dren: I.  Judith,  born  October  30.  1777:  mar- 
ried George  Pearson.  December  12,  1808.  2. 
Peter,  July  10.  1780;  died  June  3,  1795.  3. 
Annatje.  November  7.  1782,  died  Mav  31, 
1817.  4.  Teunis,  November  4,  1785,  see  for- 
ward.    5.  John,  March  23.  1788. 

(\')  .Abraham,  son  of  Teunis  (2)  and  Ju- 
dikje (Ten  Broeck)  \'an  Vechten,  was  born 
December  5.  1762.  He  was  a  man  of  con- 
siderable renown  throughout  New  York  state, 
adding  a  lustre  to  the  family  name  throughout 
a  century,  and  spoken  of  to  this  day  in  terms 
■of    highest    respect.      He    married,    May    20, 


1784,  Catharina,  daughter  of  Philip  Pieterse 
Schuyler,  by  whom  he  had  fifteen  children, 
and  died  in  Albany,  January  6,  1837.  Of  his 
character  and  attainments,  Joel  Munsell  spoke 
in  an  unimpassioned  estimate  as  follows : 
"This  distinguished  lawyer  and  statesman 
was  the  youngest  son  of  Teunis  Van  V^echten 
and  Judith  (Judikje)  Ten  Broeck.  Few  men 
have  been  called  to  so  extensive  a  sphere  of 
usefulness  and  filled  it  so  long  and  well  as 
Abraham  \'an  \'echten.  }Te  entered  upon  the 
scenes  of  active  lifeishortly  after  the  revolu- 
tionary war.  He  received  his  elementary  edu- 
cation at  a  public  school  in  Esopus,  which  has 
been  the  nursery  of  many  of  our  distinguished 
men.  He  pursued  his  professional  studies  un- 
der the  direction  of  the  late  Chancellor  Lan- 
sing, and  began  the  practice  of  law  in  the 
county  of  Montgomery,  but  was  soon  invited 
to  occupy  a  more  e.xtensive  field  in  the  cit}'  of 
Albany.  The  high  places  of  the  bar  were  then 
filled  by  a  gifted  race  of  advocates.  Among 
them  were  Hamilton,  Harrison,  Burr,  Jones 
and  Livingston.  But  the  brilliancy  of  the  bar 
could  not  cast  young  Van  \'echten  in  the 
shade.  He  soon  ranked  among  his  illustrious 
seniors  as  an  equal,  and  a  competitor  for  the 
highest  professional  eminence.  Untiring  in 
his  efforts,  the  powers  of  his  highly-gifted 
mind  were  continually  developed  and  ex- 
panded. His  intellect  was  formed  to  grapple 
with  the  most  abstruse  and  difficult  of  judicial 
investigations,  and  he  early  inured  himself  to 
the  most  intense  application  of  mental  indus- 
try. In  acuteness  and  the  ready  comprehen- 
sion of  any  subject  presented  for  his  investi- 
gation, he  had  few  equals,  and  nature  seemed 
to  have  furnished  him  with  powers  eminently 
adapted  to  the  illustration  of  legal  principles. 
He  made  no  display  of  legal  lore,  his  learning 
seemed  to  be  incorporated  with  his  thoughts. 
What  he  had  once  read  was  well  digested 
and  remained  every  ready  for  application.  .A. 
large  portion  of  his  life  was  spent  in  the  dis- 
cussion of  legal  questions  in  our  highest  tri- 
bunals of  law  and  equity ;  there  he  was  al- 
ways listened  to  with  profound  attention  by 
our  most  eminent  judges.  His  arguments 
were  calculated  to  elucidate  and  instruct,  and 
greatly  to  aid  the  tribunals  to  which  they  were 
addressed,  in  forming  correct  conclusions.  His 
style  was  remarkable  for  purity,  perspicuity 
and  strength.  His  train  of  thought  was  unim- 
passioned. yet  earnest  and  forcible.  His  tal- 
ents were  too  conspicuous  to  allow  him  to  con- 
fine his  efforts  to  the  bar.  He  was  repeatedly 
chosen  to  represent  his  fellow  citizens  in  both 
branches  of  the  legislature.  The  senate  cham- 
ber was  the  theatre  of  some  of  his  brightest 
intellectual  eft"orts.     .As  a  member  of  the  court 


204 


HUDSON  AND   I\IOHAWK  \"ALLEYS 


for  the  correction  of  errors,  he  has  left  be- 
hind him  enduring  monuments  of  his  legal 
wisdom.  For  a  number  of  years  he  filled  the 
office  of  attorney-general  with  distinguished 
ability.  At  an  early  period  of  his  life  a  seat 
on  the  bench  of  the  supreme  court  was  of- 
fered to  him  bv  Governor  John  Jay ;  a  similar 
oflfer  was  made  to  him  at  a  later  period.  He 
declined  these  protfered  honors,  preferring 
the  labors  of  the  bar  as  more  congenial  to 
his  habits  and  feelings.  The  causes  in  our 
books  of  reports,  in  whj^h  he  took  part  as 
counsel,  numerous  as  they  are.  give  but  faint 
idea  of  the  amount  of  professional  labor  per- 
formed by  him.  For  more  than  half  a  century 
his  brilliant  mind  was  constantly  shedding  its 
light  over  the  jurisprudence  of  the  state.  The 
bar  had  long  delighted  to  accord  him  the  high- 
est honors  it  could  bestow.  To  the  younger 
members  of  the  profession  he  had  greatly  en- 
deared himself  by  his  kindness  and  courteous 
manners,  and  by  all  he  was  venerated  as  an 
illustrious  model  of  professional  excellence. 
In  his  daily  consultations  with  his  clients  he 
was  emphatically  a  peacemaker.  It  was  his 
constant  habit  to  devise  the  settlement  of  dis- 
putes whenever  it  was  practicable.  He  al- 
lowed no  sordid  motives  to  influence  his  ad- 
vice, nor  to  bias  his  mind  in  giving  his  opin- 
ions." He  was  recorder  of  the  city  of  Al- 
bany from  1/97  to  1808:  state  senator  from 
1798  to  1805,  and  from  1816  to  1820:  mem- 
ber of  assembly  from  1805  to  1815;  attorney- 
general  of  the  state  for  the  year  1810.  and 
was  again  appointed  in  181 3.  and  served  two 
years,  and  was  a  member  of  the  constitutional 
convention  of  1821.  His  character  as  a  citi- 
zen in  the  private  walks  of  life  afforded  a 
model  to  the  younger  generation.  He  con- 
stantly displayed  in  his  daily  intercourse  with 
his  neighbors  and  acquaintances  the  most  am- 
iable social  qualities  which  adorn  the  human 
heart,  and  his  home  life  was  along  the  same 
lines.  He  married.  May  20,  1784,  Catharina 
Schuyler:  died  January  6,   1837. 

(\'I)  Teunis  (3),  son  of  Tennis  T.  and 
Elizabeth  (  De  Wandelaer)  \'an  \'echten,  was 
born  in  Albanj',  November  4,  1785.  He  grad- 
uated with  high  honors  at  Union  College,  and 
immediately  thereafter  took  up  the  study  of 
law,  entering  the  office  of  Chancellor  John 
Lansing.  Jr..  also  prosecuting  his  professional 
studies  under  Recorder  Baldwin,  John  Davis, 
Daniel  Cady  and  Charles  M.  Jenkins.  On  the 
death  of  his  illustrious  uncle,  Hon.  .\braham 
^'an  Vechten,  he  became  the  attorney  and  ad- 
viser of  General  Stephen  \'an  Rensselaer,  the 
patroon,  undertaking  the  arduous  duties  of 
settling  the  manorial  controversies  which  were 
so  stolidly  defended  that  they  resulted  in  the 


famous  anti-rent  feuds,  necessitating  the  sum- 
moning of  various  companies  of  state  militias 
from  up  and  down  the  river  to  quell  the  dis- 
turbances in  the  Helderbergs.  His  reputation' 
was  that  of  a  sound,  discriminating  lawyer,  a. 
man  abundantly  qualified  to  make  his  own 
mark  aside  from  the  brilliant  reputation  of  his- 
uncle.  He  was  typical  of  the  best  character- 
istics of  his  Holland  ancestry,  of  scrupulous 
integrity,  industry  and  economy,  and  none  the 
less  looked  up  to  as  one  of  the  city's  fore- 
most philanthropists,  in  his  home  all  devotion 
as  the  head  of  a  large  family.  Not  only  was 
Teunis  \'an  \'echten  proud  of  Albany  and 
ever  deeply  concerned  in  its  advancement,  but 
the  city  was  proud  of  him  as  a  citizen,  and' 
so  bestowed  on  him  its  greatest  honors,  eleva- 
ting him  by  the  steps  of  supervisor  and  alder- 
man to  be  the  chief  executive.  Four  times 
he  was  chosen  mayor.  The  first  three  terms 
he  was  elected  by  the  common  council,  as  was 
the  method  of  procedure  when  securing  a 
mayor  in  those  days,  and  the  fourth  time  by 
a  vote  of  the  people.  His  first  term  began 
May  15,  1837;  the  second,  Januan,-  i,  1838 — 
December  31,  1838;  the  third,  January  i, 
1839 — January  21,  1839,  when  he  resigned; 
the  fourth  term.  }ilay  11,  1841 — May  9,  1842. 
In  the  municipal  election  of  April  13.  1841. 
he  ran  against  Gerrit  Yates  Lansing,  and 
his  vote  was  2.449.  against  2.339  for  his  op- 
ponent. He  was  for  many  years  associated 
with  the  large  moneyed  institutions  as  direc- 
tor, and  with  both  charitable  and  religious 
societies  as  trustee.  His  residence  was  at  No. 
15  Montgomery  street,  when  that  was  the 
court  part  of  the  city ;  but  later  at  No.  725 
Broadway,  where  he  died  February  4.  1859, 
and  was  buried  in  the  Albany  Rural  ceme- 
tery. 

Hon.  Teunis  Van  \'echten  married.  Decem- 
ber 4,  1810.  Catharine  Cuyler,  daughter  of 
Hon.  Leonard  Gansevoort.  She  died  in  Al- 
bany, December  1.  1831.  aged  within  two 
weeks  of  being  seventy-eight  years  old.  Chil- 
dren: I.  Elizabeth  Ames,  born  February  20, 
1812.  died  .August  18,  1812.  2.  Leonard 
Gansevoort.  July  9.  1813,  died  July  24.  1837. 
3.  Hester  Elizabeth,  June  8,  1815;  married, 
June  28.  1838,  Dr.  John  H.  Trotter.  4.  Sam- 
uel, June  22,  1817.  5.  Teunis.  May  18.  1819, 
see  forward.  6.  John  Beeckman.  February 
10.  1822.  died  -April  16.  1822.  7.  Cuyler, 
February  2,  1823,  died  November  6,  1825.  8. 
John,  June  2~.  1824.  died  November  8,  1825. 
9.  Catharine  Cuyler.  June  8.  1826 :  married 
Elisha  P.  Hurlbut.  10.  Cuyler.  January  31, 
1830;  married  Hannah  R.  Hammond:  died 
July  ir.  1875. 

(\TI)  Teunis   (4).  son  of  Teunis  (3)  and 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   \^\LLEYS 


205 


Catltarine  Cuyler  (Gansevoort)  \^-in  \'ecliten, 
was  born  in  Albany,  May  18,  1819.  He  was 
educated  at  the  Albany  Boys'  Academy,  and 
when  a  young  man  was  connected  with  the 
large  hardware  firm  of  Pruyn  &  Vosburgh, 
and  later  entered  a  lumber  office  expecting 
to  make  it  his  business,  but  he  lived  mostly 
as  a  man  of  means  because  his  father  had 
discouraged  him  on  those  lines  in  which  he 
was  most  interested  himself,  and  he  did  not 
take  kindly  to  those  alTairs  which  most  con- 
cerned his  father.  He  attended  the  Dutch 
church  originally,  but  following  a  difference, 
left  it,  and  his  children  grew  up  as  Episco- 
palians. 

He  was  a  Republican,  and  although  he  was 
somewhat  interested  in  politics  never  held  any 
office.  He  was  captain  of  Company  B,  W'ash- 
ington  Continentals,  which  command  received 
his  best  attention,  and  it  was  while  marching 
with  his  men  in  parade  that  he  contracted  the 
sickness  resulting  in  liis  death.  This  oc- 
curred on  January  14,  1859,  at  his  handsome 
residence.  No.  725  Broadway,  Albany.  He 
married,  Albany,  July  20,  1838,  Margaret 
Trotter,  daughter  of  William  and  Margaret 
(Trotter)  Lush.  She  died  at  Albany,  No- 
vember, 1902.  Children:  i.  Margaret  Trot- 
ter, born  July  20,  1839 ;  married  Thaddeus 
W.  P.  Kendrick;  died  June  6,  1877;  children: 
Teunis  \'an  \'echten,  born  August,  1859; 
Margaret,  born  in  1865,  died  in  1865.  2. 
Catharine  Elizabeth,  September  i,  1842;  mar- 
ried, October  18,  1864,  James  Ten  Eyck; 
died  May  2;^,  1865.  3.  Anna  Lush,  Albany, 
February    18,    1845,   see   forward. 

(\Tn)  Anna  Lush,  daughter  of  Teunis 
(4)  and  Margaret  Trotter  (Lush)  Van 
\'echten,   was  born   in  Albany,   February   18, 

1845- 

She  was  educated  at  the  Albany  Fe- 
male Academy.  For  many  years  she  resided 
at  No.  2  Lodge  street  with  her  mother,  but 
in  1903  removed  to  No.  22  Elk  street,  the 
Young  Woman's  Christian  Association,  de- 
siring the  location  as  part  of  the  site  for  its 
new  building.  Unlike  many  another  house 
whose  beautiful  furnishings  are  of  the  long 
ago,  her  home  contains  those  things  which 
have  come  down  from  generation  to  genera- 
tion in  her  own  family,  and  it  is  a  treat  to  be 
permitted  to  sit  in  her  parlor  or  dining-room, 
surrounded  by  these  treasures  in  silver  and 
carved  woodwork.  Miss  Van  \'echten  takes 
a  deep  and  close  interest  in  a  number  of  chari- 
table works.  She  is  an  attendant  of  St.  Pe- 
ter's Episcopal  Church  and  a  manager  on  the 
boards  of  St.  Margaret's  House  for  Children, 
Home  for  Incurables,  Home  for  Aged  and  St. 
Peter's  Church  Guild  House. 


The    name    of    Ward    signifies    a 
W.VRD     kec]jer,  one  who  is  a  guardian  or 

a  defender.  The  Ward  family 
settled  in  \'irginia  in  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury, and  Samuel  Ward,  born  August  27, 
1724,  emigrated  from  that  state  about  the 
middle  of  the  eighteenth  century  to  settle  in 
Morris  Plains,  in  the  vicinity  of  Morristown, 
New  Jersey,  where  he  died  April  15,  1799. 
Left  an  orphan  in  his  boyhood,  he  had  been 
reared  by  an  older  brother  on  one  of  the 
frontier  settlements  on  a  southern  branch  of 
the  Potomac  river.  Governor  Gooch's  offer 
of  free  farms  in  the  rich  meadow  lands  of  this 
valley,  coupled  with  the  guarantee  of  religious 
toleration,  had,  about  the  year  1735,  attracted 
thither  a  great  number  of  immigrants  from 
the  colonies  of  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania, 
as  well  as  from  Europe.  These  colonists  not 
having  taken  the  precaution  to  secure  titles 
to  their  farms  in  the  proper  form,  subse- 
quently found  themselves  obliged  to  choose 
between  vacating  them  or  else  remaining  sub- 
ject to  the  most  onerous  terms  as  the  tenants 
of  Lord  Fairfax.  This  nobleman,  an  early 
patron  of  Washington,  emigrating  to  Vir- 
ginia after  these  settlements  had  been  made 
in  good  faith,  was  enabled,  by  a  peculiar  con- 
struction of  the  terms  of  the  Culpepper  grant 
which  he  inherited,  to  include  these  farms 
within  the  boundaries  of  one  of  his  great 
manors.  The  survey  for  this  purpose  was 
made  by  Washington  in  1748.  Following  it 
there  was  a  general  exodus  of  the  original 
settlers  who  deeply  resented  what  they  con- 
sidered most  unworthy  treatment.  Samuel 
Ward  married  Mary  Shipman  and  they  had  a 
son,  born  in  1767,  whom  they  named  Silas, 
see  forward. 

(H)  Silas,  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Ship- 
man)  Ward,  was  born  in  Morris  county,  New 
Jersey,  in  1767,  died  in  1862.  He  married 
Phoebe,  daughter  of  Daniel  Dod,  who  was  a 
descendant  of  Daniel  Dod,  an  early  settler  of 
Bradford,  Connecticut,  about  the  year  1646. 
The  Dod  family  has  long  been  noted  for  its 
mathematical  and  mechanical  ability.  Daniel 
Dod  was  the  first  man  to  make  mathematical 
instruments  in  this  country,  and  Dr.  Samuel 
B.  Ward  has  in  his  possession  a  clock  made 
by  Mr.  Dod  in  1813,  which  is  still  running 
and  keeping  the  best  of  time.  Albert  Dod, 
son  of  Daniel  Dod,  was  professor  of  mathe- 
matics at  Princeton  College.  It  was  Daniel 
Dod  who  established  himself  in  Elizabeth- 
town,  New  Jersey,  and  erected  shops  for  the 
construction  of  steamboat  machinery,  and  in 
1818  fitted  out  the  "Savannah,"  which  was  the 
first  vessel  to  cross  the  Atlantic  under  steam 
power.      New    Jersey    was    closely    identified 


206 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


with  the  early  progress  of  steam  navigation, 
and  her  legislature  had  been  the  first  to  en- 
courage Fitch,  a  former  resident,  who  in 
1787  constructed  the  first  practical  steam- 
boat, demonstrated  on  the  Delaware  river. 
Stevens,  of  Hoboken.  was  working  along  simi- 
lar lines  at  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  and  Robert  Fulton  had  his  workshop 
in  Jersey  City  when  constructing  his  "Cler- 
mont," which  demonstrated  in  1807  the  prac- 
ticability of  steamboating.  It  was  in  conse- 
quence of  these  interests  centering  in  that  lo- 
cality that  Dod,  reinforced  by  his  scientific 
knowledge  and  mechanical  skill,  was  called 
upon  to  supply  machinery  for  these  earliest  of 
steamboats,  and  shortly  won  an  exceedingly 
wide  reputation.  His  works  were  soon  the 
chief  ones  in  the  entire  country.  Children : 
John  D.,  born  January  6,  1795.  died  May  19, 
1873;  Lebbeus  Baldwin,  April  7,  1801.  see 
forward ;  Shipman,  twin  of  Lebbeus  B. ;  Sam- 
uel   S. ;    Caroline ;    Phoebe ;    Nancy. 

(HI)  Lebbeus  Baldwin,  son  of  Silas  and 
Phoebe  (Dod)  Ward,  was  born  April  7,  1801, 
died  in  New  York  City,  June  15,  1885.  He 
received  a  practical  education  and  was  a  man 
of  studious  habits,  of  trustworthy  judgment 
and  of  unusual  mechanical  ability.  It  was 
he  who  erected  the  celebrated  Hammersley 
Forge  in  New  York  and  thereby  won  a  wide 
reputation  as  a  builder  of  engines,  later  as  a 
manufacturer  of  heavy  wrought  iron  forgings. 
He  was  one  of  the  early  commissioners  of  the 
Metropolitan  board  of  police,  a  member  of 
assembly  in  1851,  and  his  brother,  John  D., 
served  as  chairman  of  the  commission  ap- 
pointed by  the  municipality  of  New  York  to 
construct  the  Croton  Aqueduct  and  the  High 
Bridge.  In  conjunction  with  his  two  brothers, 
John  D.  and  Samuel  S.,  he  built  the  first 
steamboat  and  the  first  railroad  ever  operated 
in  Canada,  their  firm  conducting  an  exten- 
sive business  in  Montreal  from  1820  to  1838. 
Lebbeus  B.  Ward  married  three  times,  his  first 
wife  being  a  Miss  Dickinson,  whom  he  mar- 
ried in  1828;  his  second  wife  was  Abby 
Dwight  Partridge,  whom  he  married  in  1838, 
born  in  Hatfield,  Massachusetts,  the  daughter 
of  a  noted  clergyman  descended  from  Pil- 
grim stock;  and  his  third  wife  was  Elizabeth 
Starr,  whom  he  married  in  1848.  Children 
of  second  wife :  Dr.  Samuel  Baldwin,  born 
June  8,  1842,  see  forward;  Willard  Partridge, 
October  12,  1845. 

(IV)  Dr.  Samuel  Baldwin,  son  of  Lebbeus 
Baldwin  and  Abby  Dwight  (Partridge) 
Ward,  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
June  8,  1842.  He  received  his  early  educa- 
tion at  private  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  fif- 
teen   he    matriculated    at   Columbia    College, 


graduating  from  that  institution  in  1861  witb 
third  honors.  He  then  entered  the  oftice  of 
the  celebrated  surgeon.  Dr.  Willard  Parker,, 
and  in  1861-62  attended  the  course  of  lec- 
tures at  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Sur- 
geons in  New  York.  He  entered  the  United 
States  service  in  1862,  and  became  acting 
medical  cadet  in  the  L'nited  States  army.  In. 
1864  the  medical  department  of  the  George- 
town University  conferred  upon  him  the  de- 
gree of  M.D.  In  1863  Dr.  Ward  became 
acting  assistant  surgeon.  United  States  army, 
and  shortly  afterward  President  Lincoln  com- 
missioned him  an  assistant  surgeon  of  L'nited 
States  Volunteers.  Following  the  termination, 
of  the  civil  war,  he  went  to  Europe,  there  tO' 
pursue  his  studies  in  medicine  and  surgery 
for  a  year  in  some  of  the  largest  hospitals 
of  the  Continent.  On  his  returning  from 
Europe,  he  was  made  professor  of  anatomy 
and  surgery  at  the  Women's  Medical  College- 
of  the  New  York  Infirmary.  He  also  became- 
attending  surgeon  of  the  Northern  Dispensary, 
consulting  surgeon  of  the  Dispensary  and 
New  York  Infirmary  for  Women  and  Chil- 
dren, visiting  surgeon  of  the  Presbyterian  Hos- 
pital in  New  York  City,  and  in  1872  was 
'commissioned  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Seventh. 
Regiment,  National  Guard,  State  of  New 
York,  with  the  rank  of  captain,  and  was  bri- 
gade surgeon  of  the  Ninth  Brigade,  National 
Guard,  State  of  New  York.  Dr.  Ward  re- 
moved to  Albany  in  1876,  where  he  has  since 
resided,  winning  further  honors  in  his  pro- 
fession. At  this  time  he  was  chosen  pro- 
fessor of  surgical  pathology  and  operative 
surgery  in  the  Albany  Medical  College,  and 
later  professor  of  theory  and  practice  of  medi- 
cine at  that  institution,  which  position  he  con- 
inues  to  hold.  He  also  becanie  the  attending 
surgeon  at  both  the  Albany  and  St.  Peter's 
hosi)itals,  the  leading  institutions  of  the  city. 
He  allied  himself  with  a  great  number  of 
prominent  organizations,  such  as  the  Asso- 
ciation of  American  Physicians :  the  Albany 
County  Medical  Society,  of  which  he  was 
made  president ;  a  permanent  member  of  the 
New  York  State  Medical  Society,  of  which 
he  was  elected  its  president ;  a  trustee  and 
president  of  the  Dudley  Observatory  of  Al- 
bany; a  trustee  of  the  Albany  Female  Acad- 
emy; ex-president  of  the  New  York  State 
Board  of  Survey ;  member  and  ex-president  of 
the  Fort  Orange  Club ;  member  and  ex-presi- 
dent of  the  Albany  Camera  Club,  and  mem- 
ber of  the  Albany  Country  Club,  Century  As- 
sociation of  New  York  City,  University  Club 
of  New  York  City  and  the  Lo\-al  Legion,  as 
well  as  a  number  of  social  and  scientific  or- 
ganizations.    Dr.  Ward  is  secretary  and  treas- 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


207 


urer  of  the  executive  committee  of  New 
York  State  Normal  College  at  Albany; 
member  of  the  board  of  governors 
of  Union  University ;  member  of  the  board 
of  governors  of  Albany  Hospital ;  former 
president  of  the  medical  examining  board  of 
the  civil  service  commissioners  of  the  state 
of  New  York.  The  University  of  Columbia 
conferred  on  him  the  degree  of  A.M.  in  1864, 
and  L'nion  L'niversity  that  of  Ph.D.  in  1882. 
To  the  leading  journals  of  the  country  he 
has  contributed  a  number  of  valuable  articles 
on  medicine  and  surgery,  and  being  recog- 
nized as  an  authority  on  specific  subjects  con- 
nected with  his  profession,  has  repeatedly  been 
called  upon  to  lecture  before  large  bodies. 
He  attends  St.  Peter's  Church,  Albany. 

Dr.  Ward  married  Nina,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam A.  Wheeler,  of  New  York,  October  10, 
1 87 1,  who  died  October  19,  1883,  by  whom 
he  had  three  children,  and  April  29,  1897, 
married  Grace  Fitz-Randolph  Schenck,  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  Noah  Schenck,  of  Brooklyn,  New 
York,  born  December  23,  1857.  Children: 
Nina,  born  January  18,  1874:  Annie  Wheeler, 
September  29,  1875;  married  Henry  M.  Sage; 
Samuel  Dwight,  April  15,  1880,  a  graduate 
of  Yale,  class  of  1903;  married,  June,  1909, 
Edna  Brady,  of  Brooklyn,  New  York. 

(V)  Annie  Wheeler,  daughter  of  Dr.  Sam- 
uel B.  and  Nina  (Wheeler)  Ward,  was  born 
in  New  York  City,  September  29,  1875.  She 
married  Henry  Manning  Sage,  of  Albany,  Oc- 
tober 29,  1895.  Children:  Anne  Erskine,  born 
January  27,  1897;  Katherine  Linn,  June  25, 
1898. 


From  entries  made  in 
A'AN  GAASBEEK     the    family    Bible    of 

Dominie  Laurentius 
\'an  Gaasbeek,  extracts  of  which  are  still 
preserved,  it  is  learned  that  his  parents  were 
Goevert  and  Jacomyntje  \'an  Gaasbeek,  pre- 
sumably residents  of  Leyden.  Holland.  From 
the  same  record  it  is  learned  that  they  had 
at  least  three  children :  Dominie  Laurentius, 
Cornelius  and  Cornelia. 

(H)  Among  the  first  of  the  Dutch  clergy 
educated  in  the  universities  of  Holland  and 
sent  to  this  country  by  the  classis  of  Am- 
sterdam, was  Dominie  Laurentius  Van  Gaas- 
beek. He  was  born  in  Holland  and  died  in 
the  city  of  New  York,  February,  1680.  He 
was  the  first  to  arrive  in  America,  and  was 
progenitor  of  all  who  bear  his  name  in  this 
country.  From  his  diploma,  secured  from  the 
University  of  Leyden,  it  appears  that  he  was 
graduated  from  that  university  wath  honors, 
May  25,  1674,  receiving  the  degree  of  M.D. 
He  married.  May  28,  1673,  Laurentia  Van  de 


Kellemaar  (died  ]\lay  3,  1703),  sister  of  Sarah 
Van  de  Kellemaar,  who  married  Dominie  Jo- 
hannes Wieckstein,  the  third  pastor  of  the 
Dutch  church  at  Kingston,  New  York.  After 
having  been  without  a  regular  pastor  for 
about  ten  years,  the  consistory  of  the  Dutch 
church  at  Kingston,  Hurley  and  Marbletown 
made  a  request  to  the  classis  of  Amsterdam 
for  a  pastor  to  be  sent  out  to  them  by  that 
body.  (The  original  call  in  the  Dutch  lan- 
guage with  the  signatures  of  the  consistory 
was  brought  back  to  this  country  by  Dominie 
\'an  Gaasbeek,  as  part  of  his  credentials,  and 
is  still  preserved).  In  response  to  this  call. 
Dominie  Laurentius  Van  Gaasbeek,  duly  ac- 
credited by  the  classis  of  Amsterdam,  sailed 
for  New  Amsterdam,  May  13,  1678,  arriving 
there  August  21  of  that  year.  He  departed 
for  the  town  of  Kingston,  in  Ulster  county, 
New  York,  where  he  arrived  with  his  family 
on  September  8,  1678,  and  delivered  his  first 
sermon  on  the  15th  of  the  same  month.  In 
consequence  of  the  protracted  vacancy  in  the 
pastorate,  the  church  had  become  somewhat 
weakened  and  scattered.  Dominie  Van  Gaas- 
beek at  once  set  to  work  with  vigor  to  re- 
cover some  of  the  ground  lost  in  the  previ- 
ous eleven  years.  He  was  zealous  in  the 
work  of  the  church,  and  faithful  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duties.  In  one  year  he  in- 
creased the  membership  to  one  hundred  and 
eighty.  During  his  pastorate  a  new  and 
substantial  stone  church,  forty-five  by  sixty 
feet,  was  erected  on  the  northeast  corner  of 
Wall  and  Main  streets.  It  was  built  in  the 
Holland  style,  with  highly-colored  painted 
window  glass  bearing  the  coat-of-arms  of 
William,  Prince  of  Orange.  The  new  edifice 
was  completed  and  dedicated  about  January 
I,  1680.  Dominie  \'an  Gaasbeek  did  not  live 
long  to  enjoy  and  preach  in  the  new  and 
commodious  church,  as  his  career  was  cut 
short  by  death  in  February,  1680.  He  was 
taken  sick  with  a  fever,  and  for  medical  treat- 
ment went  to  New  York,  where  he  died. 
Dominie  \'an  Gaasbeek  was  a  man  of  culture 
and  refinement,  having  been  educated  both  as 
a  physician  and  clergyman,  and  was  familiarly 
called  the  "Dominie  Doctor." 

He  was'  a  member  of  the  first  ecclesiastical 
body  of  the  Dutch  church  in  America.  la- 
the year  1679  Governor  Andros  authorized 
and  directed  the  Dutch  clergy  to  form  a 
classis,  and  ordain  Peter  Tesschemacker.  then 
a  candidate  for  the  ministry.  Accordingly 
Dominie   \'an   Nienivenhuysen,   Schaats,  Van 

Gaasbeek  and  Van  Z formed  a  classis 

and  examined  and  ordained  Tesschemacker  to 
the  university.  The  proceedings  of  this  clas- 
sis, convened  at  the  call  of  an  Episcopal  gov- 


208 


HUDSON  AND  ]MOHAWK  \-ALLEYS 


grnor,  were  afterwards  confirmed  by  the 
plassis  of  Amsterdam. 

The  widow  of  Dominie  Van  Gaasbeek, 
Laurentia  (Kellemaar)  Van  Gaasbeek,  mar- 
ried (second),  1681,  Major  Thomas  Cham- 
bers, Lord  of  thg  Manor  of  Foxhall,  who  de- 
parted this  Hfe  April  8,  1694,  leaving  his 
'  property  to  the  children  of  the  dominie,  and 
devising  his  manor  to  the  dominie's  only  son, 
upon  the  condition  of  his  assuming  the  sur- 
name of  Chambers.  Laurentia  married 
(third),  September  26,  1695,  Wessel  Ten 
Broeck,  Sr.  The  three  children  of  the  domi- 
pie  were  as  follows:  i.  Jacomyntje,  born  No- 
vember 26,  1673,  at  Leyden,  Holland,  died 
January  29,  1741 ;  married,  June  6,  1694, 
Wessel  Ten  Broeck,  Jr.     2.  JMaria,  December 

10,  1674,  at  Leyden,  Holland,  married,  1693, 
Francis  Salisbury.     3.  Abraham,  see  forward. 

(HI)  Abraham,  known  as  Abraham  Gaas- 
beek Chambers,  son  of  Dominie  Laurentius 
and  Laurentia  (Kellemaar)  Van  Gaasbeek, 
was  born  December,  1679,  died  September  28, 
1759,  buried  in  the  Foxhall  family  vault  at 
the  Strand  (Rondout),  Kingston.  New  York. 
He  married,  August  26,  1703,  at  New  York, 
Sarah  Bayard,  baptized  [March  11,  1683,  died 
November  13,  1739,  daughter  of  Peter  and 
•Blandina  (Kiersted)  Bayard.  Abraham  as- 
sumed the  surname  of  his  stepfather.  Major 
Thomas  Chambers,  and  inherited  the  lordship 
^nd  manor  of  Foxhall.  When  Abraham 
^Gaasbeek  Chambers  became  lord  of  the  manor 
of  Foxhall,  in  1700,  vested  with  all  its  privi- 
leges and  estates,  he  became  the  richest  and 
one  of  the  most  influential  men  in  the  Esopus. 
His  children:  i.  Laurentius,  born  July  11, 
1704,  died  October  15.  1705.  2.  Blandina, 
November  16,  1705,  died  August  7,  1784; 
married,  December  15,  1727,  Wessel  Ten 
Broeck.  3.  Thomas,  March  23,  1707,  see 
forward.  4.  Anna  Maria,  baptized  October  20, 
1708,  died  May  10,  1761  ;  married,  January 
12,  1735,  Lawrence  Salisbury.  5.  Lawrence, 
born   March   4,   1710,   died   August   16,    1785. 

6.  Peter,  July  21.  171 2,  died  (October  17,  1731. 

7.  Abraham,  October  21,  1714,  died  Decem- 
ber 31,  1715.  8.  Sarah,  April  30,  1716,  mar- 
ried, August  26,  1744,  Abraham  Delamater, 
Jr.  9.  Abraham.  December  3,  17 18,  married, 
June  I,  1 75 1,  Sarah  Ten  Broeck.     10.  Cathe- 

"rine,  December  3.  1718,  died  March  28.  1785; 
married,  January  6.  1738,  Anthony  Hoffman. 

11.  John,  December  26,  1720,  died  September 

8.  1759;  married,  August  i6,  1746,  Antje 
Louw.  12.  William,  January  10,  1723,  died 
November  6,  1792;  married,  December  7, 
1750,  Catharine  Delamater.  13.  Elizabeth, 
August  21,  1725,  died  March  26,  1734. 

(IV)  Thomas  Van  Gaasbeek,  son  of  Abra- 


ham Gaasbeek  and  Sarah  (Bayard)  Cham- 
bers, was  born  March  23,  1707,  died  1755. 
He  married.  December  22,  1732,  Margaret  El- 
mendorf,  baptized  October  24,  1708,  died  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1788,  daughter  of  Jacobus  and  Antje 
( Cool )  Elmendorf.  Thomas  was  the  eldest 
and  probably  the  most  esteemed  son,  and  heir- 
apparent  to  the  manor  of  Foxhall.  In  1750 
his  father  deeded  to  him  large  portions  of 
the  manor.  One  deed  bearing  date  of  De- 
cember 3,  1750,  is  in  consideration  of  two 
thousand  pounds.  Another,  dated  April  3, 
1752,  is  in  consideration  "of  the  natural  love 
and  affection  and  for  the  advancement  of 
the  said  Thomas."  In  1738  he  was  cornet 
in  the  company  of  troopers  imder  command 
of  Captain  John  Ten  Broeck.  He  died  in 
1752  and  was  buried  in  the  Foxhall  family 
vault  at  the  Strand  (Rondout),  which  stood 
where  the  present  residence  of  Janson  Has- 
brouck  now  stands.  Children:  i.  Thomas, 
baptized  September  9,  1733,  died  in  infancy. 
2.  Jacobus,  born  February  27,  1737,  see  for- 
ward. 3.  Sarah,  baptized  December  4,  1743, 
died  September  6,  1795:  married  Philip  Whit- 
taker.  4.  Antje,  baptized  January  11,  1747, 
married.  August  10,  1783,  Tobias  \^an  Steen- 
burg.  5.  Abraham,  January  14,  1750,  died 
1750.  6.  Elizabeth,  March  4,  1753,  married, 
February  5.  1781,  Jacob  Marius  Groen. 

(V)  jacobus,  son  of  Thomas  and  Margaret 
(Elmendorf)  Van  Gaasbeek,  was  baptized 
February  27,  1737.  died  January  2t,.  1825. 
He  married,  November  5,  1760,  Deborah  Kier- 
sted, born  July  4,  1745,  died  September  19, 
1836,  daughter  of  Christopher  and  Catharine 
(De  Meyer)  Kiersted.  Children:  i.  Catha- 
rine, born  April  20,  1768.  died  August  15, 
1854.  2.  Margaret,  December  13,  1769,  died 
1828.  3.  Thomas  Chambers.  August  29,  1772, 
died  August  15,  1857;  married,  November  10, 
1 79 1,  Alargaret  Folant.  4.  Ariaantje,  Feb- 
ruary 5,  1775,  died  August  14.  1852:  mar- 
ried, February  14,  1799,  William  Swart.  5. 
Christopher,  August  6,  1777,  died  December 
20,  1864;  married.  April  24,  1800,  Catherine 
Osterhout.  6.  Jacobus,  February  2,  1780;  see 
forward.  7.  Peter,  December  16,  1782,  died 
December  16,  1870;  married,  December  11, 
1810,  Catherine  Chipp.  8.  William,  August 
14,  1786,  died  August  14,  1786.  9.  Abraham, 
January  21,  1788,  died  Deceiuber  21,  1854; 
married,  July  9,  1811,  Catharine  Beekman. 

(\I)  Dr.  Jacobus,  or  James,  \'an  Gaas- 
beek, son  of  Jacobus  and  Deborah  (Kiersted) 
Van  Gaasbeek,  was  born  P^ebruary  2.  1780,  in 
Kingston,  Ulster  county.  New  "S'ork,  died 
April  14,  1863.  He  was  a  prominent  physi- 
cian in  Middleburg,  Schoharie  county.  New 
\'ork,  where  he  practiced  medicine  for  many 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK    VALLEYS 


209 


years.  He  was  long  connected  with  the  Re- 
formed church  of  that  town,  as  an  active  mem- 
her  and  elder.  He  married  (first),  October  i, 
1809,  Helen  Boyd,  born  at  Middleburg,  New 
York,  died  ■March  21,  1823.  daughter  of  Alex- 
ander and  Elizabeth  (Becker)  Boyd.  He 
married  (second)  Susan  Parsons  Sanderson, 
born  March  20.  1789,  died  September  12, 
1869,  daughter  of  David  and  Hannah  (Par- 
sons) Sanderson.  Children  of  first  wife:  i. 
Eliza  C,  born  August  4,  181 1,  married,  1836, 
Elijah  Parsons;  children:  Deborah,  John, 
Elijah,  Eliza  and  Edwin.  2.  Deborah, 
September  14,  1812;  unmarried.  3.  Mar- 
garet, August  4.  1814;  married,  1840,  Is- 
rael Larkin ;  children :  i.  Mary  Helen, 
born  September  15,  1841 ;  ii.  Susan, 
October  11,  1842;  iii.  John  G.,  August  29, 
1844;  iv.  Eliza,  January  2,  1846;  v.  James  E., 
May  10.  1848.  4.  Alexander  B.,  April  11, 
1816,  see  forward.  5.  William,  March  29, 
1818.  died  December  19,  1903;  married.  June 
6,  1840,  Helen  Ford;  children:  i.  William 
Alexander,  born  September  5,  1841 ;  killed 
in  civil  war;  ii.  Eliza  Jane,  February  15,  1843; 
aii.  Edwin,  January  20,  1847;  'v.  Helen  P., 
June  5,  1850;  V.  John,  June  9,  1856.  6.  John, 
Octot>er  20,  1820,  died  December  19,  1902; 
married  ;\lay  Groat  Groat,  of  Schenectady, 
New  York  ;  no  children.    7.  Edwin,  March  7, 

1823 ;  married  ;  had  one  son,  Edwin, 

•now  deceased.  By  his  second  wife  Dr.  Van 
Gaasheek  had  one  child,  Sarah  P.,  born  July 
14.  1826. 

(\'II )  Alexander  Boyd,  son  of  Dr.  Jacobus 
and  Helen  (Boyd)  Van  Gaasheek,  was  born 
in  Middleburg,  New  York,  April  11,  1816. 
He  was  educated  in  his  native  town  in  a 
private  school.  At  an  early  age  he  began 
■what  proved  to  be  a  long  and  successful  busi- 
ness career.  His  first  work  was  in  a  law- 
yer's office  in  Jiliddleburg,  and  for  a  short 
period  he  was  engaged  in  a  general  store  in 
that  town.  He  then  went  to  Lawyersville, 
where  he  was  employed  as  a  clerk  for  Peter 
Osterhout.  He  remained  in  that  position  for 
a  year,  and  in  1832  went  to  Albany  and 
clerked  for  John  Garnsey  in  the  dry  goods 
"business  for  the  following  two  years.  He 
then  secured  a  position  with  a  Mr.  Bagley, 
with  whom  he  remained  until  1836,  and  in 
that  year  started  in  for  himself.  In  connec- 
tion with  Frank  Aloseley  he  established  a 
dry  goods  business  under  the  firm  title  of 
Mosley  and  Van  Gaasheek.  This  partnership 
continued  four  years,  when  it  was  dissolved 
and  Mr.  Van  Gaasheek  continued  the  business 
by  himself  for  the  following  nine  years.  About 
this  time  gold  was  discovered  in  California. 
Like   many    another    of    his    day,    he   caught 


the  gold  fever,  sold  out  his  business  and 
started  for  Panama.  He  got  as  far  as  New 
York  City,  where  he  was  induced  to  associate 
himself  with  a  man  by  the  name  of  Reynolds, 
to  start  a  commission  business  in  Panama.  On 
arriving  at  the  Isthmus,  however,  he,  becom- 
ing dissatisfied  with  his  relations  with  Rey- 
nolds, decided  to  dissolve  the  partnership. 
This  accomplished,  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  Amos  Corwin,  at  that  time  United  States 
consul  to  Panama.  They  carried  on  a  suc- 
cessful business  until  December,  1850,  when 
he  returned  to  Albany  to  be  married.  Mr. 
\'an  Gaasheek  after  his  marriage  went  back 
to  Panama  to  continue  the  business  there,  but 
owing  to  an  illness  brought  on  by  the  climatic 
conditions  of  the  tropics  he  was  obliged  to 
give  up  his  work  and  return  North.  Once 
more  he  established  himself  in  Albany,  this 
time  going  into  the  carpet  business,  opening 
a  store  on  the  corner  of  Broadway  and  Co- 
lumbia street.  The  business  growing  rapidly, 
he  moved,  in  the  early  sixties,  to  larger  quar- 
ters on  Pearl  street,  where  he  acquired  the 
property  which  he  held  at  his  death.  He  be- 
came the  leading  carpet  man  in  Albany,  and 
continued  to  conduct  a  large  and  successful 
business  until  he  retired,  in  1901,  from  an 
active  participation  in  commercial  life.  Mr. 
\'an  Gaasheek  was  a  member  of  the  First  Re- 
formed Church,  of  Albany,  and  for  many 
years  was  one  of  the  most  active  elders.  In 
politics  he  was  first  a  Whig  and  later  a  Re- 
publican, and,  though  urged  many  times  to 
hold  office,  always  declined.  For  nine  years 
he  was  a  volunteer  fireman  in  Albany  in  the 
days  of  the  old  hand-engine.  Though  Mr. 
Van  Gaasheek  had  attained  the  ripe  old  age 
of  more  than  ninety-four  years,  he  was  in 
possession  of  all  his  faculties,  attended  to  all 
the  business  connected  with  a  considerable 
estate  personally,  and  gave  no  visible  signs  of 
the  approaching  end  until  shortly  before  his 
death,  January  15,  191 1. 

He  married,  February  20.  185 1,  Antoinette 
Hoyt  Keeler,  born  March  12,  1827,  died  April 
22,  1901,  daughter  of  Jasper  S.  Keeler.  Chil- 
dren: I.  Amos  Corwin.  born  July  29,  1852, 
married,  November  4,  1874.  Helen  W.  Corn- 
stock  :  resides  at  Orange,  New  Jersey.  2. 
Theodore  Cuyler,  November  22,  1852,  died 
December  17,  1858.  3.  James  Bovd, 'Decem- 
ber 6,  1856,  died  December  6,  1858.  4.  John 
Irwin,  April  30,  1859,  died  December  29, 
1875.  5.  Mary,  June  15,  i860,  died  August 
II.  i860.  6.  IBertha.  January  17,  1864,  died 
July  31,  1864.  7.  Antoinette,'March  30,  1868, 
married,  October  3,  1894,  John  F.  Nash  ;  chil- 
dren :  i.  Helen,  born  August  24,  1895 ;  ii.  Al- 
exander \'an  Gaasheek,  October  19,  1859;  iii. 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


Antoinette  Van  Gaasbeek,  October  9,  1904. 
8.  Alexander,  and  9.  W'illiam,  twins,  Decem- 
ber I,  1869,  died  in  infancy.  10.  An  infant 
daughter.  May  7,  1871. 


These    are    two    well- 
SIMONS — CHASE    known    names    in    the 

United  States,  the  for- 
mer being  borne  by  men  well-known  in  the 
annals  of  the  Mohawk  Valley,  the  latter  by 
men  of  national  prominence  from  early  New 
England  days. 

Nathan  E.  Simons  was  born  in  Schagticoke, 
Rensselaer  county,  New  York,  in  1829,  died 
in  Albany,  New  York,  September  13,  1889, 
and  is  buried  in  Rural  cemetery.  His  father 
died  when  he  was  a  small  boy,  and  his  mother 
married  a  second  time.  At  the  age  of  four- 
teen years,  the  lad  left  home  and  started  out 
to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world.  He  worked 
in  Lansingburg,  New  York,  for  a  few  years, 
gaining  education  and  business  experience. 
He  next  went  to  Albany,  being  a  bookkeeper 
and  yard  salesman  for  a  lumber  firm,  where 
he  acquired  a  thorough  practical  knowledge 
of  the  lumber  trade  and  methods  of  conduct- 
ing it.  Lentil  he  was  twenty-seven,  he  was 
in  the  employ  of  Richard  Whitlock,  then  a 
prominent  dealer.  In  1856  he  entered  in  part- 
nership under  the  firm  name  of  Mattice  & 
Simons,  and  established  yards  and  salesrooms 
on  Water  street,  where  he  successfully  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business.  In  1859  his 
firm  dissolved  and  was  succeeded  by  Simons 
&  Griswold,  lumber  dealers,  Aaron  Griswold 
being  his  new  partner.  He  died  in  1872,  and 
Mr.  Simons  became  sole  owner.  In  1878  he 
admitted  A.  K.  Richards,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Simons  &  Richards,  which  continued  until 
the  death  of  Mr.  Simons.  He  was  a  public- 
spirited  man,  and  a  liberal  supporter  of  all 
worthy  causes.  He  was  active  in  local  af- 
fairs, was  one  of  the  promoters  of  the  Al- 
bany Institute,  and  a  member  of  the  First 
Dutch  Church  of  Albany.  In  politics  he  was 
a  Republican.  He  married,  in  1855,  Mcribah 
Chase,  born  in  Little  Falls,  New  York,  May 
2,  1837.  daughter  of  Sylvanus  G.  Chase,  of 
Little  Falls  and  Albany,  New  York.  Chil- 
dren of  Nathan  E.  and  Meribah  (Chase)  Si- 
mons: I.  Charles  Newman,  born  June  5, 
18.S7,  died  .April  2,  1866.  2.  Lillian,  born 
July  20,  1863 :  married  Herbert  Wright  Stov- 
er, of  riainfield.  New  Jersey.  3.  Alfred,  died 
at  age  of  nineteen  years.  4.  Alay  L.,  unmar- 
ried, resides  with   her  mother  in   Albany. 

(I)  Jacob  Chase,  of  Vermont,  was  born, 
lived,  and  died  in  that  state.  He  attained  the 
great  age  of  ninety  years. 

(II)  Moses,  son  of  Jacob  Chase,  was  born 


in  \'ermont,  but  located  in  New  York  state, 
at  Rome.  He  had  three  wives,  his  first,  Mer- 
cy Goodenough,  being  the  mother  of  his  chil- 
dren. 

(HI)  Sylvanus  Goodenough,  son  of  Moses 
and  Mercy  (Goodenough)  Chase,  was  born 
at  Rome.  New  York,  December  28,  1806,  died 
at  Albany,  at  age  of  eighty-three  years.  He 
was  a  lad  of  ten  years  when  he  witnessed  the 
gathering  of  a  few  distinguished  gentlemen 
about  four  miles  east  of  Rome  to  throw  the 
first  shovel  fulls  of  earth  that  inaugurated  the 
building  of  the  Erie  canal.  Eight  years  later 
he  was  a  passenger  on  the  first  Erie  canal- 
boat  ever  built.  It  was  a  memorable,  as  well 
as  a  historic  trip.  Soon  after  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Herkimer  county.  New  York,  where 
he  attended  school  during  the  winter  months, 
and  was  employed  on  the  canal  in  the  sum- 
mer. He  next  became  steersman  on  one  of 
the  two  small  packet  boats  that  plied  on  the 
canal  between  Little  Falls  and  Utica.  He  was 
later  steersman  on  one  of  the  large  packets 
plying  to  Schenectady,  and  had  the  honor  of 
conveying  General  Lafayette  as  passenger.  In 
1827  he  became  captain  of  one  of  the  boats 
carrying  freight  and  passengers  between  Al- 
bany and  New  York  City,  owned  by  Dows  & 
Cary,  also  owners  of  the  \N'ashington  line  of 
canal  and  river  boats.  He  continued  as  cap- 
tain of  the  boat  until  1835,  when  he  engaged 
with  E.  S.  Prosser,  of  Albany,  as  tally  clerk, 
continuing  until  1841,  when  he  organized  a 
line  of  boats  for  freight  and  ])assengers  to 
ply  between  .Albany  and  Buffalo,  connecting 
at  the  latter  city  with  the  transportation  line 
of  John  R.  Evans  and  Bro.  for  the  lakes,  and 
with  the  Santvoord  and  Company  "Swiftsure" 
line  at  .Albany  for  New  A^ork.  The  firm  name 
of  the  company,  S.  G.  Chase  &  Company,  be- 
came a  well-known  one.  In  1856  eight  dif- 
ferent canal  lines  combined,  forming  a  stock 
company  under  the  name  of  "The  Western 
Transportation  Company."  Air.  Chase  en- 
tered the  combination  and  became  a  director 
and  agent  on  the  pier  at  Albany,  remaining 
until  1879,  when  he  disposed  of  his  entire  in- 
terest and  retired  from  business,  after  a  pe- 
riod of  forty-four  years  in  business  on  the 
old  Albany  pier.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Albany  Board  of  Trade,  director  of  the  Capi- 
tal Insurance  Company,  and  trustee  of  the 
Jaggcr  Iron  Company.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  First  Reformed  Church,  and  for  many 
years  an  elder.  He  was  of  coiumanding,  dig- 
nified bearing,  and  a  most  upright  and  hon- 
orable business  man.  He  married,  (first) 
Mary  .A.  Dewey;  married  (second)  Elizabeth 
lojomis,  of  Suffield,  Massachusetts:  no  chil- 
dren.    Children  of  first  marriage:     i.   Amy, 


yynl/ia/i    0.    C/(f, 


(/HC/li 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


died  in  childhood.  2.  Darius,  died  in  child- 
hood. 3.  Aljilenali,  married  Albertus  K. 
Richards,  a  partner  of  his  brother-in-law,  and 
his  successor  in  the  firm  of  Simons  &  Rich- 
ards, died  in  1895  :  she  survives  her  husband, 
is  a  resident  of  .Albany  and  had  children :  i. 
Jesse  A.,  of  lirooklyn.  New  York.  ii.  Walter 
S.,  of  Albany ;  iii.  Bertha,  deceased ;  iv.  Ham- 
ilton, of  New  York  City.  4.  JVIeribah,  see  for- 
ward. 5.  Orlando,  accidentally  killed  at  age 
of  two  years.  6.  Esther,  married  Charles  M. 
Sears;  she  survives  her  husband,  resident  of 
Leno.x,  Massachusetts,  with  children,  Charles 
and  Grace,  both  married  and  of  Lenox.  7. 
Henrietta,  married  Irving  Knickerbocker,  re- 
tired lumber  dealer  of  Albany.  8.  Agnes, 
married  John  D.  Parsons  (2),  whom  she  sur- 
vives, resident  of  Albany. 

(W)  Meribah,  daughter  of  Sylvanus  G. 
and  Mary  A.  (Dewey)  Chase,  was  born  at 
Little  h'alls.  New  York,  May  2,  1837.  Her 
parents  removed  to  Albany  in  1839.  and  in 
that  city  she  received  her  education,  attending 
private  schools  and  Albany  Female  Academy. 
She  married,  1855,  Nathan  E.  Simons  (see 
Simons).  She  is  a  member  of  the  First  Re- 
formed Church,  and  since  the  death  of  her 
husband  has  continued  her  residence  at  26 
First  street,  where  she  has  as  companion  her 
youngest  daughter.  May  L.  Simons. 


The  Albany  family  of  this  name 
RUDD  are  lineal  descendants  of  that 
Jonathan  Rudd,  whose  romantic 
marriage  is  so  beautifully  described  by  Miss 
Caulkins  in  her  "History  of  New  London, 
Connecticut,"  p.  48.  Jonathan  was  a  native  of 
England,  who  came  to  America  and  settled 
perhaps  in  New  Haven.  Connecticut,  in  1640. 
Certain  it  is  that  he  took  the  oath  of  fidelity, 
October  i,  1644.  He  was  of  Saybrook,  Con- 
necticut, in  1646,  was  admitted  a  freeman, 
was  of  Hartford  in  165 1.  He  probably  died 
in  1668.  He  was  a  man  of  importance  as 
shown  by  the  records.  He  was  married  in  the 
winter  of  1647  by  John  Winthrop,  of  New 
London,  who  was  acting  under  a  Massachu- 
setts commission.  The  name  of  his  bride  is 
not  given,  but  the  circumstances  attending  the 
marriage  have  been  and  always  will  be  pre- 
served. "The  wedding  day  was  fixed  and  a 
magistrate  from  up  river  engaged  to  perform 
the  ceremony  as  tiiere  was  not  anyone  in  Sav- 
brook  qualified  to  officiate."  But  "there  fall- 
ing ont  at  that  time  a  great  snow"  so  that  "the 
magistrate  intended  to  go  down  thither  was 
hindered  by  the  de]ith  of  the  snow."  But  the 
nuptials  must  not  be  delayed,  application  was 
made  to  Mr.  Winthrop  to  come  to  Saybrook 
to  perform  the  ceremony,  but  he  deriving  his 


authority  from  Massachusetts  had  no  legal 
right  to  officiate  in  Connecticut.  He,  however, 
agreed  if  the  parties  would  meet  at  a  brook 
designated  he  would  there  perform  the  cere- 
mony as  that  was  Massachusetts  territory. 
The  offer  was  accepted.  On  the  Iirink  of  this 
little  stream,  the  boundary  between  two  col- 
onies, the  parties  met,  Winthrop  and  his 
friends  from  Pequot,  and  the  bridal  train 
from  Saybrook.  Here  the  ceremony  was  per- 
formed under  the  shelter  of  no  roof,  by  no 
hospitable  fireside,  without  any  accommoda- 
tion but  those  furnished  by  the  snow  covered 
earth,  the  overarching  heavens  and  perchance 
the  sheltering  side  of  a  forest  of  pines  or 
cedars.  Never  perhaps  was  the  rite  performed 
in  a  situation  so  wild  and  solitary  and  under 
circumstances  so  interesting  and  peculiar. 
The  impressive  group  stood  around  wrapped 
in  their  frosty  mantles  with  heads  reverently 
bowed  and  at  the  given  sign  the  two  plighted 
hands  came  forth  from  among  the  furs,  and 
were  clasped  in  token  of  a  lifelong  affectionate 
trust.  The  stream  received  the  name  of 
"Bride  Brook"  on  the  spot,  and  is  so  known 
to  this  day.  Jonathan  Rudd  had  issue.  His 
daughter  Patience  married,  October  7,  1675, 
Samuel  Bushnell.  Mary,  supposed  to  be  the 
first  born,  married,  December  12,  1666,  Thom- 
as Bingham.  Two  sons  were  Jonathan,  and 
Nathaniel,  see  forward. 

(H)  Nathaniel,  son  of  Jonathan  Rudd,  was 
born  in  Saybrook,  probably  died  in  Norwich, 
in  April,  1727.  He  settled  at  West  Farms, 
Norwich,  Connecticut.  His  homestead  was 
in  that  part  of  the  West  Farms  now  called 
Bozrah.  He  seems  to  have  prospered  as  he 
left  at  his  death  an  estate  valued  at  six  hun- 
dred and  eighty-nine  pounds.  He  married, 
(first)  Mary,  daughter  of  John  Post,  .April 
16,  1685,  who  bore  him  Jonathan,  Mary  (i) 
Mary  (2),  Lydia.  Mary  (Post)  Rudd  died 
November,  1705.  His  second  wife  was  Abi- 
gail Hartshorn,  whom  he  married  January  31, 
1706.  She  bore  him  Nathaniel,  see  forward; 
Joseph  and  eight  other  children. 

(HI)  Captain  Nathaniel  (2),  son  of  Nath- 
aniel (i)  and  Abigail  (Hartshorn)  Rudd, 
was  born  in  Norwich,  1684.  He  removed  to 
Windham,  Connecticut,  where  he  died  Febru- 
ary 20,  1760.  He  was  an  ensign  of  militia, 
1722,  captain  in  1736.  deputy  to  Connecticut 
general  assembly,  1737.  He  married.  Decem- 
ber 27.  1709,  Rebecca,  daughter  of  John  and 
Rebecca  (Adams)  Waldo.    They  had  issue. 

(IV)  Jonathan  (2),  son  of  Captain  Nath- 
aniel (2)  and  Rebecca  (Waldo)  Rudd,  was 
born  in  Windham.  Connecticut,  in  17 10.  He 
married  Esther  Tyler  and  had  issue. 

(V)  Deacon  Jonathan  (3),  son  of  Jonathan 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


(2)  and  Esther  (Tyler)  Rudd,  was  born  in 
Windham,  Connecticut,  April  29,  1743,  died 
April  3,  1823.  He  was  a  prominent  man  and 
a  deacon  of  the  church.    He  married,  October 

1,  1766,  Mary,  born  at  Norwich,  Connecticut, 
August  II,  1741,  youngest  daughter  of  Dea- 
con Simon  Tracy,  by  his  first  wife,  Elizabeth 
Hyde,  and  granddaughter  of  Jabez  Hyde,  son 
of  Samuel,  son  of  William,  the  first  of 
Norwich,  the  English  emigrant  who  probably 
first  landed  in  this  country  in  1633.  Deacon 
Jonathan  Rudd  settled  in  Windham,  where 
his  seven  children  were  born:  i.  Simon 
Tracy,  born  September  i,  1768:  married 
(first)  Alice  Adams;   (second)   Mary  Carew. 

2.  Mary,  August  22,  1770 ;  married  Asahel 
Lord.  3.  Elizabeth,  March  13,  1772;  mar- 
ried, January,  1795,  Gurdon  Lathrop.  4.  Jon- 
athan, of  further  mention.  5.  Sarah,  Decem- 
ber 17,  1776;  died  at  Oberlin.  Ohio,  Febru- 
ary, 1842  :  unmarried.  6.  Hezekiah,  February 
2,  1781 ;  married  (first)  Maria  De  Forest; 
(second)  Mary  E.  Coggesel.  7.  Lydia,  May 
6,  1785 ;  married,  in  1809,  Andrew  Benton, 
Deacon  Rudd  married  (second)  Anne  Tyler, 
March  i,  1804. 

(VI)  Jonathan  (4),  second  son  of  Deacon 
Jonathan  (3)  and  Mary  (Tracy)  Rudd,  was 
born  in  Windham,  Connecticut,  August  16, 
1774,  died  in  1863,  at  Cherry  Valley,  New 
York.  He  married,  in  1801,  Sarah  Johnson, 
born  February  11,  1774,  at  Windham,  died  at 
Cherry  \'"alley,  March  17,  1853.  They  set- 
tled at  Canajoharie.  New  York,  then  removed 
to  Cherry  Valley,  New  York.  Children:  i. 
Charles,  born  November  15.  1803,  at  Canajo- 
harie, New  York :  he  was  graduated  at  Fair- 
field Medical  College,  1832,  and  was  a  prac- 
ticing physician ;  he  settled  in  Canajoharie, 
removed  in  1838  to  Cherry  Valley,  where  he 
died  May  14,  1852.  He  married  Emily  Bar- 
nard,' of  Paris,  New  York,  and  had  Charles 
H.,  \\'illiam  H.,  Anne  Elizabeth  and  Julietta 
Barnard.  2.  Laura,  died  in  infancy.  3.  Har- 
riet, born  1806,  died  yXpril  3,  1880.  4.  Laura 
(2),  born  September,  1807;  married,  1847, 
Orin  Sibley,  of  Middlefield,  New  York.  5. 
Ralph,  torn  November  7,  1808 ;  married  Mary 
Briggs  and  settled  at  Cherry  Valley.     He  had 

^^liza  M.,  Henry,  Sarah  J.,  Laura,  Frances 
/A.,  Charles  H.,  James  W.  6.  George  H.,  born 
June  6,  1810;  died  unmarried.  7.  Annie  M., 
born  January,  1813;  married.  1837,  Henry  D. 
Baker  and  had  Hattie  M.,  Henry  L.,  George 
A.,  Georgianna  A.,  Abigail  E.  8.  Jonathan 
R.,  died  young.  9.  William  Tracy,  see  for- 
ward. 10.  Elizabeth  L.,  born  1820;  married, 
1842,  Jesse  SutlilT,  of  Cherry  Valley;  died, 
1856. 

(VII)  William  Tracv,  fifth  son  of  Jonathan 


(4)  and  Sarah  (Johnson)  Rudd,  was  bom 
in  Cherry  Valley,  New  York,  September  22, 
1816.  He  entered  the  employ  of  the  Amer- 
ican Express  Company  in  1844,  and  later  of 
the  New  York  Central  railroad,  which  he 
served  and  its  successor  faithfully  for  thirty- 
eight  years.  He  married,  in  1848,  at  the  city 
of  Utica,  New  York,  Adeline  Martha  Piatt, 
eighth  in  descent  from  Richard  Piatt,  of 
Hertford.  England,  the  American  ancestor. 
Children:  i.  William  Piatt,  see  forward.  2. 
Charles  Beckley.  born  June  27,  1855,  died 
January  9,  1858.  3.  Adeline  Martha,  torn 
November  3,  1859,  now  the  widow  of  George 
Parker  Howlett  and  resident  in  West  New- 
ton, Massachusetts. 

(VIII)  William  Piatt,  eldest  son  of  Wil- 
liam Tracy  and  Adeline  Martha  (Piatt) 
Rudd,  was  born  in  Albany,  June  9,  185 1.  He 
was  graduated  from  Union  College  in  1873, 
taking  the  Clark  Essay  prize  and  Phi  Beta 
Kappa  honors.  He  was  admitted  to  the  New 
York  state  bar  in  1875.  In  1877  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  Hamilton  and  Frederick 
Harris,  constituting  the  law  firm  of  Harris 
&  Rudd.  of  Albany,  New  York.  This  con- 
nection continued  until  1900,  when  by  tlie 
death  of  Hamilton  Harris  the  firm  was  dis- 
solved. Mr.  Rudd  then  associated  himself 
with  William  L.  Visscher  in  the  law  partner- 
ship which  still  continues.  He  is  a  man  of 
many  and  varied  interests  and  tastes.  He  was 
president  of  the  board  of  public  instruction  in 
1893;  corporation  counsel  in  1894-95;  is  in- 
spector of  elections  of  all  the  railroads  in 
New  York  state  associated  in  the  Vanderbilt 
system.  He  is  an  ex-president  and  a  trustee 
of  the  Young  IMen's  Association,  the  organ- 
izer and  for  five  terms  president  of  the  Al- 
bany County  Bar  Association.  He  was  re- 
gent of  Philip  Livingston  Chapter,  Sons  of 
the  Revolution.  He  is  a  trustee  of  the  Al- 
bany Institute  and  Historical  Society ;  trustee 
of  Albany  Chamber  of  Commerce ;  president 
of  Homeopathic  Hospital ;  president  of  Uni- 
versity Club;  vice-president  of  the  Albany 
County  Savings  Bank  ;  vice-president  of  the 
Diamond  Paste  Company ;  vestryman  of  St. 
Peter's  Church,  and  a  member  of  the  Fort 
Orange,  Country  of  Albany,  Republican,  Al- 
pha Delta  Phi,  and  Transportation  of  New 
York  clubs.  He  is  a  lawyer  of  high  repute, 
and  a  citizen  of  the  best  class.  He  married, 
in  October,  1883,  Aimee  Pierson  Allen,  of  Al- 
bany, daughter  of  Henry  A.  Allen,  for  many 
years  teller  of  the  New  York  State  Bank. 
They  have  one  son,  Tracy  Allen  Rudd,  born 
September  16,  1884;  a  resident  of  New  York 
City  and  connected  in  business  with  the  Pro- 
ducers Oil  Company. 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


213 


This  branch  of  the  Manning 
RLA.NNING  family  is,  no  doubt,  from  the 
same  ancestor  as  the  Man- 
ning family  of  England  and  Massachusetts. 
The  line  is  traced  to  the  year  1791  in  the  city 
of  Albany,  New  York,  where  John  Manning 
resided  and  where  his  eminent  son,  Hon.  Dan- 
iel Manning,  was  born.  The  family  has  risen 
to  distinction  in  Albany,  New  York  state,  and 
the  nation,  having,  in  each  generation,  pro- 
duced sons  who  have  worthily  borne  the  name 
and  gained  for  themselves  honor,  distinction 
and  wealth. 

(I)  John  Manning  was  born  in  the  year 
1791.  He  was  a  resident  of  Albany,  New 
York,  where  he  died  in  1837,  when  the  young- 
est son,  John  B.,  was  five  years  old.  He 
married  Eleanor  Oley,  born  in  1799,  died  in 
1875,  daughter  of  Christopher  and  Sara  (Van 
Antwerp)  Oley.  Children:  James,  born  1825, 
died  1847;  ^laria  Van  Antwerp,  born  1829, 
died  1897:  Daniel,  see  forward;  John  B.,  born 
July   13,  1832,  died  1907. 

(H)  Hon.  Daniel,  son  of  John  and  Eleanor 
(Oley)  Manning,  was  born  in  Albany,  Au- 
gust 16,  1 83 1,  died  in  his  native  city,  Decem- 
ber 24,  1887.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  until  reaching  the  age  of  twelve  years, 
when  he  entered  the  office  of  The  Albanv 
Atlas,  afterward  consolidated  with  The  Albany 
Argus,  and  henceforth  was  ever  closely  con- 
nected with  the  development  and  prosperity 
of  his  great  Albany  newspaper.  He  rose  from 
office  boy  through  all  the  several  grades  of 
progress,  common  in  great  newspaper  offices, 
until  he  was  editor  and  business  manager.  He 
conducted  the  paper  skillfully,  making  it 
strong,  prosperous  and  influential.  In  1873  he 
was  elected  president  of  the  Argus  Company, 
continuing  as  such  until  the  end  of  his  life. 
His  newspaper  connection  early  brought  him 
in  contact  with  the  active,  leading  members 
of  the  Democratic  party  in  Albany  and  the 
state,  with  whom  he  later  rose  to  terms  of 
equality  in  political  power.  Backed  by  his 
own  masterful  personality  and  the  power  of 
his  newspaper,  he  soon  attracted  attention  to 
himself,  and  was  quickly  recognized  in  Albany 
as  a  leader,  which  gave  him  prestige  in  state 
conventions,  where  he  was  always  a  delegate 
and  leader.  He  was  not  only  at  the  head  of 
the  Albany  but  the  New  York  state  De- 
mocracy and  stood  first  among  the  prominent 
men  of  that  powerful  organization.  He  was 
secretary  of  the  Democratic  state  committee 
in  1879-80,  and  chairman,  1881-84,  having 
been  a  continuous  member  since  1874.  He 
was  not  only  a  political  but  a  warm,  personal 
friend  of  Grover  Cleveland,  to  whose  po- 
litical   fortunes    he   was    early   attached   and 


did  so  much  to  advance.  In  1884  he  headed 
the  New  York  state  delegation  and  was  chair- 
man of  the  national  convention  that  nominated 
Grover  Cleveland  for  the  presidency  that 
year,  and  it  was  due  to  his  masterful  leader- 
ship that  the  nomination  was  effected  despite 
the  strong  opposition  of  the  New  York  City 
leaders.  President  Cleveland  had  the  greatest 
respect  and  admiration  for  Mr.  Manning's 
ability  and  when  selecting  his  first  cabinet 
chose  him  for  secretary  of  the  treasury,  a 
position  his  years  of  business  and  practical 
banking  experience  as  trustee  of  the  National 
Savings  Bank  of  Albany  and  president  of  the 
National  Commercial  Bank  so  amply  qualified 
him  to  fill.  He  had,  moreover,  been  a  close 
student  of  our  own  and  foreign  banking  sys- 
tems and  the  financial  problems  of  all  nations. 
He  ably  filled  the  secretary's  chair,  and  was 
most  influential  in  President  Cleveland's  first 
administration.  In  April,  1887,  he  was  com- 
pelled to  resign  on  account  of  failing  health 
and  overwork.  His  resignation  was  accepted 
with  deepest  regret  by  President  Cleveland, 
who  trusted  him  implicitly,  leaned  heavily  on 
him  for  advice  in  all  matters  pertaining  to 
the  treasury  department,  sought  his  counsel 
in  matters  purely  political,  and  had  for  him 
that  honest  admiration  and  affection  that  only 
such  strong  characters  can  inspire  and  feel. 
The  leaders  and  press  of  both  parties  united 
in  expressions  of  praise  for  his  administration 
of  the  treasury  and  regret  at  his  retirement, 
while  President  Cleveland's  sorrow  was  pub- 
licly expressed.  After  retiring  from  the  treas- 
ury, Mr.  Manning  was  elected  president  of 
the  Western  National  Bank  of  New  York 
City,  which  was  his  last  official  connection. 
He  retained  the  presidency  of  the  Argus  Com- 
pany until  his  death,  a  connection  beginning 
as  a  boy  of  twelve  years  in  1843,  ^^  the  very 
lowest  round  of  the  ladder,  ending  in  1887, 
at  the  topmost.  Mr.  Manning's  career  as 
journalist,  banker  and  statesman  was  a  most 
wonderful  one  and  is  the  best  possible  illus- 
tration of  the  familiar  quotation,  "All  things 
are  possible  for  the  .American  boy."  It  is 
hard  to  choose  between  these  three  leading 
activities  of  his  eventful  career,  whether  he 
was  greatest  in  journalism,  financiering,  or  in 
leadership  of  men;  those  who  knew  him  best 
and  were  closest  to  him  must  decide.  He  was 
successful  in  all  his  undertakings,  but  to  the 
reviewer  it  is  what  he  accomplished  that  ex- 
cites admiration,  as  the  daring  ambition  of 
this  obscure  boy,  which  constantly  drove  him 
forward  from  height  to  height  of  success, 
never  knew  defeat  or  failure.  He  married 
(first),  in  1853,  Mary  Little,  who  died  in 
1882.     Children;  James  Hilton,  see  forward; 


214 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


Frederick  Clinton,  of  Albany,  born  May  i8, 
1859;  Anna,  born  May  16,  1861,  married 
John  A.  Delehanty;  Mary  E.,  born  May  29, 
1867,  died  July  20,  1906,  married  Jules  C. 
Van  der  Oudermeulen.  Mr.  Manning  married 
(second),  November  19.  1884,  Mary  Marga- 
retta,  daughter  of  William  J.  Fryer,  of  Al- 
bany. 

(HI)  James  Hilton,  eldest  son  of  Hon. 
Daniel  and  Mary  (Little)  Manning,  was  born 
in  Albany,  September  22,  1854.  He  passed 
through  the  public  schools  of  Albany,  gradu- 
ating from  the  high  school  in  1873.  He  then 
entered  the  employ  of  The  Albany  Argus  as 
clerk  in  the  counting  room.  After  two  years 
there  he  was  attached  to  the  reportorial  staff, 
continuing  until  1885,  when  he  became  manag- 
ing editor.  In  1888  he  succeeded  his  father 
as  president  of  the  Argus  corporation.  In 
1893  he  retired  from  official  connection  with 
the  Argus,  and  organized  the  Wood-Parsons 
Printing  Company,  of  which  he  was  chosen 
president  and  so  continues  (1910).  During 
these  years  of  active  business  life  he  has  been 
connected  with  many  of  the  prominent  enter- 
prises and  corporations  of  Albany.  With  most 
of  these  he  has  held  official  connection,  among 
them:  President  of  the  National  Savings 
Bank ;  president  of  the  Consolidated  Car  Heat- 
ing Company;  director  of  the  Hudson  River 
Telephone  Company :  director  of  the  New 
York  Telephone  Company ;  director  of  the 
National  Commercial  Bank ;  trustee  of  the 
Title  Guarantee  &  Trust  Company  of  New 
York.  Few  lines  of  activity  in  Albany  but 
have  had  the  benefit  of  his  business  sagacity 
and  mature  experience.  Business  alone  has 
not  been  his  sole  interest.  He  joined  the  New 
York  State  National  Guard  on  attaining  the 
legal  age,  and  his  connection  has  never  been 
dissolved,  his  term  of  service  covering  a  period 
of  thirty-five  years.  He  has  attained  the  rank 
of  major,  has  been  breveted  lieutenant-colonel, 
and  has  always  used  his  best  efforts  in  be- 
half of  the  citizen  soldiery.  His  public  ser- 
vice to  the  civil  government  of  the  state  cov- 
ers the  years  1887-89,  when  under  the  ap- 
pointment of  Governor  David  B.  Hill  he 
served  on  the  state  civil  service  commission. 
To  the  service  of  Albany  he  gave  the  years 
1890-94,  serving  two  terms  as  mayor,  and  has 
always  taken  an  active  part  in  all  municipal 
matters.  His  administration  was  wise,  con- 
servative and  business-like.  He  has  been 
closely  allied  with  the  Democratic  party  in  the 
state  and  identified  with  the  leaders  of  that 
party  in  its  management.  He  is  a  member 
of  Saint  Peter's  Church,  of  Albany,  and  of  the 
following  clubs:  Fort  Orange,  Country.  ISurns, 
of  Albany,  City  Club,  of  New  York,  and  is  a 


life  member  of  the  American  Numismatic 
Society.  He  married,  October  22,  1879, 
Emma  J.  Austin,  daughter  of  Dr.  John  C. 
Austin. 

(The   Van   Antwerp    Line). 

This  early  Dutch  family  in  the  state,  noted 
in  the  annals  of  Albany  county,  as  it  origi- 
nally existed  sprang  from  Daniel  Janse  Van 
Antwerpen.  of  Holland,  born  1635  ;  married 
Nana  Groot  and  had  Jan,  Simon,  Arndt,  Pie- 
ter,  Neeltje,  Rebecca  and  Maria. 

fll)  Simon,  son  of  Daniel  Janse  and  Anna 
(Groot)  \'an  Antwerpen.  married  Maria 
Peck,  December  22,  1706.  Children :  Maria, 
Lysbert,  Rebecca,  Daniel,  Sara,  Daniel,  Mar- 
gareta.  Jacobus  and  Lewis. 

(III)  Daniel  (2),  son  of  Simon  and  Ma- 
ria (Peck)  Van  Antwerpen,  married,  Octo- 
ber 21,  1730,  Rebecca  Van  Antwerpen.  Chil- 
dren :  .Symon,  Johannes,  Augenietje  and  An- 
netje. 

(IV)  Simon  (2),  son  of  Daniel  (2)  and 
Rebecca  (Van  Antwerpen)  Van  Antwerpen, 
married,  November  20,  1761,  Maria  Dunbar, 
born  1739,  died  1826.  Children:  Rebecca, 
Cornelia,  Saartje  and  Sara. 

(  \' )  Sara,  daughter  of  Simon  (2)  and  Ma- 
ria (Dunbar)  \'an  Antwerp,  was  born  1774, 
died  1803:  married  Christopher  Olcy.  born 
1773.  died  1848.    Children:    Ann  Baker,  born 

1778,  died  1847:  Eleanor,  see  forward:  Sarah 
Maria,  born  1803,  died  1861. 

(\T)  Eleanor,  daughter  of  Christopher 
and  Sara   (Van  Antwerp)  Oley,  was  born  in 

1779,  died  in  1873.  She  married  John  Man- 
ning (see  Manning  I). 


The  surname  Richards  is  of 
RICHARDS     Welsh  origin,  and  from  that 

nationality  a  majority  of 
those  who  bear  it  in  this  country  descend.  In 
Wales,  the  name  occurs  with  great  frequency 
and  is  equally  common  in  England.  It  was 
first  a  Christian  name,  and  by  adding  "s"  be- 
came a  surname  when  such  names  came  in 
use.  The  earliest  families  of  Richards  in  New 
England  were  of  Puritan  stock,  their  ances- 
tors emigrating  from  England  at  various 
dates  during  the  seventeenth  century.  The 
earliest  of  mention  is  Thomas  Richards,  who 
came  to  Dorcliester,  Massachusetts,  in  1630, 
ten  years  after  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims. 
The  history  of  the  family  in  l-lssex  county, 
New  York,  begins  with  William  Richards, 
whom  family  tradition  asserts  came  from 
Wales  about  1775,  when  a  young  man  of 
twenty  years  and'  settled  in  New  Hampshire. 
He  married  there  and  later  settled  in  Spring- 
field, Massachusetts.  He  married  Lucretia 
,  in  New  Hampshire.     Children :  Jos- 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


215 


eph  (see  forward)  ;  Daniel,  James,  William 
(2),  Lucretia  and  Lois.  William  (2)  re- 
moved to  Ohio,  where  he  became  wealthy, 
and  in  his  will  left  a  handsome  bequest  for 
the  cause  of  education. 

(11)  Joseph,  eldest  son  of  William  and  Lu- 
cretia Richards,  died  February  18,  1853.  He 
emigrated  to  the  Schroon  Lake  region  of 
\\'ashington  county  when  he  was  about  eight- 
•een  years  of  age,  in  company  with  seven 
joung  men.  They  made  a  settlement  and  he 
resided  there  until  his  death.  Four  of  these 
j-oung  men  were  Daniel  Piatt,  Star  Piatt, 
Benjamin  Bouker  and  John  Sisson.  Joseph 
Richards  engaged  in  mercantile  life,  owning 
and  conducting  a  general  store  at  Schroon 
Lake,  New  York.  He  was  wealthy  according 
to  tliose  times,. and  transacted  a  large  busi- 
ness. He  obtained  his  merchandise  from  Troy, 
New  York,  making  annual  trips  in  the  only 
■conveyance  then  in  use — team  and  wagon.  He 
was  noted  for  his  fine  horses,  and  it  is  said 
that  his  trips  were  social  events  in  the  places 
•visited.  His  account  books  of  business  tran- 
sactions with  Ticonderoga  merchants  of  that 
day  are  still  preserved  in  the  family.  During 
1he  war  of  1812,  he  served  as  private  in  Capt. 
Augustus  Cleaveland's  company  of  the  9th 
Regt.  N.  Y.  State  Militia,  Lt.  Col.  Command- 
ant Martin  Joiner,  Sept.  2-16,  1814,  siege  of 
Plattsburgh.  Joseph  Richards  married  (first) 
1-ydia  B.  Wooster,  of  Pawlet,  Vermont,  a  de- 
scendant of  the  Wooster  family  of  Connecti- 
cut. Children:  i.  Orilla,  born  April  6,  1805, 
died  February  25,  1827,  married  Alpheus 
Wade.  2.  Maria,  August  15,  1807,  died  Oc- 
tober 2^1.  1825,  married  Ephraim  Grimes.  3. 
Orson,  see  forward.  4.  Hoel  S.,  born  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1814,  died  January  22,  1878,  mar- 
ried Prudy  A.  Bartlett.  Has  two  children, 
Mrs.  Freeman  Tyrrell,  of  Schroon  Lake  and 
Mrs.  Egbert  Dunn  of  Glens  Falls.  5.  Hes- 
ter A.,  Ixirn  November  18.  1816,  died  March 
I,  187^),  married  Nelson  Warren.  Two  of 
their  children,  William  Warren  and  Mrs. 
Rachel  McGinn,  live  in  Hudson  Falls.  6.  Caro- 
line M.,  born  September  30.  1820,  died  June 
21,  1841,  married  Newell  Westcott.  7.  Lu- 
cretia, born  February  i,  1823,  died  January 
7,  1847,  married  Erwin  Baker.  The  only  liv- 
ing descendant  of  Erwin  and  Lucretia  (Rich- 
ards) Baker  is  Mrs.  Samuel  L.  Finch,  a 
granddaughter,  born  May  6,  i860,  adopted  by 
Orson  Richards,  March  21,  1865,  married 
Samuel  L.  Finch,  March  10,  1880.  She  lives 
in  Hudson  Falls,  New  York.  Joseph  Rich- 
ards married  (second)  Mrs.  Abigail  (Mills) 
Frost,  a  widow,  bom  October  22,  1805,  died 
December  9,  1843.  Children  of  second  mar- 
riage:    Ann,  born  June  7,  1834,  died  May  4, 


1836;  Eunice,  born  June  25,  1838,  resides  in 
Hudson  Falls,  New  York,  unmarried ;  Fletch- 
er, born  April  23.  1840,  who  resided  in  Platts- 
burgh, New  York,  until  his  death,  February 
15,  1907. 

(HI)  Orson,  eldest  son  and  third  child  of 
Joseph  and  Lydia  B.  (Wooster)  Richards, 
was  born  at  .Schroon  Lake,  Washington  coun- 
ty. New  York,  December  13,  181 1.  died  Sep- 
tember 4,  1879.  He  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  on  attaining  his  majority  be- 
gan his  long  and  successful  career  as  a  lum- 
berman. He  started  business  in  a  small  way  at 
Schroon  Lake,  and  in  1837  removed  to  Sandy 
Hill.  With  the  exception  of  a  five  years'  resi- 
dence in  Plattsburgh,  New  York,  1845-50, 
Sandy  Hill  was  his  residence  and  principal 
place  of  business.  From  his  first  start  until 
the  panic  of  1873  he  did  a  constantly  increas- 
ing business,  and  in  the  heighth  of  his  pros- 
perity was  one  of  the  best-knowTi  and  highly- 
regarded  business  men  in  northern  New  York. 
He  brought  prosperity  to  Sandy  Hill,  where 
his  five  saw  mills  manufactured  into  lumber 
the  logs  cut  in  the  -Adirondack  forests,  where 
he  owned  large  tracts  of  timber  lands.  He 
was  also  interested  in  the  timber  forests  of 
Pennsylvania,  owning  and  operating  saw  mills 
at  Lock  Haven.  .\t  one  time  he  also  owned 
saw  mills  at  Plattsburgh,  New  York.  He 
was  an  official  and  director  in  the  First  Na- 
tional Banks  of  Sandy  Hill  and  Fort  Edward, 
the  Glens  Falls  Insurance  Co.,  and  in  other 
local  business  enterprises.  He  was  a  man  of 
energy  and  great  public  spirit.  He  maintained 
at  all  times  the  most  friendly  relations  with 
his  employees,  who  numbered  several  thousand 
at  various  times.  He  married,  September  5, 
1830,  at  Schroon  Lake,  New  York,  Julia  Ann, 
born  there  June  24,  1813,  died  at  Sandy  Hill, 
New  York,  May  14,  1881,  daughter  of  Eber 
Fisk,  born  in  Danby,  \'ermont,  .August  10, 
1771,  moved  to  Schr(»n  Lake  in  1819,  where 
he  died  March  7.  1843.  He  married  at  Dan- 
by, Vermont,  October  30.  1796,  Martha  Bige- 
low,  born  at  Springfield,  Vermont.  May  3, 
1 78 1,  died  at  Schroon  Lake.  June  25.  1861, 
daughter  of  Joel  and  Abigail  (McCall)  Bige- 
low.  Children  of  Orson  and  Julia  .\.  (Fisk) 
Richards:  i.  Lydia,  born  September  11,  1831, 
died  August  10,  1900;  married.  December  31, 
1849,  John  F.  Howe.  Children:  Orson  R., 
Mrs.  Julia  A.  Ambler,  Lina  F.,  Emma  L., 
and  Mrs.  Martha  A.  Gallup,  all  of  Hud- 
son Falls.  2.  Nelson,  born  August  2,  1833, 
died  May  12.  1854;  married,  September  28, 
1853,  Erie  White.  3.  Eber,  see  forward.  4. 
Ralph  P.,  born  January  2,  1843 ;  married,  De- 
cember 24,  1862,  Francilia  J.  Harding,  one 
child,    Mrs.    Minnie    H.    Roider    of    Hudson 


2l6 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


Falls.  5.  Martha,  born  December  17,  1844, 
died  May  27,  1870;  married,  January  9,  1867, 
Silas  B.  Ambler. 

(IV)    Eber,    son    of   Orson    and   Julia   A. 
(Fisk)  Richards,  was  born  at  Schroon  Lake, 
Essex  county.  New  York,  May  6,  1836,  died 
at  Sandy  Hill.  New  York,  February  23,  1910. 
His  early  education  was  obtained  in  the  public 
schools  of  Sandy  Hill  and   Plattsburgh.      In 
1850  he  entered   Norwich  University,   where 
he  remained  two  years.     About  1857  he  was 
admitted  to  a  partnership  with  his  father  un- 
der the  firm   name  of   O.  Richards   &   Son. 
They  continued  together  in  the  manufacture 
and  sale  of  lumber  until  1873,  and  became  one 
of  the  leading  and  wealthiest  concerns  in  their 
line  of  business  in  northern  New  York.    From 
1873    to    1882    Eber    Richards    operated    saw 
mills   and   conducted   his   lumbering   business 
alone.     In  1882  he  disposed  of  all  his  lumber 
interests  and  entered  into  a  partnership  with 
N.  W.  Wait  &  Son,  and  engaged  in  the  man- 
ufacture of  paper  at  Bakers'  Falls,  New  York, 
under  the  firm  name  of  N.  W.  Wait  Son  & 
Company.     In  1883  N.  W.  Wait  retired,  and 
from  that  year  until  1892  Mr.  Richards  con- 
tinued the  business  with  J.  W.  Wait,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Wait  and  Richards.   In  1892 
he  disposed  of  his  paper  mills,  and  from  1893- 
1905    engaged    in   the   manufacture   of   wood 
pulp  at  Ticonderoga,  New  York,  with  his  son 
Frederick  B.,  under  the  firm  name  of  E.  Rich- 
ards &  Son.     In  1905  he  retired  from  all  ac- 
tive business.     He  was  one  of  the  most  genial 
and  sociable  of  men,  and  was  well  known  not 
only  among  business  men  but  to  railroad  en- 
gineers,   conductors,   captains    and   employees 
of  the  steamboats  on  which  he  traveled.    He 
was  one  of  the  few  men  for  whom  railroad 
trains  would  stop  between  stations  to  take  on 
or  let  him  off.     From  early  manhood  he  took 
an  active  part  in  the  volunteer  fire  department 
of  Sandy  Hill,  and  one  of  the  old  hand  fire 
engines   owned   by   the   department   bore   the 
name   "E.   Richards    Independent."      He   was 
one  of  the  best-known   summer  residents  of 
Lake  George,  where  his  pleasure  yacht  "The- 
ta"  was   constantly  employed   for  the  benefit 
of     his     many     friends     and     acquaintances. 
Notwithstanding      his      large      business      in- 
terests    he     never    overlooked      his     duties 
as  a  citizen.    He  served  as  supervisor  of  town 
of   Kingsbury ;   was   president   of  the  village 
corporation     of      Sandy     Hill      two     years ; 
trustee    of    the    village    many    years :   trus- 
tee    of     the     Union      free     school     district 
of      Sandy      Hill      from      its      establishment 
in   1867,  and  on  his  retirement  in   1896  was 
the  only  member  of  the  first  board  of  trustees 
who  had  served  continuously  from  the  begin- 


ning.    He  favored  all    public    improvements, 
and  generously  aided  in  securing  better  con- 
ditions  in   civic   affairs.     He   was   a   lifelong 
member  of  the   Methodist   Episcopal   church, 
which  he  served  many  years  as  a  trustee.    His 
fraternal  affiliation  was  with  the  Masonic  or- 
der,   Sandy    Hill    Lodge    and    Chapter,    and 
Washington  Commandery,  Knights  Templar, 
of  Saratoga.      His  descent  from  the   earliest 
colonial  period  gained   for  him  admission  to> 
the   Society   of  Mayflower   Descendants.    He 
married,  at  Sandy  Hill,  September  24.   1857, 
Mary  Eliza,  born  May  21,  1838,  daughter  of 
James   and   Kezia    (Lee)    Culver,    of    Sandy 
Hill.     In    1907   they   celebrated   their   golden 
wedding.     Children:     i.  Caroline  Berry,  born 
July  23,  1858,  died  October  2,  1890.     2.  Nel- 
son James,  born  December  14, -1861,  died  May" 
5,    1862.      3.    Frederick    Barnard,    (see    for- 
ward).   4.  Orson  Culver,  born  June  7,  1873; 
resides  at  Hudson  Falls :  superintendent  high- 
ways,   Washington    county ;    civil    engineer ; 
married   Mable,    daughter    of    William    and' 
Mary  Caroline  (Barkley)  McLaren;  she  was. 
born  August  22,  1875,  married  April  23.  1900; 
one  child,  Mac  Laren,  born  October  2,  1901. 
(V)    Frederick   Barnard,  son  of  Eber  and 
Mary  Eliza   (Culver)    Richards,  was  born  at 
Sandy  Hill,  New  York,  August  i,  1865.     His 
early  education  was  obtained  in  public  schools 
of   Sandy   Hill.     He  entered   Union  College, 
where  he  was  graduated  A.B..  class  of  1888. 
In  1889  he  became  junior  member  of  the  firm 
of  E.  Richards  &  Son,  paper  manufacturers, 
Sandy  Hill,  continuing  until   1893.  when  the- 
firm  disposed  of  their  paper  mill.    In  the  same 
vear,  under  the  same  firm  name,  they  engaged 
in  the   manufacture  of  wood  pulp  at  Ticon- 
deroga, continuing  until  1905.    In  1908  he  was 
chosen  secretary  of  the  Standard  Textile  Com- 
pany of  Glens  Falls,  an  office  he  still  fills.    He- 
is   also  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Hooper  & 
Richards,    who   as   the    North    River    Garnet 
Company  have  been   engaged   in  business  at 
North  River,  New  York,  since  1894.    He  is  a 
director  of  the  Glens    Falls   Saving  &   Loan 
Association,  and  has  other  and  varied  busi- 
ness  interests.     He   is  a  Republican   in  poli- 
tics, and  a  member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
church,      serving      as      vestryman      of      the- 
Church  of  the  Messiah.    He  is  secretary  and 
trustee  of  the  New  York  State  Historical  As- 
sociation,  a   member   of  the   American.   Ver- 
mont and  Ticonderoga  Historical  societies,  the 
American    Buttonists   Society,   National   Geo- 
graphic Society,  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  and 
Society  of  Colonial   Wars.     His   college  fra- 
ternity  is    Psi   Upsilon,   his   social   club    the 
Glens  Falls.     He  is  a  master  mason  of  Mt. 
Defiance    Lodge,    No.    794.     He  married  im 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


217 


Granville,  New  York,  June  12,  1895.  Con- 
stance Emily,  born  in  Jamaica,  West  Indies, 
April  I,  1873,  daughter  of  Rev.  Joseph  The- 
ophilus  and  Anna  Rosina  (Leibfried)  Zorn, 
granddaughter  of  Jacob,  and  great-grand- 
daughter of  George  Zorn,  three  generations 
of  Moravian  missionaries  to  the  West  Indies. 
Children,  all  born  in  Ticonderoga :  Dorothy, 
August  14,  i8g6;  Constance,  August  12, 
1899;  William   Lee,  February   15,   1901. 


The  Battershall  family 
BATTERSHALL  (the  name  also  being 
spelled  Battishall  and 
Battishill)  came  from  Devonshire,  the  name 
being  common  both  in  that  county  and  in  the 
county  of  Cornwall.  The  coat-of-arms  will 
be  found  under  the  name  Battishill  or  Battis- 
hall, Burke's  Heraldy.  The  first  members  of 
the  family  who  came  to  this  country  were  sea- 
men, one  of  them  captain  of  a  merchant  ves- 
sel. The  other  brother  served  as  a  privateer 
during  the  war  of  1812.  From  Cape  Cod  the 
family  moved  to  Canaan,  Columbia  county. 

Rev.  Dr.  Walton  Wesley  Battershall,  son  of 
Ludlow  A.  and  Eustatia  (Ward)  Battershall, 
was  born  in  Troy,  New  York,  January  8,  1840. 
His  early  education  was  received  at  the  Kim- 
ball Union  Academy  in  that  city,  where  he 
completed  the  prescribed  course  in  1858,  and 
then  entered  Yale  College,  graduating  in  the 
class  of  1864.  He  was  class  poet  and  member 
of  Scroll  and  Key  Society.  It  was  at  this 
time  that  he  developed  a  growing  inclination 
to  enter  the  ministry,  so  that  shortly  after  his 
graduation  he  commenced  his  religious  train- 
ing under  the  auspices  of  the  Rev.  Henry 
Codman  Potter,  who  later  became  the  Episco- 
pal bishop  of  New  York  diocese.  He  was  or- 
dained a  deacon  at  Troy,  June  16,  1865,  and 
then  entered  the  General  Theological  Semin- 
ary in  New  York  City,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1866.  He  was  ordained  a  priest 
by  Bishop  Potter,  November  30,  1866.  and 
through  the  next  two  years  he  was  the  assist- 
ant rector  of  Zion  Church,  in  New  York.  In 
1868  he  was  chosen  rector  of  St.  Thomas' 
Church,  in  Ravenswood,  Long  Island,  which 
post  he  filled  one  year,  when  he  accepted  a 
call  to  the  rectorship  of  Christ  Church  in 
Rochester.  Here  he  remained  for  following 
five  years,  making  a  number  of  enduring 
friendships,  and  entering  heartily  into  the 
work  of  a  growing  parish.  He  was  at  this 
time  a  member  of  the  standing  committee  of 
the  Diocese  of  Western  New  York. 

By  the  consecration  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ben- 
jamin H.  Paddock  as  the  Bishop  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, on  September  17,  1873,  the  im- 
portant and  influential  parish  of  Grace  Church 


in  Brooklyn  was  left  vacant.  It  was  decided 
to  secure  the  Rev.  William  .\ndrew  Snively, 
rector  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  Albany,  and  he 
presented  his  resignation  on  May  3,  1874,  hav- 
ing officiated  since  May  24,  1870.  with  great 
and  general  satisfaction.  For  a  time  the  par- 
ish then  came  under  the  care  of  Rev.  Tliad- 
deus  A.  Snively  as  minister-in-charge,  by  ap- 
pointment as  such  on  April  13,  1874.  A  com- 
mittee of  three  vestrj'men  was  named  June  10,. 

1874,  to  select  a  new  rector,  and  Christ  Church 
in  Rochester  was  visited,  whereupon  they 
were  satisfied  by  the  selection  of  the  Rev. 
Walton  W.  Battershall,  and  having  received 
official  word  from  the  vestry  of  St.  Peter's 
Church,  he  wrote  in  August  that  he  had  ac- 
cepted their  invitation  and  would  be  ready 
shortly  to  enter  upon  his  duties  in  the  new 
field.  He  was  instituted  in  that  church  on  the 
Feast  of  St.  Michael  and  All  .'Vngels,  Sep- 
tember 29,  1874,  Bishop  William  Croswell 
Doane  acting  as  institutor  and  preaching  the 
memorable  sermon  in  the  presence  of  eight- 
een clergy  seated  in  the  chancel  and  a  large- 
congregation. 

It  was  not  long  after  this  event  before  St. 
Peter's  Church  began  to  show  marked  ad- 
vancement in  several  ways.  This  was  partly 
through  natural  incidents,  but  mostly  to  be 
attributed  to  the  eflforts  of  the  new  rector. 
It  can  be  stated  without  fear  of  exaggeration 
or  of  denial  that  at  no  time  during  the  suc- 
ceeding thirty-five  years  of  his  pastorate  did 
this  spirit,  so  highly  commendable,  lessen. 
The  first  improvement  to  be  noted  was  the 
erection  of  a  parish  house  for  the  Sunday 
school  and  allied  purposes,  meetings,  fairs  and 
the  like,  for  the  conduct  of  the  church's  work. 
It  was  built  at  a  cost  of  more  than  $25,000  on 
the  east  side  of  Lodge  street,  and  its  corner- 
stone was  laid  by  Bishop  Doane  on  June  9, 

1875.  O"  March  9,  1875,  the  senior  warden, 
Mr.  John  Tweddle,  died.  By  his  will  he  had 
bequeathed  the  sum  of  $5,000  to  be  used 
towards  the  completion  of  the  tower.  It  was 
found  that  to  erect  it  to  the  parapet  would 
cost  $27,000.  Mr.  Tweddle's  widow  and  fam- 
ily thereupon  made  it  possible  to  complete  it, 
and  the  handsome  tower,  designed  by  Up- 
john, was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Doane  on  Sep- 
tember 29.  1876,  and  the  dedication  of  the 
chime  of  eleven  bells,  made  by  Meneely.  of 
West  Troy,  took  place  on  December  25,  1876, 
and  on  the  28th  the  completed  Parish  House 
was  dedicated. 

So  active  was  Dr.  Battershall  in  a  diversity 
of  church  work  for  the  parish  in  which  he 
took  so  great  a  pride  that  his  report,  made 
September  28,  1879,  preached  as  a  fifth  anni- 
versary sermon,   may  be   read   as   a   praise- 


!l8 


HUDSON  AND   MOHAWK  \ALLEYS 


worthy  reflection  on  what  he  had  accom- 
plished, although  his  true  intention  was  to  be- 
stow congratulation  and  praise  upon  his  con- 
gregation, and  it  shows  what  he  had  achieved 
in  his  way  as  would  read  the  record  of  a  mili- 
tary officer  or  judge  in  his  court.  "You  have 
contributed  during  the  last  five  years  for 
parochial  purposes,  including  the  income  from 
the  pews  and  gifts  for  the  building  of  the 
Parish  House,  and  the  memorial  tower  and 
chimes,  $143,874.15:  for  diocesan  purposes 
(including  $3,567.21  for  diocesan  missions) 
$5,927.33  ;  for  general  objects,  including  for- 
eign and  domestic  missions,  $4,983.17,  making 
a  total  of  $154,684.66.  During  the  last  five 
years  there  have  been  145  baptisms  and  140 
have  been  presented  to  the  Bishop  for  con- 
firmation. I  have  solemnized  25  marriages 
and  109  burials.  The  last  annual  report  to  the 
Diocesan  Convention  gave  434  communicants, 
38  Sunday  school  officers  and  teachers,  and 
282  pupils.  *  *  *  A  venerable  history  has 
been  granted  to  this  parish.  Illustrious  names 
are  found  upon  its  records.  Holy  men  have 
stood  in  this  place,  upon  whose  foundations 
what  little  I  can  rear  will  seem  a  meagre  and 
an  unworthy  structure ;  but  it  is  idle  to  say 
that  the  parish  has  discharged,  in  the  sight 
of  God,  the  full  measure  of  its  duty  to  this 
community.  I  love  this  church.  Its  very 
stones,  with  their  sculptured  beauty,  have  be- 
come dear  to  me.  Year  by  year  I  have  been 
drawn  to  you  more  closely  by  the  ties  which 
are  woven  in  brotherly  intercourse,  and  in  the 
performance  of  my  sacred  offices ;  but  I  can 
do  little,  except  you  make  me  strong  with 
your  prayers  and  your  sympathies,  and  stand 
■beside  me  in  my  work." 

Another  important  step  was  the  erection  of 
the  rectory.  When  Dr.  Battershall  first  came 
ito  Albany  he  occupied  the  old  rectory  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  Maiden  Lane  and  Lodge 
street,  on  ground  leased  by  the  Masons;  but 
this  land  was  desired  by  them  as  a  site  for 
the  projiosed  Temple.  The  property  adjoin- 
ing the  church  on  the  west  was  offered  for  sale 
for  $19,000,  and  it  was  decided  to  build  there- 
.on.  The  land  was  acquired  by  transfer  of  the 
•deed  on  December  31,  1894.  Througli  the  un- 
expected and  most  generous  offer  of  Mr.  Jesse 
W.  Potts  and  his  sister,  Miss  Sarah  P>.  Potts, 
the  building  of  a  new  rectory  was  provided, 
and  on  February  12,  1896,  it  was  opened  by 
a  service  of  benediction.  Its  cost  was  $20,- 
000,  and  was  given  in  memory  of  Jesse 
-Charles  and  Eunice  Walker  Potts,  the  parents 
of  the  donors.  The  residence  of  the  late  Jus- 
tice Rufus  W'.  Peckham  of  the  United  .States 
supreme  court,  next  to  the  west  of  the  rec- 
tory, was  acquired  a  little  later  and  converted 


to  the  needs  of  the  parish,  and  besides  all  this 
spreading  out.  considerable  land  was  pur- 
chased along  Maiden  Lane  on  which  to  build 
a  choir  room.  A  costly  new  organ  was  in- 
tailed  in  the  chancel  end,  instead  of  in  the 
gallery  over  the  main  entrance :  choir  stalls 
were  built  in  the  chancel,  a  beautiful  memo- 
rial altar  and  its  reredos  were  given  by  Mr. 
Charles  L.  Pruyn,  a  carved  stone  pulpit  was 
presented  in  1886  as  a  Tibbits  memorial,  an 
artistic  lectern  and  marble  font  were  added, 
and  under  the  further  solicitation  of  Dr.  Bat- 
tershall practically  every  window  throughout 
the  handsome  edifice  was  transformed  into  an 
example  of  most  skilled  workmanship,  and  it 
was  in  these  manifold  ways  that  the  inde- 
fatigable parochial  labors  of  Dr.  Battershall 
will  endure  in  visual  form  as  a  memorial  of 
his  earnestness  in  his  work.  On  Sunday,  No- 
vember 5,  1899,  the  vestry  honored  its  pastor 
with  a  special  service  of  song  and  praise  in 
recognition  of  the  completion  of  his  rector- 
ship of  a  quarter-century,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1909  his  thirty-fifth  anniversary  was  fittingly 
celebrated. 

Union  University  conferred  on  him  the  de- 
gree of  D.D.  in  June,  1877,  and  he  was  made 
archdeacon  of  the  Episcopal  diocese  of  Al- 
bany. He  is  the  author  of  a  number  of  pub- 
lished works,  notably  "Interpretation  of  Life 
and  Religion,"  issued  in  1897  by  .A.  S.  Barnes, 
and  a  leading  section  of  "Historic  Towns  of 
the  Middle  States,"  G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons, 
1899.  The  casual  listener  to  his  preaching 
soon  discovers  that  he  is  a  clergyman  of  deep 
erudition,  whose  delivery  is  forceful,  con- 
vincing in  its  trend  of  philosophic  argument, 
and  displaying,  as  by  the  sense  of  instinct,  a 
most  familiar  acquaintance  with  the  great 
writers  of  the  ages  by  reason  of  the  charm 
of  his  diction  and  poetic  phrasing.  His  pres- 
ence as  a  speaker  has  been  requested  upon 
many  important  occasions  in  his  own  and 
other  cities,  at  the  dedication  of  buildings  and 
notable  anniversaries. 

Rev.  Dr.  Walton  W.  Battershall  married, 
October  13.  1864,  at  St.  Mark's  Church,  in 
Newark,  Wayne  county,  New  York,  Anna 
Davidson,  daughter  of  I'letcher  Williams  and 
his  second  wife,  .Ann  Eliza  (Ford)  Williams. 
She  was  born  in  Newark,  New  York,  March 
27,  1843,  died  at  Christ  Church  Rectory,  in 
Rochester,  September  25.  1872.  Children: 
I.  Walton  Ford,  born  in  Troy,  New  York, 
July  12,  1865.  died  at  Troy,  September  27, 
1865.  2.  Fletcher  Williams,  born  at  Ravens- 
wood.  Long  Island.  September  29.  i8f)6,  see 
forward.  3.  Cornelia  Smith,  born  in  l-ioches- 
ter.  New  York,  July  21.  i8('k;;  married,  in  St, 
Peter's  Church,   Albany,  June    10,    1896,   Dr. 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK    VALLEYS 


219 


Harry  Seymour  Pearse,  of  Elniira,  New 
York,  son  of  Charles  Pearse ;  children :  Lud- 
low Pearse,  born  Albany,  June  i,  1898,  died 
same  day ;  Anna  Williams  Pearse,  born  Al- 
bany, April  26,  1900 :  Walton  Battershall 
Pearse,  born  Albany,  November  4,  1905.  4. 
Anna  Davidson,  born  in  Rochester,  New  York, 
September  20,  1872:  married,  in  Albany,  April 
27.  1900,  [Russell  Agnew  Griffin,  of  Orange, 
New  Jersey,  son  of  Charles  Russell  and  Lucy 
(Agnew)  Griffin:  children:  Anne  Griffin, 
born  July  15,  1903:  Charles  Russell  Griffin, 
born  at  Orange.  December  29,  igo8. 

Fletcher  Williams,  son  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wal- 
ton Wesley  and  Anna  Davidson  (Williams) 
Battershall,  was  born  in  Ravenswood,  Long 
Island,  the  home  of  his  maternal  grandparents. 
September  29,  1866.  and  when  seven  years  of 
age  was  taken  to  Albany  by  his  father  upon 
his  acceptance  of  the  rectorship  of  St.  Peter's 
Church.  When  not  many  years  older,  he  en- 
tered the  .Mbany  Academy,  where  he  was  one 
of  the  charter  members  of  the  Gates  Literary 
Society  and  one  of  the  first  board  of  editors 
of  the  school  publication,  "The  Cue."  He  was 
graduated  from  there  in  the  class  of  1884,  and 
the  next  fall  entered  Cornell  University.  He 
affiliated  tiiere  with  the  Kappa  Alpha  frater- 
nity. He  remained  at  Cornell  two  years,  sub- 
sequently serving  in  the  State  Engineer's  of- 
fice. He  then  entered  the  Albany  Law  School, 
was  a  member  of  the  class  of  1896,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  the  same  year.  He  opened 
a  law  office  at  No.  100  State  street,  and  was 
associated  with  Hon.  J.  Newton  Fiero.  He 
was  appointed  a  lecturer  at  the  Albany  Law 
School  of  Union  University,  where  he  still 
lectures,  and  later  was  made  deputy  supreme 
court  rejwrter.  He  is  the  author  of  "A 
Daughter  of  this  World,"  published  in  1893 
by  Dodd,  Mead  &  Company,  and  by  Hememan 
in  England :  "Mists,"  published  by  Dodd, 
Mead  &  Company  in  1894,  and  of  "Bookbind- 
ing for  Bibliophiles."  In  1909  he  wrote  a 
memoir  of  his  friends,  Henry  Arnold  I'eck- 
ham  and  Rufus  W.  Peckham,  Jr.  In  1910  he 
issued  a  book  on  "Domestic  Relations,"  pul> 
lished  by  Bender  &  Company.  In  his  youth 
he  had  leaned  strongly  towards  the  sciences 
and  displayed  decided  aptitude,  but  this  gave 
way  to  some  e.xtent  for  the  delights  of  read- 
ing, which  developed  his  literary  bent,  and 
his  works  have  met  with  considerable  criticism 
strongly  in  their  favor.  His  love  for  books 
created  a  deep  fondness  for  the  rare  and  beau- 
tifully bound,  developing  in  him  a  pronounced 
interest  which  led  him  to  devote  much  of  his 
leisure  to  binding  certain  books  for  his  library 
in  an  artistic  manner.  He  takes  pleasure  in 
automobiling,    and   is  a   lover   of  dogs.     His 


close  friends  are  those  of  intellectual  attain- 
ments. He  is  fond  of  travel,  and  has  made 
several  trips  abroad,  visiting  art  centers  es- 
pecially. 

He  married,  in  St.  Peter's  Church,  Albany, 
November  9,  1897,  his  father  officiating, 
Maude  Goodrich,  daughter  of  Hon.  James 
Newton  Fiero,  dean  of  the  Albany  Law 
School  since  1895,  author  of  "Special  Ac- 
tions," "Torts.''  and  "Special  Proceedings" ; 
president  of  the  New  York  State  Bar  Asso- 
ciation, 1892-93:  vice-president  of  the  Amer- 
ican Bar  Association,  1895-1902.  James  N. 
Fiero  was  born  in  Saugerties,  New  York,  May 
23,  1847,  son  of  Christopher  and  Janet  Sands 
(McCall)  Fiero.  of  Delhi,  New  York. 


Thomas  Geer,  born  1623,  was  son 
GEER     of   Jonathan   Geere,  of   Heavitree, 

county  Devon,  England.  Jonathan 
Geere  was  a  descendant  in  the  fifth  gener- 
ation from  Walter  Geere,  of  Heavitree,  Dev- 
onshire, living  about  1450,  who  married  Alice 
Somaster.  The  parents  of  Thomas  died  when 
he  was  young,  and  he  and  his  brother  George 
were  left  in  charge  of  an  uncle,  who  in  order 
to  obtain  possession  of  tJieir  property,  which 
was  considerable,  shipped  them  to  Boston, 
where  they  landed  in  1635  w'ithout  money  and 
without  friends.  George  became  an  early 
settler  of  New  London,  Connecticut,  about 
1651,  and  from  him  the  elder  branch  of  the 
family  (the  Connecticut  Geers)  are  descended. 
Thomas  had  land  granted  him  at  Enfield.  Con- 
necticut, July  24,  1682.     He  married  Deborah 

;  had  two  children,  Shubael,  born  about 

1683,  and  Elizabeth,  who  died  in  infancy. 
Thomas  Geer  died  January  14,  1722,  aged 
ninety-nine  years. 

(II)  Shubael,  son  of  Thomas  Geer,  born 
about  1683,  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Thom- 
as Abbe.  January  27,  1702-03.  He  had  land 
granted  him  March  5,  1700.  Children  (born 
Enfield,  see  Stile's  Windsor,  Conn.,  II.  285): 
Shubael,  Jr.,  and  Thomas,  born  July  i.  1722. 

(III)  Shubael  (2),  son  of  Shubael  (i)  Geer, 
was  bom  1717.  He  married  and  had  children: 
Hannah,  borti  1738:  Sarah,  1740;  Shubael, 
1743:  Ebenezer.  1745;  Ebenezer,  1747:  Eben- 
ezer.  1750:  Hannah,  1753:  Mindwell.  1756; 
Walter,  1759;  George.  1761  ;  Charles,  twin 
of  George. 

(IV)  Walter,  son  of  Shubael  (2)  Geer,  was 
born  1759.  At  age  of  nineteen  (May,  1778) 
he  enlisted  with  his  brother  Charles,  aged 
sixteen,  in  Captain  Jason  Wait's  company, 
Colonel  John  Stark's  regiment,  as  from  Mar- 
low,  Cheshire  county,  New  Hampshire  (Mar- 
low  adjoins  Keene).  (See  State  Papers  N. 
H.   XIV,   Rev.   War  Rolls  I,  p.    598.)      The 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


History  of  Charlestovvn,  New  Hampshire, 
states  that  Walter  Geer  married  Lucy,  born 
March  28,  1758,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and 
Peggy  (Spafford)  Allen.  Children:  Har- 
mony, born  Lebanon,  New  Hampshire,  June 
27,  1784 ;  Dan,  Windsor,  \'ermont,  November 
7,  1786;  Lucy,  January  29,  1789;  Walter,  Jr., 
see  forward.  The  History  of  Charlestown 
also  states  that  Benjamin  Allen  married,  No- 
vember 6,  1 75 1,  Peggy  Spafford,  daughter  of 
Captain  John  and  Hannah  'Spafford,  born 
June  30,  1735,  children:  Eunice,  Oliver,  Lucy, 
married  Walter  Geer. 

(V)  Walter  (2),  son  of  Walter  (i)  Geer, 
was  born  at  Charlestown,  New  Hampshire. 
January  9,  1792.  His  boyhood  and  early 
youth  were  passed  with  his  parents  in  Salem, 
Washington  county,  New^  York.  About  the 
time  he  reached  his  majority  he  removed  to 
Union  \'illage,  where  he  was  drafted  and  went 
with  the  militia  of  our  eastern  border  to  repel 
the  British  advance  at  Plattsburg  during  the 
war  of  1812.  He  removed  in  February,  1816, 
to  Schaghticoke,  where  he  commenced  busi- 
ness as  a  tanner  and  currier.  At  this  time  he 
appears  to  have  been  the  associate  and  peer 
of  such  men  as  William  L.  Alarcy.  Jonas  C. 
Heartt,  Job  Pierson.  Moses  Warren,  James 
Livingston  and  B.  P.  Staats ;  men  that  for  a 
generation  exercised  a  controlling  influence 
over  the  politics  of  eastern  New  York,  and 
all  of  whom  left  their  mark  upon  the  dial 
plate  of  the  world's  progress.  In  March, 
1820,  he  came  to  Glens  Falls,  New  York,  and 
resumed  the  business  pursued  at  Schaghticoke. 
He  soon  afterwards  embarked  in  trade  with 
Abraham  Wing  and  L.  L.  Pixley.  Was  after- 
wards a  partner  with  George  Sanford  in  the 
mercantile  business.  At  the  time  of  the  en- 
largement of  the  Glens  Falls  Feeder  (branch 
of  the  Delaware  and  Hudson  canal),  of  which 
he  was  an  active  promoter,  he  had  a  contract 
with  the  state  for  some  portion  of  the  ex- 
cavation, and  also  built  the  locks  at  Fort  Ed- 
ward. Not  far  from  this  time  he  went  into 
the  lumbering  business  with  the  late  James 
D.  Weston  and  John  J.  Harris.  Their  invest- 
ments and  ventures  were  so  judkiously  made. 
and  the  business  so  ably  looked  after  and 
managed,  that  all  these  acquired  a  handsome 
competency.  He  was  a  magistrate  in  Queens- 
bury,  New  York,  from  1821  to  1826,  and 
member  of  assembly  in  1837,  a  year  memor- 
able in  politics  for  its  financial  crisis,  and  the 
secession  of  the  Conservatives  from  the  domi- 
nant party.  He  was  one  of  the  principal 
originators  and  founders  of  the  Glens  Falls 
Academy :  was  instrumental  in  forwarding  the 
erection  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church 
building,  which  was  destroyed  in  the  great 


fire  of  1864.  He  was  a  promoter  of  educa- 
tional and  religious  enterprises,  an  active  and 
influential  politician,  a  man  of  indomitable 
will  and  inflexible  purpose.  He  died  July  16, 
1855,  and  was  among  the  first  whose  remains 
were  deposited  in  the  new  cemeter}',  where 
a  handsome  and  conspicuous  monument  has 
since  been  erected  to  his  memory.  (History 
of  Queensbury,  N.  Y.,  p.  51.) 

He  married,  in  Northumberland,  November 
2,  1815,  Henrietta  Van  Buren,  born  Septem- 
ber 20,  1792,  at  Easton,  New  York,  daughter 
of  Elizabeth  Newell  and  Martin  \'an  Buren, 
cousin  of  President  Van  Buren  and  Elizabeth 
(Newell)  Van  Buren.  Children:  Elizabeth 
\'an  Buren.  born  January  29.  1817,  died  1886, 
married  John  Younglove,  February  3,  1847 ; 
Susan  Cornell.  January  16,  1819,  died  April 
4.  1889,  married  James  Rogers,  September  12, 
1850;  Henrietta  Van  Buren,  January  21. 
1821,  died  August  31,  1898:  Asahel  Clarke, 
see  forward:  \\'alter,  March  15,  1825,  died 
October  28,  1848:  Abigail,  April  14,  1827,  died 
1894:  Arabelle,  April  14,  1829,  died  May  15, 
1853,  married  L.  H.  Baldwin,  November  13, 
1849. 

(VI)  Asahel  Clarke,  son  of  Walter  (2) 
Geer,  was  born  January  6,  1823,  at  Glens 
Falls,  New  York. 

The  Nezv  York  Tribune  of  July  23,  1902, 
states:  "A.  C.  Geer,  of  Washington,  who  was 
stricken  with  apoplexy  at  his  summer  home 
at  W'illiamstown.  Mass.,  on  Thursday,  July 
17th,  died  there  on  Monday  night.  Mr.  Geer 
was  born  at  Glens  Falls,  N.  Y.,  on  Jan.  6th, 
1823,  and  was  the  oldest  son  of  Henrietta  Van 
Buren  an9  ^^'alter  Geer,  Jr.  He  was  prepared 
for  college  at  Burr  Seminary,  Manchester,  Vt., 
and  entered  Union  College,  at  Schenectady, 
N.  Y.,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1843 
with  the  highest  honors.  He  received  from 
his  alma  mater,  three  vears  later,  the  degree 
of  A.M. 

"After  leaving  college  he  entered  the  law 
office  of  E.  H.  Rosekrans,  at  Glens  Falls,  with 
whom  he  remained  one  year.  He  then  com- 
pleted his  legal  studies  with  Geo.  A.  Simmons, 
at  Keeseville,  N.  Y.,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  at  the  General  Term  of  the  Supreme 
Court  held  at  Rochester,  in  October.  1846.  He 
practised  for  two  years  with  H.  Z.  Hayner,  at 
Troy,  and  in  1848  formed  a  partnership  with 
Abram  B.  Olin,  afterward  member  of  Con- 
gress from  Rensselaer  county,  and  later  Judge 
of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  District  of  Col- 
umbia. The  firm  name  at  first  was  Olin, 
White  &  Geer,  and  later  Olin,  Geer  &  Colby. 
His  practice  was  a  large  one,  the  firm  being 
counsel  for  the  Troy  and  Boston  R.  R.  Co. 
and  other  large  corporations  of  Northern  New 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


York.  From  1862  to  1868  Mr.  Geer  was  Col- 
lector of  Internal  Revenue  for  the  Fifteenth 
District  of  New  York.  On  June  ist,  1868,  he 
accepted  the  position  of  secretary  and  general 
manas'er  of  the  Walter  A.  Wood  Mowing  and 
Reaping  Machine  Co.,  at  Hoosick  Falls,  N.  Y., 
with  which  he  remained  for  eighteen  years, 
until  his  retirement  from  active  business  in 
1886.  In  January,  1886,  in  conjunction  with 
the  late  Orlando  B.  Potter,  of  New  York,  he 
organized  the  N.  Y.  Architectural  Terra- 
Cotta  Company,  of  which  he  was  vice-presi- 
dent up  to  the  time  of  his  death." 

After  Mr.  Geer's  retirement  from  active 
business  in  1886,  he  purchased  the  residence 
at  Washington  of  the  late  Judge  A.  B.  Olin, 
where  he  and  Mrs.  Geer  have  since  passed 
their  winters,  spending  their  summers  at  Hoo- 
sick Falls,  New  York,  and  at  Williamstown, 
Massachusetts.  He  married,  in  Providence, 
January  24,  1856,  Helen  Augusta  Danforth 
(see  Danforth  VII). 

(The   Danforth   Line). 
The  maternal  ancestor  of  the  Geer   family 

■of  Hoosick  Falls.  New  York,  was  Nicholas 
Danforth.  born  in  Frameingham,  England, 
baptized  IMarch  i,  1589,  died  in  Cambridge, 
Massachusetts,  1638.  His  descent  is  traced  to 
William,  died  1512.  and  Isabel  Danforth, 
through  their  son  Paul,  died  1538,  and  his 
wife,  Katteryne  Danforth,  through  their  son 
Nicholas,  died  1585,  and  his  wife,  Alice  Dan- 
forth, through  their  son  Thomas,  married, 
January  24,  1585,  Jane,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Sudbury.  Thomas  and  Jane  (Sudbury)  Dan- 
forth were  the  parents  of  Nicholas,  "the  emi- 
grant," who  is  thus  described  by  Rev.  Cotton 
Mather  in  "Magnalia,"  vol.  II,  p.  59:    "Mr. 

'N.  Danforth :  A  gentleman  of  such  estate  and 
repute  in  the  world  that  it  cost  him  a  con- 
siderable sum  to  escape  the  knighthood  which 
King  Charles  I.  imposed  on  all  at  so  much 
per  annum;  and  of  such  figure  and  esteem  in 
the  church  that  he  procured  that  famous  lec- 
ture at  Frameingham  in  Suffolk,  where  he 
had  a  fine  mansion  ;  *  *  *  This  person  had 
three  sons  whereof  the  second  was  our  Sam- 
uel, born  in  September,  1626,  and  by  the  de- 
sire of  his  mother,  who  died  three  years  after 
his  birth,  earnestly  dedicated  unto  the  'Schools 
of  the  prophets.'  His  father  brought  him  to 
New  England  in  the  year  1634,  and  at  his 
death  about  four  years  after  his  arrival  here, 
he  committed  this  hopeful  son  of  many  prayers 
unto  the  paternal  oversight  of  Mr.  Shepherd 
who  proved  a  kind  patron  unto  him." 

Nicholas  Danforth  is  mentioned  in  the  town 

•records  of  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  in  1635, 
and   in   that  year  was  chosen  deputy   to  the 


general  court.  He  died  in  April,  1638.  He 
married  Elizabeth ,  who  died  in  Frame- 
ingham, England,  where  she  was  buried  Feb- 
ruary 22,  1628.  Children,  all  born  in  Eng- 
land: I.  Elizabeth,  married,  October  i,  1639, 
Andrew  Belcher,  mariner,  trader,  vintner  and 
•painter;  nine  children.  2.  Mary,  baptized  ]\Iay 
3,  1621.  3.  Anna,  baptized  September  3, 
1622 ;  married  Matthew  Bridge,  of  Cambridge, 
Massachusetts.  4.  Thomas,  baptized  Novem- 
ber 20,  1623 :  recorder  of  deeds  of  Middle- 
sex county,  1652 ;  treasurer  of  Harvard  Col- 
lege, 1650-69,  and  steward  of  same  1669-82 ; 
deputy  to  general  court  1657;  assistant  or 
magistrate  1659  until  he  became  deputy-gov- 
ernor in  1679,  and  again  in  1689  until  1692. 
He  married  May  Withington,  of  Dorchester; 
had  twelve  children.  5.  Lydia,  baptized  May 
24,  1625 ;  married  William  Beamon ;  seven 
children.  6.  Rev.  Samuel,  baptized  October 
17,  1626 ;  member  of  the  second  class  grad- 
uated from  Harvard  College  (1643)  ;  "dis- 
tinguished for  the  fervor  of  his  piety  and 
the  purity  of  his  life" ;  ordained  assistant  to 
Rev.  John  Eliot.  September  24,  1650,  and  con- 
tinued in  ofiice  until  his  death,  November  19, 
1674;  he  was  an  astronomer  and  made  al- 
manacs, some  of  which  "the  historian"  says  he 
has  seen.  He  married,  November  5,  165 1, 
Mary,  daughter  of  Rev.  John  Wilson.  They 
had  twelve  children.  7.  Captain  Jonathan,  see 
forward. 

(II)  Captain  Jonathan,  son  of  Nicholas  and 
Elizabeth  Danforth,  was  born  in  Frameing- 
ham, England,  baptized  March  2,  1627-28, 
died  in  Billerica,  Massachusetts.  1712.  His 
house  in  Billerica  was  made  a  garrison  house 
"8th  day  8th  mo.  1675,"  and  he  was  made 
master  of  the  garrison.  He  was  commissioned 
lieutenant  for  Billerica,  October  13,  1675,  and 
captain,  1683.  He  was  one  of  a  committee  of 
three  to  consult  the  towns  of  Middlesex 
county  as  to  fortifications  and  defence,  "28th 
day  ist  mo.  1673"  (see  History  of  Billerica). 
He  was  selectman,  town  clerk,  deputy  and 
captain  of  the  militia  company.  He  was  a 
land  surveyor  and  "transacted  a  large  amount 
of  business  in  town  and  state."  He  was  one 
of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Billerica,  and  the 
house  he  built  and  occupied  was  standing  in 
1878.  He  married  (first)  in  Boston,  Septem- 
ber 22,  1654,  Elizabeth  Pawter-(ar  Poulter), 
born  in  Rayleigh.  Massachusetts,  September 
I,  1633,  died  in  Billerica,  Massachusetts,  Octo- 
ber 7,  1689.  He  married  (second)  November 
17,  1690,  Esther,  daughter  of  Richard  Champ- 
ney  (i)  and  widow  of  Josiah  Converse,  of 
Woburn.  His  gravestone  in  the  old  Billerica 
cemetery  was  in  1901  in  a  fair  and  legible  state 
of    preservation.      Children:     i.    Mary,    bom 


HUDSON  AND  AIOHAWK  \'ALLEYS 


January  29,  1656;  married  John  Parker.  2. 
Elizabeth,  born  May  27,  1657;  married  Sam- 
uel Hayward.  3.  Jonathan,  see  forward.  4. 
John,  died  in  infancy.  5.  John,  died  in  in- 
fancy. 6.  Lydia,  born  June  i,  1664:  married 
Edward  Wright.  7.  Samuel,  born  February 
5,  i66=;-66:  married  Hannah  Crosby.  8.  .Anna, 
born  March  8,  1667;  married  Ensign  Oliver 
Whiting.  9.  Thomas,  died  in  infancy.  10. 
Nicholas,  died  at  age  of  twenty-three  years. 
II.  Sarah,  born  December  23,  1673;  married 
(first)  William  French,  by  whom  she  had 
twelve  children;  (second)  Ebenezer  Davis,  of 
Concord. 

fHI)  Jonathan  (2).  son  of  Jonathan  (i) 
and  Elizabeth  (Pawter)  Danforth,  was  born 
in  Billerica,  Massachusetts.  February  18,  1658- 
59,  died  June  17,  1710.  He  married,  January 
27,  1682,  Rebecca,  born  May  27,  1661,  died 
March  25,  1754,  daughter  of  Jacob  Parker,  of 
Chelmsford,  Massachusetts.  She  survived  her 
husband  and  became  the  third  wife  of  Joseph 
Foster.  Children,  all  born  in  Billerica:  i. 
Rebecca,  married  Thomas  Parker.  2.  Thom- 
as, married  Rebecca  Simonds.  3.  Lieutenant 
Jonathan,  born  March  22,  1688;  married 
Elizabeth  ^Manning.  4.  Elizabeth,  born  Au- 
gust 31,  1690:  married  Christopher  Osgood. 
5.  Samuel,  see  forward.  6.  Nicholas,  born 
August  17,  1695,  died  1748.  7.  Captain  Jacob, 
born  February  6,  1697-98;  married  Rebecca, 
daughter  of  Deacon  WilHam  Patten.  8.  Sarah, 
born  August  18,  1700;  married  Solomon 
Keyes,  who  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Lake 
George  in  1755.  9.  John,  born  June  3,  1703; 
married  Tabitha  Johnson. 

(IV)  Samuel,  son  of  Jonathan  (2)  and 
Rebecca  (Parker)  Danforth,  was  born  in  Bil- 
lerica, Massachusetts,  September  16,  1692, 
died  in  the  same  town  about  1749.  The  in- 
ventory of  his  estate  included  "one  right  in 
a  township  granted  to  the  soldiers  that  weare 
in  the  Naragansett  wars."  He  married,  Au- 
gust 5,  1714,  Dorothy,  daughter  of  John  and 
Sarah  (Chamberlain)  Shed.  Children,  all 
born  in  Billerica:  i.  Dorothy,  married  Walter 
Pollard.  2.  Rebecca,  married  Ephraim  Davis. 
3.  Samuel,  died  in  infancy.  4.  Lieutenant  Jo- 
seph, born  June  30,  1720:  married  Mary  A. 
Richardson.  5.  Samuel,  born  June  24,  1722 ; 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  Seth  Ross.  6. 
Thomas,  born  May  11,  1724:  a  revolutionary 
soldier ;  married  Sarah  Butterfield.  7.  Ben- 
jamin, living  in  1749.  8.  Sarah,  married  her 
cousin,  David  Osgood.  9.  John,  born  Febru- 
ary 14,  1730;  married  Elizabeth  Wilson.  10. 
Joshua,  born  February  24,  1732;  married 
Kezia  Reed.  11.  Lucy,  married  Joseph,  son 
of  Seth  and  Mary  Ross.  12.  Jonathan,  see 
forward. 


(V)  Captain  Jonathan  (3),  son  of  Samuel 
and  Dorothy  (Shed)  Danforth,  was  born  in 
Billerica,  Massachusetts,  June  14,  1736,  died 
in  Williamstown,  Massachusetts,  February, 
1802.  He  removed  to  Western  (now  \\'arren) 
and  thence  to  Williamstown.  He  was  ser- 
geant in  Captain  Reuben  Reed"s  company  of 
minute-men  which  marched  April  20,  1775,  in 
response  to  the  alarm  of  April  19,  1775,  to 
Roxbury ;  service  seventeen  days ;  also  cap- 
tain. Colonel  David  Brewer's  regiment ;  list  of 
officers  in  camp  at  Roxbury,  recommended  in 
committee  of  safety,  June  12  and  June  17, 
1775 ;  that  said  officers  be  commissioned  by 
congress ;  also,  captain  in  Colonel  Brewster's 
(Ninth)  regiment,  muster  roll  dated  August 
I,  1775,  engaged  April  24,  1776,  service  three 
months  fifteen  days;  also,  company  return 
dated  October  7.  1773;  also,  captain  Eighth 
Company,  Colonel  Whitcomb's  regiment,  mus- 
ter roll  dated  Camp  at  Ticonderoga ;  Novem- 
ber 27,  1776;  appointed  January  i,  17/5;  re- 
ported re-engaged  November  14,  1776,  as  cap- 
tain in  Colonel  Wigglesworth's  regiment ;  also 
list  of  captains  Colonel  Whitcomb's  regiment 
from  whose  companies  articles  were  stolen  on 
evening  of  December  25,  1776.  He  married 
(first)  at  Warren,  Massachusetts,  April  22, 
1759,  Lydia  Reed,  died  August  9,  1769.  Mar- 
ried (second)  September  13,  1770,  Miriam 
Coowie,  of  Western  (Warren).  Children  of 
first  marriage:  i.  Joshua,  born  November  26, 
1759,  died  in  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  Jan- 
uary' 30,  1837;  enlisted  in  his  father's  camp 
at  age  of  fifteen  ;  was  corporal  and  surgeon's 
mate;  ensign  lieutenant  1778;  paymaster  and 
captain  1781  ;  was  at  Bunker  Hill,  Ticonder- 
oga, Saratoga,  Valley  Forge,  Monmouth  and 
Tappan  Bay.  In  1787  was  appointed  aide-de- 
camp to  Major-General  Patterson;  1794  ap- 
pointed postmaster  of  Pittsfield  by  President 
Washington  and  lived  to  be  the  oldest  post- 
master in  the  country.  Was  town  clerk,  treas- 
urer, selectman,  assessor,  representative  to  the 
legislature  five  years,  1807  associate  judge, 
1808  chief  justice  of  court  of  sessions,  ap- 
pointed by  IVesident  Madison  United  States 
marshal,  also  principal  assessor  and  collector 
of  revenue  for  eighteenth  Massachusetts  dis- 
trict, 1827  member  of  governor's  council, 
where  he  ranked  as  colonel.  He  married  Sa- 
lome Noble  and  had  nine  children.  2.  Colonel 
Jonathan,  born  March  2,  1761  ;  soldier  of  the 
revolution  and  pensioner ;  married  Abigail 
Johnson  and  had  ten  children.  3.  Lydia,  mar- 
ried William  Woodward.  4.  Dolly,  married 
Ebenezer  Billings :  removed  to  Cambridge, 
New  York.  5.  Phebe,  married  Barnabas 
Carey  (2).  6.  Hannah,  died  about  1786.  7. 
Coowie,  died  in  infancy.     8.  Coowie,  married 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


Clarissa  Tyler.  9.  Keyes,  see  forward.  10. 
Clarissa,  married  John  Hickox.  11.  William 
Woodward,  married  Cynthia  Noble ;  was  a 
farmer  of  Sodus,  New  York,  where  he  died. 

(VI)  Keyes,  son  of  Jonathan  (3)  and 
Miriam  (Coowie)  Danforth,  was  born  in  Wil- 
liamstown,  Massachusetts,  June  6,  1778,  died 
in  the  same  town,  October  6,  185 1.  He  was 
for  three  years  county  commissioner,  repre- 
sented his  district  in  the  legislature  several 
years,  was  widely  known  and  esteemed  for  his 
sound  judgment  and  firmness  of  purpose.  For 
years  he  was  leader  of  the  Democratic  party 
of  Berkshire  county.  Three  of  his  sons  were 
lawyers,  and  his  daughters  were  women  of  un- 
common beauty,  intelligence  and  education,  all 
of  them  marrying  professional  men.  He  mar- 
ried, in  1800,  Mary  Bushnell,  born  in  Say- 
brook,  Connecticut,  September  28,  1784,  died 
in  Williamstown,  January  27,  1867,  daughter 
of  Ephraim  Bushnell,  of  Saybrook.  Qiil- 
dren,  all  born  in  Williamstown,  Massachu- 
setts: I.  Charles,  born  February  5,  1804,  died 
at  Washington  D.  C,  December  14,  1885 ; 
graduated  at  Williams  College ;  settled  in 
Leroy,  New  York,  in  the  practice  of  law ; 
county  judge ;  removed  to  Washington,  D. 
C. ;  married  (first)  Charity  Foster,  of  Leroy; 
(second)  Diana  E.  Jones,  of  noted  ancestry, 
who  survived  him,  a  resident  of  Forest  Glen, 
Maryland.  2.  Ephraim  lUishnell,  born  June 
II,    1806;   married    Elizabeth    Pingry   Foster. 

3.  George,  born  July  24,  1808;  graduate  of 
Williams  College ;  studied  law  ;  settled  at  Ann 
Harbor,  Michigan;  state  senator;  postmaster; 
eminent  in  the  law  ;  married  Mary  R.  Foster. 

4.  Mary  Bushnell,  born  August  31,  181 1  ;  mar- 
ried Judge  .'\braham  B.  Olin,  graduate  of  Wil- 
liams College,  member  of  congress  four  terms 
from  Troy,  New  York,  judge  of  the  supreme 
court  of  the  District  of  Columbia  until  he  was 
seventy  years  of  age ;  no  children.  5.  Han- 
nah Alaria,  born  October  20,  1815  ;  married 
Hon.  Joseph  White,  graduate  of  Williams 
College,  studied  law  in  Troy,  New  York, 
partner  of  Judge  Olin  until  1848 ;  superin- 
tendent of  Massachusetts  Mills ;  state  senator, 
bank  commissioner,  secretary  board  of  educa- 
tion, trustee  treasurer  and  secretary'  of  Wil- 
liams College  many  years.  6.  Harriet  Newell, 
born  .\pril  14,  1818;  married  Colonel  George 
Huntington  Browne,  of  Providence,  Rhode 
Island  ;  graduate  Brown  L'uiversity  ;  lawyer  ; 
member  of  state  assembly,  congressman. 
United  States  district  attorney,  delegate 
Democratic  convention  at  Charleston,  South 
Carolina;  i860,  colonel  Twelfth  Regiment, 
Rhode  Island  \'olunteer  Infantry;  state  sen- 
ator, elected  chief  justice  supreme  court  of 
Rhode  Island,  but   ill  health   forbade  his  ac- 


ceptance ;  three  children.  7.  Keyes,  born  Jan- 
uary II,  1822;  graduate  of  Williams  College; 
studied  law  with  Colonel  I'rowne;  practiced  in 
Williamstown;  judge  of  local  court;  assistant 
treasurer  Williams  College ;  town  treasurer 
twenty  years,  selectman,  assessor,  member  of 
legislature,  and  an  original  member  of  Sons 
of  the  American  Revolution.  Married  (first) 
Anna  L.  Lyon;  (second)  Caroline  M.  Smith, 
of  Albany,  New  York.  8.  Helen  Augusta,  see 
forward. 

(\TI)  Helen  Augusta,  youngest  daughter 
of  Keyes  and  Mary  (Bushnell)  Danforth,  was 
born  in  Williamstown,  Massachusetts,  January 
31,  1828.  She  is  a  highly  educated,  intellectual 
woman,  especially  accomplished  in  the  lan- 
guages, one  of  the  "finest  types  of  the  old 
New  England  woman."  Lived  the  first  ten 
years  of  her  married  life  in  Troy,  where  her 
pastor.  Rev.  Dr.  Coit,  rector  of  St.  Paul's 
Episcopal  Church,  pronounced  her  the  "most 
accomplished  woman  of  his  congregation." 
Dr.  John  Lord  said  she  was  the  "most  re- 
markable woman  he  had  ever  known ;  her 
beauty  and  grace  won  all  hearts."  She  was 
one  of  the  earliest  members  of  the  Daughters 
of  the  American  Revolution,  and  in  1893  ^^'^^ 
vice-president  general  of  the  National  Society. 
She  married,  in  Providence,  Rhode  Island, 
January  24,  1856,  Asahel  Clarke  Geer  (see 
Geer  \T),  born  in  Glens  Falls,  New  York, 
January  6,  1823,  died  in  Williamstown.  Massa- 
chusetts, July  21,  1902.  Children,  all  born 
in  \\'illiamstown,  Massachusetts:  i.  Walter, 
born  August  19,  1857;  graduate  of  Williams 
College,  1878;  studied  law  in  Washington, 
D.  C. ;  was  assistant  manager  of  Walter  A. 
Wood  Company,  Chicago  ofifice,  now  presi- 
dent of  New  York  Architectural  Terra  Cotta 
Company  of  New  York  City  and  Ravenswood, 
Long  Island.  Married  Mary,  daughter  of  Or- 
lando B.  Potter.  2.  Danforth,  see  forward. 
3.  Olin  White,  born  June  25,  1866,  died  May 
19,  1884,  at  Hoosick  Falls,  New  York. 

(\'III)  Danforth.  son  of  Asahel  Clarke  and 
Helen  .Augusta  (Danforth)  Geer,  was  born  in 
Williamstown,  Massachusetts,  May  25,  1859. 
He  entered  Williams  College,  where  he  was 
graduated  B.A.,  class  of  1879.  .\fter  leaving 
college  he  entered  tlie  employ  of  the  Walter 
A.  Wood  Mowing  and  Reaping  Machine 
Company  as  office  boy.  He  rose  through  suc- 
cessive promotions  to  the  offices  of  assistant 
secretary,  secretary  and  treasurer,  vice-presi- 
dent and  finally  president,  which  important 
office  he  now  (1910)  most  worthily  fills.  Since 
1893  'is  li3s  been  a  director  of  the  company. 
The  record  from  office  boy  to  president  of  so 
large  and  important  a  corporation  is  one  sel- 
dom equalled  and  should  prove  an  inspiration 


224 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


to  young  men.  He  is  a  director  of  the  Se- 
curity Trust  Company  of  Troy,  and  has  other 
varied  business  interests.  He  is  an  active  Re- 
pubhcan  and  is  solicitous  for  the  welfare  of 
the  village  of  Hoosick,  which  he  has  served  as 
trustee.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Public 
Improvement  Commission,  created  by  special 
act  of  the  legislature,  on  the  sewer  commis- 
sion, and  president  of  Hoosick  Falls  board  of 
trade.  He  is  public-spirited,  progressive,  and 
a  natural  leader.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  His 
college  fraternity  is  the  Delta  Psi.  His  clubs 
are  the  Hoosac  of  Hoosick  Falls,  of  which  he 
has  been  president  since  its  organization,  the 
Troy,  of  Troy,  the  University  and  St.  An- 
thony of  New  York  City.  He  belongs  to  the 
Sons  of  the  Revolution,  Society  of  Colonial 
Wars,  Society  of  Founders  and  Patriots.  He 
married,  June  6,  1888,  Amy,  daughter  of  Wil- 
lard  Gay,  born  in  Albany,  died  in  Troy,  April 
I,  1891,  treasurer  of  the  Walter  A.  Wood 
Company  from  its  incorporation  until  his 
death,  cashier  and  then  president  of  the 
National  State  Bank  of  Troy,  New  York.  He 
married  Ann  Bishop,  daughter  of  William  and 

(Suydam)  Bishop.    Children  of  Dan- 

forth  and  Amy  (Gay)  Geer:  i.  Danforth, 
born  April  12,  1889;  educated  in  public  and 
private  schools ;  entered  Williams  College, 
1907,  now  (1910)  in  his  senior  year.  2.  Mary 
Ellis,  born  February  28,  1891 ;  educated  at  the 
Misses  Master's  private  school,  Dobbs  Ferry, 
New  York.  3.  Augusta  Danforth,  born  De- 
cember 5,  1892;  educated  at  Misses  Master's 
school,  class  of  1910. 


Major  John  Jermain,  of  Long 
JERMAIN  Island.  New  York,  was  a 
grandson  of  Ozce  Jourdain, 
who  was  born  in  La  Rochelle,  France.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Coudres,  born  in  the  same 
city.  They  were  Protestant  in  religion,  and 
after  the  death  of  his  wife  Ozce  Jourdain  fled 
with  his  son,  Jean,  to  Scotland,  about  the 
time  of  the  massacre  of  the  Huguenots  on  St. 
Bartholomew's  day,  1685.  Jean  Jourdain,  his 
son,  was  born  in  La  Rochelle,  France,  and 
fled  with  his  father  to  Scotland ;  married  and 
lived  in  Edinburgh.  The  American  history 
begins  with  John,  son  of  Jean,  and  grandson 
of  Ozce  and  Elizabeth  (Coudres)  Jourdain. 
The  name  became  in  the  second  generation 
in  America,  Jermain. 

(I)  John  Jordan  was  born  in  Edinburgh, 
Scotland,  in  1729.  In  1755  he  came  to  .Amer- 
ica where  he  settled  at  White  Plains,  West- 
chester county,  New  York.  In  1757  be  mar- 
ried Mary  Ann  Daniels,  of  Dutch  ancestors, 
who  settled  in  England,  later  coming  to  New 


York,  where  Mary  Ann  was  born  in  1725, 
In  1776,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war  of  the 
revolution,  John  Jordan  with  his  family,  ex- 
cepting his  soil  John,  later  known  as  Major 
John  Jermain,  removed  to  Saint  John,  Nova 
Scotia  (now  New  Brunswick),  where  he  cHed 
in  1799.  The  graves  of  John  and  Mary  Ann 
(Daniels)  Jordan  are  now  covered  by  the 
cathedral  in  that  city. 

(II)  Major  John  (2),  son  of  John  (r) 
and  Mary  Ann  (Daniels)  Jordan,  was  born 
in  Westchester  county,  New  York,  May  20, 
1758.  After  the  removal  of  his  parents  to 
Nova  Scotia,  he  took  the  name  of  Jermain 
and  therefore  may  be  considered  the  founder 
of  his  family  in  this  country.  He  was  a  well- 
educated  man,  located  in  Sag  Harbor,  where 
he  had  a  successful  business  career.  He  re- 
moved to  Sag  Harbor  about  the  time  of  the 
family  removal  to  Nova  Scotia.  He  is  be- 
lieved to  have  served  in  the  Westchester  coun- 
ty militia  during  the  war  for  independence. 
During  the  second  war  with  Great  Britain, 
1812-14,  he  was  in  command  of  the  fort  at 
Sag  Harbor,  one  of  the  most  exposed  points 
on  Long  Island.  His  title  of  major  was  not 
ornamental,  but  earned  by  actual  military  ser- 
vice. He  accumulated  a  substantial  estate  at 
Sag  Harbor  and  gave  hearty  support  to  every 
enterprise  that  tended  to  the  betterment  of 
his  adopted  town.  He  was  public-spirited  and 
progressive,  and  had  an  extensive  acquaint- 
ance throughout  Suft'olk  county,  where  he  was 
held  in  highest  esteem.  He  died  at  Sag  Har- 
bor, February  17,  1819,  leaving  a  will  equita- 
bly distributing  his  property.  His  "beloved 
wife,"  Margaret,  and  three  sons,  were  named 
as  executors  of  his  estate.  He  married,  Au- 
gust 27,  1 78 1,  Margaret,  daughter  of  Syl- 
vanus  and  Rebecca  (Lupton)  Pierson,  of 
Bridgehampton,  Long  Island  (see  Pierson 
VI).  Children:  i.  Mary,  born  May  7,  1782, 
died  at  Sag  Harbor.  Long  Island.  January  28, 
181 1.  Slie  married,  at  Sag  Harbor,  Febru- 
ary 19,  1800,  Daniel  Latham,  who  died  at 
Sag  Harbor,  November  15,  1830.  2.  Sylvanus 
Pierson,  of  whom  further.  3.  Rebecca,  born 
October  2,  1787,  died  at  Brooklyn,  New  York, 
November  15.  1824.  She  married.  February 
24,  1807,  Colonel  Alden  Spooner,  died  in 
Brooklyn,  November  24,  1848.  4.  Julia  Ann, 
born  January  31,  1789,  died  at  White  Plains, 
New  York,  August  24,  1874.  She  married, 
at  Sag  Harbor.  July  8,  1808,  Rev.  Nathaniel 
Scudder  Prime,  D.D.,  died  at  White  Plains, 
New  York,  March  27,  1855.  5.  Alanson, 
born  February  10,  1781,  died  November  5, 
1885.  He  married,  at  Albany.  New  York,  Jan- 
uary 12,  1820,  .Sabra  Rice,  died  in  New  York 
City,  May   13,    1841.     6.  Caroline,  born  Jan- 


j2(r^^^-^^e^ 


<^^<^^^>^^<^w 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK    VALLEYS 


225 


uary  25,  1794,  died  at  Geneva,  New  York, 
June  18,  1877.  She  married,  at  Sag  Harbor, 
June  9,  1812,  Rev.  Stephen  Porter.  7.  John, 
born  Alarch  22,  1796,  died  at  Detroit,  Mich- 
igan, March  15,  1881.  He  married,  at  Ovid, 
New  York,  April  13,  1820,  Sarah  Delevan, 
died  January  14,  1890.  8,  George  Washing- 
ton, born  September  29,  1798,  died  at  Gen- 
eva, New  York,  September  21,  1879.  He 
married  (first)  January  13,  1820,  Cornelia 
^^'endell,  died  at  Lockport,  Xevv  York,  Sep- 
tember 6,  1857.  He  married  (second)  Janu- 
ary 9,  1859,  at  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  Abi- 
gail P.  \\'arner.  9.  Margaret  Pierson,  mar- 
ried Joseph  Slocum,  of  Syracuse,  New  York. 
Their  daugliter,  Margaret  Olivia  Sage 
(widow  of  Russell  Sage,  of  New  York)  in 
addition  to  her  man\'  generous  gifts  for  phil- 
anthropic and  educational  purposes  has  not 
forgotten  to  pay  tribute  to  the  memory  of  her 
grandparents  in  the  erection  of  the  Henry 
Pierson  high  school  and  the  John  Jermain 
Memorial  Library  at  Sag  Harbor,  Long 
Island. 

(HI)  Sylvanus  Pierson,  eldest  son  of  Ma- 
jor John  (2)  and  Margaret  (Pierson)  Jer- 
main, was  born  January  31,  1784,  died  at 
Albany,  New  York,  August  20,  1869.  He  set- 
tled in  Albany  about  1806.  He  was  a  man 
of  the  highest  integrity  and  of  untiring  de- 
votion to  business,  the  produce  and  commis- 
sion business,  at  that  time  so  important  a 
feature  of  Albany's  commercial  life,  and  he 
abundantly  prospered.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
managers  of  the  Albany  Savings  Bank,  or- 
ganized in  1820,  and  was  its  first  secretary. 
With  the  Mechanics  and  Farmers  Bank  he 
was  closely  connected,  entering  its  directorate 
early  in  the  centur3\  He  married,  at  Albany, 
August  I,  1807,  Catherine,  daughter  of  James 
Barclay  and  Janet  Barker,  his  wife,  natives 
of  Scotland.  She  died  January  24.  1816. 
Children:  i.  Janet  Elizabeth,  born  May  11, 
1808,  died  July  3,  1808.  2.  James  Barclay, 
August  13,  1809,  of  whom  further.  3. 
John  Pierson,  January  25,  1812,  died 
March  10,  1835,  married  Frances  Mallory  at 
Troy,  New  York,  May  14,  1832:  they 
had  one  son,  Sylvanus  P.  Jermain,  born  Au- 
gust 29,  1833  ;  married  Emily  E.  Franklin,  of 
Brooklyn,  New  York,  September  6,  1856 ;  Syl- 
vanus P.  Jermain,  died  January  2,  1857.  4. 
William,  April  20.  1814.  died  November  29, 
1814.  5.  Infant  daughter,  October  21,  181 5, 
died   three   days   later. 

(IV)  James  Barclay,  son  of  Sylvanus  Pier- 
son and  Catherine  (Barclay)  Jermain,  was 
born  in  Albany,  New  York,  August  13,  1809. 
He  was  deprived  of  a  mother's  care  when  he 
was  but   seven   years  of  age  and  became  an 


inmate  of  the  home  of  his  uncle.  Rev.  Nathan- 
iel S.  Prime,  by  whom  he  was  prepared  for 
college.  He  entered  I\liddlebury  College  in 
1824  and  later  was  a  student  at  Yale.  Ill 
health  interru]5ted  his  studies  which  were  later 
resumed  at  Amherst  College,  whence  he  was 
graduated  in  1831.  He  chose  the  profession 
of  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  New  York  bar 
in  1836.  He  was  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
law,  especially  in  connection  with  his  father's 
estate.  In  1869,  on  the  death  of  his  father 
he  inherited  his  property,  and  henceforth  his 
life  was  marked  by  an  unostentatious  philan- 
thropy and  by  the  promotion  of  practical 
Christianity.  His  private  benefactions  were 
many  and  only  known  to  a  few.  He  was 
chief  founder  and  patron  of  the  "Home  for 
.\ged  ]\Ien,"  and  gave  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  building,  erected  on  a 
lot  provided  by  the  citizens  of  Albany.  The 
Fairview  Home  for  Friendless  Children  near 
Watervliet  owes  its  existence  to  his  generos- 
ity. As  a  memorial  to  his  only  son,  he  en- 
dowed the  Barclay  Jermain  professorship  in 
Williams  College.  Himself  a  devoted  Chris- 
tian, he  erected  for  the  cause  he  loved  and 
as  an  enduring  family  monument  the  Jer- 
main Memorial  Church  at  Watervliet,  New 
York,  a  structure  of  grace  and  beauty.  His 
memory  is  lovingly  cherished.  Mr.  Jermain's 
interest  in  these  benefactions  continued  until 
his  death  and  by  will  he  carefully  provided 
for  their  continuance.  His  wisdom  and  prac- 
tical humanity  were  everywhere  acknowl- 
edged. In  1892  Williams  College  conferred 
upon  him  the  degree  of  LL.D. 

He  married,  in  1842,  Catherine  Ann  Rice, 
of  Cambridge,  New  York,  born  February  27, 
1823,  died  April  21,  1873,  daughter  of  Col- 
onel Clark  and  Ann  (Hilton)  Rice,  both  of 
\\'ashington  county.  New  York.  Children 
of  James  Barclay  and  Catherine  Ann  (Rice) 
Jermain:  i.  Catherine  Barclay,  married  Wil- 
liam H.  McClure,  of  .Mbany  :  children :  i.  Julia 
Jermain,  died  November  3,  1889,  at  the  age 
of  nineteen  years ;  ii.  Archibald  Jermain,  mar- 
ried Anna  Cassin,  of  Rensselaer,  New  York, 
and  has  one  son,  Barclay  Jermain  McClure, 
born  August  30.  1900.  2.  .Ann  Rice,  married 
Rev.  Frederick  B.  Savage,  of  Newburg,  who 
died  in  1873.  Child,  Katharine  Jermain,  mar- 
ried Frederick  de  Peyster  Townsend  and  had 
children  :  i.  Marie  Jermain,  born  June  4,  1896; 
ii.  Elizabeth  K.,  .August  20.  1897,  died  No- 
vember 7,  1909:  iii.  Edith,  January  17,  1899; 
iv.  Frederick  de  Peyster,  April  23,  1900;  v. 
Katherine  Savage,  December  9,  1902 ;  vi.  Ma- 
rianne, September  24,  1906;  vii.  James  Bar- 
clay, June  12,  1910.  3.  Maria  Cumings,  un- 
married.     4.    Julia    Prime,    married    Robert 


226 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


MacCartee,  of  New  York.  5.  Barclay,  the 
only  son,  married  Katharine  Sophia  Thayer, 
of  Troy,  New  York.  He  died  in  1882,  at  the 
early  age  of  twenty-nine.  He  was  a  young 
man  of  fine  promise  and  had  already  won  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens. 
He  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Committee 
of  Thirteen,  one  of  the  commissioners  for  the 
new  building  of  the  City  Hall,  and  in  the 
town  of  Watervliet  was  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee of  the  Taxpayers'  Association  which 
carried  on  a  vigorous  and  successful  fight 
against  corrupt  administration  of  the  town 
finances.  He  was  at  one  time  director  in  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  While 
interested  in  whatever  related  to  Albany's  im- 
provement, Mr.  Jermain  dearly  loved  his 
home  in  the  country,  the  house  on  the  Troy 
and  Albany  road,  where  his  father  and  mother 
took  up  their  residence  in  the  first  year  of 
their  marriage  and  where  all  their  children 
were  born.  The  original  house  was  built  by 
General  Worth. 

(TTie  Pierson  Line). 
Henry  Pierson,  of  Southampton,  Long  Isl- 
and, and  Rev.  Abraham  Pierson  were 
brothers,  sons  of  Abraham  and  Christian 
(Johnson)  Pierson,  of  Shadwell,  parish  of 
Stepney,  Middlesex,  England.  The  family 
were  of  considerable  distinction  and  had  been 
honored  by  their  sovereign,  as  shown  by  their 
armorial  bearings:  Arms:  Three  suns  in 
pale,  or,  between  two  palets  erminois.  Crest: 
A  demi  lion  proper,  holding  in  the  dexter  paw 
a  sun,  or.  J\Iotto:  "Mea  spes  est  in  Deo." 
(My  hope  is  in   God.) 

(I)  Abraham  Pierson.  of  Middlesex,  Eng- 
land, born  1590,  married,  July  31,  161 5, 
Christian  Johnson,  widow,  and  had  children: 
I.  Abraham,  born  1616.  graduate  of  Trinity 
College,  Cambridge,  England,  1632,  A.M. ; 
came  to  New  England  in  1639 ;  settled  first 
in  Lynn,  Massachusetts ;  resident  of  South- 
ampton, Long  Island,  1640-47,  Brandford, 
Connecticut,  1647-66;  Newark,  New  Jersey, 
1666.  A  strong,  useful  character  and  a  leader 
among  men,  of  whom  mucli  is  written.  2. 
Henry,  of  whom  further. 

(II)  Henry,  son  of  Abraham  and  Christian 
(Johnson)  Pierson,  was  born  in  England,  in 
1618,  came  to  New  England  with  Rev.  Abra- 
ham Pierson  in  1639,  settled  with  him  at 
Lynn,  and  at  Southampton  in  1640.  He  was 
clerk  of  Suffolk  county.  Long  Island,  1669, 
holding  the  office  until  1681.  He  was,  like 
his  brother,  a  man  of  deep  piety,  strong  re- 
ligious convictions  and  scholarly  attainments. 
They  labored  together  for  temporal  and  spirit- 
ual betterment   until   Rev.   Abraham    Pierson 


removed  to  Brandford  in  1647.  From  that 
time  Henry  was  the  leader  in  his  town  and 
shares  the  honor  of  being  a  founder  of  the 
public  school  system  of  America.  He  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  John  Cooper,  of  Lynn,. 
Massachusetts,  John  Cooper  came  from  Eng- 
land in  the  "Hopewell,"  in  1635,  aged  forty- 
one,  with  his  wife,  Wibroe,  and  four  children  r 
Mary,  aged  thirteen;  John,  ten;  Thomas,, 
seven ;  ]\Iartha,  five  years  of  age.  Children: 
of  Henry  and  Mary  (Cooper)  Pierson:  Abi- 
gail, born  1649;  Henry,  of  whom  further; 
Joseph,  1656;  Benjamin,  removed  to  New  Jer- 
sey; Theodore,  born   1669;  Sarah. 

(HI)    Colonel    Henry    (2),   son   of   Henry 
(i)   and  Mary   (Cooper)   Pierson,  was  born 
at  Southampton,  Long  Island,  1652.     He  was 
well   educated  and  rose   to  great  prominence- 
in  the  colony  of  New  York.     He  was  elected 
to   the   general  assembly   of   the   province  of 
New   York,   and   was   successively   re-elected' 
for  several  terms.     He  served  on   important 
committees  and  did  much  in  shaping  legisla- 
tion and  laying  the  foundations  of  the  colonial 
and    state    laws.      He    was     speaker    of   the- 
house  from  1690  to  1695,  and  the  peer  of  the-, 
great  public  men  of  his  period.     He  married' 
Susannah,  daughter  of   Major  John   Howell, 
and  granddaughter  of  Edward   Howell,  vvho> 
came    with    his    family    to    Boston    in    1639, 
settled  on   Long  Island,    1640.  where  he  was- 
a  magistrate  and  member  of  the  Connecticut: 
general  court    (Southampton  then   being  un-- 
der   Connecticut   jurisdiction).     Major  John,, 
son    of   Edward   and   his   wife   Frances,    was. 
baptized  November  22,  1624.     He  was  a  man- 
of  distinction  and  was  entrusted  with  the  man- 
agement of  much  public  business.    By  his  wife- 
Susannah   he   had   eleven   children,    of  whom 
Susannah  was  the  si.xth.     The  Howells  were- 
a  knightly  family  of  North  Wales  ancestry. 
Their  coat-of-arms  was:    "Three  towers  triple- 
towered,  argent."    Crest :  Out  of  a  ducal  cor- 
onet or,  a  rose  argent,  stalked  and  leaved  vert, . 
between  wings  endorsed  of  the  last."     Chil- 
dren of   Colonel  Henry    (2)      and   Susannah' 
(Howell)   Pierson:  John,  born  November  30» 
1683;     David,     1688:     Hannah;     Theophilus, 
1690;     Sarah;    Abraham,     1693;    Josiah,    of" 
whom  further ;  Mary. 

(I\')    Josiah.   son   of  Colonel   Henry    (2) 
and    Susannah    (Howell)    Pierson,   was   bom' 
1695.     He  was  a   farmer  with  no  ambition 
for  public  or  military  life.    He  had  four  wives  ■ 
and  eleven  children:  Silas.  Matthew.  Sylvanus,  ■ 
of  whom  further,  Paul,  Timothy,  Josiah,  Jos-- 
eph,    Benjamin,    John,    Martha,    married  Ste- 
phen    Jagger ;     Susannah,     married     David' 
Hodges. 

(V)   Sylvanus,  son  of  Josiah  Pierson,  was- 


^f^'.j^^i>^wff^srm.,^^  r,^^.^ .  r  'f^^^nWi 


/^ 


h'>&^^^2^;0^ 


I 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


227 


born  March  2,  1725,  died  at  Bridgehampton, 
Long  Island,  August  23,  1795.  He  married 
Rebecca,  daughter  of  David  Lupton,  of  Bos- 
ton, Massachusetts.  Children:  Rebecca,  Mar- 
garet, Sally,  Margaret. 

(VI)  Margaret,  daughter  of  Sylvanus  and 
Rebecca  (Lupton)  Pierson,  married,  August 
27,  1781,  Major  John  (2)  Jermain  (see  Jer- 
main  II). 


(IX)  Robert  Clarence  Pruvn,  son 
PRUYN     of  Hon.  Robert  Hewson   (q.  v.) 

and  Jane  Ann  (  Lansing)  Pruyn, 
was  born  in  Albany,  New  York,  October  23, 
1847.  His  early  education  was  received  at 
the  Albany  Boys'  Academy,  following  which 
careful  preparation  he  entered  Rutgers  Col- 
lege, graduating  in  the  class  of  1869.  For  a 
time  he  was  an  attache  to  the  American  lega- 
tion at  Tokio,  while  his  father  was  the  United 
States  minister  to  Japan.  Governor  John  A. 
Dix  appointed  him  upon  his  stafif.  On  Feb- 
ruary 13,  igoi,  the  legislature  elected  him  a 
regent  of  the  University  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  on  which  prominent  board  he  served 
until  its  reorganization  in  1903,  along  the  lines 
of  new  legislative  enactment.  Mr.  Pruyn  was 
for  a  long  time  president  of  the  board  of  com- 
missioners of  Washington  Park  of  Albany, 
until  the  park  system  became  a  bureau  in  the 
department  of  public  works.  He  was  one  of 
the  commissioners  appointed  to  erect  the  new 
City  Hall,  whose  corner-stone  was  laid  in 
188 1.  He  is  a  member  of  St.  Peter's  Episco- 
jal  Church,  and  for  many  years  has  been  a 
vestryman,  participating  most  actively  in  all 
affairs  concerning  the  good  of  the  church,  and 
has  served  a  number  of  times  as  delegate  to 
national  conventions  of  the  Episcopal  church 
in  America.  Mr.  Pruyn  was  chosen  president 
of  the  National  Commercial  Bank  of  Albany, 
May  23,  1885,  to  succeed  Hon.  Daniel  Man- 
ning, appointed  by  President  Cleveland  that 
spring  on  his  cabinet  as  secretary  of  the  treas- 
ury, and  who  had  in  turn  succeeded  Mr. 
Pruyn's  father  as  president  of  the  bank.  It 
was  during  the  officiate  of  Mr.  Pruyn  that  this 
bank  erected  its  own  building,  at  Nos.  38-40 
State  street,  on  the  line  of  plans  executed  by 
Architect  Robert  W.  Gibson ;  but  the  remark- 
able expansion  of  its  affairs  soon  necessitated 
the  consideration  of  acquiring  much  larger 
quarters,  and  on  May  2,  1904,  this  bank  re- 
moved to  its  new,  handsome  granite  and  mar- 
ble building  at  No.  60  State  street.  The  ex- 
terior of  this  building  is  a  chief  ornament  of 
Albany's  principal  business  street,  and  the  in- 
terior, commodious  and  replete  with  all  mod- 
ern methods  for  convenience  of  customers  and 
ofificials,  is  a  subject  of  unstinted  admiration 


because  of  its  refined  beauty  combined  with  a 
certain  amount  of  ornateness.  Equally  as  good 
a  barometer  of  its  success  and  progressiveness 
under  the  executive  guidance  of  Mr.  Pruyn  is 
the  fact  that  the  stock  of  this  bank  has  en- 
hanced in  value.  For  several  years  Mr.  I'ruvn 
was  vice-president  of  the  Municipal  Gas  Com- 
pany, of  Albany,  and  the  president  of  the  Al- 
bany Railway  Company,  the  two  largest  cor- 
porations operated  in  the  city.  He  is  a  direc- 
tor of  the  L'nion  Trust  Company,  and  was  one 
of  its  organizers ;  member  of  the  board  of 
governors  of  the  Albany  Hospital ;  a  director 
of  the  Albany  Institute  and  Historical  and 
Art  Society;  member  of  Philip  Livingston 
Chapter,  Sons  of  the  Revolution ;  of  the  Hol- 
land Society  ;  Albany  Chamber  of  Commerce  ; 
Century  Association ;  of  the  University  and 
Metropolitan  clybs  of  New  York  City ;  the 
Fort  Orange,  the  Albany,  the  University  and 
Country  clubs  of  Albany. 

Mr.  Pruyn's  residence  is  at  No.  7  Engle- 
wood  place,  fronting  on  the  most  beautiful 
portion  of  Washington  Park.  The  interior 
exhibits  a  peculiar  charm  of  refinement  in  its 
furnishing,  and  one  of  its  most  admired  fea- 
tures is  the  collection  of  ivories  brought  to 
this  country  from  Japan  by  his  father,  which 
is  ranked  as  one  of  the  finest  in  this  country. 
Mr.  Pruyn  spends  his  summers  on  his  Adiron- 
dack preserve,  known  as  Camp  Santanoni, 
attractively  located  on  Newcomb  Lake, 
reached  by  a  drive  of  about  thirty  miles  north- 
ward from  North  Creek.  It  is  here  that  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Pruyn  surround  themselves  with 
their  family  and  from  ten  to  twenty  guests. 
They  delight  in  the  pleasure  of  entertaining 
and  are  true  to  the  dictum  of  the  old  Dutch 
hospitality.  In  the  winter  it  has  been  his  cus- 
tom to  spend  several  weeks  at  Jekyl  Island, 
as  a  member  of  that  club.  He  is  especially 
concerned  in  everything  pertaining  to  art  in 
its  best  form :  enjoys  riding,  books  and  travel. 

Robert  C.  Pruyn  married,  at  Albany,  Oc- 
tober 22.  1873,  Anna  Martha,  born  in  Albany, 
May  7,  1853.  daughter  of  Chauncey  Pratt 
Williams,  late  president  of  the  National  Ex- 
change Bank,  and  Martha  Andrews  (Hough) 
Williams  (see  Williams  VI).  Children,  born 
in   Albany : 

I.  Edward  Lansing,  November  23,  1874.  2. 
Ruth  Williams,  October  3,  1877;  married,  Al- 
bany, June  3,  1903,  David  Marvin  Goodrich, 
born  at  Akron,  Ohio,  June  22,  1876,  son  of 
Benjamin  F.  Goodrich  and  his  wife  (nee) 
Mary  Marvin  ;  child,  Anne,  born  Boston.  April 
II,  1904.  3.  Robert  Dunbar.  October  11, 
1879:  married  in  Church  of  the  Ascension, 
New  York,  December  15,  1903,  Betty  Met- 
calf,   born   at   Erie,   Pennsylvania,   September 


22ii 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  \.\LLEYS 


30.  1880.  daug^hter  of  Frederic  Wilder  Met- 
calf  and  his  wife  (^neej  Ruth  Moorhead; 
children :  Robert  Lansing,  bom.  New  York 
Cit\-,  November  5,  1904:  Ruth.  New  York 
City,  May  5,  1907.  4.  Frederic,  July  5,  1881 : 
married  in  St.  George's  Church.  New  York 
CitA'.  February  5,  1907.  Beatrice  Morgan, 
born  in  New  York  City,  June  26.  1886.  daugh- 
ter of  William  Fellowes  and  Emma  ( Leavitt ) 
Morgan:  children:  Frederic,  bom  in  Short 
Hills,  New  Jersey,  Februarys  25,  1908:  Fel- 
lowes  Morgan,  Short  Hills,  New  Jersey,  De- 
cember 2,  1909. 


The  Wheeler  family  is  of 
\\'HEELER  English  origin.  It  is  re- 
corded that  during  the  reign 
of  Charles  II.  C 1649-1685^  Sir  Charles 
Wheeler  was  appointed  "Captain  General  of 
the  Caribee  Islands."  and  that  in  1693  the 
English  fleet  under  command  of  Sir  Francis 
\\'heeler  put  into  Boston  to  recruit.  Orcutt, 
the  historian  of  .Stratford,  Connecticut,  says 
"Wheelers  were  in  and  around  London  four 
hundred  years." 

Between  1620  and  1650  many  families  of  the 
name  came  from  England  and  settled  in  Mas- 
sachusetts, Connecticut  and  \'irginia.  In  Hot- 
ten's  "Lists  of  Emigrants  to  .America,"  1600- 
1700,  it  is  stated  that  Henrie  \\'heeler  em- 
barked at  London,  May  16,  1635,  in  the 
"Plaine  Joane.'  for  X'irginia ;  that  July  24, 
1635,  John  Wheeler  embarked  in  the  "Assur- 
ance" from  London  for  \'irginia ;  that  August 
I,  1679.  John  XN'heeler.  junior,  sailed  on  the 
ship  "Retume"  from  New  England.  There 
was  a  John  Wheeler  in  Newbury,  Massachu- 
setts, whf/m.  .Savage  says,  "came  in  the  '.Mary 
and  John'  in  1634."  His  will  (i66Si)  men- 
ticms  children  and  grandchildren  here,  and 
sons  .Adam,  Edward  and  William  in  .Salisbury. 
Wiltshire,  England.  George  Joseph  and  Oba- 
diah  \\'heeler  were  among  the  early  settlers 
of  Concf^rd,  Massachusetts,  and  may  have 
been  meml>ers  of  the  first  party  that  settled 
there  in  1O35.  There  was  a  Thomas  Wheeler 
in  Boston  in  1636;  an  Isaac  in  Charlestown 
in  1O43;  ^  Joseph  in  Newbury,  who  died  in 
1659;  a  Thomas  in  Lynn  in  1642;  a  Moses  in 
Stratford,  Connecticut,  whom  Orcutt  says  was 
Ujtti  in  Kent.  England,  in  1598.  Shallick  says 
that  between  1650  and  1680  there  were  in 
O>ncord  alone  thirty  distinct  families  of  the 
name.  I'armee  reo^rds  as  an  interesting  fact 
that  twenty-six  of  the  name  graduated  from 
New  England  colleges  in  1826.  The  name  is 
y.iarticularly  distinguished  in  medicine,  and  is 
a  noted  one  in  military  history. 

(I)  The  line  of  Dr.  John  Thome  Wheeler 
begins  with  fjeorge  Wheeler,  who  came  from 


England  to  Concord,  Massachusetts,  about 
id^.  and  died  before  June  2,  1687.  He  mar- 
ried Katherine,  who  died  at  Ccmcord,  Jan- 
uar\-  2,  1684. 

ni )  Thomas,  son  of  George  and  Katherine 
Wheeler,  was  bom  in  England,  died  before 
September  21,  1687.  He  married,  October  10, 
1657.  Hannah  Harrod. 

(III)  Thomas  (2).  son  of  Thomas  (i)  and 
Hannah  ( Harrod  >  Wheeler,  was  born  at  Con- 
cord, Massachusetts,  January'  i,  1659,  died 
there  October  21,  1734;  married,  November 
13,  1695,  Sarah  Davis,  bom  March  11,  1555-6, 
died  .August  5,  1728. 

(IV )  Thomas  C3),  son  of  Thomas  (2)  and 
Sarah  C Davis)  \N'heeler,  was  born  at  Con- 
cord, August  14,  1696,  died  Januan,-  21,  1769; 

married  (first)  Mar}- ,  died  March  18, 

1740. 

(V)  Henr>-,  son  of  Thomas  (3)  and  Mary 
Wheeler,  was  bom  September  11,  1717.  He 
married  Deborah  Underbill,  born  August  6, 
1723.  and  settled  in  Dutchess  countj'.  New 
York. 

(VI)  Thomas  (4),  son  of  Henry  and  De- 
borah (Underbill)  Wheeler,  was  born  Octo- 
ber 23,  1752,  died  November  23,  1820.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Connor.  lx>m  March  19, 
1750,  died  May  4,  1826.  Children :  Deborah, 
born  December  21,  1774.  died  September  2, 
1784 :  Rebecca,  born  January  20,  1777,  died 
September  6,  1798 ;  William,  of  whom  fur- 
ther; Phoebe,  born  October  16,  1782;  Henry, 
October  31.  1784:  Thomas,  February  25, 
1787;  Elizabeth.  June  25.  1789,  died  at  Paw- 
tucket,  Rhode  Island,  December  27,  1836,  mar- 
ried Calvin  Philleo. 

(\TI)  William,  son  of  Thomas  (4)  and 
EHzabeth  (Connor)  Wheeler,  was  born  in 
Oyster  Bay,  Long  Island,  June  i,  1780,  died 
December  17,  185 1.  He  was  a  wheelwright 
and  farmer  of  the  town  of  Westerlo,  .Albany 
county.  New  York.  He  married  Martha 
Thorne,  born  March  3,  1776,  died  July  21, 
1833.  Children:  i.  Samuel  Smith,  lx>rn  July 
16,  1801,  died  March  22,  1835;  married  Maria 
Boardman,  died  June  17,  183O;  children:  i. 
William  Boardman,  died  December  19,  1841, 
aged  fifteen  years ;  ii.  Samuel  Edwin,  died 
March  21,  1855,  in  his  twenty-first  year.  2. 
Phoel^  Ann,  born  April  28,  1803,  died  at 
Hempstead  (now  Mineola),  I»ng  Island, 
.May,  1862;  married,  October  5,  1826,  George 
Jerome,  manufacturer  of  agricultural  imfJe- 
ments,  deceased.  3.  .Alonzo  Wheeler,  born 
January  12,  1805,  died  in  .Albany,  New  York, 
January  21,  1867.  4.  Romclia,  Ixjrn  April  10, 
1807 ;  married,  OctolK-r  22,  1833,  KolK-rt  W. 
.Murphy.  5.  .Mary  Eliza,  l>orn  .May  8,  1809; 
married,  December  20,  1832,  Solomon  CraO' 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


229 


dall,  a  merchant,  now  deceased.  6.  William 
Connor,  born  June  21,  181 1:  married,  Octo- 
ber 21,  1852,  Frances  Wright  Allen.  7.  Alex- 
ander Frazier,  born  July  iS,  1813;  a  lawyer: 
died  in  Poughkeepsie.  Xew  York,  .August  16, 
1863:  married.  ^larch,  1841,  Anna  Elizabeth 
Barnes.  8.  Stephen  Titus,  born  May  9,  1815; 
enlisted  in  the  civil  war  and  is  believed  to 
have  been  killed  at  the  battle  of  Chancellors- 
ville.  g.  Joseph  Thorne.  of  whom  further. 
10.  Thomas  Barnes,  born  April  11,  1820,  died 
in  Albany.  New  York,  June  18,  1862 :  mar- 
ried, December  30,  185 1.  Rebecca  C.  Markle. 
The  above  sons  were  all  members  of  the  agri- 
cultural implement  firm  of  Wheeler.  Melick  & 
Co.,  the  endless  chain  inventors  and  patentees. 
(\Tn)  Joseph  Thorne.  son  of  William  and 
Martha  (Thorne)  \\heeler,  was  bom  at 
Westerlo,  .\lbany  county.  New  York,  Septem- 
ber 2^.  1817,  died  at  Chatham,  New  York, 
June  I,  1856.  He  resided  in  Co.xsackie  and 
Chatham,  and  later,  from  1849  to  April  15, 
1856,  at  Albany,  New  York,  where  he  was 
the  partner  of  Wheeler,  Melick  &  Company, 
manufacturers  of  agricultural  implements, 
comer  of  Hamilton  and  Liberty  streets. 
Later  the  family  removed  to  Chatham,  New 
York,  where  he  died  June  i.  1856.  He  mar- 
ried. September  29,  1842,  Mary  Ann  Backus, 
born  in  Chatham  (one  mile  east  of  the  vil- 
lage) December  i,  1821,  died  August  13,  1884. 
Children:  i.  Harriet,  born  at  Chatham,  New 
York,  at  the  Backus  homestead,  Aug:ust  15, 
1847,  and  now  lives  at  the  old  Wheeler  home- 
stead in  Chatham.  2.  Dr.  John  Thorne;  of 
whom  further.  3.  Mary  Crandall,  born  in  Al- 
bany, New  York,  January  29,  1853,  died  at 
Chatham,  May  14,  18S3. 

(IX)  Dr.  Jc>hn  Thorne  Wheeler,  only  son 
of  Joseph  Thorne  and  Mary  (Backus)  ^\'heel- 
er,  was  bom  at  Albany,  New  York,  Decem- 
ber 30,  1850,  died  at  Chatham,  New  York, 
December  3,  1908.  His  father's  failing  health 
necessitated  his  retirement  from  business,  and 
a  few  months  before  his  death  he  purchased 
a  home  in  Chatham,  where  he  died  at  the  early 
age  of  thirty-nine  years.  Chatham  was  ever 
after  the  family  home.  John  Thorne  attended 
private  schools  in  the  village,  and  for  one 
year  was  a  clerk  in  the  Columbia  Bank.  He 
prepared  for  college  at  schools  in  Claverack 
and  Amenia,  New  York,  entering  Yale  Uni- 
versity, class  of  1873.  His  health  not  being 
equal  to  the  rigorous  New  Haven  climate,  he 
left  Yale  in  his  sophomore  year  and  entered 
Cornell  University,  where  he  took  special 
courses,  and  later  prepared  for  the  practice 
of  medicine  with  Dr.  Edward  R.  Hun.  of  .W- 
bany.  and  there  had  some  hospital  experience. 
He  thou   entered    Bellevue    Medical   College, 


Xew  York.  Ill  health  continued  seriously  to 
interfere  with  his  plans.  His  letters  home 
,  written  during  his  school  and  college  years 
give  pathetic  evidence  of  his  constant  struggle 
to  keep  the  frail  body  in  condition  to  serve  the 
active  mind.  In  January,  1875,  he  was  de- 
clared by  a  high  medical  authority  in  New 
York  City  as  suffering  incurably  from  tuber- 
culosis. He  returned  to  Chatham  to  die.  but 
at  once  began  to  improve  under  the  open  air 
treatment  he  had  prescribed  for  himself.  He 
resumed  his  medical  studies,  was  graduated 
M.D.,  and  was  a  successful  practitioner  in 
Chatham  the  remainder  of  his  life.  After  his 
graduation  in  1875  there  were  few  interrup- 
tions to  his  practice.  Two  seasons  were  spent 
in  stud\-  in  New  York  City  and  a  few  months 
in  Europe  for  rest.  In  1S95  a  serious  bicycle 
accident,  resulting  in  a  long  and  critical  ill- 
ness, withlield  him  for  several  months  from 
his  usual  activities ;  a  few  years  later  a  re- 
currence of  pulmonary  trouble  sent  him  by 
advice  of  physicians  to  the  Adirondacks  anil 
thence  to  Asheville.  North  Carolina,  and  led 
to  serious  consideration  of  a  change  of  resi- 
dence to  the  western  mountain  region.  At 
the  end  of  three  months,  improved  in  health 
and  convinced  anew  that  his  manner  of  life 
in  Chatham  had  been  on  the  whole  beneficial, 
he  came  back  to  resume  with  indomitable 
courage  his  ministrations  to  his  people. 

Dr.  Wheeler  was  greatly  interested  in  edu- 
cation, and  was  the  most  potent  influence  in 
establishing  the  exceptionally  fine  school  in 
which  Chatham  takes  just  pride,  and  hail  en- 
tered upon  his  tenth  temi  of  three  years  as 
a  member  of  the  village  board  of  education. 
The  securing  of  a  good  schtx->l  library,  the 
enlargement  of  its  scope  by  the  gift  of  Mr. 
.Andrew  Carnegie  of  $15,000  for  tlie  erection 
of  a  fine  library  building,  were  ends  attained 
largely  through  his  interest  and  energy.  His 
ability  in  his  profession  was  recognized  far 
beyond  the  limits  of  iiis  home  town.  He  was 
a  helpful  member  of  the  County  Medical  So- 
ciety, and  for  some  time  its  presiilent :  was 
vice-president  of  the  State  Medical  Society, 
and  a  director  of  the  Division  of  Communi- 
cable Diseases  in  the  State  Department  of 
1  lealth.  He  was  also  vice-president  of  the 
State  Bank  of  Chatham,  and  a  trustee  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Although  pre- 
vented from  finishing  the  course  at  Yale,  he 
was  an  intensely  loyal  Yale  man,  as  evinced 
by  his  devotion  to  tlie  University  bv  sending 
his  two  sons  there,  and  in  attending  when- 
ever possible  his  class  reunions,  occasions 
which  he  greatly  enjoyed  and  to  which  he 
was  always  heartily  welcomed.  He  was  a 
member   oi  the   .Mpha    Delta    Phi    fraternity, 


230 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


and  prominent  in  the  Masonic  order,  having 
been  made  a  Mason  in  1877.  Of  the  pro- 
found sorrow  and  sense  of  loss  which  Dr. 
Wheeler's  death  occasioned,  many  testimonials 
are  borne  in  the  local  papers  of  Chatham  and 
Albany,  in  the  Bulletin  of  the  State  Depart- 
ment of  Health,  and  in  heartfelt  tributes  from 
his  associates  in  the  profession  and  from  num- 
berless friends.  A  fitting  tribute  was  in  the 
resting  of  the  remains  for  a  brief  period  in 
the  beautiful  library  building  which  stands 
as  an  especial  monument  to  his  untiring  and 
persistent  energy.  He  was  given  a  Masonic 
buriel  service  by  his  brethren  of  Columbia 
Lodge,  No.  98,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
conducted  by  Senator  Smith  of  Albany,  past 
district  deputy  grand  master,  after  which  his 
remains  were  returned  to  the  family  for  pri- 
vate interment.  Many  noted  physicians  from 
Albany  and  New  York  City  were  present  to 
pay  their  last  respects  to  their  honored  broth- 
er. All  business  was  suspended  in  Chatham 
between  the  hours  of  two  and  four  p.  m. 

Dr.  Wheeler  married,  in  1881,  Gertrude 
Lake,  of  Chatham,  born  at  Shokan,  Ulster 
county.  New  York,  June  20,  1858.  They 
had  one  son,  Thorne  Lake,  born  June  8.  1888, 
prepared  for  college  at  the  Chatham  School 
and  .Albany  Boys  Academy,  and  entered  Yale 
University,  whence  he  was  graduated  in  the 
class  of  1909. 

On  the  death  of  a  dear  friend.  Dr.  Wil- 
liam Duncan,  of  New  York  City,  his  son,  Wil- 
liam Wheeler  Duncan,  became  the  adopted 
son  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Wheeler.  He  attended 
the  Chatham  School,  completed  his  college 
preparation  at  Hotchkiss  school,  Lakeville, 
Connecticut,  and  was  graduated  at  Yale  Uni- 
versity in  the  class  of  1902. 

Gertrude  (Lake)  Wheeler  survives  her  hus- 
band, a  resident  of  Chatham,  as  does  his  sister 
Harriet  Wheeler. 

(Colonial   ancestry   of   Dr.   John   Thome 
Wheeler). 

Robert  I'eke  came  to  Massachusetts  Bay  in 
the  fleet  with  (iovernor  Winthrojj  in  1630.  He 
married  Elizabeth,  widow  of  Henry  Win- 
throp,  son  of  (iovernor  Winthrop,  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Anne  (Winthrop)  Pones,  of 
London.  She  was  also  a  niece  of  Gov- 
ernor John  and  first  cousin  of  Henry 
Winthrop,  her  first  husband.  .Among 
the  children  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth  Feke 
was  a  daughter  Hannah,  who  married  May 
7,  1656,  John  Bowne,  from  Matlock.  Eng- 
land, son  of  Thomas  I'owne,  born  1595,  at 
Matlock,  Derbyshire,  England. 

(H)  John,  son  of  Thomas  Bowne,  was 
born  1627,  at  Matlock,  England,  died  i(X)5. 
He  married  (first)  Hannah  Feke.    They  were 


residents  of  Southold,  Long  Island.  Han- 
nah was  a  zealous  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  and  had  "received  a  gift  in  the  min- 
istry." Her  husband  embraced  that  faith,  and 
they  together  visited  England  in  1675-76, 
holding  service  in  Ireland,  England  and  Hol- 
land. She  died  January  31,  1677-8,  at  the 
residence  of  John  and  Mary  Elson,  at  the 
Peele  meeting  place  in  St.  John  street,  Lon- 
don. She  was  buried  in  the  Friend's  burial 
place  in  Cheque  Alley,  Bunhill  Fields,  but  her 
grave  is  unmarked.  Among  their  eight  chil- 
dren was   Samuel. 

(III)  Samuel,  son  of  John  and  Hannah 
(Feke)  Bowne,  was  born  1667;  married 
Mary  Becket. 

(IV)  Mary,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary 
(Becket)   Bowne,  married,  1698,  John  Keese. 

(V)  John  (2),  son  of  John  (i)  and  Mary 
(Bowne)  Keese,  was  born  1729;  married, 
1750,  Elizabeth  Titus. 

(VI)  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth (Titus)  Keese,  born  1750,  died  1845; 
married  Joseph  Thorne,  born  1745,  died  1819. 

(VII)  Martha,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Sarah  (Keese)  Thorne,  married  William 
Wheeler. 

(VIII)  Joseph  Thorne,  son  of  William  and 
Martha  ( 'Thorne)  Wheeler,  was  born  Sep- 
tember 23,  1817,  died  June  i,  1856;  mar- 
ried, September  29,  1842,  Mary  Ann  Backus. 

( IX )  Dr.  John  Thorne,  son  of  Joseph  and 
Mary  Ann  (Backus)  Wheeler,  married  Ger- 
trude Lake. 

(X)  Thorne  Lake,  son  of  Dr.  John  Thorne 
and  Gertrude  (Lake)  Wheeler,  born  at  Chat- 
ham, New  York,  June  8,  1888. 

(The  Titus  Line). 
Elizabeth  Titus,  wife  of  John  Keese 
(2-q.  v.),  was  a  descendant  of  Robert  Titus, 
first  of  the  name  in  America,  who  was  born 
in  England  in  1600,  probably  in  St.  Catherine's 
parish,  near  Standard  Abbey,  thirty  miles 
north  of  London.  He  embarked  for  Amer- 
ica, April  3,  1635,  with  wife  Hannah  and 
two  children.  He  first  settled  in  Boston 
(Brookline)  then  in  Weymouth.  In  1644  he 
removed  to  Rehoboth,  where  he  was  court 
commissioner.  He  got  in  trouble  with  the 
authorities  for  harboring  a  Quaker,  and  in 
1654  removed  to  Long  Island.  His  son  Ed- 
numd  settled  in  Old  Westbury.  He  became 
a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  for  which 
he  sufTered  much  persecution.  He  married 
Martha  Washburn.  Their  eldest  son,  Sam- 
uel, was  born  June,  1658.  married  (second) 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Bowne  and  wid- 
ow of  John  Prior.  Their  son,  Samuel  Titus 
(2),  married  Mary  Jackson,  a  descendant  of 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK    VALLEYS 


231 


Richard   Jackson,   who   had   a  grant  of  land 
in  Southold,  Long  Island  in  1640. 

Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary 
'(Jackson)  Titus,  married  John  Keese  (2), 
son  of  John  and  Mary  (Bowne)  Keese.  Sa- 
rah, daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Keese, 
married  Joseph  Thorne,  and  they  were  the 
parents  of  Martha  Thorne,  wife  of  William 
Wheeler,  the  grandparents  of  Dr.  John 
Thorne  Wheeler. 

(The  Underliill  Line). 
Deborah  Underbill,  wife  of  Henry  Wheeler 
(V).  was  a  descendant  of  Captain  John  Un- 
derbill, born  in  Harwichsbire,  England,  came 
with  Governor  Winthrop  to  America  in  1630. 
He  married  (second)  Elizabeth  Winthrop, 
daughter  of  Henry,  son  of  Governor  Win- 
throp and  Elizabeth  (Pones)  Winthrop.  Eliz- 
abeth (Pones)  Winthrop  later  became  the 
wife  of  Robert  Feke  (or  Feake),  through 
whom  Dr.  Wheeler  traced  another  line  of  co- 
lonial descent.  Captain  Underbill  took  a 
prominent  part  in  all  the  Indian  wars  of  his 
time,  freely  exposing  himself  in  hand-to-hand 
encounters  with  the  savage  foe.  He  had  seen 
service  in  the  Netherlands  during  the  war  of 
that  country  before  he  was  selected  in  1630 
to  drill  and  command  the  Boston  militia.  Not- 
withstanding his  life  of  warfare  and  hard 
fighting.  Captain  Underbill  became  in  his  lat- 
ter days  a  respected  and  sincere  member  of 
the  peace-loving  Society  of  Friends.  He  was 
a  freeman  of  Boston,  1630,  and  subsequently 
of  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  Southold.  Long 
Island,  Greenwich,  Connecticut,  and  in  1667 
purchased  one  hundred  fifty  acres  of  land 
from  the  Indians  at  Killingworth,  Connecticut. 
One  line  of  descent  from  Captain  Underbill 
is  through  his  son,  Nathaniel. 

(II)  Nathaniel,  son  of  Captain  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Winthrop)  Underbill,  born  1663, 
married,  1685,  Mary  Ferris. 

(III)  Thomas,  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Mary 
(Ferris)  Underbill,  married  Phoebe  Daven- 
port. 

(IV)  Charity,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Phoebe  (Davenport)  Underbill,  was  born 
about  1752.  She  had  three  husbands,  of  whom 
the  first  was  Joseph  Thorne. 

(V)  Joseph  (2),  son  of  Joseph  (i)  and 
Charity  (Underbill)  Thorne,  married  Sarah 
Keese. 

(VI)  Martha,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sa- 
rah (Keese)  Thorne,  married  William  Wheel- 
er, and  they  were  the  grandparents  of  Dr. 
John  Thorne  WTieeler. 

_^__^_         (The  Montagne  Line). 

Gertrude  Lake,  wife  of  Dr.  John  Wheeler, 
is  a  lineal  descendant  of  Dr.  Johannes  de  la 


Montagne,  born  at  Saintas,  Province  of  San- 
toigne.  West  France,  educated  in  medicine  at 
Leyden  University,  Holland.  Here  he  became 
acquainted  with  Jesse  De  Forrest,  the  origi- 
nator of  the  famous  "Leyden  petition"  to  the 
English  government  in  1622  for  permission 
for  himself  and  si.Kty  families  to  emigrate  to 
Virginia.  Among  the  sixty  was  Monsieur 
Jean  La  Montagne,  "Student  of  Medicine." 
This  matter  fell  through  for  want  of  encour- 
agement from  the  British  government,  and 
De  Forrest  then  negotiated  with  the  West  In- 
dia Company  and  in  1623  with  thirty  fam- 
ihes  sailed  in  the  ship  "New  Netherlands," 
and  landed  in  New  .-Xmsterdam,  making  the 
first  permanent  settlement  there  after  the 
trading  station.  La  Montagne  accompanied 
the  party  being  (it  is  supposed)  engaged  to 
the  young  daughter  of  De  Forrest.  Jesse  De 
Forrest  died  and  his  family  returned  with 
Montagne  to  Holland.  He  continued  his  stud- 
ies, obtained  his  degree,  and  married  Rachel 
De  Forrest  in  the  Leyden  church.  He  again 
emigrated  to  New  Netherlands  in  1637,  and 
seems  to  have  interested  himself  more  in  the 
public  affairs  of  the  colony  than  in  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.  His  wife  died  and 
he  married  (second)  in  1647,  widow  Agnes 
Storm  (born  Ten  Woert),  who  bore  him  sons 
Gillis  and  Jesse.  The  children  by  first  wife 
were  Jolant,  Jesse,  John,  Rachel  and  Mavis. 

(II)  John,  son  of  Dr.  Jean  and  Rachel  (De 
Forrest)  La  Montagne,  was  born  in  1632,  died 
1672-3 :  married,  in  Holland,  Petronelle  Pikes, 
and  had  John,  Vincent,  Necissus,  Alvan,  Je- 
lente,   Isaac,  Petronelle  and  Johanna. 

(III)  \'incent,  son  of  John  and  Petronelle 
(Pikes)  La  Montagne,  born  in  New  Amster- 
dam, April  29,  1659,  married  Adriana  Aiken. 

(IV)  Thomas,  son  of  Vincent  and  Adriana 
(Aiken)  La  Montagne,  married  Rebecca 
Bruyn. 

(V")  Vincent  (2).  son  of  Thomas  and  Re- 
becca (Bruyn)  La  Montagne,  married  Cathe- 
rine Howe. 

(VI)  Peter,  son  of  Vincent  (2)  and  Cath- 
erine (Howe)  La  Montagne,  was  born  De- 
cember 25,  1757,  in  New  York,  died  1828. 
He  was  a  soldier  of  the  revolution,  serving  in 
Colonel  Philip  Van  Cortland's  regiment.  He 
married  Gertrude  Keator. 

(VII)  Isaac,  son  of  Peter  and  Gertrude 
(Keator)  La  Montagne,  married  Mary  Long- 
year. 

(VIII)  Gertrude,  daughter  of  Isaac  and 
Mary  (Longyear)  La  Montagne,  born  18 10, 
died  1841,  married  Thomas  Hill. 

(IX)  Eliza,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Ger- 
trvide  (La  Montagne)  Hill,  married  Rundell 
J.  Lake. 


232 


HUDSON  AND  :\IOHAWK  VALLEYS 


(X)  Gertrude,  daughter  of  Rundell  J.  and 
Eliza  (Hill)  Lake,  married  Dr.  John  Thome 
^^"heeler,  whom  she  survives,  a  resident  of 
Chatham.  New  York. 

(X)  Thorne  Lake,  only  son  of  Dr.  John 
Thorne  and  Gertrude  (Lake)  Wheeler,  born 
June  8,  1888;  unmarried;  now  in  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Institute  of  Technology,  class  of 
1911. 


Rt.   Rev.  Thomas   IMartin  Aloy- 

BURKE  sius  Burke,  the  fourth  Bishop  of 
Albany,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Ireland,  January  loth, 
1840.  His  father  was  Dr.  Peter  Ulic  Burke, 
a  physician  and  surgeon,  who  died  in  Utica, 
New  York,  November  24th,  1868. 

In  May,  1170,  the  De  Burghs  accompanied 
Richard,  the  Earl  of  Strongbow,  to  Ireland. 
Although  many  centuries  have  elapsed  since 
the  advent  of  the  De  Burghs  to  Ireland,  their 
Norman  descent  is  as  fresh  as  if  the  event 
had  occurred  within  recent  years.  The  name 
of  De  Burgh  in  the  course  of  years  was  an- 
glicized and  changed  to  Burke.  In  order  to 
perpetuate  and  to  keep  fresh  the  memory  of 
his  Norman  descent,  the  name  of  Ulic.  which 
is  very  probably  a  contraction  of  Guillaume 
(\\'illiam),  referring  to  the  Conquerer,  is  al- 
ways borne  by  the  eldest  son  of  every  branch 
of  Dr.  Burke's  family. 

Dr.  Peter  Ulic  Burke,  or  as  he  was  called, 
Doctor  Ulic  Burke,  was  born  in  Birr,  Ire- 
land, August  24th,  1798.  His  classical  studies 
were  made  under  learned  teachers  in  private 
schools  and  academies.  When  he  had  com- 
pleted his  study  of  humanities  he  entered 
Trinity  College.  Dublin,  where  he  finished  a 
successful  course  in  medicine  and  surgery. 
As  Dr.  Burke  was  a  Catholic,  he  could  not 
receive  his  diploma  and  graduate  from  Trin- 
ity. The  Emancipation  Act  had  not  as  yet 
been  passed,  hence  he  was  obliged  to  enter 
the  University  of  Edinburgh,  which  at  that 
time  was  in  the  zenith  of  its  glory.  The 
celebrated  Dr.  Knox  was  at  that  period  the 
demonstrator  of  anatomy.  Under  Dr.  Knox 
and  other  celebrated  professors.  Dr.  Burke 
completed  another  full  course  of  studies.  His 
success  in  his  classes  was  so  great  that  he  re- 
ceived, as  a  mark  of  special  distinction,  a 
written  diploma  signed  by  the  president  and 
all  the  professors. 

Returning  to  Ireland,  Dr.  Burke  took  up  his 
residence  in  Dublin  and  opened  his  office  at 
yj  Lower  Gardner  street.  Not  very  long  af- 
ter his  coming  to  Dublin,  an  event  occurred 
which  had  a  great  influence  in  the  subsequent 
career  of  the  young  practitioner.  A  noble- 
man from  the  west  of  Ireland  came  to  Dub- 


lin to  be  treated  for  a  growth  in  the  throat, 
which  caused  him  great  suffering.  He  applied 
to  several  of  the  older  surgeons  in  Dublin,  but 
they  could  not  relieve  him ;  finally  he  applied 
to  young  Dr.  Burke.  The  practice  of  sur- 
gery at  that  period  was  much  more  difficult 
than  at  the  present  time.  The  use  of  chloro- 
form, ether  and  other  anaesthetics,  which  at 
the  present  time  render  surgical  operations 
comparatively  easy,  was  then  unknown.  The 
young  surgeon  fully  realized  the  delicacy  and 
the  danger  of  the  operation.  He,  however, 
undertook  to  perform  it,  and  lie  succeeded  so 
well,  that  the  nobleman  fully  recovered  his 
healtli.  He  was  so  grateful  that  he  persuaded 
Dr.  Burke  to  come  and  reside  near  him.  The 
practice  of  Dr.  Burke  in  his  new  home  became 
in  a  short  time  very  extensive.  His  services 
were  called  upon  for  many  miles  around,  and 
he  included  among  his  patients  nearly  all  the 
prominent  families  in  the  district.  He  was 
invited  in  consultation  by  the  neighboring  doc- 
tors in  all  important  cases.  Not  only  was 
Dr.  Burke  consulted  in  surgical  and  medical 
matters,  but  he  so  enjoyed  the  confidence  of 
his  patients  and  of  his  neighbors,  that  they 
frequently  consulted  him  in  their  personal  and 
business  affairs. 

As  in  Ireland  there  was  but  little  hope  of 
procuring  suitable  positions  for  his  numerous 
family  of  sons,  Dr.  Burke  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1850  and  settled  in  Utica,  New  York, 
where  he  resumed  his  practice  of  medicine 
and  surgery.  His  first  patient  in  Utica  was 
a  venerable  old  gentleman,  the  father  of  a 
JMethodist  minister.  The  old  gentleman  was 
loud  in  his  praise  of  the  new  doctor.  His  prac- 
tice daily  increased,  and  his  success  in  treat- 
ing his  jjatients  was  phenomenal.  So  skillful 
was  he  in  his  diagnosis,  that  the  judgment 
of  Dr.  Burke  as  to  the  final  result  of  the  ill- 
ness was  considered  almost  infallible.  He 
took  a  deep  interest  in  the  Oneida  County 
Medical  Society,  of  which  he  remained  an 
active  member  until  he  was  removed  from  ac- 
tive participation  by  a  stroke  of  paralysis. 

Notwithstanding  his  large  practice,  the 
Doctor  found  time  to  devote  to  religious,  edu- 
cational and  charitable  works.  He  was  for 
many  years  president  of  St.  Vincent  de  Paul's 
Society,  of  which  many  of  the  most  prominent 
Catholics  of  Utica  were  members.  He  had  al- 
ways at  heart  the  establishment  of  an  orphan 
asylum  for  boys.  There  was  already  in  Utica 
a  large  flourishing  asylum  for  girls.  The  at- 
tention of  Dr.  Burke  was  called  to  the  case 
of  two  boys  w'ho  had  no  home  and  no  one 
to  provide  for  them.  He  immediately  called 
the  attention  of  the  society  to  the  sad  fact,  and, 
after  consultation  with  the  other  members  of 


4- 


C^\>t^M^t^A  >L.  ^.  Y^ivv^L^ 


^'^  i  WfeWs/ 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


233 


the  society,  the  Doctor  induced  the  Brothers 
to  receive  these  two  boys  into  their  house  and 
provide  for  their  maintenance.  This  was  real- 
ly the  beginninq-  of  the  Boys'  Asylum  in 
Utica.  The  Asylum  at  present  is  an  imposing 
building,  and  it  occupies  a  prominent  position 
on  Rutger  street. 

Dr.  Burke  always  took  a  deep  interest  in 
promoting  education.  He  was  not  only  a 
skilled  physician,  but  he  was  also  a  linguist, 
haying  a  thorough  knowledge  of  Latin  and 
Greek,  and  was  also  versed  in  Italian,  Span- 
ish and  French.  He  translated  from  the 
French  for  the  Christian  Brothers,  several 
works.  Having  suffered  a  severe  stroke  of 
paralysis.  Dr.  Burke  retired  from  the  practice 
of  medicine.  Although  his  left  side  and  arm 
were  affected,  he  still  retained  his  mental 
vigor,  so  that  he  was  able  to  devote  himself 
to  literary  work.  He  composed  for  the  Broth- 
ers of  the  Christian  School,  Burke's  "Amer- 
ican Practical  Arithmetic,"  with  Burke's  "Pri- 
mary Arithmelic."  He  also  wrote  a  work 
upon  philosophy,  the  publication  of  which  was 
prevented  by  death. 

A  yotuig  physician,  a  graduate  of  Glasgow 
University,  had  come  to  Utica.  This  young 
doctor  induced  Dr.  Burke  to  resume  his  rnedi- 
cal  practice.  The  active  work  was  to  de- 
volve upon  the  young  doctor,  whilst  the  elder 
doctor  was  to  be  the  consulting  phyhician.  A 
few  days  after  restuning  his  medical  practice, 
as  Dr.  Burke  was  returning  home  from  his 
office,  he  had  a  second  stroke  of  paralysis 
which  deprived  him  of  the  use  of  his  sight. 
His  active  career  was  at  an  end.  He  peace- 
fully departed  this  life  on  November  24th, 
1868.  His  funeral  took  place  in  St.  John's 
Church,  Utica.  and  Bishop  Conroy  celebrated 
the  mass,  wliich  was  the  first  pontifical  mass 
celebrated  in  St.  John's  Church.  There  were 
forty  priests  present  in  the  sanctuary.  Lauda- 
tory obituaries  were  written  by  all  the  Utica 
papers.  The  Utica  Observer  especially  pub- 
lished one  of  the  most  beautiful  panegA'rics 
that  ever  appeared  in  that  most  excellent  jour- 
nal. Bishop  Burke  lost  his  mother  by  death 
when  he  was  one  year  old. 

The  Bishop  received  his  early  education  un- 
der the  direction  of  his  father,  in  his  own 
home.  When  the  Academy  of  the  Assumption 
in  L^tica  was  opened  for  the  reception  of  pu- 
pils, he  was  among  the  very  first  to  be  enrolled 
amongst  the  scholars.  He  remained  but  one 
year  in  the  Brothers'  Academy.  Young  Burke 
at  an  early  age  conceived  an  ardent  desire 
of  consecrating  himself  to  the  holy  priesthood. 
To  carry  out  his  design,  he  entered,  in  1855, 
St.  Michael's  College,  Toronto,  Canada,  and 
began  his  studv  of  the  classics.     The  confine- 


ment of  the  college  and  the  climate  of  Toron- 
to so  impaired  the  health  of  young  Burke,  that 
after  five  months  he  was  compelled,  though 
most  reluctantly,  to  return  home.  During  the 
eight  months  which  he  remained  at  home  he 
continued  the  study  of  Latin  under  the  direc- 
tion of  his  father.  In  September,  1856,  young 
Burke  entered  St.  Charles  College,  Ellicott 
City,  Maryland.  St.  Charles  College,  named 
after  the  revered  Charles  Carroll,  the  signer 
of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  was 
founded  in  his  honor  by  the  Carroll  family. 
The  president  of  St.  Charles  College  was 
Rev.  Oliver  Jenkins,  a  member  of  the  Jen- 
kins family  of  Baltimore.  Father  Jenkins  had 
been  a  banker,  but  he  renounced  his  position 
and  all  worldly  honors  to  join  the  .Society  of 
St.  Sulpice.  A  more  worthy  and  learned 
priest  than  Father  Jenkins  could  hardly  be 
found.  St.  Charles  College  counted  among 
its  students,  when  young  I3urke  entered,  Mr. 
James  Gibbons,  now  Cardinal  Archbishop  of 
Baltimore ;  Mr.  John  J.  Keane,  the  present 
Archbisliop  of  Dubuque;  Mr.  Jolin  J.  Kain, 
the  late  .\rchbishop  of  St.  Louis,  and"  several 
other  distinguished  ecclesiastics.  Bishop  Burke 
was  in  Maryland  when  John  Brown  made  his 
famous  raid  on  Harper's  Ferry.  He  was, 
however,  at  his  home  in  Utica  when  John 
Brown  was  executed.  He  has  always  main- 
tained that  the  attack  on  Harper's  Ferry  was 
the  first  battle  of  the  Civil  War.  The  ex- 
citement in  the  North  was  intense,  violent 
language  w^as  uttered,  and  agitators  and  dem- 
agogues delivered  fiery  speeches.  The  people 
in  the  South  became  alarmed,  and  in  many 
places  military  companies  were  formed,  which, 
when  the  war  broke  out,  entered  the  Confed- 
erate army. 

Young  Burke  graduated  with  the  highest 
honors  from  St.  Charles  College  in  June,  "i860. 
It  was  arranged  that  he  should  enter  upon 
his  philosppliical  and  theological  studies  in  the 
American  College.  Rome,  but  owing  to  the 
death  of  his  eldest  brother.  John  Ulic  Burke, 
of  Utica.  and  also  to  the  political  agitation 
at  that  time  in  Italy,  he  abandoned  liis  in- 
tention of  going  to  Europe,  and  returned  to 
St.  Charles  College.  During  the  year  which 
he  spent  in  the  college,  he  taught  Latin,  Eng- 
lish, and  other  branches,  and  at  the  same 
time,  under  the  direction  of  one  of  the  pro- 
fessors, he  devoted  himself  to  the  study  of 
logic  and  philosophy.  The  following  year  he 
entered  St.  Mary's  Seminary,  Baltimore, 
where  he  began  the  study  of  theology.  After 
entering  the  seminary  he  was  appointed  mas- 
ter of  conference  of  philosophy,  and  during 
the  two  subsequent  years  he  occupied  the 
position  of  master  of  conference  of  theology. 


234 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  \-ALLEYS 


At  the  end  of  his  three-years'  course  in  St. 
Mary's  he  received  the  degrees  of  Master 
of  Arts  and  Bachelor  of  Divinity.  Having 
completed  his  studies,  he  was  ordained  to  the 
holy  priesthood  in  the  seminary  chapel  on 
June  30th,  1864,  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Francis  P. 
McFarland,  Bishop  of  Hartford,  who  had  for- 
merly been  his  pastor  in  St.  John's  Church, 
Utica,  New  York.  Up  to  the  day  of  Bishop 
McFarland's  death  the  warmest  friendship 
existed  between  him  and  Father  Burke. 

The  late  Cardinal  McCloskey  had  about  this 
time  been  nominated  by  the  Holy  See  as  the 
successor  of  the  great  Archbishop  Hughes.  He 
had  not  as  yet  taken  possession  of  his  new 
see,  and  he  continued  to  reside  at  the  episcopal 
residence  on  Madison  avenue,  Albany,  N.  Y. 
His  Grace  received  the  young  priest  with  his 
usual  kindness  and  invited  him  to  be  his  guest. 
Father  Burke  had  from  his  early  youth  been 
personally  acquainted  with  Cardinal  McClos- 
key, for  whom  he  cherishes  to  this  day  a  warm 
and  affectionate  recollection,  and  whom  he 
justly  regards  as  one  of  the  most  amiable, 
eloquent  and  pious  prelates  that"  ever  adorned 
the  Church  in  America. 

Father  Burke's  first  appointment  was  assis- 
tant in  St.  John's  Church,  Albany.  He  re- 
mained in  St.  John's  only  seven  months,  af- 
ter which  he  was  transferred  to  St.  Joseph's 
Church,  Albany,  of  which  Very  Rev.  John 
Joseph  Conroy  was  then  the  pastor.  During 
the  interregnum  that  followed  the  departure 
of  Archbishop  McCloskey,  the  administration 
of  the  diocese  devolved  upon  Vicar-General 
Conroy.  Bishop  Conroy  was  appointed  suc- 
cessor to  Bishop  McCloskey,  and  he  was  sol- 
emnly consecrated  in  the  Cathedral  of  the 
Immaculate  Conception,  Albany,  on  Sunday, 
August  15th,  1865.  For  several  years  after 
his  consecration.  Bishop  Conroy  retained  the 
pastorship  of  St.  Joseph's  Church. 

Father  Burke,  by  reason  of  his  intimate  re- 
lations with  the  bishop,  was  frequently  deputed 
to  perform  episcopal  functions,  such  as  lay- 
ing corner-stones,  blessing  churches,  etc.  The 
bishop  also  frequently  consulted  him  in  im- 
portant matters  referring  to  the  administra- 
tion of  the  diocese.  Before  his  appointment 
as  pastor  of  St.  Joseph's  Church  by  Bishop 
McNeirney  in  1874,  Father  Burke  had  erected 
St.  Joseph's  .School  for  boys,  at  a  cost  of  forty- 
two  thousand  dollars.  School  No.  15  was  the 
first  of  the  large  public  schools  erected  in 
Albany.  St.  Joseph's  Boys'  School  was  the 
second  large  school.  The  erection  of  these 
two  schools  gave  the  impetus  to  school  build- 
ing, which  has  resulted  in  the  erection  of  so 
many  costly  and  magnificent  school  buildings 
which  now  adorn  our  city. 


St.  Joseph's  parish  embraced  within  its 
bounds  all  the  section  of  the  city  lying  North 
of  Orange  street,  and  also  North  and  West 
Albany.  Immediately  after  his  appointment 
as  pastor  of  St.  Joseph's,  Father  Burke  re- 
quested Bishop  McNeirney  to  establish  a  new 
parish  in  North  Albany,  to  be  named  the  par- 
ish of  the  Sacred  Heart.  The  Bishop  granted 
his  request,  and  at  his  suggestion  he  consti- 
tuted Rev.  Francis  J.  Maguire  the  first  pastor 
of  the  new  parish.  Under  the  zealous  admin- 
istration of  Father  Maguire  the  new  parish 
flourished,  and  the  present  beautiful  church 
and  fine  parochial  residence  were  erected. 
Some  years  later  Father  Burke  ceded  West 
Albany  to  St.  Patrick's  parish.  West  .\lbany 
afterwards  became  a  separate  parish.  The  Rev. 
James  Peyton  became  the  first  pastor,  and 
he  erected  St.  Francis  de  Sales  Church,  a  pa- 
rochial residence,  and  a  commodious  hall.  All 
these  buildings  were  destroyed  by  fire.  The 
present  new  brick  church  and  elegant  parish 
house  were  built  by  the  present  pastor.  Rev. 
P.  F.  Scully. 

Father  Burke  took  a  special  interest  in  the 
young  men  of  his  parish.  He  assumed  charge 
of  the  Young  ]\Ien's  Sodality  immediately 
upon  his  appointment  by  Bishop  Conroy.  and 
he  retained  his  ofhce  of  spiritual  director  of 
the  Sodality  until  the  day  he  left  St.  Joseph's 
to  take  up  his  abode  in  the  episcopal  residence. 
He  conducted  many  spiritual  retreats  both  for 
the  young  men  and  young  ladies.  His  last 
retreat  was  for  married  women,  at  which 
more  than  twelve  hundred  were  present. 

Although  as  a  rule  the  pastor  of  St.  Joseph's 
confined  himself  strictly  to  parochial  duties, 
yet  he  took  an  active  part  in  urging  the  con- 
struction of  the  Hawk  street  viaduct.  On  sev- 
eral occasions  he  spoke  in  favor  of  the  pro- 
ject before  the  legislative  committees.  The 
bill  permitting  the  city  to  issue  bonds  for  the 
construction  of  the  bridge  was  finally  passed, 
but  after  a  long  and  arduous  struggle.  As  but 
a  few  days  intervened  between  the  passage  of 
the  bill  and  the  adjournment  of  the  legisla- 
ture, the  signature  of  the  governor  was  re- 
quisite before  it  could  become  a  law.  At  the 
request  of  several  citizens  on  Arbor  Hill,  the 
bishop  called  upon  Governor  Hill  and  ex- 
plained to  him  the  necessity  of  the  proposed 
viaduct,  and  persuaded  the  Governor  to  make 
a  personal  examination  of  the  ravine,  so  that 
he  might  judge  for  himself  of  the  reason- 
ableness of  the  demand  of  the  citizens  resid- 
ing north  of  Clinton  avenue.  The  governor 
signed  the  bill,  and  the  event  was  celebrated 
by  fireworks  and  the  booming  of  cannon.  The 
victory  was  not,  however,  as  yet  won.  The 
bill  was  subject  to  the  mayor's  signature.    A 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


235 


meeting  was  held  in  the  City  Hall.  Speeches 
pro  and  con  were  delivered.  When  Father 
Burke  was  called  upon  he  made  a  forcible 
•speech  in  favor  of  the  viaduct.  Among  other 
things  he  said :  "It  has  been  asserted  here, 
that  only  the  nabobs  of  Fort  Orange  will  walk 
•over  this  bridge.  It  is  indeed,  true,  that  the 
members  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club  will  use 
this  bridge.  It  is  false,  however,  that  the 
nabobs  of  Fort  Orange  Club  will  be  the  only 
ones  who  will  enjoy  this  structure :  on  the 
very  contrary,  when  this  bridge  shall  have 
been  completed,  you  will  see  it  black  with 
working  men  going  with  their  dinner  pails  to 
their  work;  you  will  see  crowds  of  children 
going  to  the  schools  and  academies,  and  ybu 
will  see  hundreds  of  citizens  from  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  city  going  to  their  offices 
and  places  of  business.  When  the  bridge  shall 
have  been  built,  should  any  one  be  so  rash 
as  to  demand  its  renioval,  he  would  incur  the 
indignation  of  the  people  of  Albany."  The 
result  has  fully  verified  the  prediction. 

During   tlie   incumbency   of   Father   Burke, 
St.  Joseph's  Church  was  twice  struck  by  light- 
ning, which   each   time   shattered   one  of  the 
western  towers;  and  did   considerable  injury 
to   the    structure    itself.     The   damage,   how- 
•ever,  was  quickly  repaired.     The  water  table, 
I     the   windows    and   ornamental    trimmings    of 
St.  Joseph's    were    made    from    Caen    stone 
imported   from   France,    which   owing   to  the 
severity  of  the  climate  had  considerably  dis- 
integrated and  the  exterior  of  the  church  pre- 
sented a  rather  dilapidated  appearance.     The 
•decaying  stone  was  removed  and  replaced  by 
Ohio  sandstone,  which  was  greatly  improved 
the  appearance  of  the  building.     Another  im- 
j     provement  which  added  greatly  to  the  beauty 
.1     of  the  church  and  its  surroundings,   was  the 
1    'laying  out  of  St.  Joseph's  Park  and  the  open- 
'     ing  and  grading  of  St.  Joseph's  Terrace.    The 
erection   of  the  new   parochial   residence  and 
■other  fine  houses  makes  St.  Joseph's  Terrace 
■one  of  the  most  desirable  localities  in  the  city. 
When  Vicar-General  Ludden  was  nomina- 
ted  Bishop  of   Syracuse,    Bishop   McNeirney 
appointed  Father  Burke  his  successor  in  vica- 
riate.    The  new  \icar-General  was,  by  apos- 
tolic authority,  June,   1890,  created  a  Knight 
of  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  and  in  June,  1894,  he 
was  elevated  to  the  dignity  of  Commander  of 
the  Grand  Cross  of  Jerusalem.     The  knight- 
hood of  the  Holy  Sepulchre  is  among  the  old- 
est  orders   of    knighthood,    and   it   is   recog- 
;      nized  by   every  court  of  Europe.      Had   this 
honor  been  conferred  by  any  crowned  head, 
Bishop  Burke  woukI  have  declined  to  receive 
it,  but.   as  it  was  conferred  by  apostolic  au- 
■  thoritv,  he  did  not  for  a  moment  consider  that 


it  would  in  any  manner  conflict  with  his  strict- 
est loyalty  to  his  American  citizenship.  Father 
Burke  filled  the  oflfice  of  vicar-general  during 
seven  years.  Bishop  McNeirney 's  health 
towards  the  end  of  his  life  was  quite  delicate, 
hence  he  went  from  time  to  time  to  the  baths 
in  Germany,  and  during  his  absence  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  diocese  was  committed  to 
the  vicar-general.  The  vicar  did  all  in  his 
pow'er  to  lighten  the  burdens  of  the  bishop, 
who  on  his  part  frequently  and  openly  ex- 
pressed the  hope  that  Father  Burke  would  be 
his  successor  in  the  episcopal  office.  The  in- 
cumbency of  Father  Burke  in  St.  Joseph's 
parish  extended  over  the  long  period  of  thirty 
years  less  two  months.  Upon  the  death  of 
Bishop  McNeirney,  January  and,  1894,  Father 
Burke  was  appointed  by  the  late  Archbishop 
Corrigan  administrator  of  the  diocese,  scde 
I'acantc.  The  appointment  was  afterwards 
ratified  by  the  Holy  See. 

After  the  funeral  of  Bishop  McNeirney, 
Archbishop  Corrigan  called  a  meeting  of  the 
Diocesan  Consulters  and  the  Irremovable  Rec- 
tors, for  the  purpose  of  nominating  a  suc- 
cessor to  the  deceased  prelate.  As  the  result 
of  the  ballots  taken  during  this  meeting,  the 
names  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  M.  A.  Burke,  the 
Rev.  John  F.  Reilly,  and  the  \'ery  Rev.  James 
McDermott,  were  announced  as  the  choice  of 
the  priests.  These  names  were  subsequently 
presented  to  the  bishops  of  the  province, 
whose  duty  was  to  consider  the  merits  of  the 
respective  nominees.  The  bishops  had  author- 
ity also  to  send  to  the  Sovereign  Pontiff  other 
names  approved  by  themselves.  On  May 
nth,  1894,  Father  Burke  received  from  a 
friend  in  Rome  a  cablegram  with  these  two 
words.  "Salve  Episcope."  It  was  only,  how- 
ever, on  May  i8th,  that  in  public  consistory, 
the  Holy  Father  announced  the  elevation  of 
Rev.  Thomas  M.  A.  Burke  to  the  Episcopal 
See  of  Albany.  As  soon  as  the  nomination 
was  made  known  through  the  Associated 
Press,  cablegrams  from  Europe  and  telegrams 
from  archbishops,  bishops,  priests  and  laity 
from  every  part  of  the  United  States,  poured 
in,  offering  him  their  warmest  congratula- 
tions. These  congratulations  were  by  no 
means  confined  to  Catholics,  but  what  was 
particularly  gratifying,  many  were  also  re- 
ceived from  non-Catholics  of  all  religious  de- 
nominations. On  the  first  of  July,  1894, 
Bishop-elect  Burke  was  consecrated  the  fourth 
Bishop  of  Albany,  with  all  the  splendor  and 
ceremonial  of  the  Catholic  church.  The  dav 
was  exceedingly  hot.  nevertheless  the  streets 
were  filled  with  people,  and  joy  seemed  to 
pervade  all  hearts.  The  ceremonies,  the  mu- 
sic and  the  glorious  spectacle  presented  in  the 


236 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  \'ALLEYS 


Cathedral,  were  most  beautifully  described  in 
the  morning  and  evening  journals. 

The  aim  of  Bishop  Burke  was  to  keep  up 
and  perfect  the  good  work  of  his  predeces- 
sors— Bishop  McClosky,  Bishop  Conroy,  and 
Bishop  McNeirney.  He  began  at  once  to 
make  the  visitation  of  the  diocese,  which  had 
been  interrupted  by  the  death  of  Bishop  Mc- 
Neirney. Since  his  consecration  he  has  made 
six  visitations  of  the  diocese.  In  these  visi- 
tations he  has  carefully  examined  into  the 
spiritual  and  material  condition  of  each  con- 
gregation, and  has  administered  the  sacra- 
ment of  confirmation  to  over  fifty  thousand 
children  and  adults. 

One  of  Ilishop  Burke's  first  objects  was  to 
have  all  the  churches  in  the  diocese  incorpor- 
ated under  the  special  state  law  for  the  incor- 
poration of  Catholic  churches.  In  this  work 
he  was  most  efficiently  aided  by  his  chancel- 
lor, Rev.  C.  J.  Shea.  There  are  at  present 
one  hundred  and  twenty-one  churches  with 
resident  rectors,  and  fifty-two  mission 
churches.  The  Bishop  is  theV.r  officio  presi- 
dent of  all  these  churches.  As  he  must  pre- 
side at  all  important  meetings  of  all  these 
corporations,  it  can  be  easily  conceived  how 
much  labor  this  duty  alone  necessitates. 

Under  Bishop  McNeirney  the  new  sanc- 
tuary had  been  added  to  the  Cathedral,  which 
had  been  blessed  but  not  consecrated.  A 
church  cannot  be  consecrated  until  it  is  free 
from  debt.  The  Rev.  Father  McGuire,  the 
rector  of  the  Cathedral,  undertook  to  collect 
a  sufficient  sum  to  cancel  the  debt.  He  was 
ably  assisted  by  his  zealous  assistants,  Rev. 
M.  L.  Walsh  and  Rev.  John  J.  Lynch.  Af- 
ter an  appeal  to  the  congregation,  a  domicil- 
iary visit  was  made,  and  members  of  the 
congregation  responded  so  generously  that 
within  a  com])aratively  brief  period  the  whole 
debt  was   li(|uidatcd. 

During  the  youth  of  Bishop  Burke,  a  col- 
lection was  taken  up  in  St.  John's  Church,  Uti- 
ca,  for  the  south  transept  window  in  the  Cath- 
edral. Some  one  had  given  him  a  present  of 
a  sum  of  money.  This  money  young  Burke 
contributed  towards  the  purchasing  of  the 
window.  Shortly  after  his  consecration.  Bishop 
Burke  gave  an  order  to  Messrs.  ITard- 
man  &  Company,  of  London  and  Birmingham, 
to  replace  the  original  window  with  the  pres- 
ent magnificent  one.  When  the  late  Father 
Purhrick.  S.  J.,  saw  the  window,  he  declared 
that  it  was  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  mod- 
ern times.  The  Bishop  also  donated  to  the 
Cathedral  the  present  Stations  of  the  Cross 
and  the  Sanctuary  lamp.  All  the  original  win- 
dows of  the  Cathedral,  which  were  quite 
plain,  were  afterwards,  through  the  generosity 


of  various  societies  and  individuals,  replaced 
by  most  beautiful  stained  glass  pictorial  win- 
dows manufactured  by  the  celebrated  firm  of 
Hardman  &  Company.  The  exterior  of  the 
Cathedral  was  also  newly  faced;  the  interior 
was  newly  frescoed ;  so  that  on  the  day  of 
the  consecration  the  building  was  practically 
a  new  edifice. 

There  are  many  larger  churches,  there  are 
many  more  costly,  there  are  many  more  elab- 
orately decorated,  but.  in  the  judgment  of 
many,  there  is  not  in  America  a  single  eccles- 
iastical structure  which  more  forcibly  excites 
the  idea  of  beauty  in  the  mind.  The  Cathedral' 
had  been  blessed  and  opened  on  November 
2ist.  1852.  The  ceremony  of  the  solemn- 
dedication  and  consecration  took  place  on  No- 
vember i6th,  1902.  The  memory  of  the  con- 
secration will  never  be  forgotten  by  tho^e  who 
enjoyed  the  privilege  of  being  present  at  the 
ceremony.  "On  Sunday,  the  sixteenth,"  said 
the  Argus,  on  the  following  morning,  "with 
beauty  of  ceremonial  that  left  nothing  to  be 
desired,  and  a  wealth  of  melody  that  soothed 
and  delighted,  and  a  distinguished  array  of 
prelates  and  clergy  of  the  church,  supplemen- 
ted with  an  immense  congregation  represent- 
ing Albany  and  the  state,  the  Cathedral  of  the 
Immaculate  Conception  was  made  God's  own, 
by  the  unction  and  prayer  of  consecration,  and 
the  Golden  Jubilee  celebrated." 

In  the  year  1871  Bishop  Burke  made  his 
first  visit  to  Rome.  He  enjoyed  the  privi- 
lege of  seeing  and  conversing  with  Pius  IX, 
the  then  reigning  Pontiff.  On  his  way  to 
Rome  he  revisited  Paris,  which  had  just 
passed  through  the  siege  by  the  Germans,  and 
the  awful,  but  fortunately  short  reign  of  the 
Commune.  When  the  Bishop  arrived  at  the 
station  in  Paris  he  was  obliged  to  wait  an 
hour  to  find  a  conveyance  to  take  him  to  the 
hotel.  All  the  horses  had  been  eaten  dur- 
ing the  siege,  and  there  was  scarcely  a  cab 
in  Paris.  The  most  beautiful  buildings  and 
monuments  were  in  ruins,  and  the  loneliness 
and  the  silence  of  death  seemed  to  pervade  the- 
boulevards  and  the  streets.  \\'hcn  the  Bishop 
returned  to  Paris  in  1889,  he  found  everything 
changed.  The  streets  were  again  crowded, 
the  damage  caused  by  the  war  and  the  Com- 
mune was  in  a  great  measure  repaired,  and 
the  city  had  once  more  assumed  its  wonted 
life  and  gaiety  which  make  it  the  most  beau- 
tiful and  interesting  citv  in  the  world. 

I'lCsides  making  a  tour  through  Italv  and' 
France,  the  Bishop  visited  Switzerland.  Ger- 
many, England,  Ireland  and  Scotland.  Again 
in  the  year  1889,  he  went  to  Rome,  and  had' 
the  pleasure  of  meeting  for  the  first  time,  one- 
of   the   most   remarkable    Pontiffs   that  have- 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


237 


adoTnerl  the  liistory  of  the  Church,  Leo  XHL 
He  had  the  pleasure  of  assisting  at  the  Pope's 
Mass,  and  afterward  enjoyed  a  very  pleasing 
conversation  with  his  Holiness.  Leaving 
Rome,  he  proceeded  to  Egypt.  In  Alexan- 
dria he  saw  the  ruins  caused  by  the  bombard- 
ment by  the  English  and  the  French  a  few 
years  previously.  He  found  Cairo  a  most  in- 
teresting city,  for  there  for  the  first  time  he 
came  in  contact  with  Eastern  civilization. 
Leaving  Cairo  he  crossed  the  Lybian  desert 
to  Ismalia,  and  visited  the  residence  which 
de  Lesseps  built  for  himself  after  he  had  com- 
pleted the  Suez  canal.  From  Ismalia  he  sailed 
through  the  Suez  canal  to  Port  Said,  and  from 
there  he  sailed  on  a  Russian  steamer  to  Jafifa, 
whence  he  went  by  carriage  to  Jerusalem. 
The  railroad  at  present  running  from  Jaffa 
to  Jerusalem  had  not  yet  been  constructed. 
The  road  passes  through  the  plains  of  Sha- 
ron, rendered  famous  by  the  feats  of  Samson, 
and  also  through  the  plain  of  Ajalon,  where 
the  sun  stood  still  at  the  prayer  of  Josue. 
After  passing  over  the  brook  from  which  Da- 
vid took  the  limped  stone  with  which  he  slew 
Goliath,  and  by  the  ruins  of  the  castle  of  the 
brave  and  patriotic  Maccabees,  the  travelers 
arrived  in  sight  of  the  Holy  City.  All 
alighted,  and  all  with  uncovered  heads  saluted 
that  city  which  Christ  had  «o  often  sanctified 
by  His  presence  and  consecrated  by  His  death 
upon  the  cross. 

It  is  proper  that  a  few  words  should  be 
said  here  of  the  Bishop's  fellow-travelers. 
When  he  left  Albany  he  was  just  recovering 
from  a  long  and  severe  attack  of  illness.  He 
took  no  companion  with  him  when  he  sailed 
from  New  York  on  the  good  ship  "Etruria." 
When  a  few  days  out  he  became  acquainted 
with  a  Mr.  Sprague,  a  mill  owner  from  Rhode 
Island,  who  in  turn  introduced  him  to  a  gen- 
tleman, a  Mr.  John  S.  Thompson,  from  Illi- 
nois, who,  with  his  wife,  Mrs.  Clara  Thomp- 
son, was  about  to  visit  Palestine.  The  Bishop 
and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thompson  agreed  to  travel 
together.  At  Brindisi  they  met  a  Mr.  Cross- 
man  from  Jamestown,  Michigan,  whom  they 
took  into  their  party.  At  Ismalia  they  met 
a  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sturrock  who  had  just  ar- 
rived from  Melbourne,  and  whom  they  invited 
to  join  them  in  their  tour  through  the  Holy 
Land.  During  the  short  sojourn  of  the  party 
in  Palestine  they  met  with  several  adventures. 
Leaving  Jerusalem  on  a  IMonday  morning,  our 
travelers  set  out  for  the  Dead  Sea  and  the 
River  Jordan.  At  that  time  there  was  no 
road  between  Jerusalem  and  Jerico.  At  the 
present  time  there  is  a  fine  road,  which  the 
Sultan  constructed  on  the  occasion  of  the  visit 
of  the  Gennan  emperor.     Between  the  village 


of  Bethany  and  Jerico  there  is  a  cave  in  the 
side  of  a  hill,  called  the  robbers'  cave.  Ac- 
cording to  tradition  this  is  the  exact  spot  in 
which  the  traveler  mentioned  in  the  parable 
of  the  Good  Samaritan,  fell  among  thieves, 
who  beat  him  and  left  him  half  dead.  As  the 
bishop  and  his  companions  passed  by  the  cave 
it  was  full  of  robbers.  The  party  was  under 
the  protection  of  Tribal  Sheik,  and  it  was 
moreover  during  the  hours  of  Ramadan,  dur- 
ing which  the  Bedouins  will  not  slay  or  rob. 
After  a  dip  in  the  Dead  Sea  and  a  copious 
draft  of  the  sanctified  water  of  the  Jordan, 
our  travelers  arrived  late  at  night  at  the  Ho- 
tel Jordan.  During  the  night  a  great  wailing 
and  weeping  arose  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
hotel.  It  appears  that  a  party  of  ten  Arabs 
with  fifty  donkeys  carrying  sacks  of  wheat 
passed  by  the  robbers'  cave  after  the  hours 
of  Ramadan ;  the  robbers  rushed  out  upon 
them,  killed  three,  wounded  others,  and  drove 
the  donkeys  with  the  corn  across  the  Jordan. 
Two  of  the  murdered  Arabs  were  recognized 
by  their  friends  who  carried  them  to  Jerico. 
The  third  was  a  stranger.  When,  early  the 
next  morning,  the  Bishop  passed  the  robbers' 
cave,  he  beheld  a  number  of  Bedouins  in  front 
of  it  surrounding  the  body  of  the  dead  stran- 
ger. Had  the  unfortunate  man  been  griev- 
ously wounded  and  not  killed  outright,  the 
parable  of  the  Good  Samaritan  would,  to  a 
certain  extent,  have  been  literally  re-enacted. 
This  scripture  parable  is  indelibly  impressed 
upon  the  mind  of  the  bishop  and  his  fellow- 
travelers. 

In  the  year  1895  the  bishop  again  visited 
Rome.  On  the  occasion  of  this  visit  he  was 
then  bishop,  and  he  enjoyed  the  privilege  of 
having  a  long  private  interview  with  the  Holy 
Father,  Leo  XIII.  He  also  made  at  that 
time  his  visit  ad  limina  Apostolontm. 

In  1900  the  bishop,  accompanied  by  the 
Very  Rev.  Dean  McDermott  and  the  Rev.  Jos- 
epli  A.  Mangan,  again  visited  Rome.  It  was 
the  year  of  the  great  jubilee.  Rome  at  the 
time  was  full  of  strangers.  A  congress  of  all 
the  Catholic  societies  of  Italy  was  being  held, 
under  the  presidency  of  the  cardinal  vicar.  A 
vast  number  of  priests,  and  many  princes,  no- 
bles and  other  distinguished  men  of  Italy, 
France  and  Spain,  took  part  in  the  proceed- 
ings. Bishop  Burke  was  invited  to  address  the 
congress.  He  accordingly  made  an  address  in 
Latin  which  was  received  with  great  applause. 
The  substance  of  the  address  was  cabled  by 
the  Associated  Press  to  the  United  States  and 
the  address  itself  was  incorporated  in  the 
minutes  of  the  proceedings.  During  this  visit 
to  Rome,  the  bishop  had  his  last  audience  with 
Leo  XIII,  who  received  him  with  the  utmost 


238 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


kindness  and  real  affection.  As  both  realized 
that  they  would  not  in  all  probability  meet 
again  in  this  world,  the  parting  was  mingled 
with  sincere  sorrow. 

The  Bishop's  next  visit  to  Rome  was  in 
1904.  The  Delegate  Apostolic,  Archbishop 
Falconio,  for  whom  the  bishop  entertains  the 
highest  esteem  and  a  warm  friendship,  was 
then  in  Rome.  The  Bishop  realized  that  the 
p/esence  of  the  Delegate  in  the  Eternal  City 
would  greatly  add  to  the  pleasure  of  a  visit 
at  that  particular  time.  Shortly  after  his  ar- 
rival in  Rome  he  had  the  happiness  of  meet- 
ing for  the  first  time  the  present  reigning 
Pontifif,  Pope  Pius  X.  Nothing  could  sur- 
pass the  cordiality  with  which  the  Pope  re- 
ceived the  Bishop.  His  Holiness  had  evi- 
dently been  well  informed  by  His  Excellency, 
the  Delegate  Apostolic,  about  the  Bishop  and 
his  diocese.  The  Pope  on  that  occasion,  at 
the  request  of  the  Bishop,  created  the  vicar- 
general,  the  Very  Rev.  John  J.  Swift,  Pro- 
tonotarv  Apostolic,  and  the  Rev.  John  L. 
Reilly,  'the  Rev.  C.  J.  Shea,  the  Very  Rev. 
Dean  Duffy  and  the  Rev.  John  Walsh,  domes- 
tic prelates,  with  the  title  of  Rt.  Rev.  The 
Bishop  had  the  pleasure  of  dining  with  his 
Eminence,  Cardinal  Martinelli,  the  Sunday  af- 
ter his  arrival  in  Rome.  He  spent  the  Fourth 
of  July  under  the  Stars  and  Stripes  at  the 
American  College. 

The  following  year,  1905.  the  Bishop  made 
a  tour  through  Norway,  Sweden  and  Den- 
mark. He  also  visited  the  International  Ex- 
position at  Liege,  Belgium. 

The  Bishop  made  his  latest  visit  to  Rome 
in  1908.  This  time  he  was  accompanied  by 
his  secretary.  Rev.  Joseph  A.  Delaney.  His 
reception  by  the  Pope  was  most  warm.  His 
Holiness,  at  the  request  of  the  Bishop,  made 
Father  Delaney  a  monsignore,  and  the  Rev. 
James  P.  O'Connor,  rector  of  the  cathedral, 
a  domestic  prelate.  From  Cardinal  Merry  del 
Val  the  Bishop  received  the  utmost  kindness 
and  courtesy.  When  the  present  secretary  of 
state  to  His  Holiness,  Cardinal  Merry  del 
Val,  was  on  his  way  to  Rome  from  Canada, 
he  and  Cardinal  Martinelli  met  at  the  Bishop's 
residence.  His  stay  in  Albany  was  quite 
short.  He  had  just  time  to  take  a  drive 
through  our  beautiful  park,  and  to  pay  a  hur- 
ried visit  to  the  Capitol.  The  Bishop  visited 
California  twice.  He  traveled  through  almost 
every  state  in  the  Union.  He  made  a  tour 
to  Mexico,  to  Cuba,  through  the  northwest 
provinces  of  Canada,  through  Manitoba  and 
British   Columbia. 

Although  most  uncompromising  in  his  Cath- 
olicity and  ardently  devoted  to  the  Holy  See, 
Bishop  Burke  has  always  respected  the  hon- 


est belief  of  those  who  diflfer  from  him  in 
religious  matters.  Hence,  upmn  his  election 
as  Bishop  of  Albany,  he  received  a  large  num- 
ber of  warm  congratulations  from  his  fellow- 
citizens  of  every  religious  profession. 

The  Bishop  as  a  rule  does  not  mingle  much 
in  public  matters.  He  did  not,  however,  hes- 
itate to  take  action  when  the  good  of  the  city 
required  his  services.  Thus,  in  July,  1902, 
the  bishop  was  hastening  to  take  the  fast  mail 
train  for  Chicago,  when  he  was  halted  by  two 
reporters,  who  informed  him  that  he  had  been 
selected  by  the  United  Traction  Company  as 
an  arbitrator  to  settle  a  strike  threatened  by 
the  employes  of  the  company.  The  whole  trou- 
ble was  about  the  retaining  in  the  employment 
of  the  company  two  men,  who  had  rendered 
themselves  odious  to  the  members  of  the 
Union.  These  men  had  been  suspended  by 
the  company,  which  seemed  inclined  to  re- 
store them  to  their  positions,  against  the  pro- 
tests of  their  fellow-employes.  The  Bishop 
was  the  arbitrator  for  the  Company.  The 
two  men  in  question  had  been  accused  by  the 
Union  of  some  acts  of  injustice.  After  ex- 
amining the  matter  carefully,  the  question  of 
justice  was  left  to  be  decided  in  the  courts. 
The  two  men  accused  were  not  worthy  of 
special  consideration.  The  Bishop,  however, 
demanded  of  the  members  of  the  union,  a 
guarantee,  that  the  union  would  not  in  any 
manner  interfere  with  the  discharged  men,  and 
that  no  opposition  would  be  made  to  their 
procuring  employment  in  any  other  company. 
The  decision  given  was  that  these  two  men 
should  remain  permanently  suspended.  Thus 
a  strike  that  threatened  most  disastrous  re- 
sults and  the  utmost  inconvenience  to  the  cit- 
izens of  Albany  was  within  twenty-four  hours 
averted.  The  latest  act  of  the  Bishop  for  the 
interests  of  .Mbany  was  the  giving  to  the  city 
of  a  tract  of  land  in  the  western  section,  of 
twenty-five  hundred  feet  in  length  by  three 
hundred  feet  in  width.  Through  the  center  of 
this  tract  runs  a  creek,  which  will  be  turned 
into  a  great  culvert,  receiving  tlie  drainage  of 
a  great  part  of  the  western  section  of  the  city. 
The  sides  of  the  gully  will  lie  planted  with 
trees,  shrubs  and  flowers.  On  each  side  of 
this  sunken  garden,  two  fine  streets  will  be 
constructed,  thus  not  only  beautifying  the 
western  part  of  the  city,  but  also  giving  a 
breathing  spot  to  our  citizens  in  general. 


The  paternal  ancestor  of  the 
GREEN     Greens    of    Troy,    New    York, 

herein  recorded  was  Richard 
Green,  born  in  the  north  of  Ireland  and  set- 
tled in  Canada  about  the  year  1800.  He  re- 
mained in  that  country  until  after   1823   as 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


239 


in  that  year  his  son  William  F.  was  born 
in  the  city  of  Quebec.  He  later  settled  in 
Troy,  New  York,  where  his  other  children 
were  born.  He  married  Mary  Ann,  daughter 
of  Robert  and  Isabella  (Crawford)  Barnes, 
born  in  Ireland.  Children:  James  N..  enlisted 
in  the  civil  war,  rose  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant- 
colonel  and  was  killed  in  battle,  a  daring  and 
gallant  officer;  Richard  (2);  William  F.,  of 
whom  further;  Robert;  John  Crawford,  of 
whom  further ;  Catherine  and  Edward.  Isa- 
bella (Crawford)  Barnes,  was  a  descendant 
of  the  Crawfords  of  Dumbarton  Castle,  Scot- 
land, a  family  famous  in  Scotch  history. 

(II)  William  F.,  third  son  of  Richard  and 
Mary  Ann  (Barnes)  Green,  was  born  in  the 
city  of  Quebec,  Canada,  September  20,  1823, 
died  in  Troy,  New  York,  September  16,  1877. 
He  associated  with  his  brother  Robert  in  the 
furniture  business  in  Troy,  having  lived  in 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  until  about  1870. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  an  attendant  of  the  Presby- 
terian church,  and  in  politics  a  Republican. 
He  married  (first)  December  30,  1845,  Susan 
Maria,  born  April  21,  1823,  in  New  York  City, 
died  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  January 
29,  1857,  daughter  of  John  and  Susan  Maria 
Oppel.  He  married  (second)  June,  1862, 
Kate  Grace,  at  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania. 
She  was  born  there  July  24,  1837,  died  Octo- 
ber 4,  1890,  at  Troy,  New  York,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Catherine  (Shetsline)  Grace. 
Samuel  Grace  died  in  1876.  Children  by 
first  marriage :  William  Henry,  born  March 
23,  1847,  died  April  15,  1857;  Emma  Eliza- 
beth, November  14,  1857:  Sara  Catherine, 
now  a  resident  of  Troy.  Children  by  second 
marriage :  Mary  Grace,  resident  of  Troy ; 
Jeanette  Durr.  born  in  Philadelphia,  December 
18,  1865.  died  June  17.  1867,  in  Philadelphia; 
Dr.  Robert  Barnes,  born  in  Troy,  June  19, 
1871,  a  graduate  of  Philadelphia  Dental  Col- 
lege, D.D.S.,  1898.  now  a  practicing  dentist 
of  Tarrytown,  New  York,  married,  October 
16,  1902,  Frances  Daisy,  daughter  of  Town- 
send  and  Ermina  P.  Roe. 

(II)  John  Crawford,  son  of  Richard  and 
Mary  Ann  (Barnes)  Green,  was  born  in  Trov, 
New  York,  June  12,  1832,  died  July  9,  1908. 
He  was  a  decorator  and  furniture  dealer ; 
prominent  in  the  Republican  party ;  serving  as 
fire  and  school  commissioner  of  Troy.  He 
was  trustee  of  the  Unitarian  church  and  a 
man  of  influence.  He  married  Mary  Good- 
speed  (see  Goodspeed  VIII).  Children: 
Arba  R.,  of  whom  further ;  Lansdale  Board- 
man,  of  whom  further. 

(HI)  Dr.  Arba  R.  Green,  eldest  son  of  John 
Crawford  and  Mary  (Goodspeed)  Green,  was 


born  in  Troy,  New  York,  August  18,  1854. 
He  was  educated  at  Troy  Academy  and  se- 
cured his  professional  education  at  the  Home- 
opathic College  and  Hospital,  New  York  City, 
whence  he  was  graduated,  M.D.,  class  of  1879. 
He  has  since  practiced  his  profession  at  Troy 
with  much  success.  He  has  served  as  cor- 
oner of  Rensselaer  county  and  president  of 
the  New  York  State  and  Rensselaer  County 
Homeopathic  Medical  societies.  He  married 
Lydia  N'irginia,  born  in  Nassau,  Rensselaer 
county,  New  York,  daughter  of  Leonard  Vin- 
cent Richmond,  born  February  11,  1827,  died' 
May  I,  1905,  at  Land  Lake,  New  York;  he 
married  at  Stockbridge,  Massachusetts,  Janu- 
ary 23,  1859,  Nana,  daughter  of  James  Holt, 
born  in  England,  died  September  15,  185 1, 
aged  fifty-four  years,  six  months,  and  his- 
wife,  Mary,  who  died  1876,  aged  seventy- 
five  years.  Child  of  Dr.  Arba  R.  Green: 
Crawford  Richmond,  born  in  Troy,  New  York,. 
September  8,  1881,  educated  in  the  Troy  Acad- 
emy, graduating  1898 ;  a  graduate  of  Brown 
University,  A.B.,  1902 ;  New  York  Homeo- 
pathic Medical  Institute,  M.D.,  1906,  walked 
Metropolitan  Hospital,  New  York,  eight 
months  after  graduation.  In  the  spring  of 
1907  he  began  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in  Troy.  He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  a 
member  of  the  Unitarian  church,  of  the  Del- 
ta Phi,  Phi  Beta  Kappa,  Phi  Alpha  Gamma,. 
Pafraet  Dael  Club,  Sons  of  the  Revolution. 
His  professional  societies  are  Albany  County, 
Homeopathic  Medical  Society,  New  York 
State  Homeopathic  Medical  Society,  Ameri- 
can Institute  of  Homeopathy.  He  is  on  the 
visiting  medical  staff  of  the  Albany  Homeo- 
pathic Hospital.  He  married,  June  12,  1907, 
Helen  Fish,  born  in  Troy,  daughter  of  Mar- 
cus M.  Waterman,,  born  in  Williamstown,. 
Massachusetts,  and  his  wife,  Anna  (Adams) 
Waterman.  Child,  Carleton,  born  April  23, 
1909. 

(HI)  Lansdale  Boardman,  son  of  John 
Crawford  and  Mary  (Goodspeed)  Green,  was 
born  in  Troy,  New  York,  May  13,  1871.  He 
was  educated  in  the  Troy  Academy,  grad- 
uate of  Rensselaer  Polytechnic  Institute,  C.E., 
class  of  1891.  He  entered  the  furniture  store 
of  his  father.  Green  &  Waterman,  Troy,  as 
a  clerk  and  continued  with  them  until  1898 
when  John  Crawford  Green  withdrew  from 
the  firm,  establishing  in  the  same  business  un- 
der his  own  name.  In  1903  he  admitted  his 
son  Lansdale  B.  to  a  partnership,  changing 
the  firm  name  to  J.  Crawford  Green  &  Son. 
On  the  death  of  his  father  in  1908  the  son 
continued  the  business  and  is  so  engaged  at 
present  (1910).  The  business  is  art  furniture 
and  interior  decoration.     The  firm  manufac- 


240 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


ture  in  their  own  shops  a  great  amount  of 
their  finest  furniture  and  hold  a  high  position 
in  the  trade.  He  served  in  the  Spanish  war 
(see  Adjutant  General.  1908,  report).  He  is 
an  Independent  Republican  and  takes  an  ac- 
tive part  in  politics.  In  1905  he  was  elected 
supervisor  on  the  Independent  ticket  and  re- 
elected in  1907  and  1909  on  the  regular  Re- 
publican ticket.  He  is  the  present  president 
of  the  board.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Uni- 
tarian church  and  formerly  a  trustee.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Delta  Kappa  Epsilon,  and  of 
the  Troy  Pafraet  Dael  Club,  .Armv  and  Navy 
Club  (New  York  City),  and  the  Island  Golf 
'Club  of  Troy. 

(The    Goodspeed    Line). 

The  American  ancestor  of  Mary  (Good- 
speed)  Green,  wife  of  John  Crawford  Green, 
was  Roger  Goodspeed,  of  whom  the  first  rec- 
ord is  in  1639,  when  he  went  to  Barnstable, 
Massachusetts,  and  became  one  of  the  origi- 
nal proprietors  of  that  place.  It  is  not  known 
from  what  country  he  came,  in  what  vessel, 
or  when.  The  earliest  record  of  his  wife  is 
of  her  marriage, — "Roger  Goodspeed  and  Al- 
lis  Layton,  married  December,  1641."  He  was 
granted  lands  to  which  he  added  by  purchase. 
In  1644  he  joined  the  church.  In  1672  his 
name  was  dropped  from  membership,  in  1679 
he  was  reinstated  at  his  own  request.  He 
died  .'\pril,  1685,  leaving  a  will.  Children: 
Nathaniel,  John,  of  whom  further;  Mary, 
Benjamin,  Ruth,  Ebenezer,  Elizabeth. 

(II)  John,  second  son  of  Roger  and  Alice 
(Layton)  Goodspeed,  was  born.  June  1645. 
He  passed  the  first  few  years  of  his  life  at 
Barnstable  and  later  moved  to  Misteake,  where 
he  died  in  1719.  He  served  as  a  soldier  dur- 
ing King  Philip's  war,  and  was  in  the  third 
expedition  under  Captain  Thomas  Howes.  He 
married  Experience  Holway  or  Holly,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  Holway  or  Holly,  whose  de- 
scendants claim  lineal  descent  from  the  As- 
tronomer Holly,  the  first  person  to  observe  the 
transit  of  Venus.  Children :  Mary  or  Mercy, 
Samuel,  John,  of  whom  further ;  Experience, 
^Benjamin,  Rose,  Bathsheba. 

(HI)  John  (2),  second  son  of  John  (i) 
and  Experience  (Holway  or  Holly)  Ciood- 
speed.  married.  February  16,  1698,  Mrs.  Re- 
member Buck,  daughter  of  John  and  Susan- 
nah Jennings,  widow  of  Joseph  Buck.  Chil- 
dren :  Elizabeth.  Temperance,  Samuel,  of 
whom  further ;  Cornelius,  John,  Experience, 
Remember. 

(I\')  Samuel,  eldest  son  of  John  (2)  and 
Remeinher  (Jennings)  (Buck)  Goodspeed, 
was  born  March  17.  1701.  He  married  Re- 
becca   .     Children  :  Temperance,  John, 


Eunice,  Ann,  Abigail,  Remember,  Samuel,  Ab- 
ner,  Anthony,  of  whom  further. 

(\^)    Anthony,    youngest   child   of    Samuel 

and  Rebecca  Goodspeed,  was  born  at 

Barnstable,  Massachusetts.  April  18,  1746.  He 
lived  at  Sheffield,  Massachusetts ;  Litchfield, 
Connecticut :  Poultney,  Vermont,  and  finally 
moved  to  Troy,  New  York,  about  1785,  where 
he  died  about  1825.  He  was  a  carpenter  by 
trade.  While  living  at  Sheffield,  Massachu- 
setts, he  served  in  the  revolution  as  follows: 
Corporal  in  Captain  William  Bacon's  com- 
pany. Colonel  John  Fellows  Regiment,  which 
marched  on  the  Lexington  alarm  of  April  19, 
1775,  served  from  April  21,  1775,  to  May  7, 
1775,  seventeen  days;  also  in  the  same  com- 
pany and  regiment,  muster  roll  dated  August 
I.  I775'  enlisted  May  8,  1775.  service,  three 
months  and  one  day ;  also  in  a  company  re- 
turn dated  Dorchester,  October  6,  1775  ;  also 
had  an  order  for  a  bounty  coat  or  its  equiva- 
lent in  money,  dated  Dorchester,  1775.  He 
was  sergeant  in  Captain  Ephraim  Fitch's  com- 
pany. Colonel  Benjamin  Simons  detachment 
of  Berkshire  company  militia,  muster  roll, 
dated  Ticonderoga,  February  25,  1777,  entered 
service  December  16,  1776,  term  to  expire 
March  15,  1777;  he  was  lieutenant  in  Jere- 
miah Hick's  company.  Colonel  John  Ashley's 
regiment,  entered  service  July  6,  1777.  dis- 
charged July  27,  1777.  service  twenty-two 
days.  The  company  marched  to  Kingsbury, 
July  6,  1777,  at  the  request  of  Major  General 
Schuyler;  also  lieutenant  in  Paul  Dewey's  de- 
tachment from  Captain  William  Fellows'  com- 
pany of  mattrosses,  Brigadier-General  John 
Fellows,  Berkshire  brigade,  entered  service 
September  21,  1777,  discharged  October  19, 
1777,  service  twenty-eight  days ;  detachment 
was  ordered  out  by  Brigadier-General  Fel- 
lows to  serve  under  Major  General  Gates  in 
the  northern  department.  He  married,  about 
1766,  Abigail  Lothrop.  Children:  Cornelius, 
Rebecca,  Temperance,  .Ann,  Eunice,  Samuel, 
of  whom  further ;  Elizabeth  Candace. 

(VI)  Samuel,  son  of  Anthony  and  Abigail 
(Lothrop)  Gotxlspeed,  was  born  about  1776. 
He  passed  an  honorable,  active  and  useful  life 
at  Troy.  New  York,  and  was  one  of  the  first 
trustees  of  the  village  corporation  of  Troy. 
He  was  captain  of  a  sloop  and  for  many  years 
was  engaged  in  the  Hudson  river  trade.  He 
married,  at  Troy,  New  York,  Mary  Dyer. 
Children:  i.  Sarah,  born  1798,  died  Febru- 
ary 27,  1892,  unmarried.  Her  obituary  notice 
said  "Miss  Goodspeed's  entire  life  is  an  exem- 
plification of  the  beauty  and  inspiration  of  true 
Christianity.  Her  entire  thought  was  for 
others :  early  in  childhood  she  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Troy  and 


HUDSON   AND    .MOHAWK    \'ALLEYS 


241 


€ver  since  has  been  one  of  its  most  active 
members."  2.  Anthony,  of  whom  further.  3. 
Abisjail,  married  \\'illiam  M.  Arnold.  4.  Wary, 
married  William  Lewis.  5.  Ann  Elizabeth, 
married  John  Fulton. 

(V'll)  Anthony  (2),  eldest  son  of  Samuel 
and  Alary  (Dyer)  Goodspeed,  was  born  in 
Troy  about  the  year  1800.  He  passed  his 
entire  life  in  Troy.  He  married,  about  1832, 
Juliana  Washburn.  Children:  i.  Mary,  of 
whom  further.  2.  Renjamin  Monroe  Hill, 
born  about  1835,  married  Sarah  N.  Halsey.  3. 
Frederick,  died  young.  4.  Adelaide.  5.  Wil- 
liard  Fox,  a  veteran  of  the  civil  war,  now 
deceased,  married  Adelia  Leavenworth.  6. 
Blanche,  married  Thomas  Harrison.  7.  Rich- 
ard, married  Elizabeth  Moores.  8.  John  Fred- 
erick. 9.  Harriet  K.,  married  Judge  Rufus  M. 
Townsend,  now  deceased,  a  lawyer.  United 
States  circuit  court,  commissioner  at  Troy 
and  an  officer  of  the  Spanish-American  war. 

(AT II)  Mary,  eldest  child  of  Anthony  (2) 
and  Juliana  (Washburn)  Goodspeed,  was  born 
in  Troy,  October  6,  1833,  died  March  11, 
1895.  She  married,  at  Troy,  John  Crawford 
Green  (see  Green  II). 


This  ancient  and  honorable 
GREENE  New  England  family  was 
founded  in  America  by  John 
Greene,  who  was  the  progenitor  of  the  family 
Tcnown  as  "The  Greenes  of  Warwick,"  Rhode 
Island.  The  ancient  familv  name  "De  Greene" 
was  derived  from  their  large  possessions  in 
Northamptonshire,  England,  where  they  were 
seatetl  as  early  as  the  reign  of  Edward  II.  of 
England    (1320). 

(I)  John  Greene,  of  Warwick.  Rhode  Isl- 
and, was  born  in  England,  1597,  fourth  son 
of  Richard  and  Mary  Greene,  of  Bowridge 
Hill,  England.  He  married  in  St.  Thomas 
■Church,  Salisbury,  England,  November  4, 
1619,  Joana  Tattersall,  who  died  at  Conani- 
cut  or  Newport,  Rhode  Island.  He  came  to 
America  in  the  ship  "James  of  London,"  sail- 
ing from  Southampton  in  April,  1635,  arriving 
in  Boston,  June  3,  1635.  Lie  proceeded  to 
Rhode  Island,  residing  in  Providence  until 
1643,  when  be  with  twelve  others  made  ar- 
rangements for  the  purchasing  of  Narragan- 
sett  from  the  Indians.  He  was  a  sturdy 
champion  of  the  right  of  speech  and  con- 
science, became  embroiled  in  the  fierce  relig- 
ious controversies  of  the  day,  and  in  the  land 
•dispute  between  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Isl- 
and, which  raged  for  half  a  century.  At 
Warwick  he  filled  the  offices  of  magistrate  and 
■clerk  of  the  court.     He  had  a  second   wife, 

Alice  Daniels,  and  a  third,  Phelippa  . 

His  will  was  proved  January  7,  1659. 


(II)  James,  son  of  John  "the  founder"  and 
Joana  (Tattersall)  Greene,  was  Ixirn  in  Salis- 
bury, England.  1626,  died  1698.  He  married 
(second)  Elizabeth  Anthony,  August  3,  1665, 
daughter  of  John  Anthony,  by  whom  he  had 
six  sons,  and  two  daughters :  one  of  these 
sons,  Jabez,  was  the  grandfather  of  General 
Nathaniel  Greene,  of  the  revolutionary  army. 

(III)  John  (2),  son  of  James  and  Eliza- 
beth (.Anthony)  Greene,  was  born  in  War- 
wick, Rhode  Island,  (Polowomuth)  September 
30,  1685.  ?Ic  was  made  a  freeman  in  1708, 
and  died  December  8,  1757.  He  married  Alary 
born  1689,  daughter  of  Increase  Allen,  of 
Dartmouth,  Massachusetts. 

(IV)  Joseph,  son  of  John  (2)  and  Mary 
(Allen)  Greene,  was  born  in  Warwick,  Rhode 
Island,  February  19.  1727.  He  was  a  Quaker 
and  a  trusted  friend  of  General  Stephen  Van 
Rensselaer,  with  whom  he  always  visited 
when  in  Albany.  He  was  a  cousin  to  General 
Nathaniel  Greene.  He  died  in  Berlin,  New 
York,  1822,  aged  ninety-five  years.  With 
Joseph  Greene  the  settlement  of  the  family  in 
New  York  state  began.  lie  married  Phoebe, 
born  April  26,  1734,  daughter  of  John  Lang- 
ford,  of  East  Greenwich,  Rhode  Island. 

(V)  Langford,  son  of  Joseph  and  Phoebe 
(Langford)  Greene,  was  born  in  1766.  He 
occupied  a  farm  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
town  of  Stephentown,  Rensselaer  county.  New 
York,  at  a  very  early  date.  He  married  Abi- 
gail Thomas.  His  sons.  Joseph,  Samuel,  Ben- 
jamin  and   George,   were   all   farmers  of  the 

.same  neighborhood. 

(\T)  Benjamin,  son  of  Langford  and  Abi- 
gail (Thomas)  Greene,  was  born  in  Novem- 
ber, 1798,  died  April,  1842.  He  married,  in 
182 1,  Rhoda  Niles,  born  August  17,  1802,  died 
October  3,  1849.  daughter  of  Eliphalet  and 
Rebecca  Niles.  Children :  Louise  Antoinette, 
married  Lavinus  Stillman ;  Benjamin  Frank- 
lin, see  forward :  Calvin  Pardee,  married  Jean- 
ette  Dodge;  Rebecca,  died  young;  Abigail, 
married  Hiram  Rosencrans.  Rhodai  (Niles) 
Greene  survived  her  husband  and  married 
(second)   Barsaleel  Streeter. 

(VII)  Benjamin  Franklin,  son  of  Benja- 
min and  Rhoda  (Niles)  Greene,  was  born  in 
Berlin,  New  York,  December,  1825,  died  in 
Adrian,  Michigan,  July  30,  1863.  He  resided 
in  Troy,  New  York,  several  years,  then  re- 
moved to  Adrian,  Michigan,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  flour  and  feed  business  under  the  firm 
name  of  Warner  and  Greene.  For  a  time  he 
was  associated  with  Senator  Chaffee  of  Mich- 
igan in  supplying  the  mining  camps  of  Cali- 
fornia and  the  west.  He  was  a  Congregation- 
alist,  and  acted  with  the  Republican  party.  He 
married   Mary  Jane,  born  January  29,   1828, 


242 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Catharine  (Brew- 
ster) Hubbs.  The  Brewster  and  Hubbs  fam- 
ilies are  of  English  ancestry  and  settled  in 
America  in  170 1. 

(\TII)  Harvey  S.,  son  of  Benjamin  Frank- 
lin and  Mary  Jane  (Hubbs)  Greene,  was 
born  in  Adrian,  Michigan,  October  5,  1858.  He 
was  well  educated  in  the  high  schools  of  Adri- 
an. Came  later  to  Albany  and  was  with  a 
boot  and  shoe  house  for  some  time,  when  he 
engaged  with  G.  H.  McDowell  &  Company 
of  the  Arcade  ]\Iills  of  Cohoes,  New  York, 
and  when  his  father-in-law,  John  CUite,  died 
in  1906,  at  the  latter's  request  took  the  busi- 
ness management,  having  with  Mrs.  Greene, 
his  wife,  become  the  chief  proprietors  of  the 
Campebell  &  Clute  Manufacturing  concern. 
Mr.  Greene  is  president  of  the  Manufactur- 
ers National  Bank.  Served  two  years  as  a 
member  of  board  of  police  commissioners,  and 
is  a  director  of  the  Cohoes  City  Hospital.  He 
is  a  Republican.  He  married,  November  18, 
1884,  Adaline  Margaret,  daughter  of  John  and 
Adaline  (Winne)  Clute  (see  Clute  HI).  Chil- 
dren: I.  Alice  Adaline,  born  September  27, 
1885  ;  married  October  17,  1908,  Percy  j\Ioses, 
of  Brookline.  Massachusetts ;  child,  Percy 
Lawrence,  born  December  7,  19 10.  2. 
Harold  Clute,  born  October  22,  1889;  was  a 
student  at  Amherst  College,  and  member  of 
Delta  Kappa  Epsilon  society ;  now  engaged 
with  the  Asbestos  Metal  Company  at  Canton, 
Massachusetts.  3.  Mildred  Niles,  born  Janu- 
ary 22,  1893,  a  student  at  Dana  Hall,  Welles- 
ley,  Massachusetts.  Mrs.  Greene  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  auxiliary  board  of  the  Cohoes  Hos- 
pital. 

(The  Clute  Line). 

The  earliest  period  this  name  appears  in 
the  records  of  Albany  is  in  1656,  when  three 
of  the  name.  Captain  Johannes,  Johannes  his 
nephew,  and  Frederick  Clute,  came  to  Bever- 
wyck  from  Nuremberg.  Captain  Johannes 
was  a  trader  and  a  large  land  owner  at  Loon- 
enburg,  Niskayuna.  Albany,  etc.  He  was  held 
in  high  esteem  among  the  Indians  from  whom 
he  obtained  extensive  tracts  of  land.  It  is 
not  known  that  he  had  any  family.  On  his 
death  his  projierty  passed  to  his  nephew,  Jo- 
hannes Clute  the  "Boslooper."  Johannes 
(nephew)  married  Baata,  daughter  of  Gerrit 
Slichtenhorst,  and  reared  a  large  family,  heads 
now  of  widely  scattered  families. 

(I)  Andrew  Clute,  great-grandfather  of 
the  Colioes  family,  was  bom  in  Holland  and 
when  a  boy  was  brought  to  America,  settling 
in  Albany,  New  York.  He  married  and  had 
issue. 

(II)  Andrew  (2),  son  of  Andrew  (i) 
Clute,  of  Albany,  was  born  in  Albany,  New 


York,  1799.  In  1820  he  removed  to  Mont- 
gomery county,  where  he  remained  until  1842^ 
following  the  business  of  farming.  He  re- 
tired to  Albany  where  he  died  in  1849.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Dutch  church  and  a 
Whig  in  politics.  He  married  Maria,  born 
August  15,  1795,  died  1864,  daughter  of 
Charles  Hemstreete,  of  Albany  county,  a  de- 
scendant of  an  early  Dutch  family,  "Heem- 
straat."  Charles  Hemstreete  was  the  owner 
of  a  great  part  of  the  land  on  which  the 
city  of  Cohoes  is  built.  When  the  Erie  ca- 
nal was  built  he  was  so  much  opposed  to- 
its  construction  that  he  sold  his  land  and  re- 
moved to  Mechanicsville.  While  he  died  a 
wealthy  man.  had  he  remained  in  Cohoes  his 
land  would  have  brought  him  greater  wealth. 

(Ill)  John,  son  of  Andrew  (2)  and  Maria 
(Hemstreete)  Clute,  was  born  in  town  of 
Glen,  Montgomery  county.  New  York,  Au- 
gust 10,  1830,  died  at  Cohoes,  New  York, 
October  29,  1906.  He  was  educated  in  the 
district  schools,  and  early  became  connected 
with  the  manufacturing  interests  of  Cohoes. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  machinist  with  George 
Gage  with  whom  he  remained  until  1852,  in 
Waterford,  where  the  Gage  machine  shops 
were  located.  He  then  removed  his  business 
interests  to  Cohoes,  where  for  a  short  time 
he  was  with  The  Cohoes  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany. January  i,  1863,  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  George  Campbell,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Campbell  &  Clute,  for  the  purpose 
of  manufacturing  machinery  for  use  in  the 
knitting  mills.  The  demand  for  such  machin- 
ery was  very  great,  and  the  company  pros- 
pered to  an  unusual  degree.  Their  product 
was  shipped  to  every  manufacturing  part  of 
the  Union  and  to  foreign  countries.  Some 
years  before  his  death  the  company  was  in- 
corporated as  the  Campbell  &  Clute  Machine 
Company,  with  Mr.  Clute  as  president  and 
principal  stockholder.  Besides  his  immense 
manufacturing  interests  he  was  largely  inter- 
ested and  prominently  identified  with  the  banks 
of  Cohoes.  He  was  president  of  the  Manu- 
facturer's Bank,  trustee  and  director  in  others. 
He  retained  all  these  business  interests  and 
official  positions  until  his  death.  He  was 
largely  interested  in  real  estate,  owned  several 
farms  and  was  a  lover  and  breeder  of  fine 
stock,  especially  horses.  He  was  exceedingly 
public-spirited  and  interested  in  all  tliat  per- 
tained to  the  welfare  of  his  city.  He  was 
a  Republican  and  served  for  fourteen  years 
as  water  commissioner  of  Cohoes,  also  doing;' 
duty  upon  the  fire  board  of  commissioners. 
He  attended  the  Presbyterian  church. 

He  married  (first)  December  23,  1852,  .Ada- 
line,  born   December  2^,    1829,   died  January 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


243 


18,  1866,  daughter  of  Robert  Winne,  of  Wat- 
erford.  He  married  (second")  June  i,  1868, 
Cordelia  Brewster,  of  Waterford.  Children, 
all  by  first  marriage:  i.  Elizabeth,  graduate 
of  Egbert  high  school :  married  George  H. 
McDowell,  of  George  H.  McDowell  &  Com- 
pany, Knitting  Mill,  Cohoes,  and  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Cohoes  Savings  Institution.  Chil- 
dren :  i.  John  Clute  ]\IcDowell,  born  January 
I,  1879,  died  November  18,  1893;  a  gradu- 
ate of  Yale  University ;  ii.  Howard  G.,  in  busi- 
ness with  his  father  in  George  H.  McDowell 
&  Company ;  iii.  Harry  V.,  died  in  infancy ; 
iv.  Helen  Adaline ;  v.  Frederick  Blaine,  as- 
sociated in  business  with  his  father;  vi.  Laura 
E.,  student  at  the  Emma  Willard  school ;  vii. 
Frances  Louise,  died  in  infancy.  2.  Adaline 
Margaret,  also  was  educated  at  the  Egbert 
high  school  where  she  graduated  in  class  of 
1877:  she  married  Harvey  S.  Greene,  (see 
Greene  VHI). 


This  family  name, 
VANDER  VEER  written  \'an'der  Veer 
("From  the  Ferry"), 
was  borne  by  one  of  the  earliest  Dutch  set- 
tlers of  Long  Island,  New  York,  Cornelise 
Janse  Vander  Veer  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  town  of  Flatbush,  having  emigrated 
from  Alkmaar,  Holland,  in  the  "Otter,"  and 
landed  at  Flatbush,  February,  1659 ;  was  en- 
tered on  the  ship  list  as  a  farmer,  and  a  fac- 
simile of  his  signature  shows  that  he  spelled 
his  name  Vander  Veer.  Among  his  descend- 
ants there  is  much  diversity  in  regard  to 
spelling  their  surname.  A  great-grandson  of 
Cornelise  Janse  in  one  bond  dated 
May  29,  1765,  spelled  it  as  follows: 
Vander  Veer,  V.  D.  Veer,  Van  Der- 
veer.  Van  Der  \'eer.  It  would  seem  that 
over  a  century  ago  members  of  this  Dutch 
family  were  somewhat  undecided  at  to  the 
correct  spelling  of  their  surname.  Sons  of  the 
founders  of  this  family  settled  in  the  Raritan 
Valley  of  New  Jersey,  in  ]\Ionniouth  county, 
and  after  the  revolution  ascended  the  Hudson 
and  Mohawk  rivers  to  Montgomery  county, 
New  York,  always  with  unerring  instinct  set- 
tling upon  rich  and  fertile  land.  They  fur- 
nished officers  and  soldiers  for  the  revolution. 
The  farms  of  two  of  the  allied  families  formed 
a  portion  of  the  battle  field  of  Monmouth 
— that  of  Albert  Couwenhoven  (Conover), 
and  on  which  was  located  the  famous  spring 
around  which  the  soldiers  lay  thick,  dying 
from  freely  drinking  the  cold  water ;  among 
the  bodies  of  the  dead  the  women  and  chil- 
dren of  the  family  found  their  way  in  order  to 
carry  water  to  the  helpless,  while  the  men 
did  their  part  in  the  actual  combat. 


In  the  war  of  1812-14  they  participated,  as 
well  as  in  the  war  with  Mexico,  and  the  great 
civil  war,  where  one  of  this  family  gallantly 
led  his  men.  though  severely  wounded,  refus- 
ing to  yield  until  the  battle  was  over,  when 
soon  after,  with  a  soldier's  fortitude,  he  went 
to  his  long  rest.  One  of  the  Albany  family 
was  in  the  Spanish-American  war,  which  com- 
pletes a  remarkable  military  record.  The  an- 
cestry of  the  Albany  line  entitles  them  to 
membership  in  all  patriotic  orders  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  based  on  military  or  colonial  for- 
bears. \\'hile  this  is  true,  the  descendants  of 
the  first  \"ander  Veer  have  earned  recogni- 
tion for  themselves,  and  their  names  adorn 
the  rosters  of  some  of  our  most  noted  in- 
stitutions and  organizations,  placed  there 
through  individual  achievement.  From  the 
earliest  days  of  American  history  their  path- 
way may  be  traced  by  their  deeds  as  soldiers, 
pioneer  farmers,  merchants,  manufacturers 
and  professional  men.  In  the  professions  the 
name  is  an  eminent  one,  not  only  in  theology, 
but  ever  best  as  well  in  the  divine  art  of  heal- 
ing, where  it  is  pre-eminent. 

Through  intermarriage,  the  descendants  of 
Cornelise  Janse  Vander  \^eer  are  connected 
with  a  great  many  of  the  earlier  Dutch  set- 
tlers in  eastern  New  Jersey  and  the  Hudson 
and  IMohawk  Valleys  of  New  York  state.  By 
a  marriage  of  a  Vander  Veer  with  a  Sarah 
Martin  the  family  connects  with  Philip  Schuy- 
ler and  Margarita  Van  Slichtenhorst  through 
their  son,  Colonel  Philip  (Quidor)  and  second 
wife,  Maria  Van  Rensselaer,  also  Surgeon  and 
Mayor  Abram  Staats.  the  first  physician  in 
the  colony  of  Rensselaerwyck.  By  the  mar- 
riage of  a  later  Vander  \^eer  with  Margaret 
E.  Snow,  descent  is  traced  to  Isaac  Aller- 
ton,  of  England,  who  came  over  in  the  "May- 
flower" and  was  the  fifth  son  to  sign  "the 
immortal  compact." 

(I)  Cornelise  Janse  Vander  Veer,  of  Hol- 
land, came  of  a  family  of  considerable  distinc- 
tion, dating  back  to  an  early  period.  The 
reading  of  the  family  coat-of-arms  indicates 
this.  The  foil  denotes  that  some  action  in  de- 
fense of  the  Trinity  has  been  performed  by 
him  to  whom  the  arms  were  first  granted.  The 
cap  of  dignity  in  crest  denotes  the  family  to 
have  been  of  noble  origin.  The  wolf's  head 
in  heraldry  denotes  courage  and  determination 
while  the  ragged  edge  of  head  indicates  some 
great  feat  of  valor  had  been  performed.  Mot- 
to: Aut  in  veniam,  aut  faciam  (Whatever  we 
attempt,  we  do).  Several  tales  are  told  among 
the  descendants  of  Cornelise  Janse  \'ander 
\'eer  regarding  his  coming  to  this  country, 
the  most  frequent  one  being  that  two  brothers 
sailed  for  America,  became  shipwrecked  and 


244 


HUDSON  AND   MOHAWK  \-ALLEYS 


were  picked  up  by  a  Spanish  vessel  held  for 
ransom,  and  eventually  returned  to  Holland, 
one  to  remain,  while  Cornelise  Janse  later 
came  to  the  new  world.  Landing  in  Flatbush, 
February,  1659,  from  ship  "Otter,"  he  bought 
a  farm  in  1678-79,  February  24,  from  Jan 
Janse  Fry  for  2600  gulden,  in  Flatbush,  lying 
south  of  Fry's  farm,  from  which  it  is  evi- 
dent he  was  a  resident  at  this  date.  The  pur- 
chaser's farm  referred  to  in  the  above  de- 
scription was  probably  a  tract  of  2600  mor- 
gans in  Flatbush,  patented  jNlarch  12,  1661,  by 
Governor  Stuyvesant  to  Cornelise  Janse,  lying 
on  the  north  side  of  the  land  of  Jan  Swediker. 
His  name  is  on  the  patent  of  Flatbush,  1685, 
and  his  official  papers  bear  date  of  1678-80. 

About  1672,  Cornelise  Janse  \'ander  Veer 
married  Tyntje,  daughter  of  Gillis  de  Man- 
deville  and  Elsjie  Hendricks.  An  inscription 
on  a  plate  over  the  gate  at  the  entrance  of 
Rowen,  Normandy,  France,  from  whence  the 
de  Mandevilles  originally  came,  shows  that 
thev  had  achieved  great  distinction  in  the  ear- 
ly history  of  that  ancient  city.  Cornelise  Janse 
and  Tyntje  Gillis  (De  Mandeville)  Vander 
Veer  had  children.  In  the  records  of  these 
children  all  have  suffix  Cornelissen.  meaning 
son  or  daughter  of  Cornelise.  Children:  i. 
Cornelise  Cornelissen,  baptized  about  1677 ; 
married  Jannetje  Van  Nostrand.  2.  Neeltje 
Cornelissen.  married,  August  13,  1685,  first 
wife  of  Daniel  Polhemus.  3.  Jan  Cornelis- 
sen, married,  January  6,  1695,  Fennuetje  Ber- 
gen.    4.  Dominicus  Cornelissen,  see  forward. 

5.  Maria  Cornelissen,  baptized  July  30.   1682. 

6.  Hendrickje  Cornelissen,  baptized  August 
17,  1684:  married  Johannes  Wyck  (or  Wyc- 
koff).     7.   Michael  Cornelissen,   married   Be- 

litje  .     8.  Jacoba  Cornelissen,  baptized 

April  29,  1686;  married  Jan  Willemse  Van 
Couwenhoven.  9.  Pieter  Cornelissen,  bap- 
tized Ajjril  29,  1686.  10.  Jacobus  Cornelissen, 
baptized  October  29,  1686;  married  Cathe- 
rine   . 

(H)  Dominicus  Cornelissen,  third  son  of 
Cornelise  Janse  Vander  Veer,  was  baptized 
November  i6,  1679,  in  Flatbush,  Long  Island. 
His  name  appears  in  the  Flatbush  records  in 
1704-27-40  in  relation  to  salt  meadows  and 
church  funds  in  said  town.  In  1736  he  was 
.sheriff  of  Kings  county.  Late  in  the  seven- 
teenth and  early  in  the  eighteenth  centuries 
the  Dutch  had  taken  all  of  the  agricultural 
lands  on  the  west  end  of  Long  Island,  conse- 
quently many  of  the  second  generation  of  this 
Holland  stock  were  forced  to  seek  tillable 
acres  in  East  Jersey.  A  few  years  after  1746 
the  .^xtcll  patent  in  New  Jersey  was  sold  to 
Long  Island  men,  the  inhabitants  of  the  Rari- 
tan   X'alley  and  of  the   vicinity  of   Flatbush 


being  at  this  time  in  close  alliance.  About 
1750,  Dominicus  \'ander  \'eer  (as  he  signed 
his  name)  was  persuaded  to  locate  on  his  pat- 
ent along  the  Raritan  river.  He  married  (first) 

Jannetje    :    one    son,    Cornelise,    born 

1700,  of  Shrewsbury,  New  Jersey ;  married 
(first)  Jannetje  Wyckoflf ;  (second)  Marytje 
Smock.  Dominicus  Vander  Veer  married 
(second,  license  dated  January  28,  1703),  Ma- 
ria Margaretta  \'an  Orteck.  Children:  i.  Tu- 
nis, see  forward.  2.  Jannetje,  baptized  June 
I,  1709.  3.  Jacobus,  of  the  Raritan.  baptized 
December  10,  1721 ;  married.  May  25,  1745, 
Fannetje  Strycker.  4.  Dominicus,  laaptized 
November  3,  1723  ;  married,  July  3,  1748,  Eliz- 
abeth Lequeer.  5.  Catlyntje,  baptized  July 
25,  1723  :  married  Jacobus  Lefferts.  6.  Neelt- 
je, baptized  July,  1727 ;  married,  July  9, 
1749,  first  wife  of  Peter  Lott,  of  Long  Island. 
7.  Jeromus  or  Jeremias,  of  Long  Island,  bap- 
tized March  30.  1729:  married  Elizabeth  Dit- 
mas.  8.  Arntje,  baptized  October  17,  1731 : 
married  Cornelise  Van  Duyn.  9.  Jan,  bap- 
tized August  19,  1733.  10.  Cornelia.  11.  Hen- 
drick,  of  Monmouth  county,  New  Jersey ; 
married  Neeltje  Van  Cleef. 

(Ill)  Tunis,  son  of  Dominicus  Cornelissen 
Vander  Veer,  was  born  about  1704.  on  Long 
Island,  and  later  was  a  resident  of  Freehold, 
New  Jersey.  He  married,  about  1723,  Alchie, 
daughter  of  Gerret  Roelofse  ScKenck  and  wife 
Neeltje  Coertsen  Van  \'oorhees.  Most  of  the 
Vander  Veers  living  in  and  about  Monmouth 
county  are  the  descendants  of  this  couple, 
among  them  the  late  \'ice-President  Garret  A. 
Hobart,  on  his  mother's  side.  The  farm  of 
Tunis  \'ander  \'eer  formed  a  portion  of  the 
battlefield  of  Monmouth.  All  the  buildings 
were  burned  by  the  British,  and  on  the  re- 
turn of  the  family,  which  had  taken  refuge 
in  the  left  wing  of  Washington's  army,  only 
a  cat  and  pair  of  fowls  could  be  found.  On 
the  roster  of  the  New  Jersey  revolutionary 
troops  are  not  to  be  found  the  names  of  Tunis 
and  his  sons,  save  one,  his  namesake,  who 
was  later  taken  prisoner  at  Sandy  Hook  and 
detained  in  the  old  "Sugar  House"  eighteen 
months.  Tunis,  the  father,  with  his  six  sons 
and  a  grandson  (Jacob's  son  Tunis)  all  took 
part  tliat  day,  and  the  fatlier  rode  as  aide-de- 
camp for  Washington ;  his  son  Garret  was  a 
prisoner  for  some  time ;  his  wife  communica- 
ted with  him  by  concealing  letters  in  loaves 
of  bread.  Monmouth  county  suft'ered  severe- 
ly from  the  depredations  of  the  British  army, 
particularly  in  and  about  Freehold,  where  they 
exceeded  all  the  others  through  the  state.  Fe- 
rocious and  lawless  as  the  British  soldiers 
were,  they  were  outdone  by  the  refugees  who 
took    up    arms    against    friends    and    former 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


245 


neighbors.  Between  them  cx:curred  scenes  of 
ferocity  and  incidents  of  individual  daring  to 
fill  a  volume  of  horrors.  In  order  to  protect 
their  wives  and  daughters,  and  save  their 
property  from  these  awful  dangers,  the  men 
of  determination  and  influence  drew  up  arti- 
cles of  agreement  to  suppress  the  raiders.  The 
original  is  to  be  found  in  the  secretary  of 
state's  office  at  Trenton,  and  attached  to  it 
will  be  found  the  names  of  Tunis  \'ander  Veer 
and  his  sons.  Children  of  Tunis  and  Alchie 
(Schenck)  \'ander  Veer:  i.  John,  of  Marl- 
boro, New  Jersey,  born  November  8,  1724.  2. 
Phebe,  married  John  N.  Voorhees,  of  New 
Brunswick,  New  Jersey.  3.  Garret  (see 
sketch).  4.  Nelly,  baptized  January  2,  1734; 
married  (first)  Hendrick  Voorhees.  S.Jacob, 
see  forward.  6.  Tunis,  baptized  April  19, 
1739:  married  (first)  Jane  Hance ;  (second), 
.  7.  Cornelise,  of  Holmdel,  New  Jer- 
sey, baptized  May  24,  1741  ;  married  (first) 
1761,  Jannetje  Williams:  (second)  1764,  Ma- 
ria Conover.  8.  Alchie,  baptized  1745  ;  mar- 
ried James  Connelton.  9.  David,  baptized  Sep- 
tember 25,  1748:  married,  February  28,  1765, 
Catherine  Conover. 

(IV)  Jacob,  son  of  Tunis  Vander  Veer, 
born  May  5,  1736,  died  July  24,  1806.  He 
married  (first)  October,  1759,  Alchie  Wyc- 
koff.  born  July  21,  1736,  daughter  of  Gerret 
Gerretse  Wyckofif  and  Alchie  Gerretse.  Mar- 
ried (second)  (supposed)  Anna  Clayton:  she 
married  after  his  death  at  Glen,  New  York, 
October  17,  1812,  Tivis  Follic  (Matthias  Van 
Valkenburgh).  Jacob  Vander  Veer  and  his 
first  wife,  Alchie  (Wyckoff)  Vander  Veer, 
came  from  along  the  Raritan  river.  New  Jer- 
sey, into  the  Alohawk  \'alley,  and  located 
in  Florida,  Montgomery  county,  a  few  miles 
south  of  Amsterdam,  New  York.  Jacob  was 
one  of  many  who  came  with  Washington 
at  the  time  (1780)  the  troops  came  to  subdue 
the  Indian  depredations.  Finding  the  valley 
so  rich  and  beautiful  a  country,  he  purchased 
a  farm  containing  buildings  and  improvements 
from  John  Watts,  the  father-in-law  of  Sir 
John  Johnson.  He  remained  a  year,  sowed 
and  reaped  a  crop  of  wheat,  which  he  sold  for 
one  dollar  per  bushel,  and  thus  paid  off  his 
indebtedness  of  $1100.  He  then  returned  to 
his  family  in  New  Jersey,  who  ere  long  came 
with  him  to  the  new  home.  Not  long  after 
her  coming  to  this  home,  his  wife  died,  and 
is  buried  on  the  farm  beside  Jacob.  The 
farm  was  left  to  his  youngest  son  Asher,  with 
the  reputation  of  being  the  best  cultivated  and 
best  equipped  buildings  in  the  township.  Chil- 
dren of  first  wife:     i.  Nelly,  baptized  August 

3,  1760 :  married  Warner.     2.  Tunis, 

baptized  May  29.  1762,  (was  a  bachelor).     3. 


Catherine,  baptized  August  3,  1763;  married 
Cobis,  or  James  Sutfan,  of  Cranberry  Creek, 
New  Jersey.  4.  Garret,  see  forward.  5.  Phebe 
baptized  May  17,  1767,  died  young.     6.  John, 

married  .     7.   Samuel,  married   lietsey 

Denison.  8.  Alchie,  married  Timothv  Gor- 
dan.  9.  Anna,  born  1779;  married  William 
Stillwell.  Children  of  second  wife:  10. 
Thomas,  born  1783,  drowned  July  19,  1800. 
II.  Joseph,  born  1784,  accidentally  killed  De- 
cember 3,  1794.  12.  Asher,  born  May  17.  1787, 
married  Asenath  Elliot.  13.  Sally,  married, 
February  25,  1813  (first  wife)  Ehsha  Cady. 
14.  Polly,  married,  December  30,  1810;  (sup- 
posed)   Cornelise    Mount. 

(V)  Garret,  son  of  Jacob  V^ander  \'eer.  was 
born  July  4,  1765.  He  came  with  his  parents 
from  New  Jersey  into  the  Alohaw-k  \'alley.  At 
the  time  of  their  coming  there  was  a  general 
exodus  from  this  state  westward.  Albert  Cou- 
wenhoven  and  his  wife  Patience  located  near 
Garret's  new  home.  They  had  occupied  in 
New  Jersey  the  adjoining  farm  to  his  grand- 
father. Tunis  Vander  Veer.  They  brought 
with  them  a  daughter  Rachel,  born  April  18, 
1768.  She,  as  a  child  of  ten  years,  helped  to 
carry  water  on  that  terrible  day  in  June.  1778, 
from  the  spring  on  her  father's  farm.  There 
are  living  in  the  present  generation  (1910) 
those  who  have  heard  from  her  lips  the  story 
of  that  day.  The  night  before  the  battle  her 
father's  house  was  used  as  a  shelter  for  the 
women  and  children  of  the  neighlxirhood.  She 
told  with  pride  of  the  good  night  visit  made 
by  Washington  accompanied  by  Lafayette. 
The  former  shook  hands  with  them,  followed 
by  a  kiss  from  Lafayette,  and  then  the  two 
sought  their  night's  rest  under  a  nearby  tree. 
The  following  day  she  witnessed  the  meeting 
between  General  Washington  and  General 
Lee,  and  says :  "What  General  Washington 
said  to  General  Lee  was  not  expressed  in  very 
nice  language."  Time  passed,  and  on  Febru- 
ary 29.  1788,  in  her  father's  home  at  Glen, 
she  married  Garret  Vander  Veer.  For  a  few 
years  they  lived  on  and  worked  the  farm  of 
a  cousin  (or  as  then  commonly  called  Uncle 
Peter  Couwenhoven)  in  the  town  of  Florida; 
in  1 80 1  they  took  up  new  land  in  the  town 
of  Root:  here  Garret  died,  April  19.  1813, 
leaving  his  wife  with  nine  sons  and  three 
daughters  to  rear.  Children:  i.  Alchie,  born 
July  29,  1789 :  married  Cornelise  Fero.  2. 
Albert,  born  April  18,  1791 :  married  Margaret 
Fero.  3.  Jacob,  born  August  i,  1793:  mar- 
ried Martha  W'illett.  s.  Peter,  born  Decem- 
ber 18,  1796:  married  Jane  Walker.  1:;.  John 
G..  born  May  10.  1798:  married  Ann  \'oor- 
hees.  6.  Thomas,  born  October  14,  iSoo.  died 
young.     7.  and  8.  Thomas  and  Joseph,  twins, 


246 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


born  ]\Iarch  23.  1802,  Thomas  married  (first) 
Roba  rioag;  (second)  Mary  Mercy  Corbin, 
widow  of  James  Carr.  Joseph  married  Har- 
riet Allen.     9.  Abraham  Harris,  see  forward. 

10.  Patience,  born  July  9,   1807,  died  young. 

11.  Katherine,  born  June  4,  1810,  died  young. 

12.  Garret,  born  May  9,  1813;  married  Alary 
Allen.  The  descendants  in  Montgomery  coun- 
ty are  numerous,  filling  all  stations  in  life, 
but  usually  are  farmers  of  substance  and 
prominence. 

(VI)  Abraham  Harris,  eighth  son  of  Gar- 
ret and  Rachel  (Couwenhoven)  Vander  Veer, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Root,  Montgomery 
county,  New  York,  June  18,  1804,  died  Au- 
gust 19,  1888.  He  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  village  of  Leatherville  (Rural  Grove), 
where  in  partnership  with  Henry  Stowitts  he 
established  and  operated  a  large  tannery.  He 
was  reared  in  the  Dutch  church,  but  his  wife 
was  a  member  of  the  Christian  church.  He 
married,  September  27,  1826,  Sarah  Martin, 
daughter  of  Barent  P.  Martin  and  first  wife, 
Hester  McGraw,  of  Fort  Hunter.  Sarah 
Martin  was  of  an  early  English  Martin  fam- 
ily who  first  located  in  New  Hampshire ;  later 
a  branch  settled  in  the  Piscataway  Valley, 
New  Jersey,  and  at  Albany  and  Fort  Hunter. 
Children:  i.  Rachel,  born  September  2",  1827, 
died  young.  2.  Esther,  born  January  14,  1830, 
died  May  30,  1909 ;  married,  June  10,  1852, 
John  Craig;  children :  i.  Janet,  died  young;  ii. 
Ada,  married  William  J.  Walker,  five  chil- 
dren; iii.  Marcia,  died  October  4,  1899,  mar- 
ried Martin  Van  Buren,  two  sons ;  iv.  Stuart, 
died  young;  v.  Marion  Mead;  vi.  Margaret, 
died  November  i,  1895;  married  Robert  P. 
Thorn,  Jr.,  three  sons.  3.  Patience,  born 
March  17,  1832,  died  March  7,  1902;  mar- 
ried, June  20,  1855,  Charles  W.  Marselius ; 
children:  i.  Willard  Charles,  M.D.,  died  De- 
cember 24,  1893,  married  Gertrude  Wheeler; 
ii.  Sarah,  married  (first)  Dr.  Frank  O.  Cor- 
nell; (second)  Rev.  Enoch  Powell;  two  sons; 
iii.  Esther,  married  Franklin  Potter  Toll ;  two 
children  ;  iv.  Marcia,  died  May  13,  1901  ;  mar- 
ried George  H.  Brewster ;  two  sons.  4.  Mar- 
tin, born  May  6,  1834;  married,  February  i, 
i860,  Katherine  L.  I'otter ;  children:  i.  Kath- 
erine Potter;  ii.  Bradford  Martin,  died  March 
14,  1895;  iii.  Rollin  Garret,  died  young;  iv. 
Marcia  Moulton.  5.  Garrett,  born  August  28, 
1836,  died  February  24,  1864;  married,  De- 
cember 18,  1861,  Margaret  Kline;  child,  John 
Craig,  died  young.  Garrett  was  made  captain 
of  Company  A,  One  Hundred  and  I'ifteenth 
Regiment  New  York  Volunteers.  At  the  bat- 
tle of  Olustee,  Florida,  he  was  four  times  se- 
verely wounded,  but  refused  to  leave  the  field 
until  the  fight  was  ended  ;  his  men,  in  relays 


of  four,  carried  him  on  a  stretcher  through 
the  woods  and  swamps  a  distance  of  nineteen 
miles  to  Barbers ;  he  then  was  placed  in  an 
open  car,  crowded  with  suffering  men,  rode 
all  day  Sunday  and  until  after  midnight  on 
this  train,  which  at  times  was  drawn  by  mules. 
At  Jacksonville  he  was  placed  on  a  hospital 
boat  and  carried  to  Beaufort,  South  Carolina, 
where  he  died  shortly  after  his  arrival  and 
was  buried  there,  attended  to  his  grave  by 
many  of  the  wounded  members  of  his  regi- 
ment and  his  brethren  of  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity. Later  his  remains  were  brought  to  Ful- 
tonville.  New  York.  Post  Vander  Veer, 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  at  Fonda,  New 
York,  is  named  in  his  honor ;  at  the  time  of 
his  death  he  had  been  promoted  to  lieutenant- 
colonel  and  his  commission  was  even  then  in 
transit.  General  Seymour  caused  a  redoubt 
in  the  fortifications  at  Jacksonville  to  be 
named  \'ander  Veer  in  honor  of  his  memory, 
and  noticed  his  gallantry  in  general  orders. 
6.  Jane  Ann,  born  November  i,  1838,  died 
May  18,  1910;  married  (first)  Aaron  Lillen- 
back;  (second)  Charles  E.  Shires;  children 
of  first  marriage:  i.  Abraham  H.,  died  young; 
ii.  Albert  V.,  married  Ella  A.  Mosher ;  eight 
children ;  iii.  Garret  V.,  married  Adele  L. 
Whitaker ;  iv.  Mary  L.,  died  young ;  v.  Lucy 
Kate;  vi.  Martin  Aaron,  died  young.  7.  Al- 
bert, see  forward.  8.  Putnam  Enders,  died 
young.  9.  Sarah  E.  F.,  died  young.  10.  Wil- 
liam Putnam  Enders,  born  March  i,  1851. 

(VH)  Albert,  seventh  child  and  third  son 
of  Abraham  Harris  and  Sarah  (Martin)  Van- 
der Veer,  was  born  in  Root,  Montgomery 
county.  New  York,  July  10,  1841.  His  early 
education  was  acquired  in  the  public  schools 
of  Canajoharie,  Union  Free  School,  Palatine, 
and  in  Canajoharie  Academy.  At  the  age  of 
eighteen  and  nineteen  he  studied  medicine  un- 
der the  direction  of  Dr.  Simeon  Snow  (see 
forward),  of  Currytown,  New  York,  and  later 
was  a  student  under  Dr.  John  Swinburne,  a 
physician  and  surgeon  of  renown  in  Albany, 
afterward  attaining  a  national  reputation.  In 
1861  he  attended  a  full  course  of  lectures  at 
Albany  Medical  College,  and  in  1862  a  second 
course  at  the  National  Medical  College,  medi- 
cal department,  Columbian  University,  now 
the  George  Washington  University,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  December  23.  1862. 
In  May,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  Unitecl  States 
Medical  Corps,  one  of  the  original  '"One  Hun- 
dred Medical  Cadets"  called  to  service  by  the 
surgeon-general  of  the  United  States  army, 
they  having  studied  medicine  two  years  and 
attended  one  full  course  of  lectures  and  pass- 
ing a  satisfactory  examination,  to  act  as  in- 
ternes in   the   military   hospitals.     After   tak- 


f 


^^-/^/S^i^^t^^, 


cc.^^^ 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


247 


ing  the  examination  he  was  assigned  to  Co- 
Jumbia  College  Hospital,  and  was  soon  in- 
formed by  Dr.  Crosby,  surgeon-in-charge,  that 
if  they  (he  and  two  or  three  other  cadets) 
would  arise  early  and  attend  to  all  their  dress- 
ings they  could  have  from  2  to  8  in  which 
to  attend  lectures,  graduate,  and  get  their  di- 
plomas. •  After  passing  a  New  York  state  ex- 
amination he  was  commissioned  in  December, 
1862,  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Sixty-sixth  Reg- 
iment New  York  \'olunteers,  and  ordered  to 
join  his  regiment  at  Falmouth,  Virginia.  Soon 
after  he  was  detailed  as  assistant  to  one  of 
the  chief  operators  at  brigade  hospital.  Third 
Brigade,  First  Division,  Second  Army  Corps, 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  In  June,  1864,  on  the 
recommendation  of  every  officer  in  the  regi- 
ment, he  was  appointed  by  Surgeon-General 
Ouackenbush  and  Governor  Seymour,  of  New 
York,  surgeon  in  charge  of  the  regiment,  with 
the  rank  of  major.  Soon  after  he  was  ap- 
-pointed  one  of  the  surgeons  of  the  First  Di- 
vision hospital.  Second  Army  Corps,  and 
placed  in  charge  of  an  operating  table.  Here 
he  gained  his  first  actual  experience  in  opera- 
tive surgery  that  was  henceforth  to  be  his 
specialty.  He  was  with  his  regiment  in  all 
their  battles  after  the  first  Fredericksburg  ex- 
cept Ream's  Station,  when  ill,  up  to  the  sur- 
render at  Appomattox.  At  that  historic  event 
he  had  the  pleasure  of  witnessing  the  meeting 
between  General  Grant  and  General  Lee.  He 
nvas  mustered  out  of  the  service  in  September, 
1865. 

After  attending  a  full  course  of  lectures  at 
the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of 
New  York,  he  returned  to  Albany,  New  York, 
in  Alay,  1866,  and  entered  upon  the  practice 
■of  his  profession,  where,  after  forty-three 
years  of  successful  practice,  he  is  now  (1909) 
still  to  be  found,  full  of  years  and  professional 
(honors,  associated  with  his  two  sons,  who  are 
also  able  practitioners.  His  life  has  been  one 
of  great  activity  as  a  professional  man  and 
as  a  citizen.  He  is  honored  at  home  and 
abroad  for  his  knowledge  and  experience  in 
medicine  and  surgery,  his  services  to  the  cause 
of  education,  and  his  high  character  as  a  man. 
Skillful  and  useful  as  he  is  in  private  practice, 
■hospital  and  consultation,  his  literary  and  plat- 
form ability  has  enabled  him  to  convey  to 
his  brethren  of  the  profession  in  a  series  of 
addresses  and  printed  articles  his  experiences, 
theories  and  conclusions,  thereby  increasing  a 
thousand  fold  his  usefulness.  To  recite  his 
membership  would  be  to  call  the  roll  of  the 
leading  medical  and  surgical  societies  of  the 
world.  He  has  served  as  member  and  presi- 
dent of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society, 
the  Medical  Society  of  the  State  of  New  York, 


the  American  Association  of  Obstetricians 
and  Gynecologists,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
American  Medical  Association.  He  was  a  del- 
egate to  the  International  Medical  Congress, 
held  at  Copenhagen  in  1884,  and  was  elected 
honorary  president  of  the  Fifteenth  Interna-  ' 
tional  Medical  Congress  held  at  Lisbon,  Por- 
tugal, in  1906,  having  been  appointed  one  of 
the  commissioners  from  the  United  States 
government.  In  July,  1905,  he  was  elected 
president  of  the  American  Surgical  Associa- 
tion, an  honor  that  comes  to  few  men,  having 
been  a  fellow  since  1882,  a  member  of  the 
nominating  committee,  of  the  council,  and 
twice  president.  In  1909  he  was  appointed 
by  the  United  States  government  delegate  to 
the  International  Medical  Congress  meeting 
at  Budapest,  Austria,  but  was  unable  to  attend 
owing  to  the  illness  of  his  wife.  He  is  the 
author  of  "Cleft  Palate  and  Hair  Lip" ; 
Wood's  "Reference  Hand  Book  of  Medical 
Science" ;  "History  of  General  Surgery"  in 
"Encyclopedia  Americana":  "Injuries  and  Dis- 
eases of  Abdomen"  in  "International  Ency- 
clopedia of  Surgery,"  and  numerous  articles 
in  the  leading  medical  journals  at  home  and 
abroad,  that  show  how  full  and  complete  is 
his  mastery  of  whatever  subject  he  discusses. 
In  1867  he  was  attending  surgeon  to  the  Al- 
bany Hospital  Dispensary  as  assistant  to  Dr. 
Alden  March;  1869,  attending  surgeon  (with 
exception  1874-75,  while  abroad  studying)  un- 
til 1904,  when  appointed  surgeon-in-chief ; 
1873  to  1903,  attending  surgeon  St.  Peter's 
Hospital ;  1898  to  date,  attending  surgeon 
South  End  Dispensary ;  consulting  surgeon 
New  York  State  Hospital  for  Crippled  and 
Ruptured  Children,  West  Haverstraw,  New 
York ;  consulting  surgeon  Benedictine  Hos- 
pital, Kingston,  New  York ;  consulting  sur- 
geon Champlain  Valley  Hospital,  Plattsburg, 
New  York.  He  has  always  manifested  the 
deepest  interest  in  the  Albany  Medical  Col- 
lege, where  he  listened  to  his  first  course  of 
medical  lectures.  He  has  filled  the  following 
important  chairs  in  that  institution :  1869-74, 
chair  of  general  and  special  anatomy ;  1875- 
82,  chair  of  didactic,  abdominal  and  clinical 
surgery :  1882  to  date,  chair  of  surgery :  dean 
from  1896  to  1904.  Dr.  \'ander  \'eer  ap- 
plied in  Albany  the  first  plaster  paris  jacket 
for  curvature  of  the  spine :  performed  the  first 
Bigelow's  operation  for  litholapaxy  :  first  Ker- 
ncxrhan's  operation  for  removal  of  infra  orbi- 
tal nerve  and  Meckel's  ganglia,  reporting  a 
number  of  cases.  He  has  always  led  in  the  use 
and  introduction  of  new  methods  and  opera- 
tions, if  they  possessed  value.  Always  pro- 
gressive, now  nearing  his  fiftieth  year  in  med- 
icine,  his   services  as   a   consulting  physician 


248 


HUDSON  AND   MOHAWK  WALLEYS 


and  surgeon  are  in  constant  demand  and  glad- 
ly given. 

Outside  his  profession,  the  career  of  Dr. 
Vander  Veer  has  been  a  busy  and  interesting 
one.  In  1895  he  was  elected  a  regent  of  the 
University  of  the  State  of  New  York,  serving 
faithfully  for  six  years ;  then  by  act  of  legis- 
lature the  board  was  changed,  he  drawing  the 
shortest  period  of  one  year ;  re-elected  a  third 
time  for  a  full  term,  the  first  regent  to  be 
elected  three  times  by  the  legislature.  He 
was  a  trustee  of  the  National  Savings  Bank 
many  years:  resigning  January  i,  1910:  trus- 
tee of  Albany  Cemetery  Association,  and  pres- 
ident of  the  Holland  Society  of  New  York. 
While  vice-president  of  the  latter  society  he, 
with  other  members  of  Albany,  entertained  the 
officers  of  the  "Van  Speyk"  when  visiting 
this  country,  receiving  from  the  Queen  of  Hol- 
land as  an  appreciation  the  order  and  decora- 
tion of  Oranje  Nassau.  He  is  a  life  member 
of  the  New  York  Historical  Society.  Through 
his  own  military  service  as  an  officer  in  the 
civil  war  he  is  a  companion  of  the  Military 
Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion  and  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic.  He  is  a  member  of  Philip 
Livingston  Chapter,  Sons  of  the  Revolution, 
the  Albany  Institute  and  Historical  and  Art 
Society,  and  of  Albany  social  clubs — Fort  Or- 
ange and  University.  In  his  nearly  fifty  years 
of  professional  life  Dr.  Vander  Veer  has  re- 
ceived many  evidences  of  the  esteem  in  which 
he  is  held  by  his  fellows.  Albany  Medical 
College  conferred  an  honorary  degree  of 
M.D. ;  Williams  and  Hamilton  College  that  of 
A.M.  (1882);  Union  College  (now  Univer- 
sity) Ph.D.  (1883)  ;  Columbian  University 
(now  George  Washington  University,  Wash- 
ington, D.C. )  in  1904  conferred  LL.D.,  while 
honorary  memberships  in  societies  abroad  and 
at  iiome  have  been  freely  bestowed.  In  many 
of  these  he  has  been  active  and  served  as 
president.  In  Albany,  where  he  has  lived  so 
long,  he  has  ever  taken  an  earnest  interest  in 
all  that  pertains  to  the  public  good :  served 
for  many  years  on  the  city  board  of  health 
and  was  president  of  the  board  of  special 
water  commissioners.  He  is  a  Republican  in 
politics.  For  more  than  forty  years  he  has 
been  a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  and  is  now  an  elder. 

He  married,  June  5,  1867,  Margaret  E., 
daughter  of  his  friend  and  preceptor.  Dr. 
Simeon  Snow  (see  forward).  Children,  all 
born  in  Albany.  New  York ;  Charles  Anson, 
March  30,  1868,  died  December  30,  1883 ; 
Margaret  Snow.  December  29,  1869,  died  May 
13.  1873 ;  Edgar  Albert,  James  Newell,  and 
Albert  Jr.,  of  whom  further;  Garrett,  born 
May  3,  1885,  died  Augu.st  27,  1900. 


(VIII)  Edgar  Albert,  son  of  Dr.  Albert 
and  Margaret  E.  (Snow)  \'ander  \'eer,  was 
born  September  29,  1873.  He  was  educated 
at  the  Albany  Academy ;  studied  one  year  at 
Union  College ;  then  entered  Yale  University, 
where  he  was  graduated  with  the  class  of 
1895,  receiving  the  degree  of  Ph.B.  He  stu- 
died medicine  with  his  father  and  entered  the 
Albany  Medical  College,  graduating  in  class 
of  1898  as  M.D.  He  was  assistant  surgeon. 
United  States  army,  stationed  at  Fort  Mc- 
Pherson,  Georgia,  during  the  Spanish-Ameri- 
can war.  After  a  year  spent  abroad  he  began 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Albany  in  as- 
sociation with  his  father.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society,  Medi- 
cal Society  State  of  New  York,  and  the  Amer- 
ican Medical  Association.  He  is  attending 
surgeon  in  the  Albany  Hospital ;  has  practiced 
clinical  surgery  in  the  Albany  IMedical  Col- 
lege, and  has  a  large  private  practice.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Loyal  Legion :  the  Holland 
Society  of  New  York ;  the  Society  of  Colo- 
nial W'ars,  gaining  admission  to  the  latter 
through  the  original  certificate  issued  to  Cap- 
tain Roelof  Martense  Schenck  (in  New  York 
State  archives),  said  to  have  been  the  first 
military  commission  issued  in  Flatbush,  Long 
Island ;  Philip  Livingston  Chapter,  Sons  of 
the  Revolution,  and  Society  of  Mayflower  De- 
scendants. He  married,  June  5,  1900,  Harriett, 
twin  daughter  of  Benjamin  W.  Wooster  and 
his  second  wife,  Catherine  M.  (Wright) 
Wooster;  children:  Grace,  born  May  11. 
1901  ;  Albert,  August  10,  1902;  Edgar  Albert 
Jr.,  June   15,    1906. 

(VIII)  James  Newell,  son  of  Dr.  .Albert 
and  Margaret  E.  (Snow)  Vander  \'eer,  was 
born  December  12.  1877.  He  is  a  graduate 
of  the  Albany  Academy ;  of  LTnion  Univer- 
sity, A.B.,  class  of  1899;  of  .Albany  ^ledical 
College,  i\l.D.,  1903;  Union,  conferred  in 
course,  1903,  the  degree  of  A.M.  He  began 
the  practice  of  medicine  in  Albany  in  as- 
sociation with  his  father  and  is  in  active  prac- 
tice. He  is  lecturer  on  surgical  technic,  and 
instructor  in  genito-urinary  surgery.  Albany 
Medical  College.  He  is  chief  of  surgical  staff 
of  the  Albany  Hospital,  attending  surgeon  at 
the  .South  End  Dispensary  and  Home  of  the 
Friendless,  and  consrlting  surgeon  of  The 
House  of  the  Good  Shepherd.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  American  Medical  .Association,  Al- 
bany County  Medical  Society,  Medical  Socie- 
ty ot  State  of  New  York,  .American  Acad- 
emy of  Medical  Science,  and  a  life  member 
of  the  Anglo-American  Medical  .Association 
of  Berlin.  Germanv.  In  1904  and  again  in 
1905-06,  Dr.  Vander  Veer  was  abroad,  doing 
post-graduate  work  in   Germany  and  France. 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK    VALLEYS 


249^ 


He  is  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Tenth  Regi- 
ment, New  York  National  Guard,  Medical 
Corps,  with  rank  of  lieutenant.  He  was  ma- 
jor of  the  cadet  battalion  of  the  Albany  Acad- 
emy, 1894-95.  His  clubs  are  the  Clinical,  Uni- 
versity and  Fort  Orange  of  Albany,  and  the 
Alpha  Delta  Phi  Club  of  New  York.  Through 
maternal  ancestors  he  is  a  member  of  the  So- 
ciety of  Mayflower  Descendants,  and  Sons  of 
the  Revolution,  and  through  both  lines  he  en- 
ters the  Holland  Society  of  New  York.  His 
fraternities  are  Alpha  Delta  Phi  and  Nu  Sig- 
na  Nu.  He  married.  December  3,  1908.  Ada, 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Cornelia  (Quadland) 
Holt :  has  one  son,  Adrian  Holt,  born  No- 
vember 4,    1909. 

(\'in)  Albert,  son  of  Dr.  Albert  and  Mar- 
garet E.  (Snow)  Vander  \'eer,  was  born  No- 
vember 28,  1879.  He  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Albany  Academy,  and  Yale  University,  A.B., 
class  of  1900.  He  passed  1  year  in  the  study 
of  medicine  at  Albany  Medical  (College,  then 
entered  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Sur- 
geons of  New  York,  where  lie  was  graduated 
M.D.,  class  of  1904.  He  is  in  active  practice 
in  New  York  City ;  visiting  physician,  of  Red 
Cross  Hospital :  assistant  attending  physician 
at  Hospital  for  the  Ruptured  and  Crippled ; 
assistant  physician  of  New  York  Dispensary ; 
assistant  physician  of  out-patient  department 
of  St.  Luke's  Hospital ;  clinical  assistant  of 
Vanderbilt  Clinic :  member  of  Alumni  .Asso- 
ciation of  Sloane  Maternity  and  of  Roosevelt 
hospitals :  founder  of  the  LTniversity  Club,  Al- 
bany ;  member  of  Yale  Club  of  New  York, 
Holland  Society  of  New  York,  Albany  So- 
ciety of  New-  York,  Quiz  Club.  Omega  Club, 
Alpha  Delta  Phi.  and  the  City,  State  "and  Na- 
tional Medical  associations.  He  is  unmar- 
ried. 

(The  Snow   Line). 

This  is  an  ancient  New  England  family,  to 
be  found  from  the  earliest  days  figuring  prom- 
inently in  the  annals  of  Massachusetts.  The 
American  ancestor  and  first  emigrant.  \'\'illiam 
Snow,  born  in  England.  1624,  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1637,  settled  at  Duxbury,  Massachusetts, 
afterward  was  of  Bridgewater,  Massachusetts. 
He  married  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Peter 
Brown,  who  came  in  the  "Mayflower." 

(H)  William  (2).  son  of  \Villiam  (i)  and 
Rebecca  (Brown)  Snow,  was  born  in  Bridge- 
water,  Massachusetts,  where  he  married, 
reared  a  family  and  died ;  his  wife  was 
Naomi  Whitman. 

(HI)  Eleazer,  son  of  William  (2)  and  Na- 
omi (\\'hitman)  Snow,  was  also  of  Bridge- 
water.  Massachusettes.  He  married,  in  1728, 
Mercy  King. 

(IV)    Reuben,  son  of  Eleazer  and  Mercy 


(King)  Snow,  was  born  in  Bridgewater.  Mas- 
sachusetts, but  removed  to  Easton,  Massachu- 
setts. He  married  Hannah  Willis,  a  descend- 
ant in  the  sixth  generation  from  Isaac  Aller- 
ton,  a  "Mayflower"  passenger,  and  the  fifth 
signer  of  the  "Compact." 

(V)  Simeon,  son  of  Reuben  and  Hannah 
(Willis)  Snow,  was  a  merchant  of  Boston  in 
1812,  afterward  a  manufacturer  of  nails  and 
hardware.     He  married  Polly  Phillips. 

(VI)  Dr.  Simeon  (2),  .son  of  Simeon  (i) 
and  Polly  (Phillips)  Snow,  was  born  in  Mans- 
field, Massachusetts,  February  17,  1803,  died 
in  Currytown,  Montgomery  county.  New 
York,  September  20,  1865.  His  early  life  was 
spent  on  the  farm.  He  received  a  thorough 
academic  education,  becoming  unusually  pro- 
ficient in  Latin  and  developing  great  interest 
and  understanding  of  chemistry.  He  entered 
the  medical  school  of  William  College,  grad- 
uating in  1828.  He  settled  in  the  town  of 
Root,  Montgomery  county,  New  York,  in  the 
village  of  Currytown,  where  he  had  a  large 
and  successful  practice.  He  was  skilled  in  his 
profession,  and  his  services  were  greatly 
sought  after.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics 
and  represented  Montgomery  county  in  the 
state  senate,  1852-53.  He  married  Margaret 
Dievendorf,  born  in  Currytown,  January  10, 
i8ri,  died  in  Albany,  New  York,  April  19, 
1884,  daughter  of  Jacob  Dievendorf,  a  pioneer 
settler  of  the  county,  who  had  the  unusual  ex- 
perience not  only  of  being  scalped  by  the  In- 
dians but  of  surviving  the  operation  a^d  living 
to  the  age  of  eighty-four  (see  Simm's  "Bor- 
der Wars,"  and  "History  of  Montgomery  and 
Fulton  Counties").  Children:  Jacob  Dieven- 
dorf. married  Margaret  Failing:  Elizabeth, 
married  Seth  Ramsey.  M.D. :  Xorman  Leslie, 
married  Elizabeth  Smith :  William  Russell, 
died  in  childhood ;  Horatio  Nelson,  unmar- 
ried :  Charles  Sidney,  married  Janet  Lipe ; 
Margaret,  see  forward;  George  Anson,  mar- 
ried Fanny  Dievendorf. 

(\TI)  iMargaret.  daughter  of  Dr.  Simeon 
(2)  and  Margaret  (Dievendorf)  Snow,  was 
born  in  Currytown,  Montgomery  county.  New 
York.  September  20,  1845.  She  married.  June 
5,  1867,  Dr.  Albert  \ander  Veer  (see  \'ander 
\'eer  \Tr).  The  young  couple  began  life  to- 
gether in  Albany,  where  for  nearly  half  a 
century  they  have  lived.  She  is  a  memljer  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  as  are  her  hus- 
band and  three  surviving  sons,  (1909),  all 
physicians  of  high  repute.  She  is  a  member 
of  the  Society  of  Mayflower  Descendants, 
Daughters  of  the  Revolution,  the  social  and 
other  organizations  of  the  city.  The  children 
of  Dr.  Albert  and  Margaret  (Snow)  \'ander 
Veer    thus    trace    through    seven    generations 


250 


HUDSON  AND  AIOHAWK  \'ALLEYS 


(they  being  the  eighth)  direct  to  a  Hollander 
and  an  Englishman,  collaterally  to  a  French- 
man. But,  as  the  military  record  of  the  Van- 
der  Veers  show,  the  commingling  of  blood  has 
produced  patriotic  Americans. 


(IV)  Garret,  third  son 
VAN  DERVEER  of  Tunis  (q.  v.),  and 
Aeltje  (Schenck)  Van- 
der  \'eer,  was  born  in  Monmouth  county.  New 
Jersey,  December  14,  1731,  died  there  Janu- 
ary 31,  1803.  He  married,  April  20,  1756, 
Jane,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Sarah  (Schenck) 
\'oorhees,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children. 
(In  this  line  the  family  follows  the  \'an  Der- 
veer  form  of  the  family  name). 

(V)  John,  third  child  and  second  son  of 
Garret  and  Jane  (Voorhees)  Van  Derveer, 
was  born  in  Monmouth  county,  New  Jersey, 
April  4,  1765,  died  May  8,  1839,  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  New  York.  While  yet  a 
young  man  he  came  with  one  of  his  brothers 
to  Montgomery  county,  where  he  proposed 
to  make  his  home,  and  to  that  end  bought 
property  in  what  was  then  the  town  of  Flor- 
ida, and  is  now  just  outside  of  the  fifth  ward 
of  the  city  of  Amsterdam.  Here  he  remained 
a  short  time,  and  therl  returned  to  New  Jer- 
sey in  order  to  marry  the  sweetheart  whom 
he  had  left  behind  him,  and  whom  he  brought 
at  once  to  the  new  home  he  had  made  for 
her.  For  the  remainder  of  his  life  he  lived 
on  his  farm  in  Montgomery  county,  New 
York,  where  he  was  fairly  prosperous,  became 
a  man  of  some  influence,  and  was  highly  es- 
teemed and  respected  by  the  community  in 
which  he  lived.  He  married,  April  7,  1791, 
Catharine,  born  November  5,  1771,  died  Jan- 
uary 26,  1850,  daughter  of  Cornelius  R.  and 
Jane  (Denise)  Conover,  of  Monmouth  county, 
New  Jersey,  granddaughter  of  Roeloff  and 
Sarah  (Voorhies)  Cowenhoven,  great-grand- 
daughter of  Cornelis  Willemse  and  Margrietje 
Roelofse  (Schenck)  van  Couwenhoven,  great- 
great-granddaughter  of  Willem  Gerritse  and 
Jannetje  Pieterse  (Monfoort)  Couwenhoven, 
great-great-great-granddaughter  of  Ger- 
ret  Wolfertse  van  Couwenhoven  and 
Aeltje,  daughter  of  Cornelis  Lambertse  Cool, 
and  great-great-great-great-granddaughter  of 
Wolfert  Gerretse  and  Neeltje  van  Couwen- 
hoven, the  emigrants  from  Amersfoort  to 
Rensselaerwyck,  where  as  early  as  1630 
he  was  superintendent  of  farms.  Cor- 
nelius R.  Conover  died  at  an  advanced 
age  in  New  Jersey,  and  his  widow, 
who  survived  him,  then  came  to  Montgomery 
county.  New  York,  to  the  home  of  her  daugh- 
ter and  son-in-law,  and  died  there.  Children 
of  John  and  Catharine   (Conover)   Van  Der- 


veer: I.  Jane,  born  February  24,  1792,  died 
April,  1876;  married  (first)  Joseph  Stanton; 
(second)  John  Sherburn;  both  now  deceased. 
2.  Cornelius,  born  April  20,  1794,  died  May 
13,  1843 ;  accidentally  killed  on  the  outskirts 
of  Amsterdam  while  blasting  stone ;  married 
(first)  Maria  H.  Phillips;  (second)  Sarah 
Shuler ;  both  now  deceased.  3.  Sarah  (Sal- 
lie),  born  April  4,  1796,  died  April  20,  1864; 
married  (first)  George  Serviss ;  (second) 
James  Greenman  ;  both  now  deceased.  4.  Gar- 
ret, referred  to  below.  5.  Tunis  G.,  born 
April  7,  1800,  died  August  21,  1871.  6. 
John  Jr.,  born  June  16,  1807,  died  January 
25,  1889;  married  (first)  Mary  Conover,  of 
New  Jersey;  (second)  Elizabeth  Serviss,  both 
now  deceased.  7.  Catharine  J.  A.,  born  Octo- 
ber 4,  1809,  died  March  23,  1890;  married 
Peter  I.  Enders,  who  died  leaving  two  chil- 
dren, Jacob  and  Kate,  both  now  deceased.  8. 
Henry,  born  November  12,  18 12,  died  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1837:  married  Martha  A.  Conover; 
had  one  child,  born  April  8,   1835,  died  July 

5.  1837- 

(VI)  Garret,  fourth  child  and  second  son 
of  John  and  Catharine  (Conover)  \'an  Der- 
veer, was  born  February  I,  1798,  died  May 
25,  1885.  He  married.  May  13,  1824,  Mary 
Young,  born  July  30,  1799,  died  February  28, 
1859.  Children:  i.  Peter  Young,  born  June 
21,  1825,  died  June  4,  1887;  married,  Sep- 
tember 5,  1850,  Rachel  \'ander  Veer,  born 
October  i,  1828,  died  April  30,  1885.  2. 
Catharine,  born  November  28,  1826;  unmar- 
ried, resides  in  Florida.  3.  Sarah  A.,  bom 
November  28,  1828,  died  December  8,  1903; 
married  R.  Taylor  Johnson  March  19,  1846; 
he  died  1901.  4.  Jane,  born  January  31,  1831 ; 
married  Reuben  Munson  Hartley,  born  March 
10,  1858:  three  children.  5.  John  J.,  born 
June  2,  1833,  residing  in  Amsterdam.  6.  Tu- 
nis, born  October  31,  1835;  lives  with  brother 
George,  unmarried.  7.  William  Spencer,  born 
October  8,  1837:  married,  September  15,  1863, 
S.  Augusta  Parks ;  children  :  Mary  E.,  Kath- 
arine, Jay  Howard  and  G.  Herbert.  8. 
George,  referred  to  below.  9.  Henry,  born 
April  II,  1842,  died  September  17,  1842. 

(VII)  George,  fifth  son  of  Garret  and  Mary 
(Young)  Van  Derveer,  was  born  March  28, 
1840.  While  his  opportunities  for  an  educa- 
tion were  confined  more  or  less  to  the  public 
schools,  he  always  carried  off  the  laurels  for 
his  effort  in  public  speaking,  music  and  pen- 
manship, and  to  these  early  characteristics  he 
owes  much  of  the  pleasure  and  his  identity  in 
life,  as  he  was  in  constant  demand  for  many 
years  as  a  public  lecturer  and  organizer  of 
Patrons  of  Husbandry  organizations  through- 
out the  state.     He  organized   the  state  and 


MoA 


Wcro^->^ 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


251 


comity  grange  and  has  been  a  working  mem- 
ber for  fifteen  years,  being  at  present  (1910) 
secretary  of  the  local  grange,  and  still  keenly 
interested  in  the  principle  of  that  movement. 
During  the  civil  war,  when  a  young  man,  he 
organized  the  first  musical  band  in  this  part 
of  the  state,  and  its  first  public  performance 
was  to  play  a  funeral  dirge  at  the  burial  of 
the  first  two  soldiers  to  be  killed  out  of  the 
regiment  that  was  made  up  at  Amsterdam, 
they  being  killed  at  the  battle  of  Harper's 
Ferry.  As  a  musician  he  has  given  many  per- 
formances, but  of  late  years  has  given  less  at- 
tention to  it.  He  devotes  his  time  and  atten- 
tion to  his  farm  and  the  breeding  of  high 
grade  registered  stock,  as  well  as  pet  stock  and 
poultry,  being  the  first  to  introduce  the  fa- 
mous Rhode  Island  Red  (fowls)  into  this  sec- 
tion. He  has  in  his  possession  hundreds  of 
premiums,  largely  first,  taken  for  his  exhibits 
at  the  public  fairs  and  exhibitions,  which  now 
decorate  his  home.  His  speeches  at  various 
public  places,  discussing  subjects  of  local  and 
general  importance,  won  for  him  a  wide  repu- 
tation as  an  orator  and  he  was  engaged  for 
one  year  on  the  New  England  Lyceum  Lec- 
ture Course.  He  is  also  an  author  of  note, 
having  written  considerable  poetry,  much  of 
which  found  favor  with  the  newspapers  and 
magazines  in  which  they  appeared  from  time 
to  time.  His  retentive  memory  enables  him 
to  call  up  and  repeat  every  little  ditty  and 
poem,  both  long  and  short,  that  he  ever 
learned  from  the  time  of  his  childhood,  this 
being  an  accomplishment  of  which  any  one 
might  be  proud.  He  is  serving  as  district 
deputy  of  the  State  Grange,  is  a  member  of 
the  National,  State  and  County  Breeders' 
Club,  to  the  advancement  and  success  of  which 
he  has  contributed  largely,  and  a  life  member 
of  the  State  and  County  Agricultural  Society. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  but  has  never 
sought  or  held  public  office.  Mr.  \'an  Der- 
veer  married,  October  18,  1876,  Belle  Mc- 
Cann.  They  were  the  parents  of  one  child, 
George  Jr.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine,  yet 
at  that  early  age  he  had  attracted  more  than 
local  attention  for  his  aptitude  in  speaking 
and  giving  little  musical  performances,  in 
which  he  had  been  carefully  trained  by  his 
mother,  a  woman  of  strong  musical  traits. 


The  family  name  of 
VAN  DER  rOEL     \'an   der    Poel   is   the 

D  u  tc  h  significance 
for  "from  the  lake,"  or  marsh,  and  when  the 
name  was  first  applied  undoubtedly  this  family 
dwelt  beside  a  small  body  of  water,  dammed  or 
hemmed  in  by  natural  or  artificial  means,  and 
thus    at   a   time   when   Christian   names   only 


were  in  common  use  it  designated  which  one 
of  several  bearing  the  same  given  name  was 
meant.  The  family  lived  originally  in  Go- 
richem  (Groningen?)  on  the  Rhine,  but  dis- 
persed about  the  year  1600,  the  branch  which 
then  went  to  Amsterdam,  Holland,  coming  to 
America  not  long  afterwards,  from  whom 
those  of  the  name  living  here  are  descended. 
The  branch  originated  in  America  by  Ten- 
nis (Anthony)  Cornelis  Van  der  Poel  (alias 
Spitsbergen),  who  had  a  short  existence,  for 
he  left  no  male  descendants  so  far  as  is  known 
at  this  day.  He  was  in  Revcrwyck  from  1660 
to  1687;  married  Catrina,  daughter  of  Jo- 
hannes Croon;  was  a  magistrate  in  1671,  and 
owned  one-half  of  Constapel's  Island  in  the 
Hudson  river  opposite  Paerde  Hoeck.  When 
he  died,  about  1687  (his  will  was  made  June 
17,  1687),  he  left  a  widow  and  three  daugh- 
ters, Elizabeth,  Maria  and  Johanna.  At  this 
time  he  was  still  the  owner  of  a  house  in  .\m- 
sterdam. 

There  is  evidence  of  two  others  of  the 
name  having  been  early  in  this  country.  Ja- 
cobus (James)  Van  der  Poel  married  Mar- 
garet Jans  in  New  York,  July  25,  1693,  ^^'^ 
Gerrit  \'an  der  Poel,  a  widower,  married  De- 
bora  Warren,  February   12,   1697. 

(H)  This  line  of  descent  originated  with 
Wynant  Gerritse  \'an  der  Poel.  son  of  Ger- 
rit Van  der  Poel,  who  was  probably  born  in 
Holland  and  was  in  Albany  as  early  as  1657. 
He  resided  there  until  about  1694.  He  pur- 
chased a  half  interest  in  a  saw-mill  located  on 
the  eastern  bank  of  the  Hudson  river  on  what 
came  to  be  known  for  the  next  two  centuries 
and  more  as  the  Wynants  Kill.  He  bought  it 
in  1674  from  Geertruy  Pieterse  Vosburgh, 
widow  of  Abraham  Vosburgh.  His  last  will, 
made  in  1695,  shows  that  he  had  removed 
from  Albany,  as  it  was  indorsed  "The  Will 
of  Wynant  Gerritse  Van  der  Poel,  late  of  Al- 
bany, now  of  New  York."  It  was  dated  Feb- 
ruary 29,  1695,  and  was  probated  April  17, 
1702.  so  the  date  of  his  death  must  have  been 
in  the  interim.  For  some  reason  he  be- 
queathed only  six  shillings  to  his  son,  Mel- 
gert,  and  gave  the  residue  of  his  estate  to  his 
son-in-law,  William  G.  Van  den  Bergh.  It  is 
very  possible  that  he  provided  in  the  usual 
way  for  his  children  during  his  life,  and  in 
old  age  resided  with  his  daughter,  Catryn,  who 
married  \'an  den  Bergh.  Wynant  Gerritse 
Van  der  Poel  married  Tryntje  Melgers.  Chil- 
dren :  Cornelia,  married  Cornelis  Gysbertse 
Van  den  Bergh  before  1685  ;  Melgert  Wyn- 
antse,  see  forward ;  Gerrit,  married  Catrina 
\'an  Zandt ;  Catryn,  married  William  G.  \'an 
den  Bergh,  before  1685;  Margariet,  married 
Johannes  \'an  Zandt,  about   1683. 


252 


HUDSON  AND  .MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


(HI)  Melgert  Wynantse,  son  of  Wynant 
Gerritse  and  Tryntje  (Melgers)  Van  der 
Poel,  resided  in  Albany,  and  his  house,  as  also 
his  father's  fronted  on  the  Fort  on  State 
street,  in  1675,  probably  located  on  the  south 
side  of  that  main  street.  Not  infrequently  he 
wrote  his  name  Melchert,  for  so  it  appears 
on  some  of  the  records.  It  is  likely  that  he 
died  before  the  year  1700.  He  married  (first) 
Ariaantje,  daughter  of  Abraham  Isaacse  and 
Maria  (\'igne)  \'erplanck.  by  whom  he  had 
eight  children,  and  he  married  (second)  Eliz- 
abeth Teller,  by  whom  he  had  two  children. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  William  Sr..  and 
Margaret  (Donchesen)  Teller.  By  her  first 
husband,  as  shown  by  her  will,  made  Febru- 
ary 19,  1720,  she  had  several  children:  Mar- 
garet, married  ^'olckert  Douw :  Maria,  mar- 
ried John  Vinhagen ;  Magdalena,  married 
Abraham  Lansing,  and  Helena.  She  died  in 
that  year.  Children  of  Melgert  W.  \'an  der 
Poel :  Melgert,  see  forward  ;  Maria  ;  Trynke  ; 
Abraham,  married  Antje  Van  den  Bergh, 
January  3,  1713;  Wynant,  baptized  October 
14,  1683,  married  Catharina  De  Hoogen  (or 
De  Hooges),  August  17,  1706;  Gelyn,  bap- 
tized May  17.  1685;  Jacobus  (James),  born 
March  9,  1687;  Hendrick,  baptized  June  2, 
1689;  Wilhelm,  born  March  19,  1693;  Aria- 
antje, born  November  17,  1695. 

(IV)  Melgert,  son  of  Melgert  Wynantse 
and  Ariaantje  (\'erplanck)  \'an  der  Poel,  was 
baptized  in  Albany,  and  resided  in  Kinder- 
hook,  New  York,  until  his  marriage,  when  he 
removed  to  Poelsburgh.  where  he  died.  He 
married,  May  17,  1696,  Catharina,  daughter 
of  Lourens  (Laurence)  and  Elbertje  (Evert- 
se)  Van  Alen.  She  inherited  a  large  estate 
from  her  father,  who  was  a  .son-in-law  of  de 
Bruyn,  to  whom  a  large  patent  of  land  on  the 
Hudson  river  had  been  granted.  Children. 
and  dates  of  baptism:  Elbertje,  February  3, 
1697,  married  Martin  \'an  Deusen,  Decem- 
ber 23,  1719;  Ariaantje,  September  3,  1699; 
Lourens,  January  26,  1701,  married.  October 
29.  1726,  .Ariaantje  \'an  den  Bergh;  .Maria, 
January  10,  1703.  married,  November  8,  1724, 
David  Groesbeck ;  Johannes,  see  forward ; 
Abraham,  February  9,  1707,  married,  October 
26,  1738,  Elizabeth  Quinlen  ;  Jacobus  (James), 
April  17,  1709,  married,  October  16,  1740, 
Neeltje  Huyck ;  Isaac,  October  14,  171 1,  mar- 
ried   .Anna   ;    Catryna,    December    16. 

1716. 

(V)  Johannes,  son  of  Melgert  and  Catha- 
rina (Van  Alen)  Van  der  Poel,  was  born  on 
his  father's  estate  in  Kinderhook,  New  York, 
March  4,  1705,  died  there  .April  11,  1777;  but 
was  interred  in  Poelsburgh.  It  is  thought 
that  he  was  a  widower  (having  married  on 


November  8,  1736.  but  to  whom  unknown) 
when  he  married  Annatje  (Nautje  or  .Annie),, 
daughter  of  Dr.  Samuel  and  Catharine  ( How- 
arden)  Staats.  This  marriage  took  place  ort 
]\Iay  5,  1743,  at  the  house  on  the  Flatts  (be- 
tween Albany  and  Troy)  of  IMadani  Schuy- 
ler, "The  American  Lady,"  whose  niece  and 
adopted  daughter  she  was.  His  wife  was  the 
granddaughter  of  Major  Abraham  Staats,  sur- 
geon, who  came  to  Rensselaerwyck  in  1642, 
with  Dominie  Megapolensis.  and  whose  wife 
was  Catrina  Jochemse  Wessels.  Major 
Staats  was  a  prominent  leader  during  Leis- 
ler's  administration  of  the  government,  and 
probably  left  New  York  to  settle  in  Poels- 
burgh soon  after  its  collapse.  Children: 
Isaac,  see  forward ;  Maria,  married,  Novem- 
ber 19,  1762,  Laurence  \'an  Dyck ;  Catherine, 
married  John  Pruyn,  October  27,  1767;  Eltje, 
baptized  April  22,  1750,  married  John  Van 
\'alkenbergh ;  Sarah,  married  (first)  John 
Van  Alstyne,  (second)  Colonel  Jacob  Scher- 
merhorn. 

(\'l)  Isaac,  son  of  Johannes  and  Annatje 
(Annie)  (Staats)  Van  der  Poel.  was  born  in 
Kinderhook,  December  8,  1747,  and  was  bap- 
tized in  Albany,  December  25,  1747,  with 
Philip  Schuyler  and  Geertruy  Lansing  as 
sponsors.  He  died  in  Chatham,  Columbia 
county.  New  York,  December  25.  1807.  He 
was  commissioned  adjutant  of  the  Seventh 
regiment  (Kinderhook  district),  October  20, 
1775,  and  was  removed  from  this  position  for 
disaffection  to  the  American  government.  He 
afterwards  joined  the  British  forces  and  com- 
manded a  company  of  refugees  on  Staten 
Island.  While  acting  in  this  capacity,  he  was 
taken  sick,  and  it  is  said  that  through  the  in- 
fluence of  his  mother  with  her  relative.  Cien- 
eral  Philip  Schuyler,  a  pass  through  the  .Amer- 
ican lines  was  secured  for  him.  She  brought 
him  to  her  home,  cared  for  him  tenderly  until 
his  complete  recovery,  and  then  returned  him 
to  his  company  on  Staten  Island.  His  estate 
was  confiscated  by  the  government,  and  he 
was  thus  rendered  almost  penniless.  He  was 
a  man  of  extraordinary  intellect,  and  of  a 
frank,  noble  and  generous  nature,  but  he 
never  enjoyed  a  day  of  peace  after  the  mis- 
taken step  he  took  in  the  revolution.  Fol- 
lowing his  marriage,  he  purchased  a  small 
farm  in  the  village  of  Chatham,  over  the  hill 
and  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Kinderhook 
lake,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
days  quietly. 

Isaac  Van  der  Poel  married  Moyca  ( Mayke, 
or  May),  daughter  "of  Jacobus  (James),  of 
Pompaonie,  and  Elizabeth  (Van  Dyck 
Huyck.  She  was  born  October  17,  1758, 
died      in      Stuyvesant,      New      York,      No- 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK    \'ALLEYS 


253 


member  20,  1827,  and  was  interred 
in  tlie  Kinderhook  cemetery.  Her  mother 
was  the  daughter  of  Arent  and  Heyltie  (Van 
Alen)  \an  Dyck,  who  had,  beside  Moyca, 
children  named  Arent  and  Burger.  Arent 
Van  Dyck,  the  maternal  grandfather  of  Isaac 
Van  der  I'oel,  was  one  of  His  Majesty's  jus- 
tices of  the  peace  for  the  colony.  He  was  a 
gentleman  of  education  and  talents,  and  the 
general  scribe  for  the  region  in  which  he 
lived.  He  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  Hen- 
drick  \'an  Dyck,  who  was  the  attorney-gen- 
eral of  the  Dutch  province  of  New  York,  and 
who  came  from  the  West  Indies  with  Gover- 
nor Stuyvesant.  He  and  Stuyvesant  were  two 
obstinate  Dutchmen,  and  seem  to  have  quar- 
reled all  the  way  from  the  West  Indies  to 
New  York.  Children :  Anne,  born  Januarv 
3,  1785,  died  September  5,  1787:  James,  see 
forward :  Anne,  July  30,  1789,  died  April  3, 
1793;  Elizabeth,  January  19.  1791,  married 
Lucas  J.  \'an  Alen,  January  16,  1815,  died 
August  23,  1833;  John,  .August  24,  1796,  mar- 
ried,   January    14,    1823,    Sarah    W.    Oakley, 

■died  October  27,  1851  ;  Aaron,  February  5, 
1799,  married  (first),  September  3,  1821, 
Harriet  Baldwin,  who  died  in  April,  1837; 
married  (second),  April  2,  1839,  Ellen  Mc- 
Bride. 

(\"II)  James,  son  of  Isaac  and  Moyca 
(Huyckl  Van  der  Poel,  was  born  in  Kinder- 
hook,  Columbia  county.  New  York,  January 
10,  1787,  died  in  Albany,  October  3,  1843. 
He  was  a  judge  and  most  highly  respected 
all   his  life   by  members   of  the  bar  and   ac- 

■  quaintances  generally.  For  many  years  pre- 
vious to  his  appointment  to  the  bench.  Judge 
Van  der  Poel  had  acquired  a  high  reputation 
at  the  bar  and  was  prominent  in  both  public 
and  professional  life  among  the  eminent  men 
of  his  ilay  in  Columbia  county.  As  a  circuit 
judge  of  the  third  judicial  district  of  the 
state,  he  was  distinguished  for  learning,  abil- 
ity and  promptitude,  for  rapid  and  clear- 
sighted views  of  the  law  and  the  facts,  as  he 
was  also  in  his  intercourse  with  his  fellow- 
citizens  for  all  manly  and  honorable  qualities. 
But  if  his  public  life  was  honorable  and  ele- 
vated, his  domestic  living  was  eminently 
beautiful.  He  was  truly  the  venerated  and 
beloved  center  of  a  family  circle  that  appre- 
ciated the  great  and  good  qualities  that  shed 
lustre  over  his  life  and  sustained  and  cheered 
the  long  period  of  his  illness.  To  all,  indeed, 
who  were  allied  to  him  by  the  ties  of  family 
or  kindred,  or  who  came  within  the  circle  of 
his  friendship,  he  was  an  object  of  the  highest 
respect  and  the  warmest  attachments.  Judge 
James  \'an  der  Poel  married,  April  19,  1808, 
Anna,   born   July    iq,    1782,    daughter    of   the 


Rev.  George  Jacob  Leonard  Doll ;  she  died  in 
Albany,  March  14,  1855.  Children:  Eliza- 
beth, jjorn  May  22,  1810,  married,  June  22, 
1841,  John  Van  Buren,  died  November  18, 
1844;  Susan  Christina,  February  16,  1812, 
married,  Septemlx-r  10,  1833.  William  Coop- 
er, died  March  30,  1841  ;  Sarah  Ann.  April  26, 
1816,  married,  December  2,  1835,  James  M. 
French,  died  November  30,  1857;  Alary,  June 
25.  1818,  died  .April  9,  1821  ;  Isaac,  see  for- 
ward; Harriet,  June  6,  1824,  married,  Septem- 
ber 10,  1844,  Joseph  Christopher  Yates 
Paige,  died  at  .Albany. 

(\'III)  Isaac  (2),  son  of  Judge  James  and 
Anna  (Doll)  Van  der  Poel,  was  born  fn  Kin- 
derhook, May  7,  1821,  died  at  his  home  in  Al- 
bany, No.  59  Eagle  street,  December  28,  1868. 
He  was  buried  in  the  .Albany  Rural  cemetery. 
He  received  a  classical  education  at  Williams 
College,  where  he  was  graduated  with  the 
very  highest  honors.  He  prepared  for  the 
profession  of  law  and  became  eminent  in  prac- 
tice. He  attained  high  public  position ;  was 
assistant  adjutant-general  under  Governor 
Horatio  .Seymour,  and  on  the  death  of  Adju- 
tant-General Temple,  succeeded  him  in  office, 
serving  on  the  governor's  staff.  In  1861-62 
he  was  in  charge  of  New  York  state  military 
supplies.  In  1867  he  was  corporation  coun- 
sel of  the  city  of  Albany.  He  was  an  elo- 
quent and  pleasing  speaker  and  popular  on 
the  lecture  platform  as  well  as  in  demand  as  a 
political  speaker.  He  was  an  ardent  Demo- 
crat, very  pronounced  in  his  views,  yet 
strongly  anti-slavery  and  a  strong  advocate  of 
the  preservation  of  the  Union.  He  was  a 
valued  contributor  to  the  columns  of  the  Army 
and  Xai-y  Gaccttc.  and  other  service  maga- 
zines, having  an  unusual  knowledge  of  mili- 
tary matters.  During  the  civil  war  he  served 
as  a  member  of  the  Albany  board  of  alder- 
men and  warmly  espoused  and  advocated  all 
patriotic  measures  adopted  by  the  city  for  the 
raising  and  care  of  troops.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Dutch  Reformed  church  and  liberal 
in  its  support.  He  always  retained  a  lively 
interest  in  his  college  fraternity,  Sigma  Phi. 
Isaac  Van  der  Poel  married.  ]\Iay  14,  1850, 
Susan  Foster,  born  at  Harrisburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania, June  30,  1832.  died  at  her  home.  No. 
453  State  street.  Alban\-.  October  11,  1907. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  .Adams  and  ]\Iary 
(Keith)  Foster.  She  was  one  of  the  most 
interested  of  those  concerned  in  the  movement 
inaugurated  by  Bishop  Doane  for  the  institu- 
tion of  the  Cathedral  of  .All  Saints.  To  all 
manner  of  church  work  she  was  devoted  so 
long  as  her  health  permitted,  teaching  in  the 
Cathedral's  Sunday  school  for  a  great  many 
years,  and  giving  very  largely  of  her  time  to 


254 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


the  promotion  of  the  charitable  works  of  that 
congregation.  Her  kindly  word  and  act  have 
brought  cheer  to  many  an  individual  in  suf- 
fering, worry  and  want,  and  no  one  in  the 
large  congregation  was  more  missed  when 
her  ministration  ceased.  Children :  Isaac, 
born  at  No.  5  Oak  street,  Albany,  June  8. 
1851,  married  in  I'.rooklyn.  New  York,  May 

21,  1896,  JMinnie  Buckmaster,  no  children"; 
Mary  Keith,  born  at  Albany,  November  26, 
1854,  married,  Albany,  December  21,  1875, 
Marcus  T.  Hun ;  James,  born  at  Albany,  Sep- 
tember 27,  1857,  residing  in  1910  at  No.  453 
State  street,  Albany;  Henrv  Adams,  born  at 
Albany,  October  28.  1861,  died  at  New  York, 
February  8,  1898,  married  Grace  McClure  Ol- 
cott :  child.  Henry  Adams  ;  Susan, '  see  for- 
ward. 

(IX)  Susan,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Susan 
(Foster)  \'an  der  Poel,  was  born  in  .\lbany. 
New  York,  August  12,  1866.  She  received  her 
education  at  St.  Agnes'  school  in  that  city 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Cathedral  of  All 
Saints.  She  married,  Albany,  June  3,  1903, 
Joseph  Pacificus  Ord.  Bishop  William  Cros- 
well  Doane  officiating,  and  they  reside  at  No. 
459  State  street,  Albany.  Child :  Susan  Van 
der  Poel  Ord.  born  in  New  York  City,  April 

22,  1908. 

Joseph  Pacificus  Ord  was  born  at  Monterey, 
California,  April  30,  1852.  His  father  was 
Pacificus  Ord,  born  at  Cumberland,  Marv- 
land.  in  1816,  died  at  Washington,  D.C.,  May 
II.  1900,  son  of  James  Ord,  born  in  England, 
and  Rebecca  Ruth  (Cresap)  Ord,  of  Cumber- 
land, Maryland.  His  mother  was  Maria  Lou- 
isa (Pogue)  Ord,  who  was  born  in  Maryland, 
died  in  California  in  1854,  daughter  of  John 
S.  and  Lucinda  Elizabeth  Lee  (Snow) 
Pogue.  His  parents  were  married  in  New 
Orleans  in  1849,  a"fl  took  up  their  residence 
in  Los  Angeles,  California.  Mr.  Ord  received 
his  education  at  Yale,  graduating  in  the  class 
of  1873.  and  was  a  member  of  the  college 
society,  Skull  and  Bones.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  was  vice-president  of  the  General 
Electric  Comjiany  at  Schenectady,  and  by  pro- 
fession is  a  lawyer.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Fort  Orange  club,  the  Albany  Institute  and 
Historical  and  Art  Society,  the  Country  Qub, 
and  the  University  Club  of  New  York  City. 
His  summer  home  is  at  Westport,  Essex 
county.  New  York,  and  his  residence  is  No. 
459  State  street,  Albany,  New  York. 


The  family  name  of  Willett 
WILLETT     is   sometimes  to  be  met   with 

in  history  spelled  Willet  or 
Willets,  and  as  such  is  in  common  use  in  vari- 
ous sections  of  the  country,  also  other  varia- 


tions in  less  usual  degree.  The  family  has- 
gained  an  enduring  place  in  American  his- 
tory, several  members  having  achieved  suc- 
cess and  greatness  in  the  early  generations,, 
down  through  the  .-Xmerican  revolution  and' 
later. 

(I)  The  progenitor  of  this  family  in  .'Xmer- 
ica  was  Captain  Thomas  Willet,  or  Willett,, 
who  came  from  Leyden,  Holland,  where  he- 
had  been  sojourning  with  other  Puritans,  to- 
Plymouth,  Massachusetts,  in  1629,  or  the- 
spring  of  1630,  when  twenty  years  of  age. 
He  was  sent  to  Penobscot,  Maine,  to  super- 
intend a  trading  house,  but  returned  shortly 
and  engaged  in  the  carrying  trade  between 
New  England  colonies  and  New  Amsterdam, 
acquiring  landed  interests  in  1645.  He  was- 
a  navigator  from  1651  to  1664,  when,  on  the- 
request  of  Colonel  Nicholson,  he  accompa- 
nied him  on  his  expedition  of  the  English 
against  the  Dutch  colony  of  New  Amsterdam. 
On  the  change  of  the  charter  of  the  city  of" 
New  York  to  an  English  form,  he  was  ap- 
pointed the  first  mayor  of  that  city  by  Gov-- 
ernor  Richard  Nicolls,  June  12,  1665,  and' 
held  that  office  again  in  1667.  When  the- 
Dutch  retook  the  colony  in  1673,  his  property 
in  New  York  was  confiscated,  and  he  retired" 
to  New  England,  settling  in  Rohoboth.  or- 
Swansea,  later  known  as  Seconek,  Massachu- 
setts, and  died  there  .August  3,  1674.  (This; 
town,  with  adjacent  land,  set  off  as  in  Rhode* 
Island,  in  1747.  hence  some  accounts  state  he 
retired  to  Barringtown,  Rhode  Island.)  Thorn-- 
as  Willett  married,  July  6,  1636,  Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Brown,  of  Swansea,  who  died 
January  8,  1669.  They  had  fourteen  children, 
one  of  them,  Thomas,  who  became  a  soldier, 
was  born  in  Plymouth.  Massachusetts,  Octo-- 
ber  I,  1646:  was  major  commanding  the- 
Queens  county  militia,  and  summoned  them  tO' 
meet  the  I'rench  under  the  Marquis  Denon- 
ville  in  1687 ;  was  a  councillor  under  Sir  Ed- 
mund Andros.  Samuel,  fourteenth  child' 
of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Brown)  Willett.  was 
born  October  27,  1638,  settled  on  Long 
Island,  where  he  became  the  sheriff  of  Queens 
county,  and  practiced  the  belief  of  a  Quaker. 
He  had  three  children.  Edward,  eldest  child' 
of  Samuel  Willett,  was  born  in  1701,  died 
in  New  York  in  1794;  child,  Marinus,  born  in: 
Jamaica,  Long  Island,  July  31,  1740.  He- 
served  with  distinction  as  lieutenant  in  Gen- 
eral Abercrombie's  expedition  against  Fort 
Ticonderoga  in  1758,  and  participated  in  the* 
capture  of  Fort  Frontenac ;  was  a  leader  in 
the  Sons  of  Liberty  in  New  York  City;  im. 
August,  1777,  while  second  in  command  at 
Fort  Stanwix  (Rome,  New  York),  he  led  a* 
sally  against  Colonel   Barry  St.  Leger,  thuy 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


255 


giving  the  victory  to  the  miHtia  at  Oriskany; 
joined  Washington's  army  in  1778,  and  ac- 
companied General  John  SulHvan's  expedition 
against  the  Six  Nations.  He  died  in  New 
York  City,  August  23,   1830. 

The  Willetts  of  the  second  and  third  gen- 
erations had  produced  large  families,  residing 
for  the  most  part  in  Plymouth,  Massachusetts, 
in  Rhode  Island,  New  York  City,  Long 
Island,  and  the  upper  part  of  New  Jersey. 

(I)  Thomas  J.  Willett  was  born  October  15, 
181 2,  in  New  Jersey.  He  was  a  carriage 
manufacturer  by  trade.  He  married  Phoebe 
Breese.  born  Alay  20,  1817.  Children:  John 
Crigen,  born  May  30,  1837;  Oscar  D.,  March 

12,  1839;  Willis  L.,  December  21,  1840;  Eu- 
gene Merritt,  August  12,  1842,  see  forward; 
A.  Cyrene,  April  19,  1844;  Josephine  E.,  July 
18,  1846;  Gertrude  L..  July  20,  1848;  Robert 
Allen,  November  3,  1858. 

(II)  Dr.  Eugene  Merritt,  son  of  Thomas  J. 
and  Phoebe  (Breese)  Willett,  was  born  in 
Nunda,  New  York,  August  12,  1842.  He  was 
educated  in  the  schools  of  his  native  town, 
learned  dentistry,  and  practiced  in  Albany 
many  years,  where  he  became  one  of  the  most 
prominent  in  his  profession.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Dutch  Reformed  church,  active  in 
all  that  church  undertook  and  holding  several 
offices  in  its  conduct.  Dr.  Willett  married 
Laura  Phelps,  September  22,  1870,  daughter 
of  Avery  Phelps.  Children:  Edward  Cyrene, 
born  September  3,  1871,  see  forward;  Frances 
Eugenia,  born  December  12,  1873,  died  Alarch 

13,  1908;  Eugene  Russell,   August  22.   1886. 

(III)  Edward  Cyrene,  son  of  Dr.  Eugene 
Merritt  and  Laura  (Phelps)  Willett,  was 
born  in  Newark,  Wayne  county.  New  York, 
September  3,  1871.  He  was  reared  in  Albany, 
educated  in  schools  of  that  city,  where  he  pre- 
pared for  the  College  of  Dentistry,  and  as- 
sisted his  father  for  a  number  of  years  in  his 
profession.  He,  however,  gave  up  dentistry 
and  took  up  the  mineral  water  business,  in 
which  he  continued  with  success.  His  com- 
panionable nature  made  many  friends  for  him 
and  he  gained  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintances 
by  atililiation  with  a  number  of  organizations, 
in  which  he  took  considerable  interest.  He 
became  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
holding  the  office  of  district  department  grand 
master  of  the  Albany  district  No.  i,  of  Phoe- 
nix Lodge  No.  41,  of  the  former  society.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Albany  Encampment  No. 
58 ;  Roval  Welcome  Rebekah  Lodge  No.  2^2. 
and  Jabel  Santorum  No.  89,  O.  O.  H  &  P. 
Mr.  Willett  married,  November  8,  1891,  Har- 
riet May,  born  May  24.  1873,  daughter  of 
Frank  and  Idelia  (Keller)  Cramer.    Children: 


Herbert  Cyrene,  born   May   23,   1903;   Helen 
RIartina,  March  6,  1906. 


The  American  chronicle  of  this 
TRACEY    branch   of  the  Tracys  begins  in 

the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth 
century  with  Dr.  Daniel  Tracey  (who  changed 
the  spelling  of  the  name).  Of  an  Irish  branch 
of  the  well-known  English  family,  and  by 
much  the  eldest  of  four  orphaned  children,  a 
graduate  of  Trinity  College  and  of  its  medical 
school,  he  was  a  practicing  physician  residing 
in  Kings  county,  Ireland,  when  the  accidental 
death  by  drowning  of  a  younger  brother,  to 
whom  he  was  fondly  attached,  led  him  to  de- 
cide on  a  change  of  residence  to  Canada.  Af- 
ter a  shipwreck  in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence, 
he  arrived  in  Montreal  in  the  year  1825,  hav- 
ing with  him  his  brother,  John,  then  a  lad  of 
fourteen  years,  and  his  sister.  Ann,  aged  fif- 
teen. This  sister  afterwards  married  Charles 
Wilson,  who  later  became  mayor  of  the  city 
of  Montreal,  and  a  senator  for  life  of  the  Do- 
minion, and  was  made  knight  commander  of 
the  Order  of  St.  Gregory  by  Pope  Pius  IN. 

Canada  was  then  in  an  agitation  over  pub- 
lic grievances  growing  out  of  the  '"Family 
Compact,"  and  other  abuses  of  administration. 
Dr.  Tracey,  espousing  the  popular  cause, 
founded  at  Montreal  and  edited  The  I 'indica- 
tor, the  leading  anti-government  newspaper  in 
the  English  language  published  in  the  lower 
province.  He  attacked  the  government  so 
fiercely  that  he  was  arraigned  before  the  legis- 
lative council  on  a  charge  of  contempt,  and, 
refusing  to  retract,  was  committed  to  prison. 
A  local  history  of  Quebec  relates  that  on  the 
night  of  his  condemnation,  the  jail  was  sur- 
rounded by  a  crowd  cheering  and  singing  pa- 
triotic songs.  Some  of  the  youthfurpatriots 
in  this  crowd  afterwards  became  leaders  of 
the  Conservative  party  and  government  min- 
isters. In  the  spring  of  1832  Dr.  Tracey  was 
put  up  for  parliament  for  Montreal  West,  and 
after  an  exciting  election,  lasting  thirty  days, 
was  elected  by  a  majority  of  three  votes.  He 
died  of  the  cholera  in  1832  without  taking  his 
parliamentary  seat.  In  1837  the  rebellion 
broke  out.  It  was  speedily  crushed.  After 
hanging  all  the  leaders  that  could  be  caught, 
the  English  government  granted  the  principal 
reforms  contended  for  by  the  rebels. 

(I)  John  Tracey.  who  as  a  child  had  been 
an  inmate  of  his  brother's  home,  had  obtained 
his  education  and  was  engaged  in  business 
at  the  beginning  of  the  rebellion.  Although 
he  took  no  part  in  the  outbreak,  word  was 
brought  him  privately  that  an  information 
was  to  be  lodged  against  him.  He  quickly 
left  Canada  and  came  to  the  United   States, 


256 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


settling  in  Albany  in  1839.  After  traveling 
in  the  South,  he  decided  on  New  Orleans  as 
a  location,  but  did  not  long  remain  there.  He 
returned  to  Albany,  where  he  later  became 
established  in  successful  business  and  promi- 
nent in  civic  public  life.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Democratic  party,  a  friend  of  Governor 
Seymour  and  other  public  men  of  his  day,  re- 
ceiving and  entertaining  them  socially  at  his 
home.  His  residence  in  Albany  for  twenty- 
four  years  was  the  old  Schuyler  Mansion,  in 
which  he  had  a  life  tenancy  during  the  life- 
time of  Mrs.  Millard  Fillmore,  widow  of 
President  Fillmore.  He  served  as  alderman 
from  the  old  First  ward ;  member  of  the 
board  of  police  commissioners  and  of  the 
toard  of  education;  in  1872  was  defeated  by 
a  narrow  majority  as  a  candidate  for  the 
state  senate ;  was  a  trustee  of  the  Albany 
Savings  Bank,  was  a  member  of  the  board 
of  trade.  He  was  a  Catholic  in  religion,  and 
deeply  interested  in  the  welfare  of  his  church 
and  the  various  charities  under  her  control. 
He  was  trustee  of  the  Cathedral  of  the  Im- 
maculate Conception.  St.  Agnes  Cemetery, 
St.  X'incent's  Orphan  Asylum  and  a  governor 
of  Albany  City  Hospital.  He  married,  in  Can- 
ada, Maria  McCarthy,  daughter  of  a  retired 
English  army  officer.  Lieutenant  Charles  Mc- 
Carthy, a  soldier  under  Wellington,  debarred 
from  higher  rank  through  his  religion  and  re- 
fusal to  take  the  oath  of  abjuration.  John 
Tracey  died  July  12.  1875.  Maria  McCarthy 
Tracey,  born  in  the  Isle  of  Wight  in  1812, 
■died  February  5,  1880.  There  were  nine  chil- 
dren of  this  marriage,  four  only  of  whom 
survived  infancy. 

(II)  Colonel  John  (2)  Tracey,  son  of  John 
(i)  Tracey,  was  born  November  29,  1843. 
He  graduated  at  Mount  Saint  Mary's  College, 
Emmettsburg,  Maryland,  where  he  took  his 
A.  B.  and  after  a  course  at  the  Albany  Law 
School  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  began 
practice  in  the  office  of  Peter  Cagger.  After 
the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war  he  entered 
the  army  as  a  lieutenant,  and  served  on  the 
staff  of  Brigadier-General  Michael  Corcoran, 
•commander  of  the  Irish  brigade,  seeing  hard 
service  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  be- 
ing mentioned  in  dispatches  for  conspicuous 
gallantry.  He  was  nnistered  in  as  major  of 
the  lugliteenth  Regiment,  New  York  Light 
Cavalry,  October  15,  1863;  was  commissioned 
lieutenant-colonel,  December  28,  1864,  with 
rank  from  November  25,  1864.  He  was  mus- 
tered out  June  12,  1865,  at  New  Orleans, 
Louisiana,  with  the  brevet  rank  of  colonel, 
being  then  in  command  of  his  regiment.  In 
1867  Colonel  Tracey  married  Katlierine  Clin- 
ton \'ernani,  who  survives  her  husband,  and 


resides  in  New  York  City.  Their  children  are 
Minnie,  Ernest  Clinton  and  Katherine. 

(II)  Charles,  son  of  John  (i)  Tracey,  was 
born  in  .Albany,  New  York,  May  27,  1847, 
died  in  the  same  city,  March  24,  1905.  He 
attended  primary  schools,  then  entered  the 
Boys'  Academy,  where  he  was  graduated  in 
the  class  of  1866.  He  had  a  natural  aptitude 
for  military  drill  and  was  major  of  the  cadet 
battalion.  In  1866  he  went  abroad,  visited 
the  Holy  Land,  and  remained  in  Europe  some 
time,  and  during  the  period  enlisted  and 
served  two  years  in  the  Pontifical  Zouaves, 
returning  home  in  1869.  In  1870  he  went  to 
Rome  and  took  part  in  the  siege  of  that  city 
against  the  king's  forces.  He  was  captured 
and  iield  a  prisoner  for  a  time.  He  returned 
to  New  York  City  and  engaged  in  business. 
He  there  organized  the  Catholic  Union,  and 
became  its  first  secretary.  He  then  returned 
to  Albany,  which  was  ever  after  his  home. 
After  returning  from  his  military  career  in 
Rome,  Pope  Pius  IX.  conferred  upon  him  the 
order  of  St.  Gregory  the  Great  with  the  rank 
and  title  of  Chevalier.  His  life  from  this  time 
was  devoted  to  the  public  service.  He  was 
an  unwavering  Democrat,  and  first  held  sev- 
eral entirely  honorary  offices.  He  was  on  the 
staff  of  Governor  Tilden  with  thci  rank  of 
colonel,  and  under  Governor  Robinson  was 
commissary-general.  In  1887  he  was  nomi- 
nated and  elected  to  congress  to  fill  a  vacancy. 
He  at  once  took  a  leading  position  in  the 
house,  and  the  first  fruit  of  his  labor  was  the 
bill  for  "the  continuance  of  the  manufacture 
of  large  cannon  at  Watervliet."  In  Septem- 
ber the  appropriation  for  the  Watervliet  gun 
factory  was  passed  and  signed  by  President 
Cleveland.  In  1888  he  was  renominated  and 
elected  for  a  second  congressional  term.  He 
served  that  term  with  especial  credit  and  bene- 
fit to  his  district.  He  introduced  and  forced 
to  passage  many  important  measures,  one  of 
which  was  "to  enforce  the  eight-hour  law  on 
government  premises."  So  well  was  his  work 
appreciated  that  in  1890  he  was  again  elected 
to  congress.  He  was  especially  honored  by 
President  Cleveland,  and  was  his  spokesman 
on  the  rtoor  of  the  house.  He  rounded  out  his 
last  congressional  term  full  of  honors,  leav- 
ing a  record  without  a  stain,  and  at  the  time 
of  his  death  was  the  national  chairman  of  the 
Gold  Democratic  party.  He  took  strong 
ground  on  sound  money,  tariff  and  labor 
questions.  He  was  quiet,  unassuming  in 
manner,  sunny  in  disposition,  firm  in  his  opin- 
ions, an  ideal,  true  and  courageous  standard 
bearer.  He  held  many  positions  of  honor  and 
trust  outside  of  his  political  ones.  For  nine- 
teen vears  he  was  a  trustee  of  the  .\lbanv  Sav- 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


257 


ings  Hank,  as  was  his  father;  was  a  director 
for  fifteen  years  of  the  National  Commercial 
bank- ;  trustee  of  the  Boys'  Academy ;  St.  Ag- 
nes cemetery ;  manager  of  St.  Peter's  hospi- 
tal, trustee  of  the  House  of  Refuge,  at  Hud- 
son, appointed  by  Governor  Cleveland  and  re- 
appointed by  Governor  Hill.  He  was  a  Cath- 
olic in  religion,  and  the  beauty  and  purity  of 
his  life  is  thus  expressed  by  a  friend : 

■"He  kept  the  faith,  he  chose  the  purer  thought, 

Upheld  the  truth  and  spoke  with  cleanly  lips. 
Untarnished    walked    the    halls    where    men    are 
bought 

.\nd   served   his   country   more   than   politics. 
Tol'rant    of   weakness    in    his    fellowmen, 

Impatient  only  of  the  gross  and  vile, 
His  life  was  plotted  on  a  noble  plan, 

He  viewed  the  future  with  a  trustful  smile. 
Centle  and  true  he  leaves  an  honored  name 

More    lasting   in   the    hearts    of   friends   than 
fame." 

In  1853  General  Tracey  married  Hcrmine, 
daughter  of  Colonel  Duchesnay.  of  Montreal. 
They  were  the  parents  of  four  children,  Marie 
T.,  Charles,  Philip  and  John. 

(H)  Eliza,  daughter  of  John  (i)  Tracey, 
is  a  member  of  the  Franciscan  Order,  in 
which  she  has  taken  the  name  of  Sister  Am- 
brosia anil  is  at  present  iNlother  Superior  in 
charge  of  St.  James'  Hospital,  Newark,  New 
Jersey. 

(H)  James  Francis,  youngest  son  of  John 
(i)  Tracey,  was  born  in  Albany,  New  York, 
May  30,  1854.  He  was  for  four  years  a  stu- 
dent at  the  ijoys'  Academy,  and  toured  Eu- 
rope for  two  years  as  part  of  his  preparatory 
course.  He  entered  on  his  return  George- 
town University,  where  he  was  graduated 
A.  B.,  class  of  1874.  He  was  graduated 
LL.  B.  from  the  .-Mbany  Law  School,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  New  York  bar  in  1875.  He 
studied  in  the  ofiice  of  M.  T.  and  L.  G.  Hun, 
and  in  1882  formed  a  partnership  with  James 
Fenimore  Cooper,  and  his  father,  the  late 
Paul  Fenimore  Cooper,  who  was  senior  coun- 
sel, under  the  firm  name  of  Tracey  &:  Cooper, 
which  continued  until  1893.  In  that  year  .-M- 
bert  Rathbone  was  admitted,  and  the  firm  be- 
came Tracey,  Cooper  &  Rathbone,  continuing 
until  Mr.  Rathbone's  removal  to  New  York 
City,  when  he  withdrew.  His  place  was  taken 
by  Frederick  Townsend,  the  firm  now  being 
Tracey,  Cooper  &  Townsend,  conducting  a 
general  legal  business.  Mr.  Tracey  served 
as  state  examiner  of  corporations  under  John 
Big->low  when  secretary  of  state,  and  was 
lecturer  on  the  law  of  corporations  at  Albany 
Law  School  for  fifteen  years.  In  1905  Presi- 
dent Roosevelt  appointed  him  associate  jus- 
tice of  the  supreme  court  of  the  Philippine 
Islands,  and   he  took  up  bis  temporary  resi- 


dence in  Manila.  On  January  8,  1908,  the 
president  sent  his  name  to  the  L^nited  States 
senate  as  member  of  the  Philippine  commis- 
sion with  portfolio  as  minister  of  finance  and 
justice.  This  appointment  he  declined,  and 
on  February  i,  1909.  resigned  from  the  insu- 
lar service,  and,  returning  to  Albany,  resumed 
practice  of  the  law  with  his  old  firm.  He  is 
connected  with  various  Catholic  charities,  and 
belongs  to  the  Cathedral  congregation.  In 
politics  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  at  times  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  political  movements, 
but  has  never  been  a  candidate  for  political 
office.  From  1884  to  1886  he  served  as  presi- 
dent of  the  Young  Men's  Democratic  Club  of 
Albany,  which  did  effective  work  towards  se- 
curing for  Grover  Cleveland  the  support  of 
the  party  organization  and  in  promoting  his 
nomination.  He  belongs  to  the  Fort  Orange, 
University  and  Country  clubs  of  .Vlbany :  the 
University  and  the  Catholic  of  New  York 
City,  and  the  L^niversity  of  Manila.  In  1910 
he  received  the  degree  LL.  D.  from  his  alma 
mater,  Georgetown  University. 

Judge  Tracey  married.  May  10,  1893,  Luci- 
anne  Bosse,  of  Quebec,  Canada,  daughter  of 
Joseph  G.  Bosse,  judge  of  the  Court  of 
Queens  Bench  (Court  of  Appeals),  and  his 
wife,  Amelie  de  Salaberry,  of  an  old  French 
family  which  yet  retains  its  ancestral  seats 
upon  the  Loire,  and  at  St.  Jean  Pied  du  Port 
in  the  Pyrenees.  She  is  a  great-granddaugh- 
ter of  Colonel  de  Salaberry,  who  commanded 
the  British  and  Canadians  at  the  battle  of 
Chateaugay  in  1812,  when  the  Americans 
were  defeated.  Judge  James  F.  and  Lucianne 
(Bosse)  Tracey  have  one  son.  Walter  aged 
sixteen  vears. 


Colonel    Thomas    Stevens,   of 
STE\'ENS     Devonshire,      England,     who 

moved  to  London,  was  the 
father  of  William,  Thomas,  Richard.  Cyprian 
and  three  daughters.  Thomas  and  Cyprian 
came  to  New  England  with  Captain  Greene 
about  1660.  Cyprian  was  of  Chelsea  and  af- 
terwards of  Lancaster.  ("History  of  Fratn- 
ingham,"  by  Rev.  William  Barry.) 

(II)  Cyprian,  son  of  Colonel  Thomas  Ste- 
vens, was  born  in  England,  1649,  '^^'^^  a  citi- 
zen of  Lancaster,  I^lassachusetts,  and  died 
probably  there,  date  unknown.  He  married, 
January  22,  1672,  Mary  Willard,  born  Sep- 
tember 7,  or  2y,  1653,  daughter  of  Major  Si- 
mon Willard,  of  Lancaster,  and  his  third  wife, 
Mary  Dunster,  a  relative  of  Mr.  Dunster, 
president  of  Harvard  college.  Major  Simon 
Willard  was  a  founder  of  Concord,  Massa- 
chusetts, deputy  to  the  general  court  1636-54, 
assistant   1654-76,  commander-in-chief  of  the 


258 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


expedition  of  the  United  Colonies  against 
Ninigret,  sachem  of  the  Nyantics,  1655;  led 
the  heroic  relief  at  the  battle  of  Brookfield ; 
commanded  the  Middlesex  regiment  of  Massa- 
chusetts troops  in  King  Philip's  war.  (Year 
Book,  Society  of  Colonial  Wars,  1896,  page 
417.)  The  "Willard  Memorial"  gives  the  fol- 
lowing: "In  1659  Major  Simon  Willard  re- 
moved to  Lancaster,  where  he  lived  for  twelve 
years,  when  in  1671-72  he  removed  to  his 
farm  lying  in  the  southern  part  of  Groton; 
and  his  residence  at  Lancaster,  one  of  the 
finest  situations  in  that  pleasant  town,  was 
conveyed  by  him  to  his  son-in-law,  Cyprian 
Stevens,  who  married  his  daughter  Mary  (the 
second  of  that  name).  This  was  intended 
for  Mrs.  Stevens'  dowry."  This  house  was 
use  for  a  garrison  house,  and  in  1676  shel- 
tered for  six  weeks  eight  families  and  a  guard 
of  soldiers.  (See  Lancaster  Records.)  Cyp- 
rian Stevens  was  one  of  the  five  purchasers 
of  a  tract  of  land  twelve  miles  square,  six 
miles  wide,  which  is  now  the  town  of  Rut- 
land, Massachusetts.  The  deed  was  executed 
and  delivered  December  22,  1686,  the  pur- 
chase price  being  twenty-three  pounds  of  the 
then  currency.  There  does  not  seem  to  be 
any  evidence  that  he  ever  settled  on  his  pur- 
chase, although  Lancaster  was  not  far  dis- 
tant. His  children,  however,  settled  there 
and  erected  homes.  His  garrison  house  at 
Lancaster,  Massachusetts,  was  attacked  by  In- 
dians February  10,  1675-76.  (Bodge,  pp. 
352-3  and  400.  See  also  Nourse's  "Early 
Records  of  Lancaster,"  pp.  85-86,  loi.)  In 
garrison  at  Groton,  Massachusetts,  February 
29,  1675-76,  under  Captain  Thomas  Wheeler. 
(Bodge,  pp.  114  and  360.)  Under  Ensign 
Peter  Joslin  at  Lancaster,  Massachusetts, 
April  15,  1704.  (Nourse's  "Early  Records  of 
Lancaster,"  p.   144.) 

(Ill)  Deacon  Joseph,  youngest  son  of  Cyp- 
rian and  Mary  (Willard)  Stevens,  was  born 
1682-83,  was  a  citizen  of  Rutland,  Massachu- 
setts, and  died  in  Rutland,  November  15, 
1769.  He  married  Prudence,  daughter  of 
John  Rice,  of  Sudbury,  Massachusetts.  She 
died  about  1776.  They  had  nine  children. 
Rutland  was  incorporated  as  a  town  July  6, 
1722.  At  the  first  legal  meeting  ever  held  in 
Rutland,  Ensign  Joseph  Stevens  was  chosen 
one  of  the  selectmen,  one  of  the  assessors,  and 
town  treasurer.  He  was  clerk  of  the  pro- 
prietors and  one  of  the  committee  to  set  oflf 
their  land,  a  deacon  in  the  church,  and  a  cap- 
tain of  the  militia.  He  was  proprietor  of 
house  lots  Nos.  15  and  56.  Part  of  his  divi- 
sion land  was  located  on  Stevens  Hill,  and 
two  hundred  acres  on  and  adjoining  Turkey 
IJill.     The   following  is   taken   from   Reed's 


"History  of  Rutland,  Massachusetts,"  and 
Temple  &  Sheldon's  "History  of  Northfield, 
Massachusetts":  On  August  14,  1723,  Dea- 
con Joseph  Stevens  with  four  young  sons 
went  to  the  meeting  house  meadow  to  collect 
fodder  for  the  coming  winter.  Whilst  making 
hay  they  were  attacked  by  Gray  Lock  with  a 
party  of  four  Indians.  Two  of  the  boys  were 
killed,  and  two,  Phinehas  and  Isaac,  made 
prisoners.  Phinehas  and  Isaac  were  carried 
to  Canada,  where  they  were  held  in  captivity 
for  upwards  of  a  year.  Phinehas  was  re- 
deemed, after  which  he  moved  to  Charles- 
town,  New  Hampshire,  where  he  was  a  cap- 
tain of  the  militia.  He  became  distinguished 
in  the  Cape  'Breton  war,  and  also  for  his- 
brave  defense  of  that  plantation  April  4,  1747,. 
with  a  command  of  about  thirty  men  against 
an  attack  of  four  hundred  French  and  In- 
dians under  JMons.  Debeline.  (Reed's  "His- 
tory of  Rutland,  Mass.,"  pp.  103-105.  Hud- 
son's "History  of  Sudbury,  Mass.,"  pp.  171- 
172.  Blake's  "History  of  Rutland,  Mass.,"" 
and  the  "Indian  Troubles  of  1723-30,"  pp. 
45-46-47.  Also  "Massachusetts  Archives,"' 
vol.  51,  p.  399.  Nourse's  "History  of  Lan- 
caster, Mass.,"  p.  318.) 

(IV)  Isaac,  youngest  son  of  Deacon  Jo- 
seph and  Prudence  (Rice)  Stevens,  was  bap- 
tized December  14,  1718,  in  the  town  of  Lan- 
caster, Massachusetts.  He  married  for  his 
second  wife  Abigail  Parling,  on  September  7, 
1748.  When  carried  captive  to  Canada,  he 
was  given  by  Gray  Lock  to  the  Cagnowagas, 
and  was  regained  with  much  difficulty.  A 
full  acount  of  the  matter  is  given  in  Reed's 
"History  of  Rutland,  Mass.,"  pp.  103-104, 
and  in  the  "Massachusetts  Archives,"  vol.  51,. 
P-  399;  vol.  72,  p.  258;  vol.  II,  p.  407;  vol.  51, 
p.  382. 

(V)  Luther,  eldest  son  of  Isaac  and  Abi- 
gail (Parling)  Stevens,  was  born  in  Rutland,. 
Massachusetts,  July  22,  1749.  He  married 
Lucy  Stearns,  born  June  26,  1762,  died  Sep- 
tember 7,  181 2.  He  served  in  the  revolu- 
tionary army  as  follows — "Massachusetts  Ar- 
chives," vol.  12,  p.  83:  "Appears  with  rank 
of  private  on  Lexington  Alarm  Roll  of  Capt. 
Thomas  Eustes'  Company,  which  marched  on 
the  alarm  of  April  19th,  1775,  from  Rutland 
to  Cambridge."  "Massachusetts  Archives," 
vol.  35,  p.  94,  "Appears  in  a  receipt  for  ad-' 
vance  pay  given  by  Company  dated  July  13th, 
1775,  at  Charlestown  Camp,  payable  to  him--, 
self.  Pay  due  on  account  of  service  in  Capt- 
Adam  Wheeler's  Company,  Col.  Doolittle's 
Regiment."  Colonel  Doolittle's  regiment 
served  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  Accord-i 
ing  to  the  same  records,  he  continued  to  serve-; 
throughout  the  war,  appearing  with  the  ranki 


AylA/^  ]rx^fhty^^-^^^tf-i^t^  ''^^^^v^^>i/~^  u4 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   \'ALLEYS 


259 


of  serg-eant  on  muster  and  pay  roll  of  Captain 
Ephraim  Stearns'  company,  Colonel  John 
Rand's  (Worcester  Co.)  regiment. 

Lucy  Stearns,  wife  of  Luther  Stevens,  is 
descended  through  Captain  Elizah  Stearns 
and  his  wife,  Lucy  Lane,  daughter  of  Job 
Lane,  from  Colonel  John  Lane,  1661-1715. 
Colonel  John  Lane  was  born  in  Billerica, 
Massachusetts,  and  was  a  citizen  of  Massa- 
chusetts Bay  Colony.  Lieutenant  in  com- 
mand of  troop,  Billerica,  j\Iassachusetts,  1693 
("History  of  Billerica,"  by  Hazen,  p.  129, 
Lane  papers  mss.)  ;  in  service  as  scout  in 
King  William's  war.  Captain  1702-05  ("His- 
tory of  Billerica,"  pp.  135- 136- 137,  Lane  pa- 
pers mss.)  Major  171 1,  Queen  Anne's  war, 
(Lane  papers)  in  continual  service  until  his 
death.  ("New  England  Register,"  vol.  10,  p. 
356,  vol.  II,  pp.  102-231.)  Lucy  Stearns,  wife 
of  Luther  Stevens,  through  Martha  Ruggles, 
wife  of  Job  Lane,  is  descended  from  Gov- 
ernor Thomas  Dudley,  1576- 1653.  Born  in 
Northampton,  England ;  citizen  of  Massachu- 
setts Bay.  Colony,  died  in  Roxbury,  Massa- 
chusetts. Second  governor  Massachusetts 
Bay  Colony,  1634-40-45-50;  deputy  governor 
in  1630.  et.  seq.  ad  interim;  assistant,  1635-6, 
1641-4;  in  office  continuously  twenty-two 
years;  commissioner  1643-47-49  for.  and  twice 
president  of  the  United  Colonies ;  major-gen- 
eral, 1646;  signed  charter  of  Harvard  col- 
lege. 1650  (Year  Book,  Colonial  Wars  So- 
ciety, 1896,  p.  312).  Whitmore's  Civil  Lists 
(passing)  History  (Whitman  &  Roberts),  p. 
135,  or  the  Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery 
Company  of  Boston,  Mass.  Dudley  family,  p. 
70.  et.  seq. 

(\I)  Isaac,  son  of  Luther  and  Lucy 
(  Stearns)  Stevens,  was  born  in  Rutland,  Mas- 
sachusetts, August  8,  1795,  died  July  31,  1835. 
He  married  Maria  Cecelia  Parsons,  born  Feb- 
ruar\-  6.  1S06,  died  August  30,  1889,  daugh- 
ter of  Winthrop  and  Sarah  Terry  Parsons, 
of  Enfield,  Connecticut.  Maria  Cecelia  Par- 
sons, wife  of  Isaac  Stevens,  through  the  fami- 
lies of  Rev.  Nathaniel  Collins,  of  Enfield, 
Connecticut,  and  Rev.  William  Adams,  of 
Dedham,  Massachusetts,  and  others,  is  a  de- 
scendant of  William  Bradford,  governor  of 
Plymouth,  Colony,  Massachusetts.  (Year 
Book,  Society  of  Mayflower  Descendants, 
1901,  pp.  114-396). 

(\'II)  Albert  Parsons,  son  of  Isaac  and 
Maria  C.  (Parsons)  Stevens,  was  born  in 
Springfield,  Massachusetts.  April  10,  1835. 
He  was  but  an  infant  when  his  father  died. 
He  grew  up  in  Springfield,  where  he  was  edu- 
cated. In  October,  1853,  he  came  to  Albany, 
and  there  began  his  useful  active,  business 
life,  covering  a  period  of  half  a  century.     He 


began  as  clerk  in  the  Albany  Exchange  Bank, 
then  located  in  the  second  story  of  the  Ex- 
change building.  Broadway  and  State  streets, 
where  the  postoffice  building  now  stands.  He 
held  various  clerical  banking  positions  in  dif- 
ferent institutions  until  1869,  when  he  be- 
came one  of  the  organizers  of  the  National 
Savings  Bank  of  the  City  of  Albany.  He 
was  chosen  secretary  and  treasurer,  and  held 
these  offices  continuously  until  his  retirement 
from  business  in  January,  1905.  a  period  of 
thirty-si.x  years.  His  activity  has  not  been 
bounded  by  the  demands  of  business,  but  has 
been  noticeable  in  the  religious  and  charit- 
able work  of  Albany.  He  has  been  asso- 
ciated for  many  years  with  the  work  of  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  and  was 
president  of  the  board  of  directors  when  the 
present  building  corner  of  North  Pearl  and 
Steuben  streets  was  dedicated.  He  is  now 
president  of  the  board  of  trustees,  having  held 
that  position  since  1901.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  church,  which  he 
serves  officially  as  president  of  the  board  of 
trustees.  He  also  served  as  treasurer  of  the 
Albany  Presbytery,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
committee  on  Synodical  Home  Missions  of  the 
Presbyterian  synod  of  the  state  of  New  York. 
Through  his  distinguished  colonial  ancestry, 
he  has  gained  membership  in  the  Society  of 
Mayflower  Descendants,  and  the  New  Eng- 
land Society  of  the  City  of  New  York.  His 
social  club  is  the  Fort  Orange,  of  Albany. 

He  married,  December  30,  1856,  in  the 
First  Presbyterian  church,  Emma  Henrietta 
McMullen,  of  Albany,  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Henrietta  (Van  Benthuysen)  McMullen, 
born  August  31,  1835,  died  February  15,  1891. 
Children,  born  in  Albany: 

1.  Albert  Wheeler,  November  3,  1858,  died 
October  14,  1861. 

2.  Carrie  Hooper,  August  21,  i860,  died 
January  24,  1863. 

3.  Helen  Louise,  March  7,  1864,  died  Au- 
gust 4,  1888. 

4.  Clarence  Winthrop,  October  10,  1869; 
educated  in  Albany  Academy,  and  immedi- 
ately after  leaving  school  entered  the  Me- 
chanics' &  Farmers'  Bank,  and  now  (1910) 
holds  the  position  of  assistant  treasurer  of 
the  Mechanics'  &  Farmers'  Savings  Bank. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany  Academy 
Alumni  Association,  the  Society  of  Colonial 
Wars,  and  the  New  England  Society  of  the 
City  of  New  York.  He  served  five  years  as 
a  member  of  Company  A.  Tenth  Battalion, 
N.  G.,  N.  Y.,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Old 
Guard.  He  married,  April  4,  1894,  Anna  L. 
Van  Antwerp,  daughter  of  William  Meadon 
and    Susanna    (Irwin)    Van  Antwerp,  of  A1-' 


26o 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  \^'\LLEYS 


bany.  Children :  Clarence  W'inthrop  Jr., 
March  5,  1896,  died  March  5.  1896;  Win- 
throp  Parsons,  January  30,  1898;  Anna  Van 
Antwerp,  September  27,  1899;  Gertrude  Van 
Antwerp,  October  23,   1901. 

5.  Frederic  Bliss,  June  9,  1871,  educated 
at  the  Albany  Academy.  Entered  the  Na- 
tional Savings  Bank  of  the  city  of  Albany  as 
messenger,  where  he  now  (1910)  holds  the 
office  of  treasurer,  filled  so  long  and  capably 
by  his  father,  and  is  also  secretary  of  Savings 
Bank  Associations  of  the  State  of  New  York. 
He  served  five  years  as  a  member  of  the  Third 
Signal  Corps,  N.  G.  N.  Y.,  part  of  the  time 
with  the  rank  of  sergeant.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Society  of  Mayflower  Descendants, 
New  England  Society  of  the  City  of  New 
York,  Society  of  Colonial  Wars.  Albany  In- 
stitute and  Historical  and  Art  Society,  Fort 
Orange  and  Country  clubs,  the  Albany  cham- 
ber of  commerce,  and  Albany  Academy  Alum- 
ni Association.     He  is  unmarried. 


Of  the  many  families  scat- 
BASCOM     tered    throughout    the    United 

States  and  Canada  bearing  this 
name  in  one  of  its  various  forms  (Bascom, 
Bascome,  Bascum,  Bascomb  and  Bascombe), 
by  far  the  largest  proportion  are  descended 
from  a  common  ancestor — Thomas,  who  came 
to  this  country  from  England,  about  the  year 
1634,  probably  in  the  "jNIary  and  John."  He 
is  the  American  ancestor  of  the  family  of 
Bascom  of  Fort  Edward  herein  recorded. 

(I)  Thomas  Bascom,  a  Massachusetts  colo- 
nist, was  established  at  Dorchester  in  the  year 
1634.  He  removed  to  Windsor,  Connecticut, 
in  1639,  being  one  of  the  second  company 
that  settled  at  that  place.  He  later  removed 
to  Northampton,  Massachusetts.  The  first 
mention  of  his  name  to  be  found  in  the  rec- 
ords of  the  latter  place  is  the  date  of  his  own 
and  wife's  admission  to  full  communion  to 
the  church.  May  14,  1661.  In  1666,  he  was 
elected  town  constable.  He  was  made  free- 
man May,  1670,  took  the  oath  of  allegiance 
February  8,  1679,  and  died  there.  May  9, 
1682.  His  will  is  recorded  at  Northampton, 
Massachusetts.    He  married  in  England  (  date 

unknown)  Avis ,  who  died  February  3, 

1676.  Children:  i.  Hannah,  born  before 
1640;  married  (first)  Jolm  I'roughton;  (sec- 
ond) William  Jaynes.  2.  .Abigail,  baptized  at 
Windsor,  Connecticut,  June  7,  1640;  married 
John  Inger.soll.  3.  Thomas,  see  forward.  4. 
Hepzibah,  born  at  Windsor,  Connecticut, 
April  14,  1644;  married  Robert  Lyman. 

(II)  Thomas  (2).  only  son  of  Thomas  (i  ) 
and  Avis  Bascom,  was  born  in  Windsor,  Con- 
necticut,   February    20,    1642.      He    married, 


March  20,  1667,  Mary,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Newell,  of  Farmington,  Connecticut.  Thomas 
and  wife  Mary  were  admitted  to  full  com- 
munion in  the  Northampton  church  in  jNIarch, 
1670.  He  died  there  September  11.  1689. 
His  will  is  recorded  at  Northampton,  Massa- 
chusetts. Children:  i.  Thomas,  see  forward. 
2.  John,  born  1671,  died  young.  3.  John,  born 
October  14,  1672;  married  Thankful,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  and  Abigail  Webster,  and 
granddaughter  of  Governor  John  Webster. 
4.  Mary,  died  young. 

(III)  Thomas  (3)  eldest  son  of  Thomas 
(2)  and  Mary  (Newell)  Bascom,  was  born 
about  the  year  1668.  He  inherited  the  home- 
stead at  Northampton,  and  died  in  that  town 
February  3,  1714.  He  married  Hannah, 
daughter  of  John  Catlin,  of  Deerfield.  She 
survived  him  many  years  and  died  January, 
1747.  By  his  will,  dated  January  28,  1714, 
he  gave  to  her  one-half  of  his  house,  land 
and  "movables,"  so  long  as  she  remained  a 
widow.  Children,  all  born  at  Northampton, 
Massachusetts:  i.  Samuel,  born  January  27, 
1692;  married  (first)  Experience  Parsons; 
(second)  Sarah,  widow  of  Comfort  Barnes. 
2.  Hannah,  born  September,  1694,  married 
Thomas  Judd.  3.  Thomas,  died  in  infancy. 
4.  Thomas  (2),  died  young.  5.  Ezekiel.  see 
forward.  6.  Abigail,  died  in  infancy.  7. 
Ruth,  born  April,  1703,  married  ■ —  Cur- 
tis. 8.  Jonathan,  born  1706;  he  was  one  of 
the  earliest  settlers  of  Southampton,  where  his 
home  was  fortified  against  Indian  attack ;  he 
married  Mindwell  King.  9.  Joseph,  bom 
January  20,  1709;  married  Hannah  Rider.  10. 
Mary,  married  Noah  Sheldon.  11.  Martha, 
born  September  16,  1713;  married  Nathaniel 
White  (2),  of  South  Hadley. 

(IV)  Ezekiel,  son  of  Thomas  (3)  and  Han- 
nah (Catlin)  Bascom,  was  born  at  Northamp- 
ton, Massachusetts.  November  22,  1700,  and 
died  in  1746,  at  Greenfield  or  Deerfield.  He 
married  Sarah  Severance,  March  6,  1728,  who 
died  September  9,  1729,  at  Deerfield.  He 
married  (second)  Rebecca  Clary,  May  23, 
1734.  The  children  were:  Moses,  born  June 
8,  1736;  Elias,  see  forward;  Rebecca,  mar- 
ried Captain  Caleb  Chapin ;  Ezekiel,  born 
1742. 

(\')  Elias,  son  of  Ezekiel  Bascom,  was  born 
probably  at  Hatfield  or  Deerfield,  Massachu- 
setts, May  8,  1737.  He  resided  successively 
at  Hatfield,  Hadley,  Deerfield  and  Northfield, 
Massachusetts,  at  which  latter  place  he  set- 
tled in  1760.  He  was  a  clothier  or  weaver, 
and  until  an  advanced  age  wrought  woolen 
cloth,  flannel  and  linen  for  his  household,  as 
well  aS  for  some  of  his  neighbors.  Another 
account  says :  "While  an  apprentice  to  a  cloth- 


'yUcCi-,,^^ 


7^ 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


261 


ier,  during  a  season  of  bad  health  he  learned 
to  weave,  and  when  too  old  for  farm  work 
(which  was  his  occupation  in  Vermont)  he 
asked  for  a  loom  for  exercise,  and  continued 
to  use  it  until  he  was  very  old.  He  was  so 
strictly  temperate  that  when  past  ninety  years 
old  he  objected  to  a  second  pint  of  gin,  pre- 
scribed by  his  physician,  saying  he  feared  he 
should  learn  to  like  it."  In  1829  he  headed 
the  family  list  of  names  for  the  first  tem- 
perance society  formed  in  the  town.  He  served 
three  months  in  the  French  and  Indian  war, 
at  Lake  George,  New  York,  and  was  present 
at  the  battle  of  Saratoga  as  a  volunteer  sol- 
dier from  Northfield,  Massachusetts.  From 
Northfield  he  removed  in  1779  to  Newport, 
New  Hampshire,  and  in  1792  to  Orwell,  where 
he  died  November  29,  1833,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety-six  years.  He  was  deacon  of 
the  Congregational  church  at  Orwell.  He  mar- 
ried (first)  at  Deerfield,  Massachusetts,  March 
13,  1761,  Eunice  Allen,  mother  of  all  his  chil- 
dren;  (second)  Thankful  Graves,  of  Green- 
field, Massachusetts.  His  children  were:  i. 
Elias,  born  February  27,  1762.  2.  Reuben, 
April  22,  1763.  3.  Eunice,  August  25,  1764; 
married  Daniel  Buell.  4.  Jerusha,  November 
23.  1765.  5.  Joseph,  baptized  February  13, 
1767;  died  February  14,  1767.  6.  Joseph, 
born  March  30,  1768.  7.  Zeri,  January  13,  ' 
1770.  8.  Artemidorus,  see  forward.  9.  Eli- 
sha,  baptized  October  13,  1776.  10.  Cynthia, 
married  Daniel  Blandon.  11.  Lucy,  born  Au- 
gust 17,  1778;  married  Thomas  Cutts ;  four- 
teen children.  12.  Rebecca,  married  Reuben 
Wright.  13.  Ira,  born  1783.  14.  Lucinda, 
born  1786;  married  Clark  Sanford. 

(\T)  Artemidorus  (commonly  called  Do- 
rus),  son  of  Elias  and  Eunice  (Allen)  Bas- 
com,  was  born  at  Northfield,  Massachusetts, 
December  19,  1774.  He  accompanied  his 
father  to  Orwell,  Vermont,  in  1792.  where  he 
married,  March  11,  1800,  Chloe  Hulburd,  born 
September  30,  1778,  daughter  of  Ebenezer 
Hulburd  and  Polly  Sheldon.  He  was  for  many 
years  a  deacon  of  the  church  and  a  justice 
of  the  peace.  He  had  a  high  appreciation  of 
the  importance  of  education.  He  was 
earnest  minded,  had  a  strong  love  of  justice 
and  much  kindliness  of  temper.  He  died  at 
Orwell,  August  26.  1841.  His  widow  died 
there  October  i,  1851.  His  children,  all  born 
at  Orwell,  \'ermont :  i.  Thankful,  born  De- 
cember 23,  1800;  married,  October  17,  1820, 
Horace  Cobb,  died  February  19,  1829. 
2.  Priscilla  Elvira,  born  Alarch  7.  1802, 
married.  March  10,  1822,  Linus  Wilcox,  died 
March  13,  1831.  3.  Clarinda,  born  October 
27,  1804:  married,  November  28,  1830,  Sam- 
uel Howard;  married  (second).  May  28,  1833. 


Alonzo  Safiford,  died  April  15,  1872.  4.  Em- 
ily, born  August  21,  1806,  married,  October 
14,  1828,  William  Riley  Sanford.  5.  Oliver 
Hulburd,  born  February  16,  1810;  married. 
September  4,  1834,  Lucretia  Olcott  Young.  6. 
Semanthe  Eunice,  born  December  18,  181 1; 
married,  March  17,  1840,  Rev.  H.  H.  Bates. 
7.  Dorus,  born  April  18,  1814:  married,  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1839,  Elizabeth  Clark,  died  June  23, 
1839 ;  had  one  son,  Dorus  Clark  Bascom,  born 
December  7,  1839.  8.  William  Franklin,  born 
January  17,  1817;  married,  September  16, 
1845,  Annie  F.  Strong.  9.  Samuel  Hopkins, 
see  forward. 

(VII)  Samuel  Hopkins,  son  of  Dorus  and 
Chloe  (Hulburd)  Bascom,  was  born  at  Or- 
well, \'ermont,  February  27,  1819,  died  De- 
cember 4,  1895.  He  married  (first)  May  23, 
1842,  Ehzabeth  Clark,  born  November  25, 
1816,  daughter  of  Moses  A.  and  Rebecca 
(Wyman)  Clark,  died  December  4,  1870.  He 
married  (second)  Florinda  Nichols,  of  Roy- 
alton,  Vermont,  who  died  in  1885.  He  mar- 
ried (third),  1888,  Hattie  Preseau.  He  was 
throughout  his  entire  life  actively  identified 
with  all  movements  tending  to  the  advance- 
ment and  prosperity  of  his  community.  In 
1857  and  1858  he  represented  Orwell  in  the 
Vermont  legislature,  and  at  different  times 
held  several  of  the  town  offices.  He  was  for 
many  years  a  prominent  factor  in  the  afifairs 
of  the  Congregational  church,  a  most  efficient 
clerk  for  fifty-three  years,  succeeding  his  fa- 
ther in  the  office ;  also  serving  as  deacon,  treas- 
urer, and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
school,  each  for  a  term  of  years. 
He  was  a  man  of  intellectual  acumen, 
of  marked  breadth  of  vision  and  in- 
terest, of  strong  moral  vigor  and  pro- 
nounced religious  faith.  His  children,  all  by 
his  first  wife,  were  as  follows:  i.  Anne  Eliz- 
abeth, born  Jnly  6,  1844,  married  Clayton  N. 
North,  of  Shoreham,  Vermont.  2.  Samuel 
Jay,  born  March  27,  1846;  married.  May  25, 
1870.  Olive  J.  Longley.  3.  Wynian  Hul- 
burd, born  March  9,  1848:  married,  Septem- 
ber 22,  1871,  Ella  Francella  Wyman,  died 
July  16,  1879,  at  Orwell,  \'ermont.  4.  Clor- 
inda,  bom  March  7,  1850,  died  March  8,  1853. 
5.  George,  born  August  22,  1852,  died  Feb- 
ruary 9,  1909.  6.  Robert  O.,  see  forward. 
7.  Jesse,  born  November  3,  1857,  died  Janu- 
ary 4,  1858.  8.  Cassius  Clay,  born  Septem- 
ber 15,  1861,  died  October  31,  1894,  at  Or- 
well, Vermont. 

(VIII)  Robert  O..  son  of  Samuel  H.  and 
Elizabe.th  (Clark)  Bascom,  was  born  in  Or- 
well, \ermont,  November  18,  1855.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  school  of  Orwell,  New- 
ton  Academy,   Shoreham,    \'ermont,   and   the 


262 


HUDSON  AND   MOHAWK  \ALLEYS 


Fort  Edward  Collegiate  Institute,  where  he 
was  graduated  in  1876.  After  his  graduation 
and  while  studying  law  at  Fort  Edward,  Mr. 
Bascom  was  an  instructor  in  history,  Eng- 
lish and  elocution  at  the  institute  for 'a  few 
years.  He  took  up  his  residence  at  Fort  Ed- 
ward, where  he  commenced  the  study  of  law 
in  the  office  of  Don  D.  \\'inn.  After  the  death 
of  Mr.  Winn  (which  occurred  shortly  after), 
he  entered  the  office  of  the  Hon.  Edgar  Hull, 
where  he  continued  reading  until  his  admis- 
sion to  the  bar  in  1885.  He  opened  an  office 
at  Fort  Edward,  where  he  practiced  law  until 
his  death,  May  19,  1909.  Mr.  Bascom  was 
always  interested  in  politics,  and  held  various 
minor  offices  in  the  town  in  early  life.  He 
was  for  a  number  of  years  corporation  coun- 
sel for  the  village  of  Fort  Edward.  He  was 
chairman  for  the  Washington  County  Repub- 
lican Committee  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
was  appointed  district  attorney  of  Washington 
county  by  Governor  Frank  W.  Higgins,  Janu- 
ary 12.  1905.  He  was  elected  to  that  office 
in  the  autumn  of  1905  for  the  full  term,  and 
in  1908  was  re-elected.  He  was  one  of  the 
charter  members  and  a  moving  spirit  in  the 
organization  of  the  New  York  State  Histori- 
cal Association,  was  secretary  of  that  body  for 
a  number  of  years,  and  held  the  office  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  He  was  a  charter  member 
and  first  president  of  Adirondack  Chapters, 
Sons  of  the  American  Revolution.  He  was 
also  a  member  of  the  \'ermont  Historical  So- 
ciety, of  the  National  Geographic  Society,  of 
the  New  York  Genealogical  and  Biographical 
Society,  the  New  York  State  Bar  Associa- 
tion, Fort  Edward  Lodge,  F.  and  A.  M.,  was 
a  trustee  of  Glens  Falls  Academy.  Glens  Falls, 
New  York,  and  at  one  time  was  a  member 
of  Jane  McCrea  Lodge,  T.  O.  O.  F..  Wash- 
ington Counsel,  Royal  Arcanum,  an  officer  of 
of  Washington  County  Agricultural  Society 
at  the  time  of  his  death  and  was  a  member 
of  the  board  of  education  of  Fort  Edward  for 
several  years.  Mr.  Bascom  was  a  student  of 
the  history  of  Vermont  and  New  York,  and 
was  the  author  of  several  works  dealing  with 
local  history.  He  published  the  "Fort  Edward 
Book"  in  1903 ;  "Captain  Norton's  Orderly 
Book,"  a  short  time  previous,  and  was  the 
author  of  many  addresses  dealing  with  Ver- 
mont, the  Green  Mountain  Boys.  Ethan  Al- 
len, Allen's  Capture  of  Ticonderoga,  Mount 
Independence,  Jane  McCrea,  Duncan  Camp- 
bell and  of  the  local  history  of  Fort  Edward. 
Several  of  his  addresses  upon  historical  sub- 
jects have  been  published  by  the  New  York 
State  Historical  Association.  Mr.  Bascom 
was  especially  interested  in  Fort  Ticonderoga 
and  its  history,  and  had  compiled  a  list  con- 


taining the  names  of  fifty-three  men  who  are 
known  to  have  entered  the  fort  with  Ethan 
Allen.  By  those  familiar  with  the  subject,  lie 
was  conceded  to  be  the  best  authoritv  in 
America  upon  this  matter.  Mr.  Bascom  was 
a  collector  of  rare  coins,  Indian  relics,  stamps 
and  curios. 

He  was  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  was  on 
the  stump  during  every  gubernatorial  and 
presidential  campaign,  and  was  a  forceful  and 
agreeable  speaker.  No  mention  of  the  man 
would  be  complete  without  reference  to  the 
factional  fight  which  shook  the  politics  of 
Washington  county  to  its  very  foundation. 
Mr.  Bascom  was  a  member  of  the  Howland- 
Hobbie-Burleigh-Bascom  faction  which  wres- 
ted the  control  of  Washington  county  from 
the  "bosses,"  and  which  culminated  in  the 
famous  Argyle  convention  in  1896  when  the 
sheriff  of  the  county,  under  the  guise  of  pre- 
serving the  peace,  swore  in  a  large  number 
of  deputies  and  attempted  by  force  to  pre- 
vent the  organization  of  the  convention.  Many 
of  the  Howland  delegates  were  forcibly  ejected 
from  the  hall ;  tables  and  chairs  were 
broken,  several  men  received  serious  injuries, 
and  the  convention  was  at  a  stand-still  and 
could  not  be  organized  because  no  one  could 
be  found  with  the  temerity  to  call  the  roll  of 
the  delegates,  until  Mr.  Bascom,  despite  the 
sheriff,  called  the  towns  on  the  question  of 
the  selection  of  a  chairman.  He  was  forced 
from  the  platform  several  times,  and  was  the 
object  of  attack  of  every  bully  in  the  room, 
but  defied  the  mob  and  organized  the  conven- 
tion. He  was  afterward  counsel  for  the  tax- 
payers' league  of  Washington  county  which 
preferred  charges  against  Sheriff  John  N. 
Hevlett  before  Governor  Roo.sevelt,  which  led 
to  the  resignation  of  the  sheriff,  his  subsequent 
indictment,  and  the  restoration  of  about  ten 
thousand  dollars  to  the  treasury  of  the  coun- 
ty. He  was  also  a  member  of  the  grievance 
committee  of  the  Bar  Association,  and  was 
secretary  of  the  sub-committee  of  the  griev- 
ance committee  which  heard  the  charges 
against  Judge  Warren  Hooker,  made  by  the 
Jamestown  Bar  Association.  Jointly  with 
Dean  Huffcut,  of  the  Cornell  Law  School,  he 
was  the  author  of  the  report  of  that  commit- 
tee. Mr.  Bascom  represented  the  highest  type 
of  American  citizenship  and  was  a  practical 
politician.  He  was  able  to  deal  with  men  and 
conditions  as  he  found  tlieni.  but  never 
"crooked  the  pregnant  hinges  of  the  knee  that 
thrift  might  follow  fawning."  In  his  admin- 
istrations of  the  various  public  trusts  reposed 
in  him,  he  was  never  actuated  by  anything' 
other  than  the  desire  to  discharge  the  duty 
which  he  owed  to  the  electorate  which  chose 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


263 


him.  No  innocent  man  was  ever  harassed  be- 
cause he  stood  in  the  politician's  way.  No 
rogue  escaped  punishment  because  he  had 
"friends  at  court."  He  was  an  able  lawyer, 
a  kind  father  and  a  faithful  citizen.  Mr.  Bas- 
com  was  for  a  number  of  years  a  warden  and 
vestryman  of  St.  James  Episcopal  church  of 
Fort  Edward.  He  married,  December  20, 
1882,  Mary  Larabee  Piatt,  daughter  of  Myron 
and  Sarah  (Larabee)  Piatt,  born  August  22, 
1857.     Children:  all    further  mentioned. 

I.  Wyman  Samuel  Bascom,  son  of  Robert 
O.  and  Mary  Larrabee  (Piatt)  Bascom,  was 
born  in  Fort  Edward,  February  14,  1885.  He 
married,  July  15,  1908,  Esther  Louise  Cowles, 
of  Glens  Falls,  Warren  county,  New  York, 
a  daughter  of  Darius  Levens  and  Hattie 
(Cronkhite)  Cowles.  Darius  Levens  Cowles 
was  a  son  of  Zinah  and  Elizabeth  (Levens) 
Cowles.  Hattie  Cronkhite  was  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Esther  (Milliman)  Cronkhite. 
Mr.  Bascom  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Fort  Edward ;  graduated  at  Glens  Falls 
Academy  in  1902,  and  Albany  Law  School,  in 
1905,  with  degree  of  LL.B.  He  was  admit- 
ted to  the  bar  in  May,  1906.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Republican,  and  served  as  United  States 
Commissioner  for  the  Northern  District  of 
New  York  ;  corporation  counsel  of  the  village 
of  Fort  Edward,  1907-1911  :  indictment  clerk 
and  assistant  district  attorney  of  Washington 
count}-.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Glens  Falls 
club.  Fort  Edward  Club,  Kappa  Alpha  So- 
ciety, National  Geographical  Society  and  V'er- 
mont  Historical  Society.  He  has  one  son, 
Robert  William  Cowles,  born  July  15,  1909. 
He  is  eligible  to  the  Colonial  Societies, 
through  Ezekiel  and  Elias  Bascom,  and  to  the 
Revolutionary  Societies  through  Elias  Bas- 
com, Ebenezer  Hulburd,  Daniel  Sheldon 
(father  of  Polly),  and  Lemuel  Clark  (father 
of  Moses  A.)  ;  "Dorchester  Town  History," 
Stiles,  "History  of  Ancient  Windsor,"  "His- 
tory of  Northfield,  Mass.,"  "Bascom's  Gene- 
alogy," etc. 

(IX)  Robert  Piatt  Bascom,  born  at  Fort 
i  Edward,  New  York,  December  29,  1886;  edu- 
cated at  public  schools  of  Fort  Edward,  grad- 
uated from  Glens  Falls  Academy,  Glens  Falls, 
New  York,  1907;  graduated  from  Carnegie 
Technical  Institute,  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania, 
June,    191 1,   with   degree  of   C.E. 

( IX)  Frederick  George  Bascom.  born  at 
Fort  Edward,  New  York,  June  15,  1895  ;  edu- 
cated in  public  schools  of  Eort  Edward.  Glens 
.  Falls  Academy,  and  Glens  Falls  High  School. 

L  (The   Piatt  Line). 

■       (I)    Mary    Larrabee    Piatt    Bascom    is    of 
the  eight  generation   of   the    Piatt   family   in 


America.  She  descends  from  Richard  Piatt, 
who  came  to  Ainerica  in  1638  and  settled  in 
New  Haven,  Connecticut,  where  he  died  in 

1684.    He  married  Mary ,  who  died  in 

1678. 

(II)  Lieutenant  Joseph,  son  of  Richard  and 
Mary  Piatt,  was  born  August  i,  1648.  He 
married.  May  5,  1680,  Mary,  daughter  of 
Daniel  Kellogg. 

(III)  Gideon,  son  of  Lieutenant  Joseph  and 
Mary  (Kellogg)  Piatt,  was  baptized  Septem- 
ber 29,  1700.  He  married,  February  28,  1726, 
Mary  Buckingham. 

(I\')  Epenetus,  son  of  Gideon  and  Mary 
(Buckingham)  Piatt,  was  born  February, 
1728:  married  Susannah,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Merwin. 

(\')  Epenetus  (2),  son  of  Epenetus  (i)  and 
Susannah  (Merwin)  Piatt,  was  born,  August 
13,  1760.  He  married  (first)  August  10, 
1783,  Mollie  Stone;  (second),  March  17, 
1803,  Sarah  Lobdell. 

(\T)  Elmore,  son  of  Epenetus  {2)  and  his 
first  wife.  Mollie  (Stone)  Piatt,  was  born  Au- 
gust 18,  1797,  died  July  26,  1880.  He  mar- 
ried, February  2,  1825,  Betsey,  born  Septem- 
ber 23.  1805,  daughter  of  Reuben  Peck. 

(VH)  Myron,  son  of  Elmore  and  Betsey 
(Peck)  Piatt,  was  born  August  15,  1830,  died 
October  17,  1897.  He  married,  August  4, 
1856,  Sarah  E.  Larrabee.  He  was  a  graduate 
of  Rensselaer  Polytechnic  Institute,  Troy, 
New  York. 

(VIII)  Mary  Larrabee,  daughter  of  Myron 
and  Sarah  E.  (Larrabee)  Piatt,  was  born  Au- 
gust 22,  1857.  She  married,  December  20, 
1882,  Robert  O.  Bascom.  She  is  now  and  has 
been  for  a  number  of  years  a  member  and 
ofificer  of  Jane  McCrea  Chapter,  D.A.R.,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Vermont  Society  of  Co- 
lonial Dames.  She  was  educated  at  Glens  Falls 
Academy,  Glens  Falls,  New  York,  Newton 
Academy,  Shoreham,  Vermont,  and  is  a  grad- 
uate of  Fort  Edward  Collegiate  Institute. 


Peter  D.  Hanson,  born 
HANSON-BEST     1801,   died    185 1,   mar- 
ried and  had  the  follow- 
ing children:  Andrew,  Orville,  Sarah,  Marga- 
ret.    John,  Harriett,  Abram    (of  whom  fur- 
ther), Mary  and  Andrew. 

Abram,  seventh  child  and  fourth  son  of 
Peter  D.  Hanson  was  born  in  1841,  and  died 
October  8,  1908.  He  descended  from  Cap- 
tain Hans  Hendrickse.  an  early  trader  of  Bev- 
erwyck,  whose  descendants  took  the  name 
Hansen  from  their  progenitor's  first  name 
Hans.  Abram  Hanson  was  educated  in  the 
district  schools  at  Albany  Bush,  Fulton  coun- 
ty. New  York,  and  served  a  full  term  of  ap- 


264 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


prenticeship  at  the  blacksmith's  trade,  at 
which  he  worked  until  the  breaking  out  of  the 
civil  war  when  he  enlisted  in  the  One  hun- 
dred fifteenth  Regiment,  New  York  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  known  as  the  "Iron  Hearted 
Regiment."  He  enlisted  at  Amsterdam,  New 
York,  as  a  private  in  Company  B.,  mustered 
out  June  9,  1865.  The  One  hundred  fifteenth 
Regiment  was  largely  recruited  in  the  coun- 
ties of  Saratoga,  Montgomery,  Fulton  and 
Hamilton.  They  left  for  the  seat  of  war,  Au- 
gust 29,  1862.  and  September  i.  1862,  were 
in  Maryland,  armed  and  equipped  for  serv- 
ice. They  were  first  in  battle  at  Maryland 
Heights ;  were  surrounded  with  the  army  at 
Harper's  Ferry;  later  saw  the  most  terrific 
fighting  of  the  war,  and  gained  a  reputation 
for  bravery  not  exceeded  by  any  regiment  in 
the  service.  Through  it  all  Abram  Hanson 
bore  well  his  part  and  escaped  without  seri- 
ous injury.  After  the  war  was  over,  he  re- 
turned to  his  home,  and  in  association  with 
his  brother  John,  he  carried  on  a  stove  store, 
and  as  Hanson  Brothers,  they  continued  its 
operation  until  1886.  In  that  year  the  part- 
nership was  dissolved,  Abram  starting  a  sim- 
ilar business  under  his  own  name.  He  was 
engaged  in  the  stove  and  hardware  business 
until  his  death,  building  up  a  good  business, 
which  he  left  to  his  wife,  who  still  continues 
it,  with  \'roman  H.  Best  as  manager.  Mr. 
Hanson  was  a  member  of  Lodge.  Encamp- 
ment and  Canton  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  the  L'niform  Rank,  Knights 
of  Pythias ;  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men ; 
Colonel  Sammons  Post.  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  and  the  Royal  Arcanum.  He  was 
also  a  prominent  fireman  for  many  years,  and 
he  belonged  in  his  latter  years  to  the  Exempt 
Fireman's  Associations.  His  funeral  was  held 
under  the  direction  and  according  to  the  bur- 
ial rite  of  both  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  the  Improved  Order  of  Red 
Men.  Politically  he  was  a  Democrat.  He 
was  a  warm-hearted  generous  man.  bestowing 
upon  his  wife  and  adopted  daughter  every 
attention  and  advantage.  Mr.  Hanson  mar- 
ried Eliza  Churchill,  born  May  15,  1844. 
They  had  no  children,  and  adopted  when  she 
was  but  four  vears  old,  Mav  C,  born  June 
1,   1868. 

May  G.,  adojjted  daughter  of  .Vbram  and 
Eliza  (Churchill)  Hanson,  was  born  June  i. 
1868.  She  was  educated  in  the  Gloversville 
high  school  and  Cortland  State  Normal 
School,  graduating  from  the  latter  with  the 
class  of  1889.  She  taught  a  private  school 
for  one  year  and  in  the  public  schools  for 
two  years  previous  to  her  marriage.  She 
married,    April    30.    1891,    Vroman    H.    Best 


(see  Best).  She  is  now  her  husband's  assis- 
tant in  the  management  of  the  business  left 
by  her  father.  She  is  a  member  of  Richard 
Montgomery  Chapter,  Daughters  of  the- 
American  Revolution,  having  served  as  sec- 
retary of  the  society  for  several  years.  May 
G.  (Hanson)  Best  is  a  writer  and  composer 
of  some  note,  contributing  to  several  of  the 
leading  periodicals.  Mrs.  Best  has  also  pub- 
lished a  book  of  poems  entitled  "Rose  Leaves- 
and  Rowen."  They  have  one  son,  Abram 
Hanson  Best,  born  November  30,   1900. 

(The  Best  Line). 
This  branch  of  the  Best  family  descend' 
from  English  ancestry.  John  M.  Best  was- 
born  at  Pickering,  Yorkshire,  England,  came 
to  the  United  States  with  his  wife,  Eliza- 
beth, and  settled  in  St.  Lawrence  county, 
New  York,  where  they  located  on  a  farm  and 
reared  six  children. 

(II)  Jacob,  son  of  John  M.  and  Elizabeth 
Best,  married  and  had  four  children :  Charles, 
Alonzo,  of  whom  further,  Angeline  and' 
Julia  ]\I. 

(III)  Alonzo,  son  of  Jacob  Best,  was  born 
in  1836,  died  July  27,  1904.  He  married 
Anne  \'roman,  born  in  1836,  died  February 
21,  1900.  She  was  a  descendant  of  the  old 
Dutch  Vroman  family,  whose  history  is  found' 
elsewhere  in  this  work,  and  that  bore  so 
prominent  a  part  in  the  settlement  and  de- 
velopment of  the  Mohawk  \'alley.  Children 
of  Alonzo  and  Anne  (\^roman)  Best:  Fran- 
cis, born  and  died  in  i860;  and  Vroman  H., 
of  whom  further. 

(I\')  \"roman  H.,  son  of  .Alonzo  and  .Anne 
(Woman)  Best,  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  in 
1885.  went  to  Gloversville,  where  he  com- 
pleted his  studies  in  the  high  school.  .After 
leaving  school  he  learned  glove  making  and 
followed  that  occupation  for  six  years.  He- 
then  became  associated  with  Abram  Han.son 
in  the  stove  business,  continuing  with  him' 
until  his  death  in  1908.  He  is  now  manager 
of  the  business.  He  is  an  Odd  Fellow  and  a 
Democrat.  He  married,  April  30.  1891,  May 
G.,  adopted  daughter  of  Abram  Hanson  and' 
they  have  one  .son,  Abram  Hanson  Best,  born 
November  30,  1900. 


The  Copeland  family  of 
COPEL.-\ND  Bridgewater.  Mas.sachu- 
setts,  from  whom  the  pres- 
ent family  in  Troy  descent,  was  planted  in- 
.\merica  at  an  early  day  by  Lawrence  Cope- 
land.  P.y  the  marriage  of  his  son  William 
to  Mary  Bass  tiie  line  of  descent  is  carried' 
to   John    .Mden   and   Priscilla    .Moliiies    {  Mul- 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


265 


lins),  through  their  youngest  daughter  Ruth. 
Through  a  later  marriage  of  Jonathan,  son 
of  William  Copeland,  to  Abby  Godfrey  a  sec- 
ond line  is  traced  to  John  Alden,  through  his 
eldest  daugiitcr  Elizabeth  { Hetty ).  Several 
revolutionary  ancestors  are  encountered  in 
tracing  this  line,  which  are  hereafter  noted. 
The  Copelands  are  a  strong  and  hardy  race, 
strong  in  mentality  and  character,  as  well  as 
in  bodily  vigor,  and  are  very  tenacious  of  life. 
Notwithstanding  their  length  of  years  the 
men  of  the  family  matured  early  and  were 
filling  men's  places  in  the  world  when  they 
were  yet  boys — note  the  early  business  re- 
sponsibility of  George,  and  the  early  enlist- 
ment of  his  son  Ithamar  W.  Copeland. 

(Mayflower   descent). 

(I)  John  .\lden,  born  1599.  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  the  "Mayflower"  in  1620,  and  was  a 
signer  of  the  compact.  His  career  is  too  well 
known  to  be  here  considered.  He  married, 
in  1621,  Priscilla  Molines  (often  written 
Mullins).  They  had  eleven  children  of  whom 
Elizabeth  was  the  eldest  daughter,  and  Ruth 
the  youngest. 

(H)  Ruth,  youngest  child  of  John  and 
Priscilla  (Molines)  Alden,  married,  Alay  12, 
1657.  John  Bass,  of  Braintree,  and  from  them 
descended  two  presidents  of  the  United  States 
John  and  John  Quincy  Adams.  Ruth  died 
in  1657.  John  Bass,  born  1632,  died  Septem- 
ber 23,  1716,  was  a  son  of  William,  born  in 
England,  1601,  settled  in  Roxbury,  1630,  re- 
moved to  Rraintree,  1640,  where  he  was  dep- 
uty twelve  years.     He  married  .^nnie , 

and  died  January  10.  1695,  aged  ninety-four 
years.  His  wife,  Annie,  died  September  16. 
1692,  aged  ninety-three  years. 

(HI)  Mary,  daughter  of  John  and  Ruth 
(Alden)  Bass,  born  December  11,  1669.  mar- 
ried (first)  Christopher  Webb;  (second) 
April   13.   1694,  William  Copeland. 

The  first  Cojieland  in  America  of  whom 
there  is  definite  record  was  Lawrence  Cope- 
land. born  in  England  in  1589.  The  time 
and  manner  of  his  coming  is  not  recorded. 
He  was  a  resident  of  Bridgewater,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  lived  to  the  great  age  of  one 
hundred  and  ten  years.  He  married,  Decem- 
l)er  12.  1651,  Lydia  Townsend,  and  had  chil- 
dren: Thomas,  died  in  infancy;  Thomas  (2), 
William,  Lvdia,  Ephraim,  Hannah,  Richard, 
Abigail. 

(II)  William,  son  of  Lawrence  and  Lytlia 
(Townsend  I  Copeland,  lived  in  Bridgewater, 
Massachusetts.  He  married,  April  13,  1694, 
Mary,  widow  of  Christopher  Webb,  and 
daughter  of  John  and  Ruth  (Alden)  Bass. 
Children:    \\'illiam    (2),   Ephraim,   Ebenezer, 


Jonathan,  mentioned  below ;  David,  Joseph, 
Benjamin,  Moses,   Mary. 

(HI)  Jonathan,  son  of  William  and  ]Mary 
(Bass)  (Webb)  Copeland,  was  born  .Vugust 
31,  1 701.  He  settled  in  West  Bridgewater, 
Massachusetts,  where  he  married,  in  1723, 
Betsey,  daughter  of  Thomas  Snell  (2).  Chil- 
dren: Abigail,  born  1724;  Betty,  1726,  died 
young;  Jonathan  (2),  1728;  Mary,  1731;  Jo- 
seph, 1734;  Hannah,  1737;  Elijah,  1739;  Dan- 
iel, 1741  ;  Sarah.  1745;  Ebenezer,  1746,  see 
forward;  Betty,   1750. 

(I\')  Ebenezer,  son  of  Jonathan  and  Bet- 
sey (Snell)  Copeland,  was  born  in  West 
Bridgewater,  Massachusetts,  in  1746,  and 
married,  in  1770,  Abigail  (.Abby)  Godfrey, 
of  Norton,  Massachusetts,  daughter  of  James 
Godfrey,  a  descendant  of  John  and  Priscilla 
Alden,  through  their  eldest  daughter  Eliza- 
beth (Betty).  Children:  i.  Ebenezer,  born 
1773;  married  (first)  Mehitable  Snell;  mar- 
ried (second)  Mrs.  Hannah  Godfrey.  2. 
James,  died  without  issue.  3.  Betty,  mar- 
ried, in  1799,  Calvin  William.  4.  Lydia,  mar- 
ried, in  1799,  Nathan  Howard  (3).  5.  Oakes, 
see  forward.  6.  Abby,  married,  in  1796,  Eli- 
jah Snell  (2).  7.  Rachel,  died  without  is- 
sue. 8.  Ruth,  died  without  issue.  9.  Molly, 
died  without  issue. 

(V)  Oakes,  son  of  Ebenezer  and  .-Xbigail 
(Abby)  (Godfrey)  Copeland,  w'as  born  in 
West  Bridgewater,  Massachusetts,  in  1793. 
He  resided  in  that  town,  Foxboro  and  Graf- 
ton, Massachusetts.  He  was  a  prosperous 
farmer,  a  man  of  strong  character  and  com- 
manding influence.  He  married  Polly  Pet- 
tee,  born  June  26,  1799  (see  Pettee  \').  Chil- 
dren ;  George,  mentioned  below ;  Joseph, 
Mary,  Abigail.  Lydia,  Simon,  C^tis,  Thomas. 

(VI)  George,  eldest  son  of  Oakes  and  Pol- 
ly (Pettee)  Copeland,  was  born  at  Foxboro, 
Massachusetts.  He  was  a  boy  of  early  men- 
tal and  physical  development.  .At  fifteen  he 
had  left  school,  and  had  more  than  a  fair 
knowledge  of  the  machinist's  trade  and  of 
machinery.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  was  em- 
ployeil  by  a  Newton.  Massachusetts,  firm  of 
machine  builders  to  go  to  China  and  erect  ma- 
chinery they  were  shipping  to  that  country. 
He  remained  abroad  several  years,  visited  all 
the  countries  of  the  far  east,  and  acquired  an 
education  that  included  the  fluent  mastery  of 
several  languages.  He  loved  nature  and  spent 
much  time  in  studying  rocks  and  other  geolog- 
ical features.  Returning  to  the  United 
States,  he  continued  his  roving,  adventurous 
life  and  added  to  an  already  richly  stored 
mind  an  e.xpert  knowledge  of  mines  and  min- 
ing. For  the  last  twenty-five  years  of  his 
life  he  made  Denver,  Colorado,  his  home  and 


266 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


business  headquarters.  He  was  a  high-sal- 
aried expert  and  constantly  employed  in  ex- 
amining and  reporting  on  mmes,  etc.  He 
acquired  private  mining  interests  in  Sonora, 
Mexico,  and  when  last  seen  by  his  family 
was  departing  to  visit  them.  He  was  mur- 
dered at  a  ranch  in  Arispe.  Mexico,  in  1887, 
whether  by  Indians  or  Mexicans  is  not 
known.  He  had  stopped  at  the  ranch  over- 
night, two  shots  were  heard  and  in  the  morn- 
ing his  dead  body  was  found.  Among  his 
effects,  not  taken  by  the  murderers,  was  a 
letter  from  his  granddaughter,  Annie  S. 
Copeland,  of  Troy,  New  York,  which  gave  a 
■clue  to  his  identity  and  residence.  His  family 
was  communicated  with  and  months  after- 
ward learned  of  his  fate.  He  is  buried  where 
he  fell  at  Arispe,  Sonora,  Mexico.  He  had 
w-on  the  hearts  of  the  natives  by  the  use  of 
some  skill  he  possessed  in  medicine  and  sur- 
gery and  was  greatly  beloved.  This  explains 
the  interest  that  was  taken  to  inform  his 
friends  in  the  United  States  of  his  death.  He 
married  (first)  Sophia  Rabbit,  born  in  Wal- 
pole,  Massachusetts,  April  10,  1842  (see  l-!ab- 
bit  \'l).  Children:  i.  Leonore,  born  in  Mex- 
ico, July  30,  1843 ;  married,  Edwin  E.  Fish- 
er, of  Norwood,  Massachusetts,  son  of  Eli- 
phalet  Fisher :  children  :  i.  Genevieve  Howard, 
born  June  14,  1863,  married  Albert  Everett; 
ii.  Grace  Bruerton,  born  December  15,  1865; 
married  Henry  French  Hallis,  of  Concord, 
New  Hampshire,  born  August  30,  1869,  son 
of  Mavor  Abijah  (who  served  in  the  war  of 
the  rebellion)  and  Henrietta  (Van  Matis) 
Hallis,  who  were  married  July  9,  1864;  Hen- 
rv  F.  Hallis  is  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Con- 
•cord,  and  in  1906  was  Democratic  candidate 
for  governor;  children:  Henry  French  Jr., 
born  May  26,  1894,  student  of  Phillips  Exe- 
ter Academy,  from  which  he  will  go  to  Har- 
vard College;  Anna  Richardson,  born  July  12. 
1896,  student  at  St.  Mary's  School,  Concord, 
New  Hampshire;  iii.  \\'illard  Babbit,  born 
December  28,  1870,  died  January  10,  1889; 
iv.  Dana  H.,  a  graduate  of  Massachusetts  In- 
stitute of  Technology ;  v.  Edward  Lovell,  born 
January  21,  1882;  vi.  Helen  Copeland,  born 
May  27.  1885.  2.  Ithamar  Whiting,  men- 
tioned below.  3.  Edward  Jenner,  horn  in 
Walpole,  Massachusetts,  1850,  died  in  Den- 
ver, Colorado,  1887;  married  a  Miss  Jones 
and  left  two  children,  4.  Annie  Drury,  born 
in  Waltham,  Massachusetts,  died  January  i, 
1906,  unmarried. 

(VII)  Ithamar  Whiting,  eldest  son  of 
'George  and  Sophia  (Babbit)  Copeland.  was 
born  in  Walpole,  Massachusetts,  October  9, 
1847.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools, 
-.and   at  the  early   age  of    fourteen   years  en- 


listed in  Company  K,  Forty-fourth  Regiment, 
Massachusetts  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  went 
to  the  front.  He  saw  hard  service  and  was 
wounded  in  the  battle  at  Kingston,  North 
Carolina,  in  1862.  This  led  to  his  honorable 
discharge  in  1863.  He  returned  to  Massa- 
chusetts and  was  variously  engaged  for  sev- 
eral years,  including  two  years  spent  in  pho- 
tography. He  then  entered  the  employ  of 
the  Rutland  &  Burlington  railroad  as  clerk 
and  telegrapher  at  Vergennes,  \"ermont,  and 
was  soon  promoted  to  a  better  position  at 
Brandon,  Vermont,  He  became  an  expert 
operator  and  railroad  man,  which  fact  led  to 
his  appointment  as  train  dispatcher  and  as- 
sistant to  the  superintendent  at  Fishkill  New 
York,  by  the  New  York,  Boston  and  Mon- 
treal Railroad  Company.  Here  he  remained 
five  years,  and  then  retired  from  railroading 
and  engaged  for  three  years  in  mercantile 
life  at  Brandon,  Vermont.  He  sold  his  in- 
terests there,  and  engaged  with  the  American 
Union  Telegraph  Company  as  assistant  super- 
intendent in  charge  of  construction  of  new 
lines.  In  1881,  after  the  American  Union 
had  been  absorbed  by  the  Western  Union 
Telegraph  Company,  he  was  appointed  man- 
ager of  the  Western  Union  office  in  Troy, 
New  York,  where  he  still  remains,  a  trusted 
and  capable  official.  He  was  actively  inter- 
ested for  several  years  in  New  York  National 
Guard.  In  1885  he  was  appointed  signal  of- 
ficer on  the  staff  of  Brigadier-General  Parker 
with  the  rank  of  captain.  This  was  during 
the  administration  of  Governor  David  B.  Hill, 
When  three  years  later  General  Parker  re- 
signed. Captain  Copeland  was  retained  on  the 
staff'  of  his  successor.  General  Robert  Shaw 
Oliver,  now  (1910)  assistant  secretary  of  war 
under  President  Taft.  Captain  Copeiand  is  a 
member  of  King  Solomon's  Lodge,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  Troy  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce, the  Magnetic  and  the  Morse  clubs  of 
New  York  City,  the  Electric  Club  of  Bos- 
ton, and  was  a  charter  member  of  the  East 
Side  Club  of  Troy,  and  member  of  the  Com- 
mercial Travelers  Club  of  the  same  city.  His 
patriotic  ancestry,  which  follows,  has  gained 
him  admission  to  the  Society  of  Sons  of  the 
American  Revolution.  Politically  he  is  an  In- 
dependent Republican.  He  married,  July  9, 
1873,  Mary  L.  Ross,  of  Brandon,  Vermont, 
daughter  of  Dr.  Volney  Ross,  a  physician  and 
merchant  of  Brandon,  \'ermont,  and  his  wife 
Maria  (Hill)  Ross.  Children:  i.  Annie,  So- 
phia, graduate  of  Troy  high  school,  class  of 
1896 ;  married,  June  22,  1904,  Chester  Hast- 
ings Stillman,  a  graduate  of  Cornell  Univer- 
sity, E.E.  and  M.E.,  class  of  1896;  a  graduate 
of  Rensselaer  Polytechnic  Institute,  C.E.,  class 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


267 


fof  1906 ;  now  employed  as  engineer  with  the 
3S^e\v  York  State  Department  of  Highway 
'Construction.  2.  Edith  Ross,  a  graduate  of 
Troy  high  school,  class  of  1897  ;  married,  April 
26,  1905,  Arthur  De  Forest  Davis,  a  graduate 
•of  Rensselaer  Polytechnic  Institute,  class  of 
1907,  in  special  course  in  civil  engineering. 

(The    Pettee    Line). 
Polly    (Pettee)    Copeland,   grandmother  of 
Itliamar  W.   Copeland,   was  a  descendant  of 
William  Pettee,  or  Pitty,  of  Weymouth,  Mas- 
sachusetts,  1638.     He  married  Mary  , 

and  had  children  born  at  Weymouth :  John, 
Joseph,  Mary,  Samuel,  Thomas  and  William. 

(II)  Samuel,  son  of  William  and  Mary 
Pettee  or  Pitty,  was  born  at  Weymouth,  Mas- 
sachusetts, December  6,  1657.  He  was  of 
Stoughton,  Massachusetts.    He  married  Mary 

,  and  had  children :  Samuel,  James,  Si- 
mon, and  probably  others. 

(III)  Samuel  (2),  son  of  Samuel  (i)  and 
Mary  Pettee,  was  born  at-  Stoughton,  Mas- 
sachusetts, October  24,  1685.  He  was  a  resi- 
dent of  ^^'alpale.  Massachusetts.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Clapp,  and  had  thirteen  children,  of 
whom  Simon  was  the  youngest.  There  may 
have  been  five  other  children  born  in  another 
town  than  W^alpdle. 

(1\')  Simon,  son  of  Samuel  (2)  and  Eliza- 
beth (Clapp)  Pettee,  was  born  at  Walpole, 
Massachusetts.  January  28,  1749,  died  June 
28.  1825.  at  Foxboro,  Massachusetts.  He 
served  in  the  revolution  as  follows :  Enlisted 
in  the  W^rentham  Matross,  second  company. 
Captain  Thomas  Melville.  Colonel  Thomas 
Crafts,  artillery:  served  from  November  i, 
1776,  to  February  i,  1777,  two  months.  Rolls 
sworn  to  at  Boston ;  also  same  company  and 
regiment,  February  i,  1777,  to  May  8.  1777, 
three  months  and  seven  days.  (See  Massa- 
chusetts Rolls  vol  12,  p.  254.)  (See  Morse 
genealogy  147- 151.)  He  was  a  man  of  great 
judgment  and  invention,  and  a  leading  citi- 
zen of  Foxboro.  He  married  .'\bigail  (Jen- 
kins) Caswell.  He  had  ten  children,  of  whom 
Polly  was  the  youngest. 

(V)  Polly,  daughter  of  Simon  and  .\bigail 
(Jenkins)  (Caswell)  Pettee,  married  Oakes 
'Copeland  (see  Copeland  V). 

(The   Babbit   Line). 

Sophia  (Babbit)  Copeland,  mother  of  Ith- 
amar  W.  Copeland.  was  a  descendant  of  Ed- 
ward Babbit,  born  July  15,  1655,  died  I7,'^2: 
married  .\bigail  Walker  Tisdale,  December  22, 
1698,  and   settled  in   Berkley.   Massachusetts. 

(II)  Nathan,  son  of  Edward  and  Abigail 
Walker  (Tisdale)  Babbit,  was  born  March 
1708,  died  February  25,    1775.     He   married 


Marv 
1782. 


born   1703,  died  December  16, 


(III)  Lieutenant  Nathan  (2),  son  of  Na- 
than ( I )  and  Mary  Babbit,  was  born  in  Nor- 
ton, Massachusetts,  October  8,  1730,  died 
there  August  31,  1794.  He  married,  Feljruary 
I,  1752,  Abigail  Cobb,  born  in  the  same  town, 
March  5,  1731-32,  died  March  10,  1782.  They 
"owned  the  covenant"  in  the  Norton  church, 
1756. 

(1\')  Levi,  son  of  Lieutenant  Nathan  (2) 
and  .Abigail  (Cobb)  Babbit,  was  born  in  Nor- 
ton, Massachusetts,  August  31,  1757,  died  in 
the  same  town.  May  8,  1795.  He  married 
Betty  Babbitt,  of  Hendrick,  Massachusetts, 
December  21,  1779.  He  served  in  the  revolu- 
tion as  follows:  "Private  in  Captain  Silas 
Cobbs'  company.  Colonel  Timothy  Walker's 
regiment:  muster  roll  dated  August  i.  1775; 
enlisted  May  2,  1775  ;  service  three  months, 
seven  days :  also  a  private  in  Captain  Seth 
Gilbert's  second  company.  Colonel  John  Dag- 
gett's regiment,  which  marched  on  the  Lex- 
ington alarm,  April  19,  1775 ;  served  ten 
days."  (See  Massachusetts  Rolls,  vol  I,  p. 
387-390.) 

(V)  Williard,  son  of  Levi  and  Betty  (Bab- 
bitt) Babbit,  was  born  in  Norton,  Massachu- 
sett,  December  11.  1787.  He  was  also  of  Eas- 
ton  and  Walpole,  Massachusetts.  He  mar- 
ried, .April  13,  1815,  Sophia,  born  in  Norton, 
Alassachusetts.  March  17.  1790,  daughter  of 
Dr.  Samuel  Morey,  and  granddaughter  of 
Samuel  Morey,  a  prominent  patriot  of  Nor- 
ton. When  the  town  of  Boston.  Massachu- 
setts, wrote  to  Norton  asking  for  food  sup- 
plies, which  were  badly  needed,  Samuel  Mo- 
rey was  elected  on  the  committee  to  collect 
sheep  and  grain  to  carry  to  Boston.  Samuel 
was  a  son  of  George  and  Elizabeth  Morey,  of 
Norton.  Massachusetts.  He  married  his  cousin 
Mary  Hodges,  descendants  both  of  Wil- 
liam Hodges  and  Mary  .Andrews,  of  Taun- 
ton, Massachusetts.  1643.  She  was  not  quite 
sixteen  years  old,  and  a  month  after  their 
marriage  he  was  appointed  her  guardian  by 
the  court.  They  had  seven  children.  Dr. 
Samuel,  son  of  Samuel  Morey.  was  born  in 
Norton.  Massachusetts,  June  14,  1757,  died 
there  May  8,  1836.  He  was  graduated  at  Yale 
College,  class  of  1777,  studied  medicine  and 
surgery,  and  shortly  after  his  graduation  en- 
listed in  the  revolutionary  army  as  surgeon 
and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was 
a  popular  and  influential  citizen,  and  a  skilled 
medical  practitioner  of  Norton  from  the  close 
of  tlie  revolution  until  his  death.  He  was 
town  treasurer  six  years,  a  member  of  the 
state  legislature  two  terms,  school  trustee,  and 
in   1794  one  of  the  original  board  of  direct- 


268 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  ^■ALLEYS 


ors  of  Norton  Library.  He  was  a  charter 
member  of  Bristol  Lodge,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  charter  A.L.  5797.  He  married, 
April  ig,  1787,  Sarah,  born  in  Norton,  Mas- 
sachusetts, December  2,  1764,  daughter  of 
Rev.  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Eames)  Palmer,  of 
Norton. 

(\'l)  Sophia,  daughter  of  Williard  and  So- 
phia (Morey)  Babbit,  married  George  Cope- 
land  (see  Copeland  VI). 


The  Aliens  of  Albany  and  Sche- 
ALLEN     nectady,    herein    recorded,    have, 

through  intermarriage  with  the 
Seymours  of  New  England,  a  clear  title  to 
Royal  descent,  and  to  a  most  distinguished 
line  of  ancestors,  including  Henry  HI.  and 
Edward  HL.  of  England,  a  son  of  the  latter. 
Sir  Lionel  Plantagenet,  having  married  Lady 
\\'anda  Plantagenet,  a  great-granddaughter 
of  King  Henry  HI.  Nine  generations  later 
Lady  Elizabeth  Wentvvorth,  a  lineal  descend- 
ant of  King  Edward  HL  married  Sir  John 
Seymour,  of  Wolf  Hall,  Wilts,  England,  also 
of  Royal  descent.  Their  son,  Sir  Edward  de 
Seymour,  K.G.,  first  Duke  of  Somerset,  was 
beheaded  1552.  His  son.  Sir  Edward  de  Sey- 
mour, died  1598.  He  married  Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  Judge  John  Mabie,  and  they  were  the 
grandparents  of  Ricliard  Seymour,  the  emi- 
grant to  America,  and  ancestor  of  Emelescent 
Seymour,  wife  of  Rufus  Allen.  The  ances- 
try of  King  Henry  HI.  has  been  traced  to 
King  Alfred,  "the  Great,"  born  at  the  palace 
of  Wantage,  and  died  901.  This  ancestry 
touches  the  royalty  of  all  countries,  and  from 
King  .Klfred  goes  still  farther  back  to  Cedric, 
519,  founder  of  the  Kingdom  of  Wessex, 
whose  line  continued  down  to  Egbert,  King 
of  Wessex,  800-836,  grandfather  of  Alfred, 
"the  Great."  To  go  still  farther  back  into 
antiquity :  About  the  beginning  of  the  Chris- 
tian era,  a  warlike  prince  of  Asia  left  his 
kingdom  near  the  Black  Sea.  and  with  a 
mighty  army  invaded  the  northwestern  penin- 
sula of  Europe.  According  to  early  historians 
he  established  rule  over  a  vast  extent  of  coun- 
try, which  was  inhabited  by  his  posterity,  and 
nine  generations  later  his  descendant  Cedric 
founded  the  Kingdom  of  Wessex,  519  B.C. 
Ten  Kings  of  Wessex  reigned  to  Egbert,  who 
spent  many  years  of  his  youth  at  the  court 
of  Charlemagne,  and  reigned  800-836.  I  lis 
grandson.  Alfred  the  Great,  was  a  wise  and 
just  ruler,  and  under  him  England  rapidly 
advanced  from  a  semi-barbarous  to  a  semi- 
civilized  ])eople,  and  some  advancement  was 
made  in  the  arts  and  sciences.  To  King  Ed- 
ward HI.  the  line  of  descent  is  through  many 
of  the  famous  early  rulers  of  England — Ed- 


ward, "the  Elder,"  Ethelred,  "the  Unready," 
Edward,  "Ironside,"  Edward,  "the  Outlaw," 
with  whom  in  1057  the  Saxon  line  became  ex- 
tinct. Then  the  descent  shifts  to  Scotland, 
and  King  Malcolm  who  was  murdered  by 
]\Iacbetli,  and  Henry  I.,  son  of  William  the 
Conqueror,  and  ^^latilda,  daughter  of  Bald- 
win, Count  of  Flanders,  and  his  wife  Ade- 
laide, daughter  of  Robert.  King  of  France, 
who  was  also  a  descendant  of  the  mighty 
Charlemagne,  Matilda,  daughter  of  Matilda 
of  Scotland  and  Henry  I.,  of  England,  married 
Geoffrey  Plantagenet,  Count  of  Anjou.  who 
died  1 151.  To  Matilda  was  left  all  the  pos- 
sessions of  her  father,  Henry  I.,  but  the  throne 
was  usurped  by  her  cousin  Stephen,  and  upon 
his  death  reverted  to  her  son  Henry  II,  who 
married  Eleanor,  Countess  of  Poitou  and  Aqui- 
tane.  Their  son.  King  John  Lackland,  mar- 
ried Isabella  of  Angoulene  in  1200,  and  their 
son  was  King  Henry  III.,  who  married  Elea- 
nor of  Provence.  With  their  son  the  line  of 
Edwards  began,  which  has  just  terminated 
with  the  death  of  King  Edward  \'Il.  (1910). 

(I)  Joseph  Allen,  of  Massachusetts,  had 
three  wives,  the  last  being  a  widow  named 
Sabin. 

(II)  Rufus,  son  of  Joseph  Allen,  was  born 
April  13,  1749.  He  resided  in  Pittsfield,  Mas- 
sachusetts, where  he  married,  October  11, 
1774,  Emelescent  Sevmour  (see  Seymour 
VH). 

(HI)  Horace,  son  of  Rufus  and  Emeles- 
cent (Seymour)  Allen,  was  born  November 
14,  1775,  in  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  died  in 
Albany,  New  York,  November  i,  1836.  He 
married  Jane  Pierson,  born  1775,  died  Sep- 
tember 4,  1847  (s^e  Pierson  II).  Children: 
I.  Elizabeth  Gelston,  born  1809,  died  Febru- 
ary 19,  1843:  married  Dr.  Leverett  Moore: 
children :  David  Pierson,  Mary  Rose,  who  died 
1908.  2.  Jane  Pierson,  born  181 1  :  became  the 
third  wife  of  John  Milton  Newton;  children: 
i.  \\'alter  W.,  married  Anna  M.  Parsons,  and 
had  three  children,  John  P.,  Elsie  Allen  and 
Eleanor  B. :  ii.  William,  died  unmarried  :  iii. 
Henry  Allen,  married  Sophia  Beckwitii ;  chil- 
dren :  Harriet,  Caroline,  Alary  and  Elizabeth ; 
iv.  Caroline  Allen,  married  William  Easton ; 
children :  Helen  Newton  and  Mary  Boyd.  3. 
Henry  Augustus,  see  forward.  4.  Caroline, 
unmarried. 

(I\  )  Henry  Augustu.s,  son  of  Horace  and 
Jane  (Pierson)  Allen,  was  born  in  1818,  died 
in  .Albany,  New  York,  February  16,  1854.   He 

married    (first)    Bleecher;    (second) 

February  21,  1854.  Louisa,  born  February  11, 
1827,  died  March  6,  1892,  daughter  of  Jere- 
miah Osborne,  of  Albany,  born  1800,  died 
November  14,  1872,  and  his  wife,  Jane  (Bo- 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


■wie)  Osborne,  born  1799,  died  December  20, 
1873.  Children:  i.  Annie  Bleecker,  married 
Alfred  Edgerton.  2.  Harriet,  married  A.  V. 
Benson.  3.  Henry  Augustus  (2),  see  for- 
ward. 4.  Amie  I'ierson,  married  William  P. 
Rudd. 

(V)  Henry  Augustus  (2),  son  of  Henry 
Augustus  (i)  and  Louisa  (Osborne)  Allen, 
was  born  December  11,  1854,  in  Albany,  New 
York.  He  married,  June  25,  1878,  Carrie 
Isabella,  born  January  2,  1857,  daughter  of 
IMichael  Maginnis,  of  Albany,  New  York, 
"born  1825,  died  1838,  married  Charlotte  Ro- 
silla  Hermance,  born  in  1835,  died  September 
5,  1868.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Cornelius 
Hermance,  born  in  1793,  died  September  5, 
1867,  and  his  wife,  Ann  (Bane)  Hermance. 
born  1796,  died  January  14,  1867.  Children 
of  Henry  A.  Allen:  i.  Henry  Augustus,  see 
forward.  2.  Carrie,  umnarried.  3.  Charlotte 
T.,  born  October  21,  1882.    4.  Charles. 

(VI)  Henry  Augustus  (3),  son  of  Henry 
Augustus  (2)  and  Carrie  Isabella  (Maginnis) 
Allen,  was  born  in  Albany,  New  York,  March 
31,  1879.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
and  high  schools  of  that  city,  and  at  the 
Boys  Academy.  In  1897  he  began  his  busi- 
iness  career  as  messenger  in  the  Albany  Coun- 
ty Bank,  was  promoted  exchange  clerk,  and 
later  assistant  general  bookeeper.  In  1902 
he  resigned  to  become  receiving  teller  of  the 
Schenectady  Trust  Company,  of  Schenectady, 
New  York,  continuing  until  1907,  when  he 
was  apix)inted  assistant  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  the  same  institution.  He  has  been  for 
many  years  actively  interested  in  the  National 
Guard  of  New  York.  He  served  in  Troop  B, 
of  Albany,  for  ten  years,  holding  the  rank 
of  sergeant.  For  three  years,  1889-1902,  he 
served  in  the  signal  corps,  which  was  in  the 
latter  year  merged  with  Troop  B.  He  is  a 
Republican,  but  takes  no  active  part  in  po- 
litical affairs.  He  is  a  member  of  St.  Peter's 
Episcopal  Church,  of  Albany,  and  active  in 
the  work  of  St.  Paul's  congregation,  being 
particularly  interested  in  St.  Paul's  Sunday 
school,  of  which  he  was  assistant  su- 
perintendent. His  club  is  the  ]\Iohawk 
Golf,  of  Schenectady.  He  married,  April 
13.  1907.  Ethel  M.,  daughter  of  Isaac 
and  Mary  (Hettrick)  Blauvelt,  of  Albany,  the 
former  having  been  for  thirteen  years  in  the 
state  treasurer's  office. 

(The   Sej'mour   Line). 

(I)  Sir  Edward  de  Seymour,  Lord  Sey- 
mour, a  lineal  descendant  in  the  eleventh  gen- 
eration from  King  Edward  III.,  of  England, 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  Judge  John  Walsh. 

(II)  Sir   Edward   Seymour,   son  of    Lord 


Seymour  and  Mary  Walsh,  was  Baronet  of 
Berry,  Pomero_v,  Devonshire,  England.  He 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sir  Arthur 
Chanipernoun,  of  Darlington,  Devonshire, 
England   (also  of  Royal  descent). 

(HI)  Richard,  son  of  Sir  Edward  and  Lady 
Elizabeth  (Champernoun)  Seymour,  was  born 
in  Devonshire,  England,  1596,  died  November 
25,  1655.  ^Ic  came  to  America  in  1639-40, 
and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Hart- 
ford, Connecticut.  In  1652  he  removed  to 
Farmington,  and  later  to  Norwalk,  Connecti- 
cut, where  he  was  selectman  in  1655.  He 
married  Mercy,  daughter  of  Thomas  Rash- 
leigh,  who  survived  him,  and  married  (sec- 
ond) in  1656,  John  Steele,  being  his  second 
wife. 

(I\')  John,  son  of  Richard  and  Mercy 
(Rashleigh)  Seymour,  was  born  in  Hartford, 
Connecticut,  died  in  1715.  He  settled  on  the 
south  side  of  Little  river,  in  Hartford,  where 
he  died  at  an  advanced  age.  He  was  made 
freeman  in  1667.  He  married  Mary,  daughter 
of  John  Watson,  of  Norwalk,  supposed  to 
have  been  born  in  England.  He  was  a  juror 
in  Hartford,  Connecticut,  1644,  and  high  sur- 
veyor in  1646.  He  married  Margaret  Smith, 
who  died  in  1683  :  he  died  1650.  Among  their 
descendants  may  be  named  Ex-Governor  Ho- 
ratio Seymour,  of  New  York. 

(V)  Zachariah,  son  of  John  and  Alary 
(Watson)  Seymour,  was  born  January  10, 
1685.  He  married,  November  24,  1709,  Han- 
nah, daughter  of  Deacon  Joseph  and  Eliza- 
beth (Butler)  Olmstead,  and  granddaughter 
of  Captain  Nicholas  Olmstead,  of  Hartford, 
Connecticut,  who  died  August  31,  1684;  mar- 
ried, 1640,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Joseph  Loom- 
is,  of  Windsor,  Connecticut,  the  latter  born 
1590,  died  1658. 

(\T)  Zachariah  (2),  son  of  Zachariah  (i) 
and  Hannah  (Olmstead)  Seymour,  married 
Sarah  Steele,  born  1716,  died  April  25,  1739, 
daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Dorothy  (Mygatt) 
Steele,  a  descendant  of  George  Steele,  born  in 
Essex  county,  England,  came  to  America  in 
1631-32;  was  freeman  of  Cambridge,  Massa- 
chusetts, 1634 :  was  proprietor  at  Hartford, 
Connecticut,  1639,  and  died  there  in  1663,  "a 
very  old  man."  His  son,  James  Steele,  was 
a  very  prominent  man.  His  record  is :  "In 
1657-58  he  was  a  trooper  in  the  war  against 
the  Pequots.  In  1662,  was  appointed  by  the 
general  court  to  lay  out  lands  *  *  *  .  In 
1672,  was  appointed  with  others  to  run  the 
dividing  line  betw^een  the  towns  of  Lyme  and 
New  Bedford,  for  which  service  he  received 
six  pounds,  fifteen  shillings.  In  the  same  year 
he  was  granted  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres 
of  farm  land.     In    1675   was  apix>inted   com- 


270 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


missary  in  King  Philips'  war,  and  was  al- 
lowed at  the  rate  of  fifty  pounds  a  year  com- 
pensation for  line  service."  He  married  Anna, 
died  1676,  daughter  of  John  Bishop,  of  Guil- 
ford, Connecticut.  Captain  James,  son  of 
James  and  Anna  (Bishop)  Steele,  born  about 
1658,  died  1712,  married  Sarah  Barnard,  died 
1730,  daughter  of  Bartholomew  Barnard.  He 
left  quite  a  valuable  estate  for  his  day. 

Jonathan,  son  of  Captain  James  and  Sarah 
(Barnard)  Steele,  born  about  1693,  died  Jan- 
uary 6,  1753,  married.  May  6,  1715,  Dorothy, 
born  January  26,  1696,  died  November  8,  1775, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Webster)  My- 
gatt,  granddaughter  of  Jacob  and  Sarah 
(Whitney)  Mygatt,  and  great-granddaughter 
of  Joseph  and  Anna  Mygatt.  Sarah,  daugh- 
ter of  Jonathan  an(3  Dorothy  (Mygatt)  Steele, 
married  Zachariah  (2)  Seymour. 

(VH)  Emelescent,  daughter  of  Zachariah 
(2)  and  Sarah  (Steele)  Seymour,  married, 
October  11,  1774,  Rufus  Allen  (see  Allen  H). 

Sarah  Webster,  born  June  30,  1655,  grand- 
mother of  Emelescent  (Seymour)  Allen,  was 
a  daughter  of  Lieutenant  Robert  and  Su- 
sannah (Treat)  Webster,  and  granddaughter 
of  Colonial  Governor  John  Webster  and  his 
wife  Agnes.  Susannah  Treat  was  a  daughter 
of  Richard  Treat,  of  Mayfield,  Connecticut, 
died  1669,  and  his  wife  Joan. 

(The    Pierson    Line). 

David  Pierson,  father  of  Jane  (Pierson) 
Allen,  was  a  descendant  of  Henry  Pierson, 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Southampton, 
Long  Island,  New  York,  in  1640.  He  was 
probably  of  Lynn,  Massachusetts,  prior  to  that 
date,  as  Southampton  was  settled  by  a  colony 
of  forty  families  from  Lynn.  He  was  a  brother 
of  Rev.  Abraham  Pierson,  of  Southampton, 
New  Haven,  Connecticut,  and  Newark,  New 
Jersey.  Henry  was  clerk  of  Suffolk  county 
(Long  Island),  1669-80,  and  otherwise  prom- 
inent. He  died  in  1680,  leaving  several  chil- 
dren:  John,  Daniel,  Joseph,  Henry,  Benjamin, 
Theodore  and  Sarah. 

(II)  Colonel  Henry,  son  of  David  Pierson, 
was  born  in  Southampton,  Long  Island,  1652, 
died  at  Bridgehampton,  Long  Island,  1701. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  New  York  state  as- 
sembly from  Suffolk  county,  1691-95,  and 
from  1698  to  1701.  He  married  Susannah 
Howell.  David  Pierson,  a  descendant  of  Col- 
onel Henry  Pierson,  was  a  resident  of  Sag 
Harbor,  Long  Island.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Gelston,  and  they  were  the  parents  of  Jane 
Pierson,  wife  of  Horace  Allen. 
(The  Gelston  Line). 

The  Gelstons  are  of  Irish  descent.  Hugh 
Gelston,  born  in   Belfast,  Ireland,   1697,   was 


a  merchant  of  Southampton,  Long  Island,  in/ 
1717.  In  1752  he  was  appointed  judge  of  the- 
court  of  common  pleas  for  Suffolk  county, 
and  held  the  office  twenty-one  years.  He  was 
a  Presbyterian.  His  brother  Samuel,  who 
came  from  Ireland  with  him,  was  a  minister. 
They  were  sons  of  a  prosperous  mill  owner 
of  Belfast.  Judge  Hugh  Gelston  married,  in 
1717,  Mary,  died  July  23,  1737,  daughter  of 
John  (2)  and  Susannah  (Clark)  Maltby,  of 
Southampton,  a  granddaughter  of  John  (i) 
Maltby,  born  about  1670  in  Yorkshire,  Eng- 
land. He  came  to  America,  and  was  a  mer- 
chant of  New  Haven,  Connecticut.  He  mar- 
ried, in  1671,  Mary,  daughter  of  Richard,  and 
granddaughter  of  Alexander  Bryan,  who  came 
from  Ashton,  county  of  Bucks,  England.  John 
(i)  Maltby  was  lost  at  sea  in  1676.  His 
widow  Mary  married  (second)  Rev.  John 
Taylor:  (third)  John  Howell,  of  Southamp- 
ton. He  died  in  1692,  leaving  her,  at  the 
age  of  thirty-eight  years,  three  times  widowed. 
John  (2)  Maltby,  born  June  i,  1673,  married 
Susannah,  daughter  of  Samuel  Clark.  Their 
daughter,  Mary  Maltby,  married  Judge  Hugh 
Gelston.  and  had  thirteen  children. 

(II)  Maltby,  son  of  Judge  Hugh  and  Mary 
(Maltby)  Gelston,  was  born  March  20,  1723, 
died  September  22,  1783.  He  married  Alary 
Jones,  died  February  28,  1785,  daughter  of 
Dr.  Thomas  Jones,  whose  second  wife,  Tvlar- 
garet  Livingston,  was  a  sister  of  Catherine 
Livingston,  second  wife  of  Governor  De  Witt 
Clinton,  of  New  York.  Maltby  Gelston  and 
wife  lived  at  Bridgehampton,  Long  Island, 
where  he  was  a  deacon  of  the  church  and 
highly  esteemed  for  his  piety.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eight  children. 

(III)  Elizabeth,  eldest  daughter  and  sec- 
ond child  of  Maltby  and  Mary  (Jones)  Gel- 
ston, was  born  November  30,  1746.  She 
married  David  Pierson. 

(IV)  Jane,  daughter  of  David  and  Eliza- 
beth (Gelston)  Pierson,  married  Horace  Al- 
len, of  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts  (see  Allen 
HI). 


"The     honorable     family     of 
PARSONS     Parsons  have  been  advanced 
to    the    dignity    of   viscounts, 
and  more  lately  earls  of  Ross."     (Bishop  Gib- 
son A.D.  1725  in  "Camden's  Brittannia"). 

"It  does  not  appear  that  there  has  ever  been 
any  attempt  to  collect  even  the  materials  for 
a  history  of  the  English  family  of  Parsons, 
notwithstanding  there  have  been  many  indi- 
viduals among  them  of  great  distinction,  as 
knights,  baronets  and  noblemen."  (New  Eng- 
land Gen.  Reg.  1847).  Guppy's  "Homes  of 
English  Names,"  says,  "Parsons  is  a  striking 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


271 


example  of  a  purely  south  of  England  name. 
It  is  represented  in  most  of  the  southern  coun- 
ties, but  its  great  home  is  in  Wilts,  and  is 
numerous  in  most  of  the  counties  around  this 
centre,  Somerset,  Dorset,  Hants,  Oxford  and 
Monmouth."  In  America  the  name  is  early 
found.  The  English  family  bore  arms.  Those 
of  Sir  Thomas  Parsons,  of  Great  Milton,  1636, 
are  those  claimed  by  the  American  family. 
Gules  :  Two  chevronels.  ermine  between  three 
eagles  displayed  or.  Crest :  an  eagle's  leg 
erased  at  the  high  or,  standing  on  a  leopard's 
face,  gules. 

The  family  herein  recorded  is  that  of  Dea- 
con Benjamin  Parsons,  an  early  settler  of 
Springfield,  Massachusetts.  From  that  state 
they  went  to  Enfield,  Connecticut,  settling  in 
Kingsboro,  Fulton  county,  in  1792.  The  pres- 
ent is  the  eleventh  generation  from  Thomas 
Parsons,  of  Great  Milton,  England,  and  the 
ninth  in  America  beginning  with  Deacon  Ben- 
jamin. 

(I)  Thomas  Parsons,  of  Great  Milton,  Ox- 
fordshire. England,  was  buried  May  23,  1597. 
He  married  Catherine  Hester,  and  had  five 
children. 

(II)  Hugh,  son  of  Thomas  and  Catherine 
(Hester)  Parsons,  was  born  November  27, 
1563,  in  Great  Milton,  Oxfordshire,  England. 
He  married  Elizabeth  (Bagshaw)  Thomp- 
kins,  who  died  January  24.  1642.  They  were 
the  parents  of  ten  children. 

(III)  Deacon  Benjamin,  son  of  Hugh  and 
Elizabeth  Parsons,  was  born  and  baptized  at 
Sanford  Farms,  Oxford,  England,  March  17, 
1627,  and  died  Springfield,  Massachusetts, 
August  24,  1689.  He  came  to  America,  and 
was  among  the  early  settlers  of  Springfield, 
Massachusetts.  He  was  a  chief  instrument 
in  the  formation  of  the  Springfield  church,  as 
appears  from  his  correspondence  with  Rev. 
Increase  Mather.  He  was  a  deacon,  and  a 
prominent  citizen  of  exemplary  moral  charac- 
ter. In  the  civil  affairs  of  the  town  he  held 
many  responsible  offices  which  he  discharged 
with  strict  fidelity.  From  the  time  of  mar- 
riage to  that  of  his  death.  Deacon  Parsons, 
with  the  exception  of  four  years,  held  some 
office  of  public  trust  in  Springfield.  He  mar- 
ried (first)  November  6,  1653,  Sarah,  daugh- 
ter of  Richard  Vore,  of  Windsor.  She  was 
a  member  of  Rev.  John  Warham's  church  in 
Dorchester,  and  accompanied  him  to  Wind- 
sor. She  died  at  Springfield,  Massachusetts, 
Januarj-  i,  1676.  He  married  (second)  Feb- 
ruary 21,  1677,  Sarah  Heald,  widow  of  John 
Leonard,  who  settled  in  Springfield  in  1639. 
He  was  killed  by  the  Indians.  She  died  in 
1690.  after  a  second  marriage  to  Peter  Tilton. 
Children  by  first  marriage,  all  born  in  Spring- 


field :  I.  Sarah,  August  18,  1656;  married' 
James  Dorchester.  2.  Benjamin  (2),  Septem- 
ber 15,  1658;  died  at  Enfield,  Connecticut,  De- 
cember 28,  1728:  he  married  Sarah  Keep:  her 
mother  was  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  Leon- 
ard. Her  father,  John  Keep,  was  killed  by 
the  Indians  at  Long  Meadow  in  1676.  3. 
Mary,  December  10,  1660,  died  at  Spring- 
field, January  27,  1662.  4.  Abigail,  January 
6,  1662:  married  (first)  John  Mun ;  (second). 
John  Richards.  5.  Samuel,  see  forward.  6. 
Ebenezer,  born  November  17,  1668 ;  married' 
Margaret  Marshfield :  he  was  deacon  of  the 
Congregational  church  of  West  Springfield' 
fifty-two  years.  7.  Mary,  December  17,  1670; 
married  Thomas  Richards,  October  21,  1691. 
8.  Hezekiah,  November  24,  1673 ;  married 
Hannah  Cooley,  February  20,  1701.  9.  Jo- 
seph, December,  1675  ;  married  Abigail  Phelps, 
September   15,   1697. 

(IV)  Samuel,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Sarah 
(Vore')  Parsons,  was  born  at  Springfield, 
Massachusetts,  October  10,  1666,  died  Febru- 
ary 17.  1735.  He  married,  March  18,  1683, 
Hannah,  born  September  10,  1668,  daughter 
of  John  and  Hannah  (Chapin)  Hitchcock. 
Children:  i.  Samuel,  November  23,  1690; 
married  December  4,  1713,  Abigail  Randall.  2. 
John,  see  forward.  3.  Luke,  born  January  4, 
1696:  married,  September  13,  1716,  Sarah  Os- 
born.  4.  Hezekiah,  April  13,  1698:  married 
November  15,  1723,  Rebecca  Burt.  5.  Hannah, 
August  2,  1700;  married  Nathaniel  Horton, 
March  3,  1720.  6.  Nathaniel,  December  28,. 
1703 :  married,  December  18,  1725,  Mary 
Pease.  7.  Sarah.  November  10,  1704:  mar- 
ried, June  ID,  1742,  Thomas  Jones.  8.  JNIoses, 
June  10,  1707:  married,  January  13,  1736, 
Hannah  Stebbins.  9.  Miriam,  April  9,  17 10: 
married,  November  10,  1730,  Caleb  Jones.  10. 
Daniel. 

(V)  John,  son  of  Samuel  and  Hannah 
(Hitchcock)  Parsons,  was  born  in  Enfield. 
Connecticut,  July  23,  1693,  died  in  Somers, 
Connecticut,  July  4,  1739.  He  married,  June 
20,  1716,  Thankful,  born  November  12,  1693, 
died  July  4.  1739.  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Sarah  (Dumbleton)  Root.  They  were  the 
parents  of  seven  children,  among  whom  were 
John,  Moses  and  Thomas. 

(VI)  John  (2),  son  of  John  (i)  and" 
Thankful  (Root)  Parsons,  was  born  at  En- 
field, Connecticut,  April  22,  1724,  died  at 
Windsor,  Connecticut,  March  14,  1769.  He 
married,  April  30,  1747,  Elizabeth  Barrett, 
who  died  March  6,  1758.  They  had  six  chil- 
dren. 

(\^II)  James,  son  of  John  (2)  and  Eliza- 
beth (Barrett)  Parsons,  was  born  in  Wind- 
sor, Connecticut,  October  9,  1748.  died  Janu- 


272 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


ary  22,  1810.  He  settled  in  Kingsboro,  Ful- 
ton county,  New  York,  in  1792,  and  was  the 
ancestor  of  Judge  Levi  Parsons.  He  was  a 
farmer  of  Fulton  county  until  his  death.  He 
married,  January  25,  1770,  Hannah  Phelps, 
born  September  2,  1748,  died  March  25,  1837. 
They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children. 

(VHI)  Gurdon,  son  of  James  and  Hannah 
(Phelps)  Parsons,  was  born  July  4,  1780,  at 
Windsor,  Connecticut,  died  October  5,  1848, 
in  Fulton  county.  New  York.  He  was  twelve 
years  old  when  his  parents  settled  in  Fulton 
county,  two  miles  north  of  Gloversville.  He 
was  reared  a  farmer,  an  occupation  he  fol- 
lowed all  his  life.  He  married  (first)  March 
II,  1801,  Sally  Permelia  Leavenworth,  born 
May  20,  1783,  died  December  30,  1824;  (sec- 
ond), Helen  Demarest,  died  October  3.  1863; 
no  issue.  There  were  five  sons  and  three 
daughters  by  first  marriage.  Parents  and  chil- 
dren were  active  and  original  members  of  the 
Congregational  church  of  Kingsboro. 

(IX)  Tallmadge  Leavenworth,  son  of  Gur- 
•don  and  Sally  P.  (Leavenworth)  Parsons, 
was  born  on  the  Parsons'  homestead  farm  in 
Kingsboro,  Fulton  county.  New  York,  January 
13,  1813,  died  on  the  farm  where  his  life  was 
spent,  January  13,  1847.  He  was  an  active 
Whig,  and  a  faithful  member  of  the  Congre- 
gational church.  He  married  Jane  MacGre- 
gor,    born    August    8,    1814,    died    December 

<g,  1883.    They  had  one  child. 

(X)  Tallmadge  Lester,  only  child  of  Tall- 
madge Leavenworth,  and  Jane  (MacGregor) 
Parsons,  was  born  July  2,  1843,  at  Kingsboro, 
'On  the  Parsons'  homestead  farm.     His  father 

died  when  he  was  about  three  and  one-half 
years  of  age,  and  his  early  life  was  spent  un- 
•der  the  care  of  an  uncle.  He  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools  and  at  the  academy. 
.About  April  i,  1878,  he  came  into  possession 
•of  the  Parsons  farm,  first  settled  by  his  great- 
grandfather, James  Parsons,  he  being  the 
fourth  generation  to  own  and  cultivate  the 
property.  The  original  tract  contained  one  hun- 
dred acres,  to  which  has  since  been  added  by 
Mr.  Parsons'  father  and  himself  one  hundred 
;and  fifty  acres.  He  is  a  successful  modern 
farmer,  and  a  capable  business  man.  Pie  is 
active  in  town  affairs,  and  has  served  three 
terms  as  supervisor.  He  is  a  member  and 
an  elder  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  politics.  He  married,  June  5, 
1878,  Juliette,  born  July  i,  1850,  daughter  of 
•George  and  granddaughter  of  Charles  Mus- 
grave,  of  England.  George  Musgrave  was 
born  in  England,  February  2,  1810,  died  Jan- 
uary, 1881.  He  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1830,  and  settled  in  Johnstown,  Fulton 
•county,  New  York.     He  was  a  farmer,  a  Re- 


publican, and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  He  married  Elizabeth,  born 
June  13,  1815,  died  December  24,  1886, 
daughter  of  William,  born  January  7,  1776, 
died  May  18,  1856,  and  his  wife  Mary  Pot- 
ter, born  February  11,  1778,  died  November 
18,  1859.  Children  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
(Potter)  Musgrave:  William:  Ann  Sarah; 
Margaret  Jane,  married  Peter  Stewart ; 
Charles,  married  Julia  Van  Arnum ;  ]\Iatthew, 
married  Jennie  Brownell ;  Mary  Elizabeth, 
married  Calvin  R.  Jackson ;  Emily,  Juliette, 
married  Tallmadge  Lester  Parsons ;  James, 
married  Jennie  Van  Deusen ;  George  Henry, 
married  Janette  Stewart.  Children  of  Tall- 
madge L.  and  Juliette  (Musgrave)  Parsons: 
Jennie,  born  April  20,  1879 ;  Elizabeth,  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1881  ;  Levi,  August  9,  1883 ;  Duncan 
MacGregor,  March  30,  1885;  ^largaret  K., 
April  4,"i889. 

The  Parsons  family  from  time  immemorial 
have  been  successful  tillers  of  the  soil.  One 
notable  exception  must  be  made  to  this  state- 
ment, however.  Judge  Levi  Parsons,  founder 
of  the  Levi  Parsons  Library  of  Gloversville. 
He  was  a  native  of  Kingsboro,  and  spent  the 
greater  part  of  his  working  years  in  successful 
business  enterprises  in  California.  He  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Whig  party  in  that 
state  in  1849,  and  was  the  first  judge  ap- 
pointed in  San  Francisco.  He  not  only  gave 
the  first  large  contribution  that  made  the  li- 
brary possible,  but  he  gave  to  Union  College 
$50,000,  the  interest  of  which  is  mainly  ap- 
plied to  the  education  of  young  men  from 
Fulton  county.  Thirteen  scholarships  are  pro- 
vided by  this  fund,  the  directors  of  the  Levi 
Parsons  Library  having  the  sole  right  to  nom- 
inate the  candidates  for  these  scholarships. 
Judge  Parsons'  early  desire  for  a  collegiate 
education  inclined  him  to  make  this  wise  pro- 
vision for  the  young  men  of  his  native  county. 
He  was  also  greatly  interested  in  the  preser- 
vation of  the  Parsons  genealog}',  and  it  is  to 
his  generosity  that  so  much  has  been  done  to 
preserve  the  Parsons'  records.  He  died  Octo- 
ber 23,  1887. 


The  Niskayuna  family  of  \'ed- 
VEDDER     der    herein    recorded    descend 

from  Harmen  Albertse  \'cdder, 
the  first  settler  of  the  name  in  the  Mohawk 
Valley.  He  was  a  trader  in  Beverwyck  be- 
fore the  year  1657.  In  1660  he  returned  to 
Holland.  In  1661,  as  agent  for  Dirk  De 
Wolfe,  merchant  of  Amsterdam,  he  erected  a 
salt  kettle  on  Coney  Island,  New  York,  which 
being  claimed  by  the  people  of  Gravesend 
he  brought  suit  before  the  governor  and  coun- 
cil to  make  good  his  claim,  and  being  beaten; 


^  ^.  /an/)^(ru^ 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK    VALLEYS 


273 


abandoned  the  enterprise.  In  1663  he  leased 
"his  "houwery"  at  Schenectady  to  Simon  Groot 
■for  six  years.  In  i668,  being-  in  Holland  with 
other  merchants  from  the  province  of  New 
York,  he  purchased  goods  and  chartered  the 
ship  "King-  Charles."  and  obtained  permission 
from  the  King  of  England  to  send  the  ship 
and  goods  to  New  York.  In  1667  he  lived 
in  Albany.  In  1672  he  bought  land  in  Sche- 
nectady. In  1673  he  was  one  of  three  mag- 
istrates for  Schenectady.  He  did  not  show 
proper  respect  for  the  magistrates  of  Albany, 
and  also  pretended  to  have  the  right  to  trade 
with  the  Indians.  For  his  presumption  he  was 
reprimanded  and  warned  "to  regulate  hin-iself 
accordingly."  He  purchased  the  village  lot  of 
the  heirs  of  Reiner,  son  of  Domine  Schaets, 
of  Albany,  after  his  massacre  by  the  Indians 
•in  1690.  The  following  children  of  Harnien 
Vedder  were  living  in  1715:  Harmanus. 
Arent.  Albert,  born  May  10,  1671,  Johannes, 
Corset,  .Angenietje,  wife  of  Jan  Danielse  Van 
Antwerpen. 

(I I)  Arent,  son  of  Harmen  Albertse  Ved- 
der. settled  on  land  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Mohawk  river,  opposite  Hoffman's  ferry, 
which  was  called  Vedder's  ferry.  He  made 
his  will  August  10,  1746,  and  all  his  children 
were  then  living.  He  married  Sara,  daughter 
of  Simon  Groot.  Children :  Agnietje,  born 
February  11,  1694,  in  Albany,  married  Pie- 
ter  Janse  Vrooman ;  Rebecca,  married  Willem 
Brouwer ;  Harnien,  born  1696;  Maria,  bap- 
tized September  i,  1699;  Susanna,  married 
Pieter  ^labie ;  Sara,  married  Cornells  Swits ; 
Lysbeth,  died  young:  Simon,  died  May  17, 
1791 ;   Antje,   married    Pieter   Clement:   Lys- 

"beth  (2),  married  Jessais  Swart:  Albert. 

(III)  Simon,  son  of  Arent  and  Sara 
(Groot)  \'edder,  was  born  October  3,  1707, 
died  May  17,  1791.  He  lived  in  the  "Woe- 
stine."  He  married,  January  16,  1735,  Maria 
Truax,  widow  of  Simon  Groot.  Children : 
Arent,  see  forward ;  Philip,  baptized  July  9, 
1737:  Harmanus,  baptized  March  4,  1739: 
Neeltje,  December  6,  1741,  married  Johannes 
Van  Pelten :  Sarah,  Alay  13,  1744,  married 
Myndert  Wemple :  Annatje,  September  14, 
1746:  Maria,  October  15,  1749:  Agnieltje, 
April  5,  1752,  married  Nicolas  Swart :  Susan- 
na, May  18,  1755:  Anna,  March  12,  1758, 
married  Johannes  Myndertse. 

(IV)  Arent  (2),  son  of  Simon  and  Maria 
(Truax)  (Groot)  Vedder,  was  born  August 
25,  1735,  in  Mt.  Hope,  town  of  Niskayuna. 
"He  was  a  farmer.  He  married  (first)  De- 
cember 10,  1768,  Jannetje,  born  November, 
1744.  died  April  10,  1780,  daughter  of  Johan- 
nes Truax.  He  married  (second),  February 
23,  1782,  Annatje  Bancker,  died  July  14,  1813, 


aged  seventy-two  years,  daughter  of  Willem 
Bancker.  Arent  Vedder  made  his  will  Sep- 
tember 3.  181  r.  died  November  11.  181 1.  His 
second  wife  was  then  living,  also  children, 
Simon  A.,  John  B.,  Maria  and  .Alida. 

(V)  Simon  A.,  son  of  Arent  (2)  and  Jan- 
netje  (Truax)   Vedder,  was  born   Septeniber 

1,  1772,  died  in  Niskayuna,  December  22, 
1844.  He  married  (first)  November  14.  1807, 
Mary  Bassett,  died  January  17,  1823,  aged 
forty-one  years.  He  married  (second)  De- 
cember 7,  1824,  Elizabeth  Gates,  died  in  Sche- 
nectady, 1870,  aged  sixty-eight  years,  and  is 
buried  in  Vale  cemetery.  Children  by  first 
wife:  I.  Ann,  born  August  24,  1808,  died 
August  25,  1871 ;  married  Richard  J.  Pearse. 

2.  Aaron,  see  forward.  3.  Michael  Bassett, 
September  20,  181 1,  died  April  7,  1882:  mar- 
ried (first)  Agnes  Vedder,  no  issue;  married 
(second)  Catherine  Swart,  no  issue.  4.  Corne- 
lius, see  forward.  5.  John,  born  May  26,  1816, 
died  July  27,  1883  :  married  Margaret  \>oo- 
man.  Children:  i.  M.  Margaret,  married 
Rev.  William  H.  Phraner,  and  has  a  daugh- 
ter Olive,  of  Hempstead,  Long  Island  ;  ii.  M, 
Katherine,  unmarried,  resides  at  Hempstead. 
6.  Maria.  November  17,  1818,  died  November 
23,  1868 ;  married  Stephen  P.  Hill,  of  Massa- 
chusetts, no  issue. 

(\T)  Aaron,  son  of  Simon  A.  and  Mary 
(Bassett)  Vedder,  was  born  at  the  Niska- 
yuna farm,  Schenectady  county,  New  York, 
December  27,  1809,  died  there  October  7. 
1886.  He  was  a  prosperous  farmer,  and  a  man 
of  influence.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Re- 
formed church,  and  a  Whig  and  Republican 
in  politics.  He  married,  January  12,  1843, 
in  Niskayuna,  Elizabeth  B.  Spaun,  born  in 
the  town  of  Bethlehem,  Albany  county.  New 
York,  in  1819,  died  in  Niskayuna,  June  16, 
1903.  Children :  Mary,  married  .\lbert  \'an 
\'oast :  DeWitt  Frank,  see  forward. 

(VII)  De  Witt  Frank,  son  of  Aaron  and 
Elizabeth  B.  (Spaun)  Vedder,  was  born  in 
Niskayuna,  Schenectady  county,  New  York, 
on  the  farm  he  now  occupies,  September  12, 
1852.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  grew  up  on  the  home  farm.  He  later 
became  owner  of  one-half  the  homestead  farm. 
He  is  a  prosperous  farmer  and  a  highly  re- 
garded citizen.  He  is  a  Republican,  following 
the  political  faith  of  his  family.  He  is 
active  in  town  affairs,  and  has  held  several 
local  offices.  He  married,  in  Schenectady, 
Etta,  daughter  of  Aaron  and  Maria  (Haight) 
Putnam,  residents  of  Schenectadv  county, 
town  of  Duanesburg,  married  in  Schenectady 
village  where  they  died,  he  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
three,  she  at  seventy-one.  Aaron  Putnam  was 
the   son  of   Matthew    Putnam,   ex-sheriff  of 


274 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


Schenectady  county,  who  died  in  Fultonville, 
New  York,  aged  eighty  years.  He  married 
Nancy  Veeder,  who  died  in  FuUonville,  New 
York,  aged  eighty-two.  Children  of  De  Witt 
Frank  and  Etta  (Putnam)  Vedder:  EHzabeth, 
born  September  12,  1885,  married  Vincent 
Westerveh,  D.D.S..  of  Schenectady ;  Myra, 
February  10,  1889:  William,  INIarch  7,  i8go. 

(VI)  Cornelius,  son  of  Simon  A.  and  Mary 
(Bassett)  \'edder,  was  born  in  Niskayuna, 
Schenectady  county.  New  York,  March  15, 
1813,  died  there  July  30,  1889.  He  was  a 
farmer  all  his  years,  prosperous  and  respected. 
He  adhered  to  the  religious  faith  of  his  fa- 
thers— the  Dutch  Reformed — and  was  a  Whig 
and  Republican  in  politics,  which  was  the  po- 
litical faith  of  the  \'edders  for  generations. 
He  married  at  Lisha's  Kill,  Albany  county, 
March  3,  1836,  Maria  A.,  born  in  Albany 
county,  New  York,  November  28.  1815,  died 
November  21,  1890,  daughter  of  Abraham  Ver 
Planck  and  Helena  (Groot)  Lansing,  both  of 
Albany  county,  and  granddaughter  of  John 
V.  A.  and  Harriet  (Ver  Planck)  Lansing,  de- 
scendants of  the  old  Dutch  Lansings  of  the 
first  settlements.  Children  of  Cornelius  and 
Maria  A.  (Lansing)  Vedder:  i.  Abraham, 
born  May  9,  1837,  died  June  12,  1887;  he 
was  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Niskayuna ;  mar- 
ried Mary  Vrooman,  born  September  3,  1841. 
died  August  4,  1896;  children:  Cornelius,  died 
young;  John  N.  V.,  born  November  28,  1873, 
unmarried;  Henry  S.,  October  18,  1876.  died 
July,  1906.  unmarried ;  Alice,  August  4,  1879, 
married  George  G.  Jones,  and  has  a  son 
George  Vedder,  born  .August  25,  1907.  2. 
Mary  A.,  March  30,  1840,  died  September  i, 
1908,  unmarried.  3.  Helen,  October  17,  1842; 
resides  with  her  brother  in  Ni.skayuna.  unmar- 
ried. 4.  Simon  H.,  see  forward.  5.  Dr.  Lan- 
sing T.,  born  September  22,  1859,  died  May 
12,  1900;  a  graduate  of  Albany  Medical  Col- 
lege, and  for  many  years  a  well-known  and 
skillful  practitioner  of  medicine  in  Schenec- 
tady ;  he  married  Susana  Smith,  of  Roches- 
ter, New  York,  who  survives  him,  a  resident 
of  Los  Angeles,  California.  Children :  Annie 
M.,  born  1885,  died  1899;  Cornelius  L,  July 
19,   1887. 

(VH)  Simon  H.,  son  of  Cornelius  and  Ma- 
ria A.  (Lansing)  Vedder,  was  born  on  the 
Niskayuna  farm,  Schenectady  county,  New 
York,  April  2,  1847.  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  and  at  Schenectady  high 
school.  He  is  one  of  the  successful,  substan- 
tial farmers  of  Niskayuna,  a  member  of  the 
Reformed  church  and  a  Republican.  He  is  a 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  interested  in  all  that 
pertains  to  the  welfare  of  his  town.  He  mar- 
ried, February  11,   1891,  Ariet,  born  Novem- 


ber 15,  1864,  daughter  of  William  and  .\nrt 
E.  (Palmer)  Steers,  and  granddaughter  of 
Cornelius  Steers,  of  Albany  county,  a  farmer 
and  contractor.  William  Steers  was  a  farmer 
of  Niskayuna,  where  he  died  aged  eighty-three 
years.  His  wife,  Ann  E.,  died  aged  sixty- 
eight  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  five 
children,  i.  William,  married  Juliana  Lan- 
sing. 2.  Cornelius,  a  business  man  of  New 
York  City,  married  Margaret  Bruce,  deceased. 
3.  Ariet,  married  Simon  H.  Vedder.  4.  Isa- 
bella, unmarried.  5.  Eva,  married  John  M. 
Ketchum,  a  farmer  of  Niskayuna ;  children : 
Herbert,  and  Helen  (twins)  :  Isabel.  Children 
of  Simon  H.  and  Ariet  (Steers)  \'edder:  Mi- 
riam, born  February  i,  1895,  student  at  Sche- 
nectady high  school ;  Lansing  S.,  July  10.  1897 
Chester  D.,  November  15,  1899;  Palmer  W., 
twin  of  Chester  D. 


(II)  lohannes,  son  of  Harmen 
VEDDER    Albertse  Vedder   (q.  v.).  was 

carried  away  to  Canada  by  the 
French  and  Indians,  February  9,  1690,  and 
died  .August  14.  1748.  He  married  (first) 
Maria,  daughter  of  Johannes  Fort  (Van  Der 
Vort)  July  8,  1705;  (second)  Engeltje, 
daughter  of  Gerrit  Symonse  \'eeder,  Novem- 
ber 25,  1732.  Children:  Harmen,  born  April 
14,  1706:  Angelietje  Hermanns;  Margarita; 
Anna;  Johannes;  Arent ;  Maretje;  Abraham; 
Albert ;  Catherina ;  Maria  ;  Anna,  born  July 
8.  1737;  the  last  three  were  by  his  second 
wife. 

(III)  Albert,  youngest  son  of  Johannes  and 
Maria  (Fort)  Vedder,  was  born  in  1729.  and 
died  November  18,  1805.  He  married,  Octo- 
ber 30.  1756,  Hester,  died  May  12,  1813,  in 
her  eightieth  year,  daughter  of  Frans  Van 
Der  Bogart.  Children :  Johannes,  of  whom 
further;  Maria;  Maria  (2);  Hester;  Frans 
Van  Der  Bogart;  Barber;  Neeltje;  Engeltje; 
Claas :  Annetje.  born  May  12,  1776. 

(IV)  Johannes,  eldest  son  of  Albert  and 
Hester  (Van  Der  Bogart)  Vedder,  was  bap^ 
tized  May  15,  1757.  (A  John  A.  Vedder, 
elder  of  the  church,  died  between  December 
3,  1 80S,  and  April  6,  1809.  who  is  believed 
to  have  been  Johannes  Albertse — Johannes, 
son  of  Albert.)  He  married,  August  22,  1779', 
Eva,  daughter  of  Jacob  Clute.  Children,  with 
dates  of  baptism:  Albert,  April  23,  1780;  Eliz- 
abeth, September  29,  1782;  Esther,  January 
23,  1785;  Johannes,  January  15,  1787;  Eliza^ 
heth  (2(1),  born  March  18,  1790;  Francis  B., 
of  whom  further.  There  was  a  son  Jacob  and 
a  daughter  Tina  whose  births  or  hajitisms  are 
not  recorded. 

(V)  Francis  B.,  son  of  Johannes  and  Eva 
(Clute)    Vedder,   was   born    in    Schenectady, 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


275 


New  York,  March  28,  1801,  died  May  27, 
1873.  He  married,  February  26,  1824,  Maria 
Newkirk,  a  descendant  of  the  Mohawk  Val- 
ley pioneer  Newkirk  family ;  she  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Florida,  April  3,  1804,  died 
in  April,  1884.  Children:  i.  John,  born  April 
8,  1826,  died  unmarried,  March  8,  1898.  He 
inherited  the  old  Vedder  farm  settled  by  his 
grandfather,  Johannes  \'edder.  over  a  cen- 
tur>'  ago,  in  the  town  of  Glen,  and  now  owned 
by  John  J.  Vedder  (1910).  2.  Francis  F., 
born  October  28,  1826;  married;  no  issue.  3. 
Eva  E..  born  February  26,  183 1,  died  in  Den- 
ver, Colorado,  December,  1905  ;  married  John 
F.  Drevendorf,  (deceased),  and  had  Fannie, 
married  Anson  Snow,  of  Denver,  and  has 
Anson  and  Eva  Snow.  4.  Maud,  born  March 
7,  1833,  deceased ;  married  Jan  \'an  Evera 
(deceased),  and  had  Myra.  married  Theo- 
dore Clark.  5.  Peter,  married  Emma  \'an 
Evera,  and  has  daughter  Ella.  6.  David  F. ; 
see  forward.  7.  Jasper,  born  October  i,  1837; 
resides  in  Ovid,   New  York. 

(\'I)  David  F..  seventh  child  of  Francis 
B.  and  Maria  (Newkirk)  Vedder,  was  born 
on  the  Glen  homestead  farm.  May  12,  1835, 
died  January  22,  1897.  He  cultivated  the 
farm  on  which  he  was  born,  and  resided  there 
all  the  active  years  of  his  life.  He  married, 
in  Glen,  Mary  E.  Shelp.  born  in  Glen,  Feb- 
ruary II,  1841,  died  at  the  Vedder  homestead. 
May  12.  1887,  daughter  of  James  Nelson  and 
Elizabeth  (Mount)  Shelp.  Children:  i.  Fran- 
cis B.,  born  February  29,  i860;  farmer  of 
Mohawk  ;  married,  March  2,  i860,  Margaret 
Bellinger;  children:  Mary  N.,  Charles  D., 
and  Bertha,  died  in  infancy.  2.  Nelson,  born 
March  21,  1863,  died  December  6,  1891  ;  mar- 
ried. December  10,  1885,  Nettie  Ingersoll, 
born  August  28,  1862.  He  was  a  farmer  of 
Glen,  children:  i.  Leland  N.,  born  Decem- 
ber 24,  1886:  ii.  Earl  Ingersoll,  born  October 
12,  1888;  now  (1910)  employed  in  Puget 
Sound  National  Bank,  Seattle,  Washington : 
iii.  Zerah,  born  October  3,  1890.  3.  John  J. ; 
see  forward.  4.  Anna  AI..  born  March  11. 
1871  ;  married  Charles  Carpenter,  and  has  is- 
sue. 

(VH)  John  J.,  third  son  of  David  F.  and 
Marv  E.  (Shelp)  \'edder,  was  born  May  12, 
1867.  He  inherited  the  old  Vedder  homestead 
from  his  uncle  John.  He  is  well  known  in 
the  town,  and  honored  for  his  sterling  char- 
acter and  kindly  characteristics.  He  is  pub- 
lic spirited,  and  in  his  administration  of  the 
offices  he  has  held  has  shown  that  he  has  the 
interest  of  his  town  at  heart.  He  was  com- 
missioner of  highways,  and  is  now  superin- 
tendent of  the  entire  road  system  of  the  town. 

Those    interested    in    this    feature   of    local 


government  appreciate  the  work  done  for  the 
cause  of  good  roads,  and  hold  him 
in  the  highest  esteem.  Politically  he  is  a 
Democrat,  and  with  his  family  attends 
the  Dutch  Reformed  Church.  He  be- 
longs to  Fultonville  Lodge,  No.  521,  F.  and 
A.  \[. ;  Johnstown  Chapter,  No.  78,  R.  A.  M. ; 
Tribe  No.  121,  1.  O.  R.  M.;  and  Fultonville 
Lodge  No.  340,  K.  P.  He  married  (first)  in 
Mohawk,  October  5,  1887,  Gertrude  Hanson, 
born  March  11,  1870,  died  December  23,  1903, 
daughter  of  Henry  D.  Hanson,  born  May  11, 
1838,  and  his  wife,  Sarah  M.  Lotridge,  born 
August  7,  1846,  both  present  residents  of 
?ilohawk.  Mr.  Vedder  married  (second)  in 
Mohawk,  February  i,  1905,  Bertha  M.  Han- 
son, sister  of  his  first  wife.  Children  by  first 
marriage :  David  H.,  born  September  2,  1888 ; 
Bertha  M.,  February  18.  1891.  Children  by 
second  marriage:  John  D.,  born  May  5,  1907; 
Sarah  E.,  April  29,  1909. 


The  ancestor  of  all  the  Ved- 
VEDDER     ders    of     Schenectady     county. 

New  York,  was  Harman  AI- 
bertse  \'edder,  who  settled  in  Schenectady  in 
1633.      He    was    a    trader    in    Beverwyck    in 

1657- 

The  family  in  Schenectady,  herein  recorded, 
descend  from  the  founder  through  his 
second  son  Arent  and  his  wife  Sara  Groot, 
their  son  Simon  and  his  wife  Maria  Truax, 
widow  of  Simon  Groot.  Their  son  Harmanus 
married  Annatjie  Vedder,  November  10,  1770. 
He  made  his  will,  October  14,  1813,  proved 
May  14,  1816.  Their  son  Simon,  born  July 
II'  ^773>  died  before  his  father,  leaving  chil- 
dren :  Harmanus,  John,  Aaron,  Philip.  Ger- 
trude and  Annatjie. 

(VI)  Philip,  son  of  Simon  \'edder.  was 
born  in  Rotterdam,  Schenectady  county.  New 
York,  at  the  homestead  at  German  Flats,  near 
the  old  fort  that  was  built  on  the  original 
Schermerhorn  farm.  He  died  at  the  age  of 
thirty-eight  years.  He  married  Nellie  Scher- 
merhorn, born  in  Rotterdam,  on  the  adjoining 
farm.  Children:  i.  John  D.,  see  forward.  2. 
James  V.,  a  farmer  of  Rotterdam ;  married 
Jane  Ann  Sprigg,  of  Dutch  ancestry,  and  had 
sons,  Simon  and  William,  both  of  Rotterdam. 
3.  Mary,  married  (first)  Albert  Walker;  no 
issue;  married  (second)  S.  A.  Wilder.  4. 
Catherine,  married  Alonzo  French ;  she  died 
in  Chicago.  Illinois.  5.  Jane,  married  Byron 
Knight ;  they  both  died  in  .Amsterdam,  New 
York,  leaving  Nellie,  now  the  widow  of  Wil- 
liam Chism ;  children :  John,  Jeannette  and 
Eva  Chism. 

(\TI)  John  D.,  eldest  son  of  Philip  and 
Nellie   (Schermerhorn)   \'edder.  was  born  in 


276 


HUDSON  AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


Rotterdam,  Schenectady  county,  New  York, 
in  1832,  died  there  1906.  He  was  a  farmer 
all  his  active  years,  but  passed  his  latter  years 
retired  from  all  business  cares.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Second  Reformed  Church,  and 
a  Democrat  politically.  He  married  Marga- 
ret E.  Sprigg,  sister  of  Jane  A.,  wife  of 
James  V.  Vedder.  She  survives  her  husband. 
and  resides  in  Schenectady  with  her  daughter. 
She  is  seventy-five  years  of  age.  She  and  her 
husband  were  members  and  co-workers  in 
the  same  church,  the  Second  Reformed.  Chil- 
dren, all  born  in  Rotterdam:  i.  Daniel,  died 
in  childhood.  2.  Warren  W.,  see  forward.  3. 
Albert,  died  in  infancy.  4.  Mary,  married 
Charles  Plumly,  of  Wolcott,  Warren  county. 
New  York,  and  has  Maude,  who  married  and 
has  a  daughter  Mary.  5.  John  D.  (2),  a 
grocer  of  Belle  View,  a  suburb  of  Schenec- 
tady, he  married  Sarah  Ward ;  children : 
Charles,  Edison  and  John  D.  (3).  6.  x^nna, 
married  Charles  Russell,  of  Wolcott,  New 
York ;  deceased  and  has  no  living  issue.  7. 
Margaret,  for  twenty  years  has  been  cashier 
of  one  of  the  leading  mercantile  houses  of 
Schenectady ;  unmarried.  8.  Emma,  died  in 
girlhood. 

(VHI)  Warren  W.,  son  of  John  D.  and 
Margaret  E.  (Sprigg)  Vedder,  was  born  on 
the  Rotterdam  Vedder  homestead,  January  22, 
1856.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools.  In  early  life  he 
worked  on  the  Erie  canal,  and  was  captain 
of  one  of  the  state  boats,  "Captain  Curtis." 
He  spent  several  years  on  the  canal,  and 
owned  his  own  boat,  which  he  had  running 
as  a  freighter.  In  1880  he  settled  in  Sche- 
nectady, where  he  engaged  in  the  lumber 
trade ;  later  he  conducted  a  grocery  store,  and 
still  later  was  proprietor  of  a  hotel.  In  1895 
he  retired  from  active  business  life,  having 
acquired  a  com])etency.  He  was  active  in  city 
politics,  often  representing  his  ward  in  party 
conventions  and  was  always  a  loyal  Repub- 
lican. He  was  an  active  member  of  St.  Paul's 
Lodge,  No.  17,  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows.  He  married,  in  Schenectady,  Mary 
E.  Lockwood,  born  in  Rotterdam,  New  York, 
in  i860,  and  was  a  resident  of  Schenectady 
before  her  marriage.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Bond)  Lockwood,  both 
born  in  Rotterdam,  but  now  residents  of 
Schenectady.  Children:  i.  Mary  E.,  mar- 
ried Warren  W.  Vedder.  2.  Eliza,  married 
William  H.  I-'ogarty,  and  has  a  daughter  Bes- 
sie, who  married  William  Putnam,  and  has 
a  daughter  Leona.  3.  Caroline,  married  Harry 
Dixon,  of  Schenectady,  New  York  ;  children : 
Maude,  Sidney,  Harry  (2)  and  William.  4. 
Dora,  married  (fir.st)   William  Cluett ;  no  is- 


sue; married  (second)  Augustus  Westfall, 
and  has  a  daughter  Anna.  5.  Alonzo,  died  un- 
married. Children  of  Warren  W.  and  Mary 
E.  (Lockwood)  Vedder:  Pearl,  married 
George  A.  Stone,  of  Sacketts  Harbor,  New 
York,  and  has  a  son  Warren ;  Hattie,  un- 
married ;  Blanche,  unmarried ;  Jacob,  unmar- 
ried; Florence;  Carlisle,  died  in  infancy. 


The  name  Wilson  is  a  familiar 
WILSON     and  universal  one,  and  of  the 

thousands  of  the  name  in  the 
United  States,  few  comparatively  have  a  com- 
mon American  ancestor  or  are  so  near  of  kin 
as  to  have  a  common  ancestor  as  late  as  1630. 
Genealogical  dictionaries  dealing  with  the  pe- 
riod previous  to  1700  give  long  lists  of  Wil- 
sons who  settled  in  this  country,  few  of  whom 
are  mentioned  as  being  even  distantly  re- 
lated. They  came  from  England,  Scotland 
and  Ireland.  The  particular  Wilson  family 
of  Cohoes  trace  their  ancestor  to  Scotland. 
In  1740  two  brothers  came  to  America,  one 
settling  in  Massachusetts,  and  one  coming 
north  to  Saratoga  county.  New  York.  The 
first  record  is  of  Esau  Wilson,  son  of  the 
Scotch  emigrant,  who  was  a  farmer  of  Sara- 
toga county,  married  and  had  a  family. 

(II)  James  Sanborn,  son  of  Esau  Wilson, 
was  born  in  Saratoga  county.  New  York,  in 
1818,  died  in  Cohoes,  New  York,  in  1893. 
He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  in  1847, 
after  he  married,  removed  to  Lowell,  Wis- 
consin, where  he  was  a  leading  contractor  and 
builder.  In  1854  he  returned  to  Saratoga 
county,  and  took  up  his  residence  at  Clifton 
Park,  removed  to  Cohoes  in  1868,  where  he 
died.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics. He  married,  in  1835,  at  Half  Moon, 
Saratoga  county.  New  York,  Cynthia  Mary 
Husted,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Elizabeth 
Wickes  Husted,  and  a  descendant  of  Scotch 
ancestors.  She  died  in  1891,  aged  seventy- 
four  years.  Children :  Ira  AI.,  Elizabeth,  Win- 
field  S.,  Mary  J.,  William  H.,  Jeremiah,  James 
Henry,  see  forward ;  Julia,  Ida  M.,  Lola, 
Isaac   C. 

(III)  James  Henry,  son  of  James  Sanborn 
and  Cynthia  Mary  (Husted)  Wilson,  was 
born  in  Lowell,  Wisconsin,  July  22,  1854. 
Shortly  after  his  birth,  his  parents  returned 
to  their  old  home,  Saratoga  coimty.  New 
York,  where  he  attended  the  public  schools. 
When  he  was  fourteen  they  removed  to  Co- 
hoes (or  Waterford)  where  his  education  was 
completed.  After  his  school  days  were  ended, 
he  worked  with  his  father  for  a  time,  then  for 
three  years  clerked  in  a  grocery,  and  in  1878 
began  working  in  the  J.  C.  Sanford  box  fac- 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


277 


tory.  In  1880  the  plant  was  sold  to  John  Leg- 
gett,  who  in  1881  appointed  Mr.  Wilson  his 
superintendent.  In  1885,  in  Cohoes,  with  A. 
D.  Wait,  he  purchased  the  business  from  Mr. 
Leggett  and  in  1886  became  sole  owner,  Mr. 
Wait  retiring.  The  business  was  successfully 
prosecuted  under  the  sole  direction  and  own- 
ership of  Mr.  Wilson  until  1893,  when  he 
admitted  two  young  men  who  were  in  his  em- 
ploy, William  McCreedy  and  Jacob  W.  Ma- 
yot,  and  as  J.  H.  Wilson  &  Company  the  firm 
still  continues.  They  own  the  Empire  Paper 
Box  Comjiany,  of  Cohoes,  which  manufacture 
besides  their  large  variety  of  paper  boxes,  the 
Empire  band  cutting  and  folding  machines. 
This  is  only  one  of  the  activities  in  which  Mr. 
Wilson  is  prominently  engaged.  In  1892  he 
organized  and  incorporated  the  Continental 
Knitting  Company,  and  was  president  the  first 
two  years  of  its  corporate  existence,  and  now 
a  director.  They  are  manufacturers  of  Egyp- 
tian and  Colonial  balbriggan  underwear,  and 
are  rated  a  highly  successful  enterprise.  In 
1896  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Hud- 
son River  Coal  and  Ice  Company,  and  is  the 
present  treasurer.  This  is  a  very  large  and 
prosperous  company,  owning  private  railroad 
switch  grounds  of  three  acres  and  four  hun- 
dred feet  of  river  front.  Politically  Mr.  Wil- 
son is  a  Republican.  In  1882  he  was  elected 
school  commissioner  of  Cohoes,  and  in  1884 
re-elected;  in  1894  he  was  appointed  and  in 
1895  elected  to  the  same  office,  serving  until 
1898,  when  he  was  elected  president  of  the 
board  of  education,  and  in  1900  re-elected ;  in 
1903  he  was  elected  mayor  of  the  city,  serving 
one  term.  He  has  given  years  to  the  schools 
of  Cohoes,  which  is  the  best  evidence  of  his 
great  interest  in  the  cause  of  education.  Dur- 
ing his  long  term  of  service  his  greatest  am- 
bition has  been  to  raise  the  standard  of  ef- 
ficiency and  secure  the  best  possible  results 
from  the  public  school  system  of  the  city. 
In  1889  he  was  one  of  thirty  who  organized 
and  established  the  Cohoes  Hospital  Associa- 
tion, and  for  several  years  served  as  director. 
He  is  also  a  director  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  of  the  city,  and  an  in- 
terested, helpful  member.  In  church  work  he 
is  equally  interested  and  energetic.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  has  served 
as  trustee  fourteen  years,  and  for  twelve  years 
was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school.  In 
1889,  when  the  Island  Mission  was  organized, 
he  was  one  of  those  who  assisted  and  was  the 
first  superintendent  of  the  Mission  Sunday 
school.  His  fraternal  affiliations  are  with  Co- 
hoes Lodge,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  Co- 
hoes City  Lodge,  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen,  and  D.  J.  Johnson  Lodge,  Temple 


of  Honor.  His  life  has  touched  every  branch 
of  the  life  of  his  city,  civil,  religious,  com- 
mercial and  benevolent.  In  all  his  business 
undertakings  he  has  been  successful ;  in  his 
official  positions,  energetic  and  faithful,  and  in 
his  church  and  benevolent  work,  willing  and 
helpful.  There  have  been  few  itlle  days  in 
his  fifty-six  years,  and  in  taking  a  retrospec- 
tive view  of  his  life  he  can  surely  find  some 
cause  for  satisfaction. 

He  married  (first)  in  May,  1875,  Adelaide 
Delanoy,  of  Cohoes,  New  York,  who  died 
June  3,  1898.  Children:  i.  Francis  D.,  born 
August,  1876,  died  April  10,  1892.  2.  Wil- 
liam James,  born  July  10,  1887,  in  Cohoes ; 
graduate  of  Cohoes  high  school ;  now  asso- 
ciated with  his  father  in  business ;  married, 
July  II,  1906,  Charlotte  M.  Nuttall,  of  Co- 
hoes ;  children :  William,  died  in  infancy,  and 
Helen  Frances,  born  November,  1910.  He 
married  (second)  March  19,  1900,  Hannah 
Ophelia,  the  daughter  of  James  Teach- 
out  and  Mary  Bailey,  of  Saratoga  county,  and 
granddaughter  of  John  Teachout  (1769)  and 
Hannah  Swartwout  ( 1777),  who  were  born  in 
Dutchess  county,  and  whose  forefathers  came 
to  America  from  Holland.  Mary  Bailey 
Teachout  was  the  daughter  of  Major  Henry 
Bailey  and  Eleanor  Andrews,  and  grand- 
daughter of  Lieutenant  Henry  Bailey  and 
Margaret  Losee.  On  her  mother's  side  she 
was  a  descendant  of  Captain  Alichael  Dunning. 

The  ancestors  of  Henry  Bailey  are  said  to 
have  fled  from  England  to  Holland  to  es- 
cape persecution,  and  early  in  the  seventeenth 
century  they  came  to  America.  The  Dun- 
nings  were  early  settlers  of  Fairfield,  Con- 
necticut. 


The  Rath- 
RATHBONE-RATHBUN     bone      family 

of  England  is 
an  old  and  honorable  one.  For  three  hun- 
dred years  a  wealthy  branch  has  resided  in 
the  city  of  Liverpool.  The  family  is  of  Sax- 
on origin  in  England,  where  they  have  been 
a  distinct  family  for  five  hundred  years. 
Transplanted  to  America,  they  have  been 
honored  citizens.  The  blazon  of  arms  for 
the  name  Rathbone  as  given  in  "Burke's  Gen- 
eral Armory"  is :  Argent,  three  doves,  azure. 
Crest :  a  dove  with  an  olive  branch  in  the 
beak  all  proper.  The  arms  of  the  Liverpool 
family  are :  Ermine,  on  a  fess,  azure,  between 
two  roses  in  chief  gules,  barbed  and  seeded 
proper,  and  the  Roman  fasces  fessvvays  in 
front  of  a  lion's  head  proper,  gorged  with  a 
collar  argent,  charged  with  two  roses  gules. 
Motto:  Suaz^tcr  ct  fortitcr — mildly  but  firmly. 
While  Richard  Rathbone  (1574)  seems  to  be 


278 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


the  first  of  the  line  in  America,  his  son  (1610) 
probabl)-  coming  at  the  same  time,  the  real 
history  of  the  family  begins  with  John,  of 
Block  Island  (1634).  He  is  identified  with 
the  early  history  of  that  island,  of  which  he 
was  one  of  the  purchasers  from  Massachu- 
setts, and  one  of  the  first  sixteen  settlers  who 
landed  on  the   island  in   1662. 

(I)  Richard  Rathbone,  born  about  1574, 
so  far  as  the  records  show,  was  the  first  of 
this  family  to  settle  in  America.  He  mar- 
ried Marion  Whipple,  sister  of  Captain  John 
Whipple,  who  mentioned  her  in  his  will,  made 
at  Ipswich,  Essex  county,  Massachusetts,  De- 
cember 19,  1616.  They  had  four  sons,  none 
of  whom  left  issue  (so  far  as  learned)  ex- 
cept John  (see  forward).  The  eldest  son. 
Rev.  William  Rathbone,  resided  and  preached 
in  Vermont  in  1630.  He  is  spoken  of  in  a 
work  published  in  1630  and  reprinted  in  "His- 
torical Collections  of  Massachusetts."  The 
sons  mentioned  were :  William,  Joseph,  Thom- 
as and  John. 

( II )  John  (i  ),  son  of  Richard  and  Marion 
(Whipple)  Rathbone,  was  born  about  1610, 
in  England  most  probably.  He  is  said  to  have 
come  from  England  to  America  in  the  ship 
"Speedwell,"  a  vessel  accompanying  the 
"Alayflower"  in  1620,  and  to  have  settled  in 
Rhode  Island.  (Livermore's  "History  of 
Block  Island.")  He  married  about  1633.  and 
had  a  son  John,  perhaps  others. 

(III)  John  Rathbone  (2),  son  of  John 
(i),  was  born  about  1634.  He  was  one  of 
those  who  on  August  17,  1660,  met  at  the 
house  of  John  Alcock,  M.D.,  in  Roxbury, 
Massachusetts,  to  confer  on  the  purchase  of 
Block  Island.  He  bought  a  sixteenth  of  the 
island  in  1660,  and  settled  there  in  1662.  His 
was  one  of  the  names  presented  to  the  Rhode 
Island  general  assembly  in  1664,  by  Captain 
James  Sand  and  Joseph  Kent,  in  behalf  of 
Block  Island,  for  admission  as  freeman.  In 
1683  lie  was  a  representative  from  Block  Isl- 
and to  the  Rhode  Island  general  assembly ; 
June  16,  1686.  he  signed  with  others,  a  pe- 
tition to  the  King  of  Great  Britain  in  re- 
gard to  the  writ  of  "Quo  Warranto,"  ac- 
knowledging full  and  free  submission  and  res- 
ignation of  the  powers  given  in  the  charter. 
and  asking  to  be  discharged  from  all  liens 
and  contributions  which  the  assembly  would 
impose  upon  them  in  sending  an  agent  to  Eng- 
land, to  which  action  the  petitioners  were  op- 
posed. 

In  1688  he  was  a  member  of  the  grand 
jury  of  Rhode  Island.  He  married  Marga- 
ret, daughter  of  Tristram  Dodge.  Their  is- 
sue was:  Thomas,  John  (3),  see  forward; 
Sarah,  wife  of  (first),  Samuel  George,  (sec- 


ond), John  Ball)  :  \\'illiam,  Joseph  and  Sam- 
uel. 

{IX)  John  (3),  son  of  John  (2)  and  Mar- 
garet (Dodge)  Rathbone,  was  born  in  Rox- 
bury, Massachusetts,  about  1658.  He  was 
made  a  freeman  of  Rhode  Island,  and  the 
same  year  was  appointed  a  deputy  to  the  gen- 
eral court  from  New  Shoreham,  Block  Isl- 
and, Rhode  Island.  He  was  deputy  from  1681 
to  1684,  and  surveyor  of  highways  in  1686. 
Just  before  his  marriage  he  received  a  deed 
from  his  father  to  sixty  acres  of  land,  the 
consideration  being  "One  barrel  of  pork." 
From  some  old  records  we  find  that  "Great 
James  and  his  wife"  (Indians)  bound  their 
daughter  Betsey  to  John  Rathbone  and  his 
wife  Ann,  as  an  indentured  servant,  for 
a  term  of  eighteen  years,  the  considera- 
tion being  "one  gallon  of  rum,  one 
blanket  in  hand,  and  five  years  afterward  one 
gallon  of  rum  yearly  thereafter,  and  if  she 
remains  five  years  the  said  Rathbone  to  pay 
four  blankets  every  third  year  thereafter." 
He  testified  April  28,  17 17,  in  relation  to  a 
seizure  by  the  pirate  Paulgrove  Williams,  of 
three  men  who  were  with  him  in  a  boat  on 
the  bay  at  the  time  of  the  seizure.  He  was 
twice    married,     (first)     June    20,     1680,    to 

,  (second)  November  11,  1686,  to  Ann 

Dodge.  His  children  were:  Mercy,  Jona- 
than, John,  Joshua  (see  forward),  Benjamin, 
Anna,   Nathaniel  and  Thomas. 

( \^ )  Rev.  Joshua  Rathbone,  son  of  John 
(3)  and  Ann  (Dodge)  Rathbone.  was  born 
at  Newport  colony,  of  Rhode  Island.  He 
was  twice  married.  He  married  (first)  No- 
vember 30,  1 72 1,  Martha  Card,  born  April  6, 
1699,  daughter  of  Job  and  Martha  (Acres) 
Card.  She  bore  him  a  son  Joshua.  He  mar- 
ried (second)  February  17.  1724,  Mary, 
daughter  of  Rev.  \'alentine  Wightman,  of 
(iroton,  Connecticut,  the  first  Baptist  minis- 
ter in  Connecticut.  By  his  second  wife  Rev. 
Joshua  was  the  father  of  twelve  children: 
Joshua  (see  forward)  ;  Valentine  W.,  Mar- 
tha, John,  Daniel,  Jacob,  Job,  Martha,  Amos, 
Anna,  Susannah  and  Wait.  These  children 
were  born  between  May  17,  1722,  the  birth 
date  of  Joshua,  and  August  18,  1744.  the 
birthday  of  the  youngest.  John  (5)  became 
a  minister  of  the  gospel,  preaching  at  Sara- 
toga, New  York,  at  the  age  of  ninety-five. 
He  died  from  the  eflfects  of  a  fall.  He  was 
a  ])atriot  of  the  revolution,  a  member  of  the 
Stnnington  committee  of  corres])on(lcnce  and 
inspector,  and  signer  of  the  memorial  to  the 
Connecticut  Assembly,  praying  for  cannon  to 
jirotect  the  town  of  Stonington  against  British 
attack. 

(VII)  Joshua  (2),  son  of  Rev.  Joshua  (i) 


rD  a  YJ 


Ar^  //r&y/// 


'^/^C^i^i^<^^^^ 


V^>^^-^^T_^ 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   \^'\LLEYS 


279 


and  Martha  (Cord)  Rathbone.  was  born  on 
Block  Island,  May  17,  1724,  and  died  at  Ston- 
ington,  Connecticut,  August  14,  1801.  He 
was  known  as  "Joshua  of  the  wind  mill",  he 
being  the  owner  of  a  grist  mill  run  by  wind 
jiovver  at  Stonington  Point.  He  was  a  good  and 
pious  man,  belonging  to  the  Society  of 
Friends.  In  an  old  yellow-leafed  Bible,  in 
which  the  records  of  Joshua's  family  were 
kept,  is  the  following,  written  in  a  good  hand 
with  many  flourishes :  "Stonington,  January 
the  27th  day,  A.  D.,  1755.  This  as  an  ac- 
count of  the  age  of  my  wife  and  children:  i. 
Joshua  Rathbone  Jr.,  was  born  upon  Block 
Island  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1724."  Some 
genealogists  give  his  birthplace  as  Stoning- 
ton, and  the  year  as  1722 ;  his  own  written 
testimony  ought  to  be  conclusive.  Joshua 
(2)  married,  March  4,  1742,  Dorcas,  born  at 
South  Kingston,  September  17,  1721,  died 
April  5,  1809,  daughter  of  James  Wells,  of 
Hopkinton,  Rhode  Island.  Children  born  of 
Joshua  (2)  and  Dorcas  Wells:  Joshua  (see 
forward),  Martha,  Dorcas  Wells,  Acors, 
Sarah,  Alary,  Anna. 

(V'll)  Joshua  (3),  son  of  Joshua  (2)  and 
Dorcas  (Wells)  Rathbone,  was  born  at  West- 
erly, Rhode  Island.  August  11,  1743,  and 
•<lied  November  23,  1773,  at  sea.  He  mar- 
ried, October  30,  1766,  in  Friends'  meeting 
liouse,  Sarah,  born  December  27,  1748,  daugh- 
ter of  Abraham  and  Martha  (Bagnal)  Bor- 
den. Their  childreti  were :  Joshua,  Abraham, 
Borden,  Acors  (see  forward)  ;  and  Benjamin 
Bagnal.  Joshua's  widow,  Sarah,  married  a 
•Quaker  minister,  Peter  Hoxie,  whose  widow 
she  was  at  her  death,  March  29,  1828. 

(VIII)  Acors,  third  of  the  four  sons  of 
Joshua  (3)  and  Sarah  (Borden)  Rathbone, 
was  born  in  Stonington,  Connecticut,  January 
25,  1772.  It  was  in  this  generation  that  the 
spelling  of  the  name  became  Rathbun.  He  was 
the  founder  of  Rathbunville,  Oneida  county, 
JNew  York. 

He  was  married,  February  12.  1794,  to 
Sarah,  born  in  South  Kingston,  November  28, 
1777,  died  May  22,  1859,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam an<l  Mercy  Peckham.  They  removed 
after  their  marriage  to  Richmond,  Rhode 
Island,  and  in  the  winter  of  1802  to  Verona, 
■Oneida  county.  New  York,  making  the  jour- 
ney in  an  emigrant  wagon.  Their  children 
were  fourteen  in  number,  born  between  No- 
vember 24.  1794,  and  May  4.  1820;  the  first 
six  were  born  in  Rhode  Island.  .Among  them 
were:  Joshua:  William;  Sarah  Ann  (mar- 
ried James  Hallock)  ;  Dorcas,  married  (first) 
Tiichard  Searing,  (second)  Henry  Thomas; 
Perry:  Benjamin;  Mary  Ann,  married  John 
IB.  Barr ;  Rowland  and  James.     Acors  Rath- 


bone's   name   is    incorrectly   given    in   Oneida 
county.  New  York,  histories  as  Achus. 

(IX)  Solomon,  son  of  Acors  and  Sarah 
(Peckham)  Rathbun,  was  born  in  Rhode  Is- 
land, June  30,  1799,  and  died  in  Springfield, 
Mass.,  November  9,  1861.  He  married,  in  New 
York  state,  Hannah,  died  in  New  York  City, 
December  3,  1891,  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Henrietta  Quimby.  of  New  York.  Children: 
I.  Acors  (see  forward).  2.  Daniel,  born 
June  21,  1829,  died  September  8,  1862;  mar- 
ried, September  9,  1851,  Duclanna  Wheeler, 
of  Rome,  New  York.  3.  Emily,  born  Sep- 
tember 26,  183 1  ;  married  John  L,  Kipp,  of 
New  York  City.  4.  Henry,  born  December 
30,  1833,  died  December  24,  1852,  in  \'erona, 
New  York.  5.  Edward,  born  April  14,  1838; 
married,  September  2,  1865,  Maria  Warner, 
of  Verona,  New  York.  6.  George  Jay,  born 
September  6,  1840,  died  February  22,  i860. 
7.  Milton,  born  August  3,  1844 :  married.  Feb- 
ruary 5,  1873,  Harriet  Lee  Eales,  of  Belmont, 
New  York.  8.  Frank,  born  January  23,  1847; 
married,  October  17,  1877,  Charlotte  N.  Nims, 
of  Troy,  New  York,  9.  Alice  Naomi,  born 
November  16,  1850;  married  Josiah  Lombard, 
of  New  York  City  (Harlem).  Solomon 
Rathbun  was  a  very  prominent  man  in  Rath- 
bunville, Oneida  county,  New  York,  settled 
by  his  father,  Acors  (Achus),  in  1802.  The 
town  is  now  Verona  Mills.  Solomon  owned 
a  flourishing  mill,  woolen  factory  and  a  store. 
Wells,  anothei  son  of  Acors,  lived  to  be  the 
oldest  inhabitant  of  the  town. 

(X)  .\cors.  eldest  son  of  Solomon  and 
Hannah  (Quimby)  Rathbun,  was  born  in 
Rathbunville,  now  Verona  Mills,  Oneida 
county.  New  York,  August  29,  1827.  The 
town  was  founded  by  his  grandfather  Acors 
(i)  Rathbun  in  1802.  He  received  a  good 
education,  and  was  trained  to  habits  of  in- 
dustry and  thrift  by  his  father,  and  gained  in 
his  store  and  other  business  enterprises  the 
experience  that  was  to  make  him  in  later 
years  the  successful  business  man  he  was. 
He  came  to  Albany,  where  he  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  his  uncle  Joshua  Rathbun,  then  one 
of  the  largest  hardware  dealers  in  the  lum- 
ber district  of  Albany.  He  was  later  ad- 
mitted a  partner,  and  on  the  death  of  Joshua 
succeeded  him  in  the  business,  remaining  the 
active  and  capable  head  until  1900,  when  he 
retired  from  active  effort.  He  was  a  director 
of  the  Mechanics  National  Bank,  the  .Albany 
Savings  Bank,  the  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Company,  and  was  interested  in  other  cor- 
porations and  business  enterprises  of  the  city. 
He  belonged  to  the  Fort  Orange  Club,  and 
was  a  warm  friend  of  the  various  church  and 
philanthropic  bodies  for  the  betterment  of  his 


280 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


fellows.  He  was  a  good  citizen,  and  left  the 
impress  of  his  commendable  character  upon 
his  associates  and  friends.  He  was  presi- 
dent of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Second 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Albany,  and  for 
forty-four  years  worshipped  with  his  wife  at 
that  church,  occupying  the  same  pew  during 
that  long  period.  His  love  of  all  things  good 
and  beautiful,  his  cultured  mind  and  great 
desire  to  use  his  wealth  fairly  and  justly, 
were  prominent  traits  of  his  character.  The 
fpijolutions  and  memorials  adopted  by  the 
vfin'nijs  boards  of  directors  and  trustees  of 
which  he  was  a  member  show  that  he  was 
held  in  the  very  highest  esteem  as  a  capable 
man  of  business,  a  wise  counselor,  a  faithful 
friend,  and  a  courteous  gentleman. 

He  married,  August  19,  1857,  Eliza  C.  Bur- 
rell,  of  Little  Falls,  Herkimer  county.  New 
York  (see  Burrell),  who  survives  him,  a  resi- 
dent of  Albany.  They  had  one  child,  Or- 
menda  Burrell,  born  July  13,  1858,  died  Jan- 
uary 21,  1901,  married,  June  4,  1892,  in  Al- 
bany, New  York,  Joseph  Yates  Page,  son  of 
Joseph  C.  Page,  of  Albany,  and  great-grand- 
son of  Governor  Yates,  of  New  York.  They 
located  in  Washington,  D.  C,  where  Mr. 
Page  was  connected  with  the  comptroller's 
office  under  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  Eccles, 
later  were  of  Seattle,  Washington,  then  re- 
turned to  Albany,  where  Mr.  Page  died  Jan- 
uary 13,  1901,  followed  one  week  later  by 
his  wife.  Mrs.  Page  was  an  accomplished, 
cultured  lady,  possessed  of  every  womanly  at- 
tribute, and  was  deeply  regretted.  Their 
daughter,  L.  Eliza  Rathbun  Page,  born  in 
Seattle,  Washington,  March  16,  1892,  is  a 
senior  of  Wellesley  Hall,  Massachuetts 
(1909).  She  is  the  companion  of  Mrs.  Acors 
Rathbun  in  her  Albany  home  and  on  her 
tours  of  Europe  and  Alaska. 

Eliza  C.  (Burrell)  Rathbun  was  educated 
in  Packer  Institute,  Brooklyn,  New  York,  and 
Utica  Female  Seminary.  She  resided  in  Al- 
bany, New  York,  where  they  had  a  beautiful 
home  on  Willett  street,  where  hospitality  was 
unbounded.  Chief  executives  were  entertained 
on  many  occasions,  and  a  circle  of  friends  of 
kindred  tastes  made  welcome.  Always  of 
charitable  impulses,  since  the  death  of  her 
husband,  daughter,  and  son-in-law,  Mrs. 
Rathbun  has  devoted  her  life  to  good  works 
along  j)hilanthropic  and  charitable  lines,  not 
alone  with  her  wealth,  but  with  constant  per- 
sonal work.  Every  Thursday  evening  she 
teaches  a  class  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  at 
the  Rensselaer  Mission  ;  for  seventeen  years 
she  has  taught  in  the  Sunday  school,  starting 
with  four,  the  class  now  numbering  seventy- 
five.     There  is  no  public  or  private  charity  in 


the  city  that  has  not  been  substantially  aided 
by  her — missions,  schools,  hospitals,  churches^ 
none  are  turned  away ;  the  need  has  onlv  to< 
be  shown  and  the  response  is  ready.  In  all 
this  work  there  is  one  that  lies  nearest  her 
heart,  the  Young  Women's  Christian  Asso- 
ciation. In  1888  it  was  brought  to  her  notice 
that  young  women  temporarily  in  the  city,  and 
self-sustaining  girls,  should  have  a  home  pro- 
vided them  where  they  would  be  sheltered  and' 
cared  for  under  good  influences,  yet  at  a 
price  within  their  means.  Meeting  with  cor- 
dial sympathy  and  material  support  from  her 
husband,  she  launched  the  Young  Women's. 
Christian  Association  in  two  rooms,  April  20,. 
1888.  The  association  was  incorporated  in 
1890;  larger  quarters  very  soon  were  needed, 
again  and  again,  until  now  they  are  quartered 
in  a  building  of  their  own  at  the  corner  of 
Lodge  and  Steuben  streets,  with  spacious  par- 
lors, reading  rooms,  restaurant,  bedrooms  for 
temporary  and  permanent  guests,  a  library  of 
2,209  volumes,  seven  instructors,  two  secre- 
taries, and  a  corps  of  able  helpers  in  every 
department.  Classes  for  instruction  are  main- 
tained, each  with  a  capable  specialist  to  in- 
struct in  Bible  study,  vocal  music,  domestic 
science,  plain  sewing,  millinery,  embroidery, 
and  physical  education.  The  association 
(1909)  has  six  hundred  members,  fifty-one  of 
whom  are  sustaining,  three  hundred  and 
ninety-six  active,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
three  associate  members,  drawn  from  every 
church  denomination.  The  government  in- 
cludes the  executive  officers,  a  board  of  thirty 
managers,  with  an  executive  committee,  ad- 
visory board,  and  a  board  of  trustees.  With 
the  exception  of  the  advisory  board,  these 
officers  are  all  women.  For  twenty-three  years 
Mrs.  Rathbun  has  been  president,  and  to  her 
untiring  energy  and  generosity  success  may  be 
ascribed.  In  1907  she  caused  to  be  erected, 
adjoining  the  Home,  a  gymnasium,  in  honor 
of  her  late  husband's  memory.  This  is  said 
to  be  the  very  best  equipped  ladies'  gymna- 
sium in  existence  anywhere.  No  feature  of 
the  equiiiment  of  a  modern  gymnasium  is 
omitted.  The  association  is  affiliated  with  the 
National  Young  Women's  Christian  Associa- 
tion organizations,  which  assures  members 
the  added  benefits  of  similar  advantages  when 
away  from  home.  To  the  development  of  this 
and  other  undertakings  Mrs.  Rathbun  de- 
votes her  life  and  finds  her  greatest  enjoy- 
ment. Every  hour  of  the  day  is  occupied,  as 
she  holds  official  connection  with  many  or- 
ganizations. In  earlier  years  she  traveled  ex- 
tensively, visiting  every  country  of  Europe, 
as  well  as  thoroughly  touring  the  United 
States,   Alaska  and  part  of   South   .America. 


/^ 


t'/yU-    C/du^i^/^ 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


281 


Her  acquaintance  with  men  and  women  of 
philantliropic  and  literary  fame  extends  to 
many  lands,  among  whom  her  noble  philan- 
thropies are  recognized  and  approved.  After 
the  death  of  her  husband  she  gave  up  the 
Willett  street  mansion,  and  resides  in  apart- 
ments at  355  State  street,  Albany. 

(The  Burrell  Line), 

The  family  of  Burrell  settled  in  Herkimer 
county,  New  York,  in  the  year  1804,  when 
Jonathan  Burrell  located  at  what  was  then 
called  "Yankee  Corners,"  a  point  that  was 
the  business  center  of  the  town  of  Salisbury. 
He  came  with  his  family  from  Sheffield, 
Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  and  carried 
on  various  branches  of  business.  The  village 
became  known  as  "Burrells  Corners,"  and  is 
still  so  called,  although  there  is  little  to  dis- 
tinguish it  now  from  the  surrounding  coun- 
try. One  of  his  sons,  \\'.  F.  Burrell,  who  was 
born  there  in  1818,  became  the  proprietor  of 
Burrell's  Mills,  and  was  extensively  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  cheese  boxes,  broom 
handles,  lumber,  etc.  He  was  supervisor  of 
the  town  in  1872-73.  Jonathan  Burrell  mar- 
ried Lucinda  Kellogg  and  had  several  chil- 
dren. 

(H)  Harry,  son  of  Jonathan  and  Lucinda 
(Kellogg)  Burrell,  was  born  in  Sheffield,  Mas- 
sachusetts, November  28,  1797,  and  died  at 
Little  Falls,  New  York,  March  5,  1879.  He 
was  part  of  the  family  who  emigrated  from 
Massachusetts  to  the  town  of  Salisbury,  Her- 
kimer county,  New  York,  in  1804.  He  was 
engaged  in  farming  and  in  business  with  his 
father  until  the  death  of  the  latter,  when  he 
succeeded  to  possession  of  the  old  homestead, 
known  as  the  Hackley  farm.  When  he  was 
not  yet  of  legal  age  his  neighbors  solicited 
him  to  take  charge  of  and  sell  their  dairy 
products,  which  were  drawn  to  Albany  on 
wagons  and  thence  transported  to  New  York 
City  in  sloops.  He  began  the  purchase  of 
cheese  and  other  dairy  products,  and  from 
this  beginning  became  the  largest  buyer  and 
shipper  in  the  country.  As  his  business  in- 
creased, he  established  a  house  on  Front  street. 
New  York  City,  under  the  firm  name  of  H. 
Burrell  &  Company.  His  acquaintance  with 
Erastus  Corning  and  other  prominent  men 
of  the  day  brought  forth  the  suggestion  of 
exporting  dairy  products.  Mr.  Burrell  em- 
braced the  idea  and  began  the  business  of 
exporting  cheese,  formed  strong  connections 
with  foreign  houses,  and  was  probably  the 
first  shipper  of  dairy  products  to  foreign  mar- 
kets from  the  United  States.  His  domestic 
and  foreign  business  was  very  extensive,  and 
in  the  country  and  city  demanded  the  constant 


attention  of  himself  and  sons,  who  as  they 
grew  up  were  all  taken  into  the  business.  He 
continued  a  large  buyer  and  shipper  until  near 
the  close  of  his  long,  busy,  useful  life  of 
eighty-two  years.  He  was  one  of  the  best  of 
men,  and  his  name  was  the  synonym  for 
honesty  and  integrity,  and  his  bond  was  no 
better  than  his  word.  He  was  the  adviser  and 
friend  of  every  man  in  the  community,  and 
was  trusted  implicitly.  He  was  very  wealthy,^ 
owning  seventeen  farms.  Charitable  and  gen- 
erous, he  was  the  chief  pillar  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  at  both  Salisbury  and  Little 
Falls,  where  he  built  a  handsome  residence 
and  removed  in  1852.  He  was  president  of 
the  church  board  of  trustees,  and  of  Little 
Falls  Academy.  He  died  at  Little  Falls,  and 
while  his  remains  lay  in  the  family  vault, 
some  desperate  villains,  hoping  for  a  large 
reward,  stole  the  body  and  secreted  it.  They 
were,  however,  run  down,  captured,  and  the 
body  recovered.  Two  of  the  gang  were  sen- 
tenced to  prison  for  ten  years  and  five  for 
seven  years  at  hard  labor. 

He  married  Ormenda,  daughter  of  Colonel 
Carr,  of  the  war  of  1812,  and  his  wife,  Han- 
nah Hakes,  the  latter  bearing  the  title  of  the 
"smartest  woman  in  the  country."  Children : 
I.  Seymour,  deceased.  2.  Malvin,  deceased. 
3.  Isaac,  deceased.  4.  Hannah,  wife  of 
Stephen  Millar,  of  Constableville,  Lewis 
county.  New  York ;  Nancy,  wife  of  Dr. 
Humphrey,  a  physician  and  missionary,  whom 
she  accompanied  to  India  and  remained  for 
five  years.  The  doctor  was  also  a  minister, 
and  preached  in  Hindoostanee.  They  now 
live  a  retired  life  at  Little  Falls,  New  York. 
5.  Eliza,  of  further  mention.  6.'  Harry  (2). 
The  sons  were  all  associated  in  business  with 
their  father,  and  continued  in  it  after  his 
death,  although  not  upon  the  same  extensive 
scale. 

(HI)  Eliza,  sixth  child  of  Harry  and  Or- 
menda (Carr)  Burrell,  was  born  in  Herkimer 
county.  New  York,  June  6,  1833.  She  mar- 
ried Acors  Rathbun,  and  was  the  mother  of 
one  daughter,  Ormenda  (2)  (see  Rathbun). 


The    Little    family    so    strongly 
LITTLE     represented  in  the  present  gen- 
eration     at     Johnstown,      New 
York,  descend  from  Lawrence  Little,  a  Mont- 
gomery county  farmer,  located  in  the  town  of 
Charleston,   Montgomery  county.  New  York. 
(I)    Lawrence    Little    died    1832;    married 
Eliza  Fellows,  who  died  1829.    Children,  born 
in    Charleston,    New    York:     i.    Mary,    born 
1819.  died  January  31,   1885;  married  Hiram 
Campbell,  a  soldier  of  the  civil  war,  killed  at 
the  battle  of  the  Wilderness.     They  had  eight 


282 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


children :  i.  Eliza,  married  Hezekiah  Carey 
and  had  four  children,  a.  Eva,  married  John 
Lincoln  and  had  Elizabeth  and  Willis  ;  b.  Kate, 
married  Charles  Shafer  and  had  one  child, 
Allison :  c.  Mack,  married  Elsie  Young  and 
had  five  children :  d.  Albert,  married  Phoebe 
\\'agner  and  had  six  children,  ii.  Hiram, 
married  Jane  Orr  and  had  three  children: 
Irving,  Estelle  and  V^ernon.  iii.  R.  Elmira, 
born  November  15,  1840,  married.  May  i, 
1870,  Ebenezer  Eckerson,  born  October  25, 
1839,  and  had  one  child.  Ford  Blaine,  born 
September  11,  1880,  married,  June  25,  1909, 
Ruth  Calkin,  iv.  Hamilton  H.,  married  Isa- 
belle  Warner,  and  had  one  son,  Louis,  v. 
Amanda,  married  John  R.  \'an  Patten  and 
had  four  children :  a.  Milo,  married  Dora 
Ten  Eyck  and  had  Anna,  married  Herbert 
\'an  Wie,  Cora  and  Otto ;  b.  Mark,  married 
a  Miss  Young  and  had  five  children  ;  c.  Renilo, 
married  Maurice  Stanton ;  d.  Bessie,  married 
Chauncy  King  and  had  Mabel  and  Everett, 
vi.  Robie,  married  Munro  ShaiTer  and  had 
four  children :  a.  John :  b.  Stanton,  married 
Josie  Scrum ;  c.  George,  married  Lizzie 
Smith;  d.  Durward,  married  Irene  Scrum  and 
liad  Orville,  Marion,  Dudley,  married  Fanny 
MacDougal,  and  Blanche,  vii.  William,  mar- 
ried Estelle  Tratts  and  had  Harry  and  Nellie, 
■viii.  Elmore,  married  Maria  Brown  and  had 
Donella,  married  J.  Frank  Alartin.  2.  Hiram, 
married  Mary  Jane  Mickel.  3.  Betsey,  mar- 
ried Rev.  Jacob  Drake  and  had  four  or  five 
children.  4.  John  Calvin,  of  whom  further. 
5.  James,  married  Eliza  Talmadge.  6. 
Nathaniel. 

(II)  John  Calvin,  son  of  Lawrence  Little, 
was  born  in  Charleston,  Montgomery  county, 
New  York,  December  19,  1823,  died  at  Car- 
lisle, New  York,  August  25,  1874.  He  was 
left  an  orphan  at  five  years  of  age  and  was 
brought  up  by  a  neighbor,  Charles  Gordon, 
and  grew  up  to  the  occupation  of  a  farmer. 
After  his  marriage  he  removed  to  Carlisle, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count. He  was  a  quiet,  industrious,  energetic 
man  and  devoted  his  entire  life  to  his  business 
and  family.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Dutch 
Reformed  church  and  in  politics  he  was  a 
Democrat. 

He  married  at  Cherry  Valley,  New  York, 
February  22,  1849,  Elizabeth  Van  Valken- 
berg,  born  July  14,  1831,  at  Springfield,  New 
York,  died  October  7,  1898,  at  Johnstown, 
■daughter  of  Jacob  and  Sarah  (Wood)  Van 
Valkenbcrg,  who  were  the  parents  of  five 
children:  i.  Elizabeth,  married  John  Calvin 
Little.  2.  Abbie,  married  Nicholas  Brouthers. 
3.  Isaac,  died  in  infancy.  4.  Henry,  married 
■Georgiana   Platner.     5.  Sarah,  married  Sam- 


uel  Hancock.     Children  of  John  Calvin  and 
Elizabeth  Little : 

1.  Jacob  Henry,  born  March  19,  1850,  died 
January  5.  1853. 

2.  George  Francis,  born  April  21,  1851; 
married  (first)  February  24,  1875,  Clarisa 
Shafifer,  who  died  December  31,  1884;  mar- 
ried (second)  January  5,  1886,  Anna  Kiem; 
children:  Arthur,  born  December  13,  1887; 
Elizabeth,  April  11,  1889.  George  Francis 
Little  resides  in  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts, 
where  he  is  a  carpenter  and  builder. 

3.  Sarah  Eliza,  born  September  21,  1852, 
married,  November  2,  1871,  Edwin  Hillsinger, 
a  farmer  of  Carlisle,  Schoharie  county.  New 
York;  children:  i.  Oliin,  born  April  19,  1873, 
married,  December  31,  1904,  Charles  Niles, 
and  has  a  son  Charles  (2),  born  February, 
1907;  ii.  Grace,  born  September  19,  1875, 
married,  October  25,  1894,  ^Villard  Kilts,  and 
their  daughter  Ruth,  born  September  4.  1896, 
died  January  2,  1900. 

4.  Naaman,  born  May  25,  1854 ;  educated  in 
the  public  schools,  and  until  1892  owned  and 
cultivated  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  at  Cobleskill ;  in  the  year  mentioned  he 
removed  to  Johnstown,  New  York,  where  he 
is  employed  as  a  cutter  with  the  Johnstown 
Knitting  Mills  Company ;  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and 
an  Independent  in  politics ;  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Dutch  Reformed  church  and  clerk  of  the 
board  of  trustees ;  he  married,  November  8, 
1876,  Sarah  Elizabeth  Mickel,  born  March  27, 
1853;  children:  i.  Bertha  Elizabeth,  born 
August  29,  1877,  married,  November  25, 
1897,  Abraham  GraiT;  children:  Edith  B., 
born  August  6,  1904 :  Sylvia  M.,  born  August 
16,  1907,  died  March  6,  1910;  Esther  Ruth, 
born  October  8,  1910:  ii.  Martha,  born  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1880.  married.  February  6,  1901, 
Arthur  ITnderwood,  and  has  Arthur  I'rancis, 
born  Se])tember  19,  1904;  Raymond,  born  Feb- 
ruary 7.  1907  ;  iii.  Sylvia,  born  May  28,  1881 ; 
iv.  Henrietta,  born  November  3,  1883,  died 
February  23,  1894.  Sarah  Elizabeth  Mickel, 
wife  of  Naaman  Little,  is  a  daughter  of  Henry 
Mickel,  born  May  12,  1804,  died  July  9,  1895; 
he  married  Henrietta  Springer,  born  Decem- 
ber 18,  1809.  died  April  2.  1850,  a  daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Sarah  (Howe)  Springer.  Sarah 
Elizabeth  was  the  youngest  of  five  children. 

5.  Abbie  Jane,  horn  February  9.  1856.  died 
May  4,  1902 ;  married  Llewellyn  D.  Cyphers, 
both  deceased,  had  no  children. 

6.  John,  born  May  26,  1857;  connected  with 
the  glove  business  at  Johnstown  in  the  Nor- 
thup  Glove  Company  ;  he  married  Martha  Jane, 
born  November  24,  1857,  daughter  of  Peter 
Snook,   born   April   20,    1827,  died    March   5, 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


283 


1905;  he  married.  October  8,  1851,  Alida  \'an 
Nest,  born  May  20,  1831.  They  had  five 
children.  Children  of  John  Little:  Frank, 
born  Febniarv  11,  1886;  Earnest,  June  19, 
1888. 

7.  David  \\'.,  born  June  15.  1858;  engaged 
in  the  sewing  machine  business  at  Glovers- 
ville :  he  married,  December  17,  1879,  Maggie 
Van  Nest;  children:  i.  Elinore  (Ella),  born 
October  19,  1880;  ii.  Elizabeth,  born  January 
23,  1882.  married  Emerson  Van  Duesen. 

8.  Seth,  of  whom  further. 

9.  Henry,  of  whom  further. 

10.  Charles,  born  November  13,  1863;  a 
farmer  of  Johnstown;  married,  December  i, 
1886,  Mary  Dorn ;  children :  i.  Grace  M., 
born  September  19,  1887,  died  April  10,  1907; 
ii.  Olive,  born  April  14,  1894,  died  May  2j, 
1894;  iii.  Charles  Warren,  born  July  31,  1899. 

11.  Mary,  born  May  25,  1865;  married, 
April  16,  1891,  Clarence  Hoyt ;  children: 
i.  Marshall,  born  May  13,  1892;  ii.  Clayton, 
December  16,   1894:  iii.  Ruth,  June   11,   1903. 

12.  ;\Iartha,  born  January  25,  1867;  resides 
in  Troy. 

13.  Elmer,  of  whom  further. 

14.  Elvie  E.,  born  February  18,  1873  ;  mar- 
ried, August  9,  1900,  Fred  Hollis,  of  Troy, 
New  York ;  children :  i.  Edith  Mae,  born 
August  22,  1901  ;  ii.  Florence,  born  Decem- 
ber 31,  1903;  iii.  Frederick,  born  May  7, 
1905 ;  iv.  James  Walter,  born  November  20, 
1910. 

(HI)  Seth,  eighth  child  and  sixth  son  of 
John  Calvin  and  Elizabctii  (Van  Valkenberg) 
Little,  was  born  February  7,  i860.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  school  and  became  an 
accountant.  He  is  now  associated  with  his 
brothers  in  glove  manufacture  in  Johnstown. 
He  is  prominent  in  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  is  past  noble  grand  of  Johnstown 
Lodge  and  present  district  deputy.  He  is 
also  a  Knight  of  Pythias.  In  the  years  1900- 
05  he  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  education. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  married, 
June  II,  1885.  Ella,  born  March  6,  1864, 
daughter  of  Levi  S.  and  Elizabeth  (\'osburg) 
Dygert,  and  granddaughter  of  George  Dygert. 
Elizabeth  Vosburg  was  a  daughter  of  \'ictor 
and  Mary  (Putnam)  Vosburg.  Levi  S.  Dy- 
gert married    (first)    —  Hotaling;  child, 

Phoebe,  married  John  \'an  Nostrand  and  had 
one  child,  Clarence;  he  married  (second) 
Elizabeth  X'osburg:  children:  i.  Emma,  born 
November  24,  1856.  married  Berry  \'an 
Deusen  and  had  four  children :  Nellie ;  Ed- 
ward, married  Lulu  Lair  ;  William  ;  Clarence. 
2.  Arvilla,  born  April  20,  1858,  married 
Charles  Putnam ;  children :  Levi,  Earl,  Jay 
and   Floyd.     3.   George,  born   September    10, 


i860,  married  Matie  Foote  ;  children  :  Lewis, 
Frank,  Francis,  George  Jr.  4.  Ella,  married 
Seth  Little.  5.  Anna,  born  May  2,  1866,  mar- 
ried William  Grimes  and  had  one  child, 
George,  married  Grace  Lottridge.  6.  William, 
born  .April  3,  1868,  married  Augusta  Henry. 
7.  Elizabeth,  born  December  24,  1870,  mar- 
ried Brayton  Grinnell.  Children  of  Seth  and 
Ella  Little:  i.  Blanche  Elizabeth,  born  March 
28,  1886;  married,  November  4,  1906,  Archi- 
bald A.  Grafif.  2.  Edna  M.,  born  October  16, 
1888.    3.  Nina  B.,  born  June  7,  1893. 

(Ill)  Henry,  son  of  John  Calvin  and  Eliza- 
beth (Van  Valkenberg)  Little,  was  born  in 
Carlisle.  New  York,  February  13,  1862.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  school  and  is  now 
engaged  with  his  brother  in  glove  manufac- 
ture. He  is  a  member  of  Johnstown  Lodge, 
No.  808,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
and  is  past  noble  grand  and  past  district 
deputy.  Is  an  attendant  of  the  Dutch  Re- 
formed church.  He  resides  in  the  city  of 
Johnstown.  He  married,  September  30,  1886, 
Ada,  born  June  23,  1862,  daughter  of  Peter 
and  Alida  (\'an  Nest)  Snook.  Peter  Snook 
was  born  April  20,  1827,  died  March  5,  1905  ; 
married,  October  8,  185 1,  Alida  Van  Nest, 
born  May  20.  1831.  Alida  was  the  daughter 
of  Andrew  and  Catherine  (\'osburgh)  \'an 
Nest.  Andrew  \'an  Nest  was  the  son  of 
Henry  \'an  Nest,  born  1793,  died  1864.  Cath- 
erine \'osburgh,  wife  of  Andrew  \'an  Nest, 
born  1800,  died  1866;  children:  Myndert, 
Maria,  Henry,  Joseph,  Jane  Ann,  Barney, 
Alida,  married  Peter  Snook  ;  Catherine,  Sarah, 
Harriet,  Michael,  John.  Children  of  Peter 
and  Alida  Snook:  i.  Catherine,  born  Sep- 
tember 8,  1853,  married,  February  24.  1874, 
Charles  Argersinger,  born  March  22,  1852; 
children :  i.  Laura,  born  June  12,  1876,  died 
F'ebruary  20,  1901,  married,  November  14, 
1896,  George  De  Witt ;  left  Florence,  born 
August  8,  1899:  ii.  Bertha,  born  July  30, 
1878,  married,  October,  1907,  Fred  Seism ; 
iii.  Earl  D..  born  June  19,  1880,  died  July  18, 
1903;  iv.  Evertt,  born  IVfarch  15,  1882:  v. 
Floyd,  born  June  17,  1884.  2.  An  infant, 
born  and  died  August.  1856.  3.  Martha  Jane, 
married  John  Little.  4.  Ada.  married  Flenry 
Little.  5.  John  D.,  married  Matie  Schoen- 
felt.  December  26,  1889 ;  children :  i.  Carl 
Delbert,  born  June  9.  1891  ;  ii.  Clayton  P., 
born  September  27,  1895.  6.  Jay,  born  June 
2,  1868.  Children  of  Henry  and  Ada  Little : 
I.  Jessie  A.,  born  December  25,  1887.  2.  lona 
H.,  April  27.  1894.  3.  Ruth,  born  April  20, 
1899. 

(Ill)  Elmer,  son  of  John  Calvin  and  Ehza- 
beth  (Van  Valkenberg)  Little,  was  born  No- 
vember I,  1868,  in  Carlisle,  Schoharie  county, 


284 


HUDSON  AND   I\IOHAWK  \^\LLEYS 


New  York.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
school,  and  in  1876  went  to  live  in  Johnstown. 
He  entered  business  life  with  Mason,  Camp- 
bell &  Company,  continuing  until  1893.  In 
that  year,  in  company  with  George  S.  Pitman, 
and  as  Pitman  &  Little,  he  began  the  manu- 
facture of  gloves.  They  made  a  fine  grade  of 
men  and  women's  gloves  and  continued  in  suc- 
cessful operation  together  until  the  death  of 
Air.  Pitman,  since  which  time  Mr.  Little  has 
continued  the  business.  He  is  now  serving  his 
third  term  on  the  board  of  water  commission- 
ers :  he  is  past  grand  of  Johnstown  Lodge, 
No.  808,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
a  charter  member  of  the  Improved  Order  of 
Red  Men  and  a  member  of  the  Colonial  Club. 
He  is  interested  in  the  work  of  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association,  which  he  sup- 
ports by  membership,  and  attends  the  Dutch 
Reformed  church.  He  married,  June  12, 
1889,  Clara  M.,  born  April  8,  1869,  daughter 
of  Benjamin  Ellis,  born  September  13,  1832, 
died  April  4,  1903,  son  of  Arnold  and  Polly 
(Lathrop)  Ellis.  Benjamin  Ellis  married, 
October  30,  1854,  Mary  C.  Argersinger,  born 
August  15,  1836,  died  May  21,  1903,  daugh- 
ter of  Baltus  and  Clarissa  ( Mason )  .Arger- 
singer. Benjamin  and  Mary  C.  Ellis  had  six 
children:  i.  David  B.,  born  October  10,  1859; 
married.  December  11,  1883,  Annie  Bulger; 
children:  i.  John,  born  May  30,  1885,  died 
May  19,  1909;  ii.  Bessie,  born  May  31,  1887, 
married  Veeder  Scott,  September  28,  19 10. 
2.  Alida  C,  born  September  15,  1861 ;  mar- 
ried Jacob  S.  Warren ;  children :  i.  Leona 
May,  married  William  W.  Stone  and  had 
Clara  and  Franklin ;  ii.  George  B. :  iii.  Clara, 
died  in  childhood.  Children  of  Elmer  and 
Clara  M.  Little :  Alida  M.,  born  March  29, 
1893,  and  Elmer  E.,  January  23,  1895. 


The  family  of  Shepard  herein 
SHEPARD     considered  descend  from  Rev. 

Thomas  Shepard,  of  Eng- 
land and  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  of  whom 
one  writer  said :  "That  gratious  svveete  Heav- 
enly minded  and  soule-ravishing  minister  Mr. 
Thomas  Shepheard  in  whose  soule  the  Lord 
shed  abroade  his  love  so  abundantly  that 
thousands  of  souls  have  come  to  blesse  God 
for  him  *  *"  and  of  whom  Cotton  Mather 
said :  "Let  the  reader  now  go  with  me  and 
I  will  show  him  one  of  the  happiest  men  that 
ever  we  saw  ;  as  great  a  converter  of  souls  as 
has  ordinarily  been  known  in  our  days,"  and 
once  more  he  says :  "It  was  with  a  respect 
unto  the  enlightening  and  jxjwerful  ministry 
of  Mr.  Shepard  that  when  the  foundation  of 
a  College  was  to  be  laid,  Cambridge,  rather 
than  any  other  place,  was  pitched  upon  to  be 


the  seat  of  that  happy  seminary."  He  was-, 
one  of  the  foremost  in  rearing  the  structure- 
which  John  Harvard  made  possible.  While- 
little  is  known  of  his  English  ancestry,  it  is. 
certain  that  he  came  from  the  family  of  Shep- 
ard whose  heraldic  description  is  here  given. 
Arms:  Ermine  on  a  chief  sable:  three  pole- 
axes  argent.  Crest:  On  a  mont  vert,  a  stag" 
courant  regardant  proper  attired  argent. 
Motto :  Xec  timeo,  nee  spero.  We  give  his 
English  parentage  only. 

(I)  William  Shepard  in  the  "little  poore* 
towne"  of  Fosscut,  near  Towcester,  North- 
amptonshire, England,  was  early  apprenticed' 
to  a  helmet  maker.  Bland,  in  the  same  town. 
After  finishing  his  years  of  apprenticeship  he- 
removed  to  Towcester,  where  he  resided  sev- 
eral years.  "There  being  no  good  ministry 
in  town,"  he  removed  to  Banbury,  in  O.x- 
fordshire,  "under  a  stirring  ministry,  hav- 
ing bought  a  house  there  for  that  end."   There' 

he  died  in  1615.     He  married   (first) 

Bland,  a  daughter  of  his  first  employer.  She' 
died  in  1609.  revered  and  beloved.  He  mar- 
ried (second)  in  Towcester  a  woman,  name 
unknown.  Of  her  Rev.  Thomas  wrote  in! 
his  autobiography,  "Who  did  let  me  see  the 
difference  between  my  own  mother  and  a 
stepmother ;  she  did  seeme  not  to  love  me- 
but  tried  to  incense  my  father  against  me."' 
Of  his  father  he  says,  "A  wise,  prudent  man, 
the  peacemaker  of  the  place,  and  toward  his 
latter  end  much  blessed  of  God  in  his  estate' 
and  in  his  soule."  Of  his  mother  he  says,. 
"My  mother  was  a  woman  much  afflicted,, 
sometimes  even  to  distraction  of  mind,  yet 
was  sweetly  recovered  agayne  before  she  died. 
I,  being  the  youngest,  she  did  beare  exceed- 
ing great  love  to  me  and  made  many  prayers- 
for  me  and  died  when  I  was  about  four  years- 
old."    He  had  children  by  both  marriages. 

(II)  Rev.  Thomas  Shepard,  son  of  Willianr 

and  (Bland)    Shepard,   was   born   in 

Towcester,  England,  November  5,  1605,  and 
as  he  states  it,  "the  powder  treason  day,  and' 
that  very  houre  of  the  day  wherein  the  Parlia- 
ment should  have  bin  blown  up  by  Papist 
priests,  I  was  borne,  which  occasioned  my 
father  to  give  me  the  name  Thomas  because^ 
he  sayd,  I  would  hardly  believe  that  ever  any 
such  wickedness  should  be  attempted  by  men 
agaynst  so  religious  and  good  Parlament."* 
His  first  schcxiling  was  under  the  tutorship  of 
a  Mr.  Rice,  of  whom  he  writes,  "Exceedingly 
curst  and  cruel  and  would  deale  roughly  with 
me  and  .so  discouraged  me  wholly  from  de- 
sire of  learning,  that  I  wished  oftentimes 
myselfe  in  any  condition  to  keepe  hogs  or 
beasts  rather  than  to  goe  to  schoole  and 
learne."     At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  considered 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


285 


Iliimself   "ripe    tor   the   University,"   and   was 
:  admitted    to    Emanuel   College.      In    1623    he 
took  his  bachelor  degree,  and  in  1625  he  fin- 
ished his  course  and  was  graduated  with  the 
honors   of   the   university.      In    1627   the   de- 
gree of  A.M.  was  conferred  upon  him.     His 
:first    parish    was    at    Earles    Cole,    where    he 
•preached  three  and  one-half  years,  receiving 
forty   pounds   yearly   salary.      His   fame   now 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  church  authori- 
ities    (he   being  a  non-Conformist),   and   De- 
cember 30,    1630,  was  ordered  to  appear  be- 
fore   Bishop  Land  in   London,   "closely  cate- 
chized" and  threatened  with  punishment  un- 
'less  he  ceased  his  "heretical  preaching."     He 
preached  privately,  but  was  greatly  persecuted, 
until    August    10,    1635,   when   he    sailed    for 
America,  having  previously,  in  1634,  secretly 
and  in  disguise  embarked  for  the  same  desti- 
•nation  in  a  ship  driven  back  by  a  storm  and 
narrowly   escaped    wreck    and    death.      .After 
eleven  weeks'  passage  in  the  ship  "Defence," 
he   landed   in   Boston,   October  3,    1635.     On 
'October  5,  same  year,  he  settled  in  Newtown 
(now  Cambridge),  which  was  ever  after  his 
home,   the  site  of  his  house  now  being  part 
of  the  university  grounds.     In  January,  1635- 
36,  the  first  parish  church  was   formed,  and 
Februarv    i,    following,   he  was   ordained   its 
first  pastor,  in  which  ofifice  he  continued  until 
his   death,   August    25,    1649.      He    married 
(first)    in    England,    1632,    Margaret    Toute- 
ville.    a    kinswoman    of    Sir    Richard    Derby, 
Knight,  born  in  England.  1604,  died  in  Cam- 
bridge, Mas.'^chusetts,  February,   1635-36,  of 
consumption  contracted  by   a  severe  cold  on 
her   voyage   to    America.      She    is    named    a 
passenger   on    the    "Defence,"    July    2,    1635, 
aged  thirty-one  years.     He  married   (second) 
Joanna,  daughter  of  his  friend.  Rev.  Thomas 
Hooker,  buried  .-Xpril  28,   1646.     He  married 
(third)    September  8,    1647,   Margaret    Rore- 
dale,  who  survived  him  and  married  (second) 
November   19,  1650,  Rev.  Jonathan   (2),  son 
of  Rev.  Jonathan  (i)  Mitchell,  who  came  to 
New   England  in    1635.     Rev.  Jonathan    (2) 
Mitchell  graduated  from  Harvard  College  in 
1647,   and   succeeded    Rev.    Thomas    Shepard 
as  pastor  of  the  first  church.     He  became  an 
eminent  preacher  and  was  elected  a  fellow  of 
Harvard   College   in    1650,   and   died   July   9. 
1668,  aged  forty-three.     Mr.  Shepard  was  the 
author  of  several  religious  books  and  left  an 
extensive  library  replete  with  valuable  works. 
By    bis    first    wife    IMargaret    he    had    a    son 
Thomas    (2),    born    in    Yarmouth.    England, 
who  died  in  infancy,  and   Thomas    (3).     By 
his  second  wife  Joanna  he  had  children,  all  of 
whom    died    young   except    Samuel.      By    his 
third  wife  Margaret  he  had  one  son  Jeremiah, 


see  forward.  Thomas  (3)  graduated  from 
Harvard  College  in  1653,  and  was  ordained 
to  the  ministry  in  1650.  He  settled  as  col- 
league with  Zachariah  Lymmes,  at  Charles- 
town,  and  remained  in  the  ministry  until  his 
decease  in  1667,  aged  forty-two  years.  Sam- 
uel graduated  from  Harvard  College  in  1658, 
and  was  settled  as  the  third  minister  at  Row- 
ley. Massachusetts,  1665,  as  colleague  with 
Rev.  Samuel  Phillips.  He  lived  three  years 
and  continued  with  the  Rowley  church  until 
his  death  in  1668.  All  the  sons  of  Rev. 
Thomas  Shepard  ( i )  that  lived  to  maturity 
embraced  the  ministry  as  a  profession. 

(Ill)  Rev.  Jeremiah  Shepard,  youngest  son 
and  only  child  of  Rev.  Tliomas  She])ard  and 
his  third  wife,  was  born  in  Cambridge,  Mas- 
sachusetts, August  II,  1648,  died  at  Lynn, 
Massachusetts,  June  3,  1720.  He  was  a  grad- 
uate of  Harvard  College  in  1669,  and  was 
regularly  fitted  for  the  ministry,  although  for 
several  years  he  entered  into  no  communion 
with  any  particular  church,  nor  made  any 
public  profession  of  religion.  After  the  early 
decease  of  his  brother  Samuel  he  was  called  to 
preach  at  Rowley,  where  he  continued  three 
years.  At  the  end  of  that  period  an  effort  was 
made  for  his  ordination  and  permanent  settle- 
ment, to  which  proposition  there  was  strong 
objection  made  on  the  ground  that  not  having 
been  identified  with  the  church  by  member- 
ship he  could  not  be  legally  qualified  for  or 
elected  to  so  holy  an  ofifice.  This  led  to  seri- 
ous trouble,  lawsuits  and  an  appeal  to  the  gen- 
eral court.  Finally  he  removed  to  Lynn, 
where  October  6,  1680.  he  was  ordained  as 
the  successor  of  Rev.  Samuel  Whiting,  with 
Joseph  Whiting,  son  of  Rev.  Samuel,  as 
teacher.  In  this  church  he  labored  with  great 
acceptance  for  forty  years.  His  temperament 
was  in  strong  contrast  to  his  fatlier  and 
brothers.  He  was  impetuous  and  impatient. 
His  sermons  were  full  of  melancholy,  por- 
traying in  dark  shadows  always  the  hideous 
side  of  humanity.  Newhall  says  "He  was  one 
of  those  plain,  honest  men  who  adorn  their 
station  by  spotless  purity  of  character,  and  he 
left  a  name  to  which  no  one  can  anne.x  an 
anecdote  of  mirth  and  which  no  one  attempts 
to  sully  by  a  breath  of  evil."  In  1689  he  was 
chosen  representative  for  Lynn.  He  married 
Mary,  born  1667,  died  March  28,  1710, 
daughter  of  Francis  (2)  and  Philippa  Wain- 
wright,  of  Ipswich,  who  bore  him  ten  chil- 
dren. 

(IV)  Nathaniel,  son  of  Rev.  Jeremiah  and 
Mary  (Wainwright)  Shepard,  was  born  in 
Lynn,  Massachusetts,  June  16,  1681,  died  in 
Boston,  November  30,  1728.  He  was  a  saddler 
and  made  several  changes  of  residence.     He 


286 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


married.  May  5,  1703.  Elizabeth,  born  in  Ips- 
wich, August  7,  1681,  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  EHzabeth  (Cogswell)  Wade,  of  Ipswich. 
Thomas  Wade  was  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent men  of  that  town.  He  was  town  clerk, 
justice  of  the  court  of  general  sessions,  cap- 
tain of  a  military  company,  and  colonel  of 
the  Middle  Essex  Regiment,  with  authority  to 
call  out  his  men  against  the  French  and  In- 
dians as  occasion  might  require.  Nathaniel 
and  Elizabeth  (Wade)  Shepard  were  the  par- 
ents of  eight  children. 

(V)  Thomas  (2).  son  of  Nathaniel  and 
Elizabeth  (Wade)  Shepard.  was  baptized  in 
the  Second  Church,  Boston,  September  18, 
1709.  He  was  an  inn  holder.  He  married 
(first)  January  16,  1735,  Hannah  Bolter,  of 
Boston;  (second)  October  i,  1747,  Susanna, 
widow  of  Joseph  Hood,  and  daughter  of 
Richard  and  Elizabeth  (Orms)  Pike,  baptized 
in  First  Church,  Salem,  May  17,  17 19,  died 
prior  to  December  8,  1759.  She  survived  him 
and  married  (second)  John  Wright,  of  Bos- 
ton. By  his  first  wife  Thomas  Shepard  had 
five  children :  by  second  wife  three. 

(VI)  Jeremiah  (2),  youngest  son  of  Thom- 
as (2)  and  Susanna  (Pike)  (Hood)  Shepard, 
was  born  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  175 1,  died 
August  II,  1817.  He  removed  early  to  Salem, 
where  he  was  a  hat  manufacturer,  and  in  1802 
was  in  the  grocery  business.  He  married, 
January  i,  1775.  Elizabeth,  born  in  Salem, 
Massachusetts,  September  15,  1747,  died  Sep- 
tember, 1830,  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Eliza- 
beth (Saunders)  Webb.  They  had  eight  chil- 
dren. 

(\TI)  Stephen  Webb,  youngest  child  of 
Jeremiah  (2)  and  Elizabeth  (Webb)  Shep- 
ard, was  born  in  Salem,  Massachusetts,  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1790,  died  December  6,  1856.  He 
married  (first)  September  5,  1813,  Elizabeth 
Rea,  born  in  Salem,  Massachusetts,  October 
14,  1792,  died  February,  1820.  He  married 
(second)  Ajjril  12,  1821,  Elizabeth  Tucker 
Mansfield,  born  April  8,  1799.  died  December 
31,  1873.  By  his  first  wife  he  had  children: 
Stephen  Osgood,  of  later  mention  ;  Sarah  Rea, 
married  Captain  Daniel  H.  Mansfield;  Edward 
Wheelock,  died  aged  twenty-six  years.  Chil- 
dren by  second  wife:  Daniel  Mansfield,  born 
April  12,  1822:  Elizabeth  Tucker,  died  aged 
sixteen  years:  Ruth  Webl),  born  .April  11, 
1825;  Martha  Tucker,  April  6,  1827;  Michael, 
May  5,  1831. 

(VIII)  Stephen  Osgood,  son  of  Stephen 
Webb  and  I'-lizabeth  (Rea)  Shepard,  was  born 
at  Salem,  Massachusetts,  August  14,  1816, 
died  at  Albany,  New  York,  March  2,  1897. 
He  was  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Albany  and 
interested  in  many  business  enterprises.     He 


married,  in  1847,  Lucinda,  daughter  of  Fred- 
erick W.  Harris,  of  Preble,  Cortland  county,. 
New  York  (see  Harris).  Children:  Osgood 
H.,  see  forward;  John  Rathboen,  born  De- 
cember 9,  1850,  at  Albany,  New  York  ;  edu- 
cated at  the  Boys  Academy,  and  until  i880' 
prominently  identified  with  the  lumber  in- 
dustry as  a  dealer;  in  1900  he  removed  his 
residence  to  Ballston  Spa,  New  York ;  he  is 
a  member  of  several  clubs,  among  them  being 
the  Utopian,  of  Ballston;  he  is  a  Republican 
in  politics. 

(IX)  Osgood  H.,  eldest  son  of  Stephen  Os- 
good and  Lucinda  (Harris)  Shepard,  was 
born  in  Albany.  New  York,  October  26,  1848. 
His  early  and  preparatory  education  was  ob- 
tained at  the  Boys  Academy,  Albany,  after" 
which  he  entered  Brown  Laiiversity.  where 
he  was  graduated  A.B.,  class  of  1869.  He 
decided  upon  the  profession  of  law,  and  en- 
tered Albany  Law  School,  where  he  was 
graduated  LL.B.,  class  of  187 1.  He  is  a  suc- 
cessful and  well-known  practitioner,  now  a 
resident  of  Ballston  Spa,  New  York.  His- 
college  fraternity  is  Chi  Psi ;  his  clubs,  the 
Fort  Orange  of  Albany,  Troy  of  Troy.  Sara- 
toga Golf  of  Saratoga  Springs,  and  the  Uto- 
pian of  Ballston  Spa. 

(The   Harris   Line). 

Lucinda  (Harris)  Shepard,  mother  of  Os- 
good H.  Shepard,  was  a  daughter  of  Fred- 
erick Waterman  and  Lucy  (Hamilton)  Har- 
ris. Frederick  W.  Harris  was  a  farmer  of 
Charleston,  Montgomery  county.  New  York. 
In  1808  he  removed  to  Cortland  county.  New 
York,  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Preble,  where 
he  became  a  prosperous  farmer  and  one  of 
the  large  land  owners  of  the  county.  His 
daughter  Lucinda  married  Stephen  Osgood" 
Shepard,  and  his  two  sons  became  distin- 
guished lawyers  and  prominent  public  men  of 
Albany,  New  York. 

Judge  Ira  Harris,  the  elder  of  the  sons  of 
Frederick  Waterman  Harris,  was  born  ia- 
Charleston,  Montgomery  county.  New  York, 
May  31,  1802,  and  removed  with  his  parents 
in  1808  to  Cortland  county.  He  was  edu-- 
cated  at  Homer  Academy,  and  in  September, 
1822,  entered  the  junior  class  in  Union  Col- 
lege, whence  he  was  graduated  in  1824.  He- 
at once  began  the  study  of  law ;  first  in 
Homer,  then  with  Judge  Ambrose  Spencer,  of 
Albany.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1827,- 
and  formed  a  partnershi])  with  Salem  Dutcher, 
of  Albany,  that  existed  until  1842.  He  then- 
associated  with  Julius  Rhoades.  In  1844  he- 
was  elected  to  the  assembly  from  Albany- 
county,  and  re-elected  in  1845.  In  1846  he- 
was  a  delegate  to  the  constitutional  convene- 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


287 


tion,  and  elected  to  the  state  senate,  resigning 
after  having  been  elected  a  justice  of  the 
supreme  court,  serving  in  tliat  high  judicial 
office  twelve  years.  In  1861  he  was  elected 
United  States  senator  from  New  York  in 
opposition  to  Horace  Greeley  and  William  M. 
Evarts.  He  became  the  intimate  and  trusted 
friend  of  President  Lincoln,  and  at  the  end 
of  his  term  retired  to  private  life,  having  won 
the  distinction  of  being  a  wise,  useful  Amer- 
ican statesman.  He  was  connected  with  Al- 
bany Law  School  from  its  organization  in 
1850,  and  lectured  to  the  students  as  duty 
permitted.  He  now  accepted  the  call  to  the 
chair  of  equity  jurisprudence,  and  devoting 
himself  to  that  work  until  his  death,  Decem- 
ber 2,  1852.  He  was  president  of  the  board 
of  trustees  of  Union  College :  president  of 
Albany  Medical  College ;  trustee  of  Vassar 
College ;  one  of  the  founders  of  Rochester 
University ;  its  first  and  only  chancellor ; 
deacon  of  Emmanuel  Church  of  Albany,  and 
president  of  the  American  Baptist  Missionary 
Union.  He  left  a  widow,  two  sons  and  four 
daughters.  Colonel  William  Hamilton  Har- 
ris, the  eldest  son,  served  thirteen  years  in  the 
United  States  army  as  captain.  Ira  Harris, 
the  youngest  son,  served  ten  years  in  the 
United  States  navy. 

Hamilton  Harris,  youngest  of  the  two  sons 
of  Frederick  Waterman  Harris,  was  born  in 
the    town   of    Preble,    Cortland   county.    New 
York,   May    i,    1820.     He   was    educated   at 
I    Homer  Academy,  Albany  Academy,  and  en- 
tered Union  College,  graduating  in  1841.    He 
entered   the  office  of   his  brother,  Judge   Ira 
Harris,  where  he  prepared  for  the  profession 
,    of  law,  being  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1845.    He 
I    began  practice  in  Albany,  and  formed  a  part- 
i    nership  with  Hooper  C.  \'an  Vorst,  in   1848, 
which  existed  until   1853.     Later  he  was  asso- 
ciated with  Samuel  G.  Courtney,  and  in  1857 
,    became  a  partner  with  Clark  B.  Cochrane  and 
(    John    H.    Reynolds,    which    continued    until 
!    severed  by  the  deaths  of  his  partners.     Later 
i    he  admitted   his   son,   Frederick    Harris,   and 
'    William    P.   Rudd.      In    1853   he   was  elected 
district    attorney    of   Albany   county,    serving 
with  great  honor  until  January   i,   1857.     He 
was  the  chief  attorney  for  Judge  Westbrook, 
who   was   tried    for   malfeasana    in    office    on 
charges    presented    by    Governor    Roosevelt. 
Judge  Westbrook  was  acquitted  and  the  press 
of  the  day  of  both  parties  favorably  remarked 
upon  Mr.  Harris'  argument  in  vindication  of 
his  client.     He  was  prominent  in  politics :  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Republican  party ; 
was  chairman  of  state  executive   committee ; 
member  of  the  assembly :  state  senator   1875, 
re-elected    1877 ;    president    of    the    board    of 


capitol  commissions,  and  is  called  the  "Father" 
of  the  measure  providing  for  the  erection  of 
the  new  state  capitol.  He  was  a  most  elo 
quent  and  convincing  speaker,  was  of  fine 
literary  tastes,  his  home  abounding  in  the 
best  books,  a  strong  friend  of  higher  popular 
education,  and  was  regent  of  the  University 
of  the  State  of  New  York.  He  married,  in 
1850,  in  Bufifalo,  Lucy  Moody  Rogers.  Their 
son  Frederick  became  his  father's  law  part- 
ner. They  had  an  only  daughter,  Lucy  Ham- 
ilton Harris. 


An  examination  of  the  records 
PEDDIE  and  registers  in  Prince  street, 
Edinburg,  Scotland,  reveal  some  . 
interesting  facts  concerning  the  Peddie  fam- 
ily whose  descendants  are  many  and  promi- 
nent in  the  United  States.  The  records  show 
that  they  are  an  ancient  Scottish  family  whcv 
were  formerly  called  McDougald :  that  they 
rebelled  against  state  authority :  that  they 
possessed  a  claim  to  noble  blood  and  had  a 
coat-of-arms  granted  them,  and  other  inter- 
esting facts.  Tradition  says  the  name  was 
changed  to  Peddie  to  avoid  banishment  from 
Scotland  for  their  rebellious  acts  against  the 
laws  that  oppressed  them.  In  the  United 
States  a  notable  member  of  the  family  was 
Hon.  Thomas  B.  Peddie,  whose  monument  in 
the  city  of  Newark,  New  Jersey,  is  Peddie 
Memorial  Baptist  Church  on  Broad  street,  one 
of  the  most  magnificent  churches  in  that  city. 
.Another  prominent  representative  of  the  fam- 
ily is  Rev.  John  Peddie.  of  Philadelphia.  Penn- 
sylvania. These  families  trace  from  the  same 
ancestry  as  the  Peddies  of  Montgomery- 
county,  New  York.  The  family  was  founded 
in  the  Mohawk  Valley  after  the  revolution 
and  the  first  settlement  made  in  the  town  of 
Perth,  Fulton  county,  where  the  Scotch  emi- 
grants sought  the  rough  and  heavily  timbered 
lands  rather  than  the  meadow  land  along  the 
streams  that  attracted  the  Dutch  to  the  town 
of  Palatine.  Montgomery  county.  .Amid  the 
surroundings  more  in  keeping  w'ith  the  soil 
and  conditions  of  the  land  they  had  left  the 
Scotch  emigrants  throve  and  prospered  and 
left  a  posterity  that  are  the  hardy,  substan- 
tial citizens  of  that  locality.  Among  the  emi- 
grants to  Perth  was  William  Peddie,  the 
founder. 

( I  )  \\'illiam  Peddie  was  born  in  Perthshire, 
Scotland,  about  1767.  He  grew  up  in  his 
native  shire,  where  he  married  Nelly  Mc- 
Intyre,  of  an  old  Perth  county  family.  Shortly 
after  their  marriage  they  joined  the  tide  of 
emigration  that  w'as  even  then  beginning  to 
flow  to  the  United  States,  wdiose  independence 
recently  gained  was  the  talk  and  wonder  of 


288 


HUDSON  AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


the  whole  Eastern  world.  They  came  on  a 
slow  sailing  vessel  with  other  Scotch  emi- 
grants and  settled  in  Fulton  county,  New 
York,  where  they  named  their  home  in  the 
New  World— Perth — after  the  Scotch  home 
they  had  left.  William  and  his  wife  pos- 
sessed those  admirable  Scotch  traits,  industry 
and  frugality,  therefore  it  is  not  strange  that 
they  soon  had  a  home  on  a  cleared  farm  to 
which  each  year  a  new  field  was  added,  liter- 
ally "wrested  from  the  wilderness."  They 
lived  to  be  old  people  and  to  see  their  three 
sons  and  two  daughters  settled  in  homes  of 
their  own.  Children:  i.  James,  studied  law 
after  a  boy  and  youthful  manhood  passed  on 
.  the  farm.  He  became  a  well-known  and 
prosperous  lawyer  of  Palmyra,  New  York, 
where  he  died  unmarried  in  1892,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-eight  years.  2.  Duncan,  who  left 
the  farm  and  settled  in  New  York  City,  where 
he  was  superintendent  of  the  Crystal  Palace 
during  the  exhibition  held  there  and  after- 
wards. He  married  and  left  a  daughter  Liz- 
zie, now  married.  3.  Eliza,  born  as  early  as 
1820 ;  married  William  Fisher,  and  died  with- 
out issue.  4.  Helen,  died  unmarried,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-nine  years.  5.  Daniel,  see  for- 
ward. 

(H)  Daniel,  son  of  Wilham  Peddie,  was 
born  on  the  Perth  homestead  farm  in  Fulton 
county,  in  1822,  died  in  April,  1896,  is  buried 
with  others  of  the  family  in  Perth  cemetery. 
He  was  of  the  same  industrious,  thrifty  habits 
as  his  ancestors  and  was  known  as  a  good 
and  just  man.  He  followed  the  soil  all  his 
years  and  accumulated  a  goodly  estate.  He 
married  (first)  Mary  Barker,  daughter  of 
parents  who  were  members  of  the  Society  of 
Friends  who  had  made  a  settlement  of  mem- 
bers of  that  faith  at  Granville.  Mary  Barker 
was  reared  to  the  faith  and  always  dressed 
"plain,"  until  the  day  of  her  marriage,  when 
she  laid  aside  the  outward  garb  of  her  re- 
ligion, but  the  admirable  traits  of  the  Quaker 
character  were  always  hers.  She  died  at  the 
early  age  of  twenty-nine,  in  1866.  Children: 
I.  Dr.  William  J.,  see  forward.  2.  Ella  Jean- 
nette,  born  in  i860;  married  George  Nash,  of 
the  leather  firm  of  Lynk  &  Nash,  Albany, 
New  York :  child,  Lydia,  wife  of  Francis  Hol- 
lister,  an  electrician  of  Schenectady,  New 
York.  3.  Charles,  born  in  1868 ;  graduate 
pharmacist  of  Glens  Falls,  New  York,  mem- 
ber of  the  drug  firm  of  Leggett  &  Peddie ; 
married  Jeannette  MacFarland ;  child,  Roy. 
Daniel  Peddie  married  (second)  Mary  F. 
Lent,  who  survives  him.  Children  of  second 
marriage:  4.  Edgar  L.,  a  sketch  of  whom 
follows.  5.  Sydney  Fisher,  born  1871 ;  fore- 
man of  a  knitting  mill  department  in  Amster- 


dam ;  married  Freelove  Sprung,  of  Amster- 
dam ;  children :  Edgar  C,  Roy,  Gladys  and 
Ethel.  6.  Holley  ^Marvin,  born  December  24, 
1874 ;  married  Sarah  Welch,  of  Waterville, 
New  York. 

(HI)  Dr.  William  J.,  eldest  son  of  Daniel 
and  Mary  (Barker)  Peddie,  was  born  Jan- 
uary 7,  1858.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm  in 
Perth,  where  he  remained  until  after  the 
death  of  his  mother  and  his  father's  second 
marriage.  He  was  ambitious  and  desired  to 
become  a  physician.  He  entered  Amsterdam 
Academy,  where  he  completed  his  academical 
studies.  He  made  the  acquaintance  of  Dr. 
Albert  Vander  \'eer,  of  Albany,  who,  learning 
the  boy's  ambition  and  limited  means,  became 
very  much  interested  in  him.  He  gave  him 
an  introduction  to  Hon.  Webster  Wagner, 
then  state  senator,  who  was  so  impressed  with 
his  earnestness  and  determination  to  win  his 
profession  that  he  stood  security  for  his  edu- 
cation at  the  Albany  Medical  College,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  Doctor  of  Medicine 
in  March,  1882.  He  never  forgot  the  kind- 
ness of  Senator  Wagner,  whom  he  reimbursed 
for  the  money  expended  on  his  education,  and 
always  retained  as  his  friend.  On  the  advice 
of  Dr.  \'ander  \'eer.  Dr.  Peddie  located  his 
office  in  Fultonville,  where  he  began  his  won- 
derfully successful  professional  career  that 
continues  to  the  present  day.  His  skill  is 
well  known  to  a  large  clientele. 

Dr.  Peddie  married  (first)  in  Albany,  New 
York.  April  26,  1883,  Ella  Gardner,  born  in 
1864,  died  November  13,  1885.  He  married 
(second)  in  Perth  Center,  New  York,  Carrie 
Mclntyre,  born  in  Perth,  October,  1868, 
daughter  of  John  D.  and  Sarah  (Ferguson)  . 
Mclntyre.  born  in  Perth,  of  Scotch  ancestors 
who  settled  in  the  county  one  hundred  and 
fifty  years  ago,  with  the  first  Scotch  settlers 
from  Perth.  The  Mclntyre  family  have  al- 
ways been  represented  in  the  county,  where 
they  are  prominent  and  numerous.  Carrie 
Mclntyre  was  educated  at  Amsterdam  and 
later  at  Utica  Academy,  taking  special  courses 
in  music.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Peddie  are  prominent 
in  the  social  and  public  life  of  the  village, 
where  he  has  always  taken  a  special  interest 
in  local  aflfairs.  He  has  served  as  village 
president  and  member  for  several  years  of 
the  board  of  education.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  .American  Medical  .Association  :  the  State 
Medical  Society,  and  the  .Amsterdam  Medical 
Club.  He  has  been  L^nited  States  pension  ex- 
aminer for  sixteen  years,  and  for  several 
years  coroner  of  Montgomery  county.  He  is 
a  Republican  politically.  He  is  past  master 
of  Fultonville  Lodge,  Free  and  .Accepted 
Masons ;    member    of    Johnstown     Chapter, 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


289 


Royal  Arch  Masons:  Lenton  Lodge,  Knights 
of  Pythias ;  Fonda  Lodge,  Independent  Or- 
der of  Odd   Fellows,   and  of   the   Red   Men. 

Child  of  first  wife :  Burton  G.,  graduate  of 
Troy  Business  College  and  an  expert  machin- 
ist, residing  in  Cohoes,  New  York,  married 
Catherine  Lent,  and  has  a  son,  Lewis  W. 
Children  of  second  wife:  Jay  Mclntyre,  born 
December  12,  1887,  graduate  of  the  Business 
College,  now  department  city  clerk  of  Glovers- 
ville.  New  York;  Edith,  born  June  26,  1889, 
married,  September  22,  1910,  Jessie  R.  Rick- 
ard,  of  Schenectady,  of  the  firm  of  J.  Rickard 
&  Co.,  wholesale  and  retail  dealers  in  sport- 
ing goods,  Schenectady ;  Harold  C,  born 
1891,  died  at  the  age  of  four  years;  Don- 
ald D.,  born  June,  1897. 

(in)  Edgar  Lent,  son  of  Daniel  and  ]\lary 
F.  (Lent)  Peddie,  was  born  in  Broadalbin, 
Fulton  county,  New  York,  December  21, 
i'869.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools, 
and  after  completing  his  education  was  taken 
into  his  father's  store,  where  he  remained  for 
three  years ;  then  was  employed  in  a  knitting 
mill  for  four  years,  followed  by  a  year  in  the 
Cloversville  Glove  Factory  and  two  years  in 
the  Amsterdam  Knitting  Mills.  He  finally 
settled  in  Cohoes,  where  he  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Victor  ]\Iills  Company,  where  he 
is  foreman  of  a  department.  Since  coming  to 
Cohoes  he  has  been  active  in  the  Republican 
party  organization,  and  in  1900  was  elected 
alderman  from  the  sixth  ward.  His  course  in 
■council  received  the  endorsement  of  his  ward 
and  he  was  four  times  re-elected,  serving  eight 
jears.  In  1909  he  was  elected  from  the  sixth 
■ward  as  their  representative  on  the  board  of 
supervisors.  He  was  chosen  leader  of  the 
first  district,  sixth  ward,  in  1905,  at  the  prim- 
ary elections,  and  still  continues  the  choice  of 
"his  district.  He  served  in  the  common  coun- 
•cil  of  Cohoes  with  great  ability,  and  was  chair- 
man of  the  committee  on  streets  for  seven 
years  and  member  of  the  finance,  jjoor,  lamps 
and  gas,  sidewalks  and  parks  committees.  He 
attends  the  Presbyterian  church,  but  is  not 
actively  connected  with  it.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  Cascade  Hose  Company, 
No.  3,  and  the  East  Side  Social  Club.  Mr. 
Peddie  married.  May  14,  1895,  ^Mary  Led- 
"with,  born  in  Crescent,  Saratoga  county,  New 
York,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Katherine 
(Kane)  Ledwilh.  natives  of  Ireland.  Michael 
Ledwith  was  engaged  in  the  stone  quarry 
"business  with  his  father,  resigning  to  enter 
the  employ  of  the  state  in  canal  work ;  he  was 
an  active  Republican ;  he  died  June  23.  1908. 
Children  of  Edgar  Lent  and  Mary  (Ledwith) 
Peddie:    Alma  H.  and  Alice  M. 


The  Troy,  New  York,  family 
MURPHY  of  Murphy,  whose  record  fol- 
lows, was  founded  in  that  city 
by  Edward  Murphy,  a  native  of  Ireland.  He 
came  to  the  United  States  by  way  of  Canada 
in  1832,  located  in  Troy  in  1833,  where  he 
established  a  brewery  and  prospered.  He  was 
a  Democrat  in  politics  and  a  member  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  church.  He  married,  in  Ire- 
land, Mary  Murphy,  lx)rn  in  Queens  county, 
died  in  Troy,  New  York.  Children :  Two 
who  died  in  infancy;  Edward  (2),  see  for- 
ward. 

(II)  Edward  (2),  son  of  Edward  (i)  and 
Mary  (Murphy)  Murphy,  was  born  in  Troy, 
New  York,  December  15,  1834.  He  was 
early  educated  in  the  Troy  schools,  entered 
St.  John's  College,  Fordham,  New  York, 
where  he  was  graduated,  class  of  1859. 
Returning  to  Troy  from  college,  he  became 
his  father's  business  assistant  and  was  of 
great  value  to  the  enterprise  not  yet  well 
established.  After  several  years  his  father 
retired  and  Edward  (2)  entered  into  a  part- 
nership with  William  Kennedy  (also  a  brew- 
er) and  established  the  firm  of  Kennedy  & 
IMtn-phy,  later  the  Kennedy,  ]\Iurphy  Malting 
Company,  of  which  Mr.  Murphy  was  vice- 
president  and  treasurer.  The  company  became 
one  of  the  large  concerns  of  Troy  and  did 
an  extensive  business,  and  Mr.  Murphy  re- 
tained an  active  interest  in  the  company  until 
1903.  His  outside  business  interests  have 
been  important.  In  1889  several  small  gas 
companies  of  Troy  and  vicinity  consolidated. 
He  was  chosen  the  first  president  of  the  new 
corporation — the  Troy  Gas  Company — and 
continues  in  that  ofifice.  He  is  vice-president 
of  the  Manufacturers'  National  Bank,  with 
which  he  has  been  connected  officially  since 
its  establishment  as  a  national  bank.  He  is 
heavily  interested  in  real  estate  and  in  Troy 
improved  and  unimproved  property.  His  es- 
tate at  Elberon,  New  Jersey,  is  situated  di- 
rectly on  the  ocean  front  and  has  been  his 
summer  home  since  1875. 

He  entered  public  political  life  at  an  early 
age.  When  but  twenty-five  he  was  a  dele- 
gate to  the  Democratic  state  convention  that 
nominated  William  Kelly  for  governor,  and 
was  a  delegate  to  most  of  his  party  conven- 
tions ever  afterward  until  the  retirement  from 
active  public  life.  His  political  career  was 
one  of  unbroken  success,  and  he  served  his 
city  and  state  well.  In  1864  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  board  of  aldermen  of  Troy, 
serving  in  that  body  continuously  until  1874, 
when  he  was  elected  fire  commissioner.  He 
had  always  been  interested  in  that  department 
and  was  a  member  of  one  of  the  volunteer 


290 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


fire  companies.  In  1875  he  was  elected  mayor 
of  Troy  and  re-elected  in  1877-79-81.  He  was 
again  nominated,  but  declined  a  fifth  term. 
In  the  mayor's  chair  he  gained  a  reputation 
for  wise  executive  ability  and  courage  that 
was  fairly  earned.  Under  him  the  new  city 
hall  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $18,000,  without 
the  appropriation.  He  gave  the  city  a  good 
system  of  granite  pavement,  improved  the 
water  supply,  and  left  the  city  a  smaller  bond- 
ed indebtedness  than  any  city  of  similar  size 
in  the  United  States.  When  he  took  ofiice 
the  bonds  of  the  city  were  below  par.  When 
he  retired  from  office  they  were  at  a  premium. 
During  the  eight  years  he  served  as  mayor 
he  did  not  draw  his  salary  of  $2,000  for  him- 
self, but  at  Christmas  time  distributed  it  among 
the  charitable  institutions  of  Troy,  regardless 
of  creed.  While  mayor  he  came  to  the  res- 
cue of  a  leading  bank  of  Troy  and  saved  it 
from  ruin.  During  his  absence  from  the  city 
a  run  was  started  on  the  Manufacturers'  Bank 
and  he  was  telegraphed  to  return.  By  pledg- 
ing his  private  fortune  in  addition  to  the  se- 
curities the  bank  had,  and  aided  by  his  friends, 
George  P.  Ide  and  William  Earl,  the  collar 
manufacturers,  he  obtained  a  quarter  of  a  mil- 
lion dollars  from  the  other  banks.  He  carried 
in  this  vast  sum  and  deposited  it  in  sight  of 
the  frightened  depositors,  who  were  convinced 
that  their  deposits  were  safe,  stopped  the  run 
and  saved  the  bank.  He  also  showed  the 
quality  of  his  physical  courage  during  his 
term  of  ofiice.  Rensselaer  county  had  in  its 
population  a  large  body  of  Protestant  and 
Catholic  Irishmen.  As  far  back  as  1840  these 
two  bodies  often  clashed  over  the  Orange 
parades,  and  for  years  there  had  been  none. 
In  1876,  the  year  of  the  Nation's  Centennial, 
it  was  decided  to  have  an  Orange  parade. 
The  Catholic  body  withdrew  from  the  pro- 
posed centennial  parade,  and  threats  were 
made  that  there  would  be  bloodshed  if  the 
Orangemen  persisted  in  marching.  Ordering 
out  the  entire  police  force.  Mayor  Murphy 
placed  himself  at  their  head  and  in  command 
led  the  Orange  line.  Neither  insult  nor  out- 
rage was  offered  the  paraders.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  New  York  delegation  to  many 
national  Democratic  conventions.  He  was  an 
ardent  supporter  of  Samuel  J.  Tilden  in  the 
warfare  upon  the  celebrated  "Canal  Ring," 
and  was  a  delegate  to  the  St.  Louis  conven- 
tion that  nominated  Mr.  Tilden  for  president. 
In  1880  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  National 
Democratic  convention  that  nominated  Gen- 
eral Winfield  S.  Hancock  for  president,  al- 
though Mr.  Murphy  favored  the  nomination 
of  Samuel  J.  Tilden,  whom  he  believed  had 
been   defrauded   of   the   presidential  chair   by 


the  electoral  commission  who  awarded  it  to 
Rutherford  B.  Hayes.  In  1882,  in  the  state 
convention,  he  was  in  favor  first  of  Erastus 
Corning  for  governor,  but  later  cast  his  vote 
for  the  Rensselaer  county  delegation  for 
Grover  Cleveland,  which  completed  his  ma- 
jority in  the  convention,  his  nomination  being 
at  once  announced.  At  the  convention  of 
1884  he  favored  Roswell  P.  Flower  for  presi- 
dent. In  1888  at  the  St.  Louis  National  Con- 
vention he  supported  President  Cleveland  for 
renomination.  In  1892  he  was  one  of  the 
four  delegates-at-large  from  New  York  to 
the  National  Convention  which  met  at  Chi- 
cago. He  favored  the  nomination  of  David 
B.  Hill,  but  acquiesced  loyally  in  the  nomina- 
tion of  ex-President  Cleveland.  In  1887  he 
became  chairman  of  the  Democratic  state 
committee  and  held  that  office  until  1894.  In 
1887,  when  he  became  chairman,  both  branches 
of  the  New  York  legislature  were  Republican. 
After  his  taking  the  reins  this  party  never 
elected  its  candidates  on  the  state  ticket  and' 
when  he  retired  both  branches  of  the  legis- 
lature were  Democratic.  This  exemplifies  his 
skill  as  a  political  leader  in  a  most  remark- 
able manner.  In  1892,  when  it  was  found 
the  Democratic  party  would  have  a  majority 
in  the  legislature,  a  general  demand  arose  in 
the  party  in  favor  of  the  election  of  Mr. 
Murphy  to  succeed  Frank  Hiscock  as  United 
States  senator  from  New  York.  In  the  caucus 
following  the  assembling  of  the  legislature 
Mr.  Murphy  was  chosen,  elected  by  the  joint 
session  and  took  his  seat  as  United  States 
senator  at  the  extra  session  of  congress  in 
March,  1893.  In  addition  to  membership  on 
other  committees  he  was  chairman  of  com- 
mittee on  relations  with  Canada.  His  term 
expired  in  1899,  when  he  returned  to  Troy^ 
retired  from  active  political  life  and  devoted 
himself  to  his  business  affairs,  never,  how- 
ever, losing  his  interest  in  politics,  retaining^ 
his  influence  and  ix)pularity  to  the  present 
day.  He  is  now  (191 1)  a  resident  of  Troy, 
alert,  active  and  as  full  of  courage  and  de- 
termination as  of  yore.  He  is  a  member  of 
St.  Joseph's  Roman  Catholic  Church  and  of 
various  social  clubs  and  organizations  of 
Troy,  .\lbany  and  New  York  City.  His  ca- 
reer as  a  public  man  deserves  commendation.. 
As  a  citizen  he  has  been  true  to  his  obliga- 
tions, and  as  a  friend  and  neighbor  he  is-| 
kindly,  courteous,  generous  and  sympathetic  I 
A  characteristic  trait  that  has  shone  forth  , 
in  every  station  he  has  filled  is  a  scrupulous  . 
regard  for  his  given  word,  "always  keeping 
his  promises." 

He    married,    in    Troy,    Julia    Delehanty,. 
daughter  of  one  of  Albany's  prominent  mer- 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


291 


chants  and  public  men,  Michael  Delehanty, 
who  was  born  in  Ireland,  was  a  wholesale 
dealer  in  stoves  and  house  furnishing  goods 
in  Albany,  active  in  public  affairs,  superin- 
tendent of  public  buildings  of  the  state  of 
New  York  under  Governor  Roswell  P.  Flow- 
er. He  married  i\Iary  Quinn,  born  in  Albany 
in  1823,  died  1907.  They  had  eleven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Julia  was  the  eldest.  Children 
of  Edward  and  Julia  (Delehanty)  Murphy: 
I.  Mary,  born  March  21,  1868,  died  1892; 
graduate  of  Sacred  Heart  Convent,  Ken- 
wood, New  York.  2.  Edward,  born  in  Troy, 
April  13,  1870;  educated  at  Troy  Academy; 
was  graduated  from  Georgetown  University, 
Washington,  D.  C,  A.B.,  1890;  Albany  Law 
School  (Union  University)  LL.B.,  1892:  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  1892;  began  practice  in 
Troy  as  member  of  the  firm  of  Shaw,  Bailey 
&  Murphy,  general  legal  practitioners ;  he  is 
a  director  of  the  Manufacturers'  National 
Bank,  and  of  the  Security  Safe  Deposit  Com- 
pany, both  of  Troy ;  he  served  in  the  New 
York  National  Guard,  1890- 1900.  In  1898 
he  enlisted  for  the  war  against  Spain  and 
served  in  the  Phillipines  in  Company  A,  Sec- 
ond Regiment  New  York  Infantry ;  was  ap- 
pointed captain  and  assistant  adjutant-general, 
May  25,  1898,  served  until  1899,  mustered  out 
January  16.  1899;  '^^  is  an  active  Democrat;  a 
member  of  St.  Joseph's  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  the  Troy  Pafraet  Dael,  Saratoga 
Turf.  St.  Bernard  Fish  and  Game  clubs,  of 
Alexis  Du  Mont,  Canada.  He  married,  June 
7,  1899,  at  Albany,  New  York,  Helen,  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  Townsend  and  Lydia  (Lush) 
Martin;  one  child,  Helen  (2).  3.  Julia,  grad- 
uate of  Sacred  Heart  Convent ;  married  Hugh 
J.  Grant,  of  New  York  City ;  children :  Julia, 
Edna,  Hugh  J.  (2).  Hon.  Hugh  J.  Grant, 
a  prominent  lawyer  and  politician,  was  born 
1855,  graduate  of  Manhattan  College,  1871  : 
Columbia  Law  School  LL.B.,  1877;  practiced 
law  and  operated  extensively  in  real  estate ; 
received  Democratic  nomination  for  alderman 
of  nineteenth  district.  New  York  City,  1882, 
and  was  elected ;  re-elected  in  1883  to  the 
"Boodle  Board,"'  where  his  straightforward 
and  honorable  course  was  in  marked  contrast 
to  the  crooked  acts  of  most  of  his  fellow 
members,  whom  he  was  largely  instrumental 
in  exposing  and  punishing ;  nominated  for 
mayor  of  New  York,  1884,  but  was  defeated 
by  William  R.  Grace  in  a  close  contest ;  nomi- 
nated for  sheriff  in  1885  and  elected ;  nomi- 
nated for  mayor,  1888.  and  elected ;  re-elected 
1890;  nominated  for  third  term,  but  was  de- 
feated by  William  L.  Strong ;  since  retiring 
from  the  mayor's  office  devoted  his  attention 
to  management  of   his   large   real   estate    in- 


terests ;  served  as  receiver  of  the  St.  Nicholas 
Bank,  Brooklyn  Wharf  and  Warehouse  Com- 
pany, and  Third  Avenue  Railroad ;  he  is  now 
deceased.  4.  William  E.,  born  May  4,  1874; 
educated  at  Georgetown  University ;  not  in 
active  business ;  is  a  great  traveler.  5.  John 
J.,  born  1876;  president  and  treasurer  of 
Murphy  Construction  Company,  New  York 
City.  6.  Joseph  J.,  twin  of  John  J. ;  treasurer 
of  United  Waste  Manufacturing  Company  of 
Troy;  president  of  National  Textile  I^Ianu- 
facturing  Company  of  Troy  and  Cohoes ; 
treasurer  of  Hudson  River  Terminal  Ware- 
house Company  of  Troy.  7.  Jane  Lodge, 
graduate  of  Sacred  Heart  Convent.  8.  Rich- 
ard C,  born  1880;  educated  at  Georgetown 
University ;  dry  goods  commission  merchant 
of  New  York  City ;  married  Elizabeth  War- 
ren, daughter  of  Isaac  McConihe,  a  noted 
political  leader  of  Troy ;  prior  to  Mr.  Mur- 
phy was  mayor  of  the  city ;  one  child,  Eliza- 
beth. 9.  Helen,  educated  at  Sacred  Heart 
Academy. 


This  family  is  of  English  descent 
CASS     and  is  found  in  the  records  of  New 

England  at  as  early  a  date  as  1644. 
Joseph  Cass,  son  of  the  founder,  was  the 
grandfather  of  Hon.  Lewis  Cass,  general  in 
the  United  States  army,  secretary  of  war 
under  President  Jackson,  governor  of  Michi- 
gan ;  minister  to  France,  and  secretary  of 
state  under  President  Buchanan.  The  fam- 
ily in  Albany  are  also  lineal  descendants  of 
John  and  Joseph  Cass. 

( I )  John  Cass  emigrated  to  America  and 
settled  at  Hampton,  New  Hampshire,  in  1644; 
best  evidence  proves  that  he  came  from  St. 
Albans,  England.  He  was  a  farmer,  planter, 
herdsman,  selectman.  Died  at  Hampton,  New 
Hampshire,  April  7,  1675.  He  married  Mar- 
tha Philbrick,  born  in  England  in  1633,  who 
bore  him  eight  children:  i.  Martha,  born  Oc- 
tober 4,  1649;  rnarried  John  Redman.  2.  Jo- 
seph, mentioned  below.  3.  Samuel,  born  July 
13,  1659;  married  Mercy  Sanborn.  4.  Jona- 
than, born  September  13,  1663.  5.  Elizabeth. 
6.  Mercy.  7.  Ebenezer.  8.  Abigail.  Martha 
Philbrick  was  the  seventh  child  of  Thomas 
and  Elizabeth  Philbrick  (or  Philbrook),  who 
came  from  England  in  1630. 

( II)  Joseph,  son  of  John  and  Martha  (Phil- 
brick) Cass,  was  born  October  5,  1656.  He 
was  of  Exeter,  New  Hampshire.  He  mar- 
ried (first)  Mary,  daughter  of  Morris  Hobbs  ; 
(second)  a  widow.  Airs.  Elizabeth  Chase, 
daughter  of  Henry  Green.  Children,  first 
four  by  first  wife:  i.  John,  born  August  21, 
1680,  died  young.  2.  Joseph  (2),  died  at  the 
age  of  two  years.    3.  Mary,  born  February  26, 


292 


HUDSON  AND   MOHAWK  \'ALLEYS 


1687;  married  Ichabod  Robie.  4.  John,  born 
August  19,  1689.    5.  Joel,  mentioned  below. 

(HI)  Joel,  only  child  of  Joseph  and  his 
second  wife,  Elizabeth  (Chase)  Cass,  was  born 
in  1723.  He  removed  from  New  Hampshire 
at  an  early  date  and  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  Otsego  county.  New  York.  He 
was  of  the  town  of  Decatur,  that  county.  He 
married  and  among  his  children  was  a  son 
Elkanah. 

(IV)  Elkanah,  son  of  Joel  Cass,  was  born 
March  5,  1771,  died  May  12,  1813.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  Thurber,  born  March  13,  1770, 
died  November  28,  1846.  Children:  i.  Lu- 
vina,  born  November  7,  1790,  died  September 

20,    1830;   married   Clark.     2.    Sally, 

born  April  28,  1792,  died  February  21,  1830; 

married Houck.    3.  Levi,  see  forward. 

4.  Benjamin,  born  September  18,  1795,  died 
February  i,  1832.  5.  Mary,  born  June  25. 
1798.  6.  Samuel,  born  INIarch  4,  1802,  died 
October  28,  1868;  married,  December  14, 
1822,  Lois  Boardman.  7.  Joseph,  born  March 
23,  1804,  died  October  i,  1839.  8.  Rachel, 
born  August  8,  1809,  died  June  i,  1838; 
married Finch. 

(V)  Levi,  son  of  Elkanah  and  Sarah 
(Thurber)  Cass,  was  born  in  Decatur,  Otsego 
county.  New  York,  September  12,  1793,  died 
February  28,  1832.  He  married  Martha 
Shaw,  born  July  21,  1797,  died  April  4,  1867. 
Children:  i.  Lilbern  Allen;  see  forward.  2. 
Mary  Ann,  born  December  5,  1819;  married, 
February  12,  1843,  Matthew  Kniskern.  3. 
Marinda,  born  June  27,  1822,  died  September 
4,  1892 ;  married  Matthew  Ward.  4.  Lavan- 
tia,  born  May  4,  1824,  died  March  19,  1885  ; 
married  Cornelius  Pitcher.  5.  Matilda,  born 
May  13,  1826;  married  Jacob  Livingston.  6. 
Levi  (2d),  see  forward.  7.  Amos  Alden,  see 
forward. 

(VI)  Lilbern  Allen,  eldest  child  of  Levi 
and  Martha  (Shaw)  Cass,  was  born  Decem- 
ber 12,  1816,  at  Decatur,  Otsego  county,  New 
York,  died  November  9,  1865.  Upon  the 
death  of  his  father  he  found  himself  at  the  age 
of  sixteen  the  mainstay  of  his  mother  with 
her  seven  children,  aged  from  sixteen  to  two 
years.  He  shirked  no  responsibility,  but  went 
manfully  to  work,  cultivating  the  farm  in 
summer  and  teaching  school  in  winter,  and  by 
studious  application  to  the  few  books  he  was 
able  to  purchase,  he  became  the  leading  edu- 
cator of  his  time  in  the  county.  He  was  for 
many  years  one  of  the  county  commissioners 
of  schools  for  his  native  county.  He  was 
deeply  interested  in  religious  work,  a  lay 
preacher  of  great  force  and  ability,  and  for 
many  years  a  deacon  in  the  First  Baptist 
Church  of  Worcester.     He  was  one  of  the 


foremost  citizens  of  the  county.  His  services 
as  a  speaker  were  ever  in  demand  at  educa- 
tional and  religious  gatherings.  In  politics 
he  was  a  Democrat.  He  married,  June  27, 
1838,  at  Cobleskill,  New  York,  Sarah  ^lac- 
Donald,  born  October  5,  1817,  died  Novem- 
ber 6,  1863.  Children:  i.  Ploratio  G.,  born 
March  18,  1841 ;  married  (first)  February  8, 
1866,  ;\Iary  J.  Babcock ;  one  child,  Carlton 
B.,  born  July  9,  1867.  He  married  (sec- 
ond) Mary  A.  Rowland.  2.  Monroe,  born 
July  10,  1843 ;  married,  June  9,  1863,  Julia 
Richmond.  3.  Orsamus  W.,  born  February 
9,  1846;  married.  March  12,  1867,  Mary  J. 
Crippen :  children :  Clarence  D.,  born  Octo- 
ber 29,  1868,  Melvin  J.,  June  20,  1870,  H. 
Deverre,  February  16,  1872,  Florence  E.  4. 
\'olney,  born  February  27,  1848;  married, 
October  7,  1885,  Lillian  E.  Fulkerson ;  daugh- 
ter Edith,  born  September  27,  1886.  5. 
Thaddeus  G.,  see  forward.  6.  Lewis,  see 
forward.  7.  Frances  P.,  born  September  5, 
1856:  married,  June  12,  1878,  Joseph  W. 
Cowell ;  children :  i.  Walter  A.,  born  April  5, 
1879,  married  Violet  A.  Parrish,  and  has 
daughter,  Ruth  Frances  :  ii.  Thaddeus  G..  born 
May  4,  1881  ;  iii.  Grace  M.,  born  April  30, 
1884.  8.  Levi,  born  October  9,  i860;  mar- 
ried Ada  Griffin,  and  has  daughter  Helen 
Rose,  born  April  15,  1900. 

(VII)  Thaddeus  G.,  son  of  Lilbern  Allen 
and  Sarah  (MacDonald)  Cass,  was  born  No- 
vember 17,  1850.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  Otsego.  In  1870  he  became 
a  partner  in  the  mercantile  business  with  his 
brother.  The  call  to  the  ministry  came  too 
strong  to  be  resisted,  and  he  sold  out  his  in- 
terest and  took  up  the  studies  for  his  life 
work.  He  graduated  from  Colgate  Academy 
in  1874  and  Colgate  University  in  1880.  His 
first  charge  was  at  Maiden,  Massachusetts, 
his  last  in  Olean,  New  York.  During  the 
twenty-six  years  of  his  ministerial  life  he 
filled  some  of  the  best  pulpits  in  New  Hamp- 
shire and  New  York  states.  An  eloquent 
speaker  and  a  deep  thinker,  his  services  and 
advice  were  sought  for  by  denominational 
leaders  at  state  and  national  conventions. 
Failing  health  of  a  member  of  his  family 
obliged  him  to  change  climate.  He  is  now 
the  proprietor  of  an  e.xtensive  fruit  plantation 
in  Porto  Rico,  and  at  the  same  time  engaged 
in  evangelistic  work.  He  married,  June  25, 
1878,  Cornelia  Swart;  children:  Helen  Eaton 
and  Thaddeus  G.  (2d.) 

(\TI)  Lewis,  son  of  Lilbern  Allen  and  Sa- 
rah (MacDonald)  Cass,  was  born  at  Decatur, 
Otsego  county.  New  York,  December  30, 
1853.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools; 
.Albany  State  Normal  School,  class  of   1871  j 


i 


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HUDSON   AND    :\IOHAWK   VALLEYS 


293 


Colgate  Academy,  Hamilton,  New  York,  class 
of  1874;  entered  Union  College  in  the  class 
of  1878.  These  years  of  study  were  prepara- 
tory to  that  of  the  law.  His  reading  was  with 
Smith.  Bancroft  &  Aloak,  an  eminent  legal 
firm  of  Albany,  and  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1880.  In  January,  1881,  he  opened  an 
office,  and  began  the  pratice  of  his  profession, 
which  he  has  continued  with  marked  success 
to  the  present  time.  For  years  he  was  as- 
sociated in  practice  with  the  late  Judge  Clute, 
county  judge  of  Albany  county.  He  is  a  law- 
yer of  high  standing,  well  versed  in  the  law, 
a  wise  and  safe  counselor.  He  has  had  a 
leading  connection  with  many  of  the  most  im- 
portant cases  before  the  different  courts  of 
the  city,  county  and  state,  notably  the  "Trum- 
bull will  case''  in  Albany  county,  and  The  Peo- 
ple ex  rcl.  vs.  The  Hudson  &  Manhattan  Rail- 
road Company.  He  was  assigned  by  Attorney 
General  Jackson  (a  Democrat)  to  represent 
the  state  board  of  tax  commissioners,  and  his 
services  were  so  satisfactory  that  he  was  re- 
tained by  the  Republican  attorney  general, 
Mr.  O'Malley ;  the  sum  at  issue  was  $6,900,- 
000,  and  many  intricate  questions  of  law  were 
involved.  Mr.  Cass  was  attorney  for  the  state 
dairy  commission,  and  for  seven  years  for  the 
agricultural  commission  of  the  state,  also  for 
the  State  ^'eterinary  Medical  Society.  He 
has  labored  industriously  and  efficiently  for 
municipal  improvements,  and  advocated  the 
construction  of  Beaver  Park  in  Albany  as 
much  needed  improvement  on  the  South  Side. 
He  is  a  well  known  public  speaker  and  lec- 
turer, and  has  been  much  in  demand  on  bnth 
platform  and  stump.  His  early  farm  life  im- 
planted in  him  a  love  of  the  beauties  and  won- 
ders of  nature,  which  still  abides,  and  is  mani- 
fested in  his  interest  in  flowers  and  their  cul- 
ture. Plis  carefully  selected  library  shows  his 
wide  range  of  reading,  and  e.\])lains  his  versa- 
tility of  mind  and  familiar  acquaintance  with 
the  world's  choicest  literature.  A  lifelong 
Democrat  and  keenly  alive  to  his  re- 
sponsibilities as  a  citizen,  his  services  as 
a  speaker  have  been  of  great  value  to 
his  party,  are  in  frequent  demand,  and 
cheerfully  rendered.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  l-jumanuel  Baptist  Church  of  Al- 
bany, a  Knight  of  Pythias,  and  a  Knight  of 
Malta.  He  married,  February  3,  1886,  Kate, 
daughter  of  Judge  Judson  S.  and  Emily 
(Pierce)  Landon,  of  Schenectady,  New  York. 
(See  Landon.)  Children:  i.  Frances  Lan- 
don, born  August  20,  1890,  died  December  7, 
1894.  2.  Helen  Landon,  Ixirn  December  20, 
1897.  3-  Allan  Landon,  born  November  7, 
1900. 

(VI)  Levi  (2),  son  of  Levi   (i)  and  Mar- 


tha (Shaw)  Cass,  was  born  in  Decatur,  Ot- 
sego county.  New  York,  February  i,  1828.  He 
received  his  early  education  in  the  ]niblic 
schools  of  Decatur,  his  academic  course  in 
the  Cherry  Valley  Academy,  and  prepared  at 
the  Albany  State  Normal  School  for  what 
was  to  be  his  life  work.  He  devoted  his  en- 
tire life  to  the  training  of  the  young,  and  as 
an  earnest  and  faithful  educator  will  forever 
live  in  the  educational  history  of  Albany,  and 
in  the  hearts  and  lives  of  the  thousands  who 
have  passed  through  the  schools  over  which 
he  presided.  His  professional  career  began 
in  the  schools  of  LaGrange,  New  York,  suc- 
ceeded by  three  efficient  years  as  an  instructor 
in  the  Albany  Academy.  His  reputation  was 
greatly  overstepping  local  bounds,  and  he  next 
accepted  a  call  from  Jamesville,  Wisconsin, 
where  he  was  made  superintendent  of  schools 
and  principal  of  the  high  school.  He  effected 
an  entire  reorganization  of  the  schools,  and 
placed  them  upon  a  more  effective  basis  than 
ever  before  known.  In  1861  he  returned  to 
Albany  and  was  for  seven  years  principal  and 
proprietor  of  the  State  Street  high  school.  In 
1868  he  began  his  work  in  the  public  schools 
of  Albany  that  was  to  continue  without  in- 
terruption for  the  remarkable  period  of  forty 
years.  Three  years  were  spent  as  principal  of 
Public  School  No.  2.  In  1872  he  was  placed 
in  charge  of  School  No.  15,  then  and  for  many 
years  thereafter  the  largest  and  most  import- 
ant of  the  city's  preparatory  schools.  Here 
his  peculiar  talents  had  ample  scope,  and  in 
the  thirty-eight  years  of  his  service  as  its 
head,  its  standard  of  excellence  was  steadily 
advanced.  His  skill  in  organization  was  won- 
derful, and  his  faculty  of  imparting  to  his  as- 
sociate teachers  his  own  earnestness  and  en- 
thusiasm was  constantly  displayed,  while  his 
power  of  control  over  children  was  equally  re- 
markable. He  kept  in  close  touch  with  mod- 
ern progress  in  educational  methods,  and  in 
every  way  strove  to  increase  the  usefulness  of 
the  school.  Teaching  was  with  him  a  life 
work,  his  chosen  profession,  not  merely  a 
stepping  stone  to  another.  His  sole  ambition 
was  to  be  a  good  teacher,  and  to  make  No. 
15  a  model  public  school.  On  his  retirement 
from  active  work  on  May  8,  1908,  it  could  be 
truthfully  said  that  he  had  fully  realized  both 
these  ambitions.  His  relations  with  his  assist- 
ants, his  contemporaries  of  other  schools,  and 
his  neighbors,  were  most  cordial  and  happy. 
He  was  widely  known  in  the  eflucational 
world  at  large  through  his  membership  in  the 
various  educational  associations  and  through 
the  educational  press.  He  labored  and  spoke 
for  the  cause  of  education,  and  accomplished 
great  and  lasting  good  not  revealed  by  school 


294 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


reports.  In  1873  Hamilton  College  conferred 
upon  him  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts.  Pro- 
fessor Cass  is  a  member  of  the  First  Metho- 
dist Church,  Albany,  and  in  politics  is  a  Re- 
publican. He  married,  April  20,  1853,  Cath- 
erine E.,  born  February  28,  1826,  died  Janu- 
ary 12,  1899,  daughter  of  Leonard  L.  and 
Elizabeth  Pells.  To  them  was  born  one  child, 
Herbert  Page  Cass,  October  4,  1859,  died  No- 
vember 3.  1870.  Since  his  retirement  from 
his  profession,  Professor  Cass  has  continued 
his  residence  in  Albany,  New  York. 

(\'I)  Amos  Alden.  son  of  Levi  (I)  and 
Martha  (Shaw)  Cass,  was  born  in  Decatur. 
Otsego  county.  New  York,  March  10,  1830. 
He  received  his  early  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Decatur,  his  academic  course  at 
Charlotteville  Academy.  He  entered  upon  his 
life  work  at  West  Troy,  New  York,  and  such 
was  his  success  that  in  two  years  he  was 
called  as  instructor  in  the  Albany  Boys'  Acad- 
emy, where  he  taught  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  afterwards  was  owner  and  principal  of 
the  Grand  Street  Institute  and  Division  Street 
Academy,  private  schools.  He  possessed  in 
unusual  degree  the  ability  to  gain  the  confi- 
dence and  love  of  his  pupils.  Among  the 
graduates  of  his  school  may  be  found  the  lead- 
ing men  of  the  city  in  the  professions,  in  busi- 
ness life  and  in  politics.  Failing  health 
obliged  him  to  discontinue  indoor  life,  and  he 
retired  to  his  fruit  farm  on  the  banks  of  the 
Hudson  river,  where  he  died  February,  1901. 
He  married  Matilda  M.  Lansing,  who  bore 
him  a  daughter,  Martha  J.,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Arthur   J-   Johnson. 


The  American  ancestor  of  Judge 
YATES     Austin  A.  Yates  is  Joseph  Yates, 

an  English  soldier,  who  came 
over  with  Colonel  Nichols,  commander  of  the 
English  forces  to  whom  Stuyvesant,  the  Dutch 
director  general  of  New  Amsterdam,  was 
compelled  to  surrender.  The  family  is  an  old 
and  honored  one  in  England,  and  Joseph  is 
the  progenitor  of  a  numerous  race,  yet  sur- 
viving in  Albany,  Montgomery  and  Schenec- 
tady counties  and  from  thence  scattered  all 
over  the  United  States.  Joseph  Yates  appears 
in  Albany  in  1664.  died  there  in  1730.  He 
was  in  receipt  of  a  pension  as  a  soldier  of 
the  King  and  seems  to  have  been  purveyor 
of  Fort  Orange,  as  he  makes  a  most  earnest 
plea  for  pay  for  his  wood  furnished  to  Fort 
Orange.  He  married  Hubertje  Marselis,  bur- 
ied July  13,  1730,  daughter  of  Marselis  Janse 
Van  Bommel.  In  1693  he  had  seven  children 
living  and  in  1713  lived  on  the  east  corner 
of  Green  and  Beaver  streets,  Albany.  He 
was  buried  July  13,  1730.     Children  baptized 


in  Albany:  i.  Christoflfel,  of  further  mention. 
2.  Robert,  born  November  4,  1688,  settled  in 
Schenectady  in  1711  ;  he  was  a  merchant  and 
owned  a  tan  yard;  he  married,  February  15, 
1712,  Margaret,  daughter  of  Claas  DeGraff; 
his  descendants  became  famous  in  the  revolu- 
tionary war  and  after  history  of  New  York, 
one,  John  Van  Ness  Yates,  being  secretary 
of  state  from  18 18  to  1826.  3.  Selia,  baptized 
May  7,  1693.  4.  Joseph,  born  March  17,  1695, 
married  Hedrikje  Hooghkeck,  May  28,  1719; 
buried  in  Albany,  January  19,  1750.  5.  Sara, 
born  March  6,  1698.  6.  Abraham,  born  March 
I,  1704;  married  Hester  Drinkwater  in  New 
York,  September  10,  1726. 

fll)  Christoffel,  eldest  son  of  Joseph  and 
Hubertje  M.  (Van  Bommel)  Yates,  was  bap- 
tized in  x\lbany,  April  16,  1684,  buried  Feb- 
ruary 26,  1754.  He  married,  July  12,  1706, 
Cataleyntje  Winne.  Children  baptized  in  Al- 
bany:  I.  Joseph,  of  further  mention.  2. 
Adam,  baptized  August  15,  1708;  married, 
June  2,  1733,  Anna  Gerritse.  3.  Catalina,  bap- 
tized October  7,  1711.  4.  Catalyna,  baptized 
October  19,  1712.  5.  Hubertje,  baptized  No- 
vember 7,  1714.  6.  Johannes,  baptized  Octo- 
ber 14,  1716;  married,  November  28,  1737, 
Rebecca  Waldron.  7.  Anneke,  baptized  Octo- 
ber 5,  1718.  8.  Maria,  baptized  April  29, 
1722.  9.  Abraham,  baptized  August  23,  1724, 
died  June  30,  1796,  he  was  mayor  of  Albany, 
appointed  by  Governor  George  Clinton  and 
served  from  1790  to  1796 ;  was  sheriff  of  Al- 
bany county  from  1754  to  1755 ;  deputy  to 
provincial  convention.  New  York,  1775  ;  presi- 
dent pro  tem  of  first  provincial  congress,  1775  ; 
deputy  to  second  and  third  provincial  con- 
gresses ;  member  of  council  of  appointment  in 
1777  and  council  of  safety  from  1777  to  1778, 
state  senator,  first  to  thirteenth  sessions  in- 
clusive. 1777  to  1792:  city  receiver  from  1778 
to  1779;  first  postmaster  of  Albany,  1783,  and 
delegate  to  continental  congress,  1781  to  1788. 
He  married  Antje  De  Redder.  He  is  buried 
in  Albany  Rural  cemetery.  10.  Peter,  bap- 
tized January  8.  1727;  married  Sarah  Van 
Alsteyn. 

(HI)  Joseph  (2),  eldest  son  of  Christofifel 
and  Cataleyntje  (Winne)  Yates,  was  baptized 
in  Albany,  April  20,  1707,  and  about  1734  set- 
tled in  Schenectady,  where  he  owned  a  planta- 
tion reaching  from  Aesplaus  creek  to  Free- 
mans  bridge,  and  was  the  largest  slave  own- 
er in  the  county.  He  married,  January  17, 
1730,  Eva,  daughter  of  Jellis  Fonda.  Chil- 
dren: I.  Catalyna,  baptized  January  17,  1731, 
in  Albany :  married  Cornelis  Peek.  2.  Rachel, 
baptized  May  7,  1733,  in  Albany;  married 
Cornelis  Barheit.  3.  Huybertje,  baptized  June 
15.  1735;  married  Samuel  S.  Bratt.     4.  Chris- 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


295 


topher  (colonel),  of  further  mention.  5.  Ta- 
rineke,  baptized  April  29,  1739;  married  Col- 
onel Cornelis  Van  Dyck.  6.  Eva,  baptized 
October  4.  1741  ;  married  Johannes  H.  Peek 
(2).  7.  Gillis  (Jellis),  baptized  April  22, 
1744:  married  Ariantje  Bratt,  March  16,  1768. 
8.  Annatje,  baptized  October  5,  1746. 

(IV)  Christopher,  commonly  called  "Col- 
onel Stoeffel."  eldest  son  of  Joseph  (2)  and 
Eva  (Fonda)  Yates,  was  born  July  8,  1737. 
He  was  a  surveyor  by  profession,  served  as 
captain  under  Sir  William  Johnson  and  was 
wounded,  was  lieutenant-colonel  of  Second 
Regiment,  New  York  troops,  under  Colonel 
Abraham  Wemple,  was  detached  as  assistant- 
deputy-quartermaster-general  under  General 
Philip  Schuyler  and  as  a  member  of  his  staff 
with  him  at  Saratoga,  when  Gates  took  com- 
mand, and  "one  of  the  best  informed  and 
most  efficient  patriots  of  the  Mohawk  Val- 
ley."' He  was  a  member  of  the  provincial 
congress  of  the  committee  of  public  safety 
and  of  the  first  board  of  state  regents.  He 
married,  October  16,  1760,  Jannetje,  daughter 
of  Andries  Bratt.  Children:  i.  Eva,  bap- 
tized February  14,  1762.  2.  Elisabeth,  bap- 
tized May  7,  1763  ;  married  Jillis  Fonda.  3. 
Eva,  baptized  January  13,  1764:  married  Wil- 
liam Johnson  Butler,  of  Niagara.  4.  Helena, 
baptized  November  16,  1766:  married  Colonel 
]\IcDonald,  of  the  British  army.  5.  Joseph, 
born  November  9,  1768,  died  March  19,  1837, 
full  of  honors  and  with  a  state  wide  reputa- 
tion for  industry  and  integrity ;  he  was  an  at- 
tomey-at-law  with  an  extensive  practice ;  was 
the  first  mayor  of  Schenectady,  a  state  sena- 
tor in  1807,  judge  of  the  supreme  court  in 
1808  and  governor  of  New  York  from  1823  to 
1824;  he  married  (first)  September  30,  1791, 
Ann,  widow  of  James  Ellice ;  (second)  Maria, 
daughter  of  John  Kane,  of  Schenectady ; 
(third)  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  De  Lan- 
cey,  of  Westchester  county.  He  had  no  male 
issue  but  daughters,  Helen  Maria,  married 
John  Keyes  Paize ;  Anna  Alida,  married  John 
D.  Watkins,  of  the  state  of  Georgia ;  Jane 
Josepha,  married  Samuel  Neil,  of  New  York. 
6.  Henderieus  (Henry),  born  October  7,  1770. 
died  in  Albany,  March  20,  1854:  he  was  an 
attorney-at-law,  several  times  state  senator, 
member  of  the  council  of  appointment ;  he 
married,  October  24,  1791,  Catharine,  daugh- 
ter of  Johannes  Mynderse;  she  died  in  New 
York,  September  28,  1841,  aged  sixty-nine 
years.  Children:  Henry  Christopher,  Edward, 
Stephen,  Charles,  all  graduates  of  Union  Col- 
lege, and  Mary  and  Jane  Anne.  7.  Anreas 
(Andrew),  of  further  mention.  8.  Annatje, 
baptized  March  12,  1775,  died  April  17,  1851, 
unmarried.    9.  Catarina,  baptized  October  12, 


1777.  10.  Jillis,  baptized  February  i,  1784. 
II.  Johannes  (John),  baptized  February  i, 
1784:  was  a  graduate  of  Union  College 
( 1802),  lawyer,  captain  of  a  company  of  horse 
artillery  in  war  of  1812,  aide-de-camp  on  staff 
of  Governor  Tompkins,  member  of  fourteenth 
congress,  1815  to  1816,  from  Schenectady 
district ;  he  settled  in  and  practiced  law  at  Uti- 
ca,  New  York,  and  later  at  Chittenango,  and 
was  appointed  by  Governor  Tompkins 
sales  manager  of  the  "Literature  Lotteries" 
of  the  state  of  New  York,  and  removed  to 
New  York  City,  remaining  until  1825,  when 
he  returned  to  Chittenango  where  he  owned 
two  thousand  acres  of  land,  with  flour  mills, 
saw  mills,  lime  and  plaster  mills,  woollen  fac- 
tory, dry  dock  and  yards  for  building  and  re- 
pairing boats,  polytechnic  school  and  many 
residences  and  buildings.  He  was  deeply  in- 
terested in  the  building  of  the  Welland  canal 
and  by  a  large  investment  and  his  great  per- 
sonal influence  and  exertions  carried  it  into 
successful  operation.  In  this  he  was  largely 
aided  in  England  by  the  Duke  of  Wellington. 
He  was  an  early  and  devoted  friend  of  the 
Erie  canal  and  all  enterprises  devoted  to  pub- 
lic purposes.  He  served  for  many  years  as 
county  judge  of  Madison  county,  and  at  his 
death  was  judge  and  member  of  the  New 
York  assembly. 

(V)  Rev.  Andrew,  son  of  Colonel  Christo- 
pher and  Jannetje  (Bratt)  Yates,  was  born 
January  17,  1773,  died  at  Day,  Saratoga 
county.  New  York,  October  14,  1844.  He 
was  highly  educated  and  continued  the  pro- 
fession of  an  educator  with  that  of  the  min- 
istry, being  a  man  of  much  study  and  lit- 
erary attainments.  He  was  a  minister  of  the 
Dutch  Reformed  church,  possessed  of  eminent 
piety  and  a  true  friend  of  feeble  church  or- 
ganizations. Without  great  sensational  elo- 
quence he  was  a  sound  divine  and  preached 
with  great  power.  He  was  a  graduate  of 
Yale  College  (1793)  and  studied  theology 
under  Professor  John  H.  Livingston, 
D.D.S.T.  He  was  Professor  of  Latin  and 
Greek  in  Union  College  from  1797  to  1801, 
and  pastor  of  the  East  Hartford  Congrega- 
tional Church  from  1801  to  1814.  Professor 
of  Mental  and  Moral  Philosophy  in  Union 
College  from  1814  to  1825,  and  principal  of 
the  Polytechnic  in  Chittenango  from  1825  to 
1836.  He  married  (first)  Mary  Austin;  (sec- 
ond) Hannah  A.  Hocker,  who  died  October 
22,  1859,  aged  seventy-six  years.  Children 
of  first  wife:  i.  Christopher,  born  August  3, 
1798,  died  young.  2.  John  Austin,  of  further 
mention.  3.  Andrew  J.,  graduate  of  Union 
College,  died  August  8,  1856.  Children  of 
second  wife:  4.  James  Hooper,  born  October 


296 


HUDSON  AND  :\IOHAWK  \^\LLEYS 


9;  1815,  graduate  of  Union  College,  died  1861. 
5.  Christopher,  February  12,  1818.  6.  Helena, 
September  i,  1819.  7.  Joseph,  May  20,  1821. 
8.  Ann  Elizabeth,  baptized  August   18,   1822. 

(VI)  John  Austin,  son  of  Rev.  Andrew 
and  Mary  (Austin)  Yates,  was  born  May 
31,  1801,  died  August  27,  1849.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  Union  College,  class  of  1821,  and 
from  1823  until  the  time  of  his  death  was  pro- 
fessor of  Oriental  Literature  in  that  institu- 
tion. He  was  a  man  of  fine  qualities  and  a 
noted  orator.  He  married  Henrietta  Cobb. 
Children:  i.  Mary  A.,  married  John  De  Lan- 
cey  \^'atk:ins.  2.  John  B.,  born  1834,  died 
October  13,  1899;  colonel  of  First  ^lichigan 
Engineers  under  General  William  T. 
Sherman,  superintendent  of  railroads  in  Ten- 
nessee under  President  Andrew  Johnson,  and 
division  engineer  of  New  York  state  canals.  3. 
Austin  A.,  of  furtlier  mention.  4.  Arthur  R., 
born  October  20.  1838.  died  November  4,  1891, 
within  a  short  time  of  being  raised  a  rear  ad- 
miral and  aide  to  Admiral  Farragut,  and  by 
him  favorably  mentioned  in  his  report :  as  a 
result  he  received  the  thanks  of  congress  for 
delivering  messages  to  the  admiral :  he  was  a 
captain  in  the  United  States  navy. 

^Vn)  Judge  .A.ustin  A.  Yates,  son  of  Pro- 
fessor John  Austin  and  Henrietta  (Cobb) 
Yates,  was  born  in  Schenectady,  New  York, 
March  24,  1836.  After  a  preparatory  educa- 
tion he  entered  Union  College,  and  was  grad- 
uated from  that  historic  institution,  class  of 
1854,  with  the  degree  of  A.B.  He  embraced 
the  profession  of  law  and  after  thorough  prep- 
aration was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1857.  He 
at  once  began  the  practice  of  his  profession 
in  Schenectady  and  has  since  continued  except 
when  engaged  in  public  duty.  For  a  time  he 
was  editor  of  the  Schenectady  Dally  Nc-a's. 
During  the  civil  war  he  raised  and  commanded 
a  company,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war  was 
breveted  major  for  "gallant  and  meritorius 
conduct."  He  was  in  command  of  the  com- 
pany upon  whom  devolved  the  duty  of  hang- 
ing the  assassins  engaged  in  the  plot  to  mur- 
der President  Lincoln  and  his  principal  cabi- 
net officers.  This  company  was  Companv  l*". 
Fourteenth  Regiment,  United  States  \'olun- 
teer  Reserves.  In  1867  Major  Yates  was 
elected  district  attorney  of  Schenectady 
county  and  re-elected  in  1871,  but  resigned  in 
1873  after  his  election  to  the  office  of  county 
judge.  In  1879  lie  received  the  appointment 
of  attorney  to  the  insurance  department  In- 
the  state  superintendent  of  insurance.  In 
1887  and  1889  he  was  a  member  of  the  New 
York  house  of  assembly.  When  the  war  with 
Spain  was  beginning  ^Iajor  Yates  went  to  the 
front  with  the  second  Regiment,  New  York 


Volunteer  Infantry,  serving  until  the  regiment 
was  mustered  out.  In  1900  he  retired  from 
office  upon  his  own  application.  He  is  learned 
in  the  law  and  stands  high  in  the  estimation 
of  his  brethren  of  the  bar.  Different  state 
departments  have  retained  him  as  attorney  in 
important  cases,  while  as  county  judge  he  re- 
ceived high  commendation.  He  is  well-known 
as  a  strong  writer  and  speaker,  a  close  stu- 
dent of  history,  and  has  written  much  of  the 
early  days  and  is  the  author  of  a  "History  of 
Schenectady"  (1902).  He  is  now  living  a 
practically  retired  life  in  Schenectadx . 


The  Hopkins  familv  of  Cat- 
HOPKINS     skill.      New     York,'    descend 

from  Stephen  Hopkins,  of 
Coventry,  England.  "Stephen  Hopkins  and 
Elizabeth,  his  wife,  and  two  children  called,, 
Giles  (Gyles)  and  Constanta,  a  daughter,  both 
by  a  former  wife,  and  two  more  by  this  wife,, 
called  Damaris  and  Oceanus,  (the  last  was- 
born  at  sea)  and  two  servants,  Edward  Doty 
and  Edward  Lister."  Stephen  had  made  pre- 
vious voyages  and  suffered  shipwreck.  He 
was  always  fond  of  the  sea  and  of  adven- 
ture. .A.fter  the  landing  at  Plymouth  he  was 
of  the  first  company  sent  out  to  explore  and' 
report.  He  always  held  a  leading  position  in 
the  colony,  filling  important  public  office.  He 
did  not  bend  easily  to  the  harsh  rulings  of  the 
Puritans  and  was  several  times  before  the 
court  charged  with  trifling  offenses.  He  was 
thrifty  and  seems  to  have  prospered.  The 
first  wife  of  Stephen  is  unknown.  His  second' 
wife  was  Elizabeth  Fisher.  There  will  al- 
ways be  discussion  over  the  parentage  of  John 
Hoijkins,  of  Hartford,  whether  or  not  he  was 
the  son  of  Stephen.  The  line  of  descent  here 
followed  is  that  of  Giles,  eldest  son  of  the 
unknown  mother.  The  office  holding  of  Ste- 
phen Hopkins  was  continuous.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  governor's  council  from  Ply- 
mouth, 1623-24-25-26.  In  1637  he  was  one 
of  the  volunteers  in  aid  of  Massachusetts  Bay 
Colony  and  Connecticut  with  their  war  with 
the  Pequots,  and  in  1642  was  chosen  to  the 
council  of  war  from  Plymouth.  His  chil- 
dren:  I.  Giles,  (q.v.)  2.  Constance  (Con- 
stanta), only_  daughter  of  first  wife,  born 
in  England,  came  with  her  father  in  the  "May- 
flower" ;  married,  in  1627,  Nicholas  Snow,  one 
of  the  founders  of  Eastiiam,  Massachusetts, 
who  came  over  in  the  ".'Xnn."  Children  of 
second  wife:  3.  Damaris,  born  in  England, 
married,  in  1646,  Jacob,  son  of  Francis  Cook, 
of  the  "^layflower" ;  she  died  after  1666.  4. 
Oceanus,  born  at  sea  on  board  the  "May- 
flower" about  October,  1620,  died  before  1627. 
5.  Deborah,  the  first  child  of  her  parents  born 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


297 


at  Plymoutli,  1622,  married,  in  1646,  Andrew 
/King,  of  Plymouth.  6.  Caleb,  born  in  Ply- 
month ;  bore  arms  in  1633  and  following  his 
father's  instructions  followed  the  sea,  died  at 
Barbadoes,  probably  unmarried ;  he  was  the 
executor  of  his  father's  will ;  his  mother's  in- 
fluence probably  securing  his  preference  over 
Stephen's  first  born,  Giles.  7.  Ruth.  8.  Eliza- 
beth. Stephen  Hopkins  died  in  1644,  Eliza- 
beth, his  wife,  between   1640  and   1644. 

(II)  Giles,  son  of  Stephen  Hopkins  and 
his  first  wife,  was  born  in  England,  died  at 
Eastham,  Massachusetts,  about  1690.  He 
came  with  his  father  in  the  "Mayflower"  and 
his  first  home  was  with  them  at  Plymouth. 
He  then  removed  to  Mattachuse.  In  1642  he 
was  the  surveyor  of  Yarmouth,  and  until  1662 
a  surveyor  of  Yarmouth  and  Eastham.  In 
1655  he  was  one  of  the  list  of  freemen  of 
Eastham.  He  married,  October  9,  1639,  Cath- 
erine, daughter  of  Gabriel  Whelden.  Chil- 
dren: Mary,  born  1640;  Stephen,  September 
1642  :  John,  born  and  died  1643  •  Abigail,  born 
October,  1644,  married.  May  23,  1661,  Wil- 
liam Merrick;  Deborah,  June,  1648;  Caleb, 
January,  1651,  of  whom  further;  Ruth,  June, 
1653  ;  Joshua,  June,  1657 ;  W^illiam,  January 
9,  1661  ;  Eliza,  1664,  died  young.  The  last 
six  children  were  all  born  at  Eastham. 

(III)  Caleb,  son  of  Giles  and  Catherine 
(Whelden)  Hopkins,  was  born  at  Eastham, 
Massachusetts,  removed  to  Truso,  where  he 
died  in  1728.  He  married  and  had  children: 
Caleb,  Nathaniel,  Thomas,  Thankful. 

(I\')  Caleb  (2),  son  of  Caleb  (i)  Hopkins, 
removed  to  Middletown,  Connecticut,  where 
he  married  and  probably  died. 

(V)  James,  son  of  Caleb  (2)  Hopkins,  was 
born  in  1736.  He  resided  at  Middletown, 
Connecticut,  where  his  children  were  born. 
He  married  Mehitable  Freeman,  of  the  Cape 
Cod  family  of  that  name.  Children :  Free- 
man, Mehitable,  Caleb,  James,  Samuel. 

(VI)  Caleb  (3),  son  of  James  and  Mehit- 
able (Freeman)  Hopkins,  was  born  at  Mid- 
dletown, Connecticut,  died  at  Catskill,  New 
York,  in  1852.  He  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  Middletown,  Connecticut,  and  at  an 
early  age  removed  to  New  York  City  and 
for  many  years  was  engaged  in  the  iron  busi- 
ness with  Pierson  &  Company.  "In  1830,  ow- 
ing to  failing  health,  he  settled  in  Catskill, 
New  York,  where  he  lived  the  life  of  a  re- 
tired country  gentleman  until  his  death.  He 
married  Ketnrah,  born  in  Saybrook,  Connec- 
ticut, daughter  of  Hyland  Hill.  Children : 
Charles,  deceased :  Mary,  married  W.  H.  Van 
Orden,  of  Catskill ;  Louise,  married  J.  A. 
Cook,  of  Catskill:  John,  Henry,  Francis, 
James,    Jane    \'ernon, ; .Frederick,    Josephine. 


Keturah  (Hill)  Hopkins  was  a  granddaughter 
of  Peleg  Hill,  born  at  Saybrook,  resided  in 
Essex  county.  New  York.  He  married  and 
had  children :  Hyland,  of  whom  further ; 
James,  removed  to  Vermont;  Peleg  (2),  re- 
moved  to   \'ermont ;    Sarah,   married   

Bishop,  of  Guilford,  Connecticut ;  Annie,  mar- 
ried Timothy  Lee,  of  Williston,  Vermont.  Hy- 
land, son  of  Peleg  Hill,  removed  to  Catskill, 
Greene  county.  New  York.  He  married  Ke- 
turah \'\'aterhouse,  and  Keturah,  their  daugh- 
ter, married  Caleb  (3)  Hopkins. 

(VTI)  Henry,  son  of  Caleb  (3)  and  Ke- 
turah (Hill)  Hopkins,  was  born  in  New  York- 
City,  October  22,  1820,  died  October  3,  1873, 
at  Catskill.  He  was  educated  at  Catskill  and 
Albany,  New  York,  private  schools.  His  en- 
tire business  life  was  spent  in  the  iron  trade. 
He  married,  April  16,  1857,  Mary  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Samuel  M.  Cornell,  of  New  York 
City.  Children :  Samuel  Cornell,  of  further 
mention ;  Emmeline  Cornell,  born  November 
26,  1859,  married  Herman  Livingston;  Henry 
Caleb,  December  11,  1862,  died  at  Ridgefield, 
Connecticut,  September  8,  1908;  Charles  Ver- 
non, of  whom  further. 

(VIII)  Samuel  Cornell,  son  of  Henry  and 
Mary  Elizabeth  (Cornell)  Hopkins,  was  born 
in  New  York  City,  February  19,  1858.  He 
was  educated  at  St.  Paul's  school.  Concord, 
New  Hampshire,  entered  Yale  University, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  class  of  1882.  His 
residence  is  at  Catskill,  New  York,  where  his 
life  has  been  passed.  He  is  a  director  of 
the  Catskill  National  Bank.  He  married,  Au- 
gust 21,  1897,  Mary  Howland,  daughter  of 
John  Howland  and  Caroline  (Hyatt)  Pell 
(see  Pell  X).  Children:  Samuel  Cornell,  Jr., 
born  October  21,  1899;  Howland  Pell,  Octo- 
ber II,  1906. 

(\'III)  Charles  ^'ernon,  son  of  Heiu-y  and 
Mary  Elizabeth  (Cornell)  Hopkins,  was  born 
in  Catskill.  New  York,  December  11,  1872. 
He  was  educated  at  St.  Paul's  school.  Con- 
cord, New  Hampshire,  entered  Yale  Univer- 
sity, where  he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of 
1896.  His  residence  is  at  Catskill.  New  York, 
but  much  of  his  time  is  spent  in  travel  at 
home  and  abroad. 

(The  Pell  Line). 
The  Pells  of  New  York  trace  to  a  remote 
English  ancestry  from  the  ancient  family  of 
that  name  in  Lincolnshire.  Rev.  John  Pell, 
rector  of  Southwick,  Sussex.  England,  mar-  • 
ried  Mary  Holland  and  had  sons  Thomas  and 
John.  The  manor  of  Pelham,  New  York, 
containing  nine  thousand  one  hundred  and 
sixty-six  acres  of  land  was  so  constituted  in 
favor  of  "Thomas  Pell,  Gentleman."     In  1687 


298 


HUDSON  AND  MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


the  estate  at  Pelham  was  more  fully  made 
into  a  manor  by  Governor  Dongan  in  favor 
of  John  Pell,  nephew  and  heir  of  Thomas, 
and  son  of  Dr.  John  Pell,  of  London. 

(H)  Rev.  John  (2)  Pell,  son  of  Rev.  John 
(i)  and  jMary  (Howland)  Pell,  and  brother 
of  Thomas,  First  Lord  of  the  Manor,  was 
born  at  Southwyck  in  Sussex,  England,  161 1, 
died  1685.  He  was  Cromwell's  minister  of 
Switzerland ;  was  a  famous  linguist  and  math- 
ematician, invented  the  sign  for  division ;  was 
domestic  chaplain  to  the  Archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury ;  he  was  a  Doctor  of  Divinity  and  a 
Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society.  He  married, 
1632,  Ithmaria  (Tamar  or  Athama)  Regi- 
noilles. 

(HI)  Major  John  (3)  Pell,  only  son  of 
Rev.  John  (2)  and  Ithmaria  (Reginoilles) 
Pell,  was  born  in  London,  Middlesex  county, 
England,  February  3,  1643.  By  the  will  of 
his  Uncle  Thomas  he  became  proprietor  of 
Pelham  and  Second  Lord  of  the  Manor.  He 
arrived  in  Boston  in  1670  with  a  letter  of  in- 
troduction to  Governor  Winthrop  from  Lord 
Brereton.  He  took  possession  of  the  estate 
which  on  October  20,  1687,  was  changed  to 
■'■'The  Lordship  and  Manor  of  Pelham"  by 
Governor  Dongan  of  New  York.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  provincial  assembly  for  West- 
chester county,  New  York.  1691-95 :  captain 
of  horse,  1684:  major  in  1692.  in  the  French 
and  Indian  war,  and  judge  of  the  court  of 
common  pleas  for  the  county.  He  is  said  to 
have  been  cast  away  and  drowned  in  his  pleas- 
ure boat  which  foundered  in  a  gale  off  City 
Point  sometime  in  1702.  He  died  intestate. 
He  married,  1684-85,  Rachel,  daughter  of 
Philip  Pinckney,  one  of  the  first  ten  proprie- 
tors of  East  Chester  and  a  lineal  descendant 
of  the  Pinckneys  of  Pinckney  Manor.  Nor- 
folkshire,  England.  He  had  two  sons  and 
two  daughters. 

(IV)  Thomas,  son  of  Major  John  (3)  and 
Rachel  (Pinckney)  Pell,  was  born  at  Pel- 
ham Manor,  New  York,  in  1686,  died  at  the 
Manor  house,  1739.  He  was  the  Third  Lord 
of  the  i\lanor,  and  became  invested  with  the 
inheritance  and  legal  rights  of  his  father.    He 

married  Anna .    Children  mentioned  in 

will  after  "my  beloved  wife,  Anna  Pell,"  are 
Ann  Broadhurst,  Joseph.  John,  Thomas, 
Joshua,  Philip,  Caleb,  Mary  Sands,  Sarah 
Palmer,  Beersheba.  His  eldest  son,  Joseph, 
Fourth  Lord  of  the  Manor,  died  in  1776,  leav- 

•  ing  five  sons  who  died  without  issue,  save 
John,  who  had  six  sons  who  died  without  is- 
sue, the  last  being  Richard  Moore  Pell,  who 
died  at  the   Manor  in   1868. 

(V)  Joshua,  fourth  son  of  Thomas  and 
Anna  Pell,  was  born  at  Pelham  Manor,  New 


York,  about  1710,  died  1781.  He  married 
Phoebe  Palmer.  Among  their  children  are 
Joshua  (2),  Benjamin,  of  whom  further. 

(VI)  Benjamin,  son  of  Joshua  and  Phoebe 
(Palmer)  Pell,  was  born  at  Pelham  Manor, 
New  York,  about  1750,  died  in  New  York 
City,  March  4,  1828.  He  was  a  merchant  of 
New  York  City.  He  married,  November  25, 
1778,  Mary  Ann,  daughter  of  John  Ferris, 
of  Grove  Farm,  Westchester  county,  New 
York.  He  had  several  sons.  His  daughter 
Maria  married  Jacob  Treadwell  Walden. 

(\TI)  William  Ferris,  son  of  Benjamin  and 
Mary  Ann  (Ferris)  Pell,  was  born  at  Pel- 
ham Manor,  New  York,  1780,  died  in  New 
York  City,  October  28,  1840.  He  was  a  mer- 
chant of  New  York.  1808-40,  and  founded 
the  famous  auction  firm  of  Pell  &  Company. 
He  purchased  the  "Garrison"  ground  estate 
at  Ticonderoga.  He  married,  November  17, 
1802,  Mary,  born  in  London,  England,  1783, 
died  in  New  York.  October  3,  1848,  daughter 
of  Morris  and  Ann  Shipley,  of  England.  He 
had  sons:  Clarence,  Duncan.  Morris,  of  whom 
further;  \\'alden,  Alfred  Sands,  and  James 
K.  They  succeeded  their  father  in  business 
and  were  remarkable  as  a  family  for  their 
fine  physical  development,  three  of  them 
standing  six  feet  tall,  and  were  well  propor- 
tioned. Duncan  Pell  was  lieutenant-governor 
of  Rhode  Island,  and  his  son  Duncan  was 
a  colonel  of  the  civil  war  on  the  staff  of  Gen- 
eral Burnside.  Alfred  Sands  Pell  married 
Adelia,  daughter  of  Colonel  James  Duane, 
first  mayor  of  New  York  City  after  the  rev- 
olution and  a  judge  of  the  United  States  su- 
preme court. 

(\  III)  Morris,  son  of  ^^'illiam  Ferris  and 
Mary  (Shipley)  Pell,  was  born  in  New  York 
City,  1 8 10,  died  in  Flushing,  Long  Island, 
1 88 1.  He  was  associated  with  Pell  &  Com- 
pany and  made  his  home  in  Flushing.  He 
married,  March  12,  1830,  Mary  R.,  daughter 
of  John  H.  Howland,  born  1774,  died  1849, 
a  prominent  shipping  merchant  of  New  York 
City:  he  married  Sarah,  born  1781,  died  1847 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  .Anna  (Rodman) 
Hazard,  of  New  Bedford,  Massachusetts, 

(IX)  John  Howland,  son  of  Morris  and 
Mary  R.  (Howland)  Pell,  was  born  in  New 
York,  December  23,  1830,  died  at  Yonkers, 
New  York.  He  was  mustered  into  the  Uni- 
ted States  service  as  second  lieutenant.  Com- 
pany K,  Fourth  Regiment,  New  York  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  August  17,  1861,  promoted 
first  lieutenant.  May  3,  1862,  captain  of  Com- 
pany A.  (same  regiment),  October  14,  1862; 
resigned  January  2,  1863.  He  married  Caro- 
line  Hyatt. 

(X)  Mary    Howland,    daughter    of    John 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


299 


"Howland  and  Caroline  (Hyatt)  Pell,  married 
:Samuel  C.  Hopkins   (see  Hopkins  VHI). 


The  Kennedy  family  of 
KENNEDY     Johnstown,    who   are   herein 

recorded,  descend  from 
Thomas  Kennedy,  who  was  born  in  the  county 
of  Down.  Ireland,  and  came  to  America  prior 
to  the  war  of  the  revolution,  settling  at  Ball- 
ston.  Saratoga  county.  New  York,  where  he 
took  up  and  improved  a  farm.  He  suffered 
from  the  ravages  of  the  Indians,  and  was  once 
captured  and  taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians 
to  Canada.  They  also  captured  his  wife  and 
babies,  but  finding  them  troublesome  left  them 
by  the  roadside.  The  mother  and  children 
found  their  way  back  home,  and  later  the 
family  was  reunited.  Thomas  Kennedy  was 
the  father  of  eight  children.  He  died  Alarch 
14,   i^^S'  '"  'I's  o"s  hundred  and  first  year. 

(II)  James,  youngest  son  of  Thomas  Ken- 
nedy, was  born  on  the  Saratoga  county  home- 
stead farm,  August  11,  1704,  died  in  West 
( ialway,  Saratoga  county,  hebruary  7,  1875. 
He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  He  was  a 
jirominent  citizen,  represented  his  district  in 
the  state  legislature,  and  served  as  an  officer 
in  the  \yar  of  1812.  He  married  Lucinda  Grin- 
ncll.  of  Saratoga  county,  New  York,  born 
17(^4,  died  December  8,  1877.  Children:  i. 
Ezra  Thomas,  born  June  19,  1817,  died  De- 
cember 23,  1885.  2.  Lauren  O.,  born  Janu- 
ary 18,  1818,  died  December  22,  1891  ;  was 
a  lumberman  and  merchant ;  married  Caro- 
line Cook,  born  1821,  died  1896;  children: 
IVIary,  deceased  :  Stewart  D.,  deceased  ;  James, 
deceased :  Madison  B.,  of  Chicago,  Illinois : 
Edward  C,  of  New  York  City ;  Harvey  L.,  of 
New  York  City :  Jane  Elizabeth,  deceased.  3. 
Lucinda,  born  October  12,  1821,  died  Septem- 
ber 8,  1905;  married  Daniel  Stuart.  4.  James 
C,  born    1822,   died    1873.      5.    Harvey,   born 

1826.  died  1889.  6.  IMartin,  born  1829,  died 
1904 :  married  Elizabeth  Ann  Clark.  7.  Wil- 
liam Logan,  mentioned  below. 

(III)  William  Logan,  youngest  child  of 
James  and  Lucinda  (Grinnell)  Kennedy,  was 
born  in  Saratoga  county.  New  York,  October 
25,  1838,  died  in  New  York  City,  March  28, 
1893.  He  was  a  member  of  the  New  York 
Stock  Exchange  for  many  years,  associated 
with  his  brother  Harvey :  his  business  life  was 
spent  in  Wall  street.    He  married  Margaretta 

"Edwards,  born  in  Johnstown,  New  York,  Oc- 
tober, 1840,  died  in  Brooklyn,  New  York, 
July,  1890.  Children:  i.  William  Logan, 
mentioned  below.  2.  Harvey  Edwards,  mar- 
ried (first")  Elizabeth  Miller;   (second)  Kath- 

•erine  Van  Sicklin ;  (third)  Mrs.  Elizabeth  A. 
(Ray)    Stevenson.    3.   Daniel   Edwards,  mar- 


ried   Elizabeth    Lord ;    children :    Daniel    Ed- 
wards, and   Elizabeth   Lord. 

(IV)  William  Logan  (2),  son  of  William 
Logan  (i)  and  Margaretta  (Edwards)  Ken- 
nedy, was  born  in  Johnstown,  New  York,  Jan- 
uary 12,  1867.  He  attended  the  Anthon  gram- 
mar school  in  New  York  City,  and  afterwards 
Johnstown  Academy,  remaining  three  years, 
where  he  prepared  for  college.  He  entered 
L^nion  College,  graduating  therefrom  with  the 
degree  of  A.B.,  class  of  1888.  After  leaving 
college  he  settled  in  New  York  City,  where 
in  the  offices  of  his  uncle,  Harvey  Kennedy, 
he  mastered  the  details  of  stock  and  bond 
brokerage.  .\t  the  age  of  twenty-three  years 
he  became  a  member  of  the  New  York  Stock 
Exchange,  and  since  1890  represented  himself 
on  the  floor  of  the  exchange.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  New  York  Produce  Exchange. 
He  is  a  successful  man  of  affairs.  He  is  an 
inde]jendent  Democrat  in  politics,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  National  Democratic  Club  of  New 
York.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Johnstown,  of  the  Colonial  and  Ant- 
lers clubs,  and  of  the  Delta  Upsilon  frater- 
nity. He  married,  October  3,  1893,  Margaret 
Elizabeth  Smith;  children:  i.  William  Lo- 
gan, born  March  26,  1895.  2.  Edwin  Oliver, 
January  31,  1900.  Mr.  Kennedy  and  family 
reside  at  142  West  Seventy-fourth  street. 
New  York  City,  but  maintain  a  summer  home 
at  his  birthplace,  Johnstown,  New  York. 

(The  Smith  Line). 

Margaret  Elizabeth  (Smith)  Kennedy  is  a 
daughter  of  Horace  Edwin  Smith,  LL.D.,  and 
granddaughter  of  Dr.  Roger  Smith,  born  of 
English  parents  in  Massachusetts,  removed 
to  Mt.  \'ernon.  New  Hampshire,  where  he 
studied  and  practiced  medicine  until  he  re- 
moved to  Greenbush,  New  York,  where  he 
was  hospital  surgeon  at  the  General  Hospital 
at  Greenbush  Cantonment  appointed  in  1812 
by  President  Madison.  After  the  war  was 
over  he  located  in  Weston,  Vermont,  where 
he  practiced  his  profession  until  his  death.  He 
was  a  cultured,  educated  gentleman,  and  emi- 
nent in  his  profession.  He  married  Sallie 
Dodge,  of  English  and  Welsh  parentage,  and 
on  the  paternal  side  of  the  same  ancestry 
as  the  well-known  philanthropist,  William  E. 
Dodge.  She  bore  him  two  sons  and  three 
daughters.  Asa  D.  Smith.  D.D..  LL.D.,  the 
eldest  son,  was  for  twenty-nine  years  pastor 
of  a  Presbyterian  church  in  New  York  City, 
and  for  thirteen  years  president  of  Dartmouth 
College. 

(II)  Horace  Edwin  Smith,  youngest  son 
of  Dr.  Roger  and  Sallie  (Dodge)  Smith,  ob- 
tained his  early  education  in  the  public  schools 


300 


HT'DSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


and  in  private  academies  in  \^ermont  and 
Massachusetts.  He  taught  school  while  pur- 
suing his  studies,  and  later  read  law  at  Broad- 
albin,  New  York,  gaining  admission  to  the 
New  York  bar,  January  12,  1844.  He  rose 
rapidly  in  his  profession,  and  in  quick  suc- 
cession was  admitted  to  the  superior  and  su- 
preme courts  of  New  York,  and  to  all  state 
and  federal  courts  in  both  New  York  and 
Massachusetts.  Later  he  was  admitted  to 
practice  in  the  supreme  court  of  the  United 
States.  He  retained  his  Fulton  county  pri- 
vate practice,  which  was  both  lucrative  and 
extensive,  until  1847,  when  he  removed  to 
Boston  and  entered  into  partnership  with 
Henry  B.  Stanton,  whose  wife,  Elizabeth  Cady 
Stanton,  was  a  daughter  of  Judge  Daniel 
Cady,  the  eminent  lawyer  of  Johnstown,  New 
York,  and  a  warm  personal  friend  of  Mr. 
Smith.  After  a  few  months  Mr.  Stanton's 
health  failed,  and  his  extensive  practice  fell 
to  Mr.  Smith.  While  in  Boston  he  won  some 
notable  legal  battles,  one  in  particular  bring- 
ing him  added  fame  as  a  great  lawyer.  In 
tliis  case  he  was  opposed  by  Rufus  Choate, 
and  after  a  three  weeks'  battle  won  his  case. 
He  became  prominent  in  politics  and  sat  in 
the  Massachusetts  legislature  in  1851-52.  In 
the  latter  year  he  declined  a  nomination  to 
congress.  In  1854  he  removed  to  New  York 
City,  where  his  first  wife  died  in  i860.  In 
1861  he  returned  to  Johnstown.  New  York. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  constitutional  con- 
vention of  New  York,  held  in  Albany  in  1867- 
68,  and  was  one  of  the  corporators  of  the 
"Centennial  Board  of  Finance"  appointed  in 
connection  with  the  Pliiladelphia  Centennial 
E.xposition.  held  in  1876.  He  resumed  the 
practice  of  law  in  Johnstown,  and  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1879  was  elected  dean  of  the  Albany 
Law  School,  succeeding  Professor  Isaac 
Edwards.  He  held  the  position  of  dean 
for  ten  years,  and  in  those  years  en- 
larged the  buildings  and  added  to  the 
general  tone  of  the  college,  which  ranks 
among  the  oldest  and  best  institutions  of  its 
kind  in  the  United  Slates.  As  dean  of  the 
faculty  the  management  devolved  upon  him, 
and  in  addition  he  lectured  on  the  law  of  per- 
sonal proj)erty,  contracts,  commercial  law, 
common  law.  jileading,  torts  and  medical  jur- 
isprudence, and  other  special  lectures.  In 
June,  1880.  Dartmouth  College  conferred  upon 
him  the  degree  of  LL.D.  He  has  written 
and  lectured  considerably  upon  legal  and  kin- 
dred topics.  He  was  interested  in  many 
things  outside  his  profession,  which  he 
adorned.  He  was  first  jiresidcnt  of  the  John- 
stown Historical  Society,  was  an  elder  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  and  high  in  the  councils 


of  the  general  assembly.  He  used  tongue  and 
pen  in  behalf  of  improved  reformatory  meas- 
ures, for  benevolent  enterprises  and  in  the 
great  political  contests  of  his  day.  He  stood 
second  at  the  Fulton  county  bar  only  to  the 
noted  Judge  Daniel  Cady.  He  died  in  1902. 
Horace  Edwin  Smith  married  (first)  a 
daughter  of  George  Mills,  of  Broadalbin, 
Fulton  county.  New  York,  who  bore  him  a 
son  and  three  daughters.  He  married  (sec-  J 
ond )  Agnes,  daughter  of  George  Davidson, 
of  Johnstown,  New  York,  who  bore  him  one 
son.  He  married  (third)  Jeanie  Oliver, 
daughter  of  Richard  Davidson,  of  New  York, 
and  Margaret  Oliver  (Amos)  Davidson. 
Jeanie  Oliver  (Davidson)  Smith  was  born 
at  Troy,  New  York;  is  a  contributor  to  Brit- 
ish and  American  periodicals  and  author  of 
several  works  of  poetry  and  fiction ;  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Society  of  American  Authors  and 
the  Aldine  Literary  Society  of  Johnstown. 
She  is  the  mother  of  two  daughters :  Agnes 
Temple  (Mrs.  Charles  Sidney  Robbins),  of 
Johnstown,  New  York,  and  Margaret  Eliza- 
beth  (Mrs.  William  Logan  Kennedy). 


The  Ludlows  of  Columbia 
LUDLOW  county.  New  York,  spring 
from  Gabriel  Ludlow,  of  Eng- 
lish birth  and  ancient  lineage,  son  of  Ga- 
briel and  grandson  of  Thomas  Ludlow.  Ga- 
briel Ludlow,  the  ancestor,  was  born  at  Cas- 
tle Cary,  November  2,  1663.  He  came  to 
New  Netherland  in  1694,  and  became  promi- 
nent in  business  and  public  life.  He  was  an 
early  merchant  of  New  York  City  and  in  1699 
clerk  of  tlie  colonial  assembly.  He  was  an 
active  churchman,  vestryman  of  Trinity  Epis- 
cojial  Clnirch.  He  married,  April  5,  1697,  Sa- 
rah, daughter  of  Rev.  Hanmer,  one  of  the 
first  rectors  of  Trinity  Church.  They  had 
twelve  children,  anK)ng  whom  tiiree  sons : 
Henry,  of  further  mention ;  Gabriel,  married 
(first)  r^rances  Duncan,  (second)  Elizabeth 
Crommelin ;  William,  married  Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  Captain  George  Duncan. 

(II  )  Henry,  son  of  (labriel,  the  founder, 
and  Sarah  (Hanmer)  Ludlow,  was  born  in 
New  York  City,  where  he  was  educated  and 
spent  his  active  business  life.  He  was  a  well- 
known  merchant  of  that  city.  After  his  re- 
tirement from  business  he  removed  to  Clav- 
erack,  where  he  died.  He  married  and  had 
issue. 

(HI)  William  Henry,  son  of  Henry  Lud- 
low, was  born  in  New  York  City  in  1740, 
died  at  Claverack,  Columbia  county.  New 
York,  1803.  He  was  associated  with  his 
father  as  a  merchant  of  New  York,  later  suc- 
ceeding him.     He  invested  in  lands  in  west- 


c^'^^:^^:^^^^^-^ 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


301 


crn  New  York,  and  also  purchased  a  lars^je 
tract  at  Claverack  on  which  he  built,  in  1786, 
a  large  colonial  mansion,  where  he  resided  un- 
til his  death.  He  was  a  man  of  wealth  and 
influence.  He  married  and  had  several  chil- 
dren, two  only  surviving  him,  William 
Uroughton,  of  further  mention;  and  Maria, 
married  James  Flemming. 

n\)  \\illiam  Broughton,  son  of  William 
Henry  Ludlow,  was  born  at  the  Claverack 
Mansion,  Columbia  county,  New  York,  in 
1788.  died  there  in  1865.  He  was  well-educa- 
ted and  grew  to  manhood  on  the  homestead 
to  which  he  succeeded  after  his  father's  death. 
He  was  the  owner  of  eight  hundred  acres  at 
Claverack  and  also  agent  for  the  Livingston 
estate.  He  lived  the  Cjuiet  life  of  a  wealthy 
ciiuntry  gentleman,  his  greatest  passion  prob- 
alilv  being  the  breeding  and  development  of 
hiirses.  He  married,  about  1807,  Julia  r^lor- 
ris.  grandniece  of  Lewis  Morris,  signer  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence.  They  had  ten 
children.  Lewis  Morris,  born  in  Morrisania, 
Westchester  county.  New  York,  1726,  a  grad- 
uate of  Yale  College  in  1746,  interested  in  ag- 
ricultural pursuits,  elected  to  congress  in 
1773,  member  of  the  committee  to  devise 
means  for  supplying  the  colonies  with  the 
munitions  of  war,  sent  west  to  influence  the 
Indians  to  leave  the  British  and  make  com- 
mon cause  with  the  colonists,  resumed  his 
^eat  in  congress  in  1776,  afterwards  served  in 
the  state  legislature.  He  died  in  his  native 
town,  January  22,  1798. 

(\')  Robert  Morris,  son  of  William 
Broughton  and  Julia  (Morris)  Ludlow,  was 
born  at  Claverack,  Columbia  county.  New 
York,  June,  181 2,  died  in  1892  at  his  Claver- 
ack home.  He  lived  on  the  Ludlow  homestead 
farm  but  spent  most  of  his  business  life  in 
New  York  City,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
business.  He  founded  Ludlow's  Express,  the 
first  baggage  express  company  in  the  city.  He 
was  a  man  of  large  interests,  railroad,  ex- 
press and  mercantile.  He  was  a  Democrat 
and  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church.  He 
married,  in  1845,  Mary  Livingston,  born  1813, 
died  1861,  youngest  daughter  of  Robert  and 
Harriet  (Livingston)  Fulton  (see  Fulton  11). 
Child,  Robert  Fulton,  of  further  mention. 

(\T)  Robert  Fulton,  son  of  Robert  ]\Ior- 
ris  and  Mary  Livingston  (Fulton)  Ludlow, 
was  born  June  25,  1846,  in  New  York  City. 
He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Claverack, 
New  York  City,  and  at  Hudson  Academy.  He 
was  employed  for  a  time  in  a  bank  in  Wall 
street,  but  he  was  not  partial  to  a  business 
career.  He  possessed  artistic  talent  which  he 
developed  under  the  best  masters,  including 
William  Morgan,  the   famous  artist  of  New 


York  City.  He  is  a  well-known  portrait  and 
landscape  artist,  and  has  done  many  master- 
pieces that  have  been  exhibited  and  won  com- 
mendation from  connoisseurs  in  art.  Among 
his  best  known  paintings  are,  "Sunnyside,"  the 
home  of  Washington  Irving  as  he  built  it. 
This  was  exhibited  at  the  Academy  of  Design 
in  1889.  "Mt.  \'ernon,"  the  home  of  Wash- 
ington; "Washington's  Headquarters  at  New- 
burg";  "Birthplace  of  Robert  Fulton"  at  Lan- 
caster, Pennsylvania ;  "The  Clermont,"  Ful- 
ton's first  steamboat ;  (the  latter  two  pictures, 
together  with  the  compass  used  by  Fulton  on 
his  first  trip,  were  exhibited  at  the  Maritime 
Exhibition  at  Bordeaux,  France,  in  1907,  held 
in  honor  of  Robert  Fulton),  and  many  others 
of  high  artistic  value.  Among  the  handsome 
decorations  of  the  palatial  Hudson  river 
steamboat  "Robert  Fulton"  are  six  portraits 
of  famous  men,  painted  by  Mr.  Ludlow.  He 
is  an  untiring  worker  and  entirely  devoted  to 
his  art.  His  home  at  Claverack  is  a  fine 
mansion  of  colonial  style,  built  by  his  great- 
grandfather, William  Henry  Ludlow.  It  is 
surrounded  by  tall  pines  and  fine  locusts,  some 
of  them  having  been  there  long  before  the 
mansion  was  built.  It  contains  priceless  relics 
of  the  ancestor  whose  name  he  bears,  includ- 
ing the  original  painting  of  Robert  Fulton. 
There  are  also  many  of  Fulton's  paintings 
and  sketches  done  while  in  London  a  student 
under  the  great  artist,  Benjamin  West,  and 
later  while  a  miniature  portrait  artist  in  the 
same  city.  Mr.  Ludlow  is  a  member  of  the 
Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art,  New  York  City, 
and  other  professional  societies  and  clubs  in- 
cluding the  Columbia  County  Association  of 
New  York  City.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
Trinity  Episcopal  Church  of  Claverack,  and 
since  1890  senior  warden.  He  is  a  Democrat 
in  politics. 

He  married,  February  23,  1893,  Catalina, 
daughter  of  Abraham  Fonda  Philip,  born  at 
Claverack,  New  York,  1825,  died  there  Octo- 
ber 22.  1888,  a  farmer  of  Claverack,  where 
he  owned  a  large  tract  of  land.  He  was  an 
active  Republican,  but  a  great  admirer  of 
President  Cleveland,  whom  he  supported  with 
vote  and  influence  in  all  his  political  battles. 
He  was  an  elder  of  the  Dutch  Reformed 
church  and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
school.  He  married  Alida  Rossman,  born 
January  30,  1830,  who  survives  him,  a  resi- 
dent of  Claverack.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Dan- 
iel and  Charlotte  (Wilcox)  Rossman.  Chil- 
dren :  Catalina,  married  Robert  Fulton  Lud- 
low ;  Frances,  married  Frank  R.  Webb,  of 
Hudson,  .\braham  Fonda  Philip  was  a  son 
of  William  Philip,  son  of  George  Philip,  of 
Columbia  county,  born  1752,  died  1806,  served 


302 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK    VALLEYS 


in  the  revolutionary  war  as  captain  in  the 
commissary  department,  Albany  Company 
Eighth  Regiment.  William  Philip,  son  of 
Captain  George  Philip,  was  a  merchant  of 
Claverack,  surveyor,  and  a  woolen  manufac- 
turer at  Philmont ;  he  was  born,  lived  and 
died  at  Claverack,  an  active  Democrat,  and  a 
member  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  church.  He 
married  (first)  Christina  Storm,  born  1788, 
died  1819;  married  (second)  Catalina  Fonda, 
born  1797,  died  1882,  daughter  of  Lawrence 
(2)  Fonda,  a  farmer  of  Claverack,  son  of 
Lawrence  (i)  Fonda,  of  Claverack.  William 
and  Catalina  Philip  had  two  children :  Emma 
Philip ;  Abraham  Fonda  Philip,  married  Alida 
Rossman.  They  were  the  parents  of  Catalina 
Philip,  wife  of  Robert  Fulton  Ludlow.  They 
have  no  children.  Mr.  Ludlow  divides  his 
time  between  his  country  residence  at  Clave- 
rack and  his  city  home  in  New  York. 
(The  Livingston  Line). 
Mary  Livingston  (Fulton)  Ludlow,  wife  of 
Robert  Morris  Ludlow,  was  the  youngest 
daughter  of  Robert  Fulton,  the  inventor  of 
the  first  steamboat,  and  his  wife  Harriet 
(Livingston)  Fulton,  who  was  the  daughter 
of  Walter  Livingston,  a  descendant  in  the 
fourth  generation  of  Robert  Livingston,  First 
Lord  of  Livingston  Manor,  the  lordly  domain 
in  Columbia  county,  granted  him  by  his 
sovereign.  The  line  of  descent  is  as  follows : 
Rev.  John,  Robert,  Philip,  Robert,  all  of 
whom  will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

(V)  Walter,  son  of  Robert  and  Maria 
(Long)  Livingston,  was  born  November  27, 
1740,  died  May  14,  1797.  He  built  and  re- 
sided in  his  handsome  mansion  "Tiviotdale" 
in  Columbia  county.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  provincial  congress,  1775 ;  deputy  com- 
missary general  of  northern  department,  1775  ; 
member  of  assembly  1777-78-79:  speaker  of 
assembly,  1778,  commissioner  of  the  United 
States  treasury,  1785.  He  married,  1769,  Cor- 
nelia, daughter  of  Peter  and  Gertrude 
(Schuyler)  Schuyler.  She  was  baptized  July 
26,   1746,  died   1822. 

(VI)  Harriet,  daughter  of  Walter  and  Cor- 
nelia (Schuyler)  Livingston,  was  born  1786, 
died  1824.  She  married  Robert  Fulton  (see 
Fulton  H). 

(VH)  Mary  Livingston,  daughter  of  Rob- 
ert and  Harriet  (Livingston)  Fulton,  married 
Robert  Morris  Ludlow  (see  Ludlow  V). 

(VHI)  Robert  Fulton,  son  of  Robert  Mor- 
ris and  Mary  Livingston  (Fulton)  Ludlow, 
married  Catalina  Philip. 

(The    Fulton    Line), 

Mary  Livingston  (Fulton)  Ludlow  was  the 
youngest    daughter    of    Robert    Fulton,    the 


famous  inventor.  The  Fultons  are  an  Irisha 
family,  descendants  of  Scotch  ancestors.  The- 
American  line  follows  Robert  Fulton,  whO' 
came  to  America  from  Kilmeny,  Ireland.  He- 
settled  in  the  township  of  Little  Britain,  Lan- 
caster county,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  town,  now 
city,  of  Lancaster.  Here  he  became  promi- 
nent. He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  ;  charter  member  of  the 
Juliana  Library,  the  third  library  established' 
in  America,  and  interested  in  all  departments- 
of  town  life.  August  23,  1759,  he  bought  a 
brick  dwelling  on  the  northeast  corner  of 
Penn  Square,  afterward  Center  Square,  where 
he  lived  until  1765.  He  had  purchased  a 
farm  in  1764,  containing  three  hundred  and 
ninety-four  acres,  on  Conawago  Creek,  tO' 
which  he  removed  in  1765.  He  was- 
not  successful  as  a  farmer  and  soon 
returned  to  Lancaster.  During  the  per- 
iod on  the  farm  his  afterwards  famous 
son,  Robert,  was  born.  In  1844  the 
township  of  Little  Britain  was  resurveyedi 
and  a  new  township  erected  and  called  "Ful- 
ton" in  honor  of  the  inventor.  Not  long  ago 
the  present  owner  rebuilt  the  Fulton  farm- 
house, but  preserved  some  of  the  old  features, 
the  original  fireplace  and  tlie  room  in  which 
the  inventor  was  born.  Robert  Fulton,  father 
of  the  inventor,  married  Mary,  daughter  of 
Captain  Joseph  Smith,  and  sister  of  Colonelf 
Lester  Smith. 

(II)  Robert  (2),  third  child  of  Robert  (i) 
and  Mary  (Smith)  Fulton,  was  born  on  the 
farm  in  Little  Britain,  Lancaster  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, November  14,  1765,  died  February 
24,  1815.  He  was  early  left  an  orphan,  his 
father  dying  when  he  was  three  years  old.  He 
early  developed  unusual  talent  and  from  1782' 
until  1786  studied  drawing  and  portrait 
painting  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  In 
1786  he  went  to  London  where  he  placed 
himself  under  the  instruction  of  the  famous 
.American  painter,  lienjamin  West,  also  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania,  Chester  county.  Ben- 
jamin West  at  that  time  w-as  president  of  the 
Royal  Academy.  After  leaving  Mr.  West's 
studio  as  a  pupil,  he  opened  one  of  his  own 
and  did  miniature  portrait  painting.  In  1796 
he  published  a  treatise  on  "Canal  Naviga- 
tion." From  1797  to  1804  he  displayed  his 
ingenuity  in  various  projects  and  inventions, 
lie  was  the  proprietor  of  the  first  panorama 
exhibited  in  the  city  of  Paris.  He  experi- 
mented on  a  plunging  vessel  and  interested 
the  great  Napoleon  in  the  submarine  idea.  He 
also  was  interested  in  torpedo  experiments 
and  in  1804  was  invited  by  the  British  gov- 
ernment to  make  torpedo  trials.  In  1806  he 
returned  to  New  York,  where  with  the  help 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


305 


of  Robert  R.  Livingston  he  perfected  his  great 
project  of  steam  navigation.  In  1807  the  first 
boat  propelled  by  her  own  steam,  the  "Cler- 
mont," was  launched  at  New  York,  and  made 
the  trip  to  Albany,  New  York,  one  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  in  fifteen  hours.  Later  sev- 
eral vessels  were  built  under  his  direction.  He 
married  Harriet,  youngest  daughter  of  Walter 
Livingston  (see  Livingston  VI).  Children: 
Robert  Barlow,  died  unmarried ;  Julia,  mar- 
ried Charles  Blight ;  Cornelia,  married  Ed- 
ward Charles  Crary ;  Mary  Livingston,  mar- 
ried Robert  Morris  Ludlow ;  their  son,  Robert 
Fulton  Ludlow,  is  one  of  the  nearest  sur- 
viving relatives  of  the  great  inventor,  whose 
name  he  bears.  He  inherited  many  of  the 
valued  "Fulton"  heirlooms,  as  well  as  the 
artistic  nature  and  talent  of  his  grandsire. 


The  Stearns  family  of  Amer- 
STEARNS     ica    are   descended    from    the 

Sternes  of  England,  an 
ancient  and  honorably  family  of  that  king- 
dom. In  Winthrop's  "Journal"  the  name  is 
written  Sterne,  as  it  is  in  the  early  town  and 
county  records  of  New  England.  Very  few 
branches  of  the  family  in  the  United  States 
retain  the  original  spelling,  the  usual  form 
being  Stearns,  although  in  the  south  Starns 
and  Starnes  are  occasionally  met  with.  The 
family  in  England  bore  arms  which  show 
some  variation.  The  form  generally  used  is 
that  of  the  Archbishop  of  York.  Or,  a  chev- 
ron between  three  crosses  flory  sable.  Crest, 
a  cock  starting  proper.  The  mantling  is  or- 
namental and  a  ribbon  below  is  without 
motto. 

(I)  Isaac  Stearns  and  Mary  his  wife  with 
two  daughters,  Mary  and  Ann,  came  to 
America  on  the  ship  "Arabella"  sailing  from 
Nayland,  England,  April  12,  1630.  .A.mong 
the  passengers  on  the  same  ship  were  Gov- 
ernor Winthrop,  Sir  Richard  Saltonstall  and 
Edward  Garfield,  emigrant  ancestor  of  Presi- 
dent James  A.  Garfield.  Isaac  Stearns  was 
made  a  freeman  in  163 1.  He  settled  in  Wat- 
ertown,  Massachusetts,  where  he  was  select- 
man for  several  years.  He  died  June  19, 
1671.  Mary,  his  wife,  died  April  2,  1677. 
Children:      i.   Mary,  married   Isaac  Learned. 

2.  Ann   (Hannah),  married  Freeman. 

3.  John  (lieutenant),  married  (first)  Sarah 
Mixer;  (second)  Mary  Lathrop.  4.  Isaac, 
married  Sarah  Beers.  5.  Sarah,  married  Dea- 
con Samuel  Stone.  6.  Samuel,  see  forward. 
7.  Elizabeth,  married  Deacon  Samuel  Man- 
ning. 8.  Abigail,  married  Deacon  John 
Morse. 

(II)  Corporal  Samuel  Stearns,  son  of  Isaac 
and  Mary  Stearns,  was  born  April  24,  1638, 


and  was  a  resident  of  Waltham,  Massachu- 
setts. His  homestead  in  that  town  descended 
to  his  son  John,  then  to  grandson  Josiah,  then, 
to  a  great-grandson,  Captain  Phineas,  and 
has  since  been  owned  by  descendants.  He 
married,  February  i,  1662-63,  Hannah,  born 
June  21,  1642,  eldest  daughter  of  William  (2)- 
and  Dorothy  Manning,  of  Cambridge,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  granddaughter  of  William  ( i ) 
Manning,  the  founder  of  the  Manning  family 
in  America.  Children:  i.  Samuel,  born  1664 
died  in  childhood.  2.  Hannah,  married  (first) 
Thomas  Biscoe ;  (second)  Samuel,  son  of  Ma- 
jor-General  Gookin.  3.  Nathaniel,  see  for- 
ward. 4.  Sarah,  married  Joseph  \Vinship^ 
son  of  Lieutenant  Edward  Winship.  5.  Sam- 
uel, was  assessor,  town  clerk,  selectman  and 
deputy  eight  terms.  6.  Isaac,  married  Mary 
Bemis.  7.  John,  had  the  homestead  farm ; 
married  Abigail  Fiske.  8.  Mary,  married 
Samuel  Jennison.  9.  Abigail,  married  Benoni 
Garfield.  10.  Joseph,  born  December  11, 
1682,  died  in  childhood. 

(III)  Nathaniel,  son  of  Corporal  Samuet 
and  Hannah  (Manning)  Stearns,  was  born 
in  Watertown,  Massachusetts,  December  13, 
1668,  died  August  24,  17 16.  In  the  partition 
of  his  father's  estate,  he  received  the  farm 
which  had  been  the  homestead  of  his  grand- 
father, Isaac  Stearns.  The  homestead  was 
the  home  of  four  generations  of  his  descend- 
ants bearing  the  name  Stearns  and  for  two. 
generations  of  more  remote  descendants.  In 
1716  he  was  selectman  of  Watertown.  He 
married  (first)  1694,  Elizabeth,  born  Decem- 
ber 4,  1671,  died  June  16,  1712,  daughter 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Barnard)  Dix.  He- 
married  (second)  October  29,  1713,  Sarah, 
born  July  22,  1672,  daughter  of  John  Nevi- 
son.  She  survived  him  and  married  (sec- 
ond) Samuel  Livermore.  Children,  all  by 
first  wife:  i.  Nathaniel,  died  in  infancy.  2. 
Nathaniel  (2),  born  January  18,  1696,  died' 
1749.  3.  Elizabeth,  September  26,  1697,  mar- 
ried (first)  Jonathan  Shattuck ;  (second) 
Daniel  Bond.  4.  Hannah,  1699,  died  1716. 
5.  Daniel,  March  i,  1701,  died  1747;  he 
served  in  the  revolutionary  war,  and  was- 
with  General  Wayne;  he  married  (first)  An- 
na   ;   (second)    Mercy  Grant,  and  had 

ten  children.  6.  Lydia,  married  Nehum 
Ward,  of  Boston.    7.  Isaac,  married  Mehitable 

.    8.  David,  died  in  infancy.    9.  Eben- 

ezer,  see  forward.  10.  Mercy,  twin  to  Eben- 
ezer.  11.  Deborah,  married  Salis- 
bury.    12.  Phebe,  married  Josiah  Greenwood. 

(IV)  Ebenezer,  son  of  Nathaniel  and 
Elizabeth  (Dix)  Stearns,  was  born  in  Water- 
town,  Massachusetts,  April  22,  1708,  died  in 
Worcester,    Massachusetts,   September,    1777,. 


^04 


HUDSON   AND   ]MOHA\VK   \'ALLEYS 


by  being  thrown  from  a  horse.  He  was  a 
clothier  of  Worcester,  and  was  in  business 
until  his  death.  He  married,  April  12,  1737, 
Mary  Spring,  of  Newton,  who  survived  him, 
dying  October,  1798,  aged  eight\'-eight  years. 
Children:  i.  Mary,  born  June  24,  1739.  2. 
Ephraim,  January  10,  1740,  died  1808.  3. 
Ebenezer,  October  3,  1741,  died  1823.  4. 
Nathaniel,  October  26,  1743.  5.  Simeon, 
June  10,  1745,  a  soldier  in  the  revolution  in 
1777.  6.  Joanna,  April  7,  1747.  7.  Betty, 
May,  1750.  8.  Lucretia,  July  7,  1752.  9. 
William,   see   forward. 

(V)  Captain  William  Stearns,  youngest 
■child  of  Ebenezer  and  Mary  (Spring)  Stearns, 
was  born  August  5,  1754,  died  February  13, 
1834.  He  was  a  captain  in  the  revolutionary 
army,  and  his  discharge,  together  with  some 
of  the  continental  money  he  received  for  his 
service,  has  been  preserved  in  the  family. 
At  one  time  he  was  sheriff  of  Worcester 
■county,  Massachusetts.  He  married,  Septem- 
ber 16,  1775.  Joanna  Duncan,  born  February 
■8,  1757,  died  at  Jamestown,  Chautauqua 
county,  New  York,  August  13,  1834.  Chil- 
dren: I.  Franklin,  born  April  9,  1777,  died 
1849-50.  2.  Betty,  died  in  infancy.  3.  Betty 
(2),  married,  January  25,  1800,  William 
■Gates.  4.  Joanna,  married.  May  17,  1805. 
Joel  Gates.  5.  William  Jr.,  married  Hannah 
Benham.  6.  Lydia,  married,  1803,  Joseph 
Garfield,  an  officer  of  the  war  of  18 12.  7. 
Jonah  D.,  died  in  childhood.  8.  Colonel 
Simeon,  born  June  28,  1788;  married  (first) 
Irene  Newcome;  (second)  Susan  Hodges.  9. 
A  child  born  and  died  March  19,  1790.  10. 
Ebenezer,  born  March  13,  1791.  served  as 
drum  major  in  war  of  1812,  and  spent  most 
■of  his  life  at  Hoosick,  New  York ;  he  mar- 
ried Melinda  Bigelow  Harris.  11.  Dolly, 
married  Dudley  Beebee  and  settled  in  Kan- 
kakee, Illinois.  12.  Eleanor,  married  Lyman 
Tombs,  and  settled  in  North  Bennington, 
Vermont.  13.  Emory,  married  Maria  De  La 
Mater.  14.  Mary,  see  forward.  15.  Joseph 
H..  married   (second)  Anice  Stowell. 

(\T)  Mary,  daughter  and  fourteenth  child 
-of  Captain  William  and  Joanna  (Duncan) 
Stearns,  born  December  12,  1798,  died  at 
Hoosick,  June  20,  1875.  She  married,  Jan- 
uary 22,  1826,  Ebenezer  H.  Harris,  who  died 
April  3,  1837  (see  Harris  I). 

(The  Harris  Line). 
Ebenezer  H.  Harris,  grandfather  of  Mary 
S.  (Harris)  Sheldon  and  Eva  A.  (Harris) 
(Sheldon)  Durkee,  died  April  3,  1837.  He 
married  Mary,  daughter  of  Captain  William 
Stearns.  They  lived  in  Hoosick,  New  York. 
•Children:    i.  Joseph,  see  forward.     2.  William 


H.,  born  October  i,  1828.  3.  Ebenezer 
Stearns,  September  4,  1834,  died  December,  4, 
1880;  married  Elizabeth  Rudd.  4.  Mary  P., 
December  16,  1835.  died  February  5,  1837. 

(II)  Joseph,  eldest  son  of  Ebenezer  H.  and 
Mary  (Stearns)  Harris,  was  born  November 
9,  1826,  died  September  6,  1908,  at  Smith's 
Basin,  town  of  Kingsbury,  Washington 
county.  New  York.  In  his  youth  he  lived 
with  his  uncle,  Ober  Harris,  a  farmer  of 
Hartford,  remaining  with  him  several  years, 
receiving  as  wages  eleven  dollars  per  month. 
Husbanding  his  resources,  he  was  after  a  few 
years  able  to  make  a  purchase  of  fifty  acres 
of  tillable  land  at  Smith's  Basin,  upon  which 
his  residence  later  was  built.  He  was  ener- 
getic and  capable,  holding  fast  to  his  original 
purchase  and  soon  adding  another  fifty  acres. 
With  great  courage  and  industry  he  prose- 
cuted his  business,  and  later  added  one  hun- 
dred acres  to  his  previous  purchases.  This 
gave  him  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  acres, 
which  he  ran  as  a  dairy  farm  and  prospered. 
Later  he  added  fifty  acres  in  the  "Swamp." 
which  was  very  productive.  The  state  has 
recently  taken  nine  acres  of  this  tract  for 
barge  canal  requirements.  In  addition  to 
these  farming  operations,  he  was  engaged  in 
lumbering  for  ten  or  twelve  years,  furnishing 
wood,  ties  and  lumber  to  the  Rensselaer  & 
Saratoga  railroad,  and  to  the  Delaware  & 
Hudson.  He  was  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  held  several  appointments  under  the  state 
government.  He  was  superintendent  of  sec- 
tion three  of  the  Champlain  canal  for  three 
years,  and  inspector  of  new  construction  at 
Daimemora  prison.  He  received  these  ap- 
pointments after  successfully  passing  a  civil 
service  examination,  he  then  being  past  sev- 
enty-five years  of  age.  He  was  a  man  of 
high  character  and  strict  integrity.  He  was 
one  of  the  oldest  members  of  the  Masonic 
order  in  the  county,  his  name  standing  sec- 
ond on  the  list  of  members  of  Sandy  Hill 
Lodge.  He  maintained  an  active  interest  and 
membership  until  his  death.  He  married, 
September  14,  1848,  Elmira  N.,  daughter  of 
John  Lowell  and  Hannah  (Buttcrfield)  Har- 
ris (altliough  hearing  the  same  name,  no  re- 
lationship existed)  (see  Harris  Vll).  Chil- 
dren: I.  Mary  S.,  born  October  31,  1854, 
married  Franklin  Sheldon.  2.  Eva  A.,  born 
September  26,  i860,  married  (first)  George 
W.  Sheldon  ;  both  Franklin  and  George  W. 
were  sons  of  Henry  and  Selina  (Cook)  Shel- 
don, and  grandsons  of  Gideon  and  Lydia 
(Leake)  Sheldon,  of  Copake,  Columbia 
county.  New  York,  who  were  married  in 
181 2.  Henry,  son  of  Gideon  and  Lydia  Shel- 
don, married,  June  2,   1836.  Selina,  daughter 


o-r^c 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   \'ALLEYS 


305 


<of  Lott  and  Cornelia  (Manchester)  Cook  and 
eranddaug^hter  of  Solomon  Cook.  Children : 
Eveline,  born  November  4,  1S37  ;  Collins.  July 
26,  1839:  Wilson,  August  16,  1841 ;  Allen, 
December  12,  1842;  Miranda,  March  3,  1845; 
Otis,  December  13,  1847  •  Franklin,  see  for- 
ward :  George  W.,  see  forward.  Eva  A.  mar- 
ried ("second)  William  J.  Durkee.  3.  Irving 
W.,  born  January  14,  1867.  died  February  26, 
i8''i7.  4.  Alice  E.,  born  February  13,  1872, 
•died  June  28,  1872. 

Franklin,  son  of  Henry  and  Selina  (Cook) 
Sheldon,  was  born  at  Copake,  Columbia 
county.  New  York,  May  13,  1849.  He  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Copake  and 
finished  at  Fort  Edward  Collegiate  Institute, 
where  he  was  graduated.  He  taught  school 
for  a  few  years,  and  was  for  a  time  principal 
of  a  school  in  Connecticut.  He  later  turned 
to  the  soil,  and  purchased  a  farm  which  he 
cultivated  in  connection  with  his  extensive 
business  in  fertilizers.  He  was  largelv  in- 
terested in  live  stock  as  a  trader  and  breeder. 
He  was  a  clear-headed,  energetic  man  of 
business,  and  successful  in  his  various  enter- 
prises. He  became  one  of  the  substantial  men 
of  the  town  and  bore  a  name  unsullied  by  any 
form  of  deceit.  He  was  frank  and  engaging 
in  manner,  and  had  a  wide  circle  of  warm 
friends.  He  entered  heartily  into  public  life 
and  affairs.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace  for 
several  years,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
was  deputy-sherilif  of  the  county.  He  fre- 
quently served  as  a  grand  juror,  and  was  a 
member  of  several  local  societies.  His  prac- 
tical common  sense  that  made  him  a  success- 
ful business  man  also  made  him  a  useful  pub- 
lic official.  He  was  a  member  of  Fort  Ann 
Grange,  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  His  death 
was  caused  by  a  stroke  of  paralysis.  May  5, 
1910.  He  married,  October  g,  1873,  Mary 
S.,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Elmira  N.  (Har- 
ris) Harris,  who  survives  him,  a  resident  of 
Fort  Ann,  New  York.  Child,  Frances  E., 
born  November  3,  1874,  married,  October  3, 
igoo,  Michael  J.,  son  of  John  J.  and  Catherine 
Linchan,  born  x\pril  14,  1874;  children: 
Franklin  John,  born  November  3,  1901  ;  Jo- 
seph A.,  August  14,  1903  ;  John  M.,  April  29. 
1905,  died  October  4,  1906;  Nora  Teresa, 
July  23,  1906;  Mary  Cecelia,  June  22,  1907. 

George  W.,  youngest  son  of  Henry  and 
Selina  (Cook)  Sheldon,  was  born  at  Copake, 
Columbia  county.  New  York,  October  i,  185 1, 
died  June  28,  1899.  He  married,  January  9, 
1884,  Eva  A.,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  El- 
mira N.  (Harris)  Harris,  who  bore  him  a 
.son,  Joseph  Harris  Sheldon,  born  October  12, 
1884.  Mrs.  Sheldon  married  (second)  June 
20,    1901,   William   J.   Durkee,   born   January 


26,  1859,  .son  of  William  E.  and  Maria  (Wil- 
liams) Durkee.  He  was  connected  with  the 
Pullman  car  service  for  nineteen  years,  when 
he  located  in  Kingsbury,  and  purchased  a 
farm  of  over  two  hundred  acres,  which  he 
operates. 

Elmira  N,  (Harris)  Harris  descends  from 
another  and  distinct  Harris  family,  one  that 
was  planted  in  New  England  at  Boston  about 
the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century. 

(I)  Robert  Harris,  an  early  settler  of  Rox- 
bury,  Massachusetts,  where  he  had  children 
born,  was  later  of  Boston.  He  lived  in  that 
part  called  Muddy  River,  now  Brookline, 
about  1655.  He  married,  January  24,  1642, 
Elizabeth  Boughey  or  BofFee.  Children : 
John;  Eliza;  both  baptized  August  8,  1647, 
when  the  family  joined  Rev.  Elliot's  church; 
Timothy ;  Daniel,  of  further  mention ;  Pris- 
cilla.  baptized  October  9,  1653.  About  1655 
he  built  his  home  in  Brookline  on  land  that 
remained  in  possession  of  one  branch  of  his 
descendants  and  was  occupied  l)y  them  until 
1828.  Robert  and  wife  were  married  in  Rox- 
bury  about  thirteen  years  previous  to  their 
settlement  in  Brookline. 

(II)  Daniel,  son  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth 
(Boughey)  Harris,  was  born  in  Roxbury, 
Massachusetts,  May  14,  1652,  and  later  was 
of  Aluddy  River  (Brookline).  He  joined  the 
Roxbury  church,  April  13,  1689.  He  was 
elected  constable  of  Muddy  River,  March  14, 
1692-93.  He  died  December  15,  1733.  He 
married  Joanna  Brown.  Children :  Daniel, 
Priscilla,  Joanna,  Nathaniel,  of  further  men- 
tion, Elizabeth,  Timothy,  Sarah,  Robert,  Me- 
hitabel,  Daniel   (2),  Benjamin. 

(III)  Nathaniel,  son  of  Daniel  and  Joanna 
(Brown)  Harris,  was  born  May  2,  1692.  He 
was  a  clothier  by  trade  and  settled  first  in 
Needham,  where  he  was  located  at  the  time 
of  his  marriage ;  soon  after  he  removed  to 
Watertown,  Alassachusetts,  where  he  was 
selectman  eleven  years,  1735-46;  he  was  rep- 
resentative from  Watertown,  1735-36-37  and 
justice  of  the  peace.  He  held  a  license  as 
retail  dealer,  1740-49.  He  married,  January 
30,  1717-18,  Hannah  Fulham.  He  died  May 
14.  1761.  After  the  decease  of  his  widow  an 
order  was  issued,  July  10,  1778,  to  divide  his 
estate  "to  be  divided  into  nine  shares,  his 
eldest  son,  Thomas,  to  have  two  shares." 
Children  :  Thomas,  of  further  mention  ;  Sarah, 
Priscilla,  Nathaniel,  Priscilla  (2),  Benjamin, 
Hannah,  Stei)hen,  Francis.  Hannah  (Ful- 
ham) Harris  was  a  daughter  of  Major  Fran- 
cis Fulham,  justice  of  the  peace  of  W'ater- 
town  Farm  (Weston),  who  married  (first) 
Sarah  Livermore,  born  February  18,  1671-72, 
died  IMarch  10,  1723-24.  daughter  of  Lieuten- 


3o6 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


ant  John  and  Hannah  Livermore,  and  grand- 
daughter of  John  Livermore,  the  emigrant 
ancestor  of  all  the  Livermores  of  early  New 
England.  He  married  (second)  October  i, 
1724,  Mary,  daughter  of  Samuel  Jones. 

(I\')  Thomas,  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Han- 
nah (Fulham)  Harris,  was  born  at  Needham, 
Massachusetts,  baptized  October  10,  1725.  He 
married  (second)  in  Watertown,  August  22, 
1745,  Lucy  Pierce,  born  March  6,  1722, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Rebecca  (Converse) 
Pierce,  granddaughter  of  Benjamin,  son  of 
Anthony,  son  of  John  Pierce,  a  weaver  of 
Watertown,  1637.  Thomas  and  Lucy  Harris 
had  four  sons,  who  served  in  the  revolution. 

(V)  Josiah,  son  of  Thomas  and  Lucy 
(Pierce)  Harris,  married  and  had  issue. 

(VI)  John  Lowell,  son  of  Josiah  Harris, 
married  Hannah  Butterfield  and  had  issue. 
He  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  but  the  New 
York  state  records  give  no  particulars  con- 
cerning those  who  served  in  the  war  except 
the  "awards  to  soldiers  and  sailors."  In  this 
list  there  is  a  John  Harris,  whose  residence  at 
time  of  making  application  was  Binghamton, 
New  York. 

(VII)  Elmira  N.,  daughter  of  John  Lowell 
and  Hannah  (Butterfield)  Harris,  married, 
September  14,  1848,  Joseph  Harris  (see  Har- 
ris II). 


The  Dowling  family  of  Al- 
DOWLING  bany.  New  York,  represented 
by  Dr.  Joseph  I.  Dowling,  is 
of  English  origin  and  through  maternal  lines 
connected  with  the  very  earliest  New  Eng- 
land families,  including  Francis  Cooke  and 
Mary  (Chilton)  Winslow,  both  passengers  on 
the  "Mayflower"  1620.  The  main  genealog- 
ical lines  are  the  Seaverns,  Bartholomew, 
Marshall,  Simonds  and  Sheppard  families, 
while  a  collateral  branch  includes  most  of  the 
illustrious  names  of  New  England  history. 

(I)  Isaac  Dowling,  born  about  1780  at 
Pevenzy,  Essex  county,  England. 

(II)  Rev.  John  Dowling,  son  of  Isaac 
Dowling,  was  born  at  Pevenzy,  Essex  county, 
England,  May  12,  1807.  He  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1832  and  soon  afterwards 
was  ordained  a  minister  of  the  Baptist  church. 
In  1839  he  removed  to  Newport,  Rhode 
Island,  and  was  pastor  of  the  Pine  Street  Bap- 
tist Church,  Providence,  Rhode  Island.  In 
1844  he  accepted  a  call  to  New  York  City, 
which  was  the  principal  scene  of  his  labors, 
excepting  a  few  years  spent  as  pastor  of  the 
Sansom  Street  Baptist  Church  of  Philadel- 
phia. In  1856  he  returned  to  New  York, 
where  he  was  in  charge  of  the  Berean  Church. 
He   was  an   eloquent  and   great  preacher,  as 


well  as  a  most  prolific,  convincing  writer ;  his- 
"Defense  of  the  Protestant  Scriptures"  and 
his  "History  of  Romanism"  being  monuments- 
to  his  industry,  research  and  deep  learning. 
His  parents  were  members  of  the  Established 
Church  of  England  and  he  was  reared  in  that 
faith,  but  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  was 
converted,  baptized  by  Rev.  Joseph  Ivimey,. 
and  united  with  the  Eagle  Street  Baptist 
Church,  London,  England,  from  whence  he 
came  to  the  United  States.  He  married,. 
March  4,  1833,  Maria  Sampson  Perkins,  born 
August  30,  1809,  died  August  30,  1897  (see 
Chilton  X). 

(III)  Joseph  Ivimey,  son  of  Rev.  John- 
and  Maria  Sampson  (Perkins)  Dowling,  was 
born  at  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  February 
II,  1843,  <:l'ed  January  19,  1884.  He  mar- 
ried Mary  Jane  Sheppard,  born  April  6,  1845, 
daughter  of  George  Sheppard,  born  at  Frome, 
Somersetshire,  England,  1802,  died  December 
I,  1857;  came  to  the  United  States  and  settled 
at  Newburg,  New  York,  where  he  was  known 
as  George  B.  Sheppard,  having  assumed  the 
middle  name  out  of  regard  for  an  intimate 
friend.  He  married  Ann  Eliza  King,  born 
June  4,  1804,  died  April  13,  1862. 

(IV)  Dr.  Joseph  Ivimey  Dowling,  son  of 
Joseph  Ivimey  and  Mary  Jane  (Sheppard) 
Dowling,  was  born  in  Newark  (Woodside), 
New  Jersey,  December  22,  1872.  He  was- 
educated  in  private  and  public  schools  in- 
Brooklyn,  New  York  :  public  schools  in  Phila- 
delphia ;  graduated  Philadelphia  high  school, 
1892 :  entered  Philadelphia  Medico-Chirurgi- 
cal  College,  where  he  completed  the  first  year 
course,  taking  the  freshman  faculty  prize.  In 
1893  he  entered  the  New  York  Homeopathic 
Medical  College :  received  his  degree  M.D.  in 
1895;  ''^s  since  been  in  the  continuous  prac- 
tice of  his  profession,  specializing  in  diseases 
of  the  eye,  ear,  nose  and  throat.  He  has  3 
very  large  practice  in  Albany  and  is  a  most 
skillful  and  successful  practitioner.  In  1895- 
96  he  was  resident  surgeon  of  Flower  Hos- 
pital, New  York  City:  1896-98  physician  of 
Five  Points  House  of  Industry :  1898-99  sur- 
geon New  York  Ophthalmic  Hospital ;  was 
medical  school  inspector,  New  York  City. 
After  his  removal  to  Albany  he  was  attending 
oculist,  aurist,  laryngolist  and  rhinologist  to 
Albany  Homeopathic  Hospital ;  president  of 
Albany  County  Homeopathic  Medical  Society, 
1902-08:  secretary  of  .Xmerican  Homeopathic 
Ophthalmological,  Otological  and  Laryngo- 
logical  Society  ;  American  Institute  of  Homeo- 
pathy ;  member  Albany  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce, and  Society  of  Mayflower  Descend- 
ants. His  clubs  are  the  Fort  Orange,  Uni- 
versity   and    Country,    all    of    Albany.      Dr. 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


307 


Dowling  is  the  author  of  many  papers  relative 
to  general  and  special  practice,  and  has  at- 
tained eminence  in  his  profession.  In  the 
summer  of  1906  he  spent  four  months  in 
European  travel,  taking  needed  recreation. 
He  married,  November  6,  1901,  Elizabeth 
Marshall  Seaverns,  born  July  27,  1878  (see 
Seaverns  XH).  Two  children:  Frank  Seav- 
erns, born  at  223  State  street,  Albany,  New 
York  October  9,  1902.  and  Elizabeth  Thayer, 
born  September  26,  1909. 

(The  Seaverns  Line). 
John  Seaverns,  of  Shraw-ley,  England,  born 
1509.  came  of  an  ancient  English  family. 

(II)  Thomas,  son  of  John  Seaverns,  was 
born  at  Powick,  county  of  Worcester,  Eng- 
land, 1530;  married  Elizabeth  Nash,  of  Mart- 
ley,  Worcestershire,  England. 

(III)  John  (2),  son  of  Thomas  and  Eliza- 
beth (Nash)  Seaverns,  was  born  at  Powick, 
England,  1588;  married  Mary,  daughter  of 
Richard  Langley,  of  Abbey  Shrewsbury. 

(IV)  John  (3),  son  of  John  (2)  and  Mary 
(Langley)  Seaverns,  was  born  in  England, 
1609,  and  is  the  founder  of  the  family  in 
America.  He  came  to  Boston  from  Ipswich, 
England,  in  the  ship  "Elizabeth,"  April  30, 
1634,  with  his  wife  Abigail  and  her  father, 
Richard  Kimball.  In  1636  he  was  a  resident 
of  Ipswich;  in  1637  he  was  made  a  freeman; 
joined  the  Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery 
Company  of  P)Oston  in  1638 ;  removed  to 
Salisbury  in  1640;  was  prudential  man  in 
1642;  issued  an  order  in  1643  directing  that 
arms  and  ammunition  should  be  carried  to 
church.  His  will,  dated  .\pril  7.  1682,  was 
proved  May  9,  1682.  Abigail,  his  wife,  born 
1616,  died  June  19,  1658. 

(\')  Joseph,  son  of  John  (3)  and  Abigail 
(Kimball)  Seaverns,  was  born  at  Salisbury, 
Massachusetts,  1650.  He  removed  to  Charles- 
town,  Massachusetts,  but  after  his  death  his 
widow,  Elizabeth,  settled  at  Watertown. 
They  were  married  in  1675. 

(\T)  Samuel,  son  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth 
Seaverns,  was  born  1676,  died  November  10, 
1714.  In  1686  he  was  baptized  at  the  First 
Parish  Church  of  Watertown,  the  name  being 
written  Severns.  His  daughter  Elizabeth's 
name  is  entered  on  the  register  of  the  same 
church  as  Severins,  but  he  wrote  and  spelled 
it  Seaverns.  December  20,  1699,  he  married 
Rebecca  Stratton,  born  ]May   16,   1672. 

(VII)  Samuel  (2),  son  of  Samuel  (i)  and 
Rebecca  (Stratton)  Seaverns.  was  born  at 
Watertown,  Massachusetts,  July  11,  1706,  died 
December  27,  1788.  Will  dated  December  13 
of  same  year.  He  married,  October  6,  1731, 
Sarah  Jennison,  born  November  13,  171 1. 


(VIII)  Samuel  (3),  son  of  Samuel  (2)  and 
Sarah  (Jennison)  Seaverns,  was  born  at  Rox- 
bury,  Massachusetts,  September  13,  1736,  died 
November  27,  1796.  He  married,  April  11, 
1765,  Lucy  Smith,  born  March  5,  1747. 

(IX)  Joel,  son  of  Samuel  (3)  and  Lucy 
(Smith)  Seaverns,  was  born  May  22,  1767, 
died  February  12,  1827.  He  married,  Jan- 
uary 20,  181 1,  Olive  Draper  Gay,  born  Sep- 
tember 15,  1786,  died  August  31,  1833. 

(X)  Francis,  son  of  Joel  and  Olive 
Draper  (Gay)  Seaverns,  was  born  March  25, 
1814,  died  July  13,  1880.  He  married,  Jan- 
uary I,  1845,  Nancy  Bartholomew,  born  Oc- 
tober 12,  1817,  died  January  6,  1901. 

(XI)  Francis  (2),  son  of  Francis  (i)  and 
Nancy  (Bartholomew)  Seaverns,  was  born 
February  i,  1847.  He  married,  November  20, 
1873,  Caroline  Augusta  Marshall,  born  Octo- 
ber 31,  1845   (see  Marshall  IX). 

(XII)  Elizabeth  Marshall,  daughter  of 
Francis  (2)  and  Caroline  Augusta  (Mar- 
shall) Seaverns,  born  July  27,  1878,  married, 
November  6,  1901,  Dr.  Joseph  Ivimey  Dow- 
ling (see  Dowling  IV). 

(The  Marshall  Line). 
Captain  Thomas  Marshall,  born  1613,  came 
from  England  in  the  ship  "James"  in  1635 
and  settled  at  Reading,  Massachusetts,  where 
he  was  made  a  freeman  in  1641.  He  removed 
to  Lynn,  Massachusetts,  where  he  was  "made 
free"  in  1653.  He  was  a  member  of  the  An- 
cient and  Honorable  Artillery  Company,  1640. 
He  was  representative  to  the  general  court, 
1659-60-63-64-67-68.  He  was  always  called 
"Captain." 

(II)  John,  son  of  Captain  Thomas  Mar- 
shall, born  1632,  died  November  5,  1702.  He 
settled  at  Billerica,  Massachusetts,  where  his 
house  was  on  the  East  Road,  near  IMarshall 
Lane,  which  was  named  after  him.  He  mar- 
ried, November  27,  1665,  Mary  Burrage,  born 
May  9,  1 64 1,  died  October  30,  1680. 

(III)  John  (2),  son  of  John  (i)  and  Mary 
(Burrage)  Marshall,  born  .August  i,  1671,  at 
Billerica,  died  January  25.  1713-14.  He  mar- 
ried. December  8,  1695,  Eunice  Rogers,  born 
1676. 

(IV')  John  (3)  (Sergeant),  son  of  John 
(2)  and  Eunice  (Rogers)  Marshall,  was  born 
at  Billerica,  January  19,  1698-99;  moved  to 
Tewksbury,  where  he  died  October  6,  1672. 
He  was  sergeant  of  the  train  band  or  militia. 
He  was  married,  August  10,  1722,  to  Abigail 
Parker. 

(V)  Daniel,  son  of  Sergeant  John  (3)  and 
Abigail  (Parker)  Marshall,  was  born  at  Bil- 
lerica, Massachusetts,  August  29,  1726;  re- 
moved to  Hudson,  New  Hampshire  (a  part  of 


3o8 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


the  town  of  Nottingham).  He  married  and 
had  issue. 

(VI)  Elijah,  son  of  Daniel  ^Marshall,  was 
born  1750  or  1759  at  Hudson  or  Nottingham, 
New  Hampshire.     He  married  Alary  . 

(\'n )  Thomas,  son  of  Elijah  and  Alary 
Marshall,  was  born  at  Nottingham,  New 
Hampshire,  or  Newburyport,  Massachusetts, 
December  12,  1781.  died  February  15,  1808. 
He  married,  September  4,  1808,  Huldah 
Chase  Ayer,  born  February  6,  1778,  died  Alay 
21,  1863. 

(\'ni)  Caleb  Strong,  son  of  Thomas  and 
Huldah  Chase  (Ayer)  Marshall,  was  born  at 
Newburyport.  Massachusetts,  August  26. 
1812,  died  January  19,  1874.  He  married, 
January  i,  1835,  Ann  Goold  Simonds,  born 
June  25,  1813,  died  March  26,  1877. 

(IX)  Caroline  Augusta,  daughter  of  Caleb 
Strong  and  Ann  Goold  (Simonds)  Marshall, 
born  October  31,  1845,  married,  NoveiTiber 
20,  1873,  Francis  Seaverns  (see  Severans  XI). 

(The    Chilton    Line). 

James  Chilton,  of  England,  born  1580,  came 
to  America  with  his  wife  and  daughter  in  the 
"Mayflower,"  1620 ;  signer  of  the  "Compact" : 
died  in  Cape  Cod  Harbor  before  the  landing ; 
his  wife  dying  a  month  later. 

(II)  Mary,  daughter  of  James  Chilton,  died 
May  II,  1679.  Tradition  says  that  when  the 
"Pilgrims"  landed  Mary  Chilton  was  the  first 
to  step  on  the  shore.  She  married.  1627,  John, 
brother  of  Governor  Winslow,  born  April  26. 
1597,  died  1674.  Her  will  is  on  file  in  the 
probate  court  of  Boston. 

(HI)  Susannah,  daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  (Chilton)  Winslow.  born  1628-29,  died 
1676-83.  Her  father,  John  Winslow,  son  of 
Edward  and  Magdalen  W'inslow.  was  born  at 
Droitwich,  Worcestershire,  England ;  came  to 
Plymouth,  Massachusetts,  in  the  ship  "For- 
tune," 1623;  removed  to  Boston  1657:  free- 
man 1672;  brother  of  Edward  Winslow,  gov- 
ernor of  the  Plymouth  Colony  (see  Wins- 
low genealogy  in  this  work).  Susannah  mar- 
ried, 1649,  Robert  Latham,  died  1688. 

(IV)  Sarah,  daughter  of  Robert  and 
Susannah  (Winslow)  Latham,  married  John 
(3)  Howard,  born  April  20,  1647. 

(V)  Martha,  daughter  of  John  (3)  and 
Sarah  (Latham)  Howard,  died  July  14.  1735. 
She  married,  l-'ebruary  i,  1688-89,  David  I'er- 
kins,  born  1652,  died  October  i,  1736.  John 
(3)  Howard  was  a  son  of  John  (2)  Howard 
and  a  grandson  of  Lieutenant  John  ( i )  How- 
ard, born  1625,  died  1700. 

(VI)  Nathan,  son  of  David  and  Martha 
(Howard)  Perkins,  married.  November  9, 
1709,  Martha,  daughter  of  Soloman  Leonard, 


granddaughter     of     Solomon     Leonard     and 
great-granddaughter  of  Samuel  Leonard. 

(VII)  James,  son  of  Nathan  and  Martha 
(Leonard)  Perkins,  was  born  March  5,  1720. 
He  married,  1742,  Berthia  Dimhan. 

(VIII)  Deacon  James  (2),  son  of  James 
(i)  and  Berthia  (Dunhan)  Perkins,  was  born 
April  I,  1746,  died  August  28,  1827.  He 
married,  February  14,  1771,  Mary  Hooper, 
born  1744,  daughter  of  James  and  Mary 
Johnson  Hooper.  James  was  the  son  of  John 
and  grandson  of  William  Hooper,  born  1617, 
died  December  5,  1678,  and  Elizabeth  Mar- 
shall, his  wife,  a  daughter  of  Captain  Thomas 
and  Rebecca  Alarshall. 

(IX)  Rufus,  son  of  Deacon  James  (2)  and 
Mary  (Hooper)  Perkins,  was  born  Septem- 
ber 3,  1774.  He  married,  1797,  Rebecca 
Johnson,  born  1778. 

(X)  Maria  Sampson,  daughter  of  Rufus 
and  Rebecca  (Johnson)  Perkins,  was  born 
August  30,  1809,  died  August  30,  1897.  He 
married,  March  4,  1833,  Rev.  John  Dowling 
(see  Dowling  II). 

(The  Cooke  Line). 
Francis  Cooke,  born  1582,  came  from 
England  to  America  with  his  son  John  in 
the  "Mayflower,"  1620.  having  been  trans- 
ferred to  her  from  the  "Speedwell,"  in  which 
he  originally  set  sail.  His  wife,  Esther  or 
Hester,  is  believed  to  have  been  born  in 
Canterbury,  England,  and  from  there  went  to 
Holland.  She  came  to  America  in  the  ship 
"Ann"  in  1623  with  three  children.  They 
were  married  June  30,  1(503.  He  died  April 
7,  1663,  she  surviving  him  until  June  18, 
1666. 

(II)  Jane,  daughter  of  Francis  and  Esther 
or  Hester  Cooke,  married,  1628,  Experience 
Mitchell,  born  1606,  died  September  4,  1689; 
came  from  England  in  the  "Ann."  1623; 
settled  in  Du.xbury,  163 1,  afterwards  remov- 
ing to  liridgewater,  Massachusetts. 

(III)  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Experience 
and  Jane  (Cooke)  Mitchell,  married,  Decem- 
ber 6.  1645,  John  (2)  Washburn,  born  in 
England  in  1621,  came  to  America  with  his 
mother  in  the  ship  "Elizabeth  and  Ann"  in 
1635,  son  of  John  (i)  \\'ashburn,  born  about 
1583,  came  from  Evesham.  England,  to  Plym- 
outh, Massachusetts,  in  1632;  settled  at  Dux- 
bury  and  afterwards  removed  to  Bridge- 
water,  and  whose  wife  Margaret  came  later, 
coming  from  London  in  1635  with  their  son 
John. 

(I\')  John  (3),  son  of  John  (2)  and  Eliza- 
beth Mitchell  Washburn,  was  born  at  Dux- 
bury,  Massachusetts,  1646:  served  in  King 
Philips  War;  married,  April  16,  1679,  Rebecca 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK    VALLEYS 


309 


Lapliam,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Til- 
den)   Lapham  ;  married  March   13,   1637. 

(V)  Rebecca,  daughter  of  John  (3)  and 
Rebecca  (Lapham)  Washburn,  married,  1719, 
Captain  David  Johnson,  son  of  Captain  Isaac 
Johnson,  born  1668,  died  1735,  married  Abi- 
gail Leavitt. 

Captain  Isaac  Johnson  came  over  from 
England  with  his  father.  Captain  John  John- 
son, in  1630,  settling  at  Roxbury;  was  made 
a  freeman  1635;  member  of  the  Ancient 
and  Honorable  Artillery  Company  in  1645; 
commissioned  a  captain  1653;  captain  of 
Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery  Company 
1657;  was  killed  December  19,  1675,  while 
lea<ling  his  company  in  a  charge  against  the 
Indians  at  the  Narragansett  fort  fight.  The 
only  entrance  to  the  Indian  stronghold  was 
by  means  of  a  felled  tree,  bridging  the  swamp, 
over  which  but  one  man  could  pass  at  a  time. 
Captain  Johnson  was  shot  dead  on  the  bridge, 
while  leading  his  men.  His  father.  Captain 
John  Johnson,  came  from  England  with  Gov- 
ernor Winthrop,  bringing  his  wife  and  son 
Isaac.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
first  church  at  Roxbury,  1632 ;  deputy  1634- 
48 ;  member  of  Ancient  and  Honorable  Artil- 
lery Company  1638 ;  held  the  title  of  "Sur- 
veyor General  of  all  ye  armies."  When  Ann 
Hutchinson  was  taken  into  custody,  the  gen- 
eral court  ordered  that  the  arms  of  her  Rox- 
bury adherents  be  delivered  to  "goodman" 
Johnson. 

(\T)  Major  Isaac  Johnson,  son  of  Captain 
David  and  Rebecca  (Washburn)  Johnson, 
was  born  1721  ;  removed  to  Hingham  and 
from  there  to  Bridgewater.  He  was  major' of 
Massachusetts  troops,  deputy  and  magistrate. 
He  married,  1744.  Mary  Willis,  born  1725, 
(laughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Kinsley) 
Willis,  granddaughter  of  Benjamin  and  Su- 
sanna (Whitman)  Willis,  and  great-grand- 
daughter of  Deacon  John  Willis,  born  about 
1634,  an  original  proprietor  and  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  Bridgewater,  Massachusetts ; 
held  many  town  offices ;  deputy  or  represent- 
ative from  that  town  for  twenty-five  years; 
married  Elizabeth  Hodgkins. 

(\TI )  Thomas,  son  of  Major  Isaac  and 
Mary  (Willis)  Johnson,  was  born  in  Bridge- 
water,  1747.  He  married,  1771.  Molly 
Lathrop,  born  1775,  a  descendant  of  Mark 
Lathrop,  who  settled  at  Bridgewater  as  early 
as  1656.  He  is  supposed  to  have  descended 
from  Rev.  John  Lathrop.  His  son,  Samuel, 
born  at  Bridgewater,  died  1724 ;  married, 
1682,  Sarah  Downer.  Their  son  Samuel  (2), 
born  1685,  died  1746;  married,  17 10,  Abial 
Lazell,  born  1686.  Their  son.  Major  Daniel 
Lathrop,    born    1721,    married,    1744,    Rhoda 


Willis.    Their  daughter  Molly  married  Thom- 
as Johnson. 

(VIII)  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Molly  (Lathrop)  Johnson,  born  1778,  mar- 
ried,  1797,  Rufus  Perkins,  born  1774. 

(IX)  Maria  Sampson,  daughter  of  Rufus 
and  Rebecca  (Johnson)  Perkins,  married, 
March  4,  1833,  Rev.  John  Dowling. 

(The  Bartholomew  Line). 
Nancy  Bartholomew,  wife  of  Francis  Seav- 
erns  (see  Seaverns  X),  is  a  descendant  of 
William  (2)  Bartholomew,  born  1602,  died 
January  18,  1680,  son  of  William  (i)  (1567), 
son  of  John  (1528),  son  of  John  (1506).  Wil- 
liam (2)  was  born  at  Burford.  Oxfordshire, 
England.  On  account  of  religious  persecu- 
tion he  removed  to  London,  where  his  house 
became  headquarters  for  all  dissenters.  He 
came  to  Boston,  Massachusetts,  September 
18,  1634,  in  the  ship  "Griffith"  with  Ann 
Hutchinson  and  others.  He  removed  to  Ips- 
wich, where  he  was  a  special  grand  juror, 
1637,  on  the  jury  who  tried  Ann  Hutchinson 
for  heresy.  He  was  representative  in  1633- 
36-37-38-41-47-50;  town  clerk  1639;  county 
treasurer  1654-66;  established  the  first  public 
school  in  Ipswich  1650.  The  house  he  built 
in  1637  was  standing  until  a  few  years  ago. 
He  married  Anna  Lord,  who  died  January 
29,  1682. 

(V)  Lieutenant  William  (3),  son  of  Wil- 
liam (2)  and  Anna  (Lord)  Bartholomew,  was 
born  at  Ipswich,  ^Massachusetts,  1640 ;  was  at 
Hatfield,  September  19,  1677,  and  during  the 
Indian  raid  his  daughter,  four  years  of  age, 
was  carried  off  to  Canada  and  was  only  re- 
gained by  the  payment  of  a  ransom  of  two 
hundred  pounds.  May  23,  1678.  He  removed 
to  W^oodstock,  Connecticut,  1687;  was  ensign 
1689;  lieutenant  1691 ;  deputy  1692.  He 
married,  December  17,  1663,  Mary  Johnson, 
born  April  24,  1642,  daughter  of  Captain 
Isaac  Johnson,  born  161 5,  and  granddaughter 
of  Captain  John  Johnson,  born  1593,  died 
September  29,   1659. 

(VI)  Joseph,  son  of  Lieutenant  William 
(3)  and  Mary  (Johnson)  Bartholomew,  was 
born  1682.  died  1697.  He  married,  Novem- 
ber 12,  1713,  Elizabeth,  died  October  15, 
1724,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Mary  (Cut- 
ter) Sanger  and  granddaughter  of  Richard 
and  Mary   (Reynolds)   Sanger. 

(\'II)  Corporal  Joseph  (2),  son  of  Joseph 
(i)  and  Elizabeth  (Sanger)  Bartholomew, 
was  born  at  Woodstock,  Connecticut,  Febru- 
ary 10,  1715  ;  fought  at  Louisburg.  Canada, 
in  Captain  Cheney's  company.  Colonel  Choat's 

eighth  regiment.     He  married  Mary  , 

born  1 716. 


3IO 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


(Vni)  Samuel,  son  of  Corporal  Joseph 
(2)  and  Mary  Bartholomew,  was  born  at 
Woodstock,  Connecticut,  1749,  died  1831.  He 
served  in  the  revolution :  at  the  siege  of  Bos- 
ton;  enlisted  in  1775  in  Captain  Noble's  com- 
pany :  Colonel  Eaton's  regiment :  December  of 
the  same  year  re-enlisted  in  Colonel  Reed's 
regiment ;  served  in  New  York  City ;  May  8, 

1777,  to  May  26,  1777,  in  Captain  Abraham 
Foot's  company ;  Colonel  Andrew  Ward's 
regiment;  August  4,   1778,  to  September   12, 

1778,  in  Captain  Matthew  Brown's  company, 
Colonel  Samuel  Chapman's  regiment ;  was 
engaged  under  Brigadier-General  John  Tyler 
in  the  attempt  to  dislodge  the  British  at  New- 
port and  was  present  at  the  battle  of  Rhode 
Island,  August  29,  1778.  From  January  18, 
1781,  to  December  31,  1781,  in  Captain  Nehe- 
miah  Rice's  company,  in  Fifth  Regiment 
Connecticut  Line,  commanded  by  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Isaac  Sherman ;  wintered  at  Connec- 
ticut village  and  engaged  in  the  Yorktown 
campaign  during  the  following  months.  He 
married  Susannah  Laughlin,  born  1762. 

(IX)  Jedediah,  son  of  Samuel  and  Susan- 
nah (Laughlin)  Bartholomew,  was  born  at 
Hartford,  Connecticut,  April  9,  1786,  died 
December  25,  1829.  He  married,  January  16, 
1809,  Sally,  born  December  24,  1786,  died 
December  26,  1849,  daughter  of  Jonathan  and 
Sarah  (Goslee)  Shirtleff,  who  were  married 
April  14,  1785. 

(X)  Nancy,  daughter  of  Jedediah  and 
Sally  (Shirtleff)  Bartholomew,  was  born 
October  12,  1817,  died  January  6,  1901.  She 
married,  January  i,  1845,  Francis  Seaverns 
(see  Seaverns  X). 

(The  Goold  Line). 
Ann  Goold  (Simonds)  Marshall,  wife  of 
Caleb  Strong  Marshall  (see  Marshall),  was 
a  descendant  of  Robert  Goold,  born  1640, 
came  from  Devonshire,  England,  in  1664, 
settled  at  Hull,  Massachusetts.  His  cousin, 
Mrs.  John  .Stone,  died  that  same  year,  child- 
less, bequeathing  him  all  her  property.  He 
married,  1666,  Elizabeth,  born  November  18, 
1638,  daughter  of  Benjamin,  born  1616,  and 
granddaughter  of  Edward  Bosworth,  born 
about  1594,  came  to  America  from  England 
in  ir)34,  in  tlie  ship  "Elizabeth  and  Dorcas," 
with  son  Benjamin,  who  settled  in  Hingham, 
Massachusetts,  removing  to  Hull  in  1660. 
Edward  Bosworth  died  shortly  after  his  ar- 
rival and  was  buried  at  Boston. 

(II)  John,  son  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth 
(Bosworth)  Goold,  was  born  1672,  died  No- 
vember 16,  1762.  He  married,  January  17, 
1698,  Lydia  Jacobs,  born  April  18,  1681,  died 
January  8,  1742. 


(HI)  Jacob,  son  of  John  and  Lydia  (Ja- 
cobs) Goold,  died  November  16,  1762;  was 
of  Weymouth,  Massachusetts,  and  one  of  the 
committee  appointed  to  draft  resolutions  on 
"No  More  Tea."  He  married,  October  4, 
1744,  Deborah  Gardner  (Sampson),  born 
1722,  died  December,  1795. 

(IV)  Captain  Jacob  (2),  son  of  Jacob  (i) 
and  Deborah  Gardner  (Sampson)  Goold,  was 
born  1755,  died  March  7,  1816.  He  was  of 
Weymouth,  ^Massachusetts,  and  captain  of 
Lexington  Alarm  Roll  of  that  town,  Colonel 
Benjamin  Lincoln's  regiment,  march  from 
Weymouth  and  Braintree,  April  19,  1775; 
served  eight  days ;  June  23,  1775,  signed  re- 
ceipt as  captain  for  twenty  canteens  for  his 
company's  commissary;  August  i,  1775,  cap- 
tain in  Colonel  William  Heath's  regiment  (36 
Regiment  Foot)  stationed  at  fort  No.  2, 
Cambridge ;  commissioned  April  27,  1775  ;  en- 
listed May  20,  1779;  discharged  September 
23,  1780;  appears  on  pay  roll  employed  in 
quartermaster-general's  office,  Boston,  serving 
sixteen  months.  He  married,  April  13,  1775, 
Lydia  Thayer,  born  March  29,  1752  (see 
Thayer  VI). 

(V)  Joanna  Thayer,  daughter  of  Captain 
Jacob  (2)  and  Lydia  (Thayer)  Goold,  was 
ioorn  June  28,  1782.  She  married,  December 
ID.  1800,  Shepherd  Simonds,  born  November 
18,  1781,  died  ]\Iarch  22,  1857  (see  Simonds 
VI). 

(The   Simonds    Line). 

William  Simonds,  born  about  161 2,  mar- 
ried, January  18,  1644,  Judith  Phippen,  died 
January  3,  1690. 

■(II)  Benjamin,  son  of  William  and  Judith 
(Phippen)  Simonds,  born  March  18,  1654, 
died  September  21,  1726.  He  married,  1678, 
Rebecca  Tidd,  died  April,  1713. 

(HI)  John,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Rebecca 
(Tidd)  Simonds,  born  March  22,  1685,  died 
June  5,  1721.  He  married  Sarah  Johnson, 
died  June  5,   1727. 

(IV)  Joshua,  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (John- 
son) Simonds,  born  November  8,  1718.  He 
married,  February  i,  1742,  Jerusha  Waters. 

(V)  Josiah,  son  of  Joshua  and  Jerusha 
(Waters)  Simonds,  born  April  23,  1749.  He 
married  Mary  Gibson. 

(VI)  Shepherd,  son  of  Josiah  and  Mary 
(Gibson)  Simonds,  born  November  18,  1781, 
died  March  22,  1857.  He  married,  December 
10,  1800,  Joanna  Thayer  Goold  (see  Goold 
V). 

(VII)  Ann  Goold,  daughter  of  Shepherd 
and  Joanna  Thayer  (Goold)  Simonds,  bom 
June  25,  1 81 3,  died  March  26,  1877.  He 
married,  January  i,  1835,  Caleb  Strong  Mar- 
shall (see  Marshall  VIII). 


HUDSON   AND    AIOHAWK   VALLEYS 


3" 


(VIII)  Caroline  Augusta,  daughter  of 
Caleb  Strong  and  Ann  Goold  Marshall,  mar- 
ried Francis  Seaverns  (see  Seaverns  XI). 

(The    Thayer    Line). 

Lydia  (Thayer)  Goold,  wife  of  Captain 
Jacob  Goold,  descends  through  both  maternal 
■and  paternal  lines  from  Thomas  Thayer,  born 
1596,  died  June  2,  1665:  came  to  America 
from  England  with  his  wife,  Margery  Wheel- 
■er,  born  1598,  died  P'cbruary  11,  1672;  mar- 
ried April  13,  1618,  and  son  Thomas  and 
wife,  Anna,  settled  at  Braintree,  Massachu- 
setts, where  he  was  made  a  freeman  in  1647. 
In  St.  Mary's  Church  at  Thornbury,  Glouces- 
-tershire,  England,  the  place  of  his  birth,  there 
is  a  tablet  erected  to  John  Thayer.  The 
Thayers  were  land  owners  from  the  time  of 
Edward  II.  Lydia  Thayer  also  descended 
"from  Richard  Thayer,  born  1601,  came  to 
America  from  Thornbury,  England,  eleven 
miles  north  of  Bristol.  After  the  death  of 
his  wife  Dorothy  Mortimore  (born  1604,  died 
January  17,  1640;  married  April  5,  1624),  he 
■emigrated  with  his  children  to  America,  set- 
tling at  Boston;  made  a  freeman  in  1640.  In 
1641  he  bought  a  tract  of  land  from  Josias 
Wampatect  Sachem,  who  lived  at  Squantum 
and  claimed  land  as  far  as  Marshfield.  Josias 
"being  under  jige.  the  town  objected  to  the 
transfer.  In  1662  Richard  Thayer  petitioned 
the  king  in  favor  of  his  claim,  under  his  deed ; 
removed  to  Braintree,  Massachusetts,  where 
lie  died. 

(II)  Richard  (2),  son  of  Richard  (i)  and 
Dorothy  (Mortimore)  Thayer,  born  February 
10,  1624,  died  Aug^ist  27,  1695.  He  married, 
December  24,  165 1,  Dorothy  Pray,  born  1624, 
died  December  11,  1705.  He  came  from  Eng- 
land with  his  father  and  in  1679  returned 
there  on  business.  The  inscription  on  his 
gravestone  in  Hancock  cemetery,  Quincy, 
Massachusetts,  reads:  "Here  Lyes  ye  body 
•of  Richard  Thayer  senior,  aged  71  years  dec'd 
August  27.  1695." 

(HI)  Richard  (3),  son  of  Richard  (2)  and 
Dorothy  (Pray)  Thayer,  born  August  31, 
1655,  at  Braintree,  Massachusetts,  died  De- 
cember 4,  1705.  He  married,  July  16,  1679, 
Rebecca  Micall  (Mycall),  born  January  22, 
1659,  died  January  28,  1732.  He  served  in 
King  Philips  war  under  Captain  Johnson, 
May  10,  1675. 

(I\')  Lieutenant  Richard  (4),  son  of  Rich- 
ard (3)  and  Rebecca  (Micall)  Thayer,  was 
"born  January  26,  1685.  He  married,  Febru- 
ary 6,  171 1,  Mary  White,  born  September  12, 
1690,  died  1736.  He  was  in  the  military 
service  of  Massachusetts  colony,  ranking  as 
lieutenant. 


(V)  Obadiah,  son  of  Lieutenant  Richard 
(4)  and  Mary  (White)  Thayer,  was  born 
March  29,  1724,  at  Braintree,  Massachusetts. 
Served  in  the  revolution  under  Captain  Jacob 
Goold  in  1775.  He  married  his  cousin,  Joanna 
Thayer,  born  May  10,  1728,  daughter  of  Cap- 
tain Ebenezer,  son  of  Ebenezer,  son  of  Thom- 
as, son  of  Thomas  and  Margery  Wheeler; 
thus  uniting  the  lines  of  Thomas,  1596,  and 
Richard   (i)    Thayer,   1601. 

(\T)  Lydia,  daughter  of  Obadiah  and 
Joanna  (Thayer)  Thayer,  was  born  March 
29,  1752.  She  married,  April  13,  1775,  Cap- 
tain Jacob  Goold  (see  Goold  IV). 

(VII)  Joanna  Thayer,  daughter  of  Captain 
Jacob  and  Lydia  (Thayer)  Goold,  married 
Shepherd  Simonds  (see  Simonds  VI). 

(VHI)  Ann  Goold,  daughter  of  Shepherd 
and  Joanna  Thayer  (Goold)  Simonds,  mar- 
ried Caleb  Strong  Marshall. 

(IX)  Caroline  Augusta,  daughter  of  Caleb 
Strong  and  Ann  (Goold)  Marshall,  married 
Francis  Seaverns. 

(X)  Elizabeth  Marshall,  daughter  of  Fran- 
cis and  Caroline  Augusta  (Marshall)  Seav- 
erns, married  Dr.  Joseph  Ivimey  Dowling. 
Children :  Francis  Seaverns,  born  October  9, 
1902,  at  Albany.  New  York ;  Elizabeth  Thay- 
er, born  September  26,  1909. 


The  first  known  authentic 
SPALDING  record  of  the  Spalding  fam- 
ily in  America  appears  in  a 
\'irginia  state  document  (senate  report)  en- 
titled "X'irginia  Colonial  Records,  1619-1680," 
published  by  authority  of  the  state  of  Vir- 
ginia. The  documents  there  presented  were 
printed  from  copies  obtained  from  the  public 
record  office  of  Great  Britain  and  include  an 
account  of  the  history  of  the  Virginia  colony. 
It  was  in  the  year  1607  that  the  first  emi- 
grants to  successfully  form  a  permanent  colony 
landed  in  Virginia.  The  colony  was  ruled 
during  the  earlier  years  by  laws  written  in 
blood,  and  the  colonists  suffered  an  extremity 
of  distress  too  horrible  to  be  described.  Of 
the  thousands  of  emigrants  who  had  been 
sent  to  Virginia  at  great  cost,  not  one  in 
twenty  remained  alive  in  April,  1619,  when 
Sir  George  Yeardley  arrived  with  commis- 
sions and  instructions  "for  the  better  estab- 
lishment of  a  commonwealth  heere."  The 
first  meeting  was  held  July  30,  1619,  more 
than  a  year  before  the  "Mayflower,"  with  the 
Pilgrims  on  board,  sailed  on  her  historic  voy- 
age. Conclusive  evidence  proves  that  Edward 
Spalding  came  over  from  England  with  Sir 
George  Yeardley  in  1619  or  about  that  time. 
There  is  documentary  evidence  that  Edward 
Spalding  and  his  family  were  fully  established 


312 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


in  the  Virginia  colony  in  1623,  as  his  name 
appears  in  these  "Virginia  colony  records"  in 
"Lists  of  the  Living  and  the  Dead  in  Vir- 
ginia February  16,  1623";  under  the  caption 
"All  James  Citie"  in  list  of  the  living  is  "Ed- 
ward Spalding,  uxor  (wife)  Spalding,  puer 
(boy)  Spalding,  puella  (girl)  Spalding.  The 
supposition  is  that  Edward  and  Edmund 
Spalding,  whose  names  also  appear  on  same 
lists  later,  emigrated  together  from  England 
about  1619;  that  some  years  later  Edward 
went  to  the  i\Iassachusetts  colony,  while  Ed- 
mund joined  the  Maryland  colony  under  Lord 
Baltimore  and  was  the  progenitor  of  the 
"Mar\-land  branch." 

Powhatan,  the  friend  of  the  English,  died 
and  on  March  22.  1622,  the  Indians  fell  upon 
the  settlement  and  in  one  hour  three  hundred 
and  forty-seven  persons  were  massacred.  A 
census  was  ordered  after  the  massacre  and  it 
is  in  this  list  that  the  name  of  Edward  Spald- 
ing and  his  family  appear.  Prior  to  emigrat- 
ing to  Massachusetts,  Edward  may  have  lived 
a  number  of  years  in  the  Bermuda  Islands 
(then  called  the  Summer  Islands),  as  there 
seems  to  be  some  evidence.  The  date  of  his 
settlement  in  Braintree,  Massachusetts,  was 
about  1634.  Here  his  first  wife,  Margaret, 
and  his  child,  Grace,  died,  and  one  of  his 
children,  Benjamin,  was  born.  He  was  made 
a  freeman,  ^lay  13,  1640,  and  is  named  in  a 
petition,  October  i,  1645.  He  is  next  of  men- 
tion as  one  of  the  first  proprietors  of  the  town 
of  Chelmsford,  as  is  his  son  Edward,  Junior, 
and  John  Spalding.  He  removed  there  in 
1653,  and  at  the  first  town  meeting  held  No- 
vember 22,  1654,  was  chosen  selectman  and 
again  in  1656-60-61.  He  held  other  offices  of 
trust  in  the  town,  and  is  recorded  as  one  of 
the  proprietors  of  "Newford,"  March  12, 
1667. 

He  died   February  26,   1670.     He  married 

(first)  Jilargaret ,  died  August  i,  1640. 

Her  children  were :  John,  Edward  and  Grace. 

He  married    (second)   Rachel  ,  named 

in  his  will.  Her  children  were :  Benja- 
min, of  further  mention ;  Joseph,  Dinah  and 
Andrew. 

(II)  Benjamin,  son  of  Edward  and  Rachel 
Spalding,  was  born  April  7,  1643,  '"  Brain- 
tree,  ]\Iassachusetts,  died  before  1708.  He  is 
not  mentioned  in  his  father's  will,  having  al- 
ready received  his  share.  He  purchased  a 
large  tract  of  land  in  Canterbury,  Windham 
county,  Connecticut,  later  known  as  Brooklyn. 
He  was  made  a  freeman  in  1689.  He  mar- 
ried, October  30,  1668,  Olive,  daughter  of 
Henry  Farwell.  Children :  Sarah,  married 
John  Miriam;  Edward,  of  further  mention; 
Benjamin,    married    Sarah    Hail;    Elizabeth, 


married    Ephraim    Wheeler;    Mary,    married' 
Isaac  Morgan. 

(III)  Edward  (2),  son  of  Benjamin  and 
Olive  (Farwell)  Spalding,  was  born  June  18, 
1672,  died  November  29,  1740.  He  inherited' 
the  Canterbury  homestead  of  his  father,  and 
according  to  Miss  Earned  "was  the  third 
settler  within  the  present  limits  of  Brook- 
lyn" and  that  he  bought  land  there  in  1707.- 
He  was  a  member  of  the  first  committee  of 
the  Religious  Society  organized  in  1731.  He 
married  Mary  Adams,  died  September  20, 
1754,  aged  seventy-eight  years.  His  first 
child  was  bom  in  Chelmsford,  Massachusetts, 
the  others  in  Canterbury,  Connecticut,  where 
he  died.  Children:  Benjamin,  married 
(first)  Abigail  Wright;  (second)  Deborah 
Wheeler;  Elizabeth,  married  William  Darber 
Ephraim,  of  further  mention ;  Jonathan,  mar- 
ried Eunice  Woodward ;  Ezekiel,  married 
Martha  Kimball ;  Ruth,  married  John  Bacon ; 
Abigail,  married  Benjamin  Douglass ;  Eben- 
ezer,  married  Mary  Fassett ;  Thomas,  mar- 
ried Abigail  Brown ;  John,  served  in  the  war 
of  the  revolution  as  surgeon  in  Colonel  John 
Durkee's  regiment,  Twentieth  Continental 
Line,  1776. 

(IV)  Ephraim,  son  of  Edward  (2)  and 
Mary  (Adams)  Spalding,  was  born  April  3^ 
1700,  in  Canterbury,  Connecticut,  died  1776. 
He  removed  to  Plainfield,  Connecticut,  where 
all  his  children  were  born.  He  married  Abi- 
gail Bullard,  of  Plainfield,  died  July.  1789, 
aged  over  ninety  years.  Children:  i.  John, 
married  Elizabeth  Sanger.  2.  Phineas,  born 
March  25,  1726.  3.  Reuben,  of  further  men- 
tion. 4.  Lieutenant  Josiah,  married  Priscilla 
Paine ;  he  was  a  soldier  and  a  pensioner  of 
the  revolution.  5.  Sergeant  Ezekiel.  married 
Sarah  Morgan ;  served  four  years  in  the 
revolution.  6.  Palabah,  died  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  years.  7.  Abigail,  married  Captain 
Samuel  Hall.  8.  Oliver,  married  (first)  Mary 
Witter;  (second)  Rebecca  Bottom;  was  a 
soldier  in  the  "Old  French  war,"  and  his 
order  book  is  still  preserved ;  also  served  in 
the  revolution  and  was  a  pensioner.  9.  Mary, 
married  John  Larabee.  10.  Ephraim,  mar- 
ried (first)  Esther  Snow;  (second)  Hannah 
Stowell ;  was  a  revolutionary  soldier. 

(V)  Reuben,  son  of  Ephraim  and  Abigail 
(Bullard)  Spalding,  was  born  in  Plainfield, 
Connecticut,  February  26,  1728,  died  January, 
1765,  in  Tyringham,  Massachusetts.  After 
his  marriage  he  settled  in  Plainfield,  Connec- 
ticut, where  he  taught  school  for  several 
years.  Then  he  bought  a  farm  in  Tyring- 
ham, where  he  died.  He  married,  October  i, 
1747,  Mary  Pierce,  born  November  15,  1728, 
died   1826  in  Sharon,  Vermont,  daughter  of 


HUDSON   AND    :\IOHAWK   VALLEYS 


313 


Timothy  and  Mary  Pierce.  Children:  i. 
Mary,  married  Ebenezer  Parkhurst  and  re- 
sided in  Sharon,  Vermont.  2.  Azel,  left  col- 
lege to  join  the  revolutionary  army,  was 
taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians  and  kept  in 
Canada  over  a  year;  finally  he  made  his  es- 
cape and  came  to  Plainfield,  Connecticut, 
where  he  married  Alice  Cole,  and  later  moved 
to  Sharon,  \'ermont.  3.  Reuben,  of  further 
mention.  4.  Pedew,  a  daughter,  died  at  the 
age  of  four  years.  5.  Phineas,  died  aged  four 
years. 

(VI)  Deacon  Reuben  (2),  son  of  Reuben 
(i)  and  Mary  (Pierce)  Spalding,  was  born 
in  Tyringham,  Massachusetts,  December  15, 
1758.  died  September  15.  1849,  in  Sharon, 
\'ermont.  He  settled  in  Sharon  when  eleven 
years  of  age,  and  took  up  his  residence  on 
the  farm  that  was  his  home  for  eighty  years. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
church  sixty-one  years,  holding  the  office  of 
deacon  forty-two  years.  For  over  half  a  cen- 
tury he  was  justice  of  the  peace,  and  was 
often  called  to  fill  various  offices  of  trust.  He 
had  nine  sons  and  three  daughters,  a  circle 
remaining  unbroken  until  two  years  before 
his  own  death,  when  his  son.  Dr.  Jason  C. 
Spalding,  died.  That  event  tailed  together 
under  the  paternal  roof  the  whole  family  and 
presented  a  sight  rarely  seen.  The  venerable 
father  stood  by  the  casket  and  urged  upon 
the  living  with  great  fervor  of  spirit  faith- 
fulness in  the  service  of  that  God  in  whom 
he  trusted.  He  served  in  the  revolution  as 
sergeant  of  Captain  Jesse  Safford's  company 
and  in  Captain  Wetherly's  company,  Colonel 
A\'yman's  regiment,  Ticonderoga  alarm,  1777, 
serving  nine  days,  also  in  Captain  Lee's  com- 
pany. Rhode  Island  expedition,  1778.  He 
married,  June  21,  1785,  Jerusha  Carpenter,  of 
Sharon,  \'ermont,  born  in  Coventry,  Connec- 
ticut, June  24,  1768,  died  December  7,  1827. 
Children,  all  born  in  Sharon,  \^ermont:  i. 
Pierce,  February  9,  1787,  died  September  10, 
1852:  married,  Alarch  16,  1809,  Serepta  Vail; 
children :  Caroline,  Horatio,  Pierce,  Charles 
E.  2.  Polly,  August  12,  1788:  married  (first) 
Benjamin  \'ail ;  (second)  Oliver  Fales.  3. 
John,  January  16,  1790,  died  April  24,  1870: 
he  was  a  successful  merchant  of  Montpelier, 
Vermont,  until  1840:  was  seven  years  treas- 
urer of  the  state  of  Vermont ;  was  president 
of  the  Bank  of  Montpelier ;  president  of  the 
Vermont  Mutual  Insurance  Company  and  as- 
sistant judge  of  Washington  county  court ;  he 
died  at  Montpelier ;  he  married  Sarah,  daugh- 
ter of  Judge  Collins ;  children :  Maria  W., 
Ann  E.,  Charles  C,  Sarah  R.,  John.  4, 
James,  of  further  mention.  5.  Eunice,  Sep- 
tember 24,  1794,  died  January  26,  1879;  mar- 


ried, August  6,  1816,  Gaius  Leonard,  and  re- 
sided in  Ripton,  Wisconsin.  6.  Susan,  Octo- 
ber 25,  1796,  died  January  10,  1871 ;  married, 
March  2,  1818,  Thomas  Lovejoy ;  resided  at 
Royalton,  Vermont.  7.  Dr.  Phineas,  January 
14,  1799;  in  1895  he  was  living  in  Haverhili, 
New  Hampshire,  at  the  age  of  ninety-six 
years ;  he  studied  medicine  with  his  brother. 
Dr.  James,  attended  lectures  at  Hanover;  be- 
gan the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Lyndon. 
Vermont,  in  1823  :  in  1839  he  settled  in  Haver- 
hill, New  Hampshire,  where  he  commanded  a 
very  large  practice ;  he  was  lecturer  at  the 
Vermont  ]\Iedical  College,  raised  funds  for 
the  Lyndon  Academy,  also  for  Haverhill 
Academy,  serving  for  thirty  years  as  trustee 
of  the  later ;  was  a  prominent  Free  Mason, 
temperance  worker  and  a  devout  Ciiristian ; 
he  married  (first)  Caroline  Bailey  Lathrop ; 
(second)  Charlotte  Merrill;  children:  i.  Caro- 
line Anastasia,  a  philanthropic  worker  and! 
writer  of  prose  and  poetry ;  ii.  Mary  Green- 
leaf,  married  James  H.  Lowell ;  iii.  Ada 
Louisa,  married  Henry  D.  James ;  iv.  Frank 
I\Ierrill,  married  Julia  E.  Kingman.  8.  Dr. 
Jason  Carpenter,  April  29,  1801,  died  Novem- 
ber 14,  1847,  the  first  death  among  the  twelve 
children ;  at  his  death  the  entire  remaining 
family  were  gathered  around  the  paternal 
table  for  the  first  and  last  time.  He  was 
graduated  M.D.  at  Dartmouth  College,  1828, 
settled  in  Dixfield,  Maine,  then  in  Spencer, 
Massachusetts;  in  1836  returned  to  the  old 
home  in  Sharon,  where  he  died ;  he  married 
Susan  Haven  Trask ;  children :  Jason  Car- 
penter (2),  Julia  Trask;  Helen  Trask,  Ed- 
ward Leland,  and  George  Kilby.  9.  Azel, 
March  29,  1803,  died  1883  ;  he  was  graduated 
from  Middlebury  College.  A.M.,  in  1835,  prac- 
ticed law  in  Montpelier,  Vermont ;  he  was  a 
warm  friend  of  President  Jackson  and  wrote 
most  of  the  editorials  in  the  J^crnioiit  Patriot. 
a  Jackson  paper  published  in  Montpelier.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Vermont  legislature, 
held  the  office  of  state  attorney,  judge  of 
probate  and  other  offices ;.  he  was  a  strong 
Union  man  and  after  the  ciyil  war  removed 
to  Atchison,  Kansas,  where  he  was  police 
judge  for  many  years ;  he  died  in  that  city ; 
he  married,  July  14,  1834,  Maria  Tiieresa 
Wainwright,  of  Middlebury,  Vermont ;  chil- 
dren :  Azel  Wainwright,  Agnes  Maria  and 
Theresa.  10.  Levi,  September  9,  1805,  died 
June  3,  1871 ;  he  was  engaged  in  business  in 
Canada  and  Vermont ;  was  for  many  years 
president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Derby  Line,  \'ermont ;  he  accumulated  a  very 
large  estate;  married,  October  17,  1833,  Julia 
Ann  Caldwell :  children :  William,  Levi  Lin- 
coln, Julia  Maria,  Stephen   Foster,  who  was 


314 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


lieutenant  in  civil  war,  fell  in  the  second  as- 
sault on  Port  Hudson,  June  14,  1863;  Clara 
Augusta,  Sarah  Jerusha,  Lyman,  Cornelia, 
Caldwell  and  Gertrude  White.  11.  Dr.  Reu- 
ben, July  22,  1807,  died  February  13,  1878; 
graduated  A.M.  Dartmouth  College,  1832, 
Middebury  College,  1835 ;  studied  medicine 
with  his  brother,  Dr.  James,  at  IMontpelier, 
Vermont,  graduated  from  Harvard  Medical 
School,  M.D.,  1836,  practiced  his  profession  in 
Brattleboro,  Vermont,  from  1837  to  1857,  and 
from  February,  1859,  until  his  death  at 
Worcester,  Massachusetts;  he  married  (first) 
Electa  Goodenough  Clark;  (second)  Mrs. 
Mary  Caroline  (Sanderson)  Powers;  chil- 
dren: Henry  George,  Frederick,  Edward 
Reynolds.  12.  Charles,  August  23,  1812,  died 
April  8,  1857 ;  married  Rebecca  Poole  Hunt, 
January  i,  1839;  children:  Susan  Rebecca, 
Charles  Henry,  Edward  Prescott,  Richard 
Poole. 

(VH)  Dr.  James  Spalding,  third  son  of 
Deacon  Reuben  (2)  and  Jerusha  (Carpenter) 
Spalding,  was  born  in  Sharon,  Vermont, 
March  10,  1792,  died  March  15,  1858.  He 
obtained  a  good  common  school  education, 
and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years  began  the 
study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Eber  Carpenter, 
of  Alstead,  New  Hampshire,  at  the  same 
time  took  private  lessons  in  Greek  and  Latin. 
At  the  age  of  twenty  years  he  was  graduated 
M.D.  at  Dartmouth  Medical  Institution.  He 
practiced  two  years  in  Alstead  with  Dr.  Car- 
penter, then  practiced  for  a  time  in  Clare- 
mont,  Vermont,  but  yielding  to  the  solicitation 
of  friends  removed  to  Montpelier,  Vermont. 
Though  but  a  boy  he  had  seen  much  practice 
and  performed  many  surgical  operations, 
therefore  it  required  but  a  short  time  for  him 
to  gain  general  confidence  as  a  physician  and 
surgeon,  which  he  retained  without  abatement 
throughout  life.  As  a  surgeon  Dr.  Spalding 
was  successful  above  most  others.  He  was 
an  original  thinker,  well  informed  in  the  books 
and  general  principles  of  his  profession,  as 
■was  manifested  not  only  in  his  medical  and 
surgical  practice,  but  in  other  departments  of 
science.  It  was  a  maxim  with  him  that  there 
should  be  no  guess  work  in  his  profession, 
and  that  strict  integrity  was  the  true  and  only 
•policy  which  should  govern  every  man.  For 
■more  than  forty  years  he  was  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Vermont  State  Medical  Society, 
and  througli  it  labored  to  advance  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  profession  he  best  loved.  In 
1819  he  was  elected  secretary,  which  office  he 
held  for  over  twenty  years.  He  was  elected 
vice-president  in  1843,  treasurer  in  1844,  chair- 
man of  the  committee  on  history  of  the  So- 
ciety in  1845 ;  elected  president  in  1846-47-48, 


in  the  latter  years  delivering  a  dissertation  on 
the  Typhus  Fever,  which  was  published  by 
vote  of  the  society.  He  was  elected  corre- 
sponding secretary   in    1850,  and  librarian  in 

1854,  which  office  he  held  until  his  death.  He 
was  also  a  member  of  the  board  of  fellows  of 
the  \'ermont  Academy  of  Medicine,  besides 
holding  many  offices  in  the  state  connected 
with  science,  literature  and  temperance.  He 
devoted  his  life  to  his  profession,  having 
never  engaged  in  any  other  business  or  sought 
any  political  preferment.  But  few  men  in 
the  country  have  seen  such  an  amount  of  dis- 
ease and  so  carefully  observed  the  peculiari- 
ties of  the  various  epidemics  occurring  for 
half  a  century,  and  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  so 
little  is  left  on  record  of  his  extensive  observa- 
tion and  experience  both  as  a  physician  and  a 
surgeon.  He  married  (first)  November  2, 
1820,  Eliza  Reed,  born  October  13,  1798,  at 
Hampstead,  New  Hampshire,  died  August  8, 
1853,  at  Montpelier,  Vermont.  He  married 
(second)  Mrs.  Anna  (Lyman)  Dodd,  April 
18,  1855,  at  Springfield,  Massachusetts.  She 
was  born  November  28.  1798,  at  Hartford, 
Vermont,  died  December  11,  1856,  at  Mont- 
pelier. Children,  all  born  in  Montpelier,  \'er- 
mont,  all  by  first  wife:  i.  James  Reed,  of 
further  mention.  2.  Martha  Eliza,  died  in  in- 
fancy. 3.  William  Cowper,  born  September 
24,  1825  :  he  graduated  at  New  York  Univer- 
sity in  1847,  was  commissioned  surgeon  in  the 
Twenty-ninth  Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infantry, 
September  3,  1862;  soon  after  lie  left  for  the 
front  and  was  engaged  in  several  battles,  act- 
ing as  brigade  surgeon ;  he  was  with  General 
Grant  at  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  but  after  the 
surrender  of  the  city  resigned  on  account  of 
ill  health  and  returned  to  Watertown,  Wis- 
consin, where  he  resumed  the  practice  of  his 
profession;    he    married     (first)     .August    2, 

1855,  Isabella  McLaughlin,  died  October, 
1855,  leaving  no  children;  he  married  (sec- 
ond) March  10,  1857,  Anna  Amelia  Potter, 
born  July  4.  1835,  died  July  4,  1888;  he  mar- 
ried (third)  Mrs.  Susan  D.  McRae,  of  Cedar 
Rapids,  Iowa ;  child,  Mary  Irwin,  bom  .\ugust* 
12,  1875.  4.  Martha  Eliza,  born  October  5, 
1827,  died  October  30,  1848,  unmarried.  5. 
Elizabeth,  died  in  infancy.  6.  Jane  Maria, 
born  May  27,  1833;  married  Dr.  Abner 
Spicer  Warner,  of  Wethersfield,  Connecticut, 
June  7,  1869.  7.  Rev.  George  Burley,  of 
further  mention.  8.  Isabelle,  born  November 
26,  1837;  married,  June  8,  1864,  Cooke 
Lounsbury. 

(VIII)  James  Reed,  eldest  son  of  Dr.  James 
and  Eliza  (Reed)  Spalding,  was  born  No- 
vember 15,  1821,  at  Montpelier,  Vermont,  died 
October  10,  1872,  in  Dover,  New  Hampshire. 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


315 


He  graduated   from  the  University  of  Ver- 
mont,   1840,    and    was    afterward    a    private 
tutor  in  Georgia,   at  tlie  same  time  studying 
law.     On  his  return  to  Montpelier,  Vermont, 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  began  prac- 
tice with  Joseph  Prentice.     His  Hterary  tastes 
led  him  to  rehnquish   his  profession,  and  he 
spent  several  years  in  travel  in   Europe  and 
the  East,  as  a  close  student  of  manners,  morals 
and  politics.     He  was  a  witness  of  the  events 
•of  the  revolution  of  France  in  1848.     His  let- 
ters to  the  Ncii'  York  Courier  and  Inquirer 
during  his  sojourn  won   for  him  the  highest 
praise  from   English  and  American  scholars. 
In  the  spring  of  1850  he  became  one  of  the 
editors  of  the  Courier  and  Inquirer.     His  re- 
markable ability  as  a  writer  was  soon  widely 
recognized ;   his    reputation   as   a    fearless   in- 
dependent critic  of  public  men  and  measures 
created  a  demand  for  the  establishment  of  a 
new  journal  which  might  be  a  full  reflection 
of  his  own  spirit  and  character,  and  the  Neiv 
York  World  was  the  result.    Its  career  began 
in  June,   i860,  as  a  religious  daily,  conserva- 
tive in  character,   Republican  in  politics,  but 
mismanagement  prevented  his  carrying  out  his 
cherished  plan.     When  that  property  changed 
hands,   in    1861,    Mr.    Spalding   became   con- 
nected with  the  Nezi'  York  Times,  and  many 
of  the  most  powerful  appeals  to  the  country 
in  its  years  of  darkest  disaster  were  from  his 
pen.     His  published  addresses  are  "Spiritual 
Philosophy  and  Material   Politics"  and  "The 
True   Idea   of   Female   Education."      Richard 
Grant  White,  who   was   associated   with   Mr. 
Spalding  in  editorial  work,  said  of  him:   "Mr. 
Spalding's    vigor    and    elegance    have    never 
been  excelled  by  a  writer  upon  the  city  press." 
He  was  a  gentleman  of  the  most  liberal  cul- 
ture and  as  an  editor  stood  among  the  very 
foremost  of  his  profession.     He  was  a  man 
of  profound  convictions,  and  all  the  resources 
of  classical  culture,  of  historic  study  and  of 
extended  travel  were  always  at  his  command. 
He  married,  January  18,  1865,  Mary  Elizabeth 
Atwater,  born  in  Catskill,  New  York,  June  5, 
1837,    who   died   June    10,    1898;    one   child, 
Mary    Atwater,   born    October   24,    1866,   re- 
sides in  Catskill,  New  York. 

(Vlll)  Rev.  George  Piurley  Spalding,  son 
of  Dr.  James  and  Eliza  (Reed)  Spalding,  was 
born  August  11,  1835.  He  graduated  from  the 
University  of  Vermont,  1856,  studied  law 
with  Judge  W.  G.  M.  Davis,  of  Tallahassee, 
Florida ;  studied  theology  two  years  in  Union 
Seminary,  New  York  City,  and  one  year  at 
Andover,  Massachusetts,  graduating  1861. 
He  was  installed  as  minister  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church  at  Vergennes.  Vermont,  Octo- 
ber 5,  1861 ;  he  became  pastor  of  the  North 


Churcli  in  Connecticut  in  September,  1864 ;  he 
was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  First  Congre- 
gational Church  at  Dover,  New  Hampshire, 
September  i,  1869.  After  fourteen  years  as 
minister  of  this  old  historic  church  he  be- 
came pastor  of  the  Franklin  Street  Church, 
Manchester,  New  Hampshire;  October  i, 
1885,  he  was  installed  pastor  over  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Syracuse,  New  York. 
Dr.  Spalding's  literary  work  has  been  ex- 
tensive and  of  a  high  order.  He  was  chair- 
man of  the  school  committee  of  Dover,  presi- 
dent of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  State 
Normal  school,  a  member  of  the  constitutional 
convention  of  New  Hampshire  in  1877,  was 
representative  of  the  city  of  Dover  in  the  state 
legislature,  and  chaplain  of  that  body  in  1877. 
He  was  trustee  of  the  New  Hampshire  Mis- 
sionary Society,  of  the  State  Orphan  Home, 
trustee  of  Auburn  Theological  Seminary  and 
of  Hamilton  College.  Dartmouth  conferred 
upon  him  in  1878  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity,  and  Syracuse  University  in  1894 
conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Laws.  He  married,  August  6,  1861,  Sarah 
Livingstone,  daughter  of  Rev.  John  W.  Olm- 
stead,  D.D.,  editor  of  the  Watchman  and  Re- 
Hector,  the  leading  organ  of  the  P>aptist  de- 
nomination of  New  England ;  she  was  born 
October  28,  1838,  in  Little  Falls,  New  York; 
children :  (Jeorge  Burley.  Jr.,  graduate  of  Yale 
University,  clergyman  :  Mary  Livingstone,  still 
living;  Martha,  still  living;  Gertrude,  still  liv- 
ing. 


David  Atwater  and  his 
ATWATER     brother     Joshua,      sons      of 

John  Atwater  of  Roynton, 
Kent,  England,  were  enrolled  among  the  early 
settlers  of  New  Haven,  Joshua  being  one  of 
the  seven  pioneers  who  first  visited  that  place 
and  spent  a  winter  of  great  privation  there. 
David  is  credited  with  being  the  first  signer 
of  the  "planter  agreement."  His  residence 
and  farm  were  between  East  Rock  and  the 
Quinnipiack  river,  known  as  Cedar  Hill.  This 
land  is  yet  owned  by  his  descendants.  The 
land  owned  by  Joshua  Atwater  is  now  cov- 
ered with  buildings,  part  of  the  vast  Yale 
University  system.  David  Atwater  died  Oc- 
tober 5,  1692.  He  married  Damaris,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  Sayre,  of  Southampton,  Long 
Island.  Children:  i.  Mercy,  married  John 
Austin.     2.   Damaris,   married  John    Punder- 

son.     3.   David,   married  Joanna  .     4. 

Joshua,  born  January  11,  1652;  married  Lydia 
Rockwell,  died  November  27,  1681,  leaving 
no  children.  5.  John,  of  further  mention.  6. 
Jonathan,  married  Ruth,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Jeremiah  Peck.     7.  Abigail,  married  Nathan- 


3i6 


HUDSON   AND   .MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


iel  Jones.  8.  Mary,  married  (first)  Ichabod 
Stow;  (second)  David  Robinson.  9.  Samuel, 
married  Sarah  Ailing.  10.  Ebenezer,  married 
Abigail  Heaton. 

(H)  John,  son  of  David  and  Damaris 
(Sayre)  Atwater,  was  born  in  New  Haven, 
Connecticut,  November  i,  1654,  died  1748. 
He  settled  in  Wallingford,  upon  a  farm  which 
belonged  to  his  brother  Joshua.  He  was 
called  "Weaver."  He  married  (first)  Abigail 
Mansfield,  born  February  7,  1664,  died  Sep- 
tember 24,  1717;  married  (second)  Novem- 
ber 27,  1718,  Mary  Beach.  Children:  i. 
John,  married  Elizabeth  Mix.  2.  Abigail, 
married  Thomas  Hull.  3.  Mercy.  4.  Han- 
nah, married  Thomas  Beach.  5.  Joshua,  of 
further  mention.  6.  Moses,  married  (first) 
Sarah  Alerriman ;  (second)  Mary  Hotchkiss. 
7.  Phineas,  married  (first)  jNlary  Ward; 
(second)  Widow  Hannah  Ives.  8.  Caleb, 
married  Mehitable  Mix.  9.  Benjamin,  mar- 
ried (first)  Elizabeth  Porter;  (second)  Eliza- 
beth Merriman.  10.  Ebenezer,  married  Jane 
Andrews. 

(HI)  Joshua,  son  of  John  and  Abigail 
(Mansfield)  Atwater,  was  born  September  18, 
1693,  died  in  Wallingford,  Connecticut,  No- 
vember 29,  1757.  He  married  (first)  Mary, 
daughter  of  John  Peck,  January  17,  1723 ; 
married  (second)  Sarah,  daughter  of  The- 
ophilus  Yale,  died  July  13,  1784.  Children  by 
first  wife:  i.  Joshua,  born  1724,  died  1747. 
2.  Mary,  born  February  12,  1727.  Children 
by  second  wife:  3.  Caleb,  of  further  mention. 
4.  Sarah,  married  Charles  Hall. 

(IV)  Caleb,  son  of  Joshua  and  Sarah 
(Yale)  Atwater,  was  born  in  Wallingford, 
Connecticut,  September  7,  1741,  died  January 
III  1775-  He  was  a  shoemaker,  tanner,  har- 
nessmaker,  merchant  and  extensive  land 
owner.  He  was  one  of  the  Connecticut  Land 
Company,  which  purchased  of  the  state  of 
Connecticut  the  Western  Reserve  or  New 
Connecticut,  in  Ohio,  and  though  one  of  the 
largest  purchasers  paid  in  full  for  what  he 
had  contracted  when  he  received  his  deeds. 
The  land  included  all  of  the  townships  of  At- 
water in  Portage  county,  all  of  the  township 
of  Denmark  and  five  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  ninety  acres  in  Geneva,  Ashtabula  county, 
besides  that  in  other  counties.  The  township 
of  Atwater,  with  the  exception  of  two  hun- 
dred acres  set  apart  for  religious  purposes,  he 
gave  to  his  son  Joshua.  A  tract  in  .\uburn. 
Granger  county,  he  surveyed  into  sixty-five 
lots  of  one  hundred  acres  each,  giving  one 
lot  to  each  of  his  grandchildren,  numbering 
fifty-five.  The  balance  of  his  western  lancl 
he  divided  among  his  children.  He  was 
credited  at  the  time  with  being  the  wealthiest 


man  in  the  state  of  Connecticut.  He  was  re- 
leased and  freed  from  marching  in  the  Tenth 
Regiment  of  which  he  was  ensign,  as  he  had 
been  at  great  expense  and  had  long  carried 
on  the  manufacture  of  saltpetre  for  gun 
powder.  He  died  December  19,  183 1,  at  the 
age  of  ninety-one  years,  and  was  in  full  pos- 
session of  his  mental  faculties  until  the  end. 
He  married  (first)  March  12,  1766,  Abigail 
Jones,  died  January  11,  1775;  married  (sec- 
ond) January  22,  1776,  Ruth  Wadsworth. 
Children,  four  by  first  wife:  i.  Sarah,  born 
July  19,  1767;  married  Captain  ]\Ierrick.  2. 
Mary,  born  April  23,  1769;  married  Rev. 
David  L.,  son  of  Rev.  James  Beebe,  "the  sol- 
dier and  preacher."  3.  Lucy,  born  December 
8,  1770;  married  Ira  Day.  4.  Joshua,  of  fur- 
ther mention.  5.  James  Wadsworth,  died  in 
infancy.  6.  Abigail,  born  December  13,  1778; 
married  Dr.  John  Andrews.  7.  Catherine, 
born  March  24,  1781 ;  married  Thomas  Cook 
and  removed  to  Catskill,  New  York.  8.  Ruth, 
born  April  11,  1788;  married  Apollos  Cook 
and  removed  to  Catskill,  New  York. 

(V)  Joshua  (2),  son  of  Caleb  and  Abi- 
gail (Jones)  Atwater,  was  bom  in  Walling- 
ford, Connecticut,  February  8,  1773,  died 
April  19,  1862.  He  was  given  the  township 
of  Atwater,  Portage  county,  Ohio,  by  his 
father,  and  the  history  of  Portage  records  that 
"in  1805  the  proprietor  of  the  township, 
Deacon  Joshua  Atwater  with  Josiah  Mix, 
junior,  came  to  the  township  from  Connecti- 
cut, having  ridden  all  the  way  on  horseback. 
This  was  the  first  visit  of  Deacon  Atwater  to 
the  township."  Deacon  Joshua  married,  Octo- 
ber 22,  1793,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Aaron 
Cook,  died  October  2,  1799.  Chiklren:  i. 
Elizabeth,  born  August  4,  1794 ;  married  John: 
Barker.  2.  Caroline,  born  June  17,  1796; 
married  Dr.  Jared  P.  Kirtland.  3.  Emily, 
born  February  7,  1798;  married  Friend  Cook. 
4.  Abigail,  died  unmarried  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three  years.  5.  Mary,  died  at  the  age 
of  two  years.  6.  Captain  Caleb,  settled  in  At- 
water township.  Portage  county,  Ohio,  but 
returned  to  Wallingford;  he  married  (first) 
Julia  A.  Rice;  (second)  Elizabeth  L.  Clark. 
7.  Joshua,  of  further  mention.  8.  Thomas- 
C,  born  August  20,  1808;  married  Harriet  E. 
Cook.  9.  Lucretia.  died  aged  twelve  years. 
10.  Edgar,  married  Sarah  Yale.  11.  John, 
born  January  19.  1813,  was  the  last  surviving' 
of  these  thirteen  children,  died  November  30,. 
188 1,  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  highly- 
respected  townsmen  in  Wallingford,  Connec- 
ticut, active  in  business  and  deacon  of  the 
church:  he  married  (first)  Caroline  Diana 
Hall;  (second)  Eliza  A.  Hall,  both  daughters 
of   Russell  and   Mary    (Kirtland)    Hall.      12. 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


317 


'William,  born  August  5,  1817;  married  Eliza- 
'beth  Helfenstein.  13.  Mary  Ann,  born  May 
29,  1819;  married  Lieutenant  Garret  Barry, 
who  removed  to  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin ;  he 
and  his  son  William  were  drowned  when  the 
steamer  "Lady  Elgin"  was  lost  on  Lake  Mich- 
igan. 

(VI)  Joshua  (3),  son  of  Joshua  (2)  and 
Elizabeth  (Cook)  Atwater,  was  born  August 
26,  1806,  in  Wallingford,  Connecticut,  died  in 
Catskill.  New  York,  May  30,  1879.  He  re- 
moved to  Catskill,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
insurance  business.  "He  was  a  prominent 
resident  of  Catskill  for  nearly  fifty  years  and 
was  always  interested  and  most  helpful  in 
whatever  promised  to  promote  the  prosperity 
of  the  town  and  county.  He  was  everywhere 
known  as  an  upright,  kind-hearted,  charitable 
and  generous  Christian  gentleman.  For  many 
years  he  was  a  prominent  and  faithful  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  his  death 
made  the  world  poorer  by  the  loss  of  a  sin- 
cere and  good  man."  This  is  an  extract  from 
his  obituary  notice.  He  married  Mary  Hull, 
born  May  15.  181 1.  died  May  10,  1877,  daugh- 
ter of  Orrin  and  Mary  Burr  (Hull)  Day. 
Children:  i.  Henry  Day,  born  May  23,  1835  ; 
is  comptroller  of  savings  banks  in  New  York- 
state;  married,  October  10,  1866,  Mary 
Louise,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Rit- 
ter)  Steele:  resided  in  Brooklyn,  New  York; 
children:  Henry  Day  (2)  and  Louise  Sedg- 
wick. 2.  Mary  Elizabeth,  born  June  5,  1837, 
died  June  10,  1898 ;  married  James  Reed 
Spalding  (see  Spalding  VHI).  3.  Emily  A., 
born  October  30,  1845;  resides  in  Catskill, 
New  York,  unmarried. 


The  census  of  1790  shows 
DE  LONG     over  twenty  De  Longs  living 

in  New  York  state  who  mar- 
ried and  were  heads  of  families.  Most  of  the 
families  were  resident  of  .-Mbany  county  as 
then  constituted,  although  the  name  was  also 
found  in  Dutchess  and  Ulster  counties.  The 
town  of  Half-Moon  (now  Saratoga  county) 
was  the  home  of  many  of  the  name  at  that 
date.  The  De  Longs  of  Glens  Falls  descend 
from  Peter  Lewis  De  Long,  born  February 
13,  1761,  whose  father  was  said  to  have  been 
a  French  Huguenot  and  fled  from  France  to 
Holland,  later  coming  with  his  family  to  the 
new  world,  settling  first  in  New  Jersey,  later 
in  what  is  now  Dutchess  county.  New  York. 
Peter  L.  De  Lortg  had  brothers :  Jacobus, 
born  October  24,  1749  ;  Ragel,  August  7.  1752  : 
Gradas,  October  3,  1763:  Lsaac,  ^larch  21, 
1766,  died  in  infancy,  and  a  sister  Jeannette, 
born  September  26,  1753.  Peter  De  Long 
was  a  farmer  of  .\lbanv  countv.     He  married 


and  had  issue.  In  1790  he  was  a  resident  of 
the  town  of  Saratoga.  He  may  have  been 
the  father  of  the  family  named  above. 

(II)  Peter  Lewis  De  Long  is  not  named  in 
the  census  of  1790,  as  he  probably  was  not 
then  the  "head  of  a  family."  He  married  and 
had  issue,  among  whom  was  a  son  James 
Lewis. 

(III)  James  Lewis,  son  of  Peter  Lewis  De 
Long,  was  born  December  9,  1793,  died  April 
12,  1879.  He  married  Elizabeth  Deming,  born 
l-'cbruary  5,  1795,  died  April  8,  1872.  Chil- 
dren: Zopher  I.,  see  forward:  Sally,  born 
December  30,  1818,  drowned  May  24,  1824: 
Phebe  Ann,  November  17,  1822,  married 
(first)  George  Palmer,  (second)  James  Gil- 
bert; Lewis  J.,  November  10,  1826,  married 
Cynthia  Grey;  Abraham,  December  11,  1829, 
married  Hannah  Grey ;  Electa  E.,  May  4, 
1833,  married  George  Rockwell;  Melinda  M., 
May  27,  1836,  married  James  Grey;  Edwin 
S.,  May  17,  1839,  married  Christie  Gilbert. 

(I\')  Zopher  I.,  eldest  child  of  James 
Lewis  and  Elizabeth  (Deming)  De  Long,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Edingburg,  Saratoga 
county,  New  York,  July  9,  1815.  He  was  a 
merchant  and  for  many  years  conducted  a 
general  store  at  West  Day.  He  was  super- 
visor in  1843-44-45-46-47-58-59,  and  justice 
of  the  peace  1848.  He  later  removed  to  Glens 
Falls,  New  York,  where  he  died.  He  was 
president  of  the  village  corporation  of  Glens 
Falls,  and  supervisor  of  the  town  of  Queens- 
bury.  He  was  a  member  of  the  local  militia 
company,  and  a  man  much  respected  for  his 
energy,  enterprise  and  upright  character.  He 
married,  November  21.  1838,  Catherine  Lewis, 
daughter  of  Simon  and  Lydia  (Barker)  Scott. 
Children:  i.  Theodore  S.,  born  August  23, 
1839 ;  married,  October  7,  1869,  and  had  one 
child,  Roosa,  born  March  14,  187 1,  married 
Edward  F.  Irish.  2.  John  Barker,  see  for- 
ward. 3.  Cutler  J.,  see  forward.  4.  Eliza- 
beth lone,  born  March  25,  1848;  married 
William  P.  Tearse ;  children  :  Catherine,  born 
January  4,  1874;  Cornelia,  .''ipril  22,  1876; 
Clarence,  June  20.  1878 ;  Margaret,  October 
16,  1880:  Helen.  February  13.  1884:  Robert, 
December  8,  1885;  William  P.  (2),  October 
8,  1889.  5.  Daniel  P..  see  forward.  6.  Mar- 
garet, October  18,  185 1  ;  married  Joseph  D. 
Haviland ;  children:  lone,  born  -September  i, 
1873 :  Margaret,  November  7,  1875 ;  Daniel 
S.,  July  15,  1878;  Jessica,  October  i,  1883; 
Theodore,  July  27,  1893.  7.  George  Palmer, 
January  31,  1853 ;  married  Cynthia  Haux- 
hurst ;  children:  Ino  C  born  December  25, 
1877;  Scott,  June  3,  1883.  8.  Catherine  J., 
born  June  i,  1857:  married  Harvey  R.  T. 
Coflfin ;    children:     Theodore,    born    June    2r, 


3i8 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


1880;  Mildred,  June  14,  1882;  Earl,  July  12, 
1884 ;  Sanford.  deceased ;  Clarence,  deceased. 
(V)  John  Barker,  son  of  Zopher  L  and 
Catherine  Lewis  (Scott)  De  Long,  was  bom 
in  the  town  of  Day,  Saratoga  county.  New 
York,  January  20,  1843.  He  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools,  and  worked  in  his 
father's  store.  On  January  i,  i860,  he  en- 
tered the  employ  of  Daniel  Peck,  a  hardware 
merchant  of  Glens  Falls,  remaining  one  year, 
when  the  firm  of  Z.  L  &  T.  S.  De  Long  pur- 
chased his  entire  interest  and  the  business  was 
conducted  under  the  firm  name  of  Peck,  De 
Long  &  Company  until  January  i,  1862,  then 
changed  to  De  Long  &  Son,  which  was  con- 
tinued until  1872,  when  it  was  again  changed 
to  De  Long  &  Sons,  John  Barker  (who  was 
in  the  employ  of  the  firm  from  1861  to  1872) 
having  been  admitted  to  membership.  They 
conducted  a  most  successful  business  until 
the  death  of  Zopher  L  De  Long.  The  sons 
continued  the  business,  merely  changing  the 
firm  name  to  De  Long  Sons,  under  which 
title  the  business  has  since  been  conducted. 
John  B.  De  Long  is  a  director  of  the  First 
National  Bank,  and  is  considered  one  of  the 
subtantial  citizens  of  his  city.  He  served  as 
village  trustee  before  the  incorporation  of 
Glens  Falls  as  a  city,  and  has  always  taken 
a  warm  interest  in  all  that  affects  the  pros- 
perity of  the  city.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  which  he  has 
served  for  several  years  as  elder.  He  mar- 
ried, November  25,  1874,  Emma,  daughter 
of  John  S.  and  Anice  (Tearse)  Thompson. 
Children:  i.  Bertha  L.,  born  August  28, 
1877:  married,  November  i,  1899,  Clifford 
B.  Hall,  who  is  associated  with  the  firm  of 
De  Long  Sons:  children:  Marion  D.,  David 
Kenneth.  2.  Arthur  J.,  September  10,  1879; 
associated  with  the  hardware  firm  of  De  Long 
Sons.  3.  Mabel  E.,  June  8,  1882;  married, 
October  3,  1905,  H.  B.  Austin;  one  child, 
John  D.,  born  July  31,  1907.  4.  Charles  T., 
February  27,  1885. 

(V)  Cutler  J.,  son  of  Zopher  I.  and  Cath- 
erine Lewis  (Scott)  De  Long,  was  born  in 
Day.  Saragota  county,  New  York,  January  5, 
1846.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  at  Glens  Falls  Academy.  .'\s  a 
young  man  he  entered  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Glens  Falls  as  clerk,  later  he  became 
teller,  and  he  remained  with  the  bank  eight 
years.  His  next  position  was  with  the  whole- 
sale and  retail  grocery  business,  in  which  he 
remained  five  years.  In  1878  he  became  con- 
nected with  tile  Glens  Falls  Fire  Insurance 
Company,  and  is  at  present  its  treasurer  and 
one  of  the  directors.  He  served  as  trustee  of 
the  village  of  Glens   Falls  before  its   incor- 


poration as  a  city,  and  was  clerk  of  the  board 
of  trustees  for  a  number  of  years.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Democrat ;  in  religious  faith  a 
Presbyterian.  Mr.  De  Long  married,  July,. 
1 87 1,  Mary,  daughter  of  George  and  Mary 
(Hunt)  Clendon,  of  England.  Children:  i. 
Mary,  born  June  8,  1872 :  married  Charles  F. 
West,  of  Glens  Falls  ;  children  :  Mary,  Nancy, 
Cutler,  Edith,  Catherine.  2.  Annie,  April  27, 
1874 ;  married  James  S.  Warren,  of  Glens 
Falls.  3.  Helen,  September  11,  1875;  mar- 
ried Howard  J.  Bush,  of  Glens  Falls,  and  has 
a  son  Clendon.  4.  Catherine,  April,  1877; 
married  Robert  C.  Carter,  of  Glens  Falls ; 
children :   Eleanor,  Robert. 

(V)  Daniel  P.,  son  of  Zopher  I.  and  Cath- 
erine  Lewis    (Scott)    De  Long,  was  born   in 
the  town  of  Day,  Saratoga  county,  New  York, 
April    10,    1850.     He  was   educated   at   Glen' 
Falls   Academy.     He  began  his  business  ca- 
reer   in    the    dry   goods    store    of    Lasher    & 
Freleigh,    where    he    remained    seven    years. 
He  then  formed  a  partnership  with  William' 
H.  Robbins,  as  Robbins  &  De  Long.     They 
conducted  a  successful  dry  goods  business  in 
Glens  Falls.     Mr.  De  Long  withdrew   fromi 
the  dry  goods  business  and  became  interested' 
in  the  Glens  Falls  Brick  Company,  organized 
in   1840.     In   1886  he  became  sole  owner  of 
the  company,  which  has  continued  under  his 
wise  management,   and   is  known   as  one   of 
the  most  prosperous  concerns  of  the  county. 
He  is  an  able,  conservative  and  energetic  man' 
of  business   and   fully  equal  to  his   responsi- 
bilities, both  of  a  business  and  public  nature. 
He  served  three  terms  as  supervisor  of  the- 
town  of  Queensbury,  Warren  county,  and  for- 
one   term   was  chairman  of  the  board.      His- 
wise   business   ideas   were   of   great   value   in' 
conducting  county  business.     He  is  first  vice- 
president  of  the  Glens  Falls  Trust  Company, 
one  of  the  organizers  and  a  director  of  the- 
Empire    Real    Estate    &    Theatre    Company,, 
president  and  general  manager  of  the  Granite- 
P.rick   Company,  and   president  of  the  Glens 
Falls  Hospital.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic order,  belonging  to  Senate  Lodge,  N'o. 
45;6,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  being  raised' 
a  Mason  in  1871,  immediately  on  reaching  his- 
majority.     Politically  he  is  a  Democrat.     In 
1909  he  was  the  successful  candidate  of  his 
party    for  the   state   legislature.      During  the 
session  he  served  on  assembly  committees,  In- 
dian affairs  and  villages.     He  married  ICniily 
P.,  daughter  of  Archibald-  C.  and   Catherine 
(Pierce)  Tearse   (see  Tearse  III).     She  was- 
born    at    Stillwater,    Saratoga    county.    New 
York.     Children:    i.  Walter  J.,  born  October 
9,    1874.     2.   Archibald    Z.,   August   4,    1876; 
married,  January  24,  1905,  Ella  Hall,  daugh- 


/$<i/l 


(^.Va-. 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


319 


ter  of  William  Shields,  of  Boston.  3.  Robert 
B.,  January  9,  1879.  4.  Daniel  P.  (2),  Feb- 
ruary 24,  1887.  5.  Chester,  April  24,  1882, 
died  December  7,  1882.  6.  Elsie,  January  16, 
1886,  died  November  6,  1888. 

(The  Fraser  and  Campbell  Lines). 
Sarah  Fraser,  great-great-great-grand- 
niotlier  of  Mrs.  Emma  (Thompson)  De  Long, 
was  a  daughter  of  Simon  Fraser,  of  Balrain, 
Invernesshire,  Scotland,  and  was  born  in  that 
shire.  Her  father's  brother,  Alexander 
Fraser,  was  the  father  of  General  Simon 
Fraser,  who  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Sara- 
toga in  1777.  Sarah  Fraser  married  Alexan- 
der Campiiell,  and  went  to  live  in  Argyle, 
Scotland.  They  had  one  daughter  Katherine, 
who  married  Robert  Hunter.  He  died  shortly 
after  the  birth  of  a  daughter  "Polly."  On 
account  of  religious  differences  (they  having 
espoused  the  cause  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land), the  Campbells  decided  to  come  to 
America.  They  accordingly  sailed,  bringing 
with  them  their  daughter  Katherine  and 
granddaughter  Polly.  During  the  passage 
Mr.  Campbell  died,  and  Mrs.  Hunter  died  a 
year  after  her  arrival  in  America.  Mrs. 
Campbell,  being  possessed  of  considerable 
wealth,  decided  in  spite  of  these  troubles  to 
remain  in  America.  She  made  a  great  many 
friends,  and  after  a  time  married  a  Mr.  Mc- 
Neil. They  removed  to  the  town  of  Queens- 
bury,  where  they  bought  a  large  tract  of  land. 
Mr.  McNeil  died,  but  revolutionary  war  his- 
tory, as  well  as  family  records,  show  that  the 
widow,  Mrs.  McNeil,  and  her  granddaughter 
Polly  Hunter,  were  living  in  comfort  at  Fort 
Edward.  She  was  devotedly  attached  to  her 
adopted  country,  and  would  not  listen  to  the 
entreaties  of  her  friends  to  return  to  Scot- 
land. While  in  New  York  she  made  many 
acc|uaintances  among  the  Huguenots,  and  to 
one  of  them.  Adjutant  Peter  B.  Tearse,  an 
officer  in  the  continental  army,  Polly  Hunter 
became  engaged.  On  the  approach  of  Bur- 
goyne's  army,  July,  1777,  Adjutant  Tearse 
urged  them  to  go  to  Albany.  They  were  pre- 
paring to  go  on  the  morning  of  the  capture 
and  murder  of  Jane  McCrea,  who  was  visiting 
Mrs.  McNeil  at  that  time.  She  and  Polly 
Hunter  escaped  to  the  camp  of  General 
Fraser,  and  from  there  proceeded  to  Albany. 
When  General  Fraser  was  wounded  she  was 
able  to  reach  him  before  his  death.  At  the 
close  of  the  war,  Polly  Hunter  married  Peter 
Bailey  Tearse,  who  was  descended  from 
French  Huguenots,  and  was  born  in  New 
York  in  1753.  His  family  were  among  the 
few  who  escaped  the  massacre  of  St.  Barthol- 
omew in  1572.     They  made  their  way  to  this 


country  by  way  of  England.  He  was  lieu- 
tenant, captain,  and  finally  adjutant  in  Col- 
onel Willett's  company,  whose  daring  bravery 
won  one  of  the  most  brilliant  victories  of  the 
war.  He  was  one  of  the  most  able  men  of 
his  day.  Upon  his  return  to  Fort  Edward,  he 
rebuilt  the  old  home  which  is  one  of  the 
three  oldest  houses  in  the  town.  He  owned 
a  house  in  Albany,  where  he  resided  during 
the  winter.     He  died  in  1803. 

(H)  Katherine,  daughter  of  Alexander  and 
Sarah  (Fraser)  Campbell,  married  Robert 
Hunter. 

(HI)  Polly,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Kath- 
erine (Campbell)  Hunter,  married  Peter 
Bailey  Tearse. 

(IV)  William  Hunter,  son  of  Peter  Bailey 
and  Polly  (Hunter)  Tearse,  married  Mary 
Stewart. 

(V)  Annis,  daughter  of  William  Hunter 
and  Mary  (Stewart)  Tearse,  married  John 
S.  Thompson. 

(VI)  Emma,  daughter  of  John  S.  and 
Annis  (Tearse)  Thompson,  married  John 
Barker  De  Long. 

(The   Tearse   Line). 

Peter  Barclay  Tearse  was  born  in  New 
York  City  (probably)  in  1755.  He  served  in 
the  revolutionary  war  at  the  battle  of  Fort 
Stanwix,  and  was  later  in  an  Albany  regi- 
ment. He  was  descended  from  French  Hug- 
uenots. His  family  was  among  the  few  who 
escaped  the  massacre  of  St.  Bartholomew  in 
1572.  They  made  their  way  to  England  and 
thence  to  this  country.  He  was  a  lieuten- 
ant, captain  and  finally  adjutant  in  Colonel 
Willett's  company.  In  the  New  York  land 
papers  mention  is  made  of  the  claim  of  Peter 
B.  Tearse  of  fifteen  hundred  acres  of  land  in 
lieu  of  his  services  during  the  war.  He  stud- 
ied law  with  Yates  (afterward  governor  of 
New  York),  and  was  a  member  of  assembly 
in  1786-87-88-89,  also  town  moderator.  He 
was  one  of  the  most  able  men  of  his  day. 
Upon  his  return  to  Fort  Edward  after  the 
war,  he  rebuilt  the  homestead  which  today  is 
one  of  the  oldest  houses  in  the  town.  He 
owned  a  house  in  Albany,  and  resided  there 
during  the  winter.  He  died  in  1803.  He 
married  Polly  Hunter.  Children:  William 
H.,  see  forward :  Archibald ;  Mary,  married 
Peter  Finn :  Catherine,  married  John  Rey- 
nolds ;  Elizabeth,  married  Archibald  Derby ; 
Ann,  married  Amos  Green. 

(II)  William  H.,  son  of  Peter  Barclay  and 
Polly  (Hunter)  Tearse.  was  born  at  Glens 
Falls.  In  1813  he  married  Mary  Stewart.  He 
was  prominent  in  Masonic  circles ;  was  a 
member  of  Hamilton  Lodge,  No.   144,  Glens 


320 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


Falls :  advanced  to  honorable  degree  of  mark 
master  in  Glens  Falls  Chapter,  Xo.  55,  June 
20,  1819;  presided  as  master  in  the  chair,  July 
10,  1819;  received  and  acknowledged  as  most 
high  master,  July  10,  1819:  exalted  to  the 
■most  sublime  degree  of  the  Royal  Lodge,  July 
ID,  1819.  Children:  Archibald  C,  see  for- 
ward ;  Peter  William,  married  Lorinda  Moore- 
Tiouse ;  Robert  Hunter,  married  Lucinda  John- 
son :  Micajah  Potter,  died  young,  shot  by  ac- 
cident while  hunting:  Annis  Derby,  married 
John  S,  Thompson. 

(HI)  Archibald  C,  son  of  Willidte  H,  and 
Mary  (Stewart)  Tearse,  was  born  in  Glens 
Falls,  August  ID,  1814,  died  in  Michigan,  Jan- 
uary 25,  1877.  He  married  Catherine  Pierce, 
Tjorn  at  Bolton,  New  York,  January  12,  1817, 
died  June  13,  1903,  He  was  a  miller  in  Glens 
Falls,  and  later  removed  to  Grand  Rapids, 
Michigan,  where  he  continued  in  the  same 
business.  Children:  i.  William  P.,  born  June 
22,  1844;  married  lone  De  Long.  2.  Editha 
C.  August  27,  1848,  died  August  i,  1872; 
married  Avery  Selleck,  and  has  a  daughter 
Catherine.  3.  Addison,  died  young.  4.  Emily 
P.,  December  11,  1851  ;  married  Daniel  P.  De 
Ix)ng.  5.  Frederick  C,  March  3.  1854,  died 
]\Iarch   I,  1880.     6.  Jennie  C,  July  24,  1856. 

7.  Robert  E..  November  27,  1859. 

(The    Barker    Line). 

The  Barker  ancestry  of  Lydia  (Barker) 
Scott,  mother  of  Catherine  Lewis  Scott,  wife 
of  Zopher  L  De  Long. 

(I)  Jesse  Barker  was  a  soldier  in  the  rev- 
olution in  1778. 

(H)  Jesse  (2),  son  of  Jesse  (i)  Barker, 
was  born  April  21,  1761,  died  March  19,  1804. 
He  married  Prudence  Paine,  of  "Mayflower" 
ancestry,  bom  ]\Iay  3,  1755,  died  ]March  26, 
1848.  He  entered  as  private,  May  20,  1775, 
term  of  service  two  months  and  seventeen 
days,  from  Brimfield,  Massachusetts,  Captain 
Edward  Seagreave's  company,  Colonel  Joseph 
Reade's  regiment,  August  i,  1775.  Afterward 
he  re-cnlistcd  and  appears  in  bounty  coat 
rolls,  dated  December  21,  1775,  enlisted  from 
Brimfield,  Massachusetts,  in  continental  army, 
March  29,  1779,  term  to  expire  in  1780.  He 
appears  in  the  continental  army  pay  accounts 
of  Sixth  Company,  Colonel  Bailey's  regiment, 
for   service   from    April   3,    1777,   to   October 

8,  1778.  He  appears  as  a  private  in  the  re- 
turns of  Captain  Isaac  Warren's  company. 
Colonel  John  Bailey's  regiment,  dated  from 
camp.  Valley  Forge,  January  24,  1778 — a 
most  excellent  record. 

(HI)  Lydia,  daughter  of  Jesse  (2)  Barker 
born  1795,  died  1846:  married  Simon  Scott. 
(IV)  Catherine  Lewis,  daughter  of  Simon 


and    Lydia    (Barker)    Scott,   married   Zopher 
I.  De  Long. 


Adam  Barttelot,  an  esquire, 
BARTLETT  came  with  William  the  Con- 
queror and  seated  himself 
in  Ferring,  Sussex  county,  England ;  was  bur- 
ied at  Stopham.  From  Adam  the  line  con- 
tinues through  ten  generations  to  Edmund 
Barttelot,  of  Ernly,  who  died  1591.  He  had 
four  sons,  three  of  whom,  John,  Richard  and 
Thomas,  born  between  1589  and  1590,  came 
to  America,  John  and  Richard  locating  at 
Newbury,  Thomas  at  Watertown,  Massachu- 
setts. Richard  is  the  American  ancestor  of 
Dr.  Ezra  A.  Bartlett,  of  Albany,  New  York. 

(I)  Richard  Bartlett  came  to  Newbury  in 
the  ship  "Mary  and  John"'  in  1634,  being 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers.  Newbury  was 
not  incorporated  until  1635,  which  was  the 
date  of  his  settlement  there.  He  died  May 
25,  1647.  There  is  no  record  of  his  wife ; 
she  probably  having  died  in  England.  Chil- 
dren: I.  Richard  (2),  of  further  mention.  2. 
Christopher,  born  1623.  3.  John.  4.  Joanna, 
married  \\'illiam  Titcomb,  one  of  the  early 
settlers  and  proprietors  of  the  town  of  New- 
bury. 

(II)  Richard  (2),  son  of  Richard  (i) 
Bartlett,  was  born  in  England  in  1621,  died 
at  Newbury,  Massachusetts,  1698.  He  was, 
says  Coffin,  a  very  facetious  and  intelligent 
man,  resided  at  first  near  Old  Town  Hill,  but 
afterwards  moved  to  a  place  known  as  Bart- 
lett's  corner.  He  represented  Newbury  for 
four  years  in  the  general  court.  He  mar- 
ried Abigail  .     Children:      i.   Samuel, 

born  February  20,  1646,  married  Elizabeth 
Titcomb.  2.  Richard  of  further  mention.  3. 
Thomas,  September  7,  1650,  married  Tirza 
Titcomb.  4.  Abigail,  March,  1653.  5.  John, 
June  22,  1655,  married  Mary  Rust.  6.  Han- 
nah, December  18,  1657,  died  June  17,  1676, 
7.  Rebecca,   May  23,   1661, 

(III)  Richard  (3),  son  of  Richard  (2) 
and  -Abigail  Bartlett,  was  born  at  Newbury, 
Massachusetts,  February  21,  1649.  He  mar- 
ried, November  18,  1673,  Hannah  Emery,  of 
Newbury.  Children:  i.  Hannah,  born  No- 
vember 8,  1674,  married  John  Ordway.  2, 
Richard,  October  20,  1676,  married,  .April 
12,  1699,  Margaret  Woodman;  his  descend- 
ants became  prominent  citizens  of  the  state 
of  New  Hampshire.  3.  John,  September  23, 
1678,  married  Mary  Ordway  and  resided  on 
a  part  of  the  "old  place"  at  Newbury  and 
was  a  weaver  by  trade.  4.  Samuel,  died 
young.  5.  Daniel,  born  August  8,  iTiSs.  re- 
sided at  Newbury  and  there  died,  his  death 
being   caused    bv    the   extraction   of   a   tooth. 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


321 


6.  Joseph,  November  18,  1686,  died  1754;  in 
1707  he  was  drafted  and  sent  with  others  to 
Haverhill  to  defend  the  town  against  an  ex- 
pected attack  by  the  French  and  Indians 
from  Canada;  August  29,  1708,  he  with  others 
were  obliged  to  surrender  to  the  enemy,  Jos- 
eph first  secreting  his  gun  in  the  chimney  of 
Captain  W'ainwright's  house ;  he  was  carried 
a  prisoner  to  Canada  where  he  was  held  a 
■captive  over  four  years ;  he  afterwards  visited 
Haverhill,  found  his  gun  where  he  had  se- 
creted it,  and  it  finally  came  into  the  hands 
of  the  grandnephew,  Richard  Bartlett,  of 
Amesbury.  Massachusetts,  who  carried  it 
while  a  soldier  in  the  revolutionary  war;  the 
old  gun  afterwards  exploded  at  a  fourth  of 
July  celebration  and  can  now  be  seen  in  the 
rooms  of  the  New  Hampshire  Historical  So- 
ciety ;  Joseph  after  his  return  from  Canada 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Newton,  New  Hamp- 
shire, where  he  was  justice  of  the  peace  and 
a  deacon  of  the  church ;  he  was  twice  mar- 
ried and  left  many  descendants.  7.  Samuel 
(2).  May  16,  1689.  8.  Stephen,  of  further 
mention.  9.  Thomas,  July  14,  1695,  was  a 
tanner    and    lived    on    the    "old    place."      10. 

Mary,    September    15,    1697,   married  

Hill,  and  was  the  last  surviving  member  of 
her  family ;  at  her  funeral  the  minister  took 
for  his  text  "Last  of  all  the  woman  died 
-also." 

(I\')  Stephen,  son  of  Richard  (3)  and 
Hannah  (Emery)  Bartlett,  was  born  April  21, 
1691.  He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade;  accumu- 
lated property ;  built  a  large  house  a  short 
distance  above  Amesbury  ferry ;  later  pur- 
chasing a  farm  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
Amesbury  called,  "The  Lion's  Mouth"  on 
which  he  built  a  home  and  there  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  days.  He  married  Hannah 
Webster,  of  Salisbury,  whose  father  was 
"wealthy  in  landed  property."  Children:  i. 
Stephen,  died  October  5,  1759,  aged  thirty- 
two  years ;  he  married  Currier,  who 

lived  to  be  ninety  years  of  age.  Their  son. 
Captain  Enoch  Bartlett,  kept  a  store  in  .\mes- 
bury  for  over  fifty  years  and  held  many  po- 
sitions of  honor  and  trust  in  the  town.  2. 
Joseph,  married  a  daughter  of  Ichabod  Colby ; 
his  son,  Joseph  (2),  was  the  first  physician 
located  in  Salisbury,  New  Hampshire,  hav- 
ing studied  his  profession  with  his  uncle.  Gov- 
ernor Josiah  Bartlett,  of  Kingston,  New 
Hampshire;  his  descendants  were  especially 
distinguished  in  the  professions  and  in  the 
public  service  of  the  state  of  New  Hamp- 
shire. 3.  Simon,  born  June  17,  1727;  he  in- 
herited his  father's  farm  and  for  many  years 
was  one  of  the  prominent  business  men  of 
Amesbury ;  he  was  an  ardent  patriot  of  the 


revolution  and  chairman  of  the  New  Hamp- 
shire "Committee  of  Safety" ;  the  old  farm 
was  later  owned  by  the  town  of  Amesbury, 
and  on  it  was  built  the  town  almshouse;  he 
was  twice  married,  his  second  wife  being 
Hannali  Herbert,  sister  of  Lieutenant  Richard 
Herbert,  of  Concord.  4.  Josiah,  of  further 
mention.  5.  Levi,  resided  in  Amesbury  and 
had  sons  and  daughters.     6.  Hannah. 

(V)  Josiah,  son  of  Stephen  and  Hannah 
('\\'ebster)  Bartlett  was  born  in  Amesbury, 
Massachusetts,  November,  1728.  He  was 
highly-educated  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  be- 
gan the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Ordway, 
a  distant  relative.  He  completed  his  medical 
education  in  1750,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years,  and  at  once  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Kingston,  New  Hampshire.  He 
became  popular  as  a  physician  and  secured  a 
large  share  of  practice.  He  held  various 
town  offices,  including  that  of  magistrate,  and 
was  appointed  by  Governor  John  Wentworth 
colonel  of  the  New  Hampshire  regiment.  In 
1765  Colonel  Bartlett  began  his  political  career 
as  representative  for  the  town  of  Kingston, 
in  the  state  legislature,  becoming  one  of  the 
principal  leaders  in  the  house  where  a  strong 
party  had  become  opposed  to  Governor  Went- 
worth. In  February,  1775,  he  was  deprived 
of  his  commission  as  justice  of  the  peace  and 
dismissed  from  his  command  in  the  militia  by 
Governor  Wentworth  on  account  of  his  Whig 
principles.  In  the  summer  of  1775  he  was 
chosen  a  delegate  to  the  continental  congress 
in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  When  the  roll 
was  called  for  a  vote  on  the  adoption  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  beginning  with 
the  northernmost  state  "New  Hampshire," 
Colonel  Bartlett's  name  was  first  called,  who 
answered  in  the  affirmative.  The  president  of 
congress,  John  Hancock,  first  signed  the  Dec- 
laration and  Colonel  Bartlett  was  the  second 
signer,  thus  being  the  first  who  voted  for  it 
and  the  first  after  the  president  who  signed 
this  immortal  document.  He  returned  from 
congress  in  1776  worn  down  with  fatigue  and 
ill  health  and  did  not  again  attend  the  sittings 
until  1778.  In  the  meantime  he  engaged  in 
public  duties  at  home  and  in  providing  for 
the  forces  of  the  gallant  General  Stark  at 
Bennington,  Vennont,  whose  troops  were 
solely  under  the  control  of  New  Hampshire. 
In  May,  1778.  he  again  attended  as  delegate 
in  congress  which  sat  at  Yorktown,  \'irginia, 
the  British  then  occupying  Philadelphia.  In 
1780  he  was  appointed  chief  justice  of  the 
court  of  common  pleas,  also  in  the  same  year 
was  appointed  muster-master.  In  1782,  on 
the  resignation  of  Judge  Thornton,  he  was 
appointed    a    justice    of    the    supreme    court, 


322 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   \-ALLEYS 


which  office  he  held  until  he  was  appointed 
chief  justice  in  1788.  In  1787  the  convention 
assembled  at  New  York  to  devise  a  plan  for 
the  government  of  the  confederation  of  states. 
He  was  an  active  member  of  the  convention 
in  1788  which  adopted  it  and  was  chosen  sena- 
tor from  New  Hampshire  to  the  first  congress 
his  associate  being  Colonel  Langdon.  This 
honor  he  declined  through  the  infirmities  of 
age.  In  1790  he  was  elected  chief  magistrate 
of  New  Hampshire,  under  the  title  of  presi- 
dent. By  the  constitution  of  1792  the  title 
was  changed  to  that  of  governor  and  he  was 
elected  to  that  office  in  1792,  and  1793,  being 
the  first  governor  of  the  state.  Of  the  total 
number  of  votes  cast,  he  received  all  except 
297.  In  1792  he  was  presidential  elector.  In 
1794  Governor  Bartlett  retired  from  the  chair 
of  chief  magistrate  of  New  Hampshire,  ad- 
dressing a  letter  to  the  legislature  in  which 
he  declined  being  again  a  candidate  for  any 
public  office,  wishing,  as  he  says  "to  retire 
to  the  repose  of  a  quiet  life,  with  a  grateful 
sense  of  the  repeated  marks  of  trust  and  con- 
fidence that  my  fellow  citizens  have  reposed 
in  me,  and  with  my  best  wishes  for  the  future 
Peace  and  Prosperity  for  the  state."  On  the 
19th  of  May,  1795,  this  distinguished  patriot 
died,  being  in  his  sixty-sixth  year. 

He  married  Mary  Bartlett,  of  Newton,  New 
Hampshire,  who  died  in  1789.  Children:  i. 
Mary,  born  December  28,  1754,  married, 
March  12,  1780,  Jonathan  Greeley.  2.  Lois, 
June  I,  1756,  died  unmarried.  3.  Miriam, 
June  19.  1758,  died  May  17,  1785;  married 
Joseph  Caleb.  4.  Rhoda,  May  22,  1760,  mar- 
ried Reuben  True,  of  Salisbury,  New  Hamp- 
shire. 3.  Hannah,  August  31,  1762,  died  Sep- 
tember, 1762.  6.  Dr.  Levi,  born  at  Kingston, 
New  Hampshire,  September,  1763,  died  Janu- 
ary 30,  1828:  he  prepared  at  the  celebrated 
"Dummer  School,"  Newbury,  Massachusetts, 
and  after  studying  medicine  one  year  with  his 
father  completed  his  professional  studies  with 
Dr.  Thomas  Kittredge,  of  Andover ;  he  set- 
tled in  Kingston,  New  Hampshire,  where  and 
in  adjoining  times  he  soon  acquired  an  ex- 
tensive practice,  being  as  well  a  skillful  and 
successful  surgeon  ;  he  was  justice  of  the  peace 
and  quorom  throughout  the  state ;  colonel  in 
the  militia,  postmaster  for  many  years,  fre- 
quently represented  Kingston  in  the  legisla- 
ture ;  a  member  of  the  executive  council ;  presi- 
dential elector;  chief  justice  of  the  court  of 
common  pleas  and  judge  of  the  circuit  court; 
he  married  (first)  Sarah  Hook;  (second) 
Abigail  Stevens ;  his  children  were  equally 
eminent.  7.  Dr.  Josiah  (2),  born  at  King- 
ston, August  29,  1768,  died  April  16,  1838, 
like  his   father  and  brothers,  Josiah  was  an 


eminent  and  very  popular  physician  and  was 
also  prominent  in  public  life;  in  1809-10  he 
was  a  member  of  the  state  senate;  in  the  lat- 
ter year  was  elected  to  congress  and  for  sev- 
eral years  was  treasurer  of  Rockingham 
county ;  in  1824  was  again  elected  to  the  sen- 
ate of  New  Hampshire  and  was  chosen  presi- 
dent of  that  body,  in  the  same  year  was  presi- 
dential elector;  in  his  latter  years  was  to- 
tally blind ;  he  married  (first) Wingate, 

of  Stratham ;  married  (second)  Hannah, 
daughter  of  Major  William  Weeks ;  no  issue 
by  either  w'ife.  8.  Dr.  Ezra,  of  further  men- 
tion. 9.  Sarah,  born  July  29,  1773 ;  mar- 
ried, April  24,  1796,  Dr.  Amos  Gale.  10. 
Hannah  (2),  born  December  13,  1776,  died 
April   17,   1777. 

(VI)  Dr.  Ezra  Bartlett,  son  of  Governor 
Josiah  Bartlett,  "the  Signer."  and  his  wife, 
Mary  (Bartlett)  Bartlett,  was  born  Septem- 
ber 13,  1770,  died  December  5,  1848.  He  was 
a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College  and  like  his 
father  and  brothers  embraced  the  profession 
of  medicine.  For  several  years  he  practiced 
in  Warren,  Grafton  county,  New  Hampshire, 
removing  to  Haverhill  in  the  same  county  in 
1812.  He  was  a  distinguished  man  in  his 
day,  often  representing  the  towns  of  Warren 
and  Coventry  in  the  state  legislature.  He  was 
a  side  judge  in  the  court  of  common  pleas; 
state  senator  and  member  of  the  governor's 
council.  In  1806  he  was  appointed  judge  of 
the  court  of  common  pleas  for  Grafton 
county;  in  1816  judge  of  the  circuit  court; 
in  1820  chief  justice  of  the  court  of  sessions ; 
in  1822-23-24  councilor;  in  1820  presidential 
elector  and  again  in  1828  collector  of  internal 
revenue,  third  district  of  New  Hampshire.  He 
married,  January  30,  1790,  Hannah  Gale,  of 
Kingston,  New  Hampshire,  it  being  her  twen- 
ty-second birthday ;  she  died  September  8, 
1855.  Children:  i.  Laura,  born  October  20, 
1799,  married  Jacob  Bell,  farmer  and  mer- 
chant at  Haverhill,  New  Hampshire.  2. 
Josiah,  died  young.  3.  Josiah,  born  May  3, 
1803.  a  skillful  physician  and  esteemed  citizen 
of  Stratham,  New  Hampshire ;  he  met  his 
death  May  9,  1853,  being  a  passenger  on  the 
ill-fated  train  at  the  draw-bridge  disaster  at 
Norwalk,  Connecticut ;  he  married  and  had  is- 
sue. 4.  Hannah,  born  January  7,  1805,  mar- 
ried John  Blaisdell  and  removed  to  Alton,  Il- 
linois. 5.  Levi,  born  October  4,  1806,  grad- 
uate of  Dartmouth  College,  1827,  studied 
medicine  with  his  father  at  Haverhill  and 
at  Dartmouth  College,  graduating  M.D., 
1837;  practiced  in  Syracuse,  New  York,  a 
short  time,  then  removed  to  Skaneateles,  New 
York;  he  married  (first)  Amelia  Homman.  of 
Philadelphia;     (second)     Harriet    Elizabeth, 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK    VALLEYS 


323 


daughter  of  Dr.  J.  B.  Hopkins,  of  Skaneateles. 
6.  Alary,  born  August  23,  1808,  died  August 
6.  1830.  7.  Sarah,  born  April  23,  1810.  8. 
Ezra,  born  September  28,  181 1,  a  physician  at 
Exeter.  New  Hampshire ;  his  son,  Joseph  C, 
a  graduate  of  Harvard  College,  was  later  pro- 
fessor of  mathematics  at  the  same  college.  9. 
Amos  Gilman,  of  further  mention.  10.  Al- 
bert, born  May  2,  1815.  died  March  8,  1842. 
II.  Stephen  Madison,  born  June  22,  1817,  a 
physician,  practiced  for  several  years  at  Tus- 
keegee,  Alabama ;  his  health  failing  he  relin- 
quished his  profession  and  was  professor  in 
the  Female  College  from  1852  to  187 1,  and 
in  the  latter  year  was  appointed  to  a  clerkship 
in  the  United  States  treasury  department ;  he 
married  a  daughter  of  George  Hendee,  of 
Richmond.  Virginia. 

(VH)  Rev.  Amos  Gilman  Bartlett,  son  of 
Dr.  Ezra  and  Hannah  (Gale)  Bartlett.  was 
born  1814.  died  in  1880.  He  prepared  for 
the  ministry  and  was  ordained  and  preached 
in  New  Hampshire.  He  resided  in  Vineland, 
New  Jersey,  several  years. 

He  married  Georgianna  Matilda  Pike,  of 
New  England  ancestry,  born  in  1820.  died 
1874,  daughter  of  Joseph  S.  and  Sally  (Pet- 
ingill)  Pike:  children:  Joseph  A.,  Francis  P., 
Ezra  A..   Mary  Jane,  died  in  infancy. 

(\'ni)  Dr.'  Ezra  Albert  Bartlett,'  son  of 
Rev.  Amos  Gilman  and  Georgianna  Matilda 
(Pike)  Bartlett,  was  born  in  Newburyport, 
Massachusetts,  July  18,  1845.  He  graduated 
from  the  Atkinson  (New  Hampshire)  Acad- 
emy ;  entered  the  sophomore  class  of  Amherst 
College,  and  in  September,  1863,  enlisted  in 
Battery  M,  Fourth  United  Sta"tes  Artillery, 
serving  until  1866.  He  passed  through  the 
non-commissioned  rank  and  in  1865  ^^'^s  pro- 
moted first  lieutenant  of  Seventh  Massachu- 
setts Heavy  Artillery  unattached,  but  never 
mustered.  He  graduated  from  Rochester  Uni- 
versity in  1870:  studied  medicine  with  his  un- 
cle, Dr.  Levi  Bartlett,  of  Skaneateles,  New 
York,  and  with  Dr.  Samuel  B.  \\'ard,  of  Al- 
bany ;  received  the  degree  of  M.D.  from  the 
Albany  Medical  College  in  1879.  and  since 
then  has  practiced  his  profession  in  Albany. 
He  is  ex-president  of  the  Albany  County  Med- 
ical Society ;  member  of  the  American  Elec- 
tro-Therapeutic Association ;  member  of  the 
faculty  of  the  National  College  of  Electro- 
Therapeutics  at  Indianapolis,  Indiana :  mem- 
ber of  the  staff  of  the  Albany  City  Hospital : 
member  of  the  Medical  Society  of  the  State 
of  New  York  and  American  Medical  Asso- 
ciation, and  a  member  of  George  S.  Dawson 
Post,  No.  63,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
and  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution.  He  has  been 
a  lecturer  in  the  Albany  Medical  College  since 


1881 :  was  for  six  years  a  member  and  presi- 
dent of  the  old  Albany  Academy  of  Medi- 
cine. He  married;  in  187 1,  Jennie  S.,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Sargent,  of  Rochester,  New  York. 
They  have  one   son. 

(iX)  Frank  Sargent,  son  of  Dr.  Ezra  Al- 
bert and  Jennie  S.  (Sargent)  Bartlett.  was 
born  March  10,  1886.  He  graduated  at  the 
Rensselaer  Polytechnic  Institute,  Troy,  New 
York,  now  with  the  General  Electric  Company 
with  offices  in  New  York  City.  He  married 
Kathryn  Hitchler. 


The  clan  Finley  of  Scotland,  a 
FINLEY     Highland  family  of  the  country 

in  the  vicinity  of  Inverness,  is 
said  to  be  one  of  the  most  ancient  of  all 
Highland  clans.  The  late  Rev.  John  Bor- 
land Finley,  Ph.D.,  Kithaurny,  Pennsylvania, 
who  was  an  ardent  lover  of  family  history  and 
devoted  much  time  and  labor  in  researches, 
says :  "The  Clan  Finley  is  the  most  ancient 
and  whole  family  of  Scotland,  and  existed  be- 
fore a  Campbell  or  a  Stewart  or  a  Cameron 
or  a  MacDonald  had  an  existence."  By  the 
same  authority  the  origin  of  the  clan  is  de- 
rived from  "Macbeth."  "The  Encyclopedia 
Britannica"  says  in  substance  "Macbeth  (son 
of  Finley,  a  Celtic  chieftain  in  Scotland,  and 
mormaor  of  Moray,  son  of  Ruadher)  suc- 
ceeded his  father  as  mormaor  of  Moray,  be- 
came a  successful  general  under  and  after- 
wards revolted  against  and  killed  in  battle, 
Duncan,  King  of  Scotland.  Upon  Duncan's 
death  he  succeeded  to  the  crown  and  reigned 
as  king  of  Scotland  from  A.D.  1040  until 
his  death  in  1057."  Dr.  Finley  ascribes  the 
downfall  of  the  clan  to  Macbeth's  death,  which 
was  brought  about  by  a  mere  party  combina- 
tion, after  which  the  clan  was  declared  to  be 
illegal,  and  the  tartan  and  the  clan  were  known 
as  that  of  Farquharson.  It  is  possible  that 
some  kinship  may  have  existed  between  the 
families  of  Finley  and  Farquharson,  one  of 
the  latter  name  who  was  slain  at  Pinkie  in 
1547,  bore  the  name  of  Finley  Mor  on  ac- 
count of  his  great  height  and  strength.  The 
clan  was  in  existence  as  a  clan  long  after 
the  days  of  Macbeth.  This  fact  is  certain 
and  also  the  facts  are  certain  of  its  existence 
during  the  sixteenth  century,  and  that  some 
time  before  the  seventeenth  century  the  for- 
tunes of  the  clan  had  fallen.  At  some  time 
after  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury the  clan  began  to  migrate  from  Inver- 
ness, southward  into  the  lowlands  and  south- 
westerly toward  the  western  coast  of  Scot- 
land. Certain  members  stopped  on  the  west- 
erly coast  of  Scotland,  others  crossed  over 
into  the  north  of  Ireland.    The  Irish  branches 


324 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


are  very  numerous,  perhaps  the  best  known 
individual  of  the  Irish  settlers  was  late  Sir 
Thomas  Finley,  of  Sugarloaf,  Betterby  coun- 
ty, Caran.  The  earliest  known  spelling  of  the 
name  is  Finlig,  subsequently  Finligh  and  Fin- 
ley.  According  to  Dr.  Finley,  the  names  Fin- 
ley,  Finlay,  Findlay,  Findley,  are  identical  in 
origin,  the  name  Finley  being  Scotch,  pure 
and  simple,  and  all  others  modern  and  merely 
an  attempt  to  Anglicize  it.  The  name  itself 
certainly  suggests  Celtic  ancestry,  and  it  is 
more  than  probable  that  when  the  Finleys  of 
Inverness  crossed  over  during  the  seventeenth 
century  into  the  northern  part  of  Ireland  they 
were  simply  returning  to  the  "Scotch  Magir" 
whence  their  ancestors  had  departed  many 
centuries  before. 

During  the  period  between  1700  and  1750 
there  was  considerable  and  continuous  emi- 
gration of  the  Scotch-Irish  to  America,  and 
among  them  were  many  of  the  clan  Finley. 
who  gave  of  their  sterling  stock  for  the  set- 
tling of  the  colonies.  On  the  24th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1734,  Michael  Finley  with  seven  sons, 
the  names  of  five  of  whom  are  definitely 
known,  arrived  in  this  country  from  the 
county  of  Armagh,  province  of  Ulster,  Ire- 
land, and  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  ultimately 
in  Chester  county.  Michael  Finley  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  a  Presbyterian  in  re- 
ligion, and  among  his  sons  is  one  Samuel 
Finley,  who  became  the  Rev.  Samuel  Finley, 
M.A.,  D.D.,  president  of  Princeton  College, 
New  Jersey.  The  other  brothers  were  the 
Rev.  James  Finley,  John,  William,  and 
Michael  Finley.  It  is  known  that  the  first 
five  married,  and  now  have  descendants  living 
in  various  parts  of  this  country.  Samuel  was 
nineteen  when  he  came  to  .America.  He  was 
ordained  a  minister  in  1743,  settled  in  West 
Nottingham,  Maryland,  where  in  an  academy 
which  lie  established  he  qualified  many  youths 
for  usefulness.  His  intense  a]iplication  to  his 
duties  impaired  his  health  and  he  went  to 
Philadelphia,  where  he  died,  July  16,  1766,  in 
the  fifty-first  year  of  his  age.  His  grave  is 
in  Arlington,  Pennsylvania.  He  received  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  the  Uni- 
versity of  Glasgow.  Dr.  Finley  was  twice 
married,  his  first  wife  being  Sarah  Hall,  an 
aunt  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush,  and  they  had 
the  following  children:  i.  Susannah,  married 
Isaac  Snovvdon,  and  from  this  marriage  most 
of  the  present  Snowdons  of  Pennsylvania  de- 
scend. 2.  Rebecca,  married  Samuel  Breese, 
and  their  daughter,  Ann  Breese,  married  Rev. 
J.  Morse,  one  of  their  children  being  Samuel 
Finley  Breese  Morse,  the  inventor  of  the  tele- 
graph. 3.  Ebene/.er,  a  captain  in  the  Mary- 
land line  during  the  revolution,  and  who  later 


settled  in  Ohio,  leaving  no  children.  4.  James 
Edward  Burr,  a  surgeon  in  the  revolutionary 
war,  who  ultimately  settled  in  Charlestown, 
South  Carolina.  5.  Joseph,  a  physician,  who 
died  in  early  life.  6.  John  H.,  a  lieutenant 
in  the  Pennsylvania  line  during  the  revolution 
and  a  graduate  of  Princeton  College ;  he  mar- 
ried Martha  Berkley  and  settled  in  West- 
moreland county,  Pennsylvania.  7.  Samuel,  a 
graduate  of  Princeton,  a  physician  and  sur- 
geon in  the  Massachusetts  line  during  the 
revolutionary  war. 

Dr.  John  H.  Finley,  president  of  the  Col- 
lege of  the  City  of  New  York,  is  a  descend- 
ant of  one  of  the  brothers  of  President  Sam- 
uel Finley,  of  Princeton.  Lieutenant  John 
H.  Finley,  sixth  child  of  President  Samuel 
Finley,  probably  settled  in  Westmoreland. 
Pennsylvania.  His  first  son,  Major  John  Fin- 
ley. was  the  first  white  man  to  visit  the  coun- 
try now  forming  the  state  of  Kentucky.  He 
settled  at  Blue  Licks,  Kentucky.  The  second 
son,  Michael,  settled  at  Mud  Licks,  Kentucky. 
The  third  son.  Major  .Samuel  Finley,  was  a 
major  in  the  Virginia  line  at  the  time  of  the 
revolution,  and  commanded  a  regiment  of 
riflemen  in  the  war  of  1812.  Robert  Finley, 
D.D.,  president  of  Franklin  College.  Athens, 
Georgia,  was  a  native  of  Princeton,  and  grad- 
uated at  that  college  in  1787.  He  died  in  1817, 
aged  forty-five  years.  John  Harris,  whose  son 
was  the  founder  of  Harrisburg,  settled  on  the 
Susquehanna  before  1730.  Associated  with 
him  after  that  date,  among  others  was  John 
Finley,  who  married  the  daughter  of  Harris 
in  1744.  He  made  trading  trips  from  the 
Harris  settlement  during  that  decade  as  far 
west  as  the  present  state  of  Ohio,  and  there 
is  reason  to  believe  that  he  penetrated  to  the 
Yadkin  \'alley  before  1750.  In  1752  he  tra- 
versed northern  Kentucky  as  far  as  the  falls 
of  the  Ohio  river.  He  served  in  Braddock's 
campaign  of  1735  as  a  companion  of  Daniel 
Boone,  whose  father  had  removed  from  Bucks 
county  and  settled  on  the  Yadkin  at  Homan's 
Ford  in  1748. 

Dr.  John  McMillan  and  the  Finleys  estab- 
lished more  than  a  dozen  colleges  in  the  west 
and  south.  It  has  been  the  boast  of  LHster- 
men  that  the  first  general  who  fell  in  the  rev- 
olution was  an  Ulsterman,  Richard  Montgom- 
ery, who  fought  at  the  siege  of  Quebec ;  and 
that  Samuel  Finley,  president  of  Princeton 
College,  and  Francis  Allison,  had  a  conspicu- 
ous i)lace  in  educating  the  American  mind  to 
independence. 

(I)  The  Finleys  now  resident  in  Troy,  de- 
scend from  an  Irish  ancestor,  Goin  Finley,  a 
descendant  of  the  Scotch  family  previously 
chronicled.     Goin  Finley  came  to  this  country 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS  ' 


32s 


about  1730.  In  1734  he  was  a  resident  of 
Editartown  and  in  1739  was  received  into  the 
church,  as  from  Ireland,  with  his  wife  ^^ary, 
and  on  Au,s^ust  2  of  that  year  their  children. 
Samuel,  John,  William,  Margaret,  Elizabeth 
and  Mary  were  baptized.  In  the  next  year 
Jane  was  baptized. 

The  church  records  show  the  admission  of 
Abraham  Finley  and  wife  Elizabeth  a  few 
weeks  after  Cioin  was  received.  Agnes  Wheir 
a  sister  of  Goin,  was  also  a  resident  in  Ed- 
gartown.  His  son  Samuel  married  Hannah, 
daughter  of  James  Hamlin,  of  Edgartown, 
probably  a  widow  of  John  Selew,  of  Glaston- 
bury. Some  time  between  1739  and  1746  Coin 
Finley  settled  with  his  brother  John  and  pos- 
sibly sister  Elizabeth  at  Glastonbury,  Con- 
necticut. In  1746  Goin  Finley  bought  one 
hundred  acres  of  land  from  Elizabeth  Bing- 
ham. Another  deed,  April  28,  1752,  bears  his 
name. 

His  will  dated  June  29,  1767.  and  pro- 
bated July  2,  1771,  mentions  his  wife  Mary, 
daughters  Margaret  Cdiiel,  and  Elizabeth 
Chamberlain,  sons  Samuel  and  John,  and 
daughters  Jane  and  Anne.  It  gives  the  land 
in  the  "Parish  of  Marlborough  where  Samuel 
now  lives." 

(II)  Captain  Samuel  Finley,  son  of  Goin 
and  Mary  Finley,  in  will  dated  Glastonbury, 
Connecticut,  February  7,  1793,  mentions  "my 
wife,  Lydia,"  "son  Samuel  to  have  house 
where  he  now  lifes  ( Parish  of  Marl- 
borough) ;  my  grandsons  John  Jones  and 
Samuel  Finley  Jones  and  my  son  David." 
Captain  Samuel  Finley's  will  was  probated 
October  6,  1797.  A  codicil  dated  January  18, 
1797,  "having  intelligence  that  John  Jones 
has  gone  to  sea  and  all  on  board  ship  lost." 
Samuel  Finley  Jones  was  to  have  his  broth- 
er's part  of  the  bequest.  He  died  August  i, 
1797,  aged  seventy-five  years.  He  had  Sam- 
uel, David  and  a  daughter  who  married  John 
Jones. 

As  showing  the  strength  of  religious 
conviction  in  that  period,  the  following  inci- 
dent as  quoted  by  i\Ir.  Hanna  (author  of 
The  Scotch-Irish  in  America)  is  interesting,  it 
being  understood  that  the  established  religion 
of  New  England  was  according  to  the  Con- 
gregational form,  while  Princeton,  New  Jer- 
sey, and  Philadelphia  were  Scotch  Presby- 
terian. In  Milford,  New  Haven  county,  Con- 
necticut, in  1741,  a  considerable  minority  of 
the  people  left  the  established  Congregational 
cliurch  and  "professed  themselves  to  be  Pres- 
byterians according  to  the  church  of  Scot- 
land." Thirty-nine  of  these  people  qualified 
themselves  under  the  Toleration  Act  and  es- 
tablished a  Presbyterian  church  there  in  1742. 


The  Rev.  Benajah  Case  preached  to  them  on 
the  17th  of  that  month,  for  which  ofTense  he 
was  fined  and  imprisoned.  The  people  made 
preparations  to  build  a  meeting  house  in 
May.  1742.  but  the  town  refused  to  let  them 
build  it  on  the  common.  In  1743,  at  the 
request  of  the  congregation,  the  New  Bruns- 
wick Presbytry  sent  them  as  a  supply  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Finley,  afterward  president  of  Prince- 
ton College.  He  preached  at  Milford,  August 
25,  and  at  New  Haven  on  September  i.  For 
this  offense  he  was  prosecuted,  tried  and  con- 
demned. For  disturbing  the  peace  of  the 
community.  Governor  Law  ordered  him  trans- 
ported as  a  vagrant  from  town  to  town  out 
of  the  colony.  This  treatment  was  considered 
by  some  of  the  foremost  civilians  of  Connec- 
ticut, and  of  the  city  of  New  York,  to  be  so 
contrary  to  the  spirit  and  letter  of  the  British 
constitution  as  to  work  a  forfeiture  of  the 
colonial  charter. 

(Ill)  Samuel  (2),  son  of  Captain  Samuel 
(i)  and  Lydia  Finley,  was  born  in  1749.  He 
married,  1772,  Delight,  daughter  of  Solomon 
Phelps,  of  Hebron,  Connecticut ;  died  at  Gen- 
eseo.  New  York,  October  6,  1806.  Children : 
Samuel  and  David  were  baptized  in  1778,  De- 
light in  June,  1780,  Sophia  Barber,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1794.  In  1805,  Samuel  Finley  re- 
moved with  his  wife  and  four  children  to  the 
opening  of  the  Geneseo  A'alley  by  the  Wads- 
worth  family  and  settled  at  Geneseo,  New 
York.  (See  report  of  the  Centennial  of  the 
town  of  Marlborough.)  A  considerable  num- 
ber of  the  residents  of  the  town  of  Marlbor- 
ough went  to  Geneseo  in  1805  and  later. 
Among  those  were  the  following  who  were 
dismissed  from  the  church  that  year:  Joseph 
Kneeland.  David  Kneeland  and  wife,  .Sanuiel 
Finley  and  wife.  Deacon  Skinner  and  wife, 
several  of  the  sons  going  with  them,  all  rec- 
ommended to  the  church  of  Christ  in  Geneseo. 
The  Congregational  Society  was  organized  in 
Geneseo,  May  5,  1810,  with  twenty-five  mem- 
bers, among  them  David  Skinner,  Jerusha 
Skinner,  David  Kneeland,  Mercy  Kneeland^ 
Dolly  R.  Beach,  Delight  Finley.'  Betsy  Fin- 
ley and  Abigail  Case.  James  Wadswor'th,  son 
of  John  Wadsworth  of  Durham.  Connecticut, 
and  a  descendant  of  \\'illiam  Wadsworth,  of 
Hartford,  Connecticut,  was  born  in  Durham, 
April  20,  1768.  In  1790  James  Wadsworth 
and  his  brother  William  removed  to  the  Gen- 
eseo Valley.  All  provisions  had  to  be  hauled 
through  tile  forests,  and  they  took  several 
laborers  with  them  to  clear  the  land.  They 
ascended  the  Hudson  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Mohawk,  thence  to  Schenectady.  Within  a 
few  years  they  had  erected  a  grist  mill  and  a 
saw  mill  at  Geneseo.     James  attended  to  the 


326 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


duties  of  the  land  office  while  William  farmed 
and  raised  stock.  Geneseo  was  then  consid- 
ered to  be  the  "far  west."  Wadsworth,  in 
1805.  wrote  to  Samuel  Finley  that  he  was  de- 
sirous of  securing  settlers  and  offered  three 
farms  in  Geneseo  in  exchange  for  an  old  farm 
at  the  old  residence,  Marlborough,  provided 
the  families  were  thrifty  and  of  good  prin- 
ciple. In  1803  Wadsworth  had  fixed  the 
value  of  the  land  at  four  and  five  dollars  per 
acre  and  offered  five  thousand  acres  for  sale. 
The  journey  from  New  York  City  to  Geneseo, 
two  hundred  and  twenty  miles,  was  made  in 
twenty  days  in  November,  1804,  one  hundred 
bushels  of  wheat  in  oiie  load  being  drawn  by 
four  yoke  of  oxen.  Major-General  William 
Wadsworth  held  the  office  of  supervisor  for 
twenty-one  years.  In  1834  the  Congregational 
Society  adopted  the  form  of  government  of 
the  Presbyterians,  becoming  the  Second  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Geneseo ;  the  first  was 
organized  in  1795  by  settlers  from  Pennsyl- 
vania of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  Temple  Hill 
was  early  selected  by  Wadsworth  for  an  acad- 
emy site.  In  1827  the  present  (1876)  acad- 
emy buildings  were  complete. 

(I\')  David,  son  of  Samuel  (2)  and  De- 
light (Phelps)  Finley,  was  born  in  Marl- 
borough, Connecticut,  1777,  died  in  Avon, 
New  York,  December  23,  1812.  He  married, 
November  5,  1800,  Jerusha  Skinner.  Chil- 
dren: 

I.  Frances,  born  August  6.  1801  ;  mar- 
ried George  Paddock.  2.  Jerusha,  May  11, 
1804,  died  in  Oconomowoc,  Wisconsin,  March 
14,  1841 ;  married  Gustavus  Foster.  3.  Homer 
Skinner,  October  30,  1808,  died  in  Cobden,  Il- 
linois, July  5,  1881  ;  married  Eliza  Barrows. 
4.  David,  see  forward. 

(V)  David  (2),  son  of  David  (i)  and 
Jerusha  (Skinner)  Finley,  was  born  August 
10,  181 2,  in  Avon,  New  York.  He  spent  the 
early  years  of  his  life  in  the  then  "far  west" 
of  Indiana  and  Wisconsin.  He  was  settled  at 
Michigan  city  in  1836  where  he  married 
(first)  Lucy  Ann  (Sumner)  Thorndyke,  who 
died  December  21,  1839;  no  issue.  David 
Finley  then  removed  to  Milwaukee,  remaining 
in  Wisconsin  until  about  1845,  when  he  came 
east,  settling  in  Champlain,  New  York,  where 
he  lived  until  his  death,  August  30,  1881.  He 
established  in  Champlain  a  foundry  and  ma- 
chine shop,  which  is  still  continued  as  the 
Sheridan  Iron  Works.  He  married  (second) 
Susan  Barlow  Weeks,  of  St.  Albans,  Ver- 
mont, who  still  resides  at  Champlain.  Chil- 
dren:  William,  Frances  .Aurelia,  Margaret 
Cornelia,  Helen  Maria,  Charles  Homer,  Hor- 
ace Blunt,  William,  David.  Horace  Blunt  Fin- 
ley has  been  a  resident  of  Troy  since  1883. 


Those  in  the  United  States 
LOUCKS  who  bear  the  name  Laux, 
Loux,  Lauck,  Laucks,  or 
Loucks  descend  from  a  common  ancestor,  the 
father  of  Philip  and  Nicholas  Laux,  Palatin- 
ates, who  came  to  the  American  colonies  in 
the  emigration  of  1710.  The  origin  of  the 
family  is  recorded  in  the  ancient  chronicles 
of  the  region  on  either  side  of  the  Pyrenees, 
in  the  extreme  southeast  of  France,  the  head 
of  the  family  as  traced  being  Inigo  Lope  du 
Laux,  Seigneur  de  Biscaye  and  Count  of  Al- 
ava,  who  had  two  sons,  one  of  whom,  Guil- 
laume  Sanche  du  Laux,  being  the  founder  of 
the  house  or  family  from  whom  all  those  bear- 
ing the  name  of  Laux  descend.  The  family 
was  rich  and  powerful,  holding  high  and  im- 
portant offices  in  the  state.  In  later  genera- 
tions many  of  the  members  of  the  several  fam- 
ilies became  Protestants  and  suffered  in  con- 
sequence. 

The  Pluguenot  forefathers  of  Philip  and 
Nicholas  Laux  settled  in  the  Palatinate  of  the 
Rhine  in  Hesse-Darmstadt  and  Hesse-Nassau, 
their  parents  or  grandparents  going  there  pre- 
vious to  the  Revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes 
and  settling  during  the  religious  war  known 
in  history  as  the  "Thirty  Years  War."  Ger- 
many had  barely  begun  to  recover  from  the 
effects  of  the  war,  which  was  more  severely 
felt  in  the  Palatinate  than  in  any  other  part 
of  the  Fatherland,  when  the  wars  of  Louis 
XIV.  of  France  began,  and  life  was  again 
made  a  horror  for  the  inhabitants.  On  the 
advice  of  the  leading  generals  of  the  French 
King,  the  Palatinate  was  ordered  to  be  de- 
stroyed and  soon  but  the  blackened  ruins  of 
cities,  towns,  and  hamlets  remained.  To 
flee  from  such  horrors  and  to  escape  the 
vengeance  of  the  French  King,  who  was  par- 
ticularly bitter  against  his  Protestant  subjects 
who  had  fled  from  his  tyranny,  is  why  thirty 
thousand  Palatinates  went  to  London,  Eng- 
land, for  the  kind-hearted  English  Queen 
Anne  had  invited  the  distressed  Protestants 
of  Germany  to  make  their  home  in  her  Ameri- 
can colonies.  In  this  company  were  Philip 
and  Nicholas  Laux  with  their  families. 

Of  these  many  went  back  to  Germany  and 
several  thousand  were  sent  to  Ireland,  where 
they  found  homes  in  county  Limerick.  Thou- 
sands more  perished  at  sea  and  on  shipboard 
from  fever  and  want  of  food.  Four  thou- 
sand, among  them  Phili])  and  Nicholas  Laux, 
left  England  in  ten  vessels  on  Christmas  day 
in  1709  and  after  a  perilous  voyage  of  six 
months  arrived  at  New  York,  June  14,  17 10. 
Of  tlie  four  thousand,  seventeen  hundred  died 
at  sea,  and  while  in  the  act  of  landing.  The 
remaining    twenty-three    hundred    were    en- 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


327 


■camped  in  tents  on  Nutting,  now  Governor's 
Island,  New  York  Harbor.  In  the  late  aut- 
umn fourteen  hundred  were  taken  one  hun- 
dred miles  up  the  Hudson  river  to  Living- 
ston Manor,  where  they  were  shamefully 
treated  by  Governor  Hunter  and  associates. 
As  Queen  Anne  had  expended  ten  thousand 
pounds  in  bringing  them  to  America  they 
Avere  expected  to  repay  the  government  under 
a  contract  by  making  tar,  pitch,  and  raising 
heinp  (naval  stores)  in  America,  for  a  cer- 
tain period.  The  plan  proved  a  failure  and 
the  Palatinates  again  became  desperate,  for 
they  were  suffering  for  the  necessaries  of  life. 
The  Palatinates  were  men  of  honor  and  will- 
ing to  carry  out  the  terms  of  their  contract, 
"but  the  forests  and  soil  were  not  suitable  for 
the  production  of  naval  stores.  They  more- 
over showed  their  devotion  by  enlisting  in  the 
Canadian  expedition  of  171 1,  fully  one-third 
of  the  able-bodied  men  serving  in  that 
campaign.  They  were  to  receive  wages  the 
same  as  other  soldiers,  their  families  were 
to  be  taken  care  of  and  the  arms  they  fought 
with  were  to  be  retained  on  their  return. 
Many  lost  their  lives  in  the  campaign  and  the 
survivors  found  their  families  in  a  famished 
condition  on  their  return,  no  food  having  been 
given  them  by  the  colonial  government,  as 
promised.  Their  arms  were  also  taken  away. 
Then  their  hatred  of  wrong  and  injustice 
■burst  forth  and  they  determined  to  break  away 
from  the  spot  where  treachery  and  starvation 
seemed  their  only  portion.  When  in  London 
they  had  met  a  delegation  of  Mohawk  In- 
dians who  had  promised  them  land  in  the 
Schoharie  Valley  and  the  land  had  been  con- 
veyed to  the  Indians  by  Queen  Anne  for  that 
purpose.  Remembering  this,  they  petitioned 
Governor  Hunter  that  they  might  settle  on 
the  land  promised  them  by  the  Indians.  He 
refused  in  a  great  fury  saying,  "Here  is  your 
land,  where  you  must  live  and  die."  But  now 
fully  aroused  to  their  danger  they  began  delili- 
erate  preparations,  and  late  in  171 1  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  families,  among  them  Philip 
Laux  and  family,  quit  the  scene  of  their  mis- 
ery and  started  for  Schoharie,  sixty  miles 
northwest  of  Livingston  Manor.  They  had 
to  make  their  way  through  a  roadless  wilder- 
ness, without  horse  to  draw  or  carry  their 
belongings.  They  harnessed  themselves  to 
rudely  constructed  sledges  on  which  they 
loaded  their  baggage,  children,  and  sick  and 
delicate  women,  and  dragged  them  over  the 
snow.  They  were  three  weeks  in  making  the 
journey,  suffering  greatly  from  cold  and  hun- 
ger. After  their  arrival  their  situation  was 
but  little  improved,  and  but  for  the  kindness 
•of   friendly   Indians   all   must   have   perished. 


But  their  indomitable  courage  and  energy  en- 
abled them  to  survive  the  winter,  and  a  year 
later  found  them  housed  and  the  cultivation 
of  land  well  under  way.  The  vindictive  ani- 
mosity of  Governor  Hunter,  however,  still 
pursued  ihem,  and  after  a  sojourn  of  ten  years 
in  the  Schoharie  Valley  the  greater  part  left 
for  permanent  homes  in  more  hospitable  re- 
gions, the  majority  going  to  the  Mohawk  Val- 
ley, where  they  became  prosperous.  Many  of 
the  descendants  of  Philip  Laux  are  found 
there  today,  wealthy  and  influential.  A 
branch  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  including  Con- 
rad Weiser.  a  son  of  John  Conrad  Weiser, 
whom  Governor  Hunter  threatened  to  hang 
for  being  "disobedient  and  mutinous."  Many 
of  the  Laux  family  served  in  the  colonial  wars 
and  in  the  revolution.  They  ser\'ed  with  Her- 
kimer at  Oriskany  and  the  revolutionary  rolls 
teem  with  the  family  name  in  its  various 
forms.  They  were  prominent  in  the  war  of 
1812  and  in  the  great  civil  war. 

(  n  Philip  Laux  bought  land  at  ]\liddleburg 
and  in  the  town  of  Sharon.  .Schoharie  county, 
upon  which  his  descendants  are  yet  settled. 
He  had  four  sons:  Peter,  Cornells,  Andrew 
and  William.  Andrew  was  a  well  known  lo- 
cal musician  and  chorister  of  the  Lutheran 
church  at  Schoharie.  Both  Philip  and  Nicho- 
las Laux  were  among  the  Palatinate  volun- 
teers for  the  expedition  against  Quebec  in 
171 1.  TFley  belonged  to  the  Haysbury  Com- 
pany that  was  formed  in  Livingston  Manor. 

(II)  William  Loucks,  son  of  Philip  Laux, 
the  emigrant,  settled  in  Middleburg.  He  was 
the  only  Tory  in  his  family  except  most  of 
his  sons.  When  Johnson  invaded  the  valley 
in  1780  all  the  Loucks  buildings  were  burned 
except  his,  which  was  made  a  resting  place 
and  supply  station.  He  had  by  first  wife, 
Andrew  and  Peter,  of  Sharon ;  Jeremiah  of 
Middleburg;  and  daughter  who  married  John 
Ingold  (2),  of  Schoharie.  By  his  second  wife 
he  had  John  W.,  Jacob,  Henry  William,  Da- 
vid, Mrs.  Storm  Becker  and  Mrs.  William 
Borrt. 

(III)  Peter,  son  of  William  Loucks  and  his 
first  wife,  settled  with  his  brother  Andrew  in 
Sharon,  Schoharie  county.  New  York,  about 
1765.  Peter  was  a  farmer  and  an  energetic 
business  man.  The  Sharon  historian  says,  "he 
had  clearer  views  upon  politics'  matters  than 
his  brother  Andrew,  especially  during  the 
'struggle  for  liberty.'  "  This  would  indicate 
that  Peter  was  a  Patriot  and  Andrew  a  Tory. 
Peter  erected  a  house  in  1802  from  timber 
that  had  been  prepared  to  build  a  church,  but 
a  controversy  arose  that  ended  in  the  church 
being  built  at  Lawyersville.  The  lumber  was 
then  sold  at  auction  and  purchased  by  Peter 


328 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


Loucks.  This  house  yet  stands.  Cliildren  of 
Peter  Loucks:  William,  John  H.,  Hollis,  Dan- 
iel, Andrew  P.,  Mary,  married  Peter  Brown, 
Sarah,  married  Joseph  W.  Van  Schaick. 

(IV)  John  H.,  son  of  Peter  Loucks,  of 
Sharon,  New  York,  was  born  in  that  town 
where  he  lived  for  many  years.  He  settled 
later  in  Albany  county.  New  York,  where  de- 
scendants are  plentiful.  He  married  and  had 
sons. 

(V)  James  Harris,  son  of  John  H.  Loucks, 
of  Sharon,  Schoharie  county,  and  Albany 
county,  New  York,  was  a  prosperous  farmer 
of  the  town  of  Bethlehem.  He  owned  a  good 
farm,  and  was  a  man  of  high  character  and 
good  standing  in  his  town.  He  married  Hes- 
ter Slingerland,  sister  of  William  H.  Slinger- 
land,  of  Slingerlands,  Albany  county,  and 
daughter  of  John  A.  and  Leah  (Brett)  Shn- 
gerland,  descendant  of  Teunise  Cornelis  Slin- 
gerland who  came  from  Holland  in  1650  to 
what  is  now  the  town  of  Bethlehem,  Albany 
county.     They   had    several   children. 

(VI)  John  Albert  Slingerland,  son  of  James 
Harris  and  Hester  (Slingerland)  Loucks,  was 
born  on  the  old  Loucks  homestead  in  Slin- 
gerlands, Albany  county.  New  York,  July  19, 
1841. 

He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  town  and  of  Albany  county,  New  York. 
He  grew  up  on  a  farm,  and  on  arriving  at 
man's  estate  became  a  farmer  on  Ms  own  ac- 
count, continuing  that  occupation  all  his  ac- 
tive years.  He  prospered  in  his  chosen  busi- 
ness and  is  now  (1910)  living  a  retired  life 
in  the  village  of  New  Scotland.  He  enlisted 
October  11,  1862,  in  Company  H,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Seventy-seventh  Regiment  New 
York  Volunteer  Infantry,  at  New  Scotland, 
to  serve  nine  months ;  mustered  in  as  ser- 
geant of  Company  H,  November  21,  1862; 
mustered  out  with  company  September  10, 
1863,  at  Albany,  New  York.  He  married  Su- 
san Slingerland,  daughter  of  Peter,  son  of 
Maus,  son  of  Peter,  son  of  Teunise  Cornelis, 
son  of  Cornelis,  son  of  Teunise  Cornelis  Slin- 
gerland, the  Dutch  emigrant  and  ancestor. 
His  son  Cornelis,  born  June  7,  1670,  married 
Eva  Mabie,  May  28,  1696.  Their  son,  Teu- 
nise Cornelis  Slingerland,  born  March  i, 
1722,  married  and  had  four  sons:  John,  Cor- 
nelius, Peter,  Henry.  Peter  Slingerland, 
third  son,  was  born  February  5,  1759,  died 
1847.  He  built  mills  and  converted  the  tim- 
ber on  his  land  into  lumber.  He  married  Ger- 
trude Bloomingdale.  Their  only  son,  Maus 
Slingerland,  was  born  March  7,  1806.  He 
inherited  the  saw  and  grist  mills  built  by  his 
father  and  owned  in  addition  seven  hundred 
acres  of  land.     He  married  Susanna,  daugh- 


ter of  \\'illiam  Sager,  and  had  four  sons  and 
four  daughters.  Their  son,  Peter  Slingerland, 
was  a  farmer  and  a  member  of  the  New  York 
state  legislature,  serving  under  two  elections 
to  the  assembly.  He  married  Rachel  Mosher. 
Their  daughter,  Susan  Slingerland,  married 
John  A.  S.  Loucks.  Their  children  are:  i. 
Elizabeth  L.,  married  Ambrose  J.  Wiltsie,  of 
Feurabush,  Albany  county.  New  York.  2. 
Anna  S.,  wife  of  John  V.  D.  H.  Bradt,  a 
farmer  of  Feurabush.  3.  James  Harris,  of 
further  mention.  4.  De  Ette,  died  in  in- 
fancy.    5.  Estelle.     6.  John  A.  S. 

(VH)  James  Harris  (2),  son  of  John  A. 
S.  and  Susan  (Slingerland)  Loucks.  was  born 
at  Feurabush,  town  of  New  Scotland,  Albany 
county,  New  York,  November  13,  1877.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  graduated 
from  Albany  high  school  in  1897.  Until  1905 
he  was  engaged  in  farming.  In  that  year  he 
began  the  study  of  law  with  Harris  &  Rudd, 
lawyers,  of  Albany,  New  York.  In  1909  he 
was  graduated  from  Albany  Law  School 
(Union  University)  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  the  same  year.  He  is  still  associated  with 
the  law  firm  of  Harris  &  Rudd.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  order,  the  Patrons  of 
Husbandry,  and  the  Albany  Club.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  politics,  and  a  member  of  the 
Jerusalem  Reformed  Church  at  Feurabush. 
He  married.  September  19,  1907,  Sarah  B. 
Creble,  of  Feurabush,  daughter  of  Francis 
and  Sarah  (Callanan)  Creble.  They  have  one 
child,  Frances  Elizabeth  Loucks,  born  April 

5.  1909- 

(The  Creble   Line). 

(I)  Francis  Creble  was  born  in  1794,  died 
in  1848.  The  farm  on  which  he  was  born  was 
located  by  his  grandfather  prior  to  the  rev- 
olution. His  father  lived  and  died  on  the 
same  farm,  where  in  18 19  he  built  the  present 
farm  dwelling.  He  was  an  expert  wood 
worker.     He  married  Mary  A.  Bush. 

(II)  Henry,  son  of  Francis  and  Mary  A. 
(Bush)  Creble,  was  born  on  the  old  farm, 
1810,  died  there  1897.  He  served  in  the 
New  York  state  assembly,  and  was  a  well- 
known,  influential  man.  He  married  .-Xnn 
Eliza  Houck,  born  in  Bethlehem,  Albany 
county,  New  York,  18 12. 

(III)  Francis  (2),  son  of  Henry  and  Ann 
Eliza  (Houck)  Creble,  was  born  on  the  old 
homestead  at  Feurabush,  July  i,  1844.  He 
married,  in  New  Scotland.  Sarah  Callanan, 
born  February  27,  1850,  daughter  of  David 
and  Harriet   (Simmons)   Callanan. 

(IV)  Sarah  B..  daughter  of  Francis  (2) 
and  Sarah  (Callanan)  Creble,  a  graduate  of 
the  State  Normal  College,  married  James 
Harris  Loucks  (see  Loucks  VII). 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


329' 


The    paternal    ancestor   of   the 
TIBBITS     Tibbits   family   of   Troy,   New 

York,  herein  considered,  was 
Henry  Tibbits,  of  Warwickshire.  England. 
He  was  of  Kingstown,  Rhode  Island,  where  he 
died  in  1713.  In  1663  he  and  others  of  Nar- 
ragansett  Colony  petitioned  to  be  placed  un- 
der the  protection  of  Connecticut.  In  1665  he 
and  other.s  petitioned  the  general  assembly  of 
Rhode  Island  for  accommodation  of  land  in 
Kings  Province.  June  22,  1670,  he  was  ap- 
pointed constable  by  the  Connecticut  authori- 
ties, and  the  inhabitants  were  desired  to  yield 
obedience  to  Connecticut  rule.  May  20,  1671, 
he  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  Rhode  Is- 
land. In  1672  he  bought,  with  five  others,  a 
tract  of  land  of  Awashuwett,  chief  sachem  of 
Quohassett,  in  Narragansett.  May  2,  1677, 
he  and  others  having  been  imprisoned  by  Con- 
necticut authorities,  the  Rhode  Island  assem- 
bly sent  a  letter  of  protest  threatening  that  if 
Connecticut  "persisted  in  disturbing  the  in- 
habitants with  illegal  and  forcible  intrusion," 
they  would  be  under  the  necessity  of  complain- 
ing to  "His  Sacred  Majesty,"  the  King  of 
England.  In  1678  he  was  again  appointed 
constable,  receiving  his  appointment  this  time 
from  the  Rhode  Island  authorities.  In  1679 
he  signed  with  others  a  petition  to  the  king 
praying  that  he  "would  put  an  end  to  these 
differences  about  the  government  thereof," 
etc.  In  1687-88  he  was  a  grand  juror.  In 
1688  he  and  Daniel  Vernon  were  appointed 
highway  commissioners.  In  1690  he  was  a 
conservator  of  the  peace.  In  1702  he  was  on 
the  subscription  list  for  erection  of  a  Quaker 
meeting  house  on  Mashapang.  In  1705  he 
was  elected  deputy  to  the  general  court.  He 
married,  in  December,  1661.  Sarah  Stanton, 
who  died  in  1708,  daughter  of  Robert  and 
Avis  Stanton.  Children:  Henry  (see  for- 
ward) ;  Ann.  married  Samuel  Fones :  George, 

married   (first)   Mary  ,  (second)  Alice 

Sherman,  (third)  Sarah  Bliven ;  John,  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Hall :  Mary,  married  Edward 
Greene;  Sarah,  married  William  Hall;  !\Iar- 

tha,     married     Benjamin     Stanton;     , 

married  William  Tanner. 

(II)  Henry  (2).  son  of  Henry  (i)  and 
Sarah  (Stanton)  Tibbits.  died  in  Kingstown. 
Rhode  Island,  December  27,  1702.  He  was 
made  a  freeman  of  the  colony  of  Rhode  Is- 
land. i6q6.  and  ]\Iay  i.  1700,  was  fined  twen- 
ty-five shillings  for  taking  part  in  rescue  of 
prisoner  from  a  deputy  sheriff.     He  married 

Rebecca  ,   who   died    1752.      Children: 

Thomas.  Henry.  William  (see  forward).  Re- 
becca, .^vis  and  Dinah.  His  will  was  admin- 
istered bv  his  widow  Rebecca,  whose  own  will 
was  proved  August  10,  1752.    She  named  her 


son  William  as  executor.  To  her  grandson 
Thomas,  son  of  Thomas,  deceased,  she  left 
"my  mansion  house  and  land  where  I  dwell, 
housing,  orchards,  fencing,  etc.,  with  liberty 
for  my  two  sons  to  pass  and  repass  through 
land" ;  to  her  daughters,  Avis  Rice,  Rebecca 
Green  and  Dinah  Tibbits,  the  remainder  of 
estate  equally,  and  Dinah  to  live  in  house 
while  single;  to  son  Henry  five  shillings;  to 
son  William  twenty  shillings,  they  both  hav- 
ing had  by  deed.     Inventory  was  £530.  is. 

(III)  William,  son  of  Henry  (2)  and  Re- 
becca Tibbits,  was  of  Warwick,  Rhode  Island. 
He  married  and  had  two  sons,  John  and  Wil- 
liam (2). 

(IV)  John,  eldest  son  of  William  Tibbits,. 
was  born  in  Warwick,  Rhode  Island,  in  1737. 
He  was  a  resident  of  Lansingburg,  Rensselaer 
county,  New  York,  subsequent  to  1780,  and 
later  removed  to  Lisbon,  St.  Lawrence 
county,  New  York,  where  he  died  January  27, 
1817.  He  married,  January  7,  1760,  Waite 
Brown,  born  in  Warwick,  Rhode  Island,  Sep- 
tember 3,  1741.  died  in  Lisbon,  New  York, 
March  10.  1809.  They  were  the  parents  of 
ten  children. 

(V)  George,  eldest  child  of  John  and  Waite 
(Brown)  Tibbits,  was  born  in  Warwick, 
Rhode  Island,  January  14,  1763.  His  birth- 
place was  the  old  Tibbits  homestead  farm  on 
the  western  shores  of  Providence  bay  or  river, 
which  for  a  long  time  bore  the  name  of  "Tib- 
bits Point,"  now  the  city  of  Warwick.  When 
he  was  five  years  of  age  his  parents  removed 
to  the  town  of  Cheshire,  Berkshire  county, 
^Massachusetts,  on  a  farm  of  three  hundred 
and  fifty  acres.  John  Tibbits  purchased  and 
located  near  the  headwaters  of  the  Hoosic 
river.  Here  the  family  remained  until  about 
1780,  when  they  removed  to  Lansingburgh, 
Rensselaer  county.  New  York.  George  was 
now  about  seventeen  years  of  age,  and  ambi- 
tious to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world.-  In 
1784  his  opportunity  to  enter  mercantile  life 
came,  through  the  kindness  of  Francis  Atkin- 
son, importer,  of  New  York,  who  furnished 
him  credit  to  the  extent  of  $1,000.  This  was 
his  "first  stepping  stone  to  my  future  progress 
in  life."  A  location  was  secured  in  Lansing- 
burgh and  thus  the  business  house  of  Tibbits 
was  started.  According  to  advertisements  and 
other  authorities,  the  house  dealt  in  dry  goods, 
grain,  whale  oil,  etc.  From  1784  until  1787 
he  was  alone  in  the  business  and  was  success- 
ful. In  1787  he  admitted  his  brother  Benja- 
min as  a  partner,  under  the  firm  name  of 
G.  &  B.  Tibbits.  Benjamin  died  September 
II,  1802,  and  his  place  in  the  firm  was  taken 
by  another  brother.  Elisha.  the  firm  remaining 
so  constituted  until  1804.  when  George  Tibbits 


330 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


retired.  The  business  was  removed  from 
Lansingburgh  to  Troy  in  1797,  occupying  the 
northwest  corner  of  River  and  Congress 
streets,  and  Air.  Tibbits  resided  in  a  dwelHng 
then  situated  at  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
same  streets.  During  his  private  business  ca- 
reer, which  ended  in  1804,  he  gave  himself  en- 
tirely to  its  management  and  constant  de- 
mands. He  was  a  successful  merchant,  in- 
terested in  many  business  undertakings,  and 
acquired  a  large  landed  estate.  He  was  a  di- 
rector of  the  Rensselaer  &  Saratoga  Insur- 
ance Company ;  president  of  the  Rensselaer 
County  Agricultural  Society ;  director  of  the 
Troy  Turnpike  Railroad  Company ;  director 
of  the  Farmers'  Bank  (the  first  banking  in- 
stitution in  Troy)  ;  in  fact,  was  officially  con- 
nected with  the  numerous  activities  that  were 
then  making  Troy  noted  among  the  cities  of 
the  Empire  State.  After  1800  he  began  his 
distinguished  public  career  that  only  termina- 
ted with  his  death.  He  was  elected  fire  war- 
den of  the  village  of  Troy  in  1798,  serving 
also  in  1801  and  1808;  in  1800  he  was  a  trus- 
tee of  the  village,  and  in  1808  chief  engineer 
•of  the  fire  department.  In  1800  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  house  of  assembly,  and  again 
in  1820.  From  1803  to  1805  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  National  House  of  Representatives, 
serving  in  the  Eighth  Congress  from  the  Tenth 
Congressional  District  of  New  York.  In 
1815-16-17-18  he  was  a  member  of  the  Senate 
(New  York  state).  He  was  a  Federalist  in 
politics,  and  in  1816  was  the  candidate  of  that 
party  for  lieutenant-governor  of  New  York, 
■on  the  ticket  with  Rufus  King,  the  candidate 
for  governor.  Their  Democratic  opponents, 
Daniel  D.  Tompkins  and  John  Taylor,  were 
the  successful  candidates. 

Mr.  Tibbits  was  foremost  in  the  effort  to 
prevent  bridges  from  being  built  that  would 
interfere  with  Hudson  river  navigation,  and, 
until  the  railroads  changed  traffic  conditions 
so  radically,  no  bridges  were  built.  During 
liis  term  as  mayor  of  Troy  he  pushed  to  suc- 
cessful issue  the  plan  for  supplying  the  city 
with  water  from  Piscawen  creek.  He  was 
always  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  doctrine  of 
protection,  and  it  is  believed  that  he  was  the 
first  writer  in  the  United  States  to  publicly 
indorse  and  urge  the  passage  of  a  tariff  act 
for  protective  purposes.  Lmder  the  signature 
of  "Cato"  his  essays  appeared  in  the  Pliila- 
delphia  Inquirer.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the 
Harrisburg  convention  of  1827,  and  a  niem- 
"ber  of  the  committee  appointed  by  the  con- 
vention to  prepare  a  memorial  to  congress 
urging  the  passage  by  that  body  of  protective 
measures.  His  arguments  in  favor  of  a  tariff' 
for  protection  were  so  strong  and  comprehen- 


sive, that  few  points  have  ever  been  added  to 
them  since.  In  1824  he  was  one  of  the  com- 
missioners appointed  under  the  act  of  April 
12,  1824,  to  "examine  into  all  matters  relating 
to  the  economy,  government  and  discipline"  of 
the  prisons  of  New  York  state.  Their  report, 
bearing  date  of  January  15,  1825,  was  regard- 
ed as  of  the  greatest  value  not  only  in  New 
York,  but  in  other  states  of  the  Union,  while 
from  England  came  the  highest  praise.  Wil- 
liam Roscoe,  the  English  historian,  an  earnest 
advocate  of  the  abolition  of  slavery,  wrote  in 
complimentary  terms  of  "the  extraordinarv 
and  it  may  be  said  unexampled  labor  and  at- 
tention the  commissioners  have  bestowed  in 
the  examination  of  the  state  prisons."  In 
1825  the  same  three  commissioners,  George 
Tibbits,  Stephen  Allen  and  Samuel  M.  Hop- 
kins, were  appointed  as  commissioners  to 
build  a  new  state  prison.  They  were  empow- 
ered to  "purchase  a  site,  procure  necessary 
material,  and  to  employ  convicts  from  Auburn 
to  erect  a  new  prison."  They  selected  and 
purchased  a  site  at  Mount  Pleasant  (Sing 
Sing),  now  Ossining,  and  on  May  24,  1825, 
with  one  hundred  convicts  from  Albany,  be- 
gan the  erection  of  that  since  famous  prison. 
While  this  work  was  in  progress  the  commis- 
sioners were  required  to  again  investigate 
abuses  at  Auburn  prison,  and  their  report 
formed  the  basis  of  important  prison  reforms, 
and  in  1828  the  legislature  empowered  them 
to  erect  a  separate  prison  at  Sing  Sing  for  fe- 
male convicts.  His  connection  with  prison 
reform  and  management  was  a  particularly 
valuable  service  Mr.  Tibbits  rendered  his 
state. 

His  connection  with  the  construction  of  the 
Erie  canal  is  another  imperishable  monument 
to  his  memory.  He  was  a  warm  friend  of  the 
measure  from  the  first,  and  while  a  member  of 
the  state  senate  he  drew  up  and  caused  to  be 
presented  to  the  legislature  a  system  of  finan- 
cing the  enterprise.  The  plan  so  proposed  b\' 
him  was  incorporated  in  the  general  law  of 
the  state,  which  was  passed  April  13,  181 7. 
and  to  him  belongs  the  sole  credit  of  originat- 
ing the  system  under  which  funds  were  pro- 
cured for  the  prosecution  of  this  great  under- 
taking. Hon.  Robert  Troup,  in  a  letter  pub- 
lished in  1822,  addressed  to  Brockholst  Liv- 
ingston, one  of  the  justices  of  the  supreme 
court  of  the  United  States,  in  speaking  of  Mr. 
Tibbits'  connection  with  the  work,  said  :  "He 
drew  up  a  plan  of  finance,  establishing  a  dis- 
tinct and  permanent  fund  for  the  completion 
of  both  canals  and  pointed  out  various  sources 
of  revenue  which  was  substantially  the  same 
with  that  afterward  established  by  the  legis- 
lature."    Again  in  1829  his  wise  counsel  con- 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


331 


<:erning  canal  funds  resulted  in  additional 
prosperity  to  the  state,  particularly  the  Onon- 
daga salt  section. 

In  1830  Mr.  Tibbits  was  elected  mayor  of 
Troy  and  served  through  successive  re-elec- 
tions for  five  years.  In  1833  Hon.  Henry 
Clay  visited  Troy,  and  it  was  Mayor  Tibbits' 
pleasant  duty  to  welcome  officially  the  "great 
apostle  of  protection,"    whose  views  and  his 

■  own  were  the  same  on  this  vital  question.  He 
was  a  careful  and  conscientious  official.  His 
practical  wisdom,  his  personal  services  and 
ui;tiring  energy,  were  devoted  to  the  interests 
of  Troy ;  the  public  water  and  fire  service 
were  greatly  improved  and  will  ever  stand  to 
the  credit  of  his  administration.  In  1835  he 
rendered  almost  his  last  great  public  service 
to  his  city  and  section  when  he  opposed  with 
all  his  force  and  energy  the  attempt  made  to 
divert  the  canal  route  from  Troy  and  the 
towns  adjacent.  In  the  discharge  of  his  du- 
ties as  legislator  and  public  official  he  spoke 
seldom  in  public,  and  never  unless  he  had  a 
message  to  convey,  but  when  he  did  speak  he 
was  listened  to  with  attention.  As  a  writer 
he  was  distinguished  for  great  strength  and 
force  in  argument.  He  was  of  an  intensely 
religious  nature,  caring  little  for  externals, 
but  had  within  the  faith  that  satisfies.  He 
was  for  forty-four  years,  from  1805  till  his 
death,  a  vestryman  of  St.  Paul's  Episcopal 
Church,  Troy.  He  died  July  19,  1849,  ^t  the 
age  of  eighty-six  years :  he  was  a  great  suf- 
ferer in  his  later  years. 

Mr.  Tibbits  married,  March  9,  1789,  at 
Lansingburgh,  New  York,  Sarah  Noyes,  born 
at  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  January  14, 
1767.  (See  Noyes).  Children:  i.  George 
Mortimer  (see  forward).  2.  Caroline  Eliza- 
beth, born  1800,  died  1879;  married,  1818, 
Jacob  Lansing  Lane.  3.  Oliver  Noyes,  born 
1805.  died  1829. 

(\  I)  George  Mortimer,  son  of  George  and 
Sarah  (Noyes)  Tibbits,  was  born  at  Lansing- 
burgh, New  York,  December  5,  1796.  While 
still  an  infant  his  parents  removed  to  Troy, 
and  he  was  educated  in  the  schools  there  un- 
til sent  to  Lenox,  Massachusetts,  where  he 
was  prepared  for  college  by  a  Mr.  Gleason. 
He  graduated  from  L^nion  College  in  1817, 
and  shortly  afterwards  went  abroad  for  a 
year,  spending  much  time  in  a  walking  tour 
of  Scotland.  On  his  return  to  Troy  he  studied 
law  for  a  time  in  the  office  of  Hon.  John  P. 
Cushman,  but  finding  the  confinement  of  such 
a  life  injurious  to  his  health,  he  was  unable 
to  continue  his  studies.  After  his  marriage  in 
1824  he  removed  to  Hoosac.  New  York,  where 
his  father  owned  land,  to  which  he  afterwards 
greatlv    added.      Thev    lived    on    what    was 


known  as  the  Pfister  farm,  which  had  for- 
merly belonged  to  a  Loyalist  whose  property 
was  confiscated  during  the  revolution,  and 
there  Mr.  Tibbits  built  a  brick  dwelling,  which 
was  remodeled  in  i860,  and  is  now  a  free- 
stone mansion.  He  early  became  interested 
in  stock  raising,  and  imported  a  celebrated 
breed  of  cattle  known  as  the  Teeswater  Dur- 
ham, which  was  especially  valuable  for  the 
dairy,  and  also,  about  1830,  a  number  of  Sax- 
ony sheep,  thus  originating  one  of  the  largest 
flocks  in  that  part  of  the  country.  He  was 
always  interested  in  wool  growing  and  in  the 
improvement  of  the  fleece  of  sheep.  Although 
living  so  much  in  the  country,  where  he  could 
gratify  his  taste  for  an  outdoor  life  and  his 
love  of  horseback  riding,  Mr.  Tibbits  and  his 
family  spent  some  months  in  each  year  in 
Troy  at  the  home  of  his  parents,  which  is  now 
the  property  of  the  Day  Home  Association. 
He  later  built  for  himself  a  house  on  First 
street,  which  he  occupied  for  the  first  time  in 
1849,  and  from  then  on  spent  more  of  his 
time  in  Troy.  Though  never  a  public  man, 
Mr.  Tibbits  had  a  jealous  regard  for  the  good 
name  of  his  city  and  strove  earnestly  for  its 
welfare,  being  ever  ready  to  aid  in  any  under- 
taking which  promised  to  increase  its  pros- 
perity and  generously  contributing  to  its 
works  of  benevolence.  He  was  a  director  of 
the  United  National  P)ank,  of  the  Rensselaer 
&  Saratoga  Railroad,  and  a  trustee  of  the 
Troy  Orphan  Asylum.  He  was  a  strong  ad- 
vocate of  a  protective  tariff,  the  development 
of  the  resources  of  the  country  and  the  en- 
couragement of  home  manufactures.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  a  Whig  aiul  then  a  Free  Soiler, 
and  from  its  beginning  a  member  of  the  Re- 
publican party.  When  the  civil  war  broke 
out,  his  enthusiasm  for  the  cause  of  the  Union 
knew  no  pause,  and  he  supported  the  govern- 
ment in  its  efforts  to  suppress  rebellion  with 
his  means  and  with  his  influence.  He  aided 
his  son.  William  R.  Tibbits,  in  every  way  in 
his  power.  In  1866  Mr.  Tibbits.  with  his 
wife  and  a  family  party,  made  a  second  trip 
to  Europe,  where  they  traveled  leisurely 
through  Great  Britain.  France,  Germany, 
Italy,  and  also  visited  Egypt  and  the  Holy 
Land.  He  was  a  man  of  cultured  taste,  fond 
of  books  and  of  beautiful  things,  and  thor- 
oughly enjoyed  the  opportunities  which  life 
in  the  old  world  aft'ords.  Mr.  Tibbits  was  a 
sincere,  earnest  Christian,  pure  and  upright  in 
character,  and  industrious  and  scrupulous  in 
his  way  of  living.  He  joined  the  Episcopal 
church  as  a  young  man,  and  was  regular  and 
devout  in  public  worship,  while  maintaining 
in  his  own  household  the  order  of  family  pray- 
er.    He  was  for  manv  vears  a  vestrvman  of 


332 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


St.  John's  Qiurch,  Troy.  He  died  July  19, 
1878,  at  his  home  in  Troy. 

Mr.  Tibbits  married.  May  30,  1824,  Sarah, 
daughter  of  John  Rutfjer  Bleecker,  of  Albany, 
New  York,  and  his  wife  Eliza  Atwood.  John 
R.  Bleecker  was  the  son  of  Rutger  and  Cath- 
erine (Elmerdorf)  Bleecker.  Rutger  Bleeck- 
er owned  practically  the  whole  of  what  is  now 
the  city  of  Utica ;  he  was  the  son  of  John  Rut- 
ger and  Elizabeth  (Staats)  Bleecker.  and 
grandson  of  Rutger  and  Catalina  (Schuyler) 
Bleecker.  The  ancestor  of  the  Bleecker  fam- 
ily was  Jan  Jansen  Bleecker,  who  came  to  Al- 
bany, New  York,  in  1658.  Children  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Tibbits:  i.  George,  born  April  12, 
1825,  died,  unmarried,  March  4,  1875;  re- 
ceived degree  of  civil  engineer  from  Rens- 
selaer Polytechnic  Institute,  class  of  1841  ; 
Bachelor  of  Arts  from  L'nion  College,  class  of 
1845;  Master  of  Arts  from  Union  College  in 
1848;  member  of  Rensselaer  county  bar;  al- 
derman of  Troy,  1858-61  ;  a  war  Democrat, 
1861-65.  2.  John  Bleecker  (see  forward).  3. 
Blandina  Dudley,  born  1829,  died  1833.  4. 
Eliza  Atwood,  born  1831,  died  April  6,  1870; 
married,  iVIay  16,  1853,  John  Hobart  Warren, 
of  Troy.  5.  Edward  Dudley,  born  and  died 
in  1833.  6.  Charles  Edward  Dudley  (see  for- 
ward). 7.  William  Badger  (see  forward).  8. 
Caroline,  born  1846,  died  1847.  9.  Sarah 
Noyes,  born  November  8,  1847,  died  May  30, 
1883;  married,  January  15,  1878,  John  Wool 
Griswold,  born  August  29,  1850,  died  January 
2,  1902;  children:  Sarah  Bleecker,  born  April 
15,  1879,  married,  October  2,  1901,  Sanborn 
Gove  Tenney,  of  Williamstown ;  Elizabeth 
Hart,  born  June  17,  1880,  married,  October 
14,  1903,  Chester  Griswold,  of  New  York; 
John  Augustus,  born  September  23,  1882. 
married,  October  20,  1909,  Helene  Robson. 

(VII)  John  Bleecker,  second  son  of  George 
Mortimer  and  Sarah  (Bleecker)  Tibbits,  was 
born  January  18,  1827,  died  July  8.  1898.  He 
was  educated  at  Bartlett  School,  College  Hill, 
Poughkeepsie  Preparatory  School,  and  Union 
College,  graduating  therefrom  with  the  de- 
gree of  Master  of  Arts  in  1846.  After  his 
graduation  he  served  as  tutor  for  two  years 
in  Union  College,  instructor  in  classics.  He 
then  engaged  in  the  grain  business  in  the  city 
of  Troy  with  Pliny  Moore,  continuing  the  same 
for  five  or  six  years,  after  which  he  assisted 
his  father  in  the  management  of  the  estate, 
particularly  at  Hoosac  and  Schaghticoke,  his 
father  having  large  land  holdings  in  both 
places.  He  resided  in  Troy  during  the  winter 
months  and  in  Hoosac  during  the  remainder 
of  the  year.  Subsequently  he  began  studying 
for  the  ministry,  and  was  ordained  October 
18,   1866,  by   I'.ishop  Horatio  Potter,  of  New 


York,  to  the  deaconate,  and  began  building  up- 
All  Saints  Episcopal  Church  at  Hoosac,  whicli 
church  was  built  by  his  father  and  mother. 
The  nave  was  built  in  1864,  the  chancel  and 
tower  completed  in  1872,  and  the  chimes  were 
made  at  Florence,  Italy:  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tib- 
bits also  put  in  the  organ.  John  B.  Tibbits 
served  as  perpetual  deacon  from  choice,  and 
did  not  take  the  order  of  priesthood.  He 
worked  in  the  parish  and  vicinity  for  years, 
and  was  regarded  as  a  saint  by  the  surround- 
ing country  folk.  He  also  established  several 
missions  around  Hoosac,  and  during  this  peri- 
od resided  at  Hoosac  all  the  time.  From  187 1 
to  1879  he  resided  at  Bennington,  Vermont, 
still  continuing  his  work  at  Hoosac,  and  after 
the  latter  date  he  returned  to  Hoosac  and 
lived  in  the  old  Tibbits  country  seat.  In  the 
spring  of  1891  he  took  up  his  residence  in  the 
rectory  at  Hoosac  with  his  son.  Rev.  Edward 
Dudley  Tibbits,  remaining  till  his  death. 

Mr.  Tibbits  was  much  interested  in  electric 
apparatus  and  dynamos.  He  was  an  expert 
electrician  and  inventor,  inventing  and  devel- 
oping the  Arago  disc  dynamo,  on  which  he 
secured  patents :  in  the  great  electro  exhibi- 
tions in  Paris,  France,  1882.  he  won  the  gold 
medal,  the  first  prize,  for  his  electric  inven- 
tions. His  dynamos  and  especially  electric 
lighting  were  acknowledged  to  be  superior  to 
anything  shown.  So  prominent  was  the  suc- 
cess of  the  light  that  Sir  Sylvester  Armstrong 
and  other  prominent  electricians  formed  a 
syndicate  (recognizing  Tibbits'  inventions  as 
being  the  best)  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing 
his  patents  and  opening  up  the  manufacturing 
of  the  inventions.  They  offered,  through  his 
agent.  Robert  Mackie,  the  sum  of  £200,000 
sterling  for  the  patent,  but  he  refused  the  offer, 
not  wishing  to  turn  over  his  patents  to  a  trust, 
desiring  to  turn  them  over  to  municipal  gov- 
ernment ownership  for  the  production  of  light 
and  power  for  the  use  of  the  public  at  a  small 
cost.  He  was  also  the  inventor  of  an  incan- 
descent and  arc  light.  Thus  his  patents  be- 
can-.e  common,  and  were  adopted  and  used 
generally.  He  was  the  first  to  use  tungsten 
( a  metallic  substance)  as  the  basis  for  a  metal- 
lic filament  for  incandescent  lighting,  now  in 
common  use.  He  had  an  experimental  station 
at  Hoosac.  He  also  discovered  the  manufac- 
ture of  white  lead  by  electrolysis.  He  mar- 
ried (first).  January  8.  1850,  Amelia  Abby, 
born  January  23,  1828,  died  February  18, 
1869,  daughter  of  Le  Grand  and  Esther 
(Bouton)  Cannon.  Children:  i.  George  ]\Ior- 
timer,  born  April  30,  1851,  died  February  i, 
1882.  2.  Le  Grand  Cannon  (see  forward).  3. 
Edward  Dudley  (see  forward).  He  married; 
(second),  June  i„  1871,  i^Irs.  Ada  West  Conkr- 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


333 


■Jing,  daugliter  of  John  and  Emma  West,  of 
Bennington,  \'ermont,  and  widow  of  Daniel 
Hubbell   Conkling,  of    Bennington. 

(VII)  Charles  Edward  Dudley,  fourth  son 
'of  George  Mortimer  and  Sarah  (Bleecker) 
Tibbits.  was  born  at  Hoosac,  New  York,  Au- 
gust 1 8,  1834.  He  was  educated  under  pri- 
vate tuition  at  Troy  and  Hoosac,  was  for  a 
time  a  student  at  the  boarding  school  of  Mr. 
Bartlett,  at  Poughkeepsie,  and  later  took  a 
•course  at  the  Rensselaer  Polytechnic  Institute 
in  Troy.  In  1851  he  made  his  first  visit  to 
Europe,  crossing  the  ocean  in  a  sailing  vessel. 
He  saw  at  that  time  the  first  International 
Exhibition  at  the  Crystal  Palace  in  London. 
This  was  the  first  of  many  voyages,  as  since 
then  he  has  traveled  extensively.  He  has  been 
largely  occupied  with  the  care  of  his  own  and 
of  family  property.  He  was  president  of  the 
Walter  A.  Wood  Mowing  &  Reaping  Ma- 
chine Company,  of  Hoosick  Falls,  from  1892 
to  1895,  when  he  resigned,  and  for  a  number 
of  years  was  a  director  of  the  company ;  he 
is  also  a  director  of  the  United  National  Bank 
of  Troy.  He  is  a  trustee  of  the  Troy  Orphan 
Asylum,  and  was  chairman  of  the  committee 
which  selected  the  plans  for  the  asylum  build- 
ing on  Spring  avenue.  He  was  president  in 
1879  of  the  Young  Men's  Association,  and  is 
a  trustee  of  the  Troy  Public  Library,  which 
now  carries  on  the  work  formerlv  done  by 
that  association.  As  trustee  of  the  library  he 
chose  the  design  from  which  the  Memorial 
Library  Building  on  Second  street  was  erected 
by  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Hart.  Mr.  Tibbits  was 
■chosen  chairman  of  the  committee  of  one  hun- 
dred citizens  who  were  charged  with  making 
arrangements  for  the  public  celebration  of  the 
one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  naming  of 
the  city  of  Troy,  in  January,  1889. 

Mr.  Tibbits  is  an  independent  thinker  po- 
litically, a  Republican  in  sympathy,  but  more 
interested  in  securing  good,  clean  government 
than  in  mere  party  success.  When  in  March, 
1894,  Robert  Ross  was  foully  murdered  at  the 
polls,  Mr.  Tibbits  was  one  of  those  who  signed 
a  call  inviting  their  fellow  citizens  to  assemble 
in  order  to  express  their  indignation  and  to 
"show  by  their  presence  and  words  their  love 
for  the  fair  name  of  our  city  and  their  appre- 
ciation of  any  efforts  which  may  be  made  to 
bring  the  guilty  parties,  whoever  they  may 
be,  to  speedy  justice."  He  was  a  member  of 
the  committee  of  one  hundred  formed  as  a 
result  of  this  great  meeting  to  see  that  justice 
be  done.  He  also  took  a  part  in  the  forma- 
tion of  the  National  Municipal  League,  and 
has  been  a  member  of  its  executive  commit- 
tee since  its  organization. 

Mr.   Tibbits  married,  June  8,    1865,   Mary 


Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Le  Grand  and 
Elizabeth  (Sigourney)  Knox.  (See  Knox.) 
She  died  July  16,  1875.  Children:  i.  Sarah 
Bleecker,  born  November  15,  1866.  2. 
George,  born  February  22,  1868,  died  April 
29,  1875.  3.  John  Knox,  born  January  13, 
1870;  educated  at  St.  Paul's  School,  Concord, 
New  Hampshire;  Yale  College,  B.A.,  class  of 
1892:  Exeter  College,  Oxford,  England;  he  is 
an  Episcopal  clergyman  at  Concord,  New 
Hampshire.  He  married,  April  12,  1910,  at 
Montreal,  Canada,  Marguerite  Vinton  Harris, 
daughter  of  Arthur  H.  and  Saidee  (Lambe) 
Harris,  of  that  city.  4.  Dudley,  born  Oc- 
tober 4,  1874,  died  May  24,  1875. 

(\TI)  William  Badger,  youngest  son  of 
George  Mortimer  and  Sarah  (Bleecker)  Tib- 
bits, was  born  at  Hoosac,  New  York,  March 
31,  1837.  He  was  named  for  a  great-great- 
uncle,  William  Badger,  who  was  a  soldier  of 
the  revolution.  His  early  life  was  passed  in 
Troy  and  Hoosac,  where,  and  at  a  boarding 
school  in  Utica,  he  received  his  preparatory 
education.  He  then  entered  Williams  College, 
but  left  there  for  LInion  College,  where  he 
graduated  in  1859,  an  oration  being  accorded 
him  at  commencement,  while  his  classmates 
honored  him  by  choosing  him  as  one  of  their 
two  class  marshals.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Chi  Psi  fraternity.  After  graduating  he 
studied  law  for  a  time,  and  then  entered  busi- 
ness, having  a  one-third  interest  in  the  Samp- 
son &  Tibbits  Scale  Company.  He  was  thus 
engaged  when  on  April  15,  1861,  President 
Lincoln's  first  call  for  troops  was  published  in 
the  Troy  papers,  and  on  that  day  he  volun- 
teered his  services  and  obtained  authorization 
papers  for  raising  a  company.  This  company, 
known  as  Company  G,  was  accepted  April  23, 
1861,  and  was  the  color  company  of  the  Sec- 
ond Regiment,  New  York  State  Volunteers, 
which  left  Troy  for  the  front  May  18,  1861. 
He  was  mustered  in  as  its  captain.  May  14, 
1861.  His  services  during  the  ensuing  sev- 
enteen months  are  best  explained  in  the  fol- 
lowing letter  and  recommendation : 

Headquarters,  Carr's  Brigade, 
Sickles'  Division. 
Camp  at  Fairfax  Seminary,  Va.,  Oct.  18,  1862. 
General :  I  have  the  honor  to  recommend  the 
promotion  of  Captain  William  B.  Tibbits,  Second 
New  York  Volunteers,  to  be  major  vice  George  W. 
Wilson,  resigned.  Captain  Tibbits  is  the  senior 
and  one  of  the  only  two  original  captains  left  with 
the  regiment.  He  has  been  with  it  on  every  picket, 
march,  and  reconnaisance,  and  in  every  skirmish 
and  battle,  and  at  Big  Bethel,  Fair  Oaks.  Glendale, 
Malvern  Hill.  Bristow,  and  Bull  Run.  .^t  Bristow 
he  particularly  distinguished  himself,  and  was  hon- 
orably mentioned  for  gallant  and  meritorious 
service  at  Bull  Run.  His  vast  experience,  un- 
daunted courage,  and  excellent  judgment  well  qual- 
ify   him    for    the    position    for    which    I    have    the 


334 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


honor  to  recommend  him.  I  have  the  honor  to 
be  Your  most  obedient  servant. 

Joseph   B.    Carr, 
Brig.   Gen.  U.  S.  A. 
To  Brigadier-General  Thomas  Hillhouse, 
State   of  N.   Y.,   Albany,    N.   Y. 
This    recommendation    was    duly    honored 
and  Captain  Tibbits  was  commissioned  major 
under  date  of  October  13.  1862.    On  May  23, 

1863,  Major  Tibbits  took  part  in  the  battle 
of  Chancellorsville.  and  his  conduct  was  thus 
spoken  of  in  a  letter  by  General  ^lott :  "Major 
Tibbits  was  in  command  of  the  Second  New 
York  Infantry  in  the  brigade  that  I  command- 
ed at  Chancellorsville.  He  acted  in  a  gallant 
and  meritorious  manner,  leading  his  regiment 
in  several  desperate  charges  against  the 
enemy.  I  take  pleasure  in  recommending  him 
to  the  department  as  a  worthy  and  deserving 
officer,  having  served  in  the  field  during  the 
war."  The  term  of  the  Second  Regiment  ex- 
pired the  following  year,  and  Major  Tibbits 
was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment  in  Troy, 
May  23,  1863.  June  17,  1863,  he  procured 
authorization  papers  to  raise  a  cavalry  regi- 
ment to  be  known  as  the  Griswold  Light  Cav- 
alry, to  serve  for  three  years  unless  sooner 
discharged.  About  the  time  this  regiment 
was  fully  recruited,  a  number  of  prominent 
citizens  of  Troy  presented  him  with  a  sword 
suitably  inscribed  with  their  appreciation  and 
the  names  of  the  battles  in  which  he  had 
fought. 

On  January  24,  1864,  he  was  mustered  in 
as  colonel  of  the  Twenty-first  Regiment,  New 
York  Cavalry  (Griswold  Light).  Colonel 
Tibbits  received  honorary  mention  and  prom- 
ise of  promotion.  At  the  battle  of  Piedmont 
in  the  following  June,  Major  General  Stahel 
rode  up  and  in  the  presence  of  his  regiment 
thus  addressed  Colonel  Tibbits :  "I  have  to 
compliment  you  and  your  gallant  regiment  for 
the  magnificent  charge  they  made  upon  the 
field  to-day."  Subsequently  the  same  officer 
confirmed  this  opinion  in  a  most  complimen- 
tary letter  dated  August  29,  1864.  Colonel 
Tibbits  was  recommended  for  promotion  by 
his  division  commander.  Brigadier  General 
A.  N.  Duffie,  in  a  communication  addressed 
to  Major  General  David  Hunter,  on  August 
5,  1864,  in  which  he  says:  "This  officer  has 
served    under    my    command    since    June    10, 

1864,  and  I  have  found  him  on  all  occasions  a 
competent,  faithful  and  gallant  officer.  He 
has  on  several  occasions  distinguished  himself 
in  action.  His  meritorious  conduct  has  com- 
manded the  admiration  of  myself  and  his  com- 
mand." This  recommendation  was  indorsed 
by  General  Htmter,  and  the  deserved  recog- 
nition of  Colonel  Tibbits'  conduct  was  made 
still   more   complimentary    by    being   read   on 


dress  parade  to  each  command  in  GeneraF 
Hunter's  command.  On  November  17.  1864,. 
the  War  Department  conferred  on  Colonel 
Tibbits  the  rank  of  brevet  brigadier-general, 
to  date  from  October  21,  1864.  General  Tib- 
bits served  throughout  the  war  and  afterwards 
was  ordered  west,  and  it  was  not  till  Septem- 
ber, 1865,  that  he  received  permission  to  re- 
turn home.  He  was  made  a  full  brigadier- 
general  and  received  the  rank  of  brevet  major- 
general,  U.S.A.  He  was  mustered  out  of  the 
service  under  General  Order  No.  168,  to  date 
from  January  16,  1866. 

In  1867  he  represented  the  interests  of  the 
Walter  A.  Wood  Mowing  &  Reaping  Ma- 
chine Company  at  the  International  Exposi- 
tion, in  Paris,  and  at  the  invitation  of  the  Em- 
peror, Napoleon  III.,  took  part  in  the  great 
review  held  in  Paris  that  summer,  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Emperor's  stafif.  General  Tibbits 
was  for  many  years  a  great  suflferer  from  in- 
juries received  during  the  war.  He  died  Feb- 
ruary ID,  1880.  He  was  one  of  the  most  in- 
trepid spirits  that  the  great  civil  war  devel- 
oped, quick  and  skillful  in  action,  never  at  a 
loss  to  decide  promptly  at  the  critical  mo- 
ment, and  never  shirking  a  duty.  It  was  said 
of  him  that  he  begged  the  privilege  to  charge 
when  others  were  even  unwilling  to  obey  or- 
ders to  advance. 

(VIII)  Le  Grand  Cannon,  son  of  John 
Bleecker  and  Amelia  Abby  (Cannon)  Tibbits, 
was  born  in  Troy,  New  York,  January  13, 
1854.  He  was  educated  in  private  schools  in 
Troy  and  New  York  City  and  at  Union  Col- 
lege. He  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business, 
which  he  has  since  followed,  and  took  upon 
himself  the  entire  management  of  the  Tibbits 
estate  at  Hoosac.  At  the  present  time  and 
for  the  past  sixteen  years  he  has  been  a  di- 
rector of  the  Walter  A.  Wood  Mowing  & 
Reaping  Machine  Company  of  Hoosick  Falls. 
.After  his  father's  death  he  occupied  the  old 
Tibbits  country  seat  at  Hoosac,  but  spends 
considerable  of  his  time  in  Europe.  He  has 
served  as  supervisor  for  his  county,  and  was 
a  member  of  the  state  senate,  1896-98,  per- 
forming very  effective  work,  being  elected  on 
the  Republican  ticket.  He  conceived  and  orig- 
inated the  committee  of  safety,  1895,  and  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  reforms  that  have 
been  and  are  being  carried  out.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  National  Guard,  serving  as  inspec- 
tor of  Third  Brigade,  1883,  on  stafif  of  Gen- 
eral Oliver  (now  assistant  secretary  of  war), 
with  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber and  senior  warden  of  All  Saints  Episco- 
pal Church,  Hoosac,  and  trustee  of  Hoosac 
school.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Free  and  Ac- 
cepted Masons,  the  Troy  Club,  Kappa  Alpha 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   \'ALLEYS 


335 


fraternity,  and  the  Legion  of  Honor,  becom- 
ing a  member  of  the  latter  by  hereditary  right 
in  1880. 

He  married,  October  8,  1890,  Eh'zabeth 
Barrett  Folger,  of  San  Francisco,  California, 
daughter  of  James  Arthur  and  Ellen  (Lough- 
lin)  Folger,  the  former  having  been  a  son  of 
William  Folger,  and  a  descendant  of  Peter 
Folger,  of  Nantucket,  and  the  latter  a  repre- 
sentative of  a  Vermont  family. 

(\"ni)  Edward  Dudley,  son  of  John 
Bleecker  and  Amelia  Abby  (Cannon)  Tibbits, 
was  born  at  Troy,  New  York,  July  7,  1859. 
His  parents  removed  to  Hoosac  when  he  was 
a  few  months  old,  but  they  spent  their  winters 
mostly  in  Troy  and  New  York  City.  He  w-as 
educated  by  private  tutors,  attended  St.  Paul's 
School,  Concord,  Massachusetts,  entering  in 
1870,  graduating  in  1878,  and  entered  the 
sophomore  class  of  Williams  College,  graduat- 
ing with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts,  1881. 
He  then  traveled  abroad  for  a  short  time,  and 
in  June.  1885,  graduated  from  the  General 
Theological  Seminary,  New  York  City.  He 
was  ordained  deacon  October  10,  1885,  at  All 
Saints  Church,  Hoosac,  by  Rt.  Rev.  W.  C. 
Doane,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Albany,  and  served 
as  deacon  of  that  church  until  1886.  The  fol- 
lowing two  years  he  spent  abroad,  traveling 
in  Egypt  and  the  Holy  Land,  spending  a  con- 
siderable part  of  this  time  in  studying  at  Ox- 
ford, England,  taking  a  special  course  in  the- 
olog}'.  He  returned  to  Hoosac,  New  York, 
July,  1888,  and  was  ordained  priest,  Decem- 
ber 29,  1888,  in  All  Saints  Cathedral,  Albany, 
by  Bishop  Doane,  of  which  cathedral  he  was 
appointed  honorary  canon,  which  position  he 
has  continuously  held.  He  was  chaplain  to 
Bishop  Doane  during  the  Bishops'  Conference 
in  London,  June  and  July,  1888.  After  be- 
coming a  priest  he  was  appointed  rector  of 
All  Saints  Parish.  Hoosac.  He  established 
two  missions,  one  at  Bayntonville  and  the  oth- 
er at  Raymertown,  both  in  New  York,  build- 
ing churches  at  both  places.  He  also  estab- 
lished a  day  parish  school,  which  in  1892  was 
changed  to  a  choir  school  for  boys,  called  "All 
Saints  Choir  School."  This  work  developed 
into  the  present  Hoosac  School  for  Boys, 
which  in  1903  was  incorporated,  having  a 
regular  board  of  directors  or  trustees,  to 
which  was  given  some  sixty-five  acres,  to- 
gether with  the  buildings,  including  the  stone 
church,  which  now  constitutes  the  plant  of 
"Hoosac  School."  It  has  accommodation  for 
about  seventy-five  boys,  receiving  boys  be- 
tween the  ages  of  eleven  and  nineteen,  and  is 
a  preparatory  school  for  college ;  at  the  pres- 
ent time  (1910)  it  has  ten  instructors.  The 
school    has   an   excellent   reputation,   and   the 


boys  enter  eastern  colleges  direct  from  this 
school,  subject  to  the  rector  of  school.  In 
1907  Trinity  College,  Connecticut,  tendered 
Dr.  Tibbits  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Letters, 
and  in  1908  Williams  College  conferred  on 
him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  He 
was  appointed  by  Bishop  Doane  a  delegate 
from  the  Diocese  of  Albany  to  the  Pan-An- 
glican Congress,  which  met  in  London,  Eng- 
land, June,  1908,  but  he  could  not  accept  on 
account  of  his  work  in  the  school.  In  1910  he 
was  appointed  by  the  Board  of  Missions  a 
delegate  to  the  World's  Missionary  Congress 
at  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  but  had  to  decline  this 
honor,  as  it  met  before  the  commencement  of 
Hoosac  School.  He  is  a  member  of  Delta 
Psi,  and  of  the  Confraternity  of  the  Blessed 
Sacrament.  His  vacations  are  generally  spent 
in  travel  abroad. 

(The   Noyes   Line). 

(I)  Rev.  William  Noyes,  rector  of  Choul- 
derton,  county  Wilts,  England,  matriculated 
at  University  College,  Oxford,  November  15, 
1588,  age  twenty  years,  and  was  graduated 
A.B.,  May  31,  1592.  He  married  Anne  Ste- 
phens, daughter  of  Nicholas  Stephens,  Esq., 
of  Burdrop  Manor,  Wiltshire.  She  was  in- 
terred at  Choulderton,  March  7,  1657,  ^^ed 
eighty-two  years.  He  died  about  1622.  Their 
sons.  Rev.  James  and  Deacon  Nicholas  Noyes, 
in  March,  1634,  embarked  for  New  England, 
in  the  "Mary  and  John"  of  London,  with 
their  cousin.  Rev.  Thomas  Parker. 

(II)  Rev.  James  Noyes,  son  of  Rev.  Wil- 
liam and  Anne  (Stephens)  Noyes.  was  born 
in  Choulderton,  Wiltshire,  England,  in  1608. 
He  matriculated  at  Brasenose  College.  Ox- 
ford, August  22,  1656,  but  did  not  graduate. 
He  died  at  Newbury,  Massachusetts.  October 
22,  1636.  He  came  to  America,  as  stated,  and 
after  short  stays  at  Medford  and  Watertown 
went  with  some  friends  to  Newbury,  where 
his  cousin,  Thomas  Parker,  desired  him  to 
assist  in  teaching  the  free  school.  He  was 
much  loved  and  honored  in  Newbury.  He 
was  very  learned  in  the  tongues,  and  in  Greek 
excelled  the  most.  He  was  the  author  of  a 
catechism  (still  in  use)  and  highly  esteemed 
in  tile  ministry.  He  had  a  grant  of  land  on 
which  he  built  a  house,  about  1645,  '"  which 
he,  his  family  and  Thomas  Parker  lived.  This 
house  is  still  standing  (1910),  and  has  never 
known  any  owner  but  a  Noyes,  and  is  New- 
bury's proudest  show  place.  He  married,  in 
England,  in  1634,  Sarah  Brown,  of  South- 
ampton. Children:  i.  Joseph,  born  in  New- 
bury, October  15,  1637;  first  appears  in  Sud- 
bury records,  February  16,  1662;  selectman 
twenty-eight  years;  constable;  justice  of  the 


.336 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


peace ;  owned  many  slaves ;  was  twice  married 
and  had  eight  children.  2.  Rev.  James,  of 
Stonington,  Connecticut ;  graduate  of  Har- 
vard, 1659;  founder  and  trustee  of  Yale  Col- 
lege ;  married  Dorothy,  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Ann  (Lord)  Stanton;  seven  children.  3. 
l^ev.  IMoses,  of  Lyme,  Connecticut ;  graduate 
■of  Harvard,  1659;  fellow  of  Yale,  1706;  first 
minister  of  Lyme,  Connecticut,  where  he 
preached  fifty  years ;  married  Ruth,  daughter 
of  John  Picket,  and  granddaughter  of  Elder 
Brewster,  of  Plymouth  Colony;  five  children. 
4.  John  (see  forward).  5.  Thomas,  of  New- 
bury ;  a  prominent  man  in  colonial  affairs ; 
selectman ;  served,  during  the  French  and  In- 
dian wars  in  different  grades,  captain,  major, 
lieutenant-colonel;  married  (first)  Martha 
Pierce,  (second)  Elizabeth  Greenleaf.  6. 
Deacon  William,  of  Newbury ;  prominent  in 
church  affairs ;  served  during  the  Indian  wars 
in  Captain  Thomas  Noyes'  company  of  "snow 
shoe"  men ;  married  Sarah  Cogswell ;  nine 
children.  These  are  the  six  sons  of  Rev. 
James  and  Sarah  (Brown)  Noyes;  they  had 
three  daughters :  Sarah,  the  eldest,  and  third 
child,  died  young;  Rebecca,  the  sixth  child, 
married  John  Knight ;  Sarah,  the  ninth  and 
youngest  child,  married  John  Hale. 

(III)  John,  of  Boston,  fourth  son  and  fifth 
child  of  Rev.  James  and  Sarah  (Brown) 
Noyes,  was  born  in  Newbury,  Massachusetts, 
June  3,  1645,  died  November  9,  1678.  He 
■was  made  a  freeman  of  Boston  in  1675.  He 
was  second  sergeant  of  the  Ancient  and  Hon- 
orable Artillery  Company,  1678,  and  consta- 
ble in  1675.  He  was  a  cooper  by  trade.  He 
married,  in  1671,  Sarah  Oliver  (see  Oliver). 
Children,  born  in  Boston:  i.  Sarah,  August 
20.  1672.  2.  John,  married  Susanna  Ed- 
■wards;  he  was  fourth  sergeant  of  the  Ancient 
and  Honorable  Artillery  Company,  1699:  en- 
sign, 1704;  he  was  a  goldsmith.    3.  Dr.  Oliver 

(see  forward). 

(IV)  Dr.  Oliver  Noyes,  youngest  child  of 
John  and  Sarah  (Oliver)  Noyes,  was  born  in 
Boston,  1675,  died  March  16,  1721.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  Harvard,  1695,  A.M.,  1721.  He 
■was  a  physician  of  Boston  and  Medford.  Mas- 
■sachusetts,  but  found  time  to  engage  in  other 
matters  that  concerned  the  welfare  of  his 
town.  He  was  one  of  the  projectors  of  the 
Long  Wharf;  was  one  of  the  proprietors  of 
"'Pejepscott"  (Brunswick,  Topsham  and 
Brunswick,  Maine).  He  was  an  officer  of  the 
■"Ancient  and  Honorable,"  1699;  selectman, 
1708-11,  and  from  17 19  to  1721,  and  held 
other  offices.  He  was  a  representative  to  the 
general  court,  1714-16-19-29.  His  estate  in- 
ventoried £17,193. 

Dr.    Oliver    Noyes    married    (first),    1702, 


Ann,  daughter  of  Governor  Belcher;  (sec- 
ond) February  6,  1718,  Mrs.  Katherine  (Eyre, 
Eire,  Eyers)  Jeffries,  born  July  20,  1694,  died 
May  6.  1760.  daughter  of  John  and  Catherine 
(Brattle)  Eyre,  who  were  married  May  20, 
1680,  and  had  children:  Katherine,  Bertha 
and  John  Eyre.  Dr.  Oliver  Noyes  died  March 
16,  1721. 

John  Eyre  was  the  youngest  son  of  Simon 
Eyre,  a  surgeon  of  Watertown,  Massachu- 
setts, who  came  to  America  in  the  ship  "In- 
crease," from  London,  embarking  April  15, 
1635,  with  wife  Dorothy,  aged  thirty-eight, 
and  children :  Mary,  aged  fifteen ;  Thomas 
thirteen  ;  Simon,  eleven  ;  Rebecca,  nine  ;  Chris- 
tian, seven ;  Ann,  five ;  Benjamin,  three ; 
Sarah,  three  months.  John,  his  youngest  son, 
was  born  in  Massachusetts,  probably  at  Wa- 
tertown. Simon  was  representative,  select- 
man and  clerk  of  the  town. 

Catherine  Brattle,  wife  of  John  Eyre,  was 
a  daughter  of  Captain  Thomas  and  Elizabeth 
(Tyng)  Brattle,  of  Boston.  Elizabeth  Tvng 
was  a  daughter  of  Captain  ^^'illiam  Tyng.  a 
nierchant  of  distinction  in  Boston,  who  came 
to  America  in  the  "Nicholas,"  chartered  by 
himself  at  London.  He  arrived  in  Boston, 
July  3,  1638.  He  was  representative,  1639- 
44,  and  1647;  treasurer  of  the  colony,  1640- 
44 ;  captain  of  the  militia  company  of  Brain- 
tree,  Massachusetts,  where  he  removed  in  his 
latter  days,  and  which  he  represented  in  the 
federal  court,  1649-51.  His  widow  (Jane,  his 
third  wife)  survived  him.  His  first  wife  was 
Ann  Brown ;  his  second,  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  Rowland  Coytmore.  Elizabeth  Tyng,  eld- 
est daughter  of  Captain  \\'illiam  Tyng,  was 
born  in  England,  1638;  married,  in  1656, 
Captain  Thomas  Brattle,  and  they  were  the 
parents  of  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  Eyre,  the 
parents  of  Katherine  Eyre  (JefTries)  Noyes, 
second  wife  of  Dr.  Oliver  Noyes.  Children 
of  Dr.  Oliver  and  .Ann  (Belcher)  Noyes,  born 
in  Boston:  i.  Ann.  married  (first)  Azor  Gale; 
(second)  Rev.  Mather  Byles.  2.  Oliver,  died 
young.  3.  Oliver,  died  young.  4.  Sarah,  mar- 
ried (first)  Pulcifer;  (second)  

Bridgham.  5.  John,  died  young.  6.  John, 
died  young.  Oliver,  only  son  of  Dr.  Oliver 
and  his  second  wife,  Katherine  (Eyre)  (Jef- 
fries) Noyes,  was  born  in  Boston,  Massachu- 
setts, December  8,  1720.     He  married   (first) 

Ann  ;    (second)    Sarah    Badger,  born 

1747,  died  1788,  daughter  of  Jonathan  and 
Mary  (Baxter)  Badger,  who  were  married  at 
Charleston,  South  Carolina,  1743.  Jonathan 
Badger  died  at  Providence,  July  31,  1774. 

(\T)  Sarah,  daughter  of  Oliver  and  Sarah 
(Badger)  Novcs,  married  Hon.  George  Tib- 
bits.     (See  Tibbits). 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


337 


(The    Oliver    Line). 

(I)  Thomas  Oliver  (gentleman)  was  born 
in  Bristol,  Ensfland,  where  he  died  in  1557. 

He  married  Margaret  ,  and  had  issue, 

a  son  and  daughter. 

(H)  John  (merchant),  second  child  and 
only  son  of  Thomas  and  Margaret  Oliver,  was 
born  at  Bristol,  England,  died  there  and  was 
buried  in  St.  Stephen's  churchyard,  January 
31,  1598.  He  married,  August  28,  1557,  at  the 
same  church,  Elizabeth  Rowland.  Issue,  six 
sons  and  four  daughters. 

(HI)  Thomas  (2)  (surgeon),  fourth  child 
and  second  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Row- 
land) Oliver,  was  born  at  Bristol,  England,  in 
1582,  baptized  at  St.  Stephen's  Church,  April 
14,  1582,  died  at  Boston,  Massachusetts,  1657. 
He  married  Anne  ,  who  died  at  Bos- 
ton, Massachusetts.  May,  1635.  They  came 
to  Boston  with  children  (six  sons  anrl  two 
daughters),  June  5,  1632,  in  the  ship  "Lion." 
He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  First 
Church  (now  in  Chauncey  place).  He  mar- 
ried  (second)   at  Boston,  Anne  — ■ ,   who 

■died  December  20,  1662. 

(I\')  Peter  (merchant),  fourth  child  and 
son  of  Thomas  (2)  and  Anne  Oliver,  was  born 
in  Bristol,  England,  about  1622,  died  in  Bos- 
ton, Massachusetts,  April  11.  1670.  He  was 
■one  of  the  founders  of  the  old  South  Church, 
and  in  1669  commander  of  the  Ancient  and 
Honorable  Artillery  Company.  He  married, 
about  1642,  Sarah  Newdigate,  of  Boston,  who 
died  October  9,  1692.  They  had  five  sons  and 
three  daughters. 

(V)  Sarah,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Sarah 
(Newdigate)  Oliver,  married  John  Noyes. 
They  were  the  great-grandparents  of  Sarah 
Noyes,  wife  of  Hon.  George  Tibbits,  of  Troy, 
New  York. 

(The   Kno.x  Line). 

The  family  name  of  Knox  has  a  territorial 
origin,  being  derived  from  the  Celtic  word 
"Cnoc,"  signifying  a  small  hill.  About  the 
year  12C6  Johanne  de  Cnok  is  named  as  a  wit- 
ness in  a  charter  of  the  lands  at  Ingleston, 
Renfrewshire,  Scotland.  In  1328  two  pay- 
ments from  the  exchequer  of  King  Robert  the 
Bruce  were  made  to  Alanus  del  Knoc.  Those 
"bearing  the  name  of  Knox  in  his  day  derive 
lustre  from  being  connected  with  the  race 
which  produced  John  Knox,  the  illustrious 
Scotch  reformer,  to  whom  Englishmen  are  in 
part  indebted  for  the  Protestant  character  of 
their  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  and  Scotsmen 
for  a  reformation  so  thorough  as  to  perma- 
nently resist  the  encroachments  of  an  aggres- 
sive sacerdotalism.  By  three  centuries  he  an- 
ticipated the  parochial  system  of  education, 
now  the  law  of  England,  and  by  nearly  half 


that  period  he  set  forth  those  principles  of 
civil  and  religious  liberty  which  culminated 
in  a  system  of  constitutional  government.  The 
family  in  Scotland,  Ireland  and  England,  are 
prominent  all  down  the  years  of  recorded  hap- 
penings in  those  lands,  in  ecclesiastical,  civil 
and  military  life.  They  have  held  the  high- 
est positions  in  both  church  and  state.  Ma- 
jor-General  Henry  Knox,  of  the  revolution, 
descended  from  the  Belfast,  Ireland,  family. 
Alexander  Knox,  a  powerful  and  elegant  wri- 
ter, was  of  Londonderry,  Ireland.  He  was  a 
personal  friend  of  the  founder  of  Method- 
ism, John  Wesley.  Hugh  Knox,  of  the  Scotch 
family  of  Ranfurlie,  settled  in  the  parish  of 
Donagheady,  county  of  Londonderry,  Ireland, 
during  the  latter  half  of  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury. He  had  sons  and  grandsons  prominent 
as  divines,  and  one  of  this  family,  George 
Knox,  was  a  West  Indian  proprietor,  mer- 
chant and  ship  owner.  He  spent  part  of  his 
life  in  the  West  Indies,  but  returned  to  Lon- 
don, England,  where  he  died.  The  supposi- 
tion is  strong  that  Rev.  Hugh  Knox,  who  died 
on  the  island  of  Santa  Cruz,  was  connected 
with  this  Irish  branch  of  the  family,  Santa 
Cruz  was  also  known  as  Saint  Croix.  Alex- 
ander's "Princeton  in  the  Eighteenth  Cen- 
tury" says :  "He  settled  at  Saint  Croix,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days." 

(I)  Rev.  Hugh  Knox  came  to  America  in 
1 75 1.  Dr.  Rodgers,  becoming  interested,  es- 
tablished a  school  of  which  Mr.  Knox  (said 
to  have  been  educated  at  the  L'niversity  of 
Glasgow)  became  the  head.  While  thus  en- 
gaged an  event  happened  that  moulded  the 
whole  of  his  after  life.  He  became  acquainted 
with  a  number  of  young  men  who  were  accus- 
tomed to  meet  on  Saturday  afternoons  for  a 
frolic.  On  one  of  these  occasions  one  of  the 
party  cried  out  to  Knox :  "Come,  Parson," 
(a  title  they  had  given  him  on  account  of  his 
grave  manner,  and  withal  a  great  admirer  of 
Dr.  Rodgers'  preaching),  "come.  Parson,  give 
us  a  sermon."  At  first  he  declined,  but  being 
pressed,  gave  an  exact  imitation  of  Dr.  Rod- 
gers and  almost  verbatim  the  sermon  he  had 
preached  on  the  previous  Sunday.  As  he  pro- 
ceeded, his  auditors,  who  began  to  listen  in 
merriment,  became  deeply  serious,  and  the 
speaker  himself  was  overwhelmed  with  a  sense 
of  his  sin.  The  next  morning,  overcome  with 
remorse,  he  fled  from  the  place.  Soon  after 
he  went  to  Newark  and  applied  for  admission 
to  the  college  at  Princeton,  then  the  College  of 
New  Jersey.  He  related  his  whole  previous 
course  and  his  repentance  and  was  admitted. 
His  course  in  college  was  all  that  could  be 
desired.  After  his  graduation  from  Prince- 
ton, class  of   1754,  he  studied   theology  with 


338 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


President  Burr,  and  was  ordained  by  the 
Presbytery  of  New  York  in  1755,  and  was 
sent  to  the  island  of  Saba  (Dutch  West  In- 
dies, eighteen  miles  northwest  of  St.  Eusta- 
cius,  of  which  it  is  a  dependency;  it  contains 
fifteen  square  miles),  as  pastor  to  the  Dutch 
Church  of  the  island.  At  his  ordination  he 
preached  a  sermon  on  the  "Dignity  and  Im- 
portance of  the  Gospel  Ministry,"  which  was 
published  by  the  unanimous  request  of  the 
Presbytery.  In  1772  he  resigned  his  church 
at  Saba  and  settled  at  St.  Croi.x  (Santa 
Cruz),  one  of  the  largest  of  the  virgin  isles 
of  the  West  Indies,  forming  with  St.  Thomas 
and  St.  John  a  Danish  colony,  where  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  days  as  minister  of  the 
Reformed  church  there.  The  celebrated  Alex- 
ander Hamilton  was  placed  in  early  boyhood 
under  the  instruction  of  Rev.  Knox,  and 
formed  a  strong  attachment  for  him,  while  he 
in  return  watched  and  assisted  with  the  ut- 
most fidelity  the  development  of  the  wonder- 
ful powers  of  his  pupil.  They  kept  up  an  ac- 
tive correspondence  in  after  life,  and  two  of 
Rev.  Knox's  letters  are  preserved  in  the  first 
volume  of  Hamilton's  works.  Rev.  Knox  re- 
ceived his  A.M.  degree  from  Princeton,  1754, 
and  in  1768  from  Yale,  and  his  degree  of 
D.D.  was  conferred  by  the  University  of 
Glasgow,  Scotland.  Dr.  Knox  published  (ac- 
cording to  Dr.  Miller)  five  or  six  volumes, 
chiefly  sermons.  Two  volumes  of  his  ser- 
mons, printed  in  Glasgow  in  1772,  are  in  the 
library  of  the  college  at  Princeton.  ( From 
Alexander's  "Princeton  College  in  the  Eight- 
eenth Century.") 

Rev.  Hugh  Knox  married  Christina  Love, 
believed  to  have  been  daughter  of  the  gov- 
ernor of  the  island  of  Santa  Lucia.  They  had 
children.  Dr.  Knox  died  at  Santa  Cruz,  1790. 
(II)  Hugh  (2),  son  of  Rev.  Hugh  (i)  and 
Christina  (Love)  Knox,  was  born  at  Santa 
Cruz,  West  Indies,  in  1782.  He  was  sent  to 
Norwalk,  Connecticut,  at  the  age  of  eight 
years,  and  placed  under  the  care  and  tutorship 
of  his  father's  friend.  Rev.  Matthias  Burnett, 
D.D.  There  he  grew  up,  entered  Yale  Col- 
lege, was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1800, 
studied  law,  but  on  account  of  ill  health  never 
practiced.  In  1840  he  removed  to  Troy,  New 
York,  where  he  died  in  1858,  aged  seventy- 
eight  years.  He  married  (first)  Henrietta, 
daughter  of  Samuel  Cannon,  of  Norwalk, 
Connecticut,  and  sister  of  Le  Grand  Cannon, 
of  Troy  (see  forward).  She  died  in  1812. 
He  married  (second)  Martha,  daughter  of 
Stephen  Keelcr,  of  Norwalk.  Henrietta  Can- 
non was  the  daughter  of  Samuel  Cannon,  born 
July  28,  1754,  and  his  wife,  Sarah  (  Belden) 
Cannon,  horn  January  20,    1754,  and   grand- 


daughter of  John  Cannon,  born  1725,  died 
February  17,  1796,  and  his  wife,  Esther 
(Perry)  Cannon,  great-granddaughter  of 
John  and  Jerusha  (Sands)  Cannon,  great- 
great-granddaughter  of  John  Cannon,  a  mer- 
chant of  New  York  City,  who  married.  Sep- 
tember 16,  1697,  Marie  Le  Grand,  daughter 
of  Pierre  Le  (jrand,  a  French  merchant  of 
New  York  City.  '• 

(III)  John  Le  Grand,  son  of  Hugh  (2)  and 
Henrietta  (Cannon)  Knox,  was  born  in  Nor- 
walk, Connecticut,  November  13,  1803,  died  at 
Troy,  New  York,  August  21,  1879.  He  re- 
ceived a  good  practical  education  in  the 
schools  of  Norwalk  and  Troy,  being  sent  to 
the  latter  city  in  181 3.  In  Troy  he  attendeii 
Dr.  Stoddard's  school,  and  in  1820  began 
business  life  as  a  clerk  in  the  dry-goods  house 
of  Southwick,  Cannon  &  Warren.  He  spent 
seven  years  with  that  firm  and  then  embarked 
in  business  on  his  own  account.  He  became  a 
prominent  merchant  of  Troy  and  was  asso- 
ciated at  different  times  with  Francis  Mor- 
gan, John  H.  Whitlock  and  Gould  Rockwell. 
He  dealt  in  dry  goods:  he  was  highly  es- 
teemed as  a  business  man  and  as  a  citizen.  He 
retired  from  mercantile  life  and  was  con- 
nected with  the  iron  works  of  H.  Burden  & 
Son  from  1857  ^o  1876,  when  he  retired  from 
active  life.  He  was  a  Federalist,  afterward  a 
Whig,  and  later  in  life  a  Republican.  He 
never  was  active  in  politics,  but  was  always 
deeply  interested  in  national  and  local  ques- 
tions of  the  country.  He  married  (first)  Marv 
M.,  daughter  of  Stephen  Warren,  of  Troy. 
He  married  (second)  April  25,  1839,  Eliza- 
beth Carter,  born  August  6,  1813,  died  Mav 
25,  1885,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Jane  (Car- 
ter) Sigourney,  of  Hartford,  Connecticut  (sec 
Sigourney).  Children:  i.  Mary  Elizabeth, 
see  forward.  2.  Charles  Sigourney,  born  in 
Troy,  May  28,  1843;  graduated  from  Colum- 
bia College,  A.B..  1862:  now  (  1910)  profes- 
sor of  Latin  at  St.  Paul's  School,  Concord, 
New  Hampshire.  3.  John  Hugh,  see  forward. 
4.  Stephen  Warren,  born  in  Troy.  June  12, 
1847,  died  at  Hoosick,  New  York,  July  23, 
1867.  5.  James  Carter,  born  in  Troy,  Febru- 
ary 6,  1849;  graduated  from  St.  Paul's 
School:  now  ( 1910)  professor  in  same  school 
in  English  and  music.  6.  Flenry  Cannon,  born 
in  Troy,  September  16.  1851,  died  in  San 
Francisco.  California,  May  25,  1872;  graduate 
of  St.  Paul's  School. 

(VII)  Mary  F:iizabeth,  eldest  daughter  of 
John  Le  Grand  and  Elizabeth  Carter  ( Sigour- 
ney) Knox,  was  born  March  11,  1842,  mar- 
ried Charles  Edward  Dudley  Tibbits  (  see  Tib- 
bits). 

(\'II)  John  Hugh,  second  son  of  John  Le 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


339 


Grand  and  Elizabeth  Carter  (Sigourney) 
Knox,  was  born  in  Troy,  October  25,  1845. 
He  graduated  from  Churchill  Military  Col- 
lege, Sing  Sing,  New  York,  1862.  He  then 
engaged  in  the  hardware  manufacturing  busi- 
ness, continuing  for  a  period  of  eight  years, 
and  in  1878  engaged  in  the  general  insurance 
and  real  estate  business.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Church  of  Holy  Cross  (Episcopal),  and 
is  an  Independent  in  politics.  He  is  an  ex- 
empt fireman,  retiring  in  1868 ;  trustee  and 
secretary  of  Episcopal  Church  Home,  serving 
in  the  latter  capacity  since  1900;  and  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  Troy  Vocal  Society,  or- 
ganized in  1875.  He  has  been  identified  with 
musical  circles  of  Troy  for  many  years ;  he 
makes  a  specialty  of  church  music,  is  a  bass 
soloist,  and  has  been  connected  with  various 
choirs  for  forty-five  years ;  he  was  formerly 
with  St.  Paul's  Church  and  St.  John's  Episco- 
pal Church  choirs,  but  is  now  (1910)  con- 
nected with  the  choir  of  the  Church  of  the 
Holy  Cross,  which  was  the  first  church  in  the 
United  States  to  render  a  choral  service.  He 
married,  September  3,  1878,  in  Troy,  New 
York,  Maria  Talmadge,  daughter  of  Henry 
A.  Farnsworth. 

(The  Sigourney  Line). 
The  name  of  Sigourney  is  found  among 
that  band  of  Huguenots  who  sought  refuge  in 
New  England  from  the  persecutions  that  suc- 
ceeded the  Revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes 
by  Louis  XI\'.,  October  22,  1685.  The  an- 
cestor of  the  American  branch  of  the  family, 
Andrew  Sigourney,  or,  according  to  the 
French  orthography,  Andre  Sejourne,  is  said 
to  have  been  comfortably  settled  at  or  near 
Rochelle,  France,  when  the  Edict  was  re- 
voked. He  at  once  left  France  and  went  to 
England.  Under  the  auspices  of  Governor 
Joseph  Dudley  and  others,  proprietors  of  O.x- 
ford,  Worcester  county,  Massachusetts,  a  col- 
ony of  Huguenots  was  assisted  to  proceed  to 
America,  where  they  arrived  in  the  winter  of 
i68fi.  The  Sigourney s  were  of  the  company 
who,  with  their  pastor,  Pierre  Daille,  formed 
the  settlement  at  Oxford  in  Worcester  county 
on  the  banks  of  a  stream  which  still  retains 
the  name  they  gave  it,  French  river.  His 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Charlotte 
Pairan,  his  son  Andrew,  a  lad  of  thirteen 
years,  and  his  daughter  Susan  came  with  .An- 
drew Sigournev*  to  America.    The  s:ravestone 


*The  wife  of  .-Xndre  Sejourne  the  first,  is  twice 
referred  to  in  Baird's  "Huguenots  in  America," 
and  her  name  given  as  Charlotte  Pairan.  Accord- 
ing to  this  book  (Vol.  II,  p.  267)  they  left  France 
for  England  as  early  as  1681,  and  had  a  child  born 
in  London  in  1682,  which  was  baptized  in  the 
French  church  in  Threadneedle  street.  April  16, 
1682. 


of  the  emigrant  ancestor  stands  in  the  "Gran- 
ary" graveyard  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  and 
bears  the  following:  "Andrew  Sigourney  died 
April  16,  1727,  aged  89."  Children:  i.  An- 
drew (see  forward).  2.  Susan,  born  in 
France ;  married  John  John.son,  who  was  killed 
with  his  three  children  by  Indians  at  Oxford, 
Massachusetts,  1696;  she  married  (second) 
April  18,  1700,  her  cousin,  Daniel  Johonnot, 
of  Boston,  born  in  France.  There  may  have 
been  other  children  of  the  emigrant,  as  there 
was  a  Samuel  .Sigourney  who  married  Mary 
Dunbar,  December  i,  1723,  and  a  Charlotte 
who  married  Peter  Holman,  May  26,  1719, 
both  married  by  Andrew  Le  Mercier,  pastor 
of  the  French  Church,  but  they  cannot  posi- 
tively be  identified  as  children  of  .\ndrew 
Sigourney. 

(II)  Andrew  (2),  son  of  Andrew  (i) 
Sigourney,  "the  founder,"  was  born  in 
France,  1673.  He  came  to  America  with  his 
father  in  1686,  and  became  a  distiller  of  Bos- 
ton, Massachusetts.  He  was  one  of  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  French  Church  in  South  Latin 
School  street,  being  one  with  others  who  exe- 
cuted a  deed.  May  7,  1748,  conveying  the 
same  to  another  society.  He  died  in  1748, 
and  his  will,  made  May  20,  1736,  was  re- 
corded in  Suffolk,  July  7,  1748  (lib.  41,  folio 
148).  He  married  Mary  Germaine,  born  in 
France,  March  2,  1680,  died  March  20,  1763- 
64.  Children,  all  born  in  Boston,  Mas.sachu- 
setts :  I.  .\ndrew  (see  forward).  2.  Susan- 
nah, married,  bv  Rev.  Andrew  Le  Mercier,  to 
Martin  Brimmer,  born  1697,  at  Osten,  Ger- 
many; eleven  children.  3.  Peter,  died  1738; 
no  marriage  recorded.  4.  Mary,  married, 
February  20,  1734,  John  Baker,  who  came 
from  Guernsey,  or  Jersey.  5.  Charles,  died 
171 1,  unmarried.  6.  Anthony,  married  Mary 
Waters,  of  .Salem;  (second)  a  widow,  Eliza- 
beth (Whittemore)  Breed.  7.  Daniel,  mar- 
ried (first)  1735.  Mary  Varney;  (second) 
Joanna  Tileston ;  (third)  Rebecca  Tileston.  8. 
Rachel,  died  September  20,  1719.  9.  Hannah, 
married  Hon.  Samuel  Dexter,  son  of  -Rev. 
Samuel  Dexter,  of  Dedham ;  Hon.  Samuel 
Dexter  was  the  ardent  patriot  of  Boston,  sev- 
eral times  elected  to  the  council,  and  as  often 
rejected  by  the  royal  governor  of  the  prov- 
ince ;  upon  his  legacy  to  Harvard  L^niversity 
the  Dexter  Lectureship  is  founded. 

(III)  Andrew  (3),  son  of  Andrew  (2)  and 
Mary  (Germaine)  Sigourney,  was  born  in 
Boston,  Massachusetts.  January  30,  1702.  He 
was  married,  by  Rev.  Andrew  Le  Mercier, 
pastor  of  the  French  Church.  October  7,  1731, 
to  Mary,  only  daughter  of  John  Ronchon. 
.Andrew  Sigourney  died  November  4.  1762, 
and  Mary  his  wife  died   February   28,   1772. 


340 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


Children:  i.  Mary  Ann,  died  young.  2.  An- 
drew (4),  died  young.  3.  Alary,  married 
Samuel  Sloan;  six  children.  4.  Andrew  (5), 
died  young.  5.  John  Ronchon,  married 
Eunice  Kidder.     6.  Andrew  (6),  died  young. 

7.    Elizabeth,   married    (first)    Paine; 

(second)     Doyle;      (third)     

Luckas.     8.   Susanna,  married   John  Osborn. 

9.  Andrew  (7),  born  March  27.  1746,  died 
November  23,  1767.  10.  Charles  (see  for- 
ward). II.  Martin  Baker,  died  young.  12. 
Hannah,  married  Captain  John  Patten,  of 
Biddeford.  Maine  (who  was  lost  by  ship- 
wreck at  Marshfield,  January  11,  1783);  she 
married  (second)  Benjamin  Balch,  of  New- 
buryport. 

(IV)  Charles,  tenth  child  of  Andrew  (3) 
and  Mary  (Ronchon)  Sigourney,  was  born 
March  4,  1748,  died  May  20,  1806.  He  mar- 
ried (first)  1771,  Sarah  Frazier,  daughter  of 
Captain  John  Frazier  and  Sarah  Ingraham, 
his  wife,  who  bore  him  eight  children.  Mar- 
ried (second)  February  22.  1788.  Mary 
Greenleaf,  who  was  the  mother  of  eight  chil- 
dren:  I.  Charles  (2),  died  in  infancy.  2. 
Charles  (3),  died  in  infancy.  3.  George,  died 
in  infancy.  4.  John,  died  in  infancy.  5. 
Charles  {4).  see  forward.  6.  Maria,  died  in 
infancy.  7.  Sarah,  died  at  age  of  twenty-one 
years.  8.  Henry,  married  (first)  Rebecca 
Carter;  (second)  Margaret  M.  Barker.  9. 
William  Parsons,  died  at  age  of  thirty  years. 

10.  Harriet,  died  in  infancy.  11.  Elizabeth 
Parsons,  married  George  G.  Channing.  12. 
Mary,  died  in  infancy.  13.  Mary,  married 
J.  P.  Froding.  14.  Ann  Pearson,  married 
William  Rollins.  15.  Jane  Carter,  married 
Fred  A.  Farley.  16.  George,  died  at  the  age 
of  nineteen  years. 

(V)  Charles  (2),  son  of  Charles  (i)  and 
Sarah  (Frazier)  Sigourney,  was  born  July  21, 
1778,  at  Boston,  Massachusetts,  died  at  Hart- 
ford, Connecticut,  December  30,  1854.  He 
was  a  prosperous  hardware  merchant  and 
banker,  and  one  of  the  founders  of  Trinity 
College  at  Hartford,  Connecticut.  He  mar- 
ried (first)  May  25,  1803,  Jane  Carter,  who 
bore  him  three  children.  i\larried  (second) 
June  16,  1819,  Lydia  Huntley.  Charles  Sig- 
ourney bore  a  most  enviable  reputation,  and 
the  notices  of  his  death,  taken  from  the  news- 
pa[)ers  of  the  day,  are  laudatory  and  appre- 
ciative. He  was  sent  to  England  to  finish  liis 
education.  He  was  a  devout  Christian,  be- 
nevolent and  kind.  His  constant  companion 
was  a  New  Testament  printed  in  the  original 
Greek,  which  he  diligently  studied.  He  was 
president  of  the  Phoenix  Bank  of  Hartford. 
He  served  as  one  of  the  first  trustees  of  Trin- 
ity College,  was  warden  of  Christ  Church,  and 


was  a  patron  of  various  literary,  educational 
and  charitable  institutions.  Children:  i. 
Charles  Henry,  born  January  11,  181 1.  2. 
Elizabeth  Carter,  married  John  Le  Grand 
Knox  (q.  v.).  3.  Jane  Carter,  born  April  9, 
1815;  married,  October  3,  1839,  Michael 
Burnham.  4.  Mary  Huntley,  married  Francis 
T.  Russell.  5.  Andrew  Maximilian,  died  at 
age  of  twenty  years. 


In  a  history  of  the  early 
CARROLL  church  of  Sudbury,  Massa- 
chusetts, appears  the  follow- 
ing record:  "March  i,  1640.  Robert  Carill 
buried  his  servant  Edward  \'ines."  Of  the 
first  settlers  of  Sudbury  many  remained  only 
a  short  time.  Jane  Gumming,  of  Salem,  Mas- 
sachusetts, in  her  will  dated  July  10,  1644, 
names  among  her  creditors  a  "Mr.  Carol."  It 
is  to  be  presumed  that  at  this  early  date  there 
was  not  more  than  one  family  of  this  name 
in  Massachusetts,  and  that  these  two  Carrols 
were  the  same,  and  that  he  was  the  father  of 
Anthony  and  Nathaniel  Caroll,  of  Topsfield 
and  Boxford,  and  that  he  came  to  the  Massa- 
chusetts Bay  Colony  about  1638-40,  settled 
first  at  Sudbury,  then  went  to  Salem,  where 
the  family  remained  for  the  next  hundred 
years.  It  is  believed  that  the  three  Nathaniels 
(I,  II,  III)  lived  successively  on  the  same 
farm,  lying  along  the  Ipswich  river,  located 
about  eight  miles  from  the  centre  of  the  pres- 
ent village  of  Salem.  The  deeds  for  the  Car- 
roll farms  back  to  1704  indicate  that  the  Car- 
rolls  and  Putnams  were  adjoining  neighbors, 
and  it  was  very  natural  that  wlien  (jeneral 
Israel  Putnam  moved  to  Connecticut,  the  Car- 
rolls  should  follow  and  settle  in  the  same  town 
of  Killingly,  but  in  the  part  that  has  since 
become  Thompson,  Connecticut.  Francis,  Na- 
thaniel and  ^\mos,  three  brothers,  settled  in 
Connecticut  about  1749.  Francis  was  a  cord- 
wainer,  and  had  a  family.  Nathaniel  was  a 
tailor,  and  unmarried.  It  is  with  the  third 
brother,  Amos,  that  this  record  deals.  The 
Carrolls  are  undoubtedly  of  Irish  descent.  The 
New  England  Carrolls  were  memliers  of  the 
Danvers  church,  which  taken  in  connection 
with  the  strictly  Bible  names  would  indicate 
that  they  were  of  the  rigid  Puritan  stock, 
whatever  their  foreign  connections  were. 

(I)  Robert  Carroll  was  of  Sudbury,  Mas- 
sachusetts, 1640,  and  of  Salem,  1644.  He  had 
sons :  Anthony,  born  1635,  married  Katherine 

;    lived    at    Topsfield,    Massachusetts, 

Nathaniel,  see  forward. 

(II)  Nathaniel,  son  of  Robert  Carroll,  was 
born  1638.  He  married,  1659,  Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  Richard  and  Mary  Haines,  of  Beverly, 
Massachusetts,  and  lived  at  Boxford,  Massa- 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK    \'ALLEYS 


341 


chusetts.  Children:  i.  Mary,  born  1661,  died 
1682;  married,  1678,  Samuel  Fraye,  and  lived 
at  Salem,  Massachusetts.  2.  Nathaniel  (2), 
see  forward.  3.  Samuel,  born  1666,  died 
1701 ;  "a  soldier  of  Sir  Edmund  Andros'  army 
in  1688."  4.  Benjamin,  born  1670;  married 
Mary  ;  "soldier  from  Beverly,  Massa- 
chusetts." 5.  Joseph,  born  1674;  married 
(first)  1695,  Priscilla  Preble;  married  (sec- 
ond) 1720,  Rebecca  Chapman.  6.  Hannah, 
born  1677;  married,  1699,  Nicholas  Orchow, 
of  Salem,  Massachusetts.  7.  Edward,  born 
1680;  married,  1700,  Elizabeth  Booth,  and 
lived  in  Salem. 

(HI)  Nathaniel  (2),  son  of  Nathaniel  (i) 
and  Mary  (Haines)  Carroll,  was  born  1663, 
died  1724.  He  married,  1683,  Priscilla  Down- 
ing, and  lived  at  Boxford  and  Salem,  Massa- 
chusetts. Children:  i.  Mary,  born  1687,  died 
1710:  married  John  Bullock,  of  Salem. 
2.  Hannah,  born  1690,  lived  at  Middle- 
ton,  Massachusetts.  3.  Nathaniel  (3),  see 
forward.  4.  Samuel,  born  1693 1  married 
(first)  1719,  Rebecca  Elliot,  married  (second) 
Aby  Greencastle,  of  Sutton.  5.  Elizabeth, 
born  1695;  married,  1715,  Samuel  Woodwell. 
6.  Joanna,  born  1697.  7.  John,  born  1701; 
married,  1723,  Lydia  Bayley.  8.  Daniel,  born 
1703;  married,  1727,  Mary  French,  and  re- 
sided in   Sutton,  Massachusetts. 

(IV)  Nathaniel  (3),  son  of  Nathaniel  (2) 
and  Priscilla  (Downing)  Carroll,  was  born 
1691.  He  was  a  leather  dresser  and  tanner. 
He  married  Hannah  in  1715,  and  re- 
sided at  Middleton,  Massachusetts.  He  also 
owned  and  cultivated  a  farm,  as  had  his  fa- 
ther and  grandfather  before  him,  probably 
the  same,  as  these  towns  were  successively, 
Salem,  then  Boxford  was  cut  off,  and  after- 
ward Middleton.  The  same  farm  could  have 
been  located  in  all  three.  Children:  i.  Fran- 
cis, born  1717;  married,  1742,  Sarah  Lambert. 
2.  Nathaniel  (4),  born  1718;  died  unmarried 
at  Thompson,  Connecticut.  3.  Hannah,  born 
1 72 1.  4.  Abigail,  born  1725.  5.  Amos  (see 
forward).  6.  Mary,  born  1731,  married  Wil- 
liam Martin,  of  Salem. 

(\')  Lieutenant  Amos,  son  of  Nathaniel 
(3)  and  Hannah  Carroll,  was  born  in  1728, 
died  1792.  He  settled  in  Connecticut,  at  the 
town  of  Killingly,  in  the  part  now  known  as 
Thompson.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  after  culti- 
vating for  short  periods  two  other  farms,  set- 
tled permanently  in  the  Brandy  Hill  district 
on  the  farm  known  as  the  Fort  Hill  farm,  and 
suggesting  the  name  w-as  an  old  Indian  fort. 
He  responded  to  the  "alarm"  with  General 
Israel  Putnam  and  his  neighbors,  and  appears 
on  the  records  as  having  served  with  the 
"Lexington  Alarm  Men."     October  31,  1778, 


he  was  commissioned  lieutenant  of  the  Sev- 
enth company  of  the  Alarm  List  in  the  Elev- 
enth Regiment  of  Connecticut,  by  Governor 
Jonathan  Trumbull,  of  Connecticut.  Amos 
Carroll  married  (first)  at  Middleton,  Massa- 
chusetts, Mary  Smith.  Children:  i.  Mary, 
born  1749,  died  1816;  she  married  Daniel 
Hcnimingway,  of  Barre,  Massachusetts.  2. 
John,   born   January   5,    1754    (see   forward). 

3,  Dr.  Ephraim,  born  1757,  died  1812;  mar- 
ried Lucy  Clark ;  he  was  a  practicing  phy- 
sician of  Woodstock,  Connecticut.  Amos  Car- 
roll married  (second)  Mrs.  Lucy  Hosmer 
Barrett,  at  Thompson,  Connecticut.  Children : 

4.  Abigail,  born  1762,  died  1840;  she  married 
Joseph  Tourtellot,  of  Thompson.  5.  Wyman, 
born  1765,  died  1827;  he  married,  1795,  Sarah 
Crosby,  and  lived  at  Thompson.  6.  Hannah, 
born  I7t)8,  died  1839:  she  married  Joshua 
Tourtellot,  of  Thompson.  7.  Elijah,  born 
1771,  died  1848;  married,  1795,  Pasha  Smith, 
and  removed  to  Dairnard,  Vermont.  8.  Ra- 
chel, born  1774,  died  1819:  married,  1795, 
Ebenezer  Burrill,  of  Burrillville.  Rhode  Is- 
land. 

(VI)  John,  son  of  Lieutenant  Amos  and 
Mary  (Smith)  Carroll,  was  born  in  Thomp- 
son, Connecticut,  January  5,  1754,  died  1823; 
he  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  the  Fort  Hill 
farm.  He  married,  in  Thompson,  1779,  Han- 
nah Thayer,  and  later  settled  in  New  York 
state,  at  Springfield,  Otsego  county,  where  he 
died.     Children:   i.  Polly,  born  November  4, 

1780,  died  1836;  she  married  Phineas  Albert, 
of  Springfield,    New   York.     2.   Nancy,  born 

1781,  died  1852;  married  Nathaniel  Hem- 
mingway,  of  Amber,  New  York.  3.  Ezra, 
born  1783,  died  1844;  married  Rebecca  Mul- 
let, and  lived  in  Springfield.  4.  Davis,  born 
February  25,  1786  (see  forward),  3.  Kiron, 
born  1790,  died  1813,  buried  at  Thonipson, 
Connecticut.  6.  John,  born  1792,  died  1845;  he 
married  Susan  Wheaton,  and  lived  at  Spring- 
field, 7.  Waty,  born  1795,  died  1884;  married 
Francis  Sammons,  of  Springfield.  8.  Seneca, 
born  1798,  died  1800,  at  Thompson,  g.  Lu- 
cinda.  born  1801,  died  1868;  she  married  Rev. 
N.  G.  Giase,  and  lived  at  Smyrna,  Michigan. 

(VII)  Davis,  son  of  John  and  Hannah 
(Thayer)  Carroll,  was  born  in  Thompson, 
Connecticut,  February  25,  1786,  died  August 
13,  1833.  He  removed  to  Otsego  county.  New 
York,  in  1817.  He  was  a  classmate  and  a 
lifelong  friend  of  Governor  William  L. 
Marcy,  of  New  York,  and  a  veteran  of  the  war 
of  1812.  He  was  a  prominent  well-to-do  farm- 
er of  Springfield.  He  married.  May  17,  181 1, 
in  Thompson,  Connecticut,  Phoebe  Tourtellot, 
born  March  25,  1791,  died  x-Vugust  14,  1870. 
Children:  i,  Linus  Anson,  born  July  31,  1812, 


342 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


died  October  ii,  1839;  he  married  Rebecca 
L.  Prine,  February  2,  1836,  and  lived  at  Lee, 
Massachusetts.  2.  Davis  Loton,  born  Janu- 
ary 9,  1814,  died  January  27,  1877 ;  he  married 
Mary  A.  Ayers,  July,  1842,  and  lived  at  Am- 
sterdam, New  York.  3.  Hannah  Tourtellot, 
born  August  30,  1815,  died  June  4,  1890:  she 
married,"  January  i,  1855,  Robert  Yule,  of 
Canandaigua,  New  York.  5.  Phebe  Calista, 
born  February  15,  1819,  died  January  25, 
1871 ;  married,  February  2,  1842.  Stephen  V. 
Thayer,  of  Broadalbin,  New  York.  6.  Amy 
Janet,  born  February  6,  1821,  died  March  23, 
1892;  married,  February  11,  1846,  William 
Harv'ev  Buell,  of  Springfield.  7.  John 
Michael,  born  April  27,  1823  (see  forward). 
8.  Lucy  Etta,  born  February  18,  1825; 
married  January  10,  1849,  Solomon  J.  North- 
rup,  of  Binghamton,  New  York.  9.  Harriet 
Lucinda,  born  April  6,  1828,  died  December 
II,  1891  ;  she  married  Samuel  Hollister,  Feb- 
ruary 2,  1859,  and  removed  to  Atchison,  Kan- 
sas. 10.  Seneca,  born  January  26,  183 1,  died 
August  17,  1893;  lived  at  Rome,  New  York. 
II.  Fidelia,  born  May  21,  1833,  died  Febru- 
ary 18,  1906;  lived  at  Amsterdam  and  Johns- 
town, New  York. 

(\'HI)  John  Michael,  son  of  Davis  and 
Phoebe  (Tourtellot)  Carroll,  was  born  in 
Springfield,  Otsego  county.  New  York,  April 
27,  1823.  He  prepared  for  college  at  Cherry 
Valley  and  Fairfield  academies,  and  entered 
Union  College  in  the  junior  class,  where  he 
was  graduated  with  first  honors,  class  of  1846. 
He  took  a  special  course  in  civil  engineering, 
and  was  one  of  the  three  who  received  a  spe- 
cial diploma  and  degree  of  C.  E.,  in  addition 
to  the  degree  of  A.B.  he  received  in  course. 
He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Phi  Beta 
Kappa  society  on  graduation,  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  kappa  Alpha  college  fraternity. 
He,  however,  decided  upon  the  law  as  his  pro- 
fession, and  pursued  legal  studies  with  Judge 
Hammond,  of  Cherrv  Valley,  and  with  Judge 
Cushney,  of  Fonda,  New  York.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  of  the  state  of  New  York 
jn  1848,  and,  after  being  in  the  west  a  short 
time,  began  practice  at  Broadalbin,  Fulton 
county,  New  York,  in  1850,  where  he  con- 
tinued until  1862,  when  he  made  permanent 
settlement  in  Johnstown,  New  York.  ^  In 
1859  he  was  elected  district  attorney  of  Ful- 
ton county,  and  in  1869  he  was  elected  to  the 
forty-second  congress,  where  he  served  with 
marked  ability  on  the  committee  of  post-of- 
fices and  post  roads,  and  was  instrumental  in 
framing  and  having  passed  important  laws  re- 
lating to  the  postal  service,  one  of  them  abol- 
ishing the  franking  privilege  as  it  then  ex- 
isted and  another  establishing  the  system  of 


postal  cards.  In  the  tariff  revision  of  1872 
he  succeeded  in  having  the  tariff  on  raw  hides 
and  skins  abolished,  and  that  on  manufactured 
gloves  continued.  This  was  greatly  to  the 
advantage  of  the  dominant  industry  of  Ful- 
ton county,  and  may  be  said  to  have  been  the 
original  cause  of  its  present  great  proportions 
and  prosperity.  He  declined  renomination 
and  positively  retired  from  public  office, 
devoting  himself  thereafter  to  the  practice  of 
his  profession.  He  was  an  able  lawyer,  and 
a  citizen  of  the  highest  standing.  He  was  a 
lifelong  Democrat,  and  a  leader  of  the  party 
in  his  district,  as  well  as  sitting  in  state  coun- 
cils where  he  was  honored  and  referred  to  on 
important  matters  affecting  party  interests.  He 
was  eminent  in  his  profession,  and  command- 
ed the  respect  of  both  bench  and  bar.  He 
married,  December  16,  1862,  Augusta  Marian, 
born  April  29,  1837,  daughter  of  Dr.  Freeman 
Tourtellot,  of  Saratoga  county.  New  York, 
who  survives  him,  and  is  a  resident  of  Johns- 
town, New  York.  She  is  a  descendant  of  the 
Huguenot.  Abraham  Tourtellot,  of  Bordeaux, 
France ;  Roxbury,  Massachusetts,  and  New- 
port, Rhode  Island,  a  merchant  and  a  mariner, 
who  married  Mary  Hernon,  and  had  three 
children :  Gabriel,  Esther  and  Abraham.  He 
was  lost  at  sea  with  his  eldest  son,  Gabriel. 
The  descent  is  traced  to  the  present  genera- 
tion thus : 

(I)  Abraham     Tourtellot,     of     Bordeaux, 
France,  married  Mary  Hernon. 

(II)  Abraham   (2). 

(HI)      Abraham      (3),      married      Phoebe 


(IV)  Esek,  born  1763,  died  May  4,  1850, 
married  Rebecca   Swain,   1803. 

(V)  Dr.  Freeman,  born  August  4,  1806, 
died  December  14,  1868;  married,  April  6, 
1 83 1,  Fanny  Richardson,  born  January  13, 
1805,  died  Tune  25,  1889. 

(\T)  Augusta  Marian,  married  John 
Michael  Carroll. 

(VIT)  Frederick  Linus,  married  Eleanor 
Pierson  Miller. 

Children  of  John  M.  and  Augusta  M.  Car- 
roll:  I.  Edward  Tourtellot,  born  June  22, 
1867;  graduated  from  Union  College,  class  of 
1889,  with  degree  of  A.B.,  and  in  1892  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  A.M.,  in  course.  On 
graduation  he  was  elected  to  membership  in 
the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  fraternity.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Union  Chapter  of  Alpha  Delta 
Phi.  He  prepared  for  the  ministry  at  the 
Episcopal  Theological  School  at  Cambridge, 
Massachusetts,  graduating  in  1893.  He  took 
holy  orders  and  is  now  rector  of  St.  Ann's 
Protestant  Episcopal  Qiurch  in  Amsterdam, 
New  York.     In  June,    1909,  his  alma  mater 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK    VALLEYS 


343 


iconferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Divinity.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
•order,  and  affiliated  with  St.  Patrick's  Lodge 
No.  4,  F.  and  A.  M.,  of  Johnstown,  New 
York.  He  married,  September  28,  1898, 
Helle  Huntley  of  Amsterdam.  2.  Frederick 
Linus,  of  further  mention.  3.  John  Davis, 
born  September  16,  1874,  died  July  3,  1902; 
was  a  member  of  the  class  of  1896,  Union 
College,  and  of  the  L^nion  Chapter  of  the 
Alpha  Delta  Phi  fraternity.  He  embraced 
the  profession  of  law,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  New  York  State  bar  in  1899. 

(IX)  Frederick  Linus,  .son  of  John  Michael 
and  Augusta  Marian  (Tourtellot)  Carroll, 
was  born  at  Johnstown,  New  York,  October 
7,  1869.  Prepared  at  Trinity  Military  Insti- 
tute, Tivoli,  New  York,  whence  he  was  grad- 
uated in  1886;  entered  Union  College,  being 
graduated  A.B.  in  1890,  and  in  1893  received 
the  degree  of  A.M.  in  course.  He  prepared  for 
the  profession  of  law  in  his  father's  office  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  state  of  New 
York,  September  15,  1892,  and  subsequently 
was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  I'nited  States 
•district,  circuit  and  supreme  courts.  He  be- 
gan practice  at  once,  in  association  with  his 
father  at  Johnstown,  New  York,  and  has  since 
•continuously  been  devoted  to  the  active  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.  He  is  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  and  a  member  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church.  His  college  fraternity  is  Alpha 
Delta  Phi.  He  is  prominently  identified  with 
the  Masonic  order,  belonging  to  lodge,  coun- 
cil, chapter,  commandery,  the  Scottish  Rite 
bodies,  and  the  Mystic  Shrine,  and  being  a 
past  master  and  trustee  of  St.  Patrick's  Lodge 
'No.  4,  F.  and  A.  I\I.,  a  past  high  priest  of 
Johnstown  Chapter  No.  78,  R.  A.  M.,  a  past 
thrice  illustrious  master  of  Johnstown  Coun- 
"cil.  No.  /2,  R.  and  S.  M.,  and  a  past  grand 
lodge  and  grand  chapter  officer.  He  married, 
October  30,  1894,  Eleanor  Pier.son,  daughter 
of  Jacob  P.  and  Eleanor  Margaret  ( .\rger- 
singer)  Miller,  of  Johnstown.  Children: 
John  Miller,  born  June  12,  1902,  and  Edward 
Linus,  born  December  2,  1906. 

(The  Miller  Line). 
The  founder  of  this  branch  of  the  Miller 
family  came  to  America  from  Germany  and 
settled  in  Westchester  county.  New  York.  He 
bore  the  German  name  Jacobus  (English 
equivalent  James),  which  was  often  short- 
ened in  "Cobus,"  and  by  that  name  was  per- 
"haps  best  known.  He  served  in  the  .\meri- 
can  Revolution  in  the  Second  Regiment  of 
"Westchester  county  militia  under  Colonel 
Thomas  Thomas.  His  son  James  (2)  also 
:served  in  the  same  regiment.    James  ( i )  mar- 


ried Mithilda  Collier,  a  descendant  of  Jochem 
and  Magdalena  Collier  (Callier,  Caljer)  of 
New  Amsterdam,  whose  descendants  settled 
in  the  Hudson  and  Mohawk  Valleys.  Chil- 
dren :  Peter,  James,  Jacob   and   Henry. 

(II)  Henry,  son  of  James  and  Mithilda 
(Collier)  Miller,  married  Nancy  Gillespie, 
daughter  of  Michael  and  Eleanor  (Doherty) 
Gillespie,  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry.  They  set- 
tled in  Lansingburg,  New  York,  later  removed 
to  Currytown,  New  York.  Children  :  James, 
Peter,  Ellen,  Harriet,  Gillespie,  William,  Ja- 
cob P.,  of  further  mention,  Mary  and  Mercy. 

(HI)  Jacob  P.,  born  May  21,  1829,  in 
Montgomery  county,  died  in  Johnstown,  New 
York,  February  6,  1900.  He  married  ([first) 
Isabella  Miller,  who  died  October  14,  1863; 
married  (second),  February  7,  1866.  Eleanor 
Margaret,  born  November  21,  1840,  daughter 
of  Philip  and  Eleanor  Pierson  Argersinger. 
(See  Argersinger  sketch  for  Pierson  geneal- 
ogy.) (Thildren  by  first  marriage:  Margaret 
Isabella,  married  George  S.  Fraser;  Jennie 
M.,  married  James  H.  Cross.  Children  by 
second  marriage:  Catherine,  born  January  i, 
1867,  died  October  20,  1867;  Charles  Arger- 
singer, born  February  11,  1868,  married  Sarah 
R.  Humphrey,  and  has  a  daughter,  Eleanor 
Margaret,  born  October  3,  1898. 

(IV)  Eleanor  Pierson,  daughter  of  Jacob 
P.  and  his  second  wife,  Eleanor  Margaret 
(Argersinger)  Miller,  born  October  30,  1870, 
married  Frederick  Linus  Carroll. 


This  family  originated  in  Scot- 
McNAIR     land.     During  the  first  half  of 

the  eighteenth  century,  David, 
John  and  Alexander  McXair,  sons  of  a  Scotch 
Covenanter,  came  to  America  from  the  north 
of  Ireland  and  settled  along  the  Delaware 
river  below  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  Da- 
vid, the  progenitor  of  the  family  herein  re- 
corded, later  settled  in  Lancaster  county,  mar- 
ried and  had  issue. 

(II)  David  (2)  son  of  David  (i)  McNair, 
was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania, 
December  18,  1736,  died  February  19,  1777, 
from  wounds  and  exposure.  He  was  a  lieu- 
tenant of  Pennsylvania  troops  in  the  revolu- 
tionary army  and  rendered  important  service 
during  the  campaigns  of  1776-77.  He  was 
with  Washington  at  the  "(Crossing  of  the 
Delaware,"  and  at  the  subsequent  battles  of 
Trenton  and  Princeton,  where  he  received  the 
wounds  that  resulted  in  his  death.  He  is 
buried  at  Strawberry,  New  Jersey.  He  mar- 
ried, in  1756,  Annie  Dunning,  born  at  Mount 
Rock,  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania.  Feb- 
ruary, 1738,  died  at  Wilkinsburg,  near  Pitts- 
burg,  Pennsylvania,   1806-07.     Her  ancestors 


344 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


were   among    the    early   settlers    of    Pennsyl- 
vania. 

(III)  Alexander,  sixth  son  of  Lieutenant 
David  (2)  and  Annie  (Dunning)  McNair, 
was  born  May  5,  1775,  in  Derry,  Lancaster 
county,  now  Dauphin  county,  Pennsylvania. 
He  was  prepared  for  college  in  his  native 
town  and  attended  a  term  at  the  Philadel- 
phia College,  now  L'niversity  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

He  served  as  lieutenant  in  command 
of  a  company  from  Lancaster  county  in  sup- 
pressing the  whisky  insurrection  in  1794;  was 
lieutenant  of  infantry,  United  States  army,  in 
1 799- 1 800.  He  removed  to  St.  Louis  in  the 
territory  of  Upper  Louisiana  in  1804,  where 
he  was  commissary  of  the  United  States  army 
for  several  years;  in  1812  was  made  adju- 
tant-general, and  also  served  as  inspector 
general;  in  1813  he  was  colonel  of  a  regiment 
of  Missouri  Rangers,  with  which  he  served  on 
the  frontier  against  the  British  and  Indians 
in  the  war  of  1812.  He  was  a  delegate  from 
St.  Louis  county  to  the  constitutional  con- 
vention, July,  1820,  and  the  same  year  was 
elected  first  governor  of  the  state  of  Missouri, 
defeating  General  A\"il!iam  Clark,  who  had 
been  territorial  governor  of  Upper  Louisiana, 
now  Missouri.  He  served  from  1820  to  1824. 
He  resided  at  St.  Charles,  the  first  seat  of 
government  in  1820.  He  was  United  States 
agent  in  the  Indian  department  1824-26.  He 
was  intimately  connected  with  the  stirring 
events  of  his  period,  and  served  well  both  his 
country  and  his  state.  Governor  McNair  died 
in  St.  Louis,  March  18,  1826.  He  married,  in 
1804,  at  St.  Louis,  Marguerite  de  Reilhe, 
daughter  of  the  Marquis  Antoine  de  Reilhe 
of  Montpelier,  Languedoc,  France,  of  an 
emigre  royalist  family  driven  into  exile  by  the 
first  revolution  in  France. 

(IV)  Antoine  de  Reilhe,  third  child  of 
Governor  Alexander  and  Marguerite  (de 
Reilhe)  McNair,  was  born  April  10,  1809, 
died  1872,  in  Missouri.  He  was  educated  in 
private  schools  and  at  St.  Louis  University, 
of  Missouri,  at  St.  Louis.  He  entered  the 
United  States  army  as  an  officer,  and  while 
serving  in  the  Black  Hawk  war  of  1832  re- 
ceived injuries  which  rendered  him  a  cripple 
for  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  resigned 
from  the  army  and  settled  in  St.  Louis,  where 
he  died. 

He  married  (first)  Mary  McCIoskey, 
who  bore  him  one  child,  Frederick  A.  C, 
bom  1836;  married  (second)  Elvina  John- 
son, born  in  New  Orleans,  Louisiana,  mar- 
ried in  1838,  bore  him  two  children,  twins. 
Only  one  lived,  Antoine  de  Reilhe  McNair, 
see  forward.     He  married    (third)    Cornelia 


Tiffin,  who  bore  him  seven  children :  IMary, 
died  in  young  womanhood ;  Pinkey,  died  in 
childhood;  John  M.,  died  in  childhood;  Henry 
G.,  resides  at  St.  Paul,  Minnesota;  Lilbura 
G.,  resides  at  St.  Louis ;  John  G. ;  Nina. 

(V)  Commander  Antoine  de  Reilhe  (2)* 
McNair,  son  of  Antoine  de  Reilhe  (i)  and' 
Elvina  (Johnson)  McNair,  was  born  in  New- 
Orleans,  Louisiana,  September  15,  1839.  He- 
was  educated  in  St.  Louis,  and  was  appoint-- 
ed  from  Missouri,  September  22,  1856,  to  act-- 
ing  midshipman  at  the  L'nited  States  Naval" 
Academy  at  Annapolis,  from  which  he  was 
graduated,  class  of  i860.  During  the  years 
at  the  academy  he  saw  active  service  in  the 
sloop  of  war  "Preble"  in  1857,  and  on  the 
"Plymouth"  in  1859.  On  June  15,  i860,  after 
his  graduation,  he  was  assigned  to  the  sloop 
of  war  "Seminole,"  ranking  as  midshipman. 
He  was  attached  to  the  South  Atlantic  squad- 
ron, the  "Seminole"  cruising  in  Brazilian  and' 
other  South  American  waters  until  1861,  when: 
she  was  ordered  north  and  assigned.  July  4, 
1861,  to  the  squadron  blockading  Charleston 
harbor,  when  he  was  on  boat  patrol  duty  at 
night.  Then  he  was  in  service  in  the  Po- 
tomac, clearing  the  river  banks  of  Confeder- 
ate batteries.  Lieutenant  McNair  saw  a  great 
deal  of  dangerous  service  in  the  boat  expedi- 
tions, and  ship  actions  on  the  Potomac  river. 
He  had  command  of  a  division  of  launches 
for  night  patrol  on  the  Potomac  from  Mt. 
Vernon  to  Indianhead,  for  stopping  contra- 
band of  war.  At  Mathias  Point,  Evansport 
battery  and  Freestone  Point  battery,  the 
"Seminole"  was  hotly  engaged,  losing  a  mast. 
He  was  present  on  board  of  the  "Seminole" 
at  the  battle  of  Port  Royal.  South  Carolina; 
in  Dupont's  victory  of  November  7,  1861,  he 
was  slightly  wounded  in  the  head  and  hand. 
He  was  in  the  expedition  to  Fernandina  and 
Jacksonville,  Florida ;  present  in  the  attack 
on  Hampton  Roads  by  the  "Merrimac,"  and 
consorts ;  present  in  the  attack  on  Sewell's 
Point,  the  destruction  of  "Merrimac,"  and  the 
capture  of  Norfolk.  He  had  been  promoted' 
master,  on  September  19,  1861  ;  lieutenant, 
July,  1862,  and  assigned  to  the  sloop  of  war 
"Powhatan."  immediately  after,  and  sent  to^ 
Charleston,  where  he  was  wounded  at  the 
capture  of  the  Morris  Island  battery,  July  16, 
1862;  served  in  the  naval  battery  on  Morris 
Island,  and  so  participated  in  the  siege  of 
Charleston ;  was  engaged  the  same  year  in 
the  night  attack  on  Fort  Sumter  by  the  boats 
of  the  fleet;  was  present  at  Dupont's  attack 
with  the  ironclads  on  Fort  Sumter  and  the 
defences  of  Charleston  harbor,  April,  1863. 
From  June  to  August,  1864,  he  commanded 
the    United    States    steamer    "Gemsbok"    ini 


Md^^i;^  dJlJi^^'^^, 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


345 


West  Indian  waters,  which  he  brought  to  the 
United  States  waters  at  New  York,  after 
which  he  returned  to  his  old  ship,  the  "Pow- 
hatan," then  to  the  frigate  "New  Ironsides," 
during  which  time  he  was  engaged  in  the  first 
battle  of  Fort  Fisher,  North  Carolina,  De- 
cember 24  and  25,  1864,  and  at  the  subse- 
quent capture  of  the  fort  and  the  defences  of 
the  Cape  Fear  river,  January  13-14-15,  1865, 
and  was  slightly  wounded  there.  He  was  en- 
gaged with  the  Confederate  rams  on  the 
James  river  and  at  the  surrender  of  Rich- 
mond. He  also  served  on  board  the  United 
States  steamer  "Chicopee,"  Atlantic  Squad- 
ron, in  1865-66,  principally  in  support  of  the 
Freedman's  Bureau  on  the  coast  of  North 
Carolina  and  South  Carolina.  He  was  in- 
structor at  the  United  States  Naval  Academy 
in  1866-67,  then  returned  to  sea  service  on  the 
frigates  "Minnesota,"  "Contocook."  and 
"Franklin."  In  1871  he  was  inspector  of  sup- 
plies at  the  Norfolk  navy  yard.  On  October 
26,  1872,  he  was  retired  on  account  of  in- 
juries received  in  the  line  of  duty  in  1868  on 
board  the  "Contocook"  in  the  West  Indies. 
By  act  of  congress  passed  1906,  he  was  ad- 
vanced to  the  rank  of  commander,  for  faith- 
ful and  gallant  service  during  the  war  of  the 
rebellion. 

After  his  retirement  from  active  serv- 
ice in  the  navy  in  1872,  he  spent  four 
years  as  a  graduate  student  at  Harvard  Uni- 
versity. In  1871  he  located  at  Saratoga 
Springs,  New  York,  where  he  continues  his 
residence  at  the  present  (1910),  and  served 
fifteen  years  on  the  board  of  education.  He 
is  a  companion  of  Pennsylvania  Commandery, 
Tililitary  Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion;  member 
of  Luther  M.  Wheeler  Post  No.  92,  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic  of  Saratoga  Springs ; 
of  Beta  Theta  Pi,  Eta  Chapter,  also  of  the 
Signet  of  Harvard,  and  is  a  Mason;  also  an 
honorary  member  of  the  Society  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac. 

He  married,  December  13,  1871,  Frances, 
daughter  of  Benedict  Clark,  of  Saratoga 
Springs.  Children:  i.  Frederick  Park,  born 
October  27,  1872;  was  cadet  for  two  years  at 
West  Point,  class  of  1898 ;  enlisted  with  Sec- 
ond New  York  Infantry  in  Spanish-Ameri- 
can War;  died  of  fever,  October  18.  1898; 
promoted  while  on  death-bed  to  second  lieu- 
tenant. 2.  Jessie,  wife  of  Adrian  W.  Mather, 
of  Albany,  now  of  Rochester,  New  York,  who 
served  in  Tenth  Battalion,  New  York  In- 
fantry in  Spanish-American  war.  as  captain, 
was  colonel  on  Governor  Roosevelt's  staflf, 
and  is  now  on  General  Rowe's  staff  as  cap- 
tain. 3.  Alexander,  born  1876,  died  Septem- 
ber 25,  1881. 


John  Putnam,  of  Aston  Ab- 
PUTNAM  botts,  county  of  Bucks,  Eng- 
land, was  born  about  1580, 
died  in  Salem  village,  now  Danvers,  Massa- 
chusetts, December  10,  1662.  He  was  a  resi- 
dent in  Aston  Abbotts  as  late  as  1627,  but  the 
date  of  emigration  to  America  is  not  definite- 
ly known;  1634  is  the  year  given  by  family 
tradition.  In  1641  the  town  records  of  Salem 
show  he  was  granted  one  hundred  acres  of 
land.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  well-to-do  for 
the  times.  In  deeds  he  styles  himself  "yeo- 
man," and  once  in  1655  "husbandman."  He 
wrote  a  fair  hand,  as  recorded  deeds  show. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  church  in  1647.  His 
grandson  Edward  thus  described  his  death : 
"He  ate  his  supper,  went  to  prayer  with  his 
family,  and  died  before  he  went  to  sleep."  He 

married    in    England,    Priscilla    ,    who- 

was  admitted  to  the  Salem  church  in  1641. 
They  had  eight  children:  Elizabeth,  Thomas 
(of  whom  further),  John,  Nathaniel,  Sara, 
Phoebe  and  John. 

(II)  Lieutenant  Thomas,  eldest  son  of  John 
and  Priscilla  Putnam,  was  baptized  at  Aston 
Abbotts,  England,  March  7,  1614-15.  He  was 
the  first  parish  clerk  of  Salem  village,  Massa- 
chusetts, where  he  died  May  5,  1686.  He  was 
well  educated  and  held  many  of  the  Salem  of- 
fices in  town  and  church,  and  was  also  lieu- 
tenant of  a  troop  of  horse.  He  married 
(first)  Ann,  daughter  of  Edward  and  Pru- 
dence (Stockton)  Holyoke,  who  bore  him 
eight  children.  He  married  (second)  Mary, 
widow  of  Nathaniel  \'ereen,  who  bore  him  a 
son  Joseph,  who  married  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  Israel  and  Elizabeth  (Hathorne)  Porter. 
Elizabeth  was  a  sister  of  John  Hathorne,  the 
"witchcraft  judge."  Joseph  and  Elizabeth 
Putnam  were  the  parents  of  General  Israel 
Putnam,  of  revolutionary  fame.  Lieutenant 
Thomas  Putnam  had  by  his  first  wife,  Ann 
Holyoke,  children :  Sarah,  Mary,  Thomas> 
Edward,  Deliverance,  Elizabeth  and  Pru- 
dence. 

(III)  Sergeant  Thomas  (2),  son  of  Lieu- 
tenant Thomas  ( i )  and  his  first  wife  Ann 
(Holyoke)  Putnam,  was  baptized  in  Salem 
First  Church,  February  16,  1652;  died  in 
Salem,  May  24,  1699.  He  was  well  educated, 
yet  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  witchcraft 
delusion,  and  was  second  to  none  hut  Rev- 
erend Parris  in  the  fury  with  which  he  perse- 
cuted the  victims  of  that  .strange  delusion.  He 
had  great  influence  in  the  village  and  did  not 
hesitate  to  use  it.  He  had  been  in  the  Narra- 
gansett  fight,  belonging  to  a  company  of 
troopers,  and  was  parish  clerk.  Many  of  the 
records  of  the  witchcraft  proceedings  are  in 
his  fine,  clear  handwriting.    His  wife  was  also 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


active  in  .the  persecutions.  The  strain  was 
too  great  for  him  to  bear  up  under,  and  he 
<lied  shortly  after  the  trials,  his  wife  follow- 
ing him  to  the  grave  a  few  weeks  later. 
He  married,  September  25,  1678,  Ann,  young- 
•est  daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth  Carr, 
of  Salisbury.  She  was  born  June  15,  1661, 
■died  June  8,  1699.  They  were  the  parents  of 
twelve  children :  Ann,  Thomas,  Elizabeth, 
Ebenezer,  Deliverance,  Thomas,  Timothy, 
Experience,  Abigail,  Susanna,  Sarah  and 
Seth. 

(IV)  Seth,  twelfth  child  of  Sergeant 
Thomas  and  Ann  (Carr)  Putnam,  was  born 
in  Salem  village.  May,  1695,  and  died  at 
Charlestown,  New  Hampshire,  November  30, 
1775.  He  was  the  first  of  the  Salem  Putnams 
to  go  out  into  the  wilderness  and  make  a 
home  for  himself  and  family.  In  1750  he  re- 
moved to  Number  Four,  now  Charlestown, 
New  Hampshire.  This  was  an  exposed  fron- 
tier post  and  suffered  from  ten  Indian  at- 
tacks between  1753  and  1755.  In  1755  the 
inhabitants,  fourteen  in  number,  among  whom 
were  Seth  and  Ebenezer  Putnam,  petitioned 
JNIassachusetts  for  protection,  and  that  state 
garrisoned  the  town.  Ebenezer  and  Thomas, 
sons  of  Seth  Putnam,  were  members  of  the 
military  company.  He  was  one  of  the  foun- 
ders of  the  First  Church  of  Charlestown,  and 
■one  of  the  first  ten  members.  At  the  first 
town  meeting  held  in  Charlestown,  August 
I4'  1753,  lie  was  chosen  "tything-man."  On 
Iiis  tombstone  is  the  inscription,  "The  memory 
of  the  just  is  blest."  He  married,  September 
16,  1718,  Ruth  Whipple,  born  1692,  died  Feb- 
ruary I,  1783.  at  Charlestown.  Children, 
"born  at  P.illerica,  Massachusetts,  where  he  re- 
sided after  leaving  Salem,  and  before  going  to 
•Charlestown :  Ebenezer,  Ruth,  Sarah,  Seth, 
killed  by  the  Indians,  May  2,  1746,  Elizabeth, 
Thomas,  Susanna,  Timothy. 

(V)  Thomas  (3),  son  of  Seth  and  Ruth 
(Whipple)  Putnam,  was  born  in  Piillcrica, 
Massachusetts,  October  22,  1728,  and  died  in 
■Charlestown,  New  Hampshire,  August  20, 
1814.  He  took  a  soldier's  part  in  the  French 
and  Indian  wars;  was  an  enrolled  member  of 
Captain  Stevens'  company  at  Number  Four. 
He  was  settled  at  Lunenburg  for  a  time,  but 
in  1759  was  again  of  Charlestown.  He 
marched  from  Acworth  to  Bennington  in  .Au- 
gust, 1777,  in  Captain  Abel  Walker's  com- 
pany, and  no  doubt  was  engaged  at  the  his- 
toric battle  of  Bennington.  He  was  one  of 
the  first  members  of  the  church  of  Charles- 
town, and  later  was  chosen  deacon.  lie  re- 
sided for  a  time  in  Acworth.  New  Hampshire, 
-where  he  was  the  first  justice  of  the  peace. 
He  built  the  first  grist-mill  in  that  town  and 


operated  it.  He  was  moderator  of  town 
meetings  and  selectman  five  years.  He  also 
served  the  Acworth  church  as  deacon.  He 
married  in  Lunenburg,  Massachusetts,  Janu- 
ary 24,  1754,  Rachel,  born  April  3,  1753,  died 
June  12,  1812,  daughter  of  Captain  Ephraim 
and  Joanna  (Bellows)  Wetherbee,  of  Charles- 
town. Children,  the  first  four  born  in  Lunen- 
burg, Massachusetts,  the  others  in  Charles- 
town and  Acworth,  New  Hampshire,  sixteen 
in  all:  Elizabeth,  Susannah  and  Seth  (twins), 
Thomas,  Ephraim,  Rachel,  Joanna,  Abijah. 
Abel,  Elisha,  Hepsy,  Ephraim  (2),  ^lartha. 
Dorothy,  Asa  and  Elizabeth. 

(VI)  Seth,  son  of  Thomas  and  Rachel 
(Wetherbee)  Putnam,  was  born  in  Lunenburg, 
Massachusetts,  September  16,  1756,  a  twin  of 
Susannah.  He  died  in  Putnam,  Ontario, 
Canada,  September  3,  1827.  His  gravestone, 
erected  in  1847,  states  he  was  born  in  Charles- 
town, New  Hampshire,  in  1758.  He  was  a 
private  in  Captain  Samuel  Wetherbee's  com- 
pany. Colonel  Isaac  Wayne's  regiment,  which 
marched  to  reinforce  the  Northern  Army  in 
1776.  According  to  his  gravestone  he  was  a 
colonel  in  the  Continental  army.  A  family 
belief,  as  told  in  later  years  by  his  son 
Thomas,  was  that  he  was  a  member  of  the 
"Boston  Tea  Party."  He  was  a  man  of  edu- 
cation, with  a  good  knowledge  of  civil  and 
military  engineering.  In  1795  he  emigrated 
to  Canada  to  a  wild  and  unbroken  region. 
He  entered  into  a  contract  with  the  Canadian 
government  to  construct  a  wagon  road  from 
the  head  of  the  lake  where  Hamilton  now 
stands,  to  Chatham,  eighteen  miles  east  of 
Lake  St.  Claire,  a  distance  of  one  hundred 
sixty  miles,  through  a  heavily  wooded  coun- 
try. For  this  he  was  to  receive  sixteen  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  and  a  cash  bonus.  He 
built  the  road  but  never  received  his  reward. 
He  married,  February  14,  1790,  Sarah  Hard- 
ing (gravestone),  of  the  Wyoming  valley, 
Pennsylvania,  one  of  the  few  who  escaped 
from  the  massacre  of  Wyoming.  She  died 
about  1850.  Children:  i.  Lewis,  born  No- 
vember II,  1790,  died  aged  three  years.  2. 
William,  born  November  6,  1793:  killed  at 
the  battle  of  Windsor,  Canada.  December  4, 
1838;  was  associated  with  his  brothers  in 
business,  all  being  prosperous  farmers  and 
lumbermen.  He  was  captain  of  a  Canadian 
troop  and  served  at  Lundy's  Lane  and 
Queenstown  Heights.  Later  he  joined  in  the 
"])atriot"  rebellion  and  led  the  attack  on 
Windsor,  which  was  made  against  his  ad- 
vice. He  was  instantly  killed,  shot  through 
the  brain.  He  married  Eleanor,  daughter  of 
.Sylvanus  Dygert,  a  niece  of  General  .\icholas 
Herkimer,    and    nearly    related    to    the    \'an 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


347 


Rensselaers.  Sylvanus  was  taken  prisoner  by 
the  Indians  in  the  same  raid.  His  father  was 
killed  and  scalped.  He  was  held  a  prisoner 
at  Montreal  for  three  years.  3.  Joshua,  born 
January  5.  1798,  died  September  19,  1859;  he 
jnarried  (first),  name  unknown;  (second), 
Malinda  Flanagen ;  (third)  IMary  Barrows; 
they  bore  him  fifteen  children.  4.  Fanny, 
born  May  16,  1802;  married,  June  21,  1820, 
Warner  S.  Dygert ;  married  (second)  Joseph 
Nicholas,  a  farmer  near  Ontario;  two  chil- 
dren.    5.  Thomas,  of  whom  further. 

(\TI)  Thomas  (4),  youngest  son  of  Seth 
and  Sarah  ( Harding)  Putnam,  was  born  in 
Delaware,  Upper  Canada,  October  28,  1804, 
and  died  at  Hamilton,  Ontario,  March  26, 
1880.  In  1825  he  located  in  Dorchester,  Up- 
per Canada,  which  town  was  later  (1839) 
named  i'utnam  in  his  honor.  He  was  largely 
engaged  in  mercantile  and  lumbering  enter- 
prises and  became  one  of  the  most  prominent 
men  in  private  life  in  western  Ontario.  Dur- 
ing the  "patriot"  rebellion  of  1837-38  he  be- 
came an  object  of  suspicion  to  the  Tory  party, 
and  was  obliged  to  remain  in  concealment 
many  weeks  to  avoid  imprisonment  and  pos- 
sibly a  worse  fate.  He  had  a  secret  chamber 
in  his  house  constructed  to  enter  only  by  a 
sliding  panel,  where  he  lay  while  British  sol- 
diers searched  the  house.  He  greatly  aided 
the  rebel  cause  by  money  and  influence.  He 
was  appointed  a  magistrate  in  1838  by  the 
governor-general  of  Canada,  a  life  office  and 
carrying  the  title  of  "Esquire."  He  refused 
all  other  public  office.  By  the  dishonesty  of 
a  partner.  Squire  Putnam  met  with  severe 
business  reverses  late  in  life,  which  left  him 
only  a  moderate  competence  after  satisfying 
in  full  every  creditor.  He  married  (first) 
Nancy,  daughter  of  Nicholas  Dygert,  a  niece 
of  General  Nicholas  Dygert,  and  granddaugh- 
ter of  John  Dygert,  who  fought  with  General 
Herkimer  at  the  battle  of  Oriskany.  She  was 
a  sister  to  Eleanor  Dygert.  wife  of  William 
Putnam,  who  w^as  killed  at  the  battle  of  Wind- 
sor, Canada,  previously  mentioned.  She  bore 
him  two  children:  i.  Harriet  Ann.  born  July 
24,  1833;  married  Hugh  Duncan  Cameron,  a 
grand-nephew  of  the  Duke  of  Athol  and  Earl 
of  Graham.  He  was  born  in  Perthshire,  Scot- 
land, July  26,  1833,  came  to  Canada  in  1852. 
was  treasurer  of  the  Hamilton  Provident 
Loan  Association  at  Hamilton,  Ontario,  where 
he  died  May.  1895.  2.  Marshall  Spring  Bid- 
well,  born  October  25,  1837.  died  at  Hamil- 
ton, March  13,  1880.  Squire  Putnam  married 
(second),  in  1844,  Nancy,  bom  1822,  died 
1884,  daughter  of  Rev.  John  Harris  and  his 
wife,  who  was  also  a  daughter  of  Sylvanus 
Dygert.      Children    of    second    marriage,    all 


born  at  Putnam,  Ontario :  3.  Ephraim,  born 
October  12,  1845,  accidentally  killed  at  the 
age  of  twenty-two  years.  4.  Rev.  Alanson 
Harris,  born  December  20,  1847;  ^  minister 
of  the  Baptist  church,  Toronto.  Ontario.  5. 
Dr.  Thomas  Job,  born  December  25,  1848, 
graduate  of  Cleveland  Medical  College,  1877; 
now  a  practicing  physician  at  Springfield, 
Massachusetts.  6.  Dr.  William  Byron,  of 
whom  further.  7.  Dr.  Warren  E.,  born  j\lay 
6,  1857,  graduate  of  Cleveland  Medical  Col- 
lege, 1881  ;  now  a  practicing  physician  of 
Bennington,  \'ermont :  he  is  surgeon-general 
on  the  staff  of  the  governor  of  \'ermont,  and 
is  now  serving  his  second  term  (1910). 

(VIII)  Dr.  William  Byron,  son  of 
"Squire"  Thomas  (4)  and  Nancy  (Dygert) 
Putnam,  was  born  at  Putnam,  Ontario,  Can- 
ada, November  28,  1854.  He  was  educated  at 
\\'oodstock  College,  University  of  Toronto, 
and  obtained  his  degree  of  M.D.  from  Cleve- 
land Medical  College,  where  he  was  graduated 
in  the  class  of  1879.  In  the  same  year  he  lo- 
cated at  Hoosick  Falls,  New  York,  where  he 
has  since  been  actively  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession.  He  has  attained  high  rank 
as  a  physician,  and  is  prominent  in  all  village 
affairs,  public,  political  and  charitable.  He  was 
elected  president  of  the  village  in  1906  and 
again  in  1909;  was  village  trustee  in  1905; 
was  president  of  the  board  of  police  commis- 
sioners, and  chairman  of  the  board  of  town 
auditors,  1901-1905.  He  is  a  director  of  the 
Provident  Building  and  Loan  Association,  di- 
rector of  the  Hoosac  Club,  member  of  the 
executive  committee  of  the  Hoosick  branch  of 
the  Hudson-Mohawk  Society,  vice-president 
of  the  village  Library  Association  since  its 
organization  in  1907.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
American  Institute  of  Homceopathy,  and  a 
w^ell-known  contributor  to  medical  journals. 
He  is  an  authority  in  pulmonary  diseases,  and 
has  written  a  great  deal  on  that  subject.  He 
is  a  Presbyterian  in  religion,  and  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics. 

He  married,  June  14,  1899,  Isaphene  Spen- 
cer, daughter  of  Louis  and  Emma  (Birch) 
Spencer.  They  have  one  child,  Dorothy  Dy- 
gert. born  October  12,  1900,  now  attending  the 
private  school  of  Mrs.  Dewey  at  Hoosick 
Falls,  New  York. 

The  coat-of-arms  of  the  Putnam  family  of 
Salem,  Massachusetts,  and  its  various  off- 
shoots found  in  every  state  in  the  Union,  in 
Canada,  Australia,  and  in  Old  New  England, 
is  thus  described :  "Sable,  between  eight 
crosses,  crosslet  fitchee  (or  crusely  fitchee) 
argent,  a  stork  of  the  last,  beaked  and  legged 
gules."  Crest,  "A  wolf's  head  gules."  This 
is  the  coat-of-arms  used  bv  Nicholas  Putten- 


348 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


ham,  or  Puttnam,  of  Putnam  Place,  Penn, 
England,  born  1460,  from  whom  John  Put- 
nam, of  Salem,  descended. 


Allen  is  the  name  of  an  ancient 
ALLEN  family  in  the  county  of  Durham, 
England,  and  of  anotlier  family 
in  the  county  of  Essex.  The  name  in  early 
times  was  spelled  Alon,  Alwyne.  AUeine,  Al- 
lyn  and  many  other  ways,  but  in  New  Eng- 
land, as  well  as  in  England,  the  common  spell- 
ing is  Allen.  The  Aliens  of  England  bore 
arms,  a  shield  sable,  "A  cross  potent,  border 
engrailed  or."  Crest :  "A  demi  Lion  argent, 
holding  a  rudder  gules,  nooks  and  nails  or." 
The  American  ancestor  of  the  Sandwich, 
Massachusetts,  family  was  George'  Allen,  born 
in  England,  about  1568,  was  probably  the  son 
of  Ralph  Allen  of  Thurcaston,  Leicester  coun- 
ty. In  1635,  when  the  Puritans  were  emi- 
grating in  large  numbers  from  the  old  coun- 
try to  escape  the  persecution  of  Archbishop 
Laud  under  King  Charles  L,  he  came  in 
company  with  one  hundred  persons  under  the 
leadership  of  Rev.  Joseph  Hull.  He  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  an  Anabaptist.  George 
Allen  and  his  family  settled  in  Lynn,  Massa- 
chusetts. In  1637  he  joined  with  Edmund 
Freeman  and  others  in  the  purchase  of  the 
township  of  Sandwich,  Massachusetts,  and  the 
same  year  settled  in  that  town.  When  Sand- 
wich was  incorporated  he  was  chosen  deputy 
to  the  general  court  in  Plymouth,  first  office 
in  town,  and  served  in  that  capacity  for  sev- 
eral years.  The  name  of  his  first  wife  is  not 
known.       His    second     wife     was    Catharine 

,  and  after  his  death  she  married  John 

Collins.  He  had  twelve  sons  and  several 
daughters;  some  of  his  sons  preceded  him  to 
America  and  settled  first  in  the  vicinity  of 
Boston,  but  after  the  purchase  of  Sandwich 
they  all  removed  to  that  town  and  settled 
near  the  residence  of  their  father.  He  died 
in  Sandwich,  May  2,  1648,  aged  about  eighty 
years.  In  his  will,  probated  June  7,  if')48,  he 
named  five  sons,  Matthew,  Henry,  Samuel, 
George  and  William.  He  made  provision  in 
his  will  for  "five  least  children"  without  nam- 
ing them. 

(II)  Ralph,  son  of  George  .Mien,  of  Sand- 
wich, was  born  in  England,  died  in  1698.  He 
married  Esther,  daughter  of  William  and 
Joan  Swift,  who  came  from  Bocking,  SufTolk 
county,  England,  and  settled  first  in  Water- 
town  but  removed  to  Sandwich,  1634,  or  pre- 
vious to  that  date.  William  Swift  died  in 
Sandwich  in  1642,  and  his  wife  Joan  died 
there  in  1662.  Esther  Swift  is  supposed  to 
have  been  the  second  wife  of  Ralph  Allen. 
The  will  of  Ralph  Alien,  of  Sandwich,  is  on 


record  in  Barnstable  probate  records,  datedl 
December  19,  1691.  His  children  by  his  first 
wife  were:  John,  Joseph,  Increase,  Ebenezer, 
Zachariah  and  Patience.  His  children  by  his 
second  wife  were :  Jedediah,  Henry,  Benja- 
min, Meribah,  David  and  Jonathan,  Experi- 
ence and  Elisha. 

(Ill)  John,  son  of  Ralph  Allen,  died  in 
1706.  In  the  copy  of  Barnstable  county  pro- 
bate records  owned  by  the  New  England  His- 
torical Society  of  Boston,  in  vol.  ii,  page  255 
— original  vol.  iii — there  is  a  statement  of  the 
estate  of  John  Allen,  "late  of  Sandwich," 
dated  May  20,  1706,  and  his  wife,  Rebecca 
Allen,  is  appointed  administratrix.  The  items 
of  the  estate  are  given  in  vol.  ii,  page  275, 
then  in  vol.  iii,  page  54,  there  is  an  appraisal' 
of  the  estate  and  settlement  of  estate  on  same 
page,  dated  February  26,  1711-12,  mentions 
his  wife  now  as  "Rebecca  Saunders,  late 
widow  of  John  Allen  of  Sandwich,"  and 
speaks  of  the  cost  of  bringing  up  the  children' 
which  are  mentioned  as  follows :  Isaac,  Ben- 
jamin, Judah. 

(I\')  Judah,  son  of  John  Allen,  married 
Rebecca,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  Wing  and 
Elizabeth  Backhouse,  November  26,  1727. 
The  town  records  of  Sandwich — Old  Book 
127,  copy  page  100 — gives  children  of  Judah 
Allen  and  Rebecca  as  follows :  John,  Ebene- 
zer, Francis,  Joseph  and  Joshua.  The  land 
transfers  recorded  in  Dartmouth  and  Taunton 
between  Judah  Allen  and  his  sons  John  and 
Joshua  in  1765  are  signed  by  his  wife  Eliza- 
beth whom  he  had  married,  Jmie  8,  1762. 

(\')  John  (2),  son  of  Judah  and  Rebecca 
(Wing)  Allen,  was  born  March  23,  1728-29, 
died  in  Danby,  \''ermont.  He  removed  to 
Danby  from  Rhode  Island  about  1778  and 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  that  town. 
Danby  records  describe  him  as  a  "highly  re- 
spected citizen."  He  married,  January  27, 
1 75 1,  at  Pembroke,  Massachusetts,  Sylvia, 
lx)rn  about  1730,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Abi- 
gail (Booth)  Keen.  Children:  i.  Prince,  of 
whom  further.  2.  Zoeth,  married  Jane  Har- 
per ;  he  was  selectman  nine  years,  member  of 
the  X'erinont  legislature  four  years,  and  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  for  twenty-seven  years ;  in 
1820  he  removed  to  Western  New  York.  3. 
Isaac,  married  Sylvia  Staples  and  removed  to 
Collins,  New  York.  4.  John,  married  Sally 
Brown.  5.  Judah,  married  Phoebe,  daughter 
of  Elihu  Benson.     6.  Rebecca. 

(\T)  Prince,  son  of  John  (2)  and  Sylvia 
(Keen)  Allen,  resided  in  Danby.  where  he 
was  held  in  high  esteem.  He  died  in  that 
town,  where  his  descendants  yet  reside.  He 
married  (first)  Hannah,  daughter  of  David  ' 
and  Elizabeth  (Wood)   Brown.     He  married 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


349 


'(second)    Experience,   daughter  of  Job   and 
: Sarah    (Pish)    King-.     Children  of  first  mar- 
:riage:  Abigail;  Daniel;  Ira,  married  Rebecca 
■Calkins;  Prussia,  married  Savitl  Bartlett ;  Jo- 
seph ;    Laura ;    David.      Children    of    second 
wife:    King,    Savid.    Ruth,    Hannah,    Rhoda, 
Rhoba. 

(\II)  David,  son  of  Prince  and  Hannah 
(Brown)  Allen,  was  born  March  30,  1799. 
He  married,  at  Danby,  Vermont,  October  16, 
1825,  Dinah  Rogers,  born  November  13,  iSoi, 
died  February  9,  i860,  daughter  of  Deliver- 
ance and  Judith  (Folger)  Rogers.  Children: 
Cynthia,  married  William  De  Kalb ;  Emily, 
married  Merritt  Norton ;  Marcus  Bartlett,  of 
whom  further. 

(\'HI)  Marcus  Bartlett,  son  of  David  and 
Dinah  (Rogers)  Allen,  was  born  March  4. 
1839,  died  November  18,  1906.  He  settled  in 
Washington  county.  New  York,  where  he 
■  owned  a  large  farm  and  was  a  substantial  citi- 
zen. He  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling  integrity, 
loved  and  respected  by  his  townsmen.  He 
married,  December  28,  1858,  Hannah  Barker, 
born  June  13,  1839,  daughter  of  James  and 
Susan  (Barker)  Norton.  Children:  Susan 
RL,  married  George  H.  Northup ;  Florence  A., 
married  Joseph  H.  Roblee ;  George  Myron,  of 
whom  further. 

(IX)  George  Myron,  son  of  Marcus  Bart- 
lett and  Hannah  Barker  (Norton)  Allen,  was 
born  at  North  Bend,  Washington  county, 
New  York,  on  the  Allen  homestead  farm,  De- 
cember 2,  1871.  He  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic school,  and  at  Troy  Conference  Academy 
at  Poultney,  Vermont.  He  is  a  box  manu- 
facturer and  lumber  dealer  in  his  native  town, 
also  interested  in  lands  and  other  concerns. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  be- 
longing to  the  Granville  meeting.  Politically 
he  is  a  Prohibitionist.  He  married,  in  Gran- 
ville, New  York,  January  4,  1893,  Lemoyne, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Lillys  (Borden)  Dil- 
lingham (see  Dillingham  IX).  Children:  Er- 
nest Leon,  born  November  23,  1893 ;  Marcus 
Bartlett.  March  14,  1899,  died  March  14, 
1908;  Henry  Dillingham,  December  21,  1899. 

(The  Dillingham  Line). 
Edward  Dillingham,  born  in  England,  died 
in  Sandwich,  Massachusetts,  in  1666.  Of  his 
life  in  America,  French's  "An  American  An- 
cestry" says :  "One  of  the  earliest  comers  to 
Lynn  (1632)  was  Edward  Dillingham,  Gen- 
'tleman,  who  bore  arms  and  brought  over  con- 
siderable money  to  invest  for  his  friends  in 
Bitterswell,  Lancastershire,  England."  In 
1637  he  became  one  of  the  ten  original  set- 
tlers in  Sandwich.     In  1647  ^^'^  1648  we  find 


him  one  of  those  to  inventory  the  property  of 
James  Halloway  and  George  Knot.  In  1657 
he  was  arrested  and  admonished  for  sympa- 
thizing with  the  Quakers.  He  left  but  two 
sons,  his  only  daughter  having  died  in   1650. 

He  married  Drusilla ,  born  in  England, 

died  in  Sandwich  in  1656.  Sons:  i.  John, 
born  England,  died  May  21,  1715,  in  Haver- 
ick,  Massachusetts;  married,  March  24,  1650, 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Henry  Feake ;  she  died 
November,  1720.   2.  Henry,  of  whom  further. 

(II)  Henry,  son  of  Edward  and  Drusilla 
Dillingham,  was  born  in  August,  1627,  died  in 
Sandwich,  Massachusetts,  1695.  He  was  a 
resident  of  Sandwich  and  his  will  was  pro- 
bated there  August  25,  1705.  To  his  son 
John  he  gave  "land  from  my  dwelling  house 
to  Falmouth,  part  of  which  my  son  John  now 
dwells  on."  He  married,  June  24,  1652.  Han- 
nah Perry,  died  June  9,  1673.  Children: 
Mary,  born  December  25,  1653;  John,  of 
whom  further;  Deborah,  born  December  21, 
1659,  married  Daniel  Wing;  Dorcas,  married 
Ralph  Earl;  Edward,  born  about  1669. 

(III)  John,  son  of  Henry  and  Hannah 
(Perry)  Dillingham,  was  born  in  Sandwich, 
Massachusetts,  February  24,  1658,  died  1733. 
He  was  still  a  resident  of  Sandwich  in  1702. 
He  married  a'^I /^.'^  ■,ttrj(..Children  :  Henry, 
born  about  1685;  Edward,  born  about  1687; 
John,  about  1689,  married,  August  11,  171 5, 
Jael,  daughter  of  Elisha  and  Elizabeth  Tur- 
ner; Mary;  Jeremiah,  born  1697;  Meletiah, 
of  whom  further. 

(IV)  Meletiah,  son  of  John  Dillingham, 
was  born  1699,  died  January  25,  1786.  at 
Hanover,  Massachusetts.  He  is  mentioned  in 
the  settlement  of  his  father's  estate  and  lived 
in  Sandwich  until  after  his  first  marriage,  but 
removed  to  Hanover  before  his  first  wife  died. 
He  was  a  large  land  owner,  holding  property 
in  several  adjoining  towns.  He  married 
(first)  in  Scituate,  Massachusetts,  October 
28,  1723,  Mary  Curtis,  died  December  17, 
1727,  aged  twenty-four  years.  He  married 
(second)  in  Hanover,  February  18,  1730, 
Phebe  Hatch,  died  January  20,  1732.  He 
married  (third)  January  2,  1735.  at  Han- 
over, Maria  Giflr'ord,  born  October  16,  1709, 
died  December  21.  1784.  Children  of  first 
marriage:  Edward,  born  1724  or  1725:  Lem- 
uel, married.  September  23,  1756,  Sarah  Pal- 
mer, of  Hanover,  daughter  of  Joshua  and  Sar- 
ah Palmer.  Oiild  of  second  marriage :  Me- 
phibosheth,  born  December  29,  1730,  died 
June  9,  1731.  Children  of  third  marriage: 
Lydia,  born  March  22,  1736,  married  Zacheus 
Giflford ;  Hannah,  February  6,  1738;  Content, 
June  30,  1739;  Thomas,  March  17,  1740; 
Joshua,  of  whom  further ;  Meribah,  born  No- 


350 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


vember  4,  1745;  William,  September  16,  1747; 
Ann,  September  9,   1749;  Phebe.  January  14, 

1757- 

(V)  Joshua,  son  of  IMeletiah  and  ]\Iaria 
(Gifford)  Dillingham,  was  born  in  Hanover, 
Massachusetts,  ^March  21,  1743.  He  married, 
July  6,  1773,  Hannah,  born  October  4,  1747, 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Deborah  Rogers,  of 
Marshfield.  Children,  all  born  in  Marshfield, 
Massachusetts :  Stephen,  of  whom  further ; 
Deborah,  June  6,  1775;  Otis,  May  3,  1777; 
Joshua,  December  11,  1779,  died  young;  Ly- 
dia.  twin  of  Joshua,  died  young;  Joshua  (2), 
December  7,  1782;  Hannah.  November  3, 
1783;  Sarah,  December  9,  1784;  Rhoda,  April 

9.  1787- 

(VI)  Stephen,  eldest  son  of  Joshua  and 
Hannah  (Rogers)  Dillingham,  was  born  in 
Marshfield.  Massachusetts.  Alarch  6,  1774.  He 
married  Amy  Tucker,  born  September  15, 
1775,  at  Chappaqua,  New  York,  died  in  West- 
chester, New  York,  October  16.  1856.  Chil- 
dren :  Joseph,  married  Ruth  Smith ;  Deborah, 
died  young;  Abraham,  of  whom  further;  Han- 
nah, married  David  Rogers ;  Stephen,  mar- 
ried Eliza  Rogers ;  Otis,  of  whom  further ; 
Reuben,  died  young. 

(VH)  Abraham,  son  of  Stephen  and  Amy 
(Tucker)  Dillingham,  was  born  March  10, 
1800.  He  married  Lydia.  born  June  28,  1807, 
at  Danby.  \'ermont,  daughter  of  Aaron  and 
Dinah   (Folger)   Rogers.     Child.  Henry. 

(VHI)  Henry,  son  of  Abraham  and  Lydia 
(Rogers)  Dillingham,  was  born  July  17.  1833. 
He  married.  August  22.  1854.  Lillys,  daugh- 
ter of  Russell  and  Jane  (Hoag)  Borden. 

(IX)  Lemoyne.  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Lillys  (Borden)  Dillingham,  was  born  Octo- 
ber 28,  1865.  She  married,  January  4,  1893, 
George  Myron  Allen  (see  .^llen  IX). 

(VII)  Otis,  son  of  Stephen  and  Amy 
(Tucker)  Dillingham,  married  (first)  June 
12,  1832.  Elizabeth  Keese.  of  Peru.  New 
York,  born  March  3,  1810,  died  January  10, 
1845.  He  married  (second)  March  11.  1846, 
Lydia,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Mary  Barker, 
of  Granville.  Washington  county.  New  York. 
Giildren,  all  by  first  marriage :  John  K..  mar- 
ried Sarah  Potter;  Hannah  K.,  of  whom  fur- 
ther ;  Deborah,  married  William  Huntington ; 
Edwin,  died  young;  Elizabeth,  married  Anson 
Rogers. 

(VIII)  Hannah  K..  daughter  of  Otis  and 
Elizabeth  (Keese)  Dillingham,  died  May  4, 
1900 ;  married,  February  2,  1852,  Nelson  Hull. 


Thomas    and   John    Wiswall, 

WISWALL     ancestors    of    Anna     Parker 

(Wiswall)      White,     both 

prominent  among   the   early   settlers  of  Dor- 


chester. Massachusetts,  came  from  England  in 
1635,  leaving  behind  them  brothers:  Adam, 
Abiel  and  Jonathan.  This  record  deals  with 
the  descendants  of  Thomas  Wiswall.  Both 
were  elders  of  the  church,  both  selectmen  and 
subscribers  to  the  school  fund.  Thomas,  the 
younger  brother,  was  a  subscriber  in  1641 ; 
selectman  1644  to  1652;  he  died  December  6, 
1683.  No  monument  marks  his  grave,  but 
that  over  the  grave  of  Elder  John  states  he 
was  born  1601,  died  1687,  age  eighty-six 
years,  which  gives  the  approximate  birth  of 
Elder  Thomas  Wiswall.  His  farm  of  four 
hundred  acres  was  in  the  limits  of  Dorchester 
and  included  a  pond  that  bore  his  name.  His 
house  stood  upon  the  southerly  bank  of  the 
pond  and  is  described  in  his  will.  On  the 
day  Rev.  John  Eliot  (2)  was  ordained  pastor 
of  the  Dorchester  church,  July  20.  1664, 
Thomas  Wiswall  was  ordained  nding  elder 
and  assistant  pastor  in  inspecting  and  disci- 
plining the  flock.  He  married  (first)  Eliza- 
beth   .      Children  :    Enoch,   born    1633 ; 

Esther.  1635;  Ichabod,  1637;  Noah,  of  further 
mention;  Mary;  Sarah,  baptized  1643;  Ebene- 
zer.  born  1646.  Elder  Wiswall  married  (sec- 
ond) Isabella  Farmer,  a  widow  from  .-Xnsley, 
England.  She  survived  him  and  died  in  Bil- 
lerica,  Massachusetts.  May,  1686. 

(II)  Captain  Noah  Wiswall.  son  of  Elder 
Thomas  and  Elizabeth  Wiswall.  was  baptized 
in  Dorchester,  Massachusetts,  in  1638.  He 
was  killed  in  battle  with  the  Indians  at  \Mieel- 
wrights  Pond.  July  fi.  i6go.  He  was  a  man  of 
education,  and  was  employed  in  1681  to  trans- 
scribe  the  town  records ;  was  selectman  in 
1685;  assessor  in  1686;  served  on  important 
committees ;  he  was  captain  of  the  military 
company.  In  1690  a  band  of  I'rench  and  In- 
dians were  committing  depredations  and  in 
battle  with  them  Captain  Wiswall  was  slain. 
Tradition  says  he  had  a  son  John,  who  fell 
in  the  same  battle.  Lands  were  granted  the 
heirs  of  Captain  Noah  ^^'iswall.  in  i'>83.  for 
his  patriotic  service.  He  married.  December 
ID.  1664.  Theodosia.  daughter  of  John  Jack- 
son. Children;  Thomas,  of  further  mention; 
Elizabeth,  born  July  30.  1668;  married.  De- 
cember 28,  1693.  Rev.  Thomas  Greenwood,  of 
Rehoboth.  Massachusetts;  Caleb;  John  (per- 
haps) ;  Margaret,  born  January  i.  1672.  mar- 
ried Nathaniel  Parker ;  Mary :  Esther,  born 
January  2.  1678;  Sarah,  born  May  11,  1680, 
married,  1702.  Joseph  Cheney. 

(III)  Lieutenant  Thomas  Wiswall,  son  of 
Captain  Noah  and  Theodosia  (Jackson)  Wis- 
wall, was  born  February  28.  1666.  died  1709. 
He  inherited  the  homestead  of  his  father,  and 
was  highway  surveyor.  1694;  constable,  1699; 
selectman,  1706-07.    He  married,  July,.  i696>. 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


3S» 


Hannah  Cheney,  who  survived  him  and  mar- 
ried (second)  David  Newman,  of  Rehoboth. 
Children:  Hannah,  born  October  15,  1697; 
Noah,  of  further  mention ;  Sarah,  March  4, 
1701,  married.  1730,  John  Newman;  Mary, 
October  i.  1702:  Ehzabeth,  August  25,  1704, 
married  Nathaniel  Longley ;  Thomas ;  Icha- 
bod. 

(IV)  Captain  Noah  (2)  Wiswall,  son  of 
Lieutenant  Thomas  and  Hannah  (Cheney) 
Wiswall,  was  born  September  7,  1699,  died 
June  13,  1786.  He  inherited  the  homestead, 
and  in  1744  rebuilt  the  house.  He  was  select- 
man three  years.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest 
Baptists  in  Newton,  having  been  baptized  in 
1754,  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Bap- 
tist church  in  Newton  in  1780.  The  first 
meetings  were  held  in  his  house,  and  he  gave 
the  land  on  which  their  first  meeting  house 
was  erected.  S.  F.  Smith's  "life  of  Reverend 
Mr.  Grafton"  states  that  Captain  Noah  was 
in  the  battle  of  Lexington.  Three  of  his  sons 
and  some  of  his  sons-in-law  were  in  the  East 
Newton  Company,  commanded  by  his  son, 
Captain  Jeremiah  \\'iswall.  After  the  com- 
pany had  marched  for  Lexington,  he  started 
on  foot  and  alone  to  follow  them,  saying,  "I 
wish  to  see  what  the  boys  are  doing."  It 
seems  almost  impossible  that  he  could  have  en- 
dured the  march  and  the  fatigues  of  the  day, 
as  he  was  then  seventy-six  years  of  age,  but 
the  roll  of  the  East  Newton  Company,  in  the 
battle  of  Lexington,  now  in  the  office  of  the 
secretary  of  state  of  Massachusetts  and  sworn 
to  by  the  captain  of  that  company  before 
Judge  Fuller,  shows  that  he  was  in  the  com- 
pany, and  also  several  other  aged  men  were 
volunteers  in  the  ranks  of  the  company  on  that 
day.  He  married  (first)  in  1720,  Thankful, 
daughter  of  Jeremiah  Fuller ;  she  died  in 
1745.  Married  (second)  in  1752,  Deliverance, 
daughter  of  Ebenezer  Kenrick,  of  Brookline. 
Children  by  first  wife :  Thomas ;  Elizabeth, 
married.  December  17,  1741,  William  Bald- 
win ;  Jeremiah,  born  October  27,  1725  ;  Thank- 
ful. September  i,  1727,  died  1728:  John; 
Thankful,  August  11,  1729,  married,  1750, 
Ebenezer  Gee;  Mary,  April  i,  1731,  married, 
1752.  Samuel  Norcross ;  Sarah,  December  23, 
1734,  married.  1 76 1,  Dr.  John  King;  Esther, 
December  2,  1737,  married,  1768,  Benjamin 
White;  Noah,  of  further  mention;  Samuel; 
Ebenezer,  17^2;  Margaret,  February  24,  1744, 
married,  1766,  Thomas  Palmer;  Hannah, 
March  31,  1745,  married,  1769.  Ebenezer 
Richards,  of  Dedham. 

(V)  Noah  (3),  son  of  Captain  Noah  (2) 
and  Thankful  (Fuller)  Wiswall.  was  born 
July  7,  1740.  He  married,  December,  1769, 
Marv  Palmer,  and  settled  in  Fitchburg,  Mas- 


sachusetts. In  1796  his  estate  was  set  ofF 
from  Fitchburg  and  annexed  to  Westminster^ 
Children:  i.  Mary,  born  April  4,  1770,  mar- 
ried    White ;  her  only  child  Juliet  was. 

left  an  orphan  when  an  infant  and  was  reared 
and  educated  by  her  uncle,  Joseph  Wiswall, 
who  married  her  when  seventeen  years  of  age^ 
a  sin  his  Puritan  mother  never  forgave  him. 
They  resided  in  Troy,  New  York,  a  few  years,, 
then  removed  to  Mobile,  Alabama,  where  she- 
died ;  he  married  (second)  the  widow  of  Gen- 
eral Yates,  of  revolutionary  fame.  2.  Noah,_ 
October  22,  1772;  no  authentic  record  of  him. 
is  found.  3.  John  Palmer,  January  29,  1775  ^ 
married  (first)  Melita  Green,  settled  near 
Burlington,  Vermont;  married  (second)  Sar- 
ah Thurston ;  he  is  buried  in  the  old  Mount 
Ida  cemetery,  Troy,  New  York.  4.  Ebenezer,- 
of  further  mention.  5.  Jane,  April  5,  1779.. 
6.  William,  March  11,  1781.  7.  Joseph,  Feb- 
ruary 2,  1784.  8.  Japheth,  November  18,. 
1785.  9.  Seth,  May  10,  1787.  10.  Sarah,  Sep- 
tember 17,  1788.  II.  Howard.  February  18,. 
1791.     12.  Nancy,  November  16,  1792. 

(\T)  Ebenezer,  fourth  child  of  Noah  (3) 
and  Mary  (Palmer)  Wiswall,  was  born  in- 
Westminster,  Massachusetts,  March  13,  1777,. 
died  July  18,  1856.  His  boyhood  was  spent 
on  his  father's  farm  in  Westminster ;  his  first 
business  venture  was  in  Boston,  where  he- 
failed,  and  removed  to  Troy  in  1814.  Re- 
ceipts found  among  his  papers  after  death 
showed  that  he  had  paid  debts  resulting  fromi 
his  failure  in  Boston  to  the  amount  of  fifty 
thousand  dollars.  He  was  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness in  Troy  for  a  time,  but  later  was  exten- 
sively interested  in  the  ferry  companies  be- 
tween Troy  and  West  Troy ;  also  being  heav- 
ily interested  in  land  companies  for  the  devel- 
opment of  properties  in  South  Troy,  Cohoes 
and  West  Troy.  He  purchased  a  farm  in- 
\\'atervliet  from  his  brother  Seth,  and  in 
1823  built  a  country  mansion  to  which  he  re- 
moved in  that  year,  his  former  residence  hav- 
ing been  in  Troy.  He  was  a  shrewd,  capable- 
business  man  and  bore  an  unblemished  char- 
acter. He  was  a  member  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Troy.  He  married,  in- 
June,  1803.  his  cousin,  Ann  Parker,  of  New- 
ton, Massachusetts,  daughter  of  Samuel  and' 
Anna  (Palmer)  Parker.  She  died  February 
28,  1849;  3n  inmate  of  his  home  for  many 
years  was  his  mother-in-law,  Anna  Palmer 
Parker,  who  died  in  1841,  at  the  age  of  eigh- 
ty-eight years,  the  result  of  a  fall  and  a  broken 
hip.  She  was  a  remarkable  woman,  and  em- 
broideries made  by  her  of  exquisite  design 
and  workmanship  are  yet  preserved  in  the- 
family.  Children:  Three  died  in  infancy; 
Eben,   born  August  8,    1806,   lived    in   Troy; 


352 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


John  Parker,  of  further  mention ;  Jane,  fifth 
child  and  second  daughter,  was  sent  to  New- 
ton for  better  educational  advantages,  died  of 
typhoid  fever  in  Troy,  and  was  buried  in  the 
old  Third  street  burying  ground,  now  the  site 
of  the  City  Hall,  her  remains  having  been 
removed  to  her  brother's  lot  in  Albany  Rural 
cemetery. 

(VH)  John  Parker,  son  of  Ebenezer  and 
Ann  (Parker)  Wiswall,  was  born  March  20, 
1814,  died  October  i,  1875.  He  was  a  farm- 
er by  occupation,  his  farm,  having  been  in- 
herited from  his  father,  lying  in  the  great  bend 
of  the  Hudson  ("The  Boglit").  He  was  an 
attendant  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
and  a  Republican  in  politics.  He  married, 
October  21,  1840,  Sarah,  born  July  11,  1822, 
died  January  i,  1906,  third  child  of  George 
and  Rachel  (Clute)  Mark  (see  Mark  V). 
Children :  Anna  Parker,  of  further  mention ; 
George,  married  Althea  Best ;  Edward  H., 
married  Harriet  Lobdell ;  they  have  one  child, 
Alice,  who  married  Dr.  George  S.  Haswell ; 
Isaac,  died  aged  fifteen. 

(VH)  Anna  Parker,  daughter  of  John 
•Parker,  and  Sarah  (Mark)  Wiswall,  was 
born  April  I,  1842.  She  married  at  the  Wis- 
wall mansion,  September  11,  1879,  John 
White,  born  May  11,  1845,  son  of  George 
Isaac  White,  died  December  16,  1856.  George 
I.  White  came  to  the  United  States  from 
Warminster,  Wiltshire,  England,  married 
Clarissa  Waterman,  of  the  town  of  Water- 
vliet,  Albany  county,  New  York,  daughter  of 
Frederick  S.  Waterman.  John  White  was 
born  in  Albany,  New  York,  and  educated  in 
the  public  schools.  He  began  his  business  life 
as  clerk  in  his  uncle's  store,  then  clerk  in  the 
office  of  the  county  clerk  of  Albany  county. 
At  that  time  West  Troy  was  an  important 
lumber  centre  and  one  of  the  leading  firms 
was  S.  H.  Waterman,  an  uncle  of  John  White, 
who  gave  the  young  man  a  good  position  in 
his  office,  where  he  remained  several  years. 
He  next  was  employed  in  the  office  of  George 
M.  Wiswall,  later  returning  with  Mr.  Water- 
man, where  he  remained  until  1885.  In  that 
year  he  engaged  in  business  for  himself  as  a 
wholesale  excelsior  dealer,  also  including  hay 
and  grain,  dealing  in  car-lot  quantities;  with 
offices  and  home  at  Watervliet,  New  York. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  politics ;  member  of  the 
Exempt  Firemen's  Association,  having  been 
a  charter  member  of  Oswald  Hose  Company ; 
is  a  member  with  his  wife  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  Children:  i.  George  Wis- 
wall, born  December  23,  1881.  an  expert  elec- 
trician; lives  in  Watervliet;  married  .\nna 
Greis  and  has  a  son,  Edward  Wiswall  White, 
born  November  15,  1906.    2.  ,  died  in 


infancy.  3.  Sarah  Parker,  born  January  i, 
1885,  graduate  of  Watervliet  high  school, 
1906;  took  a  special  course  at  Syracuse  Uni- 
versity one  year;  now  a  student  at  Cornell 
University,  medical  department,  and  will  grad- 
uate M.D.  class  of  191 1  (D.  V.). 

(The    Mark   Line). 

Sarah  (Mark)  Wiswall,  mother  of  Anna 
Parker  (Wiswall)  White,  descended  from 
Isaac  Mark,  who  was  born,  lived  and  died  in 
Ellerton,  Cumberland  county,  England,  as  did 
his  wife  Mary.  They  were  the  parents  of  six 
children,  of  whom  Thomas  was  the  second. 

(II)  Thomas,  son  of  Isaac  and  Mary  Alark, 
was  born  at  Ellerton,  Cumberland  county, 
England,  died  in  Albany  County,  New 
York,  October,  1812,  aged  eighty-four 
years.  In  1775  he  came  to  the  American  col- 
onies! settling  in  Cherry  Valley,  New  York. 
This  was  a  troublous  time,  and  the  settlers 
were  greatly  harassed  by  the  Indians.  At  one 
time  Thomas  Mark  was  sent  to  Albany,  near- 
ly one  hundred  miles  away,  for  help.  He 
made  the  journey  on  horseback  between  dawn 
and  dark,  returning  with  the  needed  relief. 
Soon  after  this  Thomas  ]\Iark  removed  with 
his  family  to  .Albany  county,  where  he  culti- 
vated a  farm  under  lease  from  the  patroon. 

He  married,  in  England,  Mary  ,  and 

had  four  daughters  and  a  son,  all  born  in 
England.  They  all  came  to  America  togeth- 
er, the  children  being  of  adult  years.  On 
the  ship  was  a  family  by  the  name  Haswell 
with  whom  they  became  acquainted,  si.x  mar- 
riages between  the  children  resulting  from 
this  chance  acquaintance.  Children:  i.  Sar- 
ah, born  August  12,  1751,  died  October  11, 
1823;  married  Robert  Haswell,  born  March 
22,  1755,  died  January  11,  1820,  in  town  of 
Hoosick,  Rensselaer  county.  New  York.  2. 
Mary,  December  3,  1755,  died  April  14,  1812; 
married  Joseph  Haswell,  born  January  18, 
1753,  died  December  7,  1813,  in  Hoosick.  3. 
Elizabeth,  married  Thomas  Haswell,  born 
February  i,  1764,  died  May  31,  1802,  in  Hoo- 
sick. 4.  Isaac,  of  further  mention.  5.  De- 
borah, married  (first)  Richard  Haswell,  born 
June  II,  1765,  died  March  2,  1792,  near  Wa- 
tervliet; married   (second)    Isaac  Law.son. 

(III)  Isaac,  only  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary 
Mark,  was  born  in  Ellerton,  Cumberland 
county,  England,  in  1757,  died  April  25,  1843; 
came  to  America  in  1775.  He  married  (first) 
Mary  Haswell,  sister  to  the  husbands  of  his 
sisters.  She  was  born  July  3,  1761,  died  Au- 
gust 19,  1782.  Married  (second)  Margaret 
Ilaswell,  sister  to  his  first  wife,  born  October 
13,  1767,  died  February  13,  1856.  Isaac 
Mark  was  a  farmer  living  about  three  miles 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


353 


north  of  Watervliet  near  the  present  city  line 
of  Cohoes.  Child  by  first  wife:  Sarah,  mar- 
ried Rev.  Cyrus  Stebbins.  Children  by  sec- 
ond wife :  Alary,  married  Dirck  Cliite :  Eliza- 
beth, married  Lsaac  Haswell.  born  February 
II,  1787;  Margaret,  married  John  Haswell; 
George,  of  further  mention :  Deborah ;  Jane, 
born  January  14,  1797,  died  July  2,  1872,  mar- 
ried Jacob  L.  Lansing,  died  October  24,  1883; 
Hannah,  married  Rev.  Joshua  Poor,  a  minis- 
ter of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church:  .\nna, 
married  Dr.  Ammon  Hammond;  Matilda. 

(I\')  George,  son  of  Isaac  and  Margaret 
(Haswell)  Mark,  was  born  February  5,  1792, 
died  September  18,  1864.  He  married  Rachel 
Clute,  sister  of  Dirck  Clute,  his  brother-in- 
law.  She  was  born  November  4,  1794,  died 
July  31,  1878.  Children:  George,  married 
Frances  Mary  Haswell ;  Sarah,  of  further 
mention;  Mary;  Isaac;  Mai;garet. 

(\')  Sarah,  daughter  of  George  and  Ra- 
chel (Clute)  Mark,  was  born  on  the  old  Mark 
homestead  near  Cohoes,  New  York,  July  1 1 . 
1S22,  married,  October  21,  1840,  John  Par- 
ker Wiswall  (see  Wiswall  \'II). 


The  family  name  Phillips  is 
PHILLIPS  of  ancient  and  classical  ori- 
gin. It  is  derived  from  the 
Greek.  Philos-hippos,  and  means  "fond  of  a 
horse."  This  family  trait  still  exists,  as  many 
.a  Phillips  can  testify.  The  name  arose  in  an 
age  of  chivalry. 

The  Phillips  family  can  be  traced  back  in 
England  to  about  the  year  1200.  In  West- 
minster Abbey,  in  London,  England,  can  be 
seen  the  tomb  of  John  Phillips,  a  relative  of 
■our  English  ancestors,  a  poet  of  reputation, 
who  died  in  1708. 

( I )  John  Phillips,  the  .\merican  founder, 
was  born  in  England,  June  21,  1813,  died  in 
Albany,  New  York,  January  18,  1883.  He 
■came  to  the  United  States  when  a  small  boy 
in  company  with  his  mother,  a  brother  and 
two  sisters.  No  further  record  of  the  brother 
and  two  sisters  can  be  found.  The  family 
settled  first  in  New  York  City,  but  later  John 
with  his  mother  located  in  .-Mbany,  where  John 
■established  a  business.  The  record  of  his 
mother's  death  cannot  be  found.  Little  is 
known  of  his  life  in  the  city  further  than  that 
he  was  a  buyer  and  shipper  of  live  stock,  and 
later  a  dealer  in  hay  and  grain.  He  accumu- 
lated a  substantial  estate  that  he  left  to  his 
family.  He  was  a  man  of  integrity,  scrupu- 
lously honorable  in  his  dealings,  and  was  rated 
a  good  citizen.  He  was  a  staunch  Republican, 
and  a  member  of  the  Emmanuel  Baptist 
Church.  He  married  (first)  in  Albany.  Ruth 
A.    Hughes,   who   died   June   24,    185 1,   aged 


thirty-four  years.  He  married  (second)  Ella 
I'"airchild,  born  August  8,  183 1,  died  Decem- 
ber 26,  1889.  Children  of  first  marriage:  i. 
De  Witt  Humphrey,  of  further  mention.  2. 
John  D.,  born  February  28,  1844;  enlisted  in 
Eighteenth  New  York  \'olunteers,  1861,  and 
served  two  years;  joined  the  Si.xty-first  New 
York  X'olunteers  in  1864,  served  until  end  of 
civil  war  and  was  discharged  as  captain ;  he 
located  in  Buflfalo,  New  York,  in  1875,  where 
he  first  engaged  in  the  hide  and  leather  busi- 
ness, later  in  real  estate  and  insurance.  He 
married  Dridget  Lomassey ;  children:  Harry 
G.,  Elizabeth  L.,  Margaret  N.,  Nellie,  Alary 
R.  and  Qiarles  J.  3.  Mary,  born  February 
18,  1846;  married  George  Young,  October, 
1866,  and  in  1870  moved  to  Bay  City,  Michi- 
gan;  children:  Frank  P.,  born  October  21, 
1868,  died  May  9,  1909;  May  A.,  born  Febru- 
ary 15,  1876.  4.  F"rank  W..  who  in  early  man- 
hood located  in  Summit,  Alichigan,  where  he 
died  unmarried,  August  25,  1883,  aged  thirty- 
four  years,  two  months,  four  days.  Children 
of  second  marriage :  5.  Nellie,  resides  in  .\1- 
bany.  unmarried.  6.  .\nna,  married  Charles 
O.  Britton,  of  Hartford,  Connecticut.  7.  Car- 
rie, married  Dr.  .-Vrthur  Van  Loon,  a  promi- 
nent physician  and  surgeon  of  Albany. 

(II)  De  Witt  Humphrey,  eldest  son  of 
John  and  Ruth  .-K.  (Hughes)  Phillips,  was 
born  in  .Albany,  New  York,  .August  18,  1840, 
died  November  24,  1903.  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools,  and  began  his  business  ca- 
reer as  a  clerk.  After  several  years  spent  in 
various  clerical  positions,  about  1869  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  Qiester  F.  Bouton, 
and  as  Bouton  &  Phillips  established  and  con- 
ducted a  wholesale  flour  and  feed  business  at 
No.  317  Broadway.  The  firm  was  a  successful 
one  for  years,  but  later  met  with  reverses. 
It  dissolved  and  Mr.  Phillips  for  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days  successfully  engaged  in 
the  real  estate  business  in  .Albany.  He  was  a 
Republican  in  politics,  a  man  of  high  moral 
sentiment,  and  very  devoted  to  his  family. 
He  married,  in  Albany,  Rachel  Crounse,  born 
in  Guilderland  Centre,  .Albany  county.  New 
York,  April  17,  1843,  died  in  .Albany,  Decem- 
ber 23,  1895.  Her  parents  removed  to  .Al- 
bany when  she  was  a  small  child,  and  she  was 
educated  in  the  city  schools  and  the  .Albany 
Female  Academy.  She  was  a  devoted  mem- 
ber of  the  First  Congregational  Church  of 
Albany,  and  a  useful  worker  in  the  church. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Conrad  .A.  and  Maria 
(Mesick)  Crounse,  and  a  granddaughter  of 
Abraham  Crounse,  who  was  born  in  the  town 
of  Guilderland,  Alay  28,  1796,  a  descendant  of 
Frederick  Crounse,  born  in  Germany,  1716,  of 
Polish  ancestry,  came  to  .America  in  1740,  and 


354 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   \ALLEYS 


settled  among  the  early  pioneers  of  the  town 
of  Guilderland.  His  farm  was  about  two 
miles  from  the  present  village  of  Altamont. 
Albany  county,  New  York  (see  Crounse  gene- 
'ilogy).  Abraham  Crounse,  a  son  of  Con- 
radt  Crounse,  born  March  23,  1775,  and  Mar- 
garet (Livingston)  Crounse,  born  November 
8,  1775,  was  a  successful  farmer  and  owned  a 
fine  propertv  in  Guilderland,  Albany  county, 
New  York,  in  the  Indian  Ladder  region  of  the 
Helderberg  mountains.  He  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-nine  years,  having  been  a  life-long 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church.  He  married 
Magdalene  Shaver,  whose  death  preceded  his 
own  about  one  year  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
eight.  They  had  a  family  of  five  sons,  includ- 
ing Conrad  A.,  who  was  born  on  the  Guilder- 
land  homestead,  December  7,  1818.  He  re- 
moved to  Albany  a  few  years  after  his  mar- 
riage in  Guilderland  to  Maria  Mesick.  of  the 
same  town.  In  Albany  he  engaged  in  busi- 
ness as  a  retail  clothing  merchant,  continuing 
until  within  five  years  of  his  death,  when  he 
retired  and  made  his  home  in  Altamont,  where 
he  died  February  i,  1902.  His  wife,  born 
January  3,  1826,  died  in  Albany,  March  3, 
1 881.  He  was  a  Republican,  a  consistent 
member  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  of 
Albany,  and  gready  esteemed  for  his  upright, 
manly  character.  Their  only  child,  Rachel, 
married  De  Witt  Humphrey  Phillips,  and  had 
children :  i.  Schuyler  Crounse,  of  further  men- 
tion. 2.  Blanche,  born  March  25,  1870,  died 
November  27,  1871. 

(Ill)  Schuyler  Crounse,  son  of  De  Witt 
Humphrey  and  Rachel  (Crounse)  Phillips, 
was  born  in  Albany,  New  York.  August  29, 
1868.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  and 
high  schools  of  the  city,  supplemented  by  a 
course  in  the  Albany  Business  College.  His 
early  business  life  was  spent  in  clerical  posi- 
tions in  the  city.  In  1888  he  accepted  a  posi- 
tion in  the  office  of  the  Brandow  Printing 
Company  of  Albany,  and  later  became  mana- 
ger of  the  commercial  department,  remaining 
with  the  company  for  a  period  of  eighteen 
years.  December  i.  1906,  he  was  appointed 
by  the  Hon.  Otto  Kelsey.  Superintendent  of 
Insurance  of  the  state  of  New  York,  as  head 
of  the  printing  and  purchasing  division  of 
that  department,  which  important  position  he 
most  capably  fills.  He  is  a  most  careful  and 
efficient  official.  He  is  a  trustee,  treasurer, 
and  active  worker  of  the  First  Congregational 
Church  of  .Albany,  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  a  member  of  Masters  Lodge,  No.  5,  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons.  He  married,  in  .Al- 
bany, June  22,  1892.  Katharine  I.  Remington, 
born  in  Glens  Falls,  New  York,  February  9, 
1867,   daughter  of  William  Remington,  lum- 


berman and  prominent  business  man  of  Glens 
Falls  and  Albany,  born  in  \'ermont.  May  19, 
1820,  died  in  Glens  Falls.  New  A'ork.  Novem- 
ber 17,  1892.  He  married  Charlotte  T. 
Wicks,  born  January  22,  1835.  died  July  6, 
1872.  He  was  of  the  English  Remington 
family,  noted  inventors  and  gun  manufactur- 
ers. Katharine  I.  (Remington)  Phillips  was 
educated  at  the  Albany  Female  Academy,  and 
is  an  active  worker  in  the  women's  clubs  and' 
guilds  of  the  city.  She  is  a  member  with  her 
husband  of  the  First  Congregational  Church 
and  interested  in  church  and  benevolent  work. 
Child :  EUanche  Crounse  Phillips,  born  August 
26,   1903. 


The  emigrant  ancestor  of  the 
WARREN  Warrens,  of  Troy,  New  York, 
was  Richard  Waring,  who  ar- 
rned  in  Boston  on  the  ship  "Endeavor,"  ac- 
companied by  his  young  son,  Richard,  in  1664, 
and  shortly  afterwards  settled  on  Long  Is- 
land. He  spelled  his  name  Waring,  and  as 
such  was  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of 
Brookhaven,  Long  Island,  in  1665.  The  name 
\\'arren  and  Waring  are  both  used  by  the  de- 
scendants of  the  Warrens  in  this  country,  al- 
though it  is  distinctly  proven  that  in  England 
they  are  two  separate  families,  their  ancient 
armorial  bearings  being  totally  different, 
which  is  conclusive. 

The  first  Warren  who  came  from  Norman- 
dy to  England  was  William  de  Warrene.  who 
was  a  near  relative  of  the  Conqueror,  and 
who  married  the  king's  daughter  Gundredd. 
The  name  "\\'arrenne"  came  from  A'arenne,  a 
district  in  Normandy,  not  far  from  Dieppe,  in 
which  the  family  had  a  property  and  a  castle 
called  "liellencombre"  (the  fair  mound),  part 
of  which  was  standing  in  1832.  He  was  \Vill- 
iam  of  Aarenne,  or  ^\'arrene.  There  were 
eight  Earls  of  Warren  and  Surrey.  The  great 
cradle  of  the  Warrens  was  in  Chesliire,  al- 
though from  that  they  migrated  to  diiYerent 
parts  of  England. 

The  pedigree  of  Richard  Warren,  the  emi- 
grant, taken  from  the  Herald's  A'isitations  of 
Devonshire  and  from  parish  registers,  viz.: 
Richard  Waring.  Emigrant,  was  the  son  of 
Christopher  Warren,  a  clergyman,  vicar  of 
Ilsington.  Devon.,  and  died  there  October, 
1626.  He  married  June  15,  1613.  Alice, 
daughter  of  Thomas  W'ebb.  of  Sydenham, 
Devon.,  and  had  issue.  He  was  the  son  of 
William  Warren,  married  Anne,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Alable,  of  Calstock,  in  Cornwall.  He 
was  the  son  of  Christopher,  who  was  a  church 
warden  in  that  parish  in  1543-4,  and  son  of 
John  Warren,  of  Headborough,  parish  of 
.Ashburton,   Devon.,   and   so   runs  back   in   a. 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


355 


direct  line  to  William  de  Warrene,  first  Earl 
of  Warrene  and  Surry,  etc.,  who  married 
Gimdredd,  daun;hter  of  William  the  Con- 
queror. 

Richard  Waring,  the  emigrant,  owned  large 
tracts  of  land  on  Long  Lsland.  In  a  deed  still 
extant,  he  conveyed  to  his  son  Edmund  two 
pieces  of  land  in  Huntington,  containing  the 
proviso  that  he  should  never  sell  them  with- 
out first  offering  his  brothers  an  opportunity 
to  purchase. 

(H)  Edmund,  youngest  son  of  Richard 
Waring  (W'arren)  was  born  at  Brookhaven, 
or  Oyster  Bay,  Long  Island,  in  1673,  died 
August  5,  1749.  He  removed  from  Hunting- 
ton, Long  Island,  to  Norwalk,  Connecticut,  in 

1703.  and  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  on 
Roton  Hill  and  Five  IMile  River.  He  built  a 
pier  in  the  harbor  of  Norwalk,  which  leads 
to  the  inference  that  he  was  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits,  probably  a  lumber  merchant, 
as  he  made  large  purchases  of  timber  land. 
At  his  death  at  the  age  of  seventy-six,  he  was 
survived  by  his  entire  family,  wife,  eight  sons 
and  "four  loving  daughters,"  to  whom  he  be- 
queathed a  considerable  landed  estate.  He 
married,  October  6,  1698,  Elizabeth  Bouton, 
born  1679,  daughter  of  Jean  (John)  Bouton, 
a  Huguenot,  born  in  France,  161 5,  came  to 
America   1633,  died  at  Norwalk,  Connecticut, 

1704.  John  Bouton  married,  January  i,  1673 
(third  wife),  Mary  Stevenson,  who  bore  him 
four  children,  Elizabeth  being  the  third,  and 
tenth  child  of  her  father.  The  name  Bouton 
has  had  various  spellings,  namely :  Boughton, 
Bowten,  Bowtin,  Boutin.  Edmund  and  Eliza- 
beth (Bouton)  Warren  had  twelve  children. 
all  but  the  youngest  born  in  Oyster  Bay,  Long 
Island;  Edmvmd,  born  September  16,  1700; 
Isaac,  June  13,  1702;  John,  December  21, 
1704:  Solomon.  April  24,  1707:  Mary,  Decem- 
ber 22.  1708;  Nathan,  February  6,  171 1  ;  Ja- 
cob, January  15,  1713;  Michael,  July  16,  1715, 
married  Elizabeth  Scofield ;  Eliakim,  of  fur- 
ther mention;  Elizabeth.  March  8,  1720;  Abi- 
gail, .April  19,  1723;  Hannah,  born  in  Nor- 
walk. Connecticut.  September  7.  1723.  The 
ancient  tombstones  of  Edmund  and  his  wife 
were  found  at  Norfalk.  Connecticut,  in  1862. 

(Ill)  Eliakim,  son  of  Edmund  and  Eliza- 
beth (Bouton)  Warren,  was  born  at  Oyster 
Bay.  Long  Island,  July  8,  1717,  died  at  Nor- 
walk, Connecticut,  August  3,  1779.  He  was 
probably  associated  with  his  father  and  broth- 
ers in  business,  but  the  records  do  not  give 
any  information  as  to  his  occupation  or  busi- 
ness. He  married.  December  7.  1738.  Ann. 
daughter  of  John  Reed  (2)  of  Norwalk.  and 
great-granddaughter  of  John  Reed  ( i ) ,  an 
officer  in  the  army  of  Cromwell.     John  Reed 


( I  )  died  in  New  England  at  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety-eight.  Children,  born  in  Nor- 
walk, Connecticut;  Zaccheus,  October  19, 
1741;  Jesse,  June  14,  1744;  Eliakim,  of  fur- 
ther mention.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Associa- 
tion of  the  Western  churches  (Congrega- 
tional) of  Fairfield  county  convened  at  Mid- 
dlesex, June  6.  1744,  Edmund  and  Eliakim 
Warren  were  the  chosen  Middlesex  delegates, 
and  their  wives  were  at  that  time  added  to  the 
church  by  letters  of  recommendation.  A  Nor- 
walk cousin.  Joseph  (2).  son  of  Joseph  (i) 
and  great-grandson  of  Edmund  ( i ) ,  was  a 
personal  friend  of  Major-General  Joseph 
Warren,  and  showed  with  pride  the  General's 
sword,  left  in  his  keeping,  calling  the  Revolu- 
tionary hero  his  "cousin."  This  Joseph  (2) 
was  in  1798  the  owner  of  the  Norwalk  and 
New  York  packet  line,  which  comprised  two 
sloops — "Griffin"'  and  "Republican." 

(IV)  Eliakim  (2).  son  of  Eliakim  (i)  and 
Ann  (Reed)  Warren,  was  born  February  n, 
1747.  died  September  4,  1824.  It  is  with 
Eliakim  (2)  that  the  Troy  history  of  the  fam- 
ily begins.  Eliakim  married  his  neighbor. 
Phebe  Bouton,  daughter  of  Esaias  Bouton, 
January  17,  1771.  Before  his  marriage  he  had 
belonged  to  the  Congregational  church,  but 
his  wife,  Phebe  Bouton,  was  an  ardent  Epis- 
copalian and  persuaded  him  to  join  that 
church.  In  1787  he  was  elected  vestryman 
of  Saint  Paul's  Church,  Norwalk,  and  there  is 
extant  the  record  of  an  auction  of  pews  where 
he  and  others  tossed  pennies  for  seats.  Elia- 
kim had  three  sons — Esaias,  Nathan  and 
Stephen.  On  the  advice  of  Esaias  they  de- 
cided to  remove  to  Troy,  a  thriving  village 
at  the  head  of  navigation  on  the  Hudson  river. 
The  Warren  family  sailed  out  of  Norwalk 
harbor  in  May,  1798,  and  made  the  entire  trip 
to  Troy  by  water.  The\-  had  just  had  a  sail- 
ing vessel  built  for  them  at  Rowayton,  a  sIoot 
named  "The  Three  Brothers."  It  was  fifty 
feet  keel,  twenty  feet  beam,  and  sixteen  feet 
hold,  and  rated  sixty-four  tons.  In  1796 
Esaias,  the  eldest  son.  had  purchased  a  lot  on 
East  River  street,  between  First  and  Albany 
streets.  Troy,  and  there  erected  a  two-story 
wooden  building  for  a  dwelling  and  store. 
Eliakim  and  Esaias.  with  the  second  son.  Na- 
than, engaged  in  merchandising  under  the 
firm  name  of  Esaias  \\'arren  &  (Tompany.  In 
1799  the  firm  removed  their  business  to  the 
west  side  of  River  street  (now  No.  217),  and 
began  a  retail  and  wholesale  business  in  dry 
goods,  groceries  and  hardware.  A  feature  of 
their  business  was  the  purchase  and  shipping 
of  wheat  and  country  produce.  They  safely 
invested  their  profits  in  real  estate.  After 
three  years  residence  in  Troy,  April  6,  1801, 


356 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


Eliakim  sold  out  the  old  Norwalk  property 
and  emploj^ed  the  proceeds  in  liis  sons'  inter- 
ests. Esaias  being  the  eldest  and  now  twenty- 
seven  years  of  age,  took  the  lead  in  all  mat- 
ters, and  their  early  prosperity  was  largely  due 
to  his  enterprise  and  sagacity.  Troy  at  this 
period  contained  three  hundred  houses  and 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  two  inhabi- 
tants. In  due  time  Eliakim  Warren  retired 
from  the  firm  and  his  place  was  taken  by  his 
third  .son,  Stephen.  Eliakim  Warren  was  a 
devout  Oiristian  and  believed  that  a  share  of 
his  fortune  should  be  devoted  to  the  service 
of  God.  This  was  one  of  his  articles  of  faith 
and  he  so  taught  his  sons.  In  Troy  he  found 
no  Episcopal  church.  For  two  years,  how- 
ever, Sunday  services  had  been  held  accord- 
ing to  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer.  Phil- 
ander Chase,  a  young  graduate  of  Dartmouth 
College  (later  Bishop  of  Ohio)  had  been  sent 
up  regularly  from  Albany  by  Dr.  Ellison,  the 
rector  of  Saint  Peter's  parish  and  an  English- 
man, to  minister  unto  the  little  band  of  Epis- 
copalians. But  Phebe  Warren  was  a  noble 
woman,  and  owing  to  her  initiative  and  per- 
severing effort  Saint  Paul's  Church  was  built 
in  1804  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Third  and  . 
Congress  streets,  and  according  to  her  darl- 
ing wish  was  modeled  exactly  after  Saint 
Paul's  Church  at  Norwalk.  Trinity  Church, 
New  York  City,  contributed  two  thousand 
dollars  to  its  erection.  Rev.  David  Butler,  of 
Reading,  Connecticut,  was  chosen  rector  by 
the  vestry,  and  in  his  letter  of  acceptance  he 
said :  "I  shall  endeavor  to  make  myself  ready 
to  remove  with  my  family  whenever  it  may 
be  convenient  for  Mr.  Warren  to  come  down 
in  his  vessel."  Dr.  Butler  in  his  youth  had 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
He  was  a  man  of  learning  and  ability,  and  sat 
as  deputy  from  the  diocese  of  New  York 
state  in  the  General  Convention  of  1820  and 
in  several  succeeding  conventions.  He  was  a 
man  of  commanding  presence  and  aristocratic 
manner,  and  wore  until  the  close  of  his  life 
the  small  clothes,  buckled  shoes  and  long- 
skirted  coat  of  the  earlier  period.  He  served 
his  people  faithfully  for  thirty  years.  One 
part  of  Saint  Paul's  Church  was  quaintly  de- 
nominated "Norwalk,"  as  there  sat  the  War- 
rens, Boutons,  Kelloggs,  Crafts,  and  Cannons. 
The  Warren  family  Prayer  Book  was  on  the 
altar.  At  the  first  recorded  administration  of 
the  Holy  Communion,  three  lay  memljers  ])ar- 
took  thereof,  Eliakim  and  Phebe  Warren  and 
Lemuel  Hawley.  In  1813  the  number  of 
regular  communicants  had  increased  to  eigh- 
ty-four, and  in  1824  a  new  and  larger  church 

(the  present  Saint  Paul's)  was  erected  on  the 
northeast  corner  of  Third  and  State  streets. 

\ 


^Ir.  Warren  was  one  of  the  first  two  elected 
wardens  (senior),  Jeremiah  Pierce  being  the 
junior  warden,  and  he  continued  to  hold  this 
office  until  his  death.  In  181 5  his  wife.  Phebe 
(Bouton)  Warren,  formed  in  the  parish  a 
Saturday  sewing  class  for  poor  girls,  which 
she  conducted  until  her  death  in  1835.  It 
was  then  carried  on  by  her  daughter-in-law, 
Mary,  wife  of  Nathan  Warren.  From  this 
sewing  class  grew  the  later  "Church  of  the 
Holy  Cross." 

Mr.  Warren  lived  a  life  of  great  usefulness 
and  was  universally  loved  and  respected.  He 
never  had  a  lawsuit,  and  avoided  religious 
controversy.  When  the  British  attack  was 
made  on  Norwalk  during  the  Revolution  he 
joined  with  his  townsmen  in  the  defence  of 
their  homes  and  beat  the  British  off,  not,  how- 
ever, until  nearly  all  the  dwellings-  were 
burned.  A  tablet  erected  by  the  vestry  in 
Saint  Paul's  Church  is  inscribed,  "In  memory 
of  Eliakim  Warren,  senior  warden  of  this 
church  from  its  organization  in  1804  until  his 
death.  To  his  zeal  and  munificence  the  con- 
gregation, under  God,  is  indebted  for  its  ori- 
gin and  prosperity.  He  died  September  4, 
1824,  aged  seventy-seven  years."  The  vestry 
also  erected  a  tablet  inscribed,  "In  memory  of 
Phebe  Warren,  relict  of  Eliakim.  She  died 
January  17,  1835,  aged  eighty  years.  A  moth- 
er in  Israel.  She  supported  and  conducted  a 
sewing  class  for  the  children  of  the  poor." 
Eliakim  married,  January  17,  1771,  Phebe 
Bouton,  born  March  5,  1754,  died  January  17, 
1835,  daughter  of  Esaias  and  Phebe  ( Bixby ) 
Bouton,  of  Norwalk.  Children :  Esaias,  of 
whom  further;  Hannah,  born  July  19,  1773, 
died  January,  .1775  :  Hannah,  born  August  30, 
1775,  died  June,  1776;  Nathan,  of  whom  fur- 
ther '.  Stephen,  of  whom  further. 

(V)  Esaias,  eldest  .son-of  Eliakim  (2)  and 
Phebe  (Bouton)  Warren,  was  born  in  Nor- 
walk, Connecticut,  October  16,  1771,  died  in 
Troy,  New  York,  April  19,  1829.  Prior  to 
attaining  his  twentieth  year  he  was  sent  out  as 
supercargo  of  a  vessel  of  his  father's,  and 
made  several  trips  to  the  West  Indies  and  u]) 
the  Hudson  to  Albany  and  Troy.  It  was  thus 
he  was  first  made  aware  of  the  advantages 
Troy  offered  to  men  of  enterjirise  and  capi- 
tal. On  his  return  he  persuaded  his  father 
and  brothers  to  remove  to  Troy,  where  within 
a  short  period  of  time  the  entire  family  was 
established,  and  this  city  is  still,  over  a  cen- 
tury later,  the  family  seat.  After  the  with- 
drawal of  their  father  from  the  firm  of  Esaias 
Warren  &  Comjiany,  aforementioned,  the 
brothers  continued  in  business  until  March  5. 
1822,  when  A.  J.  Rousseau  was  admitted.  On 
Alarch    1,    1827,   the   firm   was   dissolved,   the 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   \'ALLEYS 


357 


Warrens  rctiriii;;,  and  Rousseau.  Richards  & 
Company  succeeding.  The  Warrens  were 
successful  business  men.  Esaias  Warren  was 
president  of  the  Troy  Bank  from  1811  to 
1829:  mayor  of  Troy  from  1820  to  1828;  trus- 
tee of  the  village,  1814  to  1816.  and  senior 
warden  of  Saint  Paul's  Protestant  Epi.scopal 
Church,  succeeding-  his  father,  who  died  in 
1824,  and  continued  until  his  death.  After 
the  great  fire  of  1820  he  was  active  in  relief 
measures  for  the  impoverished  people.  In 
iiis  ci\ic  official  positions  he  was  conservative 
and  honorable,  conducting  the  business  of  the 
])ublic  with  the  same  care  and  good  judgment 
that  characterized  his  private  business  affairs. 
Politically  the  family  was  and  had  been  Fed- 
eralists, having  no  preference  for  public  of- 
fice. As  written  at  the  time  of  his  death,  Esaias 
Warren  was  "an  unostentatious  and  ex- 
emplary citizen,  a  vigilant  and  faithful  chief 
magistrate  of  the  city,  and  was  distinguished 
for  persevering  industry  in  whatever  he  un- 
dertook." Esaias  Warren  married,  January 
16,  ijgf^).  Lydia  Scofield,  born  in  Norwalk, 
Connecticut,  April  4,  1772,  daughter  of  Ger- 
shom  and  Lydia  (Bell)  Scofield,  the  former 
named  born  in  Norwalk,  Connecticut,  No- 
vember 2,  1750,  an  officer  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war.  Children :  George  Bouton,  of  whom 
further:  Eliza  Ann,  born  March  22.  1801, 
married.  1827,  John  Paine":  Phebc,  born  Sep- 
tember 6,  1804,  married  April  17,  1849,  Ben- 
jamin Ogle  Tayloe,  of  Washington:  D.  C. ; 
Lydia,  born  December  27,  1808,  married, 
1833,  Alfred  Brooks,  of  Medford,  Massachu- 
setts, died  1836;  William  Henry,  born  July 
29,  1814,  died  April  6,  1815. 

(\'L)  George  Bouton,  eldest  son  of  Esaias 
;  and  Lydia  (Scofield)  Warren,  was  born  in 
Norwalk,  Connecticut,  September  25,  1797, 
died  in  TroV,  New  York,  May  8,  1879.  He 
was  but  an  infant  when  the  Warrens  removed 
from  Norwalk  to  Troy.  While  yet  a  young 
man  he  became  a  partner  in  the  dry  goods 
firm  of  Southwick.  Cannon  &  Warren.  He 
acquired  large  property  interests  in  Troy  and 
was  prominently  connected  with  many  leading 
enterprises  of  that  city.  When  the  Troy  City 
Bank  was  incorporated  in  1833  he  was  chosen 
director,  and  on  retiring  from  mercantile  life 
became  president,  serving  from  1844  to  1857. 
He  was  a  director  in  the  Troy  Insurance  Com- 
pany, the  Troy  Gaslight  Company,  and  presi- 
dent of  the  Rensselaer  &  Saratoga  Railroad 
Company  until  his  death.  He  manifested  more 
than  usual  interest  in  political  affairs.  He 
served  as  alderman  from  the  third  ward.  1835 
to  1842,  and  in  1844  was  elected  to  the  state 
i  legislature.  In  1846  he  was  the  unsuccessful 
i       candidate  of  the  ^^  big  party  for  congress.  He 


was  a  great  lover  of  nature,  an  enthusiastic 
ornithologist,  possessing  a  rare  and  valuable 
collection.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Episcopal 
church  and  an  exemplary  Christian.  His 
standing  among  the  early  business  men  of 
Troy  was  of  the  highest.  He  married  (first) 
Mary  Myer  Bowers,  December  15,  1823,  born 
in  Cooperstown,  New  York,  February  7,  1804, 
died  in  Troy,  August  25,  1851,  daughter  of 
John  M.  Bowers,  born  September  25,  1772, 
died  February  27,  1846,  a  resident  and  large 
land  owner  of  Cooperstown.  John  AI.  Bow- 
ers married  Margaretha  Martha  Stewart  Wil- 
son, born  in  Landsdowne,  New  Jersey,  April 

15,  1778,  daughter  of  Robert  Wilson,  an  of- 
ficer who  served  in  the  siege  of  Boston,  1775, 
and  granddaughter  of  Colonel  Charles  Stew- 
art, commissary  general  of  issues  and  on  the 
staff  of  General  Was]iin.;lon  during  the  Revo- 
lution. .She  died  in  ( 'ooperstown,  February 
6,  1872,  aged  ninety- four  years.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bowers  were  the  parents  of  nine  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Alary  Alyer  (Bowers)  Warren 
was  the  eldest.  Mr.  Warren  married  (sec- 
ond) Emily  (Bowers)  Collins,  of  Coopers- 
town. Children  of  the  first  marriage :  i .  John 
Esaias,  born  January  18,  1827:  married,  1852, 
Charlotte  Grain  (born  July  4,  1836,  died  April 
II,  1903),  died  in  Brussels,  July  6,  1896. 
As  a  young  man  he  was  attached  to  the 
American  Legation  in  Spain,  and  later  to  the 
L'nited  States  Legation  in  Brazil.  He  pub- 
lished two  books,  "The  Attache  in  Spain"  and 
"Para."  He  was  mayor  of  St.  Paul,  Minne- 
sota, i860,  and  afterward  resided  for  manv 
years  with  his  family  in  Chicago,  Illinois. 
Children:  Alary  Narina,  born  April  4,  1855, 
married  Georges  Aloreau,  died  in  Paris,  No- 
vember 14,  1895:  Paul  Warren,  born  .\ugust 

16,  1859,  married  Alarch  26,  1891,  Hedwig 
Von  Behr.  2.  George  Bowers,  of  further 
mention.  3.  Charles  Stewart,  born  1830,  died 
1833.  4.  Charles  Stewart,  born  1834.  5. 
Mary  Bowers,  born  February  2j,  1836,  mar- 
ried October,  i860.  John  A.  Manning:  chil- 
dren :  Jane  Brinsmacle :  George  \\'arren.  de- 
ceased, married  Julia  Southgate ;  \\'illiam 
Henry,  married  Frances  Alorton :  John  A., 
married  Edith  Baker;  Alary  Emily:  Charles 
Stewart,  deceased. 

(\TI)  George  Bowers,  son  of  George 
Bouton  and  Alary  Alyer  (Bowers)  Warren, 
was  born  in  Troy,  New  York,  June  9,  1828, 
died  in  that  city  October  8,  1905.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  private  schools,  and  for  a  time  attend- 
ed L'nion  College,  but  was  compelled  to  re- 
linquish a  college  education  on  acount  of  ill 
health.  He  was  never  actively  engaged  in 
business  beyond  caring  for  his  private  prop- 
erty interests,  although  he  was  for  some  \ears 


358 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


extensively  engaged  in  the  wool  business.  He 
served  the  city  in  various  capacities,  and  was 
interested  in  many  of  the  leading  institutions 
of  Troy.  In  1853  he  was  president  of  the 
Young  Men's  Association.  In  1861-62  he  was 
mayor  of  Troy,  and  successfully  met  the  try- 
ing conditions  of  that  troublesome  period.  He 
was  secretary  of  the  Troy  &  Albia  Horse 
Railway  Company,  organized  January  21, 
1866.  He  was  a  director  of  the  United  Na- 
tional Bank  for  many  years  and  later  was 
chosen  president,  holding  that  office  until  the 
time  of  his  death,  and  also  was  president  of 
the  Rensselaer  &  Saratoga  Railroad  Com- 
pany. He  was  active  in  the  Young  Men"s 
Association  and  Lecture  Lyceum,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  Saint  Paul's  Episcopal  Church.  In 
politics  he  was  a  Democrat. 

He  married,  April  29,  1856,  at  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  Eugenia  Phebe  Warren  Tayloe, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Ogle  Tayloe.  of  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  and  Virginia,  where  he  had 
large  estates.  Mr.  Tayloe  was  born  in  An- 
napolis, Maryland,  May  21,  1796,  in  the  home 
of  his  maternal  grandfather,  Governor  Benja- 
min Ogle,  of  Maryland.  His  father,  Colonel 
John  Tayloe,  owned  an  estate  of  four  thou- 
sand acres,  Mt.  Airy,  of  Richmond  county, 
\'irginia,  and  in  i8oi  built  for  himself  a  win- 
ter residence,  the  "Octagon  House,"  on  New 
York  Avenue,  in  Washington.  D.  C.  Here, 
after  the  burning  of  the  White  House  by  the 
British  in  1814,  President  and  Mrs.  Madison 
took  up  their  residence  and  remained  over  a 
year.  The  Treaty  of  Ghent,  1815,  was  signed 
in  this  house.  Mr.  Tayloe  died  in  Rome, 
Italy,  February  25,  1868,  where  he  was  trav- 
eling for  his  health.  He  was  not  engaged  in 
any  business  save  that  connected  with  his 
landed  interests  in  Washington,  D.  C,  and  his 
cotton  plantations  in  X'irginia  and  Alabama. 
He  was  an  old-fashioned  Whig  in  ])olitics, 
and  an  Episcopalian  in  religious  faith.  He 
married  Julia  Maria  Dickinson,  born  in  Troy, 
November  19,  1799,  daughter  of  John  D. 
Dickinson.  They  had  six  children,  of  whom 
Eugenia  Phebe  was  the  fifth. 

Children  of  George  Bowers  and  Eugenia 
Phebe  Warren  (Tayloe)  Warren:  i.  Julia, 
born  October  11,  1857,  died  July  19,  1859.  2. 
Mary  Bowers,  of  Troy.  3.  Anna  Tayloe,  born 
in  Troy,  October  23,  1863:  educated  in  pri- 
vate schools  and  Emma  Willard  .Seminary, 
died  in  Luzerne,  New  York,  November  7, 
1892;  married,  April  29,  1885,  H.  Casimir  de 
Rham,  of  New  York  City.  4.  Ogle  Tayloe, 
born  June  15,  1865;  graduated  at  Rensselaer 
Polytechnic  Institute,  Troy,  class  of  1886, 
with  degree  of  civil  engineer.  He  is  now  in 
Detroit,  Michigan,  connected  with  the  Ocat 


Lakes  Engineering  Company.  5.  George 
Thornton,  born  April  18,  1868,  died  Decem- 
ber 31,  1908;  graduated  from  Trinity  College, 
A.B..  class  of  1890.  from  Columbia  Law 
School,  LL.B.,  class  of  1893,  ^nd  admitted  to 
the  bar  of  Albany,  New  York.  6.  Ethel,  born 
April  22.  1871.  died  November  27.  1873.  7. 
Eugene,  born  May  24,  1873;  educated  at  Saint 
Paul's  School,  Concord,  New  Hampshire.  He 
was  for  a  time  employed  in  the  United  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Troy,  and  is  now  with  the  firm 
of  J.  A.  Manning,  paper  manufacturers  of 
Troy.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Troy  Citi- 
zens' Corps,  enlisted  during  the  Span- 
ish war,  and  was  sent  with  the  Second  Regi- 
ment of  Volunteers  to  Florida.  Later  for 
eight  months  he  was  in  the  Philippines  in  the 
employ  of  the  United  States  government.  He 
married,  November  4,  1903,  Helen  Francis, 
daughter  of  Charles  S.  and  Alice  (Evans) 
Francis. 

(V)  Nathan,  second  son  of  Eliakim  (2) 
and  Phebe  (Bouton)  Warren,  was  born  in 
Norwalk,  Connecticut,  May  11,  1777,  died  in 
Troy,  New  York,  August  13,  1834.  He  was 
of  the  firm  of  Esaias  Warren  &  Company, 
Troy,  1798,  continuing  until  March  i,  1827. 
He  was  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  "Earth- 
ern  Conduit  Company,"  formed  to  "supply  the 
inhabitants  with  water."  He  was  one  of  the 
first  board  of  managers  of  the  Troy  Savings 
Bank  in  1823.  He  was  an  original  incorpora- 
tor of  the  Troy  Steamboat  Company  in  1825, 
vestryman  of  Saint  Paul's  Church,  1S27,  and 
in  the  same  year  erected  the  "Mansion 
House,"  corner  of  Second  and  Albany  streets, 
Troy.  He  was  an  incorporator  of  the  Troy  & 
Bennington  Turnpike  Company  in  1827,  and 
an  incorporator  and  one  of  the  first  directors 
of  the  Rensselaer  &  .Saratoga  Railroad  Com- 
pany in  1832. 

He  married.  .April  24,  1808,  Mary,  daughter 
of  Nathan  and  Abigail  (Curlock)  Bouton, 
born  April  21,  1789,  died  February  8,  1859,  a 
descendant  of  John  Bouton,  the  Huguenot. 
She  continued  the  Saturday  sewing  class 
founded  by  Mrs.  Phebe  (Bouton)  Warren, 
her  mother-in-law.  and  after  the  death  of  the 
latter  converted  it  into  a  day  school.  After 
she  had  been  left  a  widow  Mrs.  Warren  gave 
her  time  almost  entirely  to  church  and  phil- 
anthropic work.  .She  was  the  founder  and 
donor  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Cross,  Troy, 
in  1844,  "A  house  of  prayer  for  all  people, 
without  money  and  without  ])rice."  The  .girls' 
day  school  was  incorporated  by  act  of  legisla- 
ture, March  19,  1846.  I'y  it  Mary  Warren 
(the  founder).  Rev.  John  Ireland  Tucker,  and 
Amos  S.  Perry,  became  a  corporate  body,  by 
name  "The  Warren   Free  Institute,"  for  "the 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK    \ALLEYS 


359 


purpose  of  maintaining  and  conducting  a  free 
school."  December  7,  1848,  Rev.  John  Ire- 
land Tucker  was  ordained  to  the  priesthood 
and  became  the  first  rector  of  the  Church  of 
the  Holy  Cross.  April  5.  1849.  The  name  of 
the  "Warren  Free  Institute"  was  changed  by 
act  of  legislature  to  "The  Mary  Warren  Free 
Institute  of  the  City  of  Troy."  In  1889  the 
church  was  handsomely  improved,  Dr.  Nathan 
!>.,  Stephen  E.  and  George  Henry  Warren 
contributing  the  necessary  funds.  The  en- 
larged chancel  was  dedicated  December  24, 
1889.  on  which  occasion  the  choirman  of  the 
church  wore  for  the  first  time  an  ecclesiastical 
habit.  This  church  was  one  of  the  earliest 
of  the  free  churches  of  the  Episcopal  com- 
munion built  in  the  United  States.  In  it  was 
first  iutruduced  the  choral  service,  and  mainly 
through  the  liberality  of  Dr.  Nathan  B.  \Var- 
ren.  The  girls  of  the  school  who  composed 
the  choir  had  been  dressed  in  English  fash- 
ion, in  a  uniform  of  long  scarlet  cloaks  and 
black  hats.  Proverbs  xxxi:2i,  reads:  "For 
all  her  household  are  clothed  with  scarlet," 
and  ap])lied  to  Airs.  Warren's  birthdav,  .\];)ril 
21.  The  children  of  ]\Iary  (Bouton)  War- 
ren were  the  donors  of  the  organ,  the  chime 
of  bells,  and  the  richly  colored  windows.  Oth- 
ers of  the  family  contributed  the  beautiful 
brass  lectern,  a  fac-simile  of  the  one  in  Exe- 
ter Cathedral.  England,  and  the  brass  corona. 
A  stone  tablet  set  in  the  west  wall  of  the  ante- 
chapel  reads : 

"This  church,  free  to  all  people,  was  founded  by 
Mary.  widow  of  Nathan  Warren,  A.D., 
MDCCCVLIV.  The  antechapel  contemplated  by 
the  founder  was  built  by  her  children  as  a  memo- 
rial to  their  venerated  mother,  who  on  the  VIII 
day  of  February  A.D.  MDCCCLIX  in  tlic  LXX 
year  of  her  age  entered  into  that  rest  whicli  re- 
mains   lor   the   people   of   God." 

The  children  of  Nathan  and  Mary  (Bouton) 
Warren  are:  i.  Harriet  Louise,  married  Cap- 
tain Edmund  Schriver,  who  rose  to  the  rank 
n|  general.  I'nited  States  Army,  in  the  civil 
war ;  she  was  thrown  from  a  sleigh  January 
15,  1859,  and  instantly  killed.  2.  Nathan 
Bouton,  Mus.  Doc,  a  musical  composer  of 
note  and  author  of  numerous  anthems ;  his 
literary  work  is  also  of  a  high  order;  he  nev- 
er married.  3.  Stephen  Eliakiin.  graduate  of 
Trinity  College,  unmarried.  4.  George  Henry, 
born  in  Troy,  November  18,  1823;  graduate 
'if  I'nion  College,  metnber  of  the  New  York 
State  bar;  he  married,  April  29,  1851,  Mary 
Caroline  Phoenix,  daughter  of  Jonas  Phillip 
and  Mary  (Whitney)  Phrenix ;  children: 
Mary  Ida,  married  Robert  Percy  Alden,  .of 
New  York  City;  Harriet  Louise,  married 
Robert  Goelet,  of  New-  York  City ;  George 
Henry.  LL.B..  Columbia  College,  lawyer,  mar- 


ried Georgia  Williams,  of  Stonington,  Con- 
necticut ;  Emmeline  Whitney ;  Whitney 
Phoenix,  died  March  22,  1863 ;  Edmund 
Warren,  deceased ;  Whitney  Warren,  married 
Charlotte  A.  Tooker,  and  resides  at  Newport, 
Rhode  Island:  Anna  Phcienix.  twin  of  \Vhit- 
ney  W..  died  .August  9,  1865;  Edith  Caroline, 
married  William  Starr  Miller,  of  New  York 
Citv ;  Llovd  Elliot,  graduate  of  Columbia  Col- 
lege, 1888. 

(V)  Stephen,  third  and  youngest  son  of 
Eliakim  (2)  and  Pliebe  (Bouton)  Warren, 
was  born  in  Norwalk,  Connecticut,  1783,  clied 
in  Troy,  IVIay  9,  1847.  Pie  was  admitted  to 
the  firm  of  Esaias  Warren  &  Company  on  the 
withdrawal  of  the  father,  and  in  association 
with  his  two  brothers  Esaias  and  Nathan  con- 
ducted the  business  until  March  i.  1827,  when 
the  firm  was  dissolved.  The  good  feeling  and 
perfect  confidence  that  existed  between  these 
brothers  is  rarely  equaled.  In  1806  Stephen 
Warren  w'as  ensign  of  the  "Trojan  Greens." 
a  local  military  company.  In  1832  he  was  a 
member  of  the  first  board  of  directors  of  the 
Rensselaer  &  Saratoga  Railroad  Company,  in- 
corporated by  the  legislature  that  year ;  in 
1829  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  Troy 
W'ater  Works  Company,  that  later  surren- 
dered its  rights  to  the  city  of  Troy;  in  1810- 
II,  fire  warden  from  the  third  ward  of  Troy. 
In  1829  he  was  chosen  president  of  the  Bank 
of  Troy,  holding  that  position  until  his  death 
in  1847,  succeeding  his  brother,  Esaias  War- 
ren, who  had  served  since  the  bank  was  or- 
ganized in  181 1.  Stephen  Warren  was  fol- 
lowed in  the  office  of  president  by  his  son. 
Joseph  M.  Warren,  the  intervening  president 
being  Nathan  Dauchy,  1847  to  1853.  Stephen 
Warren  was  also  president  of  the  Troy  Sav- 
ings Bank  from  October  7,  1839,  until  his 
death.  He  was  a  member  of  the  state  legis- 
lature in  1823.  and  a  presidential  elector. 

He  married.  August  17.  1808.  Martha  Cor- 
nell Mabbett.  of  Lansingburgh.  New  York, 
born  July  5,  1791,  died  December  23,  1879.  in 
Troy,  New  York.  She  was  a  devout  church- 
woman  and  exceedingly  liberal.  The  grand 
organ  in  Saint  Paul's  Church  was  her  gift, 
while  one-half  the  cost  of  the  chapel  and 
parish  house  was  defrayed  by  her  sons  as  a 
memorial  to  her  memory.  Children:  i.  Mary 
Mabbett,  born  October  3.  1810.  died  Novem- 
ber 18,  1831;  married,  April  5.  1831,  John 
Le  Grand  Knox,  of  Troy.  New  York,  born 
November  15,  1803,  died  July,  1880.  2.  Jo- 
seph Mabbett.  of  further  mention.  3.  Will- 
iam Henry,  born  September  14.  181 5.  grad- 
uate at  Washington  (now  Trinity)  College; 
died  January  9,  1867;  married.  December  12. 
1839.  Mary  Rogers,  born  June  2,   1820,  died 


36o 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


June  1 8,  1865,  daughter  of  Judge  Halsey  and 
Deborah  (Wing)  Rogers,  of  Moreau,  Sara- 
toga county,  New  York.  Qiildren :  i.  Halsey 
Rogers,  born  July  25,  1841,  died  February  18, 
1908 ;  ii.  Martha  ]\Iabbett,  born  December 
22,  1842,  married  Walter  Phelps  Warren  (see 
forward )  :  iii.  Mary  Rogers,  born  May  6, 
1853,  died  July  17,  1859:  iv.  Stephen  Warren, 
born  August  12,  1856,  died  April  8,  1878;  v. 
Edward  Ingersoll,  born  July  18,  1858,  died 
April  8,  1878.  4.  Phebe  Elizabeth,  born  July 
5,  1819,  died  January  3,  1894;  married,  July 
8,  1841,  Henry  Pratt  ^McKean,  of  Philadel- 
phia, Pennsylvania,  born  May  3,  1810,  died 
January  5,  1894.  Children:  i.  Thomas  Mc- 
Kean.  born  November  28.  1842,  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Wharton,  of  Philadelphia ; 
ii.  Stephen  Warren,  born  February  4, 
1844,  died  April  28.  1846.  5.  .\nna  Ches- 
ter, born  September  15,  1826,  died  November 
24,  1891  ;  married  Edward  Ingersoll,  of 
Philadelphia,  born  April  2,  1817,  died  Febru- 
ary 19,  1893.  Children:  i.  Stephen  Warren, 
born  April  8,  1851,  died  October,  1864,  mar- 
ried Josephine  Bond,  of  P^hiladelphia ;  ii. 
]\Iary  Wilcocks,  deceased,  born  August  19, 
1853,  married  James  Logan  Fisher,  of 
Philadelphia :  iii.  Phebe  W' arren,  born 
March  23,  1854,  married  Harry  Wil- 
cocks McCall,  of  Philadelphia:  iv.  Anna 
Warren,  born  September  7,  1855,  mar- 
ried Charles  Morton  Smith,  of  Philadelphia ; 
V.  Charles  Edward,  born  June  17,  i860,  mar- 
ried Rita  Sturgis,  of  Philadelphia;  vi.  Henry 
McKean,  born  January  29.  1862:  vii.  Jennie 
Hobart,  born  October  27.  1865.  6.  John  Ho- 
bart.  born  September  3,  1829,  died  January  28, 
1908;  married  (first)  Eliza  Attwood  Tibbits, 
of  Troy.  New  York,  died  April,  1870;  he  mar- 
ried (second)  Harriette  M.  Coulter,  of  New 
York  City.     No  issue. 

(\T)  Honorable  Joseph  .Mabbett,  eldest 
son  of  Stephen  and  Martha  Cornell  (Mab- 
bett) Warren,  was  born  in  Troy,  New  York, 
January  28,  181 3,  died  in  that  city,  Septem- 
ber 9,  1896.  He  graduated  from  Washing- 
ton, now  Trinity  College,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  firm  of  Hart,  Lesley  &  Warren.  March 
I,  1840,  who  were  the  successors  (through 
many  firm  changes)  of  the  oldest  hardware 
house  in  Troy,  founded  in  1809  by  Jacob  Hart 
and  Henry  Xazro.  at  No.  6  Lane's  Row.  for 
the  sale  of  "hardware,  ironmongery,  cutlery 
and  saddlery."  On  the  admission  of  Joseph 
M.  Warren  and  William  Henry  Warren  to 
the  firm,  the  name  was  changed  to  Warrens, 
Hart  &  Lesley.  February  i,  1855,  Jo.seph  M. 
Warren  and  Charles  W.  Tillinghast  succeed- 
ed to  the  business  as  J.  M.  Warren  &  Co.  In 
1864  Walter  P.  Warren  was  admitted.     Feb- 


ruary 10,  1887.  the  proprietors  incorporated 
the  business  under  the  J.  M.  Warren  &  Com- 
pany, with  Joseph  M.  Warren  president  of 
the  corporation,  continuing  until  his  death. 
This  company  continues  one  of  the  solid  sub- 
stantial business  houses  of  Troy.  Mr.  War- 
ren was  a  capable  head  of  their  large  business 
and  thorough  master  of  the  situation  at  all 
times.  In  1909  the  firm  celebrated  its  one 
hundredth  anniversary.  Mr.  Warren  had  oth- 
er interests,  both  public  and  private  in  their 
nature.  He  was  one  of  a  committee  of  nine 
to  arrange  for  the  sale  by  the  city  of  Troy 
of  the  Schenectady  &  Troy  railroad,  which 
had  become  a  heavy  burden  upon  the  taxpay- 
ers. He  was  director  of  the  Farmers'  Bank 
and  of  the  Bank  of  Troy,  later  consolidated 
in  the  United  National  Bank  of  Troy,  of  which 
he  was  the  first  president.  In  1833  he  was 
chosen  jjresident  of  the  Bank  of  Troy,  con- 
tinuing in  that  office  until  1865.  His  father, 
Stephen  Warren,  was  president  of  the  same 
bank  from  1829  to  1847,  succeeding  his  broth- 
er, Esaias  Warren,  who  served  from  181 1  to 
1829.  Save  for  an  interval  of  six  years,  1847 
to  1853,  a  Warren  was  president  of  the  bank 
during  its  entire  life  of  fifty-four  years.  He 
was  a  trustee  of  the  Rensselaer  Polytechnic 
Institute;  water  commissioner  of  the  city  of 
Troy  from  1855-57;  mayor  of  Troy  1851-52; 
one  of  the  organizers  and  members  of  the 
board  of  managers  of  the  Troy  Club.  1867. 
He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  represent- 
ee! the  Troy  district  in  congress,  1871-73. 
This  record  of  a  busy  life  but  hints  at  the 
measures  of  his  activity.  He  was  interested 
in  everything  that  pertained  to  the  business, 
religious,  educational  or  civic  life  in  Troy. 
His  support  for  any  worthy  object  could  al- 
ways be  relied  upon.  His  charity,  was  unos- 
tentatious, but  extensive.  He  was  senior  war- 
den of  Saint  Paul's  Episcopal  Church,  and  a 
devout  churchman.'  His  life  was  a  success- 
ful one,  and  he  left  to  his  posterity  an  honor- 
able record. 

He  married.  Sc])tember  9,  1835,  F.lizahcth 
.Adelaide  Phel])s.  liorn  March  3,  181 5.  died 
July  20,  1891,  daughter  of  Walter  and  Julia 
.Steel  (Beach)  Phelps,  of  Hartford,  Connec- 
ticut. The  Phelps  family  is  an  old  and  hon- 
ored one  in  New  England.  Children:  i. 
Stephen,  born  August  23,  1836,  died  October 
16.  1837.  2.  Mary  Mabbett.  born  May  6,  1838. 
married,  January  29,  1861.  John  Isaac  Thomp- 
son, of  Troy  (see  Thompson),  born  April  2, 
183 1  ;  children:  i.  Hobart  Warren,  born  .\pril 
2,  1862,  married  Grace.  McLeod ;  ii.  Marie 
Warren,  born  March.  1868.  married  Edward 
Courtland  Gale  (see  Gale).  3.  W'alter  I'helps, 
of  whom  further.     4.  Josephine,  born  .\ugust 


HUDSOxX   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


361 


22.  1842,  died  April  2,  1843.  5-  Phebe  Mc- 
Kean.  born  August  6,  1844;  married,  October 
II,  i856,  Isaac  McConihe.  of  Troy,  born 
1830;  children:  i.  Anna  Pruyn,  born  Novem- 
ber 30,  1867,  died  September.  1868;  ii.  War- 
ren, born  July  8,  1869;  iii.  Malcolm  Stewart, 
born  August,  1871  ;  iv.  Elizabeth,  born  July, 
i88i.  6.  Anna,  born  February  21,  1849;  mar- 
ried, October  21,  1869,  John  M.  Glidden,  of 
I'oston,  born  July  4,  1843;  children:  i.  Mary 
Warren,  born  May  10,  1871  ;  ii.  Joseph  War- 
ren, born  July  17,  1872:  iii.  Amy  Gardner, 
born  November,  1873:  iv.  William  Cjernon, 
born  December,  1874 ;  v.  John,  born  May. 
1876;  vi.  Susette  Adelaide.  December.  1879; 
vii.  Anna ;  viii.  Arthur  Boynton.  7.  Stephen, 
born  January  28,  1852,  died  September  i, 
1864.  " 

(\'II)  Walter  Phelps,  second  son  of  Joseph 
Mabbett  and  Elizabeth  Adelaide  (  Phelps ) 
\\'arren,  was  born  in  Troy,  New  York,  June 
13,  1841.  He  was  educated  at  the  Troy  Acad- 
emy and  at  Walnut  Hill  School.  Geneva. 
New  York.  He  early  entered  business  and 
has  spent  a  life  of  continuous  activity.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1864,  he  was  admitted  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  J.  M.  Warren  &  Company,  of  Troy. 
He  withdrew  from  that  firm  in  1871,  and  at 
once  became  associated  with  Fuller,  Warren  & 
Company,  of  Troy,  which  firm  was  incorpor- 
ated in  1881  under  the  name  of  Fuller  &  \Var- 
ren  Company.  This  company  enjoys  the  dis- 
tinction of  perpetuating  the  business  of  manu- 
facturing stoves  in  Troy  begun  in  1828  by  the 
firm  of  L.  Stratton  &  Son.  at  the  Rensselaer 
furnace.  42  Fifth  Avenue.  There  were  many 
changes  in  firm  personnel  prior  to  Fuller  & 
A\'arren  Company,  whose  works,  covering  six 
acres  in  Troy,  are  known  as  the  "Clinton 
Stove  Works."  They  have  an  e.xtensive  plant 
in  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  and  salesrooms  in 
the  principal  cities  of  the  country.  Mr.  War- 
ren was  trustee  and  vice-president  of  the  orig- 
inal corporation,  and  on  the  death  of  Joseph 
W.  Fuller,  the  president,  in  i8go.  was  elected 
president,  which  office  he  still  fills  (191,1). 
Among  his  many  other  business  activities  are 
the  following:  \'ice-president  of  the  Troy 
Savings  Rank ;  director  of  the  Fuller- Warren 
Company  of  Milwaukee:  Rensselaer  &  Sara- 
toga Railroad  Company:  Albany  &  \crmont 
Railroad  Company ;  Saratoga  &  Schenectady 
Railroad  Company :  Troy  &  Cohoes  Railroad 
Company,  and  the  National  City  I'ank  of 
Troy.  In  May,  1905,  he  was  elected  president 
of  the  Stove  ?ilanufacturers"  Association  of 
the  L'nited  States,  and  is  now  (igio)  vice- 
presiik'nt  of  the  Troy  Chamber  of  Commerce. 
In  1889-90-91  he  was  a  member  of  the  Public 
Improvement  Commission  of  Troy.     In   1889 


he  was  president  of  the  Troy  Citizens'  Asso- 
ciation, and  was  vice-president  of  the  Troy 
Centennial  Association  that  so  splendidly  ar- 
ranged and  carried  through  the  one  hundredth 
anniversary  celebration  of  Troy,    1889. 

He  is  a  director  of  the  Samaritan  Hospital, 
and  of  the  Church  Home,  both  of  Troy.  He 
is  also  a  trustee  of  the  Troy  Orphan  Asylum, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Citizens'  Corps,  and 
was  elected  president  of  the  reorganization  in 
1878.  and  lieutenant  in  Sixth  Separate  Com- 
pany, now  Company  A,  Second  Regiment, 
New  York  National  (iuard.  From  1864  to 
1868  he  served  on  the  staff  of  Governor  HofT- 
man.  with  the  rank  of  colonel.  Through  his 
colonial  and  revolutionary  ancestry,  he  de- 
rives membership  in  the  patriotic  orders.  He 
is  regent  of  \\'illiam  Floyd  Chapter,  Sons  of 
the  Revolution :  a  member  of  the  Founders 
and  Patriots,  Colonial  ^^'ars,  Colonial  Gov- 
ernors, and  Mayflower  societies.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  New  York  Genealogical  and 
Biographical  Society.  His  clubs  are  the  Union 
and  Manhattan  of  New  York  City;  the  Phila- 
delphia. Lenox  and  Troy,  the  latter  of  which 
he  is  president,  elected  first  in  1899.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Episcopal  church,  founded 
in  Troy  by  his  ancestors,  and  was  a  trustee 
of  Saint  Paul's  Free  Chapel  (now  Saint  Bar- 
nabas Chapel,  an  independent  organization), 
appointed  by  the  vestry  of  .Saint  Paul's 
Church  to  manage  the  affairs  of  the  chapel, 
then  a  mission  of  the  mother  church.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Warren  is  a  Democrat,  but  has  never 
espoused  any  of  the  financial  heresies  of  re- 
cent years,  but  has  always  taken  a  deep  in- 
terest in  all  reform  movements  affecting  mu- 
nicipal, federal  or  state  politics.  He  is  a  ready, 
eft'ective  and  pleasing  public  speaker,  and  an 
untiring  worker  for  the  interests  of  his  native 
city.  His  ancestors  on  both  sides  date  back 
to  those  hardy,  self-sacrificing  colonists  who 
endured  the  privations  and  bravely  overcame 
the  perils  of  their  period  and  rendered  ])ossi- 
ble  the  establishment  of  civil  and  religious 
liberty,  that  rich  inheritance  of  the  ]irij<ent 
generation. 

He  married,  July  11,  i8(i6,  Martha  Mabbett 
Warren,  born  December  22,  1842,  daughter 
of  William  Henry  and  Mary  (Rogers)  War- 
ren, of  Moreau.  New  York  (see  Rogers). 
Children:  i.  William  Henry,  of  whom  fur- 
ther. 2.  Joseph  Mabbett,  born  December  14, 
1868.  died  -March  7,  1872.  3.  Mary  Eliza, 
born  February  5,  1870:  married,  November 
5,  1896.  Thomas  \'ail  (see  Vail)  of  Troy, 
born  October  26.  i860:  children:  i.  Martha 
Warren,  born  February  28.  1899:  ii.  Frances 
Hart,  November  24.  igoo:  iii.  Mary  Warren, 
February  7,  1902;  iv.  Phebe  Hart,  March  30, 


362 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK   \ALLEYS 


1908.  4.  John  Hobart,  born  May  9,  1873,  died 
June  10,  1873.  5.  Walter  Phelps,  junior,  born 
December  31,  1874;  educated  in  private 
schools  and  at  Rensselaer  Polytechnic  Insti- 
tute. He  is  a  director  of  the  Fuller  &  War- 
ren Company,  and  a  member  of  Saint  Paul's 
Episcopal  Church,  and  is  independent  in  poli- 
tics. 

He  married.  June  20,  1900,  Sarah  Tib- 
bits  Lane,  born  March  4,  1878,  daughter  of 
George  Tibbits  and  Annie  (Mead)  Lane. 
Children:  i.  Anne  Lane,  born  November  10, 
1902;  ii.  Walter  Phelps  Warren  (3d),  born 
June  II,  1905.  6.  Elizabeth,  born  April  14, 
1876,  died  February  3,  1878.  7.  Chester  In- 
gersoll,  ALE.,  born  February  22,  1880,  grad- 
uate of  Cornell  University,  class  of  1905; 
member  of  Saint  Paul's  Episcopal  Church, 
and  independent  in  politics.  He  married,  Oc- 
tober 2^,  1907,  De  Ette  Samson,  born  Sep- 
tember 20,  1882,  daughter  of  Frederick  and 
Sarah  De  Ette  (Welch)  Samson,  of  Hart- 
ford, Connecticut. 

(Vni)  William  Henry,  eldest  son  of  Wal- 
ter Phelps  and  Martha  Mabbett  (Warren) 
Warren,  was  born  June  3,  1867,  in  Troy,  New- 
York.  He  was  educated  at  Saint  John's 
School  at  Sing  Sing,  now  Ossining,  New 
York,  and  Trinity  College,  Hartford,  Con- 
necticut. He  entered  the  employ  of  Fuller  & 
Warren  Company  as  clerk,  and  is  now  ( 1910) 
vice-president  of  that  corporation.  He  is  a 
vestryman  of  Saint  Paul's  Episcopal  Church, 
and  independent  in  politics.  His  college  fra- 
ternity is  LK.A.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  His 
clubs  are  the  Troy  and  Elks.  He  married, 
January  5,  1893.  Caroline  E.  Gleason,  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  O.  Gleason,  a  banker  of  Troy, 
and  Mary  (Burdick)  Gleason.  One  child, 
Alary  Rogers,  born  July  7,  1896. 


The  ancestor  of  the  De  Witt 
DE  WTTT     family  in  America  was  Tjerck 

Claessen  De  Witt,  of  whom 
the  first  mention  made  is  to  be  found  in  the 
"Trouw  Boeck,"  or  register  of  marriages  of 
the  Reformed  or  Collegiate  Dutch  church  of 
New  York  City.  There  it  is  recorded  that 
on  April  24,  1656,  "Tjerck  Claessen  De  Witt 
van  Grootholdt  en  Zunderlandt"  (Westphalia) 
married  "Barbara  Andriessen  van  Amster- 
dam." He  was  the  son  of  Nicholas  De  Witt, 
.of  Holland,  one  of  the  members  of  a  most 
intluential  family.  It  is  not  known  whether 
other  of  his  relatives  actually  came  over  from 
Holland  at  the  same  time  that  he  did ;  but  it 
is  thought  probable,  as  he  had  a  sister,  Em- 
merentje.  who  married  Martinus  Hoffman  in 
1662,  at  New  .Amsterdam,  and  his  brother,  Jan 


Claessen  De  Witt,  died,  unmarried,  at  Kings- 
ton, New  York,  in  1699. 

Tjerck  C.  De  Witt  resided  in  New  York  for 
a  short  time  following  his  marriage  in  1656, 
where  his  first  child  was  born ;  but  removed 
in  the  spring  of  the  following  year  to  Albany, 
where  he  purchased  a  house  and  lot.  He  ex- 
changed this  in  September,  1660,  with  Ma- 
dame de  Hutter,  for  land  in  Wiltwyck  (Kings- 
ton), Ulster  county.  New  York,  with  "posses- 
sion to  be  given  May  i,  1661."  Here  he  lived 
until  his  death,  and  for  two  centuries  and  a 
half  the  place  remained  in  the  family.  He 
was  undoubtedly  a  man  of  means,  as  is  shown 
by  the  fact  that  in  1661  he  was  taxed  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  guilders  (equal  to  about 
$50)  to  help  pay  for  a  new  church  building  in 
Esopus,  and  in  1662  he  owned  No.  28  of  the 
"New  Lots."  His  eldest  daughter,  Taatje, 
was  carried  away  from  him  by  the  Indians, 
June  7,  1663,  during  the  destruction  of  Kings- 
ton and  Hurley,  but  was  rescued.  Governor 
Lovelace  deeded  to  him  "a  parcel  of  bush-land, 
together  with  a  house,  lot,  orchard,  and  calves' 
pasture,  lying  near  Kingston,  in  Esopus,"  on 
June  25,  1672,  and  Governor  .-^ndros,  October 
8,  1677,  deeded  to  him  about  fifty  acres  of 
woodland  west  of  the  town.  He  was,  on 
February  11,  1679,  one  of  the  signers  of  a  re- 
newal of  the  Nichols  treaty  with  the  Esopus 
Indians.  He  joined  with  others,  in  1684,  pe- 
titioning Governor  Thomas  Dongan  that  there 
might  be  "liberty  by  charter  to  this  county 
(Ulster)  to  choose  our  ovvne  officers  to  every 
towne  court  by  the  major  vote  of  the  freehold- 
ers." The  petition  greatly  offended  the  au- 
thorities, so  that  the  signers  were  arrested  and 
fined  for  this  display  of  a  desire  for  free  or 
local  self-government.  The  trustees  of  Kings- 
ton conveyed  to  him  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
nine  acres  of  land,  February  13,  1685,  and 
Jine  6,  1685,  he  claimed  two  hundred  and 
ninety  acres  lying  upon  the  north  side  of 
Rondout  Kill,  known  as  Momboccus,  which 
was  granted  to  him  by  i)atent  May  14,  1694. 
lie  was  elected  a  magistrate  of  Ulster  county, 
March  4,  1689.  He  died  at  Kingston,  New 
York.  February  17,  1700.  By  his  will,  dated 
March  4,  1698,  he  left  his  property  to  his  wife 
for  life,  and  directed  that  after  her  death  it 
be  divided  between  his  oldest  and  youngest 
sons,  in  trust,  and  by  them  divided  into  twelve 
equal  shares,  to  he  given  to  each  of  his  chil- 
dren or  their  heirs ;  but  to  Lucas  he  devised 
the  one-half  of  a  sloop  he  had  built  the  year 
before,  and  his  widow  was  named  executrix. 

Tjerck  Claessen  De  Witt  married,  at  New 
Amsterdam.  April  24,  1656,  Barbara  Andries- 
sen, who  died  July  ft.  1714.  Children:  i.  An- 
dries.  liorn  in  New  ^'ork  City   (  New  .\mster- 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK    \'ALLEYS 


363 


dam),  in  the  early  part  of  1657  (see  for- 
ward ) .  2.  Taatje,  born  at  Albany,  New 
York,  about  1659,  died  previous  to  1724;  was 
carried  off  by  Esopus  Indians  at  the  burning 
of  Kingston  in  1663:  but  was  rescued;  mar- 
ried, 1077,  Matthys  .Mattliyssen  Van  Keuren, 
son  of  Matthys  Janson  and  Margaret  (Hend- 
rickse )  \'an  Keuren,  who  in  1685  was  com- 
missioned captain  and  served  against  the 
French  on  the  northern  frontier.  3.  Jannetje, 
baptized  February  12,  1662,  died  in  1744; 
married  Cornelis  Swits,  born  1651.  died  1730, 
son  of  Cornelis  Claessen  and  Ariantje  (Trom- 
mels) Swits.  4.  Klaes,  baptized  February  17, 
i()C)4.  died  previous  to  1698.  5.  Jan,  baptized 
I'ebruary  14,  1666.  died  previous  to  probating 
of  will,  April  12,  1715;  married  Wyntje, 
daughter  of  Dr.  Roeloff  and  Ikee  (Aaghe) 
(Roosa)  Kiersted.  6.  Geertruy,  baptized  Oc- 
tober 15.  1668:  married,  March  24,  1688, 
Hendrick  Hendricksen  Schoonmaker,  bap- 
tized May  17,  1665,  son  of  Hendrick  Jochem- 
sen  and  Elsie  (Janse)  Schoonmaker.  7.  Ja- 
cob, married  Grietje,  daughter  of  Cornelis  C. 
and  Annatje  ( Cornclissen )  Vernooy,  and 
lived  at  Rochester,  Ulster  county,  New  York, 
where  he  was  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  place. 
8.  Rachel,  married  Cornelis  Bogardus,  died 
October  13,  1707,  son  of  Cornelis  and  Helena 
(Teller)  Bogardus.  9.  Lucas,  married.  De- 
cember 22.  1695,  Annatje.  daughter  of  An- 
thony and  Jannetje  (  Hillebrants)  Delva  ;  was 
commander  and  joint  owner  witli  his  father 
of  the  sloop,  "St.  Barbara,"  and  died  in  1703. 
10.  Peek,  married  (first),  at  Albany,  January 
2,  1698,  Marytje  Janse  \'anderberg ;  mar- 
ried (second),  December  21,  1723,  Maria 
Tennis :  he  was  first  a  resident  of  New  York, 
subsequently  buying  land  in  Dutchess  county, 
September  6,  1698,  and  in  171 5  removed  to 
Ulster  county.  11.  Tjerck.  12.  Marritje, 
married  (first),  November  3,  1700,  Hendrick 
Hendricksen  Kortreght,  son  of  Hendrick  Jan- 
sen  and  Catharine  Hansen  (Weber)  Kort- 
reght: married  (second),  September  6,  1702, 
Jan  Macklin.  13.  Aagje,  baptized  January  14, 
1684:  married,  August  23,  1712,  Jan  Pawling, 
son  of  Henry  and  Neeltje  (Roosa)  Pawling. 
(H)  Andries,  son  of  Tjerck  Claessen  and 
Barbara  (Andriessen)  De  Witt,  was  born  in 
New  .-Vmsterdam  (New  York  City),  between 
1657  and  i56o,  and  died  at  Kingston,  New 
York,  July  22,  1710.  For  some  years  he  lived 
at  Marbletown,  Ulster  county,  New  York,  on 
a  farm  given  to  him  by  his  father ;  but  re- 
moved to  Kingston  previous  to  1708.  His 
death  is  recorded  in  the  family  records  in  this 
wise:  "Captain  Aiidries  De  \\'itt  departed  this 
life  in  a  sorrowful  way;  through  the  breaking 
of  two  sleepers  (beams)  he  was  pressed  down 


and  very  much  bruised ;  he  spoke  a  few  words 
and  died."  He  was  buried  in  the  church-yard 
at  Kingston.  He  married,  March  7,  1682, 
Jannetje  Egbertsen.  She  was  baptized  in 
New  .Viusterdam,  January  11,  1664,  died  No- 
vember 23,  1733,  and  was  the  daughter  of 
Egbert  ^Meindertse  and  Jaepe  (Jans)  Egbert- 
sen.  Children:  i.  Tjerck,  baptized  January 
12,  1683;  died  at  Kingston,  August  30,  1762: 
married  (first),  January  18,  1708,  Anne  Paw- 
ling, baptized  June  19,  1687,  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Neeltje  (Roosa)  Pawling;  mar- 
ried (second),  October  17,  1739,  Deborah, 
baptized  September  14,  1684,  daughter  of 
Egbert  Hendricksen  and  Annatje  (Berry) 
Schoonmaker,  widow  successively  of  Jacob 
Vernooy  and  Hendrick  Vroom.  2.  Jacob,  bap- 
tized September  28,  1684,  died  young.  3. 
Barbara,  baptized  August  22,  1686,  died 
young.  4.  Klaes,  baptized  April  30,  1688, 
died  young.  5.  Barbara  (2d),  born  October 
30.  1689;  married,  March  25,  1715,  Johannes 
\'an  Leuven ;  died  November  i,  1715.  6.  Ja- 
cob, born  December  30,  1691  ;  married,  Alay 
9,  1731,  Hevltje  \'an  Kampen,  baptized  Oc- 
tober 6,  1700,  daughter  of  Jan  and  Tietje 
Janse  (Decker)  Van  Kampen.  7.  Maria, 
born  January  21,  1693;  married,  October  30, 
1713,  Jan  Roosa,  Jr.,  baptized  November  6, 
1692.  son  of  Jan  and  Hillegond  (\'an  Buren) 
Roosa.  8.  Helena,  born  December  7.  1695; 
married,  June  6,  i/ig,  Jacob  Swits,  baptized 
at  .\lbany,  June  26,  1695,  son  of  Isaac  and 
Susanna  ((jroot)  Swits.  9.  Andries.  born 
April  I,  1697,  died  July  2,  1701.  10.  Egbert, 
born  March  18,  1699,  see  forward.  11.  Jo- 
hannes, born  March  26,  1701  ;  married,  June 
27,  1724,  Mary  Brodhead.  baptized  August  6. 
1699.  daughter  of  Charles  and  Maria  (Ten 
Broeck)  Brodhead.  12.  Andries,  baptized 
February  20,  1704,  died  at  Rochester,  Ulster 
county.  New  York,  in  1764;  married.  Decem- 
ber 3.  1731,  Bredjen  Nottingham,  baptized 
December  23,  1711,  daughter  of  William  and 
Margaret  (Rutsen)   Nottingham. 

(Ill)  Egbert,  son  of  Andries  and  Jannetje 
(Egbertsen)  De  Witt,  was  born  March  18, 
1699.  He  settled  at  Napahanoch,  in  the  town 
of  Warwarsing,  Ulster  county.  New  York. 
He  married,  November  4,  1726,  Mary  Not- 
tingham, born  May  19.  1704,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Margaret  (Rutsen)  Nottingham. 
Children:  i.  Andries,  baptized  October  15, 
1727,  see  forward.  2.  Jacob  Rutsen,  baptized 
April  13,  1729;  married,  April  15,  1756,  Jen- 
neke,     daughter     of     Moses     and     ^largaret 

(Schoonmaker)  Depuy ;  purchased  land  on 
the  Navesink  river,  and  was  a  captain  of  a 
militia    company    during    the    revolution.      3. 

William,    born    in    1731  ;    married.    May    30, 


364 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   \-ALLEYS 


1762,  Susanna  Chambers.  4.  John  E.,  bap- 
tized September  ig,  1733:  married.  October 
26,  1765,  Catherine  Newkirk,  baptized  Feb- 
ruary 26.  1738,  daughter  of  CorneHus,  Jr..  and 
Neeltje  (Duliois)  Xewkirk.  5.  Stephen,  bap- 
tized December  14.  1735  ;  married.  December 
8.  1770,  Wyntje.  baptized  February  23,  1746, 
died  July  7.  1830,  daughter  of  John  and 
Venni  (Nottingham)  Brodhead.  6.  IMary, 
born  September  5,  1737,  died  September  12, 
1795;  married.  February  18,  1765,  General 
James  Clinton,  born  August  9.  1736.  died  De- 
cember 22.  181 2,  son  of  Charles  and  Elizabeth 
(Denniston)  Clinton,  and  had  son,  DeWitt 
Clinton,  governor  of  New  York  state.  7.  Eg- 
bert, baptized  April  i,  1739.  8.  Thomas,  born 
May  3,  1 741,  died  at  Kingston,  New  York, 
September  7,  1809;  married,  February  28, 
1782,  Elsie,  born  March  20,  1750,  died  June 
28.  1832,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  ?\Iaria 
(Hoornbeck)  Hasbrouck;  during  the  revolu- 
tion commissioned  as  captain  in  the  Third 
New  York  Regiment;  was  promoted  to  be 
major ;  assisted  in  the  defence  of  Fort  Stan- 
wix  (Rome,  New  York)  when  besieged  by 
Colonel  St.  Leger,  in  August,  1777,  and  ac- 
companied General  Sullivan's  successful  expe- 
dition against  the  Indians.  9.  Benjamin,  bap- 
tized January  19,  1743.  10.  Reuben,  baptized 
October  20,  1745;  married.  November  11, 
1772.  Elizabeth,  baptized  May  20.  1753, 
daughter  of  Moses  and  Ehzabeth  (Clearwa- 
ter) Depuy. 

(I\')  Andries  (2),  son  of  Egbert  and  Mary 
(Nottingham)  De  Witt,  was  baptized  October 
15,  1727,  died  at  New  Paltz,  New  York,  Sep- 
tember 30,  1799.  He  was  a  physician  of  ex- 
cellent standing  in  his  profession,  and  prac- 
ticed in  his  native  country  for  more  than  half 
a  century.  He  married,  .-\pril  24,  1748,  Jan- 
netje  Yernooy,  baptized  March  3,  1728,  died 
February  7,  1795,  daughter  of  Johannes  and 
Jenneke  (Louw)  Vernooy.  Children:  i. 
Anna,  born  April  6,  1749,  baptized  May  23, 
1749,  died  January  20,  1819;  married,  April 
5,  1778,  Hugo  Freer,  of  New  Paltz,  New 
York,  born  July  26,  1749,  died  October  13, 
1808,  son  of  Gerrit  and  Maria  Freer.  2.  Eg- 
bert, born  October  i,  1750,  died  March  25, 
1816;  married  Elizabeth  Smith,  baptized  De- 
cember 18,  1755,  daughter  of  Hendrick  and 
Sarah  (Keator)  Smith.  3.  Maria,  born  .April 
24,  1752.  4.  John  A.,  baptized  November  15, 
1753,  died  October  4,  1818;  married,  April  19, 
1776,  Rachel  Bevier.  5.  Cornelis,  baptized 
July  21,  1755.  6.  Simeon,  born  December  26, 
1756.  died  December  3,  1834:  married  (first), 
October  12,  1789,  Elizabeth  Lynott,  born  Jan- 
uary 3,  1767.  died  December  13,  1793;  married 
(second),     janneke     (Varick)     Hardenberg, 


born  May  18,  1760,  died  April  to.  1808, 
daughter  of  John  and  Jane  (Dey)  \'arick, 
and  widow  of  Abraham  Hardenberg ;  married 
(third),  October  29,  1810,  Susan  Linn,  born 
October  30,  1778,  died  May  5,  1824.  daughter 
of  Rev.  \\'illiam  and  Rebecca  (lilair)  Linn. 
7.  William,  born  December  17,  1758.  8.  Jan- 
neke, born  1760;  married  John  C.  Harden- 
berg, of  Hurley,  Ulster  county.  New  York, 
baptized  February  22,  1756,  died  1833.  son  of 
Charles  and  Catherine  (Smedes)  Hardenberg. 
9.  Catherine,  baptized  September  20.  1762, 
died  .\ugust  24,  1850;  married  Nathaniel  Be- 
vier, baptized  April  17,  1756,  son  of  Johannes 
and  Magdalena  (Lefever)  Bevier.  10.  .An- 
dries A.,  baptized  January  20.  1766.  died 
March  10,  1851.  11.  Sarah,  baptized  Febru- 
arv  2,  1767.  12.  Elizabeth,  born  June  24, 
1769;  married.  December  22,  1801,  Henry 
Guest.  13.  Levi,  born  October  7,  1771.  14. 
Benjamin,  born  December  26,  1775,  died.  New 
York  City,  September  10.  1819;  married,  Sep- 
tember 27,  1800,  Eve,  born,  Albany,  March  27, 
1777,  died  May  21,  1832,  daughter  of  James 
and  Lydia   (\'an  Valkenburg)    Bloodgood. 

(V)  General  Simeon,  son  of  Dr.  Andries 
(2)  and  Jannetje  (\'ernooy)  De  Witt,  was 
born  at  Warwarsing,  L'lster  county.  New 
York,  December  26,  1756.  died  at  Ithaca.  New 
York,  December  3,  1834.  The  baptismal  rec- 
ord shows  that  he  was  baptizefl  on  the  day 
following  his  birth,  into  the  faith  of  the  Re- 
formed Protestant  Dutch  church.  Young  De 
Witt,  after  receiving  such  an  English  educa- 
tion as  a  scattered  agricultural  population  af- 
forded, was  placed  for  classical  instruction 
with  Rev.  Dr.  Romeyn.  of  Schenectady,  an 
intimate  friend  of  his  father.  He  was  thus 
prepared  for  college,  and  was  sent  to  Queen's 
(afterwards  Rutgers)  College,  under  Rev. 
Dr.  Hardenbergh.  graduating  in  I77'>.  the 
only  one  in  the  class.  It  was  impossible  to 
follow  the  course  in  quietude,  for  those  were 
stirring  times  of  revolutionary  conflict.  The 
battle  of  Long  Island  was  followed  by  the 
evacuation  of  New  York  City,  and  the  .Ameri- 
can forces  were  not  permitted  to  retreat  across 
the  Hudson  river  unmolested,  for  General 
Howe  pursued  them  to  New  Brunswick, 
burned  Princeton,  and  then  marched  on  to 
Trenton.  De  Witt  continued  his  studies  at 
home,  passing  much  time  in  the  family  of  his 
uncle,  General  James  Clinton,  of  the  revolu- 
tionary army,  and  the  father  of  De  \\'itt  Clin- 
ton, afterwards  governor  of  New  York,  with 
whom  he  was  a  great  favorite.  Tliis  intimacy 
kindled  a  patriotism  which  resulted  in  De 
Witt's  achieving  prominence  throughout  his 
long  career. 

The  news  of  General   Bnrgoyne's  coiUcm- 


^^^J^^^^r 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK    \AI,LEYS 


365 


plated  excursion  by  way  of  Canada  into  the 
United  States  aroused  both  old  and  young. 
A  battalion  was  organized  in  Ulster  county 
under  General  Gates,  to  join  the  American 
army,  and  with  this  De  Witt  marched 
as  a  volunteer  adjutant.  On  arriving  at 
the  seat  of  war,  the  men  were  incor- 
porated into  a  regiment  already  existing 
and  lieing  thus  deprived  of  his  temporary  com- 
mand, he  fell  into  the  ranks  as  a  private,  and 
in  this  capacity  was  present  at  the  battles 
which  decided  the  fate  of  Burgoyne.  as  well 
as  lieing  present  at  the  surrender  of  the  Brit- 
ish following  the  battle  of  Bemis'  Heights, 
October,  1777.  The  service  being  ended  for 
which  he  and  his  companions  had  volunteered, 
he  returned  to  his  father's  house,  where  he 
pursued  his  mathematical  studies  in  connection 
with  the  practical  business  of  surveying.  Not 
niany  months  had  elapsed  before  General 
Washington,  in  a  letter  to  General  James  Clin- 
ton, inquired  whether  he  knew  of  any  person 
who  was  qualified  to  act  as  geographer ;  in 
other  words,  to  be  a  topographical  engineer 
for  tlie  army.  De  Witt  was  immediately  rec- 
onunended,  and  was  appointed  in  1778  to  be 
assistant  to  Colonel  Robert  Erskine,  then 
geographer-in-chief.  He  performed  his  duties 
so  admirably  that  when  his  superior  died  in 
1780.  De  Witt  was  appointed  head  of  the  de- 
partment, which  commission  was  signed  Sep- 
tember 8.  1780,  by  Thomas  McKean,  presi- 
dent of  congress,  and  took  effect  on  December 
4.  'He  was  ordered,  December  16,  1780,  by 
General  Washington  to  go  to  headquarters  at 
New  Windsor,  and  continued  attached  to  the 
main  army  until  the  end  of  the  campaign.  He 
was  constantly  employed  in  the  survey  along 
the  route  of  the  army  to  Yorktown,  and  was 
present  both  at  its  siege  and  surrender,  thus 
having  witnessed  the  two  important  surren- 
ders, of  Burgoyne  and  Cornwallis.  The  maps 
made  by  him  were  tendered  to  Washington 
with  the  suggestion  that  if  printed  by  the 
government  they  would  be  of  great  value  to 
the  public ;  but  although  Washington  advo- 
cated De  Witt's  idea,  congress  deemed  the 
country  too  low  in  funds  to  attempt  the  under- 
taking. He  was  appointed  surveyor-general 
on  Alay  13,  1784.  and  he  held  the  position  for 
more  than  fifty  years.  He  established,  with 
James  Clinton,  the  boundary  between  New 
York  and  Pennsylvania,  completing  the  survey 
in  the  years  1786-87,  in  satisfactory  manner. 
In  1786  the  state  legislature  had  requested 
him  to  prepare  a  map  of  New  York,  which 
he  finished  and  published  in  1802.  being  a 
most  creditable  effort  on  his  part,  and  an  in- 
dex at  this  day  of  what  the  state  was  at  that 
time. 


In  1796  General  Washington,  without  Gen- 
eral De  Witt's  knowledge  or  solicitation,  nomi- 
nated him  to  the  senate  of  the  United  States 
as  surveyor-general,  and  the  appointment  was 
cordially  ratified,  but  he  was  obliged  from 
force  of  circumstances  to  decline.  The  fol- 
lowing is  the  official   record : 

General  De  Witt  considered  this  as  the 
most  gratifying  event  in  his  whole  career, 
especially  as  he  had  gained,  as  shown  by  nu- 
merous private  letters,  the  fullest  confidence 
and  friendship  of  George  Washington.  In 
1798  he  was  elected  a  regent  of  the  University, 
to  succeed  Hon.  Lewis  Morris,  deceased, 
which  office  he  held  until  his  death,  and  for 
many  years  was  senior  member  of  the  board. 
In  1817  he  was  elected  vice-chancellor,  and 
in  1829,  chancellor  of  the  University.  He  was 
a  charter  member  of  the  Society  of  the  Cin- 
cinnati, of  which  Cicneral  Washington  was 
president. 

On  the  inception  of  the  canal  policy  in  New 
York,  Mr.  De  Witt  was  officially  directed  to 
cause  surveys  to  be  made  of  all  streams  and 
rivers  between  the  Hudson  and  Lake  Erie, 
and  for  several  years  he  was  associated  as  one 
of  the  board  of  canal  commissioners.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  American  Philosophical 
Society,  the  oldest  in  the  United  States,  join- 
ing in  1790,  on  the  recommendation  of  Rit- 
tenhouse.  to  which  he  made  one  communica- 
tion, published  in  the  6th  volume,  "Observa- 
tions on  the  Eclipse  of  the  Sun."  He  was 
president  of  the  Lancaster  school's  board,  Al- 
bany, and  succeeded  Chancellor  Livingston  as 
president  of  the  Society  for  the  Promotion  of 
Agriculture,  Arts  and  Manufactures,  incor- 
porated by  him  and  others  in  1793  in  New 
York  state,  before  which  he  read  two  scien- 
tific papers,  "On  a  Plan  for  a  Meteorological 
Chart."  and  "Establishment  of  a  Meridian 
Line  in  the  City  of  Albany."  His  writings  on 
drawing  and  perspective  were  published  in  a 
volume  entitled  "The  Element  of  Perspective," 
1813.  In  his  annual  address  he  introduced 
the  novel  idea  of  the  rotation  of  crops.  To 
the  "Transactions  of  the  Albany  Institute"  he 
contributed  a  table  of  variations  of  the  mag- 
netic needle:  observations  on  the  function  of 
the  moon,  deduced  from  the  eclipse  of  1806, 
and  a  description  of  a  new  form  of  rain  gauge. 
In  Sillimaii's  Journal  he  discussed  the  theory 
of  meteors,  and  altogether  he  was  thoroughly 
conversant  with  many  important  fields  of  sci- 
ence, but  particularly  agriculture  and  meteor- 
ology, ever  exhibiting  a  most  cultured  mind, 
and  a  desire  to  advance  the  people's  interest. 

(ieneral  Simeon  De  Witt  married  (first), 
October  12,  1789,  Elizabeth  Lynott,  born 
January    3,    1767.    died    December    13,    1793; 


366 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


married  (second),  Janneke  (Jane)  Varick 
Hardenberg,  born  May  i8,  1760,  died 
April  10,  1808,  daughter  of  John  and 
Jane  (Dey)  Varick,  and  widow  of  Abraham 
Hardenberg:  married  (third),  October  29, 
1810,  Susan  Linn,  born  October  30.  1778, 
died  May  5,  1824,  daughter  of  Rev.  William 
and  Rebecca  (Blair)  Linn.  The  third  wife 
of  General  De  Witt.  Susan  (Linn)  De  Witt, 
wrote  a  novel,-  "Justina,"  and  also  a  poem  en- 
titled "The  Pleasures  of  Religion." 

General  De  Witt's  second  wife  was  a  sis- 
ter of  Colonel  Richard  \'arick.  and  with  ex- 
cellent reason  the  descendants  are  proud  of 
the  relationship.  He  was  a  noted  revolution- 
ary officer  and  recorder  and  mayor  of  New 
York.  The  latter  office  he  occupied  for  twelve 
years,  the  longest  term  of  service  on  record 
since  the  revolution.  Colonel  \'arick  was  born 
of  Dutch  parentage,  at  Hackensack.  New  Jer- 
sey, in  1752.  the  common  American  ancestor 
of  the  family  being  Rev.  Adolphus  Van 
Vork,  minister  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  church 
at  Jamaica,  Long  Island,  who  died  in  1694. 
Colonel  \'arick  was  educated  at  King's,  now 
Columbia,  College,  and  embraced  the  profes- 
sion of  law.  At  the  beginning  of  the  revolu- 
tion he  tendered  his  services,  and  was  ap- 
pointed military  secretary  of  General  Philip 
Schuyler,  then  commanding  the  Army  of  the 
North.  Congress  appointed  him  deputy  com- 
missary-general in  February,  1776,  with  the 
rank  of  lieutenant-colonel,  and  he  was  pres- 
ent as  such  at  the  memorable  battles  of  Still- 
water and  Saratoga,  fought  in  September  and 
October,  1777.  After  the  surrender  of  Bur- 
goyne,  he  was  stationed  at  West  Point  as 
inspector-general,  and  then  became  Washing- 
ton's recording  secretary  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  To  him  Washington  wrote  from 
Mount  X'crnon.  January  i,  1784.  a  letter  cher- 
ished by  his  relatives  living  at  Albany,  which, 
in  ])art,  is  as  follows:  "I  pray  you  will  be  per- 
suaded that  I  shall  take  a  pleasure  in  assert- 
ing on  every  occasion  the  sense  I  entertain  of 
the  fidelity,  skill  and  indefatigable  industry 
manifested  by  you  in  the  performance  of  your 
public  duties."  In  the  possession  of  the  Var- 
ick family  is  a  small  pair  of  silver  spurs.  As 
George,  the  young  son  of  Governor  Clinton, 
was  one  day  riding  down  Broadway,  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  he  was  sto])ped  by 
President  Washington,  who  buckled  these 
spurs  on  his  boots  with  his  own  hands.  Colonel 
\'arick  participated  prominently  in  the  forma- 
tion of  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati,  of  which 
Washington  was  the  first  president,  and  he 
was  elected  president  of  the  New  York  l^ranch 
of  that  society,  July  4,  t8o6.  He  served  in 
the  assembly  in    1787-88,  and  in  both  years 


was  chosen  speaker.  He  was  made  attorney- 
general.  May  14,  1789,  and  was  a  reviser  of 
the  New  York  laws  in  1778-89.  The  town 
of  \'arick  was  named  in  his  honor,  by  act 
of  legislature  passed  February  6,  1830.  He 
died   July   30,    1831. 

Children  of  General  Simeon  and  Jane  (  \"ar- 
ick)  De  Witt:  i.  Richard  Varick,  born  Feb- 
ruary 6.  1800,  see  forward.  2.  George  Wash- 
ington, born  February  17,  1801,  died  August 
2.  1814.  3.  Susan  Linn,  born  September  3, 
181 1  :  married,  in  1835,  Levi  Hubbell.  4.  Cor- 
nelia Lansing,  born  September  10,  1813.  died 
March  15,  1820.  5.  William  Linn,  born  Jan- 
uary 13,  1817,  died  at  Ithaca,  New  York.  Oc- 
tober 12,  1903.  6.  Mary  Linn,  born  Febru- 
ary 23,  1819,  died  March  20,  1871. 

(\'I)  Richard  \'arick,  son  of  General  Sime- 
on and  Jane  (\'arick)  (Hardenbergh )  De 
Witt,  was  born  at  Albany,  New  York,  Feb- 
ruary 6,  1800,  died  at  Albany,  February  7, 
1868.  He  inherited  his  father's  scientific 
tastes,  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
old  Albany  Institute,  as  well  as  one  of  its 
first  officers.  Before  that  learned  body  he 
fre(|uently  displayed  his  scientific  and  literary 
attainments.  He  graduated  at  Union  College, 
and  after  finishing  his  studies  in  the  office 
of  the  late  Harmanus  Bleecker,  afterwards 
I'nited  States  Minister  at  The  Hague,  was 
called  to  the  bar.  He  possessed  a  large  prop- 
erty at  Ithaca,  New  York,  and  while  his 
natural  tastes  led  him  to  literary  pursuits,  his 
])rominent  position  forced  him  to  a  inore 
active  life.  He  established  and  maintained  a 
line  of  steamboats  on  Cayuga  lake,  in  their 
day  consiilered  models  of  speed  and  comfort. 
It  was  his  pleasure  to  devote  much  spare  time 
to  architectural  drawing:  he  has  left  behind 
many  drawings  of  buildings  and  paintings  in 
both  water  color  and  oil  of  the  early  types 
of  steamboats,  notably  that  of  Fulton's  "Cler- 
mont." Through  his  exertions  and  means,  the 
Ithaca  &  Oswego  railroad  was  constructed, 
which  was  one  of  the  earliest  lines  in  New 
"\'ork  state:  but  unfortunately  in  the  financial 
disaster  of  1837,  he  lost  much  of  his  pro]ierty 
by  the  forced  sale  of  this  road.  He  was  for 
manv  years  both  an  elder  and  superintendent 
of  the  .Sunday  school  of  the  Middle  (or  Sec- 
ond) Dutch  Reformed  Church  of  Albany.  He 
was  vicc-jiresident  of  the  State  Cincinnati  So- 
ciet\ .  and  during  the  absence  of  Governor 
Fish  in  Europe,  acting  president.  His  re- 
finement was  only  one  of  his  many  charms, 
and  throughout  his  whole  life  he  maintained 
a  spotless  Christian  character. 

Richard  Varick  De  W'itt  married,  at  .-Xl- 
bany.  New  York.  May  18.  1831,  Sarah  \\'alsh, 
horn    in    Albany,    December    20,    1805,    died 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK    VALLEYS 


367 


there  May  5,  1842.  Her  father  was  Dudley 
Walsh,  who  married,  September  24,  I/'JT,, 
Sarah,  daughter  of  John  and  Magdalena 
(Douw)  Stevenson.  Dudley  Walsh  was  born 
in  Dublin,  Ireland,  1756,  died  at  Albany,  May 
24,  1816,  and  Sarah  Stevenson,  his  wife,  was 
born  September  29,  1772,  died  at  Albany, 
June  22,  1816.  John  Stevenson  died  April 
24,  1810,  and  Magdalena  Douw,  his  wife,  died 
December  20,  1817.  Children:  i.  Richard 
\'arick,  born  at  Albany,  New  York  (as  were 
all  his  brothers  and  sisters),  August  30,  1832, 
see  forward.  2.  Catherine  Walsh,  born  No- 
vember 26.  1833,  died  at  Albany,  January  8, 
1907.  3.  Dudley  Walsh,  born  October  31, 
1835.  died  at  Albany,  June  20,  1904.  4.  Sarah 
A\"alsh,  residing  in  Albany  in  1910.  5.  Jus- 
tina.  born  August  9,  1839,  died  May  8,  1840. 

6.  Alice  Justina,  born  February  22,  1841,  died 
April  24,  1869;  married,  April  27,  1865,  Au- 
gustus de  Peyster,  of  Boston,  Massachusetts. 

7.  Infant,  born  April  13,  1842,  died  April  14, 
1842. 

(MI)  Richard  Varick  (2),  son  of  Richard 
Varick  (  i  )  and  Sarah  (Walsh)  De  Witt,  was 
born  in  Albany,  New  York,  August  30,  1832, 
died,  after  a  brief  illness  at  his  home.  No.  202 
Lancaster  street,  Albany,  August  21,  1901. 
He  was  educated  at  the  Albany  Academy,  and 
after  finishing  his  education,  in  1849.  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Albany  Insurance  Com- 
pany. In  1854  he  was  employed  in  the 
New  York  State  Bank,  which  position  he  held 
until  1868,  when  he  again  entered  the  insur- 
ance field.  From  1872  to  1890  he  was  secre- 
tary of  the  Commerce  Insurance  Company,  of 
Albany,  and  was  secretary  of  the  Albany  In- 
surance Company  from  1890  to  1896,  when 
he  resigned  to  engage  in  similar  business  for 
himself.  He  was  appointed  a  member  of 
the   board    of   fire   commissioners,   September 

8.  1S87,  and  was  for  a  long  period  the  secre- 
tary of  that  board,  serving  with  distinction 
until  the  board  was  legislated  out  of  office 
in  1900.  No  man  in  Albany  was  more  widely 
or  more  favorably  known.  His  commercial 
career  was  most  highly  honorable,  and  he  was 
noted  for  his  geniality  and  humor.  For  sev- 
enteen years  !\[r.  De  Witt  was  a  valued  trus- 
tee of  the  Madison  Avenue  Dutch  Reformed 
Church ;  at  one  time  a  director  of  the  Albany 
Exchange  Savings  Bank ;  trustee  of  the  Al- 
bany Medical  College;  member  of  the  stand- 
ing committee  of  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati 
of  State  of  New  York,  and  president  of  the 
Albanv  branch  of  the  Fire  Insurance  Agents' 
Association  of  New  York  State,  and  was  a 
charter  member  of  the  Albany  Academy 
Alumni  Association.  In  his  younger  days 
he  was  fond  of  athletic  sports  and  participated 


in  rowing  and  baseball  contests.  He  was  well 
known  as  a  clever  writer  on  miscellaneous 
and  historical  matters,  contributing  most  en- 
tertaining articles  to  the  local  and  metropolitan 
press.  He  was  wise  in  counsel,  of  excellent 
judgment,  and  ever  exerted  himself  for  the 
welfare  of  others  and  for  the  benefit  of  the 
public  good.  When  he  died  Mayor  Blessing,  of 
Albany,  ordered  the  flags  to  be  lowered  upon 
the  City  Hall  and  on  all  houses  of  the  fire 
dei>artnient.  He  was  buried  in  the  family  plat 
with  his  ancestors  in  the  Albany  Rural  Ceme- 
tery. A  handsome  memorial  was  dedicated 
September  25,  1910,  in  the  IMadison  Avenue 
Reformed  (Dutch)  Church,  in  his  memory 
and  that  of  his  family,  by  his  only  surviving 
sister. 


The  actual  origin  of  the  Hilton 

HILTON  family  is  lost  in  the  obscurity 
of  distant  ages,  centuries  ago; 
but  it  is  reported  to  be  the  oldest  family  en- 
titled to  bear  arms  in  Great  Britain.  Certain 
it  is  that  the  vast  number  of  legends  related 
of  the  origin  and  of  the  early  members  are 
convincing  evidence  of  great  antiquity. 

The  first  official  mention  of  Hilton  is  that  of 
1 166,  when  it  is  recorded  that  "Romanus, 
Knight  of  Hilton,  holds  of  ancient  feoffment 
three  knights'  fees."  On  June  27,.  1295,  in 
the  reign  of  Edward  I.,  Sir  Robert,  Baron 
Hilton,  was  summoned  to  Parliament,  and  his 
son.  Sir  Alexander,  Baron  Hilton,  was  sum- 
moned in  1331,  under  Edward  III.  While 
these  are  the  only  summonses  known  to  exist, 
there  is  abundant  evidence  that  the  Barons 
attended  many  other  parliaments. 

The  Hiltons  quarter  their  arms  with  the 
Nevill,  Skirlaw,  Percy,  \'ipont,  Percy-Lo- 
vaine,  Lumley,  Eure,  Washington,  Ogle, 
\escy,  Felton,  Heron,  Surtee  and  Bowe  fam- 
ilies, and  the  arms  of  these  families,  with  oth- 
ers too  much  worn  by  the  ages  to  be  accurate- 
ly deciphered,  as  well  as  with  the  arms  and 
banners  of  England  and  France,  and  these 
are,  with  their  own,  beautifully  sculptured  on 
the  walls  of  Hilton  Castle,  at  the  original 
family  seat,  which  is  in  Durham,  England. 

In  the  vale  of  Wear,  on  the  old  road  to 
Newcastle,  three  miles  west  of  Wearmouth 
Bridge,  county  of  Durham,  stands  Hilton 
Castle,  low  and  sequestered,  which  is,  in  fact, 
according  to  the  original  name,  Heltun.  It  is 
an  unusually  large  structure,  consisting  of  a 
main  or  central  tower,  built  during  the  rule 
of  the  Danes  and  Saxons,  to  which  the  family 
undoubtedly  belonged,  and  there  are  additions 
erected  by  the  Barons  of  the  Norman  and 
later  periods. 

On   the    records    their  estates  consisted   of 


368 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


the  manors  of  Hilton,  Barmston,  Grindon, 
Ford,  Clowcroft,  North  Biddick,  Great  Us- 
worth  and  Fallowsby,  in  the  county  of  Dur- 
ham :  Carnaby  and  \\'harram-Percy,  in  the 
County  of  Yorke  ;  Elryngton  and  Woodhall,  in 
Xortlnimberland ;  Aldstone  ]\Ioor,  in  North- 
umberland and  Cumberland,  with  the  advow- 
sons  of  Kyrkhaulght  and  Monk-Wearmouth. 

(I)  In  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury Edward,  a  son  of  this  ancient  house,  left 
Durham,  his  native  county,  to  follow  the  sea. 
He  engaged  in  the  fishing  industry,  serving  his 
apprenticeship,  and  became  master.  In  1621 
he  joined  the  Fishmongers'  Guild  at  London. 
No  doubt,  being  familiar  with  the  New  Eng- 
land coast  through  his  voyages  to  the  fishing 
banks  of  North  America,  and  attracted  there- 
to, he,  early  in  1623,  brought  a  colony,  with 
servants,  cattle,  implements  and  the  like,  to 
a  place  called  by  the  Indians  Cocheco,  about 
■six  miles  up  the  Piscataqua  river,  in  the  dis- 
trict known  to  the  natives  as  Wecanacohunt. 
Here  he  settled,  naming  it  Northam.  It  was 
later  on  called  Hilton's  Poynt,  and  is  now 
known  as  Dover,  New  Hampshire.  He  like- 
wise named  neighboring  localities  in  memory 
of  his  home  county,  such  as  Durham,  New- 
castle, Stratham,  etc.  Thus  he  was  the  first 
settler  in  what  is  now  New  Hampshire,  and 
with  reason  is  known  as  the  father  of  that 
state. 

In  1628,  Edward  Hilton,  of  Cocheco,  was 
assessed  the  sum  of  one  English  pound  as  his 
share  of  the  expense  of  an  expedition  set  afoot 
by  the  Plymouth  colony,  which  captured  and 
expelled  Thomas  Morton  from  Merrymount, 
now  W'allaston,  IMassachusetts.  His  owner- 
shi])  of  the  lands  upon  which  he  had  settled  is 
confirmed  in  the  following  interesting  docu- 
ment, and  leaves  all  such  beyond  any  dispute : 

Now  know  yee  that  the  said  President  and  Coun- 
cell  by  Virtue  &  Authority  of  his  Maj'ties  said  Let- 
ters Patients  and  for.  and  in  consideracon  that  Edward 
Hilton  and  his  .Associates  hath  already  at  his  and 
their  owne  proper  costs  and  charges,  transported 
sundry  servants  to  plant  in  New  England  aforesaid 
at  a  place  there  called  by  the  natives  Wecanacohunt. 
•otherwise  Hiltons  Point  lying  some  two  leagues 
from  the  mouth  of  the  River  Paskataquack  in  New 
England  aforesaid  where  they  have  already  Built 
some  houses  and  planted  Come,  and  for  that  he  doth 
further  intend  by  Gods  Divine  Assistance,  to  trans- 
port thither  more  people  and  cattle,  to  the  good  in- 
crease and  advancement  &  for  the  better  settling  and 
strengthening  of  their  plantacon  as  also  that  they 
may  lie  the  better  encouraged  to  proceed  in  soe  pious 
a  work  which  may  especially  tend  to  the  propagacon 
of  Religion  and  to  the  increase  of  trade  to  his  Maj'- 
ties Realmes  and  Dominions,  and  the  advancement 
of  puhliquc  plantacons.  Have  given.  Granted,  En- 
feoffed and  Confirmed  and  by  this  their  p'sent  writing 
doe  fully,  clearly  and  absolutely  give,  grant,  en- 
feoffe  and  Confirme  unto  the  said  Edward  Hilton  his 
heires   and    assigncs    for   ever,   all    that    part    of   the 


River  Pascataquack  called  or  known  by  the  name  of 
Wecawacohunt  or  Hiltons  Point,  with  the  south  side 
of  the  said  River,  up  to  the  ffall  of  the  River,  and 
three  miles  into  the  Maine  Land  by  all  the  breadth 
aforesaid,  Together  with  all  the  Shoares.  Creeks. 
Bays.  Harbors  and  Coasts,  alongst  the  sea  within  the 
limitts  and  bounds  aforesaid  with  the  woods  and 
Islands  next  adjoyneing  to  the  said  Lands,  not  being 
already  granted  by  the  said  Councell  unto  any  other 
person  or  persons,  together  alsoe  with  all  the  Lands, 
Rivers,  Mines,  Mincralls  of  what  kinds  or  nature 
soever.  Woods,  Quarries,  Marshes,.  Waters,  Lakes, 
(fishings.  Huntings.  Hawkings,  flfowlings,  Comodities, 
Emoluments  and  hereditaments  whatsoever  withall 
and  singular  their  and  every  of  their  app'ts  in  or 
within  the  limitts  or  bounds  aforesaid  or  to  the  said 
Lands  lying  within  the  same  limitts  or  bounds  be- 
longing or  in  any  wise  appertaining.  To  have  and  to 
hold  all  and  singular  the  said  Lands  and  p'mises, 
with  all  and  singular  the  Woods,  Quarries,  Marshes, 
Waters,  Rivers,  Lakes,  ffishings,  flowlings,  Hawkings. 
Huntings,  Mynes,  Mineralls  of  what  kinde  or  nature 
soever.  Priviledges,  Rights,  Jurisdicons,  Libbertyes, 
Royalties  and  all  other  profits  *  *  *  in  w'itness 
whereof  the  said  Councel!  for  the  affaires  of  New- 
England  in  America  aforesaid,  have  hereunto  caused 
their  comon  Scale  to  be  putt  the  twelfth  day  of 
March  Anno  Dmi  1629  and  in  the  fifth  yeare  of  the 
Reigne  of  our  Soveraigne  Lord  Charles  by  the  Grace 
of  God  of  England,  Scotland,  fifrance  and  Ireland, 
defender  of  the  fTaith  &c. 

Ro:  WARWICKE. 

It  will  be  noted  that  this  important  family 
document  was  signed  by  the  celebrated  Earl. 

It  was  only  a  few  years  later  that  this  same 
Edward  Hilton  took  an  active  part  in  protect- 
ing the  inhabitants  from  pirates  infesting  the 
coast  and  high  seas,  for  the  following  is  re- 
corded under  date  of  December  5.  1632:  "By 
letters  from  Captain  Neal  and  Mr.  Hilton  at 
Pascataquack  it  was  certified  that  they  had 
sent  out  all  the  forces  they  could  make  against 
the  pirates,  viz.,  four  pinnaces  and  shallops, 
and  about  forty  men."  In  1633  Mr.  Hilton 
sold  a  large  portion  of  his  patent  to  some  mer- 
chants of  Bristol.  England. 

On  the  fourth  day  of  the  first  week  of  the 
loth  month  of  1639,  the  authorities  of  the  ad- 
joining town  of  Exeter  made  Mr.  Hilton  a 
large  grant  of  land,  and  shortly  afterward  he 
moved  there,  where,  in  1652,  it  was  "voted 
that  Mr.  Hilton  be  requested  to  go  along  with 
Mr.  Dudley  to  the  General  Court  to  assist 
him."  In  1653  another  grant  of  land  of  about 
two  miles  square,  comprehending  the  site  of 
the  whole  village  of  Newmarket,  was  made  to 
him,  "in  regard  to  his  charges  in  setting  up  a 
saw-mill."  In  1665  "it  is  testified  that  Major 
Shapleigh  hath  lately  made  leases  of  lands  for 
1.000  years  to  Mr.  Hilton  of  Exeter,  Dr.  Bare- 
foot an<l  others." 

That  the  people  of  his  neighborhood  re- 
garded him  in  esteem  is  clearly  shown  by  this 
entry  in  the  records  of  May  19,  1669:  "The 
Court  on  Perusall  of  the  articles  of  agreement 
between    this   Colony   and    the   inhabitants   of 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


369 


Dover,  etc.,  several  of  them  well  rememberinq; 
that  Mr.  Edward  Hilton  was  one  of  those  that 
WL-re  commissioned  to  agree  with  this  Court 
in  behalf  of  the  inhabitants  of  Piscataqua,  doe 
declare  that  Mr.  Edward  Hilton  is  according 
to  the  articles,  justly  exempted  from  the  coun- 
ty rates  and  that  accordingly  he  be  freed  from 
.such  impositions." 

Mr.  Hilton  was,  like  his  friends,  Mason 
and  Gorges,  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  Church 
of  England.  He  was  neither  of  the  Pilgrims 
of  the  Plymouth  colony  nor  of  the  Puritans, 
who  soon  after  settled  Massachusetts,  and 
consequently  he  settled  in  a  distant  part  to  be 
free  from  their  quarrels  and  able  to  manage 
his  own  alYairs.  He  maintained  a  garrison  on 
his  plantation,  and  as  he  was  a  gentleman  of 
good  judgment  the  settlers  looked  to  him  for 
protection  and  advice  when  in  danger  or  in 
trouble,  and  when,  in  1641,  Massachusetts 
usurped  the  jurisdiction  of  New  Hampshire, 
he  was  the  first  one  named  in  the  list  of  mag- 
istrates. He  was  a  man  of  wealth,  enterprise 
and  influence,  possessed  of  the  friendship  of 
the  governors  of  Massachusetts,  and  was 
their  confidential  correspondent.  He  died  in 
Exeter,  early  in  1671,  at  a  considerably  ad- 
vanced age,  leaving  an  estate  which  in  the 
equivalent  of  to-day  would  be  reckoned  at 
about  $100,000,  on  which  letters  of  adminis- 
tration were  granted  to  his  sons,  Edward, 
\\'illiam,  Samuel  and  Charles,  March  6, 
1670-1. 

The  name  of  his  first  wife  is  unknown,  but 
by  her  he  had  the  following  six  children:  i. 
Edward,  born  1626  (see  forward).  2.  Will- 
iam, born  1628;  a  sea  captain  and  comman- 
der :  made  the  noted  voyage  to  the  southward 
on  the  .Atlantic  coast  in  1662,  when  he  discov- 
ered and  named  many  places,  among  them 
Hilton  Head,  South  Carolina,  and  of  this  voy- 
age he  wrote  a  full  report  which  his  step- 
uncle.  Major  Nicholas  Shaplcigh,  mapped,  the 
reprint  of  which  was  recently  published  dur- 
ing a  celebration  in  Charleston,  South  Caro- 
lina ;  died  in  1690,  leaving  three  sons,  Rich- 
ard, John  and  \Villiam.  3.  Samuel,  remained 
in  Exeter.  4.  Charles,  born  about  1638;  died 
at  Exeter,  1684,  unmarried.  5.  Mary,  mar- 
ried Christopher  Palmer,  of  Hampton,  New 
Hampshire.  6.  Sobriety,  married,  November 
20,  1651,  Henry  Moulton,  of  Hampton,  New 
Hampshire. 

Edward  Hilton  married  (second)  Katharine 
Shapleigh  (Treworthy),  daughter  of  Alexan- 
der Shapleigh,  who  was  agent  for  Mason  and 
Gorges,  and  widow  of  James  Treworthy,  who 
had  been  killed  by  Indians ;  by  whom  he  had 
a  daughter  Elizabeth,  who  married,  at  Exeter, 
in  1659,  Captain  John  Gihnan. 


(U)  Edward  (2),  son  of  Edward  (i)  Hil- 
ton, was  born  at  Northam,  New  Hampshire, 
in   1626. 

By  reason  of  a  conflagration  and  careless- 
ness, vast  numbers  of  the  early  records  of 
about  this  period  have  been  destroyed ;  hence 
the  family  historian  lacks  statistics,  many 
dates,  and  much  of  the  story  of  the  first  set- 
tlers and  their  children,  and  nearly  all  the  data 
had  to  be  compiled  from  what  had  been  pre- 
served by  individuals  or  recorded  in  state 
and  provincial  documents.  The  Hiltons  fought 
the  Indians  for  a  foothold  in  America.  They 
were  numerous  in  all  the  Indian  and  colonial 
wars,  and  all  those  who  were  able  took  an  ac- 
tive and  some  a  prominent  part  in  the  revolu- 
tionary army.  William  Hilton  was  a  pall- 
bearer at  General  Washington's  funeral.  The 
muster-rolls  of  the  civil  war  will  reveal  many 
of  them  at  the  front,  and  altogether  they  have 
had  no  inconsiderable  part  in  preparing  and 
establishing  the  country  the  later  descendants 
now  enjoy. 

Edward  Hilton,  the  eldest  son,  received  the 
major  share  of  his  father's  property.  He  was 
active  in  the  affairs  of  his  community,  taking 
his  father's  place  on  the  plantation,  maintain- 
ing the  garrison  to  defend  it,  and  interesting 
himself  in  local  matters.  He  was  not  promi- 
nent in  politics,  and  we  find  few  traces  of  him 
in  the  larger  concerns  of  public  life;  but  he 
was  a  highly  respected  citizen  and  a  soldier. 
He  seems  to  have  been  much  in  the  company 
of  his  father,  as  their  names  appear  together 
on  many  documents. 

On  January  17,  1660,  he  received  a  tract 
of  land  from  the  Indians,  as  here  set  forth : 
"Wadononamin,  Sagamore  of  Washucke  and 
Piscataqua,  for  ye  love  I  bear  to  Englishmen, 
and  especially  to  Edward  Hilton  of  Piscata- 
qua, eldest  son  of  Edward  Hilton  of  ye  same 
Piscataqua,  Gent'm  of  ye  said  Collony,  as  for 
divers  other  reasonable  causes  and  con- 
siderations nie  thereunto  moving,  have  vol- 
untarily and  freely  given  ...  to  said  Ed- 
ward Hilton,  Jun.,  all  my  lands  lying  bounded 
between  two  branches  of  Lamprell  river  called 
Washucke,  being  about  six  miles  in  length 
and  in  breadth  about  some  places  of  it  six 
miles.  .  .  .  Reserving  for  himself  only  a  con- 
venient planting  place  for  life." 

In  1693,  Edward  Hilton  strengthened  his 
garrison  by  the  addition  of  two  more  men. 

He  married  Ann  Dudley,  born  at  Salisbury. 
Massachusetts,  October  16,  1641,  daughter  of 
Rev.  Samuel  Dudley,  who  was  born  at  Canons 
Ashley,  England,  1606;  eldest  son  of  Thomas 
Dudley,  many  times  elected  governor  of  Mas- 
sachusetts Colony,  and  his  first  wife,  Dorothv 
Yorke.    Rev.  Samuel  Dudley  came  to  America 


370 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


in  1630  with  his  father  and  Governor  Win- 
throp.  Ann  Dudley's  mother  was  Mary,  eld- 
est child  of  John  Winthrop,  first  governor  of 
the  Massachusetts  colony,  and  his  first  wife, 
Mary  Forth,  of  Great  Stambridge,  Essex 
county,  England.  Children:  i.  Winthrop, 
born  about  1671  ;  was  the  celebrated  Colonel 
Winthrop  Hilton,  soldier  and  statesman,  lead- 
ing the  expedition  against  Port  Royal,  as  well 
as  several  expeditions  against  the  Indians  to 
the  eastward.  He  was  the  scourge  of  the  red- 
skins, and  in  1705  destroyed  the  mission  vil- 
lage of  Norridgewock.  In  1706  he  was  ap- 
pointed a  judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas, 
in  1709  was  appointed  a  councilor  for  the 
province.  On  June  23,  1710,  the  Indians,  who 
had  made  many  previous  attempts,  succeeded 
in  surprising  him  while  at  work  on  his  farm, 
and  killed  him  and  two  of  his  men,  capturing 
at  the  same  time  his  brother  Dudley.  2.  Dud- 
ley, who  was  carried  off  by  the  Indians  when 
they  killed  his  elder  brother,  Winthrop,  and 
was  never  afterward  heard  of  by  his  friends. 
3.  Joseph,  born  about  1681  (see  forward).  4. 
Jane,  married  Richard  Mattoon,  of  Newmar- 
ket. 5.  Ann,  married  Richard  Hilton,  son  of 
her  uncle  William.  6.  Mary,  married  Joseph 
Hall,  of  Exeter,  New  Hampshire.  7.  So- 
briety, married  Jonathan  Hilton. 

(HI)  Joseph,  son  of  Edward  (2)  Hilton 
and  Ann  Dudley,  was  born  about  1681.  He 
was  a  sailor,  and  is  called  in  the  records  "En- 
sign." He  married  (first)  October  16,  1709, 
Hannah,  daughter  of  Richard  Jose,  sheriff  of 
the  province,  by  whom  one  child,  a  daugh- 
ter; married  (second)  October  10,  1716,  Re- 
becca Atkinson  (Adams),  widow  of  Israel 
Adams  (who  had  died  in  1714  in  less  than 
two  months  after  her  marriage  to  Adams )  and 
daughter  of  Theodore  Atkinson,  a  very  promi- 
nent citizen  of  Portsmouth.  Children:  i. 
Hannah,  born  August  11,  1710.  2.  Israel, 
born  October  10,  1717;  went  to  the  Carolinas. 
3.  Joseph,  followed  his  brother.  4.  Theodore, 
of  Newmarket;  married  Mary  Sinclair,  and 
became  father  of  Colonel  Joseijh  Hilton,  of 
Deerficld ;  active  officer  in  the  revolutionary 
army;  died  in  1826.  5.  Dudley,  married  Sarah 
Taylor  (see  forward).  Ensign  Joseph  died 
1765,  aged  eighty-four  years. 

(IV)  Dudley,  son  of  Joseph  Hilton  and 
Rebecca  Atkinson  (Adams),  resided  in  New- 
market. Xew  Hampshire.  He  married  .Sarah 
Taylor.  Children:  i.  Dudley,  lived  at  Par- 
sonsfield,  Maine.  2.  Daniel,  born  at  New- 
market, June  16,  1758  (see  forward).  3. 
George,  of  Newmarket,  died  September  2, 
1821  :  married  Mary  Wiggin ;  had  one  child. 
George  Oliver,  long  a  member  of  the  New 
Hampshire  house  of  representatives.  4.  Ward. 


of  Newmarket.  5.  Nathan,  of  Deerfield.  6. 
Ann,  married  Major  William  Norris,  of  New- 
market. 7.  Chace,  of  Newmarket;  died  July 
26,   1786. 

(V)  Daniel,  son  of  Dudley  Hilton  and  Sar- 
ah Taylor,  was  born  at  Newmarket,  New 
Hampshire,  June  16,  1758,  and  died  in  Mere- 
dith \'illage.  New  Hampshire,  shortly  after 
March,  1822.  He  was  a  merchant  and  trader, 
holding  several  government  offices  by  appoint- 
ment. He  served  in  the  revolution,  and  was 
a  corporal  in  Captain  Robert  Pike's  company, 
in  1777.  He  joined  his  only  son  Daniel  at 
Meredith  Milage,  New  Hampshire,  March  9, 
1822,  and  died  there  shortly  after.  He  mar- 
ried, in  1783,  Sarah  Wiggin,  born  June  5, 
1761,  daughter  of  Simon  Wiggin,  the  son  of 
Lieutenant  Simon  Wiggin,  whose  father  was 
Captain  Simon  \\iggin,  son  of  Andrew  Wig- 
gin  and  his  wife,  Hannah  Bradstreet.  An- 
drew Wiggin  was  son  of  Governor  Thomas 
Wiggin,  who  came  to  Piscataqua  in  1630. 
Hannah  Bradstreet  was  daughter  of  Governor 
Simon  Bradstreet  and  his  wife,  the  first 
American  poetess  and  celebrated  writer,  as 
well  as  social  leader,  Anne  Dudley,  daughter 
of  Governor  Thomas  Dudley,  and  sister  of 
Governor  Joseph  Dudley.  The  Dudleys  trace 
their  ancestry  back  to  Henry  I.,  of  France,  and 
Edward  the  Elder,  of  England.  Daniel  Hil- 
ton's children  were  all  by  his  first  wife,  Sarah 
Wiggin,  who  died  July  24,  1799,  and  he  mar- 
ried (second)  in  1801,  Elizabeth  Rowe,  who 
died  December  8,  1819.  Children:  i.  Sarah, 
born  August  11,  1784;  died  in  infancy.  2. 
Charlotte,  born  November  2,  1785,  died  aged 
two  years.  3.  Chace,  born  May  9,  1788,  died 
in  infancy.  4.  Charlotte,  born  September  4, 
1789,  married  Dr.  Odell,  of  Portsmouth,  New 
Hampshire.  5.  Nancy,  born  March  20,  1792, 
married  Mr.  Weeks,  of  Portsmouth.  6.  Dan- 
iel, born  April  21,  1794  (see  forward). 

(VI)  Daniel  (2).  son  of  Daniel  (1)  Hil- 
ton and  Sarah  Wiggin,  was  born  at  Newmar- 
ket, New  Hamjjshire,  .April  21,  1794,  and  died 
at  Meredith  Village,  New  Hampshire.  When 
young  he  removed  from  Newmarket  to  Mere- 
dith \'illage.  where  he  engaged  in  farming, 
and  resided  there  all  his  life.  He  married, 
I'^ebruary  10,  1822,  Elizabeth  Lamprey  Moul- 
ton.  born  May  12,  1799.  died  May  12.  1869, 
(laughter  of  Benning  Moulton  and  Sally 
Leavitt.  and  granfldaughtcr  of  General  Jona- 
than Moulton,  noted  Indian  fighter,  revolu- 
tionary officer,  merchant,  and  crony  of  Gov- 
ernor Benning  Wentworth,  after  whom  he 
named  his  son.  Jonathan  Aloulton  was  a  resi- 
dent of  Hampton,  New  Hampshire,  and  is  the 
hero  of  many  traditions ;  celebrated  in  song 
and   storv.     He  left  a   large  estate   including 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


3/1 


80,000  acres  of  land,  to  a  family  of  no  less 
than  eighteen  children.  The  general  was  a 
grandson  of  Lieutenant  John  Moulton,  called 
"the  Giant,"  born  in  Newbury,  Massachu- 
setts, March  16,  1638,  son  of  John  Aloulton, 
who  came  to  New  England  witli  a  wife  and 
five  children  from  the  county  of  Norfolk.  Eng- 
land, early  in  1O37,  and  was  the  first  settler 
of  W'innacunnet,  now  Hampton.  Children : 
1.  Amanda  Moulton,  born  December  7,  1822; 
married  Mr.  Garman ;  had  daughter,  died  un- 
married. 2.  George,  born  December  27,  1825, 
died  in  childhood.  3.  Charles,  born  at  Mere- 
dith Milage,  New  Hampshire  (see  forward). 
4.  George  Oliver,  born  February  i,  1832,  died 
young.  5.  Huntington  Porter,  born  Decem- 
ber 4,  1835  (named  for  uncle,  Rev.  Hunting- 
ton Porter),  died  Rochester,  New  York, 
1886;  married,  no  issue.  6.  George  Selwyn, 
born  February  21,  1840;  moved  to  Paterson, 
New  Jersey,  where  he  became  a  lawyer  of  re- 
pute; married,  no  issue. 

(VH)  Charles  Hilton,  son  of  Daniel  (2) 
Hilton  and  Elizabeth  Lamprey  Moulton,  was 
born  in  Meredith  Village,  New  Hampshire, 
July  24,  1829.  and  died  at  Albany,  New  York, 
December  i,  1884. 

\\'hen  a  youth  he  was  very  prominent  in 
the  affairs  of  his  native  village.  He  was  a 
leader  in  the  debating  society  and  a  member 
of  the  Rifle  Corps,  distinguished  by  perma- 
nent organization  and  regulation  uniform  and 
equi]iment  from  the  "slam-bangs,"  as  the  train 
bands  that  met  for  drill  once  a  year  were 
called.  After  three  years'  study  in  Brown's 
architectural  and  engineering  office  in  Lowell, 
Massachusetts,  he  joined  the  Boston,  Concord 
&  i\lontreal  Railroad  as  civil  engineer,  and 
two  years  later  transferred  his  energies  to  the 
Attica  &  Alleghena  Railroad,  shortly  after- 
wards entering  the  service  of  the  New  York 
Central  railroad,  with  headquarters  in  Al- 
bany, where  in  1858  he  established  his  home. 
In  1865  he  became  chief  engineer  of  the  Cen- 
tral, and  was  in  charge  of  many  large  and 
important  works,  including  both  bridges  over 
the  Hudson  river  and  the  Broadway  viaduct 
in  Albany,  and  the  Grand  Central  Station  and 
grain  elevators  in  New  York  City.  He  was 
sometime  division  engineer  on  the  Erie  Canal, 
deputy  state  engineer,  and  major  of  engineers 
of  the  Ninth  Brigade,  N.  G.  N.  Y.,  on  the  staff 
of  General  Dickerman.  In  1878  he  organ- 
ized the  Hilton  Bridge  Construction  Com- 
pany, located  in  North  Albany.  As  an  engi- 
neer he  was  eminent  and  successful,  and  his 
position  and  reputation  in  the  profession  were 
of  the  highest,  while  his  expert  opinion  was 
in  great  demand  in  and  out  of  the  courts. 
Socially  he  was  much  sought  after.     He  was 


prominent  in  Masonic  circles,  and  reached  the 
thirty-second  degree,  Ancient  and  Accepted 
Scottish  Rite.  In  1863  he  was  master  of 
Temple  Lodge,  No.  14,  and  from  1865  to 
1867  was  high  priest  of  Temple  Chapter.  He 
was  also  for  several  years  eminent  command- 
er of  Temple  Commandery.  Major  Hilton 
was  a  member  of  the  Old  Guard  of  the  Bur- 
gesses Corps.  In  politics  he  was  an  earnest, 
consistent  and  unwavering  Democrat. 

He  married,  at  La  Salle,  Niagara  county, 
New  York,  February  15,  1856,  Mary  Etta 
McWhorter,  born  at  Cincinnatus,  Cortlandt 
county.  New  York,  September  i,  1832,  died 
at  Albany,  September  15,  1907,  daughter  of 
Zurial  McWhorter  and  Polly  Fairchild.  The 
McWhorter  family  line  of  descent  is  as  fol- 
lows : 

The  Mc\Miorters  desccr.d  from  Mortough, 
otherwise  Murchertach  MacEarcha,  son  of 
Muiredach,  son  of  Eogan,  and  grand- 
son of  Niall  the  Great.  He  was  called 
MacEarcha,  that  is,  son  of  Earcha,  from 
the  name  of  his  mother,  who  was  the 
daughter  of  Loarne,  the  eldest  of  the  six 
brothers  who  had  led  the  colony  to  Albania,  as 
Scotland  was  anciently  called.  Mortough 
succeeded  Lugha  \TI.  as  monarch  of  Ireland, 
in  the  year  503,  and  reigned  until  533.  He 
was  no  less  remarkable  for  his  Christian  piety 
than  for  his  valor  as  a  warrior.  He  afforded 
particular  protection  to  religion,  as  did  his 
wife  Sabina,  who  died  with  a  high  reputation 
for  sanctity.  In  the  reign  of  this  monarch, 
Oilioll,  son  of  Murtough,  reigned  in  Leinster, 
and  Cormac,  descended  in  the  eighth  degree 
from  Oilioll  Olum  by  Eagan-More,  in  Mun- 
ster.  The  Daliads  of  Ulster  made  their  last 
colonization  expedition  into  Albania  at  the 
close  of  the  fifth  century,  when  some  of  the 
family  of  Murchertach  settled  there,  and  are 
now  to  be  found  a  small  clan  in  the  Galloway 
district,  spelling  the  name  McWhirter. 

In  Armagh.  Ulster,  Ireland,  the  original 
seat  of  the  Murchertachs.  or  McWhorters,  as 
it  is  now  written,  some  differences  of  opinion 
amongst  those  of  the  Arminian  view  of  wor- 
ship led  to  a  separation  in  the  congregation, 
and  in  1759  about  three  hundred  of  the  mem- 
bers, mostly  from  Monoghan  and  Ballibay, 
formed  a  new  church  organization  in  the  lat- 
ter town,  where  they  called  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Clark  to  be  their  pastor.  Persecution  caused 
them  to  sail  in  a  body.  May  10,  1764,  to  New 
York,  where  they  landed  July  28th.  and  re- 
mained for  a  short  time  in  order  to  look  about 
for  a  place  of  settlement,  finally  going  to  Still- 
water, New  York,  where  they  waited  until 
Dr.  Clark  had  closed  negotiations  for  a  large 
tract  of  land  in   Charlotte,  now  Washine;ton 


Z72 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


county,  New  York,  and  in  1766  they  founded 
a  town,  calling  it  New  Perth,  now  known  as 
Salem,  New  York.  Here  they  organized  the 
first  Presbyterian  church. 

One  of-  these  immigrants,  an  enthusiastic 
supporter  of  and  large  contributor  to  the  en- 
terprise, was  Elder  Matthew  ]\IcWhorter, 
whose  kinsman,  Solomon  Barr,  was  the  first 
of  the  colony  to  die.  Elder  Matthew  was  an 
active  citizen.  He  enlisted  in  the  revolution- 
ary army  and  received  land  grants  for  his 
services.  He  also  represented  Charlotte  in  the 
New  York  legislature  in  1780-81-82,  sitting 
in  Poughkeepsie,  Kingston  and  Albany. 

Matthew  McWhorter"s  son  John  studied 
medicine,  became  a  physician,  and  started 
practicing  in  Unadilla,  New  York,  from  which 
place  he  went  with  a  number  of  others, 
through  Oxford,  into  Cortland  county,  where 
in  1795  they  settled  on  some  military  land 
tracts,  thus  founding  the  town  of  Cincinnatus, 
New  York.  One  of  the  company,  Zurial  Ray- 
mond, had  married  the  widow  Young,  in 
Williamstown,  and  obtained  through  her  land 
grants  given  her  deceased  husband  for  his 
services  in  the  war,  and  his  stepdaughter.  Miss 
Young,  a  very  interesting  and  accomplished 
young  lady,  as  it  is  related,  became  wife  of 
Dr.  John  McWhorter.  He  was  the  first  phy- 
sician in  Cortland  county,  built  in  1802  the 
first  frame  house  in  Cincinnatus,  and  his  was 
the  first  marriage  there.  He  was  a  man  of 
more  than  ordinary  ability,  an  active  and 
prominent  citizen,  and  was  elevated  to  respon- 
sible positions  at  various  periods.  From  1802 
to  1809  he  was  a  member  of  the  legislature, 
and  was  several  times  appointed  surrogate. 
He  had  one  son  and  four  daughters,  the  son 
being  named  Zurial. 

Zurial  McWhorter  was  born  in  Cincinnatus, 
New  York,  January  12.  1803.  and  died  at 
Niagara  Falls,  February,  1882.  He  married, 
at  Pitcher,  New  York,  August  17,  1824,  Polly 
Fairchild.  born  in  that  place,  September  2^, 
1805.  died  at  La  Salle.  New  York,  October 
2.  1881.  In  1848  Zurial  McWhorter  moved 
with  his  family  to  La  Salle,  Niagara  county, 
where  he  settled  on  a  farm;  all' his  children 
were  born  in  Cincinnatus,  New  York.  Chil- 
dren of  Zurial  McWhorter  and  Polly  Fair- 
child  :  Tames  Benjamin,  born  September  2, 
1826:  William  Henry,  August  10,  182S:  John 
Raymond,  July  26,  1830:  Mary  Etta,  Septem- 
ber I.  1832,  married  Charles  Hilton:  Frank- 
lyn.  February  7.  1835;  Zurial,  Jr..  April  27, 
1837:  Sarah  Amelia,  August  9,  1844,  mar- 
ried George  T.  Briggs;  Pratt  Fairchild,  Julv 
2.  1845. 

Children  of  Charles  Hilton  and  Mary  Etta 
McWhorter:  i.  Charles  McWhorter,  born  at 


Cortland,  New  York,  May  2,  1857;  civil  en- 
gineer, located  in  New  York  City  in  1910; 
married,  Peekskill,  New  York,  April  2,  1882, 
Mary  Ida  Cassells,  born  at  Tompkins  Cove, 
New  York,  September  16,  1863,  daughter  of 
James  Cassells  and  Anna  Cushman ;  by  whom  : 
Harriet  Kidd,  born  at  Tompkins  Cove,  New 
York,  December  24,  1882.  2.  George  Porter, 
born  at  Albany,  New  York,  March  19,  1859 
(see  forward).  3.  Frank  Ferine,  born  at  Al- 
bany, July  12,  1861 ;  engaged  in  brokerage 
business  in  New  York  City  in  1910;  married, 
at  Cohoes,  New  York,  February  15,  1885, 
Emma  Adelaide  Brockway,  born  at  Cohoes, 
daughter  of  Henry  Brockway  and  Ellen 
Paine ;  by  whom :  Alice  Brooks,  born  at  Co- 
hoes, November  20,  1886.  4.  Harriet  Kidd, 
born  at  Albany,  September  15,  1870;  married, 
Albany,  November  15,  1899,  Henry  Alden 
Ten  Eyck,  born  at  New  York,  New  York, 
March  23,  1869,  son  of  Leonard  Gansevoort 
Ten  Eyck  and  Alice  Mary  Alden ;  by  whom : 
George  Hilton,  born  at  Albany,  New  York 
(as  were  all  the  other  children),  September 
10,  1900;  Charles  Alden,  July  11,  1904;  Theo- 
dore, October  26,  1905;  Robert  Earle,  June 
19,  1907;  Mary  Hilton,  March  4,  1909,  died 
at  Albany,  February  20,  1910. 

(Vnij  George  Porter  Hilton,  son  of 
Charles  Hilton  and  Mary  Etta  McWhorter, 
was  born  in  Albany,  New  York,  March  19, 
1859,  and  died  at  his  home,  No.  240  State 
street,  Albany,  October  7,  1909. 

He  received  his  education  partly  in  the  .Al- 
bany Academy  and  then  at  the  Albany  high 
school,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
1877.  Thereafter  he  entered  Amherst  Col- 
lege, graduating  in  1881  and  receiving  the  de- 
gree of  B.A.  In  July  of  the  same  year  he  be- 
gan his  business  career,  taking  a  position  in 
the  office  of  the  Hilton  Bridge  Construction 
Company  of  Albany,  located  near  the  Erie 
canal  in  North  Albany,  of  which  his  father 
was  the  head.  He  was  made  vice-president 
and  engineer  of  the  concern,  and  upon  the 
death  of  his  father  he  and  the  late  Elnathan 
.Sweet  continued  the  business  until  its  absorp- 
tion by  the  American  liridge  Company  in 
1900.  During  his  administration  of  its  affairs 
the  Hawk  street  viaduct  and  also  that  of  the 
Northern  Boulevard  were  constructed  at  the 
works  for  the  city,  being  two  of  the  greatest 
engineering  improvements  in  .Mbany.  In 
1902  he  became  manager  of  the  John  G.  My- 
ers estate,  giving  his  close  attention  to  the 
large  establishment,  and  it  was  while  he  was 
at  the  head  of  it  that  the  handsome  new  build- 
ing was  erected  on  North  Pearl  street,  which 
is  widely  known  as  one  of  the  leading  dry 
goods   stores  in  the  entire  state.     After  the 


WTB<i.:\.^m- 


^^^^^y^  Pf^^4^ 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


373 


change  to  a  copartnership  he  was  one  of  the 
tirm. 

He  was  known  as  a  man  much  concerned  in 
military  matters,  athletics,  business,  religion, 
and  advancement  of  civic  affairs,  in  the  strict 
sense  that-  all  these  drew  his  close  attention 
and  absorbed  his  time,  yet  he  ranked  none  of 
them  ahead  of  his  strong  love  for  an  ideal 
home  life.  His  association  with  the  National 
Guard  extended  over  a  long  period  and  gave 
him  a  wide  acquaintance  with  both  men  and 
officers  both  at  home  and  in  other  cities,  for 
in  1898  he  was  made  colonel  and  inspector- 
general  of  the  New  York  State  National 
Guard.  The  minutes  of  the  Old  Guard  of 
Company  A,  Albany  Zouave  Cadets,  record 
the  fact  that  he  was  "one  of  its  most  lovable 
and  best  loved  members,''  and  that  his  inti- 
mates regarded  him  as  being  unusually  "pub- 
lic-spirited, genial,  genuine,  honorable  in  all 
things — a  thorough  gentleman  and  a  good  sol- 
dier." 

Possibly  he  was  known  best  for  his  ener- 
getic work  as  president  of  the  Albany  Cham- 
ber of  Commerce,  in  which  effort  for  the  im- 
provement of  the  whole  city  and  for  the  good 
of  all  its  citizens  he  took  the  greatest  delight. 
One  can  find  no  more  fitting  expression  or 
estimate  his  personal  worth  more  closely  than 
in  the  words  of  that  body  when  his  activities 
were  over : 

"The  shadow  of  a  great  sorrow  is  now  resting 
heavily  upon  this  Chamber  of  Commerce  in  the  sud- 
den death  of  its  President,  Major  George  P.  Hilton. 
A  member  of  this  body  since  its  organization ;  for 
three  terms  its  vice-president  and  twice  chosen  its 
president,  its  success  and  efficiency  are  in  a  large 
measure  owing  to  his  intelligent  interest  in  all  its 
activities  and  to  his  splendid  executive  ability.  In 
the  full  strength  of  bodily  vigor,  with  mental  powers 
unimpaired,  bearing  the  multitudinous  details  of  the 
great  civic  festival  of  the  Hudson-Fulton  Celebra- 
tion, the  success  of  which  in  so  large  a  measure  de- 
pended upon  his  intelligent  direction  and  untiring 
zeal,  the  summons  came,  and  the  ties  of  business, 
social  life  and  family  relationship  are  suddenly  sev- 
ered, while  the  city  pauses  in  its  rejoicings  and  sor- 
rowfully pays  its  silent  tribute  of  respect  to  one  of 
its  foremost  citizens.  Possessing  great  executive 
ability,  he  gave  to  this  organization  in  full  measure 
his  time  and  strength,  and  with  infinite  patience  met 
its  every  demand  with  cheerful  and  efficient  service. 
Genial  and  lovable  in  his  personality,  and  with  a 
cheerful  optimism  that  was  unruffled  under  any 
stress  of  work,  he  found  time  in  the  midst  of  exact- 
ing duties  of  the  great  business  interests  in  which 
his  own  fortune  and  that  of  his  family  were  largely 
invested,  to  give  to  the  performance  of  civic  duties  a 
strength  rarely  equalled.  To  his  church  he  freely 
gave  his  services  as  custodian  of  its  finances,  and  to 
the  financial  institutions  of  our  city,  upon  whose 
boards  of  directors  he  was  an  efficient  member,  he 
gave  a  measure  of  personal  attention  rarely  equalled, 
and  yet  he  found  time  and  abundant  opportunity  to 
devote  a  large  measure  of  his  business  talent  to  this 
organization,  in  an  unselfish  love  for  the  city  of  his 
birth.     He   was  a   man   of    strict    integrity,    spotless 


reputation,  warm-hearted,  tender  and  beneficent,  his 
benefactions  many  and  various." 

He  was  a  director  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Albany,  and  was  appreciated  by  his 
confreres,  who  said  of  him : 

"Mr.  Hilton  was  a  man  of  stalwart  physique,  in 
the  prime  of  life  at  the  time  of  his  death,  surrounded 
by  all  that  makes  life  happy,  with  every  prospect  of 
continued  success,  engaged  in  pub'ic  affairs  as  well 
as  large  private  enterprises,  and  ui  every  position 
which  he  occupied  he  was  fearless,  determined,  ag- 
gressive, and  at  the  same  time  sagacious,  considerate 
and  kind.  By  birth,  education  and  practice  he  was 
a  gentleman.  Free  from  ostentation  and  desire  for 
public  applause,  he  nevertheless  was  recognized  as 
one  of  our  foremost  citizens,  occupying  positions  of 
honor  and  trust.  A  man  of  wide  e.xperience.  a  mind 
enriched  by  travel  and  reading,  an  excellent  judge  of 
human  nature,  acquired  by  years  of  personal  acquain- 
tance with  men  of  all  stations  in  life,  a  man  of 
decision  and  promptitude,  he  was  unusually  equipped 
with  that  which  makes  most  valuable  the  managing 
head  of  an   institution." 

Major  Hilton  was  identified  with  many  oth- 
er important  institutions,  and  was  trustee  and 
treasurer  of  the  Corning  Foundation  of 
Christian  Work  in  the  Episcopal  Diocese  of 
Albany ;  treasurer  of  the  Cathedral  of  All 
Saints ;  trustee  of  the  Albany  Medical  Col- 
lege ;  director  of  the  National  Exchange  Bank 
and  of  the  Schenectady  Trust  Company ;  vice- 
president  of  the  Albany  Trust  Company;  tenor 
soloist  of  St.  Peter's  Church  under  Organist 
Philip  Hale ;  and  had  membership  in  the  Fort 
Orange,  Albany  University,  Racquet,  Camera 
and  Albany  Country  clubs,  the  Albany  Insti- 
tute and  Historical  and  Art  Society,  American 
Association  of  Engineers,  New  York  Yacht 
Club,  the  Triton  Club  of  Canada,  and  New 
York  University  Club. 

His  death  took  place  on  the  eve  of  the  Hud- 
son-Fulton celebration  in  Albany,  for  which 
he  had  worked  indefatigably  and  of  which  he 
was  the  moving  spirit.  It  consequently  was 
a  shock  to  the  people  of  Albany,  and  when  his 
funeral  occurred  on  October  10,  1909,  it  was 
attended  by  a  vast  concourse  of  people  in 
every  walk  in  life,  all  moved  by  a  feeling  of  a 
deep  and  sincere  loss. 

Bishop  Doane  read  the  following  tribute  to 
George  Porter  Hilton  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Chapter  of  the  Cathedral  of  All  Saints,  and 
it  was  adopted  by  the  Chapter : 

"Meeting  under  the  sudden  and  severe  shock  of  a 
second  sorrow ;  meeting  to  elect  one  and  finding  our- 
selves called  upon  to  elect  a  second  member  of  the 
Chapter  of  the  Cathedral  of  All  Saints,  those  of  us 
who  survive  make  record  here  of  our  great  personal 
grief  and  of  our  grave  and  irreparable  loss.  We 
have  just,  in  a  few  and  simple  words,  recorded  our 
loving  memory  of  William  Bayard  Van  Rensselaer, 
and  now  the  death  of  George  Porter  Hilton  reopens 
the  old  wound.  Rich  in  intelligence  and  cultivation, 
with  tireless  energy  of  resource,  with  the  reserve 
force  of  a  young,  active,  strong  physical  frame,  Mr, 


374 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


Hilton  early  won  his  way  to  leadership  and  dom- 
inant influence  in  the  affairs  of  the  city.  As  presi- 
dent of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  he  had  the 
chance  of  inaugurating  and  directing  many  of  the 
public  movements  along  the  line  of  business  activity. 
His  dauntless  courage  when  the  falling  in  of  the 
foundations  and  the  following  fire  wrecked  his  big 
business  building  was  simply  heroic,  and  won  the 
victory.  With  all  the  tireless  activity  and  constant 
absorption  in  public  affairs,  he  had  time  and  taste  for 
other  things;  for  genial  companionship,  for  reading, 
for  the  joys  and  delights  of  his  dear  home,  and  for 
the  outdoor  life.  He  had  a  genius  for  friendship  and 
won  and  held  men  to  him.  In  all  his 
home  relations  he  was  devoted  to  the 
older  as  well  as  to  the  present  generation. 
People  didn't  stop  to  think  of  Mr.  Hilton's 
integrity,  but  only  of  his  individual  responsibility  in 
anything  he  ever  undertook  to  do.  As  treasurer  of 
both  St.  Agnes  School  and  of  the  Cathedral,  he  was 
an  essential  part  of  all  our  work  here,  and  the  sub- 
stratum of  all  his  power  was  his  devout,  consistent, 
reverent  religious  faith.  His  worship  was  his  delight 
and  his  joy  in  the  Cathedral  services  intense.  And 
so,  ready  on  every  hand,  he  passed  instantly  from 
what  seemed  full-blooded  physical  life  into  the  life 
that  has  in  it  the  fullness  of  all  joy.  physical  and 
spiritual,  in  the  power  of  a  perfect,  unhampered 
service." 

Major  George  Porter  Hilton  married,  in 
Albany,  September  14,  1899,  Jessie  Kenyon 
Myers,  daughter  of  John  G.  Myers  and  Mary 
Augusta  Young.  (See  Myers).  Issue  :  John 
Gillespy  Myers  Hilton,  born  at  Albany.  New 
York,  May  11,  1901. 


The    Myers    family    of    Albany, 
MYERS     New    York,    is    one   of   the    old 

Dutch  line  families  of  the  prov- 
ince of  New  York,  entitling  its  members  to 
admission  in  the  Holland  Society  of  New 
York.  The  progenitor  of  the  family  in  Amer- 
ica was  Stephanus  Myers,  or  Alyer.  who  came 
from  Holland  and  settled  first  in  \'ew  Amster- 
dam, now  New  York  City. 

(T)  Benjainin  Myers,  a  descendant  of  the 
progenitor,  was  born  October  21,  1728,  and 
died  December  12,  18 19.  He  married  Leah 
Osterhoudt.  the  banns  of  which  marriage  were 
published  .August  13,  1756.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  Teunis  Osterhoudt  and  Catrina 
Legg.  Children:  i.  Teunis,  born  1756,  died 
November  22,  1831.     2.  Christian,  born  June 

5,  1759;  died  unmarried.  3.  Stephanus,  born 
December  27,  1760,  died  March,  1841  ;  mar- 
ried Helen  Low.  4.  Petrus,  born  November 
17.  1762,  died  March,  1841.  5.  Catherine, 
born   April    10,    1769;   married   David    Myer. 

6.  .Annatje  (or  Anna),  born  June  23,  1772; 
married  Isaac  Vandenherg.  7.  Marytje,  born 
May  TO,  1775  :  married  Tjerck  Schoonmaker, 
Sr.  8.  Solomon,  born  October  ],  1786;  died 
unmarried. 

(II)  Teunis  Myers,  son  of  P)cnjamin  My- 
ers and  Leah  Osterhoudt,  was  born  in   1756, 


and  died  November  22,  1831.  He  resided  at 
Saugerties,  New  York,  where  he  owned  con- 
siderable property,  and  on  which  was  a  stone 
house,  typical  of  the  colonial  period,  and  bear- 
ing upon  its  portal  the  date  of  its  erection, 
1746.  This  was  not  far  from  Mount  Marion, 
in  the  Catskill  mountains,  and  a  beautiful  loca- 
tion for  a  residence.  This  house  was  long 
and  low,  with  an  unusually  steep  roof,  and 
was  still  standing  in  1910.  He  married,  in 
178 1,  Cornelia,  daughter  of  John  Legg.  who 
resided  where  in  1910  was  the  Sheffield  place, 
now  Henry  Barclay's,  Saugerties.  Cornelia 
Legg  Myers  was  an  intimate  friend  of  Gov- 
ernor George  Clinton's  wife,  and  when  the 
British  proceeded  up  the  Hudson  working 
devastation,  she  witnessed  the  burning  of 
Kingston,  New  York,  October  13,  1777.  Chil- 
dren: I.  Benjamin  Teunis,  born  at  Plattskill, 
New  York,  May  9,  1783,  died  at  Saugerties. 
January  31,  1869;  married,  Plattskill,  Septem- 
ber 2,  1804,  Sarah  Snyder.  2.  Jane,  born  Sep- 
tember 17,  1793,  died  November,  1872 ;  mar- 
ried Peter  G.  Post,  born  January  19,  1792. 
3.  Solomon,  born  July  14,  1798;  married  Eliz- 
abeth Goodwin. 

(HI)  Benjamin  Teunis  Myers,  son  of 
Teunis  Myers  and  Cornelia  Legg,  was  born  at 
Plattskill,' Ulster  county.  New  York,  May  9, 
1783,  and  died  at  Saugerties,  New  York,  Jan- 
uary 31,  1869.  He  was  originally  a  farmer 
on  a  somewhat  large  scale,  supplying  the 
neighborhood  and  river  towns  with  the  pro- 
duce from  his  estate ;  but  in  the  later  years 
of  his  life  he  was  able  to  retire  from  business 
cares  and  all  activities  in  Saugerties,  where 
he  lived  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  He  mar- 
ried at  Plattskill,  New  York,  September  2, 
1804,  Sarah,  only  daughter  of  Johannes  Sny- 
der and  Leah  Alyer,  and  granddaughter  of 
Colonel  Johannes  Snyder,  of  Ulster  county, 
who  was  colonel  of  the  First  Regiment  of  Ul- 
ster, May  I,  1776:  also  delegate  to  the  pro- 
vincial congress,  membei*  of  council  of  safety. 
member  of  assembly,  president  five  terms  of 
board  of  trustees  of  Kingston  corporation. 
Sarah  Snyder  inherited  a  number  of  slaves  as 
a  portion  of  her  dowry,  one  of  whom.  Flora, 
who  taught  Mrs.  S.  M.  Taylor  to  knit,  and 
another  was  known  as  "Old  Rub."  Child: 
John  I'enjamin,  born  at  Brabant,  New  York, 
February  27,  1806,  died  at  Mentr,  New  York, 
February  27,  1861  :  married,  at  Saugerties, 
New  York,  August  12,  1828,  Arriet  Gillespy 
(see  forward). 

(I\')  John  B.  Myers,  son  of  Benjamin 
Teunis  Myers  and  Sarah  Snyder,  was  born  at 
Brabant,  near  Kingston,  New  York,  February 
27,  1806.  and  died  in  the  town  of  Mentz,  near 
Port   Byron,   New   York,   February   27.    1861. 


HUDSON   AND    ]\IOHA\VK   \'ALLEYS 


375 


I  lis  hirth  took  place  on  a  farm  rented  of  a 
Mr.  Cockburn,  by  his  father,  who  soon  pur- 
chased a  farm,  where  the  other  children  were 
born.  He  resided  at  Mentz  most  of  his  life, 
where  he  had  an  extensive  farm  of  his  own ; 
on  his  death,  he  was  buried  in  Fort  Hill  ceme- 
tery, at  Auburn,  New  York.  He  married,  at 
Saugferties.  New  York,  August  12,  1828,  Ar- 
riet.  daughter  of  Captain  John  Gillespy.  He 
iiad  a  record  as  a  fighter  in  the  American 
cause,  and  was  the  son  of  Major  John  Gilles- 
py, who  engaged  in  the  Frencl:  and  Indian 
wars,  and  afterwards  was  a  participant  in  the 
revolution  as  a  member  of  the  Fourth  Ulster 
countv  militia.  Captain  John  Gillespy  fought 
at  the  head  of  his  company  in  the  war  of  1812 
against  the  British.  For  a  time  he  was  sta- 
tioned on  Staten  Island.  Children:  i.  Ben- 
jamin Gillespy,  born  at  Saugerties.  New  York, 
August  20,  1829,  died  at  No.  372  Clinton 
avenue,  Albany,  March  5,  1901  ;  married,  Port 
Byron.  New  York,  November  23,  1858,  Mi- 
nerva Kerns,  by  whom :  Howard  Gillespy, 
born  at  Port  Byron ;  Leila  Whitney,  born  at 
New^  York,  New  York. :  Lotta  Wright,  born 
at  New  York,  New  York.  2.  John  Gillespy. 
August  4,  1832,  died,  Albany,  December  i, 
1901  :  married,  Cayuga,  New  York,  August 
19-  1857,  Mary  Augusta  Young  (see  for- 
ward). 3.  Sarah,  September  21,  1833:  resid- 
ing in  Albany  in  1910:  married.  Port  Byron, 
New  York.  May  28,  1863,  Captain  David  Aus- 
tin Taylor :  by  whom  :  John  Myers,  born  near 
Port  Byron :  Lawrence  Hartshorne.  born  at 
Camden,  New  York ;  Grace  Brown,  born  at 
Oneida.  New  York;  Ernest  Chandler,  born  at 
Guineys,  \'irginia ;  Marion  Lee,  born  at  Al- 
bany. New  York;  Bessie  Myers,  born  at  Al- 
bany. 4.  Jason  Gillespy.  January  25,  1840 : 
unmarried.  5.  Lavinia,  died  at  Albany,  Oc- 
tober 29.  1885  :  buried  at  Auburn,  New  York. 
6.  Elizabeth,  born  near  Port  Byron,  New 
York,  died  young.  7.  Selina.  married.  Auburn, 
New  York,  July  10,  1878,  S.  Henry  Atwater, 
by  whom:  Winifred  Moore,  born  at  Wind- 
ham. New  York :  Donald  Brown,  born  at 
Windham.  New  York:  Reginald  Myers,  born 
at  Canon   City,   Colorado. 

(V)  John  Gillespy  Alyers,  son  of  John 
Benjamin  Myers  and  Arriet  Gillespy,  was 
born  in  Saugerties,  New  York,  August  4.  1832, 
and  died  in  Albany,  New  York,  December  i, 
190 1.  Until  eight  years  old,  he  lived  with 
his  parents  upon  their  farm  in  their  typical 
Dutch  farmhouse  in  the  shadow  of  Mount 
Marion,  of  the  Catskill  mountain  range. 
About  that  time  his  father  picked  out  better 
land  than  the  rocky  soil  of  Ulster  countv, 
purchasing  a  tract  near  Montezuma,  Cayuga 
countv,  and  here  his  son  aided  him  in  agricul- 


tural pursuits.  When  fourteen  years  of  age 
lie  returned  to  Saugerties  and  began  his  busi- 
ness career  as  a  store  boy  and  general  clerk 
for  his  uncle.  P.  ^l.  Gillespy.  He  had  been 
accustomed  as  a  youth  to  dispose  of  the  fruits 
grown  upon  the  farm,  and  he  accjuired  a 
strong  tendency  for  trade,  made  keen  by  his 
competition  with  other  lads  of  the  neighbor- 
hood. The  connection  with  the  store  in  a 
minor  capacity  simply  interested  and  aroused 
him  to  make  more  rapid  progress  in  something 
better :  but  until  he  became  of  age  he  remained 
in  the  employ  of  his  uncle,  excepting  at  such 
times  as  he  was  engaged  in  study  in  the  little 
red  school  house.  He  was  fond  of  reading 
and  very  quick  to  observe,  so  he  acquired 
much  knowledge  even  when  not  in  school,  and 
what  he  learned  in  this  fashion  he  was  suffi- 
ciently clever  to  turn  to  good  account  later 
in  his  life.  Even  in  those  days,  he  had  a  keen 
insight  into  character,  a  faculty  for  quick  de- 
cision and  rapid  action.  Those  characteristics 
governed  him  all  through  his  life. 

When  twenty-one  years  old.  he  became  as- 
sociated with  two  men  in  the  conduct  of  a 
general  country  store  at  Port  Byron,  Cayuga 
county.  New  York,  but  this  firm  did  not  last 
long,  and  finally  he  was  left  in  sole  possession 
to  dispose  of  the  stock  for  the  benefit  of  the 
creditors.  He  succeeded  in  carrying  this  out 
by  means  of  a  trip  through  the  west,  and  the 
result  was  that  by  his  ability  every  one  was 
paid  in  full.  After  this  he  obtained  a  position 
in  the  large  wholesale  house  of  Clapp  &  Kent, 
clothing  and  dry  goods  merchants.  New  York 
City,  and  was  rapidly  promoted.  .\t  the  be- 
gining  of  the  rebellion  he  started  in  business 
for  himself  in  New  York,  securing  for  a  loca- 
tion the  corner  of  Bleecker  and  Christopher 
streets,  and  here  made  some  money.  In  1865 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  \\'illiam  M. 
Whitney,  in  .Albany,  they  succeeding  the  firm 
of  L'bsdell,  Pierson  &  Lenox,  in  the  dry  goods 
business,  and  the  store  on  North  Pearl  street 
was  known  as  "The  New  York  Store."  It 
was  by  all  means  the  largest  of  any  in  Albany, 
and  won  a  pronounced  success.  This  partner- 
ship continued  five  years,  when  it  was  dis- 
solved, each  partner  continuing  the  drv  goods 
business  by  himself.  Mr.  Myers  opening  an- 
other large  store  at  Nos.  39-41  North  Pearl 
street.  An  incident  in  its  history  was  a  catas- 
trophe on  the  morning  of  August  8,  1905, 
when  during  the  course  of  repairs  and  altera- 
tions the  floors  sank,  and  as  a  result  the  hand- 
some new  building  was  erected  immediately 
upon  the  same  site,  which  is  a  leading  adorn- 
ment of  the  business  section  of  the  Capital 
City.  But  of  far  more  importance  than  a 
beautiful  building  in  showing  the  character  of 


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37i 


HUDSON   AND   IMOHAWK  \'ALLEYS 


ton.  Children:  i.  Etta,  unmarried;  resides  in 
West  Fulton.  New  York.  2.  Michael  (2),  suc- 
ceeded his  father  in  the  business  which  he 
still  continues ;  is  a  practical  blacksmith  and 
carriage  builder ;  he  is  an  active  Democrat, 
has  served  as  town  clerk  several  terms,  and 
is  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  his  town ;  he 
is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  is  unmarried. 
3.  John,  died  1903;  was  a  farmer;  member  of 
the  Baptist  church,  and  a  Republican.  He 
married  Lottie  Zeh,  who  survives  him  ( 1910)  ; 
children:  Ada,  graduate  of  Oneonta  Normal 
School ;  now  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools 
of  Yonkers,  New  York;  Nina,  resides  with 
her  mother;  Erwin  Z.,  now  with  firm  of  John 
G.  Alyers  Company,  Albany.  4.  James,  has 
been  for  many  years  with  Hodge  Brothers, 
merchants,  of  Cobleskill,  New  York ;  married 
Edith  Olendorph ;  child :  Ethel.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  a  Demo- 
crat. 5.  Matthew,  died  at  age  of  six  years. 
6.  Thomas  Edward,  see  forward.  7.  Mary, 
married  Norman  L.  Spencer,  of  Richmond- 
ville.  New  York ;  children :  Floyd,  married 
Emma  Sutphen ;  Harry,  Lena,  L'na.  The 
members  of  this  family  attend  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church. 

(H)  Thomas  Edward,  son  of  Michael  and 
Ann  (Welch)  Finegan,  was  born  at  West 
Fulton,  Schoharie  county.  New  York,  Sep- 
tember 28,  1866.  He  was  educated  in  the 
common  and  hi,gh  schools  of  West  Fulton 
and  Cooperstown.  New  York,  and  was  grad- 
uated from  the  State  Normal  College  at  .-M- 
bany,  class  of  1889.  and  received  the  degree 
of  A.  M.  from  Hamilton  College,  in  1894, 
and  the  degree  of  Pd.  D.  from  the  New  York 
State  Nornnal  College  in  1909.  He  chose  the 
profession  of  law.  and  read  law  with  E.  A. 
Dox.  of  Richmondville,  com])leting  the  re- 
quired studies  and  years  of  service  with 
Charles  J.  Buchanan,  of  Albany.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  New  York  bar  June,  1894.  Pri- 
or to  his  college  graduation  lie  taught  in  the 
public  schools.  He  was  principal  of  the  pul>- 
lic  school  of  West  Fulton,  New  York.  1889- 
90;  elected  school  commissioner  for  the  sec- 
ond district  of  Schoharie  county  and  served 
from  January  i,  1891,  to  December  i,  1892, 
when  he  resigned  and  accepted  an  appoint- 
ment from  James  F.  Crf)oker,  state  sujierin- 
tendent,  as  sujiervisor  of  examinations  in  the 
State  Dej^artment  of  Public  Instruction.  He 
served  twelve  years,  during  which  period  the 
present  system  of  examination  and  certifica- 
tion of  teachers  in  New  York  state  was  devel- 
oped. In  December,  1904,  he  was  appointed 
by  .State  Commissioner  .Andrew  S.  Draper  to 
the  position  of  chief  of  the  law  division,  .State 
Education  Department.  He  served  in  this  po- 


sition until  October  i,  1908,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Commissioner  Draper  to  be  assist- 
ant commissioner  of  education,  and  placed  in 
charge  of  elementary  education,  which  in- 
cludes the  elementary  and  normal  schools  of 
the  state,  training  schools  and  training  classes, 
teachers'  institutes,  and  the  certification  of 
teachers.  He  is  a  member  of  the  board  of 
question  revision.  Besides  the  vast  amount  of 
labor  Mr.  Finegan  has  performed  in  behalf  of 
the  educational  system  of  the  state,  he  is  the 
author  of  te.xt  books  principally  on  legal  edu- 
cational subjects.  His  principal  works  are 
"New  York  School  Law,"  "Education  Code," 
and  "Judicial  Decisions  of  State  Superinten- 
dents and  Commissioners  of  Education,"  the 
latter  treating  of  all  the  important  decisions 
since  1820,  when  the  department  of  educa- 
tion was  given  judicial  powers.  He  stands 
very  high  in  educational  circles,  and  is  a 
member  of  state  and  national  associations  de- 
voted to  education.  He  is  a  trustee  of  the 
New  York  State  Normal  College,  trustee  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Albany, 
trustee  of  the  .Albany  Exchange  Savings 
Bank,  trustee  of  the  .Albany  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  trustee  of  New  York  State  His- 
torical Association,  charter  member  of  the 
Aurania  Club,  and  president  for  the  first  three 
years  of  its  existence.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  L^niversity  Club,  and  of  the  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Democrat.  He  married.  December  10,  1894, 
Grace  E.  Browne,  of  Schenectady,  New 
York,  and  has  a  son,  Edmund  Randolph,  born 
October  22,  1898. 

Grace  E.  (Browne)  Finegan  is  a  descen- 
dant of  W'olston  Brockway,  the  first  of  the 
name   in    .America   as    far   as  known. 

(I)  U'olston  Brockway,  the  progenitor  of 
the  New  England  family  bearing  his  name,  was 
probably  born  in  some  part  of  England,  not 
far  from  i'')38.  In  a  deposition  made  by  him 
July  10,  17 14,  and  recorded  in  Lyme,  his  age 
is  stated  at  seventy  years  or  thereabouts,  and 
he  stated  that  he  had  dwelt  in  Lyme  for  fifty 
years  past,  but  there  are  indications  that  both 
his  age  and  the  length  of  his  residence  in 
Lyme  were  placed  too  low.  He  bought  land 
with  a  house  and  barn  thereon  of  John  Rey- 
nolds, of  Saybrook,  Connecticut,  Decem- 
ber 3,  1659,  the  land  being  described  as  "one 
ye  east  sid  of  ye  river  ouer  against  he  towne 
of  Saybrooke"  and  the  consideration  was 
twenty  pounds  sterling.  The  natural  inference 
is  that  he  was  of  full  age  when  he  made  this 
purchase,  and  that  he  settled  at  once  in  his 
new  home,  which  would  fix  the  date  of  his 
birth  about  i()38  and  make  his  residence  in 
Lyme  cover  nearly  fifty  years  in  July,   1714. 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK    VALLEYS 


379 


river,  at  some  distance  south  of  the  present 
His  first  home  in  Lyme  was  probably  on  Duck 
village  of  Lyme,  and  near  Lon<T  Island  Sound. 
He  was  frequently  elected  to  some  office  in  the 
town,  the  most  important  of  which  was  sur- 
veyor. He  owned  land  at  Fantum  JMoran- 
tum,  near  what  is  now  Brockway's  ferry,  as 
early  as  February  i,  1703,  at  which  date  he 
bous^ht  forty  acres  of  land  of  Rev.  Moses 
Noyt's,  which  was  already  in  Brockway's  pos- 
sessi(in,  hut  it  is  not  known  that  he  lived 
there. 

He  married  (first)  Hannah  Briggs,  widow 
of  John  Harris,  of  i5oston.  She  was  born  at 
Boston,  August  28,  1642,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  RIary  Briggs.  She  died  at  Lyme, 
February  6.  1687-88.  William  Rriggs  lived 
most  of  his  life  in  Boston  ;  but  he  piu-chased 
land  in  Lyme,  October  27,  1680,  of  his  son- 
in-law,  Wolston  Brockway,  and  sold  the  same 
to  his  son,  John  Briggs,  February  15,  1680-1, 
"with  the  frame  of  a  house  thereon,  stand 
which  I  purchased  of  John  Lareby."  He  re- 
turned to  Boston  about  1685.  He  married  a 
second  wife  whose  name  was  Hannah,  but  her 
maiden  name  has  not  been  found.  He  gave 
his  land  to  his  children  during  his  life.  Per- 
haps the  latest  deed  was  to  his  daughter,  Han- 
nah Wade,  dated  May  16,  17 17,  giving  her 
certain  personal  property  to  take  efTect  on  the 
death  of  himself  and  wife.  He  died  not  long 
before  November  11,  1717,  at  which  date  his 
son  Richard  Brockway  was  granted  adminis- 
tration on  his  estate.  He  was  probably  buried 
in  the  Duck  River  cemetery,  in  the  village  of 
old  Lyme.  Children  ;  born  in  Lyme,  Connec- 
ticut:  I.  Hannah,  born,  September  14,  1664, 
married  there,  August  23,  1682,  Thomas 
Champion,  born  at  Saybrook,  Connecticut, 
.April,  1650,  son  of  Henry  and  Deborah  Cham- 
pion ;  he  died  at  Lyme,  in  1705.  She  married 
(second)  John  Wade,  and  as  "my  daughter 
Hannah  ^^'ade,  of  Lynije,"  received  a  deed 
from  her  father  May  16,  1717,  conveying  to 
her  certain  personal  property  on  the  death  of 
himself  and  wife.  2.  \^'illiam,  born,  July  25, 
1666:  married  there,  March  8,  1692-3,  Eliza- 
beth Gregory  Wilterton,  of  Hartford,  Connec- 
ticut, by  his  will  of  1674,  gave  him  a  legacy 
of  ten  pounds  in  consideration  of  which  his 
father  deeded  land  to  him  in  1709.  He  set- 
tled at  Brockway's  Ferry,  in  that  part  of  Lyme 
to  which  Joshua,  son  of  Uncas,  gave  the  name 
of  Joshuatown,  and  died  there  March  29, 
1755,  in  the  eighty-ninth  year  of  his  age,  as 
testified  by  his  gravestone,  still  legible  in  the 
family  cemetery  at  that  place.  His  wife,  it  is 
said,  was  buried  by  his  side,  but  no  stone  is 
there  to  tell  the  date.  His  father  deeded  land 
to  him  at  Tantum  Morantum,    (Joshuatown) 


June  8.  1697.  On  this  land  he  probably  set- 
tled. At  the  May  session,  1724,  the  general 
court  granted  to  him,  in  connection  with  Wil- 
liam Pratt,  who  lived  on  the  west  side  of  Con- 
necticut river,  the  right  to  keep  a  ferry,  still 
known  as  ISrockway's  l-'crry.  3.  Wolston,  of 
whom  further.  4.  Mary,  born  January  16, 
1669-70;  married  Sam.uel  Mott, '  of  Lyme, 
April  6,  1692,  and  they  had  a  gift  of  land 
from  her  father,  March  27.  1697;  her  name 
on  town  record  is  written  Marah,  that  being 
the  form  which  town  clerk,  Joseph  Peck,  was 
in  the  habit  of  using  for  Mary.  5.  Bridget, 
born  January  2,  1671-2;  married  1714,  Jona- 
than Beebe.  She  died  in  East  Haddam,  Con- 
necticut, .-\pril  6,  1758,  aged  eighty-six  years, 
according  to  her  gravestone.  6.  Richard,  born 
September  30,  1673:  married,  (first)  Octo- 
ber  25.    1697,    Rachel  .      She   died   at 

Lyme,  .April  9,  17 18.  He  married  (second) 
Rlay  5,  1720,  Elizabeth  Tiflfany.  He  joined 
the  First  church  in  Lyme,  October,  1739.  7. 
Elizabeth,  born  May  24,  1676;  married,  about 
1701,  William  Harris,  of  Lyme,  and  her  father 
gave  land  to  them  January  23,  1705-6.  He 
probably  died  as  early  as  17 10,  and  she  mar- 
ried (second)  March,  1711-12,  Roger  Alger, 
Sr.  "Elizabeth,  widow  of  Roger  Alger,  late 
of  Lyme,  deceased,  formerly  the  wife  of  Wil- 
liam Harris,  dyed  in  July  in  ye  yeare  1729." 
8.  Sarah,  born  September  23,  1679:  married, 
January  20,  1703,  Nathaniel  Beckwith  ;  they 
were  living  at  East  Haddam,  November  23, 
1704,  when  her  father  gave  land  to  his  "well 
beloved  son-in-law,  Nathaniel  Beckwith,  of 
Haddam,  of  the  east  side  of  the  river."  9. 
John  :  his  father,  in  deeding  his  homestead  to 
Richard  Brockway,  March  13,  1708,  provided 
that  Richard  should  pay  fifteen  pounds  ster- 
ling to  John  Brockway  on  the  death  of  his 
father.  He  was  probably  the  son  of  the  first, 
liut  possibly  of  the  second  wife. 

(H)  Wolston  (2).  son  of  Wolston  (i)  and 
Hannah  (Briggs)  Brockway,  was  born  at 
Lyme,  Connecticut,  February  7,  1667-8;  mar- 
ried, Decemil>er  4,  1688,  Margaret .   He 

died  at  Lyme  early  in  1707.  Letters  of  ad- 
ministration on  his  estate  were  granted  to  his 
widow,  June  4,  1707.  and  the  estate  was  dis- 
tributed March  17,  1713-14.  She  married 
(second)  at  Lyme,  February  7.  1710-11, 
Thomas  Ennis,  and  died  there  January  17, 
1738-39,  aged  seventy-three  years.  By  her 
second  marriage  she  had  one  son,  Thomas 
Ennis.  born  at  Lyme,  May  28,  17 12. 

(HI)  Samuel,  eldest  son  of  Wolston  (2) 
and  Margaret  Brockway,  was  born  at  Lyme, 
February  11,  1691-2.  He  settled  in  Branford, 
Connecticut,  before  January  21.  1734-5.  when 
he  joined  his  brothers  Edward  and  Ephraim 


38o 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


and  his  sisters  Deborah  Champion  and  Mar- 
garet Smith  in  selling  a  part  of  their  heri- 
tage in  Lyme  to  Samuel  Seoden.  The  land 
lay  at  Fishing  Cove. 

(IV)  Wolston  (3),  son  of  Samuel  Brock- 
way,  was  born  in  Branford,  Connecticut.  He 
married,  in  1744,  Dorcas  Weeden.  or  Whe- 
den,  of  Branford.  and  settled  in  Sharon,  Con- 
necticut, about  1750.  Their  homestead  is  still 
occupied  by  their  descendants.  It  lies  in  the 
south  part  of  the  town,  bordering  on  Kent, 
about  one  mile  from  the  west  line  of  Connecti- 
cut. A  Congregational  church  was  formed  at 
what  is  now  called  Amenia  Union  in  the  fall 
of  1759,  and  in  this  church  he  and  his  children 
were  publicly  baptized  on  November  16,  1760. 

(V)  Joseph,  son  of  Wolston  (3)  and  Dor- 
cas (Weeden)  Brockway,  was  born  at  Sharon, 
Connecticut,  about  1755,  baptized  there  in  the 
Kniljloe  church,  December  28,  1760;  married, 
January  19,  1775,  Jane  Doty,  born  November 
27,  1756. 

(VI)  Artemas,  son  of  Joseph  and  Jane 
(Doty)  Brockway,  was  born  at  Sharon,  Con- 
necticut, December  16,  1789.  He  married, 
November  2,  1809,  Desire  Dillay,  born  May 
7,  1787,  died  April  18,  1841.  He  died  July 
26,  1857. 

(VII)  Emma,  daughter  of  Artemas  and 
Desire  (Dillay)  Brockway,  was  born  March 
20,   1823  ;  married  Henry  L.  Browne. 

(VIII)  William  Henry,  son  of  Henry  L. 
and  Emma  (Brockway)  Browne,  was  born 
May  25,  1843;  married,  June,  1867,  Acelia 
Bertrand  Cramer.  He  enlisted  in  the  civil 
war  in  October,  1863,  in  the  8th  New  York 
Light  Artillery,  October  9,  1864,  detailed  by 
order  of  Brigadier-General  I.  Bodges  as  hos- 
pital steward.  Battery  B,  2d  United  States 
Light  Artillery ;  assigned  to  duty  as  hospital 
steward  of  artillery  brigade,  25th  Army  Corps, 
by  order  of  Captain  L.  L.  Langdon,  command- 
ing brigade  artillery ;  was  in  active  service 
continuously  from  time  of  enlistment ;  from 
May.  1864.  was  in  active  hosjMtal  field  service 
in  General  (irant's  Peninsula  campaign  to  the 
surrender,  April  9,  1865  ;  ordered  on  detached 
service  as  hospital  steward  on  expedition  to 
Mexico,  June,  1865.  August  4,  1865,  ordered 
to  report  for  muster  out  at  New  York  City; 
mustered  out  August  14,  1865. 

(IX)  Grace  Emma,  daughter  of  William 
Henry  and  .-Vcelia  Bertrand  (Cramer)  Browne, 
born  at  Troy,  New  York,  October  29,  1870; 
married  Thomas  Edward  Finegan. 


The  name   Potts   is  to  be   found 

POTTS     in  isolated  instances  in  different 

parts  of  Great  Britain  at  a  very 

early  period,  but  it  was  not  until  the  reign  of 


Queen  Elizabeth  that  it  became  of  special  so- 
cial importance  and  well  seated  in  any  par- 
ticular locality.  An  important  branch  of  the 
family  settled  in  Wales,  another  in  southern 
Scotland,  and  they  are  found  in  nearly  every 
county  in  the  north  and  east  of  Ireland,  all  of 
whom  are  believed  to  be  of  English  descent. 

The  branch  herein  recorded,  of  whom  Jesse 
Walker  Potts,  of  Albany,  is  a  representative, 
descends  from  the  Welsh  family,  although  all 
had  a  common  origin  no  doubt.  At  the  mid- 
dle of  the  seventeenth  century  a  family  of 
Pott  or  Potts  was  settled  in  Montgomerv- 
shire.  Wales,  and  believed  to  have  been  of 
the  Cheshire  family.  The  principal  seat  of 
the  family  was  in  the  parish  of  Llangirrig, 
where  Thomas  Potts  was  an  old  man  in  1654. 
He  had  many  descendants.  Some  or  all  of  the 
family  became  members  of  the  Society  of 
I'Viends  and  suffered  much  persecution  for 
their  peculiar  belief.  From  the  year  1683  to 
1700  and  later,  several  persons  appear  about 
Germantown,  in  Philadelphia  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, bearing  the  name  of  Potts,  who  were 
closely  associated  and  evidently  related. 

(I)  Among  these  was  David  Potts,  born  in 
Montgomeryshire,  Wales,  died  in  Philadelphia 
county,  Pennsylvania,  Monday,  November  16, 
1730.  The  date  of  his  coming  to  Pennsyl- 
vania is  not  recorded,  but  the  first  mention  of 
him  is  in  1692  \yhen  he  became  a  bondsman. 
In  1695  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  of  land  in  Bristol  township,  Philadel- 
phia county,  in  the  vicinity  of  Germantown, 
where  he  seems  to  have  settled  and  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  In  1716  he  had  a  grant 
of  one  hundred  acres  in  the  manor  of  Spring- 
field, but  it  does  not  appear  that  he  lived  there. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
belonging  to  the  Germantown  Preparative 
Aleeting,  under  the  care  of  Abington  J\Ionthly 
Meeting.  His  name  frequently  appears  on  the 
minutes,  and  he  was  often  appointed  to  attend 
quarterly  meeting.  When  a  Friends'  meeting 
was  established  at  Germantown  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  it,  and  in  17 12  was  appointed  one  of 
the  two  overseers  of  the  newer  congregation. 
He  was  a  man  of  good  standing  in  the  com- 
munity, and  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by 
his  neighbors  is  evidenced  by  their  choice  of 
him  to  represent  Philadelphia  county  in  the 
provincial  assembly  for  the  years  1728-29-30. 
He  married,  in  Friends"  Meeting,  Alice  Croas- 
dale,  youngest  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Ag- 
nes (Hathernthwaite)  Croasdale,  of  York- 
shire, England,  and  Bucks  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  came  to  America  in  the  ship  "Wel- 
come" with  William  Penn.  Alice  Croasdale 
was  born  in  England,  8  mo.  3,  1673  •  their  in- 
tentions of  marriage  were  declared  before  the 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


381 


Philadelphia  Meetinof,  10  mo.  29,  1693,  passed 
the  meeting  the  following  month,  and  a  cer- 
tificate granted  to  marry  under  the  care  of 
Mifldletown  .Monthly  Meeting  in  Bucks  coun- 
ty, where  the  ceremony  was  performed  "in 
an  orderly  manner."  March  22,  1694.  David 
and  Alice  Potts  had  ten  children. 

(H)  Daniel,  third  son  of  David  and  Alice 
(Croasdale)  Potts,  was  horn  in  Bristol  town- 
ship, Philadelphia  county,  Pennsylvania,  2 
mo.  10.  1698.  \'cry  little  seems  to  be  known 
of  him.  as  he  died  when  quite  a  young  man, 
prior  to  1729.  In  1722  he  was 'a  signer  to  a 
marriage  certificate,  and  in  1725  his  name  ap- 
pears as  a  contributor  to  the  fund  for  building 
a  stone  wall  around  Ujjper  ( iermantown  Burv- 
ing  Ground.  He  married  Sarah,  eldest  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  J.  and  Margaret  (Opden  Graeff) 
Shoemaker.  They  passed  the  Abington 
Monthly  Meeting  the  second  time,  10  mo.  25, 
1695,  and  were  doubtless  married  very  soon 
after.  Peter  J.  Shoemaker  came  from  Kris- 
heini.  in  the  German  Palatinate,  to  Penn- 
sxlvania,  in  1685,  settled  in  Germantown, 
bringing  with  him  his  son  Peter,  and  three 
daughters.  Sarah  Potts  survived  her  hus- 
band and  married  James  Dilworth.  She  was 
living  in   1765. 

(HI)  Samuel,  eldest  of  the  three  children 
of  Daniel  and  Sarah  (Shoemaker)  Potts,  was 
born  in  Philadelphia  county,  Pennsylvania, 
August  12,  1723.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by 
trade  and  a  resident  of  Germantown  until 
1755.  when  he  removed  to  a  "plantation  upon 
Scliolkill.  on  the  west  side  of  the  Great  Road 
■called  W'issahickon  Road  in  the  Northern 
Liberties"  (now  Philadelphia),  which  he 
leased  from  Thomas  Hood  for  a  term  of  five 
years.  He  built  a  smith  shop  on  the  premises 
and  carried  on  smithing  in  connection  with 
keeping  a  public  house.  He  was  subsequently 
proprietor  of  the  "Rising  Sun"  and  "Wheat 
Sheatt,"  noted  hostelries  above  Philadelphia 
during  colonial  and  revolutionary  times.  He 
was  a  member  of  Society  of  Friends,  German- 
town  Meeting,  but  in  1757  a  complaint  was 
made  against  him  for  being  concerned  in  mili- 
tary service  and  neglecting  attendance  at 
Friends'  meetings.  He  was  eventually  dis- 
owned. He  married  (first)  in  1751,  Mrs. 
Ami  Ashmead,  widow  of  John  Ashmead  and 
daughter  of  James  and  Rachel  (Peart)  Rush. 
She  was  born  October  23,  1716,  died  .August 
16,  lybo.  He  married  (second)  October  20, 
1772,  Sarah  Fritz.  Samuel  Potts  died  Octo- 
ber 13.  1784.  at  the  Falls  of  Schuylkill.  Sar- 
ah, his  widow,  survived  him  until  October  23, 
1808.  dying  at  Frankford,  Pennsylvania. 

(IV)  Jesse,  eldest  of  the  three  children  of 
:Saniuel  and  Sarah  (  Fritz)  Potts,  was  born  in 


1774,  in  Philadelphia  county,  Pennsylvania, 
died  in  Albany,  New  York,  December  21, 
181 1.  He  removed  from  Pennsylvania  to  Al- 
bany in  1790.  He  was  a  tailor  by  trade,  and 
carried  on  business  until  his  death.  He  was  a 
I'riend,  or  Quaker,  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order,  and  stood  high  in  his  community.  He 
married,  in  1796,  Elizabeth  Duns,  born  in 
Cdasgow,  Scotland,  died  in  Albany  in  1852. 
.Mthough  she  was  left  a  widow  with  six  small 
children  and  limited  means,  through  thrift  ,-ind 
energy  she  supported  them  and  brought  them 
up  in  respectability. 

(  \' )  Jesse  Charles,  youngest  of  the  six  chil- 
dren of  Jesse  and  Elizabeth  (Duns)  Potts, 
was  born  in  Albany,  New  York,  September 
30,  1811,  died  there  February  2,  1891.  He 
was  educated  in  Albany,  attending  the  old 
Lancaster  school  on  the  corner  of  .Chapel  and 
Columbia  streets,  and  later  on  the  site  of  the 
present  .Albany  Medical  College.  At  the  age 
of  thirteen  he  became  self-supporting,  work- 
ing at  various  occupations  until  he  reached  the 
age  of  seventeen,  when  he  began  an  appren- 
ticeship at  the  molder's  trade  with  Corning  & 
Norton,  owners  of  the  Eagle  Foundry.  In 
1830  this  firm  sold  their  business  to  Many  & 
\\'ard.  and  he  finished  his  apprenticeship  with 
Francis  Low  at  the  Clinton  Foundry  in  1832. 
He  worked  as  a  journeyman  molder  in  Al- 
bany until  1835,  when  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  Benjamin  Thomas  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  stove  castings,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Thomas  &  Potts,  afterwards  Thomas,  Potts  & 
Wells,  their  foundry  being  located  on  the  site 
of  the  First  Baptist  Church.  After  continu- 
ing in  the  business  a  short  time  he  disposed  of 
his  interest  to  his  partners  and  took  a  posi- 
tion as  foreman  of  the  De  Grafif  Foundry.  In 
1837  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Levi  S. 
Hoffman,  and  as  Hoffman  &  Potts  began  the 
manufacture  of  stove  castings  in  May  of  that 
year.  This  firm  continued  in  successful  oper- 
ation imtil  1846,  when  he  bought  Mr.  Hoff- 
man's interest  and  for  the  succeeding  four 
years  conducted  the  business  alone,  when  he 
.sold  it  to  Shear  &  Packard.  In  1852.  with 
Jacob  H.  Shear  and  Joseph  Packard,  he 
formed  the  firm  of  Shear,  Packard  &  (Com- 
pany, and  built  the  foundry  on  Grand  street, 
at  the  head  of  Arch,  and  continued  the  manu- 
facture of  stoves.  The  fimi  did  an  extensive 
business  and  contributed  largely  to  the  fame 
-Vlbany  then  enjoyed  as  the  great  stove  manu- 
facturing center  of  the  world.  In  February, 
1857,  at  the  expiration  of  their  partnership 
agreement,  Mr.  Potts  sold  his  interest  to  his 
partners  and  retired  from  active  business  life. 

In  1850  and  1851  he  became  interested  in 
Albanv  real  estate,  and  from  that  time  until 


382 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


i860  was  engaged  in  the  improvement  of 
parcels  of  land  he  had  acquired  in  different 
parts  of  the  city.  In  1851  he  made  a  tour  of 
Europe  in  company  with  his  friend  George 
Dawson,  of  the  Albany  Evening  Journal.  His 
activities  were  not  confined  to  his  private 
business,  but  included  all  departments  of  city 
life.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Commerce  Insurance  Company  in  1859,  and  a 
director  from  that  time  :  he  was  also  a  director 
of  the  First  National  Bank.  He  served  his 
time  in  the  volunteer  fire,  department  and  was 
foreman  of  truck  No.  i,  enlisting  in  that  com- 
pany August  I,  1835.  In  1852  he  represented 
the  old  third  ward  in  the  board  of  supervisors, 
being  elected  as  a  Whig.  He  continued  a 
Whig  until  1856,  when  he  transferred  his  al- 
legiance to  the  Republican  party.  He  took  a 
deep  interest  in  American  coins  and  medals, 
and  liad  a  fine  collection.  He  belonged  to 
Fireman's  Lodge,  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  being  one  of  the  charter  members  at 
the  institution  of  that  lodge,  March  10,  1837. 
For  half  a  century  or  more  he  had  been  a 
member  of  St.  Peter's  Episcopal  Church,  and 
was  for  many  years  a  vestryman,  and  in  i860 
was  one  of  the  committee  that  had  charge  of 
the  erection  of  the  present  sightly  building. 
His  career  demonstrates  what  pluck,  energy, 
brains,  and  clean  living  can  accomplish.  Start- 
ing in  life  a  poor  boy,  he  became  one  oi  Al- 
bany's influential,  prosperous,  and  most  hon- 
ored citizens. 

He  married,  December  22,  1835,  Eunice  U. 
Walker,  born  in  1812,  died  June  23,  1890, 
daughter  of  Ashbel  \\'alker.  Children  :  Sarah 
Bcnham ;  Jesse  Walker,  of  further  mention. 

(\"I)  Jesse  Walker,  .son  of  Jesse  Charles 
and  Eunice  L;.  (Walker)  Potts,  was  born  in 
Albany,  November  4,  1843.  After  prei)aring 
at  private  schools  and  the  Albany  Boys'  Acad- 
emy, he  entered  Harvard  University  and  was 
graduated  in  the  class  of  1865  with  the  degree 
of  .\.V,..  later  receiving  that  of  .\.M.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Phi  lieta  Kajjpa  Society.  .A 
man  of  cultivated  tastes  and  tendencies,  his 
life  has  been  spent  in  the  management  of  his 
private  estate  and  in  the  service  of  institu- 
tions, philanthroijic,  charitable,  religious  and 
educational.  He  is  a  governor  of  Albany  Hos- 
pital:  a  trustee  of  Albany  Medical  College;  a 
trustee  and  vice-president  of  the  Home  for 
Aged  Men:  a  director  of  the  Albany  Institute 
and  Historical  and  Art  Society ;  a  life-fellow 
of  the  American  Geographical  Society ;  a 
member  of  the  American  ]\Iuseum  of  Natural 
History;  a  life  member  of  the  American  Nu- 
mismatic Society,  and  a  member  of  the  Amer- 
ican Numismatic  Association.  Mr.  Potts  is 
greatly  interested  in  .American  coins  and  med- 


als, of  which  he  has  a  valuable  collection.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Circle  of  Friends  of  the 
Medallion.  In  1895  he  and  his  sister.  Miss 
Sarah  B.  Potts,  gave  to  St.  Peter's  Church 
the  rectory  as  a  memorial  to  their  father  and 
mother.  He  is  devoted  to  the  interests  of  St. 
Peter's  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  he  is  a 
vestryman.  His  clubs  are  the  Fort  Orange 
and  L'niversity  of  Albany,  and  the  Harvard 
of  New  York  City.  In  politics  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican. He  resides  at  No.  342  State  street,  .-\1- 
ban\'. 


(  \'I )  John  G.  \'ander 
\'ANDER\'EER  \eer,  son  of  Garret 
(q.  V.)*  and  Rachel 
(Couwenhoven)  \'ander  \'eer,  was  born  in 
Florida.  Montgomery  county,  New  York, 
May  10.  1798,  died  July  7,  1813.  Shortly 
after  the  close  of  the  revolution  an  exodus  of 
farmers  began  from  New  Jersey  to  New  York 
state.  Among  the  many  who  settled  in  Mont- 
gomery county  were  the  parents  of  John  G. 
\'ander  ^'eer.  He  became  a  successful  farm- 
er of  the  town  of  Glen,  in  his  native  county. 
He  secured  a  large  tract  of  unbroken  land 
which  he  improved  and  cultivated.  A  part 
of  this  farm  is  now  owned  by  his  grandson,, 
Ira  \'anderveer,  and  is  known  as  "Willow- 
dale"  stock  farm.  John  G.  died  on  his  farm 
at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  He  mar- 
ried, in  Glen,  Ann  \'oorhees,  born  in  Florida. 
Montgomery  county,  in  1790,  died  in  Glen 
about  1852.  John  G.  and  Ann  Vander  \eer 
were  prominent  in  the  church  and  social  life 
of  Glen,  where  their  upright,  conscientious 
lives  gained  for  them  the  highest  regard. 
Children:  i.  Tunis,  born  December  8,  1822, 
see  forward.  2.  James,  died  at  Benton  Har- 
bor. Michigan,  where  he  settled  shortly  after 
his  marriage  to  Nancy ,  whom  he  mar- 
ried in  Michigan:  children:  i.  John,  a  farmer 
of  Watervliet.  Michigan  :  ii.  William  Al.,  of 
Pienton  Harbor,  Michigan  ;  iii.  Elizabeth,  mar- 
ried John  Downing,  whom  she  survives ;  iv. 
Ernest,  of  Benton  Harbor,  Michigan.  3. 
John  traveled  to  California  with  Jacob  End- 
ers  who  died  there;  John  returned  to  Mis- 
souri, where  he  died  :  the  party  traveled  across 
the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  following  the  Nic- 
aragua route:  he  left  a  wife  but  no  chil- 
dren. 4.  William  B..  died  in  Glen,  his  native 
town  :  he  married  Elizabeth  Putman,  of  the 
ejrly  Montgomery  family  of  that  name;  chil- 
dren: i.  John,  of  the  state  of  California:  ii. 
Mary,  born  June  i,  1848,  died  April  i.  1909; 
married  J.  S.  Glen  Edwards,  of  Glen  \'il- 
lage.  and  left  Florence,  married  Guy  Moore, 

*Varioiis   family   lines   used  varfoiis   forms   of  the- 
family   name. 


HUDSON    AND    AFOHAWK    \ALLEYS 


383 


of  Glen  ;  Deborah,  married  Charles  J.  Nietsch. 
5.  Newton,  late  in  life  removed  to  Benton 
Harbor,  Michigan,  and  engaged  in  mercantile 
business;  was  a  director  in  the  First  National 
I!ank  of  Ilenton  Harbor,  which  he  helped  to 
organize  and  establish,  and  where  he  died  :  he 
married,  in  Glen,  Jane  Edwards,  born  July  9, 
1833;  they  had  three  daughters:  Fannie, 
(jrace,  Jennie.  6.  Ruth,  married  David  End- 
ers,  of  Glen,  whom  she  survives,  a  resident  of 
Benton  Harbor.  ]\Iichigan :  children :  i.  Wil- 
liam, of  Boise  City,  Idaho;  ii.  Arthur,  D.D.S., 
of  I'.enton  Harbor;  iii.  .Sheldon,  of  Cali- 
fornia. 

(\'II)  General  Tunis  \"anderveer.  eldest 
son  of  John  G.  and  Ann  (\'oorhees)  \'ander 
\'eer.  was  born  December  8,  1822.  in  Glen, 
Montgomery  county,  New  York,  where  he 
lived  his  entire  life,  dying  September  30, 
1898.  He  occupied  the  Enders  homestead 
farm  near  Glen  \'illage  and  was  a  successful 
farmer,  a  man  of  high  principle,  strict  in- 
tegrity, public  spirit,  unstinted  liberality,  and 
universally  loved  and  respected.  He  was  a 
member  and  a  leader  of  the  Reformed  church 
and  contributed  greatly  to  its  temporal  and 
spiritual  prosperity.  He  married,  in  Glen, 
Nellie  Enders,  born  October  9,  1821,  died  on 
the  Enders  homestead,  February  i,  1899, 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Eleanor  (Newkirk) 
Enders.  Peter  Enders  was  born  in  Glen,  Oc- 
tober 7,  1786,  died  May  29,  i86g ;  married 
Eleanor  Newkirk,  born  Alarch  19,  1788,  died 
September  23,  1854.  Their  children  ;  I.Cath- 
erine, born  July  17.  1807,  died  January  11, 
1891  ;   married   William    Enders.    her   cousin. 

2.  Garrett,  born  June  11,  1809,  died  in  Am- 
sterdam, New  York,  having  passed  his  nine- 
tieth year :  married Phillips.    3.  Jacob, 

died  on  his  way  to  California  in  1849;  un- 
married. 4.  Samuel,  born  May  12,  1813, 
lived  and  died  in  Glen  ;  married  Hester  Per- 
rine,  who  died  very  old  in  Oneonta,  New  York. 

3.  Rachel,  married  (first)  Preacher  \'an 
Buren :  married  (second)  Peter  \'an  Ant- 
werp ;  left  a  son  John  H.  \'an  Antwerp,  post- 
master of  Fultonville,  New  York,  who  mar- 
ried Una  Hubbs,  of  Florida  ;  has  a  daughter 
Ethel  \"an  Antwerp,  who  married  Heath 
White,  and  resides  in  Philadelphia.  6.  Chris- 
tina, born  July  24,  1819,  died  in  Glen;  mar- 
ried   Eckerson,  a  millwright,  who  died 

in  Brazil.  South  America.  7.  Nellie,  mar- 
ried General  Tunis  \'anderveer.  8.  Eliza- 
beth, died  young.  9.  John  E.,  died  young. 
10.  Cornelius,  died  young.  Children  of 
Tunis  and  Nellie  (Enders)  \'anderveer :  i. 
Henriette,  born  December  22,  1846,  died 
March  29,  1848.  2.  Ira.  see  forward.  3.  Vir- 
ginia,   born    September    4.    1855,    resides    in 


Glen,  unmarried.  4.  John  E.,  born  October 
22,  1859 ;  married  Elizabeth  \'an  Home,  of 
.\msterdam,  no  issue ;  he  is  a  merchant  of 
Amsterdam  and  interested  with  his  brother 
Ira  in  "Willowdalc"  stock  farm. 

(VIII)  General  Ira  Vandervecr,  eldest  son 
of  Tunis  and  Nellie  (Enders)  \"anderveer, 
was  born  on  the  Enders  homestead  in  Glen, 
November  7,  1850.  His  birthplace  is  part  of 
the  original  Enders  homestead,  which  he  now 
owns  and  operates  as  a  stock  farm  known 
far  and  w^ide  as  "'W'illowdale."  He  carries 
on  the  business  of  a  general  farmer  in  con- 
nection with  stock  raising.  His  specialty  is 
Percheron  horses  and  Guernsey  cattle,  and  he 
owns  some  of  the  finest  specimens  of  these 
breeds  in  the  state.  He  is  a  constant  and  win- 
ning exhibitor  at  the  state  and  county  fairs, 
and  has  a  wide  reputation  as  an  authority  oit 
the  breeding  and  care  of  fine  stock.  His 
farm,  lying  in  the  beautiful  Mohawk  \'alley, 
is  one  of  the  best  in  that  fertile  region,  and 
as  shown  has  been  in  the  family  three  male 
generations,  nearly  or  quite  a  full  century.  He 
is  interested  in  the  prosperity  of  the  Reformed 
church.  His  political  preference  is  for  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  Republican  party. 
He  married,  in  Johnstown,  New  York,  June 
25,  1890,  Cora  E.  Lewis,  born  in  the  state 
of  Iowa,  where  she  was  reared  and  educated. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  John  Lewis,  born  in 
Canajoharie,  Montgomery  county.  New  York, 
in  October,  1858,  and  is  now  a  resident  of 
Johnstown,  New  York.  He  married  Sarah 
Stokes,  born  in  England,  June  7,  1859,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Sarah  Stokes,  of  England, 
who  came  to  the  United  States  in  i860.  John 
Stokes  died  in  Canajoharie.  Sarah  Stokes 
died  in  Gloversville,  New  York,  after  passing 
her  eightieth  year.  Children  of  John  and 
Sarah  (Stokes)  Lewis:  i.  Cora  E.,  married 
Ira  \"anderveer.  2.  Ray  Lewis,  married 
Mamie  Ecker,  and  has  a  son  Clarence  W.  3. 
Gertrude,  married  Jacob  Burton,  of  Johns- 
town, foreman  for  the  Decker  Manufacturing 
Company,  and  has  Emily.  Jacob.  Catherine 
and  Clayton  Burton.  Mrs.  Ira  \"anderveer  is 
a  member  of  the  Reformed  church,  with  her 
husband,  and  equally  interested  in  its  welfare. 
Thev  have  no  children. 


The  coat-of-arms  of  the  Douw 
DOUW     family,   as   it  was   depicted   u])on 

the  window  of  the  old  Dutch 
church  in  Albany.  New  York,  and  as  was 
borne  by  \'olckert  Jansen  Douw,  is  as  follows: 
Field ;  Argent,  on  a  fess  azure  a  demi-female 
robed  gules,  holding  in  her  de.xter  hand  a  bird 
sable,  behind  an  anchor  sable.  In  chief  on  dex- 
ter a  tree  proper,  and  on  sinister  a  mountain- 


384 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


proper.  In  base  a  bird  sejant,  with  wings  dis- 
played sable.  Lambrequin  crimson,  lining 
■white.  Crest:  Over  an  esquire's  helmet  a 
wreath  azure,  surmounted  by  a  cross-crosslet 
with  a  ring  azure.  Motto :  Criici  diim  fido 
^piro. 

The  family  descent  is  traced  to  Jan  Douw, 
of  Leuwarden,  province  of  Friesland,  Holland, 
who  was  a  burgher.  He  had,  besides  other 
children,  the  following:  i.  A"olckert,  married 
Dorothe  Janse  \'an  Breestede  while  in  Hol- 
land :  came  to  America  and  settled  in  the 
Rensselaer wyck  colony  in  1638 ;  died  1681 
(see  forward).  2.  Neeltje,  married  (first) 
Jan  Jansen  Van  Ditmarsen,  ancestor  of  the 
Ditmars  family;  (second)  Louis  Joriszen 
A'an  Der  \'eer,  in  Teal't.  January  9,  1650.  3. 
Andries.  who  came  to  this  country,  married, 
and  settled  in  New  York  City.  4.  Lysbeth, 
married  Johannes  Van  Eps,  one  of  the  earli- 
est settlers  of  Schenectady. 

(H)  A'olckert  Jansen  Douw,  son  of  Jan 
Douw,  of  Holland,  was  a  captain  in  the  Dutch 
army  when  driven  from  his  home  in  Leuwar- 
den by  the  persecutions  waged  against  the 
Mennonites.  He  fled  to  Friedrichstadt,  Den- 
mark, taking  his  family  along,  and  intent 
upon  finding  a  place  to  live  where  religious 
liberty  was  accorded  every  one.  When  the 
same  feeling  began  to  make  headway  there 
as  had  been  experienced  by  him  in  his  former 
home,  he  set  sail  for  America.  He  settled 
first  at  Catskill,  but  remained  only  a  short 
time,  when  he  decided  to  join  those  who  were 
planting  the  colony  of  Rensselaerwyck.  The 
exact  date  of  his  reaching  there  is  not  known, 
but  he  is  mentioned  in  1638  as  a  prominent 
member  of  the  little  settlement,  and  it  was 
not  long  before  he  became  an  extensive  land- 
bolder.  He  owned  more  than  one  brewery, 
and  had  a  house-lot  on  the  .southwest  corner 
of  Broadway  and  State  street.  It  has  been 
said  that  he  procured  this  site,  still  in  the  fam- 
ily in  igii.  in  a  ])eculiar  manner.  The  story 
is  that,  living  on  Papsknae  Island,  on  the  east  • 
bank  of  the  Hudson,  below  Albany,  he  came 
to  town  regularly  to  attend  service  at  the 
Dutch  church,  located  in  the  middle  of  the 
street  where  Broadway  now  intersects  State 
street,  and  he  required  a  place  of  shelter  be- 
tween tlie  morning  and  afternoon  services  and 
a  shed  for  his  horse.  He  therefore  acquired 
tile  place  adjoining  the  smithy,  standing  on 
the  corner,  and  although  it  was  but  a  trivial 
sum  to  pay  for  the  object  in  those  days,  it  is 
now  the  center  of  the  business  section  of  the 
Capital  City,  and  a  most  prominent  corner. 
This  seems  hardly  true,  without  knowing 
other  particulars,  in  the  light  of  the  record 
tliat  he  bought  the  corner,  known  to-day  as 


the  Douw  building,  directly  from  the  Indians 
in  1640,  which  conveyance  he  confirmed  to  his 
widow  in  1693,  for  the  corner-stone  of  the 
first  of  two  churches  erected  on  that  site  was 
laid  on  June  2,  1656.  However,  he  was  dea- 
con of  that  church,  and  much  concerned  in  its 
affairs,  especially  in  the  work  of  erecting  the 
new  edifice,  after  the  one  established  in  1642 
near  Fort  Orange  (Steamboat  Square)  be- 
came too  congested  as  the  population  grew. 
His  brewery  was  diagonally  opposite  the  site 
of  the  present  post-office,  and  the  lot  extended 
for  several  hundred  feet  to  the  Hudson  river. 
This  property  was  sold  in  1675  to  his  nephew, 
Harman  Rutgers.  His  other,  or  summer 
home,  was  on  Papsknae  Island.  This  was  a 
decidedly  disadvantageous  location  for  a 
house,  for  in  1666  there  was  an  extraordinary 
flood,  causing  the  island  where  he  dwelt  to  be 
completely  inundated,  and  sweeping  away 
houses,  breweries  (of  which  he  had  two  im- 
mense ones),  cattle,  and  all  his  personal  prop- 
erty. In  this  way  many  of  the  valued  family 
records  were  lost,  but  the  inmates  managed 
to  escape.  The  only  property  rescued  was  a 
small  round  table  and  his  colt,  which  were 
carried  by  the  swift  current  through  the 
hoist-door  of  his  home  into  the  second  story. 
It  was  in  this  year  that  he  bought  a  tract  on 
the  mainland,  situated  on  the  east  bank  of 
the  Hudson,  and  to  this  day  known  to  boat- 
men as  Douw's  Point.  It  is  a  locality  where 
there  has  been  considerable  trouble  yearly  in 
the  spring  when  on  the  breaking  up  of  the 
ice,  crowded  by  that  forcing  its  way  from  the 
Mohawk,  ice  gorges  have  been  wont  to  form 
at  the  bar  thus  created,  known  as  the  Over- 
slaugh. Douw's  Point,  in  changing  the  course 
of  the  current,  was  responsible  for  these  con- 
ditions, and  necessitated  dredging  the  channel 
nearly  every  year. 

X'olckert  J.  Douw  owned  much  land  at  Eso- 
pus,  and  was  one  of  the  original  patentees 
of  that  settlement.  On  some  occasions  he 
bought  in  conjunction  with  his  partner,  Jan 
Thomase,  other  times  individually.  They  had 
bought  Apjen's  (Pap.sknae,  or  Little  Mon- 
key) Island  together.  Douw  Ixjught  Consta- 
pei's  Island,  lying  opposite  the  township  of 
Bethlehem,  just  south  of  Albany,  half  of 
which  he  sold  in  1677  to  Pieter  Winne,  an- 
other prominent  early  settler.  In  1672  he 
owned  Schutter's  Island,  below  Beeren  Island, 
fourteen  miles  south  of  Albany,  which  he  sold 
to  Barent  Picterse  Coeymans,  from  whom  the 
town  of  Coeymans  derives  its  name. 

He  was  made  deacon  of  the  Dutch  Re- 
formed church  in  1654,  about  twelve  years 
after  its  projection  by  Patroon  Kiliaen  Van 
Rensselaer,  who  sent  over  to  his  colony  Dom- 


HUDSON    A\D    MOHA\\-K    \-ALLEYS 


385 


inie  Mejjapolensis,  the  pioneer  in  church 
work  in  the  province  of  New  York  outside  of 
New  Amsterdam.  This  was  some  sixty  years 
before  any  other  church  was  established  in 
Albany,  the  English  church  coming  next,  in 
1712,  and  its  first  edifice.  St.  Peter's  church, 
was  opened  for  worship  November  25,  1717. 
From  1654  to  i66o  he  was  a  magistrate,  and 
in  those  days  they  were  the  most  learned  men 
of  the  community.  At  various  times  he  was 
attorney  and  guardian  for  several  large  es- 
tates. He  occupied  the  position  of  commis- 
sary, and  continuously  that  of  Indian  com- 
missioner. He  made  his  will  in  1680,  and 
died  in  1681,  at  Albany. 

\'olckert  Jansen  Douw  married,  in  New 
Amsterdam,  April  19,  1630,  Dorothe  Janse 
\'an  Breestede,  of  Breestede,  Denmark  (now 
Germany).  She  died  in  Albany,  November 
22.  1701.  Children:  i.  Jonas  \'olckert,  mar- 
ried (first),  September  20,  1683.  Magdalena 
Ouackenbush  :  (second),  April  24,  1696,  Ca- 
trina  W'itbeck  (see  forward).  2.  Andries,  mar- 
ried (first).  June  24,  1685,  Annetje;  (second), 
June  23,  1697,  Elsje  Hanse :  (third)  October 
21,  1702,  Lydia  De  Meyer;  (fourth),  in  New 
York,  February  24.  1708,  Adriana  Vender- 
•grift.  3.  Volckertje,  married  Claes  \'an 
Brockhoven.  4.  Dorothe.  5.  Catrina  (Caat- 
je).  married,  .April  30,  1684,  Hendrick  Jans 
'Oothout.  6.  Engeltje  (Angelica),  married, 
about  1683,  -Andries  Jans  \\'itbeck.  7.  Hen- 
drick, married,  October  3,  1697,  Neeltje 
Myndertse  Van  Yveren,  widow  of  Captain 
Marten  Gerritsen  \'an  Bergen,  who  died  be- 
fore 1704.  8.  Elsje.  9.  Rebecca.  10.  \'olck- 
•ert,  married,  November  16,  1701,  Margareta 
\'an  Tricht.  11.  Greitje.  married  Gerrit  Ten- 
nis \'an  Vechten. 

(  HI )  Captain  Jonas  Volckert  Douw.  son  of 
Captain  \'olckert  Jansen  Douw  and  Dorothe 
Janse  \"an  Breestede,  was  a  lieutenant  of  foot 
in  the  year  1700,  and  was  later  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  captain.  He  was  born  in  Green- 
bush  (Rensselaer,  N.  Y.),  and  dying  October 
7,  1736,  was  buried  in  the  family  burial 
ground  of  Wolvenhoeck,  at  Douw's  Point. 
He  married  (first),  at  Beverwyck,  September 
20,  1683,  Magdalena.  daughter  of  Pieter 
Quackenbush  and  his  wife  Alartje,  bv  whom 
"he  had  four  children.  After  her  death  he 
married,  .April  24,  1696,  at  Schenectady,  Ca- 
trina, daughter  of  Jan  Thomas  Witbeck  and 
widow  of  Jacob  Sanders  Glen,  of  Schenec- 
tady, by  whom  no  children.  Children:  i. 
Marytje.  baptized  October  19.  1684.  2.  \'olck- 
-ert,  baptized  November  14,  1686,  at  .Albanv, 
died  April  17,  171 1.  3.  Dorothe.  baptized 
June  22,  1689.  4.  Petrus,  baptized,  .Albany, 
IMarch   24,    1692 ;  married,   October  8,    1717, 


Anna  Van  Rensselaer;  died  August  21,  1775. 

(IV)  Captain  Petrus  Douw,  son  of  Jonas 
Douw  and  Magdalena  Petrus  Quackenbush, 
was  baptized  at  Albany.  ?ilarch  24,  1692,  and 
died  at  his  home  in  Greenbush,  August  21, 
1775.  He  was  the  sole  surviving  son  of  his 
father,  and  became  a  man  of  great  impor- 
tance throughout  the  province.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  twenty-seventh  council  and 
general  assembly  of  the  Province  of  New 
York,  "begun  and  holden  at  the  house  of 
Jacob  Dyckman  in  the  Out  Ward  of  the  City 
of  New  York." 

On  the  eastern  bank  of  the  Hudson  river, 
about  a  mile  below  Albany,  was  a  point  of 
land,  which  was  known  in  1717  as  Wolven 
Hoeck,  because  it  was  infested  with  packs  of 
wolves.  It  was  a  beautiful  location  other- 
wise, covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  elms 
and  sycamores  of  enormous  growth,  and  it 
was  there  that  the  wolves  came  down  to  the 
shore  to  drink.  Captain  Petrus  Douw  select- 
ed this  spot  for  the  location  of  his  home,  and 
building  a  house  there  in  1724,  named  it 
Wolvenhoeck.  His  great-great-granddaugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Mary  Lanman  Douw  Ferris,  has 
made  considerable  research  to  learn  all  she 
could  about  the  family  homestead,  which  de- 
scended for  many  generations  in  the  family, 
and  from  these  discoveries  one  may  form  an 
excellent  impression  of  the  quaintness  of  the 
old  place.  The  original  house  was  a  story 
and  a  half  high,  and  well  spread  out  on  the 
ground.  It  was  built  of  wood,  and  bricks 
brought  from  Holland,  it  is  said,  as  ballast  in 
a  sailing  vessel,  and  the  roof  was  shingled 
with  white  fir.  The  top  of  the  gable  wall  was 
notched  into  corbel  steps,  and  the  black  fore 
bricks  of  the  kiln  were  laid,  alternating  with 
yellow  ones,  to  make  checks  on  the  gable 
fronts.  The  roof  sloped  from  the  ridge  pole 
and  dormer  windows  broke  its  uniformity. 
The  heavy,  wooden,  outside  shutters  swung 
upon  massive  iron  hinges,  with  a  crescent  cut 
near  the  top  to  admit  the  early  light.  Above 
the  front  door  was  a  free-stone  slab  with  the 
initials  "P.  D.,  A.  \'.  R.,"  cut  into  it,  they 
being  the  first  letters  of  his  own  and  his  wife's 
name.  The  front  wall  was  pierced  at  places 
for  the  use  of  muskets  in  case  of  a  sudden 
emergency,  for  at  that  period  there  were  fre- 
quent attacks  at  the  hands  of  savage  Indians ; 
in  fact,  a  particularly  desperate  raid  was  once 
made  upon  the  place  by  what  were  called  the 
River  Indians,  coming  from  below.  The  front 
door  of  this  house  was  divided  into  two  parts 
across  the  middle.  The  upper  half,  which 
usually  swung  wide  open  in  the  summer 
months,  had  two  bull's-eyes  of  glass,  so  as 
to  light  the  hallway,  and  was  graced  with  a 


386 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK   \ALLEYS 


heavy,  brass  knocker,  brought  from  Leuwar- 
den.    The  lower  half  had  a  heavy  latch.    The 
great  hall  was  to  some  extent  a  living  room, 
and   through   its   center  was  the   hoist   door, 
through  which  wheat  was  hoisted  by  employ- 
ing a  crane,  for  storage  in  the  loft,  for  every 
house    of    any    pretensions    had    its   cock-loft 
within    the    steep    roof,    where    house    slaves 
slept,  and  also  used  for  storage  purposes.     A 
little  to  one  side  was  a  staircase  with  a  flight 
of  steps  leading  to  the  loft.     Over  the  front 
door  was  a  shelf  with  steps  by  which  it  might 
be  reached,  and  here  was  placed  the  tobacco 
box.     The  rooms  were  wainscoted  to  a  height 
of    about    three    feet,    excepting    the    dining- 
room,  which  had  a  chair-board  running  about 
it.     The  windows   were  of  small,   diamond- 
shaped  panes  of  glass,  set  into  leaden  frames. 
Chintz    calico    formed    the    curtains,    put    up 
without  cornices.     The  only  carpet  in  service 
was    in   the    parlor.      The    chairs    were    stiff, 
straight,  high-backed,  covered  with  haircloth, 
similarly  to  the  claw-footed  sofa,  which  were 
all  ornamented  with  triple  rows  of  brass  nails. 
These  articles  of  furniture  were  of  San  Do- 
mingo mahogany,   and   reckoned   of  value  in 
the  present  age.     Very  interesting  were  the 
stand  with  a  turning  top,  and  a  small  table 
with   claw   feet,  holding  the  family   Bible,  in 
which  accurate  records  were  entered  by  fath- 
er  and   son.      Hanging   on   the   whitewashed 
walls  were  oil  portraits  of  those  left   in  the 
Fatherland,  some  painted  by  Frans  Hals  and 
Gerhardus  Douw.     The  tiles  in  the  chimney- 
jamb  were  laid  in  cement,  made  from  pow- 
dered    clamshells,     displaying     pictorial     de- 
signs of  scriptural  nature,  brought  from  Leu- 
warden,     The  fireplace  was  so  large  that  one 
might    easily    stand    therein,    and    it    held    a 
hickory  log  eight  feet  long :  the  brass  shovel 
and   tongs   standing   at   the   corners,  brought 
from  Harlem.     Over  the  mantel  was  a  long 
glass  separated  in  three  divisions  by  strips  of 
moulding,    and    alongside    hung   the   bellows. 
On  each  side  of  the  chimney  was  a  sort  of  al- 
cove  with   low   benches.     Between   the   front 
windows  was  a  sconce.     The  Dutch  tea-table 
stood  in  one  corner,  upon   it  spread  a   linen 
cloth,  once  the  property  of  Anneke  Jans,  Mrs. 
Douw's   great-grandmother.     The  china   was 
of  delicate  texture  and  was  valued  highly,  for 
it   was   brought   all   the   way    from   China    in 
the  sailing  vessel   of  Captain    Stewart   Dean, 
of  Albany,  on  the  first  journey  ever  made  to 
that   far  country  by   a  vessel   docked   at   -Al- 
bany.     It   was   made   to   order,   with    initials 
worked  into  the  pattern.     The  napkins  in  use 
were  spun  at  home.    These  and  other  napery 
were    kept    in    an    oaken,    iron-bound    chest. 
Back  of  the  living-room  was  the  "meister's 


bedroom,"'  containing  an  enormous  bedstead, 
with  its  four  corner  posts  handsomely  carved 
and  an  elaborate  canopy  above,  a  fringed  val- 
ance to  match  hanging  below.  The  sacking 
bottom  was  pierced  with  holes  bound  with 
linen  thread,  and  by  this  means  it  was 
stretched  by  a  stout  rope  to  corresponding 
pegs  in  the  framework.  Back  of  this  room 
was  a  small  library  and  office,  a  large  mahog- 
any desk  with  numerous  pigeon-holes  and 
books  above,  being  the  principal  piece  of  fur- 
niture beyond  the  heavy,  comfortable  arm- 
chair. Off  the  library  was  the  dood  kamer,  or 
death  chamber,  where  those  of  the  family 
who  died  were  placed  until  the  funeral  cere- 
mony was  held.  These  ceremonies  were  made 
events  of  great  importance,  and  the  little  silver 
spoons,  marked  with  initials,  given  on  that 
occasion,  are  still  treasured  as  heirlooms.  It 
is  related  that  when  Judge  Douw  died  in 
1801,  a  keg  of  wine  which  he  had  prepared 
for  that  specific  occasion  was  brought  out. 
He  had  it  spiced  so  carefully  under  his  direc- 
tions that  many  of  the  guests,  having  imbibed 
too  freely,  had  to  be  carried  to  their  homes 
on  ox-sleds. 

The  Wolvenhoeck  house  was  surrounded 
by  a  circular  stockade.  It  stood  twelve  feet 
high,  and  was  made  of  oak  posts  which  had 
been  pointed  and  bolted  to  transverse  timbers, 
having  a  gate,  pointed  on  both  the  upper  and 
lower  sides,  which  was  raised  by  weights  in  a 
gallows  frame.  Many  Indian  treaties  were 
executed  inside  this  little  stockade,  and  at 
such  times  the  chiefs  and  their  squaws  slept 
on  their  buffalo  robes  inside  the  limits,  while 
their  band  found  shelter  under  the  trees  along 
the  river  bank. 

It  was  while  he  was  living  here  that  Gen- 
eral Abercrombie's  army  was  encamped  in 
1758  opposite  his  house,  while  recruiting  be- 
fore proceeding  to  Ticonderoga.  They  dug 
from  the  steeps  banks  to  form  places  wherein 
to  hang  their  kettles  and  perform  their  cook- 
ing, and  these  lioles  were  pointed  out  as  curi- 
osities until  nearly  1900,  when  the  elements 
and  improvements  of  the  river  had  eradicated 
most  of  them. 

Captain  Petrus  Douw  married,  at  Albany, 
October  8,  17 17,  Anna  Van  Rensselaer,  born 
at  her  father's  home,  known  as  Fort  Crailo,. 
Greenhush  (Rensselaer,  N.  Y.)  ;  was  bap- 
tized February  2,  1696,  and  died  at  Green- 
bush,  March  29,  1756.  Her  father  was  Ma- 
jor Ilendrick  Van  Rensselaer,  born  in  Rens- 
selaerwyck,  October  23,  1667,  died  in  Green- 
bush,  July  2,  1740,  who  married,  in  New 
York  City,  March  19,  1689,  Catharina  Van 
Brugh,  born  in  New  York,  baptized  there 
April   19,   1665,  died  in  Grenbush,  December- 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK    \'ALLEYS 


387 


6.  1730.  Petrus  Doinv  and  Anna  Van  Rens- 
selaer had  nine  children,  six  of  whom  lived 
to  marry  and  raise  families  which  became 
prominent  wherever  they   settled.     Children : 

1.  ^lagdalena,  born  August  i,  1718,  died 
October  12,  1796;  married,  May  29,  1740, 
Harmen  Gansevoort,  son  of  Leendert  (or 
Leonard)  Gansevoort,  and  Catrina  De  Wande- 
laer.  who  was  baptized  at  Albany,  April  20, 
1712:  died  there,  March  7,  1801  ;  by  whom: 
Sara,  baptized  June  17,  1741 ;  Petrus,  bap- 
tized January  16,  1743  ;  Anna,  baptized  Octo- 
ber 19,  1744;  Anna  Gansevoort,  died  August 
9,  1794,  aged  49  years.  10  months,  3  days; 
Catarina.  baptized  October  25,  1747;  Petrus, 
baptized  July  16,  1749;  Leendert  (or  Leon- 
ard), baptized  July  14,  1751;  Hendrick.  bap- 
tized September  22,  1753  :  Hendrick,  baptized 
June  5,  1757;  Catarina,  baptized  October  15, 
1758. 

2.  \  olckert  Petrus,  born  at  Wolvenhoeck, 
Greenbush,  March  23.  1720,  died  there,  March 
20.  1801  ;  married,  Albany,  May  20,  1742, 
Anna  De  Peyster  (see  forward). 

3.  Hendrick,  born  April  13,  1722;  died  De- 
cember 17,  1756. 

4.  Catrina,  born  ^larch  23,  1724;  died  Jan- 
uary I,  181 1. 

5.  Maria,  born  December  25,i725;died  Au- 
gust 17,  1759;  married,  December  2,  1750, 
at  Albany.  Johannes  Gansevoort.  son  of  Leen- 
dert Gansevoort  and  Catrina  De  Wandelaer, 
born  at  Albany,  April  3,  1719,  baptized  (Bible 
record),  April  7,  1721  ;  died  at  Albany,  No- 
vember 28.  178 1  :  by  whom:  Catrina,  bap- 
tized June  9,  1751 :  Leendert.  baptized  Janu- 
ary 14,  1753 ;  Leendert,  born  June  3,  1754, 
died  December  16,  1834;  Annatje,  baptized 
July  31,  1757. 

6.  IMargarita,  born  October  2.  1729 ;  mar- 
ried. December  21,  1752.  Dr.  Henricus  \'an 
Dyck.  son  of  Cornelis  \'an  Dyck  and  Maria 
Bries,  who  was  born  October  2,  1726:  by 
whom:  Cornelis.  baptized  December  9,  1753; 
Maria,  baptized  March  21,  1756:  Anna,  bap- 
tized November  5,  1758;  Petrus,  born  April 
29.  1760. 

7.  Anna,  born  February  20.  1732,  (Bible 
record)  :  baptized  February  5.  1732,  (church 
record)  :  married,  Albany,  June  3,  1761,  Ger- 
ardus  Beekman,  of  New  York  City  ;  by  whom  : 
Petrus  Douw,  born  September  2,  1762,  died 
February  23,  1835,  married  Hannah,  who 
died  April  3,  1849.  aged  eighty-three  years ; 
Jacobus  (James),  born  December  29,  1766; 
Gerardus.  born  August  5.  1767 ;  Anna,  born 
September  16,  1769,  died  October  3,  1821 ; 
Maria,  born  August  18,  1773 ;  Gerardus,  born 
October  27,  1775. 

8.  Elizabeth,  born  December  i,  1733;  mar- 


ried, January  21,  1764.  Johannes  Beeckman, 
son  of  Martin  Beeckman  and  Gertrude  Viss- 
chcr,  who  was  baptized  March  11,  1722;  will 
proved  July  12,  1790;  by  whom  :  Martin,  bap- 
tized November  15,  1767,  died  young;  Petrus, 
baptized  August  19,  1769,  died  young;  Mar- 
tin, baptized  May  5,  1772;  Petrus,  baptized 
March  15,  1775,  married  Magdalen  Van 
Rensselaer. 

g.  Rageltje,  born  February  27.  1736.  died 
August  4.  1806. 

(V)  Mayor  Volckert  Petrus  Douw,  eldest 
son  of  Captain  Petrus  Douw  and  Anna  Van 
Rensselaer,  was  born  at  Wolvenhoeck,  in 
Greenbush.  Columbia  county.  New  York, 
March  23,  1720,  and  died  there,  on  March  20, 
1801.  He  was  a  staunch  lifelong  friend  of 
General  Philip  Schuyler,  and  after  his  death 
it  was  said  of  him  that  he  was  "a  true  patriot ; 
in  civil  and  domestic  relations,  he  was  consid- 
ered a  pattern,  and  no  man  in  Albany  died 
more  regretted." 

He  was  recorded  as  "a  freeman  and  citizen 
of  the  city  of  Albany,"  in  1748,  then  twenty- 
eight  years  of  age,  and  the  next  year  he  was 
chosen  an  alderman  of  the  First  ward.  His 
promotion  in  public  affairs  was  rapid,  and  for 
half  a  century  he  figured  in  the  principal  of- 
fices which  his  fellow  townsmen  could  offer 
him.  He  was  elected  recorder  in  1750,  and 
served  through  1760.  On  October  2,  1757, 
he  became  presiding  judge  of  the  court  of 
common  pleas,  which  position  he  continued  to 
occupy  until  May,  1775,  and  hence  was  more 
commonly  addressed  as  Judge  Douw.  In 
1759  he  was  a  member  of  the  colonial  assem- 
bly, serving  until  1766.  He  was  a  captain  of 
militia  in  1755,  participating  in  the  battle  of 
Lunenburg.  Considerable  interest  was  taken 
by  him  in  the  Dutch  Reformed  church,  and 
he  was  chosen  a  deacon.  He  was  appointed 
the  twenty-fifth  mayor  of  Albany  by  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor Cadwallader  Golden,  and  served 
as  city's  executive  from  September  29.  1761, 
until  September  9,  1770.  His  officiate  was 
during  most  trying  times,  but  he  proved  him- 
self equal  to  the  occasion,  and  his  acts  won 
admiration. 

Although  busily  engaged  by  his  several  pub- 
lic offices,  he  nevertheless  found  time  to  take 
charge  of  his  large  mercantile  business,  and 
from  time  to  time  was  a  most  influential  pe- 
titioner with  the  Lord  Commissioners  for 
Trade  in  seeking  needed  reforms.  He  was 
the  owner  of  a  large  road  house  located  about 
seven  miles  from  Albany,  on  the  stage  route 
to  Niagara,  popularl)'  known  as  "Douw's 
Inn."  He  established  and  brought  to  a  de- 
gree of  perfection  a  glass  factory  at  a  place 
named  Douwsborough,  and  this  early  attempt 


HUDSON    AND   .MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


to  produce  glassware  for  domestic  use  is  said 
to  have  resulted  in  a  manufacture  superior 
to  that  of  English  make.  At  this  day  his 
endeavors  are  cited  when  one  writes  upon 
the  history  of  glass-making  in  America. 

By  royal  appointment  he  was  presiding 
judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas;  but,  re- 
gardless of  personal  consideration,  he  took 
a  decided  stand  in  the  cause  of  the  colonies  in 
opposition  to  royalty.  In  ;\Iay,  1775,  he  de- 
clined to  serve  any  longer,  being  moved  by  a 
patriotic  spirit  not  to  hold  office  under  the 
British  government.  Because  of  the  unsettled 
condition  of  the  country  at  large,  few  courts 
were  held  under  the  constitution  of  the  state 
until  after  the  close  of  the  revolution,  but  in 
1778  he  was  appointed  first  judge  of  Albany 
by  the  provincial  convention.  In  his  opposi- 
tion to  the  stamp  act  he  was  closely  affiliated 
with  Jeremias  Van  Rensselaer  and  Philip 
Schuyler,  both  of  them  his  intimate  friends 
in  Albany,  and  their  tactful  speeches  did  much 
to  turn  the  tide  of  feeling  on  this  matter  in 
Albany. 

He  was  appointed  an  Indian  commissioner 
in  1774,  and  this  was  a  fresh  bond  of  sympa- 
thy drawing  him  into  closer  relations  with 
Philip  Schuyler,  for  to  the  latter's  acts  is  the 
country  much  indebted  for  many  important 
amicable  acts  on  the  part  of  the  tribes.  He 
was  chosen  a  delegate  on  May  5,  1775,  to 
meet  in  general  congress  in  New  York  on  the 
twenty-second  of  that  month.  On  the  twenty- 
third  about  seventy  of  the  eighty-one  dele- 
gates assembled  at  the  Exchange  in  New  York 
City,  and  organized  a  provincial  congress. 
They  chose  Peter  Van  Brugh  for  president 
and  Volckert  Petrus  Douw  for  vice-president. 
Mayor  Douw  was  appointed  one  of  the  com- 
mittee of  safety  in  1775.  On  July  13,  1755, 
he  was  appointed  one  of  the  board  of  commis- 
sioners for  Indian  affairs  in  the  northern  de- 
partment, and  his  associates  were  General 
Philip  Schuyler,  Major  Joseph  Hawley,  Tur- 
bot  Francis  and  Oliver  Wolcott.  A  month 
later  he  and  Francis  were  sent  to  hold  an  im- 
portant conference  with  the  sachems  and  war- 
riors of  the  Six  Nations  at  a  place  called  the 
German  Flatts,  west  of  Albany,  then  in  the 
w'ilderness  of  New  York.  This  was  an  im- 
portant incident  in  his  life.  The  commission- 
ers, on  September  ist,  in  their  reply  to  the 
speech  of  "Little  Abraham,"  acceded  to  the 
principal  requests  of  the  Indians,  and  informed 
them  that  General  Schuyler  and  Commission- 
er Douw  had  been  appointed  to  keep  the  coun- 
cil fires  burning  briglit  and  to  guard  the  tree 
of  peace  at  Albany.  Schuyler  gave  orders  not 
to  molest  the  Canadians  or  Indians,  which  or- 
ders were  violated  with  serious  consequences. 


Upon  Schuyler's  return  to  Albany  in  Decem- 
ber, he  found  sixty  members  of  the  Six  Na- 
tions waiting  for  him.  Mayor  Douw  was  the 
only  other  commissioner  present,  yet  the  exi- 
gencies of  the  case  demanded  action,  and  he 
conducted  the  business  with  complete  satis- 
faction to  all  concerned.  Mayor  Douw  ex- 
hibited a  marked  concern  in  the  dealings  with 
the  Indians,  and  in  the  spring  of  1776  wrote 
to  General  Schuyler  as  follows:  "Mr.  Dean 
came  dow'n  from  Onondaga  with  the  deputies 
from  the  seven  tribes  in  Canada  who  have 
been  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the  Six  Nations 
at  their  council  house  at  Onondaga.  They 
told  me  that  their  clothes  were  worn  out  on 
their  long  journey  on  the  public  business.  I 
told  them  that  I  was  much  convinced  of  it, 
and  have  given  them  each  i  pr.  shoes,  i  pr. 
buckles  and  a  hat.  I  told  them  I  would  write 
to  General  Schuyler  to  provide  them  with 
some  clothes,  as  it  would  be  troublesome  to 
carry  them  from  here  to  Canada.  They  were 
much  pleased  with  it." 

Mr.  Douw  represented  congress  at  the 
council  held  in  March,  1778,  at  Johnstown,  to 
secure  the  neutrality  if  not  the  co-operation 
of  the  entire  body  of  the  Six  Nations.  This 
was  an  important  mission  and  evidenced  their 
faith  in  him  by  the  appointment.  He  was 
made  commissary  in  1779,  and  served  in  the 
senate  from  1785  to  1793. 

Judge  Douw  w-as  a  striking  character  when 
seen  upon  the  streets  of  Albany  or  when  in 
attendance  at  conferences  in  other  parts  of 
the  province.  Although  he  lived  more  than 
a  century  ago,  we  have  an  excellent  descrip- 
tion of  him.  He  was  tall  and  dignified,  stand- 
ing six  feet  two  inches,  as  straight  as  an  ar- 
row ;  said  by  some  to  be  handsome.  He  had 
a  clean-shaven  face,  exposing  a  firm  mouth 
and  piercing  eyes.  He  wore  his  hair  in  pecu- 
liar fashion,  probably  comiuon  to  others  of 
his  standing  in  those  times,  tied  in  a  queue, 
with  his  front  hair  brushed  back  in  severe 
lines  and  powdered.  He  usually  wore  a  long- 
waisted  coat,  the  skirts  reaching  nearly  to 
his  ankles,  which  was  adorned  with  large  sil- 
ver buttons  made  from  Spanish  coins.  Knee 
breeches,  silk  stockings,  and  shoes  with  silver 
buckles  shining,  these  set  with  rhinestones, 
heightened  the  general  effect ;  but  more  prom- 
inent than  these  was  his  cocked  hat.  He  car- 
ried a  silver-headed  cane,  and  bore  a  turnip- 
shaped,  silver  watch,  from  which  hung  a 
heavy  seal,  while  his  tobacco  or  snufT-box 
was  engraved  with  initials  and  coat-of-arms. 
Other  personal  effects  consisted  of  a  tongue- 
scraper,  tooth,  ear  and  nail-pick,  which  closed 
within  a  handle.  He  was  famous  as  a  horse- 
man, and  it  is  said  that  he  never  feared  to 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


389 


attempt  to  ride  the  fiercest  animal.  On  one 
occasion,  when  the  various  chiefs  were  as- 
sembled at  Wolvenhoeck,  General  Schuyler 
was  present  at  a  convivial  entertainment  and 
offered  to  wager  that  the  horse  he  liad  ridden 
to  Douw's  house  could  outrun  the  famous 
horse  of  his  host,  named  Sturgeon,  although 
Douw  had  many  times  won  purses  by  his 
fleet  steed  and  was  a  man  disliking  to  be 
balked.  It  is  related  that  this  took  place  in 
midwinter,  but  the  ice  was  thin  and  very 
slushy  on  account  of  heavy  rains.  Indians, 
negroes  and  Dutciunen  cleared  a  space  upon 
the  ice  and  formed  a  line  with  lanterns  up 
and  down  the  river.  It  was  a  moment  of  ex- 
citement, with  friends  of  these  two  men  of 
prominence  standing  about  and  cheering  lusti- 
ly, and  Judge  Douw's  horse  "Sturgeon"  came 
out  victorious  amid  the  yells. 

Mr.  Douw  was  the  owner  of  a  great  many 
negro  slaves,  who  were  devoted  to  him,  and 
this  was  manifest  by  their  remaining  with 
him  even  after  the  emancipation  act  in  New 
York  state.  He  had  one  of  pronounced  vi- 
cious tendencies,  Dinah,  who  set  fire  to  the 
barn  of  Leonard  Gansevoort.  in  Albany, 
which  caused  the  great  conflagration  of  1793, 
destroying  more  than  an  entire  block  of  the 
principal  houses  in  the  city.  She  was  tried 
and  hanged  in  the  presence  of  a  multitude 
gathered  around  the  gallows  erected  on  Pinx- 
ter  Hill. 

Judge  Douw  was  once  a  prisoner,  after  be- 
ing captured  by  the  British,  and  was  confined 
in  Quebec.  While  there  he  learned  the 
French  language.  He  had  been  in  the  habit 
of  employing  a  body-servant.  As  commissary 
he  set  out  to  join  the  army  at  "Old"  Sara- 
toga, followed  by  his  man,  "King  Charles," 
on  horseback.  Suddenly  there  was  a  rumpus 
outside  the  stockade  gate  and  "King  Charles" 
was  found  calling  loudly  for  assistance,  and 
ready  with  his  invented  tale  of  w'oe  that  his 
master  had  been  attacked.  It  turned  out  that 
the  timid  negro  had  seen  some  distance  off  a 
sumach  waving  in  the  wind  and  imagined  he 
had  seen  the  red  plume  of  a  savage  headgear. 
When  he  had  fled  in  fear  he  told  the  story  to 
avoid   threats    for  cowardice. 

With  all  the  Indians  who  came  to  .\lbany 
he  was  on  most  friendly  terms,  and  this  stood 
him  in  good  stead  when  he  had  to  meet  them 
on  his  official  business.  All  the  chiefs  of  the 
Six  Nations  were  not  only  well  known  by  him, 
but  many  of  them  had  been  welcomed  as 
guests  at  his  home.  The  famous  Red  Jacket 
was  one  of  those  who  valued  his  acquaintance. 
When  one  of  his  daughters  died,  the  Six  Na- 
tions sent  him  a  belt  of  condolence  as  a  proof 
of  their  sympathy. 


Mayor  \'olckert  Petrus  Douw  married,  at 
Albany,  May  20,  1742,  Anna  De  Peyster, 
born  at  Albany,  March  28.  1723,  died  at  Wol- 
venhoeck, Greenbush  (Rensselaer,  N.  Y.), 
June  14.  1794.  Her  father  was  Mayor  Jo- 
haimes  De  Peyster  of  .\lbany.  born  in  New 
Amsterdam,  January  10,  1694.  died  at  Al- 
bany, February  27,  1789,  married,  at  Albany, 
November  24,  1715.  Anna  Schuyler  (daughter 
of  Mayor  Myndert  Schuyler"),  born  in  Al- 
bany. February  27,  1697,  died  at  Albany, 
September  13,  1730.     Children. 

1.  Anna,  born  ^larch  25.  1743.  died  at  Al- 
bany, February  18,  1774,  without  issue;  mar- 
ried, Albany,  November  25,  1761,  Dirck  Ten 
Broeck,  born.  Albany,  July  26,  1738,  died  at 
Albany,  May  29.  1780.  son  of  Mayor  Dirck 
Ten  Broeck  (born  Albany.  December  4,  1686; 
died  Albany,  January  3,  i.~5i),  and  his  wife, 
Margarita  Cuyler  (born  Albany,  October  26, 
1692,  died  ]\Iay  24,  1783),  whom  he  married, 
Albany,  November  26,  17 14. 

2.  Ragel  (Rachel),  born  February  8,  1744, 
died  August  27,  1799 :  married,  Alljany.  No- 
vember 17,  1765,  Hendrick  Johannes  Van 
Rensselaer,  born  October  24,  1742,  son  of  Jo- 
hannes ^'an  Rensselaer  (bap.  Jan.  11,  1708), 
who  married,  Albany,  January  3,  1734,  En- 
geltje  (Angelica)  Livingston  (bap.  July  17, 
1698)  :  by  whom  :  Johannes,  born  iMarch  8, 
1768:  Engeltje,  July  21.  1770;  Anna,  January 

31-  1773-^ 

3.  Myndert  Schuyler,  born  December  12, 
1746:  died  August  4.  1747. 

4.  Magdalena,  born  October  10,  1748;  died 
October  8,   1749. 

5.  Madalena,  born  May  25,  1750.  died  De- 
cember 20.  1817:  married,  Albany.  August  30, 
1770.  John  Stevenson,  born  March  2.  1734, 
died.  Albany.  April  24.  1810.  son  of  James 
Stevenson  (buried,  Albany,  June  6,  1744), 
who  married,  December  9,  1729,  Sara  Groe- 
nendyck  (born  Apr.  28,  1700,  died  June  5. 
1 774  I;  by  whom:  Catharina,  born  .-Mbany, 
January  6.  1779:  Mayor  James  Stevenson, 
born  Albany,  November  25,  1788,  died  Al- 
bany. July  3.  1852. 

6.  Catrienna,  born  November  6,  175 1,  died 
October  25.  1775 :  married,  Harmanus  Hoff- 
man:  by  whom:  Martinus,  born  .August  i, 
1792. 

7.  John  De  Peyster,  born  May  6.  1754, 
died  July  25.  1755. 

8.  Johannes  De  Peyster.  born  Januarv  20, 
1756,  died  February  22.  1835  :  married  (first), 
December  23.  1787,  Deborah  Beeckman  :  (sec- 
ond), December  20,  1795,  Margaret  Living- 
ston: (third)  January  22,  181 1,  Catherine 
Douw  Gansevoort  (see  forw-ard). 

9.  Maria,  born  October  4,  1760.  died  March 


390 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


12,  1818:  married,  January  20,  1782,  Johannes 
De  Peyster  Ten  Eyck,  died  April  9,  1798,  son 
of  TolDias  Coenraedt  Ten  Eyck,  of  Schenec- 
tady, and  Rachel  De  Peyster ;  by  whom :  John 
De  Peyster,  born  May  3,  1788. 

(VI)  Johannes  De  Peyster  Douw,  son  of 
Mayor  Volckert  Petrus  Douw  and  Anna  De 
Peyster,  was  born  January  20,  1756,  and  died 
in  Albany,  February  22,  1835.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  Yale,  class  of  1777.  On  April 
4,  1782,  he  was  appointed  surrogate  of  Al- 
bany covmty,  and  in  1788  was  elected  an  alder- 
man. He  had  a  notable  military  career,  mak- 
ing him  prominent  aside  from  political  office, 
social  position  and  wealth,  participating  in 
Sullivan's  expedition  against  the  Indians  of 
Western  New  York  in  1779. 

Johannes  De  Peyster  Douw  married  (first), 
Albany,  December  23,  1787,  Deborah  Beeck- 
man,  with  one  child  as  result  of  this  union. 
She  was  born  November  26,  1763,  died  July 
23,  1791,  daughter  of  Mayor  Johannes  Ja- 
cobse  Beeckman  (b.  Albany,  bap.  Nov.  8, 
1733:  d.  Dec.  17,  1802),  who  married,  No- 
vember 22,  1759,  Maria  Sanders  (bap.  Sche- 
nectady. June  4,  1740;  d.  Nov.  2,  1804).  He 
married  (second),  December  20,  1795,  Mar- 
garet Livingston,  by  whom  three  children. 
She  was  born  June  3.  1768,  died  January  21, 
1802,  daughter  of  Colonel  Peter  Robert  Liv- 
ingston (b.  Apr.  27,  1737;  d.  Nov.  15,  1794), 
w'ho  married,  June  6,  1758,  Margaret  Living- 
ston (b.  July  4,  1738;  d.  July  31,  1809).  He 
married  (third),  January  22,  181 1,  Catherine 
Douw  Gansevoort,  by  whom  four  children. 
She  was  born  at  Albany,  May  11,  1782,  died 
at  Albany,  A])ril  13,  1848,  daughter  of  Leon- 
ard Gansevoort,  Jr.  (b.  June  3,  1754,  d.  Dec. 
16,  1834),  who  married,  April  17,  1777,  Maria 
Van  Rensselaer  (bap.  Oct.  19,  1760,  d.  Apr.  2, 
1842).     Children: 

1.  \'olckert  Petrus  Douw,  born  .\pril  10. 
1790,  died  at  Albany,  June  16,  1869;  married, 
June  2,  1834,  Helen  Louis  Franchot  (see  for- 
ward). 

2.  Ann  De  Peyster,  born  January  31,  1797, 
died  at  Albany,  August  15,  1871 ;  married 
(first),  October  31,  1814,  Samuel  Stringer 
Lush :  married  (second)  Colonel  William 
Tremper  Cuyler,  May  9,  1850,  who  was  born 
at  Alliany,  December  22.  1802,  died  at  Cuy- 
lerville.  New  York,  December  21,  1864,  son 
of  John  Cornelius  Cuyler  and  Hannah  Maley. 
By  her  first  husband  she  had  two  children  who 
died  young;  by  her  second  husband,  no  issue. 

3.  Margaret  Livingston,  born  November 
26,  1798,  died  at  Albany.  April  5,  1878;  mar- 
ried, Albany,  November  14,  1844,  Alanson 
Abbe,  M.  D.,  of  Boston,  Alassachusetts ;  no 


4.  Louisa,  born  July  11,  1801 ;  died  April 
20,  1802. 

5.  John  De  Peyster,  born  Albany,  Decem- 
ber 16,  1812;  died  at  Poughkeepsie,  New 
York,  January  30,  1901 ;  married  (first),  Al- 
bany, April  12,  1837,  Alargaret  Schuyler  \'an 
Rensselaer,  born  at  Albany,  May  12,  1819. 
died  Albany,  September  15,  1897,  daughter  of 
Hon.  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer  and  Harriet 
Elizabeth  Bayard;  married  (second),  at  Nor- 
wich, Connecticut,  March  16,  1854,  Marianne 
Chandler  Lanman,  born  November  13,  1826, 
died  at  Poughkeepsie,  March  18,  1884,  daugh- 
ter of  Hon.  Charles  James  Lanman  and  IMarie 
Jeanne  Guie.  By  the  first  marriage  two  chil- 
dren ;  by  the  second,  five  children. 

6.  Mary,  born  September  3,  1815  ;  died  Sep- 
tember 28,  1816. 

7.  Catherine  Louisa,  born  September  10, 
1817;  died  August  3,  1891 ;  married,  at  Al- 
bany, September  10,  1836,  John  Fondey 
Townsend,  M.  D.,  Albany,  born  March  10, 
1809,  died  at  New  York,  January  8,  1874, 
son  of  John  De  Kay  Townsend  and  ]\Iaria 
Hun ;  had  thirteen  children. 

8.  Harriet  Maria,  born  June  13,  1824,  died 
March  28,  1852;  married,  Nov.  i,  1847,  Wil- 
liam Clarkson  Johnson  ;  by  whom  one  child. 

(VII)  Volckert  Peter  Douw,  son  of  Jo- 
hannes De  Peyster  Douw  and  Deborah 
Beeckman,  was  born  at  Albany,  .A.pril  10, 
1790,  and  died  at  Albany,  June  17.  1869.  He 
fully  inherited  the  distinguishing  features  and 
the  practical  virtues  of  his  ancestry.  He  was 
"kind  in  heart,  good  in  purpose,  genial  in  dis- 
position, generous  in  sentiment  and  severely 
honest  in  conduct,"  according  to  the  estimate 
of  him  published  in  the  Albany  Journal  of 
that  date,  which  also  says :  "Though  ever  ac- 
tive in  his  pursuits,  his  tastes  did  not  incline 
him  to  public  display  or  official  recognition. 
He  chose  the  path  of  unostentatious  business, 
of  social  happiness  and  domestic  peace,  and 
this  he  pursued  with  zest  and  zeal.  He  was 
educated  to  the  calling  of  a  merchant,  as  his 
father  before  him,  and  kept  his  store  upon 
the  same  spot  that  his  father  had  before  him, 
on  the  corner  of  Broadway  and  State  street. 
He  retired  from  active  business  many  years 
since  devoting  a  reasonable  share  of  his  time 
to  the  care  of  his  estate,  which,  by  inheritance 
from  his  father  and  his  uncle,  as  well  as  by 
his  own  acquisitions,  had  aggregated  to  a  large 
amount.  No  other  family  had  a  more  honor- 
able record." 

He  married,  June  2,  1834,  Helen  lx>u\s 
Franchot,  born  at  Butternuts  (now  Morris), 
Otsego  county.  New  York,  September  17. 
1808.  died  at  Albany,  November  16,  1883, 
daughter  of   Pascal   Franchot   and    Catherine 


HUDSON    AXD    MOHAWK    \'ALLEYS 


391 


Hansen  Franchot,  of  Butternuts,  New  York. 
Children: 

1.  Deborah  Matilda,  born  at  Albany,  April 
I9>  1835:  residing  in  Albany  in  191 1;  be- 
came a  missionary  to  China,  and  was  present 
in  the  city  of  Peking  throughout  the  terrible 
Boxer  uprising  and  siege  of  1898,  after  which 
she  returned  to  Albany. 

2.  Captain  John  De  Peyster,  born  at  Al- 
bany, March  10,  1837,  died  at  Winchester, 
\"irginia,  October  26,  1864.  He  entered  the 
service  during  the  civil  war,  enlisting  in  the 
summer  of  1862,  and  excepting  a  furlough  of 
a  few  days  was  never  absent  from  his  com- 
mand. His  military  record  is  that  of  his  regi- 
ment attached  to  the  celebrated  Sixth  Army 
Corps,  whose  history  was  one  of  continuous 
battles.  He  was  wounded  October  19,  1864, 
at  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek,  Shenandoah 
A'alley,  suffered  amputation  of  the  right  leg 
on  the  22nd,  and  died  on  the  26th. 

3.  Pascal  Franchot,  born  at  Albany,  Feb- 
ruary  18,  1840.  died  August  28,   1841. 

4.  \'oIckert  Peter,  born  at  Wolvenhook,* 
August  15,  1842,  died  at  Albany,  November 
9,  1875;  married,  New  York,  December  3, 
1870,  Ella  Brooks  Gould,  who  died  June  5, 
1889,  daughter  of  John  P.  Gould  and  Caroline 
E.  Brooks  Gould ;  by  whom :  John  De  Pey- 
ster, born  at  Wolvenhook.  August  18,  1873, 
was  made  mayor  of  Annapolis,  Maryland, 
1903,  married,  October  20,  1896,  Harriet 
Rooker  Tate,  of  Annapolis,  and  had :  Julia 
Agnes,  born  July  29,  1897;  Helen  Louise, 
born  IMarch  4,  1899 ;  Volckert  Petrus,  born 
March  4,  1907. 

5.  Beeckman,  born  at  Wolvenhook,  Febru- 
ary 21,  1844,  died  at  Butternuts,  New  York, 
September  5.  1845. 

(1.  Helen  Franchot,  born  at  Wolvenhook, 
March  31,  1846,  died  Albany.  January  28, 
1898:  married,  at  Albany,  October  27,  1870, 
John  Townsend  Lansing,  born  at  Sachems 
Head.  Coiui.,  son  of  Charles  Bridgen  Lansing 
and  Catherine  Clinton  Townsend  :  no  issue. 

7.  Anna  de  Peyster,  born  at  Wolvenhook. 
March  22.  1848;  married,  at  Albany,  May  3, 
1877,  George  Dou,glas  Miller,  born  at  Roch- 
ester, New  York.  November  5,  1847.  son  of 
Samuel  Miller  and  Mary  Ann  Douglas  (see 
George  Douglas  Miller). 

8.  Julia  Agnes,  born  at  Wolvenhook.  June 
21,  1851,  died  at  Albany,  April  11,  1885.' 


The  earliest  known  ancestor  in 
MILLER     America    of    George    Douglas 
Miller  was  Thomas  Miller,  resi- 
dent of  West  Springfield,  Massachusetts,  who 

*In    recent    years    the    homestead    has    been 
known   as   Wolvenhook. 


married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Thomas  Marsh- 
field,  in  1649.  They  were  the  parents  of  thir- 
teen children.  He  was  killed  October  5,  1675, 
by  Indians,  when  lie  risked  his  life  to  obtain 
water  for  women  and  children  who  were 
within   the   stockade. 

(II)  John,  fourth  child  of  Thomas  and 
Sarah  (RIarshfield)  Miller,  was  born  in  1657, 
died  in  1676,  probably  killed  in  the  Great  Falls 
fight  of  that  year.  He  married  and  was  the 
father  of  five  children. 

(HI)  Samuel,  fourth  child  of  John  Miller, 
married  and  was  the  father  of  eight  children. 

(IV)  Thomas  (2),  sixth  child  of  Samuel 
Miller,  married  and  was  the  father  of  five 
children. 

(V)  Solomon,  fourth  chiUl  of  Thomas  (2) 
Miller,  was  born  October  9,  1731,  died  at  West 
Wallingford.  \'ermont,  August  20,  1807.  He 
married,  September  9,  1756,  Desire  Smith, 
born  November  18,  1734.  died  March  9,  1807. 
They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children. 

(VI)  Elisha.  fifth  child  of  Solomon  and 
Desire  (Smith)  Miller,  was  born  May  6,  1766, 
died  on  his  farm  near  Williston,  Vermont, 
June,  1847.  Married  (first)  Lorain  Jackson, 
born  May  19,  1773,  died  July  7,  1806.  Mar- 
ried (second)  1807,  Sally  Elliot,  born  April 
22.  1785.  died  August  20,  1856.  He  was  the 
father  of  seventeen  children,  .\braham  Jack- 
son, father  of  Lorain  (Jackson)  Miller,  moved 
from  Cornwall,  Connecticut,  when  his  daugh- 
ter Lorain  was  an  infant  to  Wallingford.  Ver- 
mont, about  1774,  and  was  the  first  settler  in 
the  town,  first  representative,  first  deacon  and 
founder  of  tlie  first  Sabbath  meeting ;  he  pur- 
chased one  thousand  acres  of  land  embracing 
all  the  beautiful  intervale  and  gave  a  farm  to 
each  of  his  eleven  children,  but  fifty  years 
later  there  was  not  a  single  descendant  in  the 
town  :  he  died  in  1790  at  Wallingford.  aged 
sixty-five.  He  married  Eleanor  Rumpus,  a 
resident  of  Wareham,  Massachusetts  ;  she  died 
at  Nelson,  New  York,  aged  ninety-two.  A 
niece  of  Lorain  (Jackson)  Miller,  Henrietta 
Lorain  Jackson,  married  Rev.  Dr.  Cyrus  Ham- 
lin, of  Constantinople,  one  of  the  most  power- 
ful of  pioneer  missionaries. 

(VII)  Samuel  (2),  sixth  child  of  Elisha 
and  Lorain  (Jackson)  Miller,  was  born  at 
Williston,  Vermont,  March  9,  i8or,  died  at 
Santa  Barbara,  California,  October  20,  1888. 
He  was  a  resident  of  Rochester,  New  York, 
1823-60,  and  of  New  Haven,  Connecticut, 
1861-88 ;  a  judge  and  twice  a  New  York  sena- 
tor. He  married,  May  20.  1833,  Mary  Ann 
Douglas,  of  Troy,  New  York  (see  Douglas 
VII).  Children:  i.  Samuel,  born  July  31, 
1834,  died  October  3,  1838.  2.  Sutherland, 
October  24,    1837,  died  March    12,    1840.     3. 


392 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


Julia,  September  ii,  1839,  unmarried.  4.  Rev. 
Alanson,  December  13,  1842,  married,  June 
18,  1 87 1,  Maria  Russell  Bleecker.  5.  Mary 
Douglas,  November  i,  1844,  died  April  20, 
1846.    6.  George  Douglas,  mentioned  below. 

(\'ni)  George  Douglas,  son  of  Samuel  (2) 
and  i\Iary  Ann  (Douglas)  Miller,  was  born 
in  Rochester,  New  York,  November  5,  1847. 
He  married,  in  Albany,  New  York,  May  3, 
1877,  Anna  de  Peyster  Douw.  Children:  i. 
Mary,  born  at  New  Brighton,  New  York, 
June  4,  1878:  married,  Albany,  December  17, 
1908,  Hunsdon  Gary,  of  Richmond,  \'irginia : 
children :  Hunsdon,  born  at  Richmond,  Mr- 
ginia,  September  29,  1909 ;  Wilson  Miles, 
Richmond,  October  13,  1910.  2.  Helen  Fran- 
chot,  born  at  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  I\Iarch 
6,  1880.  3.  Samuel,  born  at  New  Haven,  Oc- 
tober 21,  1881,  died  there  November  13,  1883. 
4.  Margaret  Livingston,  born  at  New  Haven, 
March  21,  1884,  died  there  March  24,  1884. 

(The  Douglas  Line). 
The  earliest  known  ancestor  in  America  was 
William  Douglas,  born  in  1610,  lived  at  Ips- 
wich, Massachusetts,  as  early  as  1641,  died  at 
New  London,  Connecticut,  July  26,  1682;  mar- 
ried Ann  Mable  for  Mattle),  daughter  of 
Thomas  Mable,  of  Ringstead  in  Northampton- 
shire. 

(H)  William  (2).  son  of  William  (i) 
Douglas,  was  born  at  Boston,  May  2  (or  April 
11,  1645,  fl'ed  March  9,  1725,  at  New  Lon- 
don; married,  December  18,  1667,  Abiah, 
daughter   of   William    Hough. 

(HI)  William  (3),  son  of  William  (2) 
Douglas,  was  born  at  New  London,  February 
19,  1672,  died  at  Plainfield,  Connecticut.  .Vu- 
gust  10,  1719;  married  and  was  the  father  of 
nine  children. 

(IV)  Asa,  sixth  child  of  William  (3) 
Douglas,  was  born  at  Plainfield,  Connecticut, 
December  11,  1715,  died  at  Stephentown,  New 
York  (formerly  Jericho  Hollow,  Massa- 
chusetts). November  12,  1792,  where  he  had 
lived  twenty-six  years:  married,  about  1737. 
Rebecca  Wheeler,  born  1718,  died  1809. 

(V)  Wheeler,  son  of  Asa  Douglas,  was  born 
at '  Stephentown,  New  York,  April  10,  1750, 
died  at  Smithville,  Connecticut,  January,  1829: 
married,  1771.  Martha,  daughter  of  Rev.  John 
Rathbun,  and  she  died  November  28,  1837. 
Ten  children.  Wheeler  Douglas  lived  at 
Stephentown  from  1750  to  1779.  and  from 
1780  to  1798  was  a  merchant  at  Albany,  New 
York.  His  property  being  consumed  by  fire, 
he  bought  a  large  tract  of  land  from  the  In- 
dians, near  P.rantford,  Canada,  where  he  lived 
the  remainder  of  his  life. 

(VI)  Alanson,    fourth    child    of    Wheeler 


Douglas,  was  born  at  Stephentown,  New  York, 
February  11,  1779,  died  at  Troy,  New  York, 
April  9,  1856;  married,  June  12,  1803,  Ann, 
daughter  of  Solomon  Sutherland,  of  Stanford, 
Dutchess  county.  New  York. 

(VII)  Mary  Ann,  daughter  of  Alanson 
Douglas,  was  born  at  Lansingburg,  New 
York,  February  7,  1807.  died  at  New  Haven, 
Connecticut,  July  15,  1882;  married.  May  20, 
1833,  Hon.  Samuel  Miller,  of  Rochester  (see 
Miller  VII). 


In    England    the    Doanes    and 
DOANE     Dones    trace    their    ancestry    to 
King    John's    reign,    1190-1216, 
when   the  family  was  seated  at  Utkinton,   in 
Cheshire,  which  appears  to  have  been  its  chief 
seat  for  many  generations.    According  to  the 
most  recent  chroniclers  of  Doane  genealogy, 
the  ancient  form  of  spelling  of  the  surname  is 
not  clearly  known  and  from  the  same  source 
it  is  learned  that  the  name  is  supposed  to  have 
been  derived  from  "dun"  or  "dune,"  meaning 
a   stronghold   or   hill   fortress,    while   the   old 
patronymic  Done   in   several  old  manuscripts 
appears     frequently     as    Doane,    Down    and 
Downe.      But   however  the   name   may    have 
been  written  in  olden  times,  it  is  quite  evident 
that  those  who  bore  it  were  persons  of  more 
than    ordinary    distinction,    and    that    in    the 
mother  country  as  well  as  on  this  side  of  the 
Atlantic  the  name  has  stood  for  eminent  re- 
spectability and  high  mental  attainments :  and 
among  those  bearing  the  name  previous  to  the 
beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century  were  men 
of  high  stations,  whose  achievements  won  for 
them   royal    recognition    and    favor   and    who 
were   honored   with   coats-of-arms   and   other 
insignia  of  rank  and  honor.     .Says  one  chron- 
icle :    "Near  to  Tarporley  we  see  indeed  the 
ruins  of  a  house,  yet  with  no  decay  of  the 
name  or  the  owners  thereof,  and  the  ancient 
seat  of  the  Dones  of  L^tkinton  I  have  heard 
was  no  little  emulation   until  it  pleased  God. 
the  heirs  male  of  Utkinton  failing  were  glad 
to  knit  with  the  Dones  of  Flaxyards,  that  so 
the  union  by  marriage  might  make  one  greater 
name,   as   now   in  the   person  of  the   worthy 
Knight  Sir  John  Done  of  Utkinton.  a  gentle- 
man  replete  in   manv   excellencies  of  nature, 
wit  and  ingenuity." 

( I  I  John  Doane.  immigrant  ancestor  of  the 
jiarticular  family  under  consideration  here,  is 
presumed  to  have  been  a  descendant  of  the 
Dones  of  Cheshire,  although  nothing  is  known 
of  his  antecedent  generations,  neither  have 
we  any  account  of  his  birthplace,  the  name  of 
his  wife,  nor  the  year  of  his  immigration  to 
New  England.  But  we  do  know  that  he  was 
one  of  the  principal  men  in  the  aft'airs  of  the 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


393- 


Plymouth  colony,  and  from  that  fact  it  may 
be  assumed  that  he  was  indeed  "heir  to  a 
good  birthright,  that  in  some  broad  field  edu- 
cation and  friction  had  developed  a  manhood 
and  strength  of  character  that  inspired  the 
confidence  of  the  Plymouth  associates."  In 
Mitchells  "History  of  Bridgewater,"  it  is  men- 
tioned that  "Mr.  John  Done  came  over  to 
New  England  about  1629,  when  history  in- 
forms us  that  thirty-five  of  the  Leyden  com- 
pany, with  their  families,  arriving  at  Ply- 
month,"  while  another  record  which  speaks  of 
the  death  of  his  daughter  Abigail,  says  that 
he  "came  to  Plymouth  with  his  wife  in  1630." 
It  is  known,  however,  that  John  Doane  bore 
the  title  of  "Mr."  and  that  only  those  were 
so  addressed  who  bore  some  distinction  above 
the  common  station  of  their  fellow-men.  As 
John  Done  he  was  a  freeman  of  Plymouth  in 
1633,  and  as  early  as  January,  1632-33,  he 
with  others  was  chosen  to  sit  in  the  council. 
He  also  sustained  various  other  offices  in  the 
colony,  one  of  the  most  important  of  which 
was  that  of  assistant  to  the  governor,  but  this 
he  gave  up  in  order  to  serve  as  deacon  of  the 
church.  One  other  account  states  that  in 
1636  "Elder  Brewster,  Pastor  Smith  and 
Deacons  Doane  and  Jenney  of  Plymouth, 
Jonathan  Brewster  and  Christopher  Wads- 
worth  of  Duxbury,  James  Cudworth  and  An- 
thony Annable.  of  Scituate,  were  joined  to  the 
governor  and  council  for  the  preparation  of 
a  regular  system  of  laws,"  etc. 

Deacon  John  Doane  acquired  several  par- 
cels of  land  in  Plymouth,  but  it  does  not  ap- 
pear that  he  became  well  possessed  of  lands 
and  goods  at  any  time  during  his  residence 
there.  He  was  active  in  the  measures  adopted 
in  purchasing  from  the  Indians  the  lands  of 
Nauset,  afterward  Eastham,  where  he  was 
one  of  the  first  colonists  in  1645,  and  where 
also  he  was  much  engaged  with  affairs  of  the 
town,  serving  in  various  capacities,  deacon  of 
the  First  Church  there,  selectman  for  many 
years,  deputy  to  the  court  for  Eastham  in 
1648,  and  during  four  years  afterward;  and  in 
June,  1663,  he  was  authorized  to  perform 
marriage  ceremonies  and  administer  oaths  to 
witnesses.  He  died  February  11,  1685,  and 
in  his  will,  dated  May  18,  1678,  he  stated  his 
age  as  eighty-eight  years  or  thereabouts. 
From  this  it  would  appear  that  he  was  born 
about  1590.  His  children:  i.  Lydia,  born 
probably  in  England  :  married  Samuel  Hicks. 
2.  Abigail,  January  13,  1632,  died  Norwich, 
Connecticut,  January  23,  1734-35 ;  married 
Samuel,  son  of  Rev.  John  Lothrop.  3.  John, 
born  probably  at  Plymouth  about  1635,  died 
Eastham,  March  13,  1708:  married  (first) 
Hannah  Bangs;  (second)  Rebecca  Pettee.     4. 


Daniel,  see  forward.  5.  Ephraim,  born  before 
1645,  died  Eastham,  1700;  married  (first) 
Mercy  Knowles ;  (second)  Mary  Snow. 

(II)  Deacon  Daniel  Doane,  son  of  Deacon 
John  Doane,  was  born  probably  at  Plymouth 
about  1636,  died  in  Eastham,  December  20, 
17 1 2.  He  removed  with  his  father's  family  to 
Eastham  in  1645,  ^'if^  he  lived  in  that  part  of 
the  latter  town  which  afterward  was  set  off 
to  East  Orleans.  Like  his  father,  he  was  a 
person  of  considerable  consequence,  both  in 
church  and  town  affairs,  and  fulfilled  the 
duties  of  several  important  offices,  such  as 
deacon  of  the  church,  probably  succeeding  his 
father,  selectman  from  1691  to  1696,  juror  in 
1677  and  several  times  afterward,  surveyor 
of  highways  in  1667  and  four  years  after- 
ward. He  had  lands  granted  him  by  the 
town  and  acquired  other  tracts  by  purchase,  so- 
that  he  became  possessed  of  a  good  estate  in 
lands  and  other  property.  According  to  the 
inventory,  his  total  estate  was  of  the  value 
of  more  than  five  hundred  and  fifty  pounds. 
Deacon  Doane  married  twice,  but  the  name 
of  his  first  wife  is  not  known.  She  is  be- 
lieved to  have  been  the  mother  of  all  his 
children  except  the  youngest.  He  married 
(second),  July  28,  1682,  Hepzibah,  widow  of 
George  Crisp  and  daughter  of  Daniel  and' 
Mary  Cole,  of  Eastham.  Children:  i.  A  son 
drowned  in  a  well,  September,  1667.  2.  Jo- 
seph, born  about  1668.  3.  Constant  (son), 
March  7,  1669-70.  4.  Israel,  born  about  1672. 
5.  Daniel,  see  forward.  6.  Nathaniel,  died  in 
Harwich  in  1758.  7.  Constant  (daughter), 
died  May  2,  1720:  married  George  Shaw.  8. 
Rebecca,  married  Benjamin  Myrick,  of  East- 
ham. 9.  Abigail,  married  Timothy  Dimock 
and  settled  in  Mansfield,  Connecticut.  10. 
Ruth,  died  before  March  15,  1722;  married' 
Nathaniel  Mayo.  11.  Hepzibah,  born  of  her 
father's  second  marriage. 

(HI)  Daniel  (2),  son  of  Deacon  Daniel 
(i)  Doane,  of  Eastham,  is  presumed  to  have 
been  born  in  Eastham.  although  the  record  of 
his  birth  or  baptism  is  not  found  :  he  died  at 
Newton,  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania,  Sep- 
tember I,  1743.  He  was  possessed  of  a  re- 
markably strong  and  determined  character, 
and  in  his  own  life  made  a  radical  departure 
from  the  religious  teachings  of  his  father  and 
grandfather,  but  he  was  not  less  earnest  and 
sincere  and  upright  in  his  religious  life  and 
daily  walk.  The  following  account  of  his  life 
is  taken  chiefly  from  the  genealogv  of  the 
Doane  family,  compiled  antl  pubUshed  by  a 
descendant  of  Deacon  John  Doane,  the  immi- 
grant, in  1902:  "Mr.  Doane  was  of  a  self- 
reliant,  independent,  inquiring  mind,  and  was 
led  to  study  the  teachings  of  the  Friends,  who 


394 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


-were  then  creating  a  sensation  by  their  new 
•doctrine.  Charmed  by  their  teachings,  he 
united  with  the  Meeting  at  Sandwich,  about 
fortv  miles  from  his  father's  home,  the  oldest 
meeting  in  America.  In  1696  he  was  granted 
by  the  Sandwich  Meeting  a  certificate  of  re- 
moval for  himself  and  wife,  and  after  a  jour- 
:ney  of  several  hundred  miles  with  his  wife 
he  arrived  in  the  Friends'  colony  in  Pennsyl- 
-vania.  At  that  time  he  had  four  children,  the 
3'oungest  of  whom  was  about  two  years  old. 
In  due  season,  Mr.  Doane  presented  his  cer- 
tificate to  the  meeting  in  Middletown,  Bucks 
■county,  and  was  received  into  membership. 
With  his  family  he  settled  in  or  near  the  vil- 
lage of  Newtown,  where  he  was  a  carpenter 
and  farmer,  prosperous  in  his  business  life, 
and  by  thrift  acquired  a  fair  competence  for 
the  later  years  of  his  life.  Although  Daniel 
began  well  in  Bucks  county  and  was  at  first, 
at  is  thought,  a  religious  teacher  among  the 
Friends,  only  a  few  years  after  his  arrival  in 
Pennsylvania  his  investigating  spirit  led  him 
to  invest  the  stars  and  influence  of  the  planets 
upon  one  another.  But  reports  'that  Daniel 
Doane  should  meddle  in  practicing  astrologie' 
iDrought  him  into  conflict  with  his  meeting, 
which  lasted  almost  continually  until  he  was 
•disowned  in  171 1.  At  length,  tired  of  Daniel 
and  his  doings,  the  Middletown  Meeting,  after 
many  expressions  of  sorrow  that  he  is  so 
wayward  'and  prayers'  that  he  may  be  brought 
back  to  ye  truth  'disowns'  the  said  Daniel 
Doane  'to  be  one  of  us,'  and  'we  being  clear 
of  him,  his  wickedness  lies  upon  his  own 
head.'  " 

He  was  the  first  of  the  Doane  family  to 
migrate  from  Cape  Cod  and  the  only  one 
•of  the  earlier  generations  of  his  family  to 
depart  from  the  teachings  of  the  church  of 
his  forefathers ;  but  he  was  founder  of  the 
largest  and  in  some  respects  the  most  im- 
portant branch  of  the  Doane  family  planted 
in  .\merica. 

The  baptismal  name  of  his  first  wife  was 
IMehitable,  and  while  her  family  name  is  not 
■definitely  known,  it  is  supposed  that  she  was 
a  daughter  of  William  Twining,  who  had  a 
daughter  of  that  Christian  name  and  who  also 
went  from  Cape  Cod  to  Bucks  county  previous 
to  the  year  1700.  His  second  wife  was  Mary, 
probably  a  daughter  of  James  Yates,  who  sold 
land  in  Pennsylvania  to  Daniel  Doane.  Chil- 
dren:   I.  Daniel,  born  nth  month  23,  1687-88. 

2.  Lydia,  loth  month  30,  1690-91.  3.  Eleazer, 
I2th  month  21,  1691-92.    4.  Elijah,  4th  month 

3,  1694.  5.  Joseph,  see  forward.  6.  Eliza- 
beth, 8th  month  20,  1701.  8.  Rebecca,  8th 
month  10,  171 1.  9.  Samuel.  10.  Mary,  mar- 
ried Thomas  l-'ishcr.     11.  Thomas,  died  Had- 


donfield.  New  Jersey,   1779.     12.  Sarah.     13. 
Ebenezer. 

(IV)  Joseph,  son  of  Daniel  (2)  and  jNIe- 
hitable  Doane,  was  born  in  Bucks  county, 
Pennsylvania,  the  23d  day  of  2d  month,  1697, 
died  probably  at  Cane  Creek,  North  Carolina. 
He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  is  said  to 
have  been  a  young  man  of  great  physical 
strength  and  power  of  endurance,  and  it  was 
doubtless  these  qualities  which  led  to  his  selec- 
tion as  one  of  the  three  men  chosen  by  the 
Penn  proprietors  to  travel  on  foot  for  three 
days  in  determining  the  extent  of  land  to  be 
acquired  from  the  Indians  in  what  is  known 
in  history  as  the  "walking  purchase."  After 
the  death  of  his  wife,  Mr.  Doane  was  granted 
permission  to  remove  from  \\'rightstown  to 
the  Buckingham  Meeting,  and  subsequently 
he  was  given  leave  to  visit  among  his  father's 
people  at  Cape  Cod.  After  his  return  to 
Pennsylvania,  he  asked  for  a  certificate,  in 
1750,  to  visit  "Friends  wherever  his  lot  may 
be  cast,"  and  with  this  permission  he  went 
to  North  Carolina  and  is  mentioned  there  as 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Friends  Meeting 
at  Cane  Creek,  where  he  is  supposed  to  have 
died.  He  was  a  devout  Friend  and  held  firmly 
to  that  faith  so  long  as  he  lived.  On  the  14th 
of  loth  month,  1726,  Joseph  Doane  married 
Mary  Carter  at  the  Middletown  Meeting.  She 
died  after  1740  and  before  1744,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Grace  Carter.  Chil- 
dren:  I.  Joseph,  born  August  16.  1727,  died 
November  7,  1727.  2.  Mary,  September  6, 
1728,  died  March  i,  1743.  3.  John,  Novem- 
ber 30,  1 73 1,  died  at  Cane  Creek,  North  Caro- 
lina, 181 1.  4.  Ebenezer.  July  5,  1733,  see  for- 
ward. 5.  Martha,  September  i,  1735.  6. 
Mehitable  November  10,  1738.  7.  Grace,  Jan- 
uary 19,  1740. 

(V)  Ebenezer,  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary 
(Carter)  Doane,  was  born  at  Wrightstown, 
Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  5,  1733. 
died  near  Toronto,  Canada,  January  21,  1818. 
.^fter  the  death  of  his  mother  he,  with  his 
brothers  and  sisters,  were  either  apprenticed 
or  given  in  care  of  relatives.  Ebenezer  con- 
tinued to  live  in  Bucks  county  until  about  ten 
years  before  his  death,  when  he  removed  to 
Canada  to  live,  with  his  children,  all  of  whom 
except  Jonathan  had  previously  settled  there. 
He  brought  himself  under  the  displeasure  of 
the  Society  of  Friends  because  of  his  mar- 
riage with  a  German  who  was  not  of  that 
faith,  and  for  this  ofifense  was  dismissed  by 
the  society ;  but  he  continued  to  live  firm  in 
the  faith,  and  his  children  were  accepted  under 
the  care  of  the  meeting.  Before  leaving 
Pennsylvania,  he  secured  his  usual  certificate 
of   removal  and   was   accepted  at  the   Yonge 


HUDSON   AXD   MOHAWK   A'ALLEYS 


395 


Street  Meeting  at  Toronto  on  the  I4tli  of  7th 
imonth,  1808.  About  1754-55  Ebenezer  Doane 
married  Anna  Savilla  Sloy,  born  Hanover, 
•Germany,  12th  month  13,  1732,  died  loth 
month  15,  1803,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Cath- 
•erine  Sloy,  who  sailed  for  America  in  1744, 
and  both  of  whom  died  on  the  voyage.  Chil- 
dren:  I.  Jonathan,  born  5th  month  30,  1755- 
56,  see  forward.  2.  Martha,  born  2nd  month 
15.  1758.  died  loth  month  18,  1840.  3.  Wil- 
liam, born  1 2th  month  30,  1760.  4.  Mary, 
I2th  month  7,  1762,  died  4th  month  5,  1827. 
5.  Joseph.  3rd  month  13,  1765.  6.  John.  loth 
month  3,  1768.  7.  Mahlon,  8th  month  20, 
1770.  8.  Ebenezer,  9th  month  9,  1772.  9. 
Daviil,  nth  month  5,  1775,  died  8th  month  13, 

I//" 

(\  I)  Jonathan,  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Anna 
Savilla  "( Sloy)  Doane,  was  born  in  Bucks 
county,  Pennsylvania,  the  30th  day  of  5th 
month.  1755-56,  died  in  New  York  City  the 
nth  day  of  nth  month,  1818.  His  business 
occupation  was  that  of  builder  and  contractor, 
and  he  was  in  all  respects  a  substantial  man. 
His  business  operations,  at  times  very  large, 
called  him  to  live  in  Trenton  and  other  parts 
•of  New  Jersey,  Geneva,  New  York,  and  in 
New  York  City.  "He  is  described  as  a  man 
of  singular  perseverance  and  high  principle, 
commanding  and  handsome  in  appearance, 
most  loving  and  devoted  in  all  his  home  rela- 
tions." He  married  (first)  at  the  Bucking- 
ham Meeting  4th  month  15,  1778,  Mary, 
daughter  of  Timothy  Beans,  of  Tinicum, 
Bucks  county;  he  married  (second)  in  New 
York  City,  ilary  Higgins,  who  died  in  Bur- 
lington. New  Jersey,  March  7,  1858.  Chil- 
dren of  first  wife:  i.  Jonathan,  born  4th 
montli  24.  1788 ;  married  Jane  Duckworth.  2. 
Aaron.  3.  David.  4.  Rebecca.  5.  Cynthia. 
Children  of  seconil  wife:  6.  George  Washing- 
ton, see  forward.  7.  Anna.  8.  May.  The  lat- 
ter two  unmarried. 

(VH)  George  Washington,  son  of  Jona- 
than and  IMary  (Higgins)  Doane,  was  born 
in  Trenton,  New  Jersey.  March  27,  1799,  died 
in  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  April  17,  1859. 
He  graduated  from  Union  College  in  18 18, 
then  entered  the  General  Theological  Semi- 
nary with  the  class  of  1824,  but  left  that  insti- 
tution in  1S21  and  on  April  9  of  that  year 
received  deacon's  orders  and  served  as  assist- 
ant to  Bishop  Hobart,  then  rector  of  Trinity 
Parish,  New  York.  He  entered  the  priest- 
Tiood,  August  6,  1823,  and  soon  afterward 
was  appointed  to  assist  Rev.  George  Hobart  in 
founding  St.  Luke's  Church,  New  York. 
From  1824  to  1828  he  filled  the  professorship 
■of  rhetoric  and  oratory  in  Washington  Col- 
'lege    (now    Trinity),    Hartford,    Connecticut, 


and  during  the  same  period  was  assistant  to 
Rev.  William  Croswell  in  editing  the  Episco- 
pal Jl'atcliman.  From  1828  to  1830  he  was 
assistant  to  Rev.  Dr.  Gardiner,  rector  of  Trin- 
ity Church,  Boston,  and  became  himself  rec- 
tor of  the  parish  in  1830,  serving  until  1832, 
when  he  was  elected  second  bishop  of  the 
diocese  of  New  Jersey  and  was  consecrated  in 
St.  Paul's  Chapel,  New  York,  on  October  31 
of  that  year. 

To  Bishop  Doane  fell  the  honor  of  having 
founded  St.  Mary's  Hall,  Burlington,  New 
Jersey,  the  first  institution  of  its  kind  in  Amer- 
ica "to  educate  the  Church's  girls  in  the 
Church's  way,"  and  subsequently  he  also 
founded  a  school  for  boys,  which  afterward 
became  Burlington  College.  In  carrying  out 
his  plans  for  these  great  educational  enter- 
prises "he  incurred  certain  financial  obliga- 
tions in  providing  buildings  for  those  institu- 
tions, which  led  to  his  being  obliged  to  assign 
his  property  for  the  benefit  of  his  creditors 
and  in  185 1  to  submit  to  a  presentment  or 
trial,  but  the  presentment  was  unanimously 
dismissed,  the  diocesan  convention  having  vin- 
dicated him  before  the  trial  was  held.  He 
was  rector  of  St.  Mary's  Church  at  Burling- 
ton from  the  time  of  assuming  the  office  of 
bishop  until  the  time  of  his  death,  and  was 
president  of  Burlington  College  from  1846 
until  1859.  He  helped  to  frame  the  first 
constitution  of  the  Domestic  and  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society  of  the  church,  and  was  the 
first  American  bishop  to  preach  in  the  Estab- 
lished Church  to  an  English  congregation  at 
the  consecration  of  the  parish  church  at 
Leeds,  in  184 1.  He  received  the  degree  of 
S.T.D.  from  Union,  Trinity  and  Columbia 
colleges  in  1833,  and  the  degree  of  LL.D.  from 
St.  John's  College,  Annapolis,  A'laryland.  in 
1841."  Among  Bishop  Doane's  published 
writings  there  mav  be  mentioned  "Songs  bv 
the  Way/'  1824;  "The  Wedded  Flags,"  "Soft- 
ly Now  the  Light  of  Day,"  "Thou  Art  the 
Way"  and  "Fling  Out  the  Banner."  His 
hymn  beginning  "Ancient  of  Days"  was  com- 
posed for  the  Albany  Bi-Centennial  celebra- 
tion, is  printed  in  the  Episcopal  Hymnal  and 
is  in  general  use  in  other  churches. 

At  Boston,  in  1829.  Bishop  Doane  mar- 
ried Eliza  Green  (Callahan)  Perkins,  widow 
of  James  Perkins,  of  Boston.  Children:  i. 
George  Hobart,  born  September  3,  1830: 
graduated  from  Jefferson  Medical  College. 
Philadelphia,  1850 :  soon  abandoned  medicine 
and  studied  for  the  ministry ;  was  ordained 
deacon  and  attached  to  Grace  Church,  New- 
ark, New  Jersey :  became  a  Roman  Catholic 
and  was  received  into  the  church  by  Bishop 
Bayley,  1855  ;  candidate  for  Holy  orders  and 


396 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


studied  at  St.  Sulpice,  Paris,  and  Collegio  Pio, 
Rome ;  ordained  priest  at  St.  Patrick's  Cathe- 
dral, Newark,  New  Jersey,  1857;  became 
bishop's  secretary  and  was  made  rector  of 
the  parish  and  chancellor  of  the  diocese ;  ap- 
pointed vicar  general  of  the  diocese,  1873 ; 
domestic  prelate,  1880:  administrator  of  the 
diocese ;  visited  Rome  in  1890  and  by  his  Holi- 
ness Leo  Xni  was  made  prothonotary  aposto- 
lic, "which  not  only  gave  him  the  right  to 
wear  the  purple,  but  with  the  consent  of  the 
bishop  of  the  diocese  the  pectoral  cross  and 
miter."    2.  William  Croswell,  see  forward. 

(Vni)  William  Croswell,  younger  son  of 
George  Washington  and  Eliza  Green  (Calla- 
han-Perkins) Doane,  was  born  in  Boston, 
I\Iassachusetts,  IMarch  2,  1832,  and  lived  chief- 
ly in  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  until  1863.  In 
1858  he  graduated  from  Burlington  College, 
cum  laiidc.  delivering  the  English  oration  and 
the  poem  at  commencement,  and  immediately 
afterward  took  up  the  study  of  theology.  He 
was  a  tutor  and  assistant  professor  of  Eng- 
lish literature  in  his  alma  mater,  and  from 
that  institution  he  received  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Theology  in  1857.  In  1853  he 
was  ordained  deacon  by  his  father,  and  in 
1856  he  became  priest.  Afterward  he  was  his 
father's  assistant  in  the  rectorship  of  St. 
Mary's  Church,  Burlington,  founded  and  had 
the  care  of  St.  Barnabas  Free  Mission  in  that 
citv,  and  became  himself  rector  of  St.  Mary's 
on' the  death  of  his  father  in  1859.  In  1863  he 
became  rector  of  St.  John's  Church,  Hartford, 
Connecticut,  and  in  1867  was  called  to  be  rec- 
tor of  St.  Peter's  Church  in  Albany.  It  was 
at  this  time  that  he  first  became  actively  iden- 
tified with  the  ecclesiastical,  civil  and  social 
life  of  the  diocese  of  Albany,  of  which  he  be- 
came the  first  bishop  at  the  time  of  the  crea- 
tion of  the  new  diocese  in  1869,  he  having 
been  consecrated  on  February  2  of  that  year. 

During  the  forty  years  of  his  incumbency 
of  the  bishoprics,  the  number  of  clergy  within 
his  jurisdiction  has  more  than  doubled,  and 
during  the  same  period  a  number  of  benevo- 
lent institutions  have  been  established  in  the 
diocese,  through  his  influence  and  effort. 
Among  these  "there  may  be  mentioned  St. 
Agnes'  School,  the  Child's  Hospital  and  St. 
Margaret's  House,  all  in  Albany.  St.  Agnes' 
School  was  founded  in  1870  for  the  education 
of  girls,  being  similar  in  character  to  other 
female  colleges.  The  Child's  Hospital  is  an 
institution  absolutely  free  to  all  sick  and 
crippled  children,  whether  from  within  or 
without  the  diocese,  and  it  is  maintained  by 
money  paid  by  different  municipalities  for  the 
support  of  the  poor,  by  a  moderate  endow- 
ment and  by  private  voluntary  subscriptions. 


St.  Margaret's  House,  a  nursery  for  babies, 
was  founded  in  1884  and  is  in  connection  with 
the  Child's  Hospital ;  all  of  its  work  is  in 
charge  of  the  Sisterhood  of  the  Holy  Child 
Jesus,  which  also  cares  for  St.  Christina 
Home.  Saratoga,  where  young  girls  are 
trained  for  domestic  service.  The  Diocesan 
Sisterhood  was  established  by  Bishop  Doane  • 
in  1873.  For  many  years  he  has  been  acting 
president  of  the  Foreign  and  Home  Mission- 
ary societies  of  the  Episcopal  church,  and  in 
1910  and  with  a  committee  prepared  a  new 
constitution  for  the  society  that  was  adopted 
by  the  General  Convention  in  session  in  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  that  year.  His  father  prepared 
the  first  constitution.  All  Saints  Cathedral, 
Albany,  is  the  crowning  glory  of  Bishop 
Doane's  work  as  a  founder,  and  it  was  erected 
at  a  cost  of  more  than  a  half  million  dollars. 
In  addition  to  his  labors  and  splendid  works 
within  the  diocese,  he  was  a  regent  and  vice- 
chancellor  of  the  University  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  and  from  1892  for  many  years 
had  charge  of  the  American  churches  on  the 
continent  of  Europe:  a  trustee  of  Holjart  Col- 
lege from  1870  to  1879  ;  visitor  at  Hobart  from 
1869,  and  honorary  trustee  from  1890.  He 
received  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  from 
Hobart  and  Burlington  colleges  in  1S63:  that 
of  S.T.D.  from  Columbia  in  1867,  from  Trin- 
ity in  1886:  from  Oxford,  England,  in  1886, 
and  from  Hobart  in  1890 :  and  the  degree  of 
LL.D.  from  Union  College  in  1880 :  from 
Cambridge,  England,  in  1888,  and  from  Ho- 
bart in  1890.  He  was  a  leading  member  of 
the  "committee  appointed  by  the  general  con- 
vention 1892  to  prepare  the  standard  ]iraycr- 
book  and  hymnal  for  the  use  of  the  church." 
Among  his  published  works  are  the  "Life  and 
Writings  of  Bishop  George  Washington 
Doane"  (D.  Appleton  &  Co.,  1860-61)  :  "Mo- 
saics, or  the  Harmonv  of  Collect,  Epistle  and 
Gospel"  (E.  P.  Dutt'on  &  Co.,  1892)  :  "A<1- 
dresses  to  the  Graduating  Classes  of  St. 
Agnes'  School"  (Thomas  \\niittaker,  1891), 
and  "Sunshine  and  Shadow,"  a  volume  of 
verse  for  children.  During  the  latter  years  of 
his  life  Bishop  Doane  has  labored  actively  in 
promoting  church  unity  both  in  his  pulpit  and 
privately,  also  active  in  the  efforts  being  made 
to  procure  uniform  divorce  laws  in  the  differ- 
ent states. 

William  Croswell  Doane  married,  Novem- 
ber 24,  1853,  Sarah  Catherine  Condit,  born' 
September  23.  1833,  died  November  9,  1907, 
daughter  of  Joel  W.  and  Alargaret  (Harri- 
son) Condit,  of  Newark,  New  Jersey.  Chil- 
dren: I.  Eliza  Greene,  born  Burlington,  New 
Jersey,  October  22.  1854:  married  at  Albany, 
New  York.  April  28,  1881,  James  Terry  Gar- 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   ^^\LLEYS 


397 


diner  and  had  Mary  Spring,  born  New  York 
City,  February  i,  1882,  married.  August  24, 
1901.  Charles  Frazier,  M.  D.,  of  Philadelphia, 
Pennsj'lvania ;  Margaret  Doane  born  in  Al- 
bany, November  5,  1883  ;  Doane,  born  in  Al- 
bany, December  17,  1885:  Anne  Terry,  born 
at  North  East  Harbor,  Maine,  August  12, 
1887.  married  in  her  native  town,  August  27, 
1910,  Roy  Pier,  of  New  York  City;  Eliza- 
beth Greene,  born  in  Albany,  June  i,  1900. 
2.  ^largaret  Harrison,  born  in  Burlington, 
New  Jersey,  September  7,  1858,  died  at  North 
East  Harbor,  Maine,  July  3,  1883,  unmarried. 


The  Huyck  family  came  to 
HUYCK  America  in  the  person  of  John 
(Hanse)  Huighen  (Huygh, 
Huyck  1  in  company  with  Peter  Minuit,  the 
commander  and  director  of  the  Dutch  West 
India  Company  and  the  real  founder  of  the 
city  of  New  York.  In  1891  Mr.  A.  A.  Voster- 
man  Van  Oijen,  genealogist  and  Heraldisch 
Archief.  residing  at  The  Hague,  made  inves- 
tigations that  gave  many  facts  concerning  the 
Huycks  in  Holland.  They  showed  that  while 
the  family  belonged  to  the  burghers,  they  had 
occupied  positions  of  trust  and  honor  as  far 
back  as  the  sixteenth  century.  Copied  from 
the  registers  of  births,  baptism,  and  mar- 
riages found  there  appear  the  same  names 
that  occur  in  the  American  family.  Among 
Dutch  publications  is  a  well-known  romance 
in  two  volumes  entitled  "Ferdinand  Huyck," 
which  has  made  the  name  Huyck  a  familiar 
one  in  many  homes  of  that  country.  The  arms 
of  tlie  Huyck  family  are :  "The  escutcheon ; 
in  argent,  a  demi-lion  of  sable.  The  helmet ; 
a  patrician  one.  The  crest ;  a  demi-lion  of 
sable.     The  mantling:  argent  and  sable." 

(I)  This  record  is  traced  from  Henrie 
Huyck,  a  merchant  from  Roemond,  who  in 
1616  became  a  resident  of  Nymegen,  Holland, 
and  took  the  oath  for  himself  and  eleven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Jan  (John)  became  groot- 
straat  in  1617,  while  Henrie,  the  second  son, 
became  burgomaster  of  the  town  and  left  a 
numerous  offspring. 

(II)  Jan,  son  of  Henrie  Huyck,  chieftain 
of  the  grootstraat,  Nymegen,  Holland,  April 
18,  1617,  emigrated  from  Wesel,  a  strongly 
fortified  town  on  the  Rhine.  Here  his  youth- 
ful days  had  been  spent  and  he  had  risen  to 
some  prominence,  being  a  deacon  or  an  elder 
in  the  church.  He  took  passage  on  a  small 
Dutch  vessel,  the  "Sea  Gull,"  in  company  with 
his  brother-in-law,  Peter  Minuit,  who  was  the 
first  director  in  the  New  World  of  the  Dutch 
West  India  Company.  Jan  was  the  "koop- 
man,"  storekeeper,  for  the  company.  They 
landed  May  4,  1626,  after  a  voyage  of  four 


months,  on  the  island  of  Manhates,  now  the 
site  of  the  present  city  of  New  York.  .A  small 
colony  composed  of  thirty  houses  had  been 
established  there,  a  fort  had  been  staked  out 
and  a  stone  building  thatched  with  reeds 
erected  as  a  counting  house  for  the  use  of 
the  company.  Here  the  director  and  Koop- 
man  took  up  their  residence,  transacted  busi- 
ness and  exerted  every  energy  to  advance  the 
interests  of  the  company.  Not  having  an  or- 
dained minister  in  the  colony,  two  "Zercken 
Troosters,"  comforters  of  the  sick,  were  ap- 
pointed who  should  read  the  Scripture,  the 
Creed  and  a  sermon  on  the  Sabbath.  John 
(Jan )  Huyck  was  one  of  the  two  appointed. 
The  following  year  a  minister  having  ar- 
rived, a  church  was  organized  with  Peter 
Minuit  and  John  Huyck,  elders,  they  having 
been  in  Holland,  one  a  deacon,  the  other*  an 
elder.  John  Huyck  was  an  honorable,  intel- 
ligent and  reliable  man,  and  during  his  perma- 
nent settlement  at  New  Amsterdam  has  hon- 
orable mention.  His  wife  was  Lizabeth  Pet- 
ers, who  survived  him  and  married  (second) 
July  5.   1657,  Dirck  Weijerts. 

(III)  Andries  Hanse,'  son  of  Jan  and  Liza- 
beth (Peters)  Huyck,  was  of  New  Amster- 
dam. Kinderhook  and  Albany.  He  was  the 
owner  of  a  large  estate  at  Kinderhook,  New 
York,  which  he  obtained  by  a  patent  from 
King  James  II.,  dated  March  14,  1636,  and 
much  of  this  is  still  in  the  possession  of  a 
descendant.  Andries  Hanse  and  his  wife  were 
among  the  first  members  of  the  old  Dutch 
church  in  Albany,  mentioned  in  1(383,  all 
previous  records  of  this  church  being  lost. 
He  made  his  will,  August  23,  1707.  His  wife 
was  Cathalin  Lammerse  Van  Valkenburgh,  of 
Kinderhook,  who  was  living  in  1705  and  is 
mentioned  in  his  will  with  ten  children:  i. 
Johannes.  2.  Lambert,  of  further  mention. 
3.  Burger,  of  Kinderhook,  living  in  173 1 ; 
married  Mayke  Hoes,  October  2,  1(393.  4- 
Catie.  5.  Jochem,  baptized  July  29,  1685.  6. 
Cornelis,  baptized  March  11,  i(388.  7.  and  8. 
Anna  and  Andries,  baptized  December  31, 
1693.  9.  Maria,  born  November  11,  1696. 
10.  Margaret,  born  January  7,  1700. 

(IV)  Lambert,  son  of  Andries  Hanse  and 
Cathalin  Lammerse  (Van  Valkenburgh) 
Huyck,  was  born  (circa)  1674-75.  He,  to- 
gether with  his  brother  Burger  and  others, 
applied  for  and  obtained  in  1731  a  patent  for 
over  six  thousand  acres  situated  at  Kinder- 
hook, New  York.  He  seems  to  have  been  a 
man  of  stirring  business  faculty  as  well  as  a 
devout  Christian.  He  was  deacon  of  the 
original  Dutch  Reformed  church  at  Kinder- 
hook, in  1722  and  1723.  probably  serving  many 
years.     He  married,  August  28,  1707,  Annalie 


398 


HUDSON    AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


Ratcliff  (Radcliff),  of  Albany,  New  York, 
born  January  lo,  1686,  daughter  of  Jan  Rad- 
cliff and  his  wife  Rachel  Lambertse  Jochense 
Van  A'alkenburgh.  Children:  i.  Andries  L., 
baptized  February  27,  1709,  of  further  men- 
tion. 2.  Rachel,  baptized  Alarch  11,  171 1.  3. 
Cathryna,  baptized  September  27,  1713.  4. 
Sara,  baptized  March  4.  1721.  5.  Rykert,  born 
February  8,    1724. 

(V)  Andries  L.,  son  of  Lambert  and  An- 
nalie  (Radcliff)  Huyck,  was  born  at  Albany 
and  baptized  February  27,  1709.  He  was  an 
elder  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  church  at 
Kinderhook  from  1761  to  1770,  being-  re- 
elected several  times.  He  married  Maria 
Clouw,  born  at  Kinderhook  and  baptized  at 
Athens,  Greene  county,  New  York,  November 
15,  1708,  daughter  of  Jurian  and  Maria  Jans 
Clouw.  Children:  i.  Johannes  (John  A.),  of 
further  mention.  2.  Annatje,  baptized  Febru- 
ary 6,   1742.     3.   Bara,  baptized  February  8, 

1744- 

(VI)  John  A.  f Johannes),  son  of  Andries 
L.  and  Maria  (Clouw)  Huyck,  was  baptized 
June  27,  1730,  died  prior  to  1797.  He  was  a 
man  of  property  and  influence  as  shown  by 
legal  documents.  He  was  a  member  and  an 
official  of  the  Kinderhook  church  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  after  which  he  and  his  wife  were 
among  the  original  members  of  the  early 
Dutch  church  of  Schodack,  which  church  is 
now  located  at  Meutzeskill,  New  York.  He 
married  Fitje  (Sophia)  Van  Derkarr,  March 
8,  1762,  at  Claverack,  New  York.  She  was 
born  January  12,  1732,  baptized  at  the  Luther- 
an church  at  Athens,  New  York,  daughter  of 
Solomon  and  Helena  Van  Derkarr.  Chil- 
dren: I.  Solomon,  of  further  mention.  2.  An- 
dries J. 

(\'II)  Solomon,  son  of  John  A.  and  Fitje 
(Sophia)  (Van  Derkarr)  Huyck,  was  born 
at  Schodack,  New  York,  September  i,  1770, 
baptized  at  the  old  Dutch  Reformed  church, 
September  22,  1770,  died  at  his  home  in 
Westerlo,  Albany  county,  New  York,  June  15, 
1848.  His  boyhood  was  passed  during  the 
exciting  revolutionary  period,  and  in  181 1  he 
was  commissioned  captain  of  militia  by  Gov- 
ernor Tompkins,  governor  of  New  York, 
serving  in  the  regiment  commanded  by  Colonel 
John  T.  Van  Dalfscw.  He  married,  July  10, 
1791,  at  Kinderhook,  Mary  McClurc,  born 
December  7,  1771,  died  in  the  town  of  West- 
erlo, Albany  county.  New  York,  September  16, 
1851.     Children:    i.  Daniel,  born  January  18, 

1793,  died   July   30,    1852.     2.    Sophia,   born 

1794,  died  May  14,  1878.  3.  John  S.,  of  fur- 
ther mention.  4.  Elizabeth,  born  September 
30,  1807,  died  February  16.  1882.  5. 
Catherine,    born    May    5,    1810,    died    Octo- 


ber 12,  1884.  6.  Charity,  born  181 1,  died 
April  II,  1886.  7.  James  William,  born  May 
16,  1816,  died  at  Dormansville,  October  12, 
1868;  married,  February  27,  1850,  Elizabeth 
Graverd  Dorman,  born  May  28,  1830,  died 
December  10.  1861.  8.  Mary,  born  1817, 
died  March  16,  1819.  9.  Jane,  died  JiLiv  22, 
1886. 

(VHI)  John  S.,  son  of  Solomon  and  'Slary 
(McClure)  Huyck,  was  born  in  Westerlo,  Al- 
bany county.  New  York,  January  26.  1800, 
died  at  Rensselaerville,  Albany  county.  New 
York,  October  25,  1872.  His  pastor.  Rev. 
John  Gordon,  wrote  of  him,  "All  who  have 
been  in  any  way  interested  in  our  village  dur- 
ing the  last  half  century  will  remember  his 
kind  face,  his  ready  smile,  his  warm  sympa- 
thy, and  his  activity  in  every  good  work.  He 
came  to  the  village  in  early  manhood  and  has 
ever  since  been  so  identified  with  its  interests 
that  all  must  feel  his  loss.  He  was  always 
most  active  in  educational  matters,  one  of  the 
supporters  of  the  Academy  in  its  most  pros- 
perous days.  Many  of  our  citizens  are  in- 
debted to  him  in  a  measure  for  that  educa- 
tion that  enabled  them  to  succeed  in  life  and 
always  to  be  found  boldly  on  the  side  of  mor- 
ality. His  influence  in  the  community  cannot 
be  too  highly  estimated.  A  constant  attend- 
ant at  the  Presbyterian  Church,  he  felt  a  deep 
interest  in  its  welfare."  John  S.  Huyck  mar- 
ried, April  2,  1834.  Isabella  Conkling,  born 
July  9,  1809,  died  at  Brooklyn,  New  York, 
April  II,  1874,  daughter  of  Daniel  Conkling, 
of  Rensselaerville,  New  York.  She  was  a 
woman  of  high  standing  and  of  a  generous 
nature  (see  Conkling  VI).  Children:  i. 
Francis  Conkling,  of  further  mention.  2. 
Mary  Elizabeth,  born  July  8,  1840 :  married, 
June  II,  1863,  Jerome  B.  Moore,  of  Rensse- 
laerville, born  in  that  village,  April  28,  1830, 
died  October  17,  189 1,  son  of  Judge  Apollos 
Moore.  In  the  early  fifties  he  went  to  Cali- 
fornia with  his  friend.  Dr.  Harvey  Hyde 
Wickes,  settled  in  Nevada  City,  that  state, 
where  for  ten  years  they  carried  on  a  success- 
ful drug  business.  In  1864  he  located  in  Syra- 
cuse, New  York,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
wholesale  drug  business.  He  was  a  member 
and  trustee  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  that 
city,  and  a  Republican  in  politics.  "A  true 
man  and  without  guile,  all  who  knew  him  were 
his  friends."  Children :  Frank  Huyck  Moore, 
died  at  the  age  of  four  years ;  John  Stanley 
Moore,  born  January  16,  1870 ;  Ernest  Conk- 
ling Moore,  born  January  4,  1873.  3.  Albert, 
died  in  infancy. 

(IX)  Francis  Conkling,  son  of  John  S.  and 
Isabella  (Conkling)  Huyck,  was  born  at  Rens- 
selaerville, New  York,  July   10,  1838,  died  in 


HUDSON   AND   :\IOHA\VK   VALLEYS 


399- 


Albany,  New  York,  July  4,  1907.  He  was 
educated  in  the  Rensselaerville  and  Canan- 
daigua  academies,  and  during  his  long  and 
busy  life  was  a  woollen  manufacturer.  In 
1872  he  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  H. 
W'aterbury  &  Company,  manufacturers  of  pa- 
perniakers'  felts  with  plant  at  Rensselaerville. 
This  firm  continued  until  1880,  when  Mr. 
Huyck  withdrew  and  in  association  with  C.  E. 
Argersinger  established  a  plant  at  Kenwood 
for  the  manufacture  of  the  same  class  of  goods 
as  made  in  the  Rensselaerville  plant.  Their 
mill  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1894  and  never 
rebuilt.  Mr.  Huyck  in  association  with  his 
sons  formed  the  firm  of  F.  C.  Huyck  &  Sons 
and  built  a  new  mill  at  Rensselaer,  continuing 
there  the  manufacture  of  papermakers"  felts. 
He  remained  in  active  business  until  his  death, 
leaving  to  the  care  of  his  sons  the  business 
with  which  he  had  been  so  long  connected. 
Although  his  home  was  in  Albany,  he  contin- 
ued to  make  Rensselaerville  his  summer  home, 
and  took  tlie  liveliest  interest  in  the  prosperity 
of  this  village.  One  of  his  benefactions  was 
the  gift  of  a  public  hall  and  a  library  to  his 
native  village.  He  was  a  man  of  great  public 
spirit,  liberal  and  broad-minded  and  of  strict- 
est integrity  in  all  his  dealings  with  others. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
of  Rensselaerville,  the  Holland  Society  of 
New  York,  and  of  the  Albany  Chamber  of 
Commerce.  His  clubs  were  the  Lotos  and 
Republican,  of  New  York  City,  and  the  Coun- 
try and  Fort  Orange  of  Albany.  He  married, 
June  28,  1865,  Emily  Harriet  Niles,  born  at 
Rensselaerville,  New  York,  January  10,  1845, 
daughter  of  Hon.  John  and  Mary  (Cook) 
Niles  (see  Niles  HI).  Children,  all  born  in 
Rensselaerville  except  the  youngest:  i.  Ed- 
mund Niles,  of  further  mention.  2.  Elizabeth 
Moore,  born  January  24,  1869 ;  married  Lewis 
A.  Eldridge  ;  children  :  Lewis,  William,  Harry, 
Francis  IL.  Bessie,  Edward  and  Roswell.  3. 
John  Niles,  of  further  mention.  4.  Francis 
Conkling,  of  further  mention.  5.  Amy  Conk- 
ling,  born  January  15,  1879,  died  August  6, 
1881.  6.  Emily  Niles,  born  January  13,  1882, 
at  Albany. 

(X)  Edmund  Niles,  eldest  son  of  Francis 
Conkling  and  Emily  H.  (Niles)  Huyck,  was 
born  May  17,  1866.  He  was  educated  at  Rens- 
selaerville Academy ;  prepared  for  college  at 
Albany  Boys'  Academy ;  entered  Williams  Col- 
lege, whence  he  was  graduated,  class  of  1888. 
After  completing  his  college  course  he  at  once 
associated  with  his  father  in  business,  the 
firm  being  F.  C.  Huyck  &  Sons.  He  is  a  Re- 
publican in  politics,  and  a  member  of  the  Sec- 
ond Presbyterian  Church  of  Albany.  His  clubs 
are  the  Country,  Fort  Orange  and  University 


of  Albany.  He  married,  1891,  at  Albany,. 
Jessie  E.,  daughter  of  William  M.  Van  Ant- 
werp, of  Albany.  , 

(X)  John  Niles,  second  son  of  Francis- 
Conkling  and  Emily  H.  (Niles)  Huyck,  was 
born  June  i,  187 1.  He  was  educated  at  the 
Albany  Boys'  Academy,  and  was  graduated 
from  Williams  College,  class  of  1893.  After 
completing  his  education,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  firm  of  F.  C.  Huyck  &  Sons,  of  which  he 
is  still  a  member.  He  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, a  member  ,  of  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Albany,  and  of  the  Country,  Fort 
Orange,  and  University  clubs  of  Albany.  He 
married,  December  9,  1896,  at  Saratoga,  An- 
nie, daughter  of  David  Ritchie.  Children, 
adopted.  John  Francis,  born  September  7, 
1899;  Eleanor,  born   September  22,   1901. 

(X)  Francis  Conkling  (2),  third  son  of 
Francis  Conkling  (i)  and  Emily  H.  (Niles)' 
Huyck,  was  born  in  Rensselaerville,  New 
York,  November  15,  1874.  He  was  educated 
at  Albany  Boys'  Academy,  Holbrook  Military 
Academy,  Ossining,  New  York,  and  at  Wil- 
liams College.  He  was  admitted  to  the  firm 
of  F.  C.  Huyck  &  Sons.  He  is  a  Republican 
in  politics,  and  a  member  of  the  Second  Pres- 
byterian Church.  His  clubs  are  the  Country, 
Fort  Orange  and  University  of  Albany.  He 
married,  in  New  York  City,  Laura  \'an  Ness,, 
daughter  of  Daniel  Talmage.  Child,  Kather- 
ine,  born  September  i,  1903. 

(The  Conkling  Line). 

Isabella  Conkling,  wife  of  John  S.  Huyck,. 
was  of  the  sixth  generation  from  Annanias 
Conklin  (Conkeline),  an  early  settler  on  Long 
Island,  New  York. 

(I)  Annanias  Conklin  and  his  brother  are 
mentioned  in  Savage's  "Genealogical  Diction- 
ary" as  being  early  settlers  of  Salem,  Massa- 
chusetts. Annanias  was  made  a  freeman  at 
Salem,  Mav  18,  1642.  This  meant  that  he  was 
of  lawful  age  and  a  member  of  the  church, 
none  others  being  allowed  to  vote  or  hold 
office.  He  had  three  children  baptized  at  Sa- 
lem. In  1650  he  removed  to  East  Hampton, 
Long  Island,  his  brother  John  going  farther 
down  the  island,  settling  at  Southold,  where 
he  died.  An  old  gravestone  reads:  "Here 
lieth  Captain  John  Conkelyne,  born  in  Not- 
tinghamshire, England,  and  died  at  Southold, 
Long  Island.  April  6,  1794,  aged  64  years." 
This  establishes  the  English  home  of  the  fam- 
ily, although  Annanias  the  elder  may  have 
been  born  in  some  other  part  of  England.  An- 
nanias had  children  mentioned  in  East  Hamp- 
ton and  Salem  records :  Lewis,  Jacob,  Eliza- 
beth, all  baptized  at  Salem.  Those  mentioned 
at  East  Hampton  are  Jeremiah,  the  ancestor 


400 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


of  Roscoe  Conkling,  United  States  senator 
from  New  York,  married  Mary,  daughter  of 
Lion  Gardiner ;  Cornelius  :  Benjamin  ;  a  daugh- 
ter, wife  of  George  Miller ;  and  Hester,  who 
was  six  and  one-half  years  old  when  her  fath- 
er died  in  November,  1657. 

(H)  Benjamin,  son  of  Annanias  Conkling, 
died  in  1709.  He  married  Hannah  Mulford. 
'Children:  John,  Eliakim,  Benjamin  (2),  An- 
nanias. 

(HI)  Annanias  (2),  son  of  Benjamin  and 
Hannah  (Mulford)  Conklin,  married  Han- 
nah   .  Children:  i.  Bethiah,  bap- 
tized January  i,  1701 ;  married  Joseph  Hicks. 
2.  Henry,  of  further  mention.  3.  Nathan,  bap- 
tized January  27,  1705-06;  married  Phoebe 
Parsons.  4.  Annanias  (3),  baptized  August 
15,  1708 ;  married  Mary  Miller.  5.  Samuel, 
"baptized  February  27,  171 1;  married  Clemens 
Parsons.  6.  Lemuel,  baptized  April  5,  1713. 
7.  Benjamin,  baptized  December  11,  1715; 
married  Sarah  Parsons.  8.  Hannah,  twin  of 
Benjamin,  married  Isaac  Barnes.  9.  Daniel, 
baptized  February  16.  1718.  10.  Josiah,  bap- 
tized July  23,  1721.  New  York  Wills,  vol.  13, 
page  568,  mentions  all  these  children  except 
Samuel.  Will  was  probated  August  26,  1740, 
son  Nathan,  executor. 

(IV)  Henry,  son  of  Annanias  (2)  and  Han- 
nah Conklin,  was  baptized  February  22,  1702. 
He  married,  November  5,  1724,  Mary  Jones. 
(The  old  family  Bible  at  Rensselaerville,  New 
York,  contains  her  name).  Children:  i. 
Henry,  baptized  November  28,  1725.    2.  Jede- 

•diah,  baptized  September  24,  1727.  3.  Jane, 
baptized  December  6,  1730.  4.  Edward,  bap- 
tized August  27,  1732.  5.  Mary,  baptized 
December  22,  1734.  6.  Daniel,  of  further  men- 
tion. 7.  Lucretia,  baptized  May  6.  1739.  8. 
Elizabeth,  baptized  July  11,  1742.  9.  Hannah, 
born  November  11,  1744. 

(V)  Daniel,  son  of  Henry  and  Mary 
(Jones)  Conkling,  was  baptized  at  East 
liant[)ton,  Long  Island,  April  24.  1737,  died 
at  Rensselaerville,  New  York,  September  25, 
1816.  Revolutionary  war  records  at  Wash- 
ington show  that  he  served  as  a  private  in 
Captain  Edward  Dunscomb's  company  of  the 
Fourth  New  York  regiment,  commanded  by 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Frederick  Wissenfels;  also 
designated  as  Captain  William  Jackson's  com- 
pany, same  regiment;  also  as  Captain  Benja- 
min Marvin's  company.  First  New  York  regi- 
ment. His  name  also  appears  on  the  rolls, 
November  21  to  September  5,  1777,  and  on  the 
following  rolls  to  December,  1780,  with  re- 
marks: "Appointed  Corporal  December  i, 
1778",  New  York  State  revolutionary  archives 
state  that  he  was  made  ensign,  September  13, 
1775,  of  Fourth  Company,  Second  Battalion, 


Suffolk  county  militia.  Daniel  settled  in  Rens- 
selaerville, New  York,  where  he  died.  He 
married  (first)  Abigail  Parsons.  Children: 
I.  Daniel  (2),  of  further  mention.  2.  Josiah, 
born  1770,  died  May  8,  1835.  3.  Mary,  mar- 
ried Daniel  Dayton.  4.  Henry,  settled  at 
Johnstown,  New  York.  5.  Abigail.  He  mar- 
ried (second)  Hannah  Hutchinson.  Children: 
6.  Samuel,  born  September  5,  1789,  died  No- 
vember ID,  1818.  7.  John  T.,  born  at  East 
Hampton,  April  2,  1792,  died  at  Rensselaer- 
ville, October  10,  1875  ;  married  Tirza  Stone, 
born  in  Colerain,  ^Massachusetts.  8.  Clarissa, 
born  June  14,  1795,  died  December  9,  1821 ; 
married  Thomas  Lloyd. 

(VI)  Daniel  (2),  son  of  Daniel  (i)  and 
Abigail  (Parsons)  Conkling,  was  born  at  East 
Hampton,  Long  Island,  July  19,  1765,  died  at 
Rensselaerville,  New  York,  January  27,  1833. 
He  married,  February  16,  1791,  Isabella  Lusk, 
born  February  19,  1771,  died  April  18,  1846, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Lusk,  of  Stockbridge. 
Children:  i.  Juliana,  born  May  6,  1792 ;  mar- 
ried Henry  Stone.  2.  Daniel  (3),  born  Janu- 
ary 9.  1794,  died  January  15,  1871 ;  married 
Harriet  Hubbell,  of  Bennington,  Vermont.  3. 
Thomas  L.,  born  October  9,  1796,  died  June 
I,  1852;  married  Frances  M.  Hackley.  4. 
George,  died  in  infancy.  5.  Herod,  born  April 
28,  1800,  died  March  18,  1847;  married 
Wealthy  Hubbs.  6.  George  C,  died  in  in- 
fancy. 7.  Guidon,  born  September  i,  1803, 
died  May  8,  1874 ;  married  Caroline  Tremaine. 
8.  David,  born  January  7,  1806,  died  Decem- 
ber 26,  1881  :  married  (first)  Almira  A.  Wat- 
son;  (second)  Caroline  A.  Clark.  9.  Albert, 
born  January  11,  1808,  died  December  3, 
1878;  married  (first)  Harriet  Hills,  (second) 
Amelia  Mills,  (third),  Sarah  Ann  Palmer.  10. 
Isabella,  born  July  9, 1809,  died  .-\pril  11,1874; 
married  John  S.  Huyck  (see  Huyck  \'III)  11. 
Abigail,  born  March  25.  181 1,  died  July  13, 
i8~6:  married  William  F.  Bulkley.  12.  Eliza- 
beth, born  November  11.  1812.  died  January 
21,   1833.   13.  Margaret,  died  in  infancy. 

(The  Niles  Line). 
(I)  Emily  H.  (Niles)  Huyck  descends 
from  the  Niles  family  of  Rhode  Island.  The 
first  of  her  ancestry  to  settle  in  New  York 
state  was  Nathaniel  Niles,  born  in  Rhode 
Island,  died  in  Otsego  county.  New  York, 
aged  eighty-eight  years.  He  continued  his 
residence  in  New  England  until  after  his  mar- 
riage and  the  birth  of  several  children,  when 
he  removed  to  Dutchess  county.  New  York, 
where  he  was  a  farmer.  He  lived  in  Dutchess 
countv  until  his  ciiildren  were  grown  and 
settled  in  homes  of  their  own.  Wiien  he  grew 
old  in  years  he  went  to  Otsego  county.  New 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK    \'ALLEYS 


401 


York,  with  his  son  Nathaniel  (2).  When 
•eighty  years  of  age  he  made  the  trip  from 
Otsego  county  to  Coeymans,  Albany  county, 
coming  the  entire  distance  of  eighty  miles  on 
horseback  to  visit  his  son  Henry.  He  mar- 
ried   Martha   .      Nathaniel   was    a 

member  of  the  Society  of  Friends  and  the 
Bible  which  contains  the  family  records  has 
the  name  entered  in  their  form.  He  was  born 
25,  2  mo.,  1728;  died  2,  2  mo.,  1816.  Martha, 
his  wife,  born  24,  2  mo.,  1729;  died  12,  i  mo., 
1820.  Children:  William,  born  14,  12  mo., 
1753  :  Freelove,  born  25.  5  mo.,  1755  ;  Abigail, 
born  14,  I  mo.,  1757;  Elizabeth,  born  24,  5 
mo.,  1759 :  Henry,  of  further  mention  :  Jane, 
born  15,  5  mo.,  1763:  Nathaniel,  born  16,  8 
mo.,  1765.  Jane  married  Willet  Casey  in 
Dutchess  county.  Being  Quakers,  they  were 
much  molested  for  their  peculiar  beliefs  and 
leaving  Dutchess  county  removed  to  Canada, 
locating-  at  Adolphustown  on  the  bay  of 
Quinte.  where  they  became  wealthy  and  influ- 
ential, living  both  to  a  good  old  age  and 
founding  a  family.  Nathaniel  (2)  lived  for 
a  short  time  at  Coeymans,  Albany  county, 
New  York,  then  settled  in  Otsego  county. 
New  York,  where  he  purchased  land  and  lived 
the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  died  after 
1832.  He  married  and  had  children:  Jane, 
born  15,  12  mo.,  1788:  Hannah,  born  27,  12 
mo..  1789;  W'illiam,  born  21,  6  mo.,  1791 ; 
Freelove,  born  8,  9  mo.,  1792 ;  Gulielma,  born 
25,  I  mo.,  1794:  Lydia,  born  24,  11  mo., 
1795:  Alpha,  born  16,  4  mo..  1799;  Mary, 
born  30.  8  mo.,  1803 :  Martha,  born  8,  6  mo., 
1805:  Hanson,  born  21.  4  mo.,  1807;  Abigail, 
born  26.  9  mo.,  1808. 

(H)  Henry,  son  of  Natlianiel  and  Martha 
Niles.  was  bom  probably  in  Rhode  Island, 
20th  day.  5th  month,  1761.  The  inscription 
on  his  tombstone  in  Coeymans  burying  ground 
reads:  "In  memory  of  Henry  Nile  who  died 
December  18,  1812,  aged  51  years,  8  months 
and  I  day."  He  removed  to  Otsego  county 
with  his  father,  but  did  not  long  remain  there. 
He  lived  in  Dutchess  county  until  after  his 
marriage,  then  settled  in  the  town  of  Coey- 
mans, Albany  county.  New  York,  where  he 
died.  He  married  Hannah  Hicks,  a  cousin 
of  Elias  Hicks,  founder  of  the  Hicksite 
branch  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  Her  grave- 
stone in  Coeymans  reads :  "In  memory  of 
Hamiah  Niles  who  died  January  22,  1827, 
aged  61  >ears.  5  months,  and  29  days."  Chil- 
dren:  I.  Henry,  a  farmer  livetl  and  died  in 
Coeymans  where  he  married  and  had  Henry 
(2),  Annie,  married  Noble  H.  Johnson.  2. 
Nathaniel  (3),  a  farmer,  lived  in  Coeymans, 
died  in  Albany,  New  York,  aged  eighty-five 
years.     His  only  son  John  died  comparatively 


a  young  man,  leaving  Nathaniel  (4)  and  John, 
the  former  a  lawyer  of  Albany.  3.  Samuel,  a 
farmer,  moved  in  early  life  to  Rensselaerville, 
Albany  county.  New  York,  where  he  lived 
and  died  on  the  same  farm  at  the  great  age 
of  ninety-five  years.  He  had  seven  daughters, 
who  all  married  well-to-do  farmers  and  had 
homes  near  or  within  a  few  miles  of  the  old 
homestead.  His  sons  Henry  and  Luther  both 
had  farms  near  by.  4.  William,  removed  to 
Canada,  where  he  sat  as  a  member  of  the 
Dominion  parliament.  He  was  a  miller  and 
a  farmer,  living  near  a  small  hamlet  called 
Nilestown.  His  children  were  Henry,  Ste- 
phen. Nancy  and  Martha.  5.  Sarah,  died  at 
the  advanced  age  of  ninety-two  years.  She 
married  a  farmer  of  Coeymans,  Peter  Van 
Alstyne :  removed  with  an  only  son  and  two 
daughters  to  Palmyra,  New  York,  where  her 
grandson,  Pliny  Sexton,  is  a  wealthy  banker. 
6.  Stephen,  removed  to  Canada,  was  twice 
married  and  had  children:  Elizabeth,  Cather- 
ine, \\'illiam  F.,  Nathaniel,  Stephen  P..  Jane 
Ann,  Letty,  Miriam,  Matilda  and  Sarah.  7. 
Martha,  married  Reuben  Stanton,  of  Greene 
county.  New  York :  removed  to  Ionia,  Michi- 
gan, where  she  died  very  old.  Children  :  Reu- 
ben, Hamilton,  George  and  Rufus.  8.  Han- 
nah, married  Jacob  Tompkins,  a  farmer  of 
Rensselaerville,  Albany  county.  New  York, 
where  she  died  at  age  of  ninety  years.  Her 
children  were  all  farmers  or  wives  of  farm- 
ers. 9.  Lydia,  married  Abram  Searles,  a 
farmer ;  removed  with  a  large  family  to  \\'ell- 
ington.  Prince  Edward's  District,  Canada, 
where  she  died  very  old.  All  her  children 
were  farmers  except  Niles,  who  came  to  the 
States  at  age  of  eighteen :  studied  law  at 
Cherry  \'alley.  New  York:  went  to  California 
in  1849 :  settled  in  Nevada  City,  California, 
where  he  became  a  leading  mining  lawyer  and 
one  of  the  most  prominent  jurists  in  the  state. 
He  was  district  judge,  state  senator  and  one 
of  the  commissioners  of  the  supreme  court  of 
California  and  later  was  elected  chief  justice. 
With  the  exception  of  the  last  mentioned  son 
of  Lydia  Searles,  the  men  of  this  family  have 
all  been  farmers  in  good  circumstances.  10. 
John,  of  further  mention.  The  first  two  gen- 
erations mentioned  were  members  of  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends,  but  later  generations  have 
departed  from  that  faith. 

(Ill)  Hon.  John  Niles,  son  of  Henry  and 
Hannah  (Hicks)  Niles,  was  born  in  Coey- 
mans, Albany  county.  New  York,  but  removed 
early  in  life  to  Rensselaerville,  where  for 
a  few  years  he  followed  the  occupation 
of  a  tanner.  He  was  well  educated  and 
studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
Albany    county    bar.       He    was    supervisor 


402 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


many  years,  and  later  county  judge.  He 
was  often  employed  to  settle  difficulties  be- 
tween landlords  and  tenants  on  the  \'an  Rens- 
selaer estate  and  transacted  other  legal  busi- 
ness. After  his  admission  to  the  bar,  he  con- 
fined himself  entirely  to  the  law,  practicing  in 
the  various  courts  of  New  York.  He  was 
an  able  lawyer,  of  a  high  order  of  intelligence 
and  a  character  beyond  reproach.  His  great 
influence  in  the  county  was  always  exerted 
for  good  and  never  to  promote  selfish  pur- 
poses. He  died  in  1872,  aged  seventy-five 
years.  He  married  Mary  (Polly)  Cook. 
Children:  i.  Laura  F.,  died  young.  2.  Cor- 
nelia D.,  married  (first)  William  W.  Allen, 
(second)  Alvin  Devereux,  of  Deposit,  New 
York,  whom  she  survives,  a  resident  of  Al- 
bany. 3.  Mary  C,  married  Chief  Justice  Niles 
Searies,  of  San  Francisco,  California.  4.  Ad- 
dison C,  a  graduate  of  Williams  College, 
class  of  1852,  studied  law  with  Increase  Sum- 
mer, of  Great  Barrington,  Massachusetts,  and 
Judge  Rufus  King,  of  Catskill,  New  York ; 
settled  in  Nevada  City,  California,  and  be- 
came judge  of  the  supreme  court,  later  re- 
moving to  San  Francisco.  His  only  son,  Ad- 
dison Niles,  is  an  artist  in  New  York  City. 
5.  J.  Hamilton.  6.  Charles  M.  7.  Henrietta, 
died  young.  8.  Emily  Harriet,  married  Fran- 
cis Conkling  Huyck,  whom  she  survives,  a 
resident  of  Albanv,  New  York  (see  Huyck 
IX). 


The  ancestry  of  Judge  In- 
INGALSBE  galsbe,  of  Hudson  Falls 
(until  1910,  Sandy  Hill),  is 
most  notable.  It  leads  on  both  the  paternal 
and  maternal  sides  to  the  early  Puritan  set- 
tlers of  New  England,  and  through  them  to 
a  long  array  of  distinguished  and  royal  ances- 
tors in  England  and  on  the  Continent,  which 
have  been  traced  along  different  lines  for  more 
than  a  tliousand  years.  He  married  Franc  E. 
Groesbeck,  of  Dutch,  English  and  Quaker  de- 
scent, so  that  in  their  son,  Grenville  Howland 
Ingalsbe,  mingled  the  blood  of  the  Swede,  the 
Dane,  the  Saxon,  the  Frank,  the  Norman,  the 
Welsh,  the  Hollander,  the  Englishman  and  the 
Quaker. 

(I)  Ebenezer  Ingoldsby  (Ingalsbe)  was 
born  February  10,  1730,  in  the  vicinity  of  Bos- 
ton, Massachusetts.  He  married  Susanna 
Robbins,  born  October  18,  1729.  They  had 
fourteen  children.  He  was  an  English  soldier 
in  the  French  and  Indian  wars  as  private,  en- 
sign and  second  lieutenant,  under  the  name  of 
Ebenezer  Ingoldsby.  He  was  with  Sir  Wil- 
liam Johnson  and  Lyman  at  Lake  George  in 
1755  ;  with  Amherst  and  Wolfe  at  Louisburgh 
in  1758,  with  Amherst  at  Ticonderoga  in  1759 


and  with  Haviland  to  Montreal  and  at  the 
surrender  of  Canada  in  1760.  He  then  set- 
tled as  a  farmer  in  the  north  parish  of  Shrews- 
bury, Massachusetts,  where  he  held  various 
positions  of  trust,  including  that  of  justice 
of  the  peace.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the 
war  of  independence  he  changed  his  name  to- 
Ingalsbe.  He  was  a  sergeant  of  the  minute- 
men  upon  the  Lexington  alarm,  became  cap- 
tain, and  after  arduous  service  in  the  North- 
ern Department  was  discharged  November  29, 
1777,  with  his  health  permanently  impaired. 
All  of  his  sons  who  were  of  military  age,  Ebe- 
nezer, Jr.,  John  and  Joseph,  served  in  the  con- 
tinental army.  In  1790,  having  been  preceded 
by  several  of  his  sons,  he  moved  to  Hart- 
ford, New  York,  where  he  died  August  17, 
1802.  His  wife  died  September  17,  1804.  He 
was  the  great-grandson  of  John  Ingoldsby, 
who  emigrated  from  Lincolnshire,  England, 
to  Boston  in  1640,  and  became  a  freeman  or 
voter  in  1642.  John  Ingoldsby  was  of  the 
thirteenth  generation  from  Sir  Roger  In- 
goldsby, Knight,  Lord  of  the  Manor  of  In- 
goldesby  in  the  county  of  Lincoln,  England. 
In  England  and  in  America  the  Ingoldsbys 
have  been  of  warrior  blood.  They  were  prom- 
inent in  the  civil  wars,  and  were  the  adher- 
ents and  among  the  closest  confidants  of 
Oliver  Cromwell.  In  America  they  were  par- 
ticipants in  various  of  the  Indian  Border  wars, 
including  that  of  King  Philip. 

(II)  Aaron,  fifth  son  of  Ebenezer  Ingals- 
be, was  born  at  Boylston,  Massachusetts,  June 
10,  1765 :  married  Polly  Hicks,  born  Jan- 
uary 5,  1773;  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers 
in  Hartford,  New  York,  in  1780,  and  died 
January  17,  1850.  His  wife  died  January  4, 
1853.     They  had  eleven  children. 

(HI)  James,  eldest  son  of  Aaron  Ingalsbe, 
was  born  in  Granville,  New  York,  July  18, 
1789.  He  married,  December  8,  1813,  Fanny 
Harris,  born  August  26,  1795,  and  settled  in 
Kingsbury,  New  York.  In  a  few  years  he 
moved  to  Hartford,  where  he  became  a  suc- 
cessful farmer  and  an  influential  citizen.  He 
died  December  3,  1880,  and  his  wife  died 
May  17,  1868.  They  had  five  children.  Fanny 
(Harris)  Ingalsbe  on  her  paternal  side  was 
of  the  fifth  generation  from  Thomas  Harris, 
of  Ipswich,  Massachusetts,  in  1636,  and  his 
wife,  Martha  (Lake)  Harris,  who  was  the 
daughter  of  John  Lake,  a  descendant  of  the 
Lakes  of  Yorkshire,  England,  deriving  their 
descent  through  a  long  royal  line  from  Pip- 
pin of  Heristal,  Mayor  of  the  Palace  under 
the  Merovingian  Kings.  On  her  maternal 
side  she  was  of  the  sixth  generation  from 
Thomas  Tracy,  who  was  born  in  1610,  and' 
who  emigrated  to  America  in  1636,  settling  in: 


HUDSON   AXD   :\IOnA\VK   VALLEYS 


403 


Salem,  Massachusetts,  removing  to  Saybrook, 
Connecticut,  in  1639,  and  to  Norwich,  in  1660, 
and  taking  a  prominent  part  in  civil  and  mili- 
tary affairs.  He  was  the  son  of  Sir  Paul 
Tracy  of  the  Alanor  of  Stanway,  who  was 
created  a  baronet  by  King  James  I,  and  a 
descendant  on  his  father's  side  through  Al- 
fred the  Great,  from  Ecgberht,  King  of  the 
West  Saxons,  and  Lord  of  all  England,  and 
on  his  mother's  side  through  Sir  Thomas 
Lucy,  of  \\'arwickshire,  from  the  Emperor 
Charlemagne. 

(IV)  Milo,  eldest  son  of  James  Ingalsbe, 
was  born  in  Kingsbury,  New  York,  May  29, 
1818.  From  1820  until  his  death,  Novem- 
ber 29,  1893.  he  resided  in  Hartford,  New 
York.  On  June  5,  1842,  he  married  Laura 
Cook  Chapin,  born  August  21,  18 17,  in  Chi- 
copee,  Massachusetts.  They  had  one  child. 
Laura  Cook  (Chapin)  Ingalsbe,  on  her 
father's  side  was  of  the  seventh  generation 
from  Deacon  Samuel  Chapin,  one  of  the 
founders  of  Springfield,  Massachusetts,  whose 
statue,  by  St.  Gaudens,  in  that  city,  represents 
the  typical  Puritan.  The  Chapins  were  of 
Welsh  ancestry.  On  her  mother's  side  Laura 
Cook  (Chapin)  Ingalsbe  was  of  the  seventh 
generation  from  Henry  Cook,  who  emigrated 
from  England,  and  was  a  freeholder  in  Salem, 
Massachusetts,  in  1638,  and  of  the  third  gen- 
eration from  Samuel  Cook,  who  after  various 
short  terms  of  service  in  the  patriot  army, 
during  the  revolutionary  war,  with  the  Con- 
necticut troops,  became  a  member  of  Captain 
Warner's  company,  January  i,  1777,  and 
served  throughout  the  war,  receiving  his  dis- 
charge, January  i,  1781.  He  settled  in  Gran- 
ville, New  York,  and  in  1793  moved  to  Hart- 
ford, New  York,  where  he  died. 

Milo  Ingalsbe  early  distinguished  himself 
as  a  student.  \\'hen  sixteen  years  of  age  he 
commenced  teaching,  meeting  with  great  suc- 
cess. Later  he  attended  the  Castleton  Acad- 
emy in  Castleton,  \'ermont,  winning  the 
highest  rank.  In  1840-41  he  took  a  course 
in  medicine  at  the  Albany  Medical  School. 
When  in  Albany  a  fine  position  as  teacher  was 
offered  him.  in  the  present  middle-west,  carry- 
ing great  opportunities  for  advancement,  and 
he  chose  teaching  as  his  life  work,  but  his 
father  urged  him  to  return  to  the  farm  to  as- 
sist in  the  education  of  his  younger  brothers. 
As  a  result  he  renounced  a  career  which 
would  have  resulted  in  a  high  measure  of  suc- 
cess. He  did  not  repine.  Wherever  he  was, 
whatever  he  did.  he  was  born  to  be  a  leader. 
For  many  winters  he  continued  to  teach.  He 
became,  successively,  school  inspector  and 
school  superintendent  of  his  town.  He  was  a 
staunch    supporter  of  the   public    school   sys- 


tem and  of  the  free  district  library  during 
their  early  and  critical  days.  He  was  a  lover 
of  good  literature  and  sought,  by  the  circula- 
tion of  such  periodicals  as  the  Cultivator,  the 
Nc'i.i>  Yorker  and  the  Tribune,  and  later  Har- 
per's Magazine,  and  the  Atlantic,  to  all  of 
which  he  was  a  subscriber  from  their  first 
issues,  to  raise  the  standard  of  public  intelli- 
gence. He  was  district  clerk  of  his  school 
district  for  fifty  years.  Mr.  Ingalsbe  never 
sought  public  office,  but  he  was  a  justice  of 
the  peace  of  his  town  for  several  terms  and 
was  its  supervisor  during  the  years  of  the  civil 
war,  and  upon  him  fell  largely  the  burden  of 
filling  the  quotas  and  adjusting  the  accounts 
of  the  town.  A  large  portion  of  his  time 
was  thus  occupied  during  the  last  years  of 
the  war,  without  compensation,  but  the  town 
quota  was  always  full,  its  accounts  were  un- 
impeachable, while  the  burden  of  war  taxa- 
tion was  not  only  reduced  to  a  minimum,  but 
was  entirely  removed,  while  war  prices  for 
farm  products  prevailed.  The  war  over,  and 
the  town's  war  debt  paid,  he  declined  a  fur- 
ther nomination  for  supervisor,  and  while 
often  besought  by  his  fellow  citizens,  per- 
sistently refused  to  allow  his  name  to  be  used 
as  a  candidate  for  any  district  or  county  office. 

In  the  early  forties  he  assisted  in  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Washington  County  Agri- 
cultural Society,  and  his  name  appeared  on 
its  official  lists  for  over  fifty  years.  For 
twenty  years  he  was  its  secretary.  He  held 
the  office  of  president  for  several  terms,  and 
for  the  twenty-eight  years  preceding  his  death 
was  a  member  of  its  board  of  managers.  Af- 
ter holding  various  subordinate  positions  in 
the  State  Agricultural  Society  he  was  chosen 
a  member  of  its  executive  committee.  He  held 
this  position  five  years,  and  in  1871  was  chosen 
president.  He  continued  as  a  member  of 
the  board  of  managers  until  1876.  The  ad- 
dress, which  according  to  custom  he  delivered 
upon  his  retirement  as  president,  was  widely 
circulated,  and  for  beauty  of  diction,  breadth 
of  thought  and  masterly  grasp  of  the  agricul- 
tural situation  will  remain  a  classic  among  the 
agricultural  addresses  of  the  time.  L'pon  the 
establishment  of  the  P.ureau  of  .Xg-riculture  in 
i860  he  became  its  correspondent  in  \\'ash- 
ington  county,  and  he  continued  to  act  in  that 
capacity  until  his  death.  For  forty  years  he 
was  the  conveyancer,  the  drawer  of  wills,  the 
pacificator,  and  the  legal  adviser  of  his  neigh- 
borhood, and  he  bore  the  test  of  this  confi- 
dence so  truly  that  almost  the  entire  town 
was  his  clientele. 

He  was  a  master  of  a  pure  and  forcible  lit- 
erary style.  He  prepared  a  large  number  of 
addresses  and  monographs  upon  educational, 


404 


HUDSOX   AND   MOHAWK   A'ALLEYS 


historical,  biographical,  meteorological  and 
agricultural  subjects.  At  the  time  of  his  death 
he  had  matured  plans  for  the  preparation  of  a 
local  history,  for  which  his  remarkable  mem- 
ory, wide  acquaintance  with  men  and  affairs 
and  large  stores  of  collected  material  especi- 
ally fitted  him. 

The  keynote  of  Mr.  Ingalsbe's  life  was 
contained  in  his  utterance  only  a  few  hours 
before  his  death,  "I  have  always  tried  to  stand 
close  by  the  nearest  duty.  I  have  known  no 
other  way."  The  rich  fruitage  of  such  living 
was  revealed  in  that  other  remark  made  by 
him,  in  the  presence  of  death.  "I  do  not  know 
as  I  have  a  grudge  against  any  one." 

(V)  Grenville  Mellen.  only  child  of  Mile 
and  Laura  Cook  (Chapin)  Ingalsbe,  was  born 
in  Hartford..  New  York,  July  26,  1846.  He 
studied  at  home  under  his  father's  personal 
instruction  until  he  was  fourteen.  During 
the  next  four  winters  he  attended  the  district 
school,  and  then  spent  a  year  at  the  Fort  Ed- 
ward Collegiate  Institute.  In  1866  he  entered 
Union  College  as  a  junior  in  the  class  of  1868. 
He  remained  in  college  only  a  year,  but  his 
record  was  such  that  in  1870  the  college  con- 
ferred upon  him,  in  course,  his  Bachelor's,  and 
three  years  later  his  Master's  degree.  For 
three  years,  commencing  in  1867.  he  was  the 
principal  of  the  Argyle  Academy  at  Argyle, 
New  York.  He  was  a  student  with  his  stu- 
dents, was  deservedly  popular,  and  placed  the 
school  in  the  front  rank  of  country  academies. 
In  1870  he  resigned  the  principalship  and 
commenced  the  study  of  law  with  the  firm  of 
Hughes  &  Northup  in  Sandy  Hill.  Up  to  this 
time  he  spent  his  vacations  working  on  the 
farm  and  his  love  of  farm  life  has  always  re- 
mained   intense. 

After  a  year  of  unremitting  office  study, 
he  entered  the  Harvard  Law  School.  There 
he  performed  two  years  work  in  one,  graduat- 
ing with  honor  as  a  Bachelor  of  Law  in  the 
class  of  1872.  During  this  year  he  formed  a 
wide  acquaintance  in  Boston  and  vicinity  and 
took  courses  of  lectures  in  History  imder 
Samuel  Eliot,  Natural  History  under  Louis 
Agassiz.  Life  and  Living  under  Ralph  Waldo 
Emerson,  and  pursued  the  study  of  botany 
under  .Asa  Gray,  and  of  literature  and  Ger- 
man under  equally  illustrious  masters.  Im- 
mediately upon  his  graduation  he  re-entered 
the  law  office  of  Hughes  &  Northup,  this  time 
as  managing  clerk.  This  was  during  the 
presidential  campaign  of  1872,  and  he  flung 
aside  the  most  flattering  prospects  of  political 
preferment  to  aid  the  cause  of  his  personal 
friend,  Horace  Greeley. 

Mr.  Ingalsbe  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1874,  and  in  1875  he  opened  a  law  office  in 


Sandy  Hill.  In  1874  he  was  elected  secre- 
tary of  the  Washington  County  Agricultural 
Society,  a  position  which  he  held  for  four 
years.  During  this  time  the  field  of  the  So- 
ciety's operations  was  more  than  doubled,  the 
prize  list  was  revised,  the  premium  number 
system  was  introduced,  which  has  since  been 
adopted  by  all  well-managed  societies ;  Me- 
morial Hall  was  erected,  the  attendance  at 
the  annual  fairs  was  largely  increased  by  the 
addition  of  legitimate  attractions,  and  the  in- 
debtedness of  the  Society  was  reduced  nearly 
four  thousand  dollars.  Upon  his  retirement 
the  Society  showed  its  appreciation  by  elect- 
ing him  a  life  councilor.  In  1875  ^^  '^^'^s 
elected  clerk  of  the  Village  of  Sandy  Hill,  a 
position  which  he  held,  with  the  exception  of 
one  year,  till  1894,  when  he  resigned.  In 
1877  he  was  appointed  a  justice  of  the  peace 
and  was  twice  elected,  retiring  after  nine  years 
of  service,  as  the  office  interfered  with  his  pro- 
fessional work.  In  1885  he  was  elected  su- 
pervisor of  his  town  and  was  twice  re-elected. 
During  his  last  year  as  supervisor  he  was 
chairman  of  the  board.  As  supervisor  he  was 
an  uncompromising  reformer  and  an  unspar- 
ing critic  in  the  direction  of  economy  and 
faithful  public  service.  When  first  elected  he 
had  vigorous  opposition  at  the  polls.  Upon 
his  first  re-election  he  had  no  op])oncnt,  at  his 
second  re-election  he  received  the  nomination 
of  both  political  parties,  and  at  the  expiration 
of  his  third  term  he  was  offered  by  both  par- 
ties a  further  vmanimous  renomination.  He 
refused,  however,  to  hold  the  office  longer,  as 
his  law  practice  and  other  personal  interests 
engrossed  all  Iiis  time.  In  1894  he  retired 
from  all  official  work  to  devote  liis  energies 
wholly  to  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and 
to  his  various  business  enterprises  and  society 
activities. 

In  1895,  though  not  an  active  candidate  un- 
til the  day  of  the  county  convention,  and  then 
not  upon  his  own  initiative,  he  was  nominated 
for  surrogate  of  Washington  county  by  the 
Republican  convention.  One  of  the  most  ex- 
citing campaigns  ever  known  in  the  county 
followed,  resulting  in  his  election  by  a  ma- 
jority of  over  sixteen  hundred.  Of  his  record 
as  surrogate  there  was  no  dissent.  A  news- 
paper bitterly  hostile,  politically,  said.  "Politi- 
cal friend  and  foe  alike  concede  that  Mr. 
Ingalsbe  has  made  a  model  official."  Upon  as- 
suming office  he  instituted  six  entirely  new 
series  of  record  books,  revolutionized  a  sev- 
enth, adopted  improved  methods  for  the  filing 
of  papers,  introduced  the  card  index  system, 
prepared  and  issued  about  one  hundred  dif- 
ferent blank  forms  for  use  in  surrogate's 
court,  svstematized  the  work  of  the  office,  in- 


^7 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


405 


creased  its  efficiency  and  greatly  elevated  the 
standard  of  the  court.  Personally,  his  incum- 
bency of  the  office  involved  so  great  a  sacri- 
fice that  a  year  before  the  expiration  of  his 
term,  thougli  deeply  appreciative  of  the  favor 
with  whicli  his  conduct  of  the  office  had  been 
received,  alike  by  the  bar  and  the  people,  he 
declined  to  be  a  candidate  for  re-election. 

Upon  his  admission  to  the  bar,  Mr.  Ingals- 
be  engaged  in  the  general  practice  of  the  law. 
In  1885  his  practice  had  become  so  large  that 
he  began  limiting  his  efforts  to  the  more  con- 
genial lines  of  legal  work,  and  this  led  im- 
mediately to  the  establishment  of  an  extended 
and  lucrative  practice  in  corporation,  probate, 
administration,  real  property,  commercial  and 
banking  law.  From  that  time  forward  he 
has  had  charge  of  the  legal  work  of  a  great 
number  of  the  most  important  private  and  cor- 
porate interests  in  his  vicinity.  He  has  been 
prominent  as  counsel  or  stockholder  or  both 
in  the  organization  of  nearly  every  one  of 
the  business  corporations  at  Sandy  Hill.  He 
is  widely  known  as  a  skilled  draftsman  of 
wills,  and  of  intricate  legal  papers.  His  prac- 
tice in  surrogate's  court,  except  during  the 
years  of  his  incumbency  of  the  office  of  sur- 
rogate, has  been  large  and  constantly  in- 
creasing. 

Mr.  Ingalsbe  has  been  active  in  business  af- 
fairs since  his  election  as  a  director  and  coun- 
sel of  The  Sandy  Hill  National  Bank  in  1884. 
He  has  held  these  positions  continuously  since 
that  time.  In  1899  he  was  elected  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  bank,  and  in  1905  its  president. 
During  all  these  years  this  institution  has 
been  the  largest  bank  of  deposit  in  Washing- 
ton county.  For  many  years  he  was  a  direc- 
tor and  the  secretary  of  the  Sandy  Hill  Elec- 
tric Light  and  Power  Company,  of  the  Spring 
Brook  Water  Company,  and  a  director  and 
the  counsel  of  the  Glens  Falls.  Sandy  Hill  & 
Fort  Edward  Street  Railroad  Company.  He 
is  now  a  director  and  counsel,  and  the  secre- 
tary of  the  Imperial  Wall  Paper  Company,  a 
director  and  vice-president  of  the  Progressive 
Pulp  and  Paper  Company,  and  of  the  Lake 
Champlain  Pulp  and  Paper  Company,  a  direc- 
tor and  the  president  of  the  Adirondack  Mo- 
tor Car  Company,  and  is  beside  a  director  in 
various  other  corporations,  and  interested  as 
a  partner  in  several  lines  of  business,  in  the 
management  of  all  of  which  he  takes  an  ac- 
tive interest. 

Air.  Ingalsbe's  identification  with  learned 
and  purposeful  societies  has  been  extended. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  American  Academy 
of  Political  and  Social  Science,  the  National 
Bimetallist  Association,  the  American  Anti- 
Imperialist  League,  the  Harvard  Law  School 


Association,  the  Union  College  Alumni  As- 
sociation for  Northeastern  New  York,  the 
American  Historical  Association,  the  Ameri- 
can Bar  Association,  the  American  Political 
Science  Association,  the  New  York  State  Bar 
Association,  the  American  Association  for  the 
Advancement  of  Science  and  several  other  like 
associations.  For  several  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Local  Council  for  New  York 
State  of  the  American  Bar  Association.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  executive  committee 
of  the  New  York  State  Bar  Association  con- 
tinuously since  1893.  Since  its  organization 
in  1899  he  has  been  a  trustee  and  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  New  York  State  Historical  As- 
sociation, and  for  several  years  he  has  been 
the  chairman  of  several  of  its  most  important 
committees,  including  the  committee  on  pro- 
gram. 

Loving  his  profession  and  giving  it  no  stint- 
ed allegiance,  irresistibly  attracted  by  the 
keen  rivalries  of  business  and  giving  them 
prodigally  of  his  strength,  Mr.  Ingalsbe  has 
enjoyed  most  of  all,  his  garden  and  his  books. 
His  private  library  is  one  of  the  largest  in 
Northern  New  York,  and  amid  the  duties  of 
an  exacting  profession  and  the  activities  of 
business,  he  has  still  found  time  for  e.xtensive 
reading,  painstaking  study  and  the  prepara- 
tion of  many  papers  and  monographs  along 
attractive  lines,  and  thus  has  preserved  the 
mental  poise  of  the  student  and  many  of  the 
habits  of  the  scholastic  recluse. 

Mr.  Ingalsbe  married,  September  20,  1876, 
Franc  E.Groesbeck,of  Sandy  Hill, New  York, 
born  October  19,  1854,  a  daughter  of  Nath- 
aniel Barnet,  and  Lydia  A.  (Kingsley)  Groes- 
beck.  She  was  of  the  fourth  generation  from 
Nathaniel  Barnet,  and  from  Jonathan  Kings- 
ley,  both  soldiers  of  the  revolution,  and  also 
of  the  fourth  generation  through  her  Grand- 
mother Kingsley  from  Maurice  Wells,  a 
Quaker  from  the  Providence  plantations.  The 
Groesbecks  were  early  Dutch  settlers  in 
Schaghticoke,  with  revolutionary  records.  The 
Barnets  came  to  New  York  from  Rhode  Isl- 
and, and  Jonathan  Kingsley  from  Swansea, 
Massachusetts.  He  was  a  representative  of 
the  celebrated  English  family  of  that  name, 
of  which  Canon  Charles  Kingsley  was  a 
member.  Mrs.  Ingalsbe  graduated  at  Temple 
Grove  Seminary  in  1874.  afterward  teaching 
for  two  years  in  the  Sandy  Hill  Union  School. 
They  had  one  child. 

(VI)  Grenville  Howland,  only  child  of 
Grenville  Mellen  and  Franc  E.  (Groesbeck) 
Ingalsbe,  was  born  in  Sandy  Hill,  November 
8,  1878,  and  died  in  that  place,  February  26, 
1910. 

His  early  and  preparatory  education  was  ac- 


4o6 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK   \\ALLEYS 


quired  at  the  Glens  Falls  and  Phillips  Exe- 
ter academies.  He  entered  Harvard  College 
in  the  class  of  1902.  At  this  time  his  phys- 
ical condition  was  ideal,  but  serious  illnesses 
culminated  in  an  almost  complete  breakdown 
during  his  senior  year,  though  he  graduated 
with  his  class.  He  chose  law  as  his  life  work, 
and  immediately  upon  graduation  he  com- 
menced its  study  in  his  father's  office,  with 
little  expectation,  however,  on  the  part  of  his 
friends  that  he  could  pursue  it.  The  greater 
part  of  the  next  two  years  he  spent  at  Sara- 
nac.  Residing  with  his  parents  in  Sandy  Hill 
he  then  assumed  charge  of  the  paternal  home- 
stead in  South  Hartford,  carrying  it  on  for 
five  years  with  great  success.  He  made  a 
thorough  study  of  farming ;  became  a  breeder 
of  high  grade  Jersey  cattle  and  Berkshire 
swine ;  introduced  new  methods  of  tillage  hus- 
bandry and  a  systematized  rotation  of  crops. 
During  the  same  time  he  engaged  in  the  lum- 
ber business  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Nich- 
ols &  Ingalsbe,  with  headquarters  at  Wells, 
\'ermont,  and  acquired  a  half  interest  in  the 
Empire  Coal  Company  at  Sandy  Hill.  His 
other  business  enterprises  were  the  Adiron- 
dack Motor  Car  Company,  of  which  he  was 
the  vice-president,  and  the  Progressive  Pulp 
and  Paper  Company  of  Plattsburg,  which  he 
served  as  secretary.  Pie  was  a  member  of  the 
Kingsbury  Club,  the  Alumni  Associations  of 
Phillips  Exeter  Academy  and  of  Harvard 
College  and  the  New  York  State  Historical 
Association. 

In  politics  he  was  a  Republican,  though 
never  a  strong  partisan.  He  was  widely  read, 
and  though  a  successful  farmer  and  man  of 
business,  his  tastes  were  ever  those  of  the 
scholar.  He  was  a  man  of  culture,  a  lover 
of  good  literature,  and  a  close  student  of 
world  politics.  He  was  unostentatious  and 
retiring,  but  all  who  knew  him  liked  him,  and 
marvelled  at  his  wealth  of  information.  Ill 
health  alone,  apparently,  prevented  him  from 
attaining  high  and  worthy  distinction  among 
the  world's  workers,  in  whose  ranks  he  longed 
for  place. 

l?orii  for  success  he  seemed, 
With   tirace  to  win,  with   heart  to  hold, 
All   pledged  in   coming  days  to   forge 
Weapons  to  guard  the  State. 


"Mr.  John  Rogers,  minister  of 
ROCiERS  the  Gospel,  was  the  first  mar- 
tyr in  Queen  Mary's  reign,  and 
was  burned  in  Smithficld,  February  4,  1555. 
His  wife  with  nine  small  children  and  one  at 
the  breast  followed  him  to  the  stake ;  with 
which  sorrowful  sight  he  was  not  in  the  least 
daunted,   but   with    wonderful    patience   died 


courageously  for  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ." 
The  maternal  ancestry  of  Mr.  John  Rogers, 
the  martyr,  has  been  traced  from  English 
records  from  Charlemagne  down  through 
\\'illiam  the  Conqueror,  Henry  I,  Henrv  II, 
King  John,  Henry  III,  and  Edward  I.  John 
Rogers  was  born  in  Deritend,  England,  in 
the  parish  of  Aston,  near  Birmingham,  about 
1500,  burned  at  Smithfield,  England,  February 
4,  1555  :  married  Adriana  de  Weyden,  from 
Antwerp.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine  chil- 
dren. 

Rev.  William  Witherell  of  Maidstone,  Eng- 
land, schoolmaster,  Mary,  his  wife,  three  chil- 
dren and  one  servant,  came  into  America  in 
the  "Hercules".  The  certificate  is  dated 
March  14,  1634-35.  The  mother  of  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Witherell  was  a  daughter  of  John  Rog- 
ers, the  martyr.*  John  Rogers,  father  of 
John  Rogers,  of  Marshfield,  Massachusetts 
(with  whom  the  American  history  begins) 
was  a  brother  of  Rev.  William  Witherell's 
mother.  It  has  been  said  that  he  with  his  wife 
and  child  came  to  this  country  with  them,  in 
the  "Hercules." 

The  Rogers  family  of  England  bore  arms : 
Argent,  a  chevron,  gules,  between  three  roe 
bucks,  passant,  sable,  attired,  and  gorged  with 
ducal  coronets,  or.  Crest:  On  a  mount,  vert, 
a  roebuck,  passant ;  proper,  attired  and  gorged 
with  a  ducal  coronet,  or.  between  two  branch- 
es of  laurels,  vert.  Motto :  "Nos  nostraque 
Deo."     (Us  and  ours  to  God).  , 

(I)  John  Rogers  was  born  in  England,  and 
came  in  the  "Hercules"  with  his  father  and 
mother.  He  died  in  Marshfield,  Massachu- 
setts, May,  1661.  He  was  made  a  freeman 
of  Marshfield,  and  lived  in  that  town  several 
years.  He  married  Frances  \\'atson,  died 
1687,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth  Wat- 
son. Children,  named  in  the  order  given  in 
his  will,  dated  February  i,  1660:  John,  Jr., 
of  whoin  further;  Joseph;  Timothy;  Ann 
Hudson ;  Mary,  and  Abigail. 

(II)  John  (2),  son  of  John  (i)  and  Fran- 
ces (Watson)  Rogers,  was  born  in  England, 
about  1632,  died  May  7,  1717.  He  requested 
membership  with  "the  Religious  Society  of 
Friends,  or  the  People  called  Quakers,"  in 
1660;  he  took  the  oath  of  freemrui  in  1657, 
and  is  often  mentioned  in  the  public  records 
for  nearly  sixty  years  after  that  date.  In 
1692  he  was  selectman  of  Marshfield.  In 
common  with  other  of  his  peculiar  faith  he 

*Jaftes  Rogers,  a  great-grandson  of  the  mar- 
tyr, hrought  his  Bible  to  this  country  when  he 
came  in  1635,  aged  twenty  years,  in  tlie  ship  "In- 
crease." This  relic  has  been  fully  established  by 
its  historical  connection  with  every  family 
through  which  it  has  passed.  It  is  in  the  .Mfred 
University  of  New  York  State. 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


407 


suffered  persecutions  because  of  his  religious 
views.  He  married  (first),  October  8,- 1656, 
Rhoda,  daughter  of  Elder  Thomas  King,  of 
Scituate,  born  October  11,  1639,  died  about 
1662.      He    married     (second)     about    1663, 

Elizabeth    ,    died    September    13, 

1692.    He  married  (third)  Elizabeth- 


died  A'lay  9.  1705.  Children,  born  in  Marsh- 
field,  by  first  wife:  i.  John,  baptized  August 
23.  1657.  2.  Thomas,  of  whom  further.  3. 
Rhoda,  baptized  August  3,  1662,  died  young. 
Children  by  second  wife:  4.  Abigail,  born 
November  3,  1663.  5.  Mary,  March  10,  1665, 
baptized  April,  1665.  6.  Johanna,  born  Octo- 
ber 7,  1667.     7.  Elizabeth,  May  19,  1669. 

(III)  Thomas,  son  of  John  (2)  and  his 
first  wife,  Rhoda  (King)  Rogers,  was  born 
in  ^klarshfield,  Massachusetts,  December  25, 
1659;  married,  June  6,  1712,  Bethiah  Ewell, 
born  j\Iarch  3,  1682-83,  died  January  23,  1756, 
daughter  of  Gershom  Ewell,  of  Scituate,  and 
his  wife  Mary.  They  were  married  in  a  pub- 
lic Friends'  meeting,  according  to  the  good 
order  maintained  amongst  Friends.  Thomas 
died  March  6,  1745-46,  leaving  children,  all 
born  in  Marshfield :  Rhoda,  May  28,  1713; 
John,  of  whom  further ;  Thomas,  October  28, 
1716:  Bethiah,  September  29,  1718. 

(IV)  John  (3),  son  of  Thomas  and 
Bethiah  (Ewell)  Rogers,  was  born  in  Marsh- 
field,  December  19,  1714;  married,  December 
29,  1737,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  and 
Elizabeth  (Backus)  Wing.  She  was  born 
March  7,  1709-10,  died  February  16,  1790, 
a  descendant  of  Rev.  Stephen  Batchilor, 
whose  daughter  Deborah  married  Rev.  John 
W'ing,  and  is  mother  of  the  "Wing  family  of 
America  Incorporated."  The  old  homes  of 
her  three  sons  John,  Daniel  and  Stephen 
Wing  are  situated  in  Sandwich,  Cape  Cod, 
Massachusetts.  John  Rogers  died  September 
5,  1791,  leaving  children,  all  born  in  Marsh- 
field:  John,  December  21,  1738;  Wing,  June 
14,  1740,  of  whom  further;  Joseph,  January 
26.  1742-43;  Elizabeth,  August  11,  1746;  Ste- 
phen, February  7,  1748-49. 

(V)  Wing,  son  of  John  (3)  Rogers  and 
Sarah  (Wing)  Rogers,  was  born  June  14, 
1740.  He  became  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers 
of  the  town  of  Danby,  Vermont,  settling  there 
in  1770.  Flis  early  home  there  was  a  log 
cabin  standing  in  the  midst  of  a  small  clearing, 
surrounded  by  dense  forests  that  were  filled 
with  wild  creatures  ever  ready  to  do  them 
harm.  He  encountered  all  the  difficulties  and 
endured  all  the  privations  of  a  pioneer  set- 
tler, being  a  resolute,  fearless  man,  of  a  robust 
constitution  that  was  equal  to  any  task.  He 
was  somewhat  eccentric,  but  of  strong  char- 
acter  and    great    industry,    becoming   one   of 


the  most  wealthy  men  of  his  town.  He  was 
a  birthright  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Danby 
meeting.  He  was  a  member  of  the  proprie- 
tors' meeting  in  1776,  and  one  of  the  commit- 
tee to  lay  out  land  in  the  fourth  division. 
With  his  strong  mental  powers,  united  with 
a  readiness  of  performance  and  a  familiar 
knowledge  of  his  duty,  he  was  often  called 
upon  to  fill  some  office  of  the  town.  He  was 
prominently  identified  with  the  measures 
taken  by  the  inhabitants  for  the  general  safety 
of  the  town  during  the  revolutionary  war. 
He  was  selectman  four  years  from  1776,  and 
a  grand  juror  in  1786.  In  1790  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  Vermont  legislature,  then 
holding  its  session  at  Castleton,  Vermont, 
and  was  reelected  for  the  years  179 1-2-3.  His 
eldest  daughter,  Elizabeth,  married  Nathan 
Smith,  who  inherited  from  his  father,  Caleb 
Smith,  a  farm  of  two  hundred  forty  acres 
with  a  log  house.  The  young  couple  planned 
to  build  a  one-story  frame  dwelling,  Wing 
Rogers  hearing  of  this,  invited  his  daughter 
to  make  him  a  visit.  He  brought  out  of  a 
closet  two  large  wooden  bowls  filled  with  tar- 
nished silver  dollars  and  asked  her  to  help 
him  polish  them.  When  the  task  was  fin- 
ished he  handed  Elizabeth  seven  hundred  shin- 
ing coins,  saying,  "Now  build  the  house  two 
stories."  The  house  was  built  two  stories  in 
1779,  according  to  date  engraved  on  the 
thumb-piece  of  the  door-latch.  He  married 
(first)  April  4,  1764,  Deliverance,  daughter 
of  John  and  Sarah  (Btxith)  Chapman.  He 
married  (second)  Mercy  Hatch;  (third)  Re- 
becca Sherman;  (fourth)  Hannah  Titus. 
Children:  I.  Deliverance,  of  whom  further. 
2.  Elizabeth,  died  1817,  aged  fifty  years; 
married  Nathan  Smith,  died  1824,  aged  sev- 
enty-one years.  3.  Augustus,  died  January 
14,  1836,  aged  thirty-si.x  years:  married  Anna 
Bartlett.  4.  Asa,  married  Mary  Rogers ;  set- 
tled in  upper  Canada.  5.  Rufus.  settled  in 
upper  Canada ;  married  Lydia  Rogers.  6. 
Lydia.  7.  \\  ing.  8.  Mary.  9.  Lester.  10. 
John.  II.  Stephen.  12.  Ruth.  John,  Ste- 
phen and  Ruth  died  without  marriage ;  their 
estates  were  settled  by  Moses  Rogers,  of 
Lynn,  Massachusetts,  who  inherited  their 
property. 

(VI)  Deliverance,  only  child  of  ^^'ing  and 
Deliverance  (Chapman)  Rogers,  was  born 
January  15,  1766,  and  was  six  months  old 
when  his  mother  died.  When  he  was  four 
years  old  his  father  removed  to  Danby,  Ver- 
mont, where  he  was  educated  and  grew  to 
manhood.  He  later  settled  in  \\'ashington 
county.  New  York,  where  he  became  a  very 
large  land  owner  and  prosperous  farmer.     He 


4o8 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK   \ALLEYS 


was  the  first  manufacturer  of  cheese  in  Wash- 
ington county,  and  made  the  first  shipments 
to  the  city  markets.  On  his  two  thousand 
acres  of  land  he  maintained  herds  of  cattle 
numbering  many  hundreds.  After  the  war  of 
1812  he  purchased  many  farms  with  their 
cattle  and  all  improvements,  selling  them  when 
warranted  by  their  increased  valuation.  In 
1818  he  bought  the  "Hall  Farm"  from  Dr. 
Hall,  who  purchased  it  from  Benajah  Hill, 
who  built  upon  it  a  colonial  mansion  in  1805. 
He  bequeathed  the  "Hall  Farm"'  to  his  grand- 
son. Deliverance  Rogers  (2),  to  perpetuate 
his  name.  He  was  an  able,  active,  intellectual 
man,  handsome  in  form  and  feature,  with 
beautiful  white  hair  curling  down  over  his 
shoulders.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  birth- 
right members  of  the  Society  of  Friends;  she 
was  a  dignified,  intellectual  woman,  and 
served  as  clerk  of  the  Danby  monthly  meeting 
of  women  Friends  for  twenty  years.  Deliv- 
erance Rogers  died  at  the  "Hall  Farm,"  May 
I,  1849.  In  his  will  he  left  one  thousand  dol- 
lars to  be  held  in  trust  for  the  public  schools, 
to  be  divided  between  three  school  districts, 
Granville,  Middle  Granville,  and  North  Bend ; 
this  is  known  as  "the  Rogers  Fund."  He  set- 
tled each  of  his  daughters  upon  farms  valued 
at  ten  thousand  dollars  each,  excepting  Cyn- 
thia, who  preferred  cash  and  settled  in  Alun- 
son,  Ohio.  The  remainder  of  his  property 
he  willed  to  his  son  David,  whom  he  had  pre- 
viously settled  upon  the  "Hal!  Farm,"  and 
who  with  his  wife  Hannah  cared  for  his 
father  and  mother  until  their  death.  He  mar- 
ried, December,  1788,  Judith  Folger,  born 
November  26,  1768,  died  December  15,  1854, 
daughter  of  Daniel  Folger,  a  sea  captain  of 
Nantucket,  and  his  wife,  Judith  Worth.  Chil- 
dren:  I.  Rispah,  born  March  10,  1790,  died 
September  9,  1792.  2.  Cynthia,  born  May 
24,  1792;  married  Jacob  Bartlett,  died  July, 
1871.  3.  Sarah,  born  .'Kpril  3,  1794.  died  July 
I3>  i/Q^-  4-  Daniel  Folger,  born  March  16, 
1796,  died  February  19,  1826;  married  Lydia 
Hemaway,  April  16,  1817.  5.  Ruth,  born 
January  19,  1799;  married  Daniel  Bartlett, 
died  November  15,  1841.  6.  Dinah,  born  No- 
vember 13,  1801  ;  married  David  .Mien,  died 
February  9,  i860.  7.  David,  of  whom  further. 
8.  Wing,  born  July  20,  1806,  died  October  15, 
1823.  9.  Eliza,  born  September  9,  1809; 
married  Stephen  Dillingham,  died  October  19, 
1883.  10.  Mary  Folger,  born  May  6,  1813; 
married  Richard  Barker,  died  May  30.  1834. 

rX'TT)  David,  seventh  child  of  Deliverance 
and  Judith  (Folger)  Rogers,  was  born  in 
Danby.  \'ermont,  June  28,  1804.  He  removed 
with  his  parents  to  the  "Hall  Farm"  in  the 
town  of  Granville,  Washington  county.  New 


York,  when  he  was  about  fourteen  years  of 
age.  He  became  a  large  land  owner  and  suc- 
cessful farmer  and  a  well-known  breeder  of 
fine  horses.  On  his  farm  of  twelve  hundred 
and  fifty  acres  he  maintained  a  herd  of  one 
hundred  cows  of  the  best  dairy  breed  and 
eight  hundred  merino  sheep.  He  was  a  large 
manufacturer  of  cheese,  and  during  harvest 
season  employed  a  large  force  of  men,  there 
being  no  farm  machinery  in  that  day  to  lighten 
and  simplify  the  labor  of  the  harvest  field. 
He  refused  to  hold  any  public  office  other  than 
that  of  pathmaster,  which  he  held  for  many 
years.  He  was  diligent,  upright  and  gener- 
ous, and  at  "Hall  Farm"  extended  a  pleasant 
and  abundant  hospitality.  He  died  there  Sep- 
tember 8,  1861,  and  is  buried  in  the  Friends* 
burying  ground  in  Granville.  He  married,  in 
Granville,  New  York,  in  Friends'  meeting, 
September  13,  1826.  Hannah,  daughter  of 
Stephen  and  Amy  (Tucker)  Dillingham.  She 
died  in  Granville,  .\pril  5,  1885.  Amy  (Tuck- 
er) Dillingham  was  a  greatly  beloved  minister 
of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  there  is  a  me- 
morial to  her  in  a  book  entitled  "Memorials 
Concerning  Deceased  Friends,"  published  by 
direction  of  the  yearly  meeting  of  the  Friends 
of  New  York,  1859.  Hannah  (Dillingham) 
Rogers  was  one  of  the  noted,  noble  women  of 
Washington  county,  where  her  life  of  eighty- 
one  years  and  five  months  was  passed.  She 
was  a  recommended  and  greatly  beloved  min- 
ister of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  lived  a 
consistent  Christian  life,  filled  with  deeds  of 
philanthropy  and  benevolence  that  endeared 
her  to  all.  She  built  and  presented  to  the 
Granville  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends  a 
school  house  in  which  the  youth  of  the  meet- 
ing would  receive  a  fine  English  education. 
She  was  a  delightful  entertainer,  "and  her 
beautiful  countenance  was  a  delight  to  be- 
hold." Children,  all  born  in  Granville,  New 
York:  i.  Judith,  born  June  14,  1S27,  died 
February  28,  1830.  2.  Wing,  born  .April  i, 
1829,  died  February  11,  1830.  3.  Ruth,  born 
December  20,  1830;  married  Hon.  Ervin  Hop- 
kins. October  4,  1849.  They  celebrated  their 
golden  wedding,  October  4,  1899 ;  the  souve- 
nirs were  twenty-dollar  gold  pieces.  Ervin 
Hopkins  was  son  of  Ervin  and  Catherine 
(Campbell)  Hopkins.  He  was  a  successful 
farmer  of  Granville,  a  member  of  the  New 
York  state  legislature  in  1863.  He  removed 
to  Chicago,  Illinois,  where  he  was  a  member 
and  operated  on  the  Chicago  Board  of  Trade. 
He  died  without  a  will,  leaving  a  large  prop- 
erty. Ruth  (Rogers)  Hopkins  was  tall,  well- 
proportioned  and  of  a  commanding  presence, 
her  head  crowned  with  beautiful  white  hair. 
She    was    a   consistent    disciple   of   the    faithi 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


40? 


of  her  childhood,  and  always  acknowledged 
the  obligation  of  her  birth  membership  of  the 
Society  of  Friends.  They  had  three  children : 
David  Rogers,  born  August  3,  1850,  married 
Leona  C.  White ;  Hannah  Louise,  born  De- 
cember 10,  1854,  married  Charles  P.  Cogge- 
shall ;  Ervin,  Jr.,  born  February  2,  1859,  mar- 
ried Sibyl  Marie  Hitt.  4.  Amy  Dillingham, 
born  September  28,  1832,  died  March  16, 
1836.  5.  Stephen  Dillingham,  born  July  10, 
1834,  died  April  7,  1847.  6.  An  infant,  born 
and  died  same  day.  7.  David  Wing,  born 
April  27,  1836:  he  enlisted  August  21,  1862. 
in  Company  K,  123d  Regiment  New  York 
Volunteer  Infantry,  for  three  years  or  the 
war.  He  served  with  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac, and  was  in  many  of  the  hard-fought 
battles  of  the  war,  was  promoted  to  second 
lieutenant  for  gallantry  at  Chancellorsville. 
Governor  Seymour  said  of  him:  "Mr.  Rog- 
ers must  have  a  lieutenant's  commission,  for 
he  is  one  of  the  best-looking  soldiers  I  have 
seen  in  my  chambers,  and  I  will  have  that 
fighting  Quaker  commissioned  for  meritorious 
service."  He  was  honorably  discharged  June, 
1865.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic,  of  Texas.  He  died  in  San 
Antonio,  November  11,  1902,  and  was  buried 
with  all  the  honors  of  war  by  soldiers  under 
command  of  General  Fred  D.  Grant.  His 
wife,  Cordelia  (Sprague)  Rogers,  was  a  stafif 
officer  of  the  state  department  of  Texas  Wom- 
en's Relief  Corps  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  being  department  secretary ;  she 
was  also  a  national  aide  at  the  encampment 
held  in  Saratoga  Springs,  September,  1907. 
She  held  high  rank  in  the  order  of  the  East- 
ern Star.  She  died  in  Santa  Rosa  hospital, 
San  Antonio,  November  26,  1908;  children: 
David,  Edith,  Charles,  ]\Iabel  and  Zoe ;  the 
two  latter  dying  young.  8.  Eliza  Rogers, 
born  February  i,  1839,  died  December  5, 
1841.  9.  Deliverance,  born  February  18, 
1841  ;  married,  August  28,  1862,  Antoinette 
A.,  daughter  of  John  and  Lydia  Ann  (Harris) 
Bishop :  child :  Flora  Rogers,  married  Par- 
ker J.  Staples.  He  married  (second)  August 
7,  1877,  Carrie,  daughter  of  James  E.  and 
Phoebe  (Woodard)  Pratt:  children:  Ma- 
bel, Dorothy  and  Ruth.  10.  Hannah  Eliza. 
of  whom  further.  11.  Peter  Folger,  born 
April  16,  1846,  died  June  2,  1846.  12.  Ste- 
phen Otis,  born  July  20.  1847,  died  November 
9,  1862,  in  Brooklyn,  New  York. 

(Vni)  Hannah  Eliza,  tenth  child  of  Da- 
vid and  Hannah  (Dillingham)  Rogers,  was 
born  November  23,  1843.  She  married  (first) 
April  II.  1861.  Leonard  C.  Thorne,  son  of 
Samuel  C.  and  Maria  (Hoogland)  Thorne. 
He  was  born  December  9,  1833,  died  in  Gran- 


ville, New  York,  March  3,  1878'.  Children: 
I.  Stephen  Rogers,  born  June  17,  1863,  in 
Brooklyn,  New  York.  He  was  a  charter 
member  of  the  Gold  Mining  Exchange:  char- 
ter member  of  the  Equity  Investment  Society ; 
member  of  Thorne  &  Company,  real  estate- 
brokers,  and  conducted  a  successful  business 
in  San  Francisco,  California.  He  was  a  part- 
ner of  Valentine  Hush,  the  well-known  Fruit- 
vale  capitalist,  in  the  brokerage  business.  He 
was  also  a  director  in  the  Citizens'  Building 
and  Loan  Association,  serving  in  that  capacity 
for  many  years.  He  was  also  secretary  of  the 
Syndicate  Investment  Company  of  San  Fran- 
cisco. He  married,  in  San  Francisco,  Cali- 
fornia, December  27,  1887,  Mary  Agnes  Tol- 
son,  daughter  of  John  R.  and  Ann  Eliza  Tol- 
son.  died  in  Oakland,  August  28,  1908.  2: 
Leonard  C,  born  November  27,  1872,  in 
Granville,  New  York ;  admitted  to  the  bar  of 
New  York  state  July  6,  1899,  also  admitted 
to  practice  in  the  United  States  district  and' 
circuit  courts ;  is  a  member  of  the  New  York 
State  Bar  Association.  3.  Bertha  Ginevra 
born  August  21,  1877,  in  Granville;  married, 
February  8,  1899,  Fred  Charles,  son  of 
Charles  Albert  and  Eliza  Melissa  (Dunham) 
Sheldon.  He  was  born  June  27,  1872,  in 
North  Adams,  Massachusetts,  and  is  a  manu- 
facturer and  dealer  in  roofing  slate.  Bertha 
Ginevra  Sheldon  is  a  communicant  of  the  Epis- 
copal church,  and  a  graceful  leader  in  society. 
Hannah  Eliza  (Rogers)  Thorne  survived' 
her  husband  and  married  (second)  Jonathan 
S.  \\'arren,  September  8,  1880,  son  of  Sam- 
uel and  Cornelia  S.  Warren,  died  January  29, 
1893.  He  was  born  in  Wethersfield.  August 
22,  1826.  He  began  business  for  himself  in 
1847  in  Cavendish,  Vermont,  where  he  was 
postmaster  during  the  administration  of  Pres- 
ident Polk.  He  removed  to  Granville  in  1850, 
where  he  continued  in  mercantile  life  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death,  having  been  in  continuous 
business  longer  than  any  other  merchant  in 
the  town,  and  perhaps  in  the  county.  He- 
was  the  central  figure  in  all  church,  social  and 
business  circles,  and  it  was  said  of  him  that 
he  had  not  an  enemy  in  the  world.  He  was 
a  vestryman  of  Trinity  Church  from  1854  to 
1862,  and  from  that  time  senior  warden  to 
the  day  of  his  death.  His  home  was  a  favor- 
ite resort  of  Bishop  Doane  and  other  clergy- 
men who  visited  Granville.  He  was  a  direc- 
tor of  the  Granville  National  bank  from  its 
organization,  served  several  years  as  vice- 
president,  and  six  months  as  president.  He 
was  largely  interested  in  the  roofing  slate  in- 
dustry and  was  the  head  of  the  Warren  Slate 
Company.  He  married  (first)  Louisa  Brown, 
who    died    1878,    daughter    of    Dr.    Williamj 


410 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK    \'ALLEYS 


Brown,  who  bore  him  one  son,  John  S.  War- 
ren. Resohitions  of  respect  were  passed  by 
the  business  men  of  Granville,  the  directors 
of  the  National  Bank,  and  by  the  clergy. 

Mrs.  Thorne-Warren,  who  survives  both 
husbands,  was  elected  vice-president  of  the 
Washington  County  Woman's  Christian  Tem- 
perance Union  at  the  time  of  its  organization, 
May  i6,  1878,  afterward  elected  president, 
and  served  faithfully  and  effectually  for  eight 
years.  She  was  president  of  the  Local  Union 
for  thirteen  years,  during  which  time  she  or- 
ganized a  Band  of  Hope,  comprising  two 
hundred  and  fifty  members,  of  which  she  was 
also  president.  For  twenty-five  years  she 
has  been  president  of  the  Art  Club  of  Gran- 
ville, which  was  regularly  established  Sep- 
tember 27,  1884.  She  was  executrix  of  her 
first  husband's  estate,  and  was  appointed  by 
the  court,  guardian  of  her  daughter  Bertha 
G.  Thome.  She  is  a  generous  entertainer 
and  delightful  hostess.  A  Quakeress  by 
birth,  she  presented  a  solid  silver  communion 
set.  soon  after  her  confirmation,  to  Trinity 
church,  Granville.  She  continues  her  resi- 
dence in  the  village  (1910). 

(The  Thorne   Line). 

Arms  of  the  Thorne  family  of  Devonshire, 
England :  Argent,  a  fess  gules  between  three 
lions  rampant,  sable.  Crest :  A  lion  ram- 
pant, sable.     Motto:     Principes  obeta. 

The  Thorne  family  of  Granville  now  rep- 
resented in  Granville,  \\'ashington  county, 
New  York,  by  the  children  of  Leonard  C.  and 
Hannah  (Rogers)  Thorne,  descend  from  Eng- 
lish ancestors  who  settled  at  Flatbush,  Long 
Island,  New  York,  at  an  early  date. 

(I)  William  Thorne  was  made  a  freeman 
of  Lynn,  Massachusetts,  May  2,  1638;  of 
Flushing,  Long  Island,  1645,  with  seventeen 
■  Other  patentees,  under  Governor  Kieft ;  had 
a  plantation  at  Gravesend,  Long  Island,  1657. 
William  Thorne,  Sr.,  and  William  Thorne, 
Jr.,  were  Quakers,  and  pioneers  of  the  famous 
and  beautiful  town  of  Flushing.  There  is  an- 
other tradition  that  a  William  Thorne  came 
from  England  and  settled  at  Willett's  Point, 
a  valuable  tract,  then  called  Thome's  Point. 
This  William  and  the  William  of  Flushing 
must  have  been  tiie  same,  as  time  and  place 
both  testify.  The  lands  occupied  by  the  an- 
cestor William  continued  in  the  family  until 
near  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century.  Wil- 
liam Thome  married  Sarah  ,  and 

had   issue. 

(II)  William  (2)  son  of  William  (i)  and 
Sarah  Thorne.  married  Winifred,  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Catherine  (Ellison)  Livingston. 
William  signed  the  remonstrance  of  the  peo- 


ple of  Flushing  against  illegal  treatment  of 
the  Quakers  by  the  Dutch  (original  on  file 
at  Albany).  He  became  a  resident  of  Great 
Neck,  town  of  Hempstead,  where  he  died 
about  1688,  and  was  buried  on  his  farm. 
Children:  i.  Richard,  married  Phebe  Denton, 
1699.  2.  Margaret,  married  Rev.  Thomas 
Rattoon.  3.  Elizabeth,  married  Richbill  Mott, 
1696.  4.  Sarah,  married  Roger  Pedley,  1698. 
5.  John,  married  Mary  Parsell,  1664.  6.  Jo- 
seph, married  Mary  Brown.  7.  Samuel,  mar- 
ried Susannah .     8.  Susannah,  married 

John  Kissam. 

Thomas  Thome,  who  was  one  of  the  Whig 
committee  of  Flushing,  was  seized  by  the 
British  on  their  first  visit  there,  and  ended 
his  days  in  "the  Prison  Ship." 

(\')  James,  great-grandson  of  William 
Thorne  (2),  was  a  carpenter  and  builder  of 
Glen  Cove,  Long  Island.  He  died  in  the  fall 
of  1824,  aged  seventy  years.  He  built  the 
homestead  at  Glen  Cove  on  his  own  land, 
which  several  generations  of  his  descendants 
occupied.  In  proof  of  his  revolutionary  ser- 
vice the  following  is  given  : 

State  Library,  Albany,  New  York, 
December  5.  1905. 
This  is  to  certify  that  an  entry  on  page  52  of 
a  manuscript  volume  entitled  "Certificates  of 
Treasurer,  volume  7."  in  the  custody  of  the  Re- 
gents of  the  L'niversity  of  the  State  of  Xew  York, 
in  the  State  Library,  shows  that  in  pursuance  of 
an  act  passed  .'\pril  27,  1874,  entitled  ".An  act  for 
the  settlement  of  the  pay  of  the  Levies  and  Mili- 
tia, for  their  services  in  the  late  war,  and  for 
other  purposes  therein  mentioned,"  a  certificate 
for  one  pound  eight  shillings  five  and  one-quarter 
pence,  numbered  33,599.  and  bearing  interest  from 
October  8.  1779.  was  issued  for  the  services  of 
James  Thorne  under  Lieutenant  Stephen  Bene- 
dict, in  Colonel  John  McCrea's  Regiment  of  .Al- 
bany County  Militia,  Saratoga  District,  then  un- 
der the  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Cornelius 
Van  Vechten. 

A.  J.  VAX  LAER, 

Archivest. 

In  testimony  thereof  the  Seal  of  the  L'niversity 

of  the  State  of  Xew  York  has  been  affixed  at  the 

City  of  Albany,  this  sth  day  of  December,   1005.' 

AXDREW  S.  DRAPER, 

Commissioner  of  Education. 

There  is  in  the  possession  of  Mary  W. 
Thorne,  of  Brooklyn,  New  York,  a  cannon 
ball,  a  gun  and  powder-horn,  brought  home 
from  the  revolutionary  war  by  James  Thorne. 
W'illiam  H.  Thome,  another  descendant,  has 
^also  a  p>owder-horn  brought  back  from  the 
war  by  his  ancestor  James. 

Captain  Jehiel  Dayton  commanded  a  company 
of  volunteer  artillery  in  the  war  of  1812.  The 
company  records  were  possessed  by  his  son, 
R.  G.  Dayton,  of  North  Granville,  New  York. 
Tlie  order  directing  the  company  to  proceed 
to    White    Hall    bears   date   August    i,    1812, 


HUDSON   AND   ^lOHAWK   WVLLEYS 


411 


and  is  signed  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Stephen 
Thorne,  4th  Re.efiment,  Second  Brigade.  The 
roll  of  the  militia  company  commanded  by 
Captain  Duty  Shumway  bears  the  name  of 
James  Thorne.  These  records  show  conclusive- 
ly military  service  in  both  the  revolutionary 
war  and  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  married 
Mary  Cocks,  who  died  in  the  autumn  of  1828, 
aged  about  sixty-five  years,  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel C.  Cocks,  who  married  Jemima  Whitson ; 
(second) ■  Powell.  Children:  i.  Sam- 
uel C,  of  whom  further ;  Leonard,  born  Oc- 
tober II,   1800.  married  Hannah  . 

(VI)  Samuel  C,  son  of  James  and  iSIary 
(Cocks)  Thorne,  was  born  January  27.  1798. 
He  requested  membership  in  the  Religious 
Society  of  Friends,  and  became  a  recommend- 
ed and  highly  esteemed  minister  of  that  faith. 
He  married,  October  25,  1818,  in  Brookville, 
Long  Island,  at  the  house  of  Rev.  Marma- 
duke  Earl  (who  performed  the  ceremony) 
Maria,  daughter  of  Elbert  and  Willempje 
(Duryea)  Hoogland.  Maria  Hoogland  was  a 
descendant  of  Dirck  Jansen  Hoogland,  who 
came  to  New  Netherlands  in  1657  from  Maer- 
seveen,  in  the  province  of  Utrecht,  and  mar- 
ried, October  8,  1662,  Annetje  Hansen  Ber- 
gen. She  died  at  the  homestead  in  Locust 
\'alley.  May  3,  1879,  aged  about  seventy-seven 
years.  Her  gentle  ways  and  unassuming  man- 
ners caused  her  to  be  greatly  beloved.  Sam- 
uel C.  Thorne  died  February  18,  1862.  at  the 
Locust  \'alley  homestead.  Children:  i. 
]\Iary  Elizabeth,  born  August  i,  18 19,  mar- 
ried, January  23,  1838,  Isaac  Cocks,  son  of 
Richard  and  Abigail  Cocks,  died  November 
Q,  1890.     2.  .-Knna  C.  Thorne,  born  September 

8.  1822,  married  Lewis  \"alentine,  died  Feb- 
ruary 6,  1889.  3.  James  Thorne,  born  Sep- 
tember 9,  1824,  married  Eliza  Maria  Parish, 
October  16,  1850,  died  January  24,  1891  ;  she 
died  February  3,  1894.  4.  Elbert  H.,  born 
April  19,  1827,  married  Cornelia  Downs,  died 
September  9,  1904.  5.  Isaac  C,  born  Febru- 
ary 2,  1830 :  married  Emilie  B.  Jackson,  Oc- 
tober 25,  1865,  died  January  3,  1910.  6.  Wil- 
liam H.,  born  November  7,  1831 ;  married 
(first)  Ophelia,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Abby 
(Sutton)  Carpenter.  She  died  August  30, 
1873.  He  married  (second)  Ida  Cleveland. 
7.  Leonard  C,  of  whom  further. 

(YH)  Leonard  C,  son  of  Samuel  C.  and 
Maria  (Hoogland)  Thorne.  was  born  at  Glen 
Cove,  Queens  county.   New  York,  December 

9.  1833.  He  was  well  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  entered 
the  village  store  as  clerk,  remaining  there 
five  years.  In  1855  he  became  bookkeeper 
for  the  firm  of  which  his  brother  William 
was  a  member.     He  rapidly  acquired  expert 


business  experience  which,  coupled  with  un- 
usual ability,  rendered  him  particularly  valu- 
able to  his  firm.  February  i,  1859,  he  be- 
came a  partner  under  the  firm  name  of  Wil- 
liam H.  &  L.  C.  Thorne.  In  1871  he  became 
editor  of  a  religious  paper.  The  Herald  of 
Life,  published  by  the  Life  and  Advent  Union, 
with  which  he  had  been  connected  for  several 
years.  Finding  the  duties  of  the  paper  too 
arduous  with  those  of  his  business,  he  retired 
from  the  latter  in  1873,  and  confined  himself 
solely  to  the  management  of  his  paper  until 
August,  1877,  when  he  resigned.  In  1863  he 
assisted  in  the  organizing  of  the  Ninth  Na- 
tional Bank  of  New  York  City,  and  was 
chosen  director  of  the  same.  He  held  this 
position  for  two  years,  but  the  management 
not  being  congenial  he  severed  his  connection 
and  associated  himself  with  the  Security  Na- 
tional bank,  of  which  he  was  chosen  a  director. 
He  resided  in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  and  Or- 
ange and  Bloomfield,  New  Jersey,  at  each 
place  gathering  about  him  warm  friends  from 
among  the  best  citizens.  His  health  contin- 
uing poor,  he  spent  several  winters  in  the 
South,  and  early  in  1873  journeyed  to  Colo- 
rado, hoping  there  to  gain  strength.  He  re- 
turned in  October  of  the  same  year  and  pur- 
chased a  residence  in  Granville,  Washington 
county.  New  York,  which  was  his  home  until 
death,  March  3,  1878.  During  his  years  of 
residence  in  Granville  he  labored  not  only 
for  the  material  but  the  moral  interests  of 
the  village,  laboring  for  all  that  was  right  and 
manly,  and  assisting  in  the  promotion  of  all 
movements  tending  toward  the  betterment 
of  the  community.  No  man  did  more  to  im- 
prove the  moral  standing  of  the  town.  He 
assisted  in  organizing  the  First  National  bank 
of  the  village,  serving  as  director  until  his 
death.  In  association  with  other  gentlemen, 
the  Reform  Club  was  organized.  He  was  a 
strong  advocate  of  temperance,  and  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics.  He  was  nominated  by  the 
Prohibitionists  for  the  legislature,  but  fearing 
that  his  candidacy  might  imperil  the  success 
of  the  Republican  ticket,  he  declined  the 
honor.  His  funeral  was  held  at  the  Friends' 
meeting  house,  and  at  no  time  in  the  history 
of  the  village  have  such  honors  been  paid  or 
such  respect  shown  to  the  memory  of  any  one. 
Every  store,  shop  and  office  was  closed  ;  the 
officials  of  the  bank,  the  officers  and  members 
of  the  Reform  Club,  numbering  between  four 
and  five  hundred,  attended  in  a  bodv.  Such 
numbers  assembled  at  the  meeting  house  that 
overflow  memorial  services  were  held  in  the 
school  house  and  basement  of  the  meeting 
house  in  connection  with  the  regular  services 
in  the  audience  room.     Resolutions  of  respect 


412 


HUDSON    AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


were  passed  by  the  board  of  directors  of  the 
bank,  the  Reform  Club,  and  other  organiza- 
tions with  which  he  was  connected,  the  banks 
and  Reform  Club  buildings  being  both  draped 
in  mourning. 

He  married,  April  ii.  1861,  Hannah  Eliza, 
tenth  child  of  David  and  Hannah  (Dilling- 
ham) Rogers  (see  Rogers  VHI). 


The  family  name  of 
VAN  ANT^^'ERP  Van  Antwerp  has  the 
significance,  through 
the  Dutch,  that  the  family  to  which  this  cog- 
nomen was  applied  resided  near  the  wharf, 
or  the  place  of  wharfing,  casting  anchor,  or 
tying  up  the  ships,  and  in  this  sense  also  it 
could  signify  that  before  they  took  up  resi- 
dence in  Holland  or  emigrated  to  America, 
they  came  from  the  great  seaport  of  Bel- 
gium, Antwerp,  the  capital  of  the  province  of 
the  same  name. 

The  \'an  Antwerp  Arms,  as  used  in  Hol- 
land :  Shield :  D'argent  a  trois  cremailleres  de 
sable,  rangees  en  fasce ;  as  used  in  Flanders : 
Shield :  D'or  a  une  fleur-de-lis  d'azur ;  au  chef 
d'herm.,  charged  de  trois  pals  de  gules,  celui 
du  milieu  surcharged  d'une  ancre  d'argent. 
Motto:    In  puritate  mentis. 

(I)  Daniel  Janse  Van  Antwerp  was  the 
progenitor  of  the  family  of  this  name  in  Amer- 
ica. He  was  the  son  of  Jan  (John)  Van 
Antwerpen,  of  Holland,  and  was  born  in  1635. 
He  came  to  Beverwyck  (Albany,  N.  Y.)  be- 
tween 1656  and  1661,  for  his  name  appears 
upon  the  records  as  being  there  in  1661.  when 
he  agreed  to  serve  Adriaan  Appel  for  one  year 
for  a  recompense  of  thirty-five  beavers  (equal 
to  about  $112)  and  found.  He  was  indus- 
trious, and  before  long  was  making  his  own 
way,  the  owner  of  his  own  bouwerie  and 
possessed  of  those  things  which  go  to  make 
a  farm  of  good  proportions.  Shortly  after  the 
settling  of  Schenectady,  whither  he  removed 
so  that  he  was  freer  to  own  land  himself 
than  he  was  allowed  while  within  the  imme- 
diate jurisdiction  of  Patroon  \'an  Rensse- 
laer, he  became  possessed  of  the  "Third  Flat" 
on  the  south  side  of  the  Mohawk  river,  about 
eight  miles  above  that  city,  and  in  1706  he 
sold  the  western  half  of  his  bouwerie  (63 
a.  "9  rods)  to  his  neighbor,  Jan  Pieterse  Me- 
bie.  His  village  lot,  within  the  stockade  or 
wall,  was  on  the  east  side  of  Church  street, 
next  north  of  the  present  church  lot,  and 
was  108  feet  wide  in  front  and  206  feet  deep, 
wood  measure.  In  1676,  when  forty-one  years 
old,  he  was  one  of  the  five  magistrates.  In 
1701   he  was  made  supervisor  of  the  town. 

Daniel  Janse  Van  Antwerp  married  Maritjc 
(Maria)  Groot,  daughter  of  Symon  Symonse 


Groot  and  Rebecca  De  Trieux.  Her  father 
(S.  S.  Groot)  came  early  to  New  Nether- 
land  in  the  service  of  the  West  India  Com- 
pany, as  boatswain  of  the  ship  "Prince  Mau- 
rice" ;  he  bought  a  house  and  lot  of  Jacob  Roy 
in  New  Amsterdam  in  1645.  and  soon  there- 
after located  at  Beverwyck,  for  it  is  known 
he  offered  his  house  for  sale  there  in  1654. 
He  moved  again,  for  in  1663  he  hired  a  bou- 
werie of  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  morgens 
of  Gerrit  Bancker  and  Harmen  Vedderen,  at 
Schenectady,  on  the  north  side  of  Union  street 
and  one  hundred  Amsterdam  feet  west  of 
Church  street.  IMaritje  Groot's  mother,  Re- 
becca Du  Trieux  (De  Truax),  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Philip  Du  Trieux,  court  messenger  of 
New  Amsterdam.  Children:  i.  Jan.  married, 
November  24,  1700,  Agnieta,  daughter  of  Har- 
men Albertse  Vedder.  2.  Simon  Danielse,  mar- 
married,  December  22,  1706.  Maria,  daughter 
of  Jacobus  Peek,  see  forward.  3.  Arent,  mar- 
ried Sara,  daughter  of  Johannes  ^'an  Eps. 
4.  Daniel,  married  Ariaantje,  daughter  of  Ger- 
rit Simonse  Veeder.  5.  Pieter,  married  En- 
geltie,  daughter  of  Johannes  Mebie.  6.  Neel- 
tje,  baptized  July  27,  1690:  married  Andries 
De  Graaf.  7.  Rebecca,  baptized  December  25, 
1692 :  married  Johannes  Fort.  8.  Maria,  bap- 
tized January  3,  1695  ;  married  Nicolaas  Fort. 
(II)  Simon  Danielse,  son  of  Daniel  Janse 
and  Maria  (Groot)  \'an  Antwerp,  was  a 
landowner  and  a  miller.  He  bought  land  and 
settled  in  Schaghticoke,  New  York,  in  1710. 
There  is  an  early  record  which  bears  date  of 
October  13,  17 18,  and  which  reads:  "The 
commonalty  (of  Albany)  have  granted  unto 
Simon  Danielse,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever, 
a  certain  small  creek  on  the  south  side  of  his 
land,  to  build  a  grist  mill  thereon,  provided 
he  grinds  no  wheat  for  boulting  except  ye 
same  be  boulted  within  the  city  of  Albany,  for 
which  he  is  to  pay  yearly,  after  January,  1724, 
six  skeple  wheat  yearly."  This  is  an  evidence 
with  what  far-reaching  methods  the  old  bur- 
ghers of  Rensselaerwyck  and  Beverwyck 
watched  their  interests,  and  besides,  it  is  a 
fact  that  the  early  ^'an  .Antwerp  settlers 
sought  Schenectady  as  a  place  in  which  to  live 
and  prosecute  a  business  unliampered  by  rea- 
son of  the  imposition  of  the  regulations  laid 
down  by  the  Rensselaerwyck  colony.  He 
married,  at  Albany,  December  22,  1706.  Maria 
Peek,  daughter  of  Jacobus  Peek,  whose  fath- 
er was  Jan  Peek,  innkeeper  of  New  Amster- 
dam, after  whom  the  creek  and  town  of  Peeks- 
kill  take  their  name,  and  who  in  1655  sold 
two  houses  in-Fort  Orange  to  Johannes  Dyck- 
man  for  1,627  guilders.  Children:  i.  Maria, 
born  November  9,  1707.  2.  Lysbeth,  born  at 
Albany,  January  15,  1710.     3.  Rebecca,  born 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


413 


June  21,  1712.  4.  Daniel,  December  18,  1714. 
5.  Sara,  born  at  Albany,  May  13,  1716.  6. 
Daniel,  born  January  10,  1719;  married,  Octo- 
ber Ji,  1738.  Rebecca,  daug^hter  of  Jan  Dan- 
ielse  \"an  Antwerpen.  7.  Margarita,  baptized 
at  Altiany,  October  I,  1 72 1.  8.  Jacobus,  bap- 
tized at  Albany,  IMay  17,  1724.  9.  Johannes, 
baptized  at  Albany.  January  22,  1727;  mar- 
ried, August  II,  1750,  Catherine,  daughter 
of  Johannes  Vedder.  10.  Lowys  (Lewis), 
baptized  at  Albany,  February  25,  1731 ;  mar- 
ried Ilcndrikje  Fonda  \'an  Buren,  (see  for- 
ward). 

(Ill)  Lowys  (Lewis),  son  of  Simon  Dan- 
ielse  and  Maria  (Peek)  Van  Antwerp,  was 
born  at  Schaaghtekooke  ( Schaghticoke),  New 
York.  February  25.  1731.  He  also  resided  at 
Halve  Maan,  on  the  Mohawk  river,  being 
"there  after  1771,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
committee  of  safety  for  Albany  county  in 
1776.  He  married,  Albany,  November  27, 
1754,  Hendrikje  (Henrietta)  Fonda  Van  Bu- 
ren. Children:  i.  Simon,  baptized  March  30, 
1753.  2.  Douwe,  baptized  July  24,  1757.  3. 
Johannes,  horn  January  12,  1760.  4.  Alida, 
born  March  16,  1762.  5.  Daniel  Lewis,  born 
at  Albany.  1771   (see  forward). 

(I\')  Daniel  Lewis,  son  of  Lowys  and  Hen- 
■drikje  Fonda  (Van  Buren)  Van  Antwerp, 
was  born  at  Albany,  August  15,  1771.  He 
was  a  member  of  assembly  in  1818.  He  mar- 
ried, at  Albany,  in  1795.  Hannah  \'an  Zandt. 
Children:  i.  Alida.  born  January  24.  1797. 
2.  William,  born  January  11,  1799  (see  for- 
ward). 3.  Ann  Eliza,  born  November  22, 
1800.  4.  Henry,  born  September  29,  1802. 
5.  Stephen  LusTi.  born  July  5,  1804.  6.  Eliza 
Ann.  born  March  29.  1806. 

(\')  William,  son  of  Daniel  Lewis  and 
■Hannah  (\'an  Zandt)  Van  .A.ntwerp,  was  born 
at  Albany,  January  11,  1799,  died  at  Albany, 
April  22,   1829.     He  married,  December  12, 

1822.  Sarah  Meadon.  of  Albany.  Children : 
I.  John   Henry,  born  at  .Mbany,  October   12. 

1823.  died  at  Albany.  December  14.  1903. 
married  ^laria  Wiswall.  April  23.  1843:  Wil- 
liam Meadon.  see  forward:  Daniel  Lewis, 
born  October  6.  1826,  died  April  16,  1910, 
married  Mary  Slawson ;  Elizabeth,  born  at 
Albany.  October  6.  1828.  died  at  Albany.  Oc- 
•tober  27,  1879. 

(\'I)  William  Meadon,  son  of  William  and 
Sarah  (Meadon)  \'an  Antwerp,  was  born  in 
Albany.  New  York,  January  i,  1825.  He 
was  a  foremost  citizen,  a  leader  in  many  civic 
-movements,  and  died  at  his  residence.  No.  162 
"Washington  avenue,  April  8.  1903.  highly  re- 
■spected  in  the  community  where  he  had  lived 
all  his  life.  He  attended  a  private  school  tmtil 
rthe  death  of  his  father  necessitated  his  with- 


drawal when  he  was  eleven  years  of  age. 
He  then  found  employment  with  the  firm 
of  Lasdell  &  Fassett  in  a  minor  capacity, 
and  next  was  associated  with  John  Schuyler 
in  the  grocery  trade.  When  the  latter  died, 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  Henry  D.  Haw- 
kins, opening  a  wholesale  provision  business 
in  1852,  under  the  name  of  Hawkins  &  Van 
Antwerp.  This  continued  until  1866,  when 
Mr.  Flawkins  withdrew,  and  the  house  of  Van 
Antwerp  &  Bridge  was  established.  Later  it 
became  known  as  \"an  Antwerp.  Bridge  & 
Company,  until  the  time  Mr.  Van  Antwerp 
retired  from  active  business  life,  in  1873.  He 
was  always  a  staunch  Republican  in  his  poli- 
tics, active  therein  because  whatever  he  under- 
took was  of  concern  to  him,  participating 
alike  in  its  active  strife  and  its  actual  labors, 
and  at  one  time  served  as  alderman-at-large. 
He  was  nominated  for  member  of  assembly 
in  1876,  but  failed  of  election,  the  county  as 
well  as  the  city  being  then  strongly  Demo- 
cratic. He  was  a  devout  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist denomination,  and  gave  freely  of  his  time 
and  money  to  advance  the  cause  of  his  church. 
He  and  his  family  attended  Calvary  Baptist 
Church.  He  was  an  original  member  of  the 
committee  of  thirteen,  organized  to  correct 
abuses  in  city  government ;  a  director  of  the 
New  York  State  National  Bank ;  a  trustee  of 
the  Albany  Savings  Bank  :  an  original  direc- 
tor of  the  Commerce  Insurance  Company  of 
Albany,  and  a  member  of  the  Holland  Soci- 
ety. 

William  M.  \  an  Antwerp  married  Susanna 
Irwin,  at  New  York  City,  October  25,  1854. 
She  was  born  in  Albany,  July  6,  1829.  Her 
father  was  Theophilus  Irwin  and  her  mother 
was  Jean  McMullen.  Mrs.  Van  Antwerp 
died  in  Albany,  January  28,  1899.  Children, 
all  born  in  Albany:  i.  .Sarah  Irwin.  August 
4.  1857,  married.  Albany,  June  29,  1881.  James 
Martin.  2.  Grace  Edith.  May  28.  1859,  mar- 
ried. Albany,  November  14,  1883,  Theodore 
Howard  Waterman.  3.  Jean  .Agnes,  August 
4,  1862,  married  Albany.  .April  21.  1897.  Edo 
E.  i\Iercelis.  4.  (iertrude  .Alice.  January  12, 
1864.  5.  Thomas  Irwin,  see  forward.  6. 
Anna  Louise,  March  22,  1867,  married,  Al- 
bany, April  4,  1894,  Clarence  Winthrop  Ste- 
vens; Jessie  Eliza,  November  5,  1868,  mar- 
ried. Albanv.  December  9.  1891,  Ednnmd 
Nilcs  Hnyck.    8.  Lisa  May.  April  2.  1870. 

(VII)  Thomas  Irwin,  son  of  William  M., 
and  Susanna  (Irwin)  Van  Antwerp,  was  born 
in  Albany,  New  York,  March  24,  1865.  He 
received  his  education  at  the  .Albany  Boys' 
.Academy,  from  which  he  graduated  in  the 
class  of  1883.  He  commenced  his  career 
as  a  banker  by  connection  with  the  First  Na- 


414 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


tional  Bank,  under  President  Garret  A.  Van 
Allen,  where  he  continued  five  years,  and  in 
1889  he  became  secretary  to  the  president 
of  the  National  Commercial  Bank.  In 
1897  he  was  elected  cashier  of  the  Park 
Bank,  and  when  that  bank  was  consolidated 
with  the  Union  Trust  Company  of  Albany, 
thus  terminating  its  career,  Mr.  \^an  Antwerp 
was  chosen  the  vice-president  of  the  Union 
Trust  Company  and  became  the  managing 
officer  of  that  institution.  He  succeeded  his 
father  as  trustee  of  the  Albany  Savings  Bank, 
is  a  director  of  the  Albany  Insurance  Com- 
pany and  Union  Trust  Company,  and  in  many 
ways  has  shown  his  interest  in  the  city's 
welfare  and  progress.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Fort  Orange  Club,  the  Albany  Country  Club, 
the  Holland  Society  and  of  the  Albany  Insti- 
tute and  Historical  and  Art  Society. 

Thomas  I.  \'an  Antwerp  married,  at  Grace 
Church,  Brooklyn,  February  20,  1895,  Zaidee 
Scudder,  born  in  New  York  City,  October 
22,  1869.  Her  father  was  Townsend  Scud- 
der, born  in  Northport.  Long  Island,  Decem- 
ber 14,  1829,  died  at  Glenwood,  Long  Island, 
July  31,  1874,  and  was  a  lawyer  at  No.  9 
Wall  street,  New  York  City.  Her  mother 
was  Sarah  Frost,  born  in  New  York  City,  De- 
cember 6,  1 84 1.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Antwerp 
reside  at  No.  7  Northern  Boulevard,  Albany, 
New  York.  Children:  i.  William  Meadon, 
born  in  Albany,  October  23,  1901.  2.  Su- 
zanne Irwin,  Albany,  January  ig.  1904.  3. 
Cornelia  Scudder.  Albany.  January  19,  1904. 
4.  Townsend  Scudder,  Altamont,  Albany 
county.  New  York,  August  15,   1905. 


(II)  Dirck  Ten  Eyck,  son  of 
TEN  EYCK  Coenraedt  fq.  v.)  and  Ma- 
ria (Boele)  Ten  Eyck,  was 
born  probably  in  Holland,  died  in  New  Am- 
sterdam (New  York  City)  in  171 1.  He  mar- 
ried Aefje  Boelen,  March  31,  1675.  Children: 
Andries,  born  July  22,  1676,  died  young:  Ja- 
cob, November  10,  1678 :  Andries,  May  4, 
1681  :  Coenraedt,  June  15,  1684:  Mayken,  De- 
cember 12,  1686,  died  young;  Mayken.  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1689:  Abraham.  June  15.  1691,  see 
forward;  Dirck.  December  25.   1694. 

(Ill)  Abraham,  son  of  Dirck  and  Aefje 
(Boelen)  Ten  Eyck,  was  born  June  15,  1691, 
died  in  New  York  in  1765.  Fie  married  Ja- 
cinte  Berkels.  Children:  Euphemia.  mar- 
ried John  Lewis;  I'llizabeth.  married  Erastus 
\\"illiams ;  Richard,  born  in  1730,  see  for- 
ward :  David  ;  Mary,  married  Frederick  Fine ; 
Abraham,  married  Sarah  Smith. 

(I\')  Richard,  son  of  Abraham  and  Jacinte 
(Berkels)  Ten  Eyck,  was  born  in  New  York 
City,   1730,  died  there  in   1810.     He  married 


(first)  Elizabeth  Braisted,  and  had  two  chil- 
dren; married  (second)  Elizabeth  Lebrun,  by 
whom  he  had  six  children.  Children :  An- 
drew, married  Elizabeth  Lloyd,  died  in  1828; 
Richard,  married  Elizabeth  Anderson ;  Philip, 
married  Elsie  Beekman ;  Jacintha.  married 
John  Ten  Eyck  ;  Elizabeth,  married  John  Lew- 
is ;  Hannah,  married  Henry  Arnold,  died  in 
1828;  Mary  married  John  Weller;  Abraham 
R.,  see  forward. 

(\')  Abraham  R.,  son  of  Richard  and 
Elizabeth  (Lebrun)  Ten  Eyck,  was  born  in 
New  York  City,  September  22,  1775,  died 
June  9,  1857.  He  married.  May  17,  1801, 
Annetje,  daughter  of  Matthew  and  Lydia 
(P'ryer)  Msscher,  born  October  25,  1778. 
Children:  Philip,  born  March  10,  1802.  died 
unmarried;  Ann  Eliza,  March  15,  1804,  mar- 
ried James  Ten  Eyck.  October  15,  1821,  died 
May  26,  1866;  Caroline,  September  2,  1806, 
died  September  24,  1809;  Visscher,  January 
27,  1809,  see  forward ;  Lydia,  August  24, 
181 1,  married  Stephen  Van  Valkenburgh,  Oc- 
tober 20,  1841  ;  John,  April  20,  1814,  married, 
November  6,  1862,  Anna  Jones ;  Caroline,  No- 
vember 21,  1817.  died  in  Albany,  May  18, 
1907;  Mary,  August  17,  1819;  Ann,  April  17, 
1822,  married,  July  8,  1857,  John  B.  \'isscher, 
died  February  5,  1863. 

(VI)  Visscher,  son  of  Abraham  R.  and 
Annetje  (\'isscher)  Ten  Eyck,  was  born  in 
Albany,  January  27,  1809,  died  April  13,  1886. 
For  a  great  many  years  he  was  cashier  of  the- 
Commercial  Bank,  identifying  himself  actively 
with  Albany's  more  important  public  affairs. 
He  married,  August  14,  1833,  Eliza  Ann, 
daughter  of  the  Rev.  James  and  Lucinda 
Youngs.  Children  :  Anna,  born  in  Albany  ; 
James,  Albany,  February  16,  1840.  see  for- 
ward; Elisha,  April  27,  1842,  died  December 
20,  1894;  \'isscher,  March  29,  1845,  died  April 
26,  i860;  William,  Februarv  28,  1855.  died' 
July  8,  1858. 

(VH)  James,  son  of  \'isscher  and  Fliza 
Ann  (Youngs)  Ten  Eyck,  was  born  in  Al- 
bany, February  i6,  1 840.  died  in  Albany, 
July  28,  1910.  He  received  his  earliest  edu- 
cation at  the  Albany  Academy ;  he  then  at- 
tended Burlington  College,  New  Jersey,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  1855.  Having 
successfullv  passed  the  required  examinations, 
he  was  admitted  a  junior  at  Yale,  but  because 
of  poor  health  he  was  forced  to  change  his 
plans.  As  a  consequence,  he  began  a  mercan- 
tile life,  taking  first  a  position  in  the  office- 
of  the  Central  railroad.  He  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  Bacon  &  Stickney,  dealers  in  coffee 
and  spices,  in  September,  1857.  He  became 
a  partner,  March  i,  1865,  and  when  Mr.  Sam- 
uel   Bacon   died.   Mr.    Ten   Eyck   became   the- 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   \'ALLEYS 


41 S 


senior  partner  of  this  firm,  which  enjoyed 
prosperity  which  warranted  the  erection  of 
a  large  building  of  its  own  in  1907,  and  which 
is  of  great  utility. 

In  Masonic  circles  he  was  known  the 
breadth  of  the  land,  and  was  most  actively 
identified  with  the  fraternity  since  his  initia- 
tion into  Masters  Lodge,  November  23,  1863. 
He  was  the  oldest  thirty-third  degree  Mason 
in  Albany.  He  was  made  master  in  1873, 
continuing  until  1877,  passing  all  the  chairs. 
He  was  elected  grand  master  of  Masons  in 
the  state  of  New  York,  June  8,  1892,  and  on 
being  unanimously  reelected  declined.  In 
this  capacity  he  had  a  larger  jurisdiction  than 
any  other  Mason  in  the  world,  excepting  only 
the  Prince  of  \^'ales,  and  had  the  honor  of 
presiding  over  eighty  thousand  Masons.  He 
officiated  at  the  laying  of  the  corner-stones  of 
the  New  York  State  Armory  in  Albany,  of 
Harmanus  Bleecker  Hall,  the  Albany  Masonic 
burial  lot  and  of  the  Burns  monument  in 
Washington  park.  He  presided  at  the  jubilee 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity  when  it  celebrated 
the  final  payment  of  the  debt  on  the  Masonic 
Temple  of  New  York  City,  April  24,  1889, 
and  bore  a  large  share  in  the  work  of  erecting 
the  handsome  temple  in  Albany,  one  of  the 
ornaments  of  the  city. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Ten  Eyck  was  an  ac- 
tive participant  in  the  city's  affairs,  being  at 
one  time  on  the  directorate  of  no  less  than 
thirteen  boards.  He  was  chosen  president  of 
the  Home  Savings  Bank  in  January,  1896. 
He  was  a  member  of  St.  Peter's  (Episcopal) 
church,  of  the  Fort  Orange  and  Albany  clubs, 
and  was  the  only  honorary  member  of  the  Aca- 
cia club.  He  was  a  principal  shareholder  in 
the  Hotel  Ten  Eyck,  the  leading  hotel  of  the 
Capital  City.  He  was  a  Republican  all  his  life, 
taking  an  interest  in  clean  politics  and  civic 
government.  He  served  as  chairman  of  the 
general  county  committee,  and  was  at  the 
head  of  the  citizens'  committee  having  in 
charge  the  reception  in  1891  to  President  Har- 
rison. In  fact,  he  was  named  upon  almost 
everv  public  committee  of  importance  having 
a  civic  undertaking  in  charge,  and  always  did 
his  share. 

Mr.  Ten  Eyck  was  elected  president  of  the 
Albany  Institute  and  Historical  and  Art  So- 
cietv.  an  organization  dating  back  to  1791, 
and  it  was  under  his  officiation  that  the  hand- 
some, new  building  on  Washington  avenue 
was  opened.  It  had  an  enormous  debt  en- 
cumbering it,  which  he  was  largely  instru- 
mental in  having  wiped  out,  calling  meetings 
weeklv  until  he  had  accomplished  his  praise- 
worthy object.  As  a  collector  of  coins  he  was 
known  all  over  the  country  as  possessing  one 


of  the  finest  collections  in  America.  It  con- 
tains rarities  of  great  value,  and  in  this  chosen 
field  he  was  regarded  as  an  expert.  His  col- 
lection of  historic  and  old  china  was  not  only 
extensive,  but  of  rare  merit  and  wonderful 
beauty.  It  had  engaged  his  attention  for  forty 
years,  and  purchases  were  made  in  all  parts  of 
the  country  aiming  at  completeness.  In  the 
fall  of  1909  he  presented  this  collection  to  the 
society  of  which  he  was  the  president,  and  in- 
stalled it  in  cases  purposely  made,  as  a  memo- 
rial to  his  father,  the  late  \'isscher  Ten  Eyck. 
Mr.  Ten  Eyck  was  regarded  by  his  fellow- 
citizens  as  a  man  of  absolute  integrity  and  de- 
termination, and  as  these  qualities  were  most 
frequently  displayed,  either  in  the  form  of 
some  public  trust  or  act  of  charity,  the  city 
gained  considerable  by  his  living  in  it.  He 
married,  October  18,  1864,  Catherine  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  Tennis  and  Margaret  T. 
(Lush)  \'an  Vechten.  She  died  May  23,. 
1865,  leaving  no  children. 

The  will  of  James  Ten  Eyck,  which  was 
drawn  July  3,  1909,  contained  bequests  of 
nearly  $150,000  to  public  institutions,  business 
associates  and  employes.  The  income  from  the 
estate,  with  the  exception  of  the  amount  of 
three  bequests,  was  to  be  given  to  his  sister,. 
Anna  Ten  Eyck,  during  her  lifetime.  The 
three  gifts  which  were  to  be  made  immediately 
were  $2,000  to  Hannah  Gilligan  and  Mary 
Palmer,  who  for  years  were  servants  at  the 
home  of  Ten  Eyck,  and  his  coins,  curios,  china 
and  past  master's  Masonic  jewels  bequeathed 
to  the  Albany  Historical  and  Art  Society.  The 
society  was  also  given  $2,000,  the  income  of 
which  is  to  be  used  to  purchase  proof  coins 
each  year  from  the  LTnited  States  mint.  This 
fund  was  in  memory  of  his  father,  \'isscher 
Ten  Eyck.  Requests  were  given  to  public 
institutions  of  the  city  as  follows :  Homeo- 
pathic Hospital,  $10,000 ;  Albany  Hospital, 
$10,000:  Corning  Foundation  for  Christian 
\\'ork  in  the  Diocese  of  Albany,  $20,000 ;  Ma- 
sonic Hall  .Association,  $10,000;  Trustees  of 
the  Masonic  Hall  and  Asylum  fund,  $10,000,. 
and  the  sum  of  $12,000  was  left  to  "the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  city  of  Albany  in  communion  with 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  of  the  state 
of  New  York."  At  the  death  of  his  sister, 
$1,000  is  to  be  given  to  each  of  the  employes 
of  Bacon,  Stickney  &  Company,  who  have  at 
that  time  been  in  the  employ  of  the  company 
continuously  for  thirty  years.  Mr.  Ten  Eyck 
left  to  the  surviving  members  of  the  firm,  Her- 
bert \\'.  Stickney,  Allen  H.  Bacon  and  Samuel 
^^■.  Brown,  $20,000  each.  The  residue  of  the 
estate  was  bequeathed  to  Gertrude  Ten  Eyck 
Perry,  Caroline  Ten  Eyck  and  Anna  L.  Van, 
\'echten. 


4i6 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


This  name  is  believed  to  be  of 
LXGALLS  Scandinavian  origin,  and  de- 
rived from  Ingialld.  During 
the  ninth  century  the  Scandinavians  often  de- 
scended on  the  east  coast  of  England,  and  in 
after  years  many  of  that  nationality  made  set- 
tlement there,  especially  in  Lincolnshire.  The 
Don^'csday  Book  records  a  Baron  Ingald  as 
tenant  of  King  Williams,  A.  D.,  1080.  The 
meaning  of  the  word  Ingialld  is :  "By  the 
power  of  Thor."  The  earliest  record  found 
is  that  of  the  will  of  Henry  Ingalls  (1555), 
grandfather  of  Edmund,  the  emigrant  to 
America.  The  will  of  Robert,  his  father,  made 
1617,  is  also  of  record.  The  name  Ingalls  is 
still  common  in  England,  and  one  well  known 
in  the  United  States,  where  it  is  also  found  (  as 
it  is  in  England)  under  the  different  forms  of: 
Ingall,  Engle,  Ingolds  and  Ingles.  In  Ingles 
coat-of-arms  are  these  records :  "Gules,  three 
bars  gemelle  or,  on  a  canton  argent  five  bil- 
lets en  salire  sable.  Crest :  A  lily  springing 
from  a  crown.     Motto:     Humilis  ex  corona." 

(I)  Edmund,  son  of  Robert  and  grandson 
of  Henry  Ingalls,  was  born  at  Skirbeck,  Lin- 
colnshire, England,  about  1598,  and  came  to 
America  in  1628,  with  Governor  Endicott's 
company,  settling  at  Salem.  In  1629,  with 
his  brother  Francis  and  four  others,  he  began 
the  settlement  of  Lynn.  He  was  a  man  of 
energy  and  good  character  in  spite  of  the  court 
record,  which  recites  that  he  was  fined  for 
bringing  home  sticks  in  "both  his  arms"  on 
the  Sabbath  day.  His  name  is  often  found  in 
the  i)ublic  records  and  show  him  to  have  been 
a  man  of  influence.  In  March,  1648,  while 
traveling  to  Boston  on  horseback,  he  was 
■drowned  in  the  Saugus  river,  a  defective 
bridge  giving  away,  plunging  both  him  and  his 
horse  into  the  icy  water  beneath.  His  heirs 
recovered  damages  from  the  town.  His  will 
■was  probated  September  16,  1648,  the  appraise- 
ment being  one  hundred  and  thirty-five 
pounds.  The  only  mention  of  his  wife  is  in 
iiis  will,  where  he  makes  "my  wife  Ann  In- 
galls sole  executor."  Children:  i.  Robert, 
born  about  1621  ;  married  Sarah  Harker.  2. 
Elizabeth,  born  1622,  died  June  9,  1676;  mar- 
ried Rev.  Francis  Dane,  of  Andover.  3. 
Faith,  born  1623 ;  married  Andrew  Allin,  and 
removed  to  Andover.     4.  John,  see  forward. 

5.  Sarah,  born  1626;  married  William  Bitner. 

6.  Henry,  born  1627,  married  (first)  Mary 
Osgood,  (second)  Sarah  Farnum.  7.  Samuel, 
born  1634;  married  Ruth  Eaton.  8.  Mary, 
married  John  Eaton.    9.  Joseph,  died  young. 

(II)  John,  second  son  of  Edmund  and  .Ann 
Ingalls,  was  born  in  Skirbeck,  Lincolnshire, 
England,  1625.  Lie  was  but  three  years  of  age 
when  the  family  emigrated  to  America.     He 


resided  in  Salem,  then  in  Lynn,  Massachusetts, 
and  in  1687  was  a  member  of  the  church  at 
Bristol,  Rhode  Island ;  settled  at  Rehoboth, 
Massachusetts,  where  it  is  recorded :  "old 
John  Ingalls.  died  December  31,  1721."  In 
his  will,  approved  February  5,  1721-22,  he 
styles  himself,  "Yeoman."  He  married,  May 
26,  1667,  Elizabeth  Barrett,  of  Salem.  Chil- 
dren: I.  John  (2),  born  in  Lynn,  February 
6,  1668.  2.  Elizabeth,  born  in  Lynn,  August 
ID.  1671,  died  at  Lynn,  October  29,  1676.  3. 
Elizabeth  (2),  married  at  Rehoboth,  January 
2.  1701,  Benjamin  Crabtree.  4.  Sarah,  mar- 
ried (first)  at  Rehoboth.  August  7,  1707,  Wil- 
liam Howard;  (second)  William  Hayward. 
5.  Edmund,  see  forward. 

(HI)  Edmund  (2),  youngest  child  of  John 
and  Elizabeth  (Barrett)  Ingalls.  was  born  at 
Bristol  or  Cumberland,  Rhode  Island,  removed 
to  Rehoboth,  Massachusetts,  where  he  died. 
He  married,  November  29.  1705,  Eunice, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Luddin,  of  Braintree, 
Massachusetts.  Children:  i.  Benjamin,  born 
December  8,  1706,  died  in  Rehoboth,  1743; 
married,  September  10,  173 1,  Mercy  Jencks, 
who  survived  him  and  married  (second)  Colo- 
nel Philip  Wheeler,  father  of  Captain  Philip 
Wheeler,  who  married  her  second  child,  Marv 
Ingalls.  Children  of  Benjamin  and  Mercy: 
Shuabel,  Mary,  Eunice,  Freelove  and  Hannah. 

2.  Elizabeth,  born  May  8,  1709 ;  married,  Feb- 
ruary 16,  1729,  Ephraim  ]\Ioslem.  3.  Ebe- 
nezer,  born  July  14,  1711:  married  Elizabeth 
Wheeler  :  children  :  Elizabeth,  Henrv,  Fred- 
erick, Alithea,  Ebenezer,  ]\Ichitable,  Lois, 
Hannah,  Benjamin  (a  revolutionary  soldier) 
and  Sabina.  4.  Edmund  (twin),  see  forward. 
5.  Eunice  (twin),  born  October  i,  1713:  mar- 
ried, November  28,  1734,  Amos  Bdsworth.  6. 
Joseph,  born  in  Rehototh,  November  29,  1718: 
married  Cordellay  Bullock,  and  is  believed  to 
have  settled  in  Otsego  county,  New  York, 
about  1790:  children:  Hezekiah.  Joseph,  El- 
kanah,  Elihu,  Eunice,  Cordellay  (i),  Edmund, 
Grizzel,  Jonathan  (a  revolutionary  soldier 
from  Rehoboth,  Massachusetts)  Cordellay 
(2)  and  Luddin.  7.  Samuel,  born  in  Reho- 
both, April  20,  1723:  married.  Jime  11,  1744, 
Ruth  Moulton  and  removed  to  Cheshire,  Mas- 
sachusetts, where  he  died,  1795;  children: 
Samuel,  Ruth,  Betsev,  Rebecca,  Stephen  and 
Mary. 

(IV)  Edmund  (3),  second  son  of  Edmund 
(2)  and  Eunice  (Luddin)  Ingalls,  was  born 
at  Rehoboth,  Massachusetts,  October  i,  1713. 
He  married,  June  10,  1736.  Deborah  Ester- 
brook.  Children,  born  in  Rehoboth:  i.  Sarah, 
October  28,  1738:  married.  June  29,  1750, 
Caleb  Ijrown.  .2.  Edmund,  of  further  mention. 

3.  Deborah,  born  May  4,  1742 ;  married  David 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   \\\LLEYS 


417 


^^'l^eeler  :  children  :  David,  Sabina,  Deborali 
and  Amos.  4.  Benjamin,  born  June  11,  1745- 
46.     5.  John,  born  March  7,  1747-48. 

(\')    Echnund   (4),  eldest  son  of  Edmund 

(3)  and  Deborah  (Esterbrook)  Insi^alls,  was 
born  in  Rehobotli,  Massachusetts,  March  16, 
1739-40.  He  removed  to  Washington  county, 
New  York,  about  1785.  and  died  there  Sep- 
tember 18,  1826.  Washington  county  was 
then  comparatively  unsettled,  and  Edmund  was 
one  of  the  pioneer  farmers.  He  served  in 
the  revolution  as  follows :  Edmund  Ingalls, 
Rehoboth,  private,  Captain  Samuel  Bliss'  com- 
pany. Colonel  Timothy  Walker's  regiment 
(22nd.)  enlisted  May  8,  1775:  service  three 
months,  one  day ;  company's  return,  dated 
•October  6,  1775  ("Massachusetts  Soldiers  and 
Sailors  in  the  Revolution").  He  married.  No- 
vember, 1760,  Esther  Salisbury.  Children, 
"born  in  Rehoboth:  i.  Edmund,  see  forward. 
2.  John,  born  August  6,  1763 ;  married  Olive 
Hicks ;  in  1785,  with  his  elder  brother,  became 
a  pioneer  settler  and  miller  of  Hartford,  New 
York,  died  in  Hebron.  New  York,  in  1844; 
children :  Delilah,  Truman,  Simeon.  John, 
Olive,  Benjamin,  Esther,  Anna,  Reuben,  Hor- 
ace Hicks  and  Chester.  3.  Sarah,  born  June 
21,  1765,  died  in  Winchester.  New  Hamp- 
shire,   1832:  married  Taft;  no  issue. 

4.  Esther,  born  April  2^,  1767;  married  Mer- 
rill Dandley,  of  Henderson,  New  York.  5. 
Caleb  Brown,  born  June  5,  1769,  died  at 
Ritchfield,  Otsego  county.  New  York,  Sep- 
tember 26,  1846;  married  Hannah  Taft;  chil- 
dren: Daniel,  Varney.  Candace.  Esther, 
Polly,  Zimri,  Laura,  Hannah,  Caleb,  Ezek  B., 
and  P.orelli  Taft  Darwin.  6,  Benjamin,  born 
August  18,  1771,  died  at  Ellisburg,  Jefferson 
■county.  New  York;  married  (first)  Margery 
Cass,    (second)    Sally   Thomas.     7.   Deborah, 

born     December    g,     1776;    married    

Bowles.  8.  Otis,  born  June  21,  1779,  died  at 
Flint,  I\Iichigan ;  married,  1802,  Eunice 
Thompson:  child,  Otis  (2).  9.  Betsey,  born 
May  15,  1781,  died  January  19,  1849;  niarried 
Lsaac  Kinney,  of  Truxton,  New  York.  10. 
Zimri.  born  Cumberland.  Rhode  Island,  March 
21,  1784,  died  at  Richmond,  New  Hampshire, 
May  3,  1852:  married  Parma  Howe:  children: 
Harriet,  Sappina.  Ransom.  Parma,  Isabinda, 
Persis,  Otis.  Jarvis  and  Amos  Howe. 

(VI)   Edmund   (5).  eldest  son  of  Edmund 

(4)  and  Esther  (Salisbury)  Ingalls.  was  born 
at  Rehoboth.  Massachusetts,  August  7.  1761, 
died  at  Gouverneur.  New  York.  September  13. 
1820.  He  settled  in  northern  New  York  with 
his  father  in  1785.  and  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
farmers  of  the  town  of  Hartford.  Washington 
county.  He  married,  January  19,  1785,  Mary 
Stockwell,  who  died  February  29,  1812.    Chil- 


dren, born  in  Ilartford,  New  York:  i.  Reuben, 
September  6,  1786,  died  at  Granville,  Wash- 
ington county,  New  York,  November  28, 
1848:  a  farmer  of  that  town:  married  Abigail 
L.  Walker,  who  died  at  Granville,  November 
29,  1847:  children:  Hiram  Baker,  Mary  Ann, 
Amarilla,  Annis,  Louisa  S.  and  Daniel  Leeds. 
2.  John,  born  May  12,  1788,  died  at  Hartford, 
New  York,  May  25,  1862 :  he  was  a  farmer 
and  a  deacon  of  the  ISaptist  church  :  married. 
September  12,  1812,  Susan  Oatman,  who  died 
August  16,  1858;  children:  Betsey,  David 
Oatman.  Marictt  and  Walter.  3.  Otis,  born 
September  3,  1790:  removed  to  Eureka.  Wis- 
consin, where  he  died  January  5,  1856 :  mar- 
ried Betsey  Stevens  ;  children  :  Selden  B.  and 
Benjamin  Franklin.  4.  Hosea,  of  further 
mention.  3.  James,  born  February  28.  1794. 
6.  Sarah,  died  in  infancy.  7.  Ira,  born  June 
22,  1800,  died  in  Johnsburg.  New  York,  April 
24,  1854:  married  Hepzibah  Hill.  8.  Edmund, 
born  December  13,  1802,  died  in  Smyrna, 
Michigan,  March  11,  1882:  married  Sarah 
Di.xon,  of  Hebron,  New  York,  and  had  a  son, 
I-rank.  9.  Rev.  Daniel,  born  April  13,  1804; 
married    (first)   Elizabeth  M.  Cole,    (second) 

Regina  P.  :  he  was  a  minister  of 

the  Baptist  church,  and  a  cotton  planter  at 
Calhoun,  Georgia :  child,  James  Hill.  10. 
Mary,  born  February  27,  1806:  married  Elias 
Goodrich,  of  Hopkinton,  Massachusetts. 

(\'II)  Rev.  Hosea.  fourth  son  of  Edmund 
(5)  and  Mary  (Stockwell)  Ingalls,  was  born 
at  Hartford,  Washington  county.  New  York, 
June  9,  1792,  died  at  Albion.  New  York.  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1875.  He  was  a  regularly  ordained 
minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  bore  a  high  reputation  for  piety  and  use- 
fulness in  his  Master's  cause.  He  married, 
1812,  Lovina  Lamb,  born  at  Truxton,  Ver- 
mont, August  28,  1792,  died  July  30.  1859. 
Children:  i.  Lydia,  born  October  30,  1812, 
died  February,  1893  :  married,  March  30,  1834, 
Israel  Higgins.  of  Belvidere,  .\llegany  coun- 
ty. New  York  :  children :  Henry  Lewis  and 
Hugh  Edward.  2.  Lewis,  born  January  3, 
1817:  married,  June  18,  1838,  Sarah  \\'arren ; 
child,  Mary  L.  3.  Daniel,  of  further  mention. 
4.  Jane  T.,  born  December  13.  1822.  died  Au- 
gust 13.  1856:  married.  February  28.  1843, 
Erastus  Norton,  of  Barre,  New  York :  chil- 
dren :  Eugene,  Charles  L.,  Frank  H.  and 
Jane  M.  5.  Edmund,  born  February  15,  1828, 
died  March  11,  1875;  married,  February  8, 
1843,  Fannv  Jennings,  of  Gaines,  New  York; 
children :  Edmund  Asa,  Laura  Maria,  Albert 
.■\delbert,  Sarah  Lovina,  Nancy  Jane,  Loren 
Edmund,  Henry  Lewis,  Nellie  Louise  and 
Florence  Adella.  6.  Henry  N.,  born  Septem- 
ber 21,  1828,  died  at  Ca.stile,  New  York.  March 


4i8 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


29.  1869;  married,  March  19,  1850,  Susan  Al- 
len :  children :  Frances  E.,  Florence  E.  and 
Hattie  L. 

(Vni)  Daniel,  second  son  of  Rev.  Hosea 
and  Lovina  (Lamb)  Ingalls,  was  born  at  Bel- 
lows Falls,  Vermont,  May  9,  1820,  died  at 
Castleton,  New  York,  August  31,  1892.  He 
was  well  educated  and  settled  in  life  as  a  man- 
ufacturer of  paper  at  South  Manchester,  Con- 
necticut. He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
church.  He  married  Sally  Melissa,  daughter 
of  Benjamin  and  Anna  (Rogers)  Dake,  of 
Greenfield,  New  York,  granddaughter  of 
Charles  Dake,  who  came  to  White  Creek, 
Washington  county.  New  York,  about  1770, 
from  Westerly,  Rhode  Island,  died  in  Green- 
field, New  York,  November  11,  1802.  He  was 
a  gallant  soldier  of  the  revolution,  and  re- 
ceived a  severe  wound  at  the  battle  of  Ben- 
nington, which  was  partly  fought  on  his  farm 
at  Daketown.  He  enlisted  in  Captain  William 
Brown's  company,  at  Cambridge,  New  York, 
in  the  Sixteenth  Regiment,  Albany  county 
militia,  organized  October,  1775.  commanded 
by  Colonet  Lewis  \'an  Woest.  He  took  part 
in  the  battle  of  Bennington,  October  17,  1777, 
as  a  "minute-man,"  was  wounded  and  carried 
to  an  old  meeting  house,  where  he  was  found 
later  by  his  wife,  who  was  searching  the  bat- 
tlefield for  him  and  caring  for  other  wounded 
and  dving  soldiers.  This  is  believed  to  have 
been  the  first  instance  in  the  revolution  of  a 
woman  rendering  such  service  on  the  field  of 
battle,  and  for  her  humane  and  patriotic  serv- 
ice she  is  named  on  all  certificates  of  member- 
ship issued  by  the  Daughters  of  the  Revolu- 
tion to  her  descendants,  as  a  "Patriot."  The 
old  Dake  homestead  still  stands  in  Daketown, 
and  has  been  the  home  of  members  of  the 
family,  both  progenitors  and  descendants  of 
Charles  Dake  for  two  hundred  years,  the 
present  occupant  being  Stark  Dake. 

(IX)  Wallace,  son  of  Daniel  and  Sally  Me- 
lissa (Dake)  Ingalls,  was  born  in  Esperance, 
Schoharie  county.  New  York.  October  2,  1844, 
died  at  Saratoga  Springs,  March  17,  1877. 
At  an  early  age  he  removed  with  his  parents 
to  Greenfield,  Saratoga  county,  New  York, 
where  he  was  educated  in  the  town  schools. 
He  engaged  for  many  years  in  business  with 
his  father,  and  in  1874  removed  to  Rockford, 
New  York,  where  he  established  a  paper  mill 
and  conducted  a  successful  business  until 
1876,  when  ill-health  compelled  him  to  retire. 
He  removed  to  Saratoga  Springs,  where  he 
died  the  following  year.  He  was  a  man  of 
high  character  and  great  business  ability.  He 
married,  March  21.  1866,  Martha  .\nn,  daugh- 
ter of  Elijah  Norton  and  Lorinda  (Kamp) 
Phillips,  of  Broadalbin,   Fulton  county.   New 


York.  Children:  i.  Lulu  Belle,  born  at 
Hagedorns  Mills,  New  York,  February  18, 
1867 ;  married,  September  7,  1887,  Clark 
Early,  of  Greenfield,  New  York.  2.  Harriette 
(Harriet)  Augusta,  resides  at  Saratoga 
Springs,  New  York,  3.  George  Wallace,  mar- 
ried, August  3,  1903,  Ellen  Bentley,  of  Syra- 
cuse, New  York.  4.  Mirah  (or  Myra)  Phil- 
lips, married,  November  i,  1900,  Gustave  Lo- 
rey,  of  Albany,  New  York.     5.  Frances  'SI. 

(The   Phillips   Line). 

(I)  John  Phillips,  the  first  known  ancestor 
of  the  line  herein  recorded,  married  and 
among  his  children  was  a  son  John,  see  for- 
ward. 

(II)  John  (2),  son  of  John  (i)  Phillips, 
raised  all  the  money  to  establish  Antioch  Col- 
lege, Yellow  Spring,  Greene  county,  Ohio,  and 
was  a  member  of  board  of  trustees,  also  a 
member  of  the  committee  that  met  at  Philadel- 
phia when  the  board  of  trustees  congregated 
there  to  raise  funds  for  the  college ;  he  had 
the  honor  of  naming  it  Antioch.  He  was  a 
Christian  clerg^'man,  and  his  influence  for 
good  was  exerted  over  a  wide  circle.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Chase,  probably  a  descen- 
dant of  the  Chase  family  of  Massachusetts, 
the  ceremony  being  performed  in  Broadalbin, 
Fulton  county,  New  York,  where  their  deaths 
occurred.  Children :  John,  who  was  a  cler- 
gyman, died  about  a  year  ago  in  Frankfort, 
Indiana  :  \\'illiam  :  Jabez  ;  Elijah  Norton,  see 
forward ;  Lillis,  who  went  as  missionary  to 
China  and  died  there  in  November,  1910.  Of 
the  two  sons,  William  and  Jabez,  one  was  a 
clergyman,  now  deceased,  and  the  other  a  phy- 
sician at  Pensacola,  Florida. 

(III)  Elijah  Norton,  son  of  John  (2)  and 
Elizabeth  (Chase)  Phillips,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Broadalbin,  Fulton  county,  New 
York,  August  18,  1814.  He  married  Lorinda 
Kamp,  born  September  7,  1815.  and  they 
moved  from  Broadalbin  to  Ohio.  Children : 
John  Henry,  Mary  Elizabeth,  Martha  Ann, 
above  mentioned  as  the  wife  of  Wallace  In- 
galls, Elislia,  Myra,  Joseph,  and  probably 
others. 

(The  Dake  Line). 
Ancient  iiistory  records  the  acts  of  members 
of  the  Dake  family.  In  the  second  century, 
Yeruato.  son  of  the  emperor  of  Japan,  was  a 
mighty  warrior  and  never  met  defeat  in  battle. 
There  are  many  traces  of  him  still  to  be  found 
in  Japan,  showing  his  greatness  and  telling 
mutely  of  his  success.  Descendants  settled 
in  Europe  and  intermarried  with  other  na- 
tionalities. In  Austria-Hungary  members  es- 
pecially distinguished  themselves.  Francis 
Dake.  a  descendant  of  the  Japanese  hero,  was 


HUDSON   AXD   MOHAWK   \"ALLEYS 


419 


mainly  instrumental  in  procuring  for  Hun- 
gary a  semi-independent  form  of  government, 
and  in  1876.  tlie  year  of  his  death,  he  was 
given  a  national  funeral.  In  America  the 
family  was  planted  prior  to  the  year  1630,  the 
first  arrival  being  in  1628.  The  men  were 
loyal  soldiers  in  the  various  wars  waged  by 
the  colonies  and  states.  Charles  Dake  and  his 
son  William  were  with  Washington  at  York- 
town.  In  New  York  state  William  Dake  was 
an  early  settler  in  Livingston  county,  in  1817, 
where  a  monument  has  recently  been  erected 
to  his  memory,  at  Picket  Line.  Charles,  the 
revolutionary  soldier,  heretofore  mentioned, 
settled  at  Daketown  prior  to  the  revolution. 
One.  George  Deake,  is  said  to  have  built  the 
first  fortification  at  what  is  now  Portland, 
Maine.  The  Dakes  have  been  in  Monroe 
county  since  its  first  settlement  by  white  men, 
while  Dr.  Luke  Dake,  of  Penfield.  was  the 
first  physician  there,  and  for  a  long  time  the 
only  one  within  twenty  miles.  He  was  the 
first  person  to  be  buried  in  Oakwood  ceme- 
tery of  that  place,  in  1812.  The  Dake  name  is 
a  familiar  one  in  Rochester,  New  York,  in  the 
professions,  in  business,  and  in  the  trades. 
The  late  William  Dake  was  supervisor  of  the 
fourteenth  ward  of  that  city,  in  1868-72. 


This  is  an  ancient  English  family 
GALE  possessed  of  estates  and  bearing 
arms.  They  are  early  of  record 
in  -America,  in  Massachusetts,  1634,  and  Con- 
necticut in  1665.  The  progenitor  of  the  Gale 
family  of  Troy,  New  York,  is  probably  Ed- 
mond  Gale,  of  Boston,  who  died  in  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  in  1642.  His  children  are  be- 
lieved to  have  been  :  Thomas,  settled  in  New 
Haven.  Connecticut :  Robert :  Ambrose  ;  Bar- 
tholomew ;  Edmond  (2),  married  Sarah  Dix- 
ey :  Abell.  of  further  mention ;  Eliezer,  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Bishop. 

( II  )  Abell,  son  of  Edmond  Gale,  had  grant- 
ed him  October  18,  1665.  at  Jamaica,  Long 
Island,  "a  lot  to  set  his  house  on."  He  was 
called  "husbandman."  The  records  show  sev- 
eral purchases  and  sales  of  real  estate.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
church.     He  married    (probably  in  England) 

Dinah  .     Children :     John,  of  further 

mention  :  Jacob,  a  house  carpenter,  died  1720 ; 
Nehemiah.  a  weaver;  Thomas,  a  weaver; 
Sarah,  married  Benjamin  Smith  ;  Andrew. 

(Ill)  John,  eldest  son  of  Abell  and  Dinah 
Gale,  was  born  in  Jamaica.  Long  Island, 
where  he  owned  mills  and  lived  until  1721, 
when  he  sold  his  mills  for  fifteen  hundred 
pounds  and  removed  to  Goshen.  Orange 
county.  New  York,  becoming  one  of  the  pro- 
prietors of  that  then  new  town.    The  Jamaica 


records  show  him  a  soldier  in  Captain  Peter 
Schuyler's  company  in  1692,  probably  serving 
against  the  French;  he  was  vestryman  in  1717. 

His  wife  was  Mary  .     His  will,  dated 

May  3,  1746,  proved  October  24,  1750.  names 
children:  i.  John,  of  further  mention.  2. 
Daniel.  3.  Thomas,  a  member  of  the  New 
York  house  of  assembly,  1739  to  1750,  and 
judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas,  of  Orange 
county,  1740  to  1749.  4.  Abraham.  5.  Heze- 
kiah,  of  Walkill,  Ulster  county,  New  York.  6. 
Joseph.  7.  Dr.  Benjamin,  born  December  14, 
1715  ;  graduate  of  Yale  College,  1733  :  studied 
medicine  and  settled  at  Killingworth,  Connec- 
ticut, where  he  practiced,  and  died  May  6, 
1790.  He  was  a  distinguished  writer  on  the 
Old  Testament  prophecies,  medical  subjects 
and  agriculture.  His  versatility  is  seen  from 
the  fact  that  the  London  Medical  Maga::;ine 
published  and  warmly  complimented  an  arti- 
cle of  his  on  "Small  Pox,"  and  the  London 
Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Arts  and  Com- 
merce awarded  him  a  gold  medal  "for  an  im- 
provement in  the  drill  plow."  He  married, 
June  6,  1739,  Hannah  Eliot,  born  October  15, 
1713,  died  June  27,  1781,  descendant  of  John 
Eliot,  the  teacher  and  apostle  to  the  Indians. 
Children:  i.  Elizabeth,  born  December  3,  1740, 
died  November  18,  i8i8;married  Samuel  Gale; 
ii.  Catherine,  born  June  21,  1742,  died  June  19, 
1797:  married  Jeremiah  Atwater,  of  New 
Haven,  Connecticut ;  iii.  Mary,  born  February 
3.  1744.  married  Dr.  John  Redfield,  of  Guil- 
ford, Connecticut ;  iv.  Julianna.  born  Novem- 
ber 14,  1746,  married  Leverett  Hubbard,  of 
New  Haven,  Connecticut;  v.  Hannah,  born 
April  12,  1748,  died  November  26,  1797,  """ 
married;  vi.  Mehitable,  born  December  13, 
1749,  married  Archibald  Austin,  of  New  Ha- 
ven, Connecticut ;  vii.  Samuel,  born  December 
9,  1751.  died  December  21,  1751  ;  viii.  Benja- 
min, born  February  22,  1755,  died  March  31, 

1855.     8.  Catherine,  married  Ludlam. 

fl\')  John  (2),  son  of  John  (i)  and  Mary 
Gale,  was  born  May  30,  1697.  died  1760:  will 
proved  January  27,  1761.  He  is  believed  to 
have  lived  at  Stamford,  Connecticut,  from 
1732  to  1736,  and  was  a  surveyor.  He  mar- 
ried, November  8,  1723,  Hannah  Coe,  born 
August  24.  1704.  Children:  i.  Anna,  born 
-August  21,  1724;  married  Rev.  Elmer,  of 
New  Jersey.  2.  Daniel,  born  January  5, 
1726;     will     proved     1756;     married     Dinah 

;  he  had  sons:  Moses,  a  physician,  and 

Daniel.  3.  Moses,  born  September  2,  1728. 
4.  Dr.  John,  born  August  18,  173 1 ;  surgeon 
in  the  -American  army  in  the  French  war ;  sur- 
rogate of  Orange  county.  New  York,  1768; 
married.  May  10,  1756.  Ann,  daughter  of  Da- 
vid   Jones,    of    Queens    county,    New    York;. 


420 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK   \'ALLEYS 


speaker  of  colonial  assembly  and  judge  of 
the  supreme  court.  5.  Benjamin,  born  Sep- 
tember 8,  1734:  will  proved  1782;  deacon  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Goshen ; 
married   Eleanor  Carpenter.     6.    Sarah,  born 

April  2,   1737 ;   married  Bull.    7.   Ke- 

ziah,  born  April  5,  1740;  married  Roger 
Townsend.  8.  Samuel,  of  further  mention. 
9.  Coe.  born  December   17,    1745.  died   1826; 

married    (first)    Carpenter;    (second) 

Widow  Wisner. 

(V)  Samuel,  son  of  John  (2)  and  Hannah 
(Coe)  Gale,  was  born  in  Goshen,  New  York, 
March  3,  1743,  died  at  Troy,  New  York,  Jan- 
uary 9,  1799.  After  graduating  from  Yale 
College,  he  entered  the  office  of  his  uncle.  Dr. 
Benjamin  Gale,  of  Killingworth,  Connecticut, 
to  prepare  for  the  profession  of  medicine.  He 
completed  his  medical  studies  and  began 
practice  with  Dr.  Benjamin  Gale,  his  pre- 
ceptor, in  Killingworth.  He  served  during 
the  revolution,  being  appointed  a  captain 
by  Governor  Trumbull,  of  Connecticut, 
May  I,  1775.  His  name  is  on  the  "Lex- 
ington Alarm  List"  from  the  town  of 
Killingworth  as  captain,  showing  a  service 
of  six  days.  His  captain's  commission  was  as 
captain  of  the  Eighth  Company,  sixth  regi- 
ment, Connecticut  Continental  Line,  Colonel 
Parsons,  raised  on  the  first  call  for  troops  in 
April — May,  1775 :  was  reorganized  and 
adopted  as  a  continental  regiment  under  Colo- 
nel Parsons  in  1776.  His  first  term  of  service 
under  his  commission  as  captain  expired  De- 
cember 19,  1775.  He  saw  active  service  in 
New  England  and  New  York  during  his  first 
campaigns  and  rendered  subsequent  service. 
In  July,  1779,  on  Tryon's  invasion  of  Connec- 
ticut, he  was  at  the  head  of  his  company.  Colo- 
nel Worthington's  regiment,  with  other  Con- 
necticut troops  that  turned  out  to  repel  the  in- 
vasion. At  the  close  of  the  revolution  in  Au- 
gust, 1787,  he  sailed  with  his  wife,  five  sons 
and  two  daughters  from  Killingworth,  for  the 
upper  Hudson  valle\-,  having  decided  to  lo- 
cate at  Lansingburg.  The  passage  up  the 
river  was  so  slow  that  he  did  not  reach  Van 
Der  Heyden's  Ferry  (Troy)  until  the  begin- 
ning of  September.  He  had  previously  rented 
a  house  at  Lansingburg.  but  his  delay  in  ar- 
riving had  lost  him  that  dwelling,  and  on  the 
solicitation  of  Jacob  D.  Van  Der  Heyden,  he 
occupied  part  of  his  house  until  he  could  com- 
plete his  own  dwelling,  which  he  erected  on 
the  west  side  of  the  river  road  (now  River 
street),  on  the  second  lot  south  of  present 
Ferry  street.  Here  he  resided  until  1798, 
when  he  removed  to  his  second  home  in  Troy, 
119  First  street,  where  he  died,  as  did  his  wife 
and  all  their  children,  except  John,   Samuel 


and  Sarah,  the  latter  occupying  the  home  un- 
til her  death  in  1862.  Dr.  Gale's  skill  as  a 
physician  brought  him  abundant  practice 
among  the  settlers  of  Troy  and  the  neighbor- 
ing farmers.  He  was  well-known  and  had  the 
public  confidence.  He  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers of  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Troy,  and 
elected  December  31,  1791,  a  member  of  the 
first  board  of  trustees,  holding  the  office  many 
years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  or- 
der and  a  charter  member  of  Apollo  Lodge, 
No.  40,  the  first  lodge  established  in  the  vil- 
lage in  1796.  He  married,  September  4,  1766, 
his  cousin,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Dr.  Benja- 
min Gale.  Children  :  i.  Benjamin,  born  August 
8,  1767,  died  August  26.  1817.  2.  John,  born 
December  8,  1769,  died  September  29,  1846; 
married  Remember  Mary  Sherman,  widow  of 
—  Brown.  3.  Samuel,  of  further  men- 
tion. 4.  Juliana,  born  April  28,  1774,  died 
April  I,  1791,  unmarried.  5.  Daniel,  born 
August  24,  1776.  died  September  24,  1776. 
6.  Sarah  (Sally),  born  February  20,  1778, 
died  September  2,  1862,  unmarried.  7.  Roger 
Townsend,  born  September  15,  1780.  died 
January  8,  1854,  unmarried.  8.  William,  born 
August  17,  1782,  died  March  3,  1813,  unmar- 
ried. Of  the  foregoing,  Benjamin  and  John 
established  as  merchants  in  Troy. 

(\T)  Samuel  (2),  son  of  Samuel  (i)  and 
Elizabeth  (Gale)  Gale,  was  born  April  24, 
1772,  died  July  21,  1839.  He  was  graduated 
M.  D.,  May  9,  1792,  by  First  Medical  Society 
in  Vermont.  Went  to  the  West  Indies,  where 
he  practiced  his  profession  for  a  short  time. 
Returning  to  the  L'nited  States  he  settled  in 
Troy,  where  he  established  a  drug  store  that 
he  conducted  for  many  years.  This  was  the 
foundation  and  beginning  of  the  latter  day 
house  of  John  L.  Thompson,  Sons  &  Com- 
pany, a  leading  wholesale  firm  of  Troy.  In 
1804  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Troy, 
holding  until  1828.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  first  board  of  directors  of  the  Rensselaer 
and  Saratoga  Insurance  Company,  incorpo- 
rated in  1814:  a  manager  of  the  Troy  Sav- 
ings Bank,  incorporated  1823 :  director  of  the 
Farmers'  Bank  of  Troy ;  treasurer  of  the 
Rensselaer  County  Medical  Society,  organized 
1806.  He  married.  September  15.  181 1, 
Mary,  born  December  19,  1788,  died  January 
I,  1853,  daughter  of  Ezra  (2)  Thompson,  of 
-Stanford.  Dutchess  county.  New  York  (see 
Thoni])Son  \TII).  Children:  i.  Samuel  Wil- 
liam, born  September  i,  18 12,  died  Septem- 
ber 27,  1813.  2.  William  Samuel,  born  July 
10.  1816,  died  June  30.  1817.  3.  Ezra  Thomi)- 
son,  of  further  mention.  4.  Mary  Elizabeth, 
born  February  13,  1822,  died  November  12, 
1829.     5.  John  Benjamin,  born  May  9,  1824, 


HUDSOX    AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


421 


died  May  17,  1906;  married  (first)  October 
6,  1846,  Elizabeth  Van  Schoonhoven  Wells, 
born  August  8.  1824,  died  June  5,  1871 ;  mar- 
ried (second)  January  27.  1873,  Catherine  J. 
Wells,  sister  of  his  first  wife,  born  February 
16,  1829,  who  survives  him.  a  resident  of  Wil- 
liamstown,  Massachusetts.  The  controversy 
between  Bishop  Doane  and  John  B.  Gale  arose 
over  this  second  marriage.  Children :  i.  May 
Elizabeth,  born  August  12,  1847,  died  April 
!/•  1857:  ii.  Caroline  deForest,  born  Decem- 
ber 2-j,  1848,  married,  April  29,  1874,  Ed- 
ward Reynolds  Ilun,  of  Alliany,  who  died 
March  14,  1880 ;  iii.  Frederick  Wells,  born 
March  29.   1850,  died  May  6,  1876. 

(\TI)  Ezra  Thompson,  son  of  Dr.  Samuel 
(2)  and  Mary  (Thompson)  Gale,  was  born 
at  Troy,  New  York,  April  27.  1819,  died  July 
4,  1887.  He  was  educated  in  preparatory 
schools  and  was  graduated  at  Rensselaer 
Polytechnic  Institute,  class  of  1837.  He  es- 
tablished in  the  hardware  business  in  Troy, 
in  1840.  a  junior  partner  of  the  firm  of  Brin- 
kerhoff,  Catlin  &  Gale.  In  1843  the  firm  be- 
came E.  Thompson,  Gale  &  Company,  con- 
tinuing until  1853,  when  it  was  changed  to 
Catlin  &  Sexton,  with  ^Mr.  Gale  as  a  special 
partner.  The  firm  manufactured  and  dealt  in 
hardware,  conducting  an  extensive  business. 
In  1857  he  withdrew  from  connection  with 
the  firm  and  henceforth  devoted  all  his  time 
to  the  business  of  banking.  In  1850  he  had 
been  elected  a  director  of  the  P^armer's  Bank, 
president  1859  to  1865.  and  in  the  latter  year, 
when  the  bank  was  consolidated  with  the  Bank 
of  Troy,  he  was  chosen  president  of  the  new 
institution,  holding  that  position  until  1885. 
He  was  one  of  the  promoters  of  the  Troy  & 
Boston  railroad  in  1848 :  an  organizer  of  Troy 
Gas  Company ;  director  of  Troy  Savings 
Bank  ;  director  of  Rensselaer  &  Saratoga  rail- 
road ;  trustee  of  Rensselaer  Polytechnic  Insti- 
tute ;  deeply  interested  in  the  Young  ]\Ien's 
Association,  and  placed  the  "Gale  Alcove"  in 
its  library  in  memory  of  his  deceased  son,  Al- 
fred deForest  Gale  :  also  was  an  active  friend 
of  the  Troy  Female  Seminary  and  supported 
by  ])urse  and  influence  every  good  work  in  the 
city,  regardless  of  creed  or  nationality.  He 
built  the  memorial  chapel  at  the  Day  Home 
and  was  a  strong  supporter  of  the  cause  of 
education.  His  love  for  his  alma  mater  was 
an  enduring  one  and  he  worked  continuously 
for  its  betterment  and  endowment.  He  mar- 
ried. January  17,  1844,  Caroline  deForest,  of 
New  York  City,  born  May  27,  1823,  died 
March  2,  1864.  a  descendant  of  the  Huguenot, 
Isaac  deForest.  a  very  early  settler  on  Man- 
hattan Island  (see  deForest  \TI).  Children: 
I.  Alfred  deForest,  born  October  8,  1845,  died 


March  30,  1877,  unmarried;  member  of  Lane, 
Gale  &  Company.  2.  Eliot  Thompson,  born 
August  21,  1847,  died  December  2,  1848.  3. 
Benjamin  Herbert,  born  May  23,  1850,  died 
May  14.  1851.  4.  Mary  deForest.  born  Sep- 
tember 10,  1852,  died  February  17,  1905;  mar- 
ried, January  4,  1882,  John  Clatworthy,  of 
Taunton,  England,  born  July  26,  1836,  died 
October  26,  1902,  at  Troy.  5.  Alargaret 
Eliza,  now  a  resident  of  Washington,  D.  C.  6. 
Edward  Courtland,  of  further  mention.  7. 
Caroline  deForest,  married  (first)  January 
17,  1888,  S.  Alexander  Troy,  of  Troy,  born 
February  11,  1859,  died  December  2.  igo8; 
children :  Constance  deForest,  Elaine  Eliot, 
Grace  Alexis;  married  (second)  Frederick 
Augustus  Von  Bernuth,  Jr.,  of  New  York 
City,  nephew  of  John  Clatworthy. 

(VIII)  Edward  Courtland,  son  of  Ezra 
Thompson  and  Caroline  (deForest)  Gale,  was 
born  October  28,  1861,  in  Troy,  New  York. 
He  was  educated  at  Troy  Academy,  St. 
John's  School  at  Sing  Sing,  New  York,  and 
entered  Rensselaer  Polytechnic  Institute, 
where  he  was  graduated  civil  engineer,  class 
of  1883.  He  never  followed  his  profession, 
but  after  the  death  of  his  father  filled  the 
place  of  his  father  as  a  banker  and  manufac- 
turer of  hardware ;  director  of  the  United 
National  Bank  of  Troy  since  1888 ;  trustee  of 
Troy  Savings  Bank  since  1888 :  trustee  of 
Rensselaer  Polytechnic  Institute ;  trustee  of 
Troy  Public  Library ;  president  of  Eagle 
Square  Manufacturing  Company,  of  South 
Shaftsbury,  \'ermont,  making  steel  carpenter's 
squares,  etc ;  president  of  Albany  &  \'ermont 
Railroad  Company :  vice-president  of  Rensse- 
laer &  Saratoga  Railroad  Company ;  vice- 
president  of  Saratoga  &  Schenectady  Railroad 
Company ;  secretary  and  treasurer  of  Troy  & 
Greenbush  Railroad  Company.  He  served  in 
the  New  York  National  Guard  from  1883  to 
1892,  and  during  the  Spanish-American  war 
was  captain  of  Company  A,  second  Regiment 
Infantry,  New  York  Volunteers,  United 
States  army.  He  is  now  president  of  the  Troy 
Citizens  Corps.  For  eight  years  he  was  a 
volunteer  fireman  of  Troy,  belonging  to  the 
.Arba  Read  Ste'amer  Company.  In  politics  he 
is  an  Independent  Republican,  and  during  the 
years  1905-06-07  served  on  the  Republican 
county  committee.  He  is  a  member  of  Delta 
Phi  ('R.  p.  I.  fraternity),  the  Troy.  Pafraets 
Dael  and  Island  Golf  clubs  of  Troy,  and  the 
Grolier  Club  of  New  York  City.  He  mar- 
ried. April  24.  1888,  Mary  Warren,  daughter 
of  John  I.  Thompson,  of  Troy.  Children : 
Alfred  Warren,  born  January  2.  1892:  Harold 
deForest.  born  January  18,  1896 ;  Marie  Caro- 
lyn ;   Katherine. 


422 


HUDSON    AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


(The    Eliot    Line). 

Hannah  Eliot,  wife  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Gale, 
and  mother  of  Elizaheth  Gale,  wife  of  Sam- 
uel Gale,  was  a  descendant  of  John  Eliot, 
known  as  "the  apostle  to  the  Indians."  He 
was  born  1604,  at  Nasin,  Essex  county,  Eng- 
land:  arrived  in  Boston  November  3,  1631,  on 
the  ship  "Lion":  married.  October,  1632,  An- 
nie ]\Iountfort,  born  1604,  died  Marcli  24, 
1687. 

(HI  Rev.  Joseph  Eliot,  son  of  John  and 
Annie  (Mountfort)  Eliot,  was  born  Decem- 
ber 20,  1638,  died  May  24,  1694;  married 
(first)  about  1675.  Sarah  Brenton,  who  died 
about  1681.  daughter  of  William  Brenton, 
governor  of  Rhode  Island.  He  married  (sec- 
ond) 1684.  Mary,  daughter  of  Samuel  Wyllys, 
of  Hartford,  Connecticut,  son  of  Governor 
Wyllys.  Samuel  Wyllys  married  Ruth, 
daughter  of  Governor  John  and  Mabel  (Har- 
lakendcn)  Havnes,  of  Alassachusetts. 

(Ill)  Jared  Eliot,  M.D.,  D.D.,  son  of  Rev. 
Joseph  and  i\Iary  (Wyllys)  Eliot,  was  born 
November  7,  1685,  died  April  22,  1763.  He 
married,  October  26,  1710,  Elizabeth,  born 
1693,  died  February  18,  1761,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Smithson,  of  Guilford,  Connecticut, 
who  was  the  emigrant  from  Brayfield,  North- 
amptonshire, England. 

(R)  Hannah,  daughter  of  Jared  and  Eliza- 
beth (Smithson)  Eliot,  married  Dr.  Benjamin 
Gale,  son  of  John  Gale  (see  Gale  III). 

(V)  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Dr.  Benjamin 
and  Hannah  (Eliot)  Gale,  married  her  cousin, 
Samuel  Gale,  of  Goshen,  New  York. 

(The   Thompson    Line). 
Mary  Thompson,  wife  of  Dr.  Samuel  Gale, 
of  Troy,  descended  from  Henry  Thompson,  of 
Lenham,  England,  and  Dorothy,  his  wife. 

(II)  Anthony,  son  of  Henry  and  Dorothy 
Thompson,  was  born  at  Lenham,  Kent  county, 
England,  August  30.  1612,  died  March,  1684. 
He  landed  at  Boston  from  the  ship  "Hector," 
July  26,  1637,  and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers 
of  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  and  signed  the 
Colony  Constitution,  June  4,  1669.  The  name 
of  his  first  wife  is  unknown.  His  second  was 
Katherine . 

(III)  John,  eldest  son  of  Anthony  Thomp- 
son and  his  first  wife,  was  born  1632.  He  is 
called  "Skipper"  John  Thompson,  and  John 
Thompson,  "the  mariner,"  and  Mr.  John 
Thomp.son.  He  died  June  2,  1707.  His  wife 
Hellcna  died  October  8,  1690. 

(I\')  Captain  Samuel  Thompson,  son  of 
John  and  Hellena  Thompson,  was  born  May 
12,  1669,  at  New  Haven,  Connecticut,  died 
March  26,  1749:  married,  November  14. 
1695,  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Lieutenant-Gov- 


ernor James  Bishop,  of  Connecticut,  and  his 
wife,  Elizabeth  Tompkins.  Captain  Thompson 
was  a  merchant,  and  was  successively  sergeant, 
ensign,  lieutenant  and  captain. 

(V)  Samuel  (2),  son  of  Captain  Samuel 
(i)  and  Rebecca  (Bishop)  Thompson,  was 
born  December  2,  1(596,  at  New  Haven,  Con- 
necticut. He  married  .Sarah  (or  Hester)  Allen 
(or  Ailing),  January  20,  1719.  He  settled  in 
Goshen,  Connecticut,  removing  from  there  to 
Stanford,  Dutchess  county,  New  York,  where 
with  his  brothers  he  bought  twenty-eight 
hundred  acres  of  land. 

(VI)  Ezra,  son  of  Samuel  (2)  and  Sarah 
(or  Hester)  (Allen)  Thompson,  was  born 
1734;  married  Rachel  Smith,  and  resided  in 
Stanford,  New  York. 

(VII)  Ezra  (2),  son  of  Ezra  (i)  and 
Rachel  (Smith)  Thompson,  was  born  at  Stan- 
ford, New  York,  September  3,  1765,  died 
April  3,  1829;  married,  July  13,  1786,  Sally 
Burton,  of  Amenia,  New  York,  born  about 
1767,  died  November  21,  1807,  at  Poughkeep- 
sie.  New  York. 

(VIII)  Mary,  daughter  of  Ezra  (2)  and 
Sally  (Burton)  Thompson,  married  Dr.  Sam- 
uel Gale. 

(The    deForest    Line). 

(III)  David,  .son  of  Isaac  (q.  v.)  and  Sarah 
(du  Trieux)  deForest,  was  baptized  Septem- 
ber, 1669,  died-  April  20,  1721.  He  married. 
1699,  Martha,  daughter  of  Samuel,  son  of 
Captain  Benjamin  Blagge.  David  deForest 
settled  in   Stratford.   Connecticut,   in    1695. 

(IV)  David  (2),  son  of  David  (i)  and 
Martha  (Blagge)  deForest,  was  born  April 
24,  1702:  will  dated  April  18,  1748.  He 
settled  at  Wilton,  a  parish  of  Norwalk,  Con- 
necticut.   He  married  Abigail . 

(V)  Elihu,  son  of  David  (2)  and  .Abigail 
de  Forest,  was  born  1735:  married.  May  4. 
1761.  Rachel,  daughter  of  David  and  Lurania 
(Bills)  Lambert.  David  Lambert,  born  1700, 
son  of  Jesse  Lambert,  who  came  from  Eng- 
land in  1680,  settled  at  Milford,  Connecticut; 
married,  May   10,   1688,  Deborah  Fowler. 

(VI)  Benjamin,  son  of  Elihu  and  Rachel 
(Lambert)  deForest,  was  born  July  16,  1771. 
baptized  1777,  died  October  27,  1850;  mar- 
ried, September  29,  1804,  Mary,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Burlock,  born  January  14,  1759,  mar- 
ried, December  27,  1779,  Mary  Layton.  born 
May  5,  1757;  died  August  13,  1827.  The 
Layton  sisters  were  famed  for  their  fine  per- 
sonal appearance  and  were  known  as  the 
"Long  Island  beauties." 

(VII)  Caroline,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and 
Mary  (Burlock)  deForest.  married  Ezra 
Thompson  Gale  (see  Gale  VII). 

(VIII)  Edward    Courtland,    son    of    Ezra 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


423 


Thompson  and  Caroline  (deForest)  Gale, 
married  Mary  Warren  Thompson,  and  is  now 
(1911  1  a  resident  of  Troy,  New  York. 


De  Bas  is  a  well-known 
BASSETT  French  surname.  The  Anglo- 
Saxon  form  is  Bass,  Basse, 
Bassus,  Bassite  or  Bassett.  Other  variations 
of  the  name  are  Bassano,  Basselin,  Bassan- 
tien  and  Bassinus.  It  is  a  popular  tradition 
that  the  name  came  from  the  French  word, 
bas,  meaning  in  this  connection,  short  of  stat- 
ure. Bassett  is  a  name  found  on  the  roll  of 
Battle  Abbey,  Thurstine  de  Bassett  (the  extra 
t  was  not  added  until  the  fifteenth  century), 
grand  Falconer  of  William  the  Conqueror,  ac- 
companied him  from  Normandy  and  from  him 
are  descended  all  the  English  Bassetts.  Corn- 
wall and  Devonshire.  England,  have  always 
been  strongholds  of  the  family  and  many  of 
them  have  been  owners  of  the  rich  Cornwall 
mines.  Two  distinguished  members  of  tlie 
family  were  Sir  Francis  Bassett,  vice-admiral 
under  King  Charles  I. ;  another  Sir  Francis,  in 
the  reign  of  George  HL,  was  made  Baron 
Bassett  and  Baron  of  Dunstanville.  Under 
Henry  L,  Osmund  Bassett  was  judge  of  all 
Britain,  as  was  his  great-grandson  under 
Henry  HL  Allan  Bassett's  name  appears  in 
Magna  Charta  among  those  of  the  King's 
counsellors.  Peter  Bassett  was  biographer  of 
Henry  V.  and  his  chamberlain.  Fulk  Bassett 
is  remembered  in  the  records  of  St.  Paul's 
Cathedral  on  account  of  his  gifts  to  that 
church.  The  Bass  arms  are :  "Gules,  a  chev- 
ron, argent  between  three  plates.  Crest :  a 
demi-lion,  gules,  resting  his  paw  on  an  oval 
shield  in  cartouch,  or,  charged  with  a  fluer-de- 
lis,  azure." 

The  first  of  the  name  in  America  was  Wil- 
liam Bassett  or  Bassite,  who  came  over  in  the 
■"Fortune"  in  1621.  The  tradition  is  that  he 
intended  joining  the  "Mayflower"'  pilgrims,  but 
waited  for  his  bride.  He  was  an  educated  man 
and  brought  his  box  of  books  with  him.  He 
was  freeman  in  1633  ■  for  six  years  represen- 
tative to  the  old  colony  court ;  helped  to  lay 
out  Duxbury,  and  served  in  the  Pequot  war. 
A  son.  grandson  and  great-grandson  were 
named  \\'illiam,  a  favorite  name  in  the  family. 
William  Henry  Harrison,  former  president  of 
the  United  States,  got  his  first  name  from  the 
Bassett  family,  to  which  his  mother  belonged. 
Thomas  F.  Bayard,  of  Delaware,  was  a  son 
of  a  Bassett,  mother  a  granddaughter  of  Rich- 
ard Bassett,  governor  of  Delaware  and  mem- 
ber of  the  convention  of  1787  which  framed 
the  Constitution  of  the  L^nited  States  and  the 
first  to  cast  a  vote  for  the  removal  of  the  Capi- 
tol  from    Philadelphia   to   Washington.     An- 


other William  Bassett  came  to  America  at  age 
nine  in  the  ship  "Abigail."  John  Bassett 
came  from  England  to  New  Haven,  Connecti- 
cut, in  1643.  Robert  Bassett  was  another 
emigrant,  as  was  Joseph.  Thomas  Bassett 
came  in  1634  in  the  ship  "Christian,"  settling 
in  Connecticut.  Another  very  early  settler 
was  Samuel  Bass,  who  settled  in  Massachu- 
setts in  1630.  His  son  John  married  Ruth, 
daughter  of  John  and  Priscilla  (Mullins)  Al- 
dcn  of  the  "Mayflower.''  The  family  have 
always  taken  prominent  parts  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  nation.  They  helped  to  subdue 
both  forests  and  Indians  and  were  at  the  front 
during  the  revolution:  one  hundred  and  fifty 
of  the  name  serving  from  the  state  of  Massa- 
chusetts alone.  Moses  Bass  sent  six  sons  and 
Henry  Bass  was  one  of  the  famous  "Boston 
Tea  Party."  The  Bass  family  was  connected 
by  marriage  with  the  Faneuils  who  gave  to 
Boston  "Faneuil  Hall,"  called  the  "Cradle  of 
Liberty."  The  Bassett  arms  are  those  of 
Thurstine  de  Bassett.  "the  falconer" ;  Argent, 
a  chevron  between  three  bugle  horns,  sable, 
crest :  a  stag's  head  cabossed :  between  the 
attires,  a  cross  fitchee,  all  argent.  Motto: 
"Gwill  angua  na  chywilydd."  "Death  before 
dishonor,"  the  motto  having  probably  been 
added  by  Wesh  members  of  the  family.  The 
line  ip  New  York  was  first  settled  in  Wash- 
ington county  by  Captain  John  Bassett,  a  de- 
scendant of  Cornelius  Bassett,  who  probably 
came  direct  from  England. 

(I)  Captain  John  Bassett  was  a  ship  master, 
cajjtain  of  a  sailing  vessel  which  ran  between 
England  and  the  New  England  colonies  of 
North  America.  It  has  been  maintained  and 
often  stated  by  James  Bassett  that  his  father. 
Captain  John  Bassett,  piloted  the  French  fleet 
in  1780  into  Newport,  and  thus  Count  de 
Rocliambeau  and  his  soldiers  were  guided  by 
the  hand  of  a  Bassett  to  the  land  which  their 
bravery  did  so  much  to  free  from  British 
tyranny.  About  1760  he  married  Annie  Hilli- 
man  and  had  sons:  James:  John:  Henry,  the 
latter  going  west  and  settling  in  Michigan. 

(II)  James,  son  of  Captain  John  and  Annie 
(Hilliman)  Bassett,  was  born  in  Greenwich, 
Washington  county.  New  York,  about  1785. 
He  was  engaged  in  the  grocery  business ;  a 
Quaker  in  religion :  a  Whig  in  politics :  mar- 
ried, in  town  of  Easton.  Washington  county. 
New  York,  1806,  Mary,  daughter  of  John 
W'orth  (a  first  cousin  of  General  William 
Jenkins  Worth)  and  his  wife,  Jemima 
(Swayne)  Worth.  Children:  Frederick  M., 
Caroline  Tefft.  John  W.,  Edwin  A.,  Susan, 
Harriet,  Anna  M.,  Oscar  M.  Both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bassett  are  buried  at  Fort  Miller. 

(III)  Oscar  M.,  son  of  James   and  Mary 


424 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK   \"ALLEYS 


(Worth)  Bassett.  was  born  in  Fort  IMiller, 
Washington  county,  New  York,  April  12, 
1827.  He  was  engaged  in  the  forwarding 
business  in  New  York,  afterward  came  to 
Fort  ^liller  and  became  a  wholesale  dealer  in 
potatoes.  In  religion  a  member  of  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends,  and  in  politics  a  Republican, 
serving  as  town  auditor.  He  married,  at  Fort 
Miller,  New  York,  May  14,  1855.  Frances  M. 
^lills,  born  July  13,  1831,  at  Fort  Miller, 
daughter  of  Abram  and  Catherine  (Scoville) 
Mills,  and  granddaughter  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth (Knowles)  Mills.  Children:  F.  Her- 
bert, married  Mary  F.  F.urgess,  and  has  a 
daughter  Anna  :  Richard  Oscar. 

(R)  Richard  Oscar,  son  of  Oscar  M.  and 
Frances  M.  (Mills)  Bassett,  was  born  in  the 
village  of  Fort  Miller,  town  of  Fort  Edward, 
Washington  county.  New  York,  April  15, 
1863.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Fort  Miller.  Schuylerville  high  school,  and 
private  school  of  Rev.  Samuel  B.  Bostwick. 
He  is  an  attorney  at  law,  admitted  1886  from 
attorney's  office  of  Delaware  &  Hudson  Com- 
pany, where  he  remained  for  seven  or  eight 
years,  since  which  time  he  has  practiced  his 
profession  in  the  city  of  Albany,  New  York, 
where  he  is  now  (1911)  in  practice.  He  is  a 
member  of  Blue  Lodge,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  and  in  politics  a  Republican.  ,  His 
church  connection  is  Protestant  Episcopal.  He 
married,  June  15,  1892,  in  Albany,  Sara  A., 
born  in  that  city,  1872.  daughter  of  Robert 
and  Catherine  (Race)  Wands,  of  New  Scot- 
land, Albany  county.  New  York,  the  former  a 
policeman,  a  veteran  of  the  civil  war.  His 
father.  William  Wands,  and  his  six  brothers 
settled  in  New  Scotland,  Alliany  county.  New 
York:  they  were  Scotch.  Catherine  (Race) 
Wands  was  a  daughter  of  W'illiam  and  .•Xn- 
toinette  ( Corbett )  Race.  Children:  i.  Rich- 
ard Oscar  (2).  born  Alarch  13,  1893,  R''^^'" 
uate  of  Albany  high  school,  student.  2.  Cath- 
erine W'orth,  born  August  23.  1900,  student  at 
public  school.  3.  Lloyd  Tefft,  born  1902,  de- 
ceased.   4.  Herbert,  deceased. 


The  ancestor  of  the 
L'AMORE.\UX     L'Amoreaux  family  was 

a  French  Protestant 
Huguenot,  one  of  a  large  number  of  refugees 
forced  to  leave  France  in  consequence  of  re- 
ligious persecutions  either  before  or  after  the 
revocation  by  Louis  XI\'.  of  the  Edict  of 
Nantes  in  1685.  These  refugees  set  sail  for 
the  American  colonies  and  landed  at  New 
Rochclle,  Westchester  county.  New  York,  be- 
tween 1685  and  1750.  In  consequence  of  the 
meager  records  it  is  impossible  to  fix  the  exact 
date  of   arrival.     There    can   be   little  doubt 


some  of  these  French  Huguenots  had  com- 
menced a  settlement  at  New  Rochelle  before 
1687.  It  is  reasonably  well  established  the 
Huguenots,  or  French  Protestants,  of  New 
Rochelle  were  a  part  of  the  vast  multitude 
who  were  driven  from  France  by  persecu- 
tions for  conscience  sake  and  sought  refuge 
in  lands  where  they  might  enjoy  religious 
freedom.  Some  of  them,  it  is  said,  came  from 
the  West  Indies,  where  they  had  lived  for  some 
years  after  leaving  France,  while  others  came 
no  doubt  from  England  and  were  a  part  of 
the  fifty  thousand  persecuted  who  fled  into 
that  country  before  the  revocation  of  the  Edict 
of  Nantes.  This  is  confirmed  by  the  charter 
of  Trinity  Church  in  New  Rochelle.  wherein 
they  specify  that  they  fled  from  France  in 
1681  ;  that  they  were  subsequently  transported 
in  the  King's  ships  and  landed  on  Daven- 
port's Neck  at  a  place  called  Bauffets,  or 
Bonnefays  Point.  It  seems  about  this  time 
thirty  familes  comprised  this  colony  of  Hugue- 
nots. Very  little  is  known  of  them  at  just 
this  period,  except  that  other  Huguenots  ar- 
rived from  time  to  time,  so  that  by  the  year 
1710  there  was  a  total  population  of  two  hun- 
dred and  sixty-one  persons.  The  fact  that 
these  colonists  had  sacrificed  all  their  posses- 
sions in  France  and  suffered  exile  for  the 
sake  of  a  principle  is  evidence  enough  that 
they  were  men  of  strong  character.  That 
many  of  them  were  also  highly  educated  and 
intelligent  is  apparent  even  in  the  meager  rec- 
ords which  show  how  their  public  and  private 
affairs  were  conducted.  A  bronze  tablet  now 
marks  the  spot  upon  which  these  Huguenots 
first  set  foot  upon  the  land  of  their  adoption. 

Mr.  L'Amoreaux's  descendants  are  domi- 
ciled in  manv  of  the  states  of  the  Union  and 
in  many  parts  of  the  state  of  New  York. 
These  descendants  to  the  number  of  hundreds 
assemble  annually  at  reunions  at  Cayuga 
Lake,  New  York.  This  article  has  to  do  with 
the  Peter  L'Amoreaux  branch  of  the  family 
that  settled  at  Peekskill,  Dutchess  county, 
afterward,  at  a  comparatively  early  date,  re- 
moved to  Rose  \'allcv.  Wavne  countv.  New 
York. 

(I)  Peter  L'.Vmorcaux  was  born  July  12, 
1761  :  married  Elizabeth  L'Amoreaux,  born 
September  12.  1760.  and  are  buried  at  Rose 
\allcy.  New  York.  They  had  children:  i. 
Daniel,  born  October  24.  1785,  son  of  Eliza- 
beth by  a  former  husband.  2.  John,  born  Oc- 
tober 24,  1787.  3.  Jesse,  of  further  mention. 
4.  Catherine,  born  December  i,  1793:  married 
Joel  Brundage ;  lived  in  Rensselaer  county,. 
New  York.  5.  Joel,  born  January  13.  1797; 
married  a  Mrs.  Baldwin,  and  had  son  ."^ulli- 
van,     lieutenant-colonel     New     \'iirk     Ninth 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK    VALLEYS 


42s 


Heavy  Artillery  ;  served  in  civil  war.  6.  Eliza- 
beth, born  June  10,  1800;  married  Frederick- 
Tanner  ;  settled  in  Illinois.  7.  Phoebe,  born 
June  I,  1802;  married  David  Silliman.  8. 
Jane,  born  March  24.  1806:  married  Zacha- 
riah  Esmond. 

(H)  Jesse,  son  of  i'cter  and  Elizabeth 
L'Amoreaux,  was  born  at  Peekskill,  New 
York,  November  i,  1790,  died  January  17, 
1869.  at  Ballston  Spa,  New  York ;  married, 
November  21,  18 17,  Charity  Esmond,  born 
at  Pittstown,  Rensselaer  county,  New  York, 
November  21,  1796,  died  March  18,  1888, 
daughter  of  Joseph  Esmond,  born  April  9, 
1765,  married  Catherine,  born  May  16,  1765. 
Joseph  Esmond  had  children:  i.  Elizabeth, 
born  April  15,  1788.  2.  Thomas,  February  13, 
1790.  3.  Peter  D.,  August  11,  1792.  4.  Char- 
itv,  November  21,  1796.  5.  Zachariah.  6. 
Joseph  j\L  Children  of  Jesse  and  Charity 
L'Amoreaux:  i.  Elizabeth,  born  August  5, 
1819,  died  April  13,  1892;  married  Calvin  T. 
Peek,  February  21,  1839;  had  two  daugh- 
ters: i.  Ann  Eliza,  born  February  14,  1840: 
resides  at  Ballston  Spa,  New  York  :  married 
(first)  Fred  J.  Wakeman,  and  had  two  daugh- 
ters :  Lelah  E.,  born  October  30,  1862,  and 
Irene  A.,  born  July  25,  1865.  Fred  J.  Wake- 
man  died  July  24,  1875,  from  whom  Ann 
Eliza  was  divorced,  and  afterward  married 
Andrew  J.  Hall,  May  28,  1874:  by  second 
marriage,  one  daughter,  Nellie  May,  born 
February  16,  1878.  ii.  Catherine  J.  Peek, 
daughter  of  Calvin  T.  and  Elizabeth  Peek, 
born  April  20,  1842,  died  July  21,  1845.  2. 
Catherine  LWmoreaux,  daughter  of  Jesse  and 
Charity,  born  .\]jril  16,  1822,  died  September 
15,  1844.  3.  Sarah  Maria,  born  April  14, 
1831  ;  died  January  24,  1847.  4.  Jesse  S.,  of 
further  mention. 

(Ill)  Jesse  S.  L'Amoreaux,  only  son  of 
Jesse  and  Charity  (Esmond)  L'Amoreaux, 
was  born  in  \\'ilton,  Saratoga  county,  New- 
York,  December  11,  1837.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  and  began  the  practice  of  law  at 
Schuylerville,  New  York,  April  i,  1857.  The 
following  year  he  removed  to  Ballston  Spa, 
at  which  place  he  has  maintained  an  office  to 
the  present  writing    (1911). 

He  married  Ellen  S.  Holbrook,  June  8, 
1865  :  no  children.  In  1882  he  was  elected, 
without  opposition,  judge  of  Saratoga  county, 
and  served  until  1887.  In  1887  he  was  the 
nominee  of  his  party  for  state  comptroller,  but 
failed  of  election,  the  entire  state  ticket  being 
defeated.  He  took  part  in  the  organization  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Ballston  Spa  in 
1865,  has  since  been  one  of  its  directors,  was 
its  vice-president  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
afterwards  became   and   still   is   its  president. 


He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order, 
lodge,  chapter,  commandery,  and  a  member  of 
the  I'lrst  Presbyterian  Church  of  Ballston  Spa 
for  many  years.  He  is  at  present  associated 
with  Hon.  George  S.  Graham  in  the  practice 
of  law  in  the  city  of  New  York.  He  (Jesse) 
in  earlier  years  engaged  in  both  civil  and 
criminal  business,  during  which  period  he  was 
counsel  in  various  of  the  famous  criminal  cases 
tried  in  his  county.  In  later  years  he  has  de- 
voted much  of  his  time  to  corporate  work. 


IMany  of  the  original  Dutch 
ADRIANCE     settlers  in  this  country  were 

neglectful  in  the  use  of  fam- 
ily or  surnames,  while  others  who  had  them 
frequently  adopted  the  christian  name  of  their 
father  as  a  surname,  usually,  but  not  invaria- 
bly, adding  to  it  either  "sen,"  "se,"  "s,"  sz," 
or  "z,"  all  of  which  had  the  same  meaning- 
and  signified  son.  This  often  resulted  in  de- 
scendants of  a  common  ancestor  bearing  en- 
tirely different  names.  This  is  the  case  in  the 
present  Adriance  and  Ryerson  families,  and 
the  Martcnse  Arie  or  .Arien  Ryerse  and 
Maerte  Ryerse,  both  sons  of  Ryerse.  Ryerse, 
although  not  a  surname,  was  retained  by  the 
descendants  of  Maerte  (Marten)  Ryerse,  who 
are  now  numerous  and  bear  the  name  of  Ry- 
erson. The  descendants  of  Arie  (Arien, 
Adrian)  Ryerse  added  the  "se,"  and  used 
Adrian  as  a  surname — which  later  became  the 
present  Adriance.  Elbert  and  Marten  Adri- 
ense  were  sons  of  Adrien  Reyerse,  of  Flat- 
bush,  who,  with  his  brother  Marten  Reyerse, 
came  from  Amsterdam.  The  history  of  this 
family  strikingly  exhibits  the  early  habit  of 
changing  names.  Reyerse,  itself  no  surname,, 
but  simply  a  patronymic,  was  retained  by  de- 
scendants of  Marten  Reyerse,  who  are  now 
numerous  and  bear  the  name  of  Ryerson.  Of 
the  two  brothers  Elbert  and  Marten  Adriense, 
the  first  settled  in  Flushing,  and  his  posterity 
there,  in  Dutchess  county  and  elsewhere,  com- 
pose the  Adriance  family.  Marten  .\driense 
remained  in  Flatbush,  married  Sarah,  a  sis- 
ter of  the  wife  of  his  brother  Elbert,  and  had 
sons :  Adrian,  Rem  and  Gerrit,  who  took  the 
patronymic  Martense,  and  were  the  progeni- 
tors of  the  present  Martense  family. 

(I)  Adrian  Ryerse  probably  emigrated  in 
1646,  as  he  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  in  1687, 
and  at  that  time  stated  that  he  had  been  in- 
America  forty-one  years.  He  married  Anna, 
daughter  of  ]\Iartin  Schenck. 

(II)  Elbert  .\driance,  son  of  Adrian  and 
Anna  (Schenck)  Ryerse,  was  born  in  1663. 
He  married  Catalina,  daughter  of  Rem  Jan- 
sen  \'anderbeeck  and  Jannetie,  daughter  of 
Joris  Jansen  de  Rapalie.     The  sons  of  Rem 


.426 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


Jansen  Vanderbeeck  dropped  the  surname  and 
■took  instead  the  father's  patronymic,  Rem, 
added  sen,  and  thus  Rem  Jansen  Vanderbeeck 
became  the  ancestor  of  the  Remsens  of 
America. 

(HI)  Rem,  son  of  Elbert  and  CataHna 
(Vanderbeeck)  Adriance.  was  born  in  i6go. 
He  married  Sarah,  born  December  18,  1691, 
daughter  of  Joris  and  Annetie  (daughter  of 
Teunis  Jansz  Coevers,  ancestor  of  the  Covert 
family  of  this  country)  Brinckerhofif,  and  a 
direct  descendant  of  Joris  Dericksen  Brinck- 
erhofif, born  in  Holland  in  1609,  came  to 
America  in   1638,  and  died  January  16,   1661. 

(IV)  Abraham,  son  of  Rem  and  Sarah 
(Brinckerhoff)  Adriance.  was  born  in  1720, 
and  removed  to  Fishkill.  Dutchess  county. 
New  York.  He  married  (first)  in  Fishkill, 
Sarah,  daughter  of  Jeromus  and  Elizabeth 
(Bedell)    Rcpleyea,  of  Fishkill,  a  descendant 

of  Joris  Jansen  Repleyea,  born  in  1623.  who 
built  the  first  house  on  Long  Island,  founded 
tlie  city  of  Brooklyn,  and  whose  daughter 
Sarah  was  the  first  white  child  born  of  Euro- 
pean parents  in  the  state  of  New  York.  Abra- 
ham Adriance  married  (second)  Phoebe  \'an 
Kleek. 

(V)  John,  son  of  Abraham  Adriance,  prob- 
ably by  his  first  wife,  but  of  this  there  is  no 
record,  was  born  in  Fishkill,  New  York,  in' 
1753'  "^I'^d  May  29,  1794.  He  married  En- 
geitje  Storm,  born  in  Fishkill.  died  at  the 
age  of  fifty-four  years,  and  who  was  a  de-, 
scendant  of  Dirck,  who  came  to  America  on 
the  ship  "Fox"  in  1662. 

(VI)  Abraham  J.,  son  of  John  and  En- 
geltje  (Storm)  Adriance.  was  born  October 
13,  1773,  died  from  the  effects  of  a  sunstroke, 
August  I.  1 82 1.  He  married,  April  28,  1796, 
Mary  Elizabeth  Eyrand  Van  VIeck.  born  at 
Bethlehem,  Pennsylvania.  March  5,  1778,  died 
November  5,  1842.  She  was  the  daughter  of 
Abraham  H.  Van  Vleck.  was  born  in  1747, 
<died  August  29,  1777;  he  married,  December 

13,  1772.  Elizabetli  Eyrand.  born  in  La  Ro- 
chelle,  France,  daughter  of  a  French  artist  of 
Huguenot  descent,  and  died  July  8,  1828;  slie 
married  (second)  1792,-  Thomas  Mesnard,  an 
Englishman,  who  was  a  shipmaster  and  died 
July  29,  1827:  no  children  by  second  hus- 
"band ;  her  family  had  migrated  to  this  country 
'On  account  of  religious  persecutions. 

The  \"an  Vlecks  were  a  noted  Moravian 
family  who  left  Germany  with  a  colony  that 
settled  around  Bethlehem  and  Nazareth,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  for  a  number  of  generations 
they  had  been  noted  for  the  number  of  bishops 
and  preachers  they  had  furnished  the  church. 
Religious  persecution  w-as  the  cause  of  tlicir 
leaving  home,  and   to  this  day  many  of   the 


ancient  customs  they  established  are  observed 
in  the  community,  and  they  are  foremost  in 
all  religious  and  educational  matters.  Abra- 
ham J.  and  Mary  Elizabeth  Eyrand  (Van 
Vleck)  Adriance  had  children:  i.  Abraham 
Van  Vleck,  born  May  24,  1798.  died  unmar- 
ried. May  16,  1867.  2.  John,  born  November 
9,  1799,  died  unmarried,  August,  1825.  3. 
Thomas    Mesnard,    see    forward.      4.    Judith, 

born    December    18,    1803;    married    

Welsh ;  children :  Mary  Jane,  married  Jacob 
Lewis,  now  deceased :  Rebecca,  deceased,  mar- 
ried Thomas  Ward ;  Louisa,  deceased,  married 
Zachariah  Mead.  5.  Henry,  born  November 
12,  1805.  6.  Elizabeth  Eyrand,  born  June  10, 
181 1,  married  Charles  Genett.  died  at  Rich- 
mond, Virginia,  about  1905.  7.  George  Wash- 
ington, born  August  10,  1813;  married,  and 
left  one  daughter,  Elizabeth,  who  married 
Charles  Seibert.  8.  James  Lawrence,  born 
August  II.  1815.  died  unmarried.  9.  Francis 
Vincent  Gray,  born  September  7,  1817.  and 
died  at  Hauppaugeville,  Long  Island,  1897. 

(VII)  Thomas  Mesnard,  son  of  Abraham 
J.  and  Mary  Elizabeth  Eyrand  (Van  Vleck) 
Adriance,  was  born  in  Dutchess  county.  New 
York,  August  9,  1801,  and  died  December  30, 
1877;  buried  in  Greenwood  cemetery.  New 
York.  In  his  early  manhood  he  removed  to 
New  York  City,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
banking  business,  being  connected  for  his  busi- 
ness life  as  manager  with  the  old  banking 
house  of  John  A.  Stevens  &  Company.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  famous  Seventh  Regi- 
ment of  New  York,  and  continued  to  be  ac- 
tively identified  with  it  and  with  its  veteran 
association.  At  the  expiration  of  fifty  years 
of  service  he  received  a  jubilee  gold  medal  to 
commemorate  his  half  century  with  the  regi- 
ment. He  was  married,  January  8,  1826,  the 
Rev.  James  Milnor  officiating  at  the  ceremony 
in  St.  George's  church,  in  Beekman  street,  to 
Julia  Ann  Price,  born  January  16.  1801.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Ann  (Fern- 
liowcr)  Price,  the  former  a  native  of  Wales, 
whose  father  settled  at  Red  Bank,  New  Jer- 
sey ;  the  latter  born   in    I  lolland,  a  daugliter 

of  Fernhower,  a  learned  man  and  a 

teacher  of  languages.  Children  :  i.  Julia  Ann 
Price,  born  January  6,  1828,  died  July  26, 
1878,  unmarried.  2.  Louisa  Graves,  born  Au- 
gust 18,  1833:  married,  June  16,  1863,  David 
Walker;  died  March  (or  April)  7,  1876.  3. 
Thomas  Bloodgood  (see  forward).  4.  Wil- 
liam Joseph,  born  July  28,  1839,  died  August, 
igio;  married.  April  14,  1887.  Ella  ATaud. 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Franklin;  children: 
William  Franklin,  twrn  April  18,  1890;  Helen 
Lawrence,  February  25,  1892.  5.  Frances  Ste- 
vens, born  December  26,  1841 ;  married,  April 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK    \'ALLEYS 


427 


30,    1867,    Gideon    H.    JNIead;    lias    one    son, 
'Charles  Adriance. 

(\'ni)  Thomas  Bloods:ood,  son  of  Thomas 
Mesnard  and  Julia  Ann  (Price)  Adriance, 
was  born  in  New  York  City,  December  13, 
1836,  and  died  January  20,  1877;  buried  in 
Greenwood  cemetery.  New  York.  He  was 
educated  in  his  native  city,  attending  the  Me- 
chanics' Society  School.  Throug'liout  his  en- 
tire business  life  he  held  an  important  place 
with  the  riank  of  Commerce  of  New  York 
Citv.  In  i860  he  removed  to  Jersey  City, 
where  he  made  his  residence  during  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Twenty-second  Regiment,  N.  G.  N.  Y.,  at  the 
time  of  its  organization,  and  during  the  civil 
war.  and  was  with  the  regiment  when  it  was 
sent  to  ^^'ashington  and  formed  a  part  of  the 
reserves  at  Antietam.  He  was  a  member  of 
Varick  Lodge,  Free  and  .Accepted  Masons, 
of  Jersey  City.  He  married,  September  29, 
1864,  Mary  E.  Holmes,  who  was  born  April 
28.  1838.  and  died  May  26,  1910  (see  Holmes 
forward).  Children:  .Anna,  Allan  Holmes, 
Thomas  Floy  (see  forward). 

(IX)  Thomas  Floy,  youngest  child  of 
Thomas  Bloodgood  and  Tilary  E.  (Holmes) 
Adriance,  was  born  in  Jersey  City,  New  Jer- 
sey, December  8,  1874.  He  received  his  pre- 
paratory education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Jersey  City,  then  was  prepared  for  entrance 
to  the  New  York  University  by  a  private  tu- 
tor. Matriculating  at  the  university,  he  was 
graduated  in  the  class  of  1895  with  the  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Science,  and  in  the  following 
year  received  his  degree  of  Civil  Engineer. 
The  next  two  years  were  spent  under  John  G. 
Van  Home,  New  York  City,  in  general  mu- 
nicipal engineering,  and  he  was  then  employed 
by  the  Department  of  Public  Works,  New 
York  City,  as  engineer  inspector.  His  next 
position  was  with  the  Hastings  Pavement 
Company  as  superintendent,  afterward  becom- 
ing engineer  in  charge  of  the  construction  of 
the  Empire  City  race  track  at  Yonkers,  New 
York.  Upon  the  completion  of  this  work,  he 
■went  to  Nicaragua  as  assistant  engineer  to  the 
Isthmian  Canal  Commission  on  the  Nicaragua 
survey,  then  to  Ecuador,  South  America,  as 
one  of  the  engineers  on  the  Guayaquil  &  Quito 
railway,  and  acted  while  there  as  topographical 
and  resident  engineer.  Returning  to  this  coun- 
try, he  was  employed  by  the  Hudson  county. 
New  Jersey,  freeholders  as  engineer  in  charge 
of  the  construction  of  the  Baldwin  .Avenue 
bridge.  In  1002-03  he  had  charge  of  the  Bu- 
reau of  Lamps  and  Gas  for  the  lighting  of 
Manhattan  and  Bronx  boroughs.  New  York 
City:  from  1903  to  1905  he  had  charge  of  the 
'highway  improvement  at  Harrisburgh,  Penn- 


sylvania ;  in  1905  and  1906  he  was  engineer 
in  charge  of  the  T.  B.  Ackerson  Construction 
Company,  Brooklyn,  New  York  ;  since  then  he 
has  held  the  position  of  assistant  superintend- 
ent of  the  International  Paper  Company's 
mills  at  Fort  Edward,  Washington  county, 
New  York.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Delta  Phi 
fraternity,  as  well  as  of  a  number  of  business 
and  social  clubs. 

Mr.  .Adriance  married.  March  7,  1904,  Grace 
Florence,  daughter  of  George  Frederick  and 
Jennie  A.  (Gregory)  Underwood  (see  for- 
ward). Children:  George  Underwood,  born 
July  13,  1905;  John  Gregory  and  Thomas 
"Holmes    (twins),  born  July  7,  1907. 

(The    Holmes    Line). 

Mary  F.  Holmes,  mother  of  Thomas 
P'loy  .Adriance,  descends  from  Francis  and 
Ann  Holmes,  who  came  from  Beverly,  Eng- 
land, to  Wethersfield,  then  to  Stamford,  Con- 
necticut, in  1648.  His  will  is  on  record  in 
Fairfield  county,   1671. 

(II)  John,  son  of  Francis  and  .Ann  Holmes, 
was  born  in  England,  came  to  Stamford  in 
1660  and  removed  to  Bedford,  New  York,  in 
1690.     He  was  married  in  England. 

(HI)  John  (2),  son  of  John  (i)  Holmes, 
was  born  in  England  in  1639,  died  in  1729. 
He  came  to  America  in  1660,  settled  first  in 
Greenwich,  then  moved  to  Bedford,  New 
York,   in    1681. 

(IV)  John  (3),  son  of  John  (2)  Holmes, 
was  born  in  Bedford.  New  York,  in  1690. 
Fie  was  town  clerk  in  1732-40,  and  signed 
the  Canfield  deeds. 

(\)  Reuben,  son  of  John  (3)  Holmes,  was 
born  in  I'edford  about  171 5.  He  served  as 
town  clerk  of  Bedford  from  1747  to  1750;  as 
town  clerk  of  Newburgh,  1775-82;  and  was  a 
soldier  in  the  revolutionary  war.  Children : 
Reuben,   Burras,  Joel  and  William. 

(\T)  Burras,  son  of  Reuben  Holmes,  was 
of  Newburgh,  New  York,  iirior  to  1760.  He 
was  tiiere  probably  between  174S-53  and  after 
1775.  He  married  and  had  children:  Daniel 
and  Gilbert. 

(\TI)  Rev.  Daniel  Holmes,  a  minister  of 
the  Methodist  church,  son  of  Burras  Holmes, 
was  born  in  1770.  died  in  1839.  He  was  of 
Middle  Hope,  Newburgh,  New  York,  and 
married  Mary  Purdy,  who  was  born  in  1771, 
diefl  in  1833.  Children.  William  S.  and 
thirteen  others. 

(\TII)  William  S.,  son  of  Rev.  Daniel  and 
Marv  (  Purdy)  Holmes,  married  (first)  Eliza 
Kniffen.  and  had  children:  Charles.  Gilbert, 
Reuben,  Lucien,  James  K.,  Mary  E.,  see  for- 
ward, Daniel.  He  married  (second)  Eliza 
Staples,  widow  of  Charles  KnifFen,  a  brother 


428 


HUDSON    AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


of  his  first  wife,  and  had:  Milton  T.,  Aman- 
da, Frances,  Martha,  Adehne. 

(IX)  Mary  E..  daughter  of  WilHam  S.  and 
Ehza  (Kniffen)  Hohnes,  married  Thomas 
Bloodgood  Adriance   (see  Adriance  X'HI). 

William  S.  Holmes  was  a  brick  manufac- 
turer at  Haverstraw,  \'erplancks  Point  and 
Kingston  Point,  New  York.  Shortly  after  his 
second  marriage  he  moved  to  Manchester, 
Iowa,  where  he  died. 

(The    Underwood    Line). 

The  L'^nderwood  families  of  America,  who 
claim  descent  from  pre-revolutionary  ances- 
tors, descend  from  one  of  the  following:  i. 
Joseph  Underwood,  see  forward.  2.  William 
Underwood,  of  Concord,  Massachusetts.  3. 
Henry  Underwood,  settled  in  or  near  New- 
port, Rhode  Island,  about  1665.  4.  William 
Thomas  Underwood,  settled  in  Virginia  about 
the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century.  5. 
Alexander  Underwood,  settled  in  Maryland 
about  the  same  time  that  settlement  was  made 
in  Virginia.  These  were  five  of  seven  broth- 
ers who  came  to  America  together,  Joseph  be- 
ing the  ancestor  of  the  branch  here  under  con- 
sideration. 

(I)  Joseph  Underwood  left  London,  Eng- 
land, for  Virginia  in  1635 ;  afterward  re- 
moved to  Waterbury,  Massachusetts ;  was  one 
of  the  proprietors  of  Hingham,  Massachusetts, 
in  1637 ;  was  admitted  freeman  at  Watertown 
in  1645  ;  died  there  prior  to  1677.  He  had  a 
brother  whose  wife  was  named  Magdalene.  His 
will,  dated  February  15,  1658,  left  his  real  es- 
tate to  his  wife,  Magdalene,  and  to  Thomas, 
son  of  his  brother,  who  was  then  living  with 
them.  Thomas  also  left  legacies  to  his  broth- 
er Joseph,  and  to  his  nephews  and  nieces,  chil- 
dren of  Joseph  Underwood.  Joseph  Under- 
wood   married    (first),    1645,    Mary    , 

who  died  February  13,  1658:  married  (sec- 
ond) April  29,  1662,  Mary  Howe,  of  Dor- 
chester, Massachusetts.  Children :  Joseph, 
see  forward,  Sarah,  .Anna,  Elizabeth,  Thomas, 
Martha. 

(II)  Joseph  (2),  son  of  Joseph  (i)  and 
Marv  Underwood,  was  born  in  Watertown, 
Massachusetts,  1650,  died  1691.     He  married, 

in     1673,    Elizabeth .      Children:       i. 

Mary,  born  in  Watertown,  Massachusetts, 
1673.  2.  Joseph,  Watertown,  1675.  3.  John, 
Watertown.  1677,  settled  in  Charleston.  4. 
Elizabeth,  Watertown,  1679,  married  Nathan- 
iel Cutler.  5.  Joseph,  see  forward.  6.  Jo- 
hanna, Redding,  1682,  settled  in  Sherburne, 
Massachusetts.  There  were,  perhaps,  other 
children,  including  Hannah,  married,  1709, 
Daniel  Richardson. 

(III)  Joseph  (3),  son  of  Joseph   (2)  and 


Elizabeth  Underwood,  was  born  in  Redding,. 
Massachusetts,  1681,  died  in  Westford,  Massa- 
chusetts (set  off  from  Chelmsford),  January 
19,  1761.  He  removed  from  Redding  to  West- 
ford  in  1715.  He  and  his  brother  were  sub- 
scribers to  the  covenant  in  1727,  when  the 
church  at  Westford  was  formed  from  the 
church  at  Chelmsford.  He  married  at  Red- 
ding, 1707,  Susannah  Parker,  born  in  1689, 
died  February  18,  1769.  Children,  first  four 
born  in  Redding,  the  remainder  in  Westford : 

I.  Joseph,  born  1708,  died  1745;  married, 
1739,  Ruth  Bancroft.  2.  Thomas,  1709,  died 
1732.  3.  Mary,  171 1,  married  Colonel  Bulk- 
ley.  4.  Elizabeth,  1714,  married  Joseph 
Fletcher,  moved  to  Dunstable.  5.  Jonatlian, 
see  forward.  6.  Amy,  1717,  married.  1736, 
Joseph  Spaulding.  7.  Ruth,  1719.  died  1775; 
married  Joseph  Reed.  8.  Phineas,  1722,  died 
in  ]\Ierrimac,  New  Hampshire,  1757.  9.  Tim- 
othy,   1724.      10.   Susannah,    1725,  died    1729. 

II.  John,  1727,  died  1756.  12.  Bethiah,  1729, 
married  Oliver  Prescott.     13.  James,  1731. 

(R')  Jonathan,  son  of  Joseph  (3)  and  Su- 
sannah (Parker)  Underwood,  was  born  at 
Westford,  Massachusetts,  January  22.  1716, 
died  at  Marlboro,  Vermont,  May  26,  1794. 
He  moved  to  Marlboro  about  1776.  He  en- 
listed in  Captain  Kent's  company  on  the  alarm- 
and  went  to  Lexington  in  April,  1775,  serv- 
ing in  this  company  thirty-nine  days,  until 
wounded.  Captain  Kent's  company  was 
formed  at  Suffield,  Connecticut:  was  at  the 
siege  of  Boston  eight  months  in  1775,  and  was 
at  Ticonderoga  in  1777.  He  married  Hannah 
Richardson.  Children:  i.  Jonathan,  see  for- 
ward. 2.  Susannah,  born  1747,  married  Si- 
mon .Adams,  of  Suffield,  Connecticut.  3. 
Oliver,  1762,  died  November  18,  1765.  4. 
Hannah,  1760.  5.  Thaddeus,  died  September 
8,  1840:  married  Mary  Farr,  of  Boylston. 
6.  Samuel.  7.  Phineas.  8.  John,  1773,  died 
February  7,  18 16. 

(V)  Jonathan  (2),  son  of  Jonathan  1  i  1  and 
Hannah  (Richardson)  Underwood,  was  born 
in  Westford,  Massachusetts,  1774,  died  in 
Vermont,  December  21,  1801.  He  had  a 
grist  and  saw  mill,  and  was  also  engaged  in 
farming.  He  married,  1777,  in  Brimsfield, 
Massachusetts,  Deborah,  daughter  of  Isaac 
Morgan:  she  died  in  1830.  Children:  i.  Oli- 
ver, see  forward.  2.  Polly,  born  October  31, 
1781,  died  May  29,  1863:  married  Jonathan 
Ingraham.  3.  David,  February  12,  1783.  died 
at  Marlboro,  November  13,  1863.  4.  Jona- 
than, August,  1784.  5.  Deborah,  .April  22, 
1787.  6.  Roxy,  July  2,  1788.  7.  Erastus,. 
Ajjril  5,  1791.  8.  I.ucinda.  9.  James.  Decem- 
ber 17,  1795. 

(VI)  Oliver,  son  of  Jonathan   (2)  and  De- 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK    \'ALLEYS 


429 


"borah  (.Morgan)  Underwood,  was  born  April 
7,  1779-  He  married  Maria  Nichols  and 
•moved  to  Chestertown,  New  York.    Children : 

I.  Oliver,  born  .\ugust  22,  1806.  2.  David, 
!May  13,   1809,  died  .\pril  19,   1885;  married, 

1836,  in  \'onkers,  Hannah  Waring.  3.  I'lavel, 
Julv  14.  181 1.  4.  Christopher,  see  forward. 
■5.  Lemuel.  1815.  6.  Burnham.  7.  Houghton, 
February    i,    1818.     8.    Rosana,   January    28, 

1821,  died  May  9,  1900;  married,  March  29, 
1848,  Lorenzo  Heminway.  9.  Lucy.  10.  Sam- 
-iiel.     II.  Miles.     12.  Sydney. 

(\'H)  Christopher,  son  of  Oliver  and  Ma- 
ria (.\ichols)  Underwood,  was  born  Septem- 
ber 6,  1813.  died  April  28,  1898.  /\fter  his 
marriage  he  removed  to  Chester,  New  York, 
and  from  there  to  Fort  Edward,  Washington 
county,  where  his  death  occurred,  lie  mar- 
ried, July  2,  1841,  Mahala  Griffin,  born  May  i, 

1822,  died  November  2"].  1904.  Children:  i. 
Sibyl  -Armenia,  born  July  6,  1842,  died  Janu- 
ary 17,  1848,  2.  Emmeline  R..  July  6,  1844. 
3.  George  Frederick,  see  forward.  4.  Myron  S., 
July  29,  1850,  married,  September  9,  1877, 
Anna  Horton ;  child:  Clarence  11.  Horton. 
5.  Herson,  December  8,  185 1.  6.  David  C, 
May  2},.  1855.  7.  Leroy,  July  24,  1856.  8. 
San'ford  R.,  August  13,  1858.  9.  x\nna  \., 
September  3,  1862. 

(V'lll)  George  Frederick,  son  of  Christo- 
pher and  Mahala  (Griffin)  Underwood,  was 
born  at  Horicon,  Warren  county.  New  York, 
July  18,  1845.  He  was  educated  at  Fort 
Edward  L'nion  School,  Fort  Edward  Collegi- 
ate Institute,  and  was  graduated  after  taking 
a  full  course  at  Eastman's  Business  College, 
Poughkeepsie.  He  at  once  engaged  in  lum- 
bering, holding  the  position  of  general  man- 
ager fourteen  years,  at  first  with  the  firm  of 
Bradley  &  Underwood  in  Fort  Edward,  and 
until  1880  for  the  Bloomingdale  Lumber 
Company  of  Sandy  Hill.  In  the  latter  named 
year  he  became  interested  in  his  own  personal 
business  affairs,  and  became  one  of  the  largest 
dealers  in  timber  and  lumber  in  his  section. 
In  1896  he  was  elected  director  in  the  Inter- 
national Paper  Company  and  has  been  vice- 
president  of  that  company  since  1907 ;  he  is  a 
director  of  several  other  companies  and  banks. 
His  political  affiliations  are  with  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church.  He  married,  June  24,  1875, 
Jennie  A.,  daughter  of  Simeon  R.  and  Jane 
Delavan  (LTnderhill)  Gregory,  of  Fort  Ed- 
ward, New  York.  Children:  Grace  Florence, 
see  forward ;  Maude  S.,  Harry  Gregory,  Ma- 
rion Anna,  Maud  S.  married  Walter  W. 
Wait :  child,  Harry  Gregory  Wait,  born  June 
20,    1900. 

(IX)   Grace  Florence,  daughter  of  George 


Frederick  and  Jennie  \.    (Gregory)    Under- 
wood, married  Thomas  Flov  Adriance. 


Since  the  compilation  of  the  W- 
.\LDEN     den  genealogy  by   Mrs.   Charles 

L.  .-Alden,  of  Troy,  New  York 
(New  Eng.  Hist.  Gen.  Mag.,  Vols.  51,  52,  54, 
56),  further  research  has  been  made  in  Eng- 
land. It  is  now  almost  proven  that  John  .\1- 
den,  the  pilgrim,  was  a  son  of  Joseph  Alden, 
shipwright  and  cooper  near  South  Hampton, 
England,  and  not  of  nobility  or  entitled  to  a 
coat-of-arms.  This  will  be  given  to  the  public 
in  the  near  future  by  Mrs.  .Alden. 

(I)  John  Alden  married  Priscilla  Molines. 
Children:  i.  Elizabeth,  the  first  white  woman 
born  in  New  England,  1622-23:  married  Wil- 
liam   Pabodie.     2.   Captain  John,  born    1624 ; 

married    (first)    Elizabeth    ,    (second) 

Elizabeth  (Phillips)  Evcrill.  He  was  the 
commodore  of  the  Massachusetts  colony 
navy.  He  left  a  small  family,  and  three  gen- 
erations later  "none  in  the  name."  3.  Joseph, 
married  Mary  Simmons  (Moses),  and  two- 
thirds  of  those  bearing  the  name  of  .Alden  are 
traceable  to  him.  4.  Sarah,  married  .Alex- 
ander Stanclish.     5.  Ruth,  married  John  Bass. 

6.  Mary,  married  Thomas  Delano.  7.  Jona- 
than, married  Abigail  Hallett.  8.  Rebecca, 
died  unmarried.  9.  David,  see  forward.  10, 
Priscilla  (?).  11.  Zachariah  (?)  .A  Mary 
signed  the  settlement  of  heirs,  wife  or  widow 
of  an  unknown  son. 

(II)  David,  son  of  John  and  Priscilla  (Mo- 
lines) .Alden,  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Ed- 
ward Constant  and  Elizabeth  (Collier)  South- 
worth,  and  had  children:  i.  Henry,  see  for- 
ward. 2.  Ruth,  married  Samuel  Sprague,  of 
Du.xbury  and  Rochester,  Massachusetts.  3. 
Elizabeth,  married,  1697,  John  Seabury,  and 
went  to  Stonington,  Connecticut.  4.  Priscilla, 
married,  1699,  Samuel  Cheeseborough,  of 
Stonington,  Connecticut.  5.  Sarah,  married, 
prior  to  1702,  Thomas  Southworth,  of  Du.x- 
bury. 6.  .Alice,  married,  1706,  Judah  Pad- 
dock, of  Yarmouth,  Cape  Cod,  Massachusetts. 

7.  Benjamin,  married  Hannah,  daughter  of 
Wrestling   Brewster,   and    lived    in    Duxbury. 

8.  Samuel,  born  in  1689:  married  Sarah 
Sprague,  and  lived  in  Duxbury.  9.  Probably 
Anna,  married  Snell .  10.  Mary,  mar- 
ried Samuel  Allen, 

(III)  Henry,  son  of  David  and  Mary 
(Southworth)  Alden,  was  born  about  1673. 
He  was  of  Dedham,  and  was  sent  off  to  Need- 
ham,  when  that  town  was  laid  out.  When 
young  he  was  a  mariner  with  his  uncle,  Cap- 
tain John  .Alden  of  Boston,  and  upon  the 
death  of  the  latter,  in  1704,  or  about  that  year, 
he    was    in    Dedham    with    his    wife    and   his 


430 


HUDSON    AND    AIOHAWK   VALLEYS 


dausjhter,   Alice,   and   in   that   town   his    son 

John  was  born.    He  married  Deborah , 

whose  maiden  name  has  not  been  discovered. 

Children:     i.  Alice,  married .    2.  John, 

see  forward.  3.  Deborah,  married  Thomas 
Dunton.  and  was  insane  during  the  latter  part 
of  her  life.  4.  William,  married  (first)  Ruth 
Kingsbury,  (second)  Mary  De  Costa.  De- 
scendants say  Coastic.  and  one  record  gives 
the  one  spelling,  another  gives  the  other.     5. 

Susannah,  married  Kinch. 

(IV)  John,  son  of  Henry  and  Deborah  Al- 
den,  was  baptized  in  Dedham  in  1704.  His 
will  was  dated  June  26,  1782,  and  in  it  he 
mentions  his  wife,  sons  John,  Henry,  Samuel, 
Thomas,  daughters  Jemima  Pratt,  Alice  Ca- 
pron,  Mary  Paine,  and  granddaughter  Lydia 
Smith.  His  son  Silas  executor,  fie  married, 
November  26,  1728,  Thankful,  of  Dedham, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mercy  Parker,  and 
granddaughter  of  Samuel  Parker.  Children : 
I.  Jemima,  1730.  (Did  she  die  young  and  an- 
other Jemima  marry  Moses  Pratt?)  2.  John, 
173 1 ;  married  Mary  Adams,  of  Med  way.  3. 
Alice,  1733;  married  Jonathan  Capron.  4. 
Henry,  see  forward.  5.  Silas,  1736;  married 
Margaret  Capron.  6.  Samuel,  1743  ;  married 
Susannah  Coller.  7.  Moses,  died  young.  8. 
Moses,  died  young.  9.  Thomas,  married  Polly 
Cheny.  10.  Thankful.  (Did  she  marry  a  Smith 
and  have  a  daughter  Lydia?)  11.  Mary,  mar- 
ried Samuel  Paine.     12.  Bethiah,  died  March 

6,  1742-43- 

(Y)  Henry,  born  November  27,  1734,  died 
September  28,  1809.  He  married,  March  25, 
1762,  Thankful,  born  July  22,  173 1,  daughter 
of  John  Parker,  of  Needham,  whose  direct  an- 
cestors for  three  generations  were  also  named 
John,  and  were  respectively  of  IMuddy  River, 
Boston  and  England.  Children:  i.  William, 
see  forward.  2.  Rebecca,  born  March  25,  1765. 
3.  Asa,  born  January  16,  1767,  died  May  10, 
1769.  4.  Mehitable.  born  March  23,  1769, 
Family  tradition  says  that  others  died  young, 
and  the  impression  exists  that  this  was  the 
case  with  Rebecca  and  Mehitable  also. 

(VI)  William,  eldest  child  of  Henry  and 
Thankful  (Parker)  Alden,  was  born  at  Need- 
ham,  July  r,  1763,  and  died  at  Calais,  \'er- 
mont,  September  27,  1842.  He  married  Su- 
sanna, born  December  9,  1766,  died  February 
27,  1844.  ilanghter  of  Jason  and  Elizabeth 
(Real)  \\'hitney.  Jason  Whitney  was  a  sol- 
dier during  the  revolution  and  his  line  of  de- 
scent is  through  Mark,  Benjamin  and  John : 
Elizabeth  (Real)  Whitney  is  descended 
through  Joseph,  William  and  William.  Chil- 
dren, all  born  in  Needham:  i.  Isaac,  see  for- 
ward. 2.  William,  born  .August  22,  1791,  died 
August  4,    1861  ;  married    (first),    1818,   Ann 


Fuller,  who  died  in  1822;  married  (second),. 
1824,  Elizabeth  Bacon,  and  among  their  chil- 
dren was  Charles,  father  of  Annie  Cutler,  of 
Chelsea,  Massachusetts.  3.  Asa,  born  Septem- 
ber 25,  1794,  was  of  Calais,  Vermont:  mar- 
ried, October  29,  1822,  Avis  Hammet  Snow, 
sister  of  the  wife  of  his  brother  Isaac;  none  of 
his  children  were  married.  4.  George,  born 
in  1797,  died  in  Eden,  Vermont,  November  27, 
1846;  married,  1826,  Clarinda  Mclntyre :  their 
children  died  without  leaving  descendants.  5. 
Elizabeth,  born  in  1802,  married  Isaac  Ken- 
non,  of  Eden,  Vermont,  and  had  five  children ; 
she  died  in  Worcester,  Massachusetts,  where 
she  was  living  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Bas- 
sett,  now  also  deceased,  the  latter  leaving  twO' 
sons,  George  AI.  and  Arthur  Bassett,  both 
married  and  living  in  Worcester.  6.  Hannah 
W.,  born  in  1806,  married  Washington  Fiske, 
of  Flyde  Park,  \'ermont,  and  had  three  chil- 
dren. 

William  Alden  was  a  farmer,  a  mill  owner 
and  a  manufacturer.  He  was  in  military  serv- 
ice for  a  short  time,  then,  being  an  invalid,, 
he  contributed  money.  A  record  of  his  serv- 
ice is  to  be  found  in  the  Year  Book  of  the 
Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution. 

(\TI )  Isaac,  eldest  child  of  William  and  Su- 
sanna (Whitney)  .Alden,  was  born  in  Need- 
ham, Massachusetts,  March  19,  1789,  and  died 
in  Lewis,  Essex  county,  New  York,  .August 
17,  i860.  He  was  a  farmer,  saw  and  other 
mill  owner,  manufacturer  of  nails,  and  was 
engaged  in  a  variety  of  business  enterprises. 
He  served  during  the  war  of  1812,  and  the 
musket  which  he  used  in  that  struggle  is  still 
in  the  family,  but  his  war  record  has  not  been 
preserved.  After  his  marriage  he  lived  at 
Newton  Upper  Falls  until  between  181 3  and 
1817,  when,  with  his  wife  and  two  sons,  he  re- 
moved to  Calais,  Vermont,  His  first  wife  died 
there,  leaving  an  infant  daughter,  and  he  sub- 
sequently went  to  Essex  county.  New  York, 
where  he  made  his  permanent  home  in  Essex. 

He  married  (first),  1813,  Maria  Stone,  Irorn 
in  Newton,  January  i,  1792,  died  in  Calais, 
Vermont,  February  11,  1818.  He  married 
(second),  August  30,  1818,  Hannah  Snow,  of 
.Montpelier,  X'ermont,  born  October  2S.  1792, 
died  in  Sand  Lake  in  1869,  (See  Snow). 
Children  by  first  marriage:  i.  Edwin  .Augus- 
tus, born  in  Newton  Upper  l'"alls,  March  10, 
1814;  married,  September  18,  1848,  Mary 
Elizabeth,  born  February  10,  1828,  died  No- 
vember 12,  1856,  daughter  of  Dr,  Ira  Hay- 
ward,  of  Clintonville,  New  York ;  children : 
i.  Helen  Maria,  married  Henry  Nason,  and 
lives  in  Brooklyn,  New  A'ork.  ii.  George,  born 
October  3,  1852,  died  unmarried,  iii.  Kate, 
born  November  26,  1854;  married  Judge  Lu- 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


431 


cius  L.  Sheddon,  of  Plattsburg'.  New  York, 
and  has :  George,  Shepard  and  Elizabeth.  2. 
Joseph  Jackson,  born  in  Newton,  Massachu- 
setts, September  19,  1815,  resided  at  Sand 
Lake  and  Troy,  New  York,  and  died  in  the 
latter  city,  in  1897;  he  married,  July  27,  1842, 
at  Troy,  Sarah  Waterman,  born  October  4, 
1824,  daughter  of  Captain  Benjamin  Mar- 
shall :  children :  i.  Maria  Stone,  born  May 
29.  1844;  married,  June  i,  1864.  Jonathan  Al- 
den,  and  lived  in  Brooklyn,  New  York.  ii. 
Marshall  Benjamin,  born  November  27,  1846, 
died  August  8,  1847.  "'•  Harry  Marshall, 
born  August  2,  1848,  died  in  Troy,  New  York, 
in  1902 :  married,  1870,  Julia  Louise  Bab- 
cock,  and  had  two  sons :  George  AL  and  Mar- 
shall MacClay.  iv.  Emma  Hepsebeth,  born 
March  11,  1854,  died  January  26,  1890;  she 
married,  October  8,  1879,  Frederick  Carver, 
and  had  one  child,  .Arthur,  v.  Mary  Newcomb, 
born  November  26,  1856,  died  February  18, 
1886:  she  married,  December  3,  1889,  El- 
bridge  Garret  Stannard.  and  had  one  son : 
Alden.  vi.  Edward  Marshall,  born  March  21, 
i860,  married,  October  12,  1887,  Helen  Van 
Doren,  of  New  York,  and  had :  Gladys,  Mil- 
dred and  Marshall.  Edward  Marshall  and 
Harry  Marshall  .A.lden  carried  on  the  grocery 
business  left  by  their  father,  the  firm  having 
first  been  J.  J.  Alden,  then  J.  J.  Alden  &  Sons, 
and  at  present  J.  J.  Alden's  Sons.  3.  Olive 
Maria,  born  at  Calais,  Vermont,  August  4. 
1817,  was  an  infant  when  her  mother  died, 
and  for  some  years  her  home  was  with  her 
mother's  family  in  Newton :  she  married,  Feb- 
ruary 2,  1840,  in  Lewis,  New  York.  John 
James  Knox,  born  October  26,  1815,  died  after 
1854 ;  children :  i.  Charles  Lucius,  born  Sep- 
tember I.  1841,  was  a  soldier  during  the  civil 
war :  married  in  Nebraska,  and  died,  leaving 
one  daughter,  ii.  Ruby  Emeline.  born  June  1, 
1846 ;  married Prouty,  and  had  chil- 
dren, iii.  Elizabeth  Viola,  born  March  23, 
1852,  is  living  in  Worcester,  Massachusetts, 
unmarried,  iv.  Eliza  Cornelia,  born  February 
27,  1854 :  married  Charles  O.  Prouty,  lives  in 
Worcester,  Massachusetts,  and  has  one  son, 
Alden  Knox.  Children  by  second  marriage: 
4.  Ruby  Hanimet,  born  March  18,  1821,  lived 
in  Wisconsin  and  Iowa,  in  which  latter  state 
both  she  and  her  husband  died :  she  married  in 
Lewis,  New  York,  .August  20.  1845.  David 
Swan  Sykes :  children,  of  whom  all  but  the 
second  are  living  in  Iowa :  i.  Maria  Jane, 
born  in  1846,  married Benson,  ii.  Da- 
vid, born  in  1848,  married,  iii.  Horatio,  born 
in  1854,  married.  iv.  Mary,  married,  v. 
Charles  .Alonzo,  married.  5.  Emily  Doane, 
born  in  Lewis,  New  York,  December  18, 
1824,  is  now  deceased :  she  married,  Decem- 


ber 29.  1841.  Shubal  Moses  Coll,  born  in 
Westport,  New  York,  January  20,  1821,  also^ 
deceased;  children:  i.  Sarah  Marshall,  born 
November  30,  1842,  died  unmarried,  ii.  Mary 
Elizabeth,  born  February  11,  1845,  's  living  in 
Leadville,  Colorado.  She  married  Willard 
Brown  and  has  had  four  children,  iii.  Francis- 
Herbert,  born  December  23,  1846 :  is  living 
in  the  West ;  he  married,  iv.  Isaac  Levi,  born 
February  20,  1852,  died  young.  6.  Charles  L., 
(see  forward).  7.  Avis  Ellen,  born  Decem- 
ber 8,  1830;  married,  September  23,  1848, 
George  Palmer  Prescott,  and  lives  in  Albany,. 
New  York:  children:  i.  Richard,  born  Octo- 
ber 28,  1849,  graduated  from  Rensselaer  Poly- 
technic Institute,  and  is  now  dead  ;  married, 
but  left  no  children,  ii.  Anna  Maria,  born 
November  26,  185 1,  unmarried,  and  lives  in- 
Albany,  New  York.  iii.  Alice,  born  January 
15,  1854,  died  young.  8.  Alonzo  Isaac,  born 
July  18,  1834,  and  died:  he  was  educated  in 
the  district  schools  of  Keeseville  and  Wil- 
liams College,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
in  1859,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He 
entered  the  army,  first  as  lieutenant  of  the 
Thirtieth  Volunteers,  New  York,  and  was  ad- 
vanced through  the  various  ranks  until  he  be- 
came colonel  of  tlie  One  Ilimdred  and  Sixty- 
ninth  New  York  Volunteers.  He  was  recom- 
mended for  bravery  by  Brigadier-General' 
Terry.  After  the  war  he  became  postmaster 
of  Troy,  New  York,  and  a  general  in  the- 
National  Guard.  He  married,  1866,  Charlotte 
Dauchy,  born  February  20,  1845,  and  had  chil- 
dren :  i.  Joseph  Dauchy,  married  Clara  Nie- 
brugge,  and  had :  Marion.  ii.  Frederick 
Alonzo,  graduated  from  \\'illiams  College  and' 
Auburn  Theological  Seminary,  and  is  living 
at  ^lontrose,  Pennsylvania :  married  and  has 
children :  Frederick  .Alonzo  and  Ruth.  iii. 
Marion,  died  young. 

(\TII)  Charles  L.,  son  of  Isaac  and  Han- 
nah (Snow)  -Alden,  was  born  in  Lewis,  Essex 
county.  New  York,  August  21,  1827.  and  died 
in  Dorchester,  Massachusetts,  November. 
1902.  He  was  educated  in  the  district  schools 
of  Westport  and  Lewis,  Essex  county,  until 
1843,  and  in  the  following  year  he  went  tO' 
Oberlin  College,  Ohio,  where  he  spent  his 
freshman  and  sophomore  years.  Illness  neces- 
sitated his  return  to  Troy,  New  York,  in  1848. 
and  in  1849  he  entered  Williams  College  as  a 
junior  and  was  graduated  in  185 1.  In  1852- 
he  became  a  clerk  in  the  law  office  of  Hunt, 
Fairbanks  &  Gale  in  .Albany,  and  was  admit- 
ted to  the  bar  in  1853.  Two  years  later  he 
was  admitted  as  a  member  of  the  above-men- 
tioned firm,  and  in  the  same  year  Mr.  Fair- 
banks retired,  and  the  firm  then  practiced  un- 
der the  name  of  Gale  &  .Alden.  In  1884  Henry 


-432 


HUDSON    AND   :\IOHA^^■K   \'ALLEYS 


King  and  Henry  J.  Speck  entered  the  firm,  the 
name  heing  changed  to  Alden.  King  &  Speck, 
and  in  1890  I\lr.  John  B.  Gale  removed  from 
the  city.  Mr.  Alden  then  practiced  independ- 
ently, but  retained  the  same  offices  with 
Messrs.  King  and  Speck.  Later  he  retired 
from  active  practice  and  removed  to  Dorches- 
ter, Massachusetts.  His  political  affiliations 
were  with  the  Democratic  party  until  the  civil 
war,  and  after  that  troublous  time  he  was  a 
supporter  of  Republican  principles.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Delta  Upsilon  fraternity  of 
Oberlin  and  Williams  College,  of  the  Ionic 
and  Troy  clubs,  of  Troy,  New  York,  and 
treasurer  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  of 
Troy,  New  York. 

Mr.  Alden  was  married,  by  Rev.  John  Mat- 
tocks, in  St.  Paul.  Minnesota,  October  i,  1868, 
to  Mary  Langford  Taylor,  born  in  Westmore- 
land, Oneida  county.  New  York,  August  16, 
1846.  (See  Taylor).  Children:  i.  Antoinette 
Spencer,  married  Theodore  Pierpont,  son  of 
Theodore  F.  and  Mary  Augusta  (Pierpont) 
Barnum,  and  lives  in  Troy,  New  York :  one 
■child,  Mary  Alden.  born  December  31,  T905. 
2.  Mary  Curran,  died  at  age  of  eight  years. 
J.  John  Gale,  born  1878,  died  1881.  4.  Chloe 
Sweeting,  born  1882,  died  1883.  5.  John  Gale, 
"born  January  24,  1884 :  lives  in  Boston,  Mas- 
sachusetts :  he  received  his  education  in  the 
"Troy  Academy,  Dorchester  high  school  and 
Massachusetts  Technical  school :  he  is  a  yacht 
broker  and  designer  ;  married,  August  5,  1908, 
Helene,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Harriet 
(Bray)  Harvey,  of  Laurium,  Michigan,  and 
have  one  child :  Harriet  Harvey.  6.  Lang- 
ford  T..  born  in  Troy,  New  York,  January  7, 
1887 ;  was  educated  in  Troy  Academy,  Dor- 
chester high  school  and  Rensselaer  Polytech- 
nic Institute,  from  which  he  was  graduated 
with  the  degree  of  civil  engineer  in  1909 :  he 
is  now  in  the  employ  of  the  Mexican  Northern 
railroad  in  northern  Mexico.  He  married,  at 
El  Paso,  Texas.  November  19,  1910,  Louise 
Howard,  daughter  of  Richard  B.  and  Alice 
(Greene)  Com  stock  ;  she  was  born  in  Provi- 
dence, Rhode  Island,  in  1887,  and  was  gradu- 
ated from  Smith  College  in  1908.  7.  Charles 
'Snow,  born  November  8,  1889;  was  educated 
in  Troy  Academy,  the  Naval  Preparatory 
School,  and  is  now  (1911)  in  the  United 
States  Naval  Academy  at  .\nnapolis,  Mary- 
land, a  member  of  the  class  which  will  gradu- 
ate in  19 1 2. 

(The   Snow   Line). 

(I)  Nicholas  Snow,  immigrant  ancestor, 
■came  in  the  second  ship  which  carried  the 
Pilgrims  to  this  shore.  He  married  Constance, 
who  came  to  this  country  in  the  "Mayflower," 


with  her  father,  Stephen  Hopkins.     Nicholas 
and  Constance  Snow  lived  at  Eastham. 

(II)  Mark,  eldest  son  of  Nicholas  and  Con- 
stance (  Hopkins  )  Snow,  married  Jane,  daugh- 
ter of  Governor  Thomas  and  Mary  (Collier) 
Prence,  and  granddaughter  of  William  Col- 
lier.    Among  other  children  they  had : 

(III)  Nicholas,  who  removed  with  his  fam- 
ily to  Rochester,  Massachusetts,  in  1729,  pos- 
sibly earlier.     He  married  Lydia  Shaw. 

(I\')  Jonathan,  eldest  son  of  Nicholas  and 
Lydia  ( Shaw )  Snow,  married  in  Cape  Cod, 
Thankful  Freeman,  whose  line  of  descent  is 
through  Edmund,  Major  John  to  Edmund 
Freeman.  INIajor  John  Freeman  married  Mary 
Prence,  a  granddaughter  of  Elder  Brewster, 
of  the  "Mayflower."  Jonathan  Snow  went 
with  his  father  to  Rochester,  and  died  there. 
Among  his  children  was: 

(V)  Mark,  son  of  Jonathan  and  Thankful 
(Freeman)  Snow,  was  born  in  Rochester, 
Massachusetts,  and  was  in  active  service  as  a 
soldier  during  the  revolution.  He  married 
(first)  Hannah,  daughter  of  Paul  and  Charity 
(  W'hittredge)  Sears,  her  paternal  line  being 
through  two  other  Pauls  to  Richard,  the  im- 
migrant :  through  her  grandmother  Sears,  she 
is  descended  from  Major  John  Freeman,  and 
through  his  wife  from  Elder  Brewster.  Mark 
Snow  married  (second)  Susanna  (West) 
\Mieldon.  Children  by  first  marriage:  Jona- 
than (  see  forward  )  :  IMark  :  Paul :  Edmond  ; 
Charity  and  Thankful.  By  the  second  mar- 
riage :  Loammi,  afterward  Loum,  was  a  sea- 
captain  from  New  Bedford,  and  some  of  his 
descendants  are  still  there ;  Abner  ;  West ;  and 
two  daughters. 

(\T)  Jonathan,  son  of  Mark  and  Hannah 
(Sears)  Snow,  went  in  1791,  with  three  oth- 
ers, from  Rochester,  Massachusetts,  to  Mont- 
pelier,  \'ermont,  blazing  their  way.  They  then 
returned,  married,  and  took  their  wives  back 
with  them  to  the  new  settlement.  He  mar- 
ried Lydia  Hanimet.  of  Long  Plain,  near  New 
Bedford,  Massachusetts,  whose  line  of  descent 
was  through  Barnabas,  Micah,  to  Edward,  the 
immigrant. 

(\TI)  Hannah,  eldest  child  of  Jonathan  and 
Lydia  (Hammet)  Snow,  was  born  in  1792, 
the  second  white  child  born  in  Montpelier. 
She  married  Isaac  Alden.     (.Mden  \TI). 

(The  Taylor  Line), 
fl)  Simon  Taylor,  great-grandfather  of 
Mary  Langford  (Taylord)  Alden,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Yorkshire,  England,  and  came  to  this 
country  in  Burgoyne's  army.  He  was  in  that 
army  when  it  surrendered  to  the  continental 
forces,  in  which  were  three  great-grandfathers 
of  Mrs.  Alden — Silas  Wickes,  George  Lang- 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   \^A.LLEYS 


433 


•ford  and  Xathaniel  Sweeting.  Simon  Taylor 
■was  paroled  and  went  to  New  England.  At 
the  close  of  the  war  England  was  able  to  take 
"back  less  than  one-half  of  her  paroled  soldiers, 
and  he  remained  in  hiding  until  the  British 
forces  had  left.  About  1800  he  came  to 
Thompkins.  Cayuga  county,  where  he  died. 
He  married  Ruth  Chappell,  of  New  London, 
Connecticut,  whose  direct  paternal  ancestors 
Avere  four  Georges,  and  had  a  family  of  thir- 
teen children,  among  them  being:  Lucy, 
Mary,  Henry,  James.  Richard  Durfee,  Simon, 
who  died  young,  and  others.  The  greater 
number  of  these  married  in  central  New  York, 
then  went  farther  west,  some  to  Michigan, 
Wisconsin.  California. 

(II)  James,  son  of  Simon  and  Ruth  (Chap- 
pell) Taylor,  was  born  in  New  London,  Con- 
necticut, and  died  in  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  in 
1880.  His  boyhood  years  were  spent  in  Ca- 
yuga county,  and  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar, 
served  as  judge,  and  lived  in  Penn  Van,  New 
York,  until  1856,  when  he  went  to  St.  Paul, 
Minnesota,  and  after  one  year  to  Leaven- 
worth. Kansas,  where  he  made  his  permanent 
home.  He  married  Maria  Wickes.  born  in 
Schaghticoke.  Rensselaer  county.  New  York, 
1794.  died  in  Leavenworth,  Kansas.  (See 
W'ickes).  Children:  i.  James  \^'ickes  (see 
forward).  2.  Eliza,  married  Septimus  Watkins, 
■of  Waterloo,  New  York :  had  three  children ; 
there  are  few  descendants,  among  them  being 
IMrs.  Melvin  O.  Hecker,  of  Leavenworth, 
Kansas.  3.  Charles,  died  unmarried,  in  Penn 
Yan.  4.  Henry,  drowned  in  Canandaigua 
lake.  3.  Harriet  Newell,  married  Claudius 
Broughton  Brace,  of  \'ictor  and  Penn  Yan, 
New  York,  who  died  in  Leavenworth ;  chil- 
dren :  i.  Maria  Porter,  married  Major  James 
P.  Kimball,  U.  S.  A.,  and  has  one  child,  ii. 
Kate  Scott,  married  Lieutenant  William  Gil- 
patrick,  L^.  S.  N.  iii.  Walter  is  a  mining  en- 
gineer in  Denver,  Colorado :  married  and  has 
children,  iv.  Charles,  married,  and  lived  in 
St.  Louis,  ]\Iissouri,  now  living  in  Arkansas. 
V.  James  Taylor,  graduated  from  Cornell  Uni- 
versity ;  was  a  lawyer  in  Kansas  City,  whence 
lie  went  to  the  Klondike  and  died  there  of  ty- 
phoid fever. 

(III)  James  Wickes,  eldest  child  of  James 
and  Maria  (Wickes)  Taylor,  was  born  in 
Yates  county.  New  York,  and  died  in  Mani- 
toba, in  1893.  He  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  Penn  Yan,  then  went  to  Hamilton 
College,  from  which  he  was  graduated,  and 
"was  in  the  same  class  as  George  Langford. 
Avho  later  became  his  brother-in-law.  \\'hile 
at  college  he  was  a  member  of  the  Alpha  Delta 
Phi  fraternity.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
•the  state  of  New  York,  then  went  to  Cincin- 


nati, Ohio,  in  1842,  and  found  he  must  study 
in  a  law  office  for  one  year  before  he  could 
be  permitted  to  practice  in  that  state.  He  was 
a  personal  friend  of  .\lphonsus  Taft,  father 
of  President  Taft,  and  of  Salmon  P.  Chase, 
being  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  latter,  and 
having  a  partnership  otifered  him.  .-Xt  this 
time  the  new  party  was  forming,  and  Mr. 
Taylor  accepted  the  editorship  of  the  Signal, 
a  short-lived  political  paper.  He  wrote  the 
letter  nominating  Zachary  Taylor  for  the  pres- 
idency. He  was  prominent  in  literature,  as 
well  as  in  politics,  conimenced  a  "History  of 
Ohio,"  one  volume  of  which  was  published, 
and  was  an  active  participant  in  the  Ohio 
state  convention.  He  resided  in  a  number  of 
cities  in  Ohio — Cincinnati.  Sandusky,  Cleve- 
land, Columbus — as  editor  of  several  papers 
and  as  a  leader  in  political  affairs.  Until  the 
civil  war  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  after  that 
a  Republican  or  War  Democrat.  In  July, 
1856,  he  took  his  family,  consisting  at  that 
time  of  his  wife,  four  children,  to  St.  Paul, 
Minnesota.  He  was  accompanied  by  his  fath- 
er and  mother,  his  sister  Harriet,  her  husband 
and  two  children.  The  climate  was  too  rigor- 
ous for  Mr.  Brace  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor, 
and  Mr.  Brace  took  his  family  to  Leaven- 
worth, Kansas,  in  1857.  Mr.  Taylor  was 
noted  as  an  orator  and  scholar,  and  was 
greatly  beloved.  As  an  editor,  he  displayed 
exceptional  ability,  and  at  Washington  he  was 
a  special  commissioner  of  statistics  of  the 
great  northwest  territory,  especially  the  Sas- 
katchewan \"alley,  until  about  1869.  He  was 
then  appointed  as  consul  to  Manitoba,  where 
his  death  occurred.  He  excelled  in  tact  and 
diplomacy,  and  his  report  of  the  "Rehl  pro- 
ceedings to  U.  S.  authorities,  prevented  severe 
friction  between  Great  Britain  and  the 
L^.  S.,"  and  Queen  Victoria  dictated  a  personal 
letter  to  him,  thanking  him  for  his  efforts  "for 
peace,"  and  at  his  death  the  British  flag,  by 
her  direction,  was  placed  at  halfmast  on  Wind- 
sor Castle. 

Mr.  Taylor  married  Chloe  Langford,  who 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Westmoreland 
and  Utica,  where  her  father  was  cashier  of 
the  Oneida  Bank,  and  also  at  Miss  Sheldon's 
Female  Seminary,  which  was  later  known  as 
Miss  Jane. Kelly's  School,  and  was  burned  in 
1865.  (See  Langford).  Children:  i.  Mary 
Langford  (see  forward).  2.  Helen  .\ntoi- 
nette.  born  1848,  died  1850.  3.  .-Xlice,  born  in 
185 1  :  married  Charles  J.  Monfort.  of  St. 
Paul,  and  died  leaving  one  daughter,  Alice, 
married  John  W.  G.  Dunn,  and  has  two  chil- 
dren. 4.  Harriet  Brace,  born  1854,  died  1880. 
5.  Elizabeth,  born  January  8,  1856 ;  was  a 
member  of  the  .-Xrt  Students'  League,  of  New 


436 


HUDSON    AXD   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


spent  three  winter  months  in  Lansingburg 
''with  relatives  or  friends,"  as  the  tradition 
goes.  George  Langford  married  iii  1781,  Abi- 
gail Elliott.  (See  Elliott).  Children:  i. 
James,  died  unmarried.  2.  Charles,  was  a 
mechanical  genius,  but  unsuccessful,  and  had 
to  receive  lielp  from  his  father :  he  married 
and  went  west,  and  Judge  William  Langford, 
of  Walla  Walla,  Washington,  is  one  of  his 
descendants.  3.  George  (see  forward).  4. 
Abigail,  died  young.  James  Langford  was 
dissipated,  and  his  father  was  impoverished 
by  him,  so  that  in  his  old  age  he  and  his  wife 
were  given  a  comfortable  home  by  their  son 
George. 

(l\")  George,  son  of  George  and  Abigail 
(Elliott)  Langford,  was  born  in  Clinton, 
Oneida  county.  New  York,  and  died  in  Utica. 
He  lived  for  a  time  in  Westmoreland,  was  one 
of  the  first  organizers  of  Hecla  Furnace,  then 
removed  to  Utica,  and  was  cashier  of  the 
Oneida  Bank. 

George  Langford  married,  1813,  Chloe 
Sweeting.  (See  Sweeting).  Children:  i. 
Mary,  married  Edward  Curran,  of  L'tica,  New 
York :  children :  i.  George  Langford,  married 
Cornelia  Douglas,  of  Utica.  ii.  ^lajor  Henry 
Hastings,  killed  in  battle  of  the  Wilderness, 
iii.  Philip,  died  unmarried,  iv.  Mary  Lang- 
ford, married  Willard  Peck,  of  Hudson,  New 
York,  and  had ;  Philip  C,  Darius  E.  and  Mary 
Curran.  v.  John  Elliott,  married  Lilla  ^lul- 
ford,  and  has :  Henry  Hastings,  Gerald  and 
Eleanor.  2.  George,  graduated  from  Hamil- 
ton College,  went  to  Marshall,  Michigan, 
where  he  died  of  malarial  fever.  3.  Philip, 
died  in  infancy.  4.  Philip,  married  Mary 
Thomas :  had  one  child,  Fannie,  who  is  liv- 
ing with  her  mother  in  California.  5.  Chloe, 
(see  forward).  6.  De  \\'itt.  deceased,  married 
Mary  Morrison,  also  deceased :  children,  all 
living  in  Vernon,  Oneida  county.  New  York : 
Mary  ^L,  Helen  D.,  George  and  Gertrude 
Chloe.  7.  Abigail,  died  in  St.  Paul,  Minne- 
sota :  married  \\'illiam  R.  Marshall,  who  died 
in  Pasadena,  California :  he  served  as  major, 
colonel  and  general  during  the  civil  war,  re- 
sided in  St.  Paul.  Minnesota,  and  was  gover- 
nor of  that  state  two  terms :  their  only  child. 
George,  married  Carolyn  Rumbough,  of  Ash- 
ville,  North  Carolina,  and  he  died  leaving  an 
only  daughter,  .^lice.  8.  Moreau,  died  un- 
married. 9.  Marie  .Antoinette,  married  Wil- 
liam Austin,  son  of  Joshua  .Austin  and  Electa 
(Dean)  Spencer,  of  Utica,  New  York:  they 
went  to  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  in  1856,  where 
they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Chil- 
dren :  Sherwood  Day,  deceased :  Charles 
Langford,  married  Margaret  Clough,  lives  in 
St.  Paul ;  Edward  Curran,  deceased ;  William 


Austin,  married  Lilly  White.  10.  Charles  C, 
lived  in  L'tica,  and  married  Louise  Penfield, 
of  Catskill,  New  York  ;  children :  Louise  Pen- 
field,  deceased ;  several  others  died  young. 
Mrs.  Langford  is  also  dead.  11.  Nathaniel  P., 
went  to  St.  Paul.  ^Minnesota,  1856-57,  then  to 
Montana  on  the  first  overland  expedition.  He 
was  the  first  white  man  to  climb  Mount  Lang- 
ford, which  was  named  in  his  honor.  Later 
he  was  appointed  bank  examiner  for  the  terri- 
tories, and  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Helena,  Montana.  He  returned  to  St.  Paul, 
where  he  married  (first)  Emma  Wheaton, 
(second  Clara  Wheaton.  Has  no  living  chil- 
dren. 12.  Augustine  G.,  went  to  St.  Paul  in 
1856-57,  and  after  a  time  to  Pike's  Peak. 
Colorado.  After  his  marriage  he  settled  in 
Denver,  Colorado.  He  married  Elizabeth  Rob- 
ertson, of  St.  Paul,  who  returned  to  that  city 
with  her  three  boys  after  the  death  of  her  hus- 
band :  children,  all  married :  Nathaniel,  \\"i\- 
liam  and  George.  13.  Harriet  White,  died  in 
infancy. 

(\')  Chloe.  daughter  of  George  and  Chloe 
(Sweeting)  Langford,  was  born  in  West- 
moreland, Oneida  county,  New  York,  and 
married,  1845,  James  \\'ickes  Taylor.  (Tav- 
lor  HI). 

(The    Elliott    Line). 

(I)  Hon  Andrew  Elliott,  the  immigrant  an- 
cestor, came  from  Somersetshire,  England, 
and  the  members  of  his  line  were  verv  tall, 
dark  and  swarthy.  (H)  William.  '(HI) 
John. 

(IV)  Nathaniel  Elliott  was  in  Beverly,  for 
a  time  in  \\'oodstock.  where  his  children  were 
born,  and  later  settled  in  Southampton.  He 
was  in  active  service  in  the  French  and  Indian 
war,  and  while  on  his  way  to  New  York 
passed  through  Chesterfield,  Massachusetts. 
He  liked  the  region  so  much  that  he  had  land 
granted  him  in  Narragansett  township  No.  4, 
and  settled  there,  but  went  later  to  Southamp- 
ton, and  settled  in  that  part  afterward  set  off 
to  \\'esthampton.  His  death  occurred  just 
before  the  commencement  of  the  revolution- 
ary war.  He  married  (first)  in  Beverly.  .Abi- 
gail Edmonds,  of  Roxbury,  .Massachusetts, 
daughter  of  Captain  Ebenezer  Edmonds,  of 
Roxbury,  who  commanded  a  company  at  An- 
na])olis  Royal,  and  his  .sons  settled  in  Wood- 
stock, Connecticut.  He  married  (second) 
Elizabeth  ,  who  came  with  her  step- 
daughter Abigail  to  Oneida  county  New  York. 
-Among  the  children  of  Nathaniel  Elliott  were: 
I.  Abigail  (see  forward).  2.  Elizabeth,  mar- 
ried Seth  Plulburt  and  settled  in  Central  New 
York.  3.  John,  was  a  soldier  of  the  revolution 
and  drew  a  pension :  lived  in  Easthampton, 
and  later  removed  to  Ohio.    4.  Francis,  lived 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK    \ALLEYS 


43? 


and  died  in  Southampton ;  was  also  a  soldier 
of  the  revolution. 

(V)  Abigail,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and 
Abigail  (Edmonds)  Elliott,  married  George 
Langford.     (Langford  HI). 

(The   Sweeting  Line). 

(I)  Henry  Sweeting,  the  first  English  set- 
tler of  this  family,  is  descended  from  the  Van 
Swietens  of  Leyden,  from  which  place  he 
fled  in  1580  to  escape  the  persecutions  of  the 
Duke  of  Alva,  according  to  the  researches  of 
Rev.  Walter  Sweeting,  of  Market  Deeping, 
England.  A  large  number  of  Dutchmen  and 
Walloons  took  refuge  in  Southern  England 
at  that  time  and  contributed  greatly  to  the 
prosperity  of  that  country,  especially  in  the 
manufacturing  industries. 

(  H)  Lewis,  son  of  Henry  Sweeting,  was  of 
Somersetshire.  England.  He  and  all  the  men 
of  the  family  were  clothiers  and  men  of  edu- 
cation. The  manor  houses  in  which  they  lived 
are  still  in  existence  in  Southern  England. 

( in )  Lewis,  son  of  Lewis  Sweeting,  was 
of  Owey  Stowey.  Somersetshire,  England. 

(IV)  Henry,  son  of  Lewis  Sweeting,  was 
born  in  Somersetshire,  England,  and  died  in 
Rchoboth.  Massachusetts,  in  1728.  He  and 
his  brother  Lewis  (tradition  says),  were  in  the 
Monmouth  rebellion.  They  were  taken  pris- 
oners at  the  battle  of  Bridgewater  and  were 
condemned  to  death,  but  "Bloody  Jeffries"  was 
willing  to  be  bribed,  and  the  father  and  the 
youngest  brother  not  being  involved,  they 
were  rescued,  and  taken  to  Bristol,  where  a 
sloop  waited  in  readiness.  They  took  refuge 
in  Rehoboth.  but  it  was  not  until  1687,  when 
William  and  Mary  ascended  the  throne,  that 
they  appeared  and  registered  their  lands.  Mr. 
Henry  Sweeting  was  a  very  wealthy  man  for 
the  time,  educated,  and  one  of  four  only  in 
Rehoboth  who  had  the  title  of  Mr.  He  mar- 
ried (first)  Joanna  or  Joan  ,  who  be- 
came the  mother  of  two  children.  He  married 
(second)  Martha  Cole  (Hugh",  James')  :  chil- 
dren: Henry:  Lewis  (see  forward);  Benja- 
min :  John ;  Experience,  married  John  Carey : 
Mary,  married  Noah  Mason ;  Sarah,  married 
William  \\'alker ;  there  were  one  or  two  other 
daughters. 

(\')  Lewis,  son  of  Mr.  Henry  and  Martha 
Sweeting,  was  born  in  Rehoboth,  and  his 
father  gave  him  a  valuable  mill  site  near  or 
on  the  site  of  Pawtucket  Mills.  About  four 
years  after  his  marriage  he  was  taken  ill  with 
a  violent  fever,  which  lasted  for  six  weeks,  "a 
man  nurse,  etc.,"  all  this  being  shown  in  the 
widow's  account,  besides  "a  trip  to  Boston  for 
best  morning."  He  was  married  in  Wren- 
tham,  Massachusetts,  to  Zebiah,  daughter  of 


John  and  Mary  (Billings)  Whiting,  of  \\'ren- 
tham  and  Dedham ;  granddaughter  of  Nathan- 
iel and  Hannah  (Dwight)  Whiting,  of  Ded- 
ham :  granddaughter  of  William  liillings,  of 
Stonington,  Connecticut :  and  great-grand- 
daughter of  John  Dwight.  Children :  Jo- 
anna, who  died  in  infancy:  Lewis  (see  for- 
ward). Zebiah  (Whiting)  Sweeting  went 
back  to  Wrentham  with  her  two  children  to 
live  with  her  father,  and,  in  spite  of  "best 
morning,"  soon  married  Dr.  William  Ware,  of 
Dighton  and  Norton,  Massachusetts. 

(\T)  Dr.  Lewis,  son  of  Lewis  and  Zebiah 
(Whiting)  Sweeting,  was  born  in  Rehoboth 
in  1723.  and  was  brought  up  by  his  stepfather, 
with  whom  he  studied  medicine.  He  was  a 
man  of  prominence  in  the  community,  and 
when  Mansfield  was  set  off  from  Norton  it 
took  in  that  part  of  the  town  in  which  he  lived. 
He  and  his  wife  died  in  Manlius,  New  York. 
He  married  Abiah  Cobb,  of  Norton  and  Taun- 
ton. (See  Cobb).  Children:  i.  Zebiah,  mar- 
ried Solomon  Wetherell :  children :  i.  Han- 
nah,   married Sennett,    in    Rensselaer 

county :   her   daughter   married   Scol- 

lard,  one  of  whose  descendants  being  Clinton 
Scollard,  the  poet  of  Oneida  county.  New 
York.  2.  Abiah,  married  Job  Gilbert,  and  has 
descendants  living  in  Michigan  and  Wiscon- 
sin. 3.  Lucy,  married  Spencer  Pratt,  and  has 
descendants  living  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston. 

4.  Lewis,  married  and  removed  to  Manlius, 
and  many  of  his  descendants  are  in  the  west. 

5,  .A.nna,  married  Captain  Alexander  D'Aubie, 
an  aide  of  La  Fayette,  and  lived  in  Lee.  Mas- 
sachuetts,  and  in  Utica,  New  York.  6.  Whit- 
ing, married.  1791,  Sarah  Kilbourne :  chil- 
dren :    i.  Whiting,  died  unmarried,     ii.  Abiah, 

married Worden.  and  has  descendants 

in  Syracuse,  New  York.  7.  Eliphalet.  mar- 
ried Lovina  (Benton)  Luce,  and  has  descend- 
ants in  New  York  and  the  west.  8.  Nathaniel 
(see  forward).  9.  Mary,  married  Jacob  Tyr- 
rell. ID.  John,  married  ]\Iary  Sessions,  and 
has  descendants  in  the  far  west.  11.  Mason, 
married  Judith  Pratt,  and  has  descendants  in 
Lyons,  New  York,  and  its  vicinity. 

(\'n)  Nathaniel,  son  of  Dr.  Lewis  and 
Abiah  (Cobb)  Sweeting,  was  born  in  Norton, 
Massachusetts,  1758,  and  died  in  Oneida  coun- 
ty. New  York.  He  was  a  pensioner  of  the 
revolution,  during  which  time  he  was  active 
and  prominent.  In  the  Lexington  alarm  his 
father,  aged  sixty,  three  sons,  four  sons-in- 
law,  besides  many  cousins  and  other  relatives, 
marched  to  Lexington,  arriving  just  after  the 
battle.  Dr.  Lewis  Sweeting  remained  with 
the  army  until  the  "eight  months'  men"  could 
organize  and  return,  in  order  to  keep  the 
British  in  Boston.    Nathaniel  and  his  brothers 


438 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


returned  in  a  few  days  to  Norton  or  Mans- 
field, re-enlisted  for  eight  months,  and  when 
Dr.  Lewis  Sweeting  returned  he  was  placed 
on  important  war  committees,  etc.  He  served 
as  a  surgeon  in  the  army,  but  no  documentary 
proofs  of  this  service  have  been  found.  Na- 
thaniel Sweeting's  pension  describes  the  line 
of  march  to  Dorchester  Heights,  where  they 
were  then  stationed.  At  the  end  of  eight 
months  he  re-enlisted.  Later,  about  August 
2g. he  was  at  Tiverton, as  lieutenant, and  was  in 
charge  of  a  boat  and  company  intending  to 
attack  the  British  in  Rhode  Island,  but  the 
boat  stuck  fast  on  a  bar,  and  the  expedition 
failed.  He  was  in  the  battle  of  Rhode  Island. 
He  was  stationed  at  Fogland,  in  Little  Comp- 
ton  or  Tiverton,  guarding  the  coast.  The 
American  headquarters  were  at  the  Wing 
house,  and  a  little  farther  to  the  north  La 
Fayette  had  his  headquarters  at  the  Brown 
house.  About  1781  we  find  Nathaniel  and  his 
brother  Lewis  in  a  militia  company  in  Ste- 
phentown  (now  Rensselaer  county),  Kiliaen 
Van  Rensselaer  having  raised  a  regiment  by 
promising  large  bounties  of  his  lands  to  sol- 
diers. After  the  war,  until  1791,  we  find, 
where  Stephentown,  Berlin,  Sand  Lake  and 
Nassau  come  together,  in  the  high  lands,  Dr. 
Lewis  Sweeting,  Lewis  Sweeting,  Whiting 
Sweeting  and  Nathaniel  Sweeting,  and  sev- 
■eral  of  their  sisters  and  their  families.  In 
1791  Nathaniel  and  Eliphalet  went  to  Oneida 
county.  Dr.  Lewis  Sweeting  and  his  sons, 
Lewis,  John  and  Mason,  went  to  Manlius. 
Onondaga  county.  Some  time  during  the  rev- 
olution Nathaniel  Sweeting  was  on  a  "service 
of  great  peril,"  and  acquitted  himself  so  well 
that  George  Washington  wrote  him  a  letter 
commending  him.  This  was  probably  the  serv- 
ice of  a  spv,  of  which  no  records  were  kept. 
This  letter  was  a  highly  prized  treasure,  and 
was  ])acked  in  the  box  with  Mary  (Tyrrell) 
Sweeting's  wedding  china  and  her  gold  beads. 
This  box  broke  away  from  the  remainder  of 
the  load  and  went  over  Oneida  Falls,  the  con- 
tents being  entirely  lost.  Nathaniel  Sweeting 
had  had  considerable  experience  with  iron  fur- 
naces at  Raynham,  through  the  Cobbs  of 
Taunton,  his  mother's  family,  and  he  was  for 
a  short  time  at  Lee,  Massachusetts.  When 
he  came  to  Whitestone  he  started  the  Hecla 
Furnace,  and  his  brother  Eliphalet  started  the 
first  furnace  of  Oneida  county,  at  Paris  Hill. 
One  of  the  descendants  of  Eliphalet  is  Mrs. 
Henry  O.  R.  Tucker,  of  Troy,  New  York. 
From  Whitestown,  Nathaniel  Sweeting  re- 
moved to  Westmoreland,  where  his  death 
•occurred.  He  married  in  Mansfield,  Mary 
Tyrrell.  (Sec  Tyrrell).  Children:  i.  Na- 
thaniel, married  Ruby  Phelps.   2.  Almon,  mar- 


ried and  went  west.  3.  Philip  Belin,  mar- 
ried Myra  Barnard.  4.  Chloe,  see  forward. 
5.  Anna,  died  unmarried.  There  were  others 
who  died  young.  There  are  very  few  descend- 
ants of  his  name ;  some  in  Michigan  and  a  few 
in  Oneida  county,   New  York. 

(\'III)  Chloe,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and 
Mary  (Tyrrell)  Sweeting,  was  born  in 
Whitestown,  New  York,  in  1794.  She  mar- 
ried. 18 1 3.  George  Langford.  ('Langford 
IV). 

(The  Cobb  Line). 

( I )  Augustine  Cobb  was  in  Taunton  in 
1670.  He  had  a  brother  John,  who  also  had 
a  son  Morgan,  which  would  indicate  that  there 
was  a  connection  with  a  Morgan  family  in  an 
earlier    generation.       He    married    Elizabeth 


(II)  Ensign  Morgan,  son  of  Augustine  and 
Elizabeth  Cobb,  was  prominent  in  Taunton 
during  the  French  and  Indian  war.  He  gave 
liberally  to  the  First  Episcopal  church  of 
Taunton.  He  married  Abigail,  daughter  of 
Benjamin,  and  granddaughter  of  John  Willis. 

(III)  Benjamin,  son  of  Morgan  and  Abi- 
gail (Willis)  Cobb,  was  born  in  Taunton  and 
died  just  prior  to  the  revolution.  Several  of 
his  sons  were  active  participants  in  the  revo- 
lution and  died  young.  Just  before  removing 
to  Norton  he  married  Mary,  daughter  of  En- 
sign John  and  Mercy  (Myrrick)  Mason. 
Children:  Captain  John;  Captain  Benjamin; 
Colonel  Silas;  Mason;  Abiah  (see  forward); 
and  several  daughters  who  married  into  the 
Briggs,  Makepeace,  Babbitt,  Lane  and  other 
families. 

(IV)  Abiah,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and 
Mary  (Mason)  Cobb,  was  born  in  Norton, 
and  died  in  Manlius.  She  was  a  remarkable 
woman  in  many  ways  and  the  influence  of 
her  character  was  beneficially  felt.  She  mar- 
ried Dr.  Lewis  Sweeting.     (Sweeting  VI). 

(Tlie  Tyrrell   Line). 

(I)  William  Tyrrell,  of  Boston,  is  the  first 
of  whom  we  have  record.  He  was  a  Scotch- 
man, and  his  descendants  have  intermarried 
with  the  best  families  of  Weymouth  and  Ab- 
ington — Nash,  Pratt,  Kingsman,  Simpkins, 
etc. 

(II)  Gideon  was  the  son  of  William  Tvr- 
rell. 

(III)  Samuel,  son  of  Gideon  Tyrrell. 

(IV)  Alexander,  son  of  Samuel  Tyrrell, 
was  born  in  Abington.  He  married  in  Wey- 
mouth, where  he  lived  after  bis  marriage, 
Mary,  his  cousin,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Ja- 
cob Tyrrell,  granddaughter  of  William  Tyr- 
rell, and  great-granddaughter  of  William  Tyr- 
rell.     Children,   all   born    in    Weymouth :      i. 


^ivh 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


439 


Jacob,  married  Mary,  sister  of  Nathaniel 
Sweeting,  mentioned  above,  and  his  descend- 
ants are  throughout  the  west.  2.  Job,  married 
Abigail  Cobb ;  he  was  captured  by  the  Alger- 
ines,  and.  returning  after  many  years,  found 
liis  wife  had  married  again  :  he  went  to  Cen- 
tral New  York,  where  he  also  married  again, 
and  where  he  died.  3.  Mary  (see  forward). 
4.  Chloe.  married  Captain  John  Cobb,  and 
<lied  soon  after  without  leaving  children. 

Tradition  says  that  Alexander  and  Jacob 
Tyrrell,  of  Bridgewater,  ran  the  gauntlet  at 
Fort  William  Henry,  and  proof  of  this  is 
found  in  the  State  House  in  Boston — the  en- 
listment of  Alexander  in  the  troops  at  Fort 
William  Henry  and  two  or  three  records  of 
liis  wounded  condition,  and  his  death  in  the 
hospital  in  Albany.  The  Tyrrells  of  Wey- 
mouth and  Abington  were  noted  as  fast  run- 
ners. 

(\")  Mary,  daughter  of  Alexander  and 
Mary  (Tyrrell)  Tyrrell,  married  Nathaniel 
Sweeting.     (Sweeting  VH). 


Robert      R.      Livingston, 
LRTNGSTON     jurist,     son     of      Robert 

(q.v. )  and  Margaret 
'(Howerden)  Livingston,  was  born  in  New 
York  City,  in  August,  17 18,  died  at  his  coun- 
try seat.  Clermont.  New  York,  December  9, 
1775.  He  acquired  an  excellent  education 
•which  thoroughly  prepared  him  for  the  active 
duties  of  life,  and  he  devoted  his  attention  to 
the  practice  of  law  in  New  York  City.  He  was 
■a  member  of  the  provincial  assembly,  1759-68, 
and  also  served  in  the  capacity  of  judge  of  the 
admiralty  court,  1760-63:  justice  of  the  co- 
lonial supreme  court,  1763;  a  delegate  to  the 
■stamp  act  congress  of  1765  :  commissioner  to 
decide  ujion  the  boundary  line  between  New 
York  and  Massachusetts,  1767,  and  again  in 
1773,  and  a  member  of  the  committee  of  one 
hundred  in  1775.  He  married  Margaret, 
•daughter  of  Colonel  Henry  and  Janet  (Living- 
ston) Reekman. 

Robert  R.  (2).  son  of  Robert  R.  (i)  and 
Margaret  (Beekman)  Livingston,  was  born 
in  New  York  City,  November  27,  1746,  died 
suddenly  at  Clermont.  New  York,  February  26, 
18 1 3.  He  was  a  student  at  King's  College, 
which  institution  conferred  upon  him  the  de- 
■grees  of  A.B.,  1765,  and  A.M..  1768.  after 
which  he  pursued  the  study  of  law  under  the 
preceptorship  of  William  Smith  and  William 
Livingston.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1773,  and  formed  a  partnership  with  John  Jay, 
with  whom  he  practiced  in  New  York  City,  and 
u])on  his  retirement  from  public  life  removed 
to  Clermont,  New  York,  where  he  engaged  in 
agriculture  and  stock  raisin.g,  being  the  first 


to  introduce  gypsum  in  agriculture,-  and  also 
introduced  Merino  sheep  west  of  the  Hudson 
river.  Being  a  man  of  scholarly  attainment 
and  wide  influence,  he  was  chosen  for  posi- 
tions of  public  trust  and  responsibility,  fulfill- 
ing the  duties  thereof  with  al)ility  and  credit. 
He  served  as  recorder  of  the  city  of  New 
York  by  appointment  of  Governor  Tryon, 
1773-75,  but  was  obliged  to  relinquish  the  posi- 
tion on  account  of  his  outspoken  espousal  of 
the  patriot  cause  in  the  latter-named  year.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  provincial  assembly  in 
1775  ;  was  a  delegate  to  the  continental  con- 
gress, 1775-77  and  1779-81,  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  committee  of  five,  comprised  of 
.■\dams,  Jefferson,  Franklin,  Livingston  and 
Sherman,  appointed  to  draw  up  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence,  but  was  obliged  to  re- 
turn to  his  duties  in  the  provincial  assembly 
without  signing  the  instrument.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  committee  that  drafted  the 
state  constitution  adopted  at  the  Kingston 
convention  in  1777;  he  was  chancellor  of  the 
state  under  the  new  constitution,  1785-1801, 
and  in  that  capacity  he  administered  the  oath 
of  otifice  to  President  Washington,  April  30, 
1789 :  he  was  secretary  of  foreign  affairs  for 
the  United  States,  1781-83,  and  was  chair- 
man of  the  state  convention  at  Poughkeepsie 
in  1788,  to  consider  the  adoption  of  the  United 
States  constitution.  He  declined  the  office  of 
LTnited  States  minister  to  France  proffered  by 
President  Washington  in  1794.  and  in  i8oi 
the  portfolio  of  the  navy  from  President  Jef- 
ferson, who  also  offered  him  the  mission  to 
France,  which  latter  he  accepted,  resigning 
his  chancellorship.  While  in  France  he  formed 
a  strong  friendship  with  Napoleon  Bonaparte ; 
he  also  made  the  initial  movement  that  re- 
sulted in  the  purchase  of  Louisiana  from  the 
French  in  1803.  He  resigned  from  the  office 
of  LTnited  States  minister  to  France  in  1803, 
after  which  he  spent  some  time  in  traveling 
through  Europe,  and  while  in  Paris  became 
interested  in  the  invention  of  the  steamboat  of 
Robert  Fulton,  whom  he  assisted  in  his  en- 
terprise with  his  counsel  and  money,  eventu- 
ally becoming  his  partner.  The  first  steamboat, 
owned  by  Livingston  and  Fulton,  was  built  in 
France  and  was  launched  upon  the  Seine,  but 
was  a  failure,  and  on  returning  to  America 
they  built  and  launched  on  the  Hudson  an- 
other steamboat,  the  "Clermont,"'  in  1807, 
which  was  named  in  honor  of  the  Livingston 
home  in  New  York. 

The  honorary  degree  of  LL.D.  was  con- 
ferred on  Mr.  Livingston  by  the  regents  of  the 
University  of  the  State  of  New  York  in  1792. 
He  was  a  founder  of  the  .Vmerican  .\cademy 
of  Fine  Arts  in  New  York  in  1801,  and  w'as 


440 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK    \'ALLEYS 


its  first  president ;  was  president  of  the  New 
York  Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Useful 
Arts,  and  upon  the  reorganization  of  the  New 
York  Society  library  in  1788.  he  was  ap- 
pointed a  trustee.  He  published  many  essays 
and  addresses  on  fine  arts  and  agriculture. 
His  statue,  with  that  of  George  Clinton,  form- 
ing the  group  of  the  most  eminent  citizens  of 
New  York,  was  placed  in  the  capitol  at  Wash- 
ington by  act  of  congress.  In  the  selection  of 
names  for  a  place  in  the  Hall  of  Fame  for 
Great  Americans,  New  York  University, 
made  in  October,  1900,  his  was  one  of 
the  thirty-seven  names  in  "Class  M,  Rulers 
and  Statesmen,"  and  received  only  three  votes, 
his  votes  in  the  class  equalling  those  for 
Richard  Henry  Lee  and  Stephen  A.  Douglas, 
and  exceeding  those  for  Martin  Van  Buren, 
Charles  Carroll,  of  Carrollton,  John  J.  Crit- 
tenden and  Henry  Wilson. 

Mr.  Livingston  married  I^Iary,  daughter  of 
John  Stevens,  of  New  Jersey.  Children : 
Elizabeth  S.,  married  Edward  P.  Livingston. 
Margaret  M.,  married  Robert  L.  Livingston. 


Robert  Easton,  the  emigrant 
EASTON     ancestor    and    founder    of    the 

Albany,  New  York,  family 
herein  recorded,  came  to  this  country  from 
the  north  of  Ireland  in  1818.  He  was  of 
Scotch  origin ;  his  father,  James  Easton,  is 
supposed  to  have  been  of  the  Fifeshire  (Scot- 
land) family.  It  is  not  known  positively 
when  Robert  Easton  was  born,  but  probably 
about  1775,  at  Carnmoneytown,  near  Belfast, 
county  Antrim.  He  is  designated  there  as  a 
"small  farmer,"  working  leased  land  on  the 
domain  of  the  Marquis  of  Donegal,  the  family 
all  being  Scotch  Presbyterians.  He  married 
and  his  children  were  born  at  this  place.  He 
was  in  comfortable  circumstances  until  two 
rainy  seasons  in  succession  destroyed  the 
crops  (1816-17).  To  avoid  going  in  debt  for 
seed,  wheat,  and  potatoes  for  another  season, 
he  decided  to  sell  out  his  stock  and  emigrate. 
In  1818.  with  his  wife  and  eight  diildrcn,  he 
sailed  from  Belfast,  Ireland,  for  Montreal, 
Canada.  Soon  after  his  arrival  at  that  city 
he  died  suddenly  of  an  illness  contracted  while 
in  search  of  suitable  land  on  which  to  locate. 
His  wife  survived  him  but  a  few  months.  He 
married,  in  Ireland,  Eliza,  daughter  of  Eph- 
raim  Craig,  of  Carrickfurgus.  Tradition 
places  the  Craigs  among  the  Covenanters  in 
the  early  part  of  the  seventeenth  century. 
when  a  company  of  these  persecuted  people 
left  Scotland  and  colonized  in  the  north  of 
Ireland.  Children:  Jane,  James.  Ejihraim  f of 
further  mention),  Eliza,  Charles,  Margaret, 
Matilda,  and  Robert.    Of  these  only  four  mar- 


ried :  I.  Jane,  born  1797,  married  Robert 
Stewart,  July,  1823,  at  Montreal,  later  locating 
in  Albany,  New  York ;  children :  Robert, 
James,  Ephraim,  Eliza,  all  died  unmarried.  2. 
Eliza,  born  1808,  died  December  10.  1883; 
came  to  Albany  in  1823,  later  removing  tO' 
New  York  City,  where  she  married  Andrew 
Mills:  children:  Anna,  married  Orville  Ben- 
nett ;  Fannie,  married  C.  M.  Mather :  John ; 
Isabel  and  Andrew  (2).  Andrew  Mills  (i), 
born  in  New  York  City,  1806,  died  there, 
June  23,  1879.  He  was  extensively  engaged 
in  shipbuilding  for  many  years,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  was  president  of  the  Dry 
Dock  Savings  Bank,  being  succeeded  by  his 
son  Andrew  (2).  3.  Charles,  died  July  4, 
1869;  followed  the  other  members  of  the  fam- 
ily to  Albany,  later  settling  in  New  York  City, 
where  he  became  prominent  as  a  very  wealthy 

cotton  broker.     He  married  Deborah  , 

who  died  July  i,  1879,  aged  eighty-one  years; 

children:     Charles  (2)  married Taber, 

of  Albany ;  Louisa ;  Henry ;  Walter,  unmar- 
ried ;  ]\Iary  E.,  married  Edward  Fuller :  Al- 
fred, married  Ford  (had  Anna,  mar- 
ried Charles  Lane  Poor)  ;  Frederick,  married' 
Williams  (had  Charles  Philip,  Wal- 
ter, and  Isabel).  4.  Ephraim,  through  whom 
the  line  continues. 

(II)  Ephraim,  son  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth 
(Craig)  Easton,  was  born  in  county  Antrim, 
Ireland,  in  Carnmoneytown.  about  1801,  died 
July  2,  1879.  He  accompanied  the  family  emi- 
gration to  Canada,  residing  in  Montreal  until 
his  marriage  in  1824,  when  with  his  bride  he 
came  to  Albany,  making  the  journey  (which 
consumed  two  weeks)  in  a  sleigh,  bringing 
with  them  all  their  belongings.  In  1833  he 
became  a  naturalized  citizen,  and  the  same- 
year  bought  his  first  piece  of  property,  and 
until  his  death  always  owned  the  home  he 
occupied.  He  married,  in  Christ  Church  Ca- 
thedral, Montreal,  Canada,  January  24,  1824, 
Eliza  Patterson,  widow  of  John  Walker.  She 
was  born,  June,  1796,  in  the  parish  of  Kiltart, 
situated  on  Lake  Allen,  county  Leitrini,  Ire- 
land, eldest  child  of  William  and  Nancy 
( Trimble )  Patterson.  William  Patterson 
owned  or  had  a  life  lease  of  a  large  farm  on 
the  Wliitlaw  (or  Whitan)  domain,  of  which' 
his  father,  Mark  Patterson,  was  the  agent. 
Mark  had  two  sons,  William  and  John,  and 
four  daughters.  William  died  at  Kiltart,  Jan- 
uary 14,  1803,  comparatively  a  young  man, 
and  is  buried  in  the  Louders  family  vault 
within  four  miles  of  Ballinamore.  At  his- 
death  the  farm  reverted  to  his  brother  John, 
the  widow  and  seven  children  going  to  live- 
among  her  own  people,  the  Trimbles,  of  Man- 
or Hamilton,  Leitrim  county.      Nancy  was  a: 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


441 


daughter  of  James  Trimble,  a  native  of  Fer- 
managh county,  and  his  wife  Dorothy  James, 
who  had  other  children — Mary,  Betty.  Dolly, 
James,  John,  William — the  latter  having  been 
educated  for  the  ministry.  In  1812  Nancy 
Trimble  Patterson  died,  and  her  children,  Eliza, 
John,  and  Jane,  were  taken  by  relatives. 
Eliza  went  to  live  with  her  Aunt  Betty  Algoe, 
and  in  1818  married  John  Walker,  son  of  a 
well-to-do  farmer.  In  the  fall  of  18 19  they 
left  Belfast  for  Montreal,  Canada,  accompa- 
nied by  her  sister  Jane  and  brother  John  Pat- 
terson. In  March.  1820.  her  daughter  Eliza 
(2)  was  born,  and  in  April  of  that  year  her 
husband.  John  Walker,  died  in  Montreal. 
Eliza  Walker  (2)  married  in  Albany,  New 
York,  December  27,  1838,  George  Ovens, 
born  in  Wiltshire,  England.  Eliza  (Patter- 
son) \\'alker  married  (second)  January  24, 
1824,  Ephraim  Easton.  and  died  on  Christ- 
mas day,  1886,  at  Albany,  in  her  ninety-first 
year.  She  was  a  woman  of  strong  character, 
staunch  and  steadfast,  a  loyal  adherent  of  the 
Church  of  England,  as  were  her  ancestors. 
At  the  time  of  her  death  she  was  the  oldest 
communicant  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy  In- 
nocents, and  it  seemed  especially  fitting  that 
she  was  laid  to  rest  on  Holy  Innocents  Day. 
(Ill)  Charles  Patterson  Easton,  only  child 
of  Ephraim  and  Eliza  (Patterson)  Easton, 
was  born  at  Albany,  New  York,  October  10, 
1824,  and  died  at  St.  Augustine,  Florida, 
March  3,  1885.  He  received  his  education  in 
private  schools  and  at  the  Albany  Academy. 
In  1838  he  started  his  business  career  as  a 
tally  boy  in  the  Albany  lumber  district ;  from 
this  subordinate  position  he  rose  to  the  high- 
est. In  1847  he  engaged  in  the  retail  lumber 
trade  on  his  own  account  with  more  pluck  and 
energy  than  cash  capital.  In  1857  he  estab- 
lished himself  in  the  wholesale  lumber  busi- 
ness and  became  one  of  the  largest  dealers. 
As  his  sons  grew  up  to  manhood  they  were 
admitted  as  partners  in  the  business,  and  the 
firm  of  C.  P.  Easton  &  Company  was  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  most  sagacious  and  reliable 
in  the  district,  maintaining  a  credit  and  an 
integrity  unsullied.  In  religious  and  charit- 
able undertakings  ]\Ir.  Easton  was  very  promi- 
nent, being  a  faithful  working  Christian  :  he 
was  zealous  in  Sunday  school  work  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  which  he  joined 
at  the  age  of  eighteen,  although  he  had  been 
brought  up  in  the  Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Eas- 
ton was  a  Republican  in  politics,  having  joined 
that  party  at  its  formation.  He  was  for  sev- 
eral years  member  of  the  Republican  general 
committee,  and  its  president  for  one  year.  He 
was  candidate  for  member  of  assembly  in 
1872,  and   for  state  senator  in    1873,  but  in 


both  instances  was  defeated.  He  had  never 
sought  political  distinction  and  in  both  cases- 
the  nomination  sought  the  man.  He  was  fre- 
quently a  delegate  to  the  Republican  state 
conventions ;  in  1872  was  an  alternate  and  in 
1880  a  delegate  to  the  national  convention. 
He  was  one  of  the  renowned  three  hundred, 
and  six  that  stood  by  General  Grant  to  the 
last  ballot,  and  received  one  of  the  bronze 
medals  commemorating  that  struggle.  In 
1878  Mr.  Easton  was  appointed  by  the  legis- 
lature one  of  the  commissioners  to  enlarge 
Clinton  prison,  and  in  1880  he  was  appointed 
by  the  same  authority  a  member  of  the  com- 
mission to  erect  the  new  city  hall  at  Albany.. 
Governor  A.  B.  Cornell  appointed  Mr.  Easton,. 
January,  1880,  on  his  military  staflf  as  quarter- 
master-general, with  rank  of  brigadier-gen- 
eral. In  1865  Mr.  Easton  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Public  Instruction,  and 
was  successively  re-elected  for  a  period  of  six- 
teen years,  seven  of  which  he  was  president 
of  the  board.  All  of  these  years  he  devoted 
himself  untiringly  to  the  educational  interests- 
of  the  community,  especially  to  the  advance- 
ment of  public  school  methods.  He  was  the 
author  of  the  preamble  and  resolution  provid- 
ing for  the  organization  of  the  Albany  Free- 
Academy,  afterwards  called  High  School, 
which  was  adopted  by  the  board  in  July,  1867. 
When  opposition  became  most  positive  and 
powerful,  when  others  faltered  and  despaired, 
his  faith  and  determination  never  wavered,  and 
finally  he  succeeded  in  securing  an  appropria- 
tion for  a  high  school.  When  its  rapid 
growth  made  enlargement  and  better  accom- 
modation necessary,  he  became  the  leader  of 
the  public  sentiment  which  demanded  and  se- 
cured the  new  building.  This  building  has  for 
some  years  been  inadequate  and  now  (1911) 
it  is  about  to  be  abandoned  as  a  high  school 
for  a  new  and  modern  building  in  the  West 
End  of  Alban}-.  In  the  Albany  high  school,, 
founded  largely  through  his  agency,  Mr. 
Easton  achieved  the  greatest  success  of  his 
public  life,  and  as  long  or  wherever  the  insti- 
tution exists  in  Albany  it  will  be  a  monument 
to  his  labor  and  public  spirit.  At  the  time  of 
his  death,  he  was  a  director  of  the  National 
Exchange  Bank  :  a  trustee  of  the  Albany  Or- 
phan Asylum :  manager  of  the  Albany  County 
Bible  Society ;  an  ex-president  of  the  Young 
Men's  Association,  and  a  charter  member  and 
trustee  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club.  In  every 
one  of  the  many  positions  Mr.  Easton  was 
called  on  to  fill,  he  displayed  marked  execu- 
tive ability,  sound  judgment,  strict  fidelity, 
and  the  plainest  common  sense. 

Charles  Patterson  Easton  married  Mary  J. 
Boyd,    at    Albany,    New    York,    January    26,. 


442 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


1847,  the  daughter  of  Jesse  Conde  and  Elcy 
(Noble)  Eoycl  (see  Boyd),  born  August  9, 
1827,  in  the  fourteenth  township  of  Warren 
■county,  New  York,  near  Johnsburgh,  where 
her  father  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
■of  himber,  having  a  saw-mill  at  that  place. 
When  she  was  four  years  old  the  family  re- 
moved to  Albany,  where  she  grew  to  woman- 
hood, for  some  years  attended  the  Albany 
Female  Academy,  and  married  before  she  was 
twenty  years  old.  Hers  was  a  beautiful  Chris- 
tian character,  her  life  spent  in  quiet,  loving 
devotion  and  willing  service  to  her  family  and 
home,  in  which  she  found  her  greatest  happi- 
ness. She  died  October  30,  1903,  in  her  seven- 
ty-seventh year.  Nine  children  were  born  to 
Charles  P.  and  Mary  Boyd  Easton : 

1.  William,  born  January  23,  1848.  He  be- 
gan his  education  at  the  early  age  of  five 
years,  attending  a  small  private  school,  then 
a  public  school,  then  Professor  Charles  An- 
thony's Classical  Institute,  afterward  finish- 
ing with  a  course  at  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Com- 
mercial College.  In  1863,  when  fifteen  years 
■of  age,  he  started  as  tally  boy  in  his  father's 
lumber  yard,  and  in  1869  became  a  partner  in 
the  business,  which  was  carried  on  success- 
fully until  1902.  In  that  year  the  business 
was  closed  out :  this  was  thought  advisable  be- 
•cause  the  wholesale  lumber  trade  had  become 
in  a  measure  diverted  from  Albany.  In  1902 
William  Easton,  with  his  brothers,  Frederick 
and  Irving  B.,  bought  a  large  tract  of  timber 
in  Canada,  and  as  soon  as  the  mill  was  built 
began  the  manufacture  of  lumber.  The  firm 
was  changed  in  1904  to  a  corporation  of  the 
same  name,  and  in  1906  the  brothers  retired 
from  the  business.  Mr.  Easton  was  promi- 
nent in  Masonry,  being  a  Knight  Templar 
and  thirty-second  degree  Mason.  He  has  sev- 
eral times  held  office  on  the  Board  of  Lumber 
Dealers  and  Young  Men's  Association ;  was 
trustee,  1890-93,  of  the  Fort  Orange  Club ; 
was  one  of  the  founders  and  a  trustee  of  the 
National  Wholesale  Lumber  Dealers'  Associa- 
tion, and  a  trustee  of  the  First  Reformed 
•Church.  In  1896  he  was  presidential  elector. 
William  Easton  married,  February  21,  1882, 
■Caroline  Allen  Newton.  Her  father  was 
John  Milton  Newton,  who  through  his  mother, 
Martha  Whiting,  was  a  descendant  of  Gov- 
ernor William  Bradford.  Her  mother,  Jane 
Pierson  Allen,  was  a  descendant  of  several  of 
the  founders  of  Hartford,  Connecticut.  Their 
children:  Helen  Newton,  born  March  10, 
1883;  Mary  Boyd,  born  November  6,  1886. 

2.  Charles  P.,  Jr.,  born  December  22,  1849; 
died  April  23.  1858. 

3.  Mary   Boyd,   born    September  28,    185 1; 
•died  September  21,  1858. 


4.  Edward  Easton,  born  April  17,  1854  (see 
forward). 

5.  Alice  Easton,  born  January  13,  1857.  A 
graduate  of  the  Albany  Female  Academy,  sev- 
eral times  an  officer  of  the  Alumni  Associa- 
tion, identified  from  its  beginning  with  the 
work  of  the  Young  \\'omen's  Christian  Asso- 
ciation ;  a  charter  member  of  Gansevoort 
Chapter,  D.  A.  R. ;  married,  February  4,  1880, 
Arthur  W.  Pray,  born  at  Dorchester,  Massa- 
chusetts, June  8,  1855,  died  at  Albany,  New 
York,  July  21,  1898,  son  of  William  Hanum 
Pray  and  Elizabeth  Sawin  Bird,  grandson  of 
John  Hancock  Pray,  the  founder  of  the  well- 
known  carpet  business  in  Boston,  Alassachu- 
setts,  1817,  and  ninth  in  descent  from  Quinton 
Pray,  the  first  of  the  name  to  come  to  New 
England  in  1639.  Mr.  Pray  came  to  Albany 
in  1877  as  salesman  for  the  firm  of  A.  B.  Van 
Gaasbeek  &  Co.,  carpet  dealers,  where  he  re- 
mained until  his  death  in  1898.  In  1874  Mr. 
Pray  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  Massachu- 
setts volunteer  militia ;  in  1875  he  received  his 
first  commission  as  second  lieutenant :  in  Sep- 
tember, 1876,  he  was  commissioned  first  lieu- 
tenant, and  in  November,  1876.  was  honorably 
discharged.  Very  soon  after  locating  in  Al- 
bany he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  A, 
Tenth  Battalion,  N.  G.,  State  of  New  York, 
and  was  successively  elected  sergeant,  second 
and  first  lieutenant.  Resigning  from  the 
Guard,  December,  1892,  he  became  an  active 
member  of  the  Old  Guard.  .Albany  Zouave 
Cadets.  Mr.  Pray  ranked  high  as  a  soldier 
and  a  gentleman.  He  will  always  he  remem- 
bered for  his  genial  companionship  and  as 
a  generous  host. 

6.  Frederick  Easton,  born  January  5.  1859. 
in  Albany,  has  spent  his  life  in  the  immedi- 
ate vicinity  of  his  birthplace.  He  received  his 
earlv  education  in  the  iiublic  schools  and  at- 
tended the  Delaware  Institute  at  Franklin, 
New  York.  On  the  death  of  his  father  he 
became  a  partner  with  his  brothers  William 
and  Edward  in  the  lumber  business.  I'or 
nearly  ten  years  he  was  a  jirominent  member 
of  Company  .-X,  Tenth  Battalion,  and  is  now 
an  active  member  of  the  Old  Guard,  .Mbany 
Zouave  Cadets.  He  has  been  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Capital  City  Republican  Club  since 
1872,  having  held  the  office  of  president,  chief 
of  staff,  and  lieutenant.  He  is  also  active  in 
Masonic  circles,  being  a  member  of  Temple 
Commandery,  and  a  thirty-second  degree  Ma- 
son. He  was  twice  elected  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Lumber  Dealers : 
was  manager  three  years  and  vice-jiresident 
one  term  of  the  Young  Men's  .Association,  of 
.Mbany.  In  politics  Mr.  Easton  has  always 
been  an   ardent  Republican,   displaying  deep 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


443 


interest  in  party  affairs.  On  January  22. 
1895,  Governor  Levi  P.  Morton  appointed  liim 
superintendent  of  public  buildings  of  the  state 
of  New  York,  which  position  he  held  for  four 
years.  Frederick  Easton  married,  June  13, 
1883,  Mary  Young,  daughter  of  John  C. 
Young  and  Mary  Sigourney.  The  latter  is  a 
lineal  descendant  of  Andrew  Sigourney,  the 
Huguenot  refugee,  who  came  to  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  in  1686.  Their  only  child, 
Alice  Easton,  born  March  5,  1884. 

7.  Isabel  Easton,  born  August  19,  i860; 
died  May  17,  1864. 

8.  Howard  Easton,  born  February  2,  1863; 
died  June  30,  1864. 

9.  Irving  Boyd  Easton,  born  November  22, 
1868.  Early  in  life  he  first  attended  Miss 
Shank's  private  school,  afterward  the  public 
school ;  in  1882  entered  the  class  of  1888.  Al- 
bany Academy,  and  was  graduated  from  Cor- 
nell University  in  1891  with  degree  B.  L. 
While  a  pupil  at  the  academy  he  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Beck  Literary  Society,  1887,  first 
lieutenant  of  the  Academy  Battalion,  and  an 
editor  of  The  Cue.  In  1897  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  committee  that  organized  the  Alum- 
ni Association,  was  its  second  president,  and 
in  1899  an  alumni  trustee  of  the  academy.  On 
entering  Cornell  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Alpha  Delta  Phi  fraternity :  was  editor-in- 
chief  of  the  Cornell  Daily  Sun.  1890-91  :  man- 
ager of  the  Cornell  football  team  in  1890-91  ; 
and  of  the  Glee,  Banjo,  and  Mandolin  Club. 
Following  his  graduation  in  1891,  Mr.  Eas- 
ton and  his  mother  spent  one  year  traveling  in 
Europe,  then  he  entered  the  Albany  Lumber 
District.  After  some  time  spent  there  he 
went  to  Boston,  Massachusetts,  and  later  to 
New  York  as  the  local  representative  of  C.  P. 
Easton  &  Company.  From  there  he  went  to 
Canada,  where  the  firm  bought  a  large  tract 
of  timber  and  entered  upon  the  manufacture 
of  lumber.  In  May,  1907.  Mr.  Easton  went 
to  New  York  as  manager  of  the  Robinson  & 
Edwards  Lumber  Company,  of  Burlington, 
\'ermont.  and  in  April,  1909,  engaged  on  his 
own  account  in  the  wholesale  lumber  busi- 
ness in  New  York  City.  Mr.  Easton  is  a 
member  of  the  Fort  Orange  and  University 
clubs  at  Albany,  having  been  secretary  1897- 
99,  and  trustee,  1899-1902.  of  the  former. 
\\'hile  residing  in  Quebec.  Canada,  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Garrison  Club,  Quebec  Yacht 
Club.  Snowshoe  Club,  and  an  honorary  mem- 
ber of  the  Royal  Canadian  Artillery  Mess. 
In  New  York,  Air.  Easton  is  one  of  the  gov- 
ernors of  the  .\lpha  Delta  Phi  Club :  a  mem- 
ber of  Cornell  L'niversity  Club :  tlic  Lumber- 
man's Club,  and  the  Society  of  Colonial  Wars. 

(IV)  Edward  Easton,  born  April  17,  1854. 


He  attended  for  a  while  the  Albany  .Academy, 
then  became  a  pupil  in  the  public  school,  and 
in  1868  entered  the  Albany  Free  Academy, 
graduating  at  the  end  of  a  four-years  course 
with  the  class  of  1872.  As  a  business  man, 
Mr.  Easton's  whole  career  has  been  identified 
with  the  Albany  lumber  district,  where  he 
started  first  as  a  tally  boy,  then  as  clerk  and 
bookkeeper,  and  in  1876  as  a  partner  in  the 
firm  of  C.  P.  Easton  &  Company.  In  1902 
he  retired  from  that  firm  and  established  a 
business  under  his  own  name,  dealing  ex- 
clusively in  cypress  lumber.  In  1906  the  Eas- 
ton Cypress  Company  was  established,  of 
which  Mr.  Easton  is  president  and  treasurer. 
In  1884  he  removed  to  Loudonville,  a  suburb 
of  Albany,  where  he  now  resides,  and  where 
he  has  proved  himself  most  efficient  as  school 
commissioner  and  in  Sunday  school  work. 
Mr.  Easton  is  a  member  of  the  Friendly  Few, 
the  Fort  Orange  Club,  the  Lumberman's  Club 
of  New  York ;  he  has  held  office  in  the  Board 
of  Lumber  Dealers,  and  has  been  a  director  of 
the  National  Exchange  Bank  (now  the  First 
National)  since  1886,  when  he  took  his  fath- 
er's place  on  the  board.  Edward  Easton  mar- 
ried, January  25,  1876,  Sarah  Frances  Jones. 
Her  father,  Isaac  Jones,  is  the  son  of  Abra- 
ham and  Jane  Jones,  who  was  the  daughter 
of  Roland  Jones  and  Margaret  Davies,  all  na- 
tives of  \\'ales,  and  early  settlers  of  Albany. 
Her  mother,  Elizabeth  Poinier,  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  Jefferson  Poinier  and  Jemima 
Paris,  a  descendant  of  the  Schenectady  family 
of  that  name.  Children  of  Edward  and  Sarah 
(lones)  Easton:  i.  Charles  P.  (3),  born  Tan- 
uary  8,  1877,  died  July  2,  1888.  ii.  Edith, 
born  July  3,  1878,  married  October  15.  1902, 
Ernest  Livingston  Miller,  son  of  Ernest  J. 
Miller,  and  Jessie  McNaugJiton.  daughter  of 
Dr.  Peter  and  Jane  Guest  McNaughton :  their 
children:  Jane  Guest  Miller,  born  May  5, 
1905,  and  Edith  Easton  Miller,  June  18, 
1908.  iii.  Edward,  Jr.,  born  April  i,  1880.  of 
whom  further,     iv.  Mary  Boyd,  born  January 

17,  1882  married,  January  25,  1908,  Andrew 
Thompson,  son  of  David  A.  and  Margaret 
McNaughton,  daughter  of  Dr.  James  and 
Caroline  (Mclntyre)  McNaughton  ;  their  chil- 
dren :     David  A.  Thompson.  Ix)rn  November 

18,  1908.  and  Margaret  McNaughton  Thomp- 
son, March,  1910.  (See  Thompson  family). 
James  and  Peter  McNaughton  were  brothers. 
V.  Roland  Jones,  born  August  26,  1884;  edu- 
cated at  public  school  in  Loudonville,  and 
Boys'  Academy  in  Albany,  is  associated  with 
his  father  in  lumber  business  in  Albany  lum- 
ber district,  is  a  member  of  Troop  P>.,  N.  G. 
S.  N.  Y. ;  married,  July  2,  1909,  Ellen  M. 
May ;    their    child,    Elizabeth    Easton,    born 


444 


HUDSON    AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


April,  19 lO.  vi.  Elcy  Noble,  born  October 
29,  1886,  died  February  29,  1897.  vii.  Arthur 
Boyd,  born  October  5,  1888.  viii.  Robert 
Poinier,  born  June  23.  1890.  ix.  William 
Easton,  born  July  10,  1892.  x.  Lillian  Alice, 
born  March  15,  1894.  xi.  Conde  Philip,  born 
December  5.  1896.  xii.  Adrian  Noble,  born 
May  14,  1898 ;  died  January  14,  1899. 

(V)  Edward  (2),  son  of  Edward  (i)  and 
Sarah  Frances  (Jones)  Easton,  was  born  in 
Albany,  April  i,  1880.  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  Loudonville ;  prepared  at 
Albany  Boys'  Academy :  entered  Yale  Uni- 
versity, whence  he  was  graduated  A.  B.,  class 
of  1902.  Having  decided  upon  the  profession 
of  law,  he  entered  Albany  Law  School,  being 
graduated  LL.  B.,  class  of  1904.  He  at  once 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Albany, 
continuing  alone  until  1909,  when  he  formed 
a  law  partnership  with  Ellis  J.  Staley,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Easton  &  Staley,  with  offices 
at  83  State  street.  He  was  clerk  of  the  Mu- 
nicipal Civil  Service  Commission  in  1906-07, 
and  second  assistant  corporation  counsel  of 
the  city  of  Albany  two  years.  1907  to  1909. 
Mr.  Easton  is  a  member  of  St.  Paul's  Episco- 
pal Church,  and  of  the  Albany  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association.  His  college  fraternity 
is  Alpha  Delta  Phi,  of  Yale.  His  fraternal 
orders  are  the  Masonic  and  the  Elks.  His 
social  clubs  are  the  Fort  Orange,  Albany, 
University  aand  Country,  of  Albany,  and  the 
Alpha  Delta  Phi.  of  New  York  City.  His 
political  clubs  are  the  Unconditional  and  the 
Young  Men's  Republican,  both  of  Albany. 
Edward  Easton  (2)  married,  June  8,  1904, 
Martha  (Van  Antwerp)  Stanton,  only  child 
of  Josiah  R.  and  Kate  (Van  Antwerp)  Stan- 
ton, the  latter  daughter  of  John  \'an  Antwerp. 
(See  Van  Antwerp  and  Stanton).  Children 
of  Edward  and  Martha  Easton :  Kate  Van 
Antwerp,  Edward  (3),  John  Van  Antwerp, 
Mary   Boyd. 

(The   Boyd   Line). 

-Man,  First  Lord  High  Steward  of  Scot- 
land, married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Fergus, 
Earl  of  Galloway,  and  had  five  children,  the 
third  being  Simon,  progenitor  of  the  Boyds. 
Alan  died  in  1153,  and  Simon,  his  third  son, 
became  the  second  Lord  High  Steward  of 
Scotland.  Robert,  son  of  Simon,  being  of 
fair  complexion,  was  called  "Boidlc"  or  "Boid- 
e!"  in  (laelic.  meaning  Boyt  or  Bo — "fair  or 
beautiful."  This  became  a  surname,  and 
Robert  Boyd,  "the  Fair,"  is  the  common  an- 
cestor of  all  of  the  name  Boyd.  He  died  prior 
to  1240  A.  D.,  and  left  a  son,  Sir  Robert 
Boyd.  Dean  Castle,  long  the  residence  of 
the  ancient  family  of  Boyd,  stands  about  a  mile 
from  Kilmarnock,  Ayrshire,  on  the  west  coast 


of  Scotland.  The  descent  to  the  American! 
Boyds  during  the  centuries  has  been  in  many 
instances  through  younger  sons  of  whom  nO' 
record  has  been  kept  in  the  register's  office 
of  Scotland.  They  are  first  on  record  in 
America  at  Londonderry,  where  Boyds  settled 
in  1718.  They  were  Scotch-Irish  who  had 
gone  into  northern  Ireland  from  Scotland 
about  1688.  there  married,  and  bred  the  hardy 
pioneer  Scotch-Irish  who  perpetuated  their 
home  names  in  the  new  towns  they  created. 
The  name  is  next  found  in  New  York  City 
and  Pennsylvania,  where  they  settled  prior  to 
the  revolution.  There  was  also  an  early  set- 
tlement in  Virginia.  The  Boyds,  like  all  the 
Scotch-Irish,  were  hardy,  energetic,  desirable 
citizens,  and  in  settling  in /a  new  country  usu- 
ally chose  the  rugged  country  instead  of  the 
more  fertile  river  bottoms,  as  did  the  Dutch. 
This  was  due  to  their  early  environment,  as 
each  chose  location  in  accordance  with  youth- 
ful surroundings. 

(I)  John  Boyd  was  born  in  the  year  1725, 
of  Scotch  parentage,  and  as  conclusive  evi- 
dence shows,  was  of  the  Kilmarnock  family, 
some  of  whom  settled  in  the  north  of  Ireland, 
county  Antrim,  where  he  was  either  born  or 
taken  by  his  parents  at  an  early  age.  He  mar- 
ried, in  1757,  in  Ireland,  Ann  Logan,  born 
1739,  and  with  his  wife  and  three  children  ar- 
rived at  New  York  in  1762.  \\'ith  John  Boyd 
was  his  brother-in-law,  John  Rogers,  who 
married  Agnes  Logan  just  before  the  party 
started  for  America.  John  Boyd  resided  at 
Albany  until  1793,  when,  as  appears  on  the 
sessions-  record  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
church,  of  which  he  was  an  elder,  he  removed 
to  the  country  with  his  family,  meaning  Johns- 
town. New  York.  John  Rugers,  who  was  a 
wheelwright,  accompanied  him  and  there  they 
erected  saw  mills,  and  there  John  Boyd  died, 
July  6,  1799.  His  wife,  Ann  (Logan)  Boyd, 
survived  him,  dying  in  Albany,  New  York, 
February  9,  1815,  aged  seventy-si.x  years. 
They  are  both  buried  in  Johnstown,  New 
York.     Children : 

1.  John  L.,  born  October  8,  175S. 

2.  Nancy  (Agnes),  born  February  26,  1760, 
died  February,  1851 ;  married  Peter  McHench, 
May  II,  1786:  had  five  children,  including 
William,  who  married  Margaret,  daughter  of 
David  and  Margaret  (Maxwell)   Boyd. 

3.  James  Boyd   (see  forward). 

4.  Alexander,  the  first  born  in  America,, 
September  14,  1764,  died  1854.  He  was  a 
prosperous  farmer  of  Schoharie  county.  New 
York,  owning  much  land  and  many  slaves. 
In  1813  he  was  elected  to  congress  as  a  \\'hig. 
He  was  a  deacon  of  the  Dutch  Reformed 
church  for  many  years.     He  married  Eliza- 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


445 


lieth,  daughter  of  Peter  Becker.  Children : 
i.  John,  born  July  29,  1784,  married  Kate  Van 
Epps ;  no  issue,  ii.  Helen,  born  December  10, 
1785,  married  James  Van  Gaasbeck,  M.  D., 
of  Schoharie  county :  seven  children,  iii.  Da- 
vid, born  Xovember  t,,  1788,  married  Nancy 
Van  Derzee :  nine  children,  iv.  Ann  Boyd, 
born  ^larch  7,  1791,  married  George  Dial; 
had  issue,  v.  Albert,  born  March  i,  1793, 
married  Ann  Heron :  seven  children,  vi.  Pe- 
ter, born  August  25,  1795,  married  Laney  or 
Helen  De  \'oe :  four  children,  vii.  James, 
born  December  6,  1797.  married  Emily  Stimp- 
son :  two  children,  viii.  IMargaret,  born  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1800,  married  John  C.  \'an  Vechten ; 
nine  children,  ix.  W'illiam  A.,  born  Septem- 
ber 13.  1802.  married  Margaret  Dougherty, 
who  died  1830:  two  children:  married  (sec- 
ond), Sarah  M.  Sternberg:  five  children,  x. 
Nancy,  born  February  2,  1805,  married  Dan- 
iel Larkin:  four  children,  xi.  Alexander  (2), 
born  February  26,  1807.  xii.  Hugh,  died 
young,  xiii.  Delia,  born  July  15,  18 12,  mar- 
ried Jehicl  Larkin  :  no  issue. 

5.  Hugh,  born  January  25,  I7fi7-  '''^'fl  De- 
cember 29,  1816:  married  January  14,  1796, 
Catherine  Staats. 

6.  David,  born  December  4,  1770,  died  No- 
vember 3,  1834,  at  Schenectady.  He  was  a 
prominent  man  of  Schenectady,  and  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Mohawk  Bank,  one  of 
the  oldest  banking  institutions  of  the  state. 
Por  a  great  many  years  he  held  the  position 
of  cashier.  February  5,  1823,  he  was  elected 
county  judge,  serving  until  January  31,  1825. 
In  1826  he  was  elected  mayor  of  Schenectady. 
In  1812  he  was  presidential  elector.  He  mar- 
ried, March  7,  1793,  Margaret  Maxwell,  born 
December  29,  1772,  died  October  14,  1856. 
Children :  i.  Euphemia,  born  January  24, 
1794,  died  March  15,  1851,  unmarried,  ii. 
Hugh  T\I.,  born  December  8,  1795,  died  May 
7.  1847,  married  Mary  Dow.  iii.  Margaret, 
born  December  16,  1797,  died  October  18, 
1852,  married  William  McHench.  iv.  David 
M.,  died  in  infancy,    v.  Ann.  born  August  30, 

1802.  unmarried,     vi.  John  H.,  born 

9,  1805.  vii.  L'rsula  Jane,  died  in  childhood. 
viii.  Ursula  Jane  (2),  born  September  24, 
181 1,  died  1877,  married  George  H.  Thacher 
(sec  Thacher).  ix.  David,  born  December  4, 
1815:  graduate  of  L^nion  College:  died  un- 
married, December  12.  1865. 

7.  Dr.  Thomas,  born  April  19,  1772,  died  in 
New  York  City.  March  18,  1856.  He  prac- 
ticed medicine  over  sixty  years,  fifty  of  them 
in  New  York  City,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  was  the  oldest  physician  in  the  city. 
The  press  of  the  city  spoke  of  him  in  most 
■  complinientary  terms  at  the  time  of  his  death. 


He  married,  October  22,  1793,  Sarah  Graham, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Chauncey  and  Elizabeth 
(\'an  Wyck)  Graham.  She  was  born  January 
II.  1770.  died  August  16,  1844.  Children: 
i.  Elizabeth,  married  John  H.  McCall,  died 
February  12,  1881.  ii.  John  Thomas,  born 
July  4,  1797,  died  June  8.  1859,  married  Han- 
nah Agnes  Shea.  (The  founder  of  Boyd's 
City  Express.  New  York  City),  iii.  Theo- 
dore C.  born  September.  1799,  died  August  7, 
1843,  married  Sarah  P.  Cummings.  iv.  ]\rar- 
garet  A.,  died  February  27,  1841,  married 
.Alexander  Chalmers,  v.  William  II..  a  phy- 
sician, died  September  6,  1837.  at  New  Or- 
leans, vi.  Maria,  died  October  21,  1879.  vii. 
Sarah  Matilda,  died  June  6,  1881. 

8.  William,  born  September  14,  1775.  died 
April  24.  1840 :  was  captain  of  a  passenger 
sloop  running  between  .\lbany  and  New-  York 
for  a  number  of  years :  then  engaged  in  the 
jewelrv  business  with  William  Shephard,  con- 
tinuing later  under  the  firm  name  of  Boyd  & 
Mumford  :  he  married.  May  29,  1809.  Hannah 
Hook,  born  1783,  died  February,  1856:  chil- 
dren: i.  Catherine  Hook,  died  in  infancy, 
ii.  John,  died  in  childhood,  iii.  Thomas  Hook, 
died  in  infancy,  iv.  Thomas  Hook,  died  in 
childhood,  v.  William,  born  1817.  died  .\pril 
6.  1895.  vi.  Howard,  born  May.  1819,  died 
July  27,  1889.  married  Mary  A.  Morrow,  vii. 
Catherine  (2),  born  September,  1821,  died 
November  22.  1880.  married  Stephen  R. 
Schuyler,    viii.  Anna  Mary,  died  in  childhood. 

9.  Hamilton,  born  February  17.  1778.  died 
September  20.  1820.  In  association  with  his 
brother.  Captain  Hugh  Boyd,  he  operated  a 
line  of  river  sloops  with  headquarters  at  Troy, 
New  York.  Tradition  says  Hugh  and  Hamil- 
ton Boyd  were  pilots  on  the  first  steamboat 
that  ever  came  to  Albany  from  New  York. 
Hamilton  Boyd  married  (first)  Ann  Brad- 
shaw  (second)  Eliza  Kirby,  who  died  Janu- 
ary 15,  1824:  children:  i.  James  Hamilton. 
died  young,  ii.  Mary  .Ann,  born  1804.  died 
March  3.  1878.  married  James  Peter  Boyd, 
a  grandson  of  James  and  Jane  Boyd,  who  emi- 
grated from  Scotland  to  America  in  1774.  iii. 
Edward  Hugh,   born   May,    1815.   died    1884. 

(II)  James,  second  son  and  third  child  of 
John  and  Ann  (Logan)  Boyd,  was  born  in 
county  Antrim.  Ireland.  February  2,  1762, 
died  at  Albany,  New  York,  February  22,  1839. 
He  was  an  infant  in  arms  w'hen  his  parents 
came  to  Albany.  He  grew  up  and  was  edu- 
cated in  that  city  and  became  a  well-known 
public  man  and  prosperous  farmer  of  the  town 
of  Glenville,  Schenectady  county.  He  served 
in  the  revolutionary  war  as  private  under 
Colonel  Philip  Schuyler  from  October  28, 
1779.  to  November  4.  1781.     He  owned  a  fine 


446 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


farm  in  Glenville,  but  through  endorsement  of 
notes  lost  it,  and  removed  to  Johnsburg,  War- 
ren county,  New  York,  where  he  operated  a 
saw  mill.  He  later  removed  to  Albany.  New 
York,  where  he  was  public  weighmaster  many 
years.  For  fourteen  years  he  represented 
Glenville  on  the  Schenectady  county  board  of 
supervisors ;  was  elected  to  the  state  legisla- 
ture in  1811,  reelected  in  1812,  and  held  other 
offices  of  trust.  He  married,  at  Schenectady, 
January  16,  1783,  Alida  Conde,  of  Charlton, 
Saratoga  county,  New  York,  granddaughter 
of  Adam  Conde.  constable  of  Albany,  New 
York,  in  1724,  and  high  constable  in  1725.  He 
removed  to  Schenectady,  where  he  was  killed 
in  the  Buelkendal  Indian  massacre  in  1748. 
He  was  called  a  "Hollander."  but  there  is  a 
well-founded  belief  in  the  family  that  he  was  a 
Huguenot  descendant  of  the  French  Conde 
family,  who  fled  from  France  to  Holland  to 
escape  persecution.  He  married,  November 
30,  1736,  Catherine  DeGraaf,  daughter  of 
Jesse  and  Aaltie  (Hennion)  Ackerman, 
of  New  York,  and  granddaughter  of 
Claas  Andriesse  De  Graaf,  born  1628,  the 
early  settler  of  Schenectady,  who  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  William  Brouwer,  of 
Albany.  Jesse  De  Graaf  was  his  oldest  son, 
and  was  for  a  time  held  captive  in  Canada  by 
the  French  and  Indians.  Adam  Conde  and 
Catherine  De  Graaf  had  Johannes,  Susannah, 
Alida',  Jesse  (see  forward),  Eva  and  Adam 
(2).  Jesse  Conde  was  born  in  Schenectady, 
March  13,  1743,  died  1818.  He  settled  in  the 
town  of  Charlton,  Saratoga  county.  New 
York,- in  1775,  where  he  died.  He  married, 
July  5,  1762.  Parthenia  Ogden,  born  July  14, 
1744,  died  December  11.  1817.  daughter  of 
Jonathan  Ogden,  of  Westchester  county,  New- 
York.  Jesse  and  Parthenia  (Ogden)  Conde 
had  twelve  children,  Alida,  Jonathan,  Jona- 
than (2),  Adam,  Albert,  John,  Wilmot,  Jesse, 
Susannah,  Nicholas  De  Graaf,  Isaac  and 
Jesse  (2).  Alida,  eldest  of  these  children, 
born  June  16,  1763,  at  Schenectady,  died  at 
Albany,  August  4,  1838.  Tradition  says  she 
received  from  her  parents  a  peck  of  gold 
(which  may  be  a  fable)  and  a  family  of  negro 
slaves  (which  is  a  fact)  as  a  marriage  por- 
tion. She  married  James  Boyd,  January  16, 
1784.  Children:  i.  Catherine,  born  Novem- 
ber 17,  1785,  married  Jacob  \'iele.  2.  John, 
born  February  12,  1787,  died  January  21, 
1887,  lacking  a  month  of  completing  a  full 
century  of  years ;  he  was  a  captain  in  the  war 
of  1812,  and  married  Maria  Vedder.  3.  Ann, 
born  1792,  died  at  New  Orleans,  March,  1830: 
married  Charles  \'e(l(ler,  and  had  James,  Cath- 
erine, and  other  children.  4.  Parthenia,  born 
November   29,    1794,    married,    Februaj'y    18, 


18 1 3,  Christopher  Whittaker.  5.  Wilmot,  born 
December  29,  1796,  died  IMarch  20,  1877  ;  mar- 
ried Charles  Taylor  Brown,  July  21,  1814, 
and  died  March  20,  1877.  6.  Margaret,  born 
October  25,  1800,  died  June  4.  1878:  married 
I-'rederick  N.  Clute,  i8ig.  7.  Susan,  born  De- 
cember 18,  1801,  died  August  9,  1895  ;  married 
Nathaniel  Griffing,  July  20,  1823.  8.  Jesse 
Conde  (see  forward).  9.  Nancy  McHench, 
born  November  5,  1807,  died  May  18,  1883: 
married  Jesse  Martin  \"an  Slyck.  James  and 
Alida  Boyd  were  buried  in  the  Dutch  Re- 
formed church  cemetery,  Albany ;  later  they 
were  removed  to  Rural  Cemetery;  when  the 
former  was  taken  for  \\'ashington  Park. 

(HI)  Jesse  Conde,  son  of  James  and  Alida 
(Conde)  Boyd,  was  born  in  Schenectady.  New 
York,  June  5,  1803,  and  died  at  ]\Iontague, 
Michigan,  June  6,  1891.  He  was  a  farmer  of 
Johnsburg.  then  weighmaster  of  Erie  canal 
freight ;  later  a  lumber  dealer  of  Albany.  He 
removed  to  the  west  and  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  furniture  at  Chicago ;  leaving  there, 
he  resided  on  a  farm  five  miles  north  of  Dixon, 
Illinois.  He  was  of  Grand  Detour,  Michigan, 
and  Aurora,  Illinois,  and  after  losing  his  wife 
returned  to  Chicago,  where  he  lived  with  his 
children  until  1889,  when  he  exchanged  some 
city  property  for  a  farm  near  Montague, 
Michigan,  where  he  moved  at  the  age  of 
eighty-four  years,  again  began  farming,  and 
there  died.  He  is  buried  in  Graceland  ceme- 
tery. Chicago,  Illinois.  He  married,  January 
15.  1824,  Elcy  Noble,  born  in  Johnsburg.  New 
York.  January  8,  1805,  died  at  Aurora,  Illi- 
nois, July,  1872,  daughter  of  Edward  and 
Mary  (Leach)  Noble.  Edward  was  born  in 
Ireland,  October  12,  1772,  died  in  Johnsburg, 
March  12.  1857.  He  came  to  the  LTnited 
States  in  1795.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  church,  and  his  home  in  Johnsburg 
was  noted  for  its  hospitable  entertainment  of 
the  ministers  of  that  denomination.  He  mar- 
ried, .April  23,  1801,  Mary  Leach,  born  in 
Westchester  county.  New  York,  February  5, 
1782,  died  October  5,  1849,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Elcy  (Ward)  Leach.  Children:  i. 
Margaret,  died  1852,  unmarried.  2.  Jane, 
married  John  Fuller.  3.  Elcy.  born  January 
8,  1803,  married  Jesse  Conde  Boyd.  4.  John, 
n^arried  Ellen  Armstrong.  5.  Sally,  married 
Joseph  Leach.*  6.  Mary,  married  William  A. 
Potter.  7.  William,  married  Caroline  Stewart. 
8.  Edward,  married  Eunice  F"ish.  9.  Orrilla, 
married  Harvey  Schermerhorn. 

David  Noble,  grandfather  of  Elcy  (Noble) 
Boyd,  was  born  at  Terrahen,  Ireland,  died  at 
.Arlington,  \'erniont,  July  14,  1807.  In  1795 
he  came  to  the  LTnited  -States.  He  was  a  local 
jircacher  of  the   Methodist  Episcopal   cliurch^ 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


447 


and  eminent  for  his  piety  and  many  virtues. 
He  died  in  the  pulpit  at  the  close  of  a  sermon. 
He  married,  in  1768,  Margaret  Caruthers, 
born  in  Holywood,  Fermanagh  county,  Ire- 
land, about  1752,  daughter  of  William.  She 
died  in  Ireland,  February  28,  1790,  aged 
thirty-eight  years.  They  had  seven  children, 
of  whom  Edward  was  the  second.  Archibald 
Noble,  great-grandfather  of  Elcy  (Noble) 
Boyd,  was  born  in  Terrahen,  Fermanagh 
county,  Ireland.  The  family  were  noted  for 
great  strength  and  moral  integrity.  They 
were  originally  members  of  the  Church  of 
England,  but  later  became  followers  of  John 
Wesley,  a  faith  their  descendants  in  the  Uni- 
ted States  have  adhered  to  with  great  uni- 
formity. He  married  Eleanor  Jamison,  who 
died  in  Ireland.  They  had  eight  children,  of 
whom  David  was  the  third. 

Children  of  Jesse  Conde  and  Elcy  (Noble) 
Boyd:  i.  Alida,  born  January  25,  1826,  mar- 
ried Hiram  Burton,  born  at  East  Greenbush, 
New  York.  2.  Mary  J.,  born  August  9,  1827. 
married  Charles  P.  Easton  (see  Easton).  3. 
Margaret,  born  December  22,  1828,  married 
Thomas  R.  Ferris.  4.  James,  born  June  22, 
183 1,  married  Sarah  J.  Locke,  Chicago,  Illi- 
nois. 5.  Edward.  6.  John.  7.  William,  died 
in  infancy.  8.  David,  born  July  4,  1839.  9. 
Robert,  born  in  Albany,  July  13,  1841  ;  mar- 
ried (first)  Celia  Stowe.  (second)  Helen 
Pitcher.  10.  Charles  Lansing,  born  in  Al- 
bany, May  II,  1843,  married  Melvina  Locke, 
Chicago,  Illinois.  11-12.  Caatherine,  Caro- 
line (twins),  born  and  died  November  23, 
1845- 


Melchort     De     Forest,     of 
DE  FOREST     Asvesnes.  France,  was  the 

father  of  Jean  De  Poorest, 
the  first  Protestant  of  the  De  Forest  family, 
and  was  the  grandfather  of  the  first  De  For- 
est emigrant  to  America.  He  married  Cath- 
erine de  Fosset,  of  Mons.  Jean,  their  young- 
est son,  married  Anne  Maillard,  and  settled 
in  Holland  along  with  thousands  of  his  coun- 
trymen, Walloons  and  Huguenots. 

(I)  Jesse,  son  of  Jean  and  .Anne  (Mail- 
lard) De  Forest,  was  born  about  1575.  There 
is  no  important  information  concerning  him 
after  December  i,  1623.  when  in  a  tax  list  of 
Leyden.  Holland,  opposite  his  name  is  the 
entry  "gone  to  the  West  Indies,"  which  may 
have  meant  anywhere  in  North  or  Central 
America.  Up  to  1606  he  appears  as  a  mer- 
chant residing  at  Sedan.  France,  and  in  1615 
he  appears  in  the  Walloon  registers  of  Ley- 
den, where  he  was  residing  in  1620,  the  time 
of  the  departure  of  the  Pilgrim  fathers  for 
America.     He  conceived  the  design  of  plant- 


ing a  colony  of  his  own  people  in  the  New 
World,  and  this  design  he  carried  from  year 
to  year  and  from  state  to  state  until  he  had 
brought  it  to  execution.  He  gathered  a  colony 
of  fifty  or  sixty  Walloon  and  French  fam- 
ilies, "all  of  the  Reformed  faith,"  and  prayed 
the  King  of  England  to  grant  them  a  set- 
tlement in  Virginia  and  "to  maintain  them 
in  their  religion"  by  undertaking  their  pro- 
tection and  defence.  The  petition  or  demand 
was  signed  by  fifty-si.x  men,  mostly  heads  of 
families,  the  first  of  whom  was  Jesse  De  For- 
est. They  prayed  the  King  that  he  would' 
grant  them  a  territory  of  sixteen  miles  in 
diameter  where  they  might  cultivate  fields, 
meadows,  vineyards,  etc.,  and  article  seventh 
of  the  petition  reads : 

"Whether  they  would  be  permitted  to  luint  all 
game,  whether  furred  or  feathered;  to  fish  in  the 
sea  and  rivers,  and  to  cut  heavy  and  small  tim- 
ber, as  well  for  navigation  as  for  other  purposes, 
according  to  their  desire;  in  a  word,  whether 
they  might  make  use  of  everything  above  and' 
below  ground,  according  to  their  will  and  pleas- 
ure, saving  the  royal  rights  and  trade  in  every- 
thing with  such  persons  as  should  be  there  to- 
privilege." 

The  petition  was  not  acted  upon  favorably. 
He  continued  his  enrolling,  and  looked  for 
aid  from  Holland  in  getting  the  colony  to 
.\merica.  Here  Jesse  De  Forest  disappears 
from  distinct  sight.  It  seems  clear,  however, 
that  his  first  and  perhaps  only  colonizing  ven- 
ture, was  to  that  part  of  South  America  which 
the  Dutch  called  the  "wild  coast,"  or  Guinea. 
To  this  region  two  successive  bands  of  set- 
tlers were  despatched  from  Leyden  in  1623. 
The  fleet  which  Jesse  De  Forest  accomjjanied 
sailed  out  of  the  Neuse,  twenty  miles  south 
of  Leyden,  December  23,  1623.  Nothing  fur- 
ther is  known  of  him.  He  was  a  man  of  fixed 
purpose,  which  he  carried  into  execution,  but 
whether  he  sleeps  beside  the  Oaypok  or  beside 
the  Hudson  is  not  known.  He  had  aroused 
and  directed  the  emigrants  who  founded  New 
York  as  well  as  those  who  established  a  dwell- 
ing place  in  Guinea  and  among  the  Carribean 
Islands.  He  married  ?klarie  du  Clou.x,  and 
their  seventh  recorded  child.  Isaac,  is  the 
founder  in  America  of  the  De  Forests  of 
Schenectady. 

(II)  Isaac,  son  of  Jesse  and  Marie  (du 
Cloux)  De  Forest,  was  baptized  at  Leyden, 
Holland,  July  10,  1616.  With  his  brother, 
Henry,  then  thirty  years  of  age,  Isaac,  who- 
was  ten  years  his  junior,  quitted  Amsterdam, 
October  i,  1636,  in  a  small  vessel  called  the 
"Renssalaerwyck,""  which  belonged  to  Kiliaerr 
Van  Rensselaer,  the  first  patroon.  They 
reached  New  Amsterdam  in  safety  and  set- 
tled upon  the  broad  fertile  flat  called  "Mus- 


448 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


coota,"  now  the  site  of  Harlem,  upper  New 
York  City.  Henry  had  a  grant  of  two  hun- 
dred acres ;  Isaac,  a  strip  of  one  hundred  acres 
along  the  Harlem  river  and  part  of  the  later 
day  Morris  Park.  Henry,  the  wealthier  and 
apparently  the  abler  of  the  two  brothers,  died 
July  26,  1637.  The  interests  of  his  widow 
were  safeguarded  by  Dominie  Evarardus  Bo- 
gardus,  as  her  attorney.  She  married  again. 
Isaac  was  still  vmmarried,  and  for  several 
years  remained  at  Harlem  raising  tobacco  and 
selling  it  at  New  Amsterdam  for  transport 
to  Holland.  On  June  9,  1641,  he  married 
"Sarah  du  Trieux  of  New  Amsterdam,  spin- 
ster," daughter  of  Phillip  du  Trieux  and  Ja- 
queline  Noiret,  founders  of  the  Truax  family 
of  America.  He  became  a  wealthy  tobacco 
dealer  and  brewer  of  New  Amsterdam,  and 
was  appointed  in  1658  by  Governor  Stuyve- 
sant  and  council  a  "great  burgher."  When 
the  English  fleet  took  New  York  in  1664  he 
was  one  of  the  persons  of  distinction  seized 
and  held.  His  will  is  dated  June  4.  1672. 
He  died  in  1674.  His  widow  died  in  1692. 
Their  children  were:  Jesse,  born  1642,  died 
young;  Susannah,  born  1645,  married  Peter 
De  Reimer;  Gerrit,  born  1647,  died  young; 
Michael,  born  1649,  died  young;  John,  born 
1650,  "chivurgeon,"  or  physician ;  Philip,  born 
1652,  a  cooper;  Isaac,  born  1655.  a  baker; 
Hendrick,  born  1657,  a  glazier ;  J^Iaud,  born 
1666,  married  Bernard  Darby;  David,  born 
1669.  a  glazier. 

(III)  Philip,  fifth  son  of  Isaac  and  Sarah 
{du  Trieux)  De  Forest,  was  born  in  New 
Amsterdam,  in  1652.  He  became  the  founder 
of  the  Albany  branch  of  the  De  Forests.  He 
married,  January  5,  1676,  Tryntje,  daughter 
of  Isaac  Kip.  and  removed  to  Albany.  He 
served  as  high  sheriff,  and  held  many  offices. 
He  died  in  1727,  and  was  buried  August  18 
of  that  year.  Children:  i.  Sara,  baptized 
in  New  York,  January  2.  1678.  2.  Susanna, 
baptized  in  .A.lbany,  April  i.  1684.  3.  Mertje, 
July  25,  1686.  4.  Isaac,  February  20,  1689. 
5.  Jesse,  January  13.  1692,  married  Neeltje 
Quackenbush.  6.  Catrina,  November  25, 
1694.  7.  Johannes,  September  12,  1697,  mar- 
ried Marie  Quackenbush.  8.  David,  Septem- 
ber 8,  1700,  see  forward.  9.  Abraham,  Feb- 
ruary 21,  1703,  married  Rebecca  Symonse 
Van  Antwerpen. 

(IV)  David,  fourth  .son  of  Philip  (of  Al- 
bany) and  Tryntje  (Kip)  De  Forest,  was  a 
farmer.  He  married  .Abigail  \'an  Alstyne, 
November  8,  1717.  Children:  i.  Philip,  bap- 
tized February  21,  17 19,  died  young.  2. 
Philip,  May  i,  1720.  3.  Jeanetje,  March  11, 
1722.  4.  Marten,  May  14,  1724,  see  forward. 
5.  Catharine,  September  15,  1728.  6.  Susanna, 


September  26,  1731.  7.  Maria,  April  21,  1734. 
8.  Jacob.  March  3,  1737.  Marten,  Philip  and 
Jacob  lived  on  adjoining  farms  in  North 
Greenbush,  Rensselaer  county.  New  York. 

(V)  Marten,  third  son  of  David  and  Abi- 
gail (Van  Alstyne)  De  Forest,  was  baptized 
May  14,  1724.  He  was  a  farmer  of  Green- 
bush,  Rensselaer  county.  He  married  Tan- 
neke  Winne.  Children:  i.  Catarina,  bap- 
tized September  15.  175 1.  2.  Peter,  baptized 
April  15,  1753.  3.  David,  September  21,  1755. 
4.  Phillipus,  January  15,  1758.  5.  Willem, 
April  13,  1760.  6.  Catharine,  May  6,  1762.  7. 
Rachel,  born  March  23,  1764.  8.  Jannetie, 
born  September  14,  1766.  9.  Marytje,  Janu- 
ary 29.  1769.  10.  Jacob,  see  forward,  ii. 
Daniel,  baptized  August  4.   1774. 

(\'l)  Jacob,  fifth  son  of  Marten  and  Tan- 
neke  (Winne)  De  Forest,  was  born  in  Green- 
bush,  New  York,  May  28,  177 1,  died  in  the 
town  of  Rotterdam,  Schenectady  county.  New 
York,  June.  1854.  He  went  to  Duanesburg, 
Schenectady  county.  New  York,  in  1780.  In 
1809  he  went  to  Rotterdam,  and  late  in  life 
removed  to  the  village  of  Schenectady.  He 
married  (first)  February  2,  1794,  .Anna  Lan- 
sing, who  bore  him  five  children.  He  married 
(second)  July  30,  1808,  Mary  Wiley,  died 
April  II,  1859.  who  bore  him  four  children. 
Children :  Cornelia,  married  Andrew  White ; 
Jacob,  born  October  23,  1797,  married  .\nna 
Schermerhorn,  and  had  twelve  children,  of 
whom  the  eldest  was  Colonel  Jacob  De  Forest, 
a  distinguished  soldier  and  officer  of  the  civil 
war,  died  1909 :  Tenetta :  Sarah ;  Obadiah 
Lansing  (  see  forward )  :  Anna  :  John  :  Mar- 
ten :  and  James. 

(\TI)  Obadiah  Lansing,  son  of  Jacob  and 
Anna  (Lansing)  De  Forest,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Rotterdam,  New  York,  August  8, 
1806.  died  April  17,  1859.  He  was  reared  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  in  addition  learned 
the  trade  of  cooper.  Leaving  the  farm  he  lo- 
cated in  Schenectady,  where  he  had  a  shop 
and  worked  at  his  trade.  He  was  active  in 
local  politics,  and  was  a  leader.  He  was  elec- 
ted deputy  sheriff  on  the  Know  Nothing 
ticket,  and  in  1855  was  elected  sheriff  of  Sche- 
nectady county,  serving  three  years,  1856- 
59.  He  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  a 
member  of  the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons. 
He  married,  in  Rotterdam,  Sarah  Vedder, 
born  in  Rotterdam,  March  19,  1808.  died  Feb- 
ruary 18,  1867  (see  Vedder).  She  was  a 
member  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  church.  Chil- 
dren:  I.  Ann  Lansing,  born  November  29, 
1826.  died  July  20,  1849,  during  the  epi- 
demic of  cholera  that  devastated  the  section 
in  that  year ;  she  was  unmarried.  2.  Re- 
becca, born  October  20,    1829 ;   married   Ste- 


Ov 


■'^'^  ^'yif^ 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


449 


phen  D.  Gates,  of  1006  Union  street,  Sche- 
nectady ;  she  survives  him  and  is  a  resident 
of  Schenectady.  3.  Jacob,  born  November  29, 
1832,  died  January  28,  1895;  like  his  father, 
was  sheriff  of  Schenectady  county ;  he  mar- 
ried (first)  Agnes  Dorn ;  one  Hving  daugh- 
ter, Anna,  unmarried;  married  (second)  /\Hce 
Turnbull,  now  deceased ;  children :  Henry, 
Mellia,  Burdella.  4.  Ella  \'edder,  born  Feb- 
ruary 27,  1837,  died  February  19,  1895  ;  mar- 
ried Christopher  \'an  Slyck,  deceased.  5. 
Frank  \'.,  born  April  11,  1843;  he  is  now 
retired  from  business  and  resides  at  105  Bran- 
dywine  avenue,  Schenectady ;  married  Rachel 
Schraff;  children  living  at  the  present  time: 
Walter.  Nellie,  Frank  V.  Jr.,  Belle,  William, 
Martha,  Jay  and  May.  6.  Henry  S.,  men- 
tioned below.    7.  Lansing,  mentioned  below. 

(\'HI)  Henry  S.,  third  son  of  Obadiah 
Lansing  and  Sarah  (\'edder)  De  Forest,  was 
"born  February  16,  1847.  lie  was  educated 
■in  the  high  school  of  Schenectady  and  at 
Poughkeepsie  Business  College.  He  has  for 
•many  years  been  actively  engaged  in  the  real 
estate  business  in  Schenectady,  transacting  a 
ver}^  large  business  in  this  line.  He  is  a  di- 
rector of  the  Citizens'  Trust  Company,  in 
-which  he  is  the  largest  stockholder.  He 
served  as  city  recorder  of  Schenectady  from 
1 88 1  to  1885.  and  as  mayor  from  1885  to 
1887  and  from  1889  to  1891.  During  his 
"business  career  he  has  erected  more  than 
twelve  hundred  houses  in  Schenectady,  and 
his  own  home,  located  on  tlie  corner  of  Union 
street  and  Seward  Place,  was  erected  at  a 
cost  of  $150,000,  being  the  finest  in  the  city. 
Mr.  De  Forest  is  an  exceedingly  energetic  and 
■enterprising  citizen,  and  is  highly  regarded  in 
the  community.  He  is  a  member  of  St. 
George  Lodge,  No.  6.  Free  and  Accepted  Ma- 
sons, also  of  the  Alohawk  and  Golf  clubs.  Mr. 
Henrv  S.  De  Forest  was  elected  to  the  House 
•of  Representatives  on  the  Republican  ticket  on 
November  8.  1910,  in  the  Twenty-third  Con- 
gressional District,  comprising  the  counties 
of  Albany  and  Schenectady.  He  carried  both 
•counties,  his  plurality  being  over  1900.  His 
Democratic  opponent  was  Hon.  Curtis  N. 
Douglas,  of  Albany,  a  brother-in-law  of  Gov- 
ernor John  A.  Dix.  who  was  elected  on  the 
Democratic  ticket  at  the  referred  to  election 
■of  November,  1910. 

Henry  S.  De  Forest  married,  September  6, 
1876,  Lucy  E.,  daughter  of  Harmonus  Van 
Epps.  Children:  i.  Beulah  De  Forest,  mar- 
Tied  William  Howard  Wright,  son  of  Profes- 
sor Thomas  W.  Wright,  of  Schenectady :  chil- 
dren :  Lucie  De  Forest,  died,  aged  five  years : 
A'ivian :  Elva ;  Henry  De  Forest.  2.  Pearl 
X)e   Forest,    married    George   K.    Morris,    of 


.Amsterdam,  New  York,  a  manufacturer;  no 
issue. 

(\TH)  Lansing,  fourth  son  of  Obadiah 
Lansing  and  Sarah  (Vedder)  De  Forest,  was 
born  August  17,  1849.  He  learned  the  trade 
of  machinist,  after  which  he  went  to  Green 
Bay,  Wisconsin,  where  he  was  for  nine  years 
employee!  as  foreman  of  the  railroad  com- 
pany's machine  shops.  In  1895  he  returned 
to  Glenville  and  now  resides  there.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  church,  and  a  Dem- 
ocrat in  politics.  He  married,  November  12, 
1873,  Philena  C,  born  in  Rotterdam,  New 
York,  May  13,  1856,  died  in  Glenville,  May  14, 
1910,  daughter  of  Richard  D.  and  Cordelia 
(Gregg)  Cook,  both  natives  of  Schenectady 
county.  New  York.  Richard  D.  Cook,  son  of 
Richard  M.  Cook,  was  a  photographer  of 
Schenectady ;  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  army 
in  1861.  and  was  captain  of  a  company  of  the 
Thirty-fifth  Regiment,  New  Jersey  Volunteers, 
in  which  he  enlisted ;  he  died  in  the  military 
hospital  at  Elmira,  New  York,  June  i,  1865, 
of  disease  contracted  in  the  army.  His  wife, 
Cordelia  (Gregg)  Cook,  died  three  weeks 
previous  to  his  death.  They  had  one  child, 
Mrs.  De  Forest,  above  mentioned.  Children 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  De  Forest:  i.  Lansing  B., 
born  September  12,  1874;  a  farmer  of  Glen- 
ville :  married  Ella  E.  Baldwin,  of  Wisconsin ; 
children :  Ruth  M.  and  Helen.  2.  Ella  Ved- 
der, born  June  7,  1881 ;  married  Charles 
Kline,  a  farmer  of  Glenville,  resides  with  her 
father. 


Jasper  Van  Wormer, 
\'AN  WORMER  son  of  Peter  Van  Wor- 
mer and  Mary  Van 
Dyke,  was  born  near  Crane's  \'illage  (Glen- 
ville), Montgomery  county.  New  York,  May 
23,  1822,  and  for  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
resided  in  Albany,  where  he  became  one  of 
the  leading  men  of  the  city. 

He  was  of  the  old  Dutch  stock  which  set- 
tled the  provinces  of  New  York  and  New  Jer- 
sey, and  in  the  line  of  descent,  extending  over 
more  than  two  centuries  since  arriving  in 
America,  he  lost  none  of  the  best  traits  of 
their  sturdy  character — was  energetic,  pro- 
gressive, strictly  honest  and  most  companion- 
able. 

Henri  Van  Wormer  was  the  original  Amer- 
ican ancestor  of  this  family,  who  came  with 
a  brother  from  Wormer,  Holland,  about  1655, 
and  first  settled  in  New  Jersey,  but  later  on 
moved  up  the  Hudson  river  and  located  in  this 
locality,  after  which  time  the  descendants 
spread  throughout  the  northern  part  of  New 
York  state.  The  same  family  was  ably  repre- 
sented in  the  revolution  by  Lieutenant  Henry 


450 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK    \"ALLEYS 


Van  Wormer,  of  the  Continental  army,  of  the 
Fourteen  Albany  County  Regiment,  and  his 
son  Abram  served  in  the  war  of  1812  with  dis- 
tinction. In  this  way  the  family  turns  to  im- 
perishable records  connected  with  the  found- 
ing of  the  nation. 

When  Jvlr.  Van  Wormer  was  twenty-one 
years  of  age  he  came  to  Albany  to  make  his 
way  in  the  world,  that  is,  expecting  better  op- 
portunities than  in  mid-state,  and  he  not  only 
found  these,  but  made  excellent  use  of  them 
as  they  were  presented  to  his  attention,  for 
his  life  work  was  a  success.  His  more  active 
business  career  dates  from  the  year  1847, 
when  he  became  associated  with  Michael  Mc- 
Garvey  in  the  retailing  of  stoves.  About 
twenty  years  later,  in  1866,  the  firm  then 
known  as  Van  Wormer  &  McGarvey  built  a 
foundry  of  some  size  and  commenced  the 
manufacture  of  stoves.  At  this  time  Albany 
was  becoming  recognized  throughout  the  coun- 
try as  a  great  stove  manufacturing  center,  and 
in  large  measure  it  was  due  to  the  factory  of 
this  firm,  who  were  practically  among  the  pio- 
neers and  supplied  the  enormous  western 
trade.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  McGarvey,  in 
1876,  the  business  was  conducted  under  the 
title  of  J.  \'an  Wormer  &  Co.,  and  it  then  ex- 
panded considerably  until  it  was  regarded  as 
one  of  the  prime  industries  of  the  city.  In 
1905,  ]\Ir.  Van  Wormer,  in  advanced  age,  re- 
tired, but  continued  his  interest  in  banking  af- 
fairs. 

Upon  the  organization  of  the  Albany 
County  Savings  Bank  in  1874,  Mr.  Van  Wor- 
mer was  made  a  member  of  the  board  and 
was  elected  its  vice-president.  In  1883  he 
was  chosen  president  of  this  bank,  which  of- 
fice he  held  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  and 
three  years  after  his  election  the  bank  took 
steps  towards  erection  of  its  handsome  edifice 
on  the  historic  site  of  the  birthplace  of  Gen- 
eral Philip  Schuyler,  which  ancient  building 
then  gave  way  for  this  step  in  improvement 
of  property.  Mr.  \'an  Wormer  was  regarded 
by  the  leading  business  men  of  Albany  as  an 
excellent  adviser  in  banking  matters,  one  who 
could  be  progressive  and  at  the  same  time  hew 
close  to  the  line  of  conservatism  so  as  not  to 
involve  the  institution  with  undue  risk,  and  he 
was  made  a  director  of  the  Merchants'  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Albany.  He  was  also  an  incor- 
porator of  the  Albany  Trust  Company,  and 
retired  from  the  board  to  be  succeeded  by  his 
son.  For  more  than  twenty  years  he  served 
as  an  inspector  at  elections  of  the  New  York 
Central  railroad,  which  meetings  were  always 
held  in  .Mbany,  and  on  retiring  was  again 
succeeded  by  his  son. 

He  was  deeply  interested  in  the  religious  ac- 


tivities of  the  city,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  First  Lutheran  Church.  He  was  an  in- 
corporator of  the  original  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association,  in  1867,  and  when  he  died 
there  was  only  one  survivor  of  that  board.  He 
was  its  treasurer  from  1886  until  his  death. 
He  was  one  of  the  earliest  members  of  the 
Holland  Society  of  New  York,  joining  it  Oc- 
tober 25,  1886.  He  was  a  member  of  several 
other  organizations,  and  held  in  highest  re- 
spect by  all  his  business  associates  in  the  most 
prominent  affairs  of  the  city.  Although  a  man 
advanced  in  years  and  at  times  not  enjoying 
very  good  health,  he  was  to  be  seen  nearly 
daily  on  the  streets,  and  gave  the  appearance 
of  one  possessing  considerable  energy,  active 
in  movement,  and  keeping  abreast  of  public 
matters  up  to  the  last.  His  residence,  No.  25a 
State  street,  was  among  the  handsomest  in 
the  city,  and  it  was  here  that  he  died  Novem- 
ber 4,  1907. 

Mr.  Van  Wormer  married  at  Albany,  New 
York,  September  20,  1848,  Mary  Louise, 
daughter  of  John  T.  and  Gertrude  Bridges, 
and  she  was  residing  at  No.  252  State  street 
in  191 1.  Children,  born  in  Albany,  New  York: 
I.  William  Henry,  married,  at  Albany,  Belle 
McGarvey.  2.  Julia,  married,  at  Albany, 
Nicholas  Swits  Walls.  3.  Emma,  educated  at 
Albany  Female  Academy.  4.  Frederick,  died 
at  Albany,  September  29,  189 — ;  received  his 
early  education  at  the  Albany  Academy  ;  grad- 
uate of  Williams  College,  afterwards  gradu- 
ating from  the  School  of  Mines  of  Columbia 
University,  and  engaged  in  architecture  with 
Marcus  T.  Reynolds,  at  Albany.  5.  Edwin, 
married  Helen  Adams,  at  Albany :  educated  at 
the  Albany  Academy.  6.  Mary  Louise,  married 
at  Albany,  April  18,  1895,  George  Comstock 
Baker,  born  at  Comstock,  New  York,  April 
29,  1868,  died  there,  February  2,  1908;  attor- 
ney ;  was  son  of  Hon.  Isaac  V.  Baker,  Jr. ; 
graduate  of  Union  University ;  post-graduate 
course  at  Cornell ;  engaged  in  law  department 
of  Delaware  &  Hudson  railroad ;  member  of 
Masters'  Lodge ;  deputy  attorney-general  of 
New  York  ;  president  of  Albany  Camera  Club  ; 
president  of  New  York  Society  of  the  Second 
War  with  Great  Britain ;  member  of  Society 
of  Colonial  Wars  ;  regent  of  Philip  Livingston 
Chapter,  Sons  of  the  Revolution  ;  member  of 
the  Fort  Orange  Club,  Psi  Epsilon  and  Phi 
Delta   Phi   societies. 


John  Williams,  son  of  Col- 
WlLLl.XMS     onel     Joseph     and     Rebecca 
(Lanier)   Williams,  the  for- 
mer a  soldier  in  the  revolutionary  war.  grand- 
son of  X'athaniel  Williams  and  of  Thomas  and 
Elizalicth  (1  licks)  Lanier,  and  a  great-grand- 


^)cn.    ^}c\\u    VilViuiu 


HUDSON    AND   MOHAWK    \ALLEYS 


451 


son  of  Jolin  Williams,  the  imiiiiLrraiit,  was 
born  in  Surry  county.  North  Carolina,  Janu- 
ary 29,  1778,  died  in  Knoxville,  Tennessee, 
Aug;ust  10,  1837.  Three  of  his  brothers  were 
active  and  prominent  in  public  affairs,  Lewis 
serving  as  representative  in  congress,  and 
Robert  and  Thomas  L.  were  distinguished 
jurists.  U]X>n  the  completion  of  his  literary 
studies,  John  Williams  pursued  a  course  of 
study  in  law  in  Salisbury.  North  Carolina,  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1803,  and  began  prac- 
tice near  Knoxville,  Tennessee.  He  served  as 
captain  in  the  Sixth  United  States  Infantry 
from  April.  1799.  to  June,  1800,  and  served  as 
captain   in   the    regular   army    in   the   w'ar   of 

181 2,  also  as  colonel  of  a  regiment  of  East 
Tennessee  Mounted  Volunteers,  which  he  had 
raised  and  which  he  successfully  led  into  Flor- 
ida against  the  Seminoles :  he  was  commis- 
sioned colonel  of  the  Thirty-ninth  United 
States  Infantry,  June  18,  1813,  and  subse- 
quently served  under  General  Jackson  against 
the  Creek  Indians  in  Alabama,  participating 
in  the  battle  of  Horse-Shoe  Bend,  March  27, 

1813.  He  completed  the  unexpired  term  of 
United  States  Senator  George  W.  Campbell, 
resigned,  served  from  December  4,  1815,  to 
]\larch  3.  1823,  officiating  as  chairman  of  the 
committee  on  military  alTairs.  He  was  de- 
feated for  re-election  in  1823  by  Andrew  Jack- 
son. He  was  charge  d'affaires  to  the  Centra! 
American  Federation  by  appointment  from 
President  John  Quincy  Adams  from  Decem- 
ber 29.  1825,  to  December  i.  1826;  subse- 
quently a  state  senator,  and  declined  a  justice- 
ship in  the  supreme  court  of  Tennessee.  He 
married  Melinda.  daughter  of  James  and 
Marv   (  Lawson  )  \\'hite. 


This  family  has  contributed 
PUMPELLY  three  generations  to  Albany 
citizenship,  coming  here 
from  Owego,  New  York,  before  which  time 
the  family  resided  at  Salisbury,  Connecticut. 
and  previous  to  that  period  lived  in  Pembroke, 
Massachusetts. 

The  Pumpelly  arms  :  Argent  chausse  azure 
on  a  pale  gules,  accosted  by  two  roses  in  base 
(on  the  azure)  :  a  fleur-de-lis  or :  a  chief  of  the 
last  an  eagle  displayed  sable.  Crest :  On  an 
esquire's  helmet,  ornamented  with  a  wreath  of 
the  colors  and  lambrequins  of  azure  and  ar- 
gent, a  ship  on  stormy  waves.  Motto:  Telle 
est  la  1-ie  (Such  is  life).  To  this  description, 
which  appears  on  the  John  H.  Pumjielly  tree, 
is  added  the  following  note:  "The  above- 
mentioned  crest  was  used  by  the  representa- 
tives of  Numa  Pompilius  far  back  in  Roman 
times,  first  on  coins,  as  the  prow  of  a  ship, 
and  afterward  as  a  full  Roman  galley.    James 


Puniijelly,  of  Owego.  used  it  on  his  seal  in 
1809;  Harmon  Pumjielly  used  it  in  1825,  and 
John  Pumpelly,  the  father,  used  it  on  a  seal, 
at   Pembroke,  about   xjCyo." 

(I)  The  first  to  bear  the  name  of  Pumpelly 
in  America  was  Jean  Pompili,  whose  family 
came  from  Avignon,  and  whose  ancestors 
came  there  from  Spoletto,  Italy,  in  the  train 
of  Cardinal  Abornoz.    His  son: 

(ID  Jean  Pompili,  was  a  sea  captain  at 
Plymouth,  and  was  knocked  overboard  by  a 
boom  and  drowned,  a  short  .time  before  the 
birth  of  his  son,  John  Pumpely  (Pumpelly.  or 
Pompilie).  His  wife,  who  was  a  Miss  Mon- 
roe, married   (second)  a  Rev.   Mr.  Glover. 

(Ill)  John,  son  of  Jean  Pompili,  ran  away 
from  home  when  about  fifteen  years  of  age, 
and  was  next  heard  from  when  he  enlisted 
September  15,  1755,  as  a  drummer-boy  in 
Captain  John  Loring's  company  of  His  Maj- 
esty's Foot,  serving  until  December  17,  1755. 
He  was  patriotic,  for  he  enlisted  time  and 
again  ;  made  the  entire  campaign  of  the  French 
and  Indian  war.  and  w^as  made  sergeant  for 
distinguished  bravery,  carrying  despatches 
alone ;  he  was  a  member  of  Captain  Samuel 
Thaxter's  company,  to  Fort  William  Henry, 
at  tlie  southern  end  of  Lake  George,  through 
a  decidedly  wild  and  hostile  countrv.  when 
the  forest  wilderness  was  practically  filled 
with  bloodthirsty  savages.  He  was  sergeant 
of  Captain  Abel  Keen's  company,  at  Lunen- 
burg. March  30  to  November  i,  1758.  He 
was  one  of  the  Crown  Point  expedition,  and 
at  one  time  a  member  of  Rogers'  Rangers; 
also  a  messmate  of  Daniel  Webster's  father. 
He  was  engaged  in  the  siege  of  Louisburg, 
and  at  the  side  of  General  Wolfe  when  he  fell 
mortally  w^ounded  on  the  Heights  of  Abraham 
in  1759,  assisting  to  carry  that  brave  general 
from  the  firing  line  to  die.  He  was  a  commis- 
sary under  General  Israel  Putnam  at  the  tin^e 
of  the  battle  of  Saratoga,  in  October,  1777, 
with  rank  of  third  lieutenant.  Another  enlist- 
ment records  that  he  entered  Captain  John 
Loring's  company  as  drummer,  April  22,  and 
server!  until  November  5,  1756.  He  took  the 
oath  of  fidelity  to  the  state,  January  25.  1778. 
After  his  second  marriage  and  taking  up  his 
residence  at  Salisbury,  Connecticut,  he  be- 
came superintendent  of  the  Connecticut  Iron 
Mine  and  Furnace,  an  establishment  engaged 
in  casting^  cannon  used  in  the  revolution,  and 
he  had  a  corps  of  fifty  men  so  em]jloyed  under 
him.  After  leaving  the  army  he  was  for  a 
time  an  architect.  In  1803  he  removed  with 
his  family  to  settle  at  Danby.  Broome  county. 
New  York,  near  Owego.  where  his  son.  Hon. 
James  Pumpelly,  had  settled  and  become  a 
man  of  wealth.     During  the  latter  part  of  his 


452 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


life  he  was  a  surveyor  and  also  managed  his 
farming  interests.  He  died  July  n,  1819. 
His  portrait  is  yet  in  his  granddaughter's 
house. 

John  Pumpelly  married  (first)  Eppen  Hille- 
branz  Meijer,  a  lady  of  birth,  of  Dutch  extrac- 
tion, by  whom  he  had  the  following  children : 
I.  Bennett,  married  E.  Merrill.  2.  Barnet, 
served  through  much  of  the  revolution.  3. 
Elizabeth,  died  young.  4.  John,  married  Mary 
French.  5.  Eppen,  married  Seth  Samson.  6. 
Samuel,  married  Sarah  True. 

John  Pumpelly  married  (second)  Hannah 
Bushnell,  of  Salisbury,  Connecticut.  She  was 
born  in  1756,  died  at  Owego,  New  York,  De- 
cember 31,  1832,  daughter  of  Captain  Samuel 
Bushnell,  of  Salisbury,  who  was  a  sea  captain 
and  came  from  Saybrook.  The  arms  of  the 
Bushnell  family,  used  ever  since  coming  to 
this  country,  are  as  follows :  Argent,  five  fu- 
sils in  fess  gules,  in  chief  three  mullets  sable. 
Crest:  On  a  ducal  coronet  a  wivern,  sans 
feet. 

Children  of  John  Pumpelly  and  Hannah 
Bushnell:  i.  John,  born  at  Salisbury,  Con- 
necticut, 1775,  died  at  Owego,  New  York; 
married  Mary  Pixley  Tinkham  (daughter  of 
Col.  David  Pixley  and  widow  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Samuel  Tinkham)  who  was  born  at  Stock- 
bridge,  Massachusetts,  May  11,  1777,  died  at 
Owego,  New  York,  June  4.  1848:  three  chil- 
dren :  George  James,  Lydia  Abbey  and  Fred- 
erick Henry.  2.  Charles,  born  at  Salisbury, 
Connecticut.  1776;  removed  to  Owego,  New 
York,  in  1803;  died  there  in  1855;  married, 
September  2,  1803,  Frances  Avery,  born  Janu- 
ary 9,  1775  :  children :  John  Charles,  Mary 
Ann,  Susan  Isabella.  Frances  Eliza,  Catherine 
Ann,  Harriet  Amelia,  Stella  Avery,  Caroline 
Augusta,  James  and  Lydia  Abbey.  3.  Jerusha, 
died  without  issue.  4.  Maria,  born  1786,  died 
1855;  married,  at  Owego,  Abner  Beers:  chil- 
dren: Harmon  Pumpelly,  Dr.  Eli,  David, 
Emma,  Abner,  Frances,  John  James,  Mary 
Pumpelly,  Charles,  Edward,  and  John  James. 
5.  William,  born  at  Salisbury,  Connecticut, 
June  17,  1788:  president  of  the  Bank  of  Owe- 
go: died  there  in  1876:  married  (first)  Sarah 
Emily  Tinkham  (died  1822),  daughter  of  Dr. 
Samuel  and  Mary  Tinkham :  one  child,  Sarah 
Emily:  married  (second),  October  24.  1824, 
]\Iary  H.  Welles  (born  Athens,  Pa.,  May  6, 
1803;  died  at  Paris,  France,  December  4, 
1879),  daughter  of  George  Welles:  children: 
John  Hollenbcck,  Susan  Mary,  Marie  An- 
toinette, Josephine  and  Raphael.  6.  Harriet, 
born  1791,  died  August  25,  1863;  married. 
March  3,  1809,  David  Quigg,  merchant,  of 
Ithaca,  New  York,  who  was  born  June  2, 
1781,  died  December  17,  1862 ;  children :    Ben- 


jamin D.,  Emeline,  Harriet  M.,  John  Wil- 
liam, James,  Edward  and  Helen.  7.  Harmon, 
born  at  Salisbury,  Connecticut,  August  i, 
1795,  died  at  Albany,  New  York,  September 
28,  1882;  married  (first)  Delphine  Drake; 
(second)   Maria  Brinckerhoff   (see  forward). 

1 1\')  Harmon,  youngest  child  of  John  Pum- 
pelly and  Hannah  Bushnell,  was  born  at  Salis- 
bury, Connecticut,  August  i,  1795.  He  re- 
sided in  Albany,  New  York,  most  of  his  life, 
and  when  he  died  there,  September  28,  1882, 
was  one  of  the  oldest  men  in  that  city,  besides 
being  one  of  the  most  conspicuous  and  es- 
teemed. 

.\t  the  age  of  six  years  he  removed  with  his 
father's  family  to  Owego,  New  York,  where 
his  youth  and  manhood  were  spent.  He  early 
learned  to  rely  upon  his  own  resources,  and 
without  much  further  education  than  that 
which  he  received  from  constantly  reading 
well-selected  books,  he  set  out  in  the  battle 
of  life  with  an  equipment  in  which  sturdy 
energy  and  indomitable  perseverance  more 
than  compensated  for  any  lack  of  training.  He 
was  an  omniverous  reader,  and  from  every 
book  he  gleaned  some  useful  knowledge,  lay- 
ing it  by  for  future  service.  Among  other 
accomplishments  of  a  practical  kind  he  gained 
a  knowledge  of  surveying,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  was  found  in  that  occupation  in 
connection  with  his  brother  James,  who  had 
charge  of  the  extensive  Harper  and  Caton  es- 
tates in  the  vicinity  of  Tioga  county.  New 
York.  His  energy  of  character  and  spirit  of 
enterprise  soon  led  him  beyond  the  routine  of 
surveying.  He  threw  into  everything  he  did 
his  habits  of  promptness,  forethought  and  in- 
tegrity, and  almost  everything  he  touched 
prospered.  Much  of  his  time  in  those  years 
having  been  occupied  as  land  agent  for  sev- 
eral large  capitalists  of  New  York  City,  he 
began  tlie  purchase  and  sale  of  lands  on  his 
own  account,  and  thus  laid  the  foundation  of 
his  large  fortune.  Together  with  his  brothers 
he  dealt  in  lumber  and  cattle,  always  display- 
ing unusual  tact,  and  not  infrequently  clear- 
ing goodly  sums  in  his  transactions.  He  was 
made  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of 
Owego  in  1835,  and  so  long  as  he  remained 
there  was  the  foremost  man  of  the  place.  He 
was  captain  of  a  cavalry  company  noted  for 
the  beautiful  uniforms  they  wore  and  the 
fine  horses  they  rode ;  before  this  he  was  lieu- 
tenant of  riflemen. 

About  1841  he  married  and  then  removed 
to  Albany.  Having  no  business  save  the  care 
of  his  property,  which  had  gradually  accumu- 
lated on  his  hands,  he  had  been  but  a  few 
years  in  that  city  when  he  became  identified 
with  its  three  oldest  business  institutions,  the 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


453 


Alban\-  Savings  Bank,  the  Albany  Insurance 
Company,  and  the  Albany  Gaslight  Company, 
and  was  soon  elected  president  of  all  three  of 
these  large  corporations.  Aside  from  his  pri- 
vate or  social  position,  this  gave  him  a  promi- 
nence in  the  city's  big  affairs  practically  be- 
yond all  other  men.  The  energy  and  prudence 
which  he  exercised  in  the  administration  of 
these  concerns  contributed  much  to  their  finan- 
cial prosperity  and  the  high  position  they  have 
occupied  in  the  confidence  of  the  community. 

After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  he  placed 
his  two  children  at  school  and  went  to  Europe, 
traveling  in  splendid  style  in  a  beautiful  car- 
riage with  four  horses  and  postillions  in  blue 
livery  and  an  outrider  also  in  blue.  He  went 
to  Italy,  Switzerland,  France,  England  and 
Germany. 

He  continued  to  be  successful  in  all  that  he 
undertook,  and  preserved  all  his  mental  facul- 
ties to  the  very  last  day  of  his  life.  He  en- 
joyed excellent  health,  for  he  had  been  en- 
dowed with  a  wonderfully  vigorous  constitu- 
tion. A  great  lover  of  good  horses  and  an 
accomplished  equestrian,  he  undoubtedly  pro- 
longed his  life  several  years  by  his  daily  habit 
of  horseback  riding.  He  never  lost  his  love 
of  books,  and  notwithstanding  his  diminishing 
eyesight,  was  a  constant  reader  until  his  fatal 
illness.  His  life  was  singularly  happy,  un- 
doubtedly due  in  large  measure  to  personal 
traits  of  character,  moral  and  mental,  which 
insured  success  and  commanded  respect  of 
his  fellow-men.  He  was  an  affectionate  hus- 
band and  father,  a  faithful  and  genial  friend. 
He  was  truly  all  of  these,  and  in  every  rela- 
tion he  undeviatingly  proved  himself  a  man 
of  high  principles  and  upright  life.  His  Chris- 
tianity was  large  and  broad,  well-informed, 
and  based  upon  an  earnest  faith.  For  many 
years  he  was  a  vestryman  of  St.  Peter's  Epis- 
copal Church  at  Albany,  and  for  the  last  seven 
years  of  his  life  was  senior  warden  of  the 
parish.  To  liis  memorv  a  beautiful  window 
has  been  placed  in  the  nave  of  that  handsome 
edifice. 

Following  his  tleath,  the  vestry  of  St.  Pe- 
ter's church  bore  testimony  to  the  fact  of  "his 
even  temper,  his  sagacity,  his  unyielding  fidel- 
ity and  his  genial  manner  made  him  at  once  a 
wise  counsellor,  a  discreet  leader  and  a  charm- 
ing companion.  He  loved  the  church  and  con- 
tributed liberally  towards  its  support.  Though 
a  man  of  strong  will  and  positive  opinion,  he 
was  broad  and  charitable  towards  those  with 
whom  he  differed  in  deed  and  doctrine.  He 
left  a  record  of  a  life  unsullied ;  in  character  a 
true.  Christian  gentleman." 

The  directors  of  the  Albany  Gaslight  Com- 
pany testified:     "For  the  last  thirty-six  years, 


Mr.  Pumpelly  was  president  of  this  board  and 
chief  manager  of  the  affairs  of  the  company. 
He  was  a  man  of  marked  business  capacity, 
of  excellent  judgment,  of  stern  dignity,  and  of 
great  fidelity  to  his  trust.  The  prosperity  it 
enjoyed  is  due  to  him." 

Harmon  Pumpelly  married  (first),  at 
Owego,  New  York,  November  i6,  1830,  Rev. 
Mr.  Putnam  officiating,  Delphine  Drake,  and 
he  married  (second),  at  .Albany,  New  York, 
October  19,  1S41,  by  Rev.  John  A.  Yates, 
Maria  BrinckerhofT,  daughter  of  Peter 
BrinckerhofT,  of  New  York  City,  and  his  wife, 
Elizabeth  Bleeckcr,  daughter  of  Rutger 
Bleecker  and  Catherine  Elmendorf.  ^laria 
Brinckerhoft'  was  born  in  New  York  City, 
January  30,  1803,  and  died  at  the  Pumpelly 
home.  No.  i.  Elk  street.  Albany;  by  her  he 
had  no  issue. 

Delphine  Drake  was  born  at  Owego,  New 
York,  April  11,  181 1,  and  died  at  Owego, 
February  27,  1839,  aged  twenty-seven  years, 
ten  months  and  sixteen  days.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  Judge  John  Reuben  Drake  and 
Jerusha  Roberts.  Judge  Drake  w-as  born  at 
Pleasant  Valley,  New  York,  November  28, 
1782,  and  died  at  Owego,  March  24,  1857. 
He  was  a  projector  of  the  New  York  &  Erie 
railroad:  supervisor,  1813;  first  judge  of 
Broome  county,  1815-1823;  reappointed  that 
year  and  served  until  April  18,  1838 :  member 
of  congress,  1817-1819:  member  of  assembly, 
1834;  president  of  Owego  village,  1841  to 
1845,  inclusive  :  in  1823  was  one  of  three  com- 
missioners to  supervise  the  construction  of  the 
first  Tioga  county  courthouse :  a  man  of  great 
vigor  of  mind  and  body,  and  throughout  his 
life  a  factor  in  affairs  of  the  county  and  that 
portion  of  the  state  where  he  lived ;  Master  of 
the  Free  Masons'  lodge  of  Owego.  His 
father  was  the  Rev.  Reuben  Drake,  a  Baptist 
minister,  owner  of  large  property,  living  in  a 
fine,  stone  house,  and  married  Phoebe  Sher- 
wood. His  father  was  William  Drake,  a  large 
land  owner  and  a  man  of  wealth.  The  coat- 
of-arms  of  the  Drakes  is  yet  to  be  seen  on  a 
ring  belonging  to  Judge  Drake :  it  is  a  shield 
argent,  and  a  hibern  tailel  nowed  sable. 

Harmon  Pumpelly  and  Delphine  Drake  had 
issue : 

I.  Adeline  Jerusha.  born  at  Owego.  New 
York,  April  2",  1832:  residing  in  191 1  at  No. 
7  Elk  street,  Albany :  married  at  Albany,  May 
13,  1874,  James  Kidd :  no  issue  (see  forward). 
She  is  a  woman  possessing  the  kindest  of  in- 
stincts towards  all  with  whom  she  conies  in 
contact,  and  her  unknown  acts  of  charity  are 
of  daily  occurrence.  Her  home  is  regarded 
as  one  of  the  leading  salons  in  Albany,  where 
people  of   note   and   refinement  are    wont  to 


HUDSON   AXD  MOHAWTC  VALLEYS 


saiber.     Jtler  regard  for  ai?m\ak  of  erers-  de- 


28-  I-XJZ. 


i  direct  descend- 
iaieral  Read  was 
:f  the  Order  o€ 

!--_  _     _  -"-^i  nrinister  to 

Greece,  wbere  he  beci  rnate  friend 

of  King'  Georfe:  wa.^  -  ites  consnl- 

geaeral  to  France,  and  lirou^i^id  the  aege 
of  Parii  dnring^  the  Franoo-Pmssian  war.  re- 
maioed  ai  ins  pc^t.  despite  the  tact  that  a  cao- 
noa  tiall  pierced  bis  Toam. 

Ddpimie    ^larie    I^nnpelhr    and    General 
John  Sferexfitfa  Read  had  issue:    <^a>  HamioD 
Pompelhr.  boni  at  AJbauj,  Xew  York,  Jnlr  13, 
1S60:  educated  at  Paris.  France,  and  Athens. 
Greece,  also  at  St  John's  MiKtarr  School,  and 
'^-^—  "-"e^e:  i^om  oi  Roral  Geographical 
Loodoo.  also  of  die  Geognq^bxal 
■   Paris:  member  of  Historical  So- 
cietv   of    Xew   York   and   of    Penastlvania; 
rr-^rJerrr  of  die  Yoong  Men's  .Associatioo ; 
:    ride  practice.   Natiooal   Gtiard. 
Yith  TzA.  oi  major :  Mason,  thir- 
i .  T<^.  :. .  itigree :  captain-genera!    -'  -    -  -  -     -  f 
die  Golden  Cord,  .Ancient  Fren: 
eent  of  Philip  Livingston  Chap :  :' 

?-  •-:  member  of  the  Cincinnau  vi  Li*ia- 
-  i-T  J  rrroor-general  of  the  Order  of  Albi- 
'.n  -.  i.zr/-ArAeA  hy  maror  of  .ABianr  to  serre  as 
^rrmg  chairman  on  coamnttee  to  receire  Ehike 
of  Veragna :  secretarr  of  a  committee  to  wel- 
come the  Postal  Congress.  Hon.  John  Boyd 
Thadier.  mayor :  and  in  ReptAhcaa  drde?  his 
a-^-.-'e  fe  often  soaght.  He  married,  at  St. 
T-.-hr. ;   Chnrch,   Stanford,   Coanecticnt,   \a- 


gnst  zx.  1880.  by  Rev.  W.  Tattock,  D.  D., 

=  ~        ^'~  '--—-Trite  de  Carroa    d"   ABondans, 

Moosienr  Jacques   Frederic  de 

radans.     moiiicipal     counaDor 

iSjf.  died  in  1870),  who  married. 

-    T*6f    C^tfcerine  Marguerite  PiUard. 

-    of    Monsieur    Georges 

'   d'AUondans,  warden  of 

—   -    — 2I  cooDcinor,  a 

.xh  respected. 

-;:  -Aznre  three 

^^  e*      ciiiTOtis  or  >  x  ucs  1 .     \_  rcsi .    Out  of  a  corona 

e  La      an  eagle  displayed  bearii^  cm  the  breast  a  tile 

' '1        or.     Motto:     Loyante.     'b»  Emily  Meredith. 

IXHTi  at  Albany.  Xew  York.  Jannary  7.  1863; 

married    (first*    at   Xewport.   Rhode   Island, 

Acgnst  21,  1884.   Hon.  Francis  .\qnila  Stoat, 

president  of  the  Xicaragna  Canal  Company. 

son  of  -A-  G.  Stoat  and  Lonise  Morris,  of  Mor- 

rissania,  and  he  died  at  the  Thousand  Islands, 

Johr  18.  1892.     Louise  Morris  was  daiigfater 

of   Coionel   Lewis    Morris,   a    signer   of  the 

Dedaiation   of   Independence.     She  married 

(seoood)     at     Paris,     Edwards     Spencer,     a 

descendant  of  Jonathan  Edwards.     <  c  1  John 

Meredith,  bom  at  Albany.  Xew  York.  Jmie 

27,  1869:  raised  a  regiment  of  more  than  two 

thousand  men  to  aid  the  United  States  in  lib- 

eratioa  of  Coba  in  1898,  and  a  member  of  a 

ntimber  of  organizations:  married,  at  Rome. 

1900,  Coontess  .\lix  de  Foras    <"  daughter  of 

Coont  -Amede  de  Foras.  of  the  Castle  of  Thuy- 

set).  who  was  bom  at  Thuyset  in   1866:  by 

whom:  John  Meredith  Read   flVj.  bom   at 

PontOTse,    Xorember   12.    1901,  presented  to 

Depaty    Mayor.    Xovember    15.    1901.      (d) 

Marie  Ddphine,  bom  at  Paris,  ilardi  9,  1873 ; 

married,  at  Paris  in  the  Chnrch  of  St  Philippe 

dn  Roole.  Xovember  5.  1895.  Coont  Max  de 

Foras,  Knight  of  St.  Manrice  and  Lazare.  son 

of  Coont  .Amede  de  Foras    ( Knight  of  the 

Sovereign  Order  of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem), 

tnr  whom:  Coontess  Hngnette.  Coontess  Del- 

pfaine  and  Coont  Joseph. 

.Arms  of  Foras:  Or  a  cross  azure.  The 
Foras  family  were  represented  in  the  third 
crusade  by  Barle  de  Foras. 

James  Kidd,  son  of  .\rchibald  Kidd.  of 
Ballston.  Xew  York,  was  a  stsccessful  and 
prominent  .Albanian.  In  a  nttmber  of  ways 
be  figured  in  the  citj-'s  pobUc  life,  as  well  as 
in  its  bosin^s  affairs.  S\"hen  he  died  be  was 
wdD  classed  as  one  who  had  been  among 
Albany's  most  earnest  and  progressive  citizens. 
and  had  coatriboted  a  fall  share  to  its  leading 
interests. 

He  was  paymaster  general  of  the  State,  with 
the  rank  of  cotonel.  January-  i.  1&47.  He  was 
Albany  ootmty  treasurer  for  the  three  years 
commencing  in  1848.    He  was  appointed  post- 


HUDSON   AND   MOH-WVK   \ALLEYS 


master  of  Albany  and  held  office  1858-61.  He 
was  in  1863  and  for  a  number  of  years  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  water  commissioners,  and 
did  all  he  could  towards  the  adoption  of  the 
system  to  yield  an  adequate  supply.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  board  of  trustees  of  the  Albany 
Cit]i-  Savings  Institution  when  incorporated, 
March  29,  1850.  When  the  .Albany  Railway 
Company  was  incorporated.  September  14, 
1863.  he  was  a  member  of  the  board,  and  upon 
organizing  was  elected  the  first  president  of 
that  concern,  which  was  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant in  the  cit>-.  He  was  a  trustee  of  the 
-Albany  Savings  Bank  and  a  director  of  the 
.■\lbany  Insurance  Company.  In  many  re- 
spects he  was  a  self-made  man,  imbued  with 
public  spirit  and  ever  ready  to  help  others  to 
do  as  he  had  done.  Charities  likewise  engaged 
his  attention  as  a  delight,  and  he  gave  to  the 
Albany  Guardian  Societv-  the  site  for  its  Home 
for  the  Friendless,  which  was  opened,  free 
from  debt.  May  5.  1870.  at  the  comer  of  Clin- 
ton avenue  and  Perr},-  street. 

Securing  a  position  in  the  dr\--goods  house 
of  Isaac  W.  Staats.  at  the  northwest  comer 
of  Broadway  and  Maiden  Lane,  on  beginning 
his  business  career,  he  applied  himself  with 
such  perseverance  to  his  vocation,  that  he  was 
enabled  six  years  later  to  engage  in  the  busi- 
ness for  himself  in  the  .Athenaeum  Building 
on  Broadway,  north  of  State  street.  After  a 
few  years  he  turned  his  attention  to  a  new 
branch  and  opened  a  carpet  store  on  the  prom- 
inent comer  of  Broadway  and  State  street.  He 
was  a  Whig  in  politics,  and  when  given  office 
in  recognition  of  personal  worth  and  for  ef- 
ficient part\-  services,  always  filled  the  same 
with  unimpeachable  integrity. 

His  home  was  at  Xo.  7  Elk  street,  and  he 
died  there  May  20.  1879.  The  Albany  Gas- 
light Company's  directors  voiced  the  senti- 
ment :  "He  had  long  been  a  member  of 
the  hoard  and  a  constant  and  sagacious 
trustee  of  the  many  interests  he  was  called 
to  preserve.  His  judgment  was  always  the 
result  of  careful  consideration  and  his  ac- 
tion was  both  pmdent  and  wise."  The 
.Albany  Savings  Bank  testified :  ""His  ex- 
cellent business  qualifications  and  experi- 
ence, his  strict  integrity  and  sound  judg- 
ment, made  his  services  useful,  and  the  kind- 
ness of  his  heart  made  intercourse  pleasant." 
The  Albany  Insurance  Company  directors  sub- 
scribed :  "-An  intercourse  of  many  years  has 
made  this  board  the  witness  of  his  great  integ- 
rity and  stability  of  character,  of  his  uniform 
courtesv  and  urbanity  of  manner :  his  sound 
and  practical  judgment,  together  with  the 
value  and  wamith  of  his  friendship." 

Probablv  no  institution  in  .Albanv  missed  his 


assistance  so  much  as  St.  Peters  Episcopal 
Church,  of  which  vestn.-  he  was  a  member  and 
which  resolved:  "With  profound  grief  and  a 
deep  sense  of  personal  bereavement,  the  \'es- 
tr>-  of  St.  Peters  Church  records  the  death. 
He  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  most  in- 
fluential citizens  of  this  coiiununit>-.  His  quiet 
courtesy,  his  wise  forethought,  his  high  sense 
of  mercantile  honor  and  unimpeachable  in- 
tegrity, gave  him  an  eminent  position  among 
his  associates.  He  was  a  man  of  singularly 
sound  judgment  and  honorable  life,  of  large 
and  discriminating  charitj-.  and  of  a  thought- 
ful and  intelligent  concern  in  questions  touch- 
ing public  good.  He  was  devotedly  attached 
to  the  parish  of  which  he  was  for  many  years 
vestr>-man.  and  he  had  an  unflagging  interest 
in  its  welfare.  He  was  prompt  to  aid  everj- 
department  of  its  religious  and  charitable 
work  with  judicious  counsel  and  generous 
gifts,  and  at  the  same  time  unremitting  in  his 
attendance." 

James  Kidd  married  (firsts  Jane  Maria 
Shepard:  by  whom:  i.  James,  the  well 
known  artist,  and  who  held  ^■arious  militar}- 
commissions.  2.  William,  bom  at  Albany. 
March  7.  1842;  residing  in  Washington.  D. 
C.  in  191 1 :  married.  June  2^.  1869.  Caroline 
Minerva  Manindale.  who  was  bom  at  Ba- 
ta\-ia.  Xew  York.  October  17.  1851.  daughter 
of  General  Martindale :  by  whom  :  Harr].-  Mar- 
tindale.  and  Jane  Manindale.  who  married 
Am.asa  J.  Parker,  Jr.  3.  Robert,  horn  at  Al- 
bany. March  7.  1S42  (twinV  4.  Howard,  bom 
at  .Albany:  married  Elizabeth  (daughter  of 
Judge  Xott>.  who  died  at  Scarsdale,  Xew 
York.  Januan.-  22,  1911. 

James  Kidd  married  (second").  AdeUne  J. 
Piimpellv.  at  .Albanv.  Xew  York.  Mav  13. 
1874- 


The  maternal  ancestor  of 
STOCKWELL     llysses  G.  Stockyell.  of 

-Albany.  Xew  York,  is 
John  \\etherbee,  bom  in  England  and  an 
early  settler  at  Sudbun.-  and  Marlboro.  Massa- 
chusetts. The  earliest  form  of  the  name  in 
X'ew  England  was  Witherby.  but  has  since 
passed  through  several  changes,  as  Wetherby, 
Witherbee.  \Vetherbee.  Weatherby.  etc.  The 
Xew  York  family  generally  use  the  form, 
Witherbee.  John  \\etherbee  married  (first") 
in  Marlboro.  Massachusetts.  September  18, 
1672.  Man,-  Howe,  bom  June  18.  1654.  died  in 
Stow.  Massachusetts.  June  5.  1684.  daughter 
of  John  and  Mary  Howe.  He  married 
(second*  Lydia  More,  who  survived  him. 

(in  John  (2").  son  of  John  (i)  and  Marj' 
(Howei  Wetherbee.  was  bom  in  MarlK->ro. 
Massachusetts.  March  26,  1675.     He  resided 


456 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


in  Stow,  Massachusetts,  where  he  died  about 
1720.  By  wife  Catherine  he  had  seven  sons 
and  one  daughter. 

(HI)  Hezekiah,  son  of  John  (2)  and  Cath- 
erine \\'etherbee,  married,  April  23,  1728, 
Huldali,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Alary 
(Gove)  Martyn.  They  resided  a  short  time 
in  Marlboro,  where  their  eldest  child  was  born. 
In  1729  he  removed  to  Lunenburg,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  there  resided  until  his  death. 
The  exact  date  of  his  demise  is  not  known, 
but  was  prior  to  1759,  as  on  that  date  inten- 
tions of  marriage  were  published  between 
"Abel  Platts  of  Rowley,  Canada,  to  Phebe 
\\'etherbee,  daughter  of  Widow  Wether- 
bee  from  over  beyond  Mulpus."  Mulpus 
is  the  name  of  a  brook  in  Lunenburg. 
Widow  Huldah  Wetherbee  married  (second) 
January  12,  1773,  Deacon  Ephraim  Peirce,  of 
Lunenburg,  whom  she  survived,  later  remov- 
ing to  Rindge,  New  Hampshire,  with  her  chil- 
dren. Children:  Benjamin,  died  young; 
Thomas ;  Phebe,  died  young ;  Sarah,  married 
Noah  Dodge,  a  soldier  of  the  revolution ; 
John;  Abraham;  Hezekiah;  Rachel;  Benja- 
min (2),  a  soldier  of  the  revolution;  Mary; 
Kezia. 

(I\')  Thomas,  son  of  Hezekiah  and  Huldah 
(Martyn)  Wetherbee,  was  born  in  Lunen- 
burg, Massachusetts,  November  27,  1730.  He 
removed  to  Rindge,  Massachusetts,  between 
1777  and  1780,  and  to  New  Ipswich,  same 
state,  in  1800.  He  married,  April  22,  1756, 
Hannah  Munroe,  of  Carlisle,  Massachusetts. 
Children,  all  born  in  Lunenburg:  i.  Thomas, 
August  7,  1757;  married  Maria  Sawtell.  2. 
Daniel,  December  16,  1758;  married  Hepsibah 
Merriam.  3.  Hepsibah,  February  28,  1760; 
married  Nathan  Hewett.  4.  Isaac,  September 
2,  1761 ;  married  Llannah  Knapp.  5.  Sarah. 
March  30,  1763;  married  (first)  Joshua 
Heald ;  (second)  a  Mr.  Hamblin ;  (third)  a 
Mr.  Nesmith.  6.  David,  of  further  mention. 
7.  Hannah.  February  16,  1766;  married  Tilley 
Mason.  8.  Lucy.  August  4,  1767 ;  married 
Gregory  Fairlie.  9.  Josiah.  March  17,  1769; 
married  Lavina  Hyde.  10.  Martha,  October 
16,  1771  ;  married  Benjamin  Bachellcr.  11. 
Molley,  November  14,  1773. 

rV)  David,  son  of  Thomas  and  Hannah 
(Munroe)  Wetherbee,  was  born  in  Lunen- 
burg, Massachusetts,  May  31,  1764.  Tie  re- 
moved to  the  state  of  Maine,  later  settling  in 
Washington  county.  New  York.  He  served  in 
the  war  of  1812  against  Great  Britain  and  re- 
ceived an  award  of  money  for  his  services. 
After  the  war  he  removed  to  Oswego  county. 
New  York,  where  he  died.  He  married,  in 
Massachusetts,  Esther  Hathorne,  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts   family    of    Judge    Hathorne,    the 


"Witchcraft"  judge,  and  of  Nathaniel  Haw- 
thorne, the  distinguished  author. 

(VI)  Waldron  S.,  son  of  David  and  Esther 
(Hathorne)  Witherbee  (as  the  name  is  now 
used  in  the  family),  was  born  in  1802  (per- 
haps in  Connecticut,  where  David  may  have 
lived  for  a  time)  ;  came  to  Washington  coun- 
ty, New  York,  in  1818,  settled  in  the  town 
of  Dresden,  where  he  died  in  1883,  aged 
eighty-one  years.  He  was  collector  of  the 
town  in  1865 ;  a  prosperous  farmer ;  member 
of  the  Baptist  church ;  a  Republican  in  politics. 
He  married  Paulina  Guilford,  born  in  Hamp- 
ton, Washington  county,  New  York,  in  1810, 
died  1876.  She  was  also  an  active  member  of 
the  Baptist  church.  Children:  i.  Marcena,  of 
further  mention.  2.  Robins  M.,  born  Novem- 
ber 16,  1843;  became  a  leading  wholesale  and 
retail  merchant  of  W' hitehall.  New  York ;  a 
veteran  of  the  civil  war  and  prominent  in  his 
coirmunity ;  married  Mary  L.  McLaughlin; 
children  :  Minnie  E.,  married  Emmet  L.  Gray  ; 
Clayton  R. ;  Ada  J.  3.  Waldron.  4.  John  J., 
of  Dresden,  New  York. 

(VII)  Marcena,  daughter  of  Waldron  S. 
and  Paulina  (Guilford)  Witherbee,  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Dresden,  Washington  county, 
New  York,  in  1833,  died  in  1870.  She  mar- 
ried Isaac  Hall,  the  revolutionary  soldier  and 
the  adopted  son  of  .\braham  Stockwell,  born 
1792,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Dresden,  married 
but  without  children.  Abraham  was  no  doubt 
a  descendant  of  Abel  (3)  Stockwell.  of  Marl- 
borough. \'ermont,  born  in  IMassachusetts, 
1744.  kept  an  inn  which  was  a  great  resort 
for  the  "Green  Mountain  Boys"  during  the 
revolution,  served  as  a  soldier  during  almost 
the  entire  revolutionary  period,  received  a  sol- 
dier's grant  of  land  in  New  York  state.  His 
father,  Abel  (2)  Stockwell,  born  in  1708,  was 
the  first  actual  settler  of  Marlliorough.  \^er- 
mont,  where  he  was  sheriff  and  inn  keeper. 
Sessions  of  court  were  frequently  held  at  his 
inn.  Abel  (i)  Stockwell  was  of  Salem,  Mas- 
sachusetts, had  a  brother  Quinton  who  was 
captured  by  the  Indians  from  his  home  in 
Dcerfield,  Massachusetts,  September  19,  1677, 
taken  to  Canada,  ransomed  in  1678  and  re- 
turned to  his  home  by  way  of  Albany,  New 
York.  Isaac  Hall  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Queensbury,  Warren  county,  New  York, 
Alarch  23,  1838.  He  was  educated  in  the 
l>ul)lic  schools.  After  his  adoption  by  Abra- 
liam  Stockwell  (whose  name  he  took  legally) 
he  lived  in  Dresden,  Washington  county, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood.  He  was  a  boat- 
man on  the  canal  and  river,  later  worked  at 
the  carpenter's  trade.  His  residence  is  now 
(1910)  at  Ticonderoga.  He  married  Mar- 
cena Witherbee.    She  was  a  devout  Congrega- 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


457 


tionalist.  Children:  i.  Abraham,  born  1863, 
died  February  6,  1905  :  married  but  had  no 
children.  2.  Ulysses  G.,  of  further  mention. 
3.  Dorcas,  died  in  infancy. 

(VHI)  Ulysses  Grant,  second  son  of  Isaac 
and  Marcena  (Witherbee)  Stockwell,  was 
born  in  Dresden,  New  York,  April  6,  1867. 
He  was  educated  in  the  town  schools  of  Dres- 
den, New  York,  and  West  Haven,  Vermont, 
and  at  Troy  Business  College,  where  he  was 
graduated  in  1886.  He  began  his  business 
career  as  a  life  insurance  agent  in  Troy,  New 
York,  and  was  so  successful  and  well  adapted 
to  the  business  that  he  made  rapid  strides 
upward.  He  was  appointed  general  agent  for 
the  state  of  Vermont  by  the  Washington  Life 
Insurance  Company,  with  offices  at  Rutland, 
and  continued  until  1890.  For  the  following 
three  years  he  was  manager  for  the  United 
States  Life  Insurance  Company  with  head- 
quarters at  Scranton  and  Philadelphia,  Penn- 
sylvania. From  1893  to  1896  he  was  superin- 
tendent of  agencies  for  the  Netherland  Life 
Insurance  Company  with  offices  in  New  York 
city  and  Albany.  This  company  retiring  from 
business,  Mr.  Stockwell  assumed  a  similar 
position  with  the  American  Life  Insurance 
Company,  continuing  with  that  company  until 
1898.  In  that  year  he  retired  from  the  life 
insurance  field  and  has  since  been  engaged  as 
a  real  estate  operator  and  general  contractor 
in  Albany.  He  has  been  a  potent  factor  in  the 
improvement  of  the  city,  where  he  has  erected 
two  hundred  and  twenty-five  dwellings.  His 
greatest  activity  has  been  in  the  erection  of 
houses  and  modern  apartments,  in  the  latter 
having  introduced  features  and  conveniences 
hitherto  unknown  in  .Albany.  He  is  a  man  of 
great  energy  and  has  gained  his  prominence 
in  Albany  solely  by  his  own  force  of  character 
and  acknowledged  reliability  in  business  deal- 
ings. He  is  well-known  and  highly  respected 
by  all  who  know  him.  He  is  of  the  Presby- 
terian faith,  and  a  Republican  in  politics.  He 
holds  all  degrees  in  the  Masonic  order  except 
the  thirty-third  degree  of  the  Scottish  Rite. 
He  is  affiliated  with  Temple  Lodge.  No.  14, 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons ;  Champlain  Chap- 
ter, No.  25,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  of  Whitehall, 
New  York ;  DeWitt  Clinton  Council,  No.  22, 
Royal  and  Select  Masters ;  Temple  Comman- 
dery.  No.  2 ;  Knights  Templar ;  Cyprus  Tem- 
ple, Ancient  Arabic  Order  of  the  Nobles  of 
the  Mystic  Shrine ;  .Albany  Sovereign  Con- 
sistory. -Ancient  .Accepted  Scottish  Rite.  He 
married,  June  30,  1891,  Florence,  daughter  of 
^^'illiam  and  granddaughter  of  Samuel  Clark, 
born  in  Sharon,  Vermont,  who  had  children: 
Harry,  Emmeline,  .Amanda  and  William. 
William   Clark  was   born   in    1819,    and   died 


1899.  He  married,  March  26,  1844,  Eveline, 
daughter  of  William  Porter,  of  Quechee,  \'er- 
mont.  Children :  Helen,  William,  John,  Sam- 
uel, Florence,  who  married  Ulysses  G.  Stock- 
well.  Children :  Anna  Porter,  born  April  6, 
1893 :  Florence  C,  May  30,  1901 ;  Helen,  June 
7,  1904. 


Hon.  \'erplanck  Colvin,  super- 
COL\'IN  intendent  of  the  New  York 
State  Land  Survey,  was  born  in 
Albany,  New  York,  January  4,  1847.  His 
father  was  the  Senator,  Hon.  Andrew  James 
Colvin,  who  was  born  at  Coeymans,  Albany 
county,  New  York,  April  30,  1808,  and  died 
at  -Albany,  July  8,  1889.  Senator  Colvin  mar- 
ried, in  Trinity  Church,  Newark,  New  Jersey, 
September  2,  1845,  Margaret  Crane  -Ailing, 
born  at  Newark,  New  Jersey,  March  19,  1812, 
died  in  .Albany,  New  York,  June  25,  igoo. 

The  Colvins  are  a  family  of  ancient  Eng- 
lish lineage,  the  first  appearance  of  the  name 
in  English  history  occurring  in  the  old  chron- 
icles, wherein  it  is  stated  that  Colvin,  Duke 
of  Col-chester,  or  Kaer-Colvin  ("Col-chestcr" 
equivalent  to  "Colvin-town"),  became  King 
of  P.ritain  and  rejected  the  authority  of  the 
Roman  Emperor.  The  Roman  general,  Con- 
stantius,  being  sent  against  him  with  an  army, 
a  truce  was  made  and  Constantius  married 
Helen  Colvin,  daughter  of  the  king.  The  son 
of  this  union  was  Constantine,  afterwards  Em- 
peror of  Rome,  and  called  "The  Great,"  who 
was  the  first  Christian  emperor.*  His  moth- 
er. Helen,  was  the  Saint  Helena,  of  the  an- 
cient Catholic  Church,  so  honored  as  the 
discoverer  at  Jerusalem  of  the  remain,s  of  the 
"true  cross"  on  which  tlie  Savior  died,  which 
facts  may  be  found  more  fully  brought  out  in 
Geoffrey's  British  History,  chapter  vi.,  Graf- 
ton's Chronicles :  Heylyn  Chronicles,  p.  273. 

(I)  The  progenitor  of  the  Colvin  family  in 
-America  was  John  Colvin.  who  was  the  pa- 
ternal great-grandfather  of  Hon.  \'erplanck 
Colvin.  He  was  born  in  Scotland  in  1752, 
near  Castle  Douglas,  of  renowned  memory, 
and  came  to  this  country  from  there  in  1772, 
settling  at  Nine  Partners,  New  York,  where 
he  married  Sarah  Fuller.  She  was  born  in 
Connecticut,  -April  25,  1754,  and  was  a  de- 
scendant of  a  Mayflower  Pilgrim.  They  sub- 
sequently removed  to  Coeymans,  .Albanv  coun- 
ty, New  York,  where  he  died  January.  1814. 
Near  this  place  he  owned  a  large  farm,  situ- 
ated west  of  Coeymans  village  or  landing,  on- 
the  Hudson  river.  He  was  a  large  man,  pos- 
sessing   great    physical    strength    as    well    as 

*See  ancient  English  CTironicles  of  Britain  (Graf- 
ton, 1568,  p.  86-87-88-89),  and  Peter  Heylyn's  great 
"Cosmographi,"  Kings  of  Britain,  p.  273. 


458 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


strong  mental  qualities,  was  of  high  character, 
a  man  of  integrity  and  eminent  for  his  piety. 
In  1811  he  was  member  of  assembly,  being 
elected  on  the  same  ticket  with  Stephen  Van 
Rensselaer,  Abraham  Van  Vechten  and  Abel 
French,  all  prominent  men  of  his  day  in  New 
York  State. 

(H)  James  Colvin,  eldest  son  of  John  Col- 
vin  and  Sarah  Fuller,  was  born  at  Coeymans, 
New  York,  July  11,  1776,  and  died  in  Albany, 
New  York,  Alay  6,  1846.  He  married  Cath- 
erine Huyck  Verplanck,  which  brought  a 
wealth  of  ancient  American  history  into  the 
family.  She  was  born  in  Coeymans,  June 
30,  1778,  and  was  the  granddaughter  of  Da- 
vid \'erplanck  (son  of  Isaac  Verplanck,  tenth 
child  of  Abraham  ist),  whose  first  wife  was 
Ariaantje  Coeymans.  From  her  he  inherited 
a  great  part  of  the  Coeymans  Patent  in  Al- 
bany and  Greene  counties,  a  very  ancient  pat- 
ent or  manorial  grant,  located  before  the  Van 
Rensselaer  Patent  of  Rensselaerwyck,  or  Al- 
bany. 

David  Verplanck  was  born  April  14,  1695, 
and  married  (first),  July  16,  1723,  Ariaantje, 
daughter  of  Barent  Pieterse  Coeymans,  born 
at  Coeymans,  October  19,  1672;  (second)  a 
Miss  Brouwer :  (third),  Catrina  Boom,  No- 
vember 10,  1752.  David  Verplanck 's  father 
was  Isaac  \'erplanck,  who  was  baptized  June 
26,  1641,  and  married  Abigail  Uytenbogart. 
Isaac  Verplanck's  father  was  Abraham 
Isaacse  Verplanck,  of  New  Amsterdam,  who 
emigrated  to  that  place  from  Holland  at  a 
time  when  there  were  only  fifteen  houses  on 
Manhattan  Island,  and  was  commander  of  the 
Dutch  forces  there  under  Governor  Kieft  in 
the  first  war  with  the  Indians.  In  the  house 
•of  the  Verplancks  at  Fishkill.  New  York, 
where  some  of  the  family  settled  in  1682, 
the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati  was  formed. 
When  he  died  he  left  8,500  acres  of  the  Coey- 
mans Patent  to  each  of  his  four  children : 
Johannes,  Ariaantje,  Harriet  and  Isaac  Da- 
vidse. 

Ariaantje  Coeymans,  wife  of  David  Ver- 
planck, was  the  daughter  of  Barent  Pieterse 
Coeymans.  who  purchased  the  enormous  tract 
bearing  his  name.  He  was  the  son  of  Picter 
Coeymans.  also  a  miller,  the  progenitor  of 
his  family  in  America,  who  came  from  LTtrecht 
in  1636,  and  he  married  the  daughter  of  .A.n- 
dries  De  Vos.  Barent,  first  owner  of  the  mill 
at  Coeymans,  had  litigation  with  the  Patroon 
\'an  Rensselaer,  because  he  had  dealings  be- 
fore the  Patroon  with  the  native  Indians  for 
the  tract  of  land  measuring  ten  or  twelve 
miles  along  the  Hudson  river.  It  was  decided 
in  Coeymans'  favor  in  1714,  antl  he  obtained 
a  patent  from  Queen  Anne  confirming  the  en- 


tire tract  to  him.  Upon  a  commanding  site, 
near  the  Hudson  river,  was  erected  the  old 
stone  mansion,  the  oldest  building  in  the 
place,  and  still  an  object  of  great  interest, 
once  called  the  "Coeymans'  Castle." 

(Ill)  Hon.  Andrew  J.  Colvin  was  born  at 
Coeymans,  New  York,  April  30,  1808,  and 
died  at  Albany,  New  York,  July  8,  1889.  He 
was  corporation  counsel  of  Albany ;  district 
attorney  for  Albany  county,  the  first  ever 
elected  in  that  county,  and  state  senator  dur- 
ing 1 860- 1 86 1.  He  was  author  of  the  act 
giving  women  their  legal  rights,  and  of  the 
act  abolishing  the  death  penalty,  which  was 
restored  after  he  left  the  senate.  He  was 
noted  for  his  patriotism  during  the  civil  war, 
and  was  chosen  by  the  legislature  to  be  presi- 
dent of  the  joint  session  of  the  New  York 
State  assembly  and  senate,  selected  by  the  leg- 
islature to  receive  Abraham  Lincoln  on  his 
visit  to  Albany,  which  was  the  only  reception 
ever  given  by  the  state  to  the  martyr  Presi- 
dent. 

Andrew  James  Colvin  married,  at  Newark, 
New  Jersey,  September  2,  1845,  Margaret 
Crane  Ailing,  daughter  of  Prudden  Ailing 
and  Maria  Halsey,  of  Newark,  New  Jersey. 
She  was  a  niece  of  Colonel  John  Ford,  and 
related  to  General  Prudden  of  the  revolu- 
tionary army,  and  by  marriage  of  her  aunt, 
^latikia  (Rosekrans)  Halsey,  to  General  Ebe- 
nezer  Foote  of  the  Continental  army, 
an  old  Delaware  county  family.  She  was  a 
descendant  of  Roger  Ailing  (ist)  progenitor 
of  the  family  in  America,  who  came  to  this 
coimtry  in  1639,  settling  in  New  Haven,  Con- 
necticut. 

When  the  Rev.  Mr.  Davenport  proposed 
to  found  Yale  College,  Roger  Ailing  was  the 
first  to  respond  and  say  he  "would  send  his 
son"  there.  Roger  Alling's  eldest  son  Samuel 
married  Sarah  Winston,  of  the  old  Cecil 
(Churchill.  Marlborough)  families;  their  eld- 
est son.  Samuel,  Jr.,  married,  at  New  Haven, 
in  1690,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Thomas  Curry, 
and  removed  to  Newark,  New  Jersey,  1702 ; 
their  son,  Samuel  Ailing  (3d),  the  deacon, 
married  Abigail  Prudden,  granddaughter  of 
Rev.  John  Prudden  (2nd),  minister  of  the 
first  church  of  Newark.  They  had  a  son, 
John  .'Mling  (3rd),  first  of  Newark,  who  mar- 
ried Abigail  Young  of  Newark ;  their  son, 
John  .filing  (4th"),  born  in  1746,  at  Newark, 
married  Martha  Crane,  of  Newark,  a  descend- 
ant of  Jasper  Crane.  The  third  son  of  this 
John  .Ailing  (4th)  was  Prudden  Ailing,  of 
Newark,  born  October  20,  1779,  who  married, 
March  16.  1806,  Maria  Halsey.  Prudden  Ail- 
ing died  at  Newark,  January  31,  1857.  Their 
.youngest  daughter  was  Margaret  Crane  All- 


HUDSON    AND    MOTIAWK    \"ALLEYS 


459 


ing.  who  was  tlie  mother  of  \'erplanck  Col- 
Tin. 

Prucklen  Ailing  in  later  life  had  vessels  ply- 
ing between  Savannah,  Georgia,  and  Newark, 
A'ew  Jersey,  and  when  he  dosed  his  business 
at  the  former  place,  drove  all  the  distance  in 
liis  carriage  to  Ballston,  New  York,  to  visit 
his  relatives,  the  Ball  family.  He  owned  many 
negro  slaves,  but  gave  them  all  their  free- 
dom, as  did  also  the  Colvin  family,  setting 
them  free  in  Albany  county  before  the  act 
emancipating  slaves  in  New  York  state  was 
passed. 

(  )f  interest  to  the  family  is  the  fact  that 
a  daughter  of  the  Mr.  Ball  mentioned,  married 
a  Pierson,  and  was  called  by  the  Allings, 
".Aunty"  Pierson.  Her  father,  Mr.  Ball,  was 
a  conrtdential  officer  of  General  Washington ; 
was  captured  by  the  Hessians  on  Staten 
Island,  and  had  his  toes  crushed  by  the  butts 
of  the  muskets  of  these  soldiers,  and  finallv 
■was  killed  by  these  soldiers.  The  I'.all  family 
-vvas  relatctl  to  General  Washington's  mother. 

Pruddcn  .Ailing  had  an  uncle.  General  Prud- 
den,  who  married  a  Miss  Ogden,  of  Newark, 
New  Jersey.  General  Prudden  was  high 
sherif?  of  Alorris  county  when  Washington 
had  his  headquarters  there  at  and  after  the 
revolution,  and  he  took  his  nephew,  Prudden 
Ailing,  then  a  child,  to  W'ashington's  camp. 
It  was  there  afterwards  that  the  portrait  of 
Prudden  Ailing  was  painted,  showing  him  in 
scarlet  coat  and  powdered  hair  in  a  queue,  now 
owned  by  Ailing  Ward,  in  Ohio,  son  or  grand- 
son of  (General  Prndden's  sister.  A  portrait 
of  Washington  was  painted  in  the  same  stvle. 
and  is  now  in  the  national  capital.  General 
Prudden  brought  up  his  nephew,  Prudden  .Ail- 
ing, from  childhood.  John  .Ailing  (4th),  ma- 
ternal great-grandfather  of  Verplanck  Col- 
vin, in  1775  joined  a  company  of  minute  men 
of  the  American  patriots  and  was  chosen  third 
lieutenant.  He  was  in  the  battles  fought  at 
Newark  and  elsewhere.  The  family  records 
published  tell  of  his  severe  fighting,  face  to 
face,  with  the  British,  musket  in  hand,  at 
Newark.  In  .April.  1782,  he  was  wounded, 
by  a  bayonet,  in  the  thigh,  and  died  December 
2.  1795.  aged  forty-nine  years.  Prudden  Ail- 
ing, \'erplanck  Colvin's  grandfather,  was 
twenty  years  old  when  President  Washington 
died,  and  his  acquaintance  with  and  rela- 
tionship to  Washington  was  a  valued  feature 
•of  his  life. 

(T\'  I  Hon.  \'erplanck  Colvin,  son  of  Hon. 
Andrew  James  Colvin  and  Margaret  Crane 
Ailing,  was  born  at  Albany,  January  4,  1847. 
He  was  educated  at  home,  then  at  the  Albany 
Academy,  and  afterwards  by  private  tutors. 
At  a  later  period  he  was  for  a  short  time  an 


instructor  in  surveying,  engineering  and  geo- 
desy at  Hamilton  C'ollege,  New  York.  .At 
Nassau,  Rensselaer  county.  New  York,  whith- 
er his  family  removed  shortly  after  the  out- 
break of  the  civil  war,  he  indulged  his  taste 
for  outdoor  life  and  laid  the  foundation  of 
his  love  for  topographical  science  by  prepar- 
ing topographical  maps  of  the  country.  He 
next  studied  law  under  his  father,  practicing 
successfully  in  the  minor  courts,  but  inclined 
more  and  more  to  scientific  pursuits. 

He  kept  up  his  interest  in  topography  and 
military  map  reconnaissance;  allied  himself 
closely  with  the  .Albany  Institute  (one  of  the 
oldest  and  most  eminent  scientific  and  literary 
organizations  in  America,  dating  to  1791), 
and  organized  a  very  successful  course  of  free 
scientific  lectures  in  tiie  State  Geological  Hall, 
Albany.  Continuing  his  topographical  and  ge- 
ological studies  in  iSCi^,  he  began  his  explora- 
tion of  the  Adirondack  wilderness,  corrected 
many  errors  in  existing  maps  of  that  region, 
and  during  several  successive  summers  con- 
tinued this  line  of  work  so  pleasing  to  him  by 
natural  bent.  In  1870  he  made  the  first  ascent 
and  measurement  of  the  height  of  Mt.  Sew- 
ard, and  about  that  time  discbvered  the  re- 
markable errors  of  the  local  variations  of  the 
compass  needle  in  northern  New  York-,  which 
render  bearings  taken  in  most  parts  of  these 
mountains  valueless  without  long,  skillful 
study.  It  was  during  this  winter  that  he  killed 
a  huge  bear  in  close  combat  in  the  snow,  near 
Lake  Pleasant,  Hamilton  county,  in  the  -Adi- 
rondacks. 

In  i86g  he  made  a  critical  topographical 
and  geological  survey  of  the  Helderbergh 
mountains  of  New  York,  finely  illustrated  by 
his  sketches.  A  brief  abstract  of  this  work 
was  published  by  the  Harpers- — who  had  the 
famous  engraver.  Harry  Fenn,  jirejiare  the 
wood  cuts — and  Mr.  Colvin  was  ])aid  by  the 
Harpers  at  the  same  rate  as  General  George 
P>.  McClellan  and  Horace  Greeley,  then  among 
the  most  famous  writers  in  America.  This 
gave  Verplanck  Colvin  a  high  position  in 
American  literature  and  led  to  more  impor- 
tant work,  among  which  was  bis  intimate  ac- 
quaintance with  the  great  New  York  State 
Geologist,  James  Hall  (who  afterwards 
brought  Sir  Joseph  Dalton  Hooker,  when  the 
latter  was  president  of  the  Royal  Society  of 
Great  Britain,  to  see  Mr.  Colvin).  Mr.  Colvin 
learned  much  from  James  Hall  on  geology ; 
and  the  mathematics  of  meteorology  and  as- 
tronomy from  Professor  George  W.  Hough, 
late  of  the  Dudley  Observatory  and  Dearborn 
Observatory. 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  winter  of 
1870    he    traveled    extensively    through    the 


460 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


Southern  States,  and  by  pen  and  pencil  illus- 
trated his  account  of  these  journeys.  In  1871 
he  crossed  the  great  plains  to  Colorado,  visit- 
ing Wyoming,  Nebraska  and  the  Black  Hills, 
and  was  the  first  to  ascend,  describe  and  map 
highest  peaks  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  sub- 
sequently writing  an  article  for  Harper's 
Mas^azine,  entitled  "The  Dome  of  the  Conti- 
nent." which  caused  the  name  "Dome  State" 
to  be  first  applied  to  Colorado.  He  was  elect- 
ed an  honorary  member  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tain Club  of  Denver,  an  honor  rarely  con- 
ferred, such  honor  being  limited  to  a  few 
special  explorers  of  the  Rockies,  including 
Lieutenant-General    Philip    H.    Sheridan.      In 

1871  Mr.  Colvin  urged  the  creation  of  the 
Adirondack    park    and    forest    preserve.      In 

1872  he  induced  the  New  York  state  legisla- 
ture to  make  the  first  appropriation  for  the 
state  survey  in  the  Adirondacks,  and  he  was 
accordingly  appointed  superintendent  of  that 
valuable  work,  as  well  as  of  other  state  sur- 
veys :  and  in  the  same  year  he  traced  the  Hud- 
son river  to  its  highest  lake  source,  Lake 
Tear  of  the  Clouds,  on  the  southern  flank  of 
Mt.  Marcy.  and  he  was  the  first  to  visit  and 
name  this  lake  and  source  of  the  HudscnT. 

In  1873  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  Com- 
mission of  the  State  Parks  of  New  York,  hav- 
ing been  the  first  to  recommend  making  the 
Adirondack  Forest  Preserve,  and  in  this  com- 
mission was  associated  with  William  A. 
Wheeler,  later  vice-president  of  the  LTnited 
States,  and  Horatio  Seymour,  governor  of 
New  York. 

In  1875  he  made  the  first  true  measurement 
with  level  and  rod  of  Mt.  Marcy,  the  highest 
peak  in  New  York  state,  proving  its  altitude 
to  be  5,344  feet  above  sea  level.  His  services 
have  been  of  great  value  to  the  state  and  sci- 
ence at  large,  and  the  highest  mountain  on 
the  eastern  shore  of  the  lower  Ausablc  lake, 
in  the  eastern  Adirondacks,  bears  his  name. 
This  title  was  given  to  the  lake  by  Rev.  Theo- 
dore L.  Cuyler,  of  Brooklyn,  New  York,  in 
the  New  York  Independent,  many  years  ago. 
Mr.  Colvin  was  the  first  man  to  climb  this 
mountain,  and  he  has  climbed  and  measured 
all  the  highest  peaks  of  the  Adirondack  re- 
gion. 

In  1876  he  explored  the  headwaters  of  the 
Moose  river  and  Beaver  river  region,  finding 
numerous  lakes  never  before  placed  on  any 
map.  In  1877,  while  exploring  on  snowslioes 
among  the  mountains  at  the  head  of  Red 
river,  he  encountered  an  enormous  panther, 
which  had  just  killed  a  deer,  and  he  killed 
the  panther  by  a  single  shot  from  his  rifle. 

In  1881  he  was  called  upon  to  lecture  on 
higher   surveying  and   geodesy   at   Hamilton 


College,  New  York,  at  the  suggestion:  of  his- 
friend,  the  great  astronomer,  Professor  C.  H. 
F.  Peters  (who  was  the  discoverer  of  thirty- 
six  of  the  minor  planets  of  our  solar  system )  ; 
and,  at  this  time,  Mr.  Colvin  was  the  guest 
of  President  Darling. 

In  1882  he  was  chosen,  with  Governor 
Alonzo  B.  Cornell,  one  of  the  New  York  dele- 
gates to  the  first  American  Forestry  Congress, 
and  read  an  important  paper  before  that  learn- 
ed body. 

In  1883  he  was  given  full  and  comjilete 
charge  of  the  New  York  State  Land  Survey, 
which  ofiice  he  held  a  great  many  years.  In 
1888,  when  the  national  government  was  pro- 
posing to  erect  new  gun  foundries  for  the- 
great  cannon  which  have  proved  so  excellent, 
he  showed  in  an  able  paper  that  the  most  se- 
cure location  for  the  factory  was  at  the  Water- 
vliet  arsenal,  near  Albany,  that  city  being  "the 
sole  unconqnered  capital  of  the  zi'orld."  Con- 
gress ■  adopted  his  views,  and  he  was  called 
into  consultation  by  the  ordnance  officers  of 
the  United  States  army.  In  recognition  of 
this  service  the  Albany  Burgesses'  Corps  pre- 
sented Mr.  Colvin  with  a  handsome  sword. 
In  1891  he  was  nominated  for  the  office  of 
state  engineer  and  surveyor,  and  polled  538,- 
000  votes,  being  4,000  ahead  of  the  candidate- 
tor  governor. 

In  1893  he  represented  the  state  of  New 
York  in  the  reception  to  the  Duke  of  X'eragua- 
and  family,  the  descendants  of  Columbus,  at 
the  Capitol,  and  traveled  with  them  to  the 
lakes  and  mountains  of  this  state,  in  this- 
manner  establishing  a  friendship  with  that 
family  which  has  since  been  maintained  by 
correspondence. 

Mr.  Colvin  was  chosen  president  of  the  an- 
cient scientific  society,  the  Albany  Institute, 
to  succeed  the  late  I.eonard  Kip,  the  gifted' 
author.  As  such  he  conducted  it  upon  a  high' 
basis  of  learning,  following  his  ideas  that  this 
organization  was  the  leader  in  higher  educa- 
tional matters  at  Albany  and  the  people  should' 
be  made  acquainted  witli  all  recent  discover- 
ies and  inventions  by  listening  to  the  descrip- 
tions given  by  the  originators  themselves.  In- 
this  way  he  secured  men  of  wide  note  to- 
discuss  topics  of  valuable  historical,  scientific 
and  technical  concerns  of  the  day.  His  own 
paper,  niathematically  jjroving  from  the  rec- 
ords given  by  Plutarch,  that  this  continent 
was  known  to  the  PhcEnecians  and  Cartlia- 
genians,  is  very  important. 

From  the  allusions  made  to  Plutarch  to  tlie 
position  of  the  star  Saturn,  to  the  direction 
of  the  sun  at  its  extreme  northerly  elongation- 
about  the  time  of  the  first  century  of  the  Chris- 
tian era,  to  the  length  of  the  days  and  nights 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


461 


:at  the  extreme  north  point  reached  by  the 
vovagcrs,  to  their  account  of  stopijing-  at  Bri- 
tain, and  the  distance  sailed  on  the  outward 
voyage  to  this  continent,  the  height  of  the 
tides,  the  ice  in  the  rivers,  the  warmth  of 
the  tropical  climate  of  the  countries  upon  the 
Mexican  Gulf,  and  the  voyage  directly  east- 
ward, back  to  Carthage,  Mr.  Colvin  has 
worked  out,  by  astronomical  and  geographical 
formulae,  on  the  basis  of  the  observations  of 
the  Egyptian  astronomer,  Ptolemy,  even  the 
latitudes,  directions  and  distances  of  the 
points  referred  to  in  the  text  of  the  ancient 
Roman  writer,  nearly  two  thousand  years  ago ; 
and  proved  the  knowledge  of  this  continent 
by  the  ancients. 

Mr.  Colvin's  paper  "On  the  true  path  of 
the  moon  in  space,"  showing  that  the  earth 
and  moon  move  around  the  sun  like  projec- 
tiles in  wave-like  curves,  always  concave 
toward  the  sun,  and  that,  hence,  the  moon 
never  goes  around  the  earth  in  a  circular  or 
elliptical  orbit,  has  made  clear  a  very  obscure 
question  in  astronomy  and  greatly  facilitated 
the  study  of  that  science. 

His  address  to  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public, delivered  at  Albany  in  1896,  was 
memorable,  showing  that  the  issues  of  the 
civil  war  were  not  closed  when  the  military 
conflict  ceased ;  but  that  the  industrial  prob- 
lems which  arose  enter  into  the  later  political 
conditions,  particularly  in  the  competition  of 
cheap  negro  labor  in  the  South  with  white 
labor  in  the  North,  and  that  tlicse  issues  are 
not  to  be  finally  settled  without  full  considera- 
tion of  the  rights  and  wrongs  of  the  human 
race  through  all  of  the  historic  conditions  of 
the  preceding  ages  of  effort  for  civilization, 
the  freedom  to  do  right,  and  prevention  of 
wrong,  which  were  the  underlying  causes 
leading  up  to  the  civil  war,  and  in  the  same 
way  to  the  more  recent  Spanish-American 
war  of   1898. 

In  1898  Superintendent  Colvin  offered  the 
services  of  himself  and  the  chief  officers  and 
employees  of  his  department  to  the  state  for 
military  service  in  a  letter  to  the  adjutant- 
general  :  but  the  state  militia  was  given  pref- 
erence, and  he  was  ordered  by  the  governor 
to  continue  his  work  in  the  civil  service.  His 
department  was  the  only  New  York  state  civil 
division  tendering  its  services  for  this  war. 

Mr.  Colvin's  chief  work  has  Jieen  in  higher 
engineering  and  geodesy,  much  of  the  results 
of  which  has  been  published  by  the  state  in 
the  form  of  reports  to  the  legislature :  but  in 
addition  to  these  are  numerous  pamphlets  and 
a  variety  of  publications  made  by  him  at  vari- 
ous times.  Many  of  his  writings  have  been 
copiously  illustrated  or  accompanied  by  valu- 


able topographical  maps,  designs,  plans  and 
designs  of  things  devised  to  improve  and  facil- 
itate engineering  work.  They  are  considered 
far  from  being  what  is  termed  dry,  and  en- 
gage the  thought  of  many  a  reader  wishing 
to  be  well  informed  on  New  York  state  af- 
fairs especially  appertaining  to  the  .Adiron- 
dack region.  In  this  line  he  is  the  inventor 
of  a  portable  boat  to  be  used  in  making  ex- 
plorations :  made  improvements  in  telescopes, 
and  discovered  a  method  of  securing  the  mean 
temperature  of  the  atmosphere  independent 
of  the  thermometer,  by  observations  on  the  ve- 
locity of  sound.  He  is  the  author  of  "First 
Ascent  of  Mt.  Marcy,"  published  by  the  state 
in  1871  ;  "The  Helderberg  Mountains,"  illus- 
trated. Harper's,  187 1  ;  "The  Dome  of  the 
Continent,"   Harper's,    1872. 

He  has  also  acted  as  consulting  engineer 
on  many  important  works,  in  the  location 
of  railroads,  etc. ;  has  been  president  of  the 
Schenectady  and  Albany  Railway  Company, 
and  a  director  and  officer  in  other  railroad 
companies.  He  was  consulted  in  regard  to 
the  eastern  extension  of  the  Canadian  Pa- 
cific Railway  by  Lord  Mount  Stephen  and 
Sir  \\'illiam  Van  Horn,  of  that  important  cor- 
poration. 

In  his  geographical  explorations  he  has 
made  large  additions  to  knowledge.  His  map 
sketch  of  the  snowy  range  of  the  Rocky  Aloun- 
tains  around  Gray's  Peak,  made  in  1S70,  was 
the  first  ever  published,  and  has  not  been  ma- 
terially changed  by  any  subsequent  and  more 
expensive  and  elaborate  surveys. 

In  1883,  Seth  Green,  then  superintendent 
for  the  State  Fishery  Commission,  published 
an  estimate  that  there  were  only  three  hun- 
dred lakes  and  ponds  in  New  York  state,  and 
Mr.  Colvin  was  called  on  to  give  an  account 
of  those  which  he  knew  in  the  Adirondacks 
and  northern  comities  of  New  York,  and 
furnished  a  list  of  those  which  he  had  either 
personally  visited  or  which  had  been  located 
by  survey  or  reconnoissance,  amounting  to 
upwards  of  one  thousand  in  that  portion  of 
the  state  alone,  while  there  are  many  small 
ponds   which  have  no  names. 

Under  the  law  he  was  given  charge  of  the 
surveys  of  all  state  land  and  the  re-location 
and  restoration  of  boundary  lines  which  might 
be  in  litigation  or  dispute  between  the  state 
and  private  parties.  His  surveys  were  made 
by  law  prima  facie  evidence  in  the  courts  of 
New  York,  when  certified  under  his  hand  and 
oflficial   seal. 

In  1902  Mr.  Colvin  was  elected  president 
of  the  New  York  Canadian  Pacific  Railway 
Company,  a  railroad  reorganized  in  1905, 
from    three    separate    companies    previously 


462 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


chartered  by  the  state  of  New  'S'ork.  viz.: 
The  New  York  &  Albany  raih-oad  (150 
miles)  ;  the  Schenectady  &  Albany  railroad 
(18  miles):  and  the  New  York  Northern 
railroad  (nearly  200  miles).  The  united 
stock  of  these  railway  companies  already 
authorized  bv  law  (forming'  the  new  company 
of  1905)  is  $10,150,000,  and  bonds  authorized 
and  recorded  are  $6,000,000,  covering;  the 
right-of-way  acquired.  The  work  of  con- 
structing these  railways  was  begun  under  the 
late  President  Joseph  H.  Ramsey,  the  former 
president  and  builder  of  the  Albany  &  Sus- 
quehanna railroad,  the  $100  stock  of  which 
now  commands  $270  per  share  in  the  market. 
About  $2,000,000  has  been  expended  upon  the 
construction  work  of  the  consolidated  new 
company  (the  New  York  Canadian  Pacific 
Railway  Company)  and  its  completion  is 
greatly  desired  by  the  people  along  its  line. 

Mr.  Colvin  is  a  member  of  the  American 
Institute  of  Mining  Engineers,  honorary  mem- 
ber of  the  Club  Alpine  Frangais  of  Paris,  the 
Adirondack  Club,  fellow  of  the  American  As- 
sociation for  the  Advancement  of  Science,  hon- 
orary member  of  the  similar  society  in  Great 
Britain,  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  correspond- 
ing member  of  the  Appalachian  Mountain 
Club  of  Boston,  Massachusetts,  and  Sierra 
Club  of  California :  was  the  first  honorary 
president  of  the  Adirondack  Guides'  Associa- 
tion, president  of  Albany  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce, of  the  Scotch  "Burns  Club"  of  Al- 
bany, the  New  York  State  Historical  Society, 
Albany  Institute,  life  member  of  the  National 
Geographic  Society,  a  foundation  mem- 
ber of  the  Fortnightly  Club,  and  he  is  also 
allied  with  several  other  organizations  of  sim- 
ilar nature. 

Mr.  Colvin  is  not  married.  He  resides  in 
the  old  homestead  of  the  Colvin  family  in  Al- 
bany, situated  in  his  park  among  the  great 
trees  in  the  heart  of  the  city  of  .Albany,  in 
the  large  and  beautiful  place  known  as  "The 
Elms,"  on  Western  avenue,  it  being  the  same 
place  in  which  his  grandmother  and  his  father 
previously  resided ;  and  the  spacious  grounds 
have  been  a  garden  since  old  colonial  times. 


The  Chase  family  is  of  ancient 
CHASE     English   origin,    the  name   being 

derived,  no  doubt,  from  the 
French  word  "chasser,"  to  hunt.  The  family 
seat  of  the  branch  from  which  the  American 
one  now  considered  is  descended,  was  at  Ches- 
ham,  P.uckinghamshire,  through  which  runs 
the  river  Chess,  giving  its  name  to  the  town. 
The  Chase  arms  are:  Gules:  four  crosses 
patance  argent,  two  and  two,  on  a  canton 
azure,  a  lion  passant  or. 


{ I )  Thomas  Chase,  of  Chesham,  a  descend- 
ant of  the  ancient  family. 

(II)  John,  son  of  Thomas  Chase,  was  also 
of  Chesham. 

(III)  Matthew,  son  of  John  Chase,  was  of 
Chesham :  married  Elizabeth  Bould,  daughter 
of  Robert  Bould. 

(I\')  Thomas,  son  of  Matthew  Chase,  was- 
of  Hundrech  parish,  Chesham. 

(\')  Richard,  son  of  Thomas  Chase,  was 
born  in  Hundrech,  Chesham,  England,  bap- 
tized August  3,  1542,  married  Joan  Bishop, 
at  Chesham,  April  16,  1564.  They  had  ten 
children,  two  of  whom,  Aquila  and  Thomas, 
came  to  America,  and  with  William  Chase 
(not  a  brother  so  far  as  any  proof  can  be 
shown)  are  the  ancestors  of  nearly  all  of  the 
name  in  America  who  claim  early  descent. 

(Vl)  Thomas,  eighth  child  and  sixth  son 
of  Richard  and  Joan  (Bishop)  Chase,  born 
in  Hundrech  parish,  Chesham.  Buckingham- 
shire, England,  was  baptized  July  18,  15S5. 
He  is  the  American  ancestor  of  Judge  Emory 
A.  Chase,  whose  line  of  descent  follows : 
Thomas  came  to  America  about  the  year 
1636.  In  1639  he  was  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Hampton,  New  Hampshire,  as  was 
Aquila  Chase,  his  brother,  who  remained  until 
1646,  when  he  returned  to  Newburyport,  Mas- 
sachusetts, where  he  died  in  1670.  Thomas 
lived  hereafter  in  Hampton,  where  he  died 
in  1652.  He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Philbrick,  in  1642,  who  survived  him, 
and  married  (second),  August  26,  1653,  John 
Garland,  whom  she  also  survived,  and  mar- 
ried (third),  February  19.  1677,  Judge  Henry 
Roby.  Children:  i.  Thomas,  born  1643,  died 
in  Hampton,  unmarried.  2.  Joseph,  born 
1645.  resided  in  Hampton;  was  taken  pris- 
oner in  the  assault  on  Major  Waldron's,  June 
2y.  1689:  married,  January  31.  1671,  Rachael 
Partridge,  of  Salisbury.  3.  Isaac,  of  whom 
further.  4.  James,  born  1649 ;  married,  Sep- 
tember 2,  1675,  Elizabeth  Green.  5.  Abraham, 
born  August  6,  1651;  "was  killed  in  ye 
Wares,"  in  1676. 

(  \TI)  Lieutenant  Isaac,  son  of  Thomas  and 
I'^Iizabcth  (Philbrick)  Chase,  was  born  in 
Hampton,  New  HamiJshire.  April  i,  1647,  died 
in  Edgartown,  Martha's  Vineyard,  Massachu- 
setts, May  19,  1727.  He  is  buried  in  the  old 
cemetery  on  the  hill  overlooking  the  harbor 
at  the  village  of  N'incyard  Haven,  where  his 
tombstone  is  yet  to  be  found,  though  not 
wholly  legible.  It  records  that  "Here  lies  the 
body  of  Isaac  Chase,  who  died  May  ye  19, 
1727."  He  married  (first),  February  20, 
1673,  Mary  Perkins;  (second),  October  5, 
1675,  Mary  Tilton,  who  survived  him  until 
1746,  aged  eighty-eight  years.     Children:     i. 


HUDSON    AND    .MOHAWK    VALLEYS 


463 


Thomas,  born  Xoveniber  IQ,  i(>7/'.  married, 
February  21,  1704,  Jean  Smith.  2.  Ra^chel, 
born  October  25,  1679;  married  July  19,  1700, 
Sanuiel  Kni,q;ht.  3.  Isaac,  born  February  21, 
1681  ;  married,  April  3,  1702,  Mary  Pease. 
4.  Abraham,  l)orn  January  10,  1683:  married 
(first)  .Abigail  liarnard  (second),  March  5, 
1732,  Mercy  Nickerson.  5.  James,  born  Jan- 
uary 15,  1685,  married  Rachel  Brown.  6. 
Mary,  born  January  17,  1687;  married,  June 
14,  1704,  Beniah  Weeks.  7.  Joseph,  of  whom 
further.      8.    Jonathan,    born    December    28, 

1691  :  married  Mehitable .    9.  Hannah, 

born  November  25,  1693;  married,  December 
31,  1712.  Nathan  Pease.  10.  Sarah,  born  Oc- 
tober 15,  1695;  married,  June  27.  1716,  Sam- 
uel Cobb.  II.  Priscilla,  born  iSjovember  12, 
1697;  married,  November  18,  1718,  Nathaniel 
Folger.  12.  Elizabeth,  born  September  7, 
1703.  died  unmarried,   1719. 

(\TH)  Joseph,  son  of  Lieutenant  Isaac  and 
Mary  (Tilton)  Chase,  was  born  February  26, 
1689,  and  died  May  — ,  1749.  He  married 
Lydia  Coffin,  of  Nantucket,  September  16, 
17 14.  She  was  a  great-granddaughter  of 
Tristram  Coffin  (Trustee),  of  Nantucket.  She 
died  July  17,  1749.  Children:  i.  Abel,  of 
whom  further.  2.  Mary,  born  February  9, 
1721  :  married,  October  4,  1748,  David  Dun- 
ham. 3.  Priscilla,  married,  March  17,  1741, 
Henry  Smith.  4.  Demaris,  born  May  12, 
1724;  married  Peter  Ripley.  5.  Lydia,  mar- 
ried Shuball  Dunham.  6.  Rachel,  married, 
July  9,  1769,  Thomas  Gwin.-  7.  Joseph,  sup- 
posed to  be  drowned.  8.  Thomas,  married 
(first)  Anna  Fields;  (second)  Elizabeth  Col- 
lins. 9.  Sarah,  born  April  7,  1735  ;  married, 
October  i,  1755,  Seth  Pease.  10.  Ijcnjamin. 
born  May   14,   1737. 

( IX  )  Abel,  son  of  Joseph  and  Lydia  (  Cof- 
fin) Chase,  was  born  October  9,  1719.  died 
January  25,  1808.  He  married,  February  14, 
1744.  Mercy  Mayhew,  born  February  23,  1725, 
died  February  25,  1807.  A  few  years  before 
their  death  they  spent  with  their  son  Zepha- 
niah,  and  were  buried  on  the  farm  in  the  Chase 
cemetery,    hereinafter   mentioned.      Children : 

1.  Benjamin,  born  December  23,  1745,  died  at 
Hudson,  New  York,  November  3,  1816:  mar- 
ried. February  27,  1768,  Elizabeth  Bronk, 
born  April  22,   1746,  died  October  25,    1801. 

2.  Zephaniah,  of  whom  further.  3.  Henry, 
born  October  5,  1756,  died  unmarried,  July 
8,  1832. 

(X)  Zephaniah,  son  of  Abel  and  Mercy 
(Mayhew)  Chase,  was  born  in  Edgartown, 
Martha's  \'ineyard,  Massachusetts,  March  14, 
1748.  He  married  (first),  October  10,  1772, 
Abigail  Skiff,  born  at  Chillmark,  Martha's 
"Vineyard,    July   4,    1748,    died    at    Chillmark, 


March  27,  1784,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Re- 
member (Gibbs)  Skiff.   He  married  (second), 
January  16,  1785,  Widow  Love  (West)  Skiflf. 
born   October  5,    1756,   at  TLsbury,   Martha's 
Vineyard,  died  July  8,  1832,  at  Jewett  Center, 
New   York.     Children  of  first   marriage:      i. 
Benjamin,    of    whom    further.      2.    Elizabeth, 
twin   of   Benjamin,   wiio   died   when   eighteen 
days  old.     2.  Joseph,  born  December  2,   1775, 
and  died  July  2,  1831  ;  married,  November  10, 
1805,   Jemima,  daughter  of  Lambert   Howk ; 
children,  John,  Samuel  and  Isaac.    3.  Thomas, 
born    October    18,    1777,   died,   unmarried,   in 
Hudson,  New  York.  January  22,  182 1.     Chil- 
dren  of   second   marriage:      i.    David,    born 
March   i,    1786,  died  August  27,    187 1  :  mar- 
ried (first),  October  13,  1818,  Abigail   Pratt, 
(second)   February  13,   1850,  Charlotte  John- 
son :  children,  all  by  first  marriage :    Eunice, 
Emmeline,  Harriet,  David  Nobel.  Polly.  Lucy 
Ann,  Charles    Pratt,   and    Abigail.     2.    West, 
the  first  child  born  after  the  removal  to  New 
York,   January   25,    1788.   died    September   7, 
1792.     3.    Charles,   born    September  9,    1790, 
died  April  24,   1844:  married,  November  30, 
1809.  Nellie   (or  Eleanor)   Howk,  born  Octo- 
ber 3,    1789,  died  June    10,    1868.     Children: 
Cynthia,  Electa,  .Vlmira,  Levisa,  Esther,  Lucy, 
Eliza,  Manley,   Charles  Wesley.   D.   Fletcher, 
Horace  W.  and  Lambert  Charles.    4.  Abigail, 
born    October   28,    1792,    died    December    15. 
1848:  married,  May  23,   181 1,  Jared  Johnson, 
born  July   i,   1786,  died  November   18,   1851  ; 
children :    Tamesiu,  P>etsey.  .\bigail,  Orra  and 
Orvilla.    5.  Elizabeth,  born  February  23,  1795  : 
married,    March    17,    1814,    Anson    Bushnell ; 
children :     Alvin,  Horace,  Eunice,  Mary  Etta, 
and  Lewis.     6.  West  (2)  born  May  30,  1797, 
died   May  22,    1880:   married,   September  30, 
1817,  Julia    M.   Newton,   born   May  5.    1800, 
died  November  29,   1879;  children:     Newton, 
Eunice.  Laura  (died  in  infancy),  Laura  Eliza- 
beth, Phidelia  Ann,  Caroline  and  Jane  Estelle. 
7.  Peter,  born  January  18.  1799,  died  July  6, 
1799.    8.  Rebecca,  twin  of  Peter,  died  at  Hunt- 
er, New  York,  April  15.  1863.     She  preserved 
some  of  the  jaersonal  articles  of  her  father,  Ze- 
phaniah, which  she  handed  down  to  her  chil- 
dren and  grandchildren,  among  them  a  pocket- 
book  now   the  property   of  Judge   Emory   A. 
Chase,  given  him  by  Dr.  Frank  Baldwin,  of 
Brooklyn,   New    York,   her   grandchild.      She 
married.  November   15.  181S.  Richard  licnvk, 
born  July  10,  1792,  died  at  Hunter,  New  York, 
May   6,    1874,    son   of   Lambert    Howk.      He 
served   in   the  war   of     1812    under    Colonel 
Robinson.     Children :     .\bi  and  .Vnn.     Zepha- 
niah's  brother    I'.enjamin   was   a   sea   captain, 
and  he  had  been  on  several  whaling  voyages 
with  him.  although  he  was  a  joiner  or  cabi- 


464 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


net-maker  by  trade.  Seeing  no  prospect  for 
his  boj's  but  a.  seafaring  life,  he  determined 
to  find  a  place  where  land  was  cheaper  and 
rear  his  boys  on  a  farm.  One  of  his  relatives 
■owned  a  large  tract  of  land  near  Binghamton, 
New  York,  and  offered  to  give  him  a  farm 
if  he  would  begin  a  settlement  there.  He 
'Owned  .some  real  property  at  Vineyard  Ha- 
ven, on  Martha's  Vineyard,  which  he  sold  for 
two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  preparatory  to 
Iiis  seeking  a  home  in  the  western  wilds.  With 
the  proceeds  of  his  property  he  took  his  sec- 
ond wife.  Love,  and  their  son  David,  then  a 
little  more  than  a  year  old,  and  his  sons  by 
his  first  wife,  Benjamin,  aged  thirteen,  Joseph, 
.aged  eleven,  and  Thomas,  aged  nine,  and 
started  on  his  long  and  dangerous  journey. 
He  reached  Hudson,  New  York,  probably  by 
ineans  of  a  slow  sailing  sloop  from  ALirtha's 
Vineyard.  From  a  document  in  the  possession 
•of  Judge  Emory  A.  Chase,  it  appears  that  they 
were  in  Hudson,  August  i,  1787.  At  Hud- 
son they  learned  that  the  difficult  part  of  the 
journey  lay  before  them,  a  journey  through 
forests  infested  with  bears,  wolves,  panthers 
and  other  wild  animals,  and  that  there  was 
■only  a  crude  road  through  the  forest.  In- 
■dians  yet  roamed  the  forests  of  eastern  and 
southern  New  York.  Zephaniah  purchased  a 
yoke  of  oxen  and  a  lumber  wagon  and  started 
■on  his  journey  to  Binghamton,  taking  his 
Avife  and  children  and  such  tools  and  personal 
■property  as  he  had  with  him  in  the  primitive 
conveyance.  How  he  crossed  the  Hudson 
river,  tradition  does  not  disclose,  but  it  was 
probably  by  boarding  some  sailing  vessel  and 
landing  at  Catskill,  New  York.  From  Cats- 
kill  to  Binghamton  the  road  led  over  the  Cats- 
kill  mountains,  and  the  entire  journey  was 
through  an  almost  unbroken  forest,  with  only 
a  few  settlers'  cabins  along  the  way.  They 
proceeded  to  the  valley  of  Batavia-l<ill,  west 
of  the  eastern  range  of  the  Catskills,  and, 
while  resting  near  a  well-known  high  rock, 
standing  within  what  is  now  the  village  of 
Windham,  at  a  cabin  built  against  said  rock, 
in  which  lived  an  early  settler,  a  man  who  had 
come  from  Binghamton  on  foot  informed  them 
that,  owing  to  an  unusual  wind,  many  trees 
were  blown  across  the  road,  and  that  it  would 
be  impossible  to  get  through  with  a  wagon. 
While  waiting,  somewhat  undetermined  what 
to  do,  he  met  one  Thomas  Harriot,  who  of- 
fered to  sell  him  his  farm  situated  on  the 
Schoharie-kill  at  a  point  ten  miles  up  that 
stream  from  the  junction  of  the  Batavia-kill 
vith  it  at  a  point  ten  miles  below  where  they 
were  at  what  is  now  Prattsville.  He  concluded 
to  buy  this  farm  and  agreed  to  give,  upon 
r^  iching  the  farm,  the  oxen  as  part  payment 


for  the  same.  How  they  reached  the  farm  is 
told,  hereinafter.  The  house  the  settlers 
found  was  only  two  logs  high,  covered  with 
bark,  but  a  blockhouse  was  in  course  of  erec- 
tion, and  this  Zephaniah  and  his  sons  finished 
before  the  cold  of  winter,  and  here  shortly 
afterwards  their  son  West  was  born,  the  first 
Chase  born  in  the  Catskills.  There  was  no 
saw  mill  within  twenty  miles  of  the  farm  at 
which  logs  could  be  sawed  into  material  adapt- 
ed for  use  in  completing  the  house  and  from 
which  to  make  furniture,  so  all  such  materials 
were  made  by  Zephaniah  and  his  sons  by  hew- 
ing the  logs  into  blocks  or  splitting  them  and 
shaving  or  planing  them  into  boards  by  the 
use  of  axes  and  other  tools  brought  from 
Martha's  Vineyard.  Some  of  the  furniture 
made  by  Zephaniah  is  in  the  possession  of  his 
descendants.  The  deed  from  Thomas  Harriot 
is  dated  .-\ugust  19.  1787.  Here  the  family 
continued  to  live,  and  they  cleared  away  the 
forest  which  covered  the  valley,  as  well  as  the 
high  lands,  and  here  all  of  the  children  of  the 
second  marriage,  except  David,  were  born. 
Zephaniah  subsequently  built  a  more  preten- 
tious house,  which  is  still  standing.  The 
homestead  farm  in  1787  was  in  the  town  of 
Woodstock,  Ulster  county.  New  York.  It 
was  subsequently  included  in  the  new  town  of 
Windham  and  in  Greene  county.  In  subse- 
quent divisions  of  the  territory  it  became  suc- 
cessively a  part  of  the  town  of  Lexington  and 
of  Jewett.  It  is  now  a  part  of  the  town  of  Jew- 
ett,  Greene  county,  and  the  postoffice  is  Jewett 
Center,  New  York.  Zephaniah  was  a  Baptist, 
but  few  of  his  descendants  are  of  that  faith, 
many  being  Methodists  or  Presbyterians.  He 
was  a  soldier  in  the  revolutionary  war.  In 
the  record  of  revolutionary  soldiers  for  the 
state  of  Massachusetts  in  the  state  library  at 
Albany  is  the  following:  "Chase,  Zephaniah, 
private,  Captain  Smith's  (Seacoast  Company), 
service  from  September  i,  1776,  to  November 
21,  1776,  two  months  and  twenty  days."  He 
died  in  Lexington,  New  York,  May  30,  1828, 
in  his  eighty-first  year,  and  is  buried  in  the 
family  burial  plot  in  the  cemetery  on  the  hill 
north  of  the  house  which  he  built  and  which 
is  known  as  the  "Chase  Cemetery." 

(XI)  Benjamin,  eldest  child  of  Zephaniah 
and  Abigail  (Skiff)  Chase,  was  born  at 
Holmes  Hole,  Martha's  Vineyard,  Massachu- 
setts, January  21,  1774,  and  died  at  Jewett 
Center,  New  York,  February  28,  1862.  When 
Zephaniah  and  his  family  on  their  westward 
journey  reached  the  point  on  the  Batavia-kill 
mentioned,  where  the  farm  was  purchased, 
Benjamin  (then  a  lad  of  eleven  years)  was 
sent  with  the  oxen  and  goods  down  the  Bata- 
via-kill, ten  miles,  until  he  reached  the  Scho- 


HUDSON   AND   :\IOHA\VK   VALLEYS 


465 


harie-kill,  and  he  was  directed  to  then  follow 
that  stream  easterly  ten  miles  to  the  farm  that 
was  to  be  their  future  home.  Zephaniah  took 
his  wife  and  the  three  youn<jest  children,  in- 
cluding David,  the  baby,  and  crossed  the 
mountain  range  on  foot  through  what  is  now 
Jewett  Heights,  a  much  shorter  route,  being 
guided  to  his  destination  by  marked  trees  de- 
scribed to  him  by  the  man  from  whose  cabin 
they  started.  The  physical  and  mental  char- 
acter of  Benjamin  is  shown  in  his  willingness 
to  undertake  and  ability  to  direct  and  con- 
summate the  hard  and  dangerous  journey. 
The  father  knew  what  he  could  expect  of  him, 
or  he  would  not  have  entrusted  the  boy's 
personal  safety  and  the  safety  of  the  property 
in  such  an  undertaking.  He  made  the  trip  in 
safety  and  the  family  was  reunited  at  the  des- 
ignated spot.  His  life  was  spent  at  the  home- 
stead farm  and  a  farm  near  it  which  he 
purchased :  he  engaged  in  farming,  lumbering 
and  tanning,  and  was  also  an  officer  in  the 
local  militia.  He  lived  to  be  eightv-eight  vears 
old. 

He  married,  August  4,  1799,  Lydia  Skiff, 
who  died  January  12,  1829,  aged  forty-nine 
years,  a  daughter  of  his  stepmother.  Love 
(  \\'est )  Skiff,  by  her  first  husband.  Children  : 
I.  Elizabeth,  born  March  14,  1800,  died  July 
5,  1883:  married,  September  17,  1820,  Luman 
\\"hitcomb  ;  children  :  Louisa.  Horace,  Lucy, 
Almira,  Lydia,  Alary,  Ogden,  Newton,  Lewis 
]\L  and  Augusta.  2.  Lydia,  born  July  22, 
1802;  married,  March  31,  1822,  Orrin  Bur- 
gess :  children :  Alvin,  Caroline.  Harriet, 
Sayres,  Charles  W.  Dwight  and  Addison.  3. 
Benjamin,  born  February  i,  1804,  died  July 
13.  1895;  married.  May  6,  1827,  Elizabeth 
Burgess,  born  May  27,  1803,  died  July  15, 
1889:  children:  Ann  Eliza,  Mary  Elizabeth, 
Cyrus  W.  and  Martha.  4.  Abigail,  born 
March  17,  1807,  died  January  21,  1821.  5. 
^^'illiam,  born  June  17,  1809,  died  at  Fitch- 
ville.  Ohio,  June  17.  1888:  married  (first), 
October  27,  1836,  Parmalia  Wolcott,  born 
January  28,  1817,  died  .\ugust  15,  1849:  mar- 
ried (second).  February  28,  1850,  Elizabeth 
A.  Jump,  born  March  22,  1817,  died  at  Fitch- 
ville,  July  28,  1893.  Children  of  first  mar- 
riage :  Alvin  Bushnell,  Mary  Francis,  Watson 
Dwight ;  children  of  second  wife :  Ella  Eu- 
retha  and  Sarah  Libbie.  6.  Lucinda,  born 
March  26,  181 1,  died  October  31,  1878:  mar- 
ried, March  30,  1830,  Matthias  FL  Chitten- 
den, born  May  i,  1807,  died  February  9,  1881 ; 
children :  Mary  Jane,  Alanson  H.,  .Albert  W., 
Sarah  R.,  and  Edward  B.  7.  Mary,  born 
April  9,  1813,  died  March  25.  1879:  married, 
September  9,  1835,  Samuel  \V.  Cook,  born 
April   I,  1881.  died  June  29,   1893;  children: 


Julia  H.,  Gideon  J.,  Mary,  Laura  J.  and  Eliza- 
beth. 8.  Sarah,  born  June  28,  1816,  died  at 
Hopkins,  Michigan,  May  17,  1879;  married, 
May  30,  1841,  Peleg  W.  Chamberlain,  born 
Julv  16,  1812,  died  April  17,  1879;  children: 
Albert  P.,  West  C,  Helen  A.,  Lydia  A.,  Mary 
J.,  Emerson  H.,  Edward  A.  and  Julia  H.  9. 
Albert,  of  whom  further.  10.  Ira.  born  Octo- 
ber 23,  1 82 1,  died  January  29,  1901 ;  married, 
May  20,  1850,  Esther  Chase,  a  kinswoman; 
children :     Alvin,  Theodore  and  Minnie. 

fXH)  Albert,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Lydia 
(Skiff)  Chase,  was  born  at  Lexington,  New 
York,  January  4,  1819.  He  lived  with  his  par- 
ents on  the  old  homestead  until  the  death 
of  his  mother,  January  12,  1829.  after  which 
he  went  to  live  in  the  family  of  his  uncle, 
Charles  Chase,  on  a  farm  two  miles  below 
what  is  now  the  village  of  Hunter.  He  attend- 
ed the  district  schools,  and  when  twenty  years 
old  returned  to  Lexington  and  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade,  which  he  followed  for  twenty- 
five  years,  becoming  one  of  the  largest  con- 
tractors in  that  part  of  the  county.  He  mar- 
ried, September  i,  1844.  at  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  East  Jewett.  Laura  Orin- 
da  \\'oodworth.  daughter  of  Abner  and  Betsey 
(Judson)  Woodworth,  born  April  7,  1822, 
died  at  Hensonville.  June  2,  1906.  After  their 
marriage  they  resided  for  about  one  year  in 
the  town  of  Lexington,  when  they  moved  to 
Hensonville  (1845)  ^"d  he  there  carried  on  an 
extensive  lumber  and  contracting  business  for 
many  years.  Subsequently  he  purchased  a 
large  farm  in  the  outskirts  of  the  village,  and 
after  erecting  new  buildings  thereon  made  it 
his  home  for  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  died 
there  October  13,  1902.  He  was  a  Republican 
in  politics,  and  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the 
peace  of  the  town.  He  was  an  active  support- 
er of  the  Methodist  church  at  Hensonville,  and 
for  twenty-six  years  the  superintendent  of  its 
Sunday-school.  The  children  of  Albert  and 
Laura  O.  Chase  were  all  born  at  Hensonville, 
New  York:  i.  Saphrona  E.,  born  June  2, 
1845,  fl'cd  January  7,  1862.  2.  Lydia  Au- 
gusta, born  April  4,  1847,  <^1'^<^  Alarch  31, 
1880:  married,  January  4,  1871,  Cyrus  E. 
Bloodgood :  child :  Albert  Chase,  born  No- 
vember 23,  1871,  now  a  lawyer  and  resident 
of  Catskill,  New  York,  married  Annie  How- 
land.  3.  Abner,  born  October  19,  1848,  died 
September  25,  1830.  4.  Emory  Albert,  of 
whom  further.  5.  Demont  L.,  born  March  4, 
i860,  now  a  resident  and  business  man  of 
Hensonville.  New  York:  married,  November 
16.  1 88 1,  Josie  A.  Osborn,  born  November  23, 
i860:  children:    Leona  L.  and  Elbert  Osborn. 

(XIII)  Judge  Emory  Albert  Chase,  son  of 
.\lbert     and     Laura     Orinda     (Woodworth)  5° 


466 


HUDSON'   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


Chase,  was  born  at  Hensonville,  Greene  coun- 
ty, New  York,  August  31.  1854.  He  was  edu- 
cated at  the  village  school  and  at  Fort  Edward 
Collegiate  Institute,  after  which  he  taught 
school  for  several  years,  in  the  meantime  pre- 
paring for  the  legal  profession.  On  March 
27,  1877,  he  entered  the  law  offices  of  King 
&  Hallock,  at  Catskill,  New  York,  and  after 
a  thorough  course  of  preparation  was  admit- 
ted to  the  bar  May  6,  1880.  In  that  year  Mr. 
King  retired  and  a  new  legal  firm  was  formed 
by  Mr.  Hallock  and  W.  Irving  Jennings  un- 
der the  name  of  Hallock  &  Jennings.  Mr. 
Chase  was  given  an  interest  in  the  business, 
but  his  name  could  not  appear  as  a  member 
of  the  firm,  as  at  that  time  he  had  not  been 
admitted  as  an  attorney-at-law.  The  firm 
name  was  afterwards  and  in  1882  changed  to 
Hallock,  Jennings  &  Chase.  On  September 
22,  1890,  Mr.  Hallock  retired,  but  the  firm 
continuing  in  the  name  of  Jennings  &  Chase. 
They  became  well  known  as  able,  conscientious 
lawyers,  and  had  a  very  large  and  profitable 
clientage.  Mr.  Chase  was  successively  admit- 
ted to  the  United  States  district  and  circuit 
courts  and  the  United  States  supreme  court. 
His  practice  frequently  took  him  before  the 
state  and  Federal  courts,  and  he  was  every- 
where recognized  as  a  successful  lawyer  and 
a  man  of  the  highest  character. 

In  1880,  the  year  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  he  was  the  candidate  of  his  party  for 
district  attorney  of  Greene  county,  but  al- 
though he  ran  far  ahead  of  his  ticket  he  was 
defeated  by  211  votes.  In  1882  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  Catskill  board  of  education 
and  served  continually  in  such  board  until 
1896,  the  last  five  years  being  as  president. 
He  also  served  one  term  as  supervisor  of  the 
town  of  Catskill,  and  for  many  years  was  the 
village  counsel.  In  1896  Mr.  Chase,  who  had 
now  been  in  active  political  and  professional 
life  since  1880,  was  nominated  by  the  Third 
Judicial  District  Republican  Convention  for 
justice  of  the  supreme  court  of  New  York.  He 
was  opposed  by  the  Democratic  candidate, 
Frank  H.  Osborn.  At  the  election  following 
he  received  a  majority  of  12,680  votes,  and 
was  the  second  supreme  court  judge  ever 
elected  by  the  Republican  party  in  that  judicial 
district.  Before. assuming  the  duties  of  his 
office  he  retired  from  the  law  firm  of  Jen- 
nings &  Chase,  his  place  being  taken  by  his 
opponent  for  the  judgeship,  Frank  H.  Os- 
born. Judge  Chase  made  his  first  appearance 
on  the  bench  at  the  January  trial  term  of  1897, 
at  Schoharie,  and  at  the  close  of  his  first  trial 
term  received  an  engrossed  copy  of  compli- 
mentary resolutions  adopted  by  the  Schoharie 
County    Bar.      As    he   went    from    countv   to 


county  in  the  Third  District  he  won  the  high- 
est encomiums  from  the  lawyers  and  the  press 
for  his  fair,  impartial  rulings,  his  unfailing 
courtesy  and  rapid  methods  of  disposing  of 
business.  January  8,  1900,  he  was  designated 
an  associate  justice  of  the  appellate  division, 
third  department,  by  Governor  Odell :  Decem- 
ber 31,  1905,  he  was  designated  as  an  asso- 
ciate judge  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  under  the 
constitutional  amendment  of  1899,  by  Gov- 
ernor Higgins.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term 
of  fourteen  years  in  tgio.  Judge  Chase  was 
unanimously  renominated  by  the  Republican 
convention  of  the  Third  District  held  October 
5,  1910.  At  the  Democratic  convention,  held 
a  few  days  later,  he  was  paid  the  high  and 
unusual  compliment  of  a  unanimous  nomina- 
tion by  his  political  opponents,  the  nominating 
speech  being  made  by  the  unsuccessful  candi- 
date of  fourteen  years  earlier,  Frank  H.  Os- 
born. He  said  in  part :  "He  is  a  man  of  irre- 
proachable character,  an  able  lawyer  and  an 
ideal  judge."  During  that  part  of  his  term  in 
which  he  was  engaged  as  a  trial  justice  he 
frequently  by  invitation  presided  over  terms 
of  court  in  New  York  City  and  other  parts 
of  the  state,  and  many  noted  cases  were  tried 
before  him.  While  he  has  been  a  justice  of  the 
Appellate  Division  and  a  judge  of  the  Court 
of  Appeals,  hundreds  of  opinions  have  been 
written  by  him  which  appear  in  the  law  re- 
ports and  make  a  part  of  the  judicial  history 
of  the  state.  The  New  York  State  Bar  Asso- 
ciation, in  endorsing  his  renomination,  said : 

"His  judicial  career,  both  in  trial  and  appel- 
late courts,  and  especially  as  a  member,  by  des- 
ignation, of  the  Court  of  -\ppeals.  is  and  has 
lieen  distinguished  for,  and  characterized  by  such 
eminent  judicial  qualifications  and  great  legal 
learning  and  ability  as  to  make  it  most  fitting 
and  desirable  that  his  services  be  retained  by 
the  public.  Therefore,  the  New  York  State  Bar 
-Association,  by  its  duly  authorized  committee, 
hereby  urges  the  unanimous  renomination  and 
election  of  Mr.  Justice  Chase,  irrespective  of 
party,  to  the  end  that  the  judiciary  may.  as  far 
as  possible,  be  kept  free  from  politics,  that  the 
public  may  retain  the  services  of  a  tried,  upright 
and  most  worthy  judge,  and,  as  we  hope,  if  not 
expect,  if  re-elected,  he  may  continue  to  adorn 
the  bench  of  the  Court  of  .Appeals  as  one  of 
its    appointed    members." 

-At  the  election  on  November  8,  1910.  Judge 
Chase  received  the  vote  of  the  two  great  politi- 
cal parties  and  was  re-elected  for  anotlier  term 
of  fourteen  years,  ^\'hen  Governor-elect  Dix 
became  governor  on  January  i.  191 1,  his  first 
act  was  to  re-designate  Judge  Chase,  together 
with  his  former  associate,  Judge  Frank  H. 
Hiscock,  to  the  Court  of  Appeals,  pursuant  to 
said  amendment  to  the  constitution  adopted  in 
1899.  Judge  Chase  is  now  engaged  in  the  per- 
formance  of   his   duties   as   a   judge  of    that 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


467 


court.  Soon  after  Judge  Chase  took  office  as 
a  justice  of  the  supreme  court,  January  i, 
1897.  he  resigned  from  most  of  the  trust  and 
business  enterprises  in  wiiich  he  was  inter- 
ested. He  has  retained  his  position  as  vice- 
president  of  the  Catskill  Savings  Bank,  and  a 
director  of  the  Tanner's  National  Bank.  He 
is  a  member  and  a  trustee  of  Christ  Presbyter- 
ian Church  of  Catskill,  and  a  liberal  supporter 
of  all  good  causes  in  his  home  town.  He  is 
deeply  interested  in  historical  and  genealogical 
matters  and  has  given  much  time  to  the  pres- 
ervation of  his  own  family  history.  He  is  a 
vice-president  of  the  Chase-Chace  Family  .As- 
sociation, which  held  its  first  reunion  in  the 
historic  meeting  house  of  the  First  Religious 
Society  in  Newburyport,  Massachusetts,  Au- 
gust 30,  1900.  This  society  embraces  the  de- 
scendants of  William,  Thomas  and  Aquila 
Chase,  the  latter  being  the  progenitor  of 
Judge  Salmon  P.  Chase,  everywhere  known 
as  the  "Great  Secretary  of  the  Treasury"  and 
the  '"Father  of  the  Greenback." 

Judge  Chase  married,  at  Prattsville,  New 
York,  June  30,  1885,  Mary  E.  Churchill, 
daughter  of  Addison  J.  and  Elizabeth 
(Houghtaling)  Churchill,  born  October  23, 
1861.  Children:  i.  Jessie  Churchill  Chase; 
she  is  a  graduate  of  the  Catskill  high  school, 
and  (1909)  of  Smith's  College,  with  the  de- 
gree of  A.  B.  2.  Albert  Woodworth  Chase ; 
he  graduated  at  Phillips  Andover  Academy, 
and  is  now  a  sophomore  at  Yale  L^niversity. 


John  D.  Parsons.  Jr.,  was 
PARSONS  born  in  Albany,  New  York, 
January  2,  1847,  and  died  at 
his  home  in  the  same  city,'  December  16, 
1904.  He  was  the  son  of  John  D.  Parsons 
and  Eleanor  Bowne,  and  his  father  was 
the  son  of  Stephen  Parsons  and  Hannah 
Thorne,  residents  of  Albany,  New  York. 

Mr.  Parsons  was  regarded  as  one  of  the 
best  known  and  most  influential  financiers,  not 
alone  in  the  city  of  Albany,  where  he  resided 
all  his  life,  but  throughout  this  section  of  the 
state,  where  he  had  banking  affiliations  in 
other  cities,  and  also  had  a  large  circle  of  ac- 
quaintances among  the  more  prominent  finan- 
ciers of  New  York  City.  Those  who  enjoyed 
his  intimate  companionship  found  him  to  be 
a  cheerful,  optimistic  and  faithful  friend. 
Everyone  could  say  of  him  that  he  made  an 
excellent  citizen.  He  was  a  far-seeing,  shrewd 
financier,  and  a  kind,  devoted  husband  and 
brother,  a  loyal  friend. 

He  received  his  preparatory  education  at  lo- 
cal institutions  and  in  Professor  Collins'  pri- 
vate school  at  .\lbany.  then  entered  Union 
College.     After  his  college  days  he  began  his 


professional  career  at  once,  finding  employ- 
ment under  his  father  in  the  firm  of  Weed, 
Parsons  &  Co.,  proprietors  of  one  of  the  larg- 
est printing  establishments  in  the  state,  his 
father  being  a  member  of  it,  and  there  he  re- 
mained for  some  time.  Later  on  he  com- 
menced business  on  his  own  responsibility  as 
a  law-book  publisher,  but  retained  his  posi- 
tion as  superintendent  of  the  Weed,  Parsons 
&  Co.  concern.  About  1888  he  sold  out  the 
law-book  business  to  Bancroft,  Whitney  & 
Co.,  of  San  Francisco. 

His  more  important  career,  as  a  banker,  be- 
gan in  1885,  when  he  was  elected  a  director 
of  the  National  P-xcIiange  liank,  then  located 
on  liroadway,  in  the  same  building  with  the 
Exchange  Savings  Bank.  At  a  meeting  of  its 
directors,  held  February  15,  1887,  he  was 
chosen  president,  and  he  continued  to  hold  this 
position  until  the  time  of  his  death.  He  made 
it  a  progressive  institution,  and  by  the  wis- 
dom of  conservatism  in  his  transactions  suc- 
ceeded in  winning  the  confidence  of  Albany's 
best  men  of  business  and  merchants.  Com- 
parison of  its  standing  when  he  entered  upon 
his  management  with  the  bank's  condition 
when  it  ended,  although  it  had  previously  been 
governed  by  sagacious  minds,  shows  a  steady 
advancement. 

In  1900,  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  or- 
ganization of  the  first  trust  company  ever 
established  in  the  city  of  Albany,  which  was 
formed  Afarch  20,  1900,  and  on  organization 
as  the  Albany  Trust  Comjiany,  May  i,  1900, 
he  was  chosen  its  first  president,  and  he  re- 
mained such  until  he  died.  He  was  much  con- 
cerned in  the  erection  of  the  building,  and 
chose  as  a  site  one  of  the  most  prominent  cor- 
ners of  the  business  section  of  Albany,  the 
northwest  corner  of  State  street  and  Broad- 
way, directly  opposite  the  postoffice,  and  where 
for  nearly  a  century  had  stood  one  of  the 
city's  landmarks,  known  as  the  Marble  Pillar 
Building.  Following  the  designs  executed  by 
Marcus  T.  Reynolds,  architect,  the  trust  com- 
pany erected  one  of  the  notable  edifices  of  the 
city,  and  opened  there  Scj^tember  5,  1904. 
Air.  Parsons  felt  he  had  taken  a  propitious 
step  in  advancement  of  the  city's  interests, 
and  well  was  proud  when  the  new  institution 
opened  its  doors,  and  he  received  the  congrat- 
ulations of  his  friends.  Besides  holding  these 
two  offices  as  president,  Mr.  Parsons  was  a 
director  of  the  Schenectady  Trust  Company, 
of  the  Adirondack  Trust  Company  of  Sara- 
toga, of  the  Syracuse  Trust  Company  and  of 
the  Troy  Trust  Company. 

His  home  at  No.  233  State  street  was  un- 
usually handsomely  furnished,  because  the 
power   to  buy   was  coupled  with  capacity  to 


468 


HUDSOX   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


choose,  and  he  possessed  more  than  one  oil 
painting  by  the  Old  Masters,  that  by  Sir 
Joshua  Reynolds  possibly  the  choicest  because 
of  its  rare  beauty.  He  created  a  handsome 
country  estate  at  Cedar  Hill,  where  he  built 
a  spacious  house  that  many  guests  might  be 
welcomed,  its  veranda  affording  an  admirable 
view  of  the  Hudson  river  skirting  his  plateau, 
and  the  grounds  laid  out  with  skill.  He  was 
fond  of  good  horses  and  driving,  but  his 
taste  was  especially  for  fine  types  of  books, 
and  as  an  ardent  collector  of  special  lines  of 
autographs  he  probably  was  surpassed  by  but 
few  in  Xew  York  state.  It  is  known  that  he 
cleverly  planned  a  "corner"  for  the  letters  of 
several  persons  of  note,  and  thus  possessed  the 
only  specimens  extant.  So  eager  was  he  in 
the  pursuit  of  this  fascinating  hobby  that  he 
made  distant  trips  a  number  of  times  with 
the  sole  object  of  acquiring  a  rarity,  and  it 
delighted  him  more  when  it  depended  not  so 
much  on  the  size  of  the  check  as  upon  the 
sagacity  to  ferret  it  out  and  find  the  proper 
method  to  guarantee  it  for  his  collection.  He 
was  particularly  desirous  to  complete  his  set 
of  letters  of  the  mayors  of  Albany,  which  re- 
quired locating  sixty  specimens,  a  task  he 
found  to  be  far  more  difficult  than  gathering 
those  of  the  presidents  and  vice-presidents, 
because  those  written  by  the  nation's  chief 
executive  were  more  generally  saved  by  recipi- 
ents. He  also  took  delight  in  good  speci- 
mens of  precious  stones,  securing  them  for 
their  beauty. 

Mr.  Parsons  had  a  wide  affiliation  with 
bodies  of  men  other  than  the  six  institutions 
already  named.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Fort  Orange,  the  .Albany  and  tlie  .Albany 
Country  clubs  of  Albany,  of  the  Philip  Living- 
ston Chapter,  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  and 
of  the  Albany  Institute  and  Historical  and  Art 
Society.  He  belonged  to  the  First  Reformed 
Dutch  Church  congregation,  and  was  formerly 
a  trustee.  He  was  extensively  concerned  in 
Masonic  institutions,  and  was  a  member  of 
Masters  Lodge  No.  5,  Free  and  .Accepted  Ma- 
sons, the  Ineffable  and  Sublime  Lodge  of  Per- 
fection, Grand  Council  of  Princes  of  Jerusa- 
lem, Albany  Sovereign  Consistory,  A.  A.  S.  R., 
and  Cyrus  Temple,  .A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S. 

L^nquestionaljly.  Mr.  Parsons  was  intensely 
interested  and  patriotically  devoted  to  the  up- 
building of  his  native  city.  .Mthough  a  man 
of  splendid  charities,  possessing  a  warm  heart 
for  those  in  whom  he  took  concern,  he  dis- 
tributed his  largesse  without  ostentation,  and 
as  a  rule  avoided  publicity  in  his  giving,  yet 
none  the  less  were  his  contributions  joined  in 
every  public  cause  or  for  philanthropic  exten- 
sion of  a  charity  meriting  his  bounty.     Be- 


neath his  business  reserve,  a  quiet,  dignified 
exterior,  but  far  from  coldness,  palpitated  a 
heart  fresh  and  as  kindly  as  a  child,  ready 
ever  to  be  cordial  and  never  counting  upon  a 
return. 

His  death  came  suddenly  in  the  early  morn- 
ing hours  of  December  14,  1904,  and  was  due 
to  heart  failure.  It  came  as  a  severe  shock 
to  the  business  community,  who  had  seen  him 
only  the  previous  day  in  apparently  as  excel- 
lent health  as  he  had  seemed  to  them  at  any 
time.  It  is  true  that  he  had  been  complaining 
of  ill-health  for  a  year  or  more ;  but  this  was 
not  known  in  business  circles,  and  he  had  bus- 
ied himself  in  arranging  his  affairs  so  as  to 
be  able  to  take  an  extended  recreation  by 
traveling  after  the  holidays.  He  had  no  child, 
and  was  survived  by  his  wife,  a  brother.  H. 
Bowne  Parsons,  and  four  sisters — Mrs.  John 
P.  Failin,  Mrs.  George  M.  Beadle,  of  Syra- 
cuse, Mrs.  Walter  M.  Newton,  and  Miss  Ella 
D.  Parsons,  of  Albany. 

Mr.  Parsons  married,  at  Albany,  November 
9,  1870,  IVIiss  Agnes  Evans  Chase,  daughter 
of  Sylvanus  Goodnough  Chase. 

The  Albany  Trust  Company's  trustees 
voiced  the  following  sentiment  regarding  the 
one  who  had  created  the  institution: 

"A  deep  sense  of  personal  loss  is  experienced 
by  each  of  us  in  the  death  of  the  genial,  whole- 
souled,  enthusiastic  friend,  the  invariably  cheer- 
ful, sanguine  and  buoyant  counsellor,  the  loyal, 
unswerving,  devoted  confidant,  the  ever-ready, 
resourceful  adviser;  a  man  who  formed  the 
most  intense  and  enduring  friendships,  and  who, 
when  he  admitted  one  into  that  circle,  would 
never  hear  or  entertain  any  suspicion  of  wrong 
in  him  'he  grappled  them  to  his  heart  with 
hooks  of  steel.'  He  was  distinctively  an  Albany 
man.  with  business  interests  in  our  midst,  which 
he  established  and  carried  on  so  successfully. 
To  the  subject  of  banking,  he  brought  the 
trained  and  educated  mind,  the  untiring  industry, 
unquestioned  integrity,  and  that  attractive  per- 
sonality which  had  distinguished  him  in  college 
and  in  business.  The  formation  of  the  ."Mbany 
Trust  Company  was  due  to  his  forethought,  en- 
ergy anti  the  reputation  which  he  had  achieved. 
He  was  a  man  of  warm  heart  and  generous  im- 
pulses, and  he  was  frequently  importuned  for 
financial  assistance  and  responded  with  alac- 
rity." 

Among  other  sincere  expressions  recorded 
by  the  National  Exchange  Bank,  the  directors 
said :  "Mr.  Parsons  was  generous  to  all  in 
need,  and  always  ready  to  aid  liberally  every 
charitable  case.  His  extreme  modesty  and 
dislike  of  ostentation  have  kept  his  acts  and 
achievements  from  the  public  gaze." 

This  family  was  originally  from 

FRE.AR     France,    where    the    name    was 

Frerc.      They    were    Huguenots, 

and   suffered   the   persecutions  that   drove   so 


,^4A 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


469 


many  I'Venchmen  from  their  native  land  into 
exile.  The  Freres  went  to  England,  where  the 
spelling  of  the  name  was  changed  to  Frear ; 
others  of  the  family  fled  to  Holland,  where 
the  name  became  Freer.  The  family  was 
founded  in  the  United  States  by  Joseph  Frear, 
grandfather  of  William  H.  Frear,  of  Troy, 
New  York.  Through  intermarriage  his  fam- 
ily traces  descent  from  the  earliest  settlers  of 
Long  Island,  New  York,  \'ermont  and  Massa- 
chusetts, through  the  Roe,  Overton,  Davis, 
Bradley,  Presby,  Wright  and  Wadsworth 
families. 

(I)  Joseph  Frear  was  born  in  England, 
April  2,  1777,  died  in  Binghamton,  New  York, 
January  3,  1851.  He  came  to  America,  set- 
tling in  Quebec,  Canada,  in  1814,  where  he 
pursued  his  trade  of  contracting  ship  joiner. 
He  was  a  deep  and  devout  Christian  nature. 
He  joined  the  church  when  but  a  lad  and  be- 
gan religious  work  very  early.  In  Quebec  he 
was  a  Christian  worker  among  the  sailors  of 
the  water  front,  helped  to  establish  the  first 
Sunday-school  and  a  place  of  meeting  over 
which  was  raised  the  first  Bethel  flag  ever  seen 
in  the  harbor.  He  removed  after  a  time  to 
New  York  City,  where  he  joined  the  Broome 
Street  Dutch  Reformed  Church,  becoming 
deacon  and  elder.  He  later  removed  to  Ellen- 
ville,  Ulster  county.  New  York,  where  he  was 
active  in  the  church,  serving  as  elder  several 
years.  In  1849  he  removed  to  Binghamton, 
New  York,  where  he  united  with  the  Congre- 
gational Church.  His  religious  life  covered 
a  period  of  half  a  century  of  honorable  Chris- 
tian endeavor,  and  his  performance  outran  his 
profession.  He  was  honored  and  respected 
wherever  he  was  known.  Not  the  least  of  his 
virtues  was  his  patient  self-denial  for  the  bet- 
terment of  his  family.  He  married,  in  Eng- 
land, Eleanor  Lee,  who  died  at  Binghamton, 
New  York,  April  17,  185 1,  aged  seventy-two 
years,   two   months,  sixteen  days. 

(II)  William,  son  of  Joseph  Frear,  was 
born  at  Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  England,  Au- 
gust I,  1816,  died  in  Troy,  New  York,  Febru- 
ary 15,  1882.  He  was  quite  young  when  his 
parents  settled  in  Quebec,  where  his  boyhood 
was  spent  and  education  received.  From  Que- 
bec he  went  to  New  York  City.  In  1839  he 
removed  to  Ellenville,  Ulster  county.  New 
York,  where  he  engaged  in  trade.  In  a  short 
time  he  transferred  his  home  and  business  to 
West  Coxsackie,  New  York,  where  he  con- 
tinued for  forty  years  an  honored  citizen.  He 
closed  his  long  and  useful  life  a  resident  of 
Troy.  New  York.  He  was  a  man  of  high 
principle,  strict  integrity  and  great  industry 
and  energy.  He  joined  the  Stanton  Street 
Baptist  Church,  New  York   City,  when  six- 


teen years  of  age,  and  was  a  faithful  member 
of  that  denomination  also  during  the  early 
years  of  his  residence  at  Coxsackie.  Later 
he  joined  the  First  Dutch  Reformed  Church, 
Upper  Coxsackie,  which  he  served  as  deacon, 
elder  and  superintendent  of  Sabbath  school 
many  years.  He  was  a  member  of  Ark  Lodge, 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  also  of  the 
lodge  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, Coxsackie.  During  his  latter  years  in 
Troy  he  was  a  member  of  the  Fifth  Avenue 
Presbyterian  Church.  He  always  supported 
the  Republican  party.  His  remarkably  cheer- 
ful disposition  made  him  the  friend  of  old  and 
young.  He  married,  September  3,  1839,  De- 
borah Ann  Davis,  daughter  of  Anselm  Davis 
and  Abigail  Overton,  born  July  24,  1819.  at 
Coram,  Long  Island,  died  in  Troy,  New 
York,  May  5,  1898.  Children:  i.  'William 
H.,  of  further  mention.  2.  Mary  Emma,  born 
June  19,  1843,  '^'sd  March  31,  1850.  3.  .^nna 
Minerva,  born  September  6,  1846,  died  Octo- 
ber 12,  1883.  4.  George,  born  September  15, 
1849,  died  March  2,  1850.  5.  I\Iary  Emma 
(2),  born  April  13,  1851,  died  September  10, 
1852.  6.  Isabella  Dorothy.  7.  Edwin  .Augus- 
tus, married  Eliza  Eddy  Haskell,  October  23, 
1895;  children:  Augusta  Flaskell,  born  Sep- 
tember II,  1897;  Titus  Eddy,  December  26, 
1898.  8.  Martha  Bessac,  married  Professor 
Charles  AVellman  Parks.  April  14,  1887. 

(Ill)  William  Henry,  son  of  VV'illiam  and 
Deborah  Ann  (Davis)  Frear,  was  born  in 
West  Coxsackie,  New  York,  March  29,  1841. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  school  of  Dis- 
trict No.  6,  of  which  his  father  was  a  trustee, 
and  at  Co.xsackie  Academy.  His  ambition  at 
that  time  was  for  a  professional  career  of 
either  law  or  architecture,  but  in  1857  dur- 
ing a  school  vacation,  he  clerked  for  a  while 
in  the  store  of  Barnet  Gay  to  fill  a  temporary 
vacancy.  Here  he  found  his  true  vocation, 
and  from  that  little  Upper  Coxsackie  store  he 
advanced  rapidly  yet  surely  to  his  proud  posi- 
tion of  "Troy's  leading  merchant."  He  re- 
mained with  Mr.  Gay  two  years,  then  was 
with  John  Flagg  &  Co.,  dry  goods  merchants 
of  Troy,  for  six  years.  This  was  his  last 
subordinate  position.  He  had  saved  a  sinall  cap- 
ital which,  added  to  that  of  Sylvanus  Haverly, 
his  partner,  stocked  and  furnished  a  small 
dry  goods  store  at  No.  322  River  street,  Troy, 
where  as  Haverly  &  F'rear  they  opened  for 
business  March  9,  1865.  His  share  of  the 
capital.  $J.ooo,  was  obtained  by  his  savings 
and  the  aid  of  his  father,  mother  and  wife, 
all  of  whom  had  faith  in  the  young  man.  The 
enterprise  was  successful ;  the  industry,  self- 
denial  and  application  of  the  partners  com- 
pelled   success.      In    1868    they    admitted,    or 


470 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK   \-ALLEYS 


rather  consolidated  with  John  Flagg,  Mr. 
Frear's  former  employer,  and  removed  their 
business  to  the  store,  Nos.  3-4  Cannon  Place, 
in  Washington  Square,  opening  April  9,  1868, 
as  Flagg,  Haverly  &  Frear,  the  latter  as  man- 
ager. January  2,  1869,  Mr.  Haverly  with- 
drew, leaving  the  firm  of  Flagg  &  Frear. 
October  27,  1869,  Mr.  Frear  purchased  all 
other  interests  in  the  firm  and  for  twenty-five 
years  was  the  sole  owner  and  manager.  It 
was  during  this  period  that  his  peculiar  talents 
had  full  sway,  and  the  commercial  instinct 
now  fully  aroused,  developed  into  a  passion  or 
force  that  carried  all  before  it,  and  made 
the  name  of  Frear  known  far  and  near  as  the 
synonym  for  enterprise,  originality  and  square 
dealing.  He  superintended  all  important  de- 
tails of  his  business,  was  buyer  and  advertiser, 
and  in  the  early  years  salesman  and  often 
bookkeeper.  He  introduced  modern  adver- 
tising, and  was  the  first  merchant  to  insert  a 
full  page  "ad."  in  a  Troy  newspaper ;  intro- 
duced the  delivery  system  in  his  part  of  New 
York  state ;  employed  advertising  methods  far 
in  advance  of  contemporaries,  even  in  the 
largest  cities,  some  of  them  startling  in  their 
originality ;  established  a  mail-order  depart- 
ment :  adopted  the  cash  system  of  making  pur- 
chases :  added  department  after  department 
until  fifty-three  dififerent  stores  were  under 
one  roof;  in  fact,  the  great  store  throbbed 
and  thrilled  with  the  resistless  energy  of  its 
untiring  master.  He  adopted  as  his  store 
motto.  "Par  negotiis  ne  que  supra"  (Equal 
to  his  business,  but  not  above  it),  and  this  ex- 
presses the  man.  There  never  has  been  a 
moment  when,  although  every  nerve  and  mus- 
cle were  strained  to  almost  the  breaking  point, 
he  was  not  ecpial  to  the  business,  and  his  grip 
firm  on  its  important  details,  but  "not  above 
it,"  applies  equally  well.  Not  for  him  was  the 
leather  chair  and  the  mahogany  desk,  but  the 
thick  of  the  fray ;  yet  when  the  golden  flood 
of  prosperity  came  none  knew  better  than  he 
how  to  enjoy  it.  His  life  is  one  of  the  won- 
ders of  the  commercial  world,  yet,  while  he 
is  proud  of  the  name  he  has  carved  for  him- 
self among  .America's  great  merchants,  he 
does  not  ascribe  it  to  anything  but  good  hard 
business  sense  put  into  circulation,  personal 
attention,  fair  dealing  and  a  thorough  knowl- 
edge of  his  business.  He  has  the  largest  store 
and  the  largest  business  in  Troy,  constantly 
cmj)loys  over  four  hundred  people,  and  has 
])reserved  photogra])hs  of  nearly  all  his  present 
and  former  employees,  as  well  as  copies  of  all 
his  advertisements.  .After  twenty-five  years 
under  his  own  name  and  management,  he  ad- 
mitted his  brother,  Edwin  A.  Frear,  and  his 
eldest   son,    Charles    W.,   to  the    firm,   which 


became.  May  24,  1894,  William  H.  Frear  & 
Company.  On  December  2,  1899,  Mr.  Frear's 
second  son,  William  1!.,  was  admitted  to  part- 
nership in  the  firm,  making  a  very  valuable 
addition  to  the  managing  force,  but  the  sign, 
"Frear's  Troy  Cash  Bazaar,"  still  remains, 
and  the  business,  greater  than  ever,  goes  on 
under  the  same  skillful  direction. 

In  addition  to  developing  a  business  of  in- 
calculable benefit  to  Troy,  Mr.  Frear  has 
borne  his  full  share  of  the  city's  improvement. 
He  is  known  as  a  very  large  real  estate  owner, 
probably  the  largest  in  the  city.  He  has 
bought  and  improved  store,  hotel  and  resi- 
dence city  property,  and  added  a  suburban 
mansion  to  the  beauties  of  the  residential  sec- 
tion. He  was  quick  to  respond  to  the  call  of 
humanity  when  the  P>urdett  building  burned  in 
February,  1896.  with  destructive  loss  of  life 
and  property,  and  as  treasurer  and  chief  al- 
moner of  the  Relief  Fund,  he  gave  a  great 
deal  of  time  and  money  to  the  work.  When 
his  own  store  was  partially  destroyed  by  fire 
in  December,  1893,  he  resumed  trade  on  the 
fourth  day  thereafter,  under  a  temporary  roof, 
and  handled  his  usual  Christmas  trade.  As  a 
staunch  Republican,  he  has  often  responded 
to  the  demands  of  his  party,  although  having 
no  desire  for  public  office.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Troy  Centennial  Committee  of  one 
hundred  in  1889,  the  Citizens'  Association  of 
1892,  and  of  the  Committee  of  Public  Safety 
in  1894.  He  served  on  the  staff  of  P>rigadier- 
General  Alonzo  Alden  with  rank  of  captain, 
and  is  an  associate  member  of  Griswold  Post, 
G.  A.  R.  He  has  many  outside  business  inter- 
ests, being  a  director  of  the  Security  Trust 
Company,  a  trustee  of  the  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association,  trustee  of  the  Samaritan 
Plospital ;  and  was  for  many  years  a  trustee  of 
the  .Second  Presbyterian  Church,  the  Troy 
\'oung  Women's  .Association,  a  director  of  the 
Citizens'  Steamboat  Company,  member  of  the 
committee  for  Old  Home  Week,  Troy,  1908, 
and  member  of  the  committee  of  Hudson-Ful- 
ton Celebration  of  1909;  member  of  Troy  Re- 
publican Club  and  Chamber  of  Conunerce.  He 
was  one  of  the  largest  contributors  to  the 
building  funds  of  Rensselaer  Inn  and  Rensse- 
laer Polytechnic  Institute.  He  was  treasurer 
of  the  Citizens'  Relief  Fund,  Spanish-Ameri- 
can war,  and  one  of  thirty  citizens  who 
founded  the  permanent  home  of  the  Fresh  Air 
I'und  at  Grafton. 

His  restless  energy  in  his  more  active  years 
was  strikingly  displayed  while  on  his  summer 
vacations.  A  volume,  title  "l'"ive  \\'eeks  in  Eu- 
rope," "A  Photographic  Memorandum,"  is 
the  joint  work  of  his  pen  and  camera,  and  is 
the  record  of  one  of  his  vacations.    Appended 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK    \- ALLEYS 


471 


to  each  photo<:^raph  is  an  a])propriate  extract 
from  his  letters  home,  descriptive  of  the  scene 
depicted.  During-  later  years  Mr.  h'rear  has 
given  himself  more  time  and  opportunity  to 
satisfy  the  artistic  side  of  his  nature,  which, 
had  he  not  g^one  into  business,  would  perhaps 
have  led  him  into  the  world  of  art  as  a  pro- 
ducer, instead  of  a  patron.  He  is  a  connois- 
seur in  oil  paintings,  and  has  a  large  and 
costly  collection  of  the  masters  in  his  Troy 
home.  .Among  his  treasured  mementos  of 
great  men  and  events  is  the  table  used  by  the 
Japanese  and  Russian  commissioners  at  Ports- 
mouth Navy  Yard,  New  Hampshire,  as  they 
deliberated  the  terms  of  the  treaty  of  peace 
between  their  respective  nations.  The  treaty 
was  drawn  up  and  signed  on  the  table,  which 
was  purchased  and  presented  to  Mr.  Frear 
by  his  sister.  His  library,  paintings  and  sur- 
roundings bespeak  the  cultured,  artistic  gen- 
tleman, who  now  able  to  satisfy  all  his  finer 
impulses  is  devoting  himself  to  the  beautiful 
and  sentimental  with  the  same  interest  and 
same  methods  that  half  a  century  ago  he  at- 
tacked life's  problems  from  the  standpoint  of 
an  enthusiastic  youth.  A  retrospective  view 
over  his  fifty  years  of  active  business  life 
cannot  fail  to  bring  him  both  satisfaction  and 
pride. 

Mr.  Frear  married  at  Pittsfield,  Massachu- 
setts, October  27,  1863,  Martha  Frances 
Wright,  born  in  Lanesboro,  Massachusetts, 
daughter  of  Charles  Wright,  of  Pownal,  Ver- 
mont, and  Martha  M.  Bradley,  of  Lanesboro, 
Massachusetts,  a  descendant  of  early  colonial 
settlers.  Mrs.  Frear  has  been  a  wise  counsel- 
lor and  faithful  supporter  all  through  the 
years  of  business  strife,  and  shares  with  her 
husband  the  satisfaction  that  comes  after  a 
well-earned  victory.  She  is  a  member  of  the 
Episcopal  church.  Daughters  of  the  .American 
Revolution,  Troy  Girls'  Club,  Women's  Im- 
provement League,  Friends  of  the  Sisterhood 
of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Women's  .-Xuxiliary 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Women's  Au.xiliary  of  the  Troy 
Hospital,  and  one  of  the  managers  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  Home.  She  is  hospitable 
and  social  in  disposition,  and  is  charitable  and 
benevolent  to  the  institutions  that  are  worthy. 
Children,  all  born  in  Troy,   New   York : 

I.  Charles  Wright,  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  Mount  Anthony  Seminarv,  Benning- 
ton. \'ermont,  and  graduated  from  the  classical 
department  of  Phillips  Academy,  Andover. 
Massachusetts,  in  the  class  of  1889,  where 
during  the  course  he  was  leader  of  the  or- 
chestra. .Afterward  took  a  special  course  in 
the  junior  year  at  Williams  College.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  firm  of  William  H.  Frear  & 


Company,  .May  24,  1894.  He  was  a  volun- 
teer in  the  Spanish-.American  war.  He  was  a 
private  in  Company  A,  Second  New  York 
State  Infantry,  and  was  transferred  to  the 
203rd  Regiment,  and  warranted  as  sergeant- 
major  .August  4,  1898,  subsequently  promoted 
to  second  lieutenant.  Company  E,  same  regi- 
ment. He  was  commissioned  battalion  adju- 
tant with  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant,  in  the 
Second  Regiment,  New  York  State  National 
Guard.  April  20,  1899.  He  is  a  director  of 
the  National  City  Bank ;  member  of  the  .Army 
and  Navy  Club  of  New  York  City ;  member 
of  M.  D.  Russell  Post,"  Spanish-.American 
War  \'eterans  :  Sons  of  the  Revolution  ;  Troy 
Club :  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  Troy :  Paf- 
raets  Dael  and  the  Laureate  Boat  Clubs.  He 
married.  June  28,  1910.  Mary  E.  Gurney,  of 
Greenfield.  Massachusetts. 

2.  William  Bradley  Frear  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  Troy  and  finished  the 
grammar  school  course  at  School  No.  5.  being 
the  first  in  his  class.  He  was  fourth  in  a  class 
of  ninety  in  entrance  examination  for  admis- 
sion to  the  Troy  high  school,  June  18,  1887. 
Upon  graduation  therefrom,  June  30,  1891,  he 
was  second  in  the  class,  securing  the  classical 
honor  and  delivering  the  salutatory  address. 
He  was  also  a  student  at  the  Troy  Business 
College  night  school.  He  entered  Williams 
College  the  following  fall,  graduating  in  June, 
1895,  with  the  degree  of  B.  A.  During  these 
four  years,  in  addition  to  the  regular  routine 
of  study,  he  was  prominently  iclentified  with 
the  best  interests  of  the  college.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  track  and  tlie  class  athletic 
teams  ;  president  of  the  Dramatic  Association, 
and  leader  of  the  college  choir  and  quartette. 
He  was  with  the  Glee  Club  on  its  well- 
remembered  trip  to  St.  Louis  in  1894,  and  was 
director  of  the  music  for  the  College  Cen- 
tennial in  1893.  He  has  long  been  favorably 
known  in  musical  circles  as  a  cornetist.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  firm  of  William  H.  Frear 
&  Company,  December  2,  1899.  He  has  the 
inventive  quality,  and  holds  LTnited  States 
Patent  34,825,  granted  July  23.  1901.  He 
was  captain  of  .Arba  Read  Fire  Company  in 
1901.  filling  the  office  satisfactorily  in  every 
respect,  and  had  full  charge  of  the  company's 
famous  trip  to  the  Piuffalo  e.xposition.  He  is 
a  director  of  the  Security  Trust  Company ; 
was  the  first  president  of  the  Alumni  Associa- 
tion of  the  Troy  high  school ;  a  member  of 
the  Chamber  of  Conrmerce.  Commercial  Trav- 
elers' .Association,  Atlantic  Deeper  W^ater- 
ways  Association,  Troy  Golf  Club,  Troy  Vo- 
cal Society,  Troy  Club,  Williams  College 
.Alumni  .Association.  Zeta  Psi  Fraternity,  and 
Sons  of  the  Revolution.     He  is  a  member  and 


472 


HUDSON   AND    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


trustee  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  of 
Troy,  New  York.  He  married  Edna  Russell 
Jayne,  of  Brooklyn,  New  York,  February  i, 
1905.  Children:  Carolyn  Russell,  born  De- 
cember 5,  1905  ;  Frances  Wright,  November 
8,  1907  ;  Edna  Jayne,  March  23,  1910. 

3.  Edwin  Henry  Frear,  educated  in  city 
schools,  Troy  Academy,  Preparatory  School 
at  Lawrenceville,  New  Jersey,  and  Troy  Busi- 
ness College.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Second 
Presbyterian  Church,  Troy,  New  York,  of 
the  Island  Golf  Club,  Rensselaer  County  Re- 
publican Club,  Troy  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association,  ^and  is  now  with  William  H. 
Frear  &  Company. 


At  the  time  of  going  to  press, 
HUDSON  investigation  of  this  line  has 
not  been  completed.  All  that 
can  be  definitely  stated  is  that  T.  (Thomas) 
Hudson  and  his  brother,  of  New  Jersey, 
moved  into  what  was  then  Albany  county. 
New  York,  about  1800.  The  probable  line  is 
as  follows : 

(I)  Jonathan  Hudson,  born  in  England, 
1658,  died  April  5,   1729;  married,  June  17, 

1686,    Sarali   ,   and    resided   in   Lyme, 

Connecticut. 

(H)  Jonathan  (2)  Hudson,  born  January 
6.  1690,  married,  May  30,  1728,  Mary  Jen- 
nings. From  Shelter  Island,  New  York,  Jon- 
athan came  to  New  York  state :  was  a  resident 
of  Westchester  county,  and  <lied  in  Albany,  in 

1745- 

(III)  John  (3)  Hudson,  born  about  1730, 
settled  in  New  Jersey.  He  was  a  private  in 
Captain  William  Piatt's  company,  First  Regi- 
ment of  the  Jersey  Line,  Continental  Army. 
Of  his' family  nothing  can  be  told  further  than 
that  the  initial  of  one  of  his  sons  was  T., 
supposed  to  have  been  Thomas. 

(IV)  T.  (Thomas),  supposed  to  be  son  of 
John   (3)   Hudson,  was  born  in  New  Jersey 

about  1750.     He  married  S ,  of 

whom  nothing  further  can  be  told.  He  served 
in  the  Somerset  county  militia  of  New  Jer- 
sey during  the  revolution.  He  spent  the  last 
years  of  his  life  with  his  son  Samuel,  in 
either  Cherry  \'alley.  New  York,  or  Esper- 
ance,  New  York.  He  was  the  ancestor  of  that 
portion  of  the  Hudson  family  that  settled  in 
the  upper  Hudson  valley — Troy  and  vicinity. 
He  had  a  brother  who  moved  to  Edinburg, 
New  York,  where  he  died  and  is  buried,  and 
who  was  the  ancestor  of  that  portion  that  set- 
tled in  the  vicinity  of  Galway,  New  York, 
where  many  of  them  have  lived  ever  since. 
This  brother  had  a  son  Abraham,  who  was 
born  in  1781.  died  1870,  and  married  Sally 
Johnson,  of   New  Jersey,  whose  sister  mar- 


ried the  son  of  Thomas  Hudson  (IV).  They 
had  five  children :  Nathaniel,  Lucinda,  Polly, 
Johnson  and  Samuel,  the  last  being  still  alive 
at  the  age  of  ninety,  and  living  at  Galway ;  he 
married  Lucinda  McOmber,  and  they  had  four 
children,  all  living:  Sarah  L.,  George  E., 
Charles  William  and  A.  Edgar.  T.  (Thomas) 
(IV)  had  two  sons:  Samuel,  of  whom  fur- 
ther mention,  and  Daniel,  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812,  who  took  part  in  the  Platts- 
burg  campaign. 

(Vj   Samuel,  son  of  T and  S 

Hudson,  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  in  1781, 
died  July  15,  1853.  He  is  buried  in  Mt.  Ida 
Cemetery,  Troy,  New  York.  He  was  a  man 
of  education,  and  after  coming  to  New  York 
state  taught  school  at  Cherry  Valley  and  Es- 
perance  in  Otsego  and  Schoharie  counties. 
He  married  Phoebe  Johnson,  died  March  16, 
185 1,  daughter  of  Abram  and  Mary  John- 
son of  New  Jersey.  Children :  Thomas,  died 
in  California,  unmarried ;  Daniel,  of  further 
mention ;  Eliza,  taught  in  a  private  school  in 
Troy  for  forty  years ;  Johnson,  removed  tO' 
Michigan,  serving  in  the  civil  war  in  a  regi- 
ment from  that  state. 

(VI)  Daniel  (4),  son  of  Samuel  and 
Phoebe  (Johnson)  Hudson,  was  born  in  Es- 
perance,  Schoharie  county.  New  York,  in 
1813,  died  in  Troy,  New  York,  in  1879,  and 
is  buried  in  Schenectady,  New  York.  He 
was  a  paper-box  manufacturer  in  Troy,  re- 
tiring about  five  years  before  his  death.  He 
established  a  fire  brick  works  on  Second 
street,  Troy,  which  is  still  in  operation  under 
the  name  of  the  Ostrander  Brick  Company. 
He  was  a  man  of  the  utmost  integrity,  with 
mental  attainments  of  a  high  degree.  He  was 
an  earnest  Methodist,  and  was  one  of  the  first 
organizers  of  the  Third  Street  Methodist 
Church,  and  later  in  his  life  was  for  years 
a  prominent  active  member  of  the  Sec- 
ond Street  (now  Fifth  Avenue)  Methodist 
Church,  which  he  served  in  an  ofificial  ca- 
pacity. He  married  Mary  Ann  MacHenry, 
born  and  buried  in  Schenectady,  died  in  Troy, 
1687.  The  MacHcnrys  are  of  Scotch-Irish 
ancestry.  Mary  /\nn  Hudson  being  the  third 
generation  in  the  United  States.  Children, 
born  in  Troy:  i.  Thomas,  born  in  1835,  and 
died  in  Troy,  in  1861,  where  he  was  a  dealer 
in  dental  supplies ;  he  married  Lorena  Down- 
ing, of  Troy,  and  had  two  sons — Herbert, 
now  living  in  Watervlict,  and  in  the  employ 
of  the  ITnion  R.  R.  Co.  (1910),  and  Walter, 
now  living  in  New  York  (1910).  2.  Samuel, 
born  1836,  died  1890;  he  was  a  prominent 
volunteer  fireman  in  Troy,  at  one  time  being 
captain  of  the  Osgood  Steamer  Company. 
Identified  with  the  Republican  party,  he  was 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


473 


clerk  of  the  board  of  excise  in  Troy  for  sev- 
eral years.  3.  Myra,  born  in  1838,  died  in 
W'aterbury,  Connecticut,  I\Iay,  1910;  married 
George  I'.  Chapman,  of  Bridgeport,  Connecti- 
cut, who  died  in  1898.  She  was  a  second 
wife.  4.  W'ilham  Henry,  of  further  mention. 
5.  Edward  B..  born  in  Troy,  September  3, 
1846.  entered  the  drug  business  in  186 1.  For 
ten  years  he  was  located  in  San  Francisco  as 
manager  for  the  Pacific  coast  of  the  Wm. 
S.  Merrill  Chemical  Company.  During  and 
after  the  San  Francisco  earthquake  he  was  in- 
strumental in  preserving  and  reestablishing 
their  business  in  that  territory.  He  married 
Mary  \\'atson,  of  Troy,  New  York,  in  1876, 
who  died  in  Albany,  New  York,  in  1897,  leav- 
ing no  children.  Edward  B.  Hudson  is  still 
alive  (1910).  He  is  now  connected  with  the 
Lewis  Co-Operative  Company,  Kansas  City, 
manufacturers  of  Safety  Poison  Cabinets  for 
Druggists.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Albany 
Commercial  Travelers'  Club.  6.  Charles  Dan- 
iel, a  lawyer  of  keen  mentality,  who  practiced 
in  Watervliet  for  many  years,  now  a  resident 
of  New  York.  Married  Ruth  Crow,  of  Troy, 
and  has  one  daughter,  Mabel,  born  in  1876, 
a  school  teacher  in  New  York  City.  Two 
children  of  Daniel  and  Mary  Ann  Hudson  died 
in  infancy. 

(\TI)  William  Henry,  son  of  Daniel  and 
Mary  Ann  (MacHenry)  Hudson,  was  born 
in  Troy,  New  York,  July  21,  1843,  died  in  that 
city  August  9,  1897.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  and  private  schools,  and  at  an  early  age 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Manufacturers'  Na- 
tional Bank  as  messenger  boy.  He  received 
successive  promotions  during  his  twenty-eight 
years  of  service  with  that  institution,  rising 
to  the  position  of  teller.  He  also  organized  the 
firm  of  Moore  &  Hudson  (1867)  to  do  a 
general  life  and  fire  insurance  business,  which 
became  a  well-known  and  prosperous  firm, 
and  still  exists  under  the  firm  name  of  Hud- 
son &  Thompson.  He  was  reared  in  the  Meth- 
odist faith  of  his  parents,  but  after  his  mar- 
riage attended  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Troy.  Politically  he  was  a  Republican. 
He  was  an  able  man  of  business,  most  genial 
in  his  social  relations,  and  held  in  high  es- 
teem in  the  community.  He  married.  May  30, 
1866,  at  Hudson,  New  York.  Jennie,  daugh- 
ter of  Captain  Henry  Waldo  (see  Waldo). 
Children:  i.  Henry  Waldo,  of  whom  further; 
2.  Ralph  Clark,  born  in  Troy,  November  23, 
1875.  He  removed  to  New  York  in  1895,  and 
entered  the  employ  of  A.  J.  Cammeyer,  the 
largest  retail  shoe  house  in  the  world,  as  a 
clerk,  and  is  now  (1910)  general  manager. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Troy  Citizens'  Corps, 
and  on  his  removal  to  New  York  enlisted  in 


Company  E,  Seventy-first  Regiment,  New 
York  National  Guard,  and  saw  service  in  the 
Spanish- American  war.  He  ranked  as  cor- 
poral ;  was  at  San  Juan  and  Santiago,  return- 
ing as  lieutenant.  He  married,  December  4, 
1909,  at  the  Church  of  the  Transfiguration, 
in  New  York  City,  Mrs.  Harriett  Corbett,  of 
San  Francisco,  California. 

(VHI)  Henry  NN'aldo,  eldest  son  of  Wil- 
liam Henry  and  Jane  (Waldo)  Hudson,  was- 
born  in  Troy,  New  York,  March  3,  1870.  He- 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  Troy 
Academy.  He  entered  his  father's  office, 
where  he  acquired  a  thorough  knowledge  of 
the  insurance  business  in  all  its  branches  and 
detail.  This  business,  established  by  William; 
Flenry  Hudson  in  1867,  has  continued  under 
several  firm  names,  the  present  name  of  Hud- 
son &  Thompson  being  established  in  1905, 
the  son,  Henry  Waldo,  being  senior  partner. 
Flenry  Waldo  Hudson  was  for  a  time  in  the 
employ  of  Geo.  B.  Cluett's  Sons  of  Troy,  and 
in  1888  entered  the  employ  of  the  United 
National  Bank  of  Troy  as  junior  clerk,, 
continuing  with  that  institution  until  1901, 
having  reached  the  position  of  paying  teller. 
In  the  meantime  he  had  been  admitted  as  a 
partner  with  his  father,  under  the  firm  name 
of  William  FI.  Hudson  &  Son.  In  1901  he 
removed  to  Hoosick  Falls  and  became  as- 
sistant treasurer  of  the  Walter  A.  Wood 
Mowing  &  Reaping  Machine  Company.  He 
was  also  assistant  auditor,  and  in  1906  was 
elected  auditor.  In  1907  he  was  chosen  treas- 
urer, which  office  he  now  fills  (1910).  He  is 
a  member  of  several  clubs  in  Troy  and  Hoo- 
sick Falls,  and  is  a  Republican.  He  married, 
June  5,  1901,  at  Rutland,  Vermont,  Mary 
Lucretia,  daughter  of  Henry  Arthur  Sawyer. 

The  lines  of  descent  of  Mary  Lucretia 
(Sawyer)  Hudson  lead  to  the  very  oldest  and 
best  known  of  the  Pilgrims,  including  the 
Brewster,  Standish,  Stafford,  Putnam,  Prence 
and  Paddock  families.  The  elder  line  may 
be  that  of  Brewster,  although  the  Standish 
line  is  equally  ancient  in  America. 

(The    Brewster    Line). 

(I)  Elder  William,  "Mayflower"  passen- 
ger and  first  colonial  governor,  married  Mary. 

(II)  Patience,  daughter  of  Elder  William 
Brewster,  married  Colonial  Governor  Thomas 
Prence. 

(III)  Mary,  daughter  of  Governor  Thomas 
and  Patience  (Brewster)  Prence.  married 
Major  John  Freeman,  an  officer  of  King  Phil- 
lip's war. 

(IV)  John,  son  of  Major  John  and  Mary 
(Prence)  Freeman,  married  Sarah  Merrick. 

(V)  Mercy,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah 


n'74 


HUDSON    AND    .MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


(Merrick)  Freeman,  married  Deacon  Chill- 
ingsworth  Foster. 

(\'I)  Mary,  daughter  of  Deacon  and  Mercy 
(Freeman)  Foster,  married  David  Paddock, 
of  an  old  English  family. 

(\'n)  Foster,  son  of  David  and  Mary 
(Foster)  Paddock,  married  Damson  Ray- 
mond. 

(\'ni)  Anthony,  son  of  Foster  and  Dam- 
son (  Raymond )  Paddock,  married  Rahama 
^Marshall. 

( IX )  Betsey,  daughter  of  Anthony  and 
Rahama  (Marshall)  Paddock,  married  Palmer 
Stafford. 

(X)  Lucretia,  daughter  of  Palmer  and 
Betsey  (Paddock)  Stafford,  married  David 
Sawyer. 

(XI)  Henry  Arthur,  son  of  David  and  Lu- 
cretia (Stafford)  Sawyer,  married  Julia  Put- 
nam. 

(XH)  Mary  Lucretia,  daughter  of  Henry 
Arthur  and  Julia  (Putnam)  Sawyer,  mar- 
ried Henry  Waldo  Hudson.  (See  Hudson 
MIL) 

(The    Stafford    Line). 

John  and  Thomas  Stafford,  younger  sons 
of  Lord  Staiford,  of  Staffordshire.  England, 
came  to  the  American  colonies  in  a  vessel  of 
their  own  and  settled  at  Scituate,  Rhode 
Island.  Both  married.  Thomas  married  Mary 
'Cleveland,  and  moved  to  Stephentown,  New 
York,  thence  to  Danby,  Vermont,  later  to 
Plattsburg,  New  York.  Children :  Rowland, 
Palmer,  John,  Deborah,  Stutely,  of  later  men- 
tion, Nancy,  Joseph  and  Francis. 

(II)  Stutely.  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary 
(Cleveland)  Stafford,  married  (her  second 
husband)  Rebecca  (Doty)  Irish,  April  2, 
1780.  She  was  then  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
had  been  a  widow  nearly  three  years,  and  had 
been  the  wife  of  John  Irish  nearly  five  years. 
She  was  a  granddaughter  of  Francis  De  Long, 
a  French  officer,  and  Heilcha  Van  Skalk,  of 
Amsterdam.  Holland,  who  married  in  Amer- 
ica and  lived  on  Long  Island.  New  York. 
Their  children  were :  Ora,  Elias,  Rachel, 
Maricha,  Lucretia  and  Zonacha.  Lucretia 
De  Long  married  Joseph  Doty,  and  first  set- 
tled at  Fishkill,  New  York,  later  removed  to 
"Nine  Partners,"  Dutchess  county.  New  York. 
Children :  Peter.  Rhoda,  Jacob.  Elizabeth, 
Rebecca,  Patty,  Nancy,  Lydia,  Mary  Ann. 
Rebecca  Doty  married  John  Irish,  in  1772. 
They  removed  to  Tinmouth,  Vermont,  where 
he  was  killed  by  the  Indians,  July,  1777.  She 
married  Stutely  Stafford,  April  2,  1780.  They 
lived  at  Danby,  later  in  Wallingford.  Ver- 
mont. By  her  first  marriage  she  had  Lucre- 
tia, Joseph  and  Rhoda  Irish:  by  her  second 
marriage  she   had   Merriam,   Nancy,    Palmer, 


Ormond,  Holden  Marbury,   Sylvia,  John  and 
^ilercy. 

(III)  Palmer,  son  of  Stutely  and  Rebecca 
(Doty-Irish)  Stafford,  married  Betsey, 
daughter  of  Anthony  Paddock,  a  great-grand- 
son of  Elder  William  Brewster.  (  See  Brews- 
ter.) Children:  Alehala,  Rahama,  Lucretia. 
Sylvia,  Rebecca,  Benjamin,  Bourdman,  Jay, 
Stutely,  and  Darius,  and  Eveline. 

(IV)  Lucretia,  daughter  of  Palmer  and 
Betsey  (Paddock)  Stafford,  was  born  at  Wal- 
lingford. \'ermont,  18 13,  died  at  Aurora,  Illi- 
nois, December  3,  1893.  She  married  David 
Sawyer,  of  Tinmouth,  \'ermont,  son  of  David 
Sawyer,  and  a  descendant  of  Miles  Standish, 
of  the  "Mayflower"  and  early  Pilgrim  days. 
He  was  born  September  25,  1807,  died  at 
Moira,  New  York.  December  31,  1859.  Chil- 
dren :  Anson.  Henry,  Persis,  Palmer,  Noah, 
Malinda. 

(\')  Henry  Arthur,  son  of  David  and  Lu- 
cretia (Stafford)  Sawyer,  was  born  at  Tin- 
mouth, Vermont,  March  19,  1834,  died  at  Rut- 
land, October  6,  1899.  He  married,  at  Rut- 
land. Vermont,  May  15,  1866.  Julia,  daughter 
of  James  Madison  Putnam,  great-grandniece 
of  Israel  Putnam.  She  was  born  at  Ludlow, 
\'ermont,  November  15,  1841.  Children: 
I.  James,  married  Helen  Bradford  W^ebb ; 
children :  Henry,  and  Barbara.  2.  Mary  Lu- 
cretia.   3.  David  Henry. 

(\'I)  Mary  Lucretia,  daughter  of  Henry 
Arthur  and  Julia  (Putnam)  Sawyer,  married 
Henry  Waldo  Hudson,  of  Troy,  New  York. 

I'^rom  Miles  and  Barbara  Standish.  of 
Plymouth,  the  Sawyers'  descent  is  through 
Prudence  Standish,  a  daughter  or  grand- 
daughter of  Josiah,  son  of  Miles  and  Barbara 
Standish.     She  married  Jacob  Sawyer  in  1730. 

(IV)  Ephraini,  son  of  Jacob  and  Prudence 
(  Standish  )  Sawyer,  married Smith. 

(\')    David,    son  of   Ephraim    and 


( Smith )  Sawyer,  married  Mary  Woodruff, 
and  children  were  Noah  Woodruff,  Olive  Bar- 
bara and  David. 

( VI )  David,  son  of  David  and  Mary 
(Woodruff)  Sawyer,  married  Lucretia  Staf- 
ford.    (Sec  Stafford  IV.) 

(The     Putnam     Line). 

The  -American  ancestor  of  Julia  (Putnam) 
Sawyer,  mother  of  Mary  Lucretia  Sawyer 
Hudson,  was  John  Putnam,  who  with  his  wife 
Priscilla  (maiden  name  believed  to  have  been 
Deacon)  and  three  sons — Thomas,  John  and 
Nathaniel — came  from  England  in  1634. 
They  settled  in  Salem,  Massachusetts,  where 
the  father  died  October  30,  1662.  They  had 
seven  children. 

(II)    Lieutenant     Thomas,    eldest    son    of 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


475 


Jolm  and  Priscilla  Pulnaiii.  was  baptized  at 
Astt»n,  Abbotts,  county  of  Bucks,  England, 
March  7,  1614-15,  died  at  Salem  village.  May 
5,  1 686.  He  was  an  inhabitant  of  Lynn  in 
1640,  selectman  in  1642,  and  joined  the  Salem 
church  in  1643.  He  was  a  man  of  education, 
wrote  a  good  hand,  held  many  of  the  Salem 
ofifices  in  town  and  church,  and  was  lieuten- 
ant of  a  troop  of  horse.  He  married  (first) 
Ann,  daughter  of  Edward  and  Prudence 
(Stockton)  Holyoke,  who  bore  him  eight  chil- 
dren :  ( second )  Mary,  widow  of  Nathaniel 
\'eren,  who  bore  him  one  child,  Joseph,  after- 
ward the  father  of  General  Israel  Putnam,  of 
revolutionary   fame. 

(HI)  Sergeant  Thomas,  son  of  Lieutenant 
Thomas  and  his  first  wife,  Ann  (Holyoke) 
Putnam,  was  baptized  in  the  Salem  church, 
February  16,  1652,  died  in  Salem,  May  24, 
1699.  He  married  Ann,  youngest  daughter  of 
George  and  Elizabeth  Carr,  of  Salisbury. 
They  had  twelve  children,  eleven  of  whom 
were  alive  in  1715. 

( IV )  Seth,  twelfth  child  of  Sergeant 
Thomas  and  Ann  (Carr)  Putnam,  was  born 
in  Salem  village.  May,  1695,  died  at  Charles- 
town,  New  Hampshire,  November  30,  1775. 
He  was  one  of  the  pioneers  in  that  exposed 
frontier  town,  and  sent  two  sons  to  help  fight 
the  French  and  Indians.  He  helped  form 
the  first  church  at  Charlestown  and  was 
among  the  first  ten  members  on  the  list.  He 
married,  September  17,  1718,  Ruth  Whipple, 
wiio  died  February  i,  1785.  They  had  eight 
children. 

( \' )  Timothy,  youngest  son  of  Seth  and 
Ruth  (Whipple)  Putnam,  was  born  at  Bil- 
lerica,  Massachusetts,  December  25,  1732,  died 
at  Charlestown,  New  Hampshire.  He  was  a 
member  of  Colonel  Eellows's  regiment,  which 
marched  to  reenforce  Ticonderoga  in  Mav, 
1777,  and  again  in  June  of  that  year,  but 
found  the  fort  evacuated.  He  married  Sus- 
anna Badger,  who  bore  him  seven  children. 

(\T)  John,  son  of  Timothy  and  Susanna 
(  Badger  1  Putnam,  was  born  in  Charlestown, 
New  Hampshire.  June  4,  1764,  died  in  Mont- 
pelier.  \'ermont.  June  9,  1848.  He  was  a 
farmer  of  Montpelier.  and  was  borne  on  the 
pension  roll  of  the  revolution.  He  married 
(first)  Catherine  Carr,  (second)  Mrs.  Peggy 
Glidden,  at  Charlestown.  New  Hampshire, 
widow  of  Moses  Willard.  She  was  born  Octo- 
ber 25,  1781,  died  in  Montpelier,  February 
19,  1832.  He  had  six  children  by  the  first 
wife,  and  five  by  the  second. 

(\TI)  Colonel  James  Madison,  .son  of  John 
and  his  second  wife,  Peggy  (Glidden-Willard) 
Putnam,  was  born  in  Springfield,  \"ermont, 
July  (),  1813,  died  1888.    He  was  a  millwright 


by  trade  and  was  one  of  the  last  survivors 
of  the  old  line  of  commissioned  tnilitia  oflficers. 
He  was  for  many  years  sheriff  of  Windham 
county,  \'ermont,  and  proprietor  of  the  Frank- 
lin House  at  Rutland.  In  later  years  until 
1880  he  was  chief  of  police  and  a  wholesale 
dealer  in  coal  and  grain.  He  was  prominent 
in  the  Baptist  church  and  the  Ma.sonic  and 
Odd  Fellows  orders.  He  married,  in  Ludlow, 
\'ermont,  j\Iarch  5,  1838,  Sarah  .\nn,  daugh- 
ter of  Oliver  and  Lois  (Steele)  Mason.  She 
was  born  in  Springfield,  \crmont,  August  28, 
1817.     They  had  three  children. 

(\'HI)  Julia  .\nn,  daughter  of  Colonel 
James  ]\Iadison  and  Sarah  Ann  (Steele) 
Putnam,  was  born  in  Ludlow,  \'ermont,  No- 
vember 15,  1841 ;  married  May  15,  1866, 
Henry  Arthur  Sawyer.  They  had  three  chil- 
dren. 

( IN )  Mary  Lucretia,  daughter  of  Henry 
Arthur  and  Julia  Ann  (Putnam)  Sawyer, 
married  Henry  Waldo  Hudson. 

(The    Waldo    Line). 

The  maternal  line  of  Henry  Waldo  Hudson 
and  Ralph  Clark  Hudson  begins  in  Amer- 
ica with  Deacon  Cornelius  Waldo,  born  about 
1624,  in  England,  died  January  3,  1700-1,  at 
Chelmsford.  Massachusetts.  The  earliest  rec- 
ord of  him  in  New  England  is  in  1647.  He 
married  Hannah,  daughter  of  John  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Thompson)  Cogswell,  of  Ipswich. 
She  was  born  1624.  at  Westbury.  Leigh,  Wilt- 
shire, England,  and  caine  with  her  parents 
to  .-Xmerica  in  the  ship  "Angel  Gabriel," 
which  sailed  from  Bristol,  May  23.  1635,  and 
was  wrecked  on  the  coast  of  Pemaquid  in  the 
gale  of  August  15,  several  lives  being  lost 
in  the  disaster.  She  died  Deceinber  25,  1704, 
at  Charlestown,  Massachusetts,  aged  eighty 
years.  They  were  the  parents  of  twelve  chil- 
dren. 

(II)  John,  son  of  Cornelius  and  Hannah 
(Cogswell)  ^^'aldo,  died  April  14,  1700.  at 
Windham,  Connecticut.  He  was  a  soldier  in 
King  Philip's  war,  and  was  wounded  in  the 
"Quaboag  fight,"  August  2,  1675.  In  No- 
vember, 1697,  he  purchased  a  grist  mill  at 
Windham,  Connecticut,  removing  there  a 
little  later.  He  .soon  after  died.  He  mar- 
ried, about  1676,  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Cap- 
tain Samuel  and  Rebecca  (Graves)  .-\dams, 
of  Charlestown,  Massachusetts.  She  died  Sep- 
tember 17,  1727,  at  Canterbury,  Connecticut, 
surviving  her  husband  twenty-seven  years. 
They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children. 

(ill)  Edward,  son  of  John  and  Rebecca 
(.•\dams)  \\'aldo,  was  born  at  Dunstable, 
Massachusetts,  April  23,  1684.  died  .August 
3,   1767,  at  Windham,  Connecticut.     He  was 


476 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


educated  in  Boston,  and  taus;ht  school  for 
a  number  of  years  in  Windham.  He  was  a 
farmer  of  substance  and  a  citizen  of  influ- 
ence, was  a  member  of  the  general  assembly 
three  terms,  and  a  lieutenant  of  the  military 
company  at  ^^'indham.  He  married  (first) 
Thankful  Dimmock,  born  March,  1682,  at 
Barnstable,  Massachusetts,  died  December  13, 
1757,  at  Windham,  daughter  of  Deacon  Shu- 
bael  and  Joanna  (Bursley)  Dimmock,  and 
granddaughter  of  Elder  Thomas  Dimmock,  of 
Barnstable,  Alassacliusetts,  deputy  six  terms, 
member  of  the  council  of  war  1642,  and  lieu- 
tenant of  militia.  The  will  of  Edward  Waldo 
mentions  a  second  wife,  Mary.  Children  by 
first  marriage,  ten. 

(IX)  Zacheus,  son  of  Edward  and  Thank- 
ful (Dimmock)  Waldo,  was  born  at  Wind- 
ham, Connecticut,  July  19,  1725,  died  there 
September  10,  1810.  He  married  (first)  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1746,  at  Lebanon,  Connecticut,  Tali- 
tlia  Kingsbury,  born  December  7,  1726,  at 
Norwich,  died  January  18,  1789;  (second) 
Catherine,  widow  of  Moses  Graves.  By  first 
marriage  he  had  five  children. 

(V)  Cyprian,  son  of  Zacheus  and  Talitha 
(Kingsbury)  Waldo,  was  born  at  Windham, 
Connecticut,  November  13,  1747,  died  at 
Sharon,  Connecticut,  July  8.  1797.  He  mar- 
ried Hannah  Ripley,  born  February  23,  1750, 
died  June  27,  1813,  and  is  buried  at  Spencer's 
Corner,  town  of  Northeast,  Dutchess  county, 
New  York.    They  had  seven  children. 

(VI)  David  Ripley,  son  of  Cyprian  and 
Hannah  (Ripley)  Waldo,  was  born  at  Sharon, 
Connecticut,  July  24,  1778,  died  at  Hudson, 
New  York,  October  16,  1815.  He  removed 
to  Hudson  in  1794  and  engaged  in  merchan- 
dising and  freighting.  He  established  the 
Waldo  homestead  on  Main  street,  which  is  yet 
in  jjossession  of  the  family.  He  married 
Deborah  Clark,  born  .A.ugust  4,  177S,  at  Nan- 
tucket, Massachusetts,  died  at  Hudson,  New 
■S'ork,  I^Iarch  3,  1848,  daughter  of  George 
Clark,  and  granddaughter  of  Ichabod  and 
Deborah  (Bunker)  Clark.  George  Clark  mar- 
ried Abigail  Swain,  a  descendant  of  Richard 
Swain  of  Nantucket.  Children  of  David  Rip- 
ley and  Deborah  Clark  Waldo:  i.  George 
Ciark,  a  sailor,  died  in  Boston  "aged  thirty- 
eight,  buried  in  the  South  Ground,"  unmar- 
ried. 2.  Charles,  graduate  of  Union  College, 
1817;  "he  was  a  lawyer  of  some  prominence, 
resident  at  Hudson ;  held  positions  of  trust 
and  responsibility,  and  was  a  brilliant  conver- 
sationalist and  deliater.  Many  of  the  influen- 
tial men  of  the  town  were  his  intimate  friends, 
his  preferences  being  for  the  society  of  re- 
fined and  literary  men."  He  was  unmarried. 
3.  Henry,  of  whom  further.    4.  William.   "He 


was  an  accountant  of  decided  ability,  correct 
and  methodical  in  his  habits,  a  firm  friend, 
strong  in  his  likes  and  dislikes.  A  small  por- 
tion of  his  life  was  spent  in  New  York  City, 
where  he  was  employed  as  an  accountant.  He 
was  also  in  New  Orleans  for  a  short  time.  He 
was  never  satisfied  away  from  home.  He  was 
devotedly  attached  to  his  mother,  and  lived 
but  one  year  after  her  death."  He  was  un- 
married. 

(VH)  Henry,  son  of  David  Ripley  and 
Deborah  (Clark)  Waldo,  was  born  February 
18,  1805,  at  Hudson,  New  York,  died  there 
March  12,  1888.  Of  a  roving  nature,  he  ran 
away  to  sea  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years  and 
followed  a  sailor's  life  until  he  was  forty. 
Among  the  many  tlirilling  adventures  was  the 
rescue  of  the  captain,  his  wife,  three  children, 
and  the  crew,  of  an  English  brig.  The  British 
Admiralty  acknowledged  this  brave  act  by 
presenting  Waldo  and  his  four  associates  with 
one  hundred  pounds.  His  vessel  was  wrecked 
in  mid-.-\tlantic,  and  for  two  days  and  three 
nights  he  and  seven  sailors  clung  to  the 
wreckage  until  rescued  by  a  passing  vessel. 
He  rose  to  be  captain  of  the  ship  "Orbit,"  but 
soon  after  retired  from  the  sea.  He  settled 
in  Hudson,  where  he  engagd  in  merchandis- 
ing for  a  time,  until  the  discovery  of  gold  in 
California,  which  awoke  again  the  "wander- 
lust." A  company  was  formed,  the  bark 
"Mousam"  purchased,  and  Captain  Waldo 
placed  in  command.  They  sailed  around  the 
Horn  and  safely  reached  San  Francisco, 
where  the  company  disbanded.  Captain 
Waldo  remained  in  California  eighteen 
months,  was  elected  associate  judge  of  El- 
dorado county,  opened  the  first  court  there, 
and  was  actively  and  prominently  identified 
with  that  county.  Ill  health,  however,  com- 
pelled his  return,  and  soon  after  he  was 
elected  sheriflf  of  Columbia  county,  being  the 
only  Republican  elected  on  the  ticket.  June 
23,  1870,  he  was  appointed  inspector  of  cus- 
toms at  New  York  City.  He  married,  Febru- 
ary 10,  1845,  Sarah  Heath,  born  December  4, 
1822,  at  Hudson,  the  place  of  her  death,  July 
25.  1890.  Children:  i.  Jane  Eliza,  of  whom 
further.  2.  George  Clark,  secretary  of  the 
old  Equitable  Savings  Bank  of  New  York 
City,  president  of  the  E.xcelsior  Bank  of  New 
York  City  at  the  age  of  thirty-one  years  (said 
to  have  been  the  youngest  bank  president  in 
the  state)  ;  died.  He  was  prominent  in  the 
Masonic  order,  and  a  member  of  prominent 
New  York  City  clubs ;  married  October  10, 
1874,  Florence  Adelaide  Post.  They  had  no 
children,  but  adopted  a  son,  Willard  Clark 
Waldo.  3.  Deborah,  married,  December  11, 
1895,   at  Alount  Vernon,   New  York,  Lothar 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


477 


Alexander  Mortimer,  Baron  von  Grave,  born 
in  Prussia,  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  old 
military  families  of  Prussia.  He  served  in 
the  Turco-Austrian  war  as  lieutenant,  was 
wounded,  and  later  opened  an  art  studio  in 
Munich,  being  finely  educated  in  the  fine  arts 
and  a  painter  of  note.  He  later  came  to  the 
United  States  and  opened  a  studio  in  New 
York  City,  became  interested  in  industrial  art, 
and  in  1899  was  in  charge  of  the  art  depart- 
incnt  iif  H.  L.  Judd  &  Company,  in  Walling- 
ford.  Connecticut.  Deborah  was  his  second 
w'ife.  They  had  no  issue.  4.  Harriet,  mar- 
ried. October  16,  1883,  at  Hudson,  Joseph 
Bartlett  Hydorn.  of  Troy,  New  York,  born 
April  I.  i860,  died  February  13,  1898,  at  Al- 
bany. New  Yorlx.  He  was  educated  at  Rens- 
selaer Polytechnic  Institute  as  a  chemist,  and 
witli  his  father  inaugurated  the  first  electric 
light  plant  in  Troy.  Later  he  was  connected 
with  the  state  insurance  department  at  Albany. 
They  had  one  child,  Joseph  r>artlett,  born 
August  I.  1885. 

(MH)  Jane  Eliza  (Jennie),  eldest  child 
•of  Captain  Henry  and  Sarah  (Heath)  Waldo, 
was  born  at  Hudson.  New  York,  March  17, 
1846.  She  married.  May  30.  1866,  at  Hudson, 
William  Henry  Hudson.    (See  Hudson  VHL) 


The  Drapers  of  England,  from 
DRAPER     whom     the     American     family 

descend,  were  originally  na- 
tives to  the  county  of  Yorkshire,  at  or  near 
Heptonstall,  and  all  of  the  name  are  believed 
to  have  descended  from  William,  John  and 
Henry  Le  Drapon.  Heptonstall  is  a  village 
and  parochial  chapelry  in  Halifax  Parish. 
West  Riding,  Yorkshire.  The  ancestor  of 
the  American  family  is  Thomas  Draper,  father 
•of  James  "'the  Puritan."  He  was  a  clothier 
and  fuller.  His  ancestors  had  followed  the 
same  business  before  him.  and  his  American 
descendants  frequently  did  likewise  in  New 
England.  The  very  name  Draper  suggests 
the  occupation,  "one  who  deals  in  cloth."  His 
wife's  name  is  not  preserved..  The  Hepton- 
stall family  records,  back  to  1593.  do  not  re- 
cord the  marriage  of  Thomas  Draper.  The 
family  name  is  an  honored  one  in  English 
history,  and  was  entitled  to  a  coat-of-arms. 
Sir  Christopher  Draper,  in  1657,  was  lord 
mayor  of  London,  and  there  are  many  of  the 
name  who  have  been  prominent  in  the  civil 
and  military  history  of  their  native  country. 
The  Stausfields  and  Drapers  were  closelv  al- 
lied for  centuries  in  England,  and  culminated 
in  the  marriage  of  a  daughter  of  the  house  to 
James  Draper,  "the  Puritan."  and  becoming 
the  mother  of  tlie  Draper  family  of  America. 
In  this  countrv  the  name  is  an  honored  one  in 


every  branch  of  our  civil,  religious  or  com- 
mercial life.  They  are  found  in  every  pro- 
fession, business  or  trade.  Many  eminent 
men  have  borne  the  name  which  we  here 
trace  through  nine  generations,  from  James 
"the  Puritan."  to  Frederick  Elliott  Draper,  of 
Troy,  New  York. 

( II)  James,  fourth  .son  and  child  of  Thomas 
Draper,  was  born  in  the  priory  of  Heptonstall, 
vicarage  of  Halifax,  Yorkshire,  England,  in 
161 8,  died  in  Roxbury,  Massachusetts,  1694. 
Although  James  Draper  is  found  in  history 
as  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  the  town 
of  Lancaster,  no  evidence  can  be  found  that 
he  ever  lived  there.  His  first  residence  was 
in  Roxbury,  Sarah,  Susanna  and  James,  his 
first  American-born  children,  there  first  saw 
the  light.  He  then  moved  to  Dedham.  for 
his  sons.  John,  Moses  and  Daniel  were  born 
there.  He  then  must  have  returned  to  Rox- 
bury. for  his  youngest  children,  Patience  and 
Jonathan,  are  recorded  as  born  there,  and 
James,  the  father,  is  there  buried.  He  was 
made  a  freeman  of  Roxbury,  1690.  His  first 
child,  born  in  America,  was  Susanna,  born 
about  1650.  wliich  determines  to  a  reasonable 
certainty  the  date  of  his  emigration.  He 
married,  in  Heptonstall.  April  21,  1646.  Mi- 
riam, daughter  of  Gideon  Stansfield  and  his 
wife.  Grace  Eastwood,  of  \\'adsworth.  York- 
shire. James  and  Aliriam  (Stansfield)  Dra- 
per are  buried  at  W^est  Roxbury.  Massachu- 
setts, where  the  same  stone  marks  the  resting- 
place  of  both.  They  had  nine  children:  Mi- 
riam, born  in  England,  and  the  others  in 
America — Susanna,  Sarah,  James,  see  for- 
ward. John.  ]\Ioses.  Daniel.  Patience  and  Jon- 
athan. The  sons  all  married  and  founded  fam- 
ilies. The  daughters  also  married,  excepting 
]\Iiriam,  the  eldest,  who  died  in  infancy  be- 
fore leaving  England. 

(III)  James  (2).  fourth  child  and  eldest 
son  of  James  (i)  "the  Puritan"  and  Miriam 
(Stansfield)  Draper,  was  born  at  Roxbury, 
Alassachusetts,  in  1654,  died  there  April  30. 
1698.  He  received  from  his  father  part  of  his 
farm  at  Roxbury.  In  1683  leave  was  granted 
by  the  town  of  Dedham  to  Nathaniel  \Miit- 
ing  and  James  Draper  to  "erect  a  fulling 
mill  below  the  corn  mills"  on  Mother  Brook. 
He  served  as  a  soldier  in  King  Philip's  war 
during  1675.  After  his  death  his  widow  kept 
an  ordinary  on  Baker  street.  Roxbury.  James 
was  a  great  wrestler,  and  the  chamjiion  of  his 
section.  This  proved  his  undoing.  In  dis- 
posing of  the  ambitious  claim  of  a  stranger 
to  being  the  "best  man,"  he  broke  a  tendon 
in  his  leg  and  was  never  able  to  go  out  again. 
James  and  Abigail,  his  wife,  are  buried  in 
the  First  Parish  cemeterv  at  Dedham,  Massa- 


478 


HUDSON    AND    MOHAWK   \'ALLEYS 


chusetts,  where  a  stone  marks  their  resting 
place,  inscribed,  "They  were  lovely  and  pleas- 
ant in  their  life;  in  their  death  were  not  di- 
vided." He  married,  February  18.  1681,  Abi- 
ijail  Whiting,  born  in  Roxbury.  June  7,  1663, 
died  October  25,  1721,  daughter  of  Nathaniel 
Whiting  and  his  wife  Hannah  Dwight.  She 
was  a  granddaughter  of  John  Dwight,  from 
whom  President  Timothy  Dwight  of  Yale 
College  and  other  prominent  men  descended. 
They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children : 
Abigail,  Nathaniel,  William,  Eunice,  James, 
Gideon,  Ebenezer,  see  forward. 

(I\')  Ebenezer,  fifth  son  and  youngest  child 
of  James  (2)  and  Abigail  (Whiting)  Draper, 
was  born  at  Roxbury.  Massachusetts,  April 
2-],  i6g8,  died  there  June  3,  1784.  He  and 
his  first  wife  were  admitted  to  full  commun- 
ion at  the  Fir.st  Church  of  Roxbury.  January 
26,  1724.  He  was  dismissed  to  the  church 
in  Dedham,  November  14,  1734.  He  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  and,  after  leaving  his 
father's  home  in  Roxbury,  passed  his  life  at 
his  family  seat,  "Green  Lodge,"  near  Dedham. 
He  married  (first),  March  2,  1723,  Dorothy, 
daughter  of  Joshua  and  Elizabeth  (Morris) 
Child,  of  Brookline,  Massachusetts.  She  was 
a  sister  of  Abigail,  who  married  James  Dra- 
per. She  was  born  May  25,  1701,  died  Au- 
gust 2,  1748.  He  married  (second)  Novem- 
ber 16,  1749,  Sybil,  born  January  3,  1720, 
died  February  16,  1816.  daughter  of  William 
and  Esther  Avery,  of  Dedham.  Massachu- 
setts. Children  of  first  wife:  Dorothy.  Anna, 
Keziah,  Ebenezer,  Anna  (2),  Prudence,  Isaac, 
Miriam,  Stephen,  see  forward.  Children  of 
second  wife:  .Sybil,  Rebecca,  William.  Re- 
becca (2),  Jemima,  Mary,  Catherine  and  Anna, 
Dorothy  (Ciiild)  Draper  was  a  daughter  of 
Joshua  Child,  born  in  Roxbury,  Massachu- 
setts, 1638:  married.  May  9,  1685,  Elizabeth 
Morris,  granddaughter  of  iienjamin  Child, 
who  emigrated  from  Great  Britain  to  America 
and  settled  in  Roxbury,  Massachusetts.  His 
wife  Mary  was  admitted  to  the  church  at  that 
town  in  1658.  They  were  the  parents  of 
twelve  children :  Joshua  being  the  third  son 
and  child. 

(\')  Stephen,  ninth  child  and  third  son  of 
Ebenezer  and  Dorothy  (Child)  Draper,  was 
horn  at  the  family  home  "Green  Lodge"  near 
Dedham,  Massachusetts,  February  23,  1742. 
He  served  three  enlistments  in  the  revolu- 
tionary war,  twice  as  sergeant  in  Colonel 
John  Daggett's  regiment,  and  once  as  cor- 
poral in  Colonel  Dean's  regiment,  all  of  this 
service  performed  in  Rhode  Island  on  alarms. 
He  came  to  Attleboro  from  Dedham  with  his 
l)rothers.  Isaac  and  Ebenezer,  and  purchased 
thirty  acres  of  land  deeded  to  him.  .\pril   17, 


1772.  He  erected  a  tannery,  which  was  one- 
of  the  largest  in  the  country,  and  was  a  very 
successful  business  man.  He  also  had  a  mill 
for  weaving  cloth  and  one  for  making  nails, 
and  built  other  tanneries  in  Connecticut  and 
Rhode  Island.  He  was  a  man  of  uncommon 
energy,  highest  integrity,  and  a  very  strict 
Puritan.  The  house  that  he  built  was  occu- 
pied by  his  descendants  until  1885,  when  it 
was  torn  down  and  another  erected  in  its 
place  on  the  same  site  and  again  occupied  by 
his  posterity.  To  this  day  it  is  the  family 
shrine,  and  each  Thanksgiving  Day  the  family 
meet  in  large  numbers  and  celebrate  the  day. 
The  old  tannery  buildings  were  demolished  in 
1858.  He  married,  April  4,  1764,  Elizabeth,, 
born  September  11,  1740,  daughter  of  Jona- 
than and  Mary  Fisher,  of  Dedham,  Massa- 
chusetts. Children,  all  born  in  South  Attle- 
boro, Massachusetts:  Fisher,  Paul,  Anna, 
Betty,  Stephen,  see  forward,  Mary,  Catherine, 
Joseph,  Ebenezer  and  ^liriam. 

(\T)  Stephen  (2),  third  son  and  fifth 
child  of  Stephen  (i)  and  Elizabeth  (Fisher) 
Draper,  was  born  in  South  Attleboro,  Massa- 
chusetts, April  29,  1775.  He  removed  to  Kill- 
ingley.  Connecticut.  He  married  (  first )  Fan- 
ny Capron.  died  March  19,  1799;  married 
(second),  September  27,  1801.  Catherine 
Fisher,  of  Fisherville.  Massachusetts.  Chil- 
dren by  second  marriage :  Eliza :  Seth,  mar- 
ried Mary  L.  Greeman  :  Edwin  ;  Albert ;  Ste- 
phen (see  forward)  ;  Daniel  F.  and  Fanny  C. 

(\TI)  Stephen  (3),  fourth  son  and  fifth 
child  of  Stephen  (2)  and  Catherine  (Fisher) 
Draper,  was  born  in  Killingley,  Connecticut, 
March  19,  181 1,  died  in  Troy.  New  York, 
March  19,  1890.  He  was  apprenticed  to  a 
tanner  when  but  twelve  years  of  age,  but  left 
that  when  still  a  young  man  and  removed  to 
Greenville.  Massachusetts,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  scythes,  as  .senior  mem- 
ber of  Draper,  Brown  &  Chadsey.  He  re- 
moved to  Troy,  New  York,  in  1847,  and  con- 
ducted the  same  business  there  very  success- 
fully until  the  invention  and  introduction  of 
mowing  machines.  He  then  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  twine  and  fish  lines  until  a 
few  months  before  his  death.  He  married 
(first),  in  1840,  Harriet,  daughter  of  Captain 
T.  Elliott,  of  Sutton,  Massachusetts.  She 
died  September  5,  1850.  Children:  1.  Wil- 
liam Henry,  see  forward.  2.  I'rederick  El- 
liott, see  forward.  3.  Harriet  Augusta,  born 
December  12.  1845.  4-  Charles  Eugene,  born 
.\ugust  14.  1850:  married  (fir.st)  December 
IS.  1876.  Jenny  Pile,  of  Troy.  New  York, 
died  April  14,  1886;  married  (second),  No- 
vember 4,  1891,  Lucy  G.  Gushing.  Children 
by  first   wife:    i.   Charles   Stephen,  lj<jrn   and' 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


479' 


died  in  1881.  ii.  Jenny  Louise,  July  30.  1882. 
Stephen  Draper  married  (second),  November 
15,  1851,  Wealthy  Cutting  of  Leicester,  Alas- 
sachuetts,  wlio  died  March  19,  1889;  chil- 
dren of  second  wife:  5.  Edward  Cuttinj;, 
died  in  infancy.  6.  Catherine  l'"isher,  died  in 
infancy. 

(VHI)  William  Henry  Draper,  eldest  son 
of  Stephen  (3)  and  Harriet  (Elliott)  Dra- 
per, was  born  in  Rochdale,  Worcester  county, 
Massachusetts,  June  24,  1841.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  of  Troy,  whither 
his  parents  removed  when  he  was  five  years 
of  age.  In  1856  he  was  appointed  teller  of 
the  Farmers"  liank  at  Lansingburg  (Troy), 
continuing  until  August  1.  1861.  He  was 
employed  by  a  firm  in  Schenectady  until  1869, 
when  he  removed  to  Troy  to  enter  into  busi- 
ness with  his  father  under  the  firm  name  of 
S.  Drajjer  &  Son,  which  firm  was  continued 
until  1883,  W.  H.  Draper  carrying  on  the 
business  from  that  time  until  1890,  when  his 
son.  -Andrew  L.  Draper,  became  associated 
with  him  under  the  firm  name  of  W.  H.  Dra- 
per &  Son,  which  continued  until  July  i,  1909, 
when  E.  E.  Draper  became  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  W.  H.  Draper  &  Sons.  This  firm 
manufactures  braided  sash  cord,  lines  and 
twines.  Mr.  Draper  early  became  connected 
with  the  Republican  party,  was  trustee  of  the 
Lansingburg  village  corporation,  jury  com- 
missioner for  Rensselaer  county  from  1896  to 
1901.  In  1900  he  was  nominated  and  elected 
the  follow'ing  November  a  member  of  the 
national  house  of  representatives  from  the 
nineteenth  congressional  district  of  New 
York.  December  8,  igoi,  he  took  his  seat 
as  a  member  of  the  fifty-seventh  congress. 
He  was  re-elected  from  the  twenty-second  dis- 
trict in  1902-04-06-08,  and  is  now  serving  his 
fifth  consecutive  term.  His  career  as  con- 
gressman has  been  one  of  honor,  and  his  years 
of  service  at  Washington  have  given  him  an 
experience  that  renders  him  of  particular 
benefit  to  his  district.  He  has  served  on  many 
of  the  responsible  committees  of  the  house, 
and  received  many  signal  proofs  of  the  confi- 
dence reposed  in  him  by  those  high  in  author- 
ity at  the  national  capitol.  He  is  a  strong,  in- 
fluential member  of  his  party,  and  recognized 
among  the  leaders  in  New  York  state. 

Mr.  Draper  married,  November  15.  1864, 
Magdalene  Livingston,  of  Schenectady.  New 
York.  Children:  i.  Andrew  Livingston, 
born  December  23,  1865;  married,  October  15, 
1891,  Mary  Ruth  Thompson,  of  Lockport, 
New  York,  daughter  of  George  B.  and  Mary 
(Avery)  Thompson.  2.  Grace  Mary,  born 
November  7,  1870,  died  May  17,  187 1.  3. 
George  Frederick,  born   September  22,   1872, 


died  December  19,  1873.  4-  Edward  Elliott, 
born  June  19,  1876;  graduate  of  Union  Col- 
lege, class  of  1897,  receiving  degree  of  .\.  1!.: 
married.  October  6,  1902,  Jessamine,  daugh- 
ter of  Charles  P.  and  Matilda  (Everingham) 
Kimball,  of  Troy,  New  York ;  child,  Richard 
Elliott,  born  June  19,  1909.  5.  Bessie  Mag- 
dalene, educated  at  La  Salle  Seminary,  .\u- 
burndale,  Massachusetts. 

(\TII)  F'rederick  Elliott,  son  of  Stephen 
(3)  and  Harriet  (Elliott)  Draper,  was  bom 
in  Rochdale,  Massachusetts,  October  12,  1843. 
He  came  to  Troy  when  three  years  of  age. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and 
began  his  business  life  in  a  book  and  newspa- 
per store.  In  October,  1861,  he  enlisted  in 
the  Eleventh  Independent  Battery,  New  York 
\'olunteers,  which  was  attached  to  the  .\rmy 
of  the  Potomac.  He  saw  hard  .service  and 
with  his  battery  was  in  the  hard-fought  and 
bloody  battles  of  Fredericksburg,  (i'hancel- 
lorsville,  Wilderness  and  others.  He  was  pro- 
moted corporal  of  the  battery  and  mustered 
out  with  honor  at  the  close  of  the  war.  In 
1869  he  began  engaging  in  the  tobacco  busi- 
ness and  for  many  years  was  the  junior  part- 
ner of  Fitzpatrick  &  Draper,  manufacturers  of 
cigars  and  wholesalers  of  tobacco.  He  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  National  City 
Bank  of  Troy,  in  1903,  and  a  director  since 
that  date ;  director  of  the  Troy  Trust  Com- 
pany :  of  Polk  &  Calder.  wholesale  drugs : 
president  of  Boutwell  Milling  &  Grain  Com- 
pany ;  vice-president  and  director  of  the  W'U- 
bur  Stephens  Company,  manufacturers  of 
shirts,  collars  and  cuffs.  He  is  now  living  in 
Troy,  retired  from  active  business.  During 
his  active  life  he  was  a  resident  of  Lansing- 
burg (now  North  Troy),  and  from  1879  to- 
1888  was  president  of  the  village  corporation. 
He  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  served  as 
delegate  to  Republican  state  convention  that 
nominated  Governor  Cornell.  He  is  a  trustee 
of  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church,  and  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

He  married,  in  Boston.  Massachusetts,  in 
1 87 1,  .Vnn  Jane,  born  in  Troy,  New  ^'ork, 
daughter  of  Don  Carlos  Woodcock,  who  was 
born  in  Hoosick,  New  York,  in  1805,  died 
in  Troy,  in  1880.  He  was  a  graduate  of 
\\'il!iams  College,  .A.  B.,  1839:  studied  law  and 
was  a  practicing  attorney  of  Troy.  He  mar- 
ried Julia  Blass,  and  had  four  children,  of 
whom  .\nn  Jane  Woodcock  was  the  third. 
Children:  i.  Frederick  Elliott,  see  forward. 
2.  Phili])  Henry,  born  .April  2,  187?^;  educated 
in  the  common  and  high  schools,  Troy  Acad- 
emy, Park  -Avenue  Institute,  Bridgeport.  Con- 
necticut, and  a  student  two  years  at  Williams 
College ;  in   1897  he  enlisted  in  the  Citizens' 


48o 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK  VALLEYS 


Corps,  now  Company  A,  Second  Regiment, 
New  York  National  Guard,  served  in  the 
Spanish-American  war,  and  during  the  strike 
■on  the  Hudson  \'alley  railroad  was  on  duty 
with  his  company  in  Albany ;  he  was  ap- 
pointed battalion  quartermaster  and  sergeant, 
continuing  in  the  service  until  1907;  he  was 
in  the  employ  of  Polk  &  Calder,  wholesale 
druggists,  and  with  Fitzpatrick  &  Draper, 
wholesale  tobacco  dealers,  until  July.  1907, 
when  he  engaged  in  the  fire,  casualty  and 
bonding  business  as  the  senior  partner  of 
Draper  &  Higgins ;  he  is  active  in  the  Repub- 
lican party  and  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church :  he  is  a  member  of  the  college  fra- 
ternity. Delta  Psi;  Trojan  Hook  and  Ladder 
Company,  and  the  senior  company  of  the 
Citizens'  Corps ;  while  at  Williams  he  was 
prominent  in  athletics,  full-back  of  the  foot- 
tall  team,  and  after  leaving  college  played 
the  same  position  with  the  Chicago  Athletic 
Association  and  was  captain  of  the  team ;  in 

1902  and  1903  played  with  the  Watertown 
Athletic  Association.  He  married,  Novem- 
"ber  16.  1904,  at  Watertown.  New  York,  Sally 
Bryant,  daughter  of  Henry  Stimson,  editor 
and  publisher,  born  at  Tampa,  Florida  ;  child  : 
Philip  Henry  Draper  (2),  born  September  6, 
igo6.  3.  Louis  Legrand.  born  August  10, 
1879,  in  Troy.  New  York;  he  is  now  a  stu- 
dent at  the  College  of  Osteopathy,  Los  An- 
■geles.  California. 

(IX)  Frederick  Elliott  (2).  son  of  Fred- 
■erick  Elliott  (i)  and  Ann  Jane  (Woodcock) 
Draper,  was  born  in  Troy,  New  York.  April 
3,  1873.  His  primary  education  was  obtained 
in  the  public  schools  of  Troy,  after  which 
lie  passed  through  the  high  school,  graduat- 
ing in  1891 ;  entered  Williams  College,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  A.  P...  class  of  1895. 
Choosing  the  profession  of  law.  he  matricu- 
lated at  Harvard  Law  School,  graduating 
LL.  P..  in  1898.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
New  York  state  bar  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year,  located  his  law  offices  in  Troy,  and  un- 
til 1902  carried  on  his  practice  alone.  Tn 
the  latter  year  he  formed  a  partnershij)  with 
C.  W.  Pietts,  a  leading  lawyer  of  Troy,  and  as 
Belts  &  Draper  so  continue  (1910").  They 
conduct  a  general  law  practice,  and  are  well 
established  in  public  favor.  In  December. 
1907,  he  was  appointed  by  the  mayor  of  Troy, 
judge  of  the  city  court,  to  fill  out  an  unex- 
pired term.  At  the  fall  election  of  1909  he 
Avas  elected  by  the  people  to  fill  the  same 
office  for  the  full  term  of  four  years.  Judge 
Draper  is  active  in  city  public  affairs.  Po- 
litically he  is  an  Independent  Republican.     Tn 

1903  he  was  the  Independent  candidate  for 
■county   attorney.   Init    failed  of  election  by  a 


narrow  margin.  During  the  Spanish-Ameri- 
can war  he  enlisted  in  May,  1898,  in  Company 
A,  Second  Regiment,  New  York  Volunteers, 
and  served  until  his  company  was  mustered 
out  in  November  of  the  same  year.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Troy. 
His  college  fraternity  is  Delta  Psi.  His  so- 
cial clubs  are  the  Island,  Golf  and  Pafraets 
Dael.  His  fraternal  relations  are  Masonic, 
being  affiliated  with  both  lodge  and  chapter  of 
that  order.  He  married.  October  4.  1903, 
Katherine  Peebles,  of  Waterford,  daughter 
of  Dr.  Roland  H.  and  Katherine  Duer  (Aus- 
tin) Stubbs,  of  Waterford,  New  York.  Chil- 
dren:  I.  Katherine  Roland,  born  August  8, 
1904.  2.  Frederick  Elliott  (3),  born  Janu- 
ary 8,   1906. 


The  Dornins  of  New  York 
DORNIN     City,  there  seated  since    1790, 

descend  from  Alexander  Dor- 
nin.  of  "Lecharrowhoyle."  in  the  parish  of 
Raphoe,  barony  of  Tirawley,  county  of  Mayo, 
Ireland.  This  estate  was  confiscated  by  Oli- 
ver Cromwell. 

(I)  The  American  ancestor  was  Thomas 
Dornin,  son  of  Patrick,  son  of  Brian,  fifth  in 
descent  froin  Alexander.  He  came  to  Amer- 
ica when  a  boy  and  settled  in  New  York  City, 
where  he  studied  law  and  practiced  his  pro- 
fession. He  served  during  the  war  of  1812 
in  Captain  Homer  Whittemore's  company. 
Second  (\'an  Hook's)  Regiment  New  York 
Militia,  service  September  2  to  October  26, 
1814.  He  died  December.  181 5.  He  married 
Phoebe  Marchant,  born  October  14,  1775. 
died  April  10,  1847,  daughter  of  Gamaliel  and 
Lvdia  (Ripley)  Marchant  (see  Marchant 
V'l). 

(II)  William  Henry,  son  of  Thomas  and 
Phoebe  (Marchant)  Dornin,  was  born  in  New 
York  City,  July  31,  181 1,  died  there  October 
16,  1S77.  He  married.  November  23.  1834, 
Phoebe  G.  Coffin  (see  Coffin  \TI),  born  July 
10.  1 819.  died  October  13.  1899.  daughter  of 
George  Bunker  and  Abigail  (Allen)  Coffin,  a 
descendant  of  Tristram  Coffin,  of  Nantucket. 

(III)  William  Coffin,  son  of  William  Hen- 
ry and  Phoebe  G.  (Coffin)  Dornin.  was  born 
in  New  York  City.  February  20.  1840.  He 
was  educated  in  the  city  schools;  began  his 
business  career  there  and  still  continues,  en- 
gaged as  a  stock  broker.  He  married,  June 
20,  1866,  Mary  Jane  Evans,  born  .September 
19,  T845.  died  September  30,  189S.  daughter 
of  Robert  William  Evans,  born  October  23, 
T817.  died  !\Iay  31.  1868:  married.  .September 
15.  1840.  Harriet  Elizalx?th  Westcott,  born 
July  17.  1824,  daughter  of  Solomon  Westcott, 
born    .September    20,    1789.    died    January    5, 


HUDSON   AXD    MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


481 


1874;  married,  October  6,  1810,  Sarah  Badg- 
er, born  June  10,  1792,  died  October  25,  1875, 
daughter  of  Samuel  Badger,  who  married, 
February  13,  1787,  EHzabeth  Gardner  (sec 
Gardner  IX).  Robert  W.  Evans  is  a  son  of 
William  Evans,  who  came  to  Columbia  coun- 
ty. New  York,  from  Lancashire,  England,  and 
his  wife.  Mary  (Blaco)  Evans,  born  May  31, 
1800,  died  September  9,  1849.  Robert  \V. 
Evans  settled  in  Hudson,  New  York,  where 
the  family  now  resides.  His  wife,  Harriet 
Elizabeth  (Westcott)  Evans,  daughter  of  Sol- 
omon W'estcott,  son  of  Abraham  Westcott, 
born  January  31,  1760,  married  Lydia  W'ardell, 
born  July  i,  1765,  and  descendant  of  Richard 
Westcott,  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of 
Bedford.  Westchester  county.  New  York,  and 
said  to  be  of  the  family  of  Stukely  Westcott, 
the  associate  of  Roger  W'illiams  in  the  foun- 
dation of  the  city  of  Providence,  Rhode 
Island.  Children  of  Robert  William  and  Har- 
riet E.  (Westcott)  Evans:  i.  Cornelius  Hen- 
ry. 2.  ]\Iary  Jane,  married  William  Coffin 
Dornin.  3.  Harriet,  married  Arthur  Curtiss 
Stott  (see  Stott).  Children  of  William  Cof- 
fin and  Mary  Jane  (Evans)  Dornin:  i. 
Mary.  2.  Arthur  Evans,  born  April  3,  1870, 
died  April,  1904;  married  Caroline  Louise, 
daughter  of  John  Neilson  Bull ;  child,  Arthur 
Evans,  born  May,  1904.  3.  William  Coffin 
(2),  of  further  mention.  4.  Florence,  de- 
ceased. 

(I\')  William  Coffin  (2),  .son  of  William 
Coffin  (i)  and  Mary  Jane  (Evans)  Dornin. 
was  born  in  New  York  City,  August  4,  1873. 
He  prepared  for  college  in  city  schools;  en- 
tered Columbia  University,  whence  he  was 
graduated  A.  B.,  class  of  1894,  now  engaged 
in  the  real  estate  business  in  New  York  City. 

(The    Coffin    Line). 
Phoebe  G.   (Coffin)   Dornin  descends  from 
the  well-known   Coffin   family  •  of   Nantucket, 
Massachusetts. 

(I)  Stephen  Coffin,  born  May  10,  1652, 
married,  1668.  Marv  Bunker,  born  1652,  died 
1724. 

(II)  Stephen  (2),  son  of  Stephen  (i)  and 
Mary  (Bunker)  Coffin,  was  born  February  20, 
1676,  died  1725;  married,  September  21, 
1693.  Experience  Look,  born  November  22, 
1672,  diet!  .\pril  17,  1759,  daughter  of  Thom- 
as Look,  born  June.  1646,  and  his  wife,  Eliza- 
beth (Bunker)  Look,  born  1646. 

(III)  Zephaniah,  son  of  Stephen  (2)  and 
Experience  (Look)  Coffin,  was  born  -August 
2S.  1699.  died  September  10.  1774;  married, 
July,  1725,  Miriam  Macy.  born  February  16, 
1708.  died  August  2,  1736,  daughter  of  John 
(2)    !Macy,    born    1675,    died    November    28, 


1751 ;  married,  April  25,  1707,  Judith  Worth, 
born  December  22,  1689,  died  November  8, 
1767,  daughter  of  John  Worth,  who  married, 
September  22,  1684,  IMiriam  Gardner,  daugh- 
ter of  Richard  and  granddaughter  of  Thomas 
Gardner.  John  (2)  Macy  was  the  son  of 
John  (i)  j\Iacy,  born  July  14,  1655,  died  Oc- 
tober 14,  1691  ;  married  Deborah  Gardner, 
born  February  12,  1658.  daughter  of  Richard 
and  granddaughter  of  Thomas  Gardner. 

(IV)  Stephen  (3),  son  of  Zephaniah  and 
Miriam  (Macy)  Coffin,  married  Alary  Bunker, 
born   1736    (see   Bunker  III),  of   .\antucket. 

(V)  Noah,  son  of  Stephen  (3)  and  Mary 
(Bunker)  Coffin,  removed  from  Nantucket, 
Massachusetts,  to  Cooperstown,  New  York. 
He  married  Lydia  Bunker   (see  Bunker  V). 

(\'I)  George  Bunker,  son  of  Noah  and 
Lydia  (Bunker)  Coffin,  was  born  November 
4,  1781,  died  I'ebruary  ij,  1855;  married,  May 
II,  1803,  Abigail  .\llen,  born  March  19,  1784, 
died  May  31,  1852,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  Al- 
len, born  March  'iG,  1749,  died  October  8, 
1790,  married  Mary  Wing,  born  March  12, 
1749,  died  October  16,  1789.  He  settled  in 
Hudson,  New  York. 

(VII)  Phoebe  G..  daughter  of  George 
Bunker  and  Abigail  (.\llen)  Coffin,  married 
William  Henry  Dornin   (see  Dornin  II). 

(The  Bunker  Line). 
Lydia  (Bunker)  Coffin,  wife  of  Noah  Cof- 
fin, was  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  Bunker  and 
fourth  in  descent  from  George  Bunker,  who 
died  May  26,  1658,  and  Jane  (Godfrey) 
Bunker,  died  October  31,   1(^2. 

(II)  William,  son  of  George  and  Jane 
(Godfrey)  Bunker,  was  born  1648.  died  June 
6,  1712:  married,  April  11,  1665,  Mary  ?ilacy, 
born  December  4,  1648.  died  1729,  daughter 
of  Thomas  Macy,  chief  magistrate  of  Nan- 
tucket, born  1608,  died  April  19,  1682;  mar- 
ried, September  6.  1639,  Sarah  Hopcot,  born 
1612.  died  1706. 

(III)  Peleg,  son  of  William  and  Mary 
(Macy)  Bunker,  married  Susanna,  died  June 
II,  1740.  daughter  of  Stephen  and  Mary 
(Bunker)  Coffin  (see  Coffin  I\').  Mary  was 
the  daughter  of  George  and  Jane  (Godfrey) 
Bunker. 

(I\')  Jonathan,  son  of  Peleg  and  Susanna 
(Coffin)  Bunker,  died  May  10,  1778;  married, 
September  9,  1742,  Judith  Macy,  born  Oc- 
tober 14,  1 72 1,  died  December  20,  1799, 
daughter  of  Richard  Macy,  born  September 
22,  1689,  died  December  25,  1779:  married, 
September  8,  171 1,  Deborah  Pinkham,  born 
December  28.  1694,  died  December  13,  1767, 
daughter  of  Richard  and  Mary  (Coffin) 
Pinkham,    granddaughter    of    James    Coffin^ 


482 


HUDSON   AND   .MOHAWK   \^-\LLEYS 


bom  August  12,  1640,  died  July  28,  1720; 
married,  December  3,  1663,  Mary  Severance, 
born  August  5,  1645.  Richard  Macy  was  the 
son  of  John  Macy,  born  July  14,  1655,  died 
October  14,  1691 ;  married  Deborah  Gardner, 
born  February  2,  1658,  died  171 2,  daughter 
of  Richard  Gardner,  a  chief  magistrate  of 
Nantucket,  and  Sarah  (Shattuck)  Gardner. 
John  Macy  was  the  son  of  Thomas  Macy, 
born  1608,  died  April  19,  1682;  married,  Sep- 
tember 6,  1639,  Sarah  Hopcot,  born  1612, 
died  1706. 

Mary  Severance,  wife  of  James  Coffin,  was 
a  daughter  of  John  Severance,  a  member  of 
the  Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery  Com- 
pany of  Boston,  who  died  April  9,  1682.  He 
married  Abigail  Kimball,  died  June  17,  1658, 
daughter  of  Richard  Kimball,  died  June  22, 
1675,  and  Ursula,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Martha  Scott. 

(V)  Lydia,  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Ju- 
dith (Macy)  Bunker,  married  Noah  Coffin 
(see  Coffin  V).  They  were  the  grandparents 
of  Phoebe  G.  Coffin,  wife  of  William  Henry 
Dornin. 

(The    Marchant    Line). 

Phoebe  (Marchant)  Dornin,  wife  of 
Thomas  Dornin,  was  daughter  of  Gamaliel 
Marchant,  who  was  a  descendant  of  John  and 
Sarah  Marchant,  the  former  of  whom  died 
1717,  and  the  latter  r^Iarch  10,  1638  (Boston 
Records,  New  England  Historical  and  Genea- 
logical Register,  July,  1849,  p.  247). 

(H)  John  (2),  son  of  John  (i)  and  Sarah 
Marchant,  was  appointed  lieutenant  under 
Captain  Myles  Standish;  married  Mary  Mar- 
chant; was  buried  June  19,  1672. 

(HI)  Abishai,  son  of  John  and  Mary  Mar- 
chant, married  and  had  issue. 

(IV)  John  (3),  son  of  Abishai  Marchant, 
(lied  i-'cbruarv  9,  1767:  married  Hepsibah 
llnxford. 

(\)  John  (4),  son  of  John  (3)  and  Hepsi- 
bah (Iluxford)  Marchant,  married  iSIiriam 
Cleveland;  died  December  20,  1790.  He 
served  in  the  revolutionary  war,  a  private  in 
Captain  I'>enjamin  Smith's  company,  service 
from  January  18  to  September  i,  1776  (see 
"Massachusetts  Soldiers  and  Sailors  in  the 
Revolution").  Miriam  Cleveland  was  a  de- 
scendant of  Moses  (i)  Cleveland  (a  soldier 
of  King  Philip's  war)  and  .Xnn  (Winn) 
Cleveland.  Their  son,  Moses  (2),  born  Sep- 
tember I,  1 65 1,  died  October  30,  1717;  mar- 
ried, .August  4,  1676,  Ruth,  born  1654,  daugh- 
ter of  Nicholas  Norton,  born  1610,  died  June 
8,  1690  (circa),  and  his  wife  Elizabeth  (cir- 
ca), 1690.  Ehenezer,  son  of  Moses  (2) 
Cleveland,  was  born  t68i,  died  January  i, 
1747;  married  Mary  \'incent,  born  1691,  died 


1 761,  daughter  of  Thomas,  born  September 
15,  1650,  and  Sarah  (Post)  Vincent,  grand- 
daughter of  William,  born  1627,  and  Susan- 
nah (Browning)  Vincent,  born  1630. 

(\''I)  Gamaliel,  son  of  John  (4)  and  Miriam 
(Cleveland)  Marchant,  married.  May  19, 
1763,  Lydia  Ripley.  He  served  in  the  revo- 
lutionary war  as  corporal  in  Captain  Benja- 
min Smith's  company,  service  from  January 
19  to  May  31,  1776,  at  Martha's  Vineyard, 
in  defense  of  the  sea  coast  (see  "Massachu- 
setts Soldiers  and  Sailors  in  the  Revolution"). 
Lydia  Ripley,  born  May  6,  1743,  died  Decem- 
ber 27,  1825,  was  a  daughter  of  Peter  and 
Damaris  (Chase)  Ripley,  the  latter  of  whom 
was  baptized  September  24,  1738,  died  Decem- 
ber 6,  1 761,  daughter  of  Joseph  Chase,  died 
May  I,  1749,  "aged  60  years,  2  months,  20 

days";  married  Lydia  ,   died  July   17, 

1749,  aged  "52  years,  2  months,  11  days."' 

(\TI)  Phoebe,  daughter  of  Gamaliel  and 
Lydia  (Ripley)  Marchant,  married  Thomas 
Dornin  (see  Dornin  I). 

(The   Gardner   Line). 

Elizabeth  Gardner,  great-grandmother  of 
I\Iary  Jane  (Evans)  Dornin,  wife  of  \\'illiam 
Coffin  Dornin,  was  a  descendant  of  John  ( i ) 
Gardner. 

(II)  John  (2),  son  of  John  (i)  Gardner, 
was  born  December  20,  1633;  married  Susan- 
nah, daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Alary  Hou- 
chin,  Honchin,  or  Howchin,  daughter  of  Jere- 
my and  Esther  Houchin.  Jeremy  Houchin 
was  a  member  of  the  .\ncient  and  Honorable 
Artillery  Company  of  Boston,  son  of  \\'illiam 
Houchin. 

(HI)  Jeremiah,  son  of  John  (2)  and  Su- 
sannah (Houchin)  Gardner,  died  May  3, 
1/68;  married,  /Vugust  8,  171 1,  Sarah,  born 
January  9,  1693,  died  December  i,  1738, 
daughter  of  James  (2)  Coffin,  died  October 
2,  1741 ;  married,  March  19,  1692,  Ruth 
Gardner,  born  January  26,  1678,  died  October 
4,  1748,  daughter  of  Captain  John  Gardner, 
born  1624,  died  May,  1706;  married,  Febru- 
ary 20,  1634,  Priscilla,  daughter  of  Joseph 
Grafton.  Captain  John  was  a  son  of  Thomas 
Gardner,  died  October  29,  1674,  and  Mar- 
garet (Frier)  Gardner. 

(IV)  George,  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Sarah 
(Coffin)  Gardner,  married  Elizabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  James  Chase,  born  January  13,  1685, 
and  Rachel  Brown,  daughter  of  John  (2) 
Brown  and  Rachel  Gardner;  granddaughter 
of  John  ( I )  P.rown  and  Hannah  Hobart,  and 
great-granddaughter  of  Elder  John  Brown. 
Hannah  Hobart  was  the  daughter  of  Rev. 
Peter  Hobart,  baptized  October  13,  1604,  died 
March  8,  1646;  married  Rebecca  Ibrook.  born 


HUDSON   AND   IMOHAWK   VALLEYS 


483 


1621,  died  September  9,  1693  (second  wife), 
daughter  of  Richard  Ibrook.  Rev.  Peter  Ho- 
bart  was  the  son  of  Edmund  Hobart,  died 
March  8,  1646;  married,  September  12,  1600, 
Margaret  Dewey. 

(\')  Elisha.  son  of  George  and  EHzabeth 
(Chase)   Gardner,  married  ]\uth  Meder. 

(VI)  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Elisha  and 
Ruth  (Meder)  Gardner,  married,  February 
13.  1787,  Samuel  Badger. 

(VII)  Sarah,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Gardner)  Badger,  born  June  10,  1792, 
died  October  25,  1875:  married,  October  6, 
1810,  Solomon  \\'estcott,  born  September  20, 
1789,  died  January  5,  1874,  son  of  Abraham 
and  Lydia  (  Wardell)  W'cstcott. 

(VIII)  Harriet  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Sol- 
omon and  Sarah  (Badger)  Westcott.  married 
Robert  William,  son  of  A\'illiam  Evans. 

(IX)  Mary  Jane,  daughter  of  Robert  Wil- 
liam and  Harriet  Elizabeth  (Westcott)  Ev- 
ans, married  William  Coffin  Dornin  (see  Dor- 
nin  III). 

(The  Chase  Line). 
The   Chase   family,   with  whom  the   Gard- 
ners   and    Coffins    intermarried,    begins    with 
Thomas   Chase. 

(II)  Richard,  son  of  Thomas  Chase,  was 
baptized  November  30,  1540;  married,  April 
16,   1564,  Joan  Bishop. 

(III)  Aquila,  son  of  Richard  and  Joan 
(Bishop)  Chase,  was  born  August  14,  1580; 
married  Sarah  . 

(IV)  Thomas  (2),  son  of  Aquila  and  Sa- 
rah Chase,  was  born  1618,  died  1652;  mar- 
ried, 1642,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Philbrick. 

(V)  Isaac,  son  of  Thomas  (2)  and  Eliza- 
beth (Philbrick)  Oiase,  born  April  i,  1650, 
died  May  19,  1727;  married,  October  5,  1675, 
Mary  Tilton. 

(\T)  James,  son  of  Isaac  and  Mary  (Til- 
ton)  Chase,  was  born  January  15,  1685;  mar- 
ried Rachel  Brown   (see  Gardner  IV). 

(VII)  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  James  and 
Rachel  (Brown)  Chase,  married  George 
Gardner  (Gardner  IV)  and  from  them  de- 
scent continues  to  William  Coffin  (2)  Dornin, 
through  his  mother,  Mary  Jane  (Evans)  Dor- 
nin  (see  Gardner,  Bunker  and  Coffin  lines). 

(.Another  Bunker  Line). 
Mary  (Bunker)  Coffin,  wife  of  Stephen 
Coffin,  descended  from  William  Bunker  and 
Mary  Macy  (see  Bunker  II),  through  their 
son,  Jabez,  born  November  7,  1678,  died  May 
6,  1750:  married,  November  19,  1706,  Han- 
nah Gardner,  born  May  6,  1686,  died  March 
25.  1773.  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Abigail 
Coffin.      Samuel,   son   of  Jabez   and   Hannah 


Bunker,  was  born  September  5,  171 1,  died 
September  3,  1786;  married,  November  17, 
1 73 1,  Priscilla  Coleman,  born  September  26, 
1713,  died  July  11,  1797.  daughter  of  John 
(2)  and  granddaughter  of  John  (i)  Cole- 
man, born  1644,  died  1715;  married  Joanna 
Folger,  died  May  18,  1719.  John  (2)  Cole- 
man was  born  .Vugust  2,  1667.  ^I'^J  January 
19,  1762;  married  Priscilla  Starbuck,  born 
October  25,  1676,  died  March  14,  1762, 
daughter  of  Nathaniel  Starbuck,  born  1635, 
died  February  2,  1719;  married.  1662,  Mary 
Coffin,  born  February  20.  1645.  died  Novem- 
ber 13,  1717.  Mary,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Priscilla  (Coleman)  Bunker,  married  Ste- 
phen Coffin  (see  Coffin  I\')  ;  from  Ste])hen 
and  Mary  (Bunker)  Coffin,  the  line  continues 
to  William  Cofiin  (2)  Dornin,  through  his 
grandmother,  Phoebe  G.  Coffin,  daughter  of 
George  Bunker  Coffin,  son  of  Noah,  son  of 
Stephen  Coffin. 

Descriptions  of  coats-of-arms  of  the  fami- 
lies lierein  recorded : 

Dornin :  Gu.  a  lion  passant  guardant  or. 
In  base  a  human  heart  arg.,  charged  with  a 
saltire,  couped,  of  the  field.  Crest :  A  dexter 
cubit  arm,  erect,  holding  a  flaming  sword,  all 
proper.     Motto :     Fortiter  et  fideliter. 

Coffin :  Az.  semee  of  cross  crosslets  or, 
four  bezants  of  the  first.  Crest :  A  martlet 
arg.     Motto :     Extant  recte  factis  proemia. 

Marchant :  Az.  a  chevron  or.  between 
three  owls  arg.,  legged  of  the  2nd.  Crest: 
Out  of  a  ducal  coronet,  an  owl's  leg  erect  or. 
Motto :     Patria  cara  carior  libertas. 

Coleman :  Az.  on  a  pale  rayonne  or,  a  lion 
rampant  gu.  Crest :  A  demi  lion  rampant 
gu. 

Kimball :  Arg.  a  lion  rampant  gu.  L  pon 
a  chief  sa.  3  crescents  or.  Crest :  A  lion 
rampant  holding  in  his  dexter  paw  a  dagger 
proper. 

Cleveland :  Per  chevron  sa.  and  erm.  a 
chevron  engrailed,  countercharged.  Crest : 
A  demi  old  man  ])roper,  habited  az..  having 
on  a  cap  gu.  turned  up  with  a  hair  front,  hold- 
ing in  the  dexter  hand  a  spear-headed  arg. 
on  the  top  of  which  is  fixed  a  line  proper 
passing  behind  him  and  wound  up  in  the  sin- 
ister hand.     Motto:     Pro  Deo  et  patria. 

Ripley :  Per  chevron  az.  and  or,  3  lions 
rampant  countercharged.  Crest :  A  demi 
lion  vert,  collared  arg.,  holding  between  the 
paws  an  escutcheon  per  chevron  or  and  arg. 

Westcott  (Lyttleton)  :  Arg.  a  chevron  be- 
tween three  escallops  sa.  Crest :  A  stag's 
head  caboshed  sa.,  attired  or,  between  the 
attires  a  bugle  horn  of  the  second,  hanging 
from  a  band  gu. 

Wing :     Per  pale  arg.  and  vert  a  maunch 


484 


HUDSON   AND   MOHAWK   VALLEYS 


countercharged.  Crest:  A  maunch  per  pale 
arg.  and  vert  between  two  wings  or. 

Severance  (Severne) :  Arg.  on  a  chevron 
sa.  nine  bezants.  Crest:  A  cinquefoil  or. 
Motto :     Virtus  praestantior  auro. 

Hobart:  Sa.  an  estoile  of  eight  points  or 
between  two  flaunches  erm.  Crest :  A  bull 
passant  per  pale  sa.  and  gu.  bezantee.  In  the 
nostrils  an  annulet  or. 

Winn :  Vert  three  eagles  displayed  in  fesse 
or.    Crest:    A  boar's  head  gu.,  couped  or. 

Chase :  Gu.  four  cross  crosslets  two  and 
two  or.  On  a  canton  az.  a  lion  passant  of 
the  same.  Crest :  A  demi  lion  rampant  or, 
holding  in  his  dexter  paw  a  cross  of  the 
shield.     Motto  :    Ne  cede  malis. 

Dewey :  Sa.  on  a  fesse  arg.  between  three 
dragons'  heads  erased  or,  langued  gu.  as 
many  cinquefoils  of  the  field.  Motto :  Co- 
rona veniet  delectis.  Crest :  A  dragon's  head 
between  two  wings  expanded  sa.  on  each  a 
cinquefoil  or. 

Tilton :  Az.  a  ileur-de-lis  arg.  Cfest : 
An  ostrich  holding  in  the  beak  a  horseshoe, 
all  proper.     ]\Iotto:    Deo  non  fortuna. 

Starbuck :  Sa.  a  fesse  gu.  charged  with 
five  mullets  between  three  human  hands  two 
and  one.  Crest :  A  demi  lion  rampant  hold- 
ing in  his  dexter  paw  a  thistle  and  in  his  sinis- 
ter paw  a  fleur-de-lis. 


(VII)  Tustine  Van 
V.\N  RENSSELAER  Rensselaer,  seventh 
child  of  General 
Stephen  Vnn  Rensselaer  and  Harriet  Eliza- 
beth Ijayard,  was  born  at  Albany,  New  York, 
September  18,  1828;  in  191 1  resided  in  New 
York  City ;  married  in  the  Manor  House  at 
Albany,  February  2,  1853,  Howard  Town- 
send,  M.  D. 

He  was  born  at  Albany,  November  22, 
1823;  died  at  his  home.  No.  13  Elk  street, 
Albany,  January  16,  1867,  and  was  the  son 
of  Isaiah  Townsend,  who  married  Hannah 
Townsend.  Children:  i.  Justine  Van  Rens- 
selaer, born  at  .A.lbany,  New  York,  December 
5,  1833:  died  at  Paris,  France,  April  22,  1881  ; 
married  at  .Albany,  January  23.  1877,  Lieu- 
tenant Thomas  Henry  Barber,  U.  S.  A.,  who 
was  born  at  London,  England,  May  6,  1844 ; 
died  at  New  York,  March  16,  1905,  and  was 


the  son  of  Thomas  Hunt  Barber  and  Maria 
Thompson ;  no  issue.  2.  Helen  Schuyler, 
born  at  Albany,  New  York,  November  17, 
1855;  died  there  May  27,  1858.  3.  Howard 
Townsend, born  at  Albany,  New  York,  August 
2^,  1858;  attorney  practicing  in  New  York 
City  in  191 1  ;  married  at  New  York,  April  17, 
1888  (first)  Sophie  Witherspoon  Dickey,  who 
was  born  at  New  York,  January  9,  1864:  died 
at  Saranac  Lake,  New  York,  January  29, 
1892,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Charles  Dens- 
ton  Dickey  and  Mary  Witherspoon  ;  children  : 
Sophie  Witherspoon,  born  at  New  York,  Feb- 
ruary 5,  1889:  married.  New  York,  October 
10,  1910.  John  Adams  Dix ;  Howard,  born  at 
New  York,  Janua-ry  27,  1890,  died  at  Thom- 
asville,  Georgia,  February  !)■,  1891.  Howard 
Townsend  married  (second),-  at  New  York, 
October  20,  1894,  Anne  Lowndes  Langdom 
who  was  born  at  IS^ew  York,  October  11,  1865, 
and  was  the  daughter  of  Eugene  Langdon 
and  Harriet  Lowndes ;  children :  .A.nne  Lang- 
don, born  at  New  York,  November  13,  1898. 
Howard  Van  Rensselaer,  born  at  New  York, 
March  25,  1900;  Eugene  Langdon,  born  at 
Southampton,  New  York,  September  24, 
1901  ;  Philip  Schuyler,  born  at  New  York, 
November  3,  1905 ;  4.  Stephen  \'an  Rens- 
selaer, born  at  .Albany.  New  York.  October 
20.  i860:  attorney;  died  at  Hempstead,  Long 
Island,  January  13.  1901  :  married,  Grace 
Church  Chantry,  New  York  City,  May  22, 
1888,  Janet  Eckford  King,  who  was  born  at 
Rome,  February  19,  1866;  died  at  Quogue, 
Long  Island.  August  19,  1899,  and  was  the 
daughter  of  Cornelius  Low  King  and  Janet 
De  Kay ;  children :  Janet  King,  born  at  New 
York,  "March  9,  1889;  Margaret  Schuyler, 
born  at  Bellows  Falls,  Vermont,  July  19, 
1890:  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer,  born  at  New 
York.  October  21,  1891  :  died  there.  Septem- 
ber 3,  1893;  Justine  Van  Rensselaer,  born  at 
New  York,  January  2,  1896.  5.  Harriet  Bay- 
ard, born  at  Albany,  New  York,  March  23, 
1864:  married,  New  York,  April  28,  1886, 
Thomas  Henry  Barber,  who  was  born  at  Lon- 
don. England,  May  6,  1844:  died  at  New 
York,  Alarch  16,  1903;  children:  Thomas 
Hunt  Barber,  born  at  New  York,  January  20, 
1889:  Justine  Van  Rensselaer,  born  at  New 
York,  March  30,  1891. 


,,^^31