USA > New York > Kings County > A history of the town of New Lots, Kings County, N.Y. > Part 4
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16
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW LOTS.
of Walter Brown of Flushing. Simon Rapalje was a carpen- ter by trade, and owued a farm of about 60 acres. He brought his son Williamson up as a farmer, giving him, in addition to the common school, the advantages of the cele- brated Erasmus Hall Academy at Flatbush, at the time when Mr. Craig was principal. When young, Williamson exhibited quite a taste and talent in drawing, with a special liking for faces and portraits. At the age of 20 he married Ann, daughter of John Vanderveer, April 10, 1823. Their children were : Simon, born Feb. 1, 1824, died May 9. 1827; Margaret Ann, born Sept. 10, 1825, still living with her father; John, born March 16, . , died June 14, 1828; Helen, born May 27, 1829, died May 16, 1869; Simon, born Aug. 5, 1831; John Vanderveer. born April 4, 1833, died Oct. 9, 1833; Williamson, born Sept. 8, 1834; Daniel, born April 20, 1836; Eida Vanderveer, born Sept. 20, 1838, died Nov. 16, 1842; Eliza, born Jan. 26, 1841; Henry Lott, born Aug. 15, 1843; Eida Vanderveer, born June 11, 1846. died July 31, 1852. Williamson Rapalje. Jr., married Elizabeth Meserole Schenck, daughter of Isaac C. Schenck, Oct. 12, 1859. They have had oue child, Catharine Ann, who was born Feb. 8, 1864, and died July 26, 1866. Eliza Ropalje married James, son of John Wil- liamson, of Flatland, March 25, 1863. Their children were James Rapalje, born Dec. 18. 1869; Maria, born June 16, 1875. Their father was born April 2, 1837, and died Dee. 4, 1875. Mrs. Williamson and her two children are now living with her father on the old homestead. Simon Rapalje married Sarah Emmons Schenck, daughter of Gilliam Schenck, Oct. 19, 1865. Henry Lott Rapalje married Sarah E., daughter of Henry Eldert, Oct. 13, 1869. Their children : Annie, born Nov. 8, 1870: Henry Williamson, born March 5, 1873; Daniel Lott, born Feb. 13, 1876; Cornelia, born Feb. 25, 1879.
Daniel Rapalje and Alice, daughter of Rev. Alvin Ostrom, were married June 19, 1878. Their children have been born in Amoy, China-Ernest Harold, born April 27, 1879, and Herbert DeWitt, born Aug. 6, 1880. In early life Daniel displayed a love for study and an aversion to becom-
ing a farmer. His father therefore, with the excellent judgment that has characterized all his acts through life, told him to anice his own choice of a life pursuit. Accord- ingly he chose a classical education and went to Rutgers college, at which he graduated. It is interesting here to notice the cropping out of the religious element in this family of Huguenot descent. While other young graduates were electing to be lawyers, physicians and engineers. Daniel put these worldy allurements all behind him. and chose the laborious self-denying life of a missionary. After his college course, lie entered the Theological department at Rugters, graduating from that also. Then offering his services to the Foreign Missionary Society, he was sent to Amoy, China, where he has labored most successfully fur the past twenty years. During this time he has made two visits to his old home, on the latter of which he was married. His wife is the daughter of an old college friend, who also went to China as a missionary, where she was born, so she is working in and for her native land.
Ann Vanderveer, wife of Williamson Rapalje, was born November 11, 1803, and died January 25, 1868. Mr. Rapaije was born June 4, 1803, and still enjoys very fair bodily health, and the full possession of his mental gifts. His life has been active, useful, and successful. Good sense, a vig- orous understanding aud a most practical executive ability. joined witli and controlled by a constant sense of right and justice, have been his controlling characteristics. In the ex- ercise of these his townsmen have insisted on his serving as assessor for many terms in years gone by. In the Reformed Church, of New Lots. he has always been a leader. and for a long term an elder, which place he still fills. Politically, Mr. Rapalje has always been a Democrat. His sons have succeeded him as farmers, in which calling they are famed as being the largest and most successful in the town. They have built large and elegant houses on the old homestead. adding to the many attractions on the old New Lots road. Such families as the one of which this is an imperfect record. are the safe-guards of any country of which they are citizens.
STEPHEN LOTT VANDERVEER lives on the old farm, which has been the homestead of his ancestors for several genera- tions. His house, originally built by his grandfather, and which he has enlarged to its present spacious proportions and fine appearance, stands in New Lots, near the lines which divide that town from Flatbush and Flatlands. His farm of 109 acres was originally well wooded, but has for many years been devoted to market gardening, familiarly called "trucking. " He was born Feb. 22, 1826, and married Jane Alletta Kouwenhoven Feb. 20, 1850. Their children have been five boys and two girls. For several years his sons have managed the farm, his own industry and enterprise having resulted in a handsome competence, which he uses and enjoys much more sensibly thian too many farmers who find no pleasure except continued digging in the old rut. He enjoys fishing and sailing, in proof whereof lie owns a yacht, to whose soothing embrace he regularly devotes during the sailing season whole days of solid comfort. Although never a politician or au office holder, Mr. Vanderveer has always acted with the republican party. In religious matters he has been a consistent and representative member of the Reformed church of New Lots serving for the past 20 years as its treasurer. In his school-boy days he improved the advantages of his district school aud of several terms at the Jamaica academy, when the distinguished instructor, Joli
W. Brinkerhoff, was at its head. Mr. Vanderveer is a thick set, solidly built man of phileginatic temperament, a picture of contentment and good health. He has a decided taste for antique relics in furniture and art. specimens of which adorn liis attractive homc. His wife is also active and well preserved in body and mind, and to all appearances they have many years before them in whichi to enjoy and to benefit their family and their friends.
The family genealogy is as follows : Cornelis Janse Vander- veer, or " from the ferry," farmer, emigrated to this country from Alekmaer or Alkmaer, a province in North Holland. in the Netherlands, in the ship Otter, in Feb., 1659. Settled in Flatbush. Feb. 1677-8 he purchased of Jan Janzs. a farm. He married Tryntje Gillis De Mandeville, and had children. Cornelius, Neeltje, Maria, Hendrick, Jan, Dominicus and Michiel.
Jan Vanderveer married Femet je, daughter of Micheal Hanson Bergen, January 6, 1695. Had issue : Katrina. bap. March 29, 1696: Femetje, married Jacob Sebering. and Jan, born July 7, 1706, died Oct. 31, 1779, who married Cor- nelia Lott, April 29, 1732, born April 20, 1714, died Oct. 31. 1789. Had issue : Catrina, born Dec. 3, 1733, died young: Femmete, born April 4, 1737, died Feb. 26, 1808: Catrina. born Jan. 22. 1740. died April 3, 1829; Jan, born Oct. 25. 1745, died Dec. 7, 150s, married Gretye Ehlert, May 25, 1765.
.
BIOGRAPHY OF STEPHEN LOTT VANDERVEER.
17
Stephen L Vanderve
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born Aug. 13, 1747, died March 13, 1825. Had issues : John, born May 19, 1766, died May 6, 1817, married Ann Lott, Aug. 11, 1791, born March 4, 1768, died Feb. 6, 1818; Johannes, born Nov. 22, 1768, died March 30, 1833 (single); Femmete, born Nov. 27, 1770; Cornelia, born April 5, 1775, died April 21, 1829, married Abraham Duryea; Treyntje, born May 6, 1779, died April 3, 1829 (single) ; Sara, born Feb. 11, 1782. died May 5, 1860, married Johannes Eldert. Children of John and Anne Vanderveer : John, born Aug. 11, 1792, died March 4, 1861, married Eida Suydam, April 23, 1818, born June 28, 1795, died Feb. 5, 1873; Stephen, born June 20, 1796, died Oct. 13, 1799 ; Ann Vanderveer, born Nov. 11, 1803, married Williamson Rapalje, April 10, 1823; have children living Jan., 1881-Margaret Ann, Simon, Williamson, Henry L., Eliza, and Daniel, now a missionary. Children of John and Eida Vanderveer : John J., born March 24. 1819, died Nov. 30, 1837, married Eliza E. Dubois, April 16, 1867, had
one son. John Henry, born June 29, 1869; Henry, born Nov. 25, 1821, died Nov. 4, 1857 (single); Ann, born June 10, 1824, married Abraham Vanderveer, April 23, 1815. had issue ; John A., born April 19, 1849, Maria Ann, Ida Suydam and Charles; Stephen L., born Feb. 22, 1826, married Jane A. Kouwenhoven, Feb. 20, 1850, born Oct. 13, 1825. had issue ; Eida Ann, born Dec. 23, 1850, married George W. Ryer-on, Nov. 20, 1872, born May 27, 1819. have issues; Ella Jane, born March 20, 1874 , and John Henry, born July 20, 1877; John K., born Nov. 18, 1852, married Julia R. Colyer, Oct. 10, 1877, have one daughter, Marrietta Colyer, born Feb. 24, 1879; Henry S., born Nov. 25. 1854, married Amy R. Bogart, May 24, 1876; Susan A .. born Nov. 25. 1834, died Sept. 6, 1855; Peter Luke, born Feb. 18, 1856, married Marietta Lott, Oct. 29, 1879; James, born Sept. 15, 1558, married Cornelia A. Van Sielen. Dec. 6. 15$2, born Sept. 25. 158; Stephen Lott, born Sept. 80, 1861, died Nov. 11, 1961; Mary E., born Sept. 30, 1-01
18
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW LOTS.
AN-SCHY.
Charles BB Vanderhacer
CHARLES B. VANDERVEER .- The Vanderveer family on Long Island sprang from Cornelis Janse (Van der Veer)- meaning "from the ferry," who emigrated, in 1659, from Alkmaar, in North Holland, and married Tryntje Gillis de Mandeville. He settled in Flatbush, of which town he was a magistrate in 1678 and 1680. His autograph is given on page 217 of Hist. of Kings Co. His second son, Dominicus. baptized November 16, 1679, at Flatbush, was sheriff of Kings County in 1736, and married Elizabeth Luqueer. The Van der Veers, at an early day, acquired a fine tract of land in what is now the town of New Lots, which estate is still in the possession of their descendants. Charles B. Vanderveer was of the sixth generation who have owned and occupied the property, and was born there in 1796. His father's name was also Dominicus. Mr. Vanderveer's boyhood was passed at a time when educational advantages were limited, but he enjoyed the best then obtainable in the common schools, and afterwards added largely to his stock of knowledge by read-
ing. At about the age of twenty-one he married Miss Maria Van Sicklen, the daughter of a neighboring farmer. They reared a family of eight children, of whom all except two are living.
Though Mr. Vanderveer took no active part in politics. he was a man of strong political convictions; in early days a Whig, and afterwards a Republican. He was connected for many years with the Dutch Reformed Church at New Lots. He devoted his time to the care of his large farm, on which he cleared up and improved many acres; and to the mill which was built on the estate about 1750. In 1839, he built the substantial mansion on the place, which is now occupied by his son. His wife died in 1875 and he survived her but three years, passing away in 1878, at the ripe age of eighty- two. He was known and esteemed as a quiet, law-abiding citizen : a man of the strictest integrity, who, by industry. prudence and uprightness, accumulated wealth, and kept through a long life the highest esteem of his townsinen.
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BIOGRAPHY OF FRANCIS MILLER, M. D.
DeFrancis Miller, M.D.
FRANCIS MILLER, M.D., one of the oldest practitioners in [ New York and Kings County, occupies a charming residence on Ridgewood Heights, the property fronting on Jamaica avenue, opposite Van Siclen avenue, East New York.
He was born of poor parents, in Alzey, a small city in Rheinhessen, Germany, on the 25th of October, 1817. He began his education at the public school in his native city, where he made such advancement that the preceptor, who is still living, appointed him instructor of the second class of his scholars.
After having acquired all the instruction obtainable at this school, he was admitted, in May, 1838, to the University in Heidleberg, Baden, at which institution he commenced the study of medicine, under the tuition of the great professors of that time, Gmelin, Puchelt, Tidemann, Bischoff, Chelius, Naegele, and others, which names are well known to every intelligent physician in Europe and America.
In the year 1841, he entered the University of his native State at Giessen, in the Grand Duchy of Hesse. Here he attended the lectures of the eminent Liebig, Wernher, Balser and others, and in September, 1842, passed his examination and received his diploma as Doctor of Medicine, Chirurgery, and Obstetrics.
He was thereupon offered a position in the same University as Assistant Prosector, which he declined, owing to the fact that he had two brothers and a sister living in New York, who advised him to come to America, and to bring with him his father, mother and two younger brothers, which he did, and arrived in New York on the 30th of October. 1842, after a passage of twenty days froni Havre.
After his arrival in New York, he soon obtained a large practice, became a member of the Medical Society of the
State of New York, of the Medical Society of the City of New York, and also of the Academy of Medicine of New York.
He was one of the founders of the Society of German Physicians of the City of New York, and was at one time its Secretary, and later on its President.
He was surgeon of the 5th Regiment, N. G. S. N. Y., for seven years, and as a physician of the German Society for the Poor in New York, he reported in one year alone over two hundred cases, which he attended free of charge.
He was well acquainted and frequently in company with the greatest physicians in New York, as Doctors Mott, Francis, Van Buren, Anderson, Wood, Parker, Detmold, Gil- man, Taylor, Bedford, etc.
He took an active part in school matters, and served as School Trustee for six years in the 10th Ward in New York, and also for three years in East New York.
Finally, his great practice, by day and night for twenty- two years, began seriously to affect his health, and upon consulting with his colleagues, it was deemed necessary to leave the city and remove to the country, in order to regain his strength.
After visiting a great number of places within a radius of thirty miles from New York, he at last decided to purchase the land at East New York, now occupied by him, and to erect a dwelling thereon. This house is situated on the top of a hill, overlooking the town of New Lots, and command- ing an extensive view of the surrounding country, as well as of Jamaica Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean, south of Rockaway.
He was married in 1845, to a Miss Frost, of New York, who is still living, and by whom he has three children, two sons and one daughter. The daughter died in childhood, but the sons are alive and married.
20
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW LOTS.
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Isaac CSchenck
ISAAC C. SCHENCK .- No one familiar with Kings and adjoining counties need be told that, to a marked degree, men and women bearing the name of Schenck have worthily commanded the respect and confidence of their contempora- ries. At each period, from the earlier to the present settle- ment of the Western part of Long Island, some member of this family has been called to assume a leading position in the management of public affairs. The genealogy of this family has been traced back to the remote period when the illustrious Charlemagne was Emperor of Germany and France, at which period Edgar de Schenken, in the year 798, filled the position of Imperial Seneschal to this great ruler.
Johannes Schenck, the progenitor of the Bushwick, Long Island, branch of the family, was born in Holland. probably the sub-district of Kessel, Sept. 19, 1656. His father was a judge of the province, which office was also held by his grand- father, his great and his great-great grandfathers. He was married in Holland and emigrated to America in 1683, land- ing in New York, where he remained two years. From here he went to Ulster County for five years, and then to the town of Flatbush, where he is recorded as town-clerk from 1691 to 1694, and again from 1700 to 1712.
We present herewith fac-similes of his signature. as written
Yorumes Soloche -
- 1694 -
Johannes Schenk 1603
by him both in Dutch and English. He used, at various peri- ods of his career, three different seals, copies of two of which
No. 1.
No. 2.
JOHANNES SCHENCK'S PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL SEALS.
21
BIOGRAPHY OF ISAAC C. SCHIENCK.
we also present. No. 1 is that which he used most fre- „quently in the earlier years of his American residence ; No. 2 is that which he used during the later period of his term of office as Town Clerk.
Bothı these designs were, undoubt- edly, taken by him from the coat of arms of the family to which he be- longed. This tankard-crest is also found on an ancient spoon belonging to him and now in possession of one of his descendants, residing in Brooklyn.
SCHENCK (of Schencken) FAMILY ARMS.
The heraldic idea intended to be con- veyed by the tankard is that of hospitality ; in fact, the meaning of the word Schenck, or Schenken, is butler.
During the year 1712, he left the town of Flatbush and bought the mill-property in Buslıwick, which he made his final home. In the year I M 1719, be was supervisor of Bushwick. He died April 10, 1729. His son, Peter, who died in 1736, was the father of É, Teunis, born Feb. 9, 1723, who also had a son Teunis, born Feb. 15, 1767. SILVER MARKS. This latter was married in 1794 to Gertrude, daughter of Isaac Cornell, became Judge Teunis Schenck, and died Dec. 29, 1842. Their children were: John, born, Oct. 18, 1795; Catha- rine, born July 5, 1797, married Nov. 12, 1816, John Rem- sen, of Flatlands Neck. died 1868; Ann, born Sept. 16, 1799, married Nov. 24, 1818, Henry S. Ditmas, of Flatbush ; Isaac Cornell, born January 17, 1802, who is the subject of this sketch. Peter, born Dec. 4, 1803, died April 3, 1866, single ; Maria, born Aug. 19, 1805, died Feb. 15, 1875, married Oct. 19, 1824, John Meserole, of Greenpoint, who died 1843; Aletta Jane, born Jan. 4, 1808, died Aug. 11, 1831, married Laurence, of Newtown ; Eliza, born July 9, 1810 : Gilliam, born Jan. 16, 1813 ; Cornelia, born May 27, 1818, died Aug. 11. 1821.
Gilliam Schenck married, Oct. 14, 1840, Ann Maria Eldert. Issue : Gertrude C., born Aug. 12, 1841, married Feb. 22, 1860 ; Albert H. W. Van Sicklen ; Sarah E., born March 17, 1843, married Oct. 19, 1865, Simon Rapalje.
Isaac C. Schenck married Catharine, danghter of Peter Meserole. Their children have been : John C., born Feb. 1837; Elizabeth M., born Aug. 24, 1838, married Oct. 12, 1859, Wil- liamson Rapalje ; Walter, born Sept. 23, 1840, died Sept. 11, 1841; Catharine Ann, born June 20, 1842, died Aug. 21, 1869, single ; Alletta Jane, born Oct. 3, 1844, died March 3, 1847; Maria M., born Feb. 3, 1847, died July 8, 1847 ; Peter M., born May 15, 1859, died Nov. 18, 1861 ; Cornelia, born Nov. 11, 1851; Sarah E., born March 17, 1851, married John Johnson Bergen, of Jamaica.
The record of the Schencks, during the revolutionary war, exhibits patriotic devotion, attested by active personal service. John H. Schenck, of New Jersey, raised a regiment by his own exertions and served with it through the war. John Schenck, of Dutchess County, was a captain in Col. Swarth- out's regiment of minutemen, commission issued Oct. 17, 1775, and signed by Nathaniel Woodhull, President of Provisional Congress. Henry Schenck was major in the same regiment, Martin and Nicholas Schenck were captains in other regi- ments, and Abraham was a lieutenant. Among the several captains by the name of John Schenck there was one whose loyalty and devotion touched the high-water mark. Almost at the beginning of the war he was asked how much gold would secure his services for the royal side. His answer
was worthy of any man in any age. "The whole of Europe cannot buy me ; give me liberty." Later on a reward was offered by the Britishi of "50 guineas for the head of Capt. Schenck, dead or alive."
In civil duties we find Abraham H. Schenck. of Dutchess county, serving in the State Assembly at Albany two terms; John Schenck, of Queens county, three terms; Peter A. Schenck, of New York county, three terms, and Judge Teunis Schenck, of Kings county, three terms. Judge Abraham Schenck, of Kings, represented his county in the Colonial Legislature from 1759 to 1768. In addition to these the State Senate has contained as members, Abraham of Dutchess county, John of Washington county, and John Schenck, Jr., of Queens county. Ancient deeds in the pos- session of Isaac C. Schenck, show that Johannes and Peter,
Johannes Schenk 1724
the two sons of the first Johannes, were purchasers of large tracts of land in Bushwick and Newtown, at an early day. Among the conveyances to Peter is that of the land which to this day remains as the family burying ground of the Bushwick family of Schenck. In 184- Isaac C. Schenck was elected superintendent of the poor for Kings county. discharging the duties of that difficult office in the most satisfactory manner. All purchases were economically made in the interests of the tax payers, and no scandal ever hung over his accounts.
In church and school matters Mr. Schenck has always held a laboring oar. When the New Lots Reformed church was built in 1824 he was one of the most active and efficient members and workers. The first building committee was Johannes Vanderveer, John Williamson, Simon Rapalje. Abram Van Sicklen, Christian Duryea, John Blake and Joseph Smith. The timber was cut in the woods of the farmers of the congregation, who not only gave it, but cut. hewed and carted it. A part of it had to be sawed, and they dug a ditch for a pit, over which the logs were placed and sawed by hand, as saw mills were few and far away in those days. Even the painting was done by the parishioners, Mr. Schenck being one of those who painted the fence. The building cost about $35 and was good for the times. The first minister was Rev. Mr. Crookshank.
In 1808 a school house was built in Mr. Schenck's district. the school being for a time kept in Mr. Blake's barn. This barn is now owned by Mr. Hopkins. The school house built at that time has since been moved back, but is still used. About the year 1840 John Lohman, Jacob H. Sackman and Mr. Schenck thought best to have the school district divided. Accordingly Mr. Schenck went to Flatbush and saw Dr. John II. Zabriskie, town superintendent, who came and looked the matter over and erected the new district asked. A public meeting was held in the old Half Way House. where the Fulton avenue stables now are, at which Isaac C. Schenck, William Stoothoff and David Storms were elected trustees. A contract to build a school house was made with Henry S. Eldert, which was located near the Reformed church, where it still is, plus the additions that have been inade to it. A good share of the timber used in the frame of the original building was cut on Mr. Schenck's farm and hauled by his man.
Mr. James Clegg was the first teacher. He also repre- seated the town of New Lots as Supervisor during the years 1833-'54-55 and 57. His brother, Gilliam Schenck,
22
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF NEW LOTS.
succeeded him in the same office from 1858 to 1874, in- clusive, serving the long term of 17 consecutive years. In 1879 he was appointed treasurer of Kings county to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Samuel S. Powell, and at the next election he was elected for the succeeding term. During the four years of his administration of the financial affairs of this county with all its vast interests, the records show exact balances of receipts and disbursements, every dollar properly applied and accounted for. A noted charac- teristic of the Schencks from the earliest period has been that in public and in private duties they have always proved equal to the place and the occasion. This explains their long terms of service by the repeated choice of their fellow citizens. Cool, capable judgment, and honest, efficient ad- ministration, have been their strong points. John C. Schenck, his eldest son, after a careful and thorough education in the schools, followed by adequate preliminary reading of the great authorities, adopted the legal profession and was duly admitted to the bar. His professional abilities and success
are sufficiently attested by the fact that he is and has been, since its organization, the attorney for the East New York Savings Bank. The first existence of this bank was largely due to the persistent efforts, in the face of great opposition, of Mr. Schenck and his son. John C. Gilliam Schenck was elected its first president and Jolin C. Schenck its attorney. John C. still remains at the old home, single. At the advanced age of 81, Mr. Schenck still retains all his mental powers and a fair share of physical vigor, Mrs. Schenck is also blessed with comfortable health, and together they are spending the late afternoon of useful successful lives, in the old homestead on the road leading from New Lots to Jamaica. The house is mostly of stone, and was built pre- vious to 1765. This venerable land-mark does not show its age, owing to the good care of its owners. It was partially re- built and remodeled in 1792 by Isaac Cornell, father-in-law of Judge Teunis Schenck, who then owned it, and again in 1811 or 1812 by the Judge himself, who lived there from 1794 until his death, in 1842.
F 85 14 8.4.
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