USA > New York > Oneida County > Annals and recollections of Oneida County > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64
Doctor Guiteau loved his profession. Its practice was, to him, from higher, holier, purer motives. than its pecuniary
475
TRENTON.
xXII.]
considerations. On the contrary it seemed to partake of the spirit of the performance of a pleasant duty. In its pursuit he sacrificed case, domestic and social enjoyments, while his presence in the sick-room seemed accompanied with a bene- diction. Much of his zeal and devotion to his profession, were the results of high religious principle, while its duties were performed with the spirit of a martyr.
FRANCIS ADRIAN VANDER KEMP, L.L.D., was born at Cam- pen, in Overyssel, one of the United Provinces of the Neth- erlands, on the 4th of May, 1752. On his father's side he was descended from the distinguished families of Vander Kemps, the Bax, the Van Drongelens-and upon his moth - er's side from the Leydekkers, the Huybers, the De Wittes, Lords of Haemstede, etc., etc. His father was educated for a merchant, but entered the army in 1745, and was present at the battles of Lowfelt, Roacoux, Aste and Molden. In 1747 he married Anna Catharina, only heir of Francis Leydekker, receiver-general of Tertolen in Zealand .- IIis regiment was in garrison at Campen at the time of the birth of the subject of this notice .- Young Vander Kemp, after having made sufficient progress in the Dutch and French languages, was sent to the Latin school at Zutphen in Gelderland, where, al- though, as he says, his " progress was rather slow, without any brilliant proficiency," he received a prize on the 14th of Jan- uary 1763. From Zutphen he removed with his family to Zwolle in Overyssel, where his studies were continued, and where, without discontinuing or abating liis ardor for his stud- ies, he was placed as a cadet in a company of infantry in the regiment of Holstein Gottorp in 1764-and in 1766 he was admitted to the same rank in his father's regiment. During
476
ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY.
[CHAP.
these periods, and up to 1769, he devoted a good share of his time to the Latin, Greek and Hebrew, under most able mas- ters. In the latter year his regiment having been ordered to an encampment where he could not pursue his studies, he de- termined to solicit from the Prince of Hesse a permission of absence. Receiving an abrupt repulse from the Prince, he immediately asked and obtained a dismission from the service.
In August, 1770, he entered the University of Groningen, where he devoted two years to Latin, Greek, the Oriental languages, Metaphysics, Natural history, Cosmology, etc., be- sides private instruction in English and Italian. Of this period he says, "my determination to leave nothing untried, to soar, if possible, above mediocrity, made me exert all my strength with a view to conquer. Ere long was my health impaired by chemical experiments, by extravagant studies, allowing myself seldom but five hours' rest, often contented with two or three, often taking no rest at all." In his third year he tacked upon his previous course, botany, ecclesiastical history, ecclesiastical law and the laws of nature, the last two under the celebrated Vandermarek. While under the teachings of that talented professor, and amid the influences of many of his military and classic companions with their fa- vorite authors, united with a hatred of the classical hierarchy and their continual usurpation, he became a partial convert to the errors of Deism-errors which found so many votaries among the learned and great of that age in central Europe. Associated with young men of the first families in the republic, mobility and gentry, arguing against the dominion of the cler- gy, the rage of the latter was soon raised to a high pitch, and to them he was "a reprobate old in sin, though young in years"-although their hatred was, in fact, pointed rather against Prof. Vandermarck, than against his pupil. The lat- ter was called before an ecclesiastical tribunal of professors
477
TRENTON.
XXII.]
and ministers, and threatened with disgrace, unless he should abandon Vandermarck, purify his library, and resume his studies-which done, he should be restored to the favor and care of his friends. In his ardor and zeal for reform, his ha- tred of tyranny and love for his great master, Vandermarck, he rejected these terms with disdain. He now employed his pen in a defence of his master against the clergy. During this period he formed many connexions, and opened corres- pondence with learned men in Holland and other countries, chiefly among the " remonstrants." Upon recommendation of Prof. Vandermarck he received the offer of civil employ at St. George Delmina in Africa; shortly afterwards another to go to the West Indies as governor to a young gentleman. He says " I knew myself too well to accept the guidance of a. youth, when I was scarce to be trusted to regulate my own conduct. The inhospitable coast of Delmina seemed now my only refuge, when it struck my mind that the Baptists at Am- sterdam were reputed to be of extensive liberal principles ; that I was intimate with some wealthy and learned members of this community, Prof. Oosterbaen of Amsterdam, the Rev. John Stinstra at Harlingen, and through his recommendation with the family of Hoofman at Haerlem-I resolved then to open my mind to Prof. Oosterbaen-ask him for support to promote my studies at Amsterdam in their Seminary, if I could be admitted without compromising myself in any man- ner, without constraint to any religious opinions I might adopt or foster, or adopt in future, and with a full assurance that I should be decently supported-all which was generously ac- cepted and Oosterbaen actually acted and proved himself to me a friend and benefactor, a guide and father. I thus left Groningen to remain during the vacation at the University of Franequer, being there gratified with the rooms and library of my friend Chaudoir, then a candidate of the Gallican
178
ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY.
[CHAP.
church and on a visit to his parents. In September, 1773, I left that place for Amsterdam to enter a new course of stud- ies among the Baptists. As soon as I arrived at the rooms hired for me by Prof. Oosterbaen, with my small, thoughi se- lect library, augmented by a few authors, indispensably rc- quired, I resolved seriously to begin my inquiry into the truth and nature of the Christian religion." With his knowledge of history, ancient and modern, civil and ecclesiastical, of church antiquities and classic literature, laying aside all pre- conceived prejudices, he determined to seek and embrace truth -soon, by the most assiduous study, night and day, he be- came fully convinced of the truth of Christian. revelation. With his Greek New Testament, aided by the lectures of Prof. Oosterbaen, he soon became convinced of and embraced the leading doctrines of evangelical Christianity, and in November, 1773, he publicly professed his religious prin- eiples and received baptism from Van Heinisgen.
During two years he studied theology with Greek and the mathematics. On the 18th of December, 1775, he was ad- mitted as a candidate to the ministry, and after having re- ceived calls to the care of churches in Zealand, Friesland and Holland, on the 25th of July, 1776, he accepted that of Huysen, in Holland, and during that year he received invita- tions to become pastor of churches in Flanders, Zealand and Leyden, the latter of which he accepted, October 1, 1777. Here circumstances occurred to produce a renewal of his po- litical connections in Holland and the other provinces. All the time he could spare was devoted to the laws and consti- tution, the history and antiquities of his country. His libe- ral views became well known, which his friends charged to the teachings of his old master Vandermarck: while the greatest pretended crime of the latter was that he was a disciple of Arminius. He now embarked in the great reform of placing
479
TRENTON.
XXII.]
the liberties of his country upon a more permanent basis. In 1747, the office of Stadtholder had become hereditary in the House of Orange. Without overthrowing the House of Orange, or the orders of nobility, he believed that their in- terests were not inconsistent with, and indeed might be greatly subserved by, granting to the people at large a real influence in the goverment. Even many of the Orange party desired radical reforms. He was urged forward by several men of distinction (among whom was Vander Capel- len, Lord of Pol), and he published several letters upon the military jurisdiction, the quotas of the different States, the rights of arbitrage, etc., etc. He says he now took upon him- self the vast labor of collecting " all which was valuable among the archives of my country, as well as in the libra- ries of individuals." " I perceived the forged chains which- were to be riveted on the necks of my countrymen, and deemed it a feasible thing to break them. I perceived their insensibility and indolence, and would rouse them to vig- orous and unrelenting action. I glowed with indignation when I became convinced that in the fetters prepared for the Americans, the slavery of our own country was a chief ingre- dient. I would enlighten my parishioners by the pure knowledge of genuine gospel truth, and annihilate the hier- archical power of the church of Christ. Neither the difficul- ties I had to struggle with, nor the obstacles I had to encounter, nor the threatening aspect of futurity, could dis- courage me or shake my endeavors. Here was the Baron Vander Capellen and Vandemarsch-there Van Berckel, DeGyzelaer, Paulus, Luzae, emboldening me to proceed, while a Duqui, a Vandermarck, a Vreede, a Vanschelle made a, proffer of their aid, and numbers of the worthiest of the Stadtholder's friends procured me weapons of hardened steel with which to combat the monstrous hydra."
480
ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY.
ECHAP.
At this juncture Mr. Vander Kemp, published several works, one a collection of tracts upon North America, in which a comparison was drawn between the United States and the United Provinces, a series of letters on the corvées or laws giving the services of the subject to the Lord, in Overyssel, etc., etc. This last produced a terrible effect, and the chains of slavery fell from the people of that Province. For an ode published in 1789, in praise of the opposition in Friesland, a vexatious prosecution was commenced and con- tinued for nearly two years before the University Judicature. The ode was the pretext, but his other liberal tracts, connec- ted with his efforts in the cause of reform generally, were the real causes of the prosecution. His friends all became alarm- ed, and he was urged to leave the country, asylums being of- fered him at Brussels, and by the French Cabinet. He however determined to stand his ground, and proceeded to Hamburgh, where he was tried upon 175 articles, and after various appeals to higher powers, the prosecution was aban- doned. These efforts to crush him only excited him to still greater efforts. He says, "I lashed abuse of power, wherev- er I met with it, without mercy-even when threatened with incarceration. The weak-minded stood aloof, many feared to accost me in public, but I gained more and more the favora- ble regards of the first men in the State." He was hated by government and the clergy, the lower classes had not sufficient moral power or intelligence to aid him in his efforts for their amelioration, but the middle estates, possessing a large share of the talent, education and wealth of the country, seconded his efforts. In 1782, he delivered a sermon upon 1 Kings, xii, 3-20, delineating the conduct of Israel and Reho- boam-a mirror for the Prince and nation-which was three times delivered and twice published-and also published four large volumes of authentic documents, copied from
481
TRENTON.
XXII.]
records and works in the archives and private libraries-and to the latter were subsequently added three volumes of the same character.
This year the subject of this sketch was married to a daughter of Hon. Jacob Vos, burgomaster of Nymegen, and Lady Amira Beckman, a grand-niece of the William Beekman, who emigrated to New Amsterdam (New York), in 1646, and who soon after was a Lieutenant Governor of this Prov- ince. His wife's family were attached to .the Stadtholder's cause. During the years 1783 and 4, he was engaged in publishing a series of sermons, numerous tracts upon political subjects and in contributing to several liberal journals.
In 1785, the crisis arrived-Mr. Vander Kemp now as- sumed the capacity of a military leader in the attempted revolution. A militia was organized, and as one of the few leaders of his party, he was in some way connected with near- ly every corps. His friend through life, the late Col. Adam G. Mappa, of Trenton, organized a corps, and by superior mil- itary knowledge, soon brought it under execllent disciplinc. Col. Mappa was soon raised to the command of their little army. The British influence was on the side of the Stadt- holder, while France was pledged to countenance, and if nec- essary, assist the republicans. Utrecht was revolutionized without bloodshed or disorder.
Soon the Stadtholder became alarmed-a truce was soun- ded-pledges of reforms and concessions were given, but alas, a fatal schism arose among the reformers, by which all was lost. Vander Kemp and some of his friends doubted the sincerity of the court in those pledges, while others became frightened, and were disposed to accept the terms offered. In violation of the truce agreed to on both sides, the night of the 5th of July, 1786, the city of Wyck, was surrounded by 1500 soldiers, with six cannon, and two mortars. In
31
482
ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY.
[CHAP.
vain Vander Kemp and his few friends attempted to rouse the people, the spirit of apathy and dissension had taken too strong a hold, and by order of the magistrates the gates were opened-and while the troops entered on one side, he led his little band of about ninety men out of the opposite gate- remaining himself with his friend De Nys and an aged vete- ran, too old to retreat, the only representatives of their cause. This took place notwithstanding the declaration of the French Cabinet to consider the commencement of hostilities as a declaration of war-the special pledge of protection to Van- der Kemp and his friends on the part of that cabinet and the instruction of Count Vergennes to their representative in Holland.
On the 9th of July, a general amnesty, in which Vander Kemp was named, was published, but notwithstanding this. he was conducted to Amersfoort by a guard of dragoons. where he was placed in a public building under a strong guard. His first act here was to resign the pastoral charge of his church at Leyden. Neither he nor his wife were al- lowed to correspond with their friends, unless their letters were first examined.
Every art was tried to induce Mrs. Vander Kemp to ap- peal to the Stadtholder for his intercession, but she refused. even after the solicitation of her own brother, a member of the States General. A large Prussian force having entered the country, leading the patriots to hope that it would ad- vance to their support, Vander Kemp was taken to Utrecht escorted as before. There he was insulted by the comman- der, Gen. Baron Von Munster, with " and you, sir! with your delicate pen-it was Madame la Princesse, you gather now the fruits."
The ruling party having nothing farther to fear, he and his friends were released December 19, 1787, upon condition
483
TRENTON.
XXII. ]
of the payment of about $35,000, to indemnify the govern- ment. He had previously determined to leave his country forever, and no entreaties could induce him to change his plans. His wife with their two children (John J. and Ber- tha) and servant, visited him just before his release. The heavy ransom was paid by his friend De Nys. He was re- leased in the evening, and in the same night, after embracing his wife, children and friends, left Utrecht, and arrived at Antwerp on the 21st, whence he wrote to John Adams, then Minister of the United States at London. His wife, after disposing of his house in Leyden, his extensive library, col- lection of statues, busts, medals and superfluous furniture. joined him at Antwerp. His acquaintance with Mr. Adams had commenced in 1780 or 81, while the latter, as agent of the United States, was in Holland, and it is understood that he had rendered Mr. Adams very considerable services in his efforts to procure loans for our government. Mr. A. now furnished him letters to some of the first men in America.
The Baron V. Capellen also procured for him letters from La Fayette, to several gentlemen in the United States and he afterwards received others from Mr. Jefferson, and Count Potemkin. He sailed from Havre, March 25, 1788, and ar- rived at New York the 4th of May. In New York he soon made the acquaintance of Gov. George Clinton, Gen. Knox, Col. Hamilton-Mrs. Clinton and Mrs. Hamilton conversed with Mrs. Vander Kemp in Dutch (the latter understanding
but two words of English-yes and no). They received the inost kind attentions from all quarters. Having forwarded his letters to Gen. Washington, Dr. Franklin, Gov. Living- ston of N. J .. Mr. Vander Kemp soon received an invitation to visit Mt. Vernon. On his way thither he spent several days with Gov. Livingston, had an interview with the venerable
484
ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY.
[CHAP,
Franklin, at Philadelphia, " and arrived at last at Mount Vernon, where simplicity and order and unadorned grandeur and dignity had taken up their abode." Washington approv- ed of his plan for an agricultural life, and made a tender of his services, but advised his settlement in the State of New York, among the Dutch inhabitants. After visiting most of the villages upon the Hudson and Mohawk, he settled at Esopus (Kingston), Ulster Co., where he remained about five years. From thence he removed in 1793, to a place named by him Kempwick, upon the north shore of Oneida Lake, where he purchased of Geo. Parish upwards of one thousand acres of land.
Soon afterwards he removed to Trenton (Oldenbarneveld), where he could enjoy the society of his old friends G. Boon and Col. Mappa. Soon after the organization of Oneida. County, Mr. Vander Kemp received the appointment of as- sistant Justice of the County Court. from which he acquired the title of Judge, and his title of Dr. was received from the University in Europe, with his degree of Doctor of Laws. He continued to correspond with many distinguished men in this country and Europe, and at his residence was often vis- ited by persons of the highest distinction of both continents. In 1818, under the auspices of Gov. De Witt Clinton, he trans- lated the ancient Dutch records in the archives of our State. consisting of twenty-five folio volumes, an employment for which he was eminently qualified, by his deep learning as a lin- guist and his experience in transcribing antique documents in his own country.
The latter years of his life were devoted to domestic enjoy- ments in the bosom of his family, and in the family of his old companions in arms, and fellow laborer in the cause of freedom Col. Mappa, and in his library, that never failing fountain to the cultivated mind. The Philosophical Society
-
485
TRENTON.
xxI.]
of Philadelphia, the Academy of Arts and Sciences of Boston and that of Philosophy and Literature of New York, adopted him as a member of their bodies, and he published in this country several small works upon Theological, Historical and Scientific questions.
He died at Trenton on the 7th day of September, 1829.
486
ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY.
[CHIAP.
CHAPTER XXIII.
UTICA.
THE earliest mention the author has found of the site of the City of Utica, is in certain Royal Letters Patent, granted by the authority of George II. Dei Gratia, of Great Britain, etc. King, defender of the faith, etc., and dated the 2d day of January, 1734, " wherein and whereby" 22,000 acres of land are granted to Joseph Worrell, Wm. Cosby Sheriff of Am- boy, John Lyne, Thomas Ffreeman, Paul Richards, John Ffelton, Charles Williams, Richard Shuckburgh, Timothy Bagley, Joseph Lyne and Frederick Morris, " in fec, in free and common socage as of our manor of E. Greenwich, in Kent." This Patent recites that the grantees named, by their petition received by Gov. Cosby in Council on the 13th of July, in the year preceding, had stated that Nicholas Eker and sundry other Germans had in 1725, by licence from Gov. Burnet purchased "that tract in the Mohawk country on both sides of the river between the great flat or plain above the fall, and the land granted to the wife and children of Johan Jurek Kast," also another tract beginning "on the west line of said granted lands, on both sides of the river running up westward to a certain creek called Sadahqueda and in breadth in the woods on both sides of the river, six English miles," that said grantees had purchased of said Germans their right and interest in said lands, and they therefore asked Letters Patent for 22,000 acres, a part of the land so purchased of
487
UTICA.
XXIII. ]
said Germans. The Patent then proceeds, " in obedience to our royal instructions to said Governor of New York, etc., at St. James, the 19th of May, 1732, and by the said William Cosby, Governor, etc., and George Clark, Esq., Secretary of said Province, Archibald Kennedy, Esq., Receiver General, and Cadwallader Colden, Esq., Surveyor General, Commis- sioners for setting out land to be granted, have set out to the said Joseph Worrell and others, a certain tract in the county of Albany, on both sides of the Mohawk river, beginning at a point on the south side of said river on the west side of a brook called Sadahqueda, where it falls into said river, and thence S. 38 deg, W. 238 chains, thence S. 52 deg., E. 483 chains, thence N. 38 deg., E. 480 chains, thence N. 52 deg., W. 483 chains, thence S. 38 deg., W. 242 chains, to the place of beginning," and thence proceeding in the usual form of a Patent or Deed, reserving to the crown all gold and silver mines, and trees fit for ship timber and masts, and the yearly rent of two shillings and six pence, fer each one hundred acres, and binding the grantees to cultivate three acres in every fifty, within the next three years, and concluding, "Witness our well beloved William Cosby, Captain General and Gov- ernor in chief of New York, New Jersey, and the territories thereto depending in America, Vice Admiral of the same and Colonel of our army at Fort George, in the city of New York, the 2d day of January, 1734." This tract thus granted was afterwards known as Cosby's Manor, upon a portion of which Utica stands.
The next mention of the locality of Utica, found by the author is in the minutes or " Itinerary" of a French spy from Canada, who traversed the region from Oswego to Schenectady during the " old French war," to wit, in the year 1757. He entitled his report thus: "Itinerary from the mouth of the river Chouegen (Oswego.) in lake Ontario, to
188
ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY.
[CHAP.
lake Oneida, thence, up Vilerick (Wood Creek) to the sum- mit level which is the source of the river of the Mohawks or des Agnies, by which we can descend to Corlar or Chencetedi. which Albany or Orange can be reached." After describing the route from Oswego to Rome, the spy then takes the road from the latter on the south or right side of the Mohawk leading to Schenectady. He says : " leaving Fort Williams" (the predecessor of Fort Stanwix, Rome), " there is a road that unites with that by which horses and cattle pass from Fort Kou- ari (Fort Herkimer), opposite the mouth of the West Canada Creek and Chouagen. This road is bad for about four leagues after leaving Fort Williams. The country is mar- shy-Carriages (les trains) travel it in winter and during the summer, and it can easily be passed on horseback at all times: though in some places there is a great deal of mud. After these four leagues, carts can easily go as far as Fort Kouari. Having travelled four leagues on this road, which is five leagues from Fort Kouari, we come to the forks of two roads, one of which to the left, leads to the Palatine's village (Herkimer), by fording the Mohawk River." This language is somewhat ambiguous, and there is an evident discrepancy as to distances, still the ford mentioned was doubtless at or near the foot of Genesce Street, Utica. During the revolution the fording place across the Mohawk was at the site of the present bridge at the foot of Genesee Street, and it is proba- ble that the road to the river on the north side, and the ford were the same which had been used for forty or fifty years before, rather than the supposition that they had been chang- ed in the then wilderness state of the country. The venerable Mr. Harter, of Deerfield, now ninety years of age, and a na- tivo of Herkimer, recolleets having visited Deerfield Corners frequently, several years prior to the Revolution, and he lo- cates the ford where the bridge now is, and a short distance
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.