USA > New York > Forts and firesides of the Mohawk country, New York : the stories and pictures of landmarks of the pre-Revolutionary War period throughout the Mohawk valley and the surrounding country side, including some historic and genealogical mention during the post-war period > Part 4
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
On Oct. 31st, 1776, "Jacob A. Lansingh was again brought before this Board, and nothing farther appearing against him. Ordered that he be liberated from his present restraint and that the security given to this Board for his appearance be and is hereby cancelled."
MING Hi
....
John J. Vrooman -- 1947
Van Schaick House Cohoes
Page 31
THE VAN SCHAICK MANSION
The Van Schaick Mansion
HIS was the home of Anthony Van Schaick, built in 1755, on a section of the "Half Moon" patent, granted to his father, jointly, with Philip Pieterse Schuyler on Sept. 11th, 1665. The original Patent, confirming an Indian grant, included all the land lying between the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers, and embraced the several islands at this point, which divide the "sprouts" or mouths of the Mohawk River. The site of this house is on one of these, called "Havers Island" ("haver" being Dutch for "oats"). The patent also included the site of the present town of Waterford.
Philip Pieterse Schuyler transferred his interest in the Patent to Goosen Gerritsen Van Schaick in 1674. He, in turn, willed it to his wife from whom it passed to their son, Anthony. The title to this Patent was confirmed by Governor Dongan on May 31st, 1687, in consideration of an annual quit rent of one bushel of winter wheat!
When Anthony made his will he made a reservation for the cemetery just at the side of the house, in which five generations of the Van Schaick family now lie; among them are men of distinction in their time. The first Van Schaick, Goosen Gerritsen, was a Hollander who came early to Rensselaerwyck and was a brewer at that pla :e; he never occupied the island. Under the Van Slichtenhorst administration of the Manor in 1651, he was named one of the Magistrates and was evidently an important personage.
When the son Anthony came into possession, he had the house built, it is said, with Holland made brick as facings on the inside and outside of the walls, the space between being filled with brick made on the premises by his slaves. Certainly the walls are unusually heavy.
The arrangement of the house is somewhat different from most other houses of this time, but is not unique, as the Van Courtlandt Manor house at Croton-on- Hudson is built in this same manner. The first floor is, in a sense, a basement with the main or ground floor a little above this ground level and with still another floor and an attic above this. The original dining room was in a front room of the basement floor with the kitchen adjoining. Most of the baking was done, however, in a small annex.
Page 32
FORTS AND FIRESIDES OF THE MOHAWK COUNTRY
The main floor is entered at the front through the original, horizontally divided front door, giving into a spacious hall which divides the house. On each side are two large rooms with smaller rooms at the rear. Much of the hardware, woodwork and glass is original. The mantel in the front room at the north side is a fine example of hand carving. One of the rooms on the second floor had a small door cut through the exterior wall and over it an iron beam protruded. To this a hoist was fastened to haul up, for storage, the pelts and other merchandise handled. The door opening has now been filled with brick though its outline is readily seen in the picture. Porches have been added at the front and rear of the house and other superficial changes made, but principally it is as originally constructed.
In this house, General Schuyler turned over his command to General Gates. Gates, however, refused to accept the command of such an ill-fed, poorly clad army and John G. Van Schaick (the third generation) loaned General Schuyler $10,000.00 in gold for the purchase of military supplies. In return, Schuyler gave Van Schaick Continental script which he signed personally as a Continental officer. It is interesting to note that this script was never redeemed as Congress took the position that Schuyler had no authority to borrow the money. There are three of these . script notes now (1940) in the possession of the owner of the house.
The following letter from General Gates to His Excellency, George Washington, is of interest :----
Headquarters, Van Schaick Island, August 22, 1777.
Sir, Upon my arrival in this department I found the main body of the Army enca nped upon Van Schaick Island which is made by the sprouts of the Mohawk River joining with the Hudson River nine miles north of Albany. A brigade under General Poor is encamped at Loudon's Ferry, on the south bank of the Mohawk River, five miles from hence: a brigade under General Lincoln had joined Gen. Stark at Bennington and a brigade under General Arnold marched the 15th inst. to join the militia of Tryon County to raise the siege of Fort Stanwick. Upon leaving Philadelphia, the prospect this way appeared very gloomy, but the severe checks the enemy have inet with at Bennington and Tryon County (Oriskany) have given a more pleasing view to public affairs. Particular accounts of the signal victory gained by General Stark and the severe blow General Herkimer gave Sir John Johnson and the scalpers under his command, have been transmitted to your Excellency by General Schuyler. I anxiously expect the arrival of an express from General Arnold with an account of the total defeat of the enemy in that quarter. By my calculations he
Page 33-34
THE VAN SCHAICK MANSION
reached Fort Stanwick the day before yesterday. Colonels Livingstone's and
Courtland's regiments arrived yesterday and immediately joined General Poor's Division. I shall also order General Arnold, upon his return, to march to that
post. I cannot sufficiently thank your Excellency for sending Colonel Morgan's
corps to this army. They will be of the greatest service to it, for until the late
successes this way I am told the army were quite panic struck by the Indians and their Tory and Canadian assassins in Indian dresses. Horrible indeed have been the cruelties they have wantonly committed upon many of the miserable inhabitants, insomuch as it is not fair for General Burgoyne, even if the bloody hatchet he has so barbarously used should find its way into his own head. Governor Clinton will be here today. Upon his arrival I shall consult with him and General Lincoln upon the best plan to distress, and I hope, finally defeat the enemy. I am sorry to be necessitated to acquaint your Excellency how neglectful your orders have been executed at Springfield-few of the militia demanded are yet arrived, but I hear of great numbers upon the march. Your Excellency's advice in regard to Morgan's corps, etc. shall be carefully observed. My scouts and spies inform me that the enemy headquarters and main body are at Saratoga, and that lately they have been repairing the bridges between that place and Stillwater. As soon as time and circumstances will admit, I shall send your Excellency a general return of this army.
I am, Sir, your Excellency's most obedient humble servant.
(Signed) HORATIO GATES.
His Excellency, General Washington.
At the time of the transfer of the command, it is said that Gates was so unpopular with the soldiers, it was necessary for Governor Clinton to come to Camp Van Schaick and order the troops to obey their newly appointed Commander. This was from August 22nd to 25th, 1777, just preceding Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga. An interesting memento of that decisive battle is one of the guns on the lawn at the side of the house. Following its capture, the gun was brought down to the Mohawk, and lost overboard from the ferry in crossing. Later it was found and brought here. It is easily identified by the British coat-of-arms it bears.
The location of the Revolutionary camp was at the top of the hill, just behind the house, and it was from this place that Learned's brigade, under the command of Benedict Arnold, went to the aid of Colonel Peter Gansevoort at Fort Schuyler (Stanwick) at what is now Rome. Katrina Van Schaick must have been intensely concerned with the ultimate success or failure of this expedition for it was going to the relief of her lover. She and Colonel Gansevoort were later married in this house.
.
---------
John J. Frooman-1941
Fonda - Lansing House Cohoes
1
Page 35
FONDA · LANSING HOUSE
1753256 Fonda- Lansing House
HE greater part of what is now the city of Cohoes was embraced within the limits of the manor of Rensselaer as purchased by the Patroon from the Indians in 1630. Subsequent purchases extended his holdings until they reached southward on both sides of the Hudson River a distance of 24 miles from the northern boundary which was the Cohoes Falls of the Mohawk River.
The adjoining landowner on the north was Hilletie Van Slyke Van Olinda whose land was given to her by the Mohawk Indians. She was a half breed Mohawk herself, her father being Cornelis Antonissen, commonly known as "Broer Cornelis" and her mother Otstoch, an Indian "princess." Broer Cornelis is said to have been living in the vicinity of the Cohoes Falls in 1640, later moving to Schenectady. Hilletie came into possession of this land in 1667, the southern boundary of which was the Manor Avenue Road which extends westward from the Falls. This tract of land was commonly known as the "Boght" (Dutch for "bend") and lies between the River and Manor Avenue, being embraced by the curve which the Mohawk River forms in its northerly, then southerly course, just before reaching the Falls.
A map of the Manor of Rensselaer made in 1767 by a surveyor named Bleeker includes this bit of land and on it he shows five houses. Also, just south of the boundary, on Manor land, are located five other houses designated as the farms of Hans Lansing, William Liverse, Douw Fonda, Frans Lansing and Cornelius Van Den Berg (alias King). These last mentioned lay roughly in a north and south line and in the order given, beginning with the northernmost, along the Loudon Road. This road led to the ferry above the Falls while the original or military road leading to the northern lakes crossed below the Falls by fording the several mouths of the Mohawk, making use of the islands that lay between the shallow channels.
Of these five Boght homes, for they were so-called even though they lay just outside the Van Olinda boundary, three remain standing today. Those within the Boght proper have disappeared. Perhaps the most interesting of the surviving buildings is the house built by Douw Fonda in 1760. It is easily seen from Columbia Street, Cohoes_and is identified by a State marker. There have been a good many occupants in this old house though apparently but three owners. The
1
Page 36
FORTS AND FIRESIDES OF THE MOHAWK COUNTRY
title passed from Douw Fonda to James Lansing and is now held by the Simmons Estate. These three houses have much in common. All are of substantial brick construction and characteristic of the period. The Fonda house has an interesting gambrel roof, while its walls are laid up with the brick in English bond, which alternates the placement, exposing the long side, then the short end to the weather. There is a central hall with stairway leading to the second story from just inside the front entrance. A basement or cellar underlies the house. These cellars played a very important part in the housekeeping of that day for here was stored a full winter's supply of vegetables, meats, sausages, cider, beer, and all else that required a temperature cool but not freezing. The windows were of the 24 pane variety then in common use.
James Lansing, the second owner, was never popularly known as "James" but rather as "Buttermilk," after his chief commodity, though he did sell butter, eggs and vegetables as well. This nickname was a mark of distinction and served to set him apart from the large number of Lansings who lived in and about Cohoes. Perhaps because it did accomplish this so satisfactorily, it went with him to his grave.
The old Boght Dutch Church stood but a quarter of a mile north of this
house. All traces of it are long gone; however the present Boght Church is of interest and boasts a collection of local family records.
This locality was off the main trade route up the Mohawk since the River below Schenectady was but little used for commerce because of the Falls and the rapids below them. Then too, the "carry" from Schenectady to Albany, the chief shipping point, was but the longer side of a triangle, while the Cohoes Falls formed the central point of the other two sides. However, the route from Albany northward to Lake George, Lake Champlain and Canada passed just to the east of the Boght. At an early date, before there was much local settlement, it was natural the trail should have led across the River at its shallow fording places below the Falls. But as settlement was established the ferry across the quiet deep water above the Falls became the customary road, being less toilsome. It is of interest to note that Colonel Henry Knox made use of both roads in his difficult undertaking of transporting heavy cannon from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston, in the mid-winter of 1775 - 76.
Just what part these Boght settlers played in this epic task of moving heavy armament over snow choked roads on inadequate sleds can perhaps never be retold, but we can be certain the men who built these houses "put their shoulder to the wheel" in a very literal sense.
Page 37
FONDA . LANSING HOUSE
The idea originated with Colonel Knox and was immediately approved by General Washington as seen from the following extract from his letter-
"The need of them (heavy cannon) is so great that no trouble or expense must be spared to obtain them. . . . I have given you a warrant to the Paymaster- General of the Continental Army for a thousand dollars to defray the expense attending your journey."
Col. Knox left New York on horseback, Nov. 28th, 1775 and "stay'd at Albany" on Dec. 2nd. The 3rd of December he covered the 35 miles to Saratoga (Schuylerville) and reached Fort George, 30 miles across the country at the south end of Lake George on the afternoon of the 4th. On the 5th he reached Fort Ticonderoga and immediately started loading boats to take his cannon and ammunition up Lake George to Fort George. Fortunately the Lake had not yet frozen.
On Dec. 20th the "artillery train" left Fort George on sleds favored with a fresh and heavy fall of snow. Much difficulty was encountered in the constant breaking down of the sleds and in getting across the streams. The Hudson in par- ticular presented difficulties for they were compelled to cross or recross it four times.
Col. Knox preceded the "train" to Albany in snows through which he found it impossible to ride a horse and so was compelled to tramp a part of the distance as hest he could. At Albany he conferred with General Schuyler from whom he obtained much valuable cooperation. Returning to Waterford he learned that "one { { the largest cannor." had fallen through the ice in crossing the River at this point. The others had then been taken to "Sloss' (Claus'?)" ferry for crossing, where all were ·Adly taken over. From there they proceeded to Albany. It was from Albany ::.:: Col. Knox wrote his wife, in part, as follows:
"Albany from its situation and commanding the trade of the water and the immense territories westward, must one day be, if not the capitol, yet nearly to it, of America."
Eleven sleds loaded with cannon were taken across the frozen Hudson at Albany and all but the last reached the east bank in safety. This last one, however, broke through. After some difficulty it was recovered and continued
..
Page 38
FORTS AND FIRESIDES OF THE MOHAWK COUNTRY
on its journey. The advance guard of the "train" reached Cambridge (Boston) on January 24th after endless delays and discouragements, sometimes due to lack of sleds, of horses or oxen, or often to extremes of weather. There seems to have been a sufficiency of man power which was recruited along the line of travel. These patriot- farmers were impressed with the daring and the magnitude of the idea of fighting a way through almost three hundred miles of forest and stream with roads little more than trails, and all in the dead of winter.
The task Colonel Knox had expected to accomplish in about 18 days had required almost two months. But the effort was crowned with success for these heavy cannon from old Fort Ticonderoga were instrumental in forcing General Howe. to evacuate Boston.
John J. Vrooman-194!
Tymerson House Niskayuna
Page 39
THE TYMERSON HOUSE
The Tymerson House
NFORTUNATELY but little is known of this old house and old it is, judging by its many "earmarks." It is certainly pre-Revolutionary.
It is a small house much after the pattern of the very well known Mabie House at Rotterdam. But the Mabie House is largely of stone while this house is a combination of frame, brick, and brick- filled walls.
There is a cellar under the entire house and a main or ground floor with an attic above. The cellar is divided about equally into two rooms by a ponderous stone wall. Here are seen the unusually heavy floor beams, hand hewn to square fourteen inches and the heavy foundations and arches for the support of the large fireplaces above. These arch supports are typical of houses of a pre-Revolutionary date.
The ground floor consists of a central hall on each side of which is a single room with its old fashioned fireplace. The originally exposed beams in these rooms have been hidden by lath and plaster but this is not true in the hall where the beams have not been molested. Another note of interest is the horizontally divided front door after the Dutch manner, with its hand wrought hardware. The house was never "elegant" but must have been considered rather more than a "substantial" home in its day.
The attic discloses considerable carpentering of a date much later than that of the building. The entire house is in a poor state of repair and there is more than an even chance it vill not stand many years longer unless greater care is given it.
The original farm which extended northward and eastward to the River has been largely condemned and flooded by the State of New York in the creation of the "Niskayuna Pool" or flood-water storage basin, an adjunct of the State Barge Canal. Being low-lying "bottom" land, it was a rich and desirable farm and must have produced abundantly. This rich land was the lodestone of the first settlers.
The Tymerson family were among the earliest of the Niskayuna settlers. The original settler of the Tymerson name was Cornelis who came to Albany and there married Martie Ysbrantse. In 1713 she willed to the Dutch Church in Albany the sum of £20 for the benefit of the poor of the Church. But it is known that this couple took up residence in Niskayuna. There is a reference by the
Page 40
FORTS AND FIRESIDES OF THE MOHAWK COUNTRY
Indians to a Cornelis Tymerson of "Rosendale" in 1701, "Rosendale" being a locality in the Niskayuna district.
There were at least two children to the above union, Tymen and Eldert. The latter, born December 13th, 1691 married Hester, daughter of Bastian Vischer of Albany and settled in Niskayuna.
Seven children were baptized from this union, four in Albany and three in Schenectady. Two of those baptized in Schenectady on February 7th, 1718 were twins named Bastian and Peter. It seems probable this Peter did not live for another son Peter was baptized in Schenectady in 1722.
In 1767 a map of Niskayuna was made by a surveyor named John R. Bleeker. This map located nine families in the Rosendale neighborhood but the Tymerson name is not among them. This is possibly explained by the fact that Peter Tymerson married Geertruy Crieger and both were listed as of "Canastagyoone" or Niskayuna. The "Criegers" were an earlier family and it is possible the Tymerson interests were included in the Crieger tract. The Crieger grant was dated about 1686, the first settler of this name being Captain Martin Krygier who was the first burgomaster of New Amsterdam. He retired to Niskayuna and died there on his estate about 1712.
Bastian married Mayke Ouderkirk in Albany in 1743 and to them were born children in 1744, 1746, 1747 and 1750 to whom were given the name of "Eldert." This was customary when children so christened did not live. There were also three daughters and a son, Johannes.
The surviving Eldert, son of "Bastian of Nestoungjoone" married Catalyntje, daughter of Jan Baptiste Van Eps of Schenectady on December 10, 1774. Their children were Bastian born 1775, Jan Baptiste born 1777, Mayke born 1780, Isaac born 1782, Maria born 1789 and Peter born 1794. The marriage records of Rev. John Toll who lived at Beukendahl just west of Schenectady, mention the marriage of Isaac Tymerson of Niskayuna to Cornelia Van Evera of Canajoharie on December 18th, 1803. These marriage records are now filed at Fort Johnson, Amsterdam.
The Albany Committee of Safety refers to Cornelius Tymerson as being a member from the Half Moon District (which included Niskayuna) and shows him present at its first meeting held Jan. 24th, 1775. He is also mentioned as being present at three subsequent meetings held in that year as well as at the meeting of March 29th, 1776.
The Federal Census of 1790 mentions four families of this name; two at Watervliet and two at Canajoharie. Those at Canajoharie were the families of Eldert and Peter.
٠٢٨٢٦٢٢ لحهيدر طهابس.
جهوية ٥ راب
٦ ٠٠ ٠
٠٫٠٠
بناءف.
1.12
Page 41
STEVENS HOMESTEAD
Stevens Homestead
HE first settler of this name in Schenectady was Jonathan S. Stevens, who as a young man came to the locality from New England in company with a man named Thomas Smith about 1690. Little seems to have been recorded regarding Smith; possibly he soon moved away. But Jonathan Stevens founded a family that was to leave its name largely written across the pages of early Schenectady history.
His town lot was on the north side of State Street just east of the present Barney Company store, and extended northward to and beyond Liberty Street, not then cut through, comprising in all, more than an acre of ground. His farm of several hundred acres was on the opposite side of the Mohawk, its eastern boundary Ael Plaats (Alplaus) Creek. He also leased from the Widow DeGraff a tract of land on the Fourth Flat, as it was then called, being the bottom lands along the north shore of the River about four miles west of the City.
On July 24th, 1693, he married Lea, the widow of Claas Willemse Van Coppernoll, who had died the previous year. She was the daughter of Cornelis Antoinisen Van Slyke, better known as "Broer Cornelis," of whom more has been said in connection with the Van Slyck House. This Lea was a remarkable woman, noted for her beauty and piety. She was a half-breed Mohawk and because of this fact, was always generously dealt with by the Indians. Her sister, Hilletie, who married Peter Danielse Van Olinde, an original Schenectady settler of 1662, was also noted for her beauty, as well as her Christian character. Both of them appear frequently in the records of the settlement as interpreters and witnesses to deeds and other papers, as well as in the early church records, acting as assistants to the Dutch ministers in their missionary work among the Indians. These sisters were the joint owners of the "Great Island" at Niskayuna, which was a gift to them from the Indians.
Being English and marrying a part Indian woman, it is only natural that the Stevens family should be found closely allied with Sir William Johnson, English agent who had "married" several Indian women. Later members of the Stevens family were divided in their opinions; some of them espoused the cause of the Colonies and others remained Royalists or Tories at the time of the Revolution. The date of old Jonathan's death does not seem to have come down to us but it is known he was born in 1675.
Page 42
FORTS AND FIRESIDES OF THE MOHAWK COUNTRY
Jonathan and Lea had four children. Of the sons, named Nicholas Hendricus and Arent, the first mentioned moved to New York and so out of the picture. The daughters married and settled in Schenectady.
The younger son, Arent, born July 26th, 1702 is prominently mentioned for a period following 1725. He is described as a "master hand with the Indians," which is logical enough in view of what has been said regarding his mother. He was inuch in the employ of Sir William Johnson, Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Crown, who found him immensely valuable in furthering the Johnson influence. Arent lived for some time at Canajoharie among the Indians and one rather imagines this was all in keeping with Sir William's ideas. Whenever anything of unusual importance was brewing, Arent was more than likely to be a party to it, for he acted as confidential agent for Sir William and always thoroughly honored the trust and confidence placed in him.
Arent married twice, the first wife being Maritie, a daughter of William Hall of Schenectady, whom he wed in 1736. She died in 1739 and ten years later he married Mary Griffiths, the widow of Lieutenant Thomas Burroughs of the British Army. He lived nine years after their marriage, dying in 1758. To these marriages there were six sons and four daughters.
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.