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 5
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Jonathan, the eldest son, born in 1726, was killed fighting under Col. William Johnson at the Battle of Lake George. This was the disastrous ambuscade in which King Hendrick, Chief Sachem of the Mohawks and loyal supporter of Sir William, lost his life. Colonel Ephiriam Williams, founder of Williams College was also killed in this engagement. A monument in memory of Col. Williams stands at the roadside near "Bloody Pond," the scene of the ambush. In the Battleground State Park at Lake George a monument to Sir Williams and King Hendrick overlooks the scene of their victory. Young Jonathan Stevens was unmarried and but 28 years of age at the time of his death; according to Sir Williams' report of the battle, he died "fighting like a lion."
The other sons of Arent were William, Nicholas, John, James, and Richard. Of these, John and William are mentioned in the records of the Schenectady Committee of Safety as "fire wardens." William was also a Second Lieutenant in the Third Schenectady Company of Militia.
Nicholas, the third son, was a Tory. He refused to take the Oath of Allegiance tendered him by the Committee of Safety and after some little time was finally removed to the enemy's lines.
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STEVENS HOMESTEAD
The census of 1790 shows the following "Stevens" living at Schenectady Town, north of the River, which would probably refer to the homestead at the Ael Platz :-
Jannatie Stevens - 2 males - 3 females no slaves
Jonathan Stevens
1 male - 2 females
no slaves
William Stevens - 10 males - 5 females 1 slave
This "Jannatie" was evidently Jennetje De Spitzer, who had married on November 20th, 1768, Arent, the elder son of Nicholas Hendricus, the eldest son of old Jonathan, as there were no children born of the Stevens name whose given name was "Jannatie."
The "Jonathan" mentioned must have been the son of Arent, the eldest son of Nicholas Hendricus, for old Jonathan would have been dead long since, and the other Jonathan, as stated, was killed at Lake George.
The original house Jonathan and Lea built in 1693, the year of their marriage, stood on the River bank just below the present house. It is said to have had an underground passage connecting it with a hidden entrance at the River's edge, affording secret ingress and egress in time of trouble. The old house was taken down in 1860, as it had become a shelter for obnoxious characters who came to it off the River. Some of the brick and timbers taken from it were used in the present house which was built about 1869 and which is evidently the third of the Stevens houses as there is mention of a house located on the same site which had been previously burned. Among the Stevens papers is mention of the purchase of brick and also of household effects about 1800, which might perhaps have gone into the second house.
The present structure certainly cannot be classed as a pre-Revolutionary house, yet much of the material that went into its walls pre-dates the Revolution by nearly a century. And the land upon which it stands had served this family for nearly two centuries as a homestead, lately passing out of their hands. Judging from appearances, the present owners are not interested in preserving the old house and beyond a doubt, within a few years it will be torn down or, becoming untenable through neglect, fall down, and another landmark will have disappeared. Its present condition rather suggests the latter alternative.
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John J. Froman-1911
Brouwer - Rosa Home Schenectady
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BROUWER · ROSA HOUSE
Brouwer-Rosa House
HIS house bears a tablet on which is inscribed in part :-
"Oldest house in City built before 1700 by Hendrick Brouwer, a fur trader, who died here 1707. Sold 1799, to James Rosa, Superintendent of Mohawk and Hudson Railroad 1831."
In looking over the early records of the settlement, a possibility of confusion arises through an earlier settlement in Schenectady of a Philip Hendrickse Brouwer. In fact, he was one of the original settlers in 1662. But as his house and lot were on the northwest corner of Church and State Streets and as he died about 1664 without issue, the line ends abruptly, and does not concern us.
Philip had come to Schenectady from Albany, where also lived a brother, named Willem. This Willem must have been an interesting character judging from the number of times his name appears on the minutes of the court. But be it said to his credit he appeared not always as a defendant. Many of his appearances were made for the purposes of collecting accounts for beer sold. Upon one occasion, however, he seems to have had a serious mix up. From a "blotter" entry of August 4th, 1660, it appears he did
"during the night, in returning from guard duty, cut Gerrit Visbeeck with his cutlas in the arm in such a way that the same was half off and lamed as appears from the affidavits .of three witnesses."
It seems impossible to get the complete story but Heer Brouwer's defense was that while he "admitted the deed," he also says that the plaintiff attempted to take his gun away from him.
Willem Brouwer died in Albany in 1668, - evidently in straitened circum- stances, for in the Albany Dutch Church records there is an entry showing:
"fl. 40:15 paid for the burial of William Brouwer and fl. 5 his widow."
His son Hendrick settled in Schenectady prior to 1700 and owned the property on which he built the present "Brouwer-Rosa" house at 14 North Church St.
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FORTS AND FIRESIDES OF THE MOHAWK COUNTRY
The lot was described as being in the possession of his heirs in 1708, (he having died in 1707) and beginning 108 feet north of the church lot on the east side of the street and probably including the remainder of the block, being bounded .on the north by what is now Front Street, which at that time cut across the north end of this block, to intersect Ferry Street near St. George's Church.
Following is a copy of Hendrick Brouwer's will. The original document is on file in the Court of Appeals, Albany :--
"In the name of God, Amen. I, Hendrick Brouwer, at Schnnectade, at present in my full senses and understanding, but weak in body, acknowledge this to be my last will and Testament.
First my wife, Maritje shall possess my entire Estate, real and personal, during her lifetime and in case she should marry again an inventory shall be taken of all my property and my wife shall beholden to give security for the same, in order that after her decease the same shall go to my children, my wife's son Benjamin by a former marriage to share equally with my children: except that my son Johannes shall receive ten pounds in advance for his birth right because he is my eldest son. : I commend my body to the earth whence it came and request a decent burial. I acknowledge this to be my last will and Testament and have signed and sealed this with my own hand.
Schonht, the 12th of December, 1706. Hendrick Brouwer
(Seal) Witnesses:
Philip Scheyler Martin Van Beuthuis The mark J. G. of Jess D'Graf.
Hendrick's wife was Maritie Borsboom, widow of Teunis Cartense (1660 - 1691) who came to Schenectady about 1680. In the spring, following his death, she married Hendrick Brouwer. This was but two years after the massacre. By him she had six sons and two daughters. Jacob, one of these sons, was brutally murdered by Indians in 1730 at the falls of the Oswego River. As Hendrick came to Schenectady, probably without funds, and became an Indian trader, which took him into the wilderness a great deal, it seems likely he did not build this house until the time of his marriage (1692). He is not mentioned either as a victim or as a survivor of the massacre of 1690, and no property of his is mentioned as being either destroyed or saved. The homestead seems to have come into the possession
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of Cornelius, a son of Hendrick, by 1737. This he occupied until his death in 1765 when it passed to his son Hendrick. This Hendrick lived here until his death in 1801, when he willed it to his son Hendrick who sold it to James Rosa in 1825. The sale date given on the marker attached to the house seems incorrect.
There was a Hendrick Brouwer Junior (1731 - 1801) a grandson of the first Hendrick, who signed the call of the Dutch Church which brought Domine Vrooman to Schenectady in 1753; he served in the Revolutionary War as a member of the Albany County Militia. There was also a Richard Brouwer, a member of the Schenectady Regiment at the same time. At a meeting of the Schenectady Committee of Correspondence, held on February 7th, 1776, a Jelles Brouwer was appointed with Adam Cundee to notify certain men-
"to appear in town on Saturday the 10th instant at 10 o'clock forenoon, for the purpose of choosing their respective officers."
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The Federal Census of 1790 lists a Jellis Brouwer whose family consisted of a wife, two daughters, and three sons. This is "Gillis," son of Peter, son of Hendrick, the original settler. Gillis' wife was Maria Bradt, a daughter of Harmanus, who lived in the old State Street gable-ender and whose second wife was Aeffie Brouwer, daughter of Hendrick, who died at the Church Street house in 1801. There is also mentioned a Henry Brouwer, who had three sons, a daughter, and one slave. Both these families were living at Schenectady.
James Rosa, who became the owner in 1825, was the son of Isaac Rosa whose forbears were settlers of Ulster County. The original settler there, of this name, was Heymense Rosa, an emigrant from Gelderland, Holland, who came to America on the hip "Spotted Cow" in 1661. He was a person of importance at Esopus where he settled, and, in 1661, was appointed one of a group of commissioners to enclose the new village near by, called Hurley. Heymanse died at Hurley in 1679 leaving a widow and ten sons, the first eight of whom were born in Holland. The second oldest son named Heyman lived at Esopus and Hurley and married Margurite Roosevelt. Geysbert, their oldest son, married Greetyje Bond of Schenectady in 1695.
Jan, the eldest son of Geysbert married first, a Van Kamper in 1725 and a son from this union named Isaac married Maria Van Vranken in Albany in 1763. It was their son James, born in 1778, who in 1825 bought the Brouwer house which
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FORTS AND FIRESIDES OF THE MOHAWK COUNTRY
remained in the Rosa family for a century and a quarter. His was a large and prominent Schenectady family. He married three times and had thirteen children.
The exterior appearance of the house as viewed from the street is interesting but not typically "Dutch." The siding is unusual, being a foot in width and 11/2 inches thick; the boards are carefully fitted together to form a surface as smooth as a floor. The rear view discloses the fact that many changes and additions have been made. From this viewpoint, the characteristic, steeply pitched roof is seen on what appears to be a wing, but which, after an inspection of the interior, proves to be the original building. The house has many interesting features, such as secret closets and hide away rooms, false partitions, and floors. While in appearance it is a frame building, it is in a sense a brick building as well, for between the inside and outside walls is a brick lining making what is termed a brick-filled wall.
One of the earliest Brouwers to leave the Albany district, which included Schenectady, was William of Schenectady, who moved to the Stone Arabia Patent in the Palatine District soon after its settlement about 1721. This William was the only brother of Hendrick who remained in Schenectady and became the progenitor of the Schenectady branch.
William's deed is a quit claim direct from the Trustees of the Patent dated September 1st, 1734. He bought of Hendrick Schremling, one of the original settlers of the Stone Arabia Patent, 450 acres on December 10, 1739. His will is dated 1757 and probated 1765. By its terms his sons Arent and Harmanus inherited the "lands where I now live, farming tools and livestock" and among his five daughters he distributed his household goods and money. The will continues: "To Arent (his eldest son) I give my large iron kettle and my negro man named Thom." Also, "75 acres with the buildings on it, I give to Arent, he to help Harmen build, erect and finish my dwelling house, kitchen and barn."
This old farm has never been out of the. family, being conveyed by will from father to son. The house, partially destroyed during one of the Tory raids, was repaired and has been continuously occupied by the Brouwers since that time. It is located a short distance South East of the Stone Arabia Churches.
To the rear of the house is a large oak tree which was standing at the time of the Revolution. There is a family legend that the Mohawk Indians held their pow wows under its shade.
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BROUWER · ROSA HOUSE
Another branch of the Brouwer family, this one identified with the history of Utica, begins with Abram Giles who was educated at the Schenectady Lyceum, a famous old school formerly located at the corner of Union and Yates Street. From there Abram Giles went to the Albany Medical College. He later married Jennie Helen Vedder and moved to Utica, where, after practicing two years he entered business with his father-in-law. His parents were Giles (1815 - 1861) who in 1833 'married Ellen Vrooman (1817 - 1867).
Mr. Vedder Brouwer, a direct descendant in this line, recently deceased at Utica, had many valuable records and possessions of the early Mohawk Dutch families. Among them were the old Coat of Arms of the Vrooman family and an original painting of Barent Vrooman, the sixth minister of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church at Schenectady.
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John J. Vrooman-1930
Fuller Homestead Schenectady
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FULLER HOUSE
Fuller House
HE house occupying the southwest corner of the intersection of Front and Church Streets is not pre-Revolutionary; it was built in 1792 by Jeremiah Fuller. But some of the material that went into it, the ground on which it stands, the man who built it, and the previous owners of the site are all so intimately connected with the history of the settlement that it seems unwise not to include it with buildings whose age is perhaps but twenty years greater.
Of the original fifteen proprietors at Schenectady there were three whose village lots have been questionably located. They are the two Van Slycks, father and son, and Pieter Danielse Van Olinda. Possibly one of these three persons was allotted this northeast corner. But as these allotments were made in 1662 and the Widow Maria Peek was living here in 1670, it was perhaps never built upon until she occupied it. She came here with her son Jacobus during 1670 and he lived for a time with her until he could occupy his land located on the south side of the Mohawk at the Woestina, which he is credited with settling also in 1670.
There is a patent covering this lot issued May 4th, 1718 to Adam Vrooman which conveys-
"a lot in Schenectady fronting the street eastward that leads from the Fort to the River 97 feet, and abutting the lot of Gerritt Syminse (Vecder) southward 97 feet and abutting the lot of Simon Groot, Jr. westward 144 feet, all Dutch wood measure together with houses and brewhouse."
This patent was confrmatory as Adam Vrooman is known to have been in possession before 1690, the date of the massacre, at which time so much property together with records and titles were destroyed that the Trustees issued new deeds confirming ownership.
From 1690 (or perhaps earlier), Adam Vrooman possessed the property, selling to Pieter Quackenbos in 1718, which was about the time he removed to his lands in the Schoharie Valley. Pieter Quackenbos is described in the mortgage
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FORTS AND FIRESIDES OF THE MOHAWK COUNTRY
deed he gave to Philip Livingston as a brickmaker. Somehow Quackenbos must have lost the property, for there is a later deed from Adam Vrooman to Adam Conde, his grandson, and in turn from Adam Conde to his son-in-law, Adrian Van Slyke.
On March 29th, 1792 Van Slyke deeded the property to Jeremiah Fuller for a consideration of 300 pounds. The buildings thereon were taken down and the present residence constructed, using much of the dismantled buildings, all in the year of purchase. The Hon. John Sanders, writing in 1879 tells of inspecting the reconstructed house in the company of the then owner, General William K. Fuller, saying-
"I saw with my own eyes the timbers of Vrooman's identical house, darkened by age, but perfectly sound and bearing in several places the mortice marks of previous use."
The Fuller family have continued in ownership up to the present day, rounding out a full century and a half.
When the group of original proprietors secured from the Indians their grant of land, a rectangular section of it was laid out in four blocks, for a village. This they surrounded with a stockade. The present bounding streets of the original quadrangle are Front, State, Ferry, and Washington Avenue, which coincide almost identically with the location of the original streets and palisade.
Arent Van Curler's home lot was next south of the Vrooman-Fuller lot, at the northwest corner of Union and Church Streets. It passed into the hands of the Veeder family as mentioned in the Vrooman patent of 1718. Part of the lot (originally it was 200 feet on each street) is now the site of the Mohawk Club.
The Schenectady settlement, the first white settlement in the Mohawk Valley, was begun with the granting of a deed by the Indians on July 27th, 1661, signed by three of their number, representing the tribe. The deed in part reads-
"Owners of a certain piece of land named in Dutch the 'Groote Vlachte' and lying behind Fort Orange, between the same and the Mohawk's lands, who declare they have granted . . . to the behoof of Sieur Arent Van Curler, the said piece of land or Great Flat, by the Indians named Schonowe, in its compass of circumference with its woods and hills
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FULLER HOUSE
The description is very meagre and indefinite and allotment of the land to members of Van Curler's associates was somewhat difficult to arrange. The tillable or bottom (flat) land was all that was considered of value and being insufficient in acreage, the Indians-on May 28th, 1670, sold a second tract of land-
"within three Dutch miles in compasse on boathe side of the River, westward, which ends at Hinquariones (Towareoune) where the Last Battle was, between the Mohawks and the North Indians."
which is the present western boundary of the county. But no confirmatory patent was issued until the Governor Thomas Dongan patent of November 1st, 1684. This embraced 128 square miles of territory, and was in favor of the five original Trustees chosen to act for the settlers.
But Van Curler had nothing to do with the second purchase of land. On April 30th, 1667, M. De Tracy, Governor of Canada, wrote to him from Quebec saying-
"If you find it agreeable to come hither this summer, as you have caused me to hope, you will be most welcome and entertained to the utmost of my ability as I have great esteem for you, though I have not a personal acquaintance with you.
Believe this truth and that I am Sir, your affectionate and assured servant."
Having accepted the invitation, Van Curler prepared for his journey. Governor Nicolls furnished him with a letter to the Viceroy. It bears date "20 May, 1667" and reads-
"Mons. Curler has been inprtyuned by divers of his friends at Quebec to give them a visit, and ambitious to kiss your hands, he hath entreated my passe and liberty to conduct and accompany a young gentleman, M. Fontaine who unfortunately fell into the barbarous hands of his enemies, and by the means of Mons. Curl :r, obtained his liberty."
On the 4th of July of that year Jeremias Van Rensselaer writing to Holland, announces that --
"Our cousin, Arent Van Curler proceeds overland to Canada, having obtained leave from our General, and being invited thither by the Viceroy, M. De Tracy."
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This meeting between D. Tracy and Van Curler might easily have changed the history of the Colony for Van Curler was a peacemaker, a powerful factor among the Indians and thoroughly trusted and appreciated by Governor Nicolls. However, had he been successful in bringing about an agreement between England and France, it is difficult to conceive of its being more than temporary. There was no thought of a division between the warring nations though they had an entire continent to divide. It was a case of "winner take all."
Historians say "in an evil hour he (Van Curler) embarked on board a frail canoe to cross Lake Champlain, and having been overtaken by a storm, was drowned near Split Rock." The news of the calamity was at once brought to Schenectady and a committee appointed to enquire into the details. From records of the testimony we note :---
"Testimony taken by the Honorable Committee of the Commissaries (appointed to enquire) into the unfortunate death of Mr. Curler, this 29th July/8th August, 1667 at Schanechtade.
Present
Philip Pietersz Schuyler R. van Rensselaer Sander Leendertsz Glen
Interrogatory and examination of Drilacxse a Mohawk Indian and a squaw named Decanahora. Translated by Jacques Cornelisz (Van Slyke).
Question; When did they enter the canoe with Curler to go across the lake and how did it happen that Curler was drowned and that they escaped?"
The explanation made was that on the 14th day after leaving Schenectady, about an hour before sundown they entered canoes to cross the lake. Van Curler and two other Dutchmen were in one canoe, together with the Indian, Drilacxse and his squaw and child. In another canoe were two Dutchmen and an Indian. After getting some distance from shore, the wind freshened about sunset. The waves broke over the canoe and it began to fill with water, whereupon the Indian and his squaw stripped. preparatory to swimming. The squaw told Van Curler to throw all his goods overboard but Van Curler would not consent. Slowly but surely the canoe filled with water and sank beneath them. The Indian and his squaw, being able to swim, managed to hang on to the canoe which had turned upside down. The child was drowned. The Indian testified that he tried three times to get Van Curler, who could not swim, to hold on to the canoe but owing to the high waves he failed. Van Curler and both other Dutchmen were drowned.
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FULLER HOUSE
The other canoe had turned about and safely regained the shore. Drilacxse and his squaw were washed ashore late that night and joined the party from the other canoe. They testified that from the point where they were stranded they were just able to see the point of the island on which the French fort was built. This was apparently Fort Anne on Isle la Motte.
Governor Nicolls, learning of the tragedy wrote the magistrates of Albany from Fort James under date of August 17th, 1667, expressing his concern and sorrow over the drowning for Van Curler had been one of his trusted friends.
The Mohawks were mourners along with the Dutch and English. Indeed it is a question if they ever again had as loyal and true a friend as Van Curler had proved. They were at Schenectady the time the testimony was taken and were much concerned over their future relationship with the white men, now that the hand of Van Curler had been snatched from the helm. Their statement has also been handed down :--
"Anno 1667, this 28th July/7th August.
Proposition made by the Mohawks, after Corlaer's death, at Schanechtade, in the house of Arent Van Curler, in the presence of Jacques Cornelisz, Sander Leendertsz, Theunis Cornelisz, Jan Van Eps and Cornelis Cornelisz. First, they bewail his death (saying that they are sorry that he, who so long resided in this country, and ruled in this region, should have perished thus. Secondly, they say there will doubtless come another Chief, but they expect that he will not rule so well. Therefore we request that you appoint a good ruler over us. We shall govern ourselves accordingly. Thereupon they gave 24 hands of sewan, 12 on the first statement and 12 on the second."
"Anno 1667, 28th July/7th August.
Answer made to their request.
To the first, we said that he was not a man whom we could easily replace. Also, the sorrow was so great that for the present, we could hardly speak of it. Let sadness reign in our hearts. Even if we (wished to) appoint another ruler at once, we could not do so, because he was such a wise man.
Should we then, in this sadness, immediately appoint another ruler? Therefu. we shall wait until sorrow has been lifted from our hearts, otherwise if we immediately appointed another ruler it would seem as if we were glad. Let his place remain vacant, for half a year or a whole year as a token of mourning.
Answer made according to our knowledge with which they were satisfied. Janques Cornelisz Cornelis Cornelissen."
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The English . French relations, long on edge, were further embittered by the burning of Schenectady, and the massacre of a great part of its inhabitants. This story has been told so often it is unnecessary to repeat it here, more than to note the recorded statement that but five houses were spared from a total of "80 good houses." The French report mentions but two houses saved, "that of the Widow Bratt, wherein the French M. de Montigny had been carried when wounded," the other being the Glen house across the Mohawk. But we know this
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