USA > New York > Genealogical notes of New York and New England families > Part 24
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Imprimis - It is my will and I do order that at my decease the second son of my brother THUNIS VAN VEGHTEN (deceased) namely, my nephew THUNIS VAN VEGITEN, who hath been under my care from his childhood and now abiding with me, shall, hold, use, occupy, possess and enjoy all my lands at Catskills wherein I am now in the possession and enjoyment of, with all the houses, out-house, grist mill, barns, barracks, orchard garden, with all and singular the appurtenances to the premises belonging or appertaining and all other my real estate wheresoever and of what nature or kind soever for and to the whole and sole use, benefit and improvement of him, the said THUNIS VAN VEGHTEN, for and during his natural life time, and no longer without impeachment for waste.
.
355
VAN VECHTEN.
Item- It is my will and I do bequeath and order that at the decease of him, the said THUNIS VAN VEGHTEN, the before- mentioned estate shall come into the full possession and enjoy- ment of the right heir or heirs of him, the said THUNIS VAN VEGHTEN, lawfully begotten of his own body, and thence to descend from the said lawful heir of him, the said THUNIS VAN VEGHTEN, to his heir lawfully begotten, and thus to descend from heir to heir lawfully begotten of the preceeding heir, successively, to the end of the world, with this restriction, that he, the said THUNIS VAN VEGHTEN, or his said heir, and from heir to heir aforesaid, successively, shall not by any way or means whatsoever, convey or make over any part or parcel of the before-mentioned estate, but that the same shall abide, continue and remain, the visitations of Almighty God in his allwise providence, only excepted, a perpetual estate of inherit- ance for and to the use and uses of him, the said THUNIS VAN VEGHTEN, during his life, and after his decease, of the heir of his body and thence from heir to heir aforesaid, successively, to the end of the world as is before expressed, he, the said THUNIS VAN VEGHTEN, and his said heir, and then from heir to heir, successively, rendering and paying therefor yearly and every year for ever, on the 25th day of March, to his majesty, his heirs or successors, the Quit Rent due for the same, namely, the quantity of three bushels of good winter wheat.
Item - I give and bequeath to my said nephew, THUNIS VAN VEGHTEN, his executors, administrators and assigns for ever, all my household goods, furniture, utensils and implements, namely : Beads, beading lining, woolen, iron, brass, puter, wooden-ware, waggons, slays, ploughs, harrows, plate, cash, money and moneys worth in hand or owing to me, together with all my personal chattels as negro slaves, male and female, horses, cows, sheep, swine, poultry, with all and every other part of my moveable and personal estate wheresoever, and whatsoever none excepted. And lastly I make, constitute, appoint and ordain my before-mentioned nephew THUNIS VAN VEGHTEN, the only and sole executor of this my last will and testament, revoking hereby all former will or wills, testament or testaments by me before this time made, willed or bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this to be my last will and testament.
356
VAN VECHTEN.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal in my dwelling-honse at Catskill, in the county of Albany, the day and year first above written
N. B. - That the rasure in the word (this) was before sign- ing and sealing.
SAMUEL VAN VEGHTON [L. s.]
Signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the said SAMUEL VAN VEGHTEN to be his last will and testament, in the presence of us,
F. SALISBURY, ABRAHAM SALISBURY, WILLIAM SALISBURY.
ALBANY, the 15th day of April, 1741.
Be it remembered that, on the day and year above written, personally appeared before me, Myndert Schuyler, being there- unto delegated and appointed by Francis Salisbury, Abraham Salisbury and William Salisbury, the subscribing witnesses to the within written will of SAMUEL VAN VEGHTEN, and made oath on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, that they saw the said SAMUEL VAN VEGHTEN sign and seal, publish and de- clare the same to be his last will, and that at the time thereof he was of sound disposing mind and memory to the best of their knowledge.
(was signed)
MYNDERT SCHUYLER.
Recorded in Book of Records held for the city and county of Albany, in Book No. F, pages 302, 303 and 304, and I do hereby certify that I find no material rasures or interlineations in the within will, and that I have examined the same with the record thereof. Recorded April 15, 1741.
PHILIP LIVINGSTON, JR., Deputy Clerk.
3.
Cornelis Teunise, alias Keesom, of Papsknee (an island below Albany), son of (1) Teunis Dirckse Van Vechten, married, 1st, Sara Salomonse Goewey, and had probably by his wife
357
VAN VECHTEN.
17 Salomon.
18 Dircks.
Sara Salomonse Goewey, wife of CORNELIS TEUNISE VAN VECHTEN, died. He married, 2d, ANNATJE LEENDERTSE, and had probably by this wife
19 Leendert.
20 Reuben.
Annatje Leendertse, wife of CORNELIS TEUNISE VAN VECHTEN, died. He married, 3d, MARIA LUCASE, widow of Jacob Claase, July 3, 1689, and had
21 Lucas, bp. February 26, 1690.
22 Anna, bp. December 26, 1692.
23 Jannetje, bp. February 13, 1698 ; m. (39) JOHANNES G. LANSING May 12, 1729; buried March 18, 1752.
4.
Gerrit Teunise, of the Colony of Rensselaerwyck, son of (1) Teunis Dirckse Van Vechten, married 1st, Antje Janse, and had
24 Johannes, m. MARIA BOGARDUS, March 19, 1699. (?)
Antje Janse, wife of GERRIT TEUNISE VAN VECHTEN, died. He married 2d, (15) GREETJE VOLCKERT, daughter (1) Volckert Jans Douw, and had
25 Volckert, m. LYDIA TEN BROECK, August 22, 1702. (?)
In 1678 Gerrit Teunise Van Vechten and Jan Conell bought Captain Jan Clute's claim in lands at Catskill. In 1680 he bought of Gerrit Van Slightenhorst a negro man named Dick, for one hundred and fifty pieces of nooten hout ; also another negro named Harry, for 200 skipples of Indian corn, two loads of hay and 24 beavers in hogs. In 1697 he petitioned the governor in favor of his brother who had acci- dentally killed a child of Colonel Schuyler. In his will of March 8, 1680-1 he spoke of his wife Greetje and two sons, Johannes, by his first wife, and Volckert by his second.
5.
Pietertje, daughter of (1) Teunis Dirckse Van Vechten, married Myndert Frederickse Van Y veren,* his second wife, in 1663, and had
* Myndert Frederickse married first Catheryn Burcharts (Burger) by whom he had Frederick, born in 1657; Burger, born in 1660, settled in New York.
355
VAN VECHTEN.
26 Neeltje, m. 1st, (1) MARTIN GERRITSE VAN BERGEN ; 2d, (11) HENDRICK VOLCKERTS DOUW, October 3, 1697.
27 Regnier.
28 Johannes, who settled in Schenectady.
7.
Wyntje, daughter of (2) Dirck Teunise Van Vechten and Jannetje Michielse Vrelant, was born January 17, 1662; married Philip Leendertse Conyn, of Coxsackie, and had
29 Leendert, b. September 9, 1683.
30 Dirck, bp. in Albany April 19, 1685.
31 Agnietje, bp. in Albany February 6, 1687.
32 Antje, bp. in Albany January 27, 1689.
33 Fytje, bp. in Albany January 15, 1693. 34 Philip, bp. in Albany January 29, 1694.
35 Saartje, bp. in Albany July 17, 1698.
36 Johannes, bp. in Albany June 15, 1701. (From Pearson's Early Settlers of Albany.)
S.
Michiel, son of (2) Dirck Teunise Van Vechten and Jannetje Michielse Vrelant, was born November 28, 1663; married, 1st, Marytje Parker, November 21, 1686, and had
37 Marytje, b. October 8, 1687; m., 1st, ALBERT TEN EYCK ; 2d, JEREMIAH FIELD, Febrbary 19, 1712-13.
38 Dirck, b. December, 1689 ; d. October 27, 1693.
Marytje Parker, wife of MICHIEL VAN VECHTEN, died July, 1690. He married 2d, JANNETJE DU MONT, April 2d, 1691, and had
39 Dirck, b. July 15, 1699 ; m., 1st., JUDITH BROCKHOLS ; 2d, BAR- BARA ANTONIDES, November 2, 1719 ; 3d, SARAH MIDDAH, d. November 29, 1781.
40 Jannetje, b. June 12, 1701 ; m. JACOBUS HEGEMAN.
Michiel Van Vechten lived at Rariton, N. J. He made a will dated May 20, 1734.
11.
Teunis, son of (2) Direk Teunise Van Vechten and Jan- netje Michielse Vrelant, was born May 24, 1668; married Cathlyntje (Caatje), daughter of Claas Frederickse Van Pet- ten, of Schenectady, November 28, 1694, and had
VAN VECHTEN. 359
41 Dirck, b. September 12, 1695 ; m. in Kingston, HELENA SEULANT (or SUYBRANT), December 26, 1722 ; d. 1782.
42 Eva, bp. in Albany, May 12, 1700; m. (perhaps) JOHANNES SUYLANT.
43 Jannetje, bp. in Schenectady, May 24, 1702.
44 Maria, bp. in Albany, June 4, 1704.
45 Teunis, b. April 1, 1707 ; m. in Kingston, JUDIKJE TEN BROECK, January 9, 1742 ; d. April 3, 1785.
Teunis Van Vechten died in 1707.
13.
Fytje, daughter of (2) Dirck Teunise Van Vechten and Jannetje Michielse Vrelant, was born December 6, 1671 married (probably) William Janse Casparse Halenbeck, of Coxsackie, May 23, 1697, and had
46 Rachel, bp. in Albany, November 14, 1697.
47 Dirck, bp. in Albany, September 10, 1699.
48 Jan, bp. in Albany, April 27, 1701.
49 Samuel, bp. in Albany, June 13, 1703.
50 Caspar, bp. in Albany, January 7, 1705.
51 Michiel, bp. in Albany March 9, 1707.
52 Abraham, bp. in Albany, January 9, 1709.
53 Jeronimus, bp. in Kingston, June 24, 1711.
54 Jannetje, bp. in Albany, July 5, 1713.
55 Sara, bp. in Albany, September 4, 1715.
25.
Volckert, son of (4) Gerrit Teunisse Van Vechten and (15) Greetje Volckert Douw, his second wife, was born -; married Lydia, daughter of Dirck Wessels Ten Broeck and Christina Van Buren, August 26, 1702, and had
56 Gerrit Teunis, bp. April 25, 1703; m. LENA WITBECK, November 6, 1739.
57 Margarita, bp. March 3, 1706 ; m. GERRIT C. VAN DEN BERGH.
58 Ephraim, m. CATHARINA TEN BROECK, January 3, 1744. bp. June, 12, 1709.
59 Johannes, m. (25) NELETJE BEECKMAN, October, 29, 1734. 60 Dirck, bp. October 19, 1712.
Volckert Van Vechten made a will July 18, 1747, proved April 15, 1747 ; spoke of wife and grandchildren Volckert and Agnietje.
46
360
VAN VECHTEN.
37.
Marytje, daughter of (S) Michiel Van Vechten and his first wife Marytje Parker, was born October 8, 1687, married, 1st, Albert Ten Eyck, and had
61 Jenneken, b. October 6, 1708.
62 Albert, b. April 10 or 11, 1711.
Albert Ten Eyck, first husband of MARYTJE VAN VECHTEN, died. She married, 2d, JEREMIAH FIELD, February 19, 1712-3, and had
63 Jeremiah, b. January 27, 1713-4.
64 John, b. April 5, 1715.
65 Michiel, b. August 24. 1716 ; d. y .
66 Margaret, b. October 2, 1717.
67 Mary, b. September 8, 1719 ; d. y.
68 Mary, b. October 19, 1720.
69 Michiel, b. February 4, 1722-3.
70 Benjamin, b, February 19, 1724-5.
71 Teunis, b. - -; m. MARGARET FISHER, March 28, 1764.
39.
Dirck, son of (8) Michiel Van Vechten and his second wife, Jannetje Du Mont, was born July 15, 1699 ; married, 1st, Judith, daughter of Anthony Brockhols, captain and com mander of the military forces of New York, and Susanna Schrick, step-daughter of William Teller, Sr. (?). Probably no children. He married, 2d, Barbara, daughter of Johannes Antonides, November 2, 1719. Probably no children. He married, 3d, Sarah Middah, and had
72 Dirck, b. May 5, 1760; d. in infancy.
73 Margaret, b. November 24, 1762; m. JOSEPH CRANE ; d. May 27, 1812.
74 Michiel, b. November 13, 1766; m. ELIZABETH LA GRANGE, April 10, 1787 ; d. December 29, 1831.
75 Elizabeth, b. September 1, 1769 ; m. GEORGE DAVIS, M. D., 1794 ; d. October 30, 1795.
Dirck Van Vechten died November 29, 1781.
40.
Jannetje, daughter of (S) Michiel Van Vechten and his second wife Jannetje Du Mont, was born June 12, 1701 ; married Jacobus Hegeman, and had
361
VAN VECHTEN.
76 Dennis, m. AALTJE
77 Jacobus (James).
41.
Dirck, of Loonenburg (Athens), son of (11) Teunis Van Vechten and Cathlyntje (Caatje) Van Petten, was born Sep- tember 12, 1695; married in Kingston Helena, daughter of Huybartus Seulant (or Suybrant), October 25, 1722, and had
78 Teunis, b. April 26, 1724 ; m. LEYBE, daughter of Albert Van Loon, July 8, 1747 ; d. September 1, 1792 ; no ch.
79 Hubartus, b. October 30 or 31, 1725 ; m. MARIA SPOOR, November 25,1749.
80 Catarina, b. February 8, 1727-8 ; m. LAMBERT VAN VALKEN- BERG .
81 Elizabetha, b. Marcn 16, 1731.
82 Eva, b. January 7, 1735 ; m. ABRAHAM VAN VALKENBERG.
83 Sara, b. July 29, 1729 ; m. ISAAC KALYER (COLLIER).
84 Maria, b. January 21, 1733 ; m. NICHOLAS SPOOR, of Schenectady.
85 Jannetje, b. August 27, 1738 ; m. ISAAC WITBECK.
Dirck Van Vechten, of Loonenberg, died in 1782.
45.
Teunis, of Catskill, son of (11) Teunis Van Vechten and Cathlyntje (Caatje) Van Petten, was born April 1, 1707 ; married in Kingston Judikje, daughter of Jacob Ten Broeck, of Kingston, January 9, 1742, and had
86 Samuel, b. September 28, 1742 ; m. SARA Van ORDEN, in 1781; d. . February 12, 1813.
87 Jacob, b. September 18, 1747 ; m. ELSIE STAATS, January 21, 1787 ; no ch ; d. April 30, 1806.
88 Teunis Teunissen, b. April 24, 1749 ; m. ELIZABETH DE WAN- DELAER ; d. December 7, 1817.
89 Elizabeth, b. October 6, 1757 ; m. HEZEKIAH VAN ORDEN, June, 2 or 9, 1782 ; d. February 17, 1813.
90 Abraham, b. December 5, 1762; m. CATHARINA SCHUYLER, May 20, 1784 ; d. January 6, 1837.
Teunis Van Vechten, of Catskill, died April 3, 1785.
56.
Gerrit Teunis, son of (25) Volckert Van Vechten and Lydia Ten Broeck, was baptised April 25, 1703; married Lena Witbeck, November 6, 1739, and had
362
VAN VECHTEN.
91 Volckert, bp. July 27. 1740 ; d. v.
92 Agnietje, bp. March 27. 1743.
93 Volckert, bp. January 10, 1746.
Gerrit Teunis Van Vechten was buried March 12, 1747. 58.
Ephraim, son of (25) Volckert Van Vechten and Lydia Ten Broeck, was baptised June 12, 1709; married Catharina Ten Broeck, January 3, 1744, and had
94 Lydia, bp. October 19, 1744.
Ephraim Van Vechten was a twin with JOHANNES. He died in New Brunswick December 10, 1746.
59.
Johannes, son of (25) Volckert Van Vechten and Lydia Ten Broeck, was baptised June 12, 1709 ; married (25) Neletje, daughter of (3) Johannes M. Beeckman and (6) Eva V'inhagen (bp. April 27, 1710), October 29, 1734, and had
95 Volckert, bp. August 25, 1735 ; m. (29) JANNETJE (JANE ) HUN, by license, dated November 27, 1762.
96 Johannes, bp. June 19, 1737; d. y.
97 Johannes, bp. June 24, 1739.
98 Lydia, bp. August 16, 1741.
99 Ephraim, bp. April 24, 1743.
100 Eva, bp. May 5, 1745.
101 Hendricus, bp. March 29, 1747.
Johannes Van Vechten was a merchant doing business in Albany, N. Y. He made a will May 2, 1743, proved April 6, 1749. He was buried December 25, 1746.
69.
Michiel, son of (39) Dirck Van Vechten and his third wife Sarah Middah, was born November 13, 1766 ; married Elizabeth La Grange, April 10, 1787, and had
102 Dirck. 103 Elizabeth. 104 Sarah. 105 Maria.
363
VAN VECHTEN.
106 Margaret. 107 Sophia. 108 Jane. 109 Richard.
Michiel Van Vechten died December 29, 1831.
79.
Hubartus, son of (41) Dirck Van Vechten, of Loonen- berg (Athens), and Helena Seulant or Suybrant, was born October 30 or 31, 1725 ; married Maria Spoor, November 25, 1749, and had
110 Helena, b. February 5, 1751.
111 Dirck, b. October 25, 1753 ; n. RACHEL SPOOR, March 5, 1780 ; d. October 25, 1842.
112 Eva, b. March 4, 1755.
113 Annaatje, b. April 17, 1757.
114 Lena, bp. in Catskill, August 20, 1758.
115 Johannes, bp. in Coxsackie, December 7, 1760.
116 Maria, bp. in Catskill, January 6, 1765 ; m. JOHANNES VEEDER, of Schenectady.
Hubartus Van Vechten died in Otsego county, N. Y., October 25, 1842.
86.
Samuel, son of (45) Teunis Van Vechten, of Catskill, and Judikje Ten Broeck, was born September 28, 1742; married Sara Van Orden in 1781, and had
117 Teunis, b. June 18, 1782 ; d. April 9, 1783.
118 Teunis, b. January 20, 1784 ; m. RACHEL KIERSTED, October 10, 1813 ; d. January 21, 1852.
119 John, b. November 24, 1785; m., 1st, ELEANOR, daughter of William Schuneman, in 1812 ; 2d, MARIA, daughter of William G. Schuneman ; d. February 3, 1879.
120 Jacob, b. July 31, 1788; m., 1st, CATHARINE V. W., daughter of Rev. John M. Mason, June 18, 1816 ; 2d, MARIA, daughter of Abraham Van Dyck, of Coxsackie, November 2, 1824; d. September 14, 1871.
121 Benjamin, b. November 28, 1790 ; d. December 5, 1790.
122 Abraham, b. October 13, 1791 ; m. (145) GERTRUDE, daughter of (90) Abraham Van Vechten and Catharina Schuyler, and widow of (136) Samuel Van Orden ; living in 1882 at Catskill, N. Y. 123 Peter, b. February 5, 1794 ; d. s. August 28, 1854.
364
VAN VECHTEN.
124 Samuel," b. August 4, 1796 ; m. LOUISA VAN WYCK, of Fishkill, October, 1824; d. November 3, 1882.
125 William Washington, b. January 13, 1799 ; d. s. August 25, 1845. 126 Catharine J., b. January 9, 1802.
Samuel Van Vechten, of Catskill, died February 12, 1813.
88.
Teunis Teunissen, son of (45) Teunis Van Vechten, of Catskill, and Judikje Ten Broeck, was born April 24, 1749 ; married Elizabeth De Wandelaer, daughter of Peter De Wandelaar and his second wife Anna (Bogardus) Van Vechten, widow, and had
127 Judith, b. October 30, 1777 ; m. GEORGE PEARSON, December 12, 1808.
128 Peter, b. July 10, 1780 ; d. June 3, 1795.
129 Annaatje, b. November 7, 1782 ; d. May 31, 1817.
130 Teunis, b. November 4, 1785 ; m. CATHARINE C. GANSEVOORT, December 4, 1810.
131 John, b. March 23, 1788.
Teunis Teunissen Van Vechten was a merchant and occu- pied a store on the west corner of Broadway and Maiden Lane, Albany, in 1805. He held the office of commissary in the staff of Governor Morgan Lewis during the revolutionary war. He died December 7, 1817.
ELIZABETH DE WANDELAER, widow of TEUNIS TEUNISSEN VAN VECHTEN, died December 1, 1831, æ. 77 years, 11 months, 14 days.
89.
Elizabeth, daughter of (45) Teunis Van Vechten, of Catskill, and Judikje Ten Broeck, was born October 6, 1757 ; married Hezekiah Van Orden, June 2 or 9, 1782, and had
132 Engeltje, b. October 27, 1783; d. November 19, 1783.
* The Reverend Samnel Van Vechten, one of the oldest clergymen of the Dutch Reformed Church. dled Friday, at his residence In East Fishkill, Dutchess county. He was a native of Catskill. and was 87 years old. He was graduated from Union College in 1818. The late Bishop Potter. of Pennsylvania, was one of his class- mates. After leaving college, Mr Van Vecten went to Richmond, Va., with the Intention of engaging in mercanthe pursuits. He changed his mind, however, and began a course of study in Rutgers Theological Seminary. from which he was gradu- ated in 18222. He was pastor of a church in BloomIngburg, and subsequently in Fort Plain, Montgomery county, in this State. His son Abraham Van Wyck Van Vechten, who married a daughter of Robert Lane and Effie Marion Van Zandt, is a lawyer, and resides In New York city.
365
VAN VECHTEN.
133 Teunis, b. November 4, 1784; d. April 17, 1803.
134 Engeltje (Angelica), b. May 19, 1786 ; m. ELIAS, son of Jeremiah Overbagh, September 27, 1801 ; d. September 2, 1863.
135 Jacob, b. September 5, 1788; m. HARRIET, daughter of Philip Pieterse Schuyler, March 17, 1815; d. March 25, 1833.
136 Samuel, b. November 5, 1790 ; m. (145) GERTRUDE, daughter of (90) Abraham Van Vechten and Catharina Schuyler, her first husband ; d. July 20, 1822.
Elizabeth Van Vechten, wife of HEZEKIAH VAN ORDEN, died February 17, 1813.
90.
Abraham, son of (45) Teunis Van Vechten, of Catskill, and Judikje Ten Broeck, was born December 5, 1762; mar- ried Catharina, daughter of Philip Pieterse Schuyler, May 20, 1784, and had
137 Judith, b. March 9, 1785 ; d. July 27, 1799.
138 Philip, b. July 14, 1786 ; d. s. February 3, 1814, æ. 27 years and . 7 months.
139 Teunis A., b. December 17, 1787 ; d. s. April 3, 1811.
140 Anna, b. July 30, 1789 ; d. April 15, 1876. ,
141 Elizabeth (Eliza), b. May 3, 1791 ; resided for many years in Second street, Albany, where she died single February 15, 1878.
142 Geertruy, b. March 14, 1793 ; d. February 25, 1794.
143 Samuel A., b. November 28, 1794 ; d. December 14, 1824.
144 Harmanus, b. July 29, 1796 ; d. March 29, 1802.
145 Gertrude, b. July 1, 1798 ; m., 1st, (136) SAMUEL VAN ORDEN ; he died July 20, 1822; 2d, (122) ABRAHAM VAN VECHTEN; d. December 26, 1842.
146 Judith, b. May 25, 1800 ; d. June 6, 1800.
147 Jacob Ten Broeck, b. May 10, 1801 ; m. CAROLINE C. ROORBACH ; d. January 20, 1841. She died December 6, 1852.
148 Judith, b. May 22, 1803 ; d. June 27, 1825.
149 Maria H., b. August 28, 1805 ; d. March 16, 1806.
150 Harriet M., b. March 24, 1807 ; m. W. LEHMANN.
151 Anna, b. -; m. WALTER VAN VEGHTON, and had
1 Cornelis, b. - -; d. July 14, 1814, æ. 11 days.
2 Abraham O., -; d. July 13, 1816, æ. 15 years, 8 months and 8 days.
Catharine Schuyler, wife of ABRAHAM VAN VECHTEN, died in Albany September 10, 1820, æ. 54 years, 5 months and 18 days.
HON. ABRAHAM VAN VECHTEN died January 6, 1837.
366
VAN VECHTEN.
"This distinguished lawyer and statesman was the youngest son of TEUNIS VAN VECHTEN and JUDITH TEN BROECK. Few men have been called to so extensive a sphere of usefulness and filled it so long and well as ABRAHAM VAN VECHTEN. He en- tered upon the scenes of active life shortly after the Revolu- tionary war. He received his elementary education at a public school in Esopus, which has been the nursery of many of our distinguished men. He pursued his professional studies under the direction of the late Chancellor Lansing, and began to practice law in the county of Montgomery, but was soon in- vited to occupy a more extensive field in the city of Albany. The high places of the bar were then filled by a gifted race of advocates, among whom were Hamilton, Harrison, Burr, Jones and Livingston. But the brilliancy of the bar could not cast young VAN VECHTEN in the shade. He soon ranked among his illustrious seniors as an equal and a competitor for the highest professional eminence. Untiring in his efforts, the powers of his highly-gifted mind were continually developed and expanded. His intellect was formed to grapple with the most abstruse and difficult of judicial investigations, and he early inured himself to the most intense application of mental industry. In acuteness and the ready comprehension of any subject presented for his investigation, he had few equals. And nature seemed to have furnished him with powers emi- nently adapted to the illustration of legal principles. He made no display of legal lore, his learning seemed to be incorporated with his thoughts. What he had, once read was well digested and remained ever ready for application. A large portion of his life was spent in the discussion of legal questions in our highest tribunals of law and equity; there he was always listened to with profound attention by our most eminent judges. His arguments were calculated to elucidate and instruct, and greatly to aid the tribunals to which they were addressed, in forming correct conclusions. His style was remarkable for purity, perspienity and strength. His train of thought was unimpassioned, yet earnest and forcible. His talents were too conspicuous to allow him to confine his efforts to the bar. He was repeatedly chosen to represent his fellow citizens in both
367
VAN VECHTEN.
branches of the Legislature. The Senate chamber was the theatre of some of his highest intellectual efforts. As a mem- ber of the court for the correction of errors, he has left behind him enduring monuments of his legal wisdom. For a number of years he filled the office of Attorney-General with distin- guished ability. At an early period of his life a seat on the bench of the Supreme Court was offered him by Governor Jay, a similar offer was made to him at a later period. He de- clined these proffered honors, preferring the labors of the bar as more congenial to his habits and feelings. The causes in our books of reports, in which he took part as counsel, numer- ous as they are, give but a faint idea of the amount of pro- fessional labor performed by him. For more than half a century his brilliant mind was constantly shedding its light over the jurisprudence of the State. The bar had long de- lighted to accord to him the highest honors it could bestow. To the younger members of the profession he had greatly en- deared himself by his kindness and courteous manners, and by all he was venerated as an illustrious model of professional excellence. In his daily consultations with his clients he was emphatically a peacemaker. It was his constant habit to advise the settlement of disputes whenever it was practicable. He allowed no sordid motives to influence his advice nor to bias his mind in giving his opinions. He was Recorder of the city of Albany from 1797 to 1808; State Senator from 1798 to 1805, and from 1816 to 1820 ; member of Assembly from 1805 to 1815; Attorney-General of the State for the year 1810, and was again appointed in 1813, and served two years, and was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1821. His char- acter as a citizen in the private walks of life afforded a model of excellence. He constantly displayed in his intercourse with his neighbors and acquaintances the most amiable social qualities which adorn the human heart. To his other traits of character was added one which is justly deemed of far the most impor- tance, he was a sincere believer in the Saviour of the World, and a venerated member of the Dutch Reformed church. In her judicatories his paternal counsels were listened to with reverence, as eminently calculated to promote the peace and
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