USA > New York > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and family history of New York, Volume I > Part 20
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Robert Embree was probably the father of John Embree who married Sarah, daughter of Francis Doughty. She was born in 1703. Her grandfather, Rev. Francis Doughty, is in- separably connected with the founding of the town of Flushing and Newtown. His sons Elias and Francis were very prominent in onr early annals. Francis Doughty married Margaret, widow of Rev. John Moore, of Newtown. She was a daughter of Edward Howell, whose name must ever be famous as the founder of Southampton, the first English town in the province of New York, and the ancestor whose descendants may be numbered by the thousand. Among the children of John and Sarah Em- bree was a son. John Embree, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Lawrence and Hannah Bowne. She was born April 15, 1720. Their son, Effingham Embree, was born September 24, 1759, and died December 3, 1817. He married his cousin, Mary Lawrence (daughter of John Lawrence and Ann Burling). She was born October 17, 1763, and died September 16, 1831.
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They were married December 26, 1780. In the early part of the last century, few men in New York were better known or more prominent than "Effingham Embree, Gentleman," as his name so frequently occurs in the records of those days. Shortly after the Revolutionary war he was appointed by congress to bring up the standard of the gold and silver coin then in cir- culation which has been badly sweatted and clipped during that war. In 1817 he purchased a large tract of land in what is now the heart of the city, but then in the suburbs. This was a part of the ancient Bayard Farm, and extended from "Meadow street" (now Grand street) to below "Sugar Loaf" street (now Franklin street), and from Broadway to the land of Trinity Clnich, so famous as the bone of contention with the heirs of Anneke Jans. By the purchase of this tract he became one of the largest land owners in the city. Its value now is immense, but it cost then but a few thousand pounds. While a resident of the city and one of its most prominent citizens, his country place was at Flushing, Long Island, and the mansion built by him yet remains as a very interesting relic of the past. He was also the owner of many thousand acres of land in Ken- tueky, Pennsylvania and the northern part of New York state. The origin of the name of Effingham will be given in another place, and this name has continued in the family for four genera- tions.
The children of Effingham and Mary ( Lawrence) Embree were: 1. John Lawrence, born February 21, 1783, married De- borah Lawrence, and had a son George W., born in 1844. His son Frank L., is a resident in New York. 2. Effingham L., born October 12, 1791, married Eliza Hartman, and had two sons. George and Edward. The latter lived in Fairfield, New Jersey. and died in 1905. The former is now living in South Carolina. 3. Lawrence Effingham, born July 9, 1794, died November 2, Vol. I --- 21
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1849. He married Sarah Robinson, daughter of Walter Frank- lin, JJuly 9, 1821. They had eight children, all of whom died in infancy, except Robert Cornell Embree, born January 22, 1824, in the old family mansion at Flushing and died September 14, 1902, in the same town; Mary Ann, born Jannary 24, 1829, mar- ried Charles Townsend, of a famous Long Island family, and had two daughters, Sarah Franklin, wife of Dr. Richard Sea- man, and Mary Embree, who died unmarried at an early age. 4. Jane L., born April 12, 1797, married JJohn Wines. 5. Mary Ann, born July 13, 1799, died ummarried in 1824. 6. Hannah, born February 19, 1806, married Gilbert Hieks.
Robert Cornell Embree married Phebe Seaman Birdsall, danghter of James F. Birdsall, July 8, 1852, at New York City. She was born July 4, 1830, and died December 10, 1904. Their children were: 1. Caroline, born June 1, 1853, died January 3, 1860. 2. Lawrence Effingham, born May 17, 1856. 3. James Robert, born May 23, 1859, died March 21, 1892. He was a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, and Charity and New York Hospitals, and until about a year before his death was actively engaged in the prac- tice of his profession. 4. Cornelia, born JJuly 1, 1861, is now liv- ing at Flushing. She married Francis J. J. de Raismes, April 4, 1883, and has three children, Francis Embree, Robert Embree and Embree de Raismes. 5. Edith Franklin, born July 11, 1863.
Lawrence Effingham Embree, the present representative of the name went with his parents to Flushing about the year 1860 and has since that time made that place his residence. His father, Robert Cornell Embree, began life as a civil engineer, and helped to build the old Croton reservoir on Fifth avenue, and was also associated with Captain Blunt on the United States coast survey. He afterwards studied law in the office of Peter Augustus Jay and Hamilton Fish. After the death of Mr. Jay,
Effingham Embree.
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and as Mr. Fish had been made secretary of state, he formed a partnership with Walter Rutherford, who was his fellow clerk, under the firm name of Rutherford and Embree. This continned until the death of Mr. Rutherford. He was counsel for many distinguished men, and as exeentor settled many estates of great valne.
His son, Lawrence Effingham Embree, obtained his early education at the famous Flushing Institute, and later was in the class of '78 in Columbia College, graduated from the law school in 1879, and was for some years in the office of Moore, Hand and Bonney, of which the learned genealogist, Charles R. Moore, was the head. In 1888 he joined his father, their office being at 135 Broadway, where he still continues, the personnel of the firm being Finek, Embree & Cobb. Mr. Embree is a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, New York State Bar Association, Queens County Bar Association, The Union Club, New York Yacht Club, St. Nicholas Society, Dwight Alumni Association and Oakland Golf Club of Bayside, Long Island. In religion he adheres to the principles of his Quaker ancestors, and in politics belongs to the Republican party, but has never been or sought to be what is commonly known as a politician.
It remains to add a short notice of the lines of descent from prominent families of the early days.
WILLETT DESCENT.
Captain Thomas Willett was born in England, 1611, died at Barrington, Massachusetts, Angust, 1674. In 1651 he was a mag -. istrate of Plymouth and was the first to inform Governor Peter Stuyvesant of the coming of the English fleet under Richard Nicoll in 1664. After the surrender on June 12, 1665, he was ap- pointed the first mayor of New York. When the Dutch recapt- ured the city, his property was confiscated, but was soon restored.
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He was buried at Rehoboth, or Swansea, in the town of Seeconek, Massachusetts. A plain tombstone bears this inscription : " 1674. Ilere lies the Body of ve Honbk Thomas Willett, Esq. Who died August ye 4th in ye 64th year of his age. Who was the First Mayor of New York and twice did sustain ye Place." "1669. Here lyeth the body of the virtnous Mrs. Mary Willett wife to Thomas Willett Esq. Who died January ye 8 about ye 65th year of her age Daughter to ve Honble JJohn Brown Esq." Thomas Willett married Mary Brown, July 6, 1636. They were the parents of thirteen children.
Andrew Willett, the twelfth child, was born October 5, 1655, and died in 1712. He married. May 30, 1682, Ann, daugh- ter of Governor William Coddington, of Rhode Island, and had five children. Of these, Mary Willett married Joseph Carpenter, 1711. Their daughter, Phebe Carpenter, married Daniel Willets. Their son, Jacob Willets, married Hannah Powell, and their daughter Phebe Willets, married Elijah Seaman, a direct descendant of Captain John Seaman. Their danghter, Avis Seaman, married James Ferris Birdsall, whose daughter, Phebe Seaman Birdsall, married Robert Cornell Embree. Mr. Law- rence Effingham Embree is therefore a descendant of the ninth generation from the first mayor of New York.
Of Jacob Willets it is said: He died at his homestead in Islip. He always wore a drab cloth suit, long tailed coat, knee breeches and buckles on his shoes. In his old age he was blind and was led by his great-granddaughter Phebe." (Mrs. Robert C. Embree.)
CODDINGTON LINE.
Governor William Coddington married An Brindley. Their daughter Ann, born July 26, 1663, married Andrew Willett, as above.
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LAWRENCE LINE. .
William Lawrence married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Smith, the patentee and founder of Smithtown, Long Island. Their oldest son, Joseph Lawrence, married Mary, daughter of Sir Richard Townley. Their son, Richard Law- renee, married Hannah, daughter of Samnel Bowne. Their daughter, Elizabeth Lawrence, married John Embree. Joseph Lawrence had also a daughter, Dorothy, who married Francis Howard, who on December 8, 1731, was made first earl of Effingham. Hence the name Effingham, was assumed by the Lawrence and Embree families.
FRANKLIN LINE.
Thomas Franklin married, at Westbury meeting house, 25th of 1st month, 1703, Mary, daughter of Nathaniel and Martha Pearsall. They had sons John, Walter and Samuel. They were all prominent merchants in New York.
John Franklin had a son, Walter Franklin, born June 15, 1773. He married Sarah Morris, and had three children: Sarah Robinson, Walter and Townsend Underhill. Sarah Robinson Franklin was born JJuly 12, 1798, died January 9, 1864. She married Effingham Lawrence Embree, July 9, 1821.
Walter Franklin (son of Thomas) was one of the committee of one hundred chosen by the freeholders, May 23, 1775. Being very successful he retired with a large fortune. He married Ilannah, daughter of Daniel Bowne. Their children were: Marie, wife of Governor De Witt Clinton; Hannah, wife of George Clinton; and Sarah, wife of John L. Norton. Walter Franklin died June 8, 1780. Ilis widow married Hon. Samuel Osgood. In 1789, Mr. Osgood and Mr. William Der (who married "Lady Kitty," daughter of William, Lord Sterling, a famons general in the Revolution) were chosen to select
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a house in New York for the occupation of President Washington. They chose the house of Walter Franklin on Cherry street. Mrs. Osgood and Mrs. Duer superintended the furnishing. A letter written at the time by Sarah Robinson, a niece of Walter Franklin, states "The whole of the first and second stories are papers, and the floors covered with the richest kind of Turkey and Wilton carpet." It was one of the finest houses in New York at that time.
FAMILY OF SANXAY.
This family of Huguenot ancestry is descended from Rev. Jacques Sanxay, who was born about the middle of the seven- teenth century at or near Taillebourg in the Province of Nain- tonge, France. He died. a Huguenot exile, at Exeter, England, about 1793. His son, Rev. James Sanxay, was born at Exeter, November 2, 1690. and died April 2, 1768. He married Anna Badger, daughter of Rev. Edward Badger, Rector of Bedworth, Warwickshire. She died July 3, 1758. They were the parents of John Sanxay, born September, 1746. at Teteott, Devonshire. England, died March 10, 1811. He was the first and only one to emigrate to America, came from England to New York, prior to 1773, and was there married to Sarah De Voe, by Rev. Dr. In- glis, rector of Trinity Church, February 14, 1775. His wife, Sarah De Voe ( De Vaux) Sanxay, born December 8, 1756, died February 14, 1801, belonged to the De Vaux family which fled from La Rochelle, France, and went to Manheim, Germany, which was afterward a portion of France. From thence he came to America and settled at New Rochelle. Their son, Frederic Sanxay, was born in New York, October 27. 1791. and died there, February 7, 1875. He married Mary 27, 1791, and died there, February 7, 1875. He married Mary Whipple. March 15, 1818. She was born February 2, 1800, and
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died June 10, 1827. Their son, Theodore Sanxay, was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, March 12, 1819, and died December 15, 1892. He married Hetty Ann Perry, May, 1842. She was born Jann- ary 3, 1818, died March 20, 1896. Their son, Theodore Freder- ie Sanxay. was born March 12, 1843. at Iowa City, lowa.
Theodore Frederic Sanxay, the present representative of this family, received his early education at private schools and at the Cleveland Institute, Cleveland, Ohio. He entered Prince- ton University and graduated as A. B. in the class of 1864, and later received from the said university the degree of A. M., and the degree of LL. B. from the University of Albany, where he had been a law student in the same class with the late William MeKinley. He commenced the practice of his profession in New York, and had an extended practice for several years, when failing health compelled him to relax his efforts. He was at first connected with the late Skeffington Sanxay, Esq .. a grand- son of John Sanxay, whose learning and ability gave him great distinction at the bar, and whose eccentricities are recalled by many stories concerning him. One of these refers to a certain case where his opponent was the late E. W. Stoughton, after- wards United States minister to Russia. The latter was a large man of most distinguished appearance and lofty bearing, which was greatly emphasized by having long curling locks of hair which stood out with great profusion about a head, large and massive. On a call of the case in one of the appellate courts, Mr. Sanxay announced his own readiness to proceed, but said that his opponent. "one Stuffton," as he pronounced the name, did not appear to be in court.
Mr. Sanxay from boyhood had been deeply interested in polities. became an ardent Republican. became well known as a campaign speaker, and was a member of the New York Repub- lican County Committee in the early seventies, when an attempt
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was made to detammanyize the party by a reorganization. The leadership of the party fell into the hands of the late President Chester A. Arthur, then collector of the port, but experience as to the practical side of polities gave him no desire for it as a pursuit. The chairman of a campaign committee, when giving final instruction as to what he desired, said: "I want to impress it upon all our speakers, to speak right to the passions of the people." Mr. Sanxay, with better judgment, had always tried to do the opposite. He has ever been a Republican, but of the inde- pendent type, and has never held or sought political office.
In religious association, Mr. Sanxay has ever held to the faith of his Huguenot ancestors. His direct affiliations have been with the Presbyterians, though he has sometimes attended the Dutch Reformed church. In social affairs Mr. Sanxay is connected with the Union League Club and the Princeton Uni- versity. He is a member of the New York Historical Society, is one of the Sons of the American Revolution and is one of the di- rectors of the New York Ophthalmic Hospital.
Jacques Sanxay, the ancestor of this honored family, was the son of a well-to-do merchant, who lived at Taillebourg (Saintonge), France, who belonged to the Sanxay family, which was so actively identified with the Reformed church at Saintes. One of the most distinguished members of that family was Pierre Sanxay, the poet. He was pastor of the church "De La Parole de Dieu" at Saintes from 1570 to 1576. He was also the intimate friend of Bernard Palissy. the artist, philosopher and martyr. and wrote the introductory verses to his book, entitled, "A Receipt Veritable."
As soon as Jacques Sanxay was old enough, he was sent to Madeleine College at Bordeaux, an institution controlled by the Jesuits. but distinguished for its training in the classical lan- gnages. Here he won the prize for eloquence, and the Jesuits
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sought his father's consent to bring him into their society. His father thereupon withdrew him from the college and sent him to London, where he remained nearly two years. His father having died, he returned to France and entered the Protestant College at Saumur, where he graduated with degree of M. A. He became a minister and served the church at St. Jean D'Angle, and afterwards at Tonnay Boutonne. Saintonge. Upon the Revocation of the Ediet of Nantes, he was ordered to close his church and desist from preaching. which he declined to do. Dragoons were quartered in his house and he was confined for six months in prison, and was released npon condition of leaving France. He therefore went to England and became the pastor of St. Olave's Church, composed of large members of refugees, at Exeter. and there he remained until his death. He left two sons, James and Daniel. Both were gradnated from Oxford and he- came clergymen of the Church of England. James was rector of Tetcott, where John, his son, who afterwards came to Amer- ica, was born. The latter was a Loyalist during the Revolution, and went with his family to Shelburne, Nova Scotia, but re- turned in 1783. He was a Mason and one of the petitioners for a charter for Trinity Lodge. No. 10, organized in 1795.
The family arms are engraved on some of the burial mon- ments in Europe. but have not been used in the United States.
THE KENYON FAMILY.
Of the families bearing this name there are several dis- tinet branches who came to this country at different times, the oldest of them emigrating prior to 1657 and settling at Kings- ton, Rhode Island, and their descendants have ever since been identified with the history of that state.
The first settlers appear to have been three brothers, John. James and Roger Kenyon. John, the eldest, was born in 1657.
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and died in 1732, at Westerly, where the latter part of his life was spent. He married and his children were: John, married Elizabeth Remington; James, Ensel, Joseph, David and JJona- than. James, the second brother, died in Westerly, Rhode Island, in 1724. He and his wife Ruth were the parents of seven children, as follows: James, Thomas, Ebenezer, John, Peter. Sarah and Ruth. Roger, the third brother, died in New Shoreham. By his marriage to Mary Ray one child was born, Roger, 1685.
Samuel Kenyon, probably a descendant of James Kenyon, one of the pioneer settlers, was the father of a son, Elijah, who married Penelope Perry, a member of a family well known in the annals of our county, and their children were: Lewis. Simeon P., Beriah, Perry, Elijah and Samnel. Of these chil- dren Lewis, the eldest, married Nancy Sherman and they were the parents of eleven children: Abiel, Lucy, Pamelia, Elijah, Sarah, Isaac, Randolph, Mary Ann, Hannah, Susan, Charles. The family resided at Kenyon, Rhode Island. Lewis Kenyon died in 1839. Simeon Perry, the second son, born July 13, 1788, died July 5, 1861. He married Sarah Clarke, who bore him the following children : Simeon, September 26, 1810; Lavinia, March 30, 1814; Halsey N., March 25, 1816; Angusta M., September 1, 1817; James Alfred, September 2, 1819, mentioned herein- after; Mary Ann, August 1, 1821.
James Alfred Kenyon, fifth child of Simeon Perry and Sarah (Clarke) Kenyon, was born in Clairmont, Columbia coun- ty, New York, September 2, 1819. He engaged in business at Preston-Hollow, Albany county, New York. Later he removed to Delaware county, New York, and there was engaged in manu- facturing leather up to 1884, after which date he resided in Waverly, New York, where his death occurred July. 1895. He married (first). April 28. 1847, Olivia HI. Devereux, who died
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June 9, 1859; no children. Married (second), June 7, 1865. Ruth Adaline Tanner, and their children are: Addie Olive, born June 22, 1866; George Alfred, born September 3, 1868. died October 18, 1869; James Henry, born July 9, 1872.
Dr. James Hemy Kenyon was born at Cannonsville. Dela- ware county, New York. July 9, 1872. His elementary train- ing was acquired in the schools of Cannonsville and Waverly. In 1888 he entered the preparatory school at Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and in 1890 Princeton University, graduating from that institution in Jume, 1894. He matriculated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, and in June, 1898, graduated from that institution with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. From July, 1898, to July, 1902, he served as interne of the New York Hospital. In the fall of 1902 he engaged in the active practice of his profession in the city of New York, and in addition thereto serves in the capacity of assistant surgeon at Trinity Hospital, and as assistant surgeon of the out-patient department of the New York Hospital and at the Vanderbilt Clinie. Dr. Kenyon is a member of the County Medical Society, Academy of Medicine, and the Society of the Alumni of the New York Hospital.
Kingstown, which was the original seat of this family, was erected as the seventh town in the colony in 1674. Among the many interesting relies of the past, with which Rhode Island abounds, is Coronation Rock upon which Queen Esther, the last ruler of the Narragansett Indians, was crowned in 1770. This rock, now bearing a suitable commemorative tablet, stands on the Kenyon farm on the old Pequot Path in Clarkstown.
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ISAAC HENDRIX.
Isaac Hendrix, whose name introduces this review, be- longed to a class and type of men who during his day and genera- tion were leaders in the industrial and commercial affairs of New York City. Isaac Hendrix was born at Piermont, Rock- land county, New York, Jannary 12, 1813. His parents were llenry and Maria (Onderdonk) Hendrix, the latter being a de- scendant from one of the three Onderdonk brothers, who emi- grated from Holland and settled along the Hudson river during early colonial days near where Piermont is now located in Rock- land county, New York. The Onderdonk ancestors, who were among the early colonial settlers along the Hudson river, owned a large traet of land which, family tradition states, was situated between Piermont and Nyack, where some of the old homes still stand in their original form.
In the Onderdonk family record, in possession of Miss Emma Hendrix, appears the following record: 1. Garret J. Onderdonk, born October 25, 1784. 2. Mary Onderdonk, born September 29, 1785. 3. Catharine, born December 29, 1796. 4. Isaac, born September 21, 1801. 5. Fanny, born November 26, 1805.
Henry Hendrix, father of Isaac Hendrix, was a farmer by occupation and was a worthy representative of the sturdy yeomanry of his day. He married Mary Onderdonk and there were born to them two sons and two daughters, as follows: John and Tiney (twins), born June 12, 1809; John married and had one son and one daughter, Isaac and Caroline Hendrix; the latter married Buckhont and now resides at Nyack, New York. The next in order of birth was Jane, born July 7. 1815, who did not marry. Isaac, see forward.
Isaac Hendrix received his educational training in the schools of the neighborhood as was the enstom among farmer's
Tatar Hendrix
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY
sons in those days. During his early manhood years he came to New York City and, being possessed of a strong ambition and desire to succeed in life, applied himself diligently to whatever he undertook to do, and by perseverance and economy saved sufficient capital to engage in business. In 1854 he associated himself with Henry Du Bois and engaged in the dock building trade under the firm name of Du Bois & Hendrix. Under the well directed efforts of both these gentlemen the interests of the firm were rapidly advanced, and they soon became well and favorably known as the leading doek builders of New York harbor. This business arrangement was successfully continued up to 1878, and during this entire period of time the name of Du Bois & Hendrix was everywhere regarded as a synonym for honorable business methods.
In addition to his extensive interests in the dock building trade, Mr. Hendrix was extensively interested in other industria! and financial enterprises in New York City. He was for many years a director in the Greenwich Bank on Hudson street, a member of the board of trustees of the New York Savings Bank at Eighth avenue and Fourteenth street; for some time was a member of the board of directors of the East River National Bank at the corner of Broadway and Great Jones street: for a number of years was a director and president of one of the New York fire insurance companies, whose affairs were finally liquidated under the direction of Mr. Hendrix; and for a num- ber of years served in the board of directors and was the vice- president of the Twenty-third Street and Christopher Street Railway Company. During his broad and varied experience with industrial and financial enterprises, Mr. Hendrix always displayed splendid business ability and a high order of social qualities, which won for him the esteem and confidence of many of the leading business men of his day. He was frequently
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