USA > New York > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and family history of New York, Volume II > Part 25
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nearly all of the Catholic charitable societies. He is considered an authority on labor questions, and is often called upon to act as arbitrator or expert in disputes of this character. He is well known as a book lover, and his library contains one of the finest and most complete collections of works relating to Ireland and to Celtic literature, to be found in the country.
Mr. Crimmins married, in 1868, , now deceased. Mr. Crimmins maintains a city home at 40 East Sixty-eighth street and a beautiful summer residence, "Firwood-on-the- Sound," at Noroton, Connecticut.
FAMILY OF WANDELL.
This family, which dates back to the earliest Dutch period, had as its first representative Thomas Wandell. On March 28, 1658, Jan Peterson Van Holstein sold to Thomas Wandell, "resi- dent at Mespot Kill, a house and lot in the Prince Graght, bound- ed north by the house and lot of the Fiscal, Nicasius De Sille, east by the lot of said De Sille, south by the house and lot of Mr. Her- man Van Hoboken, and west by the Graght." This house and lot were on the east side of Broad street in New York, between Beaver street and Exchange Place. He sold this house and lot to Katrina Kroegers in 1672, and the deed mentions him as residing at Mespot Kill. He was also the owner of several houses and lots in New Amsterdam and was evidently a man of extensive means. His house and land at Mespot Kill (now Maspeth) seem to have been the same place famous in later years as the country seat of Governor De Witt Clinton. He left no descendants, and died in 1688.
The progenitors of the present families of the name were two brothers, Johannes and Jacobus Wandell, who fled from Holland secretly in the night, leaving lights burning in their houses, to escape Roman Catholic persecution. They escaped
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with their lives but their extensive possessions were confiscated. Family tradition connects the earlier generation with the famous poet, Joost Vondel, known as "the Dutch Shakespeare." To this connection our country's poet, Oliver Wendell Holmes, pleas- antly alludes in one of his poems. Like most other family names this has had its changes and is spelled by various branches as Wandal, Wandel, Wandle, and other forms.
(I) Johannes Wandell settled at Fishkill, Dutchess county, New York, and married a Miss Thurston. By this marriage he had four sons and one daughter: Samuel, Jacob, Daniel, John and Polly.
(II) Jacob Wandell, the second son, was born at Fish- kill, May 30, 1747, and died at Haverstraw, Rockland county, New York, 1827. He married Catharine Stilwell, of a well known and honored family, February 8, 1770. She was born at Hemp- stead, Long Island, March 26, 1749, and was the daughter of Stephen Stilwell, brother of Samuel Stilwell who was the owner of a large amount of real estate in New York. They were the par- ents of ten children : Daniel T., born October 22, 1770, at Fishkill ; John, October 10, 1772. at Newburgh, New York; William, Oc- tober 10, 1772, at Newburgh, New York; Samuel, March 13, 1775; George, March 26, 1777, at Tappan, New York; Jacob, October 22, 1779; Abraham, December 24, 1781, at Tappan; James, Au- gust 3, 1784; Catharine, October 28, 1787 ; Thomas, December 17, 1791.
(III) Abraham Wandell, the seventh child, married Martha Coe, daughter of Benjamin Coe, of Haverstraw. Her father, who was of a distinguished family, was member of the Assembly of New York State from Orange county, 1778, 1779, and 1798. His father, John Coe, was member of the Provincial Congress, 1775, and was also Judge of Orange County and Mem- ber of Assembly, 1778, 1779, 1780, a curious instance of father
Hon. Benjamin Coe Wandell.
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and son being members of the Legislature at the same time. Benjamin Coe was the fourth member of Assembly for Rock- land county in 1799, after that county was set off from Orange. He was in the State Senate 1807 to 1812 and was one of the Council of Appointment 1810-1811. His son Benjamin was Judge of Rockland county for many years.
Martha Coe was born October 1, 1782, and died February 6, 1849. Her husband, Abraham Wandell, died December 9, 1823. They were the parents of eight children: Livingston, born March 11, 1801; Stilwell, born October 22, 1803; Sarah, born April 4, 1806, married Alonzo Vredenburgh; Martha, born March 19, 1809, married Nathan Sutton; Catherine, born Au- gust 25, 1812, married (first) George Bride, (second) David Bartley; Adeline, born March 7, 1815; Juliet, born March 21, 1817, married Charles Sutton; Benjamin Coe, born December 28, 1819.
(IV) Benjamin Coe Wandell was born at the residence of his father in Van Dam street, New York. He married, Feb- ruary 10, 1840, Caroline Sophia Pangburn, daughter of Jere- miah Pangburn, an old resident of the ninth ward. The chil- dren of this marriage were Townsend, born in New York, April 13, 1841; Caroline; Francis L .; Martha, wife of Charles R. Stilwell, and Josephine.
Among the early residents in New York may be mentioned Johannes and Abraham Wandell, who may have been of the same stock as the family we have mentioned. The latter was alderman in 1710-1711 and 1716. A branch of the Wandell fam- ily have lived on Staten Island from very early times. The Wandell Memorial Chapel at Concord stands on land owned by them in former times, and perpetuates the name.
Jacobus Wandell (brother of Johannes) settled at Albany or Troy. He had a very large family whose descendants are
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numerous and elsewhere. The Staten Island family are prob- ably derived from him. Johannes Wandell is said to have been the owner of a thousand acres of land on the upper Hudson.
Jacob Wandell, his son, was a soldier in the Revolution and served throughout the war, and was paid off and discharged when the army was disbanded at Newburgh. He was personally acquainted with La Fayette, and upon his visit to the United States in 1824, the Marquis recognized and embraced him. At the close of the Revolution, Jacob Wandell was entitled to the sum of $800, which was never paid. He, however, obtained a grant of land upon which the city of Auburn is situated.
The discharge of Jacob Wandell, signed by General Wash- ington, is now among the historical relics at the headquarters in Newburgh. After the war he moved to Rockland county, and settled at Toppan. In 1794 he went to Haverstraw and became a millwright. He and his wife died on Wyant's Island, now Iona Island.
Abraham Wandell passed the early part of his life at Hav- erstraw, but came to New York soon after his marriage. He was master and owner of a sloop, and engaged in transporta- tion between New York and Haverstraw.
His son, Benjamin Coe Wandell, was engaged in the dry goods business in New York. in partnership with James H. Townsend, until 1850. He then entered the China trade in the firm of Chambers and Heiser, who owned and sailed many Clipper ships. Upon one occasion he was shipwrecked in the China Sea, and barely escaped with his life. In 1857 he was sent to China with a large sum in gold for the purchase of tea. For various reasons he did not think it advisable to invest, and returned bringing the gold with him. This saved the firm from bankruptcy in the financial panic of 1857. In the meantime he loaded the ships with tea belonging to other parties, and thus
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made a large sum as freight. In 1873 the Board of Police Jus- tices of New York had become so corrupt that they were legis- lated out of office, and the power to appoint a new board was vested in the mayor, Hon. William F. Havemeyer. Among the new justices appointed was Benjamin Coe Wandell. Although he had never studied law with a view of making it a profession, yet his sterling good sense and perfect knowledge of human nature made him exactly fitted for his new position. No jus- tice was more respected, and no man in the city was more widely known, or more highly esteemed than Judge Wandell. He possessed remarkable facility as a public speaker, express- ing his views with great force and eloquence. He was very prominently connected with the public schools and was one of their strongest supporters. After his term as justice had ex- pired he lived a retired life at his residence, No. 157 East 83d street, and died there March 23, 1887, leaving an honored mem- ory.
Townsend Wandell was born at his father's residence, No. 704 Washington street, New York. His earliest education was obtained at a private school, and later at the public school in Twenty-fourth street, which was under the charge of Thomas Foulke, a Quaker teacher and a man of marked ability. His assistant, Nelson B. Bartram, was equally noted as a teacher, and was a colonel in the Civil war. He then attended the New York Free Academy (now the College of the City of New York), being graduated in 1863, the second in his class. In all the schools he attended he was remarkably successful in winning prizes and medals for superior scholarship. He then entered Columbia College Law School under Professor Dwight, noted as a lecturer and teacher. Upon being graduated and admitted to the bar, he established a law office in connection with William A. Whitbeck, but soon after practiced law on his own account.
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Mr. Wandell is a member of the Republican County Commit- tee, Union League Club, Phi Beta Kappa Society, New York Historical Society, and many other patriotic and benevolent societies. The family has been for several generations con- nected with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
WILLIAM S. HORTON.
The line of descent of this branch of the family is as fol- lows :
(I) Barnabas, married Mary
(II) Joseph.
(III) David, born 1664.
(IV) Joseph, born 1689.
(V) Joseph, born 1713; had three children: Jonathan, born 1738; William, 1740, and David.
(VI) William Horton, born 1740, married, 1763, Ruth Heady (Quakeress). Children : Joseph, born 1765; David, 1767; Azariah, 1770; Eliza P. or Betsy, 1772; Susanna, 1774; John, 1776.
(VII) Eliza P., daughter of William and Ruth (Heady) Horton, married John Townsend, son of Israel, of Armonk, North Castle. Children: Leander W .; Dorinda E., married Stephen Hyatt; Melissa, married Reuben Howes; Caroline E., married Thomas Wilson; John, married Elizabeth Adams; Josephine V., died young.
(VII) Susanna, daughter of William and Ruth (Heady) Horton, married John Purdy, of White Plains. Children : Ophelia, married Moses Odell, of Yonkers; Lauretta, married Alex. H. Slater; John, married Emma Marriner. Children of Lauretta and A. H. Slater were: Ophelia, who married Andrew Legget, and left children-William, Laura and Ophelia; Will- iam; Susan, who married Atwood.
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(VII) John, son of William and Ruth (Heady) Horton, married, July 26. 1801, Clarissa Hobby, of Horseneck (now Greenwich), Connecticut. Children: Sophronia B., born May 21, 1803, died June 23, 1864; Sarah, born 1805, married Will- iam Hatton, died August, 1855, drowned with her two children; Eliza, born 1808, died 1862; Ann B., born 1810, married Ben- jamin B. Church, and died August, 1857; Henrietta Frances, born May 3, 1814, died December 26, 1904; Alexander Hamilton, born 1815, died October 1, 1876; Marietta, born 1818, died 1834; William, born 1820, died 1851; John, born 1821, died 1838; Angeline L., born 1823, died March, 1886; Rachel P., born April 16, 1825.
Clarissa, wife of John Horton, of White Plains, was a daughter of Major John Hobby who kept the Patriot tavern on the Post Road at Horseneck (now Greenwich), Connecticut. General Putnam made his headquarters here during the Revolu- tionary war, and from this house he escaped as the British were coming up the hill from Sawpitts, now Portchester. Major Hobby and his brother, Colonel Thomas (who was captured at the surrender of Fort Washington), aroused Putnam, saddled his horse, and assisting him to mount, conducted him to an almost concealed cow path on side of hill. This path led to the "rocky steps" about twenty feet of which his horse leaped down, thus deceiving the British at the top of the hill, who supposed Putnam had dashed down the whole distance. History still perpetuates this incorrect account.
(VIII) Sophronia, daughter of John and Clarissa (Hobby) Horton, married Casper C. Childs, July 23, 1826. Children : Mary Vermilye, born May 1, 1827, married (first) M. Bliss, and (second) T. Thompson. Sophronia B., born 1829, died May 16, 1861. Casper, born August 13, 1830, died Easter Sunday, 1891. Louisa, born March 16, 1832, married Edward Bell, United
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States navy, and died June 1, 1906. Clarissa, born June 22, 1834, died December 7, 1856. Sarah Ann, born December 11, 1838, married Henry Hoar. Charles Bush, born February 9, 1841, died September 5, 1880. Walter Livingstone, born Au- gust 11, 1843, married Clara J. Muir, 1867.
(IX) Sophronia, second daughter of Casper and Sophronia (Horton) Childs. married Lyndsay Douglas Taylor, 1849. Chil- dren: Christopher, born 1851, died young. Lillie M., born March 4; 1853, married (first) Charles Adams, and (second) Charles Bachman, 1905. Clara, born October 16, 1855. Charles, born 1858. William, born 1860.
Eliza, third child of John and Clarissa (Hobby) Horton, married William Rhodes, in 1835. Children: Clara, born Feb- ruary 22, 1836, married Abraham McKeon, and had one child Marcella.
Henrietta Frances, fifth child of John and Clarissa ( Hobby) Horton, married, March 30, 1834, William W. Brackett. Child: Mary Elizabeth, born January 14, 1835.
Alexander Hamilton, son of John and Clarissa (Hobby) Horton, married, December 8, 1838, Margaret Larcomb. Chil- dren: Sarah L., born October 24, 1843. Clarissa Hobby, born January 8, 1845. Alexander Hamilton, born February 5, 1847, married, October 12, 1875, Almira J. Danley, and died December 30. 1898. Isabel Munro, born October 31, 1848, died October 14, 1892. William White, born January 5, 1856. John M., born
1858, married Margaret Henrietta M., born September, 1860, died September, 1896. She married Alonzo N. Smith, in 1886, leaving one child, Nelson.
Alexander Hamilton Horton was one of the earliest New Yorkers who, in 1849, crossed the Plains amid all its perils for the great Eldorado. He did not become a miner, but in San Francisco was very successful in the lumber trade. After an
Alexander H. Horton.
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early fire that nearly wiped out the then city, Mr. Horton's ship load of lumber that he had sent around the Horn before he left New York arrived opportunely in Golden Gate harbor, and it is needless to say he reaped a rich harvest.
One incident of those times may be worth noting. His brother William was at the mining town of Weaversville, hav- ing been appointed sheriff by the Vigilance Committee. In try- ing to enforce some law and order he and his wife were instantly killed by stray shots fired by the lawless miners. He had previously notified his brother in San Francisco that he had hidden in the ground (their only bank) much gold dust, amount- ing to $50,000. When Mr. Horton reached Weaversville he found the ground dug up under and around where the house had stood, and barely escaped through the strategy of the tavern keeper, who led him secretly at night with his uncle to the canyon.
Sarah L., daughter of Alexander and Margaret (Larcomb) Horton, married. May 31, 1865, James Pettit, of Long Island. Children: Mary A., born September 14, 1866. Isabel M., October 10, 1868. Henrietta M., October 10, 1871. Almira D., July 4. 1873. Clarissa H., January 12, 1875, died April, 1876. Sarah L., August 22, 1877.
Clarissa H., daughter of Alexander and Margaret (Hobby) Horton, married, September 18, 1864, John Hegeman, of Long Island. Children: Margaret L., born August 20, 1865. Alex- ander H., December 24, 1867. Elizabeth Bennet, September 5, 1870. Annabel, February 26, 1873. Benjamin F., January 24, 1876. Joseph Larcomb, May 20, 1879. Francis Emack, Sep- tember 3, 1883. died July 24. 1887. Margaret L., daughter of Clarissa and John Hegemen, married, June 9, 1886, Joseph Johnson, and had one child, Harold, born September 21, 1887. Elizabeth Bennet, daughter of Clarissa and John Hegemen, mar- ried, January 21. 1896, William Hemstreet, and had one child: Vol. II-24
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Marjorie Henrietta, born November 8, 1897. Annabel, daughter of Clarissa and John Hegemen, married, December 25, 1906, Cooper Hewitt Lusk.
Isabel Munro, daughter of Alexander and Margaret (Lar- comb) Horton, married, July 1, 1869, William T. Erickson. Chil- dren : Isabel H., born May 29, 1874, married, February 18, 1895, Edwin N. Norton, and died September 16, 1905. William Thorne, born October 31, 1876, died March 24, 1880. Alexander Horton, born January 21, 1882, married Effie Hirsch.
William W., son of Alexander and Margaret (Larcomb) Horton, married, April 20, 1881, Katherine Adelaide Virginia Steurer. Children: William S., born March 17, 1882. Ethel Kate, May 24, 1885, died November 6, 1903.
Angeline L., daughter of John and Clarissa ( Hobby) Hor- ton, married John Hooper, of New York City, who died 1889. Children : Benjamin Franklin, born June 30, 1857, died April 20, 1902. Mary L., born March 3, 1860, married, March 3, 1889, John A. Steurer, and died August 27, 1891. Henrietta Frances, born 1858, died May 11, 1896. Benjamin Franklin married, June 14, 1888, Edith May Walker. Children: Emily May, born March 21, 1889; John Stanley, August 27, 1890; Walker, Sep- tember 16, 1894; John, April 26, 1897, died May 13, 1898; Grace Duncan, June 29, 1899.
Benjamin F. Hooper was a son of John Hooper, of New York City, and succeeded his father as president of Colwell Lead Company. His grandmother was daughter of Major John Hobby, from whose house General Putnam escaped capture by the Hessians. Mr. Hooper's business interests were large, be- longing to many clubs, corporations, etc., in which he was very successful in preserving harmony in trade councils, due to his ability in inducing those interested to take a liberal and com- mon sense view of the conditions, and make concessions for
Benj. F. Hooper.
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mutual interest. He was possessed of a generous, open char- acter, and dying at the early age of forty-four, business friends, family, and relatives felt his loss keenly.
Rachel P., daughter of John and Clarissa (Hobby) Hor- ton, married (first), November 16, 1842, John Ross, and had children : John, born 1843, died 1847. Angeline Louisa, born January 16, 1851, married, February 22, 1875, Henry Evans, and had one child, Tempey Susanna, born December 9, 1878. Rachel P. Horton married (second), January 15, 1854, John W. Hag- gerty, and had children: Alphonso, born March 25, 1855, died February, 1857. Caroline H., born October 2, 1857, died May 2, 1865. Francis X., born September 21, 1859. Joseph A., born February 13, 1870.
Francis X., son of John and Rachel P. (Horton) Haggerty, married, June 7, 1885, Annie Mary King, and had children ; Rachel, died young. John, died young. James Francis, died young. Edward Hilary, born January 14, 1893. Thomas Charles, October 8, 1895. Edith Annie, July 17, 1898.
Joseph A., son of John and Rachel P. (Horton) Haggerty, married Mary Frances Owens, September 17, 1897. Their chil- dren were: Mary Frances, born June 29, 1898. Rachel Jose- phine, March 16, 1899.
William Horton owned lands in Brewer Point, Harrison Purchase; woods, etc., around St. Mary's lake as early as 1757; residence on Broadway above Lake street; flour mills on St. Mary's, present Silver Lake.
The family of Steurer were landed proprietors in Bavaria, Germany, and in later years went to Saxony and the race in- cluded many men of fame and station. The ancestor, John der Steurer, in the year 1147 accompanied King Conrad II to Pales- tine. In a battle near Damietta the French army lost their lily bespangled pennant which fell into the hands of the infidels.
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When John der Steurer saw this he sprang in the midst of them, rescued it and threw it at the feet of the French King. He was knighted by King Conrad, and his coat of arms bears the lily and shield denoting the important event. The Stumff family is originally from Franconia, but were afterwards in Lower Saxony. The ancestor was Gerhard der Stumff, who re- ceived his patent of nobility from King Rodolf in 1261, and was greatly distinguished in the Bohemian wars. In the battle of Eyer, after breaking his sword, he caught up a sickle and pursued the enemy, and was knighted by the emperor for his bravery.
From this race was descended Sarah Steurer, who married Elizabeth Katherine Stumff, and their daughter, Katherine Ade- laide Virginia Steurer, married William W. Horton. William Steurer Horton, their son, was born in New York, March 17, 1882, and in his early years attended the public school at the corner of Grove and Hudson streets. At the age of thirteen he, with his parents, went to Ocean Side, Hempstead, Long Island, and he attended the high school at Rockville Centre. They afterwards removed to Yonkers. At the age of seventeen, he learned the plumbing business with Edward Richards. On Au- gust 26, 1903, he established his own business and was the young- est person who ever obtained a plumber's license. His first place of business was at 200 West Ninety-ninth street, afterwards at 2630 Broadway, and is now doing business at No. 204 West One Hundredth street. In political affairs he is a Democrat. He is connected with the Evangelical Church of the Holy Trinity, and is a member of the Royal Arcanum and Trinity Brother- hood.
Miss Mary Elizabeth Brackett, who is a descendant of this branch of the Horton family, is an officer and an active member of the Washington Heights Chapter of the Daughters of the
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American Revolution, and has for many years been engaged in religious and philanthropical work, especially among the aged, too much neglected. For eighteen years she was connected with missionary and Sunday school work in the Lutheran church. In addition she has written much on genealogy and kindred works.
FAMILY OF MERSEREAU.
The ancestor of this honored family was John Mersereau, a native of France. He was a Protestant, and like his fellow Huguenots was the victim of persecution. In his youth he studied law, but disliking the profession he abandoned it and took up the humbler trade of a saddler. He was a man of great physical strength. He was captain of a military company, and always carried a sword. One evening he met three men habited as friars, and saluted them "good evening, gentlemen." They immediately charged him with being a Protestant, otherwise he would have said "good evening, fathers." He replied, "I know but one Father in Heaven"; they drew their sabres, which they had concealed, and attacked him. He defended himself with such vigor that he killed one, wounded another and the third fled. He died young, leaving five children : Joshua, Paul, Dan- iel, Mary and Martha. These with their mother fled to England in 1685, and from thence to America. They settled on Staten Island, where the mother died and was buried in the French churchyard on the Seaman farm at Westfield.
Daniel was by occupation a tailor. Joshua married a La Tourette, of a well known family. He died May 23, 1736, at the age of ninety-three. He had a son Joshua, born May 18, 1696, and died JJuly 9, 1769. He married Maria, daughter of Jacob Corsen, and had children: Joshua, born September 26, 1728, died June 10, 1804. Jacob, April 23, 1730, died September 7, 1804. John, March 2, 1732. Elizabeth, January 4, 1734.
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David, November 10, 1735. Mary, January 14, 1738. Cornelius, July 27, 1739, died July 27, 1814. Paul, February 23, 1741, died January 26, 1823. Rachel, February 27, 1742. Joshua Mer- sereau was a man of much prominence, and member of assembly several terms. Paul Mersereau married Elizabeth Barnes and left a large family.
David Mersereau, grandfather of Robert E. Mersereau, was born at Woodrow, 1756. He was a shoemaker by trade, which line of work he pursued in connection with farming. He was four times married. By his first wife he had two sons, who upon attaining to manhood years took up their residence in the South. His second union was with the widow of Peter Winant, who bore him children as follows: 1. Isaac. 2. George, father of the subject of this review. 3. David. 4. Samuel. 5. Eph- raim, now residing in Jersey City, New Jersey. 6. Sophia, who married Washington Odell. 7. Rebecca, who married a Mr. Allen, of New York city. The mother of the aforementioned children had by her marriage to Peter Winant, two sons and one daughter. One of the sons, Moses Winant, married and had a son Isaac, who for many years resided at Springfield, borough of Richmond. Moses Winant also had a daughter, Patience, who died unmarried.
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