Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume I, Part 15

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866-1934, ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 656

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HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS

be kept from his side; his gradually wasting strength as he neared that home, the goal of his earthly hopes, on the bosom of his be- loved river; his consciousness of the death soon to close over him; and his readiness to meet his end, firm in his honor as a soldier and humble in his faith as a Christian-these scenes follow in sad but quick succession upon all that was earthly of the beloved ob- ject of this sketch.

Colonel Gansevoort had taste in drawing and painting and was a devoted lover of his- tory : and his inclination for oratory was very strong. He also had a taste for writing, and from boyhood he was distinguished for his readiness in debate and the facility with which he could express his thoughts. When he left Albany Academy he delivered the salutatory oration, and his address at Princeton when he graduated is remembered as conspicuous among the exercises of the day. On one oc- casion at Allentown, Pennsylvania, he deliv- ered an Independence Day address which was spoken of in terms of warm commendation. While in the army he was frequently called upon to act on courts-martial, where his pow- ers were thoroughly tested and his ability conspicuously exhibited, and he was unde- viatingly honorable, and the possession of this admirable trait was fully recognized by all who came in contact with him. Notwith- standing his decided political convictions, it was a part of his creed that the duties of a soldier were incompatible with any active par- ticipation in political strifes ; and as he never was troubled with misgivings when the path of duty lay clear before him, the adoption of this article of faith without hesitation was followed by a strict adherence to its injunc- tions from which he never departed.

(The Van Schaick Line).

Those islands formed by the spuytens or sprouts of the Mohawk, and a large tract of land to the northward, including the present village of Waterford, originally called the "Halve Maan," or Half-Moon, were granted by the Indian chiefs (permission having been obtained from Governor Nichols) to Goosen Gerritsen Van Schaick and Philip Petersen Schuyler, September 11, 1665 (the original deed is still extant). The latter, on July 12, 1674, conveyed his interests in the lands em- braced by the government to his associate, Van Schaick, who by will deeded the lands to his wife Anetje. After his death she conveyed them to his son Anthony for the consideration of five hundred and fifty good marketable beaver skins. This grant was confirmed by Governor Lovelace, March 30, 1672, and af-

terward Governor Thomas Dongan, then gov- ernor of the province of New York, by his patent dated May 31, 1687, confirmed in An- thony Van Schaick the sole title to said land in consideration of an annual quit rent of one bushel of winter wheat (both the Lovelace and Dongan patents are still in existence, and are in an excellent state of preservation ). The Indian name of Van Schaick Island was "Qnahemesicos," and the names of the Indian proprietors at the time of the transfer to Van Schaick and Schuyler were Itamonet, Amen- hasnet and Kishocasna. The Dutch called it "Long Island." In the early writings it was called "Whale Island." After the trans- fer it was called "Anthony's Island." It is also called "Isle Cohoes," or "Cohoes Isl- and." It was the first land cultivated north of the present city limits of Cohoes.

(I) Captain Goosen Gerritsen Van Schaick, born in 1630, died in 1676. He married, (first) in 1649, Geertje Brantse Peelen or Pealen, who died about 1656, married (sec- ond) in 1657, Annatie Lievens or Lievense. Captain Van Schaick was a brewer and a prominent man in Albany. Children by first wife: Genetie, married Johannes Lansing ; Gerrit, born 1650, married Alida Van Slich- tenhorst ; Sybrant, see forward; Anthony, born 1665. Children by second wife: Liven- ius, whose daughter Gerritje married Andrew Drawyer, a Danish admiral in the Dutch ser- vice ; Cornelis ; Margareta.

(II) Sybrant, son of Captain Goosen Ger- ritsen Van Schaick, was born in 1653, died in 1685. He married Elizabeth Van Der Poel. Children: Goosen, born 1677, married Catherine Staats; Catherine, born 1679; An- thony, see forward; Gerrit, born 1685.

(III) Anthony, son of Sybrant and Eliza- beth (Van Der Poel) Van Schaick, was born in 1681, died in 1756. He was a glazier, and lived in Albany. In 1717 he was commis- sioned cornet by Governor Robert Hunter. In an act passed December 22, 1717, there is provided for the payment of claims against the colony, "to Anthony Van Schaick, his exe- ecutors or assigns the quantity of two ounces two pennyweight of plate (Spanish coin) aforesaid for mending of glass windows in his Majesty's garrison at Albany." There are many references to him in the records of his day. The family were in most everything in the way of business merchandising, trading with the Indians, agriculture. Deeds, inden- tures, conveyances, accounts. etc., in the fam- ily name, are numerous and interesting. He married, October 19, 1707, Anna Catherine Ten Broeck, who died in 1756. Children : Sybrant, born 1708; Wessel, see forward;

HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS

Elizabeth, born 1716; Jacob, born 1718; Loomis, 1720: Goosen, 1722.

(IV) Wessel, son of Sybrant and Anna Catherine (Ten Broeck) Van Schaick, was baptized February 16, 1712, died March 13, 1783. He married Maria Gerritse Van Schaick, who died Jannary 31, 1797, aged seventy-nine years. Children: Anthony, born September 6, 1744: Maritje, born July 25, 1746, died August 16, 1813: Jan Gerse, born September 24, 1748, died July 7, 1828, mar- ried Anna Van Schaick; Cattrina (Cathe- rine), born August 16, 1752, see forward ; Gerrit, born May 22, 1758, in Albany, died December 14, 1816, in Lansingburg.

(V) Catherine, daughter of Wessel and Maria G. Van Schaick, was born August 16, 1752. She married, December 17, 1778, General Peter Gansevoort (see Gansevoort). With this marriage the relationship between the Lansing, Van Schaick and .Gansevoort families is established.

LANSING The American ancestor of this fine old Dutch family, famed in the early and subsequent annals of the Hudson Valley, was Gerrit Frederickse (termination se has force of son), son of Frederick Lansing, of the town of Hasselt, in the province of Overyssel. The name is found in the early records as Lan- singh, Lansinck (Lansinck family has dif- ferent coat-of-arms. See De Rietstap's "Arm- orial Bearings"-the De Brett of the conti- nent)-and Lansing. They settled early in the Hudson (later in the Mohawk) Valley, where they had large land grants and were traders, farmers and mechanics. One of the family, Abraham J., had land granted him along the Hudson, on which he founded the town of Lansingburg, now a part of the city of Troy, New York.

(I) Gerrit Frederickse Lansing came to New Amsterdam with three sons and three daughters, all born before leaving Hasselt, and settled in Rensselaerwyck, probably about 1650. The date of the death of Gerrit Fred- erickse Lansing. the emigrant ancestor, is only determined as being prior to October 3, 1679, as on that day his children made a joint conveyance of property, supposedly as heirs of the father. Children : I. Gerrit, see forward. 2. Johannes, married Geritje Van Schaick, widow of Hendrick Coster. 3. Hen- drick, married Lysbeth 4. Altje ( Alida), married Gerrit Van Slichtenhorst. 5. Gysbertie, married Hendrick Roseboom. 6. Hilletje, married Storm Van Der Zee (Bradt ).

(II) Gerrit, son of Gerrit F. Lansing,

was born probably in Hasselt, Holland. He married Elsje, daughter of Wouter Van Wythorst. Children : I. Gerrit (3), mar- ried Catherine Sanders Glen, August 21, 1692. 2. Abraham, born 1663, married Magdalena Van Tricht, November 28, 1703. 3. Johan- nes, born January 1, 1675, died August 10, 1771, aged ninety-six years seven months. ten days ; married Helena Sanders, September 20, 1704. 4. Susanna, married Mattys Nack, July 24, 1698. 5. Isaac, born May 14, 1677 ; mar- ried Janetje Beeckman, June 27, 1703. 6. Jacob G., see forward. 7. Myndert, unmar- ried. 8. Wouter, baptized August 12, 1683. 9. Elizabeth, baptized January 20, 1689, died September 1730.

(III) Jacob G., son of Gerrit and Elsje (Van Wythorst) Lansing, was born in Albany, June 6, 1681, and died there Decem- ber 6, 1767. He built a house in 1710 at the corner of North Pearl and Columbia streets, Albany, known as the "Pemberton House." where all his children were born. He married, about 1710, Helena, baptized No- vember 21, 1683. daughter of Jacob Sanders and Catherine (Van Witbeck) Glen. Chil- dren: I. Gerrit J., see forward. 2. Jacob J., a revolutionary officer, commanded a regi- ment at the battle of Stillwater, New York; was a captain in the "Middle Forty" at Scho- harie, when it was attacked by Sir John John- son and the Indians under Brant; married Marytje Egberts, November 6. 1742. 3. John J., married (first) Rachel Lievens, Au- gust 14, 1741, (second) Cathalina Van Schaick, October 20, 1744, (third) Catharina Schuyler, about 1747. 4. Catharine, married (first) Abraham Lansing, about 1742, (sec- ond) Abraham Douw, November 23, 1761. 5. Abraham. married Elizabeth Cooper, May 20, 1744. 6. Isaac. 7. Sanders J., died unmar- ried, April 3, 1807. 8. 9. Elsje and Isaac, twins; Elsje, died April, 1730; Isaac married Annetje Van Woert.

(IV) Gerrit J., son of Jacob G. and Helena (Glen) Lansing, was born in Albany, New York, and baptized March 4, 1711. He married (first) November 29. 1734. Maria, daughter of Johannes and Barentje (Pruyn) Everts, born October 8, 1713, and buried Jan- mary 27, 1741. Children: 1. Jacob G. (2), married (first) Neeltje Roseboom, March 14, 1767, (second) Femmetje (Frances) Lan- sing, August 28, 1774. 2. Maria, died in in- fancy. 3. Alida, died in infancy. He mar- ried (second) about 1748, Jane, baptized April 12, 1728, and died March 2, 1810, daughter of John and Sarah (Winne) Wat- ers. Children: 4. John, died in childhood. 5. John, Jr. (2), baptized February 3, 1755-

73.

HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS

The last seen of him was December 12, 1829, on the pier where the steamboats left for Al- bany, walking towards the boat on which he intended going to Albany. (See "Lives of the Chancellors.") He dined with his father-in- law, Robert Ray, just before his disappear- ance in New York City. He was a very prominent public man and his death caused a deep sensation. He studied law with Rob- ert Yates, afterward chief justice of the state, and also with James Duane in New York. He served under General Philip Schuyler in the revolutionary war, being Schuyler's mili- tary secretary at Saratoga, and was a distin- guished member of the convention that con- ducted the civil and military operations of the state. Soon after he was appointed mayor of Albany, and in 1787 was with Chief Jus- tice Yates and General Hamilton delegated by the state as member of the convention which framed the constitution of the United States. On his return he was appointed a judge of the supreme court and later to the high position of chancellor of the state. He married, April 8, 1781, Cornelia, daughter of Robert and Sarah (Bogart) Ray of New York City. She died in Albany, January, 1834. 6. Abraham G., see forward. 7. Gerrit G. (known as Ger- rit of Oriskany), baptized November 4, 1760, died May. 27, 1831. He entered the revolu- tionary army at the beginning of the war and served until its close. He led a forlorn hope at Yorktown and was a distinguished and gal- lant officer. He was a colonel in rank. He married Maria, daughter of Colonel Edward Antill. She died at Utica, New York, Au- gust 24, 1834. 8. Sarah, born June 22, 1763, married Barent Bleecker. 9. Sanders G., (the G. for Gerritse was only used when he was a boy to distinguish him from an uncle, San- ders Lansing), was born in Albany, June 17, 1766; educated to legal profession in Albany and Claverack schools ; was register and mas- ter in chancery in Albany; removed from Albany to Little Falls in 1820; in 1821 was a delegate to draw up new state constitutions ; 1821-28 was county judge of Herkimer county, New York ; afterward 'supreme court judge: died in Manheim, New York, Sep- tember 19, 1850; married, December 10, 1789, Catharine, daughter of Abraham and Annatje (Lansing) Ten Eyck.

(V) Abraham G., son of Gerrit J. and Jane (Waters) Lansing, was born December 12, 1756, died May 15, 1834. He married, April 9. 1779, Susanna, daughter of Abra- ham and Anetje (De Ridder) Yates, born August 18, 1762, died February 1, 1840. Children: 1. Jannetje, born February 18, 1780; died unmarried, November 3, 1830.

2. Abraham, died young. 3. Gerrit Y .. born August 4, 1783, died January 3, 1862 ; he held many positions of honor and trust in the city and county of Albany. He was in early life private secretary to Governor Morgan Lewis, clerk of the assembly, and judge of probate. He represented the district in the twenty-sec- ond, twenty-third and twenty-fourth con- gresses of the United States. He was elected a regent of the State University to succeed ex-President Martin Van Buren. He mar- ried, May 31, 1808, Helen Ten Eyck, born June 13, 1787, died June 25, 1838. 4. Cor- nelius De Ridder, born November 17, 1785, died September 1849. 5. John, died single. 6. Antje, died young. 7. Sanders, born April 15, 1792, married Angelica Schuyler, in 1821. 8. Christopher Y., see forward. 9. Susan, mar- ried Peter Gansevoort, December 12, 1843, died October 28, 1874. 10. Anna, born Janu- ary 26, 1799, married Rev. Walter Monteath ; died January 20, 1830. 11. Saralı B., born September 5, 1802, died unmarried. 12. Ba- rent Bleecker, married Philanda Orcutt. 13. George, married Harriet Schermerhorn. 14. Abraham Y., born September 8, 1808, and died November 24. 1857; married Eliza Van Alstyne, April 26, 1836.

(VI) Christopher Yates, eighth child of Abraham G. and Susanna (Yates) Lansing, was born May 27. 1796, died in Albany, Au- gust 29, 1872. He was a leading lawyer of Albany. He married. October 27, 1829, Caro- line Mary Thomas, born March 23, 1805, died April 29, 1845. Children: Jane Anna ; John Thomas. died unmarried. April 14, 1880; Ab- raham (see forward) : William, married Oc- tober 17, 1867, Caroline A. McClellan; Ed- win Yates.

(VII) Abraham, third child of Christopher Yates and Caroline M. (Thomas) Lansing, was born in Albany, New York, February 27, 1835, died October 4, 1899. His academic education was received in the schools of Berk- shire county, Massachusetts, and at the Al- bany Academy. He entered Williams Col- lege, where he was graduated with the degree of A.B., class of 1855. He decided to follow the profession of law, and entered his father's office for study and instruction. He was grad- uated from the Albany Law School in 1857. He at once advanced to the front rank and in a short time was looked upon as a leader in his profession. In 1868 he was appointed city attorney of Albany, and in 1869 was made the first supreme court reporter. While in that position he published the first seven volumes of the supreme court reports. In 1874 he was appointed by Governor Dix act- ing state treasurer, and in 1876 he was chosen

HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS

corporation counsel for Albany. In 1882 he was elected state senator for Albany county, receiving the largest majority ever given a candidate for that office. While in the senate he was actively identified with the passage of the act establishing the State Railroad Commission and the law providing for the ·establishment of a state park at Niagara Falls. He was interested in other lines of activity outside his political and professional duties. He was a director of the National Commer- cial Bank, trustee of the Albany Savings Bank, park commissioner of Albany, governor of the Albany Hospital, trustee of the Al- bany Academy, Albany Medical College, Al- bany Rural Cemetery, Dudley Observatory and the Fort Orange Club : a life member of the State Geological Society and other organ- izations and clubs. In his legal business Mr. Lansing had a partner, his brother William. He married, November 26, 1873, Catherine, daughter of General Peter (2) and Mary (Sanford) Gansevoort, (see Gansevoort ). Mrs. Lansing survives her husband. She is a granddaughter of General Peter and Cath- erine (Van Schaick ) Gansevoort.

LANSING (VI) Gerrit Yates, son of Abraham Gerrit Lansing (q. v.) and Susanna (Yates) Lansing, was born in Albany, August 4, 1783, died January 3. 1862. He held a number of positions of honor and trust in Albany. In early life he was private secretary to Gover- nor Morgan Lewis, clerk of the assembly, judge of probate, represented the county in the twenty-second, twenty-third and twenty- fourth congresses, was elected regent of the University in place of ex-President Martin Van Buren, and at the time of his death was chancellor of the regents. He was a man of genial nature, kind, frank, honest and most open-hearted, respected and beloved by all, and affectionate and benevolent, with the peculiar habit of attracting the young people. lle was respected as a gentleman of polish and refinement, in fact, a true representative of the school in which were Clay, Webster, Wright, Marcy and Van Buren. He married, May 31, 1808, Helen, born June 13, 1787, died June 25, 1838, daughter of Abraham Ten Eyck, (son of Jacob C. and Catharina (Cuy- ler ) Ten Eyck, who was born in Albany, No- vember 29, 1743, died November 7, 1824), and Annetje (Lansing), Ten Eyck. Chil- dren: Charles Bridgen, see forward; Jane Ann, married, 1841, Robert Hewson Pruyn; Susan Yates, born Albany, August 5, 1816, died there, Jannary 15, 1911, unmarried ; Abraham Gerrit, died single.

(VII) Charles Bridgen, son of Gerrit Yates and Ilelen (Ten Eyck) Lansing, was born at Albany, New York, July 4, 1809, died at his home, No. 146 State street, in that city, of acute pneumonia, on December 1, 1890. He resided throughout his entire life in Albany. Although more than eighty years of age when he died, up to the time of his final sickness he was energetically en- gaged in looking after his business interests, which were considerable, as he was a large real estate owner in the city, and also in Syra- cuse. His natural qualities of mind were strengthened and matured by a liberal educa- tion and the study of a learned profession. He was of decided practical ideas, and al- though he favored a college education, he considered that it should be for the purpose of serious study to fit one for the activities of affairs later on. His judgment was thus well developed at an early age, and it was natural that success for him was assured from the start. He was a man of marked charac- teristics, genial to a friend, prompt in his business dealings, possessed a progressive and enterprising spirit, and yet was appreciated largely for his conservatism. For these rea- sons he was not only well liked, but his cour- teous counsel was much sought. The simple life of his ancestors was more to. his liking than the hum and bustle, the conventionalities and inconsistencies of modern life in its search for happiness. Although rural pur- suits would have furnished him greater pleas- ures than those of society, yet he did not withdraw himself from the duties and re- sponsibilities which pressed around him, dis- charging all faithfully and well. He was a director of the Commerce Insurance Com- pany, and one of the oldest directors of the Albany Insurance Company, having served continuously from January, 1864, until his death, or twenty-six years. He was one of the oldest trustees of the Albany Savings Bank, chosen in 1868, and was one of the early promoters and most liberal supporters of the Thomson Pulp & Paper Company, of Thomson, New York, to whom it owed much for his intelligent grasp of its advantages and the courageous aid by which this manu- facturing enterprise gained success. He be- came a director of the New York State Na- tional Bank on May 1, 1865, and the board of directors of that institution met on the day of his death, and acknowledged by resolution that he was the oldest member of the board in length of service, that his confrères had always found him "active and enterprising, his life has been an open book to all our cit- izens, and especially so to those who were

HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS

brought into business or social relations with him; always constant to his duties, and ser- viceable in counsel to his associates."

Charles B. Lansing, married (first) Cath- erine Clinton, daughter of Mayor John and Abby (Spencer ) Townsend, in 1842, by whom he had two children. He married (second) in 1854. Abby Townsend, sister of his first wife. The father of Abby Spencer was Judge Am- brose Spencer, who was the thirty-fifth may- ·or of Albany, officiating from March 10, 1824, to January 1, 1825, and serving a second term. from January 1, 1825, to January 1, 1826. He was a man of much learning and highly respected. Mrs. Charles B. Lansing died at her home, No. 146 State street, Al- bany, May 18, 1909. Children: 1. John Townsend, see forward. 2. Charles Abraham, born at Albany, died at Colorado Springs, Colorado, December 8, 1890; married Sarah Macklin : children: Abby Townsend and Charles Bridgen Lansing. 3. Abby Spencer, born at Albany: married at Albany, June 1. 1900. Rev. Edward Griffin Selden, pastor of the Second Reformed Dutch Church, (Madison Avenue) Albany, who died at Sara- toga, June 2, 1904. 4. Edward Yates, born at Albany, died unmarried. 5. Gerrit Yates, born at Albany, married Sarah Rathbone, daughter of General Frederick and Sarah (Rathbone) Townsend.

(VIII) John Townsend, eldest son of Charles Bridgen and Catherine Clinton (Townsend) Lansing, was born at Sachem's Head, Con- necticut. He received his education at Al- bany Academy, Luther's Classical Academy of Albany and at Sedgwick Institute, Great Barrington, Massachusetts. In 1863 he was employed as a clerk in the office of Pruyn & Lansing, Albany Iron and Saw Works. In 1867 he became a partner in Albany Saw Works. under the same firm name. Later with Mr. Pruyn they organized the Sheffield File Works for the manufacture of files; also the Embossing Company for the manufactur- ing of dominoes and wooden articles. Mr. Lansing continued in the business until 1880, and since that time has been actively en- gaged as trustee of several large estates and officially connected with many charitable and financial institutions. His interest in art and historical matters has always affected his life, but was given definite form when he was elected president of the Albany Historical and

Art Society, organized in the fall of 1886. following the historical loan exhibition given in connection with the Albany Bi-Centennial celebration commemorating the charter of July 22, 1686. From that time his interest in these matters has never ceased. It was

only natural, therefore, that on the death of Mr. James Ten Eyck, he was chosen presi- dent of the Albany Institute and Historical and Art Society at a special meeting. Octo- ber 25, 1910. Mr. Lansing was elected pres- ident of the board of governors of the Al- bany Hospital and continues as such, giving much time and thought to the interests of that institution. He is president of the Public Market Company of Albany, the Lan- sing Syracuse Realty Company, vice-president of the Albany Insurance Company, the Wheeler Rent and Power Company, the Al- bany Rural Cemetery, the Young Men's Chris- tian Association board of trustees, trustee of Dudley Observatory, of Albany Medical Col- lege, director of the Albany Girls' Academy, and director of the New York State Na- tional Bank and Albany City Mission. He is an official member of the Madison Avenue Reformed Church, the Holland Society of New York, the Fort Orange and Country clubs of Albany.

Mr. Lansing married (first) in Albany, Oc- tober 27, 1870, Helen Franchot, born March 31, 1846, died at Albany, January 28, 1898, daughter of Volckert Petrus Douw (born April 10, 1790, died at Albany, June 16, 1869) who married, June 2. 1834. Helen, daughter of Paschal Franchot, of Butternuts, New York. Volckert P. Douw was the son of John dle Peyster Douw (born January 20, 1756. died February 22, 1835), who married, De- cember 22. 1787, Deborah Beeckman (born November 26, 1763. died July 23. 1791), daughter of Johannes Jacobse Beeckman (born at Albany, August 8, 1733, died De- cember 17. 1802), married, November 22, 1759. Maria Sanders (born November 26, 1763, died November 2, 1784), daughter of John and Debora (Glen) Sanders. Mr. Lansing married (second) at Paris, France, October 4, 1900, Leontine de Kay, daughter of John Fondey Townsend. M.D., son of Charles de Kay and Maria (Hun) Townsend, who re- sided for many years in Albany, practicing medicine, and removed to New York City, where he died January 8. 1874. Dr. John Fondey Townsend married, September 10, 1836, Catherine Louise Douw, born September 10, 1817, daughter of John de Peyster Douw, by his third marriage, January 22, 1811, to Catherine Douw Gansevoort (born May 9. 1782), daughter of Leonard Gansevoort, died December 16, 1834, and Maria Van Rensse- laer (born May 11, 1782. died April 2, 1842), daughter of Colonel Kiliaen Van Rensselaer. John de Peyster Douw (born January 20, 1756, died February 22. 1835) was the son of Volckert Petrus Douw (born March 23,

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Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume I, Part 15

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866-1934, ed Publication date: 1911 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 656

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866-1934, ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 656