Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume I, Part 77

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

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Volckert J. Douw owned much land at Eso- puis, and was one of the original patentees of that settlement. On some occasions he bought in conjunction with his partner, Jan Thomase, other times individually. They had bought Apjen's (Papsknae, or Little Mon- key) Island together. Douw bought Consta- pel's Island, lying opposite the township of Bethlehem, just south of Albany, half of which he sold in 1677 to Pieter Winne, an- other prominent early settler. In 1672 he owned Schutter's Island, below Beeren Island. fourteen miles south of Albany, which he sold to Barent Pieterse Coeymans, from whom the town of Coeymans derives its name.

He was made deacon of the Dutch Re- formed church in 1654, about twelve years after its projection by Patroon Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, who sent over to his colony Dom-

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inie Megapolensis, the pioneer in church work in the province of New York outside of New Amsterdam. This was some sixty years before any other church was established in Albany, the English church coming next, in 1712, and its first edifice. St. Peter's church, was opened for worship November 25, 1717. From 1654 to 1660 he was a magistrate, and in those days they were the most learned men of the community. At various times he was attorney and guardian for several large es- tates. He occupied the position of commis- sary, and continuously that of Indian com- missioner. He made his will in 1680, and died in 1681, at Albany.

Volckert Jansen Douw married, in New Amsterdam, April 19, 1650, Dorothe Janse Van Breestede, of Breestede, Denmark (now Germany). She died in Albany, November 22, 1701. Children: 1. Jonas Volckert, mar- ried (first), September 20, 1683, Magdalena Quackenbush ; (second), April 24, 1696, Ca- trina Witbeck (see forward). 2. Andries, mar- ried (first ), June 24, 1685, Annetje ; (second), June 23, 1697, Elsje Hanse ; (third) October 21, 1702, Lydia De Meyer ; (fourth), in New York, February 24, 1708, Adriana Vender- grift. 3. Volckertje, married Claes Van Brockhoven. 4. Dorothe. 5. Catrina (Caat- je). married, April 30, 1684, Hendrick Jans Oothout. 6. Engeltje (Angelica), married, about 1683, Andries Jans Witbeck. 7. Hen- drick, married, October 3, 1697, Neeltje Myndertse Van Yveren. widow of Captain Marten Gerritsen Van Bergen, who died be- fore 1704. 8. Elsje. 9. Rebecca. 10. Volck- ert, married, November 16, 1701, Margareta Van Tricht. 11. Greitje, married Gerrit Teu- nis Van Vechten.

(III) Captain Jonas Volckert Douw. son of Captain Volckert Jansen Douw and Dorothe Janse Van Breestede, was a lieutenant of foot in the year 1700, and was later promoted to the rank of captain. He was born in Green- bush ( Rensselaer, N. Y.), and dying October 7, 1736, was buried in the family burial ground of Wolvenhoeck. at Douw's Point. He married (first), at Beverwyck, September 20, 1683, Magdalena, daughter of Pieter Quackenbush and his wife Martje, by whom he had four children. After her death he married, April 24, 1696, at Schenectady, Ca- trina, daughter of Jan Thomas Witbeck and widow of Jacob Sanders Glen, of Schenec- tady, by whom no children. Children : I. Marytje, baptized October 19, 1684. 2. Volck- ert, baptized November 14, 1686, at Albany, died April 17, 1711. 3. Dorothe, baptized June 22, 1689. 4. Petrus, baptized, Albany, March 24, 1692; married, October 8, 1717,

Anna Van Rensselaer ; died August 21, 1775.

(IV) Captain Petrus Douw, son of Jonas Douw and Magdalena Petrus Quackenbush, was baptized at Albany, March 24, 1692, and died at his home in Greenbush, August 21. 1775. He was the sole surviving son of his father, and became a man of great impor- tance throughout the province. He was a member of the twenty-seventh council and general assembly of the Province of New York, "begun and holden at the house of Jacob Dyckman in the Out Ward of the City of New York."

On the eastern bank of the Hudson river. about a mile below Albany, was a point of land, which was known in 1717 as Wolven Hoeck, because it was infested with packs of wolves. It was a beautiful location other- wise, covered with a heavy growth of elins and sycamores of enormous growth, and it was there that the wolves came down to the shore to drink. Captain Petrus Douw select- ed this spot for the location of his home, and building a house there in 1724, named it Wolvenhoeck. His great-great-granddaugh- ter, Mrs. Mary Lanman Douw Ferris, has made considerable research to learn all she could about the family homestead, which de- scended for many generations in the family, and from these discoveries one may form an excellent impression of the quaintness of the old place. The original house was a story and a half high, and well spread out on the ground. It was built of wood, and bricks brought from Holland, it is said, as ballast in a sailing vessel, and the roof was shingled with white fir. The top of the gable wall was notched into corbel steps, and the black fore bricks of the kiln were laid, alternating with yellow ones, to make checks on the gable fronts. The roof sloped from the ridge pole and dormer windows broke its uniformity. The heavy, wooden, outside shutters swung upon massive iron hinges, with a crescent cut near the top to admit the early light. Above the front door was a free-stone slab with the initials "P. D., A. V. R.," cut into it, they being the first letters of his own and his wife's name. The front wall was pierced at places for the use of muskets in case of a sudden emergency, for at that period there were fre- quent attacks at the hands of savage Indians ; in fact, a particularly desperate raid was once made upon the place by what were called the River Indians, coming from below. The front door of this house was divided into two parts across the middle. The upper half, which usually swung wide open in the summer months, had two bull's-eyes of glass, so as to light the hallway, and was graced with a

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heavy, brass knocker, brought from Leuwar- den. The lower half had a heavy latch. The great hall was to some extent a living room, and through its center was the hoist door, through which wheat was hoisted by employ- ing a crane, for storage in the loft, for every house of any pretensions had its cock-loft within the steep roof, where house slaves slept, and also used for storage purposes. A little to one side was a staircase with a flight of steps leading to the loft. Over the front door was a shelf with steps by which it might be reached, and here was placed the tobacco box. The rooms were wainscoted to a height of about three feet, excepting the dining- room, which had a chair-board running about it. The windows were of small, diamond- shaped panes of glass, set into leaden frames. Chintz calico formed the curtains, put up without cornices. The only carpet in service was in the parlor. The chairs were stiff, straight, high-backed, covered with haircloth, similarly to the claw-footed sofa, which were all ornamented with triple rows of brass nails. These articles of furniture were of San Do- mingo mahogany, and reckoned of value in the present age. Very interesting were the stand with a turning top, and a small table with claw feet, holding the family Bible, in which accurate records were entered by fath- er and son. Hanging on the whitewashed walls were oil portraits of those left in the Fatherland, some painted by Frans Hals and Gerhardus Douw. The tiles in the chimney- jamb were laid in cement, made from pow- dered clamshells, displaying pictorial de- signs of scriptural nature, brought from Leu- warden, The fireplace was so large that one might easily stand therein, and it held a hickory log eight feet long ; the brass shovel and tongs standing at the corners, brought from Harlem. Over the mantel was a long glass separated in three divisions by strips of moulding, and alongside hung the bellows. On each side of the chimney was a sort of al- cove with low benches. Between the front windows was a sconce. The Dutch tea-table stood in one corner, upon it spread a linen cloth, once the property of Anneke Jans, Mrs. Douw's great-grandmother, The china was of delicate texture and was valued highly, for it was brought all the way from China in the sailing vessel of Captain Stewart Dean, of Albany, on the first journey ever made to that far country hy a vessel docked at Al- bany. It was made to order, with initials worked into the pattern. The napkins in use were spun at home. These and other napery were kept in an oaken, iron-bound chest. Back of the living-room was the "meister's

bedroom," containing an enormous bedstead, with its four corner posts handsomely carved and an elaborate canopy above, a fringed val- ance to match hanging below. The sacking bottom was pierced with holes bound with. linen thread, and by this means it was stretched by a stout rope to corresponding pegs in the framework. Back of this room. was a small library and office, a large mahog- any desk with numerous pigeon-holes and books above, being the principal piece of fur- niture beyond the heavy, comfortable arm- chair. Off the library was the dood kamer, or death chamber, where those of the family who died were placed until the funeral cere- mony was held. These ceremonies were made events of great importance, and the little silver spoons, marked with initials, given on that occasion, are still treasured as heirlooms. It is related that when Judge Douw died in 1801, a keg of wine which he had prepared for that specific occasion was brought out. He had it spiced so carefully under his direc- tions that many of the guests, having imbibed too freely, had to be carried to their homes on ox-sleds.

The Wolvenhoeck house was surrounded by a circular stockade. It stood twelve feet high, and was made of oak posts which had been pointed and bolted to transverse timbers, having a gate, pointed on both the upper and lower sides, which was raised by weights in a gallows frame. Many Indian treaties were. executed inside this little stockade, and at stich times the chiefs and their squaws slept on their buffalo robes inside the limits, while their band found shelter under the trees along the river bank.

It was while he was living here that Gen- eral Abercrombie's army was encamped in 1758 opposite his house, while recruiting be- fore proceeding to Ticonderoga. They dug from the steeps banks to form places wherein. to hang their kettles and perform their cook- ing, and these holes were pointed out as curi- osities until nearly 1900, when the elements and improvements of the river had eradicated' most of them.

Captain Petrus Douw married, at Albany, October 8, 1717, Anna Van Rensselaer, born at her father's home, known as Fort Crailo,. Greenbush (Rensselaer, N. Y.); was bap- tized February 2, 1696, and died at Green- bush, March 29, 1756. Her father was Ma- jor Hendrick Van Rensselaer, born in Rens- selaerwyck, October 23, 1667, died in Green- bush, July 2, 1740, who married. in New York City, March 19, 1689, Catharina Van Brugh, born in New York, baptized there- April 19, 1665, died in Grenbush, December-

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6. 1730. Petrus Douw and Anna Van Rens- selaer had nine children, six of whom lived to marry and raise families which became prominent wherever they settled. Children : I. Magdalena, born August 1, 1718, died October 12, 1796; married, May 29, 1740, Harmen Gansevoort, son of Leendert (or Leonard) Gansevoort, and Catrina De Wande- laer, who was baptized at Albany, April 20, 1712: died there, March 7, 1801 ; by whom : Sara, baptized June 17, 1741 ; Petrus, bap- tized January 16, 1743; Anna, baptized Octo- ber 19, 1744; Anna Gansevoort, died August 9, 1794, aged 49 years, 10 months, 3 days ; Catarina, baptized October 25, 1747 ; Petrus, baptized July 16, 1749; Leendert (or Leon- ard), baptized July 14, 1751 ; Hendrick, bap- tized September 22, 1753; Hendrick, baptized June 5, 1757; Catarina, baptized October 15, 1758.

2. Volckert Petrus, born at Wolvenhoeck, Greenbush, March 23, 1720, died there, March 20. 1801 : married, Albany, May 20, 1742, Anna De Peyster ( sce forward).

3. Hendrick, born April 13, 1722; died De- cember 17, 1756.

4. Catrina, born March 23, 1724; died Jan- uary 1. 18II.

5. Maria, born December 25, 1725 : died Au- gust 17, 1759; married, December 2. 1750, at Albany, Johannes Gansevoort, son of Leen- dert Gansevoort and Catrina De Wandelaer, born at Albany, April 3, 1719, baptized (Bible record), April 7, 1721 : died at Albany, No- vember 28, 1781: by whom: Catrina, bap- tized June 9, 1751 : Leendert, baptized Janu- ary 14, 1753; Leendert, born June 3, 1754, died December 16, 1834; Annatje, baptized July 31, 1757.

6. Margarita, born October 2, 1729; mar- ried. December 21, 1752, Dr. Henricus Van Dyck, son of Cornelis Van Dyck and Maria Bries, who was born October 2, 1726; by whom: Cornelis, baptized December 9, 1753: Maria. baptized March 21, 1756; Anna, bap- tized November 5, 1758; Petrus, born April 29, 1760.

7. Anna. born February 20. 1732, (Bible record) ; baptized February 5, 1732, (church record ) : married. Albany, June 3, 1761, Ger- ardus Beekman, of New York City ; by whom : Petrus Douw, born September 2, 1762, died February 23, 1835, married Hannah, who died April 3, 1849, aged eighty-three years : Jacobus (James), born December 29, 1766; Gerardus, born August 5, 1767; Anna, born September 16, 1769, died October 3. 1821; Maria, born August 18, 1773; Gerardus, born October 27, 1775.

8. Elizabeth, born December 1, 1733; mar-

ried, January 21, 1764, Johannes Beeckman, son of Martin Beeckman and Gertrude Viss- cher, who was baptized March II, 1722; will proved July 12, 1790 : by whom : Martin, bap- tized November 15. 1767, died young ; Petrus, baptized August 19, 1769, died young : Mar- tin, baptized May 5, 1772; Petrus, baptized March 15, 1775, married Magdalen Van Rensselaer.

9. Rageltje, born February 27, 1736. died August 4, 1806.

(V) Mayor Volckert Petrus Douw, eldest son of Captain Petrus Douw and Anna Van Rensselaer, was born at Wolvenhoeck, in Greenbush, Columbia county, New York, March 23, 1720, and died there, on March 20, 1801. He was a staunch lifelong friend of General Philip Schuyler, and after his death it was said of him that he was "a true patriot ; in civil and domestic relations, he was consid- ered a pattern, and no man in Albany died more regretted."

He was recorded as "a freeman and citizen of the city of Albany," in 1748, then twenty- eight years of age, and the next year he was chosen an alderman of the First ward. His promotion in public affairs was rapid, and for half a century he figured in the principal of- fices which his fellow townsmen could offer him. He was elected recorder in 1750, and served through 1760. On October 2, 1757, he became presiding judge of the court of common pleas, which position he continued to occupy until May, 1775, and hence was more commonly addressed as Judge Douw. In 1759 he was a member of the colonial assem- bly, serving until 1766. He was a captain of militia in 1755, participating in the battle of Lunenburg. Considerable interest was taken by him in the Dutch Reformed church, and he was chosen a deacon. He was appointed the twenty-fifth mayor of Albany by Lieuten- ant-Governor Cadwallader Colden, and served as city's executive from September 29, 1761, until September 9, 1770. His officiate was during most trying times, but he proved him- self equal to the occasion, and his acts won admiration.

Although busily engaged by his several pub- lic offices, he nevertheless found time to take charge of his large mercantile business, and from time to time was a most influential pe- titioner with the Lord Commissioners for Trade in seeking needed reforms. He was the owner of a large road house located about seven miles from Albany, on the stage route to Niagara, popularly known as "Douw's Inn." He established and brought to a de- gree of perfection a glass factory at a place named Douwsborough, and this early attempt

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to produce glassware for domestic use is said to have resulted in a manufacture superior to that of English make. At this day his endeavors are cited when one writes upon the history of glass-making in America.

By royal appointment he was presiding judge of the court of common pleas; but, re- gardless of personal consideration, he took a decided stand in the cause of the colonies in opposition to royalty. In May, 1775, he de- clined to serve any longer, being moved by a patriotic spirit not to hold office under the British government. Because of the unsettled condition of the country at large, few courts were held under the constitution of the state until after the close of the revolution, but in 1778 he was appointed first judge of Albany by the provincial convention. In his opposi- tion to the stamp act he was closely affiliated with Jeremias Van Rensselaer and Philip Schuyler, both of them his intimate friends in Albany, and their tactful speeches did much to turn the tide of feeling on this matter in Albany.

He was appointed an Indian commissioner in 1774, and this was a fresh bond of sympa- thy drawing him into closer relations with Philip Schuyler, for to the latter's acts is the country much indebted for many important amicable acts on the part of the tribes. He was chosen a delegate on May 5, 1775, to meet in general congress in New York on the twenty-second of that month. On the twenty- third about seventy of the eighty-one dele- gates assembled at the Exchange in New York City, and organized a provincial congress. They chose Peter Van Brugh for president and Volckert Petrus Douw for vice-president. Mayor Douw was appointed one of the com- mittee of safety in 1775. On July 13, 1755. he was appointed one of the board of commis- sioners for Indian affairs in the northern de- partment, and his associates were General Philip Schuyler, Major Joseph Hawley, Tur- bot Francis and Oliver Wolcott. A month later he and Francis were sent to hold an im- portant conference with the sachems and war- riors of the Six Nations at a place called the German Flatts, west of Albany, then in the wilderness of New York. This was an im- portant incident in his life. The commission- ers, on September Ist, in their reply to the speech of "Little Abraham," acceded to the principal requests of the Indians, and informed them that General Schuyler and Commission- er Douw had been appointed to keep the coun- cil fires burning bright and to guard the tree of pcace at Albany. Schuyler gave orders not to molest the Canadians or Indians, which or- ders were violated with serious consequences.

Upon Schuyler's return to Albany in Decem- ber, he found sixty members of the Six Na- tions waiting for him. Mayor Douw was the only other commissioner present, yet the exi- gencies of the case demanded action, and he conducted the business with complete satis- faction to all concerned. Mayor Douw ex- hibited a marked concern in the dealings with the Indians, and in the spring of 1776 wrote to General Schuyler as follows: "Mr. Dean came down from Onondaga with the deputies from the seven tribes in Canada who have been to attend the meeting of the Six Nations at their council house at Onondaga. They told me that their clothes were worn out on their long journey on the public business. I told them that I was much convinced of it, and have given them each I pr. shoes, I pr. buckles and a hat. I told them I would write to General Schuyler to provide them with some clothes, as it would be troublesome to carry them from here to Canada. They were much pleased with it."

Mr. Douw represented congress at the council held in March, 1778, at Johnstown, to secure the neutrality if not the co-operation of the entire body of the Six Nations. This was an important mission and evidenced their faith in him by the appointment. He was made commissary in 1779, and served in the senate from 1785 to 1793.

Judge Douw was a striking character when seen upon the streets of Albany or when in attendance at conferences in other parts of the province. Although he lived more than a century ago, we have an excellent descrip- tion of him. He was tall and dignified, stand- ing six feet two inches, as straight as an ar- row ; said by some to be handsome. He had a clean-shaven face, exposing a firm mouth and piercing eyes. He wore his hair in pecu- liar fashion, probably common to others of his standing in those times, tied in a queue, with his front hair brushed back in severe lines and powdered. He usually wore a long- waisted coat, the skirts reaching nearly to his ankles, which was adorned with large sil- ver buttons made from Spanish coins. Knee breeches, silk stockings, and shoes with silver buckles shining, these set with rhinestones, heightened the general effect ; but more prom- inent than these was his cocked hat. He car- ried a silver-headed cane, and bore a turnip- shaped, silver watch, from which hung a heavy seal, while his tobacco or snuff-box was engraved with initials and coat-of-arms. Other personal effects consisted of a tongue- scraper, tooth, ear and nail-pick, which closed within a handle. He was famous as a horse- man, and it is said that he never feared to

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attempt to ride the fiercest animal. On one occasion, when the various chiefs were as- sembled at Wolvenhoeck, General Schuyler was present at a convivial entertainment and offered to wager that the horse he had ridden to Douw's house could outrun the famous horse of his host, named Sturgeon, although Douw had many times won purses by his fleet steed and was a man disliking to be balked. It is related that this took place in midwinter, but the ice was thin and very slushy on account of heavy rains. Indians. negroes and Dutchmen cleared a space upon the ice and formed a line with lanterns up and down the river. It was a moment of ex- citement, with friends of these two men of prominence standing about and cheering lusti- ly, and Judge Douw's horse "Sturgeon" came out victorious amid the yells.

Mr. Douw was the owner of a great many negro slaves, who were devoted to him, and this was manifest by their remaining with him even after the emancipation act in New York state. He had one of pronounced vi- cious tendencies, Dinah, who set fire to the barn of Leonard Gansevoort. in Albany, which caused the great conflagration of 1793. destroying more than an entire block of the principal houses in the city. She was tried and hanged in the presence of a multitude gathered around the gallows erected on Pinx- ter Hill.

Judge Douw was once a prisoner, after be- ing captured by the British, and was confined in Quebec. While there he learned the French language. He had been in the habit of employing a body-servant. As commissary he set out to join the army at "Old" Sara- toga, followed by his man, "King Charles," on horseback. Suddenly there was a rumpus outside the stockade gate and "King Charles" was found calling loudly for assistance, and ready with his invented tale of woe that his master had been attacked. It turned out that the timid negro had seen some distance off a sumach waving in the wind and imagined he had seen the red plume of a savage headgear. When he had fled in fear he told the story to avoid threats for cowardice.

With all the Indians who came to Albany he was on most friendly terms, and this stood him in good stead when he had to meet them on his official business. All the chiefs of the Six Nations were not only well known by him. but many of them had been welcomed as guests at his home. The famous Red Jacket was one of those who valued his acquaintance. When one of his daughters died, the Six Na- tions sent him a helt of condolence as a proof of their sympathy.

Mayor Volckert Petrus Douw married, at Albany, May 20, 1742, Anna De Peyster, born at Albany, March 28, 1723, died at Wol- venhoeck, Greenbush (Rensselaer, N. Y.), June 14, 1794. Her father was Mayor Jo- hannes De Peyster of Albany, born in New Amsterdam, January 10, 1694, died at Al- bany, February 27, 1789, married, at Albany, November 24, 1715. Anna Schuyler (daughter of Mayor Myndert Schuyler), born in Al- bany. February 27, 1697, died at Albany, September 13. 1750. Children,

1. Anna, born March 25, 1743, died at Al- bany, February 18, 1774, without issue ; mar- ried. Albany, November 25, 1761, Dirck Ten Broeck, born. Albany, July 26, 1738, died at Albany, May 29, 1780, son of Mayor Dirck Ten Broeck (born Albany, December 4, 1686; died Albany, January 3, 1-51), and his wife, Margarita Cuyler (born Albany, October 26, 1692, died May 24, 1783), whom he married, Albany, November 26, 1714.

2. Ragel (Rachel), born February 8, 1744, died August 27, 1799; married, Albany, No- vember 17, 1765, Hendrick Johannes Van Rensselaer, born October 24, 1742, son of Jo- hannes Van Rensselaer (bap. Jan. 11, 1708), who married, Albany, January 3, 1734. En- geltje (Angelica) Livingston (bap. July 17, 1698) : by whom: Johannes, born March 8, 1768 ; Engeltje, July 21, 1770; Anna, January 31, 1773.

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Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume I, Part 77

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