Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume I, Part 89

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

USA > New York > Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume I > Part 89

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

David Noble, grandfather of Elcy (Noble) Boyd, was born at Terrahen, Ireland, died at Arlington, Vermont, July 14, 1807. In 1795 he came to the United States. He was a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church,

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and eminent for his piety and many virtues. He died in the pulpit at the close of a sermon. He married, in 1768, Margaret Caruthers, born in Holywood, Fermanagh county, Ire- land, about 1752, daughter of William. She died in Ireland, February 28, 1790, aged thirty-eight years. They had seven children, of whom Edward was the second. Archibald Noble, great-grandfather of Elcy (Noble) Boyd, was born in Terrahen, Fermanagh county, Ireland. The family were noted for great strength and moral integrity. They were originally members of the Church of England, but later became followers of John Wesley, a faith their descendants in the Uni- ted States have adbered to with great uni- formity. He married Eleanor Jamison, who died in Ireland. They had eight children, of whoin David was the third.

Children of Jesse Condé and Elcy (Noble) Boyd: 1. Alida, born January 25, 1826, mar- ried Hiram Burton, born at East Greenbush, New York. 2. Mary J., born August 9, 1827, married Charles P. Easton (see Easton). 3. Margaret, born December 22, 1828, married Thomas R. Ferris. 4. James, born June 22, 1831, married Sarah J. Locke, Chicago, Illi- nois. 5. Edward. 6. John. 7. William, died in infancy. 8. David, born July 4, 1839. 9. Robert, born in Albany, July 13, 1841 ; mar- ried (first) Celia Stowe, (second ) Helen Pitcher. 10. Charles Lansing, born in Al- bany, May 11, 1843, married Melvina Locke, Chicago, Illinois. 11-12. Caatherine, Caro- line (twins), born and died November 23. 1845.

DE FOREST Melchort De Forest, of Asvesnes, France, was the father of Jean De Forest, the first Protestant of the De Forest family, and was the grandfather of the first De For- est emigrant to America. He married Cath- erine de Fosset, of Mons. Jean, their young- est son, married Anne Maillard, and settled in Holland along with thousands of his coun- trymen. Walloons and Huguenots.

(I) Jesse, son of Jean and Anne (Mail- lard) De Forest, was born about 1575. There is no important information concerning him after December 1, 1623, when in a tax list of Leyden. Holland, opposite his name is the entry "gone to the West Indies," which may have meant anywhere in North or Central America. Up to 1606 he appears as a mer- chant residing at Sedan, France, and in 1615 he appears in the Walloon registers of Ley- den, where he was residing in 1620, the time of the departure of the Pilgrim fathers for America. He conceived the design of plant-

ing a colony of his own people in the New World, and this design he carried from year to year and from state to state until he had brought it to execution. He gathered a colony of fifty or sixty Walloon and French fam- ilies, "all of the Reformed faith," and prayed. the King of England to grant them a set- tlement in Virginia and "to maintain them in their religion" by undertaking their pro- tection and defence. The petition or demand was signed by fifty-six men, mostly heads of families, the first of whom was Jesse De For- est. They prayed the King that he would grant them a territory of sixteen miles in diameter where they might cultivate fields, meadows, vineyards, etc., and article seventh. of the petition reads :

"Whether they would be permitted to hunt all' game, whether furred or feathered; to fish in the sea and rivers, and to cut heavy and small tim- ber, as well for navigation as for other purposes, according to their desire; in a word, whether they might make use of everything above and below ground, according to their will and pleas- ure, saving the royal rights and trade in every- thing with such persons as should be there to- privilege."

The petition was not acted upon favorably. He continued his enrolling, and looked for aid from Holland in getting the colony to América. Here Jesse De Forest disappears- from distinct sight. It seems clear, however, that his first and perhaps only colonizing ven- ture, was to that part of South America which. the Dutch called the "wild coast," or Guinea. To this region two successive bands of set- tlers were despatched from Leyden in 1623. The fleet which Jesse De Forest accompanied sailed out of the Neuse, twenty miles south of Leyden, December 23, 1623. Nothing fur- ther is known of him. Ile was a man of fixed purpose, which he carried into execution, but whether he sleeps beside the Oaypok or beside the Hudson is not known. Ile had aroused and directed the emigrants who founded New York as well as those who established a dwell- ing place in Guinea and among the Carribean Islands. He married Marie du Cloux, and their seventh recorded child, Isaac, is the founder in America of the De Forests of Schenectady.

(II) Isaac, son of Jesse and Marie (du Cloux) De Forest, was baptized at Leyden, Holland, July 10, 1616. With his brother, Henry, then thirty years of age, Isaac, who was ten years his junior, quitted Amsterdam, October 1. 1636, in a small vessel called the "Renssalaerwyck," which belonged to Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, the first patroon. They reached New Amsterdam in safety and set- tled upon the broad fertile flat called "Mus-

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coota," now the site of Harlem, upper New York City. Henry had a grant of two hun- dred acres : Isaac, a strip of one hundred acres along the Harlem river and part of the later day Morris Park. Henry, the wealthier and apparently the abler of the two brothers, died July 26, 1637. The interests of his widow were safeguarded by Dominie Evarardus Bo- gardus, as her attorney. She married again. Isaac was still unmarried, and for several years remained at Harlem raising tobacco and selling it at New Amsterdam for transport to Holland. On June 9. 1641, he married "Sarah du Trieux of New Amsterdam, spin- ster," daughter of Phillip du Trieux and Ja- queline Noiret, founders of the Truax family of America. He became a wealthy tobacco dealer and brewer of New Amsterdam, and was appointed in 1658 by Governor Stuyve- sant and council a "great burgher." When the English fleet took New York in 1664 he was one of the persons of distinction seized and held. His will is dated June 4, 1672. He died in 1674. His widow died in 1692. Their children were: Jesse, born 1642, died young; Susannah, born 1645, married Peter De Reimer; Gerrit, born 1647, died young ; Michael, born 1649, died young ; John, born 1650, "chivurgeon," or physician ; Philip, born 1652, a cooper; Isaac, born 1655, a baker; Hendrick, born 1657, a glazier; Maud, born 1666. married Bernard Darby; David, born 1669. a glazier.

(III) Philip, fifth son of Isaac and Sarah (du Tricux ) De Forest, was born in New Amsterdam, in 1652. He became the founder of the Albany branch of the De Forests. He married, January 5, 1676, Tryntje, daughter of Isaac Kip, and removed to Albany. He served as high sheriff, and held many offices. He died in 1727, and was buried August 18 of that year. Children: 1. Sara, baptized in New York, January 2. 1678. 2. Susanna, baptized in Albany, April 1, 1684. 3. Mertje, July 25, 1686. 4. Isaac, February 20, 1689. 5. Jesse, January 13, 1692, married Neeltje Quackenbush. 6. Catrina. November 25, 1694. 7. Johannes, September 12. 1697, mar- ried Marie Quackenbush. 8. David. Septem- ber 8, 1700, sce forward. 9. Abraham, Feb- ruary 21. 1703, married Rebecca Symonse Van Antwerpen.

(IV) David, fourth son of Philip (of Al- bany) and Tryntje (Kip) De Forest, was a farmer. He married Abigail Van Alstyne, November 8, 1717. Children : 1. Philip, bap- tized February 21. 1719, died young. 2. Philip, May 1, 1720. 3. Jeanetje, March II, 1722. 4. Marten, May 14, 1724, see forward. 5. Catharine, September 15, 1728. 6. Susanna,

September 26, 1731. 7. Maria, April 21, 1734. 8. Jacob, March 3, 1737. Marten, Philip and Jacob lived on adjoining farms in North Greenbush, Rensselaer county, New York.

(V) Marten, third son of David and Abi- gail (Van Alstyne) De Forest, was baptized May 14, 1724. He was a farmer of Green- bush, Rensselaer county. He married Tan- neke Winne. Children : I. Catarina, bap- tized September 15, 1751. 2. Peter, baptized April 15, 1753. 3. David, September 21, 1755. 4. Phillipus, January 15, 1758. 5. Willem, April 13, 1760. 6. Catharine, May 6, 1762. 7. Rachel, born March 23. 1764. 8. Jannetie, born September 14. 1766. 9. Marytje, Janu- ary 29, 1769. 10. Jacob, see forward. II. Daniel, baptized August 4. 1774.

(VI) Jacob, fifth son of Marten and Tan- neke (Winne) De Forest, was born in Green- bush, New York, May 28. 1771, died in the town of Rotterdam, Schenectady county, New York, June, 1854. He went to Duanesburg, Schenectady county, New York, in 1780. In 1809 he went to Rotterdam, and late in life removed to the village of Schenectady. He married (first) February 2, 1794. Anna Lan- sing, who bore him five children. He married (second) July 30, 1808, Mary Wiley, died April 11, 1859, who bore him four children. Children : Cornelia, married Andrew White ; Jacob, born October 23, 1797, married Anna Schermerhorn, and had twelve children, of whom the eldest was Colonel Jacob De Forest, a distinguished soldier and officer of the civil war, died 1909; Tenetta: Sarah: Obadiah Lansing (see forward ) : Anna : John : Mar- ten : and James.

(VII) Obadiah Lansing, son of Jacob and Anna (Lansing) De Forest, was born in the town of Rotterdam, New York, August 8. 1806, died April 17, 1859. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and in addition learned the trade of cooper. Leaving the farm he lo- cated in Schenectady, where he had a shop and worked at his trade. He was active in local politics, and was a leader. He was elec- ted deputy sheriff on the Know Nothing ticket. and in 1855 was elected sheriff of Sche- nectady county, serving three years, 1856- 59. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Free and Accepted Masons. Ile married, in Rotterdam, Sarah Vedder, born in Rotterdam, March 19, 1808. died Feb- ruary 18, 1867 (see Vedder). She was a member of the Dutch Reformed church. Chil- dren: I. Ann Lansing, born November 29, 1826, died July 20, 1849, during the epi- demic of cholera that devastated the section in that year; she was unmarried. 2. Re- becca, born October 20, 1829: married Ste-

Henry J. De Forest

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phen D. Gates, of 1006 Union street, Sche- nectady ; she survives him and is a resident of Schenectady. 3. Jacob, born November 29, 1832, died January 28, 1895; like his father, was sheriff of Schenectady county ; he mar- ried (first) Agnes Dorn; one living daugh- ter. Anna, unmarried ; married (second) Alice Turnbull, now deceased ; children: Henry, Mellia, Burdella. 4. Ella Vedder, born Feb- ruary 27, 1837, died February 19, 1895 ; mar- ried Christopher Van Slyck, deceased. 5. Frank V., born April 11, 1843; he is now

retired from business and resides at 105 Bran- dywine avenue, Schenectady ; married Rachel Schraff ; children living at the present time: Walter, Nellie, Frank V. Jr., Belle, William, Martha, Jay and May. 6. Henry S., men- tioned below. 7. Lansing, mentioned below.

(VIII) Henry S., third son of Obadiah Lansing and Sarah (Vedder) De Forest, was born February 16, 1847. He was educated in the high school of Schenectady and at Poughkeepsie Business College. He has for many years been actively engaged in the real estate business in Schenectady, transacting a very large business in this line. He is a di- rector of the Citizens' Trust Company, in which he is the largest stockholder. He served as city recorder of Schenectady from 1881 to 1885, and as mayor from 1885 to 1887 and from 1889 to 1891. During his business career he has erected more than twelve hundred houses in Schenectady, and his own home, located on the corner of Union street and Seward Place, was erected at a cost of $150,000, being the finest in the city. Mr. De Forest is an exceedingly energetic and ·enterprising citizen, and is highly regarded in the community. He is a member of St. George Lodge, No. 6, Free and Accepted Ma- sons, also of the Mohawk and Golf clubs. Mr. Henry S. De Forest was elected to the House ·of Representatives on the Republican ticket on November 8, 1910, in the Twenty-third Con- gressional District, comprising the counties of Albany and Schenectady. He carried both ·counties, his plurality being over 1900. His Democratic opponent was Hon. Curtis N. Douglas, of Albany, a brother-in-law of Gov- .ernor John A. Dix, who was elected on the Democratic ticket at the referred to election .of November, 1910.

Henry S. De Forest married. September 6, 1876, Lucy E., daughter of Harmonuis Van Epps. Children: 1. Beulah De Forest, mar- ried William Howard Wright, son of Profes- sor Thomas W. Wright, of Schenectady ; chil- dren : Lucie De Forest, died, aged five years ; Vivian : Elva; Henry De Forest. 2. Pearl De Forest, married George K. Morris, of

Amsterdam, New York, a manufacturer; no issue.

(VIII) Lansing, fourth son of Obadiah Lansing and Sarah (Vedder ) De Forest, was born August 17, 1849. He learned the trade of machinist, after which he went to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he was for nine years employed as foreman of the railroad com- pany's machine shops. In 1895 he returned to Glenville and now resides there. He is a member of the Reformed church, and a Dem- ocrat in politics. He married, November 12, 1873, Philena C., born in Rotterdam, New York, May 13, 1856, died in Glenville, May 14, 1910, daughter of Richard D. and Cordelia (Gregg) Cook, both natives of Schenectady county, New York, Richard D. Cook, son of Richard M. Cook, was a photographer of Schenectady; he enlisted in the Union army in 1861, and was captain of a company of the Thirty-fifth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, in which he enlisted; he died in the military hospital at Elmira, New York, June 1, 1865, of disease contracted in the army. His wife, Cordelia (Gregg) Cook, died three weeks previous to his death. They had one child, Mrs. De Forest, above mentioned. Children of Mr. and Mrs. De Forest: I. Lansing B., born September 12, 1874: a farmer of Glen- ville ; married Ella E. Baldwin, of Wisconsin ; children: Ruth M. and Helen. 2. Ella Ved- der, born June 7, 1881 ; married Charles Kline, a farmer of Glenville, resides with her father.

Jasper Van Wormer, VAN WORMER son of Peter Van Wor- mer and Mary Van Dyke, was born near Crane's Village (Glen- ville). Montgomery county, New York, May 23. 1822, and for the greater part of his life resided in Albany, where he became one of the leading men of the city.

He was of the old Dutch stock which set- tled the provinces of New York and New Jer- sey, and in the line of descent, extending over more than two centuries since arriving in America, he lost none of the best traits of their sturdy character-was energetic. pro- gressive, strictly honest and most companion- able.

Henri Van Wormer was the original Amer- ican ancestor of this family, who came with a brother from Wormer, Holland, about 1655, and first settled in New Jersey, but later on moved up the Hudson river and located in this locality, after which time the descendants spread throughout the northern part of New York state. The same family was ably repre- sented in the revolution by Lieutenant Henry

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Van Wormer, of the Continental army, of the Fourteen Albany County Regiment, and his son Abram served in the war of 1812 with dis- tinction. In this way the family turns to im- perishable records connected with the found- ing of the nation.

When Mr. Van Wormer was twenty-one years of age he came to Albany to make his way in the world, that is, expecting better op- portunities than in mid-state, and he not only found these, but made excellent use of them as they were presented to his attention, for his life work was a success. His more active business career dates from the year 1847, when lie became associated with Michael Mc- Garvey in the retailing of stoves. About twenty years later, in 1866, the firm then known as Van Wormer & McGarvey built a foundry of some size and commenced the manufacture of stoves. At this time Albany was becoming recognized throughout the coun- try as a great stove manufacturing center, and in large measure it was due to the factory of this firm, who were practically among the pio- neers and supplied the enormous western trade. After the death of Mr. McGarvey, in 1876, the business was conducted under the title of J. Van Wormer & Co., and it then ex- panded considerably until it was regarded as one of the prime industries of the city. In 1905, Mr. Van Wormer, in advanced age, re- tired, but continued his interest in banking af- fairs.

Upon the organization of the Albany County Savings Bank in 1874, Mr. Van Wor- mer was made a member of the board and was elected its vice-president. In 1883 he was chosen president of this bank, which of- fice he held up to the time of his death, and three years after his election the bank took steps towards erection of its handsome edifice on the historic site of the birthplace of Gen- eral Philip Schuyler, which ancient building then gave way for this step in improvement of property. Mr. Van Wormer was regarded by the leading business men of Albany as an excellent adviser in banking matters, one who could be progressive and at the same time hew close to the line of conservatism so as not to involve the institution with undue risk, and he was made a director of the Merchants' Na- tional Bank of Albany. He was also an incor- porator of the Albany Trust Company, and retired from the board to be succeeded by his son. For more than twenty years he served as an inspector at elections of the New York Central railroad, which meetings were always held in Albany, and on retiring was again succeeded by his son.

He was deeply interested in the religious ac-

tivities of the city, and was a member of the First Lutheran Church. He was an in- corporator of the original Young Men's Chris- tian Association, in 1867, and when he died there was only one survivor of that board. He was its treasurer from 1886 until his death. He was one of the earliest members of the Holland Society of New York, joining it Oc- tober 25, 1886. He was a member of several other organizations, and held in highest re- spect by all his business associates in the most prominent affairs of the city. Although a man advanced in years and at times not enjoying very good health, he was to be seen nearly daily on the streets, and gave the appearance of one possessing considerable energy, active in movement, and keeping abreast of public matters up to the last. His residence, No. 252 State street, was among the handsomest in the city, and it was here that he died Novem- ber 4, 1907.

Mr. Van Wormer married at Albany, New York, September 20, 1848, Mary Louise, daughter of John T. and Gertrude Bridges, and she was residing at No. 252 State street in 1911. Children, born in Albany, New York : 1. William Henry, married, at Albany, Belle McGarvey. 2. Julia, married, at Albany, Nicholas Swits Walls. 3. Emma, educated at Albany Female Academy. 4. Frederick, died at Albany, September 29, 189 -; received his early education at the Albany Academy ; grad- uate of Williams College, afterwards gradu- ating from the School of Mines of Columbia University, and engaged in architecture with Marcus T. Reynolds, at Albany. 5. Edwin, married Helen Adams, at Albany ; educated at the Albany Academy. 6. Mary Louise, married at Albany, April 18, 1895, George Comstock Baker, born at Comstock, New York, April 29, 1868, died there, February 2, 1908; attor- ney; was son of Hon. Isaac V. Baker, Jr .; graduate of Union University ; post-graduate course at Cornell : engaged in law department of Delaware & Hudson railroad; member of Masters' Lodge; deputy attorney-general of New York ; president of Albany Camera Club ; president of New York Society of the Second War with Great Britain; member of Society of Colonial Wars ; regent of Philip Livingston Chapter, Sons of the Revolution ; member of the Fort Orange Club, Psi Epsilon and Phi Delta Phi societies.

John Williams, son of Col- WILLIAMS onel Joseph and Rebecca (Lanier) Williams, the for- mer a soldier in the revolutionary war, grand- son of Nathaniel Williams and of Thomas and Elizabeth (llicks) Lanier, and a great-grand-

Sen. John William.

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son of John Williams, the immigrant, was born in Surry county, North Carolina, Janu- ary 29, 1778, died in Knoxville, Tennessee, August 10, 1837. Three of his brothers were active and prominent in public affairs, Lewis serving as representative in congress, and Robert and Thomas L. were distinguished jurists. Upon the completion of his literary studies, John Williams pursued a course of study in law in Salisbury, North Carolina, was admitted to the bar in 1803, and began prac- tice near Knoxville, Tennessee. He served as captain in the Sixth United States Infantry from April, 1799, to June, 1800, and served as captain in the regular army in the war of 1812, also as colonel of a regiment of East Tennessee Mounted Volunteers, which he had raised and which he successfully led into Flor- ida against the Seminoles; he was commis- sioned colonel of the Thirty-ninth United States Infantry, June 18, 1813, and subse- quently served under General Jackson against the Creek Indians in Alabama, participating in the battle of Horse-Shoe Bend, March 27. 1813. He completed the unexpired term of United States Senator George W. Campbell, resigned, served from December 4, 1815, to March 3. 1823, officiating as chairman of the committee on military affairs. He was de- feated for re-election in 1823 by Andrew Jack- son. He was charge d'affaires to the Central American Federation by appointment from President John Quincy Adams from Decem- ber 29, 1825, to December 1, 1826; subse- quently a state senator, and declined a justice- ship in the supreme court of Tennessee. He married Melinda, daughter of James and Mary (Lawson) White.

PUMPELLY This family has contributed three generations to Albany citizenship, coming here from Owego, New York, before which time the family resided at Salisbury, Connecticut, and previous to that period lived in Pembroke. Massachusetts.

The Pumpelly arms: Argent chaussé azure on a pale gules, accosted by two roses in base (on the azure ) : a fleur-de-lis or ; a chief of the last an eagle displayed sable. Crest : On an esquire's helmet, ornamented with a wreath of the colors and lambrequins of azure and ar- gent, a ship on stormy waves. Motto: Telle est la vie (Such is life). To this description, which appears on the John H. Pumpelly tree, is added the following note: "The above- mentioned crest was used by the representa- tives of Numa Pompilius far back in Roman times, first on coins, as the prow of a ship, and afterward as a full Roman galley. James

Pumpelly, of Owego, used it on his scal in 1809: Harmon Pumpelly used it in 1825, and John Pumpelly, the father, used it on a seal, at Pembroke, about 1760."

(I) The first to bear the name of Pumpelly in America was Jean Pompili, whose family came from Avignon, and whose ancestors came there from Spoletto, Italy, in the train of Cardinal Abornoz. His son :

(II) Jean Pompili, was a sea captain at Plymouth, and was knocked overboard by a boom and drowned, a short time before the birth of his son, John Pumpely ( Pumpelly, or Pompilie). His wife, who was a Miss Mon- roe, married (second) a Rev. Mr. Glover.

(II) John, son of Jean Pompili, ran away from home when about fifteen years of age, and was next heard from when he enlisted September 15, 1755, as a drummer-boy in Captain John Loring's company of His Maj- esty's Foot, serving until December 17, 1755. He was patriotic, for he enlisted time and again ; made the entire campaign of the French and Indian war, and was made sergeant for distinguished bravery, carrying despatches alone ; he was a member of Captain Samuel Thaxter's company, to Fort William Henry, at the southern end of Lake George, through a decidedly wild and hostile country, when the forest wilderness was practically filled with bloodthirsty savages. He was sergeant of Captain Abel Keen's company, at Lunen- burg. March 30 to November 1, 1758. He was one of the Crown Point expedition, and at one time a member of Rogers' Rangers; also a messmate of Daniel Webster's father. He was engaged in the siege of Louisburg. and at the side of General Wolfe when he fell mortally wounded on the Heights of Abraham in 1759, assisting to carry that brave general from the firing line to die. He was a commis- sary under General Israel Putnam at the time of the battle of Saratoga, in October, 1777. with rank of third lieutenant. Another enlist- ment records that he entered Captain John Loring's company as drummer, April 22, and served until November 5, 1756. Hle took the oath of fidelity to the state. January 25, 1778. After his second marriage and taking up his residence at Salisbury. Connecticut, he be- came superintendent of the Connecticut Iron Mine and Furnace, an establishment engaged in casting cannon used in the revolution, and he had a corps of fifty men so employed under him. After leaving the army he was for a time an architect. In 1803 he removed with his family to settle at Danby, Broome county. New York. near Owego, where his son, Hon. James Pumpelly, had settled and become a man of wealth. During the latter part of his

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Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume I, Part 89

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