Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume II, Part 53

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866- ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 716

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theatricals as well as in weightier matter's. Mr. Granger was possessed of dramatic tal- ent, and obtained quite a local reputation as an amateur actor in his younger days. He ·came under the notice of one of the leading theatrical managers, who offered him a posi- tion with his Madison Square company. His prominence as an amateur actor and his four years connection with the French paper, La Patrie Nouvelle, gained him an extensive ac- quaintance in the city. He is held in high esteem in this city and sought by his country- men for counsel and advice in business mat- ters and all affairs of importance. In the ·days when he was struggling for an education he studied privately under Father Alphonse Villeneuve, who had been to Rome to write a history of the French clergy. This was a most valuable education for the young man, and the influence of the wise father's teach- ings has advantageously affected all his life and contributed largely to his success. He is a member of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic church; was vice-president of the Society of St. Jean Baptiste and trustee of Sacred Heart Academy, serving several years since the school came under control of the board of state regents.

He married, May 8, 1866, Elizabeth Bour- geois, born in Canada, at St. Jacques Le Min- eur, daughter of Leon Bourgeois, born in Can- ada, died at Cohoes, New York, in 1888. He was a farmer in Canada many years, returning there after twelve years' residence in Albany county, New York. He died at St. Jacques Le Mineur. Children of Moise A. and Eliza- beth (Bourgeois) Granger: I. Arthur Joseph, born in Cohoes, March 10, 1887; graduated from La Salle Institute, Troy, November, 1900; student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Insti- tute, where he is taking the course of civil engineering. 2. Aurore Alice, graduate of Egbert high school and Holy Name Academy, Albany : graduated from the training school for teachers in 1910. 3. Eva Marguerite, jun- jor in Egbert high school. 4. Bertha May, sophomore in Egbert high school. 5. Albert Joseph, died in infancy. 6. Armand Gabriel, student at Academy of the Sacred Heart. 7. Alma Angeline, student at Sacred Heart Academy.

The surname Larrabee, LARRABEE sometimes spelled L'Arabie, D'Arabie, and Arabie, in foreign documents and books, is of undoubted French origin, or has long existed in France. Tradition states that a Count Larrabee fig- ured conspicuously in French history, and that the Larrabees-devoted Huguenots-fought

for their religious rights under the brave Co- ligny. The family, once numerous in France, were nearly all killed in the Huguenot wars or driven from the country. The first persons in New England bearing the name, of whom there is an authentic record, were either broth- ers or near relatives. A Greenfield Larrabee was before the court as "a mariner" in New London, Connecticut, for doing some work on board his vessel during a storm, on a Sunday in 1637. In 1647, ten years later, William Larrabee, "a stranger," was called to answer for the same offense. Charles H. Larrabee, in the Hathaway genealogy says: "The Rev. Charles Larrabee was a Huguenot pastor, who escaped with a portion of his flock from the South of France, during the massacre which followed the Revocation of the Edict of Nan- tes, October 16, 1685, and landed at Baltimore, Maryland. From him have sprung all of the name in America. Some of the descendants are in Baltimore, some in Connecticut, one branch went to Maine, one to Vermont, and one to Upper Canada." But the two facts cited above show that Greenfield Larrabee was in New London in 1637 and William in 1647. There are families in Canada named Laraby and Larabe. They are genuine French Cana- dians and speak the language. Any tradition that makes the Rev. Charles Larrabee the American ancestor, must place his coming be- fore and not after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, 1685, as the family was surely here in 1637. This is attested by various ex- cellent authorities.

(I) The Amsterdam family of Larrabee are, according to the best evidence obtainable, de- scendants of Greenfield Larrabee, styled, "an original emigrant," who appeared in Connecti- cut as early as 1637, when he was brought be- fore the court as before related. He is men- tioned as a seaman, belonging to the "Phoe- nix," in 1647. His name often appears on the old documents at subsequent periods. He married Phoebe Brown, widow of Thomas Lee. It is conjectured that if Greenfield Lar- rabee was of foreign birth, he was an English- man of French ancestry. His name Greenfield was evidently taken from the English Green- field family, one of whom may have been his mother. Children: Greenfield (2), John, see forward, Elizabeth, Joseph and Sarah.

(II) John, second son of Greenfield and Phoebe (Brown-Lee) Larrabee, was born Feb- ruary 23, 1649. He removed to Windham, Connecticut, from Norwich, with a family. In 1691 he had broken land, built a house, and established himself upon a tract granted him upon condition that he build upon it and run a ferry for seven years. He was admitted

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and enrolled an inhabitant of Windham, May 30, 1693.

(III) John (2), son of John (1) Larrabee of Windham, Connecticut, was born in Wind- ham, it is thought about the year 1700. He was a soldier of the colonial army, and was killed at the battle of Louisburg, Canada, in the war against the French. His wife Han- nah died in Windham, August 15, 1756. It is said she sat up nights and spun to earn money to buy the communion service for the old Con- gregational church in Windham. On a monu- ment in Windham, Connecticut, there is an inscription to her memory, and beneath, the following: "John Larrabee, husband of Han- nah Died in battle at Louisburg, March, 1746."

(IV) Richard, son of John (2) and Han- nah Larrabee, was born in 1732, died Janu- ary 28, 1828. He served in the revolution, as the following record from the war department at Washington shows: "Richard Larrabee was a private in Captain Simeon Smith's Com- pany, in a Battalion commanded by Colonel Seth Warner, Continental line during the Revolutionary War. He enlisted in February, 1777, to serve during the war. Name appears on the roll dated November 10, 1777, with remarks on furlough by General Lincoln, August 27, twelve days; returned from captivity August 27. His name also ap- pears on roll covering the period from March to June 1779, from which it appears he was at Fort Edward. A return of prisoners dated at Quebec, November 8, 1772, shows that he was returned as a prisoner of war from this prov- ince for exchange, sometime subsequent to November 1, 1779, that he belonged to the section including New York and New Eng- land and that he was sent by way of the sea to Boston." Prior to the war he settled in New Hampshire. He married Patty Web- ster, a member of the family of Daniel Webster, and closely related to that great statesman's father. That Ebenezer, his son, was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill, is stated by qualified authority.

(V) Seth, son of Richard and Patty (Web- ster) Larrabee, was born February 26, 1776, died January 4, 1850, nearly attaining the great age of his father. He served in the war of 1812. He settled in the Mohawk valley on a new unbroken land in the town of Amster- dam, Montgomery county. He is buried in the village cemetery at Glenville, not far from where he lived. He married Nancy Groat, of the pioneer family of that name, early settlers at Crane's Village. She died in 1857, surviv- ing her husband seven years. They had sons : Roswell, Caleb C., who settled at Jackson,

Michigan, and Louis, of Montgomery county.

(VI) Roswell, son of Seth and Nancy (Groat) Larrabee, was born in the town of Amsterdam, Montgomery county, New York, 1826. He learned the carpenter's trade, later engaging in mercantile life. He was a practi- cal, capable business man, and was successful in his undertakings. He died at the age of sixty-seven years. He married Sarah Van Vleck, a lifelong resident of Fulton county, New York, descendant of an early Dutch fam- ily. Children: I. John E., see forward. 2. Irving J., born November 28, 1859; married Harriet Hannon. 3. Annie, married John King, of Utica, New York; has daughters Florence and Edith King.

(IV) John E., eldest child of Roswell and Sarah (Van Vleck) Larrabee, was born in Amsterdam, November 24, 1851. He was edu- cated in the public schools. In 1867 he located in Amsterdam, where he worked for nine years as a clerk. In 1876 he began business for himself, in company with L. L. Dean, who had established a hardware store, and contin- uing until the present time (1910). In 1882 Mr. Dean withdrew and William G. Barnes succeeded in 1890, and Larrabee started his present establishment, which he has since con- ducted under his own name. He is the lead- ing hardware merchant of the city. His pres- ent store on Market street was opened for business in 1890. He is an energetic, capable and reliable business man, whose long career in trade has been crowned with deserved suc- cess. He is affiliated with the Presbyterian church and the leading fraternal and social or- ganizations of the city. Politically he is a Republican.

He married, in Amsterdam, Louise Leaven- worth, born in that city May 16, 1863, daugh- ter of Edwin and granddaughter of Treat M. Leavenworth. Children: I. Catherine L., a student of Wellesley College. 2. Hilda, at- tending the Amsterdam high school.

MYERS The Myers family of Amsterdam settled in New York state about the middle of the nineteenth cen- tury, coming from Germany, where the family had a recognized standing for many genera- tions previous to the emigration. They were usually farmers and merchants of substance, native to the section near Berlin.

(I) John Myers, the American immigrant, was born near Berlin, Germany, where he was a farmer from the ending of his school days to the date of his emigration to the United States, early in the eighteen-fifties, with his wife and two children. They settled on a farm in West Galway, New York, where two

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of his children were born; later he located in Glenville, Schenectady county, where he died in 1882 at an advanced age. As a farmer he was very successful. He was noted among his neighbors for his exact, methodical manner of doing everything, and for his intense love and kindness for animals raised on his farm. He was a member of the Dutch Reformed church, and accounted a good Christian. He married, in Germany, Julia Knack. She was a mem- ber of the Reformed church, and mother of several children, four of whom are of record here: I. Amelia, born in Germany; married in Glenville, New York, Conrad Kerste, of that town; she survives him and resides in Schenectady, New York ; children : i. Agnes, married and resides in the west ; ii. Ada, mar- ried George Bradt, of Schenectady, New York; iii. Anna, married and resides near Glenville ; iv. Dora E., married Rev. Leroy N. Taylor, a minister of the Reformed church, stationed at Schenectady. 2. Augustus, see forward. 3. Ernest, born in West Galway, New York; is a merchant and manufacturer of Austin, Minnesota; married Dorothy, daughter of William P. Pettingill, of the Montgomery family of that name, so long and favorably known in the Mohawk Valley ; she died in 1908; children : William, John and Mabel Myers. 4. Anna E., married Charles Schiller, of Cranesville, Montgomery county ; children : Julia, Agnes, Carrie and Nellie.

(II) Augustus, eldest son of John and Julia (Knack) Myers, was born in Germany, No- vember, 1845. He followed his father's for- tunes until arriving at manhood, when he en- listed in Company E, Thirteenth Regiment, New York Heavy Artillery Volunteers, serv- ing until the close of the war and seeing active service. After the close of the war he located in Amsterdam, New York, becoming a con- tractor and builder. He is now living in that city, retired from active life. He is a mem- ber of E. S. Young Post, Grand Army of the Republic. He married, in Florida, Montgom- ery county, 1867, Dorothy E. McCann, born in Schenectady, New York, July 9, 1848. For thirty years they resided in Amsterdam, when death removed the devoted wife and mother. She was a member of the Presbyterian church, and an active, consistent Christian. She is buried in Pine Grove cemetery. She was a daughter of Alexander and Hester J. (Akin) McCann, the latter a daughter of John Akin, of Fall River, Massachusetts, of an old New England family, and his wife a Schermerhorn, of Rotterdam, New York, of Mohawk Valley Dutch ancestry. Children: I. William Fen- ton, see forward. 2. Julia, born March 5, 1870; married Daniel Kirschner, a real estate

dealer of Amsterdam, New York; they have no children. 3. John Alexander, born July, 1872; married Anna Van Wormer; he is a druggist and pharmacist of Amsterdam.

(III) Hon. William Fenton, eldest child of Augustus and Dorothy E. (McCann) Myers, was born June 7, 1868, in the town of Florida, Montgomery county, New York. He received his primary and academic education in the public schools of Amsterdam and at the acad- emy. He chose the profession of law, entered the office of Judge W. Barlow Dunlap, where he studied until admitted to the bar, Septem- ber 15, 1892, since which time he has been successfully engaged in the practice of law in Amsterdam, New York. He also has been admitted to practice in United States courts. Later he matriculated at the Northwestern University of Chicago, Illinois, from which he was graduated in 1893 with the degree of LL.B. Returning to Amsterdam he was asso- ciated in legal business with Judge Dunlap. until the expiration of the latter's term of of- fice as surrogate of Montgomery county. Mr. Myers has always been a Republican. He served six years as secretary and treasurer of the Republican city committee, and the capa- bility which he manifested in this position re- sulted in his promotion to the chairmanship of the committee, a post which he occupied three years, including the McKinley and Roosevelt campaign. June 1, 1901, Mr. My- ers was appointed by Surrogate Dunlap to be clerk of the surrogate's court, to succeed Ab- ner H. Burtch, who was obliged to resign on account of ill health. Mr. Myers was recog- nized as one of the best posted lawyers in the county on matters pertaining to surrogate's law and practice, and the practice in surro- gate's court, and in 1906 he was the candidate of the Republican party for the office of sur- rogate, to succeed his partner, Judge Dunlap. He was elected at the ensuing election for the- full term of six years, expiring January I, 1913. He was for a number of years a mem- ber of the Forty-sixth Separate Company, and served with the Second Regiment during the Spanish-American war. He is a member of the Episcopal church, is past master of Artisan Lodge, No. 84. Free and Accepted Masons, and also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Board of Trade, the Antlers and the Masonic clubs of Amster- dam, the Northwestern University and Grad- uates' clubs of New York, and of Sanford Command. Spanish War Veterans, having served in the latter organization for two years as state department judge-advocate. Judge- Myers takes an active part in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his city, and as a

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lawyer and public official has the confidence and respect of his fellows. He married, in Hudson, New York, Mary Lansing, born in Hudson, 1869, daughter of Henry and Jane (Wheaton) Loudon, of an old Hudson Valley family prominent in Columbia county, con- nected in the earlier generations with the Schermerhorns. Child: Marjorie W., born November 13, 1898.

The branch of the Myers family

MYERS located in Schenectady, New York, descend from a German ancestor, John Myers, born and educated in Germany. When a young man he came to the United States, and settled in Schenectady, early in the nineteenth century. Later his par- ents came and made their home with him until they died. They were members of the Ger- man Methodist church and lived to a good old age. When John Myers landed at Castle Garden, New York City, his early wealth was represented by one five-dollar bill, and a small stock of clothing. But he was rich in energy and did not fear to face the problem of life in a strange land. He secured employment and soon was working on a farm in Schenec- tady county. He had a knowledge of the culture of broom corn and soon was engaged in growing corn and making brooms. Success came rapidly and ere long he was an employer and handling trades that involved nerve and a wise business head. He bought, manufactured and sold, increasing his plant and the scope of his operations as profits came to him. He became an adherent of the broom corn mar- ket and at one time ran a most profitable cor- ner in that commodity. He became wealthy, but possessed of a speculative disposition he lost fortunes as well as made them. But his successes outnumbered his failures, and he died a wealthy man. He was well known in the trade and among the farmers as a clear-head- ed, energetic business man. He possessed great executive ability and managed his busi- ness wisely. He married (first) Mary Lampe, of Schenectady, of German parents and an- cestry. She died in early life, leaving three children: 1. Garret, superintendent of streets, Schenectady. 2. Catherine, married Henry Furman, of Schenectady. 3. Louise, died young, unmarried. John Myers married ( sec- ond) Louise, daughter of Rev. John Sauter, a leading minister of the German Methodist Episcopal church. She survived him and now (1910) is a resident of Sea Cliff. Long Island. She was the mother of four children. 4. Hon. John C., of Schenectady. 5. William H., died unmarried. 6. Nicholas I., see forward. 7. Charles H., deceased; married Catherine,

daughter of Judge Frazier ; she lives in Johns- town, and has a daughter Portia.

(II) Nicholas I., son of John and Louise (Sauter) Myers, was born in Rotterdam, Schenectady county, New York, June, 1860. He was educated in the public schools, reared to farm labor, and has all his life been inter- ested and devoted to agriculture. He has a large estate in Rotterdam, which he personally superintends, but has his residence in Schenec- tady. He lives the life of the well-to-do American farmer and ably manages his busi- ness interests and estates. He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He married, in 1884, Minnie E., born in Princetown, Schen- ectady county, daughter of John W. Shannon and granddaughter of William Shannon, born in the north of Ireland, of Scotch-Irish ances- try, an early settler in the Mohawk Valley. John W. Shannon, born in Schenectady, 1800, died October 12, 1876, was a well-known farmer of Princetown. He spent several years in Michigan at an early day and gained such fame as a trapper and shipper of wild pigeons that he was known as "Pigeon John," a name that followed him east and always clung to him. He was a farmer of Princetown, stock trader, bee raiser, horse dealer and a man well known and respected. He was a Republican and supervisor of the town. He married (first) Elizabeth Bradshaw, of Schenectady, daughter of an old Mohawk Valley family; died at the age of fifty, leaving a daughter Catherine, died 1909, who married Robert Van Valkenburg, of Schenectady. He married (second), Mrs. Esther (Bacon) Hegeman, widow of Hezekiah Hegeman, and daughter of George and Esther Bacon, of Connecticut, members of the Society of Friends. She was born in 1828, died 1902. By her first marriage she had two sons: H. Roger Hegeman, mar- ried and has a daughter Minnette H .; George B. Hegeman married and has a daughter Maude H. By his second wife John W. Shan- non had Minnie E., married Nicholas I. My- ers ; children, all born in Schenectady, New York: I. Minnie, educated at Northfield Sem- inary : married William B. Snyder, of Sche- nectady, and has Helen Snyder, born 1904. 2. Walter W., being educated in New York City schools. 3. Florence, educated in Sche- nectady high school. 4. John W. S. The family are members of the Second Reformed Church, Schenectady.

This name is of Saxon ori- NEWCOMB gin, "combe" signifying "a low situation, a vale, a place between two hills." It is also defined as

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"stranger newly arrived." The American an- «cestor spelled his name Newcombe, as do most ·of his descendants. The Albany family, how- ever, dropped the final "e." His nativity is believed to be English, probably the west of England, or Wales, having been his birthplace. He was among the early settlers of New Eng- land. Andrew Newcombe is first mentioned in New England records in Boston, 1663, when he married his second wife Grace, wid- ow of William Rix (or Ricks). He was known as Captain Andrew, being a sea cap- .tain. Several records are found of his sail- ings from different ports on the Atlantic coast. His papers show him to have been a man of education. The name of his first wife is not known, although she bore him two children. He left a will in which no mention is made of his son, Lieutenant Andrew Newcombe. Children : Lieutenant Andrew, see forward; Susannah, married Philip Blague, of Boston ; Grace, married James, son of Stephen and Jane Butler, of Boston, (second) Andrew Ran- kin.

(II) Lieutenant Andrew (2), son of Cap- tain Andrew (1) Newcombe and his first wife, is mentioned in July, 1666, as attending a meeting at the Isles of Shoals, near Ports- mouth, New Hampshire, held by men engaged in the fisheries, for the purpose of fixing the price of fish. He was born about 1640, and was doubtless living near the Isles of Shoals in 1666. He was living there in 1671, and held the office of constable in 1671. About 1676 he removed to Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, where he died. Here he was granted and bought land. He was a man of prominence and was chosen lieutenant April 13, 1691. He engaged in merchandis- ing and is often mentioned in the records. He married (first) Sarah -- , about 1661, who died in 1674; (second), in, Edgartown, 1676, Anna, daughter of Captain Thomas and Anna (Baker) Bayes, who was born 1658, and died 1731, surviving her husband twenty-five years. Children by first wife: I. Simeon (also written Simon), of Eastham, now Turo, 'Cape Cod, Massachusetts ; married and had issue. 2. Andrew (3), born about 1664; un- married. 3. Simon, see forward. 4. Thomas, born about 1668, at Kittery, Maine ; married Elizabeth Cook. 5. Sarah, born 1670; married (second wife) Joshua Conant. 6. Mary, born 1672; married Captain Thomas Lambert. 7. Peter, born 1674; married Mercy Smith. Chil- dren by second wife: 8. Anna, born 1677; married Lieutenant Matthew Mayhew. 9. Elizabeth, born 1681 ; married Captain John Atkins. 10. Joseph, married Joyce Butler. II. Emblem, born 1685 : married Samuel Atkins.

12. Tabitha, born 1688; married Peter Ray. 13. Hannah, married by Rev. Cotton Mather to Thomas Drumary. 14. Zerviah, born 1698- 99; married Josiah Bearse. 15. Mary, born 1700 : married Jonathan Pease.

(III) Simon, son of Lieutenant Andrew (2) and Sarah Newcombe, was born in 1666, it is supposed at Kittery, Maine, as the first four years of his life were spent there; the next four on Hog Island, or Appledore, one of the most picturesque of the Isles of Shoals. About 1674 his parents removed to Edgar- town, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, where they lived until 1713, when the family removed to Lebanon, Connecticut, where the town records state: "Mr. Simon Newcomb died January 20, 1744-45, and in the 79th year of his age." He owned a large farm at Ed- gartown, granted and purchased. He sold this on his removal to Connecticut, where he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres at Lebanon, New London county. He held many town offices, and was quite prosperous. He married, about 1687, Deborah

with whom he lived fifty-eight years, she dying June 17, 1756, in her ninety-second year. They are buried in the old cemetery at Leba- non, where their tombstones about one-third of a century ago could scarcely be deciphered. Children : I. Deacon John, born 1688-89, died in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, February 22, 1765; married Alice Lambert; eight children. 2. Thomas, see forward. 3. Hezekiah, mar- ried Jerusha Bradford; married (second) Hannah , His first wife was a de- scendant of Governor William Bradford, of the "Mayflower" and Plymouth colony. 4. Obadiah (captain), a deacon of the church, and a man of great piety ; married Mrs. Mary Post ; seven children. 5. Deborah, married Captain Timothy Hatch ; he laid out the town of Kent, Kent county, Connecticut. and owned much property there; was justice of the peace ; seven children. 6. Sarah, married Ebe- nezer Nye, one of the first settlers of Tolland, Connecticut ; member of house of representa- tives one term ; selectman thirteen terms. 7. Benjamin, married Hannah Clark ; removed to Cornwallis, Nova Scotia; later to Sunbury county, New Brunswick : twelve children. 8. Elizabeth, married Ebenezer Wright: thrce children. 9. Simon (2), married Jerusha La- throp; (second) Jane Worth; removed to Cornwallis, Nova Scotia ; seven children.

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Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume II, Part 53

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866- ed Publication date: 1911 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 716

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866- ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 716