Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume II, Part 64

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

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`for a few years on his own account. Dur- ing the years 1893-94 he was employed in the United States custom house at Albany, New York. In the spring of 1896 he was ap- pointed transfer tax clerk in the surrogate's of- fice at Albany, where he still continues in. the duties of that responsible position. He is a thoroughly competent and reliable official, as his long service attests. He retains his residence in Cohoes. He has always been an active Republican, and during the years 1881- 82-83-84 represented the third ward of Co- hoes in the Albany county board of super- visors, receiving three re-elections from his. appreciative neighbors and voters of that ward. In 1886 he received the Republican nomination as their candidate for member of the state assembly, but that year the entire Re- publican ticket went down in defeat, although. Mr. Nadeau fought a good fight and made a fine showing in comparison with the other defeated candidates. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church of the Sacred Heart,. and very active in the National and Benevo- lent Society of St. Jean-Baptiste. This so- ciety is an active agent for good and is- strongly supported by the French of Cohoes. He served the local society five terms as pres- ident, seven terms as corresponding secre- tary, and has been fourteen years recording secretary, an office he now holds. He is held. in high esteem among his countrymen, of whom there are a great many in the city. He is also a member of Egbert Lodge, No. 56, Knights of Pythias.

He married (first) October 11, 1881, Hed- widge Bourgeois, born in Canada, October 17, 1852, died July 25, 1899, daughter of Peter Bourgeois, born April, 1821, in Canada, died December 20, 1907, in Cohoes, and his wife, Matilda Roy, born in Canada, December I, 1821, who survives him, a resident of Cohoes. By this marriage he had a daughter, Flore- Alice, who as a daughter of the church is. known as Sister M. Hedwidge, of the Order of Sisters of The Holy Names; she is now located at Winnipeg, Manitoba. He married (second) May 6, 1902, Mrs. Mary F. (Lent) Peddie, daughter of Oliver P. Lent, born in Peekskill, New York, November 28, 1819, died at Broadalbin, Fulton county, New York, January 20, 1894. He was proprietor of a meat market and a deacon of the Presbyterian church. He married Maria Vedder, of an old Mohawk Valley family, born in Schenec- tady county, New York, July 20, 1815, died at Hagaman's Mills, Montgomery county, New York, July 21, 1895.

Oliver P. Lent was son of Stephen Lent, of Peekskill, New York, whose wife was

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granddaughter of one Montross or Montrose, of Peekskill, the station of that name on the Hudson River railroad being named for the family. The Lents who came from Holland bought a patent of land from the Indians in Westchester county and settled on it. The deed of this land, not long since, was in the possession of Mrs. Maria Crunk, daughter of Uriah Lent. The detailed account of the Lent family is in two different histories of the state of New York, asserting they have traced their lineage back to the Crusaders when they were feudal barons. The Lents and Rikers were one family at the time of their coming to Amer- ica, there being accounts of Riker Lent and Lent Riker, whose descendants are very nu- merous in Westchester county.

Over two centuries ago a family

WHISH of this name settled at Tun- bridge Wells, England. The London directories of recent date show the name to be not an infrequent one in that city, being borne chiefly by members of the Epis- copal clergy and retired army officers.

(I) The American branch of the family came to the United States in 1830. John Whish, with his wife Julia Munz, settled in Albany, New York, in that year. He pur- chased an extensive tract of land and resided thereon until his death. His home is now a part of the city of Albany. Here he had extensive orchards and gardens. He had six sons and six daughters, all born in the Uni- ted States, the eldest shortly after his arrival in New York.

(II) George Alexander, eldest child of John and Julia (Munz) Whish, was born in New York City. He grew up in Albany, where he was educated in the public schools. He learned the trade of pattern maker and he- came head of that department for the Boston & Albany Railroad. He was a member of the Episcopal church, and a Republican. He married Adeline M., daughter of David Den- ham Palmer, a descendant of the old Palmer family of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and his wife, Elizabeth Martin. Children : 1. John David, see forward. 2. Julia Elizabeth, mar- ried Lewis N. Relyea, died October 29, 1888. 3. George Alexander (2), became an engineer, married Mary A. Severence. 4. Addie P., married Alfred Whittle. 5. Edward Denham, died in infancy. 6. Lilly Etta, married Ira G. Knapp. 7. Ruth, married Thomas Dolan.

(III) John David, son of George Alex- ander and Adeline M. (Palmer) Whish, was born at the home of his maternal grandfather in the town of Berne (East Berne), Albany county, New York, July 9, 1868. His early

life was passed in Albany, where he was edu- cated in the intermediate and high schools. He decided upon the profession of medicine, and took a course of lectures at Albany Medical College, but did not finish, leaving to enter the field of journalism. He began his news- paper work under George Dawson, then edi- tor of the Albany Evening Journal. From the Journal he went to the Albany Argus, and became a member of the editorial staff during the incumbency of St. Clair McKelway of the editor's chair. He was also a member of the staff of the Albany Evening Times under Theophilus C. Collicot. For seventeen years Mr. Whish was the Albany correspondent of the New York Herald, and reported the pro- ceedings of the state legislature each year. He traveled extensively all over New York state, writing up political matters. He became wide- ly known as a ready, interesting writer of both prose and verse. He did not confine his work to political subjects, but covered a much wider range. He was the author of "A History of Ancient City Lodge No. 452, Free and Ac- cepted Masons," and published the "Albany Guide Book." During the administration of Theodore Roosevelt as governor of New York, he was appointed secretary of the For- est, Fish and Game Commission, on the rec- ommendation of Governor Roosevelt. This position he now holds (1910). He is a capable official, and brings to his work wide knowl- edge gained by extensive travel all over the United States, to which is added the en- thusiasm of his nature and a genuine love of the particular work of the commission. He is a member of many fraternal organizations and a charter member of the Legislative Re- porters Association. His social club is the Aurania, of Albany. He is a member of the Episcopal church, and a Republican. He mar- ried, in 1887, Lillian O., youngest daughter of John James Martin, a retired business man of Albany, of Scotch descent. Children: I. Robert Martin, born June 13. 1888; died Oc- tober 18, 1895. 2. Mary Elizabeth, a graduate of Albany high school, class 1911 ; she is pre- paring to enter Vassar College, class of 1915.

HATT This is an ancient English family that is of record in Bysshe's "Visi- tation of Essex" 1664-68. Gyles Hatt, of Leckhamsted, married Dorothy, daughter of Richard Jordan. John Hatt, of London, an attorney, married Dorothy, daughter of Richard Piggott, also of London. They are of mention in the county of Berks, and a family of importance bearing arms : Quarterly argent and gules on a bend sable, three chaplets or (a crescent for difference).

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HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS

Crest : An Eagle's head quarterly argent and gules between two wings sable. The family in the United States descend from the Ches- ter county, England, branch, and first settled in New Jersey, where there are many of the name prominent in business with a strong in- herited predilection for the church. The Hatt family has been identified with what is now the township of East Orange, Essex county, New Jersey, since 1831. John Hatt was the first member of the family to settle there. He was born in Reading, Berkshire county, England, and came to the United States in 1831 as the head of a little colony of seven- teen persons, his eldest son Joel having pre- ceeded him by one year, but was living in New York City. John Hatt was a very re- ligious man and was regularly ordained as a minister of the Baptist church in England, where he was greatly beloved. The little col- ony he brought with him to East Orange held frequent meetings at his house and looked to him for counsel and advice. He was the leader of the first religious movement in his locality, and the real founder of the First Baptist Church of East Orange. The meet- ings hield at his house were the nucleus from which the congregation grew, and he lived to see the full fruition of his hopes and plans in the completion of the little church building, for which he toiled and labored up to the day of his death. He was the first deacon of the church, and during the first two or three years frequently supplied the pulpit. He mar- ried, in England, Ann Church, and had issue: Joel, George, Ann, Marỳ, Phebe, William and Josiah, all born in Reading, Berkshire coun- ty, England.

(II) Joel, eldest son of John and Ann (Church) Hatt, was a shoemaker by trade and followed that occupation after settling in East Orange, gaining the reputation of being the best shoemaker in Essex county, New Jersey. He was a devout Christian, and like his father devoted to the upbuilding of the little Baptist church. He married, in Eng- land, Rachel Wells. Their son, Joel Wells Hatt, was a brave soldier of the civil war, and became a leading lumber dealer of New- ark and East Orange, New Jersey.

(II) Rev. Josiah Hatt, youngest son of John and Ann (Church) Hatt, was born in Reading, Berkshire county, England, about 1822, died in Morristown, New Jersey, 1857. He was reared under the strong influence of a Christian home and godly parents. He re- ceived his literary education at Madison Uni- versity, now Colgate University, at Hamilton, New York, and at Rochester University, which conferred upon him the degree of Mas-

ter of Laws. He became pastor of a Baptist church, and his brief active career was spent in that holy calling. He married (first) Mary Thomas. Children: I. Thomas. 2. Mary Isabella, married Herman E. Von Holt, pro- fessor of law and history at Freiberg Uni- versity, Germany, and non-resident professor of Harvard, Johns Hopkins and Cornell uni- versities, and author of "The Constitutional History of the United States"; in 1892 he was elected head of the historical department of Chicago University. 3. Laura, died young. He married (second) Mary Abby Ball, who died shortly after the birth of her second son. Children : 4. Samuel Syms, see forward. 5. George J., born in Morristown, New Jersey ; educated in public and select schools of Mor- ristown, and graduated from Fort Edward (New York) Collegiate Institute in 1876; he settled in Albany, New York, in 1881, and has spent his subsequent years in active bus- iness life; he became secretary of the F. N. Sill Company, one of the large coal companies of Albany, in 1897; he is a Republican in politics, and a member of Emanuel Baptist Church, taking an active part in its work and in the Society of Christian Endeavor.

(III) Samuel Syms, son of Rev. Josiah and Mary Abby (Ball) Hatt, was born in Hobo- ken, New Jersey. He was deprived by death of both parents during his early boyhood. He attended the Morristown common schools, prepared for college at Fort Edward Colle- giate Institute, and then entered Union Uni- versity Law Department (Albany Law School), from which institution he graduated with the degree of LL.B. in 1877. He as- sociated himself with Charles W. Mead in the practice of law in Albany, a connection that still exists, the firm of Mead & Hatt, one of the oldest law firms in Albany, having a recognized high standing at the bar, and being equally successful in a financial sense. In addition to a large legal practice, Mr. Hatt has many important outside interests, both in business and in connection with various insti- tutions of Albany. He is serving as trustee of the Albany County Savings Bank, Albany Orphan Asylum, and Emanuel Baptist Church; treasurer of the House of Shelter ; secretary and trustee of the Albany Institute and Historical and Art Society, and member of the American, New York State and Albany County Bar associations, and of the Fort Orange and Country clubs. He is a Repub- lican in politics, but has never taken a promi- nent part in public affairs, preferring to de- vote his energies to his professional duties. He was, with others, a candidate before the governor of the state for appointment on the

SammeSIfat.

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supreme bench on the death of Judge Fitts, of Cohoes, in 1909. Mr. Hatt is held in high esteem both by the public and by his profes- sional brethren. He married, October 3, 1878, Mary Platt, daughter of Dr. Peter P. Staats, of the old Dutch family long connected with the history of Albany county (see Staats VI). Child : George J., born January 5, 1881 ; educated in the Albany Boys Academy, Wil- liams College, graduating in class of 1902, and Union University (Albany Law School), graduating LL.B., class of 1905. He is a member of the law firm of Mead & Hatt. He married, October, 1906, Eleanor Jones, of Brookline, Massachusetts; children : Ruth F., born August 5, 1907, and Marjorie, November 27, 1908.

(The Staats Line).

Mary Platt (Staats) Hatt is a lineal descendant of Dr. Abram Statts, who was the first regular physician to settle in what is now Albany. He came over in 1642 in the same vessel as Rev. Dr. Megapolensis. Little is known of his professional skill, or whether he was employed like the minister to serve the inhabitants both spiritually and professionally. Albany then consisted of but twenty-five or thirty houses scattered along the river with a population of about one hundred, so Dr. Staats busied himself with other matters than his profession. He was the first presiding officer of the village council of Beverwyck. In 1642 his dwelling at Claverack was burned by the Indians, and his wife and others of his family perished. He became the owner of Fort Orange, it is said, and the land on which it stood came down to his descendants. He had a license to trade in furs, and in 1647 sent to New Amsterdam a shipment of four thousand and two hundred beaver skins. For many years he was captain of the sloop "Clav- erack," plying between Albany and New York in 1684. He married Catrina Jochemse, daughter of Jochem Wesselse. He had four sons who reached maturity, Jacob, Abraham, born 1665, Samuel and Jochem.

(II) Captain Jochem, son of Dr. and Major Abram and Catrina J. (Wesselse) Staats, married Aritje, daughter of Barent Ryndertse. She died in 1707. Children baptized : Barent, Tryntje, Isaac, Tryntje (2), Isaac (2), Rey- nier, Richard, Isaac (3) and Elizabeth, The last four children were baptized in New York City.

(III) Barent, son of Captain Jochem and Aritje (Ryndertse) Staats, was born about 1684. He married, December 15, 1701, Neelt- je Gerritse Van Den Berg. Children bap- tized: Joachim, died young ; Anna, Ariantje,

Catharine, Geertruy, Jannetje, Joachim, (2), Tentje, Gerrit and Elizabeth.

(IV) Joachim, son of Barent and Neeltje G. (Van Den Berg) Staats, was baptized September 16, 1717, died 1804. He married May 12, 1739, Elizabeth, baptized September 18, 1715, daughter of Nicolas and Elsie (Wendell) Schuyler, and a descendant of Col- onel Philip Pieterse Schuyler, the ancestor of most of the Schuylers of Albany county. Children baptized: 1. Neeltje, August 12, 1740. 2. Barent, November 29, 1741 ; married Annatje Winne. 3. Nicolas, October 2, 1743, was a colonel in the revolutionary war ; mar- ried Maria Saulsbury. 4. Elsie, October 25, 1747; married William Saulsbury. 5. Neeltie, February 18, 1750; married John Amory. 6. Gerrit, March 29, 1752; married Elizabeth Lowe. 7. Philip S., see forward. 8. Johannes, November 20, 1756; married Jane Schauts. 9. Annatie, January 4, 1760 ; died unmarried.

(V) Philip S., son of Joachim and Eliza- beth (Schuyler) Staats, was born July 26, 1755. He married Annetje Van Alstyne, bap- tized January 13, 1762. He lived on Staats Island, Rensselaer county, New York. Chil- dren: I. Elizabeth Schuyler, born March 14, 1789; died, unmarried, September 13, 1851. 2. Abraham P., born February II, 1791 ; mar- ried Barthia Leggett. 3. Joachim P., May 7, 1793 ; married Catherine Breese. 4. Dr. Barent P., September 25, 1796; he was a Democratic mayor of Albany, 1842-43; married (first) Maria Gourlay ; (second) Maria Ann Winne; (third) Caroline Porter. 5. Peter, May 8, 1800, died young. 6. Peter P., see forward. 7. Philip P., May 23, 1807; married Maria Aldrich.

(VI) Peter P., son of Philip S. and An- netje (Van Alstyne) Staats, was born Jan- uary 20, 1803. He was a prominent phy- sician and a leading citizen of Albany. He married Hetty Platt, daughter of Charles and Sarah (Bleecker) Platt, of Plattsburgh, New York, the latter named having been a resi- dent of Albany. Children : Sarah Ann, Eliza- beth, Charles Platt, Philip, Charles Dudley, Bleecker, Edward, died young; Mary Platt. married Samuel Syms Hatt (see Hatt III) ; Hetty, married George Haywood; Edward.

This is a family transplanted EIGHMEY from Ulster county, New York, where Benjamin Eigh- mey was born January 4. 1776, died at Dan- by, New York, August 23, 1861. He was a farmer all his days, as were his family be- fore him. He married Jeannette Palmerton, born August 4, 1782, died September. 1836. Children: Elias L., born January 8, 1804;

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Philip, May 20, 1806; Katy C., March 13, 1808: Anna Kenton, January 10, 1810; Eley, March 11, 1812; Mary C., February 22, 1814; John M., July 9, 1816; Daniel, March I, 1819; Sarah Jane, April 7, 1821 ; Thomas P., July 8, 1824; Tirzah, June 6, 1827.

(II) Elias L., son of Benjamin and Jean- nette (Palmerton) Eighmey, was born in Uls- ter county, New York, January 8, 1803, died in Ithaca, New York, January 17, 1887. He learned the trade of weaver in the days of the hand loom, but later in life became a far- mer and market gardener. He married, Oc- tober 10, 1831, Lovina Cooper, born at Dry- den, Tompkins county, New York, June 7, 1804, died at Ithaca, New York, June 27, 1877. Children: Eugene, see forward; Du- mont ; Louisa F .; Munson ; James S.

(III) Eugene, eldest child of Elias L. and Lovina (Cooper) Eighmey, was born in Ith- aca, New York, March 17, 1833. He was educated in the Ithaca public schools, and for thirty-five years was a cigar manufacturer in that city. He became interested in the knit goods business and after working in knitting mills for some time in a subordinate capacity, formed the Putnam Knitting Company in 1907, with John H. and Mary Murphy asso- ciated with him. The company are manu- facturers of specialties in their line and have a prosperous business ; their mill is located at Cohoes, New York. He is a Republican in politics, an attendant of the Presbyterian church, and a member of the Masonic fra- ternity. He married, October 12, 1861, Jen- nie L., born in England, daughter of James and Sarah (Stedman) Spurr, formerly of England, later of Valatie, Columbia county, New York. James Spurr, born in England, in 1822, died 1849, in California. Sarah Stedman, born in England, 1802, died 1884 in Cohoes. Children: Sidney S., see for- ward; Nellie; Annie, married John H. Mur- phy, of Cohoes, partner with the father in the Putnam Knitting Company; children: William E., and John Harold Murphy ; Eu- genia.

(IV) Sidney Spurr, eldest child and only son of Eugene and Jennie L. (Spurr) Eigh- mey, was born in Ithaca, New York, August 4. 1863. He was educated in the common and high schools, and began business life as clerk in a grocery at Cohoes at the age of fifteen. He next formed a partnership with Albert Hildreth, under the firm name of Eighmey & Hildreth, continuing for ten years, terminating by purchasing his partner's inter- est. He continued alone for two years, 1895- 96, when he sold out the business and store. He was appointed by the Cohoes school board

attendance officer, holding that appointment until 1902. In that year the police board of Cohoes appointed him warden of the city jail, where he still remains (1910). He is a Re- publican and has frequently represented his party in conventions. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and a member of the Royal Arcanum. He married Nellie J., daughter of David and Mary (Cooney) Wil- liams, and granddaughter of Thomas Wil- liams, of Wales. David Williams was born in Wales, 1835, died in Cohoes, New York, November 13, 1903. Married Mary Cooney, born 1837, died at Cohoes, New York, No- vember 15, 1895. They had eight children, five of whom died in infancy. Those sur- viving were John, Nellie J., and James Hen- ry. The family were Episcopalians. David Williams came from Wales to the United States when he was seventeen, and located at Cohoes, where he was in the grocery bus- iness for a long time and made a fortune. He, however, sunk it in the manufacturing business by unwise investments and losses by fire. He was an invalid for seven years previous to his death. He was three times chosen alderman of Cohoes by the Republican party, and was a member of the Knights of Pythias. Children of Sidney S. and Nellie J. (Williams) Eighmey: Leah N. and Henry S.

This name is one of the old- VISSCHER est in Holland, and was borne by men of distinction -artists, statesmen and soldiers, as well as by those in other walks of life. Unlike many other families of the early immigrants, who lost their surnames in this country, the Vis- schers have retained theirs, and although the spelling has been changed in some instances, the original is easily recognized. On the records are found Visscher, Visgar, De Vis- ser, Visselaer and Vysaer. Tradition has it that two brothers only of this name came from Holland and settled in Rensselaerwick, New York, and that one of them, a Roman Catho- lic, was dissatisfied with his surroundings and returned to Holland. Of the five sons of the other brother, three settled in or near Bever- wyck (Albany), one in Greenbush, and one in Schenectady.

(I) Bastian Visscher, of Hoorn, Holland, was living in 1675; had two sons who emi- grated to America prior to 1644 and settled in Rensselaerwick : Frederick, supposed to have returned to Holland ; and Harmen, who remained in this country.

(II) Harmen, son of Bastian Visscher, of Hoorn, Holland, was born in 1619, died prior

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to the year 1693, and his widow in Novem- ber that year. Both he and his eldest son Tierk were householders in Beverwyck in 1678. He had a garden on the river, below Hudson street, and a house and lot on the west side of Pearl street, between Maiden Lane and Steuben street. In 1666 he was village surveyor, which shows him to have been a man of education far beyond the aver- age of that early day. He married Hester Tjerkse, probably in New Amsterdam. Chil- dren: I. Tierk, baptized July 7, 1652, in New York ; married Emmetje Janto. 2. Bastian, married Dirkje Tennis de Metselaer. 3. Nan- ning, see forward. 4. Frederick, married (first) Margareta Hansen, January 13, 1692; she died August 30, 1701 ; he married (sec- ond) Elizabeth Sanders, widow of Everet Wendell, December 15, 1694. 5. Sarah, mar- ried Gerrit Lucas Wyngaart, November 4, 1694. 6. Hester, married Abraham S. Groot, July 9, 1699. 7. Johannis, born 1669; married Elizabeth Nottingham. 8. Maria, married Philip Wendell, June 17, 1688; she died Feb- ruary 5, 1735-36. 9. Ariantje, married Hie- ronomus Wendell, before 1676. 10. Geertje, married Cornelius Dirkse Van Spellyne, be- fore 1684.

(III) Nanning, son of Harmen and Hester (Tjerkse) Visscher, died April 8, 1730, in Al- bany. He married, January 6, 1686, Alida, daughter of Jan Dirkse and Maritje Vinha- gen. Children, with dates of baptism: I. Harmanus, January 23, 1689. 2. Maria, De- cember 4, 1689; married, November 18, 1715, Jacob Hallenbeck. 3. Hester, July 21, 1692; married, May 3, 1720, Jacob Vander Heyden. 4. Harmanus, September 2, 1694. 5. Geeting, March 8, 1696; married, December 26, 1725, David Vander Heyden. 6. Alida, March 8, 1696. 7. Johannes N., see forward. 8. Har- men, December 26, 1700; married, February 24, 1739, Rachel Vander Heyden. 9. Alida, August 1, 1703; married, June 17, 1728, Ja- cob Ten Eyck. 10. Nicholas, November 25, 1705 ; married, January 18, 1734, Annetje Ty- mensen.

(IV) Johannes Nanning, son of Nanning and Alida (Vinhagen) Visscher, was baptized in Albany, New York, August 14, 1698. He married, February 16, 1728, Annetje (Anna), daughter of Barent and Neeltje Gerritse (Van Den Berg) Staats, born December 24, 1703. Johannes N. Visscher made his will September 18, 1744, naming all the children mentioned below except Anna; the will was proved June 8, 1753, and recorded February II, 1789. Children, with baptism dates: I. Alida, July 18, 1729. 2. Neeltje, March 28, 1730; married, July 24, 1751, Jacob Van

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Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume II, Part 64

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