USA > New York > Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume II > Part 8
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Shortly after the birth of his daughter, Mr. Kirtland gave up his business in Georgia, brought his family north, and made his home with his father-in-law at the Cantonment. He took the entire supervision of the farm con- nected with the estate, and made many im- provements. He became noted as a scientific agriculturist and was for some years, until ill health forced his retirement, treasurer of the New York State Agricultural Society. His exhibits at various state fairs were of sufficient merit to bring him many premiums, in one instance an elaborate service of silver.
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For an exhibit sent to the first World's Fair at London in 1851, he received a medal and a certificate of merit over the signature of Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria. The Kirtlands had an extended acquaintance not only among the neighboring families of the heights on the east side of the river, but in Albany and elsewhere, and were noted for their hospitality.
Besides their daughter Augusta, Mr. and Mrs. Kirtland had two sons, William Hathorn and Albert Buchanan. William early in life went to New York City, where he engaged in business, first with an uncle, afterwards for himself. He retired a few years ago and now lives at Yonkers. Albert commenced in a bank in Albany, making his home with his parents during the summer. Aside from his business, a military career attracted him. He was a member of the famous Albany Zou- ave Cadets, a crack military company, and was also aide-de-camp on the staff of Major General John Taylor Cooper, New York State Militia. Upon the outbreak of the civil war he obtained a commission in the Twelfth New York Cavalry, and served with his regi- ment throughout the war. At the end of his service he was acting brigade quartermaster with rank of major. On being mustered out he went in business in the south. He died in Baltimore in 1896.
In 1863 Augusta G. Kirtland married George Clinton Genet, a lawyer of New York City. Mr. Genet had already attained prominence in the politics of the city, having been identified with the Mozart faction of the Democratic party, and had held the office of corporation counsel of the municipality. Af- ter his marriage he retired from the field of politics, confining his activities to the practice of law, in which he was eminently successful. Fortunate investments, coupled with the in- come derived from the practice of his profes- sion, brought to him early in life a compe- tency. He was tall in stature, erect and of impressive appearance, of fine mental attain- ments, and of a genial disposition which en- deared him to all with whom he came in con- tact. He was the youngest son of Edmond Charles and Martha Brandon (Osgood) Genet, and was born on his father's estate at East Greenbush in 1824; died in New York, 1904.
Edmond Charles Genet, father of George Clinton Genet, known during his lifetime as "Citizen" Genet, was a conspicuous figure in the history of our country following the revolutionary period. Born in France, and a Frenchman, he commenced his career in the diplomatic service of that country during the
reign of Louis XVI. Later, under the re- public, as adjutant general and minister pleni- potentiary from the Republic of France to the United States of America, he came to this country in his official capacity, representing France as its minister during the administra- tion of President Washington. He was the subject of much unmerited harsh criticism, his assailants, it would appear, being unmindful of the fact that in his actions he was obey- ing the instructions of the government of which he was the accredited agent. Upon the assumption of power in France by Robes- pierre and the extreme radicals, Mr. Genet was recalled as minister, but refused to re- turn, choosing rather to remain in our coun- try and become an American citizen. He married Cornelia, daughter of George Clin- ton, major general in the revolutionary army, first American governor of New York state and vice-president of the United States. Out- living Cornelia Clinton, he married Martha Brandon Osgood, daughter of Colonel Os- good, of Massacusetts, a revolutionary officer and postmaster general in the cabinet of President Washington. Mr. Genet possessed a large estate in East Greenbush, a few miles south of the present city of Rensselaer, where he died in 1834. His remains rest in the cemetery at East Greenbush. A sister of Mr. Genet was Madame Campan, who was lady- in-waiting to Queen Marie Antoinette at the court of Louis XVI. A niece was the wife of the renowned Marshal Ney, of the first Napoleon's imperial army. Mrs. Genet, of the Cantonment, has in her possession many relics of "Citizen" Genet, also some of Marie Antoinette, the Empress Josephine and Mar- shal Ney.
The Cantonment was originally a military reservation consisting of about four hundred acres of land situate in the town of East Greenbush, near the city of Albany. It was purchased by the United States government shortly after the commencement of the war of 1812, from the Van Rensselaer patroon, and was known as the Greenbush Canton- ment. It was an important military post, where many troops were concentrated to be sent where needed in operations incident to the prosecution of the war. Here were large barracks and officers' quarters. a magazine, stables, storehouses and other buildings, and on a commanding summit overlooking all stood the headquarters of the commandant.
In a work published in 1841, entitled "His- torical Collections, New York," is a rather crude woodcnt giving a partial view of the Cantonment buildings and surroundings ; also, with a brief historical sketch, is published the
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verbatim account, written by an army officer, of the military execution of a deserter. The publishers preface the narrative by the state- ment that it is "shockingly minute in detail." It is, but it is none the less interesting.
Hathorn McCulloch, Mrs. Genet's grand- father, purchased the reservation, as has been previously noted. In the year 1841 he deeded the southern half to his son William A. Mc- Culloch. This part of the original estate is known as Hathornden. On the death of Hathorn McCulloch, Mrs. Benjamin B. Kirt- land, his daughter, became the owner of the Cantonment, and on her demise, Mrs. Genet, her daughter, the present owner, succeeded. Mrs. Genet's residence is the one her grand- father transformed and rebuilt for his home from one of the buildings used as quarters for line officers during the military occupancy. On account of its location it was more suit- able for that purpose than the commandant's quarters. Though nearly one hundred years old and a frame structure, its several owners have always kept it in repair, and it can be truthfully stated that, with its many improve- ments, it is a far better building now than when originally constructed, and today, taken in connection with its surroundings, ranks among the beautiful suburban homes in the vicinity of Albany. Stately elms of many years' growth give generous shade to the house, and spacious lawns encompass it on all sides. From the lawn, with its graveled roadway and walks, a shaded roadway leads into the state road, still known as the Bar- rack road, leading to Rensselaer and Albany. Another road to the south extends through Hathornden to the Columbia turnpike. Be- sides the residence, other buildings on the estate consist of stables and outbuildings for the exclusive use of the owner, together with a house for the farm manager, a lodge for the gardener and gatekeeper, and barns, sheds and buildings required in operating the farm. Though Mrs. Genet, since the death of her husband, lives somewhat in retirement, she maintains a perfectly equipped and well or- dered country establishment, and the Canton- ment is rarely without guests when she makes it her home.
The oldest family in this FASSETT country bearing this name is of New England origin, hav- ing come from England with other families of the earliest settlers, and the records they have left behind show them to have been of excellent, sturdy stock, such as makes a good foundation for a country on which to build enduringly.
(I) Asa Fassett was born in Bedford, Mas- sachusetts, in 1750, died November 28, 1823. He married, in West Cambridge, Massachu- setts, in 1744, Margaret Page. Children : Timothy, born in Bedford, Massachusetts, February 23, 1781 ; Amos, born in Bedford, March 10, 1783, see forward ; Benjamin, born in Sherborn, Massachusetts, September 7, 1787, died October 9, 1857.
(II) Amos, son of Asa and Margaret (Page) Fassett, was born in Bedford, Mas- sachusetts, March 10, 1783. He came to Al- bany, New York, when a young man, where he resided half a century, dying there Febru- ary 21, 1858. For forty-eight years he was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Albany, and an elder of the same for twenty-one years, during which time he had read the Bible forty-eight times, and never missed a communion during his entire mem- bership. He married, at Amherst, Massachu- setts, June, 1802, Hannah, daughter of John Stewart, born in Ireland, in 1751, and Mary (Barron) Stewart, born in Merrimac, New Hampshire, in 1752. Children: I. Asa, born in Alsted, New Hampshire, October 1, 1803; married, in Albany, New York, October, 1832, Amanda Vervailin; died in Albany, April 20, 1872. 2. Mary Margaret, born in Alsted, New Hampshire, April 27, 1805 ; died, unmarried, April 23, 1866. 3. Amos Stewart, born in Alsted, New Hampshire, January 5, 1807; married, Vienna, New York, Novem- ber 16, 1845, Mary Parker; died in Albany, New York, February 12, 1849. 4. Harriet Emeline, born in Albany, New York, May 18, 1814; married, December 25, 1838, Alexander B. McDowal; died in New York City, May 12, 1877. 5. William Neile, born in Albany, New York, August 18, 1816; see forward. 6. Rachel Annabella, born in Albany, New York, February 18, 1820; married Rev. Stephen Bush, June 29, 1848; died in Siam, Asia, July 23, 1851. 7. Sarah Justina, born in Albany, New York, September 30, 1826; died, unmarried, in Albany, July 24, 1848.
(III) William Neile, son of Amos and Han- nah (Stewart) Fassett, was born in Albany, New York, August 18, 1816. He was a whole- sale dealer in lumber until he retired from business in his old age, and resided at No. 97 Columbia street, Albany, where he died June 1, 1886. His was a most active and a life of full length. His education was received at the Albany Boys' Academy, from which he was graduated in 1832 with high honors. He had a natural bent for business, and upon his leaving his alma mater, secured a clerkship with William H. DeWitt, lumber and stave dealer, doing business on the Albany pier. Al-
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bany's great lumber trade, for half a century noted all over the country as a leading mart on this continent, was then only in its infancy, and the chief business was conducted on the pier, before the inauguration of the "District." His quick insight convinced him that there was room for new firms, and he organized it, under the title of Whitlock & Fassett. It succeeded from the start, and was the first to locate on the site of the Albany Lumber Dis- trict. During the civil war, the firm was com- posed of William Birdsall, Frederic Olcott, who was later the New York state comptroller and afterwards president of the Central Trust Company, of New York City, and himself. Several times the Board of Lumber Dealers elected him president, and through ten years was the board's secretary. For a considerable period he furnished the statistics of the mar- ket to the Albany Evening Journal, and at the time of his death was the oldest lumber dealer in the city. From his youth he had been a Democrat; but while believing firmly in the principles of his party and materially aiding in its success, never did he seek or receive office, although often urged. When public enterprises were afoot, he was among the first to progress the movement. He at- tended St. Peter's Church (Episcopal), was for a long time a vestryman, and also the secretary of that body. His activity in the affairs of that church was one of the features of his life, as was notably the case when its rector, Bishop Doane, organized the new Cathedral. He was not given to display, but was industrious and approachable. Towards the end of his life he was in ailing health for several months, and died at his residence, No. 97 Columbia street, on the evening of June I, 1886.
He married, in Brooklyn, New York, Jan- uary 17, 1844, Anne Gates Taylor, born in Boston, Massachusetts, March 10, 1822, died January 6, 1903, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. Ausburn Towner, in Washington, D. C., where she was spending the winter, and was buried in the family lot in the Albany Rural Cemetery. She was kind-hearted and domestic in her tastes, and while exhibiting a rare degree of cheerfulness to all acquaint- ances, she was particularly genial when sur- rounded by her family. Her father was Sam- uel Priestly Taylor, a musician of national prominence. He was born in London, Eng- land, in 1779, died in New York City in 1874. He was the oldest son of Rev. James Taylor, and in childhood, being regarded as a musical prodigy, he was placed under instruction of Dr. William Russell, of Oxford. When twenty years of age he was made organist of Silver
Street Chapel, and afterward of the Islington Church. He came to America in 1806, and shortly after his arrival in New York City was appointed the organist of St. Ann's Episcopal Church, where he introduced the custom of chanting. He was after this the organist of Grace Church, in New York City, then of St. Ann's Church, in Brooklyn, and later at St. George's Church, New York, and among the incidents of his career was conducting the musical program at the funeral service over the remains of General Richard Mont- gomery in St. Paul's Church, New York. In 1818 he removed to Boston, where he was the organist of the celebrated Old South Church. He leaves enduring distinction in that field as being the first director of the Handel and Haydn Musical Society of that city. In 1826 he returned to Brooklyn, re- suming his former post. In 1834 he was ap- pointed organist of St. Paul's, New York, but in 1871 relinquished all public professional appearances. The wife of Samuel Priestly Taylor and mother of Mrs. William N. Fassett was Susan (Hale) Taylor, of England. Chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Fassett, born in Albany, New York: I. William Henry, October 3, 1845; see forward. 2. Annie Augusta, Au- gust 9, 1847 ; see forward. 3. Emma Justina, September 21, 1849, died in Albany, October 15, 1850. 4. Lawrence Taylor, April 13, 1854; see forward. 5. Edgar Stewart, April 8, 1858; see forward. 6. Grace McDowal, No- vember 8, 1863, died in Albany, June 24, 1894.
(IV) William Henry, son of William Neile and Anne Gates (Taylor) Fassett, was born in Albany, New York, October 3, 1845. He received his education at the Albany Boys' Academy, which he entered in 1852. He then began a business career, starting in the lum- ber business with his father; but in 1880 he was appointed the English agent for American proprietary drugs and specialties, and there- after took up residence in London. He was an Episcopalian, and while in this country a Democrat. His death occurred in London, England, September 20, 1908. He married, Albany, January 16, 1868, Isabella Matilda, daughter of Erastus Dow Palmer, the famous American sculptor, and Mary (Seamans) Dow. Children: Mary Palmer, born in Al- bany, October 16, 1869; Frederick Palmer, born in Albany, December 31, 1872; Doro- thea, born in London, England, April 5, 1889. (IV) Annie Augusta, daughter of William Neile and Anne Gates (Taylor) Fassett, was born in Albany, New York, August 9, 1847, and was educated at the Albany Female Acad- emy. She married, Albany, January 25, 1870,
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James Ausburn Towner, of Elmira, New York, who was a journalist and writer. He died January 22, 1909. She was living in Washington, D. C., in 1910. Children : Aus- burn Fassett, born in Albany, December 3, 1870; Mabel Fassett, born in Elmira, New York, April 12, 1873; Neile Fassett, born in Elmira, August 11, 1875 ; Isabell Louise, born in New York, New York, May 24, 1884.
(IV) Lawrence Taylor, son of William Neile and Anne Gates (Taylor) Fassett, was born in Albany, New York, April 13, 1854. He received his education at the Albany Boys' Academy, where he was a student from 1865 to 1871. He resided in Albany the greater part of his life, where he was active in the local affairs of the Democratic party. He was engaged some time with the excise de- partment. He was a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church and one of its choir of mixed voices before the introduction of a surpliced choir in 1889. He was all his life much interested in baseball, and at one time the owner of the Albany Club of the State League. About 1900 he removed to New York City and engaged in business, and was living there in 1910. He married, New York City, November 16, 1894, Elizabeth Child Hamlin, of Boston, Massachusetts.
(IV) Edgar Stewart, son of William Neile and Anne Gates (Taylor) Fassett, was born in Albany, New York, April 8, 1858. He re- ceived his education at the old Albany Boys' Academy, from which he was graduated in 1875, in a class composed of a number of youths who became well-known citizens. He was first appointed the superintendent of con- struction for the Albany District Telegraph Company, which was then in its infancy, and had charge of the constructive work on all of its lines. When that organization was ab- sorbed by the Commercial Telephone Com- pany, of Albany, he was likewise associated with it, continuing until 1883, when he severed his connection to join the United States corps of engineers engaged in making a survey for carrying out extensive improvements along the Hudson river. It was in the year 1885 that he first developed an interest for rail- roading, which ultimately resulted in his being known all over this country. It was then that he became connected with what was known as The Albany Railway Company, be- fore the days of electrical service, and when the conduct of that road seriously required betterment in many directions. He was made assistant manager, and a great share of the duties fell upon him, as well as the work of originating improved methods and a system- atizing of affairs generally. When this line
was reorganized in 1899, as The United Trac- tion Company, he was made general superin- tendent and general manager in 1906 for the greatly enlarged concern, which then included lines running into Troy, Cohoes, Green Island, Waterford, Rensselaer, Watervliet, and other places, so that he was in a position to exert active management which could bring about marked advancement. His achievements would read like the recent history of the progress of the company ; but perhaps an example of his foresight and ability as an executive is best shown by the actual results of the rules laid down by him, which demonstrate the rarity of fatalities brought about by any inadvertence of his company. In the summer of 1907 he was elected vice-president of the Street Rail- way Association of the State of New York, at its annual meeting held at Bluff Point, New York, and in 1908, at the convention held in Niagara Falls, he was chosen president of the same body, and presided at its annual conven- tion held in June, 1909, at Bluff Point. He has always been a staunch Democrat in poli- tics, but has never held an elective office. He is an attendant of St. Peter's Episcopal Church and a member of the following organizations, as well as being a director on all the boards of the United Traction Company and sub- sidiary companies, the Fort Orange, the Al- bany Country, the Troy, the Glens Falls, and the Lake George clubs. He was one of the founders of the Albany Musical Association, and at one time a member of the choir of St. Peter's Church.
He married, in Washington, D. C., Sep- tember 1, 1896, Mary, daughter of Captain Albert Crary and Betsey Ann (Haley) Bur- rows, of Mystic, Connecticut. She was born at Center Groton, Connecticut, January 28, 1866, and received her education at St. Agnes' School, in Albany, as a boarder. Her father was a captain for the Mallory and other ocean steamship lines, and died at sea, June 6, 1904. He was the son of Brutus and Julia (West) Burrows. Her mother, Betsey Ann Haley, was born at Center Groton, Connecticut, March 17, 1838, died in Hartford, Connecti- cut, August 14, 1887. They were married at Center Groton, May 27, 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Fassett resided in 1910 at No. 1003 Madison avenue, Albany, New York.
There were three distinct CARPENTER families bearing the name of Carpenter who made early settlement in America. They were each from England, where the family is of "great antiquity," and to distinguish them have been termed "The Providence Family" (the earliest
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of three to settle in the New World), "The Rehoboth Family" and "The Philadelphia Family." The first two named were related and there is good evidence that the third was also. Perhaps the first mention of the name Carpenter in America is that of Alice Car- penter, who came from Leyden, Holland, landed in Plymouth in June, 1623, and be- came the wife of Governor William Bradford on August 14 following, being as the governor made record "the fourth marriage in the col- ony." She was the daughter of Alexander Carpenter, who with his wife and four other daughters were members of the church at Ley- den, where the governor knew her.
(I) The first person bearing the name Car- penter to make permanent settlement in Amer- ica was William Carpenter, son of Richard Carpenter, of Amesbury, Wiltshire, England. He married Elizabeth, born at Cheselbourne, Dorsetshire, England, November 23, 16II. They were married a short time before their sailing for America. The first mention found of William Carpenter in America is in the "Initial Deed" hastily drawn up by Roger Williams at the time of settlement at New Providence, Rhode Island, in which he desig- nates by initial the "loving friends and neigh- bors" who are to have equal rights with him- self. In it are the initials W. C. These friends and neighbors, twelve in number, had nothing further to show for their holdings until December 23, 1661, when a formal "Con- firmatory Deed" was given them by Roger Williams and wife. There were some omis- sions of names in the second deed, and in 1666 another deed was given in which Mr. Williams states the "Initial Deed was given the 8th day of the 8th month, 1638." In the latter deed William Carpenter is named in full. The "First Baptist Church in America" was constituted at Providence between August 3, 1638, and March 16, 1639. In the list of "Founders" is the name of William Carpenter. His "Home Toll" was separated from that of Robert Coles by a highway. Town street is now Main street, and the highway is now "Meeting Street," Providence, so called be- cause of the Friends Meeting House which now occupies William Carpenter's lot. Soon after the signing of the "Initial Deed" the proprietors made division of their purchase. William Carpenter and others were allotted a large tract at "Pautuxet," where they at once made settlement. It was a beautiful tract of meadow land, four miles south from Provi- dence, bordering on Narragansett bay, and south on the Pawtuxet river. In later years it was known as Cranston and is now covered with blocks of buildings. It was here that
William Carpenter spent the remaining years of his life; for nearly fifty years it was his home. There is hardly a page of the town records but has mention of him; he was on numerous commissions to lay out roads, settle boundary lines, locate and build bridges, and he was a warm personal friend of Roger Williams, whose perfect confidence he en- joyed. He was elected to the general court many times, and was assistant to the general assembly and deputy. When King Philip's war was threatening the very life of the col- ony the general assembly on April 4, 1676, voted "that in these troubulous times and straits in the colony this Assembly desiring to have the advice and concurrence of the most judicious inhabitants, do desire at their next sitting the company and counsel of William Carpenter." During the war, "on January 27, 1676, the Indians despoiled Wm. Carpenter of two hundred sheep, fifty head of cattle and fifteen horses." Austin says: "William Car- penter's house was attacked by three hundred Indians and was set on fire by them, but the flames were extinguished by the defenders. Two of his household were killed." One of these was his son William. His last public service was on April 25, 1683, when as "Last survivor of the Thirteen Proprietors" he gave. deeds to the heirs of his fellow proprietors for lands that had been held in joint ownership. He made his will February 10, 1680. The death of his son William caused a codicil which was added March 15, 1684, and he died Sep- tember 7, 1685. His wife Elizabeth Arnold survived him. She was a sister of Benedict Arnold, governor of the colony from 1663. until his death in 1678. Her father, William Walter Stephen, and sister Joana resided near Pawtuxet, and for nearly half a century the Carpenters and Arnolds were the largest land owners and chief taxpayers of Pawtuxet. A monument was erected in memory of the Car- penter family in 1860 by one of William's de- scendants in Cranston, three and a half miles. from the City Hall, Providence, Rhode Island.
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