Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume IV, Part 45

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866-1934, ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 660

USA > New York > Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume IV > Part 45

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(VI) Samuel (3), son of Samuel (2) and Mary (Mitchell) Belding, was born Novem- ber 10, 1767. In 1790 he joined Chauncey Belding in the town of Charlton, Saratoga county, New York, both becoming prominent men of the town. In 1794 they engaged in mercantile life in company, succeeding Davis & Bostwick. Chauncey Belding was a mem- ber of the state assembly, 1807-08, and Sam- tel in 1823. Samuel Belding held the office of town clerk from 1802 continuously until 1838. except the years 1813 to 1818, when he was supervisor. Ile was then succeeded by Iliram Belding. Samuel married and had issue.

(VII) Samuel (4), son of Samuel (3) Bel- ding, was born in Charlton, Saratoga county, New York, died 1865. He married and had issue.

(VIII) Melancthon, son of Samuel (4) Belding, was born September 5, 1813, in Charlton, Saratoga county, New York, died October 15, 1883. He married, January 14, 1835, Hester M. Conde, born May 14, 1813, died February 28, 1889. Children : 1. Hen- rietta, married George R. Beach. 2. Alice L., married David Foote Wicks, of Charlton, New York. 3. Eva, married John M. Wells, of Johnstown, New York.

(The Doolittle Line.)

Abraham Doolittle, the Puritan, was the progenitor of all the Doolittles in America who claim early Connecticut ancestry. He spelled his name Dowlittell. He was born in England in 1619-20. He married (first) in England, Joane Allen (spelled Alling on the colonial records) and at about the age of twenty-one came with his bride to America. He was in Boston, 1640, and of New Haven. Connecticut, 1642. He built a house. had land granted him, took the oath of fidelity in 1644, was chosen deputy seven terms, and served many terms as selectman, was treas- urer of the town of Wallingford, whither he removed in 1670. He held about every office in the town and was sergeant of the military company. His gravestone yet stands in Wall- ingford, marked:

"A. D. 70" 1690

Joane, his first wife, died after twenty years of married life, and he married (second) Abi- gail Moss, born April 10, 1642. Children by first wife: Sarah, Abraham, Elizabeth. Mary, John, Abigail. Children by second wife: Samuel, Joseph, Abigail (2), Ebenezer, Mary, Daniel, Theophilus.

(II) Theophilus, youngest child of Abra- ham and Abigail ( Moss) Doolittle, was born in Wallingford, Connecticut, July 28, 1678, died March 26, 1740. He was a farmer. He married (first ) Thankful Hall, born Decem- ber 29, 1679. died June 2, 1715, daughter of David and Sarah (Rockwell) Hall, of Wall- ingford. He married (second) Elizabeth, daughter of Jeremiah Howe. Children, all by first wife except the last child: Thankful. Sarah, Henry, David, Theophilus (2), Solo- mon, Benjamin.

(II]) Theophilus (2), son of Theophilus (1) and Thankful ( Ilall) Doolittle, was born at Wallingford, Connecticut, June 20. 1709. Ilis will was probated November 10, 1783. In

HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS

1756 he was appointed ensign of the First Company in Wallingford, by the assembly. He married (first) October 10, 1733. Su- sannah, daughter of Deacon Samuel and Su- sannah (Mall) Moss. Ile married (second) November 15, 1738. Sarah Dorchester. Chil- dren : Susannah, Solomon, Theophilus (3), twin of Solomon, Theophilus (4), Sarah, Solomon (2), Isaiah, Eliasaph. Stephen. Isaac. (IV) Eliasaph, son of Ensign Theophilus (2) and Sarah (Dorchester) Doolittle, was born in Wallingford, Connecticut, June 1, 1750, died April 28, 1817. He married (first) Ruth Hall, January 1, 1772, and settled in Wallingford. He married (second) . Mabel Potter, April 8, 1776. Children: Lucy, Charles, Miles, Ruth, Isaiah, Eliasaph, Porter, Sally, Ann Giles, Betsey.

(\) Miles, son of Eliasaph and Ruth ( Hall) Doolittle, was born in Wallingford, Connecticut, March 5, 1775. He removed to New Lebanon, Columbia county, New York, where he died. He was a prosperous farmer. He married, November 6, 1803. Esther Ben- nett, of New Lebanon ; ten children.

(VI) James Frederick, son of Miles and Esther (Bennett) Doolittle, was born at New Lebanon, Columbia county, New York, March 26, 1825, died at Ballston Spa, New York, December 19, 1902. He married (first ) Mar- garet Stuart Lee, of Wilkes Barre, Pennsyl- vania, died in Ballston Spa, New York, in 1865. Children : 1. Esther Bennett, of fur- ther mention. 2. Priscilla Reed, born Sep- tember 6, 1862. 3. James Lee, September 18, 1865. He married (second ) Fannie Buckley, of Ballston Spa. Children: 4. William Fred- erick, M. D., of Cleveland, Ohio. 5. Harry J., lawyer. of Cleveland, Ohio.

(VII) Esther Bennett, daughter of James Frederick and Margaret Stuart (Lee) Doo- little, was born December 3, 1859. She mar- ried Frederick Henry Beach, of Ballston Spa, New York ( see Beach VIII).

Jan Van Loon, blacksmith, VAN LOON was of Loonenburg, 1690, of Coxsackie, 1720. He emigrated from Luyck, Holland, and was a landowner of Coxsackie, 1684. He married Maria Albertse in New York, February 23, 1676. Children: I. Jan, married Rebecca Hollenbeck. 2. Elsie. married (first) Omie La Grange: (second) Barent Egbertse, in 1727. 3. Albertus, baptized October 31. 1683, married Maria Caskersen. 4. Nicholas, born in New York, October 14, 1694. 5. Matthias, baptized December 10, 1696, inarried Annatje LaGrange. The Loonenburg patent for lands in Greene county, New York, included the

entire purchase made from the ladlans in 1665 by Johannes Clute ( Jan Cloury, and Jan Hendrickse Bruyn. In 1681 April 7, Jollan- nes Chite sold a large tract to Jan Van Loon and Peter Bosie, who gave a mortgage for "50 beavers" as part payment. Dy a deed dated March 2, 1684, Peter Bowie sold his part to Jan Van Loon in consideration of the fact that he had paid the mortgage. Jan built his house in the lower part of what is now the village of Athens, a short distance north of Black Rock, on ground later occupied as a shipyard by Matthias Van Loon. A stone from the original house bearing the inscrip- tion 1706, J. V. L., gives the name of the builder and the date of erection. Jan Van Loon conveyed all his property in the patent to his sons, Jan, Albertus, Matthias and Nich- olas. By deed of April 11, 1720, the four sons gave to their father and mother, Maria, for life one hundred morgens (two hundred acres) at the Vlught Ilook and fifty morgens on the flats with all the buildings. The deed provided for a division of this property after the parents died. One of the celebrated land cases of after years, in the Greene county courts, was over the Van Loon lands.

(II) Nicholas, son of Jan "the founder" and his wife, Maria Van Loon, had for his share of the estate lands on "the flat." He married, November 19, 1721, Rachel Clow, of Claverack. Children: Maria, born 1722; Junge : Elsie ; Johannes, 1726: Matthias, 1736: Petrus, twin of Matthias: William, 1739; Abraham, 1740; Isaac, of further men- tion.

(III) Isaac, son of Nicholas and Rachel (Clow) Van Loon, was born at Loonenburg. now Athens. Greene county, New York, July 22, 1743. He married, 1763. Catherine, born November 16, 1743, daughter of Jacobus and Rachel Hallenbeck. Children: Jacob, Nich- olas I., of further mention.

(IV) Major Nicholas I. Van Loon, son of Isaac and Catherine (H fallenbeck ) Van Loon, was born at Athens, Greene county, New York, 1766, died 1846. \ tombstone in Ath ens cemetery with the inscription "N. I. Van Loon, aged 80." marks his resting place. He led an active, busy life, and was prominent in the community. He met his death by acci- dent, being caught on a picket fence he was attempting to climb in the night : being unable to extricate himself, he was found dead in the morning. Ile married Ilannah, daughter of Isaac Hallenbeck. Children : Isaac N., Jacob N .. Caspar N., William Nicholas, of further mention, Prentice, Catherine, Cornelia.

(V) William Nicholas, son of Major Nich- olas I. Van Loon, was born in Athens, Greene

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HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS

county, New York, in 1806, died in that vil- lage, 1893. He was associated with his father in brick manufacturing and was captain of the Hudson River vessels for many years. He held all the local offices of importance in his town, and for forty years was vestryman of the Episcopal church. He married, in 1838, Mary Stitt, of Nantucket, Massachusetts, be- longing to the religious Society of Friends. They had three children: I. - -, died in infancy. 2. Eugene, of further mention. 3. Thomas, born January 5, 1845, at Athens, New York; educated in the public schools ; at fourteen removed to New York City and from then until the present time (1910) has been identified with the coffee trade of that city; he resides in Brooklyn, New York; he mar- ried, December 2, 1874, Harriet B. Winans ; children : Eugene and Schuyler.

(VI) Eugene, son of William Nicholas and Mary (Stitt) Van Loon, was born in the vil- lage of Athens, Greene county, New York, December 2, 1842. He was educated in the public schools, and at an early age located in Little Falls, New York, where he learned the details of woolen manufacturing. He became a manufacturer of woolen goods of Little Falls, a line of activity he continued until his retirement from business. He is a Republican in politics, was presidential elector in 1908, and has filled all the principal town offices. He is one of the original members of the Holland Society of New York, and was for ten years vice-president of the society. His social club is the Union League of New York City. He married, September 30, 1869, at Worcester, Massachusetts, Ella Maddock, born June II, 1847, daughter of David R. Maddock, cashier of the Camden National Bank of Camden, New Jersey. One child, William T., born December 3, 1873, in Nut- ley, New Jersey, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, class of 1894, now a resident of Athens.

DEMPSTER

The Dempster family of Gloversville, New York, are descendants of an an-

cient Scotch family whose ancestral seat was near Edinburg. The head of the present fam- ily and the American ancestor was Rev. James Dempster, a Scotch minister of note, who withdrew from the established church, and joining with the Wesleys (founders of Metho- dism) came to the United States. He settled in the town of Florida, Montgomery county, New York, where he died and is buried. He married and had three sons, James, John, Joel, and a daughter Pamelia. John was a noted missionary and the first Methodist missionary

to the Argentine Republic. He afterwards was instrumental in founding the great North- western University at Evanston, Illinois.

(II) Joel, son of Rev. James Dempster, was born in Edinburg, Scotland, and came to the United States, settling in Fulton county, New York, where he was a man of prominence. He was twice married; his first wife was a Mur- dock; his second Lois Spaulding, who bore him David Spaulding, Delos C., Julia E. and Jane.

(III) David Spaulding, eldest son of Joel and Lois (Spaulding) Dempster, was born in Lasselville, Fulton county, New York, March 31, 1845, died in Gloversville, New York, Feb- ruary 26, 1907. He secured his early educa- tion in the public schools, finishing at Fulton Academy, Fulton, New York, where he took an advanced course. After completing his- studies he became a traveling salesman for local glove-making firms. In January, 1879, in company with George Place, he organized: the firm of Dempster & Place, and began in. a small way the manufacture of gloves, on. the corner of Main and First avenues, Glov- ersville, where they remained eight years. In January, 1888, their business had so grown that they moved into the three-story brick property on Bleecker street, which they had previously erected and equipped for a modern glove factory. The firm manufactured a gen- eral line of light and heavy buckskin gloves,. and a line of fine kid gloves. They pros- pered and obtained a firm footing in the trade. Since the death of Mr. Dempster, his wife. has capably filled his place in the firm, which. still continues a prosperous career as Demp- ster & Place. Mr. Dempster, while always. solicitous for the welfare of his city, and gen- erous in his support of all public enterprises, was never connected with political affairs. His public service was confined to the board of water commissioners, of which he was. president. He was a director of the Manu- facturers Bank, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a Methodist in religion. He- was a man of fine business ability, upright and honorable in his business affairs, and' held in the highest esteem.

He married Sarah J., born February 12,. 1856, daughter of Willard and Ellen ( Put- nam) Brownell, and granddaughter of James and Rhoda (Rose) Brownell. Ellen Putnam was a daughter of Ralph and Jane (Voor- hees) Putnam. Willard and Ellen (Putnam) Brownell had three children: Anstress, mar- ried Henry Knoff, and had Sarah and Miriam. Sarah J., married David Spaulding Demp- ster. Charles, unmarried ; an extensive ranch owner in southern California. Children of

David J. Dempster

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HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS

David Spaulding and Sarah J. (Brownell) Dempster: 1. Willard J., born June 18, 1877 ; educated in the public schools and at a pre- paratory school in Massachusetts, after which he went west, locating at Los Angeles, Cal- ifornia, owning and operating an orange grove ; also a director in the Automatic Signal Light Company of Colorado Springs, Colo- rado. 2. Rena, died at the age of sixteen months. 3. David Dudley, horn March 15, 1884, was educated in the public school and at a preparatory school at Williston, Northampton, Massachusetts ; he had recently returned from a trip around the world when he died October 22, 1907. 4. Dorothy. Mrs. David S. Demp- ster survives her husband and continues her residence in Gloversville. She is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, and active in social, benevolent and educational work. For eight years she has been a member of the school board of Gloversville; is a member of the hospital board of directors, and of the Young Women's Christian Association ; also actively engaged in church work.

John Thompson, born in THOMPSON Scotland, and his wife Mary, removed to Belfast, Ireland, where he was engaged in business. He was a man of considerable influence in the city, was master of the Masonic lodge, and a devoted member of the Scotch Presbyterian church. He and his wife are buried in Green- wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York. Among his children was a son James.

(II) James, son of John and Mary Thomp- son, was born in Belfast, Ireland, March 12, 1831, died in Valley Falls, Rensselaer county, New York, April 11, 1899. He received a good education and was engaged with his father in the manufacture of linens. In 1852 he came to the United States, landing in New York, where he worked in the cotton and linen factories of that section and in New England. In 1859 he started in business for himself in New York, continuing until 1872, when he settled at Valley Falls and established a mill on the south bank of the Hoosick river. He demolished, with one exception, all the old buildings which were on the premises, and which had been operated as a twine mill by Lape & Sproat. He erected a large brick inill and engaged in the manufacture of flax and hemp twines. Later he built a large cotton mill in which he manufactured mosquito netting, tarlatans, buckrams, and similar goods, such as previously made at his New York City plant. In 1878 the firm of James Thompson & Company was formed, R. A. Schoneman, of New York, being admitted a

partner. Four additional building: were

erected in 1880, and another in 1881 In the latter year the Valley Falls Water Power Company built a new dam, James Thompson & Company being a leading spirit in the en- terprise. Further improvements in water power were made in 1886 by the firm, build- ing a new flume, and making extensive rock excavations. In 1887 the old buil ling was de- molished and a substantial brick structure erected. Previously they had built a commo- dious store house along the line of the Fitch- burg railroad, and in 1894 acquired possession of the Valley Falls Paper Company's prop- erty on the north bank of the Hoosick river. In 1895 a large brick structure was added to the mills, devoted to the finishing of cotton goods. The mills were equipped with all mod- ern improvements and constitute the principal manufacturing plant of the village. Mr. Thompson was a man of high character and of most excellent business quality. 1Ic was made a Mason in Ireland, his father being master of his lodge. In Valley Falls he was a useful member of the Baptist church, and liberal in his benefactions to all churches, re- gardless of creed, contributing to the building funds of the Baptist, Methodist, and Catholic churches. He was a Republican in politics, and served the town as road commissioner. He was of a quiet, genial nature, and made many friends. He was a great lover of the horse, and on his farm of one hundred and fifty acres had many choice specimens of the Wilkes breed of trotting horse, the particular strain in which he was most interested. IIe married (first), in 1854, Isabella Curran, of Belfast, Ireland, who died October, 1879. Children : 1. Mary Jane, married Allan Milks, of Valley Falls ; children : Clarence and Ellis. 2. Hannah, married Adam Lohnes, of Valley Falls: children : i. James, married Ada Har- rington, and has James (2) ; ii. Isabella, iii. Estella, married Lieutenant Albert Baker, of the United States Navy, and has Janet. 3. James, of further mention. 4. Isabella, mar- ried Thomas Doran : children : Arthur Ed- ward, Isabella, Rita, Leo. Clare. 5. William, married Theresa Barrett. 6. Eliza, married Frank Stover, and has Jennic, died at the age of seventeen years, and Allan. 7. William. James Thompson married ( second ) Lucy E. Larken, of New York : child, Leslie Eugene, of Valley Falls.

(III) James (2), son of James and Isabella (Curran ) Thompson, was born in New York City, October 25, 1861. He was educated in the city schools, and the College of the City of New York, from which he was graduated 1877. After leaving college he at once be-

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HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS

came associated with his father in the manu- facture of linens and cottons in New York City, and later at Valley Falls, New York. He became superintendent of the plants, and on the death of his father in 1899 came into possession of the latter's interest and suc- ceeded him as general manager and principal owner. He is a director of the National City Bank of Troy, and the Rensselaer County Bank of Rensselaer, New York, and of the Prixite Comb Company of North Adams, Massachusetts, and president of the Valley Falls Improvement Company. He is an active Republican, and was the first president of the village of Valley Falls, and county committee- man and leader of the party in the town of Pittstown, Rensselaer county. In 1910 he was Republican candidate for state comptroller. He was a delegate to the national convention of his party in 1908 that nominated Taft and Sherman, the successful candidates for presi- dent and vice-president of the United States, at the ensuing election, and has at various times sat as a delegate in State Conventions of his party. He is a member of the Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Rensselaer County Republican Club. He mar- ried, October, 1881, Caroline Smodell, born 1861, daughter of George W. and Elizabeth Smodell, of Valley Falls, New York. Chil- dren : I. Mary. 2. Flora, married, June, 1910, Dr. Charles Sproat, of Valley Falls. 3. Eliza- beth. 4. Caroline. 5. Viola Isabella. Mr. Thompson maintains a residence both in Sara- toga and Valley Falls.

FINCH The Finches are an old New England family, and figure quite prominently in the early annals of Connecticut and New York states. Finchville, in Orange county, is named in honor of John Finch, the first emigrant in that section, who came from Horse Neck, Connecticut, and set- tled at Goshen, New York, the tradition being that he was the first adult buried in the grave- yard of Goshen church. His son, James Finch, settled in the town of Walkill, his farm now being the site of the village of Middle- town. When marching to the ill-fated field of Minisink during the revolution. Colonels Phillips and Wisner with their troops were entertained at his house, and arrangements made for him to feed the soldiers on their return next day. But alas! there were but few of his friends and neighbors who re- turned. Ile also served in the army. His son, James (2) Finch, was justice of the peace and county judge. His son, Coe Finch, was justice of the peace, supervisor twelve years in succession, and a member of the New York

house of assembly thirteen sessions between 1802 and 1832. A branch of the family headed by Ebenezer Finch, born in Stamford, Connecticut, settled in Greene county, New York, in the town of Greenville. Ebenezer married Hannah Newman, and had two sons, Seth and Ezra. The branch herein recorded settled in Dutchess county, but soon removed to Rensselaer county, New York.

The first of the name in America was Dan- iel Finch, who came in Governor Winthrop's fleet and settled in Watertown, Massachusetts, where he was made a freeman, May 18, 1631 ; removed to Wethersfield, Connecticut, where he was constable in 1636; removed to Stam- ford, Connecticut, where he was one of the original proprietors, and in 1653 to Fair- field, Connecticut, where he made a con- tract marriage, December 25, 1657, with Elizabeth, widow of John Thompson, and died March, 1667. His will names son Nathaniel. Daniel Finch had a brother Abraham, who was killed in open Indian war- fare. Others of the name settled in Massa- chusetts.

(I) The founder of this branch of the fam- ily was Jonas Finch, who lived in Rhode Island, a descendant of the Connecticut fam- ily. He settled in Nine Partners, Dutchess county, New York. He married. and among his children was a son Obadiah, who may have preceded his father to New York state, but the supposition is they came together.

(II) Obadiah, son of Jonas Finch, was born in Rhode Island, and when a young man came to New York state, settling at Nine Partners, Dutchess county. Later he removed to Rensselaer county, where he owned and operated a farm in the town of Nassau. Here he resided for many years. After the death of his wife he went with a married daughter, Susan, to Grand Ledge, Michigan, where he died at the age of seventy years. IIe married Wilbur, born in Rensselaer county, New York, where she died. Children: I. George W., of further mention. 2. Lynis, born in Rensselaer county, New York, re- moved to Grand Ledge, Michigan; enlisted from that state and served with honor during the civil war; he followed the occupation of a farmer all his life : married (first)

Turk; children: Alfred, Alice, Ada and George; married (second) a wife of whom no record is obtainable. 3. Susan, married James Wincham; they removed to Grand Ledge, Michigan, where both died, leaving a son and daughter.

(III) George W., born in Nassau, Rens- selaer county, New York, February, 1821, died at Ancram, Columbia county, New York,

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HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS

September, 1882. He was a natural mechanic, expert as a machinist and millwright, follow- ing these trades all his life. lle was well known and highly respected. He affiliated with the Republican party, but did not aspire to public office. He married, in East Nassau, Rensselaer county, February 10, 1849, Olive Hayes, born in Nassau county, April 12, 1832, died in Ancram, in 1894 (see Hayes VI). Children of George W. and Olive (Hayes) Finch: I. Obed, born in Columbia county, New York, February 18, 1852; educated in Sand Lake Academy, Scharm Collegiate Col- lege, and Lowell, Massachusetts, Business Col- lege. He engaged in mercantile life until 1890, when he purchased a farm in Ancram, to which he has since devoted his energies. He is a Republican in politics and served as supervisor during the years 1888-89-90. He married Hannah L. Thompson, born in Stan- ford, Dutchess county, New York, March, 1855, daughter of William S. and Catharine (Lewis) Thompson, of Dutchess, later Co- lumbia county, where both died. Children : i. Susan T., born July, 1884, graduate of Al- bany Normal College, class of 1904, now a teacher in the public schools of New York City; ii. W. Thompson, born April 13, 1887, educated in the public schools, now his father's assistant at the farm; unmarried. 2. Hugh, born 1857, died 1861. 3. Lebus B., born March 6, 1860; educated at Sand Lake Acad- emy, now a farmer of Galvin, Columbia coun- ty, unmarried. 4. George II., of further men- tion. 5. Mary, born 1868; married Frederick B. Keller, now of Somerville, Massachusetts. He is employed in the United States railway mail service. Children : , born August 7, 1891, and Helen F., September 3, 1898. 6. Augusta V., born February 20, 1872 ; married Jay Woodward, a farmer of Ancram. (IV) George H., son of George W. and Olive (Hayes) Finch, was born at Ancram, New York, May 29, 1863. He was educated in the public schools, and began his business life as a merchant in association with his brother Obed. He was elected superintendent of the Columbia county farm and hospital at Ghent, an office to which he was re-elected in 1909. He has proved a most capable official and is highly commended by his townsmen for his business-like administration and for his considerate, humane and sympathetic treat- ment of the unfortunates who are committed to his care. He is an active worker in the Republican party and deeply interested in its success. He has served the town of Taghkan- ick, as supervisor, holding office continually from 1896 to 1901. He is a member of Hud- son Lodge, No. 7, Free and Accepted Masons ;

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Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume IV, Part 45

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866-1934, ed Publication date: 1911 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 660

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866-1934, ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 660