Mohawk Valley genealogy and history : [a compilation of clippings, 1948], Part 17

Author:
Publication date: 1942
Publisher: [1942-1949]
Number of Pages: 222

USA > New York > Montgomery County > St Johnsville > Mohawk Valley genealogy and history : [a compilation of clippings, 1948] > Part 17

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The rumblings of discontent among the colonists' soon began to be heard throughout the length and breadth of the country; England's growing encroachments upon the liberties of the people and her oppressive system of taxation aroused, the indignation. of all men worthy of the name. In no section of the colonies was this feeling stronger than among the peo- ple of the Mohawk Valley and when the news of Lexington and Concord reached them every man was ready to enroll himself among the members of the patriot army. All through the valley grain that could be spared was loaded Into wagons and started over the rough roads to Boston. They knew that they had much to fear from their Tory neighbors, the Eng- lish landowners and officials. They wanted to keep for themselves and their chdn. the large landed domains which had been obtained by William Johnson in his dealing's · with the .Indians. They drank and raced horses and had luuxuries and rude sports, which made their lives a round of Indulgence and pleasure and they looked down upon the sober, God- fearing patriots who earned their daily bread by the labor of their hands. (note by C. S. Sue Jennings was a member of a Temperance Soc.) In the history of Tryon County it is said that the Germans of the Mohwk early espoused the patriot's cause and that the first liberty pole erected in the Valley was raised at

Newell Root II b. 11 Jun. 1938, Mat- tie Louisa Root b. 29 May 1940, and Frank Peter Root b. 2 May 1944, and George Adelbert Root Jr., b. 14 Oct. 1906 m. 1930 March Mina Mack- man b. 7 Nov. 1908 divorced and m. 2nd Betty Lee b. 8 March, 1923 and had Roy Lee Root b. 10 Nov. 1942 divorced and m. 3rd 8 Jun. 1946 Mar- ion Ruth Renaud b. 22 Sept. 1922, and after death of George A. Root Sr. Alie Barnard Hughes m. 2nd Raymond Brooks; Ceicle Percie

1908' Wm. Baumgartner b. 6 Apr.

who stated that William Himes came from near Herkimer in the Mohawk Valley of N. Y. and operated a black- smith shop in both Washtenaw and Livingston Counties of Michigan. She also stated that James Himes' m. Juliet Sterns and had 2 dau., Estella and Kittie, Estella m. Fred Brock- way of Howell, Mich., then he di- vorced her and m. again. Estella's only child, Bert. m. in Washington D. C. where he llved. Kittie, younger .. dau. of James Himes,. m. King Mor- gan. She also stated that. James Hughes b. 25 July 1883 m. 3 Oct .. Himes d. in the Civil War.

THE END

German Flats and that It was cut also" written Akker, can Akker; - van down by Sheriff White and a body of den Akker. From my files it appears militia who came up from Johnson that genealogical data occur on this. for that purpose in the spring of family in. Nord Brabant, Holland.

ACKERMAN - An original Dutch found a "hiding place for her In a hollow log, where she lay through- Johnston Hall was the meeting out the day, trembling with fear that the cries of her babe in the- uncom- surname, also written Akkerman. If place of the Tories and Indians, and more information is given, if the many of the massacres among their original dwelling place is given, data fortable position might disclose the patriot neighbors was planned in this , may be forthcoming.

place of their concealment. The In- dian killed and cooked game and gave her a portion, and when night ich. The rich Mohawk Valley, the again settled down upon the wilder- ness they resumed their journey, walking rapidly, and just as the sun arose in the morning they came out into a clearing at the top of a hill, and the valley of the Mohawk lay unfolded before them. The Indian pointed to the Fort then turned and plunged back into the dark forest. My g-g-grandmother made her way to the Fort where she found her husband and the child that she had supposed was dead.

house; which was . the owner of wealth and power among the Enx-

gateway to the West, the key to that vast continent, was all-important to the English. The Tories in the valley outnumbered the patriots five to one. Bands of militia were organized and were ready to march whenever they were needed. Their bravery was well proved in the bloody battle of Oris- kany. On August 1777, when brave old General Herkimer marched with 500 militia to the aid of Fort Schuy- ler, which was beseiged by a part of Burgoyne's army. Harold Frederick in his story entitled, "In the Valley" gives a wonderful word picture of this unfortunate engagement In which the German Militia fell into an Indian ambush and the greater part of the patriot army was either killed or wounded; brave General Herkimer being one of those who received a death wound. It is sald that every man in the valley capable of bearing arms took part in this engagement and among the names mentioned in the account of this battle many were hose of our family. (note by C. S. I . found only Samuel Rees and a Wil- liam, possible a bro. or cousin, list- ed in The Book of Names).

(To Be Continued)

CHANGES IN SPELLING OF NAMES

Many people changed the spelling and pronounciation of their names when or after they came to Amer- ica. Sometimes the original name can handly be recognized. For instance take Vandercook, which originally was van der Kolk in Dutch. The name Brent, due to the English pro- nounciation, was probably changed from Brant or Brand, and Burr was likely. Boer.

language.

ABEEL, ABELL - Abele was an old governing family in the province of Zeeland, Holland, Am. sure a coat of arms can be found.

ACKER - An old Dutch surname,

ALBRIGHT - A family Albright (von Albrichsfeldt established itself in Holland In the second part of the 19th century. "Von" ,is a German Predicate of nobility. . .

ALLEN - On the 10th of March, 1640, Adrian Allen married Mayke Torment. This family is also related . to Hugenots and it may be possible, to find very interesting facts about them in the archives of the ; Wallon ' Churches.

ALMOND - Van Almonde is a real Dutch surname. Lucretia van der Poel, wife of Wiiem van Al- monde, was buried in November 1730. In the south of the Nether- lands (Flanders) the letter H is not sounded in the beginning' of words. For instance van Alteren was originally van Halteren. So the name' was probably originally: van Halmond, and due to the English writing of ames as they were pro- nounced it came to be van Almond. It might also have been van Hel- mond, which is also an ezisting sur- name.

ARMSTRONG - I have a note concerning Henriette Anne Helena Bogaare who married John Arm- strong in 1828.

ARNOLD - Arnoldts is a consid- erable family in Holland, from which a genealogy and coat of arms still exists.

BACHELDER - An old Dutch family of considerable importance called Bacheler, and, as far as I know, it was also written Bachelier and Baeteelers.

. : :: (To be continued)

Enterprise & News

An ABC Newspaper LUCILLE IVERSON PUBLISHER ST. JOHNSVILLE, N. Y Telephone 3741 Entered at the St. Johnsville Post-

The following names, taken from the QUERY REGISTER of the GEN- EALOGICAL DICTIONARY, has| been analyzed for us by Mr. J. H. | Ruijter, of Amersfoort, Zeeland 177 office. St. Johnsville, N. Y., as sec- 037, in Holland, from the Dutchjond class matter .. Published every Thursday. SUBSCRIPTION' RATES

Montgomery. Fulton and Herkimer Counties-One Year 2.50

All other * -**** Canada, $4 Six Months, $2.00

The remaining inhabitants of the valley returned to their farms, re- built their houses and again took up the work of cleaning their land and tilling it, tho' constantly menaced 'by their savage foes.

MOHAWK VALLEY AND HISTORY

GENEALOGY

. \"THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1948

St. Johnsville Enterprise and' News, "St." Johnsville, N. Y."

J. H. DE RUIJTER Amersfoort, Postrek 177037, Spaarnestraat 46, Holland Writes in English about families in Holland, France, Germany, Switzerland.

: 500 Individual surnames in files. Write AIR MAIL, Three 5c Air Mail stamps. Send $1 bill - Do your share to help Europe in this individual way.

CHANGE IN SPELLING NAMES

BAUMAN - Germans write It her to tie her feather beds up in Baumans, and we, now-a-days, Bou- man or Bouwman; however In olden times it was written Bauman. All works give the same sound in Dutch as German, so cannot be sure of Its origin.

BENNETT - Jean Arnout Ben- nett, born in 1758, was a professor of the Leiden University in Holland. "BEERRY - Berry and de Berry are, French Huguenots. It may be possible to collect data in the arc- hives of the Walloon Churches.

BOGARDUS - Perhaps the latin- ization of the surname Bogaart, see elsewhere in this article.

BEAUCHAMP - Richard Beau- champ, from England, married in the 17th century, Susanna Plourque, a widow. The family is of French ori- gin and many of them were Hugue- nots. It is possible to do research on that name in the Wallon Churches.

BEEKMAN - There are . many . families with the name of Beekman or Beeckman, and some members went to America. "I have some notes about the existing of a governing family in the providence of Zeeland, Holland; and an other consideranie family.

*BECKER - Steven Becker was burgomaster of the town of Middle- burg, Holland 1664-16466. I suppose the coat of arms will be possible to find. If you of Dutch ancestry are interested In that name this note may be of use to them however Becg- er is also a German name.

Van BERGH - No doubt an ori-i ginał Dutch surname. also written van den Bergh. van Berg, (without the h. etc.) There are many families

of that name and for doing research"standing. One day an old Indian came |hot-u; b. c's-maternal grandfather on such a name. it is ney & have more information about original "Andmother and upon her com- dwelling place, etc. . . and inquired for my on a 4000 acre farm of rolling land and primeval forests. His love of na- ing to see him, she recognized the ; ture, his early tastes for the great out-of-doors, his study of the life In the forests, the birds of the air, the untamed landscapes' and geolo- gical lore - there are set down in these journals that have just comet to light.

BEST - Best and de Best (e) are real Dutch names, because the word Best in English and in Dutch gives the same sound and also have the same meaning, I doo not know whe- ther this name concerns a Dutch or an English family,

BLANCHARD - Is a French fam- ily from which many members be- long to the Huguenots, therefore it may be possible to collect very Inter- esting facts about them in the acti- vities of the Wallon Churches. Mar- in Blanchard, from ' Amiens, married in the end of the- 16th century to Elyzabeth du Hen, a widow.

BOGART - Is a very common

My Grandmother By SUE JENNINGS

(Continued from Last Week).

In July of 1782 a party of Tories and Indians again entered the Mo- hawk Valley, laying waste nearly the entire settlement. Many of the fam- Illes escaped to the Fort, my g-g- grandmother and her family being able to gain this welcome shelter through the timely aid of the same Indian friend who had rescued her from her captors in 1756. He came to her house, telling her of the com- ing of the Tories and Indians, helped

blankets and coverlets, and hung them in the tops of tall trees. She then put many of the most valuable articles of household use, such as pewter plates, teapot, spoons and many other things into a large cop- per kettle and the Indian sunk it in a swamp, marking the spot. A mes- senger was dispatched to my g-g- grandfather who was away from home, and he In turn warned his neighbors and the alarm became gen- eral, most of the inhabitants were able to reach the Fort. Their build- ings were burned, crops destroyed and when they came back to thelr farms they found little to show for the hard labor of past years.

The population of Tryon County at the beginning of the Rev. was ten Thousand while not more than 500 could have been able to bear arms. Of this number of ablebodied men, only a few remained at the close of the war. But 1200 taxable inhabitants could be counted, with 300 widows and 2000 orphans.

A large and comfortable farm- house now stood near the log house earlier wears, which was still

playmate of her childhood and faith- ful friend of later years. He told her that his tribe was scattered, his family gone and he had come to her for a home. She called her son and told him that he must give this In- dian a home, and he willingly acceded to her request.

The old log house was given over to his use and here he lived in com- fort for many years, making baskets and splints brooms which he took to the village of German Flats to sell, Invariably bringing home a jug of rum, having the Indians' fondness for spirits. A generous supply of wood was always furnished him in

Francis Parkman Historian

A century has come and gone since Parkman began to travel the coun! try over and set down in narrative form his observations. On our lbirary shelves are twelve large volumes of this master historian, one, of the few greatest of American writers. We wish we had all that he ever wrote, but by a strange discovery in the, attic of an old Boston house, closed since the author's death in 1893, half a century and more ago, there was found a series of journals, hith- erto unpublished, that Harpers has just brought out in two volumes of. 718 pages.

Our interest in this new work, edited by Mason Wade, was quick- ened by one of Parkman's early trips out of Boston (July 15, 1842) to Al- bany which he describes as a place of antiquity and dirt, He put up at the Eagle Hotel (a good house, he says), staying there over night, "de- voutly hoping he may never see Al- bany again because of it's ancient fish odors."

He took a train on the Mohawk Hudson R. R. for Saratoga,"the This was, however, the last of and henceforth they were able to reap the reward of their industry, without fear of molestation from their Tory neighbors and thelr In- dian Allies. worst railroad he ever traveled on. their trials, as peace was declared The country was flat and dull, with the Catskills in the distance. It took two hours to reach Schenecady in he valley of he Mohawk. He was horoly disgusted with the filthiness of Schenectady. There were canal docks full of # inking water, super- annuated" rotten canal boats, dirty children and pigs paddling about, the rear of the town a mass of tumbling houses and sheds, green with anti- quity and dampness. He writes that even London couldn't exhibit any- thing nastier." The car-house is an enormous bullding and five or six trains were ready to start for the My g-g-grandmother lived to the great age of 107 years, her husband Aving many years before her. Her son, Adam Reese, lived on the farm where she and her husband had struggled through such trial and hardships. North and South and East and West. He passed Union College, saw Balls- ton, and finally reached Saratoga This description of Albany and, Sche- nectady coming from a Bostonese sounds exaggerated to us, as if Park- man was away from home for the first time.

Park on was a lad of

There was, probably, never"an his- torlan like him, at home in all the world. He entered Harvard in 1840 and spent his vacations in explora- tory trips over the country he would later describe. He saw the necessity of preparation. He was only in his teens when he undertook the arduous task of writing the history of the struggle for the domination of" the American Continent by France " or

or Beeckman, and some members went to America. I have some notes about the existing of a governing family in the providence of Zeeland, Holland; and an other consideranie family.

*) BECKER - Steven Becker was burgomaster of the town of Middle- burg, Holland 1664-16466. I suppose the coat of arms will be possible to find. If you of Dutch ancestry are interested in that name this note may be of use to them however Becg- er is also a German name.

Van BERGH - No doubt an ori- |hardships.

ginal Dutch surname. also .,written van den Bergh. van Berg, (without the h. etc.) 'There are many familles of that name and for doing research"standing. One day an old Indian came on such a name. it is new ----. " have more information about original : dwelling place, etc.

: BEST - Best and de Best (e) are real Dutch names, because the word Best in English and in Dutch gives the same sound and also have the family gone and he had come to her same meaning, I doo not know whe- ther this name concerns a Dutch or an English family.

BLANCHARD + Is a French fam- ily from which many members be- long to the Huguenots, therefore it may be possible to collect. very inter- esting facts about them in the acti- vities of the Wallon Churches. Mar- "in "Blanchard, from Amiens, married in the end of the 16th century to Elyzabeth du Hen, a widow. ,

BOGART - Is a very common name, occurring as Boogaard, Bo- gaard, Bogaerdt, Bongaard, van den Bonegaard, with the same cariations Bogart, Bongers, Bongerts, To do re- search on such a name it is neces- sary to have all particulars possible.

BONT - Bont, de Bont, Bonte and de Bonte are real Dutch sur- names. Jacob Pieterse Bonte was a burgomaster of the town of Middle- burg, Holland, in 1546-1558. I am sure that we can find his coat of arms.

BRADLEY - Many officers of English and Scottish regiments lived and died in Holland; for instance: Lieutenant Bradly, under Captain Reed, died in 16460 and was buried in Breda. Bredly in Dutch characters gives the same sound as English Bradley.

BUCKHOUT - I cannot identify daughter went to call her to dinner, that name very well. I presume it may have been formerly Dutch Boek- hout, which gaves the same pronoun- ciation, howeved a Dutch family of that name I do not know:

BOEKWEIT and (BUCKWHEAT) Dutch Boekweit and English Buck- wheat have the same meaning. The name of Boekweit I never saw for a Dutch family, but is may be one.

von BREMEN - A name of Ger- man origin, von being the predicate of' nobility.

BANGHART and BREWER - Will somebody please write if these names are of English origin. When I read the name of Banghet I say it in Exact Dutch. Bang means afraid and hart is hearth, a man who is not a hero. 'Such nicknames are common in Holland. or, instance: Soetekouw means a Sweet-tooth; Naaktgeboren / means born naledly .

BLANKENSHIP - Means, as spelled in Dutch, Blankenschip, a ship of black men, white men in com- mand; Zwart means commanded (Steered) by Negroes.

at the beginning of the Rev. was ten Thousand while not more than 500 could have been able to bear arms. Of this number of ablebodied men, only a few remained at the close of the war. But 1200 taxable inhabitants could be counted, with 300 widows and 2000 orphans.

My g-g-grandmother lived to the great age of 107 years, her husband diving many years before her. Her son, Adam Reese, lived on the farm where she and her husband had struggled through such trial and

A large and comfortable farm- houge now stood near the log house - earlier wears, which was still

~. mndmother and upon her com-

for a home. She called her son and told him that he must give this In- dian a home, and he willingly acceded to her request.

The old log house was given over to his use and here he lived in com- fort for many years, making baskets and splints brooms which he took to the village of German Flats to sell, invariably bringing home a jug of rum, having the Indians' fondness for spirits. A generous supply of wood was always furnished him in the cold weather, to burn in the huge

robe on the floor, with his head to the fire. One morning in winter he was found dead and he was given a Christian burial in the family burial plot on the farm. .

This revolutionary grandmother of mine used to boast that she never employed a physician or took any medicine except tea made from herbs. There was little need of sanitariness or osteopathic treatmen for women of such sturdy mold. She was able to walk about the house to the last, and on the 'morning that she died, she asked for some tow to spin on her flax wheel. It was given to her and for some time they heard the hum- ming of the wheel, but when her

she found her sitting at the wheel with the thread she had, drawn out still held in her stiffened fingers, having passed away suddenly and peacefully.

The end

In my preface you may have no- ticed that I have given the birth of Adam as in the year 1756, having always assumed that he was the baby she carried at the time of her 2nd capture. However there may been others between Samuel and Aldam. The census of 1790 shows a Jacob of Caughnawaga Town who might have been a brother and I have never heard mention of any sisters, tho' there may have been. Jacob was not in the. 1800 census; but may have migrated.

This was copied as written by Miss Jennings except for a few of the ab- breviations.

Carile Lummis Santos

Harry A. Odell P. O. Box 899, Church St. Annex, 8, N. Y. C.

annuated rotten canal boats, dirty children and pigs paddling about; the rear of the town a mass of tumbling. houses and sheds, 'green with anti- quity and dampness. He writes that even London couldn't exhibit any -: thing nastier." The car-house is an enormous building and five or 'six trains were ready to start for the North and South and Fast and. West He passed Union College, saw Bails- ton, and finally reached „Saratoga This description of Albany and Sche- nectady coming from a Bostonese sounds exaggerated to us, as if Park- man was away from home for the. first time.

Park din was a lad of heat-up Lr.n's-maternal grandfather

'r. A .... and inquired for my on a 4000 acre farm of rolling land

and primeval forests. His love of na- ing to see him, she recognized the | ture, his early tastes for the great playmate of her childhood and faith- ful friend of later years. He told her

out-of-doors, his study' of the life' in the forests, the birds of the air, that his tribe was scattered, his the untamed landscapes and geolo: gical lore . there are set down in these journals that have just comet to light.

There was, probably, never 'an his- torian like him, at home in all the world. He entered Harvard in' 1840 and spent his vacations, in explora- tory trips over the country he would. later describe. He saw the necessity of preparation. He was only in his teens when he undertook the arduous task of writing the history of the struggle for the domination of" the American Continent by France or England. When but 21 he visited fireplace, and he slept Indian fash- | the Great Lakes region and at 11 ion, roled in blanket and buffalo | he made a 1700, mile trek that en- abled him to produce "California and, the Oregon Trail."

He knew, thro far travel and dili- gent research of history, all about the European Courts 'and camps, the colonies in this western world, the wilderness forts, the various battle- fields, the native Ammerind and their contacts with the white man.

Parkman knew the Indian in his tepee (he lived with them), he knew the monk in his ceil, and, the diplo- mat in his chancellary, and the sold- ier on the rampart. He made himself at home in Paris, and London and Madrid. But he had his special tastes which held firm to those long suffer- ing last years of his evenftul life. On Como he sighed for Lake George and its' pineries. He was far happier; and more content with the Sioux! than with the Capuchian : Monks of! Italy.

In 1942, Mr. Wade wrote a bio- graphy of "Francis Parkman Heroic Historian,", he knew these journals existed but he could not find them. Earlier writers (Farnham and Sedg- wick) had used them. Visiting Park- man's Boston attic Mr. Wade saw the Indian trophies hanging from the wails, his bookcases with the works of Byron, Scott, and Cooper, his empty desk and the wire gird that .he used when his sight was all but gone. On the other side of the room was a set of drawers that had been overlooked. In them were these journals together with a great mass | of correspondence, including some of the most important letters the his- torian ever wrote or received. These journals were in large part the work shop of his histories.

There is so much we might dwell upon in these journals, especially his

early trips 'around, Lake George 'and Champlain in the eighteen-forties, and" his visit to the White Moun- tains.' His enthusiasm for the un- invaded wilderness, for the savage and half-savage types of life .. He was thrilled by visits to noted places as where General Wolfe fell, and Fort William Henry where he traced the marks . of a., thousand graves where the French besiegeng had been buried, and, near Ticonderoga, where Abercrombie sunk his vessels, he saw when the water was clear "the spikes and timbers of the sunken vesseis lying at the bottom of the lake."

The Petries in America

These notes' and records of she Johan Jost Petrie family and de- scendants in America were compil- ed by the late Mrs. Frederick Staeh- la, of Munnsvilie, N. Y. Her notes have been checked, so far as we have been able to do so, and we will try to complete her work.

Dr. and Mrs. R. C. Petrie, Johnstown, N. Y.

(Continued from last week)

In late years, new records have come to light, as well as old deeds, which cast a different appearance on the history of the valley. These have been carfully examined for new material. Old records have been re- examined, and family traditions have been considered. Many, however, have been lost, through wars, indifference, and lack of appreciation of their value. The wanton destruction of property was immense.

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Mohawk Valley genealogy and history : [a compilation of clippings, 1948], Part 17

Author: Publication date: 1942 Publisher: [1942-1949] Number of Pages: 222

Author:
Publication date: 1942
Publisher: [1942-1949]
Number of Pages: 222