USA > New York > Schenectady County > Schenectady County, New York : its history to the close of the nineteenth century > Part 24
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Jolın Austin Yates, a son by his first marriage, born May 31st, 1801, graduated at Union College in 1821. He was professor of oriental literature in that institution from 1823 to the time of his decease, August . 27th, 1849, and much distinguished for genial qualities and ready eloquence. He was the father of John B. Yates, colonel of the First Michigan Engineers under General William Tecumseh Sherman; superintendent of railroads in Tennessee, under President Johnson, and died October 13th, 1899, and of Austin A. Yates, an attorney-at-law, ex-judge of the county of Schenectady, and of Arthur R. Yates, who died November 4tl1, 1891, a captain in the United States Navy.
John B., another son of Colonel Christopher, and his youngest child, born February Ist, 1784. In 1802, at the early age of eight- teen years, he graduated at Union College with much honor, and
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immediately thereafter entered the law office of his brother, Hon. Henry Yates, as a law student. In 1805 he was admitted to the bar, and during the seven following years applied himself with great industry to the labors of that profession, and acquired much reputa- tion as an ingenious and forcible advocate. But a short time pre- vious to the War of 1812, inheriting the patriotic spirit of his father, he was commissioned a captain by Gov. Tompkins, and raised a large volunteer company of horse artillery. With this company he joined the army of General Wade Hampton, and served under him on the northern frontier of this state, in the campaign of 1813. After the discharge of his company from service under Hampton, Governor Tompkins appointed him one of his aides-de-camp, and sent him to the Niagara frontier with orders to call out the militia for the relief of General Brown and his army, who were closely besieged in Fort Erie by a superior force. At the expiration of his military service, he was elected a member of the Fourteenth United States Congress from the thirteenth (Schenectady and Schoharie) district, for the years 1815-16, in which he took a prominent and active part, much distinguished for ability and firmness. After the close of his con- gressional term, he removed to Utica, where he resumed the duties of his legal profession, but soon changed his home to Chittenango. Governor Tompkins, on retiring from office in 1817, to assume the duties of Vice-President of the United States, on account of his confidence in Mr. Yates' integrity and ability, appointed him sole manager of the "Literature Lotteries " of the State of, New York. In consequence of the acceptance of his trust, he removed to the city of New York, and did not resume his residence in Chittenango until 1825 ; but during his residence in New York he frequently visited Chittenango to examine and direct the conduct of those in charge of his large estate there, which consisted of about 2,000 acres of land, with flour mills, saw mills, lime and plaster mills, woolen factory, stores, dry dock and yards for building and repairing boats, polytechnic school and various residences and buildings. At times as many as one hundred and fifty men were in his employ.
The result of his management of the lotteries was that he brought
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them to a successful termination before the expiration of the time limited by the Legislature.
He also became deeply interested in the commercial importance of the Welland Canal, when its stockholders were nearly sinking for want of funds, and by an investment of $137,000, and his great per- sonal influence and exertions in his native state and in England, carried it into successful operation. In this he was largely aided by the Duke of Wellington.
Mr. Yates was a man of large and liberal views, and of great public spirit, an early and devoted friend of the Erie canal, and of all schemes devoted to civilization and public progress. He was for many years judge, and first judge of the county of Madison, which last office, and that of member of assembly, he held at the time of his decease.
Elizabetlı, a daughter of Colonel Christopher, born May 7th, 1763, married Jellis A. Fonda.
Eva, another daughter, born January 13th, 1764, inarried William Johnson Butler of Niagara.
Helena, also a daughter, born November 16th, 1766, married Colonel McDonald, an officer of the British army stationed in Canada.
Anna, also a daughter, born March 12th, 1773, died April 17th, 1850, aged seventy-six years and unmarried.
Jellis, another son of Joseph Yates and Eva Fonda, and brother of Colonel Stoeffel, born April 22d, 1744, married, March 16th, 1768, Ariantje, daughter of Andries Bradt. He died in Glenville, Novem- ber 13th, 1812, in his sixty-ninth year. He was a gallant young lieutenant in the Revolution, rising from a private in his brother's regiment and serving throughout the war.
Joseph, his oldest son, born August 7th, 1768, married, December 14th, 1788, Annatie, daughter of Isaac Roosa. He died in Glenville, September 13th, 1838, in his seventy-first year.
Isaac J. Yates, his oldest son, born in Glenville, February 22d, 1797 ; long a resident of the city of Schenectady ; the holder of sev- eral offices of important trust in this community, and a brigadier general of militia, died on his farm in Greenfield, Saratoga county,
GENEALOGY. 277
September 13th, 1848, aged fifty-one years. This was the father of Mrs. James Fuller and of the late mayor, Peter B. Yates.
Giles, another son of Joseph, born May 6th, 1801, died April 11th, 1853, in his fifty-second year.
John J., also a son, born March 5th, 1803, for many years an enter- prising citizen of this community, and for several years postmaster of Schenectady, died December 3d, 1851, aged forty-eight years. This was the father of Mrs. Austin A. Yates and Mrs. Alexander J. Thompson. Andrew J., another son of Joseph, born November 25th, 1806, belonged to the Class of 1834, at Union College, and died October, 1873, at his country seat near Fultonville, Montgomery county, aged sixty-five years. He left no issue.
Andrew, another son of Jellis, born July 14th, 1782, died in Glen- ville, August 25th, 1846, in his sixty-fifth year. Harriet, his wife, died September 4th, 1850, in her seventieth year.
Eldert Tymensen, son of Cornelius Tymensen of Albany, born December 13th, 1691, married, November 7th, 1709, Hester, daugh- ter of Bastian Visscher. He soon after settled in Niskayuna.
Bastian, son of Eldert, born February Ist, 1718, married, July 7th, 1743, Mayke Ouderkirk.
Eldert, his son, born September 2d, 1750, married, December 10th , 1774, Catalyntje, daughter of Jan Baptist Van Eps.
Bastian, his son, died in New York, March 24th, 1825, in his fiftieth year.
Peter Tymensen, son of the second Cornelius, of Albany, born June 26th, 1748, married, June 2 Ist, 1771, Gertruy, daughter of Mar- timus Cregier. Cornelius, their son, was born March 12th, 1772.
Eldert, another son of the second Cornelius of Albany, born October 14th, 1753, married Elizabeth, daughter of Pieter Van Vranken.
Cornelius, his oldest son, born April 7th, 1782, married Elizabeth Clute. He died January 4th, 1842 ; his wife died August 3d, 1844.
Peter, another son of Eldert, born November 16th, 1789, inarried Maria, a daughter of Cornelius Van Vranken of Niskayuna. He died September 16th, 1861, leaving four sons and one daughter. Jan, the daughter, married Thomas Shannon of Schenectady.
19
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
The Lighthalls were great fighters in the Revolution. Their names spelled all kinds of ways ( it seems to have been very toughi orthography for the Dutchmen to handle ), are in many a roll in the State archives. The following is the lineage :
Abraham Lighthall came to Schenectady in 1719. Soon after- wards he married Anna, daughter of Claas Van der Bogart. William, his oldest son, born February 3d, 1722, inarried, November 20tlı, 1748, Elizabeth, daughter of Johannes Marselis.
Abrahamı, son of William, married Annatje, daughter of Claas Frans Van der Bogart ; he left surviving several children.
Claas, another son of Abraham, born March 7th, 1724, inarried, January 14th, 1749, Margaret Idich.
Jacobus, his oldest son, born May 14th, 1758, married Charity Page. He was sexton of the Dutch church from 1799 to the time of his death, April 22d, 1829, aged seventy-one years. He left surviv- ing him two sons, Nicholas and William, and two daughters, Eliza- beth and Maria.
William, another son of Claas, married Sarah, daughter of Ahas- ueras Marselis. He died October 5th, 1822. He held a cominission of lieutenant in the War of the Revolution, and was highly distin- guished for his bravery in the battle of Bennington, under General Stark. Besides Ahasueras, he had an older son, Nicholas, who died unmarried before his father's decease.
Ahasueras, his son, born March 12th, 1799, married, September Ioth, 1820, Margaret Peek.
Lancaster, also a son of Claas, born May 10th, 1761, married Hester Kittle, and had three sons, Nicholas, Douwe and Abraham ; also a daughter, Annake.
Jacobus, also a son of Abraham, born January 3d, 1726, married, first, Margaret, daughter of Pierre Benoit ; secondly, Sara, daughter of Johannes Van Vorst, November 12th, 1752. He died July 19th, 1791. She died March 14th, 1807.
John, a son of Jacobus, born February 18th, 1759, married Annatje, daughter of Cornelius Van Slyck, April 23d, 1793. He died in Glenville, August 4th, 1835, aged seventy-eight years.
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Nicholas, another son of Jacobus, born May 19th, 1767, married Elizabeth Wageman. For many years he was ferryman on the Glenville side of the Mohawk river, near the present Mohawk bridge, representing the interest of John Sanders, deceased. While a ferry- man on the opposite shore, he represented the interest of Hon. Joseph C. Yates and Jan Baptist Van Eps, Esq. After the bridge was completed in 1809, he kept an inn on Water street, near the bank of the main Binnekill. He died January 27th, 1838, in his eighty-eighth year. His wife died October 20th, 1836, in her eighty- seventh year. They left two sons, Nicholas and William ; also two daughters, Margaret and Elizabethı.
John, also a son of James, born February 12tl1, 1755, married, April 23d, 1793, Annatje, daughter of Cornelius Van Slyck. He died in Glenville, August 4th, 1835, aged seventy-eight years.
The Steers family is as follows :
St. John Steers, came as a soldier to Schenectady in 1720. He soon after inarried Catharine McGregor. In 1756 he had the grant of a lot of land in Green street, near the fort.
John, a son of St. John Steers, born October 15th, 1732, married, November 3d, 1759, Clara, daughter of Peter Van Slyck. He inherited the Green street lot from his father, which descended to his son Cornelius, and was possessed by him until his death in 1863, at the age of eighty-six years. John Steers died February 12th, 1811. Gertruy, a daughter of John, born August 16th, 1767, married John Lambert, the noted schoolmaster.
Samuel, also a son of St. John, died at an advanced age, uminar- ried.
The Condes distinctly trace their lineage from the great Conde of France and they have occupied eminent places among their fellow citizens in this county.
Adam Conde was high constable of Albany in 1724; from thence he removed to Schenectady, and November 30th, 1736, married Catharine, daughter of Jesse DeGraff. He was killed at the Beuken- dahl massacre, July 18th, 1848, and left surviving him two sons.
Jesse, the oldest son, born March 13th, 1743, on the 8th of July,
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1762, married Parthenia, daughter of Jonathan Ogden, and removed to what is now the town of Charlton, Saratoga county. He left sur- viving him the following children :
Alida, born January 16th, 1763, married James Boyd, once a mem- ber of assembly for Schenectady county, and a prominent politician and citizen of Glenville.
Jonathan, a son, born December 14th, 1766. This was the father of Wilnert, subsequently Mrs. Carpenter, a widow, well knowu to our citizens. The father died in Charlton, March 3d, 1843.
Albert, also a son, born June 9th, 1771, married Esther, daughter of Daniel Toll.
Isaac, another son, born August 21st, 1785.
Jesse, also a son, born September 4th, 1791, all of whom are deceased.
Adam, the other son of Adam, Sr., was born September 25th, 1748, and married, July Ist, 1770, Catalyntje, daughter of Peter Truax, and a granddaughter of Dominie Cornelius Van Santvoord. In 1770 he lived on the west corner of Church and Front streets, on the property, or a portion of it, now belonging to the estate of Jere- miah Fuller, deceased. He served during the Revolutionary War, under the gallant Captain Jellis Fonda. He died in Glenville, Sep- tember 22d, 1824, aged seventy-six years. His widow died April 15th, 1843, in her ninety-third year.
Peter, son of Adam, Jr., born July 25th, 1773, married, December 24th, 1796, Clara, daughter of Philip Van Patten. He died in Charlton, May 17th, 1843, leaving several children surviving him.
Catharina, a daughter of Adam, Jr., born October 3d, 1775, mar- ried Charles Taylor.
Eva, another daughter, born March 26th, 1780, married Simon J. Van Patten.
Cornelius Santvoord Conde, another son of Adam, Jr., born Sep- tember 29th, 1782, married, July 13th, 1805, Sarah, daughter of Abrahami Truax. He resided in Glenville ; was for several years one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the county of Schenectady, and subsequently, for a long term, Justice of Sessions. He was much esteemned by all who knew him, as a. man of strict
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integrity, sound judgment and elevated Christian character. He died May 13th, 1869, in his eighty-seventh year. This worthy couple had lived together in married life nearly sixty-four years, and what seems unprecedented, had in that time thirteen children, all sons, never being blessed with a daughter, all of whom arrived at mature age except one son, Andrew S., who died in 1837, aged about fifteen years. This case seems so remarkable that it is proper to insert the names and date of birth of each, as the family have so . largely contributed to the population and prosperity of the United States, and some of its members are now to be found settled in various parts of the Union.
John T., born January 17th, 1807.
Adam C., born March 7th, 1809.
Abraham T., born December 20th, 1810.
Peter C., born December 2d, 1812.
Cornelius B., born December 27th, 1814.
Isaac H., born November 17th, 1818.
Platt S., born August 20th, 1820.
Andrew S., born August 18th, 1822, died July 5th, 1837.
Joseph S., born July 31st, 1824.
George M., born November 6th, 1826.
Benjamin L., born November 7th, 1828.
Alonzo B., born November 6th, 1832.
John Dunbar was the ancestor of a distinguished line. He was born in Albany, August 31st, 1670. He married, first, Bata Winne ; and secondly, Maria, daughter of Johannes Van Hosen, April Ist, 1724 ; both wives were of Albany. He was in Albany a vintner or hotel keeper, and an important friend of the early Episcopal church of that place. In 1714 he was associated with Rev. Thomas Bar- clay and Colonel Peter Matthews, in building the Episcopal church there. In 1730 he removed to Schenectady where he resided on his property, on the east corner of Church and Front streets. Mr. Dunbar died in Schenectady, May 7th, 1736, aged sixty-six years. He left surviving him three sons, Robert, John and Alexander, also three daughters, Mary, Catharine and Willempie. All the sons, and his daughter Catharine, settled at Albany, where they have respec-
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
tively many descendants. His daughter Mary married, September 5th, 1737, Joseph R. Yates, and was the mother of Robert Yates, once Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York; of John Yates, Nicholas and Abraham Yates, and of several daugh- ters, who married prominent citizens of Schenectady. She inherited from her father his house and lot, corner of Church and Front streets.
Willempie, his youngest daughter, married, November 29th, 1736, Abraham Groot. She inherited from her father a large parcel of ground on the west corner of Union and Canal streets.
The Hemstraats, (Hemstreets as it is now spelled), appear on Revo- lutionary rolls, and have few descendants of the name living here.
Johannes Hemstraat, son of Dirk Takelse of Albany, married, first, Bata, daughter of Johannes Quackenbos, February 8th, 1730, and came to Schenectady about that time. Secondly, he married, March 3d, 1750, Gertruy Bosie, widow of John Marinus.
Johannes, his son, born November 19th, 1732, married Elizabeth, daughter of Teunis Van der Volgen, September 3d, 1754.
Ariantje, a daughter of John, Jr., born October 17th, 1756, mar- ried Nicholas Avery.
Sarah, also a daughter, born November, 1718, married Isaac Le Roy.
Clara, a daughter of Johannes, Sr., born July 6th, 1735, married Nicholas Clute.
Annatje, also a daughter, born December 21st, 1737, married Dirk Clute.
Machtelt, another daughter, born October 11th, 1747, married Johannes Consaulus.
The Barheyts, now Barhydt, did not come to Schenectady until the eighteenth century.
John Barheyt, son of John, of Albany, born May 16th, 1703, settled in Schenectady, and married, August Ist, 1734, Cornelia, daughter of Arent Pootinan.
Cornelius, son of John, Jr., born December 21st, 1737, married Rachel, daughter of Joseph Yates.
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Jolın, a son of Cornelius, born August 30th, 1767, married, Janu- ary 24th, 1790, Maria, daughter of Cornelius Van Slyck. He died February 20th, 1830, in his sixty-third year.
Cornelius, a son of John, born March 16th, 1695, died July roth, 1850.
Jacobus, a son of John, Jr., born February 9th, 1753, married Maria Bovie.
Lewis, another son, born December 21st, 1755, married Elsie Bar- heyt.
Catharina, a daughter, born June 14th, 1740, married Charles Denniston.
Eva, also a daughter, born November 25th, 1744, married John Coman.
Jacomyntje, another daughter, married Wouter Vrooman.
Anna, also a daughter, born June 10th, 1750, inarried William Hall.
Hieronimus (Jerome), also a son of John, of Albany, born March 20th, 1709, married, April 9th, 1737, Maria, daughter of Jesse DeGraff.
Johannes, his son, born January 7th, 1739, married Helena, daughter of Jacobus Peek.
Jacobus, a son of John, born October 2d, 1763, married Christina Abel.
Jerome, also a son of John, born November 2d, 1765, married, January 4th, 1789, Cornelius Beeker.
John Sanders Barheyt, another son, born March Ioth, 1771, mar- ried, June 30th, 1794, Catharina, daughter of Johannes Stevens. He died July 27th, 1852, in his eighty-third year.
Hendrick, also a son, born January IIth, 1778, married Catalyntje, daughter of Gerrit Van Slyck.
Alida, a daughter of John, born August 9th, 1761, died unmarried.
Phillip Ryley, of the city of New York, came here about 1742, and had the following lineage :
James Van Slyck Ryley, son of Philip, born October 3d, 1761, married, August 19th, 1792, Jannetje, daughter of Isaac Swits. He died January 8th, 1848, aged eighty-six years, leaving several daugh-
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ters, one of whom married the distinguished divine, Rev. John Lud- low, D. D., for many years provost of the University of Pennsyl- vania.
Mr. Ryley was for many years associate judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Schenectady County ; for a long time postmaster of this city, and was, on several occasions, employed as commissioner and interpreter by the United States Government to negotiate treaties with the northwestern tribes of Indians, for which position he was peculiarly fitted, having been, during his early life, a well-known trader among them. He also served several years as sheriff of Schenectady County.
Alida, daughter of Philip, born July 15th, 1743, married Gerrit R. Van Vranken.
Gertrude, another daughter, born October 3d, 1744, married William Rogers, Jr.
The Corls were soldiers. Hendrick Corl came to Schenectady in 1745, where he married Maria Olin.
John, his son, born April 3d, 1757, married Susanna, daughter of Jan Baptist Van Vorst. He was a gallant private in Captain Clute's company in the Revolutionary War, and died April 24th, 1842, in his eighty-fifth year, leaving several children surviving.
William, another son of Hendrick, born November 16th, 1760, married Maria Springer, July 8th, 1787. He was also a patriotic private in Captain Vrooman's company, in Colonel Wemple's Regi- inent in the Revolutionary War. He died March 19th, 1848, aged eighty-four years. His wife died May 5th, 1852, aged ninety-one years. They left several sons and daughters and many descendants surviving them.
The Shannons are of Revolutionary stock. Robert Shannon, a Scotchman, came to Schenectady about 1750, and, on the 28th day of May, in that year, married Elizabeth Bowel (Bowles).
George, a son of Robert, born March 17th, 1751, married Sarah Smith. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and died January 8th, 1829, aged eighty years, leaving several children surviving him, among them a son, John, born April 9th, 1791, a citizen well and favorably known in Schenectady county.
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Thomas, also a son of Robert, born December 20th, 1752, married Margaret, daughter of Abraham Schermerhorn, and left several children surviving him, among them one son named Aaron, born April 26th, 1795, the father of the late Thomas Shannon.
John, another son of Robert, married, July 4th, 1781, Margaret, also a daughter of Abrahamn Schermerhorn. He served as a patri- otic soldier in the War of the Revolution, and died April, 1821, leaving children.
William, also a son of Robert, married Jenny Smith.
Robert, another son of Robert, married, first, Nancy McGregor ; secondly, in 1805, Eva Waller.
Michael, also a son of Robert, married Susanna, daughter of Joseph Bracham.
Alexander, also a son of Robert, married, April 20th, 1788, Eliza- beth, another daughter of Joseph Bracham.
Margaret, a daughter of Robert, born May 14th, 1758, married Simon B. Veeder.
All of the above named children left descendants, so it is evident that the healthy blood of the honest, old Scot circulates extensively in our community.
John Brown, whose tablet is in St. George's church, of which he was a father, married, in May, 1751, Margaret, daughter of Caleb Beck, and immediately thereafter settled at Schenectady. Mr. Brown was born in 1727, and died June 30th, 1814, in his eighty-seventh year, very much respected and regretted.
Abraham, his son, born November 11th, 1762, married, first, Jane, daughter of Daniel Kittle ; secondly, Margaret Van Vorst.
John, son of Abraham by his first marriage, born August 9th, 1783, married a daughter of Joseph Van de Bogart, by whom he had a son, John, who became an Episcopal minister, and a gentleman of con- siderable poetic note and of acknowledged literary attainments. He was a graduate of Union College, and was settled at Astoria, Long Island, N. Y., where he held a high standing, and died on the Island of Malta, whither he had gone for the benefit of his health, leaving a son named John W. Brown, and three daughters. John Brown,
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the father, also left several daughters. He was a manufacturer and dealer in bottles, shoes and leather, and much esteemed as a good and enterprising citizen.
Daniel Campbell, the amiable Tory, came to Schenectady some time in the year 1754. He was a native of Ireland, and was pos- sessed of small means. On his arrival, he commenced as an Indian trader, with a pack upon his back, and by his native shrewdness, great industry and remarkable economy, in a few years extended his operations and at the commencement of the Revolutionary War was esteemed a citizen of considerable fortune. He subsequently became an extensive merchant and Indian trader, and by purchasing soldiers' rights, at the conclusion of peace, acquiring great wealth at Schenec- tady. Some years after his arrival he married Angelica, daughter of Arent Samuelse Bratt, by whom he had one son, named David, born November 15th, 1768. That son died June 29th, 1801, in his thirty- third year, leaving all his property to his father. The father himself died August 16th, 1802, aged seventy-one years, ten months and twenty-eight days. Daniel Campbell was the intimate friend and acquaintance of Sir William Johnson, both hailing from the Emer- ald Isle of the ocean ; and when at Schenectady, where he often came, being much interested in the progress of the infant Episcopal church there, Mr. Campbell's house was always the baronet's home. That house was the premises now occupied by Mr. Stewart Myers, and erected in 1762 for Mr. Campbell by Samuel Fuller, one of the most noted architects of the province at that day.
In 1771 Mr. Campbell was one of the judges of the Court of Com- mon Pleas for Albany county. He made his will July 16th, 1801, leaving about one-third portion of his large estate to somne relatives in Ireland, and the remainder, unrestricted, to his wife, Angelica.
Mrs. Campbell made her will May 27th, 1811, leaving considerable sums to her various relatives, but made her great-nephew, Daniel Campbell Schermerhorn, her residuary devisee and legatee, on con- dition of changing his name Schermerhorn to Campbell, which, after her decease, was accomplished by legislative enactment.
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