Simon Volkeretse Veeder and Engeltje Vrooman -- my 7th Great Grandparents

 Simon Volkertse Veeder  was born in 1624 in Netherlands. He died on Jan 10 1697.  

The following is a quote from Genealogies of the First Settlers of the Patent and City of  Schenectady, from 1662 to 1800 by Jonathan Pearson(1873). It is one of the standard works on early Schenectady genealogy.

“Simon Volkerts Veeder, alias de Bakker, born in 1624, belonged to the ship Prince Maurice in 1644, which plied between Amsterdam and New Amsterdam;  1652 he bought a lot and settled in the latter city; sold the same in 1654 for 30 beavers, removed to Beverwyck, and from thence to Schenectady in 1662.  He owned a bouwery on the Great flat numbered 9, containing 24 margins, and a village lot on the north corner of State and Ferry Streets.  He also owned land on the Normanskil.”

From Vreeland Y Leonard “The Genealogical Record of the Veeder Family – 1937

The originator of the Veeder Family in America was employed by the East India Company as a seaman on the ship ‘Prince Maurice’ which plied between Amsterdam and New Netherlands.  He settled in New Amsterdam in 1652.  It appears that he soon moved to Fort Orange, where on September 4 1654, he sold to ‘Albert Gerritse’, carpenter, a certain lot in Manathas, next to Adrian Vincent, for thirty beavers.  On July 18/28, 1665, he is mentioned as owning a lot in Albany, “North of that of Johannes Provoost, who sells his lot to Jan Evertse.”  He was one of the original purchasers, of the Schenectady Patent and on Feb 27, 1670/1, while living there, sells to Joris Arissen (Van der Baast) his pasture land at Schenectady.  He evidently moved back to Albany, for on November 27, 1673, Johannes De Wandalear leases him a house, having a large bake oven, in Willemstad (Albany) for three years, beginning May 1, 1674 and ending May 1, 1677.

In December 1675 “the Honorable Commander (of Fort Orange) and the Commissaries resolve to double the Burger Guard and have every night three sentries on guard, to wit:  one at the Guard House on the hill, one near the cannon at the church and one at the house of Symon, the baker, opposite Harmon Ganesvoort’s where a Corps de Garde shall be kept also.”  On March 5, 1678/9, he is listed as one of the persons “to keep in repair the posts set around the town fence,” distance one rod.  On September 26, 1679, he had a horse stolen from him by one Jacob, of Sweer Teunise.  On January 20, 1679/80, his wife, Engelite, was cited before the Court for slander, where after a hearing, she made suitable apology on the 22nd.  On November 2, 1682, he exchanges “the first lot (called DeHoek)  on which he dwells at Schenectady, with Jacob Caspersz (Halenbeck) for house and lands on the Normanskil, who on June 26, 1683, sells to Symon his lands on the Normanskil, called Tawassouthaw”.  His will dated January 8, 1696/7 mentions his wife Engeltie, who was named executor, and the children as given below.

Personal property, lands in Schenectady and on the Normanskil called Tawassathaw, are disposed of.  The will was not proved until April 13, 1713 and on May 20, 1714 testamentary letters were granted to his three sons, Gerrit, Johannes and Volkert, the fourth son, Pieter having died in 1709.

The Following is taken from: Vol-2-Pt-2-Bradt-Allied-Families_Part4.pdf, Compiled by: (Mrs. Sam) Elizabeth Meredith 1720 South Gessner Road Houston, Texas 77063 November, 2008

https://meredith-collection.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Vol-2-Pt-2-Bradt-Allied-Families_Part4.pdf  

The originator of the Veeder Family in America was employed by the East India Company as a seaman on the ship "Prince Maurice" which plied between Amsterdam and New Netherlands. He settled in New Amsterdam in 1652. It appears that he soon moved to Fort Orange, where on Sept, 4, 1654, he sold to "Albert Gerritse, carpenter, a certain lot in Manathas, next to Adrian Vincent, for thirty beavers." On July 18/28, 1665, he is mentioned as owning a lot in Albany, ''North of that of Johannes Provoost, who sells his lot to Jan Evertse." He was one of the original purchasers, of the Schenectady Patent and on Feb. 27, 167011, while living there, sells to Joris Arissen (Van der Baast) his pasture land at Schenectady. He evidently moved back to Albany, for on Nov. 27, 1673, Johannes De Wandalear leases him a house, having a large bake oven, in Willemstadt (Albany) for three years, beginning May 1, 1674 and ending May 1, 1677. In Dec. 1675 "the Honorable Commander (of Fort Orange) and the Commissaries resolve to double the Burger Guard and have every night three sentries on guard, to wit: one at the Guard House on the hill, one near the cannon at the church and one at the house of Symon, the baker, opposite Harmon Ganesvoort's where a Corps of Garde shall be kept also." On March 5, 1678/79, he is listed as one of the persons "to keep in repair the posts set around the town fence," distance one rod. On Sept. 26, 1679, he had a horse stolen from him by one Jacob, the negro of Sweer Teunise. On Jan. 20, 1679/80, his wife Engeltie, was cited before the Court for slander, where after a hearing, she made suitable apology on the 22nd. On Nov. 2, 1682, he exchanges "the first lot (called Dehoeck) on which he dwells at Schenectady, with Jacob Casperrsz (Halenbeck) for house and lands on the Normanskill, who on June 26, 1683, sells to Symon his lands on Normanskill, called Tawassouthaw." His will, dated Jan 8, 1696/7, mentions his wife Engeltie, who is named executor [executrix], and the children as given below. Personal property, lands in Schenectady and on the Normanskill called Twassatha, are disposed of. The will was not proved until Apr. 13, 1713, and on May 20, 1714 testamentary letters were granted to his three sons, Gerrit, Johannes and Volkert, the fourth son Pieter having died in 1700. Children mentioned in the will: Volkie, wife of Barent Janse Wemp; Geestje. wife o(Jans Hendrickse Vrooman; Magdalena, wife of William Appel of New York; Pieter; Gerrit; Johannes: Volkert: Maria. The Dutch were a litigious bunch much given to name calling. The following account pulls them off the pages of history, humanizing them and providing some insight into the lives they led. The Veeders appear to have been Lutherans with Engeltie displaying little love for the Reformed Church. Unfortunately through all the references to Simon Volkertse Veeder and Engeltie there is never any clue as to Engeltie's parentage. Minutes of the Court of Albany, Rensselaerswyck and Schenectady, 3 vols., trans. and ed., Arnold J. F. van Laer, (Albany: University of the State of New York, 1926-1930), vol. 2: 1675-1680, pp. 464-466: p. 464-6. Extraordinary session held in Albany, January 20, 1679/80 Present: A. Teller M. Gerrotse D. Wessells C. van Dyk J. Provoost At the request of Dom. Gideon Schaets and the reverend consistory, who prey for maintenance of justice in connection with some slanderous remarks by some of the Lutheran persuasion, Ida Barents is summoned to appear before the court and asked whether she has heard any of the Lutheran congregation make any slanderous remarks, as has been reported to their honors. She declares under oath as follows: That on Thursday last she came to the house of 2 Annetjen Evertse, where Symon Volkertse's wife, named Engeltje, said to her husband: "Tomorrow, the banns of your daughter and the son of Huybert d'Guyt will be published in the church. Then your daughter will have an executioner for a father-in-law." These words she spoke in the presence of Annetje Evertse, Tierk Harmanse and Philip Wendel, whereupon the husband said: "What kind of a statement is that?" Thereupon she left the house. N. B. It is to be observed that the next Friday the early service was to be held before the Lord's Supper and that after the said daughter had made her confession of faith the banns were to be proclaimed. The aforesaid Ida also declares that Engeltje aforesaid yesterday, being the 19th of January, came to the deponent' s house and, being much upset, stated that she would never allow her daughter to partake of the Lord's Supper in the Reformed church, even if she had to quarter her daughter [to prevent her from doing so] and, holding her hand before her mouth, said: "I had better keep still and say no more. " Phillip Wendel, being sworn, declares that he heard at Annetje Evertse's house that Ida had heard it from the mouth of Engeltje aforesaid. Annetje Evertse, being summoned and being asked whether she heard what is written above, answers, No, that she heard noting of the kind. Tierk Harmense, being sworn, says that on Thursday last he heard Symon Volkertse's wife say to her husband at the house of Annetje Evertse that his daughter was to marry the son of Huybert d'Guyt and that then she would have an executioner for a father-in-law. He knows nothing further about it. [485) Extraordinary session held in Albany, January 22, 1679/80. Present: M. Gerritse D . Wessells c. V. Dyk J. Provoost The court meets at the request of Engeltje, the wife of Symon Volkertse, who says that she had heard that their honors have been informed that she made some slanderous remarks. She wishes to know what they may be. Whereupon the above testimony of Ida Barents and Philip Wendel is read to her. Engeltje answers that she did not say what is above written, namely, that the banns of her daughter and the son of Huybert d'Guyt were to be published tomorrow, but that she had heard from several people that her daughter would be married to Ryk Michielse, the son of Huybert d'Guyt, and that she went to the house of Marte Gerritse and asked his wife whether there was any truth in it. The latter told her that she could not bear him. Therefore, she says that she said so to her husband in all innocence, owing to such rumors, but no in disparagement. Their honors reply that they are not satisfied with such an answer and can not accept it as satisfactory, as she denies what is positively sworn to be two witnesses. Whereupon Engeltye aforesaid, leaving the room and again appearing before their honors, after having taken the matter more to heart, declares as follows: That she is heartily sorry that she made such remarks and therefore prays to God and the court for forgiveness for the offense committed by her, promising that she will hereafter conduct herself better. The honorable court, having taken the matter into consideration, are filled with compassion for the petitioner and at her humble request forgive her the fault committed by her, on condition that she shall hereafter guard herself against saying anything about oppression of conscience, or similar matters. 3 2-157 I 2-15a I It .is not evident which of the Veeder's daughters was the subject of this dust-up, but apparently Engeltje won the battle of the banns as none appears to have wed Ryk Michielse. No marriage records were found for daughters Volkje and Magdalena and our ancestor Geesje Veeder, but somewhat ironically three of the Veeder sons were married in the Reformed Dutch Church of Albany. 1 According to The Vrooman Family in America. Geesje Veeder married Jan Hendrickse Vrooman 4 July 1680.2 Geesje was born about 1660 and was still living on 24 April 1732 when Jan Vrooman wrote his will.3 1 "Marriage Record: Church of Jesus Christ [Reformed Dutch] at New Albany, 1683-1809," Part l , "1683- 1700," Yearbook of the Holland Society of New York (1904):24, 29 and 30. 2 Grace Elizabeth Vrooman Wickersham and Earnest Bernard Comstock, The Vrooman Family in America: Descendants of Hendrick Meese Vrooman Who Came from Holland to America in 1664. Dallas, TX: Authors, 1949, p. 15. 3 Jorurthan Pearson, Contributions for the Genealogies of the Descendants of the First Settlers of the Patent and City of Schenectady, from 1662 to 1800 (Albany: 1873; reprint ed., Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1982), p. 277

Herman Albertse Vedder ( around 1645-1715) and Annatye Isaacse Provoost ( 1642-1673) - my 7th Great Grandparents

Herman Albertse Vedder is ancestor of all the Vedders in this country.

[From: Genealogy from a Dutch family Vedder/Veeder who came in 1652 from Amsterdam in The Netherlands to the state New York. ]

Harmen Albertse Vedder, trader, born circa 1630 in Amsterdam, died on 03-05-1715 in Schenectady NY, buried in Rotterdam Schenectady NY. 
Son of Albert Vedder (see also II.2).
Church marriage (1) circa 1660 to NN NN, born circa 1640, died 02-1673. Febr. 8 1673 Harmen paid the Reformed Church of Albany 12 guilders for a pall (casket) for his wife. Church marriage (2) circa 1674 to Annaatje Isaacse Provoost.
Married (3) to a Mohawk womanHarmen Albertse Vedder was the first settler of the name in the Mohawk Valley. He was a trader in Beverwyck before the year 1657. In 1660 he returned to Holland. In 1661, as agent for Dirk De Wolfe, merchant of Amsterdam, he erected a salt kettle on Coney Island, New York, which being claimed by the people of Gravesend he brought suit before the governor and council to make good his claim, and being beaten abandoned the enterprise. In 1663 he leased his "bouwery" at Schenectady to Simon Groot for six years. In 1668, being in Holland with other merchants from the province of New York, he purchased goods and chartered the ship "King Charles" and obtained permission from the King of England to send the ship and goods to New York. In 1667 he lived in Albany. In 1672 he bought land in Schenectady. In 1673 he was one of three magistrates for Schenectady. He did not show proper respect for the magistrates of Albany, and also pretended to have the right to trade with the Indians. For his presumption he was reprimanded and warned "to regulate himself accordingly". He purchased the village lot of the heirs of Reiner, son of dominee Schaets, of Albany, after his massacre by the Indians in 1690. He sold to Rutger Jacobsen his house and lot "gelegen in de doorpe Beverwyck, breet voor en achter ses en dertich voet, lanch vier en sestich voet en met aen ganch van vyfte voet end breet lanch tot aen kil welcke gansch is gelegen tusschen Goossen Gerritsen en den vercooper & c". This lot was on the south side of State Street, between Green and Pearl Streets, and extended back only to the Rutten kil, now arched over and used as a sewer. The price of this house and lot was 2,325 guilders. In 1660 he returned to Holland; 1661 as agent for Dirk De Wolfe, merchant of Amsterdam, he erected a salt kettle on Coney Island, which being claimed by the inhabitants of Gravesend, he brought a suit before the governor and council to make good his claim to it, and being beaten, abandoned the enterprise; 1663 leased his bouwery at Schenectady to Symon Groot for 6 ys., at 500 guilders rent; 1664 Harmen Vedder, William Teller and Sander Leendertse Glen petitioned Gov. Stuyvesant to have their lands surveyed at Schenectady; 1668 being in Holland with other merchants from the province of New York, he purchased goods and chartered the ship King Charles and petitioned the king of England for permission to send the same to New York, which was granted; 1667 he lived in Albany in a house belonging to Dirk De Wolfe of Amsterdam, who, having returned to Holland, Gov. Nicolls ordered the house and lot to be confiscated; 1672 he bought of Dirk Hesselingh de bouwery "(daer den voorschr. Dirk Hesselingh op woont op Schenechtede), soo het landt, also huys, schuer ende twee berghen, & c., soo als het de voornoemde Hesselingh van Jurriaen Teunissen gecocht heeft gehadt, & c.", to be delivered to Harmen Vedder the coming May 1, 1672, together with the seed in the ground; this bouwery, No. 8 on the bouwlandt, comprised 12 morgens and 130 rods of land and now forms the homestead of Col. D.D. Campbell of Rotterdam; 1672 Harmen Vedder and Barent Ryndertsen sold to Claese Janse Van Bookhoven and Ryck Claese Van Vranken "een sekere stuck landts geleeghen over de Rivier aen Canastagioene", consideration 550 skiples of wheat; 1673 he was appointed one of the three magistrates of Schenectady; 1674 was schout (mayor) of the village, and with the magistrates was reprimanded for not showing due respect for the magistrates of Willemstadt (Albany), and for pretending to the privilege of Indian trade; he was particularly complained of because of his conduct towards Capt. Schuyler and was warned "to regulate himself accordingly". His village lot on the north side of Union Street, was the same as occupied by the late Doct. Alexander G. Fonda, 51 ft. front and 404 ft. deep Amsterdam measure, extending to Front Street; be purchased it of the heirs of Reinier, son of dominee Schaets of Albany, after his massacre by the French and Indians in 1690. His son Johannes occupied it after his death, which probably took place about the year 1715, for on the 3d of May that year, Arent Vedder, his brother and sister petitioned the common council of Albany for the renewal of a release ("burnt at Schenectady when it was cut off") of a lot owned by their late father Harmen Vedder deceased, lying on the south side of the city of Albany.
The following information is from p. 196-199 of A History of the Schenectady Patent in the Dutch and English Times; being contributions toward a history of the lower Mohawk Valley by Jonathan Pearson, A.M. and others, edited by J.W. MacMurray, A.M., U.S.A. (Albany, NY: J. Munsell's Sons, Printers, 1883). It is in SCPL's Schenectady Collection at Schdy R 974.744 P36, and copies are also available for borrowing.
He was an early settler in New Netherland, residing mainly at Beverwyck, even after he had purchased a bouwery at Schenectady. As agent of Dirk De Wolfe, merchant of Amsterdam, in 1661, he erected a salt kettle on Coney Island, which was claimed by the inhabitants of Gravesend. Vedder and one Pieterse laid claim to the island, but in a suit brought before the Governor and Council, were beaten and probably abandoned their enterprise. After the Province passed into the possession of the English, De Wolfe returned to Holland; and in 1667 his house and lot in Albany, then occupied by Vedder, was ordered to be confiscated by Governor Nicolls. He was a trader, at least so long as he remained in Albany and made several voyages to Patria, - one in 1660, and another in 1668, on which occasion, being in Holland, he, with other traders, having purchased goods and chartered the ship King Charles, petitioned the King of England for permission to send the same to New York, which was granted. Vedder's bouwery in Schenectady was rented in 1663 to Symon Groot, for six years at a yearly rent of 500 guilders. In the spring of 1672, it is probable he gave up business in Albany, and retired to Schenectady, for in February of that year he purchased bouweries No. 8 of Dirk Hesselingh, to be delivered to him May 1, 1672, and the year following he was appointed one of the three commissaries or magistrates of the village. In 1674, the magistrates of Schenectady were reprimanded for not showing due respect for those of Willemstadt [Albany], and for pretending to the privilege of the Indian trade, and Harmen Vedder, schout, in particular, was complained of because of his conduct towards Capt. Schuyler, and waswarned "to regulate himself accordingly".
His children were probably born in Albany; but the records of the church there prior to 1684 being lost, neither the dates of their baptisms nor the name of his wife, are known. It is only known that in 1668 he was brother-in-law of Johannes Provoost, secretary of Albany.
At the date of his death, which happened before June 18, 1714, five sons and one daughter were living and had families of their own. Although Harmen Albertse was among the earliest proprietors of Schenectady, his name does not appear as grantee or patentee in the records until 1672, Gerrit Bancker received the patent for bouweries No. 6, in 1664 and 1667; although in fact he had but a half interest in the same as appears by the lease given in 1663, by Bancker and Vedder to Symon Groot for these bouweries, and from the fact that in 1701, Vedder sold the easterly half of hindmost lot No. 6, which seems to have been his share in the above mentioned patent, to his son Albert for 91-16. That he was an early proprietor also appears from the fact that he with Sander Leendertse, Willem Teller and others, petitioned the Governor in 1664, to have their lands surveyed. Hindmost farm No. 6, lying between the river road and the river was unfit for a hofstede by reason of the annual floods, but the purchase of the adjacent bouwery No. 8, gave him a convenient and pleasant site for his house and farm buildings beyond the reach of the highest floods. This farm was originally allotted to Marten Cornelise Van Ysselsteyn who sold it to Cornelis Corn. Vielè, from whom it passed successively to Jurriaen Teunise Tappen, to Dirk Hesselingh and finally Feb. 1, 1671/2 to Harmen Vedder, who purchased with "de bouwery (daer den voorz. Dirk Hesselingh op woont op Schaenechtede), soo het landt als huys, schuer ende twee berghen & c. soo als het de voorn & c. Hesselingh van Jurriaen Teunissen gecocht heeft gehadt to be delivered to Herman Vedder the coming 1st May, 1672, together with the seed in the ground. Vedder promised to pay 20 whole beavers to Jurriaen Teunissen for the same. In 1701, Harmen Albertse owned a pasture of two and a half morgens lying between Front street and the river, beginning 509 feet Eng. east of north street and extending easterly along Front street 210 feet
Eng. to the New York Central railroad; in 1714-18 this lot belonged to his son Albert. Outside of the limits of Schenectady he owned several parcels of land besides several houses and lots in Albany. Jan. 31, 1657, he bought of Rutger Jacobsen, "syne huys en erff gelegen in de doorpe Beverwyck, breet voor en achter ses dertich voet, lanch vier en sestich voet en met aen ganch van vifte voet en breet lanch tot aen kil welcke ganch is gelegen tusschen Goossen Gerritsen [van Schaick] en den vercooper" & c., consideration 2325 guilders. This lot was on the south side of State street, Albany, between Green and Pearl streets, and extended back only to the Rutten kil now arched over and used as a sewer; there was included in this sale Jacobsen's brewery which was to be delivered to Vedder the following November. In 1665 he owned a house and lot on the hill in Albany next to Cornelis Steenwyck's. He contracted in 1662 to buy a house and lot next to Philip Pieterse Schuyler's, for 1600 guilders. Aug. 21, 1670, he sold to Robert Sanders a parcel of land at Stone Arabia [Lansingburgh?]. And on Oct. 31, 1677, he and Barent Reyndertse sold "to Claes Janse Van Boekhoven [de Brabander] and Ryck Claase [Van Vranken] a farm in Canastagioene on the north side of the Mohawk river, consideration 550 skiples of wheat".
After his death, his children on the 3 May, 1715, petitioned the common council of Albany for the renewal of a release (burnt at Schenectady when it was cut off) of a lot owned by their father Harmen Vedder deceased, and lying on the south side of Albany, which petition was granted.
Many of the early Dutch owned slaves. Thomas Burke in his book Mohawk Frontier: the Dutch Community of Schenectady, NY 1661-1710 gives a list of slaveholders and numbers of slaves owned in 1690 and 1697; Harmanus Vedder is listed as owning one slave in 1697. 

From the first marriage:

1.	child Vedder, born circa 1662 in Albany NY, died on 06-12-1662 in Albany NY.
2.	child Vedder, born circa 1665 in Albany NY, died on 22-04-1665 in Albany NY.
3.	Harmanus Vedder (see also IV.20).
4.	Albert H. Vedder (see also IV.23).

From the second marriage:

5.	Arent Vedder (see also IV.25).
6.	Angenietje Vedder, born circa 1683, died 04-1756. Church marriage on 24-11-1700 in Schenectady NY to Jan Danielse Van Antwerp, died on 26-01-1756.
7.	Johannes Vedder (see also IV.29).
8.	Corset Vedder (see also IV.31).

John Major (1769 - 1822) and Ann Ware (1779 - 1851) -- my 3rd Great Grandparents

Whippingham Parish Church.... John Major Christening 1769-70

Johannes Myndert Wemple (1675- 1749) and Catalyntje Schermerhorn (1677 - 1708) - my 6th Great grandparents

[the will of Johannes Myndert Wemple on 5 March 1747/48--found in the Maybee Society page 438,  at URL:  http://maybeesociety.org/MaySoc/g0/p438.htm]
"In the name of God, Amen, I, Jan Wemple, of the Mohawk Country, on the Mohawk River, in the County of Albany, being of perfect, sound mind and memory, blessed be God, wherefore but considering the frailty of this life, and certainty of death, and the uncertain time and hour thereof, do therefore this fifth day of March, in the 21 year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second, and the year of our Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred and forty seven and eight, make ordain and publish this my last will and testament.
That is to say principally and first of all I give and commend my immortal soul after its departure our this frail body, into the merciful hands of God that gave it me. Hoping and trusting for the pardon of my sins and transgressions, in and thru the meritorious death and passion of the Blessed Son of God, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer.
As my body, I recommend it to the earth to be interred in a Christian like and decent manner, at the discretion of my wife and children.
And, as for such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me with in this life, after my just debts and funeral charges be paid and satisfied, I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.
Imprimis - I give to my son Myndert Wemple, deceased, his oldest son John Wemple, my small Island containing about 1 acre of land, situate, lying and being in the Township of Schenectady in the Mohawk River, on the south side of the foremost island as also my full, true and just Eighth part in the saw mill, Dam, Saws, Utensils and grounds and privileges to said mill belonging, situate, standing and being with the limits and bounds of the Township of Schenectady, on the east side of the Mohawk river, about 4 miles from Schenectady, north east on a certain creek called 'The Mill Creek.' To hold for him, the said John Wemple and his heirs an assigns forever, wherewith he must be satisfied and make no further pretense to any part of my estate for being my heir at law.
Item - I give my son Reyer Wemple and to his heirs and assigns I do give and devise all that my messsuge of tenement with Appurtenances thereunto belonging, situate, lying and being on the south side of the Mohawk River, in the limits and bounds of the town of Schenectady, in the County of Albany where he, the said Reyer, lived on so as it now belongs to me, commonly called Damhauer and Warmoes Gadt 'at a place called Woestine.' To hold to him and my said son Reyer Wemple, his heirs and assigns forever.
Item - To my sons Isaac Wemple and Ephraim Wemple and to their heirs and assigns forever I do give and devise my westerly part of my Low arable land, being my great flats situate, lying and being on the south side of the Mohawk river, in the Mohawks country, lying to the west of my house and homestead where I now live and beginning by the cross fence which stands a little to the west of a small creek about 200 yards westerly up the river and so taking in all my arable land which lies to the west of the cross fence, being my great flats aforesaid. To hold them my said sons, Isaac Wemple and Ephraim Wemple, their heirs and assigns forever, to be equally divided and shared by them and among them share and share alike, to the one no more nor better thereof than to the other.
Item - To my son John Wemple, Jr. and to his heirs and assigns forever, I do give and devise my easterly part of arable low land, situate, lying and being on the south side of the Mohawk River, in the Mohawks country, lying to the east of my dwelling house and homestead beginning at the cross fence about 200 yards to the west of my said dwelling house, and so taking in my houses, barns, orchard, homestead, together with my arable land lying to the east of my said house called Robert En Haihge as also my island lying in the Mohawk river just opposite my house in the Mohawks country called '"island" to hold to him, my son John Wempel his heirs and assigns forever.
To my three sons Isaac Wempel, Epharim Wempel and John Wempel, and to their heirs and assigns forever, I do give and devise all my woodland, pastures ground, and premises and appurtenances thereunto belonging, situate, lying and being in the Mohawks country, adjoining to the south of the low land and homestead herein about devised to them, to hold to them their heirs and assigns forever, all to be equally shared and divided by them, and among them, share and share alike to the one no more nor better than to the other.
To my loving wife Arejaentje Wempel, I do give and bequeath all the rest and residue of real estate all my Negro slaves young and old, all my household goods and furniture, linen and woolen bedding, palte, cattle, etc, during her widowhood for her maintenance and livelihood and immediately after my said wife Arejaentje decease, if she remains unmarried or immediately after her remarriage which shall happen first,
I do then devise and dispose of the same in manner and form following, to wit: To my daughter Arejaentje, deceased her son Arent Bradt and her daughter Catollientje Bradt, children of Captain Andries Bradt, and to their heirs and assigns forever, I do give and devise two morgans of arable lowland, situate lying and being on an island which lies near the town of Schenectady to the bounds of said township to the west of side of the town, in the Mohawk river, on the southerly half of said island, is bounded west by two morgans of land, which I some time past conveyed to Widow van Driesen and north by the northerly half of the said island now belonging to Captain Jacobus Van Sleyck and south by the creek and so running along the said creek and partition of fence of Captain Jacobus Van Sleyck, easterly till it takes in the full quantity of two morgans (about 4 acres) of arable land to hold to them their heirs and assigns forever, all to be equally shared and divided by them and among them, share and share alike, to the one no more or better thereof than to the other.
Item. To my daughter, Maria Butler, the wife of Lieutenant Walter Butler, Jr. and to her heirs and assigns forever, I do give and devise two morgans of arable lowland situate lying and being in the bounds of the town of Schenectady on the above named island, on the south side thereof, bounded west by the two morgans of arable land herein above given and devised to my grandchildren Arent Brandt and Catolintje Brandt, children of my daughter Anjentje late deceased; as above state north by Captain Jacobus Van Sleyck above named and south by the creek and running so along the creek and the partition fence of Captain Jacobus Van Sleyck till it takes in the full quantity of two morgans of arable land, to have to her, my said daughter Maria, and to her heirs and assigns forever.
Item. To my daughter, Rebecca Coneyn, the wife of Peter Coneyn and to her heirs and assigns forever, I do devise two morgans of arable lowland situate, lying and being in the bounds of the town of Schenectady on the above island on the south thereto bounded west by two morgans of arable land herein above given and devised to my daughter, Maria, south by the creek, north by Captain Jacobus Van Sleyck as above named an so running along the creek and the partition fence of Captain Jacobus Van Sleyck till it takes in full quantity of two morgans of arable land, to hold to her my said daughter, Rebecca, and to her heirs and assigns forever.
Item. To my son Myndert Wempel deceased, his two sons, John Wempel and Myndert Wempel and to their heirs and assigns forever, I do give devise all the rest and residue of said island situate, lying and being in the bounds of the township of Schenectady just southwesterly of the said town, called the first or foremost island, bounded west by the two morgans of land herein last above given and devised to my daughter, Rebecca, south and east by the creek, north by Captain Jacobus Van Sleyck, as also my house and lot of ground lying in the town of Schenectady bounded east by the street, south by Daniel DeGraaf, north by the lot of Seymons Johan Veeder and west by the creek to held to them, their heirs & assigns forever, all to be equally shared and divided by them and among them, share and share alike, to the one no more nor better thereof than to the other.
Item. It is my will and I do order and direct my four sons to wit; Reyer Wempel, Isaac Wempel, Ephraim Wempel and John Wempel, or their heirs or assigns to pay or cause to be paid all my just debts and funeral charges, which I shall have paid at the time of my decease.
Item. It is my will and express order that if my two grandchildren herein above named John Wempel, and Myndert Wempel , sons of my son Myndert Wempel deceased, as above named do or shall happen to die without lawful issue of their body or bodies, Then what I have herein above given and devised him or them, so died as aforesaid with out lawful issue, shall descend and devolve on all my sons and daughters herein named equally and share and share and divide by them and among them, and share and share alike, to the one no more nor better thereof than to the others, anything herein contained to the contrary thereof not withstanding.
Item. It is my will if one or more of my three sons it wit; Isaac Wempel, Ephraim Wempel, or John Wempel shall die without lawful issue of his or their bodies that the survivor or survivors of my said three sons last named shall then have what I herein above have given & devised him or them so deceased as aforesaid, paying thereof in my just debts he or they so died without lawful issue was herein above directed and obliged to pay and perform.
I give and bequeath unto my son Isaac Wempel, my Negro boy named Caspel. I give and bequeath unto my son Ephraim Wempel, my Negro named Charles. I give and bequeath unto my son John Wemple, my Negro boy named Tobie. I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter, the daughter of my daughter, Arrantie wife of Captain Andries Bradt late deceased Catalientje, my Negro wench called Rood. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Deborah, the wife of Barent Wemple, my Negro wench named Hen. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Maria the wife of Lieutenant Walter Butler, my Negro wench named Saar. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Rebecca my Negro girl named Mary. I give and bequeath unto my son John Wempel, my Negro man named Ned and my Negro wench named Gin, he to pay therefor to my grandson Myndert Wempel, above named the sum of twenty pounds, current money of New York, seven years after my wife's decease. I give and bequeath unto my son Ephramim Wemple, my Negro man named Prince, he paying therefor my grandson, John Wempel about named the sum of twenty pounds current money of New York seven years after my wife's decease.
Lastly, I make and ordain my brother Jacob Glen and my good friend Robert Sanders Executers of this my last will and testament, and do desire them to execute the same for me according to my true intention and meaning. Lastly I do hereby disannul and revoke all former wills by before this time made, willing that this and no other heretofore made to be my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I the said Jan Wempel have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal the day and year first above written." 

Johannes Reyer Wemple (1732 - 1814) and Maritie Visscher (1744 - 1804) - my 4th Great Grandparents

[From: The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record: "Devoted to the interests of American genealogy and biography.", Volume 35, p. 235]
Prior to the American Revolution, Johannes was commissioned Ensign in Capt. Andrew Truax's Company, on January 5, 1758; he served as a Private and Sergeant in Col. A. Wemple's Regt.during the Revolution; his will was dated July 13, 1812. 

Reyer Wemple (1703 - 1796) and Debra Veeder (1703 - 1776)

[From Maybee Society , person page 438 URL:  http://maybeesociety.org/MaySoc/g0/p438.htm]

Reyer Wemple left a will on 20 May 1791 at Albany County, New York: "Reyer Wemple of the town of Schenectady, in the county of Albany, yeoman, leaves to my eldest son, John my fowling piece, with my large low Dutch family Bible for his primogeniture"; besides other land, he also gives John his "orchard lying and being in the Woestyne, town and county aforesaid, on the south side of the Mohawk River".
     To Alida, widow and relict of his son Myndert, he leaves his "house-barn, Homestead, Orchard and five morgens of land where said house-barn and orchard now stand . . . situate, lying and being in Woestyne aforesaid, whereon and wherein I have last lived during or in the lifetime of my deceased wife Deborah, just as the same was conveyed to me by my father, John Wempel deceased", but if she remarried it was to go her children by Myndert. He speaks of his "daughter Susanna, wife of Harmanus Mabie", and of his "grandchildren, Ryer, Abraham, John, Walter Vrooman, Myndert and Deborah, children of my deceased son Myndert R. Wempel and his said wife Alida", also of his niece Catalina, daughter of Isaac Wemple, deceased"

Ryer Jacobse Schermerhorn and Anaantje Arentse Bradt Schermerhorn - my 7th Great Grandparents

The following information was found on pp. 55-73 of Schermerhorn Genealogy and Family Chronicles by Richard Schermerhorn, Jr. (New York: Tobias A. Wright, Publisher, 1914).] Ryer Schermerhorn was the eldest son of Jacob Janse Schermerhorn and the most prominent one. After his father's death in 1688, he naturally took the place as head of the family and became a leading spirit in the community, as had been his father before him. His name early appears on official records when Oct. 6, 1690, he was commissioned by Jacob Leisler, as Justice of the Peace of Albany County. During the troubles with the French and Indians following the massacre at Schenectady, an order from Jacob Leisler, following one to Major Thomas Chambers of Ulster County, dated Nov. 2, 1690, in respect to furnishing soldiers for the defense of Albany, reads as follows: "To Capt. Barent Lewis, Mr. Schermerhorn and their assistants * * * to press 20 men with arms and 300 skepples peas and 250 skepples of Indian corn within the County of Ulster for the expedition of Albany." In this same year, Apr. 8, Ryer Schermerhorn and Jan Jansen Bleecker were chosen members of the Provincial Assembly meeting in New York, and on Oct. 10, he, with five others, was appointed by Jacob Leisler, "to superintend, direct and control all matters and things relating to the City and County of Albany." His children were all apparently baptized at the Dutch Reformed Church at Albany, the last one in 1693, but it is not quite certain when Ryer took up a permanent residence in the Schenectady district, though he was a freeholder there before 1684. He was the owner of two lots in Albany on the east side of Chapel St., between State St. and Maiden Lane, 65 ft. x 100 ft. and 35 ft. x 100 ft., the first one of which he held until 1713. Ryer was a man of great determination and a strong faith in his own judgment and his interpretation of what seemed to be his rights. This is early evidenced in 1696, when he refused to do what was pointed out to be his share of cutting and drawing logs for the repair of the fortifications in Schenectady. It may be on account of his living (at the "Mills") some distance from the center of the village, that he did not believe he was justly entitled to bear this share of work, but at least, he absolutely refused, and nothing could budge him. He was called before council, Apr. 30, 1696, for this misdemeanor and put under bail for his appearance before the next supreme court. What finally resulted in this case, the records do not show, but it is quite likely that Ryer stood fully on his rights and had his way. No matter what appearances may have been, the reputation of Ryer did not suffer on account of this little controversy, because he is still found to be Justice of the Peace in 1699, and on May 1, 1700, was appointed assistant Judge of the Common Pleas at Albany. That he was trusted and recognized as a man of affairs by the Colony officials is indicated through the considerable amount of business intrusted to him, shown by the warrants issued to him from time to time for services rendered, such as Oct. 4, 1698, for military transportation; Nov. 1, 1699, furnishing candles and firewood to the garrison at Schenectady; Sept. 9, 1700, for public transportation; Aug. 8, 1700, for freight and provisions delivered to Sachems of the Five Nations at Albany; May 7, 1702, for repairing the fort at Schenectady; Apr. 14, 1702, for firewood to the Schenectady garrison, etc. In September, 1698, Ryer Schermerhorn and Jan Janse Bleecker, representing the city and county of Albany, delivered a communication to the Governor, Richard, Earl of Bellomont, (letter dated June 6, 1698), protesting against the grant of a tract of land by the latter's predecessor, Governor Fletcher, to Col. P. Schuyler, Maj. Dirck Wessels (Ten Broeck), Doctor Godfrey Dellius, Capt. Evert Banker and Wm. Pinhorne, Esq. This land had been occupied by the friendly Indians and most likely a proper bargain for it had not been made. The protest avers that the effect of this grant would lead the Indians "to desert this Province and fly to the French," whereas formerly they had been most friendly to the Dutch and much benefit had been gained from trade with them. Later Ryer and the Mayor of Albany, Hendrick Hanse, were commissioned by the Governor to visit the Indians (commission dated May 19, 1699), to arrange for the conveying back to them of "certain lands unlawfully acquired from them by Domine Dellius & Col. Bayard." Accompanying them were Garrit and Johannes Luykasse (warrant dated Oct. 27, 1701), and the account of Ryer Schermerhorn and Hendrick Hanse for presents to the Indians was rendered May 7, 1702. The journey to the Mohawks must have been satisfactorily concluded, as Governor Bellomont stated in a letter to the "Lords of Trade," dated Jan. 16, 1701, that Schermerhorn was a "very sensible man and has managed to bargain with the Mohawks very skilfully." During this same period Ryer was again called upon by the New Amsterdam officials to render them service, and made a contract to deliver lumber for supplying masts for English ships. He had previously, in company with a ship's carpenter, John Latham, made a visit and survey of the woods "up the Hudson & Mohawk," (warrant dated Nov. 5, 1700), the project being broached as early as 1699, as indicated in correspondence between Governor Bellomont and Frederick de Peyster. The project was successfully terminated, (warrant to Ryer for bringing ships timber from Albany, June 16, 1702), although some time must have elapsed between its institution and conclusion, as it was not until Sept. 8, 1702, that an order appears for Samuel Blackman of the Jersey man-of-war, and Beverly Latham, for the valuation of Ryer Schermerhorn's ship timber. A letter from Lord Cornbury to the "Lords of Trade," dated Sept. 29, 1702, mentions the fact that Ryer had received 410 pounds for supplying 24 masts. There is no doubt that in spite of Ryer Schermerhorn's stubbornness and apparent inclination to override all who opposed him, that this did not affect his religious principles. He was undoubtedly an early member of the Reformed Church at Albany, and later of the congregation at Schenectady, being foremost in the matter of building a new church at the latter place, as is indicated by the petition, dated Oct. 27, 1701, signed by him and Domine Bernard Freeman, for a license to collect funds to build a church. He was deacon of the Reformed Church at Schenectady from 1701 to 1704, and elder from 1705 to 1713. From 1706 to 1713, during which period there was no minister, Ryer Schermerhorn and Johannes Teller were managers of the church finances. Beyond all doubt Ryer was as thorough and commanding in his church duties as he was in other walks of life. The prominence of Ryer Schermerhorn's position in the early affairs of Schenectady was due in part to the legal authority vested in him as one of the original patentees of the Schenectady Patent. On November 1, 1684, the Patent of Schenectady was confirmed by Governor Thomas Dongan to William Teller, Ryer Schermerhorn, Sweer Teunessen Van Velsen, Jan Van Eps and Myndert Wemp. The latter three were killed in the Schenectady massacre of 1689 and William Teller, an aged man, then residing in Albany, took little interest in the Patent, and in 1692 removed to New York, where he died in 1700. Thus Ryer Schermerhorn was left in entire control of affairs, almost from the beginning. The story of his struggle to maintain his authority is aptly and clearly told by Mr. G. S. Roberts in his very interesting volume, "Old Schenectady," and it is quoted as follows: "The reason for the Schenectady Patent of 1684 from Governor Dongan was this: The fifteen original proprietors had obtained possession of the land by deed from the real owners of it, the Mohawk Indians, and if the Colony had remained in the possession of the Dutch, any further right to the land might not have been necessary. The Colony, however, passed into the possession of Great Britain and it soon became evident that complications would arise in regard to titles, — hence, the necessity for a patent. * * * The Patent of Schenectady included about 80,000 acres, the affairs of which were absolutely in the control of the five Patentees and their heirs and successors. In 1700 when Ryer Schermerhorn was the sole surviving Patentee, the people objected to being under the rule of one man. They said that he disposed of the public lands without giving any accounting of his transactions, so they petitioned for a new patent in October, 1702, which should give the right to elect five trustees to serve three years, who should be required to render an accounting of their trust to their successors. This Patent was granted in February of the following year, and Col. Peter Schuyler, John S. Glen, Adam Vrooman and John Wemp were made trustees to serve with Ryer Schermerhorn. But the Schermerhorn determination asserted itself. He continued to receive the rents and the profits of the town and brought suits in the court in his own name, without giving an account to the people. He utterly disregarded the new Patent, claiming that he was sole trustee of the village. Even the fact that he was suspended by the Governor made no difference to him. He fell back upon the authority of the Patent of 1684, which was really binding, notwithstanding the Patent of 1703. He knew that the old Patent gave to the five trustees, their heirs and assigns, forever, the control of the land, and as survivor, he intended to live up to the rights secured in that Patent. From the standpoint of Ryer Schermerhorn and by precedent, he was right. But the germ of that great principle of government of the people, by the people and for the people, although not expressed in words until many years later, was beginning to take root, probably without any suspicion of that fact, by those interested. The people seeing that the determination of Ryer Schermerhorn was based on very solid foundations, petitioned, by two of the new trustees, Col. Peter Schuyler and John S. Glen, for an annual election of trustees, with a more strict provision requiring an accounting of their proceedings. This petition was granted and a new charter was given in April, 1705, with Ryer Schermerhorn's name not among the trustees. In 1704, the Governor and Council gave a hearing to Mr. Schermerhorn. He was suspended as a trustee, but this mattered little to him. He disregarded the action of the Governor, insisted that he was the only trustee and persisted in refusing to render an accounting; so in July, 1705, the new trustees began suit in the Chancery Court against him. The suit was the first of a series of suits brought by both sides for a period of nearly one hundred years, the second Ryer Schermerhorn, a grandson of the first, continuing the contest until his death in 1795, but not one was ever finished. Ryer brought a counter suit against the trustees, John S. Glen, Adam Vrooman, Daniel J. Van Antwerp and J. B. Van Eps. The trustees, weary of the contest, attempted to affect a compromise, but without success, and an appeal to the Colonial Legislature also failed to accomplish anything. In 1714, on October 22 and 23, Schermerhorn, by lease and release, conveyed his title to William Appel of New York — Appel kept a tavern in that city — with the understanding that he, Appel, should reconvey the lands to Ryer Schermerhorn, Jan Wemp, Johannes Teller and Barent Wemp. This was done on the 25th and 26th of the same month and year. To confirm the conveyance, Gov. Hunter granted the fourth Charter on November 14, 1714. This grant was practically the same as that of 1684, the township in both patents being granted to Ryer Schermerhorn and his associates, their heirs, successors and assigns. These conveyances settled for a time the controversy over the management of the common lands. In 1750, Jan Schermerhorn, son of Ryer, who died in 1719, claimed that all who were freeholders of Schenectady, when the Dongan Patent was granted in 1684, had equal title in the common lands. This meant that only those would inherit who were descendants from the first settlers in the male line of the eldest sons, for at this time the law of primogeniture was in force. There were, when this claim was set up, but 27 eldest sons who were legal heirs. The death of Jan Schermerhorn in 1753, before legal action had been brought, ended this claim. But this did not end the contest, for Jan left a son, another Ryer Schermerhorn, who had all the devotion to purpose, and the determination for which the family were noted. He began suit against Arent Bradt and others as patentee, in 1755, for his share in the common lands, which he claimed were his by inheritance from his grandfather, the first Ryer. For 41 years he fought for what he believed to be his rights, and died in 1795 with the struggle unfinished. So strongly did he feel on the subject, that he willed the contest to his heirs, with the penalty of disinheritance should they fail to continue it. This second Ryer retained Judge James Duane, of glorious memory, as his attorney. Judge Duane told his client that a document in the hands of a man by the name of Appel, living in New York, was of greatest importance to his case, but for it to be of use, it must be in Albany within ten days. Between Albany and New York was nothing but a wilderness with here and there an Indian trail, and the Hudson River. To make the journey to New York and back through the woods, in eight days, was utterly impossible, and the river craft were far too slow. No Schermerhorn had yet been beaten by difficulties, and this member of the family decided that a journey could and should be made in one of the light and graceful birchbark canoes of the Indians, with his muscle and will as motive power, so he started alone, obtained the document and was in Albany again before the expiration of eight days. It is a most unfortunate thing for the present generation that Mr. Schermerhorn wrote no account of the trip. As he was a man who did things without talking of them, one of the most interesting journeys of the early days is left to the imagination." Ryer Schermerhorn, the Elder, was a large individual property owner, in addition to his being sole trustee of the Schenectady Patent. His property may be listed as follows: In addition to Bouwery No. 4, acquired through his wife, he owned the easterly half of the Seventh Flat on the north side of the Mohawk River. This property contained about 20 morgens (40 acres) and was bounded east by the Tequatsero Creek, west by another small kill, north by the hills, and south by the river, as described in deed. This property finally came into the possession of the children of his daughter, Cataleyntje, wife of Johannes Wemp. A lot on the east corner of State and Church Sts., Schenectady, 170 x 160. Part of this lot was left to his daughter, Cataleyntje, wife of Jan Wemp, and the remainder to his son, Jacob, who then dwelt upon it. The latter let it to his son, William, who sold it in 1806. A lot in Schenectady, purchased Feb. 23, 1703, on the north side of State Street, having a frontage of 73 feet. Another lot on State Street, 50 x 100, which he left to his son Arent. A tract of land on the south side of State Street, near the Coehorne Kill, 256 feet in length, which he bequeathed to his son Jan. This parcel contained 4 morgens, or 8 acres. A lot on the west corner of Union and State Streets, which he owned as early as 1684, and which he acquired through his wife. It was about 190 feet square, and later was owned by one of his wife's grandsons, Helmus Veeder. A tract of land in Bergen County, N. J., purchased from Gerbrant Claesen, Feb. 6, 1701-2. One-half of this property he deeded later to his daughters, Jannetie and Catalina, and to Catharine Helmers, his step-daughter, wife of Gerrit Symonse Veeder, each receiving a one-sixth part. The Seventh Flat, as above mentioned, lies near Hoffman's Ferry, between the Droybergh Kil on the east and Van Eps' Kil on the west. Bouwery number 4 contained 26 morgens, or 52 acres. It was known as Schermerhorn's Mills and remained in the family 200 years. Ryer came into possession of this tract through his wife, Ariaantje, whose first husband, Helmer Otten of Albany, purchased it from the original proprietor, Pieter Adrianse Soogemakeleyck. Ryer's marriage took place in July, 1676, at which time in anticipation of this marriage, his wife made a contract with the guardians of her daughter, Catharine Helmerse Otten, by which she mortgaged the farm at Schenectady, for the payment of 225 beaver skins to her daughter, when she arrived at mature age, also to give her one-half of her late husband's property in Holland. The east line of Bouwery number 4 ran along the west line of the Schenectady car works yard, and so on northerly, following the small brook, emptying into the Binne kil. The west line was the Poenties kil. (The property was so described in 1883.) Anecdote of Ryer Schermerhorn, the Elder. — When a youth, Ryer was sent to Holland at the solicitations of two maiden aunts, who each desired to make him their heir, both, however, owning separate establishments, and each wishing him to live with her. This caused so much jealousy and unkind feeling, and made him so unhappy, that he finally left without notice or intention, and went to London and there learned the shoemaker's trade. His family for a long time gave him up for lost, but he was finally discovered by a sea captain who had been a good friend of his father's, and he was induced to return to America. 


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(Abstract from the Will of Ryer Jacobse Schermerhorn on File in Surrogate's Office, City of New York, Page 171, Liber 10)
In the Name of God, Amen. I Ryert Schermerhorn of Schenectady, Esq., do make this last will and testament. I leave to my eldest son John Schermerhorn 5 Pounds in lieu of all demands or pretensions he might hereafter make to any part of my estate by virtue of priority of birth. I leave to my wife Ariantie all my real and personal estate during her life and after her death I leave to my son John all my lands where I now live at Schenectady, and he is to convey and confirm unto John Wemp's three children, viz., Myndert, Ryert and Ariantie "procreated in the body of my deceased daughter, Catalina, late wife of John Wemp," the one half of the house and farm where my said son John now lives, on the north side of the Maques River above the town of Schenectady, and the other half to my daughter Janeke, the wife of Valkert Symonsen. I give to my son John the lot of ground lying in Schenectady and adjoining to the lots of ground of Hendrik Vroman and Barent Wemp. I leave to my son Job, eight morgen of the hindermost lot called number 2, bounded east by land of Samuel Bratt; also five and one half morgen of woodland, bounded by the lots of Samuel Bratt & the woods; also part of the lot in the town of Schenectady where he now lives, and which shall be 70 feet broad at the front, to be taken in the middle of the whole lot, which is 170 feet wide, and it is to keep the same width to the end of the lot "Joyning westerly by the street, by the house now in the possession of Josias Swart." I leave to my son Arent, all that farm of land called the Second Flatts, where Simon Groot, Jr., lately lived, with the woodland thereto belonging; also one lot of ground in Schenectady, lying on the west side of the lot belonging to Dow Antes (Aukes) De Frieze, being 50 feet wide in front and 200 feet in length. "But it is my will that the 18 scheppels of wheat yearly forever to be paid for the ground rent of the said Second Flatts, are to be paid equally by my sons John, Job and Arent." I leave to Ariantie Wemp, daughter of John Wemp, one lot of ground, heretofore given to my son John, "being broad in front 50 feet and long 160 feet." I leave to my daughter Janeke, wife of Volkert Symonsen, one half of my land in the Raritans in East Jersey, and I give the other half to my three grandchildren Myndert, Ryert and Ariantie Wemp, "with the condition that my youngest brother Lucas Schermerhorn shall enjoy the same for six years at the annual rent of one pepper corn." I also leave to my brother Lucas all my cattle on said land. I leave to Wilhelminus Symonsen son of Gerritt Symonsen, the lot of pasture ground lying on the south side of the town of Schenectady, next to the lot of Geritt Symonsen. I leave to Hannah Symonsen, daughter of Geritt Symonsen "my lot in the Jerseys, called the Garsnegat." I leave to my son John my old negro man "Tom" and my negro boy "Abraham." To Ariantie Symonsen, wife of Daniel Daniels, I give one cow. I leave all the rest of my estate to my four children and to the children of my daughter Catalina, deceased. I make my three sons, John, Arent, & Jacob, executors. Date Apr. 5, 1717. Witnesses Dow Aukes, Ph. Schuyler, Ph. Verplanck. Proved before Killian Van Rensselaer, Apr. 9, 1726.
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Almon Vedder Van Epps and Leona Major -- my grandparents

Life Story of Almon Vedder Van Epps 

 (Written by himself, Phoenix, Arizona, January 21, 1957)

 My story as I remember it. I am writing this little history to the best of my memory. Many things forgotten and somethings added that may not be true.

 My grandparents, and I remember them, on my Father’s side were Christiana Haverly and John Albert Van Epps, born in Glenville, New York and married there; later moving to Stephenson County in northern Illinois. Most of the trip by wagon route, settling near Lena, Illinois where several Holland settlers were living. They located about 2 ½ miles NE of Lena, bought a quarter section of farming land in Waddams Township. Their first home was made of logs cut from trees on the surrounding land. It was built about 100 feet from a large ever flowing spring of pure water. The land was fertile, producing well of all kinds of wild deciduous fruits, grains and grasses. They prospered and fitted in well with the older residents. Here their family of three sons and one daughter were born. The daughter’s name was Christiana, she died in her second year. The boys, as they came along were named Albert, James and my father-Christian Haverly. The sons all grew up and lived in this locality. Their parents lived to a good old age and died on the homestead, in a very nice house that was built on the spot where the log cabin was. They were buried in the Manny Cemetery, about 2 miles from the home on the road to the small-town McConnell or Bob Town as it was known, on the banks of the Pecatonica River. Their sons grew up on the homestead, attending school at the Van Eps Grade School about ¾ mile from their home. Their father was one of the School Board Members and was their teacher for several years. They only held school a few months each year. The school was later named the Manny District School, as one of the Board Members Pels Manny started teaching. It was later nicknamed the Gooseneck School by a teacher named John Soliday. Albert, the oldest son enlisted in the Civil War and was discharged when the War was over. He married Ruth Sisson, a neighbor girl. James, the second son married a girl named Hettie French. They went to Moreland Iowa, near Fort Dodge. He owned a big cattle ranch and a grocery store at Moreland for years. My father, Christian Haverly, married a local girl named Mary Carter, living in Wards Grove about 15 miles from his home. They were married in her home in Wards Grove, later lived in Lena where my father was employed. I have heard that they moved to Des Plains, north of Chicago, where they lived for several years(?) later moving back to Lena, living on the Rishel Farm a couple of miles north of Lena, then bought the David DeGraffe farm, 160 acres, a couple of miles SE of Lena, in the Pleasant Hill School District and about 12 mile from our home. I remember my first day in this school. When my father’s parents estate was settled, my father bought the farm of 120 acres, then as 40 acres had been sold to Joshua Sisson before their deaths. My parents sold their farm to George Holmes and moved to the old Van Epps homestead about ¾ miles from our home. I was about 16 years old. I had 2 brothers and 4 sisters, as they came along, Marie - who died in infancy, Alice Francisca, Katherine or Kitty, Thomas Carter, Almon Vedder (that’s me), John Albert and Clara Leora. My Grandparents on my mothers side were Polly Giddings and Thomas B. Carter and as far as I know, as the story goes, were born, grew up and married in Ireland. They came to North America on their honeymoon (being from Ireland and coming to America on their honeymoon seems to be a false tradition that was handed down [Leone’s comment]) and liked the country and decided to settle and make their home in Virginia, where they lived ad raised their family of one son and 3 daughters until after the Civil War, moving North to Stephenson County, Illinois, locating near Lena called Wards Grove. The names of the children as they came along, were Nelson, Clara, Nancy and my mother Mary or Marie. They lived in this location until their deaths and were buried in the Lena Cemetery in a lot enclosed by a high artistic iron fence, to the right as you enter the cemetery. My grandfather was never in sympathy with the south, and as the story goes, he was a close friend of Abraham Lincoln and to prove his loyalty to the North, he built a large hospital in (??) for the Civil War disabled veterans. They must have been quite wealthy, as the family had a large plantation and owned negro slaves. They left them in the south when they moved north. My mother was a school teacher in the local school for a few years. THIS IS MY LIFE: I was born October 16, 1879 and was raised, went to school and Sunday School near Lena Illinois. My parents were Methodists. My mother was one of the faithful, and many a meal was given to the preachers. I enjoyed a natural life, our home and family. My school days ended when I finished the 8th grade at the Gooseneck School, as did most of my school mates, a few favored ones went to high school in Lena, but we all grew up about the same. I worked at home when needed, and when our work was caught up, I worked for the neighbors at practically everything, helping farm, put up buildings, etc. My father gave me a colt that I trained. I always loved fine horses, and as I grew older, and started to step out, I saved my money and bought a new buggy. My mother gave me a new harness, and did I STRUT MY STUFF. I worked in a Creamery in Lena for a Mr. Root for about a year, then went to work for a Farm Implement Store, Henry Babcock Co. in Lena, and got interested in selling game and liked it. Later I got the agency for the Sharpless Hand Cream Separator. I ordered one by express to come from Sharpless, Penn. It was the first hand and small cream separator offered for sale to the farmers in that part of the state, to separate the cream from fresh milk on their farms; lots of advantages over paying to have the milk hauled to a creamery, and it made a hit. I loaded the machine in a buggy and made demonstrations to farmers, often staying overnight to show them the good features. I took lots of orders. They sold for between $60 and $80, in two sizes. I ordered from Factory via freight and on arrival delivered and set them up and got them started OK, and collected my money, always cash. I sold more than 50, and then a large Imp Co.-Bergman F Co of Freeport, Illinois got so many calls for them they took the agency away from me by ordering large quantities at a time. They wanted me to work for them. I was 21 years old then and on my own. My mother had a mortgage on a Livery Stable in Durand, Illinois and she had to take the stable and contents—horses, harnesses and buggies. So, she sent me to take charge of it, which I did, staying there about 2 years, when we sold it. I then went to Rockford, Illinois and went to work for the Rockford Street Railway, as Conductor and worked in the City until the Rockford and Janesville Electric Railway running from Janesville Wisconsin and Freeport Illinois – about 75 miles. I stayed with this job until the last of May 1907 and on Decoration Day I left Rockford for Great Falls, Montana. I arrived in Great Falls on the 3rd of June, via train, about 6am—tired, hungry and dirty. Went to the Great Falls Hotel, got a room, cleaned up, had breakfast, then got busy and landed myself a job on a big horse ranch about 14 miles NW of town, owned by Ex-Senator Gibson, who had his office in the Hotel where I stayed, (a fine fellow). I wrangled horses, and rode the fence line, as this several thousand acre ranch was entirely fenced and over 3000 horses would sometime break the fence, which had to be repaired and did I have fun roping and riding wild horses. There were two of us wranglers that worked together, myself and a fine young fellow, Chas Evans. I stayed on this ranch until it got cold, and we put all the horses in corrals for winter. The fun was over. I got my pay for the summer’s work, I was paid in gold coins - $70. I wasn’t used to Gold Coins, so it took some time to check it. I bought a new suit and went to Idaho Falls to visit my cousin, John Van Epps, who lived about 8 miles North of town. I got a job the next day with the Spaulding Buggy Co. from Gunnell Iowa as salesman and assistant Superintendent and went to Montpelier, Idaho and opened a station, as a carload of buggies had just arrived. This job gave me a fine opportunity to see the western country, as I made all deliveries and collections. The sales were made by 4 other salesmen. I went to Salt Lake City, and then to Milford Utah, as a car of buggies had arrived there. We sold the buggies and I went to Mammoth Springs, Arkansas as 2 carloads had been delivered to this place to keep us fellows busy during the winter months. The climate was fine for our work, I arrived just before Christmas. In the Spring, I went back to Modena, Utah and kept busy until that Fall, when I resigned and went to Salt Lake City, and went to work for the Utah Implement Vehicle Company as a Salesman, starting the 3rd of October 1908, I worked for this company for 16 years. I went to an LDS Church with a friend one Sunday night and met a very charming young lady named Leona Major. I fell for her and made a date, and that date is still in force. I courted her for about 2 ½ years and we were married June 21, 1911---and are still married today —April 4, 1959. Leona had written the story of our lives together. We have had nearly 50 years of a very happy and enjoyable marriage. Leona had been my one and only sweetheart all these years and she has been a wonderful pal. We have two fine sons, Kenneth and Gordon. They have good jobs, are honest and reliable, no bad habits, and both have nice wives and families and I am proud and thankful for them. June 1st, 1945, I retired after 22 years’ service with the O. S. Stapley Company of Phoenix Arizona, as a salesman, Branch Store Manager and Floor Manager. We have enjoyed every month of it and I hope we will both be blessed with good health so we can enjoy each other to the end, and if I had my life to live over, I would do the same if possible, with a few exceptions.

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The Life of Leona Major Van Epps

 (written by Leona Major Van Epps) I was born in Kaysville, Utah, November 30, 1885. My parents were William Duncomb Major and Virginia Faithful McMaster Major. They were the parents of eleven children: six boys and five girls. I was the youngest girl and their ninth child. The names of their children follow: Grace Millicent, William (who died when he was about one year old), Donald Henderson and Dora Elizabeth (twins), Robert Bruce, Leona, Frederick Raynaldo, and Heber Leroy. My father was a miller and owned a flour mill in Kaysville. When I was a year old, he sold his property there and moved to Bountiful, Utah, where he bought the Heber C. Kimball Mill and a nice home nearby. It was a pretty place, with the mill stream and pond, where they went boating in the summer and skating in the winter. They also cut blocks of ice from the pond, to store in sawdust for the summer. Father also ran an Ice Cream Parlor and Candy Store. The Daughters of the Utah Pioneer’s built a replica of the old mill on the site, on the road east of Bountiful. Father’s name is on it as the last miller. When I was six years old, he sold out and moved to Layton, Utah. He bought a home in West Layton, and got a job as miller with the Ellison Roller Mill Co., where he worked for several years. I started school in the 1st grade in the red brick school house in West Layton. All eight grades met in one room, with one teacher. I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when I was eight years old. There was only one Ward in Layton at that time up in East Layton. When I was about nine years old, they divided the Ward, the new one called the West Layton Ward. We lived in the new Ward, and we held all meetings in the School House until the new chapel could be built. David E. Layton was our Bishop and my mother was the President of the Relief Society. When I was 13 years old, we sold our home in Layton and moved to Thatcher, Arizona, by train. Uncle Charles Layton, who married Mother’s sister, Mary Ann McMaster, had moved there and built a Flour Mill and wanted Father to go there and run it for him. Dora, Bruce, Fred, Heber and I went with our parents. Brother Don was living there. My oldest sister, Grace, and her husband Tom Naylor and their 3 children were living there, having been called to help settle that country. I graduated from the 8th grade in Thatcher and was chosen to give the class essay at the graduation services. Of course, we enjoyed living in Thatcher, near Grace and Aunt Mamie, but Father didn’t like the hot climate and other things, so he sold the home he had bought there and moved back to Layton, 2 years later, where he bought another home on Gentile Street in West Layton Ward again. Mother’s health began to fail a couple of years later and she died April 18, 1904 when I was 18 years old. After Mother’s death, I had to be the housekeeper for my father and 3 brothers, Bruce, Fred and Heber, who were still at home. Never having had much responsibility, it was hard for me but I did the best I could. My sister, Hattie Harrod, who lived in Layton was a great help to me and was good to all of us. One year and three months after Mother’s death, father married a widow, Mary Ellen Finley and as he didn’t need me anymore and I wanted to get further education, I went to Salt Lake City to live. I lived with my cousin, Mame Arnold and family for 3 months and went to High School. Mother’s sister, Margaret Priestley, offered me a home with her and her husband, Uncle John. I moved in with them at 178 I Street, where I lived until I graduated from High School. It was through the generosity and kindness of Aunt Maggie and Aunt Libb Foulger, Mother’s sister, my brother Don, who lived in Salt Lake and was unmarried, and my sister Hattie that I was able to do this. I took a business course and graduated in 2 years. I had a severe illness about the time I graduated. Everyone was so kind to me, as soon as I was able to leave Aunt Maggie’s, I went to Layton, and stayed with Joe and Hattie until I was well. I wanted to go to Salt Lake to get a job and Fred was going to the University of Utah, so Don rented a small apartment, and he, Fred and I moved in Our apartment was on 7th East Between 1st and 2nd South. One of my school mates had got a job at the University of Utah and told me they were looking for a girl to work in Dr. David R. Allen’s office. I went to his office and applied for the job and got it. I worked as a stenographer and also helped run the first book store at the University, which was part of the office. I worked there for 2 years, when I got married. It was a fine place to work and I enjoyed it. I met so many nice people and made many new friends. When Brother Don married Laura Divett, I found a place to room and board with Mr. and Mrs. John Slaughter, about a block from Don’s on 5th South. Mrs. Slaughter was a Kaysville girl (Nellie Barnes) so I felt at home with them. We lived in the 9th Ward and one Sunday evening at Church, Almon Van Epps was there with a friend of mine (Alice Divett) and she introduced me to him. He called on me within a few days. We became good friends, and of course we fell in love and went together over 2 years before we married. I hesitated a long time because he was not a member of our church. He was always so good and kind to me, and he promised if he ever joined a church it would be the Mormon Church. He worked for the Utah Implement and Velicca (?) Company in Salt Lake. They sent him to work in their Branch Store in Preston, Idaho, Jan 1, 1911, after being up there sometime, he rented a nice home and furnished the living room bedroom and kitchen and planted a fine garden. We were married by Bishop Wooley of the 9th Ward, at the home of Uncle Chas & Aunt Libb Foulger, June 21, 1911. My father and Aunt Mary and several of my brothers and sisters, their wives and husbands, and other relatives were there. Aunt Libb served a lovely dinner. My cousin Donald Priestly sang several songs. Then we went to the Hotel Utah, which was a new Hotel then. Stayed there 2 days and nights, and took a train for Preston, Idaho to our new home. We stayed all summer in that house, then rented a home on Main Street where we lived all winter. In the Spring we bought a lot and built a nice little home, just off Main Street which we enjoyed very much. Van did a lot of the work and painting himself. Van got dissatisfied with his job for certain reasons and we sold out in November 1912, and moved to Salt Lake City. He got a job with the Con. Wagon and Machine Company and they moved us to Ephraim, Utah, January 1, 1913. We rented a nice home there but only stayed six months as the Utah Implement Company wanted Van To come back to Salt Lake City and work for them again. We moved back in June 1913 and rented a duplex at 374 D Street. Our first baby, Kenneth Major, was born there on April 7, 1914. Dr. Chas Douglas was the Dr. and my sister Hattie and Aunt Libb Foulger were there to help. Hattie stayed with us for 2 weeks. We were very happy with our baby. Brother Don gave him a blessing and name. We moved a couple of other places in Salt Lake and finally to 2517 Park Street in Forest Dale Ward. The last of November, 1919, Van had a very serious illness, and was taken to the LDS Hospital, where they took his tonsils out. He had inflammatory rheumatism. After three weeks we brought him home, but he was in bed quite helpless the rest of the winter. My folks were kind and did all they could to help us, and we had good neighbors and friends to cheer us and help. God was good to us. Gordon Almon was born there April 1, 1920. Sister Hattie was there to help out and also a practical nurse, and Mrs. Soren our good neighbor. Van was able to walk with crutches by then. Dr. Harding, our Dr. recommended we go to Arizona to a warm, dry climate. We sold our car and furniture, and left for Mesa, Arizona, where my brother Heber and family lived. We left Salt Lake via train May 3rd and arrived in Mesa May 5th, 1920. We stayed at Heber’s a week, then rented a place. By July 1st, Van was able to go to work. He got a job with the O.S. Stapley Company and worked there until April 1, 1921, when we left Mesa for Salt Lake City with our sons and Brother Hebe. Van seemed to be well again and his job with the Utah Implement Company was waiting for him. He had spent the winter rebuilding an old car. It took us 18 days to drive from Mesa to Salt Lake via California. We went to Long Beach to get our first view of the Pacific Ocean. The roads very bad and rough those days, not many were paved. We rented a furnished home on 9th East and some months later a house on corner of 4th Ave and J Street and enjoyed living there, just one block from Aunt Maggie Priestley’s. I loved her very much and enjoyed visiting her. She was always so good to me. That winter Van traveled a lot as Salesman for General Motors, Sampson Division and the rheumatism came back again, so he decided to go to a warmer climate before another winter came. On October 1923, we left Salt Lake for California. My brother Hebe and family had moved to Huntington Park, California and liked it, so we went there, driving October 31. We rented a small house across the street from Hebe’s and Van got a job as carpenter with the Pacific Ready-Cut Company. He was soon made a foreman. Gordon had a serious illness-for 9 weeks. We had two Doctors, one said he had intestinal Flu and the other one said pneumonia. The Lord was good to us and he lived. Van also was ill for several weeks. We had so much rain and he was out in it so much, he caught cold. When he got better, he got a job with the International Harvester Co. They sent him to Orange, California to work as salesman for the Elteste Company. We liked it there and bought a lot, and expected to build a home, but the company sent Van to Fullerton, California as Manager of their Branch Store. We rented a home there on Golden Hill, and like it very much. There was a Branch of the Church in Anaheim, not far from Fullerton, which we attended and I got interested in Relief Society work. That winter, the cold and dampness of that climate, brought Van’s rheumatism back and the Doctor advised him to go back to Arizona. So, we left there (much to our regret, for we loved California) for Phoenix, Arizona, arriving there December 28, 1924. A job was waiting for Van at the O. S. Stapley Company as outside salesman of farm machinery. He worked for them for 22 years before he retired in June 1945. We bought a home on North 7th Ave, soon after we came to Phoenix. Sold it in 1927 and bought a lot and built a nice home at 14 West Windsor Ave, in 1928 (my brother Hebe helped build this house. In 1929, the Stapley Company put in a new store at Buckeye Arizona—35 miles west of Phoenix and put Van in as Manager. We rented out home and moved there. We rented a new home in Valencia, a suburb of Buckeye, where the store was located. The tenants left our home in Phoenix in June, so the boys and I moved back there while Van stayed in Buckeye and came home week ends until the next January. We didn’t like it there, so Van came back to the Phoenix Store to work. In 1931-32, Van had a long illness. On October 1st, 1932, Lorel Stapley baptized him and our sons into the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which made me very happy. In 1936, Van’s brother, Carter, came out from New York to spend the winter with us and built a house for us at 16 Windsor Avenue. When it was finished, we rented our home and moved in the new house. We moved back and forth from the 1 house to the other several times, but have lived at 16 Windsor for several years now. Kenneth and Gordon volunteered for service in World War II, and served until the War ended. Kenneth in the Air Force and Gordon in the Navy. They were both married while in service. Kenneth married Mary Andrea Schmiegelow on July 7, 1944. He played in the Air Force Band at Luke Field, 25 miles from Phoenix, the last 2 years of the War. They lived at 16 Windsor for about 2 years and we lived at 14 Windsor. Gordon married Jane Dunn, January 25, 1945 while home on a furlough. Delbert Stapley married both couples at our home. Mary and Jane are lovely girls and good wives and mothers. Mary and Kenneth have 3 children, 2 boys and one girl. Kenneth and Mary and their 3 lovely children now live at 14 Windsor, and we enjoy them (eventually they had a total of 4 children).. Gordon and Jane have 4 girls. I have always loved Relief Society work and have been active in it for years. I was the first secretary of the Phoenix 2nd Ward when it was organized and served for 4 years, until we moved to Buckeye in 1929. I was appointed Secretary to the Maricopa Stake Relief Society November 20, 1932. Elnora Shupe was President, Mabel Price- 1st Counselor, Hazel Stohl- 2nd Counselor and when the Phoenix Stake was organized the same officers were appointed. We all served until November 16, 1940, when we were released. I felt it was a great privilege to do this work for the Church and top work with these fine women. We have had some trouble, but on the whole, we have lived a happy life together. Van has been a wonderful husband and Father. We are proud of our boys and they have been good sons to us, and are fine men. We have enjoyed many nice trips together, to Lead, South Dakota to visit Van’s sister Clara Robey several times. Many trips to Utah to visit my brothers and sisters, and to California. My sister, Hattie Harrod, died in the LDS Hospital in Ogden, Utah in April 1956. She was very dear to me, and had planned on having a wonderful summer together in Layton, Utah. Van and I had made arrangements to live in a home there while the family were in Europe, so naturally I felt very bad about her death. We went up to her funeral, came back home, then returned to Layton, June 4th. We expected to have a nice summer but on June 23rd I had a mild heart attack, and was put to bed. On the evening of July 3rd, I had a severe attack, and was taken to the LDS Hospital in Ogden just after midnight July 4th, in an unconscious condition. I stayed there 16 days, then back to Layton and stayed in bed until August 17th when we left there in our car for Ephraim, Utah to Gordon’s home, where we stayed nearly 2 weeks, then came home to Phoenix in our car. I am slowly recovering. I know God has answered the many prayers offered for me, and I thank Him for all our blessings. My husband has been wonderful to me during my illness, no one could have given me better care than he has, and I do appreciate him and love him. Gordon was sustained as Bishop of the Ephraim North Ward in Ephraim, Utah on January 20th, 1956 which has made us happy. I am sure he will be a good Bishop. Delbert Stapley ordained him. I am thankful for everything, and my great desire is to do good, and be of service to others when I can. (Leona Major Van Epps, June 1957)