[This excerpt is from the book "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. Pub. in Albany, NY: Joel Munsell's Sons, Printers, 1883, pg 176-180.]
Johannes Dirkse Van Eps, the eldest son of Maritie Damen and Dirk
Van Eps, married Elizabeth Janse (176-2)
and had three sons and four daughters, all of whom left families save one, who
with his father was killed in the massacre of 1690.
He was one of the five
magistrates of the village in 1676 and 1678, and named one of the five
patentees in the Dongan patent of 1684.
His home lot in the village was
on the north corner of State and Church streets, comprising one quarter of the
block, — 200 by 225 feet. This lot together with bouweries No. 2 on the
bouwland, were purchased for him April 29, 1664, by his stepfather, Van Ness,
at the sale of Philip Hendrickse Brouwer's property in 1664. (177-1)
The conveyance to him is dated April 15/25, 1667, and the patent April 29,
1667, — "to Jan Van Epps, son of Maritie Damens, to confirm a conveyance
to him made April 15, 1667, by Cornelis Van Nesse, of a certain bouwery or farm
at Schenectady on two several parcels of land containing about 42 acres or 21
morgens 570 rods, as set forth in the grondbriefe June 16, 1664, together with a house
and lot and another lot of ground and garden lying near the place where he
inhabits at Schenectady, being in breadth and length according as is Exprest in
the General's grant to him said Cornelis Van Nesse dated April 10, 1665."
(177-2)
His eldest son Jan Baptist, inherited the above mentioned parcels of land.
[http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~vanepsgenealogy/trivia.html]
Jan Dirkse Van Eps became a property owner in Schenectady, NY on April 29, 1664. He and his stepfather, Cornelis Van Ness, aquired Philip Hendrickse Brouwer's estate (Farm #2) at auction after his death for 1287 guilders. This estate included a village lot with house and garden, 42 acres of farm land on the bouwland, Mr. Brouwer's brewing equipment, as well as 3 horses, one cow, two heifers and five sows.(1)(2)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In 1672, a tract of land was granted to Sander Leederse Glen, Jan Dirkse Van Eps and Swear Teunis Van Velsen by the Mohawk Indians to help expand the rapidly growing and cramped Schenectady area. This Indian title was later confirmed by Governor Dongan in 1684 and Jan Van Eps was named as one of the five trustees of this Dongan Patent. This tract of land encompassed much of the present day city of Schenectady, as well as the towns of Rotterdam and Glenville, NY.(1)(2)(3)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For many years, residents of Schenectady argued with the leaders of Albany over their rights to trade with the Mohawks and other tribes. In fear of competition from the new town, Albany officials insisted that Schenectady must remain a farming community and that if the Schenectadians were caught trading, they would be punished appropriately. In 1678 Sheriff Richard Petty searched Jan Dirkse Van Eps' house and found beaver skins hidden in one of the rooms. Jan was fined for his trade goods and ordered to appear at court in Albany. When he went to answer to the charges, Jan explained to the judge that he had 2 serious house fires over the past winter and that buy selling the furs, he was trying to recoup his "great losses". The judge took pity on Jan and allowed him to "retain the merchandise long enough to dispose of it at Albany". Jan also was one of the 5 magistrates in Schenectady at the time which also probably worked in his favor. (2)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
During the Schenectady Massacre in February 1690, Jan Dirkse and at least one other child (a son) were slain. Jan Baptist Van Eps, his eldest son, was taken as a prisoner and held captive at an Indian villiage in Canada for 2-3 years. In February 1693, Jan Baptist was taken along as a guide by his captors on a raid of the nearby Mohawk Village which may have become a second raid of Schenectady and Albany (4). When near Schenectady, during the night, Jan was able to sneak away from camp and hurry to Schenectady to warn the inhabitants of the impending attack. Word was then sent to Fort Orange and a strong force was sent out to protect Schenectady and it's allies. Local legend states that Jan appeared in full Indian attire and war paint at the Glen's house in Scotia. It is said that Helena, Johannes Sanderse Glen's oldest daughter, was quite intrigued by this unusual visitor. This must be true because Jan became her husband six years later.
Colonial documents state: "1692/3 Feb. 8, Wed. about 2 o'clock afternoon we had the alarm from Schenectady that the French and their Indians had taken the Maqas castles; soon after we had the news that a young man named Jan Baptist Van Eps (taken at Schenectady 3 years ago) was run over from the French, as they were to attack the first castle of the Mohogs, and came to Schenectady, who related that the French were 350 Christian and 200 Indians."
In the book "From New York to Montreal", author Benjamin Clapp Butler states:
The French commander, in his notes, ascribes the failure of this attempted raid to the escape of Jan Baptist.
"The force consisted of six hundred and twenty-five men, including two hundred Indians. They left Montreal in the month of January, and came through Lake Champlain and Lake George. Their provisions were packed in sledges drawn by dogs. Bear skins were their couch and their protection the dense pines which lined the shores of the lakes. Passing near Schenectada, a prisoner named Van Epps, who had been captured two years before, escaped, and gave the information to his friends in town. They at once sent an express to Major Peter Schuyler, at Albany, who with a strong force, came up to the rescue and support of their dusky allies." (4)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~vanepsgenealogy/trivia.html]
Jan Dirkse Van Eps became a property owner in Schenectady, NY on April 29, 1664. He and his stepfather, Cornelis Van Ness, aquired Philip Hendrickse Brouwer's estate (Farm #2) at auction after his death for 1287 guilders. This estate included a village lot with house and garden, 42 acres of farm land on the bouwland, Mr. Brouwer's brewing equipment, as well as 3 horses, one cow, two heifers and five sows.(1)(2)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In 1672, a tract of land was granted to Sander Leederse Glen, Jan Dirkse Van Eps and Swear Teunis Van Velsen by the Mohawk Indians to help expand the rapidly growing and cramped Schenectady area. This Indian title was later confirmed by Governor Dongan in 1684 and Jan Van Eps was named as one of the five trustees of this Dongan Patent. This tract of land encompassed much of the present day city of Schenectady, as well as the towns of Rotterdam and Glenville, NY.(1)(2)(3)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For many years, residents of Schenectady argued with the leaders of Albany over their rights to trade with the Mohawks and other tribes. In fear of competition from the new town, Albany officials insisted that Schenectady must remain a farming community and that if the Schenectadians were caught trading, they would be punished appropriately. In 1678 Sheriff Richard Petty searched Jan Dirkse Van Eps' house and found beaver skins hidden in one of the rooms. Jan was fined for his trade goods and ordered to appear at court in Albany. When he went to answer to the charges, Jan explained to the judge that he had 2 serious house fires over the past winter and that buy selling the furs, he was trying to recoup his "great losses". The judge took pity on Jan and allowed him to "retain the merchandise long enough to dispose of it at Albany". Jan also was one of the 5 magistrates in Schenectady at the time which also probably worked in his favor. (2)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
During the Schenectady Massacre in February 1690, Jan Dirkse and at least one other child (a son) were slain. Jan Baptist Van Eps, his eldest son, was taken as a prisoner and held captive at an Indian villiage in Canada for 2-3 years. In February 1693, Jan Baptist was taken along as a guide by his captors on a raid of the nearby Mohawk Village which may have become a second raid of Schenectady and Albany (4). When near Schenectady, during the night, Jan was able to sneak away from camp and hurry to Schenectady to warn the inhabitants of the impending attack. Word was then sent to Fort Orange and a strong force was sent out to protect Schenectady and it's allies. Local legend states that Jan appeared in full Indian attire and war paint at the Glen's house in Scotia. It is said that Helena, Johannes Sanderse Glen's oldest daughter, was quite intrigued by this unusual visitor. This must be true because Jan became her husband six years later.
Colonial documents state: "1692/3 Feb. 8, Wed. about 2 o'clock afternoon we had the alarm from Schenectady that the French and their Indians had taken the Maqas castles; soon after we had the news that a young man named Jan Baptist Van Eps (taken at Schenectady 3 years ago) was run over from the French, as they were to attack the first castle of the Mohogs, and came to Schenectady, who related that the French were 350 Christian and 200 Indians."
In the book "From New York to Montreal", author Benjamin Clapp Butler states:
The French commander, in his notes, ascribes the failure of this attempted raid to the escape of Jan Baptist.
"The force consisted of six hundred and twenty-five men, including two hundred Indians. They left Montreal in the month of January, and came through Lake Champlain and Lake George. Their provisions were packed in sledges drawn by dogs. Bear skins were their couch and their protection the dense pines which lined the shores of the lakes. Passing near Schenectada, a prisoner named Van Epps, who had been captured two years before, escaped, and gave the information to his friends in town. They at once sent an express to Major Peter Schuyler, at Albany, who with a strong force, came up to the rescue and support of their dusky allies." (4)
After Johannes was killed in the Schenectady Massacre in 1690, Elizabeth married Gysbert Gerritse Van Brakelen on 23 July 1693.
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