Welcome

divider bar

          (II) William Henry, son of Charles and Elizabeth (light) Churchill, was born in Dutchess County, New York, August 31, 1808, died December 17, 1893.  He was at one time in the customs office in New York City, later becoming a contractor, mason and builder in Yonkers and Yorktown, New York.  He built the mercantile Library in New York City.  He was a Presbyterian in religion and a Republican in politics.  He married Mary, a daughter of Bernardus Montross, born September 20, 1817, died September 15, 1893.  Her father was born in Somers, New York, July 2, 1794.  He was a farmer and married Sarah Whitney of Yorktown.  Children, referred to above:  1. Jacob, born March 15, 1820.  2. Maria Louisa, born august 26, 1833, married Constant White at Yorktown: children: i. Henry B, ii. Ella L., iii. Laura R.  Children of William henry and Mary (Montross) Churchill: 1. Sarah E., born September 1, 1839, unmarried.  2. Montross, of whom further.  3. John Light, born March 13, 1844, died age twelve years.  4. Nathaniel, born March 4, 1846, died in infancy.  5. Emma Louise, born June 23, 1849, married Josephus Loring Johnson.  Child: Loring C.

          (III) Montross, son of William Henry and mary (Montross) Churchill, was born in New York City, November 22, 1841.  He was a farmer.  May 1, 1863, he was appointed lieutenant of the Eighteenth Regiment, Seventh Brigade, Second Division, National Guard, State of New York.  June 23, 1865, he was promoted captain of the same regiment, which has enlisted, June 6. 1863, in the United States service during the Civil War, and was honorably discharged August 15, 1865.  In October, 1889k he was appointed rodman of the engineer corps, department of water supply, gas ands electricity of the City of New York, which position he now holds.  He married, September 7, 1865, Catherine Dennison, daughter of Simeon B. and Helena Barto (White) Johnson, born January 30, 1843 (see John II).  Children:  1. William M., born May 8, 1867, unmarried.  2. John Swartout, of whom further.  3. Mary J., born December 30, 1876, married Clarence A. Ferdon.

          (IV) John Swartout, son of Montross and Catherine Dennison (Johnson) Churchill, was born June 29, 1868, in Yorktown Heights, New York.  He received his education in the district school at Yorktown Heights, New York, and in 1885 and 1886 at the Mohegan Military Academy.  In September, 1996, he entered the service of the New York Life Insurance Company as a clerk, and after many years o faithful and efficient service was promoted in August, 1901, to be assistant superintendent of the policy loan department, which position he now holds.  He is a Presbyterian in religion and a Democrat in politics, being a member of the Yorktown Democratic Club,

 divider bar

Page 468

and also Yorktown Heights Engine Company, No. 1. 

          He married, May 20, 1896, Ella, daughter of Silas and Helen Maria (Anderson) Gregory, who was born March 26, 1867.  Child:  Emma Helen, born June 15, 1901.

(The Johnson Line.)

          Daniel Johnson, the first member of this family of whom we know was born in 1790, and lived in New York City.  He married Catherine Bertine, who died in 1851.  Children:  1. Simeon B., of whom further.  2. Daniel, died, May 27, 1812. 

          (II) Simeon B., son of Daniel and Catherine (Bertine) Johnson, was born August 3, 1810.  He married Helena Barto White, sister of Constant White.  Children:  1. Helen L., born April 24, 1837; married James L. Corsa, of Purdy Station.  Children: i. Helen, ii. Anna, iii. Almira, iv. Josephus.  2. Aurelia, born September 15, 1838, died young.  3. Anna F., born June 8, 1841; married Edward B. Mekeel.  Children:  i. Jessie, ii. Catherine, iii. Sarah H., iv. Mary D.  4. Catherine Denison, married Montross Churchill (see Churchill III).  5. Henry L., born January 27, 1846.  6. Aurelia W., born July 27, 1848; married Rufus King, of Kansas.  Child:  Viola, married David J. Irish, of Yorktown Height.  7. Josephus Loring, born January 30, 1851; married Emma Churchill of Yorktown.  Child: Loring C.

FIELD.       Roger del Field, the founder of the family of this name which settled in Lancaster and Kent counties, England was descended from Sir Hubertus de la Felde, who came to England in 1066 with William the Conqueror and became the ancestor not only of this family but also of the famous Delafield family, allied to the Plantagenet kings through John of Gaunt and Catharine Swynford and distinguished indeed in both Europe and America. Roger del Field was born in Sowerby, England, d, about 1240.  His wife's name is unknown.  Children:  1. Richard, of whom further.  2. Thomas, born about 1278.

          (II) Richard, son of Roger del Field, was born in Sowerby, about 1276.  His wife's name is unknown.  Child: Adam, of whom further. 

          (III) Adam, son of Richard del Field, was born in Sowerby, in 1299, died there in 1349 or 1350.  In 1349 he was elected greave of Sowerby.  His wife's name in unknown.  Child:  Thomas, of whom further. 

          (IV) Thomas, son of Adam del Field, was born in Sowerby in 1329.  He married Matilda -----------.  Children: 1. John, born in 1359.  2. Richard, of whom further.,  3. Agnes, unmarried in 1397.  4. Alice.

          (V) Richard (2), son of Thomas and Matilda del Field, was born in Sowerby, died there in 1454.  In 1423 and again in 1428 he was greave of Sowerby.  During his lifetime the prefix "del' was dropped from the family name.  His wife's name is unknown.  Children:  1. Robert.  2. John, of whom further.  3. Thomas.  4. William, married Mabel ---------.  5. George.

          (VI) John, son of Richard (2) Field, was born in Sowerby, died there in or before 1468.  In 1445 he was a juror, and from 1449 to 1450 constable of Sowerby.  His wife's name in unknown.  Children:  1. Christopher, of whom further.  2. Hugh, died about 1525.  3. John.  4. Isabella.  5. Agnes.  6. Joan.

          (VII) Christopher, son of John Field, was born in Sowerby, died there in or before 1509.  In 1487 he was greave of Sowerby.  His wife's name is unknown.  Children:  1. John, of whom further.  2. Thomas, married Margaret ---------. 

          (VIII) John (20, sonof Christopher field, was born in Sowerby, died there in or before 1520  In 1513 and 1514 he was constable of Sowerby.  His wife's name is unknown.  Children;  1. Christopher, of whom further.  2. John, married Agnes --------.

          (IX) Christopher (2), son of John (2) Field, was born in Sowerby and died there probably about 1554.  He married, in 1540, in Halifax Parish, Sowerby, Grace Gradeheige.  Children:  1. Edward, baptized in 1541, married, in 1560, Isabella Greenwood.  2. Johanna, baptized in 1543.  3. Alice, baptized in 1544.  4. Grace, baptized in 1545.  5. Elizabeth, named ina deed of her father's in 1554.  6. John, baptized in 1547, buried in 1547.  7. William, of whom further.

          (X) William, son of Christopher (20 and Grace (Gradeheighe) Field, was baptized in Halifax parish, Sowerby, England, in 1538, died at Northowram, England, July 24, 1619.  In 1593 he removed from Sowerby to Northowram and later established himself as a

divider bar

Page 469

clothier in Northowram.  He married, June 1, 1591, Susan Midgley, of Northowram, a member of a prominent coat armor bearing family of the neighborhood, the Midgleys of Midgley.  She was baptized in Halifax Parish in 1574, died March 6, 1623.  Children:  1. William, baptized August 8, 1591, deceased in 1636; married, in 1624, Susanna Longbothome.  2. Alice, baptized August 8, 1593; married, November 11, 1611, Robert Rawson.  3. Jane, baptized November 23, 1595; married, June 10, 1622, John Mitchell.  4. George, baptized March 15, 1601; married December 4, 1638, Samuel Holdsworth.  6. Joseph, \baptized June 19, 1603; married, October 25, 1624, Elizabeth Nicholson.  7. Robert, of whom further.  8. Isabel, baptized March 26, 1609.  9. Robert, baptized August 29, 1612, died in infancy. 

          (XI) Robert, son of William and Susan (Midgley) Field, was baptized in Halifax Parish, Sowerby, England, March 9, 1605, died at Bayside, Flushing, Long Island, before 1673.  He is first recorded in America in 1638 at Newport and Portsmouth, Rhode Island, where he was co-operating with Robert Williams.  In 1645 he settled at Flushing.  He married (first) in Halifax Parish, Sowerby, November 23, 1624, Ruth Fairbank, of Hipperholme; he married (second) at Bradford, England, March 18, 1630, Elizabeth Taylor; he married (third) Charity -------, who survived him.  Children:  1. John, baptized December 25, 1635; married ------- -----------.  2. Robert, born about 1636, died April 13, 1701; married Susanna --------.  3. Anthony, of whom further.  4. Benjamin, born about 1640, died in flushing, in 1734; married (first) ----------  ----------, (second) Sarah ---------.  6. Elizabeth, married as second wife, John Underhill, the distinguished military commander of early Long Island history. 

          (XII) Anthony, son of Robert and Elizabeth (Taylor) Field, was born, probably in Rhode Island, about 1638, died in Flushing, Long Island, before 1691. He married Susanna -------.  Children:  1. Benjamin, of whom further.  2. John, born May 15, 1659, died between 1724 and 1729, in Middlesex County, New Jersey; married Margaret -----  (XIII) Benjamin, son of Anthony and Susanna Field, was born in Flushing, Long Island, in 1663, died there, December 1, 1732.  He married (first), November 30, 1691, Hannah, born April 2, 1665, died December 30, 1707, daughter of John and Hannah (Feake) Bowne, of Flushing.  She was a granddaughter of Lieutenant Robert and Elizabeth (Fones) Feake, of Watertown, Massachusetts, and a great-granddaughter of Anne (Winthrop) Fones, sister to Governor John Winthrop, of Massachusetts Bay Colony.  He married (second), February 23, 1709, Elizabeth, died in 1724, daughter of John Feake, of Matinecock, Long island, a niece of his first wife.  He married (third), April 13, 1727, Sarah Taylor, widow od Henry Taylor, M. D., of Flushing, and probably sister to John Palmer, of the same place.  Children, all by first marriage:  1. Benjamin, born February 5, 1693; married, February 13, 1727, Sarah Taylor.  2. John, born January 13, 1694095, died March 23, 1773; married, January 12, 1720-21, Elizabeth Woolsey.  3. Samuel, born October 10, 1696, died September 10, 1783; married, March 7, 1718, Mary Palmer.  4. Anthony, of whom further.  5. Hannah, born July 20, 1700, died November 21, 1721; married; March 9, 1721, Thomas Haviland.  6. Joseph, born June 12, 1702, died in 1793; married Molly Denton.  7. Sarah, born August 17, 1704, died in 1724; married James Clement.  8, Robert, born September 7, 1707, died February 2, 1737; married (first), November 12, 1729, Rebecca Burling, (second), February 2, 1736, Abigail Sutton.

          (XIV) Anthony (2), son of Benjamin and Hannah (Bowne) Field, was born at Peach Pond, Flushing, Long Island, July 28, 1698, died at Harrison's Purchase, Westchester County, New York, September 2, 1777.  He married, in Flushing, June 13, 1730, Hannah, born in Flushing, October 16, 1713, daughter of William and Rebecca (Slocum) Burling.  Children:  1. John, of whom further.  2. Thomas,  3. Benjamin, born in 1732, died in 1818; married Jerusha Sutton.  4. William, married Mary Hatfield.  5. Moses, died in infancy.  6. ----------, born about 1734; married about 1755, Mary French.  7. Samuel, married Abigail Haight.  8. Sarah, married Joseph Waters.  9. Mary, died in infancy. 

          (XV) John (3), son of Anthony (2) and

divider bar

Page 470

Hannah (Burling) field, was born in Harrison's Purchase, Westchester County, New York, in 1731, died at Yorktown, Westchester County, New York, in 1815.  He married, in Jamestown, Rhode Island, June 8, 1763,m Lydia, daughter of William and Phoebe (Hull) Hazard, of Jamestown, who died January 15, 1795.  Children:  1. Hazard, born November 11, 1764, died February 5, 1845; married (first) in June, 1788, Fanny Wright, (second) January 12, 1806, Mary Bailey.  2. John, born May 6, 1766, died November 19, 1827; married, June 10, 1786, Fanny Perry.  3, Josiah, died February 27, 1806, unmarried.  4. Daniel Birdsall, of whom further.  5. Abigail, died in infancy.  6. James, died in infancy.  7. Sarah, born August 7, 1775, married Caleb Horton.  8. William B., born December 2, 1777; married ------- Fairchild.  9. Moses, born October 4, 1779, died October 21, 1833; married, May 17, 1821, Susan Kittredge Osgood.  10. Abigail, born January 16, 1782, died March 11, 1808.  11. Phoebe, born January 16, 1784, died in 1862; married Henry Fowler.  12. Jerusha, born March 14, 1786, died December 28, 1877.  13. Hickson Woolman, born October 17, 1788, died February 12, 1873; married (first) in 1818, Eleanor Kingsland de Forest, (second) Catherine Bradhurst.  14. Samuel, died in infancy.  15. Seamon, born February 2, 1794, died September 20, 1860; married, September 14, 1822, Louise Marie Elise Du Bourg de Sainte Colombe.  16. James, born January 15, 1795, died May 22, 1795. 

          (XVI) Daniel Birdsall, son of John (3) and Lydia (Hazard) Field, was born at Yorktown, Westchester County, New York, July 28, 1770, died March 11, 1830.  He married Elizabeth, born September 25, 1778, died December 3, 1860, daughter of Benjamin and Francis (Huggeford0 Field.  Children:  1, Leonard Huggeford, born February 9, 1798, died January 26, 1828; married in January, 1817, Margaret Clement.  2. Juliet, born July 10, 1800, died February 18, 1832; married, February 17, 1818, Frederick William Requa.  3. James Harvey, of whom further.  4. Eliza, born October 21, 1808.

          (XVII) James Harvey, son of Daniel Birdsall and Elizabeth (Field) field, was born May 24, 1803.  He lived in New Orleans, Louisiana.  He married Jeanne Charlotte Victorie, daughter of Francis Dubourg, of New Orleans.  Children:  1. Michael James, born November 27, 1831, died February 21, 1846.  2. Marie Angelique Adele, born January 23, 1833, died in 1856, unmarried.  3. William Emile Gasquet, born in 1836, died June 26, 1862; married Louisa Aglea Requa.  4. Edward Gasquet, of whom further. 

          (XVIII) Edward Gasquet, son of James Harvey and Jeanne Charlotte Victorie (Dubourg) Field, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, September 15, 1837, died in Peekskill, Westchester County, New York, September 5, 1908.  He was brought to Peekskill when only four years old and spent practically the whole of his life in Westchester County.  for eight years previous to 871 he conducted the picnic grounds at Iona Island, and afterwards was for three years in charge of the picnic grounds at Oscawanna Island.   For a number of years before his death he was employed on the New York State Camp Grounds.  He was one of the seventeen men who re-organized the Cortlandt Hook and Ladder Company, and he served with that company for a number of years.  He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Peekskill.  He married, October 18, 1859, Adeline B., daughter of Philip and Martha Elmendorf, of Jones point, Rockland County, New York.  Her father was a pilot and captain on the Hudson River.  Her brother and sister were: 1. Caroline M., married John Serine, captain of a Hudson River steamboat; children: 1. Adeline, Alonzo, 3. Chordts.  Mary A., married Daniel Wyant, boatman of Tompkins Cove; children;  1. Daniel.  2. Philip.  3. Smith.  4. Alice.  5. Minnie.  6. Catherine.  7. Margaret D., married Albert Fox, of New York City; no children.  William D., married Phoebe Hughes, of Peekskill; children: Grace and William.  Child of Edward Gasquet and Adeline B. (Elmendorf) Field;  1. Edward Philip Elmendorf, born at Cauldwell, Westchester County, New York, September 23, 1861, died July, 1904; was a painter; married Barbara Thyme, a native of Scotland; Children:  1. Martha A V.  2. Adeline H.  3. Irene.  4. William. 

divider bar

Page 471

ROBERTSON.    Albert Robertson, the founder of this family was born in Bremen, Germany, January 7, 1779, and was the son of Albert Robertson, senior, a miller of the same town.  He was, according to the generally accepted family tradition, drowned at sea in the year 1823.  With his brother, Charles, Albert Robertson, junior, emigrated to America, about 1807, and settled in New York City.  He married, in the Dutch Reformed Church in Franklin Street in that city, April 24, 1811, the Rev., Mr. Burke officiating, Catharine, daughter of John and Elsie (Yerkes) Heleker, or Hilliker, of Greenburgh, Westchester County, New York, who was born August 19, 1792 (see Heleker or Hilliker).  Children:  1. James, referred to below.  2. Seaman, born February 4, 1814, drowned in the Hudson River.  3. Albert, born June 15, 1816, died August 18, 1867; married, July 25, 1835, Julia A. Randolph.  4. Catharine, born June 4, 1818, died in New York City, August 20, 1822.  5. Mary Ann, born October 7, 1823, died September 14, 1863; married David Hilliker, of New York City. 

          (II) James, son of Albert and Catharine (Hilliker) Robertson, was born in New York City, September 26, 1812, died in Peekskill, Westchester County, New York, January 20, 1889.  He was but eleven years old when his father died in reduced circumstances, leaving a widow and four children, the youngest but a few weeks old.  James found employment ina machine shop, where he developed a high order of mechanical ingenuity, and having a great natural passion for improvement, development and invention he became very proficient in the use of tools,.  His first invention was an improved method for raising sunken vessels which became universally adopted; his second was a stop-cock and valve, which he manufactured largely and which was generally used at the time of the introduction of water into new York City by means of the Croton aqueduct.  After this he invented what is known as the gang-saw for sawing marble by steam power, and established a marble saw-mill at the corner of Rivington and Attorney Streets, in New York City.  He continued this business until 1851, acquiring a competency.  Owing to ill health he then disposed of the business, and, purchasing the old historic Van Cortlandt homestead at Van Cortlandtville, near Peekskill, which he remodeled, enlarged and beautified, he removed thither and lived there until his death.  In business he was diligent, industrious, persevering, prudent, careful, and economical.  He had great executive ability, was careful informing plans, and judicious in execution.  He was a man of great dignity, much independence, large firmness and stability.  At the age of eighteen he became a member of the Methodist Protestant Church, and a few years later, joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, and during the remainder of his life was one of its most active, consistent and faithful members.  Before his marriage he and his future bride sang in the choir of the Sullivan Street Methodist Episcopal Church, and when he removed to Peekskill he joined the South Street Church.  In 1864-65 he was one of the chief organizers of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, and one fo the largest contributors to the fund for its erection.  For many years he served as class leader, steward and trustee, as well as superintendent of the Sunday School, and from the organization of the church until his death he was a member of the official board.  In politics Mr. Robertson was a Democrat, and he was alderman of New York City in 1846 and 1847.  He is buried in Sleepy hollow Cemetery, Tarrytown.

          He married, at the Sullivan Street Methodist Episcopal Church, New York City, November 3, 1833, Mary Ann, daughter of Gold and Nancy (Hayes) Canfield, who was born at Oregon, Putnam County, New York, August 19, 1812.  She died at Peekskill, Westchester County, New York, December 13, 1896, and is buried beside her husband at Tarrytown.  Children, all except the youngest born in New York City:  1. Charles Franklin, born March 2, 1835, died at St. Louis, Missouri, May 1, 1886; married (first). August 7, 1861, Carrie R. Brisbane, of Malone, New York, and (second), September 26, 1865, Rebecca Duane, of Malone.  2. James Harris, born September 21, 1836, died at Peekskill, December 28, 1804; married, December 26, 1866, ella Adelaide Vredenburgh, of Peekskill.  3. George Ward, of whom further.  4. Amelia, born August 19,

divider bar

Page 472

1840; married, May 10, 1805, the Rev. Cyrus D. Foss.  5. Albert, born may 12, 1842, died unmarried at New Orleans, Louisiana, of yellow fever, August 12, 1866, buried at Sleepy Hollow.  6. Emily, born March 2, 1844; married, May 7, 1862, William D., son of Thomas and Amelia (Jones) Southard, of Peekskill.  7. Frederick, born December 26, 1846; married, in March, 1896, Annie, daughter of Joshua Horton, of Peekskill.  8. Mary, born July 8, 1848, died at Peekskill, September 5, 1885; married, June 5, 1873, Robert Monroe Wilson, of St. Louis, Missouri.  9. Elizabeth, born December 24, 1850, died at St. Louis, Missouri, April 2, 1884; married Joseph Dickson, of Sat. Louis.  10. Augusta, born July 27, 1853; married (first) September 2, 1875, Arthur T. Morse, of St. Louis, and (second) December 26, 1893, Henry Waters, of Lake Mohegan, Westchester County, New York. 

          (III) George Ward, son of James and Mary Ann (Canfield) Robertson, was born in New York City, October 19, 1838, died in Peekskill, Westchester County, New York, 1906.  He received his education in the private school of Miss Halstead, in New York, the public school at Ninth Street and Second Avenue, the male high school, the Mechanics Institute, the district school at Van Cortlandtville, the Peekskill Military Academy, and the Charlottesville University, Schoharie, New York.  From 1857 to 1859 he served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade under R. M. Shoemaker, of New York City, and then worked for a short time with James Hilliker. He next became a clerk in the planing mill and lumber yard of James W. Ogden, and was soon promoted to the position of manager, which he held until the outbreak of the Civil War.  In 1859 he became a member of the New York Volunteer Fire Department and enlisted in the Seventy-first Regiment New York State Militia, being in the engineer corps under Captain E. A. Quintard, April 20, 1861, he enlisted for three months as private in the Seventy-first Regiment, and went to the front.  He was at the Marshall House, May 21, 1861, and formed one of the guard that escorted the body of colonel Ellsworth to Washington.  In the following July he was slightly wounded at the battle of Bull Run, and personally saved from capture the flag of the Newburgh Howitzer Company.   The regiment returning to New York, he was honorably discharged, and returned to work for Mr. Ogden until May 27, 1862, when he re-enlisted as lieutenant of Company B, Seventy-first Regiment New York State Militia.  He was with the regiment at Tennytown, Fort Stevens, Rock Creek and elsewhere, assisted in the checking of the confederates after the defeat of General Pope, and disguised as a southern planter went on a scouting expedition in Maryland.  He was mustered out September 2, 1862, and afterwards became a life member of the Veteran Association of the Seventy-first Regiment, and still later a member of the "Old Guard," of New York.  Going to Cincinnati, Ohio, he was for six months freight agent of the Hamilton & Dayton Railroad Company, and then became superintendent of the Cincinnati Elevator Company.  In January, 1868, he removed to Peekskill, New York, and became a member of the firm of Southard, Robertson & Foster, stove manufacturers, his associates being his brother-in-law, William d. Southard, and William H. Foster.  The foundry, known as the "People's Stove Works," was established in 1835 by Thomas Southard and John H. Hyatt.  Mr. Hyatt was succeeded first by Samuel Utter and then by Charles H. Frost.  Mr. Foster was succeeded in 1883 by William Corry, the firm name becoming Southard, Robertson & Company, and Mr. Southard and his son both dying in 1899, the firm was incorporated in 1900 as a stock company under the name of Southard Robertson Company, Mr. Robertson becoming president, Alfred S. Hughes, treasurer, and George W. Butcher, secretary. 

          In 1868 Mr. Robertson joined St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church in Peekskill.  From 1877 to 1885 he was superintendent of the Sunday School, for seven years a member of the board of trustees and for four years its president, and from 1870 to 1882 he was the leader of the church choir.  In 1879 he erected an extensive addition to the church chapel as a memorial to his deceased daughters.  For many years he was connected with the Pine Grove Camp Meet-

divider bar

Page 473

ing at Canaan, Connecticut, as chorister, trustee and president of the association.  in 1871 he was one of the committee of five which drafted the act for the Peekskill water works system, and in 1873 he was made a member of the board of water commissioners.  From 1874 to 1876 he was secretary of the board, and from 1877 to 1878 its president.  In 1881 and 1882 he represented the third district of Westchester in the assembly, serving on the committee on manufactures, and commerce and navigation.  In 1888 he was supervisor of the town of Cortlandt.  In 1893 he was elected state senator, and served as chairman of the committee on military affairs, and as member of the committees on cities, commerce and navigation and public buildings.  He was also a member of the famous "Lexow Committee" which investigated the police department of New York City.  His last public office was that of president of the village of Peekskill, to which he was elected as Democratic nominee in 1897.  For the greater part of his life Mr. Robertson was a Republican, and he served for years on the Republican town committee, from 1881 to 1883, as its chairman.  In 1882 he was a member of the Republican county committee and a delegate to the state convention.  In 1883 he was chairman of the county convention.  In 1880 it was the telegram sent by Mr. Robertson to James W. Husted, of the Republican national convention, then in session in Chicago, which caused the nomination of the presidency of General Garfield.  Mr. Robertson was made president of the Garfield and Arthur Club, of Peekskill, and on the death of President Garfield was on the committee of arrangements of memorial services.  In 1874 he was commissioned assistant adjutant-general of the Fifth Division of the National Guard of New York, and in the following year became lieutenant-colonel of the Sixteenth Battalion of the Seventh Brigade, Fifth Division.  In 1879 he was one of the organizers of Vosburgh Post, No. 95, Grand Army of the republic, and was its first commander for three years.  In 1884 he represented New York in the National Encampment.  He was one of the organizers of the Westchester County Association, Grand Army of the republic, was for several years vice-president of the association, and in 1896 and 1897 its president.  In 1894 and 1897 he was aide on the staff of the department commander.  Mr. Robertson was a Master Mason of Cortlandt Lodge, No. 34, Free and Accepted Masons, of Peekskill, and from 1885 to 1890 was district deputy grand master of the Ninth Masonic district of the state. He was a member of Mohegan Chapter, No. 221, Royal Arch Masons, in 1891 high priest of the chapter, and later captain-general.  He was also a member of Mecca Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, a Scottish Rite Mason, thirty-second degree; a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of Ivanhoe Lodge, Knights of Pythias.  He was a member of the Cortlandt Stock Protective Association, a charter member and first president of the Peekskill Building and Loan Association, a member of the Peekskill Board of Trade and of the Peekskill Hat Factory Fund.  In 1876 he was grand marshal of the centennial celebration in Peekskill, in 1892 grand marshal of the Columbus day celebration, and several times grand marshal of the memorial day parades.  He was very fond of music, and was one of the organizers of the Handel and Haydn Society of Peekskill, and of the Peekskill Vocal Union. 

          He married (first), December 11, 1862, at Cincinnati, Ohio, Ella, daughter of Marine and Susan (Odell) Ruffner, who was born at Natchez, Mississippi, September 23, 1841, died at Peekskill, New York, December 23, 1885.  He married (second), February 23, 1887, Kate M. Call.  Children, five by first marriage:  1. Minnie, born at Cincinnati, October 14, 1863, died at Peekskill, May 9, 1877.  2. Ella, born at Cincinnati, May 24, 1865, died at Peekskill, January 1, 1877.  3. Carrie, born at Ludlow, Kentucky, January 26, 1868; married, October 8, 1897, Walter O. Connor; children:  Margery, born in July, 1898; Raymond, born in October 1899.  4. Susie, born at Peekskill, March 10, 1870, died there March 15, 1873.  5. Pearl Elinor, born at Peekskill, February 15, 1874; married, February 21, 1893, Theodore Wessels, of Peekskill: children: Theodore Haviland, born November 16, 1894; Eleanor, born November 12, 1897.  6. George Ward, only child of second marriage, born at Peekskill, December 12, 1887, the successor of his

divider bar

Page 474

father in the Southard Robertson Company.

(The Heleker or Hilliker Line.)

          The name is variously spelled.  John Heleker, of the town of Greenburgh, Westchester County, New York, was born in 1739, died on Varick Street, near Dominick Street, in New York City, in 1823.  During the Revolution he served as private in the regiment of Colonel James Hammond, of Westchester County, and later served as sergeant.  His name appears upon the Revolutionary Soldiers' Monument at Tarrytown.  He married (first) Elizabeth Storms, of Sleepy Hollow, and (second) Elsie Yerks, of Tarrytown.  Children of record, four by first marriage: 1. Elizabeth, baptized October 30, 1769.  2. Sarah, baptized September 3, 1774.  3. Susanna, baptized June 3, 1776.  4. Hendrick, baptized April 19, 1778.  5. Catharine, born August 19, 1792, married Albert Robertson (see Robertson I).  6. William.  7. Harmon.  8. Jane, married John wood.

Top

Mardos Memorial Library

Contact me

Transcribed by Holice B. Young

Html by D. J. Coover

This nonprofit research site is an independent affiliate of the American History and Genealogy Project (AHGP), and proud to be hosted by USGenNet, a nonprofit historical and genealogical Safe-Site Server™ solely supported by tax-deductible contributions. No claim is made to the copyrights of individual submitters, and this site complies fully with USGenNet's Nonprofit Conditions of Use

 

Copyright © 2000 - 2003 D. J. Coover All Rights Reserved Webmaster: D. J. Coover