|
(II) David,
son of Philip Lydig, was born 1763. He was
in later years one of the most prominent and
prosperous citizens of New York. he was
very truthfully described as "a man of good
education, carefully brought up, handsome in
person, of good sense and judgment, refined
and courteous in manner." He was a leading
member of the The Club, which consisted of
about thirty prominent citizens, which met
at the houses of the members in succession.
Among the portions of his extended estate
were mills situated at Buttermilk Falls.
This property he sold at the time of the
completion of the Erie Canal, as he foresaw
the competition of the western part of the
state, and by this he saved a large amount.
In New York he was a director of the
Merchants' Bank, which was incorporated in
1805. At various times he became the owner
of many pieces of real estate. At the
beginning of his career as a merchant he
resided at No. 21 Peck Slip, living over his
store, as was the custom of those days.
From thence he removed to No. 55 Beekman
Street. In the days of his well-merited
prosperity his home was at No. 225 Broadway,
being the second house from Barclay Street.
This house and lot he purchased from
Jonathan Fisk in 1818. The price was
twenty-five thousand two hundred and fifty
dollars. When John Jacob Astor was planning
to erect the Astor House, in 1831, he
purchased the house and lot of Mr. Lydig for
thirty-two thousand five hundred dollars.
Mr. Lydig then purchased the house No. 34
Leight Street, which was then an
aristocratic neighborhood, and here he
resided for the remainder of his life. The
newspapers of the time contained the
following notice: "Died, on Tuesday
morning, May the 16th, David
Lydig, an old and respected merchant of this
city."
We cannot
better conclude this sketch than by giving
extended extracts from the diary of Philip
Hone, the "Gentleman Mayor" of New York:
"June 18,
1839. I went out yesterday with my wife and
daughter to dine with my old friends, the
Lydigs, at West Farms, and had a truly
delightful day. The beautiful grounds on
Bronx river are in fine order, and such a
profusion of roses and other flowers, I have
scarcely ever seen. We had an excellent
dinner, Lydig's fine old wines, and
abundance of delicious strawberries, with a
welcome hearty as the one and unstinted as
the other. Mr. and Mrs. Livingston, with
some of their family were of the party.
Lydig and Suydam are both in indifferent
health, and the latter dreadfully hipped and
prone to water drinking. But our gossiping
about old times, and good cheer and lovely
scenery, set the old gentlemen on their legs
for the time being, and both, I am
persuaded, went to bed much better than they
have been for a twelvemonth. So much for
the innocent enjoyments, which this world,
had as we think it, affords.
"May 16, 1840. Another link is broken in
the chain of social relations. Another
warning given of the passing away of my
generation. My old and valued friend, David
Lydig, died this morning at six o'clock. He
had been in bad health the last two years,
but had rallied of late, and appeared to be
gaining strength, until his last illness.
He died in the seventy-sixth year of his
age, much older then I, but an intimate
friend and associate for nearly forty
years. He was one of a set who, although my
seniors, were very intimate companions about
the time of my entrance into society, and
with whom I
Page 266
continued in
pleasant association until they drifted away
one by one, and now I am about the only one
left. How many good dinners I have eaten at
poor Lydig's expense, and how many hours I
have passed in his society. He as a just
man, prudent and careful in the management
of his affairs, unexceptionable in his
deportment, with some old-fashioned
aristocratic notions, an exceedingly good
liver, fond of old wines, which, however, he
drank in moderation, but less prudent in the
enjoyment of the other pleasures of the
table. He was, in short, a gentleman of the
old school, a race which is nearly extinct,
so, as the old ones decayed and died off,
their places are supplied by an undergrowth
less hardy, majestic and graceful."
Mr. Lydig
married Catherine Mesier, a member of one of
the oldest Dutch families, of New York.
Their child, Philip Mesier, of whom further.
(III) Philip
Mesier, only child of David and Catherine (Mesier)
Lydig, was born in 1799. In 1824 he entered
into partnership with his father under the
firm name of David Lydig & Son, their place
of business being at No. 160 South Street.
For nearly a half a century he was connected
with nearly every bank and insurance company
in the city, and he was recognized as one of
the most prominent business men of his
time. Among the various pieces of property
owned by Mr. Lydig were the famous Lydig
mills on the Bronx River. In 1680 the town
of Westchester granted to William Richardson
the privilege of erecting mills at this
place. They afterwards passed into the hands
of Everet Byvanck, and were known for long
years as "Byvanck's Mills." His widow sold
them to William Provoost in 1711, "three
grist mills and a saw mill." He sold them
to Stephen De Lancey, and from his heirs,
they were purchased by David Lydig. Through
the estate of Mr. Lydig the Bronx ran for
nearly a mile, and it was one of the finest
country residences in Westchester County.
This tract is now the Zoological Gardens.
Philip Mesier
Lydig married Katherine, eldest daughter of
John Suydam, a member of one oldest
Knickerbocker families. They were the
parents of seven children: 1. Philip
Mesier, of whom further. 2. David, married
Hannah Tompkins, and is now living in New
York. 3. Maria, married Judge Charles P.
Daly. 4. Margaret Jane, wife of Carl Otto;
has three children: Philip, Kate, Emma, wife
of Henry Hoyt, who is now living at Sag
Harbor, Long Island, having inherited the
estate of Hon. Charles P. Daly. 5.
Katherine Matilda, married Judge John R.
Brady, and has children: May M., wife of
Albert Stevens, deceased, of the famous
family of Stevens Point, New Jersey, and
Katherine , married Sidney Harris, and has
one child, Katherine C. 6. Rosalie, wife
of John J. Staples. 7. Florence, married
Frank K. Sturgis, ex-president of the New
York Stock Exchange.
(IV) Colonel
Philip Mesier (2) Lydig, eldest son of
Philip Mesier (1) and Katherine (Suydam)
Lydig, was born in New York City, in 1837.
Graduating from the Columbia law School in
1861, he entered upon the practice of his
profession, but the outbreak of the Civil
War changed the tenor of his life. Among
the first to enlist in the service of his
country, he was commissioned captain and
aide-de-camp, United States Volunteers,
January 9, 1862, and served on the staff of
Brigadier-General J. G. Parke, commanding
the Third Brigade in Burnside' Expedition,
and was attached to the Third Division,
Department of North Carolina. In this
position he remained until July, 1862. He
was then with the Third Division of the
Ninth Army Corps of the Army of the Potomac
to September of the same year, and was with
General Parke of the staff of General
Burnside from September to November, 1862,
and continued under the same commander until
March, 1864. On March 18, 1862, he was
commissioned major and assistance
adjutant-general, United States Volunteers
to August, 1864, and on the staff of General
Parke to April, 1865. On August 1, 1864, he
was brevetted lieutenant-colonel of United
States volunteers "for gallant and
meritorious service in the battles of the
Wilderness, Spottsylvania and Bethesda
Church, and during the operations before
Petersburg," and for similar services before
Fort Sedgwick, Virginia, he was brevetted
colonel of volunteers, April 2, 1865. His
record during the war is a long and
honorable list of faithful and meritorious
services, of which the following are most
conspicuous. Burnside's expedition to
Hatteras Inlet and Roanoke Island, North
Carolina, January, 1862; capture of
Roanoke island, February 7-8 (received
special mentioned for gallantry); attack on
Newberne, March 14, (again mentioned in
General Parke's report); attack on Camden,
April 19; capture of Fort Macon, April 25;
Maryland campaign,
Page 267
September, October;
battle of South Mountain, September 14;
Antietam, September 16-17; Fredericksburg,
December 11-15 (received Special mention in
report of General Burnside for courage and
efficiency); Burnside's second movement of
Ninth Army Corps to Kentucky, March, 1863;
member of the military commission to try
Clement C. Vallandighan for treason, May,
1863; siege of Vicksburg, June 17 to July 4;
siege of Jackson, July 10-17; East Tennessee
campaign, August 22 to October 17; capture
of Cumberland Gap September 10; Knoxville
campaign, November 4 to December 23. In all
these important movement he was repeatedly
mentioned for courage and efficiency.
Rapidan, Virginia, May-June, 1864; battles
of the Wilderness, May 5-7; Spottsylvania,
May 8-11; Cold Harbor, June 1-2; Bethesda
Church, June 2-3; siege of Petersburg, June
16, 1864 to April 2, 1865; Fort Stedman,
March 25l; fall of Petersburg, April 2;
pursuit of Lee and his army, April 3-9. In
these he was often mentioned in corps
reports for courage and faithful service.
Before Petersburg at the time of the failure
by Burnside to cause a breach by a gigantic
mining operation, known as the crater,
colonel Lydig was the officer selected to
ride from the federal lines into the crater
to order back the troops who were being
slaughtered without a change of
retaliation. On April 25, 1865, he resigned
from the Army and was honorably mustered out
of the service. Colonel Lydig, after an
honorable and useful life, died in New York,
1868.
Colonel
Philip Mesier Lydig married, October, 1865,
Pauline, daughter of A. and Georgianna
Louise (Coster) Hecksher. Their only child
was Philip Mesier, of whom further.
(V) Captain
Philip Mesier (3) Lydig, son of Colonel
Philip Mesier (2) and Pauline (Hecksher)
Lydig, was born on the Lydig estate on
Bronx River, August 16, 1867. He entered
Harvard University, graduating in 1889.
During the war with Spain he was
commissioned captain by president McKinley,
May 17, 1897, and served as chief
commissary, artillery brigade, and as chief
and purchasing commissary at Honolulu,
Hawaii, and was sent before his resignation
took effect to France to make a report, for
which he received the thanks of the war
department. he resigned July 1, 1899.
Returning to New York, Mr. Lydig engaged in
business as a a banker and broker, being the
senior partner of the firm of Lounsbery &
Company, with offices on Brad Street, New
York, and in Montreal, Canada. He is a
member of the New York Stock Exchange, and
of various clubs, including the
Knickerbocker, Union, Metropolitan, Racquet
and Tennis, South Side Sportsmen and the
Metropolitan of Washington. He is a member
of the Society of Foreign Wars, Military
Order of the Loyal Legion, Spanish-American
War Society, and Holland Lodge, No. 8, Free
and Accepted Masons, of New York. Captain
Lydig married, 1902, Rita de Alba de Acosta,
daughter of Ricardo and Micaela Hernandes y
(de Alba) de Acosta. Mrs. Lydig's father
was a well-known merchant of Havana and New
York.
ERSKINE. The
family name of Erskine is also found in the
forms of Erskin, Ayerskin, Harskin, Earskin,
and Harkin. Lower says that the name was
derived from the barony of Erskine on the
river Clyde in Scotland, and that it was
first assumed by Henry of Erskine about the
year 1220. On the other hand, the name was
probably applied to the barony, which is
situated in Renfrewshire, by an early Celtic
clan, according to the Gaelic fashion, which
usually gave places names derived from their
own patronymics or family names, in
contradistinction to the custom among the
later Norman, who derived their names mostly
from places with which they were connected.
Possibly the custom arose among the Celts of
applying to places the name they themselves
bore or the name the head of the clan bore,
from the fact that in those early times
places had no names at all. These are
easily recognized when it is recollected
that the earliest civilization of Europe
when history dawned was that of the Celts,
under whom Europe formed a loose Celtic
empire, of which Gaelic was the language.
The Gauls whom Caesar encountered in France
were Gaels, and Gallia or Gaul or France was
the land of the Gael. The probability is,
therefore, that Erskine was first a Celtic
clan name, then the name of a place, and
finally became a Norman-Celtic patronymic.
O'Hart in his "Pedigrees" de-
Page 268
scribes the Erskine
arms as: Ar. A pale sable a mullet on a
crescent for diff., and give the following
portion of the Erskine pedigree: (I) John
Erskin (modernized Erskine), Earl of Mar.
(II) Alexander, his third son. (III) Sir
James(his son), Knight of the Bath at King
James' Coronation, died in Dublin, March 5,
1636; married mary, daughter and co-heir of
Adam Erskin, of Chambuskeneth; was buried in
ST. Michael's Church, Dublin. (IV) Robert
Erskin, married Anne Murray.
(I)
Christopher Erskin, or Erskine, the
immigrant ancestor of the Erskine family,
was born in Ireland in the year 1701, died
at Abingdon (Bridgewater), Massachusetts,
April 19. 1775. He spent his young in
Ireland, and came to this country unmarried
when a young man in 1725. It had been
supposed that his ancestors were kinsmen of
the earls of Mar, whose family was also
Erskine, and that they lived sometimes in
Ireland, and sometimes in Scotland,
according to the swaying of the fortunes of
the cause with which they were connected.
There is not very much in the records, nor
has much been carried to us by family
tradition indicating his business or
profession. It is very likely that he
engaged in the pioneer work of the time,
which was mainly agricultural. Possibly he
landed at Plymouth, and after visiting
several places with a view to settlement,
finally pitched his tent at Abingdon,
married, and made his home there for the
remainder of his life. He married, at
Abingdon (Bridgewater), Massachusetts,
Susanna, born in 1714, died August 19, 1789,
daughter of Gain or Gains Robinson.
Christopher was then twenty-eight years old,
and his wife was then but fifteen. She
lived for fourteen years after her husband,
an slabs to the memory of both are still
said to be standing in the old burial ground
at Bridgewater. Gains or Gain Robinson was
also from Ireland, and landed at Plymouth,
lived at Braintree, Pembroke, and finally at
East Bridgewater, and had recommendations
from churches in Ireland, Braintree and
Pembroke. A passage in the "History of
Bridgewater," by Nahum Mitchell, says of
Him: "He also had by a former wife a son,
Archibald, and a daughter, Susanna, who
married Christopher Erskins, an Irishman,
who settled in Abingdon." Children of
Christopher and Susanna (Robinson) Erskin:
1. Mary, born at Abingdon, Massachusetts,
in 1730. 2. John, mentioned below. 3.
Christopher, Bridgewater, Massachusetts,
1734. 4. Jeremiah, 1736.
(II) John
Erskine, son of Christopher and Susanna
(Robinson) Erskin or Erskine, was born at
Abingdon, Massachusetts, in 1732. He
married, and his children were: 1. John,
mentioned below. 2. Elizabeth, born in
1755. 3. Christopher, 1758. 4. James,
born at Abingdon, 1761.
(III) John
(2), son of John (1) Erskine was born in
1752, at Abingdon or Riceland, Oswego
County, New York, where he was buried,
1834. John was in the Revolutionary war and
drew a pension from the government from 1831
to 1843, the year he died. He went to
Winchester at an early age and there he
married and settled down, remained for a
great many years. He was a lieutenant and
was a selectman in 1796. Children, not in
order of birth: 1. Susan, June 3, 1782.
2. Phebe. 3. John, mentioned below. 4.
Matilda, 5. Deborah. 6. Walter. 7. Zuba.
(IV) John
(3), son of John (2) Erskine was born in
Winchester, New Hampshire, November 22,
1780. He married a woman of the baptismal
name of Phoebe, though her surname is
unknown. Children: 1. Walter, mentioned
below. 2. Gilman, born May 28, 1799. 3.
Rollina, December 25, 1801. 4. George,
December 18, 1813.
(V) Walter,
son of John (3) and Phoebe Erskine, was born
at Winchester, New Hampshire, about 1798.
He received a good education, became a
doctor by profession, but died when he was
little over twenty-five years old. He
married Margaret Bowen.
(VI)
Massena, son of Walter and Margaret (Bowen)
Erskine, was born at Royalston,
Massachusetts, December 19, 1819, died at
Racine, Wisconsin, May 20, 1894. His name
has often been corrupted into Messina, the
name of a famous city in the isle of Sicily,
but he was named after one of Napoleon's
celebrated generals, by his father, and that
name afterwards became well known throughout
Wisconsin, when he entered into the public
life of that state. His was the only branch
of the family that left Massachusetts after
John (2) though lately members have settled
in New York. Massena Erskine removed from
Massachusetts in 1851 to Racine, one of the
four original partners in business as J. I.
Case Threshing Machine Company. He
Page 269
was a very
public-spirited man and was identified with
a great many movements which aimed at
municipal progress, holding many position of
trust in the city of Racine, and in the
state of Wisconsin. He was several times
major of Racine. Mr. Erskine was a
Republican in politics, and in regard to
religious faith was reared under his
stepfather, who was a Universalist. Later
he was a trustee in the Presbyterian Church
of Racine. He was a man of great business
acumen, and possessed of considerable
inventive ability. He had to his credit a
great many inventions for the improvement of
the threshing machine. He was fond of
travel, though he finally settled down in
Racine. He lived first in Lexington,
Massachusetts, then in Westford,
Massachusetts; from 1849 to 1851 he was in
California, and finally went to Racine. He
married, at Natick, Middlesex County,
Massachusetts, Susan, born at Natick,
possibly at South Natick or Little South,
Middlesex County, Massachusetts, August 16,
1820, died at Racine, Wisconsin June 4,
1901, daughter of William and Hannah
(Leland) Perry. Children: 1. Susan Eliza,
born in 1843, died in 1845. 2. Freeman
Whitney, born January 7, 1845, died at
Memphis, Tennessee; was in the Civil War.
3. Charles Edwin, mentioned below. 4.
Emma, born at Natick, Massachusetts, living
at Racine, Wisconsin; married, at Racine,
November 14, 1876, William Howard Crosby.
5. Flora Albertine, born at Racine,
Wisconsin; married Herbert Edwin Miles, of
Racine.
(VII)
Charles Edwin, son of Massena and Susan
(Perry) Erskine, was born at Westford,
Massachusetts, December 26, 1846, died at
Kenosha, Wisconsin, July 10, 1908. He
received his education in the high school at
Racine, and later engaged in business. He
was a Presbyterian in religion, and was
deacon of the First Presbyterian Church of
Racine. He lived for some years art
Westford, and Natick, Massachusetts. Later
he lived at Tryon, North Carolina, in
winter, and at Racine, Wisconsin in Summer.
He married at Racine, Emma, daughter of
Alfred and Olive (Child) Payne.
(VIII)
Harold Perry, son of Charles Edwin and Emma
(Payne) Erskine, was born at Racine,
Wisconsin, June 5, `879. He received his
preparatory education at Pasadena,
California, and then at Philips Academy,
Andover, Massachusetts, and was graduated
from Williams College in 1902, where he
belonged to the Delta Psi Society He was
two years at Columbia University, and was
for three years at the Ecole des Beaux Arts,
Paris. He is an architect by profession,
and started in partnership with Wendell P.
Blagden, and Elliott W. Hazzard. Already
this firm has several buildings to the
credit of its members. They have built the
Springs Building at 29-31 West thirty-eighth
Street; the Schneider anderson Building at
1618 West Forty-sixth Street; two police
stations for the city, and the Lord and
Taylor Building at Fifth Avenue and
Thirty-eighth and Thirty Ninth Streets. In
1910 and 1911 Mr. Erskine traveled in East
Central Africa, China and other places,
shooting big game, and has made a collection
of antelope, lion, rhinoceros, and buffalo
trophies. He belongs to the St. Anthony
Club. He is an independent in politics, a
Presbyterian in religion.
VAN NOSTRAND.
The surname Van Nostrand is manifestly
Holland-Dutch in origin and became widely
known in the New Netherlands in the
seventeenth century. The records of the Van
Nostrand family are to be found in the
archives of New York, Albany, Jamaica, and
Oyster Bay. The name had a number of
variations, such as Noorstrand, Oorstrand,
and the like. The family has always been of
the substantial class, and in late years has
given to the country many men of great
ability in commercial and profession life.
(I) Jacob
Jansen Van Nostrandt, first American
ancestor of the new York family of that
name, emigrated to this country in 1638 and
settled in the colony of Rensselaerwyck,
where jacob Jansen Van Nostrandt, May 21,
1652, took the oath to the patroon. That
immediate locality was in the south eastern
corner of the now Saratoga county, at a
place called "Halve Maen" or Half Moon, as
his daughter Jannetje on the marriage
records stated that she was born there.
Jacob Jansen Van Nostrandt was by occupation
a brewer. He obtained a patent for land in
Albany in 1652 as Jacob Jansen Van Nostrandt
the brewer; and had a patent for a lot on
the east side of Bever and South Pearl
streets nine rods by eight and a half. This
plot seems to have been divided into three
Page 270
Smaller parcels,
numbers one, two and three. In 1680 Jacob
Jansen Van Nostrandt conveyed number one to
Hendrick Gerritse Vander Muelen. On the
same block on Beaver Street, and at the
other corner adjoining an alley, on lots
five and six, was his brewery, which he sold
in 1654 to Rutger Jacobsen, alias Rut Van
Woert, viz.: Jacob Jansen Van Noorstran's
brewery and lot in Beaver street, except the
Horse Mill and brewer's tools (nearly
opposite the present Middle Dutch Church).
In the year 1656 he was appointed inspector
of beer barrels. The massacre of the Esopus
occurred June 7, 1663, when Jacob Jansen Van
Nostrandft, the brewer, appears to have been
present. In August and November of that
year he was present at the two baptisms in
Kingston as Getuigenis. In 1676 he signed a
petition of the inhabitants of Esopus for a
ministry. The Dutch church was founded in
Beverwyck, or now Albany, about 1640, and
was the only one not of Esopus having a
permanent ministry until 1700, save that of
Schenectady. He Married, February 20, 1650,
Jennetje Jacobse, daughter of Aaron
Jacobsen, widower, who married, August 16,
1685, Elizabeth Volvinck, widow.
Unfortunately the records of the Albany
church previous to 1684 are missing, or some
particulars of the baptism of his children
might have been found. From the records of
the Dutch church of Kingston and New York he
appears to have had issue: 1. Jan Jacobse,
married Agniette ---------. 2. Jacob
Jacobse, married Annetje Creesvelt. 3.
Aaron Jacobse, mentioned below. 4.
Jannetje Jacobse, married Jacob Hoogtelling.
5. Marie Jacobse, married A. V. Bremen.
6. Agniet Jacobse, and possibly Peter
Jacobsen, the miller of Esopus.
(II) Aaron
Jacobse Van Nostrand, son of Jacob Jansen
and Janetje Jacobse (Jacobsen) Van Nostrandt,
was born in Albany, and lived in the town of
Hempstead. In 1693 he was on the assembly
roll in Flatbush. In March, 1695, he bought
two house plots from Gerardus Beekman, which
he sold May 27, 1704, to Johannes Jansen.
In 1678 he was in the census and in there
described as having five children. April
14, 1707, he and Aeltje were witnesses in
Jamaica at the baptism of a granddaughter,
by name Elizabeth Alburtis. In august,
1708, they were also witnesses in Jamaica at
the christening of Jacob Alburtis. Aaron J.
filed, may 17, 1714, the "ear-mark" for his
cattle. There is a records, too, dated June
17, 1714, of a letter written by Will Lake
to George Clark requesting him to pay Aaron
J. Van Nostrand for the construction of a
well in some part of the neighborhood. From
another record it is ascertained that Aaron
J. was a member, September 17, 1715, of
Captain Treadwell's trained band for the
vicinity of Hempstead. June 2, 1726, he was
of Foster's Meadow as per H. T. R. In
February, 1729, he and Geerty were witnesses
at the baptism of Aaron, son of his son John
and Jammatie Ryerson, and there is a record
that he subscribed three pounds ten
shillings towards the building of the church
at Success. In 1732 his "sit place" was
transferred to his son Abraham, and in 1762
the "vrou's" place of Aaron J. was
transferred to her daughters, Martie and
Elyzebet. His will was dated June 12, 1745,
proved June 16, 1751. He married (first),
September 4, 1687, in Kingston, Aeltje Van
Steenwick, born in Kingston, daughter of one
Albert, died after September 12, 1708, and
(second) Geerty von Gelder , who survived
him. Children of first wife: 1. Jannetje,
married James Alburtis. 2. Jacob, of
Jamaica and Wolver Hollow, who did not
marry. 3. Albert, married (first) Echberte
Hendricksen, and (second) Antje De Mott.
4. John, mentioned below. 5. Aaron,
married Sarah Ammerman. 6. Moses, married
Abigail ------------ 7. Ann, married John
Wortman. 8. Gertry, married Joost Duryea.
9. Hillecke, married Abraham Hendricksen.
10. William, married Catherine De Voe.
Children by second wife: 11. Alche,
baptized in 1710 in Jamaica. 12. Abraham,
baptized June 25, 1711, in Jamaica. 13.
Isaac, married Fransentje. 14, Evert,
married Phebe Skidmore. 15. David, married
may Deen. 16. Mary, baptized January 17,
1720, in Jamaica. 17. Yornace, baptized
November 28, 1725.
(III) John,
son of Aaron J. and Aeltje (Van Steenwick)
Von Nostrand, was born in Flatbush, April
23, 1702. He lived for a number of years at
Hempstead, where he was by trade a tanner.
He was mentioned third in his father's
will. In his own will, dated October 14,
1749, and proved May 10, 1753, he gives to
his eldest son, Aaron, the great bible and
to Cornelius his gun. His wife, his
father-in-law, Cornelius Ryerson, and his
son, Aaron, were the executors. On November
17, 1720, he is recorded as filing the
"ear-mark" for his cattle. On April 4,
1731, he sub-
Page 271
scribed two pounds five
shillings towards the cost of building the
church at Success. There is a record of his
buying a parcel of land at Foster's Meadow
on May 1, 1744. He was a devout man and was
regular in attending the services in his
church. He was well looked up to in the
community and his services as a turner was
much in request. In addition to his
ordinary occupation he engaged in farming
and was the owner of considerable land and
cattle. Children: 1. Aaron, married
(first) Susannah Cornell, and (second)
Elizabeth Ryder (see Brinckerhoff). 2.
Cornelius, married (first) a girl whose
first name was Jemime, but whose surname
remains unknown, (second) Catherine Dorlant,
(third) Millicent Betts. 3. Alehe, married
John Beedel. 4. Sarah, married a man of
the name of Flowers. 5. Abraham, remained
unmarried. 6. Martin, mentioned below.
7. Jannetje, married Whitehead Skidmore.
8. Antie, married Will Watts. 9. John,
married (first) Helena (Eleanor) Lefferts,
(second) Sarah Bishop. 10. George, married
Millethe Durland.
(IV) Martin,
son of John and Lemetje or Lameche (Ryerson)
Van Nostrand, was born February 19, 1738,
died August 13, 1816, aged seventy-eight, at
the house of his son, Abraham. He was a
shoemaker by trade, though he seems to have
engaged ina number of other occupations. He
enlisted in a company of Provincials, April
12, 1758, and in the account given is
described as being five feet eight inches in
height, of a fair complexion, born in queens
County, his age at the time being twenty
years and his occupation that of a
shoemaker. On October 16, 1776, he signed
the petition to General Howe for the
restoration to royal favor. On May 30,
1778, Jacob and Martin Von Nostrand,
sergeants under Captain timothy Cornell,
demanded from Silas Hicks eight shillings
for his not going to help building the fort
in Brooklyn, and took a pair of andirons
worth fourteen shillings. Later he was one
of the vestrymen present at the indiction of
Thomas L. Moore, St. George's, Hempstead,
and he is also recorded as being one of the
officials of the same church in 1780 and the
years following up to 1789. He married,
July 31, 1764, Sarah Losee, born August 17
or 20, 1749, died March 8, 1833, aged
eight-three years six months and nineteen
days. There are monuments of the family in
Greenwood Cemetery and one the monument of
Sarah (Losee) Van Nostrand the name of the
family is written "Noorstrant." Children:
1. Antie, married John Rider. 2. Jan,
born December 10, 1767, baptized March 13,
1768, in success, died young. 3. Phebe,
married simeon Pettit. 4. Losee, married
Betsy ---------------. 5. Aaron married
Sarah Van Nostrand. 6. John, married
Abigail Horton. 7. Martha, married Aert
Middagh. 8. Mary, born April 15, 1787,
married Gershom Fredericks. 9. James,
mentioned below. 10. Abraham, married
(first) Amy Smith, (second) a woman who
first name was Clara, and (third) Sarah
MacManus (nee Weeks).
(V) James,
son of Martin and Sarah (Losee) Van Nostrand,
was born September 15, 1794, died March 18,
1861. He was a wholesale grocer in New York
and was also president of the Merchant's
Exchange Bank. He was successful in
business, gaining a competency when he was
already quite young in commercial life. His
will, dated April 3, 1855, and proved April
22, 1861, mentioned all his children. He
married (first) February 1, 1825, Sarah
Uranid Greenwood, daughter of Isaac, died
October 31, 1826, .aged twenty-one years
three months and five days, (second) Ann
Matilda Carpenter, (third) Martha Jane
Seymour, who survived him. Child by first
marriage: 1. Sarah Uranid, died June 10,
1827. Child by second marriage: 2. James
Henry, mentioned below. Children by third
marriage: 3. Seymour, who was United
States consul in Saxony for many years and
died at Elizabeth, New Jersey, aged
fifty-nine years, unmarried. 4. Lily or
Elizabeth, unmarried. 5. Marshall R.
|
