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(I) John
Forsyth, the immigrant ancestor in America
of the Forsyth family here dealt with, was
born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1786 or 1787,
and died at Newburg, Orange County, New
York, in 1854. He was educated in the
public schools of Aberdeen and had for a
schoolmate Lord Byron. He came to this
country in 1805, intending to go to Georgia,
but some of his father's family had settled
in New York City for a time. Finally by the
advise of Professor Kemp of Columbia College
he settled in Newburg, Orange County, and
found employment there. He began to live in
Newburg in the year 1810, and he continued
in his first position until 1825, in which
year he became engaged in the building
business, joining as a partner in the firm
of Law, Beveridge & Company. His
association with this firm and business
continued until the time of his death in
1854. He had, however, various other
interests and was director of the National
Bank of Newburg, trustee of the Newburg
Academy, and was prominently connected with
the Newburg Steam Mills. He was for a long
time an elder in the Associate Reformed
Church, and was a generous and zealous
member. He married (first) Jane, eldest
daughter of John Currie; and (second) anna,
youngest daughter of John Brown. Children:
1. John, mentioned below, 2. Robert
Alexander, mentioned below, 3., James.
(II) Rev. John (2) Forsyth, D. D. LL.
D., son of John (1) Forsyth, found of
the family in America, was born December
10, 1810, in Newburg, died October 17,
1886, in the place of his birth. He
graduated from Rutgers College in 1820,
studied theology at Newburg, under Rev.
Dr. McCarrell, and later at Edinburgh
and Glasgow, Scotland, In 1833 he
returned to America and married Anna B.
Hyer, widow of Rev. Matthew L. Fullerton.
Page 286A--Picture
of John Forsyth, D.D., LL.D.
Page 287
From 1834 to 1848 he
was pastor of the Union Associate Reformed
Church of Newburg. He was then appointed
professor of Latin and History at Princeton
University, where he remained until 1852. In
1860 he was appointed Professor of English
and Literature at Rutgers College, and in
1871 he accepted the appointment of chaplain
and Professor of Law and Ethics at the
United States Military Academy at West
Point, serving until 1882, when he retired
with the rank of colonel. For twenty-four
years he was president of the Newburg Board
of Education; was a director of the Newburg
National Bank, and trustee of the Savings
Bank.
(II) Robert
Alexander, second son of John (1) Forsyth,
was born at Newburg, Orange County, New
York, in 1833, died November 25, 1873. He
was a large property owner and was well
known in financial circles in the metropolis
of New York. He was a member of the village
board of trustees in Newburg, Orange County,
and was a director of the National Bank of
Newburg. In religion he was a member of the
Reformed Dutch Church. He married charlotte
Pierson, daughter of Samuel Williams, of
Newburg. Children: 1. George W., married
Emily V. Burrell, daughter of John E.
Burrell, no children, they live in New
York. 2. Mary Williams, mentioned below.
(III) Mary
Williams, daughter of Robert Alexander and
Charlotte Pierson (Williams) Forsyth, was
born in Newburg, New York. she married
Edward Allen Wickes, and they have two
children. 1. Mary Forsyth Wickes, and 2.
John Forsyth Wickes, who married Marion
Arnett Haven, daughter of George Griswold
Haven, of New York, and they have three
children.
SMITH.
This family was one of the first
to settle in Orange County, New York,
locating there as early as 1727.
Smith cove, near the village of Highland
Falls, was named for the family, and mention
is made of that settlement in the records
of Cornwall in 1765.
(I) Clark
Smith, the progenitor of this branch of the
family, was for many years a prosperous
farmer in the county. He made his home near
Mineral springs, then in the town of Monroe,
which in 1889 became the town of Woodbury.
He owned a fine farm of three hundred acres
and was one of the most prosperous farmers
in the community. He married Hannah
Davenport. Nine children were born of this
marriage. 1. Thomas. 2. Clark, 3. Isaac,
4. Oliver, 5. Samuel R., 6. Elijah, 7.
Stephen, 8. Asahel, mentioned below, 9.
Hannah, married Joseph Barton, of Cornwall,
and had five children.
(II) Asahel,
son of Clark and Hannah (Davenport) Smith,
was born on his father's farm in Woodbury,
March 22, 1794. He was educated in the
common schools of his county, and at an
early age went to Southold, and there rented
a farm which he managed for several years.
He then settled in turner, New York, and
there purchased a farm of one hundred and
forty-four acres, the place being known in
later years as the Barr farm. He died in
Turner in 1867 He was a Whig in politics,
and held a number of town offices. He
married, January 10, 1816, Elizabeth Turner,
born May 4, 1778, and died in 1857 or 1858.
Five children: 1. Gilbert, born October 1,
1816; 2. Charles, June 23, 1819; 3. John,
July 16, 1822; 4. Hannah, December 7, 1827,
married King Rider, 5. Stephen, mentioned
below.
(III) Stephen, son of Asahel and
Elizabeth (Turner) Smith, was born on
the old farm homestead at Turner, now
Harriman, New York, June 28, 1829.
He attended the public schools o his native
county and worked on his father's farm
for several years. Soon after his
marriage in 1855 he located on the farm
owned by his wife's father, which he purchased,
and here he has made his hoe to date.
The farm covered four hundred acres and
was one of the richest in the county.
In 1908 he sold three hundred and five
acres of the farm to the Erie and New
Jersey Railroads. Mr. Smith has
met with marked success in his business
and is one of the most progressive farmers
in the county. He is connected with
a number of business enterprises.
He is a director of the Columbia Trust
Company of Newburg, New York, the Highland
Mills Telephone Company, and the Highland
Mills Cemetery Association. In politics
he is a Republican. He served for
a number of years as road commissioner.
In religion he is a member of the Highland
Mills Methodist Episcopal Church.
He married, in 1855, Mary, daughter of
Elijah and Susan (Barton) Cocks, of Monroe.
One child: Emma, born in 1858, still
living; married Charles Hand,
Page 288
Who died in 1908;
children: 1. S. Herbert, 2. Alice,
married John Thurston Jr., 3. Susie Cocks,
now a teacher in the public schools of
Hempstead, Long Island. Mrs. smith is a
granddaughter of jacob Cocks, son of
Townsend Cocks, a pioneer settled of the
town of Turner.
TRAPHAGEN. Henry
Traphagen, the first member of this family
of whom we have any definite information,
was born June 3m 1764, died September
25, 1818. He married Elizabeth ----------,
born March 16, 1775, died October 16,
1826. Children: 1. Henry,
born September 29, 1796. 2.
John H., born May 5, 1801; was twice married,
his second wife being Catherine David,
by whom he had one daughter, Harriet A.,
who married John L. Sloat, and died April
10, 1910; both were prominent workers
in Trinity Church. He was in the
lumber business in Newburg. 3.
William, born October 25, 1803.
4. William A., born October 25,
1805. 5. Uriah, born February
11, 1808. 6. Mary Ann, born
September 14, 1810. 7. Peter
H., referred to below. 8.
Catherine G., born April 25, 1818.
(II) Peter
H. son of Henry and Elizabeth Traphagen, was
born on his father's farm near Hurley,
Ulster County, New York, March 19, 1814,
died in Newburg, new York, in 1883. He
received his early education in the public
schools and held his father on the farm
until he was twelve years of age, when he
removed to Newburg, New York, and was
apprenticed to learn the cabinetmaker's
trade. He continued in this occupation for
some years until ill-health caused him to
dispose of his business and he then engaged
in carting and trucking in which work he
remained for forty years until his death.
He was a Methodist in religion, and was
class-reader and for several years also one
of the trustees of Trinity church in
Newburg. He was a member of the old Newburg
volunteer fire department from 1830 until
1849. He was a member of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows. He married Margaret
Jane Stewart. Children: 1. Mary E., died
1882, married William Wynn; child, Frank E.
2. Peter W., born 1843; married (firt)
Jennie St. John, married (second) Marion
-----------; he is now an attorney in
Jacksonville, Florida. 3. Uriah, referred
to below.
(III) Uriah,
son of Peter H. and Margaret Jane (Stewart)
Traphagen, was born in Newburg, new York,
May 25, 1847, where he is now living. He
received his early education in the public
schools, and then he learned the trade of a
machinist but did not like the work, and
removed to Brooklyn, New York, and was
employed in the flour and feed business for
a short time. He returned to Newburg and
entered the grocery business and finally
established himself in the trucking
business, in which he continued for
thirty-five years until his retirement in
1904, in which year he built the "Traphagen"
storage warehouse in Newburg, in the
management of which he is now occupied. He
is a Republican in politics. He is a member
of the American Reformed Church and is an
elder in the church in Newburg, and for a
number of years was the superintendent of
the old Gleason Mission Sunday-School. He
married (first) in 1870, Martha M. VanKuren,
died in 1889; (second) in 1901, Mary Tremper.
Children, all by first marriage: 1. Louis
B., born 1875; educated in the public
schools and entered the office of the
Newburg Ice Machine and Engine Company,
remaining for six years, then entered the
office department of Ball & Company, in
Erie, Pennsylvania; is now (1913) holding
the important position in the draughting
department of the Westinghouse machine
Company, in Pittsburgh, pennsylvania. 2.
Margaret Jane, born 1879; unmarried. 3.
Clarence, born 1881, unmarried.
TASMAN. The
surname, Tasman, is old Dutch in origin,
from Hoorn, Holland, being a compound
derived from the two works, "tas",
meaning a purse or pouch, and "man".
The great navigator of the southern Ocean,
so called, gave his name to Tasmania.
The name is not very prevalent in the
British isles, though the family bearing
it, and dealt with in this case,
emigrated from England.
(I) Thomas Tasman, the immigrant
ancestor of the Tasman family in
America here dealt with, himself the son
of Thomas Tasman, was born in London,
England, in the year 1808, died in 1887.
He was for a number of years in the undertaking
business, and later was a trunk manufacturer
in Perry Lane, London, England.
His home was called the Walmer House,
and he was living in that
Page 289
house at the time he
decided to emigrate to America. He settled
in course of time in the vicinity of Nyack,
Rockland County, New York, and was
superintendent of Oak Hill Cemetery and
undertaker in Nyack and its vicinity from
about the year 1848 until the time of his
death. He was succeeded by his son, Thomas
Frederick Tasman, to the same business, the
son acting as an assistant from the year
1872. Thomas Tasman married (first) Sarah
Bathy, born in London, England. He married
(second) Jane Myers, born at Nyack, Rockland
County, New York. Children by first
marriage: 1. Sarah Elizabeth. born in
1831, married James Lyon. 2. Matilda
Martha Susannah, born in 1833, Married John
W. Felter. 3. Thomas Frederick, mentioned
below. Children by the second marriage:
4. Maria, married John Fredericks. 5.
Rachel Ann, married James N. Dines.
(II) Thomas
Frederick, son of Thomas and Sarah (Bathy)
Tasman, was born in Port Richmond, Staten
Island, New York, July 1, 1838. He attended
the public schools of Nyack and
Blauveltville, beginning at the age of five
years, and continuing his studies there
until he was thirteen yeas of age. He was
then apprenticed to the firm of George and
John Cosley, cabinet makers, in New York
City, for a term of eight years, and at the
expiration of his term me became a master
mechanic. He then returned to Nyack and
learned the trade of boat building and
carpentry and then became connected with the
firm of A. and H. Storms & Company,
manufacturers of cedar ware in Nyack. He
then engaged with a partner in the
confectionery and ice cream business in
Nyack, and continued until 1871, when he
dissolved the partnership and joined his
father in the undertaking business, which
has been established in 1857 in Nyack. He
succeeded his father as superintendent of
Oak Hill Cemetery in 1872. He is an
Independent in politics. He was a member of
the board of education of the village of
Nyack for nine years. He is a member of
Rockland Lodge, No. 723, Free and Accepted
Masons; Onecko Lodge, No. 122, and Rockland
Encampment, Independent Order of Odd Fellows
of Nyack. He is also a charter member of
the Empire Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1,
Upper Nyack, which he joined on February 22,
1863, and is still an active member. He has
also been superintendent of the Methodist
Episcopal Sunday School for many years.
He was
married (first), November 26, 1861, in
Nyack, Rockland County, New York, by the
Rev. Dr. Day, Mary Perry, born in Nyack,
April 24, 1835, died November 3, 1905. He
married (second) June 10, 1910, Mary E.
Sturtevant, born in 1856. The children, all
by the first marriage, were: 1. Robert
Hart, born July 12, 1864, married Mae
Leonard, march 5, 1889; there has been one
son of this marriage, Harold Frederick, born
in 1891. 2. Emily Valeria, born March 13,
1869, married George Edwin Gregory. 3.
Harry Perry, mentioned below. John
Gilchrist Perry, father of Mrs. Mary (Perry)
Tasman, was born March 24, 1799, died June
24, 1893, in his ninety-fourth year. He
married Ann Gesner, born December 6, 1818,
died Aril 17, 1854. The children were: 1.
Amanda (twin), married, July 19, 1851,
Hageman Onderdonk. 2. Emily (twin),
married Aaron Sares (or Sayres), July 25,
1850. 4. Henry, married, January 9, 1859,
Olive Archer. 4. Margaret, married,
October 18, 1852, George Smith. 5. Juliet,
remained unmarried. 6. Mary, mentioned
above, who married Thomas Frederick Tasman.
7. Rachel Ann, married Robert Hart, April
18, 1860. 8. Hannah Elizabeth, married
Thomas V. W. Warner, November 22, 1865. 9.
Elmira, married James A. Christie, September
27, 1866. 10, David Coddington, married
Florence Carbront, May 6, 1878. 11. John,
married Anna Demarest, May 16, 1878.
(III) Harry Perry, second son of
Thomas Frederick and Mary (Perry) Tasman,
was born at Nyack, Rockland County, New
York, November 5, 1873. He attended
the Nyack public schools from the time
he was six years old until he arrived
at the age of eighteen years. Then he
graduated from Nyack high school with
his class. He then entered the service
of the United States Indian Department,
and remained in the department for four
years as a clerk, at the end of which
time he resigned and went to Summit, New
Jersey. there he engaged in
the musical instrument and sporting goods
business, remaining in this business one
year, when he disposed of the business
and returned to Nyack. There
he joined his father in the undertaking
and embalming business, continuing until
1895. He then entered the Champion
College of Embalming and took the full
course, graduating
Page 290
September 18, 1896,
when he received his diploma. He then
rejoined his father in business, remaining
with him until 1909, when the firm of Thomas
Frederick Tasman & son was formed. He
became a full partner in the business and is
now the active member. Through his untiring
efforts and ambition the firm is doing a
good business and stands high in the
estimation of the town. he is a Republican
in politics, but has never held any office.
He is a member of St. Paul's Methodist
Episcopal Church. He is a member of
Rockland Lodge, No. 723, Free and Accepted
Masons, Nyack; Rockland chapter, No. 204,
Royal Arch Masons, Nyack; Grant Lodge, No.
385, Knights of Pythias, Nyack. He is an
exempt member of the Mazeppa Engineer
Company, No. 2, of Nyack. He is a director
of the Nyack Building, Co-operative, Savings
& Loan Association of Nyack, and also a
charter member of the Young Men's Christian
Association, Nyack Branch.
He was
married, March 29, 1896, in Spring Valley,
New York, by the Rev. Dr. Thomas Stevens,
Myra Louisa Giles, born August 31, 1876, in
New York City. Children: 1. Harry Giles,
born January 17, 1897; he now attends Nyack
High School and will take the full term and
graduate in 1915. 2. Earl Frances, born
February 7, 1900; he attends Nyack grammar
school. John Peter Giles, father of Mrs.
Myra Louisa (Giles) Tasman, was a carriage
builder. He married Auguste Pye. Their
children were: 1. Agnes Randolph, 2.
Sarah Frances. 3.., Catherine Mae. 4.
Myra Louisa, mentioned above. 5. Hile Ann
King. 6. Andrew Albertson. 7. Rhuey
Albertson.
SMITH.
Smith is sometimes called an occupational
surname, and as such is used in its various
modifications in many countries.
The word Smith is Anglo-Saxon in origin
and comes from smitan, originally "any
one who strikes or smites with a hammer,
an artificer, a carpenter, smith or workman."
In later times Smith was applied specifically
to a worker in metals, while wyrtha, wright
was given to artificers in wood and other
materials. Besides Smith simple,
we have Smithson (the proper names of
the Earls of Northumderland, but rejected
by them in favor of Percy), to which the
Irish and Scotch Mac Gowan (meaning son
of the Smith, but generally anglicized
simply smith) corresponds, as well as
the Smithsons and Grosmiths, who,, if
they have not corrupted the spelling,
are set off against the Fabrucci or "little
Smiths" of Italian celebrity.
So general was the application of the
word "smith" that in the Saxon
Chronicle we find the expression "mighty
warsmiths" applied to valorous soldiers,
and the great enemy of mankind is called
"hell smith," though the phrase,
being also applied to Vulcan, has probably
a direct reference to smithery in the
modern sense. Blacksmith and Whitesmith
are also used as surnames, but they are
rare. The Brownsmith was one who
prepared the far-famed "brown bills"
once more formidable than the "Brown
Bess" of later times. Nasmyth
stands for nail-smith or nailer.
The arrowsmiths of old prepared the arrows,
as the Spearsmiths fashioned the spears
and lances. The Shoesmiths took
care of the horses' feet. The Billsmiths
made bills, the Shearsmiths shears and
the Knyfesmith knives. The Locksmiths
made locks and keys in the olden days
as they do today. Goldsmiths are
known in every country, and the brass
and copper workers of ancient days are
now represented in the family nomenclature
as Arsmiths and Copperwrights. "Bokellsmyths"
are mentioned in a quaint English poem
called "Cock Lorelles Bote"
in conjunction with "blacksmyths
and ferrares" and hence doubtless
the otherwise unintelligible name of Bucksmith,
who is thus proved to be next of kin to
the Bucklers. Again the obsolete
Hyldsmith is a soldier, being a compound
of the Anglo-Saxon hild, war, battle.
One William Hyldsmith dwelt in Cambridgeshire,
temps., Edward I. More then two
hundred yeas ago Verstegan asked the question:
"From whence
comes smith all be he knight or squire.
But from the smith that forgeth at the
fire?"
Yet it would appear from the addition
or the alteration of a letter that some
families are unwilling to be content with
such a genealogy for their surname.
There is little doubt, however, that all
the Smiths, Smitheses, Smithes, Smythes,
Smijths, etc., were originally possessors
of the same occupational surname.
In France the same fastidiousness prevails
on the subject and Monsieur Lefevre (a
word now supplanted by Forgeron) often
writes himself
Page 291
Lefebvre. British
statistics show that in the years 1838-54
Smiths registered for births, marriages and
deaths a number amounting to 286,307, or
about one in seventy of the total number of
persons that were registered.
(I) Thomas
smith was born September 16, 1823, in Nova
Scotia, died August 24, 1905, aged
eighty-two years. he spent part of his
youth in Nova Scotia, where he was educated.
But the larger scope offered to a career of
talent in the United States attracted him,
and he finally went to Rockland County, New
York. His business was the manufacturing of
shoes, and he built up a concern of
considerable proportions. In politics Mr.
Smith was a Republican, and he was
affiliated with the Methodist Church. He
married Hanna Penoyer (Robbins) Dutcher,
widow of Abraham Dutcher, and daughter of
Nathaniel and Elizabeth Robbins. The
children of Abraham and Hanna P. (Robbins)
Dutcher were: 1. Oliver H. 2. Lavina,
widow of Peter Anthony, of Closter, New
Jersey. Children of Thomas and Hanna P.
(Robbins-Dutcher) Smith were: 1.
Charlotte. 2. Henry Edwin, mentioned
below. 3. Evelina. 4. Washington Irving.
5. Mary Elizabeth.
(II) Henry
Edwin, eldest son of Thomas and Hanna
Penoyer (Robbins-Dutcher) Smith, was born at
Clarkston, Rockland county, New York,. March
26, 1846. He was educated in the public
schools, and started in his business career
by engaging in the express, transportation
and undertaking business. After he had
spent some years in these lines of business,
he was appointed keeper of Sing Sing prison,
when he was about twenty years old and
served in that capacity for about four
years. some time after he left that
position he was appointed clerk of the
capitol commission at Albany and served in
that position for four years, the period of
his engagement being from 1872 to 1876. He
then looked out for a complete change of
environment and secured a farm in ember,
Wyoming, where he spent two years in
ranching. When he left Wyoming he returned
to Nyack. In 1908 he was elected village
clerk of the Nyack municipality and still
holds that position. Mr. smith has also
seen military service. He enlisted December
30, 1863, in Company B, One Hundred and
Twenty-Seventh New York Volunteers. He
served one year and was then transferred to
Camp A, Fifth-fourth Veteran Volunteers of
New Jersey. He served under General Sherman
in his "march tot he sea," the capture of
Charleston and until the close of the war.
After the closing of hostilities he was
appointed captain of Company B, sixteenth
Battalion of the National Guard of the State
of New York. Mr. smith is past master of
Rockland Lodge, No. 723, Free and Accepted
Masons; past commander of the Waldron Post,
No. 82, Grand Army of the Republic, and
secretary of the Star Publishing Company of
Nyack. He was elected supervisor of
Orangetown, also appointed clerk of the
board of water commissioner and clerk of the
board of sewer commission, serving full
terms. He and his family belong to the
Methodist Church.
He married,
May 8, 1841, at Clarkstown, Rockland County,
New York, Theresa Louisa, daughter of George
F. and Emeline (Strong) Burdick. Mr.
Burdick, the father of Mrs. Theresa Louisa
(Burdick) Smith, was a manufacturer of
shoes. His other children were: 1. Lawton
M., 2. George. 3. Frances. 4. Minnie.
ESSEX.
Many of the large and important industries
of the Hudson Valley and of New York State
have been founded and carried to successful
operation by men of English birth and
mechanical training. As a nation
the English are thorough in their methods
and in the mechanical arts have long led
the world. The name of Essex in
the United state is intimately connected
with the early manufacture of needles;
the founder of this branch of the family
being also the founder of that great industry.
(I) Henry Essex was born in England,
where he was educated and learned the
trade of machinist; he also became a skilled
worker in metal; after coming to the United
States he worked in various places, finally
settling not far from New York City, where
he engaged in manufacturing. He
became interested in the manufacture of
sewing needles and was the first in the
United States to manufacture that useful
household necessity. Later in life
he became proprietor of the "Delmore
House" at Piermont, New York, which
he operated from 1886 until 1889, when
he retired. He was a Republican
in politics, and a
Page 292
member of the
Protestant Episcopal church. He married
Harriet Lane. Children: 1 William. 2.
Mary. 3. Frank. 4. Clara. 5. Ella.
6. George D.
(II)
William, son of Henry Essex, was born in
Piermont, Rockland County, New York,
September 8, 1853, died March 27, 1907. He
was educated in the public schools, and
early entered the employ of the Eric
Railroad company at Nyack, New York, as a
telegraph operator, later becoming station
agent, a position he held continuously until
his death. He was a faithful and trusted
employee, and held in high esteem by his
superior officers and by his townspeople.
He was a Republican in politics and a
devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. He married, November, 1879,
Elizabeth Looser, born in Piermont, New
York, November 4, 1861, daughter of Louis
looser. Children: 1. Harry Theodore, of
whom further. 2. Annie Regina, born May
22, 1882. 3. William Leo, February 8,
1886, now a minister of the Protestant
Episcopal Church.
(III) Harry
Theodore, eldest son of William Essex, was
born in Piermont, New York, September 4,
1880. He was educated in the public schools
of Nyack, New York, and in 1897 began
business life. He formed a connection with
the New York Life Insurance Society in that
year, continuing until 1901. In the latter
year he engaged in the real estate insurance
business in Nyack, and at the present date
(1913) is still successfully operating along
the same. He is a man of sterling business
qualities, and holds the confidence of his
fellows. He is a Republican in politics,
and is now serving his second term as town
clerk of the town of Oreangetown, New York,
being first elected in 1907, re-elected in
1909, and again in 1911. He takes active
interest in town affairs; is a member of the
Mazeppa Engine Company, No. 2, of Nyack, and
of the following fraternal orders: Rockland
Lodge, No 732, Free and accepted Masons;
Grant Lodge, No. 385, Knights of Pythias;
Onko Lodge, No. 122, Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, and court Tapanze Council, No.
225, Order of Foresters. In religious faith
he is an Episcopalian. He married,
September 19, 1906, at St. Paul's chapel,
new York City, Helen Elmira, born in
Brooklyn, new York, August 22, 1883, eldest
daughter of John Ralph and Elisabeth Ann
(Von Heer) Young. Her father, a contractor
of Brooklyn, had other children: Elizabeth
and Ralph.
STUYVESANT.
No biographical work on the historic
families of America is complete without
a full account of this famous family,
whose progenitor was Petrus Stuyvesant,
the last governor of New Netherlands under
the Dutch Regime. The family was
of ancient origin in Holland. The
name is derived from the work "stuiven,"
to stir or raise dust, and the work "sand."
Rev. Balthazar Stuyvesant, or Stuyfsant,
as the name was sometimes spelled, was
a well educated and scholarly man.
He was for some years pastor of the Reformed
Church at Berkilum, in the province of
Friesland, Holland. He later removed to
Guelderland, where he died in 1637.
The heraldic description of the family
seal is to follow: Arms, per fesse
or and gules; in chief, a hound following
a hare; in base, a stag, courant; all
proper and Courturne. Crest:
Out of a prince's coronet, or a demistag
salient and conturne proper. Motto:
Jovoe Proestat federi quam homoni.
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