Arnold A Munger

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1920, , Carter, Montana, USA
• Residence: 1930, Belle Fourche, Butte, South Dakota, USA

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1880, Fairbury, Jefferson, Nebraska, USA
• Residence: 1900, Garfield & Holt Precincts, Keya Paha, Nebraska, USA
• Residence: 1910, Augusta, Tripp, South Dakota, USA
• Residence: 1917, , Carter, Montana, USA
• Residence: 1920, , Carter, Montana, USA
• Residence: 1930, Belle Fourche, Butte, South Dakota, USA

Paul married Viola Elizabeth Porter on 25 Aug 1897 in Springview, Keya Paha, Nebraska, USA. Viola was born on 17 Nov 1880 in Fontanelle, Adair, Iowa, USA; died on 4 Jun 1961 in Weiser, Washington, Idaho, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1900, Garfield & Holt Precincts, Keya Paha, Nebraska, USA
• Residence: 1910, Augusta, Tripp, South Dakota, USA
• Residence: 1930, Belle Fourche, Butte, South Dakota, USA

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: , May, Illinois, USA
• Residence: 1850, Pittsford, Hillsdale, Michigan, USA
• Residence: 1860, May, Lee, Illinois, USA
• Military: 1864; Enlisted in 7th Regiment Illinois Cavalry, Co C
• Residence: 2 Jul 1872, , Saginaw, Michigan, USA; Land Patent
• Residence: 1 May 1878, , Lake, Illinois, USA
• Residence: 1880, Fairbury, Jefferson, Nebraska, USA
• Residence: 1900, Springview, Keya Paha, Nebraska, USA
• Residence: 1910, Keya Paha, Keya Paha, Nebraska, USA

Notes:

Burial: Burton, Keya Paha County, Nebraska

From ancestry.com:
Original data: Record of service of Michigan volunteers in the Civil War, 1861-1865. Kalamazoo, Mich.: Ihling Bros. & Everard, 1903

Record of service of Michigan volunteers in the Civil War, 1861-1865

pg 8_100
Munger, Seth. Enlisted in company K, Eight Infantry, Feb. 20, 1864, at
Titabawassee, for 3 years, age 20. Mustered Feb. 20, 1864. Wounded in action, June 10, 1864. Discharged for disability at Detroit, Mich., Dec. 16, 1864. Present residence, California, Mich.

Rufus married Louisa Ann Bundy on 2 Oct 1872 in Fairbury, Jefferson, Nebraska, USA. Louisa (daughter of William Henry Bundy and Marietta Brainard) was born on 18 Jan 1854 in , , New York, USA; died on 13 Jul 1941 in Gregory, Gregory, South Dakota, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Lana Bundy
• Residence: 1860, Fairhaven, Carroll, Illinois, USA
• Residence: 1870, Fairhaven, Carroll, Illinois, USA
• Residence: 1880, Fairbury, Jefferson, Nebraska, USA
• Residence: 1900, Springview, Keya Paha, Nebraska, USA
• Residence: 1920, Keya Paha, Keya Paha, Nebraska, USA
• Residence: 1930, Keya Paha, Keya Paha, Nebraska, USA

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1833, , Erie, Pennsylvania, USA; Moved to Erie, PA
• Residence: 1835, Pittsford, Hillsdale, Michigan, USA; Patented land and moved family to Michigan
• Residence: 1840, Pittsford, Hillsdale, Michigan, USA
• Residence: 1850, Pittsford, Hillsdale, Michigan, USA

Notes:

JOHN VELIE MUNGER, a prominent and well-to-do farmer of Hudson Township, was born at Stillwater, Saratoga Co., N.Y., July 17, 1829. He is a son of John and Maria (Velie) Munger, both of whom were natives of the Empire State, and pioneers of the wilds of Michigan, having come to this State when it was yet a Territory, in 1835.

The father of the subject of this sketch was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., May 26, 1796, while yet that part of the State was but sparsely settled and largely covered with primeval forests. When he was some four years old, the family removed to Erie County. Pa., where they made their home until 1835. at which time his father started for the Territory of Michigan, where he hoped to build up a new home in the wilderness. He was accompanied by his wife and eight children, including our subject, and came by way of the lake to Toledo, Ohio. On arriving at the latter place, he left his family and started on foot for his future home in Hillsdale County. He had visited the Bean Creek Valley the year previous, and had entered some Government land on section 36 in what is now Pittsford Township. On his arrival in Hillsdale County, he procured a yoke of oxen and a cart, and returning to Toledo for his family and house hold goods, brought them to their new home. His land at that time was thickly covered by the forest that had grown and luxuriated for centuries undisturbed. Knowing that it would take some time to clear enough of it to raise a crop to support his family, he rented a tract of improved land, on which they lived for that year. During this time he disencumbered a portion of his own place of its leafy covering, and prepared the land for cultivation. Putting up a log cabin in 1836 he therein installed his family, and entering upon the arduous duties of a frontier farmer patiently endured the hardships and privations attendant on a pioneer life.

On this farm, which he had literally hewn out of the forest, the father resided until 1855, when he sold out and removed to Amboy Township, Lee Co., Ill., where he purchased 160 acres of prairie land of the Government, and commenced to break up a new farm, but two years later was called upon by the Angel of death to cross the dark river. His wife, who was before marriage Miss Maria Velie, was also a native of Stillwater, Saratoga Co., N. Y., and first drew the breath of life on the 25th of May. 1804; she died in Amboy, Ill., in 1875.

John V. Munger, the subject of this sketch, was but six years oid when he came to Michigan with his parents, and is a living witness of the great changes that have taken place since his early days. The deer, wolves, beers and wild turkeys that were so plentiful here in his boyhood, have entirely vanished, and the forest wilderness has given place to beautiful farms and thrifty towns and villages. He remained beneath the parental roof, attending the pioneer schools and assisting his father in his agricultural labors, until he was some nineteen years old, when he commenced an apprenticeship to the trade of carpenter and joiner. Having completed that trade, he has followed it ever since, with the exception of about ten years, when he was engaged in the manufacture of extension tables. In 1855 he removed to the village of Hudson, and purchasing a house on West Main street, took up his residence therein, and remained there until 1876, when he moved into a fine brick mansion which he had just erected. He made this latter house his home until February, 1888, when he commenced agricultural pursuits upon the Kenyon farm, where he is now living.

The subject of this sketch has been twice married. April 21. 1855, he entered into a matrimonial alliance with Miss Emily Allen, a native of Seneca County, N.Y., and the daughter of Robert Allen, also a Native of the Empire State. Her parents had settled in Hillsdale County in 1855, locating in Jefferson Township on a farm, and sometime subsequently removed to Reading Township, where they died. Mrs. Munger was called away by death April 25, 1881, leaving one child, Edith, now the now the wife of Lewis Graham of Wheatland Township. The second marriage of Mr. Munger took place May 10, 1882, at which time he espoused Miss Louise M. Kenyon. She is a native of this township and county, having been born on the farm where she now lives Feb. 15, 1840, and is a daughter of Sylvester and Eliza (Goodrich) Kenyon. Her father was one of the earliest settlers of Hudson Township, having located here in 1834. He was born in Hinesburg, Vt., Dec, 4, 1808, and grew to manhood among the green hills and valleys of his native state. May 11, 1834, he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza, a daughter of George and Clamania (Lee) Goodrich, who was born in Williston, Vt., Feb. 22, 1814. On the 14th of May following his marriage. Sylvester Kenyon started with his young bride for the West, to seek in the wilderness a new home. He came by way of the Erie Canal and the Lake to Detroit, and thence by team to Tecumseh, Lenawee County. Arriving at the embryo village, he left his wife and started on foot for the Bean Creek Valley, and found at Lanesville, now Hudson, but one log cabin, then occupied by Beriah Lane. Mr. Kenyon purchased a tract of land of Mr. Lane, adjoining the present site of the village, but after paying for it, he had but a few shillings left in his pocket, and therefore returned to Tecumseh, and worked on the territorial road to earn money enough to carry them through the winter.

Before the snow began to fly, Mr. K. removed to his place, where he had erected a log cabin, and during the winter felled some of the timber that covered the ground. The next season he raised a crop of corn and potatoes among the logs and stumps, which he had not yet time to destroy. After bringing his place to a high state of cultivation, he remained upon it until his death, which occured March 29, 1879. Mrs. Eliza (Goodrich) Kenyon died Dec. 24, 1879, nine months after the death of her husband. They left three children, the eldest, Mrs. G.G. Williams, now a resident of Vanderbilt, Otsego Co., Mich., but still owning the east half of the Kenyon homestead; Mrs. J.V. Munger, of Hudson, and Mr. Martin Kenyon, now a resident of Pittsford, Hillsdale Co., Mich.

Mrs. Kenyon died on the homestead. Mrs. Clamania Goodrich was born in Wells, Vt., June 16, 1790, and after her marriage settled with her husband at Williston, where they remained until 1836. At that time they started for the Territory of Michigan, by way of Lake Champlain to Troy, N.Y.,
and from there by Erie Canal and the Lake to Toledo. From the latter place they proceeded by team to Pittsford Township in Hillsdale County, where they settled upon a farm, where her husband died June 2, 1850. Mrs. Goodrich died on the old homestead, Dec. 13, 1863.

John married Maria Viele on 3 Jun 1823 in Stillwater, Saratoga, New York, USA. Maria (daughter of Stephen Viele and Sarah Toll) was born on 25 May 1804 in Stillwater, Saratoga, New York, USA; died on 6 Feb 1879 in Sublette, Lee, Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1850, Pittsford, Hillsdale, Michigan, USA
• Residence: 1860, May, Lee, Illinois, USA
• Residence: 3 Jul 1865, May, Lee, Illinois, USA
• Residence: 1870, Amboy, Lee, Illinois, USA

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1860, Fairhaven, Carroll, Illinois, USA
• Residence: 1870, Fairhaven, Carroll, Illinois, USA
• Residence: 1880, Fairbury, Jefferson, Nebraska, USA

William married Marietta Brainard. Marietta (daughter of Ira Brainard and Dorcas Ann Nickerson) was born on 19 Mar 1831 in Fairbury, Jefferson, Nebraska, USA; died on 9 Jun 1891 in Fairbury, Jefferson, Nebraska, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1860, Fairhaven, Carroll, Illinois, USA
• Residence: 1870, Fairhaven, Carroll, Illinois, USA
• Residence: 1880, Fairbury, Jefferson, Nebraska, USA

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1789, Stillwater, Saratoga, New York, USA
• Residence: 1790, Stillwater, Saratoga, New York, USA
• Residence: 1800, Stillwater, Saratoga, New York, USA
• Residence: 1810, Stillwater, Saratoga, New York, USA
• Residence: 1820, Stillwater, Saratoga, New York, USA
• Residence: 1825, Stillwater, Saratoga, New York, USA; Residence at death.

Notes:

As transcribed by Cornelius Emerson Durkee and listed under Stillwater in volume 2, pages 497 – 500 of Durkee's Epitaphs of Saratoga County, New York.

“The foregoing inscriptions were copied from stones standing in an enclosure in an orchard on the south side of the road leading from Bemis Heights to Ketchums Corners, about two miles from the last mentioned place. The inscriptions were copied Sep. 10, 1877 by C.E.Durkee.”

(Munger Cemetery is located on the southwest side of Gronczniak Road, ½ mile north of route 423; 1/10 mile north of Munger Hill Road; 7/10 mile south of Robens Road.)

page 497

Munger, Sarah, dau. of Ezra & Mary B., d. June 23, 1869, a.23ys.
Munger, Edgar, son of Ezra & Mary B., d. May 29, 1849, 1y.6m.
Munger, Amelia, dau. of Ezra & Mary B., d. June 16, 1846, 2y.3m.
Munger, Naomi, dau. of Timothy & Naomi, d. Feb. 27, 1796, 3d yr.
Munger, Naomi, dau. of Timothy & Naomi, d. Apr. 11, 1800, 3d yr.

page 498

Munger, Abner, son of Timothy & Naomi, d. Jan. 12, 1812, 12th yr.
Munger, Timothy, d. Nov. 8, 1825, 62d yr.
Munger, Naomi, widow of Timothy, d. Aug. 5, 1839, 81st yr.
Munger, Daniel, d. Dec. 4, 1855, a. 70y.11m.
Munger, Elizabeth, wife of Daniel, b. June 5, 1788; d. Jan. 31, 1836.
Munger, Lewis, d. Mar. 13, 1840, 23y.10d.
Munger, Shelemiah, d. June 26, 1847, 23 ys.
Cole, Maria, wife of E.W., d. Oct. 12, 1839, 23 ys.

page 499

Munger, Samuel, d. Oct. 1, 1845, 85th yr.
Munger, Hannah, wife of Samuel, d. Jan. 20, 1840, 68th yr.
Reynolds, Mary, wife of Job, d. Feb. 22, 1841, 46th yr.
Munger, Philip, d. Dec. 6, 1809, 74th yr.
Munger, Mary, wife of Philip, d. June 9, 1803, 64th yr.
Olney, Enos, d. Aug. 27, 1796, 30th yr.

Munger, Lydia M., died Mar. 15, 1885, ae 31 yrs. 5 ms. & 18 days.
Munger, Mary B., born Dec. 3, 1815, died Oct. 29, 1898.
Munger, Ezra, born Aug. 1, 1802, died Aug. 26, 1880.
M., B. (no dates, inscribed native stone marker “B.M.”)

Timothy married Naomi Matthews on 25 Mar 1784. Naomi (daughter of Benjamin Matthews and Lucy Clark) was born on 27 May 1759 in Stillwater, Saratoga, New York, USA; died on 5 Aug 1839 in Stillwater, Saratoga, New York, USA; was buried in Stillwater, Saratoga, New York, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Military: Between 1776 and 1781, , Albany, New York, USA; Quartermaster, 14th Albany Militia.
• Residence: 1790, Saratoga, Saratoga, New York, USA
• Residence: 1800, Schaghticoke, Rensselaer, New York, USA
• Residence: 1810, Schaghticoke, Rensselaer, New York, USA
• Residence: 1820, Stillwater, Saratoga, New York, USA
• Residence: 1830, Saratoga, Saratoga, New York, USA

Notes:

Wagman Farm

In the west part of the town, near Saratoga lake, settlements were made in 1784 or 1785. An interesting item of history is connected with them. On the 7th day of August, 1781, seven men, sent from Canada, came to Albany and in the evening made an attack upon the house of General Schuyler, where he had been residing after the destruction of his buildings at Schuylerville. Their object was to kill or capture the general, either through deadly hate at his past services against the English government, or perhaps with the design of holding the person of the general as a hostage to secure terms in the future exchange of prisoners. There were in the house with the general at the time John Ward and John Cokely, two of his lifeguards, and also John Tubbs, an army-courier in his service. These three men made a gallant fight with the seven assassins, who had effected an entrance into the hall. John Tubbs, as his children now relate it, had a personal struggle with one, and having pressed him down behind an old oaken chest, with his hand on his throat, tried to draw a knife to finish him, but the knife was gone, and Tubbs was obliged to let him up. Meanwhile General Schuyler had, from the windows above, aroused the town, and the seven men suddenly left, carrying off Tubbs and Cokely with them as prisoners, and as proof that they had actually penetrated to Schuyler's house and made an attempt to execute their appointed work. The prisoners were kept nineteen months on an island on the St. Lawrence. Returning home about the time peace was declared, General Schuyler presented the three men with a deed of two hundred and seventy acres of land. The deed is now in the possession of Simon Tubbs, son of John Tubbs, and recites that "In consideration of five shillings, and that John Cokely, John Ward, and John Tubbs, did gallantly defend the said Philip Schuyler when attacked in his own house, near the city of Albany, on the 7th day of August, 1781, by a party of the enemy in the late war, sent expressly to kill or make prisoner of the said Philip Schuyler," the party of the first part hath granted and sold to the said Ward, Cokely, and Tubbs all that tract and parcel of land "In the Saratoga patent, known and distinguished as the westernmost farm of the south half of lot No. 20 in the grand division of Saratoga patent, made by John B. Bleecker, surveyor, in 1750, containing about two hundred and seventy acres of land."

The land was first divided into three parts, and the men drew for their respective portions, and soon after made their homes in this section. John Tubbs' portion was a part of the present place of Simon Tubbs, his son; John Ward's, the farm occupied until recently by his son; and John Cokely's share is also now owned by Simon Tubbs.

Johannes Viele, in the year 1789, settled on the place still owned by his descendants, east of Bryant's bridge. His brother, Stephen Viele, about the same time also penetrated this new country, and settled on the present farm of Henry Wagman. Another brother, Ludovicus Viele, is also spoken of as having accompanied them. Jesse Toll, a brother-in-law, also came to Saratoga about the year 1790. He owned at one time an entire grand division of the Saratoga patent, - a tract one mile wide, six miles long. It is understood that he built the mills at Grangerville soon after his arrival.

Stephen Viele and Sarah Toll must have moved to Saratoga after the Revolutionary War. SV served in 14th regt, Hoosac and Scaghticoke, during the Rev War. Also, the above suggestssettlement did not start near Saratoga Lake until 1781.


14th Regiment, Albany County Militia. Source cited: New York in the Revolution by Roberts, v. VI, p. 126.
Albany County Militia 14th Regiment Officers
Colonels John Knickerbocker, Peter Yates
Lt. Colonels John Van Rensselaer, Daniel Bratt
1st Lieutenants Samuel Ketcham
2nd Lieutenants Nathaniel Ford
Captains Matthew De Garro, James Hadlock, Hendrick Mandeville
Hendr'k Vanderhoof, John Vanderhoof, Jacob Yates Peter Yates
Ensign Simon Vandercook

The Fourteenth Regiment was under the command of Col. John Knickerbacker, Col. Peter Yates and Col. John Van Rensselaer.

The following information is known about Schaghticoke during the Revolution, and the actions of the 14th Regiment. Maj. Derrick VanVechten, an officer in Col. Knickerbocker's 14th Regiment, was posted at Mechanicsville. He and Samuel Acker visited Old Schaghticoke before the Battle of Saratoga on September 19, to observe their fields of grain. While standing on the hill of Jacob Yates's farm, above the Tomhannock Bridge, the Tories and Indians fired a volley of bullets as they retreated towards the Hudson. Major VanVechten fell mortally wounded, with a bullet in his head, beneath the elm tree on the present road below Reynolds Station. He shouted to Acker to take care of himself saying: "You cannot save me". Acker reached the American camp and a detachment of soldiers was sent to bury Maj. VanVechten's body. A band of hostile Tories and Indians held Fort Schaghticoke and several abandoned houses of the settlers as a British outpost. Col. Johannes Knickerbocker's 14th NY Regiment, composed of officers and men from the Dutch Hoosac and Schaghticoke, was slow in marching to the field of action. It is locally reported that he was fourteen days arriving at General Gate's encampment, which he reached October 7th at dusk just as the scene of the second battle of Old Saratoga was closing and in time only to shout exultingly to the fleeing Britons.

The Tomhannock Road was also guarded by Tories, occupying Abraham Viele's house below Buttermilk Falls. Three officers on horseback advanced to Fort Schaghticoke with messages from General Clinton and Howe to General Burgoyne. They were mistaken for American scouts, and the sharpshooters posted in the Spook Hollow Ravine above Viele's house mortally wounded one of the officers, in front of the Button house, now on the site of Viele's house.(40)

Stephen married Sarah Toll on 14 Sep 1773. Sarah (daughter of Simon Carel Hansense Toll and Hesterjesse DeGraef) was born on 25 Jul 1756 in Albany, Albany, New York, USA; died on 3 Sep 1818 in Saratoga Springs, Saratoga, New York, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Bennet married Elizabeth Whitney on 1 Jan 1823 in Stamford, Delaware, New York, USA. Elizabeth was born on 6 Jan 1798 in Kortright, Delaware, New York, USA; died on 24 Sep 1854 in Stamford, Delaware, New York, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1860, Lamville, Bureau, Illinois, USA
• Residence: 1870, Fairhaven, Carroll, Illinois, USA
• Residence: 1880, Lamoille, Bureau, Illinois, USA

Ira married Dorcas Ann Nickerson. Dorcas was born in 1811 in , Delaware, New York, USA; died on 4 May 1878 in LaMoille, Bureau, Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1860, Lamville, Bureau, Illinois, USA
• Residence: 1870, Fairhaven, Carroll, Illinois, USA

Other Events and Attributes:

• Military: 1758, , , Connecticut, USA
• Residence: 1776, , Albany, New York, USA
• Residence: 1789, Stillwater, Saratoga, New York, USA
• Residence: 1790, Stillwater, Saratoga, New York, USA
• Residence: 1800, Stillwater, Saratoga, New York, USA

Notes:

The Munger Book by J.B. Munger.
Phillip was the son of Joseph and Miriam Pond Munger (his second wife). Philip was born April 6 1735 in East Guilford Connecticut, and served in the French and Indian War, according to several successive yearly enlistments. From these records he is believed to have lived at or in the vicinity of Cornwall, Conn. It will be noted that this name is variously spelled in these old records.

"Philip Munger, member 2d company, 2e reg't, Lieu't Col" Whiting, enl, April 17, disch'd Nov, 20, 1755." He had just passed his 20th birthday at time of enlisting. "Philop Mongar, member 8th company, 3d reg't, Capt' John Jeffry, enl, Apr. 9, disc'd Aug., 1756. "Add Andrew Barton, 26 weeks; Justus Gibbs 1 mo's pay; Phillip Munger, 1 mo. Endorsed: Cap't John Jeffry. Jan 1757. Muster rolls. "This company marched from Cornwall, Conn." "Philip Monger, member Capt' Nathaniel Evarts' company of the 4th Reg't of Conn., troops, enl, Apr. 10 disch'd Nov. 11, 1758."
Connecticut Men in the French and Indian War.

Phillip Monger was a taxpayer in the Saratoga Patent of Albany County, New York in 1779. Philip Munger's farm was assessed at $35.00 (probably Continental dollars). This indicates that he was a well-established and prosperous farmer.

Philip Munger leased a farm in Great Lott 13 of the Saratoga Patent in 1765. (Now known as the Town of Stillwater Saratoga County, NY)

Philip Munger signed the 1778 Saratoga District Petition to New York Governor George Clinton and the Saratoga District Petition requesting permission to take wheat flour to Boston in order to purchase salt.

Philip Munger was a member of the Stillwater Baptist Church. Church records indicate that he had sons by the name of Timothy, Solomon, Thomas, Samuel and Calvin. However, there is no mention of his wife.

In addition to Philip Munger, the October 23rd 1779 Saratoga District Tax List included the names of Joseph Munger and Increase Munger, both of Great Lott 14.

Phillip Munger is listed in the 1790 census in Saratoga County, New York.

Philip married Mary Ann Smith in 1757. Mary was born in 1739 in Stillwater, Saratoga, New York, USA; died on 9 Jun 1803 in Stillwater, Saratoga, New York, USA; was buried in Jun 1803 in Munger Family Cemetery, Stillwater, Saratoga, New York, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Benjamin married Lucy Clark on 3 Dec 1740 in Meridian, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. Lucy (daughter of Joseph Clark and Mary Parker) was born on 28 Jun 1721 in New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; died on 12 Jul 1794 in Saratoga, Saratoga, New York, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Military: Between 1776 and 1781, , Albany, New York, USA; 5th Albany Militia Regiment
• Residence: 1790, Schaghticoke, Rensselaer, New York, USA

Jacob married Eva Fort on 4 Jul 1741 in Albany, Albany, New York, USA. Eva (daughter of Abraham Fort and Anna Barber Clute) was born on 23 Jan 1724 in Schaghticoke, Rensselaer, New York, USA; died on 13 Jul 1797 in Albany, Albany, New York, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

An excerpt from
"Historical Tablets and Markers of Glenville, N. Y."

(Part Two)
The Tenth Report of the Town Historian
by Percy M. Van Epps

On the north side of the Mohawk Turnpike at Hoffman's, NY, and but a short distance east of the little stream here crosses the highway, the Van Eps Creek, a memorial, prepared by the State Education Department, will soon be placed near the site of a famous home continuously occupied by the Van Eps family for two centuries. Its inscription will record:

A NOTABLE HOME HERE, BUILT ABOUT 1720, STOOD THE FIRST HOUSE IN THIS PART OF THE VALLEY, HOME OF SEVEN GENERATIONS OF THE VAN EPS FAMILY

Westward from Schenectady the rich flat lands of the Mohawk River, in the early days were distinguished and sold by numbers. The last of these areas on the north side of the river, in the Township of Schenectady was the seventh. This Seventh Flat embraced all the land between the Stream Tequatsera--now mapped as the Verf Kill—and the rocky bulk of Kinaquariones, the western boundary of the township. The northern boundary of this area it seems was rather hazy and indefinite merely specified as the high hills bordering the river. Whether at their base or in their summits, no one seemed to know--nor care.

And here, on the western half of this Seventh Flat, was the Van Eps home, which the marker will commemorate. The manner of the acquisition of this home site of this Dutch family is as follows: In the closing years of the 17th century on Karel Haensen Toll, a Norwegian, and his wife, who was Lybetyea Rinckout, secured title to the entire Seventh Flat, a strip of rich alluvial soil bordering the river for two miles. Coming to this new possession, they at first lived in a dugout hollowed from the high eastern bank of the little stream spoken of above, and here we know that he and his wife, Lybetyea, lived for several years, at least. Finally, back from the brow of the bank, wherein the dugout, a large framed house was built, of rather odd and quaint design, conforming in style, perhaps, to inborn Norwegian ideals of its owner.

Karel Haensen Toll leaving his native land met with surprising adventures on his voyage to America. His vessel was captured by a privateer and he with others was taken to Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, where he was imprisoned in the fortress. After some little time in confinement, he with a fellow prisoner managed to evade the guards and make their way to the shore. Here, having seen a strange ship anchored some little distance out, they stripped and boldly plunged in the sea, hoping they might in some way reach this vessel. After swimming for some little time, Toll's companion cried out that he could go no further and forthwith turned back toward the shore. Toll, however, boldly kept his course toward the vessel, whose lights he could see and the sea fortunately being still he was able, after swimming for hours as it seemed to him, to reach the side of the vessel. Here he was seen and taken on board and given clothing and kindly treated. When pursuit and inquiry came in the morning, he was concealed by the captain, who finally safely landed him in New Netherlands, about the year 1680.

Karel Haensen Toll and his wife, Lybetyea, were among the first settlers of the region of Hoffman's, if indeed they were not actually the very first to make their home there. It is true that certain small parcels of land had been sold there slightly before Toll's purchase, but there is no record of any one actually living in that area prior to Toll's coming.

Enduring the privations and hardships of pioneer life in the then wild and uncleared region, the Tolls appeared to have lived for several years in their improvised and temporary dwelling, sort of a dugout; a long shed-like structure, well let into the steep bank of the valley of the little stream, its roof said to have been of slabs supported by long poles. Its front of logs faced the west, thus catching the full afternoon sun, and doubtless it was comfortable in winter and cool in the summer time.

And here, the fifth child was born to Karel and Lybetyea, Nailtje, or Nellie, who in 1720 became the wife of Johannes Van Eps and the mistress of the large new house built on the plateau above, the famous Van Eps home, the subject of this paper. This home, perhaps the earliest in the region, we find indicated and named--"Jo van Eps"-- on a map of the Mohawk Valley in 1757, prepared by a British Engineer during the French and Indian War. This is the only house honored by name on this map, between the Maalywyck at Scotia and the western limits of the Township of Schenectady save that of Adam Swart.

Very soon after its construction Toll's dugout, his "cave" as he called it, became a favorite stopping place for many small parties of Mohawk Indians, always friendly to the early Dutch, passing to and from Schenectady and their nearest villages, some twenty miles up the valley. In their season, laden with packs of beaver and other peltry, destined for the shrewd traders of Schenectady and Albany, who gave in exchange, cloth, trinkets of many kinds, rum, powder and bullets--and sometimes guns, despite edicts of the law, these Indians threw down their packs before Toll's dugout, while Lybetyea regaled them with bread and cake.

The fame of Lybetyea's cookery soon became known to the women of the Mohawk villages up the river, and in the summertime it was not long before small canoes made of the tough bark of the slippery elm, such as were used by the Mohawk women, might be seen paddled down the river and deftly steered to a landing on the gravelly shore just below Karel's dugout, to which, two or three squaws carring their papooses, and with other children running along side, made their way. Here they were always kindly received by the sagacious and diplomatic Lybetyea, who shortly treated the dusky, chattering mothers with cakes and krullers, supplemented with some little gift of cloth, and for the children, tumbling and playing before the door, a few cheap and gaudy trinkets, finger rings and small strings of many-colored Venetian beads--made expressly for the Indian trade. These Lybetyea well knew, would appeal to the mothers as well as the children.

Meanwhile, with a twinkle in his eye, Kin-ge-go (The Fish) looked on, for this was the name, as it is recorded in the archives of the Toll family, bestowed upon Karel by his Mohawk friends after being told of his exploit battling the sea, off Puerto Cabello.

As the little group of shrewd Dutch Families left Fort Orange, now Albany, in 1661 and trekked over the pine barrens to the Mohawk river, founding the village of Schenectady, there better to intercept the red man with his pack of peltry, so likewise Karel, our canny Norwegian, went them one better, making his home in the Woestina (the wilderness), some ten miles west of "Dorp", for so the Dutch new Schenectady. Here, mainly due to Lybetyea's bread and cakes, he was able to select and barter for the choicest skins, before his rival traders had an opportunity to see them. Occasions he never let go by, an herein is the clue to the manner of his soon amassing the fortune that by 1712 enabled him to acquire and remove to valuable and extensive farms at the Maalywyck, the name then given a fertile area just west of Scotia, even today regarded as the very best farm lands of the entire lower Mohawk Valley. Here, at the Maalwyck, Toll was soon numbered among the prominent citizens of his region, being chosen a member of the Colonial Legislature in 1716, serving thus continuously until 1726.

It is related by Dr. Daniel J. Toll, a direct descendant of Karel, in his history of the family, a work printed in 1847, but now well-nigh unobtainable, that so great was the clamor and demand of the Indian trappers for Lybetyea's bread and cakes, that she frequently walked to Schenectady, there buying a skipple of wheat (three pecks) at the town mill, which, ground into flour she would carry on her back or shoulder all the weary ten miles to her home in the Woestina.

In October of the year 1720, Nailtje, daughter of Karel and Lybetyea, was married to Johannes Van Eps of Schenectady, oldest son of Jan Baptist Van Eps (" The Interpreter") and his wife Helena Glen. In April of the following year, 1721, Karel and Lybetyea, by reason of "Love and Affection,"--thus state the deed--gave to the newly-wed couple title to the western half of the Seventh Flat. Therefore, from this year, 1721, we can date the foundation of the Van Eps family at Hoffmans--a place known to the Dutch simply as the Woestina till 1790, when, on the establishment there of a ferry across the Mohawk, by Harmanus Vedder, it became known as Vedders Ferry till 1835, when the name was changed to Hoffmans Ferry.

Simon married Hesterjesse DeGraef on 13 Jun 1731 in Schenectady, Schenectady, New York, USA. Hesterjesse (daughter of Nicolaas Claase Vanpetten and Rebecca Groot) was born in 1711 in Schenectady, Schenectady, New York, USA; died in 1793 in Schenectady, Schenectady, New York, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Hester Jesse DeGraaf
• Probate: 14 Aug 1793, , Albany, New York, USA

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1800, Huntington, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA
• Residence: 1810, Delhi, Delaware, New York, USA

Eleazer married Mary Terrel. Mary was born in 1775; died on 26 Sep 1857 in Meredith, Delaware, New York, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1840, , Delaware, New York, USA
• Residence: 1850, Harpersfield, Delaware, New York, USA
• Residence: 1860, Harpersfield, Delaware, New York, USA

Obadiah married Lydia Fuller. Lydia was born on 4 Sep 1791 in Harpersfield, Delaware, New York, USA; died on 20 Oct 1875 in Harpersfield, Delaware, New York, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]