| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. From my visit to the Montgomery County, NY, Archives Sep 2007, the following typescript was in the Van Horne Family file, author and date unknown, pp. 44-51:
A. "Children of Matthias and Nellie (Crum) Van Horne, b. in New Jersey:
a. Cornelius, b. 10 May 1745, d. 6 Feb 1823, Montgomery Co., NY.; md. Eve Fredericks, b. 1750, d. 1830, dau. of Philip Fredericks. He and his brother, Thomas, left NJ, and settled before the Revolution in Tryon Co., and both served in the Battle of Oriskany in that war, etc. See 'DAR Rolls, 106:217; 115:300.' His gravestone is in the Van Horne cem. near Mill Point, NY, which states he was aged 77 at death, his wife, Eve, aged 74. This grave is decorated by the DAR (Ms. at NY State Library, DAR Graves A124,161; 10:35.) children (Van Horne), b. Montgomery Co., NY, (1) Sophia; (2) Nellie; (3) Hannah; (4) Elizabeth; (5) Philip; (6) Abram; (7) Cornelius C.; (8) Maria.
b. Thomas, b. Hunterdon Co., NJ, abt 1747, m. Maria Fredericks, sister of Eve (Fredericks) Van Horne, his eldest brother's wife.
c. William, b. abt 1750 Hunterdon Co., NJ; md. Margaret Thomasse and settled in Canada. [Children listed.]
d. Nellie, b. Hunterdon Co., NJ; md. Martin Cline and res. on Schoharie Creek, near Mill Point, Montgomery Co. The 1888 booklet lists her issue.
e. Anna; b. Hunterdon Co., NJ; md. Abram Carhart and remained in NJ in Hunterdon Co., only child said to have stayed in NJ.
f. Henry; b. Hunterdon Co., NJ; m. Sophia Fernacook, or Fernicook. [Children listed.] Henry served in the War.
g. John, b. Hunterdon Co., NJ; md. Sarah Everett. Served seven years in the Revolution and was a the surrender of Burgoyne and Cornwallis. He and his brothers Cornelius, Thomas and Henry all took part in the Battle of Oriskany. See 1888 booklet.
h. Rulif, b. Hunterdon Co., NJ; unmd., bur. Van Hornesville. His gravestone extant in 1882. The 1929 genealogy gives his name as 'Ruby'. He has also been called 'Phillip.' He d. 10 May 1838, aged 80, bur. Van Horne Cem., Mill Point, near Amsterdam, NY."
B. Lt. Thomas Van Horne (father: Matthias; grandfather: Capt. Cornelius), born in Hunterdon County, NJ, about 1747, died in Springfield, Otsego County, NY, 26 Feb 1841, aged 97. He married, in the Reformed Dutch Church of Caughnawaga, Tryon County, N.Y., 21 Oct 1779, his sister-in-law, Maria Fredericks, born in 1758, died abt. 1845, daughter of Philip Fredericks.
No search has yet been made by me as to the ancestry of Maria. With his brothers, Cornelius, John and Henry, Thomas served in the Revolution, all three taking part in the famed Battle of Oriskany. Thomas also had service as an Ensign, under Col. Frederick Fisher, of Tryon County; see the 1882 account, page 61, the 1888 booklet, page 25, and the 1929 genealogy, pages 136-137. Various years have been given for his death and his age at that time but I sassume the above to be correct. The earliest and most accurate published source, 1882, has this to offer: 'Thomas Van Horne came with his brother Cornelius from White House, New Jersey, and settled in Montgomery County, New York, as before related; he afterwards married Maria Fredericks, October 23, 1774 (sic), and moved near what is now known as Van Hornesville, and after bringing his family there he moved to Schuyler Lake, near Richfield Springs, New York.'
Mrs. Case in her chapter mentions the two Van Horne boys, but these were not the above said Thomas and Cornelius, but Richard and Daniel, who were first cousins, if Hardin and Willard's 1893 'History of Herkimer County,' page 350, is correct. page 351, of same, considers our Thomas and states that he was the first settler in the village bearing his name. Bide post, my page 50, re Daniel.
Recall that Thomas had a half-uncle, Abraham Van Horne (1738-1810), who also settled in Van Hornesville, a village in the Town of Stark, vide ante, p. 40. Thomas did have a youngest brother who is buried there. Mrs Case evidently only used the 1929 genealogy; she continues with the statement that Thomas lived near Schuyler's Lake in Otsego County, in later life and there died, and concludes that one of his eleven children was Eve Van Horne, born 26 Aug. 1789 and became the wife of Jacob A. Young, all of which is correct.
And now we will let Tom tell his own tale:
Pension #24774. 16 Oct 1832, Thomas Van Horn, aged 87 years, of Springfield, Otsego Co., N.Y. applied for a pension under Act of 1832, based upon New York service in the Revolutionary War. He enlisted at Warren's Bush in the County Militia as a private under Capt. Pettingill the year before Independence was declared, and mentions Johnstown, Fish House at Lochnedage, guarded Gen. Schuyler, Fort Dayton, German Flatts, guarded cattle between Stone Arabia and Ft. Stanwic, and batteaux between German Flatts and Ft. Stanwix, Ft. Herkimer, at burning of Cherry Valley, Fort Plain, Ft. Plank, Ticonderoga, Little Falls, Van Alstine's on the Mohwk, Unadilla, Oriskany battle when Gen. Herkimer was mortally wounded; then was a lieutenant at Coughnewaga where Col. Fisher was wounded, at burning of Schoharie settlement, at Burgoyne's surrender was enroute, Saratoga, Schenectady, Lake George and others. When Capt. Pettingill was killed Oriskany battle Lt. Snook became captain and Thomas Van Horne, the applicant, lieutenant. A list shows 240 days service. No documentary evidence except his commission was submitted. Pension granted 7 June 1832 (commencing) for $29.50.
21 June 1840, Thomas Van Horne applied for an increase based on fact he was a lieutenant and that this had not been taken into consideration at time original pension was granted, stating he had served one year and four months as a lieutenant and eight months as a private. He stated he was born in 1745[?], no record of his age but understands that the record is on the Church Book at Hunterdon County, NJ, where he was born. During the war his home was at Warren's Bush now [1840] the Town of Florida, south of the Mohawk River, about two miles within the County of Montgomery, N.Y. After the Revolutionary War, he moved to Caquago, Town of Minden, County of Motgomery, now in Town of Stark, county of Herkimer, where he lived 19 years and then moved to Otsego now town of Springfield, N.Y. Officers named were: Capt. Samuel Pettingill, Col. Frederick Fisher, Lt.-Col. Volkert Verden, Major John Newkirk, Adjutant Peter Corime [?], 1st Lt. William Snook, 2d Lt. Peter Young, Ens. Conrad Stein, Capt. Hermanus Habie, Joseph Yeoman, in addition to those mentioned above. Witnesses mentioned were: Peter Eckler and William Baker of Springfield, N.Y., Henry Prime of Schuyler, N.Y., Rev. John Shwin, who signed a certificate, William Pettingill, aged 75, of Millford, Otsego, Co., N.Y., son of Capt. Pettingill.
Statement initialed 'SCA' 24 Mar. 1911, states 'the commission of Thomas Van Horne as 1st Lt. ' Capt.Wm. Snuke's co. (Snook), Col. Frederick Fisher's regiment, Tryon Co., NY, Militia, dated Albany, 8 Mar. 1781, and signed by George Clinton, has been removed from this claim and locked up in the Record Division.
Widow's Pension, 18210: Maria Van Horne, aged 83, of Springfield, NY, widow of Thomas Van Horne applied, 29 June 1841, for pension based on service of her said husband, stating that he died in Springfield, 26 Feb. 1841, to begin 27 Feb. 1841. Maria also filed for difference between private's pension and officer's pension, which was allowed.
True copy signed by Jacob D. Fonda, Pastor, 1841, who stated that the marriage record of Thomas Van Horne and Maria Frederick on registry books of Reformed Protestant Ductch Church of Caughnawaga and the date is expressed in 'far legible' as follows: '1779 Oct. 21 by Rev. Thomas Romeyn, Pastor.'
29 Jun 1841, Philip Van Horne, aged 57, of Springfield, NY, he is the third son of Thomas and Maria Van Horne. [Second son?]
Last payment to the widow appears in Book O, page 112, file National Archives, 1845, Albany Agency; Act of 1836. Her date of death not given. 17 Feb 1853, Leah Davis, of Ontario County, NY, a daughter of Thomas and Maria Van Horne filed for anything due. Various persons requested information between 1893 and 1939: Harold N. Moyer, E.F. Dutton, H.O. Rosencrants, Mrs. Owen Bowman and Peggy-Ann Rainey, their places of residence being included.
Years ago, Mrs. Ellen (Young) Moyer, born in New York and wife of Walstein Moyer, joined the DAR, as a granddaughter of 'Lt. Thomas Van Horn,' of same, and a daughter of Jacob P. Young and wife 'Eve Van Horn.' She gives his service and that he died in 1841 aged 96. (DAR Rolls, 11:162.) A Mrs. Rosina-Adelpha (Paine) Dutton, born in German Flats, NY, and wife of Everall-Fletcher Dutton, gave her descent from her great-grandfather, Thomas Van Horn and wife, Maria Frederick, etc. through their son, Philip Van Horn and his wife, Margaret Ackler. (Ibid. 21:88.) Then a Mrs. Clara (Boynton) Holcomb, born in Sycamore, Ill., files her line through Clarinda (Van Horn) Paine who was a daughter of Philip Van Horn (1784-1846), etc. (ibid,., 107:246.) These rolls have not been published for some years and whether any others have joined the DAR since the last printed Roll (Vol. 166), I have not inquired.
Bailey's 1874 'Richfield Springs' has this to offer, pp. 37-39: ''Thomas Van Horn, grandfather of Philip Van Horn, of this village, well known as 'long Tom Van Horn' who held a commission during the Revolution and participated in the Battle of Oriskany, immediately after the colose of the war settled near the headwaters of the Otsqaugo Creek, in the town of Stark, in Herkimer County, now Van Hornsville (sic.). In 1813, he removed to a farm on the hill, about one mile east of Canadargo Lake, the farm recently owned by Mr. Philip Van Horn, where he died March 1st, 1844 (sic), aged 98 years. He gave an account of an Indian fight which is described in these pages.'
Mrs. Merritt (vide ante) stated that Lt. Thomas Van Horne was delegate to the Second and Third Provincial Congress and was then of Youngstownfield, now Warren. Warren was formed 1796 from German Flats which is now in Herkimer County.
Otsego had been formed, 16 Feb. 1791, from Montgomery County and originally embraced but two towns: Otsego and Cherry Valley; the county seat is at Cooperstown. Springfield was set off, 3 Mar 1797, from Chjerry Valley; Richfield was formed, 10 Apr. 1792 from Otsego.
In their Revolutionary Soldeir's Grave Index at the New York State Library, Albany, ther is no record for our Thomas Van Horne. However, no general cemeteries were checked. They do have their photostatic copies of Audit Accounts, dealing with the Revolution, which mention him. (AAA 171, Audit Accts., NY) Only his Otsego County deeds have been examined. It is recommended that the deeds of Albany, Montgomery and Herkimer Counties be covered for the full picture of Lt. Thomas Van Horne and his wife, Maria Fredericks. Mr. Brown's notes follow:
'9 Oct. 1819, indenture between James R. Hamilton and Elizabeth, his wife, of New York City and Co., on the first part, and Thomas Van Horne of the Co. of Otsego (no town cited) of the second part, whereby they, for $1.00, convey land in Stewarts Patent, Town of Otsego, lots#18 and #19, containing about 200 acres; both sign; wit: Francis R. Tillon; recd. 1823. (Otsego Deeds, NY, EE:353)'
'12 Jan 1820, indenture made by Elizabeth Stewart, William James Stewart, and Mary, his wife, John James Stewart and Sarah, his wife, Louisa Maria Stewart, John P. Decatur and Maria, his wife, of the first part, and Thomas Van Horne of the town and Co. of Otsego, NY, of the second part, whereby for $2000 they grant said Van Horne two lots of land in Otsego, lots #18 and #19 in Stewarts Patent, containing 200 acres; the Stewarts sign but not the Decaturs; wit: Charlotte and William J. Pennington for Elizabeth Stewart; James L. Graham for William James Stewart and wife; wit: Roger Strong for Maria Louisa Stewart; wit: James K. Hamilton for John James Stewart and wife; ack. 12 Jan 1820, State of NJ (no town of county cited), Elizabeth Stewart before William J. Pennington, Judge, etc. William James Stewart and wife also ack. at NY City, 19 Jan 1820; Roger Storng appeared for Maria Louisa Stewart, widow of William R. Stewart, decd., NY City; 23 Mar 1820. John James Stewart of Sullivan Co., and wife Sarah ack. Deed recd. 1823. (ibid. EE:349)
'13 May 1821, John P. Decatur and wife, Maria, of Brooklyn, NY, for $1.00, sold their rights in same to Thomas and Philip Van Horn of town and Co. of Otsego, land in Stewarts Patent, lots #18 and #19, containing 200 acres, both sign; wit: John Hildreth. Recd. 1823. (ibid., EE, 354)'
Thus we learn that in 1819-1821, Thomas and his son, Philip, acquired by purchase of the Stewart heirs, some 200 acres in Stewarts Patent, in Otsego, lots #18 and #19. Further, by two deeds of even date:
'28 Apr. 1823, Thomas Van Horne and wife, 'Mary' of Otsego Co., of the first part and PhilipVan Horne of same, of the second part, conveyed, for $1000, land in lots number #18 and #19 in Stewarts Patent, there; both sign by mark; wit: Cornelius Van Horne, of same, land in said lots, the wit. being Philip Van Horne; sign by mark; ack. 1823 and recd. 1824. (ibid., FF:174; GG:175)'
'16 Oct 1833, Indenture between Thomas Van Horne of Springfield, Otsego Co., NY, of 1st part and Abraham Van Horne, of Warren, Herkimer Col, NY, of second part, whreby Thomas, for $400, conveys to Abraham, the land the said Thomas now resides upon, bieing in a patent granted to John McNeil at als; bound w. by Philip Van Horne, n. by John Kennard and Philip Van Horne, e. by Cornielius Van Horne, it being called east half of lot #19, escept for a piece of land given to the public for a burying ground the year above written; this he signs as 'Thomas Van Horne,' according to the record; wit: James Wilson; ack. and recd. 1833. (ibid., ZZ:181.)'
There is no formal settlement of his estate in the Surrogate, but his obituary was published: 'In Springfield on the 26th ult. Mr. Thomas Van Horne, a revolutionary soldier, in the 98th year of his age.' (Freeman's Journal, Cooperstown, Otsego Co., N.Y., issue of 15 Mar 1841, vol. 33, no. 28.
Mr. Brown also noted these earlier deeds:
'In 1815, Daniel Van Horne conveyed to wife and children of his brother, Thomas Van Horne Jr.; same year, Thomas Van Horne Jr., with wife, Lucy, of Otsego, Otsego Co., conveyed to Daniel 'Van Horn' of Danube, Herkimer Co/, NY, certain property. (Otsego Deeds, X:303, 305)'
The following material was taken from typed data at the New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, and my be of some help to others:
Epitaph from Springfield and Exeter, NY, Chapman: Allen's Lake Cemetery, Springfield: 'Cornelius Van Horn, NY Mil. Rev. War.'
Otsego Co. Wills, Barber's Abstracts, 4:18: Will of John A. Hubbell of Otsego, 1839, proved 1840, named daughter Ann Van Horne.
Deaths from Newspapers, Barber copies, Vols. I and II (1790-1862):
12 May 1801, at NY, David Van Horne, Adj. Gen.
12 May 1823, Richard Van Horne, aged 53, at Danube, Herkimer, Co.
18 Mar 1844, Mrs. Margaret Van Horne, aged 58, Springfield.
24 Jun 1861, Matthew Van Horne, aged 61, at Otsego. (Matthias? aged 17)
The family of Thomas Van Horne is enumerated in the census of 1800, Minden, Montgomery County, NY (record, 49:111).
Children born in Montgomery and Herkimer Counties, NY:
a. Matthias, b. 13 May 1779, d. unm.
b. Eve, b. 26 Aug. 1780, m. 7 May 1807, Jacob P. Young.
c. Leah, b. 25 Dec 1782, res. Ontario co., NY, d. 17 Feb 1853; m. Robert Davis.
d. Philip, b. 5 Dec 1784, d. 9 Dec 1846; m. 20 Mar 1808, Margaret Ackler, b. 1787, d. 18 Mar 1844, Springfield, Otsego Co, NY.
e. Sophia, b. 27 Oct. 1786, d. 11 Sept 1853; m. 6 Dec 1804, John Eckler.
f. Eleanor A., b. 28 Jun 1788, d. 28 Apr 1846; m. 25 Jul 1807, George 'Shawl.'
g. Anna, b. 18 Apr 1791, d. 26 Sep 1869; m. 18 Sep 1807, John C. 'Shawl.' See 1929 genealogy, p. 138.
h. Cornelius, b. 15 Nov. 1793, d. 14 Oct. 1869; m. 6 Apr 1812, Cathrine S. Shanhultz. Idem p. 159.
i. Magdalene,b. 15 Oct 1795, d. 1866, m. John Eckler.
j. Elizabeth, b. 20 Dec 1797; m. William Van Horne.
k. Abram, b. 25 Dec 1799; m. (1), 1819, Dolly Shanhultz; he m. (2), 1827, Catharine House; he m. (3), 11 Jun 1859, Elizabeth Sites.
l. Thomas, b. 4 Oct 1802, d.y.
j. Mary, b. 4 May 1804, d. 8 Jul 1878; m. 30 dec. 1831, John Wyckof. She res. Cherry Valley, NY, and had issue. Idem. p. 137, pp. 159-160.
k. Francis, b. 17 May 1809, d.y.
As Lt. Thomas lived in Warren's Bush (now Florida), until after the Revolution ended (1783), it may be presumed that Eve was born in what is now Florida, NY, in Montgomery County and formed, 1793, from old Mohawk."
2. FHL book 974.761D2G "Early Families of Herkimer County New York, Descendants of the Burnetsfield Palatines," by William V.H. Barker, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, 1986, preface and p. 319: "Thomas Van Horne - - born Hunterdon Co., New Jersey 14 May 1748 (son of Mathias Van Horne and Nelly Crumm); died Springfield, NY 26 Feb 1841; m. Caughnawaga NY 21 Oct 1779 Maria Frederick dau. of Philip Frederick and Sophia Saltz. A Lt. in the Col. Frederick Fischer's 3rd Tryon Co. militia in the Revolution. Other Van Hornes in Fischer's unit included an Abram, Cornelius, Henry, and John. Thomas lived at Otsego Co. NY and his children were baptised at St. Paul's Luth. Church in Minden, NY. Had fourteen children, as given in Van Horne book, Mathias, Leah (bp. 1781, m. Robert Davis), Philip (b. 1784, m. Margaret Eckler), Sophia (b. 1786, M. John Eckler), Eleanora (b. 1788, m. George Shaul), Eve (b. 1789, m. Jacob I. Young), Anna (b. 1791, m. John G. Shaul), Cornelius (b. 1793, m. Catherine Shanhultz), Magdalena (b. 1795, m. John E. Eckler), Elizabeth (b. 1797, m. William Van Horne), Abram (b. 1799, m.1. Dorothy Shanhultz), Thomas (b. 1802, d.y.), Maria (b. 1804, m. John Wyckoff), and Francis (b. 1809, d.y.)"
The book also gives some general local history per the following excerpts:
"Herkimer County, in north central New York's Mohawk Valley, received its name in 1791 in memory of General Nicholas Herkimer, the Revolutionary War militia commander... There were probably in excess of 15,000 Indians in the region about the year 1700, but by the time of the American Revolution their population had eroded to about 10,000... due in part to lack of resistance to European deseases. Their numbers then fell sharply during and just after the Revolution as a result of migrations to Canada and points westward, the exodus being necessitated by the fact that most of the Iroquois, except for the Oneidas, took the British side during the War of Independence..."
"As to the early Europeans, the Dutch traders of Fort Orange (now Albany) initiated commerce wtth the Mohawk Valley Indians in the early 1600s... The Dutch traded alcoholic beverages, firearms, tools, and fabrics in exchange for land and beaver hides. In 1664 the British took control of New York State and the Mohawk Valley area came under the jurisdiction of Albany County from that time until about 1774 when it became Tryon county (in 1784 the area was renamed as Montgomery county, the western portion of which was set off in 1791 as Herkimer County). In modern times, Herkimer County bounded by Oneida County on the west and by Montgomery and Fulton Counties on the east. Prior to 1760 there was only limited settlement by the Dutch or English to the west of Schenectady, since the Mohawk region was vulnerable to incursion of the French and their Indian allies from Canada..." [N.B. Tryon was changed to Montgomery because Tryon followed the Tory cause whereas Montgomery was a patriot.]
"With the exception of a few families, such as the Fondas, Schuylers, and Van Slykes, the Dutch and English seem to have been little induced to settle the Mohawk Valley, and so the opportunity fell to a group of immigrant Germans from the Palatinate, or lower Rhineland area in central Europe. Several thousand of these Palatines had left their German homelands, being much reduced in circumstance after years of warfare with France, and had gone to England at Queen Anne's invitation in 1709... The English temporarily housed many of these people in tents outside London and early in 1710 about 2,000 were placed aboard ships for passage to the American colonies, being promised land in New York in exchange for work in Hudson River camps, to be set up for the production of pitch for use in sealing naval vessels. There were delays in embarking and the Palatines were crowded into undersized and ill provisioned ships so that the Atlantic Ocean crossing itself became a tragedy in which, by New York Gov. Hunter's account, some 466 of them perished. From 1710 to 1712 the German immigrants required government subsidy, and the payment records by Gov. Hunter to heads of households survive (as in Knittle) and are referred to throughout this book as the NY Palatine Subsistence List. The pitch operations having failed, the Germans had to fend for themselves, moving for a while to contested lands in the Schoharie Valley west of Albany."
"The Palatines remained a displaced people without land entitlement until September 1721 when the Albany City council endorsed their petition to purchase Mohawk Valley land, not closer to Albany then 40 miles west of Ft. Hunter. Then on October 16, 1721, New York Governor William Burnet, presumably wishing ot see buffer settlements of a friendly population in the central Mohawk area, granted the appropriate license, which allowed the Palatines, in 1722, to purchase land form the Indians in the vicinity of where the West Canada creek flows into the Mohawk River. Upon completion of the survey of these lands in 1723, and in resposne to the request of Palatine leaders Joseph Petrie and Conrad Richaert, the deeds were prepared under the designation of the Brunetsfield Patent. At about the same time, other Palatines received land grants at Stone Arabia and elsewhere in the Mohawk Valley... the Burnetsfield Patentees... were wholly within the present county of Herkimer [as opposed to other area Palentines in other parts of the Valley]..."
"From 1723 onwards, until the French and Indian Wars commenced, [the area] was generally at peace and the residents prospered to the extent that some writers have termed the community almost utopian. Wheat grew abundantly in the fertile soil and the accumulation of livestock and goods was extensive..."
"At 3 a.m. on Nov. 12, 1757, disaster struck German Flats [as Herkimer was then known] in the form of a surprise raid by a French and Indian war party... 40 killed, 150 prisoners, and much booty taken... After the 1757 devastation there were periods of relief such as the negotiated return of some prisoners in 1758 and the building, in that same year, of Ft. Stanwix as a protective outpost about 35 miles west of German Flats. With the French surrender to english forces at Montreal in 1760, relative peace was restored to the Mohawk Valley, although occasional difficulties with the Indians required that the settlers mantain a more viglant militia than had been required in earlier years..."
"Of particular note to the modern-day researcher is the fact that many of the early... families both moved and visited up and down the Mohawk Valley, thereby necessitatiing the search of church records over a wide geographic area for the presence of relevant marriage and baptism entires. Of note also is the information value of the baptismal sponsors, as those individuals were usually of the same generation (except when a grandparent would be sponsor for a grandchild of the same given name) and most often were brothers or sisters of the parents."
"The second devastation to fall upon.. the surrounding... area came formalignments brought about by the American War of Independence. The British enrolled most of the area Indians, plus several Mohawk Valley settlers as well, to the Tory cause, and in August 1777 the bloody battle of Oriskany pitted former neighbor against neighbor... Oriskany turned the British back to Canada momentarily, but a year later they were back in a more nefarious form of military tactic, that of the hit and run assault on isolated settlements. From 1778 through 1782, the British waged a war of attrition in the Mohawk Valley, with members of raiding parties paid eight dollars for each scalp taken, regardless of the victim's combative status, sex, or age... Sometimes the settlers had to scramble quickly into the forts..."
"By the end of the American Revolution, the... region was severely depleted in manpower and resources and a new phase of rebuilding began with the expansion westward of New Englanders, who were lured by the open lands of northern New York which had become available with the departure of the Indians. The resultant shift in population base was evident in the 1790 census when about a third of the... area people appear to be new arrivals of English extraction..."
3. Censuses:
1790 US: http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyherkim/census/mohawk1790.html; 1790 Census, Montgomery County, MohawkTown:
1st No.-Free white males over 16 years 2nd No.-Free white males under 16 years 3rd No.-Free white females 4th No.-All other free persons 5th No.-Slaves
*illegible
Brittain, Abraham - 1-2-5-0-0 [Abraham Brinton?] Frederick, Francis - 1-3-3-0-0 Frederick, Peter - 1-3-5-0-0 Frederick, Philip - 1-0-1-0-2
Marlet, Michael - 1-1-4-0-0 Mower, Hendrick - 1-1-1-0-0
VanHorn, Cornelius - 2-2-5-0-0 VanHorn, Thomas - 1-1-5-0-*
1800 US: Minden, Montgomery, New York, p. 10 of 19, these two were next door neighbors and related by marriage, the columns are first male then female 0-9, 10-15, 16-25, 26-44, 45+:
Francis Frederick: 1-0-1-1-0; 1-1-0-1-0
Thomas Van Horne: 2-1-0-1-0; 1-1-0-1-0
4.The book "Compendium of Mohawk Valley Families," by Marily Penrose, pp. 840 and 841: Tryon County Militia:
Abraham Van Horn
Cornelius Van Horn
Henry Van Horn
John Van Horn
Thomas Van Horn
5. The book "Our Van Horne Kindred," by Elsie O. Hallenback, 1958, copy in the Montgomery County NY Archives, pp. 26 and 27:
"Thomas Van Horne, son of Mathias Van Horne and Nelly Crumm, b. May 14, 1748 near Upper Freehold, NJ. When a young man he followed his brother Cornelius Van Horne to Mill Point, NY and later married Maria Frederick, a sister of Eve Frederick, the wife of Cornelius, in the old Dutch Reformed Church of Caughnawaga on Oct. 21, 1779. During the Rev. War, he was a Lt. in the Third Regiment of the Tryon County Milita, and fought in the battle at Oriskany, and his name is inscribed on the monument there commemorating this battle. His name was placed on the Pension Roll of February 22, 1834, and he also held Land Bounty Rights. They lived in Otsego County what was then called Stewart's Patent, and they had all their children baptized in the St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Minden, NY. [Children:}
A. Matthias, never married.
B. Leah, bp. 25 Dec 1781; m. Robert Davis.
C. Philip, b. 5 Feb 1784; m. 8, Margaret Eckler.
D. Sophia, b. 27 Oct. 1786; m. Johannes Eckler.
F. Eleanora, b. 28 Jun 1788, d. 28 Apr 1846; m. George Shaul.
G. Eve, b. 26 Aug. 1780; m. Jacob I. Young.
H. Anna, b. 18 Apr 1791, d. 26 Sep 1869; m. John G. Shaul.
I. Cornelius, b. 15 Nov. 1793; m. Cathrine Shanhultz.
J. Magdalena,b. 15 Oct 1795; m. John E. Eckler.
K. Elizabeth, b. 20 Dec 1797; m. William Van Horne.
L. Abram, b. 22 Dec 1799; m. (1) Dolly Shanhultz (2) Catharine House (3) Elizabeth Sites.
M. Thomas, b. 4 Oct 1802, d.y.
N. Maria, b. 4 May 1804, d. 8 Jul 1878; m. John Wyckoff.
O. Francis, b. 17 May 1809, d.y.
6. From the book "Van Horne Family in America, 1634-1888," by Abram L. Van Horne, copy in the Montgomery County NY Archives, p. 25:
"Thomas came shortly after his brother Cornelius, from White House, NJ, to Montgomery Co., NY. He afterwards married Maria Frederick, a sister to Eve, on Oct. 23, 1774. He afterwards moved to Van Hornsville and after bringing his family up he moved to Schuyler's Lake near Richfield Springs, NY."
BIOGRAPHY:
1. http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyherkim/stark/starkprofile.html: "THE Town of STARK
AN ADDRESS by WARREN HAWN of STARKVILLE, Delivered Before the Herkimer County Historical Society, February 11, 1905." Source: "Papers Read Before the Herkimer County Historical Society Covering the Period From September 1902 to May 1914, Volume 3," Compiled by Arthur T. Smith, Secretary of the Society, Citizen Press, Herkimer, 1914. Pertinent excerpts:
"There is little of interest connected with the history of the Town of Stark since it became one of the political divisions of Herkimer County. No startling event has taken place within its borders. No men of brilliant fame claim it as the place of their nativity, and the generations that come and go, indicate that this honor may never come to us. We are plain plodding farm folk, tending strictly to our own business, and incidently, to that of our neighbors. The town of Stark was taken from the Town of Danube, April 28th, 1828, and was named after Gen. John Stark, of Revolutionary fame..."
"We have two small villages, Starkville and Van Hornesville; they are located in the Otsquago Valley in the central part of the town and contain about one hundred fifty (150) and two hundred (200) inhabitants respectively..."
"Previous to the Revolution and up to 1784, what is now Stark, was a part of the Canajoharie district of Tryon County; all the lands within its present bounds, except a part of L'Hommedieu's and Vroman's patents, were granted by the Colonial Government before the Revolution..."
"The first settler at what is now Van Hornesville, was Thomas Van Horne, who held the office of Orderly Sergeant in Captain Eckler's company of Militia. The date of his locating there can be approximately mixed. He was born in Hunterdon County, N.J., and migrated to Tryon County in 1770, locating in what is now the town of Glen, Montgomery County. On October 23d., 1774, he married Maria Frederic, and afterwards moved to what later on became the village of VanHornesville. Henry Eckler was appointed Captain, May 18th., 1776, and enlisted his company the same year. To have been enrolled as one of the officers of this company, he must have been a resident of Canajoharie military district, to which he must have moved from the Mohawk district between 23d. of October, 1774, and May 18th, 1776, which would have brought him to his new home sometime during the year of 1775, and in that year I believe we are safe in saying, the settlement of VanHornesville was begun. No increase in population came to this place, until the close of the Revolution. In 1791, Abram VanHorne, a cousin of Thomas, located there; he was a man of some note and deserves more than passing notice. He was born at White House, Hunterdon County, N.J., August 28th., 1738. In 1771 he migrated to what was then called Warrenbush, in the present town of Florida, Montgomery Co. N.Y..."
[Kerry's note: Present Vanhornesville is in Herkimer County. Herkimer Co. was formed from Montgomery Co. 16 Feb 1791.]
2. http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyherkim/flagg.html: "REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION APPLICATION of Peter FLAGG.
Peter Flagg's Revolutionary War pension records were sent in by Al Douglas ... Peter Flagg was a well-known hero, remembered long after the events described below. Peter, and his companions Richard Woolaber and Thomas Van Horne, are mentioned in Hardin's 1893 History of Herkimer County as being members of Heinrich Staring's company in July 1778, on assignment with others to overtake Brant and rescue prisoners after the destruction of Andrustown. Peter and his two comrades continued on after the others turned back at the area of Young's Settlement (Little Lakes), and caught and killed two "savages" by Schuyler's Lake, thus rescuing a woman and infant captive and taking them safely back home."
3. Thomas provided the following testimony in the pension papers of Francis Frederick (see notes with Francis for citation):
"State of New York, County of Otsego. Thomas Van Horne of Springfield in the County of Otsego aforesaid being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is well acquainted with Francis Frederick of Little Falls in the county of Herkimer in the said State of New York. That he knew him in the Revolutionary War. That this deponent and the said Francis were privates in the same Company of Militia from the commencement of the war till the death of Capt. Pettingill at Oriskany in 1777. When this deponent took command of the company as the first Lieut. and the said Francis served under him as a private soldier during the remainder of the War. Willam Snook being then the commandant of the company. That the said Francis was in service much of the time under this deponent during each year of the war, and was also to the knowledge of this deponent out on many occasions in service when this deponent was not with him. That the company did not always all go together and when one part of the company were out on one expedition, it sometimes happened that the residue of the company were called to another quarter. That he verily believes the said Francis served faithfully as a soldier at least two years during the War of the Revolution, and further saith not. Sworn and subscribed the 22'd day of September AD 1832. Before me, Walter Holt, J.P. Signed: Thomas Van Horne."
4. From Heritage Quest online copy of the American Revolutionary War pension file no. W.18210, 16 pages, for Thomas Van Horne whose spouse is Maria. Notes he died 26 Feb 1841; Maria is listed as a widow with continuing pension issued 13 Sep 1844. A later date also shows 27 Jun 1853. At the time of the application, he is listed of Otsego Co., NY. He was a private in the Company commanded by Col. Fisher in the Tryon County NY Militia Troops. Also served under Captains Harmanus Mable and Joseph Yeomans.
Original testimony for the pension papers are from an 16 Oct 1832 court appearance in which he states he is 87 years old living in Springfield, Otsego Co., NY. At the commencement and during the War he resided in Warren's Bush, now the town of Florida, south of the Mohawk River, about two miles within the now County of Montgomery. He was enrolled as a private in Capt. Samuel Pettingill's company in a regiment commanded by Col. Frederick Fisher. His first engagement was a year before Independence was declared in responding to an alarm from "Cognawaga about 5 miles distant." During the year of Independence he was at Johnstown District when Gen'l Schyler was there and they disarmed the Tories. He was "out to Johnstown, Sochnedaga, Caunewaga, and various other places that summer." That winter, he was in Johnstown. During the summer of 1777, he was in Capt. Pettingill's company under Gen'l Herkimer and Col. Cox, in pursuit about 70 miles of Indians under the Indian chief Joseph Brant. On their return, they were called out to Fort Stanwix and he was present at the Oriskany Battle when Gen'l Herkimer was mortally wounded and Capt. Pettingill was killed. Lieut. Snook was appointed Captain and Thomas was made 1st Lieutenant. That summer they were constantly called upon. He and a part of the company were "on the way to Saratoga at the time Burgoine was taken but stopped at Schenectady on hearing by express that he had surrendered." He was at Ticonderoga in the winter of the building of the bridge across Lake George, an expedition of three weeks. His service continued every year of the War but he could not recall all of the places. Sometimes they were called out for a day, a couple of days, sometimes a week, and sometimes a couple of weeks. He was a Lieutenant the entire war. He was at Fort Plain, Fort Plank, German Flatts, Stone Arabia, Little Falls, and various other places many times. He could not recall all the places and times. He guarded the "batteaux" with provisions up the Mohawk River to Fort Stanwix and another time guarded to the same place a drove of cattle. He was at Cherry Valley immediately after the burning and murrders done at that place. That on these occasions he went "uniformily armed, with six days provisions." From home, he was "at all times liable to be called out at a moment's warning and was constantly prepared for alarms." He "did not pretend to do but little business - that whatever was raised was liable at all times to be destroyed and burned." The settlement within a half of a mile of where he lived was entirely burnt off by the Indians. As an officer, he was constantly scouting abroad or protecting himslef, family and neighborhood at home. He signs his name in full: Thomas Vanhorne.
The next court affidavit states that "he was born in the year 1745 - that he never has had any record of his age but has always understood there was a record thereof upon the Church Book in Hunterdon County, New Jersey where he was born. After the Revolution he moved to a place called Osuago in the town of Minden, Montgomery Co. - now the town of Stark in the County of Herkimer. He resided there until about 19 years ago when he moved to the town of Otsego now the town of Springfield in the County of Otsego where he now resides. Local Rev. John Swain's name is given as a reference. This latter affidavit signed 7 Jun 1833. Later it is stated that he did not receive his written commission as a First Lieutenant until much later on 8 Mar 1781.
An affidavit dated 29 Jun 1841 is included from Maria Van Horne, aged 83 years, of Springfield, Otsego, New York, that her husband is deceased. She further declares that she was marrried to Thomas Van Horne at her father's house (Phillip Frederick) in the town of Florida, Montgomery Co., NY, by the Rev. Thomas Romeyn 21 Oct 1779. The said Thomas Romeyn being the pastor of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Caughnawaga. Confirms her husband died on 26 Feb 1841 at Springfield. That the Church record attached is correct as regards to the marriage. Signed with an "x".
An affidavit from Jacob D. Fonda confirming the above referenced church marriage record.
An affidavit from Leah Davis, dau. of Thomas Vanhorn, dated 17 Feb 1853 of Ontario Co., NY asserting her rights to prosecute a claim against the pension of Thomas Vanhorn.
In a 1940 letter to Peggy A. Rainey of Decatur, Iowa, the Pension office recites all of the above and adds that in 1841, their third Child, Phillip Van Horne, was a resident of Springfield, New York, and aged 57 years.
BIRTH:
1. According to the notes above, he was born 1748. According to his pension, he thinks he was born in 1745 - but he defers to the Church records of Hunterdon, New Jersey where he knows he was born.
MARRIAGE:
1. Marriage records of "Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Caughnawaga: now the Reformed Church of Fonda, in the village of Fonda, Montgomery County, N.Y.," New York, 1917, 748 pp.:
Lodewyk Frederick and Alida Miller, 21 Mar 1774.
Frans Frederick and Susanna Cosaadt, 30 Dec 1774.
Frans Cosaadt and Nancy Johnson, 20 Jun 1777.
Thomas Van Horne and Maria Frederick, 21 Oct 1779.
Peter Frederick and Elizabeth Marlet, 21 Oct 1779 [same time as Thomas Van Horne.]
(Illegible) Mair? and the daughter of Philip Fredrick, 23 Jan 1788. [Could this be Hendrick Mower and Elizabeth Frederick?]
Christian Plank and Hannah Frederick, 1 Jan 1801.
George Frederick and Caty Cag, 21 Feb 1803.
2. From a typescript in the Frederick family file at the Montgomery Co. NY Archives: "St. Paul's Evangelicl Lutheran Church, schoharie, Schoharie Co., NY, Marriages:
July 29, 1779, N.B. These are here only proclaimed by me:
Peter Friederich and Elisabeth Melead
Thomas Van horen and Maria Fredrich"
SOURCES_MISC:
1. Henry Z. Jones is the author of three series of books on the Palatines: "The Palatine Families of New York: A Study of the German Immigrants Who arrived in New York in 1710," (1985); "More Palatine Families," (1991); and "Even More Palatine Families, 18th Century Immigrants to the American Colonies and their German, Swiss and Austrian Origins," 2002. I have reviewed all three and there is nothing on this individual.
|
Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
1748 - 1841 (92 years)