2av. 7<5

fpr the, fot^f^Sng if a. ti^tgt. tn, t/tif Co&tiy"

J90^

THE VER PLANCK ARMS.

Ermine — on a chief engrailed sa.; three mullets ar.
Crest — a demi wolf ppr.
Motto — Ut vita sic mors.

The above are the Arms used by the braueh of the family
descended from Gulian, son of Abraham.

THE

HISTORY

-OF-

Abraham Isaacse Ver Planck,

His Male Descendants in America.

By William Edward Ver Planck.

1802.

FISHKILL LANDING, N.Y.:
JOHN W. SPAIGHT, PUBLISHER.
FISHKILL BTANDAEU OFFICE.

Copyright, 1893,
— BY—
William E. Vbr Planck.

IBc^^.yo

PREFACE.

No attempt, I believe, has ever been made to collect the
scattered records of the Ver Planck family— a family which
though, with a few illustrious exceptions, never very prom
inent in the world, has yet always occupied a good position
during a period of upwards of two hundred and flfty years
since Abraham Isaa6se, its founder, settled in New Nether-
land. The fact that the family is well known ma-y, perhaps,
be because it is connected by marriage with nearly all the
colonial families of distinction.
Finding myself interested in the genealogy of the family,
and with some leisure to devote to the subject, I have been
rash enough to attempt to write a family history which
shall be something more thau a catalogue of names. This
history is also written in the hope that some one of experi
ence in such matters will be inspired to carry out the plan
here outlined, not stopping in New Netherland and New
York, but unraveling the Ver Planck lineage in Holland,
Belgium, Prance, and even in England where traces of the
family are found.
The authorities which have been used are: O'Callaghan's
"History of New Netherland," and other data of his; Brod-
head's "Colonial Documents;'' Munsell's "Annals of Albany;"
Pearson's "Early Settlers in the Ancient County of Albany;"
the public records of various counties of the State; as well
as in the office of the Secretary of State and in the State
Library at Albany. Other sources of information are men
tioned in the text. 1 have also had the use of genealogical
"trees" and fa.mily Bibles containing old Dutch and French

VI. PEEFACE.
records, for the translation of which I am indebted to Ber-
thold Fernow, Esq., at one time custodian and oflicial trans
lator of the old records at Albany. I am also indebted to
different members of the family, particularly to Philip and
William Gordon Ver Planck, Esqs., who have kindly given
me much valuable information. Notwithstanding the
pains which have been taken to secure accuracy, I am con
scious that mistakes have been made, which I shall be very
glad to have pointed out.
No family tradition has been rejected without great care
being taken to prove that it was unfounded.
In revising the manuscript for the printer, I find that I
am open to the charge of giving undue prominence to my
own branch of the family. The sole reason for this is be
cause material was at hand for a more ampleaccount of that
branch of the faraily than in the case of the others; and this
is a cause of regret to me, especially in the case of the descen
dants of Isaac, the youngest son of Abraham, of whom but
little more than a catalogue of names has been collected.
Possibly some of his descendants may be induced tc make
a complete history of their branch.
One of the interesting traits of the descendants of Isaac,
not shown in the other branches, is their conservatism in
retaining the old family names: Abigail, Ariae-ntje. Abra
ham, Isaac, Jacob, Qeleyn and Guley-h, the old forms of
(xulian, and David — the two last coming down from the
maternal side over two hundred years ago.
The quaint orthography of the time has been retained, as
it was thought to add to the interest of the book. Let no
one suppose, however, that such grammatical solecisms were
peculiar to the Ver Planck family. It needs but a casual
examination of the records and other writings of the past
two centuries to show that orthography as understood now
is quite a recent refinement. Besides there was no standard

preface. vn.
of spelling until Samuel Johnson's dictionary was published.
The plan used in the genealogical part of the book is that
of bringing down the descendants by generations in the male
line from Oulian and Isaac, the two sons of Abraham, from
whom they are numbered. Thus, Abraham, in the flrst
generation, is No. 1, after whom follow his children in the
order of their births ; his sons, Gulian and Isaac, being
Nos. 3 and 10 respectively. The second generation begins
with Gulian (3) and after him Isaac (10). The children of the
third generation begin with Samuel (11), Gulian's (3) eldest
child, and so on. By this system the identity of a person is
easily established, whiSh otherwise would be difficult, espec
ially in a family like the Ver Planck, where the names Gulian,
Isaac, Philip and William, Anna, Margaret, Gertrude, Cath
arine and Ariaentje, and others, recur so often.
Among the two hundred or more descendants of Abraham
Isaacse,' mentioned in the following pages, there have been
representatives in commerce, agriculture, flnance, at the
bar, on the bench, and in the army, some of whom have
acquitted themselves with distinction. None, however, so
far as 1 have been able to learn, have been clergymen, nor
have any practiced medicine or surgery.
It is noteworthy that none of the male descendants of
Abraham Isaacse, except two or three in the present gener
ation, have lived beyond the limits of the State of New
York. W. B. V. P.
Mount Gulian, Fishkill-on-Hudson,
Outober, 1892.

ERRATA.

Page 12,
26,26,
42,44,60,61,70,
74,81,
83,92,
95,
98,
100,100,104,121,134,
179,208,
235. 273,

line 4,
" 6,
" 12,
" 18,
" 15,
" 12,
" 3,
" 11,
" 31,
" 20,
" 2,
" 4,
" 5,
" 10. 5, 9,
25,
25,11,
15, 4,
17, 17,

before records, insert early.
" a large, " deemed.
" marriage, " mother's.
for van Reypen, read va-n, Ruyoen,
" bands, " banns,
" 1687, " 1685.
" to, " at.
" Minuiel, " Min-vielle.
after without issue,insert qfkis second marriage.

for She,
" Isaac's,
'" Selyn,
" 1st Sept.,
" April 4,
" Johnanis,
" Johnnis,
" February 10,
'¦ January 10,
" used,
" April, 1796.
" Wier,
" Livingston,
strike out the words

ead He.
Isaacse.

8ih Sept.
April 14.
Johminis.
Johannis. February 11.
.January 18.
usual,
April 22, 1797.
Weir.WaboorOi.
his u-ncle.

ABRAHAM.

The first Ver Plancii in the family under discussion
of which we have any record in this country, is Abra
ham. He often added to his name Isaacse orlsaacsen,
and not using the surname at all, in compliance with
the Dutch custora, meaning thereby that he was the
son of Isaac. So also daughters would add s to their
father's christian name, thus, Abigel Isaacs. This cus
tom obtained in this country some time after it had
grown obsolete in Holland, and by reason of it the
tracing of lineage becomes very difficult. Surnames
were rare andgenerally descriptive, viz : van Voorhees,
from hefore Hees; yvan Slyck, from the Ditch or Moat ;
van Wyck, of Wyck, a village ; Latin, Vicus.
Abraham Isaacse often called himself Abram Planck,
and in the year 16-36 he obtained from Governor Kieft
a ground brief or patent of a tract of land at "Paulus
Hoeck." This land had previously been granted to a
director of the Dutch West India Company named
Pauw. He was one of the many unsuccessful patroons,

10 ABRAHAM.
and tiring of his attempt, he abandoned the property
to the Company, previously, however, giving it the
Latin name Pavonia, a translation of his own name,
meaning peacock. On this land Abraham established
a settlement, part of which was used as tobacco plan
tations, for farming and dairy purposes.
The following is a translation of the original contract
of purchase, which is on file among the records in the
State Library at Albany :
This day underwritten before me, Cornelis van Tien-
hoov6ttj Secretary of New Netherland, appeared the
Honorable, wise and prudent Mr. Kieft, Director Gen
eral of New Netherland, of one part, and Abraham
Isaacseh Planck, of the other part, and mutually agreed
and contVacted for the purchase of a certain parcel of
land called Pouwel's Hook, situate westward of the
Island Marlhates, and eastward of Ahasimus, extending
from the North River into the valley which runs around
it there, which land Mr. Kieft has sold to Abram Planck,
who also acknowledges to have bought the aforesaid
land for the sum of 650 guilders — the guilder »t 20
stivers — which sum the aforesaid Abraham Isaacsen
Planck promises to piiy to the Honorable Mr. Kieft or
his order, in three installments, the first at the Fair,
A^ (anno) 163S, the second A^ 1639, and the third and
last installment at the fair A^ 1640, and in case he re
mains in default of payment, Jacob Albertsen Planck,
Sheriff of the Colony of Rensselaerwyck, substitutes
himself as bail and principal for the purchaser, prom
ising to pay the aforesaid 550 fi. free of costs and
charges. For all of which the aforesaid purchaser and
bondsman pledge their persons and property, real and
personal, present and future, without exception, sub
mitting to the Provincial Court of Holland, and all

ABRAHAM. 1 1
other Courts, Judges, and Justices, and in acknowl
edgement and token of the truth of these presents are
signed by the parties respectively. TJiis done at Fort
Amsterdam, N. N. (New Netherland), the first day of
May, 1638. Jacob Planck,
Abram Planck.

^'

^^<^-fo^ yo^h^i^-R^

f^J^i^O^'^'^

4'^;n^

FAO SIMrLES FROM THE CONTRACT.

On the same day Abraham gave his note to the
Director General for 520 fl., thus showing that he paid
30 fl. in cash. This note will be alluded to again.
No formal ground brief or patent seems to have been
issued to Abraham. He, however, took possession and
was recognized as owner. Several of the leases which
he made are mentioned in the records at Albany. He
also had a contract with the Director General Kieft,
made on the 16th of May, 1638, by which the latter
agreed to deliver to Abraham two milch cows on
halves, i. e., to divide the milk and butter and offspring.
Jacob Albertsen Planck, who signed as surety to
Abraham, will be mentioned again. He was not his
brother, as the name Albertsen shows. He was prob
ably a cousin, with whom Abraham came to this
country.

12 ABRAHAM.
The family name has undergone several changes.
On the Continent and in Holland the name was Ver
Plancken. This form was strictly adhered to in the
records of the Dutch Churches in New Netherland, of
births and marriages, for several generations. Abra
ham, in the early part of his career, shortened his
name to Planck, and under that name he is often men
tioned in the records referring to the Indian massacre
which occurred in the year 1642, wherein, I regret to
say, that Abraham, with two others, seem to have
been the instigators. Later, Abraham wrote his name
usually as the family does now. Fac-similes of his
signatures, as well as of many of his contemporaries of
about 1664, can be seen in Valentine's Manual.
Fac-similes of the family name in 1684 and there
abouts, showing an abbreviated form as well, will be
found on page 50.
The Schuyler family dropped the prefix "van" very
early in their history in this country, van Cortlandt,
too, often is written in the records without "van,"
and sometimes "V. Cortlandt."
The prefix ver is an abbreviation of the Dutch word
vander, as the character resembling "S" is of "ver,"
and denotes "of" or "from the." '
In the old records we find the following names using
the prefix ver : Ver Braack, Ver Hults, Ver Meulen,
Ver Wey, Ver Veelen (corrupted to Ver Valen), Ver
Milye, Ver Voort, and many others.
An interesting field of investigation to one versed in
heraldry, is that of the families Planck, Plancque, and
Planche, on the Continent and in England. The "Ar
morial General," by J. B. Rietstaf, a Hollander, is an

ABRAHAM. 13
exhaustive work, in French, and is considered an au
thority. There are several editions of this book. The
Historical Society in New York has the editions of 1861
and 1887. In them are mentioned several French
families of Planche (dela), and one Planche (des), to
which are assigned different arms, the latter of which
appears to be quite like the one used by one branch of
the Ver Planck family in America. A family Plancque
is also mentioned. In the same work are given the
arms of a Flemish family Planck (vander), also of
German families Plank (vander), Planck (vander), and
Planken, and an Austrian family "Planck — Edle von
Planckburg. * * * D. Integritas," and a London fam
ily Plank (vander). The edition of 1887, which is
much larger than that of 1861, gives two Dutch fam
ilies, viz.: Verplanken and Verplancke, the latter one
having on the arms an "uprooted tree," both, however,
differing essentially from the coats of arms of the des-
Planche family. Why the French coat of arms and
not either of the Dutch ones was taken for the family
in this country, I am at a loss to say. Doubtless
there was some good reason for it. Unfortunately,
Rietstaf does not give either a colored or outline chart
or design of the arms.
There is also an old book at the Historical Society
on certain families of Holland, by Ferwerda, in Dutch.
In it appear illuminated arms and genealogies of many
families. In the genealogical part of the book the
family Plank (vander) or Planche (dela) is merely men
tioned as being connected by marriage with one of the
families whose arms and genealogy are given at length.
The illuminated arms of the Ver Meulen family, show-

14 ABRAHAM.
ing the wind-mills, etc., are one of the interesting
features ofthis collection.
In Salisbury Cathedral, England, is a tomb stone
with this inscription : M. S.
Viris Reverendi, Israelis Vanderplank hujus eccle-
siae per annos 60 vicarii. Obit die 20 Feb. Anno.
Dom. 1797, Aetatis suae 85.
The exact date of Abraham's arrival in this country
is uncertain. He may have come out with Governor
Kieft in 1638, but I am inclined to think he came
earlier and before his marriage, which was not later
than 1635. There were Ver Plancks in Amsterdam
in 1631, as appears by a list of rate payers of that
date, whereon the name of Meijntije Ver Plancken
appears. It is said that there are Ver Plankens in
Antwerp and Rotterdam to-day, who perhaps were of
the family of the immigrants of a later date to Michigan,
where they are now settled. There was in Holland at
the time of the voyages of Hendrick Hudson, one Pe
trus Plancius. He was a celebrated cartographer and
geographer, and a friend and adviser ot Hendrick Hud
son. He may have been one of the Ver Planck fam
ily, for the Dutch writers, like those of the continent,
generally translated their name into Latin, the usual
language of the writers of that period, Grotius and
Erasmus, being in the tongue.of Holland, vander Groot
and Gerhardt respectively. The Ver Planck family
may, however, be of French origin, who, like many
others, madg Holland a refuge for a time.
The tradition in the family that Abraham had also

ABRAHAM. 15
the name of Jacobs is unfounded. Abraham married
Maria, daughter of Guleyh Vigne or Vingd She was
at that time the widow of (Jan ?) Roos, and is erro
neously described on some family trees as Mary Ross,^
whose maiden name was Vingle. ( Whether Abraham's
marriage took place in Holland or after his arrival here
does not appear. The fact that the births of his chil
dren Abigail and Gulian (the latter born January 1st,
1637), do not appear on the records of the Dutch
Church, as those of his other children do, does not
prove that Abraham married before his arrival, forthe
reason that the records of that church do not begin
until 1639. I am inclined to think that he came out
as early as 1633, when Governor van Twiller arrived,
bringing with him many immigrants, among them the
celebrated Dominie Bogardus, who married Annetje
Jans, the owner of the King's farm, so called, after
wards the property of Trinity Church. It will be re
membered that the celebrated case of Bogardus against
Trinity Church, decided in the early part of this cen
tury, which involved the title to the property of the
Church, had its origin in the children of this marriage.
The wife of Guleyn Vigne or Ving^, was Ariantje I
Cuilyie or Cuvel ; also written in other forms. She
and her husband, Guleyn Vigne, had a bowery, or
small farm, in the lower part of the city, below Wall
street, and east of Broadway, or the Breede Weg, as
that street was then called. Near by, and to the north,
and extending almost across the Island, and bounded
substantially on the south by the King's farm, on the
north by the present line of Canal street, on the east
by the Vresche Water, afterwards the Collect, and on

1 6 ABRAHAM.
the west by about the present line of Church street,
lay the f^irm of Jan Jansen 'Daraen. This is the well
known Chalkie or Calk Hook farm, and is delineated
on conveyancers' maps of New York. Maria, Abra
ham's wife, was one of several children of Guleyn
Vigne and Ariantje Cuvel. The other children were
Rachel, who married Cornelius van Tienhooven, Secre
tary to Governor Kieft, Christina, who married Djrck
Volckersen, and finally Jan Vigne, sometimes called
John Vangeei It is worthy of note that the name
van Tienhooven, though extinct in this country, is
borne to-day by the Prime Minister of Holland, a man
of wealth and liberality living in Amsterdam, as I am
credibly^informed^ After the death of Guleyn Vigne,
his widoW,^A.riantje, married Jan Jansen Damen.
"Through the courtesy of Mr. Berthold Fernow, of
Albany, I have been able to procure a translation of
an old Dutch contract made in view of her future mar
riage with Jan Jansen Damen. Itis among the Dutch
records in the State Library at Albany, and has never
been translated and printed in English before. It is
as follows :

We, the underwritten, Willem Wyman, blacksmith,
and Jan Thomassen Groen, as good men do attest and
certify that before us appeared Dirck Volckersen, the
Norman (i. e.: Norwegian or Swede), and Ariaentje
Cevelyn, his wife's mother, in order to agree with her
children by her lawful husband, deceased : she gives
to Maria Vienje and Cristina Vienje, both married per
sons, each the sum of 200 guilders as their share of
their father's estate. To Resel (Rachel) Vienje and
Jan Vienje, both minor children, each the sum of 300

ABRAHAM. 17
guilders, under the condition that together with her
future husband, Jan Jansen Damen, she shall be held
to keep the said two children in good support, until
they come of age, and that she shall be obliged to
clothe and feed them and make them go to school as
good parents are bound to do.
This done in NewNetherland, April 30, 1632.
Signed, Willem Wyman,
- _ his
Dirck X Volckersen,
murk.
Jan Thomassen.

Then follows a statement to the effect that the orig
inal was written by Jacob Planck, and was recorded
for reference aud safe keeping May 7, 1638, at New
Amsterdam. It is the opinion of Mr. Fernow that the Vienje or
Vigne family, as well as Couverille or Cevelyn family,
were Walloons, and that this contract was made at
Rensselaerwyck, where Jacob Planck was Sheriff at
this time.
She survived Damen and became the heiress to Calk
Hook farm. This farm took its name from the fact
that it bordered on a large pond or lake about the site
of the Tombs to-day. The pond was called "Kolk" on
account of its fancied resemblance to a whirlpool.-^
A point or hook projected into the lake, on which an
Indian village once stood, hence the name Kolk (Calk)
Hook farm. Damen had obtained a ground brief for this
farm from Governor Kieft in 1646. A map of this
farm at one time was on file in the Register's office.

18 ABRAHAM. ,
It has, however, disappeared, like many other old maps.
Fortunately, however, there has been preserved a good
copy of Calk Hook farm in Murray Hoffman's "Estate
and Rights of the Corporation ot New York." The
house of Damen, built of stone, stood on a hill near
the present site of William and Cedar streets. An
engraving of this house can be seen in the Memorial
History of New York, Vol. I., from which I have
taken other items of interest^^Near by the house of
Damen stood that of Abraham Ver Planck. He lived
first near the fort and afterward moved to Smith's
Valley or Smits Vly. This valley or low piece of
land extended along the East River from a short dis
tance north of where the Custom House now stands to
Fulton street. The old name of Fulton Market, viz.:
Fly Market, took its name from this Jact.5_j Ariantje
Cuvel, or Cuilyie, seems to bave been a severe type of
woman. She is said to have incited her sons-in-law
to massacre the Indians. It is related of her that on
one occasion she danced through the town, kicking
before her the head of a murdered Indian. Certain it
is that Abram Planck, as Abraham's name appears in
the letter with Jan Jansen Damen, and one Maryn
Andriensen, petitioned Governor Kieft in February,
1642, to attack the Indians. The Governor reluct
antly consented. Abraham and his party shortly after
surprised the Indians in a night attack near Pavonia,
where Abraham had a plantation. It is stated in some
of the records that as many as eighty Indians were
slaughtered. DeVries is much more severe against
the Dutch in his account of this affair. In revenge, a
general uprising of all the Indians on both sides of the

ABRAHAM. 19
River took place, extending even to Long Island. The
Indians committed many ravages on this occasion, burn
ing and destroying plantations almost as far as the
Walls, or the present site of Wall street. The war
was not brought to a close until the summer of the
same year. The political opponents of Governor Kieft
made great capital of this affair, preferring charges
against him before the States General at the Hague,
on the ground that he was responsible for the war and
its consequences. Kieft attempted to shield himself
by saying th-at Planck, Damen, and Andriensen had
exceeded their authority contained in his letter author
izing the expedition against the Indians. The result
of it all was an investigation prolonged as late as 1650,
from which neither Abraham nor his associates seem
to have suffered in the estimation of their contempo
raries. It may, however, have been the cause of Kieft's
downfall. In one of the documents sent to the States
General, Abraham is mentioned as having "with cruel
tyranny, aided by Damen and Andriensen, killed eighty
Indians." Abraham and the two others, in 1649, were
summoned to the Hague to answer for the war. On
the certificate of service of the summons, in March,
1649, it is stated "Abraharn Planke made answer that
he did not know when the war commenced." It does
not appear that Abraham ever went to the Hague, and
probably he did not, for in 1650 we find several inter
rogatories annexed to a commission to Secretary van
Tienhooven to be addressed to Abraham and Damen,
in New Amsterdam, in regard to the war.
Whether Abraham first lived on his plantation at
Paulus Hook, before coming to New Amsterdam, or

20 ABRAHAM.
when he disposed of the, plantation there, does not ap
pear from the records. - As early as 1641, he was one
of the Council of the Twelve Men, which was the first
representative assembly of the Dutch. Governor Kieft
not long after dissolved this Assembly, finding that it
thwarted him in his system of government, alleging
that the body was "dangerous and tending to the great
injury of the country and his authoriry." Not long
after Abraham was arrested and fined 300 guilders for
slandering' the authorities and tearing down an official
notice posted on the Fort. These proceedings against
him appear in the Albariy records. In 1649 Abraham
bought other land and a house near the gate of the
Fort, now the site of Bowling Green. This property
was afterwards taken by the authorities as a place for
holding Fairs or Markets. In exchange, in 1650, he
was given other land by the Government in Smith's
Valley. From 1649 to 1664, when New Amsterdam
surrendered to the English, Abraham continued to live
in Smith's Valley. A few years after he moved to
Albany, but returned again to New York, and lived
again in his Smith's Valley house, which he owned at
the time of his death, which occurred about 1690.
His occupation was that of a trader in beavers, and
in leasing his lands. In April, 1643, he leased a house
and garden at Paulus Hook to Cornelis Arissen, and
later in the month he mortgaged all his property there
to Jan Jansen Damen and Cornelis vanTienhooven, to
secure them as sureties on an indebtedness to the Dutch
West India Company,which was no doubt the unpaid
note for the purchase money. The mortgage was
probably foreclosed and the property passed out of

ABRAHAM. 21

Abraham's possession, for there is no raention of it as
belonging to him afterwards. In July, 1638, the rec
ords show the following proceedings in Court :

Jan Jaiisen Damen vs. Abraham Isaacsen Planck
and Dirck Hols<ersen (Volckersen), the Norman. This
was an action of ejectment, aud judgment was given
for the plaintiff, ordering the defendants to quit his
house.

In June, 1649, A. van Hardenburg obtained judgment
against Abraham "for goods received."
In April, 1652, Abraham sued one of his tenants,
Dirck Tunissen. "Plaintiff demands why defendant
burns lime on the land and does not till it according to
the terms of the lease. Defendant answers that the
land is not injured. The Court gave the plaintiff judg
ment and awarded as damages one-fourth of the lime."
Father Jogues, a Jesuit missionary to the Indians,
passed the winter of 1642 and 1643 in New Amster
dam. He says that there were but 400 male inhabi
tants at that time, and they spoke no less than eighteen
languages. Among them were Jews, .Puritans, Luth
erans, Catholics, and Calvinists, which latter compris
ed the prevailing number. Father Jogues declares
that he was very hospitably entertained by the people
and was given a free passage home by the Governor.
A few words about the Dutch Church where nearly
all of Abraham's children were either baptized or mar
ried may be of interest. Prior to 1642 the Church
was a mere barn, and stood near the junction of Pearl
nnA Broad streets. In that year a more worthy edifice

22 ABRAHAM.
was erected and placed within the Fort. Many en
gravings of the Fort and Church are often seen. A
good one is found in the Memorial History of New
York. In 1693 the Church in Garden street, now
Exchange Place, was erected, as the building in the
Fort had proved too smalL The Garden street Church
was the finest building in the town at that period. It
was built in the peach orchard of Dominie Drisius.
He had been a clergyman iu the old Church. The
Garden street Church stood until 1835 and was des
troyed in the great fire of that year. The corporate
successor ofthis Church is the South Dutch Reformed
Church, now on the corner of Madison avenue and
Thirty-eighth street. It is worthy of note that the
Rev. William Vesey, first Rector of Trinity, was in
stalled in the Dutch Church in Garden street, in Gov
ernor Fletcher's time, viz. 1697. The congregation
and vestry of Trinity, not having completed the build
ing of their Church, held services for some time in the
Dutch Church.
Governor Stuyvesant arrived in 1647, as the suc
cessor of Governor Kieft. He established two classes
of citizens, viz.: the greater burghers and the smaller.
In the former class were all members of the govern
ment, ministers of the gospel and their lineal descen
dants, and all who paid fifty florins. The smaller citi
zens or burghers comprised all who were residents and
"kept fire and light" for a year and six weeks ; kept
shop and paid twenty-five florins ; and all who were
born in the city. John Vigne, Abraham's brother-in-
law, was one of the greater burghers. He lived also
in the Smith's Valley, perhaps near Abraham. Abra-

ABRAHAM. 23
ham was one of the smaller citizens, nor does he ap
pear to have held office at any time after the departure
of Governor Kieft. This measure of Stuyvesant's was
a revenue measure, and it seems to have been some
what successful. There were many trade regulations
at this period. Owing to them Abraham had several
controversies with the authorities, and once was con
victed of smuggling beaver skins. At the same time
he must have enjoyed the confidence of the govern
ment, for it was at his house in "Smit's Vly," in
1658, that the Governor ordered part of the fire buck
ets to be kept for use. This was the first systematic
attempt to create a fire department in New Amster
dam. These buckets were made by Arian van Laer.
He married Abigel Ver Planck, Abraham's daughter.
• Abraham accompanied Stuyvesant in the expedition
against the Swedes on the South (Delaware) River, and
was a witness to a treaty with the Indians there in
1656, by which Stuyvesant obtained a grant of land.
Ofthis Abraham obtained, in turn, an extensive tract.
What use he made of it does not appear. In 1655 his
name appears on a list of persons assessed to repair
the forts. He, with many others, had previously re
fused to contribute voluntarily for that purpose. Later,
in 1657, a claim was made by Abraham and others,
the heirs of Ariana Cuilyie, for damages to their land
"by reason of the late survey." The Governor had
ordered a survey to be made to avoid the confusion
which he found existing in the city. The work seems
to have been badly done, for several other claims were
made by land owners. In 1664 Abraham and many
others, including John Vigne, Steph. Van Cortlandt

24 ABRAHAM.
and Jacobus Kip, signed the petition to the Governor
to surrender the city to the English without resistance.
This position they were compelled to take, for the
Home Government and the West India Company had
left the city virtually defenceless. In the petition Gov
ernor Stuyvesant is reminded, among other things, that
"the English have five frigates in the road at Nyack
and six hundred men, besides a large force in New
England." On the surrender of the city to NichoUs, the English
commander, in 1664, who afterwards became the Gov
ernor, Abraham Ver Planck, with upwards of two hun
dred others, including the most prominent Dutch citi
zens, swore allegience to the English crown. The
policy of the English toward the Dutch after the con
quest was very tolerant and wise, for although the law
ofEngland was proclaimed, yet the Dutch continued
to make their wills in their own form and prove them
by the oath of the notary, etc., as well as to convey
their lands by "transport," and not in theEnglish method
by "bargain and sale," or "livery of seisiti." The joint
will of Gulian and his wife, proved in 1684, and the
sales by Abraham, his father, mentioned later, are
good illustrations of the policy of the English. Many
of the Dutch, too, were taken into the governtuent,
e.g., Gulian and Isaac, sons of Abraham, served as Al
dermen on several occasions. After the capitulation
of the city, Abraham ceased to come into public view,
except in 1674, when he was assessed with many
others to repair the fortifications. This was during
the temporary re-occupation of the city by the Dutch.
The assessment was the small sum of three hundred

THE BAELIEST MAP OF KEW AMSTERDAM.

VIEW OP THE CANAL IN BEOAD STEEET.

For the above electrotypes the author is indebted to the iourtesy of Gen.
Jaraes Grant Wilson, editor of the '¦Memorial History of the Citv of New
York."

ABRAHAM. 25
guilders, whereas his son Galian was assessed five
thousand, — about the average amount. J The highest
on the list is 80,000 fl., the assessment of Fred'k
Phillipse. Before referring to the conveyances or transports
made by Abraham, a short account of the topography
ot the city may be of interest. In the time of Gov
ernors Kieft aud Stuyvesant the northern limit of the
city was Wall street, which took its narae from the
fact that along its southern side ran a wall or palisades,
with a water gate, so called, at the East River, about
the site of the junction of Wall and Pearl streets.
Pearl street to the north was the Strand, and was call
ed "Lang Strant." Broadway then existed as the
Breede Weg. It ran as now from the Bowling Green,
i.e., just north of the fort, northward to about the site
of the Postoffice to-day. Thence the road passed to
the east along the line of Park Row and Chatham
street over the outlet of the Collect (Kolk Hoeck) call
ed the Vresche Water, and so on northward to the site
of Chatham Square, and afterwards through the "bow
ery" or farm of Peter Stuyvesant, giving the road its
present name of the Bowery. Broad street was a
marshy piece of ground, through which ran a drain
afterwards widened into a canal or "gracht." In time
it became the Heeren Gracht, no doubt so named from
the Heeren Gracht which can be seen in Amsterdam
to-day. Many years later this canal was filled up,
which accounts for th*i unusual width of Broad street
compared to the other streets down town. Maedje
Padje (Maiden Lane) then existed. Smit's Vly, where
Abraham lived and probably died, extended along the

26 ABRAHAM,
East River from Wall street toward Fulton. There
were high hills where Ferry and Beekman streets now
stand. The farm of Guleyn Vigne stood on what is
now the corner of Wall and Pearl streets, near the
Water Gate, while that of Jan Jansen Damen lay to
the north of Vigne's, Damen's farm was a large one,
containing twenty morgen and 210 rods, a morgen
being equal to a little over two acres. This, as has
been stated, became afterwards known as the Kolk
Hoeck Farm, and fell in part to Abram Ver Planck and
his heirs, through his marriage with Maria Vigne, who
became the heiress of Damen by her marriage with
him. Before Abraham married Maria, she had previ
ously married one Roos, and had one child, Garrit,
and as he called himself Garrit Jansen, I assume that
his father's name was Jan.
Part of the history of the Roos family will be found
in the wills of John Ving^ or Vigne, and of his nephew
Garrit Jansen Roos, to which I will refer more partic
ularly. "Jan," of course, is the English of John,
which should be born in mind in reading these and
other wills translated from the Dutch, So also sen
and se are son in English.

ABRAHAM. 27
The Children of Abraham Ver Planck (No. 1; and his
wife Maria :
2. Abigel. (Abigail). She married Adrian van Laer.
3. &elyn. (Gulian). Born January 1, 1637, mar
ried Hendrika Wessels, June 20, (N. S.) 1668, and
had issue.
4. Catalyna, who married David Peterse Schuyler
October 13, 1657. Where these three were born
does not appear, as the records of the Dutch
Ohurch do not begin until 1639. This order of
the children appears in the family Trees, and is
also given in Pearson's genealogies. The other
children were
5. Isaak. (Isaac). Baptised in New Amsterdam
June 26, 1641 ; he died in infancy.
6. Sussanna, bp. May 25, 1642, married Marten van
Waert, December 4, 1660.
7. Jaoomyntje, bp. July 6, 1644, died probably in
infancy.
8. Ariaentje. (Ariantia). bp. December 2, 1646,
married Melgert Wynantse van der Poel, a gun-
stocker, December 4, 1660, and had issue.
9, Hillegond. bp November 1, 164S, married David
Ackerman in Albany, and had issue ; and finally
10. Isaak. (Isaac), bp. February 26,1651, raarried
Abigel Uyten Bogaardt in Albany, and had issue.
It was the custom to baptize children when they
were a few days old, an exception was generally noted
in the record.

28 ABRAHAM,
In Schuyler's "Colonial America" it is stated that
the David Peterse Schuyler who- married Catalyna,
was probably a brother of Philip Peterse. It is not
known when either of these Schuylers came to Amer
ica. The first records of them are their marriages.
There were eight children of David Peterse Schuyler
and Catalyna Ver Planck. Their youngest, Catlyn,
married Johnnes Abeel, who will be mentioned later.
David Peterse lived in Albany, and was a man of note.
He died in 1690, and his wife, Catalyna, in 1708. —
Melgert van der Poel was the eldest son of Wynant van
der Poel, the first settler of that family in America.
He bought land in Fort Orange, (Albany), about 1674,
and lived there until his death, when his son occupied
his property. It is worthy of note that the marriage
record of Catalyna states that she was van Amsterdam,
while that of her younger sister, Sussanna, states that
she was van Nieuw Amsterdam. This gave some basis
for the story that Sussanna was born here, while he
elder sister, Catalyna, was born in Holland, as indeed
some writers think was the case. On the other hand
the record of Gulian's bands of marriage in 1668 state
that he was van N. Yorke. Indeed, tbe wbole question
is in doubt. I think, however, that Abraham married
here, as his wife's father, Guleyn Vigne, was living on
Manhattan Island as early as 1614. In looking over
the records of the Dutch Church in Wiltwvck, or
Esopus, now Kingston, I found the baptism of Aeltjen
on the 25th April, 1666, child of Ariaen Van Laer and
Abigel Ver Plancken. The record further states that
the child would be three years of age on the 14th May,
1666.

ABRAHAM. 29
In 1672 Adrien or Ariaen Van Laer or Laar married
in New Amsterdam. The record states that he was
the widower of Abigel Ver Plancken. Possibly Abigel
died in Wiltwyck aud her husband returned to New
Amsterdam. There were other Ver Plancks in New Amsterdam,
whose relation to Abraham has not been disclosed.
We know that one Abigel Ver Plancken and child
came out in the ship "Concord" in 1664, and lived
in the Hoogh straat, as the lower part of Pearl street,
near Whitehall, was then called. Later there is the
record of the baptism of Gertuyd (Gertrude), daugh
ter of Cornelis Swart, to whom Abigel Ver Planck is
sponsor, in 1690, in Albany. This, of course, was not
Abrahatn's child, for she was dead in 1672, as shown.
Abigel is also sponsor to Isaac Ver Planck's children
thure, and also sponsor to Indians. Thete is also the
record of Sara Ver Plancken and child, who came out
from Holland, in 1663, in the ship "Statyn." Her
naran appears as spousor in New Amsterdam the fol
lowing year.
Earlier in the history of New Netherland there is
the record of Jacob Albertse Planck. He became
schout or sheriff of Rensselaerwyck under Killiaen van
Rensselaer, the first Patroon The Planck family of
this State may be descended from Jacob Albertse.
The Jacobus SPlanck, of Rensselaerwyck, of later date,
is sometimes referred to as the brother and also as the
son of Abraham. Both are wrong. This Jacobus was
the son of Gulian, and grandson of Abraham. Abra
ham had uo son Jacobus or James. He may have been
confused with Jacomyntje, a daughter of Abraham's,

30 ABRAHAM.
whose name is omitted from such "trees" as I have seen.
From "O'Callaghan's History" we learn that in a
judgment rendered in a court of New Amsterdam in
January, 1660, it is stated "that Jacob Ver Planck, of
Amsterdam, merchant, married Dierietje de Fliens, of
Weesp, by whom he had one child, who was under
the guardianship of Gilbert de Fliens, of Weesp. —
Jacob Ver Planck's widow married William Jansen
Bruynen. Abraham Ver Planck, father of Gelyn, was
the brother of Jacob." It is not probable that this
Jacob came to New Netherland. No doubt both Sara
and Abigel were near relatives of Abraham's, and came
out after he was settled in this country. Sussanna,
Abraham's daughter, became a widow soon after her
marriage, and afterwards married Sylvester Garlandt.
,'^It is stated that Maria, Abraham's wife, died in 1671.
While this may be so, I have found no direct evidence
of it. That is probably the date, for in that year the
Damen estate, to which she fell heir, was partitioned,
as we learn from a recital in an old deed made by the
heirs of Abraham Ver Planck, in the latter part of the
seventeenth century. The recital is that "Chalkie
Hoeck" was "Partitioned by contract or deed, April
17, 1671, between the partners or persons interested
in said field, to wit : Guilean Ver Plank, John Van
Gee (Jan Ving6), Thomas Lodovickson, and Christo
pher Hooghland, the contract being recorded in the
publick records of this citty and attested by Nicholas
Bayard, the then Secretary." Of this property, since
known as Calk Hook, Howells, a city surveyor, made
a map in 1689, and filed it in the Register's office, and
as I have already stated, it has been lost. From the

ABRAHAM. 31
copy preserved in "Hoffman's Estate and Rights of the
Corporation," we find that parcel No. 1 is assigned to
Abraham and Gulian Ver Planck. It comprised the
southwest part of the field, orit,about one-fourth, and
contained five morgens and 210 rods. The map is
marked to the two Ver Plancks, because probably
Gulian had died since the map was made, leaving his
father to represent his interest.
Abraham had some litigation with his wife's family
growing out of disputed surveys in 1662, over this
property, as the records show, but with no disturbance
of the title, for we find that he and his descendants in
a few years had parted with the whole tract by deeds
of record and for the most inadequate consideration,
as we think now. In this they were not alone, for
land even below Wall street, in those days sold for
very low prices.
On the 14th December, 1685, Abraham conveyed"
to John Knight, for a consideration of "tenne shillings,"
a parcel of land described as being in the "North-East
side of the city of New York, on the East side of the
Town Gate, joyning to the said citty fortifications,
containing in depth from the ditch eighty foot and in
the front one hundred and five foot one inch, and in
the rear one hundred and five foot one inch" — further
described as "bounded on the west by the lands of John
Smith and Lucas Tienhoven, on the north with other
lands of the said Abraham van Planke, and on the east
with the land of John Vangee (Ving6), and to the south
by the street commonly called the Wall street." The
deed was followed by certificate of quiet possession
taken by John Knight. In the conveyance Abraham

32 ABRAHAM.
describes himself as of the "Citty of New York." He
signs his name Abraham Ver Planka. The convey
ance recites the patent to Damen ; and Abraham con
veys the premises "in »ght of his wife Maria, daughter
of AdrianaCuvreille,.sole heiress of Jan Jansen Damen."
The ditch was the moat at the foot of the walls.
John Ving^ was a brother of Abraham's wife. He
had the distinction of beii^ the first male child of Euro
pean parents born on Manhattan Island, in 1614. He
died without issue about 1690. His wife, Emerantia
van der Sluys, died before him, as appears by an allu
sion to her in his will. His will contains some inter
esting raatters referring to th -. family and is here in
serted :
Tn the Name of the Lord, Amen :
Know all Men whorae it may Concerne, that I un
derwritten John Vigne, dwelling within this City of
New York, Considering y» Mortality and fragality of
men. Certainty of death and y® uncertaine houre there
of, thought fitt to prevent said uncertain time with mak
ing this my Testament, all disposition as I doe by
these presents. Imprimus: recommending my im-
mortall Soul into y* merciful hands of God Almighty,
and my corps to a Christian Like Buriall for a Blessed
resurrecon at y* Last Day ; Secondly, having revoked,
made null and void all former Testaments, Codicills
and acts of Last Wills, none Excepted, made before
this day and disposing de novo : I declare to have
Bequeathed by a Legacy before any division is made
to my Co2en Gerret Johnson Roos, y" sume of fifty-six
Pounds Currant Mony here for good Reasons and Con-
sideracons me thereunto moving w*** sume of £ 56.
I will and disyre that Prefently may be to him be sat-
isfyed and paid after my decease out my Estate to be

ABRAHAM. 33
Left by decease out y® first and most ready effects.
Item, I bequeath and make Eraraerante Provoost, a
daughter of Elias Provoost, procreated by Cornelia
Roos, a parcell of ground Lying without y® wall ofthis
City of New Yorke, in y® New Lotts in y'' street called
Tienhoovens street, whereof I have sold y* first lott to
Johannes Elsworth, the second to Peter Pangborne,
and this Lott being y* Third in order and must Be
broad Before at y" street and after twenty-five dutch
wood feet and Long to y® ground granted to y® Late
Govern'' Thomas Dongan, and that with this Expresse
Condicon and Stipulation, in Case y" said Emmerantie
shall happen to dye in her minority then y® said Lott
of ground shall Devvolve upon her sister Aeltie. * * *
And in y^ Remainder of my other goods, moveable and
immoveable, actions, Credittsand dues, none Excepted,
to all y same I have nominated and Instituted first y^
Joyntly Child or Children of my deceased Sister Maria
Verplank, for a stake [share?]; Secondly, y* Joyntly
Child or Children of my deceased Sister Christina Dirks,
also for a stake ; Thirdly, the Joyntly Child or Child
ren of my deceased Sister Rachell Van Tienhoven, also
for a stake ; fourthly, harme De Wolf also for a stake ;
fifthly, y" Joyntly Child or Children of Aeltie Lam-
bertse Wolf also for a Stake ; Sixthly, y" Joyntly Child
or Children of Claes Wonterse Visser also for a stake,
being in all Six Stakes. * * *
Item, I Bequeath and make to my Cosen Isaac Ver
plank, my Black Cloath Coate, and make to my Cosen
Johannes Roos my Coate with silver buttons, and to
y'' end this my Last will may be better Performed
have I nominated, Authorized and Instituted for Exec
utors my three Cosens, Gerret Johnson Roos, Lucas
Van Tienhoven, and Johannes Roos, giving to y" same
such ample power and authority as all Testamental
Executors ought to have according to Law and reason.
Also with -speciall power and authority as well on my
moveable as immoveables, to sell, alienate, transport.

34 ABRAHAM.
to deliver as is Customary and usuall in this Plase, to
receive my debts Standing out and to pay my Credit
ors that may Be, and further by decease of y® one or
y® other to Elect by y^ Survivants an other in y" de
ceased place, or in his absence or in conveniency of
y^ oue or other.
The Premisses I declare to be my Last Will and
Testamt desyring y" same may be irrevocable fulfilled
and performed, although some Perticulars Required By
Law where not herein observed. Esteeming this most
strong and usuall as aforesaid.
In testiraony of y® trueth signed this with good
knowledge, in New Yorke, y** 2 feb., A^ 168f
Signed, Sealed and delivered
in presence
Johannes Kip. J. Vigne, Signee 
1681 = L. s. .=

W. Bogardus, Not. Pub.

City of ) At a Co* of Records helden at y'' City
N. Yorke. ) hall of said City on y« 7"^ of Janu
ary, 1611.
Before P. D. La Noy, Esq., Mayor.
Jno. Spratt, ]
Cornelis Plevier, i a i-i
henry Van feurden, >Alcl.
Johannes Van Conwenhoven, J
The last will of Jno. Vigne Being brought to this
Co* was there Read, Proved and aproved of By y" oath
of Wm. Bogardus, Not. Pub., witness thereto.

ABRAHAM. 35
Parts of the will are obscure, owing no doubt to the
imperfect translation from the original Dutch in which
the will was drawn. The "cosens" are the nephews
of the testator. The ambiguity arises from the fact
that the same word iu Dutch stands for both cousin
and nephew, as was the case in Enghsh formerly. —
Tienhooven street, mentioned in the will, is now known
as Pine street. The will was originally proven under
Jacob Leisler, the usurping Lieutenant-Governor.
After the downfall of Leisler, and before the arrival of
the new Governor, the will was again proved before
"Richard Ingolsby, Commander in Cheafe," in May,
1691. In the second probate the will appears in the
original Dutch. The family name there appears as
verPlancke. Garrit Jansen Roos was the nephew of
John Vigne, being the son of his sister Maria by her
marriage with Jan Roos previous to that with Abra
ham. Garrit Rods was a carpenter, as he describes
himseh in his will dated September, 3, 1697, and prov
ed October 12, 1698. Since several persons are men
tioned in this will who afterwards appear in a deed by
the heirs of Abraham Ver Planck, I have made some
extracts from it : To his eldest son, "Peter Roos, hving
in Utrecht, Holland," is given £ 100. To Peter Gar-
ritse Roos, eldest son of the above, a silver tumbler.
To Garrit Jansen Roos, eldest son of Johannes, a de
ceased son of the testator, a silver tumbler. To Gar-
ritt Provoost, "eldest sou of my daughter Corneha," a
silver tumbler. The residuary estate is divided into
five parts among his descendants, per stirpes. He ap
points as executors Jacob de Marr^e, who had married
his daughter Corneha, (her husband having previously

36 ABRAHAM.
died); Johannes van Gelder, who had married his daugh
ter Aefje, (Eve); and Jacob Boelen.
Many of the dates in tbe old records are written with
the final figure doubled, thus: 1681, and in other cases
we find an apparent contradiction in the record of
events. To explain this a short reference to the calen
dar is necessary. It will be remembered that the Gre
gorian Calendar was adopted in Rome in 1582. By
this, the error of ten days, and other discrepancies of
the Julian Calendar, were corrected. England, how
ever, did not adopt this calendar until 1752, adhering
to the old system also of beginning the year on Lady
Day, or the Feast of the Annunciation, viz., March 25.
The Hollanders, with many other nations of the conti
nent, adopted the Gregorian calendar much before the
English. The Russians, however, still cling to the
Juhan calendar. Great confusion has often arisen from
not observing the distinction between "old and new
style." By the change it follows that January, February,
and the first 24 days of March, become the first part
of the new year, and not the last part of the previous
year. Thus the record of the will of Gulian VerPlanck,
mentioned later, appears to state that the will was
proved hefore his death. This is to be explained by the
fact that the will is dated by the Dutch calendar and
proved by the Enghsh authorities, who, of course, used
their calendar.
Not long before his death, Abraham seems to have
become financially embarrassed, for we find the record
of a mortgage of perhaps all of his unsold property in
the city of New York to Jacobus Kip, who had mar
ried the widow of his deceased son Guhan. The mort-

ABRAHAM. 3?
gage was dated May 9, 1688, but not recorded until
August, 1697. It was given to secure the payment
on the 20th of May, 1689, of the sum of £241, 5s, and
9d., silver money, loaned by said Jacobus Kip, "for the
account of y" estate of Giulain Verplank, deceased."
The land mortgaged was ^'all the lotts lying out the
gate by the Wall among the lotts of Jno. Vigne, Lucas
Tienhoven, and Peter Stoutenburgh ; and also the lott
of ground of me in the Kolk Hooke, with my house,
lott of ground and orchard lying in the smith's valey,
all in the county of New Yorke." The mortgage was
paid off and a certificate to that effect filed in April,
1700, as appears by a note in the raargin of the record.
In referring to the different conveyances raade by
Abraham, no effort has been made to present a strict
abstract of title, for it is evident that the chain of title
must consist of other instruments than those mention
ed. My object in mentioning the transfers is to
show what property Abraham became possessed of,
and not every step in the process of acquisition.
Abraham obtained patents for other lands in New
Netherland, but what disposition he made of all of them
does not appear. "The Clover Pasture, situate on
the West Side of Maiden Lane, in or near the city of
New York," was owned by Abraham, as we learn from
a deed of a quarter interest made by Samuel VerPlanck,
describing himself as grandson of Abraham, to Stephen
van Cortlandt, in August, 1695, and now on record in
Albany. The land at Paulus Hook, now the site of
Hoboken and Jersey City, Abraham is known to have
mortgaged to secure the sureties oo his note to Gov
ernor Kieft in 1643, as already stated. He may have

38 ABRAHAM.
let the property go for the mortgage, ais the land no
doubt was depreciated if not wholly destroyed in value
by the ill advised war with the Indians in 1642, and
for which Abraham himself was largely responsible.
Assuming that Abraham was but 21 when Gelyn,
bis second child, was born, the probable year of his
death, in 1690, would make his age at least 74. —
When Abraham died is not exactly known. Perhaps
soon after the making of the mortgage, when he seems
to have been too feeble to write his name, using his
"mark" for the first time. This is quite noteworthy,
for he invariably signed his name to the various doc
uments, &c., which have been recorded, in'contrast to
others, who frequently made their marks. In the
mortgage Abraham is called Van Planke.
The next record of Abraham is that of his intestacy
and the issuing of letters of administration on his estate,
August 11, 1691, to "Jacob Kipp, his principaU cred
itour," as the records in the Surrogate's Court of New
York show.
Some facts about the children of Abraham in the
male line will be given in the following chapters.

GULIAN.

Gulian, originally Gelyn (No. 3), the eldest son of
Abraham, was born on the first of January, 1637, ac
cording to the family tradition. In fact the best evi
dence of the year is the statement in the old Dutch
Bible formerly owned by Guhan, in which he states,
in his own writing, that at the time of his marriage,
June yf, 1668, he was thirty-one years old.
The early part of Gulian's life is referred to by Val
entine in the Manual and History. As a boy he went
first as an apprentice into the house of Allard Anthony,
who was a prominent merchant having a warehouse
in New Amsterdam. Anthony had married Henrica
Wessels, in April, 1656. She was probably the aunt
of Guhan's wife Hendrickje or Hendrika. He was a
harsh and oppressive man, and much disliked by his
neighbors. ^His ill treatment of Gulian so enraged
Abraham, Gulian's father, that he is said to have struck
Anthony. Guhan afterwards entered into the employ
ment of Peter Cornelise vanderVeen, also a merchant of
New Amsterdam.

40 GFULIAIir.
From the Dutch records in the State Library at Al
bany, of which no complete printed translation exists,
as I am told by Mr. Fernow, to whom I am indebted
for this translation, I have been able to get further
detail of Gulian's apprenticeship and controversy with
his master, Allard Anthony, as well as of Gulian's sub
sequent association with Peter Cornelise vanderVeen.
They are as follows :
In December, 1655, Maria, Gulian's mother, insti
tuted proceedings against Allard Anthony before the
Council and Director General, in which she petitioned
that the defendant be ordered to carry out the judg
ment of the Court of the Burgomaster and Schepens,
rendered in July, 1655, under which her son Gelyn
was directed to be discharged from the service of Al
lard Anthony as an apprentice. To this the defen
dant answered that he was injured by that judgment
and would appeal from it.
The court then ordered Anthony to carry out the
judgment or appeal io due form.
On the 23d of December the case came again before
the Council, which rendered this decision :
"The Court considers that as Christmas is near at
hand, and as it would take too long to try the case in
the usual manner, it would be proper to refer the question
to two arbitrators, with power to choose a third in
case they disagree."
Nothing appears to have come of this, and it was
probably a raild reproof to Gulian's mother for inter
fering in proceedings which were pending in the name
of Abraham, Guhan's father, acting as guardian. In

GULIAN. 41
February of the following year, the appeal of Allard
Anthony from the decision of the Burgomaster and
Schepens was decided by the Director-General (Stuy
vesant) and the Council. His opinion appears at
length in the manuscript. The following are extracts :
The complaint of Abraham Planck, as father, etc.,
of Gelyn Verplancke, shows under Exhibit "A" that
the defendant, Allard Anthony, has driven plaintiff's
son Gelyn out of his house with these words : 'Bruyt
na JouVaer toe,' which plaintiff asserts is an infraction
of the contract made between said Allard Anthony,
as raaster, and Gelyn Verplancke as servant for four
years. He therefore demands full pay for four years.
Allard Anthony, in his answer, Ex. "B," denies that
he has driven or pushed plaintiff's son out of his house,
but has warned him that if he ran away, he would not
again be received in the house. Notwithstanding,
Gelyn has withdrawn from his, defendant's service and
authoiity. He, Allard Anthony, therefore charges
Abraham Planck board money for the third half
year at 5J fl. per week, beginning August 14, 1652,
to February 1, 1654, on which latter date Gelyn went
away without permission.
Ex. "D," of Gelyn is : Burgomaster Allard Anthony
sent me upstairs to the garret chamber to fetch 
(obscure in the original) and I going up met his dog,
which I pushed from the stairs, but the dog followed me
to the chamber. Turning round I saw the dog and call
ed it down, when Burgomaster Allard Anthony came
and gave me a slap on the head. Without saying any
thing I ran into the house ; he followed and took the
cane to beat me. Seeing that, I ran into the ware
house ; he followed. Then I told hira that I would
not come into the house, if he intended to beat me
with his cane. Seeing I would not come in, he said,

42 GULIAN.
^^Bruyt na jou vader toe." I took off my hat and went
home.

The phrase quoted means, "Run to your father."
The Rev. Daniel Van Pelt, of New York, an expert in
the Dutch of this period, who made the translation of
the phrase for me, adds: '-The whole phrase being
one eraployed in anger, and with intentional disrespect
or conterapt, it raay have added another sting to the
command. The whole means that the boy was told
in no gentle way to return to his father, and hence it
served as evidence in the case."
Stuyvesant gave but httle credit to Gulian's story
on the ground that it was the unsupported statement
of au interested party, and after giving Gulian a moral
lecture, advocated reversing the deiiision of the lower
court in Gulian's favor. The other Judges did not
agree with Stuyvesant, and the Court was a tie. The
Secretary (van Reypen) was then called in to cast the
deciding vote, and dehver the judgment of the Court.
It was that "though Gelyn had been known as a quiet,
decent and capable young man, yet he had left his
master without good cause,'' and that he should be
bound to offer to Mr. Allard Anthony to serve out his
time according to the contract, and in case he refuse
to do so, he shall be satisfied with the board given
him during the term of the apprenticeship, without
demanding any further pay. * * * If his master re
fuse to receive hira again, then he shall give to Gelyn
the full pay as proraised in the contract. * * * As to the
cash account kept by Gelyn aud what his master has
held as security, together with the costs of the suit,

GULIAN. 43
the Council affirms the decision of the Court of Bur
gomaster and Schepens."
Three weeks later the case again came up, when
Gulian petitioned that his goods be delivered to him by
his former master, and that he have two full days to
consider whether he would return to his service or not.
This the Council granted on Guhan's giving security,
to run until he had given an account of the cash.
During these proceedings Guhan was in his nine
teenth year.
Two years later Guhan was trading on his own ac
count, and like his father, he got into trouble with
the authorities about beavers. We read from the
same records that he was tried and acquitted in Sep
tember, 165^, for smuggling beaver skins.
After the death of Peter vander Veen, his represen
tative, Govert Loockermans, sued Guhan, alleging
that he should account for all raoneys of the decedent
which had passed through his hands as clerk. To that
Gulian answered that he had already accounted to
vander Veen in his hfetime. The Court, after hearing
the parties, ordered judgment for defendant. This
suit may have been one in revenge for a suit brought
by Gulian against Loockermans during the previous
month. In his thirty-second year he married Hendrika Wes
sels. She is said to have been the daughter of Metje
Wessels, a famous landlady of those days, who had a
tavern on the road to the north over which the fur
traders passed on their way to the town. There it
was that the news and gossip of the day were discuss
ed, and many jovial meetings of the traders took place.

44 GULIAN.
Guhan, it is said, had previously been engaged "to an
other, whom he had jilted for Hendrika. Another
daughter of Metje's, Valentine also states, married an
Edsall. In the "Memorial History" there are references to
Matty Wessels, who, no doubt, is the same as Metje,
for there was a general indifference to the spelling of
names in those days. Matty Wessels is there referred
to as being one of the "smaller citizens," like Abraham
Ver Planck, and is mentioned in the list of 1657 with
him, David Wessels, and Garrit Jansen Roos. Matty
Wessels, in 1665 lived on " 't water," on the west
side of the present Whitehall street. Other Wessels
are found in a directory of that date.
The bands of Gulian's marriage in 1668, are thus re
corded in the Dutch Church, New York, under date
of June 1st :
"Galeyn Ver Plancken j. m. van N. Yorke en
Hendrickje Wessels j. d. van Aernheim in Gelderl',"
i. e. Gulian Ver Planck, a young man (not before mar
ried) from New York, and Hendrika Wessels, a young
maiden from Aernheim, in Gelderland.
Gulian became one of the prominent merchants of
that time and had a trade with Holland, the West
Indies and England. In the latter country one of
his correspondents and consignees was Edwin Griffiths
or Griffin, in London. This we learn from a dispute
which arose after Gulian's death, between Griffiths
apd Jacobus Kip, who married Gulian's widow.
The dispute was referred to arbitration ; the question
being on whom should fall charges "for portridge,
weight-money, storidge, cartage and other incidental

GULIAN. 45
charges," which appeared on Gulian's books against
Oriffiths. The arbitrators decided that Kip should
pay ^£12 and 12 shillings on the production of a cer
tain affidavit frora Griffiths to be made before the Lord
Mayor. This decision was made in 1686.
Guhan's warehouse and residence were on the
*'Strant," now Pearl street, facing the river, between
Whitehall and Broad streets. By his marriage he ob
tained both a high position and a fortune, for the
Wessels were accounted among the richest people in
the city. He was successful as a merchant, and took
part in the government of the city both under the
Dutch and English, serving as Schepen and Alderman.
During the temporary reoccupation of New York by
the Dutch, who gave it the name of New Orange, he
served as Ensign in the garrison, and he, with a few
others, were publicly "thanked for their great zeal in
fortifying the city." At this time, 1673, he, with two
others, were appointed a commission to hquidate the
estate of Francis Lovelace, the late English Governor,
whose affairs had been left in great confusion on the
surrender by the English. In April of the following
year we fiud that he and Francis Rombout were sued
by the Fiscal (prosecuting official) for trading with
the enemy, one Nathaniel Davenport, contrary to the
proclamation, the offence being aggravated by the fact
that he, Guhan, was a magistrate of the city. To
this Guhan made answer that he had gone into New
England to speak with Davenport about securing his
property at Pel's. The Court, after hearing the par
ties, considered that it may have been done through
ignorance and fined Gulian 50 florins (beaver), two-

46 GULIAN.
thirds to tbe use of the Fiscal and one-third to the
church. In 1676 Gulian's merchandize was seized at Boston
as the property of Dutch enemies in New York.
In the old Dutch Bible which fell to the share of
Mrs. A. Ver Planck Clapp, in the division of tbe prop
erty of her father, the late William S. Ver Planck,
Gulian (No. 3) has made a record of his marriage and
part of his chiHren, of which the following is a trans
lation, viz :
Anno 1668, the iUh of June, I, Giulain verplanck,
31 j'ears old, was married at New Yorke in America
with hendrikje wessels, who in September last was
23 years old, the formula was read to us by the Rev.
domine Samuel driesyes [Drisius].
Anno 1669, the ffth of December, a Thursday about
4 o. c. p. ra. our first child was born, he being a son.
On the 19th of Deceraber, Sunday, he was
baptized- by domine drisyes and called
ITo. 11. Samuell. The witnesses were nicholas
• Racker [Backer ?] and Johannes van brug-
geu and my mother rnaria verplanck. On
the 20th of November A^ 1698 Samuel splanck died at
sea on a voyage from Curacao to Jamaica aud was
buried at Captain Bouten's Point on the Island of
Jamaica. [Samuel married Ariantia Bayard, October
27, 1691, and had issue].
Anno 1671, on the 1st of Deceraber old style, Fri
day, about 9 o. c. a. m. our second child,
also a son, was born. He was called
No. 12. Jacobus. The witnesses were my father
abraham splanck and anna Lysabeth
wessels. Jacobus Splanck died on the

GULIAN. 47
30th of October 1699 and was buried in the church.
[Jacobus married Margaretta Schuyler, September 8,
1691, and had issue.]
Anno 1674 in New Orange, (New York), the A of
January, Saturday at about 1 o. c. at night our third
child was born. It was baptized on
the 24th of this month and cahed
ITo. 13. abraham. Stephanis van Cortlant and
Francoyes rombouts with my wife's sister,
Janneca edsals were the witnesses.' —
A^ 1 695, the 7th of June Abraham Splanck went to New-
Foundland in the "Brothers Adventure" as mate ; he
sailed thence on the 18th of July and has never heen
heard of since.
Anno 167*, the 23d of March old style. White
Thursday, about 10 o. c. in the evening our fourth son
was born, he was baptized on the first Sunday, the
26th, it heing Easter Sunday. Samuel edsalls, War-
nar Wessels and Samuel edsall's daughter, anna Edsall
were witnesses. Anno 1676, the 14th of July old style,
ITo. 11. our 4th son Joannis died on a Friday at
11 o. c. in the forenoon.
He was buried Sunday the 16th, after the sermon.
Anno 1671, the 17th of March old style, on a Sun
day our 5th son was born and baptized
on the 20th of the same month, a Wed-
No. 15. nesday. He was called benjamin. The
witnesses were gerret roos, and Abraham
delanoy with Judicje Edsall, the wife
of Benjamin bleg. In New York.
Anno 1678 the 4th of August, a Sunday our son

4» GULIAir,
benjamin died at about 6 o. c. p. m. and was buried
on the 6th of the same month.
Anno 1679, tbe 20th of July old style, a Monday,
our 6th son was born at about 4 o. c. in
the morning. He was baptized on the
Ho. 16. 27th of J uly and called benjamin. The
witnesses were Warnar Wessels my wife's
brother and peter Jacobse maurits with
Warnar Wessels' wife, called Ehzabeth.
benjamin died on the 21st of July 1680 and was
buried on the 25th of Julv.
Anno 1680 the 2d of September old style, a Thurs
day, at 1 o. c. nights my 1 daughter was
born and baptized on the 5th of Septem-
No. 17. ber, Sunday. She was called anna. The
witnesses were david Schuyler, Peter de
Lanoy and gertruy Schuyler, the wife of
Sr. Stephanis van Cortlant. [Anna married Andrew
Teller and had issue.]
Anno 1684, the 23d of April my father died of fever
and of a boil in the ear. He was buried on tbe 26th
of the same month. Anno 1684, the 22d of June old style, a
Monday our Sth child was born and was
No. 18. called gulena. The witnesses were peter
Jacobsen maryus and hartman Wessels
with Ehzabeth bedlo.
Gulena Verplanck died on the 30th of November
in the year 1701 and was buried in the church on the
4th of December.
N. B. The marriages referred to iu brackets, and the marginal
numbers, are not in the Bible.

GULIAN. , 49
The Bible from which these entries were copied and
translated is an "Elzevier," printed in Leyden in 1663.
From an entry iu Dutch it appears that it was bought
for £4: from Alderman Kipe — phonetic spelling of
Cuyp, now Kip. All the entries referring to the births
of the children, except that of Gulena, a posthumous
child, were probably made by Guhan himself. Those
entries, too, are carefully engrossed and seem to be all
in the same handwriting. The other entries referring
to the deaths and the birth of Gulena, are also in Dutch,
but in a different handwriting. A peculiarity of the
original is that nearly every surname and many of the
christian names have a small initial letter, which has
been retained iu the translation. This practice was
quite common at this period and later, even in formal
deeds and wills.
The Wessels and Edsal families lived in New York.
Their names appear in the directories of this period
and in the list of raerabers of the Dutch Church.
Harman Wessels lived in Brug (Bridge) straat in 1686.
In the sarae year we find Marntje Wessels, widow of
Nicholas Backer, living "Lang's strant," i. e., along the
strand. It is possible that she was the mother of Gul
ian's wife. The old Bible has this peculiar monogram
in it done with pen and ink :

which means: Gelyn Abrahamsen Ver Plancken, i. e.,
Guhan son of Abraham Ver Planck.

50 GULIAN.

The above are fac similes of the originals in the
Bible. That of Jacohus splanck is taken from the
entry of his death which was raade after his father's
death. Thus it appears that Jacobus bore this narae
at his birth and death, nor have I been able to find any
contemporaneous record that he had any other name.
The name, James, assigned to him by tradition, may
have arisen from assuming Jacohus to be Latin and
and translating it into its English equivalent, James.
The /ac similes also show the peculiar character used
as an abbreviation of the prefix ver, which is usually,
though incorrectly, printed S from its resemblance to
that letter.
This old Bible got out of the possession of the fam
ily, when or how cannot now be determined. We

GULIAN. 51

know this from an entry raade by Sarauel Ver Planck,
great grandson of Gulian, in another Dutch Bible
printed in 1714, formerly owned by Wilham Beekman
Ver Planck, and now by his hneal descendant William
Gordon Ver Planck, in which is contained a transla
tion of the foregoing records. The memorandum reads
as follows :
"Translation of a Dutch Record taken from a Dutch
Bible which formerly belonged to Gulian Verplanck,
the elder, of the city of New York, Merchant, and
which is now the property of George Brinckerhofl of
Hopewell, Rombout Precinct, State of New York,
late of Newtown, on Long Island. [Then follows the
record before quoted, though somewhat different in
form.] The foregoing was copied and translated on
the 7th of June, 17i>6, as witness my hand.
Sam'l Verplanck."
Jacobus Kip, who married Guhan's widow, lived at
Newtown with his wife and step-daughter Gelyna.
Possibly it was there that George Brinckerhofl obtain
ed possession of the Bible. How it got back into the
Ver Planck family is also unknown. It raay have been
through the late Gulian C. Ver Planck, for his auto
graph and date 1857 is in the Bible.
The spelling of the narae Gulian has undergone
many changes. In the Dutch it was Gelyn, though
Guleyn Vigne, his maternal grandfather, after whora
Gulian was named, does not appear to have always
spelled it so. Then we have the forms Giulain, Guline,
Gelleyn, Guleyn. The form "Guhan" began to be
used about 1750 ; and so as to the surname which
now begins to lose the original Dutch of "Ver Planck-

52 GULIAN.
en" and becomes Ver Planck, Verplancke, ver and
van Planke, Verplanck, Verplank, Splanck, v. and
vr. plank or Planck and other forms. Guhan, like
his contemporaries, seems to have had no fixed forni
of signature. The child born on the 22d June, 1684,
called Gulena, is also called Guhana and Gelyna in
other records. She was born after her father's death, and
will be raentioned again. Dominie Drisius, mentioned
in the Bible record, was the pastor of the Dutch
church then in the Fort. He is a well-known man in
the annals of the tirae.
The raost important event in Guhan's life, to us of
a laterday, was obtaining the deed and patent for the
great tract of land on the Hudson River subsequently
known as the Rombout Patent.
Following the practice of the time, Gulian and
Francis Rombout filed a petition and obtained a license
to purchase from the Indians in possession, certain
lands "above the Highlands on Hudson's River." The
law of the colony at that time made the issuing of the
patent conditional on a prior settlement with the In
dians ; at the same time the title to the soil was as
serted to be in the Sovereign by right of conquest or
discovery, and not. in the Indians. The right is anal-
ag'>u8 to the one which the Federal Government as
serts to the Indian's lands. One of the regulations in
those times made after the Rombout patent, was, so
it is stated, that no one should take up more than one
thousand acres. This regulation, however, was gen
erally evaded, if not openly violated. There is reason
to believe, also, that the royal grants of the Indian
lands were attended with jobbery. The Indians on

GULIAN. 53
their part often granted the same land over again. Such
was the case with the great patent to Koeymans, near
Albany. The Indians in that case had granted the
land to Killiaen Van Rensselaer, the patroon, and he
not taking immediate possession of the whole tract,
the Indians granted partof the same property to Koey
mans. From this arose a famous lawsuit. Fortunate
ly, in the case of Gulian and his partner Rombout, no
such difficulty took place. They treated with the In
dians and obtained the title by deed from the Wappin-
gers and other local tribes. It must have been a diffi
cult matter to have established a clear title and to
prove that the grantors had what they attempted to
convey. However, Gulian and Francis Rombout seem
to have been satisfied with the title, nor does it appear
that any other tribes afterwards attempted to oust
them. The deed in the form of a transport, was de
livered on the 8th day of August, 1683, and was after
wards recorded among the State papers at Albany,
and appears in Book of Patents 5, page 72. Here it is :
This Following Indian Deed of Sale Re
corded for Mr. ffraucis Ruinbouts and
Gulyne Ver Planke the 14th Day of Aug
ust 1683.
To all Christian People to whom this Present Write
ing shall Come Sackoraghkigh for himselfe and in the
name of Megriesken Sachem of the Wappingir Indians
Queghsjehapaein Niessjawejahos Queghout Asotews
Wappegereck Nathindaeniw Wappapee Ketaghkainis
Meakhaghoghkan Mierham Peapightapeieuw Quegh-
hitaeuw Meinesawogh Katariogh Kightapinhogh Rear-
awogh Meggrek Sejay Wienangeck Maenemanew and

54 GtTLIAN.
Ginghstjerem true and LawfuU Owners and Indians
Proprietors of the Land herein Menconed send Greet
ing Know Yee that for and in Consideracon of a Cer
taine Sume or Quantity ot Mony Wampum and Diverse
other Goods in a Schedull hereunto Annexed Perticu-
larly Meucened and Expresed to them the said Indians
in Hand Payed by Mr. ffraucis Rumboutsand Gulyne
VerjDlanke both of the Citty of New Yorke Merchants
the Receipt whereof they tbe said Indians Doe hereby
Acknowledge and therewith ownes themselves to be
fully payed Contented and Sattisfied and thereof and
of every Parte and Parcell Doe hereby Acquitt Exon
erate and Discharge them the said ffrancis Rumbouts
and Gulyne V. Planke their Heires and j^ssignes have
Given Granted Bargained Sold Aliened Enfeoff* and
Confirmed and by these Presents Doe fully Cleerly and
Absolutely Give Grant Bargaine Sell Alien Enfeoffe
and Confirme unto the said ffrancis Rumbouts and
Gulyne Ver Planke All that Tract or Parcell of Land
Scituate Lyeing and beiug on the East side of Hudsons
River at the North side of the High Lands Beginning
from the South side of A Creeke Called the fresh Kill
and by the Indians Matteawau and from thence North
ward along said Hudsons River five hund" Rodd bejond
the Greate Wappins Kill Called by the Indians Mawe-
nawasigli being the Northerly Bounds and from thence
into the Woods fouer Houers goeing alwayes keeping
five hund* R<»dd Distant from the North side of said
Great Wapinga Creeke however it Runns as alsoe frora
the said fresh Kill or Creeke Called Matteawau along
the said fresh Creek into the Woods att the foot of the
said High Hills including all the Reed or Low Lands
at the South side of said Creeke with an Easterly Line
fouer Houres Goeing into the Woods and frora thence
Northerly to the end of the fouer Houers Goeing or
Line Drawne att the North side of the five hund'' Rodd
Bejoyond the Greate Wappinger Creeke or Kill Called
Mawenawasigh togather with all the Lands Soyles

GULIAN. 55
Meadows both fresh and salt Pastures Commons Wood
Land Marshes Rivers Rivoletts Streams Creekes Waters
Lakes and whatsoever else to the said JTract or ParceU
of Land within the Bounds and Limitts aforesaid is
Belonging or in any wise Appurteining without any
Reservacon of Herbage Trees or any other thing Grow
ing or Being thereupon To have and to hold the said
Tract or ParceU of Land Meadow Ground and Prem-
esses with their and every of their Appurteimces and
all the Estate Right Title Interest Clayrae and Demand
of them the said Indian Proprietors and each and every
of them of in and to the same and Every Parte thereof
unto them the said ffrancis Rumbouts and Gulyne Ver
Planke their Heires and Assignes to the Sole and only
Proper use Benefitt and Behoofe of them the said
ffrancis Rumbouts and Gulyne Ver Planke their Heires
and Assignes for Ever And they the said Indians Doe
for themselves and their Heires and every of them
Covenant Promise and Engage that the said ffrancis
Rumbouts and Gulyne Ver Planke their Heires and
Assignes shall and may from hence forth for ever Law
fully Peaceably and Quiettly have hold Possesse and
Enjoye the said Tract or Parcell of Land and all &
Singuler other the Primisses with their Appurtennces
without any Lett Hindrance or Interupcon whatsoever
of or by them the said Indians Proprietors or their
Heires or of any other Person or Persons whatsoever
Clayming or that heareafter shall or may Clayme by
from or under them or Either of them And that they
shall and will upon the Reasonable Request and De
mand made by the said Francis Rumbouts and Gulyne
Ver Planke Give & Deliver Peaceably and Quiettly
Possession of the said Tract or Parcell of Land and
Premises or of some Parte thereof for and in the Name
of the whole unto such Person or Persons as by the
said ffrancis Rumbouts & Gulyne Ver Planke shall be
Appointed to Receive the same In Wittnesse whereof
the said Sackoraghkigh for himselfe and in the Narae of

56 GULIAN.
Megriskar Sachem of Wappingir Indian Queghsjehai-
peieuw Niessjawejhos Queghout Asotewes Wappeger
eck Nathindaem Wappape KetaghkannsMeakaghogh-
kan Mierham Peapightapaeuw Queghhitaeun Memes-
awogh Katariogh Kightapinkog Rearawogh Meggiecb
sejay Wienangeck Marnemaeun Guighstierm the In
dian Owners and Proprietors aforesd have hereunto sett
their Hands and Scales in N Yorke the Eighth Day of
August in the 35th Yeare of his Maties Reigne Anno
Dom 1683.

Signed Sealed and Dehvered

in the prsen of us

Antho: Brockholls
S. V. Courtlan
dt
John West.
The marke
of X Sakoraghu
ck (Seal)
The rr
arke of X Queghsjeh
apaein (Seal)
The marke of Claes
the Indian X Inter
Verte
The marke of
X
Merham
(Seale)
The marke of
The marke of
X X
Peapightapiiew Queghhitaemn
(Seale) (Seale)
The marke of
The marke of
X
X
Meinesawogh
Kotariogh
(Seale)(Seale)
The marke of
X
Kightapinkogh
(Seale)
The raarke of
The marke of
The marke of
The marke of
XX X X
Rearawogh
Meggenksejay Wienangeck Maenemanew
(Seale) (Seale)
(Seale) (Seale)
The marke of X Guighstjerem
The marke of X Niessjawejahos
The marke of X Queghout
The marke of Ajotewes X
The marke of X Wappegereck
The marke of Nathindaenaw X
(Seale) (Seale)
(Seale) (Seale)
(Seale) (Seale)
GULIAN. 57
The marke of X Wappape (Seale)
The marke of Hetaghkannis X (Seale)
The marke of X Meakhagh (Seale)
The marke of X Oghkan (Seale)
A Schedull or Perticuler of Mony Wampum and
other Goods Paid by ffrancis Rumbouts and Gulyne
Ver Planke for the Purchase of the Land in the Deed
hereunto Annexed.
One hund. Royalls Two Hund. fathom of white
Warapura. One Hund. fathom of black Wampum
thirty Gunns twenty Blanketts forty fathom of Duffills
twenty fathom of stroudwater Cloth thirty Kittles
Forty Hatches forty Howes forty Shirts forty p stock-
ins twelve Coates of R. b: & b: C: One hund Pound
Powder One Hund. Barrsof Lead thirty tobacco boxes
ten holl adges ten Drawing knives forty earthen Juggs
forty Bottles forty Knives fouer ankers Rum ten halfe
fatts Beere two hund. tobacco Pipes and Eighty Pound
Tobacco. New Yorke August the 8th 1683.
The above Perticulers were Delivered to the Indians
in the Bill of Sale Menconed in the p''sence of us.
Antho Brockholls.
John West.
S. V Courtlandt.
I do hereby Certify The aforegoing to be a true Copy
of the Original Record. Compared therewith By Me.
Lewis A: Scott. Secretary.
A Royall or ryal was a coin formerly current in Eng
land, and equal to a half sovereign, or about $2.50.
Duffills or duffle, was coarse flannel. Warapura, the
currency of the Indians, was adopted by the Dutch

58 GULIAN.
through necessity, for specie was scarce. It consisted
of certain kinds of shehs strung together. Governor
Stuyvesant made several ineffectual attempts to fix its
value, and to drive out the rough or inferior wampum
brought into New Netherland by the New Englanders,
Thus, about 1648, a fathom of black wampum was fixed
by ordinance to be worth four guilders, or SI. 60. In
1662 twenty-four beads of white or twelve beads of
black wampum were raade equal in value to one stiver,
or two cents. The value, however, continued to de
cline so that by 1683, the date of the Indian deed, a
fathora of black wampum was probably worth about
seventy-five cents. The other items in the schedule
are obscure only by reason of their peculiar spelling :
"Hatches" for hatchets, "Howes" for hoes, "Fatts"
for vats, ete. It has been estiiuiited that the total
value of the articles was about $1,250, quite different
from the Jug of rum and String of beads story.
The land described in the Indian deed covers over
85,000 acres in Dutchess County, and comprises the
towns of Fishkill, East Fishkill, Wappingers, the west
part of LaGrange, and 9,000 acres on the southeastern
side of the town of Poughkeepsie, along the Wappingers
Creek. The patent did not issue until October 17,
1685. At that time Gulian VerPlanck was dead and
his widow married to Jacobus Kip. The patent ran
to Francis Rombout, Jacobus Kip (representing Gul
ian's interest), and Stephanus van Cortlandt. Why
the latter was made a copatentee is not very clear.
Perhaps for the influence of his narae to expedite the
issuing of the patent ; for he was one of the great men
of that day.

GULIAN. 59
At the time of the purchase from the Indians the
chiefs made Gulian several gifti^ as tokens of good will
and friendship. Of those which are still preserved in
the family, Mrs. Benjamin Richards has a calumet of
stone finely carved, an embroidered pouch, and a dag
ger case.
The patent was issued by "Thomas Dongan, Leiut.
Governour and Vice AdmiraU under his majesty Jaraes
the Second, &c." It recites the Indian deed to "ffran
cis Rurabouts and Gulyne Ver Planke of the city of
New York Merchants ;" the death of the latter and his
will, and his widow's marriage to Jacobus Kip; and the
joining of Van Cortlandt, who contributed one-third-
of the cost of purchase from the Indians. The pa
tent grants au absolute fee of the same premises con
veyed by the Indian deed, except royal mines. The
Crown, however, reserved an annual quit rent of "Six
Bushells of Good Merchantable winter Wheate on
every 25th day of March at the Citty of New York."
The "Fresh Kill" of the Indian deed becomes the Fish
Kill in the patent, and the "fouer houres going into
the woods" is construed as sixteen English miles.
In making these extracts, certified copies of the pa
tent and Indian deed have been used. They were ob
tained from the State records in Albany, where the
originals were recorded not long after their dates. —
Where the original patent or deed is now, or whether
either of them is in existence, I am at a loss to say.
One of the incongruities in the patent is an express
grant of "ffishing, fowhng, Hunting, Hawking" and
other feudal privileges which meant nothing in this
country either then or since.

60 GULIAN.
Robert Ludlow Fowler, Esq., of the New York bar,
an authority on Colonial Laws, tells me that these
feudal clauses were put in the patents by the Attorney
General of the Colony, who indiscriminately fiUed out
the form then in use in England.
Dutchess County had been previously estabhshed
by the Colonial legislature. It wih be remerabered
that all of New Netherland had been given by Charles
II to his brother James, Duke of York. He was Lord
High Admiral, as well. He appointed the governor,
granted charters, etc., and not until his accession in
1687, did New Netherland become a part of the Crown
property. James it was who changed the name of
New Amsterdam to New York. To Fort Orange he
also gave his other title, Albany. One of the first acts
of the Colonial legislature was the establishraent of
Shires or Counties according to the English custom.
In this way arose the counties of New York, Kings,
Queens, Richmond, Westchester, Orange, Ulster,
Dutchess, and Albany. The two latter had much
more extensive boundaries than those of to-day.
There was also a Duke's county, which comprised
the islands off the east end of Long Island and a part
of New England, The peculiar spelhng of Duifchess
has given rise to an unfounded idea that the county
was named after the Dutch. Such is not at all the
case, but quite the reverse, for the name is as Eng
lish and unDutch as it could be made. The very ob
ject of making the sweeping changes in the local
names was to impress on the Dutch inhabitants the
fact that they were under another rule — English. The
retention of the "t" is a survival of the old spelling.

GULIAN. 6 1
The original southern boundary of Dutchess county
on the river was to Anthony's Nose, a corruption, it is
said, of Antony's Neuse — Dutch for promontory, and
named in honor of Antony de Hooge, at one time Sec
retary in New Netherland. Washington Irving takes
advantage of the uncertainty in the origin of the narae
to make fun of the Dutch by suggesting quite a differ
ent origin.
From an interesting "Sketch of Fishkill," written
by the late T. Van Wyck Brinckerhoff'in 1866, 1 quote:
"Dutchess was one of the ten original counties es
tablished by the act of 1683. By the act of 1691 its
boundaries were defined thus : 'Dutchess County to
be from the bounds of the county of Westchester, on
the south side of the Highlands, along the east side of
Hudson's River as far as Roelofle Jansen's creek [now
in Columbia County], and eastward into the woods
twelve miles. In 1701 Dutchess county was annexed
to Ulster, where the freeholders were directed to vote.
The first election in Dutchess county took place in
1713, the county being divided into three wards —
North, South, and Middle.' "
Francis Rombout, or Rumbouts, so often associat
ed with Gulian, many years his partner, and no doubt
a near friend, for we find him acting as sponsor to his
children, deserves a few words in this connection.
He is said to have been a Frenchman, and his name
sometiraes appears in the records as Francois. As a
rule, however, he always signed his name "ffra. Rom
bout." Valentine says that he came as supercargo to
New Amsterdam in 1654 and meeting with some mis
fortune was unable to return home. He estabhshed
himself as a merchant and trader and became rich and

62 GULIAN.
prominent. From the New York Genealogical Record
and Valentine's Manual the following extracts referring
to him are taken.
He raarried :
1st. Aeltje Wessels, May 31, 1665.
2d. Anna Ehzabeth Maschop (or Maschutt), widow
of Waruart Wessels, August 8, 1675.
3d. Helena TeUer, eldest daughter of WiUiara Tel
ler, of Albany, Septeraber 8, 1683. She raarried first,
Cornelis Bogardus, son of Anneke Jans; second, Jan
Hendricksen Van Balen ; third, Francis Rombout.
Francis Rombout's children :
Johannis, baptized, August 12, 1666, son of Aeltje
Wessels. Jannetje. baptized Sept.5,1684, child of HelenaTeller.
Catharina, baptized May 25, 1687. " " "
Johannis, baptized June 12, 1689. " " "
N. B. — All died probably in infancy except Catharina, who
married Roger Brett, November 25, 1703.
In 1686 Francis Rorabout appears in a list or direc
tory of people attending tbe Dutch Church, giving his
residence as Breede Weg, or Broadway. Here, near
the site of the corner of Rector street, he had quite a
large garden and orchard and a fine house. He died
in 1691, leaving but one child, Catharyna or Catherine,
then f'lur years old, to whom by ante-nuptial agree
ment referred to in his will he gave all his "lands in
the Wappins," referring to the Rombout Patent. Her
guardian, appointed by her father's will, was William
Teller, the younger, Rombout's brother-in-law. At
the age of sixteen Catherina married Roger Brett, a
heutenant in the Enghsh navy, and soon after the
first partition of the Rombout Patent in 1706, she and

GULIAN. 63
her husband went to hve in "the lands in the Wap
pins." In 1709 they built the Manor House now
known as the Teller Homestead, in Matteawan. She
survived her husband many years and became known
as Madame Brett. She died in 1764. She was the
owner of the lower part of the patent extending from
the Fishkill creek nyrth as far as the part afterwards
set off to Wihiam and Phihp Ver Planck. Her land
extended' eastward to the extreme hmit of the patent.
It covered an area of upwards of twenty thousand
acres. She left two sons, Francis and Robert, each of
whom left several children. The descendants of Mad
ame Brett's two sons are the founders of Fishkill and
Matteawan. The name "Rombout Precinct" was given
to part of the patent until about 1800. It coincided
with the towns of Fishkill and East Fishkih. To the
eastward formerly was "Beekman Precinct." The name
Rombout as a surname, died with him, and all that
has been done to perpetuate his narae was to give it
to onii of the side streets or avenues in Matteawan.
The Will of Catharyna Brett was proved and recorded
in New York in the year of her death, 1764. It con
tains much of the local history of her day. Mrs. Sam
son Adolphus Benson, of Fishkill {nee M. Louisa
Annan), a grand-daughter of Theodorus Brett, son of
Francis Brett, has kindly given me the following in
formation concerning her ancestor, Francis Rombout,
and his family, which she tells me was taken from
family papers of the late Margaret Teller Van Kleeck,
also a descendant of Francis Rombout, and who, with
her husband, the late Dr. Robert Van Kleeck, at one
time rector of St. Anna's Church, Matteawan, hved in

64 GULIAN.
the old house built by Madame Brett and her husband
in 1709, and since known as the "Teller Homestead."
Mrs. Benson's memoranda are as follows :
Francis Rombout — Schepen, 1674 ; Alderman,
1673,-'76,-'77,-'78,-'86,-'87; Mayor, 1679.
This magistrate was a wealthy merchant residing on
the Heeren Straat, afterwards Broadway, leading from
the English Church down to the Fort. His property
had a frontage of more than one hundred feet, and ran
back to the Hudson river, and was sold by his son-in-
law, Roger Brett, in 171-3, at which time it was oc
cupied by Lieutenant-Governor Clark. The Rom
bout Patent lay in Dutchess county, of which he was
proprietor, extending from the great Wappingers creek
on the north to a line near the mouth of the Fishkill
creek on the south, and from the Hudson river to a
hne midway between that river and the Connecticut
line, as appears from a map made hy order of Major-
General Tryon, by Claude Joseph Southier from actual
surveys, deposited in the Patent office in New York,
and pubhshed by W. Fadden, January Ist, 1779. —
This property he gave to his daughter Katherina, pre
vious to his death, describing it as "the land in the
Wappingers" [Wappins I]. Francis Rombout was as
sociated in business with Gelyn VerPlanck, several
suits at law being brought in their names, and extend
ing from 1667 to 1672.
September 20th, 1683, Francis Rombout married
Helena Van Ball [the widow Van Balen ?], whose
maiden name was Teller, by whom he had one only
child, Katherina. She had a child, Maria, by her mar
riage with Jan Van Balen. Francis Rombout was one
of the Aldermen of the city in 1673, at the tirae of its
recapture by the Dutch, and he was one of those nomin
ated in compliance with an order issued by the Council
ofWar, dated New Orange, August 15th, 1673,'that the
Commonwealth assemble at the city hall and nominate

GULIAN. 65
10 persons, Schepens, from the wealthiest inhabitants.
and those only who are of the Reformed Christian Relig
ion.' He was appointed by Governor Leisler asoneof
the Board of Admiralty for the confiscation of vessels
taken from the French, and continued as such until
the time of his death, which occurred early in the year
1691. Madame Brett, after her marriage leased her house
in New York which was built by her father, Francis
Rombout, and removed with her husband to the Rom
bout Patent in the Fishkills, raaking Dutchess county
her permanent hotne until the tirae of her death, which
occurred in the Spring of 1764, at the advanced age
of nearly eighty years. She left two sons, Francis
and Robert. Madame Bre't's house, built in 1709,
was afterwards owned by her grandsons, George and
Theodorus Brett.
Isaac DePeyster married Maria Van Ball (Madame
Brett's half sister). They had three sons and two
daughters. Jacobus, Abraham, and Isaac, Cornelia and
Helena. Cornelia DePeyster married Oliver Teller.
The Fishkill Tellers are descended from this Corneha
De Peyster.
We cannot find in any of the old papers or docu
ments that Madame Brett had a daughter; the only
Maria, is Maria Van Ball, her half-sister, who raarried
Isaac De Peyster. The portrait of this Isaac DePey
ster hung in the Teller house. It is now owned by
Mrs. Robert Crary, of Poughkeepsie. Isaac DePeyster
and Helen Van Ball, his wife, lived in what is now
known as the Newlin house. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Tel
ler, father and raother of the late Isaac Teller and Mrs.
Van Kleeck, lived in the Newlin house after the
DePeysters, and several of his children were born there,
before they reraoved to what is now known as the
Teller house, where they succeeded Henry Schenck.
Henry Schenck raarried Hannah, daughter of Francis
Brett, and Peter A. Schenck married Margaret Brett,

66 GULIAN.
Hannah's youngest sister. '
Madarae Brett's husband was a younger son and a
Lieutenant in the English navy. The Bretts came
from Somersetshire, England.
Henry and Peter A. Schenck came frora Newtown,
Long Island, to Fishkill.
P. S. — 'I have only given you facts which the old
papers prove. M. L. B.
The year before Guhan'^ death we find a record of
a "transport" to his cousin, Lucas van Tienhooven, of
a piece of land "on the water side between the houses
and grounds of Evert Dycking and Anghca Burger,"
thirty-seven by thirty-eight feet in size. The consid
eration is not stated. The transport was a short and
yet comprehensive form of conveyance and a great con
trast to the verbose "indenture" introduced by the
Enghsh. It is no wonder that the Dutch reluc
tantly gave them up. In the "transport" no reference
to "dower" is made, and the wife did not join. In
Gulian's conveyance the names of the parties are con
siderably disguised. Gulian is described in the body
of tbe instrument as Gulyne Ver Planke, and signs his
narae Gulyne V. Planke. Van Tienhooven becoraes
V. Tyenhoven. In other deeds and transports of this
period, where boundaries are stated, the lands of the
Ver Plancks are generally referred to as Van Planke,
Gulian died in his forty-eighth year, April 23, 1684
(N. S.). His Will made jointly with his wife the day
before his death is here inserted at length :
Thomas Dongan Lieu* and Governo'' and his Roy"
high"^ of New Yorke and its Dependenceys in Ameri
ca & To all whom this Shall or inay Concerne Greet-

GULIAN. 67
ing. Know Yee that att a Court of Record held in the
Citty of New Yorke on Tuesday the tenth day of
March 1684 before Gabriel Minuiel Mayor &c. the last
will & Testament of Gulyne Verplanke Late of the
Citty of New Yorke aforesaid Deceased was produced
in Court in Court both the Originah and the Transla
tion which was Proved by the oath of Stephanus Van
Cortlandt Peter Delanoy and W" Bogardus Wittnesses
to the same and Hendrica Wessells his Widdow was
appointed to be Executrix as by the said Ord'' of Court
Relacon being thereunto had doth at Large Appeare
* * * and the said Hendrica Wessels his Wife being the
Surviving Party I Doe therefore by these presents
Committ the said Will unto the said Hendrica Wes
sells Well and Truly to administer upon the same Ac
cording to Law. * # * Given under my hand and
Sealed with the Seale of the Province att ffortt James
in New Yorke the 29th day of March 1685.
T. D.
The Wih of Gulyn Ver Planke
In the name of the Lord Amen Know all men who
shall see this Present publique Instrumen* that after
the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 1684
the 22*^ of Aprill Did Appeare before me W™ Bogardus
publick notary resideing in New Yorke Admitted by
the right honob'" Thomas Dongan Governour Gen^'
and Vice AdmiraU under his Roy" high*^ James Duke
of Yorke and Albany &c of New Yorke and its De-
pendencyes in Araerica in their owne person M"^ Guhan
Verplanke Alderman of this Citty and M'^^ Henrica
Wessells Conjuged in Matrimonie Knowne to me No-
tarie and Wittnesses, The testator sick a bedd Never
theless useing Absolutely with his wife his Reasons and
understandings who Considereing the weakeness and
mortality of men the Certainty of Death the uncer
taine time and liouer thereof therefore where minded

68 GULIAN.
to Dispose of their teraporaU Goods in Manner follow
ing. Butt first Recommending their Imraorfall Soules
into the hands of the Mercifull and Almighty God and
their Dead Corps to a Christian Buriall Secondly Re-
vocing and makeing null & vojd all their former Tes
taments Codicills and all other Acts and makeing of
last Wihs and Donations raade joytitly or severally be
fore the date of this present not Wilhng or Desiring
that the same or any of them Shall be of Any Value
or Effect then this Alone Disposeing de Novo, the
testators Declare out of a speciall love and Affection
mutually received in Matrimony aud if God pleased to
receive that they have reciproque over and over the
first Deceased the survivant of thera both Instituted
and appointed in the full possession and use of their
Goods to be left by Deceased moveable and immove
able Accons and Creditts of what nature and where
they might be none in world Excepted w""^ the first
Deceased to Governe Administer and deale the sarae
in all manner if they were both alive without Contra-
dicon of any And not bound to give any accourit of
the Estate or Inventory of the Goods to any person in
authority or to her children or any of the next Kin
dred Butt renounceing Excuseing and Excluseing the
same Altogather whereas the Testators Doe mutually
fully trust the one the other that the Survivant Shall
not wrong their children butt rather to Indeavour their
Assistance and beneffitt Butt in Case the Survivant
should corae to another wedlock, then sball the same
be bound and obledged before the Solemniza,ton uf
said wedlock to raake and bequeath her fouer Children
called Sarauell Jacobus Abraham and Anna Verplanke
gotten togather and Child or Children to be gott to
gather before Notary and Wittnesses The just raoyety
of the whole and common Estate like the sarae shall
then be found in Bonus by a LawfuU appreising there
of Instituteing the aforemenconed Children or Child
or Children to be gotten to his or her Universall heires

GULIAN. 69
head for head each in an EquaU Portion without
that the Eldest Sonne or Son nes raay P'tend therein
any prerogative and by Decease of any of the said
Children in their minority to Devolve from ye one
childe to ye other w'^'^ Estate being raade and be
queathed in manner aforesaid shall be Adrainistered
Governed and beneffacted by the survivant und'' good
Security to the best proffitt of the Child or Children
till the time when the youngest Child shall have the
full age of twelve yeares then shall be dehvered and
Given in hands to the aged or marryed Child or Chil
dren their Contingent Portion to which time ail the
fruits and Proffitts thereof shall be Reaped and Receiv
ed by the Survivant with further Charge that the Sur
vivant Shall Aliment Maintaine according to Abihty
out the whole Estate and As Occasion then shall
Present to Cause the same to learne to read and
wright or a trade or art iff they are inclinable thereunto
ffurther the testators have the Survivant of them both
nominated and authorized to a tutor or tutrix over
their Under aged Children and Governours of their
Goods and to Executor of this their last Will with
such Charge Power and Authority as all Testamentall
tutors and Executor is to have According to law and
Reason with Power to Elect and appoint one or more
Persons to their help and Assistance whom the Sur
vivant shall please. All the Preraissess being Distinct
ly Read to the testators they Declared the Same to be
their Last Will and testament which they will and
Dehire that shall be of full force And have Effect after
their Decease all Laws and Statures notwithstanding
Estiraing the Sarae most strong and usuall as Above
Exprest Consenting to be made and Dehvered hereof
Instruments in forma to serve at Occassion. In Witt
nesse hereof Signed the Originall by the said Testators
with M'' Step: Van Courtland Council in the high
Court here M'^ ffrancis Rurabout and M"" Peter Delany
Merchants as Wittnessess And my Notarie into the

70 GULIAN.
Records in New Yorke the Day Month and Yeare as
above Quod Attestor W" Bogardus, Not. Pub.
Entered ye 11 March 1684.
Citty of New ) .
Yorke ^ The Court of Rec^ord of the
Citty aforesaid helden at the
Citty hall within the said
Citty on teusday the IO*'' day
March 1684 before
M"" Gabriel Minuiel Mayor &c
The Last Will and Testament of Gulyne Verplanke
ofthis Citty Merch* Deceased was produced in Court
both the Originall in the Notary W" Bogardus booke
and the Translation and proved by the oaths of Steph
anus Van Cortlandt Wittnessess to the same. Henrica
Wessells his widdow therein named was approved to
be Executrix and Ordered that the sarae Will as Trans
lated to be Recorded and Referred to the Governo^ for
further confirmacon of the Probate' thereof.
L. C. John West C P
Thus the Mayor's Court apparently admitted Gulian's
Will to probate March 10, 1684, while Guhan died
April 23, 1684. This anomaly bas already been al
luded to. It arose frora the fact that Guhan being
Dutch dated his will by the Gregorian calendar or
New Style, while the Alderraen, being Enghsh, dated
their proceedings by the Old Style. Had the year
been written thus : 1681, as was generally done, no
confusion would arise. Unfortunately the WiU has
been so badly translated that the meaning is often

GULIAN. 71
obscure. For some reason the WiU was again record
ed in 1691, in which a few verbal changes not appar
ently affecting the raeaning were made. The forego
ing copy is taken from the record of 1691.
In the Albany records there appears a transport or
deed from Jacob Melyen to Hendrika, widow of
Gulyne Verplanke, of a dweUing house and land "sit
uate on the East side of the Prince's Gracht," i. e., east
of the present Broad and south of Wall streets. The
transport is dated May 10, 1684, the month following
Gulian's death.
On the 9th of May, 1685, Guhan's widow raarried
Jacobus Kip, who was a merchant of considerable
wealth and great respectabihty, as the historians of the
times state. He was an extensive land owner in the
city and on Long Island, He was also a brewer and
had a brew-house on the Prince's Gracht.
In 1686 Jacobus Kip and his wife Hendrika were
members of the Dutch Church and lived "Lang Strant."
Guhana (Gelyna), the daughter of Gulian born after
his death, hved with her stepfather. We find the
record of a gift in 1697 from Jacobus Kip and his wife
to "our daughter Gelyna Verplank," of a "negro wench
called Puffra," This daughter died when in her eigh
teenth year, unmarried.
In March, 16S9, Jacobus Kip and wife conveyed
one-half interest to Samuel, Gulian's eldest son, in a
piece of land in the city of New York, described as
¦"near the Bridge behind the houses and grounds of
Peter and Allard Anthony, containing in breadth front
ing on the East river one rood (rod ?) nine foot and
fealff an inch" ; tbe same dimensions in the rear ; "and

72 GULIAN.
in length seven rood (rod !) and  part of a roodl'?
This property was probably the warehouse of Gulian,
to which his widow and Jacobus Kip had some title
which they voluntarily released by the transport ; the
other half being owned by Francis Rombout, possibly,
for he had been Guhan's partner.
The most important conveyance made by Jacobus
Kip and Hendrika, his wife, was that of March 26,
1695, by which he and his wife conveyed to the chil
dren of Gulian Ver Planck, in consideration of natural
love and affection, an undivided third of the Rombout
Patent, to which they were equitably entitled. This
deed is still in existence, though worn with age, and
has a part gone. It is now owned by the author. The
signatures and seals of Jacobus Kip and his wife are
clear and distinct. On the seals is impressed Gulian's
monogram (reduced in. size), the same which is in his
Bible :

W

This monogram is also impressed on the seal of
Stephanus Van Cortlandt to a release of a right of
survivorship to which he had a claira under the patent.
Samuel Ver Planck had this old deed recorded in
Dutchess County in June, 1773. It was then torn
and mutilated as now — one-eighth being gone, as the
record states, and which shows the missing parts by
blank spaces quite accurately. This deed was record
ed twice, the reason for the second one being, as the
County Clerk states, the first was "not wrote to the

GULIAN. 73
satisfaction of Mr. Samuel Ver Planck." By a special
act of the Assembly of the colony passed in 1775, this
"antient" deed was raade adraissible in evidence. An
examination of the original deed shows that it is open
to a technical objection, if offered in evidence, which
the act was passed to cure. The old deed and release
were put on the records in the "town clerk's office of
the citty of New York," in 1697, and can be seen to
day in the Register's office recorded at length in one
of the early libers. The grantees are described as
"Sarauel vr Plank, Jacobus vr Plank, Abraham vr
plank, hannah vr plank, and Guliana vr Plank." The
name of the last appears in another part of the deed as
Giulina. In the Albany records there is a general assignment
dated July 25, 1689, by Jacobus Kip and Henrika
his wife, to Gulian Ver Planck's children above raen
tioned, which purports to cover all of Gulian's property.
By the terms of the assignment the property is to vest
in possession after the death of Henrika, when Samuel
and Jacobus are to take the property and hold in trust
the shares of the minor children, "who shall be taught
reading and writing and such arts and employments
as shall be for their advantage."
In the year 1703 there is the record of a deed which
contains the names of the heirs or children of Abraham
(No. 1), who had given a power of attorney to John
Abeale to convey all the individual interest of "Abram
Isaac Verplank, in the citty of New York." By this
deed the attorney conveys the land described below
to William Huddleston, "in consideration of .£225
current money of the Province of New Yorke." The

74 GULIAN.
deed, which was dated February 27, 1699, and record
ed in New York County in March, 1703, recites that
"Isaac Verplank, Samuel Verplank, Jacobus Verplank,
Hendrika Kip, Catalina Verplank, Silvester Garlandt,
Cornehs Tunise Swarth, Abraham Ackerman, David
Ackerman, Nelegardt (Melgert) Vanderpoole, Johnan-
nes Van Gelder, Cornelia Roos and Peter Roos, the
heirs and children of Abram Isaac Verplank, did grant
a power of attorney to John Abeale on the 13th day
of September, 1698, to convey the undivided interest
of Abram, etc." The land covered by this deed is par
cel 1, in the Kolk Hook farm as set off to Gulian (No,
3) in 1671, as stated, consisting of about ten to twelve
acres, now the site of Broadway, Reade and Church
streets. Other property passed by this deed, viz.: a
lot corner of King (now Pine) and Smith (now William)
streets — about 80 by 100 feet in size. John Abeale
here mentioned is no doubt the sarne man who married
Catlyn, the youngest daughter of Catalyna (No. 4)
and David Peterse Schuyler.
The only unfamiliar name in the list of heirs is that
of Swarth. He may have married one of the nieces of
John Vigne, or been even one of Abraham's grand
children. His name appears in the records as having
a child to whom Abigel Ver Planck is sponser, in Al
bany, in 1690.
Jacobus Kip and his wife Hendrika lived on Long
Island during the latter part of their lives, for in his Will,
dated September 19, 1702, and proved October 31,
1702, he described himself as "of the County of New
Town." Kip died without issue in 1702. His Will
is a curiosity as a specimen of English. It is drawn

GULIAN. 75
according to the Enghsh formula, but so httle did the
testator understand Enghsh that the spelhng and dic
tion are grotesque and the meaning obscure. The
WiU begins by being dated September nintent, 1702.
He divises a certain house, raiU and dock, with some
personal property, including "pighs and ship," to Jo
hannes Kip, and others whom he describes as his "bars."
The residuary estate, real and personal, he wishes
equally divided "between my harse above named, i.e.:
the Kip legatees, * * * and the "other have (half?)
for my wife decesed hor bars by name the bars of
Samuel Verplank, the bars of Jacobus Verplank, the
bars of  Teller eah (each?) of them and (an ?) equale
persos on (proportion 1) or her ars (heirs ?) and assins."
The testator desires that "barhman Wessels is to be
quieted (released ?) of what he owes to the estat."
Benjamen (not Samuel's son, for he had died previously)
shall have out that money in holland so mouth
money as for toby his Tuels" (so much Hollands money
i. e.: gold or silver, as will buy his tools ?). In the
record the name before Teller is illegible. The heirs of
Anna VerPlanck, who married Andries Teller, are prob
ably meant. Notwithstanding the good intentions, of
Jacobus Kip toward the Ver Planck children, difficul
ties arose with the executors of the Will and "the bars
of Samuel and Jacobus Ver Planck, as well as the Tel
lers." In a list of householders in New York, in 1703,
there is mentioned a "widow Ver Planck," whose
household consisted of "three females, five children,
and one negress." She was probably Samuel's (No. 11)
widow, who afterward married Samuel WarmstaU and
lived to an advanced age.

76 GULIAN,
At the time of the differences between the executors
of Jacobus Kip and the heirs of Gulian VerPlanck,
Samuel (No, 11) had died in his twenty-ninth year, and
his widow, Ariantia Bayard, was married to Samuel
WarmstaU, Jacobus (No. 12) too, had died at the age
of twenty-eight years, and his widow, Margaret Schuy
ler, had married John CoUins, an officer of the English
army stationed at Albany. Abraham (No." 13), the
mariner, had been lost at sea in his twenty-sixth year.
Gelyna (No. 18) was also dead. FinaUy Anna (No.
17), who had married Andrew Teller, had also died,
leaving one son, Andries, whose interest was repre
sented by his grandmother, Sophia Teller, for her son
Andrew, husband of Anna Ver Planck, had also died
by this time, leaving a will appointing his mother
Sophia guardian of his child Andries.
Thus the estate of Gulian Ver Planck (No. 3) was
divided into three shares.
The arbitrators who passed on the controversy were
William Nicoll, James Emott, Robert Lurting, and
Lawrence Read. The fifth arbitrator being absent in
the Island of Barbadoes took no part. The award made
20th Deceraber, 1706, recites that "the executors of
Jacobus Kip, late of the city of New York, deceased,
of one part, and John Collins and Margarett his wife,
Samuel WarmstaU and Arientia his wife, and Sophia
Teller, on behalf of the grand-children of Guline Ver
Plank, late of the city of New York, merchant, of the
other part, have had variances and strife." The arbi
trators then award and direct that the Kip executors
shall hold and enjoy the "water mill or Grist Mill, sit
uate, lying and being within the town of New Town,

GULIAN. 77
upon the Island of Nassau, in Queens County," togeth
er with fifty acres adjoining, for which the grand-chil
dren of Guhan shall execute and dehver proper deeds
on reaching raajority. On the other hand the arbitra
tors direct that "the grand-children of Gulian Ver
Plank shall have and enjoy, to thera and their heirs
forever, all that raessuage and dwelling house situate,
lying and being near to the Great Bridge within the
said Citty of New York, in the north ward of the said
city, at the Sign of the blew Anchor, now or late in
the tenor and occupation of John McLelhn, together
with all * * * wharfs, ways, easements." The said
grand-children are also directed to pay the Kip execu
tors three hundred pounds in two years from the date
of the award, for which the grand-children's representa
tives, John Collins and the others, are held bound. The
Kip executors are ordered within six months to execute
and dehver to the grand-children of Guhan proper
deeds for the house and property in the Northward —
"one-third to the use of the children of Sarauel, one-
third to the use of the children of Jacobus, and the
other third part be to the use of the child of Annatje,
sister of said Samuel and Jacobus." The arbitrators
further order the personal property of the estate of
Jacobus Kip, both in Holland and elsewhere, to be
divided into two equal parts, one-half to the executors
and the other half to be equally divided between the
children of Sarauel Ver Planck, of Jacobus Ver Planck,
and of Anna Teller.
The "blew Anchor" was probably the sign of an inn.
It may have been the tavern of Metje Wessels, for it
stood in the upper part of the town, on the road to

78 GULIAN.
the north, Gulian, her son-in-law, may have gone
there to live, for he is known to have been an Alder^
man from the North Ward at the time of his death in
1684. The "Great Bridge" crossed the outlet of the
"Collect" or "Vresche Water," The original award
on parchment, still in a good state of preservation, is
now in the possession of tbe author.

ISAAC.
Isaac (No. 10) was the youngest son of Abraham.
He settled in Foit Orange, or Albany, in Rensselaer
wyck, with which place and its vicinity he and his
descendants long continued to be identified.
Isaac married Abigel Uyten Bogaardt in Albany.
Pearson's "Early Settlers" in the ancient county of
Albany gives the following baptized there : Isaac,
Jacobus, Abigail, Jacob, Dirkje, Jacob, Geleyn, David,
Catalyntje, and Rachel— ten in all. In "Munsell's An
nals of Albany," a daughter, Gelyna, born in 1693, is
assigned to Isaac and his wife AbigaU. She appears
in the records as Gelyna Splank, daughter of Isak
Splank and Abigel Uytenbogardt. No son Gelyn ap
pears in the list given by Munsell for that year. It is
possible that Gelyn and Gelyna were twins or that the
latter was mistaken for the former. At all events there
is no doubt that Isaac had a son Gelyn or Guleyn, for
the records of Albany have many references to hira.
He became quite prominent there. He spelled his
name Ver Planck, differing in that respect from the
other descendants of Isaac, who generally followed the
form, Verplank. If we' include Gelyna and Gelyn
among Isaac's children the whole number aggregates
eleven.

80 ISAAC.
Isaac married Abigel or Abigail Uyten Bogaardt
(sometimes written Wytehbogart), and according to
the tradition in the other branch of the family, he had
eleven chUdren. WiUiam Gordon Ver Planck, of New
York, has spent a good deal of tirae in carefuUy inves
tigating this branch of the family, both in revising in
formation furnished him by different members of it,
as well as by interviews with them. He was fortunate
in getting information from the late Elizabeth Ver
Planck, before her death, which occurred at her home
in Brooklyn a few years ago at an advanced age. She
was the daughter of Major Ver Planck, a grandson of
Isaac (No. 10; and was born April 12, 1796. This
branch seems to have had no genealogist in the past
century like Samuel Ver Planck (No. 52) in the Guhan
branch, to record the data gathered at the time, the
absence of which raakes genealogy more difficult to
day in the case of the descendants of Isaac. All the
genealogical tables referring to this (Isaac No. 10)
branch are taken from Mr. William Gordon Ver
Planck's labors, the results of which he has kindly
given me :
Isaac Ver Plansk, or Verplank (No. 10), youngest
son of Abraham Isaacse Ver Planck (No. 1 ) and Maria
Vinge, born at Albany, N. Y., and baptized February
26, 1651. Married Abigail Uytenbogart. (She was
ahve in 1728.) He lived at Albany. He died about
1729. His children were :
# (19) Isaac, born at Albany, died about 1721.
(20) Taccbus.
(21) Abigail.

ISAAC. 81
(22) Jacob, born June 21, 1684, at Albany.
Sponsors : Ariaantje Ver Planck and
Jacob Ten Eyck.
(23) Dirkje (Dorothy^ baptized September 16,
1686, at Albany. Sponsors: Geertje
Ten Eyck and David Schuyler.
# (24) Jacob, baptized October 28, 1688, at Albany.
Sponsors : Ariantje Van der Poel and
Jacob Ten Eyck.
#(25) Guleyn, baptized June 18, 1693.
#(26) David, baptized April 14, 1695, at Albany.
Sponsors : Meindert Schuyler and
Margaret Verplanck.
(27) Catalyntie, born June 19, 1698; married
Landert Whitbeck, February 23,1734.
(28) Eaohael, baptized May 12, 1700, at Albany.
Sponsors : Abraam Schuyler, Melch-
ert Van der Poel, jr., and Rachelje
Schuyler. Married Jan Winne, Jan
uary y, 1726. She died prior to
March 24, 1735.
N. B. — # indicates that the name opposite wiU appear in a
subsequent table.
Isaac is said to have been a shoemaker in his younger
days. He afterwards became an influential man in Al
bany. In 1686, when the city of Albany got its first
charter from Governor Dongan, Isaac, who was then
thirty-five, was made an assistant Alderman. Later
he became Alderman. His name often appears in the
list of juries serving in Albany. In I6§9 he signed
the remonstrance against Leisler, whose usurpation
and downfall has been referred to. In this document
Isaac spells his name Isaak v' planken. In the sarae

82 ISAAC.
year he, with others, subscribed money to raise a bod}'
of men against the threatened "invasion of the ffrench."
In 1680 there is a letter frora the authorities describ
ing the bad condition of affairs, in which an allusion
to the great coraet of that year is made. The comet,
so the letter states, could be seen distinctly at two
o'clock in the afternoon. It was near the sun and had
a "fyry" red taih The inhabitants were greatly alarm
ed and deemed it an evil portent. In 1700 Isaac, with
others, presented an address of welcome to Lord Bella-
mont, the new Governor.
In 1721 Isaac's two sons, Jacobus and Geleyn or
Gulian, went as lieutenants under Capt. Peter Schuy
ler to treat with Irondequat, orlrondequoite, an Indian
chief. This was a period of commotion and anxiety
in and about Albany. The French in Canada had in
cited the Indians against the English colony iu the
north. One of the dreadful events of this period
was the massacre and burningof Schenectady in 1690,
resulting in the French and Indian war of the next
century. Abigail, Isaac's daughter, was buried in the Dutch
Church, Albany, in 1729. His widow was living in
Albany as late as 1728.

There is a puzzling statement in Munsell's "Annals
of Albany," viz : the baptism of a child in 1698, in
which "Abram Verplank and Marietje Splank" appear
as the sponsors. Who they were I am at a loss to say,
unless they were the children of Jacob Albertse Planck,

ISAAC. 83
who was the first schout or sheriff of Rensselaerwyck.
His connection with the Abraham Isaac's branch of
the family has not been established so far as I know.
In Pearson there is given one generation of the fam
ily of an "Abraham Isaacse (Ver Planck ?)" which is as
signed doubtfully to the VerPlanck family. By this
authority Abraham Isaacse raarried Anna Sickels and
had four children. This may be the Abram referred
to by Munsell. He is not a member of any branch of
the Ver Planck family now under discussion.

THE PARTITION OF THE ROMBOUT PATENT.
It will be remembered that the Patent was issued
in 1685, to Francis Rombout, Jacobus Kip (who had
married Gulian Ver Planck's widow, Hendrika), and
Stephanus Van Cortlandt. Nothing, however, was
done by the owners to open the land until about 1706.
By that time Francis Rombout had died, leaving as
successor to his interest in the Patent, his daughter
Catharine, who, in 1703, married Roger Brett. Both
Jacobus Kip and his wife Hendrika, had died after
having, in 1695, conveyed to the grand-children of
Gulian (No. 3) an ut^divided third interest in the Pa
tent ; for Samuel, Jacobus and Anna, Guhan's three
children, were dead, leaving the grand-chUdren, men
tioned in the old deed, as heirs. Stephanus Van Cort
landt had also died, leaving a WiU, appointing his wife
Gertrude executrix to represent the remaining third

84 THE PARTITION OF THE ROMBOUT PATENT,
interest. In March, 1707, or as the old record states,
in the "sixth year of the reign of Queen Anne," Roger
Brett and Catharine bis wife instituted proceedings in
the Supreme Court of the Province to effect a division
and partition, and summoned Gertrude, widow of
Stephanus Van Cortlandt. No other parties are men
tioned in the writ or return. Mrs. Van Cortlandt rep
resented the whole Van Cortlandt interest, while the
interest of Gulian VerPlanck, now vested in his grand
children, was cared for by the Court without guardians
ad litem,' as is the practice now. Mrs. Van Cortlandt
seems to have put in an answer, but without avail, for
the record quaintly says : "The said Geertruye Par
tition thereof between them according to the form of
the Statute in the like case provided to be made did
contradict and the same to be made did not permit
verry unjustly."
The sheriff, whose name was Noxon, summoned
twelve men to aid in the partition, and who joined
with him iu signing and sealing the inquisition. From
an exemplified copy of the record of this proceeding
made for Samuel Ver Planck in 1773, 1 make the fol
lowing extract. After a recital of the institution of
the suit, the record states :
* * * Having respect to the true Value of tbe said
Tract of Land in Partition iu three equal parts, I cause
to be divided, to witt. The Southermost Part to com
prehend the Fish KiU and to run from the south
bounds at the Fish Kill from the Point of Coster Prin
ces or a Streight Line running north twenty six de
grees East alongst Hudson's River one hundred and
eighty two chains and is in breadth on the rear Line
which runs from the South East Corner of the Land

THE PARTITION OP THE ROMBOUT PATENT. 85
to the Wappings KiU or River North twenty degrees
West three hundred and forty two chain Si^ty three
Links a Streight Line running from thence to the ter
mination of one hundred and eighty two Chain on
Hudsons River aforesaid : The Middle Part Number
two to run alongst Hudsons River on a Streight Line
as aforesaid two hundred and eight Chain and in
breadth in rear on the rear Line aforesaid three hun
dred forty two Chain sixty three Links: The Lott
next adjoining to the Wappingers KiU or River to run
alongst Hudsons River as aforesaid to the Wappings
KiU. ^
And taking into further consideration the smaU
quantity of Low Land which will fall into th« second
and third Lotts proportionable to what is conteined
within the Limits of the first Lott at the Fish KiU :
We do assign to the said Lotts of the said Low Land
and woods out of the First Lott to make thera of equal
value to witt the Land possessed by Mary Schut con-
teining fivty acres Low Lands and thirty two acres
Wood Land We do assign to the Lott lying at the
Wappings Kill Nuraber three and the Lots of Low
Land at the FishkiU in the Possession of Abram Hen
dricks and Jno Buss, together with thirty two Acres
of Upland : We do assign to the Lott Number 2 aud
the Lands on the Wappings Kill or River on the
North West side Also in three Divisions we have made
as followeth Nuraber 1 lying next contiguous to Hud
sons River is in length on a Streight Line two hundred
and seventy two chain alongst 'the Wappings Kill
and to run from the said Wappings Kill from the Ter
mination of said two hundred and seventy two Chain
on right Angles five hundred Rodd Number 2 to be in
Length on the Wappings River aforesaid on a Streight
Line two hundred Eighty seven chains and to run five
hundred rodd North Westerly right Angles and Num
ber Three to run alongst said Wappings Kill or River
to the markt Tree on the said River markt with the

86 THE PARTITION OF THE ROMBOUT PATENT.
Letters R. B. and P. and to run thence at right Angles
five hundred Rodd North West and the Meadows all
of them We do assign a.s followeth vizt Lott Number
1 the equal third Part next the Stream or outwatering:
to Lott Number 2 the Middle ; and to Lott Number 3
the Head."
The abseuce of proper marks of punctuation and the
wrong use of capital letters make the meaning some
what obscure. What was meant is briefly this : The
Patent was divided into three great long and narrow
parcels of land between the two creeks, running
east to its easterly limit. They were of about the
same size, though the middle one had more river front
than the southerly one. The distance on the river of
the northerly one. No. 3, is not stated, but it is evi
dently greater than either of the others as it extended
to the Wappinger Creek. In this way allowance was
made for the loss of land by the curving of the river
to the northeastward at Low Point. The low land in
the lots 2 and 3 is compensated for by the assignment
to them of the Schut and Hendricks property respec
tively. Then the sheriff and his associates divided the
land on the north side of the Wappinger Creek into
three parcels, making the middle one again the largest.
These they assigned to the great river lots in the same
order. It is to be noticed that there is no partition of
the land south of the Fish Kill. That was the subject
of another agreement in 1746, to which I will refer,
and fully carried out in 1765 by partition.
The result of the partition was that Roger Brett and
Catharine his wife obtained Lot No. 1 onthe river and
Lot No. 1 at the mouth of the Wappinger Creek. The
grand-children of Guhan VerPlanck got Lot No. 2 on

THE PARTITION OF THE ROMBOUT PATENT. 87
the river and the lot "in the Middle" on the Wappin
ger Creek, and the Van Cortlandt heirs got the lot
No. 3 on the river, and the "Head" on the Wappinger
Creek. With all due respect to the sheriff and his
"twelve free and lawful Men of Ulster and Dutch
es," 1 must say that I think the division was not
an equitable one. While the Ver Planck grand
children may have gotten a shghtly larger portion of
land, it was greatly overbalanced by the enhanced
value of the lauds on the creeks and the water powers
thereby obtained. Frora this the Ver Plancks were
virtuaUy excluded. Their land on the Wappinger
Creek was so far up the stream that no mill could be
operated to advantage, while the Bretts got the whole
of the valley of the FishkiU and the north side of
the Wappinger from its mouth to beyond the site of
Wappingers Falls (272 chains being over three miles).
The Van Cortlandts took the whole south bank of the
Wappinger, covering the site of the great mills at
Wappingers Falls. The Ver Plancks did get, to be
sure, some water power on the Sprout Creek, a tribu
tary of the Fishkill, for it was on this stream that
William, son of Jacobus (No. 12) and afterwards his
nephew Phihp Ver Planck had a raill and farm on
which they lived. This is now the Van Wyck null
and farm near the Fishkill Plains. The mills and
factories which made the present villages of Matteawan
and Wappingers FaUs, and gave the land its corre
sponding value, are all on either the Van Cortlandt or
the Brett lands, whUe FishkiU Plains is the only vil
lage on the Ver Planck land. The exact date when
the Indians were required to give possession of the

88 THE PARTITION OF THE ROMBOUT PATENT.
land under their deed is not known. Immediate pos
session was not taken nor required, as the last clause
in the deed shows. It is well known that many of
the Indians reraained on the Patent peacefully and un
molested for many years, nor is there any record or
tradition of any serious dispute or trouble with them.
They seem to have gradually died out or merged in
the other inhabitants. Among the negroes to be seen
during the past fifteen or twenty years about Fishkill,
especially in Baxtertown, many have Indian features
or characteristics. In their veins probably flowed
some of the blood of the old Wappingers.
The area of the Rombout Patent was afterwards
considerably reduced by settleraent of boundary dis
putes. On the south the owners of the Philipse Pa
tent, now in Putnam County, claimed a large piece of
the lower part of the Rombout. This dispute was re
ferred to arbitration, and was adjusted in 1771. It
will be mentioned later, when speaking of Samuel Ver
Planck, who was a party to the arbitration. On the
east the grant to Henry Beekman in 1703 also over
lapped the Rombout. The result of this clash was
another corapromise, by which "Poughquaick Pond,"
now Silver Lake, and a long strip of land running
northwest and southeast and about two railes wide,
was taken from the Rombout Patent and is now in the
town of Beekman, Dutchess County.

¦f^'^n^

FAO SIMILE OF THIS SIGNATURE OP STEPHANUS VAN COKTLANDT.

MAP OP THE ROMBOUT PATENT. 89
Among the many interesting papers of Philip Ver
Planck, of Cortlandt Manor, and now owned by his
lineal descendant Phihp Ver Planck, Esq., of Yonkers,
there is a map of the Rombout Patent — probably the
first one made and the oldest in existence. The map
is on parchment, about two by three feet in size. It
was made by "John Holwell Aprill 1, Anno Domini
1689," as appears by the lettering on its face. The
map has endorsed upon it, as if to dispel doubt in the
future, an affidavit by Holwell, taken before a Justice
of the Supreme Court of the Colony, to the effect that
he made it from actual surveys according to his best
abihty and skill, and that the map covers the land
granted to van Cortlandt, Rombout,, and Kip, Octo
ber 17, 1685. The map shows the Hudson River by
name. The only other places designated are "4th and
5th wigwams" — the first at or about the site- of Glen-
ham, and the latter at about HopeweU. Two large
open spaces, each called "A plaine" are shown on the
map, one of which might stand- for the Fishkill Plains
of to-day. There are also "Severall Swamps," on the
map. All the rest is a great forest, indicated by trees
quaintly drawn in green. The two creeks, Wappinger
and Fishkill, with Denning's Point and the mountains,
are well dehneated. Of SUver Lake, however, so
much cannot be said. The map is in a perfect state
of preservation.

SAMUEL.
Samuel (No. 11) was the eldest son of Guhan. Of
his hfe but httle has come down to us. He married
Ariaentje, the daughter of Balthazar Bayard. The
marriage bans appear thus in the records of the Dutch
Church : "Sarauel Ver Plancken j. m. van N. Yorck
en Ariaentje Bayard j. d. van Bergen buyde woonede
tot N. Yorck." They were married on the 27th of
October, 1691. Samuel carried on his father's busi
ness, and probably lived in and used the same house
and warehouse as his father did, on the "strand," now
Pearl street, between Whitehall and Broad streets.
He was probably making a commercial voyage to the
West Indies at the tirae of his death, which occurred
at '•ea in his twenty-ninth year, as we learn from the
entry in his father's Bible. His wife Ariaentje, or
Adriana as the name is in English, was the daughter
of Balthazar Bayard, one of the prominent men of New
York. His name appears in the list of Dutch Church
members of 16S6, and his residence given as Breede
Weg. Madarae Anna Bayard was his mother. She
was the sister of Peter Stuyvesant, and came with hira
to New Amsterdam, bringing with her three sons,
Balthazar, Peter, and Nicholas. She was a person of
high position in Holland. After the death of her hus
band there, she decided to go t" the colony. New

SAMUEL. 91
Netherland. Her influence in New Amsterdam is said
by Valentine to have been very great. On one occa
sion she interfered in behaU df a Quaker who was being
punished as she thought simply because he was a
Quaker, and induced the Governor, her brother, to
release him, much against his wiU.
In an old English Bible printed in London in 1715,
and now in possession of Samuel VerPlanck, Esq., of
FishkiU-on-Hudson, is a page of Dutch Records pasted
on the inside of tho cover, and which, according to a
memorandum in the Bible, made in 1817 by Samuel
Ver Planck (No. 52), great-grandfather of the present
owner, "were taken from a family Dutch Bible some
years before the Era of Independence."
At the top of the page is: "Gelyna v"" planck Nieuw
Yorck 30 May 1700." Then follow entries in Dutch,
of which the following is a translation :
"This Bible has been given to Gulian Samuelse Ver
planck by his grandmother Hendrika Verplanck, in
memory of his deceased Aunty (Mottie) Gelyna Ver
planck." N. B. — This Gelyna is Gulian's daughter (]S'o. 18), the former
owner of the Dutuh Bible from which the page of records was
taken. She, as the memorandum states, gave it to her nephew
Gulian, son of her brother Samuel (No. 11), through whom it has
comedown to the present time.
Then follow on the same page Dutch records of
which the following is a translation in, substance :
1669. 16 December was born Samuel Ver Planck
on a Thursday about four o'clock in the afternoon.
(Baptism and sponsors as in Gulian's (No. 3) Bible).
1667. 18 November Born at Bergen (now in New
Jersey) Ariaentie Bayard, at three o'clock in the morn
ing. The God-parents were her uncle Nicholas Bay
ard and grandmother Marittje Jans.

92 SAMUEL.
Then follows the marriage, which the entry states
took place at the house of the bf^ide's father, Balthazar
Bayard, October 27, 169?, the ceremony being per
formed by Dominie Selyn. Then follow the children :
No. 29. 1692. 31 August was born Maria. Spon
sors, Jacobus Kip and mother Hendrika
Kip. (She married Henry Brockoils, and
Hied without issue.)
No. 30, 1694. 18 August was born Henderieck,
(Hendrika). Sponsors,"Fatherand Moth
er Bayard." (Hendrika died in infancy.)
No. 3L 1696. 10 June was born Anna. Spon
sors, Nicholas Bayard and Aunty Marg-
rieta Verplanck. MarginalNote.-Depart-
ed this life February 11, 1760.
(She died without issue and is buried at Jamaica,
Long Island, as I am creditably informed.)
No. 32. 1698. 31 May was born Gulian. Spon
sors, Samuel Bayard and "grand-mother
Hendrika Kip."
N. B. — TUe marginal numbers, marriages, etc., in brackets
are not in the original.
Samuel Ver Planck's Will is dated September 8,
1698, and was proved in New York County in April,
1699. The Will has a very long preamble of pious
expressions and abounds in rehgious and devotional
sentiraent, professing a full belief in the Trinity.
To his eldest son Gulyn he gives £5 on reaching his
raajority or "when he may happen to marry," To
his wife Ariantje during widowhood he gives "the use
of all my real and personal estate, whether in posses-
session or inheritance from my honorable father, Mr,
Gulyn ver Planck, dec'd, or inheritance from my hon-
arable mother hendrika Ver Planck, now the wife of

SAMUEL. 93
Jacob Kip." On the marriage or death of his wife the
testator devises "all said property to ray loveing chil
dren — Marria, hendrica, hanna and Gelyen Ver Planck,
and to the rest of my children which I shall happen
by the Blessings of God still to procure for to be
equally divided between them share and share alike
without any preference." Pro^fision is made for the
contingency of the children dying under age or with
out issue. He appoints his wife sole executrix and
guardian of the children. An exemplified copy ofthis
Will, made in the last century, together with the orig
inal Letters Testamentary, all on parchment, and in a
good state of preservation, are now owned by the
author. Ariaentie, Samuel's widow, afterwards married Sam
uel WarmstaU and lived to an advanced age in New
York, surviving her son Guhan (No. 32), who provid
ed for her in his Will.

JACOBUS.

The second son of Guhan was Jacobus (No. 12) or
James as he is named by tradition. His name appears
generally in the records as Jacobus Splanck. He was
an officer of the English army at Rensselaerwyck.
The confusion as to his name and identity has been
already referred to.
He raarried Margaretta Schuyler, a daughter of
Phihp Peterse Schuyler, of Rensselaerwyck. An
older daughter of Schuyler's, viz : Gertrude, married
Stephanus van Cortlandt. Brant or Brent Schuyler
was a son of Philip Schuyler.
Jacobus, following his father Gulian, had a Dutch
Bible in which he entered his birth and that of his
wife, their marriage and the births of their children.
This old Bible was printed in Amsterdam in 1687, and
is now in the possession of Phihp Ver Planck, Esq.,
Yonkers, a lineal descendant. The following entries
are in Dutch, finely engrossed, and of which this is
the translation :
Anno 1671 on Friday the first of Deceraber O. S.
about 9 o. c. I, Jacobus Verplanck was born and bap
tized on the same day. The witnesses were Abram
v"" planck senior and Ann Lisabeth Wessels.

JACOBUS. 95
Anno 1674 on the first of January old style, about
8 0. c. in the morning Margrietta Schuyler was born
and baptized on the same day. The witnesses were
Andries Teller and Sarya TeUer.
Anno. 1691 on the 1st of Sept Old Style I Jaco
bus verplanck was married to Margrita Schuyler of
New Albany spinster by Domine Godvridies DeUius
minister at New Albany.
Then follow these entries in Enghsh, viz :
Anno 1693, the 28*" March my Sonn
No. 33. Guilliaum was borne Stephan nes Van
Courtlandt & my Br"^- Brandt Schuyler
Godfathers, my mother Kipp, Godmother
and Dyed in Dutches County the 6* day
of June 1745
(N. B. — He died without issue and is buried in the
Dutch Church, Fishkill, under the name William.)
Anno 1695, the 28* of June my Sonn
No. 34. Phillip was Borne Collo" Peter Schuyler
and CoUo" John Schuyler God-Fathers
M. (Madarae!) Gertrudt Van Courtland
Good-mother. Departed this life the 13
Day of October Anno 1771 Ageed Seven
ty-six years three raonths & fifteen days.
Jacobus, by his Will, dated November 27, 1695, and
proved in New York the year of his death, 1699, gives
^5 to his eldest son Gieliam "on reaching majority."
The restand residue, "house, goods and lands," one-half
is given to his wife, Margerit V^ planck, and one-half to
"Giulian and Phihp his children equally." He appoints
"my brothers Stephanus Van Cortlandt and Brant
Schuyler as officers and thrustees" of the estate. He
signs his Will Jac^ V plank. '
Gieliam and Giuhan, mentioned in the Will, refers

96 JACOBUS.
to the son baptized Giulhaum, who took the name
William. InNovember, 1701, Jacobus' widow, Margaret, mar
ried John CoUins, a lieutenant in the Enghsh army
stationed at Albany. Here they made their home.
CoUins afterwards left the army and practiced law in
Albany. Among the records there, we find in 1702 a
"lycense granted to Mrs. Margarit Verplank to take
up her residence in Albany," which was extended April
15 of the same year to her husband, "Mr. CoUins."
Margaret had children by her second marriage,
of which there is a record in the Bible of Jacobus, her
former husband.

The other child of Gulian to be raentioned is Anna
(No. 17). She married Andrew Teller, of Albany, and
died about 1703, leaving one chUd Andries or Andrew,
the younger, who died about 1732. His Will was
proved and recorded in New York in August of that
year and by it he gave all his residuary property, in
trust, to his widow and his only daughter, Catharine,
who afterwards married Lawrence Lawrence, of
Dutchess County. Thus they becarae the owners of
a third of all the property of Gulian (No. 3) in Dutch
ess County, and for that reason they were parties to
the partition of the faraily property in the last century.

Isaac Ver Planck, (19) son of Isaac Ver Planck
(10) and Abigail Uytenbogart, born at Albany. Mar
ried Emerentia Provost December 3, 1711. He died
about 1721, for Emerentia Ver Planck married Garrit
Roos July 17, 1725. His children were :
(35) Isaac, born February 4, 1715.
(36) Cornelia, born July 29, 1716.
(37) Abraham, born October 19, 1718 ; died No
vember 28, 1742. Buried at Albany.
(38) Abigail, born October 30, 1720. Buried at
Albany, February 26, 1729.

Jacob Ver Planck, (24) son of Isaac Ver Planck
(10) and Abigail Uytenbogart, born in Albany, Octo
ber 28, 1688. He had one child, viz :
• (39) Gertrude, married  Vrooman.

(juleyn Ver Planck, (25) son of Isaac Ver Planck
(10) and Abigail Uytenbogart. Born June 18, 1693,
at Albany. Married December 11, 3 724, to Adriantje
Van der Poel. He died July 7, 1749. He had six
children, viz :
(40) Isaac, baptized October 1, 1725.
* (41) William, baptized November 19, 1727.

98 Isaac's line.
(42) Abigail, baptized December 8, 1729. Mar
ried September 26, 175;i, Sanders J.
Lansing.
(43) Milchest, baptized December 5, 1731.
(44) Elizabeth, baptized July 11, 1734.
#(45) Abraham, baptized May 6, 1739.

DAVID.
David Ver Planck, (26) son of Isaac Ver Planck
(10) and Abigail Uytenbogart, born at Albany, April
4, 1695. He was commonly known as David of
Beeren Island, where he lived. He was married three
times :
First. July 16, 1723, to Ariantje, daughter of
Barent Pieterse Coeyraans, by whom he had no issue.
She died  .
Second.  Brouwer, by whom he had one
child :
# (46) David, baptized September 4, 1748.
David Ver Planck married for his third wife Cat
rina Boone, on the 12th day of November, 1752, by
whom he had four children :
# (47) Johannis, baptized November 12, 1753,
(48) Ariaantje, baptized July 1, 1755, Married,
first, Abraham Gardinier ; second,
LeviBlasdell; died January 10,1814.
(49) Harriet, baptized  , 1757.
# (50) Isaac D., baptized  , 1759.

99
David (26) raarried Ariaentje, or Adriana, daughter
of Barent Pieterse Coeyraans or Koeymans, as stated.
She died without issue, leaving to her husband, who
survived her, a part of the great patent granted to her
father. Barent Coeymans was the miller to the first
Patroon. He bought of the CatskiU Indians a large
tract of land adjoining the lands of the Patroon, having
a front of eight (some accounts give twelve) miles on
the Hudson River and running back to the headwaters
of all the streams flowing through the land into the
river. The Indians had previously granted the same
property to the Patroon, who had not taken full pos
session. From this arose a suit in the courts which
was decided in favor of Coeyraans, who afterward ob
tained a patent from Q.ueen Anne in 1714, confirming
the title to him and his heirs. The surname Coey
raans is now extinct, and the Manor House of the fam
ily at Coeymans-on-the-Hudson, forraerly called "The
Castle," is no longer standing.
The WiU of David was proved and recorded in New
York April 23, 1763. It is dated March 13, 1762.
He described hiraself as "of Beeren Island, Rensselaer
wyck Manor, in the County of Albany." Beeren, or
Bears' Island, part of the Coeyman's Patent, is situ
ated on the west side of the Hudson River, about
thirteen railes below Albany, and is now called Baer-
ena ; — a popular place for river excursions.
The following are extracts from David's Will : "To
my eldest son, David Verplank, one of my best negroes
at his own choice, in right of his being my eldest son,
and to be thereby excluded to make any further claira
to any part of ray estate than what I hereby devise

100 Isaac's line.
and bequeath to him." * * * "To my daughter Arean-
tie Verplank, all my lott of ground lying in the first
ward of the city of Albany on the plains" * * * "bound
ed on the west by the lands of the heirs of Jan Lan
sing and east by land of Johnanis Ostrande," and to
the heirs of her body * * * In default of such issue
the property is devised to the testator's other children.
The residuary estate, real and personal, is given to "my
four children : David, Johnnis, Areantie, and Isaac
Verplank — excepting my farm * * * at Pighwey to
be equally divided between thera." * * * "My wUl is
that my old Possession by the River where I now Live
with the Mills and Creek shall never be alienated, but
shall always remain to my said children * * * to be
allotted on partition." The testator directs that the
farm, etc., at Pighwey be sold and the proceeds used
to pay his debts and the surplus, if any, to be equally
divided between his children. He appoints as execu
tors "my cozen Phihp Verplank of the Manner of
Cortlandt, John R. Bleecker, John Beekman and Isaac
G, Verplank of Albany,"

GULIAN.
Guhan (32), the great-grandson of Abraham
Isaacse, the first settler, was born May 31, 1698,
and married Mary, daughter of Charles and Anne Sin
clair or Sincklaar Crommehn, of Amsterdam.
The Crommehns were Hollanders originally, and fled
to France, where part of the fiiraily settled to avoid the
troublesome times under Charles V. and Phihp II.-
Later one branch of the Crommehn family made their
home in France at St. Quentin. The Sinclair family,
I believe, trace their lineage back to the Earl of Ork
ney, a natural son of Jaraes V of Scotland.
Charles Cromraelin, son of Daniel Crommehn, was
born at Paris in 1678 and died in New York in 1740.
His wife, Anne Sincklaar, was born in New York, ac
cording to an old Crommehn Tree in French which is
in my possession. The said Daniel Crommehn, father
of Charles, was born at St. Quentin, France, February
28, 1647, and died in New York U August, 1725.
From the old Tree I quote the foUowing from the head
of the chart :
"Armand Crommehn et la femme vivroit dans le
16"® Siecle dans un tems de trouble, de Guerre &
de persecutions Cruelles sous le Reigne de L'Empereur
Charles Quint, Et en Suite la domination tiranique de

102 gulian.
PhiUipe 2'^" Son fils, Cause dela dispersion de plusieurs
families des pays bas, dont celle du et Crommehn etoit
du Nombre de sorte que ses decendans Nepeuvent re-
monter au tems et a I'origin de ses ancestres."
Armand's grandson, Jean Crommehn, and his wife,
according to the Tree, lived at St. Quentin, where Jean
was born March 19th, 1603. He was the father of
Daniel and grandfather of Charles, who raarried Anne
Sinclair or Sincklaar, as the name appears on the Tree.
Other Croraraelins appear by the Tree to have lived in
Haerlem and London.
There is an old Bible in French, printed in Paris in
1565, now in the possession of D. C. Ver Planck
Knevels, Esq., of FishkiU-on-Hudson, which was for
merly the property of Robert Crommehn, brother of
Mary, wife of Guhan VerPlanck (32)..
Robert Crommehn lived at Flushing, Long Island,
where he died and was buried May tV, 1791, as appears
by an entry in the Bible. He was a prorainent mer
chant in New York. In the Episcopal Church at
Flushing there is a mural tablet to his memory. The
present Church is built on the site of the old one,
which is still preserved as a Parish House.
By his WiU, proved in Queens County in 1791, he
devised j;o his wife Ehzabeth, "my mansion in New
York on Queens street," * * * and "all ray plate, house
hold goods * * * and also my chariot chaise and pair
of horses, and as many black servants as she shall
choose to wait on her for and during her natural life,
in heu of dower." His wife is also given an annuity of
d£300. "To the support of the minister of the Pro
testant Episcopal Church in Flushing" ^200 is be-

gulian. 103
queathed. The residuary estate he gives to his
nephews and nieces, viz : The Crommehns both in
Amsterdam and in New York, and to "Sarauel and
Guhan VerPlanck and the heirs of their sister Mary
McEvers deceased," to "Daniel and Robert Ludlow
and their sister Ehzabeth Lewis, and to the heirs of
their sister Ann Dashwood deceased * * * share and
share alike." Gulian Ver Planck is appointed one of
the executors. By a codicil the testator frees all his
slaves and gives his wife absolutely all the property
previously given her for life only, and adds Daniel C.
Ver Planck and Francis Lewis, Jr., as executors.
Robert Crommehn left no issue.
In the back of the Bible are the records of the family,
the first being : "Marie Duckging (Duyckinck 1)
was given in marriage to Robert Sinclare February 9,
1684." Then follow the children, among them "ray
daughter Anna has been given in raarriage to Charles
Croramelin, 7 November 1706 — married by Dominie
Duboy" (DuBois).
On another page : "This Bible was presented to me,
Charles Crommehn, by my Aunt Mad* Ester Duchamin
of Rotterdara in 1725." Then follow the births and
baptisms of the children of Charles Cromraelin and his
wife Anna Sinclair ; among them the eldest being
Daniel, born 11 November, 1707.
In a list of the Freemen of the City of New York in
1698 this name appears : "Robert Sincklair, Mariner."
In the English Bible printed in London in 1715,
already alluded to, Gulian has made a family record in
English. After giving the date of his birth, 31 May,

1 04 GULIAN,
1698, and that of his wife, Mary Crommehn, 17 July>
1712, he states that their marriage took place Septem
ber 8, 1737, at the house of her father. Then foUow
the children, viz :
No, 51. 173S, August 30 Samuel born, DiedSep-
teraber 9 following.
No. 52. 1739, September 19 Samuel born.
Baptized in the Old Church by Gualf
Dubois, Godparents : Charles Crommehn
and "grandmother Aryaentje VerPlanck."
No. 53. 1741. August 29 Charles born. "174f
March ye Sth After Dinner he went to
school very raerry and about one of ye
Clock he was a dead corps.' He is inter
red in the old Dutch Church."
No. 51 1743. October 11 Ann born. (She mar
ried Gabriel Ludlow the younger Sept.
3, 1760, and had issue.)
No. 55. 1745. December 18 Mary born. (She
married Charles McEvers AprU 13, 1763,
and had issue.)
No, 56. 1748. July 2 was born "Aryaentje — in
English Adrina. Departed this life Jan.
15, 1752."
No. 57. 175f. February 10 (Julian born.
In another handwriting the death of Guhan, the
father, thus appears :
1751. 11 Nov. Mr. Gulian Verplanck died
at 3 o'clock in the morning very suddenly.
He is interred in the New Dutch Church.
Gulian was a merchant and had an extensive foreign
trade with the West Indies and Holland. In the lat
ter place his correspondents were the Crommehns in

GULIAN. 105
Amsterdam, who were prominent merchants there.
Guhan sat in the Colonial Legislature of 1737-8.
Rip van Dam was one of his contemporaries.
Gulian made his home on Wall street in New
York. He had a large house of yellow Dutch brick,
with a garden adjoining the City HuU, now the U. S.
Treasury. In addition to his large landed interests in
Dutchess County, derived through his share of the
Rombout Patent, he obtained patents for other lands
in what is now Delaware County, then part of Albany
and Ulster Counties. Gulian died the llth of Novem
ber, 1751, in his fifty-fourth year, having previously
made his Will, which was proved in New York County
March 9, 1752. In his WiU, dated July 5, 1750, he
describes hiraself as a raerchant. After providing for
his burial and the payujent of his debts,' he grants an
annuity of ^60 "to my loving mother Aryaentie Warm-
stall ;" also an annuity of .£30 to his sister Anna. He
gives to his wife, Mary, all the household furniture,
jewels, plate, etc., and four negro slaves, together with
an annuity of .£200 and the use of "the rents and
profits of my house in Wall street wherein I now hve,"
until his wife marries again or "until my son (Sarauel)
shall attain the age of twenty-three, or my eldest
daughter shaU attain the age of twenty-one." On the
happening of those events the wife shaU have an annu
ity of £20 and the rents and profits of the testator's
house in Broad street for hfe,- in lieu of dower. —
He confides his children to the care and custody of his
wife, and directs that she be allowed out of the estate
for their education £35 each untU they reach the age
of fourteen, when they are to be allowed .£60 each

106 GULIAN.
until majority. The Will further provides : "I give
devise and bequeath to ray son Samuel and his heirs
forever All that my farm in dutches County called
Mount Guhan with aU the Buildings thereon erected
and all and every the slaves, stock, household furniture,
farming utensils &c." To Samuel is also given all the
testator's other lands iu Dutchess County. Both di
vises to Samuel are on condition that he lives to the
age of twenty-one or has lawful issue ; failing which
the two properties shall go to the daughter "Aryentie"
for life and on her death to the heirs of her body.
The interest of the testator in the Hardenburgh
Patent, covering lands in Albany and Ulster Counties,
and its division into numbered lots, is referred to.
Part of this property is specifically devised and the
rest is given to his children generally, Samuel except
ed. To the daughters Anne, Mary and Aryentie are
given £2600 each on reaching raajority or marrying.
The sarae sum is also to be given to any other child
which may be afterwards born to the testator on
reaching its majority. Samuel is given the option of
taking "my Lott of ground with the houses and build
ings thereon in Wall street wherein I now live with
my lott of ground and stable thereon near the City
Hall" provided he allow .£1500 pounds out of his share
of the estate for the property. The whole estate is to
be divided araong the children when the youngest
reaches twenty-one. The executors are further author
ized to send the funds of the estate "for investment in
sorae part of Europe in case a large quantity of paper
currency should hereafter be made in this province and
the value of raoney raay be likely by that or any other

GULIAN. 107
means to be much depreciated." The executors nara
ed are his wife, Gabriel Ludlow, Robert Crom
mehn and Charles Crommehn, to each of whcmi the
testator gives ,£60 each "as a reward and in fuU for
their trouble as executors."
Gabriel Ludlow was Guhan's brother-in-law, having
married Ehzabeth Cromtnehn. Robert and Charles
Crommehn were his wife's brothers. The latter is
the ancestor of the Long Island Croraraelins.
Gulian the youngest child was born after the date of
the Will. In it he was provided for but not as liber
ally as his brother Samuel.
This Will makes the first reference to Mount Guhan,
but not in connection with Fishkill, for that name
was not then applied to this neighborhood. The

* MOUNT (tLLIAN IX 17)0.
View from the Southwest.
house was very probably used as a country residence
by Gulian. To this theory a good deal of force is
given by the allusion in the Will to the old house. It
*For the use of this illustration, taken from Lossing's "Field
Book of the Revolution," the author is indebted to Messrs. Har
per & Brothers, publishers. New York.

1 OS GULIAN.
seems to have been fully furnished and the farm equip
ped by the owner, which would not be the case with
farras on leases for long terms or for life, as was tbe
case in those days. The narae, too, goes to show
Guhan's interest and attachment for the place. So
also the architecture is of the colonial period of the early
18th century. This view, it raust be confessed, is not
shared by all of the descendants of Guhan, sorae of
them thinking that the first of the faraily to make
Mount Gulian a home was Daniel Crommehn Ver
Planck in 1804, and that before that time the place
and adjoining lands were always occupied by the
tenant farmer. On the other hand I am inclined to
beheve that Gulian made Mount Gulian his summer
home. Unfortunately no data remains to fix the date
of the building of the old house. The usual custom
was to put the date in the gable. Possibly when the
addition on the north end was put up in 1804 the date
mark had to be removed. At all events it was never
replaced nor is there any mark in the south gable
indicating where a date may have been.
Gulian's widow qualified as his executrix on the 9th
of March, 1752.
There is a portrait by Copley of Gulian's wife,
Mary Crommehn, and her daughter Anne, when a
child, who married Gabriel Ludlow. The portrait is
now owned by Mrs. T. W. Searing, nee Katharine,
daughter of the late Robert Ludlow, of Westchester,
N. Y.
Several of the hfe-leases made by Gulian and his
son Samuel of their lands in the Rombout Patent are
still in existence and in possession of the family, either

GULIAN. 109
by purchase and surrender or by faUing in by the
deaths of the tenants. They were carefully drawn
on printed blanks. For an Ulustration, the lease made
by Gulian to "Henry Phihps and his present wife
Deborah" May 1, 1751, may be taken. The lot con
sisted of two hundred acres for which "£6 and two
couple of fowles" were reserved as annual rent, to be
paid May 1st, besides the payment of all taxes. For
the first six years, however, there was to be no rent,
and for this privilege the tenant agreed to build "one
framed or stone dwelling house of at least eighteen
foot square with a Lento on one end thereof, with one
framed Barn, aU to be well shingled." Within the first
year, also, the tenant agreed "to set up stone land
marks at the corners of the Lott," and further, "once
a year thereafter in Easter week to carry his children
(if he hath any otherwise his white servants or four of
his nearest Neighbours) and show them the land marks."
The tenant also agreed to make "a nursery of fruit
trees, to be some Aples, Pears, Cherries & Peaches * * *
of forty foot square" and to set out an "orchard of at
least One hundred Aple Trees" and to prune them or
gratt the trees, "provided the grafts or inoculations be
furnished by the landlord." The landlord was to have
the fruit of three trees. The tenant agreed not to cut
or dispose of the wood, timber, stone or dung made on
the premises ; also to "keep six acres in meadow for
grass and hay," and to "stand Bound to work with a
Team of cattle or Horses and waggon or Cart one day
annually" * * * as required by the landlord.
From the endorsements on the lease the rent appears
to have been quite regularly paid down to the 24th of

110 GULIAN.
February, 1775, when the last endorsement was made.
While the rent seems small it raust be remerabered
that the land was wholly uncultivated and that the
tenant made the farm. There is another lease made
by Guhan in August of the isarae year, to James
Luckey for land on the Wappinger Creek in the town
of Poughkeepsie. The same form was used. This lot
was of 300 acres and the rent was ".£4 and two couple
of fowles each year, * * * to begin as of May 1st then
past." On the expiration of this lease, Daniel Crom
mehn, Gulian's grandson, leased one-half of the prem
ises for $300 per annum, for a terra of years. This
farm is now part of the estate of Elizabeth Ver Planck
Knevels, deceased.
In a lease made in March, 1792, by Samuel, son of
Guhan, to John R. Phillips for his life and that of his
wife Elizabeth, a rent of ,£7 payable May 1st in each
year for a lot of 186 acres, is reserved, besides taxes.
The clause, "except quit rents to his majesty,"
oddly enough was left in the blank. The old clauses
about the land-marks is modified and that of the right
of the landlord to demand the use of a team of horses
or cattle is omitted. The landlord in this lease re
served the right to mines and minerals. The tenant
agrees "to build a stone house or framed dwelling at
least eighteen feet square, with a Lin'ow on oue end
thereof." The other clauses are substantially the satne
as those in Gulian's leases.
Several of these old leases were running as late as
1835 when they were considered by the Commissioners
in partition of the estate of Daniel Crommehn, son of
Samuel Ver Planck.

GULIAN.

Ill

It is worthy of note that the term of these old farm
leases began and ended May first, and not April first,
as is the custom now.

DUTCH CHURCH, FISHKILL VILLAGE.

For the use of this illustration, taken froqa Lossing's "Field
Book of the Revolution," the author is indebted to Messrs.
Harper & Brothers, publishers, New York.

GUILLIAUM OR WILLIAM.

He (33) was the eldest son of Jacobus and Margaret
Schuyler, and afterwards took the name WiUiam, to
avoid, perhaps, being confused with his cousins, Guleyn
(25) and Guhan (32). WiUiam made his home on
what is now caUed the Sprout Creek, formerly the
Spruyt (Dutch for branch), near Fishkill Plains, where he
established a mill and farm on the property which came
to hira on a subsequent division of the Rombout Pa
tent about 1722. This mill and farm are now occu
pied by A. Bloodgood VanWyck, grandson of Richard
C. VanWyck, who bought the property in 1827 from
the heirs of Wilham Beekman Ver Planck (No. 100),
who also lived there.
Wilham lived with his mother and brother Phihp in
Albany until after the opening of their Dutchess Coun
ty property by the partitions of the Rombout Patent.
On the division among the heirs of Guhan VerPlanck
(3) in 1722, William laid out the farm and built '
the mill above raentioned, and here he had made his
home until his death.
Of Guilhaum or Wilham but httle has come down
to us. His name appears occasionally in the records
of Dutchess County. From them it appears that
WiUiam signed a petition with Jacobus Swartout,
Francis and Robert Brett and others, advocating the
highway being changed so as "to cross the Fish
Kill near the lands of Judge Ter Bushe." The
petition bears date "August ye first, 1739."
He died on the 6th of June, 1745. and is buried under

GUILLIAUM OR WILLIAM. 113
the west windowof the Dutch Church, FishkiU Village.
His tombstone is inscribed with the name William,
and has the same dates as the family Bible quoted.
It is one of the oldest of the stones with English in
scriptions. The stone is very quaint in design and
is still well preserved. It stands in that part of the
churchyard near where the body of Madarae Brett
is reputed to lie. All about the churchyard are old
and interesting stones with Dutch inscr.ptions. Some
of them before becoming ruinous have been taken into
the church and made into mural tablets. This old
church was estabhshed in 1716. Elias Van Voorhees
has written a book describing this churchyard.
William Ver Planck having died intestate without
issue rtud without having raarried, his brother Philip,
of Cortlandt Manor, was appointed administrator.
Frora the inventory made by John Montross and Peter
Monfoort, appraisers, in November, 1745, and still
preserved among the papers of Philip, we learn that
WiUiam had among other things : I pr Gold Shirt But
tons, 2 Suits fine broad Cloath clodths and a Velvet
Vest & Britches, 2 pr Leathern britches — 2 bever
hatts 1 pair Silver Shoe buckles and one pr Silver
Nee buckeUs 2 Wiggs 1 Small Cutlass 6 pr Silk Stock-
ins 1 Sattin Night Gound & Velvet Cap; among the
cash assets "1 bond of Derrick Storm ,£83 ;'' a small
library including "a testament aud 'Salra' Book and
a french dictionary ;" the fixtures and contents of the
saw and grist raills, farming utensils, as well as 13
horses, 17 head of cattle, and 2 negro slaves.
From other papers it appears that he had dealings
with his cousin Gulian (32), the merchant in New York.

PHILIP OF CORTLANDT MANOR.

He was the second son of Jacobus and Margaret
Schuyler, and after the death of his father and his
mother's marriage to John CoUins, an English officer
at Albany, he continued to live there several years.
Phihp married Gertrude, daughter of Johannes, the
eldest son of Stephanus van Cortlandt, April 10, 1718,
By the will of Stephanus, Johannes became the owner
of what is now Ver Planck's Point on the Hudson.
Stephanus van Cortlandt died in 1700. By his Will,
dated AprU 14, 1700, and proved in January following,
he devised to his eldest son Johannes, with some other
property, after the death of his wife Gertrude —
"All that Neck and part of ray Land on the east
side of hudson's River at the entering of the high
Lands Just over against a certain place called haverstroo
and is known by the Indians by the name Meanagh
being to be Separated and divided from ray other
Lands on that side of the River called Appamapogh by
a certain Creek called Meanagh and bounded on ye
other side by the creek that runs between my Land
and the Land of Rich Abraraes and others together
with the Meddow that hes on ye sd Neck and all
buildings and other improvem*'' raade or to be made on
the said Land."
No acreage is given. The area, however, was up
wards of 2,500 acres. The lesidue of the estate, real
and personal, after the death of his wife, is devised to
the testator's eleven children by narae, with directions
that on the division, "my Sons according to their
priority of Birth shall have the first Choice." No men
tion is made in the Will of the land in Dutchess coun-

PHILIP OF CORTLANDT MANOR. 115
ty which came to him under the Patent issued to Rora
bout. Kip and hiraself. That property passed under
the residuary clause and was not divided until after
the death of the testator.
The WiU bears his peculiar signature, of which a
facsimile is given on page 88. The witnesses to the
Will were Rip van Dam and Andries TeUer, Jr.
That part of Cortlandt Manor afterwards known as
Ver Planck's Point was bought by Stephanus van
Cortlandt in 1683, from the Indians, by a deed of
which the following is a copy:
TO ALL CHRISTIAN PEOPLE to whora this
present writing shall come Peweraind Oskewans
Turhara Querawigeint Sieckara Hightes and Prack-
ydt all Indians true and RightfuU owners and pro
prietors off the land hereinafter mentioned as for them-
selfes and the rest off" their relations SEND GREET-
INGH KNOW YEE that for and in Consideration off
the Some off'Twefte Pounds in Wampom and several
other merchandies as by a Chedull hereunto annexed
more att large doth and may Appeare to them the
said Indians in hand paid before the ensealing and de
livery here oft" The receipt whereoff" is hereby ac
knowledged and for other divers valuable causes &
considerations They the said Indians have granted
bargained and sold ahened enfeoffed and confirmed
and by these presents do fully Cleerly and absolutely
grant bargain sell ahen enfeoflT and confirm unto
Stephanus^Van Cortlandt oflf the City off New Yorke
Marchant his heirs or assigns for Ever All thatt A
certain tract or parcell off Land cituate lying and be
ing on the East side off hudsons River att the entring
off the high Land Just over against a place called
Haverstroo beginningh on the South side off' a creeke
caUed Tamoessis and frora there Easterly in the woods

•116 PHILIP OF CORTLANDT MANOR.
to the head off a creeke called Kewigktakagh and so
alongh said creeke Northerly to hudsons River and then
Westerly to the utmost Point off said tract off land
and from thence Southerly along said hudsons
River to the aforenamed creeke Tamoessis which said
tract or piece off land is known by the Indians by the
name off Appamaghpogh and Moanagh includinghall
the lands soile meadows and woods within the bounds
and limits aforesaid together with ah and singular the
woods titnber woods underwoods swamps moors
marches meadows rivulets strands creeks waters
lakes pools ponds fischingh huntiug Fowhng and
whatsoever else to the said tract or parcel off land wirh-
in those bounds & liraits aforesaid is belonging or in
any wise appurtainingh without any Reservation what
soever TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the ^-aid tract or par-
cell off" land and all and singular other the premises
and every part and piece thereoff uuto the said Step
hanus Van Cortland his heirs and assigns to the sole
and only proper use comfort and behoof off hira the
said Stephanus Van Cortlandt his heirs and assigns
For Ever And they the Sdid Indians doe for them
selves and their heirs and every of them Covenant
promise and engage that thesaid Stephanus Van Cort
landt his heirs and assigns shall and may from hence
forth ForEver lawfully peaceably and quietly have
hold possesse and enjoye the said tract or piece off
Land and all and singular other the premises with their
apurtenances without any lett hindrance disturbance
or interruption whatsoever off or by them the said
Indians proprietors or their heirs or off any other per
son or persons claimingh or that hereafter shall or
may claim by frora or uuder them or either off' them
and that they shall and will upon the reasonable re
quest and demand made by the said Stephanus Van
Cortlandt Give and dehver peaceably and quietly pos
session of the said tract and parcel offland and premises

PHILIP OP CORTLANDT MANOR. 1 1 7
or off some part thereof!" for and in the name off the
whole unto such person or persons as by the said
Stephanus Van Cortlandt shall be appointed to provide
the same in Witness Whereoff The said Peweraind
oskewans Turhara Querawigheint Sieckara Highres
prackrydt The Indians Owners and proprietors afore
said have hereunto sett their hands and seals in New
Yorke the 24th day off Aug. in the thirty-fifth year
off his Magst Reighe ano Do. 1683.
Signed Sealed and Dehvered
in the presence of us
Francois Rombouts
Giulain Verplancke. The mark of Sieckam (LS)
The mark ot Highres (LS)
The mark of Prackydt (LS)
The mark of Turham (?) (LS)
The mark of Peweraind (LS)
The mark of Querawighaint(LS)
The mark of Oskewans (LS)
The original is endorsed : Meanagh Apporaapogh
Voor Lant (Headland) in De Manuor Cortlandt.
"Recorded in the Secty's office for the Province of
New Yorke in Lib. No. 27 Pages (177 to 190) the 20th
day of March 1695." J. Spragg, Seer.
Recorded in the Register flfor the County of West
chester in The Province of New Yorke in Lib. No. A
in Pages 129, 130, 131, this 26th dny of May 1687.
Joseph Lee Regist.
Comitt. Westchest. Co.

118 PHILIP OF CORTLANDT MANOR.
There is also endorsed on the back the following :
A CheduU or List off goods paid by Stephanus Van
Cortlandt for the Land in this Deed expressed, viz:
Eight Gunns
Nine Blancoats
Five Coats
Fourteen fathem of (  wampum 1)
Fourteen Kettels
Fourty fathem oft black wampum
Eighty fathem off white wampum
Two anckers off Rum
Five half fatts (vats) off strong Beer
Tweht Shirts
Fifty Pounds off Powder
Thirty barrs off Lead
Eighteen Hatches
Eighteen Saws
Fourteen Knives
A small Coat
Six fathem off stroutwater cloth
Six Pr. off Stockins
Six Earthen Juggs
Six tobacco boxes.
The Indians in the Deed mencioned Did acknowl
edge to Have Received the Full Contents oft the above
specifed goods before us.
^, , rp ,TT , f , ¦ Giulain Verplanck
ThemarkofrWeghaeLaebius Francois Rombouts
Sachem ot Wesquis (illegible)
The mark off (illegible)
Sachem

VJ\V Sl.MlLKS b'HO.M THE TXI11.\N DK.HI).

PHILIP OF CORTLANDT MANOR. 119
The deed and schedule are all on one piece of paper
of poor quality and not on parchment, as one would
expect for such an important document. It is written
on both sides and is split in places. Many of the
words are nearly illegible and a few entirely so. The
original deed is now in the possession of Mr. Philip
Ver Planck, of Yonkers, who has it mounted and
framed in glass, so that it can be easily seen and read.
The name Oskewans still lives in Oscawana, West
chester county.
Stephanus van Cortlandt subsequently obtained a
Patent from the" Crown for this and adjoining land,
bought alMo from the Indians, which together went to
make up "Cortlandt Manor." The Manor covered the
whole of the upper part of Westchester County, and
extended from "Anthony's Nose," on the Hudson, to
the raouth of the Croton River. The area was 86,000
acres. By a law of the Province of New York the
Manor was given one representative in the legislature,
a position which Philip VerPlanck held for several terras.
The Manor House of the van Cortlandts, built in
the 17th century, stands on the north bank of the
Croton, not far from its mouth, and commands a fine
view of the Hudson. The old house is still owned and
occupied by the van Cortlandt family.
Before the partition of Cortlandt Manor, Phihp was
the Sheriff. of Albany County. Several of the writs
issued to him are still preserved. Among the papers is a
declaration and notice in ejectment containing the now
obsolete phraseology of that technical common law
action, not omitting the Casual Ejector and ihe Loving
Friend. It was issued in 1721 against Jacob Hallen-

120 PHILIP OF CORTLANDT MANOR.
beck and others, at the suit of John Van Loon. The
declaration and notice are endorsed "good." In Sep
tember of the same year a commission was issued by
Cadwallader Colden, Surveyor General, appointing
"Phihp Van Plank of the city of Albany Gent^ one
of my lawful deputys for surveying of Lands." This
old document is all in the handwriting of Colden, and
has his seal attached. Philip was made a "freeman
and citizen" of Albany in 1724, under Peter van
Brugh's authority as mayor. The evidence of these
facts are the commission and patent still preserved
and now in the possession of Mr. Philip Ver Planck,
of Yonkers, from whom I have obtained other facts
connected with Philip of Cortlandt Manor; Mr. Ver
Planck having courteously placed all of the papers at
my disposal.
Phihp seems to have held the office of Sheriff of Al
bany until as late as 1725. One of the unlucky inci
dents of his career in that office was the escape of a
prisoner, for which the suit was ordered to be insti
tuted against him.
Phihp was also a partner of his half brother, Ed
ward CoUins, in Albany for some years.
Among the papers in Dutch there is an invoice
dated Amsterdara 1 1 March, 1720, of a quantity of
hnen, silk and otber dry goods consigned to John
Schuyler io New York for the risk and account of
Philip ver Planck in Albany. This may have been a
shipment of goods to the partnership which Phihp had
with Edward CoUins in Albany, for there are other
papers to show that such an association existed be
tween them in Albany.

PHILIP OF CORTLANDT MANOR. 121
Philip made a faraily record in his father's old Dutch
Bible, already mentioned, from which the following
extracts are taken :
Phihp Ver Planck was married April 10, 1718, to
Gertrude, only daughter of Johannis van Cort
landt and Anna Maria Van Schaick, by the Rev. Ber-
nardtis Freeman, minister of Flatbush, Long Island.
Gertrude was the grand-daughter of Stephanus van Cortlandt,
who had married Philip's aunt, Gertrude Schuyler.
The following is the record of the children :
No, 58. AnnaMarya, bom May 21, 1719. The
God-parents were Col. Peter Schuyler,
Madame Gertrude van Cortlandt and
"Mother CoUins." DiedAugust 23, 1726.
No. 59, Jaootus (James), born January 4, 172f.
God-parents : John Collins, Guhan Ver
Planck and Mary van Rensselaer. Died
December 30, 1774.
Buried at Cortlandt Manor. He never married.
No. 60. Johannis, born February IS, I72f. God
parents : John Schuyler and Madarae
Cornelia van Cortlandt. Dyed March 7,
1724.Buried at the church ' in Albany, March 11, 1734.
No. 51, Margaret, born January 10, 172|. God
parents : Robert Livingston and Madarae
Gertrude Drawyer. Died Noveraber,
1767. Buried at Cortlandt Manor.
No, 5l Johannis(John), born June 29, 1727. God
parents: Edward CoUins and "Mother
CoUins." Died February 14, 1774.
Buried at Cortlandt Manor. He never married.

122 PHILIP OF CORTLANDT MANOR.
No. 63, Anna Maria,* born June 23, 1729, God
parents : Bernardus Freeman and Mar
garet Freeman, Died October 20, 1779,
No. 64. CJertruy, born November 9, 1731, God
parents : "Uncle Phihp van Cortlandt and
aunt Gertruydt Beekman." Died June
24, 1794.
Buried in the Dutch churchyard at Fishkill Vil
lage.
No. 65, Catherine, born June 20, 1734. God
parents : "Uncle Samuel Bayard and Mar
garet Bayard." Died September, 1804,
Buried at the Dutch Church, Fishkill Village.
No. 66, Philip, born August 30, 1736. God
parents : "Cousin Guhan Ver Planck and
cousin Anna Ver Planck."
It will be remembered that Philip and his wife be
came the owners of the whole of the Point under the
Will of her grandfather, who devised it to her father,
Johannes van Cortlandt, of whom she was the only
child. On this property Philip built his Manor House,
placing it near the river, not far from the present
steamboat landing of the Point.
In order to secure good local government, Philip
took the office of Commissioner of Highways and of
Justice of the Peace. A few of his warrants and
other official papers referring to local affairs are in ex
istence. He was also a practical surveyor. Some of
his technical books, as well as, surveys and maps, are
still preserved. An interesting one is a map of lands
*Among tbe marriages recorded in !N"ew York in August, 1773,
is that of An-ne Mary Ver Planck and Wm. Bailey. Tbat she was
Philip's daughter is possible. On the other hand the name Bailey
does not appear on the tombstone of Anna Maria at Fishkill
Village.

PHILIP OF CORTLANDT MANOR. 123
for Col. Henry Beekman. His technical knowledge
Phihp was able to put to good use in the partition
of the remaining part of the Manor, which was
rendered necessary after the death of Madame Ger
trude, the widow of Stephanus van Cortlandt. There
were ten shares into which his property was to
be divided. He had land also in Dutchess County, i.e.,
one third of the Rombout Patent, and valuable property
in the city of New York.
The original articles of agreement for the division
of the Cortlandt Manor property, made in November,
1731, are still in a perfect state of preservation.
Phihp was a party to this agreement, which was a
voluminous one. It has the signatures and seals of
eighteen persons. Among other things the agreement
contains this clause :
* * * "and the said party (Phihp) doth covenant * * *
at his own proper cost and charges if God be pleased
in his mercy to grant him Life and Health to make a
Compleat and Exact Survey, Partition and Division in
either thirty or forty several lotts of Land and Mead
ows in the Manor of Cortlandt * * * and to make and
deliver to the other parties a fair map or chart of the
Partition." The agreement further provides that after the map
is made, five commissioners — who are named — are to
appraise the lots. Philip accordingly made a survey
and map which was adopted by the conimissioners and
the other parties to the agreeraent.
The map and survey, which are still in existence and
in fair condition, proved of great value in later surveys,
and in the examinations of titles of lands in that part
of Westchester County in which the Manor lay.

124 PHILIP OF CORTLANDT MANOR.
Phihp and his wife had a protracted law suit with
Jacob Fisher, beginning in 1726 and not concluded
until August, 1729, in which Fisher prevailed. The
suit seeras to have been based on a bond or obligation
made by John van Cortlandt. The existence of the
suit appears from an old bill of costs which Philip paid
in 1729, as appears by an endorsement. The bill is
in this form :
New York Supr Cur
Jacob ffisher adm "l
,•1,. "lip I In debt sur obi.
philhp verplanck & ^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^
Gertruy his wite heiress of |
John Cortlandt J

Among the ninety-five items the foUowing are
quoted : £ s d
Att. Ret (Attorney retained ?) 6
Writt & Seal - 4 3
Motion for bodys 5
Chief Justice's ffee 10
Cryer and bellringer 1 6
Term ffee - 5
Drawing Decl. 8 Sheets 13
Copy of the bond 2 6
" " " plea 4
drawing repl. - - 4
1 Subpoena and seal - 4 3
Countermand of Motion for tryall 2
Drawing Notice of tryall "- 2
June, 1737.
Copy Steph. Cortlandt's will 39 sheets 119
October Term.
Piling Venire - 1
Cryers fees on tryall - - 6 3
Jury at the bar - ¦ - 6
Dr. up the special verd* at large 4 5 6

PHILIP OF CORTLANDT MANOR. 125
— for reading the record of verd* in Co' for
Councill - 3
Drawing up the paper book sent for - - - 3 14 9
dr. brief on argument 6
3 Covinsill .(Counsel ?) on argument 1 4
Drawing judgment 6
filling Ca. Sa. 1
Making in the aggregate for aU the items ^33,
12 shiUings and 6 pence.
Under which appears the date : New York Aug* 8,
1729. The whole amount paid, as an endorsement shows,
was, however, .£35, 13s.
Among the papers is a certified copy of the WiU of
Stephanus van Cortlandt and the original bond of Jo
hannes van Cortlandt, described as "of the city of New
York Marchant," for £bQ on a printed blank in the
form now in use, "dated 22d Sept. in the Year of his
Majesties Reign Anno Dom. 1698."
On the 12 April, 1746, a commission was issued by
George II. to Philip Ver Planck, Phihp Livingston,
Joseph Murray and others to confer with comraission-
ers from Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, Connec
ticut and Rhode Island, to confer and take measures
"for the annoyance of the enemy and for securing and
preserving the Six Nations of Indians, * * * and for en
gaging them to enter with us into the Warr against
the ffrench." Instructions from the Governor, George
Clinton, were also given to the New York commission
ers. Meetings accordingly were had with the com
missioners of the other colonies and a plan of action
unanimously agreed upon at New York, September
28, 1747, by the commissioners from New York, Con-

126 PHILIP OF CORTLANDT MANOR.
necticut, and Massachusetts Bay. It was resolved :
"I. That an Expedition be formed and carried on
against the ffrench fort at Crown point for the Reduc
tion of that fortress. II. That it will be necessary
that four thousand men (officers included) be Raised,
with as many of the Six Nations of Indians and their
Allies as can be obtained to carry on the said Expedi
tion * * * and that those troops be at Albany by the
15th of Aprill next." Then follow the details of the
expedition and for securing the Indians' support, one
of which was "that a Gun Smith be sent to each of
the tribes to continue with them untill the next Spring
* * * and that said persons be instructed to be as obhg-
ing as may be to the Indians, * * * to estabhsh and in
crease the Interest of the English with them * * * and
to advise the Governments of anything that they shall
observe necessary or that the Indians may want."
Reliance was placed on "what Governour Clinton has
assured the Comraissioners shall be supplied Gratis of
Battoos, Cannon and Warlike Stores." Provision
was also made that "Suitable goods to the value of
.£360 be purchased for distribution among the Indians
* * * viz. £60 to the Mohawkes, £120 to the Sene
cas, £60 to the Oneyades and Tuskaroras, £60 to the
Cayugas and £60 to the Ouondagas." After fur
ther details the commissioners finally agree "to Rec
ommend and in all proper ways to endeavour that they
(the articles) be Ratified by those Governments to
which we respectively belong."
From Massachusetts Bay there were three coramis-
sioners the first one being Samuel Wells. The commis
sioners from New York were Phihp Livingston, Joseph

PHILIP OP CORTLANDT MANOR. 127
Murray, Wm. Nicoll, Phihp Ver Planck and Henry
Cruger. From Connecticut there were two, Thomas
Fitch and Benjamin HaU.
From letters written by Samuel Wells to the New
York commissioners, there seems to have been diffi
culty in getting the colony of New York to carry out
the report of the commissioners, or in fact do anything.
In a letter from Boston, 10 February, 1741, Wells says
* * * "I look upon the present time so very critical
& the fate of the Enghsh Interest in America and in
deed at home, too, to depend so much on the Improv
ing or Neglecting the present opportunity that I could
not omitt this conveyance. * * * In short, this whole
affair rests with your Assembly. * * * If they make
puszells and stick at Triffles they wUl give a finishing
Blow to our Sinking Country."
The commissioners were finally successful in induc
ing the legislature of New York to take action;
and on March 31, 1755, a commission was issued
to Philip Ver Planck, under the hand of the Lieutenant
Governor, James deLancey, appointing him sole agent
"to view the Places proposed to be fortifyed and to
prepare and draw Plans of the Works necessary to be
erected." The places named in the act making the
appropriation were Albany, Schenectady and Kinder
hook. The French and Indian War dragged on with vari
ous successes and defeats for theEnglish, In this war
Phihp's sons, James and John, each took part. James
held a commission as captain in the corapany in which
his brother John was lieutenant. The commission of
John as lieutenant is still preserved. It was issued

128 PHILIP OF CORTLANDT MANOR.
August 30, 1744, and signed by George Chnton, who
is described as "His Excellency, * * * Capitain Gen
eral and Governor in Chief of the Province of New
York * * * and'Rear Admiral of the Red Squadron of
his Majestys Fleet," The coraraission appoints "John
Verplank Gentleman * * * heutenant in the first Inde-
pendant company in the Manor of Cortlandt whereof
Jaraes Verplank is Captain." During the progress
pf the war James was made a colonel and John cap
tain. The commission for the latter was issued March
3 1 , 1758, by James deLancey, who was then Lieutenant
Governor of New York. A roll of the officers and
men in 1760, in which James was Lieutenant Colonel,
is still in existence.
The'massacre of the English prisoners at Fort Wil
liam Henry on Lake George in 1757, aroused the peo
ple of New York to the gravity of the situation. The
Government called on Philip Ver Planck to convey
the troops up the Hudson. A few of the accounts
of the masters of the sloops and of those who supplied
provisions for the voyage are still preserved. They are
in the form of vouchers which were audited in 1757-
'58 by Phihp Ver Planck and John Cruger. Some of
them are entitled "Expenses of Carrying the Forces
toward Albany from the Manor of Cortlandt, West
chester County, at the allarm of Fort Wm. Henry."
From them are taken the following items : £ s d
Sloop Ranger Caleb Haux for carrying Men be
ing absent 8 Dayes @ 18 | - - 7 4'
Sloop Good Intent Jacob Lent 8 Dayes 7 4
6 Sheep from Daniel Strang - - - ¦ 2 14
4 Bushels Wheat, ground & Baked Dan'l Birdsall 113
To Joseph Traviss for Rum for the Soldiers to
Albany 24 galls @ 5 | 6 0 0

PHILIP OF CORTLANDT MANOR. 129
£ s d
10 H)S Sugar @ 17d - - 6 3
Expenses on Board the Sloop 119
179 lbs pork @ 5d 3 14 7
Phihp was himself the owner of a sloop, the Clinton,
which he bought iu 1740 from Pieter Winne, of Al
bany, the bill of sale of which is still preserved. Her
name does not appear iu the list of sloops which went
to Albany. Of the Clinton John Ver Planck was mas
ter. He sailed her in connection with the business of
his brother James, who as a civilian had a general store
at Cortlandt Manor, frora which he supplied his father's
household, his tenants, and the other people of the
neighborhood. The sloop Clinton remained in the
family as late as 1772, for her name appears in the in
ventory of Philip's estate. Previously Philip had
bought the family stores, farming utensils, etc., frora
his cousin Andrew Tellev. From one of the bills ex
tending over the period from May 12, 1729, to July
3, 1731, containing over one hundred and fifty items
of the usual homely character, I take a few as being
of interest to-day by way of comparison in prices :
£ s d
7 as loaf sugar @ 1 | 6 16
1 stone jug - 3
1 spring latch 3 6
one spade 7 6
6 wine glasses - 3 3
9 gallon molasses 1 | 9 12 3
2 syths 11
1 frying pan - 6 9
3i doz Pulleys & Pins 15 9
8i Gallons Rum 15 6
1 Claw Hammer 2
1 Paper pins 1
100 m 8d nails 3 15
113 lbs sugar - - 3
Lead delivered to Aug. Jay and | 16 6 7*
others including cartage )
I

£ s

d

11

4

3 6

H

3

6

11

- 21 2

6

5 10

4

3

9

3

8
3
6
- 7 14
7
130 PHILIP OF CORTLANDT MANOR.
1 Brass lock -
3 bushells Salt - - ....
A list of tools, including an 1
adz, an iron square and Kin all
a compass, )
6 lbs Tobaco
1 doz bear (beer ?) - - -
169 gallons Rum 2 | 6
85 " Molasses 1(4
i yd Callico
36 yd Shalleen 1 | 8
One bagg buttons 
" lb pepper ...
34 hatts (at different prices,) in all
The whole bill amounts to £167, 6s., lOd.
It should be borne in mind that the shilling and the
pound of the colony of New York were equal respec
tively to half those coins in England. Thus the shil
ling was equal to twelve cents and the pound to ^2.40
in our money.
Among Phihp's papers there is a lease to "Mr. thom
HaU," made by his aunt Ariantia Bayard, Samuel's
(11) widow, who afterward married Samuel Warm-
stall. The property covered by the lease is described
as "A Certaine Messuage or oue DweUing house Stand
ing In the Street Called Heere Graef on the South side
of the House-of Abm Berkly dec'd." A term of one
year is granted for which the rent reserved is £7 by
Quarterly payments. The lease is dated March 12,
172^, and describes Ariantia WarmstaU as "of the
City of New York, Wid»''." Her son Gulian (32) was
one of the witnesses to it. On the back of the lease
is an order dated May 30, 1722, directing that the
"contents of the Within" be paid to "Messrs. Wilham
and Phihp Ver Planck, (sd.) Aryaente WarmstaU."
Besides the different occupations of Philip already
PHILIP OF CORTLANDT MANOR. 1 3 1
described, he sat for several terms in the legislature as
the representative for the Manor of Cortlandt. Several
of the certificates signed by the Speaker showing the
number of days of attendance in the legislature are
still preserved. He was also one of the Governors of
Kings (afterward Columbia) College, being named in
the charter of 1754, which chair he held until his
death. Of Philip's landed interest in Dutchess County
mention will be made later when speaking of the sub
sequent partition of the Rorabout Patent araong the
children of Guhan Ver Planck (3), of whom Phihp and
his brother Wilham were among thenumber. Philip
also became the owner of another part of the Rombout
Patent through his wife Gertrude, who was one of the
ten heirs of Stephanus van Cortlandt, her grandfather.
It seems to be clear that Phihp and his family had
the confidence if not the favor ot the government, and
doubtless he was a good Tory. Had he lived during
the Revolution he would have been sorely tried by the
destruction of his homestead, and the probable
confiscation of his property. His death, October 13,
1771, spared hira all this. His wife had died previ
ously, viz., Septeraber 30, 1766. They were buried
with other members of the faraily in the family burial
ground at Cortlandt Manor. In the next century, when
the property had passed out of the family, the bodies
were removed to S. George's Cemetery, Newburgh.
Phihp made his wiU October 23, 1767, and it was
proved soon after his death.
By this testament, in which he describes himself "of
the Manor of CoMrtlandt Gent^ " (and by the way it
may be stated that the name was spelled both with

132 PHILIP OP CORTLANDT MANOR.
and without the "u"), Phihp provides for his burial and
the payment of his debts, not omitting the pious pre
amble of those days. The will then provides : "I de
vise and bequeath unto my eldest son Jacobus all that
Neck of Land and Meadow situate lying and being in
the Manor of Courtlandt on the East side of Hudson's
River at the entering of the highlands just over against
a certain place called Haverstraw and is known by the
Indian name of Managh as the same is now by me
possessed with the tenements now possessed by John
Howes and Albertis Van Tassell containing in all
about nine hundred acres be the same more or less."
In this property Jacobus is given a hfe estate, with
remainder "to the Heirs of his Boady lawfully begot
ten." To Jacobus is given absolutely five farms and
a grist mill in the Manor of Cortlandt, as well as the
testator's undivided interest in the Manor Innds, and
all the one-tenth interest of the lands lying on the
north side of the "Great Wappingers Creek and on
the East side of Hudson's River as the sarae was
alotted by Writt of Partition to the heirs of Stephanus
Van Cortlandt by the name Lott No. 1." Jacobus is
also given the testator's one-tenth interest in three lots
"on the south side of the Fish Kill in Dutchess County
as sett over to the heirs of Stephanus Van Cortlandt."
He also bequeathed four negro slaves by name. The
lands of Jacobus, however, are made subject to this
qualification : "Out of all the aforesaid devised and
bequeathed Lands the second best Roome in the house
I now hve in to be for the use of ray Daughters, Anna,
Mary, Gertry and Catherena, To have and to hold the
said room with free Egress and Regress until such

PHILIP OF CORTLANDT MANOR. 133
time as they shall be marryed. And it is my wiU and
I do order my said son Jacobus and his heirs shall find
and maintain my three daughters dureing the time
they are unmarried with sufficient good victuals. Drink
and good firewood cutt smaU and fitt to lay on the
fire." To Johannis, another son, is given a farm of 932
acres with a piece of land adjoining the Hudson river,
both in the Manor, for his life, with the reraainder to
the heirs of his body. An half interest in a farm in
the Manor and two negro slaves by name are devised
to him absolutely.
To "my son PhUip," is given "All that tract, * * *
in Dutches County on the south side of the Wappin
gers Creek containing in all 540 acres known as lot
No. 3 with the Dock, Store house and all Buildings,"
to hold absolutely. To Phihp is devised absolutely
"All tbat certain farm in Dutches County where he
now lives on with the several parcells of land which
did formerly belong to my brother Gulian with the
Griss mill, saw Mill, Mill Dam and Stream." The
second best roora of the dwelling house ou this prop
erty is also reserved for the use of Phihp's three sisters,
and he and his heirs are put under the sarae obligations
to provide them with good and sufficient meat, drink,
etc., as Jacobus.
To Philip is also given a farm of 300 acres in the
Manor and five negro slaves by name.
To Philip and his three sisters as fenants in
comraon are devised other lands in the Rombout Patent
in which the testator had a third interest "as lately
partitioned." To the three daughters are given abso-

134 PHILIP OF CORTLANDT MANOR,
lutely five farms in the Manor aggregating 1063 acres,
and a lot on the south side of Grooton's (Croton) River
of 850 acres ; also eight negro slaves which are appor
tioned among them.
The personal estate is directed to be equally divided
among the six children. Jacobus and Philip are ap
pointed executors. In the Will Jacobus is soraetiraes
called James, and Johannis John.
The Inventory of the Estate shows such articles of
furniture, silver, etc., in the house, and horses, cattle,
slaves, etc., about the farm as was used in the case of
a gentleman of Philip's position. The mahogany
dining table from Cortlandt Manor is now in use in the
family of Mr. Phihp Ver Planck, at Yonkers.

After his father's death James, the eldest- son,
took possession of the Manor House and the other
property given him by the Will. Of his life but little
has come down to us. In the Albauy records there
is an allusion to James VerPlanck making an affidavit
in June, 1749, about a "Pretended Lutheran Minister
at FishkUl."
In October, 1772, the year after James' accession to
the Manor property, he received a letter from Philip
Schuyler in Albany, in which he says that he was pre
vented writing before on account of his "recent ill
health * * * and the attention I was under of
a necessfty of paying to the Governor when he
was here." He then adds that he sends the letter by
the hand of his brother Rensselaer, and with it a deed
of a piece of land

PHILIP OF CORTLANDT MANOR. 135
"of which I beg leave to desire your acceptance as
a small acknowledgement of the many Obhgations
conferred on rae by you and the other Branches of
your family. • * *
I am Dear Sir
Your affectionate Kinsman & Humble Servant
Ph. Schuyler.
ToColonel James Verplank
att his Seat
In the Manner of Cortlandt."

James never married. He died December 30, 1774,
in the fifty-fourth year of his age, leaving surviving
his sisters, Anna Maria, Gertrude, and Catharine, and
his brother Philip, for John had died the same year
aged 46, and Margaret in 1767.
Of John, Catharine and Margaret there is still pre
served a memento of their childhood. It is a quaint
little book bound in parchment and printed in Dutch
at Amsterdam in 1730. The title (in English) is :
First MUk of Faith
for Infants in Age and Reason.
Translated from the German.
The book is a sort of catechism. The first questionis:
% What are you ?
A. A Human Being'.
Q. What does a Human Being consist of?
A. A Soul and Body.
Further on :
Q. Which are the Sacraments of the Old Testament ?
A. Circumcision and the Pascal Lamb.

136 PHILIP OF CORTLANDT MANOR.
Q. Which are the Sacraments of the New Testament ?
A. Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
* * *
Q. What means the Water in Baptism ?
A. Christ's Blood and Spirit.
* # *
Q. What mean the Bread and Wine in the Sacra
ment ?
A. Christ's Body and Blood.
And so on for sixteen pages to the book's "Eynde."
From the names in the book it appears to have be
longed in succession to Philip's children : "Cathran,"
"Margrit her book," and lastly "John Verplanck Jan
uary 23, 174t. On the parchment binding (outside)
is written "John Cortlandt Manor of Cortlandt."
The little book is still in good condition except five
pages are missing from the middle.

When the War of the Revolution broke out in 1775,
Phihp, the youngest son, who eventually becarae
the sole heir of his father, was living at the farm on
the Sprout Creek in Fishkill, then called Rombout
Precinct. Whether he ever removed to the Manor
House is possible though doubtful, for in his WiU,
dated in May, 1775, he describes himself as of
"Rurabout Precinct."
Other facts about Cortlandt Manor are best told by
Mr. Phihp Ver Planck, of Yonkers, who has furnished
me with the following :
"I have not at hand the absolute date of the build
ing of the first Manor House at Ver Planck's Point,
but it was shortly after Phihp Ver Planck and Miss
Gertrude Van Cortlandt were married. It must have

PHILIP OF CORTLANDT MANOR. 137
been in 1719 or '20. This house was continuously
occupied by the family untU the Revolutionary War,
and was burned down by hot shot fired from the
British warship Vulture. The family fled to FishkiU.
My grandfather returned to the Point after he grew
up, and built the second Manor House, about the year
1786-'90, and the family lived there continuously until
the year 1836, when my father sold the Point property,
and removed to New "Windsor. This house was oc
cupied by a Mr. Henry for about ten years after we
left, and was burned down.
"Another large house was built by Mr. Thomas Ar
den in the year 1830, on the upper portion of the Ver
Planck Point property (which ray father sold to his
brother, William Beekman), and presented to William
Beekman Ver Planck by Mr. Arden. This house was
occupied by Williara B.'s family down to the year
1889-'90, and it still stands. I think ray cousin sold
this property in 1890, and is now living in Maryland."

ISAAC'S LINE.
(CONTINUED.)

William Ver Planck, (41), son of Guleyn Ver Planck
(25) and Adriantje Van der Poel, baptized November
19, 1727. Married June 20, 1759, Lydia Liverse. He
had three children ;
(67) Ariantje, born May 4, 1760. Married Jo
hannis I. Pruyn.
(68) Eaohael, bom October ll, 1762. Married
James Lansing.
(69) (jeleyn, born July 16, 1765,

Abraham Ver Planck (45), son of Guleyn VerPlanck
(25) and Adriantje Van der Poel, baptized May 6, 1739.
Married, first, June 8, 1761, Martje Bogart, daugh
ter of Douw Bogart, and had two children.
(70) Guleyn. born January 19, 1765.
(71) Ariantje, bom May 26, 1768. Married July
9, 1788, John Van Aernham Lansing.
Married, second, Helena Lansingh, .Fune20, 1772,
and by her had no children.
The WUl of Abraham Ver Planck was made Sth
March,' 1784, and proved in Albany on the 23d of the
same month. He describes himself as "of the Colony
of Rensselaerwyck, Mariner." To his wife Helena he
gives his quarter interest in a sloop which he owned
with Gysbert Van Sante and Wm. Groesbeck, and
£65 secured by mortgage ; also a half of all of his
shop goods, and surh furniture as he got by his
wife. She is also given the use during widowhood
of the negro Jack, as well as a joint use with his daugh
ter Adriantie of his "dweUing house, stock, furniture,

Isaac's line, continued. 139
carriages, &c., situate on the west side of the highway
leading from Albany to Watervleet." If his wife does
not agree to hve with his daughter she is given the
"use of one of my upper rooms as she shall choose."
The residue of the real and personal estate is given to
his daughter Ariantie, but if she shall die without issue
under age, the property shall go to the children of his
brother Wilham. The executors are Helena, his wife,
Peter Dox, and Jellis Winne. The Will was proved
and recorded in New York in 1785.
In the attestation clause and proofs the testator is
described as Van Plank — a form of the narae not seldom
seen in the old records.

David Ver Planck (46), son of David Ver Planck
(26), of Beeren Island, and  Brouwer, born
September 4, 1748. Married Christina Van Volken-
burgh. He hved at Fort Plains, N. Y. He had two
children :
(72) David,
(73) Catherine,

Jchannis Ver Planck (47), son of David (of Beeren
Island) Ver Planck and Catrina Boone, baptized
November 12, 1753. Married Catherine Huck, Sep
tember 29, 1772. He had five children :
(74) David John,
(75) John D,
(76) Catherine. Married James Colvin and had
children,
(77) Ahigail, Married David Rogers,
(78) Maria, Married Andrew Van Antwerp,

140 Isaac's line, continued.
Isaac D. Ver Planck (50), (known as Major), son of
David (of Beeren Island) Ver Planck and Catrina
Boone, born 1759. Married Lena Hougtahng. Died
February 24, 1836, at Coeymans. He had nine chil
dren :
(79) Helen, born June 22, 1783, Married John
McCarty.
(80) David I. D., bom May 30, 1785,
(81) Catherine, born December 14, 1787, Mar
ried Peter Van Antwerp, Died Sep
tember 22, 1817.
(82) Harriet, born April 12, 1789. Married Eli
phalet Ackerman, February 14, 1808.
(83) Abraham, born December 4, 1793.
(84) Elizabeth, born April 12, 1796. Died at
Brooklyn at an advanced age.
(85) Ann, born December 15, 1799. Married
Dr. B. B. Fredenburgh, October 8,
1823.
(86) Maria, born January 25, 1802. Married
December 30, ] 824, Isaac Whitbeck.
(87) Caroline, born March 7, 1807. Married Van
Lenner Overpaugh,

THE SUBSEQUENT PARTITIONS OF THE
ROMBOUT PATENT.

In 1722 the grandchildren of Gulian Ver Planck (3)
having severally reached majority, partitioned by
agreement that part of the patent which had been as
signed to them by the Supreme Court of the colony in
1707 (pp. 53-88;, under which they acquired two
great lots, viz : a "Middle "Part Number two," com
raencing on the Hudson River at a point one hundred
and eighty-two chains north of the extreme southerly
limit of the patent, i. e., at the mouth of the Fish KUl.
Thence the lot extended two hundred and eight chains
northerly along the river, and thence easterly to the
easterly limit of the patent, with a rear line of three
hundred and forty-two chains.
The other lot assigned to the grandchildren was the
middle lot on the north side of the Wappinger Creek,
commencing two hundred and seventy-two chains from
its mouth, or outwatering, as it was termed.
The deeds of partition were tripartite and dated
March 20, 1722. The parties were: "Guilham
(Gulian), Mary and Anne, the children (and heirs) of
Samuel (11), deceased, of the first part; Wilham and
Philhp, the children (and heirs) of Jacobus (12), of the
second part ; and Andries Teller, only son (and heir)
of Hannah (Anna) (17) Ver Planck, deceased, of the
third part." Then follows a recital that the parties
had previously corae to a "firm agreement about the
partition * * * of the equal third part of a certain tract
of land above the highlands on the east side of Hud-

142 THE SUBSEQUENT PARTITIONS
son's River in Dutchesse county patented to ffrancis
Rombout, Stephanus Van Cortland and Jacobus Kipp."
When it is recalled that a chain is sixty-six feet, the
area and location in reference to the boundaries of to
day of this land can be estabhshed with reasonable
accuracy. The south boundary began one hundred
and eighty-two chains north from the "Point of Coster
Princes," i. e., a short distance north of Dutchess Junc
tion, at the "south bounds at the Fish Kill." This
distance would place the starting point at about the
Foundry and Machine Shop, north of the FishkiU rail
road station. The northerly boundary of the lands of
Madame Brett are now marked by the homestead of
M-artin Wiltse, which standsjust over the railroad track
opposite the Foundry.
The Ver Planck river lot, therefore, began here and
extended north along the river two hundred and eight
chains, or a little over two and a half miles, i. e., to
about the north end of the cove inside the railroad at
"New Place" to-day. At this point the van Cortlandt
river lot began. Each of these great lots ran to the
extreme eastern limit of the patent, and as the course
of the Fish Kill was more in the direction of due east
than that of the Wappinger, which runs northeasterly,
the lots all had a greater breadth in the rear than on
the river.
By this partition boundary lines were estabhshed
which can be seen in part to-day, marked by old-fash
ioned stone waUs running from the river northeasterly
across the country. These old lines are still known
as "Patent Lines," and the stone walls laid on them
are yet in use as fences between farms.

OP THE ROMBOUT PATENT. 143
The parties to the indenture divided their share of
the patent into nine lots, making three river lots, or
front lots, and three rear lots out of the great river lot
and three lots out of the raiddle lot on Wappinger
Creek, given thera as the grandchildren of Gulian Ver
Planck (3) in the partition of 1707. The lots passed
as follows : To Andrew or Andries Teller was given
a front lot on the river, or the mo.st northerly, called
No. 3, having a front of one-third of the whole or
sixty-nine and one-third chains and running northeast
ward five hundred and thirty chains. It comprised
2740 acres. He also was given a rear lot adjoining
the front lot, running further northeastward four hun
dred and ninety chains, and bordering on the lands of
"Madam van Cortlandt." This coraprised 4400 acres,
and finally Andrew Teller got part of the land on the
Wappinger Creek, viz : Lot No. 3, so called in this
partition, coraprising 1337 acres, as well as a farm in
the occupancy of John Ter Bush.
To GuiUiam (Guhan), Mary and Anne Ver Planck,
fell a river lot called No. 2, with a front of one-third
of the whole or sixty-nine and one-third chains on the
river, and running northeas terly adjoining the lot set
off to Andrew Teller. It comprised 2880 acres. Also
a rear lot of 4350 acres, and finally, a part of the land on
the Wappinger Creek, lot No. 2, containing 1120 acres.
To Wilham and Phihp Ver Planck feU a river lot
(No. 1), with the same front as the others, and running
northeasterly as before. It contained 2790 acres.
Also a rear lot of 4370 acres and part of the land on the
Wappinger Creek lot No. 1, consisting of 1125 acres.
There is an exception and reservation "to our Sover-

144 THE SUBSEQUENT PARTITIONS

I

aign Lord the King, and to all his liege people of the lib
erty of laying out necessary highways throughout all the
lotts." Neither the King nor any other central authori
ty ever availed themselves ofthis privilege. The result
of which has been that the town of Fishkill hasprobably
the most devious and indirect highways iu the county,
if not in the State. With one exception, that of the
present highway along the west bank of the Fishkill,
laid out by Madame Brett through her land, the roads
of Fishkill seera to have grown out of lanes, made by
farmers for their individual convenience, which were
eventually connected and called highways.
In June, 1730, Gulian "(32) obtained the whole title
to the river lot, or lot No. 2, and other property from
his two sisters, Anne and Mary. It was this on which
he built Mt. Gulian, and of which he died seised. The
boundary lines ofthis property as partitioned in 1722
can be easily seen to-day. It starts from the river on
the south adjoining the land late of James Kent, Esq.,
at the Spook Field, so called from a tradition that
the ghost of a murdered Hessian soldier buried there
was often seen wandering at nightfall. Thence
the Mt. Guhan farm extended northeastwardly about
two miles to the land leased to one Dennis McKeebe, and
which afterward came into the possession of the late
Daniel Brinckerhoff, by various mesne conveyances
from the executors of Gulian Ver Planck (57), to whom
SamuelVerPlanck(52)gaveit. Mount Guhan contain
ed over four hundred acres. It remained intact until
after the death of Daniel C. VerPlanck in 1834, when
a river lot of fourteen acres on the north was added by
purchase from Garrett Brinckerhoff.

OF THE ROMBOUT PATENT. 145
The river lot of 2790 acres, which feU to WUliam
and Phihp, afterwards carae into the hands of Philip
alone by a partition with WUhara. It was this lot
that Philip deeded to Johaimes Coerte (Coertsen),
i. e., John son of Coert. He was the first of the van
Voorhees family to settle in FishkiU, and falling in
with the growing fashion of using surnames, he took
the name of John Van Voorhis. He was one of the
elders of the Dutch Church, FishkiU Village, where
he was buried, as his tombstone bears record to-day.
He lived to an advanced age. The homestead of John
Van Voorhis, buUt ou the laud conveyed to hira by
Philip Ver Planck, stood uutil about twenty-five years
ago, when it was replaced by the house now owned
by WiUiam Henry Van Voorhis, Esq., a lineal descen
dant. This Mr. Van Voorhis has in his possession the
original deed made by Phihp Ver Planck to his ances
tor Johannes Coerte. A fac simile of this old parch
ment is given in the History of the van Voorhees fam
ily, and with it a map of Rombout Precinct, showing
the land conveyed by Philip's deed. The deed, or
rather lease in fee, covered a large tract of land in
what is now the town of Fishkill, adjoining the lands
of Madame Brett on the north. It ran from the Hud
son river eastward for over five miles, — area of 2790
acres. The consideration was £690 and an annual
rent reserved to the grantor and his heirs, of a certain
nuraber of fat fowles and bushels of wheat, and the use
of a team of horses. It was this clause which gave so
much trouble to the van Rensselaer family in Albany
County, and which eventually led to the Anti-Rent
riots, and the Constitution of 1846, which limited the

146 THE SUBSEQUENT PARTITIONS
term of agricultural leases.
Whether Phihp or his heirs ever enforced this clause
does not appear. Dutchess County, however, differs
from nearly all the other counties of the State, in that
there was no agrarian trouble there. No doubt it was
due to the liberality of the owners of the land, and
also because the land was not held in very large tracts,
as was the case in Albany and Columbia counties.
The river front, with upward of 1000 acres of John
Van Voorhis' property, in the next century passed
into the possession of the late John Peter deWindt, of
Fishkill-on-Hudson. In 1733 Philip Ver Planck bought the interest of the
van Cortlandt heirs in Dutchess County land which he
held in comraon with fhem in right of his wife Ger
trude, one of the ten heirs of Stephanus van Cortlandt.
The indenture on parchment, with the seals and sig
natures all well preserved, is now in my possession.
The deed has nine "parties of the first part," who rep
resented nine of the ten heirs of Stephanus van Cort
landt. Thus Phihp secured valuable miU and water-powers,
which, as one of the grandchildren of Gulian (3) he was
denied in the partition of 1707.
In 1752 Phihp was sued in ejectment by John Bar-
too, for land in the Rombout Patent. A few of the
papers are preserved and frora them it appears that the
question arose over a disputed boundary line. Phihp's
attorney was Joseph Murray, probably his co-commis
sioner during the French and Indian War. The result
of this suit is not disclosed.
There is also in existence a partition deed dated May

OF THE ROMBOUT PATENT. 147
19, 1722, between the same parties as the one of
March, 1722. Its object was to complete the division
of all the property, real aud personal, which they held
in common as heirs and next of kin of their grand
father, Gulian (3). Under it certain personal estate,
mortgages, etc., and lots in Broad street and in the
"South and North wttrds" of New York were valued
and divided. One of the lots is referred to as "now in
the possession of Ariantia WarmstaU, in the South
ward" valued at £400. She was the mother of Guhan,
Anne and Mary Ver Planck, i.e., Samuel's widow, who
had nirirried again.

In 1768 there was a final partition of Dutchess
County land among the heirs of Gulian (3). It cover
ed land not affected by the previous partitions, i. e.,
land in the southeast part of the Rombout Patent, part
of which was mountain land. The deeds were again
tripartite and dated October 3, 1768. The parties were
Philip (34) (his brother William having died intestate,
without issue), of the first part ; Samuel(52), as devisee
of his father, Guhan, of the second part ; and Lawrence
Lawrence and Catharine his wife, of the third part.
Catharine was the only child of Andrew TeUer, the
younger, who died in 1732.
This property was obtained from the Bretts and
van Cortlandts by corapromise and settlement of dis
puted claims. There is a record in the clerk's office
of Dutchess County, which is dated "N. York Ye 4
Noveraber, 1746." It recites a "meeting with Madame
Catharine Brett, the heirs of Stephanus van Cortlandt

148 TUE SUBSEQUENT PARTITIONS
and the heirs of Gulian Ver Planck," and an agreement
that Mrs. Brett should retain all the land set off to her
by the first partition, and such land as she has leased
or sold, and that the rest, both east and south of her
property, should be considered undivided land, owned
in comraon by all, and to be divided into three equal
parts. The agreement is signed "Catheryna Brett,
Phihp Cortlandt, Guln Verplanck, Steph V. Cortlandt,
and Jacob Goelet for Ex'rs of Andrew Teller."
The proceedings in Court to carry out this agree
ment by partition were not completed until 1764
and 1765, after the death of Madarae or Catheryna
Brett. A raap of the property affected by the par
tition of 1768 is in my possession. It" shows also the
lands affected by the previous division of 1722. By
the partition of 1768 there were "Three lots in the
southern part, three lots in the eastern part, and three
lots on the north side of the Wappingers Creek, be
yond the nprtheast corner of the old division." These
nine lots aggregated 1 1,464 acres, exclusive of the lots
set apart to defray the expenses of the partition. They
were known as "Expense lots," and were given to the
surveyors and others iu lieu of money. Many of these
lots appear on the old maps. They often contained
the best land and were of good size, 200 to 300 acres
each. By adding together tbe total acreage affected
by these partitions, we reach the grand total of up
wards of 85,000 acres, which is the acreage generally
assigned to the Rombout patent.
There was a dispute about the exact position of the
eastern boundary owing to the exact western boundary
of the patent granted to Henry Beekman. This dis-

OP THE ROMBOUT PATENT. 149
pute was settled by mutual concessions. A more ser
ious question arose on the south, owing to the claims
advanced in 1770 by the owners of the patent granted
to Adolph Phillipse in 1697, covering land which is
now Putnam County and the lower part of the town
of Fishkill. By this claim several thousand acres were
sought to be cut off the Rombout and added to the
Philhpse Patent.
Sarauel Ver Planck (52) was affected by this claira,
as he was a party to the partition of 1768, under which
he and his cousin PhUip (34) obtained several thous
and acres on the south side of the Fish Kill. The dis
pute was referred to arbitrators, who in 1771 made an
award, the original of which is now in the possession
of Samuel Ver Planck, Esq., of FishkiU-on-Hudson.
From it we learn that Sarauel VerPlanck (52), claim
ing under the Rorabout Patent, and Beverly Robinson,
Roger Morris, and three others acting as guardians to
Frederick Philhpse and Nathaniel PhUlipse, minor sons
of Philip Philhpse, claiming under the patent granted
to Adolph PhiUipse June 7, 1697, submitted the ques
tion of the true boundary line to WiUiam Nicoll, of
Islip, Suffolk County, Thomas Hicks and Daniel Kis-
sam, of Queens County, or any two of thera. The
two former made an award January 26, 1771, which
was sealed and delivered in the presence of James
Duane and John G. Leake. By this decision the
boundary is declared to begin "at the Northern Extent
of the Bushes or Schurbs upon plumb point, being the
South side of the Fish KiU or Creek & shaU run frora
thence East six degrees North, as the Compass now
points, sixteen miles."

150 THE SUBSEQUENT PARTITIONS
The effect ot this award was that the greater part of
the land on the south side of the Fish Kill, which Sam
uel Ver Planck (62) and others, claiming under Madame
Brett, obtained in 1768, was lost to them and' became
part of the Phillipse Patent.

A few words about Lawrence Lawrence and Cathar
ine his wife raay be of interest. She was the grand
daughter of Anna VerPlanck (17), and as such be
came the heir of a third of all Guhan's (3) Dutchess
County lands. Catharine Lawrence and her husband
generally described theraselves in conveyances as "of
Dutchess County," for they made their home there on
the family property, placing their homestead on the
river at the mouth of the Stony Kill, where they also
had a grist mill.
In 1774, for £2200, they sold the homestead and
mUl, with two hundred and forty-eight acres of ad
joining land, to Dirck Brinckerhoff, the ancestor of
Garrett Brinckerhoff, from whom Guhan C. VerPlanck
in 1845 bought a part for his son William Samuel.
It was on this purchase that "New Place" was built.
Lawrence Lawrence died in 177S, two years after
his wife, leaving a daughter who married Zachary Van
Voorhis, and a son, Andrew Teller Lawrence. He
held a commission as lieutenant in the Araerican array
in the war of the Revolution, and died soon after the
peace of 1783, leaving no property nor issue.
Garrett Brinckerhoff at 6 rst lived in the Lawrence
Homestead, from which he afterward moved into a
new house built on the hiU near by. There his son

OP THE ROMBOUT PATENT. 151
Stephen hved also until his death in 1876 or there
abouts. The Lawrence Homestead has since gone to
ruin, but the mill is still kept up.
The foregoing facts were gathered from the notes
made by Gulian C. Ver Planck and his son Wilham
Samuel, in an investigation which they raade of the title
of "New Place." They discovered several breaks in the
title, and other irregularities, in tracing it back to the
Rorabout Patent, reaching the conclusion, however,
that the title of Garrett Brinckerhoff was good. In
marked contrast is the title to Mount Gulian and the
other Dutchess County property of which Samuel Ver
Planck (52) died seised in 1820. After he had put on
record the mutilated deed of Jacobus Kip, and the
deeds of the various partitions, there was an unbroken
chain of record title back to the Indians. Even the
license to purchase frora the Indians is of record at
Albany.

S.^MUEL.
He was the second son of Gulian (32) and Mary
Cromraelin, and was born in the city of New York,
Septeraber 1 9, 1 739. At the time of his father's death
he was in his thirteenth year. Six years later he grad
uated at King's College, New York, in its first gradua
ting class. He then went to Amsterdam, where he
lived in the family of his uncle, Daniel Crommehn,
whose daughter Judith he married there in April, 1761.
In Judith's faraily Bible (in French), which is now
owned by Mr. D. C Ver PlancK Knevels, of Fishkill-on-
Hudson, Samuel, made a memorandum of that event in
^ his life. After completing his mercantile education in
.^Holland, Samuel and his wife came to New York and
made their horae in his father's house on Wall street,
which, on the death of his mother, became the absolute
property of Samuel. The house and garden which ad
joined it were on the north side of Wall street, and
now the site of the present Assay Office. The stable
stood in the rear on Pine street. To the west was the
City Hall, afterwards, in 17S9, Federal HaU, where
Washington was inaugurated. The city of New York
ceded the property to the Federal Government when
it was decided to estabhsh the seat of government

SAMUEL. 153
there. Later in its history this property became
the IJ. S. Treasury, for which purpose the present
building was erected. There are several prints and
engravings of Federal Hall as it was in 17S9, and of
the City Hall as it was just previous, which show
also a part of Samuel's house and garden, which lay
next to the public building. Samuel's land had a front
of nearly seventy-five feet on Wall street, of which
nearly forty was taken up by his house.
Samuel and Judith have always been of great inter
est to their descendants. On her marriage her father
made her a liberal provision. Many articles of her
dowry are still preserved and cherished by her de
scendants. They include among other things her wedding gown,
jewelry, vases and china, quaint Dutch chairs, and a
large quantity of silver, besides a dozen massive_sil5fer
candlesticks. During the Revolution when New York was occu
pied by the English under Lord Howe, he was enter
tained by Judith at the family house on Wall street.
As souvenirs of this episode in her life, there are still
preserved the tea set and paintings by Angelica Kauf
man, which Lord Howe gave her.
The Crommehns in Amsterdam kept up a close in
timacy with their daughter in New York up to the
time of her death. A large number of the letters (all in
French) written to Judith by her family during this
period are still preserved, and are now in the posses
sion of Mrs. Benjamin Richards, her great great grand
daughter. Judith died in September, 1803, and was
buried on the 17th in Trinity Churchyard, New York.

154 SAMUEL,
The chUdren of Samuel and Judith were :
No. 88, Daniel Cromilielin, born March 19, 1762,
baptized in Trinity Church, New "York,
Ho, 89, Mary, born July 3, 1763, died in infancy.
On the christening of Daniel Crommelin, his grand
father, Daniel Crommehn, after whom he was named,
gave hira a large silver kettle and stand. This is now
owned by Samuel Ver Planck, of Fishkill-on-Hudson.
On the same occasion his grandmother Crommehn gave
him an embroidered linen baby quilt. This heirloom
is now owned by Daniel C, Ver Planck Knevels,
of Fishkill-on-Hudson, According to a family tradi
tion, Mary was thrown from a carriage while driving
with her father, and died from the injuries so received,
and that Judith, her mother, never quite forgave her
husband for his' unfortunate part in the calamity.
Charles Henry Hart, Esq., read a paper in Phila
delphia on Gulian Crommelin Ver Planck (130) not
long after his death in 1870. From it I make the fol
lowing quotations :
* * * "Sarauel VerPlanck, grandfather of the subject
ofthis sketch, was graduated by King's, now Colum
bia College, in 1758, with its first graduating class.
Among his classmates at graduation were Samuel Pro- .
voost, afterwards the first Bishop of New York, and
Philip van Cortlandt, Colonial Lieutenant Governor of
the State during the Revolution. It was towards the
close of the year 1746 that the first decided movement
was made inwards having a college erected in the
province, and by November, 1753, such progress had
been made in the enterprise that the Rev. Samuel
Johnson, D. D., of Stratford, Conn., was invited to
accept the presidency of the intended institution, with

SAMUEL. 155
a salary of £250 a year. He refused absolutely to
accept the office until the charter had been first ob
tained. * * * The University of Oxford had confer
red upon him, when he was but forty-six, the degree
of Doctor of Divinity. On the 16th of May, 1754, the
ten trustees who had been chosen to hold the funds
raised for the benefit of the College, presented a draft
of a charter, and in anticipation of a more formal es
tablishment of the College, gave pubhc notice of an
examination of candidates, and on July 17th, Dr. John
son began in the vestry room of the school house be
longing to Trinity Church, his instruction of the eight
students who were admitted at this first examination,
aud on the list the first narae is that of Samuel Ver
Planck. The others in their respective order were
Rudolph Ritzima, Philip van Cortlandt, Robert Bayard,
Sarauel Provoost, Thomas Marston, Henry Cruger, and
Joshug, Bloomer. Of these, Bayard, Marston, and ,
Cruger, the latter the colleague of Edmund Burke for
Bristol, in the House of Commons, and a fearless ad
vocate of American rights, did not graduate, and two
others, Isaac Ogden and Joseph Reade were added to
the class and graduated with it in 1758. The charter
was finally granted October 31, 1754, and among the
prominent men named in it for the Governors, was
Phihp Ver Planck, who was a son of Jacobus, and he
continued in the office untU 1770, a year before his
death, when he resigned.
Samuel was sent after his graduation to Holland,
where he remained for several years in the counting-
house of his raaternal uncle, Daniel Croramehn, who
was then at the head of the great banking and com
mercial house of Daniel Crommelin & Sons, of Amster
dam, a house which had an existence of more than a
century, and has only been dissolved within the last
ten years. lna letter written by Gulian C. Ver Planck
when in Amsterdam in 1816, he speaks of visiting
Daniel Crommehn, and his taking him to the Exchange,

156 SAMUEL.
where 'he took his accustomed stand about the centre
of the square that his father and grandfather had eilways
stood on, and that I was talking to him on the same
ground where my grandfather must have talked to his
fifty years ago.' The present representative of the
Crommelin family is Claude Auguste Crommehn,* a
member of the City Council of Amsterdam, and inher
itor of the family homestead.
Samuel married while in Holland, on the 26th of
April, 1761, his cousin Judith Crommehn, daughter of
Daniel and Marie le Plastrier Crommelin, and after ex
tensive travel abroad, returned to this country in 1763,
and estabhshed himself in the city of New York as a
wholesale importer and banker. He was one of the
twenty-four founders of the New York Chamber of
Commerce in 1768, and was appointed in 1770 one of
the Governors of his Alma Mater, and his name is also
to be found among those of the Committee of Safety
of One Hundred, who were chosen to take charge of
the City Government upon the seizure of the public
buildings in May, 1775. He reraoved to FishkiU,
Dutchess County, where he was a large landholder,
when his impaired health and the disordered state of
the country induced his withdrawal from business."
For many years Samuel had a strong friendship for
Phihp VerPlanck (66) and his family, who lived near
the Fishkill Plains, on the farm at the mill which had
been given to hira by his father, Philip (34), by his
Will, as has been stated. After the death of Philip
in 1777 and his wife in 1775, Samuel had the care
and perhaps the formal guardianship of the children,
Phihp (99) and William Beekman (100), for he hved
in their house for a period of nearly thirty years. He
acted also as executor of their father's Will until Phihp
*He died in Amsterdam about fifteen years ago.

SAMUEL. 157
the eldest, reached his majority. Many of the
letters, vouchers, etc., of Samuel's stewardship, are
still retained in the family of Philip, who afte/ward
lived at the Point and buUt a new Manor House in the
place of the one destroyed by the British.
During the Revolutionary War, Ver Planck's Point
and Stony Point, directly opposite, were occupied suc
cessively by the Enghsh and American armies. The
Ver Planck Point property was then in charge of Samuel
Ver Planck, acting as executor of Phihp Ver Planck
(66), its late owner, who had devised it to his son,
Phihp (99), then in his minority and living on the
homestead at the mills near Fishkill Plains, with his
aunts. Samuel Ver Planck seems to have employed a local
agent, John Rooney, of whose letters to him written
in 1783-'84, there are a few preserved. In one of them,
written at King's ferry, December 13, 1783, Rooney
says : "Since my last I have been twice to Newburgh
io order to obtain compensation in Morris & HUligar's
notes, agreeable to the expectations of Col. Pickering,
* * * for articles furnished and damages committed by
the Army since January, 1782. * * * however. Col.
Pickering's long stay in Philadelphia has prevented my
doing anything as yet." Rooney then adds : "Col.
Pickering sent two of his assistants down to pro
cure wood for the Troops intended to be stationed at
the Posts at Stoney & Ver Planck's Points this winter,
* * * and applied for permission to cut down 30 or 40
cords, which I peremptorily forbid." He adds, how
ever, that as there was a good deal of fallen tim
ber, he allowed it to be taken, of w'hich he has

158 SAMUEL.
an account. He goes on to say : "One very glaring
abuse (in my opinion) has been commited in my ab
sence, between Capt. Swartwout, of the Artillery, &
the Q'^ M*^ Gen'l, which is this, viz : Capt. Swartwout
has been stationed here all summer, and continued
until our Troops took possession of New York, when
he went down and resigned. After his resignation he
applyed to Col. Pickering (as he says) for leave to take
as many cords of the wood cut on Ver Planck's Point
as would serve hira for his Winter fuel in York, as he
had quit the army and received no money whereby he
could purchase wood with. Col. Pickering according
ly gave him an order to take 10 cords, wbich he came
and took in my absence, otherwise he should never re
ceived it." He then adds that he had protested by a
letter to Col. Pickering, of which a copy is enclosed,
and concludes by apologizing for the affair.
In another letter written at Peekskill April 24, 1784,
Rooney says: "A few days ago I saw Col. Pickering
and requested to know wbat prospect there was of
obtaining compensation for the damages done to the
Point. He informed me that he saw Mr. Ver Planck
in New York (meaning your brother), and related to
him every encouragement there was. * * * He (Pick
ering) then informed me he moved it to Mr. Morris,
Financier, who had laid it before Congress, with a plan
for a settlement of all such Accts. but there not being
members sufficient to form a house in Congress at that
time, this business could not be proceeded to."
It is hardly necessary to add that these claims, as
well as many others even more meritorious, were never
adjusted and paid by the government.

SAMUEL. 159
' Mount Gulian, which Sarauel received by gift from
his father, was occupied during the war by Baron
Steuben^ one of Washington's chief officers, as a head
quarters. Here Steuben established hiraself and re
mained until the close of the war and the disbanding
bf the array by Washington, at Newburgh, in 1783.
In May of that year the Order of the Cincinnati was
established at Mount Gulian.
In May, 1883, the centennial of the Order was
pleasantly celebrated at the old house by a visit of
many of its members. On this occasion the Cincinnati
were welcomed by the late WiUiara Samuel Ver Planck
(160), who then owned the property. One of the
features of this visit was the reading of the Declaration
of Independance by the Vice-President in the Cin
cinnati Room, as had been done one hundred years be
fore on the foundation of the order.
Samuel did not live at Mount Guhan until his son,
Daniel Crommehn (88), made his home there in 1804,
on removing from New York.
Samuel, who took no active part in the Revolution,
is said by some writers of the Colonial times to have
been a Tory. Such is not the case, as the records
show. He allowed his house to be taken as a head
quarters for the American army. Had he been a Tory
the Araericans would hardly have taken the good care
of the property they did. Besides, the lands of Tories
were very generally confiscated, yet we know that no
property of this family was forfeited or had proceed
ings instituted against it under the Acts of Forfeiture.
Samuel probably remained in the communion of the
Dutch Church, though he was in sympathy with the

160 SAMUEL.
Episcopal. Both of the old churches at Fishkill were
objects of his bounty on an interesting'occasion.
In 1765 there died not far from Fishkill, Egelbert
Hoff, at the age of one hundred and twenty-eight years.
He was born in Norway and could remember that he
was a lad driving a team when the news was brought
to his country that Charles I. of England was be
headed. He served as a soldier under the Prince of
Orange in the time of James II, Hoff, who had been a
communicant of the Dutch Church, was buried at
Hopewell, in Dutchess County, Samuel knewtheman
well, and in 1820, to commemorate the event, he gave
to each of the churches a silver flagon. The inscrip
tion on the flagon now in the possession of Trinity
Church is as follows :
"Presented by Samuel Verplanck, Esq,, To the first
Episcopal church in the town of Fishkill, To com
memorate Mr, Eglebert Hoff", by birth a Norwegian,
in his life time attached to the Life Guards of the
Prince of Orange (afterwards King WiUiam III, of
England). He resided for a number of years in this
County, and died with unblemished reputation at
Fishkill, 21 March, 1765, Aged 128 years. Fishkill,
January, 1820."
The flagon given by Samuel to the Dutch Church
is of the same design and has a similar inscription.
Samuel gave to Trinity Church, Fishkill, a glebe
farm which the corporation stUl holds. He also gave
land to other churches in Dutchess County.
Among the records of Dutchess County is a deed
dated March 23, 1779, by Samuel VerPlanck, describ
ed as "Merchant, Gentleman, Citizen of New York,
Burgher of Amsterdam, and one of the Governours of

SAMUEL. 161
King's College," to Areaen Brinckerhofl and others "as
Trustees for the congregation of the Reformed Dutch
churches of Fishkill, HopeweU and New Hackensack."
The consideration for the deed is stated to be "The af
fection which the said Samuel VerPlanck bears to the
old Dutch Church in the city of New York, to the
Reformed Church iu Rombout Precinct, in reSpect to
the memory of his father, Guhan Ver Planck, his grand
father, Sarauel VerPlanck, his great grandfather, Gulian
Ver Planck the Elder, his great great grandfather,
Abraham Ver Planck, In gratitude to the meraory of
Henrica Wessels, the widow of Guhan Ver Planck the
elder, since the wife of Jacobus Kip. Also out of ten
der regard to his only son, Daniel Croraraehne Ver
Planck, to his only brother, Guhan Ver Planck, to his
cousins, Phihp and William Beekman, grandsons of
PhUip Ver Planck, late of the Manor of Cortlandt, de
ceased." The deed conveyed ten acres out of the "John Way
farm" at Hopewell. It is witnessed by Samuel's
cousins, Anna Maria Ver Planck, Catharine Ver Planck,
Catharine VerPlanck the younger, and Gertrude Ver
Planck. On this land was built the church at Hopewell,
which is still standing and used by the people of the
neighborhood. An account of this deed and the church
will be found in Smith's History of Dutchess County.
A fine portrait of Samuel, by Copley, has come down
to this day. It was painted about 1770. This por
trait is now owned by his great grandson, Samuel Ver
Planck, of Stonykill, Fishkill-on-Hudson. There is
also a large miniature of Daniel Crommelin, father of

162 SAMUEL.
Samuel's wife (artist unknown), which is now in the
possession of Robert N. Ver Planck, of Fishkill.
Samuel died at Mount Gulian, then the home of his
son, on the 27th of January, 1820, in the eighty-first
year of his age. He is buried in Trinity Churchyard,
FishkiU.

GULIAN,
Guhan (57) was the youngest son of Gulian (32)
and Mary Crommelin, and at the time of his father's
death was less than a year old. To his brother Gulian,
Samuel was very much attached. He directed his
education, and after his graduation at King's College,
in the class of 1768, with Gouverneur Morris and Bishop
Moore, he sent him abroad for a mercantile training
under his uncle, Daniel Crommelin, in Amsterdam, as
Sarauel himself had had. Gulian became a noted man
in New York after his return. He was highly accom
plished and a fine speaker.
An anecdote of Gulian's boyhood is worth record
ing. When the Duke of Clarence, then a young mid
shipman, afterwards William IV., visited New York,
Gulian was his companion. One day, while skating
on the CoUect, the young Duke broke through the ice
and would have drowned had not Guhan rescued him.

GULIAN. 163
In 1788 he was elected to the Assembly of the State,
and was twice Speaker.
When Gulian was in his thirty-third year he mar
ried Cornelia Johnstone, daughter of David Johnstone
and Magdalena (Helena?) Walton, March 29, 1784.
From an entry in the Bible of Gulian (32) it appears
that the marriage took place at the house of Col. Ga
briel Ludlow, at Hempstead Plains.
They had the following children :
No. 90, Maria Cornelia, bom January 25, 1785,
Married Wilham Allen. Died February
9, 1825, at Hyde Park, N. Y.
No. 91, Eliza Magdalena, born February 16, 1786,
She never married, and died at Rondout,
N, Y,, January 23, 1861,
No. 92, Anna Sophia, born September 24, 1787.
Died September 15, 1819.
No. 93. David Johnstone, born January 18, 1789.
Died at New York. Married Louisa A.
Gouverneur by whom he had two children.
No. 91 Emily, born January 11, 1791, at New
York. Married April 29, 1822, Claude
Sylvaine Quilhard. Died February 12,
1869.
No, 95. Charlotte daLancey, bom September 25,
1792, Died, 1857,
No. 96. (Julian, (?)
(There is a question as to the existence of
this child. The name does not appear on all
the charts or trees which I have seen, and
from researches and enquiries I am inclined
to believe thatthere was no su.'h child. Pos
sibly a Gulian died iu early infancy).

164 GULIAN,
A list of Gulian's children wiU be found in an Act of
the legislature passed in 1809, to quiet the title of
sorae property in the city of New York, of which he
died seised.
I am inforraed by Francis Johnstone Hopson, Esq.,
of New York, that David Johnstone, was the grand
son of John Johnstone, who came frora Leith, Scotland,
in 1685, and settled first in New Jersey and afterwards
in New York, where he became prominent in the pro
vincial government. His wife was Eupheme, daughter
of George Scot, Laird of Pitlochie.
During the last ten years of his life, Gulian Ver
Planck was one of the Regents of the University ofthis
State, and during the same period he was the President
of the Bank of New York, which was then the only bank
in tbe city. The charter of the bank was obtained
frora the legislature of the State after many applications
and with the utmost difficulty, for there was then the
sarae ignorant opposition to corporations as there is
now to combinations of capital.
From a miniature of Gulian, owned by his grandson,
Gulian Ver Planck Quilliard, an engraving was made
for the Bank of New York in 1884, when it celebrated
its Centennial and published a book containing its his
tory. In it are tbe portraits of all its presidents and
several pictures of its different banking houses. The
bank began businessin 1784 in.the Walton House, Pearl
street, then known as No. 156 Queen street or 67 St.
George's Square. It was a handsome building of yellow
Dutch brick, built in 1752 by WiUiam Walton. After
one or two removals a new building, corner of Waif and
WiUiam streets, the present site, was begun by the

GULIAN. 1 65
layingof the corner stone in 1797 by Guhan VerPlanck,
who was then its president. On the death of Guhan,
Nicholas Gouverneur was elected president of the bank.
Daniel C. Ver Planck (88), nephew of Guhan, was
one of the original shareholders of the bank.
The Bank of New York has since become a National
Bank. Gulian was a merchant trading with Holland, and
probably, with his brother Samuel, the successors of
their father's business. In an old trunk of Samuel's,
found at Mount Gulian, I found on the leaves of an
old ledger an entry of the sale of a cargo of rice in
August, 1796, at Amsterdam, shipped from Charleston
"by the ship Grace, Capt. John Armour, for the acct.,
etc., of Messrs. Guhan Ver Planck, John vanderBilt,
Robert Dale, and Wm. Laight, owners of the said
ship, &c., Merch* at New York."
Gulian's house was on the south side of WaU street,
adjoining that of Gabriel Ludlow, who also owned
the land in the rear which was formerly the property
of the Dutch Church in Garden street. Gulian's land
was quite extensive, being 42 feet front and over one
hundred feet deep on the east side. He had bought it
of Alexander Hamilton, when Secretary of the Treasury,
in September, 1793, paying £2400, New York cur
rency. Guhan had other property in New York, and was
accounted one of the rich men of the town. He was
one of the original trustees of the Tontine Coffee House,
founded in 1792. His landed interests in Dutchess
County, derived from his father, were small, owing to
the peeuhar provisions of the Will. Guhan, however.

166 GULIAN.
acquired land adjoining Mount Guhan and elsewhere,
by gifts from his brother Samuel and by purchase from
others. Mr. Charles Brinckerhoff, son of the late Daniel
Brinckerhoff, kindly let me look over some of his family
papers. Among them I found a deed dated March 10,
1779, by Samuel Ver Planck (52) to his brother Guhan,
both being described as of Rombout's precinct. The'"
consideration mentioned is "the natural love and affec
tion which he (Samuel) hath for his only brother,
Gulian, as also for the better maintainance and prefer
ment of the said Gulian." The deed conveys "all that
certain farm or plantation situate in Rumbout's pre
cinct aforesaid, as the same was originally leased by
Guhan Ver Planck (32), dec'd, to Dennis McKeebe,
dec'd, containing about 200 acres." Gulian was then
twenty-seven years old and yet unmarried. In this
farm Guhan is given a life estate and after his death
the property is given "to the heirs of his body." The
deed is duly executed and witnessed by Anna Maria
Ver Pknck and John Hanson, Jr. The deed was not
recorded, for it lacks the proper certificate. It is now
badly torn and is endorsed : "Deed for Stoney Kill
farm." The next old deed is dated May 2, 1800, by
Cornelia, widow and executrix, and John Johnstone
as executor of Gulian Ver Planck (57), deceased, where
by for $4000 they convey the same farm to John
Townsend. The property is described as bounded
southwest by Mount Gulian farm, northwest by lands
of Mrs. Teller. She was Anna VerPlanck (17). The
southeast boundary is "the Sprout of the Stone Creek
by John Van Voorhis' line." This deed was recorded

GULIAN. 167
in Dutchess County in June, 1800. The next deed
in order is dated May 1, 1802, by which Samuel Ver
Planck (52) released and quit-claimed all his interest
in the farm to John Townsend, according to a new
survey made in settleraent of disputes about adjoin
ing boundaries, which the deed recites. Although
duly executed and acknowledged before Daniel C. Ver
Planck, as Judge of the Comraon Pleas of Dutchess
County, the deed has not been recorded. Afterwards,
through mesne conveyances, the farm becarae vested
in Garrett Brinckerhoff', who in 1831 gave it to his
son Daniel, father of Charles above mentioned.
Gulian. also received by gift from his brother Samuel
a tract of land in the Hardenburgh patent, i. e., lands
in Ulster, now Delaware County, as well as a fourth
interest in Samuel's Dutchess County property other
than Mount Guhan. This gift was raade in 1762, as
appears by the deed recordt^d in the office of the Sec
retary of State.
In April, 1796, Guhan bought frora Daniel Graham
what is now Denning's Point, then called De Puyster's
Point or "The Island in Fishkill Bay," with lands at
Plum Point adjoining "the land of Capt. Peter DuBois,"
in all about 160 acres.
In April, 1814, after the death of Guhan (57),
William Allen, who had married his daughter Corneha
and was living on the Point, bought out the other heirs
of Guhan. WiUiam AUen built the house yet stand
ing, which was for many years the horae of the Den
ning family. Afterwards, and in 1823, part of this
property, i.e., the Point, consisting of forty acres, five
of which was marsh, was conveyed to the trustees of

168 GULIAN.
Wilham Denning, Esq., by Emily Ver Planck and her
husband, Claude S. Quilhard, and the other heirs of
Gulian Ver Planck (57). The consideration was $10,-
000. The .Dennings built a causeway to the mainland and
called the Point Presquisle, reviving in a happy way
the old name of The Island. Here that faraily lived until
1889, when Miss Jane Denning died, and her brother
Williara having died sorae years before, her sister Mrs.
van Rensselaer and her daughter moved from the Point
to another part of Fishkill.
It was on this Point that Washington was in the
habit of landing after crossing from his headquarters at
Newburgh. Under a large oak tree which stood near
the shore he found an orderly with his horse. Thence he
rode to the highway leading to New England.
The old oak is still standing and is known as the
"Washington Oak."
Guhan died suddenly November 20, 1799, having
previously made his will in 1792, and a codicil in 1795.
By the will he gave all the property, real and personal,
to his wife for life, and on her death to "my then sur
viving children." By the codicil he explains the Will
as intended to include children of deceased children.
He also raakes a bequest of £200 to "my faithful
Housekeeper, Phebe Bartholomew." The executors
are "my wife Corneha and my brothers-in-law, John
Johnstone andFrancis Upton." NicholasGouverneur,
Gabriel V. Ludlow, and Francis Lewis, Jr., were wit
nesses to the will and codicil.
Gulian's widow afterwards married George Caines,
the Reporter of the Supreme Court of New York.

GULIAN. 169
Before closing with Gulian Ver Planck (57), an ex
ample of his poetry wiU be given, for Guhan was a
versatile man. While travehng in Europe in 1775 on
his way horae frora HoUand, he stopped at an inn in
England. On a pane of glass of the inn he wrote these
lines: Hail, happy Britain, Freedom's blest retreat,
Great is thy power ; thy wealth, thy glory great ;
But wealth aud power have no eternal day,
For all things only ripen to decay ;
And when that time arrives, the lot of all
When Britain's glory, wealth, and power must fall.
Then shall thy sons, for such is Heaven's decree.
In other worlds another Britain see.
And what thou art America shall be. G. V. P. 1775.
These lines were published in the "Columbian" in
February, 1817, and pronounced respectableby the critics.
They certainly are not the sentiraent which a Tory
would hold on the eve of the Revolution. For Guhan
having been in New York during the British occupation
has been erroneously called a Tory.
A few words about the descendants of Gulian Ver
Planck (57) rnay be of interest.
David Johnstone (93), his eldest son, became quite
a prominent politician in New York, and was at one
time editor of the "New York American." He married
Louise A. Gouverneur, and had two children, Cornelia
Johnstone, who married the Rev. Mr. Kowing, of
Westchester County, N. Y., and Nicholas Gouverneur,
who died without issue in Westchester County in 1883.
Maria Corneha (90), the eldest daughter, married
William Allen, her first cousin. They lived at Fish
kill, on the point aftferwards known as Denning's Point,
in great afBuence. While living at the Point Wilham

170 GULIAN.
Alien lost his own property as well as that of his wife's
family. One of his extravagances was the breeding of
merino sheep. These sheep were first imported from
Merino, Spain, about 1800. Their breeding became a
craze in America, and immense prices were paid for a
single rara. An interesting account of this affair can
be read in M°Master's "History of the People of the
United States."
Wilham and Maria Corneha AUen had the following
children : Adelaide, born in 1805, died in 1824 ; Fran
ces M., born 1807, married Jared Sparks, at one time
President of Harvard College. She died in 1835. Fred
erick W. and Gulian V. P. both died in infancy. John,
born 1810, died 1857 ; and Julia, born 1813, raarried
the Rev. WiUiam Channing, of Boston, in 1836. She
died in 1889. Of this marriage there were three chil
dren : Frances M. A., who married Sir Edwin Arnold
in IS68; Blanche; and Francis A., who married Ehz
abeth Bryant in 1869. Francis A. Channing is now
a British subject by naturalization in 1864, and has
represented the division of Northamptonshire in the
House of Commons since 1885.
Emily (94) married Claude Sylvaine Quilliard in
1822, as stated, and had the foUowing children :
Claude Victor, who died in 1889 unmarried ; Sylvaine,
died in 1846 ; Jules, died in 1831 ; Charles V., died in
1866 ; Sophie, who lived at one time with her mother
and brother, Claude Victor, at Rondout, N.Y., died in
1867 , and Gulian Ver Planck, who married and is now
living at Duluth, Minnesota.
A few years before his death, Claude Victor Quil
liard gave to the late Wilham Sarauel Ver Planck ( 1 60)

GULIAN.

171

and certain of his children, several beautiful pieces of
old silverware — soup ladle, bowls, spoons, forks —
part of the silver which his grandfather Guhan Ver
Planck (57) had made when traveling in England
in 1773-'5.
The silver is marked with a design of which this is
a fac simile :

Charlotte deLancey (95), the other child to be men
tioned, never married. She lived ^at intervals with her
sisters, and like them was quite intimate with her
cousins in the family of the late Daniel C. VerPlanck
(88) at Fishkill. The last years of her life were spent
in New York, where she died in 1857. By her will,
proved there, she gave legacies to her nieces and
nephews.

172 GULIAN.
For the geneological tables and other facts connected
with the grandchildren of Gulian Ver Planck, I am
indebted to Mr. Francis Johnstone Hopson, who is
a lineal descendant of David Johnstone, the father of
Corneha,who became Guhan's (57) wife. By the death,
in 1883, without issue, of Nicholas Gouverneur Ver
Planck, grandson of Guhan (57), this branch in the
male line became extinct.

PHILIP OF ROMBOUT PRECINCT.

He (66) was the youngest child of Philip of Cort
landt Manor, and was born there August 30, 1736,
He made his home at the mill and farm where his
uncle William (33) hved, on the Sprout Creek, near
Fishkill Plains, or Rombout Precinct, as the whole
district was then called. His occupation was that of
farmer and miller. He married Aef^e (Eve) Beekman
(written also Effee Beekman), April 6, 1 764.
The following information concerning the Beekman
or Beeckman family has been given me by Mr. William
Gordon Ver Planck, of New York, who is the owner
of the old Beekman Bible in Dutch, printed in 1714
at Dordrecht, which came to him through his ancestor,
Aefje Beekman ;

PHILIP OP ROMBOUT PRECINCT. 173
Effee Beekman was the daughter of Gerard Beek
man, Junior, and Catharina Provoost. She was born
Feby. 16, 1736-7, in New York City, wljere she was
baptized at the Dutch Church, Feby. 26, 1736-7.
She was named after her maternal grandmother Effee
(or Aefje) Van Exveen.
Her father, Gerard Beekman, Junior, born at Esop
us, June 10, 1693, and died Nov. 23, 1742, was the
son of Gerard Beekman, M. D., of Flatbush (born
1663 died 1723), and Magdalene Abeel (daughter of
Stoffel Jans Abeel, Master Carpenter of Albany, born
1623, and Neettie Janse Croon), and grandson of Wil
liam Beekman (born 1623, died 1707, first comer) and
Catherine De Bough, daughter of Frederick Hendricks
De Bough, captain of a Hudson River trading vessel.
Her mother, Catherina Provoost, born in New York
Oct. 8, 1704, died Apl. 20, 1763, was the daughter of
William Provoost, Merchant of New York and Aefje
Van Exveen; andgrand-daughter of David Provoost who.
May 16, 1768, married, at New York City, Tryntie
Laurens (born in Amsterdara Nov. 14, 1650), and
great-grand-daughter of David Provoost, who carae to
Araerica about 1640 and raarried Margaretta, daughter
of Joakin Van Waart.
Mr. Ver Planck has the original of the following
letter written by Peter DeWitt, who seems to have
been a friend of the family :
Amsterdam, July the 1st, 1754.
Miss Magdalen and Miss Effe Beekman.
Dear Ladies
Since I first had the happiness of Becoming acquaint
ed with you, the kind and civil treatraent I have al
ways met with will ever Obhge me to entertain a sin
cere and lasting Respect for you and all your worthy

174 PHILIP OP ROMBOUT PRECINCT.
Family, and tho' I should travel to the Remotest Verge
of the world I shall at all tiraes Rejoice in having the
pleasure to hear of your health and prosperity.
I embrace the present opportunity to fulfill the
promise I made you when I last was blest with your
good Company, that I would write to you at my ar
rival here. I have had a passage of 48 days for the
raost part accompanied with Rain and haid gales of
wind, especially one on Sunday night May the 5th.
Boreas with all his blasts blew so violently that we
could scarse c^rry any sail being in great danger ot
losing our masts every moraent and Continually having
large seas Rolling over us being mounted up and tested
down by the Foaraing billows which roared disraally
(Here follow a few lines from Blackmore, part of which is
illegible).
At the dawning of thi^ day the wind abated tho' the
sea ran very high and afforded me an opportunity of
beholding the works of the Almighty display'd on the
watry world which indeed appeared very terrible to
me who was entirely unaccustomed tOKUch sights and
made rae At that time sincerely wish to be at Miss
Eff"e's Holland that she banter'd me with going up the
Fish KUls, that I might have leap'd upon Terra Firma.
I believe they would hardly have got me on board
again, we had sorae days in our voyage that was pleas
ant and agreeable when we were blest with Fresh and
gentle gales, the saihng was then very dehghtfull es
pecially as it gave us an opportunity of Beholding
The dolphins Sport upon the tide
Display their beauties and their scaly pride
Their various Colour'd Arch adorn the flood
Like a Bright RainBow in a watry Cloud
W illegible. )
anton with vigour and immod'rate Life. Blackmore.
I have bfen to see my Relations since ray arrival
here at Ceileuborg a small city about 50 railes distant
from hence, had the satisfaction to find them all in

PHILIP OP ROMBOUT PRECINCT. 175
good health and the pleasure of being kindly Reed by
thern. On ray Return frora thence I passed thro
Utrecht (?) a city soraething larger than New York a
httle distance from which I saw most lovely country
Seats. * * *
I like Amsterdara very well. I believe it is one of
the Finest Cities in the universe, the houses are very
Regular and Fine, the streets very clean, thro' the
middle of which the water runs, and Fine large Trees
all along the Edges, but notwithstanding the beauty
of the place I should not choose to hve here upon no
accompt whatever, as I like not the ways and the cus
toms of the people, the streets being ever full of beg
gars pest'ring you for Charity & abundance of Jews
called by the dutch Smoucers who are continually
pulling of you by the sleeve as you walk the streets
and plagueing you with "vil you dit koop & dat koop"
that one can scarse get Rid of their belliowing.
I hope to enjoy the pleasure of seeing you, please
God I am weU, by the latter end of next fall as I ex
pect to Return to New York by way of London and
have now only,to entreat your excuse for ray detain
ing you so long in reading this very short letter.
My kind love and respects ladies wait on you, your
worthy Mother, Miss Ann Provoost and your Brothers.
I sincerely wish you all a Constant and lasting enjoy
ment of health together with all the Joy Corafort and
peace that this life affords and shall at all times take
a great pleasure in Testyfying with what profound Re
spect and great esteem I am
Worthy Ladies
Your truly Devo*^ Hum^ Serv*
Peter DeWitt.
Please to tell Mrs. Ann Provoost that I have made
dihgent enquiry for the persons whe desir'd me but an
(illegible) shall enquire further (illegible).

176 PHILIP OF ROMBOUT PRECINCT.
I have sent to my Brother Garret a Kameijme Kaas
for a present to your Mother which beg she'll accept
of in Return for what she was so kind as to give me
for my sea store hope it my prove good.
(Addressed to)
Miss Magdalen & Miss Effe Beekman
In New York.

In an interesting chapter in the Memorial History
of the City of New York, — "Earl of Bellomont and the
Suppression of Piracy," by Dr. Ver Milye, it is stated
that Col. Henry Beekman, Nicholas Bayard, and a few
others were the favorites of Governor Fletcher, who
made to them large grants of land on improvident
terms. Araong other grants, Henry Beekraan was
given a tract sixteen miles square in Dutchess County,
on the Connecticut border, now the town of Beekraan,
and another on the Hudson river eight by twelve
miles, called Ryn Beeck, now Rhinebeck. He was
known as the Great Patentee. It was such grants as
these that Lord Bellomont determined to vacate on
becoming Governor. Proceedings accordingly were
instituted, the result of which was that Beekman lost
several of his grants, araong others the one in Dutch
ess County. After the recall of Belloraont, Col. Beek
man was again granted the Dutchess County property.
It covered all the land east of the Rombout Patent,
and extended to the Connecticut line. After the ad
justment of the dispute with the owners of the Rom
bout Patent, it came to be known as Beekman Precinct,
and to-day the town of Beekman still perpetuates
Henry Beekman's name.

PHILIP OP ROMBOUT PRECINCT. 177
In Smith's History of Dutchess County it is stated
that Henry Beekraan objected to the first grant raade
him in 1697, of lands in Dutchess County, because the
annual quit-rent to the Crown (forty shillings) was too
high. He therefore waited uutil 1703, when he ob
tained a final grant of the same land on more favorable
terms. The following are extracts from the Beekman gen
ealogy given me by Mr. Phihp Ver Planck, of Yonkers :
"WiUiam Beekman, born 1623; died 1707; carae to
New Amsterdam in 1647; married Catherine De
Bough. Had a son Henry (the Patentee), born in
Wiltwyck (Kingston) ; died 1716. Married Joanna
Loper. They had five children, among thera Gerar-
dus, a physician of Flatbush, L. I., who raarried Mag-
daleen Abeel. They had eight children, among them
Gerardus, who married Catharine Provost. They had
six children, among them Aefje (Effee), who married
Philip Ver Planck."
From the History of Rhinebeck by Sraith, the fol
lowing extract is given me by Mr. William Gordon
Ver Planck :
"William Beekman, thn father of the patentee of
Ryn Beek, we are told by those who ought to know,
came to New Amsterdam, now New York, with Gov
ernor Stuyvesant, in 1647; that he was born in Hol
land, of German ancestry, on the 28th day of April,
1623 ; that he raarried Catherine DeBough, in the city
of New York, on the 25th of September, 1649, by
whom he had seven children, three sons and four
daughters ; and that he died iu the city of New York
in 1707, in the 85th year of his age. In 1663, '64,
'55, '56, '67 he was elected one of the schepens (assis
tant alderman) of New Arasterdam. On the 18th of

178 PHILIP OP ROMBOUT PRECINCT.
October, 1658, he was appointed vice-governor on the
Delaware; on the 4th of July, 1664, he was elected
sheriff of Esopus, now Kingston. On the 16th of
August, 1647, he was elected burgomaster of New
Amsterdara. He was alderman at twelve different
dates under the Enghsh, untU 1696, when he with
drew from public life. The old New York records
tell us that the business by which he lived and pros
pered was that of a brewer. His sons were Henry
(the Patentee), Gerard, and John."

In 1768 Philip Ver Planck replaced the house built
by his uncle WiUiam with a fine large stone and brick
house of Colonial style of architecture. The house
has quaint Dutch doors and mantles,, and good wood
carving in the interior.
This old house is still standing and in a good state
of preservation. It is an excellent example of the
architecture of the period, and would well repay a
visit. One of the interesting features of the house is
the date — 1768 — raarked in the gable by large black
bricks. The house and adjoining farm and raill re
mained in the family until 1827, when Philip's grand
sons, WiUiara Gordon (146) and Phihp Alexander
Ver Planck (147), sold the entire property to the late
Richard C. Van Wyck, of Fishkill. His grandson, A.
Bloodgood Van Wyck, Esq., now occupies the property.
The children of Philip and his wife Aefje were :
No, 97, Catharine, born April 21, 1765, Married
November 4, 1786, Herman Hoffman, of
Red Hook, Dutchess County, She had
five children, and died in May, 1833,

PHILIP OP ROMBOUT PRECINCT, 179
No. 98. (jertrude, born August 26, 1766. Mar
ried March 8, 1789, Anthony A. Hoff'man,
of Poughkeepsie. She died in 1848, hav
ing had four children.
No. 99. Philip, born July IS, 1768.
He will be mentioned again.
No. 100. William Beekman, born March 2, 1770.
He will be mentioned later.
No. 101. Margaret, born September 7, 1771. Mar
ried June, 1799, Peter Mesier, of Wap
pingers FaUs; died November 7, 1852,
and is buried at Fishkill ViUage, in the
Dutch Churchyard.
No. 102. Anna Maria, born October 19, 1773,
Married April, 1 796, Col. Andrew deVeaux,
of the Enghsh Army. She died in 1816.
Phiup and his wife were no doubt greatly disturbed
by the war of the Revolution. After the destruction
of Cortlandt Manor and the death of his brothers James
(59), and John (62), the remaining ones of the family
carae to live with him at Rombout Precinct. They
were his sisters Anna Maria (63), Gertrude (64), and
Catharine, (65). His cousin, Samuel Ver Planck {o2),
was also a meraber of his household, and continued to
live there after Philip's death, raanaging the property
and directing the education of the children. A close
friend of the family also was the Rev. Isaac RysDyck,
the minister of the Dutch Churches at FishkiU and
New Hackensack. He was the tutor to the children.
The worry and anxiety caused by the war, and the
devastation wrought on Ver Planck's Point, may have
hastened the death of Phihp and his wife, for they both

180 PHILIP OF ROMBOUT PRECINCT.
died young, she November 22, 1775, and he June 20,
1777. They are both buried in the Dutch Church
yard at Fishkill Village.
Philip's wiU is dated May 10, 1777, and was proved
not long after his death. The original will is in the
clerk's office of the Court of Appeals, where are now
part of the records of the late Court of Chancery.
He describes hiraself as "of Rumbout Precinct, in the
County of Dutchess, Gentleman, only surviving son and
heir of Phihp Ver Planck of the Manor of Courtlandt,
County of Westchester, lately deceased." After a pre
amble of piety and a provision for the payment of his
debts, he devises the land in the Manor of Cortlandt,
coraprising 932 acres (which he says he obtained
through his brother Johannes, to whom it fell), to his
four daughters, Catharine, Gertrude, Margaret, and
Anna Maria, as tenants in common, with power to the
executorsto divide the land among them. To his eldest
son Philip he devises Ver Planck's Point, containing
900 acres, for life, and after his death "to the heirs of
his body." The description of the property is tbe same
as that in the will of Stephanus van Cortlandt and his
father Phihp, viz.: "AU that neck of land at the enter
ing of the Highlands, just over against * * * Haver
straw, etc.," adding, "and now known as Ver Planck's
Point." To the eldest son, Phihp, is also given all the
testator's other land in the Manor of Cortlandt on the
same conditions. The executors are directed to apply
the net income of aU this property until his son Phihp's
majority, to the- support and maintenance of all the
testator's children.
To his son William Beekman is given "That farm

PHILIP OP ROMBOUT PRECINCT. 181
or plantation whereon I now hve, together with the
dweUing house, mills, streams and improvements on
the said farm erected, situate in Rombout's Precinct
in Dutchess County," and also all the testator's other
property in Dutchess County. The devise is made to
hira for life, and after his death "to the heirs of his
body." The executors are directed to make the same
apphcation of the net income of this devise, during
W^ilham Beekman's minority, as in the case of the eldest
son, Philip.
To his four daughters are bequeathed "all the
wearing apparel of ray deceased wife." His own
wearing apparel he requests his sisters to divide
among his sons. The residuary, real and personal es
tate, is to be equaUy divided among all the chUdren.
Finally the testator appoints as executors, "Pierre Van
Cortlandt, of Van Cortlandt Manor, Philip Schuyler,
of Albany, Samuel Ver Planck, of New York, Gerard
P. Beekraan, of New York, David Beekman, now in
St. Croix, and John Cook, of Rumbout's Precinct, with
power also to appoint a superintendent. The making
of a mark by Philip, instead of writing his name, is ex
plained in the attestation clause, the reason being that
"Mr. Ver Planck had lost the use of his right hand."
After his son Phihp (99) had reached majority he be
came administrator, ivith the will annexed, by appoint
ment of the Surrogate of Dutchess County, where the
will was also proved in 1790.
Gerardus Beekman was the factor and consignee in
Liverpool of his brother David, who wasa sugar planter
at St. Croix, in the West Indies, where he owned sev
eral plantations and died possessed of a large estate,

182 PHILIP OP ROMBOUT PRECINCT.
upwards of $300,000. His heirs, as well as the heirs
of his brother Gerardus, who died in Liverpool, were
his sisters, Effee Beekman VerPlanck and her sister.
This estate, for various reasons, was not finally divided
until about 1834, when Phihp VerPlanck (140) went to
theWestlndiesand collected the amount due the heirs.
There are portraits (life-size) of Phihp and his wife
Aefje Beekman, now in the possession of their great
grandson, Phihp Ver Planck, now living in Yonkers.
The following information about the family of An
thony Hoffman, two of whose sons married two of the
daughters of Philip Ver Planck, has been furnished
me by Mr. WiUiara Gordon Ver Planck :
These extracts are from "History of Rhinebeck,"
by Smith :
"Holgate, in his genealogies, says these Hoffmans
were descendants from Martinus Hoffman, of Sweden,
who settled in Ulster County. His son, Nicholas, mar
ried Jannitje Crispell, daughter of Antonie Crispell, a
Huguenot, oue of the pateniees of New Paltz, and
thus transmitted some of the best blood of France in
the veins of his descendants. He says he settled in
Kingston. He was evidently the Nicholas Hoffman
who owned land in the precinct of Rhinebeck as early
as 1725, and was a freeholder herein 1740. Nicholas
Hoffman and Jannitje Crispell had five children, araong
thera : Martinus, born in 1706, who married Tryntje
Benson, daughter of Robert Benson and Cornelia Roos,
for a first wite, and the widow Alida Hansen, daughter
of Phihp Livingston, the second lord of the manor, for
a second. By Tryntje Benson he had nine children,
among them : Anthony, born in Red Hook, August
I, 1739. Martinus Hoffman was a Justice of the
Peace for Dutchess County in 1750-'51. In 1756 he

PHILIP OP ROMBOUT PRECINCT. 183
owned ten slaves, the largest nuraber held by any one
person ki the precinct. He was doubtless a raan of
large property and influence. His son Anthony was
Supervisor of the town of Rhinebeck from 1781 to
1785. He was Colonel, and raeraber of the first, third
and fourth Provincial Congresses."
Anthony Hoffman was also a graduate of Kings
College, New York, in 1760, and was afterwards Judge
of Dutchess County. The following is the genealogy
of his two sons,, who married Catharine (97) and Ger
trude (98), the daughters of Phihp Ver Planck (66):
Catherine Ver Planck married November 4, 1786,
Herman Hoffman, of Red Hook, N.Y. She died in May,
1833. The children were : Philip Beekman, Herman
L., Samuel Ver Planck, Beekman Ver Planck, Margaret.
Gertrude Ver Planck married Anthony A. Hoffman.
of Poughkeepsie. The children were : Euphemia,
BeeJcman, Charles, and Anthony.
Philip Beekman Hoffman married Lydia Osborne,
and after his death she married Comraodore John
Downes, U. S. N.
Samuel Ver Planck Hoffman* married Glorvina R.
Storm, daughter of Garrit Storra, of New York. The
Eev. Eugene A. Hoffman and the Rev. Charles F. Hoff
man, of New York, are the children of this raarriage.
Beekraan Ver Planck Hoffraan, of U. S. Navy, raar
ried Phoebe Townsend.
Peter Mesier, who married Phihp's daughter Mar
garet (101), was of a Huguenot family who settled
¦"He died in New York October 6, 1880, possessed of a large
estate there. The Hoffman Souse built ou his land was named in
his memory.

184 PHILIP OF ROMBOUT PRECINCT.
early in New York. They had also an old homestead
at Wappingers Falls, Dutchess County, where Peter
was brought up. This house, which was occupied by
the British during the Revolution, reraained in the
faraily untU the death of Miss Maria Mesier, about
three years ago. Since then the old house and adjoin
ing land have been acquired by the ViUage for a pub
lic library and park.
PeterMesier graduated at Columbia College in 1789.
He was afterwards a miller at Wappingers FaUs, and
at one time an alderman in the city of New York.
Andrew de Veaux, who married Anna Maria (102),
Phihp's youngest child, was a Colonel in the English
Army. How he came to meet his wife is a matter of
uncertainty, for the war of the Revolution had been
long over and the English array out of the country be
fore Anna Maria was even fourteen years old. It is
possible that Col. deVeaux was stationed in the West
Indies, where Anna Maria's uncle, David Beekman,
was a merchant. He came occasionally to New York,
and it is possible that he brought young deVeaux with
him and presented him to his niece. Such is the story
that I gather from one of their descendants. Certain
it is, however, that after Col. deVeaux married Anna
Maria Ver Planck he left the English service and set
tled in Red Hook, Dutchess County, where he built a
large house of Grecian style of architecture. There
they lived hberally and perhaps extravagantly. Mr.
Philip Ver Planck, of Yonkers, who is a grandson of
Col. deVeaux, has a drawing of the house at Red Hook,
showing the "park" adjoining, of two hundred and
ninety-eight acres. The property bordered on the

PHILIP OF ROMBOUT PRECINCT. 185
Hudson river by Magdelen (now Cruger's) Island.
From one of the residents of Tivoli — the present name
of that part of Red Hook — I learn that Col. deVeaux's
house and land passed into the possession of R. S.
Livingston, Esq., who lived there until the house was
burned several years ago. The Livingstons called the
place Almont. The gateway built by Col. deVeaux
is still standing, as the author is informed.
The children of Andrew deVeaux and Anna Maria
Ver Planck were :
Julia, who married John Hare Powell, of Philadel
phia, whose son was Samuel Powell, of Newport, and
Augusta, who married Philip Ver Planck (140).
After the death of his wife. Col. deVeaux returned
to England, where he died. Col. deVeaux's father,
also named Andrew, survived him. He hved at Nas
sau, iu the Bahamas. Mr. Philip Ver Planck, his
great grandson, has a copy of the will. By it he di-
vi'des his property into six shares, one of which is given
to the children of his deceased son Andrew.

o

ISAAC'S LINE.
(CONTINUED )

David Ver Planck (72), son of David Ver Planck
(46) and Christina Van Volkenburgh, born about 1770,
He had one child :
(103) David.

David John Ver Planck (74), son of Johannes Ver
Planck (47) and Catherine Huck. Married Mary Cal
lanan. He had seven children :

(104) Ahigail, born 1800. Married Peter Johnson.
(105) Catherine, born 1802. Married Leonard
Cole.
(106) Patrick, born 1804. No issue.
(107) John D,, born 1806. Lived at Coeymans.
No issue. •
(108) James, born 1818. No issue.
(109) Mary Ann, born 1820.
Rarick.
(iiO)Phoel3e Maria, born 1822.

(109) Mary Ann, born 1820. Married Henry
Rarick.

John D, Ver Planck (75), son of Johannes Ver
Planck (47) and Catherine Huck, born 1788. Married
Maria Hallenback. He had six children :
(1 11) David.
(112) Nicholas,
(113) Catherine,

Isaac's line, continued. 187

(114) Henry, born 1816.
a 16) Maria.
(116) Andrew,

David I, D. Ver Planck (80), son of Isaac D, Ver
Planck (50) and Lena Houghtahng, born May 30,
1785, Married Ehzabeth Whitbeck, He died Sep
tember 26, 1864, He had two children :
#(117) Isaac, born August 27, 1809,
(lis) Maria, born October 29, 1812, Married
Aaron Dorman July 10, 1829.

Col. Abraham Ver Planck (S3), son of Isaac D. Ver
Planck (50) and Lena Houghtahng, born December 4,
1793. He lived at Coeymans, N. Y. Married Janu
ary 12, 1812, at Coeymans, Ehzabeth Van Dolfsen.
He died at Brooklyn, N. Y], November 23, 1858. She
died at Brooklyn, N.Y., December 26, 1869. He had
ten chUdren :
#(119) Isaac A., born October 16, 1812.
# (120) John Van iDolfsen, bom October 11, 1814.
#(121) Gillian, born November 12, 1816.
# (122) Bronk, born December 23, 1818.
(123) David, born December 26, 1820. Died
AprU 3, 1836.
(124) William A., born December 28, 1822.
Married Sarah Salisbury.
(125) Charlotte Amelia, born September 1 1, 1825.

188 Isaac's line, continued.
(126) Harriet, bom October 31, 1827. Died July
^ 1, lb29.
(127) Harriet (Jertrude, born January 1 5, 1 830.
Died September 30, 1836.
(128) Helena, born March 9, 1834. Died April
20, 1874. Never married.
(129) Charlotte Amelia, born September 1 1,1836.

DANIEL CROMMELIN.
Of the two chUdren ofSamuel(52)and Judith, Daniel
Crommelin (88) alone hved togrow up ; his sisterMary,
born July 3, 1763, having died in infancy.
Mr. Charles Henry Hart has so well written part
of the life of Daniel Cromraehn, in his sketch of the
life of his son Gulian Cromraehn, to which reference
has already been made, that it is here inserted :
"Daniel C. Ver Planck was born March 19, 1762,
and received his degree of A. M. from Columbia Col
lege in 1788, after its reorganization. He was a raan
of great liberality and universally popular. He mar
ried October 29, 1785, Elizabeth, daughter of William
Samuel Johnson, first President of Columbia College,
as his father had been first President of King's College.
President Johnson was a man of distinguished ability.
He was a Judge of the Supreme Court of Connecticut,
and received the degree of Doctor of Laws from Ox
ford University in 1765. Towards the close of the
next year he was appointed Agent Extraordinary of
the Colony of Connecticut to the mother country, and
in the execution of his iraportant mission embarked for
England, where he resided until the middle of the year
1771. From 1787 until 1800, when he resigned, he
was President of Columbia College and resided in the
city of New York. After he dissolved his connection
with the college, he returned to his old home at Strat-

190 DANIEL CROMMELIN.
ford, where he died November 14, 1819, aged ninety-
two years. His daughter, Mrs. Ver Planck, died Feb
ruary 6th, 1789, when she was but in her twenty-fifth
year, leaving two children, Gulian Cromraelin, and
Ann, who died in infancy. Her husband raarried again,
Noveraber 17, 1790, Ann, only daughter of Wilham
and Mary (deLancey) Walton, by whom he had seven
children. He was, with his uncle Guhan (Ver Planck),
an original subscriber in 1794, to tvio shares of stock
in the Tontine Building, and his nominees were his
two children, Guhan C. and Mary Ann. (Ofthis sin
gular enterprise more hereafter). Daniel C. Ver Planck
was a representative in Congress from 1802 until 1809,
and subsequently a Judge ot the Court of Common
Pleas of Dutchess County, resigning his seat on the
bench in 1828. He died at FishkUl. March 2&th,
1834." Of WiUiam Samuel Johnson, whose daughter Ehza
beth married Daniel Croramelin Ver Planck, there are
two very fine portraits by Jarvis. One of them is
owned by Mrs. Samuel William Johnson, now living
in New York, who is his great-great-grand-daughter, as
well as thedaughterof William Samuel VerPlanck (160).
The other portrait is owned by Mrs. Theodore M. Et-
ting, now hving in Philadelphia, another daughter ot
William S. Ver Planck. Another daughter of Wil
ham Samuel Ver Planck, Anna (Mrs. S. H. Clapp),
now living in Albany, has a portrait of Wilham Samuel
Johnson, by Pine.
When Daniel Crommelin was a lad of seven or eight
his portrait was painted by Copley. He is represent
ed as playing with a squirrel. This portrait is in a
good state of preservation and is highly prized by its
owner, the author.

DANIEL CROMMELIN.

191

The faraily of WUhara Walton, whose daughter
Anne was the second wife of Daniel Crommelin Ver
Planck, lived in a fine old-fashioned house in that
part of Pearl street then known as S. George's
Square. The house stood on the east side of the street
and had a garden iu the rear which ran to the East
River. It was in this house that William Walton hved
for many years and entertained liberally. The old
house was torn down about 18bl, to ranke room for a
business building.

THE WALTON HOUSE.
For this Electrotype, as Well as for the one on page 171, the
author is indebted to General James Grant Wilson, editor of the
"Memorial History of the City of New York."
There is a fine portrait of William Walton in the
New York Chamber of Comraerce, of which he was
for raany years a member.

192 DANIEL CROMMELIN.
The following memorandum about the Walton and
deLancey families has been given me by Mrs. Samuel
Ver Planck, of Stony KiU, Fishkill :
"James deLancey was born in New York in 1703,
and died there July 30, 1760. He married Anne Heath
cote, daughter of Caleb Heathcote and Martha Smith.
Caleb Heathcote was the son of the Mayor of Chester,
England. "Wilham Walton, the third of the name, was born
in New York in 1731, and died there in 1796. He
married Mary deLancey, daughter of James deLancey
and Anne Heathcote,. (lis wife. Wilham Walton was
a member of the Cotfrtnittee of One Hundred in 1 775 ;
member of the Chamber of Commerce in 1768 ; its
treasurer in 1771; vice-president in 1772; president
from 1774 to 1775; and one of the merchants who re-
suraed the meetings of the Chamber of Commerce, and
was again chosen president in 1783. He was a trus
tee of the New York City Library in 1754. He was
oue ot the first petitioners for the Marine Society, in
corporated in 1770, the object being to assist the widows
and children of masters of vessels. He was one of the
foremost in sustaining the raeasures adopted by the
merchants to resist the Stamp Act. In the final con-
, test (the Revolution) his family connections were divid
ed and he decided to take a neutral part. He returned
10 his estates in New Jersey, but he was too marked a
man to be left in peace. He was compelled to return
to New York when it was occupied by the British,
hence his New Jersey estates were confiscated. He
remained in New York during the war and devoted
itnraense suras of money to the relief of the destitute.
He was one of the Vestry named by Governor Robert
son, December 20th, 1779, to look after such, and itis
gratefully recorded of him that he was unceasing in his
efforts to soften the miseries of the American prisoners.

DANIEL CROMMELIN. 193
"He built, in 1752, what is now known as the old
Walton House in Frankhn Square. It was one of the
most costly residences on the continent. The bricks,
brown-stonewater-tables, lintels,jambsanddecorations,
vvere all imported, as also its expensive furniture."
Daniel Crommelin hved in the same house in Wall
street that had been occupied by his father and grand
father before him. In 1804 he moved to Fishkill and
built an addition to Mount Guhan. During part of the
tirae the repairs and alterations were being raade, he
was the guest of John Peter deWindt, Esq., of Fishkill,
who was his nearest neighbor on the south, where he
had a large house and several thousand acres of land,
much of which had previously belonged to Phihp and
Williara Ver Planck in the previous century, as has
been stated. It is much to be regretted that the arch
itecture of the old part of Mt. Guhan was not followed,
for thu addition is certainly incongruous and ugly.
During the time that Daniel Croramelin lived at Mount
Gulian he was a member of Congress and also Judge
of the Coilnty. He kept open house in Fishkill in
Sumraer and Winter, and thither came many prominent
people as well asthe whole faraily connection. Christ
raas, Pnas and other holidays were always celebrated.
The old house was filled withquaintfurniture, paintings,
etc., raany of which had been brought frora Holland
by Judith, his raother. Daniel Croraraelin was a great
collector of silver. In addition to his own and that
brought to the family by the Johnson and Walton
marriages, he bought other plate. He was also a good
judge of wine, and as the fashion of that time was to
drink Madeira, he imported in 1804, through his brother-

194 DANIEL CROMMELIN.
in-law, James deLancey Walton, a large quantity of
that wine. It was the custora for Madeira to make
several voyages before being taken from the vessel, for
it was thought that the quality was thereby improved.
When the wine was finally bottled it was generally"
labeled with the name of the vessel in which it was
imported. Some of the Walton wine is still in exis
tence and in fair condition. It is now produced at
weddings only. The inventory of the estate of Daniel
Croraraelin, made by the Rev. John Brown, of S.
George's Church, Newburgh, and John Peler deWindt,
of Fishkill, shows that there were thirty-nine demi
johns and eight dozen bottles of Walton Madeira at
the time of his death in March, 1834.
Strangely no mention is made in the inventory of any
of the paintings to which reference has been made as
being now in the family, all of which came from Daniel
C. Ver Planck. The only pictures raentioned in the
inventory are three engravings valued together at
$5.00. Possibly the paintings were given away in
his life time. The silver, china, and other articles
appear in the inventory.
James deLancey Walton, who lived with his sister
and brother in the Walton House, Pearl street, was a
frequent visitor at Mount Gulian. Many of his letters
to his brother-in-law. Judge VerPlanck, and his sister
Nancy, as both he and her husband called her, are still
preserved. These are all interesting pictures of the
time, for deLancey Walton knew everyone and went
everywhere in the New York of that day.
Jaraes deLancey Walton never raatried. He died
in January, 1856. His brother Jacob entered the

DANIEL CROMMELIN. 195
Enghsh Navy, where he rose to the rank of Rear Ad
miral. He married and had children. The sister, Mary
Walton, carae in the Spring of 1835 to live with her
sister, Mrs. D. C. VerPlanck, at the homestead, Fish
kiU, where she spent the rest of her hfe. There was
another brother, WiUiam, who never married, of whom
Mr. D. C. V. P. Knevels, at Fishkill, has a fine life-size
portrait. Mrs. Arth 11 r deWi ndt, of FishkiU, gave me the foUow
ing extract frora a letter written by Thomas Boylston
Adams, who with some friends, apparently all West
Point cadets, visited FishkiU in 1826 as the guests of
John Peter deWindt. As his house was already full
when Adams and his friends arrived, Mr. deWindt en
tertained them at the Star Inn near by. Thomas Boyls
ton Adaras was John Quincy Adams' brother and Mrs,
deWindt's uncle. He was the third son of John Adaras:
"Christmas day, Monday, December 25th, 1826.
* * * Rose at S, hreakfasted by ourselves — Buck
wheats, Beefsteak, are our staple comraodities here,
and furnished us a fine raeal. The cold was intense
enough to freeze the Flats. Mr. deWindt called in
soon and we all three crossed to Newburgh. We found
the passage long and cold and the stove surrounded
by women of the "Kirk ganging." We went to the
Hotel Orange where we saw Torrance and were intro
duced by him to his friend Rev. Mr. Johnson, of the
sect called "Scotch Covenanters." We stayed there
'till twelve and then walked about the town a short
while. On our return we found the passage very de
lightful and proceeded up to Mr. deWindt's house,
where we enjoyed a luncheon with all imaginable
rehsh. Here we prepared for the company which we
were to meet at Judge Ver Planck's this evening, to

196 DANIEL CROMMELIN.
which place the politeness and kindness of Mr. deWindt
had procured us an invitation. At four P.M. we started
and reached the Judge's house in a short time. Here
we were introduced to the corapany, consisting of the
Judge and lady, two of their daughters, Mrs. Nevilles,
a third daughter lately married to Mr. John N., of
Newburgh, Mrs. Mesier and daughter, Mr. Meaier, two
sons of Mr. M. and Rev. Mr. Thomas, Mr. Nevilles and
a young gent, lately from the West Indies. The day
was kept up in the best style. An enormous fire, and
Whiskey Punch upon entrance. I was accommodated
with a seat near the ladies, much to my satisfaction.
The younger Miss Ver Planck (Louisa) is very hand
some and interesting. Miss M. is accounted a beauty,
and I think with some justice. She is agreeable and
very entertaining. I was extremely pleased with her,
and had the happiness to escort her to the dinner table
which was arranged with great effect. I was very
unfortunately separated frora Miss M. in the Dining-
roora, tho' was partiaUy reconciled by being placed
beside Mrs. Nevilles who I found very agreeable. In
fact I know not when I have met a raore agreeable
corapany, especially of ladies. I forgot to raention
Mrs. DeWindt and Miss Neefield who coraposed part
of the company. I sat on the right of the Judge in
front of whom was a large saddle of venison, the finest
I ever saw; opposite was a turkey, boiled, with (illegi
ble) in the finest style. Partridge?, Rabbits, Geese,
Ducks, Chickens, Brants, Chicken Pie, Oysters, indeed
every variety that could be desired. The dinner pass
ed off very pleasantly and the dessert still more so.
Pies, Puddings, Jellies, Fruits, and all kinds of wines,
&c. We arose from the table at about eight o'clock
(Dr. Schenck, of Poughkeepsie, was also one of the
guests, and not the least agreeable) having sat down
at five. The ladies retired and the gentlemen closed
around the fire and discussed the merits of a bottle of
Skuppernong (wine made in So. Ca.). It was said by

DANIEL CKOMMELIN. 197
Mr. V. (the young gentleman who brought it) to be
very fine for the kind, but the Judge and company
thought it better to make Whiskey Punch of than to
drink. About 9J we went into the drawing-roora and
took Coffee with the ladies, who were stiU more agree
able. "Sorae of the company retiring reduced the circle to
so small a compass that we could all talk to each other
from our seats, and after an hour passed in this way,
we thought best to retire, which we regretted exceed
ingly, so we bid the ladies farewell and altera parting
glass & many good wishes we left the house and walk
ed home. Left Mr. deWindt and went to our lodgings
& soon to bed. We were very much pleased and grat
ified with our evenings entertainment, indeed I could
not have passed it more satisfactorily out of my family.
The weather was severely cold which increased with
snow during the night. # * *
"Tuesday, Dec. 26th, 1826.
Rose at 8 and were obliged to leave without caUing
on the ladies or Mr. deW. whom we wished particu
larly to see to thank him for a new act of kindness.
We had been entertained, and lodged, free of expense,
and he had even got the start of us in the settleraent
of our bills. We left in the Horse-boat, and after a
long and stormy passage, landed in Newburgh in time
to take the Steamboat Franklin. We met Torrance
at Newburgh and Church on board and tho' it snowed
violently we had an agreeable. trip to the Point, where
we arrived before 12, having touched at Cornwall and
Cold Spring. Reported for duty next day." * * *

One of the institutions of this period at the home
stead at FishkUl, was James F. Brown, the gardener.
At first he was a waiter for a short time. He had been

198 DANIEL CROMMELIN.
a runaway slave from Maryland, whose freedom was
afterwards purchased by the family. The tradition is
that he was recognized by one of the guests of the
house, who knew his raaster and reported the matter
to him. This made necessary the redemption of
James, who soon after bought his wife also from
their former master. James F. Brown kept a diary
while gardener at Mount- Guhan, in which he en
tered the names of the visitors at the house, local
news, the state of the weather, etc. He was gardener
from 1829 to 1864. This interesting journal of seven
volumes is now in the possession ot Mr. Samuel Ver
Planck, of Stony KiU. James F. Brown died January
14, 1868, aged 74 years, 3 months and 14 days, as his
tombstone in S. Luke's Churchyard, Matteawan,
shows. His widow, Julia, survived him many years,
dying in the village in 1890. She had been visited
and cared for up to her death by the family and other
Fishkill people who had known them in the old days.
In March, 1822, Daniel Crommelin sold to the Bank
of the United States his house and land in Wall street
where he had hved for raany years — the home of his
father and grand-father. The price was $40,000, a
large one for that time. A large part of the purchase
money, however, was paid in the stock of the Bank,
which for a few years paid hberal dividends. The
Bank not long after was wound up; the charter
having lapsed, owing to the persistent attacks of Pres
ident Jackson and his party, who refused to extend the
life of the charter. Jackson called the Bank a "dan
gerous centralizing institution." This eenseless action
was one of the potent causes of the Panic of 1837,

DANIEL CROMMELIN. 199
which soon followed. The rest of the property where
the stable stood in the rear of Pine street, remained in
the family until 1889, when it was sold to tha Lan
cashire Fire Insurance Company.
In the Middle District Bank of Poughkeepsie, Daniel
Croramelin was one of the directors and a principal
shareholder. In 1 830 this Bank failed. In ibis failure
Daniel Crommelin lost heavily, and as he deemed that
the credit of the Bank had been to a great extent de
pendent on bis narae, he made good out of his owm
funds the losses sustained by the depositors and other
creditors. One of the ti'aditions of Daniel Crommelin VerPlanck
is that he planted all the streams in the neighbor
hood of his house at Fishkill with watercress, by seed
brought from Washington when a Member of Congress.
Mr. deWindt has already been mentioned. Between
his children and those of Daniel Crommelin a great
friendship existed. His property adjoined on the south.
On it has since grown up the village of Fishkill-on-
Hudson, formerly the Five Corners. Mr. deWindt was
an active and enterprising man. He built the "Long
Dock" and estabhshed the ferry between FishkiU Land
ing and Newburgh, procuring an exclusive charter from
the legislature. This ferry he operated successfuUy
until his death in 1870. Under the charter no rival
ferry can be set up within a mUe north or south. He
was also owner of sloops which were very necessary
before the introduction of steamboats for carrying
freight and passengers. The usual method of travehng
in those days was by the sloop, being rauch preferred
to the stage coach, which was slow and very uncom-

200 DANIEL CROMMELIN.
fortable, as the roads were very bad. In fact, when
the river was closed by ice, the city of New York was
virtually cut off from the north. I have heard my
father, a grandson of Daniel Cromraelin Ver Planck,
tell of his experiences of stage coaching. When a boy
he made a trip with 'his father to New York after
Winter had set in. They drove from the homestead
to Fishkill Village, five miles distant, where the stage
coach passed from New York and Albany, for it was
through this village that the Post Road ran, entering
the upper part of the Highlands there. Many of the
milestones on this road are still standing. At the vil
lage they went to bed at the tavern to be aroused
about two o'clock the next raorning by the horn
of the arriving coach. They were lucky to get
a seat inside, for the coachew were small and often
crowded, so that many sat on top. Then began a
dreary drive in the cold gray morning. The roads
were abominable and in places dangerous. Many an
accident took place iu the mountains above Peekskill,
by the overturning of the coach, often killing and
maiming passengers. At Peekskill, twenty railes be
low, the half-frozen passengers descended to breakfast,
where they were generaUy well entertained at the road
house. This tavern is stiU standing. The writer stop
ped there in 1886, while driving to FishkiU over the
Albany Post Road. Frora Peekskill southward the
travelers found the road somewhat better, and about
noon ahghted at the Franklin House, Tarrytown.
Here they got a good dinner, the coach stopping for
an hour. This tavern was famous for its good cheer.
The inn is still standing and bears the same name.

DANIEL CROMMELIN. 201
From this point on the road was very fair, and by three
or four o'clock the coach crossed Kingsbridge and en
tered Manhattan Island, so that by the early evening
the travelers were put down at one of the hotels in
the lower part of the town, whence they hurried
oft" to their homes, fully resolved never to be caught
again up the river after the sloops had stopped running
for the season.
The North River sloops were famous in those days;
many fine ones being buUt at Nyack. The sloops were
aU fast sailers, and with the use of the centre-board,
which was invented at Fishkill, as has been said on
good authority, they were good boats for beating to
windward. As the North River sloop is alraost extinct, a few
words about her may be of interest. This vessel was
very full forward, long for her beam, and had a high
quarter-deck, a good deal hke the poops of the Dutch
vessels, with which the sloop had other features in
common. The Dutch lee-boards, still in use in Hol
land, werei replaced in the sloop by the centre-board.
The mast was placed well forward, which gave the
boat a large mainisail and sraall jib. A top-sail, too,
was generally carried, not set, however, like the gaff-
top-sail of the modern yacht. It was the fashion to
paint the sloop above the water line in alternate stripes
of bright colors. The Illinois, a vessel of about 100
tons, was a good example of the North River sloop.
She was built about the beginning of the century.
As late as 1868 she was owned in Newburgh, and a
few years later she was, I believe, dismantled and de
voted to some base use. Mr. deWindt was a sloop

202 DANIEL CROMMELIN.
owner. He built a fine one at the shipyard at FishkiU,
which stood where the terminus of the New York and
New England Railroad is to-day. This sloop was
naraed Caroline, in honor of his daughter, afterwards
Mrs. Downing. The Caroline performed the then un
precedented feat of saihng frora New York to Fishkill
in five hours. The distance by river is sixty miles.
Such speed as this was of course exceptional. The
usual time was rarely over twenty-four hours, for ad
vantage was always taken pf the tide, which has a
current of two to three miles an bour. Traveling by
sloop was quite corafortable, many of them being fitted
up as packets, and carrying nothing but passengers,
letters, and a few small parcels. In tbe old bouse at
Mount Gulian there are many letters in which the
sloops are mentioned. Daniel Crommelin Ver Planck,
in writing from New York or Washington to his wife
or daughter Mary, would Siiy that he would take such
and such a sloop home the next week, or advise them
of the shipment of fruit, or wine, or household stores.
The sloop, though not as graceful as tbe modern yacht,
was a very picturesque object on the river, and its ex
tinction is a great loss to the river landscape. She has
been driven from the river by the tow-boat and brick-
barge. Another feature of the river wbich still lingers is the
Down East schooner, which sails to Newburgh and
Rondout for coal. Of recent years this vessel is gen
erally towed, so that a sail is now quite a rare sight on
the river. The steamboat, which to-day wearily
draws the tow along the river is also a melancholy
survival of former grandeur. These boats, now strip-

DANIEL CROMMELIN. 203
ped of all their cabins, saloons and upper decks, were
formerly fine swift day or night boats, which passed
daily between New York and Albany. The Alida
was a fine boat of this class. She was named after one
of the daughters of Philip Schuyler, to whom reference
has been made. They frequently raced with each
other and sometimes with disastrous results. The
burning and sinking of the Henry Clay, while racing
yvith the Armenia, is still fresh in the memory of many
people. In that disaster Mr. deWindt's wife and his son-in-
law, Mr. Downing, also Mrs. Wadsworth (Matilda
Boyer), nelbe of Mrs. J. deLancey Ver Pladfek, besides
raany others, were drowned. In the diary of Brown,
the gardener, this event is raentioned. He gives the
date as July 28, 1852.
The horaestead of Mr. deWindt stood on the bank
of the river about a quarter of a raile north of the vil
lage, since known as Fishkill-on-Hudson. It was a
large stone house with frame additions and wide piaz
zas. Near by was a large old-fashioned garden. The
h"use faced south, commanding a fine view of New
burgh Bay and the Highlands. Here Mr. deWindt
lived for many years a hospitable and active life. Be
sides the management ot over a thousand acres of land,
he had the care and maintainance of the ferry to New
burgh, and other business on the river and: in New
York. This beautiful old house was totally destroyed
by fire in 1864. It was never rebuilt. Mr. deWindt,
until his death in 1S70, lived in FishkiU at the houses
of his difl'erent raarried daughters. One of Mr. deWindt's
executors was WiUiam S. Ver PlanCk (160).

204 DANIEL CROMMELIN.
Mount Guhan and the land adjoining, in the tirae
of Daniel Crommelin, was an extensive farm of upward
of four hundred acres. It extended along the river for
over a mile, and had the same boundaries as in the
time of his grandfather Gulian (32). Daniel Cromme
lin and his daughter Mary Anna laid out the garden
and the grounds iraraediately about the place with
great taste. The box borders and many trees and
shrubs planted then are still flourishing. A short time
after his death the river front was extended on the
north, in pursuance of a contract made in his hfe-time,
by purchase frora Garrett Brinckerhoff. This added
thirteen awes to Mount Gulian and proved a very val
uable addition to the property, and adding about a
quarter of a mile of river-front.
In addition to his homestead farm, Daniel Cromme
lin had several thousand acres besides in Dutchess
County, which were divided into farms of about two
hundred and fifty acres each. After his death this land
was "actually" partitioned. The Rev. John Brown,
of S. George's Church, Newburgh, Robert Gill, and
Dr. Bartow White, of FishkiU, were the commission
ers. The notes of Dr. Brown, who seems to have been
the chief one, are now in ray possession by gift from
John Brown Kerr, Esq., of New York, a grandson of
Dr. Brown. From these notes the foUowing extracts
are taken :
The commissioners were chosen by the parties to
make partition of all the Dutchess County property,
except that of Mount Guhan. The first "view" was
made on the 10th of November, 1835. Soon after a
heavy snow storm interfered with the work, which

DANIEL CKOMMELIN. 205
the commissioners were not able to take up again,
owing to the severity of the ensuing winter, until the
23d of May of the following year. The whole num
ber of farms viewed was thirty-five, besides two com
mons, in all 6,475TVtr acre*-, which were appraised at
$.320,913.39, or $45,844.77 for each of the seven heirs,
after deducting the widow's dower and the value of
the hfe leases which were running on most of thefarms.
On the Oth July the coramissioners completed their
appraisements, and in August, 1836, the partition
deeds were recorded. The names of the heirs were
James deLancey, Elizabeth V. P. Knevels, WiUiara
Walton, Guhan C, Sarauel, Anne Louisa, and Mary
Anna. It was of course irapossible to raake an exact
"actual" partition of the land. The equahzation was
effected by payments between the parties.
Mount Gulian was afterwards released by James
deLancey and his sister, Mrs. Knevels, to Guhan C,
Sarauel, Wilham Walton, and Mary Anna ; Anne
Louisa having died October 13, 1836.
The land covered by this partition has never been a
source of great profit to its owners; and like other
land in Dutchess County has steadily dechned in value
during the past thirty years. It is questionable wheth
er the farras which Daniel C. Ver Planck owned at
the time of his death would sell for or be appraised at
half the value put on them by the comraissioners in
1834. Daniel Crommehn died suddenly on the 29th day of
March, 1834. He was found dead in the Little Woods
just south of the house. He was at the time walking
home from the postoffice, as was his habit while in the
country. His death was probably due to heart dis
ease.

206 DANIEL CROMMELIN.
He had pews in the Dutch Church, FishkiU Landing,
as well as S. George's, Newburgh, and Trinity, Fish
kiU. In the faraily vault of Trinity he is buried with
his wife, Anne Walton, who survived him nine years.
She died June 2, 1843.
The following is a genealogical table of Daniel
Crommehn :
Daniel Crommelin Ver Planck (88), son of Samuel
Ver Planck (62) and Judith Crommehn, born March
19, 1762; raarried, first, Elizabeth Johnson, daughter
of Williara Samuel Johnson, LL. D., October 29, 1785.
She died February 6, 1789. By her he had two chil
dren :
No. 130. (Julian Crommelin, born August 6, 1786.
Married Ehza Fenno, daughter of John
Ward Fenno, and had issue.
No. 131. Ann, born May 20, 17SS ; died 1789.
Daniel Croramelin Ver Planck married
for a second wife, Anne Walton, daugh
ter of WiUiara Walton and Ann deLan
cey, November 17, 1790. By his second
wife he had eight children :
No. 132, Samuel, born AugUvSt I, 1792 ; died Aug
ust 21, 1792,
No. 133. Mary Anna, bom August 30th, 1793;
died Deceraber 1, 1856.
Buried in family vault. Trinity Ohurch, FlshkilL
No. 134, Louisa, born February 22, 1796 ; died
August 6, 1802,
No. 135. Samuel, born October 15, 1 798. Married
June 25, 1850, Mary Hobart, daughter
of Bishop John Henry Hobart. Died
February 8, 1861. No issue.
Both buried in the vault. Trinity Church, Fishkill.

DANIEL CKOMMELIN. 207
No. 136. Elizabeth, born December 3, 1800. Mar
ried John W. Knevels. Died July 6,
1888, and had issue.
She and her husband are buried in the vault.
Trinity Church, Fishkill.
No, 137. "William "Walton, born February 19, 1803;
died May 24, 1870,
Buried in the vault. Trinity Church, FishkiU.
No, 138. James deLancey, bom February 2, 1805.
Married Julia Agnes, daughter of Peter
Caverly, and had issue.
No, 139. Anne Louisa, born December 4, 1807;

died October 15, 1836,
Buried in the vault. Trinity Church, Fishkill.

Of the children of Daniel Crommelin Ver Planck,
his eldest daughter, Mary Anna (133), is the best
remembered and loved by her family and friends, of
whora she had many both in Fishkill and elsewhere.
She was her father's favorite, and after his wife became
an invalid it was on Mary that he depended for the
management of the household and the entertainment
of the guests. She it was who laid out the garden, in
which she took great pleasure and pride all her life.
She, too, was active in good works in the village, and
took great intere.'«t in church work, both at Trinity,
FishkiU, and afterwards at S. Anna's, Matteawan,
which was buUt in her time. She never married.
Of Louisa (139) but little has come down to us.
She is mentioned occasionally in Brown's diary as go
ing about FishkiU, making visits in New York, etc.
She died at the age of twenty-eight.
Samuel (135) graduated at Columbia College in the
class of 1819, with James S, Rumsey, who afterwards

208 DANIEL CROMMELIN.
practiced medicine in Fishkill for many years. Samuel
also took the degree of Counsellor-at-Law, but, I be
heve, never practiced. He was tall and handsome.
When nineteen the late Robert Wier painted his por
trait, making a very pleasing picture. It is now own
ed by his nephew, Daniel C. V. P. Knevels, FishkiU-
on-Hudson. Sarauel was fond of society and travel, in
which he could indulge hiraself, for he was a man of
leisure. On the 25th of June, 1850, when be was
fifty-one, he married Mary, daughter of John Henry
Hobart, then Bishop of New York. Brown's diary
tells us that in the Fall of the sarae year they went to
Europe, where they stayed a year, returning to Mount
Gulian, where they raade their home. Samuel and
his wife raade freq^uent visits away from home, in
Philadelphia, New York, and elsewhere, often remain
ing away several months at a time. He died, after a
short illness, February 8, 1861. His wife survived
hira eighteen years, most of which period, including
the summers, she spent at the Ver Planck homestead,
in which, with fifty-six acres of adjoining land, she was
given a life estate by the heirs of Daniel C. Ver Planck
in 1871. She died March 10, 1879.
Elizabeth (136) married John W. Knevels, June 13,
1826. He was born in the Island of St. Johns, West
Indies, about 1779, and came of a Danish family which
settled there several years before. There is a portrait
of his brother, Dircklo, now in the possession of his
nephew, Daniel C. Ver Planck Kuevels. For several
years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. John Knevels
lived in Newburgh. They moved to Fishkill in April,
1S38, as Brown's diary teUs us, and built the house

DANIEL CROMMELIN. 209
now occupied by their son, Daniel Croraraelin Ver
Planck. Mrs. Knevels died July 5, 1888, in the eighty-
eighth year of her age. Their children were Daniel
C. Ver Planck, born March 21, 1829. He raarried
Mary Louisa, daughter of Jacob and Juha Van Wag-
enen, July 20, 1869. They have had eight children.
Adrian Vrehuis, born April 19, 1831. He married
Maria Lucretia, daughter of Peter Remsen Brincker
hofl, late of Sing Sing, N. Y., May 30, 1866. They
had three children. Adrian V. Knevels died January
29, 1891, and his wife January 26, 1889. There is
a portrait of Adrian V. when a little boy, by Robert
Wier. DeLancey Walton, born May 24, 1834; died in
August, 1873. He married May 4, 1871, Mary Ellen,
youngest daughter of George Welch. Of the two
children of this raarriage, Anna deLancey survived.
She hves with her uncle, D. C. V. P. Knevels, her
mother being dead ; and finally Anne, born November
5, 1839; died April 25, 1864
Wilham Walton (137) graduated at Union College,
New York, in 1821, where he took the degree
of A. M., also. Not long after he went to Paris with
James S. Rurasey, whose wife was a sister of the wife
of James deLancey Ver Planck (138). They went
through the hospitals in Paris and took degrees as
physicians aqd surgeons. Dr. Rumsey was a graduate
of Columbia CoUege in the class of 1819, with Samuel
Ver Planck (135). William Walton, on reaching
home, practiced a short time. His health not being
good, he spent several winters in the West Indies and
the Southern States. While in FishkiU he lived at
the homestead and interested himself in his farms on
the Fishkill Plains. He died May 24, 1870.

PHILIP OF VER PLANCK'S POINT.

Phihp (99) and WUhara Beekman (100) were but
nine and seven years old respectively when their father
Phihp (66) died. The two boys continued to hve in
their father's house at FishkiU Plains, Rombout Pre
cinct, as it was then called, with their aunts, Anna
Maria (63), Gertrude (64), and Catherine (65). The
boys' tutor was the Rev. Isaac RysDycb, minister of
the Dutch Church, FishkiU.
The property at Ver Planck's Point which was de
vised to Philip (99) by his father, as already mention
ed, was in the charge of Samuel VerPlanck (52), who
who was one of the executors of its late owner, Philip
(66). Samuel was also one ofthis household at Fish
kill. In one of the letters of Domine RysDyck to
Samuel Ver Planck, September 29, 1785, he says that
he has been urgently requested by "Messrs. Duane
and Benson to go to New York and re-examine the
Dutch records for them, so that on account of this
affair you will be pleased to excuse me from attending
my pupils." From one of Domine RysDyck's bills for
tuition it appears that his charges were "For twelve
months Instruction in the Latin Language, &c., &c.,
of Philip & GuiUiam Beekman, ^18." Among the
other papers still preserved are various accounts, etc.,
of Samuel's (52) stewardship of the estate of Philip
(66). Daniel Crommelin (88) also had some charge

PHILIP OF VER PLANCk's POINT. 211
of Philip (99) and WiUiam Beekman (100), for there
are accounts rendered by him for outfits, etc., includ
ing tuition fees at Columbia College for WUham Beek
man. Possibly while WUham Beekman was attend
ing Columbia College, his brother Phihp was receiving
a mercantile training in New York at the same time,
and their cousin, Daniel Crommehn (88), hving in New
York, very naturally was asked to look after the young
raen while away from home.
When Philip was twenty-eight he raarried Sally,
daughter of Thotnas Arden, Esq., of New York. The
marriage took place September 27, 1796. About this
time, also, Philip built another manor house on the
Point (now his propeny), not far from the site of the
manor house of his grandfather Phihp (34), which had
been destroyed by the British ship in the Revolution.*
On this estate Phihp lived until his death, the life of
a country gentleman. His first efforts were to restore
the property, for it had been sadly damaged by both
the American and English armies, for which no cora-
pensation was ever raade ; even the obligations of the
officers for supphes taken from the Point were never
paid. Slavery continued in New York during the early
part of this century, and Philip, like raany others,
owned slaves. They were transferred by bill of sale
like any other chattel. Thus there is a bill of sale to
Phihp, dated October 5, 1796, from A. Lent, of Dutch
ess County, of "negro slave IsabeUa, about thirty-seven
years of age, with her two children, viz : aged four
and an infant," for which .£100 was paid. Slaves
*See pages 136 and 137.

212
were often freed by their masters by will, and occas
ionally by certificate in the master's life-time. There
is preserved one of these certificates by Thomas Arden
in 1809, freeing his slave Jaraes.
As head of the family, Philip was often appealed to
for financial aid, and rarely in vain. Col. deVeaux,
who married his sister Anna Maria (102), was living
at this time in a fine large house which he had built
at Red Hook, now Tivoli-on-the-Hudson. He writes
to Philip from there November 2, 1808, thus :
"My d"" Phil : I never was so struck with horror in
my life until now. I have faced cannon showering
down shot, and I have felt myself equal to any pursuit
— but a raercyless rascal who promised to wait until
the raising of the embargo for a debt I was due him
has taken rae with a ca. sa. against my body — however
* * * the sheriff has given me 12 days to raise the
money. On failure I raust go to Poughkeepsie in dis
grace — this is a murdering thought. * * « Now my
d"^ Friend can you assist rae in this disagreeable busi
ness and let me have $700' on any terms. * * * This
is the effect of our damned.embargo for I have $4000
in the hands of my agent which he cannot get over to
me. * * * I am going (as soon as I can get clear of
this cursed feUow) to apply for a special vessel to Mr.
Jefferson by a memorial setting forth my distressing
situation, having ray income on that side of the water.
* * * I wiU send my servant down with my bond for
the sum. * * * Happy you who have the power to
relieve a friend in need."
In a postscript Col.deVeanx adds:

"I
80 acres

wiU go to New York and strike with Cooper for
res of my farm, which he wants to build on."

PHILIP OK VER Planck's point. 213
Phihp was no exception in faUing in with the mania
for merino sheep, which was then overspreading the
country. The introduction of this sheep has already
been mentioned, and while it was ultimately of great
benefit to the country in improving the breed of sheep,
it caused a good deal of wild speculation and large
losses to most of those who went into it. No doubt
some importers made large sums. There are several
letters on this subject, araong them one written in
1811 by Robert B. Livingston from Clermont on the
Hudson, advising Phihp ol tbe shipment of a merino
"tI bred," adding that he has some fine li bred merinos
still on hand and that there would be a pubhc shear
ing at Clermont in a short tirae.
Peter Mesier, Philip's brother-in-law, writes hira
frora New York in May, 1810:
« # # * J have viewed merino sheep which have
arrived to Hicks, Jenkins & Co. They are marked
with all the ugly features of the genuine breed. » * »
The present asking price is $3000 a pair, and as the
consignees have not obtained, and are not likely to
find such fools shortly, they will perhaps ere long try
thera at auction. * * * Write me on this subject,
and ifi can ascertain the degree of merino fever which
now torments you, a Ram & Ewe raay be obtained to
calm your pulse. * * * All our Divines are praying
for rain."
In March of the same year Philip had a letter from
Thomas Arden, in New York, who tells hira :
"* * * There has lately arrived a very fine Merino
Rara frora Cadiz. He has been sold for $1000, as I
am inforraed."

214 PHILIP OF VER PliANCK'S POINT.
The following is a genealogical table of Philip :
Philip Ver Planck, son of Phihp Ver Planck (66)
and Aefje Beekman, born July 18, 1768, at the Manor
Cortlandt, and christened by Domine Ruble, of Long
Island ; married September 27, 1796, Sally Arden,
daughter of Thomas Arden. He died April 12, 182b;
she died June 26, 1834; and they were both buried
at Ver Planck's Point. Their bodies were subsequent
ly removed to S. George's Cemetery, Newburgh. Phihp
had five children :
No. HO, Philip, born November 16, 1797.
He will be mentioned later.
No. 141. Mary Arden, born October 21, 1802;
died February 20, 1820.
No. 142. Eliza Arden, born July 6, 1804, Mar
ried Phihp Alexander Ver Planck (147).
No. 143. "William Beekman, born October 1 1 , 1806.
He will be mentioned again.
No. 144. Sarah Arden, born August 30, 1808.
Married September 3, 1833, at Trinity
Church, New York, Christopher B.Miller,
of Newburgh, who died in 1856.

WILLIAM BEEKMAN.

WUliam Beekman (fOO) was the second son of Philip
(66) and Aefje Beekman, and with his brother Phihp
(99), and his aunts, hved in their father's horaestead at

WILLIAM BEEKMAN. 215
the mills near Fishkill Plains. Thik was the house
buUt by his father in 1768, as already stated.
WiUiam Beekman went to Columbia College, for
which he was prepared by his tutor, Domine Rys
Dyck or Rysdyk, as it is sometiraes written, and grad
uated there in 1791. While at the CoUege his faraily
put hira, at least for a time, under the care of his
cousin, Daniel Crommelin (88), who was then living
in New York. A few of the accounts rendered by the
latter to the family of Williara Beekman are still in
existence. Among other items are : "To cash paid
the Professors of Columbia College for Beekman, .£6.
To cash for geography for Beekman, 15 s."
By the wiU of his father, already mentioned, WiUiam
Beekraan was given the horaestead and all the adjoin
ing land, comprising nearly five hundred acres. In
1796-'97 he represented Dutchess County in the As
sembly of the State. On the 12th of July, 1798, he
married Melinda, daughter of General James Gordon,
of Ballston, N. Y.
The following information has been given me by
William Gordon VerPlanck (221) concerning his ances
tor, James Gordon :
"After the Revolution in Great Britain in the 17th
century, John Gordon and John Wallace left Scotland
and settled in the North of Ireland. John Wallace's
daughter, Martha, married John Gordon's son Alexan
der, and the issue of the marriage was several children,
one of whora was Jaraes Gordon, who left Ireland at
the age of eighteen years and came to America. He
was an Indian trader. . Subsequently he removed to
Ballston and raarried Mary BaU, daughter of Rev.

216 WILLIAM BEEKMAN.
Eliphalet BaU, who founded the town of Ballston,
Saratoga County, N.Y. Mary Ball's mother was Eliz
abeth Von Flanien, her grandfather was John Ball, of
New Haven, born September 30, 1686, whose wife
was Mary Tutle ; her grandfather was John Ball, born
1649, whose wife was Sarah Glover, and her great
grandfather was AUing Ball, of New Haven, first settler,
whose wife was Dorothy Fogal.
James Gordon was Lieutenant-Colonel of the Ball
ston and Half Moon Regiment, in the Revolution, and
saw much ^service. He was, near the close of the war,
carried off a prisoner to Canada and kept there till
after peace was declared. His sword is in my posses
sion, and his miniature is in possession of my father's
sister, Mehnda Gordon Ver Planck (173). When the
Revolution was over, James Gordon returned to his
home in Ballston, where he lived until his death; In
that interval he was a member of Congress, and, with
Samuel Hopkins, succeeded in reforming the State
Prisons of the State."
James Gordon's autobiography in manuscript, is now
in the possession of his descendant, William Gordon
Ver Planck. Were it not in a fragmentary condition
it would add greatly to the history of that period.
The style of the writer is simple, direct, and graphic.
In this raanuscript Jaraes Gordon begins by telling of
his parentage and early hfe, of which an extract has
been given. When eighteen, having faUen into bad
company, while away frora horae, "studying physic,"
an opportunity occurred of going to Araerica with the
son of a neighbor, to which his father, then a great
invahd, assented, "it being understood that I should
return with the vessel. It being then the height of
the French war, I was furnished with about 100s.

WILLIAM BEEKMAN. 217
worth of Irish articles, as was deemed most salable,
sailed from Port Larne the 16th Sept. (1758)."
A severe storm having arisen, the vessel began to
leak badly, so that aU hands took to the pumps. "In
this situation we were about 4 weeks. * * # We
then, by God's good providence, raet with a ship bear
ing a letter of marque aud carrying 20 guns, called
the Philadelphia, frora Liverpool to Philadelphia."
Instead of being taken prisoners, as Gordon and his
friends expected, the captain of the Philadelphia treat
ed them very hospitably and convoyed them "to the
capes of Delaware," where they arrived on the 6th
of Noveraber. The day before, Gordon writes that
they came near being taken by a French Privateer,
who first bore down on them, * # # "but all at
once she tacked about and stood to the eastward.
* * * Monsiuer's reason for not attacking us was
that he thought we were two vessels fitted out to
cruise for him. ^ * * The Philadelphia had all
the appearance of a vessel of force, * * * adj
although we had only two or three swivels on board,
yet we had about 8 or 10 Quaker Guns, we had
enough of a warlike appearance to countenance him
in the error he had committed."
Gordon finally reaches New York, going into Burling
Slip, sells his goods to advantage, and raakes a very
extensive trip as a trader through the country, going
as far west as Detroit. He returned home again after
an interval of five years, to find his father still hving,
and affairs at home about as he had left them. After
remaining at home a year and a half, Gordon returned
to America and settled at Oswego as a trader to the

218 WILLIAM BEEKMAN,
Indians. In this life he had many vicissitudes of for
tune and met with several adventures which nearly
cost him his life. The narrative stops abruptly, leav
ing Gordon and his corapanion nearly starved and fro
zen, after wandering for two days over the frozen sur
face of Oneida lake, having lost their bearings in a
snow storm, searching for the Block House. Then
follow a few pages about his career during the French
and Indian war in the neighborhood of Ticonderoga
and Crown Point. When the story next begins, thu
Revolution is in progress. Gordon is married and has
sided with the Araericans, and has been advanced to
the position of Colonel, and finally to that of General.
The rest of the autobiography is devoted to an account
of his capture. He was taken on the 17th of Ootober,
1780, by a party consisting of "about 200 men * * *
under command of Capt. Munro." His captors treated
hira very well, allowing him to send a letter to his wife.
He breakfasted and dined with the captain and other
officers (his captors). On reaching Montreal, Gordon
says : "I was released through the intercefition of Mr.
Robert EUice with Brigadier-General McLean."
Williara Beekman and his wife made their home at
the horaestead at the Mills, Fishkill. His occupation
was that of a farmer and miller. His mills then had
a large business in grinding the wheat grown in the
neighborhood, for which Dutchess county was then
famous. The saw-raill, too, was kept busy, perhaps
too rauch so, for Fishkill has now but little to show
for the loss of her forests. The miUs were caUed
"Ver Planck's Mills in the Fishkills," as raany of the
old letters still bear witness.

WILLIAM BEEKMAN. 219
The following are the children of Wilham Beekman
and Melinda Gordon :
No. 145. Mary Ann Catherine, born July 23, 1799,
at FishkiU ; christened by Rev. Nicholas
van Vranken ; died July 19, 1804, and
buried in the same grave with her father,
in the Dutch Church yard at FishkiU.
No. 146. "William (Jordon, born October 12, 1801;
christened by Rev. Nicholas van Vranken,
January 3, 1802.
He will be mentioned later.
No. 147. Philip Alexander, born January 22,
1804; christened by Domine Bartello.
He will be mentioned later.
WiUiam Beekman died intestate, December 30, 1 804,
and is buried in the Dutch Church yard, FishkiU.
In September of that year his last surviving aunt,
Catherine (68) died. She had hved in her brother
Philip's (66) family, with her sisters, since the destruc
tion of their father Phihp's (34) house at Cortlandt
Manor, by the British. The following are extracts
frora Catherine's will, which was dated July 3. 1803,
and proved in Dutchess County the year of her death :
She describes herself as of the Town of Fishkill, a
name which now takes the place of Rorabout Precinct.
To her nephew, WiUiam Beekman, she gives one doz
en silver tablespoons and one large silver soup spoon.
To his wife Melinda one large easy chair and one
looking-glass with gilt figure on top. To Mary Ann
Catharine, daughter of Williara B.eekman, $500, two
large looking-glasses, thirteen silver teaspoons, one
pair of silver tea-tongs, and one silver tankard. To

220 WILLIAM BEEKMAN.
Philip, the eldest son of her (Catherine's) nephew,
Phihp Ver Planck, two silver raugs and servers, with
the initials P. V. P. engraved thereon. AU the rest
of the furniture, table-hnen, etc., she bequeaths to her
"nieces Catherine, the wife of Herman Hoffman, and
Gertrude, the wife of Anthony Hoffman, equaUy. The
residuary estate, real and personal, is given "to the six
children of my deceased brother, Philip, viz: Phihp,
WUham Beekraan, Catherine, the wife of Herman
Hoffman, Gertrude, the wife of Anthony Hoffman,
Margaret, the wife of Peter Mesier, and Anna Maria,
wife of Andrew deVeaux." The executor.^ named are
her nephews, Philip >and Williara Beekman, to whom
is given a power of sale. The executors are also di
rected to provide out of the estate for the support of
"my negro woman slave Susan." A codicil was made
July 26, 1804, in which the death of Mary Ann Cath
erine, and the consequent lapsing of her legacy, is re
cited, and provision made that the $500 shall be equal
ly divided between the two surviving children of her
nephew, William Beekman, "viz : WiUiam Gordon and
his brother, about six months old, to be christened (if
he lives) Philip Alexander." * * * To Mehnda, the
mother of said Mary Ann Catherine, is given the two
largest looking-glasses, thirteen silver spoons and silver
tea-tongs ; and to Williara Gordon is given the silver
tankard. The household now being all broken up, the widow,
Mehnda Gordon, returned to her old horae at Ballston,
with her two surviving children, WUhara Gordon (146)
then three years of age, and Philip Alexander (147),
less than a year old. She afterwards married Henry

WILLIAM BEEKMAN. 221
Waller, and went with hira and her children to live
in Maryland, at least for a time, as I am inforraed.
There were children of this marriage, araong them
Mary Gordon, who married the late Isaac Brinckerhoff,
at one time medical director of the U. S. Navy. Mrs.
Brinckerhoff and her sons are now living in Brooklyn.
From them I have gathered information concerning
this branch of the faraily. Professor Elwyn Waller,
of Columbia College, is a grandson of Henry Waller
and Melinda Gordon,

ISAAC'S LINE.
CONTINUED IN THE SIXTH GENERATION.

Isaac "7er Planck (117), son of David I. D. Ver Planck
(80) and Elizabeth Whitbeck, born August 27, 1809 ;
married Septeraber 2, 1835, Charlotte E. McCarthy.
He raarried second, Phoebe Ann Edgett. He died July
20, 1854. His children were :
#(148) John McCarthy, born January 17, 1838.
#(149) David L D., born February 14, 1840.
#(150) Isaac, born July 12, 186^.

Isaac A. "7er Planck (119), son of Col. Abraham
Ver Planck (S3) and Ehzabeth Van Dolfsen, born Oc
tober 16, 1812; married Laura AUen, daughter of

222
Judge Allen, of Batavia. He wasfor many years Judge
of the Superior Court of Buffalo, N. Y. His children
were :
(151) Abraham G.
(152) Sarah E.
Married George C. Webster, who died February 1,
1873.
(153) Ethan Alien.
Mrs. George C. Webster (Sarah E., 152) is now hv
ing in Richfield Springs, N. Y. She has given me the
following additional information concerning the family
of her father, of whom, also, there is a sketch in Ap-
pleton's Biographical Encyclopedia, written by the
Hon. James 0. Putnam, of Buffalo :
"Isaac A. VerPlanck (119) was born in Coeymans,
Albany County, October 16, 1812, and died in Buffalo
April 15, 1873. Laura Allen, wife of Isaac A. Ver
Planck, was born in Batavia, N. Y., March 13, 1816,
and died in Buffalo, May 11, 1879. She was the
daughter of Judge Allen. Sarah E. (152), daughter
of Isaac A. Ver Planck, was born in Batavia, Decem
ber 10, 1836, and raarried George C. Webster, of Buf
falo, October 16, 1855. Ethan Allen (153), son of
Isaac A., was born in Batavia and died at the age of
nine years. Abraham G. (161), son of Isaac A., was
born in Batavia and died in Washington, D.C., March
9, 1880. -Not married. Ethan Allen, youngest son
of Isaac A., was born in Batavia and died at the age
of five years."
Children of George C. and Sarah E. Webster (152),
and grand-children of Isaac A. Ver Planck : Julia Al
len, born in Buff'alo, September 10, 1856, died Febru
ary 16, 1880. George Buell, born in Buffalo, March

Isaac's line, continued. 223
8, 1859. James Ver Planck, born in Buff'alo, July 8,
1862. Grace Seymour, born in Buffalo, October 9th,
1865. George BueU Webster was married to Agnes
J. Owens, in Buffalo, June, 1883. He is a lawyer
practicing in Buffalo. Anna Ver Planck, daughter of
George B. and Agnes J. Webster, was born in Albany
and died an infant.
George B. Webster, Esq., the son of Mrs. Webster
above mentioned, gives me the foUowing information
about Isaac A. Ver Planck :
"My grandfather studied law in the office of Judge
Allen, in Batavia, and for some years was a member
of the firm of Ver Planck & Martindale, composed of
himself and General Martindale, who afterwards hved
and died in Rochester; after the dissolution of this
firm, my grandfather moved to Buffalo and practiced
law there. In 1854 an Act was passed estabhshing
the present Superior Court of Buffalo, and at the first
election under such law, ray grandfather was elected a
Judge for the short terra, to wit : four years. In 1858
he was re-elected for the full terra of six years ; in 1864
he was re-elected for the full term of six years ; and in
1870 he was re-elected for the full term of six years,
but died before the expiration of his term, to wit: in
1873, having served two full terms and two fractional
terms, a little over 18 years in all. He was appointed
the Chief Judge of the Court in 1870 and remained as
such until his death. My grandmother survived ray
grandfather about seven years and died in 1880 ; they
are both buried in the family lot in Forest Lawn Cem
etery in this city."
Abraham G. (151) entered thq class of '63 at Yale,
where he stayed until the end of the Sophomore Year.
He then, with many other students, entered the North-

224 Isaac's line, continued.
ern army to take part in the War of the Rebellion.
He served with credit through the whole war, obtain
ing several proraotions, reaching that of Major, a po
sition which he held in the Regular Army for several
years after the war. He died in March, 1880. While
at Yale a friendship sprung up between him and Rob
ert N. Ver Planck (202), who was in the correspond
ing class at Harvard, and who also entered the North
ern army from college. These cousins first met at
Lake Quinsigamon, Mass., where the annual boat race
then took place between Yale and Harvard.

John Van Dolfsen "Ver Planck (120), son of Col.
Abraham Ver Planck C83) and Ehzabeth Van Dolfsen,
born October 11, 1814. Married Susan Carey. He
died October 9, 1859. His children were:
(164) William.
(155) Walter.
(156) Margaret.

(Julian "Ver Planck (121), son of Col. Abraham Ver
Planck (8.3) and Elizabeth Van Dolfsen, born Novem
ber 12, 1816. Married Marietta Converse, November
12, 1842.* He died November 19, 1880. His chil
dren were :
# (157) David, born August 25, 1843, at Kingston.
# (168) John C, born Septeraber 8, 1845, at Scho
harie, N. Y.
*In one of the Hudson River newspapers of the time this raar
riage appears as: Dr. Gulian Ver Planck and Marietta Con
verse, both of Kingston, married November ,15, 1843.

Isaac's line, continued. 225
Bronk Vbt Planck (122), son of Col. Abraham Ver
Planck (83) and Ehzabeth Van Dolfsen, born Decem
ber 23, 1818, at Coeymans, N. Y. Married Juha S.
Ayer, May 17, 1859, at Frankhn, N. Y. He died
November 12, 1862. She was born November 29,
1829. His only child was:
# (159) Frederick Ayer, born February 9, 1860, at
Brooklyn, N.Y.

GULIAN CROMMELIN.

He (130) was born in WaU street, at the family res
idence of his father, Daniel C. (88), on th^ 6th of Au
gust, 1786, and was baptized in S. Paul's Chapel, Trin
ity Parish, New York. His raother, Elizabeth John
son, died when he was three years old, and his father
having raarried again, he was brought up by his grand
mother, Judith Crommehn. He also passed much of
bis boyhood atStratford, Conn., the home of his maternal
grandparents, who took great interest in his welfare.
At the age of eleven he entered Columbia College and
graduated in the class of 1801. Not long after, he
studied law in the office of Edward Livingston, and
was adraitted to the bar in 1807 by Chancellor Kent,
then Chief Justice. He opened an office in Wall street,
and afterwards one iu Pine street. He never seemed
to have practiced nor desired a clientage. The only
cause of iraportance he tried was his own, when he,
with several other students and graduates of Columbia
College, were tried before the Mayor, then deWitt
Chnton, for rioting. The disturbance grew out of an
address dehvered by one of the graduating class, J. B.
Stevenson, of that year, 1811, which contained a

gulian crommelin. 227
political reference. This had been expunged by the
faculty, by whom it had been previously revised, but
Stevenson persinted in retaining and speaking the ad
dress as originally written. For that he was -refused
his diploma. Several of Stevenson's partisans, includ
ing Hugh Maxwull and Guhan C. Ver Planck, sprang
upon the platform, which was erected in Trinity
Church, where Commencement was being held, and
harangued the audience against the action of the fac
ulty. A great uproar then ensued, which becarae the
talk of the town and was discussed pro and con through
the press. The result of it was that Gulian C, Max
well, and several others were tried, convicted for riot
ing, and fined. It is thought by some of the writers
on this disturbance and trial that the Mayor, deWitt
Clinton, was harsh aud perhaps arbitrary in the course
of the trial, due possibly to his dislike of Ver Planck
and his political articles and letters in the press prior
to the trial, for he was a sharp antagonist of Clinton's.
As Gulian Crortmielin seldom if ever referred to that
trial in after life, there is reason to believe that he re
gretted it. It must not be forgotten, however, in
judging of that aff'air, that in 1811 New York was a
small and provincial town and public disturbances quite
frequent, owing to the extent to which partisan invec
tive was then carried.
As his leaning was rather to literature and politics,
Guhan C. devoted himself to them, abandoning the prac-
ticcjof law. When in his twenty-third year, on the
Fourth of July, 1S09, he made his entrance in pubhc
life by delivering an oration before the Washington
Benevol'ent Society. Two years later, on the 2d Octo-

228 GULIAN CKOMMELIN.
ber, 1811, he married Eliza Fenno, daughter of John
Ward and Mary (Curtis) Fenno. John Ward Fenno
was originally of Boston, but later of Philadelphia,
where he succeeded his father in the publication of
"The United States Gazette," a newspaper in the in
terest of the Federal party. He became a victim of
yellow fever, which visited Philadelphia with disas
trous consequences in 1799. Ehza Fenno, or Mary
Ehzabeth Fenno, as she sometiraes wrote her name,
was a sister of the wife of Judge J. Ogden Hoffman,
of New York, at whose house Gulian Crommelin met
his future wife. Another sister, Harriet Fenno, married
Mr. Rodman, of Albany ; a brother, Edward, lived in
New Orleans and died without issue. George Fenno,
another brother, married a Miss Upton, whose daugh
ter, Euphemia, married Frederick Tudor, of Boston.
The health of Gulian's wife failing soon after their
marriage, the physicians advised a tour to a warmer
climate, so, going first to Charleston, they sailed thence
to Europe in 1816. They left their two children,
Wilham Samuel, aged three, and Gulian, a baby, in the
care of the children's aunt,Mary Anna Ver Planck (133).
It was she who brought up the children, for their mother
never returned home. ShediedatParis, April29, 1817,
of consumption, and is buried there in the cemetery of
Pere LaChaise. Her husband did not at once return
home, but spent several months traveling. He went
to Holland, where he was entertained very hospitably
by the Croramehn family in Amsterdam. Thence he
went to England, and afterwards to Scotland, where
he spent some time in the company of Washington
Irving. Before saihng for horae he again visited Paris

GULIAN CROMMELIN. 229
and reached New York in the Fall of 1818. While
abroad he wrote several letiers of interest, which his
grand-daughter, Mrs. Richards, edited for Mr. Hart,
for the address which he dehvered in Philadelphia,
alluded to before.
Of Eliza Fenno there are two excellent miniatures in
existence, one a Malbone, taken when she was about
sixteen. It is now owned by her grand-daughter and
namesake, Ehza Fenno (200), now Mrs. Benjamin
Richards. The other miniature, of which the artist is
unknown, represents her at a later age. Itwas prob
ably painted in Paris. The miniature was found among
the papers of her husband, Gulian C, after his death
in 1870, when its existence was first known. The picture
is now owned by the author. There is a fine por
trait, by Jarvi^s, of Gulian C, painted about the time
of his marriage. This picture is now in the possession
of Mrs. Louis Fitzgerald, a grand-daughter (206).
Washington Irving had been engaged to be married
to Eliza Fenno's sister. While travehng in Italy, after
her death, he bought a large mosaic representing the
Bay of Naples, with Vesuvius in the background, which
he gave to Mrs. Guhan C. Ver Planck. The mosaic
afterwards came into the possession of the author.
Edward Fenno, a younger brother of Eliza's, was a
frequent visitor at Mount Gulian. A few of his letters
describing visits there are preserved by Mrs. Benjamin
Richards. He died in middle hfe, never having mar
ried. The late George Hoffman*, of Philadelphia, own
ed a water-color portrait, by Inman, of his uncle, Ed-
*His brothers were Charles Fenno Hoffman, the poet, and J,
Ogden Hoffman, late Federal Judge in California.

230 GULIAN CROMMELIN.
ward Fenno, of which Mrs. Richards has a colored
photograph. A few months after his death, in March, 1870, Judge
Charles P. Daly, Francis Vinton, D. D., of Trinity,
John H. Gourlie, Esq., and others, dehvered eulogies
before the Century Club, New York, of which Gulian
Crommeliu was for many years president. These
eulogies were printed in a pamphlet by the Club.
In addition to a review of the life of Gulian Crommehn,
there is also given by Judge Daly some incidents in the
hves of all his male ancestors, going back to Abram
Planck, whom, however. Judge Daly did not eulogize.
I have made use of that pamphlet to a certain extent
in writing parts ofthis history cf the family.
Gulian C. took part in the political life of the day
and contributed several articles to its literature. In
1819 The Bucktail Bards or The State Triumvirate,
appeared anonymously. .The Bucktails was the name
given by Clinton, who was then Governor, to his po
litical enemies, among whom was Gulian Cromraelin
Ver Planck. Clinton, however, had no more earnest
supporter than Gulian C. in planning and building the
Erie (.'anal, which Clinton foresaw was needed to make
New York a metropolis. The object of The Bucktail
Bards was "to expose the political venality and corrup
tion of many of the leading men that surrounded Clin
ton, as well as to take down the Governor's literary and
scientific pretensions." Judge Daly also says of the
book : "It was a political satire upon Clinton, of great
raerit not only in epigrammatic point of verse, but in the
wit and learning displayed in the notes with which it
was profusely garnished." Gulian C. never directly

GULIAN CROMMELIN. 231
admitted his authorship, though Judge Daly says he
impliedly did so. To raake the identity of the author
more difficult the poems were inscribed to "G. C. V.,
Esq." The first of the poems was entitled "Dick Shift,"
and is in the form of a dialogue between the author and
friend. In it are described the attempts of Dick Shift, a
chronic place-hunter, to obtain an office under-Chnton,
though he had held office under other parties:

"Why should our honest Dick despair?
'Twas now 'the era of good feeling,'
When rogues their mutual crimes concealing.
And former feuds forgot, agree
In edifyiug harmony ;
And 'spirits, black, blue, gray and white',
Mingling together, all unite.
And form'd a mix'd and motley band
Of ev'ry sect and ev'ry land.

So gathering all his pow'rs of face,
Dick was resolved to ask a place."
After various vicissitudes. Shift reaches the august
presence of Clinton, and to propitiate hira tells the
Governor of the vain raachinations of his political en-
emies :

"What schemes to hasten Clinton's ruin
The fertile brain of Mat * was brewing."

*Martin Van Buren was the Attorney General,

232 GULIAN CROMMELIN.
In the midst of the recital, Clinton breaks in

"And cries in tones that some appal :
'Oh, d — n them. Sir, we'll crush them all.'
Dick smiled — and then pursued his blow,
Prais'd Armstrong and reviled Monroe,
Talk'd of Virginia's cursed pride.
That Clinton's merits still denied ;
Hinted a scheme to smooth the way ;
— Adams reraoved, assenting Clay —
To future Presidential sway!"

Some of the best things in the little book appear
in the notes, which are copious. For example : "Line
141 — The era of good feeling — so constantly called in
the Columbian. « * * The phrase is certainly a good
one, and its raeaning, I trust, will soon be generally
understood." The poera has been compared, very favorably, by
the critics, with Hudibras. Other political jingles
were called "The Epistles of Brevet-Major Pindar
Puff, Poet Laureate to His Excellency the Governor,
A. M." &c., &c. There are three of these epistles in
which the pretensions of the Governor to literary and
scientific knowledge are cleverly ridiculed.
This is an extract from one of the Epistles :

"My Clinton, my Clinton, beware of that day,
When the bucktails shall meet thee in civic array.
The ides of next April now rise on my sight.
And I see thee prepared for thy last dreadful flght.'

GULIAN CROMMELIN. 233
In the sarae year, 1819, Guhan C. went to the leg
islature from the city of New York, and sat there con
tinuously for four years. This was a stirring period
in the history of New York, for the first constitution
of 1777, which had become odious to the people by
reason of its council of appointraent, in which was
lodged all the patronage of the State, was overthrown,
and the constitution of 1821 set up in its place. The
new constitution contained sweeping changes, especi
ally in the electorate and judiciary. Chancellor Kent
was driven frora the Bench because he had reached the
age of sixty years, the new constitution declaring that
all judges were superannuated at that age. That and
raany other radical features of the constitution of 1821
were modified twenty-five years later.
A book, — Contracts as Affected by Concealment,
Error, or Inadequate Price, published in 1825, though
not a treatise on the law, as its name would imply,
was yet of interest to both lawyer and laymen. The
book seeras to have been suggested by a decision of
the Supreme Court of the United States on a contro
versy growing out of a sale of cotton, which one of the
parties sought to repudiate on the ground of fraud of
the other party in suppressing the news of the Battle
of New Orleans in 1815, which had a great influence
on the price of cotton as soon as it became generally
known. The court held that there was no fraud, and
it was the ethics of that decision which Gulian C. crit
icised. He also discussed the doctrine of Caveat Emptor,
and other harsh rules of the Common Law which seem
to favor concealment. The book was considered vis
ionary by sorae critics. It certainly was a radical

234 GULIAN CEOMMELIN-
treatment of that Common Law maxim which then
was firmly seated in tbe law bere and is stiU, I believe,
iu England.
It is worthy of note, however, that this rigorous and
often harsh rule of law has been steadily relaxing in this
country into the more equitable rule of the Civil Law,
for which Gulian C. contended in his book. The late
Chief Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in New
York, speaking of that maxim, said: * * * "I am
able to say that the law is coming around to the rec
ognition of some of the very distinctions insisted upon
in this derided book."
In 1825 Gulian Crommelin was sent to Congress as
a representative from the city of New York. There he
remained through four successive terms, retiring at the
close of 1833. While in Congress he advocated and
carried through the extension of the period of copy
right, which was passed in the session of 1830-'3l.
That act erUarged and extended the existing laws, clear
ed them of confusion and doubt and extended the right
from fourteen to twenty-eight years, with a right of
renewal for a further term of fourteen years. During
his term the right of Congress to impose a protec
tive tariff, and to enforce obedience to it, was being
greatly agitated. He wrote a public letter, published
in 1831, in which he took the ground that Congress
had such power. He was, however, a low tariff man,
or one for revenue only, and in that way came into
conflict with Henry Clay. In 1833, as Cha.irman of
the Committee of Ways and Means, he made a report
on the Bank of the United States, which institution he
favored. As is well known the Bank's charter was not

GULIAN CROMMELIN. 235
extended, but aUowed to lapse, and consequently the
Bank was .dissolved, owing to the persistency of Pres
ident Jackson and his followers. The position taken
by Gulian C. Ver Planck on the bank charter ahen-
iated him from the Democratic party, as the Republi
cans of Jefferson had then grown to be known. In
stead, therefore, of attempting to return to Congress,
he became the candidate of the Whigs for Mayor of
New York in 1834, against Cornehus Lawrence. That
was one of the most exciting contests of the tiraes.
It resulted in Lawrence's election by but 181 votes.
From 1837 to 1841 Guhan C. sat in the Senate of
the State of New York. While there he had an op
portunity of which he fully availed himself, of proving
his legal abilities. It will be remembered that at this
tirae the highest court of the State consisted of the
Senate and the Chancellor (who was then Livingston),
and part of the Suprerae Court Judges. It was called
the "Court for the Correction of Errors and Appeals,"
a court modelled on the House of Lords. Gulian C.
occasionally entertained the court at dinner at his house
in Franklin street, where he lived at that period.
Guhan C. took an active part in the Court of Errors,
and delivered opinions on many important questions,
which can be found in the last seven volumes of Wen
dell's Reports. They are frequently cited with appro
val to-day, and, except one, the Lispenard wiU case which
went to the verge of the law in upholding a wUl, have
never been disapproved. After leaving the Senate, and
at the request of Harper & Brothers, he undertook to edit
Shakspere. That work was completed in about three
years. It appeared in three large volumes and was

236 GULIAN CROMMELIN.
illustrated by Meadowes. The edition was pro
nounced by all critics to be an important and valuable
addition to this field of hterature. The book was very
elaborately gotten up, and being costly, was not re
printed. It is now rare and cau only be obtained at
a high price.
It was the good fortune ot his grand-daughter, Mrs.
Samuel W. Jobnson(20i),of New York, recently to pro
cure a good copy of that Shakspere and give it to the
Shaksperean Museum at Siratford-on-Avon. The vol
umes were very gratefully received by the Museum
trustees, who also informed Mrs. Johnson that they
had long wanted the edition.
Gulian C. being to a great extent a public man, his
literary and political life has been written and can be
read in raany biographies and encyclopedias.
The late J. W. Oppie, Esq., of FishkiU VUlage, who
practiced law in Dutchess County frora 1820 to 1S58,
the year of his death, and who was for several years
clerk to the Court of Chancery, conducted several suits
for Gulian C. and the other heirs of Daniel C. Ver
Planck (88). Mr. Oppie's register is now owned by
Mr. WiUiara E. Dean, of Fishkill Village, who has
kindly given it to me to look over. It contains many
interesting suits, conducted according to the old prac
tice, long before the days of the Code. In that regis
ter appears the suit of Ver Planck v. Wright, in which
Guhan succeeded in estabhshing an important point
in the law referring to agricultural leases.
An interesting institution with which Guhan Crom
mehn was connected was the Tontine Association.
In June, 1835, he was chosen a member of the com-

GULIAN CROMMELIN. 237
mittee of the association, and in 1843 he became one
of the trustees. The Tontine Coffee House is so well
known and its history has been so fully written, that
it scarcely seeras necessary to do more than refer to it
here. It will be enough to say that the scheme orig
inated with Lorenzo Tonti, a Neapohtan, in 1666, the
object of which has been defined as a "Loan advanced
by a number of associated capitalists for life annuities,
with the benefit of survivorship." That definition,
though by no means comprehensive, indicates in a gen
eral way the object of the original subscribers. They
invested their capital in the Tontine Coffee House, so
called, on the northwest corner of Wall and Water
streets. New York, erected in 1794, since replaced by
another building. By the constitution each share
holder, of whom there were two hundred and three,
took shares at $200 each^ and selected the lives or
nominees on whose lives the shares depended. Young
persons, of course, were selected, and they were gen
erally chosen frora the families of the shareholders.
When the number of lives or nominees was reduced to
seven, all the property, i^al and personal, of the as
sociation, was to be divided among the owners of the
shares depending on such surviving lives. In the
meanwhile the property was vested in trustees, who
paid over the income to the owners of the shares or
their survivors. In the year 1865, or thereabouts, and
before the number of the norainated lives had been re
duced to seven, Gulian C, being the owner of the
share depending on his own life — for he was a nominee
with his sister Mary Anna — the shareholders agreed
on a plan by which they or their legal representatives

238 GULIAN CROMMELIN.
or assigns were assured participation in the fund on
the final distribution. The scheme was accomplished
by mutual transfers among the shareholders of equal
fractional parts of their individual interests, depending
on the hves of the then surviving nominees. Finally,
in 1880, by which time the number of the nominees
had been reduced to seven, an amicable suit was brought
in the Supreme Court by Frederic dePeyster and Wil
ham T. Horn, against all the other parties in interest,
of whom there were sixty-seven. The result was a
sale of the property in 1881, under a decree of the
court, entered in November previous. Ou the sale
the property was sold to P. J. O'Donohue for $138,750.
Owing to the agreement among the shareholders,
WiUiam Samuel Ver Planck (160), sole heir and next
of kin of Gulian Crommelin, received part of the pro
ceeds which he otherwise tvould have lost, as neither
Mary Anna nor Guhan Crommelin lived to be number
ed among the surviving seven.
Reference has been made to Gulian's connection with
the Commissioners of Emigration. In that work he
took great interest, regularly attending its meetings up
to a week before his death. In his honor one of the
hospitals on Ward's Island was given his name, which
it still bears. The commission had his portrait
painted by Daniel Huntington, who succeeded in mak
ing an accurate likeness. When the Commission of
Emigration was dissolved in 1891, the portrait was
given to Mrs. Benjamin Richards. Huntington also
painted another portrait of Guhan Cromraelin, which
was an equally good likeness and a fine picture. On
the division of the property of the late William S. Ver

GULIAN CROMMELIN. 239
Planck (160), that portrait passed to his son Robert
N. (202). The Century Club, as well as the Historical
Society of New York, each have portraits of Gulian C.
In 1845 Gulian C. bought for his son William S.
(160), frora Garrett Brinckerhoff, eighty-three acres of
land on the Hudson river, about a raile north of Mount
Guhan. The new purchase adjoined that property in
the rear on the east. It was on that property that
New Place was built in 1847, to which William Sam
uel took his family from the homestead. New Place
was Gulian C.'s home later. There he had his
library, to which he came daily from the homestead to
spend several hours in reading. That was his habit
in summer only, for his tastes were not rural, hke his
son's. His kindly domestic life and character are well
known to his grand-children aud others. It will be
enough to say that he was a very simple raan in his
tastes, affectionate and fond of children, whora he often
amused by telling fairy stories, of which he was him
self very fond. He edited an edition of Grimm's Fairy
Tales. Nihil humani a me alienumputo was the maxira
of his life, as Judge van Vorst happily said in a few
remarks made by hira at the Century Club on the
occasion mentioned before.
During the War of the RebeUion he was an anti-
slavery democrat and a firm believer in the doctrine
of State rights and non-interference by the Federal
government. In a recent article — Mr. Tilden — by
James C- Carter, in one of the magazines*, it is stated
that when one considers the present condition of the
*The Allatilic, Ootober, 1892.

240 GULIAN CROMMELIN.
country, especially in the Southern States, it is by no
means certain that the slavery question was settled in
the right way.
Possibly Tilden, Seymour, and others of their party,
who were no believers in slavery and saw its evils,
would have abohshed it in a better way, avoiding the
war and its consequences.
That party also bore the epithet of "Copperheads,"
among whom were numbered Horatio Seymour, Sam
uel J. TUden, and many others since restored to pubhc
esteem. Such political views alienated Gulian C.
frora many of his former friends, and cost him the
presidency of the Century Club.
One incident in tbe life of Gulian Crommelin Ver
Planck is often overlooked. Like several other prom
inent men in New York, he was Sachem of Tammany
for a few years. At the laying of the corner stone of
the present Wigwam in Fourteenth street, July 4,
1868, he delivered an address which was printed in
the newspapers of the day and excited sorae comment.
It was his last public appearance.
A few words about Tammany* may be of interest.
In 1806 the State of New York incorporated the So
ciety on the petition of "Wilham Mooney and others,
inhabitants of the city of New York." The petition,
which is recited in the Act, states that the petitioners
"since the year 1789 have associated themselves under
the name and description of The Society of Tammany,
or The Columbian Order, for the purpose of affording
relief to the indigent and distressed members of sdid
* A Delaware Indian Chief of the 18th Century, who was a phil
osopher rather than a warrior.

GULIAN CROMMELIN. 241
association, their widows and orphans, and others who
may be found proper objects of their charity." For
that object only the Society received its charter,
"with power to hold real and personal estate for
the purpose of carrying into effect the benevolent
purpose of affording relief, * * * provided the clear
yearly value of such real and personal estate shall not
exceed five thousand dollars." In 1867 the legislature
granted the society more hberal power as to tenure of
property. Tammany soon becarae active in local
politics. It professed the republican principles of
Jefferson, and was consequently strongly anti-Federal
ist. The Society is said by some writers to have had
for one of its objects the defeat of the supposed aristo
cratic tendencies of the Order of Cincinnati. Wheth
er Tammany has lived up to her principles is still a
mooted question. If denunciation is considered of any
weight in the question, it may be safely said that
Tammany has probably received less of it than the
Cincinnati Society.
Gulian C. was a lover of art and made a coUection
of several good p'aintings. Among thera is an excel
lent Jarvis, of John Marshall, Chief Justice of the
United States ; a Murillo, The Melon Eaters; a good
example of Henwy Peters Gray (who, by the way,
was a personal friend), The Fortune Teller and The
Checker Players; two large pictures, both considered
good by the critics, the artists of which, however, are
not known ; two or three paintings of Robert Weir,
araong which The Landing of Hendrick Hudson at Fish
kill wUl be referred to again. Gulian C. also had a
collection of engravings of nearly aU the Old Masters.

242 OULIAN CROMMELIN,
In personal appearance Gulian Crommelin was said
to have resembled his father. Daniel Croramelin. Both
were short, stout, and about five feet five inches iu
height. A strong likeness to his grandfather, William
Sarauel Johnson, is also shown by the portraits.
Guhan Crommelin always enjoyed perfect health up
to a few days of his death, which occurred in his eighty-
fourth year. He died at his town residence in Four
teenth street, on Friday, March 18, 1870, and his
funeral took place frora Trinity Church, New York,
of which he was for several years a warden, on the
Monday following. He was buried at Fishkill Village
in the cemetery of Trinity Church, which he always
attended when at Fishkill. The Rev. Frederick W.
Shelton, at one time rector of that parish, and after
wards of S. Mark's, Low Point, wrote an epitaph in
Latin, which very happily expresses the life and char
acter of Gulian Croramelin.
His children were :
No. 160. "William Samuel, born October 15, 1812.
Died December 23, 1885.
No. 161. Gulian, bom AprU 29, 1815. He never
married. Died November 19, 1845.
Both children will be mentioned later.

The long hfe of Guhan Crommehn Ver Planck span
ned a period of great events in history, of which he
was a close observer and to some extent a participant.
Born three years before the fall of the Bastile in Paris,
and the establishment of the Constitution in America,
be was old enough to see and appreciate the rapid

GULIAN CROMMELIN. 243
progress of French repubhcanism and its counterpart
in Araerica, which under the fostering care of Jefferson
grew into the repubhcan, afterwards called the derao-
cratic partv, to overthrow the Federalists, the party of
Washington and Hamilton. When the Embargo was
laid by Jefferson, Guhan Cromraelin was in his
twenty-first year. He saw the country slowly drift
into the War of 1812, which was the period of his
first appearance in public life. At the time of the
Battles of Waterloo and New Orleans he was twenty-
eight, and had been four years married.
Madison, Brown, Calhoun, Clay, Jackson and Web
ster, Louis XVni, Talleyrand, and Louis Phihppe,
Cobden, and Lord John Russell were all his con
temporaries. He saw the rise of the great popular
movement in England which culminated in the pas
sage of the Reform Bill and the abolition of the Corn
Laws. He associated on terms of intimacy with several of
the distinguished Frenchmen whom the revolutions of
1830 and 1848 brought to our shores, Louis Phihppe
araong others. A souvenir of that period is the chair
formerly owned by Sully, the French statesman, which
was given him by a French gentleraan to whom Gulian
C. had done a service. The chair is now owned by
his grand-daughter, Mrs. Benjamin Richards. He saw
the great panic of 1837 and the financial disaster which
overspread the country in consequence. On the other
hand he saw the rights of authors more fully recog
nized and extended. During his life the State of New
York changed her Constitution three times, and her
judiciary system twice.

244 GULIAN CROMMELIN.
The Missouri Compromise and its signal failure to
settle the slavery question, transpiring during part of his
middle life, were burning questions to him. He saw
the country engage in an ignoble war with Mexico, a
neighboring republic, to be the catspaw of Texas. At
the outbreak and all through the CivU War, he was
always a true American, but as a lawyer and a con
servative man hehad to bear, with Seymour, Tilden and
others, the contumely of being called Copperheads be
cause they did not hesitate to say that Lincoln, swept
on by the new Republican party, had no constitutional
authority for many of his acts. Guhan Crommelin
was, however, no believer in slavery, and rejoiced in
all the good results of the war. Fortunately for him
he died before "Reconstruction," official corruption,
"Credit Mobiher," "Fiat Money," and other evil
results of the war became manifest.
When, as a little boy, he looked out of tbe windows
of his grand-father's house in Wall street, he could see
across tbe garden the City Hall, afterwards Federal
Hall, where Washington was inaugurated in 1789.
Up and down Wall street stood tbe homes of the mer
chants and bankers of the city, then a town of less
than thirty-five thousand inhabitants. Columbia Col
lege, where he graduated in 1801, then situated be
tween Barclay and Murray streets, overlooking the
North River*, was deemed well up town, and Green
wich, Chelsea and Harlem were villagesfar out of town.
When he died at his house in Fourteenth street, in
1870, New York had spread to the Harlem River, and
contained a population of nearly a million souls.
"Colhge Place and Park Place were out through the property
after Ciolumbia moved to her present site on Madison avenue.

GULIAN CROMMELIN. 245
James deLancey Ver Planok (138), son of Daniel Crom
melin Ver Planck (88) and Anne Walton, was born
February 2, 1805. He married, July 27, 1837, Juha
Agnes, daughter of Peter Caverly and Lucy Matilda
Sykes. His children are :
No. 162. Louisa, born May 7, 1839. She married J.
Shipley Newhn, of Philadelphia. They
have four chUdren.
No. 163. Samuel, born July 20, 1840.
He will be mentioned again.
No. 164. Matilda, born March, 1842.
James deLancey went to Yale, where he met his
cousins, William Gordon (146; and Phihp Alexander
(1-17), and graduated with Wilham Gordon in the class
of 1823. The friendship made in College lasted through
life. One of the souvenirs of Wilham Gordon Ver
Planck is a genealogical chart which he engrossed and
gave to James deLancey at the time of one of his visits
to FishkiU.
James deLancey, after graduating at Yale, married
Julia Agnes Caverly, as stated. The marriage was
•celebrated at FishkiU on the 27th July, 1837, by the
Rev. Mr. van Kleeck. Harriet, a sister of Julia Cav
erly, was married oh the 27th of November of the same
year, to Dr. James S. Rumsey, of Fishkill. Robert
Gill, already mentioned, was the step-father of Dr.
Rurasey, and lived with his wife and step-children, in
the house at Fishkill where the Rumsey family still
make their home.
Soon after their marriage, James deLancey and his
wife went to live in the old stone farm house on the
Robinson farm, which fell to him by the partition of

246 GULIAN CROMMELIN.
1835. Thisfarm then contained one hundred and sixty-
three acres, which, with other land adjoining which
came to him by the partition, raade in all upwards of
one thousand acres of continuous land, the greater part
of which he cultivated as a farm. Part being swamp
and lowland was a good cover for woodcock.
Louisa (162) and Samuel (163) were born in the
Robinson farm house. The family soon after went to
live with the Rumseys, where Matilda (164) was born,
and where they all lived until Stony-Kill was complet
ed in 1843.
Stony-Kill is a spacious house built on high ground,
not far from the Robinson farm house. It commands
a beautiful view of tbe mountains and the roUing
country between. The house contains a good deal
of beautiful and quaint furniture, paintings, and silver,
inherited by James deLancey from his father and
mother. In that house James deLancey and his family
continued to hve until his death. May 7, 1881. He is
buried in the Fishkill Rural Cemetery. His wife, Julia,
survived him, and died March 1st, 1888.
Stony-Kill and adjoining lands are now owned and'
occupied by Samuel, only son of Jaraes deLancey, with
his wife and family, and his sister Matilda.

Philip 'Ver Planck (140) was the son of Phihp Ver
Planck (99) and Sally Arden, and was born on the 16th
Noveniber, 1797. He was brought up at his father's
house at Ver Planck's Point, in the second manor
house, which his father built in tbe place of the one
built by Philip (34), which had been destroyed by the

GULIAN CROMMELIN. 247
British during the War of the Revolution.
In 1818 Philip was appointed aide-de-camp toMajor-
General Pierre van Cortlandt. In addition to the oath
of office, he took two others — one an oath of allegiance,
and the other to the effect, that he had never been en
gaged in a duel, "nor will I be so concerned in one
•* * * in violation of the act to suppress dueUing. * * *"
His commission, and the oaths, which were taken
before the Recorder in New York, are now in the pos
session of his son Phihp (165), who hves in Yonkers.
Mr. VerPlanck has also the papers of Philip of Cortlandt
Manor (34) and his son, as well as other documents of
the last century, all of great value to the antiquary and
historian. These papers are all in excellent condition
notwithstanding the fact that they have been raoved
several tiraes. Mr. Ver Planck has an ivory portrait
oi his mother and father, Phihp (140), as well as an
oil painting of himself, the latter taken while iu Rome
in 1864; also a portrait of. Thomas Arden, Esq.
Mr. Arden was accounted a rich man in his day.
He made his money in furs. He lived on the Beverly
farm at Garrison-on-the-Hudson, where he died about
1837. Philip Ver Planck married March 22, 1824, Augusta
Maria deVeaux, at Trinity Church, New York. She
was the daughter of Andrew deVeaux and Anna Maria
Ver Planck (102). Their children were :
No. 165, Philip, born January 13, 1825.
He will be mentioned later.
No. 166. Julia Margaret, born September 9, 1826.
Married first, Christopher B. MiUer, and
had issue : J. Blackburn, now living at

248 GULIAN CROMMELIN.
New Windsor, and ilfart/^., who married
Lieut. Webster, U., S. A., and is now
dead. Second, Augustus van Home Elhs;
and third, Justin P. Kellogg.
No. 167. Thomas Arden, born February 5, 1829.
Died in 1863 ; was never married.
No. 168. 'William Augustus, bom February 5,
1831.
He will be mentioned later.
No. 169. Mary Adelaide, bom October 2, 1832.
Married Phihp Beekman V. P. (180).
No. 170. Augusta Maria, born October 18, 1834,
and now lives at Newburgh.
Philip's wife, 'Augusta Maria, died September 13,
1834, and is buried in S. George's Cemetery, New-/
burgh. Philip afterwards married Euphemia, daughter of
Anthony A. Hoffraan and Gertiude V. P. (98)* Eu
phemia was then the widow of Mr. Babcock. f

After the sale of the property at Ver Planck's Point,
Phihp and hisfamily moved to New Windsor, a suburb of
Newburgh, where, in 1837, he built Hawkw.ood,oa land
overlooking the river. The property consisted of about
one hundred acres. There he made his home until his
death, August 14, 1872. He is buried in S. George's
Cemetery. The house at New Windsor was totally destroyed
by fire in 1885, in the absence of the -family.
¦?See page 183. fjohn Babcock, Esq., late of Newark, N. J.

PHILIP VER PLANCK. 249
The following history of Ver Planck's Point has been
contributed by Mr. Philip: Ver Planck (165), a son of
Phihp (140):
At the death of ray grandfather (Philip 99) in 1828,
the homestead farm known as Ver Planck's Point, and
consisting of about 1800 acres, was appraised at $44,-
000. My father (Phihp 140) agreed to purchase this
property from the heirs at that figure, and after the ar
rangement was consummated, he sold to his brother,
William Beekman (143), the upper portion, consisting,
as I think, of about 300 acres, at a valuation.
A tenant house, which stood upon that portion of
the property, became my uncle's residence at first, but
within a year a very fine mansion, for those days, fifty
feet square, was erected by our maternal grand-uncle,
Mr. Thomas Arden, of New York, and given to my
uncle, who, with his two sisters and their mother,
took up their residence therein. This house is still
standing. My father had been the manager for his father at the
Ver Planck Point property for some years, and he now
earnestly applied himself to improving his portion.
He planted new orchards, and had the old ones grafted
with the best varieties of fruit ; procured the best
known varieties of sheep, horses and cattle, and in a
tiew years possessed what was then considered the finest
and most productive property in Westchester County.
Early in the year 1834 a company of gentleraen
from New York formed the idea of laying out a village
at this place, and their agent, Mr. James A. Hardie,
entered into negotiations with ray father for its pur
chase. Although at this time there was but a limited
development of the brick interest, yet it was well
known that immense quantities of good sand and clay
existed here, and as speculation in properties on the
river was then beginning to be talked of, a price that
seemed very high at that time, was demanded.

250 PHILIP VER PLANCK.
My mother's death occurring at this time, caused
gloomy and unsettled feelings, and my father fell in
with their propositions, and sold to them the property
for $450,000.
Shortly after this, he removed with his faraily to
New Windsor, in Orange Connty, where he soon after
built Hawkwood on high ground overlooking the Hud
son, on which the property borders.
The development of the viUage at Ver Planck's Point
caused a complete destruction of the place as a farm,
but when the brickyards were opened, property came
up, and it became, as it still is, one ot the most irapor
tant shipping points for that commodity on the Hud
son. In the year 1837, as is well known, a business panic
overtook our country, carrying destruction to many
enterprises, and among the sufferers was the company
who had purchased Ver Planck's Point. Many of the
syndicate were engaged in commercial affairs in New
York, and becarae embarrassed, and the improvements
which had been inaugurated at the Point were sus
pended. Property of every kind was greatly depressed,
and sales of lots ceased.
In this condition of affairs the company was unable
to comply with the terms of the mortgage given to my
father, and a foreclosure was inevitable. It would have
been greatly to our interest, eventually, if this had
taken place, and we had been obliged to take the prop
erty. But my fa' her finding the place much cut up
by tbe operations that had been begun by the company,
and which they had left unfinished, hesitated at going
back to hve at the Point with a view of farming, and
he did not, at that tin)e, believe in it as a proper site
for a town. Eventually, therefore, a compromise was
effected, by the provisions of which he was to sell the
mortgage to Mr. John Henry, for the sum of two hun
dred thousand dollars, to be paid within twenty years,
with interest, secured upon the property at tbe Point,

PHILIP VER PLANCK. 251
and a collateral of a large body of lots at Yorkville, in
the city of New York.
This gentleman, Mr. John Henry, was a Quaker, an
honorable, intelligent, and hard-working businessman,
who, in due time, fulfilled all his obligations, develop
ed the property iminensely, and made a snug fortune
for himself in so doing. It may be interesting to know
that one of the companies forraed by this gentleman
manufactured and sold over twelve millions of dollars
worth of brick in fifteen years, and there were many
other companies at work at the same time on this prop
erty. If we had held it uutil this manufacturing value
was fully understood, and had becorae marketable, the
millions might have been ours.
It is not generally known that the Point was found
to be quite a rich raine of Revolutionary relics. A
very large number of arras, shot, buttons, camp equip-
page, etc., were found by our people during the sixty
years which followed the war of 1776. Most of these
objects now remain in Washington's Headquarters at
Newburgh. They were originally labelled as the gifts
of my father, but during a recent visit to that place, I
found that the labels had mostly disappeared, and our
faraily has no credit for thera now. P. V. P.

William Beekman Ver Planck (143), son of Phihp
Ver Planck (99) and Sally Arden, was bom October 1 1,
1 806. He raarried MariaMercia McComb, who, after his
death, raarried Mr. Lyle. She died February 6, 1887,
aged 78 years. William Beekman Ver Planck made
his home on Ver Planck's Point, in the house which
was built for him by Thomas Arden, Esq., on part of
his father's (Philip 99) estate. Wilham Beekman died
July 9, 1839, in his thirty-third year. He and his

252 WILLIAM GORDON VER PLANCK.
wife are both buried jn the Churchyard of the Dutch
Church at Ver Planck's Point. His only child was:
No. 171. William ' Beekman, born January 26,
1835.
He will be mentioned later.

William Gordon VerPlanck (146) was the son of
Wilham Beekman VerPlanck (100) and Melinda Gor
don. He was born at FishkiU, October 12, 1801, and
his baptism is recorded in the Dutch Church there-
When he was three years old his father died and his
mother returned to her former home in Ballston, N. Y.,
taking with her the two surviving children, William
Gordon (146) and Phihp Alexander (147), then a baby.
Mary Ann Catharine (145) had died in 1804, a few
months before her father.
Mrs. Ver Planck, the widow, married Henry Waller,
Esq., and went with him and her two boys, William
Gordon and Philip Alexander, to live in Kent County,
on the eastern shore of Maryland. There i" a tradition
that this family drove all the way from Ballston to
Maryland in a lumber-box wagon.
There were children by this second raarriage, araong
others the late. Joseph Waller, of New York, of whom
Frank Waller, Esq., an architect, and Elwyn Waller,
a professor in Colurabia College, are sons.
Williara Gordon, with his brother Philip A., entered
Yale College and graduated there in the class of 1823,
with Jaraes deLancey (138), with whom he continued
his friendship iu after life. On the 22d of Febi uary.

WILLIAM GORDON VER PLANCK. 253
1826, WiUiam Gordon was married to Mary Elizabeth,
eldest daughter of Samuel Miles Hopkins.
William Gordon Ver Planck (221) has contributed
the following concerning his maternal great-grandfath
er, Samuel Miles Hopkins:
Mary Ehzabeth Hopkins, the wife of Wilham Gor
don Ver Planck (l46), was the daughter of Samuel
Miles Hopkins and Sarah Elizabeth Rogers. Samuel
Miles Hopkins was bom in Salem Parish, afterwards
part of Waterbury, Conn., May 9, 1772, on the old
Hopkins farm. His father was Stephen Hopkins and
his mother Molly Miles, daughter of David Miles, of
Wallingford. Samuel Miles Hopkins was a descendant
of John Hopkins, a freeman at Hartford in 1666.
Samuel Miles Hopkins was educated at Hartford,
Coun., where he lived in the family of his uncle, Dr.
Lemuel Hopkins, and entered Yale in 1787, where he
was graduated in 1790, and frora which institution he
subsequently received the degree of LL. D. In his
Meraoirs, addressed to his children, he says : "The
spirit of Yale College at that time was a spirit of hter
ary ambition and infidelity." In 1791 he entered the
law office of Judge Reeve, in Litchfield, Conn., and
after eighteen months study, in March, 1793, was prof
fered an examination at the bar by iis members. This
offer of an examination by the members of the bar
after a course of study of only eighteen months was in
violation of a general rule at that time and was con
sidered a great compliment. In April of that year he
went to Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, N. Y., and
put himself under the tuition of two young lawyers.
One of them i« now well enough known to the
world as ChanceUor Kent. The other is well known
to the legal profession of New York State as Jacob
Radcliffe. It was his intention to acquire the knowl
edge of the practice of the New York Courts and he
had eighteen days to do so. Three weeks alter arriv-

254 WILLIAM GORDON VER PLANCK.
ing at Poughkeepsie, as he relates: "I embarked on
the good sloop John Jay and soon saw the wonderful
city, the compact parts of which extended to St. Paul's
Church, and then up Chatham street to the Tea-water
Pump, or nearly "
With him were five other New England young men,
seeking admission to the bar. Aaron Burr made the
motion and the bar sought to exclude them by an ex
post facto rule, from the operation of which Burr suc
cessfully exempted them. He received his license to
practice on the 9th day of May, 1793, the day he was
twenty-one years old. He started to practice his pro
fession in the village of Oxford, N. Y.. about eighteen
months after Col. Benjamin Hovey, the founder of it,
cut the first tree in clearing the ground where the vil
lage now stands. His first law draft, as he relates : "I
made by writing on the head of a barrel under a roof
made of poles oiUy and iu the rain, which I kept from
spotting my paper by a broad brimmed hat." His name
is the first on the roll of attorneys in Cayiign, County,
N. Y. Col. Aaron Burr seemed to take great interest
in him and treated him very kindly, forcing upon him
a library of choice law books, which he had selected,
telling him that he raight settle it in his will, if he
pleased. Mr. James Watson, of New York, who then lived
at the Battery, overlooking the bay,* and to whom he
had letters of introduction when he carae to New York,
was also exceedingly kind to him and invited him to
his house, which he made his home, persuading hira to
leave Oxford and corae to New York City to practice
his profession. This he did in the winter of 1 794, after
an extended tour abroad, through Great Britain, Hol
land, Belgium, and France, where he raet and was
entertained by raany distinguished people. Of that
tour he has left a very interesting account in his Me
moirs. The object of this trip was to sell Virginia lands
*His aud the Rogers Houses are still standing.

WILLIAM Gf)RDON VER PLANCK. 255
for James Watson, Esq., who had acquired upwards
of 300,000 acres from the State ''at two cents the acre."
It was thought that the unsettled condition of affairs
abroad would lead "persons of fortune" to invest in
lands here.
Two years were spent abroad, of which Mr. Hopkins
says : "American lands had been disgraced by the op
erations of Robert Morris and others, and I finally failed
of my object. Butl hngered in Europe with the assent
of Mr. Watson." In England he traveled in a post
chaise with Judge Tudor, of Boston. "At Slough we
called on Mr. Herschel and were shown by hira his
great telescope."
On the 1 Oth of August, 1 797, he reached Paris. One
of the incidents of this visit he thus describes : * » •
"Before this I had already met ray old friend Savarin,
as I accidentally walked the Palais Royal. I forgot to
mention that he taught me French in 1796 at New
York. He had been a man of fortune, was a thorough
scholar, lately a meraber of the Constituent Asserably
of France, fled in the Reign of Terror, had his all confis
cated, and was now a member of the Court of Cassation."
Of Bonaparte he says : "There I saw him, and heard
the adulation of the French, and came back and told
Mr. Barlow that the French never could be Republi
cans." About the year 1794 Congress had passed an act for
the collection of a direct tax of $2,000,000. The cora-
tnissioners to make the assessment, of whom Mr. Wat
son was chairman, appointed Mr. Hopkins clerk. Gen
eral James Gordon, of Ballston (father of Mrs. Wilham
Beekman Ver Planck), was one of the commissioners,
and Moss Kent, brother of the Chancellor, was another.
On Mr. Hopkins devolved the charge of digesting a
system of valuation, assessment and appeals, and also
for the abstracts and returns, which he successfully
carried out.

;
266 WILLIAM GORDON VER PLANCK.
On the 5th of October, 1800, Samuel Miles Hopkins
married Mary Ehzabeth Rogers, daughter of Moses
Rogers, a prominent merchant of New York, a vestry
man of Trinity Church, and one of the founders of
Grace Church.
In 1811, his health failing, he removed to Geneseo
and purchased a large tract of laud adjoining James
and William Wadsworth. In 1813 and 1814 he wasa
meraberof the Thirteenth Congress, having been elected
unexpectedly by the Federalists. Ot that event of his
life he says : * * * "Besides, 1 had hardly a party to act
with — for a great portion, at least of the Federalists,
voted againstallmedsures to strengthen theGoverninent;
a course which (much as I disapproved of thn war, and
well as I knew it was got up for party purpose, and
that those purposes were at bottom devised by French
influence) I could not approve nor acquiesce in."
In 1814 he laid out the viUage of Moscow, Geneseo
County. He gave up farming and subsequently, in
18'22, he removed to Albany, where he again took up
the profession of law and was appointed by Chancellor
Sanford, reporter of his court. He published the
Chancellor's decisions in one volume.
In 1826 he was appointed, with Messrs. Tibbetts and
Allen, a coraraission by the legislature of the State
of New York, in relation to the State prison and peni
tentiary, which commission built and governed the
prison at Sing Sing. In 1831 he reraoved to Geneva,
where he died.
He lelatesin his Memoirs: "I have seen Gen. Wash
ington, been a little acquainted with the elder Adams
and with Jay, Schuyler, Chnton, Story, and a good
deal acquainted with Charles C. Pinckney and John
Marshall, and conversant in business of the bar with
that very extraordinary raan, Aaron Burr, and that
very admirable and wonderful man, Alexander Ham
ilton." W. G. V. P.

WILLIAM GORDON VER PLANCK. 257
Williara Gordon Ver Planck and his wife lived at
Ballston for several years after their raarriage. While
l.ving there he and his brother Philip A. sold the horae
stead at Fishkill, which they had inherited as heirs-at-
law of their father, WiUiara Beekraan (100), to Col.
Richard C. van Wyck. This sale took place in April,
1827, and will be raentioned again when speaking of
Phihp Alexander (147). Williara Gordon afterwards
lived in Albany. His wife died in February, 1857.
They had the following children :
No. 172. Samuel Hopkins, born January 31, 1827.
He will be mentioned later.
No. 173. Melinda Gordon, born April 3, 1829.
No. 174. Mary, born January 10, 1832 ; died Jan
uary 15, 1832.
No. 175. James Gordon, born June 24, 1838.
He will be mentioned later.
No. 176. Philip William, born March 28, 1844.
He will be mentioned again.
For several years WUhara Gordon was superinten
dent of supphes, etc., at Bloomingdale Asylum, in the
city of New York. On giving up that position he went
to hve with his son, Sarauel Hopkins (172), at Geneva,
N. Y., where he died March, 30, 1879, in his seventy-
eighth year. He is buried at Geneva.

Philip Alexander Ver Planok (147) was the young
est son of WiUiara Beekman Ver Planck (100) and
Mehnda Gordon. His father having died soon after.

258 PHILIP ALEXANDER VERPLANCK.
he was born at the homestead, FishkiU Plains, and his
mother having married Henry Waller, Esq., he, with
his brother William Gordon (146), vvere taken by them
to hve in Ballston, N. Y., as just raentioned. .After
growing up, Phihp A. went to Yale College with his
brother WUhara Gordon. He did not graduate at Yale,
however, because in his junior year there was a bomb
exploded in front of the house of the President of the
College, who unjustly suspecting Phihp A. of doing
the deed, wrote him a very severe letter, which so
angered him that he left Yale and graduated at Union.
The guilty student, years after, wrote a very apologetic
letter to Phihp A., stating his sorrow at his being the
cause of his leaving Yale.
After graduating at Union CoUege, where he met
his cousin, Wilham Walton Ver Planck (137), he read
law and was admitted to tbe bar. He hved some time
at Poughkeepsie, where his cousins, the Hoffmans,
then hved. That seeras to have been his residence
in 1827, when he and his brother, William Gor
don, sold their Fishkill property, i. e.: the homestead
built by Philip Ver Planck (66) in 1768, ota the creek
uear Fishkill Plains.* This property Phihp A. and
his brother WiUiam Gordon inherited as heirs-at-law
of their father, Williara Beekraan (100), who died in
testate in 1804. In April, 1827, the two brothers sold
the property to Richard C. van Wyck, whose grandson
is the present occupant. The farra, by a survey men
tioned in the deed, contained four hundred and seventy-
two acres, for which $14,968 was paid. In the deed,
William Gordon, who was then married, is described
*See page 178.

PHILIP ALEXANDER VER PLANCK. 259
as of Ballston, Saratoga County, and Phihp Alexander
as of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, N.Y.
On November 20th of the following year, 1828,
Philip A. married his cousin, Eliza Arden Ver Planck
(142), and in a few years they went to hve at New
Windsor, in the house which they built on Plum Point,
in the lower part of New Windsor, in Orange County,
on land bought from the Nichols faraily in 1834.
Traces of the earth works thrown up during the Rev
olution can still be seen on the bluff on this property,
overlooking the river. The views frora the plateau
are extensive and among the most beautiful on the
Hudson. The house built by Phihp Alexanderis over
fifty feet square, and all about the grounds are fine trees.
No railroad runs in front to injure the beach, which
extends along the river front for three-quarters of a
mile to the mouth of Moodna Creek, which empties
into the river. at Plum Point.
The property remained in the family untU the pres
ent year.
Their children were:
No. 177. Philip Arden, bornOctober31, 1829; died
1842.
No. 178. William Beekman, born May 27, 1831 ;
died 1834.
No. 179. Thomas Boyle, born December 19, 1832 ;
died July 31, 1834.
No. 180. Philip Beekman, bomDeceraberl9, 1834.
Married October 15, 1872, Mary A. Ver
Planck (169). He died February 18,
1890.

260 PHILIP ALEXANDER VER PLANCK.
No. ISl. Adeline Eugenia, born December 15, 1836;
died June 11, 1883.
No. 182. William Minevar, born June 8, 1838.
Married Sarah Ehzabeth Seelj e. He died
February, 1890.
No. 183. Sally Christina, born January 8, 1840.
Near by Phihp's house hved Christopher B. Miller,
who married Juha M. Ver Planck (166). Christopher,
or Kit Miller, as he was familiarly called, was a genial
man and much liked. He had a yacht called the Ultra,
in which he often took out parties of friends. Among
others Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Chrystie, who lived also
at New Wiiidsor, and Mr. and Mrs. William S. Ver
Planck (160), of Fishkill, on the opposite side of the
river. W. S. Ver Planck was a friend both of Chris
topher B. Miller, and particularly of Philip A.
Philip Ver Planck (140), famiharly known as Big
Phil, to distinguish him from Philip A., or Little
Phil, lived also at New Windsor. For many years
a very pleasant life was lead by the people of that
neighborhood. Phihp A.'s wife died July 6, 1850. He died Sep
tember 2, 1872.

About the time of the death of their father, Phihp
Beekman (180) and Wilham Minevar (182) went to
New York and established themselves in business,
which they continued until their deaths in February,
1890, both brothers dying suddenly and within two
weeks of each other.

PHILIP ALEXANDER VERPLANCK. 261
Philip Beekman married Mary A. Ver Planck (169),
and William Minevar raarried Sarah A. Seelye, of
Ballston, N. Y. Neither of the brothers left issue.
The only surviving child of Philip A. Ver Planck is
his youngest daughter, Sally Christina, who is now
living in the city of New York. She has her father's
papers, letters, etc. Among them are several letters
from Wilham S. Ver Planck (160) and Edwards John
son, who lived at Stratford, Conn. The latter went to
the law school at Litchfield, after graduating at Yale,
and wrote some very entertaining letters to Philip A.
while at Union College.

ISAAC'S LINE.
CONTINUED IN THE SEVENTH GENERATION.

John McCarty Ver Planck (148), son of Isaac Ver
Planck (117; and Chariotte E. McCarty, born January
17, 1838. Married Mary E. Chapman, of Greenville,
N.Y., September 6, 1858. His children are :
(184) Eobert L, born August 27, 1859.
(185) Clara H., born September 20, 1874.
(186) Louise Bosworth, born August 10, 1876.

262 David I. D. VerPlanck (149), son of Isaac VerPlanck
(117) and Charlotte E. McCarty, born February 14,
1840. Married Lettie N. Powell, of Dormansville, N.
Y., December 25, 1860.
He is hving in Albany. His children are :
#(187) Edward, born December 19, 1861.
(188) Charlotte.
(189) Josephine.

Isaac Ver Planck (160), son oflsaac VerPlanck (117)
and Charlotte E. McCarty, born July 12, 1854. Mar
ried LiUie IngaUs, of Norton's HiU, N. Y. He had
one child :
(190) Mary.

David Ver Planck (157), son of Gulian Ver Planck
(121) and Marietta Converse, born August 25, 1843,
at Kingston, N. Y. Married Georgianna Seaman, Jan
uary 9, 1866, at Tarrytown, N. Y.
He hves at White Plains, N. Y., and is a member
of the Westchester County bar. His children are :
(191) William S., born October 31, 1867, at
White Plains.
(192) Gulian, born May 23, 1869.
(193) Frank H., bom April 12, 1877.

Isaac's line, continued. 263
John C. Ver Planck (158), son of Gulian Ver Planck
(121) and Marietta Converse, born September 8, 1845,
at Schoharie, N. Y. Married Catherine Lye, Septem
ber 20, 1875.
He is living at White Plains, and is a member of the
bar of Westchester County. His children are :
(194) David Abraham, bornSeptember 18, 1877;
died Aug>ast 7, 1878.
(195) Lucie, born February 28, 1880.
(196) Marietta Converse, born May 14, 1882;
died August 1, 1884.
(197) Helen Elizabeth, bom December 18, 1885.
(198) Georgie Anna, born March 11, 1887.

Prederick Ayer VerPlanck (l59),sonofBronckVer
Planck (122) and Juha Ayer, born February 9, 1860,
at Brooklyn, N. Y. Married, August 27, 1890, at
Lebanon, Conn., Annie Noyes, born Noveraber 11,
1863. He hves at WiUiraantic, Conn. His child is :
(199) Van Noyes, born July 7, 1891.

WILLIAM SAMUEL.

The eldest son of Guhan Crommehn (130) and Ehza
Fenno was William Samuel (160). He was born in
New York, October 15, 1812, and named after his
maternal great-grandfather, WiUiam Samuel Johnson,
LL. D.* His baptism is in the records of Trinity
Church, New York
After graduating at Columbia College in 1832, Wil
liam Samuel read law in the office ot Johnson & Kent,
a prominent law firm in New York, composed of Wil
liam Samuel Johnson, grandson of William Samuel
Johnson, LL. D., and Williara Kent, son of the Chan
cellor, and afterwards Judge of the Supreme Court of
New York. Williara Samuel was admitted to the bar,
but practiced only a short time. He had an office at
one tirae in Newburgh. Following the advice of his
father, he engaged in agriculture and took charge of
the Mount Gulian farm, and afterwards his father's
farras on the Fishkill Plains. He married Anna Bid-
die, third daughter of Robert Newlin and Mary, daugh
ter of Samuel and Abi Brown, November 17, 1837.
They were raarried by the Rev. Mr. tenBroeck, rector of
S. Anna's, Matteawan, which was then a new church,
having been consecrated three years before. His wife,
*See page 189.

WILLIAM SAMUEL. 265
like each of her parents, was a member of "The Society
of Friends," iraproperly called Quakers, a term given
originaUy in reproach.
From some old papers in possession of the Newlin
family is gathered the genealogy of the Newlin family,
which seems to have been also spelled Newland in
England. It is iu substance as follows:
Nathaniel Newlin, son of Nicholas Newhn, came
with his father to Araerica from England, in 1682,
first, however, spending a few years in Ireland. It
is not known whom Nathaniel Newlin married, but
his son Nathaniel married a Metcalf, of New Jersey.
They settled on the Delaware river, and had a large
family. Their son Cyrus, born in 1750, married Abigail
PenneU, "Fourth day of Fourth month," 1776, and had
several children, of whora but two, Robert and Isaac,
lived beyond infancy. Cyrus raarried for his second
wife Sarah Shipley, in 1790. He died April 16, 1824,
aged seventy-four, at Wilraington, Delaware. Of the
second raarriage there were two children, Mary and
Thomas. Robert, son of Cyrus, was born January 17,
1770. He married Mary Brown, as has been stated.
This raarriage took place on the " 1 3th day of the Third
month," 1799. The marriage certificates, in the Friends'
form, ofthis and the father's marriage, are now in the
possession of Miss Margaret M. Newlin, of Fishkill-on-
Hudsun. Mary Brown was a sister of Major-General Jacob
Brown, of the War of 1812. His home was at Brown
viUe, Jefferson County, N.Y., which his father founded.
There is a portrait of General Brown in the City
Hall, New York. His great-grand-daughter, Virginia

266 WILLIAM SAMUEL,
Darby, wife of Wilham E. Ver Planck (207), also has
a portrait of him by Jarvis, as well as portraits of Gov
ernor deWitt Clinton, John Armstrong, Esq., and of
President Monroe, all contemporaries of Brown's and
who had their portraits painted, which they gave to
hira out of personal friendship and esteem. The medals
struck ofl by Congress in honor of General Brown's
victories in the War of 1812, as well as his sword and
other rehcs, are preserved in the family of his descend
ants. Jacob Brown* died at Washington in 1828, at the
age of fifty-three, and is buried in the Congressional
Cemetery. He was born in Bucks County, Penn., and
was a "Friend," like his father Samuel. Jacob Brown
married Pamela, daughter of Judah WiUiams, of Wil
hamstown, Mass., who, on the death of her father, hved
with her brother, the late Judge Nathan Wilhams, of
Utica, N. Y. Mrs. Jacob Brown died at Rye, N. Y., in
1878, in her ninety-third year, at the house of the late
William E. Everett, who had married her grand-daugh
ter, Pamela W. Kirby.
*Frotn Miss Mary Vinton, one of the descendants of Jacob
prown, the following; has been given to the author :
The first of the family to come to America was George Brown,
¦who settled in 1678 on the banks of the Delaware, a place now
ealled Falls Township, Pa. He had eleven children, tbe youiis-
est being Samuel,, who was tbe grandfather of Samuel, b. 1750,
mar. Abi or Abia Wright. The latter couple had nine children,
among them Jacob, who married Pamela Williams, and Mary, wbo
married Robert Newlin.
The Brown family, both here and in England, is said to have
been givcTi to building big houses, which generally proved "white
elephants." The last venture of that sort was the large white
stone house begun by Gen'l Brown about 1820, at BrownviUe,
Edmund Kirby, wbo raarried bis daugtfter.E&'za, afterward com
pleted and lived iu the Brown homestead. The property passed
out of the family about thirty years ago.
A quaint miniature on ivory of Abi Wright, wife of Samuel
Brown, is iu the possession of her descendant, Mrs. William B,
Ver PlaooU. , ,.

WILLIAM SAMUEL. 267
Robert Newlin, soon after his marriage, came to
Fishkill, where his father, Cyrus, owned a tract of land
on the northerly side of the Fishkill creek, near its
mouth, and extending up the streara to about the site
of the road now leading to the Wolcott bridge in Mat
teawan, which he held at first with Wilham Byrnes,
his partner.
Frora the Dutchess County records it appears that
William Byrnes bought a tract of land comprising 274
acres, frora Isaac dePeyster Teller, in June, 1792, and
soon after entered into a partnership as millers with
Cyrus Newlin, to whora, in September of the same
year, he conveyed an undivided half interest. The
deed describes the property as beginning at "Fishkill
Bay, adjoining the land of William Allen" (who then
lived on Denning's Point), and running up the FishkiU,
on each side, about half a mile, together with the mills
and other water rights. In 1811 the partnership seems
to have been dissolved, for in that year the property
was partitioned between its two owners, Cyrus Newlin
taking the lower mill property, with fifty-one acres,
and other land adjoining, consisting of forty-seven acres
more, excepting a small lot of one-half an acre reserved
by the Tellers for a burial place. Cyrus Newlin, in the
deeds is described as "of the county of Newcastle and
State of Delaware." He neverhved in FishkiU, though
he often came there to visit his son Robert, who was the
manager of his interest in the partnership and succed-
ed him after Cyrus died in 1824.
The name Byrnes survives in Fishkill in Byrnesville.
On that property was a good water power, of which
the Newlins avaUed themselves. They built a flour

268 WILLIAM SAMUEL.
mill near the raouth of the creek, where Dutchess
County as well as southern wheat was ground for
export. Large vessels carae up to the mill from the
river, whence the flour was shipped abroad and to
domestic ports. There was also a saw mill on the site
of the present Tioronda mills. The flour raill was
burned August 4, 1838, according to Brown's diary,
and again Septeraber 9, 1862.
Cyrus Newlin bought with the land the house of
Isaac dePeyster Teller, for his son Robert- All that
property had previously belonged to Madame Brett,
sole heiress of Francis Rombout. The Teller and
dePeyster families came iuto possession of part of her
property by marriage.* Whether Madame Brett or Isaac
dePeyster, who married her half-sister Maria, built the
house, seems to be in doubt. That house, since known
as the Newlin homestead, is a large one, and perhaps
was the most extensive and costly one of that period
in this neighborhood- 1740 is the date assigned for its
erection, by T. van Wyck Brinckerhoff, the local histor
ian already mentioned. The house is said to have been
built of brick brought from Holland, bat that is doubt
ful, as the Dutch records at Albany show that brick
was made on the Hudson as early as 1638;
Owing to the fables concerning Madame Brett which
pass current in FishkUl, it is difficult to ascertain the
truth about her. In addition to what has already been
stated, f the following may be safely added on the author
ity of Mrs. James W. Andrews, n6e Annan, one of the
grand-daughters of Theodorus, son of Francis Brett :
*See pages 63-65, f See pages 64 and 65.

WILLIAM SAMUEL.

269

Besides Francis and Robert, sons of Roger Brett and
Catherina Rorabout (Madame Brett), there was a third
son, Rivery, naraed because he was born on the river.
He died at the age of seventeen. Madarae Brett left
a vast landed estate, which there is reason to believe
was a great care, and not of corresponding value to her.
She is said to have gaUoped daily on a pony over her
estate, overseeing the different interests. Allusion has
been made to the valuable water power which belonged
to her property and which she developed by building
the first mill, and which was known for many miles
around on each side of the river.

/?'^

THE HOMESTEAD OP MADAME BRETT.
^uilt in 1709., now kno.wn' aa the Teller Manaion, Matteawan, N. T,
Roger Brett, her husband, was drowned from a sloop
before 1726. He was buried in the small cemetery
near the Newhn homestead. The widow had the entire
care of this great property for forty years. She died
in 1764, and her body lies buried under the pulpit of

270 WILLIAM SAMUEL.
theDutch Church, FishkiU. No stone marks hergrave,
nor is there any tablet to her memory in the Church.*
To return to the Newlins. The children of Robert
Newlin and Mary Brown were Samuel, Abby, Cyrus,
Robert, Mary, Anna, Jeannette,t and Margaret.
Among other papers now in the possession of the
family there is a copy of a letter raade in 1820, when
in the possession of Mary Mifflin, of Harford County,
Maryland, a grand-daughter of Nicholas Newlin. The
letter was brought to America by Nicholas Newlin or
Newland in 1682. It reads as follows :
"At the request of Nicholas Newland, we do hereby
certify that the said Nicholas Newland acquainted our
Men's Meeting with his intention of removing himself
and family out of this nation into New Jersey or Penn
sylvania, io America ; and we have nothing to charge
against him or his family, as to tbeir conversation in
the world since they frequented our meetings, but hath
walked honestly among men for ought wee know or
can hear of by inquiry, which hath been made, but
our Friends' meeting is generally dissatisfied with his so
reraoving, he being well settled and having sufficient
substance for food and raiment, which all that profess
Godliness iu Christ Jesus ought to be content with, for
wee brought nothing into this world, and we are sure
to take nothing out ; and he hath given us no satisfac
tory reason for his removing, but our Godly jealousy
is that his chief ground is fearfulness of sufferings here
for the testimony of Jesus or coveting worldly hberty.
All which wee certify from our Men's Meeting at Mount
Mellick, 25th of 12 "o, 1682. and We further certify
that enquiry hath been raade concerning the clearness
*A committee is now at work and bas about collected a fund
to put up a suitable monument to her memory.
fShe was drowned in the mill-race when a child.

WILLIAM SAMUEL. 271
of Nathaniel and John Newland, sons of Nicholas New-
hind, frora all entanglements of marriage, and that they
are released for ought we find. Signed by the advice
and iu behiUf of the meeting.
Tobias Pladwell, Wilham Edmundson, Christopher
Roper, and others.

Robert Newhn operated the mills at Fishkill succes-
fully for many years. He also had a brewery in Phil
adelphia, where he spent the winter. His brother-
in-law. General Brown, was a frequent visitor at the
Newlin homestead at Fishkill, on his wav to and from
BrownviUe aud Washington. Robert Newlin died
December 9, 1840, and his widow, Mary, died May
17, 1847.
Of their children two only raarried, viz.: Robert, who
married Anne Penrose Scull and had several children ;
and Anna, who married Williara Siirnuel Ver Planck
(100). The other children kept, the oW home until
about 1865, when the then owners, viz.: Abby, Mary,
and Margaret Newlin, sold the property to the Boston,
Hartford and Erie Railroad (now the New York and
New England), which projected its line across their
iand close to the house. The three sisters spent a
a few years in one of the Wiltse houses in Fishkill be
fore moving into their new house on the Poughkeep
sie road, north of the village/' Mary died in 1869,
and Abby in 1877.
It has already been mentioned that Gulian C. (130),
father of William Sarauel, bought in 1845, frora Garrett
Brinckerhoff, a part of his farm, consisting of about

272 WILLIAM SAMUEL.
eighty acres. The property was situated on the Hud
son river, about a mile north of Mount Gulian, and on
it, in 1846-'7, New Place was built. To that house
William Samuel moved his family and there he made
his home.
He had eight children, as follows:
No. 200. Eliza Fenno, born at Mount Guhan, Sep
tember 16, 1838. Married Benjamin
Richards, of New York, September 30,
1862. They are now hving in New York
with their four children.
No. 201. Mary Newlin, born at Mount Gulian, Oc
tober 18, 1S40. Married, December 18,
1866, Samuel WiUiam Johnson, her
cousin. He died December 13, 1881.
She is now living in New York with her
three surviving children.
No. 202. Eobert Newlin, bom at Mount Gulian, No
vember lb, 1842.
He will be mentioned again.
No. 203. Daniel Crommelin, born at Mount Guhan,
April 13, 1845 ; died AprU 8, 1854.
Buried in Trinity Churchyard, Fishkill.
No. 204. Anna, bom at Mount Guhan, November
27, 1846. Married, June 13, 1872, Sam
uel Hicks Clapp. Hedied June27, 1891.
She is now hving in Albany with her only
child, Anna.
No. 205. Jeannette, born at New Place, March 7,
1849. Married, March 8, 1886, Theo
dore M. Etting, of Philadelphia, where
they are now hving.

WILLIAM SAMUEL. 273
No. 206. Cielyna, born at New Place, January 23,
1852. Married, September 12, 1872,
Louis Fitzgerald, of New York, where
they are now living with their four sur
viving children.
No. 207. William Edward, born at New Place, AprU
8, 1856.
He will be mentioned again.

WiUiam Samuel bad a younger brother, Guhan (161),
born April 19, 1815. He was a shy, retiring boy, pre
ferring an out-door hfe of shooting and fishing to read
ing and study. His aunt Mary (133), to whom he was
confided by his mother when she went to France,
never to return, took great interest in his welfare.
Gulian, however, chafed under the restraints of horae
life. He was fond of going to the Newlin house, where
he had a congenial companion in his uncle, SamuelNew-
lin, who was a great sportsman. Gulian made several
sea voyages when quite young, and finally he shipped
in a whaler, coming home occasionally. He was
wrecked off Hatteras in 1840, Brown's diary states.
On one of his voyages he was seized with a severe
illness, and reaching New Bedford, his aunt Mary met
him and brought him horae, where he died. He was
then in his thirty-first year. He was buried in the
family vault of Trinity Church, FishkUl, November
22, 1845.
Soon afterwards the family at the homestead, par
ticularly Mary 033), were greatly annoyed and vexed
by the building of the Hudson River RaUroad. In
April, 1848, soon after it was incorporated, the com-

274 WILLIAM SAMUEL.
pany filed a map in Dutchess County, of its proposed
line, and thereupon began to make surveys and ac
quire property. The line as projected through Mount
Gulian took five acres above and six below high-water
mark, all along the river front, for upwards of a raile-
The line of the railroad cut off several beautiful
wooded points, which in the spring were covered with
laurel. It also destroyed the bays of the river by an
ugly embankment. In fact the whole shore was orig
inally most picturesque. There bad been virtuaUy no
change from the days when Hendrick Hudson sailed
up the river in the Half Moon, in 1609.
The late Robert Weir painted for Gulian C. Ver
Planck a large picture of the shore of the river at Mount
Gulian, representing it as in the time of Hendrick Hud
son, who, according to tradition, landed there. In the
foreground, on thn bank, are Indians, with maize, etc.,
corae down to trade with the Dutch. Hudson and
sorae of his officers are seen approaching the shore in
his gig, carrying the flag of Holland, three horizontal
stripes of red, white and blue, of equal width.* The
Half Moon lies at anchor a short distance out in the
streara, while in the background is Snake Hill and the
high ground where now stands the city of Newburgh,
*From an article ; "The Flags wbich have Waved over New
York," in Valentine's Manual for 1863, Benjamin Richards, Esq.,
ot New York, has giveu me the following extract :
"Tbe first European visitor to this State and city was Hudson,
who in 1609 sailed up the riveruow bearing his name. The flag
uuder which he sailed was that of the Dutch East India Com
pany, which was the dag of the United Provinces of the Nether
land — ora-nge, white, aud blue arranged in three equal horizontal
stripes; in the centre, of the white stripe the letters A. O. C. —
Algemeene Oost-Indise (Jompaguie. The national ensign of the
United Provinces was adopted ahout 1582, at the suggestion of
William, first Prince of Nassau and Orange. After the deathof
William II (1650),^ a red- stripe was substituted for the orange.."

WILLIAM SAMUEL. 275
It is a large canvas, fuU of color, and considered a good
painting. Mrs. Benjamin Richards (200) now owns it.
The fiimily at the homestead were very much at
tached to the river, and used it frequently. Besides
row- and sail boats, they kept an oared barge which
seated ten besides the oarsmen. In this boat they made
vi>its to their friends along the river, even going to
West Point, ten miles below, to attend balls and other
entertainments there. Mary Ver Planck (133) was
fond. of bathing and was a fine swimmer.
The coming of the railroad, therefore, was naturaUy
a sore subject. When the inevitable question of dam
ages came up, an ofler of $6,000 was indignantly re
fused, contrary to the advice of Gulian Crommehn
(130), who had seen how raatters had gone in other
cases. The result was the appointraent of five com
raissioners, who reported that the damages were
$1,825 (!), an award which was confirmed by the
court.* Mr. J. P. deWindt, who owned adjoining
property on the south, and Mr. Robert Bayard on the
north, fared no better before the commissioners. At
New Place, where, though but a few feet of upland
were taken, a beautiful bay at the mouth of the Stony
Kill was cut off by an embankment, the comraission
ers awarded $25 (!).
Brown states iu his diary that on the 1st of Decera
ber, 1849, "a locoraotive carae to Fishkill for the first
time." On the 7th ''the cars run regular to New
York." One week later a man "was killed by the cars
near the Long Dock."
*Thirty vears later commissions on condemnation for the West
Shore Railroad, directly opposite, made awards on a scale eight
to ten times greater for sirailar properties.

276 WILLIAM SAMUEL.
The river lost its charm to the good people at Mount
Gulian now, and the dock, boat-house, and bath
house were aUowed to go to ruin not long after. At
New Place a dock was built outside the railroad, which
was reached by a bridge over the intervening cove
made by the railroad embankraent. There William
Samuel (160) had a bath- and boat-house, where he
kept a row boat which he often used, being a good
oarsman. He inherited his father's love of reading, and had a
very retentive memory, and though he never wrote he
spent much of his tirae in the library which his father
brought to New Place. He was fond of the French
and Latin classics. Williara Samuel was a good farmer
and a successful one. He was a sportsman, too, and
an exceUent shot. In his younger days game was
plenty near home, and he and Samuel Newlin often
brought home big bags of quail, woodcock, and par
tridge shot within three miles of Mount Gulian. In
the fall and spring wild duck were plenty on the river.
During the sumraer Gulian Crommelin made his
horae at New Place, going to town for two or three
days each week. Before the deaih of his sister Mary
(133) he had lived in summer at Mount Gulian, and
was in the habit of spending part of each day in the
library at New Place.
Christmas and other festivals were always celebrated
at Mount Gulian. Mary Ver Planck (133) and Gulian
C. (130) took great interest in them, both being very
fond of the children of Wilham Samuel (160), and their
little friends. Araong the latter was Miss Harriet

WILLIAM SAMUEL. 277
Rumsey, daughtet of the late Dr. Jaraes S. Rurasey.
Miss Rumsey has recently given me her recoUections
of those days:
"I remember weU the eager looking forward to the
day and the drive to the homestead in our great Noah's
Ark of a sleigh, which had a hood over the back seat
with long green curtains looped back, which in case
of a storm were let down while we children crowded
in behind our parents, where there was ample room
for a row of little folks to stand up. Arrived at the
house we took ofi our wraps in the room opposite the
nursery, amidst an excited interchange of greetings.
After the elders had gone down stairs, and our dinner
had been served on a long, low table iu the nursery,
we amused ourselves in various ways till it was time
to go to the dining roora for dessert. Very often the
principal amusement was the acting of improvised
plays by the older children, while the younger ones,
as spectators, were perched in the deep dormer win
dows or huddled in the two tent bedsteads which, with
their long curtains, made admirable boxes. These
plays, however, were oftener on the occasion of other
family gatherings of children, for on Christmas day we
were in a state of too excited expectation for anything
but desultory amusements interspersed at intervals by
an excited rush down the stairs singing: "Christraas
coraes but once a year," while the bolder ones pounded
on the dining-room door, demanding admittance. It
was great fun in the meantime to watch the dishes as
they came from the table, among them the traditional
Boar's head, with celery for tusks.
After dinner, Mrs. William S. Ver Planck and her
sisters, mysteriously disappeared and we knew ihey
were lighting the tree and that the crowning event of
the dav was soon to corae.
It is hard to reahze in these days, when Christmas
trees have become so universal and comraonplace, how

278 WILLIAM SAMUEL.
great was the interest of this horaestead tree to the
little band of children. So far as I know, it was unique
at the time; at all events there could have been but
very few in the country. We were far too excited to
stay quietly with the grown people in the little draw
ing roora as it was called (the Cincinnati room), which
was all aglow with a bright wood fire and candlelight
and adorned for Christmas, as indeed was all the house,
with the trailing mountain [line over doors and pic
tures, with wreaths of laurel and the berries of the
bitter-sweet in various places. These were brought
to the house by the "Mountaineers," a people who
seemed almost like a separate race, and are now nearly
extinct. They lived in huts ofstone rudely piled togeth
er, or caves dug in the earth. They drank, ate opium,
and supported theraselves by basket making and beg
ging, patronizing the old families by taking their "cold
victuals," and confidently expecting sympathy and aid
in tirae of want, as for instance when a woman told
Miss Ver Planck tbat her daughter "had a spine in her
back." Some of these people were always hauntingthe
homestead, and years afterwards, when I went to see one
old "Meg Merrilies" of a woman in her last days, it de
lighted her to talk of Miss Ver Planck and the old
times. They were proud in their way, and had always
the raanner of conferring a favor by their visits. This
isa long digression, whilethe children are romping out in
the large unheated halls (furnaces were not thought of
then) till the door of the large drawing-roora was
opened and the Christmas tree burst on our sight. It
was lighted with httle wax candles, as the raodern
trees are, but there were none of the stereotyped or
naments of tinsel and glitter. There were lady apples
on the tree, and oranges, cornucopias and toys and the
sugar plums. The tree was always of laurel, reaching
nearly to the ceiling and yet it looked sraall in that
great roora, where a wood fire, blazing at one end,
seemed to accentuate the cold of the remaining space.

WILLIAM SAMUEL. 279
and the little girls, with their bare necks and arms,
and the boys with their bare legs, shivered as they
danced about in glee and did not kuow they were cold.
I wish I could give you any idea of our kind hosts,
all of whora have passed away, and indeed, of the elder
generation assembled at those Christinas parties, only
my mother is living, and Miss Margaret Newlin, who
seems rather to belong among the younger ones.
Miss Harrison always danced the Spanish dance for
our entertainment, the delighted applause inciting
her to deeper courtesies aud more elaborate swayings
of her arms and figure.
The Christraas tree was raore expressly Mr. Ver
¦ Planck's treat to the children, but Miss Ver Planck very
often invited us all to spend the day and always on
Easter Monday, when eggs of every hue and shade
raade their appearance after dessert and were cracked
to see who could win the most. On these occasions
we wandered over the house from garret to cellar, made
ourselves at home in the kitchen, and hunted upstairs
and read from the bookcases which were all over the
house as well as in the library."
After the death of Gulian C. and his brother WiUiam
Walton in the spring of 1870, the latter having been
hviug at the time of his death at Mount Gulian, where
also his brother Samuel's widow spent the summer,
partition proceedings were instituted in the Supreme
Court for the division of the lands held in comraon by
the heirs of Daniel C. Ver Planck (88). The land in
question wan the old Mount Guhan farm, which at that
tirae consisted of 417 acres. The parties to the suit
were William Samuel (160), sole heir-at-law of Guhan
Crommelin (130), Jaraes deLancey (138), Elizabeth
Ver Planck (136), widow of John Knevels, and Mary

280 WILLIAM SAMUEL.
Hobart, widow of Samuel (135). The other children
of Daniel C. had previously died either intestate or
made wills in favor of their survivors.
The result of the suit wasa nominal sale of tbe prop
erty, by order of the court, in the spring of 1871.
Under it William S. became the owner of 290 acres
adjoining his New Place property on the east and south.
James deLancey obtained the "Spook Field," "Stony
Field," "Little Woods," and land around the old farm
house, in all sixty-eight acres. Mount Gulian and fifty-
six acres adjacent were set apart to Mary Hobart, wife of
Samuel (135), for a life estate, with reraainder to William
Samuel and Jaraes deLancey as tenants in common.*
After the death of Mary Hobart, widow of Samuel, in
1879, Mount Guhan was leased for two or three sum
mers to Mrs. Jacob Brown Kirby. On the death of
James deLancey in 1881, William S. bought from his
executors the undivided half, and so becarae possessed
of the whole. Under the will of William Samuel,
Mount Gulian and the fifty-six acres adjoining passed
to his son, William Edward (207).
William Samuel died December 23, 1885, and is
buried with his wife, Anna Newhn, who died May 31,
1883, in the Rural Cemetery, FishkiU.
A portrait of William Sarauel was painted by the
Rev. Henry Darby, which is a striking likeness. The
picture is now at Mount Gulian. There is an excellent
*As none of the parties were infants nor absentees, and as all
were in accord, the suit was quite unnecessary. The partition
could have been efleoted by mutual dcds, and a heavy bill of
costs thereby saved. The calculation of the different interests
was done by James deLancey VerPlanck, a good mathematician ,
whose figures were adopted without question. That it was a nice
one is shown by the fact that the least comraon denominator
of the fractional interests was 1575.

WILLIAM SAMUEL. 281
large crayon likeness of him in the Mechanics' Savings
Bank, FishkiU-on-Hudson.

Since the death of William Samuel Ver Planck, in
December, 1885, New Place, his late horae, has not
been occupied by the family. The whole property is
now like the "Plain in the land of Shinar," as was
predicted by its late owner. It has, therefore, seemed
worth while to say a few words about the life there,
now gone never to be revived.
Thesimple, kindlyand hospitablelifeatNewPlficelead
by WiUiam S. Ver Planck and his wife is still fresh in the
memory of their children and the many who have been
entertained there. Open house winter and summer was
the rule at NewPlace. The old fashion of dining atthree
o'clock, long since obsolete in New York and Phila
delphia, was retained both at the Homestead and New
Place. On special occasions and as a corapromise
to new fashions, when perchance a formal dinner party
was given, a five o'clock dinner was tolerated, but as
a rule at three o'clock, and to children it seemed a long
time from an eight o'clock breakfast, a generous old-
fashioned dinner was served, with plenty of good claret
and sherry. One brand ot claret I remeraber as espec
ially good. It was called the "Chrystie" claret, named
from Albert N. Chrystie, Esq., an old friend of Wil
liam Samuel, who sent it out in wood from Havre.
So, too, the "Avery" sherry made a good substitute
for the old Walton raadeira which from age was reach
ing the "rain water" stage. At New Place, as well as

282 WILLIAM SAMUEL.
at the Horaestead, the old custom of having the cloth
removed for dessert was retained until quite recently.
On Saturday there was almost always a family din
ner party, in which the grand-children were by no
raeans ignored. A large contingent usually arrived
about an hour before dinner frora "Uplands," in a three-
seated wagon or sleigh, depending on the season, with
their genial father, Samuel W. Johnson. The Rev,
Frederick W. Shelton, the Rector of S. Mark's, Low
Point, with his wife and children, too, were usually of
the Saturday dinner parties as well as of other holiday
gatherings. On these occasions Ellen was in her ele
ment, busthng, active and all efficient. Nor must little
Guy, bearing in the flaming plum-pudding, be forgot
ten. And in winter, towards sun-down James Kent
would drive up just in time for the hot Scotch whisky
toddy, in the brewing of which William Samuel was
an expert.
Frederick W. Shelton was a great friend of Wilham
Samuel's, and together they were very fond of reading
and paraphrasing Horace and Ovid.
On New Year's day, 1872, Dr. Shelton read the fol
lowing poem at New Place. He called it
"A NEW YEAR'S ODE TO HIS PECULIAR FRIEND,
WILLIAM S, VER PLANCK."

Hail thoa, Ver Planok, the Incoming Patriarch !
Thou sound chip of a goodly, godly sire.
The head of all things in a freighted ark.
Holding the germs of many a future bark.
To thee I strike the lyre.

WILLIAM SAMUEL. 283
Would I were more familiar with the strings
To tune that barp, and sing therewith a song.
Full of such gay and bright imaginings
As to the time belongs, —
Impassioned, woven with all other lays
Straight from the heart, which nobler bards have sung,
Wheu homes were sweet on festive holidays.
When all, when all felt young.
Now, whilst old Time is rolling o'er us,
Let's all be merry while we may.
Grasp in advance the year before us.
And live a thousaud in a day.
The old are young, the young are olden.
Each frora the treasure house of yore,
With pleasures pure, with memories golden,
Which live, and shall live evermore. F. W. S., 1872.
Frederick W. Shelton had been Rector of Trinity
Church, Fishkill, as stated,* whence he removed to
Montpelier, Vt. He came to S. Mark's parish. Low
Point, about 1867, and continued its Rector until his
death in June, 1881. After his death his widow and
children moved to Omaha, Neb. Dr. Shelton had been
a writer in the early part of his career, a vocation which
he unfortunately abandoned, for he was a scholar and
a poet. He is best known as the author of "Salander
and the Dragon," a clever allegory, and "Up-River
Letters," based on old days at the Ver Planck horae
stead, though not so stated in the book.
Frederick W. Shelton was a native of Jamaica, Long
Island, where his people lived for two or three gener
ations. The Shelton family, I believe, originaUy set
tled in Connecticut, frora England.
*See page 242.

284 SAMUEL, FSILIP.
Samuel Ver Planok (163) is the son of James de
Lancey Ver Planck (138) and Julia Caverly, and was
born at Fishkill, July 20, 1840. He married,, first,
Matilda Catherine, daughter of John W. Kearny,
lare of New York, November 27, 1869, She died
at Mentone, South of France, February 10, 1873. Of
that marriage there was one son :
No. 208. James deLancey, born October 28, 1870,
Samuel married, second, June 8, 1880, Anna Schu-
chardt, daughter of Alexander Robertson Rodgers, late
of New York, and by her has one child :
No. 209. John Bayard Rodgers, born October 8,
1881.
Samuel Ver Planck lives at Stony-Kill, FishkiU-on-
Hudson. He is a dairyman and stock farmer, culti
vating nearly a thousand acres of land.

Philip Ver Planck (165) is the son of PhUip Ver
Planck (140) and Augusta Maria deVeaux, and was
born January 13, 1825. He raarried, first, Sarah A.
Johnson, in San Francisco, Cal., in 1851. By her he
had one son :
No. 210. Philip, born 8eptember 3, 1852, in Sao
Francisco.
He married Louise Beauprg and has issue.
Philip raarried, second, Ophelia Merle Durbrow,
June 9, 1857, in San Francisco, and by her his chil
dren are ;

PHILIP. 285
No. 211. Katharine Augusta, born March 15, 1859,
in San Francisco
No. 212. Edward Durbrow, born January 28, 1861,
in San Francisco.
Married Florence Wellman and had issue.
No. 213. Joseph Durbrow, bom December l, 1862,
in San Francisco.

Phihp was a "Forty-niner." He and a party of his
friends and acquaintances, consisting of about one hun
dred men, being seized in 1849 with the gold fever,
which was then raging, fitted out a vessel with mining
tools, provisions, arms, etc. She was the bark Straf
ford, five hundred tons burden, and in her they sailed
out of the Port of New York, February 21, 1849.
After an uneventful voyage they passed through the
Golden Gate, San Francisco, where they saw lying
thirteen hundred vessels, from all parts of the world.
Philip and his party, however, did not tarry in San
Francisco, but went up the Sacramento river to the
gold fields which they had in view. It was a long
and tedious passage, for, being the first vessel to go up
the river, they had neither chart nor pilot.
The mines did not prove very productive, and Philip's
health failing, he was advised to go to the Honolulu,
and did so, remaining several raonths. He then re
turned to San Francisco, where he established hira
self in business, iii which he continued until 1864,
when he sold out to advantage and came East. Since
his father's death in 1872 he has lived in Yonkers.
He has the documents, papers, etc., of his ancestor
Phihp of Cortlandt Manor.

286 WM. AUGUSTUS, WM. BEEKMAlf, SAMUEL HOPKINS.
William Augustus Ver Planok (168) is the son of
Philip Ver Planck (140) and Augusta Maria deVeaux,
and was born February 5, 1831. He married Emma
Hunt, and is living in the city of New York. Their
children are :
No. 211. Margaret.
No. 215. 

No. 215. Julian, born, 1864.

William Beekman Ver Planok (171) is the son of
William Beekman Ver Planck (143) and Maria M.
McComb, and was born January 26tb, 1835. He mar
ried, first, Ellen, daughter of Lewis Graham Irving,
a grand-niece of Washington Irving. By her he had
one child :
No, 217. Lewis Irving, born November 7, 1863.
He now lives in the city of New York.
Williara Beekraan married, second, Virginia, daugh
ter of Samuel Lyell, and is now living in Virginia.
He was the last to hold any of the faraily property at
Ver Planck's Point, formerly Cortlandt Manor.

Samuel Hopkins Ver Planck (172) is the son of
William Gordon Ver Planck (146) and Mary Elizabeth
Hopkins, and was born in Albany, N.Y., January 31,

SAMUEL HOPKINS, JAMES GORDON. 287
1827. He married, September 20, 1854, Mary Gran-
din, daughter of Abraham Vought and Ruth Voor
hees, of Mendon, N. Y. He lives at Geneva, N. Y.,
where he has been the president of the National Bank
for the past twenty five years. He had the foUowing
children :
No. 218. MaTy Elizabeth, born August ll, 1855;
died September 29, 1890.
No. 219. Euth Leslie, born December 8, 1857 ;
died November 1, 1885.
No. 220. Susan Sill, bom November 22, 1859; died
October 27, 1868.
No. 221. William Gordon, born April 15, 1861.
Married Harriet Anderson Clark, and has issue.
No. 222. Jane Leslie, born September 18, 1863.

James Crordon Ver Planok (175) was the son of
WUliam Gordon Ver Planck (1-16) and Mary Elizabeth
Hopkins, born June 24, 1838, and raarried Delphine
E. Barnum, at Chicago, June 24, 1S62. He lived at
Dubuque, Iowa, and died October 12, 1872, at Santa
Barbara, Cal. His wife died January 17, 1884. They
had two children :
No. 223. James Gordon, bornMay 29, 1863, at Earl
ville, la.; died there January 4, 1864.
No. 224. Maud, born September 26, 1867, at Alex
andria, Va., and is now living at Lancas
ter, Pa.

2S8 PHILIP WILLIAM.
Philip William Ver Planck (176) was the son of
William Gordon Ver Planck (146) and Mary Elizabeth
Hopkins, born March 28, 1S44, and married Julia W.
L., daughter of Judge James Campbell, of Philadel
phia, Pa. He hved in the city of New York after he
had served in the Northern army during the Rebel
lion. He died December 15, 1876, at Boulder, Cal.
His widow married Dr. Archibald Keightley, of Lon
don, in 1892. Phihp's children were :
No, 225. James Campbell, born December 3, 1872;
died September 21, 1875.
No. 226. Gordon, born October 17, 1874; died June
29, 1875.
Philip W. was a frequent visitor in the family of Wil
liam Samuel (160), at FishkiU, and at one time lived
with his son Robert N. (202), in New York.

Isaac's line, concluded. 289

ISAAC'S LINE.
CONCLUDED IN THE EIGHTH GENERATION.

Robert L Yer Planok (184), son of John McCarty
Ver Planck (148) and Mary E. Chapman, was born
August 27, 1859. Married and had issue.
No. 227. 
No. 228. 

Edward Ver Planck (187), son of David I. D. Ver
Planck (149) and Lettie Powell, was born December
19, 1861, at Albany, N.Y.

William Seaman Ver Planok (191), son of David Ver
Planck (157), was born October 31, 1867, at White
Plains, N. Y.

i ROBERT NEWLIN.

Eobert Newlin (202) is the son of WiUiam Samuel
Ver Planck (160) and Anna B. Newlin, and was born
at Fishkill, N. Y., November 18, 1842. He married,
February 24, 1876, Katharine, daughter of Matthew
V. B. Brinckerhoff", of Brinckerhoflf, N. Y.
After graduating at Harvard in the class of 1863, he
entered the Northern army in the war of the RebeUion,

remaining until its close. He attained the rank of
Major. He is now living at Fishkill Village. His
children are :
No. 229. Gulian Crommelin, born December 9, 1876.
No. 230. Judith Crommelin, born April 14, 1878.
No. 231. Mary Brinckerhoff, born September 28,
1881.
No. 232. William Samuel, born March 20, 1884.
No. 233. Eobert Sinclair, born August 5, 1885.
The following is frora a letter written by the Rev.
Frederick W. Shelton* to Gulian C. Ver Planck (229),
"now entering his third year, Christmas, 1878":
* * * "You bear an honoured name of dehghtful
memory, and when I reverently recall that name, the
attempt is choked with an affection which finds no
suitableexpressionin erapty words. Your great-grand-
*8ee page 282.

EOBEET newlin, WILLIAM EDWABD, PHILIP. 291
father was the friend of all raen, and of a type which
has become well nigh obsolete. He was the soul of
honour, and set off with treasures of learning, the un
affected simplicity of more wholesome times. Among
groups of children on a festal holiday he was King.
With an abiding love for him, and love to you, and
hoping that in due limn you raay increase in all the
plenitude of his virtues, beheve me to be ever your
friend and well wisher. Frederick W. Shelton."

William Edward Ver Planok (207) is the son of
Wilham Samuel Ver Planck (160) and Anna B. New
hn, and was born April 8, 1856, at Fishkill. He
raarried, January 6, 1880, Virginia Eliza, daughter of
the Rev. Henry Darby. Several years previous she
had been adopted by WiUiam E. Everett, late of the U.
S. Navy, who had raarried her aunt, Pamela W. Kirby.
WiUiam Edward Ver Planck hves at Mount Guhan,
Fishkill-on-Hudson. His children are :
No. 234. William Everett, born October 1.6, 1880.
No. 235. Virginia Darby, born June il, 1883.
No. 236. Edward Penne, bom December 5, 1886;
died August 13, 1887.
No. 237. Edward, born November 5, 1890.

Philip Ver Planck (210) is the son of Phihp Ver
Planck (165) and Sarah A. Johnson, and was born in
San Francisco, Cal., September 7, 1852. He married

292 PHILIP, EDWARD, WILLIAM GOEDON.
Louise Beaupr^, of St. Paul, Minn., where he lives.
His children are :
No. 238. Laura Eugenia, born, 187.9.
No. 239. Philip Beaupre, born, 1883.
No. 240. Vera Marguerite, born, 1887.
No. 241. Anna Louise, born, 1889.

Edward Ver Planck (211) is the son of Phihp Ver
Planck (165) and Opheha M. Durbrow, and was born
January 28, 1861, at San Francisco, Cal. He raarried
in New York, Florence P. Wellraan. He hves at Bos
ton, Mass. His children are :
No. 242. Philip, born, 1889.
No. 243. Emily, born, I89i.

William Gordon Ver Planck (221) is the son of
Samuel Hopkins Ver Planck (1 72) and Mary G. Vought,
and was born at Geneva, N. Y., AprU 15, 1861. He
married, June 16, 1891, Harriet Anderson, daughter
of WUham N. Clark, Esq., of New York. He hves in»
New York. His child is :
No. 244. Margarita Schuyler, born October 17, 1 892.

INDEX.

Abraham(Abraui)IsaaeseV.P, 9-38, 41, 46, 49. 73, 80, 83.
Abraham Jacobs, 15.
Abraham V. P., 47, 97, 98, 138,
140, 187, 221, 335.
Abraham G. V. P., 332.
Abeel (Abeale), Johannis, 28,
73. 74.
Abeel, " Magdelene, 173.
Abigail (Abigel) V. P., 23, 27,
30, 74, 79, 80, 82, 97, 98, 139,
186.
Ackerman, David, 27, 74.
" Abraham, 74.
Eliphalet, 140.
Adams, John Quincy. 195.
" Thomas Boylston, 195.
Adeline Eugenia V. P., 260.
Ahasimus, 10.
Allen, Adelaide, 170.
" Blanche, 170.
" Francis A., 170.
" Prances, M. A., 170.
" William, 163, 167, 169,
170, 367.
" Laura, 331.
Albany, 37, 38. 80, 83, 96, 126,
127, 189.
" County, 60, 106.
Alexandria, Va., 287.
Amsterdam, 14, 16, 28, 94. 101,
105, 152, 155, 162, 175.
Andriensen, Maryn, 19.
Andrew V. P., 187
Andrews, Mrs. J. W.,268.
Ann, Anna, Anne, Annatje
V.P., 48, 68, 75-77, 83, 92, 96.
104, 106, 140, 150, 166, 190.
306, 373.
Anna Maria, V.P.,121, 122, 132,
135, 161, 166, 179, 184, 220,
347.

Anna Sophia V P., 163.
Anna Louise V. P., 293.
Anne Louisa V. P., 307.
Anneke (Annetje) Jans, 15, 62.
Anthony, Allard, 89, 40.
Anthony's Nose, 61, 119.
Antwerp, 14.
Arden, Thomas, 137. 311, 213,
214, 347, 349, 251.
Arden, Sally, 214. 246, 251.
Arissen, Cornelis, 30.
Ariaentje, (Aryentje, Adriana
or Adrina)V.P., 93,98, 104,
106, 188, 189.
Arnold, Sir Edwin, 170.
Armstrong, John, 366.
Augusta Maria V. P., 248.
Ayer, Juha S., 225.

Ball, Mary, 215.
" Eliphalet, 216.
" John. 216.
Ballston, 316, 353, 359.
Babcock, John, 348.
Barlow, Mr., 355.
Bartello, Dominie, 319.
Barnum, Delphine E., 287.
Batavia, N.Y.,:»32, 223.
Bailey, Wilham, 133.
Bartoo, John, 146.
Bank of New York, 164.
Middle District, 199.
" United States.198,334.
Bartholomew, Phoebe, 16^<.
Baxtertown, 88.
Backer, Nicholas, 46, 49.
Bayard, Nicholas. 80, 90, 91,
92, 176.
Ariaentje, 46,76,90,91,
130.
" Balthazar, 90, 93.

294

INDEX.

Bayard, Samuel, 133.
" Madame Anna, 90.
" Margaret. 1^:2.
Peter, 90.
" Robert, 375.
Beeckman — See Beekman.
Beekman Street, 36.
" Henry, 88, 1 3, 176, 178.
' John, 100, 178.
¦' Wilham, 173, 177.
" Gerardus(Gerard), 1 73,
177, 178.
" Gertruydt (Gertrude)
132
" Effee (Aefje), 173-185.
" Family, 172-185.
" Magdelen, 173.
" David, 181.
" Town of, 88, 176.
" Precinct, 63.
Bedlo, Elizabeth, 48.
Benjamin V. P., 47, 48.
Benson, Mrs. Samson Adolph
us, 63.
Bellomont, Lord(Governor) 82,
176.
Bergen, 90, 91.
Beeren Island, 98, 99, 139.
Baerena, (on Hudson) 99.
Beaupre, Louise, 393.
Bleg, Benjamin, 47.
Blew Anchor, Sign of, 77.
Blasdell, Levi, 98.
Bleecker, John R., 100.
Bloomer, Joshua, 155.
Bogardus, Dominie, 15.
" William, 67, 70.
" Cornelius, 62.
Boulder, Cal., 388.
Bowling Green, 30, 25.
Bowery, The, 25.
Bogart — See Uyten Bogaardt.
" Martje, 138.
" Douw, 138.
Boston, 46, 255, 393.
Breede Weg (Broadway), 15,
35, 63, 90.
Brett, Roger, 63, 83-89, 368, 369.
" Madame Catharine, 63,
64, 83-89, 113, 147, 368, 369.
" Francis, 65, 112, 369.
" Theodorus, 63, 268.

Brett, Robert, 65. 112, 269.
" Rivery, 69.
Brinckerhoff, George, 51.
" Ariaen, 161.
Daniel, 144, 167.
Garrett, 144,151,
167, 204, 271.
Charles, 166, 167.
Maria L., 209.
PeterRemsen,209.
" Isaac, 331.
MatthewV.B.,290. Katharine, 390.
Stephen, 151.
Broad Street, 31, 35, 90, 105.
Brockholls, Anthony, 56, 57.
Henry, 93.
Brouwer, 98, 139.
Bridge, The, 71, 77, 78.
Brown, Rev. John, 194, 304.
" James F., gardener,
197, 373, 275.
Gen'l Jacob, 265, 266,
271.
Mary, 364^366, 370.
George, 366.
" . Samuel, 364, 366.
Eliza, 266.
BrownviUe, 265, 366, 371.
Bronk V. P., 187, 335, 363.
Brug Straat, 49.
Bruynen, William Jansen, 30.
Bryant, Elizabeth, 170.
Burghers, 33.
Burr, Aaron, 354, 356.
Buffalo, N.Y., 333, 333.
Bucktails, 380.
Byrnes, William, 367.
Byrnesville, 367.

Canal Street, 15
Calanan, Mary, 186.
Cary, Susan, 334.
Canada, 316.
Catharine or Catherine V. P.,
133, 183, 135, 139, 140, 161,
178, 183, 186, 319, 220.
Catalyna V. P., 27,^38, 74, 79.
Calendar, The, 36, 70.
Catskill Indians, 99.

INDEX.

295

Caverly, Julia Agnes, 245.
Peter, 245.
" Harriet,
Campbell, James, 288.
" Julia W., 388.
Caroline V. P., 140.
Cayuga Indians, 136.
Caines, George, 168.
Century Club, 330, 339, 340.
Chalkie (Calk) Hook, 16-18,80,
37, 74.
Chatham Square. 35.
Charles I , (King), 160.
" IL, (King), 61.
" v., (Emperor), 101.
Charles V. P., 104.
Charleston, S. C, 165, 338.
C harlotte de Lancey V. P , 1 63,
171.
" Amelia V. P., 187.
V. P., 263.
Chapman, Mary E., 361.
Channing, Rev. William, 170.
" Francis A., 170.
" Frances, 170.
Chamber of Commerce, 191, 193
Chelsea, N. Y , 344.
Chicago, 387.
Chrystie, Thomas, 360.
Albert N., 281.
City Hall, 105, 106, 153, 153, '^44.
Citizens, 33, 44.
Cincinnati, Order of, 159.
Clover Pasture, The, 37.
Clinton, (Colonial Gov.), 136,
138.
Clinton deWitt, 336, 330, 331,
356, 366.
Clermont, 313.
Clay, Henry. 284.
Clara V. P., 361
Clapp, Samuel Hicks, 373.
Clark, Harriet Anderson, 293.
" William N.. 393.
Colden, Cadwallader, 120, 121.
Columbia College, 181, 189, 311,
215, 336.
Colvin, James, 139.
Coerte, Johannes, 145.
Cortlandt, (vanCortlandt), 13,
131.
" Philip, 149.

Cortlandt, Manor, 89, 100, 113,
114-137, 180, 314, 285.
Coat of Arms (Frontispiece),
18, 171.
Collect, The, 15, 35, 78, 162.
Coeymans, 53, 186, 187, 231.
Patent, 53 99.
" Barent, 98, 99.
Collins, John, 76, 77, 96, 131.
'' Edward, 120.
Comet of 1680, 83. ,
Copperheads, 340.
Cornelia V. P., 97.
" — See Maria Cornelia.
Johnstone V. P., 169.
Connecticut, 135, 136.
Cook, John,
Converse, Marietta, 324, 362.
Court of Errors and Appeals,
335.
Commission of Emigration,
338.
Council of the Twelve Men, 30.
Crommelin Family, 101.
Charles, 101, 104, 107.
Mary, 101, 104,108,162.
" Daniel, 101, 153-163.
" Armand, 101.
" Jean, 103.
Robert, 103, 103.
" Elizabeth, 103, 107.
" Charles Auguste, 156.
Croton River, 119, 184.
Crown Point, 136, 318.
Cruger, John, 138.
" Henry, 155.
Cuelyje (Cevelyn, Cuvel, Cou-
veille),Ariaentje(Adriana) 15, 16, 17, 18, 33, 33.
Curacoa, W. 1 , 46.

Damen, Jan Jansen, 16, 17, 18.
30, 31, 36, 33.
Davenport, Nathaniel, 45.
David V. P., 7H, 81, 98, 99, 139,
186, 187, 324, 363.
" John V. P., 139, 186.
" I. D.V.P., 140, 187, 331,
263.
" JohnstoneV.P., 163,169.
" Abraham, 363.

296

INDEX.

Daniel Crommelin V. P., 103,
108, 110, 154, 161, 165, 171,
189-310, 315, 236, 373, 279.
Dale, Robert, 165.
Daly, Charles P. 280.
Darby. Rev. Henrv, 380, 391.
" Virginia Eliza. 366,391.
dela and des Planche, 13.
de Vries, 18.
de Marree, Jacob, 35.
Delanoy, Abraham, 47.
Peter, 48, 67, 69.
Delaware County, 105.
Indians, 340.
de Peyster, Isaac, 65.
Frederick, 338.
Dellius, Dominie, 95.
de Lancey. James, 137, 193.
V.P.— See Jas. deL.
Denning's Point, 167, 169. 267.
DePuyster's Point, 167.
deBough, Catharine, 173.
" Frederick H., 173.
deWitt, Peter, 173.
deWindt, John Peter, 146, 193,
195, 199, 202, 203, 275.
" Arthur (Mrs.), 195.
deVeaux, Andrew, 179,184,185,
212, 330, 347.
Anna Maria,135,313,
330, 347.
" Julia, 185.
" Augusta, 185.
Detroit, 217.
Denning, William, 168.
" Jane, 168.
Director General, 10.
Dirkje (Dorothy) V. P., 79, 81.
Dongan, Gov., 33, 59, 81.
Dorman, Aaron, 187.
Dox, Peter, 139.
Drawyer, Gertrude, 121.
Drisius Dominie, 22, 46, 52.
Dutch West India Co., 9, 30, 34.
Dutch Church, 13, 15, 31, 37,44,
49, 53, 111, 160.
" Fishkill, (Picture
of. 111), 113, 179, 170.
Dutchess County, 58, 60, 61, 65,
87, 88, 95, 96, 105, 183, 182,
141-151, 176, 190, 205, 315.
Duff ells (Dufile), 57.

Duke of York, 60.
Ouke's County, 60.
Duyckinck, Marie. 103.
Duboy (DuBois),Dominie,103,
104.
DuBois, Peter, 167.
Duchamin, Ester. 103.
Durbrow, Ophelia Merle, 384.
Dubuque, Iowa, 387.

East River. 35, 36.
Earl of Orkney, 101.
Edsal, Janneca, 47.
" Samuel, 47.
" Anna, 47.
" Judice, 47.
Edgett, Phoebe A., 331.
Edward V. P., 363, 389, 391.
Durbrow V. P., 385.
Fenno V. P., 391.
Ehzabeth V.P., 80, 98, 140, 207.
Eliza Arden V. P., 214, 259.
" Fenno V. P., 373.
" Magdelena V. P., 163.
Ellis A. V. H.,
Emily V P., 163, 170, 393.
Emott, James, 76.
English, The, 30, 34, 136.
Esopus, 38, 178.
Ethan Allen V. P., 333.
Etting, Theodore M., 273.
Everett, WiUiam E., 366, 391.
Exchange Place, 33.

Family Name, 11, 50, 51, 53, 73.
Father Jogues, 31.
Fac-simile of signature, etc.,
11, 50.
Falls Township, 366.
Federal HaU, 153, 344.
Fenno, Eliza(MaryElizabeth), 338, 339.
" Edward, 339.
" Harriet, 338.
George, 338.
ffrench, The, 83, 135.
Fisher, Jacob, 124.
Five Corners, The (FishkiU-
on-Hudson), 199.

INDEX.

297

FishkiU, Town of, 58, 65, 133,
137, 141. 168, 171, 173,
119, 318, 319, 353, 367.
The(Creek), 59, 84, 89,
" Plains, 89, 113,157,173,
310, 358.
Bay, 167, 267.
FishkiUs, The, 65, 174, 218.
Fitzgerald, Louis, 278.
Fly Market, 18.
Flushing, L. I., 163.
Flatbush, L. I., 173, 177.
Fletcher, Gov., 33, 176.
Fort, The, 33, 35, 53.
" Orange, 45, 60.
" j£LtI16S 6*7
Fresh Kill(Pish'kill),The,54,59.
Freeman, Dominie Bernanius,
121, 133.
Fredenburgh, B. B , 140.
Frederick Ayer V.P., 235, 368.
Frank H. V. P., 363.
Frankhn. N.Y., 335.
" Square, 193.
Friends, (Quakers), 365.
Fulton Street, 18, 36.
" t Market, 18

Garden Street, 33, 165. .
Gardinier, A., 98.
Garlandt,(Gurlandt)Syl vester
74.
Gertruy (Gertrude) V. P., 97,
132, 133, 135, 161, 179, 188,
330, 348.
Geneseo, N.Y., 356.
Geneva, N.Y.. 357, 363.
Georgianna V. P., 363.
Gill, Robert, 304, 345.
Goelet, Jacob, 148.
Gordon. James, 315, 316, 255.
Melinda, 315, 331, 353.
" John, 315
" Alexander, 315.
V. P., 288.
Gourlie, J. H., 330.
Gouverneur, Louisa A., 163.
" Nicholas, 165,168.
Gracht (Graft), 35, 71.
Griffiths, Edwin. 44.

Grooton (Croton) River, 184.
Groesbeck, William, 138.
Graham, Daniel, 167.
Greenville, N. Y., 261.
Greenwich, N.Y., 344.
Gulian (Gelyn, Geleyn, Giul
ain, Gulyne, Guline, Gul
eyn, Galeyn) V. P., 15, 34,
37, 39, 81, 36, 37, 39-79,
(his wiU,66-68),81, 82, 91, 92,
95, 96, 98, 101-111, 113, 131,
133, 130. 138, 140-151, 163-
173, 187, 334, 338, 343, 363,
Guleyn Vinge, 16, 36, 51.
Guilliaum (WiUiam) V. P., 95,
112, 113, 193
Gulena(Gelyna, Guliana) V.P. ,
48, 49, 51, 52, 71, 73, 76, 79,
91, 373.
Gulian Crommelin V. P., 51,
154, 189, 306, 336-346, 271,
379, 390.

Hague. The, 19.
Hannah, V. P. — See Anna.
Harriet V. P., 98, 140, 188.
Haerlem, 102.
Hardenburgh Patent, 106, 167.
Harvard College, 234, 390.
Haverstroo (Haverstraw), 114,
180.
Hamilton, Alexander, 165, 356.
Hardie, James A., 349.
Hawkwood 248. 250.
Harrison, Miss, 379.
Hendrick Hudson. 14, 374.
Heeren Gracht, 35, 130.
" Straat, 64.
Heraldry, 13.
Hendereick (Hendrica) V.P., 93
Helen V. P., 140.
" Ehzabeth V. P., 363.
Hempstead Plains, 163.
Henry V. P„ 187.
Helena V. P.. 188.
Heathcote, Caleb, 193.
Henry, John, 350, 351.
Herschel's Telescope, 355.
Hillegond V. P., 37.

298

INDEX.

Highlands, The, 53, 61, 114.
Hicks. Thomas, 149.
Holland, 11, 14, 28,44, 152, 153,
174, 374.
Hoagland, Christopher, 30.
Hoogh Straat, 39.
Hoboken, 37.,
Hopewell, 51, 89, 160, 161.
Houghtahng. Lena, 140.
Howe, Lord, 153.
Hoff, Eglebert, 160.
Hopson, Francis J., 164.
Hoffman, Herman (Hermanns)
178, 330.
Anthony A., 179,183,
183, 321), 348.
" Rev. Eugene Augus
tus, 183.
" Rev. Charles Fred
erick. 183.
Samuel V. P., 188.
" Martinus, 182.
Nicholas, 182.
Beekman V. P., 183.
" Euphemia, 183, 348.
" Margaret, 183.
Phihp B , 183.
" J. Ogden, 228. 329.
" George, 229.
" Charles Fenno. 339.
Hobart, Bishop John H., 306,
308.
Mary, 306, 308, 380.
Homestead. — See Mt. Gulian.
Horn, WiUiam T., 338.
Hopkins, Samuel Miles, 358,
356, 286.
" Mary Elizabeth, 253,
286.
" John. 353.
" Stephen, 353.
" Samuel, 353.
Huck, Catherine, 189
Hudson's River, 53, 85 114, 115,
374.
Hudson River Railroad, 373,
375
Hunt, Emma, 386.
Huddleston, William, 73.
Hyde Park, N.Y.,163.

Irondequoite, 83.
Indians, 13, 18, 39, 38, 53. 53,
83 131, 136 151.
Indian Massacre, 18.
Deed, 58-58, 115-119.
Ingalls, LiUie, 263.
Irving, Washington, 238, 339,
386.
Lewis G , 386.
EUen, 286.
Ireland, 215, 317. 265.
Isaac (Isaak) V. P., 24, 27, 29,
33, 74, 79-83, 97. 187,
331 363.
" D. V. P., 98, 140. 187.
" G. V. P.. 100.
" A. V. P., 187, 331, 338.
Island, The,( I lenning's Point),
167.

Jacomyntje V. P., 37, 39.
.lacobus V.P., 39, 46. 47, 50, 68,
73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 79, 80, 83,
83, 94-96, 114, 131-135. 141,
155.
Jacob V. P., 80, 79, 81.
" Albertse Planck, 11, 17,
29, 83.
Jans Maritje, 91.
James V. P., 39, 50, 131, 129,
134, 186.
" deLancey V.P., 307,209,
345, 379, 280. 384.
" Gordon V. P., 257, 287.
" CampbeU V. P., 288.
" IL, 60, 160.
" V of Scotland, 101.
Jackson, President, 198, 335.
Jay, John, 356.
Jane Leshe V. P., 387.
Jamaica, Island of, 46.
L. I., 388.
Jersey City, 87.
Jefferson, President, 335.
Jeannette V. P., 373.
Jogues, Father, 31.
Johannes (John) V. P., 47, 98,
131-136, 189, 180.
Julian V. P., 385. •

INDEX.

299

John D. V. P.. 139, 186.
" V. D., 187, 334.
" C. V. P., 334, 363.
, " Bayard Rodgers V.P., 384
" McCarthy V. P.. 231, 361.
Johnson, Samuel, 154, 189.
" Peter, 186.
" WiUiam Samuel, 189,
190, 206, 343.
EUzabeth, 189, 190,
306, 336.
" Edward.s, 361.
Samuel Wm., 372,283.
" Sarah A., 384.
Johnstone, David, 163, 164, 173
" Cornelia. 163, 173.
" V. P., 163, 169.
" John, 164, 168.
Joseph Durbrow V. P., 385.
Josephine V. P., 363.
Judith Crommelin, 153, 193,
306, 336.
V.P., 390.
Julia Margaret V. P., 347.

Katharine Augusta V.P., 385.
Kent, James(Chanoellor),.336, .. 358, 355. 264.
" James, 383.
" Moses, 355
" William (Judge), 364.
Kellogg, Justin P., 248.
Keightley, Archibald, 388.
Kearny, Matilda Catherine,
284.
John W., 284.
Kieft, (Gov.), 9, 10, 11, 14, 17,
18, 20, 23, 28, 35, 37.
Kip, (Kipp, Kipe, Cuyp), Ja
cobus, 34, 36, 37, 88, 44, 49,
58 59, 71, 72, 74, 76, (His
wiU 74), 88, 92, 143, 161.
Kipe, Alderman, 49.
Kingston, 38, 77, 178, 224.
Kings County, 60.
" Farm, 15.
" College, 152, 154, 163.
" Ferry, 157.
Kinderhook. 137.

Kirby, Edmund, 266.
" Pamela W., 266. 291.
" Jacob Brown, Mrs. 380.
Kissam, Daniel, 149.
Knight, John, 31.
Knevels, Daniel Crommelin
V.P., 103. 195,308,309.
" Elizabeth V. P., 110,
307. 308, 309, 279.
" John W.. 207, 308, 379.
" Adrian v., 209.
" deLancey Walton, 209
" Anne, 209.
Kolk Hoeck (Calk Hook)
Farm, 17, 36, 37.
Koeymans (Coeymans) Patent
53, 99.
" Barent. — See Coey
mans.
Kowing, Rev. Mr., 169.

LaGrange, Town of, 58.
Lang Strant, 35, 49, 71.
Lansing, Sanders J., 98.
Lansingh, Helena, 188, 189.
John V. A., 138.
Lancaster, Va , 387.
Laura Eugenia V. P., 393.
Lawrence, Catharine, 96, 150.
" Lawrence, 96, 150.
Cornelius, 235.
Laurens, Tryntje, 173.
Laight, Wilham, 165.
Lewis, Elizabeth, 103.
Francis, 103, 168.
Lewis Irving V. P., 386.
Leisler, Jacob, Lt. Gov., 35,
65, 81.
Livingston, Robert, 131. 313.
Phihp 135, 182.
" Edward, 236.
Liverse, Lydia, 188.
Lodovickson, Thomas, 80.
Lovelace, (Gov.), 45
Loockermans Govert, 43.
Long Island, 60, 71.
Low Point, 86, 343, 382.
London, 44, 102.
Louisa V. P., .196, 206, 245.

300

INDEX

Louise Bosworth V. P., 361.
Lurting, Robert, 76.
Lucie V. P., 363.
Ludlow, Daniel. 1 03.
Robert 103.
Gabriel. 107, 108, 163,
165, 168.
Lyle, Mr., 351.
Lyell, Samuel, 386.
" Virginia, 286.
Lye, Catherine, 263.

Maiden Lane (Maedje Paedje)
25. 37
Manhates(Manhattan)Island, 10, 28, 32, 201.
Manor of Cortlandt. — See
Cortlandt Manor.
Magdelen Island, 185.
Marriage Contract of Ariaen
tje Cevelyn, 16.
Maria V. P., 30, 33, 40, 46, 92,
189, 187.
" Cornelia V. P., 163, 167,
168, 169.
Mary V. P., 104, 105, 106, 140-
151, 154, 186, 206, 357,
359, 363, 273.
" Anna V. P., 190, 196, 306,
307, 338. 378. 375.
" Ann V. P., 186.
" Arden V. P., 314.
" Ann Catherine V. P. , 319,
340
" Adelaide V P., 348, 359.
" Newlin V. P., 373.
" Ehzabeth V. P , 387.
" Brinckerhoff V.P., 390.
Margaret (Margrieta, Margar
etta) Schuyler, 47. 76,
92, 112
" V. P., 121, 135, 179, 330,
3i4, 286.
Margarita Schuyler V.P., 303.
Marietta Converse V. P., 263.
Matteawan, The, 54.
" 63, 207, 264, 367.
Matilda V. P., 345.
Massachusetts Bay, 135.

Marshall, John, 341, 356.
Maud V. P . 387.
Maurits, Peter, 48.
MaxweU, Hugh. 337. ,
McCarthy, John, 140.
Charlotte E., 321,
361, 363.
McComb, Maria M., 351.
McEvers, ('harles, 104.
" Mary, 108.
McKeebe, Dennis, 144, 166.
Megriskar, Sachem, 56.
Melyen, Jacob, 71.
Mesier, Peter, 179, 183, 184, 313,
330.
Melinda Gordon V.P., 316, 257.
Merino Sheep, 170, 213.
Milchest V. P., 98.
Middle District Bank, 199.
Miller, Christopher B., 214,
247, 360.
J. Blackburn, 247.
" Mary A., 348.
Mifflin, Mary, 370.
Monogram (Gulian's), 49, 73.
Montfoort, Peter, 113.
Montross, John, 113.
Mohawk Indians, 136.
Moodna Creek, 359.
Moore, Bishop, 163.
Monroe, President, 366.
Morris, Roger, 149.
& Hilligard, 157.
" Gouverneur, 163.
Robert, 355.
Mount Gulian, (Homestead),
106, 107, 108, 144r-159. 193,
195, 300, 339, 373, 374, 275,
276, 379.
Murray, Joseph, 125, 145.

Nassau, Island of, 77.
City of, 185.
New (Nieuw) Amsterdam, 19,
20, 21, 37, 38, 39, 89, 60,
61, 177.
" Albany, 95. '
" England, 34, 60.
" Orange, 45, 47, 64.

INDEX.

301

New Hampshire, 135.
" Hackensack, 161, 179.
" Windsor, 137, 348, 350, 259.
" Yorke, New Yorck (New
York), 38, 45, 46, 60, 90.
" Netherland, 10, 11, 12.
New Town, L. I., 51, 66, 76.
NewPlace, 150, 151, 239, 373,
374, 375, 281.
" Paltz, 183.
Newfoundland, 47.
Newburgh, N.Y. , 131, 159, 195,
314.
N. S. (New Style), 36, 70.
Newlin Homestead, 65, 368,
371, 373.
J. Shipley, 345.
(Newland), Nathaniel,
365, 370.
Nicholas, 365, 370.
Cyrus, 364, 365. 267,
368, 370. 371.
Robert, 364, 365, 366,
367, 368, 370, 271.
Margaret M., 265, 270,
271.
Mary, 365, 366, 27o, 371.
Thomas, 365.
Anna Biddle, 364, 370,
380.
Ai)by, 270, 271.
Jeannette, 370.
Samuel, 370, 373, 376.
NichoUs, Governor, 34.
Nicoll, WiUiam, 76, 127, 149.
Nicholas V. P., 186.
" G. V. P., 169, 172.
North River, 10, 201, 244.
Norton's HUl, 262.
Noyes, Annie, 363.
Nyack, 34, 301.

Oneida Indians, 136.
Onondaga Indians, 136.
Ogden, Isaac, 155.
Oppie, J. W., 336.
Orange County, 60, 359.
O. S. (Old Style), 36, 70.
Oscawana, 119.

Oskewans, 119.
Oswego, 217.
Overpaugh, V. L., 140.
Owens, Agnes J., 223.

Pauw, 9.
Paris, 101, 228, 355.
Patrick V. P., 186.
Patroon, 9. 39, 99.
Paulus Hook(Pouwels Hoeck)
9, 19, 30, 87.
Pavonia, 10.
Pearl Street, 31, 36, 39, 45, 164,
191.
Peekskill, 159, 300.
PenneU, Abigail, 365.
Pels, 45.
Pere la Chaise, 338.
Phillipse. Fred'k, 25, 149.
Adolph, 149.
" Nathaniel, 149.
" Patent, 88, 149.
PhUip II. (King), 101.
PhUhps, John R., 110.
" Henry, 109.
Philip V. P., 68, 87, 89, 94, 95,
100, 113, 114-137.
(His wiU, 131-133),
141-151, 155, 156, 161,
173-185, 310-215, 246,
284, 291.
" AlexanderV.P., 178,314,
319, 330, 353, 357-361.
" Beekman V. P., 359, 361.
" WiUiam V.P., 357, 388.
" Arden V. P., 359.
" Beaupre V. P., 393.
Phoebe Maria V. P., 186.
Pine Street, 35, 153.
Pighwey, 100.
Pickering, Col., 157, 158.
Pitlochie, Laird of, 164.
Planck, Abram. — See Abra
ham Ver Planck.
" Jacob Albertse, 10, 11,
17, 39, 83.
Plancque, 13.
Planke, Abraham, 19.
Plancius, Petrus, 14.

302

INDEX.

Plum Point, FishkiU, 167.
" " New Windsor, 359
Poughkeepsie, 110, 179,312,253,
258.
Poughquaick Pond (Silver
Lake), 8s, 89.
Powell, John Hare, 185.
" Samuel, 185.
" Lettie N., 363. '
Presquisle, 168.
Provoost, Emerantia, 83.
Catharina, 178, 177.
William, 173.
David, 173.
" Ann, 175.
Gerard, 173.
" Samuel, 154.
Prince's Gracht, 71.
Pruyn, Johannis I., 138.
Putnam County, 88, 149.

Queens County, 60.
Quilliard, Claude S., 163, 170.
Guhan V.P., 164, 170.
Claude Victor, 170.
Charles V, 170.
" Sophie, 170.
Quakers, 365, 366, 370.

Rachael V. P., 79, 81. 188.
Radcliffe, Jacob, 253.
Rensselaerwyck, 10, 29, 83, 94,
99, 138.
Rector Street, 63.
Read, Robert, 76.
Red Hook, N.Y., 178, 183, 184,
313.
Rhinebeck (Rhyn Beek), 177,
183.
Rhode Island, 125,
Richmond County, 60.
Richards, Benjamin, 272, 274.
Rodman, Mr. 228.
Rogers, David, 139.
" Sarah Ehzabeth, 253,
356.
" Moses, 256.

Rodgers, Alex. Robertson, 284.
" AnnaSchuchardt,284.
Robert Newhn V. P., 162, 334,
272, 288, 390.
" I. V. P., 361, 289.
Sinclair V. P., 390.
Rooney, John, 157. 158.
Roos (Rose), Jan, 36, 33.
'¦ Maria, 15, 36.
" Garrit Jansen, 26, 32, 38,
85, 44, 47.
" Aefje (Eve), 36.
" Cornelia, 38, 74, 183.
" Peter, 74.
Rombout, Francis, 45, 47, 53,
58, 61-67, 69, 73, 83,
117, 118, 368.
Catheryna, 63, 63,
83-89, 368.
" (Rumbout) Precinct,
51, 63, 136, 172, 179,
319.
Patent, 53-58, 63, 105,
108, 113, 133.
" Patent (its partitions)
83-S9, 141-151.
Rondout, 163, 302.
Ross, Mary, 15.
Rotterdam, 14.
Rumsey, Dr James S., 207,
309, 345, 377.
Harriet, 245, 277.
Ruble, Dominie, 214.
Ruth Leslie V. P., 287.
Rye, N. Y., 366.
RysDyck, Dominie Isaac, 179,
310, 315.

"S" for Ver, 13, 39, 50, 82, 94.
S. Anna's Church, 63, 207, 264.
S. George's Church, 131, 204.
S. Mark's Church, 242, 283.
S. Paul's Church. 336, 354.
Salisbury Cathedral, 14.
SaUy Christina V.P., 360.
SamuelV.P., 37, 46,51, 68,71-77,
80, 88, 90-94, 104, 105,
108, UO, 141-163, 206,
208, 210, 245, 279, 280,
384.
Hopkins V.P., 357,386

INDEX.

303

Santa Barbara, 387.
Sara Ver Plancken, 29.
Sarah Arden V. P., 214.
" E. V. P., 223.
Sanford, Chancellor, 356.
San Francisco, 284, 385.
Savarin, 355.
Schuyler, David Peterse, 37,
38, 48, 74.
" Philip Peterse, 28, 94.
" Phihp, 135, 181.
" Margaret(Margrieta, Margaretta), 47,
76, 94, 95, 96, 114.
" Gertrude(Geertruye) 48.
" Capt. Peter, 82.
" Brent (Brant), 94, 95.
John, 95, 120, 131.
" Peter, 95, 131.
Schenck, Peter A., 65, 66.
" Henry, 65, 66.
Dr., 196.
Schenectady, 83, 137.
Scot, George, 164.
Scotland, 315.
Scull, Anne Penrose, 271.
Seaman, Georgianna, 362.
Seneca Indians, 136.
Seelye, Sarah E., 360, 361.
Seymour Horatio, 340.
Shelton, Rev. F. W., 242, 283,
390.
Shipley, Sarah, 365.
Silver Lake, 88, 89.
Sinclair (Sincklaar) Family,
101.
" Anne (Anna), 101, 103.
" Robert, 103.
Six Nations, The, 135, 136.
Sloops, North River, 129, 201,
202, 354.
Smit's Vly (Smith's VaUey),
18, 30, 23, 33. 35, 37.
Smith, John, 31.
South (Delaware) River, 38.
Sparks, Jared, 170.
Spook Field, 144, 380.
Sprout (Spruyt) Creek, 113,
136, 173.
St. Paul, Minn., 394.
St. Croix, W. I , 181.

St. Quentin, 101.
Star Inn, 195.
States General, 19.
Stratford, Ct., 189, 361.
Steamboats. 202, 303.
Stevenson, J. B., 226.
Stonv-Kill, 150, 161, 166, 245,
346, 384.
Stony Point, 157.
Storm, Derick, 113.
" Garrit, 183.
" Glorvina, 183.
Story, Judge, 256.
Stoutenburgh, Peter, 37.
Strand (Strant) The, 25, 45,71.
Stuyvesant, Peter, (Governor),
33, 38, 35, 41, 43, 90.
Susanna V. P., 27, 28.
Susan SUI V.P., 287.
Swart (Swarth), Cornelis, 39,
74.
Swartout, Jacobus, 113.
Capt., 158.
Swedes, 16, 33.
Sykes, Lucy M., 345.

Tammany Society, 340.
Tarrytown, N. Y., 362.
Teller, Andrew (Andries), 48,
76, 95, 96, 115, 129,
141-151, 166.
" WiUiam, 62.
" Helena, 62,
" Isaac deP., 267, 368.
" Margaret (Mrs. Van
Kleeck), 63.
" Sophia, 76.
" Anna, 77, 141-151.
'' Sarya, 95.
" Homestead, 63, 64, 369.
tenBroeck, Dominie, 364.
tenByck, Jacob, 81.
terBushe, Judge, 113, 143.
Thomas Arden V. P., 248.
Thomas Boyle V. P., 259.
Tienhooven, Lucas. — See van
Tienhooven.
Tienhooven Street, 33.
Tildfen, Samuel J,, 240.

304

INDEX.

Tivoh on-Hudson, 185, 313
Tioronda, 368.
Town Gate, 31.
Tontine Coffee House, 165,337.
Townsend, John, 166.
" Phoebe, 183.
Transport (deed 24), 53, 66.
Trinity Church, New York,
15, 22, 153, 154. 264.
Church, FishkiU, 160,
163, 307, 342, 288.
Tunissen, Dirck, 31.
Tudor, Frederick, 338,
Tuscarora Indians, 136.
t'water, 44.
Twelve Men, Council of the,30

Ulster County, 60, 61, 87, 105,
106.
Union CoUege, 309, 358, 361.
Upton, Euphemia, 338.
" Francis, 168.
Uyten Bogaardt, Abigel, 37,
79, 80.

V, van, vander, ver, 12.
V. Planke, 52, 54.
¦ V. Cortlandt, 12.
van Antwerp, Andrew, 139.
Peter, 140.
van Bruggen, Johannes, 46.
van Balen, Jan Hendricksen,
62.
van Balen (Ball), Maria,64,65.
van Cortlandt, Stephanus, 33,
37, 47, 48, 56, 57, 58
59, 67, 69, 73, 83-90,
95,114-187,143,180.
" " Gertrude,43,83-90, 94, 95, 114, 131, 131,
141-151.
" " Johannes, 114,134,
135, 136.
" " Cornelia, 131.
" " Pierre, 181, 347.
" " PhUip, 133, 154.
van Dam, Rip, 105, 115.

van Dolfsen, Elizabeth, 187,
331.
van Exveen, Aefje, 173.
van Gelder, Johannes, 36, 74.
van Gee, John — SeeVigne, Jan
van Hardenburgh, A., 21.
van Kleeck, Rev. Robert, 63,
345.
van Laer (Laar), Ariaen(Adri-
an), 33, 37, 38, 29.
van Noyes V. P., 363.
van Planke, 31, 38, 53, 130, 139.
van Rensselaer, Killiaen, (the
Patroon), 53.
Mary. 131.
van Ruyven (Secretary), 43.
van Sante, Gysbevh, 138.
van Schaick, Anna Maria, 131.
van Tienhooven, Cornelius,
(Secretarv),
10, 16, 19, 31.
Lucas, 33, 66.
van Volkenburgh, Christina,
186.
van Voorhis, John, 145, 166.
Wm. H.,145,166.
van Vranken, Dominie, 319. .
van Waart, Joakin, 173.
van Waert, Marten, 37.
van Wagenen, Mary L., 209.
Jacob. 209.
van Wyck MiUs, 87, 113, 173.
" Richard C, 113, 178,
357. 258.
" " A. Bloodgood, 113,
178.
vander Biit, John, 165.
vander Poel, MelgertWynant- se, 37, 28, 74, 81.
" " Ariantje,81,98,138.
vander Plank, Rev. Israelis, 14
vander Sluys, Emerantia, 33.
vander Veen, Peter Cornelise,
39, 40, 48.
Ver Meulen, 13.
Ver Milye, 12
Verplancke, 13, 52.
Ver Plancken, 12,14, 39, 44, 51.
Meijntje, 14.
" " Samuel, 90.
Sara, 29.
Abigel, 39.

INDEX.

305

Ver Plancken, Galeyn, 44.
" " Gelyn, 37, 49.
Ver Planck's MiUs, 318.
" " Point, 114-137,
137, 157, 179, 180, 310-314,
346-251, 286.
Vera Marguerlta V. P., 292.
Vesey, Rev. William, 23.
Vigne (van Gee, Vienje,
Vinge*), Jan, 15, 16, 33, 33,
30, 81, 83, 35. (His wiU 83).
Vigne, Maria, 15, 36, 37, 30, 40,
80.
" Guleyn, 15, 16, 26, 28.
Rachel, 16, 33.
" Christina, 16, 33.
Vingle, Mary, 15.
Vinton, Francis, D.D , 230.
" Mary, 266.
Virginia Darby V. P., 291.
Vly (Fly) Market, 18.
Volckersen, Dirck, 16, 33.
Vought. Abraham, 287.
" Mary Grandin, 287.
Voorhees, Ruth, 387.
Vresche Water, The, 15, 35,
37, 38.
vr Plank, 53, 73.
vrplanken, 81.
Vrooman, 97.

Wall Street, 15, 19, 35, 26, 31,
105, 152, 165, 198, 226.
Walls, The, 19, 37.
Walton, Helena, 163.
" WiUiam, 164, 190, 191,
206.
" House, 164, (picture
191), 194.
Ann, 190, 206.
" James deL., 194.
" Jacob, 194.
" Mary, 195.
Wadsworth, Mrs. M. B., 203.
" James, 256.

Wappinger, Town Of, 58.
" Indians, 53, 88.
' " (Wappins) Kill,
54, 84, 89, no,
141-151.
" FaUs. 179, 184.
Wappins, The, 54, 62, 64.
Wampum, 57.
WaUer, Elwyn, 331, 353.
" Henrv, 331, 353, 358.
" Mary Gordon, 321.
" Frank, 258.
Walter V. P., 234.
Wallingford, Ct., 353.
Waterbury, Ct., 353.
Watervleet, 139.
Water Gate, 36.
WarmstaU, Samuel, 75, 76, 93,
130.
" Ariaentje, 76, 92,
105, 180, 147.
Washington, President,. 152,
159, 168. 253, 356.
" Headquarters, 159,
351
Walworth, Chancellor, 285.
Watson, James, 354.
WeUs, Samuel, 126, 127.
Wellman, Florence, 293.
Webster, George B., 333.
" n p 222
Welch, Marv Ellen," 309.
" George, 209.
Wessels, Hendrika or Hen
drickje, 27, 39, 43, 44,
67. 71, 72, 74, 91, 93,
95, 161. (Her death
75). (Her will 67-71).
" Metje (Matty), 43, 44,
49.
" David, 44.
" Anna Lysabeth, 46,
48, 63. 94.
Warner, 47, 48, 62.
" Hartman, 48.
We.stchester County, 60, 123,
34«, 363.
West, John, 56, 57.
West Indies, 104, 181, 184, 308.

* The forms 'Veenen and Fji/wera also appear in the early records
of the Dutch Church, New Amsterdam.

306

INDEX.

West Point, 375.
Weir, Robert, 341, 374.
White, Dr. Bartow, 204. •
WhitehaU Street, 29, 44, 90.
Whitbeck, Isaac, 140.
" Elizabeth, 187, 231.
Landert, 81.
White Plains, N Y., 363.
Winne JeUis, 139.
Jan, 81.
Wiltse, Martin, 143.
Wiltwyck (Kingston), 28, 29,
177.
WiUiam V.P., 68, 95, 87, 112,
113, 180, 188, 141-151,
334.
" Beekman V. P., 51,112,
137, 156, 161, 179, 181,
210, 214-331, 349, 251,
359, 286.
Gordon V. P., 51, 80,
178, 215, 219, 220, 245,
252-257, 287, 292.
Edward V.P., 278,380,
391.

WiUiam Samuel V. P., 46, 159,
303, 328, 343, 360, 364-
384, 390.
" A. V. P., 187.
Walton V.P., 307, 309,
358, 379.
Augustus V.P., 348,386
Minevar V.P., 260.
Seaman V.P., 362,389.
Everett V.P., 391.
Williams, Pamela, 366.
Nathan, 366.
" Judah, 366.
Williamstown, Mass., 266.
WiUiam IV. (King), 162.
William Henry, Fort, 128.
Wilmington, Del., 265.
WiUimantic, Ct., 268.
Wright, Abi or Abia, 266.

Yale CoUege, 334, 345. 353, 353.

felTY LIBRARY

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