John Vandervoort, Schoolmaster of Brooklyn, NY

John Vandervoort, Schoolmaster of Bedford, Brooklyn, NY

John Vandervoort was well known in his time, in part because he served as schoolmaster in Bedford for upwards of 60 years.  However, much of the rest of his personal life has been forgotten.  His designation as schoolmaster in many records and his marriage to his cousin, Lea Vandervoort, helped to establish his parents.  John's step-children were discussed in an earlier post, "The Grandchildren of Teunis Gysbert Bogart", but it was unknown if he had any children of his own.  In one of those serendipitous moments, an article published in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle over thirty years after his death was recently discovered which revealed who his heirs were.

Descendants of John Vandervoort, Schoolmaster of Bedford, Brooklyn, NY

Generation No. 1

1.  JOHN⁵ VANDERVOORT  (JAN⁴, JAN³, PAUL², MICHAEL PAULUSZEN¹) was baptized 26 Dec 1728 in New Utrecht, NY, and died 21 Dec 1814 in Bedford, Kings Co., NY.  He married (1) JANE VAN ENDEN 18 Apr 1761 in NY¹, daughter of ABRAHAM VAN ENDEN and ELSJE MITSELL.  She was born circa 1744 in NY, and died bef. 1770.  He married (2) LEAH VANDERVOORT 12 Jan 1770 in DRC of Hopewell, Dutchess, NY, daughter of JOHN VANDERVOORT and ELIZABETH ANDRIESSEN.  She was born circa 1743 in NY.

John Vandervoort as schoolmaster

He was a witnesses for a couple of wills:

Jacob Blom, Wallabought, will proved 10 Apr 1797, attested to by John Vandervoort, schoolmaster.

Kings Co., NY, Wills, Vol 1, p. 227.

Page 517.—In the name of God, Amen. The twenty-fifth day of August, 1780. I, PETER VAN DE WATER, of Bedford, Township of Brooklyn, Kings County, yeoman, being very sick and weak in Body. … I make my brother, Barnardus Van De Water, and my neighbor, Leffert Lefferts, executors.

Witnesses, Jonathan Van der Voort, of Kings County, schoolmaster, Barrent Lefferts, of Kings County, yeoman, Lambert Andress. Proved, May 6, 1782.

Abstracts of wills on file in the Surrogate's Office, City of New York (Volume X. Oct 23, 1780-Nov 5, 1782), p. 228 ABSTRACTS OF WILLS—LIBER 34.

In 1721 there was a school at Bedford Corners, which for some sixty years was taught by John Vandervoort, who was imprisoned during the Revolution.  It lasted until 1812.

A History of Long Island : From its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, by Peter Ross and Juergen Beck, p. 33.

John VANDERVOORT took charge of the school in 1748 [others say 1748-1750], and is supposed to have been its second teacher, and he taught there for sixty years, except during the Revolution when he was imprisoned by the British.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 25 December 1887, Page 10, OLD VILLAGE AND ROAD

"On the 21 inst. at Bedford, L.I. in the 77th year of his age, Mr. John Vandervoort,....He had devoted his whole life, from the age of 16, to...teaching schools....for 61 years in the above village...

Paper: Columbian, published as The Columbian; Date: 12-30-1814; Volume: V; Issue: 1585; Page: [3]; Location: New York, New York

John Vandervoort as a prisoner

On the 15th occurred the occupation of New York island by the British, which is thus described by Gen. Jeremiah Johnson, an eyewitness: " In the evening of the 14th,1 the Phoenix and Dutchess of Gordon frigates passed New York, with a large number of batteaux: the frigates anchored opposite Kip's Bay,2 where the Rose joined them. The batteaux were placed near the (Long Island) shore, at the house of Peter Kolyer.' Early on the morning of the 15th, a division of the British army marched from Brooklyn, through Bushwick, to the shore at Mr. Kolyer's, where they embarked on board of the batteaux at high-water. About 7 o'clock the ships opened a heavy fire of round and grape shot upon the shore, to scour off the enemy. The firing continued an hour and a half: when the leading boats passed the ships, the firing ceased. The boats passed to the shore, and all the troops landed in safety. We may be incorrect as to dates, but the facts are as stated. I saw the scene. It was a fine morning, and the spectacle was sublime. Thomas Skillman, of Bushwick, and John Vandervoort, and Jacob Bloom, of Brooklyn, with their families, were at Kip's Bay, in the house of Mr. Kip, when the cannonading of the three British frigates, which lay opposite the house, commenced. The cannon-balls were driven through the house. This induced them to take to the cellar for safety, where they were out of danger. After the landing the men were sent to prison in New York, and the next day their families returned to Long Island. When the troops landed, a line was formed across the island to the North River, to inclose the Americans in New York.'In vain is the net of the fowler spread in the sight of any bird:' the American rear-guard had escaped."

A History of the City of Brooklyn. by Stiles, Henry Reed, p. 292. [1776]

This period of imprisonment is probably the time referred to in the biography of John Vandervoort, the schoolmaster.  This note associates Jacob Bloom and John Vandervoort and the implies John Vandervoort had a family. 

The Family of John Vandervoort

John was baptized 26 Dec 1728 at the Reformed Dutch of New Utrecht, NY, witness Joseph Joseph Hegeman²

An abstract of the marriage bond of his first marriage reads:

18 Apr 1761 Vandervoort, Jaen, of Kings Co., schoolmaster and Jane Van Anden of Kings Co., spinster.  Jaen Vandervoort, Teunis Bogart [4:154]

New York Marriage Bonds, 1753-1783, by Kenneth Scott, p. 440.

The fellowbondsman, Teunis Bogart, was the husband of John’s future second wife, Leah Vandervoort.

Teunis Bogart probably died before the will of his father, Teunis Gysbert Bogart', was written on 22 Jun 1767 when he does not mention Teunis directly, but does leave a bequest to “my grandchildren, the children of my son Teunis

Abstracts of Wills in the Surrogate Office, City of New York, Vol 7, p. 146-7

See the author’s earlier post on “The Grandchildren of Teunis Bogart” for more information on them.

John married Teunis’ widow, Leah Vandervoort, on 12 Jan 1770 at the Reformed Dutch Church of Hopewell, Dutchess, NY.

Records of the Reformed Dutch Church of Hopewell. N.Y., 1758-1817. transcribed by Dingman Versteeg, Family History Library Film 1016561.

John’s heirs are mentioned n the Brooklyn Daily Eagle on 15 Apr 1846, p. 2, in an article about a hearing in the Kings County Circuit, Oyer and Terminer Court regarding the ownership of land in Bedford, Brooklyn, NY.  It was claimed by Elsje Hinchman, sole heirs to Jacob (actually John, the author admitted they had not been attentive in court) Vandervoort.  Mr. Vandervoort had been a long time teacher at Public School 3, that he had been taken prisoner during the revolutionary war and died in 1814.  He had three daughters, Jane (died in 1830), Elizabeth (now deceased) and Elsje. 

After Jane’s death, Elsje and Elizabeth sold land in Brooklyn:

27 Nov 1833 Elsie Hinchman, widow, and Elizabeth Vandervoort, single woman, of Brooklyn, sell to Isaac Cortelyou, land in Brooklyn.

Kings Co., NY Deeds Vol 39, p. 154

Of John’s daughters, Jane was named after his first wife, Elsje was named after his first wife’s mother, and Elizabeth was named after his 2nd wife's mother.

  

Child of JOHN VANDERVOORT and JANE VAN ENDEN is:

                   i.    JANE⁶ VANDERVOORT, b. circa 1769, NY; d. 1830, Bedford, Kings, NY.

Children of JOHN VANDERVOORT and LEAH VANDERVOORT are:

2.               ii.    ELSJE⁶ VANDERVOORT, b. circa 1771, NY; d. Aft. 1849.

                 iii.    ELIZABETH VANDERVOORT, b. circa 1773, NY; d. Bef. 1846.

Generation No. 2

2.  ELSJE⁶ VANDERVOORT (JOHN⁵, JAN⁴, JAN³, PAUL², MICHAEL PAULUSZEN¹) was born circa 1771 in NY, and died Aft. 1849.  She married BENJAMIN HINCHMAN.  He died 1833 in Brooklyn, NY.

Elsje Vandervoort married Benjamin Hinchman who owned land in Bedford.  You can see a map of Bedford showing the school and Benjamin Hinchman's property.  The property on the map passing from Benjamin Hinchman to J.P. Brinkerhoff, probably Isaac Brinkerhoff.

http://www.panix.com/~cassidy/stilesv1/v1c9/267map.html

Elsje’s family is identified in a deed executed by the heirs of her husband, Benjamin Hinchman:

7 May 1835 Elsie Hinchman, widow, Abraham Hinchman, William Hinchman, Benjamin Hinchman and Susan his wife, Isaac Brinkerhoff and Maria his wife, Joseph Tuthill and Elsie his wife, all of the City of Brooklyn, heirs at law of Benjamin Hinchman, late of Brooklyn, deceased on or about 21 Sep 1833, sell to Whitead J Cornell land in Brooklyn.

Kings Co., NY Deeds, Vol 50, p. 302

Elsje was living with her son-in-law, Isaac Brinkerhoff, in Brooklyn, Ward 9, Kings Co., NY, age 79.  Elsje appears to be living with her son-in-law in 1840.  Benjamin Hinchman, living next door, is likely her son, compare 1840 census to 1850 census of Hempstead, Queens, NY where Benjamin, Jr., had moved to.

Children of ELSJE VANDERVOORT and BENJAMIN HINCHMAN are:

3.                i.    MARIA⁷ HINCHMAN, b. 1806, NY.

4.               ii.    BENJAMIN HINCHMAN, b. 1808, NY; d. 15 Mar 1898, Brooklyn, NY.

                 iii.    WILLIAM HINCHMAN, b. circa 1816, NY.

    He was living with his brother, Benjamin, in the 1850 census of Hempstead, Queens, NY,      in 1850. No further trace.

5.              iv.    ELSJE HINCHMAN, b. 1799, NY; d. 1841, Brooklyn, NY.

                  v.    ABRAHAM HINCHMAN, b. NY.

Generation No. 3

3.  MARIA⁷ HINCHMAN (ELSJE⁶ VANDERVOORT, JOHN⁵, JAN⁴, JAN³, PAUL², MICHAEL PAULUSZEN¹) was born 1806 in NY.  She married ISAAC BRINKERHOFF.  He was born 1808 in NY.

1840 census North Ward of Brooklyn, Kings Co., NY, shows 3 daughters in the household.

       

Children of MARIA HINCHMAN and ISAAC BRINKERHOFF are:

                   i.    SARAH⁸ BRINKERHOFF, b. 1832, NY.

                  ii.    JANE E. BRINKERHOFF, b. 1834, NY.

                 iii.    DAUGHTER BRINKERHOFF, b. circa 1836, NY.

4.  BENJAMIN⁷ HINCHMAN (ELSJE⁶ VANDERVOORT, JOHN⁵, JAN⁴, JAN³, PAUL², MICHAEL PAULUSZEN¹) was born 1808 in NY, and died 15 Mar 1898 in Brooklyn, NY.  He married SUSAN RAYNOR.  She was born 1812 in NY.

His probate record:

"New York, Kings County Estate Files, 1866-1923," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3GD-DNNS-5G?cc=1466356&wc=MPHK-VDJ%3A44954901%2C115639801%2C116263201 : 21 May 2014), Kings County > Hi > Hinchman, Benjamin (1898) > image 1 of 37; Surrogate Court, Brooklyn.

       

Children of BENJAMIN HINCHMAN and SUSAN RAYNOR are:

                   i.    CORNELIA⁸ HINCHMAN, m. UNKNOWN ANTHONY.

                  ii.    WILLIAM HINCHMAN.

                 iii.    SUSAN HINCHMAN, m. UNKNOWN CRUIKSHANK.

                 iv.    BENJAMIN HINCHMAN.

5.  ELSJE⁷ HINCHMAN (ELSJE⁶ VANDERVOORT, JOHN⁵, JAN⁴, JAN³, PAUL², MICHAEL PAULUSZEN¹) was born 1799 in NY, and died 1841 in Brooklyn, NY.  She married JOSEPH TUTHILL.  He died 1883 in Brooklyn, NY.

       

Children of ELSJE HINCHMAN and JOSEPH TUTHILL are:

                   i.    JOHN⁸ TUTHILL, b. 1826.

                  ii.    RUTH ANN TUTHILL, b. 1828.

                 iii.    BENJAMIN TUTHILL, b. 1831.

                 iv.    KATE CONSTANCE TUTHILL, b. 1833.

Endnotes

1.  NY License.

2.  The Baptismal Records of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of New Utrecht, Long Island : 1718-1741, by Walter Griffin, #179.

3.  NY License.