The Family of Jacob Voorhees and Tryphena Norton

 The Importance of Collaboration

The Van Voorhees Family in America includes a number of families whose ancestors have not been identified.  Often there is little documentation for them in the earliest generation beyond family traditions, often flawed.  However, different branches of a family often have different traditions, each with its own set of insights and mistakes.  When combined together with other seemingly unrelated records, they can begin to form a more complete picture of a family.

The family of Jacob (184198) Voorhees and Tryphena is such a case.1  They were thought to have had a child, also named Tryphena, born about 1778, suggesting Jacob was born about 1758.   Tryphena Jr. married Jonathan Palmer2 before 1806 when their eldest child, Gilbert, was born.  No other children of Jacob and Tryphena were known.  Jacob and Tryphena joined the Reformed Dutch Church of Gilboa, Schoharie Co., NY on 4 Sep 1831.  He died in Delaware Co., NY before 18 Jul 1840 when his estate was probated.

Harold Hazelton noted the marriage of a Jacob Voorhees and Phebe Norton at Gilboa, Schoharie Co., NY.  However, he gave no further information or sources.

A Hiram D. Voorhees was born on 17 Jan 1809 at Greene Co., NY.3  He married Charlotte Bates (182633) on 2 Nov 1826 at Reformed Dutch Church of Gilboa, Schoharie Co., NY.  He was a witness at the marriage of Huldah Voorhees (not otherwise mentioned in VVFA published volumes) to James Palmer at the Reformed Dutch Church of Gilboa on 29 May 1832, but the relationship between Hiram and Huldah was unknown.  He was listed next to Tryphena Voorhees in the 1840 census of Davenport, Delaware Co., NY. 

A researcher found online located the death record of a Margaret Markum, daughter of Jacob Voorhees and Tryphena A. Voorhees.4  That there should be two marriages of a Jacob Voorhees and a Tryphena seemed highly unlikely.  A search for Mr. Hazelton's record of the marriage of Jacob Voorhees and Phebe Norton turned out to be at the Reformed Dutch Church of Gilboa in 1808.  Another transcription of that record lists the wife's name as Phene, a shortening of Tryphena, being mistaken by Hazelton as Phebe.

Margaret's death record records she was born 13 May 1818 at Windham, Greene, NY.  A review of the 1820 census of Windham, NY shows Jacob Voorhees with 1 male under 10, 1 male between 10 and 15, 1 male between 26 and 44, 2 females under ten, 1 female between 26 and 44.  The probable residents were Elam, Hiram, Jacob, Margaret, Huldah and Tryphena, to be discussed later.  This Jacob Voorhees was born no earlier than 1776, not 1758.  His tombstone lists his death as 10 Jan 1839, aged 64 years.5

If there were not two men named Jacob Voorhees who married a woman named Tryphena, where might the tradition of their daughter, Tryphena Jr., marrying a man named Jonathan Palmer come from?  As noted earlier, a Huldah Voorhees married a James Palmer on 29 May 1832 at the Reformed Dutch Church of Gilboa, NY.  That James Palmer was the son of Jonathan Palmer and Martha Webb.6  Martha was thought to be the second wife of Jonathan Palmer, but a Bible record shows they were married on 19 Sep 1804.7  Though not proven, I believe Tryphena, Jr. was a mistake for Huldah, and that she married Jonathan’s son, James, not Jonathan himself., another family tradition gone slightly awry.

 

Given Hiram’s birth in Greene Co., NY (where Margaret was born) in 1809, shortly after Jacob Voorhees and Tryphena Norton were married, his association with Huldah, his being listed in the 1840 census next to Tryphena Voorhees, and the likelihood he was the male between 10 and 15 years of age in the 1820 census, Hiram is undoubtedly their son as well.

Another daughter, Harriet Ann, was identified by other researchers.8  She was born about 1824 in Schoharie Co., NY according to the 1855 census of Worchester, Otsego, NY9 and married Henry Nelson Mackey.  Jacob and Tryphena Voorhees joined the Reformed Dutch Church at Gilboa, Schoharie, NY in 1831, so they may have moved there by 1824.  There is a female of Harriet’s age listed in the 1840 census of Davenport, Delaware, NY living with Tryphena Voorhees.10  There family moved to Georgia in the 1850s, where Herny died on 8 Aug 1889, in Butts Co., GA, buried at Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery.11  It is not known when Harriet died, but Henry married second, Maryette Etter, widow of Henry King,12 on 30 Sep 1869 at Butts, GA.13

Another son, Elam/Elon, was identified by other researchers.14  He was born in 1818 in Little Falls, Herkimer, NY.  He fits the male listed in the 1820 census of Windham, NY.  As Elon Vorus he was issued a license to marry Mary Ann Starr on 1 Sep 1838 in Stewart Co., Georgia,15  as well as in the 1850, 1860, and 1870 census records.  He was likely named after his maternal grandfather, Elon Norton.  This placement may not be correct as Little Falls is quite a distance from Windham, NY, where his sister was born.  Also, there is a male of Elon’s age listed with age listed in the 1840 census of Davenport, Delaware, NY living with Tryphena Voorhees.16  Interestingly, in the 1850 census of Stewart Co., GA, Elon’s eldest child was only 6 years old (born about 1844),17 and he is not found in the 1840 census of Georgia.  Mary Ann was only 16 when they obtained their marriage license.  Perhaps the actual marriage was delayed.

Another daughter, Louisa M., was identified by other researchers.18  She was born about 1827 in Delaware Co., NY according to the 1855 census of Gilboa, Schoharie, NY.19  Given the information above, she was probably not born in Delaware Co., but moved there when she was young as Tryphena is listed in the 1840 census in Delaware Co.  There is a female of Louisa’s age listed in the 1840 census of Davenport, Delaware, NY living with Tryphena Voorhees.20  She married James Mackey.  

Though his family has now been clarified, his parents have not.  One possibility is the family of John Voorhees (30781) and Neltje Polhemus who also lived in Delaware Co., NY.  Another possibility is Hiram Voorhees (30279) and Hilletje Vanderbilt of Oxford, Sussex Co., NJ.  Hiram’s will makes specific bequests to several named sons, but only mentions “his daughters”, not their names.  The will is written in such a way as to allow for other sons, since it does not say that those mentioned were all his sons.  If Jacob was his son, he would have been born about 1784, early enough to have been married in 1808.  The only suggestion that he had a son named Jacob (possibly named after Hilletje's brother, Jacob) is the possible naming of his eldest son, Hiram, and his eldest daughter, Huldah (a variant of Hilletje),21 after their paternal grandparents.  Jacob named his second son, Elon, after his maternal grandfather, though he did not have a known daughter, Chloe, named after her maternal grandmother.   

Endnotes

1.  Van Voorhees Family in America, the First Six Generations, by Florence Christoph, pg. 799.

2.  The Palmer Family in America, by Horace Wilbur Palmer, Vol. 1, pg. 375.  Martha is named as Jonathan’s second wife.

3.  Van Voorhees Family in America, the Seventh and Eighth Generations, by Florence Christoph, Vol. 2, pg. 1264.

4.  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NWM4-RGQ 

5.  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29656880/jacob-voorhies 

6. https://www.familysearch.org/search/tree/results?q.fatherGivenName=Jonathan&q.fatherSurname=Palmer&q.givenName=James&q.motherGivenName=Martha&q.motherSurname=Webb&q.surname=Palmer Martha Palmer, age 68, is listed in the 1850 census of Gilboa, Schoharie, NY with the family of James and Huldah Palmer, undoubtedly his mother.

7.  http://schoharie.nygenweb.net/fbible4.html 

8.  https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L63J-DZ6 

9.  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9BLJ-Q5H?i=10&cc=1937366&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AK6QF-G7M 

10.  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYTP-3RSH?i=10&cc=1786457&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXHTQ-T5W 

11.  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/31950961/henry-nelson-mackey 

12.  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/31950962/mary-etter-mackey 

13.  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-G5MB-31F?cc=1927197&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AFWWK-76G 

14.  https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GMT6-K25 

15.  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C91Q-M3NG-5?cc=1927197&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQ218-G529 

16.  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYTP-3RSH?i=10&cc=1786457&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXHTQ-T5W 

17.  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L4Q-QCZ?i=131&cc=1401638&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMZY8-7HX 

18.  https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LX9L-Y6X 

19.  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-LBLJ-XHY?i=9&cc=1937366&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AK6Q6-1CR 

20.  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYTP-3RSH?i=10&cc=1786457&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXHTQ-T5W 

21.  In the "Van Deursen Family" by Captain A. H. Van Deusen (pages 693-716), there is a 24-page glossary of Dutch names entitled, "Christian Names as Used Among the New Netherland Settlers, and Their Approximate Equivalents in English" 

Strange Case of Peter Voorhees of Wakarusa, Douglas Co., KS

 The Strange Case of Peter Voorhees of Wakarusa, Douglas Co., KS

Peter first appears in Kansan on 10 Mar 1877, when Peter Voorhees of Lawrence, Douglas Co., KS bought land in Douglas Co., KS from G.W. Griffith.  On 1 Sep 18771.  Peter Voorhees and his wife, Elizabeth S. of Lawrence, Douglas, KS, sold the same land in Douglas Co., KS to John Chilcote.2  Peter Voorhees appears in the 1880 census Wakarusa, Douglas Co., KS,3 age 33, born in NJ, parents born in NJ, with his wife, Elizabeth S, 27, born in PA, ill with congestion of the liver.  However, a Peter Voorhees matching this description was not found anywhere in the 1850 through 1870 census indexes.  So, who was he?

Understanding Peter Voorhees begins with learning more about his aunt, Anna S. Groome Voorhees (41657), daughter of Peter J. Voorhees and Cornelia Berrian4 of Somerset Co., NJ.  Her middle name “Groome” was actually her married name, as she married Nathaniel C. Groom on 17 Dec 1867 in Henderson, IL.5  They are listed in the 1870 census of Town 8 Range 4 of Henderson Co., IL with their daughter Cora Mae, age 1 and Charles Voorhees, age 216 (her nephew, son of her brother, John Berrian Voorhees (40858)).  By 1880 they had moved to Halstead, Havey, Kansas where they are listed in that census7 with no children.

Her connection with Peter is first found in the 1900 census of Wakarusa, Douglas Co., KS8 where she is listed as his aunt in the household of Peter Voorhees, born Nov 1845 in NJ, age 55, parents born in NJ, along with N. C. Groom, uncle, born Jul 1840 in NJ, and Ann Groom, aunt, born Jun 1829 in NJ, had 2 children, none living, parents born in NJ.  Peter is listed in the 1910 census of Wakarusa, Douglas Co., KS,9 aged 64, born in NJ, parents born in NJ, married once 34 years ago.  He moved to Fishing River, Clay, MO by 1920, where he is listed in the 1920 census10 again in the household of Anna Groom, age 90, born in NJ.  He is listed as Peter Voorhees, age 74, born NJ, parents born in NJ., nephew.  However, he is not a son of any of Ann’s brothers.

The connection between Anna Voorhees Groom and Peter Voorhees begins to become clearer in his will, written on 20 Jun 1920 in Clay Co., MO and was proved on 19 Oct 1921.  It mentions monetary bequests to several people with the remainder to "my two daughters, my only children, viz: Lissie J. Prevost and Julie M. Stryker, both of Trenton, NJ.”11  These children are the key to his real name.

A review of the census records of 1900 of census12 Trenton, Mercer, NJ: lists Alice Stryker, b Dec 1848, age 51, married, 3 children, 2 living; b NJ; Julia M, daughter, b Apr 1876, age 24, single, b NJ, parents b NJ; Harry S. Probost, son-in-law, b Jan 1868, married 4 years; Lizzie J., daughter, b May 1873, age 27, no children, b NJ, parents b. NJ.  In the1920 census of Trenton, Lizzie and Harry Provost, and Julia M. Stryker are living in separate households.  The names of Alice’s children and their location are the same as those of the children of Peter Voorhees.

Alice Van Dyck married Peter V Stryker on 25 Oct 1871 at Princeton, West Windsor, Mercer, NJ.13  She and her daughters (without her husband) are living with her mother, Elizabeth [Jewell] Vandike, in the 1880 census of West Windsor, Mercer Co., NJ.14  Alice died on 10 Jan 1912,15 and is buried at Riverview Cemetery, Trenton, NJ

Peter Voorhees Stryker was the son of Henry Stryker and Sarah Maria Voorhees.  He was living with his parents, age 24, single, in the 1870 census of Montgomery, Somerset, NJ.16  He does not appear in any later census indexes.  The will of Henry Stryker of Montgomery Township, Somerset Co., NJ, written on 26 Dec 1892 mentions his wife, Sarah M, his son, Peter V. Stryker, his grandchildren: Lizzia J. Stryker and Julia Stryker, among other children and grandchildren,17 again mirroring the children of Peter Voorhees.  Peter V. Stryker died on 7 Oct 1921 (less than two weeks before the will of Peter Voorhees was proved) and is buried in the Blawenburg Cemetery, Montgomery Twp., Somerset Co., NJ.18

Sarah Voorhees was born in June 1826.19  She married Henry Stryker on 20 Feb 1845 in Somerset Co., NJ.20  Though she is not identified in the Van Voorhees Family in America, she was undoubtedly also a daughter of Peter J. Voorhees and Cornelia Berrian,21 supported by the 1830 census of Montgomery Twp., Somerset Co., NJ22 which shows there is an additional, previously unknown daughter under 5 years old living in Peter’s household.  Her son, Peter V. Stryker, aka Peter Voorhees, would then be the nephew of Anna S. Voorhees.

A few questions remain:

1. Why did he use the name Peter Voorhees, instead of Peter Voorhees Stryker?

2. Did he ever actually change his surname to Voorhees?

3. Did he ever actually marry Elizabeth as no marriage record under either surname has been found.

Finishing on Anna Voorhees Groom, her daughter, Cora Mae, was born on 26 May 1869 and died on 26 Oct 1871.  Her son, Henry VanDoren, was born 2 Octo 1871, and died 23 Aug 1874.  By 1910, Anna was living in Halstead, Harvey, MO where she is listed in the census as being 81 years old, a widow born in NJ.  She probably died shortly before Peter Voorhees wrote his will as no provision is made for her.

Endnotes

1.  Douglas Co., KS Deeds, Vol 16, p. 128.

2.  Douglas Co., KS Deeds, Vol 16, p. 317

3.  1880 US Census Wakarusa, Douglas Co., KS, online at: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYBC-D11?cc=1417683&wc=XZ92-GP8%3A1589403245%2C1589395616%2C1589403484%2C1589395538

4.  Florence Christoph, Van Voorhees Family in America, First Six Generations, p. 600.

5.  Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939J-KQ95-YJ?cc=1803970&wc=3264-T38%3A146159701

6.  1870 US Census of Town 8 Range 4 of Henderson Co., IL, online at: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-63B9-M88?cc=1438024&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AM64Q-7HH 

7.  1880 US Census of Halstead, Havey, Kansas, online at https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YYB-CHK?cc=1417683&wc=XC47-K68%3A1589403245%2C1589404436%2C1589404661%2C1589398807

8.  1900 US Census of Wakarusa, Douglas Co., KS, online at: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6QFS-SXH?cc=1325221&wc=9B7S-3TB%3A1031093901%2C1030788401%2C1032685901

9.  1910 US Census of Wakarusa, Douglas Co., KS, online at: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYB4-JDC?cc=1727033&wc=QZZC-47C%3A133640801%2C133718401%2C137001101%2C1589089109

10.  1920 US Census of Fishing River, Clay, MO, online at: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RN1-9CNN?cc=1488411&wc=QZJY-DD6%3A1036473201%2C1036795101%2C1037472101%2C1589332490 

11.  Clay, MO Wills, Vol K, p 305

12.  1900 US Census of Trenton, Mercer, NJ, online at: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DTG9-97Q?cc=1325221&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AM9FG-L54 

13.  New Jersey Marriages, book BK, pg. 539

14.  1880 US Census of West Windsor, Mercer Co., NJ, online at: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YB5-T1?cc=1417683&wc=XWGH-FM9%3A1589408696%2C1589400935%2C1589409242%2C1589395390

15.  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24710498/alice-stryker

16.  1870 US Census of Montgomery, Somerset, NJ, online at: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DTJ3-M3C?cc=1438024&wc=KPZF-T38%3A518652701%2C518991201%2C518958901 9 

17.  Somerset Co., NJ Wills, Vol N, p 213.

18.  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35717826/peter-voorhees-stryker

19.  1900 Census of Millstone, Somerset, NJ, online at: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6WJW-WCC?cc=1325221&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AM9ND-F71 

20.  Somerset County Historical Quarterly Vol 8, p 208.

21.  See family tree of Sarah Maria Voorhees at: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/K85D-MBH

22.  1830 US Census of Montgomery Twp., Somerset Co., NJ, online at: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YYF-9CJT?cc=1803958&wc=35Y4-B81%3A1588480903%2C1588477714%2C1588471434

Unidentified Vandewaters

Unidentified Vandewaters 

This post is a conclusion of a series of posts on the Vandewater/ van de Water family.  These families have not been placed as descendants of either immigrant, Benjamin or Hendrick.

MARTHA¹ VANDEWATER was born circa Nov 1756, and died 25 May 1818 in Poughkeepsie, NY.¹  She married JOHN FORBUS 14 Dec 1782 in RDC of Hopewell, NY.  He was born circa 1758 and died 24 Oct 1827.²  She was of Hopewell and he was of New York at their marriage.   

Children of MARTHA VANDEWATER and JOHN FORBUS³ are:

   i.    MARY² FORBUS, b. 20 Aug 1783, near Hopewell, NY, d. young.

   ii.   BENJAMIN FORBUS, b. 08 Oct 1785, NY; d. 29 Oct 1825, Poughkeepsie, NY, never married.

 iii.    JOHN BROWN FORBUS, b. 05 Mar 1787, near Fishkill, NY, d. 1865, m. Mary Frear.  They had 2 sons, William and Alexander, but both died without heirs.

    iv.  MARY FORBUS, b. 30 Dec 1787, near New Hackensack, NY., never married.

    v.   ALEXANDER FORBUS, b. 23 Feb 1790, near Fishkill, NY; d. 19 Jun 1856, never married.

   vi.  SARAH FORBUS, b. about 1791, m. John Robison.  They had no children.

  vi. MARTHA FORBUS, b. 31 Jul 1794, NY; d. 27 Jan 1877, Poughkeepsie, NY, unmarried. 

John Forbus was likely the son of Alexander Forbus and Lucretia Hegeman of New Utrecht, Kings Co., NY, who married on 01 Jul 1753 at the Dutch Reformed Church of NYC.  He may have been the son of a John Forbus who married Hannah Winslow in 1757 and was a taxpayer in Fishkill in 1758. 

ELIZABETH¹ VANDEWATER was born 29 Dec 1760, died 29 Mar 1846, Sullivan, NY.  She married PETER KINSHIMER, b. 14 Feb 1763, d. 22 Sep 1845, Sullivan, NY.  Christian Kinshimer, 72, never married Edward Kinshimer, brother, 62, widowed, Mary Mallery, 69, sister, widowed, all born in Dutchess Co., NY, were listed together in the 1855 census of Liberty, Sullivan, NY.  

Children of ELIZABETH VANDEWATER and PETER KINSHIMER are:

    i.    CHRISTIAN² KINSHIMER, b. 03 Nov 1784, near Fishkill, NY, d. 09 Mar 1867, Sullivan Co., NY.

   ii.    POLLY KINSHIMER, b. 07 Mar 1786, near Fishkill, NY, m. Unknown (probably Herman⁴) Mallery.

  iii.    JANE KINSHIMER, b. 13 Jul 1787, near Fishkill, NY.

   iv.    BENJAMIN KINSHIMER, b. 13 Nov 1788, d. 22 Jan 1848, Poughkeepsie, m. 15 Jun 1816 ANN PALMER, probable children include: Deliah, b. about 1818, d. 1876, m. Samuel Walker (Ann is living with them in the 1850 census of Poughkeepsie, NY); George, b. about 1820, d. 10 Oct 1831, Poughkeepsie; Anne, b. 24 Mar 1826, d. 27 Nov 1832, Poughkeepsie, NY; Maria, b..06 Aug 1828; d. 06 Feb 1832, Poughkeepsie, NY; William, b. 15 Dec 1835, d. 20 May 1838, Poughkeepsie, NY.

    iv. EDWARD KINSHIMER, b. about 1794, m. Unknown. 

ABRAHAM ¹ VANDEWATER was born circa 1769, NY; d. 08 Nov 1846, NYC, NY,⁵ buried in the Methodist Society Cemetery.  He married MARTHA RYER.  He is listed in the New York City directories, as a tanner & currier, NYC 1796-1800.⁶  He is listed in the 1800 census of NYC with one daughter, under 10.  He is listed in the 1810 census with 1 son under 10, 2 daughters under 10 and 1 daughter 10-16.  He is listed in the 1830 of NYC with 1 son, 15-20, 2 daughters, 15-20, 2 daughters, 20-30.  He, a grocer, and his wife, Martha, sold land in the 8^th Ward, NYC on 29 Mar 1831.⁷ 

Children of ABRAHAM VANDEWATER and MARTHA RYER are

   i.    JOHN² VANDEWATER, b. 16 Jun 1802, baptized 1 Aug 1802, near NYC, NY.⁸

  ii.    LAVINA VANDEWATER, b. circa 1805, NY.

 iii.    JANE VANDEWATER, b. circa 1807, NY, d. 8/3/1887, NYC, NY. 

ELIZABETH¹ VANDEWATER was born circa 1753, and died 22 Sep 1834 in Herkimer, NY.⁹  She married DANIEL GOLDEN.  He was born 1739, and died 02 Sep 1826 in Cedarville, Herkimer, NY.  

Children of ELIZABETH VANDEWATER and DANIEL GOLDEN are:

    i.     MARY² GOLDEN, b. 22 Feb 1779; d. 20 Apr 1853, Cedarville, Herkimer, NY; m. OTIS SMITH; d. 13 Nov 1835, Cedarville, Herkimer, NY.

    ii.    HANNAH GOLDEN.

    iii.    DAVID VW GOLDEN.

    iv.    DOROTHY GOLDEN.

     v.    ELIZABETH GOLDEN.

    vi.   JOHN GOLDEN.

  vii.    BENJAMIN GOLDEN. 

John Vandewater 

1.  JOHN¹ VANDEWATER was born circa 1760 in NY, and supposedly died 1802 in Hunterdon Co., NJ.¹⁰  He supposedly married SARAH UNKNOWN.  She was born in NJ.  These parents may be a confusion with a probable brother of their supposed son, Peter Vandewater.  Peter’s family is listed in the 1850 Census Litchfield, Hillsdale, MI on page 433.  A John Vandewater, age 66, and his wife, Sarah, are also listed in the same township on the previous page 432.  He is presumably the John Vanderwater in the 1793 Tax Ratables of Harrington, Bergen, NJ. 

He may possibly be John⁷ Vandewater (Albertus⁶, Johannes⁵, Hendrick⁴), husband of Margaret Van Buskirk.  His cousin, Baefje Vandewater, and her husband, Andrew Van Horn (who were baptismal witnesses for John’s son John), had moved to Bergen Township, Bergen Co., NJ by 1799 when they purchased land there, bordering Peter Van Buskirk, supposedly Margaret’s father, but probably also appears in the 1793 Tax Ratables of Bergen Township.  He had a great grandson named Burger, an unusual name.  This assumes:

1)     Their son, Peter, b. 12 Aug 1773, died young and they had a 2^nd son named Peter.

2)   John Vandewater, b. about 1784 according to the 1850 census, was actually slightly older, b. 1782.

3)    John Vandewater, b 02 Jun 1794 (below), was actually part of a different family.  No documentation of their relationship has been found, he was of Elizabethtown, Essex Co., NJ, not Bergen, and his migration path is very different from Peter’s.   

Children of JOHN VANDEWATER and possibly SARAH UNKNOWN are:

2. i.  PETER² VANDEWATER, b. Jan 1789, NY; d. 30 Apr 1885, Adrian, MI.

3. ii. JOHN VANDEWATER, b. 02 Jun 1794, NJ; d. 31 Jul 1853, Vienna, Johnson, IL. 

Generation 2 

2.  PETER² VANDEWATER (JOHN³) was born Jan 1789 in NY, and died 30 Apr 1885 in Adrian, MI.  The 1880 census says his father was born in NY, and his mother in NJ.¹¹  He married CATHERINE RUTAN circa 1811 in NJ, daughter of JOHANNES RUTAN and ELIZABETH LAKE.  She was born in 1795 in NJ.  The family is probably the one listed in the 1830 census of Lodi, Bergen Co., NJ. 

1850 Census Litchfield, Hillsdale, MI p 433

Peter Vandewater, 60, b NJ

Catherine, 55, b NJ

Isaac, 21, NJ

Rachel, 19, NJ

Lewis, 12, MI

Alva Morell, 23, NY

1850 Census Litchfield, Hillsdale, MI, p 432

John Vandewater, 66, b NJ

Sarah, 62, b NJ

  

Children of PETER VANDEWATER and CATHERINE RUTAN are:

4.   i.   PETER B.³ VANDEWATER, b. circa 1812, NJ; d. 1867, MI.

      ii.  DANIEL VANDEWATER, b. circa 1814, NJ.  1850 Census Litchfield, Hillsdale, MI living with his brother, Peter B.

     iii.  ELLEN VANDEWATER, b. circa 1818, NJ; d. 24 May 1905, Litchfield, MI; m. CHANCEY COHOON.

     iv.   RICHARD VANDEWATER, b. 1821, NJ.

      v.   JOHN VANDEWATER, b. 1826, NJ.

     vi.  ISAAC VANDEWATER, b. 1829, NJ; d. 1870, Hillsdale, MI; m. HARRIET BENEDICK, 1860, Hillsdale, MI.

     vii. RACHEL VANDEWATER, b. 1831, NJ.

    viii. LEWIS VANDEWATER, b. 1838, MI. 

3.  JOHN² VANDEWATER (JOHN¹) was born 02 Jun 1794 in NJ, and died 31 Jul 1853 in Vienna, Johnson, IL.  He married ELIZABETH MEEKER 22 Oct 1814 in First Presbyterian Church, Elizabeth, Essex, NJ¹², he was of Elizabethtown, she was of Union.  She was born 1795 in NJ, and died 20 Oct 1885 in Bloomfield, Johnson, IL.  Her death record says she was of IL for 36 years at her death. They lived in Dickson, TN, see 1830 & 1840 & 1850 (J V Waters) census of Dickson, TN.  John is buried in IL, but neither he nor his wife are found there. 

Children of JOHN VANDEWATER and ELIZABETH MEEKER are:

    i.  EZEKIEL³ VANDEWATER, b. 1815, NJ; d. 1839.

   ii.  PHEBE MATILDA VANDEWATER, b. 04 Feb 1817, NJ; d. 28 Jan 1908, OK; m. (1) WILLIAM KINSLOW, 18 Mar 1832, Dickson, TN;¹³ m. (2) ISHAM DUNN, 13 Nov 1857, Johnson, IL; d. 05 Jun 1866, Massac, IL; m. (3) VINCENT CARTER, 19 Apr 1868, Johnson, IL; b. 1805, TN.  Phebe is not listed in the 1870 with Vincent Carter who has living next door to Jonathan Waters.  Phebe Carter is living in the 1900 Census, Indian Territory Chickasaw Nation (OK) living with Thomas and Ollie Simpson, g m in-law.

  iii.  SUSAN VANDEWATER, b. 1819; d. 1820.

  iv.   WILLIAM HENRY VANDEWATER, b. 1820, TN; d. 1871, Vienna, Johnson, IL; m. SARAH BREEDEN, 27 Dec 1849, Dickson, TN.

   v.  ADEL VANDEWATER, b. 1822, TN; d. 1826.

  vi.  THOMAS VANDEWATER, b. 1824, TN; d. 1826.

 vii.   JOHN VANDEWATER, b. 1827, TN; d. 1847.

 viii.  MARY ANN VANDEWATER, b. 1832, TN; d. 1913; m. RICHARD ANDERSON HADEN, 12 Oct 1853, Vienna, Johnson, IL.

  ix.   JONATHAN WARD VANDEWATER, b. 1835, TN; d. 1914; m. (1) AMANDA COOPER, 13 Jan 1855, Vienna, Johnson, IL; m. (2) MINNIE ELMINA COOPER, 17 Oct 1860, Vienna, Johnson, IL.

 Generation 3 

4.  PETER B.³ VANDEWATER (PETER², JOHN¹) was born circa 1812 in NJ, and died 1867¹⁴ MI.  He married ELEANOR C. SUIETA.     

Children of PETER VANDEWATER and ELEANOR SUIETA are:

      i.  ABRAHAM⁴ VANDEWATER, b. 1834, MI.

     ii.   ELIZABETH VANDEWATER, b. 1836, MI.

    iii.   BURGER VANDEWATER, b. 1838, MI.

    iv.   J SMITH VANDEWATER, b. 1838, MI.

     v.   MARY ANN VANDEWATER, b. 1845, MI.

     vi.  RACHEL VANDEWATER, b. 1848, MI.

    vii.   HENRY VANDEWATER, b. 1850, MI. 

Cornelius Van Waters 

1.  CORNELIUS VAN WATER(S) was born circa 1757.  No records have been found of him using the surname Vandewater, but at least two early records have been found of his presumed son, Uriah, having used the Vandewater name.  Cornelius is thought to have married a woman named POLLY, but it is uncertain.  A Polly VanWaters is listed on the tombstone of Ira Ingelhart, Cornelius’ son-in-law.  The dates are hard to read, but it has been transcribed as “Died Oct 28 1851, Age 94 yrs”.  If correct, she is likely Cornelius’ wife.  Cornelious Vanwaters is listed in the 1800 Census of Oswegatchie, Oneida Co. (later St. Lawrence), NY, age 26-45, and was probably about the same age as his wife. 

This Cornelius could be the Cornelius Vandewater of Watervliet, Albany, NY in 1790, instead of Cornelius⁴ Vandewater (Cornelius³, Albertus², Hendrick¹), husband of Mary Burtis (because of their ages, Cornelius, husband of Mary Burtis could not be the same as Cornelius, husband of Polly).  The Cornelius in Watervliet had 1 son, under 16, who could be Uriah, and 2 daughters, one of whom could be Elizabeth.  Unfortunately, nothing has been found to link the two Corneliuses together. 

Cornelius’ parents are unknown.  Though the use of the normal Dutch naming conventions faded over time, both Uriah and Elizabeth named their eldest sons Cornelius after their paternal grandfather, typical for Dutch families.  If Cornelius did the same, his father may have named Uriah.  In the earlier blog post, “The Early Vandewaters of Hempstead, NY” a Uriah Vandewater was identified who would have been old enough to be the father of this Cornelius, and himself was probably the son of a Cornelius, likely Cornelius⁵ Vandewater (Jacobus⁴, Benjamin³). 

Cornelius Van Waters served a juror for the Court of General Sessions several times including 9 Nov 1802, 7 Jun 1803, and 4 Jun 1805 where he is listed as of Oswegatchie, yeoman. 

Polly is probably living with her son, Uriah, in the 1810 Census of Oswegatchie, St. Lawrence, NY (over 45).  She may be living with her son, Uriah, in the 1820 census of Hounsfield, Jefferson, NY (over 45).  She is not listed as living with him in the 1830 census, but she may be living with them in the 1840 census, age 80-90.  

Children of CORNELIUS VANDEWATER and POLLY UNKNOWN are:

2.     i.  URIAH² VANDEWATER, b. 25 Jun 1784, NY; d. 22 Jun 1852, St. Lawrence Co., NY.

3.    ii. ELIZABETH VANDEWATER, b. circa 1786, NY; d. 1833.

4.   iii.  possibly ARCHIBALD VAN WATERS, b. circa 1795, NY; d. 1852, Fayette Co, VA. 

Generation No. 2 

2.  URIAH² VANDEWATER (CORNELIUS³) was born 25 Jun 1784 in NY, and died 22 Jun 1852 in St. Lawrence Co., NY.¹⁵  He married SARAH LYON 08 Nov 1805 in Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence, NY.  She was born 20 Jul 1786, and died 20 Apr 1858 in St. Lawrence Co., NY.¹⁶  He was one of the early settlers in the area.¹⁷  On 17 Aug 1809 Uriah Vandewater bought land in Watertown, Jefferson Co., NY from Nicholas Low.¹⁸  0n 25 Jan 1823, Uriah Vandewater and his wife Sally of Hounsfield, Jefferson, NY sold land, though he signed as Uriah V. Water.¹⁹  His sons, William and George are known from the County History of LaCrosse Co WI:

William Van Waters was born in Jefferson Co NY in 1817. His parents moved to St. Lawrence Co NY when he was a boy and resided there until their death. William came to Wisconsin in 1853. His brother, George, came with him to LaCrosse Valley. George moved to Jackson County, WI.  William's first wife was Mary Campbell who was born in St. Lawrence Co NY.  He married second Mary Adams.    

Children of URIAH VANDEWATER and SARAH LYON are:

5.    i.  CORNELIUS³ VAN WATERS, b. 02 Jul 1810; d. 02 Feb 1886, Rensselaer Falls, Canton, St. Lawrence, NY.

      ii.  CAROLINE VAN WATERS, b. 1812, NY, d. 1903, m. John Barber, daughters Frances, b 1841 and Margaret, b 1845.

6.  iii.  JOHN VAN WATERS, b. 1815; d. 11 Sep 1882, Rensselaer Falls, St. Lawrence, NY.

7.  iv.  WILLIAM VAN WATERS, b circa 1817, NY.

8.   v.  GEORGE VAN WATERS, b 1820, NY.

9. vi.  ORREN VAN WATERS, b. 04 Oct 1823; d. 18 Jun 1881, Rensselaer Falls, St. Lawrence, NY. 

3.  ELIZABETH² VANDEWATER (CORNELIUS¹) was born circa 1786 in NY, and died 1833.  She married IRA INGLEHART 28 Feb 1804.²⁰  He was born 1780, and died 1841 in Hounsfield, Jefferson, NY.²¹  IRA INGLEHART was probably living with his son, Cornelius, in 1840, but not his mother, or mother-in-law.   

Children of ELIZABETH VANDEWATER and IRA INGLEHART are:

     i.  CORNELIUS³ INGLEHART, b. 11 May 1811, Oswegatchie, St. Lawrence, NY; m. (1) UNKNOWN; m. (2) EMELINE F. FOOTE; b. 12 Feb 1810, CT; d. 07 Dec 1858, Hounsfield, Jefferson, NY.

    ii.  AMELIA INGLEHART, b. 1812.

   iii.   SMITH INGLEHART, b. 1815.

 iv. JOHN INGLEHART, b. 1819. 

4.  ARCHIBALD² VAN WATERS (CORNELIUS³ VANDEWATER¹) was born circa 1795 in NY, and died 1852 in Fayette Co, VA.  He married MARTHA REED.  She was born 25 Nov 1805. 

Archibald is tentatively placed in this family as he is listed in the 1830 census Oswegatchie, St. Lawrence, NY, the township where Cornelius settled.  However, based on his age, he does not appear to be listed with Cornelius in the 1800 census.  He could be the male 16-25 in the 1820 census living with his brother, Uriah.  Others have his parents as Smith Waters and Margaret McMurphy, though that may have been because his eldest son was named Smith.  His possible sister, Elizabeth, also had a son named Smith, so the name could have come from the paternal side of the family as well. 

Children of ARCHIBALD VAN WATERS and MARTHA REED are:

     i.  SMITH³ WATERS, b. 1823.

   ii.  HELEN WATERS, b. 1826.

   iii.  SHERMAN WATERS, b. 1827.

  iv.   JAMES WATERS, b. 1829.

    v.  EMILY WATERS, b. 1835.

   vi. ELIZABETH WATERS, b. 1837.

  vii.  ABIGAIL WATERS, b. 1839.

 viii.  JOHN WATERS, b. 1842.

 ix.   GEORGE WATERS, b. 1844.

   x.  MARY FRANCES WATERS, b. 1847. 

Generation No. 3 

5.  CORNELIUS³ VAN WATERS (URIAH³ VANDEWATER, CORNELIUS¹) was born 02 Jul 1810, and died 02 Feb 1886 in Rensselaer Falls, Canton, St. Lawrence, NY.  He married (1) LOIS CAMPBELL, daughter of UNKNOWN CAMPBELL and HANNAH LYON.  She died Bef. 1850.  He married (2) LOVINA FENTON.  She was born 1810, and died 29 Sep 1882 in Rensselaer Falls, St. Lawrence, NY.  He was living with his father, Uriah, in the 1850 census.  He did not have any children by his 2nd wife.  His will mentions his daughter, Elizabeth, his son-in-law, N A Bockus, and 2 of her sons. 

Notes for LOVINA FENTON:  Died. VanWaters. In Rensselaer Falls, September 29th, 1882, Lovina, wife of C. VanWaters, aged 72 years. Mrs. VanWaters came with her husband to this place about the year 1850, and has occupied the house where she died the whole of the time. She was an active member of the Congregational church, and when her health would permit, her seat was seldom vacant. Mr. VanWater's children by his former wife found in her a true and faithful mother. She will be missed from the bedside of the sick, and by the poor and needy to whom she always gave of her substance with a bountiful hand. Her lamp was always trimmed and burning, and may her family and friends find strength and consolation in the Savior in whom she trusted. Her remains were taken to South Canton for interment.  

Child of CORNELIUS VAN WATERS and LOIS CAMPBELL is:

              i.   HARRIET⁴ VAN WATERS, b. 1834

10.       ii.   ELIZABETH VAN WATERS, b. 1838.

            iii.   LOUISA VAN WATERS, b. 1842.

            iv.   FEDERICK VAN WATERS, b. 1844.

6.  JOHN³ VAN WATERS (URIAH² VANDEWATER, CORNELIUS¹) was born 1815, and died 11 Sep 1882 in Rensselaer Falls, St. Lawrence, NY.  He married ELIZA REED.     

Children of JOHN VAN WATERS and ELIZA REED are:

11. i.  GEORGE⁴ VAN WATERS, b. 1843.

12. ii. SARAH ELIZA VAN WATERS, b. 1848; d. 1875. 

7.  WILLIAM³ VAN WATERS (URIAH² VANDEWATER, CORNELIUS¹) was born about 1820 in NY.  He married MARY CAMPBELL.  They are listed in the 1850 census of Oswegatchie, St. Lawrence, NY.  He remarried Mary ADAMS and moved to Neshmoc, La Cross, WI where he is listed in the 1860 and 1870 census.   

Children of WILLIAM VAN WATERS and MARY CAMPBELL are:

    i.   ELIZABETH⁴ VAN WATERS, b. circa 1837, NY.

   ii.   MARY VAN WATERS, b. circa 1841, NY.

 iii.    FREDERICK VAN WATERS, b. circa 1844, NY. 

Children of WILLIAM VAN WATERS and MARY ADAMS are:

   iv.   WILLIAM⁴ VAN WATERS, b. circa 1853, NY.

    v.   MARY VAN WATERS, b. circa 1855, WI.

   vi.   MARTHA VAN WATERS, b. circa 1859, WI.

  vii.   LOUISA VAN WATERS, b. circa 1860, WI.

 viii.   CORA VAN WATERS, b. circa 1861, WI. 

8.  GEORGE³ VAN WATERS (URIAH² VANDEWATER, CORNELIUS¹) was born about 1830 in NY.  He married LAVINA.  They are listed in the 1850 census of Cleveland, OH.  He was a publisher.  He married second Percy Kinney on 17 Dec 1868. 

Children of GEORGE VAN WATERS and LAVINA are:

    i.    GEORGE⁴ VAN WATERS, b. circa 1847, WI.

   ii.    WILLIAM H. VAN WATERS, b. circa 1849, OH, m Mary Calvert.

   iii.   FRANK VAN WATERS, b. circa 1851, OH, m Lydia Kinney. 

9.  ORREN³ VAN WATERS (URIAH² VANDEWATER, CORNELIUS¹) was born 04 Oct 1823, and died 18 Jun 1881 in Rensselaer Falls, St. Lawrence, NY.  He married SARAH ANN BROWNE.   

Children of ORREN VAN WATERS and SARAH BROWNE are:

    i.  CHARLES CORNELIUS⁴ VAN WATERS, b. 1854.

   ii. GEORGE BROWNE VAN WATERS, b. 1857. 

Generation No. 4 

10.  ELIZABETH⁴ VAN WATERS (CORNELIUS², URIAH² VANDEWATER, CORNELIUS¹) was born 1838.  She married NELSON ABRAHAM BOCKUS.     

Children of ELIZABETH VAN WATERS and NELSON BOCKUS are:

    i.  VAN C.⁵ BOCKUS.

    ii. FRED N. BOCKUS.

 

11.  GEORGE⁴ VAN WATERS (JOHN³, URIAH² VANDEWATER, CORNELIUS¹) was born 1843.  He married ELLEN UNKNOWN.   

Children of GEORGE VAN WATERS and ELLEN UNKNOWN are:

    i.  ANNIE⁵ VAN WATERS, b. 1875.

    ii. ALDAH VAN WATERS, b. 1876. 

12.  SARAH ELIZA⁴ VAN WATERS (JOHN³, URIAH² VANDEWATER, CORNELIUS¹) was born 1848, and died 1875.  She married EUGENE HAMLIN. 

Child of SARAH VAN WATERS and EUGENE HAMLIN is:

   i.  INDIA⁵ HAMLIN, b. 1875.

Endnotes
1.  Findagrave.org https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/134034947/martha-forbus 
2.  Year Book, Dutchess County Historical Society, Vol. 44, 1959, p. 63.
3.  Year Book, Dutchess County Historical Society, Vol. 44, 1959, p. 63.
4.  Sullivan Co., NY, Deeds, Vol 13, p. 387.
5.  Familysearch.org, New York Municipal Deaths, https://www.familysearch.org/search/ark:/61903/1:1:F6MH-844 
6.  New York City Directory, 1796-1800, Collection: United States Directories & Almanacs Image, findmypast.com
7.  NY County, NY Deeds, vol 271, p 571.
8.  Familysearch.org: https://www.familysearch.org/search/ark:/61903/1:1:QG5V-1Y41 
9.  https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/vandewater/393/ 
10.  Familysearch.org: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KHQD-33L 
11.  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6QPW-7Q2?i=1295&cc=1452402&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AN3X4-QYQ  
12.  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3G-9 
13.  https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LBSK-826/phoebe-mathilda-vanda-waters-1817-1908 
14.  https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/MHD7-S14 
15.  Findagrave.org: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26387448/uriah-vanwaters 
16.  Findagrave.org: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26387449/sarah-vanwaters 
17.  Francis Bromaghim, in 1798, settled on a tract of land a mile square, about five miles above Ogdensburg, and one and a half miles back from the St. Lawrence. Within a few years, Harvey Lyon, Uriah Van Waters, James Roberts, and several other families moved into the neighborhood, which has since been known as the Bromaghim Settlement, Gates Curtis, "Our County and its People:, a Memorial Record of St. Lawrence County, New York", p. 336.

18.  Jefferson Co., NY Deeds, Vol 3, p 243.

19.  Jefferson Co., NY Deeds, Vol R, p. 480.

20.  https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Footprints_of_a_Wisconsin_Lumber_Exe/X1SGCbKr2KsC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Oswegatchie+%22Van+Waters%22&pg=PA463&printsec=frontcover