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~ Old Northern Dutchess Life

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Tag Archives: milan

Captain William Stewart, 1738-1788

04 Saturday Jul 2015

Posted by SKH in Genealogy, Revolutionary War

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milan, revolutionary war, Rowe, Stewart

Stewart-William-d-1788-2This 4th of July I thought I’d share something I wrote a little while back about one of my DAR Patriot Ancestors – William Stewart.

William Stewart was born in Scotland 23 June 1738[1]. He came to Dutchess County with his mother Isabela (who died in 1793) and at least two brothers, James and Henry.[2]

He married 3 December 1771 in New York State[3] Catherine Rowe, daughter of John Rowe and Catherine Lasher of North East Precinct, Dutchess County. They had eight children, John Stewart 1773-a.1836, Catherine Stewart 1774-1848 who married William Hermans of Ulster County, Col. Henry W. 1776-1840 who married Phebe Sherrill, William W. 1778-1859 who married Elizabeth Pitcher, Isabella Stewart who married Dr. Uri Judd and removed to Yates County, James W. Stewart a.1782-p.1855, Richard deCantillon Stewart who married Tamer (last name unknown), and Andrew Stewart 1787-a.1836. According to deeds and mortgages, John, James, and Andrew may have removed to western New York State but no record of their descendants could be found.

In 1836, William Stewart’s 83-year-old widow Catharine Rowe applied for a widow’s pension. Her younger brother Philip Rowe gave affidavit that his brother-in-law William Stewart (of the Town of North East, later Milan) “rode a famous black horse which commanded the admiration of the people… (and) kept said horse during the war and a little after it.[4]” Another soldier from the same unit, Andrew Frazier also remembered this impressive horse in his deposition.

Philip asserted that William Stewart was “particularly obnoxious to the Tories on whose detection and apprehension he was reputed to be uncommonly active and vigilant… a zealous Whig and efficient officer.” He was active in service as late as 1778 or 1779 and perhaps until 1781. He marched to West Point in 1776 with his brother-in-law Philip Rowe where they remained for several weeks. He was frequently absent from his family for most of the duration of the war.

Philip said that William Stewart came to live in the area two years before he was married. Catherine and William lived with her elder brother John Rowe and their parents were deceased. William Stewart “kept a store” in the Town of North East (which was much larger geographically in the eighteenth century) where he lived, until he died. He made his will in 1776 while healthy, because he was “providently called upon to step in to assert and defend by arms the rights, privileges and liberties of the United States of North America, sensible of the mortality of man and uncertainty of life, and more especially when called upon to enter the field of battle…”[5]

He died 10 March 1788 at 49 years, 8 months and 16 days[6]. He is buried at what is now called the Rowe Ground on the western side of Rt. 199 in the Town of Milan across from the Methodist Church. His wife, some of his children, and his brother James rest close by.

WIDOW

William and Catherine had three children (John, Catherine, and Henry) before the Battle of White Plains and five (William, Isabella, James, Richard, and Andrew) after it. The first and seventh were already dead in 1836. A William I. Stewart of Kings County, NY swore that all of William and Catherine’s children but their son James were dead by 12 July 1853[7].

Catherine remembered marrying in February of 1772. She did not accompany her husband on any of his “military expeditions”.

Four days after she died on 6 February 1844, Catherine Stewart’s pension was increased to $120. In 1855 it was increased to $180 to the benefit of William Stewarts only surviving child, James W. Stewart and in 1856 the service was accepted as being 12 total months and the sum was increased to $240. As shown in these documents, Catherine could not sign her own name.

SERVICE

William Stewart served as Adjutant and Captain in the Dutchess County Militia under Col. Petrus TenBroeck, and later under Col. Morris Graham “and served during (the) greater part of (the) war[8]”. He participated in the Battle of White Plains. His widow “often heard him declare that he cared not for his private fortunes so long as he could be instrumental in establishing the independence of the country.”

On 14 April 1775 a meeting was held in Charlotte Precinct (part of which became Pine Plains and Milan). There, Morris Graham, Robert R. Livingston, Jr. (aka Chancellor Livingston), and Egbert Benson were elected as delegates representing Rhinebeck, North East, Amenia, and Rumbout to the provincial congress to be held in New York City on 20 April. William Stewart and Morris Graham were the representatives from North East at that meeting. Shortly after this congress, news of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first military engagements of the Revolution fought on 19 April, arrived, and just after that, the first Articles of Association “a sort of pledge and protest against the government of England” were circulated for signing in New York[9]. Many local men signed this pledge, including William Stewart, who with Nathaniel Mead, J. Simmons, and Frederick Ham reported the results for North East[10]. Many who did not sign did so out of blind obedience to the King but also fear and uncertainty.

William Stewart’s documents had been lost by the time his widow Catherine Rowe applied for a pension in the 1830’s. This made application difficult for her and she had to call upon many friends and relatives to give testimony for his service. This must have been incredibly frustrating for her, but gives those of us researching him a much bigger picture of what he did to further the cause of American freedom. From this pension and what records remain, we can paint a picture of a record of service that runs from the very first shots to the surrender of Cornwallis.

Morris Graham, Hugh Rea (who married into the Knickerbocker family), William Stewart, Augustine Graham, David Wilson, Hugh Orr, and George Morehouse were members of the committee appointed to elect military officers on 26 August 1775. Two months later, a Dutchess County Regiment of Militia was organized of various companies. Huntting describes it in the History of Little Nine Partners:

“These companies in connection with five other companies from Rhinebeck Precinct, formed a regiment officered as follows: Petrus Ten Broeck, Colonel; Morris Graham, Lieut. Col. ; Simon Westfall, 1st Major; Jonathan Landon, 2d Major: William Stewart, Adjutant ; Hendrick VanHovenbergh, Quartermaster. Their commissions were issued October 17, 1775.[11]”

On 10 September 1776, Col. Graham’s regiment of Dutchess County militia was recorded with William Stewart as Captain of the 6th Company and Hardenburg and Seaton, Lieutenants. A letter from Kings Bridge, 4 October 1776 from a General Heath to Captain William Stewart ordered him to “convey 2 suspect persons to Fishkill, leave to then go to Nine Partners to return to Kings Bridge on Wednesday next.[12]” Andrew Frazier and John Smith gave testimony in Stewart’s widow’s pension that the tour of duty immediately following the Battle of White Plains (28 October 1776) in which and William Stewart acted as Captain was for a total of nine months. A Henry Soper also said in his own pension that he served under Captain Stewart for six months in the spring of 1776. Such assertions were important to increasing the sum that James W. Stewart received from his late mother’s widow’s pension.

Stewart’s widow thought that he was active in “disarming the Tories and suppressing disaffection” and that he was often gone six months at a time. She believed he took part in the Battle of White Plains. Andrew Frazier, a free black man also gave deposition to back up Catherine’s claim to a pension and said that he knew William Stewart when he was single and running a store in North East and that he had come to America from Scotland a “few years” before he knew him, and that was only 1-2 years before William and Catherine were married. Catherine believed this was around 1766. Frazier was in the same regiment as Stewart and as a “wagoner” helped transport arms they had procured from Tories to a storage facility somewhere in the Great Nine Partners. Once, he recalled, when they marched to New Rochelle, the regiment was fired on by British Ships on the Sound before the Battle of White Plains. When Frazier took ill, Morris Graham made him his “writer” and he was present and accounted for William Stewart also being present for those encounters with the British. He was fairly certain that Stewart remained in the service for the entire duration of the war, though he himself left it shortly after White Plains. Frazier echoed Catherine in saying that both among the troops and his neighbors in the Town of North East, Stewart was thought of as an “active and efficient officer.”

A letter of 2 January 1777 says that a “portion of the militia in Dutchess in Col. Graham’s regiment having refused on 30 Dec 1776 to march to the passes of the Highlands are to be compelled by force.[13]” In May of 1777, Stewart participated in the court martial at Ft. Montgomery “probably for the trial of those who failed to serve as required.[14]” When Stewart’s unit was reorganized on 18 March 1778 under Col. Morris Graham he was reappointed adjutant. The pension assumes that he held this position continually from his first appointment in 1775. The pension file of Everly Simmons declares that he served under Stewart and Morris Graham in 1780 or 1781 for three months. On 19 October 1781 British General Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown. If the statements of the men who gave depositions in Catherine Stewart’s widow’s pension and others are true, William Stewart did indeed serve “during (the) greater part of (the) war”.

Footnotes:

[1] Tombstone, Rowe Grounds, Milan, Dutchess Co NY

[2] Revolutionary War Widow’s Pension W.19104 especially pages 480 of 1104 regarding troop movements.

[3] Names of persons for whom marriage licenses were issued by the secretary of the province of New York, previous to 1784 Albany: Weed, Parsons, 1986 p.330

[4] Revolutionary War Widow’s Pension W.19104

[5] Will: Book A REC 1930#1 Stewart William Northeast Precinct 9 Sep 1776, prob. 18 Jun 1789 pp.142-143

[6] Pension W.19104

[7] Pension W.19104

[8] Pension W.19104

[9] Huntting, Isaac. History of the Little Nine Partners. Charles Walsh & Company, 189 P. 39-40

[10] Little Nine Partners P.42

[11] Little Nine Partners P.45

[12] Pension W.19104 “Vol 2 p. 882” noted

[13]  Pension W.19104

[14]  Pension W.19104

Hermans & Husted

08 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by SKH in 19th Century Photos, Genealogy

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genealogy, Hermans, Husted, Link, milan, Olivette

James W -Jim- HermansAnne Olivette Mrs Jim Hermans

James William Hermans was born in June of 1834 in the Town of Milan to Henry Hermans and Gertrude “Gitty” Link (the author’s 3rd great-grandparents). He, like his father and numerous siblings, was a farmer. He married c. 1863 Anna W Olivett, daughter of Isaac Olivett and Maria Kipp. They had two children, but only one (daughter Emily) is known to have lived to adulthood. James was known as Jim to his family and died 17 Jul 1920 in Staasburg. Anna died 6 Jul 1927 and they are both buried at Wurtemburg cemetery.

Charles and Emma Hermans HustedEmily A Hermans (or Hermance) was born in 1865. She married c. 1889 Charles H Husted. In 1900 they were living with her parents and had no children. Emily died 7 Mar 1928 in the Town of Clinton. She was an invalid and mostly helpless for several years before her death. She and Charles are buried at the Schultzville cemetery. Charles was born May of 1857 son of Orin and Harriet of Hyde Park. He died in 1930. His daughter from a prior marriage, Mabel (who married Harry W Johnson of Poughkeepsie), inherited over $1,300 from him when he died on 3 Sep, 1930. His funeral was on 5 Sep 1930 at the Schultzville Church. They are pictured at right.

We Remember Sterling Smith 1892-1898

07 Wednesday Nov 2012

Posted by SKH in 19th Century Photos, Genealogy

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genealogy, jackson corners, milan, photography, Smith, victoriana

Looking through my Hermans family pictures, I found a memorial card and it inspired this entry. I don’t doubt that it has been more than 100 years since anyone has memorialized the subject of this post and that today no one remembers him at all.

The census is often the amateur (or armchair) genealogist’s first glimpse into a family they know little about. Through the lenses of the 1900 census, a little boy who was born after 1890 and died before 1900 would appear only as the difference in a pair of numbers. A column of data filled in after the mother of each household is labeled “Mother of how many children” and the one directly to the right of that is “Number of these children living”. For the 1900 listing for the family of Irving and Annie Smith of Milan, Dutchess County, NY, these numbers are 2 and 1, respectively (1900 Census Milan, Dutchess Co NY page 5, ed. 14, family 96). The one living child is their daughter, Ruth. The difference in the numbers is their little six-year-old son, Sterling Smith.

Sterling Smith 1892 – 1898

Irving and Annie Smith

Irving Smith, a farmer, and his wife Anna May “Annie” Edleman married c. 1890. Irving Smith was born 21 Jan 1869, son of Freeman Smith and Margaret E Hermans, daughter of Henry Hermans, my 3rd great-grandfather. Irving’s family also resided in Milan so he was most likely born there. Annie was born 16 Feb 1868 and was probably the daughter of Phillip (a child of German immigrants) and Margaret Edleman of Ancram, Columbia County, just to the north. In 1900, they lived in the area north of what is now Rt 199 in Milan, NY between Red Hook and Pine Plains called Jackson Corner, down the road from my grandparent’s farm. Now-a-days, we add an “S” and call it Jackson Corners.

Ruth Smith

At right is Sterling’s little sister Ruth Smith (later Mrs. Joseph Bruyette) 16 Sep 1893 – 29 May 1976. She would later be a member of the same DAR Chapter that I am regent of, today.

An online newspaper archive, like Old Fulton Post Cards is invaluable for its record of the goings-on in small country communities like the one that the Smiths called home. In these columns, a local “reporter” would note who had visited, who was born, married and who was ill, among other important social happenings.

Sterling Smith was “on the sick list” as announced in the March 18th 1898 Pine Plains Register which noted that “a number in this place (Jackson Corner) are sick, two of which have the pneumonia.” In the following week’s paper, it is announced that Sterling died Thursday, March 16th. Two weeks later, the local reporter had only one story to report for Jackson Corner.

Sterling was aged 6 years, 5 months and ten days. This sweet memorial card is the same size as the “cabinet card” photos found in one of our antique family photo albums.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, conducted by Rev. W. W. Wilcox and E. A. Bishop. Rev. Wilcox’s card is found in the same album as the memorial card.

Rest in peace, Sterling.

 

Honorable Discharge

05 Saturday Nov 2011

Posted by SKH in 20th Century, Genealogy

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20th Century, Hermans, milan, WWII

When I went away to school I was given my grandfather’s WWII pea-coat to wear. It was and is quite honestly one of my prize possessions. I wore it for many years until I noticed it was getting quite a bit threadbare. Too anxious that it should be ruined beyond repair, I stopped wearing it and it has hung in my closet ever since.

Shirt and Peacoat – note Walter’s name and serial number bleached into the lining, which has been repaired at the top by my grandmother Losee

After he passed away, I also came into possession of one of his navy shirts (behind the coat, above). Though, probably not the one he’s wearing below, it does have his name and serial number in it. I wore it to work just the other day!

Bertha M. Kilmer Hermans and son Walter C. Hermans in 1945

Honorable Discharge, 1 Apr 1946
Seaman Second Class, Walter Clayton Hermans
Post Office, Copake Falls, Columbia Co NY
Occupation, Park Superintendant, Taconic State Park Commission.

Walter C. Hermans Honorable Discharge, April 1st, 1946

“One Beautiful Dream”

01 Tuesday Nov 2011

Posted by SKH in Genealogy

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20th Century, farming, Hermans, milan

The below poem, written sometime between 1924 and 1942, is an ode to my grandfather’s family and the family farm on Academy Hill Rd. in Jackson Corners, Town of Milan, Dutchess County NY. I’ve transcribed it from the hand-written copy in my possession.

The author, William K Munro was born c. 1880 in Australia. He immigrated to New York State in 1874 and married Florence Kilmer, half-sister to Bertha Mae Kilmer, my great-grandmother. (1930 census Albany, Albany Co NY page #5A, ed. #1-51, fam. #88 & 1920 same location page #6B, ed #94, fam. #120)

Bertha is ‘Mom’ in this poem. She married Clayton Hermans (‘Pop’), son of Jacob Luther Hermans 1841-1924, the ‘Grampy’ and ‘Uncle Jake’ of the poem. William and Florence did not have any children of their own (1920 & 1930 census) as did many of Florence’s siblings, which might explain why he doted on his nieces and nephew so much.

My grandfather Walter Clayton Hermans 1915-1994 and his sisters Madge Julia Hermans Snedeker Petty and Louise Hermans Johnson Weiss are the ‘cute little tots’.

One Beautiful Dream

I am dreaming of a homestead upon a little hill
Where I visited very often, but seldom against my will
A mother standing by the door and shading eyes with hands
Peering up and down the sunny roads and across the woody lands

Those actions as I saw her, knew they were a mother’s love
Always a prayer upon her lips to one who is above
Ever anxious to see or hear the pattering of small feet
All the time worrying that an accident they should meet

Walter, Madge and Louise

And when the twilight’s ended and those shadows come again
I can hear those childish chatters, just before the sandman came
When suddenly as if by magic you couldn’t hear a peep
Then Mom’s cares are over, as they all are fast asleep

When the dawn did come at last with cloudy skies once more
Again was heard the pattering feet upon the bed-room floor
Not dreaming of the outside world, which sure was a sight
When looking out upon the ground, it was their great delight

Nature’s mantle so fine and soft lay there, yes, ’tis but a dream
Spreading oe’r the woody lands and that hilly road did screen
Oh Mom, where’s our rubbers and our sleds we cannot find
Oh dear, please hurry Mom this weather is divine

In Mom’s haste to find those things in nooks and places galore
Some squeals or childish laughter were coming thru the door
When looking out into the snow, goodness, lo and behold
Stood Louise in snow up to her knees and Madge and Walt as bold

Walt was out without his hat, Madge without her rubbers
Louise was stunting in the snow which that night did cause some blubbers
Mom was getting desperate, she didn’t know what to say
So took a chance upon them once and outside they did play

Great fun they were having scampering to and fro with glee
Not thinking of the night of sniffles and coughs that would surely be
What a busy night for Mom and Dad, including Grampy too.
Rubbing goose-oil and mustard on some chests and praying they’d pull thru

Jacob Luther “Jake” Hermans 1841-1924 with Louise and Madge c. 1914

After their troubles were over and the doctor went his way
Once more Mom’s heart beats quieted down as in the house they play
Cutting funny pictures from books and placing blocks in stacks
Dressing dolls, scribbling in books and mauling those poor cats

The days were getting longer now and outside they again did roam
Traveling over the woods and fields, but at meal-time sure came home
Pestering the chickens and turkeys, poking at a pig
If they saw a ground-hog, boy, wouldn’t he have to dig

Climbing rickety old fences, tearing stockings and shoes
Rushing around that farm at anything they choose
Teasing the fat old gobbler, making him puff and swell
Raising the dickens all over till Mom gave her famous yell

Madge you come right in this house, you also Louise
Now Walter’s crying, is it right of you girls to tease
Oh Mom, we didn’t bother him, just wanted him to play
But he had to go and beller because he slipped from off the hay

Helping Grampy feed the chickens, then those eggs they’d steal
Mooing to the pig pen when those pigs let out a squeal
Shooing pigeons from the roof, as they take their rest
But keeping their distance from hornets, which they knew was best

Wading in the creek, coming home with wet feet
Doing the most impossible stunts, most people wouldn’t seek
Chasing grass-hoppers and butterflies, sliding down the cellar door
Going to Mom with splintered fingers, next day they’d have some more

Finding of old dead sparrows, burying them with pomp
Crying over an old rag-doll that a picker wouldn’t want
Leaving carts and dolly carriages out in the path
Along comes Pop, hits one, then shows a little wrath

Walter, Madge and Louise (with cat in lower left)

Riding horses down the road just for their usual drink
Making guinea-fowls noisy and things you wouldn’t think
Hugging and pinching the puppy’s tails until they set up wails
Doing everything imaginable, probably cans attached to tails

Playing hide and seek around the house, shed and barn
Stepping on the kitten’s tails and didn’t give a darn
Leaving the screen door open, throwing sand in each others eyes
When Mom comes down from the up-stairs, the house was full of flies

Romping around the homestead, just doing as they please
Running close to hives out front, then getting stung by bees
Climbing that old apple-tree, skinning a few shins
The crawling home again at night with all but broken limbs

Chasing chickens from the road, sliding down the hay
Punching holes in screen-doors so flies could have their say
Tramping over to the woods, gathering nuts and flowers
Sneaking upon setting hens and getting soak in showers

No they didn’t hunt for snakes, but they might have stoned some frogs
Then coming home with sloppy clothes, in trying to cross those bogs
Twisting the calves’ tails so as to hear them bawl
They were afraid of nothing, these kids sure had gall

I know there were a bunch of sheep down on that farm
And I think they were the only ones that didn’t come to harm
The reason no harm came to them was on account of their lope
But if they couldn’t get a sheep they’d surely get your goat

Now remember folks some of this, ‘tis not a dream
I used to go there sometimes and this is what I’d seen
You see at that time they were such cute little tots
You couldn’t help but like them and I did lots

When I used to visit them, mornings I’d lay late in bed
They used to come like crazy Indians and leap upon your head
Sleep then was a thing of the past, you sure would get your digs
And then on top of all of that, Uncle Jake would feed the pigs

And when I speak of Uncle Jake, who long has passed away
And his love he had for others, I remember to this day
We are all slipping just like he, we’ll have no used for skids
He was devoted to you all, when you were little kids

My thoughts are often about him, I can see him on his farm
That good old soul was as fine as gold and with a certain charm
If you got into trouble, some scrape or some jams
No matter how it came out, you were his blessed little lambs

The Hermans farm in 1925

Now Mom and Pop are getting along, Mom’s hair retains its hue
While Pop’s is getting silvery, no doubt t’will happen to you
Time changes everything, but nothing really to cause any alarm
But did change three pair of pattering feet that echoed on that farm

– William K Munro

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