General Notes

[Joanne's Tree.1 GED.GED]

2  SOUR S332582
3  DATA
4  TEXT Date of Import: 14 Jan 2004


[daveanthes.FTW]

BIOGRAPHY: 2.  ALEXANDER ROSENKRANS, son of Harmon Hendrick, was born in Kingston and baptized in New York April 12, 1661. When he was a boy three years of age, the Indians carried off some of the children of Kingston, but he was preserved and destined to be the head of a large branch of the Harmon Hendrick family whose descendants have followed closely upon the heels of the Indians in their emigration westward to the big waters of the Mississippi River, and still on to the confine of the Pacific Ocean. When a young man Alexander accompanied his parents to the uncultivated banks of the Peterskill in Mombaccus, now Rochester township, and assisted in clearing a farm, where many of the family and kindred subsequently lived. Being the eldest son Alexander became the head of the family at the death of his father, and, as before stated, was instrumental, 1697, in selling some of his fathers estate to Moses DuPuy, his future father-in-law, and again in 1703. He sold a portion of the estate again in 1708, but probably retained a home there, and subsequently owned a mill property on the Peterskill, in company with his brother-in-law, Gysbert VanGarden, as the records show that "Leendert Cool," in 1709, petitioned the Town Committee of Rochester for the purchase of the highest falls on the Peterskill "above the mill property of Alexander Rosenkrans and Gysbert VanGarden." As there is an old mill still standing on the Peterskill, as noticed in connection with his fathers name, it probably stands on the mill site once owned by him and his brother-in-law.

BIOGRAPHY: The Rochester records show that Alexander was a member of the Town Committee 1714, and with them sold some real estate to William Nottingham, and 1720 his name appears in a list of "quit rents." In 1727 he sold some real estate in Kingston to Johannis Wynkoop and April 19, 1739, while living in New Jersey, sold to Moses DuPuy, Jr., some real estate in Rochester for 503 Pounds (Book E.E., p. 21).

BIOGRAPHY: In 1713, aged about 53, Alexander was married in Rochester to Marretjen DePue, daughter of Moses DuPuy. A copy of his marriage record in the Ulster County History, is as follows: "Married December 11, 1713, Alexander Rosenkrans, j.m., born in Kingston, and Marretjen DePue, j.d., also born in Kingston." These letters following their names signify young man, or unmarried, and young woman. Moses DuPuy was born in France, his father being a Huguenot. His father, Nicholas DuPuy, came from France in the ship called "Pumerland Church," in October, 1662, with his wife, Catryntje Vos, and three children Nicholas, John and Moses, aged 6, 5 and 2 years.   "Church Life."

BIOGRAPHY: Moses married Maritje (Maria) Wynkoop, of Albany, and settled in Rochester, where he purchased a tract of land in 1680, evidently near that of Harmon Hendrick Rosenkrans. His second wife was Margaret Schoonmaker. His son, Nicholas "DePue," baptized December 3, 1682, married Wyntje Roosa, 1707, and settled in Smithfield, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, 1725, purchasing 3,000 acres of land of the Indians and becoming the pioneer settler of that region near Stroudsburg, above the Delaware Water Gap. Moses DuPuys son Moses married a Margaret Schoonmaker, of Ulster County, whose son Benjamin, baptized March 3, 1728, married " Lisabeth Swartwout," daughter of Samuel, and settled in Deerpark township, near Port Jervis. He built the stone house subsequently occupied by Peter E. Gumaer, the family historian, which during the Revolution was converted into a fort called "Fort DePue." "Church Life."

BIOGRAPHY: Alexander Rosenkrans, like his father concluded to go westward not across the ocean or continent but across the southern boundary of his native State, from the hunting grounds of the Iroquois along the Rondout, to the "Minissink" lands of the Leni Lenape, the banks of the Delaware, where white men were then but few. In 1729, Alexander Rosenkrans, in company with Frederick Schoonmaker, purchased of John Crooke, Jr., of Kingston, a tract of 900 acres of land, called the Shappanack tract, on the Delaware, in Walpack, Morris (now Sussex) County, New Jersey, for which they paid Ð600. Their deed, mentioned in "sources of family information," was made in accordance with the old English law of "lease and release." A lease with a deed dated one year and a day later, which begins as follows :

BIOGRAPHY: "This indenture made the 16th and 17th days of March, in the third year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord, George the second, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc., and in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred and twenty-nine and thirty, between John Crooke, Jr. of Kingston, in the County of Ulster, and Province of New York, in America, Merchant, and Catharina, his wife, of one part, and Alexander Rosenkrans, of Rochester, in the said county of Ulster, aforesaid, yeoman, and Fredrick Schoonmaker, of said Rochester, yeoman, of the other part. Whereas, the said John Crooke, Jr., by virtue of a certain conveyance by lease and release, from Joseph Helby, citizen and brewer, of London, to him the said John Crooke Jr., duly made and executed, etc." This tract was purchased by Joseph Helby, of the Council of Proprietors of West New Jersey, it being a part of their last purchase as stated in the deed. This deed is signed by John Crooke, Jr., and Catharinje Crooke, and witnessed by "Badsliijavn DeWit, Petrus Bogardus and Will Anderson, Jr."

BIOGRAPHY: Alexander Rosenkrans probably settled on the Shappanack tract in 1731, as in June of that year, deeds of partition were executed between Rosenkrans and Schoonmaker, setting off for each a farm of 220 acres, including the river flats, or "low lands," the division line at the road being the small stream which descends the hill just north of the stone dwelling now standing there, Rosenkrans having taken the upper, or northeastern farm, and Schoonmaker the lower one. Of the low lands Alexander received 70 acres and Schoonmaker 60, and an island of ten acres in the rivers as shown by a map made at the time. On the plateau at the cross roads, twelve or fifteen rods west of the "Old Mine," or river road, Alexander built him a house as seen on the map, on the site of the present frame dwelling now occupied by Joseph H. Hull. That house was undoubtedly built of logs, as were most of the dwellings of that early period, and perhaps converted into a fort, or block house, during the Revolution by his son, Colonel John, who then lived on the premises and had a log fort. In 1742, Alexander Rosenkrans, of Walpack, New Jersey, purchased of Fredrick Schoonmaker, of Marbletown, Ulster County, New York, his one-half interest in this Shappanack tract, for which he paid him Ð4OO.

BIOGRAPHY: The deed showing this purchase is dated February 2nd, in the sixteenth year of the reign of King George the second, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, and of our Lord Christ, 1742 - 1743. It is signed "Fredrijck Schoonmaker" and "Eva Schoonmaker" and witnessed by "Jacob Schoonmaker, Patt Ker, Thomas Schoonmaker." This half tract, or lower farm, was evidently purchased by Alexander for his son Harmen, as on the 27th March following he deeded it to him. This deed is in possession of Peter Dewitt of Somerville, New Jersey, of which a copy has been obtained. Three years after selling to Harmen, Alexander sold the other half of the tract, the original homestead of nearly 500 acres, to his youngest son Johannis (Colonel John) for Ð400, and the annual rent of one pepper corn only if demanded." This deed to Johannis Rosenkrans, in possession of the writer, is dated March 27, 1745, and signed Alexander <his>(A.R.)<mark> Rosenkrans, and Marriky <her>(X)<mark> Rosekrans; witnessed by Jacobus Schoonmaker and James Hyndshaw. This is the last record found of Alexander and Marriky, his wife, or Marretjen, as given in the marriage record. As he was then 85 years of age, he probably died soon after and was buried in the graveyard of the first Walpack church, on the Nicholas Schoonhoven farm, now owned and occupied by Daniel S. Smith, who married Amanda Rosenkrans (256), a great-great granddaughter of Alexander. In the deed from Harmen to Isaac VanCampen, 1754, Alexander, of whom the property was purchased, is spoken of as "the departed," having died prior to that date. No lettered stone can now be found to indicate the place of his and his wifes burial, but we trust that they will be found and will come forth "to the resurrection of life" at the resurrection of the just.

BIOGRAPHY: Alexander and his wife were evidently church members, since from 1696, to his marriage 1713, his name appears frequently on the Rochester church book as sponsor at the Baptism of children, and from their marriage to their removal to Walpack, 1731, their names appear together in the records. the last time being at the baptism of his grandchild and namesake Alexander, son of Jacobus and Maria (R.) Schoonmaker, October 12, 1735. This was after their removal to New Jersey, and probably while on a visit to their friends and relatives in Ulster County. Alexander had seven children, as found in the records: Maria, Harmen, Magdalena, Catrina, Johannis, Johannis 2nd, and Helenah.

BIOGRAPHY: 3.  ANNATJE ROSENKRANS, daughter of Harmon Hendrick, was baptized in Kingston, August 27, 1662, and died young.

BIOGRAPHY: 4.  RACHEL ROSENKRANS, baptized August 21, 1663; married Gysbert VanGarden, who settled about 1684 on a farm in Rochester, on the Rondout. He was the son of Albert Gysbertsen, and Aeltje Wiggers, who came to Kingston from Heerde, a Province of Gelderland prior to 1660. Gysberts name previous to I684 is found in the records as Gysbert Alberts, but in a Petition to the Governor, 1684, he signed his name Gysbert VanGarden, and since then he and his descendants have had the family name of VanGarden, now usually spelled VanGorden. Gysbert is said to have been a large land owner in Rochester, and as before mentioned owned, in company with Alexander Rosenkrans, a mill property on the Peterskill. He was a Trustee of Rochester 1713 - 1716, and died prior to 1720. "Church Life."

BIOGRAPHY: The children of Gysbert VanGarden and Rachel Rosenkrans were ten: Albert, who married Jannetje Vredenburg and, 1704, settled at Minissink, New Jersey. Harmen, baptized 1682, died young. Pieter baptized 1684, married Margaret Dekker and moved to Shippekonk, at the "smooth rocks," in Montague, three miles from Port Jervis. Magdalena married Jan VanKampen, Jr., of Rochester. Gysbert married Arreantje de Lange, of Rochester. Herman died young. Herman 2nd married Elsje Koddebek, and lived at Shippekonk, where his sons Daniel and Benjamin afterward lived. Hendrick married Marretje Middog, 2nd, Elenora Deckker and lived in Montague. Sara died young. Sara 2nd baptized 1705, married Leendert Kool, 1723, and lived in Rochester. He afterward moved to Walpack, New Jersey. Christian baptized September 18, 1709, married Jacob VanderMerker (Vandermark).