| Notes |
- BRITH About 1662 comes from Schermerhorn Family Genealogy(See Master list for exact sourcing)
SURNAME Like many Dutch names they can be spelled any number of ways but the Schermerhorn Published Genealogy Uses the *horn and not the *born so I have chosen to use the *horn (MAS 6-4-06)
Excerpt from Schermerhorn Genealogy and Famly Chronicles (See Master Sources for exact sourcing)
The Schodack Branch [ of the Schermerhorn Family]
The town of Schodack, Rensselaer Co., N. Y. was organized Mch. 17, 1795, although the name of Schodack as applied to the locality was known at the time of the very earliest settlement of upper New York and used since then. The original name was "Esquatack," or "Ischodack," "fire-place of the nation," so called by the Mohican Indians. This was their principal village and stronghold, and here it was that their council fires intermittently burned. Uncas, the eminent chief and sachem in Connecticut, sometimes presided, it is believed, over a great assembly of the Mohican warriors as they gathered on the heights of "Esquatack." It is also believed that it was here Henry Hudson landed on his voyage up the river which was later to bear his name, though called in those days by the Indians, the "Shatemuc." The character of this locality tallies most closely with that of the landing place described in the journal of the voyage.
Schodack includes the villages of Castleton, Schodack Landing, Schodack Depot, South Schodack, East Schodack, Muitzeskill, and Schodack Centre. Schodack Landing is about thirteen miles below Albany and in this locality lay the ancient Schermerhorn farm mentioned as early as 1688 in the will of Jacob Janse Schermerhorn, and occupied at that time by his son Jacob. Other Colonial records indicate his ownership of land in Schodack as early as 1671 and 1676.
The old Dutch Reformed Church at Schodack is the connecting link between the present day and the community's historic past. The original church was built of logs and was located, it is understood, near the present burying-ground at Schodack Landing. Another larger church was built and continued until united with those of Kinderhook and Claverack. The date of the origin of this church is not known and can only be conjectured. In 1810 the church was removed from Schodack Landing to Muitzeskill where a new building was erected. When this was destroyed by fire in 1876, it was immediately rebuilt and this is the edifice which stands there to-day. The church records show that a regular pastor preached at Schodack as early as 1756. There are no baptismal or marriage records previous to 1770 in existence, the earlier ones having been destroyed or lost. By comparing baptismal records, however, it would appear that the majority of Schodack families of whom there is record, had their children baptised at Kinderhook and Albany previous to 1787 or 1788. These two latter churches undoubtedly were the mainstays, earlier than the actual time of the formal organization of the Schodack Church in 1788.
Soon after his marriage, Jacob J. Schermerhorn settled on the "farm at Schotak" owned by his father, and in this region many generations of Schermerhorns have lived and thrived. Most of them in the early days were farmers, and others maintained an extensive shipping business which was controlled by the family until a recent day, and in fact some of the living members are still interested in a shipping business which provides for the transportation of farm produce directly from the farming districts of this neighborhood to the market in New York City. The Schermerhorns have always been one of the leading families in this section of Rensselaer County, and at one time were by far the greatest land-owners, the fact being that during a certain period, Col. Cornelius I. Schermerhorn owned or had an interest in the majority of farms in the Schodack neighborhood. It was this branch of the family which furnished most of the soldiers of the family, particularly during the Revolution. They were staunch patriots and contributed in great degree to the support of the Revolutionary campaigns in New York State, several rising to distinguished rank in their regiments. During the early Colonial wars, they were also actively engaged, and in the War of 1812 and Civil War, they bore a full share. Many of this family also have risen to prominence in the professions and in business life, and they are now scattered in many places throughout the country. In Schodack and the neighborhood but few remain, although the name is still familiar and wholly respected. The old Dutch Reformed Church of Schodack has borne Schermerhorns for its officers since its organization, and the name is still represented there.
|
1745 - Bef 1791 (< 46 years)
[2] 
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set
