The Knickerbocker Crest
(Many
Thanks to Paul Knickerbocker who presented the hand painted Crest to The
Knickerbocker Historical Society from which this image was taken. Additional
thanks to George Walker for taking this picture in July 1997 and
providing the digital processing.)
The following is an excerpt found on page 74
of Sketches of Allied Families Knickerbacker - Viele written by Kathlyne
Knickerbacker Viele in 1916. She, along with Dr. Van Alstyne, was probably the
most knowledgeable family historian. It seems evident from her tone that she
feels the Coat of Arms may not relate to the Knickerbocker family.
The
Coat of Arms
In the parlor of the Knickerbacker mansion at
Old Schaghticoke long hung a painting of a Coat of Arms. It is about two feet
square and is of the size of the family Coats of Arms which the Dutch used to
hang over their pews in the seventeenth century. An examination of this
painting seems to confirm it as an ancient one of about that period. This can
be gathered from the character of the canvas and of the pigments employed. It
consists of a shield surmounted by a lion rampant. On the shield is a lion and
three losenges. On the white ribbon below there is no
motto, although a motto is assigned to this family-"Die Strydt met fortuyn wint." There is a book plate used by the family in
recent years consisting of this Coat of Arms with the motto on the ribbon
beneath.
Beneath the Coat of Arms in the parlor at
Schaghticoke is the name of "Knickerbacker"-stuck on in separate
Gothic letters, which is, I am told, a modern addition. On the back of the Coat
of Arms is written, if I rightly recall, -"of the seventeenth
century."
Nothing authentic is to be found concerning
this Coat of Arms except that Mr. Edmund Knickerbacker in 1887 calls it a
"Van Berghen Coat of Arms," and he received it and whatever
information he had concerning it from the Schaghticoke Knickerbackers.
Some evidence should be produced to prove that it was brought over by that
soldier of fortune, Hermen Jansen Van Wye kyckacke, or else it would seem part of the Van Berghen
myth. (End…)