1. Harmen Jansen Knickerbocker died before 1722 in
Dutchess Co, NY.(1) The Knickerbocker
family of New York, rendered famous by the genius of Washington Irving, has never
to our knowledge been printed in genealogical form. This we now endeavor to do
for the first four or five generations. Pains have been taken to secure accuracy
and authorities are given for most statements. Traditions are current in the
family concerning its origin and history in Holland, but these the writer, not
finding leisure to verify them, has omitted. He has encountered many early spellings
of the name of the family, such as Knikkerbakker, Knikkelbakker, and Knikkenbakker,
but has adhered to the present spellings, Knickerbacker and Knickerbocker. Authorities
differ as to the origin of the name Knickerbocker. William Arthur (Derivation
of Family Names, p. 177) derives it from knacker, a cracker, and backer, a baker;
while Edward M. Smith (History of Rhinebeck, N.Y., p. 174) derives it from knikker,
a marble, and bakker, a baker. Consensus of opinion favors the latter explanation.
Harmen Jansen Knickerbocker, the ancestor of the family, came to this country
from Holland prior to 1683 and settled at Albany, N. Y. Occasionaly he added
the termination Van Wie to his name indicating that he came from Wie, the present
Wyhe, a few miles south of Zwolle, in the Province of Overyssel, Holland.
In 1683, Harman Jansz Knickelbacker and Lysbet Harmensz were members of the Dutch
Reformed Church at Albany ( Year Book, l904, of the Holland Society of New York,
p. 5).
On 6 May, 1684, Harmen Jansen Knickerbocker deeded land in Albany to Mews Hogeboom
(Book 531, Public Records of Albany Co.). On 2 June, 1688, Peter Schuyler received
a grant of land in Dutchess County near Red Hook. In 1689 he sold one- half of
one-fourth of the patent to Harme Gansevoort of Albany, the fourth laying north
of a line due east from a point on the river opposite the south end of Slipstein
Island, the small island north of Cruger's. On 1 May, 1704, Gansevoort sold his
moiety to Harme Jans Knickerbocker. In 1722 Schuyler divided thc upper fourth
of his patent into thirteen lots, seven of which he deeded to Lawrence, Cornelius,
Evert and Pieter Knickerbocker of Dutchess County, Anthony Bogardus of Albany,
and Jannetje, his wife, Jan Vosburgh of Dutchess County, and Cornelia, his wife,
sons and daughters of Harmen Janse Knickerbocker, late of Dutchess County, deceased
(Smith's History of Rhinebeck, N.Y., pp. 23, 80).
In April, 1698, the Earl of Bellomont succeeded Fletcher as Governor; in July
he made a journey in great state to Albany and Schenectady, staying two weeks
ln the former and two days in the latter place, "My Lady" accompanying
him. Among the items of expense were "£1 17s. to Harme Janse Knickerbacker
for his Waggen and horses to Shinnectady" (Jonathan Pearson's History of
the Schenectady Patent, p. 283).
On 16 March, 1706-7, the brothers, Daniel and David Ketelhuyn "of the city
of Albany," bought of Harme Janse Knickerbacker, "late of the county
of Albany," for one hundred and eighty-four pounds and ten shillings, "each
one equall half of all that certain tract or parcel of land . . . on the west
side of Hudson's river above the land commonly called the Half Moon, being about
four English miles above the farm or boundary of Gerrit Hendrickse, which said
land begins at the kill or creek that runs into Hudson's river between the Wijhe
Vlackje and the said Harme Janse's house, and from thence along the river, on
the west side of Hudson's river, and strikes from the river westward into the
woods on the south and along the north side of the said kill or creek so as the
same runs until you come to the high hills, which said hills run along the fly
of the Half Moon and stretch as far as Sarachtogue; and on the north side from
the northern end of the said Stonje Island with a direct west line into the woods
till you come to the said high hills aforesaid." On 20 March that year,
Daniel Ketelhuyn sold his share in this tract to his brother David, for one hundred
and one pounds and five shillings (Deeds, book F, No. 6, pp. 3, 41, ln the office
of the Clerk of Albany County).
In 1711 Harmen Knickerbocker deeded lands in the south part of Amenia, N.Y.,
to Cornelius Knickerbocker (Isaac Huntting's Little Nine Partners, p. 366).
The will of Harmen Jansen Knickerbacker "of Dutchess County, in Province
of New York," was made 17 Jan., 1707-8, and recorded in Albany County Wills,
Lib. 1, p. 175. In it he mentions wife Elizabeth and "my seven children,"
namely, Johannes, Lourens, Cornelis, Evert, Peter, Jannetje Lansing, widow of
Hendrick Lansing, junior, and Cornelia Knickerbacker; "eldest son Johannes."
The will is written in Dutch and mentions real and personal estate. Executors:
wife and sons Johannes and Lourens Witnesses: Jan Ploeg and Pieter Pile. In 1723
the widow of Harmon Knickerbacker residing in Dutchess County was taxed five
pounds and five pence (Smlth's History of Rhinebeck, N. Y., p. 45).
He was married to Lysbet Janse Bogaert (daughter of Jan
Laurensen Bogaert and Cornelia Evertse) about 1681.
(1) Lysbet Janse Bogaert was born in 1659
in Schoonderwoerd, Holland.(1) Lysbet
Janse Bogaert, b. in 1659, in Holland, dau. of Jan Laurensen Bogaert and Cornelia
Evertse. Jan Laurensen Bogaert with his wife and two children, seven and four
years old, came from Schoonderwoerd, a town in South Holland, in the ship Spotted
Cow, 16 April, 1663, and it is probable that Lysbet was born there. She died
after 1723.(1) Harmen Jansen Knickerbocker
and Lysbet Janse Bogaert had the following children:
+2 i.
Johannes Knickerbocker.
+3 ii.
Lourens Knickerbocker.
+4 iii.
Jannetie Knickerbocker.
5 iv. Cornelis
Knickerbocker was baptized on 2 Sep 1688 in Albany, NY.
(1) He died before 1691 in Albany, NY.
(1)
+6 v.
Cornelis Knickerbocker.
+7 vi.
Cornelia Knickerbocker.
+8 vii.
Evert Knickerbocker.
+9 viii.
Pieter Knickerbocker.
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