WISNER FAMILY LETTERS, ORANGE, NEW YORK Copyright (c) 2000 by John Reedy and Phoebe Cortessis (MzCortez@aol.com). ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submittor has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ************************************************************************ Copy of a letter of Chas L. Eastman addressed to Dr. J. H. Thompson Penn Yan Jan 8, 1895 Dear Cousins, I was very glad to hear from you after years of profound silence, " XXXX". To proceed to business, my grandfather's name was JOHN WISNER and my grandmother's name was MARY THOMPSON, a daughter of JAMES THOMPSON. My mothers name was SARAH WISNER, daughter of said JOHN WISNER, and a better woman never walked in shoes. I will first give you the names of my brothers & sisters. JOHN WISNER EASTMAN born Nov 26, 1798 died 1871 DANIEL WARD born March 19, 1800 died Nov. 22, 1887 MARY ANN born March 28, 1803 died June 5, 1831 JAMES THOMPSON born July 17, 1805 died Sept. 8, 1848 PETER OWEN born Feb. 18, 1808 died July 20, 1892 MOSES WISNER born June 12, 1810 died Dec. 14, 1886 WILLIAM WALLACE born Feb 13, 1812 died Nov. 9, 1841 HENRY MEARS born Feb. 5, 1816 died Jan. 1, 1888 CHARLES L. EASTMAN born July 17, 1821 (alive) Grandfather, JOHN WISNER, was born in Goshen, N.Y. in 1737, married for his first wife MARY THOMPSON; for his second wife he married SALLIE HALL. The children of the second wife were ASA WISNER, MUMFORD, HARRY, WILLIAM, CLARISSA, ELIZABETH, and ROBERT L. JAMES WISNER, a son of one of the above 2d lot, lives in Carney, Ohio or was there in March, 1872. WILLIAM lived at Carney also. He visited my mother in Republic, Ohio. He was called a fine man. The old stock are all dead. I am the last of my father's family. The TEMPERANCE SHEPHERD that I referred to in my letter to you, I think in 1888, was a daughter of UNCLE MOSES WISNER, (son of JOHN WISNER). She married WILLIAM SHEPHERD, a son of COLVIN (s/b Calvin). They were cousins to each other, you see. She died since I wrote you, at 90 or 92 years of age. She was a lovely old lady to the very last. Their children were as follows: WILLIAM ALEXANDER SHEPHERD CHARLOTTE JAMES JACOB H. MOSES TEMPERANCE JESSE, seven children. UNCLE MOSES WISNER, had eight children, as follows: JAMES T. TEMPERANCE, SARAH, JESSE O. HARRIETT, CHARLOTTE, CHARLES H., and ELIZABETH. UNCLE JAMES WISNER, son of JOHN WISNER AND MARY THOMPSON was married twice. His first wife was MISS CARPENTER. I cannot give the names of all of his children. His oldest son's name was CARPENTER WISNER. Then there were JELINE and HENRY - - 3 children. His second wife's name was MOORE, and had a number of children who lived in Michigan. JEFFREY WISNER of Warwick, Orange Co., N.Y. was a cousin to my grandfather, JOHN WISNER. JEFFREY'S daughter, SUSIE, was living at Warwick, and maybe living and residing there still. (She may, however, instead be a granddaughter of JEFFREY WISNER.) JOHN and HENRY WISNER of Elmira were sons of JEFFREY. Now as to the old stock. JOHN and HENRY WISNER came from Germany. They settled on Long Island for a short time. JOHN settled at Warwick, Orange Co., N.Y. June 1715. He died 1744. I guess I have given you all you want for this time. "XXXXX" Yours, C. L. EASTMAN P.S. JOHN and HENRY WISNER brought over with them from Germany an iron chest. It was here in Penn Yan a few years ago, owned by HENRY WISNER, a lawyer. Some on has stolen the chest. I have tried to find it, but cannot. C.L.E." A side note from Dr. J. H. Thompson when he forwarded this letter to Capt. Dahlgren: I presume Mr. Eastman accepts as correct my statement of John Wisner's children by first marriage, which was the James I gave you. J. H. T. St. James Place Goshen, NY Jan 12, 1895 My Dear Capt. Enclosed please find copy of a letter I just received from my wife's cousin, CHARLES L. EASTMAN of Pen Yan, N.Y. It proves to be a very interesting letter to us, for it gave us information about the children of JOHN WISNER by his second wife of which we were ignorant previously. Mr. EASTMAN has kindly advised us, besides, concerning all the members of his immediate family, as well as the descendents of other WISNER relatives of the original stock, mutually allied, of whom before we had no certain knowledge. I hope, on your part, you will be able to derive some valuable information from Mr. E's letter. I also enclose a clipping from yesterday's "Middletown Time's" letter of L. H. WISNER. Mr. NANNY requests me to say to you that Mr. WISNER is in error in respect of the HENRY WISNER JR., who he claims, was his great grandfather. Mr. N's contention is that L.H.W's great grandfather was the "powder maker", HENRY WISNER JR. From Mr. EASTMAN'S letter, I conclude the traditional belief that the "shingle house" that used to stand at the fork of the road beyond HOWELL's Creamery on the highway between Goshen and Florida, was the possession and home of JOHN WISNER and his wife MARY THOMPSON during their life time as man and wife. After JOHN WISNER'S second marriage to SALLY HALL, I am of the conviction that he moved out of this town of Goshen into the town of WARWICK, and Mr. NANNY'S statement would seem to quite convincingly show that the VANDERHOOF old homestead near the village of Florida was his later or last place of residence. Another item of intelligence respecting JOHN WISNER in question is of singular interest to us, and that is the date of his birth - 1737. That date proves him to have been easily eligible of service in the war of the Revolution, and hence, credibly a Capt. in the same. I reiterate my offer to give you the full genealogy of my wife's immediate family, if you shall indicate a desire for it. Cordially yours, J. H. THOMPSON Side note on back Mr. GEORGE WISNER of Goshen has been very sick with pneumonia, but is now improving and thought to be out of danger. J. H. T. Penn Yan June 14th 1895 Dear Captain, I went June 4th to East Corning Steuben Co, NY to visit Uncle ROBERT L. WISNER, son of CAPT JOHN by his second marriage to SARAH HALLl, I found him well and smart for a man of his age born March 2nd 1811. He had 3 brothers and 3 sisters. I will give their names: ASA, JOHN M., ELIZA, CLARISA, HENRY, EMILY, ROBERT L. m. all (believe m means married) To CAPT JOHN WISNER by his first marriage to MARY THOMPSON had 8 children 2 boys and 6 girls as follows TEMPERANCE m. 1st CORNELIUS VANDERHOOF, 2nd CALVIN SHEPHERD MARY m. JACOB BANDERHOOF JAMES m. 1st ELIZA CARPENTER, 2nd MRS. MOORE MOSES m. DOLLY HOWELL ANNA m. GABRI(E)L POST HANNAH m. JAMES VANHOUTEN ELEANOR m. DAVID POST SARAH (my mother) m to PETER EASTMAN Children of PETER EASTMAN AND SARAH WISNER and grand children of CAPTAIN JOHN WISNER are as follows. JOHN W. EASTMAN, DANIEL W., MARY ANN, JAMES T. , PETER O., MOSES W., WILLIAM W., HENRY M., CHARLES L., the writer. I will now give you the name of JEFFREY A. WISNER of Warwick, Orange County, who was the father of Judge JOHN WISNER and WILLIAM HENRY of Elmira, N.Y. now deceased, also a son living at Warwick, Orange Co by the name of RICHARD WISNER, a half brother of JOHN and WILLIAM HENRY. I think JEFFREY A. was a first or second cousin of my mother. History says that POLYDORE B. WISNER of Geneva, deceased, was the son of HENRY of Revolutionary fame, he had 2 sons who died in Penn Yan. HENRY A. lawyer and DR. BARNET V. WISNER some of the Grand children live here now. You are right WILLIAM WISNER of Michigan is Grand Son of Uncle JAMES WISNER. Yours, CHARLES L. EASTMAN LAW OFFICE of HARRISON W. NANNY Goshen, N.Y. Feb. 7 1897 Capt. C. B. Dahlgren, My Dear Captain, Many rugged months have passed since I wrote you and now, since I am once more with my harvest on, I have some things to tell you. In my search for evidence in a case which I am trying, involving the title to "Wickham's Pond," once owned by "JOHN the VETERAN," I have found his signature of that worthy to a deed. Also a deed to HENDRICK WISNER in 1715, for land covering or near his grave yard which we visited, also a deed of JOHANNIS WISNER to his wife ELIZABETH. His "mark" is made to it and duly attested and I also found the testimony of ADAM WISNER taken about 1800 or earlier in which he says he was 86 years of age, and compares our flat lands with those of Germany. This latter must have been from "hearsay" unless he was not "born on the passage" hither, but before the legend. If any of these things interest you, let me know. By the way, have you found any trace of his descendants after the first generation? Yours Truly, Harrison W. Nanny LAW OFFICE HARRISON W. NANNY Goshen, N. Y. Dec 31st 1894 My Dear Captain, Yours received. I return the Military chart with corrections. "You're right me bye," (old sailor talk for boy?) you have "mixed JOHN JR. with JOHN 2D. The CAPT. (Purling Brook Co.) was a son of CAPT. JOHN the Veteran, and you have stood over their dust at Mr. Eve. I know nothing of this JOHN 2D., son of ADAM, nor of Fishers Regt where you place him. If he was an Orange Co. man how did he get into Fisher's Regt. in the Mohawk Valley? The only thing confusing is that you it that CAPT. JOHN (Purling Brook Co) married to THOMPSON, while I have it McDOUGAL - 1st, then to Sarah Hall, but the children seem to be the same substantially whether THOMPSON or McDOUGALL be the name. As to the HENRY'S, see what I have added on chart. You must not be led astray by Fernow. He made up his roster from various sources. When a man might be call "Jr." in one roll and "2d" in another, and yet be the same. For instance to take him literally on page 292, 8 lines from bottom HENRY WISNER might be claimed as the HENRY because "Jr." or 3d was not added. Again on page 636 (index) we find "HENRY WISNER 135, letter from 142. Lt. Col. 542" as though they were the same person. Whereas the first two are the HENRY and other was CAPT, Pond Co. called both "JR." and "3RD," and afterward Maj. and Lt. Col.. How did you ever get the photograph of his commission from CLINTON W. WISNER? He has it, several of them, or rather a facsimile. When we locate JUDGE WISNER's line we may find something to strengthen us. What else do you know of JOHN the Veteran being cashiered?(Sept. 30, 1776 annotated) I would like to know for what. For my grandfather and his brothers were at the Battle of Long Island in his company which was cut up. The two brothers taken prisoners, and died on the prison ship. I wonder if the charges were cowardice or (annotated drunken- ess, duplicating pay rolls, insubordination) I am sorry to hear of Mrs. D's ill health may she soon be restored. My wife is very ill at Jacksonville where she went two weeks ago. I may be sent for but hope for the best. With best wishes for a Happy New Year to you and yours, believe me, Sincerely yours, Harrison W. Nanny P. S. Yes, let's call the clans together at Mid-year near the old Powder mill and tell them of the glory their name has won. HWN Annotation at top of page - Capt JNO WISNER - b 174 7th Co, Col ISAAC NICHOLS NY Regt in Division at Long Island Aug 28/9, 1776. This Division was not engaged as our left flank was turned. Penn Yan June 18, 1895 Dear Captain Dahlgren, Yours of June 17th came to hand today contents noticed. I know you have had a big job to go through with, I hope you have succeeded to your satisfaction, if not it may be our fault and not yours in tracing up our family - Johannis is the first generation - Hendrick his son is the second generation - John, son of Hendrick, the Indian and French fighter 3rd - Captain John son of John (My Grand Father) fourth generation - Captain John my Grand Father & Brothers & Sisters also fourth as follows - Henry, William, Asa, Anna, Charity, and Hannah - Captain John's Children (Grand Father's) would be fifth generation as follows. - Temperance, Mary, James, Moses, Anna, Hannah Eleanor (and Sarah the writer's mother) - Peter Eastman and Sarah Wisner Eastman children would be the 6th generation. That brings me in, my brothers and sisters I think you have. I did not know how many generations you expected to take in. You can call on me for anything you don't understand in my branch. Your in haste - C.L. Eastman P.S. The Orange County Cousins ought to be able to help you very much. There is where my mother was born on Capt. John Wisner's farm now call the Vanderhoof farm at the foot of Mount Eve. C.L.E. HARRISON W. NANNY Goshen, N.Y. Feb 19th 1895 Dear Captain, Col. WM. ALLISON did not mar[r]y a WISNER but MARY JACKSON. I find John, Henry and Richard ALLISON, sons of JOHN ALLISON. These may be the nephews mentioned by HENRY WISNER. I don't find his wife's name. His will recorded in N.Y. 1764. This JOHN had a brother JOSEPH who was father of COL. WM. He had a brother Richard also who had a son John who had children. JOHN WISNER ALLISON (no issue). A daughter m _____ SMITH who had a child WISNER ALLISON SMITH. This looks as though hers is where the WISNER and ALLISON linked. I have a very elaborate book on the Allison family 286 p.p., but except as above, no mention of WISNER. I am on track of one SAMUEL WISNER - deceased - out in Wisconsin - who I think is from ADAM - he married a WILKINSON (Phebe) Have you traced this out, or heard from a WISNER - WILKINSON connection in Wisconsin? Yours, Harrison W. Nanny St. James Place Goshen Aug 3, 1897 My Dear Capt- I trust that you have received the copies of Goshen Democrat sent you containing Mr. NANNY's sketch of HENRY WISNER and my speech made incident to the completion of the H. WISNER monument erected to his memory at St. James Place. I will forward you more copies of the Democrat, with same contents, if you wish them. I have just received a letter from my wife's cousin, CHARLES L. EASTMAN, of Penn Yan, N. Y. - on the subject of relatives, which I will herewith copy for your information. MR. EASTMAN says, "I fear there will be a mistake made with GOV. WISNER of Michigan. His is not a grandson of Capt. JOHN WISNER, 2d, or son of MOSES WISNER, my uncle. My Mother's brother, MOSES had only three sons, JESSE, JAMES, and CHARLES. JAMES and CHARLES are dead. JESSE is now living in Branchford, Ontario, Canada, almost 90 years old, and I should think he would weigh about 250 lbs. I have not seen him in three or 4 years. Then he made a short visit here. Capt. JOHN WISNER only had two sons, MOSES and JAMES. MOSES died in Monroe County. JAMES died in Michigan. I wish I could get a letter from cousin DAVID POST. He must be almost 90 years old. I should think he could tell all about the family." DAVID POST, mentioned above by MR. EASTMAN, lives at Amity, Orange Co., N.Y. He is the oldest living nearest of kin, I believe, of Capt. JOHN WISNER 2d, except the son who is still alive, ROBERT L. WISNER, residing near Elmira (ROBERT WISNER, Jr. resides at Edenville, this Co.) DAVID POST and my wife's father were double cousins, that is, their fathers were brothers and their mothers were sisters. Mr. Read, Editor of the Goshen Democrat, informs me that he expects to print a picture of the WISNER monument in the near future. Only one face of the die of the monument has been fully engraved. Another side has been commenced, which records the fact of H.W. having been a member of the 1st and 2nd Continental Congress. Mr. NANNY last evening told me that he was advised that the next line would declare H.W. to have voted for the Declaration of Independence. Mr. NANNY disputes that statement. With kind regards, I remain yours cordially, J. H. Thompson P. S. I will, when fully engraved, send you statement of inscriptions St. James place Goshen, N.Y. Dec. 8, 1894 Capt. Charles D. Dahlgren, My Dear Sir: Mrs. THOMPSON desires me to apologize to you for her neglect in responding to your kind favor received some month or two ago. She has mislaid your letter and thus far has failed to find it, fearing it will not turn up speedily, I will undertake with the data available to communicate the information we are able concerning the genealogy of my wife's family on the WISNER side. We are fortunate in the possession of a M.S. record, of undoubted credibility, which was prepared and executed by Mrs. THOMPSONS's deceased Uncle, WISNER POST. On another and separate sheet I have given you the genealogy of my wife's ancestor on her father's maternal side, dating back as far as we have a veritable record. I would be able to furnish you a very complete list of the descendents of the kindred catalogued, in the later generations, should you desire such statement. I presume information would be more usable of dates of marriage & dates of deaths of relatives of my wife who are the lineal descendants of JOHN WISNER, second. Let me say to you that my wife's grandmother's name was ANNA WISNER, and grandfather's name was GABRIEL POST. By the accompanying record (see other side) you will discover that ELENOR WISNER married DAVID POST. GABRIEL POST and DAVID POST were brothers, consequently both DAVID POST and his wife were by consanguinity the uncle and aunt respectively of my wife's father. By the record herewith furnished you will also notice TEMPERANCE WISNER and MARY WISNER each married husbands by the name of VANDERHOFF. These men, too, were brothers. DAVID POST, second, is the sole surviving child of his father. He resides near Amity - Amity, Orange Co. N. Y. is his P.O. address. He is about 95 yrs. old, I think. JAMES VANDEROFF, set about 70, son I believe, of JACOB, resides in Montgomery this Co. He has a half brother, JOHN VANDERHOFF living. ROBERT L. WISNER, son of JOHN WISNER, second, by second wife, resides near Elmira. He as a son, ROBERT WISNER, who resides near Edenville, Orange Co.. I met the latter about a month ago. I inquired of him concerning the WISNER relations. He stated to me that his father, ROBERT L. was born in 1811 and is in the enjoyment of excellent health and in full possession of his mental faculties. I would reckon ROBERT L. WISNER of near Elmira, the most likely living member of our race of whom credible information could be derived. His son, whose P. O. is Edenville, NY should be addressed with reference to his fathers P. O. address. The following extract of a letter received April 22, 1889, from CHARLES L. EASTMAN, residing in Penn Yan N.Y. may prove of interest to you. Addressing my wife, he says, "I guess your family, as well as ours, are almost all gone. Out of eight brothers, only two of us are living. I have one brother in Ohio in his 82d year. Cousin SHEPHERD and her daughter CHARLOTT and son JACOB and grand daughter, Mrs. CUMMINGS are living here. XXX Your grandmother and my mother were sisters." Cousin SHEPHERD above mentioned is TEMPERANCE SHEPHERD. She was 89 yrs. old in 89 - Her husband's name and hers were the same - cousins. All relatives of my wife on the WISNER side. Now, my dear Capt, in a desultory way I have furnished you or have given you names and addresses that will enable you to gather a very full knowledge of the WISNER branch of the family to which my wife is related, and with which you are remotely allied, I believe. I will be glad at any time to afford you all the information respecting mutual kindred obtainable on my part. I regret not to have made your acquaintance last summer. Please call on me and Mrs. Thompson whenever it shall be convenient to you. Very Cordially yours, J. H. Thompson, M.D. On the rear of one of the pages is the following: My wife's grandparents on her father's maternal side lived on what is now the JAMES HOUSTON JR. farm; formerly the VAN DUGEN farm, situated about 2 miles from Goshen on the Florida road. The house in which ANNA WISNER, in the record enclosed, lived in her girlhood & in which she was probably born, used to stand on the northwest side of the Florida road & the junction of road connecting with the 1st mentioned highway leading across to the Drowned Land road. It was a large "shingle house" & was demolished only a few years ago. I have attended families who have occupied same. On the rear of one of the pages is the following: The following statement appears in the MS book, which was found in the effects of my wife's Uncle MOSES WISNER POST, who died Aug 11, 1851. "My Mother said my great grandfather and great grandmother were JAMES THOMPSON and MARAH McDOWELL." I think this record ought to be accepted as veritable as to what were the names of parents of MARY THOMPSON, who married JOHN WISNER, the progenitors in which my wife, genealogically, is interested especially. St. James Place Goshen, Dec. 9, 1894 My Dear Capt. Dahlgren, In looking through the MS book of Mrs. THOMPSON'S uncle containing a genealogical record of her kindred I find a statement of some additional fact, to those furnished to you in my letter of yesterday of primary interest. The addenda which I now give you dates back a generation further than the record furnished you in yesterday's communication. Of course when I alluded to JOHN WISNER as JOHN WISNER, second, that reference implied that his father's name was JOHN WISNER. That is the fact. Who the 1st JOHN WISNER'S wife was I do not find, but the record is that JAMES THOMPSON and MARAH McDOWELL, respectively, were the father and mother of the wife of JOHN WISNER the second. Another fact I ascertain in the reperusal of the record book in question, and that is that TEMPERANCE WISNER was twice married, the name of her first husband being CORNELIUS VANDERHUFF, and that of her second husband, CALVIN SHEPHERD. I take it she was the TEMPERANCE SHEPHERD'S mother mentioned in the extract of letter I embodied in my epistle of yesterday, received from CHARLES L. EASTMAN. (in the margin) CHAS.L. EASTMAN is the son of SARAH EASTMAN, nee SARAH WISNER I presume the dates of birth of the several children of JOHN WISNER, second, and MARY THOMPSON were in the order given in my transcript of yesterday. The date of birth of GABRIEL POST who was my wife's grandfather was April 9th, 1765. The date of birth ANNA WISNER, wife of GABRIEL POST above named and grandmother of my wife, was Nov. 14th, 1769. The date of death of GABRIEL POST above mentioned, was April 9th, 1820, at 55 yrs. The date of ANNA WISNER, his wife, was March 21st, 1855. I do not find a record of dates of birth and death of my wife's grandparents brothers and sisters. With renewed assurances of respect, I am cordially & sincerely yours, J. H. Thompson (in the margin) Mrs. Thompson almost grieves over the loss of the record you sent her. St James Place Goshen, Dec 24, 1894 My Dear Capt- We are in receipt of your favor enclosing JUDGE C. H. WISNER'S comments (?) addressed to you, for which accept our sincere thanks. I herewith return the Judge's letter. All the WISNER tribe ought to feel very grateful to you for your interest as manifested by your industrious research for the ancestry of the same. I am not advised as to your desire of possession of knowledge of the later generations of the related WISNERS. I could give you very accurate information of the relations of Mrs. THOMPSON allied to the WISNERS, should you desire it. Of the kindred represented by the following sons and daughters of JOHN WISNER 2d we have no knowledge: MARY who married JACOB VANDERHOOF; JAMES, who married ELIZABETH CARPENTER and MOSES who married DOLLY HOWELL. We are not advised as to the name of JOHN WISNER'S second wife who was the grandmother of ROBERT WISNER of Edenville, N.Y. I need not say to you that intelligence concerning the later generations of the above mentioned relatives would afford us much satisfaction. Besides absence of knowledge of the kindred indicated, we have but a very imperfect acquaintance concerning the VAN HOUTENS, HANNAH WISNER'S descendents. The only representative whom I know about is WM B. VAN HOUTEN, with HARRY WILTSHIRE, 120 Fulton St., N. Y. I should have said LIEUT. VAN HOUTON, for he was Adjutant of the 124th Regt, N.Y.V. from what MR. NANNY tells me I think his great, great grandmother was AUNT "NOCHY," whom MR. NANNY says he can remember. She lived to be very old. The following are the names of the children of DAVID POST 2nd (His wife's name was WOOD), ESTHER, who married CARPENTER HOWELL, deceased, FRANCES who married, 1st husband, C. PRICE WATERBURY; 2d is Dr. THEO H. COOPER, also deceased; Augusta, who married JOHN W. LAYTON, deceased and DEWITT C. POST whose first wife's name was NANNY and 2nd was MILLER. All of the people of this family living, except Mrs. HOWELL, reside in the town of Warwick, N.Y. Should you desire correspondence with any members of it, I think Mrs. FRANCES COOPER whose house is in the village of Warwick would send you the best correspondence. I obtained a few days ago a complete genealogical statement from Mrs. N. J. KELSEY of Goshen as to their immediate relationship on her fathers' (A. B. POST) side. She represents MOSES POST, who was a son of DAVID POST 1st. A cousin of Mrs. KELSEY is Col. PHILIP SIDNEY POST who is a member of Congress. He would be a good party to write. (in the margin) I speak of JOHN WISNER 2nd in allusion to JOHN 1st, the great, great grandfather of my wife's father. The family who ought to be the best informed in regard to the ancestry of JOHN WISNER 2 are the VAN DERHOOFS of near Florida. Mr. NANNY gives it as his conviction that the VANDERHOOF place was the homestead of JOHN WISNER 2d, and he states very convincing reasons for his belief. JOHN VANDERHOOF, son of CORNELIUS VANDERHOOF occupied the house during his lifetime, I think which is still in possession of & occupation by the VANDERHOOFS of today. Said JOHN VANDERHOOF, whose 1st wife was a WHEELER, was the father of ZEBULON, JAMES, and a daughter who married a FARRIER. He was the father of JOHN 2d also by 2d wife, widow WHEELER, whose maiden name was ROGERS. Hence, Mr. NANNY'S relationship with the family. (in the margin) ZEBULON VANDERHOOF died last autumn childless. His widow was a JAYNE, sister of DR. JAYNE of Florida. I take it the VANDERHOOF bible is in her possession. Write her. I presume Capt, you have had access to the late history of Orange Co. and have familiarized yourself with all of the information respecting the WISNERS therein published. It would seem by the sketch of JEFFRY WISNER, deceased, that his near (?) progenitors were descendents of the 1st JOHANNIS from whom we claim our origin. Now, my dear Capt. I have either given you the salient facts myself or the address of those who ought to know more fully than I can tell you about Mrs. T. WISNER relatives. I have also indicated information in respect to the late generation available should you wish it. When the full knowledge desired shall be obtained we shall be very glad to have a guide sheet or chart at your hands. Very truly, your obedient servant See 2d page (in the margin) JAMES J. POST, a cousin of my wife's, residing at Port Richmond, Staten Island, N.Y., and who is a very intelligent gentleman, would be a good man to write. (Back of Page One) I have no information to base a conviction upon that the children of JOHN and MARY WISNER, a list of whom I have given you, were born the order in which I catalogued them to you. I copied the names as they stand recorded in the record made by MOSES WISNER POST, my wife's uncle. The question has arisen in my mind whether JOHN WISNER 2d, the father of the large family I have mentioned was probably of military liability as to age, to serve in the army of the revolution. Now ANNA, my wife's grandmother stands 5th in our inherited M. S. record. She was born Nov. 14th 1769, consequently her father may reasonably be concluded to have been a man of mature years at the period of the revolutionary war.Tradition is that he was a Capt in that war. (Back of Page Two) Mrs. THOMPSON has a cousin, whose father was a brother of my wife's father and whose mother was a sister of my wife's mother, residing in Newton. I cannot give you her address, but her husband's name is WELLINGTON MCBRIDE, who is Genl Ag't for the Buckeye Mover. I think you would be pleased to know him. JHT I doubt my ability to establish a relationship with the THOMPSONS of my wife's paternal ancestors - I wish I could, and thus stand related to the WISNERS. JHT (Back of Page Three) SARAH WISNER'S husband, PETER EASTMAN, it is believed by my wife, served in the War of 1812. I apprehend he was in the battle of Sandusky. CHAS L. EASTMAN, residing at Penn Yan, N.Y. no doubt can give you the fact as to his Military service. JHT Mr. GEORGE WISNER of Goshen has been very sick with pneumonia, but is now improving and thought to be out of danger. JHT. St. James place Goshen, Jan 17, 1895 My Dear Capt., Your favor of yesterday, at hand - You ask return of "guide chart" - I take it, it is for the purpose of replacing it by another, exploited on a larger scale. I accordingly will herewith return the "guide sheet" you kindly sent us some time ago just as I received from you. I have the names at hand that would largely fill the appropriate spaces in the chart, but I have delayed entering them, with a view of getting the lists complete as to names and related dates important in the premises. I shall seek data comprehending all the generations. I have received a postal from CHAS EASTMAN stating that he will endeavor to secure me all available names in his purview. I have not as yet received replies from other persons to whom I have written for information. We ought to expect a deal (?) of intelligence from ROBERT L. WISNER, a living son of JOHN WISNER and SARAH HALL. He only moved to "near Elmira" a few years ago; and as nearly a lifetime resident of the ancestral locality, he ought to be possessed, traditionally at all events, of a knowledge of all the WISNER kindred hereabouts to which his family is and was related. Since I penned that above, I have seen a neighbor of Edenville ROBERT, whom I wrote last Monday and have sent a request to ROBERT to forward my letter to his father. I have addressed Wm. B. VAN HOUTEN in inquiry of descendents representative of HANNAH WISNER who married JAS VAN HOUTEN. As a warm personal friend and old comrade, I ought to expect an answer from him. The quest in that direction is made dubious of success by reason of this complication: our relationship with the VAN HOUSTEN alliance is on both branches of our family. An Aunt MARIAH of my wife's father, on the POST side, married ISAAC VAN HOUTEN, and an uncle (HENRY) of my wife's father married ELEANOR VAN HOUTEN. So the kinship to the VAN HOUTENS was identical on both his mother's and father's side- the, too, all the VAN HOUTEN relatives were town of Warwick people. I dropped into Mr. NANNY'S office this A.M. He showed me your letter he received today. He construes your letter as a statement of information, and not as interrogative. He is advised as to names and addresses of the persons you stated. He requested me to say to you that he saw CLINTON WISNER a few days ago and the latter announced it as his purpose to furnish for publication in the Warwick Advertizer an elaborate article respecting the Capt. LEWIS WISNER contention. Since the controversy don't affect our related kinship to the WISNERS it don't concern us whether it was this or that HENRY JR. who was the great grandfather of Capt. LEWIS. Cordially & sincerely yours, J. H. Thompson On the rear of page two is the following: We do not know who were the parents of JOHN WISNER the 1st. I think we can depend upon C. L. EASTMAN for getting all information he is able. I wish I knew some Warwick friend who is well posted in regard to Warwick old families, who I might ask to ferret out the VAN HOUTEN-WISNER relations. In you correspondence with CLINTON, would you please make the request of him? St. James Place Goshen, March 22, 1895 My Dear Capt, Enclosed please find a litter I received today from Chas L. EASTMAN. He manifests singular zeal in the genealogical quest which we are pursuing, and I think ought to be duly recognized by us. I trust that you will appreciate the importance, on reading his letter of replying to his inquiries and advising him about matters germane to the subject in which we are generally and mutually interested. I suggest an answer on your part rather than on mine for reasons that will appear obvious to you on reading his letter. I fell in this A.M. with ABRAM MILLER of Mount Eve. Thro him I got track of ancestral spoons - teaspoons that were doubtless the property of MARAH McDOWELL, who was the grandmother of ANNA WISNER, which latter was the wife of CAPT. JOHN WISNER. I shall make the effort to secure possession of them. Mrs. MILLER gave me a tip of descendents of GEN. HENRY WISNER that I was not previously advised about, namely, the HOUSTENS. In connection with the biographical sketch of the late Hon. Wm. H. HOUSTEN in the History of Orange Co., I further learned the full record of facts. Singularly, JAS HOUSTEN, a brother's son of Wm H. resides in a farm mansion which stands nearly opposite the shingle home (now demolished) and which was the home once of CAPT. JOHN WISNER. I regret to be compelled to tell you that Mrs. NANNY, wife of our mutual friend, HARRISON NANNY, is I apprehend, fatally sick. She went south to Florida last Autumn and was attacked with a splenic recurrence of trouble and intercurrently with acute peritonitis. She arrived at Goshen a few days ago, being borne from the station on a stretcher to her home. Poor woman, how I do pity her! She is a dear lady, and my sympathies go out fervently for poor HARRY in the ____ bereavement to which the ---- loss of his devoted wife will subject him. I trust Mr. NANNY enclosed a letter to you I got from Miss HATTIE KERR. Yours fraternally, J. H. Thompson St James Place Goshen, NY Jan 21 1895 My Dear Capt. I received a very satisfactory visit on Saturday last from Edenville ROBERT WISNER and wife. This is his statement of children of JOHN WISNER and SARAH HALL: ASA, JOHN MUMFORD, HENRY Wm, CLARISSA, ELIZABETH AND ROBERT L. (Transcribers note - I believe there were no commas between the double names - this is a photocopied document, so cannot be certain) ASA's children are: FANNIE, EMILY and JAS. FANNIE married JAS (H?) GREENE of Binghampton, N.Y. Mr. GREEN was discussed as a candidate last fall for Gov. of N.Y. by the Republicans. I remember reading an elaborate sketch of him, in connection with his portrait, published in the N.Y. World. His son is now mayor of Binghampton. JOHN MUMFORD married MARIAH PITTS - had 2 children, both of whom are dead. RALPH WISNER, a grandson, a prosperous man, resides at Florida, N. Y. HENRY WILLIAM married a daughter of WALTER WOOD of Florida N. Y. CLARISSA married Wm TAYLOR - had a son JOHN who is living _Mt. Eve. ELIZABETH married ABRAM MILLER. Their children were JOHN H. (P.O. address Edenville), GEORGE (at Amity, N.Y.), SARAH, HARRIET and JULIA. EMILY, daughter of ASA WISNER, married SAXON WILLIAMS and resides at Carney O. ROBERT WISNER and wife told me that they received a letter lately from Mrs. WILLIAMS in which she (Mrs. W) stated that she was in correspondence with you on the subject of the genealogy of her family. That suggests, Capt, the idea that we had better - Don't you think? - have an understanding exactly as to veritable facts already in our mutual possession respecting the parties we are desirous of knowing about, so as to avoid needless correspondence. In the margin of page two: I gave from my notes exactly the facts stated to me by ROBERT WISNER and wife and only such. Their visit was short. The task will be to get correct Christian names of parties consulted, and the dates involved, as well as the marriage alliances in the premises (?) Doubtless, at the outset, it would have been an excellent scheme to have formulated a circular letter embodying all the interrogations received in the premises to be sent out with a of gathering the wishes for information. Perhaps, however at this stage of the inquiry it is not so much demanded. Do not get the notion, though, that I consider any labor, or repetition of work, any trouble on my part. I think the way now appears very encouraging for getting all the names entrance in the genealogical family tree. Of course it will require a considerable consideration, but we have knowledge of the representative branches of the family to whom we contribute. I am not advised as to the descendants of JAMES WISNER son JOHN WISNER and MARY THOMPSON who married ELIZABETH CARPENTER. For forty years I was the family physician of the DANIEL CARPENTER FAMILY, earlier and later, living at Mape's Corner on the Florida Road from Goshen. Once upon a time I attended a Miss THOMPSON, a very old lady, who was a sister-in-law of the elder DANIEL CARPENTER and near of kin of the old Judge THOMPSON of near Florida in his life time. I know it to be a fact that the CARPENTERS and WISNERS of Middletown (Capt. LEWIS' people) were socially intimate. Was it with that family of CARPENTERS to whom ELIZABETH, who married JAS WISNER, was related? I take it Capt. LEWIS would be able to tell. I called at Mr. ELLIOTT'S yesterday and am glad to know you are allied thru your wife to Mr. E. Very Cordially yours, J. H. Thompson In the margin of page three: As I remarked in my previous letter, we must look for a deal of help from CHAS L. EASTMAN in this genealogical racket. may expect it for he is with us, enthused on the subject In the margin of page four: Accept ROBERT WISNER'S list of JOHN WISNER and SALLY HALL children as veritable. Mr. EASTMAN gave me one name too many - there was no Wm., but a HENRY WILLIAM. Back of Page One: THOMPSON & MOULD GRAIN MIDDLINGS BRAN AND SPROUTS Reference National Bank of Orange County (Letterhead) Goshen Orange Co NY I received this statement from ROBERT WISNER and wife Saturday: HANNAH WISNER, Daughter of JOHN WISNER and MARY THOMPSON, who married JAMES VAN HOUTEN had four sons: Wm., JAS, JOHN and JACOB, all dead, and four daughters: NANCY, DOLLY, TEMPERANCE and POLLY. Let me say I reckon ROBERT WISNER and wife as among the most meritorious of our cousins. I have known them intimately for a long time. Mrs. WISNER is kin to her husband through the HALLS. I think her maiden name was HALL. I apprehend that we will have to mainly depend upon Mr. And Mrs. WISNER, especially the latter, for our genealogical information as to descendents of children of JOHN WISNER by his wife SALLY HALL. I do not think we need to trouble the elder ROBERT on the subject. Back of Page Two: In projecting a chart, it is proper that I should say to you that my wife's father's family was a prolific one- Capt. POSTS parents had fourteen children, twelve of whom were married and had children, and two of these sons begot, respectively, about as large a no. of children as their father. I expect to be able to get all this recorded data for the chart involved in the POST family of which my wife is a representative. Back of Page Three: Now Capt., I am in regard to the details of my wife's more immediate family, that is to say, the children of GABRIEL POST and ANNA WISNER and their offspring, I believe you have communicated first and last in my letter to you all the genealogical facts that I am in possession of. As to names, dates of births, of marriage, and of death and collateral alliance, I will undertake to furnish of the GABRIAL POST and ANNA WISNER contingent as far as I shall be able. Here I may say that I believe that I have too complete all the data in relation to DAVID POST and ELEANOR WISNER descendents for chart entries. Letter head: Office of the Consolidated Fruit Jar Company No. 49 Warren St., New York Stamped, H. C. Wisner, President, C. F. Jar Co. "Sole proprietors and Manufacturers of the Mason Fruite Jar Trimmints, Collapsible Turbes Coyd's and Chace's Gilers Can Screws and General Sheet Metal Goods, Electrical Specialities" Replying to your Feby 23 New York March 1st, 1895 Mr. C. L. Eastman Penn Yan, N.Y. Dear Sir, Inclosed you will find a hastily written record of the Wisners. I am indebted to Capt. C. B. Dahlgren who married a descendant of Major Henry Wisner, Jr. for my information. Capt. D is a son of Commodore Dahlgren - Our family originally settled in Orange Co and can be more readily traced from there. I have no knowledge of our Great Grand Father beyond the records - From Orange to Cayuga - Cayuga to Livingston Co and then to the West - Michigan, Ill, Ind and Iowa. I have heard of an uncle Jeffrey but not of Warwick. Where did they live. I notice a John Wisner of the 4th gen - of the other branch these may have been one of the 5th Your mother perhaps was of the 6th gen of living possibly after the 7th. I would be very glad in return for this record than yours complete at an early day. My records turn to Adam W. branch - Your may desire that of Hendrick which is your branch. I know of many persons not in this record. Your truly, H. C. Wisner