BIBLE: Bible Records Illustrations of Colonial Dames of New York book transcribed for USGenWeb Archives by W. David Samuelsen ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES 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 submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.org *********************************************************************** The Colonial Dames of the State of New York, Aug 1917 The Colonial Dames of the State of New York Genealogical Records Mauscript Entries of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Taken from Family Bibles 1581-1917 Edited by Jeannie F-J. Robison and Henrietta C. Bartlett New York MCMXVII (1917); Printed August, 1917 List of Illustrations Title-page of the Bible of Col. Jacob Glen, 1686 frontispiece John N. Bleecker, born 1739 27 Margaret Van Dusen, wife of John N. Bleecker 28 Charles Chauncey, President of Harvard College, 1654-1672 37 Henry Cruger, Sr. born 1707 62 Dyckman House, New York City, Presented to New York by Mrs. Dean and Mrs. Welch 74 Elmendorf House, Hurley, New York 79 Brick House built by Major Thomas Jones in 1696 83 Fort Neck House, Massapequa, Long Island (originally Tryon Hall). Built by Judge Davsid Jones for his son Judge Thomas Jones in 1770 85 First page of the Glen Record 90 Title-page of the Bible of Auguste Jay, 1707 106 First page of the Auguste Jay Record 109 Old Knickerbacker Homestead, Schaghticoke, New York. Built by John Knickerbacker, Jr. about 1770 to replace the original house 125 Colophon and records in the Bible of John Miller, 1578 149 Lewis Morris, II, 1698-1762 150 Trintje Staats, wife of Lewis Morris, II 151 Ross Hall, Raritan, new Jersey. The home of Mrs. Edward Atnill, who was Ann Morris, sister of Lewis Morris II 153 Hendrick Onderdonck, 1724-1809 169 Schuyler House, Belleville, New Jersey, Erected about 1710 190 Harmanus Ten Eyck, 1749-1828 214 First page of the Van Vechten Record, 1634 268 Dutch Church, Fishkill, New York 273 PREFACE "Without genealogy the study of history is lifeless." John Fiske The publication of this book represents ninety genealogical records found in old family Bibles. Such Bibles are fast disappearing and with them are lost the missing links eagerly sought for by genealogists. The keynote of our efforts in transcribing these records has been accuracy - accuracy in all the details of the written wrods found upon the pages of the Bibles. Where interpolations have been necessary - as in the translations of the Dutch records - the matter added has been enclosed in brackets. Some one has state: "A compiler is not responsible for the original correctness of the statements he transcribes. He should, however, be held to strict account if the information he furnishes be not true to record." The Bibles are entered under the names of the original owners when known; otherwise, under the names of the first entries as given by descendants. A few late records were accepted where they supplemented earlier ones, as the Committee realized their value to genealogists, but in each case there had to be an entry in the Bible prior to 1800. The editors have compared the transcribed copies with the original Bibles, or with photostatic reproductions, where possible; the few exceptions are accompanied by explanatory notes, stating the conditions which rendered comparison impossible. Perhaps some follower in this field of industry, able to ignore the cost, will secure the temperamental atmosphere, as it were, of these old family Bibles by reproducing the various handwritings of all the entries and by entering them upon the printed page in their original form. Needless to say this will prove of inestimable value and interest. Inspired by the faint hope of touching the spirit of the past, several of the Dutch and French records have been left untranslated and a few reproductions are given of original title-pages and records. In 1913 Mrs. Wilmot Townsend Cox, for many years the able and efficient Chairman of the Committee on History and Tradition, conceived, planned, and began collecting old Bible records for publications. In 1915, owing to ill health, Mrs. Cox resigned, and Mrs. Benjamin franklin became the Chairman with a new Committee. A few months of assiduous labour were followed by the sudden death of Mrs. Franklin. To the present Committee, therefore, in the spring of 1916 was given the opportunity for continued sowing, reaping, and garnering where others had ploughed. Profoundly sensible of the work accomplished by these Committees udner their two gifted Chairmen, the present Committee deems it not only fitting, but eminently proper that this book, the fulfilment of visions, and in part the result of their labours, should testify to the honour due their memories. It had been Mrs. Franklin's express desire that Miss Bartlett, expert bibliographer and author of "The Census of Shakespear'es Plays," should be frequently consulted. Therefore in the autumn of 1916 Miss Bartlett's services were engaged for the editorial work in collaborationw ith the Chairman. To Mr. Kent of the Metropolitan Museum, and through him to Mr. Dow of the Essex Institute, we are greatly indebted fo rmany valuable suggestions. The Committee likewise desires to extend its hearty thanks to the New York Public Library, the American Bible Society, and to all others who loaned Bibles, copied records, and assisted in various ways in rendering possible the completiton of the book. To these friends whose records have not been included in this publicationw e desire to express our sincere gegret at the necessity for taking such action. Many of these records, while of great interest, had been previously published; others were of too late a date, and others again bore no proof that they were Bible transcripts. We put the query: Is the family Bible to be a thing of the past? In many homes we found it necessary to use "Aladdin's Wonderful Lamp," as it were, to have the portals unlocked and secure access to this sacred family treasure. Again, we learned by advertisement of its sale at pubic auction; while another proof of its lack of interest to the present generation lies in the fact that rarely are the records carried down to the present day. In the past no book was held in greater reverence than the Bible;' and with its own marvellous genealogies, what more natural than for families who possessed Bibles to enter therein the important records of their lives? We learn from William Stowell Mills' little gem of a book entitled "Foundations of Genealogy" and published in 1899, that "Among the earliest Bible records now to be found in this country is that in the family Bible of Richard Bartlett, who came to America from england before 1640 and settled at Newbury, Mass... It is one of the famous 'Breeches' Bibvles and contains the Book of Common Prayer and the Sternhold and Hopkins Metrical Version of the Psalms, with the music. On a page at the end of the Prayer Book is the entry, in writing, that Richard Bartlett bought the book in 1612. Then follows the records of his family, the dates ranging from 1611 to 1625... The family record was written on a blank page." Mills also urged that family Bible records be copied and deposited in public libraries. Time, effort, and money have been cheerfully expended upon this book, with the belief that we are rendering service to the historian, lightening the labours of genealogists, and voicing a call for similar publications. Jennie F-J. Robison, Chairman.