Family of Evert

Family of Evert^5 Van Wickle

Photo: Evert^5 Van Wickle's white frame house (early 1800s) in Angelica, NY. Evert chose the site for this house just a short distance east of the park. It was the first "framed" house west of Bath, NY, one hundred and fifty feet back of the street. He also built a log cabin near the road to to used as a Land Office. The house had four fireplaces, two downstairs and two upstairs, with one chimney, and a fireplace in the kitchen wing. The latter was removed about 1880, and a wing with four rooms was added. There are hand hewn beams in the cellar, and when in 1922 the owner had insulation put in the house, the carpenters who removed the siding and did the work said that the white pine was in remarkable condition for being well over 100 years old. The glass in the windows in also interesting, and has lasted remarkably well. Many of the windows have 24 panes, and many of the panes have interesting defects and some have a faint lavender tinge. Angelica was the first seat of Allegany County and the first county court was held in this house. The first Presbyterian church was also held here as was the first Masonic meeting. The Rev. Louis Thibou owned the house 1831-1880, Dr. B.C. Wakeley from about 1880 to 1895, Henry Hastings from 1895-1922. Harrison Lee Newman bought the home in 1922 and it was thereafter owned by Mrs. Newman. The house address is 30 East Main Street, Angelica, NY

Another photo (below) of Evert's home on 30 East Main Street in Angelica. Built in 1802, it is the oldest structure in Allegany County. It has Colonial windows, five fireplaces, and tumble latches. It was the location of the first county court, the first Presbyterian meeting, and the first Masonic meeting in Allegany County.

Evert^5 Van Wickle (Nicasius^4, Simon^3, Evert^2, Jentie^1 Jeppes), b. 21 March 1761, Middlesex County, NJ

Married:
(First marriage): Ann Johnston (b. abt. 1765), before 1784 in Raritan, NJ
(Second marriage): Jane Nelson (b. 1765 and d. 1831)

Grave marker of Anna Johnston, first wife of Evert, photo courtesy of Cyndy Mack via 11Feb07 email. It reads..."In memory of Anny, wife of Evert Vanweikly and daughter of Stephen Johnston, who died March ____? not legible in photo

Children (by first marriage):

1. Mary^6 Van Wickle, b. abt 1781, NJ
2. Esther^6 S. Van Wickle, b. 1788, NJ
3. Samuel^6 Van Wickle, b. between 1794 and 1800, NJ

4. Diannah^6 Van Wickle, b. 1795, NJ

(Anita Clayton, who descends from Evert's sister, Geradina^5, visited the Old Nicasius' homestead cemetery and saw the gravestone for Ann Johnston. It indicates that she died in March 1784 at age 18y, 6m, 17d and that she was the wife of Evert Van Wickley and dau. of Stephen Johnston. This would appear to indicate that only Mary^6 Van Wickle is the daughter of Ann. The remaining children must be the biological children of Evert and his second wife, Jane. --courtesy, 15 May 06 email, Anita Clayton)

Parents:
Evert's parents are Nicasius and Trintie (Boice) Van Wickle(n)
Ann's parents are Stephen and ____ (Kearney) Johnston.

Jane's parents are ________________.

Background information:

Evert^5 Van Wickle (Nicasius^4, Simon^3, Evert^2, Jentie^1 Jeppes) was b. 21 March 1761 in Middlesex County, NJ and bap. 11 May 1761 in New Brunswick RDC, NJ. He married Ann Johnston (b. about 1765) in 1784 in Raritan, NJ. Evert is listed as Captain Evert Van Wickle (29 August 1790 Militia Reg. Ontario County Military Commission. He moved to Angelica, Allegany County, New York U.S. Federal Census, 1810 lists Evert Van Wickle as head of household with 2 males ages 10-16, 1> 45 (presumably him); 1 female under 10, 1 age 10-16; 1 age 16-26, and 1 >45 yrs. (presumably his wife); and 1 slave. (Harry Macy (personal correspondence) indicates that Ann (Johnston) Van Wickle is buried in Jamesburg, NJ. There is a gravestone in Angelica Cemetery (Lot 404) for his second wife, Jane Van Wickle, (died 27 December 1831, age 66. There is also a Jane Ann Van Wickle, Lot 384-39. This is most likely Jane Ann, the daughter of Samuel^6 Van Wickle). Evert is in the 1820 US census in Lyons, Wayne, NY listed as head of household with 1 male >45 (him?), 1 male under 10, 1 male 10 to 16, 1 female over 45 (his wife?), 2 females 10 to 16 and 1 female 16 to 26. John Van Wickle also resides in Lyons, Wayne, NY. The 1830 US Census finds him in Galen, Wayne, NY with one male over 40 (him), 1 male 10 to 15 and 1 male under age 5, one female, 30 to 40 (his wife or daughter?), 2 females 10 to 15, and one female 5 to 10. (There is a rejected Revolutionary War pension application for him --Rev. War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900, 2453, Van Wickle, Evert)

Children: Mary^6 Van Wickle, b. abt 1781, NJ. She Married John Gibson (b. abt 1770, Edinburgh, Scotland) who came to America in 1786 and was in Geneva, NY just prior to coming to Angelica in 1801. John was a millwright and superintended building of the first grist mill in Belmont, NY and was for a long time a clerk for Philip Church. He kept an early hotel at Angelica and was the first sheriff of Allegany County. They had six children, four of whom were Jane A. (Gibson) Shoff, who married Wm. Shoff, Catherine Gibson, b. abt 1822; John W. Gibson (b. 1824, NY), who m. Mary Scheanck, and Mary Gibson, b. 1831, NY. Esther^6 S. Van Wickle, b. before 1784, NJ. She married Sylvanus Russell in 1805 and this was the first marriage in Angelica, NY (see more information on Syvanus and Esther in source section below); Samuel^6 Van Wickle, b. between 1794 and 1800, NJ. He married Harriet Freeman in 1821. Samuel was a surveyor like his father. He was also elected Allegany County Clerk in 1832, 1841, 1844, and 1845. Samuel and Harriet had a daughter, Rachael^7 Van Wickle (b. 10 September 1827, Birdsall, NY and d. 28 August 1883, Perrin Station, Sturgis, Michigan) Diannah^6 Van Wickle, b. 5 Aug 1795, NJ and d. 28 January 1848, Ceres, PA. In 1822, she married James King, son of Francis King. In 1827 he bought and farmed land near Ceres, PA.

Historical information on Evert Van Wickle and family members

Evert^5 Van Wickle, b. 21 March 1761, is a fifth generation descendent of Jentie^1 Jeppes. Jentie, also known as Jan Jacobzsen de Vries, came to the New World from the Netherlands in 1664 aboard the Dutch East India Company sailing ship, De Endracht (The Concord) along with his wife and three small children. Jentie's sons, Gerrit and Evert, baptized respectively on 1 January 1659 and 17 June 1660 in Wijckel, Friesland, Netherlands, were compelled by the British to adopt a surname. They chose the name of the village of Wijckel and came to be known as "Van Wickelen." Descendents who settled in the NYC/Long Island area became Van Wicklen. Those who went to New Jersey became Van Wickle. Those who went to Canada around 1800 became Van Wicklin.

There is some evidence to suggest that at least some of the early 19th century Van Wicklins in Canada were Loyalists. Those remaining in New York and New Jersey appeared to be more supportive of the Colonists. By way of illustration, Lt. Col. Eliakim Barnum was a well-known tory (early 19th century) in the Northumberland County, Ontario Militia. Adam, Cornelius, Richard, and Jacob Van Wicklin (sons of John^5 [Paul^4, Garret^3, Gerrti^2, Jentie^1 Jeppes]) all served in this Northumberland County Militia. Adam Van Wicklin married Mary Boice (29 August 1811), whose father, Andrew Boice, was a Tory. Adam was granted land because of that connextion. By way of contrast, Evert^5 Van Wickle was commissioned as a Captain (29 August 1790) in the Ontario County, NY Militia Regiment and was an agent and surveyor for Captain Phillip Church, commissioned before 1800 by Secretary of War James McHenry--appointment approved by General George Washington.

The compiler of these web pages descended from Jentie Jeppes (John^10 Van Wicklin, Floyd^9, Sherman^8, Gates^7, John^6, John^5, Paul^4, Garret^3, Gerrit^2, Jentie^1 Jeppes). Furthermore, he resides in the hamlet of Houghton which lies within the town of Caneadea--northermost region of the Church Tract that was formed from Angelica on March 8, 1808. He is professor of psychology at Houghton College in Houghton, NY. His father, Floyd^9 Van Wicklin, was born 1 August 1910, in Wyoming, NY (the county that borders Allegany on the north), where his father, Sherman^8 Van Wicklin, was a farmer. His son, Robert^11 Van Wicklin is Legislative Director for Hon. Amory Houghton, Jr. Congressman Houghton represents the 31st District, NY which includes the town of Angelica and Allegany County.

John B. Church loaned $80,000 to a Mr. Morris and took as security 100,000 acres of the Morris Reserve. On foreclosure of the mortgage and sale of the property in 1800, his son, Philip Church, bid on and acquired this property. Six miles in width, it encompasses the present day villages of Allen, Angelica, and Amity, most of Scio, and a little of Wellsville, and half of Granger. From seven and one-quarter miles north of the Pennsylvania border, it extended northward for 26 miles.

Map of Allegany County, 1800-1810 showing the proprietary Tracts, into which its territory was divided, prior to its formation April 7, 1806. Church Tract (6 x 26 miles) is clearly indicated.

The property was described at the time of Philip's acquisition as:

"...covered all over with tall pines, spreading beeches, elms which bowed, and maples casting down shadows on countless hilltops and along numberless valleys was, if early history is to be relied upon, so cold and cheerless in its desolution, that the wolves starved for want of sheep to live on, while the sheep could not eat the grass on account of the frosts and snows forbidding it to grow; the catamount lived on the coon, and the coon in turn subsisted by annual migrations to the cornfields in the delta below."

Philip Church managed the suvey and early settlement of the tract. Setting out from what is now the village of Almond, with a small party, consisting of Evert Van Wickle, his surveyor and agent, and three assistants, and guided by the celebrated borderman, Major Moses Van Campen, he began exploration of the grand wilderness estate tho which he had become interested.

"The party made a thorough exploration of the tract, camping and breaking up the camp from day to day, encountering almost constant rains and swollen streams."

Not long afterward, Evert Van Wickle was employed to return to the tract to begin surveys and inaugurate improvements on the site of Angelica. Early improvements were under Evert Van Wickle's direction. Before the close of 1802, a saw mill was in operation. During the following year, a grist mill was completed to supply meal for the settlers. A frame house was erected for Mr. Van Wickle and a small log cabin nearby to be used as a land office. Soon after, a few cabins were built for early settlers, and a tavern and store were built as well...and a village was begun.

In 1804, a magnificent white frame house was erected for Philip Church on 2,000 acres in what is now Belvidere (general vicinity of juntion of today's Rts. 17 and 19). For years this was the only painted house in Western NY, west of Canadaigua Lake, and earned the nickname "The White House." After initial exploration, one of the next steps in promoting settlement of the tract was to prepare a map of it in 1804. The map was accompanied by a promotional circular which included the following remarks...

"The land is of excellent quality, and the country, from the purity and abundance of the streams with which it is watered, is remarkably healthy. A town called Angelica is laid out near the center of the tract with four lots in the middle of it upon which church and schools are to be erected, for the building and support of which two hundred acres are reserved near the town...

The land will be sold at moderate price, on the following terms, which are calculated particularly to accommodate settlers...Those purchasing 100 acres and under, to pay 1/20th cash, 1/20th in two years, without any interest, and the remainder in seven equal annual payments, with interest." (The wording of the circular goes on to describe the payment plan for larger acreage, as well as purchase of boards for building.)

For further particulars, apply to the subscriber, residing at Angelica, who is the proprietor of the tract, and duly authorized to dispose of the remainder.

Philip Church...or his agent, Evert Van Wickle."

Not long after the beginning of settlement at Angelica, Samuel Van Wickle, a son of Evert, came. Both father and son were surveyors, and as such were employed by Philip Church to survey lands of the tract. The first town meeting was held on the first Tuesday of April, 1805 and Evert Van Wickle was elected "Overseer of the Poor." Joseph Taylor was certified in 1805 to run a tavern in Angelica as the following statement attests..

"Resolved by us, the commissioners of excise, that Joseph Taylor be licensed to keep a public inn or tavern, he being of good moral character and hath accommodations to keep a public inn or tavern, and that it is necessary that a tavern should be kept for the accommodation of travellers to the dwelling house of the said Joseph Taylor." Moses Van Campen, Evert Van Wickle, Benjamin Riggs, Excise Commissioners

The first marriage in Angelica was of Esther Van Wickle (presumably a daughter of Evert) to Sylvanus Russell in 1805. Early settlement (prior to 1805) was minimal due in part to some legal questions about title to the property. As a mr. Turner put it
(January, 1806)...

"I came through...Angelica. The road from Angelica to Olean was then only underbrushed; the logs were not cut out. I had to lift my sleigh over them. there were then no inhabitants between Genesee River and Olean. I found large hunting parties of Indians camped about the small settlement that the Hoopses had commenced, with whom I had bartered goods for furs."

On November 10, 1807 the first court (a court of general sessions of the peace) was organized at the public house of Evert Van Wickle with Moses Van Campen and Evert Van Wickle, Esqrs and Judges in attendance. On January 9, 1808 a meeting was held at Evert Van Wickle's with steps taken preliminary to the founding of a Masonic Lodge. In 1812, Rev. Robert Hubbard was installed over the united churches of Angelica and Alfred. The installation ceremony took place on the steps of the house of Evert Van Wickle.

The town of Angelica was named for Philip Church's mother, Angelica (Schuyler) Church. it was the original county seat. Philip Church was the first county judge. Evert Van Wickle, his agent, was county clerk in 1813-1816 and 1820-1821. His son, Samuel Van Wickle, was county clerk in 1837.

Some early clerical records indicate that slaves were bought, sold, and bred in the Angelica, NY settlement.

Bill of Sae for Charlotte, to Augustus D'Autrement. "Know all men by these presents that I, Victor DuPont, of the town of Angelica, county of Allegany and state of New York, for in and consideration of the sum of two hundred dollars, in hand paid to me by mr. D'Autrement, for my black wench named Charlotte, which I have bought from Modecai Hale, Esq. with her boy, now four weeks old, said girl to serve Mr. D'Autrement for twenty years, faithfully and honestly, after which I warrant her free if she behaves herself properly during the time she has to serve. The boy to serve Mr. D'Autrement till he is 28 years old, as the law directs. And I do for myself, heirs, assigns, executors and administrators, quit and renounce all claims to said wench and boy."
Angelica, this 15th day of August, 1809. V. DuPont (signed in presence of August D'Autrement and Ellis Pearce)

"I, Phillip Church of the town of Angelica, Allegany County, state of New York, farmer, do hereby certify that a female child called Lucy, age ten years and seven months, was born in the city of New York, of a female slave called Deane belong to John B. Church, Esq. and afterward to myself."
Recorded September 12, 1815
E. Van Wickle, Town Clerk

"I, Evert Van Wickle of the town of Angelica, Allegany County, state of New York, citizen, do hereby certify that a male child called Perry, aged one month, was born in the town, county and state aforesaid in my family of a slave called Elcey. Witness my hand this twenty-fifth day of Augut, eighteen hundred and sixteen."
Recorded September 2, 1816
E. Van Wickle, Town Clerk

(Very few slaves were ever held in the county, and it is believed that all were in Angelica.)

Sometime after the 1830 census (where he is found in the town of Birdsall, Allegany County) Evert Van Wickle may have returned south (to New Jersey?). Samuel Van Wickle remained and became a leading surveyor of the area. He resided in Birdsall and the first couple ever married in Birdsall were Samuel and Harriet (Freeman) Van Wickle in 1821. Harriet was the daughter of Reuben Freeman. Samuel Van Wickle surveyed the area of Phillipsburg Mill Reserve which became the town of Belmont, the present county seat.

Evert Van Wickle's house: After Evert's departure (c. 1830) Rev. Louis Thibou owned the house (1831 to 1880), then Dr. B. C. Wakely (1880-1895), then Henry Hastings (1895 to 1922), and then Harrison Lee Newman bought the house in 1922. It is now owned by mrs. H.L. Newman.

Sources:

1. History of Allegany County (1879); F. W. Beers & co., NY, NY

2. Harry Macy, Jr. The Van Wicklen/Van Wickle Family: Including its Frisian Origin and Connections to Minnerly and Kranchheyt; The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol. 128, No. 4 (October 1997); p. 250-1.

3. Merrill, G. D. (Editor), Allegany County and its People; W.A. Ferguson & Co., Alfred, NY

4. "The Van Wickle House" Local history file (Wellsville NY Public Library) -- Allegany County --Angelica (account furnished by Mrs. H.L. Newman, Owner)

Harry Macy research notes on Evert^5 and Anna (Johnston) Van Wickle...
Stephen Johnston was son of Andrew Johnston of Perth Amboy, who m. Catherine Van Cortlandt. For his ancestry see SCHQ July 1914 "Andrew Johnston and his ancestors," also NJHS Procs Oct 1932, "George Scot of Pitlochy"

Evert must be Evert "Van Winkler" private in Middlesex Co. Militia 1780 (Stryker 806). G.W. Labow, Warne Genealogy, p. 287 says Evert Van Wickle was a surveyor and went to Holland Purchase soon after 1800 for Judge Philip Church who owned Church Tract in Allegany Co.

History of Union and Middlesex Counties (1882) has a short account of Van Wickle family of Old Bridge, says Evert Van Wickle was a Judge of Court of Common Pleas of Middlesex County 1793-1803. But p. 761 where Old Bridge reference says Evert was a Justice of the Peace (1795-1797)

Evert in Sodus, Ontario, NY in 1800. In 1810 he is in Allegany County. In 1820 he is in Angelica, Allegany County. In 1830 he is in Birdsall, Allegany, NY (one male and one female 60-70; one black male 10-24 and also son, Samuel).

French's Gazeteer, p. 692 under Lyons: "In 1798, Judge Evert Van Winkle (sic) and 40 others came from NJ and Maryland." (Sodus, from where Lyons formed in 1802). p. 171 - Angelica, says Evert Van Wickle settled in the town in 1802.

Records of Lyons, 1st Presbyt. Church by Harriet M. Miles, 1936, p. 1 -- called First Pres. Church of Sodus to 1820 - Evert VW an organizing officer 2 January 1800; brother John Sr., a trustee.

NJ in 1793 - Militia Census - lists him in So. Amboy Twp. age 32 (misprinted as Van Sickle) with bro Jacob and nephew, Nicholas.

On S. Amboy rate lists he last appears 1795 (on 1797 had 1700 acres unimproved only). 1782 and 1784 lists no stats so possibly unmarried or no children at this time.

U.S. Federal Census, 1810 lists Evert Van Wickle as head of household with 2 ages 10-16, 1> 45 (presumably him); 1 female under 10, 1 age 10-16; 1 age 16-26, and 1 >45 yrs. (presumably his wife); and 1 slave.

1850 Federal Census information for family of John Gibson in Angelica, Allegany County, NY

Evergreen Cemetery, Ceres, Ceres, PA lists Diannah (Van Wickle) King, b. 5 August 1795 and d. 28 January 1848, d/o Everet Van Wickle of Angelica; James Van Wickle, b. 1792, d. 1835; Janette King, d/o James and Diannah (Van Wickle) King, b. 10 Feb 1826 and d. 1 May 1847; Maria King, d/o James and Diannah (Van Wickle) King, b. 4 Jan 1829 and d. 21 Mar 1903. She wrote a history of Ceres.

Additional information on Capt. Sylvanus and Esther (Van Wickle) Russell - Capt. Sylvanus Russell (b. 1778, MA) and Esther [Van Wickle] Russell are buried in Mount View Cemetery, Olean, NY (Sylvanus, d. Aug 1839, age 61 yrs., husb. of Esther; Esther S., b. 1788, d. Dec. 1845, age 57 yrs., wife of Sylvanus.) Sylvanus and Esther were married in Angelica, NY in 1805. Sylvanus was elected to the position of assessor for town of Angelica, NY in 1805. Captain Sylvanus Russell was listed as an officer in the Allegany County Militia (1807). They moved to Olean Point, NY by 1808 (among the first settlers along with James G. Johnson of Canandaigua, and Bibben Follet). Sylvanus was appointed postmaster of Olean on 20 Nov 1820. The post office was at junction of Union and Green streets where Sylvanus kept a store and sold supplies of every description. (Many people were using Olean, NY as a staging area for heading west on the Allegany and Ohio rivers. Sylvanus' store was probably a chief place for gathering supplies.) The will of Sylvanus Russell can be located in Cattaraugus County, NY Will Testators for Russell, Sylvanus, Olean, NY County #5, Vol. 1, page 36. Sylvanus died in August of 1839. The 1840 US Census for Olean, NY lists Esther Russell as head of household with one female (50-60) [Esther], one male, 20-30, one female, 10-15, 2 females, 15-20, and one female, 20-30. Unable to locate any information on the names of the children that Sylvanus and Esther obviously had. They are not buried in the Mount View Cemetery with them, and they are not found in the Olean, NY census of 1850 or beyond.

Early settlement of McKean County, PA - An old day book by W. J. Colgrove on McKean County, PA mentions Van Wickle, Freeman, and Outgalt as early settlers of McKean County. 1809/1810 - Sylvanus Russell is mentioned in the early history of McKean County. Feb 1810 - E. Van Wickle finishes a six months' term in McKean County (presumably as a surveyor?) for Busti and Cooper.