Descendants of Johannes Young
Generation No. 1
1. Johannes1 Young died Aft. 1696 in Pr.
Dunzweiler, Zweibrucken, Germany. He
married Barbara.
Notes for Johannes
Young:
The earliest known
ancestor of the Young family profiled in the present work is Johannes
Jung. He was a cooper and farmer who
resided in Dunzweiler, a small village in Zweibrucken County, at the juncture
of the Saarland - Rhineland Palatinate
Regions of Germany near the French Provinces of Alsace - Lorraine. For further information about the German
origins of the Young family see (HJ2) - see Abbreviations of Frequently Used
References at the end of the present work.
The focus of this
study is on those descendants of Johannes Jung and Barbara who came to New
York, and ultimately to Ontario.
Although the first few generations of the entire family in Germany and
New York are outlined here, the emphasis is on providing detailed information
on the descendants of two great - grandsons of Johannes - Johann Adam Jung
(Adam Young) and the latter's youngest brother Theobald Jung Jr. (David
Young). The surname of Johannes and his
children and grandchildren in Germany was JUNG. This spelling was perpetuated in New York State, USA until at
least the mid 1700s (longer in some of the church registers). All used the
YOUNG spelling by the time they arrived in the Province of Ontario, Canada.
Adam Young and his
sons John , Daniel, and Henry were United Empire Loyalists who left New York in
the 1770s to ulimately reside in Haldimand and Wentworth Counties, Ontario;
whereas Theobald Jr.'s son John D. Young served in the Rebel
("Patriot") militia during the Revolutionary War and left New York in
the early years of the 1800s to reside in Wentworth County, Ontario - virtually
next door to his first cousin Daniel Young. These families intermarried
extensively. If there is one theme to
be discovered in the exploration of the Young family of Ontario, it is the
extraordinary tendency of individuals to find life partners from among their
extensive array of cousins.
Perhaps this is one of the
reasons why, after spending 28 years completing this "labour of
love", the author has come to the conclusion that all those listed in the
present study are members of one large extended family.
The author of this
work, David K. Faux, a former resident of Hagersville, Haldimand County,
Ontario is a descendant of three branches of the Young family, and has over the
years amassed a file cabinet full of documents relating to this family. The prime purpose of the present study is to
provide the names and other identifying information about the known descendants
of Johannes Jung to the 12th generation.
For reasons of privacy, and to keep the work from expanding to
unmanageable proportions, only those born before approximately 1950 are
included. Only names (no dates) will be
given for those of this generation who may still be alive.
The present work
expands the data included in an unpublished manuscript written by the present
author entitled, "The Adam Young Family of the Mohawk Valley New York and
the Grand River Ontario: the First Four Generations", printed in
1987. Since very few copies of this
document are available, and since a vast amount of information on more recent
generations has come to light (thanks to contact with descendants via e-mail,
and data on line such as the 1930 census of the USA with an every name index),
the author has explored information on all known descendants of the Young
family who originally came to Ontario, of any surname, to about 1950 - and has
included early photographs of Young descendants (those born prior to 1870), and
some relevant documents.
For a variety of
reasons, there are bound to be some errors, and a considerable number of
omissions. The author would welcome
information that would make any subsequent edition more accurate and
complete. This version was created
January 2004.
Dr. David K. Faux
P.O. Box 192
Seal Beach,
California, 90740, USA
714-928-1812
Child of Johannes
Young and Barbara is:
+ 2 i. Andreas2 Young, born 02 December
1645 in Dunzweiler, Zweibrucken County, Germany; died Bef. 06 October 1696 in
Pr. Dunzweiler, Zweibrucken, Germany.
Generation No. 2
2. Andreas2 Young (Johannes1) was born
02 December 1645 in Dunzweiler, Zweibrucken County, Germany, and died Bef. 06
October 1696 in Pr. Dunzweiler, Zweibrucken, Germany. He married Agnes Classen 12 June 1666 in Konken Reformed
Church, Zweibrucken, Germany, daughter of Wendel Classen. She was born Abt. 1645 in Pr. Konken -
Langenbach, Zweibrucken, Germany, and died Aft. 27 August 1700 in Pr.
Dunzweiler, Zweibrucken, Germany.
Notes for Andreas
Young:
Baptised as Hans
Andreas Jung at the Zweibrucken Reforned Church. Again, more information on Andreas can be found in the writings
of HJ2.
Children of Andreas
Young and Agnes Classen are:
3 i. Maria Catharina3 Young. She married George Wenslaus Mattheus 04
October 1696 in Waldmohr Reformed Church, Zweibrucken, Germany.
4 ii. Eva Young.
She married Hans Theobald Barth 27 August 1700 in Waldmohr Reformed
Church, Zweibrucken, Germany.
5 iii. Nicolaus Young, died Aft. 1711.
6 iv. Maria Margaretha Young, died Aft. 1712.
7 v. Anna Margaretha Young. She married Johann Jocob Zimmerman 16
October 1685 in Homburg / Saar Catholic Churchbook, Germany.
+ 8 vi. Theobald (David) Young, born 12 August 1691
in Dunzweiler, Zweibrucken, Germany; died 1763 in Canajoharie District, Tryon
County, New York, USA.
Generation No. 3
8. Theobald (David)3 Young (Andreas2,
Johannes1) was born 12 August 1691 in Dunzweiler, Zweibrucken,
Germany, and died 1763 in Canajoharie District, Tryon County, New York,
USA. He married (1) Maria Catharina
Schneider Abt. 1716. She died Aft.
22 September 1753. He married (2)
Anna Magdalena Aft. 22 September 1753.
Notes for Theobald
(David) Young:
Baptised as Johann
Theobald Jung at the Waldmohr Reformed Church.
Among those of German descent in Germany and New York, a first bane such
as Johann is a "throw away" name, and the individual will always be
known by their "second" name.
Theobald, DeWalt, and David are equivalent names and
interchangeable. Theobald Young was
known by all three names in New York.
David Young is the English equivalent of Theobald Jung. Another Palatine German tradition was to use
as a middle initial the first letter of a man's father. This tended to happen most frequently with a
common name such as John. For example,
John Young, the son of Abraham Young, would be known as John A. Young to
distinguish him from the many other John Youngs in the same geographical area
(BON).
Theobald resided at
Dunzweiler from birth to his emigration in 1709. After brief stays in New York
City and the "tar camps" of the Hudson River; Theobald moved to the
Schoharie River Valley about 1712 and was living at Neu Heessberg also known as
Foxtown (the area surrounding the present Old Fort Museum in the town of Schoharie) about 1716/1717 (HJ1). He was
naturalized at Albany on 3 January 1715 (BON). This is approximately the time of his marriage to Catharina
Schneider (DAR, NY, B7F, Vol. 7 (1926-7), p. 292). This information on the wife of Theobald Jung was given by a great-grandaughter
(Mrs. Catharine Ehle) of "David Young & Catharine Snyder" in 1855. Possibly in the 1720s Theobald removed to
the Mohawk River Valley - but his name cannot be found on any land deed until
1732. On 18 April 1732 Theobald
purchased the southerly halves of Lots 15 and 18 in the Harrison Patent
(surrounding present day St. Johnsville), on the North side of the Mohawk
River, from John Haskell et. al. (HJ1; DKM).
Sortly thereafter his name appears as a witness on a deed to Marragrieta
Timmerman (12 March 1734), where three high ranking individuals from the three
clans of the Upper Castle of Mohawks deeded land to property on the South Side
of the Mohawk River (DKM). Curiously,
Marragrieta was likely the sister of Theobald, and two of the Indian signators,
Seth and Margaret, were to become the grandparents to the wife of Theobald's
grandson John (see entry under John Young later). It appears that he removed across the river to Lot 6 of the 3rd
Allottment in the Van Horne Patent (near present day Indian Castle - then the
Upper Mohawk Village) about 1754 when Theobald sold his land in the Harrison
Patent (on 10 July) (HJ1; DKM - see later entries).
It appears that
Theobald's occuption might be termed farmer, and land speculator. On 14 July 1752, Theobald Young received a
patent for 14,000 acres of land on the south side of the Mohawk River,
surrounding Young's lake (HJ1; DKM) - his son Adam's residence at the time of
the American Revolution. Theobald,
however, apparently never resided on this land. Based on available records,
Catharine, wife of Theobald, died sometime after 22 September 1753 when they
were sponsors at the baptism of their grandson Debalt Hess (SAL). It appears that Catharine died shortly
thereafter, since on 17 February 1760 "Dewald Jung and wife Anna Magdalena"
were sponsors at the baptism of Deobald
Keller; and on 1 January 1762 "Theobald Jung and Magdalena" sponsored
Theobald, grandson by son Andreas Jung (SAL). The last known reference to
Theobald is the 1763 list of "Freeholders of Canajoharrie" where
"David Young" is enumerated next to Peter D. Schuyler whose home
wason the Van Horne Patent close to the residences of the Canajoharie Mohawks
(Kenneth Scott, "The Freeholders of the City and County of Albany, 1763,
National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 48, No. 4, Dec 1960, pp 179-180).
Although Adam was the legal owner of this property in 1764, it appears that
grandson John occupied the lands (see entries for his son Adam and grandson
John for more information).
Although various
records name all of Theobald's sons, only Catharine can be conclusively named
as a daughter (YF). However, clear
circumstantial evidence points to Anna Margaretha being another daughter (e.g.,
see the above noted baptismal entry).
Children of Theobald
Young and Maria Schneider are:
+ 9 i. Adam4 Young, born 17 May 1717 in
Foxtown, Schoharie County, New York, USA; died 1790 in Seneca Township,
Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada.
+ 10 ii. Catharine Young, born Abt. 1719.
+ 11 iii. Anna Margaretha Young, born Abt. 1721.
+ 12 iv. Andrew Young, born Abt. 1730; died Bet. 01
February 1791 - 21 March 1796 in Otego Township, New York, USA.
+ 13 v. Frederick Young, born 1733; died 1777 in Ft.
Niagara, New York, USA.
+ 14 vi. Theobald (David) Young, born Abt. 1735; died
Bef. 05 November 1771 in Canajoharie District, Tryon County, New York, USA.
Generation No. 4
9. Adam4 Young (Theobald (David)3,
Andreas2, Johannes1) was born 17 May 1717 in Foxtown,
Schoharie County, New York, USA, and died 1790 in Seneca Township, Haldimand
County, Ontario, Canada. He married Catharine
Elizabeth Schremling Abt. 1740, daughter of Hendrick Schremling and Maria
Landgraff. She was born Abt. 1720 in
New York, USA, and died 1798 in Barton Township, Wentworth County, Ontario,
Canada.
Notes for Adam Young:
In the introduction to
a recent study of Loyalist Ontario, Bruce Wilson suggests that Adam Young was
one of the first "un-American Americans", a quintessential Loyalist
who suffered greatly for his loyalty to the King. Wilson writes that Adam became a "royalist guerilla
fighter" during the Revolutionary War, and further that, "Reviled as
a traitor by one nation, Young was a founding father of another" (Bruce
Wilson, As She Began: An Illustrated
Introduction to Loyalist Ontario, Toronto: Dundurn Press, 1981, p. 9).
Adam Young was born 17
May 1717, apparently at Schoharie N.Y., the son of Theobald Jung and Maria
Catharina (--) (BON, p. 34). As noted in the biography of Theobald Jung Sr.,
his wife's (Anglicized) name was, according to Catharine Ehle, Catharine Snyder
(i.e., Schneider). He married Catharine
Elizabeth Schremling (Catterina Lis Schrimling) (SAR, p. 1), daughter of
Henrich and Maria Elisabetha (--) Schremling (Schremele) (PFN, p. 926).
Adam Young was
baptized as Johann Adam Jung at Schoharie 6 June 1717 by the Lutheran minister
Joshua Kocherthal, the sponsors being Johann Jost Laux, Johann Adam Kopp, and
Catharina Frey (BON, p. 34). In 1716/17
his Palatine-German parents were residing at Neu=Heesburg (Fuchsendorf -
Foxtown) on the Schoharie River (Walter A. Knittle, Early Eighteenth Century
Palatine Emigration, Baltimore:
Genealogical Publishing Co. 1965, p. 295). Sometime prior to 1733 Theobald Jung moved from the Schoharie
Valley to the site of the present-day St. Johnsville N.Y., in the Mohawk Valley
(Lots 15 and 18, Harrison Patent, Canajoharie District, now Montgomery Co.),
purchasing the land from John Haskoll 18 Apr. 1732 (ALR, Deed Book 6, Teobalt
Yong to Jacob Timmerman, registered 27 Jan. 1757, pp. 515-517).
On 14 July 1752
Theobald and his sons Adam, Frederick, and Andries obtained a patent to 14,000
acres of land on the south side of the Mohawk River; having petitioned for
permission to purchase the land 31 May 1751, and having bought the land from
the Mohawk Indians 21 May 1752 (NYSL, Albany Co. Land Papers, Vol. 14, p. 161, 119,
152). While Theobald sold his land in
the Harrison Patent 10 July 1754 (ALR, Deed Book 6, Teobalt Yong to Jacob
Timmerman, registered 27 Jan 1757, pp. 515-517), he and his sons did not move
to Young's Patent at this time, but instead appear to have moved almost
dierectly across the River to Lot 6 in the Third Allotment of the Van Horne
Patent. This land is located on the
south side of the Mohawk River, fronting along the River for about three
quarters of a mile. It is less than two
miles from Ft. Hendrick where the Mohawk Indians had their Castle. Adam's name appears on the map of this
Patent as of 10 October 1764 (Arthur C.M. Kelly, Mohawk Valley Quarterly
Publication, p. 47). Since Adam was the
first born son, it is possible that by then he had inherited this property from
his father Theobald.
The tax list of 1766,
however, lists Adam Young near his brothers, and among others residing on or
near the north end of the Bleecker Patent near the Geissenburg Settlement. Therefore about this time Adam probably
settled near present-day Ft. Plain on the south side of the Mohawk River. Adam probably moved to land (Lot 4, Bleecker
Patent) (AJD) adjoining that of his brother Frederick (CJY) near the
Canajoharie (Sand Hill) Reformed Church, which he (Adam) helped found (YF, pp.
83-84).
Brief glimpses of
Adam's activities during his tenure in the Mohawk Valley are provided by
scattered documentary references. For
example, he was allegedly "present as Capt of a company at the capture of
Fort Niagara from the French" (i.e., 1759). This statement is found in a petition written by Young's grandson
William (4) Young (No. 33), given as an example of the longstanding loyalty of
the family to the Crown (PAC, RG 10, Vol. 123, Petition of William Young, 22
June 1847, p. 6185). Further evidence supporting this claim has not been
located.
The name of Adam Young
of "Canajohary" appears occasionally in the account books of Daniel
Campbell of Schenectady between 1758 and 1761 (NYSL, SC10514, Account Books,
Daniel Campbell, Schenectady, Vol. 1, p. 75, 99, 132, 133, 219); and was listed
next to his brother Frederick on a list of freeholders of
"Canajoharrie" (Kenneth Scott, "The Freeholders of the City and
County of Albany, 1763", National Genealogical Society Quarterly, 1960, Vol.
48, p. 180). Reference to the tax list
of January 1766 (copy provided by Ken Johnson of Kansas, originally from
Marilyn J. Cramer) notes that Adam was assessed at the rate of 12 pounds. Of the 65 men on the list owning property,
two others equalled this tax rate, and four surpassed it. Therefore, the evidence suggests that Adam
was among the wealthiest residents in the area (plus he had vast holdings
elsewhere). See the biography of son John for a detailed description of this
property.
On 29 Oct. 1765 the
deed of partition to Young's Patent was composed (Secretary of State Office,
Albany, Albany Co. Deeds, Vol. 17, pp. 421-428), and soon thereafter Adam moved
to Lot 19 on the south side of Young's Lake (Youngsfield, now Warren, Herkimer
Co.). It is fortunate that a
description of Adam's house survives.
In a letter from Garret Abeel to his wife Mary, dated 27 May 1772, he
describes a trip he took from the Mohawk River to Youngs Lake. Apparently after traversing miles of
deserted wildreness, on the 23rd of May, "when through the Woods I saw as
by appearance the Ocion, I knew ye journey wo'd soon be to an end but Judge my
agreeable surprise when soon After at the side of a large Lake before me
appeared a very good board house with a Peaza round it, and several buildings
about it and found one Adam Young with his family the possessor thereof"
(TBM, pp. 292-3).
Adam became a
lieutenant in the German Flats (Burnetsfield) militia (Officers Recommended for
Commissions, Batalion of Col. Hanjost Herkemer, 6 May 1767, 14 May 1768, New
York State: Annual Report of the State
Historian, 1896, Colonial Series, Vol. 2, Albany N.Y., 1897, p. 848, 891) and a
land speculator (e.g., ALR, Mortgages 1630-1894, Book 2, land mortgaged to
Alexander Stewart, 1 Nov. 1766, pp. 256-258).
He also farmed, and owned a potash works, a sawmill, and an Indian
trading post (CAY). Some documents have
survived which help to "flesh out" aspects of his business interests,
and in addition help to reveal facets of his character. For example, Jelles Fonda kept an itemized
listing of the goods he sold to Adam Young (payment by the latter in animal
skins and ginseng root) between 1769 and 1771.
The large quantities of beads and "sculpting knives" suggest
that they were for retail sale at Young's Indian trading post (NYSL, Jelles
Fonda Papers, 14106-44, Captn Adam Youngs Accot Current with Jelles Fonda Apl
20th 1772). In a letter dated
Youngsfield 28 July 1774, Young offers to sell Jelles Fonda five "Parrels
of Bodash". This and other expressions
such as "plece to lad me now" (New York State Historical Society,
Cooperstown, Letter to Majer Jelles Fonda at Caunawago) suggest the possibility
that Young spoke English with a German accent.
It is further known that some of his other activities brought him into
contact with the courts. Although
precise details are lacking, he apparently initiated a lawsuit over a debt owed
him, was charged with assault and battery, and was involved in a variety of
unspecified cases (Montgomery County Department of History and Archives, Fonda
N.Y., Tryon County Book of Common Please, Minutes 1772-1791; NYSL, Frey Papers,
Justices Docket of Major John Frey from 4 July 1772, County of Tryon, Acc. No.
9829; NYSA, Albany Court of Common Pleas, Reel 74-40-07).
It appears that Adam
was one of the principal figures in the Mohawk Valley. Among the facts which support this
statement, in addition to what has been noted above, is his appearance in an
entry in the accounts of Jelles Fonda.
On 6 July 1769, English blankets were sold to Sir William Johnson and
strounds (used for Indian burials) sold to Adam Young and credited to the
account of Colonel George Croghan (NYSL, Fonda Papers, No. 14106, Folder 7,
Item 173). To be mentioned in the same
breath as these two members of the colonial aristocracy appears to reflect
Adam's influence at the time.
Furthermore, in the court records of Major John Frey, one of the
Justices of Tryon County, Adam sued John Weaver for "selling liquor to his
servants without his licence." (NYSL, Frey Papers, No. 9829, p. 51, circa
1772). Whether these are white servants
or black slaves is not stated.
With the approach of
the Revolution, Adam Young remained loyal to the Crown, becoming increasingly
concerned with the way events were taking shape in the Mohawk Valley. He was particularly perplexed by the
"association" that residents were expected to sign to show their
support of the actions of the Continental Congress. He refused to sign the document.
Neither Adam Young nor his brother Frederick (a Justice of the Peace for
Tryon Co.) could see the necessity of using force to redress grievances against
the Government. Adam wrote a petition
to the Committee of Safety to reflect these concerns, which he circulated among
the residents of Stone Arabia. Andreas
Young attempted to put the actions of his brothers in the most favourable light
in his testimony before the Committee 17 Feb. 1776 (CAY; MV, p. 71), who,
however, saw the actions of Adam as being detrimental to their cause. When Adam Young refused to appear before the
Committee to answer their charges, Capt. Henry Eckler was ordered 18 July 1777
to collect a fine of 10 pounds from him (Wisconsin State Historical Society,
Lyman Draper Mss., Series F, Vol. 4, Newspaper article in the Mohawk Independent,
17 Sept. 1878). On 11 Aug. 1777
Lawrence Gros and a "possee" went to Adam Young's where it was
suspected that a party of Loyalist soldiers were in hiding. While Gros wanted to arrest Young,
"Capt. Eckler & the good People prayed with Tears in their Eyes, that
we would desist from doing that, for their own Safety." Apparently there was a fear of the
repercussions if they attempted to capture Young. The group eventually satisfied themselves with temporarily
forcing Adam and "Cattle" (i.e., Cattie) from their home (MV, p.
125).
On 6 Sept. 1777 Adam
Young was examined by the Committee of Safety and found guilty of supplying
"a party of absconding vagabonds who joined our Enemies at Fort
Shyler" (MV, pp. 131-132). His
attitudes toward the American cause at this time is reflected in the fact that
he was known as a "rank enemy" (Lyle F. Bellinger, Genealogy of the
Mohawk Valley Bellingers and Allied Families, Herkimer N.Y.: Herkimer Co. Historical Society, 1976, p.
24) to the "Damned rebels" (as he termed them) (New York Historical
Society, New York, Tryon Co. Mss., Box 1, Minutes of the Committee of Safety, 6
Sept. 1777). He was therefore taken
into custody and sent to various jails in Connecticut, including "Norwich
Gaol". Soon after he returned home
from 11 months imprisonment, his buildings were burned and effects taken by the
Patriot supporters. The Rebels had for some time known that Adam was an
unrepentant supporter of the Loyalists. For example, in his Revolutionary War
Pension Application, Peter Fox reported that in 1778 he was "ordered out
to march out to Young's Lake where the enemy generally would have recourse to
harbour at the home of Adam Young, but not discovering nor mett any Tories or
Indians from Canada........."
(National Archives, Revolutionary War Pension file W7294, BLWt.
9468-160-55). Adam's buildings were
destroyed on the order of Rev. Daniel Gros (Bellinger, Mohawk Valley
Bellingers, p. 24) 18 July 1778, in retaliation for the burning of Andrustown
by Capt. Joseph Brant (CAY; Testimony of a participant, John Frank, in William
L. Stone, Life of Joseph Brant, Vol. 1, Albany N.Y.: Munsell, 1865, pp. 362-363).
He escaped "with scarce sufficient Clothes to cover him"; he
and his two youngest sons treking to Oswego to join Butler's Rangers
(CAY). Young was enrolled in the 6th
Company of this unit as of 1 Aug. 1778 (HP, Add. Mss. 21765, Reel 46, Pay
Lists, p. 54). It is apparent that Adam
returned to the Mohawk Valley at least once during the Revolution to avenge the
destruction of his property. On 17
September 1778, at 6 o'clock in the morning, Captains Joseph Brant and Gilbert
Tice, and William Caldwell, with 300 Rangers and 152 Indians swooped down on
the German Flatts settlement. The
populace had, however, been warned of the approach of Loyalist forces and had
taken refuge in Forts Herkimer and Dayton.
The Loyalists, who had emerged at the property of R. Shoemaker, then
began the task of burning everything in their path. They were unable to take Fort Dayton but destroyed virtually all
the houses (63), barns (57), grist mills (3), saw mill (1), and grain on both
sides of the Mohawk River. Only the
church and the fort remained standing from Adam Starings to Wydecks beyond
Canada Creek on the north side; while in a six mile stretch from Ft. Herkimer
up the River to William Tygerts there were but 2 or 3 houses unscathed. All the cattle and horses (235) and sheep
(269) in the vicinity were rounded up and driven away. The action was finished by noon. Among them, according to the American
Colonel Peter Bellinger, was "Adam Young & his sons". (NYSL,
MSS#11147, 20 Sept. 1778; MSS#13817, 27 Sept. 1778).
Toward the end of the
Revolution Young was given permission to clear a farm at Niagara (on-the-Lake),
becoming one of the first settlers in the Niagara Penninsula (HP, Add. Mss.
21829, Reel 85, A Survey of the Settlement at Niagara, 25 Aug. 1782, p. 2) where
he remained until about 1784, when he joined his three sons on the Six Nations
Indian Reserve along the Grand River - this property being confirmed to them by
the Six Nations 26 Feb. 1787 (PAC, RG 19, Vol. 624, Mohawk Deed, pp. 3-13). In Sept. of the same year Adam Young
appeared before the Commissioners for Resolving Loyalist Claims at Niagara
where he detailed his former extensive holdings in New York. A marginal note in the Library of Congress
copy of these records indicates that the interviewers considered him to be a
"very good man" (YF, p. 86).
Adam left the Mohawk Valley in haste, and left various debts
behind. One was to Jelles Fonda who, in
November 1784 included Adam on a list of persons indebted to him who "are
gone off to the Enemy in the late Warr". (NYSL, Fonda Papers, No. 14106,
Folder 1, Item 11).
On 22 Jan. 1790 Adam
Young signed his will, being then "weak in body" (DAY, original will
of Adam Young). He probably died in
this year as, in a survey of the Grand River in Jan./Mar. 1791, Augustus Jones
did not record Adam as being the owner of the house at the upper end of the
Young Tract, but instead the latter's son Henry (AJ).
The property of Adam
Young in Herkimer County and elsewhere had been confiscated by the State of New
York (NYSL, Revolutionary Records, Rev. Mss. 16, Folder 1, item 3, 21 Apr.
1783), probably impelling him to deed his lands at Youngsfield to his
son-in-law Joseph House (a Patriot supporter) in order to salvage some
financial remuneration from their sale (see NYSL, Land Papers, Series 2, Book
8, Letter from Jno. V. Renselaer, 12 Feb. 1799, p. 197; and Book 9, Application
of Phillip Cook, 11 Nov. 1806, p. 12).
It is apparent from the wording of a clause in the will of Adam's son
Daniel, that there was still hope in 1836 of obtaining some compensation for
the confiscated lands. Specifically,
Daniel gave instructions about selling "my real Estate in the State of New
York situate in the County of Herkimer or otherwise…granted to my Father Adam
Young late deceased…which I became heir thereof by Will" (RSC, Wentworth
Co., file No. 305, Daniel Young, 11 Apr. 1836). In 1837 there was an attempt to recover these lands when John
Woodworth, a lawyer from Albany, filed a claim on behalf of the descendants of
Adam Young (JWL). In the 1840's Peter
Young and subsequently James Young (sons of Daniel Young) were empowered by the
family to take legal steps to obtain title or payment for the New York property
(FOY). In 1892 the hope was still alive
as Adam's grandson William Young noted in his will, "property as I claim
through my father the late Henry Young and being in the State of New York"
(HSR, Register C, 1889-1901, William Young, Instrument No. 1362, p. 323). The final effort of record was by a
"lawyer who was married to a Young".
It was his intention to collect a complete list of descendants of Adam
Young (visiting Philip Young (1855-1937) in Canada for this purpose), and to
lay claim to an estate that supposedly amounted to thirty-five million
dollars. Apparently the lawyer died
before he could complete his work (Recollections of Winnifred (Young) Bruce,
Toronto, May 1946; typed 25 May 1964 by DH from the papers of James Young of
Cayuga). The outcome of these
proceedings is unknown.
On 22 January 1790
Adam Young "of the Grand River Settlement" signed his will, being
then "weak in body yet of Sound & perfect understanding and
Memory…" He mentions his wife
Elisabeth; Elisabeth Young, daughter of John Young his son; and sons Daniel
Young and Henry Young. He appointed his
"trusty Friends" Major Henry Wm Nelles, Lieut Robert Nelles, and Jaob
Christian Brenneman as his executors.
The witnesses were John Young and J. Christn Brenneman (DAY, original
will of Adam Young). Evidence that
Elizabeth House was a daughter is found in the proceedings of the Commissioners
for Extinguishing Claims, Sept. 1808, where Joseph House and Elizabeth his wife
applied to the Board. Affidavits were
provided by Philip F. Frey and John Hiss of Montgomery Co. stating that Adam
left "issue three sons named John, Daniel, and Henry and one daughter
Elizabeth now the wife of the said Joseph House and one of the applicants for
compensation" (Enclosed with Woodworth letter, JWL). He died at Grand River (Young Tract, Seneca
Township.) Ont. after 22 January 1790, when he signed his above will (DAY,
original will of Adam Young), and was likely the first to be buried in the
Young Family Cemetery on a knoll (now a cornfield - in the process of being
restored as a registered cemetery) on the river flats at the lower end of the
Young Tract.
The tradition that
Adam Young had an Indian or French mistress, Polly Crain (reported in YF, p.
125), by whom he had a son Jacob A. Young (b. 6 Apr. 1755), is not supported by
documentary evidence. Published data extracted
from primary source records, which is reported by Penrose (MV, p. 358),
indicates that this Jacob Young was the son of Jacob Young Sr. (a cousin of
Adam Young). What is curious about this
tradition is that Adam's son John's mother - in - law was Molly Hill, who may
also have gone by her mother's surname at one time, Crine (Anglicized to
Green).
More About Adam Young:
Burial: Young Tract
Burying Ground, Seneca Township, Haldimand County, Canada
Notes for Catharine
Elizabeth Schremling:
Catharine Ehle gives
the (Anglisized) full name of Maria Elizabetha as Mary Elizabeth Landgrave
(i.e., Landgraff). After her house was
burned, and her husband Adam and sons David and Henry escaped to join the
Loyalist forces at Oswego, Catharine Elizabeth (Schremling) Young was captured
by the Rebels and confined to Tice's Tavern in Johnstown, New York. She remained there with her daughter - in -
law Catharine (son John's wife) and her grandchildren until they and others
were involved in an exchange of prisoners sometime before 1780.
Adam's widow Catharine
Elizabeth "was supported by her son Daniel Young for a considerable time
and until her death - that she was blind for some years before her death"
(DAY, affidavit of George F. Smith of Glanford Township., 4 Jan. 1847). She sold Adam's share of the Young Tract 21
Mar. 1796 to Robert Wier. No
boundaries, however, were described in the deed-causing a long involved lawsuit
by the descendants of Daniel and Henry
Young vs. the descendants of Robert Wier (DAY; FOY). A petition by Elizabeth Young 3 Jan. 1797
was unsuccessful in the attempt to have a grant of Crown land conveyed to
her. She apparently did not come under
any official umbrella (UCLP, Vol. 548, "Y" Bundle 2, Elizabeth Young,
No. 6).
Catharine Elizabeth
died 1798 (AO, MS 502, Abraham Nelles Papers, Receipt from Daniel Young to
Abraham Nelles dated 5 June 1978), and was buried in the Smith Family Cemetery
in Glanford Township. (DAY, letter from
James Young to David Thorburn, 5 Jan. 1847).
More About Catharine
Elizabeth Schremling:
Burial: Smith
Cemetery, Glanford Township, Wentworth County, Ontario, Canada
Children of Adam Young
and Catharine Schremling are:
15 i. John5 Young, born 1742 in St.
Johnsville, New York, USA; died Bet. 20 May 1811 - 17 July 1812 in Seneca
Township, Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada.
He married (1) Catharine Hill September 1765 in Mohawk Valley, New York,
USA; born 1747 in Mohawk Valley, New York, USA; died Bet. 14 February 1792 - 05
February 1793. He married (2) Priscilla
Ramsay February 1793; died Aft. 22 April 1814.
Notes for John Young:
John Young was born in
1742, likely on the Harrison Patent, the site of the present-day St. Johnsville
N.Y., and was baptized (no date given) as Johanes Jung, with Fridrich Jung and
Thoreda Hesen as sponsors (SAR, p. 1).
John moved to the south shore of the Mohawk River in 1754 close to the
Upper (Canajoharie) Mohawk Village (see biography of his father and
grandfather). It is likely this
proximity that brought him into close contact with the Mohawk people, with the
result that he learned to speak their language, and met his future wife among
them. He probably married Catharine
Hill in 1765, and lived on the property near the Mohawk Village owned by his
father Adam until 1771, when Adam deeded land near Ft. Plain (the
"Geissenburg Settlement" by Otsquago Creek) to his eldest son (see
later).
On 25 Apr. 1771 Adam
(1) deeded a 105 parcel of land at Canajoharie (Lot 4, Bleeker Patent) on the
Mohawk River (near Ft. Plain) to his son John (AJD), adjoining the 250 acre
farm of the former's brother Frederick Young (CJY). It is apparent that John was still residing on the property
near the Upper Mohawk Village immediately prior to the time the deed was
issued. In one of the account books of
Jelles Fonda is an entry dated 5 November 1770 for "Hannes Young now Near
Ct. Seibers his son John" (NYSHA, Jelles Fonda Ledger 10, 1772-1791, p.
21). The Canajoharie Tax List for 1766
(located by Marilyn J. Cramer, and provided to the author by Ken Johnson of
Kansas) shows Hannes Seeber located among a group of individuals residing on
the Van Horne Patent around Adam Young's parcel shown in the map (noted
previously) of 1764. John's name does
not appear here since he was only occupying the property, his father Adam was
the owner. At some point in the early
1770s however, John moved to the property in Bleecker Patent. Adam who then sold the land in the Van
Horne Patent such that "at the Commencement of the late war" one
Thomas Young, son of Johan Christian Young (no relation to Adam Young) was in
possession of the property (NYSL, Garrit Y. Lansing Papers, Acc. No. KT13324,
Remissions on Patent to Abraham Van Horne).
An entry in the court records may relate to some aspect of the
sale. On 2 March 1776 John Young sued
Thomas Young for 3 pounds, 15 shillings (NYSL, Frey Papers, Justice Docket of
Major John Frey, Acc. No. 9829, p. 425).
A specific description
of this property occupied by John Young at the time of the Revolution may be of
interest. Reference to the Loyalist
Claims data indicates that the farm was 105 acres in extent, and that Adam was
"offered 1000 pounds New York Currency by Peter Ramsay in New York
sometime before 1771." (CJY) In
terms of the exact location of John's residence, the original deed to John from
his father states that it is on Lot 4 of the Highland Patent deeded to the
Bleeckers. A map composed about 1772
shows Adam on what was then (the lots were renamed and renumbered) 210 acres of
the "Wood Lotts" Lot 2 at the northern section of the Bleecker
Patent, opposite a large island in the Mohawk River (NYSL, Acc. No. 10816 Misc.
Papers and Maps Relating to Rutger Bleecker's Holdings in Otsquago Patent
1725-1773, Items 4,5,6a,11). Apparently the lots were severed in two (105 acres
each) and Adam had the portion which was the west section (furthest from
the river). This was a remote location, above the Dutchtown Road. Plotting the dimensions of this lot on
modern maps, it is apparent that Adam / John's residence was at the location
where, in 1853 A. Ornt was residing (Atlas of Montgomery County, 1853,
Montgomery County archives, Fonda, N.Y.); and where in 1905, A. Arndt was
living (New Century Atlas of Montgomery and Fulton Counties New York, Century
Map Co., Philadelphia, 1905). These
individuals were descendants of Abraham Arndt (Washington Frotheringham (Ed.),
"History of Montgomery County", D. Mason & Co., Syracuse, N.Y.,
1892, pp. 1-2) who, on 26 January 1786, bought this property (Lot 2, Rutgert
Bleecker Patent, 105 acres) from the Loan Officers of the City and County of
Albany. Arndt paid 112 poounds for the
land (the buildings had been destroyed during the Revolution 10 years earlier)
in a programme where monies were raised by the sale of confiscated lands to
help the State pay its debts (Montgomery County Dept. of history and Archives,
Tryon County Deeds, Book 1, 1772-1778, pp. 287-8). Interestingly, a publication of 1878 provides a detailed
engraving of the "Res. of Alfred Arndt Town of Minden", which shows a
large two story Georgian style house with a complex of barns and out buildings,
and the well pump just to the right of the raised laneway, near the apparent
drive shed, with a house situated in the distance ("History of Montgomery
and FultonCounties, N.Y., F.W. Beers & Co., New York, 1878: reprinted 1981,
Heart of the Lakes Publishing, Interlaken, N.Y.). The map compiled by the Army Map Service Geological Survey in
1943 (Ft. Plain) shows no buildings on the site, but a prominent tongue shaped
eminence, the tip of which is where is all likelihood the farm complex was
located. A narrow ridge shown was
probably the area along which the laneway ran.
In June 1990, Ken Johnson of Nebraska (now Kansas) and the author visited
the site and walked along a narrow tree lined ridge to a wooded copse of about
half an acre. In a site to the left
(south) of the laneway ridge, a deep stone lined well was located in an area of
scrub brush - with the pump leaning inside the well shaft. Further down the tongue of land, where it
dipped sharply, was found an area of about 50 feet square where there was a
heavy scatter of brick, stone, cinders, and household artifacts (e.g., tea
cups, a decanter stopper), some of which are dateable to the late 1700s (e.g.,
pearlware, queensware). This spot is
situated in proper relationship to the laneway and pump shown in the above
noted engraving.
In March 1777 John
Young escaped from the hands of the Rebels (Patriots), leaving his family and
his farm in order to join the British (CJY; PAC, AO 13/79, Claim of John Young,
Nov. 1783, p. 777). A likely reason for
the precipitous departure was a pending arrest warrant being issued for his
suspected role in the burning of the grist mill of Philip W. Fox near the
Palatine Church and the farm of Henry William Nelles (his future neighbour on
the Grand River). At a meeting of the
Tryon County Committee of Safety, 1 April 1777, an inquiry was held concerning
the origin of the fire. Apparently
Cunrad Matthes, who was the nearest neighbour of John Young (see 1772 map of
Bleecker Patent), stated that Henry W. Nelles sent his "Negro" to fetch a horse belonging
to Nelles - said horse having been "stolen" the same night that Fox's
mill had been burned. It seems that one
Rudolph Yucker became suspicious after hearing this from Matthes, and
interogated Nelles's "Negro", in particular about how a horse and
bridle could be stolen from a locked barn.
The Black servant said that both he and Nellis were not at home that night
so could not explain the matter.
Another individucal, Isaac Ellwood, also questioned Nelles's servant,
who tried to explain Nelles's strange awareness of the whereabouts of his
stolen horse, said that since Nelles had bought the horse from Young and
thought it may have wandered back to its former master. The servant further said that when he and
Nelles's son came to Young's house and inquired about the horse, they were told
that the horse had been found fully bridled in front of the house, so was placed
in the stable. Since it was established
that the bridle was always kept in the Nellis house, the whole matter became
even more suspicious. The Black servant further said that he believed that,
considering his master's Tory convictions, it must have been another
"strong Tory" who toodk the horse.
Since John Young lived directly across the River from Nelles, it is
difficult to imagine how it could have found its way across the ford below Sand
Hill, and up the road to the Geissenburg.
It is also more than a bit odd that Nellis should immediately conclude
that his horse would be abandoned by the supposed thief, then be able to
discover the route to his former stable.
It therefore appears that John Young and Henry W. Nelles, who were good
enough friends that they chose to settle side by side on Indian land after the
War, conspired to commit an act of sabotage.
In the likely scenario, John Young burned the mill and had a "get
away" horse arranged to help him make a rapid exit from the scene of the
"crime". Since the evidence
clearly pointed to John Yung being the "perpetrator", it is likely
that this is what prompted the Rebel's attempt to capture him. The timing of
March 1777 coincides perfectly with the known date Young left his farm to avoid
capture (Maryly B. Penrose, "Mohawk Valley in the Revolution",
Liberty Bell Press, Franklin Park, N.J., 1978, pp. 105-107).
Young's farm was then
rented from 7 June 1777 to a neighbour (noted above) Jno. Seber (Rent Role of
Farms left by Persons gone to the Enemy, New York in the Revolution, Vol. 2,
Supplement, Albany: State of New York,
1904, pp. 246-247). His family was
"drove off the premises" at this time (CJY), and likely were
sheltered at the Upper (Canajoharie) Mohawk Castle (MV, p. 126). On 25 Aug. 1777 the Tryon Co. Committee of
Safety ordered the apprehension of "John Young's wife" and her
confinement at the Tice house in Johnstown (MV, p. 127). She, her 4 children, and mother-in-law
Catharine Elizabeth Young were in the "Hands of the Congress" (1778)
(HP, Add. Mss. 21765, Reel 46 p. 72; Maryly B. Penrose, Baumann/Bowman Family,
Franklin Park N.J.: Liberty Bell
Assoc., 1977, p. 275). They were
probably exchanged (sent to Canada) in the winter of 1779/80 (HP, Add. Mss.,
21765, Reel 46, letters 17 Oct. 1779, 3 May 1780). Earlier, soon after John Young departed for Canada, The
Commissioners of Sequestration sold some of the effects of john Young. In
December 1777 they sold "sundries" of John Young for 59 pounds (NYSL,
Gerrit Y. Lansing Papers, Acc. No. KT13324, General Accounts 1777-1796, Box 2,
Folder 18).
In June of 1777 John
Young was in the employ of the Indian Department (NAC, CO 42, Vol. 32, A List
of persons Employed in the Indian Department, As of Use, 15 June 1777, p. 312),
being commissioned as a lieutenant prior to 25 Dec. 1777 (HP, Add. Mss. 21765,
Reel 46, Paylist, Indian Department, p. 48).
In the spring of 1778 John Young was performing a dual role near the
Pennsylvania - New York border. He had
been sent to Unadilla with about 40 rangers and 2 Indians to scour the
countryside to seek provisions for the army of Col. John Butler which was
advancing in that direction. He also
acted as a recruiting officer behind enemy lines in that area, reading a proclamation
to the people of the Butternuts settlement instructing all "friends to
Government" to come and join Butler, who would welcome them. John Young had been particularly successful
at Oquaga where he obtained 70 head of cattle and 60 to 70 recruits (Testimony
of Barnabas Kelly, 26 June 1778, Public Papers of George Clinton, Vol. 3,
Albany: Lyon, 1901, pp. 504-506). This
report is corroborated by the returns of Col. Mason Bolton at Niagara who wrote
that "Mr. John Young detach'd from Auqhguaga with 30 Rangers and Indians
constantly scouting towards the German Flatts and Cherry Valley" (HP, Add.
Mss. 21765, Reel 46, Return of the disposition of the Rangers now employed in
the frontiers of the Indian Country, no date, p. 409).
John Young's duties as
an Indian Department officer were diverse, as evidenced by the above and
following recorded information. In 1780
he was selected by the Nanticoke Indians to represent them (PAC, RG 10, Vol.
11, Minutes of Indian Affairs, 3 Feb. 1780, p. 139), which probably required
that he lead them in battle, and live among them. In the same year John Young was assigned to escort a group of Six
Nations Indian deputies in a boat from Ft. Schlosser to Ft. Erie, "there
to see them well provided with necessaries for their journey" in order
that they could embark on a trip to the west to encourage the Indians there to
take up arms against the Rebels (PAC, RG 10, Vol. 11, Minutes of Indian
Affairs, 11 Apr. 1780, p. 259). He was
also frequently in attendance at the Indian councils at Niagara between 1780
and 1782 (HP, Add. Mss. 21779, Reel 54, p. 73, 83, 86, 91, 109).
It would appear that
June 1782 was a particularly busy month.
He and Lieut. William Johnston were sent as "runners" with
correspondence for Detroit (HP, Add. Mss. 21769, Reel 48, Officer's Accounts,
June 1782, p. 115), and in the same month he was, assigned to Oswego where he
tabulated a census return of the number of Six Nations Indian and Brant's
Volunteers present there on 21 June 1782 (HP, Add. Mss. 21765, Reel 46, p.
283). Four days later he submitted an
account of his expences incurred at Tosioha on Buffalo Creek (a Delaware and
Nanticoke settlement) (HP, Add. Mss. 21769, Reel 48, 25 June 1782, p.
115). Some insight into the performance
of John Young in these various roles is found in a letter from Capt. John
Johnston to Col. John Butler, where he requests another officer to assist him
at Canadasaga, suggesting "Mr Young who I look upon being very
active" (HP, Add. Mss. 21765, Reel 46, 21 Apr. 1779, p. 119).
After seven years of
service, John Young went on half-pay 24 March 1784 (NAC, Haldimand Transcripts,
MG 21, Vol. B 167, Pt. 2, Return of Officers of the Indian Department
Recommended for Half Pay, pp. 352-353) and settled among the Indians on the
Grand River. John Young's property was
confiscated by "the people of the State of New York" 21 Jan. 1783
(NYSL, Revolutionary Records, Rev. Mss. 16, Folder 6, No. 1), meaning that he
could not seriously contemplate a return to his former home.
In late Sept. 1784
Young, then residing on the Grand River, was called upon by two Missisauga
Indians to visit a site on the shores of Lake Erie where three White men had
been killed. He went with Capt.
Cackbush and three other Delaware Indians, and described the scene of the
carnage in a letter to the commandant at Ft. Niagara. Within a day, when it became apparent that the perpetrators were
Delawares, the leading men of this tribe told Young that they would do their
best to find the guilty parties.
Subsequent testimony by an individual who escaped during the incident
provided more specific details, supporting Young's observations and inferences
about what had happened (HP, Add. Mss. 21763, Reel 44, letter and enclosures
from Arent S. DePeyster, 30 Sept. 1784, pp. 355-362).
The name of John Young
appears in various account books relating to the Niagara Penninsula. For example, he paid a debt owed in the
1790's by his wife's cousin "Aaron Hill Capt David Son" to merchant
William Nelles (MTL, S111, William Nelles, Accounts and Militia Papers, Account
Book 1792-1837). He also participated
in Six Nations Indian councils (e.g., PAC, MG 11, Q Series, Vol. 283, Power of
Attorney - Six Nations Indians to Joseph Brant, 2 Nov. 1796, pp. 44-49);
entertained various travellers at his home (e.g., Charles M. Johnston, The Valley
of the Six Nations: A Collections of
Documents on the Indian Lands of the Grand River, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1964, p. 65,
123, 125); and was a founding member of the Barton Masonic Lodge (George E.
Mason, Historical Sketch of the Barton Lodge, Hamilton, 1895, p. 61, 183).
Evidence that John Young was the first
settler on the Grand River is found in a letter from Robert Hoyes to Frederick
Haldimand 2 Nov. 1783 stating that, "A party of Rangers with an Indian as
their guide march by land to the Grand Riviere. They carry a letter, from Col. Butler to a Mr. Young, who resides
amongst the Indians settled on that river,…" (HP, Add. Mss. 21763, Reel
44, p. 285). He was the first to
purchase land from the Mississauga owners, the deed to his farm (one mile
square) in the Young Tract being dated 20 Jan. 1784 (JOS). John Young, however, had an additional place
of residence at the Mohawk Village, at least in the 1780's (CJY). It is apparent that John Young lived in
relative comfort, having four slaves (Dean, Laya, a man named Jack, a boy named
Jack) to attend to many of the chores (Will of John Young, RSC, Lincoln Co.
(Niagara North), 17 July 1812) at his two residences.
Some insight into the
personality of John Young is available through an examination of the diaries of
those who visited him. For example,
Patrick Campbell reported playing "whist, cribbage, and other games"
with Young, adding that it was the first time he had ever played cards with a
"squaw". This statement
indicates that in the Young home, women participated with the men in some forms
of leisure recreation. Whether this
behaviour was typical of pioneer society at this time, or, for example,
reflects Young's egalitarian attitude toward women, or mirrors the fact that
Catharine was "strong willed" (assertive), is unknown. It is not possible to read motives from this
isolated excerpt in a diary. Young also gave Campbell a tour of the area in his
sleigh, pointing out the local sites of interest, and in general showed him
"marked attention and hospitality" (Campbell, Travels, p. 180). Another facet, however, is seen in the
testimony of a neighbour Charles Anderson, relative to the treatment of Charles
Brown, a man who was apparently an indentured servant of Young. Anderson reported that Young "locked
him <Brown> up in a room, and threatened to beat him" if Brown
didn't sign a note for £50. When Brown escaped through a window, Young sent two
Indians who were staying at the house to retrieve him. The jury which heard the case decided in
favour of Brown (MTL, Upper Canada Court of Common Pleas, Nassau District,
Minutes, 14 Oct. 1788-10 Apr. 1794, Co. of Lincoln, 9 Apr. 1793) - the incident
revealing a possible dark side to the character of John Young.
John's wife died some
time soon after the visit of Campbell, and he married secondly Priscilla
(Ramsay) Nelles, widow of Henry William Nelles, who outlived him (see biography
of Priscilla).
Precise locations of the
house sites on the Grand River occupied by John and his brothers are found in
the survey notes recorded by Augustus Jones (AJ). A collection of archaeological artifacts, obtained under licence
from the Ministry of Citizenship and Culture, from the site of John Young's
house is presently held in trust by the writer.
John wrote his will
15th April 1805 "considering the uncertainty of this mortal life",
giving various effects to his wife Priscilla including "the Negro woman
Dean sufficient maintenance as long as she remains my widow and conducts
herself with Propriety". He also
gave her, during her life, "the Negro man Jack and the Negro woman Laya,
and after her death the Negro man Jack to be given to my son Abraham and the
Negro woman Laya to go to my daughter Elizabeth". It was also his will that "my wife will
live in the house with my son Joseph and to have together all the household
furniture". He even made
provisions as to how the house should be divided into rooms assigned to each
party. Joseph was to have the farm
where his father resided, various effects, and "the negro boy
Jack". The one mile tract fronting
the River was basically divided in four.
John Jr. was to have the section furtherst down river, Joesph the next
portion, then the section reserved for Elizabeth, and finally the uppermost
segment to Abraham. The island was to
be owned primarily by joseph, with a smaller portion to Abraham. All farms were about 20 chains along the
River, and three miles back. John Jr.
and John A. Young (son of Abraham) were to equally share (100 acres each) in
John Sr.'s military lands in Walpole Township (one half of Lot 19, Concession
10). On the 10th May 1811 John (with a very shaky hand) signed a codocil to the
above will. Herein he stated that he
wished that the land reserved for his daughter Elizabeth, wife of Warner
Nelles, instead go to his son Joseph Young.
He died between 20 May 1811 when he signed the codicil to his will, and
17 July 1812 when his will was proved (RSC, Lincoln Co. (Niagara North), 17
July 1812), and is likely buried in the Young Tract Burying Ground near the
site of his home.
More About John Young:
Burial: Pr. Young Tract
Burying Ground, Seneca Township, Haldimand County, Canada
Notes for Catharine
Hill:
Catharine (Hill) Young
was a Six Nations Mohawk woman of the Bear Clan, probably born at the
Canajoharie Upper Mohawk Village, Indian Castle, New York in 1747 (CON),
daughter of Johannes / John (son of Seth Widemouth), son of Seth
Karonyaghraghkwa and Margaret (see Timmerman Deed included in biograpny of
Theobald Young Sr.); and Mary Hill Kateriunigh, daughter of Aaron Hill
Oseraghete and Margaret (Crine) Green.
She was a Mohawk woman whose mother was the sister of Capt. David Hill,
a Mohawk War Chief (P. Campbell, Travels in the Interior Parts of North America
in the Years 1791 and 1792, Toronto:
The Champlain Society, 1937 (originally published 1793), p. 166-167,
180). In the diary written during his
visit to Young in 1792, Patrick Campbell reports that John's wife was a
"sister to one of the chiefs of the Mohawke nation who succeeded Captain
David" (p. 180). This individual
was Capt. Seth Hill Kanenkaregowa (Chief Astawenserontha). Information on this family is found in David
K. Faux, "Understanding Ontario First Nations Genealogical Records:
Sources and Case Studies", Ontario Genealogical Society, Toronto, 2002.
During the
Revolutionary War, in 1777, the Committee of Safety ordered the apprehension of
"John Young's wife". She was
captured, and along with all her children, was incarcerated (along with her
mother - in - law) at Tice's Tavern.
Sometime prior to 1780 she and her children were exchanged for American
prisoners, and joined her husband John at Ft. Niagara (see biography of her
mother - in - law Catharine Elizabeth (Schremling) Young. Their youngest son Joseph was born there in
1782 (CON).
As noted above, In 1793
Patrick Campbell published a diary which included a description of his visit to
the Young home in February 1792; and
that he recorded that John Young's wife was the sister of the Mohawk chief who
succeeded Captain David Hill. Campbell
also described an interview with David Hill's son Aaron, who described the way
in which the titles were passed to his cousin, the son of his father's
sister. Catharine was the eldest
daughter of Mary Hill, whose Indian name Kateriunigh means "She Carries
the News", the head Bear Clan Matron who held the right to assign the
Sachem title Aghstawenserontha. When her brother Captain David Hill
Karonghyontye died in November 1790, Mary bestowed the title on her son
(Catharine's eldest brother) Captain Seth Hill Kanenkaregowa who died in 1808.
Had Catharine lived until 1808, she would have in all probability had the right
to give the Aghstawenserontha title to her eldest son Abraham Young. Presumably one of her sister's assumed the
role of Clan Matron. However, Warner
Henry Nelles, Catharine's grandson, via her only daughter Elizabeth (Young)
Nelles, appears to have inherited a chiefly title. Upon the death of the previous holder of the title he became, at
age 17, an Indian Chief of the Grand River whose name was Tahanata - a role he
retained until his death in 1896 (see his biography). Catharine probably died in 1792, shortly after Campbell's visit,
likely at her home in Seneca Township, and was probably buried in the cemetery
behind her home where her father - in -
law had been laid to rest a few years earlier.
More About Catharine
Hill:
Baptism: 03 June 1747,
Schenectady Reformed Dutch Church, Schenectady, New York, USA
Burial: Pr. Young Tract
Burying Ground, Seneca Township, Haldimand County, Canada
Notes for Priscilla
Ramsay:
Some interesting
details about the life story of Priscilla (Ramsay) Young can be found in the
Seaver reference below). It is likely
that Priscilla, widow of Henry William Nelles, married John Young in February
1793 since the description of what she terms her wedding dress, noted in her
will, is consistent with the description of a gown she purchased from William
Nelles, merchant.
Priscilla, then the
widow of John Young, wrote her will on the 22nd April 1814. It does not appear that the will was
probated, but was kept among the papers of her step - son William Nelles of
Grimsby. Herein she bequeathed various
items to her Nelles and Young step children and step grandchildren. One of the most interesting clauses in the
will was that, "It is my will and desire that my negro woman, Dean, shall
be free after my decease." (J.E.
Seaver, Life of Mary Jemison, New York:
Garland, 1977 (originally published 1824), p. 66; Will of Pricilla
Young, in R. Janet Powell, "Nelles", Annals of the Forty: Loyalist and Pioneer Families of West
Lincoln 1783-1833, Vol. 6, Grimsby Ont.:
Grimsby Historical Society, 1968, pp. 70-71).
More About Priscilla
Ramsay:
Burial: Pr. Young Tract
Burying Ground, Seneca Township, Haldimand County, Canada
16 ii. Elizabeth Young, born 1746 in Mohawk Valley,
New York, USA; died 13 April 1813. She
married Joseph House; born 30 September 1742 in Minden Township, Montgomery
County, New York, USA; died 22 July 1821.
Notes for Elizabeth
Young:
Elizabeth Young was
born 1746, died 13 Apr. 1813 (MV, p. 266).
She married Joseph House (Jost Hauss) and resided at the Geissenburg
Settlement near near Ft. Plain, NY. Her
husband Joseph supported the Patriot cause during the Revolution, and claimed
the property of his father-in-law (Adam)) on Young's Lake after the War (e.g.,
NYSL, Land Papers, Series 2, Book 9, Application of Phillip Cook, 11 Nov. 1816,
p. 12; JWL).
L.H. Shultz (The House
Family in the Mohawk Valley, 1968-available at Dept. of History and Archivees,
Fonda N.Y.) suggests that Mary who md. Wm. Cunningham; Abraham, b. 24 Mar 1795;
and Margretha, b. 29 Dec. 1796, were children of Jost Haus and Elizabeth (--). The dates of birth make this seem
unlikely. In addition, Melvin R. Shaver
(The House Faimlies of the Mohawk, Ransomville N.Y. -available at Dept. of
History and Archives, Fonda N.Y., p. 35) records that Abram House who married
Maria Smith was a son of Major Joseph House and wife Elizabeth Young - however
both resources provide little information on the Joseph House line.
The prime resource for
this branch of the family is Ken Johnson of Kansas (KJ).
More About Elizabeth
Young:
Burial: Ft. Plain
Reformed Church Cemetery, Ft. Plain, New York, USA
More About Joseph
House:
Burial: Geissenburg
Church Cemetery, Montgomery County, New York, USA
17 iii. Nicholas Young, born 1750.
Notes for Nicholas
Young:
Johan Nicolas, bp. 17
June 1750 (BON, p. 63). Probably died
young.
18 iv. Daniel Young, born 1755 in Mohawk Valley,
New York, USA; died 09 May 1835 in Barton Township, Wentworth County, Ontario,
Canada. He married Elizabeth Windecker
Abt. 1782; born 1763 in Mohawk Valley, New York, USA; died 08 March 1829 in
Barton Township, Wentworth County, Ontario, Canada.
Notes for Daniel Young:
Daniel Young was born 1755 according to census records (CON, p. 205), and 1749 according to
military records (NAC, WO 28/10, A list of Colonel Johnson's Department of
Indian Affairs, 1777, p. 403).
It is unclear where
Daniel Young was living in the years immediately predeeding the Declaration of
Independence. Only one record can
definitely be tied to him. On 9 April
1776 he collected a debt from the court in the amount of 1 pound, 11 shillings
pertaining to the law suit of Adam Young against John Weaver ((NYSL, Frey
Papers, Acc. No. 9829, P. 410). There
is a strong possibility that he was working for his uncle Frederick. There is no indication in any record source
yet examined that he owned any land prior to the Revolution. He was, however, indicted by the Rebels on
the same date as his Uncle Frederick (H.C. Burleigh, "New York State -
confiscations of Loyalists", United Empire Loyalist Association, Toronto,
1970, p. 23), again suggesting that he was in the employ of his uncle.
Prior to 15 June 1777
Daniel Young became a ranger in the Indian Department (NAC, WO 28/10, A List of
Colonel Johnson's Department of Indian Affairs, p. 401, 403); NAC, Co 42, Vol.
32, p. 314). He transfered to Butler's
Rangers with the formation of that unit in Sept. 1777, becoming a sergeant in
Capt. William Caldwell's Co. before 25 Dec. 1777 (HP, Add. Mss. 21765, Reel 46,
Paylists, p. 65). He finished his
service in this corps in Capt. Peter TenBroeck's Co. (CON, p. 205), being assigned
to Oswego at some point during 1783 (NHS), and serving throughout the War.
Daniel Young "by
an invitation of the Indians settled on the Grand River where he made large
improvements" (UCLP, Vol. 548, 1797-1836, "Y" Bundle 2, Daniel
Young, No. 5; and see No. 8, a petition for a grant of land for "his
numerous family"). He resided on
the Young Tract opposite the lower end of Young's (now Thompson's) Island
(AJ). While living on the Grand River,
Daniel Young sued William Dennis over the death of one of his mares. The horses of both Daniel and his brother
John had a habit of straying, and commonly found their way into the paddock of
their brother Henry. In March 1792
William Dennis and Henry Young, apparently fed up with the situation, filled
their guns with peas in order to scare away a horse belonging to Daniel, and
one belonging to John. The shots
connected, however the wound received by Daniel's mare proved fatal. The court ruled in favour of Daniel Young
(MTL, Upper Canada Court of Common Pleas, Nassau District, Minutes 14 Oct. 1788
- 10 Apr. 1794, County of Lincoln, 23 Oct.. 1792). Another event occurring prior to Daniel's removal from the Grand
River to Barton was the issuing of a commission to him as a lieutenant in the
militia of Lincoln County 23 July 1794 (Upper Canada Gazette, No. 45, Vol. 1,
31 July 1794, p. 1).
Daniel Young wrote in
1795 that, "thinking his situation impermanent removed last spring to the
Township of Barton" (UCLP, Vol. 548, "Y" Bundle 2, 1795-1796,
Daniel Young, No. 5) where he settled on Lot 13 Concession 8 - land granted to
his wife as the daughter of a U.E. Loyalist (AO, RG 1, C-4, Township Papers,
Barton, Township.). He built his house
on the slope above a spring which arises from the ground on the edge of Red
Hill Creek (pre 1830 ceramics having been collected from this site by the
writer). Assessment rolls of Barton for
1816, 1817, and 1818 indicate that his house was a one story log building
(squared timber on two sides) and two fireplaces (HL, Archives File, Assessment
of the Township of Barton).
Daniel Young became a
prominent man in the Barton community.
Soon after his arrival, Young joined the Barton Masonic Lodge as a
founding member, assuming various roles, including worshipful master, between
1796 and 1807 (J. Ross Robertson, The History of Freemansonry in Canada, Vol.
1, Toronto: George A. Morang, 1900, pp.
624-678). He was also a township
assessor in 1816 (HL, Archives Files, Assessment of the Township of Barton District
of Niagara Commencing 4 Mar. 1816). In
a long and distinguished military career, Daniel Young served as a captain the
5th Lincoln Militia during the War of 1812-15.
According to testimony given 4 Oct. 1875 at a pension hearing, by Jacob
Hagle, a private who served under Daniel young, his company was present at the
"battles of Fort Erie and Blackrock" (HL, R 971.034 BAT HA, The
Veterans of the War of 1812-15, p. 29).
For other items pertaining to the military service of Daniel Young in
the Lincoln Militia see various items in PAC, "C" Series, RG 8 (e.g.,
Return of the 5th Lincoln Militia Stationed at Niagara, 23 Oct. 1812, C1203 ½
AA, p. 79).
Occasional details of a
general nature pertaining to his life in Barton Township. are to be found in
merchant's account books (e.g., AO, MU 2555, Rousseau Papers, Journal, Part 2,
25 Nov. 1800-1805, p. 66) and in the account book of a local physician (HL,
Buchanan Papers, Account Book of Dr. Oliver Tiffany, Ledger A 1798-1801, pp.
956-957).
Daniel Young was
involved in a bizarre "murder" case in 1827-1830. Two of his sons and one of his grandsons
were charged with murdering their hired hand subsequent to someone finding bone
material in the coal - kiln used to make charcoal. In desperation, Daniel took out an add in the Gore Gazette asking
anyone with information about the alleged dead man to come forward (Gore
Gazette, Vol. 2, No. 7, 12 Apr. 1828, p. 27).
See also CKM for documented events pertaining to the case. The bottom line is that the hired man was located,
very much alive, in the USA, and so the Youngs were exonerated. A few years later, in 1833, Daniel Young
joined with many of his relatives and other local residents to become founding
members of the Barton Presbyterian Church (BSK).
A collection of
archaeological artifacts from the house site of Daniel Young in Barton Township.
was obtained under licence of the Ministry of Citizenship and Culture, and is
presently held in trust by the writer.
In his will, Daniel
Young "of the Township of Barton being sick in body but in perfect mind
and memory…" mentions sons and daughters Peter Young, Henry Young, George
Young, James Young, John Young, Catharine Wintermute, Priscilla Sipes, and
Elizabeth Bradt; late father Adam Young; and grandson Christopher Young, son of
his son Peter Young. He appointed his
"trusty friends" Samuel Ryckman land surveyor, David Kern, and
Stephen Blackstone all of Barton to be executors of his will-which was
witnessed by Simon Bradt, Samuel Ward Ryckman, and William Young (RSC,
Wentworth Co., file No. 305, Daniel Young, 11 Apr. 1836). Other listings of the children of Daniel
Young include the Upper Canada Land Petitions abstracted in LIO (p. 350), and a
mortgage written 15 June 1832 between Simon Bradt and some of the children and
grandchildren of Daniel Young (WCLR, Instrument No. H2419, 27 Apr. 1836). The latter document mentions Catharine
Wintermute of the District of Niagara, daughter of Daniel Young; Peter Young of
the Grand River; Priscilla Sypes of Glanford, wife of Jacob Sypes and daughter
of Daniel Young; Henry Young of Barton; Dorothy Wintermute of the Grand River,
wife of Jacob Wintermute and daughter of Daniel Young; Elizabeth Young, Rebecca
Young, Catharine Young, Mary Young, John Young, and Martha Young of Barton,
children of Adam Young deceased son of Daniel Young; Elizabeth Bradt of Barton
Township., wife of Simon Bradt, daughter of Daniel Young; George Young of the
Grand River; and Frederick Young of the Grand River. The baptisms of some of the children are recorded in the
registers of St. Marks Church (STM), to wit:
Adam bap. 5 Feb. 1794; Henry, Dorothy, and Elizabeth bap. 6 Mar. 1794.
More About Daniel
Young:
Burial: Pr. Barton
Union Cemetery, Barton Township, Wentworth County, Ontario, Canada
More About Elizabeth
Windecker:
Burial: Pr. Barton
Union Cemetery, Barton Township, Wentworth County, Ontario, Canada
19 v. David Young, born Abt. 1760; died Aft. 24
October 1778.
Notes for David Young:
Resided with his
parents at Young's Lake until forced to escape to Oswego with his father and
brother Henry in 1778. David died
during the American Revolution while he was serving in Butler's Rangers. He is last recorded on a pay list of 24
October 1778 when he was a private in Peter Ten Broeck's Company of Butler's
Rangers (Affidavit of Col. John Butler, 17 July 1795, Petition of Daniel Young
and Henry Young, Papers and Records of the Ontario Historical Society, 1930,
Vol. 26, pp. 371-372).
20 vi. Abraham Young, born 17 August 1762.
Notes for Abraham
Young:
Baptised 18 August 1762
(SAR). Died young.
21 vii. Henry Young, born 17 August 1762 in
Canajoharie District, Tryon County, New York, USA; died Abt. 1840 in Pr.
Ancaster, Wentworth County, Ontario, Canada.
He married Phoebe Van Every; died 1804.
Notes for Henry Young:
Henry Young was born 17 Aug. 1762, probably near Ft.
Plain, and was baptized at the Stone Arabia Reformed Church as Henrich Jung
with his twin brother Abraham 18 Aug. 1762.
(SAR, p. 16). Henry died about
1840, likely in Ancaster Township., Wentworth Co. (FOY, p. 92). He married Phoebe VanEvery, who died prior
to 1816 (AO, RG 40, Heir and Divisee Commission Records 1805-1895, 1815, David
Young), daughter of McGregor and Mary (--) VanEvery (LIO, p. 325.
The sponsors were Cptn Henrich Frej and his
wife Elizabeth (SAR, p. 16). In 1778
Henry escaped capture by the Americans during the burning of his father's farm,
leaving with his father Adam and brother David to join the British forces at
Oswego (CAY). He was a private in Capt.
Peter Ten Broeck's Co. of Butler's Rangers as of 1 Aug. 1778 (HP, Add. Mss.
21765, Reel 46, Pay Lists, p. 56), serving the duration of the War with this
unit (NHS).
Henry Young resided in
his parents house on the Grand River until his widowed mother sold the property
in 1796 (AJ; DAY; FOY), subsequently moving to Ancaster where he probably died
in 1840 (FOY, pp. 89-94).
The names of his
children are found in LIO (p. 351), and in the will of William (3) Young (No.
33) (HSR, Register C 1889-1901, Instrument No. 1362, p. 323).
More About Henry Young:
Baptism: 18 August
1762, Stone Arabia Reformed Dutch Church, Stone Arabia, New York, USA
10. Catharine4 Young (Theobald (David)3,
Andreas2, Johannes1) was born Abt. 1719. She married George Schremling, son of
Hendrick Schremling and Maria Landgraff.
Children of Catharine
Young and George Schremling are:
22 i. Hendrick5 Schremling.
23 ii. Elizabeth Schremling.
24 iii. Catharine Schremling.
25 iv. George Schremling.
26 v. David Schremling.
27 vi. Annah Margaret Schremling.
11. Anna Margaretha4 Young (Theobald (David)3,
Andreas2, Johannes1) was born Abt. 1721. She married Johannes Hess 10 November
1743 in Stone Arabia Trinity Lutheran Church, Stone Arabia, New York, USA. He was born 05 May 1721.
Notes for Anna
Margaretha Young:
Data pertaining to
this family found in SAL.
Children of Anna Young
and Johannes Hess are:
28 i. Daniel5 Hess.
29 ii. Daniel Hess.
30 iii. Catharine Hess, born 16 July 1744.
31 iv. Johannes Hess, born 27 October 1745.
32 v. Elizabeth Hess, born 12 August 1747.
33 vi. Anna Hess, born 25 March 1749.
34 vii. Johan Fredrick Hess, born 10 May 1751.
35 viii. Dewalt (David) Hess, born 22 September 1753.
12. Andrew4 Young (Theobald (David)3,
Andreas2, Johannes1) was born Abt. 1730, and died Bet. 01
February 1791 - 21 March 1796 in Otego Township, New York, USA. He married Elizabeth.
Children of Andrew
Young and Elizabeth are:
36 i. Jacob5 Young. He married Anna Jordan 23 January 1791 in
Ft. Plain Dutch Reformed Church, Ft. Plain, Montgomery County, New York, USA.
37 ii. Elizabeth Young. She married George Scrambling; born Abt. 1768.
38 iii. David Young, born 30 December 1761; died 24
April 1814 in Otego Township, Otsego County, New York, USA. He married (1) Eva; died June 1815. He married (2) Maria Elizabeth Leib 03
November 1788 in Sand Hill Dutch Reformed Church, Ft. Plain, Montgomery County,
New York, USA; born Abt. 19 February 1770; died 19 February 1808 in Otego
Township, Otsego County, New York, USA.
More About David Young:
Baptism: Stone Arabia
Reformed Dutch Church, Stone Arabia, New York, USA
Burial: Scrambling
Cemetery, Otego Township, Otsego County, New York, USA
More About Maria
Elizabeth Leib:
Burial: Scrambling
Cemetery, Otego Township, Otsego County, New York, USA
39 iv. John Young, born Abt. 1763. He married Margaret VanDerwerker Abt. 1790.
40 v. Susanna Young, born 1765; died 31 December
1820. She married David Scrambling 05
June 1786; born 1759; died 1821.
More About Susanna
Young:
Burial: Scrambling
Cemetery, Otego Township, Otsego County, New York, USA
More About David
Scrambling:
Burial: Scrambling
Cemetery, Otego Township, Otsego County, New York, USA
13. Frederick4 Young (Theobald (David)3,
Andreas2, Johannes1) was born 1733, and died 1777 in Ft.
Niagara, New York, USA. He married Catharine
Schumacher 18 March 1762 in Stone Arabia Reformed Dutch Church, Stone
Arabia, New York, USA. She died Aft. 25
August 1777.
Notes for Frederick
Young:
Frederick Young was a
local Justice of the Peace for the Canajoharie District, and held the title of
"Esquire". He was active in
the "family business" of land speculation, He obtained the Frederick Young Patent, and had extensive
holdings in the Livingston Patent (about 20,000 acres total) on the South side
of the Mohawk River (YF) - although his primary residence appears to have been
the 250 acre parcel of land adjacent to that of his brother Adam in the
Bleecker Patent (CJY). At some point he
learned to speak the Mohawk language as it was recorded that he was the
translator during the land transactions leading to the Theobald Young Patent
(see details in biography of Theobald Sr.).
In 1777 he was forced to leave his home, and with his nephews John and
Daniel, joined the Indian Department at Ft. Niagara, attaining the rank of
Lieutenant. He participated in the
Battle of Oriskany in 1777; and died at the garrison of Ft. Niagara in the same
year - cause of death unknown (CAY; CJY)).
On 20th August 1796 letters of administration were granted to
"Daniel Young nephew of the late Frederick Young who died intestate in
1777", and Angus McDonald (AO, GS 1, Surrogate Court, County of Lincoln,
Register 1, microfilm copy at the St. Catharine's Museum, St. Catharines,
Ontario).
Children of Frederick
Young and Catharine Schumacher are:
41 i. (son)5 Young, died 1779.
Notes for (son) Young:
The name of Frederick's
only son is not a matter of record.
42 ii. Dorothy Young, born 26 January 1764.
More About Dorothy
Young:
Baptism: 29 January
1764, Stone Arabia Reformed Church, Stone Arabia, New York, USA
14. Theobald (David)4 Young (Theobald (David)3,
Andreas2, Johannes1) was born Abt. 1735, and died Bef. 05
November 1771 in Canajoharie District, Tryon County, New York, USA. He married Margaret House 14 June
1763 in Stone Arabia Reformed Dutch Church, Stone Arabia, New York, USA. She died Aft. 07 April 1792.
Notes for Theobald
(David) Young:
Theobald (David)
resided near his brothers in what is today Minden Township, Montgomery County,
New York (see tax list of 1766, Marilyn J. Cramer). Very little documentary information has been location relating to
Theobald Jr. (see YF). Theobald died
intestate at a relatively early age (his youngest son was only about one year
old or less). Letters of Administration
were granted to his wife Margaret on 5 November 1771. (YF)
Notes for Margaret
House:
After the death of
Theobald in 1771, Margaret married a Witmoeser, then Hosea Lyons.
Children of Theobald
Young and Margaret House are:
43 i. Frederick5 Young, born 23 June
1764 in Minden Township, Montgomery County, New York, USA.
More About Frederick
Young:
Baptism: 01 July 1764,
Stone Arabia Reformed Church, Stone Arabia, New York, USA
44 ii. John D. Young, born 29 January 1766 in
Minden Township, Montgomery County, New York, USA; died 05 April 1856 in Barton
Township, Wentworth County, Ontario, Canada.
He married Anna Margaret; born 1766; died 31 March 1861 in Barton
Township, Wentworth County, Ontario, Canada.
Notes for John D.
Young:
John D. Young (also
known as John T. Young since his father used both his German (Theobald) and
English (David) names). The following
information provides a comprehensive overview of John D. Young's participation
in the American Revolution.
"JOHN D. YOUNG,
RWPA #RI 1964. He was born in Minden Township, Montgomery
County, New York)
January 29, 1766, a son of Theobald and Margaret (House) Young.
He was a nephew of
Captain Jost House (Montgomery County Wills, Volume I ;283).
He enlisted as a
substitute for Hoziah Loyne and served as a fifer in Captain Jonathan
Titus' Company ofthe
Fourth New York Regiment at Fort Plank for one month and
eight days in 1779.
John states Loynes was taken ill and sent to the Prisdte House. He
served for the
remainder of 1779 as a fifer in Captain Joseph House's Company of the
Canajoharie District
Regiment of Militia and was stationed at Fort Plank for three
months and 15 days.
John states Jacob Drussler was also a drummer within Fort Plank
in 1780. In 1781 and
1782, he served in Captain Joseph House's Company ofthe
Canajoharie District
Regiment of Militia as a fifer. Young states he was also often out
in pursuit of the enemy
and occasionally on duty as a sentinel. Casparus Toiler (who
states he was born in
Minden Township, Montgomery County, New York) states Jacob
Dusler and John D.
Young served in Fort Plank under Captain Jost House from the
spring of 1780, until
the Fort Plank Settlements were burnt on August 2, 1780. Zoller
also states Young's
parent's property was destroyed in the aforesaid raid and the whole
of House's Company
being ordered to move into the fort. Casparus states they lived
within Fort Plank until
they could build themselves new homes after the war. Zoller
also states.... that
Joseph C. House who was their Orderly Sergeant was legated Upon
by Cap' Joseph House
and at times called the Roll often besides left to the said
Orderiy Sergeant to
arange the Guards respectively. . . Casparus goes on to note that
lafter Brant's raid a
heavy guard was always left at Fort Plank by Captain Jost House
[when his company was
absent from the fort. Richard Shimmel states that Young and
Dusler served within
Fort Plank as musicians during the military seasons of 1780,1781
& 1782. Hozia Loynes
[Lyons] states that Young served as his substitute in 1779.
Lyones states that
Lieutenant Colonel Regnier wanted John to enlist in his regiment
as a fifer for the war,
but his mother went to Loynes shedding tears for her son and he
fhsn returned to the
service in the place of Young. Hosiah states that, after Brant's
raid, the whole of
Captain Joseph House's Company was ordered into Fort Plank and
kept on continuous duty
until the war's end, primarily under the direction of House's
Orderly Sergeant, Joseph
C. House. Isaac Pickert states he remember's Young serving
in the Fourth New York
Regiment and that he and John Countryman were arrested late
one night by a paroll
guard and taken to the house of Henry Witmosure [Young's
deceased step-father's]
where Sergeant [—] Hitch and Corporal [—] Dickson were
quartered and held
under guard till morning when they were taken to the home of
Lieutenant George
Country man where Captain Jonathan Titus and Captain John Davis
were quartered. After
being examined by the captains, they were released. Magdalena
Pickert states she is
the widow ofthe said Isaac Pickert and that she was a daughter of
Lieutenant George
Countryman. Magdalena states that, in the winter of 1778/9, Captain
Titus and Davis of the
Fourth New York Regiment were billited within her father's home,
See also the pay
receipts for Captain Joseph House's Company of the Canajoharie
District Regiment of
Militia (Revolutionary War Rolls, Jackets 89)."
The above sketch of
John D. Young's service in the American Revolution was taken verbatim from,
"The Bloodied Mohawk: The American
Revolution in the Words of Fort Plank's Defenders and Other Mohawk Valley
Partisans", by Ken D. Johnson, Picton Press, Rockport, Maine, 2002, pp.
657-658. Clearly John D. Young was a
"Patriot" or "Rebel" (depending on one's viewpoint). the baptism of his younger children are
found in St. Paul's Lutheran Church (Geissenburg), Minden Township, Montgomery
County, New York. (YF)
John and family emigrated
to Wentworth County in 1813, lived in Glanford Township and Dundas, settling in
Barton Township about 1830 (see biography of his son John J. Young).
His obituary
reads: "At Barton on the 5th inst.
Mr. John D. Young aged 88 years." (Hamilton Spectator, 9 April 1856).
More About John D.
Young:
Burial: Barton Stone
Church Cemetery, Barton Township, Wentworth County, Ontario, Canada
Notes for Anna
Margaret:
Her obituary
reads: At the residence of David Hess
Esq., Barton, on the 31st ult., Anna Margaret, wife of the late Capt. John D.
Young, at the advanced age of 95 years. (Hamilton Spectator, 4 April 1861).
More About Anna
Margaret:
Burial: Barton Stone
Church Cemetery, Barton Township, Wentworth County, Ontario, Canada
45 iii. David Young, born 27 August 1770 in Minden
Township, Montgomery County, New York, USA.
More About David Young:
Baptism: 1770, Stone
Arabia Lutheran Church, Stone Arabia, New York, USA