FIRST GENERATION

1. Harmen Jansen KNICKERBOCKER died before 1722 in Dutchess Co., NY.⁽¹⁾ This Knickerbocker genealogy is presented in 1999 to correct errors presented in previous works and to bring the family down to the current generations. The explosive growth of electronic communication has made possible an almost real time collaboration amongst interested family members.

The family owes a tremendous debt to Dr. Van Alstyne, Kathlyne Knickerbocker Viele and Fred Chamberlain for their earlier written works which are used as a starting point for this undertaking.

"Traditions are current in the family concerning its origin and history in Holland, but these the writer, not finding leisure to verify them, has omitted." These words by Dr. Van Alstyne still ring true today. I don't believe any family has more misleading information circulating about its origins than the Knickerbockers. Kathlyne Viele debunks the historical hoax started by two well intentioned but mis-informed family members in the last century. Please review her book "Sketches of Allied Families, Knickerbocker - Viele" for an explanation of the birth of so many of the current and widely circulated fraudulent traditions.

Harmen Jansen Knickerbocker, the immigrant ancestor of the family, came to this country from Holland prior to 1680 and settled at Albany, NY. Occasionally he added both the terminations Van Wie and Van Bommel to his name indicating that he came from these areas of Holland or these represented an earlier family naming connection. There are tantalizing traces of earlier family history in the Albany archives, but time and resources will necessitate these studies to expand the early European family be undertaken by others.

In 1680 Harme Janse van Bommel is witness to a minor legal matter at Albany.

In 1683, Harmen Jansz Knickelbacker and Lysbet Harmensz were members of the Dutch Reformed Church at Albany ( Year Book, 1904, of the Holland Society of New York, p. 5).

On 6 May, 1684, Harmen Jansen Knickerbocker deeded land in Albany to Mews Hogeboom (Book 531, Public Records of Albany Co.). On 2 June, 1688, Peter Schuyler received a grant of land in Dutchess County near Red Hook. In 1689 he sold one- half of one-fourth of the patent to Harme Gansevoort of Albany, the fourth laying north of a line due east from a point on the river opposite the south end of Slipstein Island, the small island north of Cruger's. On 1 May, 1704, Gansevoort sold his moiety to Harme Jans Knickerbocker. In 1722 Schuyler divided the upper fourth of his patent into thirteen lots, seven of which he deeded to Lawrence, Cornelius, Evert and Pieter Knickerbocker of Dutchess County, Anthony Bogardus of Albany, and Jannetje, his wife, Jan Vosburgh of Dutchess County, and Cornelia, his wife, sons and daughters of Harmen Janse Knickerbocker, late of Dutchess County, deceased (Smith's History of Rhinebeck, NY, pp. 23, 80).

In April, 1698, the Earl of Bellomont succeeded Fletcher as Governor; in July he made a journey in great state to Albany and Schenectady, staying two weeks in the former and two days in the latter place, "My Lady" accompanying him. Among the items of expense were "£1 17s. to Harme Janse Knickerbacker for his Waggen and horses to Shinnectady" (Jonathan Pearson's History of the Schenectady Patent, p. 283).

On 16 March, 1706-7, the brothers, Daniel and David Ketelhuyn "of the city of Albany," bought of Harme Janse Knickerbacker, "late of the county of Albany," for one hundred and eighty-four pounds and ten shillings, "each one equal half of all that certain tract or parcel of land . . . on the west side of Hudson's river above the land commonly called the Half Moon, being about four English miles above the farm or boundary of Gerrit Hendrickse, which said land begins at the kill or creek that runs into Hudson's river between the Wijhe Vlackje and the said Harme Janse's house, and from thence along the river, on the west side of Hudson's river, and strikes from the river westward into the woods on the south and along the north side of the said kill or creek so as the same runs until you come to the high hills, which said hills run along the fly of the Half Moon and stretch as far as Sarachtogue; and on the north side from the northern end of the said Stone Island with a direct west line into the woods till you come to the said high hills aforesaid." On 20 March that year, Daniel Ketelhuyn sold his share in this tract to his brother David, for one hundred and one pounds and five shillings (Deeds, book F, No. 6, PP. 3, 41, in the office of the Clerk of Albany County).

In 1711 Harmen Knickerbocker deeded lands in the south part of Amenia, NY, to Cornelius Knickerbocker (Isaac Huntting's Little Nine Partners, p. 366).

The will of Harmen Jansen Knickerbacker "of Dutchess County, in Province of New York," was made 17 Jan., 1707-8, and recorded in Albany County Wills, Lib. 1, p. 175. In it he mentions wife Elizabeth and "my seven children," namely, Johannes, Lourens, Cornelis, Evert, Peter, Jannetje Lansing, widow of Hendrick Lansing, junior, and Cornelia Knickerbacker; "eldest son Johannes." The will is written in Dutch and mentions real and personal estate. Executors: wife and sons Johannes and Lourens Witnesses: Jan Ploeg and Pieter Pile. In 1723 the widow of Harmon Knickerbacker residing in Dutchess County was taxed five pounds and five pence (Smith's History of Rhinebeck, NY.., p. 45).

He was married to Lysbet Janse BOGAERT about 1681. ⁽¹⁾ Lysbet Janse BOGAERT was born in 1659 in Schoonderwoerd, Holland.⁽¹⁾ Lysbet Janse Bogaert, b. in 1659, in Holland, dau. of Jan Laurensen Bogaert and Cornelia Evertse. Jan Laurensen Bogaert with his wife and two children, seven and four years old, came from Schoonderwoerd, a town in South Holland, in the ship Spotted Cow, 16 April, 1663, and it is probable that Lysbet was born there. She died after 1723.⁽¹⁾ Harmen Jansen KNICKERBOCKER and Lysbet Janse BOGAERT had the following children:

+2 i. Johannes KNICKERBOCKER.
3 ii. KNICKERBOCKER died in May 1682 in Albany, Albany, NY. In May, 1682 Herman van Bommel paid for the use of the small pall. This indicates the probable burial of a young child at that time.
+4 iii. Jannetie KNICKERBOCKER.
+5 iv. Lourens KNICKERBOCKER.
6 v. Cornelis KNICKERBOCKER was baptized on 2 Sep 1688 in Albany, Albany, NY. ⁽¹⁾ He died before 1691 in Albany, Albany, NY. ⁽¹⁾
+7 vi. Cornelis KNICKERBOCKER.
+8 vii. Cornelia KNICKERBOCKER.
+9 viii. Evert KNICKERBOCKER.
+10 ix. Pieter KNICKERBOCKER.

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