Plank Families of Montgomery and Fulton Counties New York

There were many Plank families in the area of Johnstown, Montgomery Co. (now Fulton Co.) New York. apparently all of them are descended from either Adam Plank and wife Catharine Klyn (Clyne) or from Adam's brother, John Plank and wife Nelytje (Nellie) Gardiner.

If you have further information about any members of this family, please contact me at tmarcelo@austin.rr.com.

Adam J. Plank and Amy Peters

ADAM J. PLANK was born November 27, 1796 in Montgomery Co. NY¹. Adam is the son of JACOB PLANK and CATHARINA WEBER². His PLANK grandparents were ADAM PLANK (a Revolutionary War veteran) and his wife CATHERINE CLYNE³. His WEBER grandparents appear to be PETER WEBER and MARGARETHA DYGERT (TIEGERT, TYGERT). However, I do not have complete research on them.

Adam J. Plank was baptized on January 22, 1797 at the German Reformed Church of Stone Arabia, New York. The baptism record gives his birth date as December 16, 1796; slightly different from the calculated date from the age on his gravestone. The sponsors at his baptism were JOHANNES DACHSTAEDER (John Dockstader) and his wife BARBA (Barbara) [Note: According to other baptism records for this church, Barbara's maiden name was WEBER. She is probably the sister of Adam's mother Catharine.]²

ADAM J. PLANK married AMY ANN? PETERS  Bet. 1811 - 1817 probably in Montgomery Co. New York. AMY was born between 1795-1797 in New York, and she died between 1850-1860 probably in Minden, Montgomery Co. New York. She married (2) PETER DAVIS around July or August 1842. In 1850, they lived in Minden, Montgomery Co. New York. (Peter was a widower in 1860.) AMY ANN? PETERS was the daughter of JAMES PETERS and MARGUERITE (MARGARET) ANN WAITE.
(See the last note in the Endnotes section for more information about the sources regarding Amy Peters.)

Children of ADAM PLANK and AMY ANN? PETERS are Jacob, Caty, James, and William, detailed as follows:

i. JACOB J. PLANK, b. 1817, New York⁴; d. November 08, 1879, DeKalb Co., Illinois⁵ (no death cert on file in DeKalb Co.); m. (1) SEPHRA CAROLINE ? (Last Name Unknown)⁶, Bet. 1836 - 1838, probably in Fulton Co. New York?; Sephra Caroline was b. Bet. 1810 - 1820,⁷ ?; d. Bet. October 1843 - 1850, probably in Van Buren Co., Michigan; m. (2) POLLY ?(Last Name Unknown), Bet. October 1843 - 1850, probably in Michigan. Polly was b. 1806, Massachusetts or NY⁴; d. January 14, 1879, LaSalle Co. Illinois.⁵

On December 16, 1837, Jacob J. Plank and Caroline his wife are the grantors in a Fulton Co. New York deed to grantee, David Z. Vrooman (Book 16, p. 283. W. Kingsboro).

On February 18, 1839, Jacob J. Plank was the grantee in a Calhoun Co. Michigan deed, from grantor Daniel Bearss for property in  section 36, twp. 1, Range 6. (Book 6, page 576).

On June 2, 1839 (or June 2, 1841?), Jacob J. Plank and wife Caroline "of Michigan" are the grantors in a Fulton Co. New York deed to grantee, David Z. Vrooman (Liber 3, p. 70). This deed also mentions that the property involved was given to Jacob J. after the death of "his father Adam J. Plank."

In 1839 (exact date not listed in the deed index), according to Van Buren Co. Michigan deed book B, page 184,  Jacob J. Plank was living in Calhoun Co. Michigan.

On March 19, 1840, Jacob J. Plank and wife Caroline were the grantors to grantee, George Bostock in Section 36 (Book 8, page 210).

By the 1840 census, he was living in Antwerp twp., Van Buren Co. Michigan (page 009). He and his wife Caroline or Sephra Caroline are mentioned in several Van Buren Co. Michigan deeds.

By the 1850 census, Jacob J. Plank had a different wife. Her name was Polly and she was born in New York and older than Jacob being born around 1806. (Antwerp twp. Van Buren Co. Michigan page 222.) She and Jacob are mentioned in several Van Buren deeds from 1851 through at least 1860.

They lived in Van Buren Co. at the time of the 1860 census (Almena twp., Van Buren Co. Michigan, page 1061).

By the 1870, census, Jacob and Polly lived in Serena twp. LaSalle Co. Illinois. (Census p. 712A)
One source on the Web indicates they both died in Illinois in the 1870s.⁵

Note: Proof that the Jacob J. Plank who lived in Fulton Co. New York is the same Jacob J. Plank who lived in Michigan is indicated through several sources. Both were born in New York and both had wives named Caroline. The Fulton Co. New York deed (Liber 3, page 70)  dated   June 2, 1839 specifically states that Jacob J. Plank and Caroline his wife were living in Michigan. Also, the subsequent proximities of the siblings of Jacob J. Plank in Michigan also helps to confirm their relationship. According to researchers who documented information about Catherine Caty Plank (the daughter of Adam J. Plank), she and husband David Z. Vrooman also lived in Calhoun Co. Michigan in the 1840s. James Plank of Cannon twp. Kent Co. Michigan married Susan Butts who lived in Van Buren Co. Michigan at the same time as Jacob J. Plank. In addition, William (another son of Adam J. Plank) lived in Johnstown, Fulton Co. New York in 1845 and 1850. But by 1860, had moved to DeKalb Co. Illinois--supposedly the same county in Illinois where Jacob J. Plank, formerly of Van Buren Co. Michigan, died.

ii. CATHERINE CATY PLANK, b. October 13, 1818, Montgomery Co. NY⁸; d. 1892, Johnstown, Fulton Co. New York⁹; m. DAVID ZEELY VROOMAN, September 21, 1837, New York?¹⁰ b. March 02, 1814, Johnstown, Montgomery Co. New York¹¹; d. 1846, Marshall, Calhoun Co. Michigan¹⁰.

In November 1837, David Z. Vrooman was appointed the guardian to two of Catherine's brothers, James Plank and William Plank. According to those records, David Vrooman was living in Mohawk, Montgomery Co. New York.

On December 16, 1837, Jacob J. Plank and Caroline his wife are the grantors in a Fulton Co. New York deed to grantee, David Z. Vrooman (Book 16, p. 283. W. Kingsboro).

On June 2, 1839 (or June 2, 1841?), Jacob J. Plank and wife are the grantors in a Fulton Co. New York deed to grantee, David Z. Vrooman (Liber 3, p. 70).

(I haven't located this David Z. Vrooman in the 1840 census.)

On June 2, 1841, David Z. Vrooman and wife are grantees in a Fulton Co. New York deed from grantor Abraham Niver (Liber 3, p. 71)

On June 3, 1841, David Z. Vrooman and wife are grantors in a Fulton Co. New York deed to grantee Abraham Niver (Liber 3, p. 69).

On June 19, 1841, David Z. Vrooman and wife are grantees in a Fulton Co. New York deed from grantor Benjamin McDougal and wife. (Liber 3, p. 87).

On June 13, 1842, David Vrooman and wife are grantors in a Fulton Co. New York deed to grantee James Plank (Liber 3, p.476).

On August 19, 1843, David Vrooman is the grantee in a Calhoun Co. Michigan deed from Andrew L. Hays, grantor. (Book 13, page 360).

On May 16, 1844, David Vrooman is the grantee in a Calhoun Co. Michigan deed from the State of Michigan, grantor. (Book 15, page 184).

On December 12, 1844, David Vrooman is the grantee in a Calhoun Co. Michigan deed from George S. Wright, grantor, described as Lot 446, Marshall. (Book 16, page 431).

On February 3, 1845, David Vrooman is the grantee in a Calhoun Co. Michigan deed from John Cochran, grantor described as Lot 5 B-25, Marshall. (Book 17, page 84).

Note: Vrooman researchers indicate that David Z. Vrooman died in Calhoun Co. Michigan. His widow, Catherine Plank Vrooman, and his children William P. Vrooman and Nelson Vrooman lived in Ephrata twp, Fulton Co. New York in the 1850 (page 178) and 1860 (page 141) census. If they lived in Michigan, they must have returned to New York after David's death. Although Catherine's death date is 1892, according to her gravestone, I haven't found her in the 1870 or 1880 censuses.

iii. JAMES PLANK, was born February 16, 1821 (or possibly March 26, 1821¹²) in Johnstown, Montgomery Co., New York. He was baptized on May 20, 1821 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Stone Arabia, New York. He died June 08, 1906 in Fairplains twp., Montcalm Co. Michigan.

He was married three times: (1) Maria (possibly Vrooman); (2) Susan M. Butts; (3) Sarah Tracy Carr.

For extensive information about James Plank, see "Plank and Butts Families."

iv. WILLIAM W. PLANK, b. May 1823, New York^13,14; d. Bet. 1900 - 1910, Dekalb Co. Illinois¹⁵; m. NANCY FREDERICK, 18 March 1843 in Fulton Co. New York. Nancy was b. December 1819, New York¹⁴; d. 7 Sept 1914 Dekalb Co. Illinois¹⁵.

Other notes for William W. Plank:

From LDS film 513839: Montgomery Co. New York Guardianship Index, guardian reports 1825-1862 Letters, guardians v. 1-2 1825-1862; pp. 300-301 The people of the State of New York by the grace of God free and independent To David Z. Vrooman of the town of Mohawk in the county of Montgomery send greeting. Whereas an application in due form of law, has been made to Tobias A. Stoutenberg our Surrogate of our County of Montgomery, as a court before him held as the village of Johnstown in said county, on the petition of William Plank a minor above the age of fourteen years and resident of the said county of Montgomery, nominating you the said David Z. Vrooman to be appointed Guardian for said minor. Whereupon an order was made by one said Surrogate in the presents that the said David Z. Vrooman be appointed guardian for the said minor on entering a bond to the said minor with sufficient security to be approved of by one said Surrogate in the final sum of one thousand dollars lawful money of the state of New York, conditioned that you will faithfully in all things discharge the duty of a Guardian to the said minor according to law and under a true and just (joint?) account of all monies and property received by you and of the application thereof and of your Guardianship in all respects, to any court having cognizance thereof where thereto require. And whereas the said David Z Vrooman has provided to one said Surrogate the said bond above required, duty executed, with approved security which said bond is filed in this office of one said Surrogate and it having been satisfactorily proven before one said Surrogate that the said minor is above the age of fourteen years and resides in the said [in the said] county of Montgomery. I therefore, the Surrogate, aforesaid pursuant to the power in me vested by the ? statutes of the State of New York do hereby appoint and allow you the said David Z. Vrooman Guardian for the said minor during his minority. In testimony whereof one have ? the seal of the office of one said Surrogate to be ? affixed. Witnessed Tobias A. Stoutenberg Surrogate of the said county of Montgomery at the Village of Johnstown in said county the twenty second day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven.

1840 location unknown

Fulton co. New York deed:
Grantors: James Plank and wife Maria and William Plank and wife Nancy
Grantee: Simon Kennedy
Date July 9, 1844
Liber 5, page 148

From LDS Film 0513993. 1845 Fulton Co. New York State census.
Page 409 (Johnstown district 1) Taken between July 1-August 31, 1845. (County was certified as "completed" on October 11, 1845.)
William Plank
1 male eligible to vote and subject to military duty
1 female under 45 and married
1 male birth within the preceding year; 1 male death within the preceding year
2 people in household born in New York
(No "improved" land, crops, or livestock)

1850 census: William Plank and family. Johnstown twp, Fulton Co. New York, page 115.

1860 census: William Plank and family. Dekalb twp., Dekalb Co. Illinois, page 331.

1870 census: William Plank and family. Dekalb twp., Dekalb Co., Illinois, page 402A.

1880 census: William Plank and family. Dekalb twp., Dekalb Co., Illinois, page 41D.

1900 census: William Plank and wife. Dekalb twp., Dekalb Co., Illinois, page 41.

1910 census: W.W. Plank and family. Dekalb twp., Dekalb Co., Illinois, page 6B

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Notes for ADAM J. PLANK and AMY PETERS PLANK:

12. Baptismal Record of Trinity Lutheran Church, Stone Arabia, New York, by Arthur C.M. Kelly. Page 164, Baptism date: May 20, 1821. Location: Johnstown Parents: Adam and Emi Plank Child: James Birth date: March 26, 1821. Sponsors: Parents.

13. Baptismal Record of Trinity Lutheran Church, Stone Arabia, New York, by Arthur C.M. Kelly. Page 179 , Baptism date: June 15, 1823. Location: Johnstown Parents: Adam and Emi Plank Child: William Birth date: May 19, 1823. Sponsors: Parents.

14. 1900 census Dekalb twp. Dekalb Co. Illinois Page 41. William W. Plank b. May 1823; Nancy b. December 1819.

15. E-mail from Rich Parks, 3 June 2007 gave death date as 7 Sept 1914 and citation for 1910 census listing of William and two sons. Also, http://www.rootsweb.com/~ildekalb/Cemeteries/Afton_I_Q.htm, cemetery records of Afton Centre, DeKalb Co. Illinois, 
Plank Nancy Frederick 19 Dec 1819 15 Sep 1907, Block 4,  Lot 34, Grave 5 
Plank William W. 26 May 1823 07 Sep 1914, Block 4, Lot 34, Grave  6-

Additional information about William W. and Nancy can be found in Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois
Chicago: Pioneer Pub. Co., 1907, Volume 2 pages 21-22.

Notes regarding AMY ANN? PETERS:
Establishing that Amy Plank's maiden name was Peters was done through mostly circumstantial information in deed records. In 1825, Adam J. Plank bought property from James Peters and wife. When Adam J. died, the Fulton Co. NY property he inherited from his father went back to his mother and the property he bought from the Peters went to Amy. In later years, Amy and the Peters exchange land several times. In July 1842, in Fulton Co., Amy Plank was the grantor of a deed to James Peters. In August 1842, Peter Davis and wife were grantors in a deed to James Plank. This made me suspect that Amy had remarried Peter Davis and in the 1850 census, I found Peter Davis of Minden living with a Amy who was the correct age to be our Amy. Two sources confirmed that Amy married Peter Davis. First, Fulton Co. deed dated August 10, 1842, specifically states that Amy was the widow of Adam J. Plank and that she was then married to Peter Davis. Second, correspondence with a descendent of James Peters (named Ellen McGowan) confirmed that Amy was the daughter of James Peters and that she first married Adam Plank and later married Peter Davis. (Ellen has notes written by her aunt, Nell Rhodes McCoy 1883-1965, that specifically state Amy Peters was first married to Adam Plank and later to Peter Davis of Ford's Bush [present-day Minden] Montgomery Co. New York.)