The Vandervolgan Family
Ancestral History

Our Beginnings in America

The Vandervolgan Family

1. Claas Lourense Van der Volgan and Marytje Swart

2. Lourens Claese Van der Volgan and

(1) Geertruy Van Petten

(2) Susanna Welleven

3. Cornelis Van der Volgan and Rebecca Fort

4. Lourents Van der Volgan and Engeltie Schermerhorn

5. Freeman Schermerhorn Vandervolgan and Mary Clement

6. Henry Vandervolgan and Susan M. Rush

7. Mary Elizabeth Vandervolgan and Harrie Ira Dillon

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The Vandervolgan Family

The ancestral history of the Vandervolgan family in America begins with Claas Lourense Van der Volgen, who was one of the first settlers of Schenectady, New York. Claas married Marytje (or Maritie) Swart, daughter of Teunise Cornelise Swart and Elizabeth Van der Linde (or Lendt). Additional information on Teunise Cornelise Swart and Elizabeth Van der Linde Swart may be found in the chapter on First Families. The birth dates of Claas and Marytje are unknown as is the date of their marriage, but some records exist concerning the births and marriages of their children and thus, it is possible to trace many family lines of descent. According to the VFH (1974, p. 233) and CGDS (1873), Claas Lourense Van der Volgen and Marytje Swart had nine children. Their names and what little is known about them follow:

CHILDREN b. in Albany

Lysbeth, bp. 9 May 1686; m. Dirk Symonse Groot, son of Symon Symonse Groot

Claas, bp. 7 Aug 1687; m. Rebecca Groot, dau. of Symon Symonse Groot

Ariaantje, bp. 18 May 1690; d. Young

Ariaantje, bp. 12 Feb 1693;

m. (1) Arnout (or Arnold) De Graaf; (2) Harmanus Vedder

Neeltje, m. Pieter Symonse Veeder, son of Simon Veeder Cornelis, m. Elizabeth

Lourens Claese,

m. (1) Geertruy Van Petten (daughter of Claas Frederickse Van
Petten and Aeffie Bratt)

m. (2) Susanna Welleven

Teunis, m. Sara Harmens Freer

Catryntje, m. Gerrit Gysbertse Brakel (or Van Brakel)

Sources of information: Edwin Vedder, VFH, p. 233; and Jonathan Pearson CGDS, pgs. 217-18.

The Vandervolgan Family

Lourens Claese Van Der Volgen, son of Claas Lourense Van Der Volgen and Marytje Swart Van Der Volgen, was the second generation ancestor through whom the family line continued. Lourens Claese was married twice. He first married Geertruy Van Petten, who was the daughter of Claas Van Petten and Aeffie Bratt. Geertruy was baptized April 17, 1687 in Albany. After Geertruy's death, Lourens Claese married Susanna Welleven on September 18, 1722. The date of Susanna's death is not known, but it is known that she died sometime before August 30, 1739. Lourens Claese Van Der Volgen had a total of eleven children. Four of his children were from his marriage to Geertruy Van Petten and seven from his marriage to Susanna Welleven. Their names and what is known about them follow.

Children of Lourens Claese Van der Volgan and Geertruy Van Petten

Neeltie, bp. 3 May 1713; m. Sander Van Eps

Eva, bp. 27 Aug 1715; died in infancy

Eva, bp. 30 Nov 1717; m. Philip Ryley Marytje, bp. 5 Mar 1720; m. Simon Johannese Veeder

Children of Lourens Claese Van der Volgan and Susanna Welleven

Lourens Claeesse, bp. 1 Sep 1722

Catrina, bp. 21 Jun 1724; m. Reinier Meyndertse

Elisabeth, b. 7 Sep 1725; bp. 12 Sep 1725; m. Willem Schermerhorn

Ariaantje, b. 11 Jul 1727; bp. 17 Jul 1727; m. Maas M. Van Vranken

Geertruy, b. 2 Aug 1729

Cornelis, bp. 25 July (?) 1731; m. Rebecca Fort on 22 Apr 1756

Petrus, bp. 10 Jun 1733; m. Geertruy Myndertse

Source of Information about this generation: Pearson, CGDS, pgs. 217-18

The Vandervolgan Family

The third generation of the Van Der Volgen family is represented in the marriage of Cornelis Van Der Volgen and Rebecca Fort. The exact date of Cornelis' birth is uncertain, but it is believed that he was baptized on July 25, 1731. He died on January 16, 1786 and his will was proved January 24, 1787. On April 22, 1756, he married Rebecca Fort, and it is known that the couple had seven children, but only two of them, one daughter and one son, lived to adulthood to continue the line of descent. Rebecca Fort Van Der Volgen died April 17, 1791, at the age of 55 years and 17 days. This latter information taken from CGDS appears to be a gravestone record and would mean that Rebecca Fort was born March 31 (or April 1), 1736.

A web site at the Schenectady, NY public library indicates that
Cornelius Van der Volgen, died January 18, 1786, aged 55 years, 6 months, 6 days.

and Rebecca Fort,the widow of Cornelius Van der Volgen,
died April 7, 1791 aged 55 years, 1 month, 7 days.

While these dates differ slightly from the previous information, there is enough similarity to suggest that the previously indicated
year and month dates are correct.

Children of Cornelis Van der Volgan and Rebecca Fort

Susanna, bp. 29 Mar 1761; died young

Susanna, bp. 28 Apr 1764; died young Lourens, bp. 4 Aug 1766; died young

Susanna bp. 16 Jul 1769; d. 11 Jun 1792; m. Henry Peek

Johannes, bp. 2 Dec 1771

Elisabeth, b. 9 or 10 Aug 1773 (conflicting records on this date); d. 11 Aug 1792

Lourents, bp. 5 May 1776; m. Engeltie Schermerhorn

Source of Information about this generation: Pearson, CGDS, pgs. 217-218

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The Vandervolgan Family

Lourents Van der Volgen was the fourth generation ancestor through whom the family line continued. Lourents was baptized on May 5, 1776. The exact date of his birth is unknown. Lourents was the son of Cornelis Van der Volgen and Rebecca Fort Van der Volgen. Lourents's father died when he was nine years old and his mother died when he was not yet fifteen; thus, it is likely that he had to grow up on his own and had to support himself at an early age. It is believed that he became a shoemaker and spent most, perhaps all, of his life in the town where he was born. Lourents married Engeltie Schermerhorn when he was eighteen years of age and they had eight children. The date of their marriage was May 24, 1794. Engeltie was the daughter of Barnhardus Freerman Schermerhorn and Ariaantje Van der Bogart Schermerhorn and was baptized on March 13, 1774. The names of Engeltie and Lourents's children and what is known about them follows:

Children of Lourents Van der Volgan and Engeltie Schermerhorn

Rebecca, b. 13 Dec 1794

Freeman Schermerhorn, b. 18 Nov 1796;

m. Mary Clement, daughter of Aaron and Elizabeth Otman Clement

*For Mary Clement's ancestral history, go to The Clement Family Ancestral History.

Susanna, b. 28 Sep 1799

Margaret

Cornelis

John

Peter

Eleanor

Harriet, b. 1802

m. Henry Clement (a brother of Mary Clement above--See The Clement Family)

Source of Information about this generation: Pearson, CGDS, pgs. 217-18

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The Vandervolgan Family

Children of Mary Clement and Freeman Schermerhorn Vandervolgan

Joanna, b. January 8, 1823; d. August 13, 1912

m. April 24, 1845 to James Robins

Elizabeth, b. February 25, 1825; d. November 14, 1844

Angelica, b. January 14, 1827; d. April 7, 1914

m. September 26, 1849 to John Salisbury

Aaron, b. September 1828; d. September 1830.

Lawrence, b. October 31, 1830; d. December 16, 1872

m. March 1861 to Mary Jaques

Jane, b. November 7, 1832; died October 1833

Henry, b. 15 Dec 1834; d. 11 Oct 1917

m. 13 Sep 1860 to Susan M. Rush

Cornelius, b. May 3, 1837; d. December 28, 1914

m. December 28, 1875 To Harriet Elizabeth Salmon (d. March 14, 1926)

John C., b. 16 Apr 1840; d. 4Aug1910

m. 24 Nov 1868 to Alice Rush (a sister of Susan M. Rush)

Peter, b. August 29, 1842; d. January 27, 1898;

m. February 22, 1869 to Amy Minor

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The Vandervolgan Family

Children of Henry Vandervolgan and Susan M. Rush

Anna Laura, b. 21 Sep 1861; d. 6 Jan 1888

Mary Elizabeth, b. 3 Nov 1866; d. 8 Feb 1955

m. 6 Mar 1890 to Harrie Ira Dillon

Links to other genealogical information at this web site:

Favorite Web Sites

Olive Tree Genealogy Pages : Created and maintained by Lorine McGinnis Schulze, these pages are a delight. They offer a wealth of information about dozens of genealogical topics, including biographical information about some of the early settlers of New York, various parts of New England, and Canada

On the Trail Of Our Ancestors: Donna Speer Ristenbatt's Genealogy Pages : These pages have something new to offer each time I check them. There is a searchable list of surnames and historical information about some of the early settlers of New York and New Jersey.