Eleventh Generation

61. James Robert VAN DER VOORT Sr. (+) (^) was born on 23 October 1789 in Beekman, Dutchess County, NY.^{11,16,36,46,47,48,49,50} His surname was spelled "Vandervoort" in the 1902 Biographical History about his son Isaac, as it was for Isaac. It is not known why he did not spell it as "Van der Voort" like his father and siblings, or when he and his children later changed the spelling to "Vandervort."

(His obituary notes that he died at the age of 92 years, two months and eighteen days, indicating that his date of birth would have been 29 Oct 1788. The obituary calculation of his age was in error.)

. He was baptized on 29 August 1790 in Fishkill, Dutchess County, NY.⁵¹ He served in the military about 1812.^29,52,53,54 He served as a Private in "Prior's Regiment, New York Militia, in the War of 1812. He eventually received a pension of $8 per month for "surv. 1812."

. James appeared in the census in 1820 in Blenheim Township, Schoharie County, NY.³³ His household consisted of 3 males, age 0-10 (2 unknown sons and Jacob); 1 male, age 26-45 (James, age 30); 1 female, age 0-10 (Hannah, age 1); and 1 female, age 26-45 (Rebecca, age 30). One person in the household was "engaged in Commerce."

Living nearby were Peter and Jacob Vandervoort, two of his brothers; Graudus Baker, the father of his second wife, Mary; Jacob Moon, believed to be the first husband of James' second wife, Mary; and Thomas Griggs, unknown.

. He appeared in the census in 1825 in Blenheim Township, Schoharie County, NY.⁵⁵ His household consisted of 3 males and 4 females (3 of which were unmarried and under 16 years of age).

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He appeared in the census before March 1830 in Blenheim Township, Schoharie County, NY.⁵⁶ His household consisted of 1 male, age 5-10 (John, 6); 1 male, age 10-15 (Jacob, 9); 1 male, age 40-50 (James R., 41); 1 male, age 60-70 (Unknown); 3 females, age 0-5 (Abigail, 3, Unknown Daughter III, 2, and Unknown Daughter IV, 1); 2 females, age 5-10 (Unknown Daughter I, 8, and Unknown Daughter II, 6); 1 female, age 10-15 (Hannah, 11); and 1 female, age 30-40 (Rebecca, about 40).

. James appeared in the census in 1840 in Blenheim Township, Schoharie County, NY.⁵⁷ His household consisted of 1 male, age under 5 (unknown son); 2 males, age 5-10 (Cornelius and Isaac); 1 male, age 10-15 (unknown son); 1 male, age 15-20 (Jacob); 1 male, age 50-60 (James R.); 1 female, age under 5 (Maria); 1 female, age 5-10 (unknown daughter); 4 females, age 10-15 (Abigail, Catherine, Sally and Mary); 2 females, age 15-20 (2 unknown daughters); 1 female, age 30-40 (unknown daughter); 1 female, age 40-50 (Mary Baker Moon); and 1 female, age 50-60 (unknown).

. Between 1850 and 1860 he was a carpenter in Summit Township, Waukesha County, WI.^52,58,59 He lived in Summit Township, Waukesha County, WI about 1850.^{25,52,56,58,60,61,62,63,64} They moved from Schoharie Company, NY to Buffalo, NY in 1844; to Waukesha, WI in 1845; to Oconomowoc, WI in 1848; and to LaGrange Township, WI in 1866. He was the only member of his branch (his siblings) of the Vandervort family to move to Wisconsin.

According to stories told to Christian Vandervort by his grandfather, Harold Vandervort, James and Mary traveled to Wisconsin by covered wagon. All of the other family members walked the trail, but James and Mary "enjoyed the rights to ride in the wagon."

James and Mary are reported to have had nine or ten children. The 1830 census of Schoharie County, NY, lists their children as consisting of 5 males and 6 females. The 1835 census also lists 5 males and 6 females. In the 1855 census of Oconomowoc Township (page 12), he is listed as the head of household, with 5 white males and 5 white females.

The following research was developed by Chris Vandervort in January 2001 regarding the possible reasons why James and other New York farmers migrated to Wisconsin: "(In) trying to understand the reasons for the movement of so many of our New York ancestors, (It) turns out that the short story centers on the anti-rent movement--a period of considerable controversy in upstate New York. The critical event was the death of Stephen Van Rensselaer III, the landlord (patroon) of the Rensselaer estate that included southern Schoharie County. Until his death, the rent collections occurred on a rather ad hoc basis; communications were poor and many farmers in that remote region rarely paid their rent (payable in wheat/livestock).

On his demise, his descendant, Stephen IV, did a few quick numbers and realized that dear old dad was owed over $500,000 in back rents by his tenants--who included John, James, etc., Vandervort. At the same time, crops were failing because of the poor soil and less than modern farming practices--so that there was considerable hardship for the tenants.

Local sheriffs were sent in to try to collect rents and they were received about as well as their predecessor from Nottingham. A few locals became very hostile, dressed up in various costumes (including as Indians) leading to a few armed skirmishes. Local communities banded together, and one of the significant gathering points was the Brimstome Methodist Church--attended by and just up the road from the Vandervort's and the Vrooman's. Likely this was a time of great conflict. (They) were all deeply religious and hard-working. It is probable that they would have preferred to settle things peaceably, but there was very little money versus an armed group of local sheriffs and deputies.

Many of the men were veterans of either the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812, where they believed they had fought for their freedom. At the same time, they remained tenant farmers in the remnants of a feudal society. They also had received somewhat of a raw deal --the region was primarily settled within a few years of the end of the Revolutionary War. The region was intensely 'marketed' by the Van Rensselaers throughout New York and New England as a land of richness. As an incentive, the settlers were provided 7 years to live, rent-free. The reality is that the highlands were too cold for many crops--including corn. The ground was very rocky and there would have been massive trees to clear.

Coincidentally, word began arriving of free lands to the west--opportunity to stake a claim, work and improve the land, and own the land. James and his family took advantage and were clearly successful. If one considers the excellent farms they established in Monroe County--and compare it to remarkable absence of wealth remaining in Schoharie--they made a very wise decision.

All of this is very well documented; I have several articles (that) provide many details. Best of these is the 'Blenheim History, 1710 to 1991' written by Fanchon Dewell Cornell and Alicia Tara Cornell, each descended from the same line of Cornells as John's wife, Mary Elizabeth. The works are full of references to the Vroomans, a very prominent family in this part of upstate New York. There is even a novel written by John J. Vrooman entitled 'The Promised Land' that chronicles the history of the region."

James appeared in the census in 1850 in Summit Township, Waukesha County, WI.⁶⁵ His household consisted of James, age 62, carpenter, born NY; Mary, age 48, born NY; Cornelius, age 17, laborer, born NY; Maria, age 14, born NY; Isaac, age 15, laborer, born NY; James, age 9, born NY; and Fidelia, age 5, born NY.

. He appeared in the census in 1860 in Monterey, Oconomowoc Township, Waukesha County, WI.^59,66 (The census record lists them as living in Dwelling number 493.) He appeared in the census in 1865 in Oconomowoc Township, Waukesha County, WI.⁶⁷ James appeared in the census in 1870 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.⁶⁸ His household consisted of him and his wife Mary. His occupation was listed as "house carpenter." He lived near his sons Cornelius and James and daughter Fidelia, and next door to William Getman. He appeared in the census in 1875 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.⁶⁹ His household consisted of 1 male and 1 female. He appeared in the census in 1880 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴⁶ He was living with his son James and his family. His occupation was "Carpenter." James died on 15 January 1881 at the age of 91 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^{47,49,50,60,70,71,72}

Obituary Notes: "Died - Vandervort- at the residence of his son in the Town of LaGrange, this county, January 16, 1881. James R. Vandervort, aged ninety-two years, two months and eighteen days. He had lived in this county about 12 years, came into the state in 1846, was born in the State of New York."

The cemetery records at the Monroe County Local History Room indicate that he died on "15 Jan 1881 at 91y 2m 5d." It is possible that James died late in the evening on 15 January and that the newspaper reported it as 16 January.

His cause of death is listed as apoplexia, followed by La Grippe (Dr. H. B. Johnson). Upon his death, his wife was awarded a military pension of $8 per month (this must be verified, as his 3rd wife, Mary, had died 14 Jan 1880, a year before his death). He was buried in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^36,73,74 in the LaGrange Township Cemetery.

James Robert VAN DER VOORT Sr. (+) (^) and Rebecca MCINTYRE (^) were married in 1811 in Blenheim Township, Schoharie County, NY.^{36,75,76,77,78,79} Rebecca MCINTYRE (^) was born in 1790 in Schoharie County, NY.⁸⁰ (This is a picture of the children of James Robert and his wife, Mary Baker.) She appeared in the census in 1820 in Blenheim Township, Schoharie County, NY.³³ She died about March 1830 at the age of 40 in Schoharie County, NY.^36,56 (She was included with the family in the 1830 Census, so she passed away after that time.) Rebecca appeared in the census about March 1830 in Blenheim Township, Schoharie County, NY.⁵⁶

James Robert VAN DER VOORT Sr. (+) (^) and Rebecca MCINTYRE (^) had the following children:

James Robert VAN DER VOORT Sr. (+) (^) and Mary BAKER were married on 13 March 1830 in Schoharie County, NY.^{16,25,50,60,76,79,86,87,88,89} "James Vandervort and Mary Baker Moon left the state of New York and moved to Wisconsin when (their son) Isaac was 9 years old. They first settled in Waukesha, then Prairieville, then to Nerten, and then to Summit Center near Oconomowoc. Their final move was to La Grange Township in Monroe County, Wisconsin."

. Mary BAKER, daughter of Gradus BAKER and Jane A. WILLIAMS, was born on 9 December 1804 in Blenheim Township, Schoharie County, NY.^{17,36,50,58,90} (Her birth date may have been 14 Sep 1804.) She appeared in the census in 1820 in Blenheim Township, Schoharie County, NY.⁶⁶ She appeared in the census in 1830 in Blenheim Township, Schoharie County, NY.⁶⁶ Mary appeared in the census in 1840 in Blenheim Township, Schoharie County, NY.⁵⁷ She appeared in the census in 1850 in Summit Township, Waukesha County, WI.⁵⁸ She appeared in the census in 1860 in Monterey, Oconomowoc Township, Waukesha County, WI.^59,66 Mary appeared in the census in 1870 in Lincoln Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹¹ She appeared in the census in 1875 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.⁶⁹ She died on 14 January 1880 at the age of 75 in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^{16,36,90,92,93}

Obituary Notes: "In LaGrange, Wis., Jan 14, 1880, Mary, wife of Jas. R. Vandervort, aged 75 years.

She was converted to God and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church early in life. For more than fifty years she has been an active, devoted follower of Christ. She was the mother of nine children, seven of whom survive her. Mother V. was a devoted wife and mother, working early and late to care for her family.

Father Vandervort, who is in his 91st year, still waits to go over the river to meet his loved companion in the glory world."

. Mary was buried in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI.^36,73,74 in the LaGrange Township Cemetery.

James Robert VAN DER VOORT Sr. (+) (^) and Mary BAKER had the following children:

James Robert VAN DER VOORT Sr. (+) (^) and (Unknown) UNKNOWN (VANDERVOORT) were married before 1811.⁵² According to the "Biographical Histories" article about his son, Isaac, written in 1892, James Robert "was three times married; there were no children of the first union, but seven were born of the second marriage, and one, Jacob Vandervoort, resides in Monroe County."

. (Unknown) UNKNOWN (VANDERVOORT) was born (date unknown).