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Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs:


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[This information is from Vol. IV, pp. 1527-1530 of Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs, edited by Cuyler Reynolds (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1911). It is in the Reference collection of the Schenectady County Public Library at R 929.1 R45. Some of the formatting of the original, especially in lists of descendants, may have been altered slightly for ease of reading.]

During the earlier generations of the family in America this family retained the original spelling, Roosa. The latter-day family, or at least some of them, spell it Rosa, which is the orthography used by the family in Schenectady herein recorded. It is one of the old Dutch families of the Hudson-Mohawk that settled first in Esopus, then in Albany and Schenectady. The sons of the emigrant all founded families and many of them still may be found in the same localities, settled by their earliest ancestors. Gelderland, in Holland, was the home of the emigrant ancestor.

(I) Albert Heymanse (Albert, son of Heyman) Roosa, was a farmer of Gelderland, Holland, where he married Wyntje Allard, and had eight children, born in the "faderland." He came with his entire family to America in the ship "Spotted Cow," arriving at New Amsterdam, April 15, 1660, and made permanent settlement at Esopus, New York, shortly afterward. He was a person of more than usual importance, for on May 16, 1661, he was appointed by Governor Stuyvesant one of the three "schepens," or magistrates, his associates being Evert Pels and Cornelis Barentse Slecht. He brought with him from Holland considerable property, and soon "occupied an influential position in the new settlement." In 1661 he was appointed one of the three commissioners to enclose the new village at Esopus, called Hurley. At the destruction of the village of Hurley, on June 7, 1663, by the Indians, two of his children, with forty-three other women and children, were taken captive. The story of the rescue of these captives by the colonial forces, under command of Captain Martin Kreiger, is one of the most interesting episodes in the early history of New York. The records cite many instances of his participation in the early making of Kingston that show him to have been a leader. He rebelled against the tyrannies of Governor Nicholls, and in 1667 a commission appointed by the governor, sat at Esopus, investigating the "mutiny at Esopus." Albert Heymanse Roosa, Cornelis Barentse Slecht and two others were "found guilty of rebellious and mutinous riot" and were taken to New York for sentence. Nicholls, by advice of his council, on May 3, sentenced Roosa to be banished for life out of the government, and the others for shorter terms out of Esopus, Albany and New York. All these sentences were subsequently modified and the offenders returned. Governor Lovelace restored him to favor, and in 1669 appointed him overseer of the town of Hurley, called New Dorp, or New Village. "In 1673 he was confirmed as one of the officers of Esopus by Governor Anthony Colve, and described as Captain Albert Heymans Roosa, who had been prominent in the riot of 1667." He served in the military forces of the colony as mustering officer, and in other capacities; was sergeant of Captain Henry Pawling's company, and in 1673 was captain of a company recruited from Hurley and Marbletown. He died at Hurley, February 27, 1679. In 1685 his widow, Wyntje Allard, secured a grant of 320 acres at Hurley. Children, the first eight born in Holland, the last two born in Esopus, New York:

  1. Arie (or Aria); married, at Kingston, Maria, daughter of Magistrate Evert Pels.
  2. Heyman, married Margreit Rosevelt.
  3. Jan, married Hellegond Williams.
  4. Ikee, married Roeloff Keirstede.
  5. Maritje, married Albert Jansen.
  6. Neeltein, married Hendric Pauldin, banns published November 4, 1676.
  7. Jannetje, married Matys Ten Eyck, November 16, 1679.
  8. Aert, married Wyntje Aundreum d'Ong.
  9. Annatje.
  10. Guert, died June 15, 1664.

(II) Heyman, second son of Albert Heymanse and Wyntje (Allard) Roosa, was born in Holland, and came to America with the family in 1660. He lived in Esopus and Hurley. He married Margreit Rosevelt, born 1645. Children:

  1. Geysbert, of whom further.
  2. Albert, born March 2, 1679; in 1715 was sergeant in Captain Johannes' company, in Ulster county.
  3. Claase, born April 27, 1684.
  4. Neeltje, October 13, 1689.
  5. Rachel, April 19, 1696.
  6. Leah, September, 1698.

(III) Geysbert, eldest child of Heyman and Margreit (Rosevelt) Roosa, was born October 16, 1676. He lived in Hurley, and in 1715 was a private in Captain William Nottingham's company. He married, October 13, 1695, Greetje Bond, of Schenectady, New York. Children:

  1. Hellegond, born August 6, 1696.
  2. Jan, of whom further.
  3. Hendrick, born August 20, 1703, died in infancy.
  4. Hendrick, born March 20, 1707; in 1738 was private of Captain B. Brodhead's company, Ulster county militia; married, May 2, 1735, Zara Frear, of New Palz [New Paltz].
  5. Greetje, born October 5, 1712.

(IV) Jan, eldest son of Geysbert and Greetje (Bond) Roosa, was born May 28, 1699. He married (first) August 27, 1725, Machteldt (Myeltje) Van Kampen. He married (second) Eva Klearwater. Children:

  1. Guert, born June 9, 1727.
  2. Johannes, November 22, 1728.
  3. Abraham, April 29, 1733; a soldier of the revolution.
  4. Elizabeth, September 7, 1735.
  5. Isaac, of whom further.
  6. Jacobus (James), born August 10, 1740; a soldier of the revolution; married Sarah Ennis.
  7. Maria, born December 13, 1741.
  8. Helena, August 21, 1743.
  9. Gysbut, born March 11, 1745; a soldier of the revolution.
  10. Margaret.
  11. Henrikje, born June 14, 1749.
  12. Teunis Klearwater, June 23, 1751.
  13. Greetje, March 28, 1756.

(V) Isaac Rosa, son of Jan and Myeltje (Van Kampen) Roosa, was born February 5, 1739. He married, in Albany, November 22, 1763, Maria, daughter of Ryckert Van Vranken. Children:

  1. Johannes, born August 13, 1764.
  2. Annatje, August 18, 1766; married, December 12, 1788, Joseph Yates.
  3. Ryckert (Richard), of whom further.
  4. Machtelt, born April 20, 1772; married Hocholas Marselis.
  5. James (Jacobus).
  6. Maas Van Vranken, born September 20, 1780.

(VI) Ryckert (Richard), son of Isaac and Maria (Van Vranken) Rosa, was born December 11, 1769, died August 30, 1809. He married, July 21, 1793, Annatje (Nancy), born January 1, 1772, died October 8, 1835, daughter of Nicholas Peek. Children:

  1. Maria, born November 7, 1794.
  2. Henry, August 17, 1795, died June 11, 1829.
  3. Isaac R., of whom further.
  4. Elizabeth, born October 13, 1799.
  5. John, May 28, 1802, died February 9, 1835.
  6. Jane P., born August 19, 1803, died June 27, 1879.
  7. Martin, born July 30, 1805.
  8. Catherine Ann, May 15, 1807.

(VII) Isaac R., son of Ryckert and Nancy (Peek) Rosa, was born September 8, 1797, died September 21, 1849. He removed to Fulton county, New York, where for many years he kept a house of entertainment for the traveling public, also owning and operating a farm. He married, July 15, 1827, Matilda Waite, born December 19, 1807, died August 31, 1828. He married (second), November 1, 1830, Phoebe Ann Alvord, born August 14, 1805, died September 27, 1884. Children, all by second marriage:

  1. Richard H., born July 25, 1835, died October 1, 1890. He was a prominent lawyer, and served as district attorney of Fulton county twelve years. He was a charter member of Kennyetto Lodge, No. 599, Free and Accepted Masons, was the first senior warden under its charter of July 3, 1865, and the second worshipful master, 1868-71. He continued a member until November 25, 1878, when he demitted to St. Patrick's Lodge, No. 4, at Johnstown, where he died.
  2. Isaac A., born November 3, 1836; a prominent contractor and lumberman; ex-sheriff of Fulton county, and supervisor eight years.
  3. Elijah A., born April 9, 1842, died November 23, 1882.
  4. James P., of whom further.

(VIII) James P., son of Isaac R. and Phoebe Ann (Alvord) Rosa, was born May 6, 1848, in Broadalbin, Fulton county, New York. He was educated in the public schools, and at the age of seventeen years went to New York City, where he secured employment as a clerk in a dry goods store, remaining but a year. Returning to Broadalbin he engaged in mercantile life as junior partner of Chase & Rosa, general merchants, at Union Mills. In 1868 he located at Vail's Mills, town of Northampton, Fulton county, where he purchased a general store, and through firm changes continued until 1880, when he disposed of the business (being then sole owner), and located at the village of Broadalbin, where in association with Charles Butler he engaged as Rosa & Butler in the hardware business. Later Mr. Rosa conducted a gentlemen's furnishing store. In 1907 he disposed of his mercantile interests, having previously organized the Broadalbin Lumber Company, with which he is yet connected as principal owner. He has been successful in his various undertakings, and is an influential, highly respected citizen. Politically he is an Independent Republican, and has been the choice of his party for important offices. He is public-spirited and deeply interested in the cause of public education. For twelve years he has been president of the Board of Education, and for the same length of time president of the Board of Trade. He is a member of Kennyetto Lodge, No. 599, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he was master 1884-90. He is a member of the Baptist church, and since 1881 has served as trustee. He was postmaster at Vail's Mills, serving four years under President Grant, and at Broadalbin held the same office under President Cleveland. He married, January 26, 1870, Ruth Augusta, born October 7, 1846, daughter of John G. and Eliza C. (Smith) Pettit, of Edinburg, Saratoga county, New York. John Gatton Pettit was born February 6, 1818, died February 2, 1893; married, December 29, 1841, Eliza Cook Smith, born August 26, 1821, died March 23, 1874; children:

  1. Esther, born July 27, 1843, died October 2, 1907; married March, 1865, David Allen; children:
    1. Carrie, born January 8, 1866, married Edward Armstrong, and had Edward and Amy;
    2. Lizzie, born February 22, 1873, died 1873;
    3. May E., born February 7, 1875, died October 26, 1908, married, February 5, 1902, Frederick Trapp;
    4. David W., born April 7, 1883, married, October 21, 1907, Edith Hearst.
  2. Ruth Augusta, married James P. Rosa.
  3. Smith, born February 13, 1848, died May 9, 1874.
  4. Sadie Ophelia, born October 20, 1850, died November 1, 1870.
  5. Gatton, born August 15, 1852, died November 11, 1863.
  6. Rebecca P., born June, 1858, died November 13, 1863.

James P. and Ruth A. Rosa have children:

  1. Martha C., born September 15, 1870; married, February 9, 1906, Clarence C. Van Buren, and they have one son,
    1. James R., born January 9, 1907.
  2. Nellie B., born February 5, 1880; married, June 22, 1907, Marvin R. Borst.

(The Van Buren Line)

Clarence C. Van Buren, who married Martha C., daughter of James P. Rosa, is a lineal descendant of Cornelis Van Buren, the founder of the noted Van Buren family of the Hudson Valley, which includes a former president of the United States, Martin Van Buren. The line is as follows:

(I) Cornelis Van Buren came to America_ from Holland, in 1631. (II) Martin Cornelis, son of Cornelis Van Buren. (III) Pieter Martense, son of Martin Cornelis Van Buren.

(IV) Barent, son of Pieter Martense Van Buren, married Maria Whinney. He was a resident of Kinderhook. Children:

  1. Ariantje, born November 8, 1724;
  2. Elsie, October 23, 1726;
  3. Francis, of whom further;
  4. Maria, September 2, 1730;
  5. Pieter, February 18, 1733.

(V) Francis, son of Barent and Maria (Whinney) Van Buren, was born at Kinderhook, November 16, 1728, died May 6, 1815. In 1779 removed to what is now the town of Mayfield, Fulton county, New York, where he purchased and settled upon a tract of five hundred acres. He served during the revolution in the Seventh Regiment, Albany county militia. He married, about 1760, Johanna Van Slyck, born October 23, 1736, died April 5, 1815, also a descendant of an early Dutch Mohawk Valley family. Children:

  1. Barent, born September 28, 1762, died February 20, 1763;
  2. Angelica, born January 22, 1764, died February 19, 1850;
  3. Barent F., born November 26, 1769, died January 7, 1862;
  4. Peter, born August 2, 1772;
  5. Harmon F., of whom further.

(VI) Harmon F., son of Francis and Johanna (Van Slyck) Van Buren, was born March 29, 1775, died September 30, 1858. He accompanied his father to the Mohawk Valley and became the owner of one-quarter of the Mayfield purchase. Here he followed agriculture all his days, becoming prominent in town and church affairs, being especially active in the latter. He married, about 1796, Catherine Miller, born 1774, died March 13, 1845. Children:

  1. Hannah, born February 1, 1798, died in infancy;
  2. Charles, born March 5, 1799, died February 15, 1860;
  3. Johanna, born October 10, 1800, died January 18, 1853;
  4. Lucinda, born November 22, 1802, died March 3, 1874;
  5. Francis, born February 22, 1805, died March, 1872;
  6. Oliver Miller, of whom further;
  7. Angelica, born March 6, 1809, died August 11, 1884;
  8. Peter, born May 4, 1813, died November 17, 1885.

(VII) Oliver Miller, son of Harmon F. and Catherine (Miller) Van Buren, was born in Mayfield, Fulton county, New York, April 4, 1807, died June, 1882. He was a farmer and a devoted member of the Presbyterian church. He married, January 21, 1829, Sallie Maria Hayes, born April 9, 1811, died April 18, 1883. Children:

  1. Elizabeth, born January 9, 1830;
  2. Charles Henry, born May 17, 1836, died March 2, 1897;
  3. Harmon E., of whom further;
  4. Ansel Hayes, born April 17, 1846, died August 31, 1910;
  5. Granville, born August 2, 1853.

(VIII) Harmon E., son of Oliver Miller and Sallie Maria (Hayes) Van Buren, was born June 28, 1839. He was a glove manufacturer, and served the town of Mayfield as assessor for ten years. He married, February 4, 1874, Adeline Thompson, born June 29, 1846. Children:

  1. Harriet T., born November 18, 1874;
  2. Clarence Edward, of whom further;
  3. Samuel T., born July 17, 1880, married, March 1, 1908, Ruth T. Martling, and has Oliver N., born October 3, 1909.

(IX) Clarence Edward, son of Harmon E. and Adeline (Thompson) Van Buren, was born January 30, 1876. He was educated in the Gloversville high school and at the New Britain (Connecticut) normal school. After completing his studies he taught at Lake George, New York, until January 1, 1903, when he was elected school commissioner of Fulton county, entering upon the duties of his office on that date. He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Baptist congregation. He married, February 7, 1906, Martha Charlotte, daughter of James P. and Ruth A. Rosa. They have James Rosa Van Buren, born January 9, 1907.

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