William Wynkoop, Town of Chemung
& Wynkoop Family
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Although we have several articles/publications dedicated to Major William Wynkoop there is still a lot of information that is not known and many discrepancies in the information that we do have. The following information was located on Ancestry.com and taken from Richard Wynkoop's book on the Wynkoop Genealogy and Ausburn Towner's History. Further, the office rank of Major may have been obtained at the local militia level and not as a Continental Soldier.
It appears William was born March 4, 1753 in Kingston, Ulster Co, New York, to Tobias and Lea Legg Wynkoop, of Dutch descent. His siblings were: Annatje, Lea, Catharina, Tobias, Petrus. William died at about 80 years old: about 1833.
Although it has been stated: in September 1777, William, served in the Continental Army at the Battle of Stillwater, (Saratoga), the only proof we have is a pay abstract of 15 May 1779 of Captain Peter Snyder's Company of New York regiment in Ulster County and which he signed, along with Tobias Wynkoop, provided by J.Kelsey Jones, Chemung County Historian.
William Wynkoop married Charity Schermerhorn, before 1778.
Charity first married _____ Van Steinberg and had one daughter: Eleanor and was known in the family in later years as "Aunt Nellie". In July 22, 1790 she married Guy Maxwell. She used her step-father's name, Wynkoop.
Children of William and Charity were:
Annatje (Hannah) Wynkoop born February 9, 1778
Jane Wynkoop - married Philip McDonald, lived in Chemung, NY
Per Richard Wynkoop (See article at bottom of page) William and Charity moved to Chemung in the year 1783 when Hannah was 5 years old.
November 4, 1788/89 - Major Wynkoop purchased land in Chemung, Montgomery Co, NY, Lot 1, 515 acres.There are accounts of Major Wynkoop building the first Grist Mill in the town. His log home and mill were located on the banks of the creek named for him, most likely between today's County Route 60 (old Rt. 17) and the Pennsylvania line where the I-86 Interstate runs through town. Remember, in those days their were only Indian paths and the path no doubt ran along the river where River Rd runs today between Chemung and Waverly. The spinning room in his home was one of the first schools in Chemung. Today, there are no signs of the homestead of William Wynkoop. The actual location of his home is not known. A cemetery named for the Wynkoop family has recently been rediscovered and will require extensive work. It is unclear whether William is buried in this family burial plot located originally on the Wynkoop grant. It is possible William died in 1827, per Richard Wynkoop. Charity died October 1812 in Newtown (near Elmira, NY).
June 2017 - Mary Ellen Kunst
It appears William was born March 4, 1753 in Kingston, Ulster Co, New York, to Tobias and Lea Legg Wynkoop, of Dutch descent. His siblings were: Annatje, Lea, Catharina, Tobias, Petrus. William died at about 80 years old: about 1833.
Although it has been stated: in September 1777, William, served in the Continental Army at the Battle of Stillwater, (Saratoga), the only proof we have is a pay abstract of 15 May 1779 of Captain Peter Snyder's Company of New York regiment in Ulster County and which he signed, along with Tobias Wynkoop, provided by J.Kelsey Jones, Chemung County Historian.
William Wynkoop married Charity Schermerhorn, before 1778.
Charity first married _____ Van Steinberg and had one daughter: Eleanor and was known in the family in later years as "Aunt Nellie". In July 22, 1790 she married Guy Maxwell. She used her step-father's name, Wynkoop.
Children of William and Charity were:
Annatje (Hannah) Wynkoop born February 9, 1778
Jane Wynkoop - married Philip McDonald, lived in Chemung, NY
Per Richard Wynkoop (See article at bottom of page) William and Charity moved to Chemung in the year 1783 when Hannah was 5 years old.
November 4, 1788/89 - Major Wynkoop purchased land in Chemung, Montgomery Co, NY, Lot 1, 515 acres.There are accounts of Major Wynkoop building the first Grist Mill in the town. His log home and mill were located on the banks of the creek named for him, most likely between today's County Route 60 (old Rt. 17) and the Pennsylvania line where the I-86 Interstate runs through town. Remember, in those days their were only Indian paths and the path no doubt ran along the river where River Rd runs today between Chemung and Waverly. The spinning room in his home was one of the first schools in Chemung. Today, there are no signs of the homestead of William Wynkoop. The actual location of his home is not known. A cemetery named for the Wynkoop family has recently been rediscovered and will require extensive work. It is unclear whether William is buried in this family burial plot located originally on the Wynkoop grant. It is possible William died in 1827, per Richard Wynkoop. Charity died October 1812 in Newtown (near Elmira, NY).
June 2017 - Mary Ellen Kunst
Information on the Wynkoop family seems to vary between family trees on Ancestry. Many people take information for their own use from other unverified sources and don't verify it which can cause a lot of errors. In this case, for comparison I have copied information from two family trees and you can see the discrepancies between the two. Which one is right, if either one is, is unclear. But it gives us a starting point from which we hope to find the truth some day!
First Version:
William and Charity's daughter Hannah Annatche married Benjamin Wynkoop IV on Sept. 7, 1796. (Benjamin's family was from Fairfield, Fairfield Co, CT. and it is unknown what if any relation they were to William Wynkoop.) |
Second Version:
William and Charity's daughter Hannah married Benjamin Wynkoop, about 1800. (Benjamin's family was from Rochester, Ulster, NY. He was born July 17, 1763, Christened at Bethlehem, Albany, NY. His parents were: James and Jane (Ousterhout) Wynkoop.) |
The most accurate list of Benjamin and Hannah's Children is listed below:
(Provided by J. Kelsey Jones, Chemung County Historian)
1. Harriet Wynkoop b. May 19, 1797 m. 2 Dec 1819 Alfred Fry and he d. 27 Apr 1841 buried Second Street Cemetery, Elmira, New York and she survived him.
2. Julia Antoinette Wynkoop b. 18 Apr 1799 m. William Seaward and she is related to have d. 23 Sept 1855 Bellevue, Iowa perhaps buried Bellevue City Cemetery where the wife of her son William T. Seaward was buried in 1866 and also her sister Cornelia in 1877 or in the First Presbyterian Cemetery where her brother William T. Wynkoop is buried.
3. Alonzo Ilus Wynkoop b. 17 June 1801.
4. Almira Wynkoop b. July 19, 1803 m. Nelson Quick and she d. 23 Oct 1856 buried Wynkoop Cemetery.
5. Ninolia Theban Wynkoop b. 19 Aug 1805 d. 31 Mar 1869 buried Mount Hope Cemetery, Maquoketa, Iowa.
6. Nile Frost Wynkoop b. 9 Nov 1807 and he d. 25 Apr 1893 buried Chemung Village Cemetery.
7. Ann Wynkoop b. 2 Jan 1810 was enumerated in the household of her sister Delilah in Bainbridge, New York in 1850 and household of brother Alonzo in 1860 in Chemung.
8. Archimedes Burr Wynkoop b. June 6, 1812 removed at an early date to McHenry County, Illinois where he resided many years and d. 30 Jan 1889 Stockton, California.
9. Cornelia Amanda Wynkoop b. 6 Oct 1814 m. 15 Oct 1840 (Elmira Gazette, October 24, 1840) Daniel J. Watkins, artist of Natchez, Mississippi, and she d. 19 Jan 1877 buried Bellevue City Cemetery, Bellevue, Jackson County, Illinois.
10. William Tell Wynkoop b. 25 May 1817 and he d. 30 Jan 1870 buried First Presbyterian Cemetery, Bellevue, Iowa.
11. Delilah H. Wynkoop b. 29 Aug 1819 m. David Sayre Redfield and she d. 20 Mar 1851 buried Congregational Church Cemetery, Bainbridge, New York.
(Provided by J. Kelsey Jones, Chemung County Historian)
1. Harriet Wynkoop b. May 19, 1797 m. 2 Dec 1819 Alfred Fry and he d. 27 Apr 1841 buried Second Street Cemetery, Elmira, New York and she survived him.
2. Julia Antoinette Wynkoop b. 18 Apr 1799 m. William Seaward and she is related to have d. 23 Sept 1855 Bellevue, Iowa perhaps buried Bellevue City Cemetery where the wife of her son William T. Seaward was buried in 1866 and also her sister Cornelia in 1877 or in the First Presbyterian Cemetery where her brother William T. Wynkoop is buried.
3. Alonzo Ilus Wynkoop b. 17 June 1801.
4. Almira Wynkoop b. July 19, 1803 m. Nelson Quick and she d. 23 Oct 1856 buried Wynkoop Cemetery.
5. Ninolia Theban Wynkoop b. 19 Aug 1805 d. 31 Mar 1869 buried Mount Hope Cemetery, Maquoketa, Iowa.
6. Nile Frost Wynkoop b. 9 Nov 1807 and he d. 25 Apr 1893 buried Chemung Village Cemetery.
7. Ann Wynkoop b. 2 Jan 1810 was enumerated in the household of her sister Delilah in Bainbridge, New York in 1850 and household of brother Alonzo in 1860 in Chemung.
8. Archimedes Burr Wynkoop b. June 6, 1812 removed at an early date to McHenry County, Illinois where he resided many years and d. 30 Jan 1889 Stockton, California.
9. Cornelia Amanda Wynkoop b. 6 Oct 1814 m. 15 Oct 1840 (Elmira Gazette, October 24, 1840) Daniel J. Watkins, artist of Natchez, Mississippi, and she d. 19 Jan 1877 buried Bellevue City Cemetery, Bellevue, Jackson County, Illinois.
10. William Tell Wynkoop b. 25 May 1817 and he d. 30 Jan 1870 buried First Presbyterian Cemetery, Bellevue, Iowa.
11. Delilah H. Wynkoop b. 29 Aug 1819 m. David Sayre Redfield and she d. 20 Mar 1851 buried Congregational Church Cemetery, Bainbridge, New York.
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The death of Benjamin was 1833, Benjamin is buried in the Wynkoop Burial Plot. It is not known when or where Hannah died and is buried.
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Excerpts taken from Ausburn Towner's History of Chemung:
William Wynkoop arrived in Chemung in the Year 1786 with his family. A patriot and soldier during the Revolutionary War, he earned the title Major. He settled on the banks of a creek that we know today as Wynkoop Creek, and today Wynkoop Creek Road is named for him and his family; although the road is located miles from the original cabin that was erected so many years ago. (Wynkoop Creek Road runs for approximately 16 miles, west from Chemung to the Town of VanEtten.)
Major William Wynkoop built the first frame house in the Town of Chemung, the boards and timbers of which were sawed out with a whip saw. A resourceful individual, he also built the first sawmill very near his residence. By 1788 he was an inn-keeper, retailing liquor with license by the payment of two pounds for the year.
The first school was taught in the weaving room of Major William Wynkoop’s home in 1795. With that said, there is a listing on the 1869 map of Chemung with School house #1 located in the area where Major Wynkoop's home would have been located. It is evident that a school continued in that specific location long after the weaving room of the Wynkoop home, however it is not known at this time how long the school remained operational. This area became known as School District #1. This was a common practice to keep school in a private home until a school house/cabin could be built and a school marm or master could be hired. Some schools were held on the second floor loft or attic, others were held in the weaving room of the home.
Major William Wynkoop built the first frame house in the Town of Chemung, the boards and timbers of which were sawed out with a whip saw. A resourceful individual, he also built the first sawmill very near his residence. By 1788 he was an inn-keeper, retailing liquor with license by the payment of two pounds for the year.
The first school was taught in the weaving room of Major William Wynkoop’s home in 1795. With that said, there is a listing on the 1869 map of Chemung with School house #1 located in the area where Major Wynkoop's home would have been located. It is evident that a school continued in that specific location long after the weaving room of the Wynkoop home, however it is not known at this time how long the school remained operational. This area became known as School District #1. This was a common practice to keep school in a private home until a school house/cabin could be built and a school marm or master could be hired. Some schools were held on the second floor loft or attic, others were held in the weaving room of the home.
Excerpt taken from Wynkoop Genealogy in the United States of America by Richard
Wynkoop William Wynkoop, Major, baptized March 4, 1753, Kingston: died about 80 years of age, according to one account, and 89, according to an other. He married Charity Schermerhorn. Major William Wynkoop was in the battle of Stillwater, in the autumn of 1777. Nile Frost Wynkoop wrote of him as follows: "I have heard him tell of the doings there. He said that General (Benedict) Arnold was under arrest, when the British and Indians were driving our army back. Arnold mounted his horse and rode to the front, and meeting his men, gave the command 'About face' - and they obeyed him, with cheers. They drove everything before them, until they met the British cavalry, under General (Simon) Frazer. Then Arnold ordered up twelve of the best riflemen, and said, pointing at Frazer, 'He is a host in himself; let me see him no longer.' The fall of Frazer disheartened the British cavalry, and our army was victorious." Major William Wynkoop, in 1797, was ordered by John Jay, Governor
of New York, to take command of Col. Baldwin's regiment, and fit them for active service. The Commission was preserved, and fell into the possession of Nile Frost Wynkoop. |
William removed to Chemung, in 1783, when his daughter
Hannah was only five years old. The experiences of his family are related by Alonzo Ilus Wynkoop,, as follows: "I recollect hearing my mother relate the incidents of the journey from Esopus to Wilkes-Barre, by wagon, through a wilderness, and from Wilkes-Barre to Tioga Point, now Athens, PA., by a flat-boat, up the North Branch of the Susquehanna more than one hundred miles, and by canoes up the Chemung, to a neighborhood of Indians, who brought venison to them in abundance, and treated them kindly. A hunter, who lived with them, thought it a small matter to kill and bring in a deer, before breakfast. But there were no mills, and the first wheat that her father raised was taken by him down the river, in a canoe, to Wilkes-Barre: and the canoe, containing the flour, was pushed home again, upstream, more than one hundred miles. In the second year, Major William built a mill on Wynkoop's Run, where Alonzo lived afterward. The mill-stones were worked from rocks near Towanda, Bradford Co., PA. The early settlers came many miles to this mill." Nile Frost Wynkoop adds, that when William had reached Tioga Point, more than two thousand savages were there, making a treaty with the white men. Certificates of survey of land in Chemung County, NY were granted as follows: Nov. 4, 1788, of survey for William Wynkoop, of lot No. 1, in the town of Chemung, on the north side of the Tioga River, 515 acres of land. url: http://books.google.com/books?id=jNJfAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA55&lpg=PA55&dq=major+ william+wynkoop&source=bl&ots=t_Yz3M6zTe&sig= 8Ia9FJlA21cC6v3PSPoGhLLMxK4&hl=en&sa=X&ei= mijMUqSIIsjR2QXUSIIsjR2QXU4DQBg&ved=0CEA Q6AEwBA |