Re: Lewis Stansell Bd July 14, 1822 NY
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In reply to:
Re: Lewis Stansell Bd July 14, 1822 NY
2/06/00
HISTORY OF THE STANSELL FAMILY
The First Nicholas Stansell, who came to America in 1699 or the early 1700's
There is a lot of controversy regarding the heritage of our original Stansell to arrive in America- Nicholas.One researcher believes he came from German ancestry, emigrating from the Rhine Valley, as one of the Palatine emmigrants, arriving about 1708.
Another account states that he possibly came from Leiden, Holland, in the early 1700’s.
Other researchers feel that Nicholas was English, arriving in America in 1699, and the following information is provided to substantiate this claim: “The name Nicholas Stanzall appears in the “Pass< Volume 3 (O to Z),” P. 2006 :STANZALL, Nicholas (no age given:to America in 1699 (source is #1222, p. 252.)A perusal of the books index key indicates that #1222 is the following book: Coldham, Peter Wilson:“English Convicts in Colonial America.”New Orleans:Polyantohois, 1974. Volume I:names for Middlesex, England; 1617-1775.On page 252 of this book one will find the following information :STANZALL, Nicholas PTMay 1699.The PT stands for "Pleaded Transportation," which means he asked for that to be his sentence.According to the preface to the book by Coldham, this usually meant they were "forgiven" their crime (which was often petty thievery) on condition they be sent to the colonies as slave labor.Research is ongoing to learn more of the history of this Nicholas to determine if he is our direct ancestor that settled in New York State in time to come.
At any rate, we do find our Nicholas in New York State by the year 1712, when he married Elizabeth DeGraef, the daughter of Elizabeth (Brower) & Claas Andriese DeGraef of Schenectady.(The DeGraef family was an early Dutch family in New Amsterdam (i.e.what was to become the eastern part of the Colony of New York following the British capture).Records indicate the presence of a Jan Andriese Degraef, brickmaker, who was in Albany as early as 1665.Claas Andriese DeGraef, who became father-in-law to Nicholas Stansell, was probably the son of the "Jan" mentioned earlier.Claas was a farmer and early settler at Schenectady).
For approximately the next five years, Nicholas and Elizabeth lived in a Palatine settlement called ‘Nooten Hoeck’ on the east bank of the Hudson River, a few miles north of where New York City is today. Their first two children were baptized nearby by the Rev. Justus Falckner at the Zion Lutheran Churchof Loonenburg’ (now Athens, Greene Co., N.Y.) from whose register reveals that in 1712, Catharina was baptized and in 1714, a son named Nicholas, was baptized.
Sometime soon thereafter, Nicholas Stansell and young family moved a few miles north and then west to Schenectady on the Mohawk River where the DeGraefs had settled years before.Here their remaining children were born and subsequently baptized at the Dutch Reformed Church at Schenectady.
In the early 1700’s, white pioneers began to settle in the Mohawk River Valley to the west of the former Dutch settlements of Albany and Schenectady.As this was territory belonging to the Iroquois Indian Nations, the stage was being set for nearly a century of conflict between Indian and white; between French and English; and finally between the English and the American colonists.These conflicts raged in and around the Mohawk Valley.The original inhabitants, the Indians, were found on both sides in each of the conflicts.However, regardless of the side chosen, they were inevitably the ultimate losers of each war.
In the clashes between the French and the British, several of the Dutch and German settlements under British control along the Mohawk were burned to the ground and the inhabitants killed or taken captive. The area around Schenectady itself was not spared.There is the possibility that one or more of the children of Nicholas and Elizabeth did not survive these early conflicts as they are not mentioned in records of later years.(Two of Elizabeth’s brothers, Abraham and Nicholas DeGraef were killed - -Abraham was taken captive to Canada in 1746 and died at Quebec on June 12, 1747 and was buried there - - Nicholas DeGraef and 20 others were murdered at Beukendal by the savage Indians on July 18, 1748.)
At some time during this troubled era, and certainly before 1744, Nicholas Stansell and his large family again moved west, this time to the small but growing Palatine settlements of the Upper Mohawk, located far back into the wilderness.There one finds his name, along with 8 others, on the deed of the church records.Nicholas was a trustee and founder of the Lutheran Trinity Church of Stone Arabia, one of the few congregations which is still active on the same site over 250 years later.A pamphlet which is available from the church today notes: “It is almost as if these pioneers, after all their sacrifices and hardships had found their promised land and built a monument to God.It is not unusual on a Sunday morning today to see descendants (9th or 10th generation) of these early settlers attending this very church.So they came and helped to build a new country, surely with the foresight...that their children would preserve what they had fought and died for...
Nicholas and Elizabeth (DeGraef) Stansell had eight children.
1)Catherine (Stansell) Walliswas born at Nooten Hoeck, Albany County, New York, on March 15, 1712; baptized on Palm Sunday 1712 by Rev.JustusFalckner of Zion Lutheran Church of Loonenburg (now Athens, Greene County).Witnesses:Jurgen Klaeuw and Rahel, wife of Jan Casperson.Catherina Stansell married Jacobus Wallis, moved to stone Arabia along the Mohawk River.
2)Nicholas Stansell was born on January 8, 1714 at Nooten Hoeck, Albany County, New York; baptized on January 17, 1714 by Rev.Justus Falckner of Zion Lutheran Church of Loonengburg.Witnesses; Jacob Jansen Van Husum and Janje Juriaanse Van Husum.
3)Jesse Stansell was baptized on June 8, 1717 at the Dutch Reformed Church of Schenectady, New York. Witnesses:Jesse DeGraef and Aeltien DeGraef.
4)Elizabeth Stansell was baptized on December 24, 1718 at the Dutch Reformed Church of Schenectady, New York. Witnesses Arnolt DeGraef and Maria DeGraef.
5)Eva Stansell was baptized on April 28, 1721 at the Dutch Reformed Church of Schenectady, New York. Witnesses; Abraham DeGraef and Arraintien Van der Volgen.
6)Sarah Stansell was baptized March 16, 1723 at the Dutch Reformed Church of Schenectady, New York.Witnesses:Robert Eerts
7)William Stansell was baptized on September 20, 1725 at the Dutch Reformed Church of Schenectady, New York.Witnesses:Jan Marselis and Rebecca Groot.William married Elizabeth Schultz of Stone Arabia, New York.He died circa 1791, near present-day Lyons, Wayne County, New York.
8)Thomas StansellSept.20, 1725
__________________________________________________________________________________________(2nd generation) WILLIAM STANSELL 1725 - 1791
Wilhelmus (William) Stansell: Yeoman, farmer, soldier, youngest son of Nicholas and Elizabeth (DeGraaf Stansell) was baptized on September 30, 1725 at the Dutch Reformed Church of Schenectady.When but a youth, William moved with his family from the relative safety of the settlement at Schenectady to the Palatine settlement of Stone Arabia on the north bank of the upper Mohawk River, and then later to the south bank at Canajoharie.
In March of 1752, William Stansell married Elizabeth Schultz or Schultzen, of Palatine German descent, probably of Stone Arabia, where the records show the baptism of their children.(Elisabeth Schulzen was the daughter of Johannes Schultz.)By the time of William’s marriage, the best land along the Mohawk River had been taken by earlier settlers.Soon thereafter, and quite probably as early as 1755, William Stansell and nine other Palatine families traveled several miles further back into the wilderness along the Canjohaie Creek, which flows into the Mohawk River at Canajoharie.Here they settled on 'Waggoner’s Patent' which later became known as the settlement of Springfield, New York, near Lake Tioga.In the following decade from 1756 to 1763, the French and Indian War saw raiding parties from the north constantly descending upon the small settlements along the Mohawk, until the capitulation of Montcalm’s French Army at Quebec signaled the coming end of French rule in North America.For another decade there was relative peace in the Mohawk Valley until rising tensions between England and her colonists erupted into the Revolutionary War beginning in 1775.In the Mohawk Valley, as elsewhere, families were forced to make a decision as to where their loyalty lay.In many cases this split the families asunder.There is every indication, however, that William Stansell and all his family members decided their destiny lay with the newly declared country.
To repel the anticipated invasion from the north, General Herkimer issued Tryon County’s first militia draft proclamation on July 28, 1777.The age range of 16 to 60 years of age stated by Gen. Herkimer in his proclamation of 1777 would have potentially involved William, age 52, and his sons, William Jr. age 22, Nicholas age 21, and George age 17.His son Henry, only 12, was not eligible at this time.However, like the others, he was to become directly involved.Indications are that there was at least one other brother, and quite possibly two others, who did not survive the conflict.
On Wednesday, August 6, 1777, a little over a week after the call-up of the militia, General Herkimer led his force of approximately 800 Palatine militia north through a trail in the woods to provide relief to Ft. Stanwix which was being besieged by the British force.However, word of their approach reached the British who sent a force of Butler’s Rangers and Indians led by Col. John Butler and Chief Joseph Brant to intercept the approaching Americans. "It was incredible; a thousand or more men hidden mere yards from the road, hidden so well that not a man of Herkimer’s army, not even his Oneida allies, had any idea of the trap they had entered... The first volley was devastating.In those initial seconds of the firing, about two hundred Americans were shot...(a few hours later) the Battle of Oriskany was over.Of the eight hundred Americans involved, less than 300 survived..." (Eckert:“The Wilderness War,” pp.133-137) One who did not long survive the Battle of Oriskany was Gen. Herkimer himself.He was badly wounded in the leg and after the battle was carried back to his house.Following amputation of his leg, he called for his pipe and Bible, and quietly died reading to his family.
Several Stansells probably took part in the Battle of Oriskany.However, due in part to the extreme number of casualties, the number of officers killed, and the panic which followed during the retreat and subsequently the panic which ensued in the Palatine settlements, comprehensive casualty records were not forthcoming and so it is impossible to know which, if any, Stansells were wounded in or did not survive the battle.One fact is certain, however, and it is that following this battle the settlements were, for the next several years, constantly exposed to attack.To attempt to counter this threat, the Tryon County Rangers were established; “Rangers were the scouts of that day and were selected from the militia... they enlisted for nine months and virtually ‘lay out’ along the frontiers to detect Indian movements.They were the ‘eyes’ of the army.They went on foot, subsisted as best they could, and carried the responsibility of protecting the settlements against enemies.”Listed as being on the Ranger Roster were two Stansells, Nicholas and William.(MacWethy:“The Book of Names”; pp, 174 and 176)
To venture forth from a fortified house or fort itself was often a deadly risk to take.Lewis Clark’s “Military History of Wayne County” (p. 96) illustrates one such incident in the life of the Stansells. “On one occasion, they had kept safely within the enclosures of the fort for a long time.Harvest was drawing near.The old Man (William) said to his five sons one day:"ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE AT THE RISK OF OUR LIVES, WE MUST TRY AND SECURE THE HAY."The sons obeyed his orders and worked until near the close of the day.Nicholas was taken ill and was the first to retire.Looking back, he saw an Indian crouching along half bent, with a rifle in his hand.He immediately shouted the alarm, when all commenced to run.Instantly they received a shower of bullets, followed by a terrific whoop, and the chase began.Two brothers escaped and reached the fort.One (name unknown) was shot and fell dead while crossing the fence; one was captured and taken off (unquestionably Henry) and Nicholas escaped by concealing himself among some high weeds.
In July of 1778, rumors reached the border settlements that the British and Indians were going to come in force to destroy the settlements.On the morning of July 18th the inevitable happened.A hurried letter from Lieut.Col.Ford to General Tenbroeck supplied interim details: Dear Sir; I embrace the earliest opportunity to inform you that the enemy, Toires and Indians, have made a descent upon the settlement called Springfield about 10 or 11 o’clock this day, and have burnt and destroyed the same, the greatest part of the inhabitants were moved, but some of them were here, how many are killed and taken I can not as yet tell... (Gray; "History of Springfield," p, 70)
As the details emerged soon afterward, it was found that the enemy force was commanded by Chief Joseph Brant."Every house wad burned except one and into this the women and children were collected by the order of Brant, and kept unharmed; but the men were either killed or taken captive, and carried away by the Indians."
Some funds were made available to those families now incapable of gaining a livelihood and the resulting census of "Sufferers" indicates the extent of devastation which occurred to most families in Springfield, including the Stansell’s.(14 families, with a total of 80 persons, were on the list, - the William Stansell family of 9 was one of the 14 families listed)"The above mentioned Inhabitants of Springfield Lost all there Personal Property Except there clothing; there Buildings was all burnt and there Cattle allmos Drove off, and there Green and hat they were not able to Cutt." (Quoted in Gray; “History of Springfield,” pp.73-74)
William and his sons, Nicholas and George served as soldiers in the Revolutionary War.The father served with the Clinton-Sullivan Expedition.During the fall of 1779, William Stansell Sr. took part in General Sullivan’s Expedition westward into the heartland of the Mohawks and Senecas.While on the march with the American Army, he noted the fertile valleys of present-day western New York State, particularly the area just east of the present city of Rochester.
Keeping the above information in mind, ten years later, in 1789 (after William’s wife had died and he had sold his land in Springfield to George Dodge for four hundred pounds on July 4th) part of the Stansell clan decided once again to move westward into the wilderness.Making the trip were William Stansell Sr., his son Nicholas and family and Nicholas’ brother-in-law John Featherly (Veterle) and family, together with the Indian trader Wemple.They journeyed by boat to the present site of Lyons, New York and became the first settlers of Wayne County.(William Senior was now 64 years of age; his wife Elizabeth must have already died).Staying behind in the Mohawk Valley were his son George, who was severely wounded in the war; and also Henry.(By 1800 Henry had also moved west, but chose Kentucky as his place to settle.)
"The father of the Stansells (William) died in the earliest years, (probably about 1791) and was buried in the absence of any funeral rites; there being no one to conduct them.”(Turner, Orsanus;"History of the Pioneer Settlements of Phelps and Gorham’s Purchase”:Rochester, 1852 P.265)
William and Elizabeth had the following eight children:
1)William Stansell January 27, 1755, either at Canajoharie or Springfield, Tryon County, Colony of New York; baptized at Lutheran Trinity Church of Stone Arabia.Sponsors; Wilhelm Nellia and wife Maria Dorothea.No further record found; probably killed by Indians during the Rev.War either at the burning of Springfield or in the incident at the fort described by Lewis Clark in “History of Wayne County.
2)Nicholas Stansell was born on September 13, 1756 at Springfield, Tryon County, Colony of New York; baptized at Lutheran Trinity Church of Stone Arabia.Sponsors; Frederick Emige and Maria Elisabeth Schulzin.Married Margretha Veterle (Margaret Featherly) ca.1778; soldier in Rev.War; died December 11, 1819 at Arcadia, Wayne County, New York State.
3)Margretha (Stansell) Bush was born ca. 1758 or 1759, probably at Springfield; married George Bush, a Rev. War soldier (pension application states he was at the Battle of Oriskany in August 1777); settled at Springfield; had 12 children.
4)George B. Stansell born March 5, 1760 at Springfield; served as Rev. War. soldier; married Leah Pichard ca. 1789 and they remained in the area around Springfield for the remainder of their lives.
5)Henry Stansell was born on October 1, 1765 at Springfield; according to his family records he was captured by the Indians during the Rev.War; was instrumental after the War in the setting up of the Baptist Church of Springfield on January 15, 1878 (Gray; History of Springfield,” p.911); Henry later settled in Kentucky where he married Elizabeth Allen in 1793; had 11 children.
6)Elizabeth Stansell April 24, 1768
7)Catherine Stansell April 24, 1768 or 1770?????(Twins?)
8)Isaac Stansell (Isaac is named as the 5th son of William and Elizabeth in the "Pioneer Settlement of Wayne County, New York in 1789" - page 135)He was undoubtedly the other brother, besides William, who was killed in the war by Indians.
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