Captain Joseph Dyckman

   Joseph Dyckman (also spelled Dikeman and Dykeman) is the ancestor that solved the mystery that started my quest into my family tree.  Quite young, I was fascinated that my Grandmother on one side of the family and my Grandfather on the other had the same last name.   I wanted to know just how they were related, and it took some time to find the answer- they are distant cousins.   

  Joseph Dyckman was born about 1737 in Fairfield County, Connecticut, to Frederick Dyckman and his wife Ann, being the oldest child. His known siblings are Thaddeus, Levi, Mary, and Ann. Unfortunately the records for this time period are very sparse so we don’t know for sure how many siblings Joseph may have had nor much of his early life.

  We do know from the records in Redding, Fairfield County, CT that he was married to Eunice Darling on My 25 1757 by Reverend Nathaniel Bartlett. Their Children included Hezekiah, Benjamin, Joseph, Sally, Arron, Peter, Ezra, and Eunice, who were baptized in Redding, Connecticut.  He also married Elizabeth Smith and Miss Judd. His other known children were Elizabeth, Daniel, Abigail, Ruhama, Phebe, and Ann, but their mother is unidentified.

Joseph and at least three of his sons (Joseph, Hezekiah, and Benjamin) served in the American Revolution.  As Lieutenant  he brought in three conspirators, and as Captain he collected seven pounds eight shillings for bringing prisoners.  Joseph is a recognized Patriot for the DAR, so anyone who descendants from him qualifies for the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and the Daughters of the American Revolution. 

Here is a list of some of the men in Col. Field’s Regiment, including Captain Joseph at the bottom.

The Unexpected Ancestor – A Hessian Soldier

I have found lots of Revolutionary Soldiers in my family tree. They’ve fought for NY, and fought for Ct, and fought for NJ and fought for MA – but I never expected to find one that fought for both sides. However, with the help of a cousin in California (Peter Fagan) I have discovered a new ancestor – a Hessian Soldier that also fought for CT.

I’ve been stuck on my Osborn line for a long time. The furthest back I could get was John Osborn who died March 4th 1848 and His wife Elizabeth _____ who died March 27th 1847. Getting that far back took help from a cousin in NY (Don Osborne) and some research as well. John and Elizabeth are buried in the Pierce Buring Ground, west of Pawling, NY. However I could find no clue as to the father of John nor any information on Elizabeth’s family.

After talking with Pete, I know now Elizabeth’s last name is Rhinevault. Her father William Rhinevault fought in the Revolutionary War. He filed for a pension after the war and I have obtained part of the pension file. This gives me all kinds of information including a family record of births, marriages and deaths for John Osborn’s family.

William Rhinevault states in his pension he was a Hessian soldier in Burgoyne’s army and was captured at Saratoga. This group of about 5,900 soldiers were supposed to be shipped back to Britain, but the colonists realized sending them back would make it possible for the British to send new troops in return. As a result, this group of soldiers were kept prisoner here for the duration of the war and came to be known as the ‘Convention Army’.

The Convention Army was marched through Massachusetts to Boston, and then through Ct, NY, PA, and other points south on their way to Virginia. The pension file does not say if William Rhinevault was one of many soldiers to disappear into the local population along the way, or if he was one of the ones offered his freedom if he fought with the colonists. He came to enlist one way or another in CT in the spring of 1780 as a private in Capt. Ten Eyck’s company, Colonel Webb’s CT Regiment, and after about a year, was transferred to Capt. Timothy Taylor’s company in Colonel Heman Swift’s CT Regiment, and there served until the spring of 1783.

Further Research into other records reveals William Rhinevault is most probably Wilhelm Reinwald, a soldier of the Brunswick troops, Regiment van Rhetz, Company van Ehrenkrook, born at Frankfurt/Main, age 19 years, 6 month (this record most likely recorded sometime in middle of 1779, which would make his year of birth appr. 1760) Religion: Evangelical, was at that time single, size 5' 2 3/4", He deserted on 24. July 1778 from the Winter Hill Barracks near Boston. This information seems to indicate he was from the Hesse-Hanua area which is where the description “Hessians” come from.

William Rhinevault married Mary Spencer, April 11, 1782 in Fredericks, Dutchess County, NY. This location is now known as Patterson, Putnam County, NY. I have no further information on Mary Spencer’s family. She and William later settled in New Fairfield, Fairfield County, CT. William’s Daughter, Elizabeth (Betsey) married John Osborn Nov 21 1804, the same day as Susanna Rhinevault married Ebenezer Osborn according the Fairfield County Marriage records.

The Pension file names John and; Elizabeth’s children: Sally, Mary, Phebe, Benjamin, Northrup, Daniel, George W, John, Abby Jane, and William. It lists their death dates which match the tombstones in Pawling, and also says John is the son of Benjamin Osborne and Sally _____. Although it gives Sally’s birthday of 13 Dec 1765, it doesn’t give any clues as to her last name. So although I’ve gained some generations on this family I have some new mysteries to solve as well.

The Hessian Soldier is related to me this way:
William Rhinevault, father of
Elizabeth Rhinevault Osborn, mother of
George Washington Osborne, father of
James Paulding Osborn, father of
Isabel Osborn Ryea, my great-grandmother.

He is my Great, great, great, great, great-grandfather.

Sources:
Pension File for William Rhinevault
Abstracts of Rev. War Pension Files
Family Record collection of Don Osborne
Personal Records of Peter Fagan
Hessian Records of J. H. Mertz
A short history of the Slocums, Slocumbs and Slocombs of America by CE Slocum
Old gravestones of Dutchess County by JW Poucher

The Shot Heard Around the World

April 19th, two hundred and thirty eight years ago today, there was a confrontation on Lexington Green.

Paul Revere had been up all night riding the countryside letting communities know that the "Regulars are coming!" We were all British then, the Regulars were the soldiers, so he wouldn’t have said “the British were coming!” Paul had no guarantee he would succeed. People could have been arrested. Arms could have been confiscated. Ammunition could have been taken away. They had no right to gather together, no right to say whatever they wanted, no right to do as they pleased. Paul’s news was an alert, that the soldiers were coming and they could do whatever they wished in the name of the King.

As I think back to what that must have been like for the folks who lived in Massachusetts Colony, I can't help but wonder, how would I have felt? What was this like for my ancestors? What kind of upheaval did it mean to them? Where was my family? How did they hear the news? What did they do? Did they realize how big the effects would be of this small confrontation on the green? Were they there?

I know I had ancestors who served in the American War for Independence. But instead of looking after the fact, Is there any way to find out what brought them to that decision? To leave home, family, the farm, and actually engage in battle with the strongest army in the world at the time? What kind of belief they must have had in liberty to turn their back on the only system of law they had ever seen.

The people who decided 238 years ago that they had had enough, they took the chance that there was something else, something better out there then living under a king, a regime that had no regard for the citizens of the colonies. They choose the uncertainty and were willing to give it all up so that their children, grand children, great grandchildren and descendants would have a better life.

So when you hear about the small ragtag militia that stood their ground on the green that day, the small group of settlers that took on the British Army (their army!) and defied the government (their government!)- realize this isn't some vague group of people who knew what the outcome would be.

Be very aware that someone walked away from everything they knew, and threw it away so you could have a better life. And that act of defiance became clear on April 19th, 1775, the date most people think of as the start of the American Revolution.   Today.

Obadiah Chase

I have a couple of ancestors that descend from the first settlers of America. Obadiah Chase is a descendant of one of the passengers on the Mayflower, Stephen Hopkins.

The tree from Stephens Hopkins to Obadiah is:

Stephen's son Gyles Hopkins and wife Catherine Whelen

their son Stephen Hopkins and wife Mary Merrick

their daughter Mary Hopkins and husband John Maker

their daughter Thankful Maker and husband Isaac Chase
their son Obadiah Chase who was born 1743 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Obadiah was the second child of 9 sibilings. When he was about 22 he married Susannah Knapp.

Below you can see how he fits into the family tree.
Obadiah is not only a Mayflower descendant, but also served in the revolutionary war.

 He is listed in the Daughter's of the American Revolution's Patriot Index.  All of us who can document our family line back to him caan become a member of the DAR, or of the Sons of the American Revolution. He is buried in the Old Carmel Church in Putnam County, NY.  He has a couple of gravestones as well as being recognized on a group moument as one of the soldiers in the American War of Independance.

               

Blown up in the schoolhouse...

It caught my eye rather quickly.' Levi Jones, who was blown up in the schoolhouse was the first husband of Elizabeth Cook, daughter of Aaron Cooke and Hannah Wadsworth.'   What? Why did the school house get blown up and why was Levi in it?

Let me backtrack a little before I tell you more about that. Levi Jones is an ancestor of mine through Effie Knickerbocker Hooker who married Peter Dykeman back in 1885. The little chart on the side here give you and idea of how the family goes back to Levi.

Levi Jones is buried in the Ancient Burying Ground in Hartford, Connecticut. The epitaph on his gravestone is: In memory of Mr.Levi Jones, who died May ye 23rd 1766 in ye 50th year of his age. Here from earthly joyes I am fled unto ye Mansions of the Dead Prepare Reder for thou must like me be Buried in ye Dust.

And the story behind being blown up in the schoolhouse? When the news of the repeal of the Stamp Act reached Hartford, a great celebration was planned. Many men of the town were in the schoolhouse, preparing fireworks. Gunpowder for two companies of militia had been delivered to the school house at the rate of one pound per soldier. Some was spilled when the powder was delivered, and a few boys of the town (being in high spirits and meaning no harm) lit the spilled powder on the ground. This powder ignited and led a path to the schoolhouse which then blew up. Levi Jones was one of three who died in the explosion, although many others were injured.

The history leading up to the American War of Independance is something we learn about in school, but this certainly makes the history of the Stamp Act and its repeal stand out in my mind. The fact it was repealed had an immediate impact on my family. In less than 10 years, Levi's son-in-law, William Hooker would fight in the Revolutionary War which was a more general result of the Stamp Act. One just never knows what events will affect the future.

Levi & Elizabeth had the following children that I know of; Hannah Jones, Abigail Jones, Mille Jones, and Julius Jones. Although I do know more about Elizabeth's parents, Levi's parents are a mystery. Some folks seem to think his parents were Benjamin Jones of Enfield, MA (which then became part of CT) and Anna Prior, but I am still looking for proof positive on that.

And that is just one of many interesting stories in the family tree - Levi got blown up in the schoolhouse.

Revolutionary War Ancestors

Being a Genealogist and a 18th Century Reenactor, my ancestors from the 18th century hold a special interest for me. I have looked in records and pension files and found many ancestors that fought in the Revolutionary War. I suspect there are more, but the below folks all fought in the American War of Independance.

 

Obadiah Chase, born 1743 in Boston, Suffolk Co, MA; died 04 Jul 1799 in Carmel, Putnam Co, NY.  He was the son of Isaac Chase and Thankful Maker.  He married Susannah Knapp Bet. 1765 - 1766.

Joseph Dikeman, born Abt. 1737 in Fairfield Co, CT; died 1822 in Southeast, Putnam Co, NY.  He was the son of Frederick Dyckman and  Ann   He married Eunice Darling 25 May 1757 in Redding, Fairfield Co, CT.

Hezekiah Dykeman, born Abt. 26 Aug 1759 in Redding, Fairfield Co, CT; died 17 Jan 1839.  He was the son of Joseph Dikeman and Eunice Darling.  He married  Constance Doane 12 Oct 1785 in Wilton, Fairfield Co, CT.

Benjamin Dikeman, born Abt. 24 May 1761 in Redding,Fairfield Co, CT; died 18 Apr 1845 in Patterson, Putnam Co, NY.  He was the son of \ Joseph Dikeman and \ Eunice Darling.  He married  Huldah Kelley.

William Hooker, born 15 Sep 1756 in Kensington, Hartford Co, CT; died 04 Feb 1826 in Kensington, Hartford Co, CT.  He was the son of Seth Hooker and Sarah Burnham.  He married  Hannah Jones 03 Feb 1779.

Gershom Hubbell, born 17 Jul 1729; died 14 Apr 1802.  He was the son of  Nathan Hubbell and Martha Finch.  He married  Sarah St John 30 Nov 1769.

Jonathan Silliman, born 31 Aug 1742 in Fairfield Co, CT; died 30 Jun 1777.  He was the son of Ebenezer Silliman and Abigail Selleck.  He married Anna Morehouse 27 Jun 1762

Moody Howes, born 18 Jul 1724 in Dennis, Barnstable Co, MA; died 09 Apr 1806 in Southeast, Putnam Co, NY.  He was the son of  Thomas Howes and Deborah Seares.  He married Sarah Ellis 21 Apr 1759 in Southeast, Putnam Co, NY.

 Jacob Reed, born 01 Apr 1749 in New Canaan, Fairfield Co, CT; died 11 Jun 1812 in Southeast, Putnam Co, NY.  He was the son of William Reed and Rachel Kellogg.  He married  Rhuhamah Benedict 07 Mar 1769.

Henderick Van Blarcom, born Abt. 18 May 1740 in Passic, Bergen Co, NJ.  He was the son of  John Van Blarcom and Vroutje Kip.  He married Annatje Van Winkle 20 Nov 1763 in Passaic, Bergen Co, NJ.

Ezra Merrick, born 26 Aug 1744 in Bradford, Essex Co, MA; died 28 Sep 1777 in Fort Ticonderoga, Essex Co, NY.  He was the son of  Ezra Mireck and. Mehitebel Green.  He married  Sarah Marsh 23 Sep 1776 in Goffstown, Hillsbourgh Co,  NH.

Zenas Warren, born 22 Mar 1758.  He was the son of Benjamin Warren and Jedidah Tupper.  He married  Susannah Unknown

William Rhinevault* born Abt. 1760; died 16 Jun 1840.  He married  Mary Spencer 11 Apr 1782 in Fredericks, Dutchess co, NY.

John Knox, born 01 Oct 1752 in North Salem, Westchester Co, NY; died 22 Aug 1817 in North Salem, Westchester Co, NY.  He was the son of Robert Knox.  He married  Mary Polly Raymond 29 Oct 1775 in Salem, Westchester Co, NY.

Jonathan Reynolds, born Abt. 1757; died 24 Aug 1809 in Southeast, Putnam Co, NY.  He married  Mary Brown 03 Apr 1776 in Greenwich, Fairfield Co, CT.