41


FAMILIES OF THE ROSENKRANS NAME,
WHOSE EARLY ANCESTRY IS UNKNOWN

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Members Who Have Disappeared From The Records

Members Unknown In Eastern New York And Elsewhere

Members From Germany

Errata

 


 

Members of the Family Who Have Disappeared From the Records

As previously stated the foregoing genealogy of "The Rosenkrans Family," in this country, includes only those known to be descendants of Harmon Hendrick Rosenkrans (1), of Ulster County, New York, while from the writers own knowledge and from correspondence, it is found that there are many of the Rosenkrans name in Eastern New York and elsewhere, whose early ancestors are unknown, and who are probably descendants of Harmon Hendrick, while the ancestors of some are more recently from Holland or Germany.

For the benefit of those who may desire to look up their early ancestors and find their own connection with the main branch of the family whose genealogy is herewith given, we will name some of the early members of the family mentioned in the genealogy, who disappeared from the church records on the route of the settlement west of Kingston, and who probably went North Eastward in New York, whose descendants have become quite numerous and whose genealogy has not been searched out.

Of the children of Harmon Hendrick Rosenkrans (1), who disappeared from the records were Harmanus or Harmon, and Sarah, the latter having gone to Albany County, and made a will dated June 17, 1726, which is recorded at Albany, as found in "Calendar of Wills". Harmon probably went there also. Two other daughters after marriage disappeared also with their families   —   Anna who married Humphrey Davenport, and Christiana, who married Cornelius Kertright, whose children are mentioned in Sarah’s will.

Of the grandchildren of Harmon Hendrick Rosenkrans (1), who disappeared from Ulster County, were Helenah, daughter of Alexander Rosenkrans (2), and Apollonia, William, Herman, Hendrick, John, Alexander and Isaac, children of Hendrick Rosenkrans who probably went to the Albany settlement. From Sussex County, disappeared Harmon Hendrick’s grandson, Harmen (12), son of Alexander (2) with his family of four children, Alexander, Catharine, Anna and Joseph. These probably went westward in New York or to Wisconsin. Of Harmon Hendricks great grandchildren who left Sussex, and whose descendants are not known at the present time were Captain Jacob (38), Alexander (41), and Charick D.W. (43), some of their children being last heard of in Ohio and Wisconsin.

Families known by the writer when young whose connection with the main branch of the family has not been found, are those of John I. Rosenkrans, of Walpack, and of Francis McGee, of Sandyston township, Sussex County, New Jersey.

John I. Rosenkrans, married Catharine VanCampen, daughter of Abram VanCampen, whose wife was Orianna Rosenkrans (40), thus being connected by marriage and perhaps by descent. An authentic report says that he came from Rochester township, Ulster County, New York, the early abode of the family and had a brother Harmon, a tailor living there, who married a sister to Henry DeWitt Jr., of Kingston, who purchased of the VanCampens the Rosenkrans homestead at Shappanack, Sussex County, New Jersey. John I. Rosenkrans had sons, A.V.C., and Theodore F., and several daughters. "A.V.C." or Abram VanCampen Rosenkrans, was a school teacher and a farmer and later in life a hotel keeper. He married Belinda Myres, daughter of Jacob Myres, of Walpack Centre, New Jersey, who lived in the old stone dwelling there. A.V.C. had sons, Jacob H. and Abram V.C., also daughters, Belinda, Harriet and Ellen. He moved from Sussex to Wayne County, Pennsylvania, and thence to Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, where he died, 1879, his wife dying there 1882. His son, Jacob H., was a railroader on the gravity road in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, and a soldier in the war of the Rebellion.

He married a Miss Watrous, in Wayne County, and moved to Penfield, in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in the coal business, and died September 16, 1898. His children were: Allen H., Frank, Friend, Roy, Ella, who married Dr. E.C. Lewis, and Clara, who married T.S. Lewis, of Oakmont, Pennsylvania. Allen H., (namesake) son of Jacob H., has been school teacher, newspaper correspondent, editor, and church worker, and is now engaged in writing the history of Verona township, including Penfield. Abram V.C. Rosenkrans, son of A.V.C., grew up, but died single. Belinda, daughter of A.V C. Rosenkrans, married Ralph Potter, in Wayne County, who was a hotel keeper at Ariel, (No. 19) went to Clearfield County, and eventually to Illinois, where he died, leaving one son.

Theodore F. Rosenkrans, son of John I., was a carpenter, married Jane Ayres, and secondly a Howell, widow of Allen Wyker, and lived near Beemerville, New Jersey, where she died about 1895, leaving a family.

Francis McGee Rosenkrans, of Sandyston, already mentioned, whose early ancestors are unknown, had sons, Benjamin, a shoemaker, in Sandyston, David, a carpenter, and Samuel, a seafaring man, whose life was mostly spent in whale fishing. David Rosenkrans, son of Francis McGee, had sons: Jasper, John and Evi, and had daughters also. Phebe Rosenkrans, daughter of Francis McGee, married William Layton, son of John Layton, Esq., and brother to the writer’s mother, whose sons were: Darius, John Jr., Sylvester, Francis, Stewart, William and Thomas. Their daughters were: Lydia, Eunice, Sarah, Christian and Phebe.

Members of the Rosenkrans Family Unknown in Eastern New York State and Elsewhere

William Rosenkranz, of 118 Seventh Street, New York, mentioned in the history of the family in Germany, who came from Germany, wrote me February 20, 1895, as follows: "Three years ago we met an old man of seventy-five years of age in Judge Hilton’s place (New York) employed to clean silver, every fourteen days, with the name Rosenkranz. His first name was John, whose grandfather had emigrated to this country over Holland, in 1740. He was quite a rich man, living up town." He further says: "Sometime ago I found in the history of Saratoga County, the name Rosenkranz. They must have been there a very early time because they were fighting with the Indians. This family is yet residing in Half Moon, a station between Albany and Saratoga."

As Half Moon was the name of the vessel in which Hendrick Hudson came when he discovered Manhattan Island, and the river Hudson, it is probable that the early Hollanders of the Albany settlement, named this Half Moon after the name of the vessel, and the Rosenkranses may have gone there from the Kingston settlement. As the account of this John Rosenkranz’s grandfather coming from Holland in 1740 may have been only traditional, it is probable that he was a descendant of Harmon Hendrick (1).

Another family whose early ancestry is unknown, is reported by Warren I. Rosecrans, of Erin, Chemung County, New York, in March, 1897, He says: "I was born in 1856, in the town of Erin, the son of Norman, born in 1831, the son of Warren, whose father was James. James had a brother Frederick, drowned in the river near Albany. James or Jimmy went from the town of Westerlow, Albany County, to Chemung, about 1820. His wife was Huldah Winston, daughter of Isaac Winston. His children were: Warren, Harvey and Alonvol, besides six daughters. Harvey in 1897 was eighty-four years old, living in the town of Cattin, four miles from Havanna. His father James went from Chemung County, to Wisconsin. Warren I. has communicated recently from Park, Chemung County, New York, giving many family names, but his connection with the family of Harmon Hendrick has not been found.

The following letter from Thomas Rosekrans, of Kingston, dated February 4, 1897, gives some idea of the Rosenkrans families of Eastern New York, many of whom are probably descendants of Harmon Hendrick (1). He says: " Dear Sir: Last night, I received a letter you sent to my son, John S. Rosekrans, of Gardner, New York, Ulster County, requesting me to answer for him. There were two sons and four girls in my father’s family. I am oldest of the sons; was born in Schodack, Rensselaer County, New York. My brother, 14 years younger, died about a month ago, in Bath-on-the-Hudson, Rensselaer County, New York. My father was born in 1806, in Albany County, in town of Guilderland, about eight miles West of Albany city, and was married there. He died in 1852. His name was James T. Rosekrans. His fathers name was Thomas Rosekrans. Do not know where he was born, but think in Guilderland, same place of my father, but have heard father say he was a descendant of the Rosekrans family of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York.

My father was youngest of his family. I recollect his brothers and sisters, John, Henry, Jackson, Elizabeth, Sarah, Ann and I think another brother or two, all then living in Albany, or Rensselaer County, New York. There are several families of the name of Rosekrans about here and Poughkeepsie, but I know nothing of their records or genealogy. I am father of four sons and one daughter; am sixty-seven years old. If I can be of any further service write me, as I am pretty well acquainted in Ulster, Dutchess, Green, Albany and Rensselaer, in this state, and know of Rosekranses in all the above counties." Signed, Thomas Rosekrans, 119 Main St., Kingston, New York. His son John S., whom I first addressed, is a merchant at Gardner, New York. A letter recently directed to his father has received no answer.

Another member of the unknown family is Harmon D. Rosenkrans, of Bradford, Steuben County, New York, who in 1896 and in June 1898 reported as follows: "My father’s name was Peter, and my grandfather’s was John. My grandfather moved from Orange County, to Cayuga County, New York, town of Oswego, when my father was quite young. I think they were both born in Orange County, New York. In 1780 my grandfather married Magdalena Brink. His children were: William, born 1784, John, 1768, Zachariah, 1790, Peter, 1794, Mary, 1796, Rachel, 1800, Jacob, 1803. My father Peter married in 1816, Temperance Dumond, of Fayette, Seneca County, New York, and had the following children: Betsy, born 1818, Lany, 1820, Harmon D., 1822, Jacob, 1825, Nelson, 1830." Harmon D. says: I had two children, Josephine, born 1855, George W., 1859.

Another branch of the Rosenkrans family, of eastern New York claiming a connection with General William Stark Rosecrans, but whose relationship we have not been able to find, is that descended from Warren Rosecrans, of Fishkill, Dutchess County, New York, as reported in 1898 by Miss L. Eleanor S. Campbell, a descendant on her maternal side, then living with her grandmother at Portsmouth, Virginia, and more recently. with her parents in New York City. Her father is Richard Robertson Campbell, whose father was a merchant of Montreal, Canada, born in Edenberg, Scotland. Warren Rosecrans, of Fishkill, 1793, married Phebe Haff, and had children: Hannah, Eliza, Maria, Sarah, Ann, Catharine, Susan and Abraham D. Rosecrans, the latter having married a woman whose Christian name was Almira. He was Postmaster in Albany, where he died. Some years ago a newspaper was sent to me speaking of the death of Almira Rosecrans, of Albany, apparently without children, after which there were no less than three claimants to her property, who made application to become administrators. Maria Rosecrans, daughter of Warren, married James Hadden, of New York, whose son Warren Rosecrans has a son of the same name living in New York said to be "one of the first organists and choir masters in the Metropolis."

Sarah Rosecrans married Peter Demarest, of New York, Susan married Peter Bogart, a stone mason, who she says built the Astor House on Broadway, New York. Hannah Eliza Rosenkrans married William Jackson, born in Philadelphia, 1804. and settled in Virginia. Their children were: Jane, Eliza, Ann Cordelia and Murray. Ann Cordelia Jackson married Edward Hurst, of Portsmouth, Virginia, and had children: Mary Eliza, Annie Frances, Robert LeRoy and William Edward. Annie Frances Hurst married Richard R. Campbell, now living in New York, and is the mother of Miss L. Eleanor Stewart Campbell, the correspondent above mentioned. The other children are: Annie Bertha, Carrie Frances, George Walter, Clinton Mather, Arthur Allan, and Edna Selina.

Still another branch of the family, whose early ancestry is unknown, but probably descended from Harmon Hendrick, is reported by Dr. T. Simeon Rosengrant, of Batesville, Ohio, the son of George L., whose father was Simeon Rosengrant, who went to Ohio from the east, the Doctor thinks from Sussex County, New Jersey. He says that Simeon Rosengrant married Sydney Lodor, March 18, 1818, daughter of James and Rebecca Lodor. Simeon was born in 1796, and his wife in 1797. The Dr. says that Simeon Rosegrant had changed his name in some manner and was related to the Shoemakers.

Dr. Simeon Rosenkrans, of Sussex County, New Jersey, married a Shoemaker and was apparently the beginning of the name Simeon in the family and it seems evident therefore that this family that went to Ohio must have been acquainted with and perhaps related to Dr. Simeon Rosenkrans. As further evidence of this there were Lodors living in Sussex county at that time and Dr. Elijah RoseGrant, with whom they were probably connected, is the only one known beside this Simeon whose surname was made to end with Grant. Not having found any connection of this Simeon with Dr. Simeon’s family, our opinion is that he is a descendant of Jacob or Alexander, or Charick D.W., mentioned above, who went to the west at an early day.

Another family in Eastern New York has been recently found as reported by Reverend James H. Rosecrans, whose name and address were given me by Allen H. Rosenkrans, of Penfield, Pennsylvania. In reply to a letter of inquiry, dated at Breakabeen, New York, 1899, he says : "Dear Sir:   —   Reached this place yesterday, found your circular and letter. My grandfather, Henry Rosekrans, came, to Schoharie County from near Albany. I believe he said he had five or six brothers scattered in different portions of the United States or else his father had those brothers, I do not remember exactly. They came from Holland formerly as I understand it, to this country. Henry Rosekrans had six children that I remember, three boys, Henry Rosekrans, Jr., Frederick and Holmes, and three girls. I do not remember all of the girls names. Henry Rosekrans, Jr., had several children: Frederick Rosekrans several and Holmes Rosekrans, M.D., my father had six boys and one girl by his last marriage and a daughter by his first marriage. Henry, Frederick and Holmes and the three sisters, as well as grandfather are dead. My grandfather lived in the town of Wright. Henry R. Jr. lived and died on grandfather’s home place, the farm. His widow and one son live there now. Their address is Gallupville, New York. You can address Mr. Ed. Rosekrans there.

Frederick Rosekrans’s children are scattered so I cannot give their names or address. My father practiced medicine and died at Berne, Albany County, where I was born. His children are: Jacob H., Albert G., George F. now dead, James H., Thomas J., Washington B., and Sophia Elizabeth, now Mrs. Setzer, of North Blenheim, New York. Jacob H. Rosekrans lives in Breakabeen, New York. Albert G. lives in Fultonham, New York. I am making this my home for the present, Breakabeen, New York. Thomas J. lives in North Blenheim, New York. Washington B. lives in Breakabeen, New York. Jacob H., is a miller, Albert is a merchant, Thomas a shoemaker, Washington a farmer, and I, James H., a minister of the Gospel.

I was educated at Baxter’s University of Music, Friendship, New York. Am the author of twenty or more music books. My ministerial labors have been confined principally to the west and south, and were chiefly evangelistic and missionary. I am a minister of the church of Christ or Christian church, a church whose membership numbers nearly one million, two hundred thousand. Had I the time I might have gone the rounds and picked up a better or more thorough family record but as I am asthmatic I dare not attempt it during winter weather. I would have been pleased to have ferreted out our ancestors, to have had a connected link of the families, but it will be impossible now.    *     *     *     You surely have been persistent in your hunt for the family and when I feel better able to purchase a book, I think I’ll get it. I am now fifty-five years of age. Early in my professional life I changed one letter in the name and write it Rosecrans. Several of my relatives have done so as well. When I was in California I met General Rosecrans’s daughter, a nun in a convent at Santa Rosa. She said I favored her father’s family. They were Roman Catholics. I hope this will not worry your patience. May happiness be yours, and success crown your efforts. Yours in the one hope, James H. Rosecrans."

Members of the Family From Germany

Joseph B. Rosecrantz, of Sparta, Wisconsin, mentioned in "Formation and Orthography of Names," reports the family of his great-grandfather, Reverend Abraham Rosecrantz, who he says came from Germany before the Revolutionary war, and for a long time preached in that portion of German Flats, New York, called the Mohawk Valley, near Schenectady. He had sons: Abram, George, Joseph and Nicholas, and some daughters. His son George Rosecrantz married Ann Snell, and had children: Giuta, Margaret, Sally, Nancy and Abram G., born 1804. Abram G. married Nancy Bell, and had one son Joseph B., our worthy correspondent, and a daughter. Joseph B. was born in the town of Little Falls, Herkimer County, New York, October 15, 1825, married Ada A. Johnson, 1854, and settled in Wisconsin 1884, having sons George W., Frank B., and Claude M. Abram, Joseph and Nicholas, sons of Reverend Abraham Rosecrantz, apparently remained in New York, and probably have descendants living in that vicinity. Joseph B. did not know the name of Reverend Abraham’s wife. We have learned from the church records that he was a clergyman at Albany, was married at Kingston May 16, 1758, to Mary Herchheimer, probably a German woman. They must have settled, as reported by Joseph B., at Schenectady, some time after their marriage.

Besides William Rosenkranz, of New York, above mentioned, who came from the county of Duneldorf Province of Westphalia, Germany, on the Rhine, whose father and grandfather and great-grandfather, were school teachers in Westphalia, there are other Germans in New York City with whom the writer has corresponded. One of these in 1895 was Oscar Rosenkranz, (then living with his mother), whose full name was the patriotic one of George Washington Oscar Rosenkranz. He was shipping clerk with Armstrong Brothers, large cork dealers of the city. His grandfather was Reverend Joahim Daniel Rosenkranz, born in Loitz, Pomerania, Germany. His father was Herman Otto Christian Rosenkranz, who came from Germany 1861, was two years a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, and died without a pension, May 12, 1892.

The Rosenkrans name is found also among the Jews (so called), of New York but apparently of German descent. Morris Rosenkranz, of 190 Henry Street, in 1895 answered a letter of inquiry in Russian Hebrew, and afterwards in English. Regarding his family and how the name originated among the Jews, he said "Dear Sir:   —   I received yours of the 3rd inst., by which I learned you were not able to make out my writing. I will therefore give you the desired information in English. My great-grandfather’s name was Elias Rosenkranz, that of my grandfather was Abraham Rosenkranz, and my father’s name is Salamon Rosenkranz. He is at present eighty-four years old. He says that his grandfather was a Christian, and was a native of Germany. He was converted to the Jewish religion and emigrated to Russia. Rosenkranz is indeed a purely German name meaning garland of roses. And it must be in Germany where that name originated. Since ten years our whole family is in this country, and outside of our family, know nobody of that name, neither here nor in Russia." It seems from the above report that the Rosenkranz name was introduced among the Russian Jews by this Elias Rosenkranz from Germany, and that all the Jews, so called, of the Rosenkranz name in New York, are descended from him.

If once a Christian, as reported, Elias made a mistake, and a sacrifice when he left Christianity, and cast his lot among the persecuted Jews, adopting for himself and descendants their religion and language and misfortunes, though they were once the chosen people of God, through whom the Messiah was promised and given.

When the Jews rejected and crucified Christ, and "All the people said His blood be on us and on our children," they little imagined the result would be their National destruction and 1900 years of banishment and persecution, yet such was the penalty of their doings, but "a remnant" were saved.

Jesus "came to His own and His own received Him not, but as many as received Him to them He gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name, which were born not of blood, nor of the will or the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

THE END


Error Correction

Page 14  —  Line 29: "Roose" should be "Roos"
15  —  18: "twenty-one" "twenty"
28  —  6 : "1275" "1725"
35  —  29: "to the name" "took the name"
46  —  24: "contined" "continued"
46  —  38: "1734" "1737"
47  —  1: "1777" "1737"
53  —  9: "Rosenkrans" "Rosecrans"
71  —  7: "Chicago" "Milwaukee"
102  —  22: "Hannah" "Harriet"
154  —  (picture): "Irvin" "Irwin"
176  —  38: "was born" "born"
215  —  33: "126" "128"
229  —  7: "Francis" "Frances"
268  —  32: "Alexandria" "Alexander"
272  —  7: "Angel’s" "Angels"
282  —  9: "the" "thee"
314  —  6: "names unknown" "Althea, May, Benjamin, Raymond and Lillian"
322  —  13: "Gila, New Mexico" "San Jose, California"
323  —  25: "Eight" "Eighth"

 


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