Harmen Jansen Knickerbocker
Encyclopedia
Harmen Jansen van Wijhe Knickerbacker (ca. 1650 – ca. 1720) was a Dutch
colonist in New Netherland
(now New York
).
He was a native of the village of Zaltbommel
, Netherlands
. The Wijhe
portion of the name represents an earlier familial origin. Before 1682 he settled near what is now Albany, New York
, and there in 1704 he bought through Harnie Gansevoort one-fourth of the land in Dutchess County near Red Hook
, which had been patented in 1688 to Pieter Schuyler
, who in 1722 deeded seven (of thirteen) lots in the upper fourth of his patent to the seven children of Knickerbacker. The eldest of these children, Johannes Harmensen, received from the common council of the city of Albany a grant of 50 acres (202,343 m²) of meadow and some acres of upland on the south side of Schaghticoke
Creek. This Schaghticoke estate was held by Johannes Harmensen's son Johannes (1723–1802), a colonel in the Continental Army in the War of Independence
, and by his son Herman
, (1779–1855), a lawyer, a Federalist
representative in Congress
in 1809-1811, a member of the New York Assembly in 1816, and a famous gentleman of the old school, who for his courtly hospitality in his manor was called the "prince of Schaghticoke" and whose name was borrowed by Washington Irving
for use in his (Diedrich) Knickerbocker's History of New York (1809).
Largely owing to Irving's book, the name Knickerbacker/Knickerbocker has passed into current use as a designation of the early Dutch settlers in New York and their descendants. The son of Herman, David Buel Knickerbacker
(1833–1894), who maintained the original spelling of the family name, graduated at Trinity College
in 1853 and at the General Theological Seminary in 1856, was a rector for many years at Minneapolis, Minnesota
, and in 1883 was consecrated Protestant Episcopal bishop of Indiana
.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
colonist in New Netherland
New Netherland
New Netherland, or Nieuw-Nederland in Dutch, was the 17th-century colonial province of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands on the East Coast of North America. The claimed territories were the lands from the Delmarva Peninsula to extreme southwestern Cape Cod...
(now New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
).
He was a native of the village of Zaltbommel
Zaltbommel
Zaltbommel is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. The town of Zaltbommel was first mentioned as "Bomela" in the year 850. Zaltbommel first received city status in 1231, which status was renewed in 1316....
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The Wijhe
Wijhe
Wijhe is a village in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It is located in the municipality of Olst-Wijhe, about 12 km south of Zwolle on the banks of the river IJssel.Wijhe was a separate municipality until 2001, when it merged with Olst....
portion of the name represents an earlier familial origin. Before 1682 he settled near what is now Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, and there in 1704 he bought through Harnie Gansevoort one-fourth of the land in Dutchess County near Red Hook
Red Hook, New York
Red Hook is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was reported to be 11,319 during the 2010 census. The name is supposedly derived from the red foliage on trees on a small strip of land on the Hudson River. The town contains two villages; the village of Red Hook and the...
, which had been patented in 1688 to Pieter Schuyler
Pieter Schuyler
Pieter Schuyler was the first mayor of Albany, New York and the head of the Albany Commissioners for Indian Affairs...
, who in 1722 deeded seven (of thirteen) lots in the upper fourth of his patent to the seven children of Knickerbacker. The eldest of these children, Johannes Harmensen, received from the common council of the city of Albany a grant of 50 acres (202,343 m²) of meadow and some acres of upland on the south side of Schaghticoke
Schaghticoke
Schaghticoke may refer to:* Schaghticoke , New York* Schaghticoke , New York* Schaghticoke...
Creek. This Schaghticoke estate was held by Johannes Harmensen's son Johannes (1723–1802), a colonel in the Continental Army in the War of Independence
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, and by his son Herman
Herman Knickerbocker
Herman Knickerbocker was a United States Representative from New York. Born in Albany, he completed preparatory studies, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1803 and commenced practice in Albany...
, (1779–1855), a lawyer, a Federalist
Federalist
The term federalist describes several political beliefs around the world. Also, it may refer to the concept of federalism or the type of government called a federation...
representative in Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in 1809-1811, a member of the New York Assembly in 1816, and a famous gentleman of the old school, who for his courtly hospitality in his manor was called the "prince of Schaghticoke" and whose name was borrowed by Washington Irving
Washington Irving
Washington Irving was an American author, essayist, biographer and historian of the early 19th century. He was best known for his short stories "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle", both of which appear in his book The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. His historical works...
for use in his (Diedrich) Knickerbocker's History of New York (1809).
Largely owing to Irving's book, the name Knickerbacker/Knickerbocker has passed into current use as a designation of the early Dutch settlers in New York and their descendants. The son of Herman, David Buel Knickerbacker
David Buel Knickerbacker
David Buel Knickerbacker , was an American Episcopal clergyman who in 1883 became the fourth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Indiana and 130th bishop in the line of succession in the American episcopate....
(1833–1894), who maintained the original spelling of the family name, graduated at Trinity College
Trinity College (Connecticut)
Trinity College is a private, liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1823, it is the second-oldest college in the state of Connecticut after Yale University. The college enrolls 2,300 students and has been coeducational since 1969. Trinity offers 38 majors and 26 minors, and has...
in 1853 and at the General Theological Seminary in 1856, was a rector for many years at Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, and in 1883 was consecrated Protestant Episcopal bishop of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
.
