Suggest This Page To A Friend!
Submitted by Bill Wallworth - [email protected] I would like to hear from other members of this Van Buskirk family to fill in the blanks on this family history.
Special thanks belong to Charles Wesley Murray who did most of the research into this Van Buskirk family back in the 1970�s - 1980�s. And also I want to thanks Nicolas de Jong the Provincial Archivist who did a lot of checking and copying of records for me in the early 1980�s at the Public Archives of Prince Edward Island. Please direct Queries and requests for source information to the email link above!
The Descendants of Jacob Van Buskirk and Susannah Townsend
First Generation
1. Jacob Van Buskirk was the progenitor of all Van Buskirks who originated on Prince Edward Island. Born June 30, 1749 near Loonenburg, Albany County, New York, son of Andries Thomasen Van Buskirk (Thomas2, Laurens1) and Annetje Vervey, daughter of Jan Cornelius Vervey and Catharina Ackerman.
Jacob Van Buskirk married 1st around 1769 Gertrude Schram, the daughter of William Schram of Loonenburg. Jacob married 2nd Susannah Townsend daughter of James Townsend of Louisbourg, Nova Scotia.
Jacob Van Buskirk was a successful land owner and had a 500 acres land in New York. He was described as being handsome, tall, blue-eyed and a crack shot with the rifle. As the revolution started, Jacob was a Loyalist and was thrown in prison for more than a month because he refused to take an oath of allegiance to Congress.
On his release Jacob Van Buskirk went over to the King�s forces, rowing to a warship in the river while the ship�s marines had their muskets pointed at him. He then joined Butler�s Rangers that fought the rebels in the northern New York area. At the end of the war, he was in Captain Andrew Bradt�s company of Butler�s Ranger as a Corporal. The Rangers were starting to settle in West side of the Niagara. Jacob Van Buskirk and his wife separated, Gertrude took the children and went back home. Jacob who could not go back because he was a loyalist and he was a soldier of the Butler�s Rangers.
He went with his friend Richard Lorway (who was also in Captain Bradt�s company as a Sergeant) to Nova Scotia to Louisbourg hoping to get a land grant there. There he met the Townsend family who have been there since 1758 when James Townsend, a soldier in the British Army, was at the siege of Louisbourg where the French lost. Jacob Van Buskirk eventually married his daughter, Susannah Townsend. His friend, Richard Lorway, married another of James Townsend�s daughter.
In search for a land grant, Jacob and Susannah Van Buskirk and their young children moved around 1789 to the Island of St. John as it was called then.
They lived in the New Glasgow or Rustico area of the Island of St. John. Jacob appeared in the Assembly in Charlottetown in 1833 in hopes of getting a land grant. He stated that he was 84 years old and living with his son on leased land.
According to his grandson, Jacob Van Buskirk lived to be 108 years old, that would put his death in the year 1857. According to the Wall family bible there is this entry under "death" "Susannah Van Buskirk November 21, 1858".
Children of Jacob Van Buskirk and Gertrude Schram:
2. Catherine Van Buskirk (1770-1845) She returned with her mother to their home in Albany County, New York after the revolutionary war ended. She married Gerritt G. Van Hoesen, Jr. (1769-1859) They settled in the Prebles area of New York. They had five children, Gerritt, Jacob, Elizabeth, Keturah, and John Van Hoesen.
3. Jacob Van Buskirk (1774-1825) Jacob was born December 25, 1774 in Albany County, New York. He returned with his mother to their home in Albany County, New York after the revolutionary war ended. He married to Annetje Van Hoesen at Coxsackie, New York. They had at least two children, Jacob and Jane Van Buskirk.
4. Mary Van Buskirk (1778 - ?) She returned with her mother to their home in Albany County, New York after the revolutionary war ended. She married to John C. Spoor. Had at least one child, Jacob Spoor.
Children of Jacob and Susannah Van Buskirk:
5. Mary Van Buskirk was born ca. 1785 at Louisbourg, Nova Scotia. On December 13, 1807 she married Lawrence Van Buskirk. Lawrence may have been a cousin of Mary. There were several Loyalist Van Buskirk brothers who settled in Nova Scotia after the war.
6. John Van Buskirk was born ca. 1787 at Louisbourg, Nova Scotia.
7. Susannah Van Buskirk was born ca. 1788 at Louisbourg, Nova Scotia. According to the Wall family Bible, there is this entry under "death" "Susannah Van Buskirk November 21, 1858".
8. + James Van Buskirk was born July 15, 1789 at Louisbourg, Nova Scotia. He married Mary Strang.
9. + Abraham Van Buskirk was born August 15, 1795 at New Glasgow, Prince Edward Island. He married Martha Nisbet.
10. Ann Van Buskirk was born July 12, 1797 at New Glasgow, Prince Edward Island. She married John Leard (1795-1870) Ann died in July 1865. They are both buried in the Cavendish cemetery.
11. Jemima Van Buskirk was born in 1801
12. Constantia Van Buskirk was born July 4, 1804 at New Glasgow, Prince Edward Island. She married William Nisbet March 11, 1832. William Nisbet was a brother of Martha, her brother Abraham�s wife. William Nisbet was born January 2, 1806 at Paisley, Refrew, Scotland and died 1880. Constantia died circa 1854. They had three children. (See Nisbet family)
13. Eliza Van Buskirk was born October 28, 1806 at New Glasgow, Prince Edward Island. She married Samuel Sellick on January 19, 1828. Samuel Sellick was born in 1799 in Somerset, England. They later moved to Fredericton, P.E.I. Samuel died in 1866 and Eliza died on February 5, 1883. They are buried in the New Glasgow Cemetery. They had nine children.
Second Generation:
8. James Van Buskirk (of Jacob Van Buskirk) was born on July 15, 1789 in Louisbourg, Nova Scotia and died September 27, 1858 at Freetown, Prince Edward Island. He married Mary Strang on October 2, 1815, she was a daughter of Jesse Strang and his wife, Sarah Wright. Mary was born May 13, 1794 and died at Freetown on November 6, 1866. Both are buried at Central Bedeque Baptist Cemetery.
James Van Buskirk came to Prince Edward Island as a child with his parents. He later moved to Freetown in Prince Edward Island where he farmed.
Children of James and Mary Van Buskirk:
14. Sarah Van Buskirk was born September 15, 1819 at Freetown. Sarah married John Lewis on March 16, 1837. John was born in 1807 at Carmarthenshire, Wales. Sarah Lewis died September 9, 1892 and her husband, John Lewis died in 1889. They had eleven children.
15. Jesse Van Buskirk was born April 15, 1821. Jesse married Mary Rix. Mary was born 1827 and died 1899. Jesse Van Buskirk died on July 13, 1892. They had eight children.
16. Susannah Van Buskirk was born on June 5, 1824. Susannah married John S. Strang on March 22, 1843. Susannah Strang died on March 25, 1859 and is Buried at Central Bedeque Baptist Cemetery.
17. Mary Annie Van Buskirk was born November 7, 1826. Mary married Henry Baker on January 15, 1852. They had nine children.
18. Jacob Van Buskirk was born on November 22, 1828. Jacob married 1st. Margaret Baker on December 30, 1852. Margaret was born 1824 and died 1880 and was a daughter of Joseph Baker and Kitty Callbeck. They had 4 children. They moved from Freetown to Moncton, New Brunswick. Jacob Van Buskirk married 2nd. Marguerite Florence Rogers on November 14, 1882. Marguerite died in 1897. Jacob Van Buskirk died in August 1907.
19. Stephen Van Buskirk was born on March 2, 1831. Stephen married Matilda Ann Maxfield on February 9, 1859. Matilda was born 1839 and died 1898. They moved to the area of Fortune Cove where they had a farm. Stephen Van Buskirk died on May 20, 1903. They had eight children.
In the 1901 census of Alberta Province of Canada, Stephen Van Buskirk is age 69 and living in Creuzot with the following, Onslow Van Buskirk age 27, Ida Van Buskirk (Onslow�s wife) age 36, Beulah Van Buskirk age 2 (daughter of Onslow), Sanford E. Van Buskirk age 24 (son of Stephen), and Hestte T. Van Buskirk age 21 (son of Stephen).
20. Jane Van Buskirk was born on July 13, 1833. Jane married Isaac Wall on November 13, 1855. Isaac Wall was born 1826 and was the youngest son of Redmond Wall and Ann Burns. Isaac and Jane Wall moved to New Brunswick in the 1860�s and by the 1871 were living in Truro, Nova Scotia. Another move brought them to Pictou Landing, Nova Scotia by 1881. (see Wall family history).
21. Almira Corinda Van Buskirk was born on July 17, 1835. She married Samuel Ebenezer Lidstone. He was born 1836 and died 1915. They moved from Freetown to the Cape Wolfe area. Almira and Samuel were involved in the establishment of the first Baptist witness in Cape Wolfe area. And Almira was a chartered member of the Ladies Aid. Almira Lidstone died on February 26, 1889. They had 11 children.
22. James Alvin Van Buskirk was born January 15, 1841. James married Elizabeth Bronson Kinley. James Alvin Van Buskirk drowned while attempting to cross the harbor on May 1, 1871 at age 30 years. They had two children.
9. Abraham Van Buskirk was born August 15, 1795 at New Glasgow, Prince Edward Island. Abraham married Martha Nisbet on October 2, 1830. Martha was a daughter of George Nisbet and Martha Hart of Scotland. They came to Prince Edward Island in 1820.
Abraham Van Buskirk moved to North Rustico, where in 1841 he is listed as a shipbuilder. He was a constable in 1843. Nine children was born to them.
Children of Abraham and Martha Van Buskirk:
23. Jacob Van Buskirk was born in 1833. He was a Captain in the United States Navy. He died in June 4, 1909 and is buried in the People�s Cemetery, Charlottetown. He has two children.
24. Abraham Van Buskirk was born in 1849. He lived in New York. Abraham died on October 27, 1904 at Charlottetown.
25. Jonathan Hayden Van Buskirk was born on September 23, 1854, at New Glasgow. He was married to Janet Elizabeth Cassman of Nova Scotia. They had three children. Jonathan lived in Charlottetown, and was a cooper by trade. He died on April 21, 1944 and is buried in the People�s Cemetery, Charlottetown.
26. Martha Van Buskirk, she was married to a Mr. Chase. he served in the United States Civil War, and died a prisoner in the Confederate Libby prison at Richmond, Virginia. Martha is buried in the People�s Cemetery, Charlottetown.
27. Susannah Van Buskirk, she married Silas Johnson on August 27, 1861.
28. Sophia Van Buskirk, she married Cyrus M. Johnson on September 5, 1861.
29. Eliza Van Buskirk, she married Captain Ebenezer Marshall on February 21, 1865. Captain Marshall was an American from Martha�s Vineyard, Massachusetts. He came up with the American fishing fleets and settled at Rustico. They had children.
30. Sophia A. Van Buskirk, she married John Fraser on August 27, 1861. The middle name is not known and she has another sister name Sophia Van Buskirk (who married Cyrus M. Johnson).
Sources:
1. An Island Refuge Loyalists & Familiy Histories. 1983 Pg. 292 - 299 Article on Jacob Van Buskirk. Great article well researched by C. Wesley Murray of Truro, Nova Scotia.
2. Wall Family bible in the possession of Donald P. Wallworth.
3. Will of James Van Buskirk. P.E.I. probate Records, Liber 8, Folio 710 Public Archives of Prince Edward Island.
4. Obituary of James Van Buskirk, Islander, Charlottetown, Friday, November 12, 1858. Public Archives of Prince Edward Island.
5. Testimony of Jacob Van Buskirk, Journal of The House of Assembly, 1833. Public Archives of Prince Edward Island.
6. Census of Niagara 1783, Capt. Andrew Bradt�s Company of Rangers Niagara, Nov. 30, 1783. Ontario Register Page 199.
7. Census Extract of People from P.E.I. in the 1901 Census of Alberta Province and NTW, Canada by Robert E. Pierce on islandregistry.com
8. The Descendants of Andrew Nisbet and Catherine Guild, submitted by Al and Norma Falconer on islandregistry.com
9. Van Buskirk, by Irene English Shoemaker, Vol. I & II, 1990
10. Letter of Jonathan H. Van Buskirk, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, May 19, 1930.
11. Marriage Registration, Isaac Wall & Jane Van Buskirk. November 30, 1855. Public Archives of Prince Edward Island.
12. Freetown Past and Present, Published by The Freetown Historical Society, 1985, Pg. 447-448.
13. Letters from, mostly 1970�s-1980�s:
Irene English Shoemaker
Charles Wesley Murray