The Blessing family of Albany county, New York, descend from Dutch ancestors. The first Blessing of record in Guilderland was Abraham, who had sons, Adam, John and Frederick.
(II) Adam, son of Abraham Blessing, was born in 1786, died in Guilderland, Albany county, New York, 1868, and is buried in Prospect Hill cemetery. He served with the New York troops during the war of 1812, was a member of the Dutch Reformed church and a Whig. He married Hannah Relyea, born in Guilderland, died at the homestead at Guilderland Center, 1865, an old and highly respected lady. She is buried beside her husband. Children:
- Margaret, married Matthias Groat; killed by lightning.
- David, married Margaret Relyea; removed to a farm in Cayuga county, where he died.
- Martin, born in Guilderland, died in Princetown, New York, a farmer; he married Angelica, daughter of Helmas Becker.
- Nelly Ann, married Henry Groat, of Albany, New York.
- Nancy, married William J. Relyea, a farmer of New Scotland.
- Frederick A., of whom further.
- Myndert, now of New York City; married Lucretia Van Heusen, born 1825; he resides with his only daughter Rachel, in New York City.
- John, a farmer of Guilderland; married Nancy Relyea; children: Annie, Mary and Luella.
- Abraham, of Rotterdam, Schenectady county, now living at the age of eighty-one years; married Mary Martin.
- Henry, a farmer, died in Syracuse at the age of sixty-nine years; married Nelly (Ellen) Van Dyke.
(III) Frederick A., son of Adam and Hannah (Relyea) Blessing, was born on the farm, in Guilderland, Albany county, New York, February 28, 1823, died at Settler's Hill, same town, in June, 1900. He grew to manhood on the Guilderland farm, then purchased and removed to a property at Voorheesville. In 1864 he removed to Princetown, Schenectady county, where he resided during his active years. He then returned to Guilderland Center, where he resided until his death. He was a member of the Dutch Reformed church, and a Democrat. He married, in 1843, at Fullers in Guilderland, Mary Ann Fuller, born at Fullers at the old Fuller homestead, 1825, died at Guilderland Center, May, 1895, daughter of Major John and Harriet (Moak) Fuller, the latter a daughter of William Moak, of New Scotland, of an old county family.
Major John Fuller, son of Aaron Fuller, was born in New Scotland, one of four sons. He was a farmer and one of the most active and prominent citizens of the county. He served in the state assembly in 1840 and was deeply concerned in the citizen soldiery of his state. He was connected with the militia all his life, and rose to the rank of major. He served two terms in the assembly, and was constantly holding some local office. He was the founder of town insurance and through his efforts the first town insurance organization in New York state was established. He died in 1882, aged eighty years, and his wife in 1861, aged fifty-eight. They were liberal supporters of the Reformed church. Major Fuller was always a strong Democrat and a leader. Aaron, the only son of Major John, remained with his father many years, then purchased a farm at Fullers station, where he was engaged for many years in the hay and grain business. He also served in the assembly. He married, February, 1862, Ada, daughter of Ebenezer A. Fitch, of New Scotland. She died in August of the same year. Aaron Fuller was a Democrat, and a member of the Reformed church. He died in 1901 at the age of sixty-eight years. His farm is now owned and occupied by Martin Blessing.
Children of Frederick A. and Mary A. Blessing:
- John, died in Schenectady, June 13, 1910, aged sixty-six years; he married Adelia Shell, who survived him, a resident of Schenectady, and has Frank, who married Rosa, widow of Burton Secor.
- Margaret A., born 1846, died May, 1902; married Adelbert Passage, now of Guilderland; no issue.
- William H., born 1848 in New Scotland, resides in Vinton, Benton county, Iowa; he married, in Guilderland, Elsie White; children: Cleveland, killed when young by accident; Jennie, Mary A. and Ada.
- Martin, of whom further.
- Aaron Fuller, born 1857, died September 14, 1910, in Voorheesville, New York; he married, in 1873, Henrietta Gray, who survives him; children: Arthur and Edith.
- Mary, born 1855; married George Clute, a farmer of Guilderland; children: Ina, John, Alice, Nellie and Frederick, the latter three deceased (1910).
- Alfred, born 1858, died October 16, 1908; married Jennie Tygert, who survives him, a resident of Guilderland Center; child, Margaret May.
- Sarah, born 1860; married Millard F. Gray; children: Hermon, Lloyd, Florence and Earl.
- Ada, born 1862; married William V. Wormer, a farmer of Guilderland; children: Mabel and Clifford.
- Charles, born 1864; married Ella Becker; resides in Altamont; children: Margaret and Elsie.
- George, born 1866; married Ada Becker; resides in Princetown, Schenectady county; children: Millard, Herbert, deceased; Irene, Ella, Martha, Eva and a babe.
(IV) Martin, son of Frederick A. and Mary Ann (Fuller) Blessing, was born March 7, 1850. He was educated in the public schools, and has always followed agriculture and allied pursuits. He purchased the Aaron Fuller farm on which he has erected a new home and well-appointed and suitable farm buildings. He was postmaster at Fullers for four years; two last years of Cleveland, and two first years of McKinley administrations. He is an active, energetic man of business, and ranks among the prosperous men of his town. He is a Democrat and an active member of the Helderberg Reformed Church of Guilderland Center, which he has served as deacon, elder and treasurer. He married, December 17, 1879, Ella Wemple, born in Rotterdam, Schenectady county, New York, July, 1858, daughter of Jacob D. and Marion (Darrow) Wemple. Child,
- Jacob W., born September 22, 1880; educated in public schools and Union Classical Institute, Schenectady; now cultivates his father's farm; he married Grace Carhart, born July 7, 1882, a daughter of Robert R. and Eliza (Vine) Carhart. Robert R. Carhart died 1888; his widow survives him, a resident of Schenectady. Jacob W. and Grace Blessing have two children:
- Mary Anna, born June 21, 1901, and
- Marion, born August 20, 1906.
Jacob D. Wemple, born in Rotterdam, 1830, died November 14, 1894, son of Dellmont and Henrietta (Springer) Wemple, of Rotterdam. Dellmont Wemple was a son of Garret Wemple, who married ———— Bradt.The Wemples and Bradts were among the oldest Dutch families of Mohawk Valley. Marion (Darrow) Wemple was born in Princetown, Schenectady county, September 9, 1835, daughter of Daniel (2) and Sally (Rynex) Darrow. Daniel (2) Darrow, was the son of Daniel (1) and Ruth (Cady) Darrow, and was born in Princetown, served during the war of the revolution, died in Princetown at the age of ninety-six years. Sally Rynex, wife of Daniel (2) Darrow, was born in Princetown, and died there at the age of seventy years, a member of the Presbyterian church. Daniel and Sally (Rynex) Darrow had sons: Nicholas D., resides in Texas; married and has Ella, Nettie and William. Daniel, a veteran of the civil war, was taken prisoner and confined in Libby prison till his discharge at close of the war; he married Mary E. Stafford, and has Marion E., deceased; Daniel, Anna, Thomas, William, Florence, Elsie and Grover. Children of Jacob D. and Marion (Darrow) Wemple: Ella, Emma, Ann E., Dellmont, George W., all married and have issue, except the last.