Eirikr, Eric, Erik, Erick, Ericke, Irek, Eyrek, Eyrick, Eyricke, Eyryk, Eyrck, Erryk, Herik, Heryk, Hireck, Heryck, Hearick, Heyricke, Heyrick, Herrick. The very ancient and cherished Scandinavian cognomen has passed through the above numerous variations and mutations in England, owing to the absence of anything like an established orthography. Einric, signified "ever rich and powerful," and Herric is now used by the Germans as "rich lord." The traditions of this very ancient family claim their descent from Ericke, a Danish Chief, who invaded Britain during the reign of Alfred the Great and having been vanquished by the Prince, was compelled with his followers to re-people the wasted district of East Anglia. He is recognized in history as "Ericke, King of those Danes who hold the Countrie of East Angle." When the Normans invaded England "Eric the Forester" of Leicestershire, raised an army to repel the invaders, but he shared in the unfortunate issue of the patriotic efforts to repel the Norman invasion. He was stripped of his estate, the sources of his own power were dried up, although he was taken into favor by William and permitted to retire to his home in Leicestershire, where he ended a stormy and eventful life. From Eyrk, of Great Stretton, a lineal descendant of "Eric the Forester," twelve generations bring us to Sir William Herrick, died March 2, 1652-53, of Leicester, London and Beau Manor Park; member of Parliament from 1601-30; Knighted 1605; a successful courtier and politician of the Court of Queen Elizabeth; Beau Manor Park (the former estate of the unfortunate Earl of Essex, which Sir William purchased), situated in the parish of Loughboro, county of Leicester, is still in the possession of his descendants and has been for over two hundred and seventy-five years the headquarters of the Herrick race. His wife was Lady Joan, daughter of Richard May, of London. They were married in 1596. She bore him twelve children of whom Henry (the American ancestor) was the sixth, being the fifth son. Although he is the thirteenth generation of the English pedigree, he is of American the first. The foregoing and subsequent earlier generations (see Herrick Genealogy by Lucius C. Herrick, (M.D., 1885).
(I) Henerie Hireck — Hericke — Herrick, fifth son of Sir William Herrick, was born at Beau Manor, Leicester, England, 1604. He was named by command of Prince Henry, eldest son of James I. He probably came first to Virginia, as it is on record that his father, Sir William, was interested in mercantile adventures in that colony. He went from Virginia to Salem, Massachusetts, and was there June 28, 1653. He settled on "Cape Ann Syde" of Bass river (now Beverly, Massachusetts), on which his farm was located. He purchased several farms at Birch Plains and Cherry Hill, on which he settled his sons Zacharie, Ephraim, Joseph and John. Henry (1) was a husbandman in easy circumstances, undistinguished by wealth, civil rank or influence. He was a good honest Dissenter from the Established Church, and the friend of Higginson the dissenting minister. Henry Herrick and his wife Editha were among the thirty who founded the first church in Salem. On the organization of the first church in Beverly, they, with their sons and son's wives, were among the founders. That they were not always submissive to the spiritual powers is shown by the court records of Essex county. "Henerie Herricke, and Editha, his wife, are fined ten shillings and eleven pence for costs of Court, for aiding and comforting, an excommunicated person, contrary to order." He married Editha, daughter of Hugh Laskin, of Salem. Out of a very numerous family (tradition says twelve sons and several daughters) seven sons and a daughter (see forward) survived their father and are named in his will (dated November 24, 1690). Of these, Thomas and Benjamin died childless. The other five sons left issue and are regarded as the patriarchs of their respective branches of the posterity of Henry and Editha (Laskin) Herrick. The children named in order of birth were: Thomas, Zacharie, Ephraim, see forward, Henry, Joseph, Elizabeth, John and Benjamin. The third son, known as "Ephraim of Beverly," is the line we trace to George I. Herrick, of Amsterdam, New York.
(II) Ephraim, third son of Henry and Editha (Laskin) Herrick, was born February 11, 1638, died at Beverly, Massachusetts, September 18, 1693. He settled on a farm given him by his father at Birch Plains. He took the oath of a freeman at Bass River, April 29, 1668. He married, July 3, 1661, Mary Cross, of Salem. Children: John, Ephraim (2), Mary, Stephen, Sarah, Samuel, see forward; Timothy and Anna.
(III) Samuel, sixth child of Ephraim and Mary (Cross) Herrick, was born June 4, 1675, at Beverly, Massachusetts. He settled in Preston, Connecticut, 1702. He married, 1698, Mehetabel Woodward, of Beverly. Children: Ezekiel, Samuel, Stephen, see forward, Daniel, Joseph, Keziah and Priscilla.
(IV) Stephen, third child and son of Samuel and Mehetabel (Woodward) Herrick, was born in Preston, Connecticut, February 12, 1705. He removed to Dutchess county, New York, after his marriage, November 11, 1728, to Phebe Guile, of Preston. Children: Stephen, Freelove, Benjamin, Joseph, Elijah, Sarah, Daniel, see forward, Nathan and Ephraim.
(V) Captain Daniel, seventh child of Stephen and Phebe (Guile) Herrick, was born May 18, 1742. He was a captain in the army during the revolution. He came to New York state with his parents, finally settling in Montgomery county, at Minaville, town of Florida. He married (first) Priscilla Marvin, (second) Mary Guile. The children of these marriages were: Phebe, Nathan, Priscilla, Daniel, Martha, Rufus, see forward, Benjamin.
(VI) Rufus, son of Captain Daniel and Priscilla (Marvin) Herrick, was born November 2, 1778, died at Florida, New York, May 10, 1864. He became one of the substantial farmers of Montgomery county. The country in which he lived was at the time comparatively new and his was the lot of all pioneers, hard work and privation. He was a man of great energy and from his own labor built up a comfortable estate. He had three wives, Anna French, the second wife, being the mother of his children. She was a native of Montgomery county, and was a most valuable helpmeet. Both were members of the Baptist church. Children:
- Maria, married Simeon Vedder, a farmer.
- Daniel D., see forward.
- Sallie A., married Jay A. Seriss [Serviss?], a farmer of Florida, New York.
- Jane, married John F. Stanton, a farmer of Florida.
(VII) Daniel D., only son of Rufus and Anna (French) Herrick, was born at Minaville, town of Florida, Montgomery county, New York, 1810, died September 30, 1880. He was reared on the farm which he cultivated in conjunction with his father, later succeeding to both ownership and management. He was a successful farmer and accumulated a small fortune, that, after coming to Amsterdam in 1874, he invested in such a way that it placed him in a list of wealthy men of the city. He was associated intimately with one of the banks of the city. He did not long survive after coming to Amsterdam. His long life on the farm with its accompanying labor and exposure had its effect, although he lived to be seventy. Daniel D. married Mary Loomis, born in Connecticut, 1814, died in Amsterdam, New York, July 28, 1884. She came to Montgomery county when quite young. Both she and her husband were associated with the Baptist church for many years. Children:
- Nancy, married Charles McClumpha; both deceased.
- Harriet, wife of Ralph Schuyler, son of Thomas Schuyler, they live in the town of Florida, where they are among the oldest residents.
- George I., see forward.
- Alice, born 1845, died October 1, 1889; married Jay Alexander Reid, born June 13, 1843, died February 22, 1897; he was a son of James and a grandson of Daniel Reid, the Scotch emigrant.
- Dennison, born 1847; married Anna Gray; they reside in Amsterdam.
(VIII) George I., eldest son of Daniel D. and Mary (Loomis) Herrick, was born in the town of Florida, Montgomery county, New York, March 20, 1839. He was educated in the common schools, and for two winters taught in the district schools. He was reared on the farm and with the exception of the two winters teaching followed the pursuit of agriculture until he reached his forty-fourth year. Life on a farm seems to endow a man with those qualities of industry and close attention to business that always insure success when other lines of effort are undertaken. In 1881 Mr. Herrick removed to Amsterdam, and engaged in the coal business, making of the venture a successful and profitable business. He operates both wholesale and retail departments and has become one of the substantial men of Amsterdam. His other important business interests are chiefly in the financial institutions of the city. He is a member of the board of trustees of the Amsterdam Savings Bank, a director of the First National Bank, and a member of the board of trade. He is a Republican, as the Herricks have been since 1860, father and son. For two terms he served the second ward of Amsterdam as alderman. His church affiliations are with the Methodist Episcopal denomination, of which he is trustee. He is a member and a warm friend also of the Young Men's Christian Association. His social club is the Fort Johnson of his home city. George I. Herrick married in Amsterdam, November 24, 1864, Sarah Margaret Birch, a native of Montgomery county, born December 14, 1839, daughter of Alfred and Margaret (Peters) Birch. She was educated in the public schools and at the New York State Normal at Albany, New York. Children:
- Daniel D., born January 28, 1870; after finishing his education in Amsterdam, he engaged in the coal business with his father; married Jennie Van Deusen, born in Massachusetts, 1868.
- Cora Louise, born 1872; married O. Melville Miller; he has invented improvements on machinery for laundry purposes, and is now interested in promoting his own patents for the reclaiming of refuse; Mr. Miller was formerly a commercial traveler.
- Alfred D., born 1873; graduated from the Williams College and later from the medical department of Johns Hopkins University, class of 1898; he was for five years physician in the government service, stationed at the National Soldiers Home, at Washington, D. C.; he is now in the government medical and surgery department of the Panama Canal Zone; Dr. Herrick married Margaret McPherson, and has a daughter, F. Margaret.
Sarah Margaret Birch, wife of George I. Herrick, descends from English, Scotch and Welsh ancestry. Her father, Alfred Birch, was born at Clifton Park, Saratoga county, New York, March 26, 1803, died December 19, 1874. He married, October 25, 1827, Margaret Peters, of his native place, born October 11, 1807, died March 30, 1901. They were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom (July, 1909) are living. They were members of the Methodist church. Mrs. Herrick's grandparents were Sylvanus and Ruth (Palmer) Birch. They were both descendants of early Connecticut families. Sylvanus Birch was born in New York, 1780, died 1840. His wife, Ruth (Palmer) Birch, was born 1783, died 1869. The Birch family are of English ancestry; Margaret Peters, mother of Mrs. George I. Herrick, is of Scotch and Welsh descent.