From the time of the Dutch ancestor, Mathys Hooghteeling, this name had caused deepest woe to those bearing it, on account of the many ingenious ways it can be spelled. Houghteling is one of the most common forms, but the tendency now seems to be toward the simpler form, Hotaling. Mathys Hooghteeling was born 1644 (it is supposed in Holland), died 1706. He is the first of his name in the Hudson Valley. In 1697 a patent of land was granted him in Rensselaerwyck in the present town of Coxsackie. He married Maria Hendrickse and had three sons and two daughters.
(II) Coenradt, son of Mathys and Maria (Hendrickse) Hotaling (Hooghteeling), was born about 1667. He married, 1688, Tryntja Willemse Van Slyck, and had eleven children.
(III) Willem, second child of Coenradt and Tryntja W. (Van Slyck) Hotaling, was baptized January 17, 1692. He was a farmer and a freeholder of the town of Bethlehem, Albany county, in 1742. He married Lena Uzile, November 9, 1716, and had nine children.
(IV) Jonathan, son of Willem and Lena (Uzile) Hotaling, was baptized September 12, 1736. He married Jannetie Slingerland, November 2, 1754. He cultivated a farm in New Scotland and Bethlehem, and died, leaving sons, Coenrad, Johannes and Wouter. His eldest child and only daughter was Neeltje, baptized September 28, 1755.
(V) Coenrad, son of Jonathan and Jannetie (Slingerland) Hotaling, was baptized November 1, 1761, died in the town of Berne in 1831. He owned a large tract of land which, at his death, was divided among his two sons, Aaron and Jonathan. Coenrad was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was a class leader. He was a Democrat and a man of influence in his town. He was twice married. Children:
- Aaron, of whom further;
- Jonathan, died in Montezuma, New York, in 1903, leaving a son, Gabriel;
- Solomon, settled in the west, where he married, and had thirteen children.
(VI) Aaron, son of Coenrad and Janetta (Bogardus) Hotaling, was born in the town of New Scotland, Albany county, New York, in 1797, died in the city of Albany in 1866. At the division of his father's property it was supposed that he got the less valuable half, but he later discovered upon it quarries of bluestone that made him a very rich man. Albany sidewalks are paved almost exclusively with flagstones taken from these quarries, and innumerable carloads have been shipped to distant points. In 1855 he retired from the active operation of his quarries and settled in a comfortable home in Albany, where he died eleven years later. The quarries are located near Reedville, in the town of Berne, and are yet a source of supply for flagging purposes. He was originally a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, but later became connected with the First Baptist Church in Albany. He was a man of religious nature, and lived a most exemplary life. In politics he was a Democrat. He married, in 1826, in Berne, Mary (Polly) Rogers, born in Albany county about 1800, died in Albany shortly after the removal to that city in 1855. She was a daughter of Captain Thomas and ———— (Wheat) Rogers. Captain Thomas Rogers was a soldier of the revolution. He was extensively engaged in lumbering and gained his title of captain from his river operations. He owned large tracts of timber in Washington county, and drove his logs, when practicable, down the Hudson to mills below. He was a well-known character, and with Deacon Philips, established the First Baptist church in Albany county, and was officially connected with it during his lifetime. He was one of the leading business men of his day. His two sons, Dr. Samuel and Dr. Hiram Rogers, went west, settled in Quincy, Illinois, where they helped to organize and build the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. They became well known as prosperous business, rather than as professional men. His son, Thomas Rogers, was a farmer of New Scotland, and still another, Peniel, also settled in Quincy, Illinois, married, and left two sons, George, a prominent attorney of Springfield, Illinois, and Hiram, leading druggist of Quincy. Captain Thomas Rogers died in Berne in 1849, in the ninety-first year of his age. Children of Aaron and Mary Hotaling:
- Hiram, of whom further;
- Oscar, born in Reedville, New York, 1830, died in New Scotland in 1905; married Leah Loucks and left Harry, now a resident of New Scotland, and a daughter, Mariette Mickle;
- William Chauncey, died in Albany, 1904; married Eleanor, daughter of John Moore, of Albany; they have no living issue;
- Louisa, married William H. Conger.
(VII) Hiram, eldest son of Aaron and Mary (Rogers) Hotaling, was born in the town of Berne, Albany county, New York, March 16, 1828. He was educated in the public schools, and in early life was a farmer. He was especially interested in fine stock breeding, and owned some of the first Durham short-horned cattle. In 1858, after the removal of the family to Albany, he engaged in the ice business in that city, which he prosecuted with such vigor that in a few years he had earned the title of "Ice King" of the Hudson river. During one year he had a complete monopoly of the city ice trade, supplying, in addition to the family trade, the large beef companies, hotels and restaurants. He became very prosperous and extended his operations to more distant points, not, however, with satisfactory results. He was a most capable man of business and a hard worker, richly deserving the success he won. He affiliated with the Democratic party until 1870, when he transferred his allegiance to the Republican. He now lives in quiet retirement in Albany, spending his summers in his home in the suburbs. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Albany and a man of high character. He married, in Berne, Louisa Gardiner, died in Albany in 1892. She was, in later life, a member of the Baptist church, of deeply religious nature and truly womanly character. She was a daughter of Hon. James D. Gardiner, of the Gardiner's Island, New York, family. Gardiner's Island lies three miles east of the most easterly point of Long Island, and is seven miles in greatest length and one mile in greatest width. The area is about three thousand, three hundred acres, some in barren hills, ponds and beaches. The island was first granted to Leon Gardiner, born in England about 1599, died in East Hampton, Long Island, 1663. For two hundred and fifty years the island has been kept in the family name and in possession of the descendants of the first owner, eight proprietors having lived in the mansion house. Leon Gardiner was a man of great prominence in early colonial affairs, and had great influence with both the colonial officials and with their foes, the Indians. He married May Wilemson, born in Holland. The line of descent is through David Gardiner, son of Leon, and second proprietor of Gardiner's Island, which Governor Dongan erected into "One Lordship and Manor of Gardiner's Island," September 11, 1686.
James D. Gardiner married Catharine Simmons, daughter of one of the oldest Albany county families. Colonel James Gardiner, an uncle of James D. Gardiner, served in the revolutionary war, where he held the commission of colonel, and a part of his equipment is still preserved in the family as a sacred relic. Hon. James D. Gardiner was a member of the New York state assembly in 1827.
Hiram and Louisa (Gardiner) Hotaling had two daughters:
- Mary, born in New Scotland; was educated in Albany, and died in New York City in 1892. She married Samuel Curtis Parks, no issue.
- Anna H., educated in the Albany schools; married William Curtis Saxton. She survives her husband and resides in Albany with her venerable father, they being the last survivors. She is a member of the Baptist church, and a woman of refinement and culture. William C. Saxton was born in Rockport, New York, died in Albany, January 18, 1910. He was finely educated and became well known in the literary world as a strong and interesting magazine and newspaper writer. He was for many years connected with the department of state at Albany, resigning on account of failing health. He then engaged in Albany as a wholesale dealer in coal until his sudden death. In early life he prepared for the profession of law and was admitted to the New York state bar in 1878. He was a pleasing and forcible public speaker and often in demand. He was a brother of Judge Saxton, of Clyde, New York, ex-lieutenant-governor of New York state.