The Hursts of Guilderland, Albany county, New York, descend from English ancestors who were anciently seated at Oxford, where members of the family may yet be found. This particular branch descends from Francis Joseph Jackson Hurst, whose parents went to France, where he was born about 1765. He came to the United States about 1785 and settled in the town of Berne, Albany county, New York, later removing to Albany, living there until his death, about 1845. In Albany he was engaged in umbrella repairing and manufacture. He married in Berne a girl of Dutch parentage, who bore him several children, including a son, Francis Joseph Jackson (2). The father is buried in Prospect Hill cemetery and his funeral sermon was the first preached in the Lutheran church at Guilderland Center.
(II) Francis Joseph Jackson (2), son of Francis Joseph Jackson (1) Hurst, was born in Albany county, 1795, died in Guilderland, 1880, buried in Prospect Hill cemetery. He purchased land in Guilderland and became a prosperous farmer. His farm lay partly in the town of Knox, the home being in Knox. He was active in town and church affairs and a man of influence. He was a Lutheran and a Whig. He married Magdalena Keenholts, of an old county family. She died 1867-68, past eighty years of age, and is buried beside her husband. Children:
- Francis, a farmer of Guilderland; married Christian Near.
- Frederick, a farmer of Bethlehem; married Rachel Secor, who yet survives him, very old.
- Phoebe, married Henry Warner; they both died at the age of ninety years.
- Pamelia, married David Tygert; the family are all deceased.
- Hetty, married Jacob Bronck; they are both deceased; left issue.
- Hannah, married Elias Schermerhorn; both deceased; left a son Hiram, of Berne, New York.
- Adaline, married George Relyea; both deceased; left issue.
- Eliza, married Henry Levingston, who left a son Hiram, who resides in Altamont.
- Robert, of whom further.
(III) Robert, son of Francis Joseph Jackson (2) and Magdalena (Keenholts) Hurst, was born in the town of Knox, Albany county, New York, March 20, 1825. He was educated in the public schools. He followed farming as an occupation until 1888, when he retired to Altamont, New York, where he has since resided. He first owned a farm in Knox, one hundred and fifty acres, and later purchased a farm, one hundred and fifty acres, near the "Indian Ladder," now in the town of New Scotland. He purchased a third farm, two hundred acres, in New Scotland. He is active in body and mind and interested in village affairs. He was a Whig and later a Republican. In the Reformed church he has long been an active member and generous supporter, being a veritable pillar of the church. He married, in New Scotland, Mary Ann Matthias, born there January 9, 1830, died in Altamont, March 4, 1902. She, like her husband, was a devoted member of the Reformed church. Children:
- David T., of whom further.
- Margaret, born July 20, 1852; resides in Altamont with her aged father, a devoted daughter.
- Walter, born March 12, 1854, now a farmer of New Scotland; married Antoinette Luke; children:
- Robert L., married Gertrude Haviland, who died one year after marriage;
- Ella May, deceased, married Alvin Bradley, of Albany.
- Alvenice, born May 1, 1856; married Roselia Albright; resides in Schenectady; children Ethelyn, Mabel, Helen, Mildred, Eleanor.
- Francis, born April 18, 1858; a farmer on the old homestead in New Scotland; married Milly Allen; children: Allen, Florence, Walter and Arthur.
- Ida, born November 7, 1859; resides in Albany, New York; unmarried.
- Ira, born October 31, 1863, died August 5, 1864.
- Luella, born July 9, 1865, died January 8, 1884.
(IV) David T., son of Robert and Mary Ann (Matthias) Hurst, was born at the homestead, March 10, 1851. He was educated in the public schools, and remained with his father until he reached about legal age, when he removed to his present farm of one hundred acres of land, with twenty-eight acres of fruitful orchard. He is an active member of the Dutch Reformed church, was a deacon for several years, now an elder. He and his sons are all voters of the Republican party. He married, September 19, 1872, in Guilderland, Louisa M. Reid, born in New Scotland, November 9, 1851, daughter of George I. and Annie M. (Fuller) Reid, of New Scotland, granddaughter of Captain John and Hannah (Young) Reid, pioneer families of New Scotland. Captain John Reid was born in New Scotland, June 30, 1790, died April 20, 1876. His father was born in Scotland, came to America and settled in New Scotland, Albany county, New York, prior to 1780. Captain John Reid was a prominent Whig, a member of the state assembly, and a Presbyterian in religion. He married Hannah Young, who died April 28, 1855, aged sixty-eight years. George I. Reid was born on the homestead in New Scotland, April 18, 1818; died there January 30, 1870. He married Annie M. Fuller, born January 2, 1822, died April, 1904. George I. Reid was a prominent farmer and a member of the Reformed church. His children are:
- John G., born September 21, 1840; resides in Jersey City, New Jersey; was twice married, having issue by both wives.
- Catherine, born 1842; married Andrew Waldron and has issue.
- Orcelia, born 1844; married Francis Creble.
- Louisa M., married David T. Hurst.
- Fuller, born August 18, 1853; lives on the old Reid homestead, being the fifth generation to occupy and cultivate its fertile acres; he married Minnie (Hatch) Vincent.
- Frank, born 1857; now a prosperous ranchman of the state of Montana; married Margaret Gilbert, of Virginia City, Montana; children: Alvin, Alden and George.
Children of David T. and Louisa M. (Reid) Hurst:
- Carrie G., born December 30, 1876; married David C. Sitterly, an employee of the General Electric Works at Schenectady, New York.
- Verner Reid, born May 26, 1881; connected with the General Electric Company at Schenectady, New York; married Lulu MacMillan, of Voorheesville.
- Lulu, born October 8, 1885; married Lloyd Coss; resides at Fullers with her father.
- George I., born February 7, 1888; married, October 6, 1910, Mabel Ella Wormer, born February 24, 1891, in Guilderland, and lives with his father. The family are all active members of the Reformed church, and the sons are voters of the Republican party.