(III) Gerrit (3), Lansing, eldest son of Gerrit (q. v.) and Elsie (Van Wythorst) Lansing, died July 20, 1708. He was a trader, and had residences in New York, Albany and Schenectady. He married, August 21, 1692, Catherine Sanders, daughter of John Sanders Glen, and widow of Cornelis Barents Van Ditmars, of Schenectady. She died February 15, 1731. Children:
- Gerrit, see forward;
- Johannes, married (first) Catalyntje Hun, (second) Jannetje Van Vechten;
- Anna, married Jacob Egmont;
- Elsje, baptized March 12, 1699;
- Sanders, baptized April 20, 1701;
- Susanna, married Evert P. Wendell;
- Jacob, married Ida Van Wie;
- Abraham, married (first) Helena Van Deusen, (second) Catherine De Forest;
- Evert (q. v.).
(IV) Gerrit (4), son of Gerrit (3) and Catherine (Glen) Lansing, was born August 20, 1693. He lived in Albany, where he owned a lot in the rear of Bleeker Hall, between Dean street and the river. He married Engeltje, buried October 6, 1745, daughter of Rutger Melcherts Van Deusen and his wife Wyntje Harmense Hun. Engeltje Van Deusen was a granddaughter of Abraham Van Deusen,who settled in Beverwyck at an early date coming from New Amsterdam. Children:
- Gerrit (5), married (first) Annetje Yates, (second) Wyentje Van Den Bergh;
- Rutger, see forward;
- Johannes, married Catherine Burhans (?).
(V) Rutger, second son of Gerrit (4) and Engeltje (Van Deusen) Lansing, was baptized March 25, 1722. He settled in the vicinity of Cohoes, where he had lands and followed farming. He married, October 27, 1764, Susanna, born April 18, 1731, daughter of Jacobus Van Schoonhoven, of Half Moon, Saratoga county, New York, and his wife Susanna Bratt.
(VI) Gerrit (5), only son of Rutger and Susanna (Van Schoonhoven) Lansing, was born November 18, 1765, on the Lansing homestead just north of Cohoes, and died in 1824. He was a farmer and millwright. He married, September 2, 1787, Alida, born August 21, 1765, daughter of Isaac and Alida (Fonda) De Forest. Children:
- Susanna, born August 26, 1788;
- Isaac De Forest, see forward.
(VII) Isaac De Forest, only son of Gerrit (5) and Alida (De Forest) Lansing, was born in the town of Watervliet, Albany county, New York. June 17, 1790, died in 1874, He was a farmer. He married Rachel Schuyler, born 1792, died 1875. Children:
- Gerrit R., born 1814, died 1858; he was a farmer of Watervliet, and a millwright; never married.
- Philip Schuyler, see forward.
(VIII) Philip Schuyler, second son of Isaac De Forest and Rachel (Schuyler) Lansing, was born in the town of Watervliet, on the homestead farm, in Albany county, New York, 1816, died in Albany, New York, July 12, 1880. He married (first) Rachel Leversee, born 1818, died 1848; children:
- Peter L., born 1847, died 1848.
- Rachel Schuyler, born 1843, died November 22, 1908; married, 1872, Louis H. Comstock, of Providence, Rhode Island. Children:
- Mary L. Comstock, born December 5, 1872, died February 12, 1905; married William C. Huntoon; children:
- Louis H. C. Huntoon;
- William C. Jr.
- Fred S. Comstock, born June 12, 1874, now (1910) of Providence, Rhode Island.
- Mary L. Comstock, born December 5, 1872, died February 12, 1905; married William C. Huntoon; children:
Philip S. Lansing married (second) Sarah Ann Visscher, of Albany, born 1819, died 1898, daughter of Johannes B. and Catherine J. (Willet) Visscher (see Visscher). Children:
- Catherine V., born May 29, 1850, died August 15, 1855.
- Isaac De Forest, see forward.
(IX) Isaac De Forest, only son of Philip Schuyler and Sarah Ann (Visscher) Lansing, was born in the town of Watervliet, Albany county, New York, January 2, 1855. In that year his parents removed from Watervliet to Albany, where he was educated in the "Boys' Academy." In 1872 he entered the employ of the Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank as a clerk, remaining until 1890, when he resigned. He succeeded his uncle, John B. Visscher (deceased in 1890), as manager of the Visscher family estate, with his cousins, Edgar W. and William L. Visscher, and continues in that position to the present time (1910). His other business connections are: Trustee Mechanics' and Farmers' Savings Bank; director of Albany Safe Deposit and Storage Company, and other minor enterprises. His clubs are the Fort Orange, Albany City, Albany Country, Mohawk, and Mohawk Golf, of Schenectady. He is a governor of the Albany City Hospital; member of Company A, Albany Zouave Cadets, and of the Holland Society of New York. He is unmarried.
(The Visscher Line)
Sarah Ann Visscher Lansing was of the sixth generation of Visschers in America, and was a direct descendant of Harmen Visscher, the emigrant ancestor. The tradition of the family is that originally three brothers only of this name came over from Holland and settled in Rensselaerwyck. That one being a Roman Catholic, soon became dissatisfied with his surroundings and returned to Holland. They were the sons of Bastiaen Visscher, of Hoorn, Holland, who was living there in 1675. The family name has been retained in this country, and although the spelling varies on the records the original name is easily recognized.
(I) Harmen, son of Bastiaen Visscher, of Hoorn, Holland, was born in 1619, died about the year 1693, in Beverwyck. He was a householder in Beverwyck in 1678. In 1666 he was the village surveyor. He married Hester Tierkse. It is supposed they were married in New Amsterdam, as their first child was born there. She survived her husband and was living in 1693. Children:
- Tierk, born in New Amsterdam, July 7, 1652, married Emmetje Jants;
- Bastiaen (2), married Dirkje Teunis De Metselaer;
- Nanning, see forward;
- Frederick, married (first) Margarita Hansen, (second) Elizabeth Sanders, widow of Evert Wendell;
- Sarah, married Gerrit Lucas Wyngaart;
- Hester, married Abram S. Groot;
- Johannes, married Elizabeth Nottingham;
- Maria, married Philip Wendell;
- Ariantje, married Hieronemous Wendell;
- Geertje, married Cornelis Dirkse Van Schellyne.
(II) Nanning, son of Harmen and Hester (Tierkse) Visscher, died in Albany, New York, and was buried April 8, 1730. He married, January 6, 1686, Alida, daughter of Jan Dirkse and Maritje Vinhagen. Children:
- Harmanus, baptized January 23, 1689; died young.
- Maria, married Jacob Hollenbeck.
- Hester, married Jacob Vander Heyden.
- Harmanus (2), baptized September 2, 1694.
- Geertruy, married David Van Der Heyden.
- Alida, baptized same day as her sister Geertruy, March 8, 1696.
- Johannes N., see forward.
- Harmen, baptized December 29, 1700; married Rachel Vander Heyden, February 24, 1739.
- Alida, married Jacob Ten Eyck.
- Nicholas, married Annatje Tymensen.
(III) Johannes N., son of Nanning and Alida (Vinhagen) Visscher, was baptized in Albany, August 14, 1698. He made his will September 18, 1744, and mentioned all his children except Anne. He married, February 16, 1728, Annetje Staats, born December 24, 1703, daughter of Barent Jochems and Neeltje Gerretsie (Van den Bergh) Staats. Children:
- Alida, died young;
- Neeltje, baptized March 28, 1730, married Jacob Van Wagener, of New York;
- Anna, died young;
- Nanning J., married (first) Catretie Wendell, (second) Helena Lansing;
- Alida, married Gerrit Roerback, of New York;
- Barent J., see forward;
- Johannes (Colonel), married Elizabeth Bratt;
- Jochim, died 1747, aged seven years;
- Gerrit (General), married Lady Sarah Turner, in Ireland, entered the British service and rose to the rank of general, no issue.
(IV) Barent J., son of Johannes N. and Annetje (Staats) Visscher, was baptized in Albany, March 13, 1737. He married, April 22, 1765, Sarah, born September 20, 1741, daughter of Harmanus, granddaughter of Bastiaen and great-granddaughter of Harmen Visscher, "the founder." She survived her husband and died April 22, 1822, in her eighty-first year. She made a will June 7, 1822, and mentions John B. Visscher, Annatje, widow of Douw Lieverse, Alida Evertson, grandson Harmen, granddaughter Sarah, widow of Franc Lansing, and granddaughter Sarah, wife of Adrian Winne. Children of Barent J. and Sarah Visscher:
- Annatje, married Douw Lieverse;
- Sarah, married Benjamin Van Sant;
- Johannes B., see forward;
- Alida, died young;
- Harmen, born 1774, married Anna M. Chapman;
- Alida (2), married John Evertson.
(V) Johannes B., son of Barent J. and Sarah (Visscher) Visscher, was born in Albany, September 4, 1769, died in that city April 15, 1825. He married (first) Geertry ————, born October 17, 1777, died February 1, 1804; (second) Catherine, born June 14, 1779, died May 1, 1862, daughter of Edward S. and Sarah (Fryer) Willet. Children of first marriage:
- Harmen, born January 4, 1802; married Ann M. Chapman.
- Geertruy, married ———— Lovell.
Children of second marriage:
- Barent, died in infancy.
- Barent, (2), died aged twenty-two years, unmarried.
- Edward, died aged three years.
- Gerrit, died in infancy.
- Edward (2), died unmarried.
- Sarah Ann, see forward.
- Lydia, died unmarried.
- John B., born August 31, 1825, died 1890; married (first) Ann Ten Eyck; (second) Ahda Douw Lansing. He was manager of the large Visscher estates until his death, being succeeded by his nephew, Isaac De Forest Lansing. (See Lansing IX.)
(VI) Sarah Ann, daughter of Johannes B. and Catherine (Willet) Visscher, was born in Albany, November 30, 1819, died in that city April 28, 1898. She married, December 19, 1849, Philip Schuyler Lansing. (See Lansing VIII.) Children: Catherine V. and Isaac De Forest Lansing. During the nearly three centuries that are covered by this brief record of two of the leading families of the Upper Hudson and Mohawk Valleys, there have been many noted men in both families. They have been leaders at the bar, judges and chancellors, congressmen, and officers high in military rank. Perhaps the hero of the Visschers was Colonel Frederick Visscher, son of Harmon, son of Frederick, son of Harmen Visscher, "the founder." He was born in Albany, February 21, 1741, died at the family mansion near Fonda, Montgomery county, New York, (Canda, called the most beautiful country residence in that region), June 9, 1809. He married Gazena, daughter of Daniel and Gazena (Swits) De Graff, and had nine children. After his marriage he resided a short distance from the paternal mansion, his brothers John and Harmon and sisters Geertruy and Margaret residing with their mother at the homestead. The Visscher brothers were uncompromising patriots and exceedingly obnoxious to their Tory neighbors, headed by Sir John Johnson. Fearing an invasion, Colonel Visscher sent his wife and infant family to Schenectady for safety, and took up his residence at the homestead. On Sunday night, May 21, 1780, Sir John Johnson, at the head of five hundred British Tories and Indians, descended on the Johnstown settlements from Canada. Dividing his forces, Colonel Johnson sent part of them, mostly Indians and Tories, to Tribes' Hill, under command of Henry and William Bowen. After burning the house of Barney Hensen they proceeded to the home of Colonel Visscher, but finding it unoccupied set it on fire and hastened to the Visscher mansion, which they reached just at daylight. There was in the house, Colonel Visscher, his mother, two brothers and two sisters. The brothers defended the house for some time after the enemy gained an entrance below, and while fighting on the stairs the sisters escaped from the cellar kitchen and fled to the woods not far distant. The mother, about to follow, was struck down by a blow on the head from the butt of a musket, but left unscalped. The brothers continued to fight until their ammunition was exhausted, and as the enemy came up the stairs Colonel Visscher discharged his pistol, and, throwing it behind him in token of submission, called for quarter. An Indian running up struck him a blow with a tomahawk that brought him to the floor. He fell upon his face and the Indian took the crown scalp from his head that entitled him to the reward, then giving him a gash in the back turned him over and attempted to cut his throat, which was only prevented by his cravat, the knife penetrating just through the skin. His brother, Captain John, retreated to a corner of the room and continued the fight. An Indian, seeing him armed with a sword, hurled a tomahawk at his head and brought him down. He was killed outright, scalped, and left where he fell. Harmon jumped from a back window and attempted to escape, but was shot, killed and scalped. The house was then plundered and set on fire. After the enemy left, Colonel Visscher recovered consciousness and discovered his brother John's dead body and the house on fire. He succeeded in removing the body of John from the burning house, and then assisted his mother, who was seated in a chair, the bottom of which had already caught fire, to a place of safety. This chair is still preserved by the De Graff family, who occupy the Visscher mansion. Carrying out a bed, he lay down on it, thoroughly exhausted, and in this condition was discovered by "Black Tom," a slave belonging to Adam Zeily. Tom revived him with water brought from the brook, and harnessing a team to a wagon, took the colonel, his mother and the bodies of his murdered brothers, to the river, at David Putnam's. His sisters, hearing the noise of the wagon, came out of the woods and were taken along to safety. The family were taken across the river to Ephrahim Wemps, who seeing the colonel required medical assistance sent him in a canoe to Schenectady. Colonel Visscher bore through life the broad scar left on his head by the scalping knife, and on all public occasions this was covered by a silver plate made for the purpose. Previous to this time he had fought with honor at the battle of Oriskany, August 6, 1777. In June, 1782, when President Washington made a tour through northern New York, an elegant entertainment was given him at Schenectady, on which occasion he placed Colonel Visscher at his right hand in honor of his patriotic service. He was appointed brigadier-general in 1787 by Governor George Clinton, but declined the honor. On March 27, 1787, he was appointed the first judge of the court of common pleas of Montgomery county, serving with ability and honor until 1801. He was also a member of the state legislature.