About 1650 two brothers emigrated to the American colonies from Amsterdam, Holland, named Philip Peterse and David Peterse Schuyler. Philip Peterse had four sons: Brandt, Arnett, Johannes and Peter. Peter became noted in colonial affairs both civil and military. He was the first mayor of Albany and major of the New York forces in the expedition against Canada and the French. He had an unbounded influence over the Indians, who called him "Brother Quiddeo." Peter's brother Johannes had a son named Philip, and a grandson Philip, who was the noted General Philip Schuyler of history. The other brother, David Peterse, we follow with detail of one branch of his descendants. He was the ancestor of the Montgomery county Schuylers.
(I) David Peterse Schuyler married Catalyn, daughter of Abraham Ver Planck, in New Amsterdam, October 13, 1657. He was an early settler at Beverwyck (Albany). In 1692 he lived near the northeast corner of the city walls by the waterside, on the south corner of Broadway and Steuben street. In 1699 his wife (probably then a widow) petitioned for an addition of fourteen feet to her lot, but the authorities refused, saying it would "reach to neer ye city Stockadoes." In 1709 this lot was occupied by Jacobus and Abraham, his sons. His sons who lived to maturity were Pieter, (Judge) Jacobus, Abraham Davidse, see forward, David, mayor of Albany 1706-07, and Myndert, merchant and mayor of Albany 1719-21-23-25.
(II) Abraham Davidse, son of David Peterse and Catalyn (Ver Planck) Schuyler, in 1709 resided on the lot which his father had occupied on the south corner of Broadway and Steuben streets, Albany. In 1684 he was master of the sloop "Hopewell," plying between New York and Albany. In his will, made December 16, 1709, he names five children. He married Geertruy Ten Broeck, November 11, 1691. Children named in the will: David, Christina, Dick, Abraham and Jacobus.
(III) Jacobus, son of Abraham Davidse and Geertruy (Ten Broeck) Schuyler, was baptized March 23, 1707. He had his home in New Jersey. He married Geertruy Staats, November 12, 1735. Children: Geertruy, Geertruy (2), Dirk, see forward, Neeltje, Anna, Neeltje (2), Barent Staats and Christina.
(IV) Dirk, eldest son of Jacobus and Geertruy (Staats) Schuyler, was baptized March 16, 1740, in New Jersey, died in Montgomery county, 1790. He married, in New York City, Maria Van Deusen, April 26, 1764; children:
- Jacobus, born July 29, 1768, see forward;
- Catherina,
- William Van Deusen,
- Geertruy.
(V) Jacobus (2), son of Dirk and Maria (Van Deusen) Schuyler, was born in New Jersey, July 29, 1768, and settled in Montgomery county. He went to that county with his parents and brothers, and they are the founders of the different Schuyler families in that county. Jacob married Martha Fancher, and reared a family, among whom was a son Jacob and a son Richard.
(VI) Jacob, son of Jacobus (2) and Martha (Fancher) Schuyler, was born in Montgomery county, August 26, 1788. He settled in Glen after his marriage, selected a farm of one hundred and fifty acres which he cleared and improved. He was a prosperous man and acquired a great deal of property, some three or four farms of the neighborhood. He married, in Florida, New York, Mary Serviss, of the Montgomery county family of that name, born in 1796. Jacob Schuyler died in 1845, and his wife, April 18, 1883. Children, all born on the farm in Glen:
- George S., see forward;
- James, lived and died near Sloansville, New York, married Hannah Lasher, they are survived by four sons and four daughters;
- Jacob, married Abigail Martin, one son and two daughters survive them;
- William, married Ida Van Evera, they left Peter and Louisa Schuyler, both married;
- Antoinette, married Stephen Ostrom.
(VII) George Serviss, eldest son and child of Jacob and Mary (Serviss) Schuyler, was born on the farm in Glen, February 22, 1818, died there February 18, 1888. He was a prosperous farmer and owned the homestead. He married, in Glen, Clarissa Van Schaick, born in Glen in 1829, died 1853, youngest daughter of Thomas G. and Anna (Hand) Van Schaick, both old Montgomery county families. Their other children were Marcus, John, Newton, Mary, Hannah and Cozenia. Children of George S. and Clarissa Schuyler:
- Sarah, married Reuben Dievendorf, of Root, New York; children: George, Leslie, Edward, Albert, Anna and Jennie Dievendorf.
- Jacob, married Emily Sanford; children: Sanford and Josephine Schuyler.
- Henry N., married Adelaide Hayward; now a banker of Pana, Illinois; children: George and Ruth Schuyler.
- Antoinette, married Adolphus Perrine, of Little Falls, New York; children: Fred, Clara and Mary Perrine.
- Fred, see forward.
- Anna, married Abraham Mabee, of Auriesville, New York; one infant daughter, Mary, deceased.
(VIII) Fred, son of George Serviss and Clarissa (Van Schaick) Schuyler, was born on the homestead farm in Glen, June 29, 1846. He has always lived on the farm he now owns that was settled by his grandfather. He is a well-known and highly respected man. He is prosperous, warm-hearted and generous, a man of quiet tastes and demeanor. He married, in Glen, November 26, 1878, Rebecca Fisher, born in Glen, June 10, 1857, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Burns) Fisher, both born in Root. She is a granddaughter of Charles Fisher, who came to Montgomery county from New Jersey one hundred years ago. He married, in New Jersey, Anna Craig. They came to Root, where their hospitable home was well known. Their son, Samuel Fisher, was born September 20, 1821, died September 23, 1884. His wife, Mary Burns, was born May 24, 1835, survives him, a resident of Fultonville, New York. Their children were:
- Anna, unmarried.
- Rebecca, married Fred Schuyler.
- Jane, married Seymour Wemple; children: Mary and Gertrude Wemple.
- Elizabeth, died unmarried.
- Charles, born April 4, 1866, married Ida Hill, has one son, Wilbur Burns Fisher, died February 12, 1908.
- Harriet, married Charles Quackenbush, of Stamford, Connecticut; children: Charles, John, Samuel and Edith Quackenbush.
Fred and Rebecca (Fisher) Schuyler are the parents of one child, Clara M., born April 25, 1883; was educated especially in music; she married, October 2, 1909, Fred Howard Stowitts, born in Root, September 26, 1885. They reside at the Schuyler homestead. Fred Howard Stowitts is the youngest son of Philip H. and Amelia (Pulver) Stowitts, whose children are:
- Edwin, unmarried;
- Pearl, married George Taylor Lasher; children: Harold, Kenneth, Helen and Marjorie Lasher;
- Fred Howard, married Clara M. Schuyler.