The Van Denburgs are of mention in early records of Albany, New York. Arent was a corporal of the service of the West India Company at Fort Orange, 1654, and still there in 1666. Claas Cornelis was in Beverwyck, 1660-65. The history of this branch of the family begins with Richard Janse Van Denburg, who married, November 13, 1699, Tryntje, daughter of Matthias Hooghteling; children:
- Maria, baptized May 12, 1701;
- Antje, May 17, 1702;
- Jan, September 19, 1703;
- Matthys, January 15, 1706;
- Racheltje, February 22, 1708;
- Dorotia, October 30, 1710;
- Hendrick, of further mention;
- Lidia, April 24, 1715;
- Robert, June 31 [sic], 1717.
Richard Van Denburg settled in Coxsackie, Greene county, New York, at a date not definitely known. April 18, 1729, he bought land of Thomas Williams and in the same year leased land from Petrus Van Bergen but he owned land and built a stone house on the banks of "Mender's Kill" before 1725. This land was known as the Matthias Houghtaling patent. Through subsequent purchases by sons of Richard, the family became the owners of a large tract of land west of the upper village of Coxsackie. Robert, son of Richard J., built a sawmill on a small stream which flows into the west branch of Potick creek, the remains of the dam being yet visible.
(II) Hendrick, son of Richard J. and Tryntje (Catrina) (Hooghteling) (Hotaling) Van Denburg, was baptized October 19, 1712. A deed dated October 20, 1770, recites that Hendrick Houghtaling for the sum of ten shillings and other consideration did convey to Hendrick and Robert Van Denburg "All that southermost half of the whole tract XXV containing eighteen hundred forty-three acres XXXX and one-half of all mines which may be found hereafter on the above lands." This tract of land thus set off to the brothers became popularly known as the "Van Denburg Patent" though it was not an original patent grant. Later it was divided into lots and December 21, 1745, Hendrick Van Denburg conveyed to Richard, Wilhelmus and John Van Denburg seventeen of the lots each containing it was supposed fifty acres, but of one of them the story is told that by some reason it contained sixty acres. This caused later legal proceedings which gave it the name of "Chancery lot." Hendrick resided in the stone house, north of the creek, which he built. He married, November 21, 1743, Katherine Hotaling. Children: Catherine, Lena and Ryckert.
(III) Ryckert, only son of Hendrick and Katherine (Hotaling) Van Denburg, was baptized in Albany, New York, June 24, 1753. He married Maritje, daughter of Godfrey Brandow, a revolutionary soldier in Captain John Van Denburg's Coxsackie company of nine months men, Eleventh Regiment, Albany county militia. He had part of the "Van Denburg Patent," and built a stone house on the hill along an Indian foot path.
(IV) Henry, son of Ryckert and Maritje (Brandow) Van Denburg, was born March 17, 1776, died May 12, 1853. He was known locally as "Bush Hank," probably from the fact that his farm was covered with trees and undergrowth, which kept him employed in clearing and burning the bush. He married Rebecca Van Loon, born October 22, 1777, died February 3, 1852, a descendant of Jan Van Loon, the first settler of the name and ancestor of a numerous family; supposed to have come from Holland about 1686. The present village of Athens is built on the old farm owned by his son Matthias.
(V) Richard, son of Henry and Rebecca (Van Loon) Van Denburg, was born February 8, 1817, died July 21, 1860. He had a share of the Van Denburg lands, inheriting his father's farm, and always followed farming as an occupation. He married, November 30, 1842, Rachel Lampman, a descendant of Stephen Lampman, of German parentage. She was born August 26, 1824, died March 4, 1910.
(VI) Albert, son of Richard and Rachel (Lampman) Van Denburg, was born February 1, 1846, at Coxsackie, Greene county, New York. He was educated in the public school and at Coxsackie Seminary. He was a prosperous farmer and a highly regarded member of his community. He was a member of the Dutch Reformed church, and a Republican in politics. He married, August 30, 1868, Emma, daughter of Lewis and Hannah Augusta (Roberts) Powell.
(VII) Richard Henry, only son of Albert and Emma (Powell) Van Denburg, was born in Midway, Greene county, New York, November 2, 1877. He was educated in the Coxsackie common and high schools. After completing his studies he taught school for six years, in the meantime preparing for the profession of medicine. In 1900 he entered Albany Medical College (Union University) where he was graduated M.D., class of 1904. He was interne at St. Peter's Hospital, Albany, for one year, then in 1905 began the practice of his profession in Coxsackie, where he is enjoying a satisfactory patronage. He is a member of the Greene County Medical Society, State Medical and American Medical Associations; Free and Accepted Masons, master of Ark Lodge, No. 48; Coxsackie Chapter, No. 85; Lafayette Commandery, No. 7; Coxsackie Lodge, No. 351; Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Eureka Lodge No. 131, Knights of Pythias; Coxsackie Camp, No. 8490, Modern Woodmen of America. He is a member of the Methodist church, and affiliates with the Republican party. He married, June 14, 1905, Carrie F., born February 13, 1877, daughter of Charles Warner and Hannah V. (Collier) Mackey, a descendant of John Mackey, who came from the north of Ireland to this country during the war of the revolution in which he fought as a soldier of the continental army. He was of Scotch ancestry. Jeremiah, son of John Mackey, married Anna Tuttle. Fermon, son of Jeremiah and Anna (Tuttle) Mackey, was born in the town of Milton, Saratoga county, New York. He married Eliza Strait. Charles Warner, son of Fermon and Eliza (Strait) Mackey, married, in 1876, Hannah V. Collier and had two children:
- Carrie F., who married Dr. Richard Henry Van Denburg, and
- Eliza S. Mackey.