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Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs:
Walsh

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[This information is from Vol. III, pp. 1191-1196 of Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs, edited by Cuyler Reynolds (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1911). It is in the Reference collection of the Schenectady County Public Library at R 929.1 R45. Some of the formatting of the original, especially in lists of descendants, may have been altered slightly for ease of reading.]

The Walsh family, says Burke, came to Ireland, A. D. 1170, with Strongbow, and settled in county Kilkenny, where they acquired large possessions, now known as the "Walsh mountains" in the barony of Iverk. These possessions were confiscated during the Cromwellian period and in the reign of William III, after which members of the elder branch immigrated to France and Austria, and took military service in those countries. In France the title of "Count Serrant," still extant, was conferred upon the first representative of the elder branch. The first of the family who came to Ireland with Strongbow was Philip Walsh, who was called by the Irish "Brannagh" (or the Welshman). He particularly distinguished himself in 1174 at a naval engagement against the Danes at Cork by boarding the ship of their commander and slaying his son. Hayle Walsh, son of the first Philip by his wife Eleanor, daughter of Sir Maurice De Burgh, built the castle in the Walsh mountains called after him "Castle Hayle." He married Catherine Le Gros, and founded the numerous and emigrant Irish family of Walsh. The Walsh family of North Troy (Lansingburg), New York, herein considered, was founded in Lansingburg in the year 1799 by Alexander Walsh, of Tyrone county, Ireland. By the marriage of his son Alexander (2) to Ann Van Wyck, an alliance was formed with one of the oldest Dutch families of the Hudson Valley. By the marriage of his grandson, Alexander (3), two English families, Barton and Bird, were united with Irish and Dutch blood. These four family lines are traced in his record to the American emigrant, and connect collaterally with many noted New England families: Arnold, Greene, Brown, Carver, Alden and others. The Bartons are a noted revolutionary family, and were closely associated with the business interests of North Troy in their day, while four generations of Walshs have been prominent in the business, social and church life of that part of the present city of Troy.

(I) The first of this old Troy family to settle there was Alexander Walsh, who was born in the village of Glencannon, Tyrone county, Ireland, in 1737, died in Lansingburg, New York, March 24, 1807. He was the son of well-to-do Irish parents. He adopted a mercantile life and kept a store on the main village street. A photograph of the street shows the store was located in quite a large building near the Protestant Episcopal church, where all his children were baptized. He married Jane, daughter of Thomas Smith, of Dare, Tyrone county, Ireland. She was born in 1740, died in Lansingburg, New York, March 24, 1807. In 1799, with his wife and five children, Alexander emigrated to the United States. He did not sell all of his stock of merchandise on leaving Duncannon, but brought part of it to the United States with him, and late in 1799 was established in a store in Lansingburg, New York. He later built a store and residence on what is now State street, that afterward was burned. He was a prosperous merchant, active in the Episcopal church, and highly respected. Children, all born in Duncannon, Ireland, and all came to the United States, except the eldest:

  1. Jane;
  2. Thomas Smith, born 1770, died in New York City, June 28, 1843;
  3. William, 1778, died in Lansingburg, May 1, 1828;
  4. Mary Ann, 1779, died in Lansingburg, February, 1851;
  5. Alexander (2), see forward;
  6. Eliza Jane, November 21, 1784, died in Lansingburg, December 8, 1864, unmarried.

(II) Alexander (2), son of Alexander (1) and Jane (Smith) Walsh, was born in Duncannon, county Tyrone, Ireland, in 1783, died in Lansingburg, New York, August 4, 1849. He came to the United States with the family about 1799, and was engaged in business with his father in Lansingburg, and afterward carried on business for himself. He dealt largely in the grocery line and imported teas and coffees on a large scale. He was an active and useful citizen and deeply interested in the growth and prosperity of his town. He was closely connected with the Rensselaer County Agricultural Society, and did a great deal to advance its interests. He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church of Lansingburg, and was one of its strong supporters. He married Ann Van Wyck, born July 28, 1789, died in Lansingburg, March 25, 1825, daughter of Theodorus Van Wyck, of Fishkill, New York (see Van Wyck VI). Children, all born in Lansingburg:

  1. Theodore, July 28, 1816;
  2. Jane, February 5, 1818;
  3. Sarah, April 14, 1819, died July 8, 1878;
  4. Alexander (3), see forward;
  5. Franklin, January, 1822, died October 9, 1824;
  6. Van Wyck, January 25, 1825, died March 13, 1852.

(III) Alexander (3), son of Alexander (2) and Ann (Van Wyck) Walsh, was born in Lansingburg (now Troy), New York, November 9, 1820, died there May 4, 1879. He was educated in the public schools and at Lansingburg Academy. With the exception of a short time spent in New York City, his entire life was spent in Lansingburg. He first clerked in his father's store. When a young man he entered the employ of the Bank of Lansingburg, first as teller in 1842, and as cashier for twenty-five years from his appointment in 1851. At his death he was cashier of the banking house of D. Powers & Son. His entire business life was spent in his banks, and he was a most valuable and efficient official. He had the entire confidence of the business public and was entrusted with the care and settling of many estates as executor or administrator. He was well educated in the laws of finance, and was a reliable authority on questions involving a knowledge of those laws. Outside his business and his home, to which he was devoted, Mr. Walsh's next great concern was for the welfare of Trinity Episcopal Church, always the church home of the family. He was a member of the vestry and at his death a warden. The care of the church finances fell largely upon him, and his duty was faithfully performed. His Christian life was a perfect one and merited the eulogy pronounced by Bishop Doane, "Thus passes away from earth the noblest work of God, an honest man." He was in complete sympathy with the principle of the Republicans, which he supported with vigor, but would never accept office for himself. He was a warm friend of Lansingburg Academy, and served as trustee for many years until his death. He was a member of the independent Order of Odd Fellows of Lansingburg, and a member of long standing. His death was very sudden, and came without a warning preceeding illness.

He married, in 1847, Maria Louisa Barton, born March 7, 1825, daughter of Rufus and Eleanor Ranger (Bird) Barton, of Lansingburg (see Barton VIII). She survives her husband, and resides in the old Barton homestead in North Troy (Lansingburg) with her daughter Eleanor and son Theodore B. She is a devoted member of Trinity Episcopal Church, and with husband and children has been one of the main pillars of that congregation for the past half century. For many years Mrs. Walsh has been deprived of her sight, and death has taken her sons and a daughter, but all this has not dimmed her spiritual sight, nor broken her dauntless, happy, cheerful spirit. At eighty-five she is clear in mind, capable in business, and in close touch with modern thought and development. Her life is devoted to good works and her charities are many. Deploring the desecration of the old Trinity Church burying ground, she obtained from the vestry a lease of the graveyard, erected a substantial iron fence, enclosing it, engaged capable gardeners, restored the grounds, beautified them with flowers, shrubbery and trees; converting a barren waste into one of the most beautiful of "God's acres." She has a wide acquaintance, and is greatly beloved by all. Children, all born in Lansingburg:

  1. Theodore Barton, born February 6, 1849. He was educated in Lansingburg Academy and Troy Academy, and has been a resident of Lansingburg all his life. He is an expert accountant and engaged in fire insurance business. He is a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, and a Republican in politics. He married Martha Sheldon Buckingham. Child,
    1. Harry Buckingham Walsh, deceased.
  2. Alexander, born August 1, 1852, died and was buried at sea, March 4, 1880. He was a young man of exceptionally fine business ability, whose life held great promise. He was an active worker in Trinity Guild and Sunday school. He was on a voyage to South America for the benefit of his health when death overtook him; unmarried.
  3. Eleanor Bird, born November 23, 1854; educated at the Whipple Seminary at Lansingburg, after which she taught for several years in the public schools of Mount Vernon and Utica, New York, remaining in Mt. Vernon ten years. She is her mother's constant companion, and the medium through whom she keeps in touch with the outside world.
  4. Frederick Bramhall, born January 7, 1859, died at Pueblo, Colorado. He was educated at Lansingburg Academy, worked for a time in the Bank of Lansingburg, adopted civil engineering as his profession, and was for some time designer and in charge of bridge construction for the Wisconsin Bridge and Iron Company. He then went with the Denver and Rio Grande railroad, and in Colorado and other states was in charge of their bridge construction, and other details of the engineering department. He was a strong, manly character, upright and trustworthy. He died in 1878, aged thirty-nine years, unmarried.
  5. William Van Wyck, born July 26, 1862, died at Schoharie, New York. He was a young man of fine qualities and gave promise of a life of usefulness; unmarried.
  6. Miriam Louisa, born December 18, 1868, died July 8, 1905. She was a pupil at St. Agnes School, of Albany. She was a most accomplished musician and maintained private classes for instruction. She was the organist of Trinity and always a worker. It was under her supervision and design that Trinity churchyard was restored, acting as her mother's representative, "making the desert places blossom like a rose." She was a woman of beautiful Christian character, greatly beloved and deeply mourned.

(The Bird Line)

Thomas Bird was born in England about the year 1613. He came to America prior to 1646, as in that year he joined the church at Dorchester, Massachusetts, after its reorganization under Rev. Richard Matheo. He was by occupation a tanner. His tanyard was opposite his home on what is now Humphreys street. In 1654 he was made a bailiff. He died June 8, 1667, aged fifty-four. His will was proved July 17, 1667. His estate inventoried about one thousand pounds. His widow, Ann Bird, died August 21, 1673. Children:

  1. Thomas, see forward.
  2. John, born March 11, 1641; selectman and assessor of the town of Dorchester; married Elizabeth Williams, of Taunton.
  3. Samuel, baptized April, 1644.
  4. James, died September 1, 1722; a tanner by trade; he is called "ensign" in the records; in 1677 he was constable; was also selectman and assessor; married (first) Mary George, (second) Ann Withington.
  5. Sarah, baptized August 12, 1649, died April 24, 1669.
  6. Joseph, died September 26, 1665.

(II) Thomas (2), eldest son of Thomas (1) and Ann Bird, was born May 4, 1640, died January 30, 1709-10. He married Thankful Atherton, born 1644, died April 11, 1719. Among his effects, forming part of the inventory of 570 pounds, was a negro man servant valued at 45 pounds, and a negro maid valued at 30 pounds. Children:

  1. Joseph, see forward.
  2. Thankful, became the third wife of Lieutenant Jeremiah Fuller, of Newton.
  3. Sarah, married Jonathan Jones.
  4. Anne, married John Clark.
  5. Thomas, born August 11, 1673; he was a soldier under Captain John Withington in the French and Indian war.
  6. Mary, married Jonathan Kelton.
  7. Submit, married Isaac How.
  8. Mercy, born February 6, 1679.
  9. Patience, died in infancy.
  10. Patience (2), married Edward White.
  11. Benjamin, a wharfinger of Boston for a time; constable of Dorchester in 1725, chosen in 1727 again, and paid his fine for non-acceptance; was selectman and assessor; deputy to the general court and representative; he married Johannah Harris, who died May 7, 1768. They had fifteen children.

(III) Joseph, eldest son of Thomas (2) and Thankful (Atherton) Bird, was born October 1, 1666, died March 9, 1711-12. Blake, in his annals under date of 1712, gives the particulars of his death: "This year, March 9, Joseph Bird died by a wound in his forehead occasioned by his gun flying out of ye stock when he fired it at a fowl being upon ye water in his canoo." He married (first) Miriam ————; (second) Johannah, daughter of Joseph Leeds. Johannah survived her husband, and was one of the administrators of his estate. Children by first wife:

  1. Aaron, see forward;
  2. Hannah, born August 2, 1692.

Children by second wife:

  1. Joseph, married Ruth Jones;
  2. Comfort, born February 3, 1701-02;
  3. Patience, married John Day;
  4. Thankful, married Samuel Leeds (2).

(IV) Aaron, eldest son of Joseph and his first wife, Miriam Bird, was born August 28, 1690. He married Mary Hooper, of Boston, May 27, 1712. Aaron and his wife Mary died the same day, January 1, 1745. Children:

  1. A son, still born;
  2. Mary, died in infancy;
  3. Johannah, died in childhood;
  4. Joseph, married Elizabeth Wire;
  5. Edward, married Mary ————;
  6. Matthew, see forward;
  7. Aaron (2), married Ann ————.

(V) Matthew, sixth child of Aaron and Mary (Hooper) Bird, was born June 20, 1729. He married Elinor Ranger, March, 1753. Children:

  1. Matthew, see forward;
  2. Edmund, born January 22, 1760, died in infancy;
  3. Edmund (2), born January, 1761;
  4. Abigail, married Ebenezer Kellon;
  5. James Seymour, died in infancy;
  6. James, born January 11, 1772;
  7. Benjamin, who is called "Major" in the records, married Lily Munroe.

(VI) Matthew (2), eldest son of Matthew (1) and Elinor (Ranger) Bird, was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, January 7, 1756, died January 11, 1816. He served in the revolutionary army. He enlisted August 15, 1775, in Captain Thomas Foster's company under Colonel Richard Gridley of General William Heath's brigade. He married, in New York, Mary Cone, in 1778. She died May 27, 1835, aged seventy-six years. Children:

  1. Mary, born December 16, 1779, married, April 17, 1797, William R. McCullough, died August 29, 1829;
  2. Matthew William, August 12, 1783, died June 1, 1847;
  3. Daniel, August 12, 1785;
  4. Eleanor Ranger, see forward;
  5. Frances, June 3, 1793;
  6. James Benjamin, August 4, 1795, died August 8, 1829, married, May 13, 1815, Mary Dumion, of Aquehogue, Long Island;
  7. William Edmund, March 3, 1798, died November 15, 1861.

(VII) Eleanor Ranger, fourth child and second daughter of Matthew (2) and Mary (Cone) Bird, was born June 21, 1790, died September 19, 1852. She married, June 1, 1811, Rufus Barton, of Lansingburg, New York (see Barton VII).

(The Barton Line)

The Barton family of Warwick and Warren, Rhode Island, from which the Bartons of Troy, New York (Lansingburg), descend, was founded in America by Rufus Barton, whose date of coming is unknown. He first settled where the city of New York now stands, where he was an early settler (said to have been the first). He soon removed to Long Island, thence to Aquidneck and finally to Warwick, Rhode Island, where he died. He built a "Thatch house" on the road that led down the "Neck." (Part, or all, of his homestead in 1875 was owned by a descendant of the seventh generation, Benjamin Rufus Barton.) He was a member of the Society of Friends. His wife's name was Margaret. In 1641 he had a grant of land in Warwick. In 1647 he was a member of the town council; in 1648 was town magistrate. He died in 1648. His children are mentioned in his will, which was made for him by the town council in 1648, he dying intestate. Children of Rufus and Margaret Barton:

  1. Elizabeth, married Thomas Greene, son of John and Joana Tattersall Greene, seven children;
  2. Phebe, married Richard Codner, three children;
  3. Benjamin, see forward.

(II) Benjamin, only son of Rufus and Margaret Barton, was born in Warwick, Rhode Island (where he always afterward lived), in 1645, died 1720. He became a very prominent man of affairs in the colony. He was assistant 1674-75-83-84-99-1700-01-02-03; deputy, 1679; fourteen terms until 1717. He was one of those appointed to settle the boundary lines between Rhode Island and Connecticut. July, 1700, he contributed a hog, £1 8s 6d, toward a meeting house for Quakers to be set up at or near Mashapaug "Which is to be a free house for the worship of the Lord God of Heaven and Earth (that is) for all true worshippers who worship in spirit and truth." Contributions continued to be taken up for some three years, and among the charges for constructing were 9s for raising frame and 10s. 6d. paid for beer. In 1703-04 he was speaker of the house of deputies. October 22, 1720, his will was proved. He married Susannah Gorton, died May 28, 1734, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Gorton. Children:

  1. Rufus, married Sarah Robinson, daughter of Rowland and Mary (Allen) Robinson;
  2. Andrew, see forward;
  3. Mary, married Jabez Greene, son of James and Elizabeth (Anthony) Greene, seven children;
  4. Phebe, married Henry Tucker, son of Abraham and Mary (Slocum) Tucker, six children;
  5. Naomi, married (first) Ebenezer Slocum, (second) Edward Carr, son of Edward and Hannah (Stanton) Carr, three children.

(III) Andrew, son of Benjamin and Susannah (Gorton) Barton, was born in Warwick, Rhode Island, and died there April 19, 1723. He married Rebecca Low, died 1723, a descendant of William Arnold.

(IV) Captain Benjamin (2), son of Andrew and Rebecca (Low) Barton, was born 1703. died April 22, 1773. He was of Swansea, Massachusetts, and Warren, Rhode Island, dying at the latter place. He married Lydia Brown, born 1720, died October 9, 1808, a descendant of Joyn Brown, of Reboboth, Massachusetts, William Bucklin, of Rehoboth, and Robert Peck, of Hingham, England.

(V) General William, son of Captain Benjamin (2) and Lydia (Brown) Barton, was born in Warren, Rhode Island, May 26, 1748, died in Providence, October 22, 1831. He volunteered in the revolutionary army after the battle of Bunker Hill; was corporal, lieutenant, captain, brevet-colonel of continental troops and brigadier-general of Rhode Island militia. He captured the British General Prescott, July 10, 1777, for which he received a sword, the thanks of congress, and the rank of brevet-colonel. The house where he made his famous capture still stands near Newport, Rhode Island. He performed this feat by taking picked men across the bay in whale boats, seizing the general in bed, the door of his room being broken in, it is said, by the head of Colonel Barton's negro servant, Guy Watson. At Papasquash Point he was shot in the thigh and a long and tedious illness resulted. After the war he purchased a township in Vermont, where a town is named for him, but a suit concerning the title to a part of it resulted in a judgment against him for costs, and he was detained for fourteen years nominally a prisoner for debt till 1824, when his friend, Lafayette, visiting America and learning of it, paid the judgment without his knowledge and set him free. He boarded at the hotel in Danville, Vermont, was well treated and apparently contented, but could not leave. Whittier's poem, "The Prisoner for Debt," is said to have been suggested by his experience. He was a member of the state committee that adopted the constitution of the United States; a member of the legislature and inspector of customs. In 1877 he wrote a book entitled "Capture of General Prescott." He married, April 26, 1771, Rhoda Carver, born 1749, died December 15, 1841, daughter of Joseph Carver, of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and a descendant from John Alden of the "Mayflower." Children:

  1. William, see forward;
  2. Benjamin, born July 20, 1773;
  3. George Washington, December 20, 1775.

(VI) William (2), eldest son of General William (1) and Rhoda (Carver) Barton, was born in Warren, Rhode Island, December 18, 1771. He married and had issue.

(VII) Rufus, son of William (2) Barton, was born in Warren, Rhode Island, died in Lansingburg, New York. He engaged in mercantile business in Lansingburg in 1811, and continued until his death. He was a man of decision and energy, upright in character and served in many positions of honor and trust. In 1812 he enlisted in Captain Bullard's company, and July 25, 1816, he was commissioned "ensign" of the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth New York Regiment. He was a Democrat in politics until 1856, when he left his party and allied with the Republican. He was opposed to human slavery, and was a strong supporter of the Union. He married, June 1, 1811, Eleanor Ranger Bird, born June 21, 1790, died September 19, 1852, daughter of Matthew and Mary (Cone) Bird (see Bird VII). Children, all born in Lansingburg:

  1. William Henry, died at age of six months.
  2. William Rufus, died December 7, 1889; he was a merchant of Lansingburg and vestryman of Trinity Episcopal Church, unmarried.
  3. Mary Frances, died May 26, 1886; married, June 12, 1844, Alfred Twining; children: Frederick, William, Charles and Francis B. Twining, the latter of the George P. Ide Company, of Troy.
  4. Eleanor Bird, died November 21, 1880, unmarried.
  5. Maria Louisa, see forward.
  6. Eben, died January 7, 1890, unmarried.
  7. Clara Almira, died December 24, 1898, unmarried.

(VIII) Maria Louisa, daughter of Rufus and Eleanor Ranger (Bird) Barton, was born March 7, 1825. Married, 1847, Alexander Walsh (see Walsh III). Mrs. Walsh is the only surviving member of Rufus Barton's family (1910).

(The Van Wyck Line)

The first of his name to settle in America was Cornelius Bareutse [Barentse?] Van Wyck, of Flatbush, Long Island, probably from "Wyk," in North Brabant. He emigrated in 1650, settled in Flatbush, and was a member of the Dutch colony in 1677; took oath of allegiance 1687. He descended from Chevalier Hendrick Van Wyck, who lived in 1400. In 1575 Jan Van Wyck of the council of Utrecht married Wyander Van Asch, the last of that family. She received her brother's property provided her descendants would join the family arms and carry the name Van Asch Van Wyck. (A descendant, Robert Anderson Van Wyck, was first mayor of greater New York. He was a founder and president of the Holland society, and a lawyer and jurist of high standing.) From her son Jacob, born at Utrecht, 1584, died 1635, married Anna Van Rynevelt, the whole Protestant branch of Van Wycks descend. Cornelius Bareutse married (first) in 1660, Ann, daughter of Rev. Theodorus Polthemius and his wife, Catherine Van Werven; married (second) Jannetyn ————. Seven children.

(II) Theodorus, son of Cornelius Bareutse Van Wyck, was born September 19, 1668, died September 4, 1753. He was of Great Neck, Long Island. He was justice of the peace and supervisor. He married Margareta Brinckerhoff, granddaughter of Joris and Susanna Brinckerhoff. Children: Barent, Cornelius and Theodorus.

(III) Judge Theodorus (2), son of Theodorus (1) and Margareta (Brinckerhoff) Van Wyck, was born October 29, 1697, died 1774. He married Elizabeth Creed, born October 26, 1697, died 1794.

(IV) William, son of Judge Theodorus (2) and Elizabeth (Creed) Van Wyck, was born July 13, 1727, died November 24, 1793. He married Martha Caumen, born May 17, 1732, died July 8, 1772.

(V) Theodorus (3), son of William and Martha (Caumen) Van Wyck, was born May 1, 1757, died February 11, 1823; married Sarah Young, born October 3, 1772, died December 4, 1808. He was of Fishkill, New. York.

(VI) Ann, daughter of Theodorus (3) and Sarah (Young) Van Wyck, was born in Fishkill, New York, July 28, 1789, died March 25, 1825. She married Alexander Walsh (see Walsh II).

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