Jan Thomas Van Witbeck, born at Witbeck in Holstein (formerly a duchy of Denmark) was of Beverwyck in 1652. The name as first used was Van Witbeck (from Witbeck), the Van was soon dropped and Witbeck alone used as a surname. The name is written both Witbeck and Whitbeck, but the first of the name recorded in Albany is Jan Thomas Van Witbeck, who from 1652, when Beverwyck was laid out, to 1678, was the most considerable dealer in house lots in the village. In 1664, in company with Volkert Jan Douw, he bought the whole of Apjas or Schotack and the mainland opposite on the east side of the Hudson river from the Indians. He married Geertruy Andriese Dochter in New Amsterdam. Children: Andries Janse, Johannes, Lucas, Hendrick, Jonathan, Thomas, Catharina, married Jacob Sanderse, of Glen, and in 1696 married (second) Jonas Volkertse Douw.
(II) Andries Janse Witbeck, son of Jan Thomas and Geertruy Andriese (Dochter) Van Witbeck, married Engeltje Volkertse Douw. Children and dates of baptism:
- Andries, died young;
- Lucas, January 16, 1687;
- Jan, of further mention;
- Willetje, June 30, 1689;
- Andries, January 1, 1692;
- Geertruy, December 26, 1694;
- Dorothee, January 1, 1698;
- Jonas, November 10, 1700.
(III) Jan, son of Andries Janse and Engeltje Volkertse (Douw) Witbeck, was baptized April 24, 1687. He married (first) Agnietje Bronck; (second) January 9, 1726, Maria Williams. Children and dates of baptism:
- Andries, July 4, 1707;
- Lena, March 27, 1709;
- Jan, September 27, 1713;
- Volkert, of further mention;
- Pieter, May 6, 1722;
- Agnietje, October 8, 1827.
(IV) Volkert, son of Jan and Agnietje (Bronck) Witbeck, was baptized August 10, 1718, died 1802. He was of Red Hook, New York. He held the commission of lieutenant in Captain Hoffman's company, dated February 27, 1757, signed by Henry Livingston, clerk of Dutchess county. He married and had issue.
(V) John, son of Volkert Whitbeck (as the name was now written), was born April 13, 1747, died at Claverack, Columbia county, New York, and is buried in the old Dutch church in that place. He married Elizabeth Delameter, born January 31, 1746. He is said to have been an officer of the revolutionary army. Children:
- Volkert, born February 10, 1770;
- John, of further mention;
- Peter, twin of John;
- Jeremiah, May 26, 1776;
- Dolly, January 30, 1778;
- Harman, August 18, 1780;
- Jacob, March 30, 1784.
(VI) Major John (2), son of John (1) and Elizabeth (Delameter) Whitbeck, was born June 16, 1772, died April 15, 1859. He lived at Claverack, where he died and is buried. He learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed in connection with his farming operations. He was an officer of the war of 1812, ranking as major. He married Maria Decker, born December 30, 1772, died April 28, 1854, daughter of George Decker. Children:
- Maria, born October 27, 1797;
- John, October 18, 1799;
- Volkert, of further mention;
- Jacob, February 24, 1805;
- Elizabeth, July 12, 1807;
- Cornelia, twin of Elizabeth;
- Jane, April 14, 1811;
- Dorothy Augustina, June 24, 1817;
- John Henry, April 4, 1823;
- Calvin Augustus, May 22, 1825.
(VII) Dr. Volkert Whitbeck, son of Major John (2) and Maria (Decker) Whitbeck, was born in Claverack, New York, January 24, 1802, died in Hudson, New York, in 1887. He was educated at Hudson Academy, later in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He prepared for the profession of medicine and was graduated M.D. in 1835. After practicing in Greenport and Rhinebeck, New York, for a short time he settled in Hudson, where for a period of half a century he was the leading physician and surgeon. He had an extensive practice in and around Hudson, being well known as a skillful surgeon and medical authority. He was a member of the State and County Medical associations, taking an active part in their meetings and deliberations. He was health official of the city, where he held high position. He was interested in the National Guard of his state and held the rank of captain of artillery, his battery being located at Hudson. He served his city as alderman and supervisor, rendering efficient service. Politically he was a Whig, which had been the previous family politics. He attended the Dutch church. He married (first): ———— Sharp; (second) Caroline, daughter of Captain Jacob and Gertrude (Schermerhorn) Rockefeller. Jacob Rockefeller died about 1858, in the town of Claverack, New York. He was survived by four children, namely:
- Seth I., a resident of Greenport, later in New York;
- Caroline, aforementioned as wife of Volkert Whitbeck, of Hudson;
- Harriet, wife of Peter Best, of Claverack, New York;
- Catherine M., of Claverack, New York.
Gertrude was a daughter of Riah [Reyer?] Schermerhorn, who with his father owned a flour mill located on the Hudson at Rhinebeck that was burned by the English soldiers. Riah's father emigrated from Holland, where Riah returned and became a man of importance. The family have a portrait of him in his court dress and letters describing balls and functions he attended at the Dutch court. He started on his return to America, but was taken sick on board and compelled to go back to land, where he soon died. He left a will leaving a considerable fortune, including money and valuables on his person when leaving the ship that could never be found. Children of Dr. Volkert and Caroline Whitbeck:
- Jacob R., born in Greenport (near Hudson), New York; became a dry goods merchant of Hudson; was a Whig, later a Republican; an attendant of the Dutch Reformed church; married Caroline Gifford, of Hudson; children:
- Willis Kendall, died in Brooklyn, New York, where he was engaged in the plumbing business;
- George, now in jewelry business in Brooklyn;
- Caroline, unmarried.
- Dr. Ansel McKinstry, a physician of Brooklyn; practiced in Hudson and Albany, New York, before settling in Brooklyn; resides at 515 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn; he married Emma Ellis; child,
- Ansel McKinstry (2), of Detroit, Michigan.
- John Volkert, born April 8, 1838, at Rhinebeck, died June 29, 1907, at Hudson; he was a graduate of the Albany Law School, LL.B.; was justice of the peace; surrogate of Columbia county, 1896; president of the school board in Hudson; captain of Company A, One hundred and twenty-eighth Regiment New York Volunteers; assistant quartermaster-general on staff of General N. P. Banks, served three years in civil war and saw much hard service, wounded at New Orleans and compelled to return home, never fully recovered; was past master of Aquilla Lodge, No. 700, Free and Accepted Masons; a member of the Grand Army of the Republic; he married Harriet Anna Ham, granddaughter of Rev. Herman Vedder and daughter of Colonel Henry H. Ham, who was born in Dutchess county, July 7, 1818, died at Pine Plains, August 5, 1895. Colonel Henry H. Ham married Clarissa Antoinette Esselstyn, born April 27, 1818, died September 9, 1872. Children of John Volkert and Harriet A. (Ham) Whitbeck:
- Antoinette Vedder, married Charles Benedict; child,
- Harriet A., deceased.
- Ellogeane Ridner, married Abraham Vosburgh.
- Henry Ham, born June 1, 1875, resident of Hudson;
- John Volkert (2), born June 2, 1878, a graduate of Albany Law School, 1900, L.L. B.; city judge of Hudson, 1907; prominent in law, politics and fraternal orders; married, October, 1902, Gertrude McEntee Hoysradt; children:
- Elizabeth, and
- John Volkert, born March 14, 1905.
- Antoinette Vedder, married Charles Benedict; child,
- Volkert, of further mention.
- Sherwood, born September 5, 1843, died October 1, 1844.
- Ellogeane, born November 22, 1845, died June 27, 1887; married Joseph H. Ridner.
- Charles, of further mention.
- Gertrude, born August 24, 1850; married Edgar E. Wright.
(VIII) Volkert (3), fourth child of Dr. Volkert (2) and Caroline (Rockefeller) Whitbeck, was born in Hudson, November 28, 1840. He was educated in the district schools and Hudson Academy, April 18, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Fourteenth Regiment, New York Volunteers, served two years, and was honorably discharged with the rank of first sergeant. He served in the Peninsula campaign with the Army of the Potomac two years, was in the seven days' battles under General McClellan at Chancellorsville, under General Hooker at Fredericksburg, where he received a slight wound. He saw much hard service, as these battles testify. After his discharge from the army he returned to Hudson. In 1863 he engaged in photography in that city, an art he still continues, having the leading studio in the city. He was one of the organizers of the Cowles Guard and captain for several years, and served as police commissioner five years. He is one of the oldest members of the Masonic fraternity in Hudson. He attends the Reformed church, and is a member of the Hudson Club. Politically he is a Republican.
(VIII) Charles, son of Dr. Volkert (2) and Caroline (Rockefeller) Whitbeck, was born in Hudson, New York, April 3, 1848. He was educated in the public schools and at Bradbury School. He chose the profession of law, but never engaged in practice. For twelve years he was engaged in the insurance business in Hudson. For three years he conducted a retail coal yard. In 1879 he was elected clerk of Columbia county and served as such three years. In company with George C. Power, as the Hudson River Bridge Company, engaged in the manufacture of iron and steel bridges and built up a large and prosperous business, continuing five years. Through the failure of the Catskill railroad to meet a payment of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, the Hudson River Bridge Company was forced to the wall. After ten years as a dealer in cotton, he organized the Athens Knitting Company for the manufacture of knit underwear. He was secretary, treasurer and manager of the company which has had a prosperous career. The company was organized in 1897, with factory at Athens. Mr. Whitbeck continues (1911) in the same office mentioned. He is president of the Hudson and Catskill Ferry Company and secretary, treasurer, and superintendent of the Hudson and Athens Ferry Company. He is a Republican in politics, and served as alderman of Hudson. He is a member of the Dutch Reformed church, of the Masonic fraternity of Hudson, and a member and ex-president of the Hudson Club. He married, September 17, 1874, Margaret, daughter of George H. and Adeline (Coffin) Power. Children:
- Charles, born July 4, 1875, died July 28, 1875.
- George Power, born 1876; a graduate of Hudson high school, engaged with his grandfather, George H. Power, and for three years was with him in New York & Hudson Steamboat Company; in 1897 he went with his father and is now superintendent of the Athens Knitting Company; he married Mrs. Millie Harrington, daughter of Aaron Vanderpoel.
- Adele, born 1879, died 1886.
- Dr. Sherwood Volkert.
- Katherine Power, a graduate of Hudson high school.
(IX) Dr. Sherwood Volkert Whitbeck, son of Charles and Margaret (Power) Whitbeck, was born in Hudson, December 26, 1879. He was educated in the public schools, a graduate of Hudson high school, 1896, graduate of College of Physicians and Surgeons, was two years at the Roosevelt Hospital, and at Sloan Maternity Hospital three months. In 1904 established in Hudson in general practice, specializing in surgery. He served in the New York National Guard one year. He is a Republican in politics. He is a member of the Hudson board of health, surgeon of the City Hospital, consulting physician and surgeon of New York State Training School for girls, a member and vestryman of the Christ Episcopal Church, a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Elks Club, the Alumni Association of Roosevelt and Sloan Maternity Hospitals of New York City, Columbia County Society of New York. American Medical, New York State, and Columbia County Medical societies. He married, April 12, 1904, at Hudson, Caroline, daughter of Albert Hoysradt, and granddaughter of Jacob Warren Hoysradt.
Jacob Warren Hoysradt, grandfather of Caroline (Hoysradt) Whitbeck, was born in Columbia county, New York, died in Hudson, New York, where he resided, October, 1890. He married Caroline Lucinda McArthur. Children:
- Albert, see forward.
- Charles, died in infancy.
- Arthur died in infancy.
- Grace, married Dr. William Stanton Gleason (always known as Dr. Stanton Gleason), graduate of New York University, medical department; resides at Newburg, New York; child,
- Charles B. Gleason, born June 22, 1890, graduate of Hotchkiss Preparatory School, sophomore at Yale, 1908.
- Jessie, married Dr. Theodore Von Riempst; resides in Boston. Florence, married Dr. Clark E. Rossman.
- Warren Jacob, born December 7, 1878; graduate of Yale; engaged in mercantile business in New York City; resides in Lawrence Park, New York; married Ethel Wolf, of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; children:
- John McArthur, born October, 1904, and
- Eleanor.
Albert Hoysradt, father of Caroline (Hoysradt) Whitbeck, was born in Hudson, New York, February, 1854, died there in December, 1896. He was a graduate of Yale, receiving therefrom the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1877; he was a member of the Skull and Bones fraternity. He served as attorney for Hudson, in which capacity he fulfilled faithfully all the duties required of him, also served as county recorder, and was nominated for the office of mayor, but was defeated by his Democratic opponent. He was highly esteemed in his native town, in the affairs of which he took an active and leading part. He married, July 10, 1877, at Hudson, Alice, daughter of William Henry and Cordelia (Newland) Gifford, and granddaughter of Elihu Gifford. Children:
- Caroline, married April 12, 1904, Dr. Sherwood Volkert Whitbeck (see Whitbeck).
- Gertrude McArthur, married, October 8, 1902, Judge John Volkert Whitbeck.
- Sanford Gifford, born July 28, 1882; resides in Hudson.
- Marjorie, born June 1, 1886, died August 7, 1902.
Children of Dr. Sherwood Volkert and Caroline (Hoysradt) Whitbeck:
- Mary Gifford;
- Volkert Sherwood, born January 30, 1910.