John Yelverton was one of the early settlers of the town of Goshen, Orange county, New York. The deed of trust from John Carpenter, John Everett and others to Yelverton is dated July 10, 1721. The first settlement in Goshen was made by Christopher Denn in 1712, and John Yelverton was among the first who bought land and settled there. He was born in England, came to this country when a young man, and resided a part of the time in Goshen, and a part in New Windsor, where he owned a sloop and traded with New York. His will is dated 1760, at which time he lived in New Windsor. In 1751 he founded the village of Chester. He purchased the site of the village in that year from James Ensign. The Yelvertons originally came from Wales to England and settled first in this country on Long Island, from there going to Goshen on foot through the forest. John, the first settler, was a carpenter. His children were John, Anthony, Thomas, James and several daughters.
(II) Anthony, son of John Yelverton, was born in Goshen, Orange county, New York, March 3, 1743. He was a successful farmer. He married and had issue.
(III) Abijah, son of Anthony Yelverton, was born in Chester, Orange county, New York, about 1765. He married and had sons, John, Abijah, Anthony and a daughter, Sarah, who married Abram Westerfelt.
(IV) Anthony (2), son of Abijah Yelverton, was born in Chester, Orange county, New York, about 1790, died December 9, 1849. He was a well-to-do, successful farmer. He married, in 1812, Rachel Harper, born November 1, 1780, died October 21, 1863.
(V) John Harper, son of Anthony and Rachel (Harper) Yelverton, was born in Chester, Orange county, New York, March 18, 1815. He was gored by a bull on his own farm in Orange county and killed, January 4, 1849. He married, January 4, 1843, Mary W. Board. Children:
- Thomas, see forward;
- Eugenia, born March, 1845, married John Edsall. She resides in Plainfield, New Jersey, and has a son John Edsall (2).
(VI) Thomas, son of John Harper and Mary W. (Board) Yelverton, was born in Chester, Orange county, October 24, 1845, died May 13, 1888. He came to Schenectady and entered Union College, where he was graduated, class of 1866. Soon after his gradnation he moved to Kansas where he located in Lawrence. He remained west for several years, then returned east and settled in New York state at Fort Edward, Washington county, and engaged in the hardware business. He later removed to Schenectady where he was in mercantile business until 1882, when he was elected clerk of Schenectady county. He was re-elected in 1884, and died before his second term expired. He was a man of high character, a capable public official with a charm of manner that made him many friends. He was an active, influential Republican, and contributed largely to the party's success. He was a member and elder of the First Presbyterian church, and a Master Mason. He married Leah L. Walker, born in Schenectady, April 21, 1845. (See Walker family.) She was an active member of the Presbyterian church and a faithful Christian. Children:
- James Walker, see forward.
- Edward Ellis, born in Schenectady, August 10, 1873; educated in Union Classical Institute; purchased the established insurance business of H. W. Demington, which he has since continued. He is a Republican in politics, member of St. George's Lodge, F. and A. M., the B. P. O. E. and the Improved Order of Red Men. He married Bertha Russell, daughter of Daniel Russell of Dunkirk, New York.
- Thomas Earl, born February, 1876. He is engaged in the drug business in Schenectady; unmarried; a Republican in politics, and a member of the B. P. O. E.
- Frank Crane, born July 4, 1878; engaged with his brother in the drug business, and is unmarried. He is a member of St. George's Lodge F. and A. M., the B. P. O. E. and is a Republican in politics.
- Allan Corbett, died at the age of three years.
(VII) James Walker, eldest son of Thomas and Leah L. (Walker) Yelverton, was born in Schenectady, New York, May 16, 1869. He was educated at the Union Classical Institute, Schenectady, and is chiefly engaged in caring for his own and wife's estate. He is a Republican in politics. He is a member of the Mohawk Club and the Mohawk Golf Club of Schenectady; of the leading fraternal and social organizations of the city, including the County Historical Society, in which he is deeply interested. He married, November 30, 1901, in Schenectady, Mary Cochran (Ellis) Veeder, daughter of Charles G. Ellis, of Schenectady (see Ellis family), and widow of Harmon W. Veeder, to whom she bore a daughter, Mary E. E. Veeder. James W. and Mary Cochran (Ellis) Yelverton have a daughter, Ruth Ellis, born March 30, 1903.