The Schenectady family of Young herein traced derive ancestry from Rowland Young, of Scotland, born about 1625. He settled at the village of Scotland, (town of York, Maine) so called from the fact that a company of Scotchmen settled there at the time of the civil war in England, and that after the victory of Cromwell over the loyal Scots were driven into exile together with thousands of their countrymen. Rowland Young was admitted a freeman in 1652. He married Joanna ————. His will is dated 1685. His widow made a will in 1698 wherein she mentions her sons, Rowland (2), living "on the south side of York river," Job, who received land "where my old dwelling house now stands," and daughters, Mary Moulton and Lydia Haines.
(II) Rowland (2), son of Rowland (1) and Joanna Young, was born about 1650. He married Susanna ————. His will is dated 1719. Children:
- Joseph, settled in York;
- Beniah;
- Jonathan, see forward;
- Matthew, made his will at York, November 20, 1756, and says, "I have lived to see the fourth generation";
- Mary;
- Susannah;
- Elizabeth;
- Sarah;
- Mercy;
- Rowland (3), probably died before his father; he was engaged in the French war and taken prisoner.
(III) Jonathan, son of Rowland (2) and Susanna Young, was born about 1685. He married, in Dover, New Hampshire, May 12, 1709. His residence was in that part of Dover that afterward became Durham, and six of his children were baptized in the Durham church. His children as recorded at Dover are: Jonathan, see forward; Thomas, married Amy Roberts; Eleazer, Isaac, James, Nathaniel, Abigail, Mary, Elizabeth, Mercy.
(IV) Jonathan (2), son of Jonathan (1) Young, was born in Dover, New Hampshire, June 5, 1710. He removed to Rochester, New Hampshire, where he inherited lands. He and his wife Anna were baptized and owned the covenant in Rochester, June 29, 1740. He married (second) Elizabeth Munroe, August 27, 1747, at Rochester. Children: Hannah, Jean, Ann, Elizabeth, Esther, James, Jonathan (3).
(V) James, son of Jonathan (2) and Anna Young, was baptized at Durham, New Hampshire, September 9, 1744. He married and had sons, including David, see forward.
(VI) David, son of James Young, was born in Stafford, New Hampshire. He was a thrifty farmer, and died at an advanced age. He married Abigail Foss, born in New York state. They removed to Barnstead, New Hampshire, where they died. Among their children were sons:
- Stephen, killed by a premature explosion of powder;
- Solomon, of local fame as a preacher, poet and genius;
- Winthrop, see forward.
(VII) Winthrop, son of David and Abigail (Foss) Young, was born in Barnstead, New Hampshire, March 10, 1792. He learned the trade of shoemaker, and followed it until reaching his majority. He then emigrated to New York state, going to Saratoga, where he secured a farm at Burnt Hills, town of Ballston. He died at Fort House, near the village of Ballston, January 7, 1831. He married, in Saratoga county, Helena Burhans Pawling, born November 28, 1794, in Saratoga county. She survived her husband and died in Illinois in 1876. She was a daughter of Levi and Jane (Wilson) Pawling, and a granddaughter of Colonel Levi and Helena (Burhans) Pawling. Colonel Levi Pawling was a colonel in the revolution, commanding a regiment of Ulster county militia; a member of the provincial congress; first judge of Ulster county, New York, appointed May, 1777, and senator from New York, 1777-82. His will, on record in the surrogate's office, New York City, speaks of wife Helena and children, Albert, Henry, Levi and Margaret. The first mention of the Pawling family is of the marriage of Hendrick Paeldin at Kingston, New York, November, 1676, to Neeltje Roosa, daughter of Albert Heymansen and Wyentje (de Jorge) Roosa. In 1681 the name is written Pawling, and sometimes Paaling and Paling, but the "d" seldom occurs in this branch. The Pawlings were in Kingston and Dutchess county, New York, and in Pennsylvania Major John H. Pawling, a brother of Colonel Levi Pawling, was a noted officer of the revolutionary war. Levi Pawling, son of Colonel Levi Pawling, was born October 12, 1759, at Lansingburg, New York. He moved from Lansingburg to Burnt Hills, Saratoga county, April, 1789, and settled on a farm. All of his children but Jane were born on his farm, and many of his grandchildren. He married, October 16, 1787, Jane Wilson, born in New York City, August 12, 1767, daughter of Alexander and Jane (Armour) Wilson. Alexander Wilson came from Scotland to New York to recover some property of a deceased brother, but died shortly after his arrival. It is a tradition of the family that the Armours were a branch of the Cameron clan of Scotland who changed their name for political reasons. Albert Pawling, eldest brother of Levi and son of Colonel Levi, was also a distinguished officer of the revolution, with a record of efficient service. He was the first mayor of Troy, New York. When General Lafayette last visited the United States, Mrs. Eunice Pawling, wife of Mayor Pawling, presented him with a handsome gold watch. Miss Emma Willard, principal of Troy Female Seminary, accompanied her at the presentation. Henry Pawling, another brother, was also active in the cause of independence, appearing on the records as a captain. He was captured and confined on the prison ships for two years. Children of Levi and Jane (Wilson) Pawling:
- Jane, married Sherwood Leavitt, of Broadalbin, New York.
- Alexander, a volunteer in the war of 1812, which cost him his life.
- Levi (3), married Rachel Randall.
- Helena Burhans, married Winthrop Young.
- William, married Margaret Haynes.
- Nancy, married Jesse Morey (second wife).
- Amanda, married Jesse Morey (first wife).
- Susan Eliza, married Richard C. Davis; removed to Paw Paw, Illinois.
Helena Burhans, wife of Colonel Levi Pawling and grandmother of Mrs. Winthrop Young, was a daughter of William and Grietjen (Ten Eyck) Burhans. William Burhans was baptized at Kingston, New York, March 7, 1686. He took an active part in town affairs, and is of frequent mention in town records. He married (first) Grietjen, daughter of Matthys and Jannetje (Roosa) Ten Eyck and widow of Gerret Newkirk. He married (second) Catharina Koot, widow of Jacobus Van Etten. Helena was the only child of his first marriage. William was fourth of the nine sons of ———— and Helena (Traphagen) Burhans, of German parents, Jan Burhans arriving in America, April 16, 1663, in the ship "Bonte Koe" (Spotted Cow). He was admitted to membership and afterward became an elder of the Reformed Dutch church at Wiltwick (now Kingston, New York). He constantly appears in the records as holding office, etc., and was an important man. He married Helena, daughter of Willem Jansen Traphagen by his first wife Jannetje Claessen Groenvis. He had twelve children, nine sons and three daughters. Jan Burhans was the son of Jacob Burhans, the first of the name in America as far as has been ascertained, and family tradition claims Holland as his birthplace. He first appears March 28, 1660, as a soldier in the service of the Netherlands in the company of his "Noble Honor," the director-general of New Amsterdam. In 1666 he was justice-magistrate (schepen) of the court at Wiltwick, and again in 1667. He held other important public offices, and was evidently a man of note and ability. There is no date or mention of his marriage or death in any public record. No mention is made of children until the arrival of Jan Burhans, at whose admission to the church Jacob officiated as a witness. Jan was admitted under the name Jan Jacobse Burhans, thus according to the custom of those days confirming his parentage. The children of Winthrop and Helena Burhans (Pawling) Young (who unite the blood of England, Scotland, Holland and Germany) are:
- Albert Pawling, born February 7, 1820, died in Illinois, June 27, 1896; married Vesta Maria Spear, of Clintonville, New York; no children.
- Mary Jane, born May 23, 1823, died November 1, 1903, in Schenectady; married Gardner, son of Dr. Fonda, and descendant of Jellise Douw Fonda; no issue.
- David W., born March 10, 1825, died in Iowa, December 26, 1897; married, August 11, 1849, Phoebe Annice Sprague; no issue.
- Levi Armour, see forward.
(VIII) Levi Armour, youngest child of Winthrop and Helena Burhans (Pawling) Young, was born at Burnt Hills, Saratoga county, New York, February 27, 1827. In young manhood he received an injury which later necessitated amputation. This precluded all idea of an active life and turned his thoughts toward education and sedentary occupation. He obtained a good education, was clerk for a time, then began teaching, first in the Schenectady schools, where he was very successful as an educator. He was then elected to a chair in Fergusonville Academy, where he continued for several years. After he had accumulated by close economy sufficient capital he retired from pedagogy, and opened a large store in Schenectady for the sale of books and stationery; later, musical books, sheet music and instruments. In time his musical department became the leading, and later the exclusive, feature of his business. He continued at the head of his large enterprise until 1890 when he incorporated under the name of "The George A. Cassidy Company," serving as president of the company. He is still active in the management and devoted to his business, which has assumed very large proportions. He is an active member of the Reformed church, especially interested in Sunday school work, teacher for several years. He is a Republican, and was secretary of the first meeting called in Schenectady to organize under the flag of the new party. He has been a trustee of the Young Men's Christian Association since organization, and there is but one older than he now living who were original charter members of the association. He married, February 6, 1853, Isabella Anderson, born in Schenectady, July 21, 1830, daughter of Andrew and Cornelia (De Forest) White. Andrew White was born in Ireland, April 23, 1790; came to the United States when a lad of twelve years with his parents; died in Schenectady, October 15, 1872; married Cornelia De Forest, a lifelong resident of Schenectady and descendant of an early family, July 2, 1795. Mrs. Isabella A. Young is a devoted member of the Reformed church, and is an active, energetic woman despite her years, eighty. Children of Levi A. and Isabella A. (White) Young:
- Helena, born February 27, 1860, died July 30, 1862.
- Andrew, born December 13, 1862, died September 26, 1867.
- Della, born February 2, 1872; married, April 28, 1896, George T. Hughes, graduate of Union University, A. B., 1896; city editor, now assistant editor of the New York Mail and Express; they reside in Plainfield, New Jersey; he is a son of Rev. William H. Hughes, of Mechanicsville, New York. Children: Helena, born March 17, 1897; Lucy and Carroll, born December 25, 1898.