Coppernoll Ancestors 1650 to 1882

Leah Van Slyke was born in 1650 as the daughter of a Indian half-breed, Ots-hosh, and a German trader, Cornelius Anthonissen Van Slyck. Her grandmother, Ots-hosh, was an Iroquois princess and her grandfather, Jacques Hartell, was a French fur trader. Trade in furs developed virtually with the first contacts between the French and the Indians. Samuel de Champlain came to Canada in 1603 convinced that the St. Lawrence offered a route to the "South Seas.". He founded Quebec and blazed the way to the Great Lakes. The French were more interested in the furs than in settlement, and traded with the Indians.

Jacques Hartell migrated to Canada about 1615. There he was employed by Champlain to serve as an interpreter and agent with the Indians before becoming a fur trader. Jacques was born at Fecamp, in the Caux Count of Normandy, in 1603. He was the son of Nicolas and Jane Miriot. About 1620 as a French trader, Jacques Hartell, came from Montreal, Canada, into the Mohawk Valley and had a romance with a Mohawk Princess known as the "Queen of Hog Island. She was the daughter of the Old Chief at the Great Castle at Canajoharie; she owned the island in the Mohawk River at Schenectady. Jacques and his Iroquois wife were parents of two daughters; one called Ots-hosh and the other Nenute. Ots-hosh was born about 1621. It is said that Ots-hosh inherited the dusky Indian beauty of her mother, together with the wild savage nature of the Iroquois.

In July 1624, six delegates from Five Nations of Iroquois came to propose a treaty of peace. Shortly after, 35 Iroquois canoes came down the Richelieu River to barter furs with Jacques for the first time. In 1633, Jacques was granted a 200 acre tract of land at Trois-Riveres. Three years later Jacque was granted two other estates. [I don't know what happened to his Iroquois wife but... I assume Ots-hosh remained with her Indian mother while Jacques went on to "bigger and better things] On 26 August 1641 Jacques married Marie Marquerie, who bore him three children. Jacques died on 10 August 1651.

Cornelius Anthonissen Van Slyck was born in 1604, and came from Utrecht, Holland in 1630. He was a carpenter and a mason from Bruckelen (near Ultrecht) in the Netherlands. He was one of the independent traders who emigrated aboard the "Eendracht" (Unity), arriving at New Amsterdam (New York City) on 24 May 1630. He was living at Cohoes in 1640, and leased a farm north of Albany NY. Cornelius could be found farming at the Cohoes Falls. Cornelius married Ots-hosh and lived among the Mohawks at the Great Castle near Canajoharie (also known as Indian Castle). The Indians called Cornelius "Broer Cornelius. In addition "Broer Cornelis" engaged in fur trading and enjoyed great prestige among the tribesmen.

The Dutch West India Company was chartered in 1621 which conferred a trading monopoly and the right to colonize in the new world. Colonists were divided into two classes. Free colonists received transportation, seeds, cattle, and the necessities of life for the first two years and could own their own homesteads. Indentured husbandmen were required to work for a stipulated term on the Company's own farms (bouweries). Trading with outsiders was prohibited, and export trade was confined to the Company. The Company would purchase land which was empowered to grant land to the settlers. William Kiefft was appointed director in 1637. In 1646, Director Kiefft gave Cornelius a patent for the land at Catskill, in recognition of his services to Kiefft as a peacemaker among the Indians. Cornelius also owned land near Cohoes. Cornelius also received other land grants from the Mohawks.

Cornelius and Ots-hosh had five children. Cornelius and Ots-hosh's first son, Jacques, was born in 1640 at the Great Indian Castle. He was called Aques Comllyssen by the Indians. He married Margaret Jans Ryokman. He died about 1690, and had nine children. A second son, Marten Mauice was born and married an Indian girl. He lived among the Indians as an interpreter and witnessed the 1661 deed of sale at Schenectady. He inherited Hog Island from his mother. He died in 1662. A third son, named Cornelius was born in 1643 and died young in 1649.A daughter, Hilletje (Alice) was born. She was a devoted Christian and was raised among the Mohawks. She was educated at Albany and Schenectady, and acted as an interpreter. Leah VanSlyke, youngest daughter of Cornelius and Ots-hosh, was born in 1650. Leah was also a devote Christian, who was also well educated and acted as an interpreter.  Cornelius was their youngest child born in 1658, and died very young.

Cornelius and Ots-hosh lived at Beverwyck, NY from 1659 to 1668 and then moved back to Indian Castle at Canajoharie, NY. Ots-hosh's death date is unknown, but it is said that she is buried on VanSlyke Island ( in the Mohawk River opposite Schenectady, NY, and is now known as Hog Island. Remember her mother was a Mohawk Princess known as the "Queen of Hog Island. Cornelius died in 1676.

As a Christian, Leah Van Slyck gave the early missionaries much help in their work among the Indians as well as the early settlers. She often served as an interpreter at the Indian Conferences at Fort Orange. Her signature is found on many old deeds.

Class [Nicholas] Williams Van Coppernoll was born in Belgium or Holland to Jan Van Coppernoll who was a farmer in Ramsen, Holland. In February of 1659, Class and his family emigrated to America aboard the "Faith" and settled in the Mohawk Valley. Some time during the 1670s, Leah Van Slyke and Class were married. On 18 June 1678, Class and his half-breed wife, Leah, contracted to serve Jan Conell for one year, on his farm at Catskill. In April, 1679, Class and Leah leased a farm from William Tiller, at Schenectady, NY.

In 1685, Gov. Dongan granted Class and Pieter Van Olinda 266 acres of land below Port Jackson, known as Willow Flatts, on the south side of the Mohawk River. There, Class and Leah settled. Their son, William Van Slyke Coppernoll, was born at Willow Flatts in March 1688. In 1689, Class Coppernoll sold his interest in Willow Flatts and moved to the north side of the river.

Something happened to Class between 1689 and 1692. He may have been killed during the massacre of Schenectady in 1690. As a result of the outbreak of King William's War (War of the League of Augburg, 1689), hostilities broke out in America between the English and French on the Hudson Bay and between the Iroquois and the French in the area from the Mohawk Valley to the St. Lawrence. The French struck with their Indian allies along the northern frontier with raids throughout New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine. On February 9, 1690, a mixed force of French and Indians raided and burned Schenectady N.H. Leah was left a widow [or a woman with a missing husband] with a baby son.

William Coppernoll was baptized at Stone Arabia on 22 May 1691. About 1712 William Van Slyke Coppernoll married Engeltien (Angelica) Lantgreaf. Engeltien (Angelica) Lantgraef came to America with her family in 1708 along with Rev. Joshua Kocherthal and other refugees from the German Palatine. The Lantgraefs settled at Schoharie, New York.

On 5 June 1714, William and Angelica Coppernoll purchased property at Schenectady. William Coppernoll served in the Indian War of 1715 in Foot Company of Schenectady. William and Angelica had only two sons. Class (Nicolas) Coppernoll was born in 1714 and baptized at Schenectady. Jurrien (George) Coppernoll was born in 1716 and baptized at the First Reformed Church of Schenectady. William was listed as a freeholder at Schenectady in 1720.

William Coppernoll moved his family from Schenectady to Stone Arabia about 1730 as one of the pioneer families there. He drew Lots #20 and #59 of the original patent. In 1731 William sold 50 acres that later became the Stone Arabia Reformed Church built about 1735 and the Lutheran Church built in 1745. William Coppernoll died at Stone Arabia on 24 December 1787, and all of the Mohawk Valley Coppernoll's are his descendants.

The Loucks family had also settled in Stone Arabia. Johann Loucks received three lots which consisted of 300 acres. The Loucks family consisted of two daughters and seven sons. Anna Elisabeth Loucks was born at Stone Arabia about 1718; her sister, the youngest of the family, was born about 1726.

George Coppernoll married Anna Elisabeth Loucks on 28 January 1740 at the Stone Arabia Reformed Church. George and Elisabeth Coppernoll lived at Stone Arabia and had eleven children. Three of their children died young. Children that were born later were named for the children who died. Dirck was born in April 1748 and was named after his brother who was born in 1744 who died young; Wilhelm was born in 1750 and was named after William who was born in 1742; Adam was born in 1759 and named after Adam who was born in 1755. Nicolaus Coppernoll was born in 1752 and named for himself. After Nicolas came four more children: Wilhelm was born about 1750, Adam was born on 6 August 1755,and died young, Eve was born about 1756, and Adam was born about 1759. Nicolaus Coppernoll grew up at Stone Arabia with his seven younger siblings. Nicolaus Coppernoll married Elisabeth (Maria) Reid in 1770 .

Nicolaus Coppernoll served in the Revolutionary War as an Ensign and later as a Lieutenant in Col. Jacob Klock's 2nd Regiment, Tryon County Militia. Major Nicolaus Coppernoll is recorded in the Fort Plain Reformed Church records as having died on 8 March 1825, while Elizabeth died on 11 February 1828.

Nicholas and Elisabeth Coppernoll's first child, Andrew was born in January 1779. John N. Coppernoll was born about 1780. Between 1779 and 1801 Nicolaus and Elizabeth had eight children. Around 1782 the Coppernolls were living at the German Flatts in New York. Their one son, who was born on 8 April 1788, married in 1810 to Margaret Van Slyke.

John N. Coppernoll married about 1805 to Margaret Lipe, who was the daughter of Johannes Lipe and Elizabeth Lambert. Their first child, Elizabeth, is recorded as being born at Stone Arabia on 31 October 1804.[it probably was 1805]. They had eleven children all together; six of the children died young.

After Elizabeth, came John in 1807. James Coppernoll was born in 1809, Maria in 1811, Josiah in 1814. Josiah died young. The next child born in 1815 died on 23 July 1816 at the age of 10 months. Nicolas Adam Lipe was born on 2 April 1817, and another child was born on 29 March 1818. Twins, Margaret Ann and William Henry, were born on 15 September 1819. One of the twins, Margaret Ann, died on 23 July 1820 at the age of ten months. The other twin, William Henry, also died young. The youngest child, Henry, was born on 21 August 1821.Nicolas died On 29 September 1822 Nicolas died at the age of five, and another child died at the age of four. Illness or accident [or maybe the Indians] must have struck the Coppernoll children.

John and Margaret Coppernoll lived at Palatine, N.Y. between 1820 and 1840. John and Margaret had buried six of their children. The surviving five children grew up and married at Palatine NY. John Coppernoll died at Palatine in 1840.

Margretha Lipe was born at Stone Arabia on 4 September 1782. She was the oldest of ten children and her father, Johannes Lipe, was a farmer. Johannes Adam Lipe was born at Stone Arabia on 1 October 1767 and baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church on 11 October 1767. His parents were Adam and Elizabeth (Mathiews) Lipe, who lived in Stone Arabia. Johannes Adam Lipe married in the Dutch Reformed Church at Fort Plain, Minden, Montgomery Co., New York on 11 November 1788 to Elizabeth Lampert (Lambert). She was born on 24 April 1768 to Peter Lambert. Johannes Lipe was a farmer.

Adam Lipe was born about 1740 and married Elizabeth Mathiews. His parents were Catharine and Casper Leyp. Adam was the oldest of six children; his youngest sister, Anna Maria was born in 1766. On September 1731, Hartmann Windecker, Conrad Countryman and Casper Leyp obtained a patent for 2000 acres of land on the south side of the Mohawk River, and west of Fort Plain N.Y. This land was purchased from several Indian Chiefs on 8 October 1730. The tract was then known as `Dutchtown'. Casper made his will on 4 August 1775, and it was probated on 16 November 1782. Adam Lipe was a Captain in Col. Samuel Clyde's Canajoharie Regiment of the Tryon County Militia in the Revolutionary War. Adam and his wife Elizabeth lived in Stone Arabia. Their son, Johannes Adam Lipe was born at Stone Arabia on 1 October 1767 and baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church. Johannes Adam Lipe married in the Dutch Reformed Church at Fort Plain, Minden, Montgomery Co., New York on 11 November 1788 to Elizabeth Lampert (Lambert). She was born on 24 April 1768 to Peter Lambert. Johannes Lipe was a farmer. Johannes and Elizabeth Lipe had ten children. Their first born was Margretha - our ancestor - was born in 1782. Margretha Lipe was born at Stone Arabia on 4 September 1782. She was the oldest of ten children and her father was a farmer. Margretha Lipe married about 1805 to John N. Coppernoll. They had eleven children, including our ancestor - James Coppernoll. Johannes Adam Lipe died about 1813.

Back to the Coppernolls . . . . .

James Coppernoll was born on 16 February 1809 and was baptized at the Reformed Church of Stone Arabia on 5 March 1809. He was the third child of eleven born to John N. Coppernoll and Margaret (Lipe) Coppernoll. Six of John's younger brothers/sisters died between 1814 and 1822. The Coppernolls lived at Palatine, N.Y. after 1820. James' father, John Coppernoll, died in 1840.

James Coppernoll married at Palatine, N.Y., on 6 March 1834 to Nancy Catherine Strayer. The Strayers and Coppernolls were neighbors in Stone Arabia. Nancy Strayer was the third child of Margaret and John Strayer, who had nine children. Nancy was born at Cherry Valley NY on 4 July 1811.

James and Nancy (Strayer) Coppernoll had five children: James was born in 1835, Mary Margaret was born on 18 October 1836, and baptized on 4 December 1836. Nancy Catherine Coppernoll - our ancestor - was born in 1838. Lavina was born on 26 October 1840, and John was born on 8 October 1842.

James and Nancy Coppernoll bought property at Stone Arabia in 1843, across from the Reformed Church. James Coppernoll died on 13 December 1846. Nancy (Strayer) Coppernoll was left a widow with five children between the ages of eight and one. After James' death, Nancy lived with her brother-in-law, Henry ?, for several years. Henry Coppernoll was James' youngest brother, who was born in 1821.

John Strayer Jr. was born at Stone Arabia on 19 July 1786. He was the next to youngest of seven children born to John Burke Strayer and Maria Schultz Strayer. The Strayers and Diefendorfs were neighbors in Stone Arabia NY. John Strayer Jr. married on 28 January 1806 to Margaret Diefendorf. She was born on 13 May 1787 to Jacob Diefendorf and Christina Windecker. They had at least ten children. Mary Ann was born on 22 March 1807, and John III was born on 18 March 1809, and died in 1812. Nancy Strayer - our ancestor - was born in 1811, Margaret ("Bekky" or Peggy) was born on 20 December 1813, and Catharina was born 25 January 1816, and Elizabeth was born on 3 July 1818, and Lavina (or Leveine) was born on 12 July 1820, and Joseph (Josiah) was born on 23 May 1822, and Jeremiah was born on 25 May 1830. Margaret Diefendorf Strayer died on 28 December 1857, while John Strayer Jr. lived until 15 February 1871. Both were buried at the cemetery on their farm. Nancy (Strayer) Coppernoll died on 9 January 1908.

John Burkhardt Strayer was born, at Stone Arabia, N.Y., in 1744. He married on 8 July 1770 to Maria Schultz, who was born at Stone Arabia about 1750 to Jacob and Dorothea Schultz. [It seems to be unknown when the first Strayers came to America.] John served in the Revolutionary War in Christopher Fox's Company, in Col. Jacob Klock's Regiment, of the Tryon County Militia of New York. John Strayer died at Stone Arabia on 24 October 1800 and is buried at the Old Stone Arabia Church yard (his will was inventoried on 15 November 1800). Maria married again to George Wagner and died at Palatine on 10 March 1831. She is buried on the farm of John Strayer Jr.. Maria and John had eight children, all born at Stone Arabia:

Catharina was born on 2 October 1770. Anna was born on 31 May 1773; next came Maria who married Frederick Getman. Christina was born in 1775. Nancy was born on 24 May 1779. Elizabeth was born at Stone Arabia on 28 July 1782. John - our ancestor - was born in 1786. Margaretha Strayer was born on 5 April 1793; she married John Coppernoll, who was the grandfather of Nancy Coppernoll.

Nancy Catherine Coppernoll was born on 8 November 1838, and was baptized at the Lutheran Trinity Church at Stone Arabia on 18 November 1838. Nancy was the middle of five children born to James and Nancy (Strayer) Coppernoll. had five children: James was born in 1835, Mary Margaret was born on 18 October 1836, Lavina was born on 26 October 1840, and John was born on 8 October 1842.

Coppernolls lived Stone Arabia, across from the Reformed Church. The Coppernolls and the DeWandelaers were neighbors. Nancy's father, James Coppernoll, died on 13 December 1846. Nancy was only three years old at the time. Her mother was left a widow with five children between the ages of eight and one. After James' death, the Coppernolls lived with her uncle Henry ? for several years. Henry Coppernoll was James' youngest brother, who was born in 1821.

When Nancy was eighteen she married John Adams DeWandelaer. She married on 30 September 1856. John Adams DeWandelaer was born on 16 November 1834 to Gansevoort P. DeWandelaer and Delia Getman. John DeWandelaer enlisted in the Union Army on 1 September 1862 and fought in many engagements. He was wounded and was mustered out as a Captain on 2 October 1865.

After twenty-two years of marriage, John Adams DeWandelaer divorced Nancy and remarried Francis Campbell. Nancy was left with five children. Their oldest son, Delmar J. DeWandelaer, was twenty-one years old and married at the time but their youngest child, Melvin, was only a baby.

Delmar DeWandelaer and his bride moved to Ft. Plain NY. Apparently at some point in time, Nancy Coppernoll DeWandelaer left Stone Arabia and moved to Ft. Plain NY. Her oldest daughter, Florence, married Marvin Weller in 1879. The Wellers were an old Ft. Plain family. Florence DeWandelaer Weller was the grandmother of Louise Pitcher Greene [Ann Greene's step-mother]. Grandma Weller lived with the Greene's for the later years of her life.

Nancy Coppernoll DeWandelaer died on 1 October 1882 and is buried at Fort Plain, N.Y..

Just a few words about the Diefendorf and Windecker families ....

Johannes Jacob Diefendorf was born at Switzerland about 1700. Records indicate that Johannes came to America with his father, his five year old and one year old brothers Jacob and Henry. They sailed aboard the ship "Lyon". The "Lyon" landed at Nutton's Island on 3 June 1710. Little is known about the Diefendorf family between 1710 and 1725. Henry Diefendorf settled at the town of Root, Montgomery County, New York, while Johannes settled at Frey's Bush in Minden, New York.

Johannes Jacob Diefendorf married Elizabeth Keller in 1725 at the Mohawk Valley. They settled in the town of Minden, Montgomery County NY, which is about two miles from Ft. Plain. Minden was then known as Canajoharie. They had as many as ten children, with seven living until adulthood. Their first son, George J. Diefendorf, was born on 2 December 1729 (or 2 Jan 1730), and married Catherine Hendree. He was a Tory, and died 11 August 1816. Jacob Diefendorf - our ancestor - was born in 1740. Jacob's one sister, Catherine, was born 20 July 1744, and married in 1765 to Johannes Windecker. Elizabeth (Keller) Diefendorf died on 11 March 1788, while Johannes Diefendorf lived until 23 February 1791 (buried on 25 February).

Jacob Diefendorf was born, at Minden, New York, on 1 May 1740. His parents were Johannes and Elizabeth (Keller) Diefendorf. Jacob grew up in Minden with his six siblings. His parent had as many as ten children but only seven of them living to adulthood. Jacob Diefendorf married on 29 July 1762 to Christina Windecker, who was born on 16 April 1745 and was the daughter of Johannes Windecker. Jacob's younger sister, Catherine, married Johannes Windecker in 1765. The Windecker and Diefendorf families were neighbors in Stone Arabia NY.

In 1780, Jacob Diefendorf served as a captain during the Revolutionary War, in the Palatine Battalion of Col. Samuel Clyde's Regiment of the Tryon County Militia. While Jacob defended our colonies, his older brother was a Tory. Jacob and Christina Diefendorf lived at Frey's Bush, where Christina died on 22 April 1812 and Jacob lived until 17 November 1818. They had twelve children and eighty-eight (88) grandchildren! John Diefendorf was born 20 May 1763, George Diefendorf was born on 27 November 1765, Anna (Nancy) Diefendorf was born 17 November 1768,and died on 8 December 1768. Jacob Diefendorf was born 17 November 1769, Rudolph Diefendorf was born 7 March 1772, Christiana Diefendorf was born 28 November 1774, Elizabeth Diefendorf was born 3 October 1776, Henry Diefendorf was born at Fort Plain on 19 March 1778, Daniel Diefendorf was born 3 August 1780, Anna was born 16 October 1782, David Diefendorf was born 15 April 1785, and Margaret Diefendorf - our ancestor - was born in 1787 and married John Strayer and had 9 children.

Johann George Windecker was born at West Camp, N.Y. on 15 October 1715, and was baptized at Schoharie, N.Y. His parents were Johann Hartman Windecker and Barbara Elisabetha Bellinger Windecker. Johann Windecker's father was known as Hartman Windecker.

Hartmann Windecker was baptized, at Dudelsheim, Germany, on 5 November 1676. He married on 13 November 1700 to Anna Catharina Birxen, who was the daughter of Andreas Birxen, a Burgher. Captain Johann Hartmann Windecker came to New York with the Palatines, in 1710. In July 1711, he was the "List Master" at Annsburg on the Hudson River. Hartman was the Captain of the Company of 52 Palatines, who volunteered from Annsburg, for service in the British expedition against Quebec, Canada in 1711. In late 1710, Hartmann married a second time, at West Camp, to Barbara Elisabetha Bellinger. She was the daughter of Nicolaus Bellinger and in 1715/6, they were living at Neu-Ansberg. Hartman had two children by Anna and seven by Barbara: Johann Windecker was the first child of Hartman and Barbara. The Windeckers later moved to Schoharie, N.Y. Hartman Windecker formed a settlement there, which afterwards was named - "Hartman's Dorp".

In 1723, Johann Windecker's father lead practically this whole settlement, as the pioneers of the New York Palatine immigration into Pennsylvania. They went by way of the headwaters of the Susquehanna River and then down that river to the valleys of the Swatara and the Tulpehocken Creeks (now Berks County Pa). Johann was about eight years old when his family came to Pennsylvania.

On 21 September 1731, Hartman Windecker, Conrad Countryman and Casper Lipe obtained a patent for 2,000 acres of land on the south side of the Mohawk River. This land was purchased from several Indian Chiefs on 8 October 1730. The tract was then known as `Dutchtown'. Johann Windecker was about 16 when his family, now with nine children, moved back to the Mohawk Valley. Johann George Windecker married Elizabeth Wallrath, who was born in 1716 and was the daughter of Henrich Conrad Wallrath. The Wallraths had Lot #86 in the Klock and Nelles Patent. Henrich Conrad Wallrath and his wife Christina were both born in Germany about 1675. Their names are also found on the New York Palatine Subsistence Lists of 1710 and 1712. Conrad and Christina Wallrath immigrated in with their first born son Johan Adolph Wallrath, who was born in 1697. Conrad Wallrath had a lot in Canjajoharie about 1716 to 1728. His will was dated 1 October 1746, which names Christina as his wife as well as five children: Johan, Elizabeth, Margaret, Anna Rosina and Henry.

Johann George and Elizabeth Windecker had at least seven children. Elizabeth Windecker was born about 1739,and Henry Windecker was born about 1743. Christina Windecker - our ancestor - was born in 1745. Barbara Windecker was born about 1749, and married in 1767 to Jost Petrie. Margaret Windecker was born about 1752, and married in 1771 to Henry Bellinger.

Catharine Windecker was born in 1755, and married about 1772 to Jacob Dievendorf. She died in 1826. Lea Windecker was born about 1762, and married about 1782 to Peter Knieskern.

After Johann George Windecker died, Elizabeth (Wallrath) Windecker married again in 1763 to Christopher Fox. She died in 1793