The ship James & Elizabeth sailed on from London to America arrived on 16 June 1710 with Henry Gravener as the Captain. A reconstructed passenger list of Palatines shows an early Walrath family: Gerhard Walrath and Maria Reffi/Refer, with a son of 18, Johann Adolf, age 10, Anna Elisabetha, age 8 and Maria Philippina age 5 and an unnamed son, age 3.
Some of the earliest settlers in the Mohawk Valley of New York were Gerhard Walrath and Henrich Conrad Wallrath whose names appear on a ration's list of 1710 to 1714. After much pain and suffering of the Palatine settlers after their New York landing, they began a westward movement and on June 26, 1724, Andrew Peyfer sold part of his interest in a patent to Hendrick Walrath. In an indenture of 1729, the plot of the patent that had been awarded to Jacob A. Walrath, who was deceased, fell to his wife, Elizabeth, and was divided into seven parts in the Town of Minden, Montgomery County, NY. That land bordered the land of Hendrick H. Walrath. The recipients of the land that was owned by Jacob A. Walrath made them tenants in common. The division included one-seventh for the widow and the following, presumably their children.
Audolph Walrath of one undivided seventh part
Adam A. Walrath, William Walrath, Christian Walrath and Caty Beckman, each.
Jacob Moyer and Anne his wife, he being in the right of his wife, of one undivided seventh part
Adam J. Walrath, William Walrath, Christian Walrath and Caty Beckman, each of one undivided fifth of one undivided seventh part.
Ebenezer Cox and John Cox each of one undivided fourth of one undivided fifth of one undivided seventh part.
Luther Russel and Nancy his wife, he being in the right of his wife, of one undivided fourth of one undivided fifth of one undivided seventh part.
John Suts and Betsey, his wife, he being Jacob C. Hillegas of one undivided third of one undivided seventh part.
Christian A. Walrath and Caty, his wife, he being in the right of his wife, of one undivided third of one undivided seventh part.
Christian Walrath and Mary, his wife, he being in the right of his wife, of one undivided third of one undivided seventh part, he being in the right of his wife, of one undivided fourth of one undivided fifth of one undivided seventh part.
The listing continues but it is necessary to understand how small the plots became in order to understand the deeds that lead up to the Walrath families in Montgomery County and those who became residents of Jefferson County, New York. A common practice in many Dutch families who were closely related, was to give male heirs a middle initial in their name that distinguished them from others who had similar first names, and seems to have been a routine practice followed in Montgomery County by many of the residents.
In the will of Adam Walrath, born 1770, of St. Johnsville, Montgomery Co., NY, which was dated 12 June 1849, and probated 29 September 1866, he is Adam J. Walrath. His children were listed as Andrew, Martin, CHRISTIAN, James W. JOHN A., DANIEL, Charles, and daughters MARGARET (whose married name was Hill), and Nancy. He also mentioned two of his grandchildren--Matilda Walrath and Andrew Van Duzen. No wife is mentioned.
The sixth item of his will was addressed to his son, John A. Walrath, to whom he gave all of his lands in the Town of Clayton, Jefferson County, on the following condition, that is: if John A. shall pay or cause to be paid Margaret Hill, my daughter or her heirs executors, administrators or assigns the amount of money borrowed of her by said John A. with interest then to him and his heirs forever, but if not, then I order the said Margaret or her heirs or executors to sell so much of said land as shall be necessary to satisfy said demand and the residue of said lands I hereby devise to John and his heirs forever.
John A. Walrath was b in 1797, according to the 1850 census of Clayton.
Others in the household:
Margaret age 49
Caroline age 15
Margaret age 7
John age 11
In the 1860 census of Clayton, Jefferson Co.
John A. Walrath bc 1795 at 65 years
Abagail age 62 (bc 1794)
John A. age 20
William McKinly, age 18
Lucretia Wilder age 18
In the 1850 census of Orleans, Jefferson Co.
William McKinley age 56 born NY
Abigail age 52
William, son age 8
In the 1865 census of Orleans, Jefferson Co.
William McKinley age 23, farmer
Abigail Walrath age 67, b Herkimer Co., NY, mother of 2 children; married twice; now married. It is clear from the census records that after William McKinley, Sr. died, Abigail married for her second husband to John A. Walrath.
Julian Lamson or Samson b 1794, married twice; now a widow
John A. Walrath, age 60, b Herkimer Co., NY is in the household of:
John A. Walrath, Jr., 26, b Jefferson Co.
Jane Walrath age 22, b Jefferson Co.
Clara Walrath 9/12 b Jefferson Co.
We know the 1865 census taker made an error in John A. Walrath's age based upon the 1850 and 1865 census records.
Margaret Walrath Hill was born in 1783 and married Daniel Hill, who was born in New Jersey, of the same birth year, 1784. In the 1850 census at Clayton, the couple is mentioned as being born in Vermont; however, the will and subsequent census records strongly favor her birthplace as New York. The couple does appear in the 1860 census of Clayton, Jefferson County as follows:
Daniel Hill 76, b New Jersey
Margaret Hill 76 b NY
Margaret Hill 30, b NY
Harrison Hill 38 b NY
Polly Hill age 30 b NY
Emily Hill age 8 b NY
Christian A. Walrath was born in 1784 in Montgomery Co., NY and lived in Brownsville, Jefferson Co., NY. Child's director states that he was a native of St. Johnsville, NY and came to Brownville in 1835; he was the first permanent settler on a farm on road 16, where he remained until his death at 85 years. Catharine Hillagas, his wife, was also of St. Johnsville. Child's list of children of the couple: Jonas, Nathaniel, Reuben, Magdelaine, Mary, and Margaret. Reuben married Lura A., daughter of Angevine and Phebe (Locke) Lawrence of LeRay and their children were: David H., Esther J., Mary A. and Ruby A. He died 15 Dec. 1869. In the 1855 census at Brownville, the family is listed as follows:
Christian A. Walrath 70 b Montgomery Co.
Catharine Walrath 68 b Montgomery Co.; she was Catherine Hillagas, b 1786 d 1869
Polly Walrath 39 b Montgomery Co.; born 30 August 1816 Montgomery Co.
Peggy Walrath 36 b Montgomery Co.; b 13 January 1819 Montgomery Co.
Reuben Walrath 31 b Montgomery Co.; b April 1821 Montgomery Co.
Sidney Bauder 15, child b Jefferson Co.
Catharine Bauder 13 b Jefferson Co.
Christian's will is on file in Jeff. Co. Wills, Vol. 12, p. 449
Daniel J. Walrath was born about 1800-1801 in Montgomery County, NY and died 15 July 1878 at 77 years, 2 months. In the 1865 census of Clayton, Jefferson Co., and next door to John A.. Walradt, the family is listed as follows:
Daniel J. Walrath 64 b Montgomery Co
Mary Walrath 62 born Montgomery Co.
Nathan Walrath 22, their son, b Jefferson Co.
Daniel's will is on file in Jefferson County and the petition to open probate lists additional children of this couple.
Vol. 17, p. 293, Jeff. Co. Wills
Researched by M. Sapienza; sources: wills and deeds of Montgomery Co., NY, Jefferson Co., NY, census records, Child's Directory, marriage records; cemetery records
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