DeWitt Family

DEWITT FAMILY.— The DeWitt family of Deerpark were descendants of Tjerck Claessen DeWitt, who was born in Grootholt, in Sunderlant, Holland, and who after his immigration settled at Wiltwyck, now Kingston, in 1672. His children were: 1, Andries; 2, Tjerck; 3, Jan; 4, Jacob: 5, Lucas; 6, Peek; 7, Tjaatje; 8, Janetje; 9, Gertrung; 10, Rachel; 11, Marietje; 12, Anglie. Egbert, son of Andries (1), and grandson of Tjerck (1), had nine sons and one daughter, viz.: 1, Dr. Andries, who lived and died at New Paltz; 2, Jacob Rutzen, who settled in the Peenpack neighborhood, and whose daughter Rachel married Robert Burnet, of New Windsor; 3, William; 4, John; 5, Stephen; 6, Mary (Polly), who married Capt. (afterwards Gen.) James Clinton, of New Windsor, and became the mother of DeWitt Clinton.; 7, Egbert; 8, Thomas; 9, Benjamin; 10, Reuben. Simon DeWitt, for many years surveyor- general of the State, was the son of Dr. Andries of New Paltz.

Jacob R. DeWitt’s oldest son was Moses DeWitt; in person large and well favored, very social and agreeable in his manner and conversation. The Indians esteemed him highly, and when he died deeply lamented his death. This speaks a thousand facts in his favor, for one man like this in a new settlement, surrounded by Indians liable to be excited and provoked to revenge and murder by the least and unintended injury, was like a garment to the settlement which covered up a multitude of their offenses against them. This young man obtained his education from an individual by the name of Thomas White, an Englishman, who came to the neighborhood about the beginning of the war. A mutual attachment grew up between him and the people, and during the period of hostilities he took shelter, with his wife, in Fort Gumaer to abide the result. As the condition of things in the settlement and state of the country justified it, he kept school in a small house built for the purpose near the fort. What DeWitt failed to learn here he afterwards accomplished in the family of Gen. Clinton.