NYDUTCHE-L Archives
Archiver > NYDUTCHE > 2004-04 > 1081011367
From: Ginny <>
Subject: Re: [NYDUTCHE] Family VanTassell - Johnsville
Date: Sat, 03 Apr 2004 11:56:37 -0500
References: <8e.2551f34.2d4ea746@aol.com> <003e01c3e919$04aff340$0a00a8c0@Main><406EBCCB.4090809@hvc.rr.com>
In Dutchess County
What is now Wiccopee was formerly Johnsville.
The name reverting in 1904 to the orginal Native American name of Wiccopee
when there was postal confusion with other John . . . . named towns in the
State.
***********************************
Source:
Early Settlements in Dutchess County, New York
A compilation of the "Why . . . ?" stories
by Poughkeepsie Journal Feature writer Helen Myers
with aditional material, illustrations and maps
by Margaret E. Herrick.
From the acknowlegements:
"The newspaper articles in this book are "Printed with the permission of the
Poughkeepsie Journal." A special word of thanks goes to Mr. Barry Rothfeld,
Executive Editor of that newspaper, for his kindness in granting that
permission.[Not another word about Helen Myers who wrote the Why Stories]
*********************************
For years a sign at one edge of the small East Fishkill settlement of
Wiccopee read "WICCOPEE" while another, at the opposite edge read "WICOPEE".
Although the first spelling is now accepted as "correct," it's usuage, not
logic, which makes it so.
Of course, the word is Indian, or more precisely, based on early settler's
version of an Indian word. Most of the Indians who lived in Dutchess county
when the white men came were a tribal divison of the Mohicans who called
themselves Wabunacki, apprarently meaning residents on the east side of the
Hudson, since wabun meant east, and acki means land in their language.
Early white residents of southern Dutchess had more important things on
their minds than learning Indian words precisely. But both the English and
the Dutch used the Indians' word for themselves, or a rough approximation of
it, and gradually corrupted it into two accepted forms, Wappinger and
Wiccopee, the latter spelled in a variety of ways on early maps and deeds.
Eventually Wappinger became the white man's name for the tribe and an area
of the county hear the Hudson, and Wiccopee was accepted as the name for an
area a few miles inland where many of the Indian tribe still lived.
Around 1800 or 1810 John Bailey opened a store in a building opposite his
home in the Wiccopee area. Bailey's home, shown on left in the accompanying
[this was not included in the copy of this book I was looking at -Ginny], is
now the home of Earyle A. Browne. Bailey also sold building lots near his
home and store, and a little village grew up there.
The little village near Bailey's store did as so many other villages did,
took the name of the storekeeper. But instead of his last name, the usual
procedure, it took his first namd and became Johnsville. It was Johnsville
for nearly a century.
But the name Johnsville led to a great deal of postal* confusion with other
names in the state which began with John, such names as Johnsonville,
Johnson, Johnsonburg, Johnson City, Johnstown. So in 1904 the little
settlement adopted the old name for the entire area. It became Wiccopee -
and a continuing problem for less than perfect spellers.
****************************************
* "Johnsville Post Office was established September 10, 1832. Nathan
Sherwood was the postmaster. It was discontinued May 28, 1846, and on April
22, 1852, it was reestablished with James Burroughs as postmaster. A
redesignation to its very early name Wiccoppee, June 7, 1902. Fred Genung
was the postmaster. It was discontinued June 30, 1909.
****************************************************************
----- Original Message -----
From: "mazimmer" <>
To: <>
Sent: Saturday, April 03, 2004 8:31 AM
Subject: Re: [NYDUTCHE] Family VanTassell - Johnsville
Just notice this notation in my notes - Where is Johnsville? Any
VanTassell tie-in?
Thanks, Marion
Looking for more information on this family:
Putnam to Dutchess County, New York
Descendants of Henry Van Tassell
1 Henry Van Tassell 1778 - 1856 ( Putnam to Dutchess) Burial
Methodist Church - Johnsville
. +Jane (June) Bell 1785 - 1825
........ 2 John Likely Van Tassell 1809 - 1895 ( farmer -
East Fishkill, Dutchess County)
............ +Catherine Baker 1823 - 1888
My Line through Bennejah
................... 3 Bennajah Van Tassell 1854 - 1939
(Worked at Vassar College Hog Farm - Poughkeepsie, New Yor)
....................... +Laura Rachel Harris - 1913
No information below:
................... 3 James Van Tassell
................... 3 J. Wesley Van Tassell 1846 - 1912
....................... +Carrie Haight
................... 3 Jane Van Tassell 1850 - 1872
....................... +Townsend
................... 3 Wilbur J. Van Tassell 1850 - 1924
....................... +Louisa Comer
................... 3 Eliza Ann Van Tassell 1852 - 1924
................... 3 Phebe Van Tassell 1856 - 1933
....................... +John Nolan
................... 3 Catherine Van Tassell
....................... +Charles Daines
................... 3 Isaac Van Tassell
....................... +Ollie Hultz
................... 3 Charles Van Tassell
................... 3 Eugene Van Tassell
....................... +Mary Hultz
........ 2 Esther Van Tassell 1802 -
........ 2 Peter Van Tassell 1803 -
........ 2 Jane Van Tassell 1805 -
........ 2 Jones Bell Van Tassell 1808 -
........ 2 Henry Van Tassell 1811 -
........ 2 Delia Van Tassell 1819 -
........ 2 Isaac Van Tassell 1821 -
*2nd Wife of Henry Van Tassell:
. +Miss Tickley
==== NYDUTCHE Mailing List ====
This list is currently being administrated by D. Joshua Taylor
For help contact him at . Good luck with your
Dutchess, NY families!
==============================
Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration
Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more.
http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237
This thread: