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Archiver > NYSCHOHA > 1999-02 > 0918911309


From: Dick and Ginny Martin <>
Subject: Re: [NYSCHOHA-L] Richard Bouvia's note on Early Families
Date: Sat, 13 Feb 1999 13:08:29 +0000


At 06:21 AM 2/13/99 EST, you wrote:
>Referencing Richard Bouvia's message on the book, "Early Families of Schoharie
>County".
>What time period does this book consider as, "Early Settlers"? I believe that
>Joseph McDonald, and possibly wife, Ann or Anna, were in Schohaire in the time
>period of 1800 to 1808. Was the book only a select listing of local business
>people, or was it truly a book of early settlers?
>As I recall, and that may be faulty, wasn't Schoharie formed in 1795 from part
>of Albany County? Would the early settlers listed in the book then be made up
>mostly of Albany families that really never moved from their homes, but
>suddenly by default became the earliest settlers of a new county?
>Does someone on the Schoharie list have the book, or access to it? Are their
>Scottish families listed, specifically Joseph McDonald and/or other McDonalds?
>Dave McDonald
>

Dave,
My understanding is that the "Early Families of Schoharie
County, New York" by William V. H. Barker is an unpublished
work of about 500 pages available only at the Old Stone Fort
Museum Library in Schoharie, NY. The staff at the Stone Fort
library explained to me that Mr. Barker had brought the book
to the library and/or Schoharie County Historical Society for
critical review before it was published. Mr. Barker had
published a similar book about the early families of Herkimer
County and was doing the same for Schoharie County. For some
reason - possibly due to negative input from reviewers -
Mr. Barker decided not to proceed with publishing the book.
I believe the copy available for use at the Stone Fort is
the copy he submitted for review. The staff told me that
they have given Mr. Barker's address to visitors who later
told them that Mr. Barker had been helpful in responding to
questions.
The book relies on many sources including church BDM
records, Cady's books, early Palatine censuses, Hank Jones
Palatine Families, Pearson's books on Albany and Schenectady,
etc. It is extremely useful in providing facts and clues
on researching families from the Schoharie Valley.
The question you've posed about the timeframes of the
books is best answered by saying that Mr. Barker's intent
was (I believe) to document the early families of the
Schoharie Valley rather than of the political entity of
Schoharie County. It includes the very earliest Palatine
and Dutch settlers of the valley in the early 1700s. It
appears he was attempting to document all families not
just business or political leaders.
If there were Scottish families in the area between
the early 1700s and the early 1800s, they are probably
included. I have a copy of the table of contents which
doesn't include an entry for MacDonald. However, following
all of the families specifically listed, there is a section
entitled "Other Families". That section includes very
brief information about "late-comers" and families with
little known information such as William Martin of
Scotland, the first of my line of Martins in America.
My interest in Schoharie County also includes my maternal
grandmother's line which does include many of the families
documented by Barker.
I have only about 50 or so of the 500 pages since I
only made copies of those of interest to me. However,
since I did copy the page that included William Martin,
I can see there that there is probably no information on
MacDonald. That page begins with MacCannel and also
includes MacDougal, MacIntosh (2), Makenar, Makwater,
Manchester, Marten, and Martin. I'd venture a guess
that a family had to be in the Valley before 1800 to
have been included. My William Martin moved into the
Valley from near Kinderhook sometime after the
Revolution but before 1800.
It is my understanding that the Stone Fort Library
responds to mail inquiries - especially for copies of
specific references. They also do research from their
holdings at what seem like quite reasonable rates. I've
worked with the volunteers on staff there a few times
and can tell you that they were very helpful and
very knowledgeable about the holdings in the library.
I hope this has helped - even though I've had
to disappoint you with the news that there are no
MacDonalds listed. <G>

Dick Martin in Saratoga County, NY

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