Friday, March 17, 2017

New Ancestors with Old Connections

While digging for additional information on a future post, I came across an old acquaintance who turned out to be an ancestor. Captain Martin Cregier led Dutch militia against the Esopus Indians during the 2nd Esopus War in the Wiltwyck [Kingston] and New Paltz [Hurley] area in 1663. He also led the party that rescued captives taken by the natives. Among those rescued were Catherine [Blanchan] DuBois and her three children. Mrs. DuBois was the aunt of Marie [Billiou] Prall.

Cregier was a native of Borken, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, born about 1614. He married Lysbeth Jans. Cregier settled in New Amsterdam, where he served three terms as Burgomaster. In 1643, Marten built the first public building on what is now Broadway - a tavern. [Later known as the Atlantic Gardens.] Cregier was one of four men appointed as fire wardens in New Amsterdam in 1648. During the 2nd Esopus War he led Dutch militia in what became Ulster Co. Later he relocated to what became Niskayuna near the Manor of Rennselearswyck. Cregier died there during the 1680s.
Several sources have him dying around 1713, but this was probably his son, Marten Jr.

Marten's son, Cornelis, was born about 1651 in New Amsterdam and married Annetje Bording on 30 June 1675. Their daughter, Elizabeth [c1676 NYC - aft. 1718 prob. NJ] married Nicholas Dally on 28 Aug 1702 in NY City.

Elizabeth's granddaughter, Catherine Dally married John Simmons, a tavern keeper in NYC. Another granddaughter, Elizabeth Dally, married noted tavern keeper, Samuel Fraunces.

What are the odds of two great-great-granddaughters of a tavern keeper marrying tavern keepers? Oh yes, the tavern bug lasted at least one more generation, John Simmons Jr. ran a tavern near Canonsburg, PA for a brief time.

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