A couple once again

In September 2010, I posted the above tombstone photo of Peter Rosenberger, buried in Krans Cemetery, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada. His wife was mentioned, however I didn't have her photo. When it was taken in 1999 (before digital cameras) I ran out of film. Fortunately, a friend with ties to that area made a recent trip, and I asked if he would take a photo of his wife's stone, as I recall seeing them together. Thank you David Ellis for taking these four photos.

Hannah Bockus

Born: Abt. 29 May 1752

Died: 19 Apr 1821

Peter and Hannah finally shown together.

  Photos by David Ellis, (above is Peter Rosenberger, below is the cemetery from the street).

Krans Cemetery.

St. Armand W. (Philipsburg), Quebec, Canada

Tombstone Tuesday -- TEN EYCK (3 Generations) Quebec, Canada

The Ten Eyck Cemetery, is located on private property in an Apple Orchard in Dunham, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada. Three generations of direct ancestors of mine were buried here. Because of their relationship to me, and their history, this cemetery discovery was one of my favorite thrills in all my discoveries. It sure helped that the family has been on this land for over 200 years.

The Ten Eyck Farm is above and a view of the country side is below.

Jannette Dumont w/o Hendrick Ten Eyck (stone of his missing)

Born: May 01, 1761, Somerset Co., New Jersey

Died: June 01, 1838, Dunham, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

Their daughter, Jane Ten Eyck

Born:  July 08, 1799, Quebec, Canada

Died:  March 01, 1875, Dunham, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

Her husband, Andrew TenEyck 
(they were 2nd cousins)

Born:  June 06, 1786, Prob. Albany, Albany Co., New York

Died:  September 19, 1831, Dunham, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

Their son,  Henry

Born:  August 04, 1818, Dunham, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

Died:  June 28, 1886, Dunham, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

His wife, Caroline Rosenberger

Born:  September 21, 1823, Frelighsburg, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

Died:  December 09, 1866, Dunham, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

Tombstone Tuesday -- ROSENBERGER (NY > Canada)

Peter Rosenberger was living in New York state and became a Loyalist at the time of the American Revolutionary War. He, his wife and four children are all buried in Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada.

Peter Rosenberger

Born:  November 23, 1745, Athens, Greene Co., New York

Died:  April 24, 1829, St. Armand W. (Philipsburg), Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

His wife, Hannah Bockus, is also buried here.

Hannah Bockus

Born:  Abt. May 29, 1752, Albany, Albany Co., New York

Died:  April 19, 1821, St. Armand W. (Philipsburg), Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

They are buried at Krans Cemetery, St. Armand, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

Their son was, Henry Rosenberger

Henry Rosenberger

Born:  September 21, 1784, Brunswick, Rensselaer Co., New York

Died:  March 29, 1845, St. Armand W. (Philipsburg), Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

His wife was Catherine Westover

Catherine Westover
Born:  July 03, 1794, St. Armand, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada
Died:  November 08, 1876, Stanbridge E., Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

They were buried at Ploss Cemetery
Stanbridge E., Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

These photos were taken this same week of 1999.  During this trip, I located 22 of my direct ancestor's tombstones.

On April 4, 2013, I received a complete listing of all those buried at Ploss Cemetery (I had used this booklet during my visit in 1999 to the Missisquoi Historical Society).

Amanuensis -- An Ancestor Stolen by Pirates

I read my first Amanuensis in John Newmark’s genealogy blog TransylvanianDutch.  Of course, I had never heard that term before.  However, my blog today is an example of an Amanuensis.  What is an Amanuesis?  "It is a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another." I  am copying a page from the Missisquoi Historical Society Reports, Vol. 17, 1982, "The Story of Catherine MacDonald" by M.J. Ellis. Pp. 113-114. The author, Margaret Ellis, was my first cousin, once removed.  (Direct ancestors are in geen.)

"The Story of Catherine MacDonald

These sugar tongs were presented to Catherine MacDonald at her marriage about the year 1760 and descended through her daughter Mary Currie, and her granddaughter Catherine Westover to her great granddaughter Martha Rosenberger, who destined them for her niece Mary Rosenberger, in charge for her daughter of the original owner and in the event of the death of Mabel without heirs, they are to go to the eldest child of Charles TenEyck, grandson of Catherine Westover.

This was written on Jan. 7th, 1888 at St. Armand West by Mrs. Edwin Smith.

The story of Catherine MacDonald was briefly mentioned on page 33 in the First Historical Report (1908).  The following story came from two sources: from Mrs. Edwin Smith (written in 1888) and from Mrs. Edward Stote, written in 1912.

"Somewhere about the year 1745, a little girl, attended by a nurse, about four or five years old, was playing on a beach somewhere along the coast of Scotland.  A pirate ship nearby saw the little girl and thinking possible of ransom, stole her.  Maybe by poor communication, or by a storm, that plan was abandoned and the ship crossed the ocean and the little girl was sold in New York.  Fortunately, she came into the hands of a Madam Livingstone who treated her in every respect, except one, as her own daughter.  She wisely called her CATHERINE MACDONALD, the name which was marked on the child's clothing, which was of finest linen.

She no doubt was hoping that sometime it might be a clue that would lead to finding her family.  Through fright or perhaps from long weeks at sea the child could remember nothing about her home or family, only that she was playing on the beach with her nurse.

The child grew to womanhood and when about twenty-two years of age was married to a Mr. CURRIE of Alburg, VT, an American of Scottish descent.  Among the gifts from Madam Livingstone to her adopted daughter were these sugar tongs.

Four children were born to them, FRANCIS, ROBERT, CATHERINE and MARY.  Mary married ASA WESTOVER, also of Alburg, VT.  He was of Welsh descent.  Mrs. Westover (Mary Currie) died when 37 years old, leaving 3 daughters: CATHERINE, ELIZABETH, and MARGARET. After the death of their mother, the children went with their father to Sutton, Quebec, moving to Dunham a year or two later.

In 1880 Catherine was married to HENRY ROSENBERGER who was born on the Hudson in New York State but whose ancestors, of German descent, came from Wittenberg on the River Elbe. When there seems to have been a general movement from that part of the United States towards Missisquoi Bay, his parents were among the first to arrive.  Henry then being three years old. They settled on a farm in St. Armand West and raised a family of seven children.  The place is now known as Rosenberg, where two of their grandchilden, James and Hattie Rosenberger still reside (1912) the great-grandchildren of Catherine MacDonald.  Elizabeth, the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Westover, married a Mr. George Rykert of Dunham (they were the parents of Asa Rykert) whose father was John and grandfather Capt. Joseph Rykert.  Margaret, unmarried, lived with a brother of her father's second marriage, near the home of her childhood on the picturesque hills near Dunham and Frelighsburg.

Postscript:  To return to the sugar tongs and the first paragraph, Mary Catherine Smith did die without heirs and so the sugar tongs came to the eldest child of Charles TenEyck -- Caroline TenEyck Doherty -- and so to me, Margaret Doherty Ellis."

I would love to know if this is a true story, and as you can see, it was written in 1888.

Photo of the silver tongs was shown in the article.

The Wedding

The news has been covering the wedding of Chelsea Clinton to Marc Mezvinsky in Rhinebeck*, Dutchess Co., New York on July 31, 2010.  I am not following any of it, unless it is forced upon me, thanks to the internet, newspapers and television.  However, I was a bit excited when I remembered using several vital record and history books on that small town.  Why?  I have quite a few ancestors and related family from Rhinebeck. When my husband and I went through the town several years ago, I thought it was one of the most beautiful towns I had ever seen.


In my family tree, I have 6 with the surname of BOCKUS, 6 with the surname of KRANS, 26 with the surname of NEER / NEHER, 1 of ROOSA, and 3 of ROSENBERGER.  Most were born in the town, and quite a few died there.  The BOCKUS, KRANS, NEER and ROSENBERGER lines migrated to Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada (the Eastern Townships area, north of Vermont).


So, I am a bit proud that my ancestors had good taste in where they chose to live, and if they could only see their town tonight!  A report of the full names is below.

Sources used for my Rhinebeck families:


Frashuer, Mary Near, Our Canadian Nears and Early Kin Descendants of Carl Naeher, Palatine Immigrant to Colonial America, 1710,  (Akron, Ohio : MFC Print. & Pub. Co., 1973).  (FHL, SLC)


Jones, Henry Z., Jr., The Palatine Families of New York (A Study of the German Immigrants Who Arrived in Colonial New York in 1710), Vol. 2,  (Universal City, CA: 1985).


Kelly, Arthur C. M., Baptismal Record of St. Peter's Lutheran Church (known as Stone Church), Rhinebeck, NY (1733-1899),  (1968).


* From Wikipedia.