The Father and Two Sons, Their Loyalist Documentation, and my Loyal Cousin

The document I am writing about is about the best you can get, especially since it was dated 1797. It lists not only my ancestor's surname of Teneick / Ten Eyck but those of his sons, his military career in New Jersey, his move to Nova Scotia with other Loyalists, a return to New York, then a move to Canada. Why haven't I written about this, let's go to the beginning.

Fourteen years ago, I spent endless days at the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) in Boston, tracing my Canadian ancestry, the roots of my Canadian grandmother. I located so many records for about 6 of my ancestors there, and ended up copying about 100 pages (about $40 worth). Going reel by reel, and printing the correct pages, but the copied pages were almost impossible to read, because I reversed the microfilm reader to negative, or maybe it was already set that way (black background with white print). No, I never asked for help! 

I told of my woes in a post almost five years called, Positive vs. Negative and the Drouin Collection, explaining how I couldn't read a document because of an error I made in copying them.

Fast forward, I didn't do anything with the printed pages, except write about it in the above mentioned blog. So why am I writing about my problem? A 5th cousin wrote me twice. First in January 2013 with a few questions of which I answered in my reply. No further correspondence until March of 2015. This time, we shared quite a bit of information, and one of the things I mentioned was a 9 page document under the title, Land Grant Petition Andries Ten Eyck in Quebec 17 Nov 1797. She was quite interested in it, so I decided it was a perfect time to go back to NEHGS and get "positive" pages. With the help of Rhonda McClure, I was shown how to use their new microfilm scanner/ printer and was able to save my 9 pages to a thumb drive. Soon, the images were on their way to cousin, Susie.

First to find my film, I had to locate the index (shown below in the small box labeled Q4 Index, L5 Spencer, Jonah - Tyse, Index 16. Once I found the name of Andries Ten Eyck in the index, it is imperative to write down the page number. The next step is to find the large box, with the actual film, in this case it was number 16 and search for the correct page for Ten Eyck.

There is a much easier way to locate these records, online for free. The link for that post is called, "What a Great site for Free Canadian Records."

Above is my old copy, and below is the recent one, beginning with the first page of the document, #91279. Now, somebody could read it, but not me. Due to several eye conditions, this was difficult, but before I knew it, cousin Susie gifted me a wonderful surprise. (Note: since the surname is towards the end of the alphabet, this page number is rather large. It give you an indication of how many pages were scanned for this collection.)

The below was typed by my cousin, Susie.

                  Land Grant Petition Andries Ten Eyck in Quebec, 17 Nov 1797

To His Excellency Robert Prescott Esq. Captain General and commander in chief in and over the Provinces of upper Canada and lower Canada, Vice Admiral of the same, General and commander in chief of all the Majesty 's Forces in the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and their several Dependencies and in the Island of Newfoundland

     The Petition of Andries Teneick in behalf of himself and his sons, Andries Teneick and Henry Teneick

Humbly therewith

    That your Excellancy's Petitioner has ever been attached to British Government that as early as the year 1753 he was appointed an officer in the Nova Caesarea in New Jersey Militia by His Excellency Jonathan Belcher Esq.  that in the year 1757 your Excellency's Petitioner  was appointed Adjutant of the said New Jersey Militia; that in the year 1759 your Excellancy's Petitioner was appointed a Captain of the said  New Jersey Militia by His Excellency Francis Bernard, Esq and in which situation your Excellency's Petitioner  remained until the year 1763 most of the time in the frontier, on actual service against the French and Indians. That in the year 1770 your Excellency, Petitioner moved from New Jersey into the State of New York. That in the beginning of the late rebellion in America your Excellency, Petitioner took an active part in favor of British Government that in the year 1776 your excellency's Petitioner received a Commision as a Captain for the purpose of raising a company under James Houghton Esq who was authorized by his Excellency General Howe to raise a Provincial Regiment but unfortunately the Rebels got information of the same and in consequence tried, condemmed and executed the said James Houghton  Esq for High Treason. Your Excellency's Petitioner was likewise arrested, but had time to destroy all his papers and not sufficient proof appearing against him to be executed he was inprisoned and sent to Esopus and put on board a guard ship in irons, from whence your Excellency's Petitioner found means to escape in the night in company with one other prisoner by getting off their irons and swimming on shore, but unfortunately in the attempt they were discovered and fired on by which means, your Excellency's Petitioner lost his companion, and being banished his home, made the best of his way to NewYork where he remained until Peace took place at which time he went to Nova Scotia with a number of other Loyalists, but finding it was impossible for him to make a living in  that country he was obliged to return to New York; when his Excellency's Petitioner was informed that the waste lands of the Crown in the province of Lower Canada were to be granted, he left the United States and came into Canada, in order to make settlement therein. Your Excellency's Petitioner has much impaired his constitution, and met with great hopes during the war for which he has not received any compensation his sons likewise were in New York during the war and has been much  harrassed by the Rebels; your Excellency's Petitioner therefore Humbly prays that your Eexcellency will graciously please to grant unto him and  each of his sons Andrew and Henry, twelve hundred acres of land each in the Township of Clifton

                                                                        Andries Teneick

St. Armand 7th Oct 1797

Character References:

From a knowledge of the character loyalty, suffering, and hopes of the above petitioner Andries Teneick we humbly beg leave to recommend him to His Excellency General Prescott and Council is a man worthy of the Bounty of Government in the Waste Lands of the Crown.

                                            Given under our Hands at Missisquoi Bay,

                                            this 16th October 1797_

                                                                             Nathan Coffin

                                                                             Calvin May

                                                                             John Furguson

I hereby certify that I have known the bearer Andrew Ten Eyck in the County of Albany in Province of New York. In the course of the last war he was taken up and put in prison and from that he was taken and put on board the? Ship in Kingston and in irons and from that he made his escape and fled to New York and joined his Majesty's troops in the year 1778; and lost all his property and now wishes to get some of this Majesty's ? Lands for his compensation.

               Given under my hand at Missisquoi Bay this 16th day of Oct 1797

                                                                                                     Philip Luke

To all Whom it may concern

I hereby certify that I have known the bearer Andries Ten Eyck before the American Revolution, that he was proprietor of a considerable property and lived very comfortable as a farmer in the County of Albany then province of New York, that from principles of Loyalty to His Majesty and attachment to the British Government, he was ? And was obliged to abandon his family and estate and seek protection under his Majesty's Government at New York, where to my knowledge he remained ? during the War.

May 20th 1794?

    A?

I hereby certify that I was well acquainted with Mr. Andries Teneick in the late rebellion in America, that he suffered much in his Person and Property on account of his firm attachments to the British Government, that I was confined in Esopus Prison with the said Andries Teneick and a number of others, that his advice and generous distribution both of money and provisions to the ? Loyal prisoners was of infinite worth then, many of whom must have perished without his assistnce, that all the threats ? of ? the Rebels made him, were never able to alter his attachments, affection and Loyalty to his King and Country.

                                                                    John Savage

Missisquoi Bay 16th October 1797

Petition of Andries Teneick on behalf of himself and his sons Andrew and Henry for 1200 acres of hand each in the Township of Clifton.

St. Armand 7 Oct 1797

received Nov 17 1797

Land Committee

Andrew Teneick recommended for 400 Acres in Clifton and ? For his son Andries lot 37 ____ and for his son Henry lot no. 38 ____ of the same township 12 Oct 1799

                                                Signed by order

                                                Hugh Finlay

Will of Moses Westover -- Amanuensis Monday

On Saturday, I posted the ancestry of Moses Westover of Massachusetts and Quebec, Canada. He was both an Revolutionary War patriot, and a Loyalist. Many descendants have contacted me pertaining to him, because I visited his cemetery in Quebec and posted his family online, through Ancestry and RootsWeb. His 1809 will is below, a tough read in many places, and five legal pages long.

"In the Year of Our Lord Christ One thousand eight hundred and nine and on the Twenty-second day of July in the afternoon at the request of Moses Westover of the Township of Sutton in the county of Bedford in the district of Montreal and Province of  Lower Canada Yeoman

I Louis Barbieue a Public Notary duly--admitted and sworn as such for the province  of Lower Canada residing in the signieory of St. Armand the county and Province, district, aforsaid, went to the dwelling house of said Moses Westover, who being in perfect state of health and of a sound mind--memory and understanding, as appeared unto me the said Notary and to the underwritten witnesses herein after named, considering the certainty of death, and the uncertainty of the time thereof, and to the end that he might be the better prepared to leave this world whenever it shall please God to call him hence do make and dictate this his last well and testament in the manner following.

That is to say,

Humbly bequeaths his soul to God his maker, beseeching his most gracious acceptance of it through the all sufficient minds and meditation of his most compassionate redeemer Jesus Christ who gave himself to be an atonement for his sins and is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him seeing he even liveth to make __? for them that fear his Holy name  Amen

The testator humbly gives his Body to the earth from whence it was taken in full assurance of its resurrection from thence at the last day. As for his burial the said testator have it at the direction of his executor herein after named who he doubts not will manage it with all requisite prudence.

Wills and positively orders the said Moses Westover testator, that all his just debts be paid by his said Executor

Then orders and directs that his beloved wife Elizabeth Holmes, be, from and after his decease if she survives him, and so long as she shall remain his widow decently and comfortably maintained and supported out of, and upon the property and estate herein first described and bequeathed or to be bequeathed unto Stephen Westover their son and that she be allowed to remain with him on the said estate so long as she shall choose and be maintained in the house if she should choose to stay, or abroad if she should choose to go then from in which latter case, she may take away her bed and bed clothes and with it such other furniture as she may necessarily want.

Gives devises and bequeaths unto said Stephen Westover his beloved son the following piece or parcel of land, being a part of that tract or parcel of said, situate lying and being in the Township of Sutton aforesaid, known and distinguished by lot No. sixteen, in the tenth range of Lots in the said Township of Sutton, containing the said intended bequeathed parcel of land, about one hundred and fifty superficial acres and more or less with all the improvements erected and made then and every the appurtenants there unto belonging with the usual allowance for highways to be bound as follows; that is to say, Southerly by the largest brook running through said Lot __? called the little branch of Masha River, Northerly joining the No. 16 in the Eleventh concession of said Township, Easterly by a reserved public Lot, and Westerly by No. 15 in the said tenth range, with the exclusive rights and privileges of all the waters running through said brook for the purpose of erecting mills, forge or any other waterworks.

The said testator gives devises and bequeaths unto Samuel Westover his beloved grandson and the son of Amasa Westover deceased, the following piece or parcel of land being the residue part of the aforementioned Lot No. 16 in the tenth range of lots in the Township of Sutton aforesaid containing the said residue or parcel of land about fifty acres with the usual allowances for highways be the same more or less with all __? And appurtenances belonging, to be bounded and measured as follows that is to say Northerly by the brook heretofore described,  Southerly by the No. 16 in the ninth range, Easterly, by a reserved Public Lot, and Westerly by Lot No. fifteen in the said tenth range of lots, with express  conditions that said Samuel Westover shall not have nor receive the least privileges or rights of the water for the purpose of erecting any saw mill or other water works, but for his own personal use and family, or his cattle only.

Gives and bequeaths  unto his beloved sons, Moses, Esa, Silas, John and Liman Westover the sum of fifteen Spanish milled Dollars, to each of them making in the whole the sum of seventy five Spanish Dollars; payable two years from and after the decease of the said testator by said Stephen Westover only for such is the condition of the aforesaid parcel of land to him bequeaths and without which this present will should have not been written

And whereas it was and is yet the intention and desire of the said Testator that said Samuel Westover  son of Amasa Westover and grandson to the said testator now living with him should be kept in his and the said testator's family until he should have attained the age of twenty one years and within that period of his age, that he should be taught reading and writing and the first four rules of arithmetic and like wise taught working in the line of a farmer, the said testator therefore doth hereby enjoin and request the said Stephen Westover in case he the said testator should leave this world eve tho said Samuel Westover shall attain the age of twenty one years that he carry? _ (crossed out) intention and desire into effect, and if the said Samuel Westover shall stay and work with him until he shall have attained the age of twenty one years. Orders and directs that he the said Stephen Westover give unto him the said Samuel Westover, a milk cow of a middling size and value and  and new and decent suit of clothes

And as to the residue and remainder of all and generally his goods and chattels, __, lands, tenements, and __ments?, movables on immovable property and money which the said testator is now or which may hereafter belong unto him whenever the same may be situated lying and being without any _ations?  or exceptions, whatever to be, by him the said Stephen Westover disposed of as he shall think advisable and proper without rendering any account to any person or persons whatsoever.

And for the due execution of this present last will and testament of the said Moses Westover

He the said testator hath constituted and appointed on condition however that the said Stephen Westover or his heirs shall as herein before and firstly directed suffer the said Elizabeth Holmes, his mother to remain in the house with him and shall maintain and support her as directly and comfortably as she shall have been till then, as will while she shall be abroad if she should ever choose to go--elsewhere to live, as while living with him and  this so long as she shall remain his (the said testators) widow, and the said testator the better to secure the maintenance of his said beloved wife, doth hereby order, direct and charge him the said Stephen Westover, not to sell, transfer or in any way wise alienate any part or parcel nor the whole of the property and estate hereby unto him given and bequeathed unless by and with the consent of his said mother whilst she shall remain his widow.

Executor of the same, his beloved friend Daniel Stone"

Amanuensis Monday -- History of the Eastern Townships

Amanuensis Monday was begun by John Newmark of the TransylvanianDutch blog. The term means, "a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another." Many bloggers like doing this because it allows them to freely copy something that has been written. Below is a copy of  a few pages from a book about Dunham, Quebec. I have mentioned Dunham before, as well as the Eastern Townships. Many probably don't have a clue as to where I am talking about. Hopefully the small amount of information will help. My ancestor's names are in green. This is my 4th Amanuensis, three previous ones were wills; Delight A. Benham, John Adams and Horace Adams, one about a pirates kidnapping my ancestor. Below the written article is a great map of the Eastern Townships.

History of the Eastern Townships, by C. M. Day
Pub. 1869, Reprinted, 1992,   Pages 292-293


"DUNHAM
A tract of land lying within the district of Montreal, containing 57,252 acres, 3 roods, and 30 perches, bounded north by Farnham, east by Brome and Sutton, south by St. Armand, and west by Stanbridge, was erected into a township named Dunham. The petition for this grant was dated April 28th, 1795; the warrant of survey issued August 27th of the same year; and in 1795, the township was granted to Thomas Dunn and his associates, viz., Josseph Buck, John Heliker, Jacob Heliker, George Saxe, Mathew Hall, William Ferrand, David Ferrand, Joshua Chambers, Amos Woodland, David Reychart, John Clark, Thomas Best, Daniel Mills, Jeremiah Reychart, Daniel Trever, Alexander McDougall, Thomas Pell, Andrew Ten Eyck, Henry Ten Eyck, Archibald Henderson, Henry Hall, Elisha Dickinson, Jacob Best sen., George Waymore, Abraham Lampman, John Mills, Stephen Jenner, Jacob Best jun., Adam Deal, Frederick Streit, Samuel Mills, Philip Ruiter, and Jacob Ruiter.


It is said that Dunham was the first township erected in Lower Canada. Among the earliet inhabitants if not the very first to locate within its limits, was Andrew Ten Eyck from New Jersey, who settled in the south-western part of the tract, in 1793. He was a U. E. Loyalist, and came to Canada as the forerunner of a numerous influx of the same class of settlers."

Eastern Townships Map

This map shows "roughly" what townships fell into what counties about 1871. A friend maintains the Eastern Townships site for RootsWeb, and gave me permission to copy here.  "My area" is colored in tan, located at the lower left side, just above Vermont.

Finding the Kill, Roots and Flowers in Albany, New York

This river may not look special to any reader, but it means the world to me.  It is called Normans Kill (River) and is located a few minutes from Albany. In 2003 I discovered that my ancestor, Andries Ten Eyck once lived there. After the Revolutionary War, he became a Loyalist, and moved to Canada in 1794. The documentation is below. For years, I have wanted to visit this site, and Steven Danko even gave me directions from Boston to Albany three years ago.

At long last, I went May 1st with my husband, first to visit Albany, then to Normans Kill. This wasn't a long trip (about three hours one way), it was just to a new place.  Since I had posted many of my Ten Eyck / TenEyck names for Saturday Surname the same day, I thought it appropriate to finally make trip, which was a very full day for us.

Normanskill Farm sign.

View of Albany, and not a car in sight!

"I Andres Tenneyck Do hereby declare that I am a native of the United States of America from the State of New Jersey my age is Sixty Seven Years and my trade or occupation is that of a farmer that for these Six Months Last Past. I have resided at Normans Kill in the State of New York and came into this Province of Lower Canada by water on Lake Champlain on the tenth day of June 1794 and now do reside in Dunham as Witness my hand at Missisquoi Bay this Twenty Fifth Day of October 1794. Signed: Andres Tenneyck"

Lower Canada Declarations of Aliens (Film # CS, 88, Q4, L69, 1981) #000295. #21. Located at New England Historical and Genealogical Society, Boston)

Albany's annual tulip festival is next weekend, but we checked out the flowers a week early, good thing, they were in full bloom on this 85 degree day.