Mary Jane Lawrence

Notes:

Mary Jane moved into the "Nicholas Gesner House'' after the death of Nicholas Gesner. According to family lore, she supposedly burned several of Nicholas Gesner's diaries.

Family/Spouse: William Sparks. William was born in 1816 in England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In partnership with Samuel Sneden, formed the "Lawrence & Sneden Shipyard, Greenpoint, Brookyn, Kings County, New York.

Jonothan married Sarah (Sally) Gesner on 28 May 1817. Sarah (daughter of Nicholas Gesner and Gracey Post) was born on 27 Jun 1796 in Closter Road, Palisades, Rockland County,New York; died on 12 Jan 1854. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1790. On the list of the Rockland County, Militia as an ensign.
1811. Rockland County Regiment under Lieut. Col. Blauvelt.
1816. Appointed colonel of the 160th New York Regiment.

In 1793 Nicholas built a farmhouse at 95 Closter Road, Palisades, New York, almost on the state line between New Jersey and New York.

"Nicholas was an avid diarist who chronicaled life in Palisades and Rockland between 1829 and 1850. Nicholas was described primarily being a farmer. He devoted parts of his life efforts to subsistence production. In addition to his farming, Gesner served as surveyor, schoolteacher, a sometime lawyer for his neighbors and diarist of the events of the neighborhood. Nicholas was also a mechanic inventing an innovative loom for weaving double-faced Dutch blankes. In addition, Nicholas was also instrumental in constructing a Reformed Methodist Church (Gesner Hall) in Palisades at the south east corner of Closter and Oak Tree Roads, known as Gesner Corners. After his death, the Gesner Hall became first a parsonage for the ME Church, and later became a private home bfore burning down in 1885. In his youth Nicholas had been a boatbuilder."

"Frontier Elements in a Hudson River Village," Carl Nordstrom.
"Historic Houses of Palisades, New York", michel Rebic and Alice Gerard, 2001.
Refer to land deeds executed by his father, John Gesner.
"The Gesner Family of New York and Nova Scotia", Anthon Temple Gesner, 1912.
"Palisades and Snedens Landing" Alice Munro haagensen.

Nicholas married Gracey Post on 14 Apr 1789. Gracey (daughter of Living and Living) was born in Oct 1764 in Tappan, Rockland County, New York; died on 1 Feb 1848 in Palisades, New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

John, like his father, was a miller by trade, died at age 87 years, 1 month and 11 days. Like his father, a miller, he lived and died on his farm located about one and a half miles outside of the village of Tappan, not far from the state road and close to the New York-New Jersey state line.

Joh. Hin'r Gissenger, born Hackensack and Femmetje Brouwer, young people of Tappan, marriage banns published in the Lutheran Church, New York, New York, New York, 1744-5, the Sunday after Easter 1744 and two other days. "Holland Historical Society Year Book," 1903, p 21. "Marriage banns published in the Lutheran Church, New York, New York, 1744-5."

Sunday after Easter 1744 and two other days; at Hackensack, Joh. Hinr. Gissinger and Femmetje Brouwer, young people of Tappan were married. "Some Early Records of the Lutheran Church, New York" Rev. Justus Folkner.

Jan Gissenger and Femmetje Brouwer, his wife, witnessed the baptism of John Valentine, born March 28, 1773, son of Jacob Valentine and his wife, Grietje (Margaret) Banta, son of Jacob Valentine and Margaret Gesner.

June 1, 1745. John Genry Gesner purchased property from Henry Ludlow, one and one-half miles southeast of Tappan Village and close to the disputed New York-New Jersey line, now Rockleigh, New Jersey. John and Femitcha began and ended their married life in a house built to the west of Sneden Landing Road, located to the west of the brook to the west of the DuBois house, and about 200 yards southeast from the present James Gowdy house on Piermont Road. (Mary Gowdy, wife of James, was related to the Gesner family through her father, John Gisner Conklin, grandson of Elizabeth Gesner and Jacob Conklin.)

"It may not be improper to note here that our Father and Mother, John Henry Gesner and Famitcha Bower, wished to remain neutral in the War of the Revolution. He refused to sign the Association Articles, dreading the Consequences; was called a Tory, but truly he was a peacable man in every respect. Threatenments were made, and his sons grown up were all mmenaced to be taken to New England, and confined in dungeons (or mines). Violence was used in many places, and with many. Father Gesner, now about 52 or 53 years old, admonished his sons, Jacob, Isaac and the twins Henry and Abraham, to take opportunity & go to New York now in possession of the English. With some others, after Father admonished them to be good boys, they went off in an open small Pettiauger belonging to Sneded who went also from Snedens etc." "Nicholas Gesner Diaries, July 1834. ms. at Palisades Free Library, Palisades, New York.

New York gave them safe harbor, but they would never return to the old farm again. Isaac found work as a Taylor. Twins Hendrick and Abraham with Jacob, went to Staten Island where they cut wood. As members of the Kings Orange Rangers commanded by Col. Bayard, they served as guards at Powles Point and Hoboken. "South of the Mountains," Alice Monro Haagensen, Vol. 34, No.2, 1990.

August 3, 1796. John Gesner of Harrington Township, yeoman, conveyed to Nicholas Gesner of Orange Township, Orange County, New York, for 100 pounds, one rod, and six perches of land at a place commonly called Rockland, part of which is in Harrington Township, Bergen County, New Jersey and part of which is in Orange Township, Orange County, New York. Signed by John Gesner. No witnesses. Recorded December 30, 1805, Bergen County Land Deed Book X:30.

August 30, 1796. John Gesner of Harrington Township, yeoman, conveyed to Nicholas Gesner (his son), of Orange Township, Orange County, State of New York, for 300 pounds and other good considerations, 31 acres, 1 rod, 6 perches of land at the place commonly called Rockland in Harrington Township, beginning at a corner lot No. 1, adjoining land of Jacob Conklin (who married Elizabeth Gesner, daughter of John Henry Gesner. Signed by John Gesner. Witnessed by Peter Mabie and Petrus Haring. Recorded December 30, 1805, Bergen County, New Jersey Land Deed Book, X:20.

Also in 1796, John Gesner of Harrington deeded a large tract of land to his son-in-law Jacob Conklin, residident of Harrington Twp., Bergen County, New Jersey.

November 5, 1805. Thomas Ludlow of the City of New York, merchant, and Mary, his wife, conveyed to Nicholas Gesner, 13 3/4 acres, 10 rods, of land, being lot No. 23, for 420 pounds, 6 shillings and 3 pence, that was part of the estate of Henry Ludlow, merchant, formerly of the City of New York, bounded north by the division line between New Jersey and New York, east by lot No. 22, south by lot No. 25, west by land formerly sold by Henry Ludlow, deceased. Signed by Thomas Ludlow and Mary Ludlow. Witnessed by Thomas Chapman, Jr., and Daniel Van Reipen. Recorded December 30, 1805, Bergen County, New Jersey. Land Deed Book X:20.

John married Femmetje Brouwer in 1744 in Luthern Church, New York. Femmetje (daughter of Adolf Brouwer and Jannetje Verdon) was born in 1723 in Tappan, Rockland County, New York; died on 10 Feb 1788 in Tappan, Rockland County, New York; was buried in Old Gesner burial ground on Gesner farm outside Tappan.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Baptized December 1, 1723. Sponsors, Jurrie Bouwer and Elizabeth ? his wife, at Hackensack, Bergen County, New Jersey.

Living married Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]