Hannah Gesner

Notes:

Baptized December 12, 1756, Tappan. Witnesses, Petrus Haring and Elizabeth Ryken.

At age 16, Abraham joined the King's Orange Rangers commanded by Samuel V. Bayard. Saw action in the battles of Kingsbidge Heights and Harlem Heights. He was with Sir Henry Clinton in his norhtern expeidition, and present at the storming and taking of Fort Montgomery. After purchasing his commission from Captain Bethel, he was elevated to Major. He took refuge with the British army in 1776 and was evacuated to Nova Scotia with the King's Orange Rangers in 1779. Attached to the Halifax garrison, the King's Orange Ranger's mission was to deter rebel privateer raids.

In 1793 after the Revolutionary War, he settled in Belle Isle, Nova Scotia where later he accepted appointment to the bench of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas.

Abraham married Elizabeth Steadman in 1786. Elizabeth was born in 1767; died in 1848 in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Stedman's were from Kingston, Rhode Island and settled in Annapolis Royal before the Revolutionary War.

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.

Adolf married Jannetje Verdon. Jannetje was born in in Tappan, Rockland County, New York; died in in Tappan, Rockland County, New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]