Grubb Family Tree

From Schermerhorn Genealogy and Family Chronicles:

Symon J. Schermerhorn was born in Albany, N. Y. Whether he removed to Schenectady with his father is not known, but he and his family were certainly residents of Schenectady Village in 1690, for the tale of his famous ride from the latter place to Albany on Feb. 9, 1690, at the time of the Schenectady Massacre, has been repeated to many generations of Schermerhorns. He was the first to bear the news to Albany of the terrible destruction wrought by the French and Indians, when they descended upon Schenectady that winter's night, leaving few alive to tell the tale. Symon Schermerhorn escaped with difficulty, and on a wounded horse, himself shot through the thigh, rode through the cold winter's night, warning the inhabitants as he passed through the outlying settlements and reaching Albany at 5 A. M., more dead than alive. His son John was killed and three of his negroes. His brother Cornelius and his sister Jannetie, who probably lived with him, escaped. The rest of the family, living some distance away from the scene of the destruction, were also unharmed.

A tablet has been placed in Albany in commemoration of Symon Schermerhorn's Ride, and it is placed in the wall of the Railroad Station at what is supposed to be the site of the Old North Gate of the village. Soon after the Schenectady Massacre, Symon removed to New York, and, on Sept. 4, 1691, his wife was admitted to the Reformed Dutch Church of that town. He became master of a vessel navigating the Hudson, and a record shows that on June 23, 1693, he transported soldiers from New York to Albany. He may have been following a vocation connected with his father's former interests at this time, or the business may have been his private venture. His brother Cornelius had been previously a skipper on the Hudson, and continued at this occupation for many years, so the indications are that the trading interests of Jacob Janse Schermerhorn were to some extent kept up by his sons after his death. Symon's descendants followed the shipping business for many generations. His widow married Levinus Winne, June 20, 1699, and becoming a widow a second time, married Johannes Van Hoesen, June 19, 1709. Her father, Arnout Cornelise Viele, was the Indian Interpreter, widely known in those days.

From Schermerhorn Genalogy and Family History:

Simon Schermerhorn, the founder of the New York City branch of the family, was not the only one of the brothers to take an interest in sea-faring life. His brothers Jacob and Cornelius were both masters of vessels plying on the Hudson between New York and Albany as early as 1684. Descendants of the brother Jacob conducted an extensive shipping business from Schodack, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., and became wealthy and influential. But the family of Simon Schermerhorn were the only ones who followed the shipping business consistently and to a late day. Their importance in this field of commerce is well expressed in a paragraph from the New York Evening Post, July 13, 1901, as follows:

"From the earliest time they perceived the maritime importance of New York. They realized that the possession of the Hudson, the Sound, the Kills, and Newark Bay involved a mine of inexhaustible wealth to Manhattan Island. They were advocates of the Erie and Champlain Canal, the Morris and Essex, the Delaware and Raritan and of the harbor improvements which have been going on for more than a century. They took part in the development of coastwise and river navigation, and laid the foundations for many mercantile enterprises between New York and the coast cities of the Atlantic. It was this clear, statesmanlike view which enabled them to take advantage of opportunities unperceived by others, and to accumulate that wealth which is usually the reward of intelligence and determined effort. The name Schermerhorn bears the same relation to the coastwise shipping of New York that the names of Astor, Low and Grinnell do to its huge ocean traffic."

Perhaps the most well-defined characteristic of the Schermerhorn family as a whole is that of conservativeness and reserve. This trait has been developed to a marked degree in Simon Schermerhorn's descendants. They have never sought public office and have been satisfied to live quietly within their own families, content with the field of action in which their own private business excluded all else. The Evening Post says of this: "This reserve has not been that of selfish isolation, but has, on the contrary, been accompanied by an ideally democratic conduct. They have looked after the welfare of their neighbors and fellow citizens and have in every generation increased the prosperity of the community."

Though they did not serve actively in the Revolution, as many of their up-state cousins did, nevertheless, they were loyal patriots and helped the Colonial cause in many ways. This would take effect in their supplying transportation to the soldiers, the forwarding of arms and provisions and the carrying of dispatches back and forth, all of this developing naturally through the facilities they could offer in water transportation. Subsequently, however, the military interests of the family became marked and in the War of 1812 and the Civil War, this branch of the Schermerhorn family was well represented. Almost since the organization of the 7th Regiment of New York there have been Schermerhorns intimately identified with it, and in state military affairs the family is frequently recognized when military appointments are made.

Columbia University and the name Schermerhorn have always been closely allied. Nearly all the boys of the family have been graduated from Columbia, and as early as 1793, the name appears on the graduate roll. Up to a few years ago, there had been a Schermerhorn among the Trustees of Columbia for over half a century. Many large contributions to the College were made by members of the family and Schermerhorn Hall will remain for many years as a memorial of the family's interest.

To quote the Evening Post again: "The women of this race have been noted for their social graces. Nearly all married well and enjoyed long and happy wedded lives. In every generation they have been at the very head of New York Society. They have been women of deep religious sentiments and have been identified with church work in all its forms. They have written their name indelibly upon the pages of philanthropy in the history of the metropolis."

Thus Simon Schermerhorn's descendants have left a record that is well worthy of being lived up to by all of the Schermerhorn name. The fact that Schermerhorns are found as well honored in the Metropolis of America as in the town and country places of the family's early settlement, bears a significance which needs no comment.