Hendrick Mesick

Johann Hendrick Mesick (1714-1809) was born December 29, 1714 in Germantown, Columbia County, New York.  A first generation American — before the Revolution — in which he later fought.  He was active in his church, raised a family, lived to be 95 years old.

His parents were Viet Musig (Mesick) and Anna Catharina who immigrated in 1710 and settled in town of Livingston, NY where they built a log house.  As a first born son, Hendrick later settled in the northern part of Livingston Manor on Claverack Creek near Glenco Mills on a joint life-leased farm of 230 acres of land that he shared with his father.

Hendrick first married Anna Elisabetha Gradt (1714-before 1748) on November 24, 1739 in Katsbaan Reformed Church, Saugerties, Ulster County, NY.  It is assumed that she died without children because Hendrick remarried by 1748.

Hendrick was active in his church, being elected Deacon of the Linlithgo Reformed Dutch Church on August 15, 1741 as well as Elder and member of the Consistory, from August 15, 1741 to April 19, 1775.

Hendrick Mesick married Catherine Dietrich (1727-1792) in 1748.  She was born November 19, 1727 and christened January 24, 1728 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at West Camp, Saugerties, Ulster County, NY.

200px-Old_Dutch_Church_kingston1721The records of the Dutch Church of Kingston, in Claverack cite his marriage:

Hendrick Musick, j. m. and Catherine Diederick, j. d. both resid. in the Co. of Albanie married on the presentation of a license, Sept. 19, 1748, by Domine Geor. Wilhelm Mancius.

Catherine’s father was Christian Dieterich and the family is known to be from Niederbieber, Germany as early as 1655.  Interestingly, Neuwied is the same place from which John D. Rockefeller’s paternal line originated and immigrated in 1710, like the Dieterich family.

Hendrick and Catherine’s  children were born in Columbia County, NY :

Child Born Married Departed
Peter Mesick 8 Jul 1750 Glenco Mills Christina Moul 27 Nov 1834
Margaretta Mesick 12 Mar 1753 Claverack John Best, Jr.    14 Dec 1772 5 Oct 1851 Livingston
Sarah Mesick 3 Jan 1759 Peter Harder
Catherina Mesick 24 Oct 1762 John S. Lasher 31 Dec 1786

Claverack, Columbia Co., NY

 24 Mar 1854
Elizabeth Mesick 22 Mar 1764

The Best and Mesick homes were very close by which may have lead to the marriage on their children.

Hendrick was commissioned Lieutenant, 6th Company, Regiment of Militia for Livingston Manor by Cadwalader Colden on January 25, 1764.  He was a member of “Regiment of Foot” organized in the Manor prior to the Revolution under command of Capt. William van Alstyn.

His son Peter of Claverack, born 1750, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War at the battle of Stillwater. George Best, his father, Herman Best, and Hendrick Mesick were soldiers in the Revolutionary War.

In his will, he appoints John Best, Jr., his son-in-law and Johannes Young, his brother-in-law as Executors.

After the death of his brother Jacob, Hendrick probably visited his tomb stone and read the following:

Here lies the body of Jacob Mesick, who departed this life the 19th day of March, 1774, aged 57 years, 1 month & 28 days.
Behold and see as you pass by;
As you are now, so once was I;
As I am now you soon will be.
Prepare for death and follow me.

Catherine Dederick died on December 20, 1792 at age 65. Her tombstone, in the Claverack Cemetery, bears the following inscription:

In memory of Catherine Mesick, wife of Hendrick Mesick, who died Dec. 20, 1792. 

Hendrick Mesick lived on the old homestead with a joint lease with his father until his death. He died and was buried there on April 3, 1809 at age 95.  His remains and Catherine’s were re-interred in the cemetery of the old Dutch Church at Claverack.  RIP. The Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

henrymesicktombstone

The inscription states: Henrick Mesick who died xxx 1809 in the 95th year of his age.

Family history has it that a generation later Hendrick’s only son Peter married and lived with his wife more than 60 years.  They died upon the same day and were buried in the same grave.

Their tombstone in the Claverack cemetery states:

Beneath this stone two reverent forms are laid,                                                        Who all the ills of four-score years defied;                                                                 Happy in life, in death were undismayed;                                                                 They lived together and together died.

The capacity to love is little doubt the best psychological inheritance of all.

Resources

Baptismal and marriage registers of the old Dutch church of Kingston, Ulster County, New York (1891)

Munsell’s American Ancestry, Vol. 2, pg. 80; Vol. 9, pg. 150

 The Family of Best in America by Charles Best Benson

 Mesick Geneaology by John F. Mesick, 1888

 Parsons family

Find a Grave website (for photo)

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4 Responses to Hendrick Mesick

  1. Thank you – wonderful website.
    Mary Ann

  2. Reading and learning about ancestors is
    a fun thing. Placing them and learning about
    where they lived makes them real for me.
    Thank you very much for all your research
    time, effort and gentle care of these records.
    God bless and good hunting,
    Mary Ann

  3. R. Bianchi says:

    John S Lasher was one of my GGGGGGrandfathers and I hate to see him married to the wrong woman. Please see supporting evidence.

    John S. Lasher c: 13 May 1759 Reformed Church, Gallatin, Columbia Co., NY. Moved to Johnstown, NY in 1809. d: 28 Apr 1838 Burial: Yauney Family Cemetery, Johnstown, NY.
    In his will he mentions his wife Katharine, sons Peter, Henry, Samuel and John J, daughters Mariah Yanney, Lany Shaw, Hannah McCollum, Elizabeth, Katharine, Margaret and Christina (FamilySearch web site, New York Probate Records, 1629-1971, Fulton County, Wills 1789-1848 vol 2, pg 294, image 434 of 797)

    Catharine Mesick was born 29 Sep 1762 and died 24 March 1854. She was married 31 Dec 1786 in Claverack, Columbia Co., NY. Burial: Yauney Family Cemetery, Fulton Co., NY.
    In her will she mentions her late husband John S Lasher and daughters Christina Getman, Elizabeth and Catharine. (FamilySearch web site, New York Probate Records, 1629-1971, Fulton County, Wills 1848-1866 vol 5, pg 39, image 232 of 470)

    fulton.nygenweb.net
    Yauney Family Cemetery
    This transcript can be found at the Johnstown Historical Society, William Street, Johnstown, New York. It was sent in to the Fulton County GenWeb site by James Morrison, archivist for Johnstown Historical Society, and transcribed by Linda Jasztal, March 5, 2000.

    John S. Lasher Died April 28, 1838
    In his 80 year

    Catherine Mesick Died March 24, 1854 Born Sept. 24, 1762
    wife of John S. Lasher

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