Fifth Generation
24. Goosen Gerritsen VAN SCHAICK Capt. was born
about 1624.5 !From the Dutch
Settlers Society of Albany yearbook - 1998 - 2001.
The first Van Schaick settler may have been Goosen Gerritsen from Westbroeck
who arrived in New Netherlands in 1637 under contract to serve Kiliaen van Rensselaer
for six years in his settlement near present-day Albany.. In 1643, Goosen Gerritsen
returned to the Netherlands to visit friends and relatives in his native village
three miles north of Utrecht's town walls. He then returned to Rensselaerswyck
and upon compleating the term of service lived in Beverwyck/Albany for the rest
of his life. From his two wives, he left numerous progeny, several of whom became
prominent citizens in Albany, among whom were an 18th century mayor and the builder
of the manor house on Van Schaick Island in Cohoes which served as military headquarters
for the British during the French and Indian wars and for the colonial army during
the Revolution at the battle of Saratoga. In his later years Goosen Gerritsen
use the family name Van Schaick and adopted a coat of arms probably from his
wif'e family. His descendants, who make up a majority of those with the name
in the Capital region, for the most part spelled the name Van Schaick or Van
Schoick, the latter spelling reflecting the vowel sound heard b y the English
speakers who ruled the Dutch colony after 1674. Goosen Gerritsen VAN SCHAICK
Capt. and Geertje VAN NIEUKERKE were married. 25.
Geertje VAN NIEUKERKE.5Children
were:
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