Conrad Soop

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Spelled and referred to variously, Conrad Soop may have been born in New York City in May 1752. His family was a part of the Palatine German migration to New York decades earlier.

Upon reaching adulthood, he relocated to what was then the Bethlehem district of Rensselaerswyck and lived there for the remainder of his long life. He was not a resident of the city of Albany and meets none of the criteria for inclusion among the people of colonial Albany.

He appears to have been a member of a southern Albany County militia regiment. Beginning in 1776, he was in active service each year from 1776 to 1780. He detailed his record to claim a service pension in 1833. His name has not been found on post-war land bounty lists but a "Conradt Sooley" was among the enlisted men on a regiment of New York State Levies commanded by Col. Frederick Weissenfels. In 1836, he testified on behalf of fellow pensioner David Flensburgh - his neighbor. The following year, he made a similar declaration on behalf of Isaac Van Wie.

He appears to have married Elizabeth Becker of Schoharie in 1774. The marriage produced a number of children. However, their christenings were not recorded at the Albany Dutch church. In 1825, he contributed $25 to the Reformed church along with others from the Bethlehem church.

He was a Van Rensselaer tenant as was his youngest son Frenderick and then Frederick Soop's daughter.

Soop House stories.

Amasa J. Parker has contributed a somewhat different account of his origins. That work also is a source of family lore.

His name does not seem to appear on any part of the census for Albany County in 1790.

Eighty-eight-year-old Elizabeth Becker Soop died in 1842 According to his gravestone, Conrad Soop died in September 1847 at the age of 102. They were buried in the family plot on the former Soop property.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Conrad Soop has not been assigned a CAP biography number. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. This brief sketch of a Selkirk farmer has been posted on the website dedicated to residents of the city of Albany because his home is where this historian has enjoyed many memorable meals in the company of my dearest friends. Over the past almost four decades, these folks have inspired and comforted me. If you wish, call it a tribute page or even a senior moment!

Revolutionary War pension application: On the 30th day of January, 1833, personally appeared in open court, before the Justice Court of the City of Albany, now sitting, Coenradt Soop of Bethlehem in the county of Albany and state of New York aged, Eighty One years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on this oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated:

That I was born in the City of New York on the 11th May 1752 as I have been informed by my Parents, and after arriving at mans Estate, I sic to Bethlehem where I have resided ever since – That I was enrolled as a private in a militia Company where of Albert Vanderzee was Captain, and Gerrit Vandenberg was Colonel of the regiment, at Bethlehem, and in the year 1776 I marched under Capt. Vanderzee from Bethlehem to Saratoga, where I was employed, previous to and in returning home, for the space of Eight weeks it being as nigh as he can recollect, in the month of November before he got home.
In the year 1777, I was drafted out of Capt. Hogan’s company to which I then belonged, and marched to Schenectady, and ordered to be stationed there to guard that place against irruptions from the Indians who, with some Tories called Butler’s Rangers, had threatened to attack and destroy that Town, and having remained at that place where the militia were billeted out among the inhabitants, for two months, they were dismissed and returned to their homes: On this tour I was out not less than Nine Weeks: In the fall of the same year I was again drafted out of Capt. Hogan’s Company and marched under his Command to Schoharie, and was in garrison there, (previous to his return home) in the Middle Fort, during which part of Col. Harper’s Reg. was stationed there, for a period of a full Ten Weeks:
In the year 1778 I was ordered out with part of Col. Vandenberg’s Regiment and under the Command of Major Laurence Schoolcraft, and marched to the Upper Fort in Schoharie, at which time some regular troops lay there, but on our arrival they received orders to march to the West, and we were ordered to remain at that place, and we continued there, some on Scouting parties and others guarding the Fort until late in the fall of that year, having been in Service from the day of our starting on this tour until our return home, not less then Twelve Weeks:
In the year 1779 I was again order out under Capt. Hogan and marched to the Middle Fort in Schoharie in company with Lieut. Flansburgh and the rest of our Company, and remained in that fort then commanded by Col. Peter Vrooman, until some time in the month of September and were then dismissed and returned home, having been in actual service at that time for three months:
In the year 1780, I was once more ordered out with the militia and marched under the command of Captain Daniel Flansburgh, of the same ret. And marched to Cobleskill and Turlock, and some of the Militia were sent on Scout Parties thru the woods, and others remained amongst the inhabitants guarding their property and Cattle until all fear of further danger ceased when after having served a severe and fatiguing tour of two months, I was dismissed and returned home: That I have never been discharged otherwise than by verbal order or word of mouth – and for my said service I claim a pension
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity exect the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.
Conradt Soop (his mark)



silently posted: 5/30/11