Symon Schermerhorn

by

Symon Schermerhorn was born during the late 1650s. He was the son of New Netherland pioneers Jacob Janse and Jannetie Egmont Schermerhorn. We have retained the frequently encountered spelling "Symon" when referring to this legendary character. Symon grew up in a large family in the home of a prominent Beverwyck/Albany businessman, real estate trader, and then Schenectady patentee.

As his father became more established and identified with the new settlement in the Mohawk Valley, Symon probably became the principal resident of his father's Albany house on Pearl Street.

By 1683, he had married Albany native Willempie Viele. By 1695, the marriage had produced four children - the last two were christened in New York. During the 1680s, he was a member and regular baptism sponsor at the Albany Dutch church.

In 1687, he was among the Albany area merchants who petitioned the governor of the province.

In May 1688, his father's will noted that Symon lived in a house next to that of Johannes De Wandelaer (in Albany). He was scheduled to receive a share (nine surviving children) of the estate and to join his older brother in assisting their mother in the administration of Jacob Janse's substantial assets.

During the attack on Schenectady on the evening of February 9, 1690, his name became emblazoned in local lore when, although wounded himself, he is said to have ridden to Albany by way of Niskayuna to warn the settlers of the disaster. His son and three slaves are said to have been killed during the attack. His father died about that time as well.

Sometime in 1691, he is said to have removed his family to New York City where he died about 1695 or 1696. During the 1690s, he transported cargoes on the Hudson between New York and Albany. His widow remarried in 1699, returned to Albany, and bore more children.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Symon Schermerhorn is CAP biography number 5492. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. This traditional narrative profile makes the most sense at this time. Additional references to his operations have been aggregated in a note appearing in Mohawk Frontier, p. 197.




first posted 1/20/16; revised 3/13/16