Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Welcome!
When Joseph Adriance arrived in this world on Oct.9,1833 Andrew Jackson,the hero of the Battle of New Orleans was well into his second term in the White House. When he left it on Jan.23,1913, Woodrow Wilson had just been sworn into office. Nearly eighty years had passed and many events had transpired. Yet, who was Joseph Adriance and what is his personal legacy? If you are a descendent of Joseph Adriance, you are well rooted in the American experience and especially here in New York.
Joseph was directly descended from Adriaen Reyerse who arrived in New Netherlands in 1646. Adriaen was the son of Reyer Elbertse of Utrecht, Holland. Adriaen was also related to Jacobus Reyerse who was a director of the Dutch West India Company. He apparently helped to bring some of his relatives to America.
When Adriaen arrived in America, he made his home in Breuckelen (Brooklyn) Island of Nassau. He married Annetje Schenk of Flatlands on July 29,1659. They were the parents of a son Elbert who was born August 14,1668. When the Duke of York took over New Netherlands in 1664, the English required that the Dutch have surnames. Thus Elbert was known as Elbert Adriance. Elbert grew up in Flatbush on Long Island (Kings County). He married Catalina Remse Van der Boeck on April 18,1689. They settled in Flushing, N.Y. and were the parents of three children; Rem, Elbert, and Annetke. Rem was next in our line. He was born in Flatbush in 1690 and died in1730. He was married to Sarah Brinckerhoff who was born in Flatlands in 1691. Rem and Sarah were the parents of six sons. They were as follows; Elbert (b.1715), Joris (b.1716), Abraham (b.1720), Isaac, (b.1722), Jacob (b.1727), and finally Rem (b.1729). His son, Joris, a farmer like his father, would continue our line.
By 1740 Joris, Isaac,and Abraham had left Long Island and settled near Fishkill,N.Y.(Dutchess County). Eventually Joris married Margaret Van Wyck on May3,1741.When Margaret died in 1749,he married her cousin Phoebe. Joris and Phoebe Adriance were the parents of six children. They were Elbert, Cornelius, Joris (George), Sarah, Theodorus, and Catalina who was born in 1759 after his death. George, also a farmer, would become our next connection.
By 1807 George had moved his family from Dutchess County and settled in the Town of Berne near Albany.George had married Elizabeth Gorsline and they were the parents of George (b.1776), Elizabeth (b.1782), Sarah (b.1787), Jacob (b.1790), Albert (b.1794), Richard, James,and Cornelius. George's son Jacob, another farmer, would carry our line forward.
By 1814, Jacob was 24 and married to Elizabeth Butler. A large family would follow for them. John William was the oldest born in 1815. Brothers and sisters who followed in succession included George (b. 1819), Albert (b.1820 d.1894), Louisa (b.1827), Rachel (b.1828), Richard, Joseph (b.1833 d.1913), and Cornelius (b.1835 d.1918). Joseph would be our link.
Joseph Adriance and his younger brother Cornelius would stay in touch for the rest of their lives. Joseph would farm like his predecessors while Cornelius would travel New York selling his wares. No doubt, though, Joseph and his siblings received the education and training typical of 19th century children. They learned the values of hard work and were given a good dose of Christian morality.
By 1860 census records indicate that 27 year old Joseph was living in the home of his older brother John. Five years later, at age 32, he was living with another Berne family and was employed as a teamster hauling flagstone. Berne was known for both its farmland and stone quarry business.
Apparently things were changing in Berne. By 1860 Joseph’s generation was on the move. According to 1860 census figures Joseph’s brother John William had moved to Broome County and settled in the Town of Nanticoke. Ten years later Joseph,37,appears in the census of Broome County, Town of Nanticoke, along with his wife Delia, 22, and son Charles W. age 3. In the 10 years from 1860 to 1870 Joseph had married Cordelia Shutter and was the father of the first of five children that they would raise together. Cordelia was the daughter of Henry Shutter and Mary Wright. She had a sister Jane and two brothers. By 1885 both H.Shutter and J.Adriance appear on the map of Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Our line had now migrated from Long Island to Dutchess County. It had then moved from Dutchess County to Albany County. From there, it moved to Broome County and finally to Tioga County. There would be more to come.
Joseph (10/9/33-1/23/13) and Esther Cordelia Shutter Adriance (6/7/48-2/14/12) would become the parents of Wesley (b.1867), Bert (b.1875 d.1917), Millie, Cora, and Henry (b.1883 d.1947).
Joseph was a farmer for most of his life. However only one son Bert continued in the occupation which Joseph’s ancestors had employed. Bert married Lulu Bartlett and they were the parents of six children; Muriel, Harry,Clifton,Geraldine, Mabel and Alberta.Wesley went to work for the Corning Glass Works. He married Lillian Brace and they were the parents of a daughter Ada. His youngest son Henry started out in farming, but by 1906 had given that up to work for the New York Central Railroad. Henry married Leah Smith and they were the parents of five children: Harold, Wilbur, Mary, Kenneth, and Leland .Millie married Noman(Gene) Stone and helped him farm. They were the parents of two children ; Pearl and Walter . Cora married Walter Hopkins.Pearl Stone White,Joseph and Cordelia’s granddaughter, had this to say about them:
" I think that my mother(Millie) and Aunt Cora favored the Shutter side. To me Uncle Wesley looked more like Grandpa than any of the other children. He was such a good person and in his ways more like Grandpa. I think that Aunt Cora was 47 or 48 when she passed away. She died in Highland Hospital in Rochester. She had cancer and died a few hours after an operation.The doctors said that there was no help for her. It’s hard for me to say,but to me Uncle Henry in his build and looks favored both Grandma and Grandpa, maybe a bit more like the Shutters.”
The Joseph Adriance who finally settled near present day Mansfield, Pa. was then a man of 19th century America who pursued an occupation which for generations had been handed down from father to son. It was a world of large families, hard work,and large appetites. It was a close knit society of very independent,but interdependent people who shared a faith in the common good of their fellow man. The life of Joseph and Cordelia was captured in the memory and imagination of their granddaughter Pearl Stone White.What follows will allow you to gain a deeper sense of appreciation for Joseph Adriance the man and perhaps provide us with a window to view the common heritage that we share.
“ Grandpa and Grandma were both members of the Free Methodist Church at Painter Run.They still have services at this church(1980).Church hymns were all I ever heard him hum. I never heard him sing. Grandma sang, but not Grandpa. He had no special hobby. He was just a farmer and always had a lovely garden which he loved to care for. No particular ambition.
About three times a week he and Grandma would go visiting to different friends of theirs. I don’t know much about his schooling,where he went or where he went when he went to school . I do know that he could read well. As far as writing, I don’t remember what it was like. I do know that he could write and was good in figures.Grandma always did the writing. I never heard Grandpa mention being out in a boat on the water. If he ever was, it must have been before he came to these parts. No musical interest that I ever knew of.
Grandpa and Grandma seemed very contented on their little farm.Years ago we used to have a Mansfield Fair that came in September and they used to go. It was more of a reunion to them as they met many of their friends there that they didn’t see otherwise.They had one horse and a buggy that they made their rounds in. The horse was blind,but you better believe this old horse was a tough one.Grandpa always kept him in good shape. He had a one horse plow and drag. He also had a one horse wagon that they used to draw in hay and corn. My Dad(Gene Stone) at that time had one horse. Sometimes they would hitch them together if the work they had to do was to heavy for one alone. Grandpa’s Old Dan did alot of work on the little farm.
As far as I know Grandpa Adriance was the first and only Adriance to settle in Tioga, Pa. They had a small place on what is still known as Park Hill.They must have moved from Park Hill to Lambs Creek where Uncle Henry was born before moving to Painter Run.
I do remember of hearing Grandpa say he was of Dutch descent. As to Grandpa Adriance’s father, I don’t remember of him ever talking about him. I don’t remember Grandpa speaking much of his childhood. Grandpa was a very quiet man. He was very good to my brother,Walter, and me. I was six years old when my brother was born at Grandpa and Grandma’s home. I remember him feeding my brother coffee from a tablespoon when he was only a few weeks old.
One time he and Grandma were haying alone and she fell off the load of hay. She struck on her shoulder and broke it. It was never set correctly. Grandpa always had to comb her hair as she couldn’t lift her arm. I used to stay with them quite a bit and I did it when I was there.
His height as I remember was about average. He had snow white hair except in back underneath near the neckline which maybe in his younger days might have been almost black. He had a full beard white as his hair.
It seems I remember that he and Grandma lived for a short time with Uncle Henry and Aunt Leah when they lived on Hammond Street in Corning. I don’t know of any sickness. In later years he had a heart condition and Grandma too. I remember the doctor giving them a liquid heart medicine. I gave that to them many times.”
Pearl also had this to say about Joseph’s brother Cornelius:
“Grandpa Adriance had a brother Cornelius. He traveled quite a bit as he dealt in extracts and perfumes,etc. I think that he made his home mostly in Pittsfield , Mass.I have heard him tell of living in Albany and Schenectady,or going there for supplies. He had been married, was separated from his wife, and if my memory serves me right, I believe he had one daughter. We never saw her as when he came to Grandpa’s, he always came alone. Aunt Cora used to keep in touch with him at times. Uncle Cornel, as we called him, was a small man not near as tall as Grandpa. I don’t remember of his ever writing Grandpa. Most every winter he would visit the family in Pennsylvania.”
Note- The above essay is based on correspondence that I've been fortunate to have over the last 24 years with the late Pearl Stone White, Mildred Fisher Adriance , Vicky Adriance ,Euretha Stapleton, Town of Berne Historian, and Verona E .Williamson of the Adriance Memorial Library. The website itself is the work of my son Patrick Adriance. The website is intended for the enjoyment of the descendents of Joseph Adriance. Hopefully it will be perodically updated by generations to come so that we will never lose sight of who we are and where we originated . I alone accept responsibility for the information contained in the essay. - John Adriance
P.S. I'm particularly interested in obtaining a photo of Joseph's father Jacob and information about him. Jacob (1790-1870) was supposedly brought to Broome County in 1860 when his son John William moved there. I would like to encourage my many Adriance cousins to contribute to this site .
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