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Maternal
  KLOCK, c.1663-aft.1876
Related Families: Schopferin | Nellis | Zimmerman | Walrath | Shull
 
 
Triple maternal descent
Migration:  Germany>Camp Queensbury, NY>Mohawk Valley, NY

 

        (1)  Hendrick Klock, born 1663 in Germany, died 1760 in St. Johnsville, Montgomery Co., New York.  The name Hendrick appears under various spellings: Hendrik, Henry, Honorich, Henrich, Hans Hendrick and Heinrich, but he signed his will "Henry."  According to the Biographical Review of Madison Co., N.Y. published by The Biographical Review Publishing Co., of Boston, Mass., Hendrick came to America in 1704. This is confirmed by the Bible records of Joseph G. Klock, which claim that he came to America from Hessle Kessle, Germany.  He married Maria Margaretha Schopferin, reportedly born about 1665 in Holland.
        During and after World War II, genealogists and families wishing to cover up their German heritage circulated the fallacy that the Klock family is was originally from the Netherlands, but no evidence reliable for Dutch origin has ever been found.
        Hendrick took the oath of naturalization in Albany, New York, 11 October 1715, which made it legally possible for his children to inherit his estate.
        Hendrick was a friend of King Hendrick, Mohawk Chieftain.  He was known as a Dutch Indian trader, and later Yoeman from Schoharie. He secured Lot No. 13 of the Harrison Patent, which adjoined that of Christian Nellis, who with his brother William were the first white settlers in and about the Palatine Church district, three miles east of St. Johnsville, New York. A portion of the contract reads as follows:

"August 26, 1725 Hendrick Klock and Christian House jointly purchased from Harmanus Wendell of Albany, lot No. 13 of the Harrison Patent consisting of 650 A of land - a reservation of one acre of land in a square by the vendor points to the old church yard which conforms to this description as I have stated in a former article - Harmanus Wendell died before execution of the deed and August 24, 1732 lot No. 13 was deeded to Hendrick Klock by Jacob Wendell and his mother Anna Wendell and on May 24, 1743 Hendrick Walrath deeded by quit claim deed to Hendrick Klock his interest in lot No. 13- described in the deed as the lowermost half and bounded on one side by lot No. 12 owned by Christian Nellis, (Sr.) etc".
        In the genealogy of the line of Hendrick Klock recorded in the Library of the State of New York in Albany, the wives of Hendrick (b 1663 d 1760) are given as Maria Margaretha and Jacomynitie listed carelessly as wife of the father, when as matter of fact she was the wife of the son and was so named in his will, made in Canajohaire, New York, and dated 14 May 1759.  The will of the son is recorded under the name of Henry Clock and his descendants in this line have continued the "C" spelling.
        The original will of the father, Hendrick, was found by Sherman 0. Klock in the "Normander Papers" and given to Mr. Milo Nellis by the widow of Sherman 0. Klock.  Jacob, as executor of the will, was instructed to pay to each of seven children five pounds in money --- the four older upon the expiration of one year after his death and the three younger when each had reached twenty-one years of age.  Jacob was to give to the three younger children "each & either, 3 horses, 2 cows, 2 sheep, and when each marrys, 1 suit of wedding clothes from head to foot, to them" - (the obligation void if each or either dies before reaching twenty-one years of age.).  Magdalena was not mentioned in the will.
       Mr. Paul Prindle, genealogist of New York, N.Y. reasons that Hendrick had only nine children. The name Hannarum appears only in the July 12th, 1743 will of Hendrick, in which Adam's name does not appear. The name Hannarum is a contraction of Johan and Adam.
        Col. Jacob Klock has been thought to have been the oldest child of Hendrick, but on the list of 23 who swore the oath of naturalization on the 3rd day of January 1715 or 1716, was Hans Hendrick, later known as Henry, and as Honorich, Jr., who, to smear to that oath, had to be at least twenty-one years of age, so Honorich, Jr. was born prior to 1695. Certainly, says Mr. Prindle, in a letter to H L C W 2-20-1950, the first Hendrick's son was born by the time Hendrick was thirty-five, Here is evidence that Fhans Hendrick (Henry, Honorich, Jr.) was older than Col. Jacob, who couldn't have been older than eighty- two when he was on active duty at Oriskany.
        Simmendinger Register gives the first wife of Hendrick as Maria Nargaretga and that he had four wives and survived the last one fifteen years.
        "Early Palatine Emigration" by Knittle gives: From Quunsburg-Palatine: "Heinrich Klock- Margaretha & four children": This would indicate that Honorich, Jr., Jacob (later the Col.), Barvalis (Barbara) and Johannes, if that is the proper listing of order of birth, were born before the family moved to Canajoharie, N.Y. from the place they, excepting Honorich, Jr., went to the Palatine Church district, three miles east of St. Johnsville, N.Y. Since the will of Henry (Honorich, Jr.) Was made in Canajoharie, it is evident that he remained there.
       All but one of Hendrick's sons were in the War of the Revolution and are named in the lists of Col. Jacob Klock's Reg's, the 2nd Tryon Co., New York State Militia.
        Mr. Silbert (Bert) Klock of St. Johnsville, N.Y. writes in a letter to Mrs. Reba C. Helligas, Acting Librarian of Herkimer County Historical Society Library, that he has a copy" of St. John's Reformed Church, the first building erected by Hendrick Klock and later in a letter to H L C W, says that by a "copy" he referred to a book edited by a former pastor of St. Johnsville Reformed Church which has mainly to do with the church and its history. The church stood a short distance east from St. Johnsville on what is now known as the "Old Klock" cemetery property, which overlooks the Mohawk river and adjoins the property of Mr. Milo Nellis. H L C W and Mr. Williams saw this book when they called upon Bert Klock in August, 1951.
        In a letter to H L C W from Mr. Nellis 2-25-1951 he says that this Old KIock cemetery property is, he believes, the most historic acre west of Schenectday. Mr. Nellis also says he has an idea that Hendrick was on this land long before he was able to get a legal title to it, which was in 1725. Mr. Nellis has undertaken twice to have this cemetery preserved but the ownner, one Smith, refuses to sell. Further stated is an idea that the old church has probably as good or better title to the cemetery property than Smith, since is was reserved in the original deed of 1725 and its cultivation prohibited in deeds down to Mr. Nellis' time, but no actual deed of ownership by the church exits. So the cemetery, as Mr. Nellis says "has grown up with brush and weeds and the stones are broken and disappear and no one seems to be able to do anything about it". H L C W and Mr. Williams were shown this cemetery on one of their trips east, and made their way through the weeds to see the tombstones.
        Hendrick Klock sleeps in the Old Klock cemetery, east of St.Johnsville, N.Y. His original gravestone says simply:  "Here Ley; H K 1760; 97."
        Because of the lack of records of early times, the chronological order off the births of the children of the first Hendrick Klock cannot be definitely established. Hendrick is also thought to have been married at least three times, so the maternal ancestry of many of his children is unclear.

A probable list of Henry's children is as follows:

  1. Honorich, Jr., sometimes called Hans Henry or Hendrick; married Jacomitjie, believed to have been Mohawk.
  2. Col. Jacob, of Revolutionary War fame, died 9 May 1798
  3. Barvalis (Barbara), born 1697; married 29 February 1718 Christian Nellis, pioneer, died 1771, according to Fort Plain Reformed Church records Vol. 1 page 84 of tombstone records.
    1. Christian, Jr., born 1734, died 6 November 1807, a Revolutionary War hero; married Christiana Keyser
    2. Catharine, died 20 August 1805, aged 81 yrs 7 mos. 2 days (tombstone record); married first Adam Zimmerman; married second Leonard Helmer; married third Col. Jacob Klock, her uncle.
    3. Adam
    4. George
    5. Theobald, also called Dewalt
    6. Henry
    7. Hannah (Anna); married Judge Jacob G. Klock
  4. Magdalena Margaretha, born 1699 in Germany; she was not mentioned in her father's will.
  5. Johannes, born 30 October 1711; married 1737 Anna Margaretha Fox; built a stone farmhouse in 1750, now known as Fort Klock, located 1 mile east of St. Johnsville, and open to the public as a museum.
  6. Johanguergh "Old George," mentioned below
  7. Conrad, born about 1722
  8. Adam, born 1736, died 6 August 1777 in Battle of Oriskany, New York; married Maria Margaretha
  9. Honjost (John Joseph); married Catherine Krauss
  10. Chatar; married Mr(s). ? Osterhout
  11. Elizabeth; married Mr. ? Nellis
  12. Johann

 

        (2) Johanguergh Klock a.k.a. "Old George" or "Urie," was born 1714, died 1790 and buried in Old Klock Cemetery, town of Mohawk, Herkimer Co., New York.  He married Marcia Catherine Walrath in 1736 (some sources say her name was Margaretha).
        He was a private for New York in the American Revolution.
        Mr. Silbert (Bert) Klock in a letter to Mrs. Hillegas of the Herkimer County Historical Society Library (quoted under the first Hendrick), said that George Klock built the house in St. Johnsville, now owned by Miss Marcia Hillabrandt, in 1760. He cut his initials in the southeast corner of the cellar wall - "G.K. 1760."
        He is noted by Barker to have been "Abusive with the early minister."  Charges were brought against Old George for supplying rum to the natives.
        George secured the Klock and Nellis Patent in 1754. On 12 June 1753, King Hendrick, Mohawk chieftain, appeared before the Colonial Council at Fort George and requested that George Klock have a license to purchase the lands that the Indians had promised him.
        George purchased 3,000 acres from Philip Livingston in 1761 and Sir William Johnson accused him of fraud over an additional 40,000 acres. The charges, common ones for Johnson to bring up, were never proved.
        During the Revolution, George also fortified his house, and in honor of the builder, Captain Christian House, and perhaps to distinguish it from the other two Fort Klocks, he called the place "Fort House."
 

The Sir William Johnson - George Klock Controversy

        Those who have read Mohawk Valley pre-Revolutionary War history of frontier conditions may have received the impression that Sir William Johnson was one of the great friends of the pioneers. Mr. Milo Nellis wrote an article, which was published by the Little Falls, N.Y. "The Evening Times" in its issue of July 19-1949 which disputes this idea. The article portrays Johnson as typically English in his attitude toward the settlers and the Indians, always seeking his own interests rather than those of the settlers. He was intent upon acquiring land for himself. He said, "I make it a rule to be concerned where I can because I look upon this to be the principal advantage arising from the office I sustain". It would appear that therein lay the difficulty which started the long contest between him and George Klock. 
          In 1754 George Klock secured the Klock and Nellis Patent and made application for an additional grant for an estimated 40,000 acres. Johnson attempted to claim that the Indians had given it to him. The battle over this tract continued over most of Johnson's remaining years. In 1761 George Klock purchased from Philip Livingston a tract of 3,000 acres. Johnson accused Klock of fraud, and started suit against him, but could not prove that there had been fraud. The acts, for which fraud was charged, were those commonly practiced by Johnson himself. These charges against George Klock are, of course, on record and naturally reflect upon his character. The fact that they were never proved is overlooked.
        The English, to whom Johnson was appealing were those whom he represented and who, he naturally thought, would support him.
        On June 12, 1753 King Hendrick, Mohawk Chieftain appeared before the Colonial Council at Fort George (New York City) and requested that George Klock have a license to purchase the lands they, the Indians, had promised him. While Johnson was furnishing rum to the Indians and paying them a fifty dollar bounty for white men's scalps the pioneers were working hard to develop the land and were fighting the Indians to protect their homes and themselves. The feud ended when the English were defeated in the War of the Revolution. Sir William had died and the Johnson regime was driven out of the county.
 

Children of "Old George" and Marcia Catherine Walrath:

  1. Jacob G., mentioned below
  2. George G.
  3. Catharine; married Hendrick Walrath
  4. Margaret, born 1745, died 5 March 1825; married 25 February 1825 Johannes Lawyer Bellinger
  5. Elizabeth, born 1750, was sponsored at baptism by Henrich and Elizabeth Catharine Walraad; she married 7 February 1769 Col. Ebenezer Cox
  6. Anna; married Jacob Johan Klock
  7. Magdalena, "was the wife of Adam A. Walrath in 1786."
  8. Peter

 
 

        (3) Jacob George Klock, Judge, was born 9 March 1738 in the Mohawk Valley of New York, and died 8 September 1814 in Kingston, Ulster Co., New York, where he practiced law.  He was a member of the Assembly for Temporary Government of the Southern District of New York during the Revolution, and Chairman of the Tryon County Committee of Safety in 1777.  Later, he was a member of the first New York State Senate.  Jacob was appointed Judge of Montgomery County on 2 February 1778 and may have served in that capacity until his death.

        Jacob George represented Tryon County in the First Session of the State Assembly from September 1777 to 1778 . He was a Commissioner of forfeiture for the Western district made up of Albany and Tryon Counties from 22 October 1779 to 21 March 1788.
       Jacob married first Hannah (Anna), daughter of Christian Nellis and wife Barvalis Klock.  He married second on 30 September 1784 Maritje, born 16 January 1748, died 3 May 1836, daughter of Lieut. Cornelius Beekmnan.  The groom was 46 and the bride 26 years of age.  Cornelius was son of William Beekman, who came to America with Peter Styvesant and helped settle New Amsterdam which later became New York City. Two streets in lower Manhattan still bear his name, William and Beekman streets.  (From Joseph G. Klock letters, copies of which are in W R Hist Soc Lib in Cleveland). Judge Jacob G. Klock represented the St. Johnsville section of New York state during the Revolution and was a member of the first State Senate.

Judge Klock's House

Children of Jacob Klock and Hannah Nellis:

  1. Margaretha, born 29 March 1764, was baptized in April and sponsored by Margaretha Klockin and Adam Nellis
  2. Anna, born 6 June 1766, was baptized 8 June and sponsored by Anna G. Klock and Johannes Walrad, Jr.
  3. Johann George, mentioned below
  4. Magdalena (Lana)
  5. Catharine "Katie", born 30 March 1770, was baptized 4 April and sponsored by Henrich Walrath and wife Catharine; she married 8 September 1815 Ashbel Loomis and died leaving five children.  Ashbel married second on 5 July 1832 Juliana Washburn of Massachusetts
  6. Christian, born 29 March 1776; married Eva
Children of Jacob Klock and Martije Beekman:
  1. John Beekman
  2. Benjamin
  3. Polly; married on 16 February 1820 John M. Devoe who died 5 January 1822
  4. Matilda, born 8 February 1821; married 27 February 1825 Daniel, born 1788; married next on 12 November 1835 Daniel March, born 12 March 1796, died 1868
  5. Cornelius
  6. Elizabeth "Betsy"; was married in the fall of 1832
  7. William, born 1790, died 1806

    8.  

     
     
     


        (4) Johann George Klock, born 25 July 1768/1769, was baptized on 31 July and sponsored by George Klock and wife Margaretha.  On 23 October 1791, Johann married Catherine Nellis, born 1772, died 1841.  They had four sons and one daughter:

  1. Anna, (at right) born about 9 January 1798 and died 4 January 1876 in Herkimer County, New York, buried in Indian Castle Cemetery, Town of Danube; married Jacob Shull, born about 2 September 1792, died 19 January 1859 in Herkimer County, New York, buried in Indian Castle Cemetery, Town of Danube, Herkimer County.  In the 1920's her grandson, John Jacob Thorp was interviewed as to his family history and the data he supplied was combined with information in the History of Herkimer County biography of her son Johan Jost Shull, leading to the erroneous conclusion that she was granddaughter of the Col. Jacob G. Klock who was an officer in the American Revolution.  The lineage supplied here is correct according to the most recent research and best available evidence.

 
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Last updated 21 May 2000