Author: James Edward Mitchell
Barent Mynderse was recorded baptized on 8 Feb 1747 at Schenectady’s First Dutch Reformed Church in Albany County (Co.) [Schenectady District, New York (NY)]; source, U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-1989, Schenectady Baptisms, Vol 1, Book 41, pg 54. Barent’s parents were recorded, typed “Maria Wempel and Meindert Meinderts” (aka Myndert Meynderse) utilizing variant Dutch ethnic spelling, Mynderse. The First (New Netherland) Reformed Church (Dutch speaking) congregation at Schenectady strongly supported primary education of parish youth. Marriage records of the Schenectady, NY Reformed Protestant Dutch church recorded that at age 23, Barent Meynderse (Mynderse) and Jannetje (Janet) van Vranken (Vranke) both of Schenectady obtained a license on 2 Dec 1770; source, https://archive.org/stream/marriagerecordso00firs#page/n129/mode/2up Janet Van Vranken and Barent Meynderse’s first child, a daughter Maria was recorded baptized at Schenectady’s First Reformed Dutch Church on 25 Aug 1771 with sponsors: Abraham Wimpel and Maria Meyndertse (sic); source, U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-1989, Schenectady Baptisms, Vol 2, Book 42, pg 188. See: Ministers at the Albany Dutch Reformed Church; source, https://exhibitions.nysm.nysed.gov/albany/drc.html New York State Museum historian and writer Stefan Bielinski has published online a biography of Eilardus Westerlo, age 22, an arriving pastor from the Netherlands called during 1760 by the Albany Dutch Reformed Church. At age 36, he married Catherine Livingston, the young widow of Stephen Van Rensselaer II. While age 20, Stephen II was commissioned a Capt., in the Albany Co. Militia. In 1768, he was commissioned Col. of the Rensselaerswyck regt.; source, https://exhibitions.nysm.nysed.gov/albany/na/rensselaerswyck.html During the Revolutionary War a glass firing business sprang from craftsmen who resided at the hamlet of Hamilton, now Guilderland. Local, wealthy freeholders split in favor of their support of the British Crown vs. the rebellious Patriot led Schenectady militia with support from the ‘patroon’ of Rensselaerswyck and local clergy. Area Patriot families successfully rallied settlers in opposition to their Loyalists neighbors. The Mynderse-Frederick House built at Guilderland in Albany Co., ca1800 is now, a historic home and tavern; source, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mynderse-Frederick_House Barent Meynderse and Janet Van Vranken’ additional surviving children, after Maria’s baptism was recorded on 25 Aug 1771, were dau’s. Nancy and Sarah; followed by sons, Myndert and Nicholas (*Nicholas) Van der Volgen Mynderse (baptized on 9 Nov 1773 U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records…, Schenectady Baptisms, Vol 2, Book 42, pg 203) and Abraham. In 1777, Col. Philip P. Schuyler and Maj. Abraham D. Fonda were both commissioned to command the Albany Co., Militia (3rd) regt., raised for Schenectady District and Guilderland, too. Among company Capts. were listed John Groot, Jacob J. Lansing and Abraham Veeder; Lieuts. Included names Gerrit R. Gerritsee, et. al., Jacob Lansing, Barent Meynderse and Peter S. Schuyler; source, New York in the Revolution as Colony and State…, publ. 1904 by J. B. Lyon Co., Printers, Vol 1, pgs 4 and 101. Barent Mynderse’s will was recorded at the Albany Co., Courthouse on 13th Oct 1815.He willed to his beloved wife, Jane, during her natural life, “my estate, where I now reside”. Afterward, I bequeath this farm containing about 207 acres and a half being part of 209 acres conveyed to me by Stephen van Rensselaer, Esq., by deed dated the 25th Nov 1788 – Also, 91 ½ acres of land situated on the south side of Black Creek at Guilderland, etc. I give all my household goods and furniture of every description, except…, to my 3 daughters Maria, Nancy and Sarah to be equally divided between them, upon the death of my said wife. His two Executors were identified as a son, Myndert Mynderse and a son-in-law, Sam’l. Campbell; sources, New York (NY), Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999, Albany, Vol 3-4, 1802-1817, pgs 418-421 and separately, Will of Stephen Van Rensselaer 2nd; see, https://exhibitions.nysm.nysed.gov/albany/wills/willsvr5114.html A review of Find A Grave Memorial# 66716186 for Barent Mynderse; spouse, Jannetje (Jane) van Vranken. Braent’s date of birth was recorded as 20 Jan 1747, and death, 13 Aug 1815. Further review determined a burial registration at Guilderland Cemetery, Altamont, Albany Co., NY mapped west of Watervliet Reservoir but east of Black Creek from Western Ave., intersection with Route 158 south of Schenectady, NY at Latitude: 42.71440 and Longitude: -73.98780