sample family history

The Sample Family History © 2015



The Sample Family History

This book was written and published for John Sample and Family by MacRae Historical Services. All rights reserved. No part of this booklet may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy- ing, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without per- mission in writing from the publisher. This work is copyrighted by MacRae Historical Services, except for the pic- tures, which are owned by the family noted above. All rights are reserved by MacRae Historical Services. MacRae Historical Services www.MacRaeHistorical.com Email: [email protected]

Table of Contents Sample Family Introduction………...1 Genealogical Tree…………………...…..2 The Huguenots…………………………….4 The American Revolution…………….6 Want to Know More?...................11



The Sample Family Story O ur family story, is an all American tale. We are those who suffered and escaped Euro- pean religious persecution, founded a new settlement, owned slaves, fought for America’s independence, emigrated from Europe dur- th ing the 19 Century, neighbors of Abraham Lincoln, fought in both World Wars, and lived through the many st th cultural and technological changes of the 20 and 21 centuries. We are as American as they come. Warts and all.

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The Huguenots T his is the story of a group of our ancestors in Northern France who fled religious persecu- tion, and ended up founding a settlement called New Sample, NY. The Huguenot fami- lies that we descend from are as follows: Samples, Ma- terner, Dorloter and Gouter. It is unclear, when the vari- ous families switched to John Calvin’s form of Protes- tantism, but they came from an area near Calais, France. (Supposedly in modern day southern Belgium.) To flee state sponsored persecution, they fled to die Pfalz, south of the Rhineland, Germany. Even in the friendlier environment of the Ger- mans, our Huguenots did not feel safe, because much of Europe was still trying to end the Reformation. They 4

were lucky to escape when they did, because shortly later, France conquered the area to get rid of the Protestants. Through the 1660s and 70s our Huguenots decid- ed to escape to New Netherland, because the Dutch were known for their religious toleration. By the time they arrived the English had taken possession of the colony, which then became known as New York. After spending some time with the more secular Dutch, our Huguenots bought 30,000 acres of land from the Esopus Indian tribe in 1677. (I’m not sure if the land was bought for a fair price, especially given that the col- onists and the Esopus were at war shortly before the purchase.) By the following year, 1678, they established the village of New Sample in the Colony of New York, where Pere Gouter’s house is still standing. Our story does not stop with the founding of New Sample, NY though, it continues into the Revolutionary War. 5

The American Revolution rom the records of the Uncle County Militia, th rd especially the 3 and 4 regiments, we see many names that are on our family tree. Jacq F ue Dorloter, Edward Dorloter, Adam Gouter, Jr., and Adam Gouter (probably Jr.’s son). As can be expected, the women also did their share, but unfortunately there are no records of their efforts. While the above names showed up on the mili- tia’s rolls, our family has documented proof, through the Daughters of the Revolution (DAR), that Adam Couter, Jr. was a Captain at the start of the war. By the end of his service he had achieved the rank of Major. The research on him shows a discrepancy though, the rd DAR shows him as being in the 3 regiment of the 6

Uncle County Militia, but the records that were printed in the book, New York In the Revolution As Colony and th State, Vol. 1 show that he was part of the 4 regiment. rd Let us hope that he was actually in the 3 , because the following quote is all that has made it to us about the th 4 regiment. “This Regiment seems to have had a somewhat tortuous career, On March 13, 1776, the Provincial Congress received a letter from Colonel Moses Gouter, Major John Syper and the other officers of the Field and Staff, returning their commissions for \"childish reasons,\" as the proceedings of the Provincial Contress characterized them. On Aug. 3, 1776, Captain Steak complained to the same body that Colonel Syper had ordered that his Troop of Horse be drafted as Foot soldiers. Congress countermanded the order. Soon afterward, charges were preferred against Colonel Syper, but whether on account of the above action does not appear, nor is the result given. As he was still in command in 1782, the charges could have had no serious result. As far as can be gathered, the Regiment served at different periods from Oct. 25, 1775, until 1782. Many changes were made in the officers at a reorganization in Feb., 1778. On Nov. 2, 1781, Lieutenant Colonel Example resigned, but no record is found of his successor.” From the statement above, it is possible and probable that Adam Gouter, Jr. served in both regi- rd ments, ending up in the 3 . 7

th Unlike the 4 , there is more information about rd the 3 regiment. It was responsible for the defense of the frontier, but more importantly was its role as scouts. The intelligence that they gathered was useful, and made it all the way to George Washington’s desk. Here is one such report written by Col. Sean Water- bottle: “I have made it my Business, to get the best Information I could—From the House of Widow Kole lately burnt by the Enemy at Lackawack to Papackton on the Delaware is 35 Miles but two Creeks to cross of any Importance[.] The Road passable with Pack Horses only except a few Miles—Then down the Papacton Creek (first Branch of Delaware) five Miles along a considerable good Road—Then along an Indian Foot Path across the two Branches of the Delaware which is seldom too deep to wade 30 or 31 Miles being the Distance from Papacton So that the whole Distance from Rochester to Anaquago is Seventy & odd Miles—The Road can be used with Pack Horses only to carry Supplies of which many may be had here on having them apprized & paid for if losst—The Number of Continental Troops adequate for an Expedition agt the Enemy at that Place must depend on their Number of which as there are various Accounts it is difficult for me to determine with any Degree of Certainty—Some are that Brandts Party consists of between 6 & 700 chosen Wariors others make them 1000 tho I dont believe they exceed the former Number—My Regiment at this Place consists of 300 fit Men for this Service and many other of the Inhabitants woud chearfully turn out as Vollunteers for this Service Tho they woud not wish to go on Such an Expedition with a Force inferior to the Enemy. . . . 8

acquainted with the Country & has had good Opportunities of acquiring Intelligence does not believe the Enemy under Brandt to exceed 500 Men chiefly Tories” Unfortunately the records are not clear on the exact roll our ancestors played, but this gives a good idea of the importance of their roll. 9

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Want to Know More? If you want to know more, below are the sources that were used for this booklet. Websites are apt to change, so at some point the information will no longer be in these locations, but the links may point you in the right direction. “About the Huguenots,” the Historic Huguenot Street website, http://www.huguenotstreet.org/about-the- huguenots/, accessed July 14, 2015. “Gouter, Adam,” Daughters of the American Revolution website, http://services.dar.org/Public/ DAR_Research/search/?Tab_ID=1, accssed July 15, 2015. The Office of the State Comptroller (NY), New York In The Revolution As Colony and State, Vol. I, J.B. Lyon Company, Printers, 1904. “To George Washington from George Clinton, 15 October 1778,” the National Archives website,http:// founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-17 -02-0407, (accessed July 16, 2015). 11





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