Family Files February 2022 - Person Sheet
Family Files February 2022 - Person Sheet
NameChristian SCHOOLCRAFT 
, M
, MBirth1732, Schoharie, Schoharie County, New York
Deathca 1779, New York
Misc. Notes
Follow with caution as errors may be here:
It is widely accepted that the progenitors of the SCHOOLCRAFT name in Quebec
were the sons of Christian SCHOOLCRAFT and Elizabeth Margaret BECKER. I have
not located any document that would conclusively prove this for all cases
but the circumstantial evidence from Military Records, Oath's of Allegiance
and Land Grant documents dating from about 1795 is substantial. These
documents mention the six sons whose births can be proven, one more whose
birth has not been proven, a proven son-in-law (implying a daughter) and two
other males, at least one of whom is a grandchild. Christian SCHOOLCRAFT is
born in Schoharie NY in the spring of 1732. [Refer to my posting to this
list on 3 Feb 2001 subject "Early NY SCHOOLCRAFTs... James and Anna's
children".]
1765 to 1790 including Military activity:
New York church records allow us to trace Christian's family from Schoharie,
to Schenectady and thence to "Quaschen Kill" by 1766.
Schoharie NY before 1756:
10 Apr 1748: Christian's first communion.
9 Oct 1753: Christian's marriage.
1 Sep 1754: Margaret's birth.
9 Apr 1756: Adam's birth.
Schenectady NY 1759-1764:
29 Sep 1759: Christian's birth.
19 Feb 1762: Jacob's (James) birth.
6 Feb 1764: Martin's birth.
"Quaschen Kill" NY 1766
12 Aug 1766: John's birth (baptized Schoharie).
EXTENSIVE HISTORICAL BIO IN ANCESTRY UNDER CHRISTIAN , summarized here
Col. John Peter's records shows that three persons, Christian, Adam and
Jacob SCHOOLCRAFT, entered the Queen's Loyal Rangers on June 25th, 1777.
Because they were assigned to Capt. Justus Sherwood's 3rd Company on the
same day that company was formed, the historical record states they were
part of the 40 or so who came to Montreal with Sherwood.
as in 1778 they show in a New York roster for the 16th (Cambridge) Regiment
of the Albany County Militia. I believe that "Cobus" is a miswritten or
misread "Jacobus" (i.e. "James"), and that a third son, Christopher
(Christian Jr.) who would now be 19 is also listed.
At this point I should explain why I believe the names Christian and
Christopher are synonymous. Throughout Col. Peters' and Capt. Sherwood's
documents, including his memo listing the men who transferred to McKay,
Christian is referred to by "Christian". However, when McKay accounts him a
few weeks later in December of 1777 the name "Christopher" is
By 1780 Christopher is shown as a prisoner at Montreal, "Taken Ft. Ann, All
In Arms". This would probably refer to Maj. Carleton's attack on Fort Ann in
the autumn of 1780. I believe that the number beside each name is an age so
that this would be Christian Jr. with an age shown as 19 years. Dick
Hillenbrand states privately that:
"I have heard of cases where they would be taken to headquarters in Montreal
or wherever and then interrogated and pardoned often on their oath of not
taking up arms against the Crown again."
In any event, they were not held for long which would account for
Christopher appearing as "billeted" in the Queens Loyal Rangers in December
1780. Most probably he had been placed on active duty by the Albany County
Militia and was fighting for a cause he did not necessarily support. He may
have enlisted as part of swearing allegiance to the Crown. That is the same
document that lists Christian Sr., James and Adam as having been taken
prisoner further implying that the reference is to Christian Jr.
By 1783 Christian Sr. is in Montreal and sworn as a witness to the property
claim made by Peter MILLER. James and John are still in Camden Valley as
evidenced by the 1790 Cambridge census and Adam is occupying land in
Cambridge also. (Adam SCHOOLCRAFT possessed jointly with Ichabod & Christian
COOK[sic], 400 acres, Lot 24, Schermerhorn Patent in 1790, Anaquassacook.
Garret Y. LANSING Papers, New York State Archives.) I believe that Christian
may well have placed his own and his children's names on some of the early
Land Grant petitions such as that of Henry Caldwell (Granby) while his
family remained in Cambridge NY.
It is widely accepted that the progenitors of the SCHOOLCRAFT name in Quebec
were the sons of Christian SCHOOLCRAFT and Elizabeth Margaret BECKER. I have
not located any document that would conclusively prove this for all cases
but the circumstantial evidence from Military Records, Oath's of Allegiance
and Land Grant documents dating from about 1795 is substantial. These
documents mention the six sons whose births can be proven, one more whose
birth has not been proven, a proven son-in-law (implying a daughter) and two
other males, at least one of whom is a grandchild. Christian SCHOOLCRAFT is
born in Schoharie NY in the spring of 1732. [Refer to my posting to this
list on 3 Feb 2001 subject "Early NY SCHOOLCRAFTs... James and Anna's
children".]
1765 to 1790 including Military activity:
New York church records allow us to trace Christian's family from Schoharie,
to Schenectady and thence to "Quaschen Kill" by 1766.
Schoharie NY before 1756:
10 Apr 1748: Christian's first communion.
9 Oct 1753: Christian's marriage.
1 Sep 1754: Margaret's birth.
9 Apr 1756: Adam's birth.
Schenectady NY 1759-1764:
29 Sep 1759: Christian's birth.
19 Feb 1762: Jacob's (James) birth.
6 Feb 1764: Martin's birth.
"Quaschen Kill" NY 1766
12 Aug 1766: John's birth (baptized Schoharie).
EXTENSIVE HISTORICAL BIO IN ANCESTRY UNDER CHRISTIAN , summarized here
Col. John Peter's records shows that three persons, Christian, Adam and
Jacob SCHOOLCRAFT, entered the Queen's Loyal Rangers on June 25th, 1777.
Because they were assigned to Capt. Justus Sherwood's 3rd Company on the
same day that company was formed, the historical record states they were
part of the 40 or so who came to Montreal with Sherwood.
as in 1778 they show in a New York roster for the 16th (Cambridge) Regiment
of the Albany County Militia. I believe that "Cobus" is a miswritten or
misread "Jacobus" (i.e. "James"), and that a third son, Christopher
(Christian Jr.) who would now be 19 is also listed.
At this point I should explain why I believe the names Christian and
Christopher are synonymous. Throughout Col. Peters' and Capt. Sherwood's
documents, including his memo listing the men who transferred to McKay,
Christian is referred to by "Christian". However, when McKay accounts him a
few weeks later in December of 1777 the name "Christopher" is
By 1780 Christopher is shown as a prisoner at Montreal, "Taken Ft. Ann, All
In Arms". This would probably refer to Maj. Carleton's attack on Fort Ann in
the autumn of 1780. I believe that the number beside each name is an age so
that this would be Christian Jr. with an age shown as 19 years. Dick
Hillenbrand states privately that:
"I have heard of cases where they would be taken to headquarters in Montreal
or wherever and then interrogated and pardoned often on their oath of not
taking up arms against the Crown again."
In any event, they were not held for long which would account for
Christopher appearing as "billeted" in the Queens Loyal Rangers in December
1780. Most probably he had been placed on active duty by the Albany County
Militia and was fighting for a cause he did not necessarily support. He may
have enlisted as part of swearing allegiance to the Crown. That is the same
document that lists Christian Sr., James and Adam as having been taken
prisoner further implying that the reference is to Christian Jr.
By 1783 Christian Sr. is in Montreal and sworn as a witness to the property
claim made by Peter MILLER. James and John are still in Camden Valley as
evidenced by the 1790 Cambridge census and Adam is occupying land in
Cambridge also. (Adam SCHOOLCRAFT possessed jointly with Ichabod & Christian
COOK[sic], 400 acres, Lot 24, Schermerhorn Patent in 1790, Anaquassacook.
Garret Y. LANSING Papers, New York State Archives.) I believe that Christian
may well have placed his own and his children's names on some of the early
Land Grant petitions such as that of Henry Caldwell (Granby) while his
family remained in Cambridge NY.
Spouses
Marriage9 Oct 1753, High Dutch Reformed Church Of Schoharie, Schoharie County, New York
ChildrenMargaret , F (1754-)
Adam , M (1756-)
Christian Christopher , M (1759-)
Jacob James , M (1762-)
Martinus “Martin” , M (1764-1831)
John , M (1766-)
Anna , F (ca1769-1834)