Descendants of Jean La Forte
Generation No. 1
1. JEAN1 LA FORTE was born Abt. 1650 in France, and died 1707 in Nistagioene, New York. He married MARGRIET RINCKHOUT Abt. 1678, daughter of JAN RINKHOUT and EVA JURRIENS. She was born in Albany, New York.
Notes for JEAN LA FORTE:
Author Jerome Fort concluded that Jean was closely related -- perhaps brother -- to Antoine LaForte, born about 1640, probably in France, who died in Canada in 1699, and buried at St. Laurent, Ile d'Orleans. Antoine's family consisted of four daughters and one son, Antoine, Jr., born 18 March 1699 at Chateau Richer, of whom no other records exist. Several records corroborate such a theory.
Jean likely grew to manhood in France and then emigrated to the New World. Indications are that he went to Holland first and then shipped out, but it is much more probable that he sailed from a French port and headed straight for the French Settlements along the Canadian side of the St. Lawrence River. If he had sailed from Holland, he likely would have docked at New York City, but it is known that he lived in Canada for some time, so the French port theory is likely.
Being a Huguenot, Jean was probably seeking religious freedom when he left the Old World, but since French Canada was Catholic Jean would be required to renounce his Protestant beliefs if he ever wished to hold title to land. Others in his family had done so and were prospering, if we are to assume that Antoine was his brother. Jean was not satisfied and about 1670 to 1675, he struck out across the Adirondack Mountains for the Dutch Protestant settlement of Fort Orange, which later became Albany, New York. Records from this time forward show that Jean adopted the alias "Liberté" as his own declaration of personal freedom.
He married about 1678 Margariet Rinkhout, born Albany, New York. They emigrated to New Netherlands before 1687. Jan's last name is recorded as Fort, Ford, Van der Vort, and Libertee. Some of his descendants were designated Van der Fort.
The earliest authentic record of Jean's life west of Albany is a paper translated "Transfer of some Woodland in which Jean La Forte Liberté is interested." The document is dated 4 March 1681 and bears the signature of Robert Livingston. The next deed is dated 10 June 1684 by which Jean Le Fort bought from Teunis Willemse Boots a farm at Canastagioene, on the north bank of the Mohawk River in what is now the southwest corner of the township of Clifton Park, Saratoga County. The deed states that the land had been occupied by Jean Le Fort for three years prior to the transaction, pushing the date of his occupation of the farm back to at least June 1681. His name is given in this deed as "Jean Forte, alias Liberté."
Jean La Forte was not the only one to go to Canastagioene. Six other men from Albany, Jean Rosie, Dirck Arentse Bratt, Jan and Reynier Quackenbos (brothers) and Garrit Ryckse and Maas Ryckse Van Vrancken (brothers) all settled on farm land with the same Mohawk River frontage and having unbroken forest to the rear of the lots. The men likely chose this location since land to the east of Albany belonged to the Van Rensselaers and could only be leased, not owned. The settlement was constantly in danger of Indian raids and four of the settlers finally removed to safer locations, but Jean La Forte and the Van Vranckens remained.
The will of Jean La Forte, dated 3 November 1706, names every member of his family. He must have died shortly thereafter, since it was proved before Lord Cornbury at Albany on 3 October 1707.
After his death, there was some dispute between his children over how to split up the farm and most of the sons moved away. Jean's widow, Margariet, survived him many years, for her name appears on a legal document dated 19 October 1734.
On 18 November 1745, the date of the destruction of Saratoga by the French and Indians from Canada, several people were killed and others taken prisoner to Canada and put into the military prison there, including three of Jean and Margariet's sons.
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~legends/fort.html
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Generation No. 2
2. MARIA VAN DER2 FORT (JEAN1 LA FORTE) was born Abt. 1680 in PRB Nistagioene, and died Aft. January 04, 1749/50. She married JOHANNES* VEDDER July 08, 1705 in Dutch Reform Ch., Schenectady, N.Y., son of HARMEN VEDDER and ?. He was born Abt. 1685, and died Aft. January 04, 1749/50.
Learn More about Harmen on my other Genealogy Page
1. HARMEN ALBERTSE1 VEDDER was born Bef. 1657 in prob. Netherlands, and died Bef. May 03, 1715 in prob. Schenectady, NY. He married (1) ? (Speculated to be Mohican). He married (2) ? (Speculated to be Mohican).
Children of HARMEN VEDDER and ? are:
3. ii. HARMANUS VEDDER, b. Abt. 1672; d. Abt. August 13, 1785.
Johannes was carried away by the French and Indians to Canada February 9, 1690 but was later redeemed. He perhaps inherited a portion of the hindmost farm No. 8 from his father, to which was added 120 acres of up land in the rear, by Patent dated June 12, 1714. This land was situated about 600 yards south of the Potenties kil (History of the Schenectaady Patent by Jonathan Pearson.)
He was one of those taken prisoner, along with his brother Albert, during the 9 February 1690 raid and massacre at Schenectady by Frenchmen, Sault, and Algonquin Indians from Montreal. A poem was written by one of the witnesses to the event.
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Generation No. 3
3. ARENT* J.3 VEDDER (MARIA VAN DER2 FORT, JEAN1 LA FORTE) was born Abt. June 17, 1721 in Schenectady Dutch Reform Church, and died Abt. 1800. He married CATHARINA MATTHYS August 17, 1762 in St Pauls Lutheran Ch., Schoharie, N.Y., daughter of JOST MATTHYS and CRATHA ----------.
Notes for ARENT* J. VEDDER:
Arent was received as a member of the Schoharie Church in 1744. He moved from Schoharie to Catskill Twp., Greene Co., N.Y. and bought a farm and house near Leeds from Leendertse Bronk of Coxsackie about 1774. He lived there during the Revolution and until his death about 1800. The house (since modified and still standing) was built about 1729 by Gerrit Van Bergen. Jessie Vedder Van Vechten, former historian of Greene Co. lived there and it was still occupied by Arent's descendants in 1974.
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Generation No. 4
4. HARMON*4 VEDDER (ARENT* J.3, MARIA VAN DER2 FORT, JEAN1 LA FORTE) was born October 25, 1773, and died September 09, 1834 in Catskill, NY. He married CATHERINE PLANK January 06, 1811 in Catskill, N.Y., Dutch Refomed Ch.. She was born Abt. 1785, and died February 20, 1860.
Notes for HARMON* VEDDER:
Harmon, They lived in Catskill, N.Y.
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5. DAVID*5 VEDDER (HARMON*4, ARENT* J.3, MARIA VAN DER2 FORT, JEAN1 LA FORTE) was born September 28, 1812, and died April 26, 1884. He married MARGARET JANE PALMER May 26, 1836 in Leeds, N.Y., Dutch Reform Ch., daughter of REUBEN PALMER and ELIZABETH BRANDON. She was born March 10, 1816, and died July 12, 1893 in Haines, OR.
Notes for DAVID* VEDDER:
David, This family moved to Wisconsin and are listed in the 1850 and 1860 censuses of the Town of Theresa, Dodge Co. They then moved to Toronto, Chilton Co., Iowa.
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6. vi. DAVID* HARMON VEDDER, JR., b. April 09, 1852, Leroy, Dodge Co., WI; d. July 30, 1937, Oregon State Hosp., Salem, OR.
Generation No. 6
They lived in Reedsvile, Multnomah Co., OR and other places as indicated by the birth place of their children.
Source:
I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Bay City, Tillamook County, Oregon
Lot 1
Grave 1
Grave 2
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Notes for CLAUDE DAVID VEDDER:
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7. ii. PAUL JULIUS VEDDER, b. November 08, 1887, Reedsville, Ore.; d. Abt. 1991, Ore..
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vii. AUDREY VIOLET VEDDER, b. November 17, 1897, Upper Town, Nehalem, Ore.; d. Deceased; m. DON ADAMS; d. Deceased.
Generation No. 7
7. PAUL JULIUS7 VEDDER (DAVID* HARMON6, DAVID*5, HARMON*4, ARENT* J.3, MARIA VAN DER2 FORT, JEAN1 LA FORTE) was born November 08, 1887 in Reedsville, Ore., and died Abt. 1991 in Ore.. He married FLORENCE AMELIA BURDICK September 04, 1912 in Banks, Ore., daughter of ALVIN BURDICK and SARAH CRANE. She was born March 25, 1896 in Greenwood, Steuben Co., N.Y., and died April 10, 1975 in Tillamook, Ore..
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Notes for GUY SANFORD VEDDER:
Catholic
Was an avid fisherman. Member of the Knights of Columbus and the Poggie Club.
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She loved to go to the pacific ocean beach in Washington and to her cabin on the Tahuya river. She loved to take the grand kids and great-grandkids with her when ever she could go.
She held the family together, Easter, Christmas and Mother's day dinners were always served at her house. After her death the family splintered off a bit with Irene and her kids having their dinners seperate from Dave and his kids.
She was a very good swimmer when she was young and was known to skip school so she could go swimming.
She was a very good cook and made the best potato salad. She was well known for her tasty rolls.
She might have married Fred Vedder but her parents would not allow her to date him because he was a catholic. Instead she married his father Guy S. Vedder who was also a Catholic and many years her senior.
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iv. LEONA VEDDER, b. March 09, 1922; d. June 12, 1924.
Notes for BILLY JOSEPH VEDDER:
Was killed by a drunk driver when he was 15. Billy and another boy were riding a bicycle down the main street in Portland Oregon. A drunk driver crossed the center line and came all the way from the other side of the road and hit the boys. The other boy was riding on the handlebars of Billy's bike. The other boy survived but was badly crippled. Billy died instantly. He was living with Mildred Vedder and Guy Vedder at the time of the accident. Billy's was Guy's youngest child by his first wife Stella.
The drunk driver was sentenced to 6 months in jail.
The family was very fond of young Billy. Eileene Woody related a story to me about Billy. Billy was supposed to save a urine sample to take to his doctor but he flushed it instead. When they arrived at the doctor's office Mildred Vedder (Billy's step mother) asked Billy why he had flushed the sample. Billy answered "don't worry I still have my "peer" with me".
We still have Billy's marbles and the cloth four sack that he kept them in. The flour sack says: Triangle milling company of Portland. My grandma Mildred Vedder cried when she gave me Billy's marbles.
(1) Jean La Forte alias Liberté, (spelled variously Jean, Jan, Johannes, Johannis, Jan, John) was born somewhere in France about 1650, possibly earlier, and died 1707 in Nistagioene, New York; his will of 3 November 1706 was proved 3 October 1707 in Albany. Research indicates that he was a Huguenot, not a Dutchman as some have assumed. 
One of the first things Jean La Fort did was to establish a ferry across the Mohawk River, and a road to Albany. The ferry was still in use in 1923 and was called "Fort's Ferry."
who sited
SOURCE: Genealogy of the Fort Family in New York State, by Jerome H. Fort. Fredonia, NY: Edacra, 1993. Reprint of 1923 edition.
Immigration: Migration: France>Canada>New Netherlands>Mohawk Valley
Marriage: Abt. 1678
Child of JEAN LA FORTE and MARGRIET RINCKHOUT is:
2. i. MARIA VAN DER2 FORT, b. Abt. 1680, PRB Nistagioene; d. Aft. January 04, 1749/50.
Notes for JOHANNES* VEDDER:
Descendants of Harmen Albertse Vedder
Generation No. 1
2. i. ALBERT2 VEDDER, b. May 10, 1671, Albany or Schenectady; d. August 01, 1753.
4. iii. ARENT VEDDER, b. Abt. 1674; d. Abt. March 01, 1755.
5. iv. ANGENIETJE VEDDER, b. Abt. 1684; d. April 1756.
6. v. JOHANNES* VEDDER, b. Abt. 1685; d. Aft. January 04, 1749/50.
7. vi. CORSET VEDDER, b. Abt. 1686; d. Bef. September 20, 1748.
vii. CHILD VEDDER, d. December 06, 1662, Albany, New York.
viii. CHILD2 VEDDER, d. April 22, 1665, Albany, New York.
Marriage: July 08, 1705, Dutch Reform Ch., Schenectady, N.Y.
Children of MARIA FORT and JOHANNES* VEDDER are:
i. HARMEN3 VEDDER, b. Abt. April 14, 1706 d. infant.
ii. HARMANUS VEDDER, b. Abt. June 08, 1707.
iii. MARGARITA VEDDER, b. Abt. April 28, 1710; m. REYER VEEDER; b. Abt. October 28, 1705.
iv. ANNA VEDDER, b. Abt. June 21, 1713 d. infant.
v. ANGENIETJE VEDDER, b. Abt. January 28, 1715/16; m. SCHOHARIE HENDRICK HAGADOORN, October 20, 1744.
vi. JOHANNES VEDDER, b. Abt. November 22, 1718.
3. vii. ARENT* J. VEDDER, b. Abt. June 17, 1721, Schenectady Dutch Reform Church; d. Abt. 1800.
viii. MARITJE VEDDER, b. Abt. July 18, 1724.
ix. ABRAHAM VEDDER, b. Abt. May 14, 1727.
Fact 5: June 17, 1721, Dutch Reformed Ch., Schenecady, N.Y.
Marriage: August 17, 1762, St Pauls Lutheran Ch., Schoharie, N.Y.
Children of ARENT* VEDDER and CATHARINA MATTHYS are:
i. MARGRITJE4 VEDDER, b. Abt. January 13, 1764; m. JURGEN BRAND.
ii. JOHANNES VEDDER, b. Abt. March 07, 1767 d. infant.
iii. MARIA VEDDER, b. Abt. August 26, 1769.
4. iv. HARMON* VEDDER, b. October 25, 1773; d. September 09, 1834, Catskill, NY.
Fact 5: February 26, 1775, Schoharie, N.Y., Dutch Reformed Ch.
Marriage: January 06, 1811, Catskill, N.Y., Dutch Refomed Ch.
Children of HARMON* VEDDER and CATHERINE PLANK are:
i. ELIZA5 VEDDER, b. April 11, 1811.
5. ii. DAVID* VEDDER, b. September 28, 1812; d. April 26, 1884.
iii. JOHN VEDDER, b. September 08, 1815.
iv. CATHERINE VEDDER, b. Abt. August 03, 1817.
v. MARIA VEDDER, b. February 20, 1819.
vi. PETER DICKERSON VEDDER, b. October 17, 1820.
vii. ABRAHAM VEDDER, b. July 20, 1823.
viii. HANNAH MARGARET VEDDER, b. January 30, 1826; d. April 26, 1831.
ix. ISAAC VEDDER, b. August 20, 1827.
Generation No. 5
Burial: Oxfort Junction, IA
Fact 5: February 09, 1813, Kaatsban Dutch Reform Ch.
Fact 8: Oxford Junction, Iowa
Marriage: May 26, 1836, Leeds, N.Y., Dutch Reform Ch.
Children of DAVID* VEDDER and MARGARET PALMER are:
i. EDITH MATILDA6 VEDDER.
ii. LOIS ANN VEDDER, b. March 04, 1839.
iii. ELIZABETH CATHERINE VEDDER, b. June 25, 1841.
iv. MARIA ELSIE VEDDER, b. December 25, 1846.
v. JULIETTA VEDDER, b. March 24, 1849; d. September 12, 1933.
She became a Catholic nun, known as Sister Stanislaus, in the Order
of St. Joseph and resided in Peoria, Ill.
David Harmon Vedder Jr With Annice Butts and Infant Claude Vedder
Jacob Butts and his Family took the Oregon Trial via the meek cut off in 1845
6. DAVID* HARMON6 VEDDER, JR. (DAVID*5, HARMON*4, ARENT* J.3, MARIA VAN DER2 FORT, JEAN1 LA FORTE) was born April 09, 1852 in Leroy, Dodge Co., WI, and died July 30, 1937 in Oregon State Hosp., Salem, OR. He married (1) UNKNOWN BAKER. He married (2) ANNICE JEMINA BUTTS 1885 in Vancouver, Wash., daughter of JACOB BUTTS (see picture above) and SARAH DICKSON. She was born June 22, 1868 in Gayless Creek (Forest Grove), OR, and died November 26, 1954 in Vista, CA.
Book
Vedder Family in America
by Edwin Vedder
Ethel M. Vedder, Birth 1895, Death 1909, 14 Years
David H. Vedder, Birth 1851, Death 1937, 86 Years
Burial: Pasadena, CA
Marriage: 1885, Vancouver, Wash.
Children of DAVID* VEDDER and ANNICE BUTTS are:
i. CLAUDE DAVID7 VEDDER, b. October 13, 1885, Reedsville, Ore.; d. Abt. 1960; m. (1) KATE BREWINGTON; d. Deceased; m. (2) IDA GENE, January 22, 1947 d. Deceased.
Marriage: January 22, 1947
iii. GRACE EDITH VEDDER, b. August 18, 1889, Klamath Falls, Ore.; d. Deceased.
iv. HELEN LOTTIE VEDDER, b. January 19, 1891, Portland, Ore.; d. Deceased.
8. v. GUY SANFORD VEDDER, b. August 16, 1893, Butteville, Clackamas Co., OR; d. March 1982.
vi. ETHEL M. VEDDER, b. September 28, 1895, Nehalem, Ore.; d. December 07, 1909.
Burial: I.O.O.F. Cem Bay City , Ore
viii. FRANCIS GEORGE VEDDER, b. May 23, 1900, Nehalem, Ore.; d. Deceased; m. (1) VIRGINIA; d. Deceased; m. (2) HAZEL MCKAY.
ix. HAROLD HARMON VEDDER, b. February 11, 1903, Nehalem, Ore.; d. Deceased.
Burial: IOOF Cem., Tillamook, Ore.
Marriage: September 04, 1912, Banks, Ore.
Child of PAUL VEDDER and FLORENCE BURDICK is:
i. ALVIN PAUL8 VEDDER, b. June 04, 1913, Banks, Ore.; d. Deceased.
8. GUY SANFORD7 VEDDER (DAVID* HARMON6, DAVID*5, HARMON*4, ARENT* J.3, MARIA VAN DER2 FORT, JEAN1 LA FORTE) was born August 16, 1893 in Butteville, Clackamas Co., OR, and died March 1982. He married (1) STELLA ELIZABETH PITTS August 02, 1914, daughter of THOMAS PITTS and ALICE HOWITT. She was born March 16, 1897 in Colorado, and died February 06, 1937 in Salem, Ore.. He married (2) MILDRED JUNE CRAWFORD October 13, 1938 in Parkrose Congregational Church, Portland, Multnomah Co., OR, daughter of ALMON CRAWFORD and LILLIAN LEVISEE. She was born June 30, 1919 in prob Astoria, OR, and died December 09, 1996 in Bremerton, Kitsap Co. WA.
Burial: March 1982, Forest Lawn, Bremerton Wa
Cause of Death: Old Age perhaps a heart attack
Occupation: Taxi Cab Driver
Religion: Catholic (of course!)
Fact 8: Rose City Cem., Portland, Ore.
Marriage: August 02, 1914
Notes for MILDRED JUNE CRAWFORD:
Burial: Bremerton Forest Lawn
Cause of Death: Multi Infarc Dementia, Sub cortical damage
Medical Information: Had meatwrappers disease, high blood pressure and a clogged carotid artery.
Occupation: Meatwrapper
Religion: Protestant
Marriage: October 13, 1938, Parkrose Congregational Church, Portland, Multnomah Co., OR
Children of GUY VEDDER and STELLA PITTS are:
i. FRANCIS FREDERICK8 VEDDER, b. May 14, 1915, Gods Valley, Tillamook Co., Ore.; d. Deceased.
ii. ALICE VEDDER, b. August 06, 1918, Portland, Ore..
iii. ETHEL ELIZABETH VEDDER, b. May 03, 1920, Gresham, Multnomah Co., Ore.; d. Deceased; m. (1) ED LOHKAMP; m. (2) OSCAR WILLIAM "BILL" MEYERS, September 03, 1943.
Marriage: September 03, 1943
v. BILLY JOSEPH VEDDER, b. October 28, 1925; d. June 12, 1940.
Children of GUY VEDDER and MILDRED CRAWFORD are:
9. vi. Living VEDDER
10. vii. Living VEDDER