[From an account of the Springstead family history written 4 Aug 1921 by H. A. Seaver]
According to Bergen’s History of Kings County, the Springstead family first came to this country when Guse Jans, a widow, arrived at New Amsterdam in 1652 with her two sons, Joost Caesperse Springstead and Johannes. Later in 1660 they joined the settlement at Bushwick. This was in the present New York City locality.
Joost Caesperse married (1) Catherine, 10 Jun 1663, daughter of Abraham Lothie and widow of Peter Praa; (2) Madeline Jansen. Their children and their descendants lived around New York City and Long Island and generally worked their way up into Westchester, Orange and Dutchess Counties.
The other brother, Johannes Springstead, married Marie Theunis. Their children lived near their cousins except one son, Casper Springstead who married (1) Wyntje Jurez, 3 Jan 1694; (2) Jannetje Schermerhorn, 28 Jul 1695. They came to Schenectady as early as 1707 where he ran the first mill. I shall refer to this Schenectady miller later.
It is exceedingly difficult to get much information concerning the early Springstead family. In the early days spelling was inaccurate, often each person having his own rules. I am of the opinion that in the Colonial records, and later, Springstead, Springsted, Springsteel and Springsteen refer to the one family. There are known Springsteen and Springsteel records which ought to have been Springstead.
On page 74 of the Van Voorhees Genealogy, reference is made to the mortgage of a large tract of land in Rombout Precinct, Dutchess County by Roger Brett under date of 10 Jan 1709. Here it is mentioned other people having land near in the patent, which were as follows: John Terboss, John Buys, Casper Prine, Peter De Boys and Yereb Springstead (spelled that way). This is the earliest mention spelled that way which I have thus far found. The Bretts built the first grist mill of the section, which brought people from many miles around, especially from the present Orange County. Later we find Springsteads living in Orange, Dutchess, Ulster and Albany Counties.
Revolutionary records show that Casparis, Abraham and Harmannus Springstead served from Dutchess County; Harman, George, Isaac and John served from Orange County; James from Ulster County; and Joseph and Jeremiah Springstead from Albany County. The Springsteads in Albany County were patriotic and did their part in the War for Independence.
The 1790 Census gives no Springsteads in Albany County, but County land records there show Joseph, Jeremiah and John Springsteel and Jacob Springstead all living in the town of Coeymans. I am positive that these were all Springsteads and that they were brothers. These brothers had at least one sister mentioned in the 1790 Census. She was Rachel, born 5 Apr 1759 who married, about 1775, Abraham Hagaman and lived in the town of Coeymans until her death, 29 Jan 1839. The farm where she lived is still in the possession of the family, being now owned by her Great Granddaughter, Miss E. A. Hagaman. The land records indicate that there ought to have been another mentioned in this Census, as David Springstead bought 200 acres of land in the Coeymans Patent 9 Apr 1789.
Other early Albany Springstead records are as follows:
- Jeremiah Springstead bought land from Salmon Skiller 1 May 1790, 225 acres, Coeymans Patent;
- Jacob Springstead and Lydia, his wife, 9 Apr 1789, 225 acres, Coeymans Patent;
- John Springstead bought land form Jeremiah Springstead 2 Jul 1791;
- Stephen Springstead, son of Jeremiah, bought land from Jacob Springstead and wife Bathsheba, his land in Coeymans 9 Feb 1815. (This was just prior to Jacob going to Canada to live.)
The land transactions do not show the relationships as do some of the wills, of which I will speak later.
Let us consider each of these brothers separately, beginning with Jeremiah who was at Coeymans as early as 1776 and served in the Revolutionary War. He died and was interred in the family plot on the farm, but his body has since been moved to the Coeymans cemetery. His tombstone inscription shows that he was born in 1739 and died in 1815. (This is our family direct descendant.) His wife Lydia was born in 1749 and died in 1832. His will, made 9 Nov 1812 and recorded 15 Apr 1815, mentioned his wife Lydia, son Stephen and daughter Hannah, the wife of Isaac Sill. His brother Jacob Springstead was named as one of the Executors. It was witnessed by David Springstead (his bachelor brother), Phineas Lewis and David Springstead, Jr. (a son of his brother Jacob).
Stephen, Jeremiah’s son, was born in 1792 and died in 1837 leaving the following family all under 20 years of age: Jeremiah, Lydia, Oliver (Uriah), Henry, John, Jane Elizabeth, Mary and Stephen. His wife was Abigail Terry, belonging to the old Rhode Island family, died 11 Apr 1870.
Sons of the descendants of Jeremiah still live in Albany County.
Jacob, a brother of Jeremiah, was early in Albany County as shown by land records. His wife was Bathsheba Marsh. In 1815 they sold their land in Coeymans to Stephen Springstead, Jeremiah’s son. One of Jacob’s sons was William, born 20 Jun 1775 and died 1860. From him descend the late Dr. David Springstead, who is buried in the Albany Rural Cemetery, and Dr. W. E. Milbands, a prominent physician of Albany.
Other children of Jacob were:
- David Springstead, who married a Joralemon;
- Jeremiah Springstead, who married Nellie Bartlett;
- Jacob, Jr., a clergyman who married Rachel Van Deusen;
- Levinia Springstead, married Hallenbeck Ten Eyck;
- Polly Springstead, married Peter Spawn;
- Phebe, nothing known of her;
- Hannah, nothing known of her; and
- Peter, born in 1792, married 1821 at Bethlehem to Elizabeth Jones.
Several of these children went with their father when he moved to Canada. Mr. V. H. Springstead of Schenectady is a descendant of this line.
David (one of the early Albany County brothers), according to Miss Lucas, never married. “He disliked the ladies very much — did not even treat them with courtesy. No doubt he had a love affair which did not turn out well.”
John, another of the early brothers, was recorded in the 1790 Census as “John Springsteel,” married with a son under 16 years and three daughters. According to Miss Lucas, this son was Simon John, called John. He married a lady by the name of Bartlett.
Uriah (Ryer) Springstead, the ancestor of the Schoharie branch, was, according to his pension declaration, born in 1788. It does not state where, but he enlisted for service in the 1812 War from Coeymans, Albany County. Mrs. Eleanor Turner, a descendant of Stephen and Abigail Terry Springstead, supplied more information on Uriah (Ryer) Springstead in 1984. The Bethlehem Reformed Church records show our Ryer was married to Anna Terry, a sister of Abigail Terry, on 11 Mar 1810, daughters of Phillip and Elizabeth Mason Terry.
To continue with Mr. Seaver’s account … you have a family tradition that Uriah’s father’s name was Uriah, that the father died when his son was very small. This, I think, is true. There was no Uriah mentioned in the 1790 Census. Your Uriah, according to U.S. pension records, was born in 1788. In 1790 he was a boy of two years old probably living with his Mother as members of some other family branch.
The Schermerhorn genealogy says Captain Daniel Schermerhorn, baptized 23 Mar 1745 at Kinderhook, N. Y. married Marie Vanderpool 4 Mar 1766 and that their daughter Polly married Ryer Springstead. The same genealogy page 223 says that the Dutch name “Ryer” is the same as “Uriah.” There was no Ryer Springstead in the 1790 Census. I know there was a Ryer in Coeymans before 1790. Hence, it would seem that it is safe to infer that this Polly Schermerhorn and Ryer, or Uriah, Springstead were the parents of your Uriah.
In the New York State early wills is recorded 25 Aug 1772 an administration of the estate of Casparis Springsteen in favor of his son Ryer of Albany County, Volume 31, page 472. This Casparis lived at Schodack Landing across the river from Coeymans in the new Rensselaer County which was then part of Albany County. This Casparis was born 1 Aug 1736 and died 25 Aug 1772. He was the eldest child of Ryer Springsteen … note the name “Uriah” again … who married Mary Turner 21 Nov 1735.
This Ryer was probably the son of Casper Springsteen, who was the first miller of Schenectady, arriving there as early as 1707. He had previously married Jannetje Schermerhorn in New York 28 Jul 1695. The name “Ryer” came into the Springstead family from the Schermerhorn family. Jannetje’s brother Ryer was a very important man in the early Schenectady colony.
From Schenectady, I believe the Schermerhorns and the Springsteads followed the Mohawk down to the Hudson and then down the Hudson settling in Schodack Landing and finally some of them crossed the river and lived in Coeymans. This seems the probable ancestry of your Uriah, but I have not sufficient proof of it to be absolutely certain. Uriah (Ryer) married Anna Terry, a sister of Abigail Terry who married Stephen Springstead. They were daughters of Phillip Terry, who married Elizabeth Mason. They lived in Swanzy, R. I. but about 1794 moved to Coeymans, Albany County.
I understand Ryer and Anna had six sons and one daughter: John, William, Uriah, Mason (named after grandmother Elizabeth Mason), Benjamin, Ira and Jane. John, William, Mason and Uriah came with the family from Coeymans to Schoharie County.
The following is what the U.S. pension records give concerning Ryer Springstead: Uriah Springstead was a very patriotic citizen. Not only did he volunteer his services when his country needed it in 1812, but he also paid his own expenses. His descendants may well feel proud of him.
Signed: H. A. Seaver
[He served under Captain Van Antwerp, marched to Black Rock and Sackets Harbor – Summer 1812]
Mrs. Eleanor Turner, a member of the DAR, has been researching the Springstead family history and has added some interesting facts. From what she has added, I would think that Stephen and Uriah were brothers, each serving in the War of 1812, Ryer being about two years older.
Mrs. Turner is related to the Springsteads by her ancestor John Coonly, who married Stephen’s daughter Lydia. It is said that Coonly purchased a beautiful pair of horses and carriage to keep up with the Springsteads, who were very well-to-do. Not being able to pay for the horses and carriage, Mr. Coonly hid in his well when they came for payment. His uncle was so disappointed in him that he relocated him on another farm which belonged to the uncle.
Just ran across your site and found it very interesting. Have not compared it to my sources but just wanted to thank you for posting it.
Welcome aboard, John!
Hopefully you will be able to make a connection to the work I have done.
I am more than willing to share any and all information I have with you and perhaps you can fill in some of my blanks.
I am a SPRINGSTEEL/E offspring and we have NO Springsteads in our lineage, to date. I believe that the Dutch ancestors we had, travelled to USA with other Dutch immigrants and all speaking the same language, settled in or near each other, and that similar names were definitely confused by the English-speaking clerks, etc. hence, the different spellings. Most people spelled by what they heard, and that could and did, cover a number of variations!
It IS possible, we shall find a common immigrant ancestor, and when that happens, I shall send out a message to all!! Good work you have done so far. Keep up the good work and good hunting.
Marilyn in Western Canada
Thansk for chiming in, Marilyn.
Do stay in touch, and let us know if you can make a connection.
I was so hoping to find the names of parents of Rachel Amanda Springstead. The genealogies posted on Ancestry have her parents as Isaac and Prudence born AFTER Rachel. I love the info you have posted. Good luck following up on any clues you may find. Wish I could help you. Thank you So Much.
Thanks, Maxine, for stopping by and leaving a comment.
What area are your Springsteads in?
My Rachel Amanda Springstead was from New York, my line goes to the
Hagamans, Soules and Cormans. On Ancestry so many have just copied the tree listing Isaac as Rachels father, even though he was born after she was. I’d love to know who her parents really were, but maybe it’s just going to be one of those dead ends.
As you can see, Maxine, my Springsteads are mostly from the Albany/Schoharie County areas.
I will keep an eye out for your Rachel and let you know if I find anything.
As so often occurs, we do run into far too many dead ends with the females we are researching. I take it your Rachel’s maiden name was Springstead?
Hi Norman,
I’m a Family History researcher (Genealogist) for near 50 years and I just started a project for my daughter-in-law Laurie Springstead (living). We are located in Ontario, Canada.
I have very quickly recorded over 250 Springsteads covering 13 generation and found the 1921 write up you have by H.A. Seaver very interesting. I commend you on your web site and the information available.
Warren
Hello, Warren …
We feel honored that you have stopped by and looked us over.
Did you notice any connections between the Canadian Springsteads and ours? We will be more than happy to share information with you.
Good luck on your quest for your daughter-in-law.
Norman
Norman,
This evening I have linked my daughter-in-law back thirteen generations to Gasper Joosten Springsteen B: circa 1590, unknown spouse. She is a descendant of Simon Springstead b: 28 May 1838 at Saltfleet, Ontario, d: 13 June 1908 at Hamilton, Onraio.
I have a friend living in Stoney Creek that I have arranged with to photograph a number of sights that will be of interest to anyone following the Sprigstead line. I will share with you my completed data base (Spingstead line) and photographs. I’m anxious to get the photographs taken but the weather is currently not the best. I will keep in touch.
Warren
What wonderful news, Warren!
It will be interesting to see your database when you have it all put together and ready to share.
Perhaps your data will shed more light on our connection with Casper Jooten Springstead.
If you don’t mind, I’d like to post what you have found, including some of the photographs, here on our website.
Thanks for staying in touch.
Norman
Norman,
That should have been Casper Jooten Springsteen and not Gasper.
Warren
Dear Warren
I am New York state born and raised and I am trying to trace our family tree, My father was Defforest Springstead and his father was Glenn Springstead both born in Pa. I am wondering if you have come across either of these names in your ancestry searches. Any info you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Sincerely
Sharon Springstead
I am a descendant of Rachel Springsteen who married John Stoothoff. She was born c. 1755. I would like to find out who her family was. John was from Middlesex Co., NJ around New Brunswick.
i to am of the springsteel/e line and live in ontario canada. sure hope we can connect to the springstead/springsteen line with accurate information some day.it just keeps getting more interesting all the time..what wonderful work you have done so far..a great read.
Welcome aboard, Jim!
Let us know if we can be of assistance.
Norman
Looking for information about the parents and siblings of Jeremiah Springsteed who was born in 1785, Onandaga, New York. Died on 14 Apr 1856 in LaSalle County, Illinois.
He Married Comfort Kinne in New York before 1815. She was also born in 1786, New York and died on 18 Feb 1855 in LaSalle County, Illinios.
She was the daughter of Cyrus Kinne and Comfort Parmer. I have hit a dead end in my reseach. I would appreciate assistance or info.
Thanks, Ken
Hello, Ken …
Thanks for your inquiry.
The only two Jeremiah Springsteds I have run across in my research can be found here:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GSiman=1&GScid=64729&GSfn=&GSln=springsted
Unfortunately, neither appear to be the one your are looking for.
Good luck in your quest.
Norman
Hi! I was just browsing the internet one night and decided to look up the country of origin of my last name (Springstead) and found this site. My name is Lea Springstead, I was born in Orange County NY and currently live in Ulster County NY. I am going to search my house for any sort of old documents, my mother has some where in the house, a record of funerals in the Springstead family (from the early 20th century) could that be of any assistance?
Absolutely, Lea!
Thanks for chiming in.
Please let us know how many there are, Lea, and perhaps we can see that they are posted on this website.
Norman
Hi,
My maiden name is springsted, and I am stuck on finding anything about my 4G Grandfather, Francis Springstead. He was born in 1755, died in 1814, Orange, New York. I have been searching and come up empty on anything in regards to him. Ancestry.com family trees list him as marrying someone named “Tabor” but I cannot confirm this, since I have seen no documentation to support this claim.
If anyone knows anything that can connect my lineage to the original Dutch settlers, I would love to hear it!
Thanks
Angie
staats simon springsteen 1755 my 4th greatgrandpa
Where was your 4th Greatgrandpa from, Marie? Ours were from the New York State area.
Has anyone found a John S Springsteen, born about 1818 in New York and married to a Mary Howe? He later moved to Michigan, I can’t find any record of his early life, but one census had his name spelled Springstead…
mary howe married john springsteen they settles in holly mi i am in touch with a ron springsteen who is down this line iam down from casper 16-1620 melchior 1644. marie gilligani
Norman enjoyed your website. I am from the SPRINGSTEADs that migrated from Albany across NY to Granby, Oswego Co. Settled there til the 1850’s then migrated to Fon De Lac, Wi. They stayed there til early1880’s. Then to FL in Hernando Co.
I am from Brooksville, Hernando Co.
I am trying to locate parents of Jacob F Springstead (1801-1849). He was married to Sally Boynton who passed two years prior to his passing in 1849.
It is thought that his father was also a Jacob F. There was no shortage of Jacobs in the family making it difficult to trace. Should you find any of these guys ,please advise
John
Thanks, John, for stopping by!
Hopefully, someone will see your post and be able to provide you with the information you need.
I, too, will keep an eye open for you as I continue my research on the Springstead line.
Norman
Hi, I came across this site a while back while doing research on the Springstead family. I started on Ancestry and made the mistake of accepting hints, but learned quickly that it takes a lot more research before getting excited. I started using Family Search to get birth, death, and marriage records (beyond what I already have at home) and was able to match up and verify lots of information. My dad, grandfather, great grandfather, and great great grandfather are all Frank Springstead and all born in Ohio (though my dad moved down to New Orleans where there are now Springsteads). My third and fourth great grandfather were both Ira James Springstead. I’m not sure where the first Ira was born, but it was either Ohio or New York. His father was James Springstead who was born in New York and I’m almost 100% certain he died in Ohio. That is all I’ve been able to find, but I’ve been doing research on those names and learning a bit. It gets confusing because James was married to Sally (Baker?) who remarried after his death. However, I found another Sally Springstead who was married to Jacob Springstead around the same time. Perhaps the men were brothers both married to women named Sally, perhaps she was the same Sally … I’m not sure. I always get more lost than I should when I try to research that far back. I think it might take a trip to New York and Ohio in the future to get information that can’t be found online.
The information I found on James from the Ohio area is from a non-government related Census. It is part of a very detailed book called History of the Fire Lands, Comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio. If you search for that name, you can find it available online on a few different sites. I did a very basic search to find the mentions of the Springstead name and found a few. There is a good chance not all showed up in the search, though, since I don’t think the entire thing was transcribed. I’d love to read it, but it is over 700 pages and I can’t sit in front of a computer to read it all. I may purchase an e-reader just for it. I found another mention of Ira in another book called The Firelands Pioneer, but I wasn’t able to search that as easily as the first book.
If anyone has any information about the family of James Springstead, I’d love to know. The details I have (please correct me if anything is wrong) includes: born in New York in 1770, married Sally (Baker?), was living in and died in Norwalk, Ohio in August 7, 1827. I have a headstone for him at Axe Factory Cemetery in Norwalk. James and Sally’s children include: Dilla, Sally, George, Ira James, Matilda, and Arnold. The children, minus Ira, are going to require some extra research. These were added when I was accepting nearly any hint on Ancestry, though their birth dates sound about right. As for James’ wife, Sally … I have that she remarried Abraham Mead on July 8, 1835. I do have a marriage record for them which records her name as Sally Springstead, a widow. Her headstone is also at Axe Factory Cemetery, but has her marriage as July 5, 1835 to Abraham Mead (as his fourth wife). She was born on January 9, 1772 and died January 22, 1849. Other information says that she was born on February 4, 1772 in Massachusetts.
Sorry for the long winded comment. I’ve been most interested in doing research on this line because it is my last name and because it was the side of the family I had the littlest bit of information when starting and have found the most since beginning.
Thanks for the information you posted! I hope I am able to find out more.
My mother was a Springstead from Rockland County, NY. Briefly her line-
Margaret, Ralph, William, William, David (who is on the 1790 census) but prior to this nothing. It is very frustrating-one of my uncles told me that the family came to Brooklyn in the 1600s and moved to Rockland County.
Marie
there were joost casper springteen b-1638 holland johanes b-1840 holland melchior 1644 holland and barbara b-1650 melchior is my 6th great grandpa some of your info is wrong, i will be glad to help with the line. mariegilligan@att.net
Thanks, Marie.
I will contact you at your email address for corrections.
Hoping to find more connections to Jeremiah Springsteed who lived in Clay and Cicero, NY. His wife Comfort Kinne and family moved to Illinois between 1830 and 1840. I did the Ancestry DNA test and hoping others will do the same in order to find others who are related. Still haven’t been able to determine Jeremiah’s parents, other siblings or links. Hit a dead end.
My Springstead line is based in Rockland County (originally Orange County). There is a book on ancestry about the early settlers of Bushwick that has a section about the Springsteads, perhaps that would be helpful.
My Springsteed line is from Onondaga County, NY. I know they lived in Manlius and Cicero, NY. Jeremiah Springsteed who married Comfort Kinne would be my 3rd Great Grandparent. I have her parents info and ancestors but not his.
Jeremiah Springsteed
1785–1856
BIRTH 1785 • New York?
DEATH 14 APR 1856 • Earl, La Salle, Illinois, United States
Residence
1820 Census• Onondaga, New York, United States
1800 • Possibly lived in Coeymans, Albany, New York.???
Possible father Jacob F. Springstead 1800 Census page 244 indicated male that meets his age. Others listed on page 241 also possible to be his father Springstead (Jeremiah and Joseph).??? Dead end in trying to determine and verify actual ancestor relation.
Comfort Kinne
1786–1855
BIRTH 1786 • New York, United States
DEATH 13 FEB 1855 • Earl, La Salle, Illinois, United States
Residence
About 1806 to 1809 • Cicero, Onondaga, New York, USA
Moved to Cicero are where her brother Moses Kinne was living. Then between 1827 to 1840 moved to Illinois.
Children between Jeremiah Springsteed and Comfort Kinne
– Birth of Daughter Comfort Springsteed(1811–1858)
1811 • New York, United States
– Birth of Daughter Catharine Springsteed(1816–)
1816 • Clay, Onandaga, New York, United States
– Birth of Son David Springstead(1817–1901)
11 Nov 1817 • Clay, Onandaga, New York, United States
– Birth of Son Hiram Springsteed(1819–1895)
16 Oct 1819 • Clay, Onandaga, New York, United States
– Birth of Son Harvey Springsteed(1821–1850)
1821 • Clay, Onandaga, New York, United States
– Birth of Son Aubern H. Springsteed(1824–1850)
1824 • Clay, Onandaga, New York, United States
– Birth of Daughter Rachel Ann Springsteed(1825–1858)
1825 • Clay, Onandaga, New York, United States
– Birth of Daughter Amanda Harriet Springsteed(1827–1901)
28 Jun 1827 • Onondaga County, New York, USA
Anyone else related to this ancestry line?
Can anyone help me determine who Jeremiah’s parents are? Did he have brothers or sisters? Any help would be greatly appreciated. also has anyone else in the Springsteed line perform the Ancestor DNA test?
Thanks, Ken