| Jan (John) Van
Gorder and Elizabeth Vandermark Merkel were the parents of Jacob Van
Gorder. We have traced the line back to about 1630 in Holland with the
help of a cousin. It is through this line that Bert connects to US
President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He is a ninth cousin twice
removed!
Jacob was apprenticed to a tailor, and went to war in his place, taking part in the battle of Wyoming Valley, Pa, July 4, 1777, between the Tories and Indians against the settlers. It was a massacre and Jacob was taken captive to be tortured and killed by the Indians, but his life was saved by a squaw who adopted him as her son, having lost her own son in the battle. After living with the Indians about five years, he escaped while the Indians were on a hunting trip, he being left at the village with the squaws. He was located in Washington County for a time, where he married Margaret Beamer, then about 1800 he came to Perry Township in Lawrence County, PA, where he remained until his death in 1836. His wife died June 9, 1827, a the age of 64...The article goes on to say that "there are more descendents of Jacob and Margaret Beamer Van Gorder than one could imagine." Family Group Record
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Husband: Jacob VAN GORDER
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Birth: 22 Dec 1761 Sussex Co., New Jersey
Moved to: abt 1800 Perry Twp., Lawrence Co., PA
Death: 17 May 1836 Lawrence Co., PA,
Military: in the American Revolution
Burial: Slippery Rock Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Marriage: bef 1786 Washington Co., PA
Father: Jan (John) VAN GARDEN (b abt 23 Sep 1722)
Mother: Elizabeth V. MERKEL (b abt 17 Sep 1732)
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Wife: Margaret BEAMER
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Birth: 25 May 1763 Sussex Co., New Jersey
Death: 9 Jun 1827 Ellwood City, Lawrence Co., PA
Burial: Slippery Rock Presbyterian Church Cemetery
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Children
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1 F Mary (Polly) VAN GORDER
Birth: 1786 Sussex Co, New Jersey
Death:
Burial:
Spouse: James POLLACK
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2 F Christiana (Tena) VAN GORDER
Birth: 9 Apr 1788 Sussex Co, New Jersey
Death: 17 Mar 1863 Wayne Twp., Lawrence Co., PA
Burial: Slippery Rock Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Spouse: Captain William WILSON (m abt 1804)
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3 F Elizabeth (Betsy) VAN GORDER
Birth: 27 Apr 1791 Sussex Co, New Jersey
Death: 3 May 1880
Burial:
Spouse: James ALLEN (m 27 Apr 1810)
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4 F Sarah VAN GORDER
Birth: Jun 1795
Death: 1851
Burial:
Spouse: Jonathan HOUK
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5 F Deborah VAN GORDER
Birth: 1797
Death:
Burial:
Spouse: MORRISON
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6 F Margaret (Peggy) VAN GORDER
Birth: 8 Jan 1801 North Sewickley Twp., Beaver Co., PA
Death: 10 Nov 1883
Burial: Pleasant Hill Cemetery
Spouse: Christopher (Christy) LESNETT
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7 M Jacob VAN GORDER Jr.
Birth: 8 Aug 1805 Pennsylvania
Death: 15 Oct 1886 Pennsylvania
Burial: Slippery Rock Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Spouse: Nancy ELLIOTT
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Our line continues through the second daughter, Christiana Van Gorder who married William Wilson about 1805 in Wayne Township, Beaver Co., PA. |