Joshua Schryver (abt. 1785 - 1853)

Born about 1785 in New York, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Christania Pitcher — married 11 Feb 1809 in Acquackanonk, Passaic, New Jersey, USA

Descendants

Died 1 Jan 1853 at about age 68 in Summerfield, Monroe, Michigan, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Steve Snider [send private message]

Biography

Joshua appears to have moved to Michigan after 1830 when his last child was born in New York and before 1839.

Joshua and Christania (Pitcher) Schryver had at least 12 children and also raised one grandchild after one of their daughters passed away in 1843.

As for the birth year of Joshua, I have compelling evidence that it was 1785. Joshua is buried in the Old Petersburg Cemetery, a fact that I have known for many years but which I was unable to prove until recently was a connection to my Schryver line. That site along with a link to his wife and one of his children can be found here http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5450687.

Joshua married Christania Pitcher (often Cherstana or some other misspelling in the Dutch Reformed Church records) on 11 Feb 1809 and that record can be found in the Acquackanonk, Passaic, New Jersey, Dutch Reformed Church record. I have evidence from the tombstone and will of Joshua that her name was Christania, not Christiana as I have seen often written. I do not know why they were married there instead of Gallatin. I can only assume, since I do not have the birth record for Christania, that she was from that parish perhaps, it not being exceptionally close in proximity to Gallatin.

Joshua and Christania had all of their children in New York, the last one that I have compelling evidence for being born in Ancram and definitive evidence that was born in Columbia County, NY is Joseph. Joshua and Christania had moved to Michigan then after 1830 when their last child Christania (Schryver) Ramsey was born. They appear in the 1840 Census record living in Summerfield, Monroe Township, Michigan. That record shows 2 males 10-14, 2 males 15-19, 2 males 20-29, 1 male 50-59, 1 female under 5, 1 female 5-9, and 1 female 50-59 for a total of 10 individuals. I do not know who the female under 5 years old is. No mention is made in the will of Joshua Schryver for this child in 1849 and she does not appear in the 1850 census, also in Summerfield Township, with the family. I can only assume that she is the child of a relative who was deceased who they had taken in, maybe one of the older sons had been married and his wife had passed and the child lived with them, or perhaps a child from late in life for Christania which I find a bit unlikely. The rest of the children can be accounted for with the female 5-9 being the youngest daughter Christania, 2 males 10-14 being the youngest Martin and his brother Lyman, 2 males 15-19 being Joshua and an unknown male (perhaps a farm worker or another son not yet identified), and 2 males 20-29 being likely Joseph with Adam or more likely John as I believe Adam had perhaps moved to Illinois.

I also believe that they were in Summerfield as early as 1835 because daughter Elizabeth had a child born in that year in Michigan and her youngest son at the time of her death was taken in and appears as Franklin Schryver in the 1850 census as the only child living with Joshua and Christania. I know that Franklin was not a child of Joshua and Christania because he is not mentioned in the will of 1853 and all other living children at that time appear to be mentioned. In particular, I think it may be significant that Joshua apparently had the funds to purchase a large tract of land in Summerfield Township, Monroe County, MI (at that time Michigan Territory it not becoming a state until 1837). I am wondering if this was perhaps due to an inheritance received from the estate of his father Joseph?

The death of Joshua Schryver occurred on 1 Jan 1853 in Petersburg, Summerfield Township, Monroe County, MI, according to his will and possibly the cemetery records.

Christania Pitcher was born to Adam Betzer Pitcher and Lea Buys in 1790. She passed on 21 Nov 1847 in Petersburg, Summerfield Township, Monroe County, MI.

I got the information on the children of Joshua listed from the Dutch Reformed Church Records in Gallatin. That includes the documents for baptism of Hannah, Rachel (Rachael), John, Elizabeth, Adam, and Eve. I believe that they either moved just before or just after the birth of Joseph or perhaps changed church affiliation as I understand there was a schism in the Dutch Reformed Church of that time. In any event, I have found as yet no baptism records for any of the remaining children. In addition to the children already listed from the baptismal church record are:

Joseph Schryver b. 13 Jan 1817 Ancram, Columbia County, NY, d. 14 Apr 1892 Petersburg, Summerfield Township, Monroe County, MI

Sarah Schryver b. abt. 1821 NY d. abt. 1855

Joshua Schryver Jr. b. abt 1823 NY d. unknown

Lyman Schryver b. abt 1827 NY d. unknown

Martin Schryver b. 3 Mar 1829 NY (possibly NJ based on Michigan death record) d. 3 Jul 1867 Washington, OH (it is not clear if this is the town now called Old Washington, Washington County, or more likely a Washington Township located on the Monroe County southern border of Michigan with Lucas County, OH.) He is buried in Dundee Township, Monroe County, MI

Christania (possibly Christiana, it is written in the will of Joshua Schryver both ways) b. Abt 1830 d. unknown

As far as I know that is the complete list of the remaining children of Joshua and Christania not listed on the Schryver site.

The will of Joshua Schryver gives the biggest proof about the family and who was living versus not living at the time of his death. The will appears to have been written in 1849 and unsealed January 3, 1853, from what I understand reading it, with the date "Filed January 3 (symbol I'm not familiar with) 1853" on a notation on the page with his signature. In the will are mentioned amounts to be bequeathed first to his "youngest son Martin Schryver", then to his son Lyman Schryver, then to his daughter Rachael wife of John Olmstead, then to his son Joseph Schryver then to his son Adam Schryver then to his son Joshua Schryver Jr. then to his daughter Sarah wife of James Turner then last mentioned is daughter Christiana

This means out of 12 children, 8 are mentioned and still living as of 1849 when the will was sealed. His wife had already passed. Presumably his daughters Hannah and Eve and son John had passed and as previously mentioned it is known that Elizabeth had passed already as he was raising her son. Because Elizabeth is believed to have died before 1843 when probate granted custody of three children to her brother Joseph Schryver at the death of her husband Royal Fisher and because Christania his wife had passed in 1847, it was likely one of the other children passing which caused the creation of a new will on 12 Jan 1849 I am guessing. So either Hannah, Eve, or John likely passed at the end of 1848. Further, proof from the will shows that all amounts were paid out as to be distributed, so all those children mentioned in the will were still living upon his death into the year 1853. The will does not mention the children in order by birth except by stating Martin is the youngest son.

Sources

• Ancestry.com. Michigan, Wills and Probate Records, 1784-1980 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestr.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

Original data: Michigan County, District and Probate Courts.

Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C. Year: 1850; Census Place: Summerfield, Monroe, Michigan; Roll: M432_358; Page: 279B; Image: 66.

Ancestry.com. 1840 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Sixth Census of the United States, 1840. (NARA microfilm publication M704, 580 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. Year: 1840; Census Place: Summerfield, Monroe, Michigan; Roll: 208; Page: 341; Image: 689; Family History Library Film: 0014796.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5450687

Joshua Schryver has German Roots.