Category: Coxsackie Declaration of Independence

The Coxsackie Declaration of Independence

The Coxsackie Declaration of Independence

Donated by the Durham Center Museum

Written by Olive N. Woodworth

On May 17, 1775, more than a year before the Declaration of Independence was presented in Philadelphia, the inhabitants of Coxsackie signed a Declaration of Independence of their own. The faded yellow parchment, found in an Albany attic some years ago, bears the names of 225 signers, most of them Dutch names of freeholders from the Coxsackie District of the Colony of New York.

Within a month after this historic event on the Hudson, the Battles of Concord and Lexington had been fought, the British force had attacked Bunker Hill, and Washington had been summoned to lead the American army surrounding Boston. Much of the excitement of the times can be felt when this document is read; and history records that the revolutionary fever reached a peak thirteen months later, at Philadelphia, the Declaration of Independence was signed by all the colonies.

The Coxsackie Declaration was discovered by Mr. John M. Clark, then president of the Albany Institute and History and Art Society, who presented it to the Institution, where it remains. The document was pronounced authentic by Dr. Sullivan and Dr. Wyer, who served, respectively, as State Historian and State Librarian at that time, and by the State Archivist. It was displayed among other selected material on the New York Freedom Train when it toured the State. Over the years, the writing on the document, faded and somewhat illegible; of the 225 signatures, only 211 are decipherable and presumed accurate. Some of the patriots, unable to write their names, signed with an "+" . The first signer, John (Johannes) Schuneman, was undoubtedly the fighting "Dutch Dominie of the Catskills", for the letters V.D.S., meaning Verbum Dei Servus (Minister of the Word of God) appear after his name. And there is enough authentic data on the Dominie to provide assurance that he drew up the Declaration personally.

Anthony Van Bergen, the eighth signer, and Henry Van Bergen, the fourth signer, were Colonel and captain, respectively, of the Coxsackie militia during the Revolution.

The Declaration

PERSUADED that the Salvation of the Rights and Liberties of America, depends, under God, on the firm union of its Inhabitants, in a vigorous prosecution of the Measures necessary for its Safety, and convinced of the Necessity of preventing the Anarchy and confusion which attend the Dissolution of the Powers of Government:

THAT the Freeholders and Inhabitants of Coxsackie District, in the County of Albany, being greatly alarmed at the avowed Design of the Ministry to raise a Revenue in America, are shocked by the bloody Scene acting in the Massachusetts Bay; Do in the most solemn manner, resolve never to become Slaves; and do also associate under the Ties of Religion, Honor and Love of our Country to adopt and endeavor to carry into Execution whatever Measures may be rendered by our Continental Congress, or resolved upon by our Provincial Convention for the purpose of preserving our Constitution and apposing the Execution of several arbitrary and oppressive Acts of the British Parliament, until a reconciliation between Great Britain and America or constitutional principles (which we most ardently desire) can be obtained; and that we will, in all Things, follow the advice of our general Committee, respecting the purpose aforesaid, the preservation of Peace and good Order, and the Safety of Individuals and private property.

Dated at Coxsackie the Seventeenth of May in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand seven hundred and seventy five. (signed by 225 citizens of Coxsackie)

John Schuneman V.D.S.

Theunis Van Vechten

James Barker

Henry Van Bergen

John L. Bronck

Jacob + Hallenbeck

William + Hallenbeck

Anthony Van Bergen

John A Whitbeck

Samuel Van Vechten

Pieteer Conyne

Thomas Hoghtelen

Michael + Collyer

Francis Salisbry Jr.

Johannes + Jansen

Lambert Van Valkenburgh

Casper Hollenbeck

Myndert V. Schaick

William Van Bergen

Casperse Hallenbeck

Peter Bronck

Leonard Bronck

Abraham Hallenbeck

Peter + Vanette

Wilhelmus Vandenburg

John Vanette

Wessel Salisbury

Carperse Halenbeck

John Groog

Abraham Salisbury

Reychert Van den Berk

Richard Johnson

John Vosburgh

Richard + Vandenberg

Henry Wabber

Arout Van Schaick

Jacob Van Loon

Jacob Hallenbeck

A. Doonhalten

Ebenezer Stanton

William Brandow Jr.

Edward Groom

Haedirick + Schram

Clement Overbagh

Benjamin van Gerdener

Frederick Schram

William Jones

Reuben Stanton

Reuben van der Berk

Wilhelme Sammon

Jno Moore + John

John + Goes

Cornelius Connine

Richard Ten + Broeck

John + Hallenbeck

John + Munday

James Donney

Joseph Groom

Albert Van Loon

Joachim + Ryal

David Rose

Gererdus Neukirk

Matthias + Hallenbeck

Storm Prosa

Christian Blodaar

John Persaly

Burent Albartsen

Benjamin Cornelius Dubois

Benjam Dubois

Henry Irison

Nikasas Yare

Matthias Van Con Jan

Caspar Pare

John Romear

Benjamin+ Essex

John van Steinburg

Gared Peresen

John C. Claus

Jeremiah + Steenbergh

John + Wall

James + White

John + Snyder

Nicholas Van Loon

Martin Hallenbeck

John V. Schake

John W. Bught

Nickolas V. Schake

Peter Van Burgan

John Parree

Isaac + Collyer

Jacob + Livingston

Thomas + Templar

Joseph Nesbit

William Groom

Henry Knoll

Isaac Witbeck

William Wells

Samuel Stogles Salisbury

Hendrick + Smith

William + Smith

George Rosa

Martin G. van Bergen

Wilhelmus + Dederick

Jary Van Loon

Johan Wesdernich

Solomon Schut

Nicholas V. Scake

Dirk Van Veghten

John + Vosburgh

Frederick Dederick

Johan Niew

J. Wood

Wilhelmus + Oorbagh

Laurance Dubois

John Van Housen

William + Klauw

Jon Spoor

Johannis Sousa

Petrus Van Loon

Albertus Van Loon

John Rouge

Pet + Schram

Dirck Spoor

Andres + Eaghler

William + Cudney

Frederick Scheck

John Bronck

John Van Loon

Casper Hallenbeck

Matthias + Boom

Pete + Janson

John H Schurmerhorn

Hugh Denniston

Laurence Winney

Stephen Haight

Thomas Garnett

John Ellis

John + Lampman

Mod. Van Sand

Henry Oothoudt

Samuel Allen

Abraham Camer

Wilhelmus Lampman

Herman + Becker

Casper Hallenbeck

Nicholas Van Loon

Robert Thomas

Jacob + Shoup

Peter Van Loon Jr

Abraham Van Loon

Hendrick + Rose

William Rea

Philip Conyne

Reychert van den Berk

John + Schrader

Arent + Cooss

Philip Conine Jr

John van den Berk

Peter Conine

Jam. Hearn

Benjamin Smith

Peter Smith

John + Curby

Francis Salisbury

Cornelius Dubois

John Dubois

Thouny D. van Veghten

Cornelius Schermerhorn

Jacob Egbertsen Jun.

Thomas Fish

Peter Bogardus

Thomas Aston

Johannes + Brandow

John Casper + Van Hoefer

Thomas Burdick

Arent + Fedder

Peter Soufer

William Schutt

Jacob + Cook

Coenrad Flaake

Coenraet + Hoghtaline

Richard + Houghtaline

Baltus Van Slyk

Jeremiah + Conine

Peter Van Slyk

Philip Bronck

Martin V. Bargen

Petrus + Brandow

Jacob Van Vechten

Abraham Salisbury

Heiybartus Dubois

Benjamin Dubois

William + Brandow

Gysbort Oosterhoudt

Garret P. + Steenbergh

Egbert Bogardus

Johannes + Van Garde

John Person

Johannis Conyn

Nicholas + Planke

Abraham Van Garde

Jam. C. Van Waganen

Richard Conways

John Taylor

Goefrie Brandow

Source: Coxsackie