Dear Douglas, I sincerely doubt that anyone could correct any of the so-called errors, for they were made by the New England men who were "companions in distress, at Quebec, of a number of the Saratoga captives," according to John Henry Brandow in "The story of old Saratoga" (1919). _No dates are given for their journal entries_. And that includes Gail Richard Quackenbush (1989) and/or Paul W. Prindle in The Van Derwerken - Van Derwerker Family. Johnstown (NY): Author published, (1966). I would simply not consider the information recorded in the journals to be 100% reliable. Did the New England men just happen to have pen, ink and paper in the prison, or did they record the information later, after their release? There are far too many discrepancies that cannot be explained. > Pam, > Thank you for looking up the baptisms for the children for Jacob Quackenbush and > his wife Geertruy. I am still confused because "The Story of Old Saratoga" > reported them as having three children, Isaac, Rachel and Martha. "Rachel was said > to be 16 by one journalist and 18 by another" so this was probably not the Rachel > baptized by Isaac Quackenbos on 13 April 1740. Since there is no baptism for > Martha, it's possible that the daughter could have been Maria who was baptized on > 2 Oct. 1731. The article said that Martha died at age 12. It's possible that the > book written by Gail Richard Quackenbush in 1989 could have corrected these > errors. My local library said there are 22 libraries that have this book but none > that will lend it. I know the Mormon Library will not send books to their > churches. I will see if their research department will look this up for me. > I think I have hit a dead end. > Thanks, Maria is not Martha. A lot would depend on what Jacob Quackenbush called his daughter, and whether or not the New England men understood this. Martha was Machtelt. "Gratus" was Gerardus, and John Henry Brandow reported [from the journals): "Gratus" Vander Vericke died of the fever in prison on 1 Dec 1746, at age 30 Gerardus was baptized at Albany on 4 March 1711, so he would have been age 35 in 1746 (not 30). Rachel was not baptized by Isaac [sic] Quackenbush. The minister performed the baptism, and the father's name should have been Jacob. The witness at that baptism was Gerrit Van Vranken, the son of Geertruy Quackenbush and nephew of Jacob Quackenbush, who was living in Schenectady at the time (he married Maria Fort 7 July 1738 at Schenectady). The son Isaac is the only one whose age happens to come close to what it should have been: he was baptized 21 April 1728 at Albany, and said to be age 20 when he died 26 April 1747 (but actually he was age 19). Nothing is said of Gerrit Roelofs (Van der Werken) who was said to be age 75 at the time; he had walked from Saratoga to Quebec; but managed to survive the ordeal (at the prison as well) because he was apparently buried in the Albany churchyard on 2 Jun 1756. Yes, Rachel was said to be age 16 in one journal, and age 18 in another, but do we know the date those entries were recorded by the New England men? The answer is NO. Rachel was separated from the family, and compelled to go live with the Indians. Then one day, she just happened to find a canoe and paddled across the river and walked to Quebec where she was taken in by a French gentleman who treated her kindly. It was in his care that she converted to Catholicism, but we don't know when she visited her (grieving) mother in the prison, for no date is given. It could have been in 1756 for all we know. Then someone attempted to ransom her away from the Frenchman, but the offer was refused. Mr. Brandow seemed to think that Rachel's mother was a shrew [my word, not his], so Rachel decided to stay with the Frenchman. > Pam, > I did find this reference in "Capt. Wm. Pote's Journal" > May ye 26 Died Jacob Qiiacinbush and his Son > Isaac, ^ aged about 20 Years of age a Likely Young > man who has been Sick But a few Days, ye wife of > Said Jacob Quacinbush is Now Sick at ye hospital, > and has Lost Since In this place, her husband and > Son aforsd and a Dughter^ aged about 12 Years > and her Brother aged about 30, and has now a > Daughter^ of about 18 years of age with ye Indians, > and her father and mother with us at this time In > Prison aged about 75 Years Each > Quackinbush, Martha, captured > at Saratoga, dies in captivity > at Qiiebec, 106, 106, n, 165. > > Quackinbush, Rachel, daughter > of Jacob Quackinbush, 135; > visits parents in prison at Que- > bec, iiT,, n4; remains in Can- > ada, n3, n; escapes from In- > dians, 145, 146; visits her > mother in prison, 146, 149; > her redemption sought, 149. > Doug > > Again, I see no dates that the above information was entered into the journals, nor does it mention the name of the informant. I don't see how anyone could sort out the details to anyone's satisfaction. All I'm trying to do is report the baptismal records as published. Regards, Pam Sears