Person:Symon Groot (1)

Emigrated on the Prince Mauritz to New Amsterdam before 1645. Moved to Schenectady in 1662. His sons were kidnapped in Indian / French attack in 1690. Symon Symonse the first settler, came early to New Netherland in the service of the West India Company as boatswain of the ship Prince Mauritz. In 1645 he was living in New Amsterdam (New York city) he then came to Beverwyck (Albany) in 1654. In 1662 he moved his family to Schenectady. Where the house he lived in was to remain in the family for over 100 years. On Feb. 8, 1690 the French and Indians atacked the Fort. Symon's 5 sons were taken prisoner and marched up to Canada. It took two weeks to get there through the cold and snow. His first born son Symon Jr. was returned to Schenectady in June of 1691 by an Indian that was known as the praying Indians. Symon Sr. and his wife escaped all the horror because they were in Albany at a Baptism. Symon was a farmer by trade. And so were most of his sons. Phillip's son opened the 2nd grist mill in the area.

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SYMON SYMONSE, the first settler, came early to New Netherland in the service of the West India Company, as boatswain of the ship Prince Maurice. In 1645 he bought a house and lot of Jacob Roy, in New Amsterdam. Soon after he came to Beverwyck, where he purchased or built a house, which in 1654 he offered for sale. He had lately withdrawn from the service of the West India Company, against whom he then held a claim for services of 834 guilders. In 1662, being about to remove to the Esopus, he empowered Johannes Withart to sell his house and lot; but it is evident that he changed his purpose, for in 1663 he hired a bouwery of 25 or 30 morgens, of Gerrit Bancker and Harmen Vedderen, at Schenectady, and still retained possession of his house in Albany as late as 1667. His house and lot in Schenectady, was on the north side of Union Street, 100 Amsterdam feet westerly from Church Street, running through to Front Street, and remained in the family more than a hundred years. He m. Rebecca, dau. of Philip Du Trieux (Truax), court messenger of New Amsterdam, and had the following children: Symon; Abraham; Philip; Dirk; Cornelis; Claas; Susanna, who m. Isaac Cornelise Swits; Maria, who m. Daniel Janse Van Antwerpen; Rebecca, who m. Claas Cornelise Vander Volgen; Sara, who m. Arent Vedder. On the sad night of the 8th of Feb., 1690, his five sons, Symon, Abraham, Philip, Dirk and Claas were taken captive by the French and Indians, and carried to Canada; the following year they were redeemed.

1.   Pearson, Jonathan. A History of the Schenectady Patent in the Dutch and English Times; being contributions toward a history of the lower Mohawk Valley. (Albany, New York: J. Munsell's Sons, Printers, 1883)
   p. 120.