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John Jay Van Valkenburgh lived from Sept 16, 1783 to Jan 24, 1879. He was baptized Feb. 15, 1784 at the Kinderhook Reformed Church in Columbia County, NY, the son of James Van Valkenburgh (see will) and Pamela Sutherland. James was recorded as Jakobus at the baptism of John (and another son at the same church), but he was using the name James by the time he made out his will. James is an English translation of the Dutch Jakobus, Jacobus and Jacob. Pamela Sutherland was listed as Amelia at the baptism of the other son at that church.

John Jay Van Valkenburgh (see biography and photo) died in Chatham Center, Columbia County, NY and was buried in the Chatham Center Cemetery. John's wife Catherine Van Alen (see photo) was born May 4, 1787, the daughter of Gilbert Van Alen and Annis Moore. Catherine died April 20,1874, too early to be mentioned in John's will.

Will

Columbia Co., New York, Will Book Q, page 28: Will of John J. Van Valkenburgh, dated 19 Apr 1876; recorded 7 Feb 1879. In the name of God, Amen. I, John J. Van Valkenburgh of the Town of Chatham, Columbia Co., NY, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, for which I feel devoutly thankful, do publish this my Last Will and Testment, hereby revoking and making null and void all other Last Wills and Testaments by me heretofore made, and first, I commend my immortal being to him who gave it and my body to the earth, to be buried with little expense or ostentation by my Executors hereinafter named. Imprimis--My Will is that all my just and honest debts and funeral charges shall by my Executors hereinafter named be paid out of my estate as soon after my decease as shall by them be found convenient. Item 1. I give, devise and bequeath to my son James G. Van Valkenburgh his heirs and assigns forever the farm or premises on which he now lives, situate in Chatham and which I purchased from Stephen Lake, known as the Van Allen farm and Potter farm,lying on the north side of the road or highway, leading from the Village of Chatham Center, to the laste residence of Winthrop Phelps, deceased, and also two lots of land belonging to the above named farms, lying on the south side of the before mentioned road or highway, containing about 200 acres, more or less, and also including and embracing a piece or lot of land inherited by my wife, Catharine from her Father's estate, supposed to contain 26 acres of land more or less, which said three several pieces of land constitutes and makes up the within described farm or prremises, which I give to my said son James G. with all the buildings and improvements thereon, containing in the aggregate 226 acres of land, more or less, for which he the said James G. shall allow $100 per acre in full for his interest or share in my real estate. Item 2--I give and devise and bequeath to my grandson Samuel Wilber Jr. (son of Samuel Wilber) his heirs and assigns forever, the following several pieces of real estate-- First the farm known as the David Hudson farm, situate in the Town of Chatham and near the Village of Chatham, on both sides of the road or highway leading from said Village of Chatham to East Chatham, which I purchased from David Hudson and others containing 175 acres 1 quarter & 20 1/2 rods for which he the said Samuel Wilbur Jr. shall be charged the sum of $50 per acre. I also give devise and bequeath to my said grandson Samuel Wilbur and his heirs and assigns forever the property known as the Grist Mill Property, situate in said Village of Chatham (The Mill on which was recently burned) and which I purchased from Messors? Thomas and for which said Mill property he said Samuel Jr. shall be charged the sum of $1000. I also give, devise and bequeath to my said Grandson Samual Wilbur Jr. his heirs and assigns the Saw Mill situate and adjoining the Grist Mill property in said Village of Chatham and the same as was purchased by and for Samuel Wilbur for which my said Grandson, Samuel Wilbur Jr. shall be charged the sum of $1500 in part pay of his share in my real estate. Item 3-- I give, devise and bequeath to my grandson John J. Wilbur (son of Samuel Wilbur) his heirs and assigns forever my Home farm together with the farm I purchased from George Robinson situate in the Town of Chatham and near the Village of Chatham Center lying on the south side of the road leading from Chatham Center to the late Winthrop Phelps deceased, and also on both sides of the road or highway leading from said Village of Chatham Center to Chatham Village (formerly Chatham 4 Corners) and on which I now live - containing 90 acres of land more or less for which he the said John J. Wilbur shall be charged the sum of $100 per acre. I also give, devise and bequeath to my said Grandson John J. Wilbur, his heirs and assigns, the store and lot called the "Union Store" situate in the Village of Valatie Town of Kinderhook now occupied by Shaugness and Gardiner merchants, and as was formerly owned by Daniel Reynolds deceased, and as was conveyed to me by the Messr. Vanderpoels and for which said premises he the said John J. Wilbur shall be charged the sum of $4000 in part-pay of his interest in my estate. I also give, devise and bequeath to my Grandson John J. Wilbur, his heirs and assigns all my Village property situate in the Village of Chatham Center, embracing dwelling houses, shops, store and shed, with the land connected therewith (excepting and reserving therefrom the ground or lot on which the M. E. Church and shed in connection thereunto now stands, and which was conveyed by me, by Deed, to the said M. E. Church to be held and used by them, so long and no longer, as was required for the use and purpose for which it was conveyed and then to revert back as expressed in said Deed of Conveyance, for which Village porperty in gross he the said John J. Wilbur shall be charged the sum of $6000. Item 4-- It will be discovered from the foregoing that I have now disposed of all my Real Estate of which I am possessed, to my son James G. and my two grandsons Samuel Wilbur Jr and John J. Wilbur. To my son James G. one share and my two grandsons Samuel Wilbur Jr. and John J. Wilbur, one fourth share each and that the shares of my two grandsons in my real estate greatly exceed the share of my son James G. my Will is to make them equal participators in my Estate both real and personal, and in order to make the share of my son James G. equal to the shares of my two grandsons an amount must be taken from the residuary of my Estate, sufficient to make my son James G. equal to them one fourth share respectively. Item 5-- It will also be discovered that I am the holder and owner of several notes with interest against my son James G. and also a note or notes against my grandson Samuel Wilbur Jr. without interest. Also two notes with interest against my Grandson J. J. Wilbur. My Will is that they be accounted for and included as part payment of their respective shares in my Estate. Item 6-- All the rest, residue, and remainder of my Estate of whatever name or nature, or wheresoever situated I give, devise and bequeath to my son James G. Van Valkenburgh his heirs and assigns, to my Grandson Samuel Wilbur Jr. his heirs and assigns, and to my grandson John J. Wilbur his heirs and assigns as follows: To my son James G. the one half and to my two Grandsons Samuel J. & John J. Wilbur one fourth share each, my purpose being to make my two grandsons equal to my son James G. in the division of my estate. Item 7-- I will, order and direct that in case any misunderstanding should arise as to the true intent and meaning of this my Last Will and Testament prior to the settlement or division of my estate, by my Executors hereinafter named, Then and in That case my Executors hereinafter named and Perkins F. Cady of Chatham shall decide as to the respective rights of the points and whose decision when made shall be final and conclusive. Item 8-- On reflection my Will and pleasure is that should any loss occur from fire or any other cause to the property already disposed of to each of my respective heirs before my decease, then and in that case the loss to him or either of them shall be taken from my estate in proportion to each ones respective share, and applied to the benefit of him who meets with such loss. Lastly-- I hereby constitute and appoint my son James G. Van Valkenburgh of the Town of Chatham, Columbia Co., NY, Samuel Wilbur of the same Town, County, & State, and John J. Wilbur of the same place, executors of this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking and causing all former Wills and Codicils by me heretofore made at any time to be utterly null and void, and cause this only to be published and proclaimed as being my Last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal at Chatham this the 19 day April in the year of our Lord 1876. John J. Van Valkenburgh witnesses: Ransom H. Vedder & Andrew Van Alstyne, both of Chatham Center, Columbia Co.