Gysbert & Rachel (de la Montagne) VanImbroch
First Generation
Dr. Gysbert VanImbroch was born in the Netherlands in 1634. He arrived in Manhattan about 1652 where he was proprietor of a combination book, apothecary and general store. He was a doctor of medicine, a magistrate and a member of the Dutch Reformed Church.
Gysbert was married in 1656 at Fort Orange (Albany) New York to Rachel De La Montagne. Rachel, born in Leyden, Holland in 1634, was the daughter of Dr. Jean and Rachel (DeForest) De La Montagne. Their children were:
Jan: b 15 Mar 1654 New Amsterdam, now New York City
Lysbeth (Elizabeth): b 1659 Beverwyck ( Albany) d bef 1708;m. Johannes Peeck
*Johannes: b 1661 Beverwyck;m.1. Margrietie VanSchaik; m.2.Catherine Sandford
Gysbert: b 24 Aug 1664 Wiltwyck, now Kingston; m. 1688 Jannetje Messier
On 7 Jun 1663 the family was in Wiltwyck (Kingston) New York, when an attack on Wiltwyck & New Village (Hurley) was made by parties of Esopus Indians. New Village was completely destroyed but not Wiltwyck where 12 houses were burned. Captives were taken - 66 inhabitants missing: 21 dead (Mainly men) and 45 captive (mainly women and children), including Rachael VanImbroch.
It took 2 months to mount a force for the rescue of captives led by Martin Cregier of New Amsterdam. In the meantime Dr Jean de la Montagne (Rachel’s father) sent a band of five Mohawks from Fort Orange to rescue Rachel, which they did successfully by buying her from her captors. By the time the military party arrived Rachel was back in Wiltwyck ready to conduct the soldiers to the Indian Fort 30 miles to the southwest where the prisoners were kept.
They set forth on 26 Jul 1663 and reached the fort within a day to find it deserted. All had retreated into the Sawangunk mountains. Another month passed and the Indians were taken by surprise, many of them captured and 23 of the caprives recovered and brought back to Wiltwyck... Gysbert and Rachaell both died within two years of the Indian attack. Rachael died on 4 Oct 1664 and Dr VanImbroch on 29 Aug 1665.
Wiltwyck Court records state:
“Mr. VanImbroch on the same day of his death requested verbally and in writing that his estate should be inventoried and sealed up until the same time when friends from Manhattan should arrive for the purpose of then being done by them for the best interest of their minor children. . . . Therefore for this purpose were expressly sent off and have arrived here Jacob Kip and Willem Monjour DelaMontagne, both brothers-in-law of the deceased.”The three guardians for the children appointed by the court were Jacob Kip, Willem de la Montagne and Willem Beeckman, scout at Wiltwyck. The inventory was detailed and showed considerable wealth. Since the “children’s house” was not sold until 1673 by Willem de la Montagne, the guardians may have arranged someone to look after the children in their own house. Willem de la Montagne moved to Wiltwyck to administer the estate and collect debts owed to Dr Van Imbroch, but he was given the use of the “village house” in his capacity as schoolmaster and voorleser and did not live with the children.
