History of the
Town of Brunswick
The following information is from Historical and Statistical Gazetteer of New York State by J. H. French, published in 1860. It was transcribed and submitted by Debby Masterson.

Ray Brown's website Ray's Place has town histories as published in Landmarks of Rensselaer County by George Baker ANDERSON (Syracuse, NY: D. Mason & Co., Publishers, 1897). For Chapter XXVIII, Town of Brunswick, click here.

Brunswick was formed from Troy, March 20, 1807. A part of the town was reannexed to Troy, April 15, 1814. It lies a little N.W. of the center of the co., upon the hilly region w. of the summits of the Petersburgh Mts. The most elevated portions of the town, in the extreme E. and in the N. W. parts, are 800 to 1000 above tide. The principal streams are Posten Kil, its tributary Quacken Kil, and Tomhannock Creek. The soil upon the summits of the hills is hart and sterile, but in the valleys and lowlands it consists of a fertile, gravelly loam intermixed with clay. The people are largely engaged in furnishing milk, vegetables and hay to the Troy market. Brunswick Center, East Brunswick, 1 Millville (Eagle Mills p.o.) and Cropseyville2 (p.o.) are small villages. The first settlement was made about 1760 by a company of Germans. 3 This town suffered greatly upon the approach of Burgoyne in 1777, and after the battle of Saratoga many families of royalists withdrew to Canada, and but few returned. There are 4 churches in town. 4

1 This village is the seat of a cotton batting and a sash and blind factory.
2 A woolen factory and tannery are located here.
3 Among the early settlers were David Coons, and families named Hardwick, Braunschweiger, Springer, Borck, Hayner, Outhout, Van Arnam, Hogg, Fisher, Benn, Watson, Fret, Quackenboss, Muller, Goeway, and Clum. A man named File kept the first inn, near the Lutheran Church, in 1790, and Henry Clum the first store at Cropseyville. The first factory was erected by a company at "Albia," now a part of Troy. The first mill was built by _____ Cross, in 1792, with no tools but an ax, saw and auger.
4 M.E., Ev. Luth., and Presb.

The following information is from Gazetteer and Business Directory of Rensselaer County, N. Y., for 1870-71, compiled by Hamilton Child, 1870.

The town of Brunswick was formed from Troy, March 20, 1807. A part of the town was reannexed to Troy, April 15, 1814. It lies a little north-west of the center of the County, upon the hilly region west of the summits of the Petersburgh Mountains. The most elevated portions of the town rise to the height of 800 to 1,000 feet in the extreme east and north-west parts. The principal streams are Poesten Kil, its tributary, Quacken Kil, and Tomhannock Creek. The soil upon the summits of the hills is hard and sterile, but in the valleys and low lands it consists chiefly of a gravelly loam, intermixed with clay. The people are engaged extensively in furnishing milk, vegetables and hay for the Troy market.

Brunswick is made up of Center Brunswick, situated a little north of the center; Cropseyville; East Brunswick, in the east part; and Eagle Mills, in the south part. All are small villages containing a limited amount of manufacturing.

The first settlement was made in town about 1760, by a company of Germans, among whom were David Coons, and families named Hardwick, Braunschweiger, Springer, Borck, Hayner, Outhout, Van Arnam, Hogg, Fisher, Benn, Watson, Fret, Quackenboss, Muller, Goeway and Clum.

The first inn was kept by a man named File, near the Lutheran Church, in 1790. The first store was kept by Henry Clum, at Cropseyville. The first factory was erected at Albia, now a part of Troy. The first mill was built by ____ Cross, in 1772, with no tools but an ax, saw and auger.

This town suffered greatly on the approach of Burgoyne in 1777, and after his surrender at Saratoga, many families of Royalists withdrew to Canada, and but few returned.

The population of Brunswick in 1865 was 3,175, and its area 27,971 acres.

The number of school districts in the town is fifteen, employing the same number of teachers. The number of children of school age is 1,092; the number attending school is 750; the average attendance is 343, and the amount expended for school purposes for the year ending September 30, 1869, was $5,378.35.

The following information is from History of Rensselaer County, New York, With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers by Nathaniel Bartlett Sylvester, 1880.

Early Settlers
Beem, Adam
Borck, _____
Hogg, Franz
Hayner, Hans
Outhout, _____
Van Arnem, Jacob
Fisher, _____
Fret, Melgert
Quackenboss, Jacob
Muller, Hans
Benn, David
Watson, _____
Coons, David
Hardwick, _____
Brunschweiger, _____
Springer, _____
Goewy, _____
Clum, _____
Fonda, John
Bancker, Flores, Major
Dator, Henry

Early Churches
Gilead Evangelical Lutheran Church, Centre Brunswick, date of organization unknown, but the church book began its records in 1777.
First Presbyterian Church of Brunswick, organized 23 July 1810.
Millville Methodist Episcopal Church (at Eagle Mills), organized 1849.
Methodist Episcopal Society of Centre Brunswick, incorporated 2 February 1835.
Methodist Episcopal Society of East Brunswick, organized 28 March 1784.
Church of the Disciples of Christ, incorporated 27 February 1854.

Civil War Soldiers
Allen, Joseph H., capt. of Co. C., 169th Regt.; pro. to maj. and brev. to lieut.-col.
Barringer, Amasa, capt., enl. 1863, 22d Cav.
Bartholomew, enl. Sept. 2, 1864, 21st NY Vols.
Bassett, James A., enl. Oct. 7, 1861, 2d Regt.
Bennett, Philip, enl. Sept. 4, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C; from Grafton; disch. for disability.
Bergen, William, enl. June, 1861, 2d Regt.; died in VA in 1863.
Berney, John, enl. Sept. 2, 1864.
Betts, William S., enl. Apr. 23, 1862, 30th Regt.
Bice, Levy M., enl. Sept. 2, 1864.
Bills, George, enl. 125th Regt., Co. H; term expired.
Bonesteel, Albert, enl. Sept. 4, 1863, 15th H. Art.
Bovee, Benjamin J., enl. Sept. 2, 1864.
Brimmer, John H., enl. Sept. 6, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C; wounded, shot through the lungs; survived, but feeble.
Brodt, John A., enl. Sept. 4, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C; wounded and drew a pension.
Broecker, George, private, enl. 169th Regt., Co. C; wounded, drew a pension.
Bruce, Charles, enl. Sept. 1, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C; wounded and died in the service.
Brundage, Edson, enl. Sept. 6, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C; from Pittstown; supposedly died in the service or soon after.
Bues, John, sergt., enl. 30th Regt., April 1861.
Bull, Philander, enl. Sept. 6, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C.
Bulson, Samuel, enl. Aug. 30, 1862, 125th Regt.; died Nov. 14, 1862 at Chicago, of typhoid fever; buried at Brunswick.
Butler, Peter, enl. 125th Regt., Co. H, N. Y. Vols.
Calhoun, William D., enl. Sept. 6, 1864.
Carner, W. H., enl. Sept. 3, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C.
Casey, James M., enl. Sept. 3, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C; died of malarial fever at Chain Bridge - the first death in Co. C.
Cipperly, Samuel L., 4th corp., enl. Sept. 6, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C; pro. 2d lieut.; wounded at Cold Harbor
Cleavland, George L., enl. Sept. 15, 1864.
Clickner, Jonas, enl. Jan. 1864, 169th Regt.
Clickner, Lewis H., enl. Nov. 1861, 15th Regt.
Conner, Edgard M., lst sergt., enl. Sept. 3, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C; pro. to 2d lieut. in Co. B.
Conroy, John H., enl. May 14, 1861, 2d Regt.
Cook, Jacob, sergt., enl. Sept. 6, 1863, 169th Regt.; accidentally drowned in New York harbor, May 24, 1865.
Coonradt, Jacob H., enl. Sept. 3, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C; disch. for disability.
Coonradt, William H., enl. Sept. 20, 1864, 188th Regt.
Coons, Jacob B., enl. 169th Regt., Co. C; disabled, pension applied for.
Crandell, Charles L., enl. Sept. 4, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C.
Cullen, Michael, enl. 169th Regt., Co. C.
Daniels, Francis, sergt., enl. Aug. 1862, 125th Regt.
Davis, Aaron B., 169th Regt., Co. C; from Pittstown.
Dayley, Charles, enl. Sept. 6, 1864.
De Witt,, C. Clark, enl. Sept. 2, 1864.
Dumbleton, Charles E., enl. Aug. 30, 1863, 125th Regt.; died Nov. 15, 1864 at Salisbury, of starvation and exposure.
File, Egbert H. F., enl. Sept. 7, 1863, 15th H. Art.
File, Levi M., enl. Dec. 11, 1862, 14th H. Art.
File, Philip A., enl. Aug. 27, 1862, 125th Regt.
Ford, George H., enl. Apr. 1865, 192d Regt.
Fox, Samuel, enl. Sept. 6, 1864.
Gibbs, Philip C., enl. Aug. 1862, 125th Regt.
Gilds, Zebulon, enl. 125 Regt., Co. H; term expired.
Green, Eldridge, enl. Swpt. 6, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C; trans. to Invalid Corps.
Green, William D., enl Aug. 27, 1862, 125th Regt.; lost an arm in battle of Wilderness.
Grimmerger, Ottman, enl. Sept. 3, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C; died in the service at Folly Island, S. C.
Hagadorn, David, lieut., enl. Aug. 1862, 125th Regt.
Hall, Charles, enl. Sept. 15, 1864.
Hall, Joseph B., enl. Sept. 6, 1862, 169th Regt., Co C; died a few years after the war; he was from Grafton.
Klause, Gustave A., enl. Sept. 3, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C.
Harner, William H., Jr., enl. Sept. 3, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C.
Harris, Joseph, enl. Sept. 15, 1864.
Heath, George F., enl. Aug. 28, 1862, 125th Regt.
Henry, David, enl. Sept. 6, 1864.
Hoffmeister, Henry, enl. Sept. 6, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C; disabled; died abt 1877.
Hoffmeister, John H., enl. Sept. 6, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C; severely wounded, jaw shot away; residing at Cropseyville.
Howland, Charles E., enl. Aug. 30, 1864, 21st Cav.
Huffman, John E., enl. Aug. 31, 1862, 125th Regt.
Hurlbert, Richard, corp., enl. Aug. 14, 1862, 125th Regt.; pro. to sergt.
Hydorn, Timothy, enl. Aug. 26, 1863, 125th Regt.
James, Richard H., enl. Sept. 6, 1864.
Keeler, John J., enl. Aug. 1863, 21st Cav.
Keller, David, enl. 169th Regt., Co. C; disabled; died since the war, refused to apply for a pension.
King, Charles, enl. Sept. 1862.
King, George W., enl. Sept. 6, 1864.
King, Lafayette, enl. Aug. 27, 1862, 125th Regt.
Kise, Sebastian, enl. Sept.6, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C.
Lohnis, William H., enl. 1861, 2d Regt.
Lord, William, enl. Sept. 15, 1864.
Luce, David, enl. 125th Regt.; came homesick and died in a few days.
Mack, John R., enl. Sept. 6, 1864.
Major, Myron B., corp., enl. Sept. 1862, 125th Regt.; died Oct. 30, 1864 at Salisbury, of starvation and exposure.
McArdle, Thomas, enl. Aug. 14, 1862, 125th Regt.
McChesney, Charles P., enl. Nov. 21, 1861 in 14th N. Y. Vols.; trans. to the 5th Regt., March 14, 1862; 1st sergt. Co. G, 5th N. Y. S. Vols.; taken prisoner at the battle of Weldon Railroad, Aug. 19, 1864; put in Andersonville Prison; disch. from prison March 21, 1865; died March 30, 1865.
Miller, Wm. H., enl. Aug. 1862, 125th Regt.
Moore, Philip H., enl. Sept. 6, 1864.
Nash, George, enl. Sept. 6, 1864.
Nolan, James, enl. Sept. 6, 1864.
Partridge, Franklin, enl. Sept. 6, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C.
Partridge, William, enl. Oct. 1864, 188th Regt.
Phillips, Charles S., 5th corp., enl. Sept. 6, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C; wounded in the elbow, having a crippled arm.
Pitcher, David, enl. Apr. 1865, 192d Regt.
Polock, Philip, enl. Sept. 3, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C; died soon after his return of disease contracted in the army.
Richer, Henry, enl. April 1861, 2d Inf.
Rickard, John, enl. Sept. 6, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C; was wounded in a skirmish before Richmond on the New Marked road, just coming in off of picket-line.
Riley, Alonzo, enl. Sept. 15, 1864.
Roberts, Albert H., enl. Jan. 1864, 169th Regt.
Roberts, George E., enl. 1861, Black Horse Cav.
Roberts, Isaac H., enl. Sept. 15, 1864.
Roberts, Lewis A., enl. Sept. 3, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C.
Rodgers, Joseph, enl. Sept. 3, 1864, 169th Regt., Co. C.
Rogers, enl. 169th Regt., Co. C.
Sara, John C., enl. Sept. 3, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C.
Shumway, Sylvester, enl. Sept. 2, 1864.
Simmons, Charles A., sergt., enl. 30th Regt., Co. I; killed at second battle of Bull Run.
Simmons, Henry E., corp., enl. 21st Regt., (Cavalry) N. Y. Vols.; term expired.
Sloat, Augustus, enl. Oct. 1863, 94th Regt.
Smith, George, enl. Sept. 6, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C.
Smith, James, enl. Sept. 15, 1864.
Smith, Martin L., enl. Aug. 14, 1862, 125th Regt.
Smith, Stephen H., enl. Sept. 3, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C.
Smith, William E., enl. Sept. 1863, 21st Cav.
Stewart, William, 4th sergt., enl. Sept. 4, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C.
Strunk, John H., enl. 169th Regt., Co. C.
Thompson, Alment, enl. Sept. 6, 1864.
Tilly, Green, enl. Sept. 3, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C.
Vaughn, Michael, enl. 169th Regt., Co. C.
Vial, George, enl. July 1863, U. S. Regulars.
Vincent, David, enl. Sept. 6, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C; he came from Grafton.
Wagar, Hiram, enl. 188th N. Y. S. Vols.; lost an arm at Hatcher's Run.
Wager, Charles W., enl. Aug. 30, 1864, 125th Regt.
Wager, Charles W., enl. Sept. 2, 1864.
Wager, Jacob, enl. Sept. 9, 1862, 169th Regt., Co. C.
Wager, James H., enl. Aug. 30, 1864, 125th Regt.; died Apr. 10, 1865; buried at Brunswick.
Wager, James H., enl. Sept. 2, 1864.
Wager, Levi, enl. Aug. 27, 1862, 125th Regt.; killed May 12, 1864 at Spotsylvania.
Warner, Herman, enl. Sept. 6, 1864.
Wood, John H., enl. Sept. 6, 1864.
Wood, N. W., enl. Sept. 6, 1864.
Zenner, Nicholas, enl. Aug. 14, 1862, 125th Regt.


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