By Jared L. Olar
March 2019
The Sooy family is of Dutch origin, the earliest known ancestor JOOST SOOIJ (1685-1737), a mariner in the employ of the Dutch West India Trading Company, having come from the Netherlands to New York City (New Amsterdam in the former Dutch colony of New Netherlands) about the year 1705. The history of Joost's family in the Netherlands is unknown, but various forms of his surname appear in Dutch records as early as 1588. Variants of this surname include Sooij, Sooijs, Van Sooij, Van der Sooij, Sooijen, and Van Sooijen, but in America the most common spelling of the surname of Joost's descendants has come to be "Sooy." The following account of our Sooy lineage is based chiefly on family records of Charlotte Stansfield and the "Sooy Book" of BassRiverHistory.org, supplemented by a great number of related sources and original documents. Our cousin James Gordon of Hinsdale, Illinois, has also provided invaluable assistance with the later Sooys of our line.
1. JOOST SOOY, born 16 April 1685 in the Netherlands, perhaps in Amsterdam, died 28 Sept. 1737 in Lower Bank, Burlington County, New Jersey. Joost, whose name is the Dutch version of "Joseph" or "Joses," was a merchant mariner, and came to America from Holland about 1705 in the employ of the Dutch West India Trading Company. His life prior to that is unknown, except for his date of birth which is calculated from the information on his gravestone. His place of birth, parentage, and ancestry in Holland are unknown, but Sooy researcher Elaine Cowan has proposed that Joost may have belonged to a Dutch family with the patronymic surname of Joosten who lived in Hei-Boeikop, Zuid Holland, the Netherlands. Cowan found these Joosten baptisms recorded in Hei-Boeikop:
Huijbertje Joosten, baptised 25 Nov. 1683, daughter of Hendrick Joosten Huijbertine Joosten, baptised 7 Sept. 1684, daughter of Hendrick Joosten [These girls' names indicate that Hendrick's father-in-law likely was named Huijbert.] Joost Joosten, baptised 11 April 1686, son of Hendrick Joosten
This last baptism is close to the calculated birth date of Joost Sooy. In addition, some researchers have noted that contemporary spelling variants of our Joost's name make it possible to construct his Christian name and surname as a palindrome: "YOOS SOOY." It is thus proposed that after Joost's arrival in America, he flipped his surname around to create a fanciful palindrome, and that his family name was really "Joosten." However, it is significant that the name "Hendrick" never appears in our Sooy family -- Joost would have named one of his sons Hendrik if he was himself the son of a Hendrik. There is no evidence that Joost ever bore the patronymic surname of "Joosten." Rather, "Sooy" is a real Dutch family name, appearing in variants that include Sooij, Sooijs, Van Sooij, Van der Sooij, Sooijen, and Van Sooijen. The earliest example of the surname of which I am aware is in a letter dated 16 May 1588 -- FRANSE SOOIJ ("Francis Sooy" in English) was one of the signers of a letter from the Consistory of the Dutch Community in Halstead to the Ministers and Elders of the Dutch Community in London, England. (See Epistulae et tractatus: cum Reformationis tum Ecclesiae Londino-Batavae Historiam Illustrantes, Tomi Tertii, Pars Prima, pages 872-873)
Although the surname's origin is uncertain, the variants that include "van," "van der," or a terminal "-s" show that the surname is toponymic, meaning it derives from the home place of the family. Mr. Johan van de Water's Groot Plakaatboek 'Slands van Utrecht (1860), vol. 2, page 114, and H. J. A. Berendsen's 2005 Landschappelijk Nederland, entry "Ammerzoden," indicate that "sooij/sooijen" is an old Dutch geographical term that means "land" or "earth" (apparently being distantly related etymologically to our word "soil"). Thus, Berendsen explains that the Dutch place name Ammerzoden "is a 'finer' version of the old name Ammer-sooijen: land along the Ammer, an old, cut meander of the Meuse, which is now called De Meren." It seems likely, then, that Dutch families who bear variants of the "Sooij" name derived their surname from the "Sooijen" where they lived.
It is likely that our Joost Sooij was the ancestor of all or most of the American Sooys. However, he was not the first Sooy in America -- a family of Sooys is known to have lived in New Jersey in the latter 1600s: Henry Sooy (Hendrik Sooij), born circa 1675, married 10 March 1698 to Elvira Hamlin, born circa 1677 in Monmouth, New Jersey, and had sons named Benjamin Sooy, born 14 Nov. 1699 in Monmouth, and James Sooy, born 28 Dec. 1705 in Monmouth. It is unknown if Henry Sooy of Monmouth, New Jersey, was related to our Joost Sooy, but it is noteworthy that Joost also lived for a time at Monmouth. It is quite possible that Henry and Joost were related, though the nature of their relationship, if any, is unknown.
We first find our Joost Sooij in the records of the Dutch Reformed Church of New York City in the early 1700s. On 9 Aug. 1707 in New York City, Joost married SARAH METJE VAN THIENHOVEN, widow of Jacob Balck, born 1 Jan. 1681 in New York City, baptised 12 Jan. 1681 at the Dutch Reformed Church of New York City, died in 1744 (before 1 March 1744) in Leeds Point, Great Egg Harbor Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, daughter of Dr. Lucas van Thienhoven and Tryntje Bordingh. Sarah married her first husband Jacob on 14 Aug 1699 in New York City, and they had two daughters, Metje Balck, born 19 Aug. 1701 in New York City, and Katherine Balck, born 3 Aug. 1703 in New York City. Jacob died at some point between 1703 and August of 1707, when his widow married Joost Sooy. (See The National Genealogical Society Quarterly 1918, Vol. VII, Oct. 1918, No. 3, page 45) Joost and Sarah had four sons -- their firstborn, born probably in 1708, is unrecorded and must have died soon after birth, but the rest were all baptised in the Dutch Reformed Church in New York City, whose baptismal records show the following:
11 Aug. 1708 Pieter Ament, Elizabeth Van Thienhove, parents; daughter Elizabeth; witnesses Joost Soij & wife Sara [Van Thienhoven] 25 Aug. 1708 Susanna Van Thienhove, mother; son Jan; witnesses Joost Soij, Cornelia Van Thienhove 3 July 1709 Joost Soy, Sara Van Thienhove, parents; son Joost [later called Nicholas after his godfather?]; witnesses Nicolaas Van Thienhove, Cornelia Van Varik -- jon. docht. 25 Oct. 1710 Joost Soy, Sara Van Thienhove, parents; son Joost; witnesses Pieter Ament, Tryntje Van Thienhove 3 Aug. 1712 Joost Soy, Sara van Thienhove, parents; son Luykas; witnesses Cornelus Van Thienhove, Elizabeth Ament 12 Sept. 1716 Roberd Cheklen, Catharine Mortier, parents; son Roberd; witnesses Sara Van Thienhove, Johannes Mortier [widower of Sara's sister Rachel] 23 June 1723 Arent Van Hoek Lowz., Catharina Balk, parents; son Louwerens; witnesses Pieter Ament, Sara Soois [Catharina was Sara's daughter from her first marriage to Jacob Balck]
A few years after the birth of Joost's son Lucas, Joost was living in Monmouth County, New Jersey, as noted in Genealogical Record of the First Settlers of Monmouth and Ocean Counties and their Descendants, which says, "Joos Sooy is named in Monmouth as a witness 1716, and in a power of attorney 1719 from him to Sarah Sooy and Cornelius Sienhinen. He lived for a time at Middletown and was styled yeoman. He was m. to Sarah Balk or Balch, (widow of Jacob, daughter of Lucas Van Tienhoven and Tryntie Bording) Aug. 19, 1707, as appears by the records of the Dutch Reformed Church at New York." In the same period of time, Joost was named in the estate inventory of Lawrence van Hook, Esq., late of Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey, which mentions a "Bond of Yoos Sooy due 1st March, 1718 50--00--00," indicating that Joost owed money to Lawrence van Hook's estate (Unrecorded Wills and Inventories Monmouth County, New Jersey).
The list of "Freemen made in the Third Year of the Mayorality of Robert Walter Esqr." records the admission of "Joost Sooy, Mariner" as a Freeman on 30 July 1722-23. A special Act of the New York Legislature, dated 6 July 1723, listed about dozen men who were to be made citizens there -- Joost Sooy's name appears next to the name of John Peter Zenger on that list (Colonial Laws of New York 2: 164-67; Chapt. 444). It is noteworthy that Joost's wife Sarah was in New York that same month to serve as godmother for her grandson Louwerens van Hoek [van Hook], son of Sarah's daughter Catherine (Balck) van Hoek. Sara's son-in-law Arent van Hoek later served as an administrator of Sarah's estate after her death in 1744.
On 11 May 1724, a certain Mary van der Ripe, spinster, of New York City, agreed to become an indentured servant of Joost Sooy for four years, because she was unable to repay a debt of 15 pounds that she owed to Joost. The text of the contract of Mary van der Ripe's indentured servitude here follows:
THIS INDENTURE Wittnesseth that Mary Vander Ripe of the City of New York Spinster in Consideration of her being Justly indebted unto Jost Sooy of the Same place Cooper in the Sume of fifteen pounds lawfull money of New York and having noe other way to pay or Satisfy the same than by Servitude
HATH put herself and by those Presents Doth put herself a Servant to the said Jost Sooy to serve him and his assigns from the day of the date hereof for and during the full End and term of four years next Ensueing during which term the said Mary Vander Ripe the said Jost Sooy & his Assigns faithfully Serve in every respect as a Dutiful & Obedient Servant Ought to do without absenting herself day or Night without leave first had & Obtained and the said Jost Sooy during the said term shall find & Provide the said Mary Vander Ripe with good & Sufficient Meat, Drink, Washing, Lodging & Apparel for the true performance of all & Every the said Covenants & agreements each of the said Parties bind themselves to the other by these Presents.
IN WITTNESS whereof the parties to these presents have hereunto Interchangeably sett their hands & Seals this Eleventh day of May in the tenth Year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George by the grace of God of Great Brittain France & Ireland King Defender of the faith Annoq Dom 1724, the mark of Mary Vander Ripe. Sealed & Delivered in the Presence of Abraham Watson, H. Demeyer New York December 18th, 1724 then personally appeared before me Phillip Cortlandt Esqr one of his Majestys Justices of the Peace for the City & County of New York Henry Demeyer one of the Witnesses to the within Instrument made Oath upon the holy Evangelist of Almighty God that he saw Mary Vander Ripe Sign Seal & Deliver the within Instrument as her Voluntary Act & Deed Coram. Phillip Cortlandt. Registerd for Mr. Jost Sooy the 15th day of September Anno Dom 1725.
Another servant of Joost Sooy was named Barnt Hebon, as is known from an advertisement in the 1 April 1728 New York Gazette, in which "Joost Soye" of Middlesex County, requested help in apprehending his runaway servant, Barnt Hebon, cooper, aged about 24.
The "Sooy Book" of BassRiverHistory.org summarises Joost Sooy's life after the birth of his children as follows:
"Joost and his family left New Amsterdam shortly after his three children were born, settling in Monmouth County, N.J., on the Cheesequake Creek. He was naturalized a loyal citizen of the province of New Jersey by special act of the New Jersey legislature. He sailed down the New Jersey coast, entered the Mullica River, and settled in Washington Township at what is presently called Lower Bank, the second white settlement in South Jersey. Fort Nassau on the Delaware was the first. There he and his sons purchased thousands of acres from Samuel Driver and became prominent citizens in the area. He and his wife, Sarah, are buried on the property that was his plantation and is now the abandoned Pacemaker Yacht Company."
The 1750 will of Charles Morgan of Middlesex County, New Jersey, mentions his "plantation . . . where Yose Soey formerly lived, on Cheasquake Creek." The grave of Joost Sooy is now one of three burials at the Cavileer-Sooy Memorial Site, three gravestones on a raised patch of ground surrounded by the parking lot of a defunct boat company. The memorial is all that remains of Joost's colonial plantation. Joost's gravestone inscription reads: "Here lyes interr'd the body of Yoos Sooy who depart'd this life the 28th September Anno Do 1737 Aged 51 years 5 months _ Days." There is no gravemarker there for Joost's wife Sarah, and in fact it is unlikely she was ever buried in Lower Bank, since she was living with her son Nicholas at Leeds Point at the time of her death -- most likely she is buried in that area. Sarah died prior to 1 March 1744, when Joost Sooy and Nicholas Sooy "sons of Joost Sooy and Sarah his wife . . . Late Deceased" were invited to take administration of the estate. In a document dated 25 March 1745, Sarah is referred to as "late of Great Egg Harbour." It seems both Joost Sooy and his wife Sarah died intestate, and on 25 March 1745 Sarah's son-in-law Arand Van Hook and Isaac Anderson were appointed administrators of the estate, Joost Jr and Nicholas having refused administration in a document dated the __th of March 17__ [numbers unreadable]. Joost and Sarah's youngest son Lucas is not mentioned in any of these documents, indicating that he had probably predeceased his parents.
This photograph from page 124 of Henry Beck's 1963 "Jersey Genesis" shows Fred Noyes at the grave of Joost Sooy, in a field on Joost's former plantation, prior to the construction of the now defunct Pacemaker Yacht Company that paved over almost the whole of that field except for Joost's grave and the graves of two other New Jersey colonists. The photo, featured at BassRiverHistory.org, is from the William Augustine collection at Rutgers University Library.
The children of Joost and Sarah Sooy were:
-- JOOST SOOY, born circa 1708, died in infancy. -- NICHOLAS SOOY, baptised 3 July 1709 in New York City, New York, died between 17 March 1777 and 21 March 1778, married Jean Ingersoll. 2. JOOST SOOY JR., baptised 25 Oct. 1710 in New York City, New York. -- LUKAS SOOY ("Luke"), baptised 3 Aug. 1712, probably died young as he is never mentioned in the will and probate records of his mother in 1744.
2. JOOST SOOY JR. ("Joseph"), fourth child of Joost and Sarah Sooy, born 24 Oct. 1710 in New York City, New York, died 1778 in Cape May County, New Jersey. In contemporary records, Joost is variously called also called "Joost Sowe," "Josephus Sowe," and "Joseph Sowe." Modern researchers sometimes refer to him as Joost Sooy II or Joseph Sooy II. On 3 Dec. 1731, Joost married ELIZABETH SMITH, born 6 Dec. 1720, died 2 May 1789, daughter of John and Mary Smith of Great Egg Harbor, New Jersey. Joost and Elizabeth had six sons and six daughters. (See The National Genealogical Society Quarterly 1918, Vol. VII, Oct. 1918, No. 3, page 45) The family Bible of Joost and Elizabeth Sooy is still in the possession of his descendants today. The "Sooy Book" of BassRiverHistory.org says, "The Joseph Sooy II family Bible is owned by Norman H. Sooy, Kansas City, Mo. Known as the Baskett Bible and printed in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1749, the Bible contains the birth records of Joseph and Elizabeth's children and John and Mary Smith's (Elizabeth's parents) children."
This photograph, taken 20 March 1937 by Nathan R. Ewan, shows a south view of the old Sooy Place near Red Lion in Burlington County, New Jersey, which later served as an inn or tavern. This historic structure was the home of Joost Sooy Jr.'s son Nicholas.
Joost was a slave-owner, as is shown by this advertisement in the 9 Aug. 1750 Pennsylvania Gazette, in which a certain Thomas Hooten asked for help in catching a runaway slave named Lot, who had previously been owned by "Joseph Sooy":
"Run away from the subscriber hereof, a likely young negro fellow about five feet inches high, named Lot, took with him when he went away a flowered jacket and breeches, an ozenbrigs shirt, and a fine shirt with ruffles at the bosom, old shoes, no stocking, and some money. He talks very good English.
"It is supposed he is gone towards Allentown, and from thence to Great Egg Harbor, for he formerly lived there with one Higbee, and afterwards with Joseph Sooy. Whoever secures the said fellow, that his master may have him again, shall have three pounds reward, and reasonable charges, paid by Thomas Hooten.
"N.B. All master of vessels, or others, are forbid to carry him off, or entertain, him at their peril."
The children of Joost and Elizabeth Sooy were:
-- JOSEPH SOOY, a privateer (pirate), born 27 Feb. 1738, died between 26 Aug. 1801 and 6 Oct. 1802, married Mary Leek. -- SARAH SOOY, born 7 Feb. 1740, died Sept. 1791, married John Steelman. 3. JOHN SOOY, born 15 Aug. 1742 in Lower Bank, Burlington, New Jersey. -- MARY SOOY, born 28 Dec. 1744 in Burlington County, New Jersey, died 15 June 1785 in Salem, Salem County, New Jersey, married George Bevis. -- NICHOLAS SOOY, Revolutionary War minuteman, born 4 March 1747 in Lower Bank, Burlington, New Jersey, died 22 Dec. 1822 in Washington, Warren County, New Jersey, married Sarah Sears. -- NOAH SOOY, born 4 June 1750, married Harriet Cavileer. -- LUKE SOOY, born 23 Oct. 1752, married Rebecca Van Gilder. -- ELIZABETH SOOY, born 8 Nov. 1754, married Ebenezer Townsend. -- ROBECKER SOOY, born 8 Nov. 1757. -- PHEBE SOOY, born 19 April 1759, died 19 Oct. 1835, said to have married Joseph Mathis but in fact never married, was mother of Capt. Ebenezer Sooy of Bass River, New Jersey. -- JEMIMA SOOY, born 12 Feb. 1761, died 27 July 1782. -- HANNAH SOOY, born 12 Sept. 1763, married Anthony Smith Jr.
3. JOHN SOOY, son of Joost and Elizabeth Sooy, born 15 Aug. 1742 in Lower Bank, Burlington, New Jersey, died 26 Aug. 1792 in Lower Bank, Burlington, New Jersey, buried in Quaker Cemetery, Tuckerton, New Jersey. John's wife was named ABIGAIL OSBORN, born 8 Feb. 1747, daughter of Richard and Phebe (Pearsall) Osborn. Abigail came from a family of Quakers, and her husband John also joined the Society of Friends. John and Abigail had five sons and four daughters. The "Sooy Book" of BassRiverHistory.org presents the following outline of John Sooy and his family:
10. John Sooy b. 15 Aug 1742, Lower Bank, N.J., m. Abigail Osborne, b. 8 Feb 1747, (daughter of Richmond [sic] Osborne) buried: Quaker Cemetery, Tuckerton, N.J. John died 1792. Children: 22. i Richard Sooy b. 28 Apr 1771. ii Sarah Sooy b. 28 Feb 1773, m. Curtis Wilson. iii Phoebe Sooy b. 16 Jul 1775. iv Elizabeth Sooy b. 21 Mar 1780, m. (1) John Bartlett, m. (2) 1829, James Arnold, b. 18 Apr 1772, (son of John Arnold and Rachel Cramer) d. 1817. v John Sooy m. Mary Straughn. John may be a twin to Elizabeth. 23. vi Charles Sooy b. 5 Jul 1782. vii Osborne Sooy. Osborne never married. viii Thomas Sooy m. Elma Penn Irwin. Elma was a descendant of William Penn, founder of Philadelphia, Pa. ix Abigail Sooy. There is a tradition in this branch of the family that this Abigail Sooy married into the famous family of Count de Rochambeau of France.Besides the account of this family in the "Sooy Book," information on this family may also be found in the essay "The Osborn Family," published in Proceedings, Constitution, By-laws, List of Members, &c., of the Surveyors Association of West New Jersey, 1880, pages 281-285. Specifically, on page 285 it says:
Abigail, daughter of Richard Osborn, Jr., married John Sooy, and among their children were Thomas, Obsorn, Sarah and Elizabeth. Thomas Sooy married in Salem county. Osborn Sooy was blind and died unmarried. Sarah Sooy married Curtis Wilson. Elizabeth Sooy married first John Bartlett, and second James Arnold.
Thus, the children of John and Abigail Sooy were:
4. RICHARD SOOY, born 28 April 1771 in Tuckerton, Burlington County, New Jersey. -- SARAH SOOY, born 28 Feb. 1773 in New Jersey, married Curtis Wilson. -- PHEBE SOOY, born 16 July 1775. -- ELIZABETH SOOY, born 21 March 1780 in New Jersey, married first John Bartlett, married second James Arnold. -- JOHN SOOY, perhaps twin of Elizabeth, married Mary Straughn. -- CHARLES SOOY, born 5 July 1783 in New Jersey. -- OSBORN SOOY, blind, died unmarried. -- THOMAS SOOY, married Elma Penn Irwin. -- ABIGAIL SOOY, traditionally married a member of the family of the French Counts of Rochambeau.
4. RICHARD SOOY, only child of John and Abigail Sooy, born 28 April 1771 in Tuckerton, Burlington County, New Jersey, died 1 Nov. 1832 in Burlington, Burlington County, New Jersey. Richard's wife was named LUCRETIA LOVELAND, born 1774 in Leh Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, daughter of Samuel Loveland Sr. Richard and Lucretia had four sons and four daughters. The "Sooy Book" of BassRiverHistory.org presents the following outline of Richard Sooy and his family:
22. Richard Sooy b. 28 Apr 1771, m. Lucretia Loveland. Children: 48. i John Sooy. ii Richard Sooy. iii Samuel Sooy. iv Mahlon Sooy. Mahlon died at an early age. v Sarah Sooy. vi Cynthia Sooy m. Joseph Bartlett. vii Lucretia Sooy. viii Abigail Sooy m. Daniel Sheppard
The family records of Charlotte Stansfield, shared with me by her daughter Diana Stephens, presents a nearly identical account of Richard Sooy's family, the only differences being that Charlotte Stansfield's records supply dates of birth (in almost all cases the dates seem to be estimates) and the date of Abigail's death, but do not name the husbands of Cynthia and Abigail.
Thus, the children of Richard and Lucretia Sooy were:
-- JOHN SOOY, born 1791 in Tuckerton, Burlington, New Jersey. -- RICHARD SOOY, born 1793. 5. SAMUEL SOOY, born 15 Aug. 1795 in Washington Township, Burlington County, New Jersey. -- MAHLON SOOY, born 1797, died in childhood. -- SARAH SOOY, born 1799. -- CYNTHIA SOOY, born 1801 in Tuckerton, Burlington, New Jersey, married Joseph Bartlett. -- LUCRETIA SOOY, born 1803. -- ABIGAIL SOOY, born 1805 in New Jersey, died 7 April 1860 in Burlington County, New Jersey, married Daniel Sheppard.
5. SAMUEL SOOY, son of Richard and Lucretia Sooy, born 15 Aug. 1795 in Washington Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, died 30 Sept. 1862 in Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois, buried Oct. 1862 in Sooy Cemetery, rural Murrayville, Illinois. On 26 July 1818 in New Jersey, Samuel married SUSANNAH SOMERS, born circa 1796 in New Jersey, died circa 1835 in Warren County, Ohio, daughter of Enoch and Susanna (Conover) Somers. (Interestingly, Susannah was Samuel's fifth cousin once removed, the two of them being descendants of two children of Richard Smith Sr. of Husbands Bosworth, Leicestershire, England.) Samuel and Susannah had four sons and two daughters. Samuel remarried on 11 March 1847 in Morgan County, Illinois, to AZUBAH SAYRE, born circa 1804, died after 9 Sept. 1862 in Morgan County, Illinois. Samuel and Azubah had no children together.
Samuel filed his will on 9 Sept. 1862 in Morgan County, having authorised it with his mark and his seal (thus indicating that he could not write) in the presence of witnesses John A. Reaugh and John H. Burns. The text of his will is as follows:
I Samuel Sooy, of the County of Morgan and State of Illinos do hereby make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following to wit
First It is my will that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be paid.
Second, after paying such funeral expenses and debts, I give devise and bequeath unto my Wife all the household furniture, also one third of the proceeds of all the personal property to be sold as herein provided also one fifth of the proceeds of all the real estate which is to be sold as hereafter provided in this Will.
Third it is my will that all my real estate and personal property be sold and that my wife receive in property and money as above specified, and that my two Daughters, namely Henrietta Calkins and Susan Taylor, each receive one hundred dollars cash out of the proceeds of my property when sold and that my two sons David Sooy and Hamilton Sooy have the remainder of the proceeds of all my property both real and personal. And lastly I hereby constitute and appoint my son David Sooy as one of two persons to administer on my estate and effects the other to be chosen by said David Sooy. In Witnefs whereof I the said Samuel Sooy have hereunto set my hand and seal. This Ninth day of September in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty two.
The children of Samuel and Susannah Sooy were:
-- ADNEY SOOY, born 11 March 1818 in Burlington County, New Jersey, died 23 June 1861 in Morgan County, Illinois, married Maramah Fanning. -- DAVID SOOY, born 27 Feb. 1820 in Burlington County, New Jersey, died 4 March 1891 in Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois, twice married. -- HENRIETTA SOOY, born June 1822 in Burlington County, New Jersey, died 1901 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, married James Calkins. -- THOMAS SOOY, born 26 Oct. 1828 in Burlington County, New Jersey, died 28 July 1902 in California, married Mary Elizabeth Eaton. 6. HAMILTON SOOY, born 11 Sept. 1830 in Burlington County, New Jersey. -- SUSAN SOOY, born 13 Dec. 1832 in Warren County, Ohio, died 10 Jan. 1892 in Morgan County, Illinois, married Edward Albert Taylor.
6. HAMILTON SOOY, son of Samuel and Susannah Sooy, born 11 Sept. 1830 in Burlington County, New Jersey, died 31 March 1899 in Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois, buried April 1899 in Anderson-Sooy Cemetery in rural Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois, later reinterred in Murrayville Cemetery. On 12 March 1855 in Murrayville, Illinois, Hamilton married MARGARET FRANCES REAUGH, born 4 May 1837 in Morgan County, Illinois, died 21 Aug. 1923 in Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois, daughter of Samuel Q. and Phebe (Taylor) Reaugh. Hamilton and Margaret had five sons and four daughters. (In Benjamin J. Gunn's Descendants of Reuben Gunn, Bernard Sweeney, Samuel Reaugh, Rev. James Dunn (1891), Hamilton and his wife Margaret F. Reaugh are recorded on pages 86 and 88, with their nine children being listed on page 88.)
In June 1863, Hamilton registered for the Union Army draft -- his draft registration shows "Sooy Hamilton," age 33, born in New Jersey, a married farmer of Wrights in Morgan County.
The 1878 History of Morgan County, Illinois, pages 597-598, presents the following biographical sketch of Hamilton Sooy's life, submitted to the book's editor by Hamilton himself (emphasis added):
SOOY, Hamilton, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 16, P.O. Murrayville. Son of Samuel and Susan Sooy, natives of New Jersey; emigrated to Warren County, Ohio, in 1832; here the family stayed until 1840, then moved and settled on Sec. 2, Morgan County, Hamilton did not accompany his father and David, but followed them two years later; during their residence in Warren County, the wife and mother died, aged 36; and subsequently, the father’s demise occurred fifteen days after his settling on Sec. 2; was buried in the Anderson graveyard; aged 66; Hamilton Sooy was born Sept. 11, 1830, in New Jersey, and endured the vicissitudes and privations that was the pioneer’s reward in the days gone by; having joined his father and brother David, in 1842, turned his whole attention to building up the ancient landmarks of the early civilization -- a rude log cabin; Mr. S. says he very distinctly remembers when the country averaged only about two houses to the section of land, and that prairie fires were a plague to the frontiersman; that to help put out the prairie flames was a herculean task, as they were terrible in their fiery flight. The education of little Hamilton commenced at the age of six years; his first teacher was Miss Ruth Anne Gauze; the next term of six months was under the rod of one of the sterner sex; at the age of seventeen years, gave up the school room to give his whole attention to enhancing the new home in the West; on March 12, 1855, married Miss Margaret Frances Reaugh, daughter of Samuel Q. and Phoebe Reaugh, by the Rev. Mr. Newell, of “Unity” Presbyterian Church; the children born to this marriage are: Charles Granville, Dec. 31, 1855; Martha A., Feb. 25, 1857; Mary S., March 14, 1859 died March 26, 1862; Clara I., born March 20, 1861; W. Thomas, May 21, 1863; John D., Aug. 28, 1865; George O., Aug. 6, 1867; Clarinda E., Aug. 16, 1870; Samuel F., March 23, 1873; Martha A., married John W. Fanning; for many years served the people as road supervisor, and school director; subsequently, in 1872, was elected on the Board of Road Commissioners, and served honorably until succeeded by his successor; in 1871, identified himself with Unity Presbyterian Church; his wife has belonged to same church since her early girlhood; owns one hundred and sixteen acres of land, and is universally respected.
This detail from an 1894 township atlas of Morgan County, Illinois, shows the farm of Hamilton Sooy and his son-in-law John William Fanning a few miles east-southeast of Murrayville.
Hamilton's obituary was printed in the Jacksonville Daily Illinois Courier, 5 April 1899, page 3, as follows:
Hamilton Sooy was born in the state of New Jersey, Sept. 11, 1830, and died at his home in Murrayville March 31, 1899. Mr. Sooy moved to Morgan county in 1842; was married March 12, 1854, of which union nine children were born -- five sons and four daughters. One daughter dying in infancy and another, Mrs. William Much, several years since. The remaining seven children with their mother are left. All were present at his death. The funeral was held in the Baptist church by Rev. P. T. Gay. Interment at the Sooy cemetery.
The funeral of Mr. Sooy was largely attended on Sunday forenoon, showing the high esteem which was held by all who knew him. Mr. Sooy was a constant chirstian (sic), a kind and indulgent father and husband, an honest and upright citizen. The family of the deceased wish to thank all those who administered unto them in the sickness and death of the husband and father.
On the same Jacksonville newspaper page as the obituary, under the "Murrayville" heading, it is also noted that "C. G. Sooy, of Nelson, Neb., was called here by the serious illness of his father," and "Several from your city attended the funeral of Hamilton Sooy on Sunday."
The gravestone of Hamilton Sooy and his wife Margaret originally stood in the Anderson-Sooy Cemetery four miles northeast of Murrayville, Illinois, but as that burying ground later fell into decrepitude their family a good while later had their remains reinterred in Murrayville Cemetery, also moving their monument from the old cemetery to their new resting place. This photograph was taken by the author on a visit to Murrayville Cemetery in 2010.
The children of Hamilton and Margaret were:
-- CHARLES GRANVILLE SOOY, born 31 Dec. 1855 in Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois, died 17 Feb. 1936 in Roca, Lancaster, Nebraska, married Mary Jane Vertrees. -- MARTHA ANN SOOY, born 25 Feb. 1857 in Morgan County, Illinois, died 15 June 1911 in Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois, married John William Fanning. -- MARY S. SOOY, born 14 March 1859 in Morgan County, Illinois, died 26 March 1861 in Morgan County, Illinois. 7. CLARA I. SOOY, born 20 March 1861 in Morgan County, Illinois. -- WILLIAM THOMAS SOOY, born 21 May 1863 in Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois, died 25 July 1940 in Moultrie County, Illinois, married Rhenlina E. ("Rena") Henry Bunch. -- JOHN DAVID SOOY, born 28 Aug. 1865 in Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois, died 31 Dec. 1936, married Margaret Belle McLamar. -- GEORGE OLIVER SOOY, born 6 Aug. 1867 in Murrayville, Morgan, Illinois, died 8 Aug. 1941 in Morgan County, Illinois, married twice. -- CLARINDA ELLEN SOOY ("Ella"), born 16 Aug. 1870 in Morgan County, Illinois, died 25 Sept. 1951 in Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois, married Elijah Monroe Jennings. -- SAMUEL FRANKLIN SOOY, born 23 March 1873 in Morgan County, Illinois, died 1958 in Morgan County, Illinois, married Arvella Frances Haynes.
7. CLARA I. SOOY, of Hamilton and Margaret Sooy, born 20 March 1861 in Morgan County, Illinois, baptised 23 March 1881, died at home of accidental poisoning on 17 Dec. 1890 in Murrayville, Morgan County, Illinois, buried in Sooy Cemetery. On 24 March 1881 in Morgan County, Illinois, Clara married WILLIAM ALEXANDER MUTCH, born 27 Oct. 1857 in Embro, Oxford County, Ontario, Canada, died 20 Jan. 1900 in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, buried in Sooy Cemetery, rural Murrayville, Illinois, son of Alexander and Margaret Mutch. William and Clara's marriage record identifies them as "William Mutch" and "Clara I. Sooy." They had four daughters and one son. (In Benjamin J. Gunn's Descendants of Reuben Gunn, Bernard Sweeney, Samuel Reaugh, Rev. James Dunn (1891), Clara and her husband William Mutch are recorded on pages 88-89, with their four eldest children being listed on page 89.)
After Clara's shocking death, almost five years elapsed before William remarried, on 4 Sept. 1895 in Morgan County, Illinois, to SARAH JANE PHENIX (or "Phoenix"), born 14 Feb. 1877 in Nortonville, Morgan County, Illinois, died 11 Aug. 1925 in Davenport, Scott County, Iowa. William and Sarah had a daughter and a son, after which William died suddenly at the age of 42 in 1900. William's widow Sarah remarried on 10 Sept. 1903 to ALVA CHARLES SWEENEY, born 30 April 1875 in Franklin, Morgan County, Illinois, died in 1925 in Grand Forks County, North Dakota. After Sarah's remarriage, she and Alva raised the two children she'd had with William, and she and Alva had five additional children together. Meanwhile, William's five children by Clara were taken in by families in Murrayville, except for William's eldest child, who married about a month after her father's death.
William Mutch, left, and his wife Clara, right, are shown in these two vintage photographs handed down among their descendants. These photographs are from the collection of Charlotte Stansfield, kindly shared by Charlotte's daughter Diana Stephens, a descendant of William and Clara.
An account of William and Clara's life and family supplied to me by the Nancy Riggs Costello of Greenfield, Illinois, provides information on the family of William and Clara Mutch from Nancy's cousin-in-law Maythel Armold Hunt (emphasis added):
". . . Their son William married Clara Sooey (sic -- Sooy) . Their children were Margaret Elsie b 7-21-82 died Feb 1965 (sic - Jan. 1965), Maude Ellen (sic - her name was properly "Maud," but often appears as "Maude" in old records and is even written so on her gravestone) -- died 6-25-69, Alexander b Oct 20 (sic - Oct. 18), Nettie b Oct 20, and Edith. Clara b 3-20-61 d 12-12-1890 died after Dr (her cousin) gave her wrong medicine. He realized it when he got back to town. He went back (6 mi) and she was dead. William married again had 2 more children - Wm and Lillian."
This account agrees very closely with the information found in James Robert Mutch's 1929 Genealogy of the Mutch Family, page 57, though Maythel's information and the 1929 genealogy both have occasional slight errors.
William and Clara's five children were:
-- MARGARET ELSIE MUTCH, born 21 July 1882 in Murrayville, Illinois. -- MAUD ELLEN MUTCH, born 11 Dec. 1883 in Murrayville, Illinois, died 25 June 1969 in Greenfield, Illinois, married Winfield Frank Armold. -- ALEXANDER HAMILTON MUTCH, born 18 Oct. 1885 in Murrayville, Illinois, died 25 March 1922, married Cecile Marsh. -- NETTIE BELLE MUTCH, born 20 Oct. 1888 in Murrayville, Illinois, died 6 May 1972 in Portland, Oregon, married Palmer Henry Stevenson. -- CLARA EDITH MUTCH. born 23 Aug. 1889 in Murrayville, Illinois, died 30 Jan. 1975 in San Diego County, California, married twice.
Sooy Genealogy Resources:
The Sooy Book", at BassRiverHistory.org The Potter-Sooy Connection Luijkas Van Thienhoven, M.D., with some Sooy descendants of Dr. Lucas van Thienhoven. Ancestors of Lawrence Edgar Thiers, including raw data on the early Sooys. Descendants of Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven, including ancestry of Clara I. (Sooy) Mutch. Van Hook Database, with information on Joost Sooy Sr. and his family.