Jacob VanGilder was born May 13, 1752 in the Netherlands. It is uncertain when he sailed from Holland to America, but most researchers feel that it was about 1769 when he was sixteen years of age. It is unknown whether he sailed alone or with family members. There are old family stories that have been passed down through the generations that he landed in America with several siblings and other tales of how he worked his way across the Atlantic aboard an English ship.
To date, no one has successfully traced the line back to the Netherlands. Perhaps this is due to the fact that his actual surname may not have even been VanGilder. The Dutch translation of �van� is �from�. Thus the translation of the surname of VanGilder would be "From Gelder," which is a province in the Netherlands. The moniker of VanGilder was probably assigned to him when he reached the shores of America. I have heard from another family genealogist that Jacob�s name was, Jacob Willder VanGilder. Perhaps his actual name was Jacob Willder from Gelder, making his surname Willder.
The VanGilder surname first appeared in American documents in the 1700�s in New York and Cape May, New Jersey. Written VanGilder, Van Gelder, Van Guilder, Vangilder, we have not yet been able to link Jacob with any of the early settlers.
Jacob VanGilder served on the Line during the American Revolution, first in Pennsylvania and later in Maryland. His pension file states that he served under Captain Burd and Colonel Butler. Much of Jacob and Anna Margaret�s early life is outlined in the pension file by their son, William VanGilder. The couple was married near Hagerstown, Maryland in June, 1784. Anna Margaret Kibler (Gibler) was born in 1754 in Bingen on the Rhine, Germany. Nothing is known about her family.
The VanGilders removed to Monongalia County in 1799 where Jacob farmed for a living. The first written record of Jacob VanGilder has been found in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia in 1800. Jacob was appointed, by the court, to be the surveyor on a road project which would link the Uniontown and Morgantown Roads. He has numerous property tax records in the county going back to 1802. An interesting court document involving Jacob which is part of the 1804 record....�Jacob VanGilder said that in December 1803 he owned one hound bitch named �Scent� which was his favorite property valued at $20 and complained that John Boggess found his dog and refused to return her.� The 1813 List of Tithables lists Jacob as owning five horses.
Jacob died on July 14, 1846 in Marion County, (West) Virginia at the age of ninety-four years and Anna Margaret died on September 14, 1849 in Marion County, (West) Virginia at the age of ninety-five. Both are buried in the older section of the Mount Zion Church Cemetery located in the Winfield District, Marion County, West Virginia. The land for the cemetery was given by Jacob and Anna Margaret�s son, Frederick VanGilder, on March 19, 1846. Hundreds of VanGilder descendants are buried in the cemetery.
After Jacob�s death, his son, William VanGilder submitted a pension claim in the name of his father, for services rendered during the American Revolution. The claim was denied because there was no written proof of service. Although the family was not able to have Jacob listed as a Revolutionary War soldier, the DAR did recognize his service. A number of descendants have joined under his name. There is a metal Revolutionary Service marker on his grave sight placed by the local DAR. In recent years, however, Jacob VanGilder is no longer recognized by the DAR and descendants are not able to join the organization under his name.
Children of Jacob VanGilder and Anna Margaret Kibler--I descend from two separate lines.
ELIZABETH ANN VANGILDER b. 1792 in Maryland d. August 1, 1845 in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia married SAMPSON SMITH FRUM on June 11, 1815.
JACOB VANGILDER b. January 20, 1795 in Maryland d. Before 1840 in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia married SARAH R. McELROY on April 25, 1825.
Family research is not always done alone. I would like to thank Marjorie Potesta, Robert Poole Wilkins, and Raymond Wolfe, Jr. who have collaborated with me on the VanGilder book. Also the countless network "cousins" who have donated their lines to our effort. Finally, to my own family--parents, aunts, cousins, cousins once removed--who have given support, stories, and old photos.
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