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Adams/McCutchen - Bair/Mehrer Genealogy as presented by Michelle Adams |
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Demaree/Demarest Family History There is a book called The Demarest Family compiled under the auspices of the Demarest Family Association, Hackensack, NJ, Voorhis D. Demarest, Pres. 1964. This book is a great resource if you have a Demarest in your family line. It is very extensive and provides information about the origins of the family line desMarets in Cambray, France. They were Lords and fought in the Crusades. The history of the Demarest family is told in may other books also. The family line starts with Jean des Marets, Lord of Bousis who lived the later half of the 11th century in Cambray, France. There are nineteen generation from Jean des Marets born around 1043 to David desMarets born 1620 in France. David desMarets married Marie Sohier in 1643. They were the first of the line to come to America. The Marie Sohier's family line can be traced back twenty-one generations to Herbert de Vermandois IV (1032-1089). The Sohier family also was from France. David and Marie were members of the Walloon Church. There was much religious unrest in Europe at the time. This seems to have eventually led to their leaving Europe. David, Marie, and four children went to Amsterdam and sailed to the New Netherlands (now New York area) on the ship Bontekoe (The Spotted Cow). They either left Holland or arrived in America 16 April 1663. It seems that David desMarets went by the alias David D'Amerex when he lived on Staten Island. He was appointed Senior Commissary of the local court. Organized the French Protestant Church and the Huguenot Church. He then moved to Harlem and bought a lot of property and got involved in town affairs. The family left Harlem on May 1, 1678. The entire family moved to their new home on the Hackensack then called the Herring River. He bought 2000 acres of land between the Hackensack and Hudson Rivers called the French Patent. The land was acquired from the Tappan Indians dated June 8, 1677. He gave the Indians guns, kettles, blankets, hoes, knives, shirts, and beer among other things. He built the Little Mill across a river. Between 1686 and 1689, he moved to the west side of the Hackensack where a saw mill and larger grist mill, called the Great Mill, were built. He was highly respected where ever he lived. Two of David and Marie's children, Jean and Samuel, married two sister, Jacomina and Maria de Ruine. In my family line, you will see that their grandchildren Samuel Demaree and Leah Demarest married each other. They were second cousins and my 6th great grandparents. Samuel and Leah Demaree moved to Kentucky around 1779-80 and settled with the Low Dutch Company. Samuel and Leah had a son named John who is my 5th great grandfather. During the American Revolution, John Demaree lived in Berkeley Co, VA. The names of John and his brother Peter are on a list of "Labourers {laborers}, Gards {guards}, pack-horsemen and bullock drivers employed in the service of the Rod {road} to Kaintuck {Kentucky} under the direction of John Kinkead and William Mbrid, Comiseners." (from the Demarest/Demaree Family History) The list included the names of the Militiamen employed as Guard, Drivers, and Laborers in Building the Road over the Cumberland Mountain to Kentucky during the War. For this service each man was entitled to a grant of land. (Virginia Soldiers of 1776, Burgess, Vol. 3 p272). The family of Demaree landed at the Falls of the Ohio (Louisville) 9 April 1780. On 8 January 1783, John was granted a tract of 400 acres, and his brother Peter 700 acres, on Floyd's Fork of Clear Creek then Jefferson Co, KY (now Shelby Co, KY). Jefferson Co. Land Grants Book A p249. Peter's grant dated 3 Feb 1783, Book B p.259. See also affidavit of John Demaree who mentions his father's service. John's wife was named Nancy, established by the fact that her name is signed with his to a deed given March 5, 1797 in Mercer Co, KY to John Vorie at the time the family removed to Shelby Co, KY. Also their names were on the marriage bonds of their daughter Phebe. The last relative with the Demarest name for me is Phebe Ann Demaree. She married John Bice 25 December 1806 in Shelby County, Kentucky. John and Phebe Bice had a child named Catherine Bice who was born in Shelby County, Kentucky in 1821. Catherine married John Bear/Bair 25 March 1840 in Madison, Jefferson County, Indiana. John Bear was born in Jefferson County, Indiana in 1820. I am not sure how Catherine ended up in Indiana. There is no indication to me that her parents were ever in Indiana. |
Descendant View Adams Line McCutchen Line Bair Line Mehrer Line Other Information If you feel something here is in error or would like me to add someone, you may send me an email. contact me at: |
