The Yerks Family: Colonial Tenants Turned Patriots of Mount Pleasant
Long before the first Dutch and English settlers arrived, the region that would become Mount Pleasant, New York, was a vibrant homeland to the Weckquaeskeck, a branch of the Wappinger Confederacy within the Algonquin nation. These Indigenous people lived along the Saw Mill River, relying on its fish-rich waters, fertile floodplains, and connecting trails for
Philipsburg Manor… Walk in the Footsteps of Your Ancestors
A Visit to Philipsburg Manor, Sleepy Hollow, NY If you're part of the extended Yerks family — or descended from any of the tenant farmers who once lived and worked in colonial Westchester County — then Philipsburg Manor isn’t just a historical site. It’s a living connection to your past. OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
John Yerks and the North Salem Patrol that Caught Major André
Background: Westchester’s Neutral Ground in 1780 During the American Revolution, Westchester County, New York lay in a volatile “Neutral Ground” between British-occupied New York City and American-held northern positions. It was a lawless battleground plagued by constant raids and skirmishes. Regular troops and irregular bands – dubbed “Cowboys” (Loyalist marauders) and “Skinners” (renegade Patriot militia)
The Yerks Brothers And The Great War: Valor, Loss, And Legacy
In the quiet hamlet of Bedford Hills, Westchester County, New York, three brothers came of age in the early 20th century: Ralph, William, and James Yerks. Their lives—like those of countless young men—were forever altered by the outbreak of World War I. Two would don the uniform of the United States Army and be shipped
The Saw Mill River: A History of Mills, Industry, and Renewal
By Philip HayesPublished On: July 25th, 2025Categories: American Revolution, In History, Places: Chappaqua, Places: Eastview, Places: Philipsburg, Surname: YerksFlowing 23.5 miles through the hills and valleys of Westchester County, New ork, the Saw Mill River has long shaped the communities along its banks—from its early days as a resource-rich stream for Native Americans, through the rise and fall of water-powered industry, to its present role in urban restoration and environmental renewal. The Name
“Cobus Yerks” – A Tall Tale Rooted in Real Family History
From The Book of Saint Nicholas, and the Dutch-American Legacy of the Yerks Family In my continued research into the Yerks family line, I recently rediscovered a remarkable short story called “Cobus Yerks”, originally published in The Book of Saint Nicholas: Translated from the Original Dutch of Dominie Nicholas Aegidius Oudenarde. While the book is
Philipsburg Manor…A Must Visit For Yerks (Jurckse) Family Members
By Philip HayesPublished On: November 4th, 2022Categories: Places: Philipsburg, Surname: YerksTags: Philipsburg, Tarrytown, YerksI vaguely remember visiting Philipsburg Manor as part of a school trip I went on when I was little. I didn't remember much about its history, but I definitely remembered it was there, across the street from the well-known Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. I would never have imagined that I would marry someone with a direct
The Philipsburg Encampment of 1781
By Philip HayesPublished On: October 20th, 2022Categories: Events, Surname: YerksTags: American Revolution, George Washington, Philipsburg, Westchester, YerksPhilipsburg Manor in Westchester County was home to many Yerks families, including Colleen's 6th great-grandparents. I grew up in Westchester County, knowing little about Westchester's role in the revolution. But through genealogy, I have learned that my children's ancestors were right there at ground zero and were known as Patriots of the cause. In
The Yerks Family’s of Neperhan / Unionville/ Hawthorne and Pleasantville in 1867
1 – A Yerks A Yerks > William Brook Yerks (Mary) > William Yerks (Catherine) Location: Rosedale Nursery, Saw Mill Road, Hawthorne, New York Most likely, the site of the farmhouse that Catherine See & William Yerks (my wife’s 6th great grandparents) and their ancestors lived in while tending the 300-acre family farm in