Father: Abraham Hendrickson
Mother: Antje (Anne) Van Kirk

Spouse: Mercy Vandeventer - b: ~1765 - NJ
  d: ~1842 - Butler Co., OH
 m: 16/Jan/1793 - Monmouth Co., NJ

Child-1: Abraham
          2: Peter
          3: John
          4: Isaac
          5: Deborah
          6: Jacob

Biographical Details:

Matthias Hendrickson was the son of Abraham and Antje (Anne) Van Kirk Hendrickson and was baptized in Monmouth County, New Jersey, on July 30, 1769, presumably soon after his birth.  Furthermore, it has been reported that he married Mercy Vandeventer in Monmouth County on January 16, 1793; however, it is also reported that their oldest son, Abraham, was born September 20, 1792, viz., four months before their marriage.  Considering the mores of the time, this would seem unlikely, but not impossible.  Within this context, since the marriage date derives from a contemporary church record and, as such, is likely to be  correct, it is more likely that Abraham was born later, perhaps, in 1793 or 1794, but this awaits definitive verification.  Accordingly, six children have been attributed to Matthias and Mercy, five sons, viz., Abraham, Peter, John, Isaac, and Jacob, and one daughter, viz., Deborah.  Moreover, according to Peattie's later published account, the family moved from New Jersey to Dearborn County, Indiana, about 1819 and then to Butler County, Ohio, a short time later.  Indeed, the household of Matthias Hendrickson appeared in the population schedule of the 1820 US Census for Butler County and consisted of an adult couple, both above forty-five years of age; two males between ten and sixteen; an adolescent male between sixteen and eighteen; an adolescent or young adult male and female both between sixteen and twenty-six years old.  Obviously, the adult couple should be identified as Matthias and Mercy Hendrickson themselves; the four males as sons, Peter, John, Isaac, and Jacob; and the female as daughter, Deborah.  Concomitantly, their oldest son, Abraham, apparently remained behind in Indiana with his wife and young daughter.  Subsequently, the household of Matthias Hendrickson appeared in Butler County population schedules of both 1830 and 1840.  It has been further reported that Mercy Vandeventer Hendrickson died in Butler County after which Matthias moved to Clinton County, Indiana, and lived with the family of his oldest son, Abraham, where he later died.  Indeed, census records imply that Matthias' wife was still alive in 1840 and, thus, her death occurred, perhaps, a year or two afterward.  Matthias Hendrickson evidently died in Clinton County on April 17, 1849, and was buried in the Old South Cemetery.  In addition, Peattie indicated that Matthias' son, Isaac, was killed in the War with Mexico.  Accordingly, Private Isaac Hendrickson, a carpenter, aged twenty-one and born on Butler County, Ohio, was killed at the Battle of Resaca de la Palma on May 9, 1846, which occurred near the present city of Brownsville, Texas.¹  However, his given age implies that he had been born about 1825, which is almost certainly too young for him to have been a son of Mathias and Mercy Hendrickson.  Therefore, it seems much more probable that he was their grandson and, as such, has been confused with an older relative, perhaps, his father or uncle, but such a hypothesis awaits definitive confirmation.

1. "Report of the Secretary of War showing the names of the officers and men killed, wounded, or missing, in the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma", 29th Congress, 2nd Session, Senate Document No. 4, Washington, DC, 1846.  (Anonymous, Roll of Honor, Descendants of Mexican War Veterans, www.dmwv.org/honoring/resaca.htm, 2002.)
     "Battle of Resaca de la Palma, Texas, May 9, 1846.   Killed: ... Pvt. Isaac Hendrickson, Co. A, 5th Infantry. Age 21, born Butler, Ohio, occ: carpenter."
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Additional Citations:

2. 1820 US Census Population Schedule for Butler County, Ohio, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 53, (microfilm: roll M33_87; img. 87).

3. 1830 US Census Population Schedule for Butler County, Ohio, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 186, (microfilm: roll M19_127; img. 67).

4. 1840 US Census Population Schedule for Butler County, Ohio, National Archives, Washington DC:  pg. 144, (microfilm: roll M704_380; img. 298).

5. Elia Wilkinson Peattie, The Pictorial Story of America - History of the United States and State of Indiana. Special Edition for Fulton County, National Pub. Co., Chicago, IL, 1896: pg. 82-3.  (cited Wendell C. and John B. Tombaugh, Fulton County Indiana Handbook, Tombaugh Pub. House, 700 Pontiac St., Rochester, IN, 46975-1538, 2001.)

6. U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records from Selected States, 1660-1926, compiled by Ancestry.com

7. A. L. Kingman, Combination Atlas of Fulton County, Indiana, pub. by A. L. Kingman, Chicago, IL, 1883: pg. 61.  (cited ibid.)

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