Cindy Lundberg, May 21,2026
Joseph Primmer my Revolutionary War Patriot DAR Ancestry Number A093232
He was born In Birmingham, Warwickshire, England about 1738. His parents were Charles Primer and Anne Jackson. Charles was a button maker in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.
Joseph Primmer was playing as a young lad, upon the coast of his native land, where he was shanghaied and pressed into service on a British War vessel. After he finally reached our shores, the next twenty years he was engaged in shipping services on the Hudson River, making his headquarters at Schodack Landing.
Joseph married Maria Shufeldt in 1760 She was from Prussia. Joseph and Maria had five children. William Primmer, (the eldest son, is my line. He was born in 1767 and died 25 of March in 1865 at the age of ninety-eight.) Rachel Earing, Alchey, Peter Primmer, and Deborah Frost.
In 1760 Joseph Primmer and Hugh Wilson moved with their families to the locality formally known as Hoag’s pond and on the Schodack side of the line (Nassau, Rensselaer, Co.) Indians had their wigwams in the neighborhood, which was known as ON-TI-KE-KO-MUCK. The chief was KA-SHE-KE-KO-LUCK. From these Indians Primmer made his purchase of land. The deed which Joseph Primmer received showed the date of May 16,1760. This deed signed by the chief using his mark, Hugh Wilson and John Fitzgerald witnessed the signing. This land was at the head of Hoag’s pond. Primmer’s diet consisted of Hasty Pudding, boiled corn, bread baked in ashes and fried Indian meal cakes.
Hoag’s pond became Nassau Lake after the “Beaver Dam” was in place. Primmer’s property extended westward from the Valatie Kill between the north end of the “Beaver Dam” (now Nassau Lake) and present Central Nassau Road. He built a house and the site of his house was visible as late as 1896. Primmer’s first house may have been on the North side of present Nassau Lake, in Morey Park just west of the Valatie Kill. Primmer was living there as early as 1780’s. It is possible the damming of Hoag’s Pond caused him to relocate to this other location. Primmer cut a direct road from his settlement to Schodack Landing. Traveling over this road he brought back vital supplies including apple seeds which he planted for years. This road was known as the Schodack Landing Road.
DAR records for Joseph Primmer show his service during America Revolutionary War as being a private with the Albany County Militia, 4th Regiment, and Land Bounty Rights. The 4th New York Regiment was one of four established by the New York Provencial Congress at the direction of the Continental Congress for the defense of the King’s Bridge where Manhattan Island joins the mainland, and the Hudson River. This regiment would see action in the invasion of Canada, New York Campaign, the battle of Saratoga, Battle of Monmouth, and the Sullivan Expedition. The 4th Regiment was active May 25th, 1775, to January 1, 1781. They were an Infantry type of Regiment with 720 men. The 4th Regiments merged into the 2nd Regiment of New York on January 1, 1781. A second service Joesph Primmer performed was issuing Land Bounty Rights. Land bounty rights refer to government grants of public land to individuals who served the U.S. military, primarily to encourage enlistment and reward veterans. The rights were active from the Revolutionary War through the 1850’s.
He died sometime between April 9, 1803, and August 10, 1803 (date will probated). His burial place is unknown; he may be buried on his farm at the north end of Nassau Lake in Rensselaer County, New York.