He was living there with a large family just at the time the present Orange County was being settled, principally by people from Southern Orange County—now Rockland. As the young settlers came up through the Pass, Isaac Van Duser was able to supply each one with a wife until his ten daughters were all married. They were the maternal ancestors of many old Orange County families.
Wieberch married Benjamin Demarest. Agnes married Samuel Sidman, to whom Isaac Van Duzer deeded the original homestead—the Van Blarcum tract. The valley was called "Sidman's Pass" during the Revolution, and the fortifications there—"The Post at Sidman's."
Marietje married Steven Sloat, to whom Isaac transferred the Van Colder tract, upon which they founded Sloatsburg. Their son John was killed in the Revolution. His son, John Drake Sloat, was Rear Admiral of the United States Navy. He took possession of the territory now called California for the United States at the beginning of the Mexican War. His monument stands at Monterey.
Leah married a Galloway and located further up the Pass. Autie married Major Zachariah DuBois (Woodhull's Regiment). Mary was the wife of Lieutenant William Roe (same regiment). Martha married Mr. Rose; Elizabeth, a LaRoy; Catherine an exiled Polish nobleman named Zobrisky; and Jane married Mr. Williams.
Before 1748 Isaac Van Duser bought the Andrew Nicolls patent at Cornwall, and afterward moved there with his three sons, Isaac, Jr., Tjerck and Christopher. In 1772 he divided this land equally among the three. The whole family appear to have been living on the patent during the Revolution. Erskine's map, made for General Washington's use, shows the location of Van Duzer's house at Cornwall. His son, Isaac, Jr., had sons, Isaac 3rd, Adolphus and Benjamin. Alexander Van Duser, of Gardiner, N. Y., is a descendant of Isaac 3rd, and Letitia Mills. Adolphus moved to Sullivan County. Benjamin has descendants near Cornwall.
Tjerck had wife Catherine. His family has not been traced. Christopher was captain in Colonel Woodhull's Cornwall Regiment. He was commissioned September, 1775, and served all through the war. He was at Fort Montgomery at different times, served at Haverstraw, Ramapo and in the Jerseys, at New Windsor, Butter Hill, Nicolls Point and eight weeks at Fishkill. He was stationed at West Point immediately after Arnold's treason was discovered. He was described by his neighbors as "an ardent, zealous Whig." He married first Juliana Strong, who left one child, the wife of Jacob Mandeville. Their daughter married first Nathaniel DuBois Woodhull, second Joseph Young.
Captain Van Duzer married second Juliana Tusten, sister of Lieutenant-Colonel Tusten, who was killed at Minisink. In 1807 they moved to Warwick, having purchased the farm where the fourth generation of their descendants now live.
They had sons Isaac, Benjamin Tusten, William, John and Selah and six daughters, Elizabeth, Ann, Mary and Susan were the wives of Selah Reeve, Nathan Wescott, Ebenezer Crissey and John Dolson, respectively.
Christopher's son Isaac was prominent in business at Cornwall. Afterward located in Warwick, where his grand-daughter, Mary Burt, now lives. His daughter Juliette, married Colonel Wheeler. He had a son, Isaac Reve, a member of the Legislature, and a very gifted lawyer of Goshen. J. W. Gott, of that place, is his descendant. Benjamin has no descendants living. William moved to Chemung County and left a large family. John was a member of the Legislature. He had sons Joseph Benedict, of Bellvale; Charles Reeve, of Warwick, and James, whose descendants live in Illinois. Of John's seven daughters two died young. Lanor died unmarried. Harriet Fancher, Mary Lazear and Nancy Fish left descendants in Dundee, N. Y. Julia Ann married Abner Benedict, of Warwick.
Selah was a banker in New York. He left a large family. The late S. R. Van Duzer, of Newburgh, was one of his sons.