Martin Cornelisz Ysselsteyn was born in 1634 in Ysselsteyn, Utrecht, Netherlands. His parents were Cornelisse Van YSSELSTEYN and [__?__]. He married Mayke Cornelise BARNAVELT in 1659 in Holland. They emigrated to New York in 1675/76. He was one of the first settlers of Schenectady; after residing here about six years he sold his farms and removed to Claverack. He and Mayke made a joint will on 12 Jan 1676/77 when they were both then living in Claverack. Martin died in 1705 in Claverack, Columbia, New York.

Descendents have changed the Ysselsteyn name to many different forms: Esselstyn, Yasel, Yazel, Yazell, Yazel, Yeasell, Yeasel, Yeazel, Yeazell and Yeazle.

The Ysselsteyn family lived in Claverack, Columbia, New York. The town was formed in 1778 from the older “District of Claverack.” The town name is a corruption for the Dutch word for “Clover Fields” or “Clover Reach”. In 1782, the town lost some of its land to the new Town of Hillsdale. The town was reduced again in 1785 to form the City of Hudson. In 1779 Washington Seminary was founded in the town by the local Dutch Reformed pastor. Prominent former students at the school include U.S. President Martin Van Buren. In the nineteenth century the school was renamed in Claverack College, and it closed in 1902.

Martin Cornelisz was one of the first settlers of Schenectady; after residing here about six years he sold his farms and removed to Claverack. His residence was upon his hindmost farm near the site of Mr. John D. Campbell’s house in Rotterdam.

When first encountered by Europeans, the area that is now Schenectady was the land of the Mohawk nation of theIroquois Confederacy. When Dutch settlers arrived in the Hudson Valley in the 17th century, the Mohawk called the settlement at Fort Orange (present day Albany, NY) “Schau-naugh-ta-da”, meaning “over the pine plains.” Eventually, this word entered the lexicon of the Dutch settlers, but the meaning was reversed, and the name referred to the bend in the Mohawk River where the city lies today.

Schenectady was first settled by Europeans in 1661 when the area was part of the Dutch colony of New Netherland. Settlement was led by Arent van Curler, a prominent figure in the colony who had emigrated from Nijkerk in the Netherlands, after purchase from the Mohawk Nation. Additional land was purchased from the Mohawks in 1670 and 1672. In 1664 the English seized the Dutch colony and renamed it New York. Twenty years later (1684) Governor Thomas Dongan granted letters patent for Schenectady to five trustees.

13 Apr 1668 – Martin Cornelisz’ farms are thus described in a patent:

    “Two parcels of land at Schenectady both marked No. 8;—one lying on the second piece of land to the west of No. 7,—to the east of the creek [Poenties kil*], a line cutting between No. 7 [and No. 8] from the creek or kil to the woods south-west somewhat more southerly; —in breadth 36 rods containing about 22 acres or 11 morgens;—the other being upon the hindmost piece of land on the woodside, to the west of No. 9, to the east of No. 7, a line being run as before from the creek IDove gattl to the woods south-west by west,—breadth 56 rods, containing about 24 acres or 12 morgens and 130 rods, as granted June 16, 1664, by Governor Stuyvesant to said Cornelise.”

    Marten Cornelise Van Ysselsteyn removed to Claverack, in what is now Columbia County, New York. He was a resident of that place in January, 1677 when he made his will, but it is not certain whether he removed thence immediately after the sale of his Schenectady property. Several of his children were born at Claverack. In 1687 “Martinus Cornelissen Van Elsensteyn” was a sponsor at the baptism of one of his grandchildren, as we learn from the register of the old Dutch Reformed Church at Kingston. The original homestead which he occupied at Claverack has been continuously held by male descendants, bearing his surname, to the present time [1908], or for seven or eight generations, and is now owned by Mr. Everett J. Esselstyn, lawyer, of New York City.

    Upon this estate is the only family graveyard, where members of the family found sepulcher for several generations, and it is believed that in this private cemetery lie the bones of the founder of this family in America, together with those of his good “vrouw,” Mayke or Maria Cornelise.. In their joint-will, executed “in the year after the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christus, 1676/[77], on the 12th day of the month of January,” they are described as “the worshipful Marten Cornelissen born in the Town of Ysselsteyn, and his wife, Maekcke Cornelis, born at Zarrevelt, living both on the Claverrack.

Source:

Source: The ancestry of Leander Howard Crall: monographs on the Crall, Haff, Beatty … By Frank Allaben 1908 and http://www.schenectadyhistory.org/resources/patent/vanesselsteyn.html