.1. 



They were tou^h, athletic men, of t::- 



reliant, self-asserting, apt to be on ti, : un- 



popular side of public questions both in rcli-ion and ; 

 tics, ultra-democratic, despising people win 

 ancestry or claimed distinction on any ground but tli.r 

 personal merit. To explain the great hardiness of Yii 

 Youmans, his fervour of conviction, the honour he pat 

 labour, his contempt of frivolities, and the gloomy sew 

 of his religious experience, seven generations of hard- 

 working pioneer Puritan ancestors are none too many. 



The maternal great-grandfather of Vincent Youmans 

 was Leonard Vincent. There is on record at White Plains, 

 Westchester County, a deed of twenty-six acres of land 

 given to Leonard Vincent in 1713 by Charles Vincent 

 " with the consent of his parents." This land is now with- 

 in the limits of New York city. Leonard Vincent married 

 a Dutch girl of the neighbourhood and had four sons 

 John, Levi, Leonard, and Samuel. Levi, the second son, 

 married into a family of Dutchess County Quakers named 

 Hoxie. His wife was the daughter of Zebulon Hoxie, a 

 blacksmith, and one of the first settlers of that county, 

 coming from Stonington and settling in the town of Beek- 

 man, where some of his descendants are still living. 



Levi Vincent lived for several years after his marriage 

 in Dutchess County, and migrated from there to Coeymans 

 at nearly the same time as the Youmanses. He had a large 

 family, was a skilful blacksmith, and also managed his 

 own farm. He was careful in business, and his family was 

 reared in more comfort than was usual to the time and 

 place. He was a man of sound judgment, much respected 

 by his neighbours, and often chosen by them to settle their 

 disputes and difficulties. He had a cheerful temper and 

 friendly manners, was humorous, and fond of a laugh. It 

 was said by Edward's father and uncles that in character 

 and disposition as well as in certain physical traits he re- 



