On this episode of the Crossroads of Rockland History podcast Beverly Csordas joined host Clare Sheridan to discuss her new book, The Olden Days: My Mother’s Family History, 1594-1997 (2024).
Csordas is a member of the Concklin family whose Orchards in Pomona (in the town of Haverstraw in Rockland County) have been owned and operated by Concklins since 1711.
By weaving together a wide variety of family documents and photos, and enhancing them with her own research, Beverly Csordas presents a historical and fascinating tale of her mother’s heritage from the time her first ancestors arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in the 1600s.
You can listen to the podcast here.
Crossroads of Rockland History, a program of the Historical Society of Rockland County, airs on the third Monday of each month at 9:30 am, right after the Jeff and Will morning show, on WRCR radio 1700 AM and www.WRCR.com. Join host Clare Sheridan as she explores, celebrates, and learns about her local history, with different topics and guest speakers every month. Our recorded broadcasts are also available for streaming on all major podcasts platforms.
The Historical Society of Rockland County is a nonprofit educational institution and principal repository for original documents and artifacts relating to Rockland County. Its headquarters are a four-acre site featuring a history museum and the 1832 Jacob Blauvelt House in New City, New York.
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I haven’t seen the book The Olden Days: My Mother’s Family History, 1594-1997 yet, but I have spent over fifty years researching the genealogy of the Conklin families and a Y-DNA project. There were two families, not related by Y-DNA in America prior to the 1700s. My family is the Salem family of glassmakers referred to as the Long Island Conklins. The Orchard Conklins are descended from Nicholas (2) Conklin who was the son of John and Elenor Conklin, referred to as the Westchester Conklins. It is not known where they originated from nor even if John and Elenor even came to America nor what their surname was. Y-DNA testing has them related to some degree to Irish Coughlin’s which, when pronounced in Ireland, sound like Coglan.
For more information about the two Conklin families read my paper, “Two Colonial Conklin Families in America: Y-DNA Analysis of the ‘Long Island Conklins’” and the “Pre-1700 Westchester Conklins,’ Including the Origins of the ‘John Concklin of Flushing and Rye’ Theory.” 2011.
Hi Honor, New York Almanack would welcome an essay or two (or three) about notable Conklins in New York. Feel free to reach out (see the “submit” tab at the top).
John Warren
Founder, New York Almanack
Wonderful work.
My mother’s surname is Conklin.
Michigan descendant from:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/159261617/samuel-conklin
Born 16-Sep -797 in New York. Found Samuel in 1830 census in Wayne, Yates County New York but can’t solidly trace him back further.
Family assumptions were always Irish.
Greatly appreciate your insight and available information.
Thanks for the Senior Memory Jog, ladies. 1970/72 I was a reverse-ommuter from The Bronk’s. Taught German at Pomona JHS days, then would often pick up yummy goodies at Concklin’s Farm to bring to neighbors in the City. That episode in my career gave me an opportunity to get certified for Fire Police via interesting afternoons spent at the Sheriff’s Office in the County Seat in New City. PS: My certificate is long expired. I’m diabetic now and mostly ‘think’ about ‘goodies.’ :-) Happy End-of-Year Holly Daze!
first line above: commuter – second line: Bronck’s for Jonas Bronck.
I have obtained a copy of the book. Chapter 2 is a misrepresentation of my research and contains errors from earlier researchers that have been refuted with documentation. The Edmund Conklin papers, in Rhode Island, were posted on Long Island Genealogy and should still be there, now behind a pay wall. In it is a Certificate, signed by Edward Collier, 30 August 1701. Nicholas provides the information that their parents, John and Elenor Conklin are deceased. He lists their children as [aside from Edmund and Sarah, deceased] as Nicholas, John, Deliverance, Joseph, Samuel, Kathrine, and Mary. Sarah is mentioned in Edmund’s earlier Will. That is the only document that is not speculation. They are the “Westchester Conklins”. The “Long Island Conklins” who were invited by John Winthrop, Jr., to set up a glasshouse in Salem, MA have different Y-DNA. Their origins are in my paper, Two Colonial Conklins in America. Ananias, my twice ancestor, did NOT have a son John. The John in Chapter 2 of The Olden Days is “Westchester Conklin” John Conklin who married Elenor and had son, Nicholas (2) Conklin of the Orchard.
The title of my paper that is online should have read Two Colonial Conklin Families in America. Search the title and the paper will come up. The Edmund Conklin papers came to light after this paper was written.
The Orchards is in the Town of Ramapo, not Haverstraw. I worked at the Orchards when I was in high school in the early 1980s. The Conklins were/are wonderful people.