Baltus Van Tassel
Background
Baltus Van Tassel is a land owner and farmer in Sleepy Hollow, New York. His daughter is Katrina Van Tassel and his wife is Lady Van Tassel. Baltus was married to Elizabeth Fenwick, but she died in 1797. He was born in 1744.
During the events of Sleepy Hollow (1999) played by Michael Gambon
Baltus walks into the main room with Lady Van Tassel and Ichabod Crane presents his credentials to Baltus. After Crane is given a room in Baltus' home, Baltus stares at Magistrate Philipse who then turns to look at Doctor Lancaster and Doctor Lancaster's Wife. Crane is introduced by Baltus to Doctor Lancaster, Reverend Steenwyck, Philipse, and Notary Hardenbrook. Crane goes over the list of the dead, including Peter Van Garrett, Dirk Van Garrett and Widow Winship and Steenwyck tells him the heads of the deceased were never found. Hardenbrook tells Crane their heads were taken by the Headless Horseman and Baltus relays the background of the Hessian Horseman. Steenwyck tells Crane the only thing he should read is the Bible and when Crane opens it, he finds a Van Tassel family tree inside. The next day, a horsemen shouts that the Headless Horsemen has killed again and at the site of the body, Baltus tells Theodore to get a cart to carry away the body while Doctor Lancaster, Steenwyck, Philipse, Brom, Glenn, Rifleman and Van Ripper stand nearby. Crane and Killian arrive and Crane uses scientific techniques to figure out how the Horseman killed Jonathan Masbath. Back at the Van Tassel home and after relating Philipse's death to Katrina and Baltus, Crane faints. He walks out of his room and invites Baltus and the other village elders to come with him to find the Horseman's grave, but only Young Masbath will go with him. After being attacked by the Headless Horseman, Crane wakes up to Doctor Lancaster looking over his wound and Baltus looking over him. Katrina prepares a potion for Crane and he tells them the Horseman's victims are not random, but chosen. After he is found dead, Baltus walks into the room and tells them Hardenbrook hung himself. Before a meeting at the church, Baltus runs to the church and tells Katrina, the Horseman killed Lady Van Tassel. The Horseman circles the church but cannot enter. Theodore and others shoot at the Horseman, but to no effect. As Doctor Lancaster begins to admit to Baltus, he and the others betrayed him, Steenwyck hits him in the forehead with a cross, killing him and Baltus shoots Steenwyck dead. The Horseman ties a rope to a broken fence post and throws it into a window, impaling Baltus, who he then drags out of the church and cuts off his head.