USA > New Jersey > Hunterdon County > The first century of Hunterdon County, state of New Jersey > Part 1
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GENEALOGY COLLECTION 1
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02246 9792
THE
FIRST CENTURY
OF
HUNTERDON
COUNTY,
STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
BY
GEORGE S. MOTT, D. D
Read before the New Jersey Historical Society, at Trenton, January 17th, 1878.
FLEMINGTON, N. J. E. VOSSELLER, BOOKSELLER AND STATIONER.
1878.
HUNTERDON COUNTY. 1151647
In this sketch of the " First Century of Hunterdon County," I shall restrict myself to the territory now comprised within the boundary of the county. Because the history of that portion of "Old Hunterdon," which is now included in Mercer County, has been cared for by others.1
New Jersey held out two hands of welcome to those of Europe who were seeking an asylum from evils which made their mother country no longer endurable. The one hand was Delaware Bay, the other was Raritan Bay. Through these openings to the sea ready access was gained to the two rivers, which took their names from these bays. These streams opened avenues for up among fertile valleys until, in Hunterdon County, they approached at the nearest points within twenty miles of each other, and there the tributaries of each drain the same hills. The mild climate-less bleak than New England, not so hot as Virginia-the abundance of game, fish and fruits,2 won to those shores the children of the northern half of Europe, who were accustomed to the temperate zone. Lord Berkley and Sir George Carteret,8 prepared a constitu- tion, which was almost as democratic as that which we now enjoy. This assured civil and religious rights to all the settlers. Thus in- vited by the country and its privileges, emigrants streamed in from Europe, Long Island and New England.
1 Dr. Hale's History of Pennington. Dr. Hall's History of Trenton, and the Histories of Princeton and the battle of Trenton.
2 Smith's History of New Jersey, pp. 20, 105, 174-177. He speaks of peaches, plums, and strawberries growing plentifully in the woods.
3 To them the proprietary right of the soil had been conveyed and they divided the Province between them, into East and West Jersey. Berkley had West Jersey.
1.500 1
4
HUNDERDON COUNTY.
The Quakers in England had become the objects of suspicion and dislike to the government ; and they were assailed by penalty and persecution, which led them to look over the ocean for some spot that should furnish the toleration they could not secure in there native land. John Fenwicke and Edward Byllinge, both Quakers, bought out Berkley's shares. But Byllinge soon became so em- barrassed in business, that he made an assignment to Trustees, of whom William Penn was one. But before this he had sold a num- ber shares. Thus Penn became one of the proprietors of West Jersey, and the owner of large tracts of land in Hunterdon. Soon after Fenwicke made a similar assignment. These Trustees, under the pressure of circumstances, sold shares to different pur- chasers. As these Trustees were Quakers, the purchasers were mostly members of that body. Two companies were formed for that purpose in 1677, one in Yorkshire and the other in London. Daniel Coxe was connected with the latter, and became the largest holder of shares; and by this means he eventually possessed exten- sive tracts of land in Old Hunterdon. The tide of immigration now set in rapidly. In the same year the companies were organized and four hundred came over, most of them were persons of property. Burlington was founded, and became the principal town. Here the land office for all West Jersey was located, and deeds were re- corded.
In 1696 an agreement was made between Barclay and the pro- prietors of East Jersey, on the one side, and Byllinge and the pro- prietors of West Jersey on the other, for running the partition line so as to give as equal a division of the Province as was practicable A straight line was directed to be surveyed from " Little Egg Har. bor, to the most northerly branch of the Delaware." The line was ex- tended as far as the south branch of the Raritan, at a point just east of the Old York Road. This line was run by Keith, Surveyor General of East Jersey. But it was deemed by the West Jersey proprietors to be too far west, and thereby encroaching on their territory, and they objected to its continuance. On September 5th, 1688, Gover -.
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HUNTERDON COUNTY
nors Coxe and Barclay, representing each side, entered into an agreement for terminating all differences, by stipulating that this line, so far as run, should be the bounds, and directing the course by which it should be extended, viz. :- "From that point (where it touched the south branch), along the back of the adjoining planta- tions, until it touched the north branch of the Raritan at the falls of the Allamitung (now the Lamington Falls), thence running up that stream northward to its rise near Succasunny. From that point, a short straight line was to be run to touch the nearest part of the Passaic River." Such a line would pass about five miles north of Morristown. The course of the Passaic was to be continued as far as the Paquanick, and np that branch to the forty-first degree north latitude ; and from that point in "a straight line due east to the par- tition point on Hudson River, between East Jersey and New York."1 This line gave to the northern part of West Jersey, the present counties of Warren, Sussex, all of Morris north of Morristown, and those portions of Passaic and Bergen, which lie north of forty-first parallel. Though this agreement was never carried into effect, this division line constituted the western boundary of Hunterdon, and so remained until Morris was set off in 1738. And then all that port of North Jersey, down as far as Musconetcong, was erected into the new county.
The territory of West Jersey was divided into one hundred shares or proprietaries. These were again divided into lots of one hundred each; the inhabitants of which elected commissioners, who were empowered, "To set forth and divide all the lands of the Province as were taken up, or by themselves shall be taken up and contracted for with the natives, and the said lands to divide into one hundred parts, as occasion shall require."2 The first and second division extended as far as the Assanpink (Trenton).
1 Smith's History, pp. 196-198.
2 Chap. 1 of Concessions of " The Trustees." Quoted in Gordon's History of New Jersey, p. 68.
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HUNTERDON COUNTY.
At the close of the seventeenth century, West Jersey is said to have contained 8,000 inhabitants.1 These people began to look with longing eyes upon the territory to the north, which was yet held by the Indians. So that the proprietors urged the Council to grant them a third dividend, or taking up of land. In compliance with this request a committee was appointed, consisting of John Wills, Wm. Biddle, Jr., and John Reading, to treat with the natives. This committee reported at a meeting of the Council held June 27th, 1703, " That they had made a full agreement with Himhammoe, for one tract of land adjoining to the division line (i. e., between East and West Jersey) and lying on both sides of the Raritan river. And also with Coponnockons for another tract of land, lying between the purchase made by Adlord Boude2 and the boundaries of the land belonging to Himhammoe fronting on the Delaware."" This purchase was computed to contain 150,000 acres, and the cost, with other incidental charges, was estimated at £700. It was proposed to allow 5,000 acres for each dividend to a proprietary.4 At another meeting of the Council, held November 2d, 1703, the same committee was sent to those Indians, and particularly to Coponnockous, to have the tract of land lately pur- chased, " Marked forth and get them to sign a deed for the same.
And that they go to Himhammoe's wigwam in order to treat with them, and to see the bounds of the land lately purchased of him." This purchase covered the Old Amwell township, or the present townships of Raritan, Delaware, East and West Amwell.
The 150,000 acres were divided among the proprietors. But the tract which extended north from the Assanpink and which was within the original township of Hopewell, belonging to the West Jersey Society, which was a company of proprietors living in
Gordon's History, p. 57.
2 This Boude Tract extended southward from Lambertville.
3 Smith's History of New Jersey, pp. 95, 97.
4 It is probable that tracts of land had been bargained for previously, by individuals with the Indians.
7
HUNTERDON COUNTY.
England. To them Daniel Coxe conveyed this tract in 1691. He obtained the title to it in 1685. He owned 22 proprietory shares.
Among the first who took up land out of this tract of 150,000 acres, was the estate of Benjamin Field.1 He had 3,000 acres fronting on the river; the southern border of this touched the Society's tract. He also had 2,000 acres near Ringos. Robert Dinsdale had extensive tracts beginning about Lambertville and embracing Mt. Airy. John Calow owned north of the city, and fronting on the river. Wm. Biddle held 5,000 acres immediately north of Calow, fronting on the river. John Reading took up land in the vicinity or Prallsville and Barber's Station. He also owned land about Centre Bridge which was called Reading's Ferry. until 1770, when it went by the name of Howell's Ferry.2 Other own ers of tracts were Gilbert Wheeler, Richard Bull and John Clarke. These large tracts soon passed into other hands. 1705 John Hol. combe of Arlington of Pa., bought lands from Wheeler and Bull, and subsequently he made purchases out of the Biddle and Calow tracts. He is the ancestor of the Holcombe families in Hunterdon
county. In 1709 Wm. Biles sold to Edward Kemp of Buck's county, Pa., who the next year sold 200 acres to Ralph Brock, a millwright. In 1716 Richard Mew sold one half a tract to John Mumford of Newport, R. I. Joshua Opdyke purchased several hundred acres of the heirs of Wm. Biles. He was the great-grand. father of Hon. George Opdyke, at one time Mayor New York city. In 1714 Wm. Biles, son of W. Biles, Sr., who was then deceased, sold 1,665 acres to Charles Wolverton. The southwest corner of this was on Reading's line ; 284 acres of this was sold to Geo. Fox, who came from England. In 1729 this was conveyed to Thomas Canby of Buck's county. In 1735 he sold to Henry Coat, and in 1741 he to Derrick Hoagland. Wm. Rittenhouse had a tract of land east this. Wm. Biddle also sold 1,150 acres in 1732 to
1 See subsequent page.
2 For these facts about Lambertville, I am indebted to manuscripts of P. A . Studdiford, D. D. of Lambertville, N. J.
·
8
HUNTERDON COUNTY
Peter Emley of Mansfield, now Washington, Warren county. He sold to Christopher Cornelius in 1750. And he sold to Daniel Howell, the same year, 400 acres. This was the Howell from whom the Ferry took its name. His land joined Reading's at the river. Howell conveyed a part of this land in 1754 to Francis Tomlinson. In 1774 this came into possession of General Bray.
Yet further np the Delaware, adventurous settlers pressed, select- ing tracts in Kingwood, Franklin and Alexandria townships, checked only by the frowning hills of of the Schooley's range. Among these we know of Warford, Bateman, Ellis, Gamer, A. Hunt, Besson. About 17201 a Baptist Church was organized at Baptist- town, known in its earliest days as the Bethlehem Baptist Church. The Dalrymple family, numerous in Kingwood, are of Scotch origin. There ancestor here, selected land by the advice of James Alexan- der, Surveyor General of New Jersey, who was the agent of Sir John Dalrymple, to whom Robert Barclay sold land in East Jersey. Kingwood became more especially a Quaker settlement. The old records of the Meeting at Quakertown date back to 1744, when the first monthly meeting was held. In 1767, the minutes show that they were busy building a new meeting house of stone, 39x27. This was to take the place of one built of logs.2 This would indi- cate a settlement about 1725.9 Among the first of whom we have any knowledge as living in that neighborhood are King, Wilson, Clifton, Rockhill, and Stevenson. They all belonged to the Bur- lington Quarterly Meeting. Later on, Thomas Robeson settled in that locality, the ancestor of the Secretary of the Navy during President Grant's administration ; also Thomas Schooley was another settler, who became the owner of large tracts of land on the mountain, which is called after him.
1 So it has been stated. But I regard this date as too early by ten or fifteen years.
2 Kindly furnished by A. R. Vail, clerk of the meeting.
$ For further particulars respecting Kingwood see quotations from old deeds in a series of articles ou " Traditions of our Ancestors," published in the- Hunterdon Republican, Feb. 17 and 24, May 5 and 12, 1870.
9
HUNTERDON COUNTY.
While the tide of immigration was setting up the Delaware, a similar flow advanced along the Raritan. The persecutions of the Covenanters drove large numbers of them, in 1638 and the following years, to East Jersey, many of whom settled at Plainfield, Scotch Plains and Westfield. They were Presbyterians, and men of virtue, education and courage. The opposition of the people and the proprietors to any arbitary imposition from England, and freedom of conscience, allured these people to New Jersey. And, as Ban- croft says, they gave to "the rising commonwealth a character, which a century and a half has not effaced." The Quakers also set- tled among them, through the influence of Robert Barclay. Some of these settlers, and many of their children found their way to the richer lands of Hunterdon.
So early as 1685, Dutch Huguenots came to the north branch of the Raritan. In 1699 the Dutch Church of Somerville was formed. Readington township, which lies between the north and south branches, was taken up by four proprietors. George Willocks of Perth Amboy, owned the northeast, i. e., all northward of Holland's Brook and eastward of the White House, to the Lamington river. John Budd and James Logan held the portion northwest of Willocks. Joseph Kirkbride had the southerly part, and Colonel Daniel Coxe, of Philadelphia, the southwest. These two were proprietors of West Jersey. Their lines came to the south branch. On the west of that stream they both had tracts ; extending to Flemington.1 They had their lands surveyed in the year 1712, in which year Kirkbride sold five hundred acres to Emanuel Van Etta; having previously disposed of two hundred acres, west of Van Etta's pur- chase, to Daniel Seabring and Jerome Van Est. This tract extend- ed from the south branch to the road now leading from Pleasant run to Branchville. On this tract, near Campbell's Brook, was an In- dian village. Other settlers from 1710 to 1720 were Stoll, Lott, Biggs, Schomps, Smith, Van Horn, Wyckoff, Cole, Klein, Jennings, Stevens, Johnson, Hoagland, Fisher, Probasco, LeQueer, Schenck,
1 See subsequent page.
10
HUNTERDON COUNTY.
Voorhees ; some of whom came from Long Island. Frederick Van Fleet came from Esopus, New York, in 1725, and bought lands of Van Etta. He shortly after became owner of many acres at Van Fleet's Corner. His son, Thomas, was the great-grandfather of A. V. Van Fleet, the present Vice-Chancellor of the State. Lord Niel Campbell had obtained a deed for land at the forks of the north and south branches, January 9th, 1685. John Dobie, John Camp- bell, John Drummond and Andrew Hamilton purchased all south of Holland's Brook and west of the south branch. November 9th, 1685. Campbell's Brook was named after that John Campbell.1
This district, lying between the confluence of the branches of the Raritan and the Delaware river, soon became known ; and its natur- al advantages attracted the attention of both the Jerseys. A tribe of Indians living near the site of Hartsville, Pa., had a path to and across the Delaware at Lambertville, and thence to Newark, by way of Mt. Airy, Ringos and Reaville. The "Old York Road " was laid on the bed of that path, or rather this path became that road, for the road itself was never surveyed. In a deed for land at Rin- gos, dated August 25th, 1726, this is described as "The King's Highway that is called the York Road." Another Indian came in from the north, through the valley at Clarksville, the gateway for all their tribes who threaded their way down the great valley of the Wal. kill, or crossed over from Pennsylvania at the forks of the Delaware. This Indian highway led down to the wigwams on the Assanpink. These roads crossed at Ringos. This whole region was heavily wooded with oak, hickory, beach and maple. The forests abounded with game. The streams were alive with fish, and the most deli. cious shad made annual visitations along the borders. That fish was caught higher up than Flemington, before mill dams obstructed the branch. The hauls of them in the Delaware have been enormous within the memory of old people. Also the Indians were peaceable
1 Historical Appendix to the Dedication Sermon of the Readington Church, by the Rev. John Van Liew. Appendix by John B. Thompson.
C626 yVCCU GO
11
HUNTERDON COUNTY.
and friendly. The Raritan was navigable up to the union of the north and south branches. Long afterward, much of the heavy produce was carried to market on these streams, In seasons of freshets the farmers up the river conveyed their grain to New Bruns- wick in flat bottomed boats, floating them down and pulling them back. Old persons tell us that fifty years ago, brooks were double their present volume. No wonder, then, that East and West Jer: sey joined hands over Hunterdon County, and that their children were attracted away from their old homesteads at an early day. For that same eagerness to occupy the frontier and push further West, which has been the ruling passion for the last half century, possessed and animated the sons of the settlers in the seventeenth century.
In addition, the political institutions were so liberal in their char acter, that those who appreciated civil and religious liberty were at- tracted. And thus it came to pass, that no county in the State had so mixed a population. composed, as it was, of Huguenots, Hol- lands, Germans, Scotch, Irish, English, and native Americans.
The Coxe estate extended to the present village of Clinton, and joined the Kirkbride tract, the two covering an area of four miles. One of the oldest and most distinguished settlers in that part of the county was Phillip Grandin, His father emigrated from France, and settled in Monmonth County. Phillip and his brother John bought one thousand acres on the the south branch, including Hamp- ton. He built a grist mill and a fulling mill. Afterward this was called Johnston's Mills. It was in a ruined condition one hundred years ago. Cloth was made there for all this region. He was the grandfather of Dr. John Grandin, who was the most noted physi- cian of the county in his day.1
On the present site of Clinton were early located mills, called Hunt's Mills. During the revolution large quantities of flour were ground in them. Among the early settlers were James Wilson,
1 For further, seo History of the District Medical Society of Hunterdon, by John Blane, M. D., and Hunterdon County Republic, March 13st, 1870.
12
HUNTERDON COUNTY.
Hope, Foster, Apgar, Bonnell. The most distinguished was Judge Johnston, who came about 1740. He owned a tract of one thous- and two hundred acres. His house was the most stately mansion in the northern part of West Jersey. Being chief magistrate for this section of the county, on Monday of each week court was held in his broad hall. His house became the resort of culture and talent ; and his daughter, who afterwards married Charles Stewart, is said to have been the best read woman in the province.
A tract of five thousand and eighty-eight acres, from Asbury to Hampton Junction, was purchased by John Bowlby about 1740. When he was running the boundaries of this land, Col. Daniel Coxe (who was the oldest son of the proprietor, deceased about 1739). was lying out a tract to the east of him. There was a great strife, who should get his survey first on record, so as to secure as much of the Musconetcong Creek as possible. Bowlby was successful. John W. Bray, a descendant of one of the first settlers in connection with A. Taylor, commenced improving Clinton about the time that Governor Clinton of New York died ; and they named the place after him.
Returning now toward the north branch, from a deed in the possession of A. E. Sanderson, Esq., of Flemington, it appears that about the year 1711, the West Jersey Society had surveyed for them a section known as " The Society's Great Tract." Of this, James Alexander purchased ten thousand acres in 1744, taking in the whole of the Round Valley and surrounding mountains, and al the land from Bray's hill on the west nearly to the White House, and reaching north to the brow of the hill north of Lambertville. The Lebanon part contained two thousand acres, which were conveyed to Anthony White by Alexander's heirs, September 7th, 1782. This, however, had been held in Trust by Alexander since 1755. These heirs were his son William Lord Sterling, and the wives of Peter Van Brug Livingston (whose sister Sterling had married), Walter Rutherford, John Stevens, and Susanna Alex-
13
HUNTERDON COUNTY.
ander, who afterwards married Col. Reid. Walter Rutherfurd was the owner of large tracts of land in Sussex County. Livingston was a son of Philip Livingston of Livingston Manor, on the Hudson, and a brother of Governor Livingston. All these took a very active part in the Revolutionary struggle. Lord Stirling1 was the Colonel of the First Battalion formed in New Jersey, November 7th, 1775. The next March (11th), he was made Brigadier-General of the Continental army; Major-General, February 19th, 1777. He twice received the thanks of Congress, January 29th, 1776, and September 24th, 1779. He died of gout at Albany, N. Y., January 15th, 1783, while in command of the Northern Department. Mr. Livingston was a merchant in New York, and contributed largely of his money for the service of his country. The sisters found the old mansion a safe retreat, when their own houses were no longer protected from the incursions of the enemy. John Stevens settled in Round Valley. He was the grandfather of Edward, John, and Robert Livingston Stevens, who became the pioneers in the railroad and steamboat enterprises of our State. Robert when only twenty years old, took the Phoenix, a steamboat built by his father, and one of the first ever constructed, from New York around to Philadelphia, by sea, which is indisputably the first instance of ocean steam navigation. This was in 1808. Tradition says that Livingston, the associate of Robert Fulton, was a frequent visitor at Round Valley.
One of the first settlers in the neighborhood of White House was Baltes Pickel, who bought one thousand acres from the Budd and Logan tract, at the foot of Cushetunk Mt., now Pickles Mt. Abram Van Horn came from Monmouth to White House about 1749, he took up four hundred acres, south of the railroad and on both sides of the creek, along the turnpike. On the stream he built a mill. When Washington's army lay at Morristown, he was appointed forage master. In his mill he ground flour for the army and hauled it over. His barn was used as a storehouse for forage.
1 See life of Stirling, published by N. J. Historical Society.
14
HUNTERDON COUNTY.
In this barn, a company of Hessians, taken prisoners at Trenton, were lodged and fed, while on their way to Easton, Pa. This same barn afterwards was used as a house of worship for fifteen years, by the congregation of the Reformed Church.1
The settlement of Lebanon, at one time called Jacksonville, and Germantown, is connected with the settlement of German Valley. In 1707 a number of German Reformed people, who had been driven by persecution to Rhenish Prussia, and thence had gone to Holland, embarked for New York. But adverse winds carried their ship into Delaware Bay. Determined, however, to go to the place for which they set out, the banks of the Hudson, they started from Philadelphia and went up to New Hope ; there crossing the river they took the Old York Road. Precisely where this band came to the mountainous region is not known. But their vision was charmed with the tempting nature of the soil, and the streams. They found this whole region astir with pioneers, who were prospecting and settling. Abandoning therefore their original intention, they resolved to establish themselves on the good land around them. From them and their descendants, Germantown and German Valley derived their names. The names of these pioneers are yet found on the church record of Lebanon. Probably at New Germantown a few English people had already settled, and this was the first point occupied in Tewksbury township. Among these names are Johnson, Thompson, Cole, Plat, Ireland, Carlisle and Smith. Smith was a large land owner, and ambitious of founding a town. The first street was called Smith's lane, and the first name by which the settlement was known was Smithfield. About 1753 the village began to be called New Germantown. All the land which Smith sold was conveyed in the form of leases, running for one hundred years. Most of the land in and around the village, was bequeathed to Zion's Church, and was rented to
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