USA > New Jersey > Biographical, genealogical and descriptive history of the first congressional district of New Jersey, Volume I > Part 4
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Between 1712 and 1714 the region now known as Upper Pittsgrove and beyond it began to be settled by people from New York, Long Island, New England and East Jersey. The fever of emigration was in their blood; it has never wholly died out. John and Isaac Van Meter, Jacob Du Bois and his sister, Sarah Du Bois, from Ulster county, New York, located three thousand acres of land, purchased, in 1714, from Daniel Cox, of Burlington, New Jer- sey. They divided the tract by the compass, the Du Boises taking on the north side of the line; the Van Meters on the south side. The Van Meters continued to purchase until they owned a very large part of the land reach- ing from the overshot mill in Upper Alloway's Creek, near Daretown, south- erly southeast to Fork Bridge, about six thousand acres in all, and most of the titles to the lands held by the present occupants go back to the Van Meter titles.
A first-class school for that period was established by the new arrivals. Some of the most distinguished men of the state in subsequent years were proud of the learning obtained by them at the Pittsgrove College, as it was termed. John Moore White, an associate justice of the supreme court, and also attorney general, was educated there. Religious services (presumably after the Dutch Reformed order), and held in private houses and the school- house, were not neglected. The first house for public worship stood near the village of Woodstown. It went down soon after 1740. The date of its building and the memory of the site have passed away. May. 22, 1739, ap- plication was made by Isaac Van Meter to the Philadelphia Presbytery in be- half of himself and others, for the settlement of the gospel in Piles Grove.
In May, 1740, the Rev. David Evans, of Tredyffrin, Pennsylvania, began to preach to the congregation, and April 30, 1741, a Presbyterian church was organized when forty-nine members signed the covenant and were admitted to the enjoyment of the special ordinances of the gospel. The interesting list is taken from the "History of the Presbyterian Church of Pilesgrove, or Pittsgrove," in the compilation of which the Rev. Allen H. Brown labored assiduously. Mr. Brown is fitly called "a modern Paul." He has been the historian of the West Jersey Presbytery, a pastor, a presbyterial and a synod- ical missionary. The plan of synodical sustentation, the Brainerd me- morial fund, the monument to the Rev. John Boyd, unveiled in the old Scots' burial ground. Freehold, New Jersey, June 14. 1900. etc., are due to him.
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He has raised thousands of dollars in the prosecution of his work; his efforts in behalf of Sabbath observance and all his loving, self-denying services of more than half a century in New Jersey have been a living testimony to his belief in the doctrine that "the chief end of man is to glorify God."
Signers of the church covenant of the Presbyterian congregation at Piles- grove: Isaac Van Meter, Hannah (his wife), Henry Van Meter (their son), Sarah Van Meter (their daughter), Cornelius Nieukirk, Rachel (his wife), Abraham Nieukirk (their son), Barnet du Bois, Jacominchee (his wife). Lewis du Bois, Margaret (his wife), Anna (their daughter), Garret du Bois, Margaret (his wife), John Miller, Mary Moor (widow), Francis Tully, Han- nah (his wife), Jeremiah Garrison, Mary (his wife), Eleazar Smith, Mary (his wife), William Alderman, Abigail (his wife), John Rose, Mary (his wife), Si- mon Sparks, Jane (his wife), Thomas Sparks (their son), Elizabeth Sparks (their daughter), Richard Sparks, Elizabeth (his wife), John Craig, Mary (his wife), Sarah Carr, William Millar, Mary Sherry, Nathan Tarbel, Priscilla Tully, Hugh Moore, Hannah (his wife), Phebe Conklin (Robert Tully's wife), Peter Haas, James Dunlap, Elizabeth (his wife), Jacob du Bois, Jr., Joshua Garrison, Sarah (his wife), Joost Millar. The substantial brick building known as "the old church" was erected in 1767. The new church, opposite the parsonage, was dedicated August II, 1867.
John Van Meter's name does not appear in the covenant. He evidently went to Virginia after locating land in Salem county. According to the Hon. W. S. Laidley, of Charleston, West Virginia, a local historian, the first white people to traverse "the Valley of Virginia" were John and Isaac Van Metre. In 1725 John Van Metre is with the Delaware Indians on the hunt of the Catawbas. 'In 1730 both are in Williamsburg, where they took a council order for forty thousand acres of land, to settle the same by colony, etc. In his "Sketches of Virginia," Dr. Foote states that "Isaac Van Meter, the founder of Fort Pleasant, came to the South Branch of the Potomac in the year 1740, in company with some Cayuga Indians and laid a tomahawk right on what has been known for the last century as the Old Fields; he went back to his home and, in 1744, he moved there with his family."
A copy of the will of Isaac Van Metre "of the South Branch of Potow- mach in the county of Frederick, Virginia," made February 15, 1754, is re- corded at Trenton, New Jersey (Liber 12, 1763-1768). It was presented at court held in Hampshire county, Virginia, by Henry and Garret Van Metre, surviving executors, December 14, 1757. They qualified before the Salem county surrogate November 30, 1758 (where the name is written Van Meter). The will provides for his "dear wife, Hannah, as long as she shall live," and mentions the following children: Henry, Jacob, Garret, Sarah (the wife of
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John Richman), Catharine Van Metre, Rebecca Hite (the wife of Abraham Hite) and Helita Van Metre. The lands in the province of New Jersey are to remain under the respective leases, at their expiration to be sold at public vendue to the highest bidder; devises lands in Virginia, slaves and money. The children are to have the privilege of selling their land, but in that case the other children are to have the first offer, so they may keep it amongst them. Henry appeared to be living in Virginia at the time. Gar- rett, born in February, 1732, remained there. He was killed by the Indians near Fort Pleasant, April, 1788. Three of his seven children lived to marry and raise families: Isaac, Jacob and Ann. The daughter married Abel Sey- mour. He and Isaac Van Meter represented Hardy county in the assembly when the constitution of the United States was adopted. A southern Van Meter was a comrade of James Monroe in the war of 1812, and, when the latter became president, Colonel Van Meter spent two weeks with him as a guest in the White House. Van Meters are found in many of the southern and western states. "The Conquest of the Northwest." by W. H. English, of Indianapolis, Indiana, gives a roll of the officers and men who were with General George R. Clarke when he captured the forts in the northwest,- Kaskaskia, Vincennes, etc.,-in 1778. Land was allotted for other services, called the "Clarke Grant." Jacob Van Meter obtained 2.156 acres: Isaac Van Meter, 108 acres.
Soon after obtaining their warrant for forty thousand acres of land in Virginia, John and Isaac Van Mcter sold the same to Jost Hite (as he came to write his name), and two years later-in 1732-he and sixteen other fami- lies came from Pennsylvania and settled west of the Blue Ridge, south of the Potomac in the colony of Virginia. The Hites prospered. The descend- ants of John Hite and Sara Elting intermarried with the Washingtons. Those of Isaac Hite and Eleanor Elting with the Madisons, Maurys, Davi- sons and Meads. Abraham Hite and Rebecca Van Meter in after years went to Kentucky. That state is said to be full of their descendants. John Van Meter had a daughter, Elizabeth, who married Thomas Shepherd, formerly of Maryland. In 1734, Thomas Shepherd obtained grants of land in Virginia and laid out Mecklenburg and Shepherdstown. The Shepherd descendants live there yet. This family intermarried with the Lees.
Henry Van Meter returned to Pittsgrove. He is said to have married four times. His will, recorded at Trenton, New Jersey, is dated May 2. 1752; proved December 8, 1759. The following children are named in it: Joseph, David, John, Ephraim, Fetters, Benjamin, Jacob), Elizabeth and Re- becca. All the land, two thousand four hundred acres, was left: to the sons. Joseph was one of the elders chosen by the Pittsgrove church in 1762 to
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assist in improving the methods for raising the minister's salary. Little is known of any of Henry's children and their numerous descendants except the line of Benjamin. He was born in October, 1744, and was the son of the last wife, Mary Le Fevre, a daughter of Erasmus Le Fevre (afterward corrupted to Fetters), a French Huguenot who with his wife emigrated about 1685 to Salem from England, whither they had fled. Others of the name became celebrated in England as chemists, physicians, silk manufac- turers, etc. "The history of the Le Fevres in the United States" (or a similar title), by Ralph Le Fevre, of New Paltz, New York, is soon to be published. The Erasmus Le Fevre and his wife who came to Salem (be- lieved to be of the same family as Hypolite Le Fevre), were members of the Society of Friends. They had six children: Erasmus, Thomas, Sarah, Mary, Hannah and another daughter whose name is not given. Thomas Shourds, in his "History of Fenwick's Colony." has traced a part of their descendants.
Benjamin Van Meter married Bathsheba Dunlap, who was born in Oc- tober. 1747, a daughter of James Dunlap, Jr., Gentleman, of Pittsgrove. His commission as Captain was given by Governor Franklin April 22, 1773. He died September 19. 1773. aged forty-eight years. He was a son of Captain James Dunlap, Sr .. of Penn's Neck. The Dunlaps (Protestant) came from Ireland to Delaware, thence to Salem county, where they began to purchase property in 1692. The senior Dunlap died in 1758. His will mentions these children: John, James, Thomas, Mary Ann. James, Jr., married Anne Hunter. They had one son and two daughters,-Bathsheba and Mary. Anne Hunter Dunlap died January 16, 1780. She was a daugh- ter of Robert Hunter, who came from East Jersey to Lower Alloway's Creek township, where he died, leaving a widow and two daughters,-Anne and Mary. He is believed to be a descendant of the colonial governor of the same name. The Hunters were distinguished for their prominence in the pulpit and state offices and for their learning and eloquence. Mary Hunter married Samuel Purviance, a merchant of Philadelphia. They had one son, Samuel, and three daughters. Samuel Purviance, his wife and son are buried in the old Presbyterian cemetery at Pittsgrove. One daughter married William P. Leigh, of Virginia. The eldest daughter of Samuel and Mary Hunter Pur- viance was Mary, who was twice married. First, to the Rev. Samuel Eakin, pastor of the Presbyterian church at Penn's Neck (also called Quihawken). He was an eloquent preacher and an ardent patriot. Their children were Samuel Hunter, Ann, Susan and Joanna. Samuel Hunter Eakin married Constance Duminé; he held a position in France under the United States government. Their son Alphonso L. settled in Salem to practice law; he
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married Eliza J. Sherron. They had two sons, Louis and Constant M. The former died in his youth; the latter married Maria Smith and was the presi- dent of the Salem National Banking Company at the time of his death. They had two daughters,-Eleanor Yorke and Constance Dumine. Joanna Eakin married Isaac Hazelhurst. She died in 1809, leaving five children, Richard Hunter, Samuel, Isaac, Jr., Andrew Purviance and Mary. After the death of the Rev. Samuel Eakin, his widow married Dr. David Greenman, a son of the Rev. Nehemiah Greenman. The latter was the pastor of the Pilesgrove (now Pittsgrove) Presbyterian church from 1753 to 1779. He also supplied the churches at Penn's Neck and Log Town (in Lower Alloway's Creek town- ship). Rev. Nehemiah Greenman is buried in the Pittsgrove cemetery. Dr. David Greenman and his wife lived in Burlington, New Jersey, where he died during the first epidemic of yellow fever in 1793. They had one child, Joanna, who married George Bartram Shiras, of Mount Holly. One of their children was James Eakin Shiras. His daughter, Mary Purviance, is descended through her mother from Philip Chetwood and his wife, Sarah Ashton, who lived and died in Salem. Their only remaining child, John, was carried on a pillow by his uncle, William Chetwood, on horseback, to Eliza- beth, New Jersey. He became a justice of the supreme court of New Jersey. Mary Purviance Shiras married B. Howell Campbell, of Elizabeth. They had one child, a son; and Mr. Campbell traces his ancestry through the Howells, of Salem, New Jersey, to John Ladd, who assisted in making the survey of Philadelphia for William Penn. How many families all over this and other states are linked to Salem! Mrs. Mary Purviance Shiras Camp- bell, of Elizabeth, and Miss Anna Hunter Van Meter, of Salem, are both of the sixth generation from Robert Hunter. The former descended from Mary Hunter; the latter, from Anne Hunter. They met for the first time at the gathering of the Colonial Dames of New Jersey, in Salem, October 12, 1899, and the next day they stood together at the family graves in the ancient burial place in Pittsgrove.
Benjamin Van Meter and his wife, Bathsheba Dunlap, lived on his an- cestral estate in what is now Upper Pittsgrove township. The husband was a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church. He was a slave-owner, but, yield- ing to his convictions of the injustice of the system, he liberated all his slaves before his death. He had been so kind a master, however, some of them refused to leave him. Benjamin Van Meter departed this life October 15, 1826. His wife died November 7, 1831, death claiming them both at eighty- five years of age. Their children were James, Mary, Ann, Sarah, Erasmus, Fetters, Robert Hunter and Bathsheba. Sarah and Fetters died in their infancy. Five married, from each of whom there are one or more living de-
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scendants at this date (1900). Mary married Matthew Newkirk; Erasmus, Mary Burroughs; Bathsheba married William Mayhew. James and Robert Hunter became identified with Salem.
James Van Meter, the oldest child of Benjamin and Bathsheba (Dunlap) Van Meter, was born May 12, 1767, was educated at the Pittsgrove College, studied under Dr. Harris, a noted physician in the locality, attended lectures at the University of Pennsylvania in 1789, was examined by Drs. Scott and Sayre, of Burlington, New Jersey, licensed by two justices of the supreme court and admitted to practice his profession May 5, 1790. After a year at Hancock's Bridge, he came to Salem, where he had an extensive practice until his death, January 26, 1847. His biographer says: "No physician, I believe, ever lived in this county possessing a more spotless reputation, nor did there ever die one more sincerely regretted. In his professional and private life he was a blessing and an ornament to the community." He was a surgeon in the war of 1812 (in the locality). He was one of the founders of the Presbyterian church in Salem, united with it in 1824, and was chosen for a ruling elder in 1828. He bequeathed the Dunlap farm, inherited from his mother, to the church. He married Ruth Jones, a daughter of Thomas Jones, a leading business man and a Revolutionary hero, March 14, 1798. Mrs. Ruth Jones Van Meter was the first treasurer of the Female Benevolent Society, organized in 1817, and the first superintendent of the Presbyterian Sabbath-school, organized in 1824.
Their only child, Thomas Jones Van Meter, born February 25, 1799, after a classical education at the college of New Jersey, in Princeton, gradu- ated as a physician in Philadelphia, but he never practiced outside of the family owing to deafness, giving his attention to reading and the care of his inherited estates. He married Hannah Foster Keasbey, daughter of Anthony and Hannah Keasbey, of Salem, April 12, 1826. Mrs. Hannah Van Meter took a lively interest in social and church affairs. She died in March, 1871. Dr. Thomas Jones Van Meter died August 14, 1885. There were four chil- dren by this marriage,-Thomas Jones, Artemisia Keasbey, Martha Jones and James Anthony. The first child died in his infancy, the last in his child- hood. The daughters were prominent, socially, in the years of their strength, active in the work of the town, particularly during the civil war, in the Ladies' Aid Society, but they have been especially distinguished for private benevo- lence and attachment to the Presbyterian church, with which they united. Miss Artemisia Keasbey Van Meter died January 16, 1900. Her sister, Miss Martha Jones Van Meter, is the only living descendant of Dr. James and Ruth (Jones) Van Meter. Her home is still in the house built on property, inherited by her mother, in the Keasbey family from 1709, and the Jones
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and Van Meter estates have never been sold. Few families in the county or in the country have retained ownership and occupancy of land for so many years. The tenure of tenants has been more like the English than the usual American custom.
Robert Hunter Van Meter, the seventh child of Benjamin and Bathsheba (Dunlap) Van Meter, was born on his father's farm November 29, 1778, and educated at the Pittsgrove College. He studied medicine in the office of his brother, Dr. James Van Meter, in Salem, and spent his winters in Phila- delphia, attending lectures. Certificates were given him by Drs. Benjamin Rush and James Woodhouse, of the University of Pennsylvania, in March, 1800, and Drs. James Stratton and Ebenezer Elmer, of Bridgeton, New Jer- sey. He received his license, as a physician and surgeon, from the supreme court June 10, 1800, and began his professional life in Pittsgrove. He mar- ried Rachel Burroughs, of the same place, who lived only three months. His second wife was Sarah Leake Whitaker, a daughter of Ambrose and Rachel (Leake) Whitaker. They were married November 21, 1804. He came with his family to Salem in March, 1810. In the war of 1812 he was drafted to go to Canada, but he was transferred to the care of the sick and wounded of the regiment then stationed at Salem for the protection of the Delaware and its branches. "The old jail at the corner"-an expression familiar to former generations-was used as a hospital. Dr. Robert Hunter Van Meter held various offices and represented his county in the state legislature. He was a man of scientific tastes and of much intellectual vigor. His practice was large and attended by much exposure, but he was untiring, by night and day, often himself more ill than his patients. He has the honor of being the first resident Presbyterian in Salem, having united with the church of that faith in Pittsgrove. He was one of the founders of the Salem Presby- terian church in 1821, one of the first elders chosen, the same year, and re- markably devoted to it, giving, as has been said, his time, prayers and money with cordial zeal and affection. It was he who collected four hundred dol- lars in one day toward the erection of a building, a large sum for the period and people interested. He died March 14, 1839, after a short but severe illness. His wife died August 18, 1841, in her sixtieth year.
Of their eight children three-James, Robert and Josiah-died in their infancy. The five who lived to maturity were Emma, Mary, Edward, Mason and Harriet. Emma, born September 25, 1805, rendered an important ser- vice to the future historians of the Salem Presbyterian church. She began, at the request of her father, its history from the time of the laying of the corner-stone, with such antecedent facts relating to the churches of Penn's Neck and Logtown as she could gather. She was then sixteen years of age.
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Her impartial account of its rise and progress with biographical sketches of the pastors was continued to 1856. Miss Emma Van Meter died near Balti- more, Maryland, November 15, 1869. Mary Van Meter, born March 2, 1808, married Enos R. Pease, of Connecticut, April 6, 1833. She died April 17, 1834, leaving an infant son, Alvin Robert, who died at Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, in 1851. Although so young, he was the organist in a church there and had composed a piece of music to which he gave the name of Salem.
Edward Van Meter, born November 25, I811, was educated in the excel- lent private schools (taught by clergymen) for which Salem was then noted. He began the study of law in the office of Francis L. Macculloch, but before his studies were completed he abandoned them for mercantile pursuits. In 1848, he was unanimously elected a justice of the peace and continued to be re-elected until he declined to serve. He finally returned to the study of law, finishing his course under Alphonso L. Eakin and was admitted to the bar in 1864.
The "History of Salem County" gives the following pen picture: "Per- haps no man was better known in Salem county than Edward Van Meter; for, during an unusually busy life as student, merchant, magistrate and law- yer, most of which was passed in his native place, the public eye was con- stantly upon him. His intercourse with all classes of people was such that he may be said to have been an encyclopedia of the public affairs of Salem county, and he was thoroughly posted on the status of every business man. As a lawyer, his practice was large; not as an advocate in the courts, for deafness, with which he had been afflicted for many years, precluded such public efforts, but in his office, where clients constantly solicited his advice and counsel. In real estate and agricultural matters his judgment was al- ways sought, and few men in the county knew as well as he the values of the various plantations for production and investment. He was prompt and correct in business, keen in judgment, quick in action, energetic in his every movement, self-assured in his ventures, and thus a type of the rare class of men who depend upon themselves. A love of good horses, a family trait, was one of his prominent characteristics, and his name is well known to the horsemen of the country through his correspondence with Mr. J. H. Wal- lace. His knowledge of the local horse history of West and South Jersey was wonderfully extensive and accurate." He died January 4, 1875.
He married Caroline Whitaker, of Deerfield, Cumberland county, New Jersey, a daughter of Isaac Whitaker, Esq., and Ann Fithian, December 14. 1847. Mrs. Van Meter is still living. Their children are Mary Caroline, Harriet F. and Anna Hunter, all of whom have been with their mother
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actively identified with the work of the Presbyterian church, of which they are members, and with philanthropic efforts in the town. They were care- fully educated at private schools in Salem and at Ivy Hall Seminary, Bridge- ton, New Jersey. They have the pens of ready writers, evidenced in the papers prepared for the Woman's Club and other organizations. At the present time, M. Caroline is a director in the Needlework Guild. She is musical, esthetic and artistic. Harriet F. is the recording secretary of the local W. C. T. U., having previously served as the president of the Loyal Legion and president of the Y.'s. She is the chairman of the temperance committee in the Presbyterian church, and frequently writes for the local papers in behalf of the cause. A paper written by her for a county W. C. T. U. convention has been printed as a leaflet. She is the superintendent of the primary department of the Sabbath-school and has, at different periods, held various offices in the local church; for nineteen years she has been the secre- tary of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the West Jersey Presby- tery. Anna Hunter is the secretary of the Society for Organizing Charity in the City of Salem; also, of the county work in the State Charities Aid Asso- ciation, represented in its board of managers, and she is a director of the New Jersey Legal Aid Association. Her book, "Relics of Ye Olden Days in Salem County, New Jersey, U. S. A.," was the outcome of labors for the World's Fair of 1893, and was published at her own expense. She was at the head of the Salem county committee to gather antique furniture for Mrs. Potter Palmer's private office in the Woman's Building, that memorable year in Chicago, the ancient things going and returning in safety; a trustee of Evelyn College, Princeton, New Jersey, during its brief existence; the treasurer of the Sabbath-school; officially connected with church missionary work, locally, and in the presbytery; and is given to genealogical studies.
Mason Van Meter, the sixth child of Dr. Robert Hunter Van Meter and Sarah Leake Whitaker, was born February 2, 1815. He has always resided in Salem. He was formerly engaged in the grain business, but for many years past he has led a life of leisure. He is the president of the Fenwick Club, a social organization limited to twenty members, formed October 23, 1848. Of the two original members now living, only Mr. Van Meter remains an active member of the club.
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