USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > Early Dutch Settlers of Monmouth County, New Jersey > Part 14
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Jannetje, (Jane) bapt. April 15, 1753.
John, bapt. August 24, 1755 ; m. Sarah Hen- drickson.
Catharine and Mary (twins) bapt. June 22. 1758.
William, bapt. June 22, 1760.
Eleanor or Nelly, bapt. Feb. 13, 1763: m. Jacob Schenck.
I am under the impression that one or more of their children became own- ers of a tract of land on the south side of Wreck Pond in the present township of Wall, but then Shrewsbury. I am, however, in possession of no facts to prove this. The son William, baptized June 22, 1760, married Martha Ward. His will is recorded in Book C of Wills, p. 136, Monmouth Surrogate's office. It was dated March 28, 1828, and proved August 31, 1829.
3 .- Gilbert, b. Jannary 14, 1722, bap. Feb. 4 following, and died unmarried.
4 .- Jannetje, b. October 29, 1724; m. Aart, son of Guysbert Sutphen and Geertrury Van- Pelt, his wife. He was bap. April 13, 1718.
This couple had the following children bap- tized :
Guisbert, bap. August 20, 1743 ; Jan, Nov- ember 3, 1745 : Geertje, February 14, 1748.
5. Neeltje, bap. August 14, 1728; m. John VanLieu, (no other knowledge).
6. - Marya, b. January 7. 1731 ; m. first, Peter Lefferts, second, John Bennett. By Peter Lefferts she had
Maria, bap. August 3, 1760; m. Barnes J. Smock : d. January 27, 1832, aged 71 years, 10 months, according to her tombstone in the Lefferts and Logan graveyard on the old Gar- ret Schanck farm near Vanderburg in Atlan- tic township. Her husband, known as Capt. Barnes J. Smock of the Monmouth militia dur- ing the greater part of our Revolutionary war, and at its close as Col. Smock, was born Jan- uary 29, 1756 ; d. January 30, 1834, aged 78 years and 1 day, according to the inscription on his tombstone, is buried by her side.+
Krinjans, bap, February 14, 1762.
John, buried in Lefferts and Logan grave- yard. Tombstone gives date of death Nov. 8, 1836, aged 74 years, 11 mo., 20 d. His wife, Zilpha, is buried by his side.
Lefferts, I think he is the Leffert Lefferts who owned and resided on a farm in Upper Freehold township during the middle part of the last century.
Engeltje, b. March 31, 1755.
7 .- Eyda (Ida) b. February 12, 1733; bap. March 14 following ; m. Benjamin, son of Jan Derrickse Sutphen and Engeltje Bennett, his wife. He was bap. November 14, 1758.
8 .- John b. February 7. 1735 ; died young.
9 .- Cornelia or Catharine, b. July 4, 1737 : m. Stoffe (Christopher) Logan, and d. Jan- uary 19, 1806 ; buried in Lefferts and Logan yard. Her husband's tombstone gives date of his death November 11, 1823 ; age 89 y, 3 mos, 13 d. They had the following children :
Sarah, b. April 14, 1760; m. John L. Ben- nett ; buried in Lefferts Logan graveyard. Tombstone gives date of death March 6, 1833. age 72 y, 10 m, 22 d. I er husband died Nov- ember 27, 1843, aged 86 y, 7 m, 27 d., accord- ing to his tombstone.
Eyda, b. 1760, died young.
Eyda, b. , and perhaps others.
10 .- Cornelius, bap. August 14, 1789.
11 .- Geertje, bap. November 27, 1734: m. about 1764, Aart VanDerbilt, and had the following children baptized :
Hendrick, January 20, 1765.
Ida, August 16, 1767.
Aaron, June 16, 1776.
Jeremiah and Joseph, (twins), Dec. 16, 1788.
The descendants of John VanMater and Ida Suydam, his wife, seem to have removed from Monmouth county, so far as there are any male descendants now (1899) bearing the VanMater name. 1 am unable to state when they removed or where they settled. Besides, many of their descendants who emigrated to other parts of New Jersey and other states, adopted different ways of spell- ing their surnames, as VanMeter, Van- Marter. VanMeteren, VanMetere, etc.
EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
+ Colonel Barnes J. Smock's will is recorded in Book C of Wills, p. 340, etc., Monmonth Surrogate's office. It is dated October 17. 1832, proved February 10, 1834. He describes himself as a resident of Middletown township. He gives Philip Tunison, son of his sister Rebecca, $200. To children of his sister. Eleanor Longstreet, $300. To Catherine Wil- hurt and Phoebe Stephen, children of his sis- ter, Sarah Smock, $200. To John Lefferts, brother of his deceased wife, $500; to chil- dren of his sister, Phoebe Longstreet, $500. The residue of his estate is given absolutely to the celebrated lawyer of that day in New Jersey, Garret D. Wall, who is also made sole executor. During the war Col. Smock had been taken prisoner by some of the Monmonth Tories and incarcerated in the Sugar House, where he suffered great hardships and indig- nities at the hands of the infamous Cunning- ham. He was once taken out to be executed, but by the intercession of Col. Elisha Law- rence, who commanded a battalion of the American Loyalists and who had been sheriff of Monmouth under the King, and who knew Smock, he was reprieved. He never forgot or forgave these insults He was a man of gigantic size, with very long legs, and was nicknamed "Leggy Barnes," on this account. He had a fierce temper which flashed out like fire. With him it was a word and a hlow and the blow often came first. The Tories and such as sympathized with them he hated with a bitter hatred, and on the slightest provo- cation would assault them with great violence. Our court records for many years after the Revolutionary war show many indictments against him for assault and battery. He was
generally defended by Garret D. Wall, who either cleared him or got him off with a mod- erate fine. In gratitude for these services he made this lawyer his residnary legatee and devisee, for he had no children. There are many stories told of his daring and adven- tures. He is said to have met his death in trying to drive for a wager close along the high bluff on the south side of the Shrewsbury river about opposite the Globe Hotel in Red Bank. That a portion of the sod near the edge of the bluff had been undermined by a late storm, and when the wheel of his car- riage struck there it caved, and threw car- riage and horses from the top of the bluff to the beach below. Strange to say neither his horses nor his negro driver were hurt, but he had his neck broken. Such was the end of one of the most reckless, stubborn and fiercest of the Monmouth officers in the Revolution. He was as strong in his friendships as he was bitter in his enmities. He owned and resided on the farm next to the Charles Lloyd farm, in the present township of Holmdel, owned and occupied by Joseph I. VanMater until recently. The Charles Lloyd farm was owned and occupied by Barnes Smock of the Artillery Company, and his son Barnes lived on the adjoining farm where the children of John I. Crawford now reside. Col. Barnes J. Smock owned a horse called Paoli. He thought more of this horse than of anything else in the world. Many stories are told of the intelli- gence and affection displayed by this animal for his master. In some of the accounts of the fatal accident at Red Bank, it is said he was riding Paoli, and was not in a carriage. I do not know which is the correct version.
GILBERT VAN MATER, HIS DESCENDANTS, AND HIS WILL.
Gilbert VanMater, second son of Kleijn Janse by Micha Hendrickson, his wife, had the following children:
Cyrenins, baptized December 15, 1725: mar- ried Mary Heard.
Daniel, b. January 23. 1728, m. December 29, 1754, Mary, daughter of Rulif Corneliuse Cov- enhoven and Sarah Voorhees, his wife. She was horn July 16, bap. August 26, 1737 ; d. Novem- ber 8, 1767, and interred in VanMater grave- yard; her age is stated on the tombstone as 30 years, 3 months and 11 days. Daniel died in London, England, October 8, 1786, and ac- cording to tradition in the VanMater family 'vas honored by interment in Westminster Abbey.
John, bap. August 23, 1731; m. Elizabeth Carroll, Carle or Kerle.
Neeltje, (Eleanor) b. in 1733; m. February 22, 1775, Edmund Bainbridge ..
Edmund or Edmond Bainbridge with John Anderson (clerk) and two others, were indict- " ed for a riot in 1747. [Vol. VII, N. J. Arch. page 455. | The coincidence of names, for bove Edmund Bainbridge's wife was a niece of John Anderson who married her father's sis-
ter, indicates the same family. Edmund Bain- bridge and Simon Wyckoff headed a crowd of men who knocked down the sheriff of Middle- sex county, and broke open the jail at Amboy to release John Bainbridge, Jr., on the 17th of July, 1747. See the letter of Sheriff Deare. and the affidavit of particulars on pages 463 to 471, Vol. VII, N. J. Arch. Also charge of Judge Neville to the grand jury, page 456. Idem .- Also letter of Robert H. Morris, page 471. Idem .- This Morris was then Chief Jus- tice of New Jersey, and had been lifted to this high position by his father, Lewis Morris, Governor of New Jersey. The artfulness and craft shown in this letter mark him as a true chip of the old block. His father, Lewis Mor- ris, died in 1746, in the midst of popular tu- mults and disorders similar to those which oc- curred at the beginning of his political career in 1699-1700, and cansed by similar selfish ex- actions and ruthless measures of the Propri- etors. I am in doubt as to what relationship if any, existed between this Edmund Bain- bridge who married Eleanor VanMater and the Edmund who was implicated in this out- break of 1747. John Anderson married Angel- ina VanMater prior to 1747.
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EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MMONMOUTH.
Hendrick, or l'arry, bap. September 11, 1737, went to England with his brother Daniel, after the Revolutionary war, and was in England at the time of his brother's death. Since then nothing was ever heard of him so far as I can learn.
Joseph, bap. September 30, 1739, m. Cath- arine, daughter of James Kearney of Chin- queroras, as the region about Keyport was then called. She was b. July 26, 1752, and died May 10, 1807, aged 54 years, 9 months and 20 days, and is buried by her second hus- band, Rulif VanMater, in the VanMater cem- etery.
Catharine, bap. February 20, 1742 ; m. Octo- ber 7, 1788, Stephen Jones.
The following is a copy of the will of Gilbert VanMater, father of the above seven children:
Will of Guysbert (Gilbert) VanMater.
In the name of God, Amen. 1 Gisbert Van- Mater of Freehold, in the County of Monmonth and the Eastern division of the Province of New Jersey, being weak in body but of sound, disposing mind, and memory ; considering the uncertainty of this life, do make this to be my Last Will and Testament. In manner follow- ing :
And first recommending my Soul into the hands of Almighty God, who gave it; into whose Kingdom notwithstanding my own un- worthiness, I hope to be received through the merits and intercession of my blessed Savior. and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. My body I will to be buried at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter named.
And as touching such temporal estate where- with it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I will, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner, and form :
First I will that all my just debts be duly and truly paid in some convenient time after my decease, by my three youngest sons, John, Hendrick and Joseph.
Item. I have already given to my two eldest sons, Cyrenius and Daniel VanMater, a planta- tion I formerly owned at the Scotch Meeting House, and to my eldest son Cyrenius, a negro wench-Nann-and my long gun for his birthright, and other goods and chattels ; and to my son Daniel his negro Frank and other goods and chattels. I have already given my two eldest sons what I intend to give them. Secondly I give, devise and be- queath to my three youngest sons, John, Hendrick and Joseph, all my real estate, lands, and meadows whatsoever, and rights of lands which I am now seized and possessed of, in- terested in or entitled to, and to their heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns for- ever. To each an equal third in quantity, and in quality, to be divided by my executors here- inafter named. If my above named three sons or either of them, choses, it to be upon them- selves, after the above named debts are paid or before, if my executors think fitt and proper.
Item. 1 give, devise and bequeath to my eldest danghter Nelly, my negro wench Matt, and her child Sally, and a horse and saddle and three cows, and fifty pounds in money.
at eight shillings per ounce, for her outset, if she marry within the term of six years. If she should not in six years, then at the expiration of six years to be paid to her out of my estate, the aforesaid fifty pounds and three cows.
Item. My will is that my son John shall pay to my daughter Nelly the sum of fifty pounos money as aforesaid for part of her legacy, on or before six years after my death.
Item. My will is that my son Hendrick shall pay to my danghter Nelly the sum of fifty pounds, money as aforesaid, for part of her legacy on or before seven years after my decease.
Item. My will is that my son Joseph shall pay to my daughter Nelly the sum of fifty pounds, money as aforesaid, for the last part of her legacy on or before the term of eight years after my decease.
Item. I give and bequeath to my youngest daughter, Catharine, my negro wench Maryann and horse and saddle, and, when she marries, three cows and fity pounds in money as afore- said for her outset ; but if she shall not marry within the term of six years then the fifty pounds and three cows to be paid to her out of my estate.
Item. It is my will that my son John shall pay to my daughter Catharine, the sum of fifty pounds money aforesaid, on or before the term of nine years after my decease, for part of her legacy.
Item. It is my will that my son Hendrick shall pay to my daughter Catharine the sum of fifty pounds money aforesaid, before nine years after my decease, for part of her legacy.
Item. It is my will that my son Joseph shall pay to my daughter Catharine the sum of fifty pounds money as aforesaid, on or be- fore the term of ten years after my decease for the last part of her legacy.
I mean in the whole, to be paid to my daughters two hundred pounds in cash each, as before described already.
Item. In case either of my daughters should lose their negro wenches, which I have given them, either Matt or Maryann (but not Sally) then I give either Pegg or Betty, as they shall see canse to chose, or both if they should die, they said Matt and Maryann. That is before my said daughters should marry, or either of them: but if married and then die, then no other in their stead or after the ex- piration of six years.
Item. I give, devise and bequeath the re- maining part of my negroes to my youngest three sons, John, Hendrick and Joseph, to be equally divided amongst them, as my executors shall see fitt, excepting them already given.
Item. I give devise and bequeath all my household goods within doors, equally to be divided amongst my three youngest sons and two daughters, to be divided in six years after my decease equally.
Item. I give devise and bequeath the re- maining part of my stock, goods and chattels, and all my farmer utensils, cattle, horses, sheep, and hogs, excepting what before I have given, to my three sons, John, Hendrick and Joseph, to be equally divided amongst them at the discretion of my executors.
Item. It is my will that if my executors should think my daughters should not be well used by my sons or either of them, to be in
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EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
their power to board them at their discretion at such place and places as they shall see cause, out of my estate, until .they marry of until their legacies become due.
Item. My will is that, if either of my daughters should die without issue of their body, then the other to be heir.
Item. My will is if either of my sons die without issue of their body, the others of my sons to be their heirs and the said lands to fall to them living.
And lastly I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my two eldest sons, Cyrenius and Daniel VanMater, both of the County of Monmouth aforesaid, to be executors of this My Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me in anywise heretofore made, and declaring this to be my Last Will and Testament. In witness whereof 1 have hereunto put my hand and seal the - day of October in the year 1758.
GISBERT VANMATER. (L. S.)
The copy is in possession of Mrs. Margaret Fick, wife of ex-sheriff Fick of New Brunswick, Middlesex county, N. J. She was a daughter of Joseph VanMater and Margaret Rapelje, his wife, born July 6, 1860, and grand- daughter of Holmes VanMater and Micha, his wife, (daughter of Gilbert VanMater, grandson of above testator, who resided on Long Island.)
I do not know whether the will was admitted to probate, but presume it was, or else the devisees and legatees therein named were, VanMater like. governed by their father's wishes with- out regard to any legal compulsion, For the court records of Monmouth county show that the VanMaters have seldom engaged in litigation, either among themselves over family settlements, or with their neighbors. I do not know of any divorce or criminal suits among the past generation of the family. They have minded their own business and let others alone. Neither have they courted popularity for the sake of office or honors, but if anything have been re- tiring and modest in their claims and assumptions. They have as honorable record as any family in the county, considering their numbers and the long time they have resided in Monmouth.
Cyrenius, the eldest son named in the above will, was a miller and farmer. By his wife, Meary Heard, he had the following children:
John H., born (there Is no record, he may have died young). Gilbert, born died single in 1807. Leaves a will recorded in Book A of Wills, p. 194, Surrogate's office of Monmouth. It is dated May 6 and proved May 12, 1807.
William, born Nov. 27, 1772, married Dec- ember 24, 1797, Mary, daughter of Garret Hendrickson and his second wife, Lena Van- Liew, and died May 9, 1844. Mary Hendrick-
son, his wife, was baptized May 2, 1779. Mary, baptized, died unmarried in [813, leaves will dated April 19, 1808, proved Sept. 25, 1813, recorded in book A of wills, p. 662. Monmouth Surrogate's office. She des- cribes herself as the daughter of Cyrenius VanMater, a miller. She mentions Cyrenius, son of her brother William VanMater, and Mary, daughter of her sister Micha, wife of Samuel Tilton. She devises all her property in fee to Cyrenius Tilton, son of her sister Micha. John W. Holmes and Micha Tilton are appointed executors.
Maykee (Micha) born - , married Samuel Tilton.
Phoebe, born December 21, 1773, married January 20, 1791, Hendrick, son of Garret Hendrickson and Catharine Denise, his wife, died, March 12, 1836. +
Phoebe VanMater and Hendrick Hen- drickson, aforesaid, had the following children :
Mary or Polly, bap. Oct. 30, 1791.
Garrett, bap. Oct. 13, 1793, d. March 6, 1800.
William Heard, b. Sept. 22, 1795, d. Aug. 9, 1855, buried in homestead yard aforesaid.
Eleanor, b. Dec. 7, 1797, d. June 22. 1806.
Garrett, b. Feb. 21, 1800, d. June 3, 1866, m. Angelina, daughter of Wynant Bennett of Long Island, who was born July 13, 1813, d. Sept. 24, 1876. Both buried in Long Island. Cyrenius, b. Mar. 30, 1802, m. Sept. 18, 1823. Ida, daughter of Joseph VanMater and Ida Hendrickson, his wife, d. May 17, 1870, buried on homestead farm at Holland aforesaid.
Denyse, b. Jaly 4, 1804.
Elinor, b. May 11, 1806.
Catharine, born-no record.
William VanMater, born November 27, 1772, by his wife, Mary Hendrick- son, had the following children:
Cyrenius, b. July 1, 1798 ; m. Elinor Een- drickson ; d. Dec. 18, 1882.
Rulif, b. - , who went West and settled there.
Gilbert, b. July 10, 1802; m. Sarah Taylor ; d. Feb. 6, 1881. Garret, b. , m. Harriet Hopping ; d. at Chapel Hill in 1879, leaving two children,
t A marriage license was granted to Garrett Hendrickson, (son of Hendrick Hendrickson and Neeltje Garretse Schanck, his wife) and Catharine (daughter of Tunis Denise and Francyntje Hendrickson, his wife) December 8, 1755. Garrett Hendrickson died December 18, 1801, aged 67 years, 10 months and 10 days, according to his tombstone in the Hen- drickson burying ground on farm of late Sen- ator W. H. 1.endrickson at Holland in Holm- del township. His wife, Catherine Denise, is interred by his side. She was born May 8, 1732, baptized June 4th following, and died September 8, 1771, aged 39 years, 4 months. Hendrick, their son, and Phoebe VanMater, his wife, are also buried in this graveyard. Hen- drick died June 6. 1837, aged 72 years, 10 months and 7 days. Phoebe, his wife, died Mar. 12, 1836, aged 62 years, 2 months and 2 days.
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EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
John H. and Mary. John H. VanMater is now a practicing physician of good standing at Atlantic Highlands. Garret VanMater left a will and codicil. The last was dated Dec. 13, 1878; proved Sept. 6, 1879; recorded in book M of wills, p. 494, Monmouth Surro- gate's office.
Elinor, b. 1815,
Catharine, b. ----; m. William Story.
Daniel, second son of Gilbert Van- Mater, and Micha Hendrickson, married Mary Conover aforesaid, and had the following children:
Tryntje, (Catharine) b. Ap. 5, 1756 ; m. Aug. 14, 1774, Henry Disbrow and had three sons and one daughter Mary, who married Rev. Henry Polhemus. One of his sons, John H. Disbrow, married Sarah VanMater, his cousin.
Sarah, b. Ang. 13, 1769 ; m. Benjamin Van- Mater July 12, 1778, d. Sept. 5, 1840 ; buried in VanMater yard by her husband.
Gilbert, b. June 7, 1762; m. Margaret Sprague, widow of a Rapelye on Long Island. He removed to Brooklyn and lived on Long Island until his death, July 6, 1832. He had six daughters and two sons. One of his daughters, Sarah, b. Aug. 15, 1793, m. her cousin, John Henry Disbrow, above mentioned. Another daughter, Micha, b. Aug. 21, 1795, m. Holmes, son of Chrineyonce VanMater and Huldah Holmes, his wife. Holmes VanMater resided on the Academy farm in the village of Holmdel and was famous for his fast and thoroughbred horses.
Micah, b. Jan. 20, 1764, m. first Daniel Pol- hemus who died Jan. 29, 1820, aged 57 years, and married second George Clark.
Nelly, b. July 20, 1766, d. in infancy.
Jan or John, third son of Gilbert VanMater and Micha Hendrickson, mar- ried Elizabeth Carrol, Carle or Kerle, and had at least two daughters.
The fifth son of Gilbert VanMater and Micha Hendrickson was Joseph, who
married Catharine Kearney, or Karney, as they spelled it. The descendants of this couple became known as the "Kearny VanMaters," and were noted for the marked difference in their char- acters, from the past generations of the family, and from the descendants of the other branches. They had the fol- lowing children:
Rulif, bap. July 16, 1775,-no other record. Joseph Kearney, b. ; m. Sept. 10, 1794. Ida Hendrickson, daughter of Garrett Hen- drickson and Lena VanLieu, his sceond wife. He owned and resided on a farm west of Colts Neck and on the south side of the turnpike to Freehold, nearly opposite the Thomas Ryall farm, formerly known as the Stoutenburg farm.
There were other children, but I have no record of them.
Joseph K. VanMater, by his wife, Ida Hendrickson, had the following chil- dren:
Ida, b. May, 1795, m. Sept. 18, 1823, Cyren- ius Hendrickson of Pleasant Valley, and were the parents of the late I enry D. Hendrickson, so well known to the present generation of people in this county, and of Catharine, wife of the late Joseph L. Tunis, who owned and resided on a farm near Wickatunk and died a few years ago.
James Kearny, b. Nov. 11, 1807, m. Eliza- beth VanMater and died childless on Nov. 25, 1850. His will is dated March 24, 1849 ; proved Dec. 12, 1850, and recorded in Book F of Wills, p. 44. He leaves all his personal and real property equally to his three sisters, Ida, wife of Cyrenius Hendrickson, Ann K. Van- Mater and Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Probasco.
Ann K., b. May 11, 1815, m. Benjamin Van- derveer.
Elizabeth, b. Feb. 1, 1820, m. Joseph Probas- co and had the following children by him:
James K., Robert, Johanna, Hulda, Mary Jane, Hendrick and Cyrenius.
DANIEL AND HENDRICK VAN MATER WHO JOINED THE KING'S ARMY.
Daniel and Hendrick, two of the sons of Gilbert VanMater and Micha Hen- drickson, and named in his said will, enlisted at the beginning of the Rev- olutionary war in the first battalion of Skinner's brigade, commanded by Elisha Lawrence of Upper Freehold township, and who was the last col- onial sheriff under King George III in Monmouth county. The majority of Americans who belonged to this com- mand of Col. Lawrence's were doubt- less natives of this county, which then included Ocean county. They were
called the New Jersey Royal Volun- teers, but were popularly known from the color of their uniforms as the "Greens," or "Skinner's Greens." Many of the men who thus joined the British army were conscientious and honorable men and carried on war in an open, soldier-like way. They were widely different from the Refugees at Sandy Hook, the Pine Robbers, and other des- peradoes who took advantage of the unsettled times to plunder and murder. The people, however, who suffered from their depredations were not in any con-
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EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
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