USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > Early Dutch Settlers of Monmouth County, New Jersey > Part 22
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Jacob Janse Couwenhoven owned and ran VanDorn mills near Holmdel village, and mar- ried for his third wife Eleanor or Nelly Schenck.
If he and his last wife are interred here there are no stones to mark their graves.
Jane Couwenhoven, (first wife of Matthias W. Conover, and daughter of Cornelius Roe- lofse Couwenhoven and Jane Teunise Denise, his wife), died December 12, 1820, aged 40 yrs, 9 m, 6 d.
Matthias W. Conover and his second wife, Anne Schenck, are buried in yard of Dutch church at Middletown village.
Sarah Tice, wife of John Tice, died October 28, 1771, aged 58 yrs.
Catharine Tice, wife of John Tice, died Nov- ember 24, 1785, aged 37 yrs, 2 m, 13 d.
Sarah, relict of John Nivison, died Novem- ber 2, 1837, aged 80 yrs.
Jacob Couwenhoven, (son of Jacob Jacobse Couwenhoven and Margaret Couwenhoven, his wife), died January 31, 1774, aged 31 yrs, 3 m, 17 d.
Sarah Sedam (wife of above), died March 31, 1806, aged 57 yrs, 4 m, 28 d.
William Couwenhoven, (son of above) died March 29, 1778, aged 3 yrs, 8 m, 2 d.
A number of persons have been buried here without any monument to mark their graves.
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land, in 1710, which once belonged to Sarah Couwenhoven, the wife of Der- rick Barkalow. It contains the New Testament, Psalms of David set to music, and the Heidleberg catechism. It is finely bound in morocco, and at one time was ornamented with silver clasps and a ring. This silver, however has been removed by some vandal who thought the old silver worth more than the book. The name "Jannatie Wyck- off" is written on the front page, show- ing that it onee belonged to her and was perhaps a wedding present from her parents, when she married William Couwenhoven. The following family records appear in this book:
Jannatie Wyckoff is born January 20, 1702. William Kouenhoven is ge-boren in het Jaer 1600, July 20.
He has inadvertently written 1600 for 1700, as the new century had just begun, and he had not become accus- tomed to 1700.
William Kouenhoven married Jannetie Wyckoff July 2, 1722.
Then follows births of their children
Cornelius Kouenhoven born November 4, 1723.
Williamtee Kouenhoven born July 24, 1727.
Cornelius evidently died in infancy as he gave this name to a son by his se- cond wife. Williamtee was doubtless named for her maternal grandmother
Williamptje Schenck, but they have been "stuek" on the spelling of this name as you or I might easily be.
The Duteh Testament must have been given to Williampe, the only surviving child, when she was old enough to ap- preciate her mother's Bible. She was about 17 years old when her father married his second wife. Her marriage license in secretary of state's office is dated July 27, 1749, as follows: Mat- thias Couwenhoven to Williamtee Cou- wenhoven." After her marriage she has taken this book to her new home on the Middletown hills. She has made only one entry in it, that of the birth of her first born child as follows:
April 2, 1751, my daughter Sarah was born.
This was the daughter who married Derrick Barkalow, and she has taken the book to her new home on the edge of our Southern pines, where it has remained to this day.
Sarah Couwenhoven, wife of Derrick Barkalow, must have been a woman of strong religious convictions, for she seems to have impressed two of her sons, Matthias and John D. with sin- cere and hearty belief in the Serip- tures, and zealous devotion to chris- tianity. Both of these sons made many sacrifices and labored all their lives to teach and promulgate the gospel. Through her the Couwenhoven name of Matthias has been brought into the Barkalow family.
CHILDREN OF DERRICK BARKALOW AND THEIR DESCENDANTS.
Derriek Barkalow lived and died on the lands in Freehold township which came to him from his father Cornelius. Only two of his sons were baptized in the Dutch church, viz: Cornelius, his eldest son, June 2, 1781, and Matthias, June 24, 1787. Lucretia was his first- born child. She married first, one Stephen Wills, July 25, 1790. Was mar- ried to Thomas Strieklin, her second husband, February 28, 1799, by Rev. Benjamin DuBois. He states in church record of this marriage that she was the widow of one, Wills.
Besides above three children he had two other sons, John D. and Peter. They are all named in order of their ages in his will dated May 12, 1827, proved May 15, 1828, and recorded at Freehold
in Book C of Wills, p. 66, ete. He provides first for his wife Sarah. Gives to his daughter LueretiaStrickland, for life, that part of his land lying south of the line of John Barkalow, Sr., bounded on east by lands of Stephen Barkalow. deceased, on south by a diteh and on west by Wadell's line. At her death these lands were to be equally divided among her children in fee.
He next devises to his eldest son Cornelius, another piece of his lands for life with fee to his children equally, except Derriek C., who is to have "one- half of an acre at northwest corner of Readle's woodland, and nothing else."
This son was known as Cornelius D., to distinguish him from Cornelius S., son of Stephen, Cornelius J., who was
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probably a son of John Barkalow, Sr., and Cornelius C., then a boy of about sixteen years, and a son of Cornelius S.
Next follow devises of other portions of his real estate to his sons Matthias, John D. and Peter. They are each given a life interest with fee to their respective children, share and share alike. Thomas Strickland, his son-in- law, and his four sons are appointed executors. James VanNote, Cornelius J. Barkalow and Thomas Coward are the subscribing witnesses.
Cornelius D., the eldest son, married October 6, 1800, Mary Harbert or Her- bert, and lived and died on the lands left to him by his father. He is said to have been buried in the old Bap- tist cemetery* on the outskirts of Free-
+ The Baptist cemetery was the site of the first "meeting house" or church erected by the Bantists in Freehold township.
The Burlington Path as called by the first settlers, and later the Mount Holly road, fol- lowed the old Indian path from South Jersey. It passed through Freehold on same course as Main street does now from Dutch Lane road until you reach the corner opposite the Pres- byterian stone church or about where the house erected by Alfred Walters stands. Here the old highway curved easterly and passed between the "old Quay house" now occupied by William M. Moreau and this cemetery. Just beyond this old house the road curved back to present lines of the Smithburg turnpike and ran as present road to West Freehold. About here too, where the road curved westerly, and quite near the house the road forked; the easterly branch running off to "Richmonds Mills," or what is now the village of Blue Ball. The "Quay house," so called, was erect- ed prior to the Revolution, and at the battle of Monmouth was occupied by a number of British officers.
The peculiar appearance of the house arises from the fact that when erected it faced squarely the old Burlington path, and what is now the rear was then the front. The Baptist church faced the Blue Ball road. The congre- gation was composed principally of farmers, who came from the country for five or six miles around.
As soon as the church was built the people began to bury their dead in the adjacent yard. This church was finally torn down or removed, and a new edifice erected on the lot where the present church stands in the town of Freehold. While . walking with a friend through this cemetery one Sunday in summer, and examin- ing the inscriptions, I thought of those Sun- days when the people from "far and near" gathered here for worship, and the following verses occurred to me as very descriptive of the great change:
"Thou hast been torn down, old church ! Thou hast forever passed away,
And all around this lonely yard The mossy tombstones lay. The worshippers are scattered now Who knelt before thy shrine,
And silence reigns where anthems rose In days of 'Auld Lang Syne.'
hold town, but no monument marks his grave. He left three sons as follows: First, Derrick C., who married April 12, 1825, Deborah Francis, and lived and died on the homestead in Freehold township, leaving three sons and one daughter. James Barkalow, the pre- sent active and obliging janitor of the Monmouth court house is one of his sons; Hugh and Conover Barkalow are the other two.
Second, Matthias C., who was mar- ried November 5, 1835, to Elizabeth or Bessie Emmons by John D. Barkalow. an elder of the Independent Methodist church. He left two sons and three daughters surviving him, viz: Cornelius M., who was also married by Elder John D. Barkalow, February 5, -860, to Deborah Chambers, and carried on his trade as carpenter in the town of Freehold until his death. He served as a soldier in the civil war, and was an obliging neighbor and a good citizen. Garret, the second son of Matthias C., married Rebecca Miller, and is still residing in Freehold township. His three daughters were: Mary Eliza, who married Matthias, a son of Elder John D. Barkalow; Kate, who married Wil- liam Jones and removed to Ohio; and Ann, who married James Errickson.
Third, Henry, married Eleanor, daugh- ter of John Errickson, and had only one child born August 23, 1835, and named James J. He married Roxanna, a. daughter of John Garrets of New Egypt, Ocean county, and has always resided in the town of Freehold. For many years he carried on the under- taking business in Freehold, and be- came well known throughout Mon- mouth county. He is still in this year 1900, active, alert, and as fond of a practical joke or a little fun as ever, in spite of the sad and solemn occupation of his life. I am indebted to him for part of this family history.
Matthias, the second son of Derrick
"And sadly sighs the wandering wind Where oft in years gone by
Prayer rose from many hearts to Him, The Highest of the High.
The sun that shone upon their path, Now gilds their lonely graves ;
The zephyrs which once fanned their brows The grass above them waves.
"O! could we call the many back Who'd gathered here in vain,
Who've careless roamed where we do now, Who'll never meet again, How would our very souls be stirred To meet the earnest gaze
Of the lovely and the beautiful, The light of other days."
This & Barkalen
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EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
Barkalow and Sarah Couwenhoven, his wife, was married September 18, 1808, to Elizabeth Jeffrey, by Zenas Conger, an elder of the Independent Methodist church. He resided on a farm in Wall township and raised his family there. When quite young he became interested in the religious organization called the Independent Methodist church, and was appointed as elder. He was very active and zealous in preaching and trying to spread the tenets of this sect. Through his efforts and those of another elder named John Saplin Newman, a meeting house or chapel was erected at what is now Glendola, and services held there every Sunday. He also was instru- mental in getting another small house of worship built near Our House Tavern in Howell township, and another just west of Colts Neck. He also compiled and had printed and bound at his own expense a hymn book of 272 pages, con- taining 297 hymns, some of which were composed by him. The copy which I saw was well but plainly bound in leather and fairly printed on good paper. This book must have cost Mat- thias Barkalow much labor, time and money. The last two hymns in this book are of his own composition and acrostics, giving his own name and that of his wife. The following is a true copy of the one which spells his name by taking the first letter of each line:
HYMN NO. 296. . M.
ACROSTIC.
My Saviour, my Almighty friend, Attend my humble cries ; Thy succor and salvation send To aid me to the skies.
Hear all my cries for Zion's peace, In power thy word attend, A blessing send to all that pray Salvation to the end.
Break ev'ry bar through which I groan, And full deliverance send ; Ransom'd from all malignant foes, Kept safe unto the end.
And may my pilgrimage below, Like conquering Zion end, O'er-coming all, through faith, may I, With all the holy stand.
Whether this hymn was given out to any congregation to sing, I am unable to say.
John D. Barkalow, the third son of Derrick and Sarah Couwenhoven, his wife, was born October 5, 1789, married March 2, 1814, Elizabeth, a daughter of
Gilbert Hendricksont and Allis (Alice) Wyckoff, his wife, of Upper Freehold township. His wife was born October 29, 1793, and died January 11, 1848. He died December 31, 1876. They are both buried in the Baptist cemetery. Close to his grave is a cedar tree, so near that the branches extend over his grave. It is the only cedar in this burying ground. I thought it an appropriate and em- blematic monument of this man's life. It should be allowed to remain as a living memorial of "Preacher Barka- low" as he was called, who spent his life and means in trying to do good ir his unpretentious and homely way to the people residing through our South- ern pines. He had no artificial educa- tion or training so as to wind adroitly through the difficulties of life, pleasing all and offending no one. He had no diplomacy to manage public opinion. No adventitious aids such as vestments,
+ Gilbert Hendrickson waa a son of Tobias Hendrickson and Rebecca Coward his wife, of Upper Freehold township. He is named in Tobias' will recorded in Book A of Wills, page 430, at Freehold. Gilbert 1.endrickson lived and died on his farm in Upper Freehold and is buried in yard of old Yellow Meeting house, as heretofore mentioned. His will was proved March 4, 1837, and recorded in Book D of Wills, p. 60, etc. William Barcalow, Wesley Wilbur and Daniel Barcalow are the witnesses. He mentions his wife "Allis" (Alice) and ten children, among whom are Elizabeth, wife of John D. Barkalow, and Gilbert.
His son Gilbert married December 26, 1821, Alchey ( Alice) a daughter of Richard Conover and a sister of the well known Samuel Con- over, twice sheriff of Monmouth county. He bought and resided on a farm near Sutphen's Corner in Freehold township, now owned and occupied by his youngest son, Gilbert Hen- drickson. He had three other sons, viz: Rulif S., James Conover and Richard Conover, who are now deceased. His daughter Alice was the first wife of Tunis Denise, one of our leading and well known farmers of Freehold township. Gilbert Hendrickson died on the farm where his son Gilbert now. (1900), lives, January 31, 1847, aged 48 yrs., 10 mos., 28 d., and is buried in old Baptist cemetery. His wife
rests by him. She died October 27, 1880, aged 78 yrs, 4 mos, 28 d. She was the second child of Richard Conover, who owned and lived on the farm adjacent to the farm on which her aon Gilbert now lives. James Conover was the eldest. Aaron, his third child, married Fran- cyntje Conover. Eliza, the fourth, married Joseph Hornor, who carried on the wheel- wright business at West Freehold many years ago. Samuel, the fifth, was the popular "Sheriff Sam" of Monmouth county who hung Donnelly. William R., the sixth child, lived and died on the homestead now owned and occupied by his two sons, Miliard and Frank. Richard, the youngest, married a Miss Van- Note, and lived and died on his farm at Burnt Tavern (now Ely).
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ceremonies, choirs and beautiful archi- tecture to impress the popular mind. He officiated at funerals, married people and preached, without salary or reward save such gifts as gratitude might evoke. He talked to the people in a plain, unlettered way, as men talked in everyday business. He could tell no pathetic or amusing anecdotes or play the actor in the pulpit, so as to draw a crowd. He simply told the plain truth as he read it in his Bible, and would "add no more."
He frequently held what were called "wood meetings," where his words and manner were as unconventional and natural as the forest around him. On Sundays even when very old he would often walk six or ten miles to preach at some out of the way place in the pines. The people to this day remember and often talk about "Preacher Barkalow," for so he was generally called.
He was Overseer of the Poor in Free- hold township from 1830 to 1840. He was then elected justice of the peace for this township. His commission as justice is dated October 30, 1843, and signed by Governor Daniel Haines.
His dockets are in existence and show that he had not over six or seven con- tested cases during his five years' term. Nearly all the cases are marked settled. and his total fees in each case was about 75 cents. Also as elder of the Independent Methodist church he kept a careful record of all marriages, fu- nerals and baptisms, beginning in 1812 and ending in 1873, when he was over fourscore years of age. His books show 286 funerals attended, and 191 couples married. The last entry is very feeble and tremulous. Only part of these mar- riages are recorded in the clerk's office, for in many cases no money was left to pay the clerk's fee for recording. The only record, therefore, of many mar- riages is that in his book, now in. pos- session of his son-in-law, William B. Hulse.
One his sons named Wicoff, (Wyckoff, the surname of his wife's mother) married Elizabeth, a daughter of James Vannote, and died when a young man, leaving one child also nam- ed Wicoff, who was born April 17, 1839. He is the well known overseer of the poor of Freehold township. As will be seen from this genealogy he is of un- mixed Dutch blood on both sides clear back to the first settler from Holland on Long Island. In his personal ap- pearance he shows all the physical characteristics of the Hollander. He stands six feet in his stockings, and
weighs over 200 pounds. Like his grandfather, the preacher, he has given careful attention to the poor of this township who have come under his charge, doing for them in many instan- ces what a father would do for a child. This consideration, kindness and atten- tion which he has shown to these un- fortunates have given him the reputa- tion of being one of the best overseers that Freehold ever had.
The fourth and youngest son of Der- rick Barkalow and Sarah Couwenhoven was Peter. He married August 30, 1818. Abigail Longstreet, and lived and died in township of Freehold.
Matthias and John D. Barkalow were both elders of the Independent Meth- odist church. I am not familiar with the purpose or history of this sect. In the preface to his hymn book Matthias Barkalow laments "immoderate attach- ment to particular opinions or modes of worship or ceremonies, instead of doing justice, loving mercy, and speaking the plain truth." "That harmony among professing christians can only come from having in their hearts a sincere love for God. This will make them resemble God in trying to do good to their fellow men." In closing, he says. "The day is fast approaching when Jesus will make all the different de- nominations one." "Then the children of God will be a mighty host against the workers of darkness."
Several letters are in existence from Elder Samuel Stanton of Mt. Pleasant, Wayne county, Pa., Elder Samuel Croaker and others to Matthias Bar- kalow, giving an account of general meetings in Pennsylvania, Genesee county, N. Y., and elsewhere.
The following circular was found among Elder Barkalow's papers. In it they speak for themselves, and as it was part of the history of those days now forgotten, I think it should be published just as spelled and punct- uated:
CIRCULAR LETTER.
Dearly Beloved Brethern:
We, the members of the Methodist Independent or Free Brethern Church, as instituted in the state of New Jersey, being assembled in general meeting or yearly conference, agreeable to prev- ious appointment, Do feel it our duty to lay something before you to in- courage you to stand fast in the glor- ious Gospel Freedom, and not be en- tangled in any yoke of bondage either spiritual or temporal; for whom the Son makes free is free indeed, and,
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consequently, constitute a part of the Lord's heritage, who are baptized into one body and made to drink into one spirit. Shurely. dear Brethern, it is ' not the will of our God, who has begot us again to a lively hope in Christ Jesus thro' sanctification of his spirit and belief of the truth, that we should feel the iron arm of oppression from any who, though assuming to them- selves spurious titles through an over- balance of power in their own hands. seperate from the body of the people whom they represent; which power, when vested in the hands of one or more individuals, is seldom relinquished for the benefit of community, which ever render those under such representa- Lives in danger of Ministerial oppression and drowns the idea that al men are brethern, or that God out of one flesh and blood hath made all nations. Sure- ly, dear brethern, if this superiority. one over another, accompanied with men's traditions confounds the pure language of the GOSPEL OF CHRIST and keeps many of us who profess to be followers of the meek and lowly Jesus, at sword's point :- hence it is, we would ask the solemn question is it not high time to forbear building babels of party to rend the seamless coat of Jesus? But raise a standard against such corruptions as split and divide those whom the Lord hath united-for our Saviour has prayed that we might all be one as He and the Father is one. Hence it is, dear brethern, that every- thing which millitates against love and a general union amongst christians, must consequently spring out of the coruptions of the day in which we live: For scripture informs us that the mul- titude that believed were of one heart and one soul; hence it is that love to God and one another breathes the pure spirit of the Gospel and constrains the world to believe there is reality in the religion of Jesus. Hence it is, dear brethern, that we congratulate you on the glad news that light is now burst- ing forth in the different states, while many have taken a decided stand.
On the part of Gospel freedom and scripture holiness, praying for a re- ciprocation in preaching the word of God and the adminstration of the holy sacrament-we also learn by a pamphlet lately published in N. York that a de- cipline suited to an itinerancy will shortly appear which we can bid God speed out of love to souls and a desire for the universal spread of the Gospel of Christ in all the earth; hence we would praise God that they that are
not against us are on our part and from the best information that we can gether our main object is one; namely: holiness of heart, a pure church and a consistant government. From this con- sideration we can see no just reason why the various branches of the church in these United States should not be brought together in one happy union. &c.
And now, dear brethern, in order that such a union should be brought about the conference have appointed our brother elder, Jesse Oakley, a mission- ary in behalf of this branch of the church of God; whose common resid- dence is when not traveling, in Broom street, city of New York, who in con- junction with brother R. Cuddy of the same place, are hereby impowered to form a union with any branch of the church of God at any time previous to the session of our next yearly confer- ence meeting to be held, the Lord will- ing, on the 5th of October, 1821-at Long Branch in the township of Shrews- bury county of Monmouth state of New Jersey, at which time and place we solicit all those branches of the church who are now in union with us or that may at any time hereafter form a union with us or intimate a desire to form a union with us, to send delegates to rep- resent them in the aforesaid conference.
N. B. our quarterly conference meet- ings will take place at the following times and places.
First at Long Branch on Saturday before first sabbath in January, 1821.
Second. At Colt's Neck on the Sat- urday before the first sabbath in April, 1821.
Third. At the Free Communion Chapel in Howell on Saturday before the first sabbath in July, 1821.
Temporary Quarterly meeting to be held when and where it may be most expedient to fill up the vacancies, &c.
Signed in behalf of the conference this 10th day of October in the year of our Lord 1820.
JESSE OAKLEY, Pres't. MATTHIAS BARKALOW, Sec'y.
The second son of Cornelius Barka- low and Jannetje Aumack, was named for his maternal grandfather, Stephen Aumack, who was a miller by occupa- tion. It is likely that 'he learned how to operate a grist mill when a boy in his grandfather's mill,for we find him engaged in this business through life. His mill was located on Squan brook, about where the Wyckoff mills are now situated in Howell township. They
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were formerly known as the "old Bark- alow mills." Stephen Barkalow was born in April, was baptized July 24, 1748, and lived on his property near this mill. He married twice. The christian name of his first wife was Ann, who died July 16, 1799. His second wife was Margaret, who died April 2. 1854.
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