USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > Early Dutch Settlers of Monmouth County, New Jersey > Part 25
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Jonathan Holmes' son Obadiah, mar - ried in 1696 Alice, (b. 1671, d. 1716) daughter of James Ashton and Deliver- ance Throckmorton, his wife. Obadiah Holmes died April 3, 1745, leaving a will dated Dec. 24, 1744, proved April 17. 1745, and recorded at Trenton in "D" of Wills, p 265, etc. He mentions Jon- athan, Obadiah, James, Samuel, Joseph and John, six sons, and Deliverance, wife of Joseph Smith, and Mary, wife of James Mott, two daughters. He gives his homestead farm at "Ramnessin," on Hop Brook, in present township of Holmdel, to his son John, and his lands at Crosswicks, (now Upper Freehold) to his son Joseph, whose descendants have owned and resided on it to this day.
Our present chosen freeholder from Upper Freehold township, Joseph Holmes, now owns this homestead and is a lineal descendant of this son of Obadiah Holmes, to whom he devised these lands. Obadiah Holmes was sheriff of Monmouth in 1699, and one of the leaders of the people in breaking up Governor Hamilton's court at Middle- town, March 26, 1701.
Obadiah's son Samuel, (b. April 17. 1704. d. Feb. 23, 1760), married Dec. 7. 1731. Huldah, daughter of Gershom Mott and Sarah Clayton, his wife, and lived and died on a farm called "Scots- chester," in the present township of
Marlboro. They were the parents of Asher Holmes, (b. Feb. 22, 1740, d. June 20, 1808) who was first sheriff of Mon- mouth county under our Republic. He was Colonel of our county militia and of state troops, and was engaged in the battles of Germantown, Princeton and Monmouth. He also represented Monmouth in the state council in 1786- 88. The officers of our Monmouth mil- itia during the Revolution were neither professional soldiers nor literary or learned men. They never made any efforts to perpetuate the memory of their deeds, and never claimed any par- ticular credit for doing what they thought was their plain duty. There- fore, when we find any writing by them detailing the part they took in this memorable war, we should especially prize it. The following letter was writ- ten by Colonel Asher Holmes to his wife after the battle of Germantown, merely to assure her of his safety, and without any idea it would be treasured up and preserved for other generations.
Camp on the Mountain near Perkamie Creek. 29 miles west of Philadelphia, Oct. 6, 1777:
DEAR SALLIE:
The day before yesterday there was a general engagement. The first part of the day was much in our favour. We drove the enemy for some miles. Gen- eral Howe had given orders for his army to retreat over the Schuykill River; but the afterpart of the day was unfavorable to us; our line of battle was broken, and we were obliged to retreat.
The battle was near Germantown. This attack was made by different div- isions in different quarters, nearly at the same time, but the morning being very foggy, was much against us, and the severe firing added to the thickness of the air, which prevented our seeing far, therefore a great disadvantage to us. The Jersey militia and the Red Coats * under General Forman, and the Maryland militia with some 'Listed troops under Gen. Smallwood, were on the left wing of the whole army. We drove the enemy, when we first made the attack, but by the thickness of the fog, the enemy got into our rear. There- fore had to change our front, and then retreated to a proper place.
Gen. McDougall's 'Listed men then
Red Coats under Gen. Forman, were the Jersey Minute men, who wore red hunting coats, and in a fog or smoke of battle might easily be mistaken for the British who also wore red coats, and thus cause confusion.
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formed to the left of us and Gen. Green's 'Listed men to the right of us, but they all gave way except the Mon- mouth Militia, and Gen. Forman's Red Coats stood firm, and advanced upon the British Red Coats, who were at least three times our number, to a fence where we made a stand. The fire was very severe and the enemy ran.
They brought a field-pieee to fire on us with grapeshot, but our Monmouth men stood firm until their ammunition was nearly exhausted, and the enemy advaneing around our right flank. Gen. Forman then ordered us to retreat. which we did in pretty good order until our Continental troops broke and ran the second time, and this running through our men broke them entirely. Our Jersey Brigade suffered very much by storming a strong stone house in Germantown, which first stopped our progress, and I believe was one great eause of breaking our line in that quar- ter.
I have seen Brother John Holmes, Capt. Mott, Capt. Burrows and Bostwiek and most of our Monmouth officers. We are all well. Sinee the battle our army is in good spirits although our duty has been very severe. The night before the battle our men marehed all night and had very little sleep the night after. Providenee seems to have pro- tected our Monmouth Militia in a par- ticular manner, as we have lost very few, if any killed, and not many wounded, although the enemy was with- in 120 yards of us in the hottest of the fire, and their field piece hiring on us with grapeshot a great part of the time. I have escaped without being hurt, al- though I was much exposed to the enemy's fire.
From your ever affectionate ASHER HOLMES. To Mrs. Sarah Holmes.
This letter is directed
"To Mrs. Sarah Holmes in Freehold forwarded by Mr. Logan."
Teuntje, the second ehild of Daniel Hendrickson, was an earnest and active member of the Duteh ehurch, while her husband, Jonathan Holmes, like all his family, was a zealous believer in the tenets of the Baptist faith. The baptism by immersion was one of their most important doetrines. Neither did they believe in infant baptism. Teuntje Hendrickson must have been a woman of great resolution, for she had her children baptized in the Dutch ehureh and taught the Heidelberg eateehism. Her children are the only Holmeses
whose names appear on the old reeords of the Monmouth Dutch church.
There must have been mueh talk and holding up of hands in amazement among the good brethren of the Baptist faith, that these descendants of the sturdy Rev. Obadiah Holmes should be sprinkled and not immersed. There must have been many earnest appeals made to their father against this woe- ful departure from the true faith. The only reply Jonathan Holmes, Jr., could make, I suppose, was "When a woman will, she will, and when she won't, she won't." Teuntje, however, was never able to bring her husband clear over, as Margaret Wyekoff had done with Jonathan Forman, but she turned her "Holmes" children into good "Duteh- men."
The records of our Duteh church show that Jonathan Holmes and Teuntje Hendrickson, his wife, had the follow- ing ehildren baptized:
Obadiah, bapt. Oct. 28, 1716, died unmarried in 1752. The records in the office of the Sec- retary of State show that letters of adminis- tration on his estate was granted to his broth- er, Joseph Holmes, Jr., Oct. 17, 1752, Book B of Wills, p. 69.
Daniel, bapt. April 9, 1721, m. 1752, Leah, (b. 1736, d. March 15, 1813) daughter of James Bowne and Margaret Newbold, his wife. Both are buried in yard of Holmdel Baptist church.
Jonathan, bapt. July 19, 1722, married Sarah Potter in 1758, and was a merchant in New York city in 1752. He may have been the "Jonathan Holmes" called "Minor."
Joseph, b .- --- , m. June, 1752, Sarah, daugh- ter of James Mott and Mary Holmes, his wife, and was engaged with James Mott, Jr., in mercantile business in New York city. He died in 1763. James Mott and James Mott, Jr., appointed administrator of Joseph Holmes, Sept. 22, 1763, Book H of Wills, p. 293, Sec- retary of State's office.
John, b. ; m. 1764, Catharine Brown, was associated with his brother Jonathan in business in New York city in 1752. In 1763 he resided at and operated a grist mill at Forked River in what is now Ocean county, but then part of Monmouth. During the Rev- olutionary war his dwelling was plundered by a party of refugees. He left three sons who married and had numerous descendants. Many of these followed the water and were captains of vessels in coasting trade.
Alice, bapt. March 30, 1730; m. 1749, John VanBrakle, d. May 19, 1796.
Catharine, b. May 11, 1731 ; d. May 12, 1796, aged 63 years, 1 day, according to the inscrip- tion on her headstone in Schenck-Couwen- hoven yard, where she is buried by her first husband, Hendrick Schenck. She left a will, recorded at Trenton, N. J. She married first in 1749, Hendrick, son of Roelof Schenck and Geesey Hendrickson, his wife, who died Angust 24, 1766. She married second, John, son of Garret Schenck and Neeltje Voorhees, his wife. She was his third wife. He died Feb. 13, 1775, on his wife's farm near what is now
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Bradevelt station, and was buried by his father and mother in Schenck-Couwenhoven yard. There were no children by the last marriage.
Mary. James, bapt. Jacobus, May 1, 1737. Samuel, bapt. July 8, 1739.
William, b .- , died in 1776. Letters of administration in his estate were granted to his brother, Daniel Holmes, Feb. 28, 1776. See Book M of Wills, p. 29, Secretary of State's office, Trenton.
Catharine Holmes, the seventh child of Jonathan Holmes, Jr., and Teuntje Hendrickson, his wife above mentioned, by her first husband, Hendrick Schenck, had seven children, of whom five lived to grow up, viz: one son, Ruliff, and four daughters, Mary, Eleanor, Cathar- Ine and Ann. Her youngest child, Ann, was born on her farm near what is now Bradevelt station, June 14, 1766, and married Jonathan Holmes, son of Sam- uel Holmes, and Mary Stout, his wife. Samuel Holmes (b. Oct. 4, 1726; d. Aug. 26, 1769) was a son of Jonathan Holmes, Sr., by Rebecca Throckmorton, his sec- ond wife. They are both buried in old Topanemus grave yard. This Jonathan Holmes, son of Samuel Holmes and Mary Stout, his wife, married Ann Schenck, as above stated, and died without children, Nov. 16, 1814. His will is dated January 6, 1810, proved Nov. 22, 1814, and recorded at Freehold in Book A of Wills, p. 685, etc.
He first orders that one-quarter of an acre of land on the farm where his brother, John S. Holmes, then lived, and "where the burying ground now is" shall be a burying place for the Holmes family. He then gives to his brother, John S. Holmes, the use of all his real estate, and at his death to go to his two sons, Daniel and John, or the sur- vivors of them in fee simple. This is the same farm in Pleasant Valley where ex-Sheriff Daniel Holmes lived, and where his son, the late Joseph H. Holmes, lived and died. The Holmes family still own it.
Jonathan Holmes then made the fol- lowing bequests: To his sister Lydia, wife of Garret Stillwell, $250; to the children of his sister Parmelia, wife of John Stillwell, $250; to his brother, Stout Holmes, $375. This brother mar- ried first Elizabeth Pintard, second Mary Ogbourns, widow of Samuel Bray. One of his daughters, Alice, married ex- Judge Joseph Murphy, and was the mother of Holmes W. Murphy, who served two terms as clerk of Monmouth county and represented this county in General Assembly during the years 1880-81. He was associated with the writer as partner in law business for several years.
Jonathan Holmes also gives by this will $375 to his sister Catharine, wife
of Nathan Stout. To his brother, Samuel Holmes, he gives the interest yearly on $3,750 for life, and at his death to his son, Jonathan, if living. If dead, then $750 of principal to Samuel's two daughters, Mary and Catharine, and the remaining $3,000 to Daniel and John, sons of his brother, John S. Holmes. To Jonathan, son of his brother, Joseph Holmes, $500, and to Nelly, daughter of his brother Joseph, $125. To Joseph, son of David Crawford, $62.50, and to Joseph Covert, son of Daniel Covert, $62.50.
To Jonathan Holmes, son of his brother Samuel, his clock, sideboard, silver tankard, best horse he has, his fusee and implements belonging to it. Orders all legacies paid in gold or silver. Directs Daniel and John, the two nephews to whom he gives all his real estate, not to sell it, but keep same in Holmes family forever.
John S. Holmes named in this will married Sarah, daughter of Col. Daniel Hendrickson who commanded the Third Regiment of Monmouth militia during the Revolution, and was speaker of General Assembly of New Jersey in 1784. John S. Holmes also represented Monmouth county in General Assembly during years 1810-11 and 1813-14. His son Daniel married Rhoda VanMater, as has been mentioned in VanMater rec- ords. This Daniel Holmes was a mem- ber of the constitutional convention of 1844.
The following paper has the genuine signatures of John S. Holmes, Col. Asher Holmes, and others who have been mentioned in these artieles. It also shows that they appreciated edu- cation and good schools and made an effort to have an academy or high school established in Holmdel:
"On condition that the acre of ground, this day sold by Obadiah Holmes unto us the undersubscribers, for erecting an academy; that if it should fail of suc- cess, then if its ever convenient to any other use, we engage to pay said Oba- diah Holmes or his lawful representa- tives, the further sum of fifty pounds for said lot. This we engage in case that either us or our heirs shall convert it to any other purpose. Witness our hands this twenty-fourth day of Dec- ember, seventeen hundred and ninety- three.
ASHER HOLMES, BARNES SMOCK, THOMAS LLOYD, DANIEL KETCHAM. JOHN I. HOLMES, JOHN S. HOLMES, BARNES H. SMOCK, CHRINEYONCE VanMATER, GARRET HENDRICKSON. Witness present:
HEN. HENDRICKSON, JARRET STILLWELL, WILLIAM BRITTON."
In Conditioned that the aese of Ground this day Lots by Obe dich Medmie, with is the under the Loriben, for creating an Accademy, Halit howto fail of sweets, then if its fever coment .IT to any other use to engage to pay sai Oben
two, the further sen of Fifty fluorfor Laid Lott, thei wer engage in city That either his or her how shall convert of to any other humpole, and Witness our haber this twenty fourth day of Decesviver Seventeen humans and rinity three
Asherflohmes
BamSmoth Thomas 1 logo Daniel Hechting Johnet Holma. John A Holmer Garret Hendrich for Banui H. Jmoche
Javrat Stillwell William Brillen
Old document exeented December 24, 1793, showing signatures of Barnes Smock, Asher Holmes, Garret Hendrickson, Barnes H. Smock and others.
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EARLY DUTCH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTH.
Garret Hendrickson, who has signed above, was Lieut. Garret Hendrickson in Capt. Wm. Schenck's company, and Barnes Smock commanded an artillery company during the revolution. Hen- drick Hendriekson, who signs as wit- ness, was one of the county judges and part of time presiding judge, as our court minutes from 1790 to 1800 show.
As the Holmes family has always been prominent in this eounty and have numerous relatives, there are many who will feel interested in the following extraets from a letter written by the Rev. Obadiah Holmes to his wife in 1675: "if she remains in the land of the living, after my departure" to use his own words. After speaking of the "comfort their children have been," he writes: "Wherefore make use of that he is pleased to let thee enjoy. 1 say make use of it to thy present comfort. Thou art but weak and aged, cease from iny labors and great toil and take a little rest and ease in thy old age. Live on what thou hast, for what the Lord hast given us, I freely have given thee, for thy life, to make thy life comfort- able; wherefore see thou doeth it, so long as house, land and cattle remain. Make much of thyself, and at thy death, then what remains may be disposed according to my will. And now, my dear wife, whom I love as my own soul, I commit thee to the Lord, who hath been a gracious merciful God to us all our days. Not onee doubting He will be gracious to thee in life or death, and will carry thee through this valley of tears, with his own supporting hand. Sorrow not at my departure, hut rejoice in the Lord, and again I say rejoice in the Lord of our salvation. And in nothing be careful, but make thy re- quests to Him, who only is able to sup- ply thy necessities and to help thee in time of need. Unto whom I commit thee for counsel, wisdom and strength, and to keep thee blameless to the eom- ing of the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be all glory, honor and praise, forever and ever. Fare Thee Well."
Extracts from a letter to all his chil- dren: After urging them to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness, he says: "And now my son Joseph: Remember Joseph of Arimathea was a good man, and a disciple of Jesus, and was bold and went boldly and asked the body of Jesus and buried it."
"My son John: Remember what a loving and beloved disciple he was."
"My daughter Hope: Consider what a peace of God hope is, and court after that hope that will never be ashamed, but hath the hope of eternal life and
salvation by Jesus Christ."
"My son Obadiah: Consider that Oba- diah was a servant of the Lord and tender in spirit, and in a troublesome time hid the prophets by 60 in a cave." "My son Samuel: Remember that Samuel was a chief prophet of the Lord, ready to hear his voice saying "Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth."
"My daughter Martha: Remember Martha, although she was eumbered with many things, yet she loved the Lord, and was beloved of him, for He loved Mary and Martha."
"My daughter Mary: Remember Mary chose the better part, that shall not be taken away, and did hearken to the Lord's instructions."
"My son Jonathan: Remember how faithful and loving he was to David, that servant of the Lord."
"My daughter Lidiah: Remember how Lidiah's heart was opened, her ear bowed, her spirit made willing to re- ceive and obey the apostle in what the Lord required, and was baptized, and entertained and refreshed the servants of the Lord."
"Let your conversation in life be squared by the Scriptures, and they will direct you how to behave toward God and man. And next to loving and fearing the Lord, have you, a most dear and tender respect to your faith- ful, careful, tender hearted, loving. aged mother. Show your duty in all things. Love her with high and cheer- ful love and respect, and then make sure you love one another. Let it con - tinue and increase. So you may be good examples to others. Visit one another as often as you can, and put one another in mind of the uncertainty of life, and what need there is to pre- pare for death. Take counsel one of another, and if one see cause to advise or reprove the other, hearken to it and take it well. Be ye content with your present condition and portion God giv- eth you, and make a good use of what you have, by making use of it to your comfort for meat, drink and apparel, it is the gift of God. And take care to live honestly, justly, quietly, with love and peace with all men, etc., and forget not to entertain strangers according to your ability, etc."
OBADIAH HULLMES. The 17th day, 10th month, 1675."
Hendriek, the eldest son of the pion- eer settler, was born in 1700: married 1725, Neeltje, daughter of Garret Schenck and Neeltje Voorhees, his wife. of Pleasant Valley, and died intestate February 21, 1753, aged fifty years, ac-
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EARLY DUICH SETTLERS OF MONMOUTIL.
vording to his headstone in the family burying ground on the old Hendrickson homestead at Holland in Holmdel town- ship. His wife is not buried by him, as she married in 1761 Elias Golden and is probably buried by him on the Golden homestead. Administration on his es- tate, at request of the widow, was granted March 20, 1753, to his brothers, Daniel and William, and his brother-in- law, Garret Schenck. See Book F of Wills, page 107, Secretary of State's office at Trenton, N. J. He had the fol- lowing children:
Tryntje, baptized April 3, 1726: died in infancy.
Daniel, born November 11, 1727; mar- ried in 1767, Mary Schenck, (see license in Secretary of State's office) and died without surviving children March 2nd. 1776, aged 48 years, 3 months, 21 days, according to his headstone inscription in homestead yard. His wife is not buried by him, which would indicate that she has married again. His will is recorded at Trenton in Book M of Wills. page 16-17. He describes himself as "Daniel Hendrickson, Jr., of Middletown township." He gives his wife Mary £1400, with household goods and a negro girl. All his real estate is devised in fee equally between his two broth- ers, Garret and Hendrick. He bequeaths £100 to his sister, Nelly VanMater, and the same amount to his sister, Mary Couwenhoven, and £20 to his sister Ann. with a negro man. To James Schenck, a cow and calf. This will is dated Feb- ruary 18, 1775, proved March 12, 1776. His two brothers, Garret and Hendrick, divide the lands so devised between them by quit claim deeds, recorded in Book I of Deeds, page 92, Monmouth county clerk's office.
Neeltje, baptized January 4, 1734; died young.
Garret, born January 22, 1734, died December 2, 1801, and is buried by his first two wives on the homestead. He married first, according to license granted. December 8, 1755, and on rec- ord at Trenton, his cousin, Catharine, daughter of Tunis Denise and Fran- cyntje Hendrickson, his wife, (born May 8, 1732, died Sept. 8, 1771). Mar- ried second, Lena, or Helena, (born Sept. 26, 1753, died Jan. I, 1785) daugh- ter of Denise VanLieu, or VanLieuwen, and Ida Wyckoff, his wife. Married third, Nelly, daughter of Arie VanDoorn and Antje Janse Schenck, his wife, and then the widow of Hendrick Smock. She died February 11, 1834, aged 91 years, 10 months, 8 days, according to her headstone in Schenck-Couwenhoven cemetery. Garret Hendrickson lived
and died in the old Dutch built farm- house, still (1900) standing, on the farm where Cyrenius Hendrickson lived and died in Pleasant Valley, afterwards owned and occupied by his only son, Henry Denise Hendrickson, well known to our present generation of people in this county. Garret Hendrickson was a lieutenant in Capt. William Schenck's company of militia during the Revolu- tionary war and rendered good service to his country.
The following extract from the New Jersey Gazette of June 28, 1780, speaks of him, although by mistake his name is printed "Henderson" instead of Hen- drickson. There was no officer by the name of Henderson in the Middletown militia. Thomas Henderson of Free- hold, was a lieutenant-colonel and a physician, and is said to be the writer of those letters from Monmouth county published from time to time in this newspaper. Our county records show that a pension was granted to Garret Hendrickson and Walter Hier (Hyres) for wounds received in a skirmish on June 21, 1780. The United States gov- ernment at a later date placed Garret Hendrickson on the pension roll for this same injury. "Letter from Mon- mouth county dated June 22, 1780. Yes- terday morning a party of the enemy consisting of Tye with 30 Blacks, 26 Queen Rangers and 30 Refugee Tories landed at Conascung. They got be- tween our scouts undiscovered, and went to James Mott's, Sr., and plunder- ed his and several neighbors houses of almost everything, and carried off the following persons: James Mott, Sr.,
James Johnston, Joseph Dorsett. Joseph Pearce, William Blair, James Walling, Jr., John Walling, son of Thomas, Phillip Walling, James Wall, Matthew Griggs, several negroes and a great deal of stock; but all the negroes except one, and a great deal of stock were retaken by our people. Capt. Walling was slightly wounded and a Lieut. Henderson (Hendrickson) had his arm broken. Two privates supposed mortally and a third slightly wounded in a skirmish we had with them on their retreat. The enemy acknowledge loss of seven men, but we think it more considerable."
It appears that there was hand to hand fighting, for in an affidavit on record in the Monmouth clerk's office to support Hyres' claim for pension, it is stated "that he received a cutlass wound while boldly fighting." Doctor Barber and Doctor Thomas Henderson, (writer of these letters) certify that
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EARLY DUTCHI SETTLERS OF MONMOU EL.
Garret Hendrickson has lost almost entire use of his right arm from injur- ies received in this fight on June 21. 1780. See page 303 of Old Times in Old Monmouth, although there is a typographical error here, for the month is printed January instead of June.
In this and several other raids the enemy landed at Conescunk. The reason of this was the depth of water at this place near the shore which enabled them to get off their boats at any stage of the tide. At other places the flats would be bare for a considerable dis- tance or water too shallow to float their barges at low tide. Captain John Schenck is said to have led our forces and pressed close upon them until they embarked. So closely were they pressed that they abandoned nearly all the cattle, sheep and hogs they had taken, and all the negro slaves except one.
While their last boat was within musket shot from the beach an officer stood up in the stern of the boat and deliberately aimed and fired at Captain Schenck, who had come down to the water's edge. The bullet whistled close to his head. "They shoot as if they wanted to kill a body," said the grim farmer, "but two can play at this work." Then seizing a gun from one of his men he walked into the water up to his armpits and carefully aiming. fired at the man who still stood up in the stern of the boat. He was seen to fall back but how badly hurt was never learned.
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