USA > New Jersey > Genealogical and memorial history of the state of New Jersey, Volume IV > Part 39
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It will thus be seen that Captain Sandford, in addition to his own extended properties, had important interests to look after in acting for the Kingslands. By Isaac Kingsland's will, dated January 1, 1697-9, Edmund Kingsland, his oldest son, received one-third of his planta- tion, about one thousand one hundred and thirty-four acres, part of which tract was sold by Edmund Kingsland, to Arent Schuyler, April 20, 1710 for £330. By will dated July 29, 1741, proved July 26, 1742, Edmund Kings- land gave to his son, William Kingsland, three hundred acres next adjoining Schuyler's tract, and also-one-third of the meadow and one- third of the cedar swamp. His son, Edmund Roger Kingsland, received the remainder of his realty. This latter devise was burdened with the payment of certain legacies, and in case they were not paid within one year, then the property devised should go to his son, Isaac Kingsland, with the same burdens. The devisee refused to accept, and on September 10, 1743, Isaac Kingsland accepted the devise, and by his will, dated March 5, 1776, and proved Au- gust 23, 1783, gave to his son, Abraham Kings- land, one-half of all his lands and divided the remainder among his other children, Isaac, Jo- seph, Charles, Aaron, Sarah and Rachel Kings- land. John Kingsland, by will dated August 18, 1763, proved August 10, 1768, gave the north half of his lands to his son, Richard Kingsland. The other half was divided among his children. Elizabeth, Hester, wife of Peter
Butler ; Edmund, and his grandson, John, son of Isaac Kingsland.
Captain Sandford married, March 27, 1677, Sarah Wharton, "on board the pink 'Susan,' in the river Surinam." He left all of his property to his widow Sarah. His children were Nede- mia, Elizabeth, Grace, Katherine, William and Peregrine Sandford. By her will, dated June 8, 1708, proved June 25, 1719, she gave to her daughter Katherine, wife of Johannis Van Em- burgh, three hundred acres of woodland and one hundred acres of meadow; and to Eliza- beth, wife of James Davis, three hundred acres of land. To her son, Major William Sandford, she gave the farm of three hundred acres, with the meadow, for life, then to his son, William Sandford, in fee. He also re- ceived the residue of her lands. Major Will- iam Sandford married, February 1, 1696, Sarah Smith. They had several children, among them being Michael Sandford, who married Mary Dey. Another son, David Sandford, who was interred in the Belleville graveyard, Belleville, New Jersey, was the grandfather of William J. Davis, on the maternal side.
By will dated February 24, 1732, and proved April 16, 1735, William Sandford (2d), gave to his son, Richard Sandford, one-half of the Cedar Swamp, and the other half to his daugh- ters, Frances, Jennie and Anne Sandford. This William Sandford (2d) was baptized in November, 1696, and died in 1750. By will dated February 22, 1749, William Sandford (3d) gave to his only son, William Sandford, all his lands, consisting of three hundred acres rough land, and one hundred and fifty acres of meadow. This was the farm mentioned in his grandmother's will, and in all probability lays where East Newark now is. Peregrine Sandford, son of Major William Sandford, by will dated November 6, 1740, proved June 14, 1750, gave his lands to his children, Enoch, William, Jane, Aggie and Elizabeth Sandford.
It is interesting also to note in this connec- tion that a part of the Sandford tract, unques- tionably the farm and meadow mentioned in Sarah Sandford's will, was purchased by Colo- nel Peter Schuyler, and thenceforth called Petersborough. By his will, dated March 21, 1761, proved May 28, 1762, Schuyler gave this land to his only child, Catharine Schuyler, wife of Archibald Kennedy, Earl of Casselis. Ken- nedy and his wife conveyed to James Duane, June 13, 1765, the farm on New Barbadoes Neck (Petersborough) and two tracts near Secaucus, between the line of Bergen lots and
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Pinhorne's creek and Cromkill, as well as Colo- nel Schuyler's interest in the "commons" in trust for themselves. Duane reconveyed to them and to the survivor, June 15, 1765. The earl outlived his wife, and by will dated June 15, 1765, left his property in America to his sons, John and Robert Kennedy. The inter- est of John Kennedy passed to Robert Ken- nedy, and the latter in 1803 sold the tract where East Newark now is to William Halsey, a lawyer of Newark, now without a living rep- resentative of his name. It was then a part of what was known as "Kennedy's Farm." In 1804 the name was changed to "Lodi," now Harrison. Halsey laid out a part of his pur- chase into ninety building lots of at least one acre each. Arent Schuyler, by will dated Decem- ber 17, 1724, proved July 6, 1732, gave his lands on New Barbadoes Neck to his son, John Schuy- ler, who left them to his son, Arent Schuyler, from whom they have descended to his grand- children, Arent, Jacob R. Schuyler and others.
Hiram W. Davis, son of Mark W. and Ann (Read) Davis, and father of William Jerome Davis, was born February 9, 1829, in Hope township, Warren county, New Jersey, where his early boyhood was spent, and died in Har- rison, August 22, 1876. In 1839, when he was ten years old, he removed with his parents to Hudson county and there continued at school until his father constructed a plant for diving and wrecking, when the son joined with him in an effort to recover the lost steamer "Lexington," in which they were partially suc- cessful. On the completion of this enterprise young Davis resumed his studies for a time, in the meantime assisting his father in various undertakings and finding his time and atten- tion greatly occupied with interests of a gen- eral character. The elder Davis had invested much of his surplus earnings in real estate, all of which was eventually inherited by the son, who became a man of affairs, the care of this estate absorbing his time and preclud- ing the conducting of other operations, aside from the purchase and sale of real estate, in which field he gained distinction as a success- ful promoter.
In 1873 Mr. Davis disposed of much of his land holdings to the East Newark Land Com- pany, reserving certain holdings in East New- ark, and three acres in Harrison, now the fam- ily residence and formerly occupied by his widow and children. On the first named tract is erected the Davis Memorial Church, in which Mr. Davis manifested much interest and to which he made liberal contributions. He
was a member of the old Whig party, later becoming a Republican, his ultimate allegiance being to the principles of Democracy. He was an active worker in the field of politics, and he held the office of freeholder for successive terms during important periods. The county of Hudson is indebted to him for many valu- able services. He was influential in obtaining a free bridge between his own and Essex coun- ties, and he was also a member of the building committee for the erection of the Hudson county penitentiary, taking an earnest and prominent part in the prosecution and comple- tion of the work. He was one of the incor- porators of the East Newark Gas Light Com- pany, and active in other public enterprises that called for both executive ability and public spirit. He possessed a genial nature, was benevolent without ostentation, and enjoyed the esteem and confidence of the community throughout his life. He married, November 25, 1851, Emma L. Sandford, daughter of David Sandford, of Hudson county. Their children are: Mark W. ; Mary Celeste ; Annie E., wife of George L. Blake; William Jerome, of whom presently ; Mary Celeste (2d) ; Irene M., wife of Theodore Cuyler ; Noe ; and Emma C., wife of Eddie Palmer.
William Jerome Davis was born November 9, 1858, in Harrison, New Jersey, where he still resides, although his interests extend far beyond the boundaries of his native place. He was educated in the Hackettstown Seminary, afterward entering Yale College, of which he was a graduate. After the completion of his. studies, he entered the law office of Hon. Will- iam Brinkerhoff as a student, and was admit- ted to the bar of New Jersey as an attorney in 1884, since which time he has practiced con- tinuously in Harrison and Jersey City. He has proved successful as a lawyer, and might have won high rank in that profession, so de- cided was his ability, but his business interests have branched out until to-day he is promi- nently identified in banking circles and has. large interests in North Jersey. He was a di- rector in and connected with several of the trolley lines of Essex and Hudson counties. and is counsel for a number of manufacturing corporations. He is president of the Martin Act Commissioners of the towns of Harrison and Kearney, and he is also a member of the Sinking Fund Commissioners, and is one of the commissioners appointed by Governor Voorhees to consider the advantage of consoli- dating all the towns and cities in Hudson coun- ty into one large municipality.
Eng ª by AH.Ritchie
OM. M.Davis
Therain & Davis .
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He has accomplished praiseworthy work in his county as park commissioner, being instru- mental in having the public park act passed in the legislature, enabling Hudson county to secure parks the same as Essex county. After a hard contest the bill was passed with a ref- erendum clause, which was carried by a large majority of the people. The act was taken into court, and the court of errors and appeals of New Jersey sustained it. Mr. Davis was ap- pointed on the board of commissioners by Hon. John A. Blair, and when the body organized he was chosen as vice-president of the board and later its president, which position he has since occupied. Under his progressive and able efforts and with the co-operation of the other members of the board, the system of Hudson county parks is being pushed as rapid- ly as possible, and it is safe to say will in the end not be excelled by any other similar system in the country. Mr. Davis has also been ap- pointed by Governor Fort to recommend to the legislature of New Jersey a method of tax- ing trust companies and bank stocks of the state.
He was one of the organizers of the West Hudson County Trust Company, which met with marked success in its operations, and of which institution he is now president. He was president of the East Newark Gas Light Company and the Hudson Electric Light Com- pany, before these two corporations were merged into the Public Service Corporation, and he is now counsel for several building and loan associations. He holds membership in the Union League Club and the Harrison and Kearney Campaign Clubs. He has been de- scribed by a biographer as "a type of citizen that helps a community ; he takes part in local, state and national political affairs for no other reason than that he enjoys getting into the fight for what he thinks is best for the people. Notwithstanding his political activity, Mr. Davis has never sought an elective office, but, on the other hand, has brushed aside the earn- est solicitations of his friends who have sought to have him run for public office." .Mr. Davis has attended the last five Republican national conventions as delegate or alternate. During national campaigns he has been at the head of the organization in West Hudson county.
Abraham Soverel (or Sover- SOVEREL hill, as he wrote it), progeni- tor of the New Jersey family by that name, was according to family tradi- tion of Welsh extraction, and born July 15,
1716. He emigrated from England in 1739 to New Jersey with an exploring and mining company. It is stated that he came from a mining family in England, doubtless having learned that trade while in his native land. Some time previous to his emigrating to this country, copper mining was being developed in the Doddtown district of the Oranges and other near localities in New Jersey. On the John Dodd farm on Second river, in the rear of the spot where in later years the chapel building stood, a shaft was sunk. The same com- pany with which Soverhill was connected also operated mines at Bellville and he was inter- ested with the company. After considerable money had been expended in the development and operating of the mines, the project proved a poor investment, as the company in England reserved all rights and held the major share of the profits, leaving only a small margin to those actually engaged in the work, conse- quently these mines were abandoned by those in charge, among whom was Abraham Sover- hill.
In April, 1745, he emigrated to Susquehanna river, Pennsylvania, near the North branch, where the present town of Milton is situated. Here he took up a government claim, erected a log house and barn and cleared the land, preparatory to settling his family there, who were then living in Orange, New Jersey. Before he returned to Orange he was stricken with fever, and died in the fall of that year shortly before the birth of his infant son. His widow was buried in the old burial-ground at Scot- land street, Orange. Jane Soverel (as the name now appears) in December, 1768, became a member of the Presbyterian church, having entered into covenant with the Moun- tain Society under Rev. Jedediah Chapman.
Abraham Soverhill married, December 10, 1741, Jane Williams, born at Orange, New Jersey, daughter of Matthew and Ruth ( Wheeler ) Williams, of Tory Corner, and was born on the first Matthew Williams home- stead at the "Mountain." Matthew Williams was the ancestor of the Orange Williamses, (see Williams in this work). Children: I. Jane, born January 17, 1743. 2. Matthias, mentioned below.
(II) Matthias Soverel, only son of Abra- ham and Jane ( Williams) Soverhill, was born September 20, 1745, doubtless on the home- stead of his grandfather, Matthew Williams, at the "Mountain" ( this being the stone home- stead erected in 1720, described in the Will- iams family history). He was doubtless
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reared on his grandfather's farm, acquiring the meagre advantages of the times. The records in the State House at Trenton show he died intestate in 1767, leaving one son Matthias. He married, 1765, Abigail Dodd, born at Doddtown, daughter of Samuel Dodd, who was the son of Daniel Dodd, the emigrant ancestor, and Mary ( Wheeler) Dodd, of Bran- ford, Connecticut. (See Dodd family). Child, Matthias, see forward.
(III) Matthias (2); son of Matthias (I) and Abigail (Dodd) Soverel, was born at Orange, New Jersey, July 5, 1766, and died on the homestead farm in the vicinity of North Park street and Washington street, May 21, 1804. He owned a large tract of land in this section and followed the occupation of farm- ing. He married, June, 1786, Betsey Parret, born at Hanover, New Jersey, 1768, died at Orange, New Jersey, 1810, daughter of Will- iam and Jane Parret. She was a most capable, energetic woman, and a faithful member of the Presbyterian church. After the death of Mr. Soverel she married (second) Daniel Ward, of Orange, a former suitor, and had two children by him. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Soverel: I. William Parret, mentioned below. 2. Daniel Harrison, born 1789, died of croup, 1792. 3. Abigail, born 1792, died in infancy. 4. Abigail Ward, born September I, 1794, died November 5, 1880 ; married, May 6, 1810, George Judd. 5. Lucy, born Decem- ber 10, 1796; married Silas Morehouse. 6. Sally, born April 4, 1799; married, February 20, 1827, Henry Lyon. 7. Jane Parret, born June 29, 1801, died November 16, 1872; mar- ried (first) William Snowdon; (second) Nathan Foster. 8. Phebe Reynolds, born Oc- tober 10, 1803, died February, 1880; married, July 6, 1825, David Earl.
(IV) William Parret, eldest son of Matthias (2) and Betsey (Parret) Soverel, was born on the Soverel farm, Washington street, near north Park street, East Orange, New Jersey, April, 1788. He was reared on his father's farm, acquiring the usual common school education of a farmer's son at that period. He followed farming during his active life, and died at the early age of thirty-four years. At his marriage he went to live with his wife's people and conducted the affairs of the farm of John Wright, his father-in-law. He was gifted with a fine musical taste and possessed a good voice. He sang in the choir of the old First Presbyterian Church of Orange, where his father-in-law, John Wright, was an elder. He was an attractive man, pop-
ular with his friends, and possessed many excellent qualities of heart and mind. In 182I he was elected one of the overseers of highways of Orange, and filled that office until his death, October 16, 1822. Two years later the farm property of John Wright came to Mr. Soverel's widow, on the decease of her father. After the decease of Mr. Soverel his widow lived on the farm, and August 20, 1852, deeded the property to her son, Matthias Soverel. "Betsey Soverel, widow of William P. Soverel, late of township of Orange, and county of Essex, state of New Jersey, deceased, for consideration of one dollar to me paid by Matthias Soverel of the town of Orange, aforesaid, have demised released and forever quitclaimed and by these presents do demise release and quitclaim unto said Matthias Soverel, &c., all manner of dower and right, or action of dower which I now have or might have or claim of in and to a certain tract of land situate and lying and being in town of Orange aforesaid containing five and a half acres, &c., beginning &c &c east from easterly side of the road leading from Orange to Bloomfield, southerly line of Zebena Dodd &c. &c." Mr. Soverel was buried in the Presby- terian burial-ground, Scotland and Main streets, Orange, New Jersey.
He married, January 24, 1810, Betsey (Eliz- abeth) Wright, daughter of John and Eliza- beth (Peck) Wright. John Wright was born at Paisley, Scotland, 1746, died May 29, 1824. He was a weaver by trade. He came to New- ark, New Jersey, 1769, and purchased the Lampson place at Orange, where he died. His wife, Elizabeth (Peck) Wright, born 1747, died October 4, 1819, daughter of Deacon Joseph Peck, born 1702, died 1772, son of Joseph Peck, born 1675, died 1746, and Lydia (Ball) Peck. Joseph was the son of Edward Peck, the Newark ancestor. (See Peck). Children of Mr. and Mrs. Soverel: I. Sally Wright, born January 23, 1812, died 1896; married, December 28, 1830, John Smith; children (first four not named herein) : v. Solomon, born January 19, 1835, died August 17, 1893; married, March 10, 1858, Addie Frances Boice; children: a. Walter, born December 18, 1858, died August 20, 1886; married Laura Creelan; child, Gertrude; b. Annette, born March 26, 1862, died April 7, 1877 ; c. Fred Dewitt, born December 11, 1874; married, June 28, 1900, Louisa Pollock ; child, Janet Louise, born March 24, 1907 ; d. Arthur Boice, born November 2, 1877 ; married, Feb- ruary 14, 1900, Sadie Hagaman ; child, Ethel
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Adelia, born January 16, 1901. vi. Charles Bradley, married Anna Gould; children: a. Elizabeth, born 1864; b. Alwilda, born 1869; vii. William Soverel, born September 14, 1839, died February 13, 1907; married, May 27, 1863, Josephine Amelia Bossong ; children : a. Ida Estelle, born May 20, 1864; b. Jennie Frances, born September 13, 1872; married, January, 1889, Harold Clark Matthews; chil- dren : Clarence, born August 17, 1890; Nelson Ross, April 5, 1897; Harold, February 23, 1900; John Soverel, September 29, 1901. viii. George Hartley. ix. Sarah Jane. x. Juliette Eliza, born March 23, 1850; married, December 27, 1894, John Thomas Bird ; child, Ruth Soverel, born September 12, 1895. xi. John Wright Smith, born September 27, 1851, died May 12, 1896; married, September 15, 1880, Maria Jacobus Pienovi; children: a. Florence Pienovi, born October 10, 1881 ; b. Joseph Pienovi, September 24, 1884, died April 21, 1894 ; c. Mabel Van Saun, April 21, 1889; d. Hazel, August 18, 1892. 2. Eliza Parret, born March 19, 1814, died May 27, 1848; married, April 22, 1833, Araspes Downs; children : i. Cincinnatus, born June 8, 1834, died May 30, 1901 ; married, September 23, 1858, Matilda Moore; children: a. Will- iam Archibald, born July 3, 1859; married (first ) Alice Boyd ; children : Herbert Filmore, Millard, Earle ; married (second) Emily Kerr ; b. Oscar Araspes, born October 21, 1861; c. Samuel Carl, February 8, 1864; d. George De Graw, August, 1871, died January, 1878; e. Emmie Moore, July 4, 1876; married Joseph Dugan ; child, Helen, born May, 1907. ii. Sarah, born January 8, 1836, died March 13, 1904. iii. William Selden, born June 4, 1837. iv. Jane Margaretta, born March 18, 1839, died May 9, 1902; married, March 18, 1858, William Brewster Ely; children: a. Charles Cleveland, born December 6, 1859; married Ruth Shaw; children : Elsie Lucile, born May, 1887; George; Charles C. June, 1891 ; Ruth, June, 1897; b. Lucile Clark, born August 12, 1867; married Cloud C. Conkling ; children : Gurdon Ely, born May 8, 1892; Lucile Brewster, February 15, 1898; Tre- maine, born December 20, 1903; c. Selden Maynard, born October 12, 1871 ; married Annette James ; children : Mary, born March, 1908, died March, 1908; Selden Brewster, born March 30, 1909. v. Alonzo Howard, born March 31, 1841, died October 5, 1843. vi. Mary Eliza, born March 26, 1843; married, May 17, 1905, William Brewster Ely, who died August 21, 1908. vii. Alonzo Howard, born
March 12, 1845, died July 1I, 1846. viii. Myrabella Cook, born May 27, 1848, died July 12, 1848. 3. Matthias, mentioned below. 4. Daniel T., born 1818, died December 9, 1821. 5. Jane Margaretta, born April 10, 1821, died February 2, 1837.
(V) Matthias (3), eldest son of William Parret and Betsey (Wright) Soverel, was born on the old John Wright homestead on Spring- dale avenue, East Orange, New Jersey, then situated on the road to Cranetown, September 24, 1816. He was reared on the old home place, under a mother's guiding care, receiving his education in the old Orange Academy, which he attended until sixteen years of age. His mother's desire was to educate him for the ministry, but this was abandoned and he was apprenticed to William Meeker, of New- ark, to learn the trade of carpenter which he followed up to 1841. At the time the Penn- sylvania railroad (then the New Jersey rail- road) was starting, Mr. Soverel helped to build their first bridge over the Raritan river and worked as journeyman carpenter for them for two years. In 1839 and for two years following, during the favorable rise in real estate and building trade, he followed carpentering in Brooklyn, New York. In 1841 he returned to the home of his boyhood at East Orange, where a few years later he engaged in the ice business. In 1854 he built two lakes on the property and later erected houses for the storage of his product. The quality of the ice was the best and purest, the ponds from which he cut his ice being fed by natural springs. He enjoyed the patronage of the residents of the Oranges ; his headquarters were at the Centre Market, Orange. He also established a skating rink which his son Wal- lace conducted thirty years. Mr. Soverel con- tinued in active business until about 1887, when he retired. He died while on a visit to Wilmington, North Carolina, to his daughter, Mrs. Charles M. Whitlock, and was buried there, September 7, 1897.
Mr. Soverel possessed a remarkable inven- tive genius. He secured a patent for a safety carriage shaft bolt. He was without doubt the original inventor of the stem-winding watch with bevel gear, but owing to delay in developing the same and patenting it, other inventors placed it on the market. He was also the inventor of the lever fastener for refrigerators, which was later patented by Fillmore Condit. At the age of seventy-five years he invented a wave motor. In addition to his ice business he conducted a farm of
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forty acres and kept from thirty to forty horses in connection with his ice business. He was a most public-spirited citizen, possessed a genial, sunny nature, ever looking on the bright side of life, and magnanimous in his acts to others. He and his wife were members of the First Presbyterian Church at Orange. In political preferment Mr. Soverel was a Re- publican of the true type. He served his town with credit as township committeeman during the years 1864-72-82-83. He was a strong advocate of good roads and sewers, and did much to further these improvements. He was a strong advocate of temperance, and was an ardent member of the old Temple of Honor, a temperance organization instituted February 15, 1849. A number of transfers of property are recorded in the Essex county courthouse at Newark. June 7, 1842, Matthias and Dor- liska Soverel, Araspes Downs and wife, to Sally W. Smith, of Lebanon, New York, Columbia county, a quitclaim of seven acres of land on east side of road from Orange to West Bloomfield ; February 3, 1854, Samuel Ashton and wife Hannah, of city of Philadel- phia, for $157, lawful United States money by Matthias Soverel paid, parcel of land west side of road from David Riker's to Orange ; south- east corner of Joseph Slater's land, to a stake near edge of the mill pond, together with all and singular houses, buildings, trees, ways, water profits &c. July 3, 1850, for $125, by Matthias Soverel, paid to William Augustus Baldwin, of Clinton township, county of Essex, New Jersey, parcel of land on Parsons creek, land of Joseph Crane, and west branch of Morris creek. This tract of meadow con- veyed to William A. Baldwin by Jabez Bald- win and wife. May 2, 1854, Calvin Dodd to Matthias Soverel, for $850, parcel of land beginning in middle of brook on east side of road opposite the fulling mill of Crowell & Frost, &c .; lands of Abigail and Timothy Ward, easterly by lands of David Dodd and Jane his wife, southerly by lands of John Wright, and westerly by road from Orange to West Bloomfield, being the same premises conveyed to Zabina Dodd and Abigail Ward by deed dated September 16, 1806.
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