Genealogical and memorial history of the state of New Jersey, Volume IV, Part 9

Author: Lee, Francis Bazley, 1869- ed
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, N.Y. : Lewis Historical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 620

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farm in Somerset county, New Jersey, in latter end of April, 1773. He left a will, now on record at Trenton, in book L, of wills, pages 49-50. He names his wife, Grietje, and three daugh- ters with their husbands, viz .: Lantje, wife of Fernandus Gulick; Amortje, wife of Peter Peterson ; and Neeltje, wife of Bernardus Van Zandt. He had no sons.

Ryert Schermerhoorn, of Albany county, New York, purchased in the summer of the year 1710, of Octavo Coenraats, a merchant of New York City, a tract of two hundred and fifty acres, on the south side of Raritan river, in Somerset county, New Jersey. Prior to this purchase his younger brother, named Lucas Schermerhoorn, had also bought lands on the Raritan river, and taken up his residence on or near the same. As has already been stated, Hendrick Beekman's brother, Johannes had married for his first wife, Machtel Schermer- hoorn, a sister of above two brothers. Ryert and Lucas Schermerhoorn would naturally recommend to their relatives and friends in Albany or Schenectady the purchase of lands in and about where they had became owners. I think Hendrick Beekman was induced to pur- chase the lot next on the west to Schermer- hoorn's through his recommendation, for in November of the same year Hendrick Beek- inan received a deed for two hundred and fifty acres on south side of Raritan river from Coenraats. It lay next to Schermerhoorn's lot, according to the general description con- tained in the deed. This deed to Hendrick Beekman was in existence as late as the year 1876, when the writer secured an exact copy of the same, which he still has in possession. This deed is dated November 13, 1710, it sets out first that the proprietors of East Jersey, by their deed under seal of said province, dated October 20, 1693, conveyed to Peter Sonmans, Esq., a tract of land in Somerset county, New Jersey, between the Millstone river and south branch of the Raritan, then follows a descrip- tion of twenty-three thousand acres, by chains and links. This description is like that pub- lished in Rev. E. T. Corwin's book, "Historical Discourse on Centennial of Millstone Dutch Church in 1866," page 17-18. The description is taken from a deed belonging to Peter A. Voorhees, of "Six Mill Run," New Jersey. The map which accompanies this little, but very useful book, shows clearly all the lands which the proprietors of New Jersey had con- veyed away on west side of the Millstone and south side of the Raritan rivers, prior to 1693. This conveyance to Sonmans included all their

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remaining lands between the south branch of the Raritan and the Millstone rivers, in Som- erset county. After the description of the twenty-three thousand acres conveyed to Son- mans, this deed to Hendrick Beekman, as his name is spelled therein, next sets out that Peter Sonmans, by deed dated January 27, 1706, conveyed to Octavo Coenraats, merchant of New York City, in fee simple, one thousand acres of land, being that part of the twenty- three thousand acres which lies between the two thousand acres which had been first con- veyed to Thomas Cooper, one of the original twelve proprietors of New Jersey, and a tract conveyed to Thomas Hooper, at the junction of the north and south branches of Raritan river. In this year, 1706, when the deed to Coenracts was executed, one Jan Van Teunis- sen is named as owner of the Cooper tract. This thousand acres is further described as bounded on the south by other lands of Son- mans, and on the north by the Raritan river, along which he had a frontage of about fifty chains, although in the deed to Sonmans it is described as about "forty-five chains." Coen- raats seems to have divided up this thousand acres into four tracts of two hundred and fifty acres, each having a frontage on south side of Raritan river. Next this deed set out the re- ceipt of eighty-two pounds of New York money from Hendrick Beekman in full pay- ment for two hundred and fifty acres of land hereby conveyed to him by said Coenraats. This two hundred and fifty acres is first de- scribed by chains and links, and then by a general description, as bounded on east side by lands of Ryer Schermerhoorn, west by other lands of said Coenraats, south by lands of Peter Sonmans, and north by Raritan river. Then follow general covenants of clear title, peaceable possession, etc., to said Hendrick Beekman, his heirs and assigns forever, "he paying therefore yearly, if demanded, forever, to said Octavo Coenraats, one pepper corn, in lieu of all rents and services whatsoever." Coenraats signs and seals this deed on the right-hand side, and Abraham Gouverneur Esq. and Isaac Gouverneur sign as witnesses on the left. There is no acknowledgement or anything of that nature on this deed, until ten years later. Then, under date of October 24, 1720, is following endorsement certified to above signature of David Jamison, who de- scribes himself as "Chief Justice of the Prov- ince of East Jersey :" "That Abraham Gouver- neur, Gentleman, of the city of New York, personally appeared before me, who on his

corporal oath did divulge that within men- tioned Octavo Coenraats sealed and executed the within conveyance as his voluntary act and cleed, and that deponent and Isaac Gouverneur, of New York City, merchant, did at same time subscribe their names, as witnesses thereunto. Witness my hand, date abovesaid, sworn and subscribed before me. David Jamison."

Although this seems intended as a form of acknowledgement, and no doubt Jamison ex- acted a fee, for he was a "canny Scot," this deed was never recorded in any public office of New Jersey. It remained in possession of the descendants of Hendrick Beekman at the homestead on the Raritan river. It was in existence in the year 1876, when the writer had a copy made. There was also a written agree- ment, dated September 20, 1735, between Mar- tin Beekman, described therein as "eldest son of Hendrick Beekman," deceased, and his brother, Peter Beekman. This agreement was evidently drawn by a lawyer, for it is full of legal phrases and repetitions, and the copy made covers nine pages of modern legal cap paper. The lawyer has evidently charged by the folio. It first sets out that said Martin and Peter Beekman, with their brother Hendrick Beek- man, have hitherto possessed, used and culti- vated together, the five hundred acres on the Raritan river, which their father, Hendrick Beekman, had owned ; that they now propose to divide it up, allotting to each their proper share ; that two hundred acres on the south or rear end of the farm is to be set off to Peter; while Martin is to have the remaining three hundred acres, which has a frontage on Raritan river. It is then stipulated that if certain lands con- tiguous, on the south side to Peter's two hun- dred acres, can be purchased and conveyed to Peter, he will deed back one hundred acres of the two hundred so set off from the homestead. This would give Martin, who also represented his bachelor brother, Hendrick, four hundred acres, or exactly two hundred for each of the three brothers. This property lay along the Raritan, adjacent to the public highway, which has long been known as "Beekman's Lane," in the county of Somerset. Now, when did Hendrick Beekman, the father, get the second tract of two hundred and fifty acres, which made up the five hundred acres, which his sons divided in the year 1735? The acknowledge- ment on the deed from Coenraats to Hendrick Beekman was taken ten years after his pur- chase, or in 1720. It was also taken in New York City, where Gouverneur, a resident of that city, makes oath of its due execution.

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Now it would appear that some other legal business was transacted at that time, and ad- vantage was taken to have this form of ac- knowledgement endorsed on this deed, so it might be recorded, although this was never done. Ryer Schermerhoorn, a resident of Schenectady, Albany county, New York, pur- chased in the summer of 1710 the first tract, which Coenracts conveyed of his thousand acres on Raritan river. This tract was the first one on the east side, and next to what had been the Thomas Cooper tract of two thousand acres, on Raritan river. At that time one Jan Teunissen owned it. In November of same year, Hendrick Beekman purchased the next tract, adjacent to Schermerhoorns. Ryer of Ryert Schermerhoorn made his will April 6, 1717. It was proved April 9, 1726, and is now on record in surrogate's office of New York City, in liber 10 of wills, page 171. (See "Collections of New York Historical Society for year 1893," labeled vol. 2, Abstract of Wills (1708-1728) pp. 335-6). He devises to his daughter, Janneke, wife of Volkert Symonsen, one-half of his lands on Raritan river, in Som- erset county, New Jersey, and to the three children of his deceased daughter, Catalina, late wife of John Wemp, the other half of said tract. These grandchildren are named in this will as Myndert, Ryert, and Ariantie Wemp. Their father, John Wemp, I think, was a son of Myndert Wemp, who was killed and scalped by the Indians at that terrible massacre of the people of Schenectady, in February, 1689. The attack was made at midnight, when all the people were sound asleep in their beds. Sixty men, women and children were slaughtered. John Wemp, then a boy, was taken off to Canada with some thirty others as prisoners.

This devise to his daughter and three grand- children was subject to the use of said lands by his brother, Lucas Schermerhoorn, who had settled somewhere along the Raritan river, for the term of six years ; who also is bequeath- cd "all the cattle, belonging to the testator on said lands in Somerset county." The writer, in year 1879, received some curious informa- tion from Rev. James Riker, the well-known historian, whose "History of Harlem" is a monument to his patient, conscientious and thorough work. This letter from Mr. Riker is dated at Waverly, New York, September 13, 1879, and is still in writer's possession. Among other matters Mr. Riker writes: "Now I was aware that a great number of the early settlers on the Raritan were from Albany and vicinity. Among them I noticed the name of Lucas

Schermerhoorn. I had in my possession some old Schermerhoorn papers, obtained through my wife, and I was tempted to re-examine them; when singularly enough I found two deeds relating to lands on the Raritan river and embracing the very farm which your an- cestor, Samuel Beekman, held there, as it now turns out. It appears that in 1693 Peter Son- mans purchased of the proprietors twenty- three thousand acres of land on the south side of the river Raritan, and west of the Millstone. In 1706 Sonmans conveyed to Octavo Coen- raats one thousand acres off of the north end of his said tract, next the Raritan river, and having Jan Teunissen (before Thomas Cooper) on the east, and Daniel Hooper on the west. That Coenraats sold in 1710 to Ryer Schermer- hoorn, of Albany county ( and brother to Lucas, aforesaid), two hundred and fifty acres, a part of said one thousand, lying next to Jan Teunis- sen, north to the Raritan river; and west to Coenraat's other lands. That in 1720 Volkert Symonsen and Janneke, his wife (one of the daughters of Ryer Schermerhoorn), sold to Johannes Beeckman Jr., of Albany, one-half of this two hundred and fifty acre tract (not de- fining which half). This Johannes Beeck- man's mother was a sister of Ryer Schermer- hoorn, and named Machtel. Ryer was there- fore an uncle on his mother's side, while Hend- rick Beekman was his uncle on his father's side. Johannes Reeckman Jr. was therefore a cousin to Martin, Hendrick and Peter, the three sons of Hendrick Beeckman. This is as far as my deeds go, but one thing is to be ob- served. This last deed to Johannes Beeckman Jr., duly executed (not recorded), certainly remained with the deed to Ryer Schermer- hoorn, or among his papers. I notice the seal is off. It would argue that this deed was never delivered. I think the conclusion irresist- ible, that about this time, Hendrick Beeckman bought the land on the Raritan river from the heirs of Ryer Schermerhoorn.'

I have quoted Mr. Riker's reasoning in full. He did not know that Hendrick Beekman had bought the lot next to Schermerhoorn on the west, in latter part of 1710. In his description of Schermerhoorn's tract, Coenraats's lands are named as on west side, which shows that Hendrick Beekman purchased his tract after Schermerhoorn, for Ryer Schermerhoorn is named as owner of the east tract in deed to Hendrick Beekman. His reasoning, however, shows when Hendrick Beekman got the sec- ond tract, and so made up the five hundred acres which his sons divided in 1735.

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Lucas Schermerhoorn, the brother, had a right of "six years possession" after Ryer's death. There is little doubt but what Hend- rick Beekman assumed the obligation of his nephew, Johannes Beeckman Jr., of Albany. who had a deed for one-half of this two hun- dred and fifty acres from Volkert Symonsen and wife, who were devisees under the will of Ryer Schermerhoorn. The three Wemp chil- dren were entitled to the other half, and no doubt deeded this to Hendrick Beekman, so he became owner of the five hundred acres, of two of Coenraats' tracts.

Marten Beekman, eldest son of Hendrick Beekman and Annitje Quackenboss, his wife, married June 21, 1724, Elizabeth (born 1700, died November 27, 1760), daughter of Samuel Waldron and Neeltje Bloodgood, his wife, of Harlem, New York, and died on his farm in Somerset county, New Jersey, October 27, 1757, intestate. He left five children surviving : I. Elizabeth, born August 30, 1725; married Frances Brazier, of Raritan Landing; died November 9, 1810; buried by her husband, in Episcopal churchyard at New Brunswick, New Jersey. 2. Hendrick, born March 24, 1727; married Phoebe Bloomfield ; died intestate on his farm, January 26, 1796, leaving eight chil- dren who are named with some of their de- scendants in the "New York Gen. and Biogh. Record," 1897, pp. 52-55. Also same publi- cation for year 1899, pp. 83-84. 3. Samuel, born November 26, 1729; married, December 5, 1765, Elizabeth (born January 29, 1744, died April 7, 1806), daughter of Samuel Wald- ron and Annake Delamater, his wife, of New- town, Long Island. Ann Delamater was a daughter of Johannes Delamater, of Harlem, New York, whose will was proved March 24, 1743. (See Abstract of Wills, vol. 3, p. 424, "Collections of New York His. Society," for 1894). Samuel Beekman died on his farm in Somerset county, New Jersey, October 19, 1808. He left a will now on record in surro- gate's office of Somerset county, New Jersey. 4 Annitje, born June 28, 1734; married, No- vember 12, 1766, Johannes Waldron ; died Sep- tember 5, 1795, leaving one daughter surviving. 5. John, born November 5, 1741 ; married, July 30, 1769, Arriantje, daughter of Cornelius Tunison, whose will is recorded at Trenton, New Jersey, in book 34, of wills, p. 541. He names three of John Beekman's and his daugh- ter's children in this will. John Beekman died March 19, 1789, leaving a will now recorded at Trenton, New Jersey, in book 30, of wills, p. 227, etc. Genealogy of children and descend-

ants of John Beekman for several generations is published in "New York Genealogical and Biography Record," year 1897, pp. 156-159. Also see same publication for year 1902, P. 45. Cornelius Beekman, a resident of jacksonville, Oregon, and a well known citizen there during latter part of nineteenth century, is a lineal descendant of above John Beekman. Several of his descendants also resided during same time in City of Bath, New York, and in Steuben county, same state.

Samuel Beekman, eldest son of Samuel Beekman and Elizabeth Waldron, above named, was born on the farm along Raritan river, in Somerset county, New Jersey, Sep- tember 21, 1766, and died on his farm near Harlingen, same county, March 4, 1750; buried in old graveyard of Harlingen, where inany of his descendants are interred. He was an active member of the Harlingen Dutch Church, serving as deacon and elder. He was chairman of the building committee which erected the church edifice in 1804, at what is now Harlingen village. He married Helena (born on Ten Broeck farm, near Harlingen, January 26, 1768, died on same farm, where she had always lived, February 15, 1855), youngest child of Cornelius Ten Broeck and Margaret Louw his wife. (See genealogy of this branch of Ten Broecks in "Genealogical and Biographical Record of New York," for year 1888, pp. 69-77, by Cornelius H. Van Gaasbeek, of Kingston, New York). Samuel Beekman served many years as captain of a cavalry company, which the young farmers in that part of Somerset county had organized. It was for this reason he was called "Captain" during all latter years of his life. He also served several years as collector of taxes, and in other township and county offices.

Samuel Beekman and Helena Ten Broeck, his wife, had nine children, viz .: four sons and five daughters. All of them grew up, married and had children, except their young- est daughter, who died young. For full account of their eight children together with some of their descendants who reside in the state of Illinois, (see vol. xvi, of "The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record," PP. 133-137, entitled "Record of a Branch of Beekman Family in New Jersey, New York and Illinois.") The eight children of Samuel Beekman and Helena Ten Broeck his wife were all born in the first brick house erected in this part of Somerset county. Cornelius Ten Broeck owned a farm of four hundred and twenty-seven acres which had been purchased

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by his father, Jacob Ten Broeck, of Kingston, New York. Cornelius Ten Broeck had clay dug on this farm, and the brick burned by two German or French brick makers. John Scott a mason, did all the mason work in years 1764- 5, when dwelling was completed. The dwell- ing is yet standing, (1910). All of Samuel Beekman's children were born in this house. His third son was born April 10, 1801, and was named by his mother for her eldest brother, Jacob Ten Broeck, who was born February 12, 1750, and March 7 following was baptized at dwelling of Simon Van Arts- dalen, in Somerset county, New Jersey, by Rev. John Leight, a clergyman of the Dutch Church. The Dutch language was used at that time, and after the ceremony was over, the dominie and all present were invited to a good dinner at the home of the parents. Jacob Ten Broeck grew up a very strong, active man, and very obedient to his parents. He was twenty-six years old and engaged to be mar- ried to a girl named Ten Eyck, who was all his parents could wish for a wife. In the summer of 1776 he went out with the Jersey militia, and was stationed with this company at Paulus Hook, as the region about what is now Jersey City was then called. Here, Sep- tember 18 or 19, 1776, he was seized with some kind of burning or malignant fever. At this time the American army had been defeated on Long Island, and New York City was in the occupation of the British army. The sick in the camp at Paulus Hook could no longer be sent over the Hudson river to the hospitals there. The upper bay was black with the British men-of-war and transport ships. The detachment at Paulus Hook was in great dan- ger of an attack by an overwhelming force. Cut off from all communication with the main army under Gen. Washington, the officers did not know what to do. Under such dispiriting circumstances and suffering from a burning fever, Jacob Ten Broeck was granted leave of absence to go home. Unable to walk, he obtained a horse and rode from Paulus Hook to his home near Harlingen. He reached his father's house September 21 in a pitable con- dition. A physician was at once called in and everything possible done to save his life. Fever, exposure and neglect had done its work. Two weeks after reaching home, on October 5, 1776, he died. His parents never recovered from the loss of their first born son. The reverses suffered by the American army at this period added to their sorrow and gloom. It seemed to them that his life had been use-

lessly sacrificed in the morn of his manhood. Helena, his youngest sister, was then eight years old, and was deeply affected by his death and the heart breaking grief of her parents. When eighty years of age she spoke of it as the most unhappy period of her life. Soon after his death, the British army, in all their glory, with bands of music, passed through Princeton, within three miles of her home, in hot pursuit of Gen. Washington and the rem- nant of his ragged troops. In memory of this brother, she named her third son Jacob Ten Broeck Beekman. He was born April 10, 1801, in the brick farm house erected by her father on his farm near Harlingen in years 1764-5. This house is still standing and in use. He died at Middletown village, Mon- mouth county, April 23, 1875. A picture of this last house with a brief history of same can be seen in the "Historical and Biographical Atlas of the New Jersey Coast," pp. 113-14; also a good likeness of Mr. Beekman, from a photograph taken when he was sixty-five years old, is shown on page 117 of same publication.

He married, February 12, 1833, Ann (born February 22, 1801, died May 18, 1876), daugh- ter of George Crawford and Eleanor Schanck, his second wife. A complete genealogy of this Crawford family is given in the "Scott Family of Shrewsbury," pp. 17-25, by Rev. A. C. Cole.

Jacob T. B. Beekman graduated at Union College, Schenectady; entered Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, New Jersey, and was licensed as a minister of Reformed Dutch church in 1826. He was called the same year as pastor of the Dutch church then located in what was the old township of Middletown, Monmouth county, but afterwards taken off t :: form what is now Holmdel township. Here he served ten years, content, as he once remarked to his friend Rev. Garret C. Schenck, with "stipends sufficient to pay the board of himself and his horse." He also did consider- able missionary service through Monmouth county, which then included the county of Ocean. He rode about on horseback, preach- ing in school houses and sometimes in barns. In 1836 he severed his connections with the Holmdei Dutch church and took up his perma- nent residence in the village of Middletown, where he resided the rest of his life. The first Baptist church in what is now the state of New Jersey had been organized in this place. The population of English descent were strong believers in baptism by immersion. Even in the coldest winters they would cut

Creo C. Beckman

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holes through the ice of the nearest mill pond to baptize their converts. The Dutch church at Holmdel, then called the Middletown Dutch Church, was five miles distant by the public road from Middletown village. With the good will of four or five farmers of Dutch descent, named Hendrickson, Luyster and Couwen- hoven, residing on farms over a mile west from Middletown village, it was resolved to purchase a lot and erect a church in this vil- lage. Many people ridiculed the idea of build- ing a church when there was no congregation to fill it or support a minister; others said, "the people here are all Baptists and they will not attend a church where people are sprinkled with a few drops of water." Undisturbed by the clamors, Mr. Beekman went on. A lot was bought and a church was built. He gave freely of his time, labor and means. He even borrowed $500 on his individual note, to pay some of the final indebtedness. When the edi- fice was completed, Mr. Beekman gave public notice that he would preach every Sunday, and invited the people to attend, assuring all of a welcome. Attracted more by curiosity than piety, a large number of people attended, for there was nothing to pay. Not only on that Sunday but for nearly three years following. he preached without any salary or other per- quisites. In that time he had gathered a con- gregation able and willing to support an unmarried man as pastor. Mr. Beekman secured a young and single man named Craw- ford to serve as their first regularly installed pastor at a stated salary. During the three years Mr. Beekman preached, he had the care of conducting a farm and other business. In the year 1837 he lost an infant daughter. Three years before, his first born, a son, named Edwin, died. The graves of those two children, with headstones giving their names and dates of death, may be seen to-day in the yard beliind this church. They were among the first interments in this burying-ground Mr. Beekman's funeral was held in this church, and was the only thing he ever received for his sacrifices and services. It was, however, now too small to seat the crowd of people who turned out to pay their last respects to the memory of "Dominie Beekman," as he was generally called.

Mr. Beekman, later in life, preached many years at Port Washington, as Oceanic was then called. He also preached at one time for a church in New York City and elsewhere. He never refused to preach the funerals of the colored people when requested.

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Genealogical and memorial history of the state of New Jersey, Volume IV, Part 9

Author: Lee, Francis Bazley, 1869- ed Publication date: 1910 Publisher: New York, N.Y. : Lewis Historical Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 620

Author: Lee, Francis Bazley, 1869- ed
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, N.Y. : Lewis Historical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 620