History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 121

Author: Snell, James P; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1170

USA > New Jersey > Somerset County > History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 121
USA > New Jersey > Hunterdon County > History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 121

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In 1838 ho began his special preparation for the ministry, and after graduating from the theological seminary accepted a call to the arduous charge of Pond's and Wyckoff. in Bergen County, in which he Inbored of- ficiently for three years. He Inter nesumed charge of the grammar-school at Now Brunswick, N. J. Aftor eighteen years of service, with impaired health, ho returned to the friends of his youth, continuing to teach among them, however, for four years longer.

Judge Joseph Thompson is the oldest chill of Judge John Thompson by his second wife, Elizabeth Morchend. He was born In the old, long, red homestead mansion, and Improved the opportunities it afforded bim, Je carly learned both to perform and to plan the work of the farm, At extra hours ho wrought at the loom, and expended the proceeds of his Inbor in books, which wore diligently studled. In this way ho mastered land-surveying. At the age of eighteen he taught n district school nt the Ridge, after that at Pleasant Run, to which he gave the namne, nuil alsu at l'entreville, Rondington, White House, North Brauch, and " The Contro," now Cedar Grove. He married at twenty-one, and succeeded to the charge of tho farm, farming during the summer and teaching during the winter, though often called away from both to survey Innds for many milles ground. In 1837, with hla wifo nud four children, he removed to the farm on which he still restdes, lying partly in Somerset and partly in Hunterdon.

His mental and physien! vigor and energy were wonderful, but n stil

* William Wyckoff was about sixteen. His father, Peter Wyckoff, was captured on the same day. One or both of them returned after about two years and told these details. A niegro captured nt the anmo time was roasted alivo.

t This date inny bo erroneous. Col. Hesterman's lotter to Col. Win- ter, dated the 10th of June, details theso eventa as occurring " this day." Sve Penn. Archives, vol. vì. p. 589, nad Comp. Meginnis' " Ilistory of the Wost Branch," pp. 208-215, etc.

more noted characteristic was hila sterling integrity. Theso traits caused hlin, when he was but twenty-eight years of age, to be associated with his father t judge of the Hunterdon County Orphans' Court, a position which he held for fifteen years. Since that time ho has held the same position In the Somerset County court for thirteen yonra, and, though his legal knowledge Is only such as he could acquire by desultory read- ing in the intervala of so busy a life, no decision of his as judge of elther of these courts has ever been reversed. He has done a very large business as a writer of wills, deeds, and mortgages, as well as a master in Chancery, and in the settlement of estates as executor and adminis- trator. In 1856 he organized the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance As- sociation, of which bo has been secretary from the first,

Judge Thompson was a tracher In the first Suodny school In this re- giun. It was organized at " the Brookye" (Pleasant Ruu) in the year 1825. From that day to this the Sunday-school movement has had no more faithful friond. Converted in 1830, ho because at once a worker in prayer-meetings and in the church, in which bo was au officer in 1×40, and often sinco.

Twoof his children died in infancy ; the other six are still living. The faithful partner of his toila and blessinge for more than balf a century bas recently entered into rest.

The Rev. John Bodine Thompson, oldest child of Judge Joseph Thomp- aon, like his father, became n teacher at the early age of sixteen, and hus continued in that occupation, In some form or other, almost from that day to this. Ho taught in the public schools at Pleasant Run and Cedar Grove before going to college; afterwards bad charge, first, of a classical school, and thon of all the schools in Somerville, of a classical school in Flemlagton, and was teacher of natural sciences in the Trenton Acule-my. This experience fitted him to become the advisor and instruc- tor of tenchers as the agent of the New Jersey State Teachers' Associa- tion. Hle was an active member of the first and second teachers* insti- tutea held In the State, at Somerville, in 1849 and 1850. Ho was chiefly instrumental in organizing the first teachors' institute in Hunterdon, in 1852. His address to the Legislature at Trenton, Feb. 9, 1254, resulted in the establishment of teachers' institutea by luw, and be became or- ganizer and conilnetor of them in most of the counties of the State. His lectures in connection with them contributed largely towards the establishment of the New Jersey State Normal Schout aud the organiza- tion of the system of public achools upon its present excellent basis.

Dr. Thompson was graduated from Rutgers College In 1851, and from the theological school at New Brunswick in 1858, Ilia ministerial life has been spent upon the banks uf the Ruritan und the Hudson. The lato Rev. Dr. Cohen-Stuart characterizes him further (in his book of travels published in Holland in 1875) as "a large, well-developed man, and a truo American,-a man who has traveled, soen, and learned a great deal ; no stranger at all in the literaturo of the Old World,-what an English- man would call a well-informed man, and, what is more than all, a truly plous and lovely Christian."

A vacation of two years enabled Dr. Thompson and family to visit the Old World. During his first winter there ho attended lectures on phil- osophy and logie at the University of Tubingon. After that he sup- plied the American union church In Florence. Becoming Interested in the Free Itallan Church (then just organized), he Identified himself with the few evangelista of it, and, leaving his family in Europe, came to America to collect funda for its work, bringing with him the well-known patriotic orutor and evangelist Alessandro Gavazzi. Their summer tour procured contributiona amounting to $30,000.

Dr. Thompson la an acceptable and Instructivo minister, and has been highly honored by his brethren. Amid the duties of a busy life he has fuund time for study. For a time it was the langunges (especially Ger- man, Greek, and Hebrew) that occupied bia attention, and he was more than once Invited to become a college professor. Discourses publishod during the last few years, however, show that all this was but prepara- tory to the metaphysical and theological pursuita to which he is dovutiog the maturity of his powerat The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by hàn Alma Mater in 1870.

The Rev. Henry Post Thompson, second child of Joseph Thompson nad Ann Post, was devoted to the mitastry by his parents, At an early age he entered Rutgers College, whence he was graduated in 1854, nad from the theological seminary in 1:57. He was Immediately settled nt l'eapack, where he continued for sixteen yours. Obliged to relinquish the dutive of the pastorato in 1873, in consequence ul n partial paralysis of the lower limin, he has since continued to edify the public with pro- ductions of his pen .? Nover having married, he resides with his father,

[ Sco chapter on " Authors of Hunterlon County."

¿ Sco " Authors of Somerset Conaty," in this work,

492

HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

devoting himself in the intervals of literary labor to the care of his farm.

The Rev. Abraham Thompson, third child of Judge Joseph Thompson, was also graduated from the college and seminary at New Brunswick, and taught in the academy at Holland, Mich. IIe labored also, in con- nection with his eldest brother, as a conductor of teachers' institutes. His first pastoral charge was at Pella, Iowa, where he organized the English-speaking Reformed Church, remaining until it was firmly estab- lisbed. During the year 1872, at request of Classis, he had charge of the Reformed Church of Pekin, Ill. In 1874 he accepted the appoint- ment ae rector of the college grammar-school at New Brunswick, but resigned two years later, and ia 1877 assumed charge of the Knox Me- morial Mission of the Collegiate Church, in New York City, where he still remains.

Aaron J. Thompson, fourth child of Judge Joseph Thompson, resides near his father, and is secretary of the Readingtou Mutual Life In- surance Association, which he was chiefly instrumental in organizing.

The ancestor of this large family ou the borders of these two counties was the John Thompson first above mentioned. The following schedule of his descendants will be of interest to many : *

John Thompson's only child, Joha, was born July 3, 1772, and died March 9, 1847. He married, first, Dec. 1, 1793, Hannah Van Syckle, who was bora Feb. 29, 1772. and died May 18, 1806; + second, May, 1807, Elizabeth Morehead, who was born July 25, 1775, and died Jan. 16, 1861. He had eleven children, all of whom save one became heads of families. Their names were

1. Andrew, horn Sept. 23, 1794, died in August, 1850; married, June 24, 1816, Susannab Lene, and had: 1. Hannah, married Samuel Connet, and had Stephen, Susan Elizabeth, Eleanor Ann (married William H. Post), Andrew Thompsont (married Joanna S. Nevins), Peter Elmer (married Isabella Miller), William (married Martha Lane), Joha Lane,¿ Sarah Louisa (married Peter, son of Jacob Huyler), Charles Ellie (un- married), resides with his parents in Readington township. 2. John A. married Sarah Ann Ent, and had Susan Ann (married Peter Dalley), Aa- drew (married Mary Emeline Schamp), William Eat (married Margaret Dalley), John Eat (married Acsah Painter), Henrietta (married Robert Kitchen, and Daniel Ent (married Mary Carkhuff). 3. Jacob, married Jane Schenck, and had Andrew, Joha Hardenbergh, William Henry (married Helena Dalley), Samuel (married Jenny Van Doren), and Jacob. 4. Peter A., married Ann Elizabeth Nelson, and had Joha Henry (married Ann Cole), Andrew (married Harriet Vaa Syckle), Ellen Maria (married John Dow), Jennetta, Caroline Miller, and Edward Anderson. 5. William Van Fleet, married Maria Quick, elder sister of Rev. A. M. Quick, and removed to Illinois. 6. Andrew A., married Sarah Reed, who died 1874, and had John Lane, who married Lina Hill. 7. Susanna, married John A. Lane, and had Hearietta.

2. Judah, bora July 17, 1796 ; married, July 20, 1820, Aaron L. Saxon, and had only Sarah Ann, who married Joseph Linsley.

3. Jolın, born Jaa. 3, 1798, dicd in 1845; married. May 5, 1821, Sarah Emans, and had John J., married Johanna Stout; Elizabeth J., married Charles Roberts, and died leaving one daughter, Sarah; Andrew J., married Rebecca Dalley, who died in 1879 at Grundy Contre, Iowa; Peter J .; Gilbert Emans, married Margaret Yanger ; and Aaron Saxon, died unmarried.

4. Peter, horn May 23, 1800, died in 1844; married, Feb. 11, 1830, Mary Ann Biggs, and had David, married Jennetta Bowman of South Branch ; John P., died in Texas; Lemuel, married, had three children, and lives ia Utalı; Mary Hannah, married John HI. Case; Augustus, captain in the Ninth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, and after the war remained In North Carolina,

* The numbered paragraphe indicate the children of John Thompson, accond.

+ See the Van Sickle genealogy, p. 175.

į Andrew T. Connet, the oldest living son of Samuel and Hannab Connet. At the age of twelve years he began clerking in a store, and so continued in various stores in the villages of Somerville and Flem- ington until the civil war broke out. He then enlisted as a private with the three-months' men in Company II, Third Regiment New Jersey Volunteers, and Inter re-enlisted in the Thirty-first New Jersey Volun- teers, lle was made first sergeant of Company D, nud afterwards promoted to second lieutenant of the same company. After his discharge from the service, he engaged in the mercantile business in Flemington, and in 1876 became employed in the Hunterdon County National Bank, in which he is still engaged.

¿ Seo sketch of J. L. Connet in chapter on "Bench and Bar of IFn- tordon County."

5. Hannah, born Ang. 1, 1802, married, Ang. 19, 1820, Garret La Ton- rette, and had Hannah Maria, married Ezekiel Carkhuff: Andrew, mar- ried Sarah Maria Dalley ; Peter, married aad resides near Raritan, Ill .; John, married Rebecca Naylor ; Sarah, married Heary S. Van Doren.

6. Sarah, born June 6, 1804, married, May, 1856, Elijah Hudnot, and had Josiah Anstin, deceased ; John Thompson, died 1879, married Eliza Cole and Anna Boss; Elizabeth, married Ely Everett; Abraham, Mar- geret Stout, and Peter T.

7. Mary, bora May 18, 1806, died in 180G.

8. Joseph, born Sept. 30, 1808, married, January, 1830, Ann Post (see Post family), hy whom he had Joha Bodine, horn Oct. 14, 1830, married, 1859, Hannah Garrigues Reeve, and has William Reeve and Henry Dal- Jas; Heury Post, born Nov. 30, 1831, unmarried; Abraham, born Dec. 30, 1833, married Anna Westfall, and has Joseph Murice, James Westfall, John Henry, and Hubert Wayne; William, born Jan. 19, 1835, died Jaa. 27, 1837 ; Aaron, born December, 1837, married, first, Anaa Louisa Rarick, who died in 1878, and, second, 1880, Abby Thomas, of Metuchen; Martha Eliza, born Nov. 30, 1839, married Aaron Hoffmaa ; Luther, born Jan. 19, 1842, and died March 9, 1842; Emma, bora Jan. 30, 1843, married Pierre Henri Bousquet, of Pella, lowa.

9. William J., born March 8, 1812, died 1867; married, 1846, Sophia, daughter of Joha Ward, of Wyckoff, Bergen Co., and had Kate, Bessie, and John.

10. Aaron, born Sept. 16, 1814, married, Feh. 26, 1846, Maria, daughter of David D. Schamp, and had Charity, married Derrick Hageman, both deceased ; Elizabeth Ana, married William Van Doren Dalley ; Sophia; Lany, married Wellington Kline; David, married Joanna, daughter of Jacob Vroom ; John; Ina, died in infancy.

11. Elizabeth, born Sept. 2, 1817, married, Dec. 15, 1845, John Kee, and had Margaret Jane, married Edward P. Conklin, and Eliza Mary, mar- ried J. Richards, a merchant in Flemington, formerly of Philadelphia.

THE SMOCK FAMILY.

Matthias Smock (grandson of Hendrick Matthyse Smock, who came from the Netherlands in 1654 and settled on Long Island) married Geertje Post and had several children, of whom Mary, born Aug. 13, 1765, married Jolin Ditmars, who died 1804. His grave was the first ia the burying-ground adjacent to the church at Readington.

Another son of the original Headrick Matthyse was Johannes Smock, who about 1690 married Catharine Barentse. He settled first on Staten Island, but ia 1712 purchased 300 acres of land near Holmdel.

The line of descent from Johannes, through seven generations, dowa to the Rev. John H. Smock, of Readingtoa, is as follows: Johannes, mar- ried Catharine Barentse. His eldest son, Hendrick, married Mary Schenck, whose first-bora child, John, married Elizabeth Conover, whose oldest son, Hendrick, married Sarah Lane, and his oldest soa, John H., married Elizabeth Du Bois, and had Henry, who married Maria V. Boice, the parents of Rev. John H., now pastor of the Reformed Church of Iteadington. He was born Jan. 20, 1836, and was graduated at Rut- gere College in 1863, and from the theological seminary at New Bruns- wick in 1866. He accepted a call from the Reformed Church of Oyster Bay, I. I., and also officiated as pastor of the church at Locust Valley and Jericho, L. I., which were organized by him. He was installed over the Readington Church May 10, 1871.

Mr. Smock was married to Cassie V. N. Gaston, of New Brunswick, June 12, 1866. They have had four children.

THE VAN SICKLE FAMILY.

Gerret Van Sickelen (probably a son of Cornclins and Mary, the second child of Jannetjo and Reinier the first) was born on Long Island about 1712. He married Margrietje Van Leuven. They had two children bap- tized in the Dutch Reformed church of Readington,-first, Margrietje, July 24, 1737; and second, Gorrit, Feb. 10, 1740. Whether they bad other children is not known.

Lieut. Gerrit Van Sicklen, probably the second child and only son of Gerrit und Margrietje (Van Leuven), was born in Readington, Feb. 2, 1740. He married Ann Cannan, by whom he had eight children, all born in Readington, and most of them baptized in the Readington Dutch Reformed church. He was an officer in the Revolutionary war, and died on his seventieth birthday, Feb, 2, 1810. His wife, Aun, was born April 2, 1752, and died Dec. 22, 1829.

Jacobus Vun Sickle, son of John and Lena, was born in 1733. He was a farmer. By deed of date March 2, 1784, "Jacobus Van Sickle and Sarah, his wife, of Readingtown," for £900 sold to " l'eter Scump, of Tucke- bury," the tract of land which his father, John Van Sickle, purchased of Rynear Vun Sicklo by his indenture of release bearing date April 14, 1748, which is spoken of as " being butted and bounded on the northeast

493

READINGTON.

side of Hollandsbrook by tha land Formerly Borkelves," by the " Fifty- acre Lott" of Michael Demott, and by " Motforta [ Monfort] line," and embracing "olso tho one-half of the Mill, being the half-part which he, the said Jucobus Vansickle, purchased of Thomas Stout, of Itendingtown," etc. This mill wus the one in Itcanington village built by Adriuu Lane, and the first in the township.

Adriaen Van Sicklen (son of Rynler and Hounh), born 1740, married Ilunnah Schamp, and had three children,-Andrew, born 1765; Hannah, born 1772; and Sara, born 1779. Androw married Rebecca Lane, and died June 12, 1815; Rebocen iled May 21, 1838; Hannah married John Thompson; and Sara married John Morehead, and died in 1838.

The reader is roferrod to a rocoutly-published "Genealogy of the Van Sickle Family" for further dotuile.

THE THOMPSON HOMESTEAD."

The following sketel, although written to describe the Thompson homestead and its family life, applies equally well to many of the other old homes in this region :

Fifty years ago the honse itself waan long, low, red building, with a hall through the centre and a jessamine over both the front and back doors, n sitting-room ond a bed-room on either side, and a kitchen, first at the west, and afterwards one also at the eastern end. A room in the immense garret was furnished with "cop-stocks" (rows of wooden pegs), on which the family clonks and garments for Sunday wenr wore hung, where they formed themselves into ghostly shapes, to the terror of the children who ventured to disturb tho awful silence of that " spare-room." The rafters wore adorned with long, short, broud, straight, and carved swords, and with bayonets which had seen service in more than one war. On its pega in the hall hung tho musket which did duty annually at gon- oral training, and served not much more frequently in securing a rabbit, squirrel, or partridge for the table. In a convenient drawer were hdd aside the shoe-buckles and sloove-buttons which had gone out of fushion. In another was the brass tinder-box, with its flint and steel rendy for use. Matches were prepared by dipping pine splinters in brimstone, which, if the tinder chanced to bo dump, could easily be lighted by n flash in the pan of the flint-lock musket. Tablespoons and teaspoons of pewter were made by the head of the househeld in a wooden mould carved by him for that purpose.

Chocolate was a frequent breakfast-dish in this household. Ten was seldom used, but coffeo was not uncommon. It was powdered with a stone pestle in a woodon mortar excavated in the end of an oaken block which was securely bound with iron hoops, Lonves of bread were usually baked in the large brick oven at the smoke-house, Int occasionally a single loaf would be baked in the " Dutch oven," no Iron pot which had a close-fitting iron Hid with an elevated rim, so that it might be covered with hot coals while hanging on a trammel over the fire In the huge stone fireplace.

Turkeys woro roasted before the fire, suspended from the mantel- ploce by a strong cord which turned and twisted continually under the supervision of the mistress, who bastod the turkey from time to time with the fat which trickled from it into the hugo dripping-pan below. It mattered not that the roasting required half a day and hulf n cord of wood, nor that it was trying to the faco and eyes of the beaster, nor that an unbelloving posterity might suppose that the flaxen cord would bo burned off before the turkey would be roasted sufficiently : it was so roasted. This mode gave placo to the Yankee " tin oven," which was much nwre economical both of the heat and of the cook. This, again, was supplanted by the iron stove, which affords only " baked ments," though a generation which has no experience of the delicious reality still allows itself to be deceived with the name of " roast turkey."

What hoots it to speak of the glories of departed goodneen in the forms of crullers and doughnuts and thick minco-ples, or of the sweet waffles of which the only relic is the waffle-fron In the garret ? The favorite dish for the evening ment was soupaan and milk. The soupaan was made by boiling Indian moal In water for three hours or more, the quantity being sufficient for at least two menis. That which was not enten hot on the first evening was boiled as long in milk for the second. This gave It an excelloncy of taste unknown to the degenorate palates of this day.

The females of the hoaso did not only the cooking, but also the spiti- ning und much of the weaving. They oven worked in the field occasfen-

ally at the light flax-pulling, which was usually a sort of a frolic. The daya of rotting, breaking, dressing, and hatcheling flax seem to have de- parted from this land of machinery, but the process was precisely that which may be seen among the small European furniers overywhere to this day. The coarse "hock-tow" filled with "shives" was used for cushions, or for foot-mats. The finer "ropo-tow" was loosely twisted hy the men between the palms of the hands and the knee, during the long winter ovenings, into rope-yarn, to be made Into ropes for form ase. Or the evening employmont would be varied by shelling, before the kitchen fire, largo baskols full of Indian corn, the long handle of the frying-pon being thrust through the ears of tho basket for this purpose. Smaller quantities were usually shelled with a cob.

These winter evonings furnished to those who lind a taste for such things opportunities for reading and study also. Books Were not numer ous, but the few at hand were read and reread again and again. The taste of more than one generation was formed by the books gathered in the home hero described. The list includes, of course (ay first and chief and most road), religiões books,-the Bible, "The Life of Christ," Josephus, " Whitefield's SerinoDe," Newton's works, "The Pilgrim's Progress," etc., -but after these, also, "Jack Halyard," "Robinson Crusoe," " The Arabian Nights," " Froderick Trenck," und " Baron Meuchausen ;" " Cla- rissa Harlowe," "Charlotte Templo," and " The Sorrows of Werther ;" Captain Church's " Indian Wars;" Balley's Dictionary ; Posthlewaitc's "Dictionary of Commerce;" Father Hnet'e "Treatise on the Situation of Paradise;" and the Church histories of Keseblus, Socrates, nad Evagring, with Valesius' Notes, this lust from the library of the colonial Governor Rewling.

In this hospitable home the Scotch and English as well as the Ameri- can teachers always found a welcome, and its parlors were always at the disposal of Christian preachers of overy name for public worship.

The farDi-work was difficult, but there was mech to cheer it also. Carting the grain to New Brunswick for sale was a sort of excursion. Ia midwinter the poultry-box (large enough to fill the farm-wagon), well packed, went with its owner or one of his sons to New York City. 10 spring it was the duty of each member of the " clam-class" to bring clams from New Brunswick, once for himself and his neighbors, thus furnish- ing a weekly supply for all. In autumn the neighborhood shoemaker would come with his kit of tools upon his back and sel ep his bench in the living-room for two or three days or a wook, till every member of the family was firmly shod for tho winter.

Every Sunday the farm-horses plodded patiently to church, four or five miles away, consuming as many hours in the going and returning, and if the younger members of the family availed themselves of this long absence of "the united hend thereof" tas the minister said whon ho prayed for them at his annual visit) to rummage among the treasures In the garret, to try philosophienl experiments with leuses from old specta- cles, or to prepare themselves a more than usually luxerioun dinner of frittora or flap-jacks, who could blame theDi sovorely ? One thing is cer- tain: no dangerous pistol, no wicked cards, no unhallowed fiddle, was ever seen In this correct household.

The discipline may seem to us to have been strict and the range of thought narrow. Nevertheless, these wero the surroundings which helped to make our fathers what they were. Not all in their cases or In ours, but much both in their cases and in oura, is due to heredity and environment ; and, amid whatever privation, whatever simplicity of thought er manners, they had within them that Integrity of charac- ter, that steadfastness of honest purpose, that eminent moral life, which enabled them to leave to their descendants opportunities and capacities for usefulness and excellence surpassed by the Inhabitants of no laud beneath the sun.

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 121

Author: Snell, James P; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1170

Author: Snell, James P; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1170