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 158
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 158
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1×59, Peter Irving.
1860, John L. Bellis, Aaron J. Anten, Minna F. Covert, Morris P. Crater, Stephen Beach, Nathaniel Compton, Leonard Bonn, Alfred Cam- mann, John S. Quimby, Ephraim Giles, C. S. Stryker, Thomas C. Stryker.
1861, James Bergen, Abraham Stryker, Sylvester Robins, James Verdon, Ephraim Gilles, James Rider, Georgo Hull, Israel Coddington, Nn- thanlei McCord.
1862, Frederick V. L .. Disborough, John V. D. Hoagload, Israel I1. Hill, l'eter A. Maldie.
1863, Jeremiah Whiteunck, Waters B. Alward.
1865, A. J. Auton, Morris P. Cruter, Stephen Beach, David M. Voorhees, Samuel Corte, Cornelius S. Stryker, James Il. Thompson, M. F. Covert, Nathaniel Compton, Calvin HI. Dunham, Abralinmi Amor-
1866, 11. A. Ilonder, Daniel J. Somer, Ephraim Glles, Jamos Vordon, l'eleg H1. Barker, Abram Stryker, Wm. II. Vreeland, Israel C. Cod- dington.
1867, laraet 11. Hill, Georgo Lawes, Peter A. Mebie, J. D. D. Myers, A. J. Farrand, O. C. Conc.
1868, Franklin Klone, J. V. D. Hoagland, Jeremiah Whitenack, MI. W. Scully, Charles Shann.
1869, A. S. D. B. Vonseller.
1×70, Morris l'. Crater, C. V. N. Suydam, Nathaniel Compton, Mioda F. Cuvert, David M Voorhera, Aaron J. Auton, Henry Lane, Abraham Amerian, Calvin H. Dunham, D. K Huffman, John N Hoagland, Charles shann, Danlei C. Poulson, James Il. Thompson, Horace A. Van Derteek.
1871, Ephraim Giles, Frederick V. L. Dishwrongh, James Bergen, James Vonlun, Peter A Dumont, R. G. Van Duyn, Jobn B. Coddington, John N. Hengland, James P. Bush,
1872, A. V. D. R. Vomseller, John S. Amerman, Israel II. Hill, George F.
646
SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
Quidort, Daniel G. Van Winkle, John B. D. Myers, Frederick V. L. Disborongh.
1873, L. B. Hoffman, Joho S. Amerman, J. V. D. Hongland, W. W. Drake, Horace Woodruff, Wm. I. Bastedo.
1875, Arthur P. Sutphin, A. J. Auten, Alexander Laird, Abraham Amer- man, James H. Thompson, Henry Lane, Charles Shann, Nathaniel Compton, Daniel M. Todd, M. F. Covert, Horace A. Van Derbeek.
1876, Robert G. Van Duyo, A. Cammann, W. S. Logan, Samuel I. Pooly, E. L. Cusbman, James Verdon, J. Schwalb.
1877, J. B. D. Myers, A. V. D. B. Vosseller, Jobo M. Brown, F. V. L. Dis- borough, M. H. French, Israel H. Hill, Samuel Voorhees, Alexander Laird, H. P. Bronk, Abram R. Stagg.
1878, J. V. D. Hoagland, John S. Amerman, William I. Bastedo, Horace Woodruff, James Doty.
1880, Miona F. Covert, Abraham Dumont, Horace A. Van Derbeck, David M. Todd, Joho E. Flammer, Thomas C. Stryker, Charles Shaun, Stephen Wever, Arthur P. Sntphin.
COUNTY CLERKS .*
1735-65, Robert Lettice Hooper .; 1765-74, Jantes Hude;} 1781-83, Fred- erick Frelinghuysen; 1784-86, Peter D. Vroom; 1787-89, Frederick Frelinghuysen ; 1800-4, J. W. Frelinghuysen ; 1804-9, Joseph Doty ; 1809-20, Samnel Swan ; 1820-24, Isaac Southard; 1831-40, Jobn M. Mann; 1840-45, Dumont Frelinghuysen ; 1845-50, Wm. Kennedy ; 1851-56, Henry D. Johnson; 1856-61, Samuel S. Hartwell; 1861-65, A. V. D. B. Vosseller ; 1865-76, William Ross, Jr .; 1876-81, Matthew H. Van Derveer.
SURROGATES.
1776-87, John MeheIm ; 1787-93, Fredk. Frelinghuysen ; 1794-1803, John Mehelm ; 1804-10, Joseph Doty ; 1811-17, Samuel Swan ; 1818-32, John Frelinghuysen; 1833-42, Peter Vredenburgh ; 1843-47, A. V. P. Sutphen; 1848-52, Caleb Mortoo ; 1853-58, Samuel Reynolds ; 1858-63, John H. Anderson; 1863-68, Abraham C. Williamson; 18G8-73, Wm. S. Potter; 1873-78, F. J. Frelinghuysen ; 1878-83, Wm. H. Long.
SHERIFFS.#
1720-30, Barefoot Brunson ;¿ 1732, John Piatt ; || 1750-70, Abram Van Doren; [ 1771-73, William McDonald; 1774-77, Peter Dumont; 1778- 80, Peter T. Schenck ; 1781-83, Peter D. Vroom; 1784-86, Robert Stocktoo; 1787-89, John Hardenburgh; 1790-91, William Wallace; 1792-94, John Hardenborgh ; 1795-9G, Joseph Andin ; 1797-98, Robert Blair; 1799-1801, Joseph Doty; 1802-4, Peter I. Striker; 1805-6, Samuel Swan; 1807, Henry Van Derveer; 1808-10, Isrnel Harris; 1811-13, Peter I. Stryker; 1814-16, Martin Schenck; 1817-19, John Wyckoff; 1820-22, Martin Schenck ; 1823-25, William Hoagland; 1826-28, John I. Gaston; 1829-31, John Cox; 1832-34, John I. Gas- ton ; 1835-37, James W. Todd ; 1838-40, Peter A. Voorhees; 1841-43, David T. Talmage; 1844-46, Hugh Kirkpatrick; 1847-49, Joseph V. D. Vredenburglı ; 1850-52, Henry A. Herder ; 1853-55, David Wilson ; 1856-58, Elias Hoagland ; 1859-61, fleury A. Herder; 1862-64, Wil- liam Ross, Jr. ; 1865-67, John J. Brokaw; 1868-70, Thomas Codiog- ton ; 1871-73, James Bergen ; 1874-77, Benjamin S. Totten; 1878-79, Simon Van Liew ; 1880, George W. Vroom; 1881, Lewis A. Thomp- 600.
CORONERS.
1810, Abraham Van Thyle. 1811, Garret R. Garretson, Christian Eoff.
* As found in records, official papers, and oathe of office.
+ Deputy.
# As obtained from court recorde, official papers, and sheriffs' bonds.
¿ Barefoot Brunson lived in Somerset, on Millstone River, opposite Kingston, and was sheriff of Somerset about 1720-30,~the exact years not ascertained. He was a man of some notoriety nud somewhat peculiar In his ways. lle died in 1749.
| The name of John Piatt appears in the records of the justices und frecholders' annual meeting, May 1, 1732. The name of the county is omitted, evidently a clerical error. This is the only clne that has been obtained indicating that he was sheriff of this county. That he was a resident of Sumerset is proven by the fact that his name appears as a commissioner of highways In 1742, in the old book of record uf roads, in the clerk's office, and the oldest inhabitants remember his son, who gaid his father lived at Bound Brook.
TT Abram Van Doren was sheriff of the county for twenty years, bot when first elected or appointed is not known,-probably about 1750.
1812, Jacob R. Schenck.
1813, Christian Eoff.
1814, Samuel Voorhees.
1815, Garret R. Garretson.
1816, Samuel Voorhees.
1818, Henry Duryea, Peres Bonney, John Whitenack.
1819, John Whitenack.
1820, Peres Bonney, John Whitenack, John Breese.
1821, John Skillman.
1823, Ferd. Van Derveer, John Skillman, John Cox.
1824, John Cox.
1825, Christian Eoff, John Cox.
182G, William Van Arsdaleo.
1827, John Skillman.
1828, L. Holden.
1830, John Torbert, Peter Coriell.
1831, Derick Lane, Ralph Ellerson.
1832, John Torbert.
1833, James Moore, Derick Lane.
1834, Cornelins M. Wyckoff.
1835-36, James Moore, Johu Porter, Cornelius M. Wyckoff, Benjamin T. Stryker.
1837-39, Cornelins M. Wyckoff, John Porter, Daniel Brown, John F. Brown, William Wilson.
1840, Henry lloaglaud.
1841, Ilenry D. Johnson, Robert J. Bolmer, Benjamin S. Stryker.
1842, Robert J. Bolmer.
1847, Ira Tingley, William Dean.
1851, John Dockerty.
1852, William W. Van Doren, William W. Drake.
1853, Henry S. Stryker.
1854, George Quick, William W. Drake.
1855, Garret Dnrliog.
1856, Lewis P. Clark, Garret Durling.
1857-58, Garret Durling.
1860-62, Heury S Stryker.
1863-64, David M. Voorhees, Martin V. Van Camp.
1865, Garret Durling.
1866-67; Ilenry S. Stryker, D. H. Voorhees, Garret Durling.
1868, Henry G. Wagoner.
1869, Robert S. Smith, Henry G. Wngoner.
1870, Robert S. Smith.
1871, Henry G. Wagoner, A. S. Ilunt.
1873, J. D. Van Derveer, A. S. Hunt, D. Clark Van Deursen.
1874, A. S. Ilunt.
1875, D. Clark Van Deursen, Daniel J. Somers.
1878, A. S. Hunt, William B. Ribble, Byron Thornton.
COMMISSIONERS OF DEEDS.
1816, G. II. Tunison, Elbert Stoothoff, F. Vermenl, Peter D. Vroom, John 1. Gaston, Samuel Ayers, Jacob R. Schenck, William B. Gaston, Tobias Ferguson.
1817, Abram Van Arsdale, James Van Duyo, John Blair.
1818, Ralph Sansbury, John Terimne, Tunis I. Ten Eyck.
1819, Joel Dayton.
1820, Elbert Stoothoff, Samuel Ayers, John I. Gaston.
1821, Freeman Colo, Tunis I. Ten Eyck, Thomas Terrell.
1822, William Garrison, W. D. McKissack, John Blair, John A. Auten.
1823, John Terhune, William Douglas.
1825, David Ayers, Elbert Stoothoff, Peter D. Vroom.
1826, E. A. Darcy.
1827, Sammel Ayers, A. V. P. Sutphen, Thomas Terrell, William D. Stew- art, Elias Browo, W. D. MeKissack.
1828, Freeman Cole, Cornelius Korshow, John A. Auten, Tunis I. Ten Eyck, Cornelius S. Stryker.
1830, David Ayers, William Lytle, John l'. Vroom, Moses Craig, Elbert Stoothoff.
1831, Samuel Ayers, Mahlon Smalley, Corneline C. Whitenack, W. D. McKissack.
1832, Arthur V. P. Sutphen.
1833, Cornellns Kershow, John J. Schenck, Freeman Cole, Jolin A. Auten, William Kennedy, A. Vanatta, Jacob Klioo.
1834, Cornelins S, Stryker.
1835, William Lytle, Stephen Rush, Elbert Stoothoff.
1836, Mahjon Smalley, Samuel Ayers.
1838, Lloyd Van Derveer, Peter Worley, S. K. Martin, A. V. P. Sutpheo, Benjamin Jennings
647
CIVIL LIST, SOMERSET COUNTY.
1839, Caleb Morton, Corbelins S. Stryker, Garrot N. Williamson, 1810, A. V. P. Sntphen, William Lytle, Davld Ayers, WIHlInDi WHsoD. 1841, Peter Kilne, Wm. R. Smith, Daniel Annin, Archibald Codingtoo. 1842, Abraham Van Duyn.
1843, Lloyd Van Derveer, Aaron J. Auten, S. R. Martin, Nicholas Van Wickle, Muses H. French.
1844, Henry MeCohn, Samuel Keeler, Philip C. Hoffman, Frederick Apgar, Michael R. Nevius, Albert Cammann, Joseph Huffman, Ralph Ellerson.
1815, William Lytle, David Ayers, Alfred Berry, James Taylor.
1846, William R. Smith, Aaron J. Anten, P. N. Beekman, Peter Kling, Daniel Anuin, Peter L. Voorhees.
1817, Abraham Martin, W. B. Stewart, Abraham Van Duyn. 1848, Inanc P. Lindsey.
1849, Abram Van Arsdale, P. II. Barker, Daniel Cory.
1850, S. K. Martin, lugh Kirkpatrick, Jocob Collyer, John J. Van Nor- strand, James Taylor, Elias Brown, Williani Lytle, John S. Hoagland, Summel Hall, Alfred Berry.
1851, Squier Terrell, Moses Craig, Stephen Itush, George W. Vroom, Frederick V. L. Disborough, Jacob Losey, Elins Hoagland, Androw A. Ten Eyck, Thomas J. Skillnmn.
1852, Frederick Il. Kennedy, Alfred Cammann, Jacob Wyckoff. 1853, Francis Runyon
1854, Samuel J. Pooly, Michael R. Nevius, John N. Hoagland, Abraham S. Williamson, John R. Van Derveer.
1855, John 1 .. Bellis, Waters B. Alward, James C. Voorhees, Jumes Tay- lor, Elius Brown, Frederick D. Brokaw, Alfred Berry.
1866, Squler Terrell, William J. Todd, Jacob Losey, Elias Iloagland, Stephen Rush, F. V. L. Disborough, Thomas J. Skillman, John J. Broknw.
1857, Jacob Wyckoff, Balph Davenport, John Ross.
1858, Danlel Runyon, Arthur S. Ton Eyck, C. N. Allen.
1859, Cornelius S. stryker, Willlum W. Drake, Benjamin Randolph, Peter A. Voorhees.
1860, Waters B. Alward, Nathaniel McCord, Robert S. Smith, Calvin Corlo, D. J. Hellis, Jeremiah Whitenack, Daniel Corey.
1861, Frederick Y. L. DIsborough.
1862, Ralph Davenport, Peter N. Van Nuys, John J. Brokaw, Stephen Rush, Thomas J. Skillman, William J. Todd, F. V. L. Dlaborough, Jacob Wyckoff, Squier Terrell.
1863, Francis Runyon, Benjamin R. Honnel.
1861, James Verdon, William 1. Bastedo, Lewis Boisnot, Cornellus A. Cruser, A. S. Ten Eyck, Robert S. Smith, C. S. Stryker, Jeremiah Whiteonck, J. I .. Bellis, Nathaniel McCord, Watery B. Alward, Daniel l'ory.
1866, Hugh Gaston, A. J. Auton, Chas. 3I. Stryker, Edward A. Webster. 1867, Abor, Stryker, Peter N. Van Nuys, Jacob Wyckoff, Andrew Rarick, larDel J. Coon, Daniel Annin, Isaac Williamson, J. B. D. Myers.
1868, Italph Davenport, James Bowman, Benjamin R. Honnel.
1869, Willtum T. F. Ayers, William I. Bustedo, James Verdon, Samuel S. Adamson, A. S. Ton Eyck.
1870, Ilenry Lane, John Schimop, Robert S. South, Daniel Cory.
1871, W. H. Long, A. J. Anten, Peter D. Staats, Churles Shano, E. A. Webster, Peter N. Van Nuys.
1872, N. S. Wilson, Jacob Wyckoff, Androw Rarick, John B. D. Myers, W. W. Druke, Daniel Annin, Israel J. Coon, John S. Skillman. 1873, Ralph Davenport, James Bowman, Jr., Charles M. Stryker. 1874, Alfred 1. Voorhees, C. Van Duyn.
1876, l'eter D. Stuuta, A. V. D. B. Vosseller, Aaron J. Auten, WIlHam W. Anderson, Alfred Cammann, E. A. Webstor, Henry Lane, John Van Nest, Charles Shann, Abram R. Stagg, Israel C. Coon.
1877, Jamea Verdon, Daniel J. Somers, Peter N. Van Nuys, Daniel Cory, larael J. Coon, Theodore Allen, A. Flemming, James W. Arrowsmith.
1878, Ralph Davenport, Arthur P. Sntphon, John J. Brokaw, Isaao Brokaw, James Bowman.
1879, Lewis M. Codington, Alfred I. Voorhees, Samuel S. Voorhees, Isano I. Van Nuys,
1880, William E. Jones.
CLERK OF HOARD OF FREEHOLDERS.
1771, John Brokaw ; 1772-76, John Guston; 1777-81, Rueloff Sebring; 1782-81, Robert Guston ; 1783-97, Robert Hlulr ; 1798-1812, Peter D. Vroom ; 1813-30, A. Howell; 1831-31, John I. Gaston ; 1835-36, JJoho M. Mand; 1837, William T. Rodgers ; 1838-44, Albert Sergeant; 18-15-05, C. C. Hoagland; 1836-57, John Hurdcastle ; 1850-67, John N. Hoagland ; 1868-63, John I1. Wilson ; 1870, A. H. Stryker; 1871,
A. V. D. Hopeyman ; 1872, A. J. Anton ; 1873-74, Matthew II. Van Derveer; 1873-79, A. P. Sutphon ; 1880, J. G. Cortleyou.
COLLECTORS .*
1693, John White; 1694, Peter Van Neste; 1782-91, Jacques Voorhees; 1502-1820, Abraham Staats; 1821-32, John Frelinghuysen ; 1830, Jacob Kline; 1837, Nehemiah Steele; 1×39-41, Robert S. Smith; 1842-13, Lewis Cralg; 1847-49, Thomas Tulminge; 1850-51, Er- nestus Schenck ; 1863, William D. Stewart ; 1834, Ernestus Schenck ; 1855-56, Culver Barcalow ; 1857-61, Poter A. Voorlees; 1802-80, John V. Veghto; 1881, Alfred Berry.
COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS TO 1758.
1694, Peter Van Nest, John Royce, John Tunison.
1733, Barrent Stricker, Edward Griggs, Cornelius Suydam, Peter Van Nest.
1735, Dirck Van Veghten, Thomas Riggs, Isanc Bodine, Henry Cort- leyou.
1740, Cornelina Williamson, Hendrick Vroom, Cornelius Middagh, Hon- drick Von Lowres, John Van Dike, John Vau Derveer.
1742,+ Ityneer Veghte, John Dumont, John Piatt, Cornelius Von Ars- dalen, Christian Lagransee, l'eter Beekman, Jediah Higgins, Peter Kemble, Samuel Drake, Juives Worth, William Vane.
1743, Tunis Pust, Jacobus Williamson, Peter Van Nest, Peter Perrine, Folkert Jobes, Francis Smith.
1744, Obndialı Wilkins, Denys Van Duyn, Robert Stockton, Henry Ste- vens, George Bergen, Polikert Douw.
1745, Johannes Fontyn, Abraham Schenck, Folkert Sebring, Rike Van Derbilt, Isaac Spelloinn, William Henrde.
1747, Daniel Hendrickson, Zebulon Stont, Hendrick Pollemus, Jumes Hinds, Caleb Baldwin, Simon Van Winkle.
1748, Frederick Van Laver, Alexander Van Nest, Hendrick Pettinger, Huyck Suydam, Cornelius Van Campen, WHHam Teitrort.
1749,+ John Vall, A. Van Arsdalen, George Pavis, Barrent Hageman, Stoefel l'robasco, Jacob Drake, James Frost, Benjamio Cox, Daniel Gard, James Petina.
1750, Philip Cox, Samuel Brown, Francis Cossart, Jacob Van Nuys, Ju- seph Higgins, Thomas Suydam.
1751,f Jobn Harris, Jeremiah Castner, William Lnyton, Lucas Dibble, Jonathan Smith, Peter l'ovenhoven, John Henry, Jacob Gray, Dirck Sutfin, Urias Dobbs, Daniel Henry, John Piatt, More Holm, Jacob Van Derveer, Jan Wyckoff, Moses Craig.
1752,t Christopher Anderson, Cornelius Van Harlingen, Johannes Van Pelt, Lewis Middagh, Abraham Stryker, William Boorem, Henry Halsey, William Jones, William Bonney, James Todd, Robert Bark- ley, Edward Barber, Christian Van Doren, Frederick Rodine, Wil- liam Hopkins, Manassas Kecke, Dnolel Wick, Lucas Teeple, Nathan Squier, James Gevin.
1753, William Post, Jacob Van Daunty, Jacob Boyd, Hendrick Blair, John Vail, John Royce, David Ogden.
1754, Hemulrick Bluir, Jacob Boyce, Romeyn Garretson, William l'ost, fleury Morshen, John Brayley, John Burroughs, Benjamin Moore, John Tilna, Snomel Moure.
1755,t Matthew Ten Eyck, Matthew Ten Eyck, Jr., Thomas Van Dyke, Hendrick Vroom, Benjamin Sutton, Samuel Leonard, Dirck Gullek, John Chamberlain, David Corlell, Matthew Van Dyke, Jacob Ber- gen, Benjamin Alward, John Van Cleve, Samuel Doty, Peter Mc- Dowell.
1756,t llenry Kennedy, John Vno Low, Garret Veghte, Dennis Van Derbilt, Peter Dumont, Mbert Bolmer, Cornelius Anderson, Edward Burrows, David Brayley, Thomas Moore, Stephen Lanning, Daniel Howell.
1758, William Sloan, Stephen Trucsdell, Conrad Ten Eyck, Jacob Pro- basco, Gisbert Sutfin, Jacobus Van Aredulen.
* A law was passed in 1691 to raise a tax of £150 in the province, and Peter Van Neste was appointed collector for Somerset. The proportion of the tax for Somerset County was £1 16s, 6d. While the other couD. tics had their several towns, Somerset had but one, which was known as Somerset.
+ Commissioners of Somerset and Middlesex Counties.
TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES OF SOMERSET CO.
BRIDGEWATER. INCLUDING SOMERVILLE, THE COUNTY-SEAT.
GEOGRAPHICAL, AREA, ETC.
BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP is centrally located in Somerset County. It is bounded north by the town- ships of Bedminster, Bernard, North Plainfield, and Warren; east by Piscataway, in Middlesex, and Franklin, in Somerset; south by Hillsborough ; west by Branchburg. The township line is marked south, east, and west by a water-course. Excepting Hills- borough, Franklin, and Bernard, it is the largest township in area in the county. It contains nearly 50 square miles, or 25,651 aeres. Its present popu- lation (1880) is 7995, and within its limits there are 256 farms.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
The surface is nearly level in the south, along the Raritan, the rest being moderately undulating until the mountains in the north are reached. Although the latter are frequently called "First Mountain" and "Second Mountain," they are scarcely to be con- sidered as mountains, for their altitude is reckoned by hundreds instead of thousands of feet. It was in the beautiful valleys and lowlands along the Raritan that uot only the early settlements in this township were made, but where all the villages and hamlets, with one exception, grew up. The exception is the hamlet known as Martinsville, located in "Washington Valley."
Most of the streams in Bridgewater flow southerly and empty into the Raritan, which is the only water- course in the township flowing eastwardly. Cham- bers' Brook, on the north, flows southwesterly and empties into the North Branch, which in turn flows southerly until its waters commingle with those of the South Branch, forming the Raritan. The other principal water-courses are Green, Middle, and Peter's Brooks.
Chimney Roek and Round Top are summits of the range of hills in the north part of the township. They are described on pages 551-52 of this work.
LAND TITLES AND EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
The territory comprising this township was taken up in 1681, and embraced in four different deeds given
by the Indians before the title came to the proprie- tors, in February, 1682. The early settlements are here treated from these titles, and the lands taken up from the proprietors afterwards, with date of purchase and change of titles in an early day, as far as could be ascertained.
THE FIRST INDIAN TITLE.
The following is the substance of the first deed conveying the title of the aboriginal owners to the white settlers of lands in this county, and is quoted from the Elizabethtown bill of chancery, the pro- eeedings of which were published in 1747, with a map of the original traets and later subdivisions by the proprietors. The deed, which is on file in Perth Amboy (Liber 1, Folio 146), reeites,-
" That Konockama and Queromak Indiana, by their deed bearing date the fourth day of May, 1681, for the consideration of one hundred pounds, paid them in the goods at the foot of the same deed acknowl- edged to be by them received of Capt. Philip Carteret, Governor of New Jersey, John Palmer, of Staten Island, Gent., Gabrielle Minvielle, Thomas Codrington, John White, John Delevalle, Richard Hall, and John Royce, of the city of New York, do sell to them and their heirs a tract of land on the north side of the Raritan River, beginning at the month of the rivulet called Bound Brook, and by the Indians, Sacnnk; and thence up along the river Raritan to a brook called Raweighweros, and from thence northward to a certain stony hill; thence easterly to Metape's wigwam, and thence southerly along the Bound Brook afore- said to the beginning."
The proprietors took 1170 aeres of this tract, em- bracing the site of the village of Bound Brook. It was surveyed by Philip Wells, and Sept. 25, 1683, it was patented to Thomas Rudyard, lawyer, of London, and one of the twenty-four proprietors of the prov- inee of East New Jersey. It is not known that he ever visited Bound Brook. The only one of the pro- prietors under the Indian grant who actually settled on any part of it was Thomas Codrington. A tract of 877 acres was apportioned to him Sept. 25, 1683, upon which he built a house, calling it Rackawack- hana, where he lived until 1700, when he sold the place to Aaron Lazaider, a Jew. He also owned 1000 aeres more, purchased April 20, 1688, lying in the rear of his farm, running up to the top of the moun- tain. lle was appointed one of Governor Barelay's council Nov. 26, 1684, and to the same position by Lord Neill Campbell, Oct. 18, 1686, and again by Gov- ernor Jeremiah Boss, May 6, 1698.
* By Austin N. Hungerford.
648
649
BRIDGEWATER.
About 1700 the lands purchased by Rudyard, with 800 aeres adjoining, belonging to John Royee, were purchased by a company consisting of George Cus- sart, Samuel Thompson, and Jacob De Groot. The Rudyard tract was divided equally between Thomp- son and De Groot, the Royce plot being held by the company. The road from Piscataway to Bound Brook and along the north bank of the Raritan River was laid out in 1686, and was called the Great Raritan road. Samuel Thompson built a house on the turn- pike at the Middlebrook Mountain road, then known as the road that led to Basking Ridge, just east of I. J. Fisher's hotel. This property passed first to Thos. Clawson, then to William Wortman, to David Me- Kinney, to Michael Schooley, and, March 28, 1786, to Dr. Clarkson Freeman. Rev. David Barclay lived here from 1794 to 1805. It was demolished when the railroad was built, the company having purchased the property. George Cussart's house stood on the site now occupied by the Bound Brook Hotel. In 1720 he sold 300 acres to Ebenezer Trimbly, which de- scended to his son Peter, who died May 20, 1797, and left it to his two daughters, one of whom (Susan) married Tunis Ten Eyck and lived on the old home- stead now owned by Rune and L. V. D. Shepherd, and the other ( Hannah) married Col. John Staats, who lived just north of the Presbyterian church property.
Aaron Lazaider, a merchant of New York City, retired from business in 1698 and moved to Bound Brook, where he built what was known as the "Jew House." He lived in this mansion until 1700, when he purchased Rackawackhana, the Codrington home- stead. He died in November, 1744, leaving a son, Moses, and a daughter, Catharine, who married John R. Myers. Rackawackhana was inherited by Moses, and left by him to his son David. It was then sold to Michael Van Tuyle, then to Alexander Campbell, then to Dr. Samuel Swan, and is now owned by George Lamont. The Jew House was left to Catha- rine, wife of John R. Myers, and she lived there from that time until her death, in 1762. Her hus- band's death occurred in 1765, he being aged ninety- two. They left a son and a daughter; the latter, a widow, inherited the house. During the Revolution she sympathized with the British, and when Lord Cornwallis occupied the village, in the spring of 1777, the Jew House was made headquarters for himself and his staff, by invitation of the mistress. An ac- quaintanee soon sprang up between the widow and one of the officers, which ripened into matrimony; upon the retirement of the army she accompanied him, and never afterwards returned to Bound Brook. The estate was confiseated and in 1785 was soll to Tobias Van Norden, and it passed subsequently into the hands of Elias Campbell, and finally to Jeremiah Fisher, by whom it was torn down as early as 1826. It stood a little west of the present depot of the Le- high Valley Railroad.
The part of the tract taken by Jacob De Groot in the division of land in 1700 may be described as ex- tending from Mountain Avenue to what is now the west line of the property of Israel Whitlock, and ran from the river back to the top of the mountain. IIe built his residence about fifty yards north of Main Street, on what is now known as the " Burnt District." There he lived and died, but at what age and time is not known. The alley which runs from Mountain Avenue to John Street, and between High and Front Streets, passes directly over the place of his burial. In the course of time the large property passed to his grandson, Jacob De Groot, still remembered by many of the older people. He and his wife ( Rachel Cast- ner) were well and widely known. He died July 22, 1843, aged ninety-four ; his wife preceded him nine days. They were buried in the De Groot vault, in the old burying-ground baek of the church. For sixty-eight years they had lived together, and were the third generation who had lived and died in the old house. Dr. Samuel Swan and George MeDonald married daughters of this couple. The building was erected by the Jacob De Groot who settled about 1700 ; it was burned down in 1839. There is no evi- dence that any portion of this land was sold till about 1720, at which time the following persons became purchasers of parts of the original traet : Ebenezer Trimbly, Hendrick Harpending, Cornelius Prout, Hendrick Fisher, William Riddle, and John R. Myers. Of these, Ebenezer Trimbly, as has been shown, purchased the northern part of George Cus- sart traet. Hendrick Harpending was a shoemaker from Linzery, Holland; his son Peter, in the time of the Revolution, kept the "Frelinghuysen House," on the site of the present residence of B. B. Mat- thews, on Main Street. Dr. Ambrose Cook afterwards lived there. The sign was a large portrait of Maj .- Gen. Frederick Frelinghuysen. Col. Simcoe halted here with his troops when on the way to Van Vegh- ten's bridge in 1779. Peter Harpending, Tobias Van Norden, Hendrick Fisher, and Abraham Staats were excepted as "arch-traitors" when general amnesty was offered by the British in 1776. Hendrick Fisher lived across the river, and will be mentioned in the history of Franklin township. John R. Myers was a son-in-law of Aaron Lazaider, and resided in the Jew House. In 1746, Peter Williamson, James Hude, Anthony Blackford, Bartholomew Kelso, Charles Mc- Evers, Thomas Irvine, Joseph Stansbury, David Cussart, Tobias Van Norden, Thomas Cooper, and John De Groot occupied home-lots belonging to the tract.
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