History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 159

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 159
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 159

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

John, son of Lord Neill Campbell, came to Bound Brook about 1684 and built a residence on the north bank of the river, on the meadow directly south of the railrond depot. The house was afterwards owned by Peter Williamson, and is said to have been occupied by Gen. Benjamin Lincoln as his headquarters in 1777. The structure erected by Mr. Campbell has long since

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disappeared. He did not live here long, and the property probably passed to Aaron Lazaider, who built the Jew House. John Campbell owned lot 12, on South Branch, now in Branchburg, which he took up Nov. 9, 1685, and no more is known of him in Bound Brook. His granddaughter, Jannette, married Tobias Van Norden in 1742.

John Anderson lived on the Royce plot in 1720, and was still there in 1745. His residence was south of the lane leading to the old mansion of Thomas Cod- rington; the remains of it are still to be seen. During the Revolution it was owned by Matthew Harrison, now by the heirs of Isaac J. Fisher.

Joseph Bonney built on Main Street the structure known as the Rockafellow house; a part of the old homestead is still standing. He was doubtless the first blacksmith. Here lived Benjamin Bonney when the company of British cavalry made a raid from New Brunswick through Bound Brook, accompanied by a number of Tories. When they reached the house Benjamin Bonney took his son Peres, then about four years of age, and secreted himself in the cellar. The noted Tory Bill Stewart was one of the party, and in prowling around the house saw him sitting on the steps of the cellar with his son in his lap. Stewart fired upon him ; the ball took effect in the left groin, from which wound he died the third day after. From Bonney's residence they went to De Groot's, where they broke open the cellar, taking all the provisions. They obliged Mr. De Groot, by threatening his life, to swear allegiance to the king. This troop of marauders were met below Bound Brook on their return by Col. John Staats with a party of men, by whom they were at- tacked so fiercely that they lost their plunder and their prisoners. Mrs. Elizabeth Bonney, widow of Benja- min Bonney, afterwards married Capt. John Powers. Peres, the son, lived to become an active and useful citizen of the township and member of the church, filling important offices in both. James Bonney, son of Peres, is now living in Bound Brook.

James Hude was the son of Adam Hude, who early located lands back on the mountains. He was deputy county clerk from 1765 to 1774, and filled other im- portant offices.

Peter Williamson was one of the settlers as early as 1746, and is said to have lived in the John Campbell house, on the north bank of the river, in the time of the Revolution.

Israel Brown was a tailor, and built a house where Peter Brown now lives; Daniel Van Corts, where Alfred Camman at present resides. William Harris built a house on the Codrington plot. He after- wards built the Middlebrook Hotel, now owned by the heirs of Isaac J. Fisher. This property was in possession of the family as late as 1815, as at that time Israel IIarris, sheriff of Somerset County, was its landlord. Thomas McElworth lived also on the same plot, and his son Thomas after him. Both were elders in the church in their time. The

house is described by some who are still living as being a long, low, one-and-a-half story structure, facing the south, with three rooms on the ground- floor, and with a front door to each room.

Tobias Van Norden was a native of New York City, and was fourth in descent from the emigrant of the same name who came from Holland in 1635. At the age of fourteen he entered the dry-goods store of Lazaider & Myers, merchants, in New York City, successors to Aaron Lazaider, who came to Bound Brook in 1698. He remained with them till 1738, when they all removed to Bound Brook. He opened a store in that year in the Jew House, where he continued till 1744. In 1749, Van Norden erected a house and store upon the site of that now occupied by Randolph Dunham and owned by John D. Voorhees. It was a long, low, one-and-a-half story building, and stood broadside to the street, having two dormer-windows projecting from the roof. "In the two west rooms-front and rear-of that building he continued to supply the residents of Bound Brook and the honest yeomanry of the Raritan Valley with mer- chandise till the close of the Revolution. He also carried on the business of a baker. His bakery was situated in the rear of his residence, in a separate building. He was largely engaged, as his books fully attest, from 1742 to 1765, in baking ship-bread, which he sold in New York or exported direct to the West Indies, first having conveyed it in wagons or boats to New Brunswick, where it would be transferred to vessels which transported it to its destination."*

Mr. Van Norden continued in this building till 1784, when he retired from business and was suc- ceeded by George Heberton, who remained a mer- chant in Bound Brook till his death, Oct. 5, 1806. The building that had for so many years served the purpose of a store and dwelling was demolished in 1856.

In 1742, at the age of twenty-seven, Mr. Van Nor -. den was married to Jannette, a daughter of Archi- bald Campbell (son of John, who settled in Bound Brook in 1684, and soon after moved to North Branch). They lived together fifty-five years, and had ten children, seven of whom survived them. The oldest child, Rachel, became the wife of John Boudi- not, M.D., brother of Elias and Elisha Boudinot, and a brother-in-law of William Bradford, attorney- general under Washington. He was a surgeon in the army during the Revolution, and died in 1798; Rachel, his wife, died at Morristown in 1814. Peter, David, Michael, Tobias, and Archibald Van Norden, their sons, remained at Bound Brook. Peter built, in 1784, the first two-story house in Bound Brook, and painted it green. It was the wonder of the time, and was often called " Van Norden's Folly." It was occupied by Archibald Van Norden until his death, in 1827. Mrs. M. H. Close, a daughter of A. C. Mol-

* William II. Mollison.

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lison and granddaughter of Archibald Van Norden, now resides in the house ; she and her children com- prise the fourth generation to reside under its roof. Mrs. Janet Mollison, daughter of Archibald Van Norden and mother of A. C. Mollison, is still living at the age of ninety-six. Mrs. Henry Van Nest, a daugh- ter of David, is also living here. Michael and Tobias died leaving no descendants.

Tobias Van Norden the first was much respected for his strict integrity ; his business career in Bound Brook extended from 1738 to 1784. Some of his day- books are in the possession of A. C. Mollison, a great- grandson, now living in Bound Brook. He was chosen a justice of the peace soon after he became a resident, and held the position many years; he was also a judge of the Court of Common Pleas for some time before the Revolution till 1790, and represented the county in the colonial Legislature one year. His wife died July 26, 1797, aged eighty-eight; he died peacefully, seated in his arm-chair, March 28, 1800.

Joseph Mollison was a native of Piscataway town- ship, adjoining Bound Brook, and came to the latter place about 1795 as a clerk for Daniel Blackford.

Anthony and Daniel Blackford were residents as early as 1747. Daniel lived on Main Street, where Benjamin Giles afterwards owned property.

A. C. Mollison, a great-grandson of Tobias Van Norden, is now a merchant in Bound Brook, having been in business about forty years. William 1I. Mollison, now of Budd's Lake, a grandson of Joseph Mollison and Tobias Van Norden, has written several articles on the carly settlement of Bound Brook, from which much information has been obtained. Gilbert and George Mollison, grandsons, are living at Bound Brook.

Capt. John Powers, a native of North Carolina, commanded a company in a regiment of troops from that State during the Revolution. Ile was at the storming of Stony Point, July 15 and 16, 1779, and received thanks from Gen. Wayne for valuable service rendered. After the dishandment of the army he came to Bound Brook, and soon afterwards was mar- ried to Mrs. Elizabeth Bonney, widow of Benjamin Bonney ; she died Sept. 10, 1795, aged forty-five. He afterwards married Mary, daughter of the Rev. Israel Read.

Capt. Creighton McCrea, son of the Rev. James McCrea, and brother of Jane MeCrea, whose tragic fate is so well known, came to Bound Brook in 1796 and purchased of Jeremiah Fisher the house now owned by Isaac Brokaw. This property passed to his niece, Maria McCrea, afterwards the wife of Wil- liam Van Duyn, who sold to Abraham Brokaw, father of the present owner. Creighton MeCrea was buried in the old burying-ground. This house is one of the historical edifices of the county, and will be mentioned in another place. It is situated in the village of Bloomington. At that time Bound Brook was the centre of business.

Michael Field settled in Middlesex County about 1722 or 1723. Mention is made of him in connection with schools. Jeremiah and Benjamin Field were residents of Bound Brook till their death ; they were officers in the Presbyterian Church, and also held official positions in the township. The old Field house is still standing; it was occupied by Richard D. Field, and now by Richard R. Field, his son. The following names are taken from the books of Tobias Van Norden, and show the occupations of some of the people of that time : Dr. Garret Van Wagoner, 1742; John Brade, "sculemaster," December, 1744; Isaac Brown, "taylor," May 5, 1745; William Moore, hat- ter, Feb. 10, 1745; John Wacker, school-master, February, 1745; John Ford, carpenter, February, 1745; John Campbell, "taylor," 1745; John Castner, shoemaker, 1745.

There are many other families who settled in this section early, but it is impossible to trace them all. The most of them, or their representatives, will be found mentioned in connection with the churches.

The lots in the limits of the first Indian deed, back of what were called the "Raritan lotts," were two in number. The west lot, containing 1000 acres, was surveyed April 20, 1688, to Thomas Codrington. It lay directly in the rear of his front lot. This tract extended back to the mountains, the famous Chim- ney Rock being situated on the west side of it, on the Middlebrook stream. An account of the scenes which occurred at and near this place in the time of the Revolution will be found in chapter vi. (pages 60-80) of this work.

The tract east of the 1000-acre lot of Codrington was surveyed to David Cussart, May 23, 1729. This lot also extended to the mountain on the north, east to Green Brook, and south to the "proprietors' lott," afterwards Rudyard's. The changes of the title to these tracts are too numerous to mention.

THE SECOND INDIAN TRACT AND THE EARLY SETTLERS UPON IT.

The following is from page 53 in the Elizabeth bill of chancery, and refers to the Indian deed recorded Liber 1, fol. 147, at Perth Amboy :

" That Machcote, alias Konenkome, Awhips, Negacope, and Pamas- come, Indians, In consideration of one hundred and twenty pounds, 10 them paid by James Graham, Cornelius Corsen, and Samnel Winder, did sell fu them and their heirs n tract on both sides of tho Raritan River, and oxtending np the Haritan River from the brook called Rawelgh- weros aforesaid ; as by the said Indian deed bearing dato the 12 Day of Mny, 1681."

It cmbraces lots 3, 6, 7, 50, 118, 98, 102, and 123, as by the map accompanying Elizabeth bill of chancery, an explanation of which is in schedule 3. This deed covered a large tract of land extending from Raweigh- weros (Middlebrook) along the Raritan River to Rackawackahacca, which was a low meadow-land along the north bank of the river, and reached up to near the Raritan Bridge at Raritan village, and thence running along what is now called the North

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Branch road leading out of Raritan village north nearly to Pluckamin ; thence down along the foot of the mountains to Middlebrook, and down the brook to Raritan River.

In February, 1682, the territory of East New Jer- sey passed to the proprietors, and the land was di- vided into plots and sold. A tier of what were known as Raritan River lots were laid out, fronting on the river, and were first sold. The plots known as Nos. 3-6 first west of Middlebrook contained 877 acres, and were surveyed by Philip Wells, Sept. 25, 1683, for John Palmer and associates. These associates, as near as can be ascertained, were John White, Richard Hall, Michael Van Veghten, and perhaps others. These plots are mentioned separately as Nos. 3 and 6, but a deed reciting the boundaries of the James Graham & Co. tract, whose east line is definitely ascertained to be Peter's Brook, says the quarter assigned to Cor- nelius Corson "is to lie upon the easterly side of the tract next adjoining the purchase of John Palmer and associates." These two plots will be mentioned as one in the accounts of settlement.

The easterly tract contained 877 acres. Richard Hall was assigned the land that lay adjoining Middle- brook, and embraced that neck of land commonly known as the Island Farm. He was the owner of a large tract in New York City, near the present Beek- man Street. It is not known that he lived here, though the name is common in the county. He kept tavern where the County Hotel now is, in Somerville, about 1810. Archibald, a son of Lord Neill Camp- bell, came into possession soon after; he died in 1702. The property belonged to Cornelius Van Horn in 1759, and was probably purchased long before Van Horn owned it, about 1800, when it was sold to George Smock. It is now owned by John Herbert. It was called Kells Hall by Alexander Campbell, and long retained the name. A bell now in possession of Arch- ibald Mollison, of Bound Brook, has engraved upon it " Amsterdam, 1734. Kells Hall."

North, on the same tract on Middle Brook, Philip Van Horn, a New York merchant, lived during the Revolution. The place was known as Phil's Hill. The Marquis de Chastelleux on his travels, of which he gives an account in his journal, passed through West Point, Hackensack, Totowa, Pompton Plains, Morristown, Basking Ridge, over the mountains, and dined at Philip Van Horn's, at Middlebrook. The property passed into other hands soon after the Rev- olution. The place is now the site of Herbert's Mills. Henry Van Derveer, an officer in the Revo- lution, lived east of the Van Vegliten tract.

The western portion of this tract was assigned to Michael Van Veghten. The precise time of his loca- tion is not known, but his son Derrick was born on the Raritan in 1699. He built a one-and-a-half story house that was torn down and replaced with a brick house by Derrick, a part of which is still standing on the old homestead. Michael had two children,-Der-

rick and Jane. He purchased, besides the west half of this tract, a large parcel in 1712 across the river, south and north of his homestead tract, to and on the mountain. He presented to the First Church of Raritan the ground on which the old church was built iu 1721. The homestead was near the bridge known as the Van Veghten Bridge from 1750. Upon the death of Michael the tract on the north side of the river, consisting of one thousand acres, was left to Derrick, and the land on the south side to Jane, who married a Mr. Hageman, some of whose descend- ants now live at North Branch.

Derrick married three times, as follows: Judith Brockholst, Deborah Ann Antonideus, and Sarah Middagh, the latter a sister of George and Cornelius Middagh. By the last he had three children,- Michael, who married Elizabeth La Grange, of Eliz- abethtown, and lived on the old homestead; Mar- garet, who married Joseph Crane and lived on part of the estate ; and Elizabeth, who married Dr. Johu Davis, of New Brunswick. Derrick Van Veghten was warmly attached to the cause of the colonies, and his hospitality was heartily extended to all who were interested in the same cause. Gen. Greene was quar- tered in his house during the winter and spring of 1779. An encampment of the army was upon his farm, on the slope to the northeast from Mount Pleasant,* now occupied by Mr. Shaw. A building known for many years after as the Court-Martial building was erected here. After the destruction of the church, in October, 1779, this building was used for worship, and tradition says that it was moved to Somerville, enlarged, and remodeled into the court-house that stood where Dr. Wilson's house now stands, first east of the present court-house.

The church edifice of the First Church of Raritan remained fifty-eight years, and was burned down by Col. Simcoe at the time of his raid. The cemetery was the burial-place of many of the early settlers in this region. Derrick Van Vegliten, who died Nov. 29, 1781, Rev. John Frelinghuysen, and Rev. Theo- dore F. Romeyn were buried there. Many were afterwards removed to the Raritan cemetery.

Michael Van Veghten, whom many of the older citizens remember, the only son of Derrick, married Elizabeth Lagrange, by whom he had nine children. Elizabeth, the eldest, married John Frelinghuysen,t and later John 1. Gaston; Maria married Peter El- inendorf, of North Branch ; Margaret married David Magee, of Elizabethtown ; Sophia married Maj. Thomas Talmage, and they resided north of Som- erville, on the farm now occupied by G. H. Potts ;

* An elaborately-carved circular mahogany table that once belonged to Gen. Greene is now in the possession of the Rev. Dr. T. W. Chambers, of New York City, whose wife was a descendant of Derrick Van Veghten, to whom the table came from Gen. Greene.

f They hud six children-Theodore, Frederick J., Louisa, who married the Rev. Dr. T. W. Chambers, of New York City; Elizabeth married Henry R. Kennedy ; Catharine, and Sarah M., now living on the old homestead.

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Jane married William Wilson, of New York City, and lived on the Van Veghten estate till his death. Mrs. Wilson afterwards married James Taylor, who lived and died at Somerville. He was the father of John W. Taylor, of Somerville, Richard, the young- est child and only son, inherited the old homestead, which finally went into possession of strangers, and is now owned by C. T. Ames.

The plot adjoining, to the west of No. 3, known as No. 6, containing 877 acres, was purchased by John White, Sept. 25, 1683. This tract ran back to a line with the other, and west to Peter's Brook. John White built near the river, and lived there for sev- eral years. Here it was that the difficulty ocenrred in 1686 that led to the laying out of the Great Raritan Road .* This John White was at Lynn, Mass., in 1630. In 1644 he was chosen a freeman of Southampton, L. I., and remained there as late as 1660. The records of the Governor and Council of East New Jersey show that John White, John Royce, and four others had each, in 1683, a large tract of land ordered by the Governor and Couneit to be laid out and patents issued, which tracts they had purchased of the pro- prietors on the Raritan River adjoining Piscataway. This traet of .John White is evidently the one spoken ot as lying cast of Peter's Brook and west of the Van Veghten tract. It cannot be the James Graham & Co. tract, for John Royce had no connection with that and there were but four proprietors, while in this company there were six. John White was a resident of this county as late as 1693. In 1688 and 1693 he was elected deputy to the Assembly of East New Jersey from the out-plantations on the river. In the latter year he was also collector of Somerset County. No descendants are known to be living here, nor does his name occur after the dates given.

The first mention of the Ten Eyck family, who occupied these lands later, is of AAlbert Ten Eyck (son of Coenradt Ten Eyck, an influential man in New Amsterdamt in 1653). Albert came to the Raritan before 1708. He married Maria Van Vegh- ten (probably a sister of Michael), and had two chil- dren,-Jenniken, a daughter, who was baptized in the Raritan church in October, 1708, and a son, Albert, in 1711. Albert the father was not living at this time.

Part of the Ten Eyck family went to what is now Branchburg and settled. The name of Matthew Ten Eyck oceurs in the township records in 1750 as one of the overseers of the poor, and Andrew Ten Eyck, Jr., as overseer of highways. Jacob's name also appears, but he settled in the western part of the township. Col. Matthew Ten Eyck who lived on this White traet before 1750 was the father of Sarah, Neeltje, and Jane. Sarah married Dr. Garret Tunison. They lived on the old homestead till their death,

and had three sons-Cornelius, Matthew Ten Eyck, and Garret-and three daughters,-Jane, Nellie, and Maria Magdalen. Cornelius married Judith Ten Eyck, and their son Peter married Eliza Ten Eyck; Nellie married Matthew C. Williamson, who lived on part of the estate; Jane married Peter Davis, and also lived on the tract.

About 1800, Judge Andrew Howell purchased the western portion of the traet, where he lived many years. This large tract of land, so occupied for over a hundred years, has, like the Van Veghten tract, passed into the hands of strangers.

THE GRAHAM TRACT.

Feb. 3, 1683, letters patent were granted to James Graham, Samuel Winder, Cornelius Corsen, and John White for a tract of land said to contain "the just and full quantity of one thousand nine hun- dred and four acres of land, strict measure, but, allowance being made for swamp and highways, the same to remain for one thousand eight hundred Euglish aeres and no more."# It was surveyed Sept. 28, 1683. Its east line was Peter's Brook from the river until it bends to the west; south by Raritan River; west by the old patent line ; north by the line of the other river lots. This tract was divided into four equal parts, cach fronting on the river. It was agreed by the parties that the quar- ter of Cornelius Corsen was to lie on the easterly side of the tract; the second quarter was to John White, lying between Cornelius Corsen on the east and James Graham on the west; the third quarter was set off to James Graham, and was between John White on the east and Samuel Winder on the west; the fourth and last quarter was to Samuel Winder, and was west of James Graham, and to the west line of the old patent.

Cornelius Corsen was one of the proprietors of the tract spoken of as Indian Title No. 2. He was also interested in a company who took up land on Staten Island, known as Cornelius Corsen & Co. On page 103 of the record of the Governor and Council of East New Jersey, 1682-1703, reference is made to "the petition of James Graham, Samuel Winder, John White, and Cornelius Corsen to have a patent of the lands lately surveyed to them, lying on the Rari- tan River. Agreed that they have their said lands patented, they paying twopence an acre,-viz., pur- chasing at three halfpence an aere nt twelve years purchase, and paying by pattent &d. p. aere." It is not probable that Cornelius Corsen ever lived here. Ile died in 1693. In Staten Island the surname Cor- sen was retained ; on the Raritan it seems to have

* See page 574, "General History of Somerset County." t New York.

I A dead in possession of Judge J. C. Garroteon recites the dates giron, location of the different divisions, and to whom sold of this tract. A sur- vey in possession of F. J. Frelinghuysen, made April 14, 1738, by John Reading and Goorge Lesto, deputy surveyors, is of the James Graham & Co. tract, and defines the lines. This survey in supplemented by another made in 1809, of a part of the samo property, which confirms the loca- tion of the west nud east lines.

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been changed in some way to Vroom. Bergen, in the "History of the Bergen family," page 128, says " Hendrick Corsen (Vroom), baptized Nov. 20, 1653, marries Josina Pietersz, daughter of Pieter Van Nest, of Brooklyn, and Judith Rapalje, a granddaughter of Joris Janse Rapalie, and settled on the Raritan, near Somerville, about 1680, where his descendants are nu- merous, among whom is Governor Vroom, of New Jersey." Hendrick Corsen, as will be shown, pur- chased of Cornelius Corsen, in 1687, the half of the quarter of the section assigned to him. He also pur- chased a tract of 500 acres, which was surveyed to him June 10, 1688, "where South and North Branches meet,"-No. 37 on old map, now in Branchburg, north of Holland's Brook. June 6, 1687, Cornelius Corsen conveyed by deed the land he possessed on the Rari- tan to Peter Van Nostrand and Hendrick Corsen. The latter conveyed, Oct. 10, 1687, "the equal one- half of one equal fourth part of the tract of land" (meaning the large tract) to Peter Van Nest, who, on June 22, 1724, conveyed a part of it to his son, Je- ronimus Van Nest. June 16, 1771, Jeronimus con- veyed a portion of this, in two tracts, to Jacob R. Har- denburgh. These two tracts were conveyed, Nov. 7, 1781, by Hardenburgh to William Paterson, Elias Boudinot, and Col. F. Frelinghuysen, in trust (350 acres), for the benefit of the children of John Harden- burgh and wife, to whom it was to descend after their death. The property was so conveyed, and, by act of Legislature, Jacob R. Hardenburgh and Andrew How- ell were authorized to sell the land for their benefit. Joseph Annin sold it to Jacob R. Hardenburgh.

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 159

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