History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 163

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 163
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 163

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A bridge across the river at this place was ordered built by an act of Legislature passed in 1728. It was not erected however, until 1731, for a supplementary act was passed that year in reference to it. It was afterwards called the Queen's Bridge. The present bridge was built in 1875, at a cost of about $75,000.

This village contains (census of 1880) a population of about 1000, four churches (Presbyterian, Congre- gational, Methodist, and Catholic), hotel, post-office, a newspaper-office, depots of Central and Easton and Amboy Railroads, and other business interests.

The "Bound Brook Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany" was organized in 1836, and did business from that time until Feb. 24, 1838, when it was incorpor- ated under the name as above. The following con- stituted the corporators: John H. Voorhees, John Latourette, Caleb C. Brokaw, Robert S. Smith, John Ross, Ebenezer C. Lewis, Andrew V. D. B. Vosseller, John S. Randolph, Nehemiah V. Steele. The per- sons named in the act as the first directors were John H. Voorhees, John Latourette, Robert S. Smith, Ernest Schenck, Nehemiah V. Steele, John D. Field, John Garretson, John Steele, Jr., Andrew V. D. B. Vosseller, Matthew Hopper, John S. Randolph, John Ross, Jeremiah Parsell, Caleb Morton, and Ebenezer S. Lewis. The original charter expired in 1880, and in 1876 it was extended to July 4, 1925.

Caleb C. Brokaw was secretary from the organiza- tion to February, 1844; then Abraham Skillman was elected, and served till February, 1845, when A. C. Mollison followed, and served until 1874, E. H. Redfield then acted till 1878, when John Bush, the present secretary, was elected. The losses sustained

in 1878 were $450, and in 1880, to September 1st, $672.39.

The present officers are Lewis P. Clark, President; R. F. Giles, Vice-President; John Bush, Secretary and Treasurer; William J. Diltz, Levi Hatfield, Al- bert Voorhees, John Hampton, L. P. Clark, R. F. Giles, James M. Thompson, James E. Gillem, R. V. Lindabury, C. L. Waldron, B. C. Ammerman, George / W. Adair, John D. Voorhees, B. T. Clark, and A. C. Wyckoff, Directors.

RARITAN.

This pleasant village is situated on the river bear- ing the same name, about one mile southwest of Somerville. It contains three churches (Reformed Church, Methodist, and Catholic), a bank, post-office, hotel, and school-house, several large manufacturing establishments, and the different kinds of trade usual in such villages.

One of the old historic houses of Somerset County is located in Raritan. It is the brick building now owned by Mrs. John T. Bartlett. Its history will be found elsewhere.

In 1844 there were but four houses and the grist- mill in what is now Raritan village,-the old Coeje- man house, a house occupied by J. V. D. Kelly, the seminary building, on the corner of Thompson and Somerset Streets, and the double house on the corner of Somerset and Nevius Streets, then occupied by John A. Staats and Abram Oppie. The first store was opened by J. V. D. Kelly, who owned the grist- mill, the next by the screw-factory, and these were soon followed by Samuel Hopkins. The first Sunday- school was opened in 1845 in the blacksmith-shop on Somerset Street, owned by John A. Staats. About 1848 a tavern was opened by Culver Voorhees, on the location of the present hotel. Services were held for several years at private residences by members of the different denominations until the building of the old school-house on Wall Street, when worship was held there.

The first school-house in Raritan village was 25 by 36 feet, and two stories in height. It was erected on the east side of what is now Wall Street, under the old school law. In December, 1871, the house and lot were sold to the Methodist society, the present brick edifice having been erected the summer of that year, and dedicated with appropriate exercises on the 5th of September .*

A post-office was started about 1850, the mails pre- vious to that time having been brought from Somer- ville. The village contains a population of 2240.

About 1846 or 1848 a number of the inhabitants met in the machine-shop of David P. Kinyon to de- cide upon a name for the embryo village. After some discussion it was decided to christen it after the river on which it was located. The Central Railroad of

** For further information in reference to the condition of schools, see "Schools" in the township of Bridgewater.

667

BRIDGEWATER.

New Jersey passes through the village, thereby fur- nishing means for both transportation and travel equal to any in the State.

The first bridge across the river was built in 1849, with 5 piers, 54 feet span, and 324 feet in length.

MARTINSVILLE.

This hamlet was commenced by Absalom and James Martin, who came from near Chimney Rock. About 1852 a chapel was erected, and for a time was occupied by all denominations. Later it came under the control of the Presbyterians. It is not an inde- pendent organization. The village contains, besides the chapel, a store, post-ofliee, hotel, blacksmith-shop, and several dwellings. It is located in what is known as Washington Valley, between the First and Second Mountain.

SCHOOLS OF THE TOWNSHIP.

There are but few traditions of schools in this town- ship before the commencement of the present century. The first written record of any kind which has been found bearing upon the subject of schools is a receipt as follows :

" Reco'd, Mar. 15, 1771, from Jeromes Vun Nest, by the hands of George Fisher, schoolmaster, the full sum of four pounds, Jersey Light money, io full for my demands from said Jeromes Van Nest.

" FOLKEAT TONISON.

" £4 0s. Od."

The first school-house of which anything is known was situated in what is now the ground of the Pres- byterian church at Bound Brook, and a little west of that edifice. Some of the traditions relate that it was originally a Presbyterian church and afterwards used as a school-house. It was a low, one-story building. The first teacher of whom any mention is made was one John Wacker, whose name occurs as early as 1742; the name of John Brade is also found .* He was suc- ceeded by William Hedden, who acted as principal until 1768, when he removed to Newark. He was succeeded by Peter Walsh, a Scotchman, who taught until the erection of the academy, in 1800. This building stood east of the residence formerly occupied by the Rev. Dr. Rodgers, and was two stories in height, standing broadside to the turnpike, with a steeple on the east end. A bell that hung in the steeple had the inscription "1734, Amsterdam." The academy was built in part from money bequeathed by Michael Field, who died in 1792. The bequest is given in the words of his will :

"I give the sum of £500, Iawful money of the State of New Jersey, towards a free school that may be erected hereafter within the l'resby- torian congregation of Bound Brook, which my executors nro horoby required to put into the hands of the trustees of tho congregation aforo- snid, and the trustees nre required to put tho some nt Interest, and to keep the interest money nrising thorefrom in their custody nad possca- Blon until the said ' Free School-Honso' shall be built, and then apply the snid inforest money for that purpose, and supporting sound school, and for no other purpose."

* In an account of Toblas Van Norden, dniod February, 1774, against the estate of Aoltje Lomontes, occurs, " To sculeing for Lona, 20 145. 0d."

Peter Walsh was the last teacher in the old build- ing and the first in the academy. He was succeeded by Isaac Toucey, afterwards Secretary of the Navy under President Buchanan. While he was in charge a female department was added, under the supervision of Miss Joanna Deeds. This building was in use until 1857, when it was demolished and the present editice ereeted upon the spot.

To this county belongs the honor of being the home of the men who were most instrumental in obtaining and founding Rutgers College. Rev. John Freling- huysen opened a theological school in which young men were fitted for the ministry. Jacob Rutsen Hardenburgh, Rynier Van Nest, and Matthew Leydt received instruction from him, and afterwards became eminent.

The Rev. Jacob R. Hardenburgh was most active in obtaining the charter, in 1770, of Rutgers College, and was its first president; Hendrick Fisher, of Bound Brook, was also prominent in its establishment.t Frederick Frelinghuysen, a native of Somerville, was the first tutor. It is thus seen that Rutgers College originated with men in this township, and that a school was opened here, the influence of which culminated in its establishment.

A school-house was erected in Raritan (now Som- erville) about 1800. The last teacher was a Mr. Ten- nard. The school was merged into the Somerville academy at its commencement, in 1802. There was also one on the mountain-road north of Somerville; it remained as late as 1840.

The next educational interest of importance was the establishment of the Somerville academy, the his- tory of which is quoted from Dr. A. Messler's " History of Somerset County :"

" The idea of erecting such n building nud attempting to maintain n classical school at such an early day was an honor to the inhabitants of the village.

" It came In this wise: A number of gentlemen from Somerville and ita vicinity met together to celebrate the Fourth of July, 1801. The public exercises of the day were held in the church. . . . After the exer- cises the gentlemen repaired to the hotel, where n dinner had been pre- pared. Among them were several who had sons to be educated. After u froe conversation on the subject of education, it was resolved to make an effort to establish n classical school, where young men might be io- structed in Latin and Greek and prepared to enter college. Immediate action was taken, aud on the Isth of July, nt another meeting, a consti- tution wna ndopted, which provided for the erection of a bullding and the organization of an association niding in ita support and patroonge."

The constitution was signed by Peter Studdiford, John Bryan, John Frelinghuysen, Andrew Howell, Jonathan Ford Morris, Thomas Talmage, John El- mendorf, Jacob R. Hardenburgh, John Simonson, John W. Hall, Joseph Doty, Dickinson Miller, Cor- nelius Van Deventer, Bergun Brokaw, Edmund El- mendorf, John Brokaw, John Cox, Garret Tunison, Philip Herder, Roeluf Nevius, Peter B. Dumont, and Mathew A. Lane. The subscription amounted to $1701. The first officers of the association were Peter

+ Hon. Joseph P. Bradley's address, delivered nt the centennial cele bration of Rutgers, June 21, 1870.

668

SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Studdiford, President; John Bryan, Vice-President ; John Frelinghuysen, Treasurer; Andrew Howell, Secretary. The board of regents consisted of Jona- than F. Morris, John Wortman, Thomas Talmage, John S. Vredenburgh, John Elmendorf, Jacob R. Hardenburgh, Dickinson Miller, John Simonson, Garret Tunison, and the president.

A house was erected, a teacher employed (Lucas George, an Irishman, who proved himself to be a fine scholar and an efficient instructor), and the school opened in May or June, 1802.

In 1804 the association was incorporated under the laws of the State, and Peter Studdiford, John S. Vre- denburgh, Peter D. Vroom, John Elmendorf, Andrew Howell, Jonathan F. Morris, and John Frelinghuy- sen were the trustees. In March, 1805, Jacob Kirk- patrick succeeded Mr. George as principal. Then W. C. Morris, a son of Dr. J. F. Morris, taught for a time. Nov. 26, 1808, Stephen Boyer was engaged as principal, remaining such until 1810. Afterwards Isaac N. Wyckoff and the Rev. John Cornell taught, and the school flourished extensively. It had no rival except Basking Ridge, and enjoyed an extensive pa- tronage for some time. After Rev. John Cornell the school was taught by Rev. Peter Studdiford, Mr. Neville, John Walsh, William Thompson, Charles Hageman, William D. Waterman, and John L. See.

This school was discontinued in 1855, the property sold to S. S. Hartwell, and the proceeds divided among the original stockholders and their heirs.

SOMERVILLE CHARITY SCHOOL.

In 1816, Mrs. Rev. John Vredenburg, Mrs. Andrew Howell, Mrs. Dr. Henry Van Derveer, Mrs. Dickinson Miller, Mrs. William J. Hedges, Mrs. Ferdinand Van Derveer, Mrs. Mary Stewart, Mrs. William Manse, Mrs. Matthew Williamson, Mrs. C. G. Tunison, Mrs. Dr. Vredenburg, and Mrs. Gen. John Frelinghuysen associated themselves together to educate and instruct the poor children of the township, under the name of the Somerville Charity School. April 16th in that year a Sunday-school was opened; in connection with it, but a little later, a day-school was added. It was continued until about 1845, when it ceased, common schools having been introduced into the State and accomplishing part of the work.

A young ladies' school was taught at the house of Mr. Walsh in 1828-29 by Miss M. A. Poole. In ad- dition to a complete course of English studies, music, drawing, and lace-work were taught.

A young ladies' seminary was erected by Gen. John Frelinghuysen in about 1832. Mrs. Nottingham was principal. It was continued four or five years, but finally ceased. Mrs. Nottingham removed to Somer- ville, where she taught about two years.

SOMERSET CLASSICAL INSTITUTE.

This school was established in 1848 as the "Somerset Institute for Young Ladies." The old tavern stand- ing at the fork of the New York and Easton turnpike

and the Raritan road, on the present site of the castel- lated residence of Eugene Doughty, then the property of Alfred Caminan, was selected for the purpose, and moved back on the turnpike to its present location. John S. Severance, of Berkshire Co., Mass., opened the first session, Sept. 5, 1848, although the institu- tion was not incorporated until Dec. 6, 1849. The first board of trustees were Rev. A. Messler, D.D., President; Samuel G. Hartwell, Secretary ; William Thompson, C. H. Brown, Joshua Doughty, T. B. Allison, and John I. De Forest, all deceased except Dr. Messler and Joshua Doughty.

Mr. Severance, after continuing the enterprise for two years, withont pecuniary success, returned to Massachusetts, his position being filled by his niece, Miss Nancy P. Stoughton, who, aided by her brother pecuniarily, exerted herself to make the enterprise a success. This she did, to the profit of her pupils, but to her own pecuniary disadvantage. She continued the school for two years, when it passed into the hands of the Rev. Calvin Butler, of Massachusetts. Purchasing the property, he added a story to the building, erected an outside recitation building, and, still lacking room, purchased the adjoining house and lot.

In 1857-59 the political questions of the day became so prominent, and the contest so bitter, that the educa- tional interest began to decline, and in the spring of 1860 Mr. Butler left the place, going to Connecticut. He gave to the county the largest and most prosper- ous seminary she has ever had.

J. S. Chamberlain succeeded as principal, followed in 1866 by Rev. William I. Thompson, son of Judge Thompson, of Readington, but he was cut off from a sphere of usefulness by death, March 19, 1867. Arthur Crosby taught out the unexpired term.

Sept. 4, 1867, the Rev. William Cornell, D.D., LL.D., took charge of the school. He was a ripe and cul- tured scholar, a thorough and enthusiastic teacher. The year following his advent he erected a building in South Street and removed his school thither, where he died Sept. 11, 1876.

There was then a vacancy until March, 1877, when P. N. Mitchell took charge. But to build np this school after such an extended vacancy was not the work of a day. With patient energy, however, he overcame all difficulties. The latter part of the year this school and that of William P. Flowers, A.M., were consolidated, since which time it has been very successful.

It only remains to add that during the interim when the institute was removed to South Street, a female school, under the old name, was kept for six years by Mrs. Duren, ending in 1878. The lady still takes a few pupils upon a private estate a few miles south of the village.

A Miss Gaston, a native of the place, also taught a school with varying degrees of prosperity for twenty years or more in that part of the building kuown

669

BRIDGEWATER.

as the two-story house, removing in the spring of 1880 to the Minor house,-Governor Vroom's old residenee.

CHURCHES.

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH OF RARITAN.

During the ministry at Hackensack of Gulliam Bertholf, and while he was on a missionary tour to this section," the first church was formed. The earliest records having any reference to church mat- ters in this region were written in Dutch. The first record is dated March 8, 1699, of the baptism of a child of Jeronimus Van Neste, Cornelius Theunissen, and Pieter Van Neste respectively. The following day (March 9, 1699) the church was organized.

" The following persens were chosen as n consistory : Jolin Tuynesen na eldler, and Pieter Van Nest as deacon, and were Installed before the congregation by Gulliam Bertholf. At the same time the ordinance of the holy sacrament was administered to the communicants by the above- named person."

This is all the record extant from that time till about 1721, except of baptism.

About 1717 or 1718 a call for a minister was sent to the Classis of Amsterdam by the churches of Rari- tan, Three-Mile Run, Six-Mile Run, and North Branch.

At this time there is no evidence of a church edi- fice at this place. In 1721 a lot of land was donated to the congregation for church purposes; a building was erected that year, but of its size, shape, or con- struction nothing has been ascertained. It was on a knoll on the north side of the Raritan, a quarter of a mile below the structure known as the old bridge. Worship was held at this place until Oct. 27, 1779, when it was burned by Col. Simeoe.

Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen, son of the Rev. Johannes Henricus, pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church of Lingen in East Friesland, came to Amer- ica in 1720, and settled immediately over the churches in Somerset County. He resided at Three-Mile Run and preached also at Raritan, Six-Mile Run, and North Branch. The precise time of his death is not known.

May 18, 1747, a call was made to John Frelinghuy- sen, then studying in Holland, to occupy his father's place. This call was approved by the Classis of Am- sterdam in 1749. He was licensed in 1750, and in the summer of that year arrived at Raritan. He preached his introductory sermon August 3d. He lived at Rari- tan, now Somerville. In the summer of 1751 he built a house with bricks sent over from Holland, on land owned by Cornelius Bogart. It is still standing, and in possession of Joshua Doughty. On a corner-stone is cut "1751." A charter was obtained June 7, 1753, for this church, along with those of New Brunswick, Six-Mile Run, Millstone, and North Branch.

Mr. Frelinghuysen's pastorate was brief; he died

in September, 1754, after having administered to this people a little over three years.+

The church was vaeant for nearly three years. Ja- cob R. Hardenburgh, who commeneed his studies with the Rev. Mr. Frelinghuysen, continued for about three years, and was ordained by the Coctus in 1757. Hle was the first minister in the Dutch Church in America who received a license in this country. His labors commenced May 1, 1758. Ile removed to Rari- tan, to the house where his early studies were pursued, having married the widow of his former teacher, Mrs. Dinah Frelinghuysen. In AAngust following he was installed as pastor of the five congregations,-Rari- tan, North Branch, Bedminster, Millstone, and Nes- hanic .; In 1781 he resigned his pastoral charge at Raritan and removed to Rosendale, N. Y.

The Rev. Theodore Frelinghuysen Romeyn was called to the pastorate in 1784. Ile died September, 1785, and was succeeded, Oct. 14, 1785, by the Rev. John Duryea, as pastor of the churches of Raritan and Bedminster, until 1799.

Meetings were held in the Court-Martial building, situated on Mount Pleasant, after the burning of the church, in 1779, until the court-house was completed. Sept. 6, 1782, the Consistory of Raritan made a prop- osition to the freeholders of the county of Somerset to unite with them in the erection of a building for church and county purposes. This proposition was acceptedl on the 14th of October of that year. A building was erected on the spot now occupied by Dr. Wilson, east of the present court-house, at a cost of £559 198. 2d. Worship was held in that building until the completion of the church.

May 10, 1786, the Consistory resolved to sever their connection with the county, and asked for a commit- tee of the freeholders to meet with them for a settle- ment, which was made. The county ordered £228 68. 9d. to be paid to P. D. Vroom, treasurer of Rari- tan Congregation .¿

June 15, 1784, it was resolved to build a new house of worship. Discussion was had as to the location, the membership being about equally divided between Somerset court-house and Van Veghten's bridge (where the old church stood). The former was se- lected, and subsequently Reynier Veghte, Abraham Van Neste, Peter D. Vroom, John Hardenburgh, Robert Bolmer, and Jacobus Winterstein were ap- pointed a committee to superintend the erection, with Andreas Ten Eyck as manager. The present church lot was purchased of Cornelius Tunison, and a build- ing 40 by 60 feet was erected, with a small cupola and bell. The old church was rebuilt and enlarged in 1838 at a cost of $10,000.

In 1790 the Dutch Reformed Churches of Raritan,

* Until 1709 ho was the only Dutch preacher In New Jersey.

t Ilis remains were brought to Raritan, and deposited In the old bury- Ing-ground en the banks of the Raritaa. In 1526 they were removed to what is known na " the minister's tomb."

* In 1761, Neshanic and Mlillatono were separated from this clinrge. ¿ County buildings in General History.

670

SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

North Branch, New Brunswick, Six-Mile Run, and Millstone [now Harlingen], declared their "will not to continue any longer a body politic by virtue of the charter of incorporation."

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH.

Upon the resignation of the Rev. Mr. Duryea a settlement was made, and the parsonage house and lot, containing 36.7 acres, were deeded to him .*

The other pastorates have been those of Dominies John S. Vredenburg, 1800-21; vacant mostly, 1821-/ 26; R. D. Van Kleek, 1826-31; Abraham Messler,( D.D., 1832-79, when he was retired by the Classis on account of his advanced age.

Jan. 19, 1881, a new pastor was installed,-Rev. J. Preston Searle, previously located at Griggstown.

During this long period three prosperous churches have gone out from this church of Raritan. It is still in full vigor, having a larger membership in communion than ever hefore. It numbers 175 fam- ilies, with a church membership of 620. Four Sun- day-schools in connection with the church have a membership of 200.

The reader is referred to Dr. Messler's published "Historical Notes," for more full details of this and other Reformed Dutch Churches of this vicinity ; also to Dr. Corwin's "Manual" for extended biographical sketches of the ministers named above.

REV. ABRAHAM MESSLER, D.D.,

of Somerville, N. J., was born Nov. 15, 1800, on a plantation on Lamington River, in the northern part of the township of Readington, Hunterdon Co., N. J. His parents were Cornelius Messler and Maria (Stryker) Messler.

He is a descendant of Teunis de Metsellaer, who came from Holland to Rensellaerwick in 1641 and settled in Albany. He made his will Aug. 7, 1685, and in it mentions his wife, Egbertien Egberts, and his children, Maritie, wife of Harman Lieverse; Geretije, wife of Andrus Hans; Dirkje, wife of Bas- tian Harmse Fischr; Wellemtje, aged twenty-three; Anna, aged twenty-one years; and his sons, Egbert and Martyn.

In the next year, 1642, Teunis Thomasen de Met- sellaer and his wife, Belletje Jacobs, had a child bap- tized in the Dutch church in New York City, named Maritje; again a son, Thomas, April 24, 1644; a daughter, Geertje, Nov. 12, 1645; a son, Derick, July 24, 1648.

Dec. 16, 1694, Abraham Metsellaer had a son named Johannes baptized in New York. This man Johannes came to New Jersey in 1717, or earlier, and settled in Middlebush on a farm north of the Cedar Grove school-house, owned recently by a Mr. Bennet, con- sisting of 262 acres. He died in 1672, leaving two sons,-Abraham and Cornelius, and two daughters named Sarah and Effie. He was a man of piety and influence in his day, serving frequently as elder in the Dutch Reformed Church of New Brunswick. He is also named as one of the deacons of the Five United Congregations in Somerset County, incorporated in 1754. He traveled with Whitefield in different parts of the State, and attended his preaching as often as possible while in New Jersey.

His son Cornelius was the grandfather of Rev. Dr. Messler, and it was he who first changed the form of spelling the name. He purchased the plantation on the Lamington River and resided on it many years. In his old age he lived in New Brunswick, where he died, and his remains are interred in the cemetery of the Reformed Dutch Church. On the upright stone at the head of his grave you read the following in- scription :

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 163

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