History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 185

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 185
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 185

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).

Lot No. 14, purchased by John Drummond, con- tained 1000 acres, and lay south of No. 22, and im- mediately north of lot No. 15.

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SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

The lot known as No. 15, purchased Nov. 9, 1685, by Andrew Hamilton, containing 750 acres, was situ- ated north of the John Campbell tract. In 1740 it was in possession of Volkert Dowe. At a later date the east end, on the river, was owned by - Naylor, and the remainder by Peter Van Nuys, John Smith, Jacob Kershaw, his son-in-law, and Cornelius Van Horn, to the county line.

Lot No. 22, purchased by Andrew Hamilton the same date as lot No. 15, contained 500 acres. One hundred years ago a large tract in this lot was owned by - Van Derveer. Isaac V. Huff owns a part of this last-mentioned tract. The heirs of Lawrence V. Studdiford now own a part of it. The Rev. Peter Studdiford married a daughter of Mr. Van Derveer, by whom the property was inherited. Lawrence Stud- diford and the Rev. Peter Studdiford, of Lambertville, Hunterdon Co., were sons. Peter I. Voorhees owns a part of the west end of the original tract.

SECOND INDIAN TITLE.

The land embraced in this title reached from Hol- land's Brook north to the junction of the North and South Branches of the Raritan, and from thence di- rectly north, on the west patent line of what is de- scribed in the township of Bridgewater as the fourth Indian title. The west line of the tract was the line of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties, at that time straight and on a line with westerly line of its present course. The lower or south lot (23), adjoining Hol- lands Brook, and lot 61, in the north part, were en- tirely in the land embraced in this second title. Lots Nos. 37, 68, 67, 65, 66, and 55 extend from the North Branch across the fourth Indian title mentioned, and this second title, to the west line. Lots 53 and 61 are embraced entirely in the fourth title. Lots 69 and 63 are in an Indian title the date of which is not known. The following is an extract from the deed, taken from the Elizabethtown bill of chancery :

"That Paywassen, Indian, by his deed dated the 14th day of August, 1688, for the consideration therein mentioned, received of Capt. Andrew Hamilton, Deputy Governor of New Jersey, did sell to the Proprietors of East Jersey, a tract of land beginning at Holland's Brook; and from thence as the river runs to the meeting of the branches of the Raritan ; and to run as far back as the said Paywassen and other Indiane their lands run as by tho said deed, recorded in Liber B, p. 534."

In this tract were seven lots that were purchased as follows : No. 23, the east half, scems to be located be- fore the Indian deed, as it bears date Dec. 13, 1687, and was taken up by Andrew Hamilton. It con- tained 250 acres; the west half was unappropriated. No. 37, containing 500 acres, commenced at the mcet- ing of the North and South Branches and ran back northwest two miles. This was taken up by Hen- drick Corson. Next adjoining was a tract known as No. 68, containing 500 acres, sold to Thomas Gordon. North of this tract were Nos. 67, 65, and 66, of 4663 acres each. These were sold respectively to Miles Foster, Michacl Handin, and George Willocks. North of the Willocks tract was No. 55, a plot of

1000 acres, which was conveyed to Lord Neill Camp- bell, May 24, 1690. No. 61 (100 acres) was purchased by John Johnston, and also No. 53, directly north of it, containing 400 acres, May 20, 1690. Lot 64 was purchased by Dr. Johnston in 1701; the precise date and number of acres are not given. The south lot, known as No. 23 in this second Indian title, lay on the north of Holland's Brook, resting on the bank all across the township. It contained 500 acres. The east half, of 250 acres, was purchased by Andrew Hamilton on the 13th of October, 1687, about nine months prior to the purchase of the Indian title by the proprietors, of whom he was agent. To whom he sold is not known. In 1706 the north half of the whole tract, containing about 275 acres, was in pos- session of Solomon Davis. The west half of the tract was not appropriated under the first division. In 1716, Davis sold the land in his possession to Andreas Ten Eyck, and it now belongs to Nathan Terreberry, Rev. Gilbert Lane, and others. The southwest quar- ter of the lot was known early as the Jew farm, and now belongs to Peter I. Voorhees. The southeast now belongs to Abram Tunison, John Voorhees, and Henry Van Fleet.

Lot No. 37 is a tract of land commencing at the mouth of the North and South Branches, running back 2 miles and 40 chains in width north, contain- ing 500 acres. This tract was purchased by Hen- drick Corson (Vroom) .* He was a native of New Amsterdam (New York). His father was " Cornelis Petersen (Vroom)." His mother was Tryntje Hen- dricks. She had at the time of her second marriage with Frederick Lubbertsen three sons,-Cornelis Cor- son (Vroom), aged twelve years; Peter (Vroom), aged six years; and Hendrick (Vroom), aged three years. Cornelis Corson (Vroom) was one of the patentees of the Graham, Winder & Co.'s tract, where the village of Somerville now stands. Hen- drick Corson (Vroom) purchased of his brother a part of the east quarter of the tract on the 6th day of June, 1687, and soon after sold it, and on the 10th June, 1688, purchased this tract. He was born in November, 1653, and married Josina Pieterz, daugh- ter of Pieter Van Nest, of Brooklyn. He lived to a good old age. Hendrick Vroom, of Brooklyn, was a son of Hendrick Corson and Josina Van Nest. He married Jannetje Bergen in 1711. After her death he married Dortie Dumont, in 1745. His children were Sarah Vroom, born 1720, and Petrus Vroom, born 1722. In 1751 he sold the south part, containing 300 acres, to Peter Dumont. A narrow strip across the west end, containing 40 acres, had previously been sold to John Vroom. This last tract was divided into wood lots and sold separately. Joseph Thomp- son is now the possessor of the 40 acres, having bought them from time to time. On the northeast

* The original name was Corssen. The name was retained by those of the family who romainod on Long Island, but was soon dropped by Cornelis and Ilendrick Corson, who came to the Raritau.

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corner of this traet, in the centre of the road, near the residence of Judge Thompson, stands the old corner- stone of the Corson ( Vroom) tract.

The 300-acre tract of Peter Dumont was inherited by John Baptist Dumont, known by many as John Protest Dumont. By his will it was devised for their lifetime to his sisters, Brachia and Phebe. The old homestead occupied the spot where now lives John Vosseller. The tract is now owned by John Vossel- ler, Paul K. Dilts, - Shafer, and Joseph Read.

The north half was owned in 1753 by John Van Nest, a son of Peter, and was afterwards held by An- dreas Ten Eyck and inherited by his son Andrew, who sold 190 acres of the western part to Andrew Fleming. Sylvester Robins purchased 100 acres of this part. A strip on the north side of this tract is owned by parties owning farms on the north.

The next tract is designated on the map accompa- nying the Elizabethtown bill of chancery, date of 1747, as No. 68, containing 500 aeres, and as having been sold to " Thomas Gordon, at Peter Van Nest's." A parchment deed in possession of Judge Thompson recites that the property was conveyed to him by the proprietors, April 1, 1703. On the 22d of September, 1710, he sold the property to Thomas Purcell, of Mid- dlesex County, who in 1719 conveyed the uppermost one-half to Daniel Purcell, his son. On the 13th of April, 1728, he conveyed it to Guisbert Krom, who, in consideration of £925, conveyed the land to Jo- hannes Van Nest, April 25, 1755, Krom reserving " the one-half of all minerals whatsoever that shall from time to time be discovered, dug up, and got forth on the same or of any part or parcel of said lands," Krom to pay an equal dividend of cost.

A parchment deed is in possession of Sheriff George Vroom, dated Dec. 17, 1753, by which Peter Van Nest, Sr., as an executor of Jacob Van Nest (son of Peter), conveyed 213 acres of land to Thomas Van Horne and Matthew Ten Eyek, in trust for Catharine Van Nest, widow of Jacob, and their children. It is recited in this deed that on the 6th of January, 1697, the proprietors conveyed by patent to Peter Van Nest 600 acres of land

" Beginning at the upper northeast corner of Hendrick Corson'a land, which corner is forty chains northeast by north from the meeting of the South and North Branches of Raritan, thenco northwest and by wont two miles, and northeast by north forty-eight chains in breadth."

On the 22d of June, 1724, Peter conveyed the north half of this property to his son Peter, who on the 2d of April, 1752, conveyed the westerly part, containing 213 aeres, to his son Jacob. He lived only about a year after this conveyance, being brutally murdered in December, 1753. The occasion is said to have been the taking of a leaf of tobacco out of the negro's box by his master. Mr. Van Nest had been out on horse- back, and returned home at night. The negro stood inside the stable-door, and struck him with an axe as he was about to put up his horse. He then turned the horse loose with the saddle turned under him, aud

dragged the body some distance and buried it under the leaves, at the root of a large tree that was up- turned. Search was soon instituted, the negro join- ing in the search. After considerable time the body was found. Suspicion was directed towards the negro, as he was considered dangerons. He was a large, ath- letic man, and the friends and neighbors were afraid to arrest him. He was sent out to bring in a back-log for the fire, and while this was in his arms he was taken when he could not defend himself. His mas- ter's pocket-knife was found upon him. He was then taken to the county-seat, then at Millstone, tried, and condemned to be burned publicly at the stake.

Mr. Van Nest married Catharine Ten Eyck, daugh- ter of Jacob Ten Eyck, by whom he had two sons, Peter and Jacob, and one daughter, Jemima, who married Hendrick D. Vroom; their children were Jacob, Peter, and George. George Vroom, the present sheriff of Somerset County, is a descendant of Jacob. Jacob, a son of Peter, lives in the township. The property is now in possession of Gilbert Kershaw, son-in-law of Andrew Hageman. The cast part of the tract was purchased by Henry Cox. Abram Ten Eyck, late of Michigan, now lives on this part. The cast part of the north half, that still remained in the possession of Peter, the first purchaser, now belongs to Col. A. D. Hope, and the part along the river was sold to Michael Van Derveer. The Van Derveer Mills are located in the northeast corner. One of the homesteads of the early Van Nests was at this place.

The south half of the large traet was in 1776 owned by John Smith. It reached from the river to the liunterdon county line. A part of the east end is owned by the Van Derveers. A part was owned by the Vossellers in 1842, and is now owned by Jacob Vosseller. The tract west is owned by - Henriques, and the one still farther west by Henry Bacon and Joseph Dalley. The part of the tract adjoining the county line is now in possession of Judge Joseph Thompson. This large tract of 600 aeres, purchased by Peter Van Nest in 1697, seems to be, by its deserip- tion, the same tract purchased by Thomas Gordon in April, 1703, mentioned before. This discrepancy seems irreconcilable.

The lot north of the one described as the Thomas Gordou or Peter Van Nest tract was one of three adjoining each other that were laid out, each con- taining 4663 acres. The first one, known as No. 67, was purchased by Miles Foster, and soon after was in possession of Peter Van Nest, by whom it was devised by will to his son John," who left the greater part of it to his son George; but, in case he died without children, it was provided by John Van Nest that the

. The following is taken from a bill of sala In possession of the Van Nest famlly, and will be of Internet :

" July 10, 1768, John Van Nest, of Bridgewater (now Branchburg), soll to Peter Van Nest ' A certain Neger Winch named Mary and a Noger boy named Jack' for the sum of £60, York curroacy."

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property should descend to his daughters. The west- erly part, on the south, was owned in 1753 by Abram Bodine and Guisbert Corson. The easterly part had been sold in wood lots of 10 or 20 acres, the larger part of which came later into the hands of Simon Nevius, and is owned by John Clawson. About 1796, David Nevius owned about 240 acres, now the prop- erty of John B. Stillwell. The westerly part was sold by Mrs. Stillwell and Mrs. Quick, about 1827, to Asher Dilts, father of William Dilts, the middle portion to Abram A. Ammerman, and is now in the possession of his grandson, Jacob K. Ammerman. The easterly portion of their tract was sold to John · Key, and by him to Peter Pumyea, and in 1834 to Dennis Hageman, and by him to Jacob Kershaw, whose heirs sold to John Demun.

The second of the tracts containing 4663 acres, known as No. 65, lying north of No. 67, was purchased by Michael Handen, but at what time this property was sold is not definitely ascertained; the south part within a few years after was in possession of the Van Nest family, and was sold by the devisees of John Van Nest at the same time with the portion of No. 67 owned by them. It is now in possession of Dilts, Ammerman, and others. The north part of the tract came into possession of John Bogert, and after 1720 to Peter Van Pelt. In 1761 it belonged to George Leslie, whose heirs, on the 2d of May, 1776, sold to William Crook. It was sold in 1816 to Henry Ammer- man, and now belongs to George Ammerman, of New York City, John Van Doren, of Millstone, and John Y. Dalley. John V. Stillwell owns the east part. That portion farther west is attached to the Dilts and Ammerman farms, lying south.

The third tract of 4663 acres, known as No. 66, was purchased by George Willocks, who had large tracts of land both in East and West Jersey. At what time it came into possession of Bergen Brokaw, Sr., of Hillsborough township, is not known, but on the 6th of August, 1782, he conveyed 342} acres of it to Ber- gen Brokaw, Jr., who later sold it to Daniel Ammer- man, who at the time of the purchase was his step- father. It is now owned by John Sutphin, Henry P. Schomp, Henry Van Derveer, and Charles H. More- house.

The east part, adjoining the river, which is the old homestead, belongs to James Ammerman (son of Daniel), who was born and is still living on the place, at the age of nearly ninety years.

Lot No. 55 is a wide strip of land, of which the southeast corner commences where Chambers' or Smith's Brook empties into the North Branch, near the North Branch depot. It runs thence up the branch to a short distance below the village of North Branch ; thence northwest, intersecting the southwest corner of the Ten Eyck tract, and straight to the township line, near the intersection of the Lamington River with that line; thence south along the township line to the northwest corner of No. 66, the Willocks tract ;

thence southeast parallel with the north line to the point near Chambers' Brook, embracing 1000 acres. This tract was purchased by Lord Neill Campbell on the 24th of May, 1690. The east half, containing 520% acres, was sold to Charles Dunstar, of Perth Amboy (who was also the purchaser of original tracts farther north). On the 30th of August, 1726, he con- veyed it to John Dumont for five shillings, current money of New Jersey, " from the day before the date hereof, for and during and until the whole end and term of one whole year next eusuing, and fully to compleat and ended, yielding and paying therefor the rent of one pepper corn at the feast of St. Michael the Archangel,* only the same be lawfully demanded to the intent that by virtue of these presents and of the statutes for transferring uses into possession, of the said John Dumont, may be in the actual posses- sion and be enabled to accept a grant and release of the reversions and inheritence thereof to him, his heirs and assigns forever. Presents have inter- changably been made. In witness whereof, the par- ties have set their hands and seals the day and year first above mentioned to these presents .- CHARLES DUNSTAR."

Another lot of land was sold later to John Dumont, the description of which will be found with lot 64. These two tracts were surveyed, mapped, and laid out into lots by John Brokaw in 1761. On the 26th of January of that year the land was conveyed by John Dumont to Peter, Direk, and Abraham, his sons. The part that was on the Campbell tract was divided into four lots, as follows: Abraham had lot 1, of 214} acres, embracing the south part, from the North Branch to the back line. Peter had lots 2 and 4; No. 2 embraced 28 acres of meadow-land along the river. It was nearly square, and lay between lot 1 of Abra- ham and lot 3 of Direk. Lot No. 4 of Peter con- tained 104 acres, and was the west part of the north part. Direk came into possession of lot 3, containing 172 acres. This tract was the east end of the west side, south of the village of North Branch. About 1820 it was in possession of Peter Quackenbush ; later- it was owned by Garret Stryker, then by Christopher Stryker, and at present by James Low. The upper- or north lot, left to Peter later, belonged to an Abra- liam Dumont. Samuel Little now lives on the farm. The tract of Abraham, No. 1, is now occupied by Abraham and Cornelius Dumont, sons of Isaac, to whom it was left by "Aunt Neeltje" (as she was known), who was the wife of Dr. Peter Dumont, who lived in New York. Dr. Peter Dumont, Elbert, and Abraham were the sons of Peter, who received land at the division, in 1761. The Rev. Abram Dumont, who was at one time pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Morristown, and died in Rhode Island, was a son of Dr. Peter Dumont.

The western portion of the tract may also have

# September 29th.

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been purchased by Dunstar, but it was later in the hands of Richard Porter and Garret Probasco. Daniel Ammerman purchased the land of Porter, which was on the east side, and paid for it in Continental money by the sale of one crop of corn raised on the farm. The wife of Porter refused to sign the deed unless Ammerman would give her a pound of tea, which he refused to do, and took the deed without her signature. About 1820 it belonged to Ruloff Voorhees, at whose death it was soll to Bergen B. Smith, by whom it was sold to William Henry, and is now owned by Wm. D. Smith and Peter G. Schomp; the latter also owns the Probasco farm. The westerly part in 1761 be- longed to Peter Wortman, and is now owned by Henry P. Schomp, Henry Van Derveer, and Abra- ham Van Fleet. Lot No. 64, an irregular piece of land north of the Campbell tract and west and north of the Ten Eyek tract, was purchased probably between 1688 and 1700 by Dr. John Johnston. He was a native of Scotland, and was a druggist in the city of Edinburgh. He came to this country in 1685, and established himself in practice at first in New York City ; later at Perth Amboy. He mar- ried the daughter of Geo. Scott, to whom had been granted 500 acres of land. This was confirmed to Mrs. Dr. Johnston. He came into possession of other large tracts in East Jersey. In 1720, Dr. Johnston became a member of Governor Burnett's council. He was mayor of the city of New York from 1714 to 1718. In the year 1720 he removed to the banks of the North Branch, where he built a double two-story brick house, with large barns and outbuildings. This building was standing until after the Revolution. He died at Perth Amboy in 1732. The Ten Eyck tract was purchased by him in 1690, and sold to Matthias Ten Eyck ten years later.

In 1754 the property known as No. 64 was in pos- session of Mordecai MeKinney, of Lebanon, Hunter- don Co., and 12318 acres of it was sold to John Dumont on the 2d of April of that year. At that time Tunis Post owned a tract north of it, and Peter Wortman west and south. This land remained in the hands of the Dumont family for many years. In the division by John Dumont to his sons Peter, Dirck, and Abraham, in 1761, the land north of the Camp- bell tract, which was the land purchased in 1754 of Mordecai MeKinney, was divided between Peter and Direk, Peter having the west part and Dirck the east. The land of Peter, after his death, was divided be- tween Peter, Elbert, and Abraham, heirs-at-law. In 1800, Elbert and Abraham released the traet, contain- ing 81 acres, situated north of the Matthias Ten Eyek tract, to Peter. On the 28th of May, 1804, he conveyed it to John Baylis. Later it was in possession of John A. Ten Eyck, and now belongs to Joseph Ram- sey. Tunis Post lived north of the plot many years, and died in 1764. Robert Little lived on the Peter Wortman traet, west of the land purchased by John Dumont. Ile was in the Revolutionary war. His 49

son, John Little, married Hannah Dumont, a daughter of Abram Dumont, and lived on the same place. His son Samuel now lives near there, on the part of the John Dumont traet that was bought originally by Lord Neill Campbell.

Lot No. 53, containing 400 acres, is located in the fourth Indian title mentioned in Bridgewater town- ship. It was sold to John Johnston, of Monmouth Co., N. J., on the 20th of May, 1690. He soon after purchased lot No. 61, a triangular piece of land con- taining 100 acres, lying south of it and north of lot No. 55 of Lord Neill Campbell. On the 12th of November, 1700, John Johnston conveyed the 400-aere tract to Matthias Ten Eyek, of Esopus, Ulster Co., N. Y. Later, on the 22d of June, 1702, in the reign of Queen Anne, he conveyed lot No. 61, the tract below (on which the village of North Braneb is located), to Mr. Ten Eyck. He lived at Esopus, Ulster Co., N. Y., where he died. He had four sons,-Coenradt, Andrew, Jacob, and Abraham. A part of the family settled on land east of Peter's Brook as early as 1706 or 1707. On the 20th of October, 1721, Matthias con- veyed this property of 500 acres to his son Jacob, who removed to the place and soon after married Jemima Van Nest, a daughter of Jerome Van Nest, who lived where the village of Somerville now is, not far from the depot. Jacob was born in Ulster Co., N. Y., in 1693, and died Oet. 26, 1753. His wife Jemima died in 1792, in her ninety-third year. They had four sons,- Jacob, Matthew, Conrad, and Peter. Jacob, the oldest son, married Margaret Hageman. They lived on the old homestead, in the stone house built by his father, where Tunis Ten Eyck now lives. This was repaired by him and raised one story higher in 1792. He died in 1794. Before his death he sold the 100 acres men- tioned as lot No. 61, where the village of North Branch now is, for a mill-site. It was owned about 1802 by John Baylis. Jacob Ten Eyck was captain of a company of soldiers from Bridgewater township in the Revolutionary war. Matthew, son of Jacob, grandson of Matthias, settled on the east side of North Branch, opposite the homestead. Peter settled on part of the original tract north of the homestead. It passed through many hands, and was recently in possession of Asher Schenck.

Conrad Ten Eyck owned land in 1770 on the east side of the North Branch, on what was early known as the Riddle tract. The will of Jacob Ten Eyck, son of Matthias, was made June 25, 1752, in which the land on the west side was devised to Jacob and Peter; the latter released to Jacob and went north, on a part of the original tract. Peter had one daughter, who married a Ten Eyck, who was a descendant of Andreas Ten Eyck, who lived near the junction of the North and South Branches. The property descended to her son by will of her father. The daughters of Jacob, who married Jemima Van Vest, were as fol- lows: Catharine, Jean, and Hannah. The latter married John Kinney, who removed to Sussex

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County; Jean married Thomas Van Horn, of War- ren County; Catharine married, first, John Ten Brook ; second, Jacob Van Nest, who was murdered in 1753; and for her third husband, John Vroom. Jacob, son of Jacob, who married Margaret Hageman, had two sons-Jacob and James-and four daughters,- Margaret, Jemima, Catharine, and Jane. The latter married Jeremiah Field ; the descendants now live in the west part of the township, on the Lamington River. Catharine married Peter Sutphin. Jacob was born April 29, 1759, and married Jane Lane. They had five sons-Jacob, William, Tunis, James, and Peter-and one daughter-Sarah. William served in the war of 1812, attaining the rank of colonel, and was afterwards clerk of the county of Monmouth. He married the daughter of Col. John Conover, of Monmouth County. John C. Ten Eyck, a son, was born March 12, 1814. He studied law with Judge Joseph F. Randolph, and became associated in the practice of law with the Hon. Garret D. Wall. He was elected to the United States Senate in 1858, and served the full term. He died at his residence, in Mount Holly, Burlington Co., on the 24th of August, 1879. The brothers of William, except Jacob and James, mostly went West .*

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 185

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