History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 188

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 188
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 188

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Jacob Ten Eyek? was born in the old stone house erected by his father at North Branch on Aug. 25, 1733. He succeeded his father in following the peaceful pursuits of agriculture on the old home place, and married, on March 16, 1758, Margaret, daughter of James Hagaman, of Raritan. He served as a captain in the Revolutionary war. The children of his marriage were Jacob2, Jane, Margaret, Cath- arine, Jemima, and James. In 1792 he erected the substantial stone house occupied by Miss Isabella Ten Eyck, and in 1794 he was laid to rest in the old bury- ing-ground of the family at North Branch. This, which is now used in connection with the Reformed Dutch church at North Branch, was originally laid out as a private burial-place by Jacob Ten Eyck1 and his wife, and the former was among the first who were interred beneath its sod. Jacob and James pur- chased the interest of their sisters in their father's land, und divided it in the year 1800, each receiving

* Sometimes spelled Ten Eycke.

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SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

one hundred and fifty-five acres. James Ten Eyck, the subject of this memoir, was born in the home residence on May 2, 1773. He was a man of plain habits, modest and unassuming, and passed his days within the inner circles of life as a farmer. Identi- fied with the Democratic party, he held aloof from public office, and neither sought nor obtained politi- cal station. He was a member of the Reformed Pro- testant Dutch Church of North Branch, and filled the offices of both deacon and elder. On Oct. 4, 1798, he was united in marriage to Esther, daughter of James Hankerson, of Monmouth County, and had the fol- lowing children, viz., Margaret (who married Gideon Cox), born Oct. 28, 1799; Isabella, born March 15, 1802; Jacob, born March 10, 1804; James, born May 2, 1806 ; Peter, born Aug. 28, 1808; Mary Ann (wife of Abraham Van Nest), born Feb. 14, 1811; John, horn Sept. 28, 1813; Tunis, born June 9, 1816; and J. C. Jane (wife of George H. Duyckinck), born Aug. 21, 1823. Of these children, Margaret and John are dead, Peter resides at Fair View, Ill., and J. C. Jane resides at Lamington, N. J. The remainder live at North Branch, on portions of the old estate. After a life of toil, self-denial, and care, James Ten Eyck. passed away on July 4, 1854, at the age of eighty-one years. He had reared his family carefully, and left to them, besides a good estate and a good name, the richer legacy of a bright example, embodying correct principles of life and habits of industry, frugality, and thrift.

SIMON A. NEVIUS.

David Nevius lived early near Van Derveer's Mills, in the township of Branchburg, where Mr. Van Nest Stilwell resides. His first wife was Mary Addis, by whom he had four children,-Simon, Adrian, Ellen, and Sarah. Mrs. Nevius died about 1834. His second wife was Jemima Ten Brook, who died leav- ing no children. David Nevius removed to North Branch a few months prior to his death, about 1857. He was for many years a member of the Reformed Church of Readington, and officiated both as deacon and elder.

Simon A. Nevius spent his minority in the usual routine of farm-work and attending the district school. Soon after his marriage to Miss Brachia Simonson, who was born in June, 1796, he hegan farming on a portion of his father's farm, where John Clawson now resides. He subsequently resided where Rev. Henry V. Voorhees now lives, and spent his latter days with his son, Abraham V. He never sought political pre- ferment, but remained a firm supporter of the Demo- cratic party during his life. He was a man of good judgment and correct habits, and possessed that ster- ling integrity that secured the esteem of all who knew him.

He was a promoter of all worthy enterprises, and for many years deacon and elder of the Reformed

Church. at North Branch. He died Feb. 28, 1863, having been born Dec. 13, 1796. His wife died Dec. 9, 1875. Their children were David, Jr., born April 3, 1818; John S., born July 24, 1820, resides in

Simon Nevius

Illinois; Mary Ellen, born Nov. 13, 1822, wife of Van Doren Voorhees; Simon P., born April 10, 1825, resides in Illinois; Elizabeth Ann, born Dec. 13, 1828, wife of Matthew Lane, of Bedminster; Dennis S., born April 12, 1830; Abraham V., born April 16, 1833 ; Garret, born Feb. 23, 1836, resides in Illinois; Anna Jane, born Sept. 11, 1839, died in childhood, Jan. 11, 1841.

David, Jr., married, Feb. 28, 1851, Rachel, daughter of John Ryan, and granddaughter of John Ryan, a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Of their three children, John died in infancy, Simon P., born 1854, and Sally H., born in 1863. Abraham V. married, Feb. 10, 1864, Anna, daughter of Henry B. Staats, of Bridgewater township. They have four children,- Simon A., Gertrude, died in infancy, Anna E., and Henry Staats. David, Jr., and Abraham V. are far- mers in the township of Bridgewater, near North Branch.

ISAAC DUMONT.

Abraham Dumont was one of the early settlers of Branchburg, and resided on the old Dumont farm along the turnpike. He married Jane P., daughter of Isaac Van Cleef, of Millstone. Their children were four daughters and two sons, Isaac and Peter. Abraham Dumont was a farmer during his life, was

ISAAC DUMONT.

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BRANCHBURG.

known as a man of striet integrity in all his business relations. Isaac Dumont, subject of this sketch, was born June 21, 1797. His wife was Mrs. Maria Ne- vius, formerly Maria Van Doren, daughter of Jacob Van Doren, of Millstone, whom he married Oct. 23, 1828. She was born July 10, 1806. Their chil- dren are Cornelius N., born Aug. 19, 1829; Jane, wife of William D. Smith, born Aug. 2, 1831 ; Mary Eliza- beth, widow of John Van Doren, of Middlebush ; Abraham, born Ang. 8, 1835; Joanna M., born March 17, 1838; Phebe Lodema, born July 21, 1840, mar- ried David Wortman, of Long Branch; l'eter, born Dec. 15, 1844; Jacob, died young.

Isaac Dumont spent his younger days on his father's farm and at the district school. At the time of his marriage he was carrying on his father's farm. In 1833 he removed to the place now occupied by his son Abraham, near the North Branch depot, where he resided until about 1862, when he removed to the place where his son Peter now resides, and where he died in 1863.

He was politically a life-long Democrat, and never aspired to office. He was liberal in matters of public enterprise, and a promoter of church and kindred in- terests. For many years he was a deacon and elder of the North Branch Reformed Church, officiating as elder at the time of his death.

Cornelius N. Dumont, a farmer in Branchburg, was a member of the Centennial Board of Free- holders in 1876, married Rachel, daughter of Peter Brokaw. They have four children,-Isaac N., Peter Q., Frank N., and Jacob, all living. Abraham mar- ried Mary, daughter of Samuel Potter, of Lamington, N. J. They have two daughters and one son,-Jennie, Anna, and William E. Peter married Naomi, daugh- ter of John Gastou; they have three children,-John G., Cora, and Oliver.

ABRAHAM VAN NEST.

Among the first to penetrate the wilds of Somerset County and to seek out a home in its virgin forests was Peter Van Nest, who came from Long Island in 1683 and located on the Raritan, near Somerville. From a conveyance of one hundred acres of land made by him to his children in 1724, we learn that the latter were Peter, Jeromus, John, George, Bernardus, Judith, Catharine, Yacominca, and Hannah.

Jeromus is believed to have been the ancestor of the subject of this sketch. His grandfather was Abraham, who located soon after the close of the Revolutionary war where his grandson, Jerome Van Nest, resides, in Bedminster township, which became the family seat of his line. Here he passed a long and useful life as a farmer, doing his part cheerfully and energetically to develop the resources of the country and to establish its institutions. He married Sarah Boovam, and his children were Jerome, John 1., Abraham, Rebecen, Anna, and Catharine.

John A. Van Nest was born on the home farm on Jan. 23, 1782. In December, 1803, he married Jane, daughter of George Van Nest. She was born on Dec. 11, 1782. lle passed his life engaged in agri-

cultural pursuits and abstained from all publicity, living within the inner circles of society. He was known as a man of integrity in all the relations of life, and enjoyed the respect and esteem of all who knew him. He died on Jan. 19, 1858, aged seventy-six years. Ilis children were Catharine, wife of George Lane, of Bridgewater, born Sept. 11, 1804; Abraham, born Det. 5, 1806; George, born April 5, 1810; and Sarah Ann, wife of Abraham Powelson, of Bridgewater, born April 14, 1813. George was a farmer, and succeeded his father on the home place. He died of cholera on Nov. 12, 1866. His widow, née Margaret Davenport, and his sons, John, Abra- ham, and Henry, occupy his late residence, near North Branch.

The subject of this sketch was born where Mrs. Margaret Van Nest resides, in Bridgewater township, at the date given above. When eighteen years of age he commenced learning the trade of a shoemaker with Philip Vroom, of Bedminster, and followed that pursuit for eleven years. In 1810 he established him- self in the mercantile business at North Branch, where he has since remained. He is purely a self- made man, and from a humble position in life has by industry and correct business habits and personal deportment achieved success in the world, and, be- sides accumulating a large and valuable estate, he

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SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

enjoys the confidence and respect of a wide range of acquaintances and friends. He is a Republican in politics, though he has never been a seeker after place. He has been postmaster at North Branch for a decade of years, having been appointed by President Grant early in his first administration. He is a liberal con- tributor to all worthy purposes, and has been actively and officially connected with the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of North Branch for a long term of years, filling the position of elder at the present writ- ing (1880).

On Oct. 22, 1841, Mr. Van Nest married Mary Ann, daughter of James Ten Eyck, of North Branch. Two children were born to the union,-viz., Esther J., wife of Dr. James D. Van Derveer, of Liberty Corner, and Catharine Isabel, who died in infancy.

G. VOORHEES QUICK.

G. Voorhees Quick is a grandson of Abraham Quick, who was born in Hillsborough township, mar- ried Catharine Beekman, born in Harlingen, and about 1776 settled the homestead, now occupied by our sub-

G. Torches Quick

ject, and erected the house now standing on the place and occupied as a tenant-house. He was a man of sound judgment, an active member of the Reformed Church of Neshanic, where he filled the offices of both deacon and elder. He died about the year 1800. His children were Joakim, Christopher, Abraham, Catha- rine, Martha, Glis, Maria, Magdalene, and Anna. His maternal grandfather was Uriah Van Deripe,

who married Ann Voorhees, by whom he had two children, Jerianna and John.

Joakim Quick, his father, born in 1789, died on the homestead in his sixty-sixth year, having passed his days as a farmer on the old place. He enjoyed the same connections with the Neshanic Church as his father. His wife was Jerriana, daughter of Jere- miah Van Deripe, by whom he had four children,- viz., John, Catharine, Abraham J., and G. V. Quick. Catharine became the wife of Calvin Pepper, of New York City, John resides at Clover Hill, and Abraham J. is a minister at Rochester, N. H. Joakim Quick died in 1855.

G. Voorhees Quick was born on the home farm on March 5, 1835, where he has since resided, engaged in agricultural pursuits. His farm comprises one hun- dred and thirty-four acres. He erected his tasteful residence in 1875. He is a Republican in politics, but no office-seeker, though he has served on the town committee two years. He is a member of the Reformed Church at South Branch, where he fills the office of deacon. He is recognized as one of the successful, representative farmers of his section of country, and respected for his upright and consistent course of life. On Nov. 28, 1860, he was united in marriage to Ju- liana, daughter of John and Doratha (Welch) Craig, of Tewksbury township, Hunterdon Co. Her great- grandfather was a physician, served in the Revolu- tionary war, and was a close friend of Gen. Washing- ton. The children are Arthur Craig, born Oct. 22, 1864, and Louis Woodward, born June 20, 1871.

PETER G. SCHOMP.

Peter G. Schomp is a grandson of Peter Schomp, one of the first settlers of the township of Readington, Hunterdon Co. He was a farmer by occupation, and a wealthy landowner, the tract of land that he owned comprising about a thousand acres. His wife was Margaret Hoffman, of Flemington, N. J. Of the ten children born to the marriage, George P., John P., Peter P., David P., and Jacob P. were the sons. Peter Schomp was a devout member of the Reformed Church of Readington, and died in 1809.

George P. Schomp was the oldest son of Peter Schomp, and was born in Readington township. Upon attaining manhood he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and in that avocation passed his life. He was an adherent of the Republican party, and, though no aspirant for public position, filled various minor offices in his township. He was an active and worthy member of the Readington Reformed Church. He was twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth, daughter of George Anderson, of Readington, who bore him the following children,-viz., Ann, who he- came the wife of Cornelius M. Wyckoff, Peter G., George A., Jacob G., John G., David G., and Corne- lius W. Mrs. Schomp died Nov. 2, 1818, and a few

Jeber GSchomp

Janis Dellyers

TUNIS D. MYERS was a grandson of Burtis Myers, an early resident of Hunterdon County. His father, Peter Myers, was a farmer by occupation, and resided in Kingwood township in that county. Peter Myers married Elizabeth Dilly, and had one child by the union, Tunis D. Myers, the subject of this sketch.

The latter was born on May 2, 1806, and passed the earlier years of his life on his father's farm. His only educational advantages were an attendance at " seven quarters of school under nine school-teachers." With this modest preparation for life's duties, his father being poor, he left home at the age of eighteen years to do for himself. He repaired to the old De- mun farm in Branchburg, at present occupied by John Vosseller, and began life as a farm laborer. Later on he worked the place on shares for a number of years, and in 1854 he purchased one hundred and three acres of land, where his son, John B. D. Myers, now resides. Here he remained twelve years, when, owing to failing health, he removed to South Branch, N. J., where he lived a retired life until his death, May 30, 1880, at the age of seventy-four.

While Mr. Myers confined his attention closely to his duties as a farmer, he was nevertheless active in public affairs, and took great interest in all matters tending towards the advancement of the material interests of his locality. He was a member of the Democratic party and a strong supporter of the war,

but was never an aspirant for political place. He was one of the founders of the township of Branchburg, and a devout member of the Reformed Church of Readington, with which he was officially connected both as deacon and as elder. He contributed with a liberal and generous hand to all worthy enterprises, and was actively identified with the various public movements of his day. At his death he enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all who knew him.

His wife, who survives him, was Ann, danghter of John Naylor, whom he married on Dec. 1, 1834, and their children have been John B. D. and Elizabeth Myers. The latter is the wife of John K. Reger, of South Branch, and has a son, William M. Reger, who was born Nov. 14, 1871.

John B. D. Myers was born July 3, 1839, and was brought up on his father's farm. His education was obtained at the district school and at the Trenton (N. J.) Academy. He began the life of a farmer at the age of twenty-two years on his present farm, and has since resided there. He occupies an influential position in the township ; is a Republican in politics, and has filled the offices of assessor, justice of the peace, and collector, being an incumbent of the last two positions in 1880. On March 13, 1866, he was united in marriage to Mary L., daughter of Jacob Vosseller, and has one child, Roger, born Aug. 29, 1871.

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HILLSBOROUGH.

years later Mr. Schomp married Mrs. Mary Vosseller. By this marriage were born Tunis C. and Henry P. Schomp. Mr. Schomp died on March 21, 1847, in the sixty-ninth year of his age, and was buried on his own farm.

Peter G. Schomp, to whom this sketch is dedicated, was born on his father's farm in Readington on Aug. 28, 1801. His early advantages were limited, and his daily life was that common among the farmers' sons of his day. About the age of twenty-one years he received a small allowance from his father and com- menced farming in Readington on his own account. In 1838 he purchased of Garret Probasco one hun- dred and forty acres of land in Branchburg township, Somerset Co., which his son George now occupies, and here he took up his residence. To this tract Mr. Schomp subsequently made additions, so that at pres- ent (1880) he owns a fine farm of 200 aeres, under a good state of cultivation. He erected his present substantial and handsome residence in 1860.

In the year 1821, Mr. Sehomp was united in mar- riage to Catharine, daughter of Aaron Kline, of Read- ington. His children were George; Catharine Ann,

who married John Sutphin, of Branchburg, and who died in January, 1880; Elizabeth, who married Wil- liam Wyckoff, of Branchburg, and who died May 3, 1863; Caroline, wife of Abraham H. Lane, of Branch- burg; and John, who died July 31, 1846, aged five years.

Mr. Schomp has now attained the advanced age of seventy-nine years, and is still a well-preserved and energetic old gentleman. His has been a singularly active and laborious life, and the success which has crowned it has been dne to his energy of character and to close and faithful performance of duty. By industry and economy he has gathered together a fine estate, and he enjoys the highest respect and esteem of all who know him. While he has always been a supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, he has avoided political strife and confined his labors strictly to his chosen avocation. He has always been a liberal supporter of the benevolent and philan- thropic enterprises of the day, and has been a mem- ber of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Readington for about forty years, a portion of this time filling the offices of deacon and elder.

HILLSBOROUGH.

GEOGRAPHICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.

This is the largest township in the county of Som- erset. Its present boundaries are as follows: North by the Raritan River, which separates it from the town of Bridgewater ; northwest by the South Branch of the Raritan, which separates it from the town of Branchburg; southwest by the county line, which separates it from the towns of Raritan and East Am- well, in Hunterdon County; south by the town of Montgomery; east by the Millstone River, which separates it from the town of Franklin. The town- ship contains 389 farms, and its superficial area is 37,891 aeres, or 59.21 square miles. Its population, as given in the census of 1880, is 3249.

NATURAL FEATURES.

The surface of the eastern part is level or gently undulating; the soil is red sandstone. The surface of the western part is hilly ; the soil consists of clay and loum. Neshanic Mountain, composed of trap rock, enters the southwest corner and extends into the township about 5 miles ; it is about 500 feet high. With the exception of the top of this mountain, the

whole township is well cultivated. But very little timber-land is now to be seen.

The streams wholly within the township are com- paratively small. The Neshanie River crosses the northwest corner, and after a northeasterly course of about 3 miles flows into the South Branch of the Rar- itan. Royce Brook has several sources at the foot of Neshanie Mountain, near Flaggtown, and after flow- ing southeasterly about 3 miles, and northeasterly about 4 miles, with a sudden turn to the south for a quarter of a mile, it flows into the Millstone at Weston. No Pike Brook courses southeasterly about 3 miles on the southern border, and, turning south- ward, flows through Montgomery township into Beeden's Brook. Cattail Run, or Rock Brook, passes through a gorge in Neshanie Mountain, near the southwest corner of the township, at Rock Mills, and becomes the north branch of Beeden's Brook. Very many small streams, a mile or two long, issuing from springs, flow into the larger brooks or the rivers on the borders. The Millstone River forms a crooked boundary on the east, extending about $ miles by the course of the river. This stream, owing to the level character of the country and the mill-dams upon it, is more than 100 feet wide and 5 or 6 feet deep. It flows into the Raritan.

· Dy Rev. E. T. Corwin, D.D.

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SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWNSIIIP.

There seems to be no record preserved of the for- mation of Hillsborough township. In 1693 the Legis- lative Assembly divided the counties into townships, extending Piscataway, on the south side of the Rari- tan, from the Somerset line of 1683 (see Map) to the South River and the western bounds of the province. This included nearly all of Franklin, the southeast- ern part of Hillsborough, the southeastern half of Montgomery, and much more territory besides. In subsequent acts, when the towns are specified for as- sessment and other causes, we always find the county of Somerset named with the towns of the province .* Bridgewater received a royal patent or charter in 1749. It is highly probable that the southern part of the county (all south of the Raritan) received a char- ter at the same time.

In 1760 an act was passed for running the lines between the several counties and respective town- ships .; At this time Hillsborough, including Mont- gomery, was styled the " Western Precinct"; it was more commonly known, however, as Hillsborough. In 1775 this title was in common use, and gave name to the church of Millstone, which was then incorpo- rated as "Hillsborough."

In 1798, under the general law for the incorporation of each of the several townships of the State, it was directed that the township of Hillsborough should be styled and known by the name of "The Inhabitants of the Township of Hillsborough, in the County of Somerset."

LAND TITLES AND SETTLEMENT.

Hillsborough township was long disputed ground between the proprietors of East and West Jersey. Keith's partition line, which was run in 1687, consti- tutes the present western boundary of the town and of the county. But Lawrence's line, which was run in 1743, threw by far the larger portion of the township into West Jersey. According to Map No. II. in the Elizabethtown bill of chancery (1747), Lawrence's line runs about a mile west of the present Millstone church. The same is true according to the map of the commissioners of 1769, appointed by the Legisla- tive Assembly of the province. This latter map is reissued in the reprint of Smith's "History of New Jersey," 1877. But if we take the tree by the John M. Mann house, just west of Somerville, as a trne point on the line, and run a straight course on our present maps to Little Egg Harbor, the line falls a quarter of a mile east of Millstone, in Franklin town- ship.

The present line between the townships of Still- water and Hampton, in Sussex County, is a remnant of Lawrence's line. But this, if extended on our latest maps, crosses the Millstone at Weston, runs nearly two miles cast of Millstone, and falls into the sea far

to the east of Little Egg Harbor. It is also stated in the preamble to the laws subsequently passed con- cerning this line that private parties had often mu- tually agreed as to where the line should run between their respective plantations. Some of the land titles in the village of Millstone, and north of it along the river, are recorded at Burlington, while others farther west are recorded at Amboy. The deed of the origi- nal parsonage farm, in 1774 (now owned by Joseph V. S. Van Doren), nearly a mile north of the village, and on the west side of the Millstone, is described as being in Middlesex County ! Millstone village often passed under the name of Hillsborough, and is some- times called Middleburg in early deeds. Many titles along the Millstone are on record at Trenton, in the office of the Secretary of State, while others were re- corded in Middlesex County, long after Somerset was formed. It is not likely that the burning of two suc- cessive court-houses (at Six-Mile Run in 1737, and at Millstone in 1779) caused the loss of many valuable papers, as several early statutes required titles to be recorded at the capital of the province. Perhaps only the books of the board of freeholders and justices, together with the charter of Hillsborough and Frank- lin, with some loose papers on current business, were lost.

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 188

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