History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 190

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 190
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 190

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 Harrison, who owned extensive plots in Frank- lin, at an early date became also the owner of a tract of land in the southeastern part of Hillsborough, pre- viously belonging to Thomas Barker. In 1714, Harri- son sold 215 acres to Cornelius Cornell, of Kings Co., L. I., for £641. This plot was bounded south by lands of Rip Van Dam, the noted lawyer of New York, west by those of Peter Sonmans, north by lands of Jacques Durys. In 1725, Cornelius Cornell sold this plot to William Cornell, having the same neigh- bors, except in the north, where Daniel Polhemus owned land. This is now in part the farm of Peter I. Nevius.

Isaac Van Nuys, son of Jan, the ancestor of a now numerous family, came to Hillsborough, southwest of Somerville, where Abraham Voorhees now lives. His brother Jacobus lived where Joseph Davis now resides.

Derrick Van Veghten resided on the banks of the Raritan, near what is now called the "old bridge." The American army was quartered on his land in the winter of 1778-79. He died Nov. 29, 1781, aged ciglity-four.

Henry Veghte,* who married the daughter of John Van Middlesworth, purchased a large tract of land in Roycefield, afterwards owned and occupied by Capt. John Wyckoff. He and his wife died young, leaving three children ; one son, Rynier, died in Feb- ruary, 1833, in his eightieth year, leaving two sons, -Henry (who was the father of R. H. Veghte, now living on the homestead farm, and also of Benjamin T., John, and Henry Veghte) and Rynier, who left one son, John V., who resides now on the farm where his father died in 1871, aged eighty-three.

The following family histories are taken mostly

from Hon. Ralph Voorhees' papers, and give us a good idea of the original settlers.

THE VAN CLEEF FAMILY.

Jan Van Cleef was born in 1628. He married Engeltje Louwerens, daughter of Louwereus Preterso, prior to 1661, and settled at New Utrecht, L. I., as early as 1659. His children, and years of their baptism, were: 1. Catharine, 1681 ; 2. Benjamin, 1683; 3. Josepb, 1683; 4. Angelica ; 5. Ceytie, 1688; 6. Isbrant ; 7. Nelko; 8. Cornelius, whu married Fem- metje Van de Water. Ille children were John, of Gravesend, the ancestor of the Gravesend and New Utrecht Van Cleef families, and Laurens, who settled in Now Jersey.

The children of Benjamin (2) are as follows: 9. Lysbeth, who amtried William Cowonhoven ; 10. Joannes, who married (1) Maria Kruffert and (2) Sarah Cowenhoven ; 11. Derick, who died young ; 12. Marike, married Jane Berkan ; 13. Derick, married Elizabeth Leok ; 14. Benjamin, mar- ried Helen Cowonhoven in 1741; 15. Nelke, who married Hendrick Vanderbilt ; 16. Laureus, who died prior to 1780 (married Jannetje Laan); 17. Ilelean, who married John Brown; 18. Joseph, who married Sytie Van Wickelon ; 19. Elsie, who married William Bayrt (Bayard ?); 20. Antje, who married Jan Wilson.

The childron uf Laurens (16) are as follows : 21. Jacob, 1731 ; 22. Fein- metje, 1733; 23. Laurens, 1737; 24. Jannetje, 1739; 25. Isaac, born 1712, and married Dorens l'umyen, 1769 (she was born April 13, 1749, and died March 28, 1812; hu died June 30, 1804); 26. Jacob.

The children of Ixanc (25), with dates of birth and death, are as ful- lowe: 27. Jane, Feb. 1, 1770, June 5, 1851; 28. Mary, Oct. 4, 1771, Feb. 11, 1861 ; 29. Laurence, Feb. 2, 1773, Jan. 8, 1852; 30. l'eter, Nov. 30, 1774, June 27, 18-12 ; 31. Cornelius, Jan. 21, 1777, July 10, 1855 ; 32. Jacob, May 27, 1779, Nov. 19, 1847; 33. Isuac, Feb. 16, 1781, Feb. 2, 1863; 34. Abraham, July 3, 1785, March 7, 1870; 35. John, Nov. 22, 1786, Doc. 3, 1858 (married Jane Ann Duryen, of Millstone); 36. Margaret, March 30, 1789, May 14, 1790; 37. Van Mater, May 21, 1792, still living, 1880.

The children of John (35) are as follows: 38. Rev. Paul Duryea Von Cleef, D.D., of Jersey City (born July 31, 1821, and married (1) Catalion Onderdonk and (2) Amelia Leutet); 39. John V. N., of New Brunswick ; 40. Isaac; 41. Whitney ; 42. Jane D. ; 43. Elizabeth; 44. Theodore F.

The Van Cleefe are now very numerone in Somerset County. Those in the vicinity of Millstone are mostly descended from Isaac (25).

John Van Cleef, Sr., of Six-Mile Run, married Grietje, widow of John Vleet, Jr., and had children who were baptized and married as follows : Rebecca, 1754, George Wyckoff, of Potterstown ; Marin, 1756, Capt. Sinon Adlılis, Six-Mile Run; Sarah, 1759, Abraham Do Hart, Six-Milo Run; John, 1762, Suruh Van Dyke, of Harlingen ; Johanna, 1765. John Wyckoff (father of John V. C.) lived and died at Millstone, where his son lives.

During the Revolution some British soldiers came to the house of John Van Cleef, Sr,, and, in order to tantalize and provoke him, ordered him to march along with them oe their prisoner. Being a cripple, he was compelled to walk with two canes. Having gone with them to the main road, one of the soldiers exclaimed, " Let the d-d rebel gol He is not worth taking along." He then hobbled back the way in which he come.Į

BEEKMAN FAMILY.

Wilhelmus or William Beckman? was born ot Hassett, province of Overyssel, Holland, in 1623, was sent to this country in 1647 by the Dutch Wesl India Company as one of their agents, and was among the earliest magistratee of New Amsterdam. In July, 1658, he was appointed vice- director at Altonn, on the Delaware, being Invested with all the power of the company in that region. In New York for many years he served as schepen (aldermina) and burgomaster (mayor), also ns schout (sheriff ). His lands Jay principally in the vicinity of what are now Beekman and William Streots, New York, which were named after him. He died in 1707, aged eighty-five. By his wife, Catharino de Bongh, he had four Bons-Henry, Gerardus, Williani, and John-and at least one daughter, Maria, who married Nicholus, son of l'eter Stuyvesant. Gerardus was a physician, and settled at Flatbush, L. I. Ho possessed large tracts on the Raritan and Millstone Rivers.

Christopher, son of Dr. (otherwise " Col.") Gerardus Beekman, settled in Somerset County, and was the first of the name hero. His children, named in his will, wore Gorarilus, Adrian, Christopher, Abraham, Cor nelia, Magdalena, Maria, and Catharine.

t Sce Corwin's " Manual."

[ Sce Van Yleet family.

¿ The original name of Beekman was Boeckman In German. To encapo death they fled from Germany into llolland, where they found a refuge from persecution.

* A son of Rynier, who was son of Hendrick, and grandson of the emi- grant who came in 1660 and settled on Long Island.

778

SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

Henry, son of Col. Gerardne, appears never to have been married, for in his will (1760) he bequeathed and devised to the children of his brother Martin deceased, all his real and personal property, to be equally divided between them. Their names were Elizabeth, Henry, Samuel, Anna, and John. Under this will these children came into possession of Col. Gerar- dus Beekman's land, on the south side of the Raritan, 2 or 3 miles above Somerville. The brother Martin, named in this will, married n dnugh- ter of Resolvent Waldron, June 21, 1724. (She may hava been a grand- daughter.)

Samuel, Martin's second son, had children,-viz., Samuel, born Sept. 21, 1767, married Helenn Ten Broek, daughter of Cornelins Ten Broek, of Ilarlingen, N. J .; Elizabeth, born July 8, 1768, married William Baker, died Nov. 11, 1791; Cornelia, born Aug. 13, 1770, married Benja- min, son of Henry Beekman, died Jan. 24, 1858 ; Martin, born May 14, 1773, died in 1844; Ann, born Feb. 24, 1780, died Feb. 26, 1846.

Samuel, oldest son of Samuel, and generally known as "Capt." Samuel Beekman, owned at one time the old Beekman homestead, on the south bank of the Raritan, which he sold to his sister Cornelia, wife of Benja- min, after his marriage to Helena Ten Broek. He lived the rest of his life on the old Ten Broek homestead, nenr Harlingen, N. J. He dicd in 1851 .*

The children of Capt. Samuel Beekman were Cornelius Ten Broek, born October, 1789, and resided the latter part of his life near Harlingen; Peter T., born April 21, 179G, married Eliza Carpenter;+ Jacob T., born April 10, 1801, n preacher of the Dutch Reformed Church; Abraham T., horn July 15, 1803, married Eliza Van Derveer; and daughters, Eliza- beth, 1788; Margaret, 1792; Cornelia, 1794 (married Nicholas Veghten, both living on a farm near Griggstown); Anna, 1798 (married Abrnbam J. Dumont); Catharine, Nov. 25, 1805.

Christopher, the son of Gerardus, had Gerardus, Aaron, Christopher, Mary, and Magdalen, Gerardus was n farmer, and lived and died near Griggstown.

The children of the last Gerardus wore John, who died nbout nineteen years of age; Christopher, who lived on the rear of the old homestead near Harlingen and died abont 1820, aged ninety-six ; Gerardus, who died about 1821, nged eighty-six ; Abraham, born July 27, 1739, lived on the old farm at Griggstown, married Ann, daughter of Garret Voorhees, Sr., of Middlebush, May 3, 1776, and died May 25, 1817; Mary, who married Thomas Skillman ; Ann, who married Garret Voorhees; Catharine, Mag- dalene, and Cornelia.

Abraham, who married Ann Voorhees, had eight children,-Gerardus, born July 12, 1778, died Feb. 28, 1815; Eleanor, Dec. 17, 1779, married Jacob Qnick, of Ten-Mile Run, and died Nov. 12, 1865; John, Feb. 3, 1782, married, first, Johanna Nevioe, second, Alletta Rappelye, and was killed by the fall of a tree at Griggstown, Sept. 21, 1829; Abraham, Jon. 13, 1784, married Matilda Nevius, lived at Millstone, and died Ang. 20, 1862; Ralpl: V., Dec. 17, 1785, married Elizabeth Ten Broek, was a mer- chant, and died in Brooklyn, June 30, 1873; Jacob, Dec. 17, 1787, married Sarah Garretson, and died in Michigan, April 7, 1837; Isanc, Sept. 14, 1790, lived singlo, and died in North Carolina, Sept. 23, 1823 ; Catharine Ann, Ang. 2, 1797, died, single, Sept. 24, 1828.

THE STAATS FAMILY.

Ahram nnd Jonchim Stants came from Holland in 1642. The sons of the formor were Abram, Samuel, Joachim, and Jacob. There is a refer- ence in the " Documentary History of New York" to the residence of an Abram Staats nt Gowanus, L. I. Peter, of Long Island, was no doubt connected with these enrlier ones mentioned ; his birth would be bont 1670. Ilis son John had several children,-viz., I. Peter, born July 6, 1738, at the " Brookie." He settled, lived, and died ou a farm now occu- pied by Ditmare Coe, conth of Millstone. He married Susannah Van Middlesworth. 2. John, who lived in Roycefield. Ho bonght a farm of Isaac do Riemer in 1711. 3. Abram, who lived nt Bound Brook, and was a surveyor. Ile married Margaret Du Bois, and had five daughters and one son, Isaac. 4. Rynenr, who lived ut Griggstown. Ilo had two aons, John and, Abram, and Hon. Rynear A. is a son of Abram.

The children of Petor (1) were Phebo, John, Susanna, and Maria, all of whom died numarried ; Nellie, who married Honry Quick ; Magdalen, who married John Van Derveer; Ileudrick, who married Elizabeth Schenck ; Peter, who married Catharine Voorhees and moved to Ilinois abont 1840; Abram, who married June Tyson, whose descendants nro

now in Orange County, N. Y. Bev. John A. Staate, of Goshen, is a son. The descendants of Hendrick are mostly in this township.

John Staats (2) lived at Roycefield, about 2 miles east of Flaggtown, on the Amwell road. Ilis children were Peter, born about 1770, died in 1846, who was the father of Cornelius P., John P., and Peter P. Staats, the latter two of whom are yet living ; John, who was born in 1740, and died about 1805, bought the form on Royce's Brook (now owned by his grandson, Peter B. Staats) in 1790 of his brother Rynear, for £1000, com- prising 194 acres; Abram, who lived on the new Amwell road, on n farm op- posite Ieaac Van Cleef's; James, who moved to North Branch (his children were Gertrude, who married Peter Wortman; John, who died young; Henry, now living nt North Branch ; and Peter, who now lives at Mid- dlebush nnd is the father of Rev. Bergen Brokaw Staats, of Weet Hur- ley, N. Y.); Rynear, who first owned the Brook farm, and sold it to his brother John in 1791 (he was the father of the late Hon. John R. Staate, recently in the Legislature, and who resided on the old homestead on the Amwell road) ; Phebe; Marin, married a Nevius and settled at Six- Mile Run.

THE FRELINGIIUYSEN FAMILY

wes first represented in the township by Gen. Frederick, who removed to Millstone from Franklin, soon after 1787, with his family .¿ It was in Hillsborough his family was renred. His first wife, Gertrude Schenck, died in March, 1794, at Millstone, lenving five children,-John, Maria, Theodore, Frederick, and Catharine. He subsequently married Ann Yard, and had two children,-Elizabeth, the wife of the late Jamee B. Elmendorf, M.D., of Millstone, and Sarah, who died young. Gen. Fred- erick Frelioghuysen died on his fifty-first birthday, April 13, 1804, and wne buried in the family burial-ground at Weston.

THE QUICK FAMILY.

About 300 yards above the farm recently owned by Isaac Gulick, de- ceased, on the Somerset side of the road, and the one now owned and resided on by John M. Garretson, in 1776 was the house of Tunie Quick. The preciee time when he settled along the Old Path is not known. It minst bave been carly, for in 1703 he was one of n emoll number who signed n paper the olsject of which was to raise money to pay the expensee of a minister to come to them from Holland and take charge of a congre- gation purporting to be that of Three-Mile Run, which appears to have been organized at that time.

Tunis had a son named Abraham, who was a colonel in tha Revo- lutionary war. He was born in 1732, lived and died on the homestead, was twice married, and had twelve children. By his first wife, Matilda Wyckoff, he had four children,-Jemima, baptized Nov. 20, 1757; Tunie, April 11, 1762; Rynenr, Feb. 17, 1765; Hendricke, Nov. 18, 1770. By bis second wife Charity,-Jacob, baptized June 20, 1772 (a coach-munker, and married Nelly Beekman, of Griggstown); Abraham, April 10, 1774 (mar- ried a daughter of John Van Derveer, and lived near North Branch) ; } Margretie, June 30, 1776 (married Henry Black well) ; Ann, Juno 7, 1778; Johannes or John, March 5, 1780 (married a Stnats, the widow of Elbert Nevius) ; Peter, Aug. 4, 1782; Elshn, Jan. 1G, 1785, died in childhood; Elsha (2d), Jan. 1, 1788. The colonel died in 1805, aged seventy-three years, four months, and twenty-four days, as inscribed on his tombstone, standing in a burying-ground about one mile south of the present Six- Mile Run church,

Tunie, the colonol'e eldest son, died May 4, 1836; married Alche or Aletta, daughter of Jneques Voorhees, born June 20, 1766, died Feb. 10, 1845. Their children were Lydia, who married Jacub Kline; Nilly Voorhees, married Peter Spader. und died Sept. 9, 1855.T

The original Quick homeetend hne had the following owners: Tunis Quick, Col. Abraham, Jacob Quick, Martin Garretson, and hie son, Jolin M., now owning and residing thereon, great-grent-grandson of the origi- nnl sottlor .**

THE VAN NEST FAMILY.

Peter Van Neste came from Amsterdam to Long Island In 1647. Ho wne the common ancestor of the Van Nest or Van Neste family.it In IG81 n cortain Peter Van Nest came to Somcreet Co., N. J. Ilo was the

* Ilis sister Cornella, the only survivor of this large and respectablo family, lives on the south bank of the Raritan, where she was born.

t He owned nud conducted for como timo the mills on the South Branch afterwards called Corle's Mills.

# Sce Land Titles.

¿ Sco lengthy sketch in " Bench and Bar of Somerset County."

" Ho was n justice, and member of the Reformed Church of North Branch. His daughter Jano became the wife of David Miller, of Som- ervillo.

T Tunis livod and died in Readington township, Hunterdon Co. He was a miller, and a major in the militin.

** Ralph Voorhees, in Fredonian.

It For un necount of n prominent man by tho unme of Van Nost in Holland, seo Mossler's " History of Somerset County," page 16.

779

IHILLSBOROUGH.

father of Rev. Rynler Van Neste, who was born In 1738." Peter Van Neste was appointed to roise the tax In Sumorset in 1634. Out of a tax of £150 for the province, Somersot's proportion was only £1 16s 6d.t In 1712, Peter Van Nest was one of the purchasers of Royston, in Hillsborough township, of Philip Hedman, on which place some of his sons settled; this brought the famlly to what is now called Weston. In 1721, Jones Van Neste was one of the Consistory of the Raritan Church, and Jeronemus Van Nesto was n contemporary. Weston was previously kaown by the name of Van Nesto .; Hon. Abram Van Neste, n member of council for Somerset, died on Ang. 15, 1779. At a meeting of the As- sembly of the Stato, In Princeton College, on Sept. 13, 1776, he was appointed a judge. This Abram was probably tho futher of George Von Neste, whoso fumily rocord is given below.

George Van Neste was born Oct. 27, 1747, and died at Weston, Oct. 4, 1806. ITo was married, May 7, 1772, to Lemmetje Stuits, who was born Dec. 24, 1749, and died Feb. 27, 1816. No was an Industrious, stable, and religious citizen. llis children were as follows: 1. Abraham G. Van Nesto, M.D. Ile was born Aug. 31, 1773, and died Ang. 27, 1821. On Sept. 15, 1799, he married Elizabeth Van Valkenburgh. She married (2) William Bell, M.D., Feb. 24, 1844, and both died at Charleston, Mout- gomery Co., N. Y. In the same place Dr. Abraham G. Van Neste had died; he had beon a regular practicing physician there during most of his professional career. Ho was highly esteemed, both socially and pro- fessivually. 2. l'hobo G., born July 24, 1775, and died March 18, 1849, at South Branch, N. J. 3. Sarah G., born Nov. 8, 1780, nud diod May 14, 1860, at South Branch, N. J. She became the second wife of John J. Schenck, of that place. 4. John G., born Oct. 21, 1784, and died Nov. 29, 1844. He married Sarah, daughter of Peter Wortman, on April 14, 1814. She was born Doc. 21, 1792, and died Nov. 30, 1844.

The children of John G. Vun Neste (4) are as follows: 5. Lemmetje Staats, born Feb, 15, 1815; married Henry Hagaman, Nov. 3, 1737. 6. Potor Wortman, born Ang. 3, 1816, died Nov. 21, 1872; married Gertrude S. Van P'ult, Jan. 24, 1812. 7. Ann Field, born May 9, 1819; married Abram N. Voghto, Oct. 4, 1843. 8. Rev. George J., born Sept. 7, 1822; married Margaret Anna Backelew, Sept. 23, 1815.2 9. Abrahnm G., born April 15, 1821 ; diod Dec. 7, 1862, In the hospital at Alexandria, Vn. Ile was a volunteer In the Union army, and is buried in the Frelinghuysen graveyard, ot Weston. llo married Marin S. French, Oct. 4, 1848. Rev. John A. Vun Neste, now of Ridgewood, N. J., Is their son. 10. John Vredenburg, born Jaly 7, 1827; married Tubstha Stryker, Feb. 26, 1846 ; now living on the homestead nt Westou.

The original Van Neato homestend, at Weston, stood a little south of the presentone, and opposite the roud which erossea the Shillstone. John G. Vun Nesto (4) ronted the Bayard Mills, near by, and dealt largely in meal, which he transported to New Brunswick and Ambwy In a Inrgo canoo made by him from a treo of great dimonsions on the farm of Isaac Couvert, Lodi, Seneca Co., N. Y. This was floated down the Mohawk and Hudson, and up the Raritan to Weston. It still remains on the home- stead, boing now a feeding-trough for cattle. Twice, In the carly part of tho contury, ho and his wife journeyed In an English-body wagon, with- out springs, from Weston to the "Inke country," as Seneca Co , N. Y., was then called, to visit a cousin, George Van Neste, who resided nt Ownsco Outlet. It was in this family that those filghtful morders were perpo- trated by a negro from Auburn in 1846. John G. Van Neste introduced tho whent of Central Now York to this section by bringing a small gonn- tity with him In one of his visits and sowing it with great care until i snilleient quantity wua secured He and his wife died within one day of each other, and their funerals wore held together. At the time of hla denth he was the owner of about 450 neres at Weston, of which about 175 acres have passed out of the famlly.

THE WILSON FAMILY.

1. Hendrick Wilson, of Long Island, bought n farge tract north of the new Amwoll rond in the second quarter of the last century.[ Perhaps he never lived In Somerset County. Ho was born in 1680, and died in 1750. Ilis children were : 2. Myndert, born 1716, dled 1800; 3. John ; 4. Hendrick K., born 1723, and died June 27, 1801 ; 5. l'eter ; 6. Hannoh.

The children of Mymdlert (2) were : 7. Hendrick ; 8. WilHam ; 9. Myn- dert, born 1758, died 1840; 10. Jacob.

Hendrick (7) luft children : 11. John; 12. Jacob ; 13. Henry. Ho mar- ried Mary Ann Schenck, daughter of Sheriff Martin Schenck, nud luft several children, among whom was the late Ferdinand S. Wilson, a lawyer of Millstone, born In 1×11.

William (3) left children : 14. Myndert; 13. Willlam ; 16. George.

* Soo Corwin's " Manual." + " Millstone Centennial," p. 24.

# Seo map of 1767. ¿ Sve Corwin's " Manual." I See Land Titles.

Myndert (9) Jeft several children : 17. Henry ; 18. Willlam, born about 1790, futher of the Rev. Jamica B., l'eter (2d), and Frederick Wilson; 19. Douw; 20. Jane, boru 1788; 21. Myndert.

TAVERNS.

Probably the first tavern in the township was at Millstone at least as early as 1738. Inns were also established at an early period at Neshanie, Flaggtown, and at what is ealled Wood's Tavern, a couple of miles east of Flaggtown, on the road leading to Mill- stone. There is at present only one tavern in the township licensed to sell intoxicating liquors ; this is at Millstone. A temperance hotel is kept at Neshanic.

Wood's tavern and the one at Flaggtown have been closed for the last eight or ten years, both having been turned into dwellings.

PHYSICIANS.

Abram Van Buren was probably the first prac- titioner of medicine at Millstone. His professional labors extended from about 1750 to 1813. Other early physicians here were Peter I. Stryker, who commenced to practice about 1804 and continued until 1810, when he removed to Somerville; Peter Vredenbergh, who practiced at Millstone about 1805; and Wm. D. MeKissaek, who practiced the healing art at the same place from 1807 to 1853.

An early physician at Roycefield was Lawrence Van Derveer, who practiced for many years, until his death, in 1815. He was succeeded by Henry Van Derveer.

At Neshanie, Jacob R. Sehenek practiced for some years, and Abram T. B. Van Doren was associated with him for a time.

ROADS.

The first roads in Hillsborough would naturally bo where the first settlements were made, and these were along the south side of the Raritan and the South Branch. While at first the inhabitants would use the river as a route of travel, a road would also naturally and quickly develop on the borders of the upland and meadows, corresponding in general to the one which now runs along the northern border of the township. This was formed in part certainly by 1700.

In 1710 a Dutch company settled the Harlingen tract, the northern half of which is in Hillsborough. Means of ingress and egress at once became a neces- sity. The northeastern part of their plot was only about a mile and a half from the present village of Millstone. What is now called the Amwell road must have been opened soon after 1710 for their nc- commodation. The next road from the Harlingen tract to the Millstone River was probably the one on the line between the Barker and Hart patents, the present division line between Hillsborough and Mont- gomery. A road was run somewhat later, probably through the centre of the Barker traet, reaching the Millstone where the union school-house now stands. The people from the southern end of the Harlingen tract needed one or more roads to the Millstone, not

780

SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

only for business, but also to attend church at Six- Mile Run, which they did until 1727.

By 1720, when Amwell began to be settled, the Am- well road was no doubt extended from Wood's tavern (the northeastern corner of the Harlingen tract) to Flaggtown, Neshanic, and Clover Hill. In 1712 the northeastern corner of the township was settled by a Dutch company," and a road along the eastern border of the township, connecting them with Millstone, and giving them an easy egress to Middlebush and New Brunswick, as well as to the Harlingen tract, must soon have become a necessity. A bridge was probably built at Millstone by 1720 .; The court-house having been located at Millstone in 1737, we may justly in- fer that there were then roads concentring there from all parts of Hillsborough and Franklin. Before 1737, therefore, a road must have been extended along the western bank of the Millstone, at least to Griggs- town, if not to Rocky Hill and Princeton, the latter place then being in Somerset County.

A bridge over the Raritan must have been built very early at the northern end of the road which runs along the west bank of the Millstone, both to connect it with the east-and-west road north of the Raritan, and to accommodate the people in the whole north- eastern quarter of Hillsborough in attending church, for the First Dutch church of Somerville stood for eighty years, or until 1779, on the bank of the Rar- itan between the present Finderne Station and the river, and some distance to the east of the present road. Indeed, the construction of this bridge (long called Van Vechten's bridge) may very likely have entered into consideration when the Dutch com- pany bought the plot called Royston, now known as Harmony Plains. The following is given from the minutes of the justices and freeholders: In 1771, Hillsborough was ordered to raise £10 proclamation, Bridgewater £13, and Bedminster £7, towards repair- ing the Raritan bridge. Capt. Conrad Ten Eyck, Mat. Ten Eyck, and Col. MacDonald were appointed managers. The minutes of the freeholders show that Van Veghten's bridge was rebuilt in 1774. Stone piers were then used, and new timbers put on them. Matthias Denike (Ten Eyck ?) and Conrad Denike were managers, with full powers; £500 wcre to be raised for this work.

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History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 190

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